I’m an American, but I most certainly did not elect THAT. I feel sorry for us, too.

http://www.palinaspresident.us

Mitt Romney by a country mile. But don’t count Sarah Palin out yet. She is far and away the most popular potential candidate amongst Republicans according to a recent Pew survey (by nearly twenty points) and matches Romney amongst Democrats and independents. She is also more popular across the country as a whole than Romney and even after recent events, her base is still likely to be more solid than Romneys. However, Romney will be strongly solidified with the party machinery now, including the pundits so Palin has to do a Ron Paul, or dare I say it, a Barack Obama.

Other contenders:

Mike Huckabee – a populist with more appeal to non-Republicans but won’t have enopugh conservative support or financial backing
Newt Gingrich – Probably second favourite right now.
Haley Barbour – Is putting feelers out about running but is getting little traction
Tim Pawlenty – A very good outside bet for the nomination

Probably the best dark horse if you’re going to put your money on someone though is Mitch Daniels, Governor of Indiana. Has said he won’t run but is very popular in Indiana with a 69% approval rating and despite the Obama whirlwind last election (including winning Indiana) he won his gubernatorial election by a 16 point margin. He has the conservative credentials to ensure their support but is enough of a reformer to appeal to independents. If he chooses to run, he may give Romney his hardest battle (depending on what happens with Palin).

Of course with the way things are going with GOP hopefuls right now, all that could change in a heartbeat.

You misspelt Insannity.

“What do you plan to do when they come after you?”

Ummm..exactly who is this “they”?

And why would they be ‘coming after’ me (a single parent living in Dunfermline, Scotland) particularly?

Surely if these “Good People” of whom you speak (as opposed to the naughty, awful, wicked folk who might have broken laws regarding bribery, corruption, abuse of elected position, misappropriation of public funds – that the sort of thing you had in mind?) were really quite so “good”, then they wouldn’t keep dashing off to Argentina to cheat on their spouses, or have to resign because they’d, ummm, most probably broken some of those pesky laws, so there wouldn’t be any ‘downfalls’ for us to point and laugh heartily at (while burning U.S. flags and eating roasted babies, naturally)…would there?

Damn us insignificant, nonentity foreign liberals! We’re so powerful and evil, we forced Sarah Palin to resign…by some strange mechanism that isn’t immediately apparent, yes, but still. Evil!

Happy 4th of July!

When she was first rolled out she was a kitsch thing, who was she, who is this new Republican that has the conservative base all woosie?

It was proven, once she was allowed to do interviews, that she isn’t anything special. Much akin to Joe the plumber.

The only positive from Palin hitting the national stage was that Mudflats went from a niche blog to read by millions.

Sarah Palin is about to BLOW UP!

Yes, that’s right folks! We have just learned through “IS” Insider Sources, that the Prez2B is about to put her camPAIN on STEROIDs!!!! Exclamation Mark. Clap. Applause and drum rolls… puhSLeeez. “IS” has just informed us that the vivacious EX-gov is putting her Prez hopes on HGH! Her Governors Humpty!

Yep! As we type, her “IC” Inner Circle team of “BS” Beaucratic Shakers are convening in D.C. to set the stage for the next Prez race. We went inside Studio B, The Situation Room and did a 360 and spoke with Hannity, O’Reilly, Blitzer, Donner and Prancer and it’s confirmed, her P-TEAM is on the move! P-TEAM Political Tactical Experts At Mucking are feverishly working behind the scenes prepping the shapely political virtuoso for the announcement. Word is the ticket could be:

Palin and LIMPbaugh
Palin and Newt GingRich
Palin and Sanford
Palin and SPITzer
Palin and Hannity
Palin and O’Reilly
Palin and Ensign

Although the P-TEAM is still fiercely debating whose going to be Sarah’s running mate, LIMPbaugh says he’s the best candidate for America. When GingRich asked if his past could affect the ticket, his response was, “NO!” Newt said America has forgiven and forgotten that he called it quits just like Palin. If you are a TRUE Republican, you should be Xcited!!!! Go Republicans! Go GOP Get Others Pumped! We can do this!

For all of those people celebrating the downfall of Good People,

HOW’S THAT HOPE AND CHANGE GOING FOR YOU?

What do you plan to do when they come after you?

Oh yeah, this really reminds me of Bush. That “did you know” sort of excitement in his voice, mainly because he’d only just learnt about it himself. Palin is Bush with added MILF.

And why does she presume we don’t know shit, and need a basic history lesson with every speech? It’s like she is stood up in school, telling the class what she read about last night.

I actually feel dumber after listening to her.

The Daily Show/Colbert Report etc are all on reruns next week. Republicans have previously moved announcements so they won’t be lampooned by comedy shows. May be one factor in favour of the precise timing.

But even right-wing commentators smell a rat in the timing of the thing. If she wants to commit to a better-connected tilt at the White House, why make a snap decision at the start of a three-day weekend? Why write the speech yourself (if that was written by professionals, they should be shot)? Why do it in July, when you don’t have to commit to re-stand for a good few months? There’s time to achieve much more in office before becoming a lame duck – and it’s the start of summer. It’s not *that* important to be hanging around out East (if that’s the excuse) while the government is relaxing for the summer.

So – scandal. But an affair? Nahhhhh! Not close to being credible. Perhaps they’ll reveal Bristol is Trig’s mother, that’s a possibility*. But this is about money.

(* A much better bet is a new weekly show on Fox. Since the GOP’s leadership is now drawn from the station’s staffers and its regular guests, that’s got to be worth a punt.)

Do I think she’s in with a chance of winning a Republican primary? Absolutely. The only saving grace will be that Obama is unlikely to be contested, so independent voters will hopefully vote in Republican primaries, diluting the now-very-small-and-therefore-more-conservative-on-average-registered-Republican-numbers.

Of course, anything can happen on a campaign.