Sarah Palin has cancelled her big speech in Iowa:
[A person close to Palin] cited “continual lying” from event organizers at Tea Party of America, including a recent mixup over whether former U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell of Delaware would also speak.
Ms. Palin is known for last-minute schedule changes that whipsaw supporters and media across the country. But the latest decision is puzzling. Ms. Palin’s speech at the rally was viewed as her most high-profile appearance of the summer, fueling speculation she was indeed plotting to run for the Republican presidential nomination.
Advertisement
Odd.
So what’s really going on? Dunno — unless pressed, I gave up speculating on Palin’s motives and ambitions long ago.
UPDATE: The organizers say Palin hasn’t cancelled.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE: Palin is back in, but Christine O’Donnell is back out.
This is no way to launch a presidential campaign.
On second thought, it’s no way to launch a winning presidential campaign.
Why is all this being done in public? These kinds of difficulties happen all the time. There are negotiations. Someone gets added and someone else says it is a bad idea. “If they are in, then I am out. I cannot be associated with ____.”
So, who is talking out of school? Is it someone from the O’Donnell camp? Is it someone from Palin’s? I doubt it. I suspect it is someone from the Tea Party group who loves getting to talk to reporters. Someone’s ego is effing things up.
Palin would be right to refuse to have O’Donnell there. She would diminish the event. If Palin does announce there, with O’Donnell speaking too, then an instant caricature is available. “Palin announces run for Presidency. The Witch endorses her.”
Palin is not the problem here. Some idiot in the Tea Party group is. This is the downside of a populist movement. Lots of amateurs.
Just so the organizers understand, Palin is the Star. She is the huge draw. If she wants rose petals to be thrown at her feet, you throw freakin’ rose petals/ If she says no-go about someone else, then that person is a no-go. And you do not talk about it in public! You work it out quietly behind the scenes.
Marc, the linked story names “a person close to the former Alaska governor.”
Funny true thing: there’s an 11:53pm 8/31 comment whinging about “NOTHING ABOUT RON PAUL!” Caps in the original. I’m not kidding.
I love Ronulans; they make great comic relief.
No offense (love you, man), but…
how many presidential campaigns have you launched…???
That was a really silly thing to say.
As a voter, I can sure as hell tell you I’m a lot less likely to vote for a candidate who kicks off their campaign with a will she/won’t she blitz reminiscent of Sam & Diane, and a petty ego squabble worthy of Ted Baxter.
You are entitled to use what criteria you will in deciding who you would support.
I will focus on things I consider a whole lot more important than the atmospherics of a campaign kick-off, much of which Palin cannot control.
No offense, but I read this whole mess as a complete and total cluster on the part of Tea Party American and it really has nothing to do with Palin except for her team to tell them to get their freaking act together. Besides, I’m seeing at Stacey McCain’s site that it appears likely that the guy in charge may be a Perry guy. Funny how all this started when it was announced that Palin was going to NH after the Iowa visit…
If that’s the case, then Marc’s scenario looks more likely than I first thought. But Palin does have quite a …history… with changing her schedule.
And O’Donnell has become so comically toxic that stories about anyone not wanting to appear with her are always, instantly, believable.
Yep. That Marc guy is a pretty smart dude. You should listen to him more.
From Dennis Miller Radio: shortest interview ever.
Hot Air has the scoop. Like I predicted, it was the Tea Party group. Turns out it was the event organizer who has a big mouth. Likes to show how smart and important he is.
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/08/31/blame-the-organizers-for-the-snafu-at-the-iowa-tea-party-rally-not-palin/