Palin resigns

The only thing that worried me is that she keeps muttering about 'having a higher purpose.' That's NEVER a good sign.

I don't know, if by "having a higher purpose" means she'd die for our sins or something, I'm buying.

A friend e-mailed me this article:

Quote :

WANDERINGS, with Walter Brasch
Week of July 6, 2008
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You Betcha Sarah Palin
Has a Higher Calling

by Walter Brasch

Sarah Palin said she had a "higher calling" that required her to resign 17 months before her term ended as governor of Alaska, and not to seek a second term.

I have no idea where this "higher calling" came from, but I suspect it could only have come from two sources. The first one is God. I don't know what God said to Sarah Palin, but I suspect it might have been something like this:

"Sarah. I am a patient God. But, you have tried my patience. You are an embarrassment to my ideals, to yourself, to the people of your state, and to your country. Me, and my wolves and moose, would like you to please resign and devote the rest of your life in spiritual embrace of a better life. Oh, by the way, I knew a Sarah, and you are no Sarah."

The other possibility of her "higher calling" is from the Sultan of Greed. I also haven't talked to him about Sarah Palin's "Higher Calling," but this is a possibility of that conversation:

"So, Sarah, what do you earn as governor?"

"About $125,000."

"Would you like to earn more? Lots more?"

"You betcha! Half my salary is already taken up on clothes and jewelry so I can be the best darned governor in these here greatest United States of America!"

"Resign as governor, sign with me, and I'll get you a book deal worth millions."

"But I've never written nothing before."

"All you'll have to do is talk into a tape recorder. We'll correct some of your facts, add some stuff, take out some stuff, and make you sound as if you were Hillary Clinton but without all that liberal nonsense."

"Maybe you could put in a lot of pictures. If there were a lot of pictures, I wouldn't have to have as many words."

"We'll give you the best writers and fashion photographers. You'll be in the Best Sellers list the day our­I mean your­book is published."

"You would do that for li'l ole me?"

"Not only would my team do that, we'll get you speaking engagements."

"But I already give speeches. All the conservatives want my opinions."

"It isn't your opinions they crave, but that's another story. I can get you speeches at maybe a hundred thousand each."

"And it's all mine!"

"Minus expenses, administrative fees, and commissions."

"You're taking a cut of my wisdom?"

"Trust me, Babe, we don't want your wisdom, but that's how this business works. You want to ride, you have to pay the operator. Now, about punditry."

"But, Sultan, I'm not so good with puns. Maybe­"

"Not jokes, Darlin'! We'll get you a radio gig. Couple of hours a day. You just say whatever you want into a microphone."

"That sounds tough. I might have to spend time researching issues, and reading something, like maybe a newspaper."

"You ever listen to talk radio?"

"No research and reading?"

"It'll only hurt your credibility. Once we get you a radio contract, we'll move you onto TV."

"Do you think I'll be able to do TV?"

"You're a beauty queen. Miss Wasilla. America's favorite hockey puck."

"Hockey mom."

"Whatever. You're photogenic, nothing else matters. First, we get you a gig as a paid guest commentator on Fox­"

"Like, wow, that'll be the ultimate!"

"Sweet Cheeks, you ain't heard nothin' yet! Make the audience salivate when they see you on air, and we'll get you a regular slot. An hour, maybe more every week night."

"Wow! Like my idols Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly? Will Fox pay for my wardrobe? That's important. My contract has to have a wardrobe and jewelry clause. And makeup. I'll need my own makeup artist. And hairdresser. I can't be seen not looking like a superstar."

"No problem, Honey Bunch. Fox will probably throw in a personal trainer to make sure you don't gain any weight. It knows talent when it sees it."

"And I can make millions, just like Rush and Glenn and Bill, the greatest Americans ever!"

"Not as much as them the first year, of course. Maybe only a couple of million. But, hey, aren't I the Sultan of Greed? Am I not the one to lead you to the promised land, where you can rant all you want about high-paid celebrities and the government-controlled media? Did I not lead you to believe you have a higher calling than being a governor? Sign with Greed International, and we'll get you anything you want!"

