Free Republic

Santorum’s contraception boom — “We’re all Catholics now,” said Mike Huckabee — won’t hold up. Because we’re not. This race could well go to a brokered convention. If Jeb Bush is proposed, so Sarah Palin should be minutes later. She is now and always has been the singular Jacksonian voice in the original Tea Party phenomenon; the only one who can bring it to the mainstream. Her absence from the primary race has left a vacuum and no substitute has been found. Every other possible or potential leadership hopeful has risen and receded in this long Republican primary season. [....]...

She has the ability to speak about issues that profoundly bother the audience in common ways and words that listeners instantly recognize and wish they had thought to say just that way. Watch in the video below of her full CPAC speech for how this church-going mother of five mocks Obama's Winning the Future program with an almost off-color aside. And prompts shared laughter, not shock. [....] Instead, instinctively Palin doesn't speak at or to audiences. She speaks for them. She tells them what they've already accomplished through the tea party, for instance, and what they can accomplish this year...

Palin Calls On Romney To Work Harder For The Conservative Vote Peter Hamby Washington (CNN) - Sarah Palin issued a warning to Mitt Romney Saturday, calling on the former Massachusetts governor to do a better job explaining his record to conservatives or risk dampening voter turnout in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination. In an interview with CNN and The New York Times before her speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Palin said she was confused by Romney’s declaration here on Friday that he was a “severely conservative Republican.” “I wasn’t quite sure what the...

If Sarah Palin had been on the ballot for the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference, there is little doubt she would have won. The former Alaska governor received far-and-away the most spirited and enthusiastic reception at this convention of about 10,000 conservative activists. She drew the audience to its feet more than a dozen times during her keynote address on Saturday.

Sarah Palin, the politician that the media loves to cover ad nauseum, will most likely announce her candidacy for president sometime in the near future (some are saying she may wait until September). Everything seems to be falling her way of late, or at least it appears that way when looking at how things are shaping up within the field of potential candidates in the Republican Party. It is almost as if Fate were stepping in to take a hand in positioning things just right for the former governor of Alaska... How so? Just take a look at several major...

Iowans might feel a bit overwhelmed by the choices for next Tuesday’s Republican caucuses for the GOP presidential nomination, but one independent group has begun running radio ads insisting that there is still room for one more choice. Calling itself “Sarah Palin’s Iowa Earthquake,� the group will target specific markets in Iowa asking voters to line up behind the Republican Party’s most prominent non-candidate, and other ads will apparently follow: Can Iowans caucus for Palin at this late date? Sure. Unlike primary states, there is no “ballot� in the legal sense at caucuses. Attendees can write in names on the...

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 Editorial by John Ziegler Sarah Palin: Selfish, Hypocritical, Sellout 1/3/2012 As surreal as it may be, after spending over two years and several thousand dollars defending Sarah Palin at great personal cost, I now find myself in the bizarre position (three years to the day from starting the journey to Wasilla to do the interview of record on her 2008 VP run) of being perhaps the only conservative commentator willing to point out that Palin has now clearly revealed herself to be a selfish, hypocritical, sellout. While she was doing her presidential tease (an act that...

The most sought-after endorsement of this political cycle will be from a woman who holds no political office and is not currently seeking one. That is why each of the Republican candidates have done the equivalent of kissing Sarah Palin's ring. RealClearPolitics believes that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has the inside track for getting the Palin endorsement. Of course, reports about what Palin will or will not do is largely conjecture, even if it is sourced from people said to be within the Palin inner circle. Only Palin will know who she intends to endorse and when. Any definitive...

