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What can President Obama learn from Sarah Palin? (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

With President Obama now below 50 percent approval for the first time, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd suggests the president could learn "a thing or three" from Sarah Palin.

Dowd writes that with the former V-P candidate back on the trail for her book tour, she clearly hasn't boned up on anything and "she still has that Yoda-like syntax."

But Dowd warns it would be foolish for the Democrats to write off Palin. She says that although President Obama is highly intelligent and likable - he's not connecting on a gut level with the public. She suggests he might be getting too bogged down in pragmatism and the details of legislative compromises.

Dowd writes that the president, who she calls the "Cerebral One," might want to take lessons from Palin, the "Visceral One."

She writes: "Palin can be stupefyingly simplistic, but she seems dynamic. Obama is impressively complex but he seems static. She nurtures her grass roots while he neglects his. He struggles to transcend identity politics while she wallows in them. As he builds an emotional moat around himself, she exuberantly pushes whatever she has, warts and all..."

Meanwhile – it's clear Sarah Palin is saying something people want to hear. She sold 300,000 copies of her memoir on the day of its release - one of the best openings ever for a nonfiction book, easily topping people like Hillary Clinton.

As for President Obama - the Gallup Daily Tracking poll puts his approval rating at 49 percent - the first time he's dropped below 50 percent since taking office.

Here’s my question to you: What can President Obama learn from Sarah Palin?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?
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Palin's book 'Going Rogue' releases on Tuesday.

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

There's no shortage of publicity for Sarah Palin on the eve of the release of her new book.

The cover of this week's Newsweek asks quote, "How do you solve a problem like Sarah"? It says she's bad news for the GOP and for everybody else too. This is not the kind of publicity that will cause her to be taken more seriously – not that there's any great risk of that anyway.

Sarah Palin is all over TV, talking with Oprah and doing a 5-part series of interviews with Barbara Walters.

But, she's very picky when it comes to what kinds of situations she exposes herself to. On her book tour, she's skipping many of the nation's largest cities that authors almost always hit – places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. Instead, she's opting for smaller, and in many cases more conservative cities.

You're probably already hearing more details about Sarah Palin than you want to know – about her personal life, her family, her children, her daughter's pregnancy... about the campaign, her spat with John McCain aides, what she thinks about Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson.

Sarah Palin says she wasn't surprised when she was asked to be on the presidential ticket... she says she felt "quite confident" in her abilities. Well, turns out she's one of the few who does. A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows only 28% of Americans say Palin is qualified to be president, 70% say she's not.

So here's my question: If you were interviewing Sarah Palin, what would you ask her?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

The Democrats took a beating in the New Jersey and Virginia governors' races... but the far right got their clocks cleaned in that congressional race in upstate New York.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has been accused of being Republican in Name Only (RINO).

In defeating Conservative Doug Hoffman, Bill Owens will be the first Democrat to represent Congressional District 23 since the Civil War. Hoffman was aggressively supported by a bunch of the right wing's loudest voices - Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

They tried to make this race a symbol of how the Republican Party has strayed from its conservative values. Pressure from the right-wing of the party helped push the Republican candidate out of the race last week - because she just wasn't Republican enough. Some even saw this contest as a struggle for the soul of the GOP. At least the results don't suggest Sarah Palin won that fight.

Nevertheless, it seems like conservative activists are just warming up. They have their eyes on a list of so-called RINOs - or Republicans in Name Only - for the midterm elections, people like Florida's Republican Governor, Charlie Crist, who's running for the Senate.

And some warn that Sarah Palin could be entering dangerous territory if she leads the movement against well-established figures like Crist. After all - Florida is often a key state in the presidential election. And, there's the issue of Palin's ability to control a group of activists once they're fired up. You could make the argument Palin entered dangerous territory when she left City Hall in Wasilla.

Here’s my question to you: What does it say that the likes of Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh failed to get their candidate elected in the N.Y. congressional race?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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As Sarah Palin prepares to release her memoir next month, it seems like so much of her life is already an open book. Palin - who quit as Governor of Alaska in the middle of her first term - has been having a nasty public battle with the father of her grandson.

