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Sarah Palin resigns
Submitted by Jon Henke on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 16:53
in
What to make of the rapid-fire revelations that Sarah Palin is...
- ...not running for re-election
- ...resigning her office
- ...getting "out of politics for good"
There's no doubt that Gov. Palin and her family have been through a very difficult year, and I sympathize with a desire to get out of the public spotlight. I hope that is what's happening here, because it's just not plausible that quitting the only significant political accomplishment on her resume would help Sarah Palin in a Presidential run. It's awfully hard to go from "Alaska is better off if I am not Governor" to "Who wants to elect me President?"
On the other hand, Lefties can spare me their wailing and gnashing of teeth over just how irresponsible it is to quit in the middle of your first term. Take it up with the President first.
It's hard to know what more to make of this until we get a much better explanation, but the view from here is that you won't have Sarah Palin to kick around anymore. Her Presidential prospects are done, and it's hard to see how Republicans will still consider her a potential leader of the movement.
But perhaps that's best. Republicans need to stop looking for a Leader and start thinking about where they want to go.
(2 votes)
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Comments
Obama
>>
On the other hand, Lefties can spare me their wailing and gnashing of teeth over just how irresponsible it is to quit in the middle of your first term. Take it up with the President first.
>>
Obama resigned from the senate when he was the president-elect.
Palin was Governor longer than FDR was
seems just two years in statewide office was good enough for him. He stuck around awhile longer in his next job.
Let see, FDR was governor of New York for two terms
totalling 48 months, until he became President. Sarah Palin quit two-thirds of the wasy through her first term, having spent 31 months on the job. In Republicanland, does that really count as "longer"? Since you have all constructed an alternative reality for yourselves, it probably does. And did you know that FDR caused the Great Depression??
My bad
I though Lehman had been in for one of those terms. I'm old, but not that old
At this point in most states the budget is in place for the rest of the fiscal year. If you were going to bail out, now's as good a time as any.
Hate to agree with you NRN , indeed it pains me..but Pawlenty is looking better and better. Which just means that the snarkmeisters in the NYC media are about to descend on MN and spend the rest of his term finding out something to the effect that he never paid library fines, snuck smokes behind the gym, and parked once illegally in a handicap zone.
To be fair...
Isn't this exactly what the Right is desperately and furiously doing with Sonia Sotomayor? Opponents try to find glaring personal, financial, and political irregularities. Sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn't.
That doesn't matter.
By Monday the Right will have worked out some reason why it is Obama's fault that Palin resigned, and that will be the end of that.
The Republican field:
I'd buy stock in Tim Pawlenty if I could.
Dunno, Jon
maybe we should all adopt code names and work on our secret handshakes.
If you folks think the "generic Republican" is going undo the Obama machine in '12, well. good luck. You'll need it.
One other point. The GOP is quick to chime in when one of our own gets dissed. But we see utter silence from the other party when a Dodd or a Rangel or a Murtha screw up. And we are way too busy trying to apologize for our own folks to really take off after the other party.
Stop this Marquis of Queensbury nonsense while there still is a party, folks.
If It's Not Scandal........Then She Could Be.....
Preserving Alaskan republican leadership by elevating her Lt Gov (who seems like the annointed one Alaska style), by letting him gain some experience to run on. i.e. let the alaskan electorate get used to him so he'll be a slam dunk. on election day.
Be rebuilding the republican party. Let's face it, out of all of us, she is the only one who can draw a crowd. Travelling around the country, introducing potential republican candidates will re-introduce america to republican. It's a dirty word right now and she can sure do a lot to soften it up.
Also, she probably realizes, that in no, way shape or form is Obama going home in 2012. Better to be used where she can do the most good. Getting republicans elected and taking back the house and senate.
Then of course her talk show.
Sarah Palin
I think she’s going into the private sector (The pipeline Coinsortium? Media?) to make money. She’s too young to run for president (did you see the pics in Runner’s World?), so she can use her star power to help with rebuilding the party for a run for president in 2016 or 2020. In the meantime, she can raise her kids and still be free to travel to the lower 48 to campaign for Republican candidates without generating further ethics complaints in Alaska.
