This just in: Palin to resign on July 26
No, it’s not April Fools Day. Details are sketchy or nonexistent so far, but here’s the announcement of Palin’s plan to resign. She indicated that “recent incidents brought up by national media and the spate of ethics complaints have been taking away from her mission to serve Alaska.”
Possibilities abound, a run for the presidency in 2012 being the leader. But then, why resign so soon?
Another is that she’s just fed up with all the invective winging her way and wants out. But that doesn’t sound like Palin.
Perhaps Andrew Sullivan is finally about to prove whatever it is that he’s been so deeply concerned about with her son Trig and her reproductive organs. But somehow I doubt it.
Or perhaps some new and wretched revelation is at hand.
But if Palin is running for president, perhaps she sees the danger facing us in the Obama presidency as so powerful and so imminent that she wants to devote more time and more speeches to fighting it in a very public way. Or perhaps not.
Your guess is as good as mine.
[ADDENDUM: Here’s the full text of her resignation speech. Doesn’t sound like she’s quitting public life, at least on first skimming.
Here’s an excerpt:
Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I’ve been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations – such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.
Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn’t been cheap – the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” … Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn’t cost them a dime so they’re not going to stop draining public resources – spending other peoples’ money in their game…
f I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices!
And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose NOT to tear down and waste precious time; but to build UP this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!…
And there is such a need to BUILD up and FIGHT for our state and our country. I choose to FIGHT for it! And I’ll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and LIFE… I’ll work for and campaign for those PROUD to be American, and those who are INSPIRED by our ideals and won’t deride them.
I WILL support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the RIGHT reasons, and I don’t care what party they’re in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or Outside Alaska.
But I won’t do it from the Governor’s desk….
In the words of General MacArthur said, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
Don’t know that it will be a run for the presidency, at least not for now. Starting a new organization and raising funds? Becoming head of the Republican Party? Something quite different? Whatever it is, it sounds as though it will be public, it will be national rather than local, and it will be related to politics. And it sounds as though the Left will have Sarah Palin to kick around some more.]
oh, no. I have a bad feeling about this.
Palin’s rather lengthy announcement was delivered sans teleprompter, and it was very impressive. She is a very talented politician who should not be underestimated.
Me too. I’d like to think she was resigning to run, but …
A little OT: can someone tell me why Andrew Sullivan is here? Are we that short of deranged perverts here that we have to import them?
I’m also annoyed by the “spate of ethics complaints.” Having just read Witness, this is just the kind of thing the communists did to Whittaker Chambers, trying to smear him with anything and everything they could think of, in a frantic effort to discredit him.
In Palin’s case, there’s obviously nothing to any of these complaints, because if there were, it would be all over the MSM 24/7. Clearly if Palin had so much as an overdue library book they’d go nuts, so their silence says it all: the complaints are smears.
Mr. Frank: do you have a link to her announcement?
I saw it on Fox. There is a version on YouTube, but the quality is bad. There will be a good one up soon, I suspect.
Sullivan is here on a diversity waiver. See, we need more diversity in our perverts. There apparently aren’t enough rapidly going insane gay men who are fascinated by a politicians vajayjay.
Tatyana, I do, too. I’m afraid there’s another shoe out there about to drop.
well, there is always Bobby Jindal, but the guy that runs “Little Green footballs” would REALLLLLY hate that. HaHA! ( he seems to like Palin ok- but Jindal on the other hand….)
Another Naughty Monkey about to drop? 😉
I think she’s running. I think she believes it is her destiny, responsibility, and opportunity to take down The One.
The woman is a diamond in the rough. She should be able to polish away the rough by gaining strong policy credentials. Then she could wash away the negative image the media give her by offering the country a constant diet of impressive performances between now and 2012, not just in terms of style, but also in terms of content.
I hope she succeeds, because I’m convinced that with her charisma, leadership skills, and staunch Reaganite principles she has the potential for being a great President.
She’s a real mother, wife, and woman who is doing what needs to be done first for the most important people in her life — and, it will prove, ours. She will be back — to help, not destroy.
She can’t win a national election, so the best outcome of this:
She resigns as gov, in a few weeks the republican senator resigns, the new gov appoints her to replace him.
you read it first here
I wish a real leader would arise — the sooner the likes of Palin and Obama leave political landscape the better.
Pingback:House of Eratosthenes
nyomsothing:
“the sooner the likes of Palin and Obama leave political landscape the better.
Why would Palin have to leave? Out of the two she’s the only American.
Maybe Palin’s going to move to Indonesia and run for President there. /g
No one outside Alaska, and very few up there, know how this will play out.
I have been on record for some time that I would not be surprised if she walked away. Nor would I blame her.
She has a great life and a loving family. She has the ability to make a lot of money. In other words who needs this crap?
But, maybe the fire in her belly is too strong.
I have mixed emotions. For the sake of Sarah and her family I hope she can walk away and have a good life. For the sake of the Republican Party and the country I hope she stays engaged.
We do not have enough Sarah Palins in our politics that we can afford to drive them from the public arena with non-stop vicious attacks. But, I suppose we will continue. It is such good (vicarious) blood sport.
I was struck by the vitriol directed at her by the communists, whom she obviously scared to death (for some reason I can’t fathom).
They clearly saw something in her that terrified them into mobilizing the MSM, Hollywood, the Democrat Party, and all of their other lackeys into vilifying her in the most vicious way. Beats me why.
