Sarah Palin's 2012 Campaign Begins
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The press has been all over Alaska governor Sarah Palin lately, dissecting her decision to resign a year and a half before the end of her term in office and declaring the move a big fat mistake.
Pundits and bloggers on both sides of the fence are judging her viability as a Presidential candidate a thing of the past, and lots of lefties are positively gloating over it.
I'm no Palin fan, but I think they are all dead wrong.
Palin's decision to resign amid an avalanche of formal ethics investigations so as "not to put Alaska through that," smells to me like the beginning of a narrative that is most likely being crafted behind the scenes by a high-powered PR firm.
If we still had investigative journalism in the U.S. we might even be able to figure out which PFR firm, although I suppose it doesn't really matter. Barack Obama was already gearing up for a Presidential campaign this far in advance, and I personally think Palin is too.
Why do I think that?
Well, for one thing, she's leaving with a big, lucrative book deal. Coincidence? I think not. Secondly, although she was roundly mocked for the rambling, almost incoherent nature of her initial announcement, her second explanatory announcement took place on the Alaska shoreline while she dragged a fishing net around in chest-high waders and gloves, and tartly dissed Andrea Mitchell every time she tried to probe for a straight answer.
Shucks,
Palin didn't even know what the fish run was gonna like later this
season, never mind 2012! Dammit! Ya liberal media elite ya.
I
was waiting for Roy Scheider to gun the boat engine and Richard Dreyfus
to sputter, "I think you're gonna need a bigger boat!" just as the
giant shark broke the surface.
In other words, Palin's second round was a carefully orchestrated and costumed performance, full of passion, grit, a bit of bitey-bitey nastiness, and not much else. But the phrase I want to emphasize here is carefully orchestrated.
Here's what I see, without commentary on the rightness or wrongness of any of it, just an accounting of what I see right in front of me:
- The
economy is a mess. 2010 will be worse than 2009 and Obama has said as
much. The American people have already had enough smoke blown up their
asses, and although most are still with Obama on most issues, on the
financial front, not so much. By mid-2010 it could be very ugly here.
Very ugly.
- Do not underestimate the power of impotent rage.
While McCain was unable to harness enough of it to get himself elected,
Palin continues to draw followers. People dismiss this with, "She's
good with her base, but everyone else hates her." I'm not so sure.
There are a lot of bitter, angry people in the U.S. who feel
persecuted. Whether those feelings are valid or not hardly matters.
What matters is, can someone harness those feelings and ride them into
the White House? Not now maybe, but we don't know what next year holds,
and the year after that. Palin exploits the victimization scenario
really well.
- Fascism tends to catch fire when nations are
in decline. The U.S. is in rapid decline and the press and the
government is full of denial about it. When working people can't work
and can't eat, extreme and hateful views will begin to look reasonable.
- Money loves this woman. McCain didn't pull her out of the
boonies: She actively started courting Washington PR firms and think
tanks long before the Republican Party had even picked a 2008
Presidential candidate. She flew them out to Alaska, fed them dinner,
flirted and cajoled them, and sent them back smitten. Most of them are
still smitten, even if they won't say so.
- A backlash is
building. All those kooks out there dumping tea bags in public parks
and holding up birther signs and pictures of Obama dressed like Che
Guevara are just the tip of a bitter, bitter little iceberg that by
2012 could sink what's left of the U.S ship of state.
- Every
time I see her I think of 1) her rallies where people shouted "Kill
him!" and 2) how much she reminds me of the Faye Dunaway character in
"The Handmaid's Tale."
I see the narrative currently being created as unfolding something like this:
Sarah
Palin, the last true Patriot, resigns as governor of Alaska because she
sees that the financial waste and corruption sinking Alaska is sinking
America. Her country needs her! She has a higher calling to expose and
remedy this liberal rot. So she resigns and pens a scathing indictment
of ...hell it doesn't even matter, it just has to be scathing... and
her fans, and other frightened disaffected people eat it up. The
Republican party, having no good political hand to play watches her
book fly off the shelves and money rush into her campaign account and
is forced to take her seriously, especially when her speaking tour
begins and the crowds grow bigger and bigger, some erupting into
violence. By 2012 the nation is in such financial shambles that she is
swept to power in a landslide election. People on the left begin to
flee the country...
So that's it. Scary scenario, yes, but I don't think it's an impossible one by any stretch of the imagination.