She’ll pile up IOU’s and use the time to polish her image and accumulate the direct experience that a serious candidate will need.
yep
This is my call as well. She's shown a fondness for dinero (per diem for staying at home, Macy's, etc.), and can start banking serious cash as a private citizen. I expect her to get a morning show on Fox where she'll become the Oprah-equivalent for the female contingent of the 'base'.
It wouldn't surprise me if she had decided that she was done with elected officialdom, however. I can't imagine why anyone wants to put themselves through the media circus to run for small-town mayor, never mind national.
I think she's going into a Federal Courthouse
Remember this from Village Voice, October, 2008?
You are going to be hearing a lot more about it on Monday!
Construction in Alaska
There is no building code in most of Alaska, and most inspection is handled privately by the lender, if there is one. The sort of cooperative "barn-raising" effort that Todd describes is commonplace. That is the wrong place to look for legal trouble for the Palins.
Interestingly, buildings there don't seem to fall down on a regular basis. Maybe there's a lesson for the rest of us.
What does the absence of building code have to do
What does the absence of building code have to do with Todd suddenly acquring the cash, skills and superhuman time management skills to build two-story, 3,500 square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath, two-story, half a million dollar wood house by himself, with the help of some “buddies", while he is working at a job in the oilfields? While, coincidentally, a building containing many of the identical building materials is being built at taxpayers expense just short distance away, under Sarah's direction?
Nando
You must be from Chicago.
Can't help but notice you failed to answer my question.
Just made a lame attempt to change the subject instead. Well, this is not a story that is going to go away. And Palin and her bots aren't going to able to blame it on anyone else - not even David Letterman, or Levi Johnston.
Sheesh!
You're going to have me believe that in a small town in Alaska, where everyone knows everyone's business, the residents would stand by idly while the mayor diverted enough materials from a municipal construction project to build herself a house?
You really believe that it takes "...superhuman time management skills to build [sic] two-story..."?
Having built those in both Washington and Alaska, I stand by my earlier statement.
Get real.
Yes, that is exactly what I believe.
Yes, that is exactly what I believe. For precedent, see Ted Stevens getting a free $250K remodel of his house.
Nando, Please read this:
http://ktuu.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/Release_for_7-4-09-1.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 4, 2009 On July 3rd, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced her intent to resign her gubernatorial duties and transfer the powers of Governor to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. Almost immediately afterwards, several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory allegations that the “real” reasons for Governor Palin’s resignation stem from an alleged criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex. This canard was first floated by Democrat operatives in September 2008 during the national campaign and followed up by sympathetic Democratic writers.1 It was easily rebutted then as one of many fabrications about Sarah Palin. Just as power abhors a vacuum, modern journalism apparently abhors any type of due diligence and fact checking before scurrilous allegations are repeated as fact. The history of the Wasilla Sports Complex is publicly known. Contrary to the insinuation that as Mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin “personally” oversaw bidding, construction, funding and accounting for the project (and thus, the allegation goes, “embezzled” from the project), the truth is far more mundane, and publicly available: Curtis D. Menard was instrumental in spearheading the effort from conception to realization of the Wasilla Sports Complex. He directed the steering committee that was responsible for placing the issue before the voters of Wasilla and 1 Wayne Barrett, a writer for the left wing Village Voice, published these insinuations, on October 7, 2008 in a story entitled “The Book of Sarah” available at http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-08/news/the-book-of-sarah. This was written in the style of one pretending to be amazed that so many people in a small town like Wasilla appear to know one another, support one another, and take on big projects together. Apparently that is uncommon in New York. Rather than recognize that leaders of a community often mobilize to accomplish projects, the writer offered this up as an unusual and questionable association of special interests. Page 2 of 4 subsequently passed. He remained chairman of that committee through the design and construction of the facility. He was an ardent supporter and leader of civic, educational and athletic endeavors within the community as well as an advocate of the continued success of the Sports Center. http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=114. Thus, as any basic fact checker would learn, the Mayor of Wasilla is not listed as “chair” of the Steering Committee. As Mayor, Governor Palin did appoint the committee, another fact readily verifiable, and she was publicly on record supporting the need for such a facility—as was most of Wasilla. “Wasilla weighs sports facility” published