On Sarah Palin and Independence
John Fund has an interesting piece on WSJ this morning about the reasons for Sarah Palin’s abdication of the Governor’s Mansion in Juneau last week. Part of his theory goes that she was fed up with all the negative attention, and, lacking the naked and cut-throat desire for power and influence, she simply hung it up.
Of course, her decision has drawn criticism from all sides. Those who have believed in her find it a disappointment that she’s left politics. Many who supported her are scratching their heads, wondering if the ‘ploy’ will pay off for 2012 (or maybe 2016). Of course, many of her detractors are filled with glee that they’ve sent her running for the North Shore (among them, few who could fathom that she is being sincere–after all, who in her right mind wouldn’t want to run for high office? Here’s a hint: There are people who don’t think like you.)
Anyway, this kind of hit me when a friend mentioned to me today that he wished we could find a “hero” in politics these days, lamenting the feet of clay even the vaunted seem to have. This got me to thinking…
I wish more people would find themselves to be heroes rather than hoping for one (least of all from the government) in somebody else. Perhaps that’s what the problem is these days: Instead of being fully-functional and independent individuals, we’ve become accustomed to expecting someone else to help lift us up, whether literally with our lot in life or simply lifting our spirits.
Bailouts, take-overs, ‘universal healthcare’, etc. These are symptoms of a society wherein too few take responsibility for themselves.
Frankly, I’d be satisfied with a leader who says, “Enough is enough! Start taking care of yourselves and your families!”
Not that I’m foreswearing all heroes, and certainly I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t look up to those who have done great things. But perhaps Sarah Palin can (if this is what she chooses to do) serve as an example of someone who shows Americans that they can be the ones to make the “Changes” that they want to see, and that they can do so without being (or depending on) a member of the government. In turn, those “Hoping” for “Change” won’t feel the need to elect those who will bring it about (and thus subject us all to their whims), but can do it themselves.
Kind of like a “community organizer” without delusions of grandeur.
What do y’all think?
-Nick (ColoradoPatriot), From Southern Command.
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I’m not convinced Sarah Palin is angling for the presidency, but I do have a rather radical take on why resigning might be a part of her strategy and might work despite the tsk-tsk of the chattering class.
Clearly, there is a substantial libertarian anti-socialist sentiment growing in the country. There’s a large and mostly disenfranchised bloc of voters who are fed up with the political establishment… numbers that are likely to grow as the Obamacrats push a very expensive agenda that restricts freedoms even more. (Needing permission from the government to sell your house being just one example from the Cap and Trade bill.)
By resigning, she is freeing herself from the political establishment. She can voice opposition to the Obamunist agenda without facing ethics complaints from Democrat operatives like Linda Kellen Biegle. She doesn’t have to worry about elections, she can say what she wants. And with the tea parties showing how angry people are with the current government, she may provide a figure for anyone whose opposed to the status quo to rally around.
Palin-Beck 2012? Not likely, but an interesting thought experiment.
Comment by V the K — July 8, 2009 @ 2:36 pm - July 8, 2009
Hey, notice how no one of the Michael Jackson sychophants ever placed ANY responsibility on the late gloved one himself? Every one else caused him to be a weirdo. We are in an age where the mantra is “Its not my fault!”
Comment by Mark J. Goluskin — July 8, 2009 @ 2:52 pm - July 8, 2009
It’s a double-edged sword. Although Palin doesn’t likely place a high value on power, our media-centric information economy demands explanations for seemingly random behavior and cannot, by definition, accept a speech at face value no matter how honestly it may have been delivered. Thus, she cannot win.
If she has plans to continue her political career with a position in an energy policy think tank or beginning the speech circuit, she would do well to start soon. Speculation (“She can’t handle it, so she’s unfit for higher office…”, “I told you during the campaign she should never have accepted the nomination for VP with that many kids and Palin herself just admitted I was right…”, etc.) is going to seriously harm her abilities to use this time to her advantage the longer it goes on.
As for looking for heroes, those I seek are those who understand that I want to return to a society where we don’t depend upon the elected. It’s a contradiction, but only because the only way to change the political culture is to elect those who can effect such change. This is one reason I’m dead-set against third parties: the only way you can change this country is to be involved in a viable way, so although I’m more of a libertarian than a conservative, I vote Republican. To some, this might seem a sellout, but I consider those who abandon politics in frustration to be the sellouts.
Comment by Ignatius — July 8, 2009 @ 3:08 pm - July 8, 2009
At this point, being a part of the Republican establishment is a political liability. Being outside of it is the best place for her, regardless of what her ambitions may be.
Comment by V the K — July 8, 2009 @ 4:47 pm - July 8, 2009
I completely agree that Americans are growing accustomed to the idea of being taken care of instead of doing things for themselves. It’s why we are where we are. What do we expect in a society where government tells you how much you can have of this, when you can and cant do that. how much you should make, how much you should pay, who you can and cannot associate with, and on and on….cradle to grave baby, we’re there!
Do you mean the North Slope? North Shore is in Hawaii.
Comment by American Elephant — July 8, 2009 @ 7:48 pm - July 8, 2009
I don’t see why a resigned governor couldn’t be president. The current Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars had even less experience and nobody gave a crap. What’s more, we know far more about Palin than we do that arrogant chump.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 8, 2009 @ 7:58 pm - July 8, 2009
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