Posted on 01/18/2011 9:34:34 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In a guest column, John Ziegler, radio host, Palin confidante, and the filmmaker behind Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted, offers his unique perspective on Sarah Palin’s interview with Sean Hannity, and its specific implications towards a potential presidential run in 2012. The views expressed in this guest column are those of John Ziegler alone.
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As dangerous, counterproductive, and pointless as it can be to try and predict whether Sarah Palin will run for president in 2012, I found myself changing my mind last night about what she likely will, and should, do regarding the largest political decision one can make.
As an outspoken and dedicated defender of Palin against a mountain of unfair media attacks over the past couple of years, I have often been amused that many of my detractors presume that I have been a strong proponent of a Palin candidacy. The reality is that I am probably one of the few people to tell her to her face (after our January 2009 interview) that she can’t win in 2012, and, in act of even greater stupidity, I have most certainly harmed my last movie among Palin supporters by publicly stating the same opinion.
Aside from whether it would be a good idea, when I was asked on CNN recently whether she would run, I put the odds at 60-40 that she would not make the big plunge. But, thanks to the bizarre events of the past week, I have experienced a rather strong epiphany on both fronts.
Before I explain myself, let me make it clear that I have no special information, have not had a direct conversation with Sarah Palin about this topic since she resigned as Governor, and strongly believe that anyone other than Palin’s incredibly small inner circle who pretends to know for sure what she is doing is either lying or delusional. With that said, I may have some insight here that will elude the many media watchers who simply don’t understand Palin.
During the final segment of her interview on Fox News last night with Sean Hannity, I became convinced that it is now significantly more likely that she will run than pass. I came to this conclusion based at least as much on what she didn’t say as what she did. At the center of this perception is the core conviction that being blamed by huge portions of the media for facilitating mass murder, and then being roundly scorned for just defending herself, simply has to drive a person on the verge of such a decision in one direction or the other. Based on her answer to Hannity, it very clear which way she has been pushed.
If Palin really has been playing a game in order just to keep her profile high (an article of faith among Palin critics), the insane reaction to this tragedy and the irrational implication of her in it would have provided her with the perfect out. After all, not even her most fervent supporter could possibly begrudge her the right to beg off a presidential run in the name of protecting her family from all of the lunacy (and potentially worse) which will be sure to come their way if they are all subjected to another campaign. But even after being given an opening to “go there” larger than FNC’s rating dominance over its competitors, Palin would have none of it.
Instead, she came closer than ever before to declaring that she will be a candidate, defiantly stating that, while she has no announcement to make right now, she is not going to sit down, and will not be told to shut up.
Technically, this is not a new statement from Palin, but given the timing, context and juxtaposition of her pronouncements, I think there is potentially great significance to what she said. For her to dramatically declare that she will not “sit down or shut up” immediately after the caveat that she is not yet “ready” to make an “announcement” and just after the word “but,” seemed to send a message only slightly more subtle than Ricky Gervais taking a swipe at an obnoxious celebrity.
Palin then went one giant step further by raising the flag in defense of free speech and those who strongly believe that our nation is imperiled by our current lack of regard for the founding principles. Once again, when given the perfect opportunity to seek cover and protect herself Sarah Palin has instead chosen to fight back and protect what she thinks is right.
This leads me to my second change of heart. Ever since I witnessed her 2008 convention speech in person, I have had admiration for Sarah Palin, but I had also (almost out of a desire to not see her and her family unnecessarily harassed) come to the conclusion that it was not a good idea for her to run for president in 2012. I figured that, thanks largely to the same media who has targeted her for over two years, Obama was unlikely to lose to anyone and that blowing her one chance to run wouldn’t be good for her or her cause. But now I not only think she will run, but I really hope she does.
I still believe baring a disaster Obama will be reelected, but I now see nothing to lose and lots to gain by a Palin candidacy. She is the only candidate who has the ultimate freedom of having already faced her political death head on. As Winston Churchill famously said, “There is nothing more exhilarating than being shot without result,” and while thankfully Palin only knows this truth metaphorically, all that she has endured gives her incredible independence. Everyone else will inevitably melt (like even grizzled veteran John McCain did) when they get close to the blast furnace that will be going up against the Obama juggernaut. Far more than anyone else in conservative history, Palin has been forced to prove just how fireproof her convictions are and how deep her resolve is.
Quite simply, no one else in the potential Republican field will be as trustworthy to conservatives on the issues, and less likely to back down, than Sarah Palin. She has shown beyond any doubt that she can literally handle anything that the pressure of running for president could possibly present.
Would she win? Probably not, but there is no Republican who would be close to being favored today against Obama. Instead, a Palin candidacy would guarantee, by far, the best chance to have true conservative principles articulated in a fearless fashion on the grandest of stages, which hasn’t really happened (with apologies to Ronald Reagan) since 1964.
