Posted on 07/15/2009 3:11:46 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sarah Palin still won't say whether she's building towards a presidential campaign in 2012. But she does plan to stay involved in national politics and appears to be casting herself as the possible leader of a new movement in American politics, one that would welcome Republicans and Democrats.
"I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation," she said in an interview with the Washington Times on Sunday. "People are so tired of the partisan stuff - even my own son is not a Republican," she added. Her son, Track, 20, who is serving with the US Army in Iraq, and her husband, Todd, are registered as 'non-partisan' in Alaska.
She also claimed that her decision to stand down as Governor of Alaska - which was revealed in a bizarre press conference on July 3 - was because the barrage of press attacks and allegations about her conduct and ethics had undermined her political programme.
The decision has bolstered her popularity among Republicans. A USA Today-Gallup poll found two-thirds of Republicans questioned wanted her to remain "a major national political figure".
It also seems to confirm the thoughts of those commentators who suspect that the prospect of national fame rather than ideology is her guiding star.
Andrew Sullivan, writing in the Sunday Times, said: "I love the idea of Sarah Palin: a brassy no-nonsense enemy of bloated government and corruption. That was probably John McCain's rough idea of who she was in the five minutes his staff vetted her, and on the one occasion he'd met her, before offering her a chance to be leader of the free world. The idea of Sarah Palin, though, is sadly not the reality of Sarah Palin.
"The reality of Sarah Palin is that politics is a means to her higher goal: celebrity. Every action she takes is designed to make sense... if you believe that government is really a version of a reality show.
"The remote, David Lynch-style location, the family often in trouble with the law, the pregnant teenage daughter and her impossibly handsome redneck boyfriend, the boyfriend's angry sister, an ornery Alaskan trooper, a few moose and mysterious pregnancies... and, well, the mini-series never ends. The best guess I've heard of the real reason for her abrupt departure is: 'I'm a celebrity... get me out of here!'"
One of Palin's first engagements after leaving office on July 26 comes on August 8 when she will address a Republican women's rally in California - in an aeroplane hangar that houses a retired presidential aircraft Air Force One, prompting more questions about her ambitions. Media will be banned from the meeting.
Politics and the world is nuts.
What will people truly do when 0bama calls on and implements global tax and order? I remember hearing a few states say they would break away if the U.N. took over as our government. Alaska was one state...
I have a better idea. Campaign for Palin for VP. Get the fraudulent Obammy out of office and bingo, we have Palin for VP. This will give her a good launch for prez. :)
The first thing I would do if I was Palin would be to show my birth certificate at one of her meetings. She has my support.
With all due respect, people like you are part of the problem. You have worked in the system for years and are heavily invested in it. You look for a reason to reject reform and allign with your familar networks.
It’s both the republicans and democrats that have been screwing this country over. Are there good republicans? Yes, but very few. You have been posting a lot about how disappointed you are in Palin. Get over it. Can’t for the life of me figure out why somebody would want fewer voices talking about issues of great importance.
I woke up long ago, sorry. I’ve heard all those arguments. I’m done with the BS. Obama is not much more than Bush’s third term in my view. Yes, there are differences on surface issues, but fundamentally, everything is going in the same direction, just much faster now.
This economic crisis is simply providing the politicians an excuse to further their power over We the People. And Obama didn’t start it, it started in 1913.
Something truly foundational has to change. Electing a Republican isn’t the answer. We already tried that eight years ago.
“bizarre press conference”
What was so “bizarre” about it? She said she would resign from the AK Governorship, and she gave her reasons why. The reasons make perfect sense in her circumstances.
Crystal clear.
Is that why it was “bizarre?” Are the media so used to spin that they can’t understand simple statements?
We are in strange times. Anything is possible. People are FED UP!
Agree. It isn’t a good idea, but strangely it is sounding better and better all the time.
Weren’t they recently on a “Listening tour” giving out a few pizza’s to get an audience or something? Aren’t we clear enough? Perhaps, in fact, they were just on a “selling tour”, selling themselves and their own big tent ideas.
Perhaps give the the GOP 6 or so mths to come to their senses.
My allegiance is to conservatism, not the Republican party -- period, end of sentence, end of story. If (as seems increasingly likely) there is only one principled conservative running for the Oval Office in 2012 -- and if that sole principled conservative just happens to be Sarah Palin -- then my vote will be cast accordingly, political party notwithstanding.
I imagine I'm not even remotely alone in having thus resolved, either. ;)
It is the ONLY answer. Like I said, if you think you can't get the Republican party to your liking, how do you think you're ever going to find enough people to your liking to EVER win ANY election? It's not going to happen. Get real!!!!!!!!
We cannot afford this kind of talk.
Well, that is just their meme. Make Palin sound and act stupid. Don’t worry about it, everything they report about Palin is spun negatively, in one way or the other. Just is.
Like I said, I abandoned that whole idea many years ago. Sorry, I’m a political atheist. I support the Constitution over some sorry party that disregards it almost as often as the other.
You're not stating my position accurately. I said IF she should stump for a Democrat or go third party, she would be off my list and I mean it.
Personally, I do not think she's that stupid which means she has more brains than many on this website who think she walks on water.
This is so early in the process that who knows what will happen. I am hoping we get some fresh new faces and Palin may very well be one of them. We'll see. Right now, I'd far rather have her than Biden as VP.
But it doesn't do her any good for a whole bunch of rabid Sarah supporters seem to have lost all ability to think critically. Give it time.
To be honest, if my choices right now are Romney, Huck or Palin, I'll take Palin, in a heartbeat.
Agree with your post. I want to elect a Conservative, not necessarily Repulican.
I love Sarah Palin and I completely distrust the media.
Exactly.
If we stay united, to support RINOs, I’d rather see the party split. Why should conservatives support a party that they perceive doesn’t reflect their values. They never win then anyhow, whether republicans win an election or not. If it was Romney in 2012, it’s not change I can believe in. And we have been down this path before. And many don’t think its a successful political strategy to win office etc in any case.
Just being honest.
You have no road map to victory of any kind. You’re just shooting from the hip and hope you hit something.
She is forming a third WAY, but appears to be clearly aiming at moving the Republican party into her own mainstream. The “log cabin” and RINOs will likely be welcomed to the exact extent that they toe the conservative line - at least that is my hope.
More’s the pity that these idiots do not understand what “grassroots” really mean. Or is that to our benefit?!? ;-P
The correct analysis/title would be
Palin threatening to form 3rd party
(if the GOP doesn’t straighten up).
Palin is exposing and bringing to the fore
the REAL political fight. That of the elitists vs the individualists.
There are elitists in both parties. They have to be rooted out of the GOP first, the government in general next.
I despise them so passionately I don't see how ANYONE with a brain would not do everything within their power to keep them from destroying our country--and they ARE destroying our country. Give me a RINO. I'll take them.
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