Todd Palin is confronted by Alaskan in Iowa who reminds the Palins that their BS no longer works up here in the Last Frontier.

Courtesy of SF Gate:

As we told you the other day, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin hasn't decided yet to run for president.

One big question she will have to answer is why she quit after only two years as governor.The question came up as Palin and husband Todd swooped through the Iowa State Fair the other day. 

A woman, who identified herself as an Alaskan, questioned Todd about why his wife quit. 

He told her to watch "The Undefeated" -- the movie about Palin made by a conservative filmmaker. 

They got into it, and the exchange ended with the woman calling Todd a "sellout."

God I LOVED seeing that.

I cannot believe that Sarah Palin's personal purse valet suggested to this lady that she needed to watch "The Undefeated."

Hey asshole, we are Alaskans!  We don't need to see the movie, we fucking LIVED it!

That is how we know it is a poorly constructed piece of propaganda that NOBODY wanted to attend and which nowadays cannot even attract donations of pet foods in exchange for tickets.

Which is something that Spokane politician Mike Noder discovered the hard way:

Sarah Palin may not be much of a draw in Spokane. 

That’s one conclusion – and a charitable one, at that – to draw from an event a little more than a week ago at The Bing Crosby Theater featuring the new biographical movie about Palin. Planned as a chance to raise money for charities, food for Second Harvest Food Bank and pet supplies for Spokanimal, it was a disappointment, said organizer Mike Noder. 

Unsure how much it might bring in, and unwilling to run afoul of the state Public Disclosure Commission, he didn’t want to collect money for his low-cost mayoral campaign. But he offered hold the screening and collect for some local charities. 

Admission was free, with would-be watchers urged to bring food or pet supplies or donate to charity. 

“People responding were kind of vicious,” Noder said. Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery wanted no part of the gig and the Food Bank wouldn’t bring down donation barrels, he said. 

The movie, which aired on a Thursday night, didn’t draw a big crowd. Noder estimated it at 50, although others thought it might’ve been half that. The Northeast Community Center Youth Group got the door receipts. The Food Bank got some donations and a plastic grocery bag of food. Spokanimal got some donations and a couple cases of cat food. 

Noder actually got less than nothing: “My web traffic dropped. The association was not good for my campaign.” 

Time to face reality "Tawd." Alaskans know you and your wife pathetic quitters, clearly movie audiences know you are pathetic quitters, and the number of American voters who know you are pathetic quitters is growing everyday.

T-Paw pulls the plug on campaign.

Courtesy of the AP:

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination on Sunday, hours after finishing a disappointing third in the Iowa straw poll. 

"I wish it would have been different, but obviously the pathway forward for me doesn't exist so we are going to end the campaign," Pawlenty said on ABC's "This Week" from Iowa. 

The low-key Midwesterner, who had struggled to gain traction in a state he had said he must win, had told supporters on a conference call shortly before the broadcast interview that he was ending his White House bid. 

"I thought I would have made a great president, but obviously that pathway isn't there," Pawlenty said. "I do believe we're going to have a very good candidate who is going to beat Barack Obama."

Those last remarks still indicate that Pawlenty is delusional, but apparently not delusional enough to stay in this race. Still I am surprised that of all the GOP wannabes in this contest that he is the first to recognize that his chances are non-existent.

After all third place was not bad at all in the "nobody gives two shits about you but the media" Ames Straw Poll. I mean the only two to beat him were Michele Bachmann (I believe purely based on her corndog eating skills by the way), and Ron Paul who seems to ALWAYS place high in the early polling of the most wingnutty members of the GOP right before the more sober minds realize he might actually become their candidate and yank him of stage with a giant hook.

Hell he beat the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney, by FOUR places, you would think that might give him a boost of confidence going forward, but I guess losing to two of the most batshit crazy candidates in the field put the overall impact of this Iowa poll on the final nomination process into perspective for ole T-Paw.

I have to say that for me personally it is a shame, because right up until this morning I had a hell of a time differentiating between Pawlenty and Santorum. But as of right now I know that Pawlenty is NOT the guy who believes that a woman who has been raped should carry her rapist's child to term. 

Okay folks time to get out your crystal balls and let's see who YOU think will be the next potential loser to Obama in 2012 to come to their senses.

Here are the Iowa Straw Poll results. Try to act excited.

