Overall, I don't get it. I lean toward Ed Morrissey's negative take. But if there's a political angle, it's one of those political gambles, and hey, that's like calling Hollywood movie ideas in advance. People say they know, and they can, but nobody really knows. So, who knows?
I will say this. The 2 most common analytical mistakes people make when thinking about the GOP are (1) thinking in terms of the last election; or (2) thinking in terms of the 1980s. Both are common inside the party - and neither is really relevant. This next Presidential election is going to be strongly driven by events, and by the America we'll be looking over the next 2-3 years. Which could well be a rather different, and less happy, place. One in which Reagan's solutions are only partly applicable.
I see few signs that the GOP is really coming to grips with this, but eventually it will. The party that begins to come together within the malestrom of upcoming events may not be like the party of today, in important ways. And it may not happen by 2012. If Palin accelerates or catalyzes that process somehow, it would be a huge contribution - whether or not she runs.
Time will tell.
I also agree with Ed Morrisey, and with Ace. This is a self-checkmate. Ross Perot didn't win by quitting, John McCain didn't win by suspending his campaign, and Sarah Palin won't win by resigning the governorship of Alaska, which was the only - but in my opinion sufficient - proof that she had till now that she is fitted for high executive responsibility.
This is not as bad as the Sanford implosion. Morally it's fine. But practically it's the end.
That's bad for pro-lifers, whose cause she represented as genuinely as possible, so I'm sad. It also means Mitt Romney will be less challenged than potentially he might have been on foreign policy, which is bad because his understanding of Islam and jihad is no good.
[Removed at author's request. Stored for reinstatement if required.]
There are rumors flailing in Alaskan blogs that she is being served a federal indictment for embezzlement. Of course, there just rumors, but it's the only way this whole thing makes sense to me.
I was just arguing on a conservative Pro-Palin blog (on Wednesday!) that Palin needs to demonstrate success between now & the next election. She can't lean on her successes of yesteryear (which were played out in 2008), voters are going to want to see fresh initiative.
This blog posters went back to the "She's more experienced than Obama" line. I reminded them that her biggest hurdle now is the Republican Primary. "More experienced than Obama" will not be a winning campaign slogan in that race.
At this point, this looks much worse than I would have ever predicted. I don't see her ever mounting a political comeback without an attached lame duck label.
Then again, she's already surprised me this week.
David Blue, that obituary is for Beldar's father, who was 87. RIP.
I know.
I was sleepy, I went to the blog of by far Sarah Palin's best supporter, misunderstood, quickly made by far the most retarded comment I have ever made on anything, anywhere, ever, and worse, one that touches on someone's death, and I can't do anything about it.
In the new, improved blog I am no longer an admin, or I would have expunged it not just out of shame but because it is the sort of post that shouldn't be allowed to stand from anyone. I emailed Joe asking him to expunge it. That didn't happen. Instead this thread got linked by memeorandum. Imagine my pride.
Everyone who is offended by my post, and / or contemptuous of the stupidity of it: you should be. I'm very, very sorry.
David,
Hadn't seen that email... remember the time zone thing here, and what day it is. I'll look at the email, but really, I can't for the life of me see why #2 is even a bad comment, let alone at the level you just described.
It's a mistake, we all make 'em. But it was gracious and heartfelt, and says kind things.
If you really want it gone, I'll remove it. You've more than earned that ind of consideration. But consider whether that's really necessary.
After months of being sprayed with diarrhea, Sarah Palin has earned the right to turn her back on public life.
Cowardice in the face of the enemy? Give me a break. That applied to Newt Gingrich in 1998, but this is different.
We owe Palin a huge debt. She showed us what the political arena has become: vulgar, puerile, and bigoted beyond belief.
Sarah explained her reasons. You can choose to believe her or not, but if you believe her then there is no mystery here. She also said she has plans to work on politics at the national level,supporting good people irrespective of party. So it sounds to me like she is pursuing her reformer agenda, as she always has. She didn't get into specifics but I think something is in the works.
So much for what she said. I speculate that she is not planning on running for office, but who knows what events will bring. If things get really bad, if the ongoing slow collapse becomes catastrophic, then politics as usual go out the window. But that is all in the future, and who knows the future?
Chuck:Sarah explained her reasons.
Yes, but her explanations defied any logic. How, with her limited national record, is she going to accomplish more than a popular sitting governor? That's like Tiger Woods winning his first master and then dropping out of the PGA's because "He can do more for tennis by working elsewhere".
