American Morning
Sarah Palin: 'She’s not retreating, she’s reloading'
By Nailah Ellis Timberlake
Before the release of Sarah Palin’s book on Tuesday, it was already listed as the number one bestseller on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble’s online. Palin was paid an estimated $1.25 million for her memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life," by publisher HarperCollins. She collaborated with author Lynn Vincent to completed her 423-page book in four months.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/17/palin.sarah.gi.art.jpg caption="Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday."]
The first stop on her multi-city book tour will be on Wednesday at a Barnes & Nobles in Kentwood, Michigan where manager Danett Mae said, “The response has been phenomenal. We’ve gotten inquiries from customers across the country and we plan to accommodate as many people as possible.”
Mae couldn’t estimate the amount of people they were expecting to come out but the hope is that everyone who lines up will be able to meet Palin and get their book signed. Currently the schedule released by the publisher shows that Palin’s book tour is only stopping in small cities throughout the country, but more cities are expected to be added at a later date.
In addition to her book tour, Sarah Palin appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s show Monday afternoon where she discussed her White House run as a vice presidential candidate, her family, her politics and her future. Many think it’s a positive and strategic move for Palin because Oprah’s selling power is unquestionable. Palin supporter and attorney Marianna Picciocchi thinks that it was an excellent idea to go on Oprah. Picciocchi said, “I’m glad she did it. It was a good idea because of widespread coverage and she got to speak on her history and what she’s done. Her track record in Alaska shows that she’s an effective leader and people will have more insight into her now.”
Palin has stayed in the spotlight as one of the few recognizable women within the Republican party. One of the many criticisms that she addressed in her book were questions surrounding her ability to hold office while being a wife and mother to five kids as well as her decision to bring her entire family on the campaign trail while she was running for vice president. Palin responded to her critics saying, “I will be able to do this job, the same way that the men are able to do this job with five kids.” Palin continued, “It never occurred to me that I couldn’t do the job because of children. My children are my strength.”
Republican consultant and former White House Press Secretary Joyce Giuffra has three children herself and said, “What we saw from her was a lot of honesty as a mother of five children and I think it was great seeing them on the campaign trail with her. I think the media is responsible for a lot of the criticism we saw on her because they evaluate female candidates differently.”
Not only has she been the target of media scrutiny, but so has her family and, in particular, her eldest teen daughter Bristol, who was pregnant during the campaign. Bristol has since given birth to a boy she named Tripp and has had to deal with criticism of the family and Sarah Palin by the father of her child, Levi Johnston.
After she was named as John McCain's vice presidential running mate on August 29, 2008, Palin said in her interview with Oprah, “I was naïve to think that the media would leave my kids alone. I remember and I respected when Barack Obama looked right into a reporters eyes and said, ‘My family is off limits – don’t touch them,’ and that was respected and obeyed. I wasn’t given that privilege of being able to protect my kids, my family. I think there was a little bit of a double standard – not a little bit, there was a double standard.”
She said that double standard was seen right through the 10-week campaign where she reveals that she was being told how to dress, what to say, who to talk to and even what to eat. Palin says it was even suggested that she try the Atkins Diet. “Of all things to worry about when the McCain campaign numbers were tanking, President Obama’s numbers were soaring – there were a lot of things that we should have been worried about. What I don’t think we should have spent a lot of time on was on what I eat. And that was a focus of some of the campaign operatives,” said Palin.
Comedian and blogger Leighann Lord said, “It’s always difficult for women because we have to work twice as hard to go just as far as men. There is definitely a double standard for Sarah Palin because she’s such a lightning rod – you either really love her or really hate her.”
Perhaps it’s that dichotomy that has kept Palin’s name in the spotlight.
After announcing her resignation on July 3, 2009 as Alaska’s first female and youngest Governor, Sarah Palin propelled herself back into the national spotlight campaigning for candidates and taking on speaking engagements all over the country. Many believe that Palin stepped down as governor in order to promote her own personal political agenda.
Palin says, “It didn’t make any sense for people to believe that I quit for any selfish reasons. I resigned as the Governor of Alaska because I wasn’t going to run for a second term. I was heading into a lame duck term.” She shares in her book that her oldest son Track said to her, “Mom, no dishonorable discharge,” because he was reluctant about her stepping down. Her resignation was made official on July 26, 2009 and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell becomes Governor of Alaska.
“It was a point where my state, the state that I so dearly love, it is my home, it is where I will be buried. My state of Alaska was being hampered by my presence there, being shackled behind a governor’s desk. I wasn’t able to get out there and talk about issues that were important to me or an ethics violation would be filed.”
