Sarah Palin Please Stop the Shout Outs, Shut Up and Go Find Your Purpose

In 2002, Renee (not her real name) was a director of Public Liaison for the White House. She had meetings with African American Civil Rights Leaders, activists, educators and entrepreneurs to build coalitions for the President. One leader she sought to cultivate a relationship with was Dorothy I. Height, Chair and President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women. Then at age 90, Mrs. Height was highly regarded by President Bush as one of the most powerful women in the nation. When Mrs. Height wanted to get something done, all she had to do was ask.

One afternoon, Renee invited Mrs. Height to lunch in the White House dining room. Mrs. Height arrived in a wheel chair dressed in her Sunday best wearing her signature hat. As the two of them ate, Mrs. Height recalled her life challenges fighting for the cause of justice and equality. Renee listened carefully to the historical icon walk down memory lane. When it was her turn to speak she asked "Mrs. Height, what is your philosophy on success?" In a soft, but firm voice, Mrs. Height looked into Renee's eyes, and said, "The secret to success is to have purpose and not ambition. Ambition is wreckless, but purpose keeps you grounded." It's a shame Sarah Palin does not know who Dorothy Height is, she could benefit from her wisdom.

Palin suffers from serious political cabin fever. Since she and John McCain lost the election, Palin has broken out on a tour-de-gab with the media. Palin has talked so much she is beginning to run out of things to say and like a scratched CD, she is back to repeating those tired key message campaign points that helped to shape her superficial empty suitcase image. More damaging, Palin is now becoming certifiably shrill. She is alienating Republican heads who know she was an Affirmative Action candidate not qualified to be vice president. They faked their support and pretended Palin was the second coming to the Republican Party.

It is understandable Palin is peeved about the outcome of the election, but she denies any responsibility for her part in the loss. Not wanting to look in the mirror and reflect on the gashes in her armor is a bad sign. She was completely unprepared and thought winging it with sassy lines was good enough. Even more so the caricature she has become to mainstream media and the American public (particularly a large number of women from all ages) forces her to have to try and defend herself. However, if Palin wants to salvage her political career and become any type of force in the Republican Party or at the top of Newt Gingrich's so called 20-30 emerging Republican leaders list, what she needs to do right now is to stop the shout outs, shut up, and go find your purpose.

Palin may want to begin to look at her ambitious desire to be politically powerful to see if her will to power translates into something that brings about authentic leadership for building a new Republican Party, one overthrown by the American electorate with the election of Barack Obama as President and a healthy gain of Democratic seats in Congress.

Palin's personal ambition is a real blind spot. She ignored her team of Governors at the Republican Governor's Association meeting last week. Instead of showing team leadership, she opted for one-on-one interviews. In a glaze she stumbled through her lines in the group Press Conference.

As Republicans begin to fight it out on who should be the new "leader," whether they like it or not they will either have to completely embrace Sarah Palin and work with her on deciding what public role she will play in the new Republican party remix. On the other hand, the Party could completely close ranks and annihilate her politically by socially discrediting her to the point where they hope she goes away. However, some have already tried, and Sarah Barracuda is still standing looking to speak to any one with an open microphone.

Palin desperately needs a Dorothy Height in her life. A mentor or someone who can help her create a vision, mission and true purpose for wanting to lead others. Perhaps Senator Kay Bailey-Hutchinson from Texas can help her? Or maybe after Liddy Dole mourns her loss, she can share with Palin what it is like really like to climb the Republican ladder in a world full of very eager, aggressive and pompous men and then fall flat on your face politically. Right now it appears there are no wise, prominent and conservative Republican women willing to do anything to help her. This is very telling about Palin's true appeal and lack of sisterhood. Perhaps she needs conservative hell fire and brimstone sage Pat Buchanan to become the Socrates in her life.

If Palin doesn't find purpose, cannot organize herself around real leadership goals that can transcend her message beyond the narrow base of the Republican party; and if she continues her unbridled ambition, her followers she garnered during the campaign and even her constituency support in Alaska will begin to erode. She will become a thing of the past on what woulda, coulda or shoulda been.

Comments

[RobertAndropolis]

Ms. Davis, I read your impressive biography and immediately thought how you are so much more qualified to run for president than the subject of your article is or ever will be. Your extensive international exposure indicates a thirst for knowledge. Your directive to Ms. Palin to "find her purpose" is well-intentioned, but falls on deaf ears. The only purpose Ms. Palin has ever had is herself and her insatiable, god-fueled, god-endorsed ambition.

In high school, where she earned the uncomplimentary moniker "Sarah Barracuda," her teammates described her playing style as "fiercely competitive." It is no accident that colleagues have used the same exact phrase to describe fellow ramrod politician Donald Rumsfeld's racquetball playing style. Her decisiveness is myopic and excessive, brashly covering for a severe lack of judgment or desire to challenge herself.

