Just breaking on the Mark Levin Show. Link to audio is here. Written statement is here Not considering third party because would guarantee an Obama victory.
My initial thoughts:
Probably for the better in the drive to unseat Obama, but only because of the political corruption of the media and establishment Republicans, who have been relentless in their attacks on her. It disgusts me that a candidate of such quality cannot run as a practical matter, and that we are left with second and third choices. But reality is reality, and it would have been a tough road to overcome the past three years.
Palin had the opportunity to be a game-changer in the direction of this country; someone who really understood at a gut level how far down the road we are on the path to a country we will not recognize; someone who understands that the political class holds the country by the throat, and that removing the grip is necessary not just changing who holds the grip.
I do not begrudge her the time she took at all. I respect that she took the time, and in the end made a sound decision, even if it is a decision which leaves me profoundly disappointed in the coming year.
Added: h/t to commenter hrh40:
Updates:
If you want to know how disgusting our own party is, and what types of creeps have influence, witness Erick Erickson crowing:
At a moment when Erickson could have shown himself to be a mensch he showed himself to be a schmuck. And of course, managed to make it about him. As pointed out in the comments, he is asking “Can we all be friends now?” The answer is no.
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http://twitter.com/#!/marklevinshow/status/121708614024048640
Thanks for the tip, heard it from you first.
Levin sounded broken up.
http://marklevinshow.com/Article.asp?id=2303165&spid=32364
Rats!
Yeah Erickson has become a real piece of…work. He has a post on Red State gloating and asking if we can all be friends now.
No. No we can’t.
Erickson & Co. have been a big disappointment for quite some time now. It really began to unravel rapidly over at RedState when they began to assail the tea party last year: http://www.rightklik.net/2010/04/attack-on-tea-parties-from-right.html
Actually there are a lot of people on various boards who seem to think they can still push the meme that “we’re all on the same team” while they’re busy crowing the “you all are a bunch of stupid suckers who got had by Palin.” The only thing that attitude raises in me is “F*** you.”
As far as I’m cpncerned the remaining candidates don’t interest me and I question which if any of them would be that much better than Obama. We’re back to the going over a cliff in high gear or slow.
Sarah Palin is an extremely classy lady. She could have tried to run third party and that would have insured Obummer a second term. She will be an excellent motivator for the Conservative movement and will keep the current candidates feet to the fire. I think she would make an awesome VP, Energy Secretary, or Secretary of State. On another note, the Erickson tweet is moronic. I’m a Perry supporter, but I love Sarah Palin. Just because she isn’t running this time, it doesn’t mean that she won’t be POTUS in the future. Don’t be discouraged, Sarah is still fighting, she just has a bigger stick when the media can’t put her in their “candidate” box. She’s made a very wise move.
Third party wasn’t ever an option. She would have become the single most reviled political figure in the country overnight.
I’m very disappointed, but I know that she’s going to keep the other candidates honest. I predict she makes a move to CNN now.
Only one word left: Cain.
Why?
Agreed, quicksilverz Cain looks better and better. As for Erick Erickson, clearly he’s trying the LittleGreenFootballs approach to blogging. Truly a swine. Moe Lane as well, the whole lot over at redstate is disgusting.
Bother and drat. I’m not sure I’m ready to trust the instincts of the remaining candidates. Cain was too quick to condemn Perry over the name on the rock. Perry seems too soft on immigration and too much of an establishment, combine, crony-capitalist. Romney is too unwilling to admit that RomneyCare in Massachusetts was the best he could get, and was a mistake.
However, the Professor is right. The media is always capable of more evil cruelty than they have already produced. The establishment Republicans, such as the Bush Family, really don’t like her. They like crony capitalism.
You’re right, Cain was far too quick to throw down the race card over a rock. He should waited until he had all the facts before giving an opinion. I would have assumed that Cain, who claims he will surround himself with great advisors as POTUS, would have done the same as a candidate. Obviously, he hasn’t or they would have advised him to be neutral on the issue until all the facts came out.
You also said that Perry seems soft on immigration. How so? You tell me exactly what you think border state governors should do when they have no authority to arrest, and deport, illegals. And you tell me what other border state governor has spent as much of their own state’s resources to defend our border.
As to the Bush’s not liking Palin, I don’t know about that. I do know they are not in Rick Perry’s court. Karen Hughes, George and Barbara Bush and Karl Rove all campaigned for Kay Bailey Hutchison. And what cronyism are you talking about? Please, explain.
