Blogs and Stories
Palin Resignation: 11 Theories Why
AP Photo
Sarah Palin's holiday-eve decision to resign as governor blindsided TV commentators and bloggers who scrambled to come up with an explanation. The Daily Beast's presents a roundup of insta-reactions.
Plus: Read more of The Daily Beast's coverage of Palin's resignation and the GOP implosion.
THEORY 1: VANITY FAIR HURT HER FEELINGS
Palin locks horns with the media on a regular basis, and the most recent addition to America’s Palin-bashing oeuvre—Todd Purdum’s 10,000-word Vanity Fair profile—was a doozy. Palin’s closest colleagues ridiculed her with nicknames like “Little Shop of Horrors,” accusations of incompetence and a personality disorder, and leaked personal emails. Alluding to Palin’s notoriously thin skin when it comes to media criticism (last week, an amateur blogger named “Celtic Diva” prompted Palin to ask for the president to intervene), Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall characterized Palin’s resignation speech as “a colossal sulk… an effort on her part to ingeniously combine anti-liberal media-bias agitation with Christianist politics by portraying herself as having been crucified by the liberal media.”
And really, what better way to screw the media than making such a huge announcement on a holiday weekend? Gripes Politico’s Ben Smith: “So much for today being a slow news day.”
THEORY 2: SHE’S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
When Palin first announced she would not seek re-election, the conventional wisdom was that she would be running for president in 2012. As recently as last week, the governor was fundraising aggressively for her political action committee, SarahPAC. Early Palin adopter Bill Kristol wrote on The Weekly Standard's blog that, if Palin's still aiming for the White House, resignation is "an enormous gamble—but it could be a shrewd one" so she can work on her presidential chops without neglecting state duties:
And haven't conservatives been lamenting the lack of a national leader? Well, now she'll try to be that. She may not succeed. Everything rests on her talents, and on her performance. She'll be under intense and hostile scrutiny, and she'll have to perform well.
Barack Obama never finished his first term as senator—maybe it's a new trend? The Nation's John Nichols considers a "gonzo-style populist run against... the entire political establishment":
And her talk about supporting change agents inside the Republican party and "outside it" suggests that she might actually be open to an independent or third-party bid.
THEORY 3: SHE’S NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell floated the notion that Palin isn’t aiming for the White House or any other office. She genuinely hates politics, Mitchell argued on television moments after Palin’s speech:
She has told some of her biggest backers that she is free to choose other candidates for 2012... She told some of her top backers that she'd had it and was out of politics. She does not want to seek elected office... Sarah Palin will remain unpredictable but... as far as we know she will not be running for president.
THEORY 4: SHE'S PREGNANT AGAIN
Shortly after Palin's speech, a flummoxed Rick Sanchez started throwing out possibilities, to correspondent Candy Crowley's chagrin:
Sanchez: There have been a couple of other, ah, situations that might cause someone to feel a lot of stress... and the one thing that's still left out there is, Hey! Could she be pregnant again?
Crowley: Well, I certainly don't know the answer to that last thought.
THEORY 5: SHE’S SICK OF ALASKA
CNN’s John King reported that a source close to Palin’s political team said the resignation was a “calculation” related to her “book deal and other issues” that were “causing a lot of friction up” in Alaska. In her resignation speech, Palin said she can do as much good for Alaskans outside of office as she can in it—but is it actually the lower 48 she’s after? CNN reports:
Another source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Palin "thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward. … She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year.
Former Palin campaign manager Laura Chase thinks Palin's taste of the high life ruined Alaska for her:
Out there she’s governor--almost president-elect.... They introduce her with pomp and circumstance. Build her ego up, do that whole thing. Here, she comes back, she runs into a bunch of Alaskans. It's humbling.... She's just one of us. But she decided she wasn’t going to be one of us.
THEORY 6: IT WAS A WHIM
Talking Points Memo notes that in the moments before her resignation speech, Palin’s Twitter may have suggested that she hadn’t decided yet on resignation. Palin’s blithe Tweet referred to her decision not to seek reelection, but nothing else:
We’ll soon attach info on decision to not seek reelection… this is in Alaska’s best interest, my family’s happy… it is good, stay tuned.
Politico’s Glenn Thrush notes that Palin met with colleagues all week and “gave no indication” that she was quitting.
Stars Celebrate the Super Bowl
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
The World's 12 Most Fashionable Hotels
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
Best (And Worst) Cities to Find Love
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
Stars Celebrate the Super Bowl
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
GoldieAZ
#2 She is running for POTUS.
She said she didn't want to waste the time & money of the AK taxpayers. Wouldn't it be great if more politicians did that!
Now she can write her book, and speak across the USA and let the voters get to know her political agenda...ENERGY INDEPENDENCE for the USA! No Cap & Tax needed.
brentbent
How does resigning save AK money? Administration transition is a costly and cumbersome process even when it's people of the same party. How would she wasted AK's time by doing her job she was elected to do? That only makes sense if she was planning on giving less than 100% effort towards such work because she was bored or because she wanted to get busy on the six figure lecture circuit while she can still pull six figurse as opposed to waiting until 2012 where her speaking fees would a fraction of that.
lojojo
Resigning would be the thing to do if you knew you were going to be in legal trouble soon. Other than that- you're right.
