Posted on 09/29/2011 7:51:00 AM PDT by Brices Crossroads
In her recent interview, Sarah Palin has raised a bit of a kerfuffle among her supporters by referring once again to the "title" thing, as I call it. All she did was pose the question, "Is a title worth it?", and "Will a campaign shackle someone like me from effecting positive change?"
She never answered the questions. She articulated some of the arguments against running. She also said she could make a difference without a title. Once again, nothing but a proven historical fact, based upon her ability thus far to drive the political debate and to influence, in a major way, the outcome of the 2010 elections...all without a title.
Not one jot or tittle of this now well worn soliloquy of hers will have to be "walked back" when she announces. Everything she said about holding a title and the shackles of a campaign are accurate. The same arguments had equal, if not greater, resonance when she ran for Mayor, Lieutenant Governor and Governor. In each case, her calculus led her to the conclusion that, in spite of the shackles, the power that went with the title made the endeavor worthwhile. And the stakes for her city and state were nowhere near as high as they are for the United States in 2012.
She did, however, choose not to emphasize the much stronger arguments in favor of running, that is: with the title, comes enormous power which, held in the hands of a resolute executive like Reagan in the 1980s and Palin herself in Alaska, can achieve enormous, unprecedented good. Without the title and the power that accompanies it, the ability to make a difference will not disappear entirely, but it will be intermittent and sporadic. In the perilous four years that lie ahead of us, "intermittent and sporadic" won't cut the mustard, and she knows it.
Palin's constant harping on the "title" thing (as I call it) may be a diversion. She will allow her enemies to hear what they want to hear from her comments and if it causes them to miscalculate, oh well... However, I do not believe her repeated, almost pejorative, allusions to title are designed principally to mislead her enemies. I believe she is throwing down a marker to separate herself from every GOP candidate since Reagan, in effect calling them out for trying to BE President, rather than to USE the Presidency (as did Reagan) to effect positive change. Both Bushes sought the Presidency principally in order to be President, that is: to HOLD the title. Dole and McCain similarly sought it because it was their turn, and they too craved the title. None of the four, card carrying members of the Establishment one and all, had any real agenda or plans to use the power that goes with the title to "make a real difference". They were willing to "go with the flow" in order to hold the title. Similarly, her two principal Establishment challengers--Romney and Perry-- are bereft of any real convictions. One of these two will almost certainly be the nominee should Palin not run. Their records bespeak politicians HUNGRY for a title who are willing to "go with the flow" to get it, whether that flow takes them in the direction of statism (Romney) or crony capitalism (Perry). Palin is unwilling to "go with the flow" to hold a title or for any other reason. Rather, she sees the title as an instrument to CHANGE the flow. Period.
In sum, Palin will not be running for President to hold a title. I think her deep personal humility, as well as her political orientation as a conservative populist, recoils from titles, especially those which are purely honorary. But she has never recoiled from power when there was a crying need that it be held in the hands of a resolute and principled leader. That time, like never before, is now.
To paraphrase the words of an old 1980 campaign commercial, linked below, "The time is now for Palin. Palin for President."
Ping!
I like it.
As always great perspective BC!
So the question is? Announce right before the Seoul speech for maximum free worldwide coverage? It makes sense.
i saw the interview and i thought she confused the issue.
Great treatise as always. I watch for your writings with pleasure.
On purpose maybe??? The Wizard of Wasilla with another headfake! You know she was a damn good basketball player in HS. Good basketball players know how to throw a good headfake.
All I know is this comment had anyone near Chris Matthews needing a face shield on Hardball yesterday.
I think they’re going to throw Christie or Jeb Bush at her if she jumps in and she knows it. It seems to me that her plans require her to be the last one in the race. Probably to capitalize on the ‘instant front-runner’ status that new blood seems to bring to the race. They know this and want to take the wind our of her sails with a ‘big name’ candidate.
Once the first filing deadline has passed, the threat of throwing another candidate at her is gone.
I brought up a theory that was shot down instantly by a couple of people here the other day, but I think it might well come into play: Sarah may just wait silently until the first filing deadline and file for it very late on the last day possible without announcing anything to anyone.
Someone told me that she’d never give up ‘her moment’ by doing such a thing, but remember when she said you wouldn’t be able to miss her announcement? Well, if she files without announcing, it’ll be front page news everywhere within hours. And the quieter she is, the more they’ll go insane over it. When she makes a statement, it would be something along the lines of “I still haven’t made my final decision, but I wanted to keep my options open. Why should I be forced to announce or not announce based on some artificial deadline??”