Brad says: “She can’t win a national election, so the best outcome of this:”
Funny how after The Dems had the help of the media, ACORN registering voters for them, – alive , dead and illegal aliens- and years of fighting voter ID laws, they still only won the last Presidential election by a few percentage points.
Its Dems that cannot win national elections without cheating and a lying press.
Neo, I looked over that speech – we need to forward this to everybody we know! this is not about a scandal! The scandal is how the press is reporting this !
Assuming she is not walking away, whatever she’s got in mind had better be good.
I just don’t see how resigning as governor helps her political career or her influence.
She talks about energy development near the begginning of the speech, then makes a swipe at “climate change” near the end of the speech. Maybe she is going after Gore and company?
“Alaska’s mission – to contribute to America. We’re strategic IN the world as the air crossroads OF the world, as a gatekeeper of the continent. Bold visionaries knew this – Alaska would be part of America’s great destiny.
Our destiny to be reached by responsibly developing our natural resources. This land, blessed with clean air, water, wildlife, minerals, AND oil and gas. It’s energy! God gave us energy.”
Am stunned but do not count this woman out. As for Jindhal – another rising star for the gop.
This is the equivalent of all y’all go “F” yourselves. They attacked her children. I’d do the same.
huxley wrote, “Assuming she is not walking away, whatever she’s got in mind had better be good. ”
I think it will be.
The person standing on the threshold of history, wondering if there’s anything she can do, is dissuaded by her own foibles, failures and foolishness. But if that person believes that there is a divine power prodding her and supporting her to take action — whether or not there is such a power — she will act. It is not the presence or absence of divinity in the universe that makes a difference, it is the belief that there is.
She’s political roadkill now.
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
So this is what the wilderness looks like….
Baklava — Maybe it will be good. I mean, I hope.
There is the timing. I question it! Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. Perhaps Palin et al. will roll something out with the fireworks.
We could use some good news about now.
Oh, lefties I know are crowing over this scalp and the “Friday afternoon before a big holiday” timing of it.
Maybe I can just claim I’m a Whig, or something….
I would not blame her if she walked away. I am in my 50s and I have never seen anything like the mindless vitriol this woman and her family have faced. Frankly, it has made ashamed to watch. I thought Americans were better people than that.
Nyomsomthing, are you still out there?
I have an idea: How ’bout we make Palin President and make Obama, Pelosi, Reid and make the whole rat fink leftist pack move to Venezuela and make them take that weakling McCain with them? How do you like that idea? Because I like it very well.
What Terrye said.
Don’t be surprised if Governor Palin sets off on an independently new party track, more conservative than what she sees as being offered by the present remains of the Republican catastrophe.
For this she would need time to draw enough serious money and defectors from the Republican shambles. I’m not talking idealistic libertarians here I’m talkin conservative party again as in REAGAN !
Terrye — I agree (and disagree as I close this note) it’s been a nightmare for her — but it’s not her fault it’s the people that put faith in her and give her a false confidence. Her ilk is not fit to govern — stew potatos and pluck chickens ya, have a position of governance in the USA na.
This is somewhat mundane, but being the governor of Alaska involves lots of air travel over great distances which takes much time and energy. Trying to become involved in national politics on top of that is impractical at best. It would be like Commuting from Chicago and working in New York while being heavily committed to European politics. Gov. Palin will be very effective in fund raising for the Republican party and candidates. We will see more of her in the future than we have in the past. Her expertise and experience with energy issues is very important right now as Obama tries to strangle our economy with cap and trade and his opposition to drilling. Her message will be welcomed by many Americans.
Perhaps some Tea Party/Palin synergy.
Americans are. Liberals, on the other hand, are not.
Btw, neo, the quote is
“Retreat Hell! We’re just attacking in another direction.”
and it’s attributed to Major General Oliver P. Smith, USMC, Korea, December 1950, not MacArthur. Marines are justifiably proud of this quote. Dems, not so much. Their tastes run more to bathhouse quips.
Perhaps “nyomythus” could elaborate on “Her ilk is not fit to govern…”.
WOW! This kid’s got more guts than I do. Maybe this explains the McCain staff’s trashing her in recent days. Now THERE’S a group of honorable, upright individuals! How did Obama miss them?
Thanks, Occam’s Beard. I knew MacArthur didn’t say it and that it came from the Korean War, but I didn’t know who actually did say it.
Dammit, I hope she runs for President. She is literally the only politician out there today that truly excites me. I suspect I’m not alone in that regard.
But if not, well, she has to do what is right for herself and her family. I commented on another site all the way back in September, after the initial wave of vicious media attacks, that I wouldn’t blame her a bit if she walked away from it.
America is in dire straits indeed when good and decent people avoid public service from fear of smears and character assassination. That leaves the field wide open for the venal, the corrupt, and the power-mad.
I’m bad at predicting how voters will react. But, here’s what I think: this is brilliant.
She’s got nothing to lose. She was in trouble if she remained onstage as an Alaskan pinata.
Her brother, Chuck Heath, told Fox News that, a few weeks back, Sarah said she was spending up to 80% of her work days on her legal defense, and her staff was spending much time on it also. She said it was unfair to Alaskans that she was spending so much time on personal legal issues. Today, Gov. Palin said her own lame duck Governor status would be inefficient and not best for Alaska. She says it’s the right moment for the point guard to pass the ball in order to be more productive; in order for Alaska to be more productive.