What she basically said was "I'm not planning on working for the people of Alaska- I am going to work just for my political benefit"
SkillzMilloy
Like they have said, the only things that make sense really are:
1. Money
2. Scandal
She either is wanting one or trying to avoid the other. I'm afraid if it was the later that we will get to find out anyway. I read into this construction company and it looks like she gave them a 13 million dollar project after they built her home for free. Also, the same company sponsors her husband and has paid her to do commercials. Sounds like political favors are being done.
Ritarita
Theory 12:
She's facing jail time.
Google Sarah Palin Federal Indictment.
ClementineT
Governor Palin made her reasons for stepping down very clear.
The multiple frivolous lawsuits and baseless charges made by those that have deliberately set out to hurt/destroy the Governor, and her family, have cost the taxpayers of Alaska millions of dollars.
The baseless and unfounded attacks against the Governor (all dismissed), and her family, have only increased since the presidential campaigns ended. That's millions of dollars MORE the taxpayers of Alaska would be WASTING to prove the Governor innocent of the never-ending baseless charges.
Palin has soundly beaten her foes at their "kill two birds with one stone" plan; "destroy Palin and her family" and "empty the coffers of Alaska". Stepping down from office leaves Alaska free to continue to prosper, grow, and remain the leader in American energy production. It won't be shelling out the millions Governor Palin's foes expected - because had she stayed in office, she would have been APPEASING her foes.
Now, Governor Palin has legal recourse of her own, as a private citizen, to hold those entities publishing slanderous and libelous stories about the Governor, and her family, financially responsible and accountable for their lies.
She is also free to be an amazing conservative leader in the nation, free from the restrictions the office of Governor legally imposed. Our nation is in deep and serious trouble. Sarah Palin is a strong, intelligent, and proven leader. Her fiscal revamping of Alaska has been wildly successful. She returned businesses to the private sector, stripping away unnecessary and overbearing government control, so those businesses could again thrive and provide employment - and they are.
possumdearie
Alaskan taxpayers shelled out $2 million to address 15 frivolous ethics suits which were all dismissed. Palin paid $500,000 of her own money, and she has young children and a new grandchild. The hounding from her enemies made it costly and all but impossible to carry out state business, and it was taking a toll on her personal life, as well. Her concession speech was rambling and totally crazy, but her reasoning was understandable, except for the "lame duck" stuff. Every politician becomes a lame duck, and you just don't quit.
Khrish
Lecture, she can't even speak the American English. Did you hear that retirement speech....I had to go to the text to try and understand what she was talking about and they didn't help. It's just incoherent as most of her speeches are. Who is going to pay to hear her speak? She doesn't even put commas and periods when she speaks.
sugarbiscuit
Possum -
What is the source for your numbers? The largest expense in the ethics probes of Gov. Palin was the so-called "Troopergate" investigation, which Palin initiated herself. The rest of the complaints are not "frivolous" per se and many have resulted in a finding of some violation. Furthermore, the costs don't seem to be as high as you claim. See here: http://www.themudflats.net/2009/07/02/numbers-shmumbers/
Oh, and Palin is not paying her "own money" for her defense since she has created a PAC fund dedicated solely to paying off her legal bills, which in its own right appears to violate state ethics: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/apr/22/travel/chi-ap-ak-palin-ethic scompl
democracyforall
Sarah definitely steals the spotlight and that has many people worried. Oprah who?
sugarbiscuit
"Wouldn't it be great if more politicians did that!"
Huh? You're saying it would be great in this time of great economic stress, when every state's budget is a nightmare, for their respective governors to inexplicably and suddenly quit their position to pursue their own agenda? Do you even understand what a public servant is? What about the people of AK who entrusted her to be their executive leader?
This is an extremely self-centered and apparently rash decision made by an increasingly unstable politician.
I agree with you GoldieAZ that it was the best thing to happen to the citizens of AK, but for entirely different reasons.
tankertodd
The announcement was sudden but her last day on the job isn't for a month. Most people give two weeks, so she doubled the standard. Besides, most liberals probably think she doesn't do squat except cut ribbons in her bikini with a rifle slung over her tanned shoulder. How much handover do you need for that?
sugarbiscuit
Again, dude, she's the governor, she's not "most people." She's resigning as the governor for no apparent reason. At. All. None. That's a complete dereliction of the obligation she assumed when she ran for governor and won. She's a public servant, not a freaking private employee.
possumdearie
Palin did a great job keeping Alaska's budget in the black, and she kept her promise to make government more transparent and efficient. Unfortunately, a governor can only do so much.
She turned down the stimulus money, for example, but the legislators went ahead and voted for every bit of it. We all know the stimulus failed. It was neither timely, targeted or efficient. It did nothing to create or save jobs. Unemployment is in double digits, despite the famous 8% comment by the Obama administration. So, governors were right to be skeptical about accepting these funds which only make states more beholden to the federal government, as we have seen with the car companies.
