Jerry succinctly nails the obsession of the mainstream media and some "Republicans" to destroy Sarah Palin....
7 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Wait a minute, I thought she left office because she didn't want to be a lame duck Governor and collect a paycheck when she didn't intend to run again? She never indicated that she was literally driven from the office by the Media (other than her passing mention of the "Full Court Press"). I still don't get why she couldn't complete the job she was elected to do. I'm sorry, but it sounded like a lot of self-serving rationalization for what amounts to quitting.
I will say that I do think the kids should have ALWAYS been off-limits for people's comments, and there is no excuse for some of the things that people have said about her, Trig, Bristol, or anyone else.
You sure you're not reading what was written about her by the Democrats, Republicans, or the media? Everyone has been so busy speculating about why/what/when that they have stopped listening to hear what Gov. Palin has to say.
No one has walked in her shoes so no one can attest to the pressure she and her family may have been under.
Nope. I wanted to get the details right from Sara - not filtered by anyone else's perspective. I watched her speech, in its entirety.
You're right that no one can know what another person's truly been through, until they've been in their shoes, BUT when you live in the public spotlight, you open yourself up to scrutiny.
And I *still* don't see where she indicated that she was driven from office by the MSM. Just a lot of rationalization about how noble she was being by doing this for Alaska.
If she'd said, "My reason for leaving is that I am just wanting to be out of the spotlight, and get my kids out of the spotlight, and just be with them more often." I would have been right there with her, for once. But when she tried to make it this noble self-sacrificing thing and for Alaska, I just have to roll my eyes a bit. The family stuff was mentioned, but it almost sounded like an added bonus to the decision, not the primary reaons. And then to have someone ON her side claim she was forced out by the mainstream media, well you can't have it both ways.
She made the choice to quit, and now she needs to be able to take the scrutiny for the decision.
You sound as if you may be someone who has not been in the public spotlight because otherwise you would not be so judgmental. We all seem to be guilty of criticizing others without walking in their shoes ... myself included.
There is a reason many Americans choose to not become involved in politics, whether as electeds or volunteers, because they are then "public property" and everyone feels as if they can take aim.
Like a mother grizzly, those of us with children become very protective when our kids are attacked. We may be able to handle it ourselves, but it is unfair for the media or David Letterman to go after the children.
Whether it's her family or herself, Gov. Palin has made the decision to step aside. Now everyone, including you, is ready to try to analyze and criticize that decision from every angle.
Maybe you should step into the public spotlight and see how it feels. It definitely takes thick skin....
You must have missed the part where I said the children should be off limits.
I do, however think that Bristol's pregnancy (the pregnancy itself, not Bristol herself, or their child, or her boyfriend) were fair game given her promotion of abstinence only education. FWIW, I truly believe abstinence is the only fool proof way to avoid pregnancy and STDs, and needs to be taught and emphasized, BUT it's not realistic to expect that all kids will do that and not give them the facts and how they can protect themselves should they decide to be sexually active. Bristol is sort of a walking example of the failure of the "Abstinence Only" education her mother was/is touting.
Yes, you open yourself up to scrutiny every time you step up to a microphone. You open yourself up to scrutiny by being a public official. Is it easy? No. Is it something I'd want for my family. No - which is why I have no intentions (nor does my husband) of ever seeking a position where we'd be put in that position. But should we, we have to realize that people are going to weigh in. It's part of the life, and you have to weigh that when making the decision to run for office.
Do I think nothing should be off limits? No. I think family and kids should be off limits...UNLESS something going on in their personal life reflects on, or in someway has something to do with their stances as a public official. But the family members themselves should be off limits and PARTICULARLY children.
And I'm not criticizing her for anything she's doing in her private life. I'm saying I thought her speech sounded like a lot of self-serving rationalizing what amounts to quitting a job she asked for. I'm sure you have made similar critiques of the speeches or statements of public officials. In fact, I'm fairly certain you have on your blog.
Surely you're not saying that no one should be able to criticize the decisions of elected officials, or call into question their motives or the sincerity of their speeches. I'm pretty sure you don't believe that.
