I’m a little confused. You take Aziz to task for not taking Palin at her word that she isn’t quitting or retreating, yet you say “vicious lying attacks on the family, including young disabled children, of politicians is EFFECTIVE”.

What am I missing? And if we are to take Palin at her word, she now seems to be claiming that “politics as usual” is to stay and fight. So, in most circumstances, apparently it wouldn’t be effective.

I don’t pay any attention to these so-called “experts” and their opinions. The only consistent thing about them is that they are always wrong.

Aziz: Talk about inferring what someone WANTS to hear… Sarah Palin very clearly said this is NOT “buh-bye” when she said she was moving to a higher calling and was “not retreating, but advancing in a new direction.” Hearing “buh-bye” in that is pretty selective hearing.

I will go on record saying that I don’t understand what Sarah Palin thinks she is accomplishing here, but my guess is that we have not heard the last of Sarah Palin and the unbroken string of the pundits failure to predict the political future of candidates will remain intact.

Again, testable. I’ll remember what you all said in two, four and six years.

Will you?

I’ll take option c. Gives us something to look forward to! Now, I actually care about the GOP race :)

I wish her well too, and bear her no malice. But I dont see any reason to hold her accomplishments in all that high regard, either.

You’re on! When I win, I am already salivating about my unedited piece, tentatively entitled, “The Myth of AIDS in the Muslim World”:)

If you win, I will: (a) Publically denounce Scoop Jackson, or (b) Publically condemn Netanyahu as a Yahoo or (c) donate $50 bucks to the charity of your choice.

There is no chance Palin runs in 2012. Occam’s razor — she is quitting, because she doesn’t want to be a political pinata for the left or a trojan horse for the right.

Nice gal, though. Smart, but not a professional politician, which can be a good thing. I wish her well.

–HB

If you win (Palin doesn’t run in 2102), I’ll let you write a guest post on my blog at Beliefnet, your topic of choice, no editorial interference :) If I win (she declares for candidacy), i dunno, what do I get?

I would indeed be sad to see Palingo, not because I think shes particularly foolish or an object of my derision but because strategically she does act as a focus for devotion by a segment of teh Republican Party that has really undermined conservatism in favor of Republicanism. It woudl be awesome if she peeled off the social conservative vote to a new third party (though I note that Huckabee stil has his sights set on that niche, and he is already pushing back on Palin for his own bonafides). To that end if she vanished it would be a disaster because the viability of the GOP as an authentic alternative to the Democratic Party would continue to flatline.

I agree that Palin hasn’t “earned” a nomination the “hard way,” yet. But, who knows? Maybe one reason she quit while she was ahead in Alaska was so that she can prepare for next year by brushing up on what’s happening in the other 56 (kidding!!!) states.

I’d argue, however, that the celebrity of then-Senator Obama was more than just an “asset.” It was instrumental in his election, even though it was, in my opinion, more “Jacksonian” than “Schwarzkopfian.” He’s remained popular personally, even as criticism of his policies has increased.

It’s a far cry from Henry Clay, that’s for sure.

Well, I admit I haven’t followed her real close, but I haven’t seen any evidence that she particularly does.

I mean, I suppose we can infer that most politicians (and moreso, most Governors) wouldn’t turn the office down if it was handed to them, but her “wanting” the job enough to run for it in 2012?

I don’t see much evidence for it. At least as plausible a reading (possibly better, in fact) for her VP bid in 08 is that the Party asked her to and she supported the Party – as a team player does.

Ok, then if McCain has been rejected and is too old to run in 2012, then obviously Palin steps in as the de facto leader of the opposition, and is beloved by millions, respected and feared by the media, and ………is quitting while ahead?

Sorry, this makes no sense.

She’s a nice lady, who is in too deep — like a great high school pitcher, who gets drafted into the pros too early.

I don’t dismiss her, like the East Coast elite, I just don’t think she’s ready to assume a command role, and I think it is wise for her to step aside, while someone more capable assumes the role.

The left, on the otherhand, is sad to see her go, because they like pummeling her, and think she is a relatively weak opponent. I don’t place myself in this camp, I’m juss calling it like I see it.

I bet money she won’t run for Prez in 2012.
–HB

One difference is that Obama “earned” his position by taking on the odds on favorite and beating her in the challenging primary process. Palin was plucked out of obscurity by one man’s decision. That doesn’t mean Palin couldn’t “earn” a nomination, only that she hasn’t demonstrated that yet. With her well documented problems during the fall campaign, she really does need to demonstrate gravitas. Quitting her only heavyweight electoral job without a coherent explanation doesn’t help.

You are correct that “celebrity” can be an asset for electoral politics. But to be President, you need a type of celebrity closer to Norman Schwarzkopf in the early 90′s, and less like Michael Jackson. Palin is sliding closer to the latter.