(July 11, 2009): Palin's View of "Professional Politicians" (SP Twitter)

[CGP]

Problem w/Professional Politicians:They're more concerned w/holding a title in perpetuity than just accomplishing goals they promised voters


http://twitter.com/AKGovSarahPalin

[Spang]

Did Sarah Palin promise her voters that she'd quit?

[Laura Cereta]

It will be interesting to see what she is able (or not able) to accomplish without the title.

[CGP]

It will be interesting to see what she is able (or not able) to accomplish without the title.

One thing is clear - both her fans and her critics are paying attention!

[Gender Neutrality]

here's Sarah in the last couple of days on a local Alaska radio talk show (http://www.thesarahpalinblog.com/2009/07/palin-ethics-attacks-from-obamas.html)

[Kbentleyis]

LMAO!! Go Sarah--and no ethics BS can touch her! Palin Ethics Attacks From Obama's Playbook

The Playbook is "Rules for Radicals" by Saul Alinsky. Sarah Palin talked about the book when she appeared on the Michael Duke's talk radio show in Fairbanks, Alaska.

[PA_Voter]

It will be interesting to see what she is able (or not able) to accomplish without the title.

I think it will be very interesting. And, I'm glad she's putting an end to the waste of taxpayer's money.

Regarding the tactics, IMO they are the same that O used on Hillary during the Primary....

[CGP]

I think it will be very interesting. And, I'm glad she's putting an end to the waste of taxpayer's money.

I wonder what the financial cost is, to Alaskan taxpayers, of her handing over her job at this point in time and resigning. There must be some cost involved, surely.

[Spang]

There must be some cost involved, surely.

I'm sure a lot of money was raised for her campaign. A lot of money wasted. Also, who did she beat? I bet that guy wouldn't be quitting right now.

[Tybee]

Did Sarah Palin promise her voters that she'd quit?


Broken record.

[Alces95]

Broken record.

Pot kettle...Kettle pot. :surprise:

To the OP subject-

This is one of the reasons that I haven't tuned in on SP. Voters like a little more spine in their leadership. Resigning misses the opportunity cost for her state that elected her.

Ron Paul was asked during the campaign why he didn't run as a Libertarian. He answered that he was recently elected as a republican and owed it to voters to stick to what he said he would do. (Its killing me I can't find the source....) Thats a better example of how to act. I think he got the worse treatment during the campaign - they were personal but the media ignored him and he had a pretty big group of follows. Now look, the GOP is more in line with what he was saying and they ignored him. While I didn't vote for him, I can respect his actions here.

[PA_Voter]

I wonder what the financial cost is, to Alaskan taxpayers, of her handing over her job at this point in time and resigning. There must be some cost involved, surely.

Yes I agree there are costs, but I also think they pale in comparison to the cost of defending law suits that would probably continue to be filed on a monthly basis for the next two years....

[Laura Cereta]

Broken record.

Agreed. Regardless of your opinion of Palin or her resignation, saying the same thing over and over does not really stimulate discussion.

[Spang]

Agreed. Regardless of your opinion of Palin or her resignation, saying the same thing over and over does not really stimulate discussion.

She's a quitter. She's done. Stick a fork in her.

[Laura Cereta]

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something."-- Plato

[Spang]

May as well add fool to the long list of horrible things I am. :thumbsup:

[StacyinBoston]

Given that Palin cited the negative media attention [of both her and her family] as *part* of the reason for her quitting her job, I find it a bit strange that she seems to be doing everything in her power to ensure that she stays front and center in the spotlight.

I can't help but wonder if at times, her attempts to portray herself as simply a self-less "outsider" won't come back to haunt her. I also think she comes across as incredibly self-righteous at times- her speech explaining [sort of] her decision to quit her job made her sound like a victim of circumstances *totally* outside of her control and she presented herself as a self-less martyr on the alter of 'politics as a blood sport' and saving taxpayer $$$. However, her statement about 'professional politicians'- it seems a bit self-serving and disingenuous- she's referring to people who serve out the terms for which they were elected to serve as 'professional politicians' as though that is somehow bad- sure, some politicians who have been around forever become part of the problem as opposed to the solution, but what if she had become Vice President? Would she be admonishing professional politicians or would she be well on her way to becoming one herself.

As a progressive, I feel like she's just regurgitating the old right wing political playbook (ironically, given her newfound dislike of politics and politicians)- create strawmen to blame in order to energize the base, among other things. There is nothing new or creative about going after the mainstream media or 'politics as usual' in Washington.

In the interest of full disclosure [if anyone cares ;)] since I am new here, I am not a Palin fan for the simple reason that I am politically progressive and don't agree with her politics.

[hillary4change]

I have to say i agree with her about carreer politicians.

I have always felt the founding fathers wanted us to step up and serve in politics, but then go home and live under the laws you helped to create.

Now it is about party politics and the balance of power between the parties...more seats held, equals more power for that party!! Not what the founding fathers had in mind IMHO.

[StacyinBoston]

I have to say i agree with her about carreer politicians.

I have always felt the founding fathers wanted us to step up and serve in politics, but then go home and live under the laws you helped to create.

Now it is about party politics and the balance of power between the parties...more seats held, equals more power for that party!! Not what the founding fathers had in mind IMHO.

That's a good point. Particularly in the Senate where they build up their war chests $$$ (although it actually used to be worse with respect to how much they could save up)- I don't take issue with some aspect of what she said, i just have a problem with the timing and intent.

[Alces95]

Given that Palin cited the negative media attention [of both her and her family] as *part* of the reason for her quitting her job, I find it a bit strange that she seems to be doing everything in her power to ensure that she stays front and center in the spotlight.

