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How to solve a problem like Palin?
The Charleston Daily Mail ^ | December 11, 2009 | Don Surber

Posted on 12/11/2009 3:27:46 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

THE day after her autobiography was published, the cover of Newsweek magazine asked the musical question, "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?"

It's a play on the first line of the chorus of "Maria" in the musical, "The Sound Of Music."

The nuns sing of their bewildering young charge, who not only marches to the beat of her own drummer, but sings, dances and strums guitar to it.

Their solution is to ship her off to a household in need of a nanny, and thus one of the most extraordinary adventures of the 20th century begins.

There is a bit of Maria in Sarah Palin, who has her own drum corps. And it is growing.

Her autobiography is setting all sorts of box office records. It was the No. 1 best-seller on Amazon on the day its publication date was announced.

She sold 1 million copies of "Going Rogue" in two weeks.

Bill Clinton had to serve as president for two full terms and endure one of the biggest embarrassments in presidential history to sell as many copies of his autobiography.

Barack Obama? He had magazine covers and talk show appearances galore when "The Audacity Of Hope" rolled out in 2006.

He sold 182,000 copies in the first three weeks.

Palin boosted Oprah Winfrey's ratings by 68 percent, giving the show its best ratings in two years. Again, that topped Obama.

People are standing in line in city after city by the hundreds for hours in near-freezing temperatures just to get her autograph.

One reason Newsweek put Palin on the cover was to sell some magazines.

Newsweek's losses this year are $30 million. It writers and editors may feel they have to get their digs in now because they might not be around in 2012.

The people who like Palin like her in part because she is the underdog. The more garbage liberals pile on her, the bigger her smile is and the more her fans love her.

Such loyalty and popularity are a problem for Republicans?

Pardon me while I laugh.

True, most polls show that more people think she is unqualified for the presidency than think she is qualified.

I fully understand the reservations. She went into TV interviews in the 2008 campaign ill prepared and she simply had not served long enough as governor. Not completing her term as governor also is a problem.

But right now there is no Republican in her league.

Mitt Romney would be the more logical choice for 2012, but when were politics ever logical?

Romney looks presidential. He was elected governor of Massachusetts in part because he looks almost as good as Obama in a bathing suit.

Romney looks presidential. He was elected governor of Massachusetts in part because he looks almost as good as Obama in a bathing suit.

And Romney has money and gravitas, as they say in Washington. He looks like a winner.

But put Romney on Oprah and see if ratings rise 68 percent.

Palin's problem is not ramping up her popularity but rather in ramping up her credibility. Her book shows she has both the drive and the ability to go from the Alaskan outhouse to the White House.

In July, just 39 percent of the public had a favorable opinion of her.

Today, 46 percent do. That is a pretty quick turnaround.

She could win over some liberal critics, too.

Columnist Clarence Page attended the Washington dinner last weekend at which she was the main speaker, and reported: "Yet, as much as her politics are not mine, after chatting with her and her husband, good-natured former First Dude Todd Palin, I came away with a new fondness and respect for both of them.

"If they were faking their enjoyment at being there, they certainly sounded mighty sincere about it."

Right now, the 2012 nomination could be up to her.

She's a smart lady. Her posts about current events on Facebook are a treat. She is shaping the conservative movement.

But the presidency is not a one-man - or one-woman - operation. Presidents have to be leaders. She must show she can lead something besides a state.

She needs to assemble a team. Ronald Reagan assembled a pretty good Cabinet.

She needs to find the next Ed Meese, Michael Deavers and Arthur Laffer, although the old one is still kicking.

Politicians and Newsweek need to consider those crowds standing in the cold waiting for Palin to sign her book - the No. 1 best-seller in the nation.

"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?" That's for the Democrats to figure out.

Right after they solve a problem like Barack.

As a candidate, he was perfect. As a president? Not so much.

This could cost them at election time.

Or not.