December 6, 2001 and available at http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/ background/story/517370.html. While her public support of this project was deemed pivotal by many, the actual construction, bidding, financing and other day-to-day management of the project was not in her scope of authority as Mayor. In addition, Sarah Palin was then criticized by some of not showing enough interest in the project. The Frontiersman reported that at a public meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, an opponent of the project “accused Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin of staying quiet about the arena because of her campaign for Lieutenant Governor.” “Sports Arena Campaign gets Rolling” http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2002/02/21/news6.txt (February 22, 2002). Further, this was a highly public project, approved by the voters, and subject to public bid requirements. As described by the City of Wasilla itself: The city uses competitive means for the purchase of all goods and services as required by Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The city also utilizes contracts and price agreements established by the State of Alaska, the Western States Contracting Alliance and other cooperatives or agencies when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City. The city believes in open, fair competition and strives to ensure that all vendors have equal opportunity to compete for city business. The City of Wasilla operates under a decentralized purchasing system. This means purchasing decision up to $5,000 is made independently by the departments in the city (with the exception of Management Information System purchases). When the estimated amount for goods or services is between $5,000 and $9,999, departments are required to obtain three quotes prior to purchase. The departments may utilize the services of the Purchasing/Contracting Officer (PCO) for this process or may do it themselves; however, when this processed is selected, the PCO must sign off on the final product prior to purchasing or contracting. For purchases beyond $10,000, the city requires all departments to contact the Page 3 of 4 PCO who will utilize the city's bid process according to Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The bid process is initiated through either an Invitation to Bid (ITB), utilized when the city knows the specifications for the purchase; or a Request for Proposal (RFP), utilized when the exact specifications or process is unknown. http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=360#82. Accordingly, the Sports Complex was publicly bid, in accordance with City and state law, and was accounted for in the time and manner all public projects are handled. The Mayor of Wasilla, be it Sarah Palin, or her successor, did not handle the funds, or the materials, for this project. To thus suggest she “embezzled” is as false as it is impossible. The additional claim of “proof” of wrongdoing is the allegation that the Palins purchased building materials from Spenard Builders Supply—and that this company may have provided supplies for the Sports Complex. Prior to the construction of Lowe’s and Home Depot within the last few years in Wasilla, Spenard Builders Supply was the primary building supply company in Wasilla. It can hardly come as a surprise that it would sell materials to small homeowners or that it would also bid to supply commercial contracts. One would be hard pressed to find a home, cabin or outbuilding in the Mat-Su Valley in which Spenard Builders Supply did not sell at least some of the materials. The Palins built their Lake Lucille house using Todd as the general contractor. Todd’s family owns a hardware and building supply business in Dillingham. He is no stranger to construction, or to rolling up his sleeves and doing work. The Palins used a combination of personal savings, equity from the sale of their prior home, and conventional bank financing to build the house— like millions of American families. The deeds of trust are recordable public records. Basic journalism and fact checking would confirm this. The Sports Complex was built in 2002. It is now 2009. While the Federal Government has a process to follow, and that process sometimes takes time, we can categorically state that we are not aware of any “federal investigation” that has been “pending” for the last seven years. We are aware of no subpoenas on SBS regarding the Palins. We are aware that the Federal Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation have been helpful, responsive and diligent in prosecuting the email hacker and in cleaning up Alaska’s corrupt legislators. To be blunt—this “story” was alleged during the campaign, evaluated then by national media and deemed meritless. Nothing has changed. To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as “fact” that Governor Palin resigned because she is “under federal investigation” for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law. The Alaska Constitution protects the right of free speech, while simultaneously Page 4 of 4 holding those “responsible for the abuse of that right.” Alaska Constitution Art. I, Sec. 5. http://ltgov.state.ak.us/constitution.php?section=1. These falsehoods abuse the right to free speech; continuing to publish these falsehoods of criminal activity is reckless, done without any regard for the truth, and is actionable. Thomas Van Flein, for Governor Sarah Palin
Davesix, please read this:
Sarah Palin:
So, Hillary Clinton shouldn't complain about her media coverage....however, piss off Sarah Palin and she'll sue your ass?