I think she's in, and not only in, but viable and alarming. I hope I'm wrong. But you know, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck and is shooting at you from the window of a private helicopter with a high-powered rifle, in waders, it could be future President Palin.
And you thought Dick Cheney was dark.
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Comments
Hi Mike--LOL! Sorry! My boyfriend calls me "Cassandra." I can't help myself. :)
Frighteningly prophetic. I not only think you are right, I begin to wonder/suspect if some if not all of our current economic woe was calculated. Oh -- we'll give them 4 years, but then we'll take back "our" country with a vengeance.
Today's poll numbers show an alarming number of voters would definitely or probably vote for Palin for president. This includes 73% of Republicans, 44% of Independents and even something like 19% of Democrats.
Quick comment re: ethics complaints. I will have to look it up, but Whitewater was the granddaddy of all ethics investigations. Years of man-hours. Millions of dollars. You didn't see the Clintons resigning because of it, did you?
I agree completely! Her "fishing" interview was done in her usual $600 eyeglasses and perfectly coifed hair. I pointed it out to my husband, an eyeglass wearer and said "Even with all her money, would you still risk wearing those expensive glasses to do such manual labor? They could easily fall in the ocean." Yeah, she's fishing for more than fish. God help us all.
I sure hope, we don't have a President Palin. Yikes. I didn't have anything against the woman, but after listening to her in interviews, I was embarassed for her, she is not presidential material.
Scary bears hub. :) Thumbs up!
Hi MM--Yes, I don't believe for a minute that she's all shook up by the ethics investigations or that she's exhausted or any of the rest of it. It all looks way too well crafted and deliberate. Look at how she stays in the news. I mean why? Why cares? That's the thing, lot of people care. Thanks for your thoughts on this. I'm glad I'm not the only one with the heebie geebies.
Kate--Yes, that whole fishing thing was so carefully staged. You don't go to that trouble for no reason or if you just need to be left alone.
VioletSun--As much as I'd like to say I bear Palin no ill will I think she's scary and dangerous, so I can't really say that. Thanks for your comment. :)
It can't be any worse that we have now. He is going around the world and kissing the butt of every other country. He should have taken a bigger stand with Iran. Now he is talking about making every one have health insurance. If your work doesn't provide it you have to get it yourself, or face a thousand dollar fine a year. I thought we lived in a free country. So could she be and worse, I don't think so.
Hi Donald--I rest my case.
To be honest, while your article was well written and I can't help trying to like a hub written minutes away from where I live, i don't agree with most, if not all, of your points.
I agree that Palin's decision was a little funny, and I think there has to be something more behind it, and I also agree that the fishing scene was probably PRed to the nth dgree, but that's about it.
As far as fascism... give me a break! I am a strong conservative, and no, fasicsm does not sound any better to me than it does to you. I do not think that a strong conservative candidate has any more to do with fascism than a strong liberal candidate does. And, conservatives want less government, not more, as fascism creates.
Also, I'm not sure where you got the hate idea from. Sure, Palin draws a lot of enthusiasm, but it's not hate. The only place I see hate is in this article. towards the end it turns very bitter against Republicans, and you even somehow how manage to make "books flying off the shelves" and "money rush into her campaign account" sound like an omen of doom. Believe me, books have soldof the shelves before, and we are still ok!
Anyways, a little of my opinion, as I see that nobody has stood up for us conservatives yet. Good luck writing, and I hope you vote Huckabee in 2012!
Hi--I do think allowing and even encouraging the phrase "kill him!" (directed at Obama) and "terrorist" at the rallies she did for McCain qualifies as hate. I also don't see social conservatism as true conservatism. I see it as hate. So we do have very different perspectives. Thanks for sharing your views.
OMG! I hope she’s not a viable candidate for 2012…If so, this country’s sensibility level is in worse shape than I thought…She might have the looks but believe me folks, when you look into those eyes and listen to her talk, you know that NO ONES HOME! Put a hula skirt on her and she would make a perfect bobble headed coupé doll for some guy’s dashboard…
Nice hub Pam
I think some big statements were said here. I might hub about them.
All I will say here is mark period one to the liberals as in hockey.
Palin-0 Liberal 1,
They set out destroy her because she is a threat. Liberals cannot stand a threat and will do anything to destroy it. And you know who is a threat to them because they go for the juggler when then try to destroy them.