Many people believe that her leaving office was a strategic political move so that she could focus on a run for president in 2012. And there are many who believe that Sarah Palin isn’t qualified to hold national office. According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Monday, 60 percent say the former Alaska governor is not qualified to serve as president. Referring to the vice presidential position, Oprah asked her, “There’s no part of you that thinks, ‘I wonder if I’m really up for that job?’” and Palin responded, “No, no I didn’t. I felt quite confident in my abilities and my executive experience knowing that this is an executive administrative job.”
The poll also shows that even though many feel she is not qualified to be president, among Republicans, her positive rating soars to 76 percent. In addition, 33 percent of women say she’s qualified to be president but only 8 percent of women would definitely vote for her.
Jamie Maarten, a political science and economics major and the president of Columbia University Libertarians thinks Palin needs more experience before she tries to run for a national office. “She’s not ready or qualified to deal with the problems we may be facing in three years. She doesn’t have the expertise to handle those type of problems.”
Heavy speculation has surrounded Palin and her political aspirations and motivations. When asked about the possibility of a presidential run in 2012 she replied, “I’m concentrating on 2010 and making sure we have issues tackled as Americans to make sure we’re on the right road.” Here’s how her father describes it in her book: “She’s not retreating, she’s reloading.”
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I agree totally- a line similar to Victoria Secrets-
But she has to model the items though.......
Sarah needs to reload her career into the entertainment industry- would love to see more of what was shown on the cover of Newsweek- maybe a line of her own lingerie
Lin@ Please take some more drugs and go back in bed. I'll pray that you get some TLC soon but I don't know if that will help.
The problem you far left liberals have is that Palin is a "family value" conservative that is beautiful- and intelligent- but not SLUTTY looking.
Conservatives try to live a "family value" life . . .and , yes, being human and not perfect, some fail and many have a hard time living that life. But, unlike you "if it feels good, anything goes", "hate America" PC liberals, at least the conservatives TRY. I can hardly wait until the pedophiles claim their " equal rights" to feel good and they come after your little 10 year old daughter or grand-daughter . . .oops, I forgot, chances are you aborted them, killed them . . .all in the name of "reproductive rights". You do have the "right to reproduce" but I don't know where you think that you have the right to KILL the human being that you reproduced. But, to your credit, at least you've saved the snail darters, trees, turtles, and a myriad of other THINGS that are more important than a lowly human being. ( I bet that you would be "wee-weed" if anyone went around and destroyed birds' nest and destroyed hatching eggs . . . there would be an uproar amongst you leftist PC idiots.)
The reason you hate Sarah Palin is because she reminds you of what you should be, or should be trying to be . . . what you're too selfish, lazy, self-centered and too PC to even try to be. For you, it's easier to be like some of those Holly-wierd "idols". Shame on you and Shame on NOW.
Glenn Beck? I know that's you...stop trolling the cnn form's, get some sleep you need it. Seriously though, if this what you honestly think. You really really need to reanalyse your life. Stop drinking the koolaide have a thought of your own, trust me it's liberating.
It is interesting that the Associated Press assigned 11 (eleven) reporters to fact check Palin's autobiography. They didn't even assign one reporter to fact check anything that Obama had written. They must really fear her or they would not be spending so much time and money trying to tear her down.
It Isn't Oprah that is boring and I think her success and power speaks for her.lol. Palin is boring and has no idea what is going on in politics. Lets face it ...she was only chosen because the Republicans thought they could get the women Hillary lost in the election. Palin can't even finish her term as the governor of Alaska or even answer a simple question as to what magazine she reads.Come on now....lol. She is as much of a joke as Bush( who tried to finish what his dad started and put u in the red in his tennor while saving the banks(who just vacationed and gave each other bonuses with our money, Mcain(who needed a cane), or Joe the Plumber(who didn't even own a business to qualify). We all know she is trying to sell this book to put some rice on the table. Why should we be scared of her.....Palin is a Joke....go back to what she does best....being a soccer mom and a blond in disguise.
I saw a speach "written" by Sarah Palin that had been red marked and corrected. There were so many errors it was amazing. Living in Alaska, she should know better, but actually stated it was Abraham Lincoln that purchased Alaska. Any one I talked to who likes her mentioned that she's a fresh face and not corrupted yet by politics. She is new and interesting and conservative with good american values. True. Yet we're entering a time in history where nieve behavior could create a cataclysm. I lived in Alaska while she was governor and I was NOT impressed. Do we want someone in the white house who will say she understands foriegn policy because a colapsed communinst county is within view over a frozen ocean? If we vote her into office, we will deserve what we get.
