Why It's Time To Move Beyond Sarah Palin

As a Palin fan, I wanted to re-visit this John Fund piece I previously linked after taking some time to consider the implications of what appears to be a thoughtful, balanced and fair analysis surrounding Palin's recent resignation. Given the facts, it is all but impossible to see her as a viable presidential contender in the near term. And we need a good one in 2012 in the face of Obama's ever growing agenda.

Fact: Palin made a huge mistake in hunkering down, even with friendly media outlets and pundits in the face of what were very public attacks. That's simply more media mishandling of the variety we've seen from the GOP and Republican politicians far too much. If you can't fight and win the media battle, no matter how ruthless the opposition, you won't get very far.

Fact: The notion that to go on and fight would have bankrupted the family does not hold water. She already has a legal defense fund and the ability to raise more money than any other Republican on the national scene. She may have not wanted to do it and that's fine. But the fact is, she could have and didn't.

Fact: She quit. Say what you want, for all his supposed faults and perhaps mis-steps, former president Bush never quit on Iraq, Afghanistan, or the war against terror, though he could have easily rationalized the decision given the political realities. Whether Palin quit because she marches to a different drum, or not, the fact remains, she left the field of battle of her own accord. A state governorship is too important a position to permit one to do that and dismiss it because the opposition was simply so outrageous.

Fact: The distraction the many bogus ethics charges presented Palin and Alaska was not her doing. Nor was it her responsibility to just walk away as a favor for the state. Her responsibility was to do her job, come what may, and she didn't choose to do it. That is not in dispute.

There is no reason not to consider all of these facts in evaluating Sarah Palin as a potential president, or even candidate in the near term. And they make her an unsuitable choice without far more political experience than she has currently.

I hope she does help to elect many conservative politicians in 2010. And I also hope she works hard for a candidate in 2012, possibly taking a spot in energy from there, perhaps even in the Cabinet. She's young enough to run for President in 2016 - 2020 and even beyond. If she did, I'd certainly consider supporting the woman that she is then. It's difficult to see myself doing it in three short years.

Lastly, if she opts to take a role in the cultural/political battle, say by getting a television deal, or some such, I would hope she could get a shot at her own show on a national broadcast network and not something like joining The View, or sticking to Fox. But who the heck knows.

I believe she is a fine person with much to give to and do for America and conservatism. But I hope it isn't about running for president in 2012. I simply can't judge her ready for that given everything we've seen. I wish it were possible to reach a different conclusion. Unfortunately, right now I can't.

Comments

[louis c]

Popular political movements are consumed by political parties. These movements represent a large voting block, the currency of political parties. If Palin draws large crowds campaigning for Republican candidates, the party will be forced to adopt those positions. If Palin is truly conservative, she can change the Republican party into the real conservative party. She can do a lot of good without running for president.

[WBestPresidentEver]

I believe that she is going to do a lot of campaigning for a lot of folks that will be running in 2010 and beyond.
She will do well in what ever she decides to do.
I believe that if Obama is defeated in 2012 I think that she could very well be picked for a job in the new cabinet of whoever wins the Presidency.
There are a lot fo possibilities out there for her to pursue.
I am patient and will sit back and watch. The show will go on.

[Ran]

"Her responsibility was to do her job, come what may, and she didn't choose to do it. That is not in dispute."

It is indeed in dispute.

Point of fact, the daily grind of defense became dominant, the responsibilities of office secondary. Her attackers worked right out of the Alinsky handbook, in a focussed and relentless effort to destroy her and her family. It was no mere distraction. In my forty years as an adult I have never seen a deranged crowd go after a single politician so viciously or relentlessly. H^ll, Bush Derangement Syndrome was a warm-up act. If you do not see that, you do not understand the evil that is the Left's methodology.

I'm with you pretty much on the rest of your points. It would be premature to settle on any potential national candidate at this time. I'll be spending my time applying Alinsky's rules against the Left where appropriate and actively supporting local conservatives and libertarians.

[katablog.com]

I agree with Ran. Palin and her family were getting absolutely beat up by the liberal media and with the lawsuits as an added nuisance, she was responsible enough to resign so the state of Alaska could have someone working for them.

