Sarah Palin tips her hand

The Daily Caller ^ | February 16, 2012 | Bart Marcois, Romney volunteer & RNC LDS Outreach Liason

[2ndDivisionVet]

Has Sarah Palin just announced her candidacy for president? On Wednesday night she told Fox Business host Eric Bolling that she still has the fire in her belly and is still game to run for office. More telling, however, is what she said about the current GOP nomination battle and the possibility of a brokered convention.

Palin’s comments leading into the South Carolina primary, encouraging people to vote for Newt Gingrich because the party is strengthened by a long primary battle, were bewildering at the time.

“I want to see this thing continue, because iron sharpens iron, steel sharpens steel. If I had to vote in South Carolina to keep this thing going, I’d vote for Newt and I would want this to continue.”

Leaving aside metallurgical analysis comparing honing knife blades to the hammer blows of negative campaign ads, the comments were incomprehensible from a strategic point of view. Gingrich at that time was administering a beating to the entire capitalist system, with his attacks on Romney’s wealth and the investment world. It was not clear how that process would help any eventual Republican nominee run against the class-warfare campaign sure to come from President Obama.

After Newt lost Florida by 15 points, Governor Palin announced that she would vote for him in Nevada, again “to keep this thing going.” Even while admitting that the process “thus far, hasn’t been really attractive to the electorate” and saying about negative ads that “when a bell is rung, it’s really tough to un-ring that bell,” she still wanted it to continue.

Why would she want the process to continue if it is causing permanent harm to the Republican candidates?

On the Fox Business Network Wednesday night, Bolling asked Palin about the possibility of a brokered convention, and whether, if asked, she would consider being drafted to be the nominee. She responded: “We could be looking at a brokered convention. … If months from now, if that’s the case, then all bets are off, as to who it will be, willing to offer themselves up in the name of service to their country. I, uh, I would do whatever I could to help.”

It’s becoming clear why Governor Palin wants the nominating process to continue, even though it’s really tough to un-ring the bell of a process that turns off voters. She has no interest in seeing any candidate gain the support of the majority of the GOP delegates, because she believes she could step into a brokered convention and walk out as the Republican nominee. She shares with Gingrich an ability to fire up the base, to draw admiring shouts and standing ovations from audience members. She also shares with him a disdain for conventional campaigning, which critics call a lack of discipline. Those characteristics are ideally suited to winning an election process that lasts only three days and takes place in a single city, but they are liabilities in a process that takes months and covers 50 states.

Palin just gave the clearest signal yet that she intends to compete for the presidential nomination if there’s a brokered convention in August. What is a Republican voter to do? Whatever it is, the voters in Michigan, Arizona and the Super Tuesday states had better start doing it right away. Because if we don’t, we will miss the only chance we have to stop socialized health care and a host of other evils that would result from a second term for Barack Obama.

****

Bart Marcois, a former principal deputy assistant secretary of energy, is senior vice president at Policy Impact Communication.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Funny how Daily Caller doesn't mention his Romney and Mormon connection, huh? The article reads differently when you know that, though, doesn't it? And wasn't it Willard who brought "socialized medicine" onto the national stage?

[Vigilanteman]

Romney and Newt have pretty much destroyed the other's chances at this point. Other than her gender, I don't see a big difference between Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin. Other than the fact that Rick got in and Sarah didn't.

Seven reasons for Rick Santorum

1. Who has won the most states without the benefit of their own money, last election's organization or a billionaire casino sugar daddy?
   
2. Who is everybody's second choice when he isn't their first?
   
3. Who can get both the Romney people and the Gingrich people, who hate each other, to vote for him?
   
4. Who has the best record on immigration?
   
5. Who has the best plan for repealing ObamaCare? And is the only GOP candidate who didn't help write or approve legislation which helped spawn this fiasco?
   
6. Who has the best plan for expanding the American economy and strengthening American families?
   
7. Who is the closest thing we have to the "generic Republican" which polls show consistently beating Obama and is most likely to make the election about Obama's sorry record rather than about himself?

[Noumenon]

Palin’s my write-in. War is coming.

[KTM rider]

if Palin is doing this it is a genius move . She could steal the stage when the dust starts to settle, avoiding the primary media attacks .

In the general she would then proceed destroy the little skinny kenyan communist inspite of the constant onslaught and desperate windmill charges from the liberal media attack machine

Sarah save us !

[presently no screen name]

I don't see a big difference between Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin.

LOL!! The difference is night and day! But there's a lot you refuse to see.

[Just mythoughts]

Gingrich at that time was administering a beating to the entire capitalist system, with his attacks on Romney’s wealth and the investment world. It was not clear how that process would help any eventual Republican nominee run against the class-warfare campaign sure to come from President Obama.

One more 'bain-washed' golden bull of the religion of capital-ISM. I 'feel' so secure with the wisdom the wealthy and investment world have produced. What does 'bain' produce? Where can I go buy myself some 'bain'? Capital-ISM is a step sister to Communism, because those that practice it buy and sell politicians to protect their wealth. I mean really now WHO bought and paid for Obama? H E L L O!!!!!!

[duckman]

Newt/West if not, Sarah/West.