If Cain becomes the front runner, he is going to find out how Rick Perry felt Sunday. And when the LSM goes after Cain, and they will with a vengence, he is not going to be able to play the race card since he has made an issue of NOT playing the race card (except when it comes to a competitor). Cain was my choice #2, now he’s off my short list altogether.
I too am profoundly disappointed but I trust her judgement and await the candidate that she endorses.
The election season just ended for me. Cain isn’t up to mark, and I’m not voting RINO.
You really feel Obama is preferable to every republican now running?
I’m not looking forward to the kind of sell-out we got with W’s daddy. I am not willing to exchange ObamaCare for (R)-omni-care.
The difference between Obama’s socialism and e GOP’s is one of degree and velocity inasmuch as the destination is the same. I’m not going to support a party that tells me who the candidate is going to be long before I have a chance to vote. I’m a Conservative, and I’m tired of the GOP’s use and abuse of us. We are not a f**k buddy of the GOP; we are the arm that brings them victory by compromising our principles and holding our noses to vote for their liberal and moderate candidates. In return, we get screwed without ever being kissed.
So, my couch is a good place to be on election day. America will survive, and Americans will learn the price to be paid for dismissing founding principles.
What specific policy positions is/has Palin taken that are so radically at variance with Romney, Perry, Cain, et al, that renders her so different from the rest of the field? If these guys are all soft socialists, what specific policies set her so far apart?
And while I’m pretty much anybody but Romney right now, he’s been pretty firm in stating he does not want to apply Romneycare nationally, and that he will repeal Obamacare.
I’m incredibly disappointed and depressed. I know others will say otherwise, but I think this pretty much makes Romney the candidate. And I simply cannot support.
I can understand Sarah’s decision, but this was a historic opportunity to put a real conservative into the WH. Opportunities like this don’t come along very often.
[…] Sarah Palin will also not run as an independent. [The Palin interview with Mark Levin may be heard HERE.] The creeps who crowed when Trump was driven out of the race are also roostering that they have drive…. […]
Actually, was Cowboy Curtis! https://legalinsurrection.com/2011/10/open-4/#comment-284062
I love her, but whoever wins should name her Secretary of Energy, a position from which she can do an enormous amount of good.IMO she understand this issue better than any of the other candidates.
You took the words right out of my mouth. Whomever is our eventual candidate should make having Palin as Energy Secretary part of their platform.
I was a hold out for Sarah, even though I am firmly in the Anybody But Obama camp, so, it is time to rally behind who we want and not let the establishment do it for us.
I’m a recovering democrat, a Reagan Dem at one point, I absolutely love Palin’s fighting spirit and agree with much of her no crony capitalism, limited govt, fiscal consitutional stances, and I’m not pro-life or a social conservative, but I support, strongly support Palin.
I do think she made the correct decision, she will a much more powerful force outside the arena, I plan on continuing to donate to her SaraPac, because I feel she will use that money to help tea party conservatives.
As for idiots like RedState, what a bunch of pathetic imbecile losers, no wonder the only station that’ll have him on is CNN, which hell I don’t even watch anymore.
Echoing what others’s stated, I hope she becomes energy secretary or perhaps in charge of the EPA. I hope she continues to fight.
I’m disappointed that she’s chosen not to run, but I hope she endorses Cain.
Perry is not soft on immigration. He wants boots and drones on the border. You can have a wall with no-one protecting it and illegals just climb on over. Try building a wall in the middle of the Rio Grande.
Perry as Governor signed in-state tuition for the state of Texas, he said he would not do that Federally. He believes in states rights. The state of Texas wanted to educate the illegals that get to stay here, because even when we round them up and give them to ICE they release them, so they may as well get educated and get a job,so we don’t have to give them welfare.
If any of the other candidates had been Governor of a border state they would have had to face the same choice. Isn’t it convenient that Cain has never had to make any decisions for a state ever.
Did you know Cain was a motivational speaker who got paid $25,000 an appearance. Yes, he is a great motivator,he is a great debater and speaker, he should be for $25,000 a pop; but when the wheels hit the rubber he has never, ever had to work with a legislature, or defend the border. Cain talks a good game, but he lost the Senate race in Georgia and he has never held any kind of office. We already have the disaster of Obama who has had on-the-job-training. Don’t throw Perry under the bus until you make totally sure that Cain is not all style and no substance. I don’t want another tax on top of the income tax and state sales taxes I pay now. His 9-9-9 plan does not call for the 16th amendment to be repealed. it is naive to think that Congress would not jump at the chance to add yet another tax to their revenue stream. Be careful what you wish for.
