Palin is Finished.

[PhillySane]

An awful lot of commentary was spent last night on CNN and MSNBC discussing Palin's stupid mistake. She picked the wrong time, she said the wrong things and her choice of the term blood libel was just outright dumb. At one point someone threw up her latest approval rating from early January, 22%. She's toast.

But don't stop calling her out everyone! I myself won't be happy until that rating goes to 0%.

Sarah, pack it in.

[madokie]

1. Oh and sarah take your party with you

don't let the door hit you in the ass either

[NeedleCast]

2. No She Isn't, That's Naive

Americans have a very short term memory when it comes to political gaffs and slips. If she had said this two months before the 2012 primaries...maybe. Keep in mind this is a woman who has said more dumb shit in two years than most politicians will say in their entire career and she's got a good shot at the GOP nomination if she runs.

[PhillySane]

9. I seem to think the timing

of all this was devastating for her. She should be launching her Prez campaign right now, not trying to recklessly defend her already reckless positions. She'll have to put that on hold for many months and most likely it won't ever happen.

[NeedleCast]

14. No one but the most politically astute will remember this in six months

All Palin has to do to stay viable is stay in the spotlight.

In 2008, DU was all a-buzz with grave dancing on the GOP tombstone. A sizable chunk of DU was giddy at the thought that the GOP was dead as a political entity as all the "newz" coming out of their Tee-Vees was that the GOP was decimated from the 2008 election, leaderless and without direction.

Then they kicked the shit out of us in 2010.

Also, keep in mind that Palin's constituancy doesn't care about the personal actions of their candidates as long as said candidate continues to toe the God, Guts, Guns rhetoricical talking points. I can't count on both hands the number of their political leaders who have been caught in major scandals and nearly instantly forgiven because, well, they're Republicans.

[PhillySane]

17. I agree with most of that

except, this is a fatal blow. If she chooses to stay in the spotlight, it will only hurt her, as it did yesterday, because she only makes the knot tighter when she talks. She will have to either change her tune dramatically or disappear for awhile. I think, by the time she resurfaces, it will be too late.

[NeedleCast]

28. Hurts her with who?

No one outside the GOP core is going to vote for her. Her negatives with moderates and liberals are already gigantic. Nothing will hurt her with the people that would vote for her, or she'd have been sunk long ago. She could abort triplets live on national TV and they'd spin for her. The fact that she is a complete idiot doesn't phase them at all (likely because most of them are too). It doesn't take anything more than going to take a peek at any random far-right/tea party website to see that her most recent gaffs have not phased them in the slightest.

Don't get me wrong, I hope the GOP nominates her. I think she is (currently) the most beatable GOP candidate possible. Plus I think an Obama vs Palin debate will be historical in it's one-sided nature.

As far as it being too late, most people had never heard of Obama six months before the Democratic Primaries in 2008. History is full of examples of people who literally came out of nowhere to oust a front runner. There is almost no "too late" in American politics. Recall too, the 2008 Republican Primary. None of the people who were being predicted as front runners in 2007 came within sniffing distance of the nomination. At one point, McCain had to put his campaign on hold because it was out of money and recieving no incoming cash flow. Guliani was all but wearing the crown at that point.

Playing the "who will win" game 20 months before the primaries is setting yourself up for failure.

[PhillySane]

34. I see what you're saying but

1. Her core group is not enough to push her through a nomination and 2. She's NOT unknown. Everyone else now knows EXACTLY who she is.

[NeedleCast]

38. Her core group is a large bloc of the Republican vote

Comeing from a family that is mostly moderate Republicans, I can say that most of them view her like the plague. However, the tea party dipships are currently in power and they will - as a group - vote for her. I think a lot of it will depend on who else is running. If The Newt really runs, he has the potential to split the ultra-conservative block, and there could be others as well. If just one of them runs, they have a decent shot of winning the Republican nomination. Like I said, my caution to you is that history is chock-full of candidates that have been declared dead only to come storming back.

You're 2nd point is correct, I doubt very many people will change their opinion of Palin. She is a love-hate figure and those people rarely win elections because they can't draw moderates. IMO, this is a good year for a Romney run as he is a marginally successful Gov in a blue state. Unlike Palin, Mittens can draw moderates and would be a much greater threat to Obama...so I say Goooooooo Palin!

[PhillySane]

41. From a Dem side strategy

we should hope she gets nominated, but that is wild fantasy now. It's really all about the money, and not enough will get thrown her way. It's like sponsors pulling away from an athlete that does something wrong. The money disappears.

