Pajamas Media

137 Comments

1. David Thomson:

“Sarah Palin’s odd exit from the national stage.”

Alaska’s especially weird ethics laws compelled Sarah Palin’s resignation. I am amazed how few people realize the extent of the craziness. Apparently, even Jennifer Rubin still doesn’t quite get it. This is perhaps the first thing one must understand: your own state’s ethics laws are not like Alaska’s! Stop comparing apples to oranges. Alaska’s well meaning but naive legislators created a monster which allows any half-baked idiot to file a charge against a sitting governor. Ever heard of the principle of unintended consequences? Well, Alaska’s ethics laws are a quintessential example of the phenomenon. Palin’s situation has deteriorated to the point where much of her time is devoted solely to defending herself against frivolous ethics charges. She also has raised only a relatively small percentage of outside money. Palin therefore remains roughly $400,000 in debt, and bills continue to rise. The woman is not independently wealthy.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:04 am 2. Delia:

The very fact that we are ‘discussing’ her is proof positive that she is ‘proof positive’.

Let the chips fall.

Sic ‘em, Sarah!

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:23 am 3. RightwingHippyChick:

Indeed David,

Ms Rubin, read this: http://www.floppingaces.net/2009/07/06/alinsky-perfected-part-iii-palin-complaints-10-18/

and weep.

Mrs. Palin and we all are getting an education here, of sorts. Let’s hope we learn the lesson…

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:48 am 4. David W. Lincoln:

Whatever happened to putting the establishment in its place? This is part of the legacy of keeping
government in its place, lest it attempt too much.

I prefer to have the government make sure that the police and firemen are paid. It is a stretch for government to be legitimately involved in schools demonizing the reality that there is more to life than the definable, at least by Christian viewpoints.

Right now, the most influential lawmaker on earth
is found in the European Parliament. His name is
Daniel Hannan.

Now, paying more than lipservice to those who gathered in Prague, or in Oslo, not that long ago
is a way for the US to command respect. Plus, there are also fences to be mended thanks to state and local government administering the US federal government stimulus package.

Just take a look at http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com to see if Mitt Romney has learned his lesson.

Jul 7, 2009 - 3:13 am 5. David W. Lincoln:

http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com/search?q=Romney

Need more be said?

Jul 7, 2009 - 3:19 am 6. vivo:

1. David Thomson:

“Palin’s situation has deteriorated to the point where much of her time is devoted solely to defending herself against frivolous ethics charges.”

And why didn’t she try to change the system, like she said about other things?

Why so many ethics charges?

Is suing a sport in Alaska?

Are Alaskans serious or deranged people?

Jul 7, 2009 - 3:28 am 7. Joe C.:

If there is one thing we know about Sarah Palin, it’s that she has better political instincts than anyone currently in politics. Palin is thinking on a higher plane than the chatterati stuck in the NY-DC box. Don’t you think that she took into account all of the conventional wisdom sniping of her decision (i.e. “quitter,” “flake,” etc.).

She turned around a corrupt state and carried McNumbnut to the brink of the presidency ’til he imploded; all in less than 2 years. She has done for Alaska all she could do. Resting on her laurels just ain’t her style. She just leveled a critical blow to her enemies with this announcement despite handing them a short-term PR victory that will quickly blowover amid the obsession with the death of a bleached psychotic pedophile by the same dumbed-down free riders that they created.

The Media and Leftists are trying to bankrupt her for not being an ugly abortion-loving atheist airhead (i.e. Janene Garofalo). She pre-empted them by turning over the state to her hand-picked second to coast on her success for a year and a half, then win on her legacy. She is leading Alaska without all the headaches and financial burdens.

Either she is dropping out of public life or she is not going to run for any electoral office, either way, other’s opinions of her will never need to translate into votes. She is now free to going on the attack, and make people pay for their character assassination of her, and make beaux coup green doin’ it. She no longer has to fight with 2-hands tied behind her back, and the deadweight of the McCain campaign keeping her down.

She will now lead the Republican Party in a Conservative transformation that Michael Steele is seemingly unwilling to do. She can campaign around the country for Conservatives even if they are running against incumbent Republicans. Making enemies of the current GOP establishment “moderates” (i.e. losers) that have led the party to electoral defeat can only help her with Conservatives and Independents.

Eventually she will become a Republican king maker, and lead a Conservative Republican Party back to the prominence it had before the “moderates” lurched it to the left and toward the abyss. This all makes sense unless you are stuck in the conventional wisdom that a person must be rich, in elected office, or an egomaniac to wield power. Palin’s just so far ahead of her critics.

Jul 7, 2009 - 3:41 am 8. "progressive"watch:

Rubin’s first sentence is wrong: not “the mainstream media,” but the former mainstream media. The thing that gives them any power is their media position. They are part of Obama’s propaganda,disinformation and disinformation sector.

Now,in regards to Sarah Palin,her poliltical career is really only beginning. The former mainstream media never did get Sarah Palin. And I agree with David Tompson[1],”apparently even Jennifer Rubin still doesn’t get it.” Palin is as much unlike the former msm as Barack Obama is their Gilded Boy.

Jul 7, 2009 - 3:57 am 9. Rubins Cubit:

Ah yes, the most important thing Mr. Romney, among so many other noteworthy Republicans lie elsewhere, in the air miles and shoe leather he (they are) is investing to help fellow Republicans.

Not that Mr. Romney, or the others bothered to tip their hat, open the door or help a young lady carry her luggage across the street..

No, they joined the parade, by sitting on the curb about 4 – 5 blocks back from the front – and they clapped like crazy when the real heroes in the MSM and Democrat Party threw every conceivable kind of smelly trash known to mankind onto Sarah Palin, her daughter, her husband and even her baby.

And that kind of emptiness, shallow minded character, self centering motivation and regurgitative crudeness my friends; we are supposed to accept as politics about the real concerns of the voters. It is supposed to convince you that we are better than Obama, his administration and the liberal Democrats all over the world..

In less than 10 hours, Sarah Palin’s official announcement that she will exit from the GOP illustrated more about what is missing from our nation than all of the grandstand politics that have been paid for by every politician since Harry S. Truman combined.

Jul 7, 2009 - 4:22 am 10. middleagedpatriot:

I used to like Jennifer. Now you write this Palin hit piece. Did you forget all the work she did in the Georgia run off election? Are the GOP and John McCain trying as hard to destroy Jindal and the others you mention as they are SarahPalin? You’ve really missed the mark with this one. Disgusting.

Jul 7, 2009 - 4:22 am 11. JR:

I’ve heard so much speculating about Sarah’s resignation that it’s to the point it makes me want to puke. From the attacks that she can’t take the heat to “gee …. her resignation is going to hurt her in any run for the presidency in 2012” by all the “self appointed know it alls” from liberal to conservative pundits. The only things all these attacks on her do are reveal the utter shallow character and political affinities of the attackers.

I’m a conservative who could care less why she did what she did and will not matter one scintilla in my support of any endeavor she takes on, including a run for the presidency. Why? Because I see something in the woman that all her critics lack and that is character and integrity. Her history indicates she’s not the type to throw in the towel but rather an extremely competitive and achievement oriented person. If I were the opposition, Democrat or Republican, I’d be seriously concerned (which they are) about what her plans were and that is exactly why they are doing and saying anything to try and stop her.

Jul 7, 2009 - 4:39 am 12. Sonny:

Those filing ethics charges got what they wanted. Sarah couldn’t be beaten at the polling booth, so they attempted to bankrupt her instead. It seems strange that those with whom she enjoyed an 80% approval rate BEFORE she was tapped as McCain’s running mate, did so little to suppress those who were filing those frivolous lawsuits.

Those people who were costing the tax-payers of Alaska hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses should have been exposed and scorned. The fact they have the freedom to file the lawsuits is not the point. It is the taking of the court’s time and the expense of defending oneself that is squandered.

Sarah Palin was elected to govern her state. It is too bad she wasn’t permited to do so. We will never know what she is truly capable of because her distractors didn’t care or want to know and didn’t want her to have the chance. All the evidence of her past history indicates she could’ve been successful just doing what she was elected to do.

As the Democrats are most famous for, Sarah couldn’t be beat on policy issues so they took up their usual policies of personal destruction. It is no wonder good people don’t run for public office. Who needs it? I have yet to figure out what the evil is in a person who chooses to want to destroy a fellow countryman? Is winning really that important?

Jul 7, 2009 - 4:50 am 13. jharp:

Pure speculation on my part but maybe, just maybe, Palin resigned to join and energize the teabaggers.

