So, now that Palin is not seeking re-election.....

[audtatious]

Who is the MSM and Dem lobby groups going to target now?

[heliochrome85]

you mean soon to be ex-governor Peggy Hill right?

in all seriousness, you give the country a real candidate, and see if they can't debate on ideas. the woman was the deathnail in the McCain campaign. Had she not been involved, I would have voted for Sen. John McCain. I lost all respect for his campaign when he sold out to the lowest common denominator. His "Obama/Osama" attack ads, his selecting Palin, all they showed me that 8 years of business as usual in the GOP, hadnt taught him a lesson.

When you look at a candidate and all you hear is people voting for her because they want to bang her, isnt that as bad as the people who voted for the candidate because he was the same color as they were?

[audtatious]

Maybe. BUT, Palin has done quite well for the state of Alaska and would stand her ground on her principals, something even Obama has not been doing due to breaking campaign promises. Her kid being stupid and the 15 ethics violations (using a law she championed) that were thrown against her (which were all thrown out) was what made her look bad in some peoples eyes. At least you knew where she stood and that is drastically different than the doublespeak we hear from others in Gov. I give her that.

[ishkabibble]

you mean soon to be ex-governor Peggy Hill right?

I LOLed. Thanks. Now every time I see either of them, I am going to think of that association.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

The MSM's treatment of Palin was viscous. Even now, people's opinion of her is so molded that it's almost like a brain-poison.

That said, while I liked her more than McCain, I don't like the direction her nomination would take the Republican party.

Oh well. At this rate the Dems can't win in 2012.

[audtatious]

They will if nobody calls the Obama Administration to the table for their actions and breaking campaign promises. He has 3.5 years to avoid that happening.

[ishkabibble]

I bet Palin resigned so she could become a "community organizer".

[audtatious]

I'm sure ACORN is knocking on her door

[heliochrome85]

from as best as i can gather, and i actually read alot on the political side, her resignation is a big head scratcher. From a tactical stand point, yes she has more time to campaign, etc if she was to run for prez in 2012, but the fact taht she wasnt able to complete ONE term as governor would be against her. 2012 i think we are gonna see Gov. Tim Pawlenty from Minn, (who i happen to like very much), prolly Romney again, and who knows, Gov. Palin too. As it stands now, it might be difficult for Obama to seek a second term. BUT, he still has 3 more years to prove his worth. I lived through the Bush years hoping for something to come of it. I can live through the Obama years too.

[audtatious]

In a way, I understand her dropping out. She and her family have been attacked unmercifully since her nomination was announced, by the MSM, Dem party, lobby groups, and individuals who simply have some form of a vendetta against her. Her husband was accused of having sex with their daughter, she herself has been accused of anything that people can throw at her. 15 unfounded ethics violations (and the unfounded crap about her X-brother in law) were filed against her with more and more on the way, simply for the sake of keeping her tied up in court. The state has had to foot millions in legal representation for her and she has had to pay quite a sum out of pocket as well. I know of no one who has been attacked as she has and it's absolutely horrific what they are doing to her.

[heliochrome85]

last i checked, the rabid Fox news crowd were the ones who were best at these attacks? After all, its members of that crowd who threw bricks through the windows of my house after 9/11. But hey what would I know?

Give me a break. This is a woman who runs the most SOCIALIST state in the country. If the GOP wants to martyr this woman, go ahead. I for one, am not buying the feigned agony she has gone through. She made her bed, now she can lay in it.

[ishkabibble]

Where is the conservative outrage over the "unfair" attacks on Obama? Especially from the self-proclaimed "callers of BS on both sides"?

[audtatious]

last i checked, the rabid Fox news crowd were the ones who were best at these attacks? After all, its members of that crowd who threw bricks through the windows of my house after 9/11. But hey what would I know?

Give me a break. This is a woman who runs the most SOCIALIST state in the country. If the GOP wants to martyr this woman, go ahead. I for one, am not buying the feigned agony she has gone through. She made her bed, now she can lay in it.

Fox news put bricks in stupid peoples hands to throw them through your windows? Did you check the culprits out to see if they were politically motivated and members of the GOP? We all know Democrats are incapable of violence.

I'm not putting her up as a martyr as she's a politician. How is Alaska a socialist state?

[audtatious]

Where is the conservative outrage over the "unfair" attacks on Obama? Especially from the self-proclaimed "callers of BS on both sides"?

I have yet to see a "popular" news anchor throw a blog report up stating that the politicians partner has had sexual contact with their kids. Come on, that's way above the line.

Obama is being attacked just like Bush was so I guess it's tit for tat at this point. Doesn't help that he keeps breaking his campaign promises and putting lots of lobbyists within his Administration. Give people fuel and they sure will throw it on the fire.

