I appreciate the cogent well thought out response.
It remains to be seen how this move will affect the Democrats and Independents who were attracted earlier.
I honestly don’t see how you overcome this negative on the premier executive experience she could point to. What does she point to now? I don’t like it, but the only response is, “I served 30 months of a 48 month term as Governor of Alaska, but the Democrats attacked my family members in print and on television, and they filed frivolous law suits against me.”
If she can dodge that bullet, then more power to her. I’m not basing my comments on some hidden dislike for her. If she can pull this out, I’ll campaign for her and vote for her.
I still think the vote for Independents and Democrats comes a lot easier, with a full term in office acting as if the left didn’t exist, even though they were a major pain. And I think the tell all book would seal the deal.
People do like rugged individualists, and I think that perception of Sarah Palin would have been a hell of a lot easier to sell, than the perception we are now left with.
We’ll see.
She can begin with saying she was elected to the Wasilla city council for 3 years, then elected mayor of Wasilla for six years, chaired for a year at the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and finally three years as governor of Alaska.
She needs to define herself, especially on the issues. She can only do that by traveling the country and building a solid grassroots base, campaigning for Republican candidates for 2010, attending fundraisers, building IOUs, and so on. Cannot do that in Alaska where no one know what is going on up there. She could be the greatest governor ever and no one would know. I do not see that she had any other choice if she wanted to seriously run for President in 2012. The time to start building her campaign is now.
As for what she could say about Obama, he was a community organizer, then Senator with a record of 148 days (or some very low number) of official service, and very little passed legislation to his name. His first 100 as president days have been a total failure. And you also have lot of examples of lawlessness on his part. His statements are radical statist philosophy.
A real conservative, especially someone like Sarah Palin, could take him down. I think in 1980, polls had Carter defeating Reagan by a lot. No one thought he would win. Then Reagan won in a landslide. Conservatism wasn't on the 2008 ballot. Obama won as a result. 2010 & 2012 I see a conservative resurgence. I think Sarah Palin wants to lead it.
Here is part of what Sarah Palin said on her Facebook page yesterday: "I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I’ve never thought I needed a title before one’s name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness!"
That sounds like she wanting to fight.