You’ve got two jokes of movements, Palin and the teabaggers, who are both self destructing. Maybe it’s a last ditch effort to unite and try to save these two complete and utter failures.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:04 am 14. Bumr50:

I keep reading these articles and I feel sorry for their authors.
They really DON’T get it, do they?

I compare the current punditocracy to Bruce Willis’(gr?) character in “12 Monkeys” when he thinks that the commercial on the car radio is speaking directly to him, as if he were actually THE very special customer mentioned in the spot, and is surprised and dumbfounded when confronted with the truth.

It’s time to get the house in order.

A very effective and important message, delivered brilliantly , for persons looking to the future.

I hear it.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:15 am 15. David Thomson:

“Mrs. Palin and we all are getting an education here, of sorts. Let’s hope we learn the lesson…”

The Alaskan legislators undoubtably meant well when they short circuited the system. These naive politicians imagined that the new law would simply make it easier for a citizen to file a well thought out and substantial ethic charge against a powerful elected official. It might occur once every two years or so. The very idea that they were opening the flood gates to the manipulation of the system by every whack job holding a grudge never crossed their mind.

I live in Texas and one is compelled to persuade others before their accusations are taken seriously. It’s a normal step by step process. Governor Rick Perry doesn’t need to worry about an ethics violation charge until it is vetted thoroughly. This is not what is going on in Alaska. Each and every ethics charge must be handled by the governor’s office. They may be ultimately rejected—but in the meantime they cost countless hours and money to resolve.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:15 am 16. Mike:

“I used to like Jennifer. Now you write this Palin hit piece. Did you forget all the work she did in the Georgia run off election? Are the GOP and John McCain trying as hard to destroy Jindal and the others you mention as they are SarahPalin? You’ve really missed the mark with this one. Disgusting.”
-Can you explain why this was a “hit” piece? Sarah Palin was the only reason I had any sense of enthusiasm last November. McCain would have gotten my vote, but only because Obama was exactly what I thought he was. Palin made me speak to others about getting out to vote, about looking at the issues and not just the “wonderful, historic” candidate named Obama. After the election, I did not like those interviews with Greta. There was no discussion of issues, which is why I vote for a person. Sarah Palin governed Alaska in a way that I would like. She believes government can only do so much. Now, if she wants to remain in the political world, let’s hear some ideas of how best to get out of this hole we are in. No more complaining, it is put up or shut up time! Sarah-cuda, unleash the hounds on Obama and Reid and Pelosi!

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:16 am 17. Jack Okie:

It’s really funny how all these pundits, Ms. Rubin included, get totally flummoxed when somebody like Sarah changes the narrative. There’s a new paradigm comin’, Jennifer. Please try to keep up.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:16 am 18. vb:

All of these critiques of Palin are based on unsubstantiated assumptions about her. I don’t think Palin really cares about being president or even vice president as a goal for her life. She has a life. Her involvement in politics seems to have arisen from an interest in specific issues that affected her, her family, and her community and state. She is certainly not a trained energy expert, but when she saw problems, she studied the issues and figured out solutions. When she accepted McCain’s offer to run with him, she probably did so because she thought she could really contribute to solving energy problems because she knew how energy prices affect average people and small business operaters. She wanted to give a voice to those who are not Prius-driving pundits.

She never claimed to be a foreign policy expert, but she tried to convey that she had done her homework on things that affected Alaska, like the national guard and missle defense. In contrast to Obama, she never pretended to have mastered the complexities of nuclear proliferation while in college. She surely lacked Obama’s mentors on Islamic issues, but she would not have made the false assumption that the problems of the Islamic world all resulted from American policies. She would have recognized a lot of PC BS and looked more deeply. No, Sarah Palin would not have been ready from day 1 to take on American foreign policy, but judging from Obama’s reversals, he wasn’t either. He just knew the buzz words.

Sarah Palin is not being attacked just for herself. She is being attacked to put everyone similar to her in their place. No one should have the timerity to question the monstrosity of cap and trade. No one should question whether their reps should actually read a mammoth, life-changing piece of legislation before voting. No one should question details when their betters have such good intentions. The message is clear: Raise your voice and you will be Palinized. Join your next victim group and stretch out your hand to your betters.

We should all support Sarah Palin, not as a presidential candidate and certainly not as the savior of conservatism, but as an average American who identified problems and worked to solve them. She personifies William James’s belief that the way to get closer to truth is to roll up your experiences and think. America would be a better place if more people would follow her example in this. This was the liberty our founding fathers fought for– the freedom to think and contribute.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:18 am 19. Terry Gain:

Why so many ethics charges?

The question is not why so many but why are all of them unfounded. And the answer is liberals tried to drive her from office. So the better question is why are there so many unethical liberals?

Is suing a sport in Alaska?

They don’t sue. They simply lodge a complaint. It’s an easy, no risk no cost system for the complainant

Are Alaskans serious or deranged people?

Unfortunately, Alaska has its share of unethical liberals. It doesn’t take too many unethical liberals to do serious damage.

The suggestion of Krauthammer etc to the effect that it will take her years to recover from the resignation is nonsense. In this age of instant communications a political career can be made or destroyed in weeks and months not years. How many people had even heard of Barack Obama in January 2007?

Sarah Palin will attract huge crowds wherever she speaks. Once it’s understood that she had no choice but to resign from her position so that she could be freed up to fight back, the public will have great sympathy for her resignation.

She will write a book, study policy issues and make speeches. She will attract huge crowds wherever she speaks. If she were to announce now that she intends to make a presidential bid the media would be all over. Public support for Sarah will enable her to build a powerful organization and create momentum for her candidacy.

She will have a significant impact on the 2010 midterms and will be in a position to secure the GOP nomination in 2012. By that time the extent of the damage to the American economy perpetrated by the incompetent Obama administration will be fully understood the GOP nomination will be a plum. The American public will be anxious to elect the candidate who is the quintessential anti-Obama candidate.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:21 am 20. Chuck Pelto:

TO: David Thomson, et al.
RE: Speaking of Which

Ever heard of the principle of unintended consequences? Well, Alaska’s ethics laws are a quintessential example of the phenomenon. Palin’s situation has deteriorated to the point where much of her time is devoted solely to defending herself against frivolous ethics charges. — David Thomson

Wouldn’t it be ironic if she organized an officially recognized ‘TEA Party’ for the 2010-2012 election cycles?

I know a number of people who would jump from Republican to such a party in a heartbeat. And it would be poetic justice to the Republican Party, to boot.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The more you observe politics, the more you've got to admit that each party is worse than the other. -- Will Rogers]

P.S. So why NOT a ‘third’?

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:47 am 21. Mike2:

Lots of good comments! And no Ms. Rubin, you don’t understand Sarah Palin. I think the Letterman joke was the last straw and that she had to make a decision for the good of her family and her state.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:04 am 22. Attila:

Jennifer clearly needs an education about Sarah Palin. Although Mitt Romney is earning points with pundits, he is NOT leading conservatives or Republicans to do much. If Sarah mobilizes grassroots opposition and organizing, she will be a leader in ways not possible from Alaska. That will justify her unconventional resignation.

There are a lot of “broken glass” conservatives waiting for an effective leader who will enthusiastically follow Sarah Palin. Things need to change the bad change before 2010.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:06 am 23. william:

“She never overcame the doubts about her knowledge, credibility, and seriousness about policy during a time in which conservatives and the country face monumental challenges.”

And why is that? Did you point out what her accomplishments were? Because of the constant mis-information campaign about her that you seemed to have joined, we now really have someone in office that this quote actually speaks to.

Kudos to most of the above responses to your sort of veiled hit piece.
You like many other “commentators” have no idea how this is going to play out, all you are doing is trying to jockey for a place of importance with more false prophecy. This is unbecoming of you as well as the rest of the media. In fact it’s puerile!

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:10 am 24. Telly:

Sarah’s really got the media and pundits baffled. I suspect that’s just what she wanted to do. The more all the so-called experts talk about her and try to school her, the more I like her and will support her.

Right now, being different and unexpected from the regular political game is exactly what this country needs.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:18 am 25. David S:

The central message is that serious times require serious candidates.

I couldn’t agree more.

Peace.

DS

PS – All the talk of “frivolous” ethics charges ignores the reality that Palin reached a settlement to repay Alaskans for improper reimbursements she has received – in short, she has been stealing from the people of Alaska. I agree with Palin that Alaskans deserve better.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:22 am 26. The Infidel Alliance:

I’m sure Gov. Palin is sick of the hyenas of the sadistic media circus that have so viciously attacked her and her family. But there is something bigger about Sarah Palin than the media circus, fame or money: values.

