Sarah Palin Resigns

[WDCRob]

If this is because she's one of Gov Sanford's other mistresses I'll be heading off to Mass for the first time in many many years and rededicating myself to the Lord's work.

As someone on the 'net pointed out:

Governor Sanford celebrated Father's Day be leaving his four kids behind to spend 10 days with his mistress.

Sarah Palin celebrates the 4th of July by announcing her shock resignation from government service.

I'd say it looks like Texas Gov Perry has a hell of an act to follow for Christmas.

[ThePythonicCow]

I presume Palin resigned so she could spend more time rebuilding the Republican base and possibly preparing for a run for President.

[Ghent12]

It would be logistically impossible to be the Governor of Alaska and run for President campaigning in the lower 48 for the necessary 3 years it requires to run for office these days. Her carbon footprint would be bigger than Al Gore's, too!

Of course, her family seems to have suffered significantly from her increased national profile, so perhaps it could just be genuine concern for their well-being. The cynic in me won't let me believe that, but it's possible.

[WDCRob]

I'm betting she was talking so fast because she could hear the sirens in the background and Johnny Law is on the way.

Ed Rollins is from a different Republican party than exists today, so maybe it's not quite so surprising he gets it right:

Ed Rollins said, to a certain extent, Palin's announcement makes her look "terribly inept."

"I think everyone is shocked by this, and I think to a certain extent everyone is going to assume there's another story. You don't just quit with a year and a half to go. You certainly don't do this as a stepping stone to run for president. You finish the job that you're in, and obviously she's not doing that," he said.

"I think people are going to be very suspicious because of the timing. You don't quit on the Friday of a three-day holiday. If you are going to do this, you think it through, you give a good speech," Rollins said.

[ThePythonicCow]

I'm betting she was talking so fast because she could hear the sirens in the background and Johnny Law is on the way.I'll bet you're wrong.

She's playing to her strength. She's the biggest draw the Republicans have on the campaign circuit.

In turn, she can build her strength, by helping Republicans get elected in 2010, by getting to know more of America and the many issues that matter to various groups, and by getting to be known by more people.

[ThePythonicCow]

At Breitbart (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99776200&show_article=1), it claims that after her public announcement, Palin said on Twitter "We'll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election ... this is in Alaska's best interest, my family's happy ... it is good. Stay tuned"

[cjppjc]

I think she has her eye on some big money prize. She will earn alot more soon. As for other political ambitions, who knows. The timing was bad that's for sure.

[BiscayneSunrise]

I'll bet you're wrong.

She's playing to her strength. She's the biggest draw the Republicans have on the campaign circuit.

In turn, she can build her strength, by helping Republicans get elected in 2010, by getting to know more of America and the many issues that matter to various groups, and by getting to be known by more people.

I'm not so sure PC.

I was a big Sarah supporter in the beginning. She was awesome in front of a teleprompter but impromptu, she was a disaster.

Now, that doesn't mean she wasn't a good governor but she had a Dan Quayle light weight image (which in Dan's case was true) Her resume was a little light so the last thing she should have done was quit her current job. This just reinforces the flake image.

As a card carrying member of the Republican party. I won't give her the time of day now.

[thedanimal]

If this is because she's one of Gov Sanford's other mistresses I'll be heading off to Mass for the first time in many many years and rededicating myself to the Lord's work.


:D

She was a disaster from day 1 and an embarrassment to America as a political candidate. Good riddance, I hope this is the last I hear from her but I doubt that will be the case.

[raja]

If this is because she's one of Gov Sanford's other mistresses I'll be heading off to Mass for the first time in many many years and rededicating myself to the Lord's work.

As someone on the 'net pointed out:

Governor Sanford celebrated Father's Day be leaving his four kids behind to spend 10 days with his mistress.

Sarah Palin celebrates the 4th of July by announcing her shock resignation from government service.

I'd say it looks like Texas Gov Perry has a hell of an act to follow for Christmas.
I think there's a scandal about to break . . . and she's bailing out to reduce the impact. Or, there's a scandal in the wings, and she was given the choice of resigning or being exposed. My guess is marital infidelity.

One can only hope . . . .

