Sarah Palin resigned today, delivering what appeared to be a noteless and impassioned speech in which she outlined her reasons.
Pundits did what pundits always do -- viewed it through the prism of their own political minds.
They ask: "Political suicide or brilliant move?" or "What could her "real" reason be?" or "How does this affect her chance at a 2012 Presidential run?"
These questions are useful when asked about the motivations of a politician. You can never believe what a politician says, as, of course, they're politicians and lie for a living.
Sarah Palin is not a politician. She never has been.
Sarah Palin entered politics to effect change. And, until she wandered into the arena of national politics, she was doing just that.
But, ever since she dared to be a strong, competent woman who didn't toe the NOW line, she has been subjected to attack after attack -- the "politics of personal destruction" on a scale I haven't seen of any other national figure.
Not John Edwards. Not Barney Frank. Not Chris Dodd. NO other political figure -- not those who took bribes, not those under criminal indictment, not those behind bars -- has been under such unrelenting attack as had Sarah Palin.
So, Sarah Palin resigned. She told us why she resigned.
Yet the pundits continue to probe, continue to try to impose their world-view upon her -- even though the former governor has established beyond all doubt that she does not share their world-view.
Sarah Palin told us why she resigned. She resigned because she can't do her job. Most of her time is spent defending herself from frivolous ethics charges (15 currently investigated and dismissed) which eat her time and Alaskan taxpayers' money (over two million thus far).
That isn't what the people of Alaska hired her to do. They hired her to govern -- not to spend all of her time defending herself.
There is no further political calculation beyond this simple one. She, in good conscience, can't continue to be a part-time governor when the people of Alaska deserve a full-time one.
Further, she believes that she will be able to pursue the greater good by bringing her message conservatism to the rest of the country, unencumbered by the duties of office.
She told us this.
Why do the pundits not believe her?
They seem to believe politicians such as Obama when all evidence is that he simply cannot be believed but try to ferret out hidden meaning from Palin when all evidence shows that she speaks plainly.
Pundits.
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I too have a high opinion of Sarah Palin. But she is still a politician. Everything from the timing of the announcement to the coy "not a retreat but advancing in a new area" comment are the actions of a politician.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Sarah Palin is no more a "politician" than Obama is a "public servant."
ReplyDeleteThe "breaking the story on a Friday" meme has long amused me. You can no more "bury" a story by breaking it on a Friday than you can "elevate" one by breaking it on a Monday.
A big story (such as a Governor resigning...) is a big story. It dominated the Friday news. It is dominating today's news. It will dominate tomorrow's talking-head shows. It will dominate Monday's shows.
Then, when she resigns, it will dominate the news.
Then, when she starts doing what she plainly told us she was going to do, she will dominate the news again.
And, all the while, both the left and the right will be searching for her motivations even though she plainly told us her motivations.
They, too, view her as a "politician" while she views herself as a "public servant." They will never understand her.