A person cannot be implored to find their purpose; they must long to do so themselves, to fill a chasm only they can feel within their heart, within their soul, and not for political expediency. Ms. Palin's unremarkable academic wanderings suggest a blindness toward living an examined life. Her speaking tone defaults with unsettling ease to sarcasm, a particular irony in that it implies her audience is uninformed, is of lesser intelligence; on further reflection, given the general boisterous response to her fear mongering, perhaps they are.

While your motivation to enlighten Ms. Palin is admirable, you are attempting to give a blood transfusion to a turnip.

[Teleos1]

RobertAndropolis,

Your words are too kind. Thank you. I have traveled the world extensively. One of my mentors Marty Linsky wrote a book entitled, 'Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading, (2002). In this book he and his co-author (of whom I took a Masters class from) Ron Heifetz discuss the hungers of leaders and how leaders who allow their hungers, personal struggles or in the case of Gov. Palin ambition can destroy themselves. Instead of getting on the balcony and recognizing the personal climate the person is creating for themselves, they just forge forward falling deeper and deeper until either something terrible happens to them (literally or figuratively), or their followers or they become shrill and people move on.

Right now, I have three mentors. One to listen to to hear on how they handle things through out their life (particularly challenges), and the second to exchange ideas and thoughts and get feedback (Marty). Third, this mentor is my father. Although he does not have a formal education, he has completely mentored me more through the rough and tumble in life and in the circles where the sharks swim and the wolves roll in packs.

Two mentors I speak to almost on a daily basis. The other mentor, I speak too when I need to, when I just want to catch up, exchange ideas and get bold feedback. All of mentors serve various purposes in my life.

Thank you. Be well.

Yvonne R. Davis

[hardlyhikin]

I'm pretty sure that God opened a door and offered Sarah Palin an opportunity; unfortunately she hasn't figured out that the Creator was telling her the opportunity was to go through the door and back to Alaska. There should be no opportunities for Sad Sarah on the national political stage, her moment should be over.

But if she insists, we Democrats will welcome her sorry derriere back into the limelight whenever she wishes. Such easy pickings! The only problem is it's hard to maintain your toughness when you're air boxing a vacuum.

[LardGreystoke]

The Republican party itself is suffering from ruthless ambition combined with complete lack of purpose.

They went to great lengths to steal the election in 2000 - for what? 9/11 provided real focus for a minute, but literally within days they shifted attention to Iraq because a handful of neocon lunatics wanted to change the pretty colors on the map. Aside from tax breaks to campaign contributors Mr Bush had his hands completely off the economic steering wheel, with what results we need not mention.

Dorothy Height for Ambassador to the UN.

[Teleos1]

You know Mrs. Height is now 96 years old! God Bless!

Yvonne R. Davis

[BJD44]

This is a superb blog! Well done! Wow.....

As someone who was also raised in an Assemblies of God church, and as a 53-year-old Caucasian, single, full-time working Mom of a son with Down syndrome, I totally agree on the part where you drill home that she's seemingly obsessed with the power of politics. Being a born-again Christian, you should not be ever going into politics and thinking that. And even I have a problem with her talking about God providing the doors and her 'busting' through them. Her lack of any humility is a lesson to be learned by all of us. And I truly believe it will be her total downfall.

Can you imagine all those 'old boys' of the Republican party actually LIKING to taking a back seat to this woman? Puleezzeee...... I can only imagine what kinds of conversations are going on behind closed doors. I would love to be a fly on the walls!!!

Yup!!!

[Teleos1]

BJD44,

I appreciate your very kind words. Thank you. I appreciate you amplifying my point about the men in the Republican Party not liking that Sarah Palin could become the titular head of the party. This is why Newt Gingrich said that interesting statement about Palin in the midst of 20-30 leaders. Who really thinks there are 20-30 emerging Republican leaders right now or in the near future. It was a nice way of slamming her down.

I also agree that we must be very careful on how we discuss Christianity and our personal walk with Jesus Christ in the political realm. It can get twisted.

Yvonne R. Davis

[Jenni213]

Im excited about Sarah!

She will bring world peace and american pride back!!

She will be the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln

[BJD44]

OMG! I hope you're being sarcastic, because if you aren't, I really fear for your lack of total judgment.....whoa.....

[LardGreystoke]

I'm betting on sarcastic, per the reference to "world peace" - classic beauty contest line.