Riiiggghhht.
This press release/threat/screed dictated by Palin and signed by her ambulance chaser is RIDICULOUS.I hope she does sue. There are a million lawyers in this country who would enjoy the discovery process immensely.
Kool Aid
Nando,
Keep drinking.
This is a complete waste of time. I'm outahere.
Dave6, it took you THAT long to reach this conclusion?
You gotta admit, though, that Screamin'Nannie is real good at moving goalposts, spinning like a whirling Dervish and trying to change the direction of discussion when Nannie's position is unmasked as untenable.
Very good spinner and goal post mover, that Nannie.
Oh, you're such a pussy! ;-0
I don't expect you'll hear much if any dereliction comments from our side. We (i.e., the DFHs) stopped taking her seriously -- except for the entertainment value -- a long time ago.
One of the key plot elements for this tale of R Woe we were watching for was to see when you guys were gonna' wise up.
Evidently, not yet.
But please keep it up, though. Unless you want to somehow be politically relevant again, of course. She is the poster child for the proverbial perpetual gift.
And I do think there will be much more popcorn to consume watching the antics of "Ms." Palin, et al.
Much more to come...
This was timely...
AmSpecBlog
Palin's Dereliction of Duty
By Quin Hillyer on 7.3.09 @ 4:35PM
Knowing that many, many conservatives will absolutely dump on me for saying this, I can't help myself: Sarah Palin's resignation is an appalling dereliction of duty and a highly cynical move to set herself up for a presidental run for which she is manifestly unqualified...
Ruttin' Vern and his herd would think that, of course...
but then, Vern's ruttin herd would also argue it's perfectly OK for an incumbent office holder to begin running for the next term or next new office while still working on the people's dime --but not attending to the peoples' biz... like Hillary or BarackH or LyinJoeBiden.
Naturally, it's not just on the Democrat side. But it's really hard to explain all those missing and absent votes by candidates who have their sights set on a higher, more powerful office --sometimes two, two and half or three years out from election. I like Dole's and Reagan's and Romney's approach> step aside and commit. Be men, not mice still nibbling in the public trough while eyeing the next dinner.
It seems the farLeft and Democrat hacks are very, very content to argue that stepping aside is a dereliction of duty for Palin... but they miss that STAYING IN is more of a dereliction while working almost exclusively for a newer, shiner, more powerful post. It goes with the farLeft and Democrat hack mindest: "I earned this position and I'll serve how it best suits me and my interests. Duty be damned."
Honestly, I don't care too much what Palin does because I think she is woefully uneducated and inexperienced to be prez... but I thought the same thing about BarackH --well, given his track record to date, that might not be a good example of uneducated and inexperienced pols rising to the job.
Vern, you really need to stay with your ruttin' herd before you come on here and cluck about duty, obligation or opine about public service since you're one of those types who think that when you win office, you and your Party own it. For life. Laws be damned. Honor be damned. (Please see Kennedys, et al)
Matt, could provide a link
You indicate that you do not agree that is is "OK for an incumbent office holder to begin running for the next term or next new office while still working on the people's dime".
Could you link me to the all the posts you made critizing Sarah Palin and John McCain for running for a new office while still working the people's dime in 2008?
Also, the logical conclusion to your position is that George W. Bush should have resigned as President in 2003 in order to campaign for reelection to that post in 2004. Astonishing. How exactly would that work??
Michigan-Shat
and I actually agree:
I don't care too much what Palin does because I think she is woefully uneducated and inexperienced to be prez...
Exactly. We (the DFHs) are waiting to see when you all wake up and stop treating her as a serious subject of discussion. She's W with breasts, dudes. She gets the wingnuts that are now something like 70% of the 20-30% of Amercans who comprise your base -- that's it -- and it's not going to get better.
Personally, I think she resigned because "God" (endorphins or whatever else she perceives as a communication from on high) told her to do it.
