Under the same set of circumstances? I wouldn’t condemn anyone. Those circumstances include a slime machine intent on fostering lame memes like “I can see Russia from my house”. Show me where Palin ever said that, genius.

Wow – are you that deluded to think that the ‘I can see Russia’ was made up by the media? Wow. No reasoning with you.

A Axe: proof that the propaganda slime machine works.

massrighty – way to be shortsighted. The world doesn’t end in 2012. If she did complete the term she ran for – she could easily run for 2016 or 2020 would be financially ruined.

Fixed that for you.

The Democrats found a legal loophole to attempt to destroy her personally: all “ethics complaints” against elected officials in the State of Alaska, no matter how (apparently) frivolous, must be investigated. The taxpayers of Alaska do not pay for any expenses incurred by said elected officials in their defense against these complaints. Sarah Palin was going broke (she already had $500,000 in legal debts defending herself against more than 20 complaints – all of which were eventually dismissed as unfounded or frivolous, including one that claimed that contributions to her legal defense fund amounted to “illegal gifts”) and was prevented by this constant legal harassment from performing her duties as Governor. She was hardly a “quitter”; she did what she had to do for the sake of the people of Alaska.

Mind you, I am not much of a fan of hers and I think her “folksy” speech and mannerisms are a bit strained and superficial.

Wow – are you that deluded to think that the ‘I can see Russia’ was made up by the media? Wow. No reasoning with you.

A Axe on September 26, 2009 at 11:27 PM

It was made up by SNL writers. You want the exact quote? Here it is:

“They’re our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”

And she was right. Get it? Idiot.

Under the same set of circumstances? I wouldn’t condemn anyone. Those circumstances include a slime machine intent on fostering lame memes like “I can see Russia from my house”. Show me where Palin ever said that, genius.

ddrintn on September 26, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Wow – are you that deluded to think that the ‘I can see Russia’ was made up by the media? Wow. No reasoning with you. I guess you also must think Obama was born in Kenay, no matter what evidence you see.

massrighty – way to be shortsighted. The world doesn’t end in 2012. If she did complete the term she ran for – she could easily run for 2016 or 2020. It isn’t as if she is old like McCain.

She’s also the one independents don’t like. That’s the problem.

rjl1999 on September 26, 2009 at 3:07 PM

Independents would supposedly go for McCain. Seriously, you can’t run worrying about swing voters and independents. They vote for the cool candidate, and Republicans have no one except Sarah Palin.

Obama won with the youth vote, an uptick in minority voters, ACORN and a depressed Republican base. He will not motivate anyone but his own progressive hardcore leftwing base. If Palin can get enough conservatives to come out for her, which she can easily do, she has a good shot at winning.

After all, did anyone during the campaign refer to her as a Governor? No, they kept referring to her as the mayor of Wasilla. She had no help from the RNC with the ethics charges. She got knifed in the back by McCain staffers. Also-rans who were positioning themselves for a 2012 run and wo famously kneecap their opponents early in a primary likely made some nasty comments anonymously to the press. Palin can keep a low profile now, fundraise and pay off her legal bills. It could be seen as a smart move.

Anyway, Pawlenty.

ddrintn on September 26, 2009 at 8:26 PM

McCain would have tapped him for veep, if they weren’t so much alike. Also, any candidate who can’t put their own state in the red column during an election is just not cut out for a presidential run. After the Franken debacle, Pawlenty ought to be out of the running. Same with Crist. No Romney or Jeb Bush.

It’s Jindal or Palin. Palin has the advantage, because she is the polar opposite of Obama and he will be a weak incumbent in 2012. She might get enough conservatives fired up enough to go vote for her as a great big middle finger to the Democrats.

Given what has transpired since, it looks pretty good so far…

First, remember that in the past, the path from sitting Governor to President was a well-established path. No one minded if a governor, (whether new in the job or not,) ran in the primaries, and then again in the general election. Sarah Palin’s political opponents changed this pattern, with their relentless trumped-up ethics charges against her. Each time she attempted to enter the national conversation, they pounced, leaving her having to expend both effort and money to defend against these baseless charges. So, for her, there would not be a smooth path from where she was to the Presidency.

Now, she could have finished her term. She could, in theory, then enter the race. But, she would have been handicapped in two ways; other candidates, unburdened with the inability to make an appearance without being charged with an ethics violation, would necessarily have something of a head start. And, lacking what might be called full access to the national microphone, the remainder of the news about her would have been the very kind of attacks we’ve seen to date. In sum, the only thing she would have been able to do, that would have any kind of national resonance, would have been to defend, and defend, and defend.

This resignation, should she decide to put her hat into the ring, frees her from these limitations. And, don’t discount the shrewdness of her stated reason. While some have said that her premise (that of putting Alaska first) will haunt her in the up-coming primary fights and debates, consider this; she will not have to change her answer as time goes on, it’s a simple response, and she’ll have lots of chances to repeat it in the months to come. As the primaries approach, it will take on the appearance of a fully settled issue.

Governor Palin has already proven to be an energetic speaker, a formidable fundraiser, and possessing considerable political skills.