[Scythian]

Seen here, Sarah officially tipping her hand ...

[2ndDivisionVet]

As an “8th reason” could you tell us all about Senator Santorum’s executive experience, since you said there's no big difference between him and Governor Palin. And what, exactly, has Sen. Santorum accomplished, besides being beat like a drum by a Democrat in his home state? What major legislation did he get passed?

[OldNavyVet]

From the article ... "Gingrich at that time was administering a beating to the entire capitalist system, with his attacks on Romney’s wealth and the investment world.

Capitalism's success starts from the bottom up ... an entreprenur starting a new business and creating thousands of jobs.

Romney and the investment world are top feeding capitalists ... Capitalist success, and it's beauty, starts from bottom feeders ... those taking risks and starting out.

[dforest]

I am with you. There isn’t going to be a brokered convention.

Newt is done, Romney has no traction and Santorum will hopefully send Mitt packing.

All this other stuff is to keep people from getting on board to beat Obama.

[C. Edmund Wright]

You’re beating your head against a wall. Vingleanteman’s 7 reasons are so full of flaws and misleading contemplations that they are a total insult to anyone with intelligence.

RS is a big government pro lifer who has won 4 tiny caucuses with depressed voter turn out ,- the total populations of which do not equal the state of South Carolina’s total vote which has an increased turn out. RS has yet to win a single primary and yet to show any ability to mobilize large populations. You can’t niche your way to the Presidency with little pockets of homeschoolers.

[biggredd1]

Sarah tipped her hand by saying she has fire in the belly, willing to help her Country, there is a reasonable chance of deadlock, and all bets are off if that happens. Eskimo translation: Game On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Qwackertoo]

nice hand tip. I hope Sarah stays involved.

Somehow someway.

Until then . . . Go NEWT!

[9YearLurker]

There’s a world of difference between Palin and Santorum. Santorum is a go-along, get-along big-government type, and Palin has a history of actually cutting AK’s state budget, building its economy and state balances, ethics reform, etc..

Also, though Palin is solidly pro-life, she doesn’t have Santorum’s weird penchant for denouncing contraception, suggesting gay sex should be illegal, etc..

One is the leader of the tea party movement, the other is the antithesis of the tea party movement.

[throwback]

as to who it will be, willing to offer themselves up in the name of service to their country. I, uh, I would do whatever I could to help.”

How magnanimous. After a dozen other people have slogged through the trenches for a year fighting the good fight of long days, crowds, lack of sleep, endlessly pleading their case, begging for money, yada, yada, the queen will deign to intervene at the convention to assume the crown when asked. I'd rather vote for someone that worked for it thank you.

[presently no screen name]

Slick Rick has nothing to beat Barry with. His lies against Newt got him where he is right now.

[McGruff]

I’ll write in Palin before I’ll vote for that scumbag Romney. The dirty tricks he’s played on Gingrich are unforgivable in my view.

[presently no screen name]

She already did that and more - three+ years of it. And the most vetted person in the world! Slick Rick hasn’t even been vetted yet!

[ari-freedom]

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face in marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Sorry Palin but it’s either Mitt, Newt or Rick. They may be imperfect candidates but at least they’ve made the effort.

[pvoce]

I believe she could actually pull this off!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

You know what this is don't you? It's time to follow the other Lemmings and swarm Santorum. Why?.........don't know.....just put a bag over your head, and follow. And go off of what you heard someone else say.

Can he win? Is that a loaded question? Who cares. He is a CONservative you know. He's a family man. Likes home schooling. His sweater vest looks nice in church. Can he fix this economic mess we are in? Sure, why not........he's a CONservative. you know.........

[Josephat]

If, as has been suggested, this has been her plan all along, and if she succeeds in getting the nomination would you be willing to concede that she is a brilliant strategist? Would you admit that we need some brilliant strategies to bring us out of this mess that Obama and his cabal have engineered? Would you vote for her if she did end up the nominee?

[Matchett-PI]

LOL bttt

[B-Cause]

<[>If, as has been suggested, this has been her plan all along, and if she succeeds in getting the nomination would you be willing to concede that she is a brilliant strategist? Would you admit that we need some brilliant strategies to bring us out of this mess that Obama and his cabal have engineered? Would you vote for her if she did end up the nominee?

---

Hell Yes!

[throwback]

Really, she’s been running for 3 years? And yet her primary totals to date are...zero.

[B-Cause]

If, as has been suggested, this has been her plan all along, and if she succeeds in getting the nomination would you be willing to concede that she is a brilliant strategist? Would you admit that we need some brilliant strategies to bring us out of this mess that Obama and his cabal have engineered? Would you vote for her if she did end up the nominee?

---

Hell Yes!

[FreeReign]

How magnanimous. After a dozen other people have slogged through the trenches for a year fighting the good fight of long days, crowds, lack of sleep, endlessly pleading their case, begging for money, yada, yada, the queen will deign to intervene at the convention to assume the crown when asked. I'd rather vote for someone that worked for it thank you.

If one can't earn a majority of delegates after slogging through the trenches for a year endlessly pleading their case, then they obviously have a problem.

