Is Palin Planning to Pursue the Presidency or Play Kingmaker?

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

HANNITY: Last time I spoke to you, I was asking: 'Where are you in this process of making your decision?' And you said you wanted to assess the field. The field's changed quite a bit. Where are you today? 

PALIN: Still assessing the field because I know it's still going to change -- the line-up. People are going to come and go before that legal deadline is imposed on us to have to make the decision. So I'm still not ready to make an announcement. 

HANNITY: Where are you in your thought process, if you can bring us inside a little bit? And I'm not looking for you to reveal anything. But, where are you in your thought process? 

PALIN: Still seriously considering it. And praying about it. And talking about it with family. Because, of course, it's a monumental leap for a family, to put themselves out there -- again, in the limelight, and be ready for the scrutiny that ensues in a campaign. So, still talking about it, and assessing, yes, the field. Looking for others who are ready to go rogue, and fight against the machine on both sides of the aisle in order to get the economy back on the right track, and do the things that the private sector needs done to implement some solutions to all the problems that America is facing right now. I want to make sure that we have a candidate out there with Tea Party principles; understanding that we're taxed enough already -- our job creators cannot afford to be taxed anymore -- and will do the right things that so many Tea Party patriots have already been articulating and cheering on, and looking for candidates to embrace. 

HANNITY: Alright, you know the candidates. We've added Mitch Daniels, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, whose names are -- now, maybe Rick Perry. You know all of these candidates. You know all of these politicians pretty well. Do you see one, two or three that you like, and that you would really want to hear more from, and that you could support?

PALIN: I want to hear more from all of them, Sean, and every one of us, not just potential candidates -- every one of us as human beings. We bring strengths and weaknesses to the table. So, you don't want to assess all of that. But, you know, I think one of my problems in this whole process is, I don't live for that game of the pundintcy [sic], of the opining and speculating on who's doing what. I don't live for that. What I live for is fighting for family and faith and freedom in this country. And I get kind of frustrated watching the political process -- 'cause I'm not a real fan of politicians. So, I get kind of frustrated watching the political process, as people line up, and already, and so early on. You know, a year and a half away still. So early on, trying to position themselves when there's still a lot of work to be done on each one of our parts, to finally see that line-up solidified. 

HANNITY: I feel the same way as you, with this caveat. And Governor, it's that I think that this is a turning point in American history. I think the economy is that bad. There's no metric. There's no index. There's no indicator that tells me the economy is going to get better. I believe these policies are failing. I think the country could do a lot better. And so I want the person that believes in limited government, greater freedom, lower taxes, less regulation, a strong national defense. And I want an opportunity to assess them. I want to see them respond under fire. So I think the process will ultimately make whoever the eventual candidate is, that much stronger. So, in that sense, I think it's healthy. 

PALIN: Yeah, well, yeah, that. And in this process of assessing -- once the line-up is set, and the debates begin -- in the meantime, Sean, we need to look at every one of these potential candidates and declared candidates' records. See if they've had opportunity to veto overspending in their city or their state, or in some governing body. See if they've seized the opportunity to save other peoples' money, and not squander it. See if they've had opportunity to go to the mat in protecting Second Amendment rights, and every constitutional right. See if they have, in their own personal lives, lived a fiscally and socially conservative life, and really walked the walk, not just talk the talk, if that's really important to you, as the one doing the assessing of these candidates. We have to do our homework. Don't let the media define who these candidates are. Let us, as constituents, as voters, as potential candidates, we need to do our homework.