Perry has a proven jobs record, he fought for and passed tort reform, the trial lawyers hate him, he is not a crony-capitalist, and he will secure the border. I live in Texas, I know the problem that illegal immigration causes, we are not soft on illegals, we have to deal with the reality.
I’m curious: what do you imagine repealing the 16th amendment would achieve? Hint: it would not affect Congress’s power to tax your salary. That power comes from Article 1 of the constitution, and has never been questioned. People who claim that income taxes were unconstitutional before the 16th amendment are merely showing their ignorance.
If the 16th Amendment were to be repealed, with the goal of making the government unable to tax income, it would make sense to explicitly spell out that the federal government does not have the authority to authorize excise taxes on income. It would be similar to this passage from the 21st amendment:
Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
That passage explicitly spelled out that the 21st amendment could not be used to argue against local dry laws.
I don’t think the court fight over what forms of income are classified as direct taxes would be a pretty one. Of course, it would be the rich who have more of their income coming from sources equated to direct taxes in Pollock.
The Republicans constantly stabbed her in the back. I looooved how they stood with her over the Tucson Blood Libel. She went to Wisconsin to support Gov. walker. Where were the other Republicans? I guess the Congressional Republicans (except Senators Paul, Rubio, Demint and a few new House types) are jumping for joy. Based on her record in Alaska, the Congressional “Let’s Make a Deal” Republicans would have been in the cross hairs first. Damn, damn, damn.
I’m thinking Cain now.
My initial reaction? The bad guys have won and the Republican party is fucked.
That – and this country deserves what it is doing to itself. Sad. It was the best thing in the history of the universe.
Agreed with the caveat that the war is not over. She’s not running (this time) but she’s still in the fight and so are we. Don’t give up yet!
While I like Cain, I’m not convinced he can win. I like Perry, but unless he improves his numbers against Barry Soetero, I cannot vote for him in the primaries. My vote for the repub nominee for president will go to whoever I feel can kick out Barry in November of 2012.
As for Congress, this is where I will not vote for anyone who is not a staunch fiscal limited govt candidate. If Romney is the candidate, fine, I’ll vote for him, and then campaign for rock hard fiscal limited govt folks who will get America’s fiscal, economy in order.
I’m in the ABO camp, but with respect to Congressional candidates, its Fiscal conservatism all the way.
My hunch (and only a hunch) is that Palin could endorse Cain and be a strong factor promoting him. Cain is immensely likable (a strong factor for several recent presidents, especially Reagan)and brings impressive accomplishments to the table.
Erickson RS blogs that Sarah being out will help Cain.
“Sarah Palin is out and it is going to help Herman Cain. I’ll tell you all about it and work through the Horserace tonight on the Erick Erickson Show from 7pm to 10pm ET ”
So, he wants them to go the his latest candidate of choice after he trashed her on his site for weeks. Pathetic.
[…] Please do head on over to his joint to read the rest of his excellant initial take. […]
I believe she had the potential to be even greater President than Reagan. I say that because the GOP is likely tp retain control of the House and get control of the Senate. Reagan never had the luxury of having control of all three Houses. As great as he was, he had to compromise on alot of stuff which prevented him from fully implementing his desired agenda.
Palin and a GOP Congress would repeal Obamacare. Fix Dodd-Frank and Sarbanes-Oxley. Reform the moronic tax code. Defang the EPA and NLRB. Close entire government agencies, departments, cabinets. And of course she would have been the most pro-energy president in my life. Millions of high paying private sector jobs would have been created. Unemployment would crater. The deficit would shrink – possibly even vanish. The economy would boom.
It would feel great to be America again. Spirits would rise. Optimism would soar. Business confidence would return. We’d have a new era of prosperity that would make the Reagan economic boom look like nothing.
The best part is it would have put the stake in the heart of liberalism once and for all. And THAT’s the real reason why the Democrat Media Complex and the Democratic Party put everything they had into destroying her.
Maybe Cain, Romney, Perry, or Gingrich can pull it off. But it was hers. She’s been cheated.
It’s a sad day.
I respect her decision.
Secretary of Energy? Well, maybe.. if she’s there to dismantle it. I think she’d be a better Secretary of the Interior. Do that for two years, and then maybe go to State.
