Sarah Palin: What I've Learned

Esquire ^ | February 5, 2009 | Ryan D'Agostino

[CutePuppy]

Sarah Palin: What I've Learned

The full-length version of our controversial interview with Alaska's governor (first excerpted here last month) reveals the former vice-presidential candidate's perspective on John McCain's choices, her daughter's marriage, God's guidance, and her perceived "hotness."
UPDATE: Scroll down for Web-only quotes on wisecracks, American priorities, and more

By: Ryan D'Agostino

We had flutes and trombones around the house. For my siblings and me, music was important to give us some balance. If it weren't for music, our entire social life, our avocations, all would have had to do with sports.

Everything I've ever needed to know I learned through sports.

Bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie annoy me.

I'll tell you, yesterday the Anchorage Daily News, they called again to ask — double-, triple-, quadruple-check — who is Trig's real mom. And I said, Come on, are you kidding me? We're gonna answer this? Do you not believe me or my doctor? And they said, No, it's been quite cryptic the way that my son's birth has been discussed. And I thought, Okay, more indication of continued problems in the world of journalism.

You have to let it go. Even hard news sources, credible news sources — the comment about, you can see Russia from Alaska. You can! You can see Russia from Alaska. Something like that — a factual statement that was taken out of context and mocked — what you have to do is let that go.

I would think we all tear up during the national anthem at the beginning of a baseball game, don't we? That's an alikeness between Alaskans and New Yorkers.

If I were giving advice to myself back on the day my candidacy was announced, I'd say, Tell the campaign that you'll be callin' some of the shots. Don't just assume that they know you well enough to make all your decisions for ya. Let them know that you're the CEO of a state, you're forty-four years old, you've got a lot of great life experience that can be put to good use as a candidate.

Maybe it's like when someone says, "I love you, you're perfect the way y'are, now let me change you." And I'm sure Senator McCain had to struggle with some of that, maybe early on in his campaign.

I'd been a fan of SNL for decades, and I have a lot of respect for the present talent. I knew it would be a good thing to be a part of. And also, of course, to let Americans know that I can laugh at myself, too.

My favorite place in Alaska is on a cold winter day in my own house, with fat snowflakes falling. In my nice warm home.

I eat, therefore I hunt. I want to fill my freezer with good, clean, healthy protein for my kids. That's what I was raised on. It is abundant and it is available here in Alaska, with caribou and moose and different game and lots of very, very healthy and delicious wild Alaskan seafood. That's what we eat. So that's why I hunt and why I fish.

A courageous person is anyone who loses a child and can still get out of bed in the morning.

This is what I've been telling Bristol, before she gets married, is, Bristol, there are definitely gonna be tough parts in marriage. You have to look at those tough times and remember that you have essentially a business contract with this person. You've signed an agreement: You're going to be together. And you look at it that way as you work through the tough times, because I guarantee the better time is there on the other side. That's how we've looked at it.

Fleece, lots of fleece, and skinny white-chocolate mochas. That's the best way to stay warm.

I know He hears me when I just call out to Him, which I do a lot. Oh, yes, I pray. I talk to God every day. I've put my life, so I put my day, into God's hands, and I just ask for guidance and wisdom and grace to get through one situation after another.

The secret to chili is you gotta have good mooseburger in there. I don't know if you can get moose commercially in New York. You'd have to come up here and visit me in my home, and I'll prepare it for ya.

Carmex. I'm addicted to Carmex. I don't go anywhere without Carmex.

The first place was an ice-cream store called Ferina's, in Wasilla. In a fishing village called Dillingham, I worked waitin' tables at a bar. Serving people, you learn patience. When someone's mad at you 'cause you're not serving them in the manner that they want to be served, and you've gotta be tempered and graceful.

Two meanings in Bristol's name: I worked at the Bristol Inn, and Todd grew up in Bristol Bay. But also, Bristol, Connecticut, is the home of ESPN. And when I was in high school, my desire was to be a sportscaster. ESPN was just kicking off, just getting off the ground, and I thought that's what I was going to do in life, is be one of the first woman sportscasters. Until I learned that you'd have to move to Bristol, Connecticut. It was far away. So instead, I had a daughter and named her Bristol.