Palin saw that she was seen as possibly an obstructionist, but at least willing to take unpopular stands where nobody would join her. Again, leadership is often a thankless job, and I'm rather disappointed in Sarah Palin for this undeniably erratic move.
possumdearie
Tankertodd, good point, but I would add that Republican elites share the same messed up perception of Sarah Palin. I keep hearing comments that she can always come give a stump speech and raise money for these sorry SOBs. I also think you will see more worthless politicians trying to imitate her in the not-so-distant future.
sugarbiscuit
Possum - I'd hope that Palin managed to keep AK's budget in the black considering it is the number one state in accepting federal dollars. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-03-22-earmarks_N.htm
Furthermore, AK received record revenues in 2008 by way of *gasp* a new tax on oil revenues: http://juneauempire.com/stories/041408/sta_268247988.shtml
Also, Palin turned down only 30% of the federal stimulus money: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/03/sarah-palin-2.html
The only governors who were skeptical about taking the federal aid for their constituents all happened to be folks who were contemplating running for president and saw political capital to be made in separating themselves from Obama. (http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1885118,00.html) In other words, the personal political aspirations of these individual governors trumped the needs of their constituents. Not surprisingly, the list includes Palin (who just walked out on her constituents to pursue her own needs) and Mark Sanford (who abandoned his constituents to "hike the Appalachian Trail").
Orlacc
I am sure it is a radio or TV talk show.....much more money
democracyforall
Pure genius.
phoenix5
Why does she think that if she had stayed in office she would somehow be forced to "waste the time & money of the AK taxpayers." What kind of absurd reasoning is that? And how does passing duties on to her Lt. Governor make things any better?
She can write all the books she wants, and try to do speaking engagements, but this absurd choice to quit her responsibilities as Governor of Alaska is going to forever taint her as an impetuous, irrational quitter.
fairtaxguy
Hey phoenix5, when charges of [unfounded] frivolous ethics violations are filed against a politician, or criminal violations of misconduct are filed against one, or an adverage citizen, say, someone like YOU for example, all of which may be false, it takes alot of time and money to mount a legal defense. While at the same time the investigators/prosecution is burning up the taxpayers monies like Grant took Richmond in their quest for a conviction. Or the "I gotcha" syndrom. Remember the powers that be within the "system" including the police or a rogue prosecutor can do whatever they want, say whatever they want, and charge anyone with whatever they want. YOU, I and everyone else for our own self preservation MUST hire an attorney to clear their name, or minimize the punishment if found guilty. This cost money and time, alot of money and time. I guess the public forgets the term "railroaded". Ms. Palin's decision was the right one in my opinion, due to the constant ethics and MSM attacks upon her and her family. Their idiots, all of them. No one deserves what she has been put through, the perverbial ringer, particularly when all alledged ethics charges have been found to be without merit and dismissed. How much time and money did it take?
Those who filed their unfounded ethics complaints should be sanctioned and be the ones who pay all the monies back, every penny, to her AND the taxpayers. Maybe then they'll slow down on their quick draw. What about prosecutorial misconduct in the Steven's case? They are now subject of their own system due to their intentional, willful, wanton failure to disclose evidence to his defense attorney in violation of the Constitutional protections they took an oath to uphold. They should go to jail for 25 years or more.
Palin had to defend herself period ! This took her away from her duties as Governor of Alaska. The time and tax dollars spent to investigate , was nothing more than a distraction and a waste. So in good faith for the "people" the ones who pay the bills, she resigned ! Good for her.
That's more than I can say for Members of Congress. The real gangsters, crooks and thieves. The true "racketeering enterprise" that's stripping our rights of financial freedom away every day. Along with the White House. What about all the shady backroom deals concerning Dodd [Countrywide] Frank [ Fannie & Freddie] and their political cronies who had ties to obama and took millions upon millions of dollars. They have NEVER been looked at in any manner whatsoever, or charged with anything, while others in the private sector have had to return the money or been taxed at 90%. Pelosi is in charge and fails to bring these to the ethics committee. Why? Coverup? Dept. of Justice? Obama's hands off!
Where's the MSM on that topic? In the septic tank of Chicago with obama. I moved out of that sewer a number of years ago, after living there most of my life. The MOB/Daley runs it period! As the MOB has with all Mayors. The people don't have a fair chance to save their dollars in that enviroment, believe me.
Where's the MSM, hiding under their desks the chicken S%&ts. All of them. ABC,NBC,MSNBC,CBS. No stones to cover that news. Maybe Chris Mathews should take a trip to Mulberry Street? See if he'll get a thrill up and down his leg there, looking up D'Amico. All he'll get is "double tapped" in the back of his empty fat mouthed head. Or question Hoffa of the Mobbed-Up Teamsters Union and its ties to organized crime. Mathews doesn't have the Balls, and neither does anyone else in the MSM. D'Amico and the wiseguys has more class than any of them. I have more respect for the "wiseguys" than all of the so-called journalist and rogue prosecuters combined.
But it's O.K. to go after a successful woman and her family. Why? Because the MSM knows they're safe and if the screw with the elements of La Cosa Nostra they stand a chance of becoming "trunk music" or have "Union" problems.
So everyone should consider her resignation a plus for the taxpayers. And if anyone thinks she wouldn't be a good President, your all full of horsesqueeze. She has the guts to rub the dogs fur in the opposite direction, not afraid to get bitten. She proved that time and again with corrupt politicians from her own State. That's why they're all trying to "get something on her". It's as plain as the nose one the publics face, rather than to noses of the MSM stuck up the ass of obama.