Why is this woman still getting air time?!
She is a one note wonder who should have left the stage long ago. I can only assume that she is making up msot the 'facts' that she says, because if she reads things and then truly believes the 'facts' she pulls from them, then the public school system has failed her badly!
The Republicans don't seem to focus on leaders who are qualified. They focus on leaders whom they think can win an election–or at least keep their own people mobilized. It's like a car company focusing on sales rather than on making safe, reliable vehicles. This leads to short-term profits and long-term losses–exactly what happened during the Bush years.
Instead of re-loading it looks like Sarah Palin is filling and then loading 'the old coffers.' God bless her, this is America and if a newsboy can become a millionaire, so can someone who doesn't read newspapers. She'll play a bit part in the destruction of the Republican Party next fall and then she'll soon be forgotten, even by 'Rob' and his co-workers.
She's not retreating, she's reloading??????? This woman has been shootin' blanks out of her mouth from day one. This woman has the intellect of a flat rock in pond of scum, oopppss, sorry, didn't mean to insult flat rocks.
Who ever this guy Chris is you must know another Barack Obama that lives on the hill next to yours, because I know your not comparing Barack to Sarah Palin.Barack is handling complex issues right now that you may be better suited to handle then Sarah palin. Oh To Tammy you might as well pull out the lazy boy and relaxe its gonna be another seven years and by then(Sarah WHO???)
I feel sorry for the people with the mindset that this lady void of any substance or any legislative knowledge can be president. The women knows how to point a fingure but no solutions to back them up. My eight year old can memorize GOP talking points: death panels,dithering, we want our country back, look i could go on for an hour with the same old lame Fox news,GOP,Sarah Palin crap. I ask myself does the average conservative have a analitical thought precess? How does it work with them, wait till liberals do all the real thinking about an issue then attack it.
I love her!!! I think many women are jealous of her and men are scared of her!
I didn't hear Palin say anything about Presidency, but she sure brings out the nut cases.
OK we get it, lefties dont like Sarah. MOVE ON!!! To Jean Louis: Time for Obama to do the same!!!
There are millions of Democrats that hope beyond hope that the GOP even considers Palin in the top-100. She could not manage a checkbook. As a former Republican, it is people like Palin, Limbaugh, Delay, Hannity, Beck, and Buchanan that chased myself away. There is no intelligenvce or leadership...just loud & louder, no-no-no, and scare tactics. Palin has swallowed that worm and she sounds as smart as one.
Sarah is reloading allright......to further prove that she is about as smart as a rock...a wet rock.
Give the liberals enough time and they willl show you who they fear. Why else would they be spending so much money, time and effort trying to tear her down. Of course the politically correct news(?) orginizations like CNN are happy to assist.
Qualified???? Palin is more qualified than Obama before he was elected. He never worked a real job, he never had to pay for college. He never ran anything. He never balanced a budget. Obama never lived the life than most regular Americans live. Obama comes from the cesspool of politics and is owned and paid for by those that live in that world.
You can be sure Palin would never appologize for our country. She would never leave our troops hanging in Afghanastan. She does not put party before American. You know what she believes and will tell you directly what she stands for.
There is no "Now let me be clear.....nothing nothing nothing." or "Let me remind you......nothing nothing nothing". These are learned tricks to give you time to avoid giving a direct answer.
Palin is reloading but she is shooting blanks. Why do you give her so much coverage. Palin has a whiny ,shrill, nasal sound which is aggravating to hear. The media has contributed to her millionaire status. Thanks for nothing.
Palin always blames everyone else for her stupid remarks, lies, contradictions and behavior. Quitting as governor, the moronic interviews on TV, the McCain campaign, seeing Russia, SNL, death squads, David Letterman, the wardrobe, the concession speech, Joe Six-Pack, publicly showcasing her family then complaining about the attention; the list goes on and on and on and on. Nothing is ever HER fault.
When is this unjustafiably self-confident egomaniac going to take at least SOME responsibility for HER OWN actions?
Sarah Palin wants attention she is no different than Balloon boys parents, Or Jon and Kate plus 8 or Octo -mom. She has no substance. She couldn't handle the heat in Alaska so she quit and she wants to be President???? Come ' on America she's not fit to run a state much less a country she needs to start at home with her family taking care of her kids and husband.
So, suzi gerstenhaber, do you realized you just admitted to being prejudge and bias, and that you are teaching your son to be the same?
