(CBS News) It wasn’t an endorsement, but Sarah Palin gave Newt Gingrich the next best thing on Tuesday, saying she would vote for the former speaker — if she lived in South Carolina.

Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee declared Gingrich the winner of Monday night’s Republican debate, comparing his performance to boxing legend Joe Frazier.

“He came out there swingin’, talking about work,” Palin said. “Talkin’ about jobs and work ethic and how government needs to get out of the way in order for Americans to have a sense of opportunity to work, and I think that’s what a lot of voters have been craving to hear.”

I’m not a big Newt fan, mostly due to his support of anthropogenic global warming legislation and regulations, but, I could vote for him, unlike Ron Paul. That said, he did have a fantastic debate, and gave the best answers.

Asked if she was any closer to giving an endorsement, Palin told the Fox News host that she could only tell him what she’d do if she were a South Carolinian. “If I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep this thing going, I’d vote for Newt, and I would want this to continue.” Such a position indicated her desire for the political vetting to keep unfolding.

So, kind of a back-handed endorsement. We’ll see if this helps or hurts Gingrich in the upcoming Primary. In reality, though, the next few debates will probably make the most difference. Palin lost quite a bit of support after she finally decided (late) to not run for president after all that time hemming and hawing.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

(Big Government) Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has called for Gov. Mitt Romney to release his tax returns, as well as the data that could substantiate his claim of having created 100,000 jobs as CEO of Bain Capital.

Romney has resisted releasing his tax returns, and his campaign has thus far refused to provide the hard proof to back up his claims about Bain.

“Governor Romney has claimed to have created 100,000 jobs at Bain, and people are wanting to know: is there proof?” Palin told Sean Hannity on Fox News.

Rick Tyler, former Gingrich aide and head of Newt Gingrich’s Super PAC, has already accused Romney of having created those 100,000 jobs in Asia and Mexico. Earlier this week, Big Government pointed out that Romney’s claim to have created 100,000 jobs contrasts with claims he made during his 1994 U.S. Senate campaign, when he claimed to have created 10,000 jobs at Bain. Romney retired from Bain Capital in 1999.

She’s basically echoing the Newt attacks. Husband Todd endorsed Newt, and I’m betting Sarah Half Term is on the same wave-length. Of course, it’s easy for her to sit back and continue to attempt to play king maker when she has nothing on the line. She was vital for the 2010 midterms, but, her 15 minutes is over

“As for Michelle Bachmann. She has a lot to offer, also, but I don’t think it is her time this go around. And I believe that unless she, too, wants to spend her own money or borrowing money and perhaps go into debt. Which heaven forbid, you do that to your family? Perhaps she is one, too, who would start saying ‘supporters of mine, why don’t we coalesce around one of the other candidates and let’s move together as a team to get that right primary candidate chosen?’

Really, Palin should just mind her own business, considering she didn’t have the fortitude to jump in herself after all the teasing post quitting the Alaska governorship …. but, you’ve heard me complain before, how about reading John Zeigler, who calls Palin selfish, hypocritical, and a sellout

As surreal as it may be, after spending over two years and several thousand dollars defending Sarah Palin at great personal cost, I now find myself in the bizarre position (three years to the day from starting the journey to Wasilla to do the interview of record on her 2008 VP run) of being perhaps the only conservative commentator willing to point out that Palin has now clearly revealed herself to be a selfish, hypocritical, sellout.

You aren’t the only one, John: I blowing a gasket over her unwillingness to announce, then bat guano crazy when she finally said “nope, not doing it.”

Anyhow, make sure to read the entire article, as well as check out Legal Insurrection on some background about Palin vs Bachmann. Palin needs to go away. I admit, she made chumps of us all, which pisses me off.

(The Politico) Palin lovers, Palin haters, a half-dozen publishing houses, and elements of the mainstream media who tracked her plans long after the Republican campaign bypassed her suddenly face a future without their entertaining, unpredictable, and now scarcely relevant subject.

Palin’s circle of online admirers greeted her announcement with shock and dismay. The camp who saw her as a nascent American Mussolini, with shock and joy. And the publishers, broadcasters and reporters who yoked themselves to Palin were already moving on.

