SARAH FOR PRESIDENT? – AT 8:38 A.M. ET:  Do you sense a rumbling in the Republican Party?  Do you hear people saying privately, "Let's face it, she's the only star we've got"? 

I'm starting to hear that.  I'm also noticing that Sarah Palin is being taken more seriously all the time.

Roger Simon, in The Politico, has written the best piece on Sarah Palin that I've ever read.  He actually approaches her in a mature manner:

More than 13 months ago, I wrote a column that began: “Sarah Palin can be the Republican nominee in 2012. I am not saying she will be, but she can be. Those who underestimate her do so at their own risk.”

It was not the most popular column I ever wrote. I remember snickering and mockery from those who could not find actual vegetables to throw...

...Now, more than a year later, I have not changed my mind about Palin’s political potential. This is not based on the polls — especially a recent one showing her in a 46 percent to 46 percent tie with Obama in a hypothetical 2012 face-off. I don’t believe such polls tell us anything meaningful.

I am basing my belief now, as back then, on Palin’s ability to connect with the base of her party. Name a bigger name in the Republican Party today. Heck, name any name in the Republican Party today.

Yeah, yeah.  The guy is on to something.

Today, Palin is going around the country endorsing and making speeches for Republican candidates with some success. Tuesday night in Georgia, former Secretary of State Karen Handel, who was endorsed by Palin, got 34 percent of the vote, while former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, endorsed by Newt Gingrich, got 23 percent of the vote...

...Whatever Palin has been doing...seems to be working. And I have noticed a certain change in how the media are viewing her. In a recent column giving advice to journalists, Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic wrote: “Be humble about conclusions. ... Sarah Palin may not be ready to be president today, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be ready to be president tomorrow.”

Correct.  Remember a guy named Reagan?  He was laughed at for years before he became president, and much of the laughter came from within the Republican Party.

In even better news for Palin, her political opponents continue to dismiss her. Mark Halperin wrote in Time magazine recently: “An adviser to Mitt Romney ... says of Palin, ‘She’s not a serious human being.’”

Which leads me to believe that Romney needs to get himself some new advisers. Or at least he ought to remind them of the words of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tse, who wrote: “No disaster is greater than underestimating the enemy.”

Besides, does the most serious human being always win? Did Al Gore? Did John Kerry?

No, but Gore was distracted by his interest in massages.

Sarah Palin has something more than intellect. She has the ability to understand, connect with and energize her party.

And considering her likely opposition — Romney, Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindal, Mike Huckabee or Haley Barbour — tell me she has no chance. Go ahead and tell me. It’s enough to make one snicker.

COMMENT:  Hey, you think?

July 22, 2010