She lost period, but the game strategy has changed. She will make miilions on her book. Conservatives and women a like will buy it in masses. A big #1 seller. She will become a major speaker and fund raiser on the Republican party agenda.
Yes the 2nd period appears that it will belong to Palin. How many points will she score? Especially as the Obamanites are in the microscope with the economy, and all of the stupid laws they are pushing through, they are giving up more points.
And will the 3rd period will be the 2012 election. Palin, Romney, Newt and possible Cheney, since Obamas attacks on him backfired and lagitamized Cheney. (Release the documents and let's see who is lying! Mr. President Obama. Wow, Round one for Cheney in that bout).
Darn, I just gave away my hub, that's okay, I do not have time to write it anyway.
Keep on hubbing Pam.
Hi Nancy and eovery--Mostly I just wanted to say I do think she is running and that people should not underestimate her. Beyone that, I don't really want to get into the culture wars thing. It's a big dead end and everybody knows what I think anyway.
We are living in interesting times. Too bad that's supposedly a Chinese curse! ("May you live in interesting times!)
Comp3820, Conservatives may want less government rather than more. However, I recall that when Mrs. Palin was running for Veep she was already jockeying to increase the power of the second-in-command's office for herself. How does that wash with being a genuine, true conservative?
But, she winked at me!!
Well, there is that. ;)
Oh. My. GAWD.
I'm sleeping with the light on tonight.
Hi Teresa! Maybe I missed my calling...I'm gonna try my hand at horror fiction!
I enjoy the debates at republicansforobama.com. It isn't about hate, but honest debate and we try to be curtiouse with our views, and investigate the trueth. Few of us republicans voted for john M./Palin on the sight. Some was still giveing thought to voteing for Mccain when he went an choose palin and changed their minds. She's a beautiful woman, no doubt about it. Like my husband said, "She's easy on the eyes". I don't think it's hate when you point out facts! It's a fact she wasn't ready for the national or international stage! It's a fact she hired to many friends/relatives who were not educated enough into staff seats once she became Gov! It's a fact she exploided her own children/includeing her preg. teenager an her boyfreind as she used them to gather sympothy from voters/fans alike! It's a fact, she is a woman who cries "I need protection from the bullys of this world"! But, never have I heard an excuse such as ,"I quit, because I am a fighter", put forward as being a run off for the President office! What ever reason she has for quiting her office, it wasn't the one she gave! As it has been pointed out the citizens did carry a little of her Att; Fee's, but that there is a large amount of attorney fee's tallied into the Alaska state Budget every year, that goes to these lawyers, and they would get it one way or another, SO WHY NOT make them work for it for a change. Now that isn't hateful talk, only facts! Those that defend this woman, are defending her from herself, and what she has an continues to do to herself politicaly and personaly. When bloggers talk about it, look up facts, and repeat her own words and compare them to her actions----------It's not hate or fear. I simply don't know were some people come up with this nonesense.
Thanks alberta. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
oooh Pam-- this one sends a shiver down my spine. I have had similar thoughts myself-- wonder if the fine hand of Karl Rove is in this mess anywhere? I keep remembering how he manipulated the electorate for George Bush-- and your comment about fascism catching fire when nations are in decline is right on the money( to coin a phrase) Fear is a powerful motivator. The antidote is hope, which is what Obama gave us all-- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he can change enough in four years to make your scenario unlikely-- but what a hub..... bravo!
will pgrundy, I grant ya, as a old republican, I to was scared when I watch presidential campagnes that turned into a hate feast against Obama, lead by Mccain/Palin! I Soon reallized that these two knew little about technology that obama was utilizeing so we! They didn't understand, or have the knowledge of the fire storm they were causeing that finally backlashed on them. Palin is certainly playing a catch up game with twitter. But, you have to be a speaker, and make sense to utilize technology. Palin falls really short on this, to. Now, I really admire John Mccains daughter! She tried desperately to bring her dad and the campagne into the 21st century, and got ignored for her efforts. I am a old dog, who learned new tricks, and put myself out to learn the computor and it's in's and outs! It's my grandkids future, and I want to be part of it. That is why republicans are loseing. That's why old republican families like ours are leaveing the party in droves! We also understand Obama cannot turn around what took 8 years to destroy! We older ones, are more patient while the young want it to change over night! It would be nice, but not realistic to expect him to improve our country in less than a years time! I like what you wrote, even if it was a wee brash. Some times, it has to be that way to get people to listen. Good luck in your writting and maybe I will be directed back to this sight in the future. Enjoyed it, indeed.