While that losing Barry Goldwater campaign is not one which is likely to be emulated politically anytime soon, with Palin such an outcome (a spirited, non-politically correct defense of conservatism followed by likely temporary defeat) is the absolutely worst case scenario. Considering that such a campaign ended up directly leading to Republican victories in five of the next six presidential elections, such a potentiality is one that should be embraced by conservatives and not feared.
While many events can and likely will occur before we know the real landscape of the 2012 presidential campaign, as of today it appears that Sarah Palin will be a large part of that equation, and that conservatives may have much to be proud of. Hopefully, they will be smart enough to realize and appreciate it.
09Patriot doesn’t care what you ask and has no evidence. We call those folks “bomb throwers”. Ignore ignore ignore.
Teach me how to fundraise and I’ll do it too.
I am sorry that you are expecting to be in a wheelchair. At least you have good company with our founder jimrob who still looks very handsome in his.
Sarah Palin will run, she has been tempered by fire and has all Lefties/Rinos wetting the bed....2nd D, you seem to have forgotten what happened when the dead McCain picked SP and even after the daAzz MCCain walked into the ambush of the bailouts the R’s did a heii of a lot better against the BO tide than expected. Think if McCain had hooked up with Mitt or Huck he would have gotten as close as he did?
Don’t believe the captured media....SP will run like a Grizzly and WIN!
I would love for her to run but still don’t think she will..That said, my driving force for her to declare is simply so she gets secret service protection. There’s no doubt in my mind she is not safe.
Not a single word describing her qualifications to actually do the job. No need to wonder why.
No, indeed not. Most FReepers are informed enough to know that she was the Mayor of a town and the Governor of a State. And, if that isn’t “enough,” most FReepers take into account that she has FAR more executive experience than the current occupant of the White House. And, finally, as a general rule, most FReepers just have enough common sense to KNOW we can trust Sarah’s judgment and personal principles as opposed to those of, say, Barack Obama.
This coming election is more than just Obama. I support Sarah Palin because I believe she will take on the entire DC establishment, entrenched Republicans included. She epitomizes the Tea Party grassroots movement.
I’m guessing you are posting on behalf of another candidate, either volunteering or a paid disruptor. Am I right?
That many would never vote for a Marxist either. Unless he was blaaaaaaack.... And they fell for the hype...
Sarah will be a woman. But even if she loses, the conservative fight will be worth it. To explain why conservative principles help every American better than liberal ones do would be worth it in the long term.
Winner!
Well said.
I heard the exact opposite from her comments. I heard her referring to ‘supporting others.’ I don’t think she will run, and never have.
Frankly I’d be just fine with a candidate SP supports. She doesn’t have to SIT in the Oval Office, but I want someone sitting there who thinks like her and listens to her. In many ways, I think she’d be more effective in that role of advisor.
Let’s face it, our POTUS is more a figurehead, a person representing a certain line of thinking, than an individual omnipotent, omniscient person running the show.
Boy do I adore Star Parker! Not quite ready for VP though. I would be OK with the following VP picks:
Michele Bachmann
Alan West
Jim DeMint
Steven King (Iowa)
No RINOS. Ever. Won’t do it.
In my view, they absorbed a barrage of media hardsell. Therefore I blame the media, although of course the voters who picked McCain cannot be called innocent.
Kindly do not try to apply the ridiculous label "pro-0bama" to me, merely because I will not vote for Mitt Romney under any circumstances. Take care lest you be obliged to say in 2015, "The media isn't to blame -- in 2012 the primary voters elected Romney."
If your friend jumps off a cliff, you jump too? If Romney is nominated, you vote for him in the general? That endorses the error. Count me out.
Somehow I think this reasoning is lost on you so I'll just quit here and get on with more productive pursuits.
HAND.
“The most effective leader a country can one who doesn’t fear her enemies”
AND one who has the RIGHT enemies - and SHE DOES!!!
Sarah Palin is the slimy leftist’s WORST nightmare.
Palin is the only adult in the room actually
behaving like a leader. And as they say,
“if you are a leader, you will have followers”.
I FOLLOW PALIN!
56 yrs old and retired. For the first time in my life, I have the time and desire to work tirelessly for a candidate. Palin is my choice so put me in the all in category!
wrong on all counts, I have no idea who is the best candidate. I still question her for ACCEPTING to be Mccains running mate, really if she had turned it down I would have a better opinion of her, while the rest of you party types would have dissed her.
Do you have anyone in mind that is more qualified than Palin?
This says all I need to know about Governor Palin, although I know much more.
“Just as tall trees are known by their shadows, so are good men known by their enemies. “
Chinese Proverbs
Character and Integrity says it all!
“Sarah will be a woman.”
This is one of the very few truly reliable predictions ever made. I’m going to go out on a limb and suppose that you meant something like “Sarah will be a marked woman,” and you couldn’t be more right.
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