Posted on 07/05/2009 6:43:24 AM PDT by skimbell
Why did Sarah Palin step down?
Theories abound. But some of the people closest to the Alaska governor say she wanted to regain control of a political script that slipped out of her hands the moment she burst onto the national stage. She also wanted to shield herself and her family from the attacks that seem to have been aimed permanently at them in the 311 days since Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced her as his running mate, according to some former campaign aides and other advisers who speak regularly with Palin or her husband, Todd.
The Sarah Palin who stood outside her Wasilla, Alaska, lakefront home Friday to surrender her term with 18 months remaining appeared vulnerable and anything but the pugnacious hockey mom and combative candidate whom Americans came to either adore or revile. The woman who said she would never blink suddenly...
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I hope she does this...it is needed. The handicapped need a strong advocate.
The last 6 months demonstrated to anyone without blinders that Palin had absolutely no chance of working the national scene from Alaska. (And this is not even considering the very real geographic challenges faced by a sitting politician with real-time responsibilities locally to try to be an effective actor on a stage that is realistically confined to the lower 48 - even without the issues that are particular to Palin, this would be a daunting challenge for any politician from AK or HI with national ambitions). Palin’s issues: The Dems in AK (with certain control from national Rats) and not a few Repubs (don’t forget, she bucked the “old boy” system there and created many enemies) had successfully come up with a strategy to box her in. Endless “ethics” investigations essentially were paralyzing her and the entire state, and the financial effects on someone who was not the traditional super-wealthy politico combined with absolutely no support from the traditional Repub party were becoming devestating for her and her family. There was no way that this was going to end. Her opponents found an effective strategy and they were going to make her remaining 2 years an endless series of frivolous charge defenses. Her accomplishments as governor would have ground to a halt. Plus, she would be tied up in Alaska and her ability to “play” on the national stage would be marginalized. Then, add on the continued national state-run-media assault on her and her family (even her Down’s syndrome infant) - which was really unprecedented in our lifetime. The Rats and RINOs of the elite class had truly concocted a strategy to destroy her. Thus, I disagree vehemently with your assessment. Palin surely realized that her chances of doing anything substantive nationally were gone in her present position. Additionally, she and her family were going to end up bankrupted. Plus, the effects of constant, puerile invective thrown at her children had to be taking its toll. As a sitting politician, there was little she could do - even in the face of baseless allegations of felony crimes. So, staying the course for Palin was truly unproductive. All she had was the continued strong support of a minority base (truly conservatives) in this country. My take is that she decided to play off that one remaining area of strong support and work to become the spokesperson of the true opposition (not the spineless, DC-cocktail-party-crowd RINO elite, “loyal” opposition) to the rape and plunder of our great country by the present executive/legislative/judiciary cabal in power. It’s admittedly unconventional strategy on Palin’s part and is not guaranteed to be successful. But, if anything, she’s not a conventional politician. Her attraction to conservatives was not, in reality, her governorship of a state that most of us - prior to last August - hadn’t paid much attention to. It was, rather, her principles, her charisma, her connection with the values that once made this country great. Those won’t change now that she has freed herself of the checkmate-type trap that the Rats/RINOs had concocted to marginalize and destroy her (and her family). One other thing that people aren’t talking much about.... We’re attempting to pass final judgment on this strategy here in July 2009. The full effects of the Obama “Chavezization” of our country have not yet even begun to be felt. Fast forward 12-15 months from now. Double digit unemployment with no end in sight...Rising inflation beginning to take its toll... Energy more expensive than we could ever imagine... Continued negative economic growth...The 5th “stimulus” package making its way through the Politburo in DC... The prospects of taxed private health insurance and inevitable rationing of health care availability... In this climate, the American people might just be more accepting of a messenger who can passionately articulate a return to the basic principles of what made this country great - regardless of whether she is in or out of the governorship of a relatively obscure state. And, don’t forget, she didn’t resign in scandal (either personal or political). So, her character isn’t permanently stained.
