Sarah Palin Should Retire From Politics, Stop Being Newt Gingrich's Wingwoman

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sarah, palin, should, retire, from, politics, stop, being, newt, gingrich's, wingwoman

Sarah Palin Should Retire From Politics, Stop Being Newt Gingrich's Wingwoman

Since her vice presidential loss in 2008, Sarah Palin has not nearly as invested in national horse race politics. She resigned as Alaska's governor in her first term in July 2009, and decided not to run in the current GOP presidential race. She has not fully endorsed any of the candidates, but has shown support for Newt Gingrich on numerous counts. Palin said she would vote for the former House Speaker in the South Carolina primary. And recently, Palin said Gingrich was being unfairly attacked by liberals and progressives and not given the opportunity to share the spotlight with other candidates like Mitt Romney.

But as an ex-governor, Palin's reign has ended and nothing she says should be taken under consideration any longer.

"The left seeks to single someone out and destroy his or her record and reputation and family using the media as a channel to dump handpicked and half-baked campaign opposition research on the public,” Palin said.

In response, Gingrich welcomed her with open arms, saying he would want her to be a part of his administration if elected president. However, this statement only discourages me even further from voting for Gingrich. No candidate should accept an endorsement from Palin, because she holds a social stigma to her name and boasts an unimpressive political résumé.

Palin’s 2008 campaign brought her notoriety and ushered her into the realm of celebrity status. That celebrity status helped her create a best-selling memoir, give speeches in crowd-packed venues a national speaking tour, secure a speaking gig on Fox News, and even star in a TLC documentary television series that illustrates her personal life in Alaska.

But Palin is popular for all the wrong reasons. She is often seen as a crazy right-wing Republican that lacks the knowledge and experience to be fit for Washington. As the face of the Tea Party, she became the “reality star” of politics. But Palin's viewpoints will not be taken seriously because she has been so immersed within our celebrity culture that she is essentially looked down upon in the Republican Party.

But it is not just her character that raises skepticism in the public's eye. In her brief political career, she has not done much to make herself stand out. Because she had no prior experience before governor and was only active in government for two years, Palin is not a reputable voice to listen to. In addition, she is an amateur on international as well as many socioeconomic issues, lacks strong leadership and management qualities, and is hammered by the mainstream media.

Put simply, she does not have the expertise or the likeability factor to make a difference in another candidate's campaign or administration.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Brian Tam

I am currently a sophomore student within NYU's school of journalism. I work with the video production team at Fox News. I have an uncontrol...

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Alex Marin

I thought she had done that when she quit as governor of AK

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I thought she had done that when she quit as governor of AK

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Sarah Palin should never have started in politics. So yes, time for her to retire.

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watch Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, & MSNBC and I do not have a high opinion of them. The reason Sarah Palin is still on the political scene is because she influences people on what she says. You may not like it, but she is clear and in your face. I guess that is why you came to this site.

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Polls can be manipulated to say what you want them to say. Just call a particular zip code and I can get the results I want. Just get this. People listen to what Sarah Palin has to say. You are not going to change that. You can call them whatever name you want, but I look at the people who

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After her Convention speech McCain went from 8 points down to 4 points up. Within one week Lehman Brothers is taken down by Paulson. If it wasn't for the financial crises Palin might be VP right now. Believe what you want to believe it doesn't make it so. Don't bother with the polls.

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what the LEFT sees in Hillary Clinton. Besides the fact that she was a lawyer with no clients, had to go and hide in a state (NY) that is all Democrat to get a Senate seat, and suddenly she was Presidential. At least Sarah Palin earned being picked as a VP candidate.

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The LEFT simply doesn't understand what she means to the Conservative moment, so you chose to believe the LIES and the celebrity narrative that the media gives you. Continue to live in you LaLaLand, but don't believe she is irrelevant, because it just ain't so. I don't understand how the LEFT like

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speech. Her speech in Indianola in September was thought by both the NYTimes and the Wash. Post as maybe the best speech given this year. She is being chosen by CPAC to be the KEYNOTE speaker next week. She has been asked for three straight years to do this, but this will be her first acceptance.

