Is a Media Empire the Prerequisite to Run for President in 2012?
Sarah Palin
Her total media domination continues with Sarah Palin’s Alaska breaking all rating records for the November 14 premier on The Learning Channel. Palin is someone America loves to watch and her brand even extended to her daughter Bristol, who made it to the finals on Dancing with the Stars, helping boost that show’s ratings and creating voting controversy along the way.
Sarah Palin’s Alaska features eight weekly episodes. During many of those weeks Palin will be on the road promoting her second book America by Heart, which was released on November 23 amid legal controversy over leaks by Gawker Media.
Naturally her book tour takes her through the heart of Palin country with a stop in Iowa.
As of this writing, America by Heart has yet to reach #1, but expect the book to boost the coffers of her media empire, which earned Palin the #6 ranking on Newsweek’s Power Pundit list with an income of $14 million.
Her political action committee SarahPAC was extremely influential in the 2010 midterm elections and to supplement the message produces videos like the famous Mama Grizzles, which garnered much attention in the mainstream media.
The 2008 Republican VP candidate can drive the media into a frenzy with just a Facebook message. She has over 2.5 million Facebook friends and over 300,000 Twitter followers.
Clearly Palin will be a political sensation if she decides to run, which is looking more likely every day. Although many inside politics believe Palin is using 2012 as a tease to boost her book sales and increase her celebrity appeal.
Currently she trails Huckabee and Romney in Iowa according to statewide polling conducted by Representative Steve King.
Palin (like Huckabee and Gingrich) is a Fox News contributor, but all those gigs will come to a screeching halt when White House intentions are officially announced.
Will Sarah Palin leave behind her lucrative media empire for the rigors of the campaign trail?
If she soon starts building a national campaign organization, the answer is: you betcha!
Personally, I’d prefer “none of the above” at this point in time. Romney did MassCare; Gingrich is over the hill; Palin is a super role model but radioactive to too many people; and, Huckabee is too socially conservative.
All four of them are “old school GOP” in a time when we need new blood. That new blood needs to be much more in tune with the fiscally conservative, small government, enforce the Constitution, and not so wrapped up in social issues, crowd. Oh, yeah, we have some of those. We call them the “Tea Party.” The eventual selectee is likely to be someone who is, today, a sitting governor.
Ditto, Spin.
Romney-Stale white bread.
Gingrich-Over rated; mediocre political strategist. Incoherent, ineffective (serial disasters) White House message machine
Palin-Not yet.
Hucklebee-Arkansas O for 2
Gingrich is the only living person who from a position of Power has done anything to decrease the deficit. Clinton was close to have a balanced budget because he basically was forced to it by Gingrich.
Out of 300.000.000 Americans, he is the only living person….. Think about that.
The social cons should realize that without massive spending cuts, they are not going to be have a country left to worry about.
Palin was Tea Party before the TPM got going in 2009. She has always been a constitutionalist.
She ain’t old school either. Tell that bs to the Murkowski’s
I like Palin, but she has an uphill battle. I won’t say “she can’t win,” because nominating conventions can be game changers that reintroduce candidates to the public, but she also has to overcome a lot of misogynistic bigotry in her own party – which is sad.
As for the others:
Romney – no way. I’ll vote third party before I vote for the establishment’s version of the Breck Girl, who is also a cynical flip-flopper who things we’re all too stupid to notice he’s only telling us what we want to hear.
Gingrich – PALIN can’t win? How can Gingrich win? I’m not sure whether his futile campaign would be more like watching Dole or Goldwater flailing and losing.
Huckabee – he encapsulates every aspect of the GOP I hate – he’s a social conservative and a fiscal liberal. Along with Romney, he’s a nominee who would send me to a third party.
I like Mitch Daniels, but I doubt he can catch fire in the primaries since he alienated the bible-thumpers by stating the obvious – we have to get our fiscal house in order or social issues won’t matter (his famous – or infamous “truce” statement). Pawlenty is so bland he makes Daniels seem exciting by comparison, but I have no huge objection.