It's pretty fucking scary that a 72 y/o cancer survivor nominee of the R party, and the R party as a whole, thought she was acceptable as a VP. Until that perception changes, you guys might as well sit in the corner and lick your nuts.
Sarah Palin
Listen to her speech once again. I do not agree with CNN that she's a quitter. She's realized that she can be much more effective in building a base for '12 outside the governors office than inside. Of course the left wing media is going to call her a quitter, but I don't.
I think it was a smart move. Do not count her out. She will be doing the same thing that Romney, Huckabee, Jeb Bush and Newt are all doing. Working outside the system to affect real change. I like her more than I did before.
If you don't see the "true maverick" in this move, you're blind, deaf and definitely dumb.
She quit.
To say that someone who just quit is not a quitter and to complain that the media are biased when they label the person who quit a quitter is to proclaim the Republican mantra - black is white, we adapt the facts to fit an alternative reality we have made up to suit ourselves
This is about Sarah protecting her family...
...Her very vulnerable family. And who can blame her? The Palins are well off now thanks to Harper/Collins. I'll wager she made this decision soon after she banked a huge advancement from the publisher. I'll have to agree with those who are speculating that she is, indeed, out of politics. However, outside chance she might run for the Senate.
This is not Sarah retreating but Sarah protecting her family. The victory goes to the vicious, depraved democratic hit machine and the msm. Or are they one in the same? They can gloat and give each other high-fives for now but they'll get their true reward in due time. DD
Answer me this, please.
If Sarah Palin was concerned about protecting her family, her very vulnerable family, why did she use her children as props at every single photo op she could from the date she was announced until yesterday?
Children as props?
I don't know if she actually does that --I guess I'd need to be a heartless, shameless partisan hack like you Nannie to see it that way.
Although, from your angle, when the OrgasmicObama (D-Ill) started to slip in the polls, the first thing he did was get the kids out front on the new lobbyist-paid-for swingset and ramp up the "what-dog-should-we-get-the-kids" farce. Thank God the OrgasmicObamas (D-Ill) have the ever-so-good, rape-is-a-Kennedy-team-sport, almost-pedophile Uncle Teddy Kennedy (D-Mass) to help them out and not have yet another major gift for the OrgasmicObamas paid for by fatcat lobbyists.
Children as props? Slide back into that hole or under that rock, Nannie; we don't need the same old tired gamesmanship from political hacks like you. The OrgamicObamas (D-Ill) have changed politics, don't ya know man?
Yes, Matt, children as props.
What benefit did little 8 year old Piper derive yesterday from standing in front of the cameras for 18 minutes while her mommy threw a nutty?
Well, case closed then. You are a shameless, partisan hack.
I'm guessing, though, you already knew that fact given your seemingly endless embrace of farLeft ranting talking points off... is it the DailyShow? is it StevenC? is it MadcowRachel? or is it the MSNBC twin-bottom ranking ObamaFestClowns of Ed & Keith?
Piper was there, just like the entire family. She's part of the family, Nannie.
Now, go back to dumpster diving with the best of the low life flatlanders who ferret through the soon-2-be ex-governor's trash... at least now, when you and your trailer trash pals head up to AK looking in people's garbage, Todd can legally put some buckshot in your ample asses.
That's gotta be worth the trip, no?
Like we said, Nannie, you never fail to prove yourself to be just another farLeft troll here spouting the latest GibbsGab from 1600.
tell me what politician...
...., either Repub or dem, that doesn't do the same? Thats part of politics (and you know it) and that is why Sarah is getting the heck out. DD
John McCain and Barack Obama, to name two.
Let me get this straight - you are seriously saying that she placed the kids in front of the cameras again yesterday to announce that she is getting out of politics becasue she doesn't want her kids in front of the cameras anymore?
Why not just stop bringing the kids up on stage?
Somehow Barack Obama managed to campaign for 18 months without taking his kids out of school - something Palin could not manage for her brief stay in the national spotlight. John McCain has a 17-year old daughter who is a junior in high school - how often was she up on the stage/dropping pucks/being pointed at the cameras and told to wave? I can't recall seeing her more than twice.
Palin chooses to use her kids as props. If she doesn't like it, she can just stop doing it.
