Half-Term Governor Quits Half-Assed Bus Tour Halfway Through
Thanos @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:52 pm
Heh, lol.
$1:
Less than a month after she appeared poised to shake up the Republican presidential campaign, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has once again receded from the 2012 limelight.
When Palin launched her "One Nation" bus tour on Memorial Day amid a swirl of media attention and excitement from her fervent fan base, many political observers who had once dismissed her were reminded of the jolt that her candidacy could provide to what has thus far been a relatively sleepy GOP nominating fight.
As Palin toured historical sites along the East Coast, she was clearly reveling in the tangible excitement she'd ginned up: She even eagerly answered questions -- from the denizens of the "lamestream" media -- ranging from matters of political process to an array of issues facing the nation.
In an apparent repudiation to those who dismissed her trip as a mere publicity stunt, Palin's openness with reporters about her intentions to visit Iowa and South Carolina -- in addition to her highly scrutinized stop in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire -- lent credence to her repeated assertions that she was indeed seriously considering a White House bid.
Though Palin and her staff never announced a timeline for the remaining legs of her trip, aides had drafted preliminary itineraries that would have taken her through the Midwest and Southeast at some point this month. But those travel blueprints are now in limbo, RCP has learned, as Palin and her family have reverted to the friendly confines of summertime Alaska, where the skies are currently alight for over 19 hours a day and the Bristol Bay salmon fishing season is nearing its peak.
As Palin enjoys her sojourn to the 49th state, she has not reconnected with key early-state figures like Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and she may have jeopardized whatever political momentum she gained from her recent reemergence in the 2012 discussion. Her political action committee's website still greets visitors with a stale banner, announcing the nationwide bus tour beginning "[t]his Sunday, May 29th."
More than a few of Palin's core supporters have grown impatient and confused about her strategy, venting their frustration on Internet fan sites.
When Palin launched her "One Nation" bus tour on Memorial Day amid a swirl of media attention and excitement from her fervent fan base, many political observers who had once dismissed her were reminded of the jolt that her candidacy could provide to what has thus far been a relatively sleepy GOP nominating fight.
As Palin toured historical sites along the East Coast, she was clearly reveling in the tangible excitement she'd ginned up: She even eagerly answered questions -- from the denizens of the "lamestream" media -- ranging from matters of political process to an array of issues facing the nation.
In an apparent repudiation to those who dismissed her trip as a mere publicity stunt, Palin's openness with reporters about her intentions to visit Iowa and South Carolina -- in addition to her highly scrutinized stop in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire -- lent credence to her repeated assertions that she was indeed seriously considering a White House bid.
Though Palin and her staff never announced a timeline for the remaining legs of her trip, aides had drafted preliminary itineraries that would have taken her through the Midwest and Southeast at some point this month. But those travel blueprints are now in limbo, RCP has learned, as Palin and her family have reverted to the friendly confines of summertime Alaska, where the skies are currently alight for over 19 hours a day and the Bristol Bay salmon fishing season is nearing its peak.
As Palin enjoys her sojourn to the 49th state, she has not reconnected with key early-state figures like Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and she may have jeopardized whatever political momentum she gained from her recent reemergence in the 2012 discussion. Her political action committee's website still greets visitors with a stale banner, announcing the nationwide bus tour beginning "[t]his Sunday, May 29th."
More than a few of Palin's core supporters have grown impatient and confused about her strategy, venting their frustration on Internet fan sites.
It's spelled F-L-A-K-E, and the correct adjective to go in front of it should be "unserious".
BartSimpson @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:49 pm
Palin is a private citizen and she's not an announced candidate. She's also not told the media (even Fox News) of her itinerary on her bus trip so whatever she wanted to do or not do with it was up to her.
Bottom line: She's a private citizen and her itinerary (if it exists) is not anyone else's business.
Thanos @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:58 pm
She's not a private citizen if this entire bus tour was just a bunch of image-boosting and famewhoring for the camera. And if she isn't cockteasing a presidential run then why's she even doing this in the first place? How many other people take a "family vacation" that's organized like a series of campaign stops? Do you see other former losing candidates like John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, or Dan Quayle behaving this way? With Palin it's exactly like that Simpsons episode where Bart was going ape trying to get attention for himself. "Whooo-hooo, look at me, I'm doing something over here! Pay attention to me! Dammit, it's no fun for me at all if you aren't paying attention to me!(blah-blah-blah)".
The levels of narcissism involved here is literally off the scale. The only ones with greater shame in this are the bloody lapdog media following her around like she's some ridiculous musician on a stadium tour.
BartSimpson @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:10 pm
Thanos Thanos:
She's not a private citizen if
There is no "if". She is a private citizen and if you and the media would stop obsessing over her then we'd stop hearing about her, wouldn't we?
I'm utterly amazed at how much free media and guerilla media she's been getting from people like yourself who supposedly hate her.
Putting aside the partisanship for a moment...if you really hate her and really want to get her tweaked at you then ignore her.
Thanos @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:22 pm
So even though every single action Palin takes is crafted to boost a public image you still regard her as a private citizen?
I can't agree with that at all. She's as much of a private citizen as Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton are. Private citizens by definition CANNOT behave that way and still call themselves private. It's too convenient and totally unbelievable as far as silly excuse-making goes.
I only agree with you on the media angle. FOX is one thing because they have an investment in her maintaining a high profile. CNN and the rest have no such excuse. On all things Palin they're no better than TMZ, and by following her around in such a pathetic manner only encourages her to keep behaving in such a manner. If they were really the "liberal" media that she keeps accusing them of being then they'd ignore her altogether to the point that she'd have no choice but to go away for good. So shame on them for being the ones throwing the fuel into her furnace all the time.
BartSimpson @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:30 pm
Thanos Thanos:
(Palin is) as much of a private citizen as Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton are.
Maybe since Palin isn't using the bus we can put Paris, Lindsay, and Charlie Sheen on the bus and send them to Winnipeg where no one will give a crap about them.
Yes, I appreciate your point about Palin crafting a public image, but no one has to give her what she wants, do they?
She is a private citizen and she does not have a right to 24/7 media coverage. It'd be different if she was a public official making important announcements of some sort, but she's not. So I'm just saying that just because Palin pulls some stunt for the media doesn't mean anyone has to watch.
Unsound @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:51 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
Maybe since Palin isn't using the bus we can put Paris, Lindsay, and Charlie Sheen on the bus and send them to Winnipeg where no one will give a crap about them.
Talk Palin into staying on the bus and that's a reality show I'd watch.
Freakinoldguy @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:55 pm
I don't think she's a flake. A very scary, conniving bitch maybe, flake no. Sarah doesn't do "anything" Sarah doesn't want to do and everything she does has a purpose and projected outcome that somehow benefits her.
Anything from running for vice Pres, writing books or hosting a outdoor show about a state she couldn't care less about, with Sarah it's all about image and perception.
If she's quiting this bus tour halfway through it's because she's got an agenda, and we'll just have to wait and see what it is because if it was my guess it'll likely be something that either directly benefits her finanacially or politically.
Pseudonym @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 6:41 pm
Maybe its because she has jury duty?
raydan @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:06 pm
Bart's right... we give WAY too much attention to attention whores.
Saffron @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:32 pm
$1:
Maybe its because she has jury duty?
Wait until she finds out you can't quit halfway through a trial, or that twits who tweet on twitter during a trial can have the case thrown out.