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Colleen O’Connor: Sarah Palin’s Move Is Brilliant Politics
San Diego News Network ^ | Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 7:36 am

Posted on 07/06/2009 11:30:12 AM PDT by lewisglad

Sarah Palin’s decision to resign as governor of Alaska so that she could, “advance in another direction,” was a brilliant political move.

She senses, or sees, or grasps what few in politics understand today. Americans are tired of the same old, same old — be it Republican, Democratic, or even Green Party (See California’s recent special election results).

The sound of thundering hoofs coming over the hill is apparent to any real student of political history. However, it seems that only an unlikely moose hunter like Palin has put her ear to the ground to listen.

The rumblings are not just from the conservative Republicans who feel marginalized and trivialized, or the Independent voters who are whip-lashed from promises broken by all politicians, but even from liberal Democrats who are frustrated by the appearance of change and the dimming of hope.

The economy is crushing too many people too fast for the current establishment to fix it. Wall Street has been saved, while Main Street is awash in a nightmarish replay of Hurricane Katrina.

Add to this the perfect set up for a woman who is charismatic and really connects with people, instead of a teleprompter, a fawning overpaid staff, or a purchased press, and you see where Palin is headed.

She intends to forge a coalition of those increasingly large numbers of Americans “with noses pressed to the window” looking in at the “swells” in the fancy ball gowns and tuxedos who are dancing the night away. Those Americans without gold plated health insurance, without jobs, without cash, cards, or even cars to call their own, are her natural constituency and she knows it.

Palin intends to start another Populist movement — without the help of the “usual suspects” — professional image consultants, handlers, inside the Beltway know-it-alls, and especially the establishment press. She trusts her instincts and smells blood, and it isn’t her own.

She is setting up a perfect stage from which to launch a run for the Presidency.

The irony is that the more criticism and ridicule Palin receives from the chattering, clattering, clapping class that has forgotten regular Americans, the more raucous support she will receive. This is the revenge of the outsiders!

Listen to the snickering, snearing, and snobbish remarks among the political press in reaction to Palin’s announcement, and you can calculate the backlash building. Again, “the insiders” scoff at the needs, the hopes, and the increasing desperation of those struggling in America (See grown men cry during the Congressional hearings on the GM bankruptcy).

By design, Palin did not notify the national media of her intentions. She will not give them access. And she will not bother to apologize. She will, instead, use them as the whipping post, much as they used her. Turn about is fair play, and the press has a lot of turn about coming. [Palin is using Twitter for her revolution, too].

Palin’s McArthur like stand will marginalize the press, the pundits, the politicians, and the oh-so-self-important elites that have produced the current economic, military, political, social, and cultural quicksand. She senses the people’s smoldering outrage and mounting fears.

Many Americans want an un-conflicted leader. Someone who can throw a punch as well as take one. Someone who is fearless and compassionate. Someone who, like a Marine, will leave no American behind. And that is what lots of Americans are now experiencing — being left behind.

Whether or not Palin makes a Presidential run is immaterial. She has set the stage for whatever option she chooses. A run for the Senate in 2010. The Presidency in 2012. A stay at home mom. A rabble rousing speaking tour. An over the top fund raiser. And of course, the already inked book deal. She is a natural. And those thundering hoofs coming over the hill are getting louder.

What a great time to be a political junkie!

Colleen M. O’Connor is a former college history professor, the director of the “Faces of San Diego" family photographic history project and co-editor of Eleanor Roosevelt: An American Journey.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Alaska; US: California
KEYWORDS: palin; palinattacks; palinresignation
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1 posted on 07/06/2009 11:30:12 AM PDT by lewisglad
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To: lewisglad

I’m an Alaskan. I just returned from a conference in Vail, Colorado. Every single person I talked with who learned I was from Alaska said something positive about Sarah Palin. (This was before her announcement.) Not a scientific poll, certainly, but after the first couple of dozen people express their enthusiastic support for Sarah - along with a disgust of the media and politicians in general - I have think that something’s up.


2 posted on 07/06/2009 11:35:20 AM PDT by redpoll
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To: lewisglad

Great analysis. The elites do not see the impending tidal wave.


3 posted on 07/06/2009 11:35:20 AM PDT by BigBobber
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To: lewisglad

GO SARAH!!!!

Sarah Palin - Voice of the Middle Class

Representative of Average American


4 posted on 07/06/2009 11:35:55 AM PDT by The Californian (The door to the room of success swings on the hinges of opposition. Bob Jones, Sr.)
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To: Abbeville Conservative; sleepwalker; Roses0508; feedback doctor; LibLieSlayer; ...

Palin PING!

Anyone on or off the Palin ping, write me.

5 posted on 07/06/2009 11:37:00 AM PDT by SolidWood (Palin isn't retreating, but taking the fight in another direction.)
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To: lewisglad

At the age of 70, holding the toughest job in the world, being shot in the chest with a bullet one inch from his heart, Ronald Reagan did not resign. Instead he reenlisted for 4 more years.

Leadership is Honor Courage and COMMITMENT.


6 posted on 07/06/2009 11:38:40 AM PDT by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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To: SolidWood

7 posted on 07/06/2009 11:39:10 AM PDT by lewisglad
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To: lewisglad; LucyT
Good Article. I'd say that O'Conner has it knocked, far superior to the whacko drivel being spit out by the MSM.

Shoot, on this issue, the MSM has turned itself into a whirling dirvish - like, rabid, spitting, monster, reminiscent of the Night of the Living Dead.