Levi Johnston - the former boyfriend of Palin's daughter, Bristol - says Sarah Palin describes her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, as "retarded." Johnston also claims to know a lot more about what went on in the Palin household - so presumably, there is more tabloid trash to come.

Sarah Palin is pushing back - calling Johnston's claim "inflammatory," and saying Trig is their "blessed little angel" who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life.

Palin also suggests that Johnston - who is preparing for a photo shoot with Playgirl Magazine - is desperate for publicity. Sort of like Sarah Palin is.

Meanwhile - a new poll suggests Palin may have run her course with the American public. Only 29-percent of Americans think she's qualified to be president. 71 percent - including nearly half of all Republicans - say she's not.

And, 51-percent of Americans have a negative view of her.

Here’s my question to you: What are Sarah Palin's chances in 2012?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Sarah Palin found being governor of Alaska was too difficult and quit halfway through her first term. But she has managed to write her memoir in just four months. Truly amazing by any literary standards I'm familiar with.

The title of Mrs. Palin's book… due out a scant four months after the book deal was announced, is "Going Rogue: An American Life."

The publisher, Harper, is moving up the release date of the 400-page book to November 17, so it can be on the shelves in time for the holiday book-buying season.

Harper says, "Governor Palin has been unbelievably conscientious and hands-on at every stage, investing herself deeply and passionately in this project." What they don't say is that she wrote the book. She did spend several weeks with a "collaborator" in San Diego after she quit the governor's job.

The publisher is expecting big things of Palin's book - ordering a first printing of 1.5 million copies.

The former vice presidential nominee was roundly criticized during the campaign for being inexperienced; and toward the end, John McCain aides complained she was not sticking to the campaign's plans… and had become a diva.

Since the election, Palin has been the subject of several ethics probes in Alaska, given speeches in the U.S. and overseas, and of course, has had her family drama sprayed all over the media.

The thing I'm most interested in is whether she will go on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric to promote the book when it comes out.

Here’s my question to you: What would you like to read about in Sarah Palin's memoir?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Sarah Palin spoke to Asian bankers, investors and fund managers in Hong Kong - in what's being billed as her first speech outside North America. The former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee spoke for about an hour and a half. The speech was closed to the press.

Reports that leaked out say Palin addressed everything from Reagonomics, China and human rights, Tibet, the Asian and American economies to international terrorism, energy independence, family - and fishing and moose in Alaska.

In her speech, Palin reportedly said she was talking as "someone from Main Street, U.S.A." and highlighted her concerns about massive federal bailouts and growing government deficits.

She criticized President Obama's plans to give the Federal Reserve power to monitor risk to the financial system, questioning if that is "meaningful reform."

The reviews on Palin's speech are mixed - some people say she was articulate, well-prepared and compelling.

Others got up and walked out in the middle of it, calling her speech boring.

It was seen as the first step in Palin's attempt to boost her foreign policy credentials-which could use a little boosting.

Keep in mind: Palin never even had a passport until 2007. And when she came under criticism during the presidential campaign for her lack of foreign policy expertise, she attempted to make up for it by saying she could see Russia from her home state of Alaska.

Here’s my question to you: If you were a money manager, would you make investment decisions based on what Sarah Palin says?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Former President George W. Bush wasn't short of opinions when it came to other politicians' shortcomings, according to a new book by a former Bush speechwriter titled "Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor."

Matt Latimer writes that Bush always believed Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic presidential nominee, and said of her: "Wait till her fat keister is sitting at this desk." Except he didn't use the word "keister."

After one of then-Senator Obama's speeches criticizing the Bush administration, the former president said of Obama, "This cat isn't remotely qualified," adding "this guy has no clue."

As for the now-Vice President Joe Biden, Bush said quote "If B.S. was currency, Biden would be a billionaire."

And the former president didn't spare his fellow Republicans either. Latimer writes Bush wasn't too impressed with Republican nominee John McCain.

When Bush was told McCain couldn't get enough people to show up at a planned joint appearance in Phoenix - McCain's home state - Bush said: "He couldn't get 500 people? I could get that many people to turn out in Crawford."

As for McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin, Bush said: "I'm trying to remember if I've met her before. I'm sure I must have. What is she, the governor of Guam?"