Hi robie! I'm keeping my fingers crossed too. It's heartening to know though that I wasn't the only one thinking these things.
Alberta--I've voted Republican before, but not recently. I don't care for the social conservatism that is so hot right now. I would like to see a fiscal conservative who stays out of personal choices run--a more moderate person. All this aggravation is not good for the country, and so much of it seems to me like bloviating, blah, blah--it doesn't really help any of us. Let's hope things calm down over the long haul. :)
What's scary about Palin is that there are people who take her incoherent nonsense seriously. I'm with you, I hope Obama can get the country on track well enough to win reelection, it'll take him eight years to pull things together.
I admit I don't get what this woman is, or the reason for her popularity, yet. I know that I would have problems with her, regardless of her political views and affiliation. Though she professes to be a part of this new Christianity that has become the rage, I experience her as amoral. I believe she seeks power, and she attaches herself to substantive ideas and policies only as a means to that end.
Like always I enjoyed reading your hub,..I to am very affraid of Palin. I'm with Steve,.. She's on a power trip, and just because some values work for her family does'nt mean its right for my family. I would be intrested in knowing your thoughts about NWO.
What a disturbing hub! I've been out of the country for some time now, but still vote at every election. The growing amount of xenophobia is frightening, and the new visa rules and work permit rules, at least where I'm living, could be akin to harsh Dictatorship. The land I live in, is far from the "Land of Smiles" as it is often promoted as. (Thailand). I do think with more economic decline and higher rates of unemployment, we can be looking at continued international xenophobia. (America is not exempt from this!)
I find everything that I have heard about Palin annoying. Even down to her hunting moose from helicopters. and thinking that Alaska is protecting the coast because she can see a foreign country. (I have more foreign policy experience!) And, especially annoying, is her teenage daughter that got knocked up that is now on a crusade to spread abstinence because she was so capable of it herself... I simply can't imagine the majority of Americans voting for her. However if they do, I'll be happy to continue residing in a foreign country, so long as their growing hatred of foreigners doesn't kick me out first.
Thank you for your controversial hub!
You have to admit that she's made her accusers look both foolish and over partisan as she was cleared on all those ethics charges and she has done well by Alaska. I think she is a shrewd and capable political animal ( not just a Gee Gosh soccer Mom). I also predict that the Dems lose big in 2010 as a backlash due to the wasteful spending coming out of Barakville. (DC)
Hey, Pam! I wish I could say I don't care one way or another who the American public votes for, unfortunately I'd have to be seriously dellusional to think what happens there doens't have a knock down effect on the rest of the world... I'm thinking you may be right, and I'm HOPING people have longer memories and don't revert to 2000-2008 tactics, style and nonsense just after a term...
I feel our country, thus the world, is doomed.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for all your comments. Saw on the news last night that something like 76% of all registered Republicans would vote for her if she ran for Pres.
RV--I think 2010 depends a lot of how much Obama can get done and on what things look like in 2010. My guess is they'll look really bad, but then the Republicans look really bad too, at least right now. So it's hard to say.
Robert--I hope things turn around too. That would be best.
Steve--I don't much care for the new (old) Christianity myself. People are free to believe what they like, but I feel she would force her beliefs on others.
Laura--What's especially disturbing is that xenophobia in the US is most often combined with this really disturbed, ill-founded nationalism--it scares me, it's too irrational and angry. Let's hope everyone takes a breath.
Army Infantry Mom--What's the NWO? What do you think of it? Is it New World Order? I don't really understand what that is but I hear other hubbers going on about it. I'll have to do some Googling! Thanks for asking!
Elena--I wish I didn't care who ran the U.S.! LOL! Honestly it's been too scary over here the past ten years or so.
Paper Moon--I feel the same way but most of the time I try to distract myself.
Well if you ever want a superpower to no longer be a superpower - vote Palin. After the smoke clears from her rootin tootin gun barrel, no-one outside of the bible belt will take her seriously.
Paper Moon - I agree, sadly. What to do, what to do?
Now Pam, lets talk defection - which country are you interested in? I have a spare room.