Talk about reactionary liberal press.I love it when we see their true colors.

Sarah cold cocked them big time!

8 posted on 07/06/2009 11:40:24 AM PDT by Candor7 (The weapons of choice against fascism are ridicule ,derision ,truth. (member NRA)
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To: TomasUSMC

Leadership is doing what is right.

Was it right for her to remain a lightning rod to keep the Governor’s office tied up because the DNC has targeted her for annihilation and would take the State down with it?

Oh, I guess it is better to stick it out for your OWN POLITICAL AGENDA AND TO HECK WITH THE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STATE????

This was probably the most courageous action I have ever seen.


9 posted on 07/06/2009 11:41:32 AM PDT by The Californian (The door to the room of success swings on the hinges of opposition. Bob Jones, Sr.)
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To: lewisglad

Brilliant article. All this cr@p about being a quitter is going to look like the total BS it is in less than 6 months. The whole article is great but I especially appreciated the follwong:

*****

Palin intends to start another Populist movement — without the help of the “usual suspects” — professional image consultants, handlers, inside the Beltway know-it-alls, and especially the establishment press. She trusts her instincts and smells blood, and it isn’t her own.

By design, Palin did not notify the national media of her intentions. She will not give them access. And she will not bother to apologize. She will, instead, use them as the whipping post, much as they used her. Turn about is fair play, and the press has a lot of turn about coming. [Palin is using Twitter for her revolution, too].

Palin’s McArthur like stand will marginalize the press, the pundits, the politicians, and the oh-so-self-important elites that have produced the current economic, military, political, social, and cultural quicksand. She senses the people’s smoldering outrage and mounting fears.”

*****

This is going to be fun.


10 posted on 07/06/2009 11:42:20 AM PDT by bereanway (Sarah get your gun)
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To: lewisglad; redpoll; BigBobber; The Californian; SolidWood

Awright people! Sarah does not need hyperventilating friends like this Colleen person.

We are conservatives, NOT (spit!) “populists”!

I hear that word and my spider-sense starts tingling, we do not need to trade one cult-of-personality for another. And Sarah sure as hell does not ask us to.


11 posted on 07/06/2009 11:43:06 AM PDT by sinanju
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To: lewisglad

this is the first commentary that I can say I agree with completely.


12 posted on 07/06/2009 11:44:51 AM PDT by Danae (Amerikan Unity My Ass)
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To: lewisglad

Don’t care if it is a brillant move by Sarah Palin. I like Sarah Palin and I am voting for her to be POTUS in 2012.

Get out Obama.


13 posted on 07/06/2009 11:45:06 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: TomasUSMC
I too love Ronald Reagan. But these are not the same times. The nation needs a beaon of hope, and Sarah should not be sitting in Alaska letting the world from down under take pot shots at her.

Sarah is simply taking the battle to the enemy, instead of remaining behind the walls of her post.This makes her a lot like Ronald Reagan.

Sarah has sallied!

And that excuse for a president now in office will begin to unravel as Sarah gains momentum in the lower 48.

14 posted on 07/06/2009 11:45:07 AM PDT by Candor7 (The weapons of choice against fascism are ridicule ,derision ,truth. (member NRA)
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To: SolidWood

Add me to your ping list, please.


15 posted on 07/06/2009 11:45:37 AM PDT by mtnwmn (Liberalism leads to Socialism)
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To: lewisglad
This is one pundit who obviously ‘gets it’ and knows just how fed up a lot of Americans are these days! It's very enlightening to realize how many of them who are supposedly very astute politicians, almost genius, who don't even begin to get it.

If nothing else what Sarah has done, purposely or not, is separate the wheat from the chaff in one swift swell swoop! Just look at those who share the attitude of most of us around here and then look at those those have been so quick to get on her case. What a great litmus test she's given us!

I say watch the politicians and see who lines up behind her then head for their PAC’s to support them. It won't be a big group but I think the pundits will be shocked to find out how many of us there are who will bust a gut to support her and them!

We seldom get such an easy and clear cut method to identify the RINO’s, and she drops in our laps on the eve of America's most important holiday. I'm not sure it's not a gift from the Lord! I would like to think that He's hearing the prayers of millions and millions of Americans who have not turned their back on Him and continue to worship and praise Him and see His continued blessings for this great nation!

Don't get me wrong, I am saying SHE has been chosen by God Himself and appointed to save us from ourselves, only that we America didn't become the greatest nation in the history of the world without His help and if He's indeed heard our prayers this is the sort of thing I would expect!

16 posted on 07/06/2009 11:46:23 AM PDT by jwparkerjr (God Bless America!)
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To: TomasUSMC

Reagan started running for president in 1968 while governor
of California...I doubt he would have kept the governor’s job if he had won the first time.


17 posted on 07/06/2009 11:47:18 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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To: redpoll

My gut tells me politically, she’s about to become the face of the tea party movement and their ilk. However, we will see what happens.


18 posted on 07/06/2009 11:48:55 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: lewisglad

I think that was a spot on analysis

Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. It comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday. - John Wayne


19 posted on 07/06/2009 11:49:01 AM PDT by Patrsup (To stubborn to change now)
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To: lewisglad

I would not classify it as brilliant, but it probably does give her a better chance to win the nomination. Due to difficult decisions on issues she would face in the near future, “getting out while the getting is good” may be smart politically.


20 posted on 07/06/2009 11:50:43 AM PDT by MBB1984
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