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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Sarah Palin takes another important step in presidential race

Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 03:49 PM

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Sarah Palin's appearance in Long Island this week was noteworthy for several reasons.

The most important one, however, was it signals a new phase in her campaign for president.

Palin wooed a large crowd of Long Islanders at the Crest Hollow Club in Woodbury.

The audience was a mixture of business people drawn from both political backgrounds.

Long Island was a great location for Palin to choose to break out of the adoring crowd circuit she regularly encounters in friendly states.

Long Islanders however, are the ultimate switch voters, who move back and forth between Democrats and Republicans.

This time she won them over-- big.

She took questions on all topics and displayed what ' Newsday' called an impressive knowledge on a range of subjects.

This is the real Sarah Palin, the one you can hardly find behind the media image and the sneering stuff of late night comedians.

Given how undistinguished this Republican presidential field is Palin looks more and more like an option for the GOP.

Instead of pining for Chris Christie they may want to look North to Alaska for their best hope.

She brings excitement, commitment and a sense of something new to a very staid political party.

Sure she will start as an outsider, but how far more outside can you be when you were Governor of Alaska and a woman to boot?

And look where she is now.

I have written here consistently that Palin continues to be underestimated by the media and the Washington echo chamber.

As she proved in Long Island she's as smart as a whip, looks great, is confident and has a plan whether you like it or not.

I see no reason to change my long-term forecast that she will be the Republican nominee.

This week I believe she took another important step.

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43 Comments

15 - 43 | See all comments

kanawa1 | Mar 01, 2011, 07:40 AM EST

Wild horses won't keep me from going to Ottawa and greeting President Palin on her first state visit to Canada!

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Sugapea | Mar 01, 2011, 04:33 AM EST

If the Republican Party doesn't run Sarah in 2012...Watch Out! Hell as no fury like a woman scorned! And it wouldn't be a surprise...if Sarah didn't run her own 3rd Party. Seems John McCain may have created a monster! RUN SARAH RUN!

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luisainCA | Mar 01, 2011, 01:21 AM EST

Keep up the good work Governor Sarah Palin. My two daughter and I are proud of you. God bless you always, and HIS purpose will be done.

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seanomelbourne | Feb 21, 2011, 11:50 PM EST

Palin should run for dogcatcher in Wasilla.

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RandyMcMurphy | Feb 21, 2011, 10:20 PM EST

I hope my family in Ireland and the UK are not reading this tripe...Sarah is an embarrassment to our country and a sad state of affairs of our educational system

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ciarrai | Feb 21, 2011, 09:43 PM EST

Dude, she is toast. Those 15 minutes are over. Wait until the book by an aide blows the cover on this phoney and reveals the reality beneath. You have to be smoking crack to think she would be anything but a disaster for this country. Next question.

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seanomelbourne | Feb 21, 2011, 07:42 PM EST

You mean down to earth ignorance I hope.

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peterson | Feb 21, 2011, 06:17 PM EST

Palin would make an excellent Secretary of State with her down to earth common sense or even Vice Pres. !!

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PatriciaMarya | Feb 21, 2011, 01:44 PM EST

There is only one true government program of Socialism in this country and that is the PDF of Alaska, or the Petroleum Dividend Fund. Each year, all the citizens of Alaska are given an equal amount of money from that the state makes from the 98% Federal Land oil profits. Every single resident and it is given, sometimes erroneously, to those that had died during that year. To be sure, they do pay taxes on it (see it referred to in the IRS instruction book referring to Alaska residents, etc.) When Palin was governor, she raised the unit allocation from $1,000 to $3,200. Thus, Millers family of 10, got $32,000 for that year. Her husband is bi-racial, having First Nation blood from the Intuk (sp?) tribe in his ancestry; however, I have never heard of any improvements or programs to raise the standard of living of the First Nation villages in Alaska many of which have no water or sanittion facilities. I would have thought that the man who had an office of his own in the Governor's Mansion would have encouraged his wife to concentrate on his ancestry. She left the University in Hawaii, as her father told us, because "there were too many ethnic people there." I am not sure where it was in the chronology of the 5-6 colleges that she required in order to achieve her degree, but that is not a heartening trait to have as a politician in today's Global World. When she quit the governorship on July 3, 2009, it was her father's line regarding not retreating, just reloading which she has used ad nauseum. However, as is the truth, she is laughing all the way to the bank. We need politicians who understand that they are to be Public Servants, there to serve the public; not publicity hounds who are hiding their financial dictatorship drives.

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kevinhayes | Feb 21, 2011, 01:22 PM EST

Patrick, I really hope your long-term forecast is correct. The country really needs a GOP Presidential candidate like Sarah Palin - it will expose, once but sadly not for all, the deeply unserious truth about the GOP electoral, political and economical strategies. She has zero chance to win in a general election and would pave the way for not only a decisive Barry O'Bama 2012 win but a retaking of the House and retention of the Senate. The wise old men of the GOP know that this "down ticket effect" could be disastrous for them which is why they're upping the dumping on her (Michael Medved on WSJ as an example) and desperately trying to recruit Chris Christie, who is smart enough to know that Barry is unbeatable in 2012. I'm joining the "Californian Democrats for Palin", as are many others. Bring her on!

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CherylJean | Feb 21, 2011, 12:58 PM EST

Palin is no politician. If she quit her job as Governor of Alaska, what says she won't quit and run away when things get tough as President? I don't see her as a candidate at all.

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DannyBoyG | Feb 21, 2011, 12:01 PM EST

If she wins the nomination will her daughter Bristol Google the information for her to let her know what a President actually does?

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msdsandpiper | Feb 21, 2011, 02:35 AM EST

(Some of) these comments aren't worth reading, and are a waste of screen space. Too many stupid, imbeciles (intentionally redundant and, yet, an understatement!) calling others "stupid." Does it take one to know one? Not at all, in most cases. It's a sad fact that anti Palin commentators know little of which they "speak." She IS bright, knowledgeable, and articulate. She would be a most welcome, and much needed, "change" in 2012!

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chicks8439 | Feb 20, 2011, 09:55 PM EST

@ susanna... Why are all democrats so darned stupid!!!

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seanomelbourne | Feb 20, 2011, 07:48 PM EST

Clancy a chara does the unc in your name mean unclear or what?

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