Hi Jewels,
Defection--hmmmm. England is nice, but Greece sounds pretty good too. I like Toronto but can't afford it. I'll have to give this some thought and get a list together.
Seriously, I don't think the U.S. is out of the woods by any means economically, and if Ms. Palin ever does become queen, I'm outta here.
This was very interesting and thought provoking. I'm glad that you mentioned how the press is also blind to many things. Why aren't they investigating like they used to? It would sure be better than grabbing a rumor or jumping on a bandwagon.
Hi RGraf--I do think the press has really gotten kinda pathetic. It's all punditry and taboid journalism anymore. It feels like that anyway. Thanks for stopping by. :)
Interesting hearing about politics across the pond
Hi Ethel--It will be interesting to see what develops!
Really great article. And I agree, Palin is trying to put herself in position to run for something, although I personally think it will be a run for the Senate, then President, just my opinion.
I also agree with your comments regarding journalism. Talking heads on both sides drive me crazy. And more scary is the death of the newspaper, where, in most cases, real investigative journalism exists
Hi bgpapa--Thanks for that validating my instincts about her. We'll see what happens I guess. I wish she would go into entertainment--I see her as a right wing talk show host or pundit on Fox and I think she'd rake it in doing that, but it's clear she wants political power, not just the spotlight. Journalism is in trouble. I hope that as newspapers disappear something else steps into the gap. Right now, blogging ain't it, that's for sure.
I agree that those who rally around Palin see her as the anti- establishment anti-politican. The true is we are going straight to hell in a handbasket as far as the economy is concerned. When we recover life will never be the same. )Maybe that is a very good thing.) I don't know if all those who look to her to be their new leader (Where can I move if Palin becomes president?) are all Republicans. Many are just people looking for someone to take them back to life as it was, as they think it should be. We have reached the end of a cycle of greed and overconsumption in which we assumed American would always we the center of the world. I love this country but our time in the sun is reaching an end.. We will be a viable country but forced to live with all our collective sins and within our means.. By that I mean personal government and busines overspending and an arrogrance that maybe only Palin can personifty.Poor Obama is the captain who took over the Titanic after we hit the icebery. He has certainly made mistakes about the size of the iceberg and the damage already done but he is doing everything to prevent the sinking of the ship under his watch. Palin may be able to take all that fear, all that arrogance and confusion and make herself into the simplistic savior of us all. I see a Palin cookbook as one of the first steps by the PR folks. :A chicken in very pot" served up Alaska style. Helping to boil the chicken (and all of us) is cynicism, fear and the belief that everything will be fine if we just get back to those good ole American values by golly...You know like keeping your legs closed tightly until you say I do. On seocnd thought guess the PR oeople ought to scrap that one.
Hi Svea,
You said a mouthful! I agree we are on a sinking ship. I don't think the U.S. will become a third world country or anything, but I do think, as you say, that once the worst is over we will no longer have the status and power we once did. I personally think that is not a bad thing at all, and I won't miss the "consumer economy"--what a crazy idea! An economy based on buying but not making anything. Good grief. Thanks for your thoughts. If Palin becomes President I've got a list of countries to flee to--I'll just start going down the list and hope one of them takes me!
To put the recent polls in context, people were only asked about voting for Palin (in the abstract). Not voting for Palin vis a vis any other real or imagined candidate. So maybe if it was "Would you vote for Palin or Romney" or "Palin or Huckabee" she might not get such high marks.
The scary thing, as has been discussed elsewhere on HP (can't recall if it is someone's hub or the forums) the Republicans don't seem to have a superstar candidate to take on Obama in 2012. Which leads me (among others) to believe/fear that Palin will be that candidate. God help us all.
Love the idea of planning our exit visas now. I think that would make a good forum topic... MM
MM--Good point about the poll. Those polls can be easily skewed by how the question is worded. It's early though. Hopefully some MODERATE Republican will step up, if there are any left. Susan Collins probably doesn't have a Presidential run in her future, but it would be nice to see the social conservatives go away. I think they are misnamed. They're not very social and they're not very conservative.
I'm thinking now of the exit visa hub idea now... I've been blocked all day. Can't think, can't write. Finally, an idea! lol!
Hello Pam and thanks for another interesting Hub.
Pat keeps telling people here in England that a lot of people in America like Sarah Palin! This is hard to belieive because she was sort of a charicature in the media here.