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that were edited by CBS in which she came out poorly. Reality is Sarah Palin's Convention speeches is one of the most memorable and entertaining speeches ever given at a Convention, in which MOCK Obama for who he truly was and the LEFT media never forgave her for it. It far surpassed Obama's 2004

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but as far as popularity among those on the Political RIGHT, she far surpasses Romney. Luciano, YOU may not like the way she speaks, but I can assure you away from the east coast, they are just find with the way Sarah Palin speaks. If you watch all her interviews, it is only the ones that were

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Sarah Palin has been enormously successful at whatever she has put her mind to. The LEFT simply doesn't get her because they don't want to admit her politics is what draws people to her. They just don't get it. She isn't going anywhere, in fact she may not draw the Presidential numbers Romney,

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the narrative on Sarah Palin. Those who believe she is a Quitter simply have chosen not to believe her. I do. I accept the reason she stated she needed to resign. To those the say she was qualified as a VP, she has more experience than, Obama, Christie, Cuomo, Rubio, I could go on.

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McCain's pick was a no brainer. He looked across the country for a leader and Sarah Palin had by far the highest approval ratings than any other politician in the country. I guess Alaskans were stupid then and just smart now? Reality is the National media has done everything they could to control

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Luciano, I think your opinion carries no weight. Sarah Palin is not popular because of her celebrity. She is popular among Conservatives is because they see her as a leader. You can't change that because she Governed as a Governor to enormous success.

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Brian, your opinion, is just your opinion, and you do not back up your thoughts with facts. You state Palin has only two years in Gov't? She has been in Gov't since the mid-90's. You state she has been an amateur in International as well as many socioeconomic issues. AND Obama, what did he have?

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I think we need individuals like Sarah Palin to bring hilarious comedy to politics. Her lack of knowledge (not just political) is extremely amusing. Whenever I want a break from the stress of politics, I watch Palin videos.

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Well, Gingrich and Palin are appropriate for each other. I'm not against their religious views - I'm against those views in government. Does the US need Judaism or Islamic religious rule? No and Never. So, it is stupid for extreme religious right Christians to want it for what they do will be done unto them. They would pay dearly for that hypocrisy and all of us with them. No thanks. That is my sole reason. That is helping Newt but killing him also. Paul unites with his problem most people don't pay attention but go with rhetoric.

Palin is popular for her image like it or hate it. Newt is capitalizing it. Newt would do anything to be Chavez as far as popularity goes. I don't want a POTUS who tells me what he thinks I want to hear (Obama).

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Sarah Palin went from being Mayor of a city of 80,000 to Governor of a state of 700,000. McCain needed someone to balance his lackluster personality. Palin's perkiness fit the role, so she became the Vice-Presidential candidate. During the campaign, she got a real taste for national media. She saw the dollar signs and realized how much more she could make going the reality TV and speaking route. Since she started down that path, she has lost all credibility except with a few tea party stragglers. She's already retired from politics and the media is loosing interest. Soon, she'll just be another fad passed.

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4 Replies

  • Michael Luciano 3 months ago 80,000? Try 5,500....

80,000? Try 5,500.

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  • Constantine Kapothanasis 3 months ago Pretty sure he meant 8,000 but God ...

  • Douglas Goodman 3 months ago Michael, Thanks. I copied the Mat-...

Pretty sure he meant 8,000 but God damn are you on top of typos!

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Michael,
Thanks. I copied the Mat-Su Borough population.

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  • Constantine Kapothanasis 3 months ago Welp, tried to throw you a bone sin...

Welp, tried to throw you a bone since the population is 7,831!

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Let's take a look. You have Gingrich building colonies in the moon, Romney predicts a new american century in the world under his rule, Santorum is busy with jihadist platforms in Venezuela. Meanwhile Trump pops out like the Pope and blesses one candidate or the other.

Sadly, Palin actually sounds like an educated logical person in the midst of this circus.

yeah, we're living in sad times.

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I think you do bring up some excellent points. I myself like Sarah Palin very much. However, I never understood why she decided to do a reality T.V. show and other such stunts. I think these actions are what have corroded her credibility. If she would have continued gaining experience as a governor or in another leadership role, she easily could have overcome her previous mishaps.