[NeedleCast]

44. Whu?

Michael Vick
Lebron James
Tiger Woods
...

This won't be a short list. Go take a look at what her PAC generates...and she's not even currently a candidate for anything.

[PhillySane]

Vick

doesn't get any endorsement money, just NFL money and he is deeply in debt. But that's another discussion. My point is from here on in it will be hard for her to raise money from the center. She'll need a very rich fascist to get that kind of money for a presidential run. It won't happen.

[NeedleCast]

54. She never has rasied money from the center

She's never needed to. Like I said, go look at what SarahPAC is brining in, even during the "off-season." Every time she says something stupid (regularly), she gets more money as her sympathetic followers open their purse strings again and again. Further, hsitory also shows us that even candidates who are initially under-funded (McCain, I'm looking at you here) but poll well up front will get all the funding they need.

[PhillySane]

56. Alright

let's see how well she polls now.

[NeedleCast]

67. She polls horribly with the general electorate and will continue to do so

That's why I want her to win the GOP Primary.

Right now, it looks like Palin has no chance, according to the most recent CNN/Opinion Reserach Poll I can find (from December 2010).

"Palin's "likely" rating is 10 points worse among Republicans than former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and 18 points worse than ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee."

However, that's just dealing with one-on-one scenarios, which Primaries aren't. I think the Teabaggers will vote en masse for Palin so a lot of what happens will depend on what the rest of the playing field looks like. If there are three legitimate mainstream GOP candidates all splitting the moderate/core Republican vote, can Palin win by getting all the tea party/far-right nutter votes?

[PhillySane]

68. No

And the Tea Party is going down with her. Let's just see the next few polls that come out on both.

[NeedleCast]

69. I wish you were right, but I don't think you will be

[ChairmanAgnostic]

59. historical? Hysterical, more likely.

[GoCubsGo]

19. Yep, they said the same thing about Gingrich.

Yet, here he is, getting ready to run for the Presidency. They just spend a year or so under their rocks, and crawl back out when they think everyone has forgotten about them. Like Gore Vidal said, this is the United States of Amnesia.

[NeedleCast]

32. Yup, Exactly

The Newt was all but finished politically until he managed to latch what was left of his star to the Tea Party/far right bandwagon. Now he's on the rise again because he's managed to insert himself into the tea party plan. Mr. Family Values has been able to do this despite being a two-time divorcee and having a history of failing at the very values he uses as a political stump.

[malaise]

48. Gingrich has been finished for ages

Sadly no one told him.

[KittyWampus]

33. Actually, I think you are being naive. Everything has a shelf life. Especially media creations like

Palin.

She was never that popular outside the extreme right anyway.

The corporate owners might have found her useful for stirring up the far right to get them to the polls in the past but going forward all she'll end up being is a fringe character trotted out here and there only when necessary.

[NeedleCast]

43. Maybe, but despite having the brainpower of a lunch box

She's managed to thrive in the post 2008 fall out.

She has almost no popularity outside the far-right but that's a large group right now and it will most likely vote in lock-step. DU pops off like a whack-a-mole every time Sarah says something stupid, which is frequently, and she keeps not going away. Does the media control Palin, or does Palin control the media? She can't pick a bugger without them going into a frenzy of speculation that lets her dominate another newz cycle.

[KittyWampus]

45. Ah, you're probably right about her longevity as a media side show.

[PhillySane]

46. The RW media definitely has an agenda with her

but everyone else loves to throw up her gaffs and dissect them endlessly. She's now their pinata and as long as she keeps going, they'll keep poking it to get the candy.

[NeedleCast]

62. The lesson of 2010 should still be obvious to us

In months when the economy goes down, so do Obama's popularity numbers. In months when the economy improves (or is portrayed as improving), his popularity goes up. What do you think 2012 is going to hinge on? The biggest threat to a 2nd term for Obama is the economy. If we double dip people will vote for anyone except the incumbant. Look at the examples that 2010 gave us. Do you think in a normal economy that Sharon Angle and Rand Paul would be legitimate threats (one even a winner)? Not a chance! But in election years when the country is precieved to be in bad shape and heading in the wrong direction, the mob will vote out incumbants as it did in 2006 and 2010, regardless of where fault may actually lie.

I don't think in a normal or even down-but-improving economy Palin has a chance. but in bad one, she is legit threat no matter how much dumb stuff comes out of her mouth.

[rfranklin]

3. I am praying for her...

to disappear.