[flintlock]

I think there's a scandal about to break . . . and she's bailing out to reduce the impact. Or, there's a scandal in the wings, and she was given the choice of resigning or being exposed. My guess is marital infidelity.

One can only hope . . . .

I think you are right about the scandal. I also suspected some sort of sex scandal. Lately Republicans seem to have this repressed sexual need to be "bad" a la Sanford. She'll try and dress it up as something else like patriotism or party loyalty.

I have never had a good feeling about her and this just confirms my instincts. If the Republicans think they can run her and win they may as well go ahead and forfeit the next election. She is a total lightweight and is fooling no one. Pathetic really that an office as important as the President of the US has become fair game to soccer moms and community organizers. Where are our standards?

This move makes her look unstable and erratic. How does this make Alaskans feel? She's used them as a stepping stone to her ambition, and now she's not willing to even pretend to want to pay her dues and actually gain some real experience. I really hope this is the end of her career but these days you need a stake through the heart to kill these egomaniacs.

[we_are_toast]

I think this is all part of a much larger Republican plan. Since Americans aren't buying "cut taxes" as a solution to every problem, and they realize the robber baron approach to economics has left the world on the brink of disaster, the Republicans are looking for a new brand.

Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck ... have the wingnut market, so the party needs to explore new niche markets. I think the J6P, I don't need to read no stinken newspapers, market is open for grabs.

With Sen Ensign, Gov Sanford, and now Sarah Palin, I believe this is actually a TV pilot for a new reality based TV series called "Republican politicians going crazy!" Each week a new Republican politician will appear before the TV cameras and tell a story of hypocrisy, travel, or even basketball. It'll be an interactive series where the audience will have to call a 900 number and vote on, how much are they lying, how long have they been lying, or simply, what the hell are they talking about!

During the week, comedians around the country will be given new material to work with. This will come to be known as a Republican economic stimulus program, CARP (Comedian Assistance Relief Program). The next week, a series of follow up stories will be presented showing how bogus their initial story was and those who voted correctly will get an extra week extension to their unemployment benefits.

Unfortunately, where one industry prospers, another will suffer under this new political outreach to the public. The writers guild of America will soon be facing more layoffs. No one can possibly write a script to compete against the reality these Republican politicians are presenting to America.

I'm not exactly sure how much life this series will have, but with the comeback of Newt Gingrich and rising stars like Bobby Jindal and Minnesota congresswoman Michelle Bachman, American Idol had better watch out!

[doom&gloom]

http://politicaldemotivation.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/palin_goodbye.jpg?w=507&h=479

[Digidiver]

The Real Reason She Resigned:

http://i44.tinypic.com/345ijjp.jpg

[cjppjc]

I think this is all part of a much larger Republican plan. Since Americans aren't buying "cut taxes" as a solution to every problem, and they realize the robber baron approach to economics has left the world on the brink of disaster, the Republicans are looking for a new brand.

Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck ... have the wingnut market, so the party needs to explore new niche markets. I think the J6P, I don't need to read no stinken newspapers, market is open for grabs.

With Sen Ensign, Gov Sanford, and now Sarah Palin, I believe this is actually a TV pilot for a new reality based TV series called "Republican politicians going crazy!" Each week a new Republican politician will appear before the TV cameras and tell a story of hypocrisy, travel, or even basketball. It'll be an interactive series where the audience will have to call a 900 number and vote on, how much are they lying, how long have they been lying, or simply, what the hell are they talking about!

During the week, comedians around the country will be given new material to work with. This will come to be known as a Republican economic stimulus program, CARP (Comedian Assistance Relief Program). The next week, a series of follow up stories will be presented showing how bogus their initial story was and those who voted correctly will get an extra week extension to their unemployment benefits.

Unfortunately, where one industry prospers, another will suffer under this new political outreach to the public. The writers guild of America will soon be facing more layoffs. No one can possibly write a script to compete against the reality these Republican politicians are presenting to America.

I'm not exactly sure how much life this series will have, but with the comeback of Newt Gingrich and rising stars like Bobby Jindal and Minnesota congresswoman Michelle Bachman, American Idol had better watch out!


That was great. Or how about Battle of the GOP........fought with guns

[ricket]

:D

She was a disaster from day 1 and an embarrassment to America as a political candidate. Good riddance, I hope this is the last I hear from her but I doubt that will be the case.

