On Sarah Palin's Resignation

On Friday afternoon, shortly after 3:00pm, I was walking out of a movie theater where I'd just seen the latest Transformers movie. When I turned on my BlackBerry and logged onto the net to see the latest news, I was shocked to see that Sarah Palin had decided to resign as Governor of Alaska, effective July 26.

My initial reaction was not positive. In fact, seeing the news felt like a kick to the gut, and my gut feeling was that the maneuver was very foolish.

Having had several hours to digest the news, I still can't shake the feeling that this move may not be a positive one for her. But despite that, I'm not ready to have a melt-down like Ed Morrissey at Hot Air did and declare that Palin is no longer a serious candidate for president. Rather, I hope that this does end up being a positive move for her. Of all of the major contenders for the Republican nomination in 2012, Palin is the one whose views most closely approximate my own. Furthermore, the relentless, despicable attacks against her by the radical left that have continued unabated since last August strengthen my desire to see her prevail.

But on the other hand, such vile, personal attacks do take their toll and Palin has not been the sole target of such attacks. Her family - from her husband Todd to her infant son Trig - have been attacked as well. And it isn't just the loony left that has been doing it. The mainstream newsmedia and entertainment industries - with very few exceptions - have played along gleefully. As have a number of low-life former McCain staffers and sundry Republicans-In-Name-Only (RINOs).

Looking at this whole matter from a historical perspective - as I am wont to do - here are a couple of items to ponder. First, if you think experience might be a potential problem vis-à-vis a potential Palin candidacy in 2012, consider that in 1912, Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States after having had only two years of elective political experience as the Governor of New Jersey. Also, as noted by Donald Douglas at American Power, this speech may have been Palin's "you won't have Nixon to kick around anymore" moment (recalling Nixon's speech after losing the race for the California governorship in 1962), setting up a potential return to elective politics at some point down the road. I hope Sarah at Sarah Way Down South is right and all turns out well.

Even so, it still doesn't look good. Moxie thinks likewise.

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In honor of our country's Independence Day, here's Lee Greenwood singing "God Bless the USA":



Even with all of the nonsense going on, we should still be thankful for living in such a fine nation.