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 just can't comprehend how any Republican challenger's chances against Obama can be so easily dismissed.
Obama was elected in 2008 because of:
1. Unanimous and uncritical support of the MSM.
2. The "First black president" white guilt trip.
3. The Bush administration, which struggled thru an epically bad second term.
4. John McCain, the worst GOP candidate since Alf Landon.
5. The curiously timed collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, creating an economic crisis that reflected poorly on Republicans.
But, in 2012, none of these advantages will be present.
1. The MSM will stand behind Obama...but their power, influence and credibility is severely diminished.
2. The "First black president" act carries no weight any longer.
3. The Bush administration is no longer in the rear-view mirror.
4. Thankfully, John McCain will not be the candidate. And, hopefully, nobody like him.
5. Obama owns the economy now. And, after the GOP sweep of the House in 2010, his first two years have been judged a failure. Nothing has happened to turn the economy around and his job approval is generally in the toilet.
So, why do the pundits now consider Obama's re-election a given?
Why don’t you just go into a corner, wet your pants, suck your thumb and let REAL Americans do the dirty work(we ALWAYS have). “Califorians” can’t even elect a REAL Gorvernment. Get you OWN house in order THEN YOU people can comment nationally.
If she does, the Left will blame her when the Secret Service absorbs the lead.
Zeigler thinks she wouldn't be elected, but he's hoping she'll run, so that conservative principles can be put out there, without apology.
Frankly, if the economy doesn't recover that much in 2011, and oil and gasoline prices continue to go up, I think Sarah WOULD have a good chance against Obama. She certainly has the experience in natural resources that he clearly lacks, and considering what a debacle Obamacare is likely to be, someone espousing government getting OUT of the healthcare business would be listened to more closely than maybe would have happened only 4 years ago.
And a Palin run would bring out the moonbats in full force, and what a fun thing it would be for them to be exposed for EVERYONE to see.
In the event she were granted SS protection; all those threats against her on the internet would have to come to a screeching halt; unless I am mistaken.
Even better: announce at a gun club, at a skeet shoot, on RONALD REAGAN'S 100TH BIRTHDAY!
We will have to bring in the National Guard to clean up all the self-exploded commielib skulls.
This guy means well but he’s way behind the curve. I think he’s convinced himself that Tucson somehow made Palin decide to run, so that he at least hadn’t been wrong in saying earlier that she wouldn’t.
And, all those critics saying she’s just in it for the PR and money, not going to actually run: if they really believed that there’d be no reason to bother attacking her.
my guess is you didnt listen to those that warned us about W before he was nominated. I have to admit i thought they were full of hooey too.
Her best asset is that she steps out of the political boundaries of politeness to sometimes tell it like it is, and in doing so, she brings out the worse in those who hate her.
I still suspect she’s going to run with the purpose of vetting other candidates, and keeping their platform Right, to which they will bend over backwards out of fear she’ll split the vote, while draining the donor pool. Her run will really be about kingmaking, not her own candidacy. Unless she hooks up with a policy strong candidate...a Jindal type.
She still needs to revisit her delivery from the RNC speech though...in other words, s-l-o-w down her delivery, and take a breath.
as shocking as this may be to you not everyone loves sarah palin
The rat voter fraud will be beyond breathtaking.
I hope the GOP state governors can get “voter ID” passed BEFORE Nov,2012 to give us a fair shot...I mean, a fair crack, oops, a drug reference, well, y’all know what mean.
how could rubio be above demint, he has no record...and boehner...are you kidding me lol
I'm failing to grasp what signifcance that was to a run.
To stand and fight has always been her style, not just now.
Probably because he has 98.9% of the media, the nutroots, academia, Hollywood, Broadway, much of the RINOcracy, women who hate another woman that didn’t abort her Down Syndrome fetus, misogynists (we have some here!), the power of incumbency, ACORN, LaRaza, LULAC, AmeriCorps, the Black Panthers, Saudi & Soros money, the DNC, the DLC, 99.9% of blacks and the homosexuals on his side. It ain’t gonna be as easy as everyone here thinks it’ll be just because unemployment is high.
Get you OWN house in order THEN YOU people can comment nationally.
You people?
and while we are on the subject of locale, notice where freep is?
Palin always made the right decisions that seemed to benefit Alaska and not other entities that traditionally have bought off all our governors here in Ak. She had a heck of a record her entire life; why her ratings were so off the charts. I think it's called experience.
As I’ve said here many times, I will raise $2 million dollars for her campaign and teach others how to fundraise. I will probably be in a wheelchair by then, but that won’t keep me off the telephone or computer.
I really do want Sarah as the Republican nominee. I hope others in the party can realize that she’s really the one who can stand up for the conservative principles that this country needs to survive.
The problem will be...getting people to see that. Off the top of my head, there are at least 5 different people that have been spoken of as possible Republican candidates, maybe more. That’s going to fragment the base, because there are many who say “If it’s not “X”, then I’m not voting”.
The Dems have Obama who, unless he resigns, dies in office, or has something REALLY bad happen on his watch that he can’t weasel out of, will be the Dem candidate in 2012. Just look...there was a Miami newspaper that asked who they’d vote for in ‘12, and 57% said “Obama”...even after all the crap he’s put this country through. He HAS his untied base...and we DON’T. We as conservatives NEED to unite behind ONE candidate.
With all the bickering I see...CAN that happen?
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