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Conservative backlash against Palin
The Hill ^

Posted on 07/06/2009 10:49:17 AM PDT by Sub-Driver

Conservative backlash against Palin @ 1:45 pm by Eric Zimmermann

Sarah Palin's resignation has left political analysts scratching their heads. But it has also left conservative activists and bloggers confused, frustrated, and often times upset.

Some of Sarah Palin's biggest fans now openly wonder if she has any shot at the 2012 nomination.

Ed Morrisey at Hot Air calls Palin's move "easily the most bizarre resignation I've seen, and just about senseless." Citing her lame-duck status as a reason to resign was "the most incoherent part of the entire statement," Morrissey ads.

Using this logic, Palin should never have run for the first term unless she was willing to run for the second, and not run for either if she wasn't willing (or legally able) to run for a third. Politicians don't enter lame-duck status until their successor has already been elected and they're running out the rest of the term. And all politicians become lame ducks at some point– and none of them quit just to avoid it.

Rich Lowry, a Palin admirer, found the press conference disastrous:

I think I have pretty well-established credentials when it comes to being charmed by Sarah Palin, but that statement, as a statement, was simply terrible. Rambling and not at all persuasive as an argument for her decision. More Gibson/Couric than GOP convention speech. She shouldn't have said a thing without getting Matt Scully–or some similarly talented speechwriter–on the case first. As to how this decision plays out ultimately, we'll see. There's plenty of time if (as I assume) she wants to run in 2012, and she obviously has plenty of capital with Republicans. But not an auspicious start.

Mike Huckabee, while sympathizing with Palin, argued that the ethics complaints against her were a lame excuse for stepping down. As a potential 2012 opponent, Huckabee was all too willing to suggest Palin isn't up to the job:

"Well, if that had been the case for me, I'd have quit about my first month, because I was a Republican governor in a state where 89 percent of my legislature were Democrats. I had constant ethics complaints filed against me, even by newspaper editors, and a lot of it was because if they can't attack you on policy, what they do–they just absolutely bombard you with personal attacks and keep you tied up in court, make you hire lawyers. Been there, done that.

Speaking on Fox News, Charles Krauthammer labeled Palin's decision

"the most unexpected and, I would say, erratic political announcement since John McCain declared in the middle of September he was going to suspend his campaign," adding that "this is utterly leaving her out of the [2012] picture."

Ace of Spades is blunt, arguing that Palin's unexpected resignation is a disqualified for 2010:

It's over. You can't resign from a governorship and then run for higher office. Barring some strong reason, like needing treatment for cancer.

Mark Steyn writes on The Corner that, as a political move, Palin's announcement was a "disaster," but he urges us to "empathize" with the human elements motivating her:

If you like Wasilla and hunting and snowmachining and moose stew and politics, is the last worth giving up everything else in the hopes that one day David Letterman and Maureen Dowd might decide Trig and Bristol and the rest are sufficiently non-risible to enable you to prosper in their world? And, putting aside the odds, would you really like to be the person you'd have to turn into under that scenario?

Former Bush press secretary Dana Perino finds the timing of Palin's announcement baffling:

[P]erhaps she hoped her resignation on a holiday Friday would pass unnoticed. But that isn�t really her style, which makes today�s abrupt announcement seem more like a whim–a characteristic her detractors worried about during the campaign.

Over at Red State, Erick Erickson thinks the resignation means Palin is out of elected politics:

"Sarah Palin will not be President in 2012. She will not run for President. She will not run for any elected office ever again.

The political pundits who are saying she couldn�t take the heat, so she got out of the kitchen, may have found a winning cliche to apply, but then no one has faced the heat Sarah Palin has been subjected to, largely at the hands of the political pundits now dragging out that cliche.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: mittbots; palin; palinattacks; pds; rino; rinos; romney; romneybots
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1 posted on 07/06/2009 10:49:17 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

If Sarah had become Vice President, Sarah would have resigned, as Governor, in January!

How hard is it for you folks to understand that TAKING BACK CONGRESS is by far the most important thing that Sarah can do right now! (After taking care of her family, of course!)


2 posted on 07/06/2009 10:51:36 AM PDT by Kansas58
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To: Sub-Driver

I wonder if she could not take the heat

or if she and the American public are done taking the Hate.

I think the Media has a spelling problem.


3 posted on 07/06/2009 10:52:02 AM PDT by lonestar67 ("I love my country a lot more than I love politics," President George W. Bush)
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To: Sub-Driver

“Ed Morrisey at Hot Air”....

Morrisey is and has been a Mittophile for quite some time. Using him as an example is disingenuous to say the least.


4 posted on 07/06/2009 10:53:21 AM PDT by traderrob6
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To: Sub-Driver
Citing her lame-duck status as a reason to resign was “the most incoherent part of the entire statement,” Morrissey ads.

What part of

...the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research”...So I choose, for my State and my family, more “freedom” to progress, all the way around... so that Alaska may progress... I will not seek re-election as Governor.

And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it”. I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! ? That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it.

It’s not what is best for Alaska.

do you not understand?