It's politics, and politics is not logical.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; acorn4romney; admiralromney; aig4romney; badgovromney; benedictromney; bishopromney; brutusromney; carpetbaggerromney; christianright; dnc4romney; fakebadgeromney; fascists4romney; flipflopromney; gaymarriage; generalromney; goingrogue; iammythromney; jourbalism; kingromney; masterromney; mlk4romney; msm4romney; mythromney; nra4romney; obama; obama4romney; obedience2romney; palin; pedophiles4romney; pimpromney; pimpromneyhere; pimpromneynow; politics; romney; romney4obama; romneyantigop; romneyantipalin; romneybot4romney; romneybothere; romneybotshere; romneydeathpanel; romneyhallucinates; romneyhides; romneymarriage; romneystinks; romneythrewelection; sarahpalin; seamus4romney; socialists4romney; socializedmedicine; stakepresromney; stenchofromney
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

ACCEPT NO RINO SUBSTITUTES! Palin in 2012!


21 posted on 12/11/2009 4:19:13 PM PST by USALiberty
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To: 4rcane

No, no. John Bolton for foreign affairs, not Condi.

Although I do like Condi.


22 posted on 12/11/2009 4:26:38 PM PST by Twotone (Marte Et Clypeo)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Mitt Romney would be the more logical choice for 2012, but when were politics ever logical?

Romney looks presidential. He was elected governor of Massachusetts in part because he looks almost as good as Obama in a bathing suit.

And Romney has money and gravitas, as they say in Washington. He looks like a winner.

But put Romney on Oprah and see if ratings rise 68 percent.

That last sentence was too true. The rest was revolting.

The only way I'd stand out in the rain for Romney's signature, would be if Sarah Palin appointed him to be Secretary of the Treasury, and I was about to get five one hundred dollar bills.

23 posted on 12/11/2009 4:32:30 PM PST by DoughtyOne (A MELTING POT not a potters wheel. Join us. Don't try to turn this nation into the one you fled.)
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To: Dedbone
Every conservative/libertarian likes Sheriff Arpaio ..but... great international diplomatic experience on his resume'...?? NOT!!

Be REAL!

24 posted on 12/11/2009 4:34:24 PM PST by Bob Eimiller (appeasement "it's the idea that if you feed the alligator he will eat you last." Winston Churchill)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

How do you solve a problem like Newsweak? I have never bought that magazine, but someone left a copy in the break room at work. As I was leafing through it, I was stunned at how truly leftist the writers were. Don’t get me wrong, I know they are all liberals, but to see in writing the garbage they put out as so-called conventional wisdom is truly stunning.


25 posted on 12/11/2009 4:37:12 PM PST by rwa265 (Christ my Cornerstone)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It should be noted that Palin’s op/ed on cap and trade was the 3rd most read op/ed at the WaPo for the entire year. Her latest op/ed on climategate is already the 20th most read op/ed of the year at WaPo.

Does anyone think that if Mitt, Huck, Tim or Newt wrote an op/ed it would have even been noticed?

BTW, Palin’s red jacket at the Laura Ingraham auction is now up to $30,000 having just started yesterday, and still has 6 days to go. Plus, a woman in AL paid $63,000 just to have dinner with Palin, incredible.


26 posted on 12/11/2009 4:51:28 PM PST by euram
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
“But the presidency is not a one-man - or one-woman - operation. Presidents have to be leaders. She must show she can lead something besides a state.”

Palin has more leadership/management experience than many candidates. I don't count Congressional experience as leadership or management experience. Obama had zero leadership experience - only a political hack.

27 posted on 12/11/2009 5:32:40 PM PST by elpadre (AfganistaMr Obama said the goal was to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda" and its allies.)
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To: Bob Eimiller
but... great international diplomatic experience on his resume'...??

How about kicking people's @sses over the border? ;D

28 posted on 12/11/2009 5:36:41 PM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: DoughtyOne

Everything he said about Romney was true. I’m glad he stopped where he did, because this is a fun, uplifting article, and to continue about Romney.............well, it could only get ugly.


29 posted on 12/11/2009 5:45:13 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (Perfection is the enemy of Good.)
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To: Caipirabob
How about kicking people's @sses over the border? ;D

And Bolton wouldn't do just that???

