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July 6th, 2009
08:53 AM ET
What’s Next for Sarah Palin?
Sarah Palin shocked a lot of people when she announced her resignation as Governor of Alaska last Friday. Rumors are running rampant across the blogosphere, as people speculate about her motivation for this move. Some are labeling her a quitter and saying her political future doesn't look good. Others think it's a risky - but carefully crafted - move to further her career.
What do you think Governor Palin's plans are? Is this it for her - or is this just part of the long-term plan?
What's next for Sarah Palin? Laundry.
Sarah Palin? Who's that again?
We want her as Hornets Coach in New Orleans.
Sarah 'Brainless' Palin should just fade away!
I think her career in Pollitics is over. Nobody is going to ellect a quitter. She will probably go on to lead some sort of conservative organization.
Hopefully a gag order
Not a good move for Palin. I see this as quitting and running away from fighting the allegations against her in order to prep for her next grab for power.
I believe if she runs for President, she will not win, I voted for her but she has disappointed me with issues of her Family and she talks to much. she is just taking advantage of the media attention to make money.
She is not PRESIDENTIAL material.
Thanks,
What's next for her – sitting second chair to Sean Hannity on a new FOX News show. She does have a degree in journalism, after all.
This woman is a train-wreck. Why she gets so much media coverage is a complete mystery to me. Every time she opens her mouth, she broadcasts her naivite. Hooray for the Democrats if this is the best the Republicans can put forth!!!
I am a die hard republican BUT I am not a Sarah Palin fan. She has done more harm than good to our party and I am really hoping that her resignation is the beginning of the end for her political career. She does not represent me and my views and I wish she would just get out of the spotlight.
Sarah Palin and Elizabeth Hasselback (of The View) will start up their own talk show.
Rush Limbaugh will be the announcer.
I think Sarah Palin is out to make money – not for the country. So, her political career is over – she is a quitter.
It is easy to say that Palin political career is over. No one wants a quitter. Palin is gonzo and GONE!
The neoconservatives love her.. so the sky's the limit.
If she wanted to do the best thing for the country she would stay home and stay out of the media spotlight. Unfortunately the neocons in the GOP won't allow that. She'll have her own talk radio show and run for Senate.
With Palin talking of a "higher calling" and media discussion about the right-wing Christians not having a leader, I wonder if she might be considering heading that group.
Sarah Palin says the media has not been fair to her. If it were not for the media, Mrs. Palin would be insignificant right now.
If she really does have dreams to be president, they would have been dashed long ago without the media keeping her relevant.
Joe
Mississippi
Sarah Palin resigned to follow a "higher calling". Please God, let that include a vow of silence.
Hi, In addition to all of the grooming and clothing lessons she had during the presidential campaign I believe it's time for her to immerse herself in grammar lessons since she will be writing her own speeches and news conferences, right?!
The only thing bigger than Alaska is Sarah Palin's ego – please, could she just GO AWAY!? Hopefully she is finished and will just quietly leave.
I think it's the best news the Republican party could have. Sarah Palin and her viewpoints represent why the party is doing so poorly. They need a strong, smart leader and that person has not surfaced yet.
If the republicans let her run for president in 2012, they're nuts and God forgid she should win, I'm leaving the country!!! She doesn't have what it takes to even think about running – she should just stay at home and raise her kids, but she would probably quit doing that too!!
2 things are obvious right now with Palin.. 1) She intends to run in 2012 and needs to focus everything she has on it. 2) She is sadly under qualified if she needs to quit politics to study for the biggest political job in the world in under a few years,
I can't believe how stupid (or agenda driven) the media is... As far as her not "fulfilling" her duties, she explained that. She doesn't agree with a lame-duck situation. How much duty did Barack fulfill while he was running for president? It is way more honorable to step aside and allow another to govern. It seems to me it is also very honorable to step aside if you have become a distraction. She has successfully endured political attacks that are meant only to weaken her. She stepped aside for the sake of the office. I'm sure she will still be attacked.
There is nothing carefully crafted about Palin's announcement that she's stepping down to pursue a "higher calling". Palin is undereducated, poorly informed and generally unworthy of any role in poilitics, including the role she just announced she is leaving.
Her charisma does not reach beyond the shrinking right wing conservative base and the small group of sycophants she surrounds herself with.
Money... and the chance to earn a good deal of it.. now that's another story.
She obviously did it to get herself ready for 2012. There was no other reason to do it. She has such a big following that maybe she felt she needed to just leave the Governors’ position to focus on what it's going to take to run for president. Either that or she's pregnant again and wants her privacy.
Will be interesting to see. She will be to the neo-cons . What Fred Phelps is to the Baptist church. Let her spew ! The more she talks the better for us middle of the road people.
from a hollywood point of view she might be getting a reality show
Sarah Palin's "high calling" will be her annointment as president of the National Rifle Association. This will broaden and solidify her conservative base, as well as representing an organization that has continually misinterpreted the 2nd Amendment, as well as contributing to relying upon the gun as the solution to all of our problems in the United States. Palin and the NRA certainly deserve each other.
I never thought I'd say it, but Karl Rove is right. Palin's political strategy here is mystifying. Her governor's seat was the perfect platform for her "drill baby drill" antics. Now, Facebookers will likely brunt the bulk of her neo-con rants. She's crazy to think the RNC would hand her a nomination after this resignation.
from what she said in her interview it sounds like she wants to play basket ball on obamas new basket ball court .
I think she wants to cash in on her popularity with a small group of conservatives before her 15 minutes are up...book deal, talk show may be, even some speeches ..wow, some people will pay to listen to Palin!
Hi Heidi
I think Sarah Palin wants to become a church leader.
Who really cares! Let's face it, she can't take the pressure. She just won't admit it. She just rambles on and on and on. As far as I'm concerned, she's the nail that sealed the coffin for John McCain during the election.