Absolutely have to agree 100%. I just don't get those who are all goo-goo eyed over Palin. It's like theyve never seen a woman politician before. If McCain/Palin wouldve won the election, the US would have bombed Iran and invaded North Korea already. Not saying Obama/Biden is doing a great job (I didnt vote for either party), but I think they are taking the less obvious, less brazen, and less megalomaniacal approach to US imperialistic policy.

I think there's a scandal about to break . . .
One can only hope . . . .

You heard it here first: I smell a sex tape...

Wait, bad choice of words...

[ThePythonicCow]

Absolutely have to agree 100%. I just don't get those who are all goo-goo eyed over Palin. It's like theyve never seen a woman politician before. It's not gender. I favored Fred Thompson (definitely not a woman) and Sarah Palin, while strongly detesting Clinton, Clinton and Obama.

Honest people are hard to find in or anywhere near high office these days.

[ThePythonicCow]

You heard it here first: I smell a sex tape...By the way, Ricket, let me congratulate you on getting all the way through an entire post without condemning usury. Good work. :)

[ricket]

By the way, Ricket, let me congratulate you on getting all the way through an entire post without condemning usury. Good work. :)

Haha. Thanks.

It's just that, it makes all of the other higher level economic discussions a moot point as long as it continues to be practiced. You can't solve *anything* without remedying the underlying cause.

It's like we're all standing around the corpse of the US economy trying to figure out how it died. It appears to have drowned (subprime mortgages) as the clothes are wet and it was found in a river, but as (economic) detectives, we seem to not notice the gunshot (interest) to the back of the head.

[WDCRob]

Almost too good to be true, this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC-tOzXQOsk

Not just a quitter, but a hypocrital quitter.

[flintlock]

Almost too good to be true, this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC-tOzXQOsk

Not just a quitter, but a hypocrital quitter.

Hilarious. :D

[swgprop]

A listing of known ethics complaints filed against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:

1. July 28, 2008: Alaska lawmakers launched an investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan over his refusal to let go a state trooper involved in a contentious divorce with Palin's sister. Stephen Branchflower, a special counsel leading the investigation, concluded Oct. 10 that Palin violated a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. The firing itself was deemed lawful since Monegan was an at-will employee.
2. Aug. 6, 2008: Complaint filed by outspoken Palin critic Andree McLeod of Anchorage contended Palin and some staff members used their influence to get a Palin supporter a job in state government. Complaint alleged Palin staffers helped Tom Lamal, who once co-hosted a Palin fundraiser, to get a job as a surveyor. Dismissed by state personnel board, although the board's investigator recommended ethics training for one staffer who made questionable comments in e-mails.
3. Aug. 20, 2008: Complaint accused Palin of breaking election law by taking a public position on a mining ballot initiative days before the vote. Filed by Brian Kraft, founder of the Bristol Bay Alliance, a group that opposed the Pebble Mine prospect. Rejected May 8 by the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
Aug. 29, 2008: Palin named as John McCain's running mate.

