Posted on 10/06/2011 8:03:10 AM PDT by pgyanke
Governor Sarah Palin mattered.
She had gathered a terrific following and upset all of the right people. Conservatives loved her and liberals feared her. They were both right to do so.
For the conservatives, she had the unique combination of being right on the issues with a national presence, political machine, steel spine, gumption, charm and a salt-of-the-Earth attitude which comes from being one of the people--rather than one of society's elites. She was a fierce independent who battled both parties and their corruption. In every battle she fought her way (and 2008 was not fought her way), she won. She didn't rest on her victorious laurels, either... she cleaned house, reduced the perks of her own office and restored confidence in government offices. She did these things for Alaska... we wanted her to do these things for America.
To the liberals, she was a lightening rod standing up to their storm... and they hit her with everything they had. In every strike, her narrative was proven (emailgate revealed she was an engaged executive making day to day decisions--horror!) rather than destroyed. Like Sisyphus, the Left continued to push the boulder higher and higher only to have it crash down on them every time. They feared her because of all of the reasons the conservatives loved her... she didn't just TALK conservatism... she acted on it. Liberals will allow their leaders to say just about anything--just as liberals didn't fault Clinton for his Christian talk but faulted Bush for his Christian walk--as long as they toe the line in policy. Gov Palin took the greatest amount of flack from the enemy's guns because she was the greatest current threat to their view of the world... just as they were threatened by President Reagan a couple of generations ago.
Gov Palin now tells us that you don't need a title to make a difference in America. I agree with her... if you're talking about innovation or changing hearts and minds. Rush Limbaugh and other conservative talkers do that each and every day. I disagree with her in regards to our current troubles in this country... it will take conservatives in office to fix the problems. Sarah Palin wasn't popular with conservative voters because she SAID the right things... she was popular because she had a track record of DOING the right things.
I'm a fan of Rush Limbaugh, but let's be honest about his influence... if his voice could change America, we wouldn't have gone from Reagan to Obama during his tenure on the radio. I'm glad to have him (and others like him) doing what he does... but unless we have real conservatives in government offices (with titles), we will lose this country.
People didn't crowd Gov Palin's speaking engagements to hear her speak. They were there in the hope that she would run for President and take the wheel of a wayward ship of state. Yesterday's announcement will greatly diminish Gov Palin's voice and influence. We already have people who say the right things. She was uniquely poised to do what needed to be done. And now that is gone. I'm glad her priorities are in the right place... God, family and country are certainly the correct order. The problem is that the government of this country is quickly becoming the enemy of God and family. She gave up her chance to do something about that.
Now, it's time to settle for the next best candidate... and pray we don't end up having to settle for evil once again (albeit the lesser of two) in the general election.
Maybe... but George Soros isn't powerful because of the strength of his ideas. He has the money (billions--with a capital B!) to spend to get his way. Sarah Palin does not. Again, she has a voice and without the expectation of public office to implement her ideas, her voice is no more powerful than Rush Limbaugh's. She will not be elevated to higher political power by the GOP elite so kiss RNC Chairperson goodbye. No... she is done in this regard. She will try... but will find her voice muted in the maelstrom.
She put herself into this and she can take the hits. You do not go along as if you are running an “unconventional” campaign and know you’ve got the supporters waiting to give all their hopes to you and just do what she did and then think people are not going to come to their own conclusions what is going on with her. She does need to shut up and go away since she is not a fighter. What she says has no weight and she has done it all to herself.
Now THAT's my Laz! Discrimination? No... he hates everyone the same!
I think...things are changing rapidly in the way societies are organized. She may very well be a visionary in this regard.
OH please!! Palin is no Reagan.
Reagan didn’t tease people forever then chicken out!
I’ve had enough! This woman joins the other ‘almost was’, and ‘has beens’ on the national stage.
Look forward, please!! Romanticizing what ‘might have been’ is pointless!!
I’m a conservative,Republican woman who never liked her. I think she is the same shallow construct that Obama is to the Dems- all style no substance- didn’t see the attraction when she MIGHT be running and I’m really baffled by the slavish devotion now that she isn’t.
Ronald Reagan??? Palin couldn’t ride his horse!
Palin is nothing. She flatters herself way too much.
There will be no future run. Rightly or wrongly, she now owns the "quitter" moniker. I, and many others, understood why she stepped down from the governorship. She will not so easily shrug this one off after having strung it out for so long. I still love her and what she stands for but she will never again get her strong following back.
Palin has no future. This country’s future is already in question.
Really well put. That sums up what situation Sarah will now find herself in.
Has grace ever been extended to you, by anybody?
If so, then try extending a little grace here, to her.
If you've never felt grace, then I am so sorry, and will pray for you.
You know, female to male here, I can’t help but be amused by the fact that Palin might be the only woman I’ve ever heard of who TEASED and strung-along so many- without delivering! I thought men hated that! LOL! Instead, we have men here who have been PLAYED and are soooo understanding. May other women in your lives get the same ‘pass’!
“I’m pissed off at her.”
I am too. All that hope for the future of this country - gone.
I know. That may be an extreme statement, but that is how I feel. I agree with the writer of this post...Palin’s influence and ability to lead is now greatly diminished. Even if she wanted to change her mind all that potential is gone. Wasted.
The establishment GOP would have sabotaged her anyway, I’m sure she’s smart enough to understand that. Throw a cowboy hat on Perry, have him talk about guns and there’s your “conservative” candidate. Then Mitt can be cast as the moderate and the charade can continue.
She still matters. She is our most important ally in 2012 and beyond.
I agree with you. I am angry she did this. Beyond angry, I am livid, but now we need to look closely at our options and make the best decision possible. It’s going to be difficult but we can do it.
Minor correction to tagline...
Agreed
In the end, she's just a politician - right on most issues, a bit lacking in experience, and her decision-making skills appeared sketchy to this point.
She'll be around for a long time, hopefully amounting to something more than a FoxNews talking head. I'd like to see her as Energy Secretary in the next term.
Your tagline, I can imagine. I have not been watching any news in so long and I’m sure there’s celebrating going on.
Exactly! She's not done yet. She has been and will continue to be a powerful ally to any true conservative seeking to serve this country.
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