Sarah Palin quit on the state of Alaska. Why try and run for President ever? She's a nice enough person but her choices are outragious. Imagine her forgetting to cover her hair in a foreign country. Iraq,,Palinstine, To have peace talks. She say it's just to hot and maybe thay should meet in Alaska
Heidi, When Sarah Palin chose to abandon the people who elected her into office and left them to pursue her own interests for monetary benefits you can expect her to fail at anything else she pursues. I cannot for the life of me see how she commands this nation of smart intelligent people to give her a second thought. Good riddance to her she gives intelligent strong women a bad name!
Sarah Palin has neither the intellect nor the backbone to continue her misguided foray into national politics. She has charm and can deliver a good line prepared for her, but as was so painfully obvious in her recent press conference, she cannot hold two thoughts together simultaneously. I am sure her original motivation to enter state-level politics were well-meaning, but she hit the "Peter-Principle" level very quickly. Sadly she was exposed as one-hit wonder with nothing more than a pretty smile to back her up.
I expect that Sarah Palin's "higher calling", is that she will become a tele-evangelist on CBN or host a political talk show on Fox. She will try to use this platform to springboard her into the presidential race in 2012. However, I think that her resignation from the Alaska governor's office will forever be her Achilles heel.
Who cares, lets move on to more problems in this country. If S. Palin has problems being governor imagine her being president.
Talking heads are happy they have something other than Michael Jackson to discuss on cable TV for the next few days. They will make the resignation of Sarah Palin more important than what it really is by continually speculating on her motives and future. However, except for a small group of non-thinking, Rush Limbaugh-type ditto-heads, the American people will pay little attention to anthing Sarah Palin has to offer in the future. She was, and always will be, a joke.
Palin is a Soap Opera and totally unqualified for a government leadership position anywhere. However, she has been blessed with a wonderful gift of gab and could probably successfully manage a Sarah Palin (Oprah-type) TV talk show. If Rachel Ray can do it, so can Sarah.
I find the pundit discussions reveal a very interesting pattern. Everything seems to be framed around what a career politician would do. How is this tactically advantageous for Sarah's presidential run. Would you not agree that many of our political problems stem from career politicians rather than true public servants?
I think she's overwhelmed w/ politics as a whole. I believe she was thrown into the national spotlight too soon. Now, w/ all the scrutiny from the media and others in the political world, she might want to go away for a bit to "reset" her image. Maybe she'll educate herself politically and accept the fact that it can be a cruel world out there.
Running away from that will not help her politically or otherwise.
Kris
seems pretty clear she is keeping her options open or a secret. i believe the former.
true believer conservatives, like true believer liberals want to remake america. like most other true believers palin will do what she believes best fo further her agenda.
Regardless of what she thinks her "higher calling" is (become president, lead a conservative revolution, achieve sainthood in her own lifetime), Sarah Palin is destined to become a fringe right-wing voice a la Gordon Liddy, Glen Beck, or Lyndon Larouche.
She's already demonstrated that she doesn't have the goods to be a major political player beyond a very small but vocal mob on the far right. And this latest bit of lunacy only underscores how self-deluded she is.
The real scandal here is the possibility that the Obama administration is putting something in the drinking water of every Republican presidential candidate that is making them lose their minds. That or they really are the empty suits many of us always believed they were.
Alot of dissapointment. No one is ever going to elect her because she didn't finish her job as the Alaska Governor. If she is running away because she is being investigated, then she can never be on the national front cause she cant handle state government the she will never be able to go to congress or senate and especially not President. She should of finished her job in Alaska, not leave it half done.
It's not clear what her plans are and she prefers it that way! While her motivations are shrouded in mystery and while the rest of us are speculating it gives her time to actually come up with a palatable plan. What's clear is she is an opportunist who has little patience for the small pond of Alaska politics and is ready to reap the benefits of what's left of her national personae before we tire of her act! How it plays out remains to be seen but however it does she will be smiling that beauty contestant smile all the way to the bank. This has as much to do with her bankability as it does her capabilities!
TO be honnest Sarah Palin is a good woman, but does she have to resign is the question. What ever is going on in Palins head, I wish she would stop being so sensitive. Palin should stay as governer until her term ends.
-Aaon from Chicago
What's Sarah Palin's plan? Well, not many quitters have long term plans. She abandoned her elected post. If it is truly for family reasons then she should clearly say that. If it is politically motivated, shame on her.
Sarah Palin should not have resigned. How can she expect to be President, if she cannot handle the pressure as Governor. If she takes time to study the issues for 2012, the media will test her like an oral exam. Sarah Palin doesn't have the intellect or common sense to go up against Barak on any issues. She will be better prepared because that was a learning experience. Good luck Sarah no matter what you do with your future
Sarah Palin is finished. The fact is she was finished the second that the presidential election was over as the process exposed not only how unqualified she was for the office of vice president but how unqualified she was to be the governor of Alaska. The people of Alaska have no one to blame but themselves. Thank God that the educated young voters of America rejected her as a legitimate candidate last year.
Palin has not passed the ball, but left the court to go to the shower room. She can't possibly think anyone would want to play ball lwith her again.
As reported by many, Palin will hit the talk circuit and make lots of money. Maybe that is why she abandoned Alaska. Personally, I would not pay 2 cents to hear her speak. I have felt demeaned by her comments on the campaign trail and think she speaks out of both sides of her mouth since a lot of her personal life does not support her 'religion'. I think she represents the holier than thou republican party who have certainly shown their true colors and proven that they are also just people and make bad decisions in their personal conduct. If I were an Alaskan, I would be angry at her since their trust and belief that she would be there to help the state and its people has been betrayed. Bad move for her but probably a great one for the rest of us!!
I remember when Sarah Palin was interwieved about her experience on the political fields.What she sad like/I can see Russia from my backyard.../or when she did not now that Africa is a continent not a country,well that proved to me that she should not be even a governor not to mention as a possibility to going for 2012 Presidental Election!
She is simply not smart enough to take a high rank seat.
/Ivan Hanti/
I always felt Palin was only chosen as McCain's running mate because she was a woman. It was an unfortunate choice for him...I think it lost him the election. There are so many intelligent, competent women out there that he could have chosen.
