Sunday, July 12, 2009

Andrew Sullivan has a theory about Sarah Palin's resignation.

My own bet is that there is another scandal out there that would have forced her resignation if she hadn’t pre-empted it. Yet as plausible is the simple notion uttered by the only person in the melodrama who seems halfway sane: Levi Johnston, the teenage father of Palin’s grandson: “I think the big deal was the book. That was millions of dollars.” With a multi-million-dollar book deal, Palin can now become the darling of the right-wing media in America without the tedious duties of actually, you know, governing something. If the book contains scandals we have not yet learnt about, it could be explosively big in the mainstream; if it’s a hagiography, it could sell well with an adoring religious base.

I agree with Andrew up to a point. I am not too sure that Palin manage to pre-empt the coming scandal. I went so far as to check up on one of the scandals that I believe is about to burst forth and found it had slowed some but was definitely not off the tracks. I have no way of verifying the status of the other possible scandals but I do believe at least one other one is still on the way.

By the way this post is kind of a thank you from me to Andrew Sullivan who linked to me twice last week and sent my hits through the roof. I know my linking to him will not have anywhere near the same affect on HIS hit points but it is the thought that counts.

Isn't it?

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:58 PM

    Thanks, Andrew, for all you've done re: the truth and Sarah Palin.

    By the way, has everyone already read this? http://www.alaskadispatch.com/palin-watch/1283-palin-how-she-gained-control-and-then-lost-it

    It certainly makes a case that Palin is not really running in 2012.

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  2. Anonymous7:11 PM

    The evident fury in the resign speech indicates that Gov. Palin believed that quitting was going to _help_ her situation. There was something new and menacing in the Palin universe which only an "I quit" could deflect. The oncoming problems you, Gryphen, have researched seem to have been on the Palin radar for some time. IMO, these oncoming problems did not trigger the resignation.

    It's possible the new Attorney General presented an ultimatum. And given that the 2008 campaign leaks are just beginning to trickle out, it may be a year or so before we learn what happened. Should be well worth the wait.

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  3. Redhead7:32 PM

    Palins defence fund has only raised 250,000 and has not paid yet because of ethics complaints.

    "To Mr. Coale, the Palins seemed unprepared for the national stage. “I don’t think they got it, that they were in the arena,” he added. Mr. Coale helped Ms. Palin set up a legal defense fund and a political action committee to pay for her political activities. But both caused additional problems.

    While the defense fund has raised more than $250,000, according to its trustee, the money cannot be spent pending resolution of an ethics complaint that contends that the contributions could amount to improper gifts."

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/us/politics/13palin.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&hp

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  4. Anonymous7:47 PM

    Gryphen,

    I heard Palin was supposed to report how much money her PACs had received by July end. Wonder if that has anything to do with her quitting??

    Thanks, Gryphen, and Andrew, too!

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  5. Anonymous8:02 PM

    Can someone please explain to me how and why Sarah Palin got a book deal? This woman has done nothing of significance in her life to warrent a deal for millions of dollars for a book.

    How can she write a book when she can't speak in simple, let alone compound sentences?

    Does anyone think that she will include a chapter on the witch doctor who drove the demons out of her?

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  6. Anonymous8:21 PM

    I'm voting for Housegate or PAC/Fund-Gate.

    The book would have been much better if she had finished her term. Then, the chapter on all of her accomplishments in office would have had a good ending. To quit in the middle is not a good ending.

    Please note that Palin never used the most popular excuse of all, spending more time with her family. She could have said that she had become so deeply involved in Trig's therapy that she wanted to be there at this important time in his young life. Then, she could make selected speechs for Special Needs groups and be a champion, a hero, and a celebrity! And, she would have left her reputation intact. Sorry, too late, better luck next time.

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  7. I thought the part about the defense fund was interesting too. It isn't a lot of money and she can'T use it. I know people can only give a small amount though so the PACs earnings should be intersting. I read somewhere that the report will REALLY show how much political muscle she has.

