Palin’s Numbers Sink, Especially In Alaska

Among Republicans, 49% say they’d support Sarah Palin for the Republican presidential nomination. That compares with 67% for Mike Huckabee and 59% for Mitt Romney. It also compares with the 67% support Palin had two years ago. (h/t Political Wire).  Palin fares even worse in her home state of Alaska where just 33% have a favorable opinion of her.

Key finding: “Palin’s unpopularity in Alaska is an interesting sidebar but ultimately pretty irrelevant to a possible 2012 Presidential bid. What’s more relevant is that a majority of voters in every single state we have polled so far on the …

Republicans Turn To Insurance Company Lobbyists To Turn Back Health Care Reform

John Boehner and company are looking to their old K Street friends to overturn health care legislation.

Three recently hired Republican aides — two set to work in senior positions on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, and one for soon-to-be Speaker John Boehner — spent the past years lobbying on behalf of insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other corporate interest groups with a vested interest in weakening or repealing the law.

Two weeks ago, incoming Energy and Commerce chair Fred Upton announced he’d hired Gary Andres to be his staff director.

…

Andres served as Vice Chairman of Public …

Palin Mocks Her Own False Spin About “Refudiate” And Suddenly Calls It A “Typo”

When Sarah Palin first used the word “refudiate” it was on FOX News, a week before she Tweeted it.

“Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn’t it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate,” Palin said via Twitter.

Forget the sickening point-of-view for a moment; at the time, she claimed she makes up words, just like Shakespeare.  That didn’t stop her, though, from deleting her original Tweet, obviously out of embarrassment. But now she is calling it was a typo, substituting an “f” for a “p”. Never mind that they are …

On Monday’s Radio Show…

• On the latest episode of her TV show, Sarah Palin bashes liberals while misrepresenting her own mistakes. Alan “refudiates” her claims.

• Daniel Balsam of DanHatesSpam.com tells Alan how he makes a living suing e-mail spammers.

• “Chasing the Jersey” blogger Stefanie explains why she proudly declares, “I sleep with athletes… and you should, too.“…

Alvin Greene To Run For South Carolina House

Losing South Carolina Senate candidate Alvin Greene still has political ambitions. He paid the $165 filing fee to run in a special election for the 64th District seat made vacant earlier this month by the death of Democrat Cathy Harvin. Harvin died at age 56 from breast cancer.

Cal Land is chairman of the Clarendon County Democratic Party and said Greene entered the race five minutes after the filing period opened.

Greene said Monday he would wait to see who else filed before commenting on the race.

A primary will take place on February 15 and a special election on …

Sarah Palin Uses “Reality” Show To Mock Conservationists

Never one to actually offer a positive message while always being the victim of some liberal group, Sarah Palin uses her latest episode of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” to mock conservationists.

While cutting and replanting the trees, Sarah spoke about the sustainability of the timber industry and its importance to Alaskans.

“Conservationists write me these nasty letters because I support an industry like this,” she told Todd in the car on the way back to the camp. “They write me these nasty letters using their pretty little pencils on their pretty little stationary not realizing. Where do you think your …

It’s Still The Economy, Stupid.

by Stuart Shapiro

As we head into the next election cycle, much ink (including mine) will be spent on the Republican primaries, the battle over the budget, and death panels (and other media creations).  However, one factor will dominate all others in determining the reelection chances of President Obama.  A colleague of mine sees mixed signals on the economy going into 2011 but is generally positive.

In 2010, the labor market turned the corner:

New GOP Science Committee Chair Praises BP Oil Spill

Texas Rep. Ralph Hall, the new Chair of the House Science and Technology Committee, besides being skeptical of climate change research, loves fossil fuels and was enthralled by the BP oil spill.

“As we saw that thing bubbling out, blossoming out – all that energy, every minute of every hour of every day of every week – that was tremendous to me,” he said. “That we could deliver that kind of energy out there – even on an explosion.”

Think Progress properly contrasts that with the description in an extensive new report in the New York Times.

“Dazed and …

President Obama Commends Eagles For Giving Michael Vick Another Chance

President Obama called Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie to commend him for giving Michael Vick the chance to play football again. Peter King of Sports Illustrated Tweeted:

Yes, Obama called Eagle owner Jeffrey Lurie to praise the Eagles for giving Vick a chance. Said too many prisoners never get fair 2d chance.

Of course, Vick isn’t your typical former prisoner as Mike Florio notes:

President Obama explained that a level playing field rarely exists for prisoners who have completed their sentences. Vick’s success gives all of them hope.

In our view, Obama’s gesture also provides Vick with the …

Dana Perino: Sarah Palin’s Op-Eds Not Authentic

On Fox News Sunday former Bush 43 Press Secretary Dana Perino says she doesn’t believe Sarah Palin writes her own op-ed pieces, which makes her seem inauthentic.  He recent USA Today article, for example, didn’t sound like the folksy schmaltz that usually emanates from her mouth.

“It doesn’t sound like her when you read the materials,” said Perino, who conceded it’s hardly uncommon for politicians to have ghostwriters.

Perino said in Palin’s case the folksy style she brings to her public appearances, Twitter posts and on her reality show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska makes the uber-serious written takes, including a …

Octomom And Her 14 Kids Face Eviction

“Octomom” Nadya Suleman and her 14 children face eviction from their Southern California home for being $450,000 in arrears to the previous owner.

Amer Haddadin said he’ll evict Suleman if she and her lawyer Jeff Czech don’t pay the balance on the house by Friday. A balloon payment was due Oct. 9.

“I think they have money, but they are hiding the money,” Haddadin said.

Suleman and Czech were served notice on Dec. 2 by mail and by hand, Haddadin said. He expects the eviction to be speedy.

Suleman and her 14 children have lived in the 4-bedroom house for …