Palin, at first, was very embarrassing to watch...then she became a joke and she has continued to be a joke. While it is entertaining to watch the less than intelligent things she says and does....most people don't want her to represent them.
Palin complains that she has been mistreated by the press and others but she is the one out there stirring up the drama. She has used her children to further her political career and then she gets mad when someone calls her on it.
I think most Americans (republican and democrat alike) don't want her 'national agenda." She has shown that she is out of touch with most of America. She is not compentent enough to be governor, vp and definitely not president. She should fade into obscurity and focus on her family. We don't need her drama or incompetence.
I don't know why Gov. Palin has resigned but I have listened to some of the anti-Palin (gleeful/sarcastic/condescending/disrespectivul/speculative) remarks on TV.
I haven't heard anyone speculate that maybe she has a very ill child or close relative with a terminal illness that needs her undivided attention in the months ahead. She did say "family first".
Whatever the reason for the resignation, I hope she stays in the limelight. There are too few voices in the U.S. today that question/challenge the government's decisions and pathways. Fox News is the only one I have found that has the backbone to tell the truth about the plight we face in the U.S. today and in the future if we continue selling out the American people.
Whether the Left likes it or not, Americans on the Right and in the Middle need a Voice that can be trusted to stand up and speak out truthfully on issues( without slanting every issue in favor of the White House). I think Gov. Palin could definitely be this Voice.
What is she hiding? Why would she just up and leave without any legitimate explanation? What will eventually surface that would require her to resign? People in Alaska may trust her, but I don't!! As far as I'm concerned, Sara Palin has absolutely no qualifying attributes to ever become President and I think she is trying to hide something by this early resignation.
We have witnessed a "politician" self-destruct before our very eyes. Palin has just committed political suicide. If she cannot handle the pressure or scrutiny as a governor, how would she ever handle the Presidency? She is a quitter and an embarrassment to all intelligent women who ever had aspirations in the political arena.
I think there wil be little future for Ms Palin, she cant take the heat and quit before she got enough experience to be on the national stage. The hastiness and unpreparedness of her statement plus the remarks about the effects of "all this" on her family render her useless for a national position, She's a quitter, and point guards don't do that. She cant be a governor much less a president, no national electorate or party will take a chance on her erratic nature now, she's toast. I think something bad was found in the woodpile and she had to go quickly, and I dont care to even know what it is, just happy she's gone before we got stuck with her on the national scene. She refers to other men who can quit early and not be persecuted for it, but they were people who had amassed a handful of success cards first, and could pick and choose their next move, she's not in that league. Leave it to Sarah to call out persecution against women when the going got tough. She failed, end of story. I cant imagine the book deal will even go thru, that deal was for a person with something new and fresh to say, a person wih a future, Sarah got old very fast and hurt the future of women in politics because she couldn't keep her family out of it. Bye Bye Sarah
I hope Sarah Palin chooses to take the right wing talk show route. The country doesn't need another one, but at least I can make the choice not to watch her. I worry that the conservatives will gain strength over the next few years, and since they don't have any charismatic candidates, Palin will be their choice. Watching Bush for eight years has been painful. No one can convince me that he had a clue about anything and Sarah Palin seems to be in his league. Obama may be trying to tackle too many issues, but I respect his intelligence and his goals. Americans are not patient and if the economy does not improve in the next year, they will turn to someone like Palin to set things straight.
She should go takes some communication classes to learn to sound professional before she does anything else. Her unintelligent slang is unbearable or maybe she should just go sit down somewhere ...her 15 minutes of embarrasing fame are up.
Her plans should include going back to school and obtaining more education. After all, it did take her six years to obtain a simple Bachelor's degree. In what? Journalism... The longevity of obtaining this degree is another sign that she is not a go getter. We have drunks on the corner in every state that spew out the same negativity and disregard and lack of understanding of purpose. Sarah assumed during the McCain campaign that rallying up the base was defined as call out to all radicals and have them meet at the "kill Obama" rally. Every time she opens her mouth, she shouts out "I AM SO CLUELESS."
And the Republicans want her to be the President of what country? What United States? Of what America? PLEASE.
Let's get some facts straight here about President Obama.
Fact 1: He is a Harvard Law School Graduate vs. Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
Fact 2: He was the Harvard Law Review President vs. Runway Queen wannabe.
Fact 3: He does not have teenage children presenting themselves in a manner that diminishes the behavior we would try to instill in our children. Bristol going around the country with a baby in her arms, let's fact it, is not a way to teach any young adult abstinence.
Fact 4: President Obama turned down a lucrative salaried job, to successfully buildup the forgotten neighborhoods in Chicago vs. Sarah performed... what kind of public service was that and what did it accomplish?
Fact 5: Hilliary Clinton and Sarah Palin when comparing brains, actual smarts, down right witty... Hiliary make Sarah's look like a newborn pea in a peapod thinking about blooming.
I could go... but why bother. The facts will get even weaker for her. Let the Republicans who do not seem to acknowledge the people's lives in America continue to make her even think she can run for President in this country and win. Bull####.
Thanks for letting me get that out.
This is a "no-brainer:" It's an intricate plan for Sarah to replace Rush Limbaugh.
Write a book and stay home and take care of her baby.
Why do we even care ? She will never be in the White House. She can run all see wants she'll just lose.
Sarah Palin should sit down and shut up. And you CNN should be more responsible media and stop giving her a national platform to open her big stupid mouth.
Hopefully when this is all over Palin will fade into the night and stay there. She wont get my vote, and thats comming from the wife of a Joe six pack.
I can just imagine Americans voting her in for President....they were conned by Bush.....they'll be conned by her.
Sarah Palin is a quitter, and CNN and the rest of the pundits may give her a pass, but the American people will NOT. We do not like quitters! Period!
CNN is full of it! First off, you have Bill Bennett on, and don't let the audience know he is a REPUBLICAN. You have him on unchallenged talking about his callers supporting Sarah. Of course they do, they are republican too.
Sarah Palin is a quitter. And this free pass by CNN is disgusting. She didn't just announce that she wasn't running again. SHE QUIT! Period. Stop making excuses for the inexcusable!