Cain is just the flavor of the week. He’s likable, generally well spoken, pretty solid on a lot of issues, and a terrible politician. And while that last part might sound nice in the abstract, its a tremendous liability when you’re actually running for office. So far, he’s seen little scrutiny from the press and in the debates because his numbers were low, so a lot of his verbal screw ups (no muslims in his administration, etc) and past positions (TARP) have generally escaped peoples’ notice. Now that they’re up, he’ll see a lot more focus, and all the stupid rookie mistakes are going to start mattering (see the N-head dust-up this weekend).
I know you guys don’t want to hear this, but the primaries are going to be a Perry-Romney showdown.
Heck I don’t think even Obama wants to be President of the USA .
Everybody of note in America -past presidents & top officials are not looking confident. The Clintons look like trainwrecks. The rest resemble someone about to vomit.
I have stated there seems to be Rwandian levels of hatred against other Americans . Palin has taken herself away as the generic target of vile & the gathering post of hope.. I wonder where this hate & hope will go now.
Washington has lost America. Moscow on the Potomac with better looking Presidents& the same politburo.
I did not expect Gov. Palin to run. By withholding the announcement not to run until now she acted as canon fodder for the MSM and left pundits. No matter how vast, no matter how much money Soros is willing to spend their resources are finite. The more targets they have to shoot at the fewer rounds they can expend on the most important targets.
In this way Gov. Palin acted nobly, making the enemy waste finite resources sniping at her. Now that the deadline is nigh she gives the announcement that she won’t run.
Why did she not run? I tend to accept her statement that she and her family discussed it and decided against running. That’s reason enough for me. Not up to me to draft her, no matter that I’d sooner vote for her than Perry.
She is still such a new and young figure in the American political landscape. I believe she’ll run one day in the future … and that she’ll be even more formidable. As the old news and opinion gatekeepers (who are admittedly still very strong) continue to lose influence and power over creating false narratives she will continue to become stronger.
As for Erick Erickson, isn’t “schmuck” too mild a term for that putz?
LukeHandCool (who, in a few rare instances, can express himself better in Japanese than in his native English … and who finds Yiddish to be grand for insults).
I’m not aware of any difference between שמאָק and פאָץ. In any case, in the spirit of comity I’m willing to call him both, and a שמענדריק too.
I can’t read Hebrew, Milhouse, but it amused me a great deal when my Japanese wife came back from babysitting a couple of girls in our neighborhood looking like she’d just finished a 10K run and said, “I’m soooo tired. They were reading to me in Hebrew and trying to teach me Hebrew! It was so difficult … I’m so sleepy now … “
“Shmok”, “potz”, and “shmendrik” respectively.
You are too polite.
I’m disappointed too. Daniels out, Ryan out, Palin out, so I guess it’s Perry now.
I’m also disappointed that she gave up the opportunity to make this announcement in a more positive way, by combining it with an endorsement. Instead of focusing on negative reasons for her decision, she could have framed it in a positive way: “I’ve decided not to make the sacrifice of running because my country doesn’t need me, since there’s already a wonderful candidate in the race” would have sounded a positive note, and focused attention on her preferred candidate’s positives instead of on her negatives. Oh well.
Did you see this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD9KNzgAwzI
“Our Work Continues”
Indeed it does.
Too early to endorse anyone yet. They (Perry and Cain) and still fumbling around.
Palin in 2020!
I’m very curious to see the first poll w/o Christie and Palin in the background. I’m in for Cain.
Cain: I GOT THIS
[…] I haven’t thought she would for a while now. I can’t really sum it up much better than Professor Jacobson so I’ll quote […]
I think of the lack of outrage about a literary stalker who moves in next door and goes on to write untruths not only about Palin, her husband and children but her wider family.
I think of Stephen Hanks who can yell obscenities at her daughter without outrage.
I think of ESPN which allowed its local radio hosts to guffaw along with violent sex imaginings about Palin (and white college women).
You think it can’t get worse but it does. And “leaders” who should feel shame at this environment don’t.
Thank you, Professor, for caring to fight against this kind of corrupt and shameless political society.
“Palin had the opportunity to be a game-changer in the direction of this country…”
She still does, Bill, both in this election in helping to shape the direction of the party elect the right candidates, and beyond. Without taking the analogy too far, remember that everyone thought Nixon was done after the 1962 CA gubernatorial race. Six years later…
I still think Palin will make an excellent president, but it will have to be someday in the future. Meanwhile, assuming the republicans win in 2012, I have a perfect candidate in mind for Secretary of the Interior.
Forgot to mention: Erickson is a churl.
Erickson is OFF my blogrolls. Every. single. one. Shooting our own is the thing we need the least. He’s in there with Mike Tyson as far as I am concerned.
