Posted on 01/18/2011 9:34:34 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In a guest column, John Ziegler, radio host, Palin confidante, and the filmmaker behind Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted, offers his unique perspective on Sarah Palin’s interview with Sean Hannity, and its specific implications towards a potential presidential run in 2012. The views expressed in this guest column are those of John Ziegler alone.
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As dangerous, counterproductive, and pointless as it can be to try and predict whether Sarah Palin will run for president in 2012, I found myself changing my mind last night about what she likely will, and should, do regarding the largest political decision one can make.
As an outspoken and dedicated defender of Palin against a mountain of unfair media attacks over the past couple of years, I have often been amused that many of my detractors presume that I have been a strong proponent of a Palin candidacy. The reality is that I am probably one of the few people to tell her to her face (after our January 2009 interview) that she can’t win in 2012, and, in act of even greater stupidity, I have most certainly harmed my last movie among Palin supporters by publicly stating the same opinion.
Aside from whether it would be a good idea, when I was asked on CNN recently whether she would run, I put the odds at 60-40 that she would not make the big plunge. But, thanks to the bizarre events of the past week, I have experienced a rather strong epiphany on both fronts.
Before I explain myself, let me make it clear that I have no special information, have not had a direct conversation with Sarah Palin about this topic since she resigned as Governor, and strongly believe that anyone other than Palin’s incredibly small inner circle who pretends to know for sure what she is doing is either lying or delusional. With that said, I may have some insight here that will elude the many media watchers who simply don’t understand Palin.
During the final segment of her interview on Fox News last night with Sean Hannity, I became convinced that it is now significantly more likely that she will run than pass. I came to this conclusion based at least as much on what she didn’t say as what she did. At the center of this perception is the core conviction that being blamed by huge portions of the media for facilitating mass murder, and then being roundly scorned for just defending herself, simply has to drive a person on the verge of such a decision in one direction or the other. Based on her answer to Hannity, it very clear which way she has been pushed.
If Palin really has been playing a game in order just to keep her profile high (an article of faith among Palin critics), the insane reaction to this tragedy and the irrational implication of her in it would have provided her with the perfect out. After all, not even her most fervent supporter could possibly begrudge her the right to beg off a presidential run in the name of protecting her family from all of the lunacy (and potentially worse) which will be sure to come their way if they are all subjected to another campaign. But even after being given an opening to “go there” larger than FNC’s rating dominance over its competitors, Palin would have none of it.
Instead, she came closer than ever before to declaring that she will be a candidate, defiantly stating that, while she has no announcement to make right now, she is not going to sit down, and will not be told to shut up.
Technically, this is not a new statement from Palin, but given the timing, context and juxtaposition of her pronouncements, I think there is potentially great significance to what she said. For her to dramatically declare that she will not “sit down or shut up” immediately after the caveat that she is not yet “ready” to make an “announcement” and just after the word “but,” seemed to send a message only slightly more subtle than Ricky Gervais taking a swipe at an obnoxious celebrity.
Palin then went one giant step further by raising the flag in defense of free speech and those who strongly believe that our nation is imperiled by our current lack of regard for the founding principles. Once again, when given the perfect opportunity to seek cover and protect herself Sarah Palin has instead chosen to fight back and protect what she thinks is right.
This leads me to my second change of heart. Ever since I witnessed her 2008 convention speech in person, I have had admiration for Sarah Palin, but I had also (almost out of a desire to not see her and her family unnecessarily harassed) come to the conclusion that it was not a good idea for her to run for president in 2012. I figured that, thanks largely to the same media who has targeted her for over two years, Obama was unlikely to lose to anyone and that blowing her one chance to run wouldn’t be good for her or her cause. But now I not only think she will run, but I really hope she does.
I still believe baring a disaster Obama will be reelected, but I now see nothing to lose and lots to gain by a Palin candidacy. She is the only candidate who has the ultimate freedom of having already faced her political death head on. As Winston Churchill famously said, “There is nothing more exhilarating than being shot without result,” and while thankfully Palin only knows this truth metaphorically, all that she has endured gives her incredible independence. Everyone else will inevitably melt (like even grizzled veteran John McCain did) when they get close to the blast furnace that will be going up against the Obama juggernaut. Far more than anyone else in conservative history, Palin has been forced to prove just how fireproof her convictions are and how deep her resolve is.