And start being honest with the American people about the political background of your guest, or at least have someone there too from a different political background!
If the honorable thing for a "lame duck" to do is resign with a year and a half remaining in their term then what would the public have thought if George W. Bush resigned in mid-2006???
Palin's behavior gets increasingly bizarre. From the Katie Couric interview to her backyard press conference, this woman embarrasses herself and her party over and over again and still people like Bill Bennett support her because she calls herself a conservative. If Palin is the future of the Republican party, they are dead in the water.
Who knows what her future plans are besides Palin and her husband, Todd, and he scares me to death. Palin's comments were disjointed and illogical as usual. But, this woman has an unusual gift for BS and if we buy it, we deserve it. Higher calling? Lame duck?
Please.
She is likely to become another right wing nut talk show host. That is where the money is. This is great as it will help finish the destruction of the republican party.
Sarah Palin did everything BUT truly explain why she is quitting her job. Because she doesn't want to be lame duck Governor isn't a decent reason. We all know why she's doing this, to run for some other office, most likely President. I just wish she would make a speech that actually makes sense to someone other than herself. It is becoming clear that she will do whatever is needed to keep herself in the spotlight.
Heidi,
I think most people, myself included, don't like her or trust her lack of political knowledge...is leaving government going to help this feeling? Not for me...let's also ignore how hypocritical she is on social issues.
Dan
I am afraid this is another flash in the pan, Here today , gone tomorrow. Big mistake to quit on her state. She can write her book and move on, NEXT
No idea what Sarah is doing, however, I voted for her as mayor of Wasilla, I voted for her as Governor, and I voted for her for VEEP. Now that I live in the Lesser-48, I will campaign for her where I live. Her leaving office takes the spotlight and pressure off the Alaska executive branch and leaves it in the hands of an outstanding man, Sean Parnell. Now Sarah can focus on her family, speaking engagements, and working towards a 2012 election. Sorry folks..the world does not revolve around socialists at Harvard.
Heidi, it is much more honorable to stop taking the public paycheck to pursue another office ,than to get elected and to take the paycheck while running for another position.It's about time we had people running for public office that has some good principles.
I don't understand how hosts let rightwingers like Bill Bennet get away with shading reality. Heidi said she'd earlier spoke with a reporter from Alaska, who said that "the people of Alaska" weren't happy with the Palin move. Bennet dismisses the reporter report, suggesting that those views weren't coming from the people.
He then turns around and says that, on his show, he gots call from Alaska that were supportive of Palin. Why are his report better than a reporter who is actually in Alaska. Also, his is a rightwing talk show. Why didn't Heidi challenge him on that? This happens all the time.
You've got to be kidding......................who cares?. Ya know, a Talk Show would be perfect; she'll only further confirm WHAT she "doesn't know".
Palin quit because she doesn't want to be a lame duck? Does that mean if she runs for president and wins, she won't run for a second term because she'd then be a lame duck? Wait a minute, if she wouldn't run for a second term, wouldn't that mean she'd be a lame duck as soon as she was elected to a first term? Wow! That must mean she'd quit as soon as she was inaugurated, (after all, she'd be a lame duck) so she could get a presidential pension. Suhweet!!!! What a plan!
Let's hope she does the smart thing (for the first time) and just writes books and gives lectures. Anything other than that would just be shooting herself in the foot.
Instead of trying to win elections by honorable methods, Democrats think the way to victory is the politics of personal destruction, with the media firmly in their corner. Republican politicians never attack or try to destroy their Democratic counterparts.
I hope that Sarah Palin will fight back through lawsuits, interviews, and speeches.
Sharah Plain thinks she can be president? She's Bush in a dress!
Not very smart and so right wing,who help get us in the mess were in today.I say Tina Fey for president!
I believe Sarah Palin has a narcissistic personality. She sees the world based on herself and her needs, desires, etc.
She therefore thinks that whatever she does that works for her, works for everone.
I believe she quit so she can be free to do whatever she wants withouth the world believing she has a responsibility to any other entity......in this case, the state of Alaska.
She will make money speaking about the issues she is interested in, and she will get aclaim from those who agree with her and she won't have to bother with those who don't.
I think if the media stopped wondering what she was going to do politically, that we'd all find there is nothing to her, except of course the ultra conservatives who actually like her closed minded ideas.
I suspect she will use the time to speak and write until she pays off her political depts. $500 million from what I hear.
Republicans need more than a strong base to win going forward. As much as I like Gov Palin, I don't think I would vote for her. We need to hear more about what she personally supports.
As a person I think she's great.
First and foremost this is about money. Sarah Palin needs to leave office to cash in on media deals. She probably "thinks" she will be able to run for higher office later, but this move will put an end to those aspirations. People like Bill Bennett can try to spin the abandonment of her job into a positive, but she isn't fooling anyone with an intelligent and logical brain. John McCain didn't QUIT being a senator to run for the presidency, neither did Barack Obama. Hopefully, Palin will get out into the lower 48 and REAL America and learn valuable lessons about REAL Americans.
As a conservative I am troubled by the commentary provided by Republican pundits (Kristol, Bennett) since the resignation announcement. Why aren't we holding our politicians to one performance standard? Sara Palin held initial appeal for me because she represented the common aspiration of the average American. It's about hard-work, straight-talk, and results. She hasn't followed through on any of this. She was hired on as an attack-dog by the McCain campaign. That's right: she was the Bob Dole, Spiro Agnew, Dick Cheney for that campaign, but she didn't understand that she was the understudy who needed to earn her stripes. What we saw instead over time, was that she had to be the star. There was something wrong with the picture and it was pretty obvious during the campaign and this resignation "news conference": she is scarily narcissistic and there are gaping holes in her understanding of major economic and foreign policy issues. I am embarrassed that my party put this person out as the VP candidate. Well, almost as embarrassed that the other contender was Sanford. Let's get it together conservatives! Let's start supporting sensible, thoughtful, stable people for our leadership positions!!!! I have had enough of the media darlings.....