I support her decision. And, I agree with @T D. If you listen to the interview with Mark Levin, she sounds like family security is an issue, although she only implies this. And, if you remember, her lawyer wrote McGinnis’s publishers about possible legal action. She can’t run a campaign for the GOP nomination with that hanging over her head. Also, Nicolle Wallace has a potential law suit on her hands, which will also hurt a Palin run – if she were to try to set the record straight.
The MSM would skewer her over these legal issues (thin-skinned, true or not?, blah blah blah); as a candidate, it could not be pursued. But these slanderous slime-balls need to be reigned in. And she is the one who, I believe, will make the case and win. There is more than enough proof out there for the lawyers to make a case that these are libelous and slanderous works, IMHO.
She will be more powerful as a game-changer, a campaign pit bull. The House majority, the Senate – they MUST get more Conservative and be flipped to Conservative Republican; it is crucial to have solid Conservative Republicans in those seats. As Newt said in one of the debates, the panel of current candidates have much in common that are crucial – repeal ObamaCare, cut/cap/balance, reign in the regulations, make government smaller and smarter.
Even Romney will do this, because his feet will be held to the fire – IF Conservatives are in the Congress!
Game on people! She is advancing in another direction, not retreating!
Yep. You gotta give the left credit where credit is due.
When the left is losing an argument they try to make your winning the argument as ugly and unpleasant as possible.
It’s like playing a tennis match against someone who has a constant tantrum and freaks out when calls don’t go their way … it just takes the enjoyment, and thus the will, out of winning. You almost want to let them win so the disgraceful and ugly behavior will stop.
That’s what the left has done with Sarah Palin. They’re basically saying, “Yep, she may have natural appeal to most Americans, but we are going to make everything so ugly and divisive and negative about her that you’ll just want her to go away so the ugliness will go away.”
Exactly, Luke. So many people I know on the Right who’ve started reacting badly to Sarah are really (and unknowingly) absorbing the relentless smear campaigns against her.
“I won’t hold my breath”…..what do you want, Erick, a pat on the head? Why don’t you just give yourself a star, 100% and a smiley face sticker? Blowing kisses, windsor wave, throwing bouquets, tiara and take a walk, Mr. America…and all that… “there he is, Mr. America!….”
Unfortunate.
I caught the announcement listening to the Mark Levin Show.
His podcast is free and open access so anyone interested can download the MP3 there.
Doug Ross Journal had this writeup from Sarah
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2011/10/sarah-palins-statement-no-i-wont-run.html
I was registered at Redstate before I registered here, but it does seem to be turning into a ………
Sometimes I forget the $600,000 in nuisance lawsuits she faced as Governor…if anyone is paying attention expect the Republican Nominee to be “Palinized”.
Nuts!
The reply of the commander of the 101st at Bastogne.
My thinking about the 2012 Elective 100th anniversary of the 1912 Progressive Election http://www.claremont.org/publications/crb/id.1152/article_detail.asp
[…] UPDATE: Professor Jacobson at Legal Insurrection nails it: […]
[…] Text and audio at link. Also, Professor Jacobson updates with some early reactions. […]
I think Palin made the right decision. If she isn’t named Sec’y of Energy (I would love the karma aspect of such an appointment!) in a Republican administration, I hope she runs for another elective office. Of course, there would be a danger there if she chose to run for president instead of finishing her term (again).
As for Cain, his jumping on Perry based on that disgraceful WPost hit piece reminded me of Obama’s Cambridge moment. Even though I love Cain’s optimism and charm, I’m not going to vote for more beer summits.
I am willing to support Romney because I have come to terms with his state healthcare legislation. That law was passed in 2006, Deval Patrick took over the governorship in 2007 and the Democrats have overwhelming control of both houses. I do not hold Romney responsible for ridiculous additions to coverage that had to be included in the original legislation, nor those added since he left. Plus, it was a state solution to a state problem, not a federal mandate.
For a real life example, see today’s story on Obama’s support for the HHS proposed regulations that will require all PRIVATE insurance plans to cover all costs of sterilization and birth control, with no co-pay or out-of-pocket cost to the insured. Does anyone think it’s free?? I may be oversimplifying, but the Massachusetts plan required all uninsured parties to purchase PRIVATE insurance, with some subsidies to those who qualified. If this HHS regulation goes into effect, does anyone think the costs of those Massachusetts PRIVATE insurance plans will remain the same? And, if they increase because these HHS regulations require that more types of coverage have to be added, is that still Mitt Romney’s fault??