This decision lets her concentrate on her strengths, build those areas that some perceive as weaknesses, and focus fully on whatever political path she decides is in her future. Those who dismiss her ignore her past history and her capabilities.

Romney needs to start coming out with ideas and becoming a more public figure if he wants to impact 2010 and have a shot at 2012. Just my opinions…

redfoxbluestate on September 25, 2009 at 4:32 PM

Romneycare.

The GOP is better off with a Pawlenty type who can chip away the independents as a true outsider than with someone who is already despised by over half of the country.

Dickie Dunn on September 26, 2009 at 6:54 PM

Do they despise Palin, or the caricature which thus far is just about all that’s been out there?

Anyway, Pawlenty. Good guy, I like him, but puhleez. I want to see you guys try again to win without the base. Brilliant.

Not a winning strategy. After all, McCain was touted as the candidate most likely to draw in those moderates and independents last time around.

Palin with her 55% unfavorability is certainty going to reel in those independents that know of her and don’t like her.

The GOP is better off with a Pawlenty type who can chip away the independents as a true outsider than with someone who is already despised by over half of the country.

‘Sarah is the one the Dems hate………..that’s good enough for me and it will be a badge of honor for her as Americans continue to sicken of the Nazi, Marxist scum bag we now have……….

Cinday Blackburn on September 25, 2009 at 8:23 PM

She’s also the one independents don’t like. That’s the problem.

rjl1999 on September 26, 2009 at 3:07 PM

Right now I can’t think of any potential GOP candidate that those “independents” would go gaga over other than Romney; and the independent vote is just about all Romney would get. Not a winning strategy. After all, McCain was touted as the candidate most likely to draw in those moderates and independents last time around.

Cinday Blackburn on September 25, 2009 at 8:23 PM

She’s also the one independents don’t like. That’s the problem.

As I stated the State of Arkansas was in very poor condition when he took office with over $200M in deficit. The Dems before him (Clinton) didn’t care enough about the state to spend money..they cared more about their record than what the state needed. The Club for Growth quoted that his spending was very high in Arkansas. What do you think would take care of the problems he was left if he didn’t spend? There wasn’t any fat to cut in Arkansas because they didn’t have much. Not every state is like what he got handed to him..so why judge him by what he had to do to help the very poor people in Arkansas? The state grew under his leadership,so yes there was more spending because of the needs of the people. There are statistics (but I don’t remember them) that prove that the spending was in line with the growth, percentage wise, but when a person is painted as a liberal, all of these things should be taken into consideration as well.

He never forced his religion on the people of Arkansas and promised not to as President.

What you saw in ads, etc. were half-truths from his rival and the Club for Growth. BTW, over $500,000 was donated to the CFG by Romney and his surrogates before and during the primary of 2008. Do you think that it was an accident or coincidence that the CFG targeted Romney’s biggest rival in Iowa, Mike Huckabee? That’s one of the reasons the supporters of MH don’t like Romney. None of the other candidates liked Romney during the primary because he attacked fellow Republicans. He could have spent that money building himself up, but look how he governed in Mass. He left the roads in MA in terrible condition. He raised fees, not taxes so he could claim he didn’t raise taxes (same thing when it comes out of your pocket). Romneycare anyone…the radio and TV pundits who pushed Romney every day on their shows didn’t even mention this program because just like the MSM with Obama, they didn’t mention anything the Republicans might have a problem with. But they sure said EVERYTHING they could against MH (they didn’t want him and still don’t). BUT the people of this country love Mike Huckabee and showed that in their votes in 2008. MH is the only candidate who was in the black after the primary. He ran his campaign on approx. $5M against $70-80M? from Romney. That’s being a fiscal conservative. If he had the money to put up ads to explain his positions (or given a chance to explain them during the debates when they only gave him Christian questions, he would have been our nominee. I think now that Obama has shown the country how horrible he is as our President, maybe the country will be ready for a change.

MH was rated in the top 10% as a corrupt politician, but like Sarah Palin, the Dems couldn’t say anything bad about what he did for the state, so they made up bogus lawsuits for corruption (he wasn’t indicted). Again, things his rival used against him.

They said he took presents when he left office…he and his wife got a new house, and their friends wanted to buy them housewarming presents. There was no such thing as a Housewarming list at the stores, so they listed it as Wedding gifts. Their friends knew what it was…but again the media and his rivals said they had been married for years and they just wanted gifts and money. Do you see what a simple explanation that is, but the Dems in Arkansas were ruthless and they hated him because he was a successful Governor.

Look on his website, Hucksarmy.com/forum/Mike Huckabee and the Issues which can explain a lot more than I can.

technopeasant on September 26, 2009 at 4:59 AM

Spot on man, spot on. I’ve been watching Sarah since she became Governor. The woman has continually amazed me with her abilities. I’ve also seen her grow a lot in a short amount of time, she is a very quick study! It doesn’t take her long to learn new stuff, or figure things out.

I have to admit, the resignation caught all of us in my group totally off guard, but it made perfect sense. It was a bold move, a smart move. It was equal parts Alinsky and Sun Tsu!

Now, for those few liberals here that are still slinging the “quitter” meme out there. Allow me to quote the Great Ronald Reagan:

“Well, it’s not that our liberal friends are ignorant, it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.”

