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?

FULL POST

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?

FULL POST

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/11/jc.palin.gi.jpg caption=" 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?

FULL POST

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

As Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gets ready to quit Sunday and become former Alaska governor - a new poll might put a damper on her future political plans.

The Washington Post/ABC News Poll shows 53-percent of Americans view Palin negatively, while only 40-percent see her in positive terms - the lowest level in this poll since she was tapped as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Palin is one of the most polarizing figures in modern politics. She is still quite popular among members of her own party: 70-percent of Republicans view her in a positive light - but that number is down from pre-election levels. More importantly she has also lost ground among white evangelicals - the base of the Republican party.

Here's some more...

57-percent of those surveyed say Palin doesn't understand complex issues. What's wrong with the other 43-percent? I guess they didn't see the Katie Couric interviews.

47-percent say Palin understands problems of people like them...

And only 40-percent say she is a strong leader.

Sarah Palin - who is leaving office about 18-months early - says she plans to campaign for Republican candidates. A lot of people think she has her eye on a White House run in 2012 - yet this poll shows Palin running third behind Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney among Republicans and GOP-leaning independents.

Sarah Palin has also been in the spotlight since last fall's election for other reasons - including ongoing ethics charges and public family feuds.

Here’s my question to you: Is Sarah Palin still relevant?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

FULL POST

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

As quickly as Sarah Palin announced she was quitting her job as Governor of Alaska in the middle of her term, the airwaves were filled with pundits eager to pronounce her political career dead in the water. Even Rush Limbaugh was stumped. Which doesn't happen often.

Yesterday on this show Democratic strategist Paul Begala said: "Her defenders will say, she's crazy like a fox. I think they're half right. The notion that she would look [CNN's] Drew [Griffin] in the eye and say, I'm not a quitter as she's quitting. She is either delusional or disingenuous."

But a look at some new poll numbers suggests it might be a bit early to plan Palin's memorial service. A new Gallup poll found 43-percent of Americans say they are very likely or somewhat likely to vote for her for President. In fact, 70-percent of those surveyed said Palin's decision to resign had no effect on their opinion of her at all. Go figure.

The poll also found 53-percent think the media coverage of Palin's decision to quit her job as governor in the middle of her first term has been unfairly negative.

Sarah Palin may in fact have more options than her detractors give her credit for. That same poll shows 70-percent of Republicans said they would vote for Palin for president. If that seems a little lopsided it's probably because most of the rest of the front runners in the Republican Party have misstepped so much that she and Mitt Romney are about all that's left.

Here’s my question to you: Have your views of Sarah Palin changed since she announced she’s quitting her job as Governor?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

FULL POST

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Once again, Sarah Palin has made her way back into the headlines. This time it's her abrupt announcement made late Friday afternoon - of a summer holiday weekend - that she intends to quit her job as governor of Alaska effective at the end of July.

She called the press conference at the last minute and even her closest aides say they were unaware of the news and don't know what will come next. Critics and supporters alike are perplexed and no time was wasted starting the debate over whether this is a move to position herself better for a Presidential run in 2012 or if she's throwing it away by quitting.

Palin - who was thrust onto the national stage as John McCain's running mate against President Obama - defended her decision as a move to avoid becoming a lame duck.

Love her or hate her, Sara Palin was able to electrify the conservative base of the party like no other Republican in the country. This was not good news for the GOP, which is already reeling in the wake of the sex scandals of Senators John Ensign of Nevada and Mark Sanford of South Carolina.

Time for the spin doctors once again to try to come to the rescue and explain why what Sarah Palin did was a good idea. Good luck with that. Real conservatives don't quit.

Here’s my question to you: How does Governor Sarah Palin's resignation affect her chances for 2012?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

FULL POST

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

There's growing speculation in Alaska that Governor Sarah Palin won't run for reelection in 2010. Politico reports that top Republicans and Democrats are quietly lining up to run for the office - should Palin decide not to.

No one has filed the official paperwork yet; but many are taking the governor's silence as a sign that she'll opt out of a second term in order to get more involved in national politics.

One politician who is weighing a run put it this way: "If you're Palin, once you've flown first class, you don't go back to coach. She's been to the show and certainly seemed to like it there."

He suggests that barring some "unforeseen collapse on the national stage," Palin won't run again for governor.

Some experts expect the governor to wait as long as possible before announcing her plans - that way she can keep her options open and minimize her lame duck status as governor if she decides not to run again.

Although Palin's approval ratings have taken a hit since she ran with John McCain, she's still strong enough to scare off most challengers in her own party. One former staffer says if Palin files for reelection, the race is over.

A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 21-percent of Republicans would back Palin as the 2012 presidential nominee - putting her at the top of the pack.

Here’s my question to you: What message would Alaska Governor Sarah Palin send if she chooses not to run for reelection?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

FULL POST