This frees her up; this shrinks her as a target – and especially shrinks her as a target of local Alaska politicos who would try to damage her in advance of a national run. She needed to shake those guys off her ankles. Every mailman will tell you it’s the little dogs which are the most dangerous.
I think it’s too easy, and premature, to knee-jerk and loftily announce say she is done as a candidate.
Plus, I don’t run for shelter when the wind kicks up a bit. Neither does a bit of wind send me running down the street screaming: “tornado!”
Sarah said she was spending up to 80% of her work days on her legal defense, and her staff was spending much time on it also. She said it was unfair to Alaskans that she was spending so much time on personal legal issues.
That explains volumes.
First I want to say that you, ‘Neo’, are a remarkable woman with an unusual intellectual and moral conscience. It is rare that the light of truth alone can bring people to go against their own social selfinterests. Only the best are like that.
Sarah Palin is like you in this regard. And that is one reason why she is hated so much by the present day elitist Left. But not the only one. Her commonfolk, anti-elitist attitude is the other part.
I have come from the Left myself, saw its errors and changed. But since ‘my time’ the Left has changed and not for the better.
I despise the present elitist Left far more than the old working-class Left. I think back to the old Left with mixed feelings. The present Barbara Streisand Left I only despise.
The present Left combines the worst qualities of the old Left (conformism, groupthink, towing the partyline etc) with the worst ones of the old Right ( spoiled brats, elitism, looking down on ordinary people, fake-sophistication instead of true goodness and ‘politesse de coeur’).
I am a European, but I despise the present American Left so deeply because I know my European history so well. I see all the rot of my European history in todays Hollywood and Obama Left. We have been there, done that.
I have always hated the old European Stalinists and the old European Aristocrats. Hollywood and Obama smell like both in one. I despise them therefore with everything I am.
And as an ‘old European’ I warn you ‘young, naive Americans’ that what you have here is the most dangerous thing in your whole short history. And I wish you well. I hate left and right European anti-Americanism to the core. But I feel so sad to see such a promising young civilisation go under so soon.
Sarah Palin stands against all the rotten things I mentioned above. Stand beside her, support her, and fight for what she represents.
“Sarah said she was spending up to 80% of her work days on her legal defense”
Well, pretty honorable reason — I dunno about Palin, she’s not horrible, but …. can’t we do better? When she talks … I just can’t listen to her, and to think about her leading the keystone nation of the world … we’ve got to do better… it’s like hiring the janitor to teach chemistry … nooooo, okay okay, it’s a ”victory” for the common guy … but …. noOOooOOOOoooo
to cheer for such an unqualified person is almost self-loathing … don’t we love America? .. we can find better people than this….
nyomythus Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am
“to cheer for such an unqualified person is almost self-loathing … don’t we love America? .. we can find better people than this”
Well, I wonder how you voted in the last election and whether you are comfortable with the result.
I will reveal something; I cheer for Sarah Palin. I am not self-loathing. I love America and served her for 25 years. Funny thing. Most of the people who have put their lives on the line for the country; or are doing so now, are just fine with Sarah Palin. The people who are critical are by and large the ones who sit on their asses and enjoy the benefits of being American.
There have been an awful lot of comments written and spoken in the past few hours. One of the Patriots and Intellects I admire the most said this: (sic) “people try to say she doesn’t understand the issues. That is bull. She is exactly right on the important issues of the day.”
nyomsomething, you are very fond at leveling ad-homs on Sarah Palin without ever articulating what it is that makes her unsuitable. It is, I suppose, that like most liberals, you can never look beyond populist utterances in a shallow goal to be liked by the “in” crowd. A mark of cowardice if you ask me.
With people like nyosomething and the idiot they voted in to power America is in for a long dark winter especially when all those coal power stations are shut and the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow . Maybe they can set fire to some libtards who put them in this situation God knows there’s millions of them enough for one winters fuel at least.
# nyomythus Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am
to cheer for such an unqualified person is almost self-loathing … don’t we love America? .. we can find better people than this….
Coming from a likely Obama voter, the mere use of the word “unqualified” is laughable. What I found the most intriguing about the last presidential election is that Palin’s opponents DARED to use words like that or its synonym, “inexperienced.” The woman had more executive experience than the upper half of her own ticket and the entire Democratic ticket COMBINED. Yeah, Audacity Of something, all right, but it sure as hell isn’t hope. Unmitigated gall is more like it.
The people of Alaska disagreed with you, as does the lion’s share of the GOP base, Nyo-whatever. Palin did a fine job as governor, even when it meant running down corruption in her own party. I am one of the millions who is hoping she plans to return to politics on the national level.
Now, unless you have something more meaningful to contribute to the coversation….kindly piss off.
nyomythus Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am
That’s highly amusing, considering who is occupying the White House now.
Or it would be amusing, if only it wasn’t reality.
Mr. Frank hit on exactly the right role for Palin now: taking down cap and trade. She can explain the pocketbook issues, the insider corruption issues, the environmental issues in a way that will reach people. She has stood up to the energy companies and will plow right through the BS put out by big businesses hoping to cash in on subsidies. It would be wonderful to see her take down California greenies and the head of GE with one punch. And that is nothing to the joy I would feel at having BO come out of the next climate conference looking like the bag of hot air that he is on concrete issues. I wonder whether the environment will be damaged by the gas released when a pin is in stuck into The One.