Pat was in Ireland when the Palin/Biden debate took place and RTE (the Irish television channel) broadcast the whole thing live. That debate in TOTAL showed her photo appeal/ general charisma. The clips that were mostly shown just picked up her weak points.
Don't be too quick with that exit visa. Of course we like it here, but all is not rosy on the political scene. Our most recent elections were for the European Parliament - for the first time 2 British National Party candidates were elected. This party is blatently racist and allegedly fascist. They were elected in areas with high immigration, and high unemployment.
Loss of earnings, lack of job opportunities, fear of the future can lead to some poor electoral choices anywhere in the world.
Hubpages showed a paid banner ad for SARAH PAC.org on on your hub! As this shows, she certainly isn't quitting the game, but she's can't help giving many people the impression that she's leaving town half a step ahead of the sheriff. I have no idea if she's done anything wrong, but it's human nature for sudden midnight moves like that to make people suspicious. Ethics charges are often politically motivated, but that doesn't necessarily make them untrue, and many people will think: a) her resignation means that where there's smoke, there's at least some fire, and b) that's life in the big leagues -- it's supposed to be her job to handle those kinds of things. (I know she's a fighter, so being called a quitter must really sting).
Looking at this strategically, 3 years gives people a long, long time to forget ethics charges that now will never be proved one way or the other. However, Ross Perot tried the same tactic in a similar situation when running for prez in the early 90's and it seriously backfired on him. His opposition hired their own PR firms to pin a big Q for quitter on him when he tried to get back in. Boy, did they ever make it stick! You can be sure any eventual opponents will see to it that she gets branded Sarah "Q" Palin.
I wouldn't say the whole thing is well-orchestrated -- just the fishing trip. The rest is a gamble against very long odds. You raise some interesting points and I certainly wouldn't count her out by any means, but she's really rolling the dice.
Hi 2Patricias--I know, Britain isn't really having a picnic right now either. In fact, big changes almost everywhere I think. The truth is I doubt I will ever leave the U.S. Things would have to be pretty scary for that to happen. I'm old, we just have this small house and a small nest egg and we really aren't in the position to go anywhere, unless, of course, everyone really is fleeing for their lives. Let's hope it never comes to that! :)
Ho wordnut--Actually, I'd been thinking of writing this since her announcement, and what pushed me to do it (I hate the mean comments that political hubs usually draw--but so far, this one hasn't really drawn any by some miracle)--what pushed me to actually write it was hearing on a news show that SarahPAC was top in Google clicks right now. I don't think anyone is clicking on it on THIS hub, but I thought, oh what the hell...
I think you are right, it is a long shot. But I do think it's a long shot that she and some moneyed backers and taking. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. Things are so strange now, and if they get stranger, who knows? Anything could happen.
She is a fighter. I am not a huge fan either but I admire so much about Sarah. I believe what ever her intentions that is is for the best of her family and her country. I think she will run in 2012.
Thanks for your comment Safariwoman. Have a good evening. :)
I was really thinking that quitting being governer would doom Palin as a quitter. She took an oath of office, for crying out loud! But, Pam, you sure have made some good points. Now I'm scared. My dear departed mother used to say, 'never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.'
I don't know how much worse things will or can get. I only know they WILL get worse and, as I'm sure you know, I've painted a couple of possible pictures.
One thing I'm sure of is that a Palin presidency would make things much worse much sooner.
As you may recall, I was just about certain that Dubya wasn't going to give up the throne. I really expected another false flag attack and martial law to suspend elections indefinitely.
Obviously, I was wrong. It's not the first time, nor will it be the last.
I can only hope you are as wrong as I was.
I have tried to be nice and not really say what I feel about Palin, but she is has a very narrow agenda. I watch Bill Maher from time to time, and he makes a few good points. He has mentioned how the Democratic party has become more conservative over the years, and the Republican party has shifted to the far, far right. Although maybe he was exaggerating a little, I just feel most of what this party stands for is not very charitable. They make anyone feel who is not married with a large number of kids like a second rate citizen, and I am sorry if anyone takes that the wrong way. However, honestly Palin et al has done very little to show how they would try to at least implement policies that would have a diverse populace in mind.
I actually liked your hub, and I am afraid your predictions might come true. Many people I knew in the late 90's professed to becoming Republican because they thought Bill Clinton was immoral. I know that might sound wonky, but I live in a part of Southern California that traditionally votes much more conservative than the rest of the state.
