"We are not retreating, we are advancing in a different direction."

Quoting General MacArthur , Sarah Palin made her exit today from the world of politics.

In usual Palin fashion, she spoke in generalities and flowering rhetoric. She began in typical Palin fashion with a folksy "Hi Alaska" greeting, then followed with glowing testimonials on how great a state Alaska is, then started whining about the number of ethical complaints filed against her, and how badly the the media had treated her. She then stated, "I have given my reasons candidly and truthfully", while doing neither.

Not one of the 2550 words of Palin's resignation speech gave any explanation, or specific reason as to why she was leaving office, 17 months before her term expires, or why she chose to make the announcement during the July 4th weekend leaving the most important part of her declaration open for speculation and debate.

And speculate and debate they did! From the talking heads on the cable news networks, to every website, twitter and facebook site on the Internet, came the cries of "she couldn't take the heat", "she was over $500,000.00 in debt due to law suits", "it was a strategic plan to start early working on her 2012 to run for President", "She was getting jealous of all the media coverage Governor Sanford was getting', "She was getting tired of all the coverage of Michael Jackson's demise and wanted to bump him off the headlines." Ok, I admit, that last one was mine. 

Did anyone check her travel records to see if she had made any unauthorized trips to Argentina?

And Jon Stewart thought he was going to get the weekend off.

No matter how the Republican National Committee dressed her up, or how much money they spent on the her wardrobe, they couldn't get past the one qualification that is essential for anyone to lead; intelligence. (I won't go into the debate about Dan Quayle).

In interview after interview both during the campaign and after, Palin was proven to be more of an anomaly than a serious contender. The "Hockey Mom" was fine for Governor of a State located far, far away from the U.S. Mainland, but except for the conservative base, no one ever truly believed she had the intellect, or the strength to be a true leader. Every time she opened her mouth, she proved this to be true.

I'll miss Sarah Palin, but I'll miss Tina Fey a great deal more.

Another quote by the illustrious General: "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away". In the case of Sarah Palin, one can only hope.

Reader Comments:

Posted By: Nick Georgiadis
Date: 2009-07-04 11:16:19

Sarah Palin is a champion for conservative principles.  Right to life, less govt, strong military.  Non-conservatives don't like her and take cheap shots at her because she is a believer of what she preaches.  No compromise, unlike other politicians.  She is much smarter than you give her credit.  McCain had her muzzled during the campaign, and his lack of umph and non-conservative principles lost him the campaign, with her as the scapegoat. She was the only shining star on the republican side. His jealousy of her is evident, and if the media would open their biased eyes, they would see the truth right in front of them.  The reason the media is up in smoke over her resignation is that she trumped them.  They had planned to assail her and her family for another year and a half, before the next election cycle.  Now, they need a new strategy.  All they can focus on is why she did what she did.  Speculation is the only weapon the media and the liberals have. I hope Americans are smart enough to recognize the truth before they destroy a beautiful asset Alaska has given the rest of us.

Nick Georgiadis

Milan, Michigan

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Posted By: Westmiller
Date: 2009-07-04 13:13:24

"... [no] specific reason as to why she was leaving office..."

If you read past her basketball analogies, she was complaining abou the cost to the state (and her own $500,000 legal expenses) of defending herself against ethics charges, based on a law that she herself wrote and championed!

Recall that her primary credential for the VP nomination was that she was a "maverick" who used those same ethics rules to oust less-than-reputable Republican leaders.

The personal motive (aside from a cost of defending herself against the ethics charges she endorsed) was that there was a "full court press" [with "press", as in "media", being the key word] of mockery against her ... which impeded the "team" goals ... so she "passed the ball" for the good of the cause. She couldn't take the heat, so she took herself out of the game. Self-benched.

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Posted By: gene
Date: 2009-07-05 12:19:11

Good account, Raven.

Sarah is doing what she does best, "politicing". Policticians politic. Public Servants, of which she isn't and there are few, serve the public. They don't quit because things aren't going as planned. They instead work harder for the public.

Sarah is a natural politician. The politician does what is best for him/herself. What will promote their cause with little regard for the welfare of the general public, those they are suppose to serve. I doubt we have been fortunate enough to see the end of Sarah.

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Posted By: Dale Husband
Date: 2009-07-05 18:47:49

 Nick Georgiadis said:
[Sarah Palin] is much smarter than you give her credit.  McCain had her muzzled during the campaign, and his lack of umph and non-conservative principles lost him the campaign, with her as the scapegoat. She was the only shining star on the republican side. His jealousy of her is evident, and if the media would open their biased eyes, they would see the truth right in front of them.

It really astounds me that right-wing extremists will state the exact opposite of the truth in public like that! Have they no shame? Sarah Palin is a clueless fraud and deserves EVERY SINGLE ATTACK EVER THROWN AT HER!

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Posted By: Tim Adams
Date: 2009-07-06 08:12:38

I think it says more about the quality of your article when you are making Michael Jackson jokes and calling her dumb. 

 Reasoned, mature adults use more than school yard insults to prove the validity of their points.  I'm used to name calling from the left, but not the libertarians.

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Posted By: rick
Date: 2009-07-10 08:53:36

Sara Palin is a fraud and a phoney ....she is intellectually obtuse ,has very limited scope and cost John Mccain the election.I am one republican who can't stomach this woman.She has made so many ridiculous statements that it defies all logic.America can and hopefully will do better without this wanna be amateur.
Rick

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