She was in the perfect spot to prove herself, and she has bailed out for an as yet unknown future. I don't know how she could do more good (over the next 10 months) than her current post.
I have never, for the life of me, heard of a politician leaving office because of slander and innuendo, or frivolous lawsuits. Did she really think the cost of these lawsuits are worth more than her promise as a reformist governor?
Really, I have no facts to back anything up, or explain any of this. And clearly, she could be doing something that only makes sense to her and her family. But going purely on Occam's razor, this has a whiff of something larger. Especially the Friday news dump.
Tiger woods can do more for golf.... sorry dad was talking to me about Wimbledon simultaneously.
Yes, but her explanations defied any logic.
Don't be silly, they merely defy your premises. Whether things work for her or not time will tell. Most folks posting on the topic are scribblers, not doers. We will see.
Apropos scandal, I'll add that it wouldn't surprise me to see government agencies going after Palin now that Obama and the Chicago bunch are in power. Think Ohio and Joe the Plumber, or Illinois and Ryan's divorce records. Politics is dirty and the Obama bunch particularly so. But I don't think that is related to the resignation.
Hmm... Looks like Palin is going to use her new freedom to take some scumbags to court. This would be the kiss of death for many politicians, but I don't think it will work that way for Sarah.
Alchemist,
Occam's Razor involves accepting the simplest explanation, which at this point would be the stated reasons.
The fact that those reasons don't make very much sense may leave some inclined to depart from Occam's Razor, and suggest more elaborate explanations. Time will tell.
You're right Joe. In politicians, the most common case for leaving tends to be right before (or just after) a major scandal. However, after watching the Sun. morning news circuit, it now seems more plausible to me that she is just burned out, and no scandal is brewing.
Still, a flame out this public is going to make it difficult for her to leave the wilderness again.
Alchemist,
You are still totally missing the point. Geez. And watching the news circuit, are you kidding me? You need someone to explain simple conversational english to you? Some dolt on TV who knows diddly and thinks less? Just read the transcript and pay attention, damnit. This isn't rocket science.
Alchemist, #9: How, with her limited national record, is she going to accomplish more than a popular sitting governor? That's like Tiger Woods winning his first master and then dropping out of the PGA's because "He can do more for tennis by working elsewhere".
Four words: Sarah Palin, GOP kingmaker.
That's the direction I think she's headed. She has been the GOP's most successful fundraiser by far since November. That says to me that anyone she endorses in any Republican primary (not just the presidential one) would immediately become the front-runner and odds-on favorite to win the nomination. By playing kingmaker and not running for office herself, Palin could dramatically transform the national GOP and become its de facto leader, while letting the actual candidates take the brunt of the usual mudslinging.
The only downside I can see to this is that Obama's re-election campaign could easily portray any GOP challenger in 2012 as merely running in Palin's stead, a la the "Bush's third term" meme they used against McCain in '08. But I doubt that meme really had much to do with Obama's victory, and suspect it will be even less effective - if it doesn't backfire outright - with Palin.
Alchemist, #9: How, with her limited national record, is she going to accomplish more than a popular sitting governor? That's like Tiger Woods winning his first master and then dropping out of the PGA's because "He can do more for tennis by working elsewhere".
Four words: Sarah Palin, GOP kingmaker.
That's the direction I think she's headed. She has been the GOP's most successful fundraiser by far since November. That says to me that anyone she endorses in any Republican primary (not just the presidential one) would immediately become the front-runner and odds-on favorite to win the nomination. By playing kingmaker and not running for office herself, Palin could dramatically transform the national GOP and become its de facto leader, while letting the actual candidates take the brunt of the usual mudslinging.
The only downside I can see to this is that Obama's re-election campaign could easily portray any GOP challenger in 2012 as merely running in Palin's stead, a la the "Bush's third term" meme they used against McCain in '08. But I doubt that meme really had much to do with Obama's victory, and suspect it will be even less effective - if it doesn't backfire outright - with Palin.
D'oh! The comment system locked up while I submitted the first time, so I re-submitted. Sorry about that.
Joshua, every time she competes in an election, this is going to be the first attack that comes out. Sarah Palin: just waiting to pass the ball. Even a large number of conservatives have turned the other cheek.
She will always, always have a devoted demographic. That seems pretty clear. I don't see how she'll be able to attract moderate voters again. Her endorsement will still attract crowds in senate/congress races (where Partisan swings make a huge difference), but unless she's got some magic coming down the pipe, I don't see her recapturing the middle third.
She's going to need a pretty major accomplishment.