Posted on 07/16/2014 10:58:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The John Ben Shepperd Leadership Institute at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin raised some eyebrows Wednesday with the announcement that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be the speaker at its Distinguished Lecture Series event on Feb. 12.
For many of our readers, a night with Sarah Palin is a must-attend event. Fortunately for some of those readers, there will not be a four-digit-a-plate price tag to hear the former Republican nominee for vice president.
If you are into politics, we would encourage you to make the event at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center on UTPB’s Midland campus.
But Palin’s appearance raises the question of how relevant is she in today’s politics. A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Annenberg poll showed that a majority of Americans -- including 40 percent of Republicans -- wish Palin would “step back into the shadows of public discourse.”
Of course, a presidential primary run isn’t totally out of the cards quite yet. The website Breitbert, a staple for many conservatives, reported in January that Palin was the most-liked Republican with a 70/20 favorability rating in a Public Policy Polling poll that included Mike Huckabee (64/18), Paul Ryan (58/18), Rand Paul (58/21), Jeb Bush (56/18), Ted Cruz (45/20) and Chris Christie (40/38).
Right now, in our view, we don’t see Palin as a presidential contender. We hope her appearance at the leadership institute event can change that. Palin’s role is someone who can rally the most conservative wing of the party -- especially those who remember her 2008 Republican convention speech and long for that type of candidate.
However, we question whether someone who has been out of politics for so long and has done so little to show real leadership for all Americans -- not just the ultra conservatives -- is the right person to lead the country or even represent a movement.
Her recent comments about the impeachment of the president, in our view, were misguided and don’t represent the best interest of the GOP or the country. We had little regard when the left-leaning bomb-throwers called for the impeachment of George W. Bush, and we see little use for it here.
We know this country should always debate the limits of the executive branch -- we have seen firsthand the abuses here in the Permian Basin -- but impeachment? We would prefer that our leaders not throw out such hyperbole, and thus lessen its impact when it is truly called for.
We wonder where Palin’s impact will be moving forward? Is she more Duck Dynasty or Ronald Reagan? Is she more commentator extraordinare or real-life example of the leader who can take America into a new time?
Making the rounds on reality shows and the speaking circuit is one thing; providing a positive agenda for an entire country is another. We haven’t seen it. We hope her appearance in Midland offers more than talking points about what’s wrong.
We know we risk inclusion into the “lamestream media” Palin often talks about. We will take our chances. The future is too important not to require the future of the party to rise to a different level.
True. I think it is fair though.
Blah blah blah...aren’t I smart?
What a dolt of an author
“Is she more Duck Dynasty or Ronald Reagan?”
I think Gov. Sarah Palin is both Duck Dynasty and Ronald Reagan.
Just as he was both Death Valley Days and Barry Goldwater.
“Just as he was both Death Valley Days and Barry Goldwater.”
Yes : )... I miss him
I think this line is the epitome of exactly what you posted about being a lukewarm column. The Current Occupant has been slapped down multiple times by SCOTUS for specific actions like the NLRB "recess" appointments. If that does not show a pattern of "high crimes and misdemeanors", I'd certainly wish the author could have been specific about the what he considers the line in the West Texas sand that must be crossed to merit impeachment.
It was later revealed that Goldwater was jealous of Reagan’s success. Nancy Davis Reagan particularly turned against Goldwater when Goldwater endorsed Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr., in the 1976 primaries.
People forget that about Barry. Sad thing, too, especially after Ronnie stuck by him when only he and Nixon were sticking up for him in 1964.
Lukewarm, but to be expected. Palin needs to offer more in the policy area if she intends to be a candidate. Right now that’s not her role.
Palin offered up impeachment both to get it on the table, highlight Obama’s fascist tendencies, and exploit the weaknesses of the Beltway GOP.
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