    I think Sarah would be foolish to run for president and not just for my own reasons. I think she will be miserable once in the job. The issues we face are so serious and complex and the scrutiny from the public would be 10 times worse. It will stroke her ego sir a few months and then it ends. I hope she does get an offer from Fox as it would be a more exciting atmosphere which she seems to crave. She us NOT cut out for politics. The AlaskanDispatch and NYT article show that. Not everyone is-I could not stand it I am too thin skinned and I know it. maybe just maybe she will learn from all this and try to analyze where she would really be happy. I am not counting on it though, she doesn't seem very insightful and her supporters hurt her more than help her!
    Lots of great links to articles today.I also loved Andrew Sullivans of course and the newsminer one is very revealing. If Sarah runs for president she is going to have to do hard interviews on her positions and policies in detail. I just don't see that.

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  8. Anon 8:02 it drives me crazy that a perso (Sarah) who has literally quit every job in her adult life is getting that much for a book. There is nothing she could say of interst to me . I agree she is inarticulate. Her supporters like to lust her accomplishments which to me are not so great. I can think of scores of other people who have accomplished much more and who have truly applied themselves in their career.Sarah seems to be an opportunist looking for the next higher position and she steps on and manipulates people. And she is a pathological liar so who can believe whatvshe writes. There us something really wrong in our society. Conservatism has become a business to prey off the angry and ignorant. Just look at Rush and Hannity. It's immoral but they don't see it that way of course.

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  9. To put it bluntly, she is a con artist. She preys upon the weak, with zero remorse. We can make fun of c4pers all we want, but most are true victims - many are well-intentioned people looking for a hero to save them from perceived wrongs. Many are uneducated and uninformed, the perfect patsies for the con artist. The power she has over these followers is frightening - they vow to fight and die for her. I am angry that she scammed them, used them, and ultimately made them a danger to society.

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  10. Anonymous9:42 PM

    Hey, Gryphen, I read a comment on HP that said Todd took an OATH against the USA. Do you know what that refers to? AIP was being discussed, but was not mentioned in this particular comment. Does the AIP require an oath from its' members? Just wonderin'

    Thanks!

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  11. Anonymous9:43 PM

    I guess the answer is that $arah wants to be a celebrity with all of the trappings, attention, clothes, beautiful hair and make up, not much substance, just do that hand wave to the crowd and sign some autographs. Famous for being famous. Any real job that would come with it would require serious attention, some study and growth. We have seen that she cannot (or will not) read, study, sit at a meeting for more than 15 minutes, really weight the issues and reach valid conclusions. No, thin-skinned $arah reacts to every insult and little comment. Is tomorrow Levi's big interview on NBC? It will surely be followed by another tongue lashing from a Palin spokesperson. She may have some kind of book published, do the book tour, even do a stint at Fox, and the most likely outcome will be the same as all her other jobs, she'll flame out and quit, blaming everybody but herself.

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  12. She got a book deal for being Sarah Palin. The publisher obviously thinks that just having her name on the cover means it will sell and they'll make money.

    Do you think a book would sell if it was written by Brittney Spears or Paris Hilton? Anyone with rabid Fanbots can sell a book as long as it has a cover with their picture and their name. Content doesn't matter.

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  13. Correction: The new AG is NOT the new AG until the legislature votes on it and says he's the new AG. Until then his legal opinion is worth squat.

    -Laz

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  14. How Palin got a book deal? The imprint under which she will publish is owned by Rupert Murdoch. Nothing more need be said.

    -Laz

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  15. @lisabeth

    Obama barely got 100 days of "honeymoon" from MSM and constituent/opposition criticism. I guarantee that Palin would get even less than that were she to ever become president. The "honeymoon" would be over the first damn time she opened her mouth and "stupid fell out".