Sarah Palin is a very bright woman with passion. She just needs to work on her PR :)

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17 Replies

  • Michael Luciano 3 months ago Palin had no credibility to begin w...

Palin had no credibility to begin with. Her candidacy was a sick joke foisted upon the American public by a pathetically desperate John McCain. If you think she's bright, you've obviously never heard her speak. No doubt she has a passion...for money, which is why she quit her governorship in midterm and assumed the role of America's Shameless Opportunistic Celebrity #8,512. Hence the reality show. Hence her lucrative speaking and pundit gigs. Hence her ridiculous bus tour where she basically stalked presidential candidates last year as they campaigned, knowing full well there would be plenty of media willing to fall over themselves to cover her and massage her massive ego.

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  • Constantine Kapothanasis 3 months ago It's sad that you are a repres...

It's sad that you are a representative of the higher education academia. Before she was thrown into the national spotlight and known by all in the form of media headlines she built up an impressive resume in public service. In order for her to get to where she was obviously takes some form of intellect. Just like you assuming Laura has never heard her speak, I have to assume you have never seen her record, nor anything past the headlines. Not really surprising coming from the liberal northeast but wow, to think you are shaping the minds of our already ridiculously coddled generation.

You know what they say though, those who can't do, teach.

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  • Michael Luciano 3 months ago Which record? The one where she was...

  • Michael Luciano 3 months ago Here is the link to the poll showin...

  • Constantine Kapothanasis 3 months ago http://www.dittmanresearch.com/pdfs...

Which record? The one where she was mayor of a town that could easily fit inside Madison Square Garden? The one where she quit the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission? The one where she quit her duly ELECTED post as governor, leaving her Alaskan supporters to twist in the wind while she went off on her multi-million dollar book/speaking/bus/reality television tour? I have listened to enough of her vapid platitudes to know that there's not much to Palin and that her celebrity is totally unwarranted. But don't take my word for it. Ask Alaskans--61% of which have an unfavorable view of her.

So before you cast me as some kind of northeast elitist [Yawn], realize that my sentiments are shared by quite a few all-American Alaskans.

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Here is the link to the poll showing Palin's atrocious approval rating among people in her own state.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/04/sarah-palin-presidential-race-alaska-approval-ratings-/1

Next time you want to respond to a comment, might I suggest addressing the actual content, rather than casting aspersions on the commenter's profession or the region from which he or she hails?

But since we're critiquing profiles, let me point out that in your "Leaders that inspire you" section, you've actually misspelled one of the names of your heroes. It's Milton Friedman, not Freedman.

You know what they say though: those who can, do. Those who can't, can't spell the name of their favorite economist correctly.

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http://www.dittmanresearch.com/pdfs/Palin_April_MQ_226_2010.pdf

While we are using out of date polls.

Of course though, you have a master's in Poly Sci, so because you said so, makes it so.

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Thanks for the catch! We all know the sum of ones character is their grammar and spelling! Especially online.

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Actually, the poll I cited was conducted in March 2011. The one you cited is from April 2010, which, according to my calculations, is more obsolete. And no, what makes it so is the data, which speaks for itself.

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Fair enough, http://www.dittmanresearch.com/pdfs/Political%20Approval%20Ratings%20Statewide%20March%202011.pdf

Found it. I guess we're going with mob rule though. Sarah Palin is in fact an idiot because 63% of people in Alaska polled by a company she used to employ say she is.

Just trying to see if that's what we are going with...?

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I hope you don't teach SPSS because with a sample size of 400... seriously?

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Constantine, mastering SPSS is an art form...it was beyond me.

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After being crudely denounced as some sort out-of-touched east coast liberal elitist for bashing Palin, I cited the poll only to show that the feeling is far from a minority opinion, even in her native Alaska.

We can continue in this vein, or you can defend her decisions to abdicate her responsibility to public office (twice), and in the latter instance doing so in order to enrich herself despite being elected by the people of Alaska. That's public disservice.

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For political polling, a sample size of 400 out of a population of 700,000 is more than reasonable.

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I'm not going to defend those decision's because that isn't what the original point was. Has Sarah Palin said stupid things? Yes. Is Sarah Palin stupid? No. Has Sarah Palin made bad decisions? Yes. Does it ruin her credibility as a public figure? No.

