Sarah Palin Will Not Run for President in 2012

…or so, at least, I predict. And I’m putting my money–and stomach–where my keyboard is, as Nate and I made a two-part bet. We wagered a steak dinner on whether or not Sarah Palin runs for the Republican nomination, me betting she doesn’t. We have a second wager on whether she wins the nomination, with me giving Nate 3:1 odds on a cash bet of undisclosed amount that she doesn’t. (The second bet is not conditional on the first: If Palin doesn’t run at all, I win the steak and the cash.)

Sarah Palin: Is She Really Serious About Politics?

Sarah Palin

Recently, I asked a GOP consultant, who must remain nameless here, this question: Who advises Sarah Palin? His answer: No one. Really? I asked. Yes, he said, really.

So that explains it.

Palin’s actions keep defying rational explanation. Her sudden retreat from her job as Alaska governor made her seem a quitter — especially when she couldn’t coherently justify the resignation during her surprise July 4 weekend announcement. Even if Palin’s pullout had been a reasonable decision, it seemed as if she had not consulted anyone with PR or political sense on how best to handle the controversial move.

The Simplest Explanation for Why Palin and Gingrich Are Wrong

Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House.

You don’t have to know a lot about our health care system, or even be a close follower of the recent debate to know and explain how incredibly wrong Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich are.

Two of the leading contenders for the 2012 Republican nomination have said health care reform will lead to “death panels” and “turning power over to the government, when there are clearly people in America who believe in establishing euthanasia….”

Palin said bureaucrats will pass judgment on whether her elderly parents “or my baby with Down Syndrome… are worthy of health care.” Gingrich defended her statements (albeit in less bold terms) by talking about “selective standards” for who will be covered…. Therefore, if you’re disabled, sick or old, you don’t want government health care.

This is equivalent of, “Up is down. Black is white.”