Sarah Palin Basks in Attention as Other Republican Governors Watch
By Celeste Katz
Daily News Political Correspondent
MIAMI—Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left the hand-wringing to others Thursday, waxing nostalgic about her good times on the losing GOP campaign for the White House.
Palin veered down memory lane at a Republican Governors Association forum about the GOP's future. For a second day, she overshadowed other possible 2012 contenders at the confab.
Although "you run to win," Palin said, "we carry with us the best of memories and joyful experiences that really do not depend at all on political victory."
Since the Republican governors last met, she said, "I had a baby, I did some traveling, I very briefly expanded my wardrobe, I made a few speeches, met a few VIPs—including those who really impact society, like Tina Fey."
Aside from that, Palin joked, "It's pretty much the same old same old."
Of course, it's hardly the "same old" anything when reporters ask Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour if the week hasn't become a "SarahPalooza"—he said no—and a man from Hustler is walking around with a bagful of porn DVDs featuring a Palin look-alike.
Earlier, she appeared at her first open news conference since Barack Obama defeated John McCain last week. A dozen other governors stood with her, awkwardly and silently, except for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who introduced her and said no more.
The entire episode lasted about 11 minutes—about four of them dedicated to Palin taking questions.
Deflecting one inquiry, she said, "I don't even want to talk about strategy within a campaign that is over."
Republican consultant Dan Schnur said Palin helped her future prospects by doing a series of interviews this week to confront complaints—some from within Team McCain - that she hurt the campaign.
"By going on offense, she gets to tell her side of the story in a way she wasn't able to during the campaign," Schnur said.
Palin initially was seen as energizing the McCain campaign, Schnur pointed out, and "she spent the last several days reminding people what it was they liked about her the first time they met her."
And who did she like? She fondly recalled campaign mascot "Joe the Plumber" and families with Down syndrome children who had her "close to crying a few times, because they just touched my heart."
Reader Comments
The Best of the rest?
Sarah palin and her family offer the best of the rest of us? I don't think so! Sarah Palin is an attention hog that doesn't know how to simply make a statement and let it go. Why is she still giving these interviews? After spending so much time away from her job and her family during the campaign.. why is she not focusing on them? We have heard more from Sarah Palin than we have from John McCain! My God will this woman ever go away?
GOING TOO FAR
It is so sad that HATE cannot be left out of this discussion. Common sense should tell us that if there are two parties, one has to win and the other has to lose. We also should be honest with ourselves. There is no need to hate Barack Obama or Sarah Palin, but we should be concerned about who we elect to run our Great Country. Who is the best person intellectually to represent us on the world scene. Can we stand and have leaders of other countries overshadow us because we are intellectually inferior? When I used to hear Tony Blair of Great Britain speak, I was so embarrassed of our President Bush. I love America and believe that we should be on top. The presidency is mostly a title and there are players who work in the background. Barack Obama far exceeds McCain and Palin in intellectual ability. There is a saying that HE WHO KNOWS NOT AND KNOWS NOT HE KNOWS NOT IS A FOOL, SHUN HIM - Sarah Palin fits smugly in this category,
Give President Elect Obama a chance. He won't be able to work miracles, but he is a refreshing, unspoilt change.
THE ELECTION IS OVER AND IT IS WHAT IT IS
We should all be mature and accept the results of the election. This is the mandate of the people. For anyone to suggest that the media has decided for the masses of the Americans is an insult. Americans do have independent thought. I watched FOX News and I voted for the OBAMA/BIDEN ticket. The results can't please everyone. Although you all say that Obama does not have experience, Sarah Palin had none either. What distinguished Obama from Sarah Palin however, is his intellect, his charisma, his brilliance and his depth and these are natural abilities. Charisma is not something that can be worked upon - it is a God given gift. Barack Obama will be our president, so just get used to it.
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