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."
Are you kidding? If Palin gets in, she will suck the life and money out of everyone else’s campaign.
I like Palin, but I am not as optimistic as you. If she enters, she’ll have to earn it every bit as much as any other candidate. She’ll have to hit the ground running, and be as polished on all the issues both foreign and domestic...and *shine* while doing it. She may have4 amassed a nice sized personal fortune, but it will take some serious deep pockets just to get through the primary not to mention the general...and that takes a seriously well tuned national machine...and that takes time to put together...
Why would that be the case? She said she didn't need a title to be effective. I choose to believe she is telling the truth, and that she doesn't NEED to be President.
or so deluded that she thinks she can effect the necessary changes without being the executive
If Palin says she can do it, again I BELIEVE her. She certainly has proven that she can be very effective in her current role. She got dozens of good conservatives elected to office last year -- which in some ways is better than if she had spent all her time running for one seat. Why work hard to get ONE extra vote, when you can get 20 extra votes by getting 20 OTHER people elected?
Anyway, it seems that, to the degree anybody is arguing that she is "lying", and I don't think they are, it would be those who claim she just said this to throw people off (head fake). The reason I don't think it would be a lie to do that is that she is absolutely correct. Saying she doesn't NEED a title to be effective doesn't mean she won't GO for the title.
That's why I said it wasn't clear. She could just be saying she doesn't need a title in order to do the "head fake"; I don't think so, but that would be a rational, NON-lying thing to do. Or she could be saying that because it is shaping her opinion as she tries to decide what to do, and she wants to let her supporters know that so if she decides not to run, they will understand why, and not be so dissappointed.
In my opinion, she is just being open and honest about the thought process she is going through in making her decision. And in doing so, I think, helping her supporters set their expectations more appropriately. In MY opinion, if she is to the point where her argument includes that she doesn't NEED the title to be effective, it sounds like she is looking for a good justification not to run -- but we'll know for sure when she announces one way or another.
I reject your premise that Palin is the only candidate who can be effective as President for the conservative cause, and I believe her statement shows Palin wouldn't accept your premise yet either. I'm sure if she comes to that conclusion, she will announce.
Now, that’s funny...I don’t care who you are.
>> “If Palin says she can do it, again I BELIEVE her.” <<
.
Then perhaps it is you that is deluded. She cannot.
All of her power and influence is based in the belief of a significant plurality of the American public that she is headed to the presidency. Should that prove untrue, she will fade quickly.
And you think I'm deluded? There is NO "significant plurality" who think she will actually BE president. I'd be surprised if the number of people who think she will win is even as big as the number who are actively supporting her.
As to your "she cannot", SHE ALREADY HAS. You might as well claim that Rush Limbaugh can't impact things, or that Paul Ryan is ineffectual. Or that Thomas Sowell is wasting his time.
Her power and influence is based on the FACT that she knows what she is talking about, what she says makes sense, she is articulate, and there are people who love her and will work for her vision, whether she is running for President or not.
I would be interested in hearing if there are other Palin supporters who will agree with you that they ONLY care about her because they think she'll be President, and if she isn't, they will forget about her.
>> “As to your ‘she cannot’, SHE ALREADY HAS.” <<
.
Only because op peoples expectations that she was headed to the White House. If not, no more 5,000 followers at every rally, no more high paid articles or Op-eds.
People follow leaders, not faders.
if there was a good conservative out there, you’d be right. But let’s face it, even Perry has a big problem with immigration and has been shown to think like a Lib.
So a real conservative could not jump in even after some deadlines and not get votes? Will we really say to ourselves “well i would have voted for Sarah but she got in too late?”
very interesting developments. we’ll see, maybe you will be right but there is really no need for “concern” unless you need a job and want to work as a paid staffer for palin and thus need her to get in now
As I read your post, I realized, "Isn't this sort-of statement doing the same thing to the left as it is to us?" If we, who trust her judgment, find ourselves wondering which way she will jump, how much more the pundits on the left, who believe they have her figured out, and who are frantic with worry that she will actually get into the race. But, it's good to keep them guessing, and if we are guessing, too, so much the better, because it will lend authenticity to the confusion.
It won't be long and the establishment GOP will be out of possibilities to throw at her. Every time she speaks up, they drag up one more possible candidate, as if they were trying to bribe her to jump in, or scare her off, or something. LOL!
“I love Sarah Palin...But if she doesn’t announce by mid mite Sept 30th...Her Presidential Aspirations are going to quickly turn into a pumpkin and mice. If she doesn’t, the spotlight she has, is going to leave her in a heartbeat, and no one will care what she gas to say any more. No one will take her seriously again....”
That’s a joke right?.....If Palin announces anytime it will be all over DRUDGE (”SHE ANNOUNCES!!) and everywhere else.....Fox, CNN, MSNBC, PBS ect......And it will create a huge interest in the Republican primary and the conservative movement....
Please no Jeb Bush.
Up til this point I would agree, and did just a few days ago, but the srasons are changing and the leaves are changing colors fast. Some are already calling her a “tease”. That meme will continue to grow, the longer she goes without announcing, from now on.
Caveat Emptor! ...”
OR: “Don’t it always seem to go..That you don’t know what you’ve qot til it’s gone?”
You sound like O. "You have to pass this bill now!"
Sarah will enter when Sarah enters. She certainly is not motivated by being hassled.
“Up til this point I would agree, and did just a few days ago, but the srasons are changing and the leaves are changing colors fast. Some are already calling her a “tease”. That meme will continue to grow, the longer she goes without announcing, from now on”....
I contend that if she announces at any time all of these conversations will be long forgotten....I doubt many will be saying “But she waited too long” or “She’s just a tease”....The momentum will build once she enters.....We’ll see one way or the other soon...I’m one of those Palinbots....I think she will run.....
Knowing how liberals lie, that confirms her running (hubby Prevert is knee-capping Teh One every chance he gets).
So, The Plan is for Hill to contest Sarah for First Woman President and the history that goes with it. Not that Hillary gives a sh*t about the mess this country's in, she just wants that brass ring (title) so BAD!!!!
We're being played, folks and Sarah is in on it (but the real sting will be when she goes all-in-to-win and the cankeled Queen has to sit on the poison apple that'll put her into a deep sleep until a Frog/Prince comes along with his seven midget friends who break that Mirror, mirror, on the wall over her head to wake her up.
Knowing how delusional liberals are, Hillary believes her resume and experience will take her over the top in a contest with Mama Grizzly- or as I like to think of her- the Alaskan Avalanche (tm). If it gets close, her Prevert hubby can have a medical emergency, with well-wishers arriving at the hospital in stained Blue Dresses all. Either way, look for Hill to play the victim card for bonus points (should Bill's condition deteriorate to the point of black demons hauling him away from the light, many extra bonus points would accrue).
Thank you so much for articulating this for me. Actually though, these were the thoughts I was thinking about Mitt Romney (and to a lesser extent, Perry). To them, it's just another stepping stone, another thing to add to their resume. They may have the fire in their bellies, but they don't have it in their hearts. "Servants Hearts". And that's why I still just believe that Sarah is the best of the lot.
Reagan announced for the presidency on November 13, 1979.
Relax please. As GWB once said, we will respond at the day & time of OUR choosing.
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