The next seismic shift in the GOP nominee search will be

[Are_grits_groceries]

Palin's entry into the fray. She has no staff or campaign network to speak of. She has also entered no primaries at this point. So of course she will enter and create a bigger mess than they already have. She will nail down the kook vote that is disappointed with Perry.

She also has an advantage of many cloven hooves on the ground to work for her. Her minions will scuttle about and stir up trouble everywhere. she has engendered some sympathy because Joe McGinnis managed the hard to imagine trick of making people feel as if somebody else maligned her. Up until this point, she has maligned herself fairly well.

So get out your salad shooter speech translators. The hot mess will be coming at you 24/7 because the MSM loves them some Sarah Palin. You betcha!

[MineralMan]

1. I suspect you're right. The Florida straw poll should trigger her

entrance. Uff da! Things will get even crazier if that happens.

[mike_c]

3. the nonstop nuttery will be entertaining, in a dangerous sort of way....

Dangerous in the sense that in some instance of the multiverse one of the nutcases will obtain control of the asylum, against all odds and reason. Somewhere, Tawd will become the first dude and pigs will fly, LOL.

[HappyMe]

2. I read somewhere that she has sent

out letters to her faithful fools to raise money 'in case' she decides to run.


A rethug asking for hand outs that isn't even running.

[Old Codger]

4. From what I have seen

From the rest of them she will fit right in, actually be good from our point she will splinter them more than they already are...

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. They don't have to

look very far for kindling that's for sure.

[livetohike]

6. It would be just like her to jump in there when most of the

debates/straw polls are over. That way she doesn't have to do any work and she can be the bright-shiny-object-of-the-moment. She will not be relevant in 2016, imo. I don't know what she could do to generate enough interest for four more years. She looks old and tired out to me now (and I'm 59 years old).

[racaulk]

7. Not gonna happen.

If she runs for political office at all next year, I predict it will be a run for the US Senate representing Arizona.

Hear me out.

1 - The GOP field for 2012 is already crowded with big names, including someone who is a lot like herself -- a female right-wing nutjob who is a hero to the Tea Party. Palin wouldn't add any novelty to that crowd and would have a hard time distinguishing herself.
2 - There is no US Senate election in Alaska next year. If she wanted to run for Senate there, she would have to wait until 2014 and run against Mark Begich.
3 - Jon Kyl (R-AZ) opted to not run for reelection next year, creating an opening.
4 - You have to be a resident of Arizona to be elected to the US Congress representing that state. Palin bought a house in Scottsdale back in May so she could "be closer to her daughter."
5 - There are plenty of teabagging, gun toting, anti-immigration, jingoistic, faux patriotic right-wing crazies in Arizona that love Sarah Palin. This is a Federal office that she might actually have a shot at winning.
6 - Palin was highly criticized in 2008 for lacking enough experience (specifically on foreign policy) to be an effective VP. Some time in the US Senate could help her gain that experience if she is eying a future run for President. I expect she'll make a serious run in 2016 or 2020.
7 - An added irony, of course, is that this would lead to her reuniting with John McCain where she can be a further pain in his side.

Time will tell whether or not I'm wrong, but I really think this is the office that Palin has her eyes on. The "will she run or won't she?" cat and mouse game that she's playing with the media is just a way to continue to keep her name relevant in preparation for that election.

You betcha! ;)


Edited for spelling.