You can't just quit when things get tough and if you quit, you had better be extremely clear as to what your reasons are and what your future intentions are. The people of Alaska voted for her to be the Commander in Chief, not a college basketball point guard. If she wanted to change the play and pass the ball, then that’s one thing…but you don’t pass your post as team captain at halftime when you are behind on the scoreboard. I find it very unlikely that she will be allowed to ascend to an even higher post like Senator or President. The pressure is even greater at those levels so why even consider a quitter?
How about this Heidi? Sara Palin has examined her priorities. Her family has taken a terrible beating at the hands of the media and the political process. More then any VP candidate I have ever seen. She has gauged the worth of politics and concluded her family is far more important then anything that seemed important last year. I have a new respect for Mrs. Palin. God bless her and get out of her life!
I don't really care what her "plan" is. For me, she is an embarrasment as an "educated" woman and a "No Show" as a politician. The fact is, she quit the important job she sought and won and that the people of Alaska placed their trust in her to fulfill. Why would anyone trust her to fulfill the office of the President?? Many people have to quit a less important job because of family issues, but many others find a way to handle both their jobs and family problems. But if you can't handle the governership of a state and your family, how could you ever think you could handle the complex, pressure-cooker job of the President of the USA? Maybe her plan should be to focus on her family until they are grown and on their own.
Republicans – get a clue – she is not qualified to be a govenor much less our president.
I think media and people that think they know it and make their business to know it all. Go find something else to do. She is a smart lady a career woman and let just sit back and watch. No one has said it could be for family reason she has step down. She has a son with special needs, she a daughter that is a kid herself that has a child and she has a husband and just maybe with everything the family has gone through she need some rest and going to just with her family right now.
Whatever her capacity to lead in Alaska, Palin clearly lacks the sophistication, world view, and media savvy for larger consideration. That said, her rise to national prominence is less an indictment of Palin than it is of the very smart, well prepared operatives who would advance such a candidate in spite of her very obvious shortcomings in the furtherance of some political calculation. Did we really all learn so little from the disastrous "W" Bush administration?
That Palin would abdicate her responsibilities as governor because the going is too tough speaks to a character deficiency, one that she demonstrated before when she resigned her post with the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and one that I hope, this time, sticks in the minds of future voters during her inevitable comeback.
She is much more qualified and experienced than Obama. Also she doesn't need a teleprompter to sound intelligent.
As the chief executive of Alaska, Sarah Palin has made the strategic decision to resign as Governor in order to avoid the trap of being a lame duck. Her "reasoning" was shallow and incoherent – I'm not aware of any state constitution that requires their elected officials to purposefully waste tax payer dollers – they do this simply out of habit. So, instead of pursuing speaking engagements and feuding with the media, she could instead elect to ignore these distractions and perform the duties that the people of Alaska elected her to do. Should she decide to pursue the presidency in 2012 the American people can expect that 18 months before her term is up that she would quit so that she can once again avoid becoming a lame duck. As a political celebrity, she is as qualified to be President of the U.S. as Paris Hilton. Sarah Palin should listen to the ducks that were quacking in the background during her press conference – even they know a lame excuse when they hear one.
As a registered Republican, Sara Palin is an embarrassment to the Party. Her reason for quitting the Governership of Alaska is because she does not want to be a "Lame Duck", is a smoke screen for wanting to cash in on her 15-minutes of fame. What she doesn't understand is that her political views and association with the Religious Right, is what has reduced the GOP to what it is today; ineffective and completely out of touch with the rest of the Country!
The soon to be ex Gov. of Alaska, Sarah Palin has stated that she is leaving her "elected" position because her baby needs her and she needs him! She also stated that her entire family voted a big yes that she should resign this job, including a big "Hell, yes" from one would assume her hubby. Those around her are saying she is "quitting" because she doesn't find the job of governor any fun anymore. Now, come on...when you run for a campaign and run and are elected to a governing position as this one, hello...are you now prepared to explain who advised you that it was a fun job? Sarah Palin has been touted as a conservative staunch defender of the right to life issues. Well, #1, she's already proven that she failed her mothering duties, standing in the nations view with her unwed pregnant daughter beside her and while she was having "fun" in the Alaska chair as Governor, who was doing the mothering of her "special needs" babe? Looks to me like if you watched closely throughout the presidential campaigning and all the TV photo ops she's done since that date, you will only have seen her even holding her dear baby 2 or 3 times. The babe was always being cared for by the sisters! So, now, #2 she leaves her elected position in the middle of her term...a quitter indeed and if she takes on a "media" type job, whether it be making speeches around the country (of which she's not easy to listen to as she rambles on and on...so her Republican fans are nuts to be paying her gazillion $$ to make speeches) OR becomes a rising star as a talk show host...well, Heaven forbid as she will have then lied about her reason for leaving her governorship. Please everyoine, let's keep reminding her she said her baby needed her and she needed him!! Let's help her learn to be honest.
I think that Sarah Palin would make an excellent televangelist.
She's very conservative, self-ritcheous, holier than thou,
and she seems to cling to a belief system that is totally obselete for the 21st century. She'd make millions fleecing the poor sheep that believe the same way that she does.
She does not however have any business being in government!
Makes me think what kind of athlete she was. Athletes don't QUIT! You get knocked down but you get back up and keep fighting.
Heidi, I am a registered republican who truly feels the RNC has lost their way! Sarah is a new, fresh face on the party who is ahead of her time. She needs some experience in the legislative branch first to see how distorted it is.
As far as GM, the government under both republicans and democrats has precipitated this problem. Far too long, we have shipped industries out of this country thinking the new financial and computer business will sustain our economy. We have sat by while they broke down various groups (ie airline, trucking, auto industries, telecommunications, etc) stating deregulation be good. Now we know it was disastrous for the American workers! Now we also see the financial mess we are in due to unregulated banks, insurance, and stock businesses. After the great depression era, rules were put in place that banks could not sell stocks or insurance and states regulated commerce internally. The feds have done away with these regulations and allow these massive firms greed overtake common sense.