I can't imagine
Yes, both sides do it. It's what people expect. Politics isn't a 9 to 5 job. But, like anyone else, I wonder if that's why she got out. If she wanted her family out of the media, why didn't she keep them out of the media?
Certainly the next year will answer that question. If SarahPact keeps excepting money then . . . you're either supporting her wardrobe or her 2012 election campaign. If you're supporting her election campaign, then she's obviously not that worried about her or her family's media exposure.
As for the SarahPact people here. That'll be brought up IF she does run. You can't quit your job because of family reason and then bring them out at a later date to run for another job. The republican king makers won't be behind her, and them Dems will certainly laugh at her.
who has time for hair-splitting...
...folks like nrnando, anyway. Ignore. But you're right cr, Sarah purposely doused the bridge with gasoline and set it on fire. It was difficult but she did it for her family. I look for her and Todd to build a successful business of some sort. She's out of politics of her own volition. DD
On Sunday
Now the news on her facebook: "higher calling", "its about country". Sounds like a prez run to me. But one thing she has right, no one (really) understands why she quite. That's why this is so fascinating.
Again, if she goes on the lecture circuit or becomes a game show host, I'll believe it was about family (and I respect that). . . if SarahPac keeps raising money . . . its about a run (in that case I think she's smart, but a complete kook).
I won't pretend to know.
So it is "splitting hairs" to say that
Putting your kids in front of the cameras to announce that you a4re getting out of politics becasue you don't want your kids in front of the cameras? It is splitting hairs to point out that Obama and McCain both managed to campaign without taking their young children out of school?
YES, NextRightNando...
You're being very petty. Picayune. Cheap shots. Seek help my good man. (Or woman) Get counseling. Then come back when you have something significant to contribute.
And remember, if I didn't care, I wouldn't say anything. Its because I care that I put forth these observations. Keep in touch/have a nice day! DD
Sarah P.
Her decision shows she has her priorities straight (family first), and in so doing, she is showing that she refuses to sacrifice her family on the alter of the political gods in Washington - she is not going to waste her time in office as the governor of Alaska fighting the press to save her name. She has recognized that that is not good stewardship of the taxpayer's money. Again, a positive. She's going outside of the system . In football terms, this is an "end around"- this is a populist move, not a highly calculated tactical political inside the beltway move.
It could be that she might have taken a cue from Huckabee, in the way he's kept his face before the people on Fox- again, not the old standard way of doing things. Old media and old politics hates this, even from some Republicans. We've already seen what the old media and Hollywood will do to her and her family- laugh at her daughters, both young and old and then use them as comedy material as well as her. I praise her for fighting back. It shows her true character and will only strengthen and increase her followers.
It's a given that CNN and others will attempt to further demonize and triangulate her as a quitter and kooky. Fox news was smart in showing the speech in its entirety in order to allow the viewer to decide exactly the full context, and her reasoning. Every mother recognizes what was not said and what she's doing and it will only increase her popularity among the base, especially among women. If the Washington machine doesn't see that, then it is blind. I think Democratic insiders see it very clearly. Palin is a formidable foe, in that she speaks to something that is very hard to fight against- motherhood.They see that this is something that is very near to the heart of most Americans of every color and stripe and that is why they have pointed every political gun they have at her head, and if those guns hit her, then great, if they take out her children in the firefight, then too bad. Palin assesed what they were doing and decided that she wasn't going to allow that to happen to her family and reputation, and so she stepped down, to reshift and out flank the press,appealing directly to the base.
The press is pissed because it didn't have a clue ahead of time. Don't expect this relationship ever to be cordial in the future. They ( as well a Hollywood) will continue to demonize her. I expect Letterman to get back up on his horse of ridicule soon, as well as others.
For all you nay sayers out there, please follow the money- the contributions to her pac have increased since last night.
Go Sarah!
Like people who say Elvis isn't really dead
a little piece of you died inside yesterday and now you've got to come up with a story to make yourself feel better.