I'm still waiting for the economy to bound back as was promised by passing all the stimulus bills.....Now THAT's a bipartisan statement as Bush started it.

[ishkabibble]

It would be hard to repeat such a specific accusation. However, there were plenty of insinuations on live TV from anchors about Obama being a Muslim, domestic terrorlst, etc. etc. etc. There were plenty of lies spread about McCain, too. Perhaps Palin is not as tough as everyone thinks? If she is really stepping down just because of the media, then I'm surprised - I gave her more credit than that.

As for the economy, we got ourselves in such deep doo-doo, that the only options were let the financial system fall apart, or spend and print more dollars and go even deeper into debt. Whoever is the current President will be criticized for either route. Obama's admin seems to be choosing the latter option, but IMO they are not spending enough, and not on the right things. Based on history, I think we are in for another market decline (to Dow ~5500 or below this time).

[audtatious]

Those who call him a domestic terrorlst are nuts. Who cares if he's Christian or a Muslim at this point unless you are atheist. The difference between McCain and Palin is that the attacks simply intensified and continue after the election. Guess on the premise that she may run for President in 2012 in which I do not believe she would win (unless the current Administration implodes). Maybe she is tired of spending her and Alaska's money and feels she's a detriment being in office. Can't really tell by her speech at this point as there are lots of "between the lines" that can be interpreted.

I don't disagree on the DOW. Cap & Trade initiative will help push things further down as it's implemented due to people paying more for their daily needs. Frank is already calling for banks to lower their loan requirements in order for those with less than stellar credit ratings to have the opportunity to own a home.....kinda what caused the bubble in the first place. Obama wanting to press limits on credit card companies is a good direction in that avenue but did not go far enough, IMO, as credit card companies constantly entice people who really can't afford to pay for things on credit in the first place. It didn't pass, so who knows.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Who cares if he's Christian or a Muslim at this point unless you are atheist.

Interesting statement.

[themadscientist]

Indeed.

[heliochrome85]

Those who call him a domestic terrorlst are nuts.

Well then, St. Palin, Patron Saint of Alaska, she must be nuts, since that was the centerpiece of her attacks against then Sen. Obama during the campaign. The GOP doesnt like "politics of personal destruction" that is unless they are the ones doing the actual destruction. I'm sorry, but until the Republicans remove the demons of their party, they are destined to be sidelined for quite some time. The GOP of 2009 is just not a viable party anymore. THANK GOD

[heliochrome85]

Who cares if he's Christian or a Muslim at this point unless you are atheist.

You must be the minority, because where I live, and the things I saw first hand, people very much care. And what if he was an Athiest? God knows most of the citizens of the US are about a hair away from that anyway. Religon has NO business in government. Why is it that the only people who want to reinject it into government are on the right? The job should be opened to who ever is BEST suited for it. This is 2009, lets grow up a little bit, shall we?

[Bubba1]

Maybe. BUT, Palin has done quite well for the state of Alaska and would stand her ground on her principals, something even Obama has not been doing due to breaking campaign promises. Her kid being stupid and the 15 ethics violations (using a law she championed) that were thrown against her (which were all thrown out) was what made her look bad in some peoples eyes. At least you knew where she stood and that is drastically different than the doublespeak we hear from others in Gov. I give her that.

Exactly what major accomplishments did she do before quitting her job as governor before the end of her first term?

Alaska politics is an amusing story by itself. You might want to check out the political connections of the folks on the board that reviewed Palins ethics violations. It should come as little surprise that she walk.

Ethics issues aside, many of the problems she encountered were self inflicted. For example It's difficult to find credibility when she attacked Obama's lack of experience, when you consider how thin her own resume is.

She might appeal to some Republicans, but IMHO the GOP needs to move away from Palin if they want the white house back.

[audtatious]

With a high approval rating my assumption was that she had done some good. A quick internet search shows:

- House Bill 3001 for awarding a contract to TransCanada Alaska for developing and building a pipeline stretching for 1,715 miles from the Prudhoe Bay treatment plant to Alberta Canada

- SB 4002 pays $1,200 to each resident who qualifies. The money for these payments comes from the state's natural resource revenue. This bill also suspends the state's tax on gasoline.

- Administrative Order 242 puts together a co-op of the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Revenue to work with organizations who wish to commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas

- overhaul of the state’s ethics laws

- stopped pork spending in Alaska and created a surplus

yadda yadda yadda.....

The board (3 volunteers) which viewed her "ethics violations" was indeed put in place by her as Gov. BUT, based upon law there can be no more than 2 associated with any one party and the legislature must vote for the members. From what I can tell, all the violations were unanimously thrown out.

As far as where the GOP is going, time will tell if I even bother voting for anyone in upcoming elections.