Others that are mentioned like Christie, Jindal, and Perry aren’t running. Of those three, Christie has a thinner resume than Palin or Obama, and Jindal doesn’t seem ready for primetime. Perry would be portrayed as a kook (and possibly a racist) for those comments he made about Texas seceding from the union.
It looks like another weak field for the GOP in 2012 – which is something that will give Obama solace as he fumbles and bumbles his way through the next two years.
I don’t know who the nominee of the GOP will be in 2012 but it does seem that Mr. Romney (Romney care) and Mr. Huckabee(amnesty advocate and bad parole releases)have some severe baggage to overcome.Newt is just plain annoying and you never know what off the wall idea he will come up with next.
Ms. Adams be honest, are you really Meghan Mc Cain?
I don’t consider myself as ‘likely GOP voter,’ so none of the above RINOS, especially Romney, Pawlenty, Thune, Barbour, Huckabee, or Gingrich, will get my vote. Should Palin turn out to be the nominee of GOP, I’ll vote for her, though.
We desperately need new blood … Jindal, Bachmann, Christie, … not that I trust any politician anymore.
It’s kind of sad to see Palin in her Sarah Palin’s Alaska. If I were her, I’d learn to shoot prior to the filming – among other things; it’s rather embarrassing to watch the show after all the hoopla that she can shoot and gut a caribou. As cute as she and her family is, the kids appear to be spoiled. They definite have never been taught how to shoot or fish, not to mention to hunt. I wonder how many hours they’d survive in the wilderness of Palin’s Alaska?
Is media the prerequisite? Nope. All we need is a man or a woman with proper qualities; and, who hasn’t demonstrated yet to be corrupt and anti-Constitution.
“It’s kind of sad to see Palin in her Sarah Palin’s Alaska. If I were her, I’d learn to shoot prior to the filming – among other things; it’s rather embarrassing to watch the show after all the hoopla that she can shoot and gut a caribou. As cute as she and her family is, the kids appear to be spoiled. They definite have never been taught how to shoot or fish, not to mention to hunt. I wonder how many hours they’d survive in the wilderness of Palin’s Alaska?”
This entire paragraph is rubbish. Let’s break it down, shall we?
“If I were her, I’d learn to shoot prior to the filming – among other things”
You didn’t watch the whole episode did you? Let me guess: you read the Matt Labash hit piece at Daily Caller? You DO realize that the rifle she was using was not properly sited in? And when she was handed a rifle that WAS sited in properly she dropped the caribou on the first shot?
Strike one.
“As cute as she and her family is, the kids appear to be spoiled.”
Based on WHAT exactly? They work, they don’t whine, they’re respectful and they don’t seem to hate their parents? Again, I don’t think you’ve neither a) whatched the show nor b) been paying attention to anything other than hit pieces.
Strike two.
“They definite have never been taught how to shoot or fish, not to mention to hunt.”
Again, based on WHAT? If you’ve watched the show, or read her books, you’d realize we all know you’re talking out your backside right now.
Strike three.
“I wonder how many hours they’d survive in the wilderness of Palin’s Alaska?”
Longer than you would.
You’re out.
Cool your jets, airman. You assume a lot. Let me explain the facts for you:
1. No serious hunter would make the mistake to head out to bag a caribou without sighting in his/her rifle. No excuse.
2. She is supposed to be life-long moose hunter, yet she prefers a varmint rifle due to 308′s kick.
3. When she was handed pa’s rifle, her finger went to the trigger.
4. Her pa loaded and reloaded her rifle.
5. She was continuously instructed by her father and Becker.
6. No hunter asks, “Does it kick” when handed a rifle.
7. Who knows how much the video was edited for the second rifle shot?
8. No hunter lets his/her foot get wet in the beginning of a miles-long hunt.
9. …
I’m sorry, she is no hunter. As much as I liked her father, him using his rifle as a walking stick was beyond my comprehension.
I’ve seen her kids trying to shoot and fish – complete rookies.
As to surviving worse in the Sarah Palin’s Alaska than her kids … I’m certain Track would fare better than me. I’m rather old, and my military survival training days are somewhat hazy. I do still shoot regularly and teach the gun, in addition to competitive shooting. I walk an hour every day and run as much as I time allows.
