Sarah Palin: What I've Learned

Esquire ^ | February 5, 2009 | Ryan D'Agostino

[CutePuppy]

Sarah Palin: What I've Learned

The full-length version of our controversial interview with Alaska's governor (first excerpted here last month) reveals the former vice-presidential candidate's perspective on John McCain's choices, her daughter's marriage, God's guidance, and her perceived "hotness."
UPDATE: Scroll down for Web-only quotes on wisecracks, American priorities, and more

By: Ryan D'Agostino

We had flutes and trombones around the house. For my siblings and me, music was important to give us some balance. If it weren't for music, our entire social life, our avocations, all would have had to do with sports.

Everything I've ever needed to know I learned through sports.

Bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie annoy me.

I'll tell you, yesterday the Anchorage Daily News, they called again to ask — double-, triple-, quadruple-check — who is Trig's real mom. And I said, Come on, are you kidding me? We're gonna answer this? Do you not believe me or my doctor? And they said, No, it's been quite cryptic the way that my son's birth has been discussed. And I thought, Okay, more indication of continued problems in the world of journalism.

You have to let it go. Even hard news sources, credible news sources — the comment about, you can see Russia from Alaska. You can! You can see Russia from Alaska. Something like that — a factual statement that was taken out of context and mocked — what you have to do is let that go.

I would think we all tear up during the national anthem at the beginning of a baseball game, don't we? That's an alikeness between Alaskans and New Yorkers.

If I were giving advice to myself back on the day my candidacy was announced, I'd say, Tell the campaign that you'll be callin' some of the shots. Don't just assume that they know you well enough to make all your decisions for ya. Let them know that you're the CEO of a state, you're forty-four years old, you've got a lot of great life experience that can be put to good use as a candidate.

Maybe it's like when someone says, "I love you, you're perfect the way y'are, now let me change you." And I'm sure Senator McCain had to struggle with some of that, maybe early on in his campaign.

I'd been a fan of SNL for decades, and I have a lot of respect for the present talent. I knew it would be a good thing to be a part of. And also, of course, to let Americans know that I can laugh at myself, too.

My favorite place in Alaska is on a cold winter day in my own house, with fat snowflakes falling. In my nice warm home.

I eat, therefore I hunt. I want to fill my freezer with good, clean, healthy protein for my kids. That's what I was raised on. It is abundant and it is available here in Alaska, with caribou and moose and different game and lots of very, very healthy and delicious wild Alaskan seafood. That's what we eat. So that's why I hunt and why I fish.

A courageous person is anyone who loses a child and can still get out of bed in the morning.

This is what I've been telling Bristol, before she gets married, is, Bristol, there are definitely gonna be tough parts in marriage. You have to look at those tough times and remember that you have essentially a business contract with this person. You've signed an agreement: You're going to be together. And you look at it that way as you work through the tough times, because I guarantee the better time is there on the other side. That's how we've looked at it.

Fleece, lots of fleece, and skinny white-chocolate mochas. That's the best way to stay warm.

I know He hears me when I just call out to Him, which I do a lot. Oh, yes, I pray. I talk to God every day. I've put my life, so I put my day, into God's hands, and I just ask for guidance and wisdom and grace to get through one situation after another.

The secret to chili is you gotta have good mooseburger in there. I don't know if you can get moose commercially in New York. You'd have to come up here and visit me in my home, and I'll prepare it for ya.

Carmex. I'm addicted to Carmex. I don't go anywhere without Carmex.

The first place was an ice-cream store called Ferina's, in Wasilla. In a fishing village called Dillingham, I worked waitin' tables at a bar. Serving people, you learn patience. When someone's mad at you 'cause you're not serving them in the manner that they want to be served, and you've gotta be tempered and graceful.

Two meanings in Bristol's name: I worked at the Bristol Inn, and Todd grew up in Bristol Bay. But also, Bristol, Connecticut, is the home of ESPN. And when I was in high school, my desire was to be a sportscaster. ESPN was just kicking off, just getting off the ground, and I thought that's what I was going to do in life, is be one of the first woman sportscasters. Until I learned that you'd have to move to Bristol, Connecticut. It was far away. So instead, I had a daughter and named her Bristol.

Hot? If only people could see me as I come in from a run early in the morning without a trough full of makeup on, I think that they'd have a different opinion.

