I figured out today, what I believe is Palin’s strategy.
First recall - from the very day. THE DAY, she accepted McCain’s offer to be his running mate, Palin has been the most slimed, most mud-slung, most demonized, most put through the wringer politician since Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Newt was imho the first actual test case of Saul Alinsky’s tactics. Unfortunately the lesson the left took away from that, was it works. It in fact was also the lesson too many on our side internalized.
Sure, use it on the left - but not on each other.
What I (and most here, I would have to believe) have noticed is, the GOP primary went negative almost immediately. First the dumb dork Rollins who Bachmann hired, his first week on the job, set the foundation by going after Palin. Stoopid move on his part.
It could have stopped there. However let’s be honest, we’ve all seen how Mitt Romney’s people operate. The “concern” trolls. You think the fact Romney trolls all were the same, is a coincidence?? (not a chance).
So, Palin approaches the primary aware that Mitt will release his carefully coifed trolls against her.
Meanwhile Perry saddles up to the bar.
That could have changed the dynamic. Still might, but frankly there’s been a lot of similarity in tactics, between the Rick-rollers, and the Mitt trolls. Both feign concern, both case doubt. It’s not the vile ugliness of the left, doing the same thing - but it’s still negative campaigning.
Palin’s been there. She knows. I think what she recognized immediately was she would face TWO candidates, both of which would unleash an Alinsky-light barrage against her. She could see.
And, what she is doing, is brilliant.
She stepped back. The two armies were arrayed to attack. Primed and ready. With nobody to attack. At that moment, the two armies realized, each was the other’s biggest threat.
Now, they begin attacking each other.
Palin does not attack, when she criticizes it is very issue specific - such as on Greta’s show this evening, against Crony Capitalism - an issue which could win even the general election.
If Mitt and Perry want to go at each other, let ‘em box.
Palin doesn’t have to, and she just might be better at it, than either of those two.
She knows what she’s doing.
Don’t get discouraged.
This will be long primary and she will delay as long as possible and can save money.
(And so, therefore, is she.)
I think she is exhausted by waiting, seeing how close a balance it is coming to with Perry surging, surging...will his warts be exposed in time to counteract his paid team's carefully positioning him on talk rooms and political sites as "The Inevitable One"...?
You mentioned her strategy of letting her two top rivals (who, you are right, would otherwise have combined their fire on you as the greatest threat) take each other out, is inspired.
G.K. Chesterton thought of it first.
Read his short story The sins of Prince Saradine.
Cheers!