Hi Dolores--Your mother was right on that one. Palin sure keeps herself in front of the cameras like no one I've ever seen. For someone who's quitting, she seems almost obsessed with staying in the news. It's too creepy.
Hi CWB--I do remember that prediciton now that you mention it, but until you mentioned it I'd forgotten all about it. I hope this one about Palin is wrong too.
Hi Sweetie Pie--I've heard Mahr's bit about how the Democrats have moved to the right and the Republicans have moved so far right it's scary. I do think there is something to that. There really isn't a liberal party here. Like you say, there's the Republican far, far, right and the Democrat right and middle. I'm really weary of social conservatism in general, and Palin's brand of it in particular. I don't see that it adds anything to society except antagonism and strife. We have so many serious issues impacting people's daily lives and all we ever hear is this litany of judgmental crap about other people's personal lives. That's how Palin seems to me--like a mean, small person who wants to force her values on America and doesn't really understand the practical problems. I don't see how something like that will help us. It might make some other small-minded people feel better for a little while, but that's about it. Thanks for your thoughts.
I really did not think much of Palin during the last election. She did not come across well and I question if the Republican party will want her to be the one they put up against Obama.
Hi Erick--It's tough to know what the Republicans will do at this point. Sometimes I wish they'd just go away and let the Democrats become the right-leaning party and some new more left-leaning party take over as the second.
palin is a laughing stock charicature of a maniacal idiot. she embarrased herself in 2008 and will embarass this country if ever elected. she was rejected and should go snow mobiling for a few years or maybe spear a few fish. i wish i would never here from her again. that screechy voice and limited intellect are off putting. maybe she could be a rap star (ala sat nght live)
Hi Cassandra - if Sarah Palin had brains, she'd be scary. As she seems to be renting some, I'm scared.
Just read a news report about how her daughter's ex fiance said Palin allowed them to live together in the same room when they were seventeen. I really could care less, but it almost sounds like she was bribing the guy to marry her daughter.
It was a dark and dreary day, she could see the "Russians" from her back yard.
Be afraid
Be very afraid. :O
Hi, Pam...I heard you had a hub on Palin from Sweetie Pie on my thread on the forum. But--I think she might run (try), but it will go no where...like the Bridge to No Where, lol.
A lot we may not even know to take into consideration can happen between now and 2012. And she really IS stupid, you know (if she wasn't I wouldn't have such an issue with her--she wouldn't be as she is). She simply doesn't have what it takes to run successfully or to become POTUS. I don't think we can say that this last try was successfulat all. She IS the reason McCain lost the election (besides his emotionality and his kind of serious blunders, too). If I can foretell it--no serious conservative will want to touch her. She'll try a campaign, but it will be supported by a few 'base' white supremacist loonies and she will again be laughed of the national stage.
I think she should be happy with all the cash she's gonna make off of the religious industry out there on her book and promo bible and be done with it.
Hi fourbears--I think you speak for lots of folks. You betcha. :D
LG & Paper Moon--I definitely AM very afraid!
Sweetie Pie--I heard Ely was out giving interviews. Weird. It's like that whole clan just can't stay off camera for half a day. Ugh.
Lita--I sure hope you are right, but two words keep me nervous and those words are "George. Bush." I do think he stole both elections, but he got close enough to do it. I mean, that's staggering. Palin shares many of Bush's characteristics, including stupidity, but in Palin also has this ruthless Lady MacBeth side and I think she's way more of a religious zealot. So I remain nervous, but you are a pretty smart lady. Let's hope I'm overreacting here. :)
Pam-- Yeeeeeeees, actually. You are right.....IF people don't start paying actual attention to things, and she is packaged in such a way and her past is buried and forgotten, yes, I fear it indeed COULD happen... But she needs to get some wealth behind her, in that case. That's how she, sigh, differs from Bush... If so, I'll think about defecting to England or Paris for a while (seriously).
Lita--We've had similar thoughts here. Toronto is our most likely destination, but we don't really have the resources, so unless it actually happens, we'll be right here slogging through it all. (I'd love to see Paris. Still waiting on SO to finish cleaning up to take me to lunch...)
You write great stuff, I'm glad I found your pages, and wow you respond to comments too!
