Saturday, July 4, 2009

Not sure what to make of it

Sarah Palin's resignation has sent everyone into a tailspin, which just shows that she is still the most interesting politician on the American scene. There are those who think that she is now finished but, as we know, many a politician outside the usual suspects, such as Ronald Reagan, has been written off prematurely.

Others think that she has done the right thing for that 2012 presidential campaign. This way she can become more of a national figure, get people accustomed to her rather than the vicious slurs that the MSM and the various feminist organizations have been casting around, maybe borrow President Obama's ghost writer and teleprompter. After all, her life has been considerably more interesting than his.

Obviously, I am hoping she will be back. There are not that many politicians even among the Republicans who can be described as being small government; there are not that many politicians anywhere who have her grit and determination, who have risen quite genuinely from the bottom, just as it is supposed to happen but so rarely does in the United States; there are not that many women politicians with a good chance of reaching the White House, especially as one surveys the misogynistic anti-Hillary and anti-Sarah campaigns of last year.

On the other hand, I can understand why she might not want to carry on. Who on earth would like to have aging, prurient stand-up comedians make jokes about their 14-year old daughter being raped? Who would like endless analyses as to whether her youngest, disabled child is actually hers? Who would want to be told that she ought to have aborted that child because disabled people have no right to exist? These are only the most egregious of the vicious personal attacks aimed at Ms Palin and her family.

This Bloomberg report sums up the various opinions and there is a lively discussion going on at the NRO Corner. Mark Steyn is pessimistic about the political scene as well as Palin's possible future role:

Most of those who sneer at Sarah Palin have no desire to live her life. But why not try to - what's the word? - "empathize"? If you like Wasilla and hunting and snowmachining and moose stew and politics, is the last worth giving up everything else in the hopes that one day David Letterman and Maureen Dowd might decide Trig and Bristol and the rest are sufficiently non-risible to enable you to prosper in their world? And, putting aside the odds, would you really like to be the person you'd have to turn into under that scenario?

National office will dwindle down to the unhealthily singleminded (Clinton, Obama), the timeserving emirs of Incumbistan (Biden, McCain) and dynastic heirs (Bush). Our loss.

I have long ago worked out the best response to stupid and ignorant British attacks on Sarah Palin, based on information culled from low-grade reports by British correspondents in Washington. Cheerfully, I tell those people that I don't have their class hang-ups and can, therefore, look at the person and what he has achieved. Then I leave before they can work it out.

Still, Victor Davis Hanson gives a more cheerful prognostication. We can but hope.

11 comments:

  1. Plus, she's a lot better looking than Hilary. Female-on-female attacks are often the most vicious and personal!

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  2. Few women have been treated more shamefully by their countrymen and, despite her folksiness wrongly interpreted as naïvete, she stands head & shoulders above her specious attackers.
    I hope, for America's sake, we see more of her soon.

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  3. It was the ethic complaints that did it and she has blind sided them, I hope that she can make a name for her now attacking in the rigtht areas the gross mismanagement taking place now, I am sure however the Media will be fighting her every bit of the way.

    DaffersD

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  4. It's probably a masterstroke, but when you consider the amount of heat that will be expended by the naval gazing US media debating its cons, it will be better to keep out of it. I think it's the right move, in keeping with the anti-politics theme of the age. I think that it suggests that Palin recognises that her enemies have created her brand, whereas she had chosen her job (Governor), and that the brand was overshadowing the job. Thus this was cheating the electors who put her in place.

    Now she is setting herself free to match her actions to a brand largely created by her enemies. Her enemies seemed to want an anti-abortion, small government bogeymom. Now perhaps they will have what they asked for, but without the folksiness of a small (population) state governor. It is a classic tactic to allow the weight of your opponent to create the momentum of his own fall; didn't Palin do judo some time? http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_sarah_palin_know_martial_arts

    The jury's out on that one.

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  5. When Richard Nixon lost the race for Governor of California in 1962, he even wrote himself off in the famous press conference when he told the newsies, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore." This was followed by a network show, "Richard Nixon: A Political Obituary," one of the stars of which being Alger Hiss.
    So maybe Palin is not gone.

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  6. As a Nationalist voting British person,I though Sarah Palin was something that you Americans needed,indeed send her over here if you don't want her.She could do no worse than the absolute shower we have in charge here!!

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  7. Ed, I think your right, I think she wanted to stop them under-mining her with these ridiculous ethic violations which was hurting her financially too. I think once that gets out in full detail and I am sure she will do that the people will be outraged. I am disappointed in Hot Air's reaction. She is the type of politician we have all been crying out for, a real genuine person, not one of these self proclaimed elites who are a disaster every which way.

    DaffersD

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  8. Sarah Palin shot a snake while a witch hunt. She said the snake was a demon.

    Proof here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbcWm51DvA&feature=channel_page

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  9. First of all, Barry, I do not think that dumb video is proof of anything. Unless you were being funny, I would suggest that you stop watching rubbish like that.

    Of course, I hope that Palin will not disappear. She is a skilful and clever politician who has achieved a good deal already in Alaska and in energizing the GOP grassroots. They need her.

    As I was writing the posting I recalled the Nixon story about not having him to kick around. Then he was back, stronger than ever. I don't think Palin has his personality faults but part of Nixon's problem was the horrendous abuse he had had to take from the media plus the dodgy 1960 election results that he did not contest for America's sake.

    Actually, I do not think women necessarily abuse each other more than men abusing women. The ghastly misogyny that disgraced the 2008 election campaign was directed at Hillary as well (whom I don't like because of her politics and personality) and came mostly from Obama's camp and the media (but I repeat myself.

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  10. fa, fa, fa, what the faaak did I link to??

    The real video I meant is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyrd9DrNDw&feature=related

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  11. Typical! The one week-end I am completely cut off from all internet connections it is all happening. And I had to read about it in a newspaper. Ouch! I still haven't recovered.

    Back in civilization I find that the MSM and a lot of pundits are still scratching their heads. While no one will know until Gov Palin will reveal her plans there are some hints. She did say when she returned to Alaska after the lost campaign, that she would return to national politics some day, but then with a totally different grass-roots campaign. Also, there a more than a small hint in her past. No one except Gary in RedState seems to remember that far back: http://www.redstate.com/gary4205/2009/07/05/sarah-palin-declares-her-independence/

    "He appointed her as Chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. An important job. One that regulates Alaska’s most important activities, oil and natural gas production.
    .....
    Now mind you, this is a high paying gig. Six figures. Something a mother of four had to be thinking about.

    So, what did Sarah do? Well, she committed “political suicide” and resigned from the post. She then took her fight to the people. She also filed formal complaints. We all know the result of this effort."

    Hmmm.....


    PS: Ann Coulter also weighs in on the resignation:Ann Coulter Explains Palin's Exit

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