Well we sure are in the midst of non-stop political news. Coming close on the heals of Chris Christie declining to run for the presidency we get much the same news from Sarah Palin. Hot from a cool Wasilla: “After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States.” I don’t know how much there really was to consider. After all the G.O.P. establishment was against her, the talking heads in the main stream media never gave her a chance at winning and if the experiences of other Tea Party backed candidates are any indication, the Tea Party label isn’t necessarily a winner either, at least not at this point. Rick Perry’s hopes are sinking and Michele Bachmann’s have already sunk. Perry may have a second wind in him if he can overcome the fact that his support among conservatives has been cut in half, according to political analyst Chuck Todd, and if he doesn’t have any more pet rocks sitting around the ranch that might embarrass him. As for Bachmann, who is rather Palinesque in her own approach, she seems doomed and beyond resurrection as her campaign staff continues to jump ship and big money donors continue to give her the cold shoulder.
But there is another part of Palin’s announcement that I find even more interesting if at least from the viewpoint of comic relief: “My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency.” Well for one thing, scolding us for spending too much aside, I don’t think you’ll find too many voters who think that “common sense Conservatives” have achieved much more than running a campaign of obstruction in Washington. Not for nothing but congressional Republicans are polling lower favorability ratings than either the Democrats or Barack Obama. Likewise independents aren’t exactly joined to the hip with conservatives. What’s also funny is the intended swipe at the Democrats. Why would I find that funny? Well simply because that when Palin was Governor of Alaska her political success was a function of her alliance with the state’s Democrats and her alienation of Democrats generally after 2008 pretty much sealed the end of her political career at home. As for Palin’s effectiveness in helping other candidates get elected, well that’s a stretch as well. I doubt you’ll see too many Republicans sharing a stage with Sarah Palin. God forbid she start lecturing the crowd about the Constitution or some other long ago historical moment that she’s apt to get wrong or if not getting the moment technically wrong, misconstruing the significance of the event. Lastly, I can’t help but laugh at the phrase “effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office”; does that mean she doesn’t consider herself to be a “true public servant” seeing as she quit the office of governor in mid-term? Go figure.
Personally I was hoping for a fiery Palin finale with her entering the race for on last political kamikaze flight where she would go out with a big bang, a pop heard round the political world. Instead, all I got was a poof!
SJG
10/5/11
Sarah Palin Will Not Run for President; http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/105741/
