Friday, July 03, 2009
Sarah Palin resigns
Sarah Palin is apparently stepping down from her perch atop America's largest state. We do not yet know what she will do, other than to "focus on her presidential run"; speculation over same will undoubtedly consume both sides of the political blogosphere for the next Memeorandum cycle at least.
I, for one, hope she is going to use the extra time to bone up, as it were. If she is going to do anything for the Republican party, she simply has to get a lot more agile in a pinch. No amount of practice will get her there without a lot of book learning to back it up. Superficiality does not cut the mustard.
MORE: John Hawkins adds his reasons to the mix, generally concluding that it does not make political sense for Palin to resign before the end of her term. I dunno. People forget how far away Alaska is; the distance from Seattle to Anchorage is 1,500 miles, or half again the width of the lower 48. It would not be easy for Palin both to do her job in the state and go on the stump for other Republicans, especially with the neanderfeminists on the left attacking her judgment as a mother.
Instant Instapundit round-up here.
40 Comments:
By 
, at
Fri Jul 03, 04:33:00 PM:
She is done politically. This will give more confidence to the attack-dog left that their tactics work. I think I know how Nazi Germany must have felt as the enemy relentlessly advanced.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 04:38:00 PM:
Bad analogy. My point is, destructive liberalism is advancing on all fronts. The resignation of Palin is one more piece of evidence their guerrilla tactics are effective. They will not relent.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 04:45:00 PM:
It would not be easy for Palin both to do her job in the state and go on the stump for other Republicans
Pppfffttt. She's been doing that since July. Why would she stop now?
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 04:45:00 PM:
I can't necessarily agree with your absolute necessity for "boning up" - the one that got elected last cycle wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer - just really evasive with his answers!
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 04:51:00 PM:
Anon at 4:33 writes: This will give more confidence to the attack-dog left that their tactics work.
Oh please. If she can't take criticism by her opponents or the release of some e-mails from the McCain campaign, what the heck is she going to do when Ahmadinejad looks at her funny?
Waiting for the other shoe....
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 04:53:00 PM:
Palin's future, as far as presidential viability goes still depends as much on how Obama fares in the next 2 1/2 years as what she has done today or will do in that 2 1/2 years.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 04:56:00 PM:
She makes sense! Obama is a disaster and will get worse. Palin can't attack as a sitting governor without being criticized as disregarding her primary responsibility.
Whether she runs or not for President in 2012, everything she says will be on the news as she attacks Obama or one of his thieves.
As much as the communists HATE her, they will not be able to resist her attacks on the Kenyan and his thieves.
From a more practical point of view, her attackers have forced expensive lawyers for defense. Her resources are limited. As a citizen, she can charge $50K speaker fees and have the free time to travel and deliver them. She can sit on boards (ala Mrs. Dodd) and make some bucks.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 05:01:00 PM:
Tress wrote: "Oh please. If she can't take criticism by her opponents or the release of some e-mails from the McCain campaign, what the heck is she going to do when Ahmadinejad looks at her funny?"
As has been pointed out by many others, Palin was subjected to more unsubstantiated and baseless attack than any before. The left went *nuts* when she received the VP nomination. Enduring that kind of onslaught is something different from standing down Ahmadinejad.
At any rate, I would have more confidence in Palin standing down Ahmadinejad than Obama. For all we know, Obama is a homosexual and is now getting buggered by Ahmadinejad. And liking it.
There. How's that? No worse than "Palin is a slut."
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 05:11:00 PM:
Dear Tigerhawk: The last time a national politician tried this was Nelson Rockefeller who resigned as NY governor in 1973:
a) after 14 years on the job
b) after at least two tries for the nomination, both unsuccessful
What did he get out of it? The Vice Presidency after Nixon quit and Ford needed a new veep.
Not an encouraging precedent.
Andrew Sullivan will be insufferable after this. Perhaps hubris will take care of him, but it's going to be a long hard dose. Trig Trutherism has just gotten the rejuvenating shot it needed.
Palin now dons the hat of The Woman Who Might Have Been. Ave atque vale.
Sincerely yours,
Gregory Koster
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 05:19:00 PM:
This was not a political decision by Gov. Palin. Counter-intuitively, this will end up to her political benefit, if she even cares to have a political career at this point.
America's loss, not the Governor's.
By 
Diogenes, at
Fri Jul 03, 05:30:00 PM:
Come on men, America loves an underdog, especially a person with talent, poise and guts, i.e., character and courage. The rest are details.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 05:34:00 PM:
This comment has been removed by the author.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 05:35:00 PM:
"Superficiality does not cut the mustard."
Well, your argument would be much more convincing if we ignore the last election results. Just saying, unless you mean for a Republican candidate.