The reasons you mention are the very reasons more people do not get involved in politics. No one wants to be dragged through the press or become a target for the other side ... but thankfully there are LEADERS who do that very thing.
I will defend Sarah Palin because the media, Democrats, and some Republicans are hypocritical when it comes to her. They're afraid of her. She can pull out thousands to hear her speak ... they cannot.
I'm thankful someone of her caliber has been in leadership in Alaska; I'm thankful she stepped to the plate and has taken the darts.
Sarah! I wish her well in whatever she decides to do. By actually DOING and not just sitting on the sidelines, she is showing true leadership.
We are going in circles in this discussion so there is nothing more I can add.
But isn't she sitting on the sidelines by not finishing out her office, when she really kind of owes those that voted for her another 2 years in office? How is bailing on one's sworn duties a good thing? I have heard from a few Alaskans I know personally, who voted for her and are NOT happy. Not GOP big wigs, actual, regular people who voted for her and are bitterly disappointed at her decision. Does their opinion not count? They're the "Alaska" she supposedly did this for! Or only those who are in the "Rah! Rah! Go Sarah, you can do no wrong in our eyes" camp?
Look, I'm not saying she'd be wrong for doing this for her family, but she flat out didn't say that. If that's her reason, her PRIMARY reason, why not say that? Why not say, "I love my family, and I can't subject them to this onslaught anymore, and so I'm stepping down." That's a pretty noble reason, if you have to find one. Why the need to make it out to be about lame duck Governors, and for the people of Alaska and about sacrificing for the good of the people of Alaska? Why not just SAY it's about the family.
That's why I'm having a hard time swallowing all the defense about Mama bears and the MSM. Not because I don't believe it's possible, but because it's not what she, herself, painted to be the primary reason.
And even if it is about the family, and she goes on to another elected position, or high-profile job, or leadership position, isn't she just throwing them right back into that spotlight that you claim she, as a mama grizzly, is sacrificing to take them out of?
You're right about the circles. This discussion has made me dizzy. LOL
7 comments:
Wait a minute, I thought she left office because she didn't want to be a lame duck Governor and collect a paycheck when she didn't intend to run again? She never indicated that she was literally driven from the office by the Media (other than her passing mention of the "Full Court Press"). I still don't get why she couldn't complete the job she was elected to do. I'm sorry, but it sounded like a lot of self-serving rationalization for what amounts to quitting.
I will say that I do think the kids should have ALWAYS been off-limits for people's comments, and there is no excuse for some of the things that people have said about her, Trig, Bristol, or anyone else.
You sure you're not reading what was written about her by the Democrats, Republicans, or the media? Everyone has been so busy speculating about why/what/when that they have stopped listening to hear what Gov. Palin has to say.
No one has walked in her shoes so no one can attest to the pressure she and her family may have been under.
Nope. I wanted to get the details right from Sara - not filtered by anyone else's perspective. I watched her speech, in its entirety.
You're right that no one can know what another person's truly been through, until they've been in their shoes, BUT when you live in the public spotlight, you open yourself up to scrutiny.
And I *still* don't see where she indicated that she was driven from office by the MSM. Just a lot of rationalization about how noble she was being by doing this for Alaska.
If she'd said, "My reason for leaving is that I am just wanting to be out of the spotlight, and get my kids out of the spotlight, and just be with them more often." I would have been right there with her, for once. But when she tried to make it this noble self-sacrificing thing and for Alaska, I just have to roll my eyes a bit. The family stuff was mentioned, but it almost sounded like an added bonus to the decision, not the primary reaons. And then to have someone ON her side claim she was forced out by the mainstream media, well you can't have it both ways.
She made the choice to quit, and now she needs to be able to take the scrutiny for the decision.
You sound as if you may be someone who has not been in the public spotlight because otherwise you would not be so judgmental. We all seem to be guilty of criticizing others without walking in their shoes ... myself included.
There is a reason many Americans choose to not become involved in politics, whether as electeds or volunteers, because they are then "public property" and everyone feels as if they can take aim.
