The Lesson in the Betrayal of Sarah Palin

American Thinker ^ | 01/19/2013 | Lloyd Marcus

[SeekAndFind]

Rush Limbaugh on his radio show discussed an article which stated that there is no respected voice in the national arena articulating conservatism. Such an advocate for conservatism is crucial to reversing the direction of America as Obama drives us toward socialism while low-info voters gleefully sing Kumbaya in the backseat.

Well excuse me for pointing out the obvious, but we had an extraordinary advocate for conservatism, and look what happened to her. Judas on our side betrayed her -- sold her reputation for 30 seconds of fame and favor with the media.

Even now, folks on our side are still beating up on Sarah Palin, saying Palin has lost her appeal -- Palin is unelectable -- Palin wasn't smart enough -- Palin wasn't prepared, etc. So this is how we treat our heroes. Many Democratic Party politicians/advocates are immoral, liars, and cheats. And yet, they are treated like superstars by the media. Democrats have the backs of their associates, no matter what. For example: Democrats never rebuked Clinton for receiving oral sex from an intern in the Oval Office. They simply launched a campaign claiming that any man in Clinton's position would have reacted like him. Think about that, folks: Democrats and the media lowered the standard of national leadership behavior to cover their guy.

We conservatives act as if our representatives must be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ -- perfect in every way. At a conservative's slightest misstep, Republicans/conservatives trip over one another backing away from the individual in an effort to get out of the media's and Democrats' line of fire.

Clearly, advocates of conservatism are expected by both parties to walk on water.

[erod]

I respect your take on it, and I respect the reasons for her decision to not run. But, that being said I did feel used and very peeved when she decided not to run. She looked to have been starting a campaign and then she just pulled back. Maybe they had some stuff on her, but the Dems were really throwing a lot at her ever since she bit the national stage and if they had any huge scandals on her I would imagine that they would have used that to take her out in the 2008 campaign.

Some things are worth fighting for, and America is something worth fighting for. When you are the best candidate to lead America back to a conservative renaissance - you run.The fact that she couldn't see that upset me, I know that Reagan and Palin faced similar situations of hate from the establishment, liberals, and the press. But, Reagan didn't care, he ran, he won, he overcame it, and he's one for the ages. I really hope we can get another conservative in the WH, the last four years make me think it may never happen again.

[happyhomemaker]

I really think Palin is sitting back, watching and waiting. She knows that Obama still holds sway over lots of people so she is just gathering strength and waiting on God’s timing for when the huge chink in Obama’s armor opens up. She is a rock star and even people who “hate” her and think she is “stupid” trip all over themselves to be near her. Ecclesiastes...

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

[Resettozero]

Perhaps her story on a national level is still being lived out. I suggest remaining watchful and see what events have yet to unfurl in front of us all.

[latina4dubya]

Not to mention it is a once in a lifetime offer.

yes-i get that... but damn--i wish she would have waited... and i'll even acquiesce and say, i wish McCain would have left her alone...

[jpsb]

Sarah would have to have taken on the GOPe as well as the Rats and the MSM. It would have been brutal. I think Perry jumping in made up her mind for her. Perry was suppose to be on her side but instead of supporting Palin, he jumped in ahead of her. So we have betrayal by Perry and thinly veiled attacks my MB. Both of whom should have been supporters of Palin, not enemies. All in all to many enemies and not enough supporters in 2011 to have a creditable shot at winning. Palin should have spent 2010 lining up support, hopefully that is exactly what she is doing now.

[TexasFreeper2009]

you obviously weren’t paying attention to Karl Rove all last year.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I believe there was possibly the combination of:

1) Mitt Romney’s campaign. And especially...
2) Her young daughters

Which caused Palin to hold off this time.

Next time, I do not believe she will hold off.

That is just me thinking that, but I think she’s in.

[xzins]

I, too, wish she’d been left alone

[latina4dubya]

(”too soon”, Obama vrs Palin).

and that was the blatant bias at the time... Obama, still wet behind the ears, no real experience was seen as ready by the media as opposed to Palin... and John McCain was too old school, but Biden was experienced... bias...

but regardless of what the liberals and the media thought, Palin should have been given more time before making her national debut... i didn't want to waste her...

[TexasFreeper2009]

looking back on the entire election, I think only Palin could have beaten Obama

You can’t beat an extremist with a moderate.

