Jazz Shaw contemplates the future of the former beauty queen.
Money quote:
In the short time we’ve known Governor Palin, the media has begun assembling a treasured collection of video and audio gold. Her interviews have been disastrous to all but the most die-hard worshipers. In the inevitable night of the long knives following Big Mac’s concession, the Arizona senator’s senior aides have begun spinning tales out of school regarding diva performances and extravagant luxuries that would make Caligula blush. In a candid moment on the tarmac, awaiting her exit from the field of battle, Palin was asked about her plans for the next election and responded, “2012? That sounds like years from now.” Her ardent fans should step back for a moment and realize that Sarah is the verbal equivalent to Gerald Ford’s golf game.
So let us ask ourselves once again, what should the future hold for Sarah Palin? Perhaps it is best to go back to being a large salmon in a small creek, making the best use of the well-honed skills and pork-gobbling propensities which once vaulted her to a record-setting approval rating. Had she been given more time to fine tune her craft, those weapons may well have been trained on a Washington establishment which would have withered under the tracer fire. The fallout of this election, however, has left the beautiful bird with clipped wings and a load of baggage which would likely trip her up in a terminal fashion at the next dance. Sarah Palin’s moment came too soon and the bright lights of the beltway bandits burned off her plumage.
Best of luck, Governor, but Washington doesn’t suffer electoral losers gladly. Your best future likely lies north of the lower 48.
History certainly isn’t on her side. There are no examples in history of a failed Vice-Presidential candidate becoming either their party’s nominee or President of the United States (Walter Mondale doesn’t count, because he had actually been Vice-President prior to being on the losing end of the 1980 election).
Right now, the Republican grassroots is in still in love with Sarah Palin, but when she has to share the stage with other people they love — Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Bobby Jindal to name just a few — she’s going to be that proverbial small fish in a big pond and Republicans who actually want to win in 2012 are going to remember the gaffe-filled eight weeks when she was on the national stage back in `08.
First, stop repeating the MYTH that the “grassroots” are in love with Palin. She attracted the bigoted, xenophobic fringe out from under their rocks, but also drove away three times as many of the moderate, well informed, citizens. Pakin’s presence guarantees permanent minority status for the Republicans.
Take a look at who attended her rallies and you see the same extreme elements from the Religious Reich and the usual, hate everyone who isn’t just like themselves, crazies.
Nobody with any sense will ever again trust the Republicans to lead. The worst part of the Palin debacle was the way so many heretofore trusted voices on the Right immediately started parroting the talking points, even though everyone knew Palin is a sham, and was a terrible running mate choice. With their integrity destroyed, Republican mouthpieces, especially the blogers, can never again be trusted to tell the truth.
We can hope that the Republicans will somehow find a leader who will emerge who will insist on a return to the GOP’s libertarian roots and again become the Party who champions the Constitution and individual LIBERTY. But, for those who have witnessed the sycophants during this last campaign repeating every bit of slime and innuendo, while refusing to ask their own side to produce a scintilla of policy or leadership ideas of their own, we know that we can no longer trust those who currently control the Republican side.
I don’t disagree with you, but take a look at this week’s Rasmussen poll. She’s listed at the favorite for 2012 among Republicans with far higher numbers than any other name that’s being mentioned.