Freedom Isn't Free -- We Still Aren't Free of Sarah Palin

Happy Independence Day, on the eve of which we've been reminded that we are FAR from declaring our national independence from the Sarah Palin addiction.

After watching her rambling, disjointed "W-T-F Moment" as she announced she's not only not running for reelection as Alaska's governor but she's bailing out now, I guess what I'm doing is marveling. It's just really impressive what human flypaper this woman is. After all, this actually pushed the Michael Jackson obsession off the top of the headline list, for Pete's sake.

Palin may still have some conservatives still singing Sarah-nades, from columnist Rich ("Sigh! She winked at ME!") Lowry to TV elder Pat Buchanan who clings to what seems uncomfortably like a dirty-old-man pipe-dream. But Charles Krauthammer evidently harbors few such fantasies, sniffing that she's "not a serious candidate for the presidency." No kidding, Chuck!

Sarah Palin makes me want to run screaming into the night. This newest jumbled speech of hers leaves me aghast that anybody finds her appealing -- at least once you get beyond her looks. She's still physically fetching enough and cameras everywhere, from either side of the aisle, still adore her. I suspect some of her appeal may finally fade as she ages. By then, perhaps, her addled, disconnected statements won't be so excusable. It may not be postpartum depression as some McCain aides speculated in recently-released emails. It may be signs of the early onset of dementia. How else would you explain her insistence that anyone who hunkers down and stays on the job to try to get along and maybe work something out anyway is really a quitter and she won't go there -- which, of course, is why she's resigning?

Huh?

There are some political observers from Keith Olbermann onward who gleefully rub their hands together, hoping she'll stay on the front-lines forever. They, too, can't get enough -- but not for the same reasons in Rich Lowry's dreams. They celebrate her as a national pet rock, her enduring popularity still inexplicable, her enduring image growing all the more ridiculous. They relish her sticking around as a target for hilarity figuring this pretty weirdo will make anyone running against her look even better. Well, okay -- if you insist.

I don't look forward to that -- AT ALL. I don't care if she does make any Democratic opponent look brighter merely by opening her mouth. I wish she'd shut up and go away. There's almost no one other than Dick Cheney and George W. Bush whom I'd rather hear less from, again. The embarrassment is very nearly crushing. I'm humiliated for other women politicians who have this trainwreck of a template to live down. That Palin remains one of the highest-profile of female pols is frankly an insult to what many of us have worked toward for years. Yes, ladies, women have finally proven that even the flakiest among them can crack the last glass ceiling. Yippee -- I guess.

I cringe to think that Palin's announcement means that we will have her to kick around indefinitely. She's not going to do the decent thing at long last and go quietly, and gracefully, into private life. No such luck. There'll be the book, the inevitable speaking tour, the guaranteed 24/7 TV profiles and interviews and media sideshows. There'll be the perpetual campaign pitches that she's already threatened to give across the "lower 48" for any candidate who really loves America and those admirable Republican Sanford/Craig/Ensign/Gingrich/Vitter values. I'm sure Fox News is already talking to her representatives about a "Huckabee for Good-Ol'-Gals" hour or some such nauseating nonsense.

Sarah, if you claim the family you wear the way some of your colleagues drape themselves in the flag is delighted that you're bailing out, why not go all the way? Show America you've really got guts and just quit, PERIOD. You'd be doing more effective public service to your country than the savviest community organizer you've ever publicly scorned. You'd even have the last laugh over David Letterman -- denying him and others like him any further fresh material. Ironically, you've announced your babbling bailout on the eve of Independence Day. The people of Alaska may indeed finally be free of you. Unfortunately, the rest of us are about to become hostages.

Comments

[lifesucks]

RGA Statement on Governor Palin’s Announcement:

Republican Governors Association Executive Director Nick Ayers issued the following statement in regards to Sarah Palin’s announcement today that she will not seek reelection in 2010 and will step down from the governorship on July 25th.

“While we regret the news announced by Governor Palin today, Alaska will continue to have a Republican governor through 2010 and we are confident the state will elect a Republican in next year’s election.

The RGA’s focus remains firmly on the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia this year, and the 37 gubernatorial elections that will take place in 2010. We know that winning these races is the most important task facing our Party over the next two years.”


Nuff said...

[lifesucks]

Thank you Mary - finally someone who gets it.

That Palin remains one of the highest-profile of female pols is frankly an insult to what many of us have worked toward for years. Yes, ladies, women have finally proven that even the flakiest among them can crack the last glass ceiling. Yippee -- I guess.

[IslandGyal]

Great article; thanks.

[mitsie]

Thank you, you have written what I have been thinking since last September. She scares me also, and not because I am a Democrat, but because I love America, and I don't think she is competent or capable of ever being President.

[henrypapillon]

She reveals by her last speech what an airhead she really is and on this 4th of July how thankful we can all be that she and John McCain weren't elected.

[abbienormal]

I'm worried that she will become a Limbaugh-like figure with the same level of exposure. We could be in for years of her spewing hateful venom, just like in the campaign, with well financed support.

[lifesucks]

There does seem to be this need to be mean and nasty instead of using words in an articulate cohesive manner coupled with facts and supporting information. Apparently, it's easier for her to throw out terms like "socialist" as if that's all that needs to said.

I for one am curious to see where all of "this" gets her; according to her spokesperson - SP has lots of offers, I guess being the Gov of AK just wasn't good enough.

[Cat401]

Amen....We­ll put and I strongly agree with your article.

[Scooterfoot]

Great post.

Find it hard to believe the someone convinced her that she could be a viable candidate for 2012. Let's face it, will Romney, Jindhal and the gang NOT bring up her quitting her post in Alaska...t­hen assuming she is the Republican candidate, the Democrats won't tear her to shreds. I guess perhaps if over the next few years she boohoos that everyone is picking on little ol'moi...s­ome will be sympathetic and vote for her for all the wrong reasons.

And if it becomes apparent that she's scrounging for money - book deal, FOX pundit, etc. then she is truly representative of the Republican party - money first, country...­hum, not sure where they put that on their priority list.

If she were not a "beauty queen", did not have fashion flair, etc....no one would have paid attention to her...she would have also been passed over for VP. But, smarter heads prevailed and they opened Pandora's box. I see McCain squirming.­..if asked he will say all the right things, however, his lack of backbone to "just say no" to Sarah has now threatened to further polarize our country and make us again the laughing stock of the world.

[jennbeez]

John McCain has to live every day with the knowledge that he might have won were it not for his beauty queen running mate. I believe Ms. Palin has even beaten Hillary for high negatives, and fully believe she will top even George Bush before it's over.

[StillMadMatt]

I hope she did have an affair or something really HOT!!!!!!!!

[StLBoy]

Unfortunately, Palin's only infatuation -- other than power -- is with the nearest mirror.

[Harold Stone]

I'm wondering if party pix from the old days have surfaced.

[Freesia2]

"national pet rock". lol

Oh but were she indeed a cuddly little mineral. Maybe a Chia pet.

But that voice and the idiotic things it says are going to be with us for a very long time. The only way to be a fake and not be found out (as if we haven't already, long ago) is to keep faking. We'll be listening to her gargle her adenoids for a long time to come.

[PhilipB]

Mary Lyon,
I enjoyed reading your post.
I like your insight with common sense with a dash of humor.
Happy 4th!