(CNN) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's rock-star status could solidly position her to lead the Republican Party in four years, but former top Bush aide Karl Rove said the "marketplace of ideas" will ultimately decide her political future.
"Republicans believe in markets, so the marketplace of ideas will decide what the answer [to her future] is," Rove told NBC Tuesday. "These people are going to get out there, campaign, offer their ideas, offer themselves."
Palin has declined to say whether she is officially interested in seeking the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, but has left open the possibility. Palin's popularity among the party's base and firmly established name-recognition would likely mean instant top-tier status should she decide to throw her hat into the ring.
But ultimately, Rove said, Republicans need more time to get to know Palin before embracing her as the party's future.
"Remember she was on the stage for nine weeks in the general election - that’s not a lot of time," he said. "Now we are going to get to a chance see her over a longer period of time."
From CNN Politics
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I am again reminded of the words of the famous polymath Benjamin Franklin "not all conservatives are stupid people, but most stupid people are conservative". The fact that we are still seeing Sarah Palin in the news, and being touted as a future leader is living proof of his wisdom, and a sad testimoney of the idiocy of a portion of our population. And we wonder why our country is in an economic quagmire – really does anyone think she could provide even one solution of merit for the current economic situation, let alone lead anyone out of it?
She's too far right, she'd start WWIII or isolate us futher.
Is Karl Rove a CNN Contributor now??? .. seems CNN has nothing relevant to report
she would be the final nail for the republicans after bush placed them near the grave. the republicans need a new fresh face
I got this cool Karl Rove decoder ring, and this is what it says his comments mean:
"King makers like me run the Republican party. The only idea we care about is power. If the empty suit that is Palin is popular in 2012 we're run her, but if another more attractive empty suit is better we'll go with that. Either way it will be a toady who will rubber stamp the wishes of the party rulers. You know, like what McCain turned into after he won the nomination."
Will Sarah Palin run as a Republican Party or a Alaska Independent Party member.?
And by the way, who cares what Rush Limbaugh has to say. He has the morals and brains of a rock!
She is a political lightweight..........if the GOP is looking to her to lead them out of the shadows, they are in worse shape than I thought. And I already thought the GOP is on the brink of extinction.
Rove and his ilk never bought a thing at the "marketplace of ideas," which is why the GOP is bereft of them now...and why an empty suit like Sarah Palin is even being discussed as future Presidential timber.
If the GOP clings to her, it will only show just how utterly clueless they are about this nation and the wants and needs of its people.
I have faith the Republicans will serve Sarah Palin well. She is still a little rough around the edges but she knows how to get things done who cares if she isnt as articulate as "This one over here" her record shows results not great speeches!
Just what the republican party needs – another moron.
I equate Palin with Jeff Foxworthy's "You're a Redneck..." This is the face of the New Republican Party.
It is really sad that Palin is the best that the GOP has to offer. Can't they find someone with even a little bit of brains and intelligence. It speaks volumes about a political party that is willing to be represented by a brainless airhead who cannot even string a group of words together to make a coherent sentence.
I guess as long as someone is able to spew hate and division they qualify to lead the GOP.
Go for it guys. Hope you will like it in the political wilderness.
I found it very interesting how abruptly (and easily) Rove switched into partisan mode when asked about Bush. Up to that point, he actually sounded thoughtful and intelligent.
Who cares what Rove says about anything or anyone?
My hopes and dreams of not having to hear about this woman anymore are lost.
The only good news is that is she is indeed the future of the republican party, then the democrats will control our country for the next generation.
Governor Sarah Palin is one of many bright young people in the GOP. She has the integrity, courage, strength, charisma, intelligence, down to earth wisdom and perseverance to continue to be a servant leader.
Sarah Palin has a record of reform that will only grow. She walks the talk and connects with people. She does not play the palm greasing game.
I am a former democrat and Hillary supporter, and I am encouraged by the many transformative, young leaders in the Republican Party.
She really needs to be investigated just like Stevens was for her house. Seems fishy with her ending the permit structure then building a house where supplies were donated. Where are the receipts for that house?
It must be galling to somebody with dignity and integrity, like Mitt Romney, to see a nonentity like Sarah Palin crowned the new "standard-bearer" for the GOP. Fight back, Mitt! Don't let your party go down the tubes in 2012 like it did in 2008.
Rove is still listened to because he has contracts and proteges all over the place. Palin is still of interest because she's a good-looking moron... everyone's waiting for the next misstep. It's kind of like why Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan still frequently make the news. While we're at it, let's give Rush Limbaugh a big bottle of Vicodin and set him adrift on an iceburg with an illegal alien iceburg-keeper... Eskimo burial style.
I guess cheesecake is more palatable to the Republicans than meat these days........that is ALL Sarah Palin is.....swagger without substance!!
This is hysterical....WHAT interviews are they watching that give her ANY credibility??
Wow... that was a ringing endorsement from the sleaze-meister. Not.
49 days till the end of the Bush administration.
The 'Marketplace of Ideas' for the Republican party is apparently the Wasilla Walmart.
All the publicity has gone to her head–and she's become quite uppity. Now, everyone is watching to see when she falls and burns. We love soap operas and this is a grand one where we ask ourselves, how far can an empty-headed motormouth go before falling flat on her face? And Rove is wrong, for it's not the marketplace of ideas that will determine her fate–for she has no ideas in her head–but the marketplace of idols.
Brian, the dog from Family Guy is more articulate and better spoken than Palin!The woman is clueless. I hope she runs in 2012. That will be great for Obama.