Courtesy of the LA Times:

1. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (4823, 28.55%) 

2. Congressman Ron Paul (4671, 27.65%) 

3. Governor Tim Pawlenty (2293, 13.57%) 

4. Senator Rick Santorum (1657, 9.81%) 

5. Herman Cain (1456, 8.62%) 

6. Governor Rick Perry (718, 3.62%) write-in 

7. Governor Mitt Romney (567, 3.36%) 

8. Speaker Newt Gingrich (385, 2.28%) 

9. Governor Jon Huntsman (69, 0.41%) 

10. Congressman Thad McCotter (35, 0.21%) 

Well Michele Bachmann won which should come as no surprise to ANYONE. She is the flavor of the moment and she is a fellow Iowan, which gives her an advantage.

And that was BEFORE everybody watched her eat her corndog.

I have to say that I am somewhat surprised that Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum (Or as I call them Dweedle dipshit and Dweedle Dumbass), came in third and fourth, right after Ron Paul's second place showing.

I find it amazing that the press gives this stupid poll so much attention when the top five winners don't even have a snowball's chance in hell of getting the nomination.  

What I think might be somewhat newsworthy is that Rick Perry, who was not an official name on the poll and only declared his candidacy this morning, was able to win a sixth place position as a WRITE IN. That should really cause the eventual nominee Mitt Romney some sleepless nights.

All of this media attention these candidates are getting must be driving Palin CRAZY, I wonder what she could possibly do to get them to look in her direction?  

 
Of course, what was I thinking?

CNN reporter Don Lemon manhandled by Marcus Bachmann. NO it's not what you think.

Courtesy of CNN:

After talking for about three minutes, Bachmann waded into the crowd filled with adoring supporters.

Moments later, as she tried to exit the area back to a waiting drive cart, Bachmann found herself in the middle of a mob of people: among them many supporters and members of the press including this reporter and CNN anchor Don Lemon. 

As both CNN staffers tried to question Bachmann, Lemon said he was pushed by two members of Bachmann’s staff. Lemon also said that Marcus Bachmann, the congresswoman’s husband, pushed him. 

“She came out, after speaking for just a couple minutes,” Lemon said. “There were other reporters and cameras there. And I asked her very respectful questions: ‘How do you think you did in the debate last night?’ and ‘How do you think you’re going to end up in the Ames Straw Poll?’ And her two campaign aides started elbowing me.”Lemon continued: “I told them, asked them not to elbow me. And then her husband Marcus started doing the same thing. And then he elbowed me into the cart. And I said, ‘You just pushed me into the cart.’ And he goes, ‘No, you did it yourself.’ 

“It was just, I don’t know, why they would choose to do that. We weren’t asking any ‘gotcha’ questions,” Lemon added.

Gee I wonder what got the Bachmann campaign so "wee'd wee'd up?"

Perhaps a reporter from Des Moines Register can clear this up:

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann was 30 minutes late to speak at her scheduled soapbox event and spoke for three of the 20 allotted minutes. 

She said she was going to shake hands, but left the makeshift stage quickly when 17-year-old Gabe Aderhold of Edina, Minn., loudly questioned her husband, Marcus, about counseling techniques at his clinic to “pray the gay away.” 

Uh oh, it looks like the unscientific, and potentially damaging, "therapy" sessions that the Bachmann's use in their "pray away the gay" clinics might be a sore spot for the campaign to deal with. Well gee if I were a reporter in Iowa I know exactly which question I would keep bringing up.  

I know I promised this yesterday but I done runned out of time. So let me present the Daily Show's Iowa Candidate Tent coverage.

The Daily Show - Indecision 2012 - Corn Polled Edition - Candidate Tent Coverage
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Personally I think it is still funny even on a Saturday morning.

(If the video won't play just click here.)

Sometimes when you pack in a hurry things get left behind.

"I feel like I forgot something. What could it be?"

"Oh yeah! Now I remember!"

"Dammit Todd! Bringing 'the girls' is YOUR job!"

I await the Palin fairy tale troll's attempt to explain this away.

Like a Herpes infection that is never really under control, Sarah Palin bursts back into view.

Get a load of this patented Palin moosecrap courtesy of the LA Times:

Palin said the timing of her visit was coincidental, that she had been invited to the fair for a couple years and was able to incorporate it into her "One Nation" bus tour that she has been sporadically conducting this summer. But she noted that it was important for candidates to spend time in the early-voting states. 

"I am here as an invited guest of people who have asked me to come [to the fair] the last couple years, part of the 'One Nation Tour,' getting to highlight an all-Americana historical venue we have here at the state fair, but at the same time getting to learn a lot more about what's important to Iowa and that's helpful too," she said, after touring the cattle barn. 

(Yes just like it was a "coincidence" when she showed up in New Hampshire as Romney announced the beginning of his campaign back in June.)

Palin said she did not plan on attending the Straw Poll. 

"I don't want to step on anybody's toes, so we won't be in the state tomorrow," Palin said, smiling. "We'll already be on the bus heading out." 