Interesting. I’ve never heard any of the Palin haters refer to her in that way. So, Ben, exactly where did you come up with the comparison to a dictator and ally of Adolph Hitler, one of the leading founders of fascism, and a brutal and violent man who led the blackshirts and other violent groups?

(The Politico) Ken Vogel and I both have sources telling us that calls were made on behalf of a mystery candidate to various early states to determine presidential filing deadlines.

The calls were made by representatives of the law firm Baker Hostetler – a firm that employs lawyer Mark Braden, who represents Sarah PAC, her political action committee.

As Ken notes, while he nor representatives of Palin’s campaign would comment on the calls, Palin is the only GOP politician eying the presidential race who is represented by the firm.

You’ve got to be kidding me. I know I’m setting myself up for some Palin supporter anger, but, sheesh, Palin has had almost three years to look into this. And they’re doing it now, in October 2011? Seriously? I’ve told you I lost that loving feeling for Palin in terms of her running for president, and this simply reinforces my notion that she isn’t truly serious, and isn’t willing to jump into the deep end. Running for President of the United States Of America is a serious business, and requires that someone be serious to run. I’m just not seeing it.

Something lighthearted for a Friday. But, then, perhaps someone needs to do the same for Sarah Palin, who still can’t decide, after 3 friggin’ years, if she is going to run or not.

“This is a serious decision, and I’ve engaged in serious deliberations. So within the next 24 hours don’t look for me to make a decision,” she said, according to excerpts of an interview on Fox Business Network set to air tonight.

Remember when she said she’d have a decision by the end of September? I’m done. I no longer will take her serious as a potential candidate for POTUS. As a pundit, sure thing. Not for POTUS, though.

The indefatigable Juana Summers sends over this dispatch from Sarah Palin’s appearance with Greta Van Susteren, in which she took a shot at Herman Cain (whom she called “Herm” at one point) days after his Florida straw poll win:

“Take Herman Cain. He’s doing so well right now. I guess you could say, with all due respect, he’s the flavor of the week. Herman Cain is the one up there who doesn’t look like he’s part of that permanent political class. He came from a working class family. He’s had to make it on his own all these years. We respect that. He has an automatic connection with the electorate. We can all relate to him. He knows the issues and problems we face every day and he’s determined to do something about it.”

“He’s not elite. He doesn’t seem to allow us to be disenchanted with what it is that he’s proposing, because what he proposes in terms of solutions for our economy are based on time tested truths and common sense and true economic principles that will work”

“Herman Cain is a good example of a connection with the voters and why his message – good messenger – he’s resonating with the people.”

Well, that’s rather condescending, is it not?

Bobsyouruncle: “Flavor of the week:” is so condescending. But a self-absorbed narcissist like Palin doesn’t even realize or much care what she sounds like.to other people.

And racist

IndiMidwesterner: So, flavor of the week is chocolate, and Sarah is reported to have a taste for chocolate.

But, really, doesn’t that “flavor of the week” part seem sort of out of place within the quote? It’s like someone talking about something then saying “squirrel!” in the middle. It couldn’t possibly be that context is missing, could it? It’s almost like Maggie only took part of the exchange between Greta and Palin to make Palin look bad. And Maggie knows that she is only providing part of the excerpt

Reporters, meanwhile, are creating a “quasi-reality show” by speculating on who is running and who isn’t, an apparent reference to the current Chris Christie bubble.

Add this to the Politico excerpt, and the flavor of the week comment makes sense

PALIN: Many Republicans, but also just many in the media because for many in the media, this is like a reality show. I think Newsweek, an article that came out the other day, really nailed it when they said that there are media outlets that kind of create this reality show, this intrigue, and who’s going to be the next “flavor of the week.” And they prop somebody up in order to crush the person, it seems, later on.

But I think that a lot of the push for Chris Christie and for others comes not just from those within the party, but those inside baseball, within the media.

Ah. Context. Which came long before the Cain comment. And then there is this, which directly precedes her comments on Cain

VAN SUSTEREN: How does, though, a politician, though, connect with the people and get it across so it doesn’t just sound like more like, Blah, blah, blah? When the politician gets up on the air, probably many of us can sort of mouth the answers for the politician because we know these people for better, for worse, so well, and that they’re going to say. It’s quite predictable.