All the anti-Palin talk about who is or is not qualified to be President reminds me of the William F. Buckley quote (variously reported) that he would rather be governed by the first 100 names in the Boston telephone directory than by the Harvard faculty. Harry Truman was the object of the same kind of derision from elites that Palin suffers, and yet his decision to drop the bomb, his desegregation of the military, and his resistance to communism revealed great insight and courage. Similarly, Maggie Thatcher, woman and daughter of a small town grocer was seen as insufficiently elite to be Prime Minister. Her toughness against the unions who were strangling Britain and her clear vision of communism and evil revealed her depth of character. Being qualified is largely a character issue.
“Devote more time and speeches?” But speeches are just pretty words – her action is that she quit. She quit! Anyone tossing in their lot with hers is joining a quitting team. How is that a good thing?
Enough of the citizenry reacts to her accent and presentation, as nyomythus does, to hamper her severely. That is our fault, not hers. In a media age we react to the social signaling of people who “sound like” the people we’ve been trained over many decades to believe are smart.
Obama sounds smart. We have argued here over whether he is naive, corrupt, or both. I vote both. He is an empty suit, completely over his head in governance, and doesn’t know it. He still believes his platitudes will eventually come true. In the meantime, what he knows is the corrupt politics of Chicago and the Old Left – reward your friends, punish your enemies, say anything. He reverts to that as “how one keeps power until the platitudes work.” He is a hybrid, combining the worst of two strains of the left.
Palin doesn’t sound smart in accent, and in her choice pf phrasing and presentation. But she is much smarter than Obama in many ways. He can duel well in artificial settings, like a fencer. But we don’t send fencers to war. Palin is a mediocre fencer, and with practice might make herself a decent one. She is an actual warrior, however.
Yes, that is one way to put it but more and more, I’m seeing it as she left a position in which further accomplishment was near impossible due to personal attacks. By leaving, she freed others to continue to work for her constituents and move Alaska forward. It’s called putting others before yourself.
True she can move forward herself and may prosper for it. But what is known is she would only be doing time from now on as governor and unable to effectively serve her constituents. Both the continuing attacks by the left and being lame duck would be used to stagnate her administration.
It’s a bold move some leaders take when they personally become a distraction to accomplishment by the group. That is why it is so confusing to so many, it is a move a true leader might take, which is so rare in politicians these days.
I must agree with The Third Policeman in that the bottom line is she quit with 16 months left in her term.
Although I personally like her, and believe that she no doubt has something up her sleeve, walking away from the job she campaigned for is such a strong negative that I believe it will render her political future toast.
Too bad, but we’ll see…?
Nyomythus:
Yesterday, at 9:37, you said
“Her ilk is not fit to govern – stew potatos and pluck chickens ya, have a position of governance in the USA na.”
No so terribly long ago, sir, people in this country said similar things about black people.
What, nyo, do you think of zero’s ilk?
His fitness is demonstrated so far by…?
If Palin were unqualified, then this makes Obama doubly so.
This is a poor tactic on the part of nyomythus to lecture us on – especially as unemployment rates under Obama begin to dwarf anything that we saw during the Bush era, a 30-something professional college student who has never run a business in his life is placed in charge of the auto bailout, the President is firing CEO’s of industry, is talking of taxing our healthcare benefits as “income”, is spending money like a kid with a credit card, has broached the subject of taking control of industries “too vital” to be allowed to fail (even if they DID NOT take government bailout money – this is called socialism/fascism), and has publicly suggested the government set wages and salaries.
Regarding the folks accusing her of “quitting”, keep in mind they had begun to target her children.
As another pointed out, she was also spending the majority of her time dealing with numerous ethics complaints – investigations eventually vindicating her on all counts.
It was petty, but it was consuming the majority of her time leaving her with little opportunity for anything else.
By taking the path she has, she has cleared the decks to play her own game on her own terms.
It’s clear that even 6 months after the election she and her children are still targeted – so what does she have to lose?
By resigning, she can say and do as she pleases without worrying about constant ethics charges, and she has nobody trying to tell her what to do or say in order to appear “acceptable”.
It also leaves her more time to build up her own national organization, raise campaign funds for 2012, and leave her with plenty of political talk show opportunities to get in the public eye and show she knows exactly what she’s talking about.
If she had stayed in the Alaskan Governor’s Mansion, she would have been buried trying to constantly fend off bogus ethics complaints and nobody would have seen as much from her.
Her actions may not be the actions of someone who is withdrawing from the fight, so much as someone who is temporarily breaking contact with the enemy in order to regroup their forces.
If the former, then I still support her. As I said, they were actually targeting children!
If the latter, then she is showing how much of a fighter she is, and I remain a supporter and would suggest the left be afraid…be very afraid…..she may very well have a certain vengence in mind.
They may should have left her alone after last November….
The ordinary political calculus of Palin’s resignation is that she quit and she’s a quitter and she’s a toast.
But hers are exceptional circumstances and I believe she is an exceptional woman. I wish her well and won’t count her out.
However, this business that she is spending 80% of her time fighting off frivolous lawsuits plus the astonishing public character attacks she has suffered is deeply, deeply wrong and reveals something terrible about her opponents, and ours.
“Remember The Palin!”
Unlike most polititians Palin didn’t get into politics as a get rich scheme or to be that special someone everybody fawns over.
She got into politics in order to do what was needed to be done.
Remaining Governor is what most polititians would do in order to advance their career. In Palin’s case it is a hinderance to doing what is needed to be done, ie, save the country.