There is little doubt that she (and probably most freedom loving Alaskans) detests the socialist leviathan that Obama is creating.

I would not be surprise if, in an effort to reinvigorate the true character of the United States, she starts a movement for the secession of Alaska.

That singular act would be the shock that would force all Americans to seriously rethink their massive, failing, intrusive state & federal governments.

Alaskan succession. Now that would make one helluva statement.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:25 am 27. Christopher Davis:

Non-stop drumbeat of personal angst? You know it’s a vendetta, Ms. Rubin. I’ve never seen anything like it in my lifetime. Have you?

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:26 am 28. elvis:

Palin is fiercely independent, and you with the rest of the media, are not. Her so-called victim status is very understated by her. Her complaints on what is happening to her and her family are more than true, and actually an attack on all of us that don’t bend over to the people that you in the media want to be liked by.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:36 am 29. Mike W.:

21. Mike2: “I think the Letterman joke was the last straw and that she had to make a decision for the good of her family and her state.”

Well, if that’s the case, I’m glad she did resign. I think this country deserves better than to have politicians who will just up and quit their responsibilities to their constituents because TV comedians are hurting their feelings.

Back in the 90s, Rush Limbaugh and John McCain were calling Chelsea Clinton “the family dog”, but you didn’t see Hillary or Bill whining about it. Instead, they did what REAL leaders do: they shut up and did their jobs.

America doesn’t need any more quitters.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:57 am 30. Tonya:

In my opinion when they started picking on her children with extreme narrow-mindedness (and a form of EXTREMISM) it was probably the last straw that broke the ole camel’s back. My sister has a handicapped daughter, and Governor Palin is probably very protective over her children, and especially her baby (I would be too).
I read somewhere that some stupid animals photoshoped her babies picture, as a parent I can see where she is standing and that she is putting her children first, because I would too.
The stupid Media ridiculed her during the election saying that she was not a good mother, and now they just do not know why she has done this, well the idiots must not be parents, or they must not be good ones to question why she does not want her children treated the way the animals (wolves) have treated them.

If Sarah Palin reads this, please know that you have my admiration.

If the MSM reads this, you have my disdain. You are most certainly scorned in my household for attacking children.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:58 am 31. Brownie Matlack:

Jennifer Rubin is just another member of the Northeast Corridor Conservative Elites who are as power hungry as the Democrats. They truly don’t understand that a larger and larger number of Conservatives all over the country are finding them more and more irrelevant.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:00 am 32. Dave ll:

Wow!…No less than 6 articles on Sarah Palin on Pajama Media’s front page, 5 with her picture on it!

And this on the day of Michael Jackson’s funeral where he rates only one!

You can draw your own conclusions, but I for one can only be impressed…

Good job, PM!!!

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:01 am 33. Dave ll:

Oh…and EVERY single article about her here, except this new one today, has well over 100+ comments…

This is STAR-POWER, pure and simple.

(Or possibly obsession…I’m not sure which…and the same holds true for MJ though, too…as I’m sure anyone viewing TV today can attest to…)

It goes to show though…she is a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:13 am 34. Genny:

17. Jack Okie:

It’s really funny how all these pundits, Ms. Rubin included, get totally flummoxed when somebody like Sarah changes the narrative. There’s a new paradigm comin’, Jennifer. Please try to keep up.

My sentiments exactly. They just don’t get it. I’m not listening to the pundits and MSM anymore. I know I want my country back and they are not interested. Sarah Palin speaks for me.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:28 am 35. AF_Vet:

“Back in the 90s, Rush Limbaugh and John McCain were calling Chelsea Clinton “the family dog”, ”

For which Limbaugh immediately apologized for on air the next day and never did again…thank you.

“but you didn’t see Hillary or Bill whining about it.”

Uh, actually yeah we did. Hillary whined about it immediately, and again, Rush apologized on air the next day on his TV show. Now who’s whining?

“Instead, they did what REAL leaders do: they shut up and did their jobs.”

They? Who is THEY? Hillary wasn’t elected, and wasn’t a leader, she was First Lady. And by the way, said first lady was the whiner in chief for eight years. Remember the phrase “Right Wing Attack Machine?” Wah.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:34 am 36. sheesh:

I find the conservative to Sarah Palin’s political death fascinating . . . an orgy of glorification.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:35 am 37. Aleena:

I have to agree tht Ms. Rubin is the one who is out-of-touch – not Sarah Palin.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:38 am 38. JED:

Cause and effect: Palin drives the MSM, entrenched politicos, and bi-coastal elites to stumble all over their facades of journalism and brings out the worst of the big tent post Woodstock liberals. She is well worth the air time to watch her opponents flummox and sneer. A pit bull in lipstick is a mixed message until it bites.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:40 am 39. sheesh:

She up and quit. She quit multiple colleges.. She quit her mayor’s job before her term was up. She quit the Oil & Gas Commission. She quit the governorship. She’s a quitter. That’s what she does. She flirts her way into positions she’s not qualified for, then quits when people catch on.

You folks are blinded by celebrity, and panicked by the relentless implosion of your family values standard bearers. I think we’ve stumbled onto the planks of the new conservative platform – celebrity and hypocrisy . . . and killing doctors.

I can feel the ground swelling right now, heaving, shifting, a tectonic shift to the right that . . . oh, damn, another indictment/affair/embezzlement. Just when we were gaining our momentum.

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:59 am 40. Claire Solt:

The idea thqqt pundits know issues better than this governor is so narcissistic it is infuriating. They think the nation is in Washington, not in the nation where pooliticians live these issues instead pof reading about them. If conservatives want to do themselves a favor we should fire these self-important useless pundits and bring on a fresh crowd.

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:04 am 41. ate mely:

What career is that, Jennifer Rubin of PJM? as a government employee? as a pundit like you? as a mother of five? as a wife? as a business person? Another pundit diagnosis and analysis. Why? You don’t convince sheesh an anti-Palin, and you don’t convince me, a proud Palinbot, Palinista & Palinmaniac. Jeeeeeeez.

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:09 am 42. william:

It is good to see the overwhelming response in favor of Palin and against the sordid media continues. The real failures like the Katie Courics of the world are on full display now. They and the ones that support them have been soiling their pants since the weekend. Soiling overtime!

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:11 am 43. Professor Guvinoff:

All the alleged shortcomings of Mrs. Palin pale in comparison to the real shortcomings of today’POTUS. As a matter of fact, it’s even worse: When it comes to the economy, his unparalleled expertise is how to destroy it, as he plainly admits in a TV speech (in Chicago a few years back) on how the anti-carbon zealotry can only be bad news for the energy sector.

She has a good track record for hiring competent people, which cannot be said of all people in executive positions. At this point, any guess about whether Sarah Palin wants the presidency or not is pure speculation. Should she want it, the question won’t be whether she is good enough, it will rather be whether she is better than the other contenders.

If the answer could be known ahead of time, what would be the point of having elections?

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:16 am 44. John:

Well according to the pundit class, she means just about anything their cynical, power riven little minds seem to think it means. She’s running in 2012. She’s doomed… She’s committed political suicide… She’s a quitter… She’s a mother bear watching out after her cubs… She’s got a secret plan…

Hum… Sarah Palin has got lots of things… but that much is not on the plate.

I have maintained from the beginning that Sarah Palin is doing what she feels is best given the circumstances and there are no dark, tactical or nefarious motives involved. She is leaving politics for the foreseeable future, and that is that.

1. Sarah Palin failed as governor of Alaska and so has left the office. This is absolute fact. Failure at something is not evil, it is not bad (just ask any businessman whose had a franchise or two bite the dust before something actually worked…) With life and success will always come the jackal of failure, lurking in the shadows.

She failed not because she could not handle the core components of the job, but because she could not handle the supporting politics of maintaining that office. Sarah Palin’s foray into high executive office was a failure because she could not deal with the necessary political internecine battles and pressures (both negative and positive) that any successful elected official must navigate. If being Prince was just about princely [er um] stuff, then Machiavelli could have wrapped up his book in a pamphlet.

Sarah Palin was hounded out of office by natural enemies on the Left, and allowed to pass into the night by those for whom she offered no support so they returned the favor.