You can't point out another politician who has had to take what Sarah Palin and her family have been dished out. It wasn't just a few unkind words, it was sheer derangement. The Vanity Fair piece alone was a snarky untruthful pack of lies that any writer should be embarrassed to have written. David Letterman's (and the continued non-reaction) attack on Bristol was more than any mother should have to take; yet David got away with it in the end - compare that to Imus and the "nappy headed hoes" - they don't even compare. And remember, the Cuda is not one to divorce her family and run off to be a politician while the "little woman" takes care of the family.

I have no clue what Sarah Palin will do next, but should she choose to run for a political office, I will support her. Someone who is honest enough to resign from a job because it's not fair to her state is someone we need in politics and certainly not a cookie cutter of the current politicians we have always interested in what is in it for them. I wish Sarah and her lovely family well.

[mark l.]

so if she chooses to run, who in the GOP is going to beat her?
I think she should run, if for the only purpose of demonstrating that the winner of the nomination deserved it.

I hope there is a candidate in the gop field who is stronger than palin, but I'm not holding my breath and I won't cry if she is the nominee.

[Dan Riehl]

"If you do not see that, you do not understand the evil that is the Left's methodology."

But I do see it, Ran. And I like Palin a lot. But she needs more time to regroup from all this than 2012 allows imo. We can't control what they do. And I am happy to admit that the attacks on Palin were repulsive, over the top, beyond the pale, and however else one wants to characterize them. That isn't my point.

By closing off even friendly media, she didn't fight back. Do you doubt she culd have been on with Rush, Levin, or Fox once a week fighting back? She could have and chose not to.

She made choices she has to live with. Look at Sanford fighting to stay in office, though he actually deserves to leave and is washed up.

She walked away to fight another day. Good for her. And I can see myself supporting her one day. But a president can't afford to walk away and fight aother day. And they will never stop coming after her no matter what.

As an individual, I respect her decision. As a potential president right now, I don't. That doesn't mean I intend to turn my back on her, or don't see her prospects as bright and perhaps one day again unlimited.

[narciso]

Dan, do you get the fact she received an ethics complaint, for an interview before she was picked as VP, for being interviewed by Greta
in the Governor's mansion, for wearing a jacket
to an sporting event where she gave ainterview, she just had another complaint filedyesterday ,
about an issue that's already been dismissed. She didn't have the latitude to speak that Romney and Huckabee who have no jobs of consequence,can spout off. It seems all the major players who bad mouthed
both on and off the record, already sided up with Romney,

[Dennis D]

I agree with Dan 100%. I love Sarah Palin but this resignation only helps her opponents claim they wer right that she wasn't ready to be Vice President. It appears she fell under pressure. I wish her well and perhaps can someday support her for higher office but not 2012.

[MrPete]

Dan, she didn't "walk away to fight another day." That, I think, is the part you're missing.

The governorship was holding her arms at her sides, unable to hit back, and causing her own state to be bloodied by legal fees. She eventually concluded that the whole thing was a needless waste, harming her state and harming her to no benefit.

So now she's turned the governorship over to another... and now she's jumped to a new vantage point where she can land her own blows. Surprised the heck out of her opponents.

She's not pausing the fight, she's raising it to a new level. Battling for our nation.

[Dan Riehl]

I backed Romney in 2008 but am not on board with him now. I see too many flaws. I wish I did see someone as the clear choice. I had a lot of hope for Palin, but I can't not say what I think as things stand.

I have no dog in the fight right now. When they start mixing it up and we know who the dogs are - I'll pick one. In relative terms, could it be Palin, as I see her weaknesses as somehow less than the other's?

That could be. But I'll have to be convinced as things stand.

I am not confident Romney is the guy, not at all. And I don't want Huckabee, or think Newt is the guy either. I guess we'll see what we see.

For now, as I said, what matters most is 2010. The rest will shake out as it does.

