Well, I guess it is all but official now: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has just announced that she will resign from office in late July 2009 to "affect positive change from outside government." Sounds like a noble thing to do, but as someone who has followed politics for the past 20 years or so I can tell you it is a "bogus" statement which is simply code for "I'm running for president."
As a lifelong moderate-centrist Republican woman I want to offer the soon-to-be former governor and presumed GOP nominee hopeful in 2012 some unsolicited, but hopefully useful political counsel:
1. Surround yourself with political advisors who have real life experience and who get that the GOP has to "broaden" its base, not shrink it to be successful in 2010 and 2012. Do not recycle the same old hacks that have run our political party into the ground over the last 8-12 years. It will be your undoing.
2. Reach out to the bigger GOP tent -- you have the love and support of the GOP Conservative base. I was there in Leesburg, Virginia a few days before the 2008 election covering your speech to about 7,000 Virginians for XM's POTUS08 and you did a great job. You are at your best when you are being yourself -- get out and mix it up with the people and you will do well. Your 2008 GOP Convention Speech was fabulous -- you need to sound like that woman every time you speak, give an interview, etc.
3. Build coalitions -- Governor, respectfully you cannot win the nomination in 2012 if you try to do it as the "old boys" do it. My money is on Mitt Romney in 2012. The GOP loves to give the nomination to people that they feel are "owed" their chance -- Bush '41, Dole, McCain. The "boys" will start to tear you apart now that you have stepped into the arena -- so get ready. You had better have some smart women, and people of color around you who can build real inroads for you nationally in diverse communities. This is the only shot you have of winning the nomination in 2012. Period.
4. Take time to learn and educate yourself about world affairs -- go get a degree from the Kennedy School of Government, Lecture at some universities in Europe, take some courses in foreign affairs from Heritage or Cato. You must do better when you speak to the American people about serious issues of national importance. President Obama's charisma covers for his shortcomings as a serious student of foreign affairs, etc. You have this possibility also, but you are not quite there yet. Work on this seriously over the next 12 months or so.
5. Be a woman of conviction. I admire your spunk, passion, and grit in running for office in Alaska and ascending to the Governorship of Alaska in such a short time -- but you are in the arena now -- be a woman of your word. Fight for change, reform, inspire people, speak truth, be a consensus builder not a divider, refocus Americans on our founding documents and principles -- we need that now. If you prove that you can do this, it will serve you well in 2010 for a Senate run or in 2012 for the presidential nomination.
This is my immediate reaction to what Gov. Palin needs to do in order to be taken seriously as a candidate for federal office in either 2010 or 2012. If she can hunker down, stay out of trouble, write a serious best-selling memoir and show herself able to speak to serious national issues she will be as they say " a real contender."
Follow Sophia A. Nelson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/http://twitter.
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
For someone frsh from college looking to perhaps begin a career in politics.
And that's an awfully late start for the better statesmen and women our country has produced.
There is no 'instant fix' for Sarah Palin. There is nothing she can do in 2 or even 4 years to suddenly become a voracious reader, a truly inquisitive thinker, a woman of ideas based on both relevant experiences and the wise words of many whom have traveled this road before.
Ms. Palin is who she is, and WYSIWYG. No more, no less. Let it go and share you wise checklist with high school students interested in serving their country. You know, like President Obama.
In 2006, when asked if he was running for President in 2008, Michelle Obama jumped in for her husband and replied, Why? He hasn't done anything.
So Palin, you are half way there. Whether you make it or not, time will tell.
At least one thing is for sure, you have their attention.
an embarrassment to us.
2- Her convention speech was a disaster. Yes, it added some life to the campaign, but that's only because John McCain (who was brought back to life by extracting DNA from fossilised amber) was hardly setting hearts and minds on fire.
3 - If Mitt Romney holds your hopes for 2012, you may as well just give up now.
4 - Do you really think Sarah Palin would be able to lecture at a European university? Seriously?
Since when is Obama coming up short on foreign affairs? So far, he's handled foreign affairs superbly (by using the innovative approach of thinking, rather than dropping bombs randomly on the wrong countries).
5- Her passion and grit for what? Hypocrisy? Using her "moral standards" as a platform but being unable to even convince her daughter Bristol to live up to them?
This article is unintentional comedy at its best.
Ms. Nelson, have you forgotten Sarah Palin's behavior at her rallies? Remember back... Try to think of the one circumstance where you EVER saw a black person at a Palin rally.
I'll refresh your recollection. He was a camera man for a news organization.
And Palin did NOTHING when her audience shouted "Sit down, BOY!" at the fully grown man.
So yeah, there's more than a little incredulity that you, Ms. Nelson, apparently think we people of color are so stupid that we would fall in love with Sarah Palin if she got a degree from the Kennedy School and surrounded herself with Michael Steele types.
Your whole article reeks with this taint.
importance. President Obama's charisma covers for his shortcomings as a serious student of
foreign affairs, etc. "
Was Ms. Nelson joking?!?!?! President Obama's speech in Cairo and his response to the uprising in Iran have demonstrated his chops as a VERY serious student of foreign affairs. He was very succinct, almost prescient, in stating the origins Iran's mistrust of us. It was his knowledge of Iran's history that informed his actions.
Regardless of one's religious beliefs, that needed to be said. It is such a welcome change to have maturity and calm reflection in the Oval Office, rather than the hypermacho flightsuit-wearing posturing of a guy who was AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard talking about "Operation Infinite Justice" and "crusades."
I think President Obama has a better grasp of foreign policy than any Republican President since Eisenhower.
I hope she runs a long and vicious primary campaign that completes the ruination of the GOP.
She is not running for 2012. She is quitting probably because she can no longer maintain her facade.
1. She doesn't like to study. It's sooooooooo boring!
2. She thinks she already knows everything she needs to know to be president, so why bother?