2. Sarah Palin failed because she did not live up to expectations. Those were wildly out of order but expectations that were not blunted or tempered by common sense. She was a short high school girl’s basketball player who was suddenly shoved out onto an ACC men’s basketball court. She might have been spunky, made the first jump shot from 20ft, but from then on, she ate ball after ball as her entire game was consumed by players infinitely better at the game than she was.

I think the reason why the movement right Team Sarah folks are defending her so hard, is the overcompensation for a vague feeling that though the Establishment RINO/Elitist opinion was mostly wrong, and very ugly… it did have a kernel of truth to it, and that little rotten core overwhelmed the entire package being presented.

Sarah Palin was NOT ready to be picked as the VP candidate for 2008. She was an identity politics (on several levels) gimmick and though she attracted far more votes than she repelled – my opinion as I surveyed exit polls and election wrap-up polls — my surmise is that Sarah Palin should have told whatever McCain people came to her… “Thanks, for the flattering offer fellas… but I have to learn this gig first, maybe some time down the road… you betcha… but not right now.” That would have been the mature… know who you are… be within yourself… I love my [insert your state here] kind of political sense.

What we got was a beautiful woman with a reasonable brain in her head… who had sort of “accidented” her way into a more powerful position than she had ever handled… (Peter, call your principle…) She bit off a tad more muck tuck than she could chew. The “moment” got to her… and carried her right into a world where she had no tools. She would have been better facing off an angry moose. At least she would have been armed with an appropriate rifle, and had the experience of dispatching more than a few in the past.

3. So, Sarah Palin recognized, later than she should have, but finally… that she had potential, but not the stomach or the experience to take on the monster that is the modern media/Democrat attack machine. She looked at her family, her situation, and her potential future at whatever… and recognized that she had stepped way beyond her comfort zone. Frankly my comfort zone would not include the vicious, evil attacks levied upon her, and her family. She put up with far too much, and was ill supported by the craven and self-serving likes of the [insert the name of some smarmy political consultants here] of the world.

What will Sarah Palin do? Well, she’ll write that book. She’ll make speeches (an act for which she is well equipped and has a natural gift.) She’ll stump for conservative candidates and mushy candidates who need a conservative “cred” added to the stack. She might even make the occasional guest appearance and perhaps sub for a Hannity or Mark Simon on his local show. She’ll go back to being a mother… with really cool, very lucrative jobs. A couple of columns here and there.

If she does run at some time in the future it will be the far future when she can explain why she walked away from an elective office that was her only serious credential for a higher “calling”.

One thing is for sure, she will probably have to say good-bye to Alaska. Given the political enemies that she has made in her home state, she is unlikely to do much there from now on.

r/TMF

BOOMS!
The Mighty Fahvaag

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:21 am 45. LeighB:

Seems to me that Sarah Palin is doing as much of the educating as being educated. The bright light that she has shown on others’ attempts to put her down and the lengths to which they have been willing to go has been harsh. For them. And for any woman interested in a political career at the national level knows what the rules are, there are none.

Here in flyover country, jokes about a 14 year old having sex with a tabloid-star baseball player aren’t funny. Defacing a picture of a toddler isn’t cute. And all these references to Barbie just sound like pure jealousy.

I have no idea what she is going to do next but I hope she raises a ton of money for the Republican party, makes speeches, writes a good book, and lives happily ever after.

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:24 am 46. Dave K.:

She had to quit because she’s pregnant with twins.
They’re named “Cut” and “Run.”

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:30 am 47. Harry:

MARION BARRY

Now there’s a politician Sheesh would be proud of.

Imagine Sheesh now spewing liberal venom.
Fingers typing at keyboard burning speed trying to find any and all dirt on a conservative. You just don’t get it Sheesh. The dems are also crooked but as long as the voters remain ignorant and uncaring we’ll continue to suffer under democratic rule. Let’s hold BOTH parties equally accountable not totally accountable to one party and minimally accountable to the other. Would you agree Sheesh that a THIRD party might force the present two to be more responsible and honest to the American public?

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:31 am 48. Oldflyer:

39. Sheesh, don’t you think you should tend your own garden first? I am tempted to say you have your “head up and locked”, to quote an old aviation phrase. But, let’s play nice.

With regards to the article; Jennifer clearly likes Romney. I do too. I wish he had run a better primary campaign and had been the nominee last time around. Didn’t happen.

Then a Superstar burst on the scene and the landscape changed. Jennifer, Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker, among others, can hiss and scratch all they like. They just sound very catty. They also sound a little deranged if they still fault Sarah for not grasping issues, as we look to the Buffoon in the White House and his comedic side-kick.

As Mark Levin, whom I admire more than most, stated: (sic) she is exactly right on the fundamental issues of conservatism.

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:31 am 49. no2liberals:

Clearly, Sarah’s interview with Wolf Blitzer wasn’t viewed by JR.
What I, and others I’ve talked with, like most about Sarah is her genuineness, that she has a record of accomplishment as Governor. Even more appealing, is that she didn’t attend some Ivy league bastion of liberalism, nor is she a member of the NY-DC self-anointed elites.
Now she is free to travel and attend speaking engagements. In the recent past, wherever she has gone, she has packed the house.
By leaving public office, she is now unfettered by any modicum of decorum, and instead of responding to the vitriolic attacks on her, and her family, she is free to attack.
The looney left, and establishment GOP already feared her. Now they are terrified of her.
As for Romney, even mentioning him as a viable candidate, at this time, is disturbing. Mitt is the next GOP establishment candidate, and that doesn’t serve the interest of conservatives.
Personally, I don’t care if she runs for POTUS in 2012, or not. Having her out front advocating conservative ideas and principles, is what I want to see.

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:37 am 50. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Sarah Palin… rings a bell. Wasn’t she a celebrity of some sort back when Michael Jackson was alive?

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:38 am 51. Sara123:

Romney is “articulate and smart” and he’s stood by the good ole boy Rinos who now have the GOP in a solid minority…and this is all it takes for him to be be elected by conservatives? Dream on!

Palin is not finished yet. We will see what she does now that she is as free as Romney to fund raise, consult, read, study and speak to conservative voters.

Romney voters are committed to him. The only problem is that conservatives are equally committed to not voting for another insider Rino. We are not taking the fast road to socialism and globalism nor are we traveling the Rino’s slower road to socialism and globalism. We need to turn this Nation around towards economic and individual freedom. That would be in the opposite direction of Romney.

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:44 am 52. Scooby:

Love to see the hatred from liberals. LOVE IT.

It only reinforces the fact that Sarah Palin is making the right choice and still is a strong candidate – for any office.

The sleeze machines that have been working to destroy this woman are only making her stronger, and her supporters more adamant as well.

So, keep it up slime-balls. Keep the hatred flowing. Keep the scorched-earth coming. We are rallying around Sarah Palin and you can’t stop it.

Hahahahahahahaha

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:09 am 53. Moogie:

jharp: I find the term “teabaggers” to be offensive in the extreme.

Comment moderators: it sure would be nice if you guys actually moderated some of these vulgar and offensive comments.

Jennifer Rubin: As others have already said on this forum: you really don’t get it. With this article, you have stepped into the anti-Sarah camp, which is really too bad for you, and all of the others who are standing on the outside. I believe Sarah’s best days are just beginning, no matter what she chooses to do after leaving office.

She did a very noble thing, and why others can’t see that is yet another indication of the mindless indoctrination they’ve been subjected to over the course of this last election. If the Republicans want to turn their back on Sarah, that’s fine. They might as well be Democrats anyway, with their track record of outrageous spending and refusal to listen to the American public who gave them their jobs.

By the way, I attended our local Tea Party (didn’t see anyone engaging in what jharp describes), and the keynote speaker made it a point to talk about the Cloward-Piven Strategy – I suggest everyone check this little Alinksy gem out, and then try defending the actions of our current administration. P.S. The Tea Party event was awesome.

You are blind people and you are asleep at the wheel. Time to wake up and open your eyes!

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:13 am 54. Delia:

The ‘thing’ that scares LIBERALS the most is that many WOMEN came on board for Palin including LIBERAL ‘CLINTON HILLARY’ voters once they saw what DohBama did to Hillary.

Case in point:
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/

Sarah did what was RIGHT for Alaska and RIGHT for her and her family.

If I had half a mil. or so in debt because of lame assed lefty lawsuits, and even more moula for said lawsuits being drained from Alaska to cover the same, and time spent with constant B.S. over said lawsuits…

Well, I’d say Sarah did about the ‘rightest’ thing that anyone with half a brain and some INTEGRITY would do.

