This is a special series of candidate year-end-reviews.
I wrote 1,268 posts on Palin since the 2008 election's end. These are 3 months worth of highlights from the overkill.
The remaining months will be released later.
NEWS FROM NOVEMBER (post-election), DECEMBER, JANUARY:
Karl Rove, circa November 2008.
Over the next two years, she has a chance to go out and demonstrate to people that she has the depth, the heft, and the gravitas to take on a bigger task.
One year later, they're still saying the same thing.
Peggy Noonan, circa November 2008.
"I think the media wants to take Sarah Palin and make her, subliminally, the face of the Republican party. They want to make her: this is what Republicans are, the face of the party, the leader of the party, because it amuses them to do that."
One year later, some conservatives are still suspicious.
Phil Noble, president of Politics Online:
".... at some point people become permanent celebrities. She may have just reached that status.”
One year later, she's there and then some.
Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss credits much of his campaign's win on Palin's appearance. Says Mitt, Huck, McCain, and Rudy's visits weren't as electric. A former McCain aide hails her prowess on the stump.
In Alaska, folks are getting worried. Palin hasn't been spending much time there since the election. Meanwhile, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski warns Palin against challenging her in a primary after speculation mounts that SP might want to earn some policy cred for a 2012 run.
MSNBC discusses the politics of a Senate bid. Democratic strategist Peter Fenn says "Nationally, her time is over". Pat Buchanan says she "does have a problem in terms of her knowledge of the issues."
A potential race between Murkowski and Palin is even polled.
SP celebrates a new decision that lets people carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges. Further cements her political relationships with guns.
The Orlando Sentinel uses Occam's Razor to slice up fringe rumors over Trig's birth and wild speculation that Barack Obama might not be a citizen.
Obama and Palin could hardly hide such whoppers from political enemies who routinely devote enormous amounts of time and money to opposition research.
Those who believe such tales blithely swat away any bit of evidence that tugs at their version of the truth. But there is something else at work here beyond a desire to believe—a desire often driven by rabid political ideology.
(Later, Palin indulges the Obama rumors, then tepidly walks them back).
Rush Limbaugh and Barbara Walters fight over Palin. Rush claims that conservatives who don't like her are elitist. One year later, anyone who doesn't like her is elitist, which means 50% of the American population is elitist.
Palin's press secretary says she has 250 requests for interviews and appearances, and says SP didn't snub Oprah. Joe the Plumber says McCain was "kinda the lesser of two evils", while Palin is "the real deal." The temporary alliance between McCain haters and Palin lovers begins to fracture.
Based on county-by-county results in 2008, Michael Barone suggests the GOP go upscale and move away from SP's populism.
Rick Davis and Bill McInturff defend picking Palin at a post-election roundtable. McInturff also says Palin's the front-runner in Iowa.
Ann Coulter nominates Palin for Time Person of the Year.
I name Sarah Palin for her genius at annoying all the right people. I haven't seen liberals so enraged by a woman since me.
Her fans will use this to argue her political viability over the next year.
In a less-publicized interview, Coulter says: "I would strongly advise her not to run in 2012."
Meanwhile, aper-in-chief, Tina Fey, calls Palin a "strong woman" in a revealing interview.
John McCain refuses to endorse her for 2012, noting that the party has other young stars such as "Pawlenty and Huntsman".
Hendrik Hertzberg notes that SP unwittingly sounds like a socialist in this Palin quote.
".... we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs."
Time gives Palin "runner-up" for person of the year. Andrew Malcolm claims it was just to sell magazines. Newsweek calls Palin one of the year's biggest losers for her palin' around comments. CNN delivers a low blow to Palin. Then they scrub.
Dan Quayle says she got a "bum rap" from the media.
Palin releases a budget proposal. Oil revenue numbers make forecasts difficult; something that can also make things tricky for Bobby Jindal. SP recommends stimulus funding for five state projects. Palin warns against banning ANWR drilling. Palin skips Obama's dinner for McCain so she can prep for the upcoming legislative session. Environmental groups praise her for work on renewable energy. Emmonak.
SP gives advice to Barack Obama via the WSJ. Palin gives her state-of-the-state. The gas bullet line.
A former adviser to Margaret Thatcher compares SP and the Iron Lady, and claims "conservative snobs are wrong about Palin". Another Brit says it's an insult to Maggie.
Human Events names Palin "Conservative of the Year".
A Sarah Palin calendar sells well. Really well. Later, she'll come out with a memoir that does okay, too. Oh. And Sarah Palin toilet paper. And a Sarah Palin dog wig.
A Gallup poll shows Palin is more admired than Oprah; less than Hillary. Harris Interactive says Palin's the most desired celebrity neighbor.
Revisiting a Palin debate flowchart. Palin turns Adele into a popstar. Wyclef likes Palin's "swagger".
SP gets a challenger for a 2010 gubernatorial race. He says SP's been MIA since the election.
John Ziegler releases a documentary in which Palin blames Katie Couric for the bad interview. There's some blowback; Palin issues a press release from her office as Governor, slamming the media. For her part, Couric watches ratings rise.
Apparently, Billy Graham has the hots for Palin.
Will Palin speak at CPAC? Yes. Not sure. Probably. She ends up not going.
Glenn Beck scores a Palin interview for his Fox TV show debut. A momentous sentence and moment.
Other Bidding wars.
Palin inspires a a behind-the-scenes debate among evangelicals over a woman's role in marriage.
Ethics charges.
SP takes the first step toward writing a book.
SarahPAC launches. Its importance. Comparing it with HillPAC. Palin explains.
The GOP looks to Palin as its fundraising savior.
Neil Cavuto interviews Mitt Romney. Tries to pit him against Sarah Palin. Obama needles SP at Alfalfa.
(The remaining months will be released in December).