Palin’s TV program is a huge PR mistake. She exposes herself being not the mama grizzly or life-long hunter claimed since her vice-president candidate days. Since I kind of like her, I’ll not call her phony.
Yet, should she be the nominee, I’d vote for her.
1. No serious hunter would make the mistake to head out to bag a caribou without sighting in his/her rifle. No excuse.
Wrong. Her father said he sighted the rifle in beforehand. Try again.
2. She is supposed to be life-long moose hunter, yet she prefers a varmint rifle due to 308′s kick.
Yeah…and?
3. When she was handed pa’s rifle, her finger went to the trigger.
You saw the final footage…and again: So?
4. Her pa loaded and reloaded her rifle.
So? That’s the way her pa rolls. Notice, he didn’t “load” it for the other rifle?
5. She was continuously instructed by her father and Becker.
Yeah? So? I’ve hunted with people who felt it was their solemn duty to give me instruction on everything too…even though I’d been hunting many more years than they had. You’re getting into pretty weak territory here.
6. No hunter asks, “Does it kick” when handed a rifle.
Yeah they do…especially if it’s a rifle they’ve never used before.
7. Who knows how much the video was edited for the second rifle shot?
IT’S A CONSPIIIIIRRAAACCY! Weak stuff, dude.
8. No hunter lets his/her foot get wet in the beginning of a miles-long hunt.
I’m sure we’ll have to take your word for it…given your extensive tundra hunting. Again…you keep using the words “no hunter would do” such and such. You might want to think again on that. Also, you may want to point that critique toward her father and Becker if you think it’s such a big deal. Especially since one of your other critiques of her seems to hinge on them doing everything for her.
Weak. Not everyone hunts they you do, oh great master.
Right. On. The. Money. Kill shot on the AF Vet. And on the charade de Palin. My 10-year-old nephew has more sense and experience hunting than she does. But hey, what do you expect from people who think shooting your friend in the face is the mark of a master hunter? Just more empty bravado from the faux tough guys of the pansy right mincing about in a huff over their version of Judy Garland.
Quibbles: Sarah Palin’s “America By Heart” debuted at #2 on the NYT bestseller list (unaccompnied by the ‘dagger’); she completed her book tour last week in Columbia, SC.
My guess is that Newt will not run (very thin support among conservatives). Romney probably will but will trail badly unless both Huckabee and Palin decide to run. For the reasons mentioned in the article Huckabee may not run…he would be giving up way too much…much more than Palin.
So my guess is that the nomination is Palin’s if she wants it.
Not much here other than attracting readers by using interest in Palin.
I agree. All that other stuff was a total waste of my time. Love the Palin parts though. More of that and I’ll be a regular here.
To the supporters of Mitt Romney, 2 things come to mind.
As governor of MA, he raised taxes for one.
The other is that Obamacare is styled after Romneycare which is broke already in the state.
Gingrich bends with the wind as long as it suits his purpose.
Huckabee? Don’t ask me. I won’t vote for him.
Palin? Yeah maybe.
Michele Bachman? You betcha!!
Newt Gingrich is the only Republican with the brains, the political experience, and the oratorical and debating skills to beat Obama. Plain and simple.
Does he have a lousy personal background? Sure he does. You know what? I don’t really care anymore. I want the most aggressive, the most experienced, and the most savvy Republican I can find who can clean Obama’s clock in a debate. I don’t want St. Francis of Assisi as President. I want someone who could make the Chinese and the Iranians literally beg for mercy during a meeting. I want someone who knows Congress and knows how to get a Conservative agenda through Congress. I want someone with good oratorical skills who will give this nation hope during bad financial times and a clear plan on how to get out of those bad financial times. And last but certainly not least, I want someone who has a great understanding of history and who can lead this nation through wartime, especially since there are so very many dangers out there just waiting to pounce on this great nation of ours.
That is what I want in a presidential candidate and I think Newt is the only person who could fill all of those qualifications. You want perfection? Then go to church. If you want a tough politician who will push a conservative agenda and twist the nuts of our enemies, then Newt is your man.