 (Yeah "heading out" all the way back to Wasilla I would imagine. She has Piper with her, and Piper starts school on Tuesday. Plus let's face it NO camera crews, means NO Sarah Palin!)


Palin laughed and didn't answer when asked if supporters should write in her name at the contest at Iowa State University. Palin declined to say who her supporters should cast ballots for in her place, and said it is too early for her to decide who to support if she doesn't run. 

"I'm a believer in ABO – Anybody But Obama," she said. "There's still a long time in this process to hear everybody's ideas, to more fully understand what their experience is before I would jump out at this early date and say I would support any of them over anybody else." 

(Translation: "That SarahPAC golden goose is not done dropping eggs quite yet! I am going to keep right on playing the political prick tease until the donations run dry and the last reporter walks off in disgust. CHA-CHING, CHA-CHING, baby!")
 
Palin pledged to run a different kind of campaign if she jumps in. 

"Each campaign that I've ever run in these 20 years of elected office has been kind of unconventional, right, Todd?" Palin said, turning to her husband. "I've always been outspent 2:1, 5:1, 10:1. I never won any polls heading into election night but usually won the election." 

("Usually won the election?" Well I guess that explains Palin's time spent as Murkowski's Lt. Governor, and that she is currently serving as our Vice President. Oh, I guess "usually" actually translates into "occasionally.")


"It would be unconventional and very grass-roots, very grass-roots," she said. "I wouldn't be out there looking for hires out of that political bubble that seem to result in the same ideas, same old talking points, the things that Americans get so sick and tired of hearing and kind of suffering through. We want new! We want new energy, we want conviction and passion and candidness, even if through that candidates make mistakes."

You know I hate to speak for Americans, and don't think anyone else should either, but what I think they are looking for is less "conviction" and "passion," and more "sanity" and "intelligence." But hey, that's just me.


By the way it should come as no surprise to any of us that Palin has only been in Iowa for less than a day and has also stuck her high heeled foot in her mouth.


That's our Klondike Kardashian for you, if somebody says something stupid she has to rush over to double down on it.

By the way I really think my Herpes reference might actually be more than just a metaphor.  I would pay big bucks to see somebody run up and rub Zovirex on her forehead just to see if she shriveled up and shrank from sight.

Now that would be worth the national coverage!

Jonathon Capehart has Sarah Palin's number.

Courtesy of the Washington Post:

Palin told her supporters via e-mail that her “One Nation Tour” bus would descend upon the Hawkeye State. The part of her missive that elicited side-eyes from me was this. “The heartland is perfect territory for more of the One Nation Tour as we put forth efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America by highlighting our nation’s heart, history, and founding principles,” Palin wrote. 

What, pray tell, are “efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America”? Did I somehow miss her detailed plan to pay off the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt and create jobs for the growing ranks of the unemployed? Americans want solutions to the worst economy in their lifetimes. They are hungry for leaders who have the courage to present realistic plans to turn things around. But if some of those Americans are looking to Palin for said solutions, they are bound to starve. 

Remember, no matter what she says or does, Palin is not running for president. The half-term governor of Alaska parlayed her 2008 vice presidential nomination into a bankroll-busting career as a best-selling author and reality-television star who is accountable to no one but herself for what she says and does. As a star, Palin is terrific. She’s a natural talent. And she is well aware of and comfortable in exercising her ability to steal other people’s spotlight. That she would give up that kind of power for the confines of the campaign trail is unfathomable.

Now why does that summation sound familiar? 

Oh yeah, because THAT is pretty much what I have been saying all along.


And I have to say that with Bristol's new reality show, Mercede's Playboy interview, the birth of a new grandbaby raising embarrassing questions, and Levi and Joe's books about to hit the stands, I find it even less likely she will declare than I ever did in the past.

However, and I feel obligated to always add this caveat, this IS Sarah Palin, who might very well be willing to launch a Presidential campaign solely to prove her critics wrong.

Yes, she IS that petty.

However I have no idea who Palin can convince to accompany her on the campaign trail if she WERE to declare her candidacy.  Piper starts school next Tuesday (Yes she is going to school, one of my sources saw her registering), Bristol is filming her reality show, Track has a new baby to care for (And has said he wants NOTHING to do with her political activities), Willow is completely uncooperative, and Trig is much too big, and much too fussy to take along for photo ops.

That leaves only Sarah's parents (And really WHO finds them interesting anymore?), and Todd (Who I imagine has it written into his contract that he only has to do a handful of these appearances each year).

Let's face it, Palin simply will not launch a campaign without some family member to use as a shield. That alone might be the determining factor that keeps her stomping around her Wasilla compound in frustration, rather than out on the campaign trail stumbling over reporter's questions and generally making an ass out of herself.

