Video: Ferraro says Palin made a “big mistake”
posted at 11:15 am on July 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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From the network that gave Sarah Palin her best coverage, and from the woman who gave Palin the best treatment among Democrats, Palin’s resignation still gets criticized. Geraldine Ferraro defended Palin from some of the worst excesses of the media attacks and continues to do it in this interview, but also says failing to finish her term would damage her long-term political prospects:
Ferraro makes another good point towards the end. As governor of Alaska, Palin had a seat at the table for policy issues, especially on energy and budgeting. Regardless of how the media treated her, her office gave her access. As Sarah Palin, private citizen, that’s no longer going to be the case. She’ll make her money on the lecture circuit, but she’s all but destroyed her opportunity to force change, at least in Alaska.
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I am sure Jerry has the best interests of Palin and the GOP at heart.
JonRoss on July 4, 2009 at 11:18 AM
You just can’t walk away from the job.
You can if you’ve had it with politics completely.
greggriffith on July 4, 2009 at 11:18 AM
If Gov. Palin had announced yesterday that she was resigning to put her full effort in running for the presidency, the media coverage would be 100% different. There would still be critics but not the trashing she is getting from every corner. It’s interesting.
Cindy Munford on July 4, 2009 at 11:18 AM
People quit their jobs every day, why is this a big deal? Her reasons seemed pretty sound to me. She wants to help raise her two new babies, the attention was taking a huge toll on her kids and her wealth. She wants to work on her book, she wants to travel the lower 48 and focus on national issues. Why is that a crime? Why does that disqualify her?
This “abandoning her state” line is pathetic, like she is leaving people to die or something. It’s just a job, people are not dependent on some person in the governor’s mansion for survival (at least I hope not yet).
The “not tough enough” meme is also silly. It was never about proving her toughness, it was about what was in the best interest of her state, her family, and herself.
commodore on July 4, 2009 at 11:19 AM
She will bring change. In America.
Remember Huey Long? Conservatives needed one of their own, who stir up masses for the sake of liberty. She’s the one to do it.
Like the moose once said, “Democrats, be afraid, be very, very afraid.”
promachus on July 4, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Geraldine still voted for Obama. She is now playing the good little democrat.
Sarah is a unique politician with a huge following. I still support her.
If we republicans are looking for Geraldine Ferraro’s advice, the GOP is in worse shape than I thought.
jencab on July 4, 2009 at 11:20 AM
And we’re supposed to give a sh*t about Ferraro’s opinion why?
Oh, because she is one more person criticizing Palin that you can link to? Of course, whatever was I thinking.
Blake on July 4, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Well, people will be saying this for awhile, won’t they? Things aren’t going to change for awhile – Palin’s future would have to start in 2016 at the earliest, as Krauthammer suggested. For now, the pundits will all be broken records on this. I’m sure Allah will do his best to link them all, though :)
fiatboomer on July 4, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Lt. Gov. Response to Palin’s Announcement:
“I profoundly respect your decision for I know the depth of character and integrity from which it springs. Rare, indeed, are such selfless acts seen in the public arena.”
Third party. (My guess is she’s quitting the Republican party, and for very good reason.)
dtestard on July 4, 2009 at 11:21 AM
VichyRepublicans like Ed align with Dems.
faraway on July 4, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Politics changed when Obama won. If the Republicans had someone to speak for them, Palin could have stayed Govenor. Since no one(except Boehner) is stepping up and speaking out, the Barracuda fills the void no one else has the guts to fill.
Tazz 55 on July 4, 2009 at 11:22 AM
There would still be critics but not the trashing she is getting from every corner. It’s interesting.
Cindy Munford on July 4, 2009 at 11:18 AM
The trashing would be WORSE.
artist on July 4, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Like I said in the other thread: We are concerned that she may have ruined her political career. Beltway Insiders, RINOs, and Liberals are concered that she has just begun.
kingsjester on July 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Like Dear Leader did…
d1carter on July 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Maybe, but with what we have seen over the last six to eight months, the trashing would be just as intense, possibly even more scornful of the audacity of this women to presume she could actually be POTUS. We shall see.
JonRoss on July 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Oh, but others who are not Palin who are not in office who travel around and lecture and right books we are told have an effect on policy issues. LOL
No, not regardless how the media treated her. They were out to destroy her and her family and with few people standing up for her. You can’t separate that from the ability to do her job. It’s disingenuous for you to even try to argue it. And you’ve all but destroyed your own credibility, Ed.