Hot? If only people could see me as I come in from a run early in the morning without a trough full of makeup on, I think that they'd have a different opinion.

After a long day, if the weather's good, I like to take a long, hot run to unwind. Otherwise, lately, I take a bath with Trig, and I answer e-mails, and then we all fall asleep in my big bed while we listen to Piper read her Junie B. Jones books out loud. She's learning to read and she'll read for hours on end. It's idyllic. It's amazing.

Online Extra: Four More Quotes from Palin

I bite my lip when I'm tempted to wisecrack, because I'm always thinking of something that I'd love to say but know that I better not say it because of the position that I'm in.

There is one America, but there are different priorities reflected in individual Americans that certainly can stand in stark contrast with — I'll give you an example. Some people, money is the be-all, end-all to them. Money and power, prestige, a title next to their name is the be-all, end-all. Other people, the highest priority would be their character, their reputation, their word, and money has nothing to do with that. The beauty of America is that individuals making up this great country do have different priorities. And that's the contrast that I would point out.

We pulled out of some states that I believe we should have continued to campaign in and sent a stronger message that those states really mattered, regardless of the number of electoral votes there. The people mattered. I would have loved to have had more influence on where it was that we campaigned.

Running is my sanity. Sweat is my sanity. And that was a frustration of mine on the campaign trail, when we couldn't carve out a half an hour or an hour a day to run. The day never went as well as it would have had I had that time to go sweat.

[CutePuppy]

She can now form a PAC or another organization, make some money to cover the legal expenses and debt incurred while fighting baseless ethics charges (it's a shame that legal fund was not set up to help one of our warrior-women), be a political commentator on 3-letter networks and otherwise be free and flexible to have a family life and possibly help in fundraising and/or stumping for deserving Republican candidates for public office, in primaries and general elections.

And, unlike George W. Bush, that had no succession policy in place, she almost guaranteed her Lt. Governor a successful election in next cycle.

Also, if she decides at some point that she is prepared and is willing to put substantial effort, not just be "drafted" like Fred Thompson, into a presidential campaign, she'll be free to do it on her own terms.

Nixon and Reagan became Presidents running from "outside the government", after having serious experience in government service and then leaving to private life before running for President. Bushes are, of course, the family with a government service, it's in their blood, but they had some of Reagan's help in their 1988 and 2004 wins. Ford, Dole and McCain, running from "inside the government", have been decidedly unsuccessful. "Outside Washington" seems to be the more successful model for Republicans candidates.

Godspeed to you, Sarah, whatever you eventually decide to do.

[SolidWood]

Uhm... She already has SarahPAC. http://www.sarahpac.com

[SolidWood]

Palin PING!

Anyone on or off the Palin ping, write me.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Uh, she's already got a PAC and a legal defense fund....

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[truth_seeker]

“Nixon and Reagan became Presidents running from “outside the government””

And after completing their elected terms, and after writing extensively about their political philosophies.

Time will tell if she even intends to pursue further elected office.

If she does, her resignation today without completing her term, or more of it, will be one strike.

The second strike will be her unwillingness to endure the attacks, which go along with political elected service.

Two strikes. Is she cut out to be a comeback kid?

I read elsewhere that she can stay out of politics for 8 to 12 years, and still be under 60—Hillary’s age when she tried for Pres.

If she writes and speaks over a period of years, that gives her family a chance to grow up.

That would be running from “outside the government” in the Nixon - Reagan mode. But would not be so, for 2012.

[free me]

that’s one legitimate way to look at it.

The other is to recognize that Sarah trancends the press, her reasoning is legitimate, and she could give a fig if the MSM believes her.

I know what version I’ll believe...

[SolidWood]

And after completing their elected terms

Reagan was elected Governor of California 1967. In 1968 he was trying to run for President. He obviously has seen no problem in leaving the office just shortly after he was elected.