Almost immediately upon Sarah Palin's announcement that she would not seek the Republican nomination for president, the phone calls from almost all of the GOP candidates began pouring in. They wanted her endorsement. While Palin has characteristically kept her cards close to her chest, advisers suggest that the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee is likely to endorse before someone emerges as the inevitable nominee -- and that Newt Gingrich appears to be best-positioned to secure her support

Sarah Palin's announcement that she wouldn't run for president disappointed her legions of admirers — but it infuriated Roger Ailes. The Fox News chief wasn't angry about the decision itself. Rather, he was livid that Palin made the October 5 announcement on Mark Levin's conservative talk-radio program, robbing Fox News of an exclusive and a possible ratings bonanza. Fox was relegated to getting a follow-up interview with Palin on Greta Van Susteren's 10 p.m. show, after the news of Palin's decision had been drowned out by Steve Jobs's death. Ailes was so mad, he considered pulling her off the air...

Things are so bad for the GOP and/or Republicans are so turned off by the idea that Mitt Romney is their only viable option rumors have once again surfaced that Sarah Palin could get back in the race. Yes. NYT numbers expert Nate Silver thinks there's a slim chance she could pull it off. One major constraint is that the filing deadline has already passed in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida. So a candidate who entered now could not get her name on the ballot in those states, although some states, like New Hampshire, allow for write-in votes. However,...

Sarah Palin wasn’t ever really going to run for president, was she? That’s Donald Craig Mitchell’s guess. In an Op-Ed that discusses Palin’s decision not to run, Mitchell says she’s long prioritized her celebrity career over her commitment to public office, reminding us of Palin’s lucrative deals that followed after she quit as Alaska’s governor, including a seven-figure contract with Fox News. After three years of tweeting, hinting and eyelash-batting, on Wednesday Sarah Palin announced that she was not running for president. Her Facebook friends are disappointed. But for Sarah-watchers in Alaska like me, the announcement was long expected, old...

She should have taken those kids to a military Hospital so they could see those who decided that even though they also loved their children, they understood that their duty was to our nation and the millions of people who depend on them.... Sacrificing for the country is taking care of your kids......a leader goes places where others are not sure where to go.....and I hear in Sarah's voice in the Bob and Mark show how MUCH she wanted to run.... If Sarah had entered she would have gotten $50 million dollars the first day, or more..... Sarah should re-examine...

Statement of non-candidacy by Gov. Sarah Palin, as provided by her PACAfter much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order. My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time...

Sarah Palin pledged to stay an active part of the political discussion as she announced she wouldn’t be making a 2012 White House run. On Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News show Wednesday night, Palin told supporters that she’s sorry if they are disappointed that she passed on the race. “I apologize to those who are disappointed in this decision,” she said. “I’ve been hearing from them in the last couple of hours but I believe that they, when they take a step back, will understand why the decision was made and understand that, really, you don’t need a title to...

Because I posted this last night: ***Who Needs A Knife: Stabbed In The Back By Someone We Loved*** along with a few comments as to why I felt that way, I wish to hasten to point out my love and devotion to Madam President and all she stands for.... I, like many others, were deeply hurt by this unexpected announcement, and being so reacted in the way I did.... But For the record, I want all my fellow Freepers to know that I still back her 100%, and having slept on it, stand by comments made on my TV show:...

October 5, 2011 6:20 PM EDT Sarah Palin confirmed in a letter to supporters she will not run for President in 2012, saying at this time she can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other Conservatives to office. Below is a copy of Palin's letter: October 5, 2011 Wasilla, Alaska After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision....

Take it for what you will...posted on Mark's page just now: BREAKING: GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN TELLS MARK LEVIN SHE IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012.

My personal favorites are: 1) Bachmann 2) Cain 3) perry Cannot get excited about Gingrich or Santorum.

“You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!” – Taylor (Charlton Heston); The Planet of the Apes, (1968) This classic line is all that came to mind when I read this piece in POLITICO—following New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s decision not to enter the presidential field, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s law firm made a number of calls requesting early state filing deadlines… that’s right. She thinks she can blow it up. She just might. Poll Shows Palin Within 5 Points of Obama She Has A Documentary Out, Doncha Know? Palin’s political action...

