Sarah Palin's declaration that she can beat Barack Obama in the next presidential election has, predictably, got politicos' tongues wagging.
But what is not clear is that the former governer of Alaska has much more in mind that beating the President at the ballot box.
She told ABC that she was looking at the "lay of the land" - but to people close to her, this had a less obvious meaning.
Palin plans to challenge the President to a punch-up!
Said a source in the Palin camp: "It's no secret that a lot of people on the right are furious with the president - not just angry but absolutely, head-explodingly furious.
"An election defeat would not be enough - they want to see the shit kicked out of the man.
"So, anyhoo, Sarah was watching some re-runs of popular TV comedy Malcolm in the Middle recently. She saw that episode when Malcolm's eldest brother, Francis, working in Alaska, is forced into a fist fight with the harridan who runs the restaurant/store where he works.
"Of course the strong woman and Alaska elements of the scene got her thinking.
"She immediately told her advisers to start investigating where she could take on the President in a similar fight.
"Tea Party types are very excited and have been looking at hiring venues like Madison Square Garden for the event. But a popular choice would be the floor of the House.
"We don't know if the President will accept her challenge - but turning her down could be seen as a very damaging sign of weakness.
"In fact it's a no-win situation for him. Accept her challenge - he's seen to fight a woman. Turn her down - he's a physical coward. Excellent."