[Janemarie]

This is a balanced post that I can agree with for the most part. My feeling is that time will tell how well Alaska does under the leadership of the current Lt Gov, a political ally of Palin's. If it doesn't do well, if the pipeline deal falls apart, etc., I believe one could criticize her for abandoning Alaska. If however the state does well it will seem to have been an original political move (after the fact). Much as I love Palin, I find the repeated insistence her resignation is all for Alaska a bit annoying and condescending. She stands to benefit tremendously, financially, from being freed from the shackles of her government job; she will rake in big bucks through speaking engagements and her book. Please don't insult our intelligence Sarah!!

[Sally]

I predict that Sarah Palin will never run for President. Ever. The VP slot in 2008 fell into her lap. A Presidential nomination wouldn't. And I'm not so sure she wants to run for President. It's a hard job. And it will be difficult for her to overcome the notion that when the going gets tough the tough get going unless you're Sarah Palin in which case you just quit.

But if I'm wrong and she has future aspirations for national office she's going to have to find some way to maintain her relevance. She's got to be somebody and I'm not so sure that being former failed VP candidate and former early out Governor of Alaska would be enough. I don't think she should do anything entertainment oriented at all, no tv show or anything. I think she should get a job working for a major multinational company where she can learn what really makes the world tick. She's not going to learn that at some think tank or teaching communications at the University of Alaska. Participate in enough GOP events, support other candidates, etc., to stay visible but find something where she can get in there and run with the big boys.

[unseen]

I thought you were smarter than to mix up opinion for facts. Your facts are not facts. You are better than that. Facts are concert data. your points our your opinion. which is fine. but do not try to say that they are facts when they are not.

[unseen]

*concrete

[BDJ]

The only people that give a damn about Palin resigning, are the MSM, the leftist blogs and people who are easily swayed by either/both. She has the next 3 years, to even further build her base (which is already pretty big), point out the hypocrisy of the left and offer up better solutions. Given her present popularity and that despite their hatred of her... the left just can't help themselves to air everything she says/does... those goals won't be too difficult to reach.

Instead of bowing down to the left and wallowing in can't do pity... look at the positives and use the tools at your disposal, to build those up.

There isn't anyone else in the Republican party. Ignore Palin and we're going to end up with another McCain.

[unseen]

There isn't anyone else in the Republican party. Ignore Palin and we're going to end up with another McCain.

Posted by: BDJ | Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 01:07 AM

agreed. If not her, who? if not now. when?

As rummsfield said you go to war with the army you have.

[Dan Riehl]

I didn't say anything about ignoring Palin, or writing her off. I expressed my opinion on 2012, leaving open the door to support her if I feel she's our strongest horse.

Don't put words in my mouth because I don't say what you want to hear 100%.

[mark l.]

a theory behind the resignation?

she was being blackmailed over her kids using drugs. high school, it's alaska, and it's boring. I'm defintely not in the position to cast stones about drug use in high shcool, but if you are famous, or related to famous, your life is under a microscope and in small towns, people talk.

they move from alaska before school starts.

[Fen]

"If you can't fight and win the media battle, no matter how ruthless the opposition, you won't get very far."

Thats an interesting standard. The last Republican I saw "fight and win the media battle" was Ronald Reagan. Even savy Newt came away tarred and broken.

"There isn't anyone else in the Republican party. Ignore Palin and we're going to end up with another McCain."

Agreed. We worked our tails off to give them control of Congress, and they pissed it all away. Couldn't keep their hand out off the cash drawer, couldn't keep their pants zipped. Now they [the GOP] tell us to fall back in line?

[Fen]

Better to just let the village burn to the ground. Because there are days that I wonder if the Elite in the GOP are getting payoffs from libs to be so incompetent.

[sooze]

Bah to the drug thing...anybody ever hear of Al Gore Jr. or Ashley Biden. I don't think the Dems want to go down that road. Besides, if there were even a kernal to glean from that we would have heard it already.

Sarah will become unshackled and will be able to say and do as she pleases. Of all the Repubs, she's the only one with the cajones to tell the truth about Obama and what he and his friends(read THUGS) are doing to our country. Just what will be the very last straw???

[BDJ]

I don't believe I put any words, in your mouth, Dan.