5 posted on 07/06/2009 10:53:50 AM PDT by McGruff (Don't explain; your friends don't need it, and your enemies won't believe you anyway)
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To: Sub-Driver
Fortunately these people are not flying planes over my house or running boat in the same waterways I use! My list of Lefties is growing within our ranks.
6 posted on 07/06/2009 10:53:54 AM PDT by Cheetahcat (Zero the Wright kind of Racist! We are in a state of War with Democrats)
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To: Cheetahcat

If I register Democrat does that mean I can vote for Sarah Palin 10 times?


7 posted on 07/06/2009 10:55:57 AM PDT by The Duke ("Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Democrat Party?")
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To: Sub-Driver

She already accomplished her goals as GOV

Resigning enabler her to:
FInish the book and get it to the printers sooner (according to FOX seven figure advance)
Go on the Book tour
GO on the talk shows.

Do the hundreds of speaking for pay engagments she’s had to turn down (She makes less than 100,000 as gov.)

Campaign for other running for congress...Get the GOP elected.

Basically she’s following the step Charle Krauthammer listed for her.

1. She’s gotten rid of the governorship, it had become a stone around her neck holding her back.

2. Decide of a few topic to emphasis....That was done in the last paragraph of her Independence Day greeting today.

less government intervention,
greater energy independence,
stronger national security, and
much-needed fiscal restraint

3. Get down to the lower 48.
First event scheduled in CA Aug 8th.


8 posted on 07/06/2009 10:56:34 AM PDT by hoosiermama (ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW.......I am swimming with Sarahcudah! Sarah has read the tealeaves.)
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To: The Duke
“If I register Democrat does that mean I can vote for Sarah Palin 10 times?”

Now that is a Dam good idea.

9 posted on 07/06/2009 10:57:25 AM PDT by Cheetahcat (Zero the Wright kind of Racist! We are in a state of War with Democrats)
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To: Sub-Driver


La la la la...We're not listening to you...
10 posted on 07/06/2009 10:58:04 AM PDT by papasmurf (Save us from 0bama, I prayed. Then I heard, "the 2nd, I saved")
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To: The Duke

Not only can you vote 10 times for her, but ACORN will pick you up at your house and escort you to the voting booth.


11 posted on 07/06/2009 10:58:11 AM PDT by antiunion person (PALIN/JINDAL 2012)
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To: Kansas58

I will say one good thing for Palin. Krauthammer has turned on her.....now if his neocon body, Kristol, would just do the same.


12 posted on 07/06/2009 10:58:12 AM PDT by Captain Kirk
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To: lonestar67

“I wonder if she could not take the heat or if she and the American public are done taking the Hate. I think the Media has a spelling problem.”

I certainly hope that the RAT strategy of nullifying promising Repub leaders well ahead of elections has not succeeded. They are essentially trying to abort future Repubs with their campaigns of hate, ridicule and phony ethics charges. Dont wait for the Repubs to call them on it or respond in kind.


13 posted on 07/06/2009 10:58:56 AM PDT by Hacklehead (Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and then blaming conservatives.)
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To: Sub-Driver

None of these chatterers can understand plain English anymore.


14 posted on 07/06/2009 10:59:03 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin is a smart missile aimed at the heart of the left!)
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To: The Duke

“If I register Democrat does that mean I can vote for Sarah Palin 10 times?”

No, it means that you can vote for Hugo Chavez or Barak Obama 10 times.

ACORN Law NA-007


15 posted on 07/06/2009 10:59:51 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Captain Kirk

Wait a second, when did those people who are now bashing her ever become Conservative, I don’t see any Conservatives on that list, only liberals masking themselves as Republicans


16 posted on 07/06/2009 11:00:07 AM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: Sub-Driver

Ed Morrisey at Hot Air has the strategy of a child

Rich Lowry, a Palin admirer, in name only

Mike Huckabee, actuall Mike Wannabe

Charles Krauthammer - can’t break free of the mold

Ace of Spades is blunt, as blunt as their witt

Mark Steyn writes to appease both sides and fails

Former Bush press secretary Dana Perino and I am not surprised

Erick Erickson thinks the resignation means Palin is out of elected politics and I don’t give a hoot what he thinks


17 posted on 07/06/2009 11:00:48 AM PDT by BornToBeAmerican (We the people, ..... never)
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To: antiunion person

That’s not quite the way it works.
They get a busload of people,
and hand out the voter registration cards
at each stop.

As in, “at this polling place, your name is Jane Doe - just hand them the card”.


18 posted on 07/06/2009 11:00:53 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: hoosiermama

I agree—it was a smart and reasonable move.

The smidgeon of a point I’d grant her detractors is that she would be better served by having a professional speechwriter/PR person vet her speeches and writings. Better not to give the opposition any more material to play into their stereotype and ridicule than necessary.


19 posted on 07/06/2009 11:00:58 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Captain Kirk
".........now if his neocon body, Kristol, would just do the same"

Paulhroid's can't help themselves. Give them a Palin thread, they turn it into a "neocon" conspiracy.

20 posted on 07/06/2009 11:01:16 AM PDT by lormand (Michael Wiener - faux Conservative, money bag for California democRATs)
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