But how does a politician actually connect with someone in the heartland, for instance?

PALIN: That’s a great question. I think what helps is for that politician is to have a foundation of having come from the real people of America, the working class, those who make up the majority of Americans who are so extremely concerned about the direction of our country.

Take Herman Cain. Look at why he’s doing so well right now. He’s, I guess you could say, with all due respect, the flavor of the week..

So, Sarah Palin wasn’t actually denigrating Herman Cain, she was denigrating the liberal media, and praising Herman Cain. Good thing the the Politico’s Maggie Haberman is practicing ethical journalism, eh?

Oh, and when the heck is Palin going to announce whether she’s running our not? Already September 28th. Tick tock.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU. Please sign the drill now petition.

Sarah Palin seemed to give a November deadline for a decision on a 2012 bid.

Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News Tuesday night, Palin said there is still time but conceded that a deadline was rapidly approaching.

“There is still time, Sean, and I think on both sides of the aisle you’re going to see people coming and going from this race,” she said.

“In the Republican race, in this primary, I think people are still going to be coming and going because there is still time. And I’m still one of those still considering the time factor.”

Hannity asked if her if she didn’t need to make a decision by November. Her response: “You do, legally you do, because you have start getting your ducks lined up to have your name on these ballots.”

I love Palin as a politician, I’ve supported her. I was thrilled beyond belief when McCain picked her, having thought she would be an incredible VP pick wince the early part of 2008. She was an up and comer. Now? She seems unable to commit.

That’s some of what I’ve been saying. Sure, she can announce at the last minute, but, really, does she have a campaign staff ready? Campaign apparatus? Yes, people have announced at the last minute, such as Bill Clinton, as pointed out at the Right Scoop. But, Palin resigned as Alaskan governor for a few reasons, one of which, everyone assumed, was to run for President. Again, I’m a huge fan of Palin’s, but, I think if she was serious about running, she would have jumped in months ago. Guess we’ll see.

Weasel Zippers calls this “Palin fatigue”.

More: The Lonely Conservative says somewhat the same thing.

Smitty at The Other McCain discusses the issue, including Erick Erickson’s, dare I say, whiny “Enough” post.

If it’s possible to wear out your welcome in politics, you can wear out your welcome mat, too.

Sarah Palin’s protracted flirtations with a presidential run took her to Iowa this weekend. She attacked President Obama, took at shot at what she called the “permanent political class,” and even outlined a tax plan she said was designed to revive American hiring.

She even did what every politician does — profess not to care about what polls say — with a Palin twist:

“Polls — nah. They’re for strippers and cross-country skiers,” she said.

But Palin did not declare a candidacy, of course. She didn’t rule it out, either — but that part has less potential relevance as the Republican field evolves without her.

In a Fox News poll taken last week, a startling 72 percent of Republicans said they don’t want Palin to run for president. Among self-described conservatives, 71 percent say they don’t want a Palin candidacy in 2012; that figure is 62 percent among those who consider themselves tea partiers.

Has she worn out the welcome mat? When she resigned as Governor of Alaska, most of her supporters, including me, thought that this would be a setup to repair her media trashed reputation in advance of a presidential run. But, here we are, a little over one year from the general election, and near to when one must declare for the South Carolina primary, and no announcement. As I’ve tweeted multiple times, it’s well past time for her to sh*t or get off the pot. She’s spent so much time attempting to tweak the media’s noses, playing with them as a cat plays with a mouse, playing the “will she or won’t she game”, that she has seemingly forgotten that there are people who support her and just Want To Know.

Her time for jumping in was back during the Spring. We’re now in September, and Palin is still playing the game, leaving her supporters hung out to dry, hence the Fox News poll mentioned above. It was fun watching her play the media like a violin, but, alas, it has ended up hurting her chances. Consider Mitt Romney: you knew from the moment the 2008 elections were over that Mitt was planning to run in 2012. What’s Palin doing? Anybody? In politics, timing is everything. Personally, I think she’s waited too damned long.

What do you think? Has her time to announce come and pass?

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.