[Wayne]

Quitter. Bottom line. If she can't handle the scrutiny of being Alaska's Governor or a VP candidate, she could never handle the way the POTUS is scrutinized and second-guessed on a daily basis.

[jann]

So the left can make up the rules as they go and the right has to follow. They have been doing this for the last 8 yrs heavily. On top of it they can say and do any slimy thing to us and no one does anything to fight back. Now we have someone that is making her own rules in a way that is still classy and we are caught up in protocol? Come on, you know what she's doing, and it's not being flaky. The woman is so different that it's playing with peoples minds. But the thing is at the same time you can see her soul and that's rare. She wears her beliefs on her sleeve and her actions are in step with those. In the interview on the boat she flat out said she is not a quitter she's a fighter. I think people have been lied to so long it's scary to trust again.

[RogerCfromSD]

I like and trust Gov. Palin. I cannot say the same for any other politician out there, except Fred Thompson.

If Sarah runs in 2012 for President, she has my vote. Period.

I do not fault her one bit for her decision to quit. She wasn't able to do her job. Certainly not effectively. What would have been the point in continuing to shortchange her constituents because she was constantly distracted with the emotional and political harassment she was dealing with?

She exhibited tremendous courage in quitting. She was willing to do the right thing regardless of what effect it had on her political future. That right then proves she is not a power-hungry, typical politician.

[B.R.]

Something everyone seems to be overlooking here- the complete flakiness of today's U.S. presidential selection process. Do facts or logic have anything to do with it? If you believe that, just think back on the last election. Rational qualifications for a leadership position are a thing of the past. What gets people elected today is television appeal, (and that's not an appeal to the thinking minority). With that in mind, what characteristics would the most electable nominee have?

[wisetrog]

say what you want Dan, her deicsion hasn't affected her numbers one bit. She's still a top contender in 2012. If she runs, she's got a good way to win in the primaries. What will you do then? Vote for Obama and ditch her? You are better than that. As Mark Levin said, she's running, get used to it.

[anonymous]

Sarah Palin is still a top contender in 2012. I read the article last night what Mark Levin said, she's running, get used to it. Levin is right. I don't want to see Romney run in 2012 because he is not a true conservative and he didn't do too well in the 2008 primary election. We need to bring the Republican back control of both House and Senate in 2010.

[Dan Riehl]

"What will you do then? Vote for Obama and ditch her?"

You're just being an ass. Read what I wrote in comments. Don't just pop off like an unhinged jerk.

[Ellis Wyatt]

"If you can't fight and win the media battle, no matter how ruthless the opposition, you won't get very far."

"Thats an interesting standard. The last Republican I saw "fight and win the media battle" was Ronald Reagan. Even savy Newt came away tarred and broken."

Like it or not, that is the reality we are faced with. We simply cannot afford to have candidates who are not media savvy, at least not for high profile offices, because every stupid little gaffe our candidates make will get maximum airtime by the media and the entertainment industry. In my opinion, either the GOP and / or one of the many conservative groups out there should set up a training center to teach candidates how to fight the Media War. We don't stand a chance unless we find a way to counter the Media - Entertainment Complex.

[Buckeye]

You have a point about Palin "hunkering down" only inviting more vicious, dishonest attacks, and about the GOP faring poorly in the media battles. But I'm not sure that any Republican can "win" these battles given the current media climate. If Palin had been on Rush, Levin, et al every week, that would have been spun as proof of her being a radical partisan, blah, blah, and too many people would have believed it.

As others suggested above, the Alinskyites/"progressives" + Mainstream Media are able to do serious damage to their political opponents. When conservatives/libertarians/classical liberals attempt to defend or counterattack, they are fighting on the "progressives" turf. It's like playing football 5 against 11.

Yes, we need start/keep building an alternative media structure from the ground up. We also need to develop new leadership. I like Sarah Palin, too, but she would benefit from serious study, political seasoning, maybe some experiences in the private sector, etc. But these are mid-to-longer-term projects.