Having said all that, I will vote for the Republican, regardless of who it is. Well, except for two current candidates whose names I will keep to myself.
Thanks Professor. You said it better than I could.
It’s a sad day when a really great candidate comes along at the perfect time and can’t run because there is no way she could win after being completely destroyed by the establishment and the leftist media.
I am actually quite angry. I wasn’t at first but the more I think about it, the angrier I get….
The same thing will happen to the next great candidate.
The only time I will be reading Erick Erickson in the future is when Professor Jacobson quotes him.
OT, but what’s with the redirect to youtube? I have to keep pushing escape to stay on this page!
Fixed. Thanks.
I took the opportunity of her announcement to query some friends, all of whom vote, none of whom follow political blogs, and all of whom are generally center-ish, but lean to one side or the other.
The results were interesting. All had heard of Palin (of course) and the feelings about her were mixed.
All had heard of Romney and no one liked him; most strongly disliked him.
All had heard of Bachmann and she was very strongly disliked.
Most knew something about Perry but no one had strong feelings about him, either way.
One had heard of Cain but did not ID him as a presidential candidate. When asking who was running, almost eveyone left out Cain, Santorum, Newt, and Huntsman.
No one had heard of either Thaddeus McCotter or Johnson (are they still in)?
The lesson here is that it’s still very early. No one is playing attention yet but the political junkies, no one is watching the debates but the political junkies. The commentary now is taking place in an echo chamber.
In a few months, people will start to engage. So there remains plenty of time to jump to conclusions.
Oh goody, America is stuck with another election decided by the Sandwich People, those in the ‘center’ who have as much a clue as Zero.
America is once again held hostage to voters who elect leaders according to what TV tells them.
Americans do not deserve ethical leaders, they are derserving of the misery they elect. Elections decided by stuck-on-stupid Sandwich People always leads to disaster.
And when the idiots wake up one day to see their lives were stolen out from under them they must blame themselves for having not paid attention.
[…] in a capacity to support other candidates than she would as a Presidential candidate. As stated at Legal Insurrection, the MSM has savagely attacked Palin and would continue to do so fi she ran for President. However, […]
[…] Jacobson at Legal Insurrection is both more concise and more eloquent than I, and I agree with everything he wrote about […]
[…] Jacobson at Legal Insurrection is both more concise and more eloquent than I, and I agree with everything he wrote about […]
[…] Jacobson at Legal Insurrection is both more concise and more eloquent than I, and I agree with everything he wrote about […]
If Sarah Palin is the best one out there, and the party simply cannot support her, then why would I support any of the lesser lights that the party seems to find acceptable? I find it hard enough as it is to work up any enthusiasm for Perry, Cain, Romney, etc.
The gratuitous bashing of Palin supporters on certain other sites, by posters who seem to be seeing a chance for retribution for injuries real or imagined inflicted on supporters of other candidates by “Palinistas” and “Palin cultists,” just makes it that much harder to want to work with the GOP. If they can’t put up with me, why should I put up with them?
Why indict the party for decisions she made herself? They didn’t bar her from running, she chose not to. The same paperwork everyone else filed, with the exact same deadlines, and the exact same fundraising rules, were just as available to her as to anyone else. Why are republican voters (or the party machinery) to blame for not rallying to a candidacy that never existed? Were they morally obligated to support someone who, in fact, wasn’t running?
The only person to blame for Sarah Palin not running for President is Sarah Palin. I know some folks are emotionally invested in her and want someone, anyone, else to blame for her decision, but the fact is, she, and she alone, made it. RedState didn’t veto her out. Nor did Ace, Coulter, Ingraham,or anyone else. She had the exact same opportunity to jump in and make her case to voters via the primaries as everyone else, and chose not to. She decided not to run, and whatever praise or blame accrues with that decision, she’s the one that made it. No one else.
Governor Palin has taken herself out of the game with yesterday’s announcement that she will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States.
Although I am disappointed that you will not be our President, Governor Palin, I wish you well in your new role, whether it be coach, commentator, spectator, or something else.
We will miss you as a player.
Kevin Forrester
[…] After Sarah Palin decided that she would not be running for President this time around, Erick Erickson provided this childish response: […]
[…] as Prof. Jacobson points out at Legal Insurrection, Red State’s Erick Erickson went a different way: At a moment when Erickson could have shown […]
[…] other bloggers, I’m somewhat relieved that Sarah – my idol, the first young, pro-life, […]