Posted on 07/03/2009 10:48:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sarah Palin’s jaw-dropping announcement that she is quitting her job as Alaska governor before finishing even her first term has divided Republican ranks and the wider political community in a very familiar fashion.
Many establishment GOP operatives and political commentators of various stripes were withering, both about the decision and the way she announced it—in a jittery, hyperkinetic news conference that rambled between self-congratulation and bitter accusations at the foes she says are eager to destroy her.
The performance, by these lights, adds credence to the claims of some associates that Palin—burned by the intense scrutiny on her and the crossfire that swirls around her—is so fed up that she's ready to get out of elective politics. Even if it's only the small stage of Alaska politics she hopes to escape, skeptics say Friday’s events also diminished and perhaps even demolished what was left of her viability as a 2012 presidential candiate.
But her defenders believed an unorthodox move, even if risky, has a clear logic and may only further increase her standing with conservatives who don’t care what establishment figures in or out of the GOP think. Leaving the governor’s office at the end of this month leaves her free to travel the country, command large speaking fees, and begin the process of rallying her devotees without pesky home-state opponents criticizing every move.
These varied reactions were an echo of the debates that have followed Palin every step since her nomination as John McCain’s running mate ten months ago—a surprise that turned out to be just the first of many surprises served up by one of the most colorful and polarizing American political figures in a generation.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Look, we all like Sarah. Sadly we can’t elect her on our own. And while we may see her move as a clever witty way to prepare for future office, those who haven’t appreciated her aren’t going to be impressed by this.
We can excuse away anything we like. We can vote for her all we like. Others are going to see this differently than her die hard supporters do.
We’ll talk later I’m sure. Take care.
Good...let them. That's exactly what is to be expected. I'm not a "die-hard" supporter. I see her as fresh and honest yet nervous on camera. Actually, even if Sarah did lie yesterday and she really plans to completely quit, someone else will try to emulate her. It's not over.
As I said earlier on this or possibly one other thread yesterday, I took one very well respected Freeper to task for saying Palin needed to be schooled, because she wasn’t ready for prime time yet.
I reminded her of other Presidents. Sarah had the right instincts. I scolded them for adopting the liberal line, which I didn’t think was true.
I’ve defended Sarah countless times even here. Now this.
I’m sorry, her political career is over.
If someone else gets motivated emulates her, I’ll be happy to see it. I will still mourn the loss of Sarah, the sitting Governor whose spark was so seldom seen. That spark will be nearly impossible to replicate.
This is exactly the fight the party needs to have
and then move on.
DO, I think you are beside yourself. I completely understand. It will be clearer very soon. Don’t give up and thanks for being such a great and loyal conservative.
Thank you Earthdweller.
You know, you hope for someone to come along with clear insight, fire in the belly, and an outstanding record. You hope against all the odds that you’ve finally found that person. And then this.
We shall see how it turns out. Our prospects for leadership at this point are extremely bleak. I can’t remember a time when it was this bleak. And what stikes me as extremely odd, is that with a guy like Obama in there, this is when “the Reagan” should be standing up from within the crowd.
Where is he/she?
Splits the GOP? Nah, no more than it was split before the Nov. election.
this is the guy that ripped Palin on Morning Joe. Zero credibility.
DoughtyOne, I am replying to you again because I have always respected your opinion on just about everything and it just doesn’t feel right to have this particular disagreement. We each see this in such a spectacularly opposite way that I am genuinely baffled at your reluctance to even consider that Palin’s motives are guided by a genuine patriotic instinct to step into the void where all of the rest of our so-called conservative “leaders” have feared to tread.
There is no stronger AMERICAN voice on the planet today than Sarah Palin’s. I don’t pretend to understand it, but when she came onto the scene, she brought something I have never seen before in my lifetime. There is an electricity about her that simply cannot be kept under a bushel. She shines where others dim. She speaks and NORMAL, everyday Americans listen, (and agree,) because she is one of us.
There is nothing pretentious about her or her family. Her values are rock solid and she dares to be honest when honesty is not chic or even admired by those who consider themselves her betters. I have never seen her parse a sentence or a phrase to say one thing that means another.
Why would you want her to do a dog and pony show for the viral left and the scummy rinos by staying in an office where she has already met the challenges head on and beat them? She has done what she wanted to do there. Everything there from now on is already rolling and she isn’t needed there anymore, but we surely do need her here and she knows it.
We have watched John McCain and his siamese twin, Lindsey Graham, try and set themselves up as “conservative” spokesmen for the GOP while supporting 90% of Obama’s agenda. It is sickening.
Michael Steele seems not to know which party he belongs to sometimes. The GOP is in chaos. Who IS there besides Sarah who we can all respect and trust? Where in this party is the voice of AMERICAN reason? And who has the guts to challenge the left like they have never been challenged before?
I see so many people saying Reagan never would have done this. Well, maybe not in his situation at the time, but Reagan wasn’t trapped behind the walls of an elected office without the freedom to act because of the backlash to his state. And Reagan wasn’t watching the entire country being bankrupted, stolen, demoralized, islamicized, and enslaved by the most corrupt regime this country has ever seen bar none. But if he HAD been, and knew in his heart that he could be all the difference, that he could lead a wounded, confused, and dazed grassroots conservative movement desperately searching for its path, I believe he WOULD do it because he was that kind of Patriot.
It’s like the old story, (shortened for this post,) about the guy sitting on his rooftop while the floodwaters rose up around his house thinking GOD would save him from drowning so he turned down all human attempts to rescue him. When he drowned and was waiting for judgement, he was incredulous that GOD had not saved him. And GOD said, “I SENT you rescuers. You turned them down. What more did you want?”
Indeed, says I. What more do you want?
It’s Independence Day.
I think this is the first fair criticism of Sara Palin I've ever seen.
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I'm not a Republican, but I sincerely doubt that will happen. Just a hunch.
Could be on to something there but remember the DC RNC/GOP and the vast majority of R senators hate her beyond belief.
We will find out soon enough.
Why would conservatives support that liberal?
Thank you.
Who did you vote for in the last election and why?
FTJM - member since 11/05/08
Only started posting 6/18/09
FTJM - Posting history -http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:ftjm/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change
Is that ozone I smell? I report - you decide.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out why Sarah felt it was a smart thing to do to resign early. And what you say about many Conservatives is true.
I started cussing Ed Rollins last night when I saw him go after Sarah because she didn't follow the expected path for a potential potus candidate.
Well who needs Ed anyway.
For years now many on the right and left have gotten away with campaigning for an office while holding a completely different job. everyone involved, press,family,constituents etc. just turned their head and looked the other way. How many times have House Reps. campaigned for Senate seats or Senators campaigned for Gov. jobs. During the process the jobs they were supposed to be doing surely were not done at 100%.
If you have any courage, ethics,scruples or honor the best thing to do is bow out and do the job you are pursuing.
In Sarah's case she has a large family that needs her, a book to write, campaign to mount, funding to solicit, and it goes on and on and on.
She did the reputable thing by standing down and others should follow in her footsteps.
Sarah Palin is the RR II we have been hoping for. She just does thing in her own way and IMHO she's still the best choice one could make.
When I found out what his beliefs were, he was not my candidate and I would not support him if he were running for dog catcher. He is a liberal who is not very good at pretending to be a conservative.
Sarah has charisma.
In addition like Reagan even when you disagree with things she does you know in your heart that she is and thinks like a conservative which is all we should ask.
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