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A Map-Based Answer to the Palin Question
Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 6 July 2009 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

Posted on 07/06/2009 9:29:19 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob

There are two aspects of Governor Palin's decision to resign now, which have not been competently discussed, or discussed at all, in the main stream media. One is based on the map, the other is based in American political history.

Regarding the map: I have two, immediate sources to know how long it takes, with what sort of wearing down from the journey itself, to travel to and from Alaska. One is my cousin who is a leading labor lawyer, and who went from Atlanta to Alaska frequently when the Aleska Pipeline was under construction.

The other is my son-in-law's brother who was until recently the Agent In Charge for the FBI in Alaska. His trips home were often to North Carolina. The bottom line is this. In going to Alaska, or coming from that state to the "lower 48" for any purpose, two days are lost in travel for each trip, and there is recovery time to be sharp and on your toes in addition.

Throw in the fact that at least two of the phony, and dismissed, ethics charges made against Governor Palin were based on the fact that she was "out of the state" in order to appear or speak at events in the lower 48. It is well known that Governors and Senators who habitually run for President are often absent from their states and their constituents (unless they come from Iowa or New Hampshire to begin with).

The travel restraints are far worse for Alaskans and Hawaiians than residents of any other states. The result is that no one can function in a full time government position in Alaska or Hawaii, while playing a significant, permanent role in politics in the rest of the nation.

The political history aspect refers to Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Both built their national base which gave them their respective party nominations for President by traveling the US for years on the rubber chicken circuit. They supported and raised money for hundreds of state and local candidates. They had good results doing that, much better than similar efforts by Bill Clinton, to choose a name not entirely at random.

Bottom line: I think Sarah Palin is planning a similar, grassroots effort to those of Nixon and Humprey. I think she knows that she needs to show immediate results in the 2010 elections for the House and Senate, with candidates she supports usually winning. She has to start now, rather than just wait to run for President or Vice President in 2012.

I think she recognized that it was impossible for her to be a Governor, a mother and a wife, and an active speaker in the lower 48, all at once. So, she left the least important of those three tasks in the hands of her selected Lt. Governor.

The proof of what I posit will come on 12 September, 2009, if Palin is the most important speaker at the Rally on the Mall in Washington. My analysis is correct, if she begins her speech then and there with words like these: "My fellow Americans, I come before you today not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, but as an American who is deeply, deeply concerned about the wrong directions this nation is taking because of failures by politicians in both of those ancient political parties...."

Congressman Billybob


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: alaska; humphrey; nixon; palin; palinattacks
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To: johncocktoasten
It doesn’t do her any good to lay the whole plan down today for all to see. Otherwise, the State Run Media will be blowing up the road in front of her.

So instead, they are having to guess, and blow up all roads out of town, just in case.

I just couldn't resist extending your metaphor. :-)

61 posted on 07/06/2009 10:25:22 AM PDT by 3niner (When Obama succeeds, America fails.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

My personal speculation? I think Levin & Rush were advisors.


62 posted on 07/06/2009 10:28:58 AM PDT by Reagan69 (No Representation without Taxation)
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To: Congressman Billybob

As an Alaskan that travels frequently to the lower 49 states. I absolutely concur with your analysis. The trip back and forth can be brutally long and with the 4 hour time change, exhausting.


63 posted on 07/06/2009 10:29:59 AM PDT by Species8472
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To: Congressman Billybob

Thanks for your insights, prodigous as usual.
I wondered at first if Sarah was simply rejecting the punishment of public office for the more serene life of mom and cfommunity leader. She seems, however, to be made of sterner stuff.
I am in hearty agreement that she has shiftede in the balance to be able to carry a heavier load with an eye to greater accomplishments.
Indeed, we shall see what all this portends. I suspect that you and Ann Coulter are correct, however. This is a brilliant tactical move that will give her the opportunity to speak on the platform the media has already made available. They may not love her but they cannot get enough of her.
So say we all.


64 posted on 07/06/2009 10:30:04 AM PDT by Louis Foxwell (0 is the son of soulless slavers, not the son of soulful slaves.)
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To: Congressman Billybob

I think she should work on forming the Free States of America. The States and provinces roughly between Alaska and Texas.

I’d move there in a heartbeat.


65 posted on 07/06/2009 10:31:47 AM PDT by revtown
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To: Non-Sequitur
I'm sure that the people of Alaska will be thrilled to learn that being their governor is so low on the pecking order.

They knew that, when she ran for VP, and didn't seem to be offended then. She can do far more good for Alaska (and, incidentally, the rest of the country) if she gains substantial national power.

66 posted on 07/06/2009 10:33:48 AM PDT by 3niner (When Obama succeeds, America fails.)
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To: 3niner

very observant. This is why she will run and will be the nominee IMHO. All this ridiculously pitched level of attack is going to end up furnishing her with a high level of immunity to last minute attacks derailing her campaign.

The media reaction reminds me of the scene at the end of Terminator 2 where the machine is dropped into the vat of molten steel. The State Run Media are wigging out uncontrollably because Sarah Palin has just checkmated them. The frivolous ethics complaint has been the SRM main attack line. Now its gone.

What kills me is that the folks of FR can’t see this and have a tremendous level of respect and joy for what a skilled political move this is, and that she is pulling it off, compared to the dunces we have in Washington with their heads stuck in their arse or the nearest tanning bed.