[kjstjohn]

Sarah Palin is one of the most fascinating piblic figures I have ever known. Part of the fascination, I am ashamed to admit, seems like the guilty pleasure I feel when I watch the American Idol auditions. The chasm that separates the self-perceived talent of some of the singers and the general consensus regarding the singer's talent is a source of never-ceasing amazement to me. What makes Sarah Palin especially intriguing is that she is just like one of the cringingly-bad auditioners on American Idol but there is no consensus among the judges about her.

[Teleos1]

Kjstjohn,

Wow, what a great and interesting analogy. What becomes of most idol auditions that don't make it? They usually disappear. But now and then, you get a few that because they sang so unusually terrible, but had that appeal they soar and become a temporary darling of America. During the 15 to 30 minutes of fame they experience, they make their mark. Remember that young man who could not hold a tune and he sang Ricky Martin's song, "She Bangs?" Well he got famous. It can happen for Sarah Palin. I mean a $7-million book deal ain't so bad. The question is what is her vision for leadership? Is it something real? Thank you for your post.

Yvonne R. Davis

[RobertAndropolis]

Her vision for leadership is competitive, not cooperative.

[johnqsittinzen]

"next to of course god america i
love you land of the pilgrims' and so forth oh
say can you see by the dawn's early my
country tis of centuries come and go
and are no more what of it we should worry
in every language even deafanddumb
thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry
by jingo by gee by gosh by gum
why talk of beauty what could be more beaut-
iful than these heroic happy dead
who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter
they did not stop to think they died instead
then shall the voice of liberty be mute?"

He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water

-- e.e. cummings

by jingo by gee by gosh by gum
all we ever get from Sarah Pal-un

And all we will ever get. There is no there, there, and if she hasn't got it by this stage of the game, she never will, and not even a team of well intentioned mentors could give it to her.

[kjstjohn]

johnqsittinzen, thanks for that. I enjoyed the apt literary reference and share your opinion that Sarah Palin does not have "it."

[TrampleLad]

I hope she runs....She won't win, but it would be worth it for the yucks. I thought the over-grown fratboy Bush was out of his league when running. He now looks like a sage compared to her. The dumbing -down of the Republican party continues.....

I can see myself having a beer and barbecue with this candidate....gee, they would make a great president!

[Teleos1]

Obama's win is restoring America's leadership from mediocrity to excellence. I totally get your point and thank you for your comments.

Yvonne R. Davis

[millertime]

great blog...and I completely agree. Palin actually got caught up in believing all the hype surrounding her. Unfortunately, she was not the person that was originally advertised by the Republican party. Yes, she was able to get support of the FAR-Right...but that isn't nearly as challenging as getting people that don't share your social views to accept your political views. The fact of the matter seems to be that she is addicted to the spotlight right now, and isn't willing to give it up quite yet. As a Democrat, I strongly hope that she stays very visible in the political news....she has the uncommon appeal of a traffic accident, you always say you aren't going to look, but you end up looking because you never truly know what you might see. As sick as I am of hearing about her, I just know that she has something incredibly stupid to say, and I don't want to miss it!!

[Cloball]

I don't want to miss it either!!! OMG!!!!

[Jamchinadian]

I agree with what you say. Unfortunately, Katie Couric was the only media type who actually conducted an interview. The "senior" staff at CNN (maybe "seniors" is a more appropriate term) like Blitzer and King simply cue her in to her campaign gibberish and never push back on the nonsensical responses.

[kjstjohn]

Katie Couric was the unsung hero of this election season. It is a sad commentary on the MSM but she will be remembered in history for her courageous decision to act like a real journalist.

[Cloball]

Couric's interview brought out those conservative journalists who wrote columns against Palin. I don't think Brooks, Parker, or Will had written their columns before Palin's interview with Couric.

We owe Katie big time!

[RachelMc]

well i like sarah palin being in the news. its not like ppl actually take her seriously. well most. i think the media likes her cuz she's good material. i like to read about her irrational comments. too bad she hasn't figured out that she's only popular cuz she's like a symbol of what not to do. plus the more she talks the more her favorability drops and thats great since maybe she'll run in 2012 if god cracks a door open for her.

[VirgoGrrrlie]

Killer Barbie a.k.a. Shrieking Sarah Palin is still a fave toy for the media - the rest of us have turned our attention to more important things: the upcoming Inauguration and administration of a REAL President and Vice-President. "Onwards & Upwards" with democracy - to HELL with neo-con theocracy, especially when preached amidst "shout-outs" by a Bible-thumping bimbo.