[Bigtigermike]

Agreed, that she had more information on what was going on behind the scenes than we know. Sarah’s “shackling” interview with Greta right before she announced that she wasn’t running was very interesting. She basically said that there were certain things she couldn’t say but wanted to say without getting sabotage and taken down from our side...meaning GOPE

I do believe that she had every intention to run — Scott Conroy of RealClearPolitics — got scoops from her aides that they were doing dry runs for a potential campaign, but ‘something’ happen. Threats to her family? Who knows!! But her brother did explain to a conservative site that her family was being closely watch at every step by outside forces and that she definitely wasn’t trying to string along people

[Resettozero]

Her timing is often prescient. It’s as if she keeps in touch with Someone Who can see into the future.

I trust her decisions whether I like them or not.

[canuck_conservative]

OK, time to be brutally objective.

Yes, she’s very photogenic, but Sarah Palin’s speeches were always annoyingly standard boilerplate, lots of chiches but lacking in detail - are there any memorable Sarah Palin quotes out there? We need more than that.

And I’m not Karl Rove or some DU troll, I got no dog in this race, not hatin’, just statin’ .... for the betterment of the cause

[TexasFreeper2009]

I will always believe that Perry entering the race it what kept Palin from jumping in.

And if Perry hadn’t of been by far the worst debater of all time, he would of won the nomination and the election easy.

Palin had no way of knowing that Perry would be so amazingly horrible at debating.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

You may be onto something there.

For all Perry’s qualifications, he choked big-time in front of cameras.

Darn shame that was. Not that I encourage him to try again (I do not) but it could be what you say is true.

There were some contrary indicators for Palin. Most significant may have been her young daughters.

They will have grown four years next time around.

I sure hope we can choose from a Palin among other candidates next time around.

[CynicalBear]

>> Yes, she’s very photogenic, but Sarah Palin’s speeches were always annoyingly standard boilerplate<<

So is the Constitution.

>> We need more than that.<<

Who is “we”? I suggest you weren’t listening like I was.

>> .... for the betterment of the cause<<

ROFL Well, you see how that attitude turned out.

Oh, and objective? Give me a break.

[dforest]

Palin is not stupid, I think she wanted to run, but balanced the decision on her family and who she would be up against. She also realized that going for the top prize has to be set up and worked on starting right after the last election. They need donors and lots of money. If she was going to run in 2012, she would have had to enter when the others did and take them out while stacking up big money donors.

Her formal decision came late, but she made the best decision for 2012 because she put her family first. The Obama camp was ruthless and foul with Romney. They would have been far worse to her and her family. Besides, no Repub candidate will get the top prize until the dem cheat machine is laid to rest.

[Bigtigermike]

Sarah layer out her 5 point military/foreign affairs speech in VA in April of 2011 that was hail as being a balanced approach - America wouldn’t get entangled with other countries nor give them money but would still have a strong presence just in case, it being after all other means have been exhausted and it truly was in Americas best interest

She later on Sept 3, 2011 laid out her Ecomonic/anti-cronyism speech that even the New York Times deemed refreshing and different from anybody else they heard in a long time and that it was something that many democrat and Republican voters could agree to wholeheartedly.

You either just chose to ignore it or didn’t pay attention - like so many FReepers and conservatives who attack her without getting the whole truth and nothing but the truth

[Resettozero]

...no Repub candidate will get the top prize until the dem cheat machine is laid to rest.

Yes. But do you see that happening? Are there known plans to deal decisively with who is to be authorized to operate polling precincts on election days and how repeat or ineligible voters can be turned away. I hope there are but haven't heard.

[greene66]

I admit I was really looking forward to Palin throwing her hat into the ring, but it didn’t particularly upset me when she declined. The environment was clearly just too impossible. Between the truly unhinged bloodlust of the media and the totally backstabbing GOP-E, conspiring with each other, it would have been a suicide-run. I fully believe she wanted to run, and was trying to figure/navigate a way to do so as an “outsider,” and on the cheap, without utilizing the corrupt professional political consultant class. But there wasn’t enough of a groundswell of support, even by the supposed tea-party folks. And then Perry jumped in, probably closing the last tiny crack in the door. Add the concern about putting her young children and family again through the vicious attacks and smears.

Indeed, just looking back on the grotesque way the 2012 election unfolded, it seems all the more clear to me that she made a wise decision. The timing was exactly right for Palin’s common-sense conservative/reformer message, but sometimes you’re massively outgunned, and need to remain a guerilla fighter. And wait and be savvy enough for just the right moment.