[TennesseeProfessor]

I don’t know how to put it more simply — if Palin aspires to elected office, then resigning elected office is the wrong idea.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

you are correct in saying that in general resigning under heat is not a wise move, but in fact maybe that is not the only reason. maybe she wants to go national but AK duties are too much, esp considering the impact of travel from AK

what you overlook is how she can earn even much more political capital than she loses here

just suppose she takes on BHO once a week with a 30 min speech, carves him up a la Cheney, Rush and then she helps good candidates in IA, NH, SC, etc. She can do this

obviously i don’t know what she’ll do but if she gave clues in her speech I think it is going to be full speed ahead July 26, David against Goliath. she made specific references to national problems in a friendly but confrontational way—she is not going away. her invocation of the soldiers who don’t quit and stand up for what they believe in to the point of getting maimed—i am thinking she’s thinking “i’ve got to stand up for these brave men—they have suffered far more than me”

we shall see what we shall see

[free me]

you no doubt have won or consulted on many winning campaigns. please regale us with tales of your success.

We are all a flutter awaiting your wisdom

[Jack Hammer]

What I’ve learned, distilled into two sentences:

1. Politics is a corrupt, venal sewer.

2. The MSM are @ssholes.

Simple.

[SolidWood]

Per her speech: The poltical climate has changed for the worse, and fighting outside of her office for American and Conservative values will be more effective. The doors she’s opened by her decision far outweigh the one she closed.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

so many nattering nabobs of negativism

SP could exactly follow the Country Clubs advice and get her head handed on a platter, or she can make her own decisions and live with consequences.

I too think that if this is her plan for national politics, it has a good rather better a chance as working as being chained to AK for 2-6 more years and coming up for air every now and then

There are no guarantees in politics (but BHO and ACORN are working hard on that one)

[backhoe]

My take, from -our Canadian Sister Site?--

Bear a few things in mind... Sarah is the only, sole reason a former Democrat, union member-- wife Miss Emily- got energized over the last election.

For 25 years- indifference...

Sarah makes her speech- the first time, not the formal announcement-- and halfway through it, the formerly indifferent wife literally stands up and shouts,

"I want to vote for that woman!"

I would suggest to you- based on the vast crowds she drew, everywhere she went- that Sarah is the future... and every other Republican mentioned?

They are the past.

Like BobDole! ( not a typo ) and Cap'N Queeg...

Tired, old retreads.

Whatever Sarah ends up doing?

She'll have two supporters...

Deep in the Heart of Dixie...

Click the picture:

[liberty or death]

I would say you are looking at politics as it had existed up to 2008. Obama is now a place of worship within the current media. Prior to O, Bush was a man to be sacrificed.

It’s a brand new game with a field that shifts like a Matrix movie. We’ll have to wait and see if Sarah even wants to stay on the Grid.

[free me]

well put

[Berlin_Freeper]

“If she does, her resignation today without completing her term, or more of it, will be one strike.”

Compare Sarah Palin to Hillary Clinton.

Clinton repeatedly assured the votes of NY that she would not leave for another office if she got elected and then she wasted not a single moment in doing exactly that.

Meanwhile Palin is honest and acted in good faith.

That is not a strike.

[Lexinom]

These are the reasons I love here - everything she said. She's normal! She's like one of the ladies at the BBQ my family will attend tomorrow, not a wormy, squirmy, swishy, squishy denizen of DC. She's a mom with the rare and unusual gift of having the capabilities to run a state... or a nation...

Imagine: a normal person - someone like us, or our wife, our daughter, our sister, in charge! A very special woman in a unique way.

And free now, and on the prowl. Most wars are won with strong sweaty men with heavy equipment. This one may be won by one beautiful and charming woman, winning it not with the sword but with something far mightier: her wits.

Yeah, now that the pit bull with lipstick has broken off her chain, the political neighborhood had BETTER be worried.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Palin’s political blueprint had already been altered when she accepted the invite to be on the McCain ticket. If they had won she would already be out of Alaska. So you are holding Palin to a standard that for her makes no sense.