Posted on 10/06/2011 8:03:10 AM PDT by pgyanke
Governor Sarah Palin mattered.
She had gathered a terrific following and upset all of the right people. Conservatives loved her and liberals feared her. They were both right to do so.
For the conservatives, she had the unique combination of being right on the issues with a national presence, political machine, steel spine, gumption, charm and a salt-of-the-Earth attitude which comes from being one of the people--rather than one of society's elites. She was a fierce independent who battled both parties and their corruption. In every battle she fought her way (and 2008 was not fought her way), she won. She didn't rest on her victorious laurels, either... she cleaned house, reduced the perks of her own office and restored confidence in government offices. She did these things for Alaska... we wanted her to do these things for America.
To the liberals, she was a lightening rod standing up to their storm... and they hit her with everything they had. In every strike, her narrative was proven (emailgate revealed she was an engaged executive making day to day decisions--horror!) rather than destroyed. Like Sisyphus, the Left continued to push the boulder higher and higher only to have it crash down on them every time. They feared her because of all of the reasons the conservatives loved her... she didn't just TALK conservatism... she acted on it. Liberals will allow their leaders to say just about anything--just as liberals didn't fault Clinton for his Christian talk but faulted Bush for his Christian walk--as long as they toe the line in policy. Gov Palin took the greatest amount of flack from the enemy's guns because she was the greatest current threat to their view of the world... just as they were threatened by President Reagan a couple of generations ago.
Gov Palin now tells us that you don't need a title to make a difference in America. I agree with her... if you're talking about innovation or changing hearts and minds. Rush Limbaugh and other conservative talkers do that each and every day. I disagree with her in regards to our current troubles in this country... it will take conservatives in office to fix the problems. Sarah Palin wasn't popular with conservative voters because she SAID the right things... she was popular because she had a track record of DOING the right things.
I'm a fan of Rush Limbaugh, but let's be honest about his influence... if his voice could change America, we wouldn't have gone from Reagan to Obama during his tenure on the radio. I'm glad to have him (and others like him) doing what he does... but unless we have real conservatives in government offices (with titles), we will lose this country.
People didn't crowd Gov Palin's speaking engagements to hear her speak. They were there in the hope that she would run for President and take the wheel of a wayward ship of state. Yesterday's announcement will greatly diminish Gov Palin's voice and influence. We already have people who say the right things. She was uniquely poised to do what needed to be done. And now that is gone. I'm glad her priorities are in the right place... God, family and country are certainly the correct order. The problem is that the government of this country is quickly becoming the enemy of God and family. She gave up her chance to do something about that.
Now, it's time to settle for the next best candidate... and pray we don't end up having to settle for evil once again (albeit the lesser of two) in the general election.
Some may say, "Well what are you doing about it?" To which I say... I don't have the national presence, political machine and track record of Sarah Palin to be in a position to act in the short-term. I can work to build these things for a 2028 run... but it may be too late by then.
not sure I agree with it, but it’s a pretty good rant. I give it a 3.2/4.
Chatter away. I hope she feels her children and grandchildren are better off when she realizes this country will not recover from this! False sense of security. Now she should just take her money and shut up.
I'm growing weary in my adult life of always having to do that!!
I’m pissed off at her.
I'm growing weary in my adult life of always having to do that!!
You and me both.
She is just one person among millions... but one with the weight of a world of expectations on her shoulders. I don't fault her personally... but I'm very disappointed.
Believing we lost an opportunity is one thing. Laying the responsibility for all the ills that may or may not come our way on Palin’s shoulders is simplistic and more than a little self-defeating.
BTW - I did look longingly at my Palin bumper sticker on the back of my truck before I left for work this morning - I think I'll leave it there anyway.
I thought she was great at first. I supported her for a long time - until she started to show signs of poor judgment.
Now I’ve completely soured on her and hope she just goes away.
She’s Fred 2.0
That's a mean-spirited and ungracious attitude for a conservative.
Makes you look petty.
As I said above... she will now matter less. People flocked to her out of the expectation that she would pick up the mantle and actually deal with the problems. Without that expectation, her voice is no louder than Rush Limbaugh's... and Rush certainly hasn't been able to stop the liberal tide by voice alone...
Picture the 1980's without Ronald Reagan...
The GOP is a bunch of Socialists just like the ‘Rats. Third party is the only answer. Both parties suck.
I am truly BUMMED. She would have been our next POTUS. Now, I have to vote for the second time in a row in a general election......holding my nose.
She should have spoken up before the Undefeated came out. I am disappointed and I don’t know if I would put my trust back into her in the future. She is going to have to go a long way before we believe in her again.
I think there is a chance you're going to be surprised, and I don't mean by her changing her mind, but by her new role, however that might be described - what, the anti-Soros?
She’s worse than Fred. You’re right that she needs to go away. You don’t play like that this long and then bail like she did. Whatever Sarah.
Good point!
There are so many millions of people to hate, why should I confine my efforts to only one!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.