Bush also told Latimer at one time: "I redefined the Republican Party." That's probably true to some extent and may explain why McCain lost and the Democrats now control both houses of Congress.

Here’s my question to you: Does it surprise you if former President Bush talked trash about other politicians?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

If you have a few extra dollars in your pocket, how about plunking it down for a dinner with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin?

E-bay is auctioning off the chance for a dinner for five with Palin and her husband, Todd.

It will cost you though - with bids starting at $25,000. Proceeds will go to a veterans' charity, called Ride 2 Recovery that gives bicycles to wounded vets... and organizes rides for them as a way to help their recovery.

There are some restrictions - the winner has to pass a background check... Palin gets to choose the time and place of dinner, which will last no longer than four hours but could be less at the sole discretion of Ms. Palin. Plus she gets to bring along up to 3 guests, and you have to pick up the tab. Some things never change.

The dinner is described by the charity as "the chance of a lifetime"... adding that Palin is "quite simply, one of the most talked about people in the U.S." The value of the dinner is described as "priceless." So far, there are about a dozen bids.

And if $25,000 is out of your range... there's also the chance to have lunch with Karl Rove. Bids for that start at $7,500.

The lunch for three - with the man President George W. Bush affectionately called "turd blossom" - will take place at a steak house in Washington.

Here’s my question to you: What would you give to have dinner with Sarah Palin or Karl Rove?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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Palin suggests the disruptive protests 'diminish our nation's civil discourse', and says opponents shouldn't give supporters of health care reform any reason to criticize them.

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

First she called Pres. Obama's health care plan "evil" and said it would create "death panels." Now Sarah Palin is urging restraint at town hall meetings.

In comments on her Facebook page, the former governor of Alaska (who quit in the middle of her first term) says there are many "disturbing details" in the health care bill, but that "we must stick to a discussion of the issues and not get sidetracked by tactics that can be accused of leading to intimidation or harassment."

Palin suggests the disruptive protests "diminish our nation's civil discourse", and says opponents shouldn't give supporters of health care reform any reason to criticize them.

This is the same woman who a few days ago was spreading a false claim that Pres. Obama would force the elderly and disabled to appear before a "death panel." She said a group of bureaucrats would get to decide whether people like her parents and her son, who has Down Syndrome, could get health care.

There's no such provision in the bill. Gee, do you suppose she didn't read it? Rather, a House committee passed a provision that would let Medicare reimburse seniors who want counseling on end-of-life issues. Once again, Sarah Palin's version of reality is at odds with reality.

Whatever the reason, Palin backed down. See, she wasn't getting much support. Several Republican governors distanced themselves from her, either refusing to comment or saying Palin could "speak for herself." Not exactly the way to build that right-of-center coalition she keeps talking about.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION: Are you interested in Sarah Palin's views on health care reform?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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Sarah Palin delivered her farewell speech as she officially resigned during the annual Governor's Picnic at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, Alaska. (PHOTO CREDIT: ERIC ENGMAN/GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

While stepping down as Governor of Alaska - Sarah Palin is blasting many who she sees as critics, including the news media.

In the kind of speech only Palin can give, she said freedom of the press was an important right... and one that soldiers have died to protect... adding, "So, how about, in honor of the American soldier, you quit making things up."

Palin also said, "Our new governor has a very nice family, too, so leave his kids alone."

The former governor didn't elaborate on her criticism of the media... but in the past she's talked about her and her family being unfairly treated by reporters and bloggers. However, she didn't seem to have a problem with the media when she was using her family to try to get elected last fall.

Palin also criticized so-called Hollywood starlets who are active against gun rights, along with the "partisan operatives" who filed ethics complaints against her. She even went after one undefined group who she said, "seem to just be hell-bent on maybe tearing down our nation, perpetuating some pessimism and suggesting American apologetics." ... Say what?

As for Palin's future - she's being equally vague... Concluding yesterday's campaign style speech by saying only: "Let's all enjoy the ride."

Palin has plans to write a book and campaign for other Republicans. Some think she'll end up hosting a radio or TV show or hit the speaker's circuit. Others say Palin has her eye on the White House in 2012.

Here’s my question to you: Has Sarah Palin been treated unfairly by the news media?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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