Palin’s Folly
With the media brouhaha surrounding Michael Jackson’s death, many Americans might have missed Sarah Palin’s press conference on Friday during which she informed the world, and her Alaskan constituents, that she was stepping down as governor of the Land of the Midnight Sun.
I’ll admit, I missed the announcement. But having read copies of her statement, not to mention coverage of the event from several sources, I’m having a hard time sorting out my feelings about Palin’s news.
First and foremost, I’m confused. Palin started off her speech by stressing her commitment to her state and lauding the accomplishments she and her administration have made over the first two years in the state’s top office. Somewhere after that, around the time she compared herself to a point guard facing a full court press on the basketball court, she lost me. In fact, if the headlines hadn’t said she had announced her resignation, I may never have gleaned it from her words.
Why is Palin stepping down from the post? I’m not quite sure, and I’m not entirely sure she is either.
I think she said it was to protect the Alaskan taxpayers from having to pay for costly legal defense associated with allegations of ethics violation made by her opposition. But she also talked about how, since she had decided not to run for re-election in 16 months, she didn’t want to burden the state with a “lame duck” for the remainder of her term. And she definitely blasted the media for taking aim at her family, so perhaps that is why. (Hey-maybe that explains the full court “press” comment!)
Regardless of her motives, or her future intentions, her family apparently is in full support of her decision, based on the chorus of “yeahs” and one “hell yeah” she said they gave her when she asked them their opinion. (Don’t worry, she has promised to tell that story at a later date. I’m sure we’ll all be holding our breath.) But I’m not sure the Alaskan people, who elected Palin for her four year term as governor, are quite as enthusiastic about her decision.
And certainly there are plenty in her own political party who fail to understand the former vice presidential candidate’s latest move, not to mention her motivation. There has been plenty of speculation that Palin planned to position herself as a presidential candidate in 2012. Which will be difficult if, as some believe, she has shot herself in the political foot with her resignation.
Palin ended her statement to the press with a quote from General Douglas MacArthur. “We are not retreating,” she said. “We are advancing in another direction.”
She rephrased the same sentiment on Monday during an interview with CNN. “I’m not a quitter; I’m a fighter,” she (tried to) explain.
It’s a difficult argument to make when you’ve just voluntarily increased the jobless number in your state by one.
For me, her clarification to the press was a little watered down by the fact that she made the assertion is made while wearing hip-waders. But perhaps, as my co-worker suggested this morning, that’s all she was left with after she returned her high priced campaign wardrobe after the last election.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Sarah is not a liar or conniving person. Hillary and others have stayed in office all the while trying to get elected to higher office.
I have committed myself to helping her get elected in 2012. The present one has already made it clear he does not know what he is doing.
I realize that he is just another Jimmy Carter and many others are now seeing the same old moves again. We will see a movement back to better control in 210 when the GOP retains control of the Senate and possibly the House too.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I’ll bet you’re convinced your sacred Obama is infallible. As for the rest of us — we’re mere mortals.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Good riddins Sarah, if you can’t play with the big dogs stay on the porch.
Sarah has proven all the reasons why she has no place in politics, leaving office was just one more.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:34 am
She couldn’t even finish a single term as governor in a state with a population of less than 700,000 people and you think she should be the ruler of the free world? That election is still three years away, what about all the people in her state that voted for her that are now abandoned? She’s a joke that gained more attention than she deserves. And just because you don’t like Palin doesn’t mean you like Obama. (I wish that was the case) I certainly know Melissa is not so taken in with him.
July 8th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I’d say you have to look at NY compared to Alaska. Sarah will be right there campaigning for president in 2012.
Hillary could of gotten elected, but she refused to relinquish her senate seat. Same held true in the election of Gore/Lieberman.
Obama has already shown he can get beaten in 2012. He is now taking this country into uncharted waters with his health care package as is.
His share the wealth is what actually got him elected and the disgust of G. W. helped him too.
I said before I’d give Obama the benefit of a doubt, and I have. Now it’s time for the change, that we were promised.
As for Obama he needs to get Clintons people out of the cabinet, and move this country forward or be gone.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Keep dreaming!
Sarah has proven she can’t deal with it, she’s scatterbrained and made a fool of herself when running with McCain.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Look what happened to “Seward’s Folly”!! Maybe “Sara’s Folly” will follow suit.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Just one more individual who just doesn;t get it. Sarah is a maverick! Her answers are clear. She means what she says and says what she means. To many times, people try to read into what people say instead of taking them face value.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Maybe she resigned so her family doesn’t have to be subjected like the blog you just posted. why should she have to take this abuse.The media puts her under a microscope and ignoes the Democrats. the Letterman nonsense is a prime example. If someone had said that President Obamas daughter had gotten knocked up by Alex Rodriguez you and your ilk would be standing on your head and foaming at the mouth about how cruel and racist the joke was. Because it was Sarah Palin and her family it was “good clean fun”. So put your blinders back on and stick with Norwich News.
July 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Her almost-son-in-law spilled the beans to the media. Guess it’s more about money.
She wants her fans and admirers to help pay for the large amount of legal fees she has and people are stupid enough to fall for it and give her money. She’s a con artist and has blinded her sheeple.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I’m sure he has no ulterior motive.He has a publicist and a lawyer and he wants to become an actor. So all of you keep your heads in the sand and let your Pesident look at young girls asses while Sarah Palin is pummelled in the media.
July 11th, 2009 at 11:24 am
You mean when Bush was ogling the women’s volleyball team?
It’s amazing how the picture of Obama was taken out of context, watch the video to see what Obama was really looking at.
But this isn’t about Obama, so why bring him up? This is about Palin who has made a complete fool of herself and her faithful followers are unable to see past her facade.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Keep in mind OBAMA “QUIT” his Senate post to run for the Presidency … he got paid his Senate salary w/our tax dollars while he campaigned nationwide. Too bad he didn’t stick around the Senate a term or two longer and get some tread on his tires … least experienced Prez in history!