She's back! Sarah Palin's fake political bus tour heads to Iowa. Well you did not think jury duty lasted forever did you?

Oooh, that made me red, white, and blue nauseous! I don't know what was more stomach churning, her voice, the over-saturation of patriotic imagery, or that hummingbird on crack editing job!

But wait, there's more!

From the depths of Mordor! (Or as you may know it, the Sea O'Pee):

Dear SarahPAC Supporter, 

We are very happy to jump back on the bus for another leg of our “One Nation Tour”! We accept with gratefulness an invitation to meet folks at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines this week. The heartland is perfect territory for more of the One Nation Tour as we put forth efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America by highlighting our nation’s heart, history, and founding principles. 

In a grossly ("Grossly?") weakened economy – especially when recovery is thwarted by today’s Obamanomics (Yeah, NOBODY uses that term.) – prudent Americans make sensible decisions to live within their means. This includes seeking affordable participation in more community events, local patriotic parades, and traditional all-American venues like state fairs. State fairs hold a special place in our nation’s history and heritage, so my family is honored to highlight one of them on one stop along the One Nation Tour route – America’s historic Iowa State Fair! (I’m also excited to try some of that famous fried butter-on-a-stick, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, fried twinkies, etc. I’ll enjoy them in honor of those who’d rather make us just “eat our peas”!) 

 (Yes, screw healthy eating and common sense!  "Rill Amerukans" eat deep fat fried, artery plugging heart attacks on a stick!  Because with health care costs so high, and after the Republicans killed the public option, it is better to die fast than to linger in a hospital somewhere running up bills for your loved ones.)

Unlike next week’s Obama Bus Tour, taxpayers aren’t funding our tour, which is why we so appreciate your support in allowing us to be out there on the open road to visit with you to highlight small towns, big-hearted people, and the important role they play in our most exceptional nation. 

 (That's right Sarah Palin would NEVER ask every day Americans to pay for her self aggrandizing, political prick teasing bus tour!)

You can participate with support for the “One Nation Tour” through SarahPAC.com and following virtually by bookmarking the SarahPAC website. (Wait! You mean she IS asking every day Americans for money to pay for her self aggrandizing, political prick teasing bus tour?) We’ll have updates from the road as our Constitution-draped bus travels to shine a spotlight on more of our nation’s fine history. 

Watch this video and let the American road inspire you!Thank you for your continued support of SarahPAC. Let’s stay committed to the worthy cause – restoring all that is good and strong and free in America! 

Thank you sincerely,Sarah Palin

So what, you're surprised?

Did any of you REALLY expect Palin to sit at home pulling her hair out while the Iowa straw poll was being conducted, Rick Perry prepared to launch his campaign, and Mercede Johnston was stealing her limelight by showing what a real Alaskan beauty looks like?

Well then you must be new here, welcome to the crazy world of Sarah "Me, Me, Me, it's all about Me!"Palin.

(By the way, I do still think she spent a little time sitting at home pulling her hair out first.)

You knew it was coming. The Twitter Quitter thinks she smells blood in the water and goes on the attack.

From the Twit's Tweets:

Pres Obama: you're losing our future. No more pretending "with ever more manic protestations" that this could continue http://tgr.ph/qsHQqE
9 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

This is all part of the coordinated effort by the Right to undermine President Obama in the eyes of the American voters, since they believe they have wounded him politically with the protracted debt ceiling debate. So of course Palin feels she HAS to be one of the first ones to start throwing stones.

The article that Palin links to is this one in the Telegraph, which contains this rather misleading passage:

But the US has a very different historical experience from European countries, with their accretions of national remorse and class guilt: it has a far stronger and more resilient belief in the moral value of liberty and the dangers of state power. This is a political as much as an economic crisis, but not for the reasons that Mr Obama believes. The ruckus that nearly paralysed the US economy last week, and led to the loss of its AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s, arose from a confrontation over the most basic principles of American life.

Contrary to what the Obama Democrats claimed, the face-off in Congress did not mean that the nation’s politics were “dysfunctional”. The politics of the US were functioning precisely as the Founding Fathers intended: the legislature was acting as a check on the power of the executive.

While I may agree with this Janet Daley woman that the Founding Fathers wanted the legislature to act as check on the power of the executive, I CANNOT imagine that those early patriots would have embraced the idea of holding this country hostage, frightening the American people, and damaging our debt rating, all to make a political point.


And ultimately the Teabaggers' "never raise taxes" stance has only prolonged the problem by refusing to acknowledge that the country's credit card bill, which George W. Bush charged up like a Beverly Hills housewife who just discovered her husband is cheating on her, has to be paid off eventually, and you cannot pay it off by raising the retirement age or privatizing Social Security.