After a long day, if the weather's good, I like to take a long, hot run to unwind. Otherwise, lately, I take a bath with Trig, and I answer e-mails, and then we all fall asleep in my big bed while we listen to Piper read her Junie B. Jones books out loud. She's learning to read and she'll read for hours on end. It's idyllic. It's amazing.

Online Extra: Four More Quotes from Palin

I bite my lip when I'm tempted to wisecrack, because I'm always thinking of something that I'd love to say but know that I better not say it because of the position that I'm in.

There is one America, but there are different priorities reflected in individual Americans that certainly can stand in stark contrast with — I'll give you an example. Some people, money is the be-all, end-all to them. Money and power, prestige, a title next to their name is the be-all, end-all. Other people, the highest priority would be their character, their reputation, their word, and money has nothing to do with that. The beauty of America is that individuals making up this great country do have different priorities. And that's the contrast that I would point out.

We pulled out of some states that I believe we should have continued to campaign in and sent a stronger message that those states really mattered, regardless of the number of electoral votes there. The people mattered. I would have loved to have had more influence on where it was that we campaigned.

Running is my sanity. Sweat is my sanity. And that was a frustration of mine on the campaign trail, when we couldn't carve out a half an hour or an hour a day to run. The day never went as well as it would have had I had that time to go sweat.

[SuperLuminal]

"hat’s one legitimate way to look at it. "

Maybe you can see legitimacy in truth_seeker's discourse, but I can not.

Particularly since most of his/her basis was either false or a "stretched" fact.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Rush is working on a project...

How about Palin and Rush on another Rush to Excellence Tour, promoting her book and conservatism.

[Lexinom]

Let's agree on the hypothetical premise: "Her aspiration is high office".

With that in mind, how does she get there?

Staying on in her current office would lead her to the foot of the next step. That is your thinking, right?

There's one tiny detail missing: circumstances. Her family was amassing a debt that, since late last year, has climbed to over $500,000, with no sign of change in rate. (We will leave aside the baseless nature of these charges for this discussion, and presume her innocence).

Now, let's call it six months, $500,000. At present accrual rate, you have three more $500,000 periods JUST TO HER RE-ELECTION in 2010. That's $1.5M in the hole. Take it out to 2012, that's $2.5M deficit in legal fees. Not a good way to start.

The political consideration: The political blood loss from so many wounds, cumulatively, as this fake charge or that one makes the news would bring the grim prospect of unrecoverability.

Thus, she stayed on, per conventional wisdom, and ends up deeply in debt and politically savaged. Not a good way to start a race!

Now, let us consider the alternative: Guerrilla warfare. She appears when she wishes, where she chooses, unshackled from the restraints incumbent on a governor, and the Left suddenly faces an enemy that attacks from nowhere, from the shadows, again, and again, and again. She begins the process of political payback.

Financially, she has adoring fans nationwide. She is a draw. These fans, loving her and having concern for her welfare, place money in the collection tray and not only wipe out the $500,000 debt, but begin building, bit by bit, a pretty substantial warchest.

Organizationally, she shuns conventional wisdom and instead goes outside the system. Remember Obama during the Primaries? You get the idea. She begins appearing at strategically-selected Tea Parties, and not only gets exposure herself (if she does this early), but awakens America from its slumber as it sees angry, energized, fired-up fellow Americans growing something BIG. "What is that? What is bothering them? Should I be concerned? Better yet, maybe I should be involved!"

You see how this works?

[truth_seeker]

“Particularly since most of his/her basis was either false or a “stretched” fact.”

Then correct the false items, and the correct the stretched facts.

His basis is NOT limited to the reactions people on this site that praise her every move. I am talking about how voters at large may react.

To win you need a whole lot of people UNLIKE freepers. Voters in the middle, independents, some democrats.

[weston]

You got it and if that’s the strategy I like it a lot.

[calex59]

If she does, her resignation today without completing her term, or more of it, will be one strike. The second strike will be her unwillingness to endure the attacks, which go along with political elected service. Two strikes. Is she cut out to be a comeback kid?

Unwillingness to endure the attacks? Please name one other politician that has had to endure the intensity of the attacks, and they of attacks, that Sarah has had to endure. Even Quayle had it easier than she did.

She gave the reasons for resigning in her speech, if you don't believe her she can't help that. If you need to read it again go to Sarah Pac and read it. Pay especial attention to the last sentence.