Quite simply, no one else in the potential Republican field will be as trustworthy to conservatives on the issues, and less likely to back down, than Sarah Palin. She has shown beyond any doubt that she can literally handle anything that the pressure of running for president could possibly present.
Would she win? Probably not, but there is no Republican who would be close to being favored today against Obama. Instead, a Palin candidacy would guarantee, by far, the best chance to have true conservative principles articulated in a fearless fashion on the grandest of stages, which hasn’t really happened (with apologies to Ronald Reagan) since 1964.
While that losing Barry Goldwater campaign is not one which is likely to be emulated politically anytime soon, with Palin such an outcome (a spirited, non-politically correct defense of conservatism followed by likely temporary defeat) is the absolutely worst case scenario. Considering that such a campaign ended up directly leading to Republican victories in five of the next six presidential elections, such a potentiality is one that should be embraced by conservatives and not feared.
While many events can and likely will occur before we know the real landscape of the 2012 presidential campaign, as of today it appears that Sarah Palin will be a large part of that equation, and that conservatives may have much to be proud of. Hopefully, they will be smart enough to realize and appreciate it.
i hope she doesnt. it will just be a 3 ring circus, and fail at the end.
Oh thank God you warned us in time.
Yeah, without a "disaster", the voters will overwhelmingly approved of the 1st 4 years of Obamanomics.
I have changed my mind too. If she runs I will support her and I hope she doess.
She pesonifies EVERYTHING the mad left and the RINOs hate so much.
This past week-end, Conservative pretender and RINO Chris Christie of New Jersey was very critical of her not being interviewed and just doing speeches.
He is planning a run in 2012 and is trying to discredit her now.
She is twice the “man” he is.
I hope she does it.
I’ve noticed that many FReepers in California are negative about a 2012 run by Gov. Sarah Palin for the White House. Is it because you’re all surrounded by the Left and their negativity? And as an aside, I grew up in Chino, so it’s not like I’ve never been there.
I don’t know whether she can win or not, but one thing’s for sure, no other Republican can win without the backing of Palins supporters.
LOL! It will be a great campaign, a fun campaign, and will succeed in the end. The only three ring circus will be the PDS crowd making complete arses out of themselves 24/7.
“I still believe baring a disaster Obama will be reelected”
HUH?....does he want her to be the scrificial lamb? Why make this comment?
He’s Mitt Romney in size 64 Portly.
But the real test will come when the media offer her an olive branch if she'll only 'meet them halfway'.
And you know they will.
Does she get Secret Service protection as an announced candidate?
“I still believe baring a disaster Obama will be reelected..”
Obama IS the disaster my friend.
Sarah is my first choice PERIOD. I’ll vote for any R on the ticket who ever they are If, and only IF she is not on it. Please...we need to get rid of this moron is the White House who makes my skin crawl everytime I see or hear him speak. He is a puppet and could care less what happens to us as a Nation . Sarah does care.
Palin and I share at least one personality trait:
When someone tells me I can’t, I must.
why lead with someone who has all that?
not interested in making a statement and going down in flames doing it.. interested in regime change in DC.
Oh, she’ll run, alright.
And she will win handily over the Muslim usurper.
The future of America depends on it.
And that’s my prediction on 1/18/11.
God bless Sarah Palin and keep her.
I think it’s based on poll numbers or somesuch, otherwise an Alvin Greene could declare and they’d have to protect him. Of course, President Bush was gracious enough to provide Mr. Obama with protection waaaaaay before he had clinched the nomination, but do you expect this crew to follow suit and give her that kind of ‘cred’ as they would put it?
I hope she does run! It is far past time to have a candidate who is 1) a real conservative, and 2) utterly fearless in calling a spade a spade.
The left and the GOP folks who oppose her have thrown everything including the kitchen sink at her, and it has ALL failed. She is unstoppable. The best of the best have tried to destroy her, and failed.
Run Sarah run!!
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