The FBI even came out and said they aren’t investigating her [unprecedented]!

So, Lefties…quiver in your boots. Sarah is coming to a theatre near you.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:16 am 55. Blarty Blarckleblart:

52 Scooby

Oh yeah, we HATE Sarah Palin! Please, please don’t nominate Sarah Palin in 2012, Brer Fox!

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:21 am 56. Blarty Blarckleblart:

You are blind people and you are asleep at the wheel. Time to wake up and open your eyes!

Opening one’s eyes cures blindness?

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:22 am 57. Sonja:

Mitt Romney didn’t get the bashing Sarah Palin did.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:23 am 58. Strawman:

Couldn’t Palin have tried to do the same in the last six months? She gave not a single serious policy address.

Umm..hello? She had a full-time job, and kids, and Romney was independently wealthy. Suppose those considerations entered the picture?

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:34 am 59. Strawman:

Comment moderators: it sure would be nice if you guys actually moderated some of these vulgar and offensive comments.

Blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT.

Peace.
______________

Offensive is somewhat subjective. Banal is a little more clear cut. I’d like to see the banality tossed.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:38 am 60. Pat J:

Here’s a wish for Palin in 2012.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:40 am 61. Whitey:

Great article Jennifer Rubin. Speaking truth to these masses can be tough.

All, Please continue with the rationalizations why it is acceptable to quit the job your agreed to do because it became too hard. Numbered lists work best…
1. Media hates me and I don’t like all the negative PR, so just quit.
2. Ethic complaints make it difficult to do my job, so just quit.
3. Lame-duck politicians are useless, so they should just quit. (Awesome logic!)

And since when does “I’m not going to do politics as usual” means you have to quit? Gee, I would hope my elected leaders would instead choose stay and work to fight through the challenges, not make up excuses to quit.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:40 am 62. Strawman:

And one more thing.

Sometimes a resignation is just a resignation.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:41 am 63. Jayson H:

I been working up in Alaska for about 5 months now and the more I learn about Sarah Palin the more I like about her. That’s why the RINOS, Demos, and left wing news media are scared stupid. They want to destroy her any way they can and they’ve spent millions trying to do it.

If she runs for President she’s got my support hands down.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:46 am 64. Sidney Weinberg:

Romney’s compelling biography? Portman? Whitman? etc. Sarah Palin has the most compelling biography. Imagine for one moment if Palin was a Democrat – especially given the success of “Hope and Change.”

Palin is trapped within establishment expectations – from both Republican and Democrats. But she is not a member of the establishment. She will lead an insurgent campaign within the Republican Party, or she will seek more independence.

The Romneys and McCains and Giulianis of the world offer nothing but more of the same. Palin is more like Goldwater, or Reagan. She may never win another election, but she will continue to shake up the system as it continues to fail on an epic scale.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:48 am 65. Strawman:

Imagine for one moment if Palin was a Democrat

You don’t need to imagine. His name was Harry Truman. The hoity-toities of his day (including FDR) didn’t think much of him, either.

It’s doubtful that a hoity-toity intellectual would have ended WWII with that little loss of life.

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:06 am 66. Delia:

P.S. I will always ♥ Sarah Palin. I can’t wait to see what she will do next! I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it!

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:23 am 67. Dave K.:

No, I want Sarah Palin to be the next Republican Presidential Candidate.
It will be ever so entertaining.

Her official campaign slogan?
GO SARAH 2010!

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:27 am 68. Whitey:

66.Delia
You’re about to loose control, and I think I like it.

Is there anything Sarah could do that would cause you to not support her? Blind faith isn’t a good thing.

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:32 am 69. Delia:

67. Dave KKKlan,

Don’t forget, WOMEN are STILL the majority in the USA.

Nyuck!

While you whack off to ‘kiddie p0rn’ and ‘avail’ yourself on your ‘off’ minutes to Pub-Blogs, just remember this:

The more you cry, “WE won” the more YOU LOSE by default.

You see, the King is weak without the Queen, and the Queen is taking your Rooks and Pawns down one by one…

Your move0n.org?

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:39 am 70. john from cinncinatti:

projecting on Sarah Palin, only she can say, and i want to hear it from her, not from some talking head who thinks they know.

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:40 am 71. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Imagine for one moment if Palin was a Democrat

You don’t need to imagine. His name was Harry Truman.

Difference being, Harry Truman got elected Vice-President.

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:40 am 72. Delia:

68. Whitey:

“Is there anything Sarah could do that would cause you to not support her? Blind faith isn’t a good thing.”

DOH my GAWD! I can name so many things DOHBAMA got ‘blind’ faith for and you want me to name s**t about Palin?

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:41 am 73. Berlet98:

Dirty Dave and the Palins

DISCLAIMER: Okay, I admit I personally didn’t hear this on Fox News Monday morning but this report comes directly from an authoritative source, the bride. So I think it must be pretty accurate, even if I couldn’t verify it on politically correct Google.

Bob Beckel,he of the snide comment and overflowing paunch, said that had Dave Letterman made comments about a Democratic woman comparable to what he said a few weeks ago about Sarah Palin and her family, he’d be off the air by now.

Somehow, there has been no righteous indignation over that misogynistic funny from Letterman.

Well, Duh! Any conscious or semi-conscious American should know by now that the New York Times prints all the news that fits and the rest of the liberal, lapdog mainstream media follow suit.

It’s baffling that the lib press and the TV networks can’t figure out why Americans have had it up to their earlobes with twisted, biased and censored ”reporting” and have tuned them out.

That’s not really news to conservatives and Republicans but it’s always good to know that the sweet breath of truth occasionally emanates from the mouths of Democratic hacks. Apparently, Beckel immediately realized he had committed a Dem mortal sin by voicing truth and he vainly tried to temper his remarks.

To review: Much has been made of slimy Dave’s risque “joke” about the Palins’ daughter, 14 year old Willow being “knocked up” out in right field during a game at Yankee Stadium. Ol’ Dave tried to defend his pedophiliac remark by saying, after it all hit the fan, that he meant 18 year old Bristol Palin and not Willow.

His reflective thinking was that maligning an 18 year old girl by suggesting she was screwing A-Rod out in right field was fine but that he would never, never I tell you, toss salacious barbs at Willow, despite the fact it was Willow, not Bristol, who had accompanied her mother to the Yankee game on the day in question.

Bristol, well, she’s another matter. She was fair game since she had conceived a child out of wedlock–and gave birth to Brig, rather than aborting him in the liberal fashion. A major plus, indeed the overriding factor for her to be attacked by Dave, she was the child of a Republican conservative.

Such hilarity could never, would never, be directed at Chelsea . . .

(Read the rest at http://genelalor.com)

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:41 am 74. Delia:

I got censored?

Sorry, mods. My potty mouth needs a young priest and an old priest. ;(

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:46 am 75. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Such hilarity could never, would never, be directed at Chelsea . . .

You mean the White House dog? (h/t Rush Limbaugh, 1994)

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:54 am 76. Whitey:

72 Delia,

Nice side-step. But it’s really a simple question. I’m asking YOU if there is anything SARAH PALIN could do that would change your opinion of her. I’m just curious what it would take for you to turn on her.

Yes, I know Obama has blind followers too. But that’s not my question.

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:03 am 77. David Thomson:

“You mean the White House dog? (h/t Rush Limbaugh, 1994)”

Rush Limbaugh never called Chelsea Clinton a dog. It never happened. You are either mistaken—or an outright liar.

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:15 am 78. Delia:

76. Whitey:

“Nice side-step. But it’s really a simple question. I’m asking YOU if there is anything SARAH PALIN could do that would change your opinion of her. I’m just curious what it would take for you to turn on her.”

I think if Sarah got pregnant again and aborted a baby for fear she would have another retarded baby, then, yes, that would be the ‘kicker’ for me.

Happy now?

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:16 am 79. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Rush Limbaugh never called Chelsea Clinton a dog. It never happened. You are either mistaken—or an outright liar.

Oh really? Well as long as we’re playing, David Letterman never said A-Rod knocked up Willow Palin. It never happened. You are either mistaken-or an outright liar.

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:27 am 80. Dave K.:

69. Delia:
No, I really, really, really want Sarah Palin to be the next Republican Presidential candidate.

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:34 am 81. David Thomson:

“Well as long as we’re playing, David Letterman never said A-Rod knocked up Willow Palin.”

That is a distinction without much of a difference. David Letterman acted reprehensibly even if he actually did refer to the 18 year old Bristol. The main thing is that he did indeed say that a daughter of Sarah Palin’s got knocked up by A-Rod during a break in the game.