Blake on July 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM
she is about to become the female newt gingrich
ousoonerfan15 on July 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Agreed.
myrenovations on July 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM
You dummy. Ed is pro-life and I seriously doubt he’d promote the party of taxpayer funded abortion-on-demand.
fiatboomer on July 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Writing Sarah Off VDH
faraway on July 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Watch what she does today and over the next few weeks. There will probably be some trips outside the state, speeches, and other things that most likely would have drawn yet more frivolous ethics complaints. Her opponents basically forced her to choose between being a popular national figure and staying holed up in the governor’s office doing nothing for the next 18 months.
rockmom on July 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Depends what Sarah Palin’s motives are.
I think Mark Steyn nails it here.
If that is Sarah Palin’s motive, to protect her family, it all makes sense. The more I think about this, the more I think this is family first, not a stunt to run for President.
Mr. Joe on July 4, 2009 at 11:27 AM
She has a history of being a “quitter”. She quit the energy commission she was on and we all know that turned out badly for her… /sarc
CC
CapedConservative on July 4, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Trolls never read the actual speeches. Nice talking points from Axelrod, though.
faraway on July 4, 2009 at 11:28 AM
She’s not just walking away from the job.
She’s actually saving her state money.
More politicians should have her integrity.
bridgetown on July 4, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Her responses to the trashing as a private citizen will be different than they would as the Gov. of Alaska. I know people like Mrs. Palin and I can’t wait to see her go on the attack and resposnd in a more pro-active manner as opposed to always having to be re-active.
thomasaur on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Well said.
JonRoss on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Here is what she said. Even the conservatives are trying to report everything but what she says.
Christian moms do not make decisions like the do in Washington.
seven on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I can not for the life of me understand why people say she needs more political knowledge. What in the heck type of knowledge does bho have? ZERO! At least she has ‘run’ something, a state. Bho only runs his mouth and runs our Republic in the dust.
L
letget on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Sarah Palin the thread that will not die no matter how hard the liberals try to drive a stake through it.
Kinda like us conservatives, no matter how hard the liberals try to exterminate us, we’re still here.
Skandia Recluse on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Who keeps pulling Ferraro out of moth balls?
katy on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I remember the 1992 election where Ross Perot came in and shot George Bush down and helped Clinton get elected.
Here was the vote breakdown:
Clinton Bush Perot
Popular vote 44,909,806 39,104,550 19,743,821
Percentage 43.0% 37.4% 18.9%
So Palin is scary to the democrats and republicans.
2012 could see some interesting vote figures.
Palin could easily draw much more support & money than Perot did.
And Perot got a very late start.
izoneguy on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I want to see her work hard for Rubio.
Then I want to see her campaign in 2010, in ALL the blue dog districts.
artist on July 4, 2009 at 11:30 AM
This is all BS! I am glad she’s out of politics. No one deserved the treatment she got. Any comments about her not having thick enough skin to be president are as bad as all of the BS she has already taken. I don’t see a foreign head of state making fun of her for having a “retarded” kid. Yet here is our wonderful media doing that. This poor woman took more unfair than any politician in the history of our country and kept going. I don’t blame her one bit for quitting. I wonder how far any other politician would go if they had to deal with the same crap she did. Republican or Democrat I bet they couldn’t hang. God luck Sarah whatever you do next.
nazarioj001 on July 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM
She’s not tough enough
She’s made a huge mistake
Her political career is over
Who needs enemies when you’ve got friends who will do their job for them?
I can understand some eyebrow raising and critical discussion about why Palin did what she did, but is the move so unfathomable? Really?
And, for the record, I don’t think she resigned because of her family. They are a tough enough brood.
She resigned because thanks to the constant barrage of complaints she could not effectively govern the state of Alaska, and rather than hold on to her pride saying all the while that she would not let them win, which is how every other Republican would have handled it (because par for the course has been working so well for the Repubs), she changed the game and threw everyone for a loop.
This was obviously a difficult decision for her, but I liken it to the story in the Bible about the women who were fighting over the baby — when Solomon threatened to cut the the baby in half to stop the feud, the real mother was willing to let go to save the life of her child. That’s EXACTLY what Palin has done.
haikusrock on July 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM
It has not yet been 24 hours since Palin made her announcement.
I cannot put much stock in what anyone speculates about her motives or her future at this point. Anything said or written right now speaks more to the motives of the writer/speaker.
myrenovations on July 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM
This is what conservatives must learn. Liberals must be exterminated.
