Governor Sarah Palin announced today that she's resigning as Alaska's governor and her Lieutenant governor and political ally Sean Parnell will take over as of July 25th.
She had a few things to say about the matter , and a transcript of her remarks is here.
I'm not claiming to be clairvoyant, but I had a feeling this was coming fairly soon.
Alaska is simply too far away logistically from what Alaskans call the Lower 48 for anyone to serve as a sitting governor and still devote the time and energy it will take to run for president in 2012. Believe it or not, Anchorage is farther away from Los Angeles than Los Angeles is from Baltimore.
Sarah Palin had a tough choice to make. She could either continue to be governor of Alaska or resign and take some time to consider whether she wanted to go for the prize. She couldn't do both, she thought about it and then with characteristic boldness, she made a decision.
There are other factors involved, obviously. As an ex-governor, she's no longer a target for the well-funded and organized campaign to bankrupt the Palin family via various frivolous 'ethics complaints.' Number 15 was just thrown out of court as groundless just like all the others, but in the meantime it's cost the Palins half a million bucks in legal fees...and they are not wealthy people. With her out of office, that particular drain in time, money and energy is a thing of the past. And she has a book to write and a new baby to care for, and some very real soul searching and planning to do if she decides on a run for the presidency in 2012.
Part of that soul searching will likely have to do with the effect on her family. When you can't even go to a charity fundraiser or a baseball game without some low life trying to get at you through your kids, it undoubtedly provides some food for thought.
If she decides to run, we'll know within a year or so. Look for her to be out on the trail fundraising, doing book interviews and speaking to the American people.
And don't be surprised if she does it independently of the normal GOP apparatus.
The thing about Sarah Palin is that accidentally or deliberately, she tapped into an authentic political vein in the American people, and it's one that a lot of the Republican Party isn't comfortable with, especially the part of the party that wants to evolve into Democrat-lite.
Ronald Reagan had exactly the same problem but he was able to build his own independent organization within the GOP, find his own voice and cause a revolution in American politics.
It remains to be seen if Sarah Palin does the same. She remains the most exciting and viscerally appealing politician in the Republican Party, the only one who draws huge crowds and actually reaches people . If she does decide to run but the Big Boys won't let her play, don't be surprised if a third party coalesces around her and the GOP goes the way of the Whigs.
A nauseatingly smug Andrea Mitchell just announced on Mess NBC that Sarah Palin is through in politics. If I were you Andrea, I wouldn't bet the condo on it just yet.
There's an old Irish saying I'm quite fond of: "Let him laugh who wins."
Selah.
8 comments:
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Hi Anonymous,
You had me right up until you mentioned 'Ron Paul'.
I don't disagree with everything he says, but IMO he has far too many fascists hanging around him for me or anyone else who really loves this country to dignify him with support. Sarah Palin will make a huge mistake if she allies with him.
Regards,
Rob
I remember when George W. Bush ran for President the first time while he was Governor of Texas. Being from Texas myself and having voted for him when he ran for Governor of Texas I resented him running for President while he was still Governor. I felt and still feel like he neglected his duties as Governor. While in this case every thing worked out okay for Texas and Rick Perry who filled in for him did a decent job, I DID NOT vote him at that time for Governor.
No one in the non government sector would allow a CEO to keep his CEO job while actively and openly seeking another job as CEO of another organization. The reason is obvious. They are not going to be as single mindedly focused on their current position as the investors and other stakeholders would expect them to be. They would essentially be told to take a hike by their current employer!!
If Mrs. Palin does in fact want to run for President she made the right move, in my opinion. This would be the honorable thing to do. If she ran for President and tried to be Governor of Alaska, she would not be able to do either one very effectively and the citizens of Alaska would be short changed. Being the honorable person she seems to be she no doubt seems to recognize this. Former President Bush had/has serious character flaws. As such, I would not expect him to understand such things.
If the resignation is being done soley to stop the frivolous law suits, I can understand this but it sure would be a shame. She is probably the best politician in America today. It would truly be heart breaking to see her forced out this way. The frivolous law suits and the vicious attacks on her and her family lead me to believe that America needs a new revolution.
If she is resigning because of some yet unreleased scandal, my question to the news media would be "what took you so long to uncover this?" Sarah Palin and her family are easily the most scrutinized individuals in America right now by the media. It seems unlikey that if there is "dirt" it would have taken them this long to uncover it.
I hope Mrs. Palin stays in politics. The country needs her!!
Of course we will have to see what develops. One might righly ask, if she is resigning now to focus on a Presidental run, why didn't she resign from the Governorship when she accepted the nomination of VP for the McCain campaign?
While I hope she resigned to focus on a Presidential run, unfortunately I think it is more likely that she is resigning in an attempt to stop frivolous law suits and to stop the vicious attacks on her and her family. If this is the case, I certainly can't fault her. This may have been the only choice available to stop the frivolous law suits and such vicious and personal attacks as have been leveled against her and her family have got to take their toll. If she is out of government, this is truly a tradgedy. We need her and more like her.
Well,well,well,
Gotta say it FF, I believe this is the best news I've heard in some time.You're right,Sarah would be a fool to ally herself with Ron Paul.
I don't think she's a fool.
This could be really exciting.
I for one will do all in my power to support a Palin candidacy if she decides to run.
What Sarah Palin stands for is what I stand for, and she has already shown that she has talent and backbone to make it happen.
She is the last chance for the USA.
If BHO gets a second term, or a democrat-lite, they will continue to progress with the "spirit of the age". See the UK for their role model, and weep.
seems like she probably didn't want people to spend much time thinking about this since she announced it the Friday before July 4th
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