Just look at the subsidies given to foreign auto and plane manufacturers by our "representatives". And also look at the perks our "representatives" have enjoyed over the years from lobbyists and others.
I recommend that all legislators have their pay frozen, no free health insurance, and their pensions at jeopardy like too many American workers. They just don't live in our "world". Maybe they should try it!
Her selection as running mate was the final confirmation that our party – the Republican party – had been taken over by social conservatives. Let's face it, we have been playing with fire in this regard for three decades in order to gain national office and it ended with this patently under-qualified person as the VP candidate. Mixing church and state is NOT a truly conservative orientation.
Talk about running out of ideas and substance. Like me, many conservatives did not support this ticket because of her presence on it. After looking at their recent performances, can anyone think of more self-involved politiicians than Palin and Sanford?
5 to 1 on talking head Bill Bennett's radio program in favor of Palin. Now, how come that doesn't surprise me coming from Bennett. Might as well have had Limbaugh come on and say the same thing. I bet the callers into Bill Press's radio show were 5 to 1 against Palin, but as usual, there was no one there to rebutt Bennett. Notice how Bennett was free to subtly take a jab at Donna Brazil and the other gentleman for not agreeing with him on yesterdays John King's Sunday News hour show? I bet that on Bill Press's radio show, callers were 10 to 1 disapproval of Palin.
The word from the barbershop is real and uncut! Sarah Palin finally understands that her life in Alaska has been isolated from the real issues facing America. She has become a national figure now and the slow life she leads in Alaska is so far removed from the bright lights and cameras which has now given her fame and soon untold fortune.
We know what's really going on here! She has a small window of opportunity to take advantage of the book deals, the speaking engagements and even possible movie opportunities. Why wait another 18 months and miss all that money. Sounds like a college athlete headed to the draft early!
Good for you Sarah for becoming a true capitalist! Shame on you for walking away from your position as Governor. We didn't forget that you would have walked away from Alaska for your thwarted position as Vice President "if" you would have made it to the "White House". Lucky for America that these offers didn't come while you were Vice President of the United States, we would be looking fo a new VP. The Barbershop is always tuned in and we will tune in to the first episode of the Sarah Palin show!
Thanks,
The Barber Ambassador! Against the Grain Magazine
Mr. Larson, have you forgotten the bricks that Sarah Palin threw during the campaign? When you go out questioning the patriotism of your political opponent in a presidential election, you better expect to get some feedback. Everyone knows what she meant when she called Obama a socialist. She was calling him un-American. We've been here before. This person indulged in the lowest kind of attacks on the Democratic ticket. She talked tough and could dish it out, but she couldn't take it. Please provide a single substantive policy recommendation or solution that she advanced during the campaign.
This woman is not qualified,Obama withstood alot and didn't quit.She loved to attack the opponents but cries when it happens to her.Good riddence.
I feel it was poor judgement politically and personally for Sarah Palin to leave her position as Governor.chooses her for presidential She made too many verbal political blunders to run for the presidency. This is another blunder.
Seems to me that Ms. Palin gets a pass because she is pretty. She woud never have been noticed otherwise. I have never heard her really say anything of substance and quite frankly I thjink her words seem more like those of a first year college srudent ,full of eager self righteousness that is naive shal;low and quiite humorous considering the fact than she ran for vice president. That is why she gets so nuch attention. What does this say about the Republican Party?
Sarah Palin is indicative of just how nutty the entire GOP has become.
Palin, like most modern Republicans, is not a Goldwater-esque conservative. She is closer to an evangelical dominionist - out to set up the U.S. government as an instrument of "God's dominion" on Earth. Those folks compete for attention in the Republican Party with devotees of Ayn Rand's objectivist movement - which is an ideology so radical that its followers are opposed to outlawing child labor.
Compared to the right wing of today, the Goldwater conservatives of years past were pretty darned tame - and sane. I sure wish conservatives would make a come-back to replace the radicals who have taken over the GOP.
While listening to the discussions & press questions between the Russia Pres. & Pres. Obama I envisioned what the intelligent, thoughtful speech by our President would sound like if coming out of the rambling, illiterate, mind & barely intelligible speech patterns of Sarah Palin. Can you even imagine how her dead fish & hoop dream metaphors would be taken by the watching world? I suggest that she might want to take a fly-by to shoot or wound some sitting duck wolves or moose in order to get past her fear of being a lame duck governor.
Palin is exactly whats wrong with many beautiful women these days, she believes she got there by merit, when really she got there because of her looks. That combined with the political arena where you actually need to speak is a disaster waiting to happen. Give it up Barracuda
she is a quitter.....and some people think she should run for president. what happens when she can't handle the heat in washington. will she just quit that too..... she is a mess
The media outlets (like CNN) seem to care quite a bit about Sarah Palin. I would liken the media's obsession with Palin to their weird fixation with Paris Hilton. I would be willing to bet that the majority of the nation DOES NOT care. I live in NJ, she is irrevelant to my life. Heidi, why is the elite media so obsessed with her? Instead why not do a story on real solutions to healthcare or why the government isn't really prosecuting the fraud on Wall Street?
I think she is a QUITTER. I don't think she could ever run our country as president. I think that is the biggest joke of the year.
I just want to say that I am proud and encouraged by the bright and knowledgeable comments posted here which show that at least some of you have done your research. We owe it to our democracy to be educated on the issues and the candidates.
As for those who support Palin’s ideals, that is your right, but please find candidates who are not radicals and who can appreciate contrasting opinions, unlike far too many conservative Republicans. One of Thomas Jefferson’s greated fears when he was drafting the Constitution was that the majority on any issue would have the power to ignore the minority, possibly 49% of the people.
WHO CARES!!!!!
There was genuine anguish in Gov. Palin's announcement on Friday, my heart goes out to her and her family for that. As a voter, I don't like to see someone duly elected to office being forced out of it or leaving that office for reasons that seem uncertain.
This just shows the out of date mentality of most of the republicans.MJ was found not guilty of those charges.Michael Jackson was a musical icon who changed the world through his music. I strongly believe that his race plays a part in Peter King's opinion
She makes woman look bad. She is a quitter and very hateful person. She seems to be blaming every one for her actions and her problem. If she can't handle Alaska she should not even drean about running for President.