Either that or she’s decided not to run and is just throwing cold water on supporters. Frankly, that was my initial impression from the interview, though reflection after the fact makes me wonder what the motive would be to do that at this point. Who knows...we’ll find out soon enough, I guess.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see some true humility in our politicians? Someone who knows it’s not about them, but about our country & keeping our gifts of freedoms...for future generations. When Michelle Bachmann went after Perry so harshly, she lost me. Yes, she believes in the Constitution, but gave bullets for the liberals to use against one of our candidates. I am NOT a Perry supporter at all, but I thought she was fighting for herself and not our values and principals.
“So the question is? Announce right before the Seoul speech for maximum free worldwide coverage? It makes sense.”
I agree. The time is drawing nigh.
Yesterday, Bachmann was on local radio here in SC telling us about how the Iowa straw poll that she won was a ‘real’ straw poll and the one that Herman Cain won wasn’t. She’s a joke.
I love Sarah Palin...But if she doesn’t announce by mid mite Sept 30th...Her Presidential Aspirations are going to quickly turn into a pumpkin and mice. If she doesn’t, the spotlight she has, is going to leave her in a heartbeat, and no one will care what she gas to say any more. No one will take her seriously again, if she does not enter now, gird her loins and earnestly enter the fray. No “Make ups” or “do overs” for missed primaries or to build any political machines. The time is now or never. Does she really think many will care whose lance she puts her favor on, if she remains in the stands?
Is their some magic about midnight September 30?
Respectfully, I think you’re applying “strategery” where it didn’t exist. Palin is still clearly undecided and talking through her issues with running.
In her last appearance with Greta, she responded that she was tired of giving the same dopey answer about whether or not she is running but that that was all she had at this point because she’s still thinking about it and talking about it with her family. It spoke volumes to me when she referred to her indecision as a “dopey answer.”
I expect her to go the route of Glenn Beck to try to effect change that way. I think she saw how GB was shackled by Fox News and is now free to say what he really thinks and tell the whole truth. She wants that level of freedom. She doesn’t want the verbal restraints that inherently come with being a candidate or the leader of the free world.
I don’t think she knows how to let us down easy. JMHO
I believe the opposite. Announce afterward. She was invited to this economic forum and is on the world stage as a private citizen not as a candidate for public office. Her message of tools for economic recovery will resonate best if it is not confused with a presidential run which Obama did in his speech in Germany in 2008. HOWEVER, she will use it after she announces which will be before October 31.
Here are the details as I posted earlier today:
She is going speak at a world economic forum in South Korea on October 11 (The New Economic Crisis: Reforming Global Leadership & Asia's Challenge) and shares the program with some heavy hitters (and libs) such as Larry Summers, Strobe Tallbot, Gordon Brown and others whose affiliation I don't know. She's the second speaker after the introduction and is scheduled for an hour. Very, very prestigious and I suspect she does not want her message there to be taken as a political campaign speech, which it would be if she was an announced candidate.
.............your reading my mind!
..........I think Utah is October 14 and the first deadline. Some freeper will correct me if I’m wrong. In the big scheme of things, Utah is un-important. So, as you say, just file and say nothing and let the establishment pubbie pukes and the press twist some more. I’m to the point where I hate the establishment pubbies almost as bad as the Dims.
She asked in the interview if a title would be shackling. I answered honestly, “In your case, I don’t think it would.” She said that that’s the question she asks herself. Perhaps it’s presumptuous, but I suspect that she’s coming up with the same answer as I am.
Good perspective!
You have stated the truth very eloquently—this is the reason I like FR so much. Every now and then someone else can put in words what has been in the heart of others of us. So thanks.
>> “Will a campaign shackle someone like me from effecting positive change?” <<
.
A campaign, and subsequently winning office, is the only means anyone has to effect positive change.
All the commentary, and editorializing in the world will not make the final moves necessary to make positive change. (for negative change, that is not the case; all one need do is scream the lie loudly until it wins by attrition)
“...she sees the title as an instrument to CHANGE the flow.”
The same would be said for BHO.
I feel the same way about the Establishment. I believe that the primary filing deadlines are as follow. Some FReeper will correct me if I’m wrong. :)
Michigan: October 23
Florida: October 31
South Carolina: November 1
New Hampshire: November 21
Utah: January 15
Iowa caucus, like the Nevada caucus: No formal filing of candidates
>> “I think they’re going to throw Christie or Jeb Bush at her if she jumps in and she knows it.” <<
.
