Palin Focuses On The Future

Alaska Governor Deflects 2012 Speculation, But The Spotlight Remains On Her At Republican Governors Conference

(AP)  Sarah Palin called on fellow Republican governors to keep the new president and his strengthened Democratic majority in check on issues from taxes to health care as she signaled she'll take a leadership role in a party searching for a new standard-bearer.

Addressing the Republican Governors Association meeting Thursday, this year's GOP vice presidential nominee — and an oft-mentioned candidate for 2012 — revisited some aspects of the bitter campaign and talked about the role of the governors in the coming year. After losing the White House and several seats in the Senate and House, the party is engaging in some soul-searching about its direction.

"We are the minority party," Palin said at a session on "Looking Towards the Future: The GOP in Transition." "Let us resolve not to be the negative party."

Still, she took a swipe or two at President-elect Barack Obama. She said with governors, "the buck stops on our desk. ... We are not the many voting yea or nay or present." While an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama often voted "present," a practice the GOP criticized during the campaign.

Palin noted that Congress is led by the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. Barney Frank, and said it was incumbent upon GOP governors to ensure that the federal government doesn't take over the health care system. She said if Obama and the new Congress "err on the side of excess taxes, we have to show them the way."

"Let's reach out to Barack Obama," Palin said. "Show him how lower taxes provide opportunity for the private sector to grow."

Palin also displayed a sense of humor, telling the governors at the beginning of her remarks that she wanted to catch them up on the developments in her life since they last met.

"I had a baby, I did some traveling, I very briefly expanded my wardrobe, I made a few speeches, I met a few VIPs including those who really impact society like Tina Fey," she said to loud laughter.

Facing the prospect of being out of power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time since the 1992 election, Republicans are looking to their governors to fill the leadership vacuum. Speculation has centered on the telegenic Palin despite her tumultuous two months on the national political scene. She likely would have competition for a possible 2012 bid from Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — all in attendance at the three-day meeting.

Republican governors acknowledged that Palin would be a party leader.

"She is somebody who is going to be one of the voices in helping to lead the party in the months and years ahead," Pawlenty said. "We're going to need a whole team, but she's clearly going to be one of the voices that people are going to look to for some perspective on various issues."

In a series of national television interviews, Palin did not rule out seeking the presidency, saying, "It's crazy to close a door before you know what's even open in front of you."

Before briefly taking questions from reporters Thursday morning, Palin said, "I, like all of our governors, we're focused on the future. The future for us is not the 2012 presidential race. It's next year and our next budget, and the next reforms in our states and in 2010 we're going to have 36 governors' positions open across the U.S. That's what we're focused on."

Governors showed their support for Palin, who critics have said was ill-prepared to be vice president and may have cost Republican nominee John McCain support from independent and moderate voters. Undermining Palin's credibility and hockey mom image was her $150,000 wardrobe bought with GOP dollars and her halting interview performances.

Six in 10 Americans said Palin is not qualified to become president, according to exit polls of voters in last week's election. That included nine in 10 Democrats, nearly two-thirds of independents and a quarter of Republicans. The exit polls were conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks.

Twelve of Palin's peers joined her for the news conference, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the head of the RGA, praised before she made her remarks, describing Palin as "a governor who has led her state boldly, inspired a nation with her optimism, her frank talk, her unashamed embrace of bedrock conservative principles. She represents us, Republican governors, as well. And I can assure you, she's just getting started."

[treknutz]

Palin Focuses On The Future:

Palin: Mirror Mirror on the wall, who''s the most political saavy of them all?

Mirror: You idiot! If I''ve told you once, I''ve told you 10 times a day since July.....HILARY CLINTON! Now ask a real question!

[hippychicky-2009]

So now since Palin can see a clock from her house, she can tell the future?

Posted by earache4

**laughing** OMG that is to perfect.

[earache4]

Palin/Quayle 2012!
Posted by daffy64 at 10:01 AM

LOL!
Dumb and dumber!

[earache4]

So now since Palin can see a clock from her house, she can tell the future?

[actornaught]

...and great looks...
Posted by TheMasses10 at 12:43 PM : Nov 14, 2008

ONLY great looks.

moo...

[irishmaniii]

You haven''t paid much attention to Sarah''s obvious lack of intuition and her absolute ineptitude if you are reporting or or praising her opinions about literally anything.....I thought that only Hannity and O''Reilly were dumb enough to offer her this kind of unwarranted praise and attention.....she is going nowhere fast and absolutely does NOT belong in a powerful political arena as a decision maker....she has proven this over and over.....

[actornaught]

wow. Sarah has focus, that''s a new one...

[ardiva1]

Grab a clue. Palin is not interested in politics..just the center stage attention it can provide her.

[daffy64]

You''''''''re just scared of her and the fact that she is a powerful and intelligent woman that opposes all your libs views.

--

Yes, she weilds incredible power over Alaska (kind of) and can answer mind-boggling questions like "what newspapers do you read?"

Or not.

[daffy64]

Palin/Quayle 2012!

[oldguy4truth]

Does anyone remember Dan Quail? Neither will we remember whatshername.

[earache4]

Hey Bible Spice, what ever happened to Levi?

[earache4]

What''s the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom?

A pit bull doesn''t wear out it''s welcome....

[tigerrram9]

Remember republicans you have Todd Palin defacto advisor for Sarah giving her advice. You have Levi Johnston cry out he is a r**neck and he does not desire to be a dad. He wanted his girlfriend to Abort, abort, abort the pregnancy. You have the ethic violations still lurking (accepting 150G wardrobe,unauthorized travel expenses for her family, abuse of official power, allowing Todd access to top advisors). The list is going to get longer before 2012. What about the Alaska Separatist Party that Todd belonged to? Come on, you still say she is the future of the republican party.

[tigerrram9]

The republican party can do better than Sarah Palin. Just let her go, to say she is the future of the republican party..oops that doesn''t say much about the republican party does it. Is Palin all you have? Don''t you have other intelligent and more experienced women in your party? America cannot affort to be embarrassed in front of the world if you choose Palin in 2012. I think before 2012 the truth about the Palin''s is going to come out. Mark my words the scandals with the Palin''s will come out before 2012, then what?

[kenhussein]

Here''s Why Palin Didn''t Give A Press Conference:

(Video/1:35);

http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorJohnMcSame

[pirmin3]

Go shoot a moose honey. Remember, it is better to be thought an idiot then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[daisyjingles]

Sarah who?

[cattiej]

We are sooo very sick of reading, watching and hearing about Sarah Palin,,,we are ready to vomit. This is the only and last thing we have to say about this barracudda barbie. Please, will someone send this wicked witch of the North back to Alaska and never ever let her out of the state. Shut Up about Palin....for God''s sake CBS, ABC, NBC, etc. etc...don''t write anymore about her,stop interviewing her etc. Good Night and Good-bye Palin.

[whitemale08]

It amazes me how people who recieve 15 min of fame try to cling on to the lime-light for another 15 min.

It''s over...OK.

You can''t win an election by calling yourself a ''redneck''...that''s not how you broaden your base.

All you Palin lovers...just drop it.

The Republican party is in shambles and it will take someone alot smarter and has more vision to rebuild this party if that''s even possible.