Palin's a quitter! And that fact should make American voters grateful that McCain wasn't elected US President. Palin was obviously not qualified to be vice president and certainly not US President if McCain suddenly lost his life. What was McCain thinking??????!!!!!!!!!! All should take note ..... Palin is nuts!
This is for Sarah Palin–YOUR GO GIRL!
At least she is NOT being forced out because of an affair like so many of the others. I really love what she is, a real working women. Everyone cast shame on her and her family when her daughter turned up PG before she was married. Oh people this happening everywhere. Why is it such a big deal for a WOMEN Governor's Teenage Daughter to come up PG but everyone seemed to look the other way when the President got caught "Not having sexual relations" in the White House. Oh wait, he's a man.
Sarah, no matter how we try it will always be a man's world!
We, the United States, need more true American's running the White House, not the Money Hungry,big city people that have no idea how us real people live that are in DC now. I would love to have you running Oregon, we could us a Women like you here.
Palin who thinks the Universe is 6,000 years old, is against birth control and women's choice, advocates faith healing, and pursued finding "the proceedure" for removing books she did not like from the AK library, and has the delusion she is qualified to be president used the "basket ball" analogy to make "some point" was just more "Dribble" out of this creature. The statement (?) that followed with the dead fish and queers was one of the most uninteligble ramblings yet. I find her entertaining, that anyone that ignorant could possibly hold any office, or any job, at any level, totally amazing!!!! She should be baned from White House tours!!!
This is what happens when John McCain used America's Top
Model and American Idol tactics to run a campaign for President.
Mrs Palin may be a good person but not qualified for VP or Pres.
If she runs she should pick Paris Hilton as her running mate.
Although we don't have her "full reason" why she is quitting, how can she possibly think what she appears to be doing is justified! Thousands voted for her to represent her state and as an elected official, she swore to an oath of office. I'm a 20 year Navy veteran familiar with the oath of office, and I'm sure whatever oath she swore to didn't include "quitting" her post. She is an embarrasment to any elected official and a reminder to thoroughly research who you vote for.
Sarah Palin–Queen of the Carabou. I've heard enough about her.She should start migrating with the carabou and we"ll rename her "Carabou Sarah". Shes skiddish,rambling ,and don't know where shes headed. Stay in Alaska. Jack
I sat and listened to her speech with my chin on the ground. Her words were nonsense. She babbled on and on. The more she spoke, the deeper she dug her grave. I can see, not running again, however, quitting her term early with so much time left to her contract with Alaska and its people.v I'm an Independant, however, if she is the best the Republicans have to offer, I can see why the GOP is in such sad shape
i wish the best for sarah, even though im a democrat, i know her intentions are well and im sure she could do GREAT things, but as long as she remains a republican that will never happen since republicans do nothing but complain about barac obama( WHO I VOTED FOR) and try to block everything he tries to do for this country, i dont care who they get to run against barac in 2012, they will never be elected until they start trying to work with this administration instead of trying to stopp it and try to help make baracks policies better and help them succeed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah Palin should do what she would do best......and that would be a truck stop cocktail waitress. Can't you picture it? You betcha!!
Mc Cain, wishful thinking a woman would get him the Presidency, he ruined her life, she's not Presidental material, a hockey mom maybe, anyway she has too many things to attend too as a house wife and mother. Her senior daughter could have allowed herself to get PG to get her mother's love, who knows? They have to get there family life back together.
On the other hand, too much Palin, Jackson in the news, surely other things of importance are going on in the world, give us a full news station, I wish we had more then CNN or Fox 24 hour news.
Good riddens, Sarah. You did nothing to help Alaska nor the Republicians. You are a critic of what our President is trying to do, yet what are your accomplishments? Just go away....please
Who cares whats next for Sara Palin, can we STOP talking about her. She has the BASE, who cares, you can not win a national election w/a right wing, intolerant base!! Sara continues w/her chatter and can not articulate her thoughts. What I'd like to know is if this were a black woman making no sense would we still be listening? Time to leave Sara alone to and move on. She brings NOTHING to the political arena!
GEE from MJ to SP too much for sure.
She is headed for the lower 48 to make tons of money!!! Lord save us all.
One of my favourite MJ moments was him presenting himself through my stereo speakers when I was just two or three years old. My earliest memory was of me playing with my toys in the middle of the living room floor and hearing "Billie Jean" for the first time on the radio. I'm 19 now and still have not forgotten and probably never will.
I don't know what Gov. Sarah Palin ambitions are. If she can't handle the media now, imagine if she was the President... Her resigning from her post as Alaska's governor wasn't a smart move. There is something fishy about this... but as the saying goes what's done in the dark, it will eventually come to light...
micheal jackson is an original icon he made the best pop music . micheal jackson was a good kind man. he was always connecting with his fans all over the world.. we miss you micheal from virginia keep your head up jackson
I need to let her go. So here is my last comment. I have been wondering why I am so upset at Sarah Palin and after looking deep inside myself I realized that it really has nothing to do with me. I just cannot believe that people that don't have what it takes would be considered to be at the highest level of our government. Shara Palin doesn't have the intellect, the intelligence and the maturity to be at the white house.
I will never forgive Mc Cain for wanting to have her as a Vice President. These people are supposed to lead and govern our country... Obviously Sarah Palin would have never deserved that position... and I think that when she was considered a lot of people in the Mc Cain campaign new it. Anything to win?...we will think about it later when the country is deeper inside a hole!!! Unbelievable!!!!
A last thought. Thank you Sarah Palin for making women look stupid again!!!
I don't care about Sarah Palin. She should leave public office and the media spotlight forever !!!!
Palin is failin'....she can't take the heat of job. She is all talk and no action. The neo-cons made a terrible strategic mistake to use her to try to woo the right wing. The neocons and evangelicals no longer control the agenda. We have more important issues...duh!? Hello?!
Palin will go down in history as political road kill of the most cynical kind.
