Millions of liberals rejoiced and thousands of Republicans heaved a sigh of relief Friday as Sarah Palin announced her decision to resign as Alaska’s governor. In her usual forthright manner, Gov. Palin made clear that she was not content to squander her time on ‘politics as usual’. Here, here.
Sarah Palin has withdrawn from the arena she describes as “superficial wasteful political blood sport.” She, like millions of Americans, is tired of ‘politics as usual’.
On Saturday, Palin issued a message on social networking site Facebook saying, “I am now looking ahead to how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint.”
Palin has made the same choice many conservatives are starting to make, opting to “effect positive change outside of government.” Politics as usual no longer represents the 62 million Americans who didn’t vote for Obama. Disenfranchised citizens now have no say on the the takeover of our country by radical forces and, like Sara, they are starting to seek solutions outside the political realm. Many are coming to the realization that election to public office may no longer be the best way to serve our country.
Any effective leader on the right, any conservative with the guts to stand on the principles long since abandoned by the GOP, can expect election to public office to be a waste of time and effort. A lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Where political ambitions trump sound policy. Where the ability to lie convincingly is mandatory and misleading the public is essential to re-election.
Our political system has become a no holds barred PR battle, with muckraking as its main theme and form over substance as its governing philosophy. Essential time must necessarily be spent fighting fires instead of getting things done. Time that could be better spent “keeping an eye on the ball.”
The “ball” is representing and protecting the system of government our founding fathers bequeathed to us. Many conservatives believe this is no longer possible in the political realm, where our elected officials are more concerned with amassing power and retaining their offices than with protecting and defending the rights of all Americans.
Like Sarah, I believe politics works best from the ground up. At a recent gathering of my state representatives, I implored them to stand up and yell ‘STOP’ to the unconstitutional and unprecedented devolution of power to the federal government. As one, their answer was the same as its been for decades, “Re-elect me and I will.” My answer: NO.
I, for one, withdraw my support from the business as usual GOP. From now on, I will search for solutions, like Sarah, outside of the political realm. As Palin quoted, “I am not retreating, I am advancing in another direction.” I leave the entrenched politicians to play their increasingly destructive games by themselves. They will no longer be enabled or supported by me.
America’s strength has always come from ‘we the people’, not ‘we the politicians.’ It is time for all Americans to remember that and quit relying on government and/or politicians for solutions. Just as Sarah Palin has.
Crossposted from Right Bias
@MataHarley
How don’t see how those who put up these ethic complaints haven’t won. They wanted her out and she bailed. And these reflects on any aspirations of her ever wanting to be President. I mean just imagine if she became President and she was hit by allegations etc where she would have to defend and would cost the taxpayer money. Using her’s and seemingly your logic – would it best for her to quit again? Most of the complaints have been dismissed so who, of any consequence, was complaining of her ‘poor performance because her admin was too busy playing defense?’
As for assaulted – I don’t have the records for how many ethic complaints each Governor, Senator or Congress person gets each year – and besides I was referring to rumours which are nigh impossible to accurately add up. I could if I had enough time (which I don’t) go through this forum and pick out all the smears, lies, rumours and half-truths being said about Obama. Public figures outside of politics like Jacko had to deal with rumours – it comes with the territory. In fact Palin herself – in her attack pitbull mode added to such smears – remember ‘palling around with terrorists?’. So the lady doth protest too much.
And how many jollies does a Governor of Alaska need to the lower 48? I’m she has others responsible for trade who can do that. I don’t see the big issue here – either it’s part of her role to go to the lower 48 if and when needed so get on with it – or she can minimise these trips. And as for her foreign experience – she believed – and why she was so righfully mocked – was based on Russia’s geographical proximity to Alaska. Let me know which Russian and Alaskan delegations she was part of – as far as I can see there little or no contact between Russia and Alaska where Palin played a meaningful part.
As for fighting well – she set up her own investigation into troopergate. So I’m hearing she can’t fight yet 80% of her staff’s time is spent on rebutting these allegations. Isn’t that fighting? And as I mentioned before the money involved is actually tiny when compared to Alaska’s revenue – that’s a blatant smoke screen.