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:49 am 82. Delia:

80. Dave K.,

Ohhhhh.

You mean like, if DohBama isn’t impeached, then, you really, really, reaheheheheheaaaaaaaaally want him to run for Prez again?

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:49 am 83. Blarty Blarckleblart:

The main thing is that he did indeed say that a daughter of Sarah Palin’s got knocked up by A-Rod during a break in the game.

An adult daughter who, thanks to her mother’s overweening vanity, is now known world-wide for getting pregnant out of wedlock.

Chelsea was 13 when Rush made his “mistake.”

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:00 pm 84. AThinkingPerson:

Nice Blarty, you’re basically stating that all unwed girls can be attributed to their mother’s “overweening vanity” (Re #83). Yet more pathetic prose from a braindead liberal. Since you all seem to share a brain along with official DNC talking points, why don’t you let some other moonbat have a go for a while.

Just so you don’t make the same stupid mistake again, Letterman made the comment about Palin’s daughter that she was traveling in NYC with at the time which was her MINOR daughter. Yet more proof liberals care not about facts, just BS. Typical.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:13 pm 85. Delia:

83. Blarty Blarckleblart,

Are you brown-eyed? Because, I’ve noticed that brown-eyed people are very jealous of blue-eyed people. Why? Ya got me? What did I do besides being born white, blonde and blue-eyed that has you in such a frizzle?

BTW, the supposed ‘ADULT’ daughter whom Spazzoid McStuperSon ‘Dave, out of wedlock child LETTERMAN’ mentioned was wayyyyyyy off the mark and conveniently confused a 14 year old girl for an adult daughter of Palin’s.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:15 pm 86. Delia:

84. AThinkingPerson,

It’s like pondering how many ‘abortions’ Chelsea Clinton has had…

LAME.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:22 pm 87. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Nice Blarty, you’re basically stating that all unwed girls can be attributed to their mother’s “overweening vanity”

Nope. She’s an unwed mother because she had a baby without getting married. Those were her choices.

What wasn’t her choice was notoriety. Most unwed teenage mothers remain comfortably anonymous. Bristol was robbed of that anonymity – and not by the evil media. By her mother.

Bristol Palin is a household name – and synonymous with “unwed mother” – because her mama paraded her around in public to further her political career.

Speaking of which, how is Sarah’s political career lately?

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:26 pm 88. MataHarley:

#25 said: “PS – All the talk of “frivolous” ethics charges ignores the reality that Palin reached a settlement to repay Alaskans for improper reimbursements she has received – in short, she has been stealing from the people of Alaska. I agree with Palin that Alaskans deserve better.”

You will find the details behind your casual summation of the eighth of 18 complaints <a href=”http://www.floppingaces.net/2009/07/04/alinsky-perfected-part-ii-players-in-palin-complaints-1-9/” at Part II of the three part FA series on all the ethics complaints. It is there as a one stop shopping resource in order to combat singular minded, erroneous comments, as you made.

You will also learn that the Alaskan law on what is and isn’t State expenses for a Governor’s family is vague as mud, and in need of reform and clarity. You will also learn that out of 40 trips that were investigated, only a portion of nine fit the category of questionable via the vague regulations. Since Palin could legitimately question and appeal any Board filed charges made about whether an expense was valid, and it would just cost the State more cash to do so, Sarah agreed to reimburse the charges and not contest their findings, and they decided not to spend more money filing complaints.

For all that ta dooo, Palin needed to reimburse approx $6800-$7000 out of 72 (40 only needed scrutiny) trips. Now how many intracontinental flights, hotels stays and food do you think that covers for the large Palin family? In fact, how much do you think it would cost to fly three people from Alaska to, say, St. Paul MN on short notice, and put them up in a hotel?

Peanuts… you grasp at straws for mere peanuts.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:28 pm 89. David S:

@59. Strawman:

“Offensive is somewhat subjective. Banal is a little more clear cut. I’d like to see the banality tossed.”

Why deprive us all of your wisdom?

Peace.

DS

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:48 pm 90. jharp:

Moogie:

“jharp: I find the term “teabaggers” to be offensive in the extreme.”

And so what. I find the teabaggers and the teabagging parties offensive in the extreme.

I’m only calling them what the organizers themselves called them. Take your whining to the organizers of the events.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:49 pm 91. Whitey:

Delia, good to know you have your limits.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:52 pm 92. sheesh:

Maybe she can educate us as to what this “department of law” thing is.

Qualified? For what?

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:57 pm 93. Moogie:

jharp: The organizers never called them that, you imbicile. It was the MSM that coined the term, you brainless hack. The organizers called them Tea Parties after the original tea party in Boston, you gutless chihuahua.

Now take your whining back to your basement and go back to playing WoW with your loser friends, you mud dweller.

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:57 pm 94. David S:

@88. MataHarley:

“Peanuts… you grasp at straws for mere peanuts.”

Hey, if you think violating ethics laws is not important, that’s your call. Personally, I think Palin’s problems go much deeper anyhow.

I thought the GOP supported smaller government, but Palin has revealed that if she were elected President, she would form a new “Department of Law” to protect the President from ethics complaints.

Why didn’t Clinton think of that?

“I think on a national level, your department of law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we’ve been charged with and automatically throw them out” – Sarah Palin

She’s clearly a political genius – or dumb as a rock. We report, you decide…

Peace.

DS

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:01 pm 95. Dave K.:

Sarah Palin fans are just as sensitive as she is.

Nobody dare mock The Holy Mother and her sacred offspring, The Republican Jesus.

Political correctness has really gone into overdrive here.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:08 pm 96. Blarty Blarckleblart:

A new cabinet-level Department of Law?

Typical big-government Republican.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:20 pm 97. newton:

She’s moving on with her life. So must we. At long last, leave her and her family alone!

And to those a******s who insist on destroying her and her family, from the jerks in AK to the bastards in the MSM, the Democrats, feminists and even some in this comment thread, I have this: Have you no shame? Have you no decency? Not even for her kids? Nothing that tells you “You’re doing wrong”?

If you don’t have any of the above, I just hope that Karma hits you all in the a**, Big Time. May your lives become a living Hell.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:20 pm 98. Michael:

Wow, nice blitz moveon.org guys. Keep hollering. You are convincing more and more people that Palin it the wave of the future. Such hatred can only be blind partisan politics. Or at least well paid partisanship.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:36 pm 99. Michael:

The more I hear the squealing from the left about Palin (and the weakness of it) the more I believe she is the one to lead conservatives back.

I realize now why the left fears her so much. They are the purveyors of personality politics. They see in Sarah Palin one who has the potential to stomp any figure from the left at their own game.

This fear requires the deployment of their primary weapon, personal assassination. They claim she is stupid. They ignore the fact that for any miscues she makes 5 can be pulled out about Obama and Biden.

They call her frightened but none of them would come out from under their own beds if they and their families were treated in the same manner.

They say she is faithless to her duties yet Obama spent his two years in Congress campaigning and not doing the job he was elected to. Who is faithless, the one leaves the office to a competent replacement or one who ignores his duties for personal gain?

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:36 pm 100. shau-jan:

39.geeze dude,what IS with you and palin?are you from alaska….. what happened,did she steal todd away from you?get over it,that was a long time ago…move on.

you never had a chance with him,anyway.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:37 pm 101. Delia:

91. Whitey:

“Delia, good to know you have your limits.”

Nahhhhhhh. I’m limitless.

Speed Limit: “Go for it”

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:39 pm 102. The Rabbit Hutch:

I find it comical that the media, et al are running around like chickens spouting opinions about what this all means.

I think the trashing of her children is shameful…I know I wouldn’t put up with it. And the frivolous ethics lawsuits are costing Alaska and Sarah way too much time and money. (Alaska really needs to revisit their ethics laws.)

