Friday's are typically slow news days. Especially Friday's before a holiday weekend, like Independence Day weekend. However, I'm sure most of you heard the late breaking news that Sarah Palin is resigning at the end of this month. In a press conference Friday afternoon, she (kind of???) explained her reasons for leaving. Ethics investigations, family under pressure, didn't want to be a "lame duck Governor", blah, blah, blah. Most of the press conference was a thorough, and overheard, resume of her accomplishments and why Alaska is such a great state. But, she quit.
I have a few ideas of why she is really resigning. Here are a few:
- (This, for me, is the only good and respectable option) She is getting out of politics to spend time with her family. They have been under enormous scruitiny, pressure and criticism, and they need to take a step back.
- Something is about to hit the fan. There is some scandal or embarrassing skeleton that is about to come out, and she is trying to step out of the national spotlight before the dirty laundry is aired.
- She is preparing for a 2012 Presidential Election. And by doing so, she thought it would beef up her political resume to become elected Governor in 2006, campaign forabout 6 months in 2008, and quit at least a year early in 2009.
- (Possibly most likely) Pay off debts. She mentioned a $1/2 million personal legal tab from the ethics investigations, and she needs to pay it off. I've heard she has a book deal, wouldn't doubt Fox News would give her a show, or get paid per conservative speaking engagement. With any of these options, it is obviously difficult to do while you are a public servant, and would be distracting to her job.
I'm sure we will all be sitting at the edge of our seats until we find out the real scoop. Do you have any other ideas why she quit?
5 comments:
Pretty much I am thinking exactly the same as you. Maybe- if she is still serious about politics- she will run for senator in 2010, maybe she thinks that is stronger then governor, I don't know. It is all just very...bizarre. If she is quitting for her family or to do some kind of missionary work (she talked about a "higher calling" on her Facebook page), then I think that is very respectable. Other then that, it is still very...bizarre.
I find it a little discrediting of all the conservative talking heads to actually say this could possibly help her political career! Let's just look at the flip side: What if Barack Obama didn't win the Presidency and he decided to quit his Senatorial career 18 months early, people speculating to prepare for another Presidential run. His biggest flaw was his "inexperience" and he is shorting himself more experience by quiting early (Just like Palin). What would the conservative pundits say? Why would we support someone who quits early?
I could support her as a personal decision, but I can honestly say, I can not support career or political quiters. So I hope that my fellow conservs find someone who would actually fulfil their responsibility.
When I first heard about it from the "talking heads", my initial reaction was "Why is she quitting?" and I was very disappointed. They press explained over and over again what she said in her speech and continued to analyze and come up with pretty much the same list that you came up with. When I finally heard the speech directly from her mouth, my opinion changed. I honestly believe that she is a good person who tries to do the right thing. So, I think that because she knew that she wasn't going to run again that she needed to step down so that the Governor seat could actually get some work done. She said that 80% of her time was spent on dealing with ethics issues. What a waste and how unfair for Alaska. The fact that she also spent her own money on things that other Governors spend money on and nobody bats an eye at is a simple indication of her good character--yet she was continually attacked. I really believe that she feels she is doing what is best for Alaska and her family and she wants someone in there that can get things done and not have to waste anymore time on the crap that she has had to do. She probably also figured that getting the Lt. Gov. in there would give him time to gain some exposure which might give him and the Republican Party a better chance of keeping the seat in the next election. The sad thing is, the media won. The media attack dogs went after her and she had to rise above that even if it meant a personal loss for her. I'm not ruling out any future plans for her, but I do think that she stepped down because she knew she wasn't going to accomplish anything because of how her time was being tied up with ethics issues.
I am not a fan of Palin anyway, but I agree that quitting a year and a half early should pretty much end her political career. You are right, I would feel the same way about Obama had he done the same thing.
On the other hand, if she isn't intending on a future political career and really resigned because she wasn't able to really WORK for Alaska (because of all the ethics investigations, etc.), then I think it is very admirable of her to step down.
I tend to wonder if there may be a still (as of yet) unknown reason for her resignation...
In regards to the ethics investigation, I think it is absolutely horrible and wasteful and completely vindicated her. I believe it was an effort to have her resign earlier (during VP run), and I loved that she knew it was ridiculous and fought it. I loved that persistence.
But, sad to say, this is politics. And I know she doesn't "play politics as usual", but that is the game you are in. The media will slam you (granted, her more than most). Your legislature won't work with you. People make false accusations that you have to fight. I know there have been similar issues in Oklahoma, as I'm sure in most states. It is how the game is tragically played.
But, when you run for a 4 year term, you FINISH the 4 year term! What would have happened if McCain/Palin did win the Pres. and they had the full Dem. congress and couldn't get anything done? Does she resign so the Speaker Nancy could step in and do what's right for the country? And this doesn't have to become personal attacks on her, just political. I do think she does what she thinks is right and best for her/family/Alaska. I don't doubt that. However, I am just arguing you can't run for President with her current resume, same argument I used against Pres. Obama. He hadn't even finished his senatorial term. I know if I was a constituent voting for future Sarah Palin positions, I would question from here on out whether or not she will finish the job.
And if it was a Democratic governor/senator/etc, all the Repubs would be singing a different tune. Am I discrediting myself as a conserv. blogger? :)
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