I can't offer much of a comment other than this: the economy will be blamed on Obama by the Right (hmmm.. the last 8 years of Baby Bush don't count?) and if your scenario plays out with "The Last Great American Patriot" you can give me a gun with one bullet; and no it's not for her, it's for me.
You people are really freaky, worrying about 2012, when there are people out there that may not survive 2009.
Instead of hubbers , a better label would be Nero-nits.
Keep fiddling.......
Hiya darntoothysam--That bullet idea, I know what you mean. I might join you if it comes to that. :)
I am probably stepping into muddy water here, but I have to say that I think you are right. I think that Palin will have a chance at becoming President one day. If we can make it through Obama's run.
The economy will become much worse than it is, and I believe that during our time of weakness the US will become devastated by outside forces as well. The choices that are being made by our government right now are more than likely going to break us. We will not be the same, and who knows if we will ever get to even vote again.....
I do, however, disagree with the observations of Sarah Palin. I do not think she is a mindless twit. I think she has done a lot for Alaska, and will continue to try and fight for her country. She does not have the articulation and speaking skills that most President's have had in the past, but all-in-all, she is a guinuine average american.
The reason she does have followers is because they can relate to her. I don't think that she can be any worse than Obama.
Hi texasdaye--Thank you for sharing your views. I have a low opinion of Palin but I know you are right when you say many people relate to her.
pam, awesome hub, a real "baitpiece" in the nicest possible way. As an outsider, from the land down under, i shudder to think that the US could possibly return to such a narrow view of the world espoused by SP and RL. I do not think she could possibly run - she is an intellectual lightweight---hangon, I do remember your last President!!
Hi fivestar--lol! My point exactly! :D
I like your post and a few of the other ones even though we differ ( a lot) politically, I can especially relate to the heart attack piece, heart attacks suck! But what I have a problem with is constant attack on Sarah palin, she destroyed Joe Biden in the debate not that a 12 year old couldn't but she cleaned his dusty clock and he is a long time politico! Do you remember his calling Bosnians Bosniacks? Palin is a woman who has built herself into something and I don't think that its just because Alaskans are stupid, she did a lot of things as Governor to help the State of Alaska so to just dismiss her as a light weight is not too smart!
The reason she appeals to so many of us is her ability to cut through all the political bull and get to the point, Obama is nothing more than a walking cliche machine whose only political stance seems to be "I am not George Bush" Hope and change can best be described as Bait and switch, he is wholly unqualified to be a President of this great country and poll numbers are beginning to show it.
We can continue down this path of spending money or we can stop and ask why we are spending money we don't have. Granted Bush and the Republicans spent and spent and spent, but to continue to do so is not why Obama was elected. Palin seems to have good ideas for her State and how do we know that she wouldn't have good ideas for the Country. As for ethics allegations, you and I know who iniated these things, her political enemies! Just an attempt to marginalize her and keep her looking as bad as they can. The Chicago method of Politics.
Hi A Texan--Thanks for sharing your views. Although we disagree about Palin, I think you'd be surprised by how many liberals would like to see fiscal conservatism come back. I don't think it's a liberal/conservative thing so much anymore as just a shift in values. The party politics in large part just deflects our attention away from what matters--it's the old divide and conquer routine.
First off there seems to be a lot of talk about conservatives spreading hate. I'm an independent but have both republicians and democrates in my family. As such I can probably see a little of both sides. Sometimes discussions get a little heated but they resort to name calling.
I have to say that this talk about hate is a little disturbing, I've not seen anything about Sarah Palin to suggest that she advocates hatred. Sure there was some bad behavior at a rally but you know what, there was also some of that at a democratic rally in Texas. Sometimes people behave badly but that's due more to their true nature than party.
Then there is the talk of stupidity, you might not agree with them or their policies but nobody in a position of power is stupid. You don't get to where they are by being stupid. And the name calling in my opinon just lowers your credibility.
I also find it interesting that you called Sarah Palin a religious zealot, what is this based on?
Being a republician doesn't make you far right just as being a democrate doesn't make you far left. We are all Americans and labeling someone like that just breeds hatred.
Sorry, I should have proof read this first.
I mean't to say that they don't resort to name calling. :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that Karen. You make some good points. :)
Mike Craggs says:
4 months ago
It's 22:30 here and I am thinking of going to bed but now with that nightmare waiting for me I may not bother. You been taking lessons of Stephen King?