I am only defending Sarah Palin because of "If you think she's bright, you've obviously never heard her speak." Making a generalization about Laura and denouncing Palin because you disagree with her.

Not unreasonable.

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The quip about Laura never having heard Palin speak was a rhetorical remark. Obviously she, and everyone else in this country, has had the misfortune of watching Palin make one of her famous word salads. I denounce Palin not so much because I disagree with her, but because she's a quitter and an extremely un-serious figure. In her defense, that is more the media's fault for giving her inordinate amounts of attention, but she has played off it well, even as she denounces that media by which she profits handsomely.

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Palin's political stances have been unchanged since she first started her career in public office. She carried pretty good approval ratings up until the ones you posted, as done by the same company. Had she not been selected VP and continued on as Alaskan Gov and no one ever given her two thoughts outside of Alaska would she still be un-serious? Even with mob rule approval ratings?

It seems to me that your biggest issue with her is she decided to flip a bad situation, which she did not ask for, in her favor, and you don't seem to like that she is making a lot of money writing books and doing tv stints.

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Michael,

Sorry I missed this debate. I'm not for Palin but your out their pal." fit inside Madison Square Garden?" - oh come on, don't fall for that size matters. ;)

But, BTW "We feel disconnected and disenfranchised. [The candidates should] debate relevant ideas and solutions, not petty stuff." - Palin

I agree.

She left the state in good shape. At least she accomplished something besides digging us deeper in debt.

Any body with a warm pulse and a heart should beat Obama. I've never seen a worse POTUS. And that includes Carter who I admire as a philanthropist but not as a statesman and overseer of our economic policy. History agrees. Obama is none of those. But listen to that man speak - he can talk, walk, look good and fool many.

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Interesting pole Constantine. Your presented research poll showed a dramatic polarization of the left. I'm feeling it too. They are nuts. The more any say and not acknowledge Obama's atrocities, the more they become hypocrites. But, they are self-blind to see it.

I'll admit that Michael has some valid points. But the big picture is not Palin. She's fine and maybe here maybe gone. But she's not a contender and she's right about debate on important issues. I won't care if she's been a loser - she has a voice and its true on the matter of our debate should be on important issues. The left media has co-opted the crisis of the country and they are distracting and deflecting. Obama's running lies on TV (really shaded numbers).

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But it's okay for left leaning media to rely on celebrity opinions? Politico just recently asked daniel Radcliffe the Harry potter star what he thought on the race. I don't think you really believe we should strip someone of their first ammendment rights because of their relevance. Further who determines who is relevant? The media ignores dr Paul but runs to palin.

Your last paragraph put simply is false.

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3 Replies

  • Brian Tam 3 months ago You do make some valid points, but ...

You do make some valid points, but honestly the crux of the argument is a matter of who really the public should depend on. Im not really considering the media to play a role in this discussion but you are right in saying that he is often silenced in the media. Honestly asking Daniel Radcliffe about his thoughts on politics isn't rly bad, it's just that its not in his area of expertise seeing as how he is "looked upon" as a movie star. I'm certainly not saying that someone should be stripped of their first amendment rights, i just feel that the American public should be more conscious of what is "deemed" a reliable source to look into, to be critical of what candidates say, and to base their decisions on what they say and less on others.

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  • Constantine Kapothanasis 3 months ago That's a completely different ...

  • Ben Poole 3 months ago Brian, I understand you don'...

That's a completely different argument to tackle. Out there right now there are people who are changing their vote because Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney. On the flip side there are people voting for Obama because of (insert non political endorsement here)

The question of informed voters has been addressed and unfortunately Americans who vote generally are pretty ignorant to the issues outside of headlines.

To keep it on topic, for that reason I believe Sarah Palin remains a credible source. I worked for Olympia Snowe for a year and I was able to see the inner workings of a senate office. That small time of work in a sense made me more credible than 90% of celeb endorsements.

Just IMO!

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Brian,

I understand you don't make up any particular news media outlet's opinion. But you've got a view on the inside. Can you honestly tell us why we are not discussing important issues without proving right the claim - you can fool most of the people most if the time if you control the debate?

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