    -Laz

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  16. Anonymous11:39 PM

    Miss Sarah was seriously scared in her "I'm not resigning, I'm just leaving" speech. She looked like a tsunami was gaining on her. We know about all her known Gates and she knows we know about all her known Gates. This seemed like something only she knew about. Maybe now we'll never know. But whatever it is, it's big and can bring her down.
    Not just politically, but personally.

    On KFAR Friday afternoon with Michael somebody she was all chipper and cheery as they discussed Machine Gunning for Jesus or some such. Then she got in all her talking points about 'not resigning, just leaving'. At least three times in a row. Then she virtually discussed not relying on government. (Nice, when you're getting per diem and the state is paying for your nice mansion to be ready when you are and one of your aides is nicknamed 'The Babysitter' -- how about an ethics complaint about The Babysitter ?). Then she went off on how there is a conspiracy to bring on the ethics complaints to bring her down. (Didn't she say HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE at the end of her inaugural speech ?") Then some of her fans called in and faved her and she was all happy and gracious. Finally, there was a long round of praising God, Guns & Country. She was so happy, there in her little fishbowl.

    I was REALLY surprised to see the NewsMiner come out with such a pithy editorial saying that she is deliberately playing the role of 'media victim'. First backbone I've seen in that paper in a long time.

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  17. LAZ. That is so so true! I have to laugh at the Republicans and pundits who says Pres Obamas policies are a failure! It is a joke because did anyone seriously think the entire economy problem would turn around in six months? How stupid can you be! The policies could fail but man give it a few years. And Palin has the gall to talk about partisanship when she has blasted Obama since her entry into politics. She has been extremely critical yet I'd live to hear her solutions to the worst global economy crisis in history! She hasn't a clue!!!! She hasn't even studied the economic history of our country or econimuc in general. McCain wanted to do a spending freeze. That could have brought the entire system down. Palin better look in the meal and ask her self if she is up to a job like that.i think she wants the title not the job. She isn't capable of the job ! She talks in sound bites that have no depth. She couldn't handle running Alaska. She quit. And her supporters are stupid if they really in their hearts think she is up for that job. It astounds me that they believe she is competent for that. It's fine to like her, but they should not be stupid about it. Sorry to rant but it blows my mind that anyone would think she is knowledeable enough or even has the psychological make up to succeed I say NO WAY.

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  18. Just a thought after reading this post:

    Last week on PalINdependance Day, a holiday I'll always commemorate now on "4th of July Eve" with a champagne toast, my blog received over 3,0000 hits in 24 or so hours, which is something like more than a 300 percent increase for me, Wow that was fun! Thanks to all who stopped by and posted their humor. Thanks Gryphen for having made a place at your table for us "non-Alaskan" bloggers who don't get mentioned much but worked to contibute to the dialogue and research in the activist climate of the past year as well.

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  19. bass263:27 AM

    SP is is testing the waters whether to announce real soon that she is running for president in 2012. If you pay very close attention to her actions, she is trying to mimic Obama. BO annouce almost two years ahead of time in Illinois his intention to run. SP has done many things to try and duplicate what he did. That is the reason why she has to give up the governorship so she can run for two years. Thats why she say that she is staying in politics and going national. It wont work because it will fizzle out really soon after she began. Finally,if you keep talking about her she will keeop showing up. why is it relevant anymore to keep talking about her day after day?

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  20. bass263:29 AM

    yes, how did she get a book deal worth so much money and you don't hear anything about Hillary Clint getting a book deal. Hillary Clinton's run for president was much more a successful run that SP as VP, don't you think?

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  21. Oz Mudflats has a great video from The Young Turks on Scarahs resignation. Eighteen minutes of sheer enjoyment. Thanks OxMud!

    http://ozmud.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/tyt-sums-up-sarahs-resignation-its-about-the-money-lebowski/

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  22. Ooops! Darn fingers! Meant to type Thanks Ozmud!

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