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In a bizarre decision, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, announced today that she will step down from her post effective 26 July. It is not clear precisely what is driving this decision, and the reasons she gave in the speech above seem, as Ed Morrisey describes them, near "incoherent." If its because she is fed up with the unprecedented personal vitriol leveled at her and her family by a media gone wild, that's understandable. If she is dropping out with an eye towards running for the Presidency at some point in the future, she just shot herself in the foot. She ran and was elected governor in Alaska. She has a duty of loyalty to the people of her state. If she is now putting that aside for her own personal ambition, that would be an extremely poor decision indeed. At this moment, we are getting more than our fill of narcissists with extremely poor judgment in the White House. I doubt many will want to trade one for another in 2012.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Farewell Sarah
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6 comments:
I doubt that this was done as a step to her running for POTUS, and it is likely something personal and that she didn't want to discuss on camera. The calls for her running in 2012 reflect her numerous supporters and what they had hopes for.
I hope this decision brings some happiness into her family's life and I too will miss her presence on the political scene.
> I doubt that this was done as a step to her running for POTUS, and it is likely something personal and that she didn't want to discuss on camera.
I suspect you're mistaken.
a) She said exactly what the reasons are in the speech. Bob over on No Oil for Pacifists breaks it down.
b) I dunno about her not aspiring for 2012 -- it may be she just stepped down to get out of the central attack zone for a while. In 2011 the youngest daughter will be 16 or thereabouts, so it'll be a bit less difficult for her to deal with all the snark, and Palin herself can probably concentrate more on her political acumen, connections, and skills in the meantime rather than defending herself on the ridiculously baseless but relentless personal attacks.
She's doing, in a sense, what Ross Perot and Frd Thompson did, just at a much more accurate time: Taking herself down as a lightning rod for a breather.
It'll be interesting to see what happens. I'm not by any means saying I'm correct. It's nothing but idle speculation on my part. I'm just saying this is one of those fluid actions which can actually mean a lot of different things as far as intentions.
I always read your posts and I respect your prose but I disagree with the 'bizarre' characterization.
Her actions are perfectly rational if you consider:
1. Sarah isn't like Obama -- she isn't seeking power.
2. She has accomplished much already.
3. She can do more without being on the wrong end of the so-called MSM cattle prod.
Was Dave Chapelle 'bizarre' when he quit doing his show?
Whatever she wants to do in the future she has my support.
I wish her the best. I think she has been incredibly mistreated and I fully supported her for the Vice Presidency. I admire her for all that she has accomplished That said, I place a very high value on duty, honor and loyalty. If . . . and I do say if, because it is not clear . . . she is giving up the governorship to pursue the Presidency, that is crossing a bright line in my book. A lot of people voted for her to be their governor - and she solitited their votes. She has a duty to them and owes them her first loyalty. But that's just my perspective. I certainly respect others who see this differently.
> She has a duty to them and owes them her first loyalty.
That's part of her point -- the mindless and senseless attacks on her were costing the state of Alaska millions to fend off. She'd become a lightning rod for all the BDS out there, now that Bush is out of the White House.
Her leaving is beneficial for the state. She appears to have chosen the high road, and given up the benefits towards becoming PotUS which the gubernatorial pulpit might have offered.
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