Gibbs: Palin might be 'most formidable force' in the Republican Party

[Francesca9]

Source: The Hill

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs had rare praise for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday, saying she might be "the most formidable force in the Republican Party."

As Palin heads to the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa this weekend to address the state party's Ronald Reagan Dinner in Des Moines, Gibbs said President Obama is not paying attention to the 2012 contest.

But Gibbs acknowledged it appears Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and a high-profile player in this year's midterm elections, seems to be “dipping that toe in" the waters for 2012.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/119479-gibbs-palin-might-be-most-formidable-force-in-gop

[NYC Liberal]

1. It's not really praise. Gibbs knows that Palin would be the

perfect opponent considering that Palin really sunk McCain in 2008. Not that he was going to win, but she dragged him down even furthur. Just like they went around saying "Palin is a formidable debater" etc before the debates.

Keep raising those expectations!

[Turborama]

7. Can you imagine what her opponents would do to her during the primaries?

If she does run, the debates are going to make popcorn sales skyrocket!

(edited to fix glaring grammatical error)

[NYC Liberal]

11. Yep--they are ok with her now because she's on their side.

Just wait til the primaries though. The Repug establishment (Romney? Newt?) are not about to let Palin run over them.

[AlinPA]

23. Except for Jeb Bush, she has enough power now to trample them all. The media

will keep her at the lead over them. It is happening now. Her opponents have no control over the candidate preferences and the primaries show the power she has over their voters. They couldn't even beat her favorite in DE.

[cstanleytech]

29. Ya palin was what was a huge nail in the coffin

I think for the mccain campaign though the whole huggy bear incident with mccain hugging Bush on stage didnt help either.

[NYC Liberal]

32. When was that from -- 2005 I think?

But yeah, it definitely made the point pretty damn well!

[awoke_in_2003]

34. then their was the zombie incident...

[Francesca9]

37. it all depends upon Obama, if strong no one can beat him

if weak ...

[Drale]

2. If she is the most formidable force

in the republican party, doesnt that show how weak the "grand old party" is?

[Lugnut]

16. That's what I think.

I think his statement was anything but complimentary.

[pnwmom]

3. He's right. She'll do better on her own than she did with McCain. n/t

[tularetom]

4. Maybe there's some hope for Gibbs yet

Saying she might be the most formidable force in the republican party is not what I would call "praise" but it is pretty smart political strategery.

[Thrill]

5. They would love for her to be the Republican nominee

When she quit being Governor. Her chances of being President went out the window

[sadbear]

6. That says more about the republican party

than it says about palin.

[subsuelo]

14. the insult seems intended n/t

[Samantha]

8. He was being facetious and probably enjoyed every minute of it

How did he keep from grinning as he said this, knowing how it would make some Republicans squirm?

[Grassy Knoll]

9. I think he meant " Formaldehyde Force"

[Turborama]

10. LOL That alone makes this thread rec worthy! n/t

[No Elephants]

33. LOL! Fun with facts

Koch Bros., whose fortune traces to Stalin, funded the ultra right Tea Party.

Koch Bros.fund cancer research and sit on many boards relating to cancer research.

"Koch Industries has been lobbying to prevent the E.P.A. from classifying formaldehyde, which the company produces in great quantities, as a “known carcinogen” in humans." http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=10
.

[David__77]

12. I would love Palin to become "leader" of the GOP.

She is fascist to the core, but weak as rice paper.

[AlinPA]

22. She is their current leader. No one else is close. The media plays everything she says, rather I

should say she is playing the media with everything she says. Her speech in Iowa last night is getting a lot of play and the rest of the republicans are just sitting there with their mouths open. She is telling them to unite. No other republican is. It looks like we will be facing her as their presidential candidate in 2012. From now on, we will have to keep our TVs on mute or very low to avoid her screeching and screaming of hate and ignorance.

[Bravo Zulu]

13. Turd blossom will refudiate that statement!

rove will exact his revenge on palin,mark my words.

[Lil Missy]

15. That's not exactly high praise.

[DFLforever]

17. He's rather insulting the GOP ' boys', isn't he?

Can't imagine Newt and Rove are too thrilled with her.

[Historic NY]

18. Reap what you sow, for the 1/2 term is sure running like she wants a full term....

if they couldn't get her under control now then she'd be a "looser cannon", later.

[ixion]

19. Proving that all it takes to rise to power in the GOP is a

set of large breasts and complete lack of a brain.

[awoke_in_2003]

35. hers are not large...

but I agree with the lack of brain.

[Blandocyte]

20. Like in high school

popularity and influence don't require smarts. The Tea-liban love her. The Repubs need the Tea-liban.

[qanda]

21. Palin/Media Whores 2012

Doesn't matter that Palin polls worse than a dead cat, the media keeps pimping her like she's destined to win it all.

[niceypoo]

24. And she is a ditzy dingbat

When my republican coworkers talk about her running I ask them, out of 70 million or so republicans, is she really the most qualified republican there is to run for president?

[underpants]

25. Good move- draw her in to run against

obviously she is running anyway but this helps

[krabigirl]

26. Well, she is a disaster for everyone else, and way too polarizing.

[sufrommich]

27. Gibbs is stroking the massive Palin ego for good reason.

Run,Sarah,run! This would be like a dream come true for democrats.

[cynzke]

28. "Restore America"

A very clever political maneuver. Take Obama's "Audacity to Hope" message, twist it around and use it against Obama and Dems. Palin is learning from past mistakes. Negativity and hate becomes more acceptable if you are saving your country. In this climate of economic uncertainty and national debt, pushing all the fear buttons in the guise of "Restore America" will work for Palin.

[scheming daemons]

30. Good idea by Gibbs.. pump her up as the "face" of the GOP....

That helps us immensely.

[lumpy]

31. If Palin is the most formidable force in the Repub party, then

that party is in a bigger hole than they could ever imagine.

[pa28]

36. For baseball fans.

Billy Martin liked to imagine what the opposition's greatest fear was and attack it.

God knows I have my problems with Gibbs but he's really got the right idea here. Palin as the face and mouth of the Republican party is their nightmare. Palin knows nothing about fortune and certainly she can't be trusted to foster the interests of the money elite (not for ideological reasons but just because she's a loose cannon). She's useful but when she oversteps her bounds she becomes a liability and even a threat to their own interests just because she's coming from outside the club.

Maybe Gibbs will include O'Donnell in his next comment. The rise of these people is a major problem for the repub establishment and if we can pour some additional gasoline on the fire so be it.