Again, I don’t believe that this is the grand strategy that Palin put together after the election defeat. I don’t think anyone could have envisioned the vitriolic, endless, vituperative assaults on her politically and personally would not only not end after the election but even intensify. Palin, IMHO, simply analyzed the situation as it is and made the best decision for her - politically and personally. Plus, as opposed to “abandoning” the state of Alaska, removing herself as the continued focus actually will help the people there. She has a good team to follow her and the state machinery can now focus on the governing of Alaska rather than the defense of Sarah Palin.
Just my $0.02.
It would be interesting to know who represents the complainers in the frivolous lawsuits, is it the same law firm every time, for example.
A reporter could really make a name for his/her self by digging into this mess to see who’s pulling the strings. You know it’s not random.
Not a public figure any more. Makes it much easier for her to nail the liars and fiction writers in the DBM.
Go Saracuda.
If you actually read what I had to say, you would realize I was not attacking Palin but attacking HER DECISION TO RESIGN. Get real.
And then you feign "concern" that the attacks on her will continue. Yeah... attacks from people like you.
I do not believe Rush has any presidential or vice presidential aspirations. He has a lot of power right where he is and he uses it judiciously and correctly. While I may wish he might run for office I also believe this is a forlorn hope.
I had a Greta interview on my DVR, but have found it online at YouTube. Click below for more straight talk! She speaks from her heart, not a script.
Watch this great Greta interview with Sarah about 2012.
Click here to donate to her legal defense fund...http://www.thealaskafundtrust.com/
I think you need to lighten up a bit.
I think you need a lesson in good manners.
You are “concerned” about insults against her, while insulting her yourself. Something wrong with pointing out the blatant hypocrisy?
I believe she's stepped down so she can spend her time on the lecture circuit to make money to pay her bills.
If she would have served the rest of her term it would have been as a "lame duck" because she had already decided not to run for re-election as Governor. She thoroughly explained that she had accomplished her agenda for Alaska and to continue as a lame duck would only hurt the state and cost it money. She could do what most lame duck politicians do: travel and "have fun" on the taxpayers' dime. Her stepping down is the act of a principled person, not a politician.
I would have to understand her actions completely before having enough confidence to help elect her to the highest office in the land.
I suggest you read the transcript of her speech until you do understand. She didn't say she was leaving to run for any higher office. It's a significant number of We, The People who'd like to see her do SOMETHING with her governing talents. She couldn't continue to do that as Governor of Alaska while being harassed unto death and sued into smithereens. It's like trying to run a marathon with people on the sidelines throwing marbles under her feet all along the way.
You are 100% correct. They don't realize they are doing it but they are. Their 'concern' has a tone of, "Now calm down little lady. This is man's work."
Either that, if not the outright “I don’t trust chicks, ‘cause they are bleeding” kind of sexist bilge.
I came to this thread late and didn’t get to read Post #3 before the moderator nuked it. From reading the other posts in response, it sounds like poster Ev R. was out of line in some respects but had some thought provoking comments otherwise. Let him get flamed for the stupidity, but let’s not stifle free speech here. That is what makes Free Republic fun...and useful.
So was the post that offensive that it had to be pulled? What I’ve seen repeated was dumb and ignorant, but there are a lot of dumb and ignorant comments and the forum sets those that indulge in “dumb and ignorant” straight. That’s good.
The media can’t seem to process the truth. She makes a speech. Makes it available for them to read. They read it. But they are so accustomed to lies from the liars in politics that they can’t even process the truth anymore in their brains.
News flash: There’s no longer a “pale” beyond which to go. The “Pale” was, in ancient societies, a boundary that marked the outer reaches of civilization.
Today, ANYthing goes. “Beyond the pale” has no meaning.
Gee , see the trolls are still out in full force here .
Buzz off Obama drone.
It wouldn't matter, you'll never recognize a really good one anyway.
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