By Leif, at
Fri Jul 03, 05:38:00 PM:
That speech struck me as the first salvo in a presidential bid. Obama is imploding, and will be vulnerable. By resigning, she restricts her public profile to chosen venues, and can quietly begin the process of gathering GOP support. Meanwhile, Left-wing attack dogs will start looking even worse for going after the family of a "retired" politician. MSNBC's dynamic duo, Ralph Wiggum and Peppermint Patty, will be bereft a favorite target, and instead must defend The One as he drags this country towards the abyss.
Advantage: Palin.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 05:45:00 PM:
Leif, I'd like to think so.
But I do not.
She puts her toe back in the water and they'll swarm like piranhas.
If she wanted to step away she should have done it in a more coordinated and careful way.
She's through. Perhaps by her own choice, but in any event, she's through.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 06:00:00 PM:
You can hardly blame her critics (or the left) for the number of recent strategic blunders she's made in connection with her fellow Republican leaders including her unwillingness to attend appropriate (Republican) events, to do the hard work necesssary, to ingratiate herself with other Republican leaders. She tangled with Gingrich over who was going to be a keynote speaker at Republican fundraiser. She accepted an invittaion to speak at CPAC, and then backed out. She was asked by House Republicans to speak at a retreat but declined saying she had to attend to business in Alaska. Where was she? Attending the Alfafa Dinner in DC with the President and other "elites."
She's quitting 2-1/2 years before her first term is over because in her words she wants to save taxpayers dollars? As a way to fight better for Alaska? Gawd. Stop the madness. To me, her exit is a very fitting ending to what has been an embarrassing political soap opera.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 06:06:00 PM:
I think she's only done with politics if she chooses. I can see this being politically shrewd for her because it frees up her time and removes the plague of non-stop bogus ethics complaints (and potentially connects for the public to see those complaints to her view of her ability to govern). Time will tell.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 06:09:00 PM:
"She's quitting 2-1/2 years before her first term is over because in her words she wants to save taxpayers dollars?"
Yo, John von Neumann, her term ends in 2010.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 06:15:00 PM:
most of you are so jaded that you don't see that she is taking it to Obama. We need her more than she needs us. We have no one speaking for us now other than Sarah. I'm looking forward to her policy speeches and being the loyal opposition.
By Cataline Sergius, at
Fri Jul 03, 06:31:00 PM:
She was mentioning Trig an awful lot. Trig hasn't really been attacked, except by the usual collection of lefty internet f*#ktards. And she appears to have lost a lot weight recently. I think either she has health issues or Trig does.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 06:42:00 PM:
Anon at 6:09 says: Yo, John von Neumann, her term ends in 2010.
Correct. My comment should have said "She's quitting 2-1/2 years into her first term..." Even more bizarre.
It still doesn't make sense. She says she's resigning because she's afraid of being a lame duck. Well, how about NOT being a lame duck. How about not travelling on political junkets? How about staying in Alaska, keeping your head down and governing?
IMO, today's announcement is emblamatic of her performance during presidential campaign. I'm not sure if it's because she has the worst political advisers EVER, or if she's relying on her own instincts, but she blew up her chances for 2012. She may not want to run but if she does everything she did today is taking her in the wrong direction.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 06:44:00 PM:
For those predicting she's through, be sure to leave your advice regarding stocks as well. If your crystal balls are that good, we might as well make some real money off of them.
Wasn't Nixon done in 1962, after he lost the California gubernatorial election?
By Georg Felis, at
Fri Jul 03, 06:57:00 PM:
In hindsight, it becomes fairly easy to see why she's resigning now. She's has been having to expend personal funds to defend against the trivial lawsuit-a-day haranguing from the Dems in the Alaska legislature. Since she's the Governor, she can't accept the kinds of speaking fees or engagements that would be necessary to break even, and still maintain her position. If she is to help the Republicans defeat the Dems in the next election without her going personally bankrupt and spending all her free time in an airplane based commute, she about has to resign. (expect a book and a speaking tour shortly)
At this point in time, the Republican party needs a Palin much more than it needs a McCain, or another ancient white-haired Rino stepping to the plate, talking about how to “coexist”, how they managed to “compromise” on only 900 billion dollars of new spending instead of 935. Go Sarah Go!
My only concern (and it is a fairly small one), is the number of Palin Delusion Syndrome sufferers who will be driven into Sulliven-eske fits of frothing while trying to find some horrible super-secret ulterior conspiracy theory motive for the resignation, such as a secret agreement to sell Alaska back to Putin, or a trans-American highway from Mexico to Fairbanks designed to carry Chinese immigrants to the secret Alaskan diamond mines or some foolish twaddle like that. Then again, it will be entertaining.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 07:21:00 PM:
My guess is money. She can make a hell of a lot money in speeches, sitting on boards, exec VP of an Energy company (?), possibly her own show and whatever else.
I have absolutely no problem with this and she can set up her family for a lifetime of no financial worries. That is a pretty important thing.
I believe she has more character and honesty than a Christopher Dodd or others who profit on their power position. She wants to make money without compromising her principles.