I think Sarah can be more useful to the cause as a private citizen at this time. I will buy any book she writes. She is “grass roots” and speaks for many, many of us. Harvard or Yale degrees do not impress me….common sense does.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:39 pm 103. Michael:

Personality assassination that is.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:41 pm 104. Butterfly Mornings and Wildflower Afternoons:

All Sarah Palin has to do to win every mothers heart is what she has already done. She just won the women vote. She put her state and her family first. She won us over.
I have not talk to one woman or man against her; in fact, people feel the Media has abused her with unrelenting hate.
The Media killed Elvis Presley, they killed Princess Diana, they killed Michael Jackson, and now it seems they are trying to harm the Palin’s. When a man cannot go to a store or out for a walk without being harassed, it is the same thing as murder.
I love music, and I love words and lyrics, so I love Michael, and yes, he was an icon to many, and his music and words are timeless. He had so many gifts, but his words are in my thoughts today. I am feeling sad because I watched every part of his funeral and I think I taped it.
How can many of you be writers and not love those words he put down on paper for his lyrics? The mask wearing, the plastic surgery, well I blame it all on the Media, because that is who I feel is the evil beast in this world.
Most of the Media are evil, just look at how they treated Sarah Palin’s children.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:50 pm 105. Gary Ogletree:

She is just moving from one phase of her career into another. Starting with putting conservatives into the next Congress. Pretty good plan. I bet by Christmas she will have spoken in public to a number of overflowing crowds. The media will continue to puzzle it out, “What is she really up to?”

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:52 pm 106. jharp:

Moogie:

“jharp: The organizers never called them that”

The organizers encouraged mailing a tea bag to your representatives.

Thus “tea bagging” was born.

I think it’s catchy even though the protests make no sense whatsoever.

Jul 7, 2009 - 1:52 pm 107. AThinkingPerson:

Nice Blarty…Way to avoid your obvious mistake. Why did you not comment on how Letterman was talking about Palin’s MINOR daughter? You keep repeating your initial mistake that he said her unwed pregnant daughter.

Is that because you, like other hysterical liberals, keep avoiding the truth?

Funny how you keep avoiding that discussion.

As for Palin running…I HOPE SHE DOES! I cannot wait for her to head up to the podium against Obama and look him dead in the eye and ask about his wanton spending away of all of our kids’ futures. I cannot wait for her to question his Cap and Trade tax that will affect ALL and not just the over $250,000 group.

Let’s see Obama talk without his trusty teleprompter and tell Americans why he now looks like ….

George W. Obama

What a loser.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:00 pm 108. Marc Malone:

I see all the elite mems forming already.

Everyone toughs it out. It’s all equal. Um, no, it’s not. Everyone else has defenders. Palin has only the disenfranchised, gun-totin’ bible-clingers in flyover country. None of the party powerful have spoken on her behalf.

She’s whining; playing the victimhood card. Um, again, no. What, she’s supposed to just play along? This is the elitist thinking that has created the mess our country is in. This is the mentality that has emasculated the Republicans for so long. We have allowed the other side to set the terms of the engagement… and so we lose. She has been protesting the sheer wrongness of what is being done to her and her family.

This is why we like her. She represents us decent folk. She has become our voice and symbol. I don’t care about educational credentials. I care about character credentials. I don’t want establishment Romney, the faux-Conservative. I want Palin, the true Conservative.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:00 pm 109. AThinkingPerson:

I know any day now George W. Obama will appoint a “Keep Sarah Palin out of my Face because she’s telling the truth” Czar.

Why the liberals are so scared of her is beyond me. Funny though.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:03 pm 110. Delia:

106. jharp,

Are you a tea-bag-e’ or a tea-bag’er?

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:10 pm 111. toker53:

20. Sonny,
you bring up an interesting point. And you are absolutely correct, winning is all that matters to these people. Watching this particular ugliness unfold as well as the shenanigans that the Mccain people did to half of their own ticket is unbelievable.
A good fiction writer couldn’t make this stuff up. I am reminded of an interview that David Brinkley gave to Roger Ayles during the run up to the 2004 election, around the time of the texas ANG and swift Boat stories, Roger asked david how the campaingns had changed since he started covering them in 1952. His reply was one I will never forget. He said ” Roger, if you have what it takes to dig down low enough to smear the opposition sufficiently enough to win the election, then you aren’t morally fit to hold the office.” I may not have the quote exactly but that was the gist of it. Truer words were never spoken IMO.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:16 pm 112. Commuter:

‘Thus “tea bagging” was born.’

You are misinformed. Sending a tea bag to your representative was a reference to the Boston Tea Party, not to the practice of tea bagging. The puerile characterization of the TEA Party organizers and attendees as teabaggers started when Rachel Maddow of MSNBC had Ana Marie Cox of Air America on as a guest and the two giggled their way through about 30 mins of double entendre teabagging references. Anderson Cooper picked it up a few days later on CNN with his, ‘It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging’ comment. There was a predictable backlash from the TEA Partiers over the insulting and demeaning reference. Maddow to my knowledge has not apologized. Cooper has.

Insulting and demeaning does substitute for discourse among the more puerile children of the left. So we witness that element well represented on PJM still pushing the tea bagging reference.

It is an offensive term when applied to the TEA Partys and it is overtly meant to be offensive. Continuing to use it makes you offensive.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:22 pm 113. Strawman:

108, Gedankenexperiment:

You’re in an airplane taking off from LaGuardia. Geese fly into both engines. You lose all thrust. Your only chance of survival is a water landing maneuver that you can’t rehearse.

You want in the cockpit:

1) The most brilliant aeronautical engineer at MIT.
2) An experienced pilot.

Think carefully about your answer. Getting the wrong answer could have severe consequences.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:33 pm 114. new indepedent voter:

I will never vote Repub again..and I certainly not vote demo

The dems trashed what they saw as a threat to their party, Sarah Palin. The repubs sat back and watched. It was the “three monkeys” act for them.

I do not believe Washington appreciates how angry the great unwashed are about everything that has gone on.

The “big big” tea party needs to happen starting in 2010.

Some of you offer jerky remarks and say stupid things. Grow up, get a job so you can be taxed more. You can’t offer sensible comments, just crappy dumb remarks.

McCain was probably the most god awful example of how not the act.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:46 pm 115. Athens Rambler:

Funny how Mrs. Palin has become a litmus test of one’s loyalty to the exclusive, elitist culture of the political/pundit class or one’s loyalty to the democratic ideals of the inclusive culture which transcends class. As Ms. Rubin’s position makes clear, there are no heroes in the former culture – just players.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:51 pm 116. toker53:

112. Yes commuter, that is exactly how it came about and I wrote any emails to the local MSM outlets and explained to them that I worked many years in construction and often spoke in colorful metaphors that might make a stevedore blush I was well aware of the meaning of what rachel Maddow was saying as well as Anderson Cooper. I warned them that while I enjoyed the newscasts I didn’t see the need to explain to my young grandchildren why what they were saying was actually pi**ing me off. The local stations in Boston and Providence rewrote the copy for the next segment. As you have stated maddow has not apologized and I doubt she will. It is hard to say since I try to never tune to CNN or MSNBC. The Three stooges and Mr ED are always available if I want that type of programming.

Jul 7, 2009 - 2:56 pm 117. Delia:

Maybe, just maybe, the BIGGER picture is that Americans dying for us, DYING FOR US are having little headlines.

Michael Jackson? 16 US military men died fighting for us that day.

puhLEASE

Sarah has sons in the Military. God bless her sons and GOD BLESS all AMERICANS who fight and give their lives for us.

Jul 7, 2009 - 3:28 pm 118. DavidN:

The difference between Romney and Palin is simple: Romney’s a professional politician, Palin’s an amateur. Romney is one of these people who’s run for something for much of his life, and he’s learned the important lesson: once you’re in politics, you tell people what they want to hear. So, when it’s expedient, he’s in favor of abortion; later, when it’s not, he’s on the other side of the issue. When it’s expedient to criticize what others think or say, he does it; when it isn’t, he keeps his mouth shut. Palin, on the other hand, speaks her mind, sometimes not that fluently, and says what she thinks, on pretty much any subject, any time. She’s honest, forthright, and doesn’t come from a wealthy family from somewhere in the East (like Romney, who’s more of a noblesse oblige sort of candidate). This sort of thing, of course, causes opponents of Republicans to go into apoplexy. One of my favorites was the portrayal of W as a member of the elite, as opposed to either Gore or Kerry, who were Men of the People instead. At times things get simply laughable.

Palin suffers from a serious problem, though. You can’t undergo attacks like the ones she went through without looking defensive, and of course those who are defensive are already guilty. Obama can stand off to one side, shake his head, and make vague statements about how a politician’s family should be off limits; it doesn’t stop the vermin on the web from doing such things, and he benefits from the result, never mind what he says about it. There’s a sort of tacit understanding here between people like him and those at the Daily Kos and HuffPo. The loonies there declare him way too conservative (which makes him look, to the uninformed, like a moderate) and make disgusting jokes about the infant children of his opponents. I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever have a serious Presidential election in this country again, or whether we’ll just descend into a debate about whether Obama was born here, or Jindal being President would result in everything being outsourced to India.

