Sarah Palin, Herself To The Bitter End

Many know my affection for Sarah Palin, but even I was taken aback by her decision to resign as opposed to just sitting out her term.  But then again, if she feels that all she wanted to do has been done, and she doesn't want to sit around collecting a paycheck.  Normally I would agree with a lot of the ankle-biters but I think the distance Alaska is from what Palin wants to do combined with the constant harassing and baseless ethics complaints by political opponents that have cost her tons of money makes this a smart move in my opinion.  Its not without serious risk, but a smart move nonetheless.  How refreshing after seeing nonstop selfish and self-serving behavior by governors and other political leaders who hang around for the sake of office and titles.  I understand the critics, that she quit on the people of Alaska, but honestly if Sarah Palin has aspirations outside the state I think its very honest to step aside so the state won't have pay for her travel, and the state can have a governor fully focused on its needs at the local level.  To give up power, to step away from the title . . . its somewhat refreshing, even though she is trying to move on to another.

Clearly, Palin been bitten by the presidential bug.  I don't believe for a second those who say she is retiring for good.  She may fade a bit, but she is testing the waters and is employing something of a fabian strategy, trading space for time.  Its risky, but Palin is banking on the freedom of not holding office being the ace in the hole in being able to contact voters and building alliances and support across the country.  Its just not something she can do working out of Juneau, and it would be a disservice to Alaska if she tried.  She's doing it her way, which I love.  She's junking the consultants and she's junking convention because things have changed.  The old convention doesn't work, and I think we could use someone unconventional.

The is a vaccumin the GOP right now, none of the '08 wannabes excite anyone.  Romney is well respected but I cannot get past RomneyCare in Massachusetts.  Mike Huckabee is simply an evangelical who's appeal is very limited.  Tim Pawlenty is deeply experienced but doesn't move anyone.  There is a burgeoning movement in the country that is beginning to take its early form in these Tea Parties across the country . . . its rather amorphous right now, it hasn't taken full shape, but its the natural constituent base for Sarah Palin to start a national movement towards a takeover of the GOP.  These folks at the Tea Parties are those who feel that government has failed them, and believe its the political establishment inside the beltway - and its both parties.  Tea Party conservatives are tired of Republican insiders who ran to change DC but instead became apart of it.  They see Republicans and Democrats alike growing government, bit by bit taking away our freedom from government takeover of auto companies, environmental regulations that tell us what light bulbs to use, and foreign policy that simply shrugs to freedom movements in places like Iran and Hondorus.  These folks don't necessarily care about party . . . though they clearly see the path to change through the Republican Party.  What Sarah Palin has done, in a state as far away from DC as you can get, and the treatment she got from the very insiders Tea Party conservatives despise, make a likely marriage.  Sarah Palin is a lot of things, but above all she is anti-establishment.  Its often inherent in female politicians, since they are often left out of the old-boy club they seek to change it rather than join it.

This is why Sarah Palin doesn't necessarily need an incumbent office to run for president.  Now she needs to get to work on national issues of all kinds.  Palin is risking it all on the fact that this Tea Party movement will be ready in three years to take over the Republican Party.  It will take a lot of work, and it might not even materialize.  But as a conservative desperately searching for a candidate that wants to lead the base and defend conservative values and traditions, I appreciate that Sarah Palin wants to do this.  It remains to be seen if she can.

Comments

[Smarty Pants]

The Examiner has a piece today in the Commentary section I'd recommend to you. Gene Healy (p. 16) opines that the "right," in rejecting liberal elitism, seems to have gone too far in cultivating an affinity for those who "don't exactly overwhelm you with their intellectual depth." Amen, Gene. Check out "Sarah's Swan Song," p. 16. It's good readin'!

[NoVA Scout]

Shallowness, ignorance, and inexperience are not conservative values. How is it possible that we can even think that these attributes are not fatal to those desiring local, let alone national, office?

[200 Grande]

Here's Gene Healy's piece from The Examiner:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Sarah_s-Swan-Song-7931066-50037102.html

Interesting.

[Smarty Pants]

I loved Healy's reference to William F. Buckley's famous old "Boston phone book" comment. That was a classic I had not heard in quite awhile.