Eventually you need revenue to pay off this country's debt, and that means raising taxes.


But of course nothing that this Daley woman wrote really matters.

As most of us realize it was undoubtedly an article that somebody sent to Palin with a suggestion that she attach it to a tweet so that she could sound like she knows something about the economy. That way she could continue to convince the slowest learners on the planet that she is really going to launch a serious political campaign, and that they need to keep sending her money.

Organize4Palin is continuing to lay the foundation in Iowa so that the Governor can hit the ground running when she announces. Everyone who is working in Iowa for Organize4Palin is working on a volunteer basis and any dollar you can provide them is greatly appreciated.

Unsurprisingly these sad people are still convinced that Palin will announce either right before, or during her September 3rd speech to the Teabaggers in Iowa. As evidenced by comments like this one:

i've said this before and i'll say it again:
-SET MONEY ASIDE NOW. already have it ready to go, and don't touch it until she announces.
-EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS COUNT. don't say "my amount is so small, so i won't donate." there are many people who can only afford a small amount of money. if all those people were to donate those small amounts anyway... a large sum can be gathered together! even if it's just $10, imagine if 15 or 20 people donated that, that's an easy $200 for palin. so donate!!!
-SPREAD THE WORD. when she announces, kindly remind your friends on twitter, fb, blog, email, etc, to donate a little bit of money. don't be like bachmann and ask 100 times. XD but it would be good to spread the word to others.

Just when you thought September could NOT get any more entertaining!

It is possible that some of the Palin-bots have started to lose faith in their Queen?

Courtesy of Des Moines Register:

The grass-roots group Organize4Palin isn't organizing a campaign for Iowans to write in Sarah Palin's name on their straw poll ballots.

Peter Singleton, the Iowa leader of the grass-roots group, which is unaffiliated with the former Alaska governor, told the blog Conservatives4Palin: "We are not even sending an email out to our mailing list in the state encouraging people to do so. We are simply not focused on this."

Singleton said the Aug. 13 straw poll isn't a priority because Palin isn't a declared candidate. But the group predicts she will announce soon that she's running for president, so Organize4Palin's attention is on the Feb. 6 Iowa caucuses.

"At that point, the campaign will begin in earnest for Governor Palin's grass-roots supporters in this state, and we will be ready when that moment comes."

This sounds like another rationalization to me.

It is hard to believe that a group of people that would pimp Palin's propaganda film as hard as they did (Only to fail in their effort to make it some sort of sleeper hit by the way) would allow this straw poll to pass without putting out SOME effort to get Palin's name on it, unless they realized that it would once again be another example of their idol returning to her usual place on the bottom of the list of GOP Presidential hopefuls.

And it is not like they don't turn somersaults every time Palin miraculously does well on a poll, because they do. So why skip this one? Especially since many of her supporters are under the impression that Palin will announce her candidacy during her big Teabagger speech in Iowa this September.

Could it be that they are starting to fear that WE have been  right about Palin all along? Because eventually they will have to admit, at least to themselves, that we have.

Sarah Palin throws out another crumb for her supporters.

Who has two thumbs and is a big political prick tease? This girl!

Courtesy of Real Clear Politics:

In the latest indication that her sights are still set on a presidential run, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has accepted an invitation to keynote a Tea Party rally in Waukee, Iowa, on Sept. 3, RealClearPolitics has learned.

The Labor Day weekend visit to the nation's first voting state comes after Palin indicated during an appearance on Fox News earlier this month that she would make her decision about whether to launch a campaign in August or September.

All signs now point to September as the month when Palin would throw her hat into the ring, as logistical concerns ranging from fundraising to getting her name on the ballot in various states would likely preclude further delay.

Many prominent political analysts and Republican operatives have expressed skepticism that Palin is seriously considering a presidential bid, since she has not taken many of the steps that candidates traditionally take before jumping into the race, such as signing early-state consultants, contacting key powerbrokers and boosting their travel schedules.

But Palin has a long history of shunning the Republican Party machinery and taking an unconventional approach to campaigns -- a mind-set that appears to have been in play throughout the past several months.

Jesus this is just getting more and more pathetic.

Has anybody else noticed that Palin does just the bare minimum to keep stringing her simple minded supporters along?

Everybody writes her off as a candidate, so she goes on a family vacation disguised as the start of a political campaign.

It looks like nobody gives two shits about her movie, so suddenly she decides to drag Todd out of the mothballs and show up in Iowa for the premiere.

People start pointing out that they have not seen her for awhile, so she does a perfunctory eight minute interview with Greta Van Susteren on a topic that she can barely understand.

