Politics

Can Sarah Palin read the future?

Maybe one of Sarah Palin's amazing talents includes the ability to read the future. The ex-Alaska governor said earlier this week on her Facebook page she was postponing a national bus tour because she had to be in the 49th state for jury duty:

"The coming weeks are tight because civic duty calls (like most everyone else, even former governors get called up for jury duty) and I look forward to doing my part just like every other Alaskan."

It does not appear she has been called to report for a jury call yet, and the local court house reported it wouldn't need any jurors for Monday. But here's the rest of the latest recorded message for her local jury pool: "Please call again Monday, June 27, after 5 p.m. for possible service on Tuesday, June 28."

Palin, however, isn't going to be available if called on Tuesday if the "lamestream media" can be believed. It is being widely reported by national media that Palin will be in Iowa Tuesday. Word is that Palin will be in the town of Pella for the premiere of "The Undefeated," a docu-drama about her political rise.

Palin appears to be either gambling on the possibility she won't be called for jury duty Tuesday (a decent gamble given no one was called Friday or Monday), or she can read the future.

USA Today reported this about her Tuesday plans: "'We are very excited to visit historic Pella and its opera house and look forward to seeing the finished film for the first time with fellow Americans from the heartland,' said the 2008 Republican nominee for vice president."

Where the quote came from is unclear. Palin rarely talks to the national media, preferring instead to communicate via Facebook.

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Fox News -- Palin's main employer -- did not quote her, but is confirming the visit to Iowa and calling it "a huge deal." Fox noted it made the front page of "The Des Moines Register, the state's most influential newspaper. Fox says she will give a speech and might be trying to run some sort of "Ross Perot deal."

Perot, a millionaire businessman from Texas, made a bold bid for president as an independent in 1992. He campaigned in only 16 states, but still garnered almost 20 percent of the popular vote. However, Perot was forced to spend a reported $65.4 million of his own money on the campaign.

Sarah Palin's pockets are not nearly so deep. Since quitting the job of Alaska governor halfway through her term, she is reported to have become a multimillionaire based on book sales, speaking fees and a lucrative contract as a talking head for Fox News. But she is far from a billionaire.

Contact Craig Medred at craig(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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