COMMENTARY | Reports of Sarah Palin’s political demise have been greatly exaggerated, contradicted by the reaction to her 50 minute address to a crowd of 5000 people in St. Charles, Mo. The speech was vintage Palin.
She ripped into President Barack Obama and the “permanent political class” in Washington for overspending, sending bailouts and stimulus money to favored political contributors. Palin’s solution: sudden and relentless reform.
Several times she brought the crowd, which paid $26 to $100 for the privilege of hearing her speak, along with media personality Glen Beck, to their feet. Afterward, she took questions from the audience that had been screened in advance by a local conservative talk radio station that he arranged for her appearance.
Despite the large, enthusiastic turnout in St. Charles and the crowd of 10,000 women who will hear her in Lynchburg, Va., on Saturday, the discussion of whether Palin is done as a political force is ongoing. David Frum, who clearly detests everything about her, believes she is finished. But a group of conservatives queried by the National Review were almost unanimous in their judgment that Palin will remain a potent political force.
Evidence for the latter view was given by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, whose candidacy for president has never taken off, when he asked, half in jest, for Palin’s endorsement. He is not likely to get it. There is some bad blood between the two dating from some snarky remarks Santorum made about Palin being more interested in business than politics.
It is clear that Palin’s endorsement is one of the most valued commodities in American politics in this election cycle. A great many people are in elected office because of her support during the 2010 election cycle. It is possible that the next president of the United States could owe his presidency to a well times word from the lady from Wasilla.
Cain, Perry, or Romney each could benefit from a Palin endorsement. Either of them would get reassurance that whatever flaws they might have, they are not an impediment for being president.
And, if return, what would Palin get? Endorsements often come with a price. For Palin it may not be something as blatant as an office or a place on the ticket. It might well be a pledge to advance the agenda that Palin and her followers care about. If that kind of quid pro quo happens, she will become the gray eminence of American politics, albeit not in the holy orders.
Source: Palin blasts Obama in visit to St. Charles, Mark Shlinkmann, St. Louis Today, Oct 8, 2011
Palin: Already Almost Forgotten, David Frum, FrumForum, Oct 5, 2011
Sarah Palin’s Future, National Review, Oct. 6, 2011
Santorum to Palin: A little help, please? Ed Morrissey, Hot Air, Oct 8, 2011