Palin is Still Around

Despite being the standard joke at liberal dinner parties, Sarah Palin's poll numbers are not too bad. Her most recent Gallup poll, in December, had her at 44-47 , or a -3 % in favorability. In contrast, Obama's current Gallup 'Job Approval' is 49-44, or +5. Slightly different types of polls, but it is interesting how small the gap is. Incumbents usually need to crack 50% job approval to be favored in a re-election.

The election of an incipient fascist like Palin is some ways off - it would require continued deterioration in the economy and political establishment - but she is not going to just fade away. In the meantime she can build her base through shock troop movements such as the Tea Party. And stay in the media advocating another 'American revolution' (from the right), and war with Iran:

Say he decided to declare war on Iran, or decided to really come out and do whatever he could to support Israel, which I would like him to do.1

It will be interesting to see if she continues developing ties to the 'intellectual' far-right of U.S. politics, such as hardliner John Bolton.

1'Palin: Barack Obama needs to ‘toughen up’ if he wants to be re-elected' - Orlando Sentinel
2'Palin says US 'ready for another revolution'' - Financial Times; Luce