Can Palin run without engaging the media?

[sarge]

While I think you accurately point out the importance of cabinet posts, I think you simultaneously underestimate the authority and importance of the presidency.

On matters of domestic policy, the President mostly peddles influence. In the absence of an effective working relationship with Congress, he can be effectively neutered.

Of course, he does set policy thru directives that are not dependent on congressional approval and are not subject to legislative or judicial review.

So yes, he's powerful, but his actual power is more often overestimated than underestimated.

Frankly, I wouldn't want Palin in any position of significant authority or influence. I think she's even overemployed as a provider of entertainment at Fox News.

I disagree. Palin supporters are hugely entertaining, and I think the number of Palin supporters would be diminished if she were to suddenly disappear. Surely she gets some credit for the entertainment her desciples provide?

 

[gnome]

I'd be more interested in the search history of her browser. "How to be governor", "how do you govern", "can you see Russia from Alaska", "daughter knocked up what to do about it", "vice president salary", and "mortal kombat cheat codes".

"how is exploratory comittey formed?"

 

[Ladewig]

"If nominated, I will pretend to run. If elected, I will pretend to serve."

 

[Dorian Gray]

If this was another forum, I'd start a thread called "Can Palin name any media?"

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

On matters of domestic policy, the President mostly peddles influence. In the absence of an effective working relationship with Congress, he can be effectively neutered.

First, I think you're downplaying or underestimating that influence. Second, you seem to be forgetting the veto power. No cabinet level post has that kind of authority over Congress.

In addition, presidents usually serve out their full 4 year term, but it's not uncommon for cabinets to change more frequently than that.

So yes, he's powerful, but his actual power is more often overestimated than underestimated.

Again, I'd agree with you that the power of cabinet posts is often underestimated, but I disagree that the power of the president is less than that of any cabinet level post (which is what you claim when you say you'd rather have Palin as a president than have her hold a cabinet post).

At any rate, I don't see either happening.

I disagree. Palin supporters are hugely entertaining, and I think the number of Palin supporters would be diminished if she were to suddenly disappear. Surely she gets some credit for the entertainment her desciples [sic] provide?

Ha! I misread your typo for "disciples" as "her despicables"!

And while her followers are entertaining, I stand by my claim that she is overemployed even as an entertainer. (But I feel the same way about others of her ilk--Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, etc.) It's sort of like reality tv in a way--passing themselves off as pundits when they're really simply entertainers is just a way of lowering the bar for what constitutes entertainment. (That is, if you think it's all "real" rather than scripted, your standard for what you think is entertaining is lowered substantially. Not to get too far astray, that's one of my complaints about stage hypnotist acts.)