67 posted on 07/06/2009 10:38:04 AM PDT by johncocktoasten ("Rumors of her political death have been greatly exaggerated.")
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To: Congressman Billybob
The rationale you give is plausible. She had an opportunity to present a coherent explanation during her speech, but didn't. She could have explained by taking Q&A, but didn't. Palin’s coyness has led to a lot of interesting speculation and livened up the weekend news, but in terms of a 2012 run, hasn't exactly allayed any concerns skeptical voters may have about steadiness, experience, and political professionalism.
68 posted on 07/06/2009 10:39:06 AM PDT by Plutarch
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To: Congressman Billybob
Believe you to be 100% correct. Also believe that Palin’s attorney is very anxious to hit some of the false charges with the full force of the law.
69 posted on 07/06/2009 10:40:30 AM PDT by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: Congressman Billybob
Billybob is absolutely right. This isn't rocket science or deep strategery. In the next 16 months two people will be speaking at every rubber chicken in America, Mitt Romney and now Sarah Palin. They'll be at every congressman and governors fundraisers, every County Party fundraiser and any event with a couple of hundred breathing GOP activists and a TV camera. The nomination is theirs to lose.
70 posted on 07/06/2009 10:44:12 AM PDT by azcap (Who is John Galt ? www.conservativeshirts.com)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Statute miles distance

Anchorage to

Seattle - 1422
Dallas - 2998
Los Angeles - 2311
Houston - 3218
Chicago - 2801
Nashville - 3153
Atlanta - 3365
Miami - 3945
Washington, DC - 3322
New York - 3332
Boston - 3328

source: Flying Distance Calculator

71 posted on 07/06/2009 10:47:17 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: Congressman Billybob
Your guesstimate is the same as mine so I say, well done!

The dinomedia will have a decision to make: Based on nothing more than their visceral hatred of what Sarah Palin stands for and the danger she represents, will they continue their unbridled attacks on her giving her large amounts of "face time" or do they slink away and bite their tongues? My guess is they will be unable to contain themselves as their need to trash the lady will override all other considerations, but we should know more about that within the next few months.

72 posted on 07/06/2009 10:47:41 AM PDT by ForGod'sSake (You have two choices and two choices only: SUBMIT or RESIST. Have I missed anything?)
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To: Vigilanteman
Even with her own aircraft in an airforce one configuration

I don't know. The acting President was at Camp David yesterday and today he hit the ground running in Moscow giving away the house to his Communist buddies.

ML/NJ

73 posted on 07/06/2009 10:54:23 AM PDT by ml/nj
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To: Reagan69
I think Levin & Rush were advisors.

Boy if she's that smart, then she really is the real deal. Maybe next shell have a sit and spit with Cheney. And if he's lucky, maybe she'll meet with Bush.

74 posted on 07/06/2009 11:09:11 AM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: Reagan69; Virginia Ridgerunner

I recall Rush talking about a “high-level” confab he had with Levin last week. He said he was hoping to reveal it soon. The next day (I think) Palin said she wasn’t running for the Gov. again.

Friday she make a huge announcement at 1600 (eastern). This is known as the “news-dump hour” because discussion won’t heat up until Monday (and the person has been incommunicado all weekend). Actually, Rush discusses this quite often - pointing another finger toward ElRushbo.

I have also speculated that Levin may be helping Palin “legally”. One of her Alaskan detractors made a spurious comment and Sarah said she would look into “legal procedings” in the future; no sitting governor would attempt or threaten a constituent with a civil suit. This means Sarah will be playing real hardball politics and use the methods of the left when necessary. She’ll need a lawyer of Levin’s stature and “insider” knowledge.

Was the “high-level” confab a strategy planning teleconference with Sarah Palin? Who knows? Interesting though. We may find out a week from today.


75 posted on 07/06/2009 11:11:59 AM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Palin shrugged.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Very interesting. I like the tag line too.


76 posted on 07/06/2009 11:15:00 AM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: numberonepal

I stole it.


77 posted on 07/06/2009 11:22:58 AM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Palin shrugged.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT; Congressman Billybob
I think that is correct, but the problem is that this was only a minor part of several reasons she actually gave in her speech for quitting. It's the other reasons that make her seem less strong, and raise more questions.

No, they don't. The reasons she gave in her speech are perfectly logical, ethically justified, and do not in any way make her less strong. To the contrary, they show she has the integrity and courage to put her family, her state and her country first and do what had to be done to deal with the situation facing both them and her.

As for your comment about "raising more questions", so what? Questions are fine, they're part of the process. So is speculation. It's pretending we have all the answers that is the problem. It's far too soon to know how all this will play out.

78 posted on 07/06/2009 11:23:14 AM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: Congressman Billybob
I agree with you. When I first heard that she was resigning I feared it was for good, but after listening to her speecehs, the one on Friday and the one on the 4th, I became convinced she is planning something very similar to what you outline.

I find it very funny that she took the news media to task in her July 4th speech and that the media immediately started attacking her again, once again proving she was correct.

79 posted on 07/06/2009 11:25:00 AM PDT by calex59
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To: Congressman Billybob

I know I would love it if she came as a keynote speaker at the Mall. I am going to be there come hell or highwater.

My fear is that the MSM has made clear it will resort to ANYTHING to ruin a viable Republican and protect Hussein. And it will bury any story or evidence of dirty and/or illegal actions by Dems to ruin her. Look at Joe the Plumber. They could have thrown firebombs at his house and it wouldn’t have been reported.

They absolutely despise this woman. Nothing is off the table as a means of ruining her.


80 posted on 07/06/2009 11:26:55 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
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