# Palin says she has "Fire In the Belly." Is it just gas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 20, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614 "2011-05-20T20:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/221 "2011-06-25T11:44:08Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Stop picking on **Sam**! You’re all ganging up on him, telling lies about him, because he’s trying to be honest and to tell the truthiness about Palin, and you don’t like truthiness so you twist his factual statements into false opinions because you’re haters and who elected you anyway to attack **Sam**? Let the people judge who’s telling the truth here–the people know you’re all liars. And you know it. Which people?😕 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/222 "2011-06-25T11:51:12Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Which people?😕 The right-thinking true patriotic Americans, of course! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/223 "2011-06-25T16:03:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But for some reason the only person whose campaign has to explain on a regular basis “what the candidate meant was…” is the Palin campaign. No, there’s Bachmann’s, too. Ed Rollins’ job is to do just that, [as he acknowledges himself](http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/06/bachmanns-campaign-manager-were-going-fact-check). Not that that detracts from your point any. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/224 "2011-06-25T16:16:14Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The real ‘fact’ here is that you are _speculating_. You’re making assertions with nothing to back them up other than your own opinion. That’s fine, so long as you don’t confuse your opinions with FACT. Have Saddam’s WMD’s been found yet? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/225 "2011-06-25T17:22:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > When did she say the bus tour was continuing? > > I don’t see anything not factual about reporting that she quit her bus tour and went back to Alaska. Those things factually happened. Palin trying to spin it as a “hiatus” doesn’t change the facts. **She’s never going to go back to that bus.** Sucker’s bet. Not saying that she’ll continue for sure, but I think there’s a high probability that this is a stunt. She’s an idiot for many definitions of the word, but not so much in others. Even if this wasn’t a planned New Coke, all she had to do is get on the bus for a couple events, claim she meant it all along and decry the media. This has nothing to do with the obvious conclusions drawn (e.g., she quits and cancells lots of events, yadda yadda yadda), or any rational thought process. It’s targeted at those who buy her books and pay for her events. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/226 "2011-06-25T17:44:53Z")
That’s a good point. It wouldn’t surprise me if she went back to the bus for a couple of cities just so she and her sycophants can say the media was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/227 "2011-06-25T18:17:10Z")
Tricky question–was this planned from the start? Did she get a summons and hold it, knowing that an ‘interruption’ in her ‘tour’ would generate news when she left, speculation for a cycle or two, then news again as she produces the summons? Would her continuing tou have continued to garner as much press? I don’t know how the timing overlaps, but could the idea have initiated before Obama released his birth certificate? I don’t think she’s smart, but I do think she’s devious. **Sam** , I’d love to hear your opinion. Starting with your assumption that she never planned to end the tour, did she simply fly back for jury duty, or do you think the media is playing into her hands? (Sorry for typos-I’m on a new phone and not used to the interface) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/228 "2011-06-25T20:20:00Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That’s a good point. It wouldn’t surprise me if she went back to the bus for a couple of cities just so she and her sycophants can say the media was wrong. No need. The media is, by definition, regardless of actual actions, wrong and at fault. Even the (allegedly) reasonable folks like Sam (though I believe his ‘reasonable’ qualifications come from his ability to use correct spelling and grammar) are reflexively defending her in opposition to the facts. Why bother with another boring-ass trip through a bunch of boring-ass towns in New England? Her appreciation of history? Laff. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/229 "2011-06-26T07:41:54Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > **Sam** , I’d love to hear your opinion. Starting with your assumption that she never planned to end the tour, did she simply fly back for jury duty, or do you think the media is playing into her hands? > (Sorry for typos-I’m on a new phone and not used to the interface) To be honest, I haven’t given it all that much thought. I just don’t think it’s that surprising that she wound up back in Alaska. It could mean she quit, or more likely her kids were tired of traveling and so is she, so they just packed up and left, intending to come back after a while. She has put out no itinerary and she’s not telling the press what she’s doing, so who knows? If she’s got jury duty, that might be real, but all the same she’s using it as an excuse to get home and take a break. So she’s leaving early, and she’ll come back late. Or maybe while she’s at home the media spotlight will leave her, and she’ll just quit the tour. Another possibility is that she’s halting for a couple of weeks to take advantage of the publicity around her movie. It comes out July 15, and it’s getting wide release by a large distribution company. I think it’s about even money that the real stunt here was for her to get out on the road before the movie came out to get her name back in the headlines. Then she takes a break, lets everyone go bananas with silly attacks, then show up in the lower 48 a day or two before opening night. Max publicity for the movie. Then she finishes the bus tour, except now she’s really promoting the movie. Say what you want about Palin’s political knowledge or lack thereof, but she does have a gift for self-promotion. This strikes me as a promotional gambit more than a run for office, and you guys