Conservatives analyze Palin's move
Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009 12:51 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Republicans, Sarah Palin
From NBC's Mark Murray
Forget Democrats and the Mainstream Media. What are conservatives -- the same folks who cheered her on during the presidential contest -- saying about Sarah Palin's decision to resign as governor, at least as it relates to a future presidential bid?
In short, their conclusion is similar to everyone else's: It doesn't make much sense. The big exception is the
Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol, who calls her Friday announcement a potentially "shrewd" move.
Below is a snapshot of the commentary coming from conservatives:
The
Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes: "Forget about Sarah Palin as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and probably ever. She may have no interest in seeking the GOP nomination. But if she does, her chances of winning the nomination have been minimized by her decision to resign as governor of Alaska... I say this reluctantly because Palin, in my view, is the most exciting Republican figure to emerge in decades... But personal magnetism is only one of the legs, or underpinnings, for a successful race for the Republican nomination. The other two are experience in office and enough knowledge of foreign and domestic issues to talk about them persuasively."
Red State's Erick Erickson: "I’m sad that so many people are mad at me for voicing my opinion that she’s done with elected politics. I have always supported Sarah Palin. I continue to support her. But that does not change what I think. We should not be invested in the politician or the personality, but the ideas."
The Wall Street Journal editorial page: "Giving up on an executive job a year and a half early isn't the best way to persuade voters you're ready for the more demanding rigors and scrutiny of the White House... Some Alaskans, including many of her admirers, can be forgiven if they conclude she bugged out when the going got rough." Some Alaskans, including many of her admirers, can be forgiven if they conclude she bugged out when the going got rough.
National Review's Rich Lowry: "I think I have pretty well-established credentials when it comes to being charmed by Sarah Palin, but that statement, as a statement, was simply terrible. Rambling and not at all persuasive as an argument for her decision. More Gibson/Couric than GOP convention speech. She shouldn't have said a thing without getting Matt Scully — or some similarly talented speechwriter — on the case first. As to how this decision plays out ultimately, we'll see. There's plenty of time if (as I assume) she wants to run in 2012, and she obviously has plenty of capital with Republicans. But not an auspicious start."
National Review's Rick Brookhiser: "As Cole Porter said, Sarah Palin's got that thing, that special thing that makes the birdies forget to sing, yes she's got that thing — that special thing. Yet she also makes a more than normal share of misjudgments. Are we to accept in an aspirant to the Oval Office cutting short her tour of duty in the Alaska statehouse?"
The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol: "If Palin wants to run in 2012, why not do exactly what she announced today? It's an enormous gamble - but it could be a shrewd one. After all, she's freeing herself from the duties of the governorship. Now she can do her book, give speeches, travel the country and the world, campaign for others, meet people, get more educated on the issues - and without being criticized for neglecting her duties in Alaska. I suppose she'll take a hit for leaving the governorship early - but how much of one? She's probably accomplished most of what she was going to get done as governor, and is leaving a sympatico lieutenant governor in charge."
