"Not a bit"

The NY Times also gets into that on the GOP summit, giving us an article today which goes into greater detail on party plans for Sarah Palin post-election.

Whether the Republican presidential ticket wins or loses on Tuesday, a group of prominent conservatives are planning to meet the next day to discuss the way forward, and whatever the outcome, Gov. Sarah Palin will be high on the agenda. [...]

Her prospects, in or out of government, are the subject of intensive conversations among conservative leaders, including the group that will meet next Wednesday in rural Virginia to weigh social, foreign policy and economic issues, as well as the political landscape and the next presidential election.[...]

This basically echoes what Politico is reporting. It seems almost that Palin won't just be a part of these discussions, but the very centerpiece.

Despite all the criticism, she has many supporters among Republicans who see her as bright, tough and a star in a party with relatively few on the horizon.

“She’s dynamite,” said Morton C. Blackwell, who was President Ronald Reagan’s liaison to the conservative movement. Mr. Blackwell described vying to get close to Ms. Palin at a fund-raiser in Virginia, lamenting that he could get only within four feet.

“I made a major effort to position myself at this reception,” he said, adding that he is eager to sit down with her after the election to discuss the future. Asked if the weeks of unflattering revelations and damaging interviews had tarnished her among conservatives, he replied, “Not a bit.”

"Not a bit." You cannot express your feelings any more clearly than that. Remember how we described Republicans as being "in love" with Sarah Palin (both politically, and probabyl in many cases, really truly in love)? These feelings, despite Palin's pathetic candidacy, have not changed at all.

Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, a conservative group, called it a “top order of business” to determine Ms. Palin’s future role. “Conservatives have been looking for leadership, and she has proven that she can electrify the grass roots like few people have in the last 20 years,” Mr. Bozell said. “No matter what she decides to do, there will be a small mother lode of financial support behind her.”

No, Brent, she has not electrified the grass roots beyond the right wing base. You fail to make that connection. Then again, given your positions and line of work, I guess this appeals to you: only reaching out to your base and sticking to your "principles" by not changing and becoming, gasp!, more moderate!

People loyal to her say Ms. Palin is well aware of the political job in front of her. One aide said she had “gotten on the offensive,” pushing to include more policy in her speeches. “It’s important for her personally, for how she’s perceived, to ensure that she gets to show her depth.”

Distinction here is key. To Palin and many of her followers who lag on her legs like pitiful nerds in love with the cheerleader (read Bill Kristol, et al.), it is not so much about really learning and knowing policy, but simply giving the perception of knowledge and experience. These baloney speeches Palin has been giving on the Middle East and energy are canned yarns of which she did not write one syllable. They are important props to make it look like she's deep. I have no doubt that that is what the next four years will be about for Sarah: building up her perception of knowledge.

The conclusion:

But some elements of the Republican base are already looking ahead to the day, whenever it comes, that Ms. Palin is at the top of the ticket.

“I would hope she would consider running for president,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which raises money for candidates who oppose abortion.

So it begins.