are falling right into her trap by giving her all that attention, and more ammo that she can use to attack ‘the lamestream media’ and play the victim card. But it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she had to go home, whether she’s quitting or not. People do have obligations and she has a lot of business to do. As I said earlier, the really powerful people in showbiz can halt a tour for a couple of days to jet across the country for a TV interview and be back for the next night’s show. It happens all the time. So Palin jetting back to Alaska didn’t strike me as anything to get worked up about at all. Wait for her to announce that she’s quitting, and you can go at her with both barrels, without the risk of showing your ass if you jump the gun and you’re wrong. In the meantime, it’s kind of important to remember that this is a _freaking bus tour_. Why is everyone acting like Palin is retreating from the Hun? If she wants to discontinue her silly bus tour, who cares? Who cares that it even exists? Who cares if she finishes it? If the media and the internet people would just bleemin’ ignore her, she would go away. All I can say is, God help us all if she does run for office and gets the nomination. Not because she’d be a terrible president (although she probably would be), but because the partisans on both sides of the political fence will go _nuts_. The internet will light up like a Christmas Tree. God, that sounds tedious already. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/230 "2011-06-26T07:53:03Z")
I don’t really disagree with anything **Sam Stone** just wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/231 "2011-06-26T12:14:15Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Wait for her to announce that she’s quitting, and you can go at her with both barrels, without the risk of showing your ass if you jump the gun and you’re wrong. So what if she never makes such an announcement, yet never resumes her tour? Can we call her a quitter? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/232 "2011-06-26T13:19:26Z")
Like she ever announced that she was “quitting” as Governor, either. So until she makes that announcement, using the most pejorative term possible, we’re mischaracterizing or speculating on what she does, and she gets to quit or continue her mission to bring truth to light via bus as she chooses and to bitch about all the attention she receives? Got it. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/233 "2011-06-26T13:52:49Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > All I can say is, God help us all if she does run for office and gets the nomination. Not because she’d be a terrible president (although she probably would be), but because the partisans on both sides of the political fence will go _nuts_. The internet will light up like a Christmas Tree. God, that sounds tedious already. I assure you that a Palin presidency would be worse than your discomfort from hearing people talking about the Palin presidency. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/234 "2011-06-26T15:04:58Z")
The more I see of Bachman the more I think I’d vote for Sarah before I’d vote for Michele. (If someone had a gun to my head of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/235 "2011-06-26T16:10:32Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Say what you want about Palin’s political knowledge or lack thereof, but she does have a gift for self-promotion. This strikes me as a promotional gambit more than a run for office, and you guys are falling right into her trap by giving her all that attention, and more ammo that she can use to attack ‘the lamestream media’ and play the victim card. Have the Palin partisans been reduced to this? Asking people to stop picking on Palin because that’s what she wants? > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > But it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she had to go home, whether she’s quitting or not. People do have obligations and she has a lot of business to do. As I said earlier, the really powerful people in showbiz can halt a tour for a couple of days to jet across the country for a TV interview and be back for the next night’s show. It happens all the time. So Palin jetting back to Alaska didn’t strike me as anything to get worked up about at all. So you’re arguing that the reason that Palin walked out on the Governorship and her speaking tour is because she had some obligations she needed to take care of? Wouldn’t being Governor or having a speaking tour count as an obligation? Worst case scenario: Palin gets elected President. China wants to invade Taiwan. To take the United States out of the picture, a Chinese agent planted in Alaska sends President Palin a jury notice. President Palin takes off to Alaska to respond to the summons while Taiwan falls. Vice President Bachmann declares sends troops to Thailand. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/236 "2011-06-26T16:37:09Z")
You’d have to pick a different example. Sitting elected officials are exempt from jury duty. Point taken, though. You would think fulfilling her term as Governor was an “obligation,” yet she decided that it was more important to the country for her to go make money for Sarah Palin and play second banana to Bill O’Reilly part time on Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/237 "2011-06-26T17:49:41Z")
There’s a good chance she can see Taiwan from her porch too. So she better keep an eye on it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/238 "2011-06-26T21:32:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You’d have to pick a different example. Sitting elected officials are exempt from jury duty. So the only obstacle to this plan is Sarah Palin’s knowledge of how the law works? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/239 "2011-06-26T22:16:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So the only obstacle to this plan is Sarah Palin’s knowledge of how the law works? That’s a non-trivial obstacle. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/240 "2011-06-26T23:44:45Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > That’s a non-trivial obstacle. Really? I recall that Palin was unable to remember what the Vice President did - at a time when she was running for the office. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614.md?page=13)