The American Spectator

Robert Rosencrans| 7.8.09 @ 7:51AM

It's really astounding that when a politician resigns to pursue other interests they are labeled as quitters by the same politicians who cheat their constituents by remaining in office which is presumably a full time job while running for another office which is also a full time job.

Only inside the beltway is nutty thinking like that supported.

Keith | 7.8.09 @ 8:17AM

The clueless are the ivy league elites. Party doesn't matter to those in the tower. The hope for conservatism rests with Sarah and other citizen reformers.

Ben| 7.8.09 @ 8:22AM

Love the song parody-- truth under the humor.It could be her campaign song in the future, if Palin has one.

Doorgunner| 7.8.09 @ 8:44AM

Ms. Fabrizio and Mr. Rosencrans,

It does not matter how pure, or how self-serving, but well-rationalized, Sarah Palin's motives are for resigning. Like me, at least twice she has raised her hand and sworn an oath to God. How is quitting cheating your constituents less than running for office while serving in another position? If it's not okay for Hillary or Obama to make the calculated move of Senate service to spotlight a grander candidacy, how is it ennobling that Palin quits AFTER having accepted the V.P. nod while serving as governor?

I am the "from nowhere-ville ... conservative electorate". My humble profession requires that every few years, I raise my hand, swear to God to serve faithfully and then... that's what I do. That I would be scorned for failing to keep my word should not astound anyone. That any citizen would hold a potential American leader to a lesser standard should astound and dismay each of us.

Edda| 7.8.09 @ 8:54AM

As a native Californian with familial roots in what was once the Colorado Territory and immigration from Poland through Ellis Island, Sarah represents the America of my family tree, which has been handed down orally for generations. I was a volunteer for another at the very beginning of my interest in the political. His name was Goldwater, followed closely by Ronald Reagan and his run for governor. Sarah has the spark both these men carried. It is up to us to ignite it. Go Sarah!

Appleby| 7.8.09 @ 8:54AM

People tend to hate, sneer and and scorn anybody who does things differently from the way they desperately try to convince themselves is the way things should be done.

I have had a successful life as a spinster, yet my family still considers me "incomplete" because all of them have been married. To my comment that my four sisters have had eight divorces among them so far (and counting), the reply is "Well, at least they are trying!"

You will also hear the same jeering and mocking at those who choose to have more than two children, or those who choose to have no children (particularly from those who are miserably unhappy with their own choice, but who must reassure themselves that others are equally miserable in order to justify their poor decision). And you will hear even louder condemnation and criticism of those of us who have classical educations instead of attending university to take job training, even if we are making far more money than those who majored in computer science and found their degrees were obsolete the day they were signed.

People just naturally hate other people who made different choices and are happy and successful as a result thereof -- particularly when they themselves have been telling everyone that nobody could possibly be happy or successful in that choice.

macdaddy| 7.8.09 @ 9:08AM

I'm more concerned about the politicians who have already quit the job but remain in office. Palin respects the people of Alaska by resigning when she decided she couldn't give them 110%. Becoming distracted by other things (higher office, re-election, adultery, securing a future for your family, establishing a legacy) but not stepping down cheats your constituents. I am disappointed by Palin stepping down, but that's just because we need more people like her in office. Not because we need her, specifically, in office. I sincerely wish more politicians would quit. In fact, I have a list.

preex| 7.8.09 @ 9:25AM

Mr. Rosencrans,

That is some interesting logic you are using to say that it is astounding that politicians are criticizing Governor Palin for quitting to pursue a higher office while those same politicians cheat their constituents while running for a higher office of their own.

Seems to me that in the past 12 months Governor Palin has tried it both ways. Running for VP while still governor of Alaska and now quitting as governor in order to pursue her "higher calling".

Thomas| 7.8.09 @ 9:28AM

Virtually everyone in America has quit a job at one time or another. I do not mean that they were fired, lay-off or otherwise unwillingly separated from the company that they worked for. I mean they gave their two weeks notice [or less] and just up and quit. What is the big deal if a politician does it. Political office is not some noble position. It is a job. And one that seems to be increasingly filled with people that demand salaries, perks and benefits that are frankly outrageous for the "work" that they do.

Now, Sarah Palin has decided to resign her position as Governor of Alaska. Her enemies in the media are horrified that she could do such a thing. The Democrats are horrified that she could do such a thing. Liberals are horrified that she would do such a thing. Moderate Republicans are horrified that she could do such a thing. Does anyone notice a trend here? She is doing something that her political enemies vehemently oppose. When someone does something that their enemies oppose and criticize, it is usually a sign that they are doing the right thing. Time will tell if this was the right move for Sarah Palin.

preex| 7.8.09 @ 9:36AM

Thomas,

I don't think any of her enemies "hate" that she's quit. I'm definitely someone you would consider liberal and I'm thrilled.

I don't believe that this signals the end of her prospects as a politician but I don't think it's a move that is going to help her win any votes from those that don't already support.

I don't think anyone vehemently opposes her choice to quit, I think people are genuinely confused that she's walking away. Confusing the public is not a particulary effective way to promote your viability as a leader.

