That's a good question, and one that people on here need to ask themselves - but they have to ask themselves in a sober and serious-minded way, rather than in the knee-jerk reaction way that I think a lot of folks here use when talking about this type of thing.
Let's face it - there are a lot of people here on Free Republic who basically subscribe to a personality cult centered around Sarah Palin. Sorry, but that's the only way to describe it. They have a personality cult for her in almost the same way many Dems have one for 0bama.
That's why they take this "Palin or nobody" mentality. they won't even consider other conservative alternatives - even ones who are MORE conservative than her, and who have done MORE to actually promote conservatism on a practical, functional level than she has.
They'll rail against other candidates or potential candidates about some thing that said candidate did that they didn't like. Okay, fine, Paul Ryan didn't call for us to rip 0bama's head off on national television. Bobby Jindal wore a funny tie and gave a less-than-inspiring speech once. Jim DeMint supported Romney (over McCain, we should note) in South Carolina. Fine. But Ryan is also actively trying to cut the budget and deficits in ways that really count, Jindal is setting an excellent example of conservative governance at the state level in Louisiana, and DeMint is both leading the conservative resurgence in the Senate AND funneling truckloads of money to conservative candidates (at great risk to his own career from the GOP establishment boys, I might add).
But none of that matters - because none of them are Sarah.
That's the kind of idiocy that needs to stop.
BTW, folks, Sarah Palin is basically identical to McCain when it comes to amnesty and illegal immigration issues. How come we never hear you talk about that?
Why are you being a tool for a skewed poll?
That mentality scares me. Palin appeals to me because she promotes conservative values. We should embrace any genuinely conservative candidate.
For me though, there definitely is a lower bound in a candidate that, if crossed, will make such a candidate unvotable for me.
Titus, You are a fricken liar when it comes to Palin.
They ignore the fact she urged Stevens in a letter to vote for the LOST Treaty. They ignore the fact she appears to be soft on the gay agenda. They ignore the fact that she appears to be soft on amnesty too.
She could clear all that up, but she doesn’t. Wonder why?
They ignore the fact that she was never really a conservative until she stepped down in 2009.
If a person goes third party they at least need to make sure they are voting for a proven conservative. Not a person who talks the talk.
They especially need to remember the repercussions of resigning an elected office. Why would people trust that a person would not do that again?
The democrats will use that big time if she gets the nomination. People resign an elected office for severe illness or because they did something wrong. She has done neither but her explanation will not go over well. It sits okay with her conservative fans, but the indies and mods will not buy it.