"Can you make my ethics problems go away?"

"Hey, Doll, you'll be bathed by the media. Ethics won't be a problem."

"Sounds just gosh-danged wonderful, Sultan, but do you know what I want, what I really really want?"

"Whatever you want, we'll get. You're a money machine. So what can we get you?"

"Maybe a full time babysitter for Todd and the kids. They might be lonely without a wife and mother."

Sarah Palin is good for the lolz.

She said why she was resigning. The constant ethics complaints (repeatedly dismissed in court) were costing her family and the state millions of dollars, and she felt it was unreasonable.

And people were making fun of her kids - Letterman made jokes about her younger daughter having sex with football players (and no, I don't believe it was supposed to be about Bristol, because if it had been, he most likely would have said her name. It was either bad vetting or just a bad fucking joke.), and there were tons of jokes during the election about Bristol. Not to mention the constant ridiculing about their names - names which aren't actually that bad.

tl;dr: She had legitimate reasons, which I respect, and people are fucking dickbags.

Well, I'm just hoping this means we'll never hear from her again. I'm so sick of that bitch.
As to the tasteless jokes, if you put yourself on a pedestal, someone will knock you down.

A_Note_Chaotic wrote:

She said why she was resigning. The constant ethics complaints (repeatedly dismissed in court) were costing her family and the state millions of dollars, and she felt it was unreasonable.

And people were making fun of her kids - Letterman made jokes about her younger daughter having sex with football players (and no, I don't believe it was supposed to be about Bristol, because if it had been, he most likely would have said her name. It was either bad vetting or just a bad fucking joke.), and there were tons of jokes during the election about Bristol. Not to mention the constant ridiculing about their names - names which aren't actually that bad.

tl;dr: She had legitimate reasons, which I respect, and people are fucking dickbags.

Because no politician in the history of time has ever had their kids be the subject of cruel jokes, had scurrilous investigations conducted against them, or ever had their faith or personal background distorted for political gain.

Two quotes for you:

"Fair or unfair, I think she does herself a disservice to even mention it...When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism or, you know, maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, man, that doesn't do us any good. Women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country. I don't think it's, it bodes well for her -- a statement like that...It bothers me a little bit hearing her bring that attention to herself on that level." - Sarah Palin, March 2008, when asked her view on the responses Hillary Clinton made to criticism by the media

"Nobody should have hurt feelings! My goodness, this is politics! Politics is rough and tumble, and people need to get thick skin, just like I've got," - Sarah Palin, November 2008, on the treatment she received from the media.

Seriously, if it's because of a personal or family crisis I'll be the first to apologize. But I can read you a pretty comprehensive list of governors who have resigned mid-term without immediately stepping into another political job, and just about every single one of them was two steps away from being indicted when they quit - and Palin's resignation sounds very similar to all of them.

A_Note_Chaotic wrote:

She said why she was resigning. The constant ethics complaints (repeatedly dismissed in court) were costing her family and the state millions of dollars, and she felt it was unreasonable.

I thought she'd cleared up most of that. Unless there's more serious allegations coming down the pike, I don't but that at all.

Quote :

And people were making fun of her kids

People keep saying this, but no one can seem to find any of these jokes that isn't specifically about Bristol.

Quote :

Letterman made jokes about her younger daughter having sex with football players (and no, I don't believe it was supposed to be about Bristol, because if it had been, he most likely would have said her name. It was either bad vetting or just a bad fucking joke.), and there were tons of jokes during the election about Bristol.

When you're an advocate of Abstinence-Only sex-ed and your teenage daughter turns up pregnant... people are going to mock. Period. Complete overreaction to Letterman's crack, notwithstanding.

Quote :

tl;dr: She had legitimate reasons, which I respect, and people are fucking dickbags.

She probably does have legit reasons. Too bad the ones she gave don't pass the smell test.