[Crankie Avalon]

4. Maybe as a viable candidate for national office (if she ever was)...

...but I think her career as a celebrity/reality TV/freakshow/trainwreck has plenty to go, yet.

[PhillySane]

6. Sarah has a spot at Fox

but nowhere else.

[ctaylors6]

12. I agree

I think she may have been a viable candidate for the repub nomination before this week. Now I think that chance is zero.

I think she may be able to influence other elections in the future (as a commentator and campaigner), although not nearly to the extent she did before this week.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. I don't think she got the memo.

From what I've seen, Sarah Palin, will not "sit down and shut up". She's had a taste of the drug, Celebrity. She craves the attention and "adoration", not to mention the money. She will not "retire" to Alaska and return to being a private citizen. It just isn't in her DNA. Like any commercial product, she'll continue trying to compete in the market until only 20 people show up when she has an event.

[Turborama]

24. She always craved celebrity. Studied "media" at (multiple) college(s) & became a sportscaster

Her hunger for fame since childhood is well known. Politics was just another route she took to get to that goal...



In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant.<32><33> She finished third in the Miss Alaska pageant,<34><35> playing flute in the talent portion of the contest,<36> and receiving both the Miss Congeniality award and a college scholarship.<29>

After graduating from high school, Palin enrolled at the University of Hawaii in Hilo.<37> Shortly after arriving in Hawaii, Palin switched to Hawaii Pacific University for a semester in the fall of 1982 and then North Idaho College in the spring and fall of 1983.<38> In June 2008, the Alumni Association of North Idaho College gave her its Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.<39> She attended the University of Idaho in the fall of 1984 and spring of 1985, and attended Matanuska-Susitna College in the fall of 1985. Palin returned to the University of Idaho in the spring of 1986, receiving her bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism in 1987.<6><38><40><41>

After graduating, she worked as a sportscaster for KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV in Anchorage,<42><43> and as a sports reporter for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman,<44><45> fulfilling an early ambition.<46>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin#Early_life_and_career

[PhillySane]

31. Of course, its all about the spotlight

to her. Only problem is she's not bright enough to know when she's saying the wrong thing. Same as George W. He kept talking his approval numbers down, until finally, everyone saw what a dope he was.

[MilesColtrane]

75. That's a bad analogy if you're arguing that she's finished.

After all, Bush ended up in the White House for eight years.

[malaise]

7. 100% correct

This nightmare is over. I hope she saved the money.

[white cloud]

8. Poll links???

Please post up some of the polls that I heard are out there. I feel like voting on this today!!!!!!!!!

[PhillySane]

11. I didn't catch who did it

they threw up the number on MSNBC I believe.

[hlthe2b]

10. She may be on political "life support"....

but she'll keep sucking the oxygen out of the room for a very long time to come. She's one cadaver that won't be buried.:eyes:

[brewens]

13. I'd love to see her go out like some of the big lottery winners.

We need to see a story in a few years about how all the money is gone. With her and her family I'd give her a good shot at blowing through it all. The people she's working with and her employees need to see that she's going down. They should be looking to take her for anything they can while they still have the chance. Once the looks are gone and she's not worth anything to the people on the right, she'll be lucky to get a job at Walmart.

[Gman]

15. No, no, no!! She needs to win the GOP nomination for president

then go down miserably in flames as someone with a 22% approval will.

[hlthe2b]

20. For once I think I might agree with Bob Frum..

He said he had likewise wanted to see her win the GOP nomination because she'd be devoured in the General Election. But, now, he is concerned about what a horrendous signal that sends for her to be representing either US political party (and implied, how nasty the election would become with her in it). I'm not quite there with him, but leaning in that direction.

[Gman]

84. I hadn't thought about it like that but

In light of what happened in Tuscon Palin in the 12 GE could be a complete disaster for the country and completely unleash the darkest side of the GOP.

[Champion Jack]

16. Why would she run for president? That would mean a pay cut

and it's obvious that Sara is all about the money

[aikoaiko]

18. I think her chances at major political office are done, but she won't be gone.

Too much money to be made by being a spectacle.

[C_U_L8R]

21. No one likes to be lectured

especially by a meanspirited self-absorbed churchlady like Palin.

She's done.

[PhillySane]

23. don't forget

Rifle-Totin'!

[C_U_L8R]

40. And Rootin'-Tootin'

Fancy Pageant Walkin'...

[PhillySane]

42. Refudiate talkin...

[Ian David]

22. Palin hasn't given-up. This morning, she announced her "Work Will Make You Free" jobs initiative.

She said she has a "Final Solution" to the "Ninety-Niner Question."