As for landslide – are you saying the right wouldn’t of held their nose and voted for McCain if he didn’t have Palin? Sure if Obama is so bad it’s better to go with the lesser evil?
@GaffaUK:
You reallt have no clue what Conservatives think do you. Without Palin McCain would have gotten killed in a landslide. Just like the last few elections where Republicans have lost big time. Many Conservatives have stayed home because why vote for a Democrat in Republican clothing. They still do the same thing, spend all our future generations money, just on different things.
Both Parties are in destroying our freedoms and the Founding Fathers Document called the Constitution. It is like it does not even exist, with all the Federal Government’s intrusoin on things that should be state issues, it is hard really to tell them apart.
We need to get rid of all of them and get people in government that understand that we are a Republic and State’s have rights over much of what the Federal Government has been forcing down theri throats.
As to Palin quitting because of idoacy from the DNC and Soros. She has a much better chance to stop this from happeining in the future us she can convict many of the slanderous statements from the MSM and those that wanted to bring her down. We have Free Speech, but that does not mean you can just say anyting you damn well want while destroying someone’s career. I know that the Press in Jolly England are much worse on most politicians, but here we have standards on what can and can not be said about people. And most of what was told in the MSM was totally false and effected her job as Governor. And I hope she does sue and win to stop this. And hopefully this will also stop the idiots that still think Obama is not a American also. That is just as bad.
The loons are on both sides of the aisle.
@Stix
Well I believe Conservatives aren’t the borg where they all think the same. Naturally some conservatives voted for McCain as otherwise he wouldn’t of won the Republican nomination. After Bush low approvals it was going to be difficult for any Republican to win and McCain’s campaign was lacklustre even with Palin. When faced even with a poor choice – it’s still better to vote. We will never know what benefit or hindrance having Palin on the ticket was and we can’t see what alternative history would of been like. Yes she energised the right wing but did she lose votes with swing voters?
Yes in the UK – Palin wouldn’t probably lasted as long as she had – because the tabloid/gutter press would of her ripped her to shreds – but then again the press traditionally in the UK is actually more biased to the right (Sun/Daily Mail/Telegraph etc out sell Mirror & Guardian). Still they live on rumour and mockery. And I’m glad you agree that smears – like Obama’s nationality – is just as bad as some of the trivial rubbish thrown at Palin.
I’m with Nancy and Fed-up. I gave up on business as usual politicians decades ago. Both parties and the MSM have turned our government into a cesspool of vitriol spewing maggots feeding on the body politic. They are vicious selfish self-serving vultures who care nothing for the hosts that sustain them.
The reason we are hearing so much slamming of Sarah is because the MSM, Washington Insiders, and the elitist snobs of both parties fear her. as they always fear her ilk. They fear populists, because they fear that the the people will follow them instead of the mindless and pointless voting for what they hope will be the lessor of evils.
Sarah is a regular American. A believer in “The People” the Constitution, and our Nation in the tradition of a true Statesman. She hates the corruption and power games that the elites play at our expense. That is why they have tried to break her spirit, and drain her finances. That is why they belittle and turn their noses up at her, and the rest of us in “fly-over country.”
Watching the protests in Iran has given me understanding of the irony; That the rulers and controlled media there, are so very much like that in our own country. The people attending Tea Parties here are like the protesters there. Wanting their voices to be heard but being stifled. What will it take for our leaders to listen? Our media and the leaders they have anointed so far pretend that they don’t hear or see these people. Eventually, there will come a time when they go house to house to arrest dissenters, and marshal the troops to end the protests.
Run Sarah RUN!!! And let us line up to run behind her.
@ditto:
Excellent! Thank you.
@ditto: Bravo Bravo
@ditto
lol – comparing the US and Iran is like comparing day and night. Has the cops started to beat, imprison or kill any teabaggers yet?