I'm not saying that I agree with all of her reactions about her kids - I'm saying that they did make fun of them - their names, and Bristol, and the jokes with Letterman. And I disagree that it was an overreaction to Letterman's joke - his joke was terrible and I was even bothered by it myself. And yes, plenty of people make jokes about politicians' children and I have never liked that. I will note, though - the Obama's have put their children in the public eye, as well, particularly with the comments about one of their daughters being "chubby", which irritated the crap out of me because she's like, 9 or something and isn't chubby by any standard. I get that your kids are in the public eye when you have a public job, but I can also see how it would wear you down over time to hear about it again and again.

And yes, omfg, abstinence only education. I don't agree with it either, but so what? She can still feel that it is the right choice, but she certainly has no impact on whether it's taught or not - even less so when she's out of office!

And her reasons should pass the "smell test" - she's moving out of office because she feels more attention is being given to her than to her State, and because it's leading to state money - and her own money - being drained. I read her speech, and listened to it, and that was what she said - she is stepping away because it's a waste to the Alaskan people for her to continue being in office when more and more frivolous lawsuits are being tossed her way. She knows that people are going to keep suing her, and I think it's a good think that she recognises it and is willing to step down to preserve the coffers of her State.

A_Note_Chaotic wrote:

And her reasons should pass the "smell test" - she's moving out of office because she feels more attention is being given to her than to her State, and because it's leading to state money - and her own money - being drained. I read her speech, and listened to it, and that was what she said - she is stepping away because it's a waste to the Alaskan people for her to continue being in office when more and more frivolous lawsuits are being tossed her way. She knows that people are going to keep suing her, and I think it's a good think that she recognises it and is willing to step down to preserve the coffers of her State.

You must have been listening to a different speech than me. I listened to it three times, and it's all doubletalk and spin to me.

She doesn't want to be a "lame duck" governor, so it's better that she quit. She doesn't want to waste taxpayer money, except that just because she's not in office doesn't automatically stop the investigations or the state's need to defend against them (and if she really wanted to do that, why is her resignation not effective for three more weeks?). She thinks it's bad to weather a political storm because it looks like you're indecisive or a loser.

I mean...it just flat doesn't make sense - not politically, not rationally, not a damn bit of it makes sense.

Lysander wrote:

gaijinguy wrote:

I like how you don't, and your progressivism

I want to know what you think that word means.

Everything that falls under "Change we can believe in" = Progressivism.

No exceptions come to mind immediately.

I'm waiting for Palin to have a news conference telling us she resigned for the lolz.

Her resignation makes perfect sense given one aspect of her personality: Sarah Palin is the thinnest-skinned politician I've ever seen in my life. From the very start she and her followers have been especially sensitive to criticism (the "lipstick on a pig" blowup now seems almost prophetic), and it seems every month she's viciously attacking someone else that said something bad about her and only making it worse in the process (aren't Letterman's ratings at an all-time high now?). Politicians with Sarah's inability to accept criticism don't tend to last very long and quit in ways very similar to this. But because she's a national figure now she gets national headlines. It's not strange at all. It's just... kinda sad.

She's not doing this because she's afraid a lame duck governor is bad for Alaska; how much worse, then, is a lame duck Lt. Governor? She's not doing this to avoid draining state coffers with the ethics violations; she's popular enough with the base that, if she really wanted to, she could sound the alarm, collect donations for a legal defense fund, and be rolling in cash in days. And if she's resigning to set herself up for 2012 she's even dumber than I thought; thanks to his strong grassroots support structure, unparelelled fundraising ability, strong political structure, and nigh-unshakeable likability, Barack Obama just might be the most difficult incumbent candidate to defeat in modern history. Palin, meanwhile, can certainly make a strong primary showing but without much ability to attract independents and moderates she'd get stomped in a general election. Add in the millstone of "quitter" around her neck and she doesn't stand a chance.

No, I think the only reason for her resignation is simply: she can't stand the heat, so she's getting out of the kitchen.

Lady Anne wrote:

I'm waiting for Palin to have a news conference telling us she resigned for the lolz.

"It was a joke on them mean ol' freedom-hatin' picturemakers on those innerweb places, gosh golly gee you betcha!"