There is no affirmative action set-aside for sucky candidates.

There is no right to the nomination just because one spends the time working for it.

You with your snide post and the four stooges currently running take note.

[dforest]

Egads, you are poisonous and most foul and vindictive. Heaven help you.

Go away.

[oldfart]

Sarah keeps telling us to vote for Newt. Perhaps it’s her strategy to force a brokered convention. I don’t know. I just know I will not vote for Romney, I’ve never had much respect for Newt and Santorum is an unknown quantity. I trust Sarah but should I do as she says and vote for Newt or follow my heart and write her in? I don’t know. Maybe in a few weeks things will be clearer.

[SaxxonWoods]

A lot of Freepers are very slow learners when it comes to Sarah Palin.

I say this as a person who likes her very much, this is nothing against her.

[presently no screen name]

She is known to do the impossible.

[dforest]

Writing people in is a waste of time and no one will notice or report it.

If you want to put people through 4 more years of Obama, I can only pity you.

[throwback]

Ditto that. I'll vote for someone who ran. Santorum, Newt, and even Romney. I won't vote for the color commentator.

[FrankR]

[Josephat]

I was told a long time ago that success goes to those who work smarter, not harder. If she succeeds in getting the nomination without having her family dragged through the mud for a year, she is working smarter than any of the current contenders. I want a Pres. Who works smarter, certainly smarter than the current poser.

[FreeReign]

Sorry Palin but it’s either Mitt, Newt or Rick. They may be imperfect candidates but at least they’ve made the effort.

At the moment, I'm for Newt. That said, if Mitt, Newt, Rick, and Ru don't earn the needed delegates, then all bets are off.

Sorry, one's effort doesn't matter if one can't earn the majority of delegates.

[dforest]

The whole idea of this scam is to help Romney. That is why the person that works for Mitt penned this nonsense.

Keep the conservative vote all split because they know it will help Mitt and that there will be no brokered convention.

really pathetic

[presently no screen name]

and even Romney

You really do hate our country - now the world knows.

[throwback]

Ditto that. I'll vote for someone who ran. Santorum, Newt, and even Romney. I won't vote for the color commentator.

[wbarmy]

Sarah Palin slogged through months, even years, of the most heinous abuse any one person could receive, discounting Our Lord Jesus Christ. How she managed to not beat someone to a pulp after being told she faked a pregnancy to protect her daughter; that her actions during the campaign caused her sons problems; and all of the thousands of other canards and outright lies which were constantly spewed at her, is beyond me. I would have faced off someone if it had been done to my wife.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

[throwback wrote:
Really, she’s been running for 3 years? And yet her primary totals to date are...zero.]

You are probably not aware that there is a thing called a “Brokered Convention”, where if none of the Delegates get the required 1,144 Delegates to win, it goes up for a Convention Floor vote during the convention. It happened before with Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932), Thomas Dewey (1948) and Adlai Stevenson (1952). Two of the Brokered conventions were Democrat, Roosevelt and Stevenson and one was Republican, Thomas Dewey.

So yes, Sarah Palin could easily win if the Convention voters say so. Is it likely? Probably not.

[Friendofgeorge]

Santorum is not worthy to even unloosen one of Sarah`s sandle straps

[DJ MacWoW]

We're also going to try to replace some of our older servers and failing equipment this year so we're going to add a little extra to our FReepathon goals. John is estimating ten to fifteen thousand to do this and I'd like to get it all in place and working before the election cycle is fully heated up, so we'll try to bring in a little more now if we can and the rest next quarter.
Jim Robinson

Click The Server To Donate

Support Activist Free Republic

[presently no screen name]

Truth is vile to you? It appears it is to Rick, also. Now I see why you support him.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

If you want to put people through another 4 years of Obama, follow Santorum’s losing strategy with total blind abandon.

[throwback]

Yes, I will even vote for Romney against Obama because I hate the country so much. Romney was actually the more conservative candidate to McCain in ‘08. I vote for the people that actually have the guts to run vs. talking about it.

[Yaelle]

It’s weird that you said that. I am feeling the same way. I am a fan of Palin but when the country needed her, she chose not to serve. While I understand that her family is a top priority, she was all but running for a few years, and she had the exact same family. I figured that as long as one parent was always there for the kids, it could be the Dad.

But Santorum had teh same exact reasons for running, and he got in early and slogged through. He will be the same kind of strong, principled constitutional conservative. I’m sticking with Rick.

[Josephat]

Even if the color commentator is the obvious best choice? She has balanced budgets, dealt with corrupt politicians and jailed them, has extensive experience in the energy field and most importantly she has a servant’s heart. When her governorship was costing her state money and man hours to fight the barrage of nonsense ethics charges brought by the left, she gave up her power for the good of her state and her family. Most importantly, she trusts God. We need leaders with her character if we are to survive as a free nation.

[dforest]

Santorum never hurt Newt, Newt is totally responsible for his going into the tank.

He is his own worst enemy, and to be honest, he isn’t liked too much by the electorate. If he was, he would be on top right now. All of your venom isn’t going to help a darn thing. Disapprovals over 60%. That is his fault.