Palin will run for President in 2012. She will win, either as a Republican or as the leader of a new conservative/libertarian party.
Regarding the folks accusing her of “quitting”, keep in mind they had begun to target her children.
Which is even more reason not to quit.
I’m not accusing her of quitting: she quit.
She made asses of her supporters. I feel like a dope for supporting her. She certainly proved all of her critics right.
I’d never vote for her again for anything. She sucks. She let me down and now I’m going to have to eat a ton of crow for supporting her.
F her.
I hate my stupid republican party. Imbeciles and losers all:
Micheal Steele
John McCain
Colin Powell
Sarah Palin
Mike Huckabee
Man-tits Romney
Sanford
Gingrich
The only one who was actually willing to fight the dirty, dirty leftists was good ol’ emergency-room-inna-chest Dick Cheney–who’s not going to run for anything again!
I didn’t read through all the comments because as I see it they are mostly the same rehashing of political pillow fights. People you must understand you are getting all het up over the comment stream on a blog. This is okay but it’s not really action, it’s cyber jawboning. It does feel like something really big when we all type away at our computers but it’s ephemera.
My two cents for what it’s worth, which is not as much as a real two pennies, is that Sarah Palin is like Britney Spears or some other ordinary but ambitious gal that got plucked out of semi-obscurity by a big Machine, primped and powdered and made into an instant Star. That star stuff is more powerful than heroin and it is terribly addicting.
Before that she was a local politician that made good and she did well at her job, so well that McCain grabbed her. But was she ready for prime time politics on the national stage? No of course not. Did she know that? Of course not.
Like anybody dreaming of the big break, she took her shot and ran with it. And she did good for a while but then like any other celebrity, once they make you, they gotta break you.
So the slurs came out and the second replay and the punditocracy and the jokes and the investigations and all that crap that comes with the media attention.
This is what it’s like to become a big time star, whether it’s entertainment or politics, which these days are more or less the same thing. You need to have some sort of mental steel to handle all that’s gonna come at you.
I don’t think she has a career in politics, not after quitting before she finished her first term. You get voted in to do a job and the contract reads for four years. If you quit before then, no matter for what reason, voters have no reason to trust you for any other elected job you may want.
But with her charisma and her following, she can go into news, become a pundit, get a talk show, do the lecture circuit, lots of opportunities out there. If the rumors of an indictment are true, then it’s all the more reason to go for the gold, she will need plenty of it to fight the case. After all as a victim of the left wing media and the Obama/liberal/socialist/ commu- nist/junta in Washington, she can be a beacon for all your support.
I do think she is well on her way.
BTW before you attack, I also think Obama rode that path to Stardom. He was just a lot more savvy at it. You gotta give it to him, he plays the political system like nobody I ever saw, even better than Clinton.
Meanwhile nothing ever changes; as they say, the rich get richer and the poor get children.
Nyom,
I find her MORE intelligent than you.
SO go away.
You aren’t qualified to do Sarah’s nails.
You aren’t qualified to serve her water.
You aren’t qualified to breathe her air.
Your racist sexist comments above show an ugliness in you that reeks.
WHy would someone like you be allowed to talk yet alone exist.
You have zero common sense compared to Sarah.
SHe had the economic solutions that would be helping this country.
Obama had zero executive experience and has the economic ideas that are NEGATIVE. WHy are you that idiotic? When did you stop beating your wife…
You disgust me.
Spoot wrote, “He was just a lot more savvy at it.
No. He was carried by the press. Idiot.
Let me say this:
Sarah is an amazing woman that just became more amazing.
SHe made a noble decision that people who are lacking just do not understand.
WHen you are spending 80% of your time and your staff are spending the same amount of time fighting against idiots you move aside and DO WHAT IS RIGHT for Alaska.
THe state spent millions.
The idiots spent nothing but hot air and make baseless charges.
Guess what? Nothing has changed for the idiots. Everything has changed for Alaska.
Good for Alaska. Thank you Sarah for doing the right thing.
Nyom. You are an idiot. You’ve made baseless charges from the beginning. You continue. You know nothing in my mind. You have a lot of reflection to do. A lot of growing up and evolving. A lot of learning. Do it.
Wandriaan at 11:56pm July 3: I agree with you totally. Thanks.
Gray Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Gray, calm down. I like your comments here a lot, and I even used one of your quotes as my signature for a while at Gulf Coast Pundit. (With attribution.)
I have no idea what Sarah has in mind, but my first impression is that she’s planning a run for President. I fervently hope so. We’ll see soon enough whether that’s the case or not.
And as I’ve said before, I wouldn’t blame her a bit if she just walked away, after what she and her family have been through. I mean that. We the People do not own her, and we have no claim on her time, her energy, her life, other than what she herself chooses to give.
So relax, take a deep breath, and wait and see what she does. From listening to her speech, I don’t think she has any intention of retiring from public life. I don’t know what she has planned, but she is planning something.
Addendum:
Assuming she’s planning a run for President, how is quitting the Governorship to clear the decks to start a campaign worse than several U.S. Senators who ran full-time Presidential campaigns in the last election cycle, al the while continuing to draw their taxpayer-funded Senatorial paychecks and benefits?
Sarah Palin did not quiet, she resigned. She gave cogent reasons why she resigned. Now some people are acting like they just voted for Mike Huckabee and seem confused that Obama won.
