Posted on 09/29/2011 7:51:00 AM PDT by Brices Crossroads
In her recent interview, Sarah Palin has raised a bit of a kerfuffle among her supporters by referring once again to the "title" thing, as I call it. All she did was pose the question, "Is a title worth it?", and "Will a campaign shackle someone like me from effecting positive change?"
She never answered the questions. She articulated some of the arguments against running. She also said she could make a difference without a title. Once again, nothing but a proven historical fact, based upon her ability thus far to drive the political debate and to influence, in a major way, the outcome of the 2010 elections...all without a title.
Not one jot or tittle of this now well worn soliloquy of hers will have to be "walked back" when she announces. Everything she said about holding a title and the shackles of a campaign are accurate. The same arguments had equal, if not greater, resonance when she ran for Mayor, Lieutenant Governor and Governor. In each case, her calculus led her to the conclusion that, in spite of the shackles, the power that went with the title made the endeavor worthwhile. And the stakes for her city and state were nowhere near as high as they are for the United States in 2012.
She did, however, choose not to emphasize the much stronger arguments in favor of running, that is: with the title, comes enormous power which, held in the hands of a resolute executive like Reagan in the 1980s and Palin herself in Alaska, can achieve enormous, unprecedented good. Without the title and the power that accompanies it, the ability to make a difference will not disappear entirely, but it will be intermittent and sporadic. In the perilous four years that lie ahead of us, "intermittent and sporadic" won't cut the mustard, and she knows it.
Palin's constant harping on the "title" thing (as I call it) may be a diversion. She will allow her enemies to hear what they want to hear from her comments and if it causes them to miscalculate, oh well... However, I do not believe her repeated, almost pejorative, allusions to title are designed principally to mislead her enemies. I believe she is throwing down a marker to separate herself from every GOP candidate since Reagan, in effect calling them out for trying to BE President, rather than to USE the Presidency (as did Reagan) to effect positive change. Both Bushes sought the Presidency principally in order to be President, that is: to HOLD the title. Dole and McCain similarly sought it because it was their turn, and they too craved the title. None of the four, card carrying members of the Establishment one and all, had any real agenda or plans to use the power that goes with the title to "make a real difference". They were willing to "go with the flow" in order to hold the title. Similarly, her two principal Establishment challengers--Romney and Perry-- are bereft of any real convictions. One of these two will almost certainly be the nominee should Palin not run. Their records bespeak politicians HUNGRY for a title who are willing to "go with the flow" to get it, whether that flow takes them in the direction of statism (Romney) or crony capitalism (Perry). Palin is unwilling to "go with the flow" to hold a title or for any other reason. Rather, she sees the title as an instrument to CHANGE the flow. Period.
In sum, Palin will not be running for President to hold a title. I think her deep personal humility, as well as her political orientation as a conservative populist, recoils from titles, especially those which are purely honorary. But she has never recoiled from power when there was a crying need that it be held in the hands of a resolute and principled leader. That time, like never before, is now.
To paraphrase the words of an old 1980 campaign commercial, linked below, "The time is now for Palin. Palin for President."
Good perspective!
You have stated the truth very eloquently—this is the reason I like FR so much. Every now and then someone else can put in words what has been in the heart of others of us. So thanks.
>> “Will a campaign shackle someone like me from effecting positive change?” <<
.
A campaign, and subsequently winning office, is the only means anyone has to effect positive change.
All the commentary, and editorializing in the world will not make the final moves necessary to make positive change. (for negative change, that is not the case; all one need do is scream the lie loudly until it wins by attrition)
“...she sees the title as an instrument to CHANGE the flow.”
The same would be said for BHO.
I feel the same way about the Establishment. I believe that the primary filing deadlines are as follow. Some FReeper will correct me if I’m wrong. :)
Michigan: October 23
Florida: October 31
South Carolina: November 1
New Hampshire: November 21
Utah: January 15
Iowa caucus, like the Nevada caucus: No formal filing of candidates
>> “I think they’re going to throw Christie or Jeb Bush at her if she jumps in and she knows it.” <<
.