Blah!
How could either of those two heavily RINO-branded midgets mean anything to anyone but Romney or Perry? They can’t reach a conservative.
>> “She’s a joke.” <<
.
By choice.
Bachmann had a path to relevance laid out before her, but she got snookered by the Mediots into faking a run for the presidency.
Wasn’t she billed as a ‘potential US Presidential candidate’ in South Korea?
Welcome Gouty Toe Don!
“I love Sarah Palin...But if she doesn’t announce by mid mite Sept 30th...”
Hey, concern troll, so now you are setting the deadlines for filing? The filing deadlines are not set by you.
It could be a diversion, or it could be Palin trying to start the process of letting her supporters down gently, by giving them time to realize that she doesn’t need to run for President to be effective.
Her statements work either way, so you can’t really be sure. But in any case, we should start thinking about the second, in case it is true, so we won’t be too dissappointed.
------------------------------------------------
The dozens of speakers from around the world are all billed or defined by their position and area of expertise or corporate/foundation/institution affiliation...Pres, CEO, Director, Sr.VP, Professor...
Palin is listed simply as 'politician'. She is the only speaker so defined.
If you dig deep you find the "potential POTUS candidate" reference.
True, and I believe at the time of her speech that status will not have changed. And, ironically, her status as undecided may get her more attention than as a declared candidate.
Solo Speech - Sarah Palin
Time/Place: 10.11 09:00 ~ 10:00, Vista Hall
Synopsis: Will Sarah Palin run for 2012 presidential election? She was a nominee for vice-president in the 2008 presidential election. The former governor of Alaska hasn’t made it clear yet, but her recent footstep is no different than other candidates. She did a cross country bus tour to meet voters, appeared as a speaker at Tea-party convention and made comments on current government. Sarah Palin, who hasn’t made a decision to run for the presidency, will discuss her vision toward the election and how to rescue the U.S. economy. Please find yourself at WKF listening one of the strongest American presidential candidate.
Moderator: Riz Khan(Al Jazeera English, Anchor)
Speaker: Sarah Palin(United States of America, Politician)
Thank you for the welcome? What is a gouty toe?
Like a sore thumb, but worse.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see some true humility in our politicians? Someone who knows it’s not about them, but about our country & keeping our gifts of freedoms...for future generations. When Michelle Bachmann went after Perry so harshly, she lost me. Yes, she believes in the Constitution, but gave bullets for the liberals to use against one of our candidates. I am NOT a Perry supporter at all, but I thought she was fighting for herself and not our values and principals.
***
It starts with us. Please read my tagline .
>> “by giving them time to realize that she doesn’t need to run for President to be effective.” <<
.
IOW, you believe that Palin is either a liar, or so deluded that she thinks she can effect the necessary changes without being the executive?
Her supporters aren’t that stupid, and Palin has shown no signs of delusion either. I’m sure she is soundly aware that the only way this nation can survive is if the motivation for that change comes from the president, and it is clearer every day that she is the only candidate that posses that vision. Even Cain does a tap dance on the most important issues.
Good tagline!
BTW, 09:00:00 a.m. Tuesday October 11, 2011 in ROK converts to 08:00:00 p.m. Monday October 10, 2011 in America/New York. Talk about Prime Time!! Wanna bet Obama speaks to the nation for the umpteenth time on his jobs bill at the same day and time??
At ojne [piont even she said she’s make her decision by the end of Se4pyember., and there is the harsd reality of what she would need to do, to build an effective campaign and get on all the state primary ballots.
The longer she waits from now, the more likely her campaign will fall into disarray, the less people will take her seriously, and her ability to attract even a small scrum of reporters, will geometrically begin to shrink. You think Herman Cain has difficulties? The longer she waits, the more of an MSM joke she will be. Eventually if she doesn’t act, she’ll be liucky to get a stringer from Wassilla to show up for her. There is a point in time....Gers is going to pass her by, quire soon IMO.
Are you kidding? If Palin gets in, she will suck the life and money out of everyone else’s campaign.
I like Palin, but I am not as optimistic as you. If she enters, she’ll have to earn it every bit as much as any other candidate. She’ll have to hit the ground running, and be as polished on all the issues both foreign and domestic...and *shine* while doing it. She may have4 amassed a nice sized personal fortune, but it will take some serious deep pockets just to get through the primary not to mention the general...and that takes a seriously well tuned national machine...and that takes time to put together...