So now pundits are saying that she has done NOTHING to give any indication that she is a serious candidate, and all of a sudden we hear that she is giving a keynote speech in Iowa.

And do you know what?  The Palin-bots and political reporters will rise to the bait every single time!

Sad, but true.

Sarah is left out of the Iowa Straw Poll...too bad!

From CNN

(CNN)-Former governors Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman announced they wouldn’t compete at the Ames straw poll in Iowa, but the state GOP added them to the ballot anyway, along with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

But former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry – who haven’t yet decided on a presidential bid – were left off.

The Iowa GOP state central committee named nine candidates to the final straw poll ballot announced Saturday.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and then-unannounced Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter secured a spot on the ballot in June by reserving space at the straw poll. Each paid a minimum of $15,000 to rent space outside the arena where the August 13 straw poll will take place.

The Ames straw poll is an early test of candidate strength in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, with the ability to elevate, solidify, or break a candidate’s rank in the GOP field. It is also considered an indicator of who may win the first significant presidential contest.

Critical members of Gingrich’s Iowa campaign resigned shortly before the bidding process for straw poll lots, hampering an already financially-strapped effort to win big in Iowa. Gingrich did not reserve space with other candidates in June.

Huntsman announced he would not compete in Iowa, choosing to focus instead on the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire

Romney, who also sought the GOP nomination in 2008, also stated he'd sit out the straw poll in Ames. Though he won the contest in 2007, Romney fell short of winning the Iowa caucus, which went to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Romney’s straw poll runner-up.

Palin stated she would announce her intention to run–or stay out of the race–in late August or early September. Perry said Friday that he'll make his decision known in the next three to four weeks.

Americans for Rick Perry, an independent group supporting the Texas governor, told CNN that its efforts to get Perry onto the Ames ballot failed. The group's leader,Bob Schuman, told CNN,"The other candidates sure seem to fear Gov. Perry."

Palin and Perry may have been left off the ballot, but straw poll voters will be able to write in their pick for president.

The addition of Romney, Huntsman, and Gingrich to the straw poll ballot is no special practice. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and Arizona Sen. John McCain all chose to skip the contest in 2007, but were added to the ballot.

And though he placed 10th, McCain went on to win the 2008 GOP nomination for president, proving that results of the straw poll may not necessarily predict who ends up on top.

Not gonna be much of a straw poll. Romney and Hunstman are too chicken to participate. And the rest suck. Tickles me to see Perry and Palin left off, even though they haven't declared. Good job Hawkeyes!

Iowa Straw Poll ballot will NOT include Sarah Palin. Palin-bot rationalizations to start in 3..2..1

"Flippin' Iowa! How am I supposed to keep shearing the sheep with you pulling crap like this?"

Courtesy of the 2012 Iowa Caucuses:

The official ballot for the Iowa straw poll will list nine names, including three declared candidates who have decided to not compete in the Aug. 13 event: Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich.

But the door is wide open for Iowans to vote for anyone they like: For the first time, write-ins will be counted.

After a long debate, the Republican Party of Iowa’s state central committee decided today not to include two well-known candidates who are merely flirting with a bid: Rick Perry and Sarah Palin.

Oh, you just KNOW this is really going to piss all over the Sea O'Pee's little Palin presidential parade don't you?

And it is really such a shame considering just how hard Snowdrift Snooki was flirting.

Kind of nice to see that they don't exactly take Rick Perry very seriously either, don't you agree?

Even after years, and years of brain washing at the Palin compound Bristol accidentally breaks the rules by telling the truth, and Sarah tries to distract attention from it by claiming that celebrities are seeking the death of her children. WTF?

I LOVE that this is on Fox News.



Look at Palin's face when she learns that Bristol let the cat out of the bag and told the media that she had "definitely" made her decision about running in 2012 (At the 2:06 mark). You can see her smile tighten up and her face start to get that pissed off look that she tries so hard to hide from the "Lamestream media."  (By the way if you go back to earlier in the video you can see Palin completely ignoring RAM and acting like she has simply ceased to exist.)

Bristol may have really fucked up her mother's plans with that statement of hers.

Palin has extended her political prick tease out much longer than virtually ANY other potential candidate could have managed, it, but if her supporters believe that she has already made her decision and simply does not deem them important enough to share that information, she might see the fastest exodus of support since John Edward's girlfriend gave birth to his love child while his wife was losing her battle with cancer.

So what is a Grizzled Mama to do when somebody pulls back the royal curtain and let's the peons see that the Queen is bull of Moose poop?

The same thing that Sarah Palin ALWAYS does, she throws out the only ace she owns, the "victim card."