We covered this deal extensively, and I wrote a lot about the Alaska Mafia which I suggest you liberals check out here.

As in most situations it’s complicated. But this all boiled down to the fact that a very small group of nasty, evil democrat/communists, working with direction from the White House (Pete Rouse and David Axelrod) were working night and day to derail Palin’s governorship.

We all know that all of the bogus lawsuits cost her personally around a half million dollars, defending against them, even though they were all thrown out. But what some conveniently leave out, is the fact all of this nonsense had cost the Alaska taxpayers $2 million.

You have to know Sarah Palin as a budget hawk to understand just how much this pissed her off. This is someone who had slashed budgets in Alaska, sold of the previous Governor’s private jet, and even fired the Mansion’s executive chef, and staff! Hell, she even refused a driver and car, as she preferred to drive herself to work in her own car!

Sarah even turned down a $25K a year raise this year. You think someone who did all of that would allow these filthy, worthless democrat/communists to continue to steal millions from the Alaska taxpayers?

Biegel, Devon, Moore, and the rest were actively recruiting people to file these bogus complaints, and they were becoming more frequent. We figured if Sarah had stayed in office, if the BS continued at the same rate, these reprobates would have stolen roughly $10 million from the taxpayers.

For someone with Sarah Palin’s integrity, the decision to leave wasn’t that hard to make. It was the right thing to do, and for a whole host of reasons, the smart thing to do.

Sarah had already fulfilled all of her election promises, so she did not leave the Alaskan people in the lurch. And as technopeasant points out, she handed over the state to her Lt Governor, Sean Parnell, and his hand picked (by her) replacement: Lt General Craig Campbell, the former commander of the Alaska National Guard. Those two are still doing what Sarah would have done.

Claude Sandroff over at American Thinker wrote a great piece called Virtue and Sarah Palin. As he put it:

One of the most famous women in the world, Sarah Palin relinquished state power in the simplest of settings. It was obviously not comfortable, nor easy. However we define Palin, as frontier feminist, movement conservative or middle class populist this will always stand as her finest hour. It might not have been her finest performance, but it crystallized in a moment the very essence of virtue.

It was Sir Thomas More resigning as Lord Chancellor and George Washington returning to Mount Vernon. It showed how rare virtue has become in our politics. It shows why we adore Sarah Palin and why we need her. And it explains why, even without office, she has become the most important political figure in America.

The fact is, everyone in Alaska who knows the facts of the situation understands and appreciates why Sarah did what she did. She sacrificed herself, to some extent, for the good of the people she served. It doesn’t get any better than that.

It’s called integrity!

I agree with you completely. MH doesn’t get the respect he deserves from the MSM.

My bone of contention with Huckabee is not his public persona as portrayed by the media (Elmer Gantry) but his liberal fiscal positions.

You can’t compare one state’s Governor rule to another because the circumstances are very different and that’s not comparing apples to apples. Arkansas is one of the poorest states in the U.S. and their needs and resources are much different than other states. Mike Huckabee did a good job in Arkansas as Gov., he was voted in for two more terms in this Democratic state. He got 48% of the black vote in his second term, and he is the only Republican candidate who can get some of the black votes in the General Election against Obama…they know he is fair to them and likes them,(doesn’t pander just to get votes).

In March, 2008, Mike Huckabee still got 65% favorability from Arkansas. He won over 80% of the Arkansas voters during the primary.

Many Sarah supporters mention on here that she is the only one going against Obama…that’s not true. MH goes against him on his show every week and in his messages to his supporters. Very seldom is that ever mentioned. Pawlenty has gone against him lots recently. Even Romney has gone against Obama.

Mike Huckabee has shown true leadership when he does or says things that he knows the Establishment doesn’t agree with. He would not rule by polls, but what is best for the American people. When he was Gov. of Ark. the condition of the State was terrible and he had no money. The people in that state voted for him to raise taxes to fix the poor education and roads. He didn’t deny his state those needs because he wanted to run for President (he knew he would take a lot of flak for raising taxes). But you know what, he put the people in this State first before his own ambitions and did the right thing. He would do the same as our next President. He stands by his principles (doesn’t change them because he governed in a very Democratic state) and he is an authentic, caring person. Sarah Palin is too and I would vote for her if MH doesn’t decide to run. I think MH would be the person that people vote for as a Soc. Conservative more than Sarah because of his past experience and people will think that Sarah would have a much harder time in the general election because of her media baggage and because she quit as Gov. The Dems will never let people forget that.

witch places with any other Republican Governor. You would be calling him/her a quitter. Can’t have it both ways. Imagine if Bush had said that he knows all about Mexico because he can see it from his house. Hah.

A Axe on September 26, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Under the same set of circumstances? I wouldn’t condemn anyone. Those circumstances include a slime machine intent on fostering lame memes like “I can see Russia from my house”. Show me where Palin ever said that, genius.

A Axe on September 26, 2009 at 1:20 PM

technopeasant on September 25, 2009 at 4:34 PM

Insty and his readers are “Palin Cultists,” obviously.

/sarc