I believe Sarah Palin's next step will be to move to the lower forty-eight and run for Senator somewhere in 2010. I think even she realizes she doesn't have much chance on the National Stage in 2012, but in 2016, with six years of Senate experience behind her, she could very easily see herself as the next Hillary Rodham Clinton, who did essentially the same thing.
Look to her to be running for Senate from a conservative state after establishing residency.
I'm sick to death of this woman. John McCain has created a monster.
If she quit to get ready for 2012 it may be to her advantage because she was certainly unprepared in 2008. Maybe she will have her family issues resolved (grandchildren delivered, special needs child in day care) or maybe she herself is preggers. Who knows? I for one am glad she's just not in DC calling the shots or calling it quits. I'd suggest she start getting herself educated on world economy and banking, the Mid-East conflict, etc., get some counseling in managing a career and a family, and a complete makeover paid for by herself rather than the GOP. The woman is definetely an unpredictable maverick and should stick to soccer and basketball. Those games have rules to follow and you don't make them up as you go along. Of course, you can alway take your ball and go home....which she does know how to do. In politics, there is always someone who wants to get in the game. She won't be missed.
She is the next smokehouse attendent for the family biz. Then house work because the maid is now Gov.
Why are you giving "air-time" to Sarah Palin? Dddduuuhhhh!
Andre
All of you people attacking Palin must get up early in the morning and watch the grass grow or the dew on it dry up. Then bored to death you say to yourself, "Let's see who we can trash today?' In my life time, I've learned that people tend to attack those people whom they wish they could emulate or they fear. In which category do all of you "Palin Bashers" fall? Living a life of hate must be a real problem for you people. You all need professional help.
I'm not surprised to see that CNN's viewers commenting here are so anti-Palin in such an irrational and hostile manner.
CNN's ratings are so low because sane people have tuned out., leaving only the very stupid and ill mannered.
Of all the cable news, this one is the worst.
Shawn,
CNN has the best political team in the business and both sides are always represented. I occasionally tune into FoxNews, and it's appallingly biased. They play to the ever shrinking right wing base of the Republican party... and nobody else.
It is nonsense to say that everyone who does not want Palin to be president is afraid of her or is consumed by an irrational hatred o Christians. Maybe we just think she is not qualified. Ever think of that?.
Now I know where all of the hate is. Just mention Sarah Palin . What ever happened to freedom of opinions? Sad.
Palin is taking time off to plan her campain for the next election. She will be the new face of the republican party. How sad it is. This lipstick moron should stay at home and raise her daughers better.
Sarah Palin is playing a mind game with the American people. She makes statements and when they are illogical she expects us to understand. Why should we?
Here is the bottom line: Palin is in no way, shape, or manner qualified to be the leader of the free world.
She lacks education, depth of reasoning, ignorance of world affairs. In short an embarrasment.
She was hosed by the McCain campaign becuase they were hoping she would attract the far right neo cons.
This was a miscalculation, becuase the game has changed. We are now facing real issues on not social issues that are best settled in the bedroom.
Our fears are not of Sarah Palin; it is based on the fact that there is a market for her winking, trivia, gaffs, mediocrity, etc. When a six pack and hockey puck become an icon for the presidency of the greatest nation in the world, then the fact that some people find that acceptable is, in fact, disturbing and a cause of fear.
But no harm done. As long as this is what the neocons can produce, Dems will have a stronger Congress for a long time to come.
I so wish she would shut up and move to Russia. You know she is a Russian diplomate.
Please tell that ignorant woman to shut up, take a grammar course, move to Russia and leave us alone. And PLEASE don't let her into the lower 48. Revoke her American citizenship. Let her find another country to embarrass.
I really don't care what is next for her,as long as she doesn't run for President of the US.
Her book deal!
Its called "How to quit every job you ever had and still make millions"
the rumor back here about Sarah Palin is that she left to get a sex change operation. The 2008 election taught her a woman will never be President.
Taxing the "rich" to pay for health care is the most blatant example of class warfare yet from the Oboma-ites and Dems. Heath insurance is a purchased product, not a right under the Constitution. Some people chose to buy it; some chose not to buy it. Some people chose to buy expansive coverage; some chose to buy minimal coverage. If the Oboma-ites want to cover the people who can't afford coverage, they should make coverage a part of an existing program like SS and leave the rest of the health insurance programs alone.
Consider a national sales tax to pay for health care. This would be fair tax because EVERYONE would share the burden of the cost and it would distribute the cost according to EVERYONE'S financial means. The more you BUY, the more you would contribute toward health care costs for EVERYONE. Most people would not mind paying an increased sales tax in order to pay for universal health care.
PLEASE TELL THE PRESIDENT, CONGRESS AND THE HOUSE this suggestion!
Indeed, the wealthy should pay higher taxes in order to assist the cost of President Obama's health care plan. It is a very worthwhile endeavor and the wealthy should be pleased and happy; knowing that they've played a substantial role in this vitally important idea which must be brought to life.
Another idea that has been on my mind for some time: The wealthy should NOT receive Social Security benefits. I feel absolutely sure that President Roosevelt's plan for this program is abused when large SS checks go into the bank accounts of the wealthy. This is money that should be disbursed to needy elders, the mentally and physically disabled, ONLY. [Hypothetically, if I were able to speak with President Roosevelt, I sincerely feel that he would agree 100 percent.] What on earth does the rich and super rich do with this money? It is a waste of precious governmental funds.
I believe this idea should be taken up by congress and hashed over until my idea makes perfect reason.
My studies of philosophy and psychiatry convinces me that Sarah Palin verges on ego-mania. A taste of the spotlight was the erronous thing for such a personality. Obviously, a taste wasn't enough to quench her thirst for attention; be it positive or negative. The more negative the attention may be, the hotter becomes her lust for more, more, more. Maybe, just maybe, she will eventually read or hear a positive report. However, even then, she invalidates it by her lack of education of the world stage.
Sarah Palin would do herself and her family best by simply fading into the background. I believe that she needs considerable time on the psyche couch in order to convince herself that she is not star material.