Sarah has had unprecedented attacks on her and those of you who claim she caved easily against the standard political attacks are full of it. She didn't cave, she endured huge attacks on herself and family, lie after lie after lie, and usually the attacks were stepped up when something showed how popular she is with the people.

Case in point: Auburn NY, 20,000 people come screaming out to see her. They wouldn't have done that for anyone else. This is what drew Letterman's attacks on her child and several other smears. She gets 72% in a straw poll a few weeks ago and then the sh** really hit the fan, mainly from the people in her own party, does Vanity Fair ring a bell?

She has had more attacks from repulican RINOs than other republicans get from the news media.

So your, and several others, BS about her giving up and not enduring attacks is just the biggest load of crap on the net.

[Always Right]

I don’t know how to put it more simply — if Palin aspires to elected office, then resigning elected office is the wrong idea.

Ethically, it is the right thing to do. I hate politicians who collect a government paycheck for one office, while concentrating all their time running for another.

[seton89]

http://www.teamsarah.org/

Team Sarah is a diverse coalition of Americans dedicated to advancing the values that Sarah Palin represents in the political process.

[hoosiermama]

Wonder what happened when she visited the soldiers that helped make the decision?...Any press on it?...Her reception? May help put it all in prospective.

ALso, am not to certain the “hell yes” was from Todd. It could have been from either of the the older children.

[hoosiermama]

Good analysis.

[RightFighter]

I bet the “hell yes” was from her oldest son, the soldier.

[hoosiermama]

That’s what my first thought was also. She’ll not reveal that till he’s safely at home or in the book.

[visualops]

Ethically, it is the right thing to do

Absolutely. Sarah is not politics as usual. Not only has she done the ethical thing, but she has done the smart thing the more I think about it. She has freed herself while doing the right thing for AK. Interestingly there has not been, so far as I can see, a universal slam, a consensus that she's a quitter and a loser. It has been, for the most part, a "Whoa...what's next?". Which tells me her future is alive and well.

[oneill681]

I’m a Palin fan, but resigning to improve her chances in 2012 seems like a mistake. She’s done a great job governing Alaska…which helps counter the argument she lacks executive experience. She would be great in the cabinet of the next republican administration (hopefully in ’12).... Maybe Secretary of Energy, Interior, HHS, etc? However, it’s becoming pretty clear Romney is the best choice against Obama in 2012.

My guess is she’s just tired of politics. Having everybody portray her as an idiot (while Joe Biden is a policy genius) would be pretty tough, and the defense from her own party was pretty weak. She can make lots more money doing something else (talk shows, oil companies, etc), and I think a change of direction is totally understandable.

[hoosiermama]

Excellent post on another thread said if she continued in office and the false charges continues, the Palins would be in debt for 1.5 million....with no recourse against the perpetrators.

This will allow her to finish the book earlier and get it to the presses faster. (seven figure advance: guaranteed best seller) Possible have time to write a second one just pictures of Alaska with stories in contrast to the political discourse.

Go on tour for book signing.
Appear on the talking head show-promoting the book

Speak for fee and for candidates of HER choosing.

Accept gifts until she declares her candidacy. (It was rumored that each of the Clinton had wealthy buyer buy tens of thousands of their books and then give them away) Sarah won't need it.

ITMT, Sarah has read the tealeaves and will provide leadership to fed up America. She's one of us! Fed up!

[ParadigmLost]

you forgot one other IMO big part.

She is really really pi$$ed. She has been attacked, her kids have been attacked, and her husband has been attacked, mercilessly. And this is a women that understand hunting. She has learned how lethal and dangerous her enemies are, and that to defeat them, it will take more than a pistol. She needs some big guns.

I believe that she will no more shy away from this fight than any other she has taken on in her career. She just wants to do it from a position that allows her freedom of movement. She will start hitting back and hard, with the intent of skinning her enemies and putting their pelts on her wall. That's what you do when there is a dangerous predator out there. And I believe she now views the MSM and the Dems as that kind of threat.

Just my opinion.

[carmody]

That is my take also. This is exciting — what will Sarah do next? Today, July 4th, 2009 — America is being reborn.

[LibLieSlayer]

... or not.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

She will have a hellova lot more than two.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

Yeah... hussein blew his chances by bailing on his first term as Senator... oh wait... nevermind.

LLS