No more compassion. No more politics as usual.
izoneguy on July 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Wishful thinking.
Proud Texan on July 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Absolutely not going to happen. Obama is much stronger than Clinton and Sarah knows it.
gh on July 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Palin may actually campaign for conservative Democrats also.
That will put fear in Axelrod’s black heart.
faraway on July 4, 2009 at 11:32 AM
She still has my vote should she run in 2012.
easyone on July 4, 2009 at 11:32 AM
I don’t think so….she imploded on the national stage. Her speech was a rambling mess.
The Democrats just crossed off another contender on their list.
If she can’t handle being Gov how can she handle being President?
harry on July 4, 2009 at 11:32 AM
If Palin quits the Republican Party, and goes Independent, or even more, creates her own party, that’s going to be a disaster for Republicans. She currently has a 73%-ish approval rating from Republicans. If 73% of the Republicans switch with her, it’s game over man for the GOP.
Enoxo on July 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM
O/T –
Happy Independence Day everyone, and I would like to thank all who are serving or who have served our country to keep me and my family safe and free. God bless you.
Laura in Maryland on July 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Horsesh*t. She’s not in any way “out of politics”. Just listen to her speech. Even the first 3 minutes are enough.
gh on July 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM
We’ll know in 3 years I guess.
faraway on July 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Alaska was in lock down mode because of the bipartisan attacks on her and her 2012 possibility. The option for change was gone , her enemies would destroy Alaska to take her down.
The cost for all those legal attacks were costing alaskans millions and would increase.
She didn’t have any perfect choice , we’ll see if it this was a “big mistake” . I think Obama is a huge mistake.
the_nile on July 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM
The Campaign Spot
Of course, some are immune to that by not having kids. Too bad beagles can’t be slandered. They do not care. They eat their own poop you know. Some of their owners should too (since they already roll around in it and throw it at people they disagree with).
Mr. Joe on July 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM
No, not regardless how the media treated her. They were out to destroy her and her family and with few people standing up for her. You can’t separate that from the ability to do her job. It’s disingenuous for you to even try to argue it. And you’ve all but destroyed your own credibility, Ed.
Blake on July 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Well said.
JonRoss on July 4, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Hate to say it, breaks my heart…
There is truth to this statement.
Keemo on July 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Exactly right. Levin’s been saying this for months.
gh on July 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Sarah is bigger than the GOP.
faraway on July 4, 2009 at 11:35 AM
It seems to me that Ferraro walked away for some years. She was ill for awhile, but not for all that time. If she can walk, shy can’t Palin if that is what she feels like she has to do?
Terrye on July 4, 2009 at 11:35 AM
harry voted for Obama. Didn’t ya little harry? ….
katy on July 4, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Geraldine needs Palin now, and not later. Ferraro enjoyed her political sister because it got her back into “court” of American politics. I think Ferraro’s comments reflect the disappointment at being left out of the talking head circuit in 2010/12.
Palin is young, she can wait. Geraldine hasn’t the same future outlook.
Just sayin’.
Saltysam on July 4, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Best to remember this 100% of the time. The perfidy, bias, treason of the media taints all media. Better safe than sorry. THINK FOR YOURSELF!
JiangxiDad on July 4, 2009 at 11:35 AM
You must have missed the 2 hours of Stu Varney saying that this is likely a set up for 2012. Still friendly it seems.
V15J on July 4, 2009 at 11:36 AM
She can handle being a Gov, but she thinks this choice is tactical and strategical better. She may be wrong , we’ll see.
the_nile on July 4, 2009 at 11:37 AM
That spurred this terrifying thought: The lesson that the ruthless corners of the political world will take from the rise, fall, and departure of Sarah Palin that if you attack a politician’s children nastily enough and relentlessly enough, you can get anybody to quit.
…….
Time for us to start.
Get in the mud or get beat.
artist on July 4, 2009 at 11:37 AM
The Palinistas apparently think money is the only factor in politics, even though the much derided Romney lost so many primaries where he spent so much.
Speedwagon82 on July 4, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Ferraro’s goal is distinctly feminine and she’s willing to abandon both liberal or conservative positions to see that happen. For the most part, it’s best to tune her out.
JiangxiDad on July 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM
LISTEN to her speech. She was in a corner of Obama’s making and she got out of it. So she’s going to take him on, whether as part of the GOP team or at the head of it. If the GOP is irredemable and a sufficiently strong third party emerges, I am sure she’ll be there but that is a huge longshot.