By Cap'n Rusty, at
Fri Jul 03, 07:29:00 PM:
Palin has something no Republican or Democrat has shown ... balls.
By Purple Avenger, at
Fri Jul 03, 08:38:00 PM:
Wasn't Nixon done in 1962, after he lost the California gubernatorial election?
Indeed. Sit back, wait for the opposition to destroy itself...which Obama is doing faster than anyone ever expected.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 08:53:00 PM:
Palin has something no Republican or Democrat has shown ... balls.
Something tells me that's NOT how Romney or Huckabee or whomever else she's running against for the Republican nomination would describe her choice not to fulfill her term as governor.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 09:16:00 PM:
Wasn't Nixon done in 1962, after he lost the California gubernatorial election?
You mean after he was reelected twice as a congressman, followed by a successful run to the U.S. senate, and an eight year stint as VPOTUS?
Please tell me you are not comparing Nixon's political experience with Sara Palin's. Losing an election is a far different result than quitting the one you were elected to serve.
By davod, at
Fri Jul 03, 09:37:00 PM:
"You can hardly blame her critics (or the left) for the number of recent strategic blunders she's made in connection with her fellow Republican leaders including her unwillingness to attend appropriate (Republican) events, to do the hard work necesssary, to ingratiate herself with other Republican leaders."
Examples?
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 10:02:00 PM:
Anon at 5:01PM : At any rate, I would have more confidence in Palin standing down Ahmadinejad than Obama. For all we know, Obama is a homosexual and is now getting buggered by Ahmadinejad. And liking it.
Got issues? That statement says more about you than it ever will say about Obama but if calling others homosexuals helps you deflect concerns about your own sexuality, well, whatever gets you through the night, bro.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 10:34:00 PM:
Superficiality does not cut the mustard..
Are you kidding me? Did you happen to take a look at candidate Obama?
I think what you ought to say is that superficiality doesn't cut it when you are a female Republican the leftist media wants to paint as a bimbo.
If you're a black male with a fancy degree, you can be as vacuous as you like, even repeatedly voting "present" on crucial legislation.
By , at
Fri Jul 03, 11:08:00 PM:
It is not clear what she wants to do now, but whatever she wants to do she wants to do it not in in her official capacity as Alaskan governor.
By , at
Sat Jul 04, 01:03:00 AM:
Tress wrote: "Got issues? That statement says more about you than it ever will say about Obama but if calling others homosexuals helps you deflect concerns about your own sexuality, well, whatever gets you through the night, bro."
I have no issues whatever.
You missed my point entirely.
My point was that making baseless, personal attacks was at the very heart of the attacks on Sarah Palin. I simply served up a little of the same on Obama.
I could just as easily have said that Obama was a documented child molester ... or a known serial rapist in the Chicago area. Pick your poison. In all cases you'd find my attacks without merit and despicable.
Yet when *you* (or others like you) make them ... well, then it's okay.
There is perhaps no more defining characteristic of modern liberalism than intellectual laziness and a stunning disregard for consistency.
By Jack Moss, at
Sat Jul 04, 01:20:00 AM:
"Superficiality does not cut the mustard."..
What? And how did Obama win the Presidency?
You people ought to be ashamed.
No wonder our party is trashed, we eat our own.
By Unknown, at
Sat Jul 04, 03:46:00 AM:
Something tells me that's NOT how Romney or Huckabee or whomever else she's running against for the Republican nomination would describe her choice not to fulfill her term as governor.
Easy response: "I did not inherit a fortune (Mitt) to keep paying bills to have empty "ethics" complaints dismissed. Nor did I enrich myself while in office (huck). I could not even open an exploratory committee while Alaska Governor under those circumstances and it was obvious that partisan forces would continue to waste State money and impoverish my family if I were to try. "
This will work only if she spends the next year running into the fire.
By , at
Sat Jul 04, 10:25:00 AM:
The American moment is over. Not *just* because of this event, but because it's obvious that the barbarians have breached the wall and are swarming.
By Bowler, at
Sat Jul 04, 01:29:00 PM:
To quote another major Republican politician/movie star: "She'll be back."
By , at
Sun Jul 05, 01:49:00 AM:
Greg, without disagreeing with your point, I grow increasingly disgusted by politicians who focus on gaining "higher" office at the expense of filling their current duties.
By , at
Sun Jul 05, 11:22:00 AM:
I am stunned that anyone could seriously consider Palin for higher office after her "performance" as McCain's running mate. Set aside how you feel about the Democrats--Palin as the republican candidate is handing Obama another 4 years. No amount of "boning up" on national or international issues will transform Palin into anyone but a hot 40+ woman who serves up red meat speaches to a core constituancy increasingly divorced from mainstream America.
By , at
Mon Jul 06, 12:27:00 AM:
Jeebus...you have got to be kidding! This woman isn't qualified to be the gawdamn dogcatcher, let alone the President. Do you morons even listen to her incoherent ramblings? What a pathetic collection of douchebags.