[PhillySane]

26. No one will listen

[steve2470]

25. I do think some attempt at a better relationship with the Jewish community might be in order

I think her blood libel gaffe was most hurtful to that community. Will she ? Probably not. I don't think she's done, yet.

[Dulcinea]

29. Most Jews don't vote Republican.

So I doubt she cares about them or their opinions.

[Ian David]

36. IIRC, it's only about 14% of Jews that vote Republican. n/t

[queenjane]

27. I'm not so sure

Judging from all the letters defending her that have been printed in the newspapers (in NC, my local small town rag AND the nearby moderate-sized city where I work), her "fans" are in a rage over the "unfair" treatment of their icon, and blaming liberals for the massacre and everything else wrong with the country.

From our vantage point, it's logical to think that finally her supporters would've had enough. But logic has zero to do with it. As a microcosm of her base, I present my huge, sprawling, southern family: Blue color and mostly struggling financially; little education beyond high school and no interest in their kids going to college, either; very very religious (mostly Baptist); homophobic; bigoted; Confederate cultists; very much in love with all firearms; shoot random animals for amusement and then boast about it (by this I mean they sit on their porches and shoot squirrels and other critters because they enjoy blasting things--they're not eating them); creationists; climate-change deniers; militaristic AND xenophobic. The irony is that most of them are sucking at the public teat in some way, either through SS & VA benefits, unemployment, food stamps, Medicaid, etc; however, they argue THEY deserve it and have earned it, while those "others" are stealing from "hard-working taxpayers". They love Limbaugh, Beck, et al. They hate immigrants, minorities, athiests, vegetarians & vegans, intellectuals. There are no books or newspapers in their homes. They do not question anything they're told. They know the "right way" and don't need to investiage further. Hell, my college-educated and formerly somewhat well-read brother is now a Limbaugh disciple, and believes the ONLY thing the govt should be doing is fielding armies and waging wars.

This a very long-winded way of saying that Palin can utter all the idiocy imaginable, and these morons will never turn on her. They will defend her to the death against the slander of "Un-American lib'ral commie illegal-lovers". She is, in their tiny minds, one of their own.

[PhillySane]

39. I still say her core group is too small for her

to gain any steam off of, especially now, when the majority of Americans are catching on to her. The bad taste will linger. She won't even get close to a nomination.

[AlinPA]

50. Her supporters control the party now. The primaries showed that they have the power, even in DE. nt

[PhillySane]

52. Good,

hopefully this will bring the party down again too.

[Mad_Dem_X]

30. We can only hope!

She needs to just go away and stay under the radar for...well, forever, preferably.

[cherish44]

35. Hope you're right but don't ever misunderstimate the stupidity of the GOP base

or the public at large for that matter. I think there are many savvy spin doctors who could turn the tide for her.

[PhillySane]

37. Hey, your icon!

I still have that copy of Rolling Stone!

[AlinPA]

47. The republican base loves her. She will take the nomination easily because she is loved

by the Christian right, fundamentalists, the republican pro-gun voters, and the base of teabaggers who control the party. The only one who could beat her is Bush.

[old mark]

49. I hope you are right, but I won't believe it till I see it....I thought the GOP was finished for a

while there, too, and that no one would ever vote for a halfwit like Reagan...I was wrong.


mark

[66 dmhlt]

51. From your lips to God's ears.

[white cloud]

53. Go vote

here is a poll

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/02/11/2010-02-11_poll_reads_palins_palm_no_chance_in_2012_71_of_americans_dont_think_shes_qualifi.html

[66 dmhlt]

72. A Poll from February of 2010?!? What's the point?

[affrayer]

55. Before You Count Palin Out...

Remember that Bush Jr left the White House with around a 22% approval rating. A rating that now has more than doubled if for no other reason then he hasn't been seen in public for two years other than to promote his "Legacy of Lies."

[PhillySane]

57. Yes, people love that he isn't president anymore!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

58. She'll bottom out at 17%

the same number of rapture believer, rabid christian, dumbinionist types that infect our nation.

[lapislzi]

60. She's too dangerous to write off.

Funny, I was going to write something about being six feet under Alaskan soil, and thought the better of it. I don't want to be any more guilty of inflammatory rhetoric than the other side.

But even if she were dead (and I would not wish this upon her or anyone), she would still be a threat.

These are sad, scary, times. I never felt the need to censor myself like this before.

[PhillySane]

63. Eerily

reminds me of Loughner's "grammar is the new currency".