Obama isn’t a great debater. He’s adequate, but hugely enabled by the media. He was never asked a question that challenged his libwit philosophies and that would paint him as he is. When he was bested by a plumber in a casual conversation, it was covered up.
What he excels at is lying with a straight face.
McLame wouldn’t go after him. That mistake won’t happen again.
He won’t be winning any debates in 2012, no matter the opposition. The McLame mistake won’t happen a second time. Plus, next time he will have a track record and won’t be able to spew platitudes.
You can look forward to the same gloves-off approach to Palin.
“Can I call you Joe?”
“Sure. Can I call you a half-governor?”
I hop she runs just so I can see her disemboweled by a steady stream of Republicans.
Palin would do a lot better than you’d think in a debate against Obama (much to your shock and dismay). Left on her own (without a guy like McCain breathing down her neck), she would call them the way she sees them, and that won’t be hard against a liberal like Obama. But I’m sure to people like you, she can’t do anything right. As if Obama is a shining example of what we should be doing in this country (the man is making Jimmy Carter look like Ronald Reagan, and I never thought that was possible). I just think Newt has more experience for the job.
Could you IMAGINE if Newt got the nomination and he named Palin for Vice President again? I know it would never happen, but it would drive people like you INSANE. That alone would be worth voting for them.
Exactly. It would be good to have someone capable of beating Putin in a poker game, wouldn’t it?
None of the above.
I’d get excited over Bachman for VP but for the life of me I don’t see a great POTUS candidate anywhere in the landscape. What a country!
I too was surprised at how weak Sarah’s show is. Big mistake on her part. Shows her to be a media creation not really who she has put herself forward to be. She cannot walk the walk and neither can her kids. At this point the Palin family has a severe case of media over-exposure. I hope she just tucks her millions away and does not run. Not even as VP again. She just is not deep enough. Mostly hat and few cattle.
What idiot advised her to show herself on national TV firing four times and missing an easy shot? Yeah the rifle scope was off but how dumb do you have to be to shoot a rifle you have no idea the condition of? All they had to do was edit out the stupidity. And the rock climbing?!?! She looked exactly like what she is. A girl. A weak girl. I could go on. VERY disappointed.
:I too was surprised at how weak Sarah’s show is. Big mistake on her part. Shows her to be a media creation not really who she has put herself forward to be. She cannot walk the walk and neither can her kids.”
Spoken exactly like someone who hasn’t watched the show.
“What idiot advised her to show herself on national TV firing four times and missing an easy shot? Yeah the rifle scope was off but how dumb do you have to be to shoot a rifle you have no idea the condition of? All they had to do was edit out the stupidity. And the rock climbing?!?! She looked exactly like what she is. A girl. A weak girl. I could go on. VERY disappointed.”
Wow…in your first paragraph, you bitch about her being a media creation, and then in this one you bitch about her not being enough of a media creation by being creatively edited to wash away any semblance of what a normal person goes through in big game hunting. And by the rest of your blather, you show that you’ve never been hunting. I won’t even bother with your misogyny in your closing screed.
Come ON man! Your prejudice is showing.
I like Sarah. However if you are going to use major media ( as in a cable show ) to promote yourself you must manage the production. No sense showing yourself as a rank novice when you have repeatedly put yourself forth as a ‘momma grizzly’ ‘an experienced hunter/shooter’ and a backwoods trooper lifelong. She is obviously none of these things and the show is hurting her. Anybody with an ounce of ability could have climbed that little rock she was frozen on and being dragged up and over by the guy above her on the other show. She looked BAD.
Yeah, I’m not much of a hunter. I just manage 20,000 acres and four hunting leases in some of the wildest land in the lower 48.
“She looked BAD.”
MY prejudice is showing?
I don’t care how many acres you manage, you still come off as an uninformed, prejudiced boob.
“She is obviously none of these things and the show is hurting her.”
Facts be damned, huh? Look, it’s obvious she can do nothing right, and in your jaundiced eye she is nothing she says she is. I say you’re full of crap.