I can't help but wonder if at times, her attempts to portray herself as simply a self-less "outsider" won't come back to haunt her. I also think she comes across as incredibly self-righteous at times- her speech explaining [sort of] her decision to quit her job made her sound like a victim of circumstances *totally* outside of her control and she presented herself as a self-less martyr on the alter of 'politics as a blood sport' and saving taxpayer $$$. However, her statement about 'professional politicians'- it seems a bit self-serving and disingenuous- she's referring to people who serve out the terms for which they were elected to serve as 'professional politicians' as though that is somehow bad- sure, some politicians who have been around forever become part of the problem as opposed to the solution, but what if she had become Vice President? Would she be admonishing professional politicians or would she be well on her way to becoming one herself.

As a progressive, I feel like she's just regurgitating the old right wing political playbook (ironically, given her newfound dislike of politics and politicians)- create strawmen to blame in order to energize the base, among other things. There is nothing new or creative about going after the mainstream media or 'politics as usual' in Washington.

In the interest of full disclosure [if anyone cares ;)] since I am new here, I am not a Palin fan for the simple reason that I am politically progressive and don't agree with her politics.

Stacy - Great post. Please keep posting! The more people give an opinion and state why (that isn't simply regirgitated from another columnist or blog) the better! Welcome!=D>

[Spang]

StacyinBoston is wicked cool!

[StacyinBoston]

Stacy - Great post. Please keep posting! The more people give an opinion and state why (that isn't simply regirgitated from another columnist or blog) the better! Welcome!=D>

Thank you very much, I really like this website and am glad I finally de-lurked:D

[StacyinBoston]

StacyinBoston is wicked cool!

Wicked thanks, Spang! ;)

[Suzan]

As a progressive, I feel like she's just regurgitating the old right wing political playbook (ironically, given her newfound dislike of politics and politicians)- create strawmen to blame in order to energize the base, among other things. There is nothing new or creative about going after the mainstream media or 'politics as usual' in Washington.

Her policies may be traditionally conservative, but what was new and fresh about her was the way she got things done up there in Alaska, including crossing the aisle when Republicans blocked her and working with Democrats. Also new--and brave--was her willingness to call out Republican party heavyweights on real ethics issues, which is pretty ironic now, given all the phony ethics charges she's dealing with.

I'd love a few more politicians like that. Recently she stated that she would support candidates from either party, if she believed in their causes.

It's not about party for her, it's about what she believes in. You may not agree with her beliefs (I don't agree with many of them), but that she stands by them and doesn't cave to party pressure or pander to whichever constituencies will do her the most good is pretty rare in politics today.

[StacyinBoston]

Her policies may be traditionally conservative, but what was new and fresh about her was the way she got things done up there in Alaska, including crossing the aisle when Republicans blocked her and working with Democrats. Also new--and brave--was her willingness to call out Republican party heavyweights on real ethics issues, which is pretty ironic now, given all the phony ethics charges she's dealing with.

I'd love a few more politicians like that. Recently she stated that she would support candidates from either party, if she believed in their causes.

It's not about party for her, it's about what she believes in. You may not agree with her beliefs (I don't agree with many of them), but that she stands by them and doesn't cave to party pressure or pander to whichever constituencies will do her the most good is pretty rare in politics today.

Suzan, I can respect that. Perhaps I am cynical but I am a bit curious about a) how many dems (even Blue Dogs) actually wanther to campaign for them and b) if she really would do so given that the people who have donated buckets of money to her PAC, might take issue with her campaigning for democrats. Also, keep in mind that while McCain clearly thought he could appeal to many independents, post-election analysis [if I remember correctly] showed that Palin turned a lot of moderates and independents away from the GOP ticket.

Again, this could be pure cynicism on my part, but I can't help but wonder if her statement about campaigning for anyone from any party, is a shrewd political calculation to to bolster her independent, outsider bonafides? Also, is this a bit of a divide-and-conquer [the democrats] GOP strategy that is essentially very smart political strategy [as opposed to self-less, political independence?]?

[Suzan]

Suzan, I can respect that. Perhaps I am cynical but I am a bit curious about a) how many dems (even Blue Dogs) actually wanther to campaign for them and b) if she really would do so given that the people who have donated buckets of money to her PAC, might take issue with her campaigning for democrats. Also, keep in mind that while McCain clearly thought he could appeal to many independents, post-election analysis [if I remember correctly] showed that Palin turned a lot of moderates and independents away from the GOP ticket.

We'll have to wait and see how many Dems are interested. She's one of the few who seems to identify with causes over party, so perhaps it won't be many. What's meaningful to me is that she has the courage to buck the crushing pressure to conform and make these statements. I give her credit for doing something most politicians don't have the cajones to even think about. And look at her record. She's done it before.

Again, this could be pure cynicism on my part, but I can't help but wonder if her statement about campaigning for anyone from any party, is a shrewd political calculation to to bolster her independent, outsider bonafides? Also, is this a bit of a divide-and-conquer [the democrats] GOP strategy that is essentially very smart political strategy [as opposed to self-less, political independence?]

Yes, it could be a shrewd political calculation, but most of her critics would say she hasn't made too many of those so far, lol. We know where to go for shrewd. ;) I think it's just who she is and has always been--and it clearly rubs the status-quo pols and MSM the wrong way.

I don't know about divide-and-conquer. That would be interesting, but I doubt it's her main motive. I'm cynical too when it comes to politicians, pretty much all of them, which is why I liked her from the first, despite some of her policies.

[Laura Cereta]

The public attitude in general seems to be that many people are tired of partisanship, yet when someone bucks both parties they're criticized for it. :confused:

[CGP]

The more people give an opinion and state why (that isn't simply regirgitated from another columnist or blog) the better! Welcome!=D>

Yes, I agree.

[CGP]

Thank you very much, I really like this website and am glad I finally de-lurked:D

Great! :thumbsup: