So I admit it. I was wrong about Sarah Palin.
I still think she has an inspiring back story. PTA-Mayor-Governor-VP nominee. It’s quite Hollywood. I still think the press demonized her: she never banned books, she never thought dinosaurs only lived 4,000 years ago, etc. I still don’t understand why so many on the left hated her so much (but I guess an equal amount on the right felt the same toward Hillary Clinton). I still think she was the best choice available for McCain – he was going to lose no matter what, at least she made it interesting.
However, since the election, the wheels have come off. Instead of studying up on the issues, she was fighting with David Letterman. Instead of building support, she acted like a diva within the party. And now, instead of enhancing her experience, she is quitting her job as governor. Why? It appears she has bought into the Hollywood story herself. She’s going to cash in now. I guess I don’t blame her. However, she is no longer the “Hockey Mom” fighting for the people, but rather the latest celebrity seeking to capitalize on her fame.
Perhaps she realized she has gone as far as she can. There’s no hope for her to capture the 2012 nomination. She’s not going to be anyone’s VP pick in 2012 either. She was about to face political challenges in Alaska. So, instead, she is set to write a book, make a load of money, and fade from the scene. It’s great for her. But she’s not the Sarah Palin I thought she was back in the summer of 2008. And it’s for the best. If she is not willing to put in the work as Governor or to sound more knowledgeable on the campaign trail and in interviews, then the Republican Party is better off without her as a serious contender in 2012. Not that she won’t have a voice in the Republican Party – she certainly does and should. But she shouldn’t be the voice of the Republican Party, which now with her latest actions, she will not be.
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You left out the 15 frivolous ethics violations claims filed against her costing her millions in personal attorney fees. All were ultimately dismissed as unfounded but the cost and the hassle were still there. It is hard for a "normal" person without strong organizational backing and personal millions to survive in today's poisonous political world. I think she was right to get out and make some money while she was still relevant. I also think she was a bad choice for VP. She simply didn't have the experience necessary and it removed Obama's lack of experience as a mark against him. She's had her 15 minutes of fame, and a little more. Republicans now need to find someone who can hang in there for the long haul.
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