In the short-term, the suggestion that seems to be in vogue is to turn the Alinskyite tactics back on the Alinsyites. I agree that this is tempting and could be effective. But it's also a recipe for depravity and, besides, it's easier said than done. To be a good Alinskyite, you need a deep reservoir of hatred toward your own country. Do you have that? I hope not.

What we really need to do in the sort-term is go to work destroying the foundation of progressivism (and its presumed moral high ground) one brick at a time. I'm not sure how to do that, I just feel it's the only way for things to change. Unfortunately, the voting public has indeed moved left and the progressive academic/media/elite complex will be to run its craddle-to-grave nanny state machine until there is a sea change among the public. To a degree, the progressives will wreck their own foundations through their unsustainable policies and by showing their true faces more than usual, but they also need our help to swing the wrecking ball.

[Chris]

Dan,
You may be correct in your assessment, but...
Well, let's just say a lot can (and will) happen between now and 2012, not all of it favorable to the incumbents. Let's start with next year. Imagine a shift in control of the congress, one or both houses. Furthermore, for the sake of argument, consider the possibility that SP is seen as having been instrumental in mobilizing the troops for GOTV in places like Ohio and PA. Possibly even MI. Will anything that's happened in the last week even matter at that point?

The playing field is not static and the media can't ignore millions more unemployed. They can try but there are limits and we're coming up to them in short order. A lot depends on the legislation as well. If cap and charade gets through in anything resembling the version the house passed, "mad as hell" won't begin to describe the mood of the muddle once the additional layoffs and increased costs of everything kick in. Who knows energy? Who doesn't? The Speaker of the House (2nd most powerful pol on the planet) said on national television six months ago that nat gas was not a fossil fuel. 5 times in one interview. Who is the rube again?

The current occupant of the WH voted present 130 times in Illinois. He did not resign however. The playing field for elections has shifted. You haven't taken that into consideration. Quitter? Not if she plays a major role in a tectonic shift. I think visionary would be more like it. It's all a long way out but stranger things have happened.

I'm merely pointing out some possibilities. Not to mention whoever is the nominee will need to raise a billion $$'s, give or take. Can't be done from AK in 2011. And she can't campaign from there in 2010 either.

[Dan Riehl]

I'd agree she has possibilities of all types. I'm not ruling anything out. That said, we need to win big in 2010 and she likely won't be on any ballot that year.

[ken]

"Her responsibility was to do her job, come what may, and she didn't choose to do it. That is not in dispute."

It is in dispute simply because I disagree. She did in Juneau what we sent her to do. Clean up the corruption and insider dealing,get the pipeline moving,get the oil companies working on the natural gas on the north slope and stop the trajectory of state spending.
As an Alaskan I believe she did her job. Were there other things she wanted to do? I suppose there were but now most of what she was doing in Juneau was just costing me money for no purpose.

[anonymous coward]

the victim mentality here is amazing: "the left can do anything they want to us." boo hoo. you guys are too quick to believe in coordinated conspiracies without ever questioning the analogous larger trends that put your "team" on top so easily for so long.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"In the short-term, the suggestion that seems to be in vogue is to turn the Alinskyite tactics back on the Alinsyites. I agree that this is tempting and could be effective. But it's also a recipe for depravity and, besides, it's easier said than done. To be a good Alinskyite, you need a deep reservoir of hatred toward your own country. Do you have that? I hope not."

But at the same time, we should remember that each and every Obama Party member supports and endorses what was done to Palin, and that needs to be spread far and wide. Show up at events with the photoshopped pictures and ask the Obama Party politician why s/he supported them. Ask them why they believe families should be attacked and post the article of Barney Frank's claiming that Palin's family was fair game and should be destroyed. Ask them why they believe that ethics laws should be used to bankrupt Republicans, but why they oppose any sort of inquiry into the ethics of their kickback-takers like Murtha and tax cheats like Rangel. Ask why they don't believe Obama Party high officials should have to pay taxes. Ask why they believe Obama doesn't have to follow the law on firing Inspectors General who investigate and find wrongdoing among Obama's campaign contributors.

[Dave]

"I suppose there were but now most of what she was doing in Juneau was just costing me money for no purpose."