What do you think “Hell yeah” meant? Not a family vacation, that’s for sure. Not that family.
gh on July 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Ed’s using the good ole conventional wisdom. That’s really a shame, since the conventional wisdom among a bunch of self-centered, catty, flamethrowing, greedy, pubescent adults is almost always wrong.
It’s almost as if he’s trying to write like a DC politico.
Before long he’ll be writing for the NYT or some other weak part of the corrupt media complex, engineering all his columns to placate the liberals and still having them altered by the editors anyway.
thebadoutlaw on July 4, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Romney bought his campaign.
The American people will buy Sarah’s.
katy on July 4, 2009 at 11:39 AM
John Bachelor thinks the move is to become the true frontrunner and is brilliant. I always like his take on stuff.
AnninCA on July 4, 2009 at 11:39 AM
another interesting article from politico. More sources close to her saying it has NOTHING to do with a potential scandal. Rumors of something coming are false.
http://www.politico.com/playbook/
ousoonerfan15 on July 4, 2009 at 11:40 AM
I got it!
Sarah Palin is Obione Kanobi
Amadeus on July 4, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Heh.
Saltysam on July 4, 2009 at 11:41 AM
That’s a given. If it was a scandal, she would have been gone effective Friday–not in three weeks.
Further, the scandal people are spreading–that the builders of the sports complex built her a house for free–came out a month after she was picked as VP and subsequently died because there was no evidence.
Enoxo on July 4, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Ferraro, the heavyweight. LOL! Lap it up Ed.
Fletch54 on July 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Obama is crossing the Rubicon.
Palin is crossing the Delaware.
Saltysam on July 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Because her ONE TERM was her political resume. She made a contract with her people when they voted her in. She stands for honor, integrity and principles. The only way this is ok is if she stays out for good. Otherwise, this just looks like this already young WOMAN running for the highest office has quit her ONE job which was her leverage against the One in the first place. Good gosh, people. This is a nightmare and this cult of personality is rivaling Obama mania. She really did a number on herself…
By the way, republican sites can be somewhat of an echo chamber. I belong to Weight Watchers and the feedback there (a true cross section of women who are trying to be healthy, all ages) on the message boards is that she was already who the media portrayed her to be and now, after this, ridiculously naive to think she can run and win in a couple of years.
I still am stunned by this…
Mommypundit on July 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM
I did. Twice. Read it a couple of times too.
myrenovations on July 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Geraldine Ferraro is a Loser’s Loser. She got trashed by her own party for giving an honest opinion, which actually was fact. Next…..!
bloggless on July 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Palin just made herself more legendary with this move.
I love her even more now.
Metro on July 4, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Hey Geraldine, why don’t you jump back in and get your feet wet instead of standing on the side lines offering your observations? It wasn’t your family that was being put through the meat grinder now was it? Actually having some skin in the game is tougher than running your suck in a TV studio where you won’t be challenged by anyone other than another political hack.
nivram1 on July 4, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Not to be mean or anything, but why do the fat girls always hate the beautiful, slim, talented girls? I mean I know that is sexist, but it’s Palin, so we can be sextists, right?
bloggless on July 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Palin can do damned well whatever she wants. Still a free country. Happy 4th everyone. Hope there are more to come.
mimi1220 on July 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM
The commentary may indeed be worse but it would be different. The inside the beltway crowd know no other motive but advancement of political power. That is why ordinary people are afraid to fun and that is why we are governed by vicious narcissists.
Cindy Munford on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Jettising the governorship greatly reduces the target for the Obamists and frees up a lot of her time. How she spends the extra time is the focus. Even if she doesn’t make the run she can be very effective at rallying conservatives to get off their butts and engage the enemy.
JonRoss on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
If you want to believe in rumors , your choice of ignorance.
the_nile on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Enoxo:
If she quits the Republican party I doubt if she will maintain that 73% approval among Republicans and if she did make an independent run it would be great news for Obama. Ross Perot was actually polling in the lead every now and then but when push came to shove he only got about 19%. Bill Clinton became President and we have not heard much from Perot since.
I like Sarah Palin and I respect her. I think Ed is being way too hard on her. But I think that it is premature to assume that she will start a third party and that all these Republicans will follow her if she does.