After the movie, as throngs of supporters and reporters clamored for attention, THR asked her: "In the first 10 minutes where all the celebrities are trashing you, how do you respond to something like that?" Palin said she hadn't seen or heard much of the TV and radio footage before seeing it in the movie, which bleeped some of the dirtier language, though it was easy to determine what the entertainers were saying, including lots of profane references to the female anatomy.

"This is the first that I've seen much of that. It kind of takes you back," she told THR. "It makes you want to reach out to some of these folks and say, What's your problem? And what was the problem? And what is the problem?

"What would make a celebrity, like you saw on screen, so hate someone that they'd seek their destruction, their death, the death of their children? What would make someone be so full of hate and, I guess, a sense of being threatened that they would want to see that person destroyed?"

Only Sarah Palin would view comedians making fun of her, or saying critical things about the numerous gaffes she has made, as seeking her "destruction," or her "death," or the "death of her children!"  That is insane!

I also believe that these tactics are no longer as effective as they once were. 

Even the Palin-bots must have their limits, and from what we have seen lately, with their response to her quitting the bus tour, barely contained frustration over the the eternal tease about running, and the lackluster turnout for Bristol's book, and Palin's movie, I believe we are witnessing a tipping point.

And once THOSE rats have fled the sinking ship, it will not make one bit of difference how many pro-Palin movies she has commissioned, the spotlight on her will quickly dim until it simply blinks off one day.

Barack Obama, the "baby whisperer," strikes again. Updated with a new picture.

It is part of every child's survival instinct to know who they can trust enough to let their guard down.

I wish EVERY American understood what this child naturally understands.

You can see more pictures of President Obama's visit to Iowa by visiting the Obama Diary.

Oh hell, let me leave you with just one more.

Something about the emotion on that woman's face touches me.

Update: Okay so since so many of you requested it, here is the picture of Sarah Palin demonstrating her child comforting abilities.

By the way, who in the hell autographs babies?

Lawrence O'Donnell compares the Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann appearances in Iowa. Guess who he considers more serious.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lawrence also mentions Nick Broomfield's documentary, and Bailey's book.

There has been a RAM sighting! Update!

Somebody sent me a link with pictures of Klondike Kardashian, and her grifting entourage, during their ground invasion of Pella, Iowa.

Here is Palin sporting that famous Wasilly-bumpit whilst getting her caffeine fix.

Here are "hordes" of supporters who turned out to see the Grizzled Mama. (I guess I did not realize how many people living in Iowa had their own sound equipment and video cameras.)

And here is the wind beneath her wings, the Yin to her Yang, and the fire in Palin's belly herself, RAM triumphantly returned from exile!

Well...she doesn't look like she was locked in a cage and kept without food and water or anything. Yep, she definitely had access to food alright.

Well I am just glad she is safe.  Even though she hates me, and thinks I am a pervert, I have to say I was a little worried.

I even had another graphic made up in her honor.

See? Now would I have done that if I did not care? (Or thought it was really, really funny?)

Update: Here is a link that takes you to some video of Palin in Iowa. Check out the 40 second mark for another glimpse of RAM.

It looks like Palin's movie preview and plans to visit Pella, Iowa, are officially FUBAR.

Courtesy of Real Clear Politics:

Politico reported on Monday that Palin aides were reaching out to Iowa operatives and activists to set up meetings during her visit, citing Chuck Laudner, a former Iowa GOP executive director. But Laudner told RCP that he did not have a private meeting scheduled with Palin and that no one who works for the former governor had made contact with him.

Laudner said that he received an invitation to attend the festivities surrounding the movie premiere from Peter Singleton, a California native who moved to Iowa several months ago to help organize in the state in advance of a possible Palin presidential run. Singleton is acting on his own and is not a Palin aide but has often been confused for one as he has made his presence known across the state.

"Putting me on this list doesn't really mean much to me," Laudner told RCP. "I'm on a list to go to this event, but I didn't expect there was going to be high drama. . . . He just said be there, and I said OK."

For his part, Singleton confirmed to RCP that he has not been working with the Palin camp.

"If Governor Palin was setting up meetings, she wouldn't set them up with me," Singleton said. "Not a single activist I've talked with has said anything about that. . . . I'm not affiliated with the Palin organization. I invited Chuck because he's a really great friend and a really nice guy."

Several other key players in Iowa Republican politics -- including state GOP Chairman Matt Strawn, Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition President Steve Scheffler and the office of Gov. Terry Branstad -- told RCP that Palin's camp had not reached out to them ahead of Tuesday's visit.

This complete lack of coordination and communication also extended to Palin's most ardent supporters. As evidenced by this recent post over at the Sea O'Pee by the guy who originally tried to convince Palin supporters to gate crash the premiere.

You won’t be allowed to attend either event if you do not have a ticket.

