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Count me in the "she's committed political suicide" column. Been an exciting ride, though, regardless of where one sat in the boat.
Upon hearing the news first reaction was:
"Oh, I see.... She's going to do what she does best.... Go to "meet and greets", look pretty and gain support. Of course she’s tired of the constant hounding from her detractors, but Palin has only cared about herself and if she doesn’t like something, then she’ll do away with it. This decision is perfect for her because she won't be making controversial policies as governor which potentially will get her in trouble when she chooses to run for prez in 2012."
If she does become a political pundit then she can criticize Obama all she wants. The best part of being a political pundit is that she never has to be right. She can just amass a following, like Limbaugh.
This also fits her image... During the 2008 prez race she liked the fact that she (and McCain) were mavericks.... This move reinforces that image. Furthermore she's now a civilian, an outsider (call her Citizen Palin)…. When Citizen Palin runs for prez she’s counting on that the "outsider" approach will make her even more appealing. Plus she will claim her experience as mayor and as governor. In a couple years' time not many people will care that she resigned her governorship halfway through her first term... Palin will have a new image which will make her resignation seem like the logical thing to have done and will only hone her outsider creds.
My guess is she'll do something to get her as much money as possible. This will allow her some independence on the eventual presidential campaign trail.
My gut feeling is that this is bad, very bad for her opponents. We would have all been better off had Palin stayed on as governor, continued to make her mistakes and continue to fall in popularity. Now whatever goes wrong in Alaska won’t be her fault, since she is no longer governor (when her resignation becomes official later this month). As an elected official each decision she made would have faced criticism from someone.
If Citizen Palin says something controversial and her detractors make a comment, her supporters just have to say, "Palin's not an elected official. What does it matter what she does or say?" Much like Limbaugh's supporters now claim that he is just an entertainer and doesn't hold any real power.
Palin has gotten a taste of power and wants to be president more than anything. She’s a fighter and will continue to be a fighter for what she wants. She IS tired of the criticism she receives and I agree that if she can’t take criticism from Dems and the media then how will she be able to stand up to our foreign enemies, or as president? But Palin wants what she wants and could care less what others think of her decision and what it might say about her ability to stand up to enemies (whom she includes Dems). In a couple years' time whatever criticism she is now receiving will mostly be forgotten.
Or at least... it may be that many will have forgotten, but there isn't a snowball's chance in you-know-where that the ads won't hit the 'quitter' / 'won't be able to handle the pressure' theme incessantly. Yes, we live in an ADHD kinda world with a very short news cycle, but the political attack ads have pretty much written themselves.
It really is surprising at how much support Palin enjoys, and she is able to talk her way out of her many, many mistakes.
So yes, I see your point that there will be attack ads, but Palin and her supporters will use them to her benefit, claiming to be a victim, claiming to be an outsider, or claiming that her opponents are afraid of her (or all three). Perhaps my phrase "not many people" should be changed. Perhaps a more accurate statement is, "In a couple years' time the current controversy over her resignation will be one of many controversies that in and of itself won't mean a hill of beans. It will just be one bean in that hill of controversies."
Thanks.
Surreal.
I love your hill of beans analogy, btw, and there are definitely some people who will see this latest... um.... oddity, as exactly that: an insignificant bump. This, though, is a mighty large bean. It could turn out more akin to a very large straw on a weak-kneed camel. I, for one, certainly hope so.
Link to Politico story
A little Douglas Adams logic at the close of your comment was comfortably, smilingly apropos Jazz... Thank you.
And happy 4th to everyone (left, right, and center) here at TMV. Hope you're all out celebrating your (and your political opposites) independence in your own particular / peculiar way(s). I certainly am!
Steve
as to "nobody will care a couple of years from now" idea, on another moderate voice thread about going sarah (my new phrase for "going galt"), someone mentioned how, if she becomes president, bin laden will be able to beat her just by making a couple of videos making fun of her kids.
now, i'm not suggesting that's true. but i am suggesting that logic will sound great on some anti-palin campaign spots, if it should come to that.
this most recent move of hers, combined w/her resignation from the mayor of wasilla's office and from the oil and gas ethics commission, shows her to be a quitter.
and you know what they say who about never wins...
Jazz, you are right, in my thoughts on Palin's bizarre behavior I'm not taking into account sandal or illness as reasons. As far as the Alaska's FBI's statement about no investigations into Palin, and her attorney's letter.... I agree with Polimom that it is totally bizarre....