Where's Sarah Palin?
The Alaskan governor apparently will not be appearing in person at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual gathering of rightwing gurus and grassroots activists. She's going to phone it in--that is, speak by video to the hundreds or thousands (are there still thousands of conservative activists?) assembling later this week in a Washington, DC, hotel.
CPAC is a traditional weigh station for Republican presidential wannabes eager to suck up to the base. They try to wow (or appease) the activists and hobnob with the leaders of the national conservative movement. Last year, John McCain, on his way to bagging the GOP presidential nomination, was compelled to attend the meeting and make nice with the wing of the party that has tended to despise him. And CPAC is ground zero for the GOP's cultural war generals and foot-soldiers. Where else can Phyllis Schlafly get a standing ovation?
So it would seem a natural stop for Palin. But she's taking a pass.
There are at least two plausible explanations:
She's not really serious about running for president in 2012. Perhaps she has already realized that she won't be ready for prime time even in another three years. Maybe she has had enough of all that darn media scrutinizin'. Possibly she's realized that Alaska might be plenty for her to handle. Whatever the reason, if a GOP politician had decided that she or he would not be running for president and didn't care about feeding the political gossip mill, then she or he might indeed want to skip CPAC--particularly at a time when the conservative movement is in the doldrums.
She's really serious about running for president. If Palin truly wants to go for it in 2012, the smart play for her at this point would be to skip the conference. She doesn't need to warm the cockles of conservatives. She had them at hello. And she doesn't need any more media examination at this time. (And a Palin appearance at CPAC would draw mucho attention.) What she needs is to improve her performance as a candidate and as a thinker. That sort of task is best done out of public view. But imagine if she comes to CPAC next year, gives a rousing, policy-drenched speech, and holds a press conference in which she comes across as knowledgeable about a host of national issues. What a boost that would be. (Pat Buchanan would go ga-ga.)
Playing hard to get with CPAC could be a sign Palin is prepping for a run--and that she and her political advisers are finally getting smart. What good news for the Palin phreaks at CPAC and elsewhere.
BLAGO'S SENATOR. On Friday, with Senator Roland Burris in increasing trouble, I appeared on Hardball to ponder his future:
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Comments
"But imagine if she comes to CPAC next year... in which she comes across as knowledgeable about a host of national issues."
haha David, you made a funny! I'm laughing @ "knowledgeable". Seriously though, I hope she does run because that'll guarantee another 4 years in the desert for the GOP.
Posted by: Alan
| February 23, 2009 12:54 PM
What's the inside scoop on Rove not showing up today? Got anything on that D/C?
Posted by: Alan
| February 23, 2009 9:10 PM
Good job on Rachel's show David.
Posted by: Alan
| February 23, 2009 9:43 PM
It's waaaay early to contemplate such a thing: but we seem to have a strong candidate for understatement o' the year:
DC: "What she needs is to improve her performance as a candidate and as a thinker."
She's got the candidate part down. It's that gosh darn thinking part that's got her buffaloed.
KATIE COURIC: "What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?"
SARAH PALIN: "Well, let's see. There's --of course --in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings, there's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are -- those issues, again, like Roe v Wade where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know -- going through the history of America, there would be others but--"
COURIC: "Can you think of any?"
PALIN: "Well, I could think of -- of any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a Vice President, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today."
Sarah Palin, unable to name any Supreme Court decisions other than Roe v. Wade, CBS News interview, Oct. 1, 2008
Watch the video:
http://tinyurl.com/anuxgd
Oil and water. Orange Juice and Toothpaste, Palin and Camera. They just don't mix well. She's like Mr. 20% in lipstick and high heels, straight outta Neiman Marcus.
Posted by: Clint
| February 23, 2009 11:37 PM
Giving her momma a run for her money in the Gaffe Olympics: Bristol Palin.
Bristol Palin: Abstinence for all teens 'not realistic'
http://tinyurl.com/c2222o
Not as funny as the Couric interview; but another example of how Palin and Camera just don't mix.
Far be it from me to give the Grandstanding ol' Party any recommendations; but for pure comedic value, I've got my fingers crossed for Palin.
Posted by: Clint
| February 23, 2009 11:52 PM
Gotta leave the comedy to the pros:
"The whole cast of 'Slumdog Millionaire' came out to see the Oscars. 'Slumdog' won best picture, which everyone seemed to know was going to happen. It was the big favorite going in. They're saying the only way it could have possibly lost is if it had picked Sarah Palin as a running mate."
--Jimmy Kimmel
Pure Gold. Pure Comedic Gold. Those Palins.
Posted by: Clint
| February 24, 2009 12:19 AM
just ran across your hardball column. geez david, even i can see that if dems had dared republicans to filibuster the bill, that would have made an already contentious environment that much worse. did the senate cuts hurt? yes it did. david obey said it was at the expense of a million jobs. but you are forgetting the long view. those 3 republicans are going to be crucial if dems want to pass healthcare legislation. it would have been stupid to have alienated them now over the stimulus fight when we are going to need them more in the future.
Posted by: omen
| February 24, 2009 4:52 AM
Um.... Isn't the term "way station", not "weigh station"? Unless she's obligated to, you know, stop and have her cargo checked...
Posted by: kayobee
| February 24, 2009 8:44 AM
Obama Administration To Subsididze Hedge Fund Industry While People Are Waiting In Food Lines:
http://tinyurl.com/d3a5vu
Obama administration backs Bush, tries to kill 'lost' White House emails lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/ah7rp6
Posted by: as_if!
| February 24, 2009 10:21 AM
Obama expanding military operations in Pakistan:
http://tinyurl.com/bg7x9h
President Obama said Tuesday that he would send an additional 17,000 American troops to Afghanistan this spring and summer.:
http://tinyurl.com/awfuqr
Posted by: as_if!
| February 24, 2009 10:22 AM
I think David had sketched a very plausible scenario. If Palin is finally wising up, she realizes that it wasn't just the media's fault that she looked ridiculous, but that her own ignorance might have had something to do with it.
If she spent the next year seriously prepping herself (maybe she could watch "Jeopardy" every day) just think how the press would swoon over the "new Sarah" when she comes back able to comment coherantly on the issues.
Posted by: wvmcl
| February 24, 2009 11:46 AM
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