So now she quits, and the legislature is going to have to reconvene for a special session to select a new Lieutenant Governor...you don't think that is going to cost a good penny?

[Mark]

Palin's resignation will hang around her neck like the lock and chains of Jacob Marley. I'm glad she resigned, that way we won't have to contend with her as a viable candidate in the future. I didn't like her when she was presented at the convention, and my opinion about her has only decreased since then. Palin was not a suitable choice for VP and is certainly not acceptable Presidential material.
We have really big problems in this country with what the liberal White House and Congress are doing. If we don't win the next election, this crazy spending, coupled with an eventual erosion of the military, will make us long for the days of Carter.
I support Mitt Romney. The job he did in MA, along with his business sense, personal integrity, and strong commitment to the military makes him the only sensible Republican choice in the next election.
Romney has a really good site, Mitt Romney's Free and Strong America. I urge everyone to check it out.

[leishman]

Dan,
I, too, read John Fund's piece--interesting thoughts, for what they're worth. My take is that, yes, Gov. Palin "quit"--I agree with you, that doesn't look good NOW. But the electorate's memory is surprisingly short. Give her a few years to (a) get her kids a little older, (b) do some homework on the national scene, (c) give her enough on-air time to lose some of the deer-in-the-headlights look/feeling and get more comfortable, (d) get better known, (e) spend more time in the lower 48 (f) garner support for other candidates, and (g) raise a ton of money--which she certainly can do. 2016 or 2020 will be here soon enough. It's the undecideds that swing elections, and with enough exposure those undecideds will come to appreciate her as a conservative and as a human being. Not just incidentally, the undecideds will turn on the MSM for the unseemly caricatures of 2008/2009 once they feel they know the real Sarah Palin. And by then the MSM--including Letterman, MoDo, etc.--will be dinosaurs anyway.

[John]

I'm afraid the fact that Riehl not to mention a greek chorus here is willing to sustain the charade that this woman is any fit person to be with 1000 miles of the any leading position in the government let alone the presidency is mind boggling. Totally mind boggling. Her selection without proper vetting by McCain and the subsequent maintenance of the fiction that she was remotely equipped for the office amounts in my mind to criminal negligence. It's evidence of the degree to which the GOP has become corrupted by a desire to hang onto power regardless of the threat to our country. This is a party that simply doesn't deserve office until it shows some sense of maturity.

[leishman]

Uhh....John, I see no sense of "maturity" in your comment (pot..kettle). She was elected governor over an entrenched old-boys' network and negotiated an important treaty/project with a neighboring country--an executive resume that outperforms community-organizer/vote-"present"-state legislator/no-show half-term-Senator. She serves as a symbol and inspiration to many, as well as a Rorschach test to her detractors. She is no less a symbol to her supporters than the feckless Obama is to his.

[Chrystal K.]

Maybe her resignation was the best thing for her state.

[Dan Riehl]

Leishman, I wouldn't disagree with your points. That's why I said I felt the door was open. It will be interesting to see what she does. She might just turn around in 2012 and run and even win.

Hard to rule anything out when loyalty and a starting popularity are concerned. The media also has a way of making up for their mistakes at times. They wring their hands and start going overboard the other way.

But I only see them doing that with her if she tosses them a few bones, or creates a very different image somehow.

[keninanchorage]

While a special session will cost money, it won't cost anywhere near what another 18 months of ethics complaints would.
Alaska legislature is relatively small and per deim won't amount to much. Some had been calling for a special session anyway to override a veto.

[Brad Schwartze]

"I love Sarah Palin but this resignation only helps her opponents claim they wer right that she wasn't ready to be Vice President."

Let me ask you a question: Why would some of DC's best reporters make a very dangerous (for them) flight to Dillingham, AK, to interview a state governor who may be done with (at least AK) politics after 7/26? Could it be that they flew up there, in fairly dicey aircraft I might add, because Sarah is great for the camera?

And did you ever possibly think that if you're great for the camera, that the "arguments" that the "opponents" make would be significantly muted? Gee, whoda thunk it? The camera can be as great for Republicans as Democrats.