As for "Ritarita Theory 12 She's facing jail time". You can indict a ham sandwich, that doen't mean a conviction or jail time. A Judge or Jury will determine that. Remember "Inocent until proven guilty" is the norm. Not the Court of public opinion. They're like "titles", Ass-h&%es and bellybottons, everybody's got one. Her book will be on the New York Times best seller list, while laughing all the way to the bank and maybe the Oval Office. Anyone want to make book on it? Good for her, and she's good for this Country too. That's why the powers that be hate her so much. Ms. Palin, You Go Girl and the hell with those who love to tear OUR people down.
Remember the Army slogan "Be All That You Can Be". Execpt a member of the MSM of liberal bias and bullsqueeze.
ThisThatTheOther
I agree. Many politicians get actions filed against them, some valid, some trumped up. They have legal departments, after all. They don't just quit. Huckabee said that if it was a matter of wanting to avoid that kind of scrutiny from the other party, he would have had to resign in the first few months of his governorship. She's just a whiner.
I think the reasons were #1, feelings hurt, #8 unstable and #9 bad advice (asking your kids if you should quit your job? seriously?).
I think her reasons were
bgeasyas123
Wow fairtax........WOW!!! The MOB!?!
pinkcrickets
GoldieAZ, while I agree with you that POTUS is the reason, I think her decision is waaaay misplaced. Resigning because she "didn't want to waste time and money of the AK taxpayers" is basically an implication if not an admission that she couldn't get anything done. There's no rule that says you have to be a lame duck for the last year and a half of your term, she was basically saying "I don't feel like working anymore - and my being in office was a waste of your time and money". She could have stayed there and continued to do "good work"...This is a purely selfish move. And no, it wouldn't be great if more politicians simply packed up when they got bored and didn't feel like doing it anymore. It would be great if they only took the job if they actually wanted to do it.
I think people are pretty familiar with her agenda - she's a conservative, and rarely has constructive ideas beyond that. Her agenda is power. Energy indpendence is a really nice phrase, but she has never, ever even come close to outlining any sort of plan that would lead the US to become energy independent. What's her solution? I don't think she has one.
SkillzMilloy
Very true
chesterfieldd
Anybody think she may be wanting to join Todd again as a secessionist? Someone else suggested that she wants to establish a 3rd party - that makes sense, she could be the boss of said third party. Guess she's not going away. We have had some strange presidents - never say never!
chesterfieldd
Did I say this already? Is she going to go with Todd into Secession land? Start a 3rd party?
labman57
If her objective was a 2012 run for POTUS, she would have been better off finishing her term as governor and simply announcing that she would not re-run for office.
To quit after 2 1/2 years in her first term as governor suggests a person who cannot multitask, handle the pressures that come with the job (working with the legislature, dealing with the press, etc), and someone who is more interesting in being in the spotlight and waving to the crowds than she is in being a serious political force.
prophet
No. Watch her speech. Gasping, hysterical, incoherent. The big shoe is about to drop, 14 year-old Willow is Trig's mother. Rigid ideology precluded an abortion. The father is older brother Track, shipped off to Iraq when his paternity was discovered. Somehow, somebody is about to spill the unspeakable, incestuous beans. This is why the governor of Alaska resigned. Let it come down.
Johnnyappleseed
A Prophet your not, your just full of it.
You loonies are very self serving and mean when some one doesn't fit your ideologies.
Maezeppa
This is a woman who dropped out of what, 5 colleges? She has the attention span of a gnat. She can't raise the money and doesn't have the brains or the talent to run for President.
clubed60090
Thank you Maezeppa. Everyone is trying to identify some logical 'plan' former Gov. Palin has - when her behavior to date has shown her to be impusive and reactive, not someone with any kind of a plan, much less a well-thought out one.
RVGrandpa
Great idea, Goldie. Only problem I see that of raising her IQ above that of a sledge hammer.
democracyforall
Most of these theories are just whacko. If I had to pick one, it would be theory #10, she may end up with a TV Show of her own in order to voice her opinions and given the amount of attention she's been given by the media, I'd say that the show would be a huge success. And to have an alternate voice out there would be refreshing. This country is not a one-size-fits-all, we deserve to have different viewpoints and other voices need to be heard.
Johnnyappleseed
Nice comment, democarcyforall
Joanne38
I am so excited that now Sarah Palin will be free to travel without being scrutinized and slammed with childish ethics complaints. I hope she knocks those doors down with a few liberal media nuts standing right behind them. I'm sick with what is going on in our country right now and most every normal citizen is also. What a mistake they made electing this spendaholic we have now!
jchastn
She has a big book deal, and lets face it, Sarah Palin can't chew gum and walk at the same time. She wants to be closer to her publisher and ghost writer and Alaska is way too far away to go to all those crappy GOP dinners that she loves. I really think that she fears that her book deal will evaporate due to a lack of relevance if she stays up in Alaska much longer. I know that there is some talk of indictment on various stuff, but I think she just wants to be "where the action is" and its definately not Juneau.
pam1234
Where does one begin. Wouldn't a governor tell the lawmakers before they resign in front of the cameras? And where was Greta, seems like she would have gotten the scoop. And didn't the Lieutenant Governor look like a deer in the headlights. Wonder when she told him?