Yes, I recognize that I posted around ten posts on this subject encouraging people to go to Pella without a ticket but it appears that I missed the purpose of the event. The entire purpose of the event was to keep things local and low-key and limit it primarily to Iowans and Pellans. I was operating off my own conjecture.

So if you made plans to go to Pella without a ticket, make your own decision based on this information. I apologize for any confusion.

This did NOT go over well with the increasingly disgruntled Palin-bots.

From the comments section:

Actually, this isn't Ian's "fault". This is the fault of a "campaign" which doesn't communicate with people downstream and is in desperate need of some new hires to start getting its sh*t in gear.

I understand Fabianism and Disinformation and Not Communicating with the Propaganda Ministry, but the Silence Policy towards you're own people is just stupid, especially the O4P people. This has to end. Now.

And this:

Whatever you say, if Sarah does not announces in July....it is Bachmann time. And if Sarah stays out she will be DESTROYED and her favorability numbers will go down. People would be seeing her as just a money hungry fraud that teased her supporters and the nation for 3 years about a presidential run just to get rich.

Sorry fellas but is the truth.

July is Sarah's month to start taking charge. If by July 30 she has not yet announced she will not be our next president and Obama might win his second term against who ever loser gets the nomination.
I can sense very nevous folks here..time is passing by and Sarah is just promoting movies. Bachmann has a real chance to win Iowa or make Romney win it. In either case, if Sarah is not the nominee Obama will win by a landslide unless the economy really tanks, we enter a recession or any october surprise occurs.

Then there is Trump and his third party run..
..
Obama is a very happy camper.

Followed by this:


Look, Palin's appearance -- in Iowa, no less -- at the premiere of this landmark documentary movie, no less -- on the day after MB's POTUS announcement, no less -- at the same time as Obama's in Iowa, no less -- is BIGGGGGGG!

C4P didn't release this to the news media.

What gives? -- we need some more explanation

Even though I predicted this day would come well over a year ago, I have to admit that I never knew it that it would take THIS long for the journalists and Palin-bots to finally look up and see the writing on the wall that had been right in front of them all along.

Sarah Palin does NOT want to be the President. She wants you to WANT her to be the President.

It is called "political prick teasing" and she is apparenlty quite good at it.

P.S. for those who are new to the phrase FUBAR, click here.

Film which Palin-bots hope will reinvigorate support for Sarah Palin to have its premiere in Iowa. Well in a little, tiny town in Iowa called Pella actually.

Courtesy of the Huffington Post:

A public relations firm says a film about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will premiere in the small central Iowa town of Pella.

Hayley McConnell of CRC Public Relations told The Associated Press on Friday that "The Undefeated," a documentary about Palin's rise and time as governor, is set to open at the Pella Opera House on Tuesday.


 You might be wondering WHY the filmmakers chose this particular place to have the premiere of a film which many conservative film critics have referred to as a "game changer?" Perhaps this will help answer that question.

Races in Pella, IA.

• White alone - 9,602 (94.0%)
• Asian alone - 225 (2.2%)
• Hispanic - 181 (1.8%)
• Two or more races - 142 (1.4%)
• Black alone - 67 (0.7%)

 Sixty seven black people out of  almost ten thousand people?  Oh yeah, this is Sarah Palins kind of town!

'

Still one has to wonder why ELSE Palin might want to open her film in this sleepy little burb in Iowa? Usually she likes to be able to give somebody the middle finger while making her appearances.

 That's the same day President Barack Obama plans to visit Bettendorf, Iowa, to promote manufacturing jobs.

Uh huh.  Now I get it.

Palin has been noncommittal about whether she will seek the Republican presidential nomination.
The film will have a national rollout in AMC Theatres in 10 markets the week of July 15th. Those cities are Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Fla., Atlanta, Orange County California, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis and Kansas City.

Shopping this film around one small market at a time.  Isn't THAT how they used to distribute porn to seedy theatres in the seventies?

Oh yeah, I see how the film distributors might have been inspired to do it that way.

P.S. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!  It looks like Sarah Palin HERSELF is going to attend this premiere!

Victory Film Group VictoryFilmGroup.com and ARC Entertainment announced today that Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd will attend the premiere of The Undefeated at the historic Pella Opera House on Tuesday June 28 at 5pm Central Time in Pella, Iowa. Immediately after the showing, Victory Film Group and ARC Entertainment will host a traditional Iowa cookout to thank the Pella Opera House and the people of Pella.

So you heard it here folks.  Sarah Palin will bless the tiny conservative, village of Pella, Iowa, with her awesome presence.  Can you just imagine the boredom excitement that must be running through that little, insignificant community right now?

I wonder how long Palin will wait before she quits?