Jul 7, 2009 - 4:40 pm 119. DavidN:

Oh, and just a question to sheesh and Blarty: Are you saying that it should be open season on the Obama children too, or that somehow it was justifiable in the case of Palin’s son, but not in their daughters’? I think the whole thing was disgusting, and the idea that it should happen to anyone would, I think, repulse any ethical, well-intentioned individual, *regardless* of their political affiliation, or yours. But since it saved Medicare and kept prayer out of schools, I guess everything’s fair game, right? And don’t bring Rush up with me either: I didn’t like his insult either, and he *did* apologize the next day, something many of the people who’ve attacked Palin either didn’t do, or did only lamely (notably Letterman).

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:05 pm 120. vivo:

19. Terry Gain:

Thank you for your answers. Unfortunately, they don’t make total sense or are totally believable.

Re 44. John:

Somebody writes a GOOD piece and NOBODY dares to comment on it.

Can’t take the truth, Pajamers?

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:21 pm 121. Terry Gain:

I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever have a serious Presidential election in this country again, or whether we’ll just descend into a debate about whether Obama was born here…

I’ve given up hope that we could ascend into a factual discussion concerning Obama’s origins, however, if you’re up for it, and since you know everything there is to know on this subject, please answer the following: please provide the name of the hopital, the physician and one of the nurses who attended at Obama’s birth.

My guess is that these details are readily ascertainble about every other POTUS born in the 20th century America, so this should be easy.

Have at it, and be man enough to avoid name calling.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:52 pm 122. Terry Gain:

@120 vivo

You’re very welcome. If at first my my posts don’tt make sense keep reading them until they do. If we can bring you into the sphere of rationality then we can work on sheesh and fartywhatshisname.

Jul 7, 2009 - 5:58 pm 123. Marie Claude:

Would Sarah offer bear skins as a state gift instead of Ipods ? that is my limits as far as foreign affairs ?

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:00 pm 124. Moogie:

#112 Commuter: THANK YOU! I got sidetracked actually doing something productive, and didn’t have a chance to pound jharp over the head with the truth (not that it matters, since we all know liberals have all been vaccinated from actually internalizing the truth – the vaccine is called Political Correctness).

Anyway, I appreciate that I am not the only one who finds the term offensive (not banal). If you want to talk about your sexual exploits, go do it on the Penthouse forum, not in here.

Meanwhile, for those who are tempted to use that term again, try this little exersize before actually typing it: picture your parents engaged in that act. THEN, if it still appeals to you, and you still type it out, we’ll know you are a degenerate.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:22 pm 125. Stevemmn:

Rubin has no idea what she is talking about, she must have slept through the last 8 months. Sarah Palin was the victim of the most vicious, one sided, coordinated smear attack against any politician in at modern day history.

Where were the attacks against Obama?? Or even Hillary for that matter?? Obama would have wilted under the pressure months ago if he had been subjected to one fifth the attacks Sarah Palin has endured. Obama declared his own family off limits and the press dutifully obeyed. But he can’t even handle one single media outlet, Fox News, putting negative articles out against him and tried to mount an unprecedented campaign against Rush Limbaugh from the White House (which failed spectacularly).

The notion that Sarah Palin should just suck up and take it while Democrats are treated with a blatant double standard is unbelievably callous and ignorant.

Jul 7, 2009 - 6:51 pm 126. Edward A:

Can’t the Republican Party do better than this loser, whiner, quitter??

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:14 pm 127. sheesh:

119 DavidN . . . Quit being such an effing wus!

Jul 7, 2009 - 7:25 pm 128. shau-jan:

127.yeah!why so fussy DavidN?i mean,this is the kind of cutting edge wit we should come to expect from sheesh-o’s talented,deep thinking illuminaries:

http://whitehouse.georgewbush.org/initiatives/posters/mommyabort.asp

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:08 pm 129. The Rabbit Hutch:

#114 new independent voter

I’m beginning to agree, but if not the Dems and if not the Repubs, who? We always hear how we are throwing our vote away if we vote for the third party….last time it was Libertarian. But I am wondering if perhaps that might be the thing to do if the Republicans can’t run a down to earth common sense thinker. I don’t want to vote for the elitists any more. But my worry is how many more elections can this country afford to flush down the tube?

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:03 pm 130. Pat J:

Heavens to Mongoose. Palin’s career is so over. Or is it?

Here’s to Palin/the Plumber in 2012. And four more years of Obama.

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:12 pm 131. vivo:

122. Terry Gain:

“If we can bring you into the sphere of rationality ”

That was funny!

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:25 pm 132. John Samford:

The same pundits that are predicting Sara’s downfall Had Hillery winning in a tight race in ‘08.
What put the Usurper in the White House was the stock market crash in October of ‘08. What will put Sara in the White House is the complete economic meltdown that this administration is creating.
With unemployment over 15%, inflation over 20 along with the interest rate, WHOEVER runs against the Usurper WILL WIN. So all Sara has to do is win the Republican Nomination. She is by far the most conservative candidate out there. Mitt and Huck are RINO’s and don’t appeal to the base like Sara does.
So unless a third party shows up, or the Chicago Cabal gives up on Socialism, the Oval Office will have it’s first Mrs. President. You GO Gyrl!

Jul 7, 2009 - 9:45 pm 133. Linda Mae:

From the Wall Street Journal:
“Since the 2008 campaign, some 150 FOIA requests have been filed & her office has been targeted for investigation by everyone from the FBI to the Alaska legislature. Most have centered on her use of government resources, & to date have turned up little save for a few state trips that she agreed to reimburse the state for because her children had accompanied her. In the process, she accumulated $500,000 in legal fees in just the last nine months, & knew the bill would grow larger in the future.”

Add to this the 15 idiotic ethics violation charges – costing Alaska @ $2 million in time and effort to answer these charges. Visit the Alaska state web site to review the articles about the charges. My favorite was that she left the state to attend a fund raiser for children with special needs. Or that she wore a jacket with a logo on it. The bloggers who make these charges then break the law by making them public on their sites. They are part of the DNC. The cost to the state has risen – and another charge was just filed. #16. Palin is being smeared by Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals #4: make them walk their talk. She came out as a champion for ethics reform and so that is how they attack her. Rule #5: Ridicule the person in order to neutralize the message is also a tool used to discredit her. She just terrifies the left. George Soros spent millions of his own money – his claim – to discredit Bush because Bush was too proud to be an American and Soros wants us to go to a One World Order with one government and one money system – not the dollar – and led by the UN and IMF. I was amazed today to hear the Pope ask for the same thing. We thought we were just sliding into Socialism here in the states but it seems we are being erased as a nation. I feel as if I am in a sci fi movie with crazies who want to take over the world – or a James Bond movie – and then realize – it’s really happening. How do we stop it? Will Islam become the one world religion? The Pope calls for distribution of wealth. Where did we hear that before?

Jul 7, 2009 - 10:20 pm 134. Amelia:

Terry Gain – Give it a rest, will you?

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

And how many people can actually name a nurse in attendance. I sure couldn’t about either my own birth or my daughter’s.

Jul 8, 2009 - 11:28 am 135. Amelia:

Are you all aware that Alaska’s current ethics laws were actually instigated and signed by Palin? Sounds like a case of being hoisted by your own petard.

Jul 8, 2009 - 11:31 am 136. louise campbell:

Sarah has always been inpredictable and has always landed in a better spot in her political career…She follows her own counsel and that is what bother so many… I predict that she will continue to do so and will once more climb higher … meanwhile, she will take care of her family and earn much money with the publication of her book and making speeches… So, in the end, she will be a winner and Alaska will miss the days where, for once, we were taken seriously by the ” Lower 48 ” and just perhaps some of the geography inpaired uneducated dems will at last, thanks to Sarah ,be able to place Alaska on the map ? I will again vote for her if she ran for any elected post…. Thank You governor Palin for all your efforts and your achievements on the behalf of Alaskans…Resigning for the reasons you gave was the best thing you could do and I for one understand it very well…

Jul 9, 2009 - 1:46 am 137. myth buster:

132. Mitt is a RINO (and what is he up to, anyway? I have hardly heard from him since the election). Huckabee, however, is not. Whatever, we’ll settle it in Iowa. I’d rather Huckabee get elected first, but I will vote for Palin should she get the nomination.

Jul 10, 2009 - 10:11 pm

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