Here's a couple of quotes - see if you can guess who said them. In regards to last November's election, "And there was that media slant this go round. And unless things change, the GOP had really better can stand together, 'cause we got that on the battlefield also. I call it like I see it and like I lived it on the campaign trail. Not complaining, but dealing with reality."
Or how about: "Some in the media actually participated in not so much the 'who-what-where-when-why' objective reporting on candidates and positions, those five W's that I learned when I had a journalism degree so many years ago in college, when the world of journalism was quite different than it is today."
Give up? It's vintage Sarah Palin. In a speech to a GOP dinner last week, the Alaska Governor spoke about why the Republicans lost in November and seemed mostly to blame the press. At least I think that's what she said. The former Republican vice presidential nominee said she's not whining about it; but rather calling it like she sees it: "Sometimes it gets me in a lot of trouble when I speak candidly, and I speak from the heart and I do such a thing. But I am going to." Painful.
Palin mocked the Obama administration's elimination of the word "enemy combatant," while praising President Bush's efforts to fight the war on terror - even though "the political and media elite ridiculed and mocked him."
As for the future of her party - which she no doubt would like to shape - Palin rejected the idea that it become more moderate; instead saying Republicans need to communicate their ideas better. Now there's an idea.
Here’s my question to you: Is Sarah Palin still relevant to the national dialogue?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bill from Michigan writes:
I never considered her to have much depth, interest, or actual grasp of the important issues at hand, but she does know how to rally up the conservative segment of the Republican Party. As long as she can rabble rouse and fund-raise, she'll have relevance, which is kind of sad if you really think about it.
Susan from Greenfield, Wisconsin writes:
To backwater people and certain members of the media she is, because she is not a threat to their intellect.
Dan from Ohio writes:
Why should Gov. Palin complain? When a mirror is put up by the media and reveals a shallow, self-absorbed, hypocrite, whose fault is that? She is symptomatic of the problems with the GOP: deviate from either talking points or platitudes and they're lost. As Tina Fey remarked in her epic parody of the candidate "you tell me what a maverick wants and that's what I want."
H. from Seattle writes:
Given that she is the subject of at least one of your queries every time she opens her mouth, it must mean she is still relevant to the national dialogue!
Chris from Philadelphia writes:
Let's rephrase the question: Do you want Caribou Barbie leading the free world? No. She had her moment and it passed. She should get the hint.
Pat from Butte, Montana writes:
Oh please, Jack, why would you of all people bring up Sarah Palin? It is long past due for the media and everyone else to just stop reporting on her. She tried and it didn't work. We all know it, she doesn't and the only way to get the message across is to not shine the spotlight on her.
Francheska writes:
Are Valley Girls still totally relevant? Totally not!
Diana from Santa Cruz, California writes:
Flailin' Palin is as relevant as Octo-mom.