I don’t usually argue with people on the internet but I simply wish to point out how specious your argument is as anyone on this site reading our interchange can easily see. I speak of factual, obviously seen problems with Sarah’s showcasing of herself, given what she has said and what we all can plainly see on her show. You scream like a wounded rabbit.
Tim above plainly pointed out your problems with objectivity.
It’s one thing to support a political candidate. It’s quite another to be a blind fool.
“I speak of factual, obviously seen problems with Sarah’s showcasing of herself, given what she has said and what we all can plainly see on her show.”
Sorry to break it to you bub…but your ‘facts’ are only opinion. Get over it.
“Tim above plainly pointed out your problems with objectivity”
Oh, and Tim just got his sanctimonious butt fisked. I wouldn’t hang my hat on his opinions either. He’s not the only experienced hunter around here.
You know that old saying, “When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is . . . ”
Well, stop digging. It’s clear that to many people (the objective honest ones) Palin came off as a poseur and a princess. And for the puncturing of her Mamma Grizzly fiction she has only herself to blame. Yes, I watched the show.
Stem your desperation. I fear for your health and safety should you choose to seek even deeper butt fisking.
This is another problem with a Sarah Palin candidacy: her followers. Their devotion, and violent reaction to a mention of Sarah’s flaws, remind me a lot of the cult members I’ve encountered. (For the past five years, I’ve been involved with an effort to end the Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi cult.) It’s quite a red flag, for me.
Are most Tea Party folks like this, is it just a vocal minority, or are people like this “plants” from the left? (I can see a “your sensei”-type guy trying to make Palinists look like nutjobs). To clarify, Mrs Palin doesn’t come across as a cult leader, just her followers.
Spin is right on target. I’d have a tough time voting for any one named in the article. I like Palin-she is refreshing and very unlike establishment people in either party. Unfortunately, she is a lightning rod and I can’t see her appealing to independent voters who decide elections. It’s time for a new face- e.g. Rubio, Jindahl,Cantor, Paul Ryan, etc. IMO, Ryan’s message would resonate with lots of people across the voting spectrum. He’s smart, articulate, and on message.
Regardless of the hype, Newt is the guy most likely to get my vote. I’d vote for Palin if she were the only other option, but Newt is my choice for the best guy to run to the WH in 2012. He’s smart, he’s politically able, he’s globally aware, and he’s well suited for the job.
I like Jindahl and Ryan, but they are just too politically young, Cantor is such a budget wonk you can’t help but like him,,, but is he Presidential? Nope.
Boils down to Newt.
Unless someone can talk VDH into running.
Ooooh, there ya go.
“As of this writing, America by Heart has yet to reach any top ten sales lists”
2 AMERICA BY HEART, by Sarah Palin. (Harper/HarperCollins, $25.99.
http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2010-12-12/hardcover-nonfiction/list.html
Pajamas Media does it again.
I like what I see from the selection of various Governors. I could see Perry(TX) or Daniels (IN) or at least someone who has the business sense to pull us out of mess we are in now. However, as far as national security is concerned, I would feel more comfortable with someone with the experience of Gringrich. What a dilemma. I think some of the potential candidates have already over exposed themselves (Palin, Huckabee) and would be easy fodder for the left. I think we need a “surprise punch” that could keep the media bloodsuckers at bay for awhile as they dig the dirt for someone they didn’t expect.
For various reasons, I have to go with none of the above also. Romney, Gingrich, and Huckabee all, in various ways, remind me of Bush 41 and 43,Bob Dole and other somewhat rancid reminders of past Republican sins. The Left is TERRIFIED of Sarah Palin and have mounted an effective campaign to destroy her politically. Imagine what the press would do if she said the U.S. had 57 states? I think the best hope for a true reform in Washington rests with bright new comers such as Jindal, Ryan, and Rubio. I like Chris Christie but I worry about his weight and consequent health. Any successful candidate will have to be somewhat below the national radar so the press cannot begin to attack them on behalf of the Democrats.
The Presidency should not be “who has the most media hype?” We have a President like that now – we need a serious competent Administration. No Romney isn’t that exciting but is competent and organized and can win. Winning is important lest we endure another 4 years of Obama. So vote for your “feel good” candidate and enjoy another 4 years of Obama. I am beginning to believe we get the politicians we deserve.