Answer me this: if she is all about motherhood, all about protecting her family, she is always going to be asking herself "is this good for my children?" So - how was it good for the children to be used once again as props yesterday? What benefit did little Piper derive from standing in front of the cameras for 18 minutes while her mom throws a terrifying nutty off to her side? Do you suppose was listening? Or was she hearkening back to the even more terrifying incident when her mom drug her out in front of hordes of booing Flyers fans? What kind of parent would subject even their GROWN children to a Philly sports crowd.
Yesterday Palin said:
Can't possibly be true. Trig is one, so he certainly would not have said "yes". Piper is 8, so she would not have understood the question. And Track is in Iraq, so its not like such can just ring him up for a chit chat.
Just another instance of her using the kids as props, as tools, as little human shields.
Palin-Bots
I continue to marvel at the degree to which these folks assume there is some credibility remaining for this shamelessly ignorant bigot; leaving aside the utter folly and misjudgment they apparently overlook in McSame's choice of this person to be a 72 y/o "heartbeat away".
Everyone who resigns
From office says they are doing it to spend more time with their family.
And they are always lying about that. There's more to the story, and if Palin chose this transparent fabrication as the "real reason," followed by a rambling, incoherent explanation, then I suspect it will be more damaging to her than what we have already heard.
This is not speculation on what those problems might be, but I will bet the rent and the kid's college fund we hear more, and soon.
Who really knows
This is such a great subject to talk about because there are so few facts. But . . .
1. Stop blaming the dasterdly media. She could have/should have gone back to Alaska and laid low after the 2008 campaign. However, she stayed in the media . . . as well as put her children there where they became part of the info-tainment racket. And that racket exists on the left and on the right. There's no 'attack machine', just a lucrative business.
2. If the media is her compaint, then she's out for 2012. At the national political level, if you cannot control the media, then the media will control you. What about 2016? So hard to say, but she's a totally acquired taste. People love her, and most others thinks she's rediculous. She'll have high negatives like Hillary which will always make her vulnerable in a wider contest.
3. RNC chairman anyone? I don't know if she's qualified (really), but there's no big love for Steele. And maybe she can jugle that and speaking engagements. She's totally committed to Alaska, escpecially now that she can make money else where.
4. Whatever the case, I hope whatever she does keeps her out of the media spotlight. She has talents, just not presidential ones.
5. My bet is for Romney in 2012. Like Hillary, maybe she'll be our next Secratary of State. The bar just keeps getting lower and lower.
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Oh, and happy July 4th everyone. Hopefully people won't get to riled up about this around the grill. Let the Palin's be the Palin's and enjoy your own day in your own way.
I Shake My Head
..in wonder.
First at Palin's statement, which had me wondering if she was on meds it was so disjointed, fugal, and crraaaazy, and then at the posts here which seem to think it was a great strategic move???
This move feels like it certainly helped Sarah with her base, who have rallied behind her, but it has cost her dearly with Moderates and Independents, who are now convinced more than ever Caribou Barbie will never be Presidential, and maybe not even Senator from Alaska timber.
Notice Romney
moving toward the center lately? 2012 is shaping up to be an awsomely weird race for the republicans (especially if she does run).
I agree. Palin's press
I agree. Palin's press conference reminded me of my drunk Uncle Wayne's rambling speech at our wedding. Adorable, but REALLY awkward.
Jon, we know...
...that you know better.
It's not surprising that this was addressed in the very first comment of the thread.
This is not a fair equation and you know it. I've read your stuff now for five years and counting, and to go into the reasons why this is not a fair equation would just be wasting our time. Cuz' I know, you know, we both know, that you know better.
You should be spared wailing and any sort of gnashing of teeth. After all, maybe resigning was the responsible thing to do. We just don't know right now. But, we should also be spared your bullshit false equivalencies. After all, we do know that that's bullshit. Right?
Cheers.
re:
Obama decided about 2 years into his term that he was going to focus on getting elected to another office. I don't find it particularly noble to hang onto your office and paycheck while you spend almost all of your time trying to get another job. I don't oppose it in principle, but it's not exactly clear how spending 1/2 of your partial term campaigning for a different job is substantively better than quitting 2/3 of the way through your term to do something new. (Note: Palin did both)