[denholt]

Actually, Sarah Palin DID select a mentor during the campaign, remember? It was Elizabeth Hasselbeck. I wonder how that relationship is going? LOL

[Zenfull]

Palin has a substantial following among low-education working folks as well as educated middle-class conservatives with strong religious affiliations who respond to simple descriptions and quick solutions to our complicated problems. These people love angry rhetoric from talk jock radio and revel in Sarah's "plain talk" and "common folk" appeal. They represent a lot of those voters from the Appalachian swarth of red in our country and in the other areas of America where fear and loathing of accented immigrants, Black people, Muslims, Gays and abortion advocates is alive and well. These Americans will continue to respond to the Sarah Palin simplicity unless the conservative movement in this country disowns bigotry and hate speech among their own ranks. Barack Obama is reaching out to his rivals to change how we treat one another. Some in the Republican Party are responding because they see the damage that the populist demogoguery has done to their own political unity and influence among the moderate American majority. Let us hope that principled leaders of the Republican Party are successful in discrediting Sarah Palin or we may well see a neo-fascist political faction gain support in 2012 with Sarah Palin as their spokesperson.

[moeg]

Perfectly said.

[trmccoyx]

I really don't care much about Sarah Palin's future on any national scene, but stories like this amaze me. Ms. Davis, have noticed that your personal choice for president won the election? You seem to complain that Sarah Palin in still in the news, yet it is woeful reportage` like this that keeps it so. What is your problem and the problem of so many ill patrons here that feel the continued need to grind on this woman. I can't determine if is the need to get over the ignorance of not having known about Ms. Palin in the first place, or the arrogance that is just typical of the liberal mindset.

Hopefully you feel better about yourselves by venting this little diddy of a story and all of your respective caustic comments, but the bottom line is that Sarah Palin was doing fine before she got on the silly McCain bandwagon and she will probably be fine going forward without all of your respective coaching and counseling. When some of you can list a set of accomplishments to match hers, then, maybe the world will care about anything you have to say.

[fedupinfla]

We continue to talk about her because she continues to thrust herself on the public stage. Palin is the one who can't seem to get over the fact that the election is over and her ticket lost.

As for her "doing fine before she got on the silly bandwagon of McCain"....I'd hardly call it fine that she left a small town of 6000 people almost $20M in debt, built a sports complex on land the city doesn't even own which is causing them even more in legal fees, questioned the possibility of banning books, faced an abuse of power charge, & let her hubby sit in on making state decisions. And lets not forget all the numerous lies this woman told about her so-called "accomplishments"... Remember the stupid "bridge to nowhere"?? The jet sold on e-bay?? How about charging victims for their own rape kits??

I, for one, don't WANT a list of accomplishments like hers.... No sane person WOULD!!

[trmccoyx]

You've proven yourself capable of drinking the Kool-aid. If your citations were accurate, why do you think she has an 80+% approval rating. I'm sure you will arrogantly note from Florida that Alaskans are just that stupid.

For intelligent people that have paid attention to the country as a whole, Sarah Palin was very visible before August of 2008. I guess that doesn't describe this audience.

[Teleos1]

Hi trmccoyx,

Thank you for your comments. If Sarah Palin can pull together a real plan for herself with a vision and purpose and get herself really prepared, she could become a great force to be reckoned with. Hence the reason she needs to get help.

Yvonne R. Davis

[Cloball]

Yes, Sarah Palin was doing fine before McCain picked her.

Ask the police chief how he liked getting fired. Yeah, Palin was a real hero in Alaska.

[LaKane]

"When some of you can list a set of accomplishments to match hers, then, maybe the world will care about anything you have to say."

It would do her much good to care about "anything we have to say" -- we are the voting public.

The fact of the matter is, this article has been MUCH more kind than most and it underscores a very important point - the woman is out there literally going from microphone to microphone... and for what? With what purpose? What's the motive behind it? Finally being so excited to have the gag order removed and be able to enjoy your spotlight without a leash? If that's it, then so be it.

But for someone who seems to have political ambition beyond being a has-been failed VP candidate, she's not making legitimate use of that time she's been given... hence Yvonne's point. Someone tell the woman to start making use of the audiences she's now capturing. People actually - dare I say it - give a partial damn about what's she's saying on the screen... and she's squandering the opportunity repeatedly. Give'r a purpose to help her focus her ramblings. A purpose to help her focus her ambitions. A purpose to get her to say something beyond "Ey, if God Almighty opens a door, I'll plow right through it, even if prematurely."

For real. Don't be so in love with a politician that you can't see their shortcomings. We saw enough of that this year.

[Maisey]

trmccoyx,
It is not the writing that is keeping Sarah Palin in the public spectre- she is stopping by every news desk she can find.
Additionally, her accomplishments are actually quite limited. I notice that you did not mention ANY of her so-called accomplishments.
Her ambition shows an ugly side of her personality that is quite unnecessary. She overcompensates for what she is truly lacking- ethics, education and a vision. Your argument is unconvincing.