Why would that be the case? She said she didn't need a title to be effective. I choose to believe she is telling the truth, and that she doesn't NEED to be President.
or so deluded that she thinks she can effect the necessary changes without being the executive
If Palin says she can do it, again I BELIEVE her. She certainly has proven that she can be very effective in her current role. She got dozens of good conservatives elected to office last year -- which in some ways is better than if she had spent all her time running for one seat. Why work hard to get ONE extra vote, when you can get 20 extra votes by getting 20 OTHER people elected?
Anyway, it seems that, to the degree anybody is arguing that she is "lying", and I don't think they are, it would be those who claim she just said this to throw people off (head fake). The reason I don't think it would be a lie to do that is that she is absolutely correct. Saying she doesn't NEED a title to be effective doesn't mean she won't GO for the title.
That's why I said it wasn't clear. She could just be saying she doesn't need a title in order to do the "head fake"; I don't think so, but that would be a rational, NON-lying thing to do. Or she could be saying that because it is shaping her opinion as she tries to decide what to do, and she wants to let her supporters know that so if she decides not to run, they will understand why, and not be so dissappointed.
In my opinion, she is just being open and honest about the thought process she is going through in making her decision. And in doing so, I think, helping her supporters set their expectations more appropriately. In MY opinion, if she is to the point where her argument includes that she doesn't NEED the title to be effective, it sounds like she is looking for a good justification not to run -- but we'll know for sure when she announces one way or another.
I reject your premise that Palin is the only candidate who can be effective as President for the conservative cause, and I believe her statement shows Palin wouldn't accept your premise yet either. I'm sure if she comes to that conclusion, she will announce.
Now, that’s funny...I don’t care who you are.
>> “If Palin says she can do it, again I BELIEVE her.” <<
.
Then perhaps it is you that is deluded. She cannot.
All of her power and influence is based in the belief of a significant plurality of the American public that she is headed to the presidency. Should that prove untrue, she will fade quickly.
And you think I'm deluded? There is NO "significant plurality" who think she will actually BE president. I'd be surprised if the number of people who think she will win is even as big as the number who are actively supporting her.
As to your "she cannot", SHE ALREADY HAS. You might as well claim that Rush Limbaugh can't impact things, or that Paul Ryan is ineffectual. Or that Thomas Sowell is wasting his time.
Her power and influence is based on the FACT that she knows what she is talking about, what she says makes sense, she is articulate, and there are people who love her and will work for her vision, whether she is running for President or not.
I would be interested in hearing if there are other Palin supporters who will agree with you that they ONLY care about her because they think she'll be President, and if she isn't, they will forget about her.
>> “As to your ‘she cannot’, SHE ALREADY HAS.” <<
.
Only because op peoples expectations that she was headed to the White House. If not, no more 5,000 followers at every rally, no more high paid articles or Op-eds.
People follow leaders, not faders.
if there was a good conservative out there, you’d be right. But let’s face it, even Perry has a big problem with immigration and has been shown to think like a Lib.
So a real conservative could not jump in even after some deadlines and not get votes? Will we really say to ourselves “well i would have voted for Sarah but she got in too late?”
very interesting developments. we’ll see, maybe you will be right but there is really no need for “concern” unless you need a job and want to work as a paid staffer for palin and thus need her to get in now
As I read your post, I realized, "Isn't this sort-of statement doing the same thing to the left as it is to us?" If we, who trust her judgment, find ourselves wondering which way she will jump, how much more the pundits on the left, who believe they have her figured out, and who are frantic with worry that she will actually get into the race. But, it's good to keep them guessing, and if we are guessing, too, so much the better, because it will lend authenticity to the confusion.
It won't be long and the establishment GOP will be out of possibilities to throw at her. Every time she speaks up, they drag up one more possible candidate, as if they were trying to bribe her to jump in, or scare her off, or something. LOL!
“I love Sarah Palin...But if she doesn’t announce by mid mite Sept 30th...Her Presidential Aspirations are going to quickly turn into a pumpkin and mice. If she doesn’t, the spotlight she has, is going to leave her in a heartbeat, and no one will care what she gas to say any more. No one will take her seriously again....”
That’s a joke right?.....If Palin announces anytime it will be all over DRUDGE (”SHE ANNOUNCES!!) and everywhere else.....Fox, CNN, MSNBC, PBS ect......And it will create a huge interest in the Republican primary and the conservative movement....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.