DemsDeBreaks
The pitbull has turned into a shitzu.
crymeariver
When interviewed, the Lieutenant Governor said Palin told him she is quitting on Wednesday. So about 2 days before the press conference. He was shocked, he had no idea prior to then that she was going to step down.
Poor guy, since transitions in power take months (new staff, cabinet, etc.) the middle of a term is probably the worse time ever to quit. As happy as he may be to now be called "governor" I'm sure he is pissed that she didn't give him more lead time. Very selfish and self-centered move on her part. Simply unprofessional.
NHBill
Here's what I am not hearing on cable news: Palin will have a relatively short shelf life to cash in on her Vice Presidential bid. Serious opportunities at large sums of legitimate cash are there for the taking but not as a sitting governor. Her initial speaking fees will be 6 figures a speech with an extended time at 5 figures. This will also support a lucrative book deal with a possible movie. After she exhausts all this there is at least talk radio if not conservative TV where she can continue to cash in. Most people think FOX news but I think Christian TV is more likely. Finally I really do not hold this against her. This is tens of millions in the hand versus a very low probability of a 2012 bid. At the end of the day this is a middle class American family with a medically challenged baby. Could you walk away from $20-30 million?
MaliciousDisorder
She took the gloves off but kept the roll of quarters..
MissButterfly
Congratulations lefties! You've run Sarah Palin completely out of politics. I don't believe for a minute that she's considering public office of any type ever again.
I won't go into describing the attacks against her, except to say that it was the most vicious I've seen in my 60 years.
In order to respond appropriately to the wants and needs of their constituents, office holders need to be at least a little bit sensitive. But what half way sensitive human being could withstand brutal, personal attacks of the type directed at SP and her children, even making fun of her Down's syndrome baby? So all that's left to run for office are people with no empathy at all - this type person, at best, will be corrupt and only enrich him or herself at the expense of the tax payers - it's also the personality type of serial murderers.
So congratulations folks - I hope you're satisfied!
caune0405
Well missbutterfly thanks...as a lefty if I had anything to do with this unhinged women leaving politics I feel proud as punch for doing my duty!
But I don't think for a NY minute that Sarah is done with the spotlight....she complains about her press coverage while courting the press....it should be quite interesting because running for President is brutal, just ask the Kenyan family of Pres. Obama.....she's in for a very bumpy ride if she expects to parade her family around but not have anyone write about them.
Llplo99
I think you are right...she turns everything into a drama...anybody watch the Real Housewives of New Jersey?...Where there is Danielle, there is DRAMA! Well, in the Real Housewives of Alaska, where there is SP, there is DRAMA!
I am sure we will hear this story for a number of weeks while everybody is trying to figure out what the real reasons are but once it dies down, SP will rear her head into the airspace of the lower 48 to make sure we don't forget about her. That or the real reason will surface and it will start all over again: DRAMA!
possumdearie
The way I recall it, she introduced her family and addressed concerns that she could not do her job and raise her children. Bristol was kept out of the limelight until the unhinged rumors that she was actually the mother of Sarah's youngest child Trigg, and then she revealed she was pregnant.
I sure remember Obama's children doing interviews, being on magazine covers and being paraded around quite a bit. Nobody said they were being "pimped out." At least David Schuster apologized for that comment, which was more than any of you lefty reprobates ever did for worse comments made about Palin's children.
Look at you. "I'm pleased as punch that I drove a well-meaning woman from politics by attacking her children. Calling a special needs baby an inbred bastard and joking about raping a 14 YO in Yankees Stadium was one of the best times of my life. God bless America!" You will get the government you deserve.
debbieqd
Agreed. Sarah Palin is a woman way out of her league. She doesn't REALIZE this, however, and it's causing her latest nervous breakdown. I sincerely hope we've run her out of politics for good. She never belonged there in the first place.
MissButterfly, I'm an "ordinary American" from a very small town -- the kind you and Ms.Palin like to call "real American." I am very satisfied that this hate-filled, ignorant and divisive woman is finished. She and her ilk are a danger to this country.
sugarbiscuit
Possum - again, you're wrong:
On Sept. 3rd of 2008, only 5 days after being picked for the VP slot, and two days after announcing that Bristol was pregnant on Sept. 1st, Palin not only brought out Bristol at the Republican Convention in St. Paul, MN, she brought the father of Bristol's baby too: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/01/politics/p09165 7D38.DTL
I do agree with you on one point: the rumors that Bristol is Trig's real mom are truly deranged. However, I did a search and can't seem to find any legitimate media source that every reported that story. Punching in "bristol real mother trig" in Google provides nothing but weird personal blogs dedicated to attacking Palin.
Why would rumors from such deranged quarters of the internet inspire the Palins to pay any mind to them? It's like the Letterman thing, why add attention to Letterman and what he said by turning it into a national story? I'll tell you why, because Palin is a thin-skinned child. You can see it best played out in her battle with Steve Schmidt. When rumors began swirling about Todd Palin's membership in an AK secessionist party, Sarah freaked out and wanted to release a statement. Schmidt has a far cooler head and reminded Sarah that by engaging rumors that are being discussed by .01% of the populace in the darkest recesses of the internet you will only bring them into the national spotlight. Nevertheless, Sarah freaked out and wanted a statement issued until Schmidt pulled rank.