This piece is not about “who has the most media hype.” The point of the article is the fact that three of the leading prospective GOP candidates have actively built multi-media empires to enrich themselves and boost their “celebrity.”
Does the fact that Romney does not have a “media empire” in a media age put him at a disadvantage for the 2012 campaign?
Laying low is HIS strategy at the moment.
Only time will tell if that was a wise decision or not.
No actual tea partying conservative gives a rat’s patoot what Romney does. He’s a flip flopping bozo who will NEVER be POTUS. His time is up. He probably realizes this.
Point: Reagan had a major media presence before and just prior to running for prez. His radio show was a major boost in days running up to his run for the White House. HOWEVER … he also had a record as a pol as guv of California.
Personally I’m a bit chagrined that none of the media figures presently in the running is of true presidential timber. Maybe Christie can lose 100 lbs or so.
none of the above.
Herman Cain
Your living together before getting married analogy doesn’t work for me.
Its more like courting, dating, a situation where you always see the best side of someone, with their makeup, flattering wardrobe, rehearsed and polite conversation.
This is not the case with living together. Living together shows you what one looks like without makeup, with morning breath, and habits of leaving dirty socks on the floor and the cap off the toothpaste. That picture we are definitely not getting from the media empires of the republican personalities. We are getting the candidates on their best, rehearsed behavior, with perfectly coifed hair, recorded voice, edited printed word,and full makeup. Far from living together before marriage. But much like dating and going out together.
Besides I don’t think living together is a good idea anyway and you make it seem like one. It isn’t– but that’s another topic.
I’d like to remind you people of other flash-in-the-pans Remember when Sec Rice or colon powel were the raves of the day? both proven racists now. Christie endorsed a rino and joins the ranks of newly elected but not tested names to forget for a decade.
I was not impressed by Gov Palins shooting in AK, but then she has not had time to practise and used a rifle she hadn’t fired. Big deal, I can’t shoot a scope and only off hand iron sights bags my meat. I’m not voting for a hunter but a conservative and The Lizard, Huckleberry & Romny don;t qualify.
So until some better shows up and not just arandom shot in the dark, she’s my choice
Except for her stance, on the ethical void at the center of ‘Obama care, ‘death panel’ encapsulated in the FCCER and IMAC, her deliberative almost
pensive opposition to the GZ Mosque, her critique of QE 2 Fed policy, her
support of the policy in Afghanistan, rallying on the need to continue
the tax cuts, really she doesn’t have much to offer. Can you be more ignorant, were you part of the Whitman campaign
#19 & #20 – Yeah, What he said!
I would like someone better than Palin. I would. But that person is not in view right now, and won’t be.
The problem is simple. Those who have the experience are part of the problem. The only way previously to get elected was to play the game… the whole game. Even Gingrich, at times, embraces the old paradigm of dancing to the Old Media tune.
The Right has some great up-and-coming leaders: Jindal, Ryan, Cantor, many others. Notice so many of the future powerhouses are in their 40′s!
There was a link here on PJM about the RGA (Repub Gov Assoc). What a lineup of heavyweights! All would be flawed as Presidential candidates, though. In another 4-8 years, this will no longer be true.
So, at the moment, Palin is it. Let us hope she does not screw it up and give the Left another bite at the apple. Even if she just makes token progress, it will be great, because the Left will just go bananas, and reveal their ugliness even more. While she draws ALL the flak, others in Congress can just quietly get the job done. She will be perfect political cover for them. They could go naked in Congress, and no one would notice through their rage at Palin.
You mean like those Senators like Lemieux and Murkowski, who voted for that fetid Food Safety bill, in so far as she continues to expouse right principles in which ever forum she chooses, it behooves one to support her;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703766704576009322838245628.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_opinion
You forgot to mention that Mit Romney bought Clear Channell after he suspended his 2008 campiegn. Remember the Rush Limbaugh historical pay raise? He rearrange the format that now has only Talk Host are was for Mit.He added more hispanic stations. Please stop the propaganda that Mit is shy to media?