Blah!
How could either of those two heavily RINO-branded midgets mean anything to anyone but Romney or Perry? They can’t reach a conservative.
>> “She’s a joke.” <<
.
By choice.
Bachmann had a path to relevance laid out before her, but she got snookered by the Mediots into faking a run for the presidency.
Wasn’t she billed as a ‘potential US Presidential candidate’ in South Korea?
Welcome Gouty Toe Don!
“I love Sarah Palin...But if she doesn’t announce by mid mite Sept 30th...”
Hey, concern troll, so now you are setting the deadlines for filing? The filing deadlines are not set by you.
It could be a diversion, or it could be Palin trying to start the process of letting her supporters down gently, by giving them time to realize that she doesn’t need to run for President to be effective.
Her statements work either way, so you can’t really be sure. But in any case, we should start thinking about the second, in case it is true, so we won’t be too dissappointed.
------------------------------------------------
The dozens of speakers from around the world are all billed or defined by their position and area of expertise or corporate/foundation/institution affiliation...Pres, CEO, Director, Sr.VP, Professor...
Palin is listed simply as 'politician'. She is the only speaker so defined.
If you dig deep you find the "potential POTUS candidate" reference.
True, and I believe at the time of her speech that status will not have changed. And, ironically, her status as undecided may get her more attention than as a declared candidate.
Solo Speech - Sarah Palin
Time/Place: 10.11 09:00 ~ 10:00, Vista Hall
Synopsis: Will Sarah Palin run for 2012 presidential election? She was a nominee for vice-president in the 2008 presidential election. The former governor of Alaska hasn’t made it clear yet, but her recent footstep is no different than other candidates. She did a cross country bus tour to meet voters, appeared as a speaker at Tea-party convention and made comments on current government. Sarah Palin, who hasn’t made a decision to run for the presidency, will discuss her vision toward the election and how to rescue the U.S. economy. Please find yourself at WKF listening one of the strongest American presidential candidate.
Moderator: Riz Khan(Al Jazeera English, Anchor)
Speaker: Sarah Palin(United States of America, Politician)
Thank you for the welcome? What is a gouty toe?
Like a sore thumb, but worse.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see some true humility in our politicians? Someone who knows it’s not about them, but about our country & keeping our gifts of freedoms...for future generations. When Michelle Bachmann went after Perry so harshly, she lost me. Yes, she believes in the Constitution, but gave bullets for the liberals to use against one of our candidates. I am NOT a Perry supporter at all, but I thought she was fighting for herself and not our values and principals.
***
It starts with us. Please read my tagline .
>> “by giving them time to realize that she doesn’t need to run for President to be effective.” <<
.
IOW, you believe that Palin is either a liar, or so deluded that she thinks she can effect the necessary changes without being the executive?
Her supporters aren’t that stupid, and Palin has shown no signs of delusion either. I’m sure she is soundly aware that the only way this nation can survive is if the motivation for that change comes from the president, and it is clearer every day that she is the only candidate that posses that vision. Even Cain does a tap dance on the most important issues.
Good tagline!
BTW, 09:00:00 a.m. Tuesday October 11, 2011 in ROK converts to 08:00:00 p.m. Monday October 10, 2011 in America/New York. Talk about Prime Time!! Wanna bet Obama speaks to the nation for the umpteenth time on his jobs bill at the same day and time??
At ojne [piont even she said she’s make her decision by the end of Se4pyember., and there is the harsd reality of what she would need to do, to build an effective campaign and get on all the state primary ballots.
The longer she waits from now, the more likely her campaign will fall into disarray, the less people will take her seriously, and her ability to attract even a small scrum of reporters, will geometrically begin to shrink. You think Herman Cain has difficulties? The longer she waits, the more of an MSM joke she will be. Eventually if she doesn’t act, she’ll be liucky to get a stringer from Wassilla to show up for her. There is a point in time....Gers is going to pass her by, quire soon IMO.
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