Political Hotsheet
July 6, 2009 3:25 PM

Washington Unplugged: Palin "Wants To Be President"

Sarah Palin's recent resignation from her post as governor of Alaska may have baffled many, but her intentions are clear, say two people who have carefully watched the determined politician for the past year.

"She wants to be president of the United States, and she has not been coy about that," says CBS News' Scott Conroy, who followed Palin on the 2008 campaign trail.

Conroy and Shushannah Walshe, who covered Palin for Fox News, both guests today on Washington Unplugged, will be releasing a book in January about Palin.

In some respects, Palin's resignation was not very surprising, Conroy and Walshe say, given her experiences back in Alaska after campaigning as the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008.

"It was very, very clear her return to her home state was exremely difficult for the governor," Conroy says.

Many of her allies in Alaska's legislature turned against her after she developed a national presence, and one of her harshest critics in Alaska even referred to her as a "political sociopath," Conroy says.

"Even though she does remain popular in her home state, it's nothing like in the lower 48 where she's mobbed by fans," Walshe says. "She wants to come back to those crowds."

You can watch the whole discussion in the above video.
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Sarah Palin
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Washington Unplugged
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by toldyouso29 July 10, 2009 3:05 AM EDT
by hakori July 6, 2009 2:22 PM PDT
Palin: the Great Beacon of Light America?! This woman is as intellectually incurious and unenlightened as GWB!

Intellectually incurious and unenlightened= fancy way to say she is stupid.
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by toldyouso29 July 10, 2009 3:04 AM EDT
First Sarah has to make it all the way to the castle and the 'Emerald City'...Then, after Dorothy, her, the tinman, the cowardly lion and Toto get there, they have to find the Wicked Witch and kill her--then when they make it back, the Wizard of Oz will give Sarah a brain, then, barring she does not self immolate or self combust (due to her straw head) she can take it from there. LMAO
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by WISWOMAN July 6, 2009 10:47 PM EDT
SHE'S LEAVING BECAUSE SHE WON'T GET ANY MORE POPULAR HAVING TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS AS GOVERNOR IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. IT'S MUCH EASIER TO QUIT AND THEN POINT OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS . XENOPHOBIC RIGHTWINGERS WILL MAKE HER RICH BUYING HER HALF-THOUGHTS AND CATCHY LINES - SHE IS GOING FOR THE BRASS RING, AND SHE SHOULD OWN UP TO THAT. JOURNALISM GRADS EVERYWHERE HANG YOUR HEADS AT WHAT PASSES FROM HER PEN. I AM A STRONG FEMALE, AND I RESENT THE COMPLAINTS THIS IS ALL BECAUSE SHE IS FEMALE-SHE'S AN IDIOT- THAT COMES IN BOTH SEXES!
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by ScottinLA July 6, 2009 9:55 PM EDT
Dear Mr. Man 007:

You reveal yourself to be a Dumbie by not Knowing when To capitalize. Why is it that Palin supporters all seem to fail basic English?

Because they don't know how to read. Nuff said.

ScottinLA
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by chusanroad July 6, 2009 8:49 PM EDT
President? Of which country?
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by cbsantispin July 6, 2009 6:14 PM EDT
First impressions are lasting and I don't think Sarah Palin can undo the massive political damage. Not rich by todays standards, Sarah Palin has obviously shed the Alaska Governors job to fill her coffers without restrictions by being paid for speaking engagements leading up to the next political contest and to get back to wearing those expensive clothes she was forced to return given to her by the Republican machine. Sarah Palin had one Achilles Heel but now she has two! First, her husband Todd was a 7 year member of the Alaska Independence movement whose Charter is to break away from the United States, Sarah Palin continues to lie about her husbands membership and participation. Next, she is now viewed as a quitter by resigning as Alaska Governor 18 months before her term ends because the going got rough and would probably resign and quit if elected President as well. Sarah Palin can't even cite Governor of Alaska as experience since she will never have completed her term and leaving 18 months early can and will be used against her. Sarah Palin's novelty will continue to wear off and only the 28% Republican base will embrace her which is not enough to win anything, I don't see Independents supporting Palin in large numbers.
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by specialty8 July 6, 2009 5:32 PM EDT
She can't be any worse than what we have now. The community organizer up to this point has been a total failure.
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by gravyboat4000 July 6, 2009 5:42 PM EDT
How has he been a failure?

Be specific, none of your,"Rush",'isms.

(please Sarah, run for President!, I can't wait to LMFAO!!!)
by the74blaster July 6, 2009 6:23 PM EDT
Mr-Man_07,

The only thing you have proved with your comment is that conservatives will blame a democratic president for problems their hero causes with their demonstrated lack of vision for the future.

In fact, do you care to shre your outrage at Bush for spending trillions on a war that was totally optional?

How about his inability to address the economic situation until the banks atarted failing last year? You cannot tell me that the banks suddenly lost everything in several days! This was an issue that took some time to develop and the Bush administration totally screwed it up by not addressing it early enough.

Blaming Obama for this mess shows the ignorance of your comment. At least Obama recognizes there is a recession and that alone provides more confidence in his abilities to actually mop up the mess that Bush created.

Sorr to rain on your parade, but then te truth is not always easy to accept.
by RRS12 July 6, 2009 5:22 PM EDT
Will somebody please, please tell me this is all a joke? She is as qualified to run for president as my ten year old niece. I am afraid, not of her running, but that there are actually eligible voters who would vote for her. The dumbing of America is upon us.
Reply to this comment
by gravyboat4000 July 6, 2009 5:46 PM EDT
The dumbing of America started 8 years ago, this would lower us all to,"trigg", status.

Bue we need more Triggs, right Sarah?
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