I do not know what Sarah Palin has up her sleeve but I will wait and see. Maybe she will pack it it, bit one thing keeps occurring to me…”Hell hath no fury like a woman spurned”
I don’t think she’s ever running for office again. She must know that resigning this way looks bad. It strikes me that she was overwhelmed by all the HATE and couldn’t cope. Being attacked by a schoolyard full of bullies every day must be exhausting. She’s experienced a level of attack from the liberal media, bloggers, activists, and democrat legislators that’s equivalent to hurricane winds. I suppose it broke her and I can’t really blame her for quitting.
Firstly, please check your facts: http://www.adn.com/palin/story/850854.html
Read the headline – $296,000. Palin’s statement that “frivolous ethics complaints” have cost the state millions of dollars is outrageously false. Additionally, almost two-thirds of that money was spent on the Troopergate investigation, which was initiated by the Alaska Legislature and then completed when Palin transferred the issue to the state personnel board (made of members that she hires and fires) by filing a complaint against herself. One would have to be very unsuspecting to take her reasons for resigning at face value.
These things of course I will not argue here. Clearly the readers of this blog will forgive Sarah such things. There is however something about which I agree with neo very much: Sarah’s future will be national rather than local. Why? She has done nothing for this state – and she could never be elected here again.
That’s clearly not the case and even if it was there is now no way of establishing that. It’s a mere assertion like so many other Palin Derangement symptoms parading about in the gay drag queen attire of “Fact.”
And as I’ve said before, I wouldn’t blame her a bit if she just walked away, after what she and her family have been through. I mean that. We the People do not own her, and we have no claim on her time, her energy, her life, other than what she herself chooses to give.
Bill Clinton never quit after what he put his family through. That’s why we are in the wilderness and will remain in the wilderness.
She chose to give 4 years to her constituents. She gave 4 years claim on her time to her supporters and her state; she gave 2.
My first enlistment in the Army was 8 years. What would have happened if I decided, after 2 years, to go on to bigger ‘national’ things ‘cuz they hurt my feelings and were mean to my kids?
You can lose, you can be beaten, you can be ridiculed, you can be hurt emotionally, you can even be killed, but you cannot quit.
Sarah Palin has not ‘quit’.
Palin’s 4th of july message from her facebook account…
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=99477538434
“The response in the main stream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the “politics of personal destruction”. How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it’s about country. And though it’s honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it’s right for all, including your family.
I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I’ve never thought I needed a title before one’s name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness!”
Palin’s press release on her resignation as Governor…
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/exec-column.php
“But I have given my reasons… no more “politics as usual” and I am taking my fight for what’s right — for Alaska — in a new direction.”
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you trust me with this decision — but it’s no more “politics as usual”. ”
Nowhere does she say she is ‘quitting’. On the contrary, she makes it clear that she will remain active in politics, on a national level, for the benefit of both Alaska and the nation.
Let’s see what happens with Sarah Palin. The left is truly afraid of her, or they wouldn’t be shredding her as they have been from day one. It ain’t rocket science. Neither was the response from McCain’s group. He’s a rino at best.
The OAS (of which the U.S. is a member) has tossed Honduras out. Reuters is still calling it a coup. If defending your nation’s constitution is now considered a coup, can we be far behind? Will Honduras get help from Obama if attacked? It doesn’t look like it, does it?
Obama’s actions will embolden the socialist / communist elements surrounding Honduras. Shall we bring the domino theory out of the closet and dust it off for another look-see?
I didn’t make myself clear. She’s not done. You can take that to the bank.
Peter:
I would give Palin the benefit of the doubt over you or the 15 other losers who presented frivolous ethics complaints anyday. Thanks for playing.
Gray,
You claim military veteran status, and use that to buttress your criticism of Palin resigning.
If you are a veteran, I’d expect you to have a firm grasp of at least small unit military tactics.
Tell us, when there is no benefit to holding a position in the face of overwhelming odds and it’s clear you’re going to lose, and worse that you will probably have your command either completely killed or captured – what does the military instruct it’s officers to do?
I don’t believe the military instructs it’s personnel to always fight to the death if there’s a way out other than surrender and capture, or death.
As a matter of fact, unless I’m mistaken, the Army still instructs it’s officers on how to conduct an orderly withdrawel, retreat, attack in another direction….
This preserves assets and allows units to reconstitute into effective assets rather than be wasted on useless gestures.
My feeling, based on Palin suggesting her supporters stay tuned for additional information, is that she’s doing exactly that – not simply surrendering, or “quitting”.
Gray, just to keep the facts separated from the BS would you please tell us under what circumstances your first enlistment was 8 years?
Academy graduates are committed for 5 years. Pilots are committed for about 5 after flight training. Other specialties requiring significant investment in training or education require a commitment, but I have never heard of an 8 year commitment. Enlighten me.
I won’t go into the justifications for Palin leaving the governorship; although I think they are sound. The subject has been hashed and rehashed. None of the comments in this or any other forum will change a single opinion. But, when a person makes a factual assertion such as yours, it arouses my curiosity.
Academy graduates are committed for 5 years. Pilots are committed for about 5 after flight training. Other specialties requiring significant investment in training or education require a commitment, but I have never heard of an 8 year commitment.
4 years ROTC, 4 years active service. Actually, every enlistment is 8 years if you read the fine print–you just trade off active time for INactive Ready Reserve.
Gray, just to keep the facts separated from the BS would you please tell us under what circumstances your first enlistment was 8 years?