Like a mother grizzly, those of us with children become very protective when our kids are attacked. We may be able to handle it ourselves, but it is unfair for the media or David Letterman to go after the children.
Whether it's her family or herself, Gov. Palin has made the decision to step aside. Now everyone, including you, is ready to try to analyze and criticize that decision from every angle.
Maybe you should step into the public spotlight and see how it feels. It definitely takes thick skin....
You must have missed the part where I said the children should be off limits.
I do, however think that Bristol's pregnancy (the pregnancy itself, not Bristol herself, or their child, or her boyfriend) were fair game given her promotion of abstinence only education. FWIW, I truly believe abstinence is the only fool proof way to avoid pregnancy and STDs, and needs to be taught and emphasized, BUT it's not realistic to expect that all kids will do that and not give them the facts and how they can protect themselves should they decide to be sexually active. Bristol is sort of a walking example of the failure of the "Abstinence Only" education her mother was/is touting.
Yes, you open yourself up to scrutiny every time you step up to a microphone. You open yourself up to scrutiny by being a public official. Is it easy? No. Is it something I'd want for my family. No - which is why I have no intentions (nor does my husband) of ever seeking a position where we'd be put in that position. But should we, we have to realize that people are going to weigh in. It's part of the life, and you have to weigh that when making the decision to run for office.
Do I think nothing should be off limits? No. I think family and kids should be off limits...UNLESS something going on in their personal life reflects on, or in someway has something to do with their stances as a public official. But the family members themselves should be off limits and PARTICULARLY children.
And I'm not criticizing her for anything she's doing in her private life. I'm saying I thought her speech sounded like a lot of self-serving rationalizing what amounts to quitting a job she asked for. I'm sure you have made similar critiques of the speeches or statements of public officials. In fact, I'm fairly certain you have on your blog.
Surely you're not saying that no one should be able to criticize the decisions of elected officials, or call into question their motives or the sincerity of their speeches. I'm pretty sure you don't believe that.
The reasons you mention are the very reasons more people do not get involved in politics. No one wants to be dragged through the press or become a target for the other side ... but thankfully there are LEADERS who do that very thing.
I will defend Sarah Palin because the media, Democrats, and some Republicans are hypocritical when it comes to her. They're afraid of her. She can pull out thousands to hear her speak ... they cannot.
I'm thankful someone of her caliber has been in leadership in Alaska; I'm thankful she stepped to the plate and has taken the darts.
Sarah! I wish her well in whatever she decides to do. By actually DOING and not just sitting on the sidelines, she is showing true leadership.
We are going in circles in this discussion so there is nothing more I can add.
But isn't she sitting on the sidelines by not finishing out her office, when she really kind of owes those that voted for her another 2 years in office? How is bailing on one's sworn duties a good thing? I have heard from a few Alaskans I know personally, who voted for her and are NOT happy. Not GOP big wigs, actual, regular people who voted for her and are bitterly disappointed at her decision. Does their opinion not count? They're the "Alaska" she supposedly did this for! Or only those who are in the "Rah! Rah! Go Sarah, you can do no wrong in our eyes" camp?
Look, I'm not saying she'd be wrong for doing this for her family, but she flat out didn't say that. If that's her reason, her PRIMARY reason, why not say that? Why not say, "I love my family, and I can't subject them to this onslaught anymore, and so I'm stepping down." That's a pretty noble reason, if you have to find one. Why the need to make it out to be about lame duck Governors, and for the people of Alaska and about sacrificing for the good of the people of Alaska? Why not just SAY it's about the family.
That's why I'm having a hard time swallowing all the defense about Mama bears and the MSM. Not because I don't believe it's possible, but because it's not what she, herself, painted to be the primary reason.
And even if it is about the family, and she goes on to another elected position, or high-profile job, or leadership position, isn't she just throwing them right back into that spotlight that you claim she, as a mama grizzly, is sacrificing to take them out of?
You're right about the circles. This discussion has made me dizzy. LOL
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