30 posted on 12/11/2009 5:47:33 PM PST by Bob Eimiller (appeasement "it's the idea that if you feed the alligator he will eat you last." Winston Churchill)
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To: elpadre
She must show she can lead something besides a state.”

If she decides to run, the test of her leadership skill will be on desplay for all the voters to see.

A Presidential campaign is a mini presidential leadership test.

31 posted on 12/11/2009 5:49:49 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (Perfection is the enemy of Good.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

AMEN on the last part....she needs to ASSEMBLE GREAT PEOPLE AROUND HER!!!!


32 posted on 12/11/2009 5:55:44 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion,,,,,,the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: ohioWfan; Bob J
>>> "The left is scared to DEATH of Sarah. It's a joy to watch them squirm. :)" <<<<

I think that this might be Governor Palin's most endearing quality -- she really riles the far far left Lefies, without even trying.

I wonder though, how much of their vitriol has anything to do with her, but is actually some perversely pathological version of clinical projection.

I think that the Palinistas who so openely adore her are inspired by the far far left Lefties, who the Palinistas intuit must think even less of them than they do of Governor Palin.

There's something about her nature, her utter lack of artifice, her spontaneity, her authenticity that gets under the skin of the RINOs and irritates them to no end, too.

Of course none of these demonstrate presidential qualifications .... but they'll be very difficult to defeat on election day 2012 ....

33 posted on 12/11/2009 6:01:41 PM PST by hennie pennie
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To: Twotone

Shouldn’t paleoconservative Pat Buchanan be rescued from MSDNC and given a position? Where do you think he would be best?


34 posted on 12/11/2009 6:04:05 PM PST by hennie pennie
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To: Gaffer
She is still standing - ever stronger!

I hate to say it, but she won't be two years from now......those idiots here that continue to trumpet the "MSM is dead!" delusions are clueless.

CBS alone, without the help of NBC and ABC can easily sway elections; can anyone say "Obama is the president of the United States?".

Case rested.....

35 posted on 12/11/2009 6:08:34 PM PST by ErnBatavia (Obama is a DIC....... Ditherer-in-Chief)
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To: hennie pennie
Where to put Gingrich?

How about a table at the next state dinner with the "Gate Crashers" and De De Scozzafava.

36 posted on 12/11/2009 6:10:47 PM PST by Bob Eimiller (appeasement "it's the idea that if you feed the alligator he will eat you last." Winston Churchill)
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To: Balding_Eagle
"A Presidential campaign is a mini presidential leadership test."

Now, that is the argument floated by the current occupant of the Office, and Freepers quickly pointed out the fallacy of his contention.

If Palin (or any other Republican candidate) can become new best friends with the Adamses, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, etc., and begin sharing their simple passion for liberty and their formula for preserving it, then the American people will enthusiastically embrace such revolutionary ideas.

As citizens, we are looking for a leader who inspires, but it will take more than popularity when a campaign is actually under way, whether a primary or general. Only a principles approach to preserving anything resembling the America we have known will do. Issues-oriented give and take won't change anything, and the people know it. There are no more concise or provocative challenges to the politicians in Washington now than the words of Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et al. We need a revolutionary leader who can help us recognize threats to our liberty and determined leadership to "snuff(ing) out approaching tyranny" (Burke).

37 posted on 12/11/2009 6:11:53 PM PST by loveliberty2
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To: Bob Eimiller
Oh yes, I totally forgot --- we must figure out WHO gets to attend events at the Palin White House, but needs no official invite, nor be on any list.

How about Matt Drudge?

38 posted on 12/11/2009 6:25:38 PM PST by hennie pennie
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To: hennie pennie

I’m talking about Gingrich being invited to the next OBAMA state dinner and put him at a table with Scozzafava and the two so called “gate crashers”. The should have a lot to talk about... such as relevance??


39 posted on 12/11/2009 6:40:51 PM PST by Bob Eimiller (appeasement "it's the idea that if you feed the alligator he will eat you last." Winston Churchill)
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To: Bob Eimiller

LOLOLOL


40 posted on 12/11/2009 6:43:06 PM PST by hennie pennie
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