Sarah Palin’s Second Chance
05 July 2009 10:54 am by Taylor Marsh
“There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we’re investigating her or getting ready to indict her,” Special Agent Eric Gonzalez said in a phone interview Saturday. “It’s just not true.” He added that there was “no wiggle room” in his comments for any kind of inquiry. – Sarah Palin not under FBI investigation, agency spokesman says
For those of you just tuning in, the reinvention of Sarah Palin has already begun.
It begins with tough words and direct rebuttals, a good place to start. The Palin team makes clear that anyone defaming Sarah Palin is putting themselves in line to hear from Sarah’s lawyers. Now, I’m not a fan of the governor’s policies, but good for her. Nobody should have to take wholesale defamation from any quarters, particularly in the media (old or new), which her lawyer warns will not be ignored. Via Politico, there’s a four-page letter warning against it.
Almost immediately afterwards, several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory allegations that the “real” reasons for Governor Palin’s resignation stem from an alleged criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex. This canard was first floated by Democrat operatives in September 2008 during the national campaign and followed up by sympathetic Democratic writers.1 It was easily rebutted then as one of many fabrications about Sarah Palin. Just as power abhors a vacuum, modern journalism apparently abhors any type of due diligence and fact checking before scurrilous allegations are repeated as fact.
The FBI spokesperson couldn’t have been any clearer. “Absolutely no truth… no wiggle room” in their statement.
Call off this witch hunt.
Not that any of her fans paid any attention to it or that it dampened their enthusiasm for Mrs. Palin.
“Sarah Palin is America’s Margaret Thatcher,” reads one comment out of dozens and dozens on her Facebook page.
“I am sooooo sorry for the way you have been treated as well as your family. It only has happened because you are a threat to the powers that be!,” read another.
“Run Sarah, Run ! We need you now , more than ever. Palin/Romney 2012,” another fan encouraged.
Greetings from Baghdad! Go Sarah, GO!
Plenty of dissenters too: “Quitter-in-Chief of Alaska. You actually believe you can become President of the United States? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha…my stomach hurts from laughing.”
Taking a walk through her Facebook fan comments, anyone who thinks her political career is over doesn’t get it. They also don’t know Sarah Palin, but particularly haven’t listened to her fans, the base of which likely doubled this weekend, if not because of her wacky resignation speech and politically weird decision to bail on her governorship, but because of the reaction to it by the media, old and new alike.
On the flip side there is another “1,000,000 strong against Sarah Palin” Facebook group as well.
We know many things right now. But one thing is for certain. With Palin free of her governorship she can travel the country for Republicans in 2010 likely being the hottest ticket in any town, not stopping with trips inside the U.S. She will draw gigantic Obama sized like crowds wherever she goes and will make huge headlines, even as she refuses national media, picking her conversations and outlets much more carefully than she did the first time around making sure that friendly journalists get the nod first.
We’ll see if Palin’s presence on the 2010 stump makes a difference for Republicans. If it does, she’s done what’s needed, because Romney, Huckabee and Newt combined won’t be able to do what she can with crowds, which is why she decided to dump the governorship in the first place. It’s an albatross looking at 2012.
Oh, and one more thing for all those people who think she’s “finished,” that she “can’t possibly run now,” that she’s “history.” (Andrea Mitchell is likely pulling her hair out about now.) It was hilarious when it was said then but after what she posted late yesterday (while I was getting ready to see fireworks) on her Facebook page, I’d say anyone doubting she won’t be a contender going forward is deluding themselves. (ps… and I got my wish.)
In the 2008 election season, nobody was tougher on Palin than I was and for good reason. She was unprepared, ill-equipped and uninformed on all foreign policy issues, making a mockery of women who know what they’re doing but don’t have her other gifts, like the “it” political factor, which Palin has in abundance that draws people to a person regardless of it being earned. Sarah’s now got another chance. She has to sense the millions of people behind her, because she saw it in action during the ‘08 election.
Men get second chances all the time and regardless of my polar opposite political views, Sarah Palin deserves equal to what any man would get as long as next time she comes equipped with the knowledge required for the job she seeks. After all, it shouldn’t be too hard, George W. Bush did it.
Democrats, put down your mockery and pay attention. A prepared Palin would be formidable, don’t kid yourselves.
“I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness! God bless you! And I look forward to making a difference – with you! – Sarah Palin (via Facebook page – full July 4th statement below
Oh yeah, baby, 2012 here she comes.
Happy 4th of July from Alaska! Today at 4:55pm On this Independence Day, I am so very proud of all those who have chosen to serve our great nation and I honor their selflessness and the sacrifices of their families, too.
If I may, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the last 24 hours and share my thoughts with you.
First, I want to thank you for your support and hard work on the values we share. Those values led me to the decision my family and I made. Yesterday, my family and I announced a decision that is in Alaska’s best interest and it always feels good to do what is right. We have accomplished more during this one term than most governors do in two – and I am proud of the great team that helped to build these wonderful successes. Energy independence and national security, fiscal restraint, smaller government, and local control have been my priorities and will remain my priorities.
For months now, I have consulted with friends and family, and with the Lieutenant Governor, about what is best for our wonderful state. I even made a few administrative changes over that course in time in preparation for yesterday. We have accomplished so much and there’s much more to do, but my family and I determined after prayerful consideration that sacrificing my title helps Alaska most. And once I decided not to run for re-election, my decision was that much easier – I’ve never been one to waste time or resources. Those who know me know this is the right decision and obvious decision at that, including Senator John McCain. I thank him for his kind, insightful comments.
The response in the main stream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the “politics of personal destruction”. How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it’s about country. And though it’s honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it’s right for all, including your family.
I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I’ve never thought I needed a title before one’s name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness!
God bless you! And I look forward to making a difference – with you!