Sarah Palin hasn’t closed the door yet on a presidential bid. But few Republicans appear to be waiting for her answer. Never was it clearer than Tuesday, when Chris Christie’s announcement that he would not run in 2012 prompted a throng of strategists to conclude the Republican field was finally set – never mind Palin’s indecision. A new poll published on the same day revealed that two thirds of Republicans don’t want her to run. After spending the better part of three years in the center of the national political spotlight, the former vice presidential candidate appears to have worn...

According to a source with knowledge of the inner workings of SarahPAC, inside the Palin world it’s still a possibility that she might run. However, as the deadline approaches not even her staff knows what she will decide. ABC News has separately learned that the Palin team is well aware of the filing deadlines and are keeping abreast of the changes in the deadline. Politico reported Tuesday that a law firm that employs an attorney representing SarahPAC had been making calls to early states inquiring about presidential filing deadlines. SarahPAC would not confirm the report to ABC News. When reached...

The announcement is to be expected and will be coming shortly from all that I keep hearing, and my inbox is exploding. The writing is on the wall. The establishment class in the Republican party have thrown everything they could at thwarting a Palin run. There have been recent primary date changes in Florida and South Carolina. These moves were artificially moved forward to prevent any more time for a candidate to game the system, to leisurely let the field collapse before entering. This was a specifically choreographed effort by the GOP. The fear of a "Rogue" candidate is almost...

Ken Vogel and I both have sources telling us that calls were made on behalf of a mystery candidate to various early states to determine presidential filing deadlines. Continue Reading The calls were made by representatives of the law firm Baker Hostetler - a firm that employs lawyer Mark Braden, who represents Sarah PAC, her political action committee. As Ken notes, while he nor representatives of Palin’s campaign would comment on the calls, Palin is the only GOP politician eying the presidential race who is represented by the firm. The current thinking in GOP election law circles is that the...

Ken Vogel and I both have sources telling us that calls were made on behalf of a mystery candidate to various early states to determine presidential filing deadlines. Continue Reading The calls were made by representatives of the law firm Baker Hostetler - a firm that employs lawyer Mark Braden, who represents Sarah PAC, her political action committee. As Ken notes, while he nor representatives of Palin’s campaign would comment on the calls, Palin is the only GOP politician eying the presidential race who is represented by the firm. The current thinking in GOP election law circles is that the...

Ken Vogel and I both have sources telling us that calls were made on behalf of a mystery candidate to various early states to determine presidential filing deadlines. Continue Reading The calls were made by representatives of the law firm Baker Hostetler - a firm that employs lawyer Mark Braden, who represents Sarah PAC, her political action committee. As Ken notes, while he nor representatives of Palin’s campaign would comment on the calls, Palin is the only GOP politician eying the presidential race who is represented by the firm. It wouldn’t be the first time that her representatives have sought...

I was supporting Cain , but for a variety of reasons have ended that support . There's no one else currently running whom I wouldn't have to hold my nose for when voting . I've always thought that Palin was unelectable ( if she ran , obviously ) , but am open to being convinced otherwise . Thanks in advance .

One of the most fascinating, and maddening, topics among the political class in the past few weeks has been the electoral prospects of one Sarah Louise Palin (Schwerpunkt-AK), former GOP Vice Presidential Candidate and Governor of Alaska. A number of GOP-friendly websites seem to have parted ways over her candidacy, with flamewars, purgings, and divisions running rampant. Among the sites with strong opinions are The Other McCain (pro), Ace of Spades (somewhat con), RedState (which seems to have descended into fullbore Palin Derangement Syndrome over the last few days), and Free Republic, which is officially pro-Sarah but has developed a...

A Palin victory will depend on the decisions the voters will make based upon her record in Alaska and the solutions she presents to the problems currently plaguing this country. Once a primary is running full force, most voters don’t remember or give the slightest hoot as to which candidate had jumped in a full year ahead of the game and which candidate is only in the race a half a year or three quarters of a year. Votes based on such calculations are petty, foolish, and therefore probably non-existent. When questioned at exit polls, voters usually point to a...

As you all may have heard, Florida has decided to move it's primary date to January 31st. By doing this they have risked of losing half their delgates. Also this has caused the early states of Iowa, SC, NH and NV to now talk about moving their primary dates (possibly losing delegates) to early January or quite possibly the end of December. This will in turn make for a shorter and more intense campaign season. Today is the deadline for moving primary dates. State filing deadlines are fast approaching and we need to be ready to hit the ground running...

I believe that the ruling class politicians see Palin as a real threat to their status quo, and her postponement of announcing her candidacy as a hindrance to their stopping her. One way to force her hand earlier than she intends is to move up the primaries. Anybody else see a pattern here?

In November of 1979, five months before the first primary, Reagan announced he was running for president. Today is only three months before the first primary--three months. Yet I keep hearing people state that Palin has plenty of time to announce, because Reagan waited till November. 5 months vs 3 months. Do people understand that 3 is less than 5; that primary schedules have moved up; that Sara Palin is two months behind Reagan's schedule? It's obvious people seem to be missing the fact that the "Reagan deadline" passed two months ago. Palin is two months behind Reagan's schedule, and...

Sarah Palin is running out of time. So are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and any other Republicans mulling a bid for the presidency. The main reason: the political calendar is rapidly closing. Of all those considering a late entry, Palin is the most likely to make the dive. But, according to several GOP and Democratic primary and campaign experts, she should move quickly or else end up being left behind by the established pack of Republican candidates already on the field. Here are the top five reasons the experts cited for Palin to jump...

Since Governor Palin’s On the Record appearance Tuesday night, the blogosphere and media outlets have been buzzing with opinions that she’s not running for president in 2012. Her conversation with Greta Van Susteren left some to ponder, perhaps more than ever, if she has decided not to relinquish her freedom–not to be shackled–for the sake of a title. Comments left in various and sundry places revealed that some people were angry, some were confused, some were frustrated, while some remained encouraged. No one was unmoved, however. No one was without some type of reaction. No one was neutral. It was,...

Let's suppose Cain wins the nomination. Do you think he's going to pal around with Palin on the campaign trail or pick her as VP? The honest answer is "No". Cain would need independents and Palin has a lot of negatives, also, she's from Alaska, not a key state. The simple truth of the matter is Palin is no longer important as some think she is. And any candidate that latches on to her, or rather, let's Sarah latch on to them could quite possibly end up losing the independents. So, watch for the nominee to distance himself (whoever he...

. Governor Palin is Still Alley Cat SmartPosted on September 28 2011 - 8:23 PM - Posted by: SubmissionsGuest Submission by John Smith“And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him”- Sun Tzu Everyone is getting all wee-weed up lately about Sarah Palin’s supposed indecision about a run for President, especially after her interview last night with Greta. Some here are nearly suicidal. Others are begging for people to have faith and keep their powder dry. For my part, I’ll just offer a simple statement: Sarah Palin has...

Acknowledging that "decisions have to be made" quickly, Sarah Palin on Tuesday laid out a case for not running for president in 2012. Appearing on Fox News' On the Record, a favorite venue, Palin appeared to be talking herself out of the race in an interview with host Greta Van Susteren. "Is a campaign too shackling?" she mused. As the GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee, Palin said she felt encumbered by "handlers." Running for office "prohibits the freedom one needs to really make a difference," said the self-described "rogue" politician. Added Palin: "You don't need a title to make a...

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Palin w/ Greta on Fox: I Noticed for the 1st Time Palin was not introduced as a Fox News Contributor (EVERY OTHER TIME ON FOX SHE WAS) and the Tagline also did not say 'Fox News Contributor'

Sarah Palin has been quiet recently. Surprisingly quiet. Ms. Palin, a one-time Alaska governor, is reportedly just days away from deciding whether to run for president. In the meantime, her Twitter feed and Facebook page have gone silent for the last 10 days. Her Web site has not been updated recently. And Ms. Palin has not appeared on Fox News for a week, since before the last Republican presidential debate.

Republican strategist Ed Rollins on Monday downplayed the latest surge in rumors that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will jump into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, and instead argued in favor of another possible candidate. Christie “ought to stay running New Jersey,” Rollins said on Fox News’ “Kilmeade and Friends” radio show. “If I were advising him, I would tell him not to think about [a presidential bid],” Rollins said. “I can’t imagine Gov. Christie spending the next four or five months in the winters of Iowa, traipsing to the places he’s got to go in order to...

I want a presidential candidate who has no history of cozying up to terrorists; nor do I want a candidate friendly with religions and countries which do not denounce terrorists; or who allow illegal immigrants to come here; or those that support socialist policies. For me that means I must omit Chris Christie, Ron Paul, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney from receiving my support. That’s the way I roll, to save the Republic. Sarah Palin’s record in Alaska shows her to be the bravest, most effective executive I’ve ever seen. She accomplished incredible feats as Governor and united Democrats and...

From the article: So what does it all mean? Is she just stretching it out to stay in the debate without participating in the debates or is she going to jump in right before the filing deadlines at the end of next month and the beginning of November? The answer: Only she knows. Not even her staff is aware of whether she will pull the trigger or not. According to a source with knowledge of the SarahPAC inner-circle, just as it was six months ago she has not made an announcement to her staff about her intentions. As the days...

From the bottom of the polls to the top of the pack, businessman Herman Cain won the Republican Party of Florida’s nationally watched presidential straw poll Saturday in a sign that frontrunner Rick Perry is in deep trouble. Cain’s victory with 37 percent of the vote was a major defeat for Perry, the frontrunner in Florida and national polls, who garnered only 15 percent after wooing the nearly 3,000 party faithful with a free breakfast and mailers. The vote also showed how soft Republican support is for Mitt Romney, who came in third with 14 percent. Unlike Perry, though, he...

Flame away, but please direct your ire at America's self made $500 million man that caries no water for faux conservatives.

“There will be a time when loudmouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the better of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self-destruct. It never fails.” - Margaret Thatcher Maybe Governor Palin really is Alley-Cat smart. But then I never was in doubt. Just look at her improving poll numbers while her future opponents and longtime-foes implode. If this keeps up, people will be BEGGING for Sarah Palin to get in the race.

Political logic and election law suggest that anyone hoping to make a serious run for the White House next year will need to be formally in the race by November. Sarah Palin isn't so sure. ' The former Alaska governor appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on Tuesday, where she hinted ever so slightly that the current "unconventional" political landscape may allow for a later entry. (At the least, she has already proved that the current landscape has allowed would - be candidates to drag out their decisions much longer than one would expect.) Here was her response to...

Palin Waiting Game Could Run Into Octoberby Scott Conroy - September 23, 2011 Decision day for Sarah Palin is coming next week. That is, of course, unless it isn’t. Asked in July when she would decide whether to run for president, the former Alaska governor told Fox News’ Sean Hannity, “August and September. You do have to start laying out a plan if you are to be one to throw your hat in the ring, so that's basically the time frame.”During an early August appearance at the Iowa state fair, Palin echoed that language, suggesting again that late-summer was...

Rep. Waters urges Obama to drop nice-guy act and fight Republicans, Tea Party By Mike Lillis - 09/22/11 02:46 PM ET It’s time for President Obama to quit watching sports and drinking beer with his political opponents in the hope it will lead to a bipartisan agreement, Rep. Maxine Waters said Thursday. The outspoken California Democrat needs to fight harder against the GOP and Tea Party and for Democratic policy priorities, outspoken Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said Thursday. “He's been very nice about it,” Waters said of Obama’s budget negotiations with Republicans. “He's been on the other side of the...

Received today in the mail"There's no question that we must replace Obama in 2012. But the real challenge is who we will replace him with." --Gov. Sarah Palin September 20, 2011Dear xxx, As you may know, Gov. Palin is on the verge of making her decision of whether or not to run for office.It's one of the most difficult and important decisions of her life. And I want her to know that she has our support.Gov. Palin is a proven leader. She's a common-sense conservative who fights for the rights of Americans like you and me -- not special interests...