So, this is what always amuses me about folks like you Possum, in that you actually believe (apparently) that all the regular old meat-and-potatoes Liberals and Moderates who voted for Obama somehow believe (or are even aware or) the sleazy "is Sarah really Trig's mom?" -type rumors.
lojojo
I am actually. I would do anything to keep that dipstick in lipstick out of our government for good.
GeorgeB
I just choked back a sob.
sugarbiscuit
Possum - what the hell are you going on about here? Again, all I ask of any of you angry Palin supporters is one (just one!) source where a mainstream, credible media source that mocked Palin giving birth to a child with Down Syndrome. Just screaming "I know you did!" and "You liberals all hate babies!" isn't very convincing to anyone.
And you know what I find really amusing? How people like you hold up Palin as some paragon of family values and so forth and attack the Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama represent real family values. And I guarantee if one of the Obama daughters gets in big trouble in the next several years, you'll hear about all over.
TwoSpirits
Sure that wasn't a giggle you choked on?
JJKPHT
oh waah! You all felt so bad for the Clintons, I'm sure! You can dish it out but you sure can't take it. As a very great Democrat once said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Hubert Humphrey.
Fultoni
Ah, I am a Democrat, Love to see Palin tank. Get the ascription right: Harry Truman said that, and was right. Palin is out of the kitchen (and her mind).
Johnnyappleseed
Harry Truman, not Humphrey said don't you folks ever get your facts straight?
sugarbiscuit
"But what half way sensitive human being could withstand brutal, personal attacks of the type directed at SP and her children, even making fun of her Down's syndrome baby?"
Gaa, again with this trope about liberals making fun of Palin's baby. Please, please provide one example of any mainstream media source do so.
Plus, who wants a leader that can't stand up to personal assaults? Obama has been called a terrorist, a secret muslim, a traitor, etc., etc. and he seems to be able to ignore and get down to business. Maybe the problem with Palin is she's too thin-skinned for the business of national politics.
"So all that's left to run for office are people with no empathy at all."
Haha, I thought emphasizing "empathy" was one of Obama's chief faults! And where and when did Palin ever really express empathy for anyone but herself? She's so devoid of empathy and sense that she even ridiculed Congressional funding for research on down's syndrome because she thought performing genetic experiments with fruit flies was wasteful!
possumdearie
When Arianna Hufington is seen doing the ho stroll on everything from The Tonight Show to CNN's Hardball, I will consider that cesspool of a blog The Huffington Post m
possumdearie
(cont'd) The Huffington Post is mainstream, and so is the NYT quoting The Atlantic Monthly. Don't pretend you weren't putting those filthy rumors out.
You attacked a baby, but then we always knew liberals hate babies.
You know what? Sasha and Malia are now fair game. I want their report cards, their grade-school crushes, their health records and tapes of every time they fussed with their nanny.
I want the tape of Princess Biden snorting coke on Youtube, I want the fact that Biden's son is under investigation for fraud trumpeted from the rooftops. Let's play. Game effin on.
sugarbiscuit
Possum - what the hell are you going on about here? Again, all I ask of any of you angry Palin supporters is one (just one!) source where a mainstream, credible media source that mocked Palin giving birth to a child with Down Syndrome. Just screaming "I know you did!" and "You liberals all hate babies!" isn't very convincing to anyone.
And you know what I find really amusing? How people like you hold up Palin as some paragon of family values and so forth and attack the Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama represent real family values. And I guarantee if one of the Obama daughters gets in big trouble in the next several years, you'll hear about all over.
clubed60090
You aren't hearing things the way they are intended. No one, NO ONE is 'making fun' of the baby. No one, NO ONE is making fun of Sarah Palin's children.
We mock and make fun of and call out Sarah Palin's actions, words and behavior. We 'liberals' call out Sarah Palin's ignorance and adolescent attitudes.
You want it to be about the kids so you can hold onto your indignation. You don't want to see the childish, unprofessional, self-serving, unqualified for national public office woman that we see, so you, like she, deliberately mis-interprets criticism of her behavior. Sorry, that's the Sarah Palin I see, and I too, would be very happy if she never ran for a political office again, though I don't believe that's how it will turn out.
Caradog
Is this the same M Butterfly that was actually a dude? And a spy?
Really, those were vicious attacks, asking what papers she reads? Asking if she agrees with the Bush Doctrine? Grow up. She was supposed to be a Pit Bull with lipstick, remember? Except Pit Bulls are single-minded, tenacious and without superego. This one's a nutter.
possumdearie
The real issue here is the frivolous ethics charges and obstructions to state business.
sugarbiscuit
you know, just calling them "frivolous" doesn't magically make them so. Read: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/71151.html
Veronicaxy
I really am satisfied thanks, and I'm not a lefty. When I read her entry in Wikipedia immediately after the announcement of her being the VP candidate I thought this might finally be a politician that I could believe in, she seemed to actually seriously walk her talk. And then the crazy and arrogant unpreparedness came out and I saw George Bush all over again.
Don't fret MissB, she'll show up in quick order on tv, most likely Fox. Making a lot more money, wearing better clothes and getting unadulterated praise singing to the choir with all the drudgery of being held accountable to bureaucrats. And she might create a strong enough base from that activity to jump back into the political fray, more powerful than ever.
She really has been her own worst enemy, although John McCain probably would disagree with that, she was the stake in the heart of his illustrious political career.
possumdearie
"although John McCain probably would disagree with that, she was the stake in the heart of his illustrious political career."