4. Sept. 2, 2008: Palin filed a "self disclosure" with the state personnel board over the Troopergate affair, saying a state legislative probe had become too political. On Nov. 3 -- the day before the election -- Timothy Petumenos, a lawyer hired by the board, said that Palin violated no ethics laws when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
5. Sept. 3, 2008: Complaint by the Public Safety Employees Association alleged Palin or her staff had unauthorized access to and improperly disclosed information from personnel records of Trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's ex-brother-in-law. Complaint was later amended to include an allegation of harassment. The PSEA's allegations were investigated alongside Palin's filing and also dismissed.
6. Oct. 13, 2008: Monegan asked the board for a hearing to clear his name. Petumenos, in his Nov. 3 Troopergate report to the panel, said there was no legal basis or jurisdiction for such a hearing.
7. Oct. 23, 2008: Complaint with the Federal Election Commission by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleged the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her vice presidential quest violated Federal Election Campaign Act. The Washington watchdog group argued that candidates aren't supposed to use donor money for personal expenses. The FEC ruled May 19 that party money is not covered by the ban.
8. Oct. 24, 2008: Complaint contended Palin abused her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her. The personnel board found no wrongdoing, but in a Feb. 23 settlement Palin agreed to reimburse the state about $10,000 for costs associated with 10 trips found to be of questionable state interest among 72 travel authorizations studied. The money is due to the state on Tuesday.
9. Nov. 14, 2008: Accused Palin of partisan "post-election damage control" for talking to reporters about the campaign in her state office. Filed by Zane Henning, a North Slope worker from Wasilla, Palin's hometown. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.
10. Dec. 2, 2008: Alleged Palin violated ethics law by campaigning for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Filed by Anthony Martin of Talkeetna. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.
11. Dec. 18, 2008: Complaint contended Palin misused funds of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, a quasi-government entity, to promote her political ambitions with advertisements featuring her, violating ethics law. The ads promoting Alaska seafood ran in the National Fisherman last year through November. Dismissed Jan. 12 after a personnel board investigation determined Palin's only involvement was to give permission to use her image long before she was named McCain's running mate.
12. Jan. 12: Complaint alleging interference in a job hiring was filed under the name of Edna Birch, a busybody character on the British soap opera Emmerdale. Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said no one by that name could be found living in Alaska and the filer refused to use a real name, so the complaint was dismissed Feb. 20.
13. and 14. Jan. 26: Two complaints filed by McLeod alleged two of Palin's top aides misused their official positions for Palin's personal and political gain. The complaints said then-press secretary Bill McAllister and Kris Perry -- director of the governor's Anchorage office -- worked on state time to benefit Palin's interests during and after her vice presidential quest. Pending.
15. March 18: Contended Palin improperly used state staff, property, time and equipment for partisan political purposes. One of the grievances cited was Palin's posting of her veep candidacy on the official state governor's Web site -- http://gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1439&type=1 Complaint filed by McLeod. Dismissed May 27 as lacking merit by personnel board May 27.
16. March 24: Contended conflict of interest by Palin because she wore Arctic Cat logo gear during the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race. Palin's husband, Todd, is sponsored by Arctic Cat in the race. Filed by Linda Kellen Biegel, a Democratic blogger. Dismissed June 2.
17. April 22: Alleged that work with Palin's political action committee violated two provisions of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by misusing her official position and accepting outside employment. Filed by Anchorage resident Sondra Tompkins. Dismissed as lacking merit by state personnel board May 8.
18. April 27: Contends Palin is misusing the governor's office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust. The fund was recently established by supporters to help Palin pay off more than $500,000 in legal debts stemming from other ethics complaints, including troopergate. Complaint filed by Eagle River resident, Kim Chatman. Pending.


http://www.adn.com/palin/story/838912.html

[BK]

Perhaps she finally realized that a Governors job is a dead end. Its a fine job if you are wealthy and don't need cash - see Gov Weld formerly of Massachusetts. Meanwhile Gov Deval Patrick makes regular trips to Washington-DC looking for work. A Governorship is like a game of Musical Chairs (if you are still Governor when the Music stops you have to get re-elected or your lost all your Political capital).

But, McCain (senior moment )selecting her for his running Mate is her best chance to find the next job.

She would be an idiot to complete her term as Governor of Alaska.

BTW - I wouldn't vote for her for President or VP - but, remaining in the Alaska Gov role is the Job to Nowhere!

[stanley2008]

I presume Palin resigned so she could spend more time rebuilding the Republican base and possibly preparing for a run for President.

Yeah, she's a true political genius. She is so well spoken too!

Her knowledge of the world would have been so good for America. I'm sure she'll be building up the "base". But first she might have to tend to her lucrative book offers and speech tours, but then right back to building up the base. Right after she passes grade 3 geography make up classes.

Or maybe she quit because she knows that the evil media found more dirt on her.

Who's the next nutbar governor to crack I wonder?

Good chuckle for the day - Sarah for President!

[stanley2008]

Perhaps she finally realized that a Governors job is a dead end. Its a fine job if you are wealthy and don't need cash - see Gov Weld formerly of Massachusetts. Meanwhile Gov Deval Patrick makes regular trips to Washington-DC looking for work. A Governorship is like a game of Musical Chairs (if you are still Governor when the Music stops you have to get re-elected or your lost all your Political capital).

But, McCain (senior moment )selecting her for his running Mate is her best chance to find the next job.