[workinclasszero]

61. Keep diggin Palin

You got a nice deep hole started to plant your fascist un-american Taliban party in! :popcorn:

[steve2470]

64. I think this is instructive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch

I'm sure many wrote him off, too. See also, Nixon 1960.

[Myrina]

65. Disagree.

... the nutbags who adore her will defend her even more vigorously now that she's really been 'persecuted' by the 'lamestream media', meanwhile that same media continues to circle-jerk itself over her every mumble and jumble.

Someone just needs to disconnect her home internet access so she can't broadcast herself anymore.

[alc]

66. she's not finished around here

I predict she'll be the most talked about person around here for the next 2 years whether she runs, wins, looses, quits, or anything else. We love her, or at least we love paying attention to her.

[Javaman]

70. Grifters are chameleons.

She will regroup and reinvent.

That's how they work.

If you look at all of her statements, she never once mentions anything about her past. Grifters never dwell on the past. They can't, because the past contains all of their screw ups.

She is the shit phoenix.

[PhillySane]

71. I think the public at large

is finally seeing her for what she is. At first it was cute, funny to watch her trip all over herself. It ain't cute and it sure as hell isn't funny anymore.

[slackmaster]

73. I hope you're right

I'm tired of hearing about her 7/24.

[Broderick]

74. I don't understand the fascination

I think she will never run, and I would be surprised if she made any noise in the primaries. I think too many on the left spend too much time worrying about her. Obama would destroy her in the election if she did win the nomination. I go back to an old cliche. If a bear shits in the woods,,,,,,,

[JoePhilly]

76. As she gets older, she will be replaced.

There is a reason that McCain's camp picked Palin as their VP choice and not Kay Bailey Hutchison.

After all, Kay was much more experienced and better known.

Palin was pretty. Kay was old.

At some point, Palin will be replaced.

[Contrary1]

77. I don't think it matters much how Palin does in the polls...

Rove will see to it that she doesn't win the nomination. That's the kind of thing he's paid to do.

[Mike 03]

78. Yeah, it is over for Palin. Thank you for this post.

It continues to amaze me that people actually believe this idiot has a future in politics other than as a clown. She is toast.

[Sheepshank]

79. While the constituants may have short memories

We are at an age where EVERYTHING publically noted, spoken, written etc, is dredged back up when the time is ripe. This all there, it's not going away...it will be resurrected and everyone will remember. Except of course for the 22%, I suspect in hind sight, some will experience some serious cog diss and will wonder why they donated to SarahPAC.

[opihimoimoi]

80. Not a Chess Player....not even checkers.....she will reach 12% yet...

[Jokinomx]

81. May she fly away like a Quayle. We can only hope....n/t

peace

[RagAss]

82. True...but not because of this.

The Bush's don't like her...and nothing happens in the GOP without their approval.

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. I'll make a prediction

she will announce her run for the Presidency.

She will win one or two primaries...

but no, she is not finished. In fact, from her believers point of view, she is now more dangerous. As in dangerous as a leader of something that most Muricans are not accustomed. This has entered a whole new level and to a point is beyond politics.

Under estimate at your peril

[RagAss]

85. It's a cult. A cult of dangerous morons.

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. But a cult that will do well, relatively speaking,

in primary elections.

And as a cult, that is what makes them dangerous and this is well beyond politics.

[RagAss]

88. I agree. It is sinister and no longer secretive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. I guess it is no longer the three of us

readying on them any more.

The expose on the Family was just the beginning for the rest.

[Hugabear]

86. Nobody gave Rick Scott much chance, and Alan Grayson was supposed to be a shoo-in for reelection

About a year ago, Alan Grayson was considered to be a virtual lock to get re-elected, as the GOP was having a hard time even finding candidates to run against him. At the same time, Rick Scott was considered to be a long-shot candidate in his primary race against Bill McCollum.

Hopefully you're right, but her base is fanatical about her. All of these "attacks" against Palin only serve to solidify them as they rally around their Chosen One.

[RagAss]

89. Lots of us stayed home mid-term...She'll get the vote out....Our Vote.

[Strelnikov_]

91. Make no mistake, this is because the Reich Oligarchs gave her the thumbs down

If she was acceptable, like the Chimp, there would have been nary a mention of this faux pas in the 'liberal' media.

[HipChick]

92. She's not done..she'll hang around like a bad smell of her rotting political career

In her own mind, she believes she is destined to become President

[kestrel91316]

93. I think I am gonna go in my closet like Jesus said to and pray for this to be so.