Sarah Palin: Master media manipulator

The Washington Post's Post Politics ^ | August 31, 2011 | Chris Cillizza

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sarah Palin is the puppeteer. We, the media, are her puppets.

Since rising to national prominence during the 2008 presidential campaign, the former Alaska governor has demonstrated an uncanny ability to not only draw media attention but manipulate that coverage when and how she chooses.

“For someone out of elected office and not running for anything, Palin has a near singular ability to capture the media’s attention,” said Christian Ferry who served as deputy campaign manager for Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid. “If you take her at her word, which I do, she doesn’t know if she is going to run for president, but she knows she has this power with the media and she is smart to use it.”

The latest example? Word leaked late Tuesday night that Palin would speak at a Tea Party Express rally in Manchester, New Hampshire this weekend, a trip that will come hard on the heels of a much-speculated speech to another tea party group in Indianola, Iowa. (On Wednesday, Palin appeared to back out of the Iowa event, choosing to attend a Conservatives4Palin rally in Des Moines instead. Or maybe not.)

Back to back trips to Iowa and New Hampshire are catnip for the political class and Palin knows it. But whether her schedule this weekend is an indication that she is actually planning to run for president or just another political feint from a woman who has made a living — literally — from them is virtually impossible to figure out....

[2ndDivisionVet]

How can she be the ditzy "Caribou Barbie" and a mastermind at the same time?

[Puppage]

“For someone out of elected office and not running for anything, Palin has a near singular ability to capture the media’s attention,”

Yeah, like the MSM hasn't been ceaselessly attacking her since she LEFT office.

[MeganC]

The ‘stupid’ meme wore out so now they’re going to call her the new Dick Cheney and blame her for the crimes of SMERSH, KAOS, and COBRA.

[ken21]

that’s right!

after she was attacked and maligned more than any conservative in memory,

now, she’s accused of manipulating her manipulators.

[ken5050]

Especially here...(g)

[sodpoodle]

Sarah inspired: All you need to know is that I am a wonderful human being. But because you want to know more, suffice it to say - I am probably better looking than you, more insightful, less angry, more humble, less vulgar, more humorous, less volatile, more generous, less fussy, more friendly, less fearful, more courageous, less greedy and more full of joy. . He who knows others is learned; he who knows himself is wise. -Lao-Tze

Wise people, though all laws were abolished, would lead the same life. - Aristophanes

Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of the car is separate from the way the car is driven. -Edward De Bono We have no words for speaking of wisdom to the stupid. He who understands the wise is wise already. G. C. Lichtenberg (1742–99), German physicist, philosopher. Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life. Sandra Carey It is the province of knowledge to speak, and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen. Oliver Wendell Holmes Wisdom is easy to carry but difficult to gather. Czech Proverb You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. Naguib Mahfouz Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise. Francis Bacon To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe. Marilyn vos Savant Wise men speak when they have something to say. Fools speak when they have to say something. Plato

[AFreeBird]

[jagusafr]

Rent.
Free.

I love it!

[tarotsailor]

Media people should take a breather, and think relaxing thoughts. Like Sarah Palin in a bikini. The first President in history that looks hot in a bikini, and I lived to see the day...God Bless America!

[dforest]

it is a reciprocal thing. They feed on each other. Both gain and neither loses.

[BfloGuy]

Sarah Palin is the puppeteer. We, the media supporters, are her puppets.

Equally true.

[kcvl]

Cillizza was recently named an MSNBC Political Analyst.

Looks like Chris could use some help.

[rwrcpa1]

"If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

[Free Vulcan]

It was the sacred rites performed at a secret meeting between her, Bush, and Cheney conferring upon her the Evil-Genius Doofus mantle. Bush has passed the torch.

[jeffc]

The author is correct about the “media” being puppets. But she has the wrong puppeteer: the “media” belong to the Dems; the “media” are Dems, and Dems work all over the “media” to help give the “correct” spin on things.

[Stand Watch Listen]

lol...

They chase Sarah here...
They stalk her there...
Those libtards follow her everywhere.

Will she run?
or not...they grouse
They don't want Sarah, in the White House

[JaguarXKE]

Air head - Mastermind? I’m so confused.

[mountn man]

I don't think the thoughts of Sarah in a bikini would be very relaxing.

For most straight men, dem or repub, I doubt seeing Sarah in a bikini would "relax" them, I think just the opposite.

I think most repub women would admire her.

I think most dem women would be ENRAGED!!!!!

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Easy as she apparently has decent marketing managers. Her staff seems to be using a variant of the PR technique “Mystery Woman.” Stirs interest and sells tickets, books, interviews with a good fee.