‘Run Sarah Run’ sounds like a line from Forrest Gump. Where is she running to? Or is she just running away? And corruption? Try troopergate for corruption.
@GaffaUK:
Indeed, troopergate was more of the same. Palin was also cleared on that only after it cost the state dearly.
http://www.floppingaces.net/category/politics/sarah-palin-politics/troopergate/
@GaffaUK
Why is this any of your business? As you so often disdainfully make clear, you are not an American. You seem to think that we care about your vitriolic insinuation into our political affairs or about your opinions. I assure you that we do not. I ignore your endless parroting of all these attacks in which Palin has been found innocent of any ethical violation. These are simply the same tired, old. dismissed smear campaigns, and you are just another maggot who feeds off them.
Ask yourself this: Why do you fear Sara Palin? Is it because she is a strong woman? Is it because she makes you feel less than a man? Do you hate all women? Is it because she is of common birth? Is it because she draws everyday people together who, like her, are fed up with the corruption and of being ignored? Is it because of a hatred for conservatives? Is it because she is the best choice for Republicans to recover and find their way home? Is it because she reminds you too well of those first colonists who threw off the fetters of your now crumbling Empire? Why do you so fear and hate this woman?
Those were all just rhetorical questions for you to mull over. Don’t bother replying, as I don’t really give a rat’s patootie about anything you have to say. As far as I’m concerned you can just bugger off.
@ditto:
Dennis Miller put it really well — “One of the things I love about Sarah Palin is that she really bugs a lot of people for whom I have no respect.”
@GaffaUK
“Teabaggers”?
That pejorative, right there, tells us more about you than a 5,000 word diatribe could.
@Ditto
Is anything which you comment on here always your business? Try not to be a hypocrite.
I certainly haven’t been disdainful – in fact it seems that some of you are now grabbing at straws by playing the man and not the ball by blandly pointing out that I’m not American. Sorry is this a forum where only American Conservatives can talk to each other – where foreigners and those with differing opinions (and even some where we may agree) can’t debate? Or are you too scared to debate?
You don’t care but you reply. Odd. And what am I am insinuating?
If it’s attack on Obama it’s fair game – yet any criticism of your beloved Sarah is a smear – who’s no stranger when it comes to giving out smears. And how dull you can’t debate without stoopid insults.
Hardly
Playing the gender card are we. Nope
lol nope – I don’t have the urge to kill a moose or somehow prove my manhood.
Brilliant – that’s as dumb as asking whether you hate all blacks because you don’t like Obama.
Why would that bother me? I’m from common birth.
No – that’s good. However it’s only fair we look into her dealings.But I guess you prefer to take her at face value and believe everything she says.
I don’t hate conservatives. At least not the types who want to be fiscally responsive unlike Dubya and the Republicans who were in charge. And I don’t like those rascist, homophobic bible-bashing conservatives either. But take them away and there some good honest Tories who want a better place for all based on a work ethic rather than constant handouts/bailouts etc. The best PMs the UK has had has been Churchill & Thatcher.
She’s got the publicity since being made McCain running mate – but she’ll use that to make money. The Republicans are split – she’s not the one to bring them together. She’ll be your Joan of Arc for the right-wing of the Republicans.
Crumbling? lol – I think the British Empire was wound up some time ago. Palin is no Washington or Jefferson. I would love to know exactly how you expect Palin will lead you to the promised land.
I don’t either fear or hate her. She’s an interesting political figure. I could ask you why you fear and hate Hillary but that would be making an assumption like you have just done.
You don’t care but you took the time to write a reply but now you want to run away from the debate like your heroine. How maverick. That’s what kids do when they lose arguments – stick their fingers in their ears and go la-la-la. If you want to debate – let’s debate and respect the fact that we have different views (and as I say there may be some areas we agree on) – rather than petty insults which says far more about you than me.
@ThunderGod
I’m pulling your leg…but I have to be careful as I see that sometimes humour only works one way with some on here – where it’s okay to call Obama – O’Dumbo etc but making fun of the Tea Protest is tantamount to treason. Lighten up;)