Did you type that with a straight face? LOL
Veronicaxy
@possumdearie: ok, I have to admit with a smirk because the man was very successful and gained respect for being a centrist in an extraordinarily partisan era, but with an open streak of vanity and hatred that showed up again and again to undo him.
McCain's off the cuff style and not seriously vetting her was a Greek tragedy-type ending where his own hubris did him in. I'm going to guess that her name will come up in future VP selection conversations as shorthand for 'a good looking time bomb', or 'slow down, need to check this out thoroughly'
I agree with Ross Perot that the way McCain treated his first wife was a marker of his ultimate values and character. The nasty words about rape victims, or the way he spoke to his second wife even -- scary.
That said, I appreciated his often centrist ways -- when asked what he'd do as president in a crisis in '00 he said he'd call a list of foreign policy experts together that were almost exclusively Dems -- before he apparently sold his soul to appeal to the fundamentalists and then even promote racism if it would help him become President. Again, that fatal flaw of hatred coming out to undo him.
You have to admit, his choosing a beautiful but deadly woman like Sarah Palin was the kind of self-delivered karma or justice that we pay to see in the movies and rarely see in real life.
xlntcat
Palin was only one of any number of disasterous mistakes made by the McCain campaign, but brakeing your campaign promises before your elected is a stretch even for a politician. McCain has firmly stated that he would choose a VP who was fully qualified to step in as president if necessary. For a 72 year old, cancer patient, the choice of a VP was for more crucial than average and it is always the first decision and most telling decision a candidate makes. McCain let down a lot of people by selecting an unstable, dishonest woman who wasn't qualified to run the local McDonalds. Within ten days of her nomination there was a petition signed by 250,000 conservative females opposing Palin.
Johnnyappleseed
Psssssst! Veronica ! Ever wonder why fox has such high ratings? because they report and you decide, easy when you hear both sides of the argument.
wiseone
You seem to overlook, the bizarre behavior of Sarah, ie. troopergate, firing the police commissioner, alienating the native employees in the Alaskan government, and simply talking too much. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Take your head out of the sand and maybe you will see what everyone else thinks!!!!!!!
phoenix5
She's a quitter. No one ran her out of office. She just couldn't handle the job. If she couldn't handle this, then thank goodness she never made it to the White House!!!
Every step of the way, she has stirred up drama for herself. Even within the McCain campaign, and afterward within her own GOP party, she has brought drama. Apparently, she has trouble working with others. She clearly is not a team player. She's a prima donna. That's not the kind of leader we need.
xbainx
Who made fun of her baby? You can't just use examples of random idiots on the street to back up your dumb theories. The media went easy on Palin. Too bad she didn't have what it takes to impress us. It wasn't the lefties.
America rejected her.
papicat
whine whine whine, blah blah blah. Do you thugd ever stop blaming other people for your problems.
Get a life
Khrish
Well if we did that she must be very thin skinned. With all the hatred that conservatives and Republicans have spewed again the President of the U.S., he won't be run out of office. Do you people do anything except blame others for your sorid candidates? She needs to use the time to acquire some "book learning". This woman is a disaster and you think I want her to run the country? Please. She doesn't even know that she doesn't know. Glad she's gone and hope she stays gone.
AlyoshaKaramazov
You're very welcome!
trisha08
Well, if that's all it took to "run her out of office" she had no business being in office. I guess you haven't heard all the the attacks against President Obama that the right throws out every day. He has been called every name in the book and has even been accused of not being an American citizen.
Has anyone accused Palin of not being an American citizen even though she has been connected to the AIP?
Redhead5050
Palin is a quitter. If you cannot stand the heat...get out of the kitchen. She is a loser and has not lived up to her post as Gov.
svrdnx
I presume you defended Hillary Clinton from the conservative lovefest, right?
motamanx
If you can't stand the heat, etc etc. Wasn't SP calling everyone a communist or a muslim? She didn't know what either term meant, but she knew they were (in her mind) derogatory.
oldgoat
Then you must not have been paying much attention in your last 60 years. She has been in the public eye for less than a year and already bails? She never would have lasted through say the attention that say LBJ, Nixon and Clinton got over several years. She also managed to throw out some pretty good attacks herself on the campaign trail. So you're saying she can give it out but can't take it? I don't anybody thinks that it right to go after the children, but you forget that for one thing she put Bristol out there and also you forget the attacks that were made on both Clinton's and Bush's children. At least if you want to make claims you ought to make sure that you don't show your bias and blindness so easily
colinjames
You're welcome!
Oh, if only it were true... we haven't seen the last of your idol, MissB, as she has left her constituents high and dry to pursue enriching herself, which will no doubt include a movie, a book deal, and radio/TV show, while taxpayers foot the bill for both the transition to a new governor, and the continued investigations into her SERIOUSLY SHADY behavior.
She must be a serial murderer.
She must be a serial murderer.
CartoonCoyote
"I won't go into describing the attacks against her, except to say that it was the most vicious I've seen in my 60 years."
Were there multiple published books accusing her of murder and being a lesbian, among other things?
You've obviously forgotten those allegations against Hillary Clinton, which is worrying if you're only 60. Run, don't walk, to a neurologist.
Johnnyappleseed
Well said, the left wing loonies gravitate to attacking the children, regardless of their physical or mental condition, probably why they are so despised, that and lack of substance.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
Huntingmoose
*******************************************************************
SHE FREED HER HANDS SO SHE CAN PROMOTE CONSERVATISM AND ENGAGE PEOPLE ON THE VIRTUES OF CONSERVATISM
RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS NOT HER PRIME OBJECTIVE.
AND BEFORE YOU EVEN CONSIDER THAT AND SHE WOULD CONSIDER IT, SHE NEEDS TO AWAKEN PEOPLE AGAIN TO THE BEAUTY OF CONSERVATISM AND THE UGLYNESS OF SOCIALISM
**************************************************************
dana64
HUNTINGMOOSE..................i bet this is Palin writing here..........because that is exactly on of her motives....................but what she does not confess here is PALIN IS OBSESSED with her Loss at NOT BEING ABLE TO BEAT OBAMA the socialist..............and that she prefers to make MONEY BY criss crossing America to TRASH OBAMA ........while gilling her war chest with the money STUPID PEOPLE give her...........and etc etc
BUT HER MAIN objective is to ATTACK OBAMA policies
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
lewmay
It's a complex all right, but some are saying it's the Sports Complex and its remarkable similarity to the Palin's nearby new house. Same windows, same railings, what a coincidence, We have been amazed at Sarah's use of the word The Feds, when it came to accepting stimulus money or government regulations. Now we know which Feds may be looking over her shoulder.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
xlntcat
Yes, it has been noted that after the Botox and fillers have worn off, Granny Palin is looking every minute of her 45 years. With the jaw beginning to sag, it will take more than botox and fillers and it takes 6 to 9 months for all of the swelling from a lift to dissipate.
GeorgeB
She belongs on the Fox morning show, which is, essentially, nasty, right-wing blather from a nice pair of legs, flanked by a pair of traffic & weather guys. I'd watch her first show.
VinceP1974
Theory 12.. for as dumb as everyone says that she is, perhaps Reason 12 is that she's way smarter than the bits and pieces of MSM that contributed to the compilation of the first 11 reasons.
sugarbiscuit
hey, pssst, Vince, if "everyone" is saying Palin's dumb, she's probably not "way smarter" at all. i'm sorry to harsh your mellow, but so long as Palin continues to struggle to articulate a single fresh idea other than cuttaxesdrillbabydrillobama'saterrorist, "everyone's" opinion ain't gonna change anytime soon no matter how hard you wish her to be "way smarter."
dana64
SHE is NOT DUMB............she knows what is best for herself FILL the coffers of her SarahPAC ......TRASH OBAMA get her revenge for losing election 09...........she realizes that she cannot become the President so she is going to help a conservative become President.........that was what her basketball story ,means.......
and of course she is going to become a MILLIONAIRE
Granite
Palin smart? Not likely. Joe Biden can ramble on and on and occassionally misspeak, but, you can always get the gist of what he's trying to communicate. Palin however rambles on and on and after much media analysis no one knows what she's talking about.
BTW--Many media outlets reported that she made her speech yesterday
without notes. But if you watch it again she did have papers in front of her. So she scripted that drivel! Amazing!
The only thing she's smarter than is doorknob.
shmtup
Has anybody checked Sanford' flight schedule to see if he's been to Alaska recently?
UnknownCaller
Congratulations, Liberal Media. You grabbed your pitchforks and ran her out of town. With any luck, this will take some attention away from the deformed, debt-ridden pedophile you've been cannonizing all week.
VitaminT
a beauty contestant pageant winner will never run from a spotlight.
sugarbiscuit
Umm, the electorate "ran her out of town" back in November. But she just keeps coming back for no apparent reason other than to entertain us, I guess.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
Llplo99
Don't be naive. She is either hiding something or she has some grandiose plan for herself. The pitbull with lipstick is not going anywhere...she loves being the center of attention.
xlntcat
Maybe, MJ and Sanford were just capturing too much of the limelight and she just had to draw the spotlight back on old Sarah. She isn't exactly what one would call a strategic thinker.
phoenix5
LOL. Fox News (Right Wing Whacko Media) has been attacking, twisting, and fabricating news to try to run Obama out of town. You don't see him quitting, do you? He's been a cool customer all along the way.
Oh, and by the way, some of Palin's biggest critics are people within her own party, not only in Alaska, but also at the national level. So don't blame it on the "Liberal Media". There are lots of people within the GOP who quietly wanted to run her out of town.
nightslider
I wonder if we can bill her for the proctologist, that was called to remove the door knob from her rear end as she exited the State house door.
dana64
YOU ARE SO MEAN TO Michael Jackson...........he loved kids .he did not mean to hurt them
and the plastic surgeons misled him on and on and on.......to milk him.
i totally feel sorry for him...........
marinas
Sarah brought all of this on herself- even her own people have come out against her and wishing good riddance. All she has as support are a peanut gallery of hate mongers, deluded into thinking "a hockey mom" is the "same thing" as
an elected governor with responsibilities and the ethics to represent a people.
dixie-chik
You call The Daily Beast liberal? ROTF
VinceP1974
I think he was speaking beyond TDB
UnknownCaller
She
VinceP1974
She not he. My mistake :)
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.