Mikey Go WOOGA wrote:

Lysander wrote:

gaijinguy wrote:

I like how you don't, and your progressivism

I want to know what you think that word means.

Everything that falls under "Change we can believe in" = Progressivism.

No exceptions come to mind immediately.

Mikey, Barack Obama is not a "Progressive". He's a left-of-center Democrat that falls pretty squarely in the "moderate" range on most issues.

Russ Feingold of Wisconsin is a Progressive. So is Dennis Kucinich of Illinois. Bernie Sanders of Vermont as well.

TheHermit wrote:

She's not doing this to avoid draining state coffers with the ethics violations; she's popular enough with the base that, if she really wanted to, she could sound the alarm, collect donations for a legal defense fund, and be rolling in cash in days.

Not quite...there was a fundraiser last week trying to raise money for Palin's legal defense fund. It lasted 5 days, and fell well below it's goal of $500,000 (I think the final take was $120,000 or so).

Mikey Go WOOGA wrote:

Everything that falls under "Change we can believe in" = Progressivism.

I was kinda hoping that he had a grasp of the concept that's somewhat deeper than a soundbite. That's like saying the Republican tenets, ethics and political ideology can best be summed up as MAVERICK COUNTRY FIRST STAY THE COURSE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Hell, Obama's even sort of a lightweight Progressivist. He's more of a moderate.

Lysander wrote:

Mikey Go WOOGA wrote:

Everything that falls under "Change we can believe in" = Progressivism.

That's like saying the Republican tenets, ethics and political ideology can best be summed up as MAVERICK COUNTRY FIRST STAY THE COURSE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

They can't? :hmm:

Sheba wrote:

Lysander wrote:

Mikey Go WOOGA wrote:

Everything that falls under "Change we can believe in" = Progressivism.

That's like saying the Republican tenets, ethics and political ideology can best be summed up as MAVERICK COUNTRY FIRST STAY THE COURSE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

They can't? :hmm:

No, they can't. He forgot "FREE MARKET WILL SOLVE ALL!"

So she sold her soul to get out of some scandal? There's no way to break a deal like that.

Freezer wrote:

Sheba wrote:

Lysander wrote:

Mikey Go WOOGA wrote:

Everything that falls under "Change we can believe in" = Progressivism.

That's like saying the Republican tenets, ethics and political ideology can best be summed up as MAVERICK COUNTRY FIRST STAY THE COURSE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

They can't? :hmm:

No, they can't. He forgot "FREE MARKET WILL SOLVE ALL!"

And there's no reference to God.

I mean really.

Freezer wrote:

No, they can't. He forgot "FREE MARKET WILL SOLVE ALL!"

What bothers me about that is that free markets will adjust, and will regulate themselves in all but the most extreme cases, but people on both sides of this argument seem to think that that means it will happen without any pain to be felt by anyone.
And that's bullshit.

This financial crisis that's happening all around us, that is the market reacting to the bubble beforehand. That is what the free market balancing itself feels like.

Lysander wrote:

gaijinguy wrote:

Lysander wrote:

gaijinguy wrote:

I like how you don't, and your progressivism

I want to know what you think that word means.

That's it? Your entire post?

It's a question a sixth grader should be able to answer.

You should try answering it.

And you're just mad that I lampshaded your behavior first, and better. :hmm: NO U

You let yourself get boxed in, and now you're trying for a save with SRS BIZNIZ after you rolled a critical failure on snark (I know, I know, nerd reference. I keep forgetting that you're one of the cool kids that hangs out on fanfiction boards.)

This is why America can't have nice things. Bunch of idiots fighting about politics. It's not worth it and it's not making things any better.

karmyn31 wrote:

This is why America can't have nice things. Bunch of idiots fighting about politics. It's not worth it and it's not making things any better.

But it's so much fun :lolinsane:

karmyn31 wrote:

This is why America can't have nice things. Bunch of idiots fighting about politics. It's not worth it and it's not making things any better.

This is exactly why we do. In a country where we didn't "have nice things," we wouldn't be allowed to fight about politics.