[audtatious]

Well then, St. Palin, Patron Saint of Alaska, she must be nuts, since that was the centerpiece of her attacks against then Sen. Obama during the campaign. The GOP doesnt like "politics of personal destruction" that is unless they are the ones doing the actual destruction. I'm sorry, but until the Republicans remove the demons of their party, they are destined to be sidelined for quite some time. The GOP of 2009 is just not a viable party anymore. THANK GOD

Then so be it. We are ruled by Zero who does as he wills (or what PAC's, lobbyists or Congress old guard tell him....via his teleprompter). Me thinks the GOP is trying to learn from the Dems playbook on dirty pool.

You must be the minority, because where I live, and the things I saw first hand, people very much care. And what if he was an Athiest? God knows most of the citizens of the US are about a hair away from that anyway. Religon has NO business in government. Why is it that the only people who want to reinject it into government are on the right? The job should be opened to who ever is BEST suited for it. This is 2009, lets grow up a little bit, shall we?

Because an athiest would not approve of Christian, Muslim, Buddist, etc. as each is a religion and they think God/Allah is a figment of your imagination?

I really don't see where I'm talking about trying to reinject religion into a damn thing so I'm not sure why you are coming at me with religious accusations because I really don't give a s***.

[heliochrome85]

Because an athiest would not approve of Christian, Muslim, Buddist, etc. as each is a religion and they think God/Allah is a figment of your imagination?

I really don't see where I'm talking about trying to reinject religion into a damn thing so I'm not sure why you are coming at me with religious accusations because I really don't give a s***.

it wasnt really intended as a a judgement against you. My point is that you dont hear about religion on the left. For some reason, on the right, its more important than actual qualifications. See: Romney, See: Obama's current fight for not picking a church yet.

[audtatious]

Probably because anyone who relates more to GOP than Dem is lumped in as a religious bible thumper on just about every forum out there. Which is probably similar to Dems being lumped in with the likes of extreme liberals. I don't like Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd and others but there are plenty of Dems in politics who I have no real issue with. I also don't care much for Romney, McCain and others in the GOP either. I liked some of Bush's direction and policy but not so much the rest. I can say the same about Clinton in some aspects as well.

Guess dealing with 8 years of straw man arguments I get grumpy in my old age.

[ishkabibble]

Probably because anyone who relates more to GOP than Dem is lumped in as a religious bible thumper on just about every forum out there.

I guess we just judge people by their actions (voting for a party that is all about big spending and appeasing the Fundies) rather than their words (claiming to be an Independent, fiscal conservative).

[audtatious]

Sure, if you say so.

[heliochrome85]

they may be lumped with the bible thumpers because for the last 20 years, the GOP sold its soul to that camp. I honestly can't name an ACTUAL conservative, rather than a Stand the party line, GOP'r.

The Dems are the same way, but in this case its to the environmental lobby.

my point is, i vote for the person whose ideas and character best match the job. I don't care what religion they are, nor how mnay affairs they have had. I wish the American society did the same.

[HashiriyaS14]

Does anyone here really believe that this move will HELP her chances for a 2012 GOP nomination?

I think she's either:

A.) Trying to improve her 2012 chances by doing this and is, thus, NUTS. You finish the job you're in unless you're actually elected elsewhere, period. Those are the rules. It looks like she left Alaska in the lurch. If she was leaving because she'd been elected President or Senator, it would be VERY different. Leaving to go nowhere in particular is NOT the same.

B.) Trying to cash out. I think this is more probable, as I don't believe she's totally bonkers. She doesn't care about 2012 beyond the publicity a run (which she'll make, knowing she'll lose) will get her. She wants a talk show and big dollars, she wants to be Rush Limbaugh. I think this is what's happening, and she knew that the farther we get from the 08 election with no further "PALIN NEWS SHOCKERS", the lower her stock would drop. She needs to make headlines and get offered book and talk show deals, and this is the best way to do that. If this is what she's doing, it's pretty brilliant.

EDIT:

Here is a great article from Nate Silver on why some liberals hate Sarah Palin.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com....html

The gist is that some liberals hate her because she doesn't read the NYT and talks with an accent. These people are snobbish douchebags.

OTHER people hate her because she is either ignorant or feigns ignorance because ignorance is popular with her demographic. They view this as a dangerous trend of anti-intellectualism and hate her for it. This is a legitimate concern, IMO, although I think that the beef is really more with the demographic than with Sarah.

[audtatious]

At this point I really don't see her running unless she wants a slug-fest with the media and all the money that Soros and gang would spend to trash her. Maybe she does want to make millions on the talk circuit, only time will tell.

She's also pro-military, anti-abortion, very religious and seen as a possible threat. I would think those four things are more of a reason they hate her than her reading the NYT or having an accent.