Terrye on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Will be interesting to watch the media’s reaction in a few weeks. There must be emergency meetings in newsrooms across the country to decide if they should continue their nonstop coverage of her or ignore her if she hits the trail and speaks out against The One. She is their drug and I wonder if they can wean themselves from their addiction.
sherry on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Now that the dust has settled and everyone is over the shock, more and more people are seeing this as a positive. She’s now free from the petty stuff that was eating up her time in Alaska and can make her move.
And, she has a book to write.
AnninCA on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Conventional wisdom does not apply to Sarah Palin. That is why the libs are so obsessed with her. She sorta breaks the female politician mold. I think Palin Derangement Syndrome is over. I think we should call it Palin Anxiety Syndrome. The libs and the RINO’s are scared sh**tless – they have no idea as to what she is up to.
bloggless on July 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Just like Obi one.
Well i thought it was funny
Amadeus on July 4, 2009 at 11:49 AM
I don’t think reading it would get the emotion behind her. What I heard is someone who is going to fight and who plans to win. Winning doesn’t necessarily mean being president. It means stopping the attacks at their source.
gh on July 4, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Interesting to see people saying that putting the good of her family ahead of her political ambitions is “a big mistake.”
God, some of you are utterly clueless about what really matters.
As Cindy Munford wrote above, if Palin announced she was quitting to prepare for a presidential run, then you’d have a point. It’s pretty clear that’s not going to happen in the next election cycle and maybe never now, so what is your point then?
thirteen28 on July 4, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Yep.
gh on July 4, 2009 at 11:50 AM
That was Bachelor’s point. She doesn’t really need the GOP regulars. She’ll raise some money for them. They need her. She’s going to ressurect the party with anti-traditionalists.
I think he’s got a very good point about that. And I don’t think that group cares one whit that her speech wasn’t teleprompter smooth.
AnninCA on July 4, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Palin has just put the spot light on politics as usual. Americans do not like the status quo. Maybe this is the change everyone is talking about.
bloggless on July 4, 2009 at 11:51 AM
faraway:
I don’t think Mr. Joe is some troll for saying Palin wants to protect her family and that certainly is not some talking point from Axelrod like you implied.
The DNC has made their statement on this and it was predictably obnoxious and stupid, but it certainly did not praise Palin’s desire to take care of her family.
Terrye on July 4, 2009 at 11:51 AM
yeah geraldine, staying in politics really worked out well for you. i don’t think your name has ever been mentioned as a presidential contender, so pizz off.
btw happy 4th to everyone at hot air…god bless america.
SHARPTOOTH on July 4, 2009 at 11:51 AM
HotDamnDiggityDog I’m stealing that.
Limerick on July 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Me thinks that those who run Hot Air have succumbed to the leftist’s dogma. Get four foot length of 4×6 and lash it to your spine Ed, it needs stiffening. I’d make the same recommendation to AP, but he is an invertebrate.
TwinkietheKid on July 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Well, in 30 days, they’ll have no more Alaska govt sources. *haha
It’ll be on her terms. Oh, Levi is writing a book. They can look forward to that.
AnninCA on July 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Resigning to run for POTUS sometime near the election would have been a better idea. This seems like runnig away when the going got tough.
Unless she does something completely unheard of and astounding in her new position as Floating Ambassador of Conservative Goodness, she’s toast politically.
Akzed on July 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Ferraro is an idiot. She was basing her “analysis” on the fact that oil prices have fallen (last I heard they were going back up) and Palin couldn’t take the heat for what that was doing to her state. Obviously Geraldine knows not of what she speaks. Alaska is one of the few states NOT in the red right now and one of the few states that actually has reserves put aside. Palin made it very clear for anyone who cared to listen: She is resiging her post as governor due to the financial burden that is being put on the state because of these frivilous ethics complaints, the toll it is taking on her family and her desire to help others in and out of political life. She wants to make a difference and she wants to better this country. She said clearly she would support candidates from either party (or no party) who shared her ideals and goals. Why is that so difficult for some to see? I can understand those in the Beltway Bubble not getting it–they can’t see past yesterday’s poll numbers. But I really thought more “regular folks” would understand.
Redneck Woman on July 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
The woman just took on the most important job in the nation. If she is successful, her rewards will be numerous.
sherry on July 4, 2009 at 11:53 AM
She is going to take care of her family by not letting BO and his team of losers take America down a path of destruction.
bloggless on July 4, 2009 at 11:53 AM
So, are you saying “we are the change we’ve been waitin for”?
katy on July 4, 2009 at 11:53 AM
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