She would be an idiot to complete her term as Governor of Alaska.

BTW - I wouldn't vote for her for President or VP - but, remaining in the Alaska Gov role is the Job to Nowhere!


Yeah, I think she'd make a killer analyst for CNN - bwaahaha!

[ThePythonicCow]

Sarah for President!Well, I'll agree with that part of your post.

I can't say I quite understand the vitriol that has been targeted at Sarah Palin since the day after she was picked to run with McCain (it took a day, because she was a surprise pick and the opposition research was lacking on her.)

[cjppjc]

By the way, Ricket, let me congratulate you on getting all the way through an entire post without condemning usury. Good work. :)



Haha. Thanks.

It's just that, it makes all of the other higher level economic discussions a moot point as long as it continues to be practiced. You can't solve *anything* without remedying the underlying cause.

It's like we're all standing around the corpse of the US economy trying to figure out how it died. It appears to have drowned (subprime mortgages) as the clothes are wet and it was found in a river, but as (economic) detectives, we seem to not notice the gunshot (interest) to the back of the head.


He couldn't do it.:):):cool:

[babbittd]

Governor Palin is as phony as they come. Small government? Anti-corruption?

THE $12.5 MILLION sports complex and hockey rink that is the lasting monument to Palin's two terms as Wasilla mayor is also a monument to the kind of insider politics that dismays Americans of both parties. Six months before Palin stepped down as mayor in October 2002, the city awarded nearly a half-million-dollar contract to design the biggest project in Wasilla history to Kumin Associates. Blase Burkhart was the Kumin architect on the job—the son of Roy Burkhart, who is frequently described as a "mentor" of Palin and was head of the local Republican Party (his wife, June, who also advised Palin, is the national committeewoman). Asked if the contract was a favor, Roy Burkhart, who contributed to her campaign in the same time frame that his son got the contract, said: "I really don't know." Palin then named Blase Burkhart to a seven-member builder-selection committee that picked Howdie Inc., a mostly residential contractor owned at the time by Howard Nugent. Formally awarded the contract a couple of weeks after Palin left office, Nugent has donated $4,000 to Palin campaigns. Two competitors protested the process that led to Nugent's contract.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-08/news/the-book-of-sarah/5

[cjppjc]

Governor Palin is as phony as they come. Small government? Anti-corruption?


The opposite of damned by faint praise.

[babbittd]

The opposite of damned by faint praise.

Those are her alleged principles.

Reality is that she sold out as a mayor and probably wouldn't have been a candidate for Governor, never mind the winner, without doing so.

I'll say it again despite being called immature or a brat or some other stupid shit like that the first time around - if you think it works any other way in this country than you probably still believe in the Tooth Fairy.

Even I fall for a good line on occasion. Disclosure: I supported Ron Paul and voted for Bob Barr, held on to a glimmer of hope that Obama wasn't a total sellout and thought that McCain was more of a wildcard for military misadventure. Also engaged in discussions here and elsewhere about a setup of one party controlling the White House and the other controlling the Congress being better than total control for one party.

Not so sure about that and never have been at the federal level. The corruption runs to deep. I think people romanticize the shutdowns of the Clinton era. They managed to team up on plenty of crap legislation despite that deadlock.

[cjppjc]

Disclosure: I supported Ron Paul and voted for Bob Barr, held on to a glimmer of hope that Obama wasn't a total sellout and thought that McCain was more of a wildcard for military misadventure. Also engaged in discussions here and elsewhere about a setup of one party controlling the White House and the other controlling the Congress being better than total control for one party.



I know we've done this before. I proudly voted for Ron Paul. I'm like Starving Steve when it comes to Dr. Paul. I even gave him money. I give nobody money. I got alot of people to vote for him. I really thought he was our last chance.

[metalman]

I know we've done this before. I proudly voted for Ron Paul. I'm like Starving Steve when it comes to Dr. Paul. I even gave him money. I give nobody money. I got alot of people to vote for him. I really thought he was our last chance.

paul ran an educational campaign.... he and kucinich.

spend enough $$$ and you can 'educate' the public to the point where you win, too.

[Finster]

I'm not so sure PC.

I was a big Sarah supporter in the beginning. She was awesome in front of a teleprompter but impromptu, she was a disaster.