Thanks a heap: Now the republicans are eating their own….
As a matter of fact, unless I’m mistaken, the Army still instructs it’s officers on how to conduct an orderly withdrawel, retreat, attack in another direction….
Being a first term governor of a state is the same as being attacked?
She needs to conduct an orderly withdrawal from her governorship?
Gray: In Palin’s case, being a governor is somewhat like being attacked. Not that she’s being attacked for being governor. She’s being attacked for her vice-presidential run, and it has certainly not ended with the end of that run.
It is certainly a valid point she’s making that there’s so much controversy and attack swirling around her that she can’t be an effective governor. Unfortunately, it does mean that she has quit that post, which I agree reflects poorly on her. What will happen next? I make no predictions, except that I think she’s got something up her sleeve.
When you’re under attack you call for support. Since we’re applying military metaphors, I’ll ask where’s the backup? What was the Republican party doing while Palin was being hammered? It seems to me that when you’re a Republican under attack by liberal trolls, you’re left alone to be devoured.
It is certainly a valid point she’s making that there’s so much controversy and attack swirling around her that she can’t be an effective governor.
Bill Clinton never quit. He was not an effective president the last two years, but he was successful.
Unfortunately, it does mean that she has quit that post, which I agree reflects poorly on her.
As political experience, she now has an unsuccessful half term as governor.
Forget it.
What will happen next? I make no predictions, except that I think she’s got something up her sleeve.
I don’t think it matters.
Gray: Personally, I agree with you that Palin’s move is not a good one if she has higher political aspirations. I don’t like the fact that she has quit.
However, I think she has a lot of time to turn that around in many people’s minds, and I’m not counting her out. But I’m also thinking she may be planning to go in a different direction than running for high office herself. At any rate, quite some time ago I became convinced that her negatives were already so very high that she would not be a viable candidate for the presidency, so I guess I’m much less disappointed now than most.
What was the Republican party doing while Palin was being hammered? It seems to me that when you’re a Republican under attack by liberal trolls, you’re left alone to be devoured.
But she didn’t have to do anything but survive as governor to discredit them.
Every minute she remained governor, active in republican politics, was a victory. Like Clinton, every moment he held on to the presidency was a victory for him and the dirty leftists.
All she had to do was survive politically to win; and she didn’t.
At any rate, quite some time ago I became convinced that her negatives were already so very high that she would not be a viable candidate for the presidency, so I guess I’m much less disappointed now than most.
A successful, if not effective, term as governor would have done much to lower those negatives.
She didn’t even have to run for re-election–she could have given this goofy speech after this term, but resigning in the midst of your first term?
Political Seppukku.
Gray: I disagree quite strongly that there is anything whatsoever that Palin could have done as governor that would have done a single thing to lower those negatives. The negatives were never about what she did or didn’t do as governor. I’ve spent a lot of time writing at length about what those negatives were about, in my opinion. But suffice to say they were not about her accomplishments or her actions, they were about who she was/is.
Even if survival is victory (which I doubt is enough) my point is still unanswered. It seems Democrats have the ability to circle the wagons and collectively resist while Republicans don’t. Republicans don’t seem to have the fight within them to answer the attacks.
Palin is saying that Alaska will be governed more effectively by the current Lt. Gov.
Why might this be so?
My speculation: local Alaskan politicians who are doing the work of the national Dem Party via opposing whatever Palin supports, for purposes of damaging any potential Palin run at national office. When Palin said she was a point guard who was being triple teamed, she was not merely speaking of personal criticism, but was also speaking of Alaska politicians who were/are determined to prevent her governance from achieving political success.
If this is the case, then Palin’s resignation will go a ways towards resolving current gridlock in Alaskan government, and Palin’s resignation will truly be what is best for Alaska. If this is the case, then Palin’s resignation is a bit different from someone who says: I can’t take it and I am quitting; and, btw, eff you to all my critics.
Neo.
Gray knows that. It’s always lies about her and pretending it’s about her accomplishments or lack.
But it’s always lies about her.
Gray is pretending to be disappointed with her accomplishments, and pretends she could have done well enough in the next couple of years to retier the negatives.
Bogus.
It’s always lies about her.
Clinton had, for the most part, the MSM on his side. And women. One of the most effective Alinsky tactics is to hold the right’s morals against them and poke holes in them. That’s why the left has none.
Gray is pretending to be disappointed with her accomplishments, and pretends she could have done well enough in the next couple of years to retier the negatives.
Hong, et al. Republicans can’t circle the wagons like dems ‘cuz they eat their young.
I am disappointed in her. I’m still conservative. I’m not going to quit the National Guard, start smoking dope and working for Acorn ‘cuz I’m disappointed in her. I’m not going to start congratulating people for quitting ‘cuz of her.
Sheesh. Save it for the dirty lefties….
But suffice to say they were not about her accomplishments or her actions, they were about who she was/is.
In which case her run for president is moribund and there is no point arguing this one way or another.
We have no real idea at this time exactly what Sarah Palin is up to. It is my personal belief she is not walking away, that is all I can say.
And yes, there is no point arguing what this is about, considering what is being argued is opinion and speculation from any and all of us who have contributed here.
Regardless, now is not the time for her to reveal just what it is she is up to. Her announcement has generated much banter here, so imagine what the MSM, Kos and Huffington are going to do with it. I do, however, expect the left to get pretty nasty. Maureen Dowd has (again) fired her salvo.
