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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Sarah Palin visit to Iowa a clear sign she'll run for president in 2012

Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 10:17 PM

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Some months back I wrote that Sarah Palin was likely to be the Republican candidate for president in 2012 and a number of disparaging comments were posted.

But now the Guardian newspaper in London is leading with the news that Irish American Palin will headline a dinner in Iowa on Friday.

They say it is clear that this is her opening salvo in the race for the 2012 nomination.

Can't say I'm surprised.

The Guardian quotes Kathie Obradovich, political columnist at the Des Moines Register, who says Palin's visit is highly significant.

"Palin is aware that there are flames of speculation over whether she will run for president and coming to Iowa fans that into a wildfire."says Obradovich.

Strangely I haven't seen much commentary on this Iowa visit in the American media.

Political commentators always fight the last war, not the next one and they have dismissed Palin because she did not deliver ultimately for John McCain.

Sure, they see her as a Tea Party darling and a Fox News star but they don't really take her seriously as a presidential contender.

I think they are making a huge mistake.

The Iowa diner will solidify her bond with grassroots Iowans, who remember, vote in a caucus system, not a primary.

I can very easily see her winning Iowa and heading for New Hampshire like a runaway train.

Who will stop her? Mitt Romney who has never appealed to the grassroots? Newt Gingrich with his three marriages and decades old shtick?

The Guardian interviewed Marilea David, a hard core Republican,who might well have been speaking for most conservatives.

"I think she is great. She is the only person I am excited about just now,"

"She is fiscally conservative. She married her husband for love, not money. She does not have perfect kids, which is big for me. She has been totally vetted by the liberal media and they did not come up with anything other than she is a 'hick'."

There's a bit of the Susan Boyle phenomenon for women especially in Palin.

The more the mainstream mocks Susan the more her base is bonded to her, seeing in her struggle for recognition their own.

Palin is in a similar narrative.

Larry Sabato, director of the political centre at the University of Virginia says Palin will win Iowa if she runs but thinks she will be a poor general election candidate.

" You are looking at a landslide to the Democrats. There is no one the Democrats want more. Obama would expect to win, even if the economy was bad. She is popular among Republicans but in the country as a whole she is unpopular."

I think Larry has it wrong. If Palin prevails she will be a very powerful contender. And many women will be drawn to her, for the historic nature of her run alone.

Who said after Hillary Clinton failed that we'd never see a woman president.

President Palin has a nice ring to it.

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53 comments

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maloney | Sep 20, 2010, 08:42 PM EDT

Amen to that

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seanomelbourne | Sep 20, 2010, 07:48 PM EDT

Maloney the only Havana water worth drinking is Cuban rum

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maloney | Sep 20, 2010, 08:52 AM EDT

Blow us another tune, so it's Havana water that's the problem.

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seanomelbourne | Sep 20, 2010, 01:12 AM EDT

Your a card Mman.

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Monsoonman | Sep 20, 2010, 12:08 AM EDT

Yeah but ye whistled it with an Aussie accent Lad...They were on to yer ways.

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seanomelbourne | Sep 19, 2010, 07:48 PM EDT

Hey! Monsoonman I survived Havana whistling the Star spangled banner in the foyer of the Havana Riviera hotel much to the chagrin of my friend he sort of moved away from me. "Brother Maloney" sounds like a duet of Free Masons BO--.

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Monsoonman | Sep 19, 2010, 01:27 PM EDT

It's an effective passive aggressive form of gun control, Brother Maloney. Yes you can have all of the guns you want, it is in the constitution. But one little bitty technicality: You don't get any ammunition for them.

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maloney | Sep 19, 2010, 01:07 PM EDT

Monsoon...You are right about ammo being scarce. Around here gun shops, dept. stores & Walmart have next to nothing. Shotgun shells in bird shot only. No 22LR or 9mm let alone anything else. Everybody needs to buy it if you can find it. Soon it will be more valuable than gold. Seano... The old preacher man said the best place to find a HOT woman was just after a snake/pison revival. Gets em all worked up.

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Monsoonman | Sep 18, 2010, 11:38 PM EDT

Tx. Maloney, I'll stock up on ammo and guns next trip I make to Az., I can fly them back to Cali....Yeah I remember that Texas church well now, they not only dance with rattlesnakes, they drink pison too. But for the occasional snakebite, they seem to do pretty well and the music and dancing is awesome!....Sean Lad, listen closely: You have to prepare yourself for the coming tidal wave of political change, learn to ride the wave, it's not too late for you to change into a conservative, I'll even vouch for you at our next torchlite meeting.

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maloney | Sep 18, 2010, 09:01 PM EDT

Monsoon...Check out J & G Sales in AZ. for Ammo & Guns of all kinds, cheap. I know CA. is not able to receive many things. Sorry. Also look at Summit Gun Broker in Mo. some of the cheapest prices in the country & some of the best stuff. Owned by Mark Kitterman, a great guy. Seano..Keep an ear to the ground, the Tea Party is coming to a bilabong near you.

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maloney | Sep 18, 2010, 08:22 PM EDT

Seano...Thank goodness your OK. I think we got you beat in slithering, Pick a side, any side.

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seanomelbourne | Sep 18, 2010, 07:46 PM EDT

I have not read of any teaparty in Australia,but any excuse for a game of golf. You can leave the rattlers behind we have enough of them in parliament house and are they adept at slithering and writhing.

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maloney | Sep 18, 2010, 04:42 PM EDT

Tea Parties now in Israel, Rome, Moscow & Australia. seano must be turning over in his grave. Between the parties, Palin, O'Donnell & obama's popularity dropping like a rock, he's bound to have died by now. Rattlers & drinking poison at the same time. Just doesn't get any better.

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Monsoonman | Sep 18, 2010, 12:37 PM EDT

Maloney, I did not know that the Tea Party has crossed over the borders into other countries, that is fantastic. I must admit I feel more kinship with a tea party supporter in Russia than i do with a socialist/liberal/seiu member/ in cali(californica)...Yes under obama they are trying a little back door form of gun control by making it hard to purchase common automatic weapons ammo. like 9mm, .223, .380,etc., it is scarce....Seano, you should join the Aussie Tea Party, we could schedule golf games while attending rallies around the world. I hope they have one in Ireland soon...You should try one of those church services in Tejas, I have seen one guy carry as many as 6 rattlers at one time.

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maloney | Sep 18, 2010, 11:35 AM EDT

The British & Canada both saw increases in crime when they decided to disarm the law abiding people. Since obama became potus, gun sales in the USA has skyrocketed. Crime has came down in the same time period. If you take guns away from good people only criminals will have guns. Australia has started thier own TEA PARTY, along with Moscow, Russia. Soon Australia may become a better place to live with good common sense conservatism just around the corner.

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