I’m a big fan and was sorely disappointed by the news yesterday. But, once the news was out she became essentially irrelevant in my opinion. Her standing lately has been as a potential presidential candidate. Now, she is more or less, nothing.
I"m a big Sarah Palin fan too and was very disappointed when she announced that she wouldn't run. Then I thought about it and came to the conclusion that Sarah Palin has been a very positive force for conservatives and that with all the media attacks on her and her family, the death threats and so on, she probably made the right choice - for her. However, I can't help feeling that the leftmedia 'won' by marginalizing Palin to the degree that she would have had an uphill road to win the election but I thought she would do it out of patriotism. I also have some doubts whether America is ready to elect a woman as our president. I see a lot of none-too-subtle misogynistic comments all over the internet - even on FR - when Sarah Palin's name comes up, as it often does. Still, like many others, I was ready to support Palin had she chosen to run. Now, she is out of the 2012 presidential race and, I believe, although Sarah Palin will still be a voice for conservatives (and her endorsement will be a huge boost to someone - preferably Herman Cain) she'll lose much of her influence.
Oh, the leftmedia will still mock her but she won't be the target she was when she could have thwarted Obama's re-election plans. That will be a relief for Sarah Palin and her family but by the same token, Palin will never have the same influence she once enjoyed because now, as a non-candidate, she is just another voice in the cacophony of voices vying for attention on the national political scene. Sure, she'll still get some attention but nothing like she had a week ago when she was a potential president. Too bad - but Sarah Palin has made her choice and we all have to move on as the 2012 election process unfolds. That being said, I don't dismiss Sarah Palin as 'nothing', she is simply not a factor in my election plans. Right now, I'm supporting Herman Cain. I hope he can make it past the establishment candidates and bring some conservative common sense to the presidency. Of course, I have some issues with his '999' plan but those will undoubtedly be worked out as he campaigns. We'll see. As for Palin, well, many on FR clamored for her to get in or get out - and now she's officially out, so they should be happy - but don't bet on it. Cain will be the next target. Wait for it.