Now, that doesn't mean she wasn't a good governor but she had a Dan Quayle light weight image (which in Dan's case was true) Her resume was a little light so the last thing she should have done was quit her current job. This just reinforces the flake image.

As a card carrying member of the Republican party. I won't give her the time of day now.

On the other hand, the Republican Party is in such shambles, you have to figure something well outside of the box is in order. After eight years of big-government-growing, freedom-squelching policy, it had lost every last iota of claim to principle. And then to nominate McCain? Not one single Republican I know even considered him more than half Republican. The one thing - the one thing that he did right and in a big way - was nominate Sarah Palin.

[Sapiens]

http://www.itulip.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1803&stc=1&d=1247157074

Future talk show host?

[BiscayneSunrise]

On the other hand, the Republican Party is in such shambles, you have to figure something well outside of the box is in order. After eight years of big-government-growing, freedom-squelching policy, it had lost every last iota of claim to principle. And then to nominate McCain? Not one single Republican I know even considered him more than half Republican. The one thing - the one thing that he did right and in a big way - was nominate Sarah Palin.

Granted that Palin is the truest acolyte of conservatism but so are members of the John Birch society. In order to get elected and actually govern, a politician has to has some semblance of credibility along with grit and endurance. Sarah says the problems of Alaska are too distracting for her to get the real work of America done. I'm sorry, but what better way to implements ideals than from the governor's chair. From what I see, Sarah is just a show horse.

Although, given EJ's concern about the rise of populist despots and crackpots, maybe Sarah Palin fits the bill perfectly.

[Finster]

Granted that Palin is the truest acolyte of conservatism but so are members of the John Birch society. In order to get elected and actually govern, a politician has to has some semblance of credibility along with grit and endurance. Sarah says the problems of Alaska are too distracting for her to get the real work of America done. I'm sorry, but what better way to implements ideals than from the governor's chair. From what I see, Sarah is just a show horse.

Although, given EJ's concern about the rise of populist despots and crackpots, maybe Sarah Palin fits the bill perfectly.

Politically speaking, the "show horse" factor works. I was looking at it at least in part from the standpoint of breaking out of the old guard mold and political chess game. There was at least some crossover appeal to the "first-woman-vice-president" contingent. If it was just conservatism at issue, McCain could just as easily have gone with Huckabee. IMO the guy that should have been the nominee. In the end though, Obama was just too overwhelming. Not only did you have the "first-black-president" factor, but the guy is just over-the-top charismatic.

Far as conservatism goes, I'm not sure the Republican party has a clue. It promoted GWB as a sort of second coming of Reagan, when he was closer to a second coming of LBJ.

[we_are_toast]

Far as conservatism goes, I'm not sure the Republican party has a clue. It promoted GWB as a sort of second coming of Reagan, when he was closer to a second coming of LBJ.

Wow, that's some comparison. I think to reach this conclusion you might need some quantum entanglement from another thread.

Except for a war or 2, seems GWB played it straight out of the Reagan playbook, complete with tax cuts for the rich, governments the problem, and starve the beast. Funny thing is, they won and got exactly what they wanted, to bankrupt the government.

As far as Sarah, she's Obama's best chance at a second term.;)

[BiscayneSunrise]

Politically speaking, the "show horse" factor works. I was looking at it at least in part from the standpoint of breaking out of the old guard mold and political chess game. There was at least some crossover appeal to the "first-woman-vice-president" contingent.

Sarah definitely had appeal as the first woman VP but I thought it was just a "me too" by McCain trying to vainly trump Obama's "first POTUS" status. McCain got a bump from the Palin nomination but ultimately, a candidate has to win on his own merits. Which McCain was never able to do.

As you point out, Obama was the perfect candidate. I remember when I saw him in the first debate way back in November of '07. I told my wife that he was going all the way. It wasn't an endorsement just a prediction.

Sarah still has a lot of the base fired up. She certainly isn't old guard. But neither was Reagan. The old country club Rockefeller Republicans strongly disliked RR. But he persevered. 8 years as Gov, then many more years on the speaking circuit. Even Obama defeated the old guard D's. It can be done. We'll see if Sarah can pull it off. Much of it depends on the mood of the country when the election looms.