Next time you list your resume... "democrat and a liberal", be sure to include bigot.
Sarah Palin might not be retreating but reloading is so true . Sarah is reloading a greater amount of lies that she is pouring her heart into which makes her a "Pathological Liar".
Sarah Palin when discussed with my coworkers, and friends come
to one conclusion! why are'nt there more american women like
her.
The Oprah interview was boring. The only thing Palin cares about is herself & who she can manipulate (obviously does well with Republicans). She would be a disaster as President & frankly all she really wants is attention & how much money she can make. She is not out there for the good of the country. How much money have you donated Sarah to charity?
I am completely stunned that any intelligent human being could honestly believe that Mrs. Palin is even remotely qualified to lead the country. Maybe my mistake is in believing that there are more intelligent human beings out there than there actually are.
A Sarah Palin book panel by Carol Costello? Seriously? Where was the Al Gore movie panel? How about the Bill or Hillary Clinton panel?
And CNN is stupified as to why it is in a distant fourth place in ratings.
i'm female, over 55, and white – and the news says I'm in the demographic that loves Sarah Palin, but I don't love her, I don't like her, I don't want to hear her voice, I don't want to see her on Oprah. Frankly, Have we sunk that low that we would elect such a boob for President? I hope not. She has nothing of interest to say, and I think we can do much better – she does not represent the smart savvy women I have met in my life.
Sorry I sent it in on wrong issue my bad.
I have listened to Sarah Palin and she is not qualified to be President and not evEn Governor. She is a terrible speaker and she lacks knowledge on most issues. She struggles when asked a question from any commentator. Oprah asked her a few questions and she acted like a Freshman in high school. She appears to be programmed. If she wrote this book I would be totally surprised, they cannot be her words for sure someone would have had to transform her words into reallity for sure.
I wish hEr well but she will never be in the political world she will not be wanted. Just ask John McCaine to be upfront and ask him to tell the truth what he thinks about her. She hurt him terribly during his run for President.
RE: Interview on Opra
While Sarah Palin has a lot of visibility, she is saying NOTHING of substance. I am an Independent and vote the issues. When Ms. Palin is asked questions about a specific plan for some of the challenges leaders are facing today, I hear nothing. The real message I get is "JUST TRUST ME," that does not satisfy me and will not satisfy any thinking voter. I think she has opportunities to have a positive influence because she has visibility, but she comes across to me a just a mouth.
Dear Carol, What makes you think that there is anything beyond Palin's pretty face? I for one want her to make a run for the Presidency. It will guarantee a colossal loss for the Republican Party. Her comfort level is being in Alaska to keep hunting and fishing the species that are being wiped off the face of the earth because of her beliefs of 'don't touch my gun or fishing pole'. If enough of the ice melts away from global warming in her state all of those mavericks up there might have to relocate to the lower 48, thus becoming part of the real world!
A novel concept, America vetting a potential presidentional candidate PRIOR to putting them in office. Wish we would have thought of that sooner.
Sarah Palin-she's reloading her bank account. It's all about money and celebrity.
ok..i am a democrat and a liberal, but when i hear sara speak, i cringe...exactly the way i used to cringe when george bush would speak...as my son said, they may be reasonably smart, but not smart enough to be president!
All I can say is if Sarah Palin and Rush Limburger are the ones who get their way with things then we better watch out or try to leave the country because these people are morons. I grew up in the 50's when integrity was taught to us everyday, now integrity and honesty have virtually vanished in this new world of hate and greed, God help us all.
Your host said "people are just trying to find out what's in there; they want her to talk policy".
Sarah Palin went through an entire presidential campaign. When ~is~ the right time to start talking policy? She hasn't yet.
What bewilders me is the 50% of Republicans who think she is presidential material. Where have they been.
Y'know what would serve the Republican party and the US right? Elect her. Make her president - hide the nukes but make her president - the American nation, which Obama seems to be able to keep floating, would go into free-fall and join the underdeveloped world within a decade (and one can only imagine how many wars the USA would start during that special time).
Honestly people, Sarah Palin is not qualified to lead the school board and only plasma-intensity credulity is keeping her insincere smile in front of the public.
The question posed was "Is there too much style – not enough substance?"
I'm confused: I thought that we were talking about Sarah Palin, not Barach Obama.
By the way, I'm not a supporter of Palin....I'm just calling it as I see it.
Please feel free to print or show this on TV with my full name attached.
oprah's shows have become boring. you pretty much know how they're going to go before they air. oprah's become predictable. people only tune in anymore looking for her giveaways. zzzzzzzzz.