[militanttoby]

Some good points here for me from Nate Silver, a pundit respected by democrats: the knives will be out for Palin after the 2010 (elections), and the Republican Establishment are largely "just terrified of her because she doesn't need them." He also believes she is the favourite for the primaries... we know that, but for a liberal to admit it, heh.

[sickoflibs]

Palin-mania ping!

Notice the common theme :”We should rally around Palin because all the bad guys will attack her”. I hear this on talk radio regularly.

I think she is happy with the rock star book signing life, no responsibilities, doesn't have to get voters mad at her by making unpopular decisions. Being in office is NOTHING like that!

[Waco]

If she put a D before her name the RATS would run her in a minute. Politics, if a candidate can get the votes it doesn’t matter if she’s qualified or not.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

As long as Palin gets tough on Illegal Aliens and Border Security....and stops giving money to Lindsey Graham....she would get my support.

[Leisler]

Mitt is the New McCain.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Next November will probably be a happy night for Republicans and my guess the emergent c.w. will be that it occurred because of, rather than in spite of, the Republicans eschewing moderation in favor of (re)building their base."

Actually, if you read closely, Nate seems to be another of the "Republicans must court moderates if they want to win" spouter. No. What Republicans need to do is court independent and Democrat conservatives.

[Jim Noble]

This is indeed excellent news.

I know it's hard to believe for those of you who live where there still IS a Republican Party, and where people actually self-identify as such, but the GOP organizational leadership is hated by the people in most of the country MORE THAN THEY HATE THE DEMOCRATS - and they hate the Democrats enough to throw them out of office.

This creates a complex position on the chessboard. Power is, or will be soon, lying on the ground. It's RIGHT THERE, ready to be picked up.

Sarah can do it, but not as a restorationist. Any HINT that those who were (deservedly) thrown out in 2006 and 2008 are hiding under her skirts, and she's done for.

I've thought for a long time that this required a new second party - but if she can lead an insurgency within the GOP (which she's done before), that may do the trick.

I'm worried about Congress, though. We really can't allow the RATs back in the House. If a GOP civil war is raging, the chances of a large pickup are reduced.

But I am absolutely, positively certain that the old order GOP is finished in the hearts and minds of the people, ad that it must be reformed or replaced for the conservative majority to prevail.

And time's a wastin'.

[Friendofgeorge]

Sarah is the favorite to win the Republican nomination, it`s her`s for the taking is the way I see it, if she wants it. I believe she does want it, and the only thing that could stop her is if too many social conservatives get in the race. If this happens it could open the way for a moderate to slip through the middle, while the social conservative candidates split the vote among themselves. Sarah would end up with the biggest slice of the Social Conservative vote, but like I said could allow a moderate to squeak out a victory. And yes I am speaking mostly of the same old names as in Romney and Huck and a few others. Remember in 2008 Huck stayed in to the end even though he had no chance, is he going to do that again? Probably!

[Frenchtown Dan]

Sarah needs to divorce herself from the Republican whimp party to a new “Conservative Party”. I think she has a tough road ahead either way, but I’m still voting for her unless someone better comes along in the next 3 years.

I think a Palin-Pawlenty or Pawlenty-Palin ticket could have strong possibilities.

[Uncle George]

CARL ROVE should be installed as GOP leader and Steele should volunteer to step down for the good of the REAL GOP we all remember. CARL ROVE is the SMARTEST CONSERVATIVE in the world, bar-none. He can weave the mechanics of election to perfection and that powerfull office would impower him with all the MSM to do the job of filtering out the cancerous RINO tumors within our conservative party.

[PA Engineer]

In some ways, indeed, the "message" that she unveiled in 2008: a mish-mash of populism, everywomanism, and paranoia -- coupled with a light touch on policy specifics -- has proven to be highly prescient in terms of everything that has come thereafter.

Huh? Eh Tu Nate?