Palin has really shown a flurry of activity in AK, pipelines, electric grids, budgets, rescue missions, etc. She continues to be an activist governor focused on redeeming herself by steady leadership and a landslide re-election.

If Obamanomics gives us the 1970s all over again, her success in AK could very easily make her the next president.

Palin's GOP opponents, will have more establishment backing. At the minimum, it will be because of geography. However, by 2012, people should be so fed up, that establishment backing hurts.

Her opponents, with the help of MSM, will attack her alleging a lack of economic and business expertise. Read "Palin is too stupid." Can they really get away with it?

Let's put the GOP hopefuls in two groups: Governors and ex-Governors. Can the older ex-Governors successfully run the "I'm the most experienced" campaign when they never came close to governing during a deep recession or depression? Will that make sense to 2012 voters?

That leaves the Governors.(Take Jindal out of the mix. He has to run for re-election in 2011.)
Sarah Palin has really shown a flurry of activity in AK, pipelines, electric grids, budgets, rescue missions, etc. She continues to be an activist governor focused on redeeming herself by steady leadership and a landslide re-election.

If Obamanomics gives us the 1970s all over again, her success in AK could very easily make her the next president.

Palin's GOP opponents, will have more establishment backing. At the minimum, it will be because of geography. However, by 2012, people should be so fed up, that establishment backing hurts.

Her opponents, with the help of MSM, will attack her alleging a lack of economic and business expertise. Read "Palin is too stupid." Can they really get away with it?

Let's put the GOP hopefuls in two groups: Governors and ex-Governors. Can the older ex-Governors successfully run the "I'm the most experienced" campaign when they never came close to governing during a deep recession or depression? Will that make sense to 2012 voters?

That leaves the Governors.(Take Jindal out of the mix. He has to run for re-election in 2011.)
Sarah Palin has built in advantages.

Unlike Palin, all the Governors will be starting from scratch trying to raise funds and build name recognition. In addition, Palin, over the past 2 years actually put state money in the bank. By 2012, AK may be the only government entity on earth in the black. A charismatic populist with success in governing during an economic crisis should be best poised to win the Republican nomination.

As to the general election, the Obama benchmark is the 7.6% unemployment he inherited and the inflation average for 2008 of 3.85%. He has to get under those numbers with some economic growth. Is anyone betting that he will accomplish this with Pelosi's policies?

In November 1980, there was 7.5 unemployment with 12.65% inflation. We know what happened to Carter. has built in advantages.