In reading things from the left, I am amazed at what they say, and what they still report as fact. The 4,000 year old planet Palin supposedly believes in, the statement (admittedly) made up by a Seattle blogger who thought it was funny, spread by Damon the dumb ass, and still reported to this day as fact. I can see Russia from my backyard, etc.
The left fear and loathe who she is and what she stands for. Who she is, and what she stands for are very close to who I am and how I am. Therefore, they are attacking me through her. And unless you are a liberal lefty socialist, they are attacking you, whoever you are.
It may be that she is just sick and tired of fielding all the stingers batted her way from the first inning and continuing after the sides were retired to this very day.
She shakes their stunted, twisted little souls. They realized the instant she appeared on their radar that she was dangerous, that she possessed torpedoes that could sink their convoys.
Reagan taught them a lesson. Kill them, even in their lairs. Don’t let charismatic Republicans have any kind of peace. Give your hounds the scent and unleash them. No classical conspiracy is needed. They all know what to do without surreptitious meetings in backrooms.
In unison the Progressives zombies, with no outwardly detectable communication amongst themselves, sense the vitality, the sweet freedom from infection and lurch as one toward the victim.
Gray wrote, “I am disappointed in her.”
I’m proud of her.
She gave Alaskans back their state.
What she did took courage and it was noble.
Gray wrote, “A successful, if not effective, term as governor would have done much to lower those negatives.”
She just had a success that nobody (even you because you are negligent) knew about. She went on to be interviewed by Matt Lauer about the energy success she just managed. Guess what Matt wanted to talk about. David Lettermen’s stupid comments. Talk about somebody who should be stepping down…..
She’s noble. Obama and David Lettermen are not.
I’m proud of her.
She gave Alaskans back their state.
But it was a majority of Alaskans who voted for her to lead their state. Is she claiming they were wrong for voting for her?
I think this episode has unhinged you.
I don’t remember much defense played when Bush was being trashed.
Yep. Bush wanted to put a female legal beagle with no ivy league sheepskin on the SCOTUS. George Will took time out from tea and crumpets to be mightily miffed. There went the egghead branch.
The Isolationist Chapter had never embraced Iraq, would only shake hands with Afghanistan. The Jew-haters, er, Anti-Zionists, stewed silently over his support for Israel.
Then junior backed McCain’s immigration bill and infuriated the Shamnesty Posse. You just don’t threaten treasured illusions like that and get off Scot-free. Michelle Malkin’s spittle blasted junior like it was from one of those high pressure water-saver Motel 6 showerheads.
But junior had already won re-election, thanks mainly to the Incumbency Advantage and Progressive screw-ups and was well into his 2nd term — beyond the Righteous Wrath of the Far Right. However, junior’s gloss was clouded now so they stood by while one of their own was trashed.
Served him right, after all, him being such a stupid near-RINO, a centrist. It created a bad precedent but who cares about precedent? The rest is history — or will be ….
Gray idiotically asked, “But it was a majority of Alaskans who voted for her to lead their state. Is she claiming they were wrong for voting for her?”
They didn’t elect a bunch of idiot democrats to use up 80% of her and her staff’s time responding to crap.
Yet that is what was going on – you included.
What she did was courageous and noble. I believe Obama should follow her example. Maybe Obama can run a business for a few years, or even run a state before being president. He should step down for the good of this nation.
Gray would have preferred Palin to disappear into the obscurity of the government of a far-away state, gradually whittled away by savage and obscene attacks on her family, bankrupted by bogus legal attacks, and serving as a warning to any others who oppose The Won.
She’d be a lot less scary.
Gray,
When the governor is rendered ineffective, due to spurious ethics charges that result in 8 out of every 10 hours being devoted to defending agains those charges with no sign of it ever ending, then yes this is an orderly withdrawel on her part and it makes a lot of sense.
It’s also a lot better for her state to move on rather than remain locked in constant ethics charge battles.
Consider that some of the ethics charges involved her wearing a jacket that happened to have a name sewn on it, and another ethics charge involved her holding a dead fish.
That’s ludicrous.
For the ultimate response of Alaskans to how Palin was treated, stay tuned for the next election cycle and we’ll all see how those nominally republican Alaskan politicians who trashed her do.
She can’t do much about the democrat side, but the republicans may be wishing they’d sat on their hands instead of attacking her.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Palin by a long shot, and in fact may be in for far more exposure now.
What’s that old saying? “When the gods wish to punish us, they give us what we want?”
Hong is right: we need to go on offense all the time. A Forward Strategy is best. No one who speaks out for liberty is on the other side.
Oblio,
I’m still waiting for Neo to give the proper command:
“Fix bayonets!”
One must go through the proper channels ya know….lol.
Grackle,
No matter how much we might disagree with some of Bush’s policies we must unify against the common enemy of liberalism. They the Democrats clearly understand this lesson which is why they successfully blocked so much of Bush’s judicial nominees (people we both would agree deserved to appointed). I found myself quite alone in the wilderness arguing to defend Bush’s policies here in New York. Too many of us are too timid and fearful about what people will say. We accept the liberal narrative about us and retreat further. In such situations, the answer shouldn’t be withdrawal but to push back and even be belligerent against such ignorance. If we can’t muster our courage and defend ourselves than our time as the minority party will extend into the 2020s.
Pingback:The Daily Brief: Military Musings and Thoughts Less Filtered » Extreme Times Call For Extreme Measures