It will be interesting to see what she decides to do next. I would not be at all surprised to see her succeed in whatever she attempts next.

owyheewine| 7.8.09 @ 9:53AM

The Dems fall down and worship their Messiah, because he does a helluva good job at reading his teleprompter, and they have swept aside conservatives in the last 2 elections. Republicans respond by forming a circular firing squad around their most dynamic charismatic personality and firing away at whatever lack of perfection they see. Come on folks, let's find a winner, pump him (or her) up and quit the sniping. I know it's hard for east coast conservatives to grasp, but conservatives do win elections when they rally around candidates that share the majoprity of thei own views, and demonstrate the ability to attract the great unwashed middle without abandoning their consevative principals.

blackelkspeaks| 7.8.09 @ 10:20AM

Ms. Fabrizio, I must say, I loved your parody! My daughters just experienced the joy of "Annie Get Your Gun" a few months ago and loved it! So, I had the song in my head as I read your version. Just great!

I was thinking recently how it is truly ironic that the only leaders of the conservative movement worth following today are women. It seems the women have the greatest gumption and guts, and are unhampered by politically correct balderdash. The male political figures of today are all geldings!

As the father of two daughters, I have learned to appreciate many admirable conservative women, such as Laura Ingalls, Rose Wilder Lane, Ayn Rand, Phyllis Schlafly, Ann Coulter, Orianna Fallaci...

And Lisa Fabrizio

Robert Rosencrans| 7.8.09 @ 10:45AM

It's difficult to take anyone seriously who simply criticizes anonymously from the safety of their keyboard.

preex| 7.8.09 @ 11:23AM

Fair enough.

Guess that means your posts are the only valid posts on this board since you are the only providing a full name. That must be comfortable for you.

Doorgunner | 7.8.09 @ 11:28AM

Mr. Rosencrans,

Shall that be the argument to remove the anonymous vote, too? Please contact the SEIU, they can use a man like you.

Oldefarte| 7.8.09 @ 11:52AM

Lisa, great song/poem and appropriate! Palin QUIT to spare herself and the state of Alaska the grief of the salious personal attacks that have come from liberals and morons, all for political purposes. Alaska will not miss a beat, since their capable leutenant governor will take over; and the state will not have to experience the cost and embarrassment going forward from these frivilous lawsuits and complaints against Palin. Those saying she QUIT are simply liberals or sympathizers of same. If anything, she was DRIVEN OUT OF OFFICE by morons and imbiciles. Hopefully she will rise again [on maybe the fifth day] in the political arena and use her capable sarcastic tongue to OUT these animalistic liberals that are now ruining our country. When America pays more attention to Michael Jackson's funeral circus, instead of the homecoming of killed soldiers from Iraq and Afganistan, it tells the sad state of affairs to which this country now exists in. America is being ruled by homosexuals, ethnic minorities, criminals, and of course, liberal lawyers and judges. Someone like Palin is our only hope from all of this excrement, and God help us all if she doesn't run for office again!!!!!!!!!

David Holmes| 7.8.09 @ 12:12PM

Well said, Lisa.
I do hope Sarah will run. She makes sense and says what should be said. Who in their right mind would argue that Sarah would not be a far better and safer president than Obama and his Socialisst pals. The video of WE THE PEOPLE STIMULUS PACKAGE is priceless and champions 'we the people'. The address is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA

Robert Rosencrans| 7.8.09 @ 12:16PM

Comparing an anonymous vote to an anonymous opinion is ridiculous. Meanwhile, I find it interesting that anyone can support public officials running for office while they still hold office. No matter who does it, it is a form of theft of public funds.

At one time it was considered par for the course to resign your current office before running for another. The only exception of course is if you're running for your current elected office.

As far as Sarah Palin running for VP she probably should have resigned right then and there. But she has resigned now.

Michael Tomlinson| 7.8.09 @ 12:22PM

"Would that such vitriol were aimed at the true enemies of the conservative movement: our leftist President and his socialist yes-men in Congress.”

Ms Fabrizio had you followed this same advice during the Bush Presidency, instead of jumping on the liberal bandwagon of bahsing Bush, we wouldn't have the current President or spendthrift Congress. Obama and the current Democrat dominance in politics is a conservative self-inflicted wound that may prove fatal for not only our movement, but nation.

As an early supporter of Sarah Palin for Veep in 2008 her most recent decision to resign as Governor leaves me perplexed and a bit dismayed. If she can’t handle the current political heat then is she up to fixing the mess left after 4 years of Obama and an even more incompetent Democrat Congress? I like my Presidents with spines of steel (Washington, TR, Reagan and Bush 43) and not glass jaws. Hopefully, if Sarah wishes to continue in politics we’ll see more of the steel that she showed in an uphill fight trying to drag the lame McCain campaign to victory.

But having said all this you are correct conservatives have got to do as Barry Goldwater said “grow up” and start aiming their vitriol at Democrats – liberals, blue dogs and any shade of skunk with a D after their name. It’s time for so-called “conservatives” to quit sucking up to the Democrat MSM by bashing Republicans and conservative politicians. We need to remember our current politics is merely civil war without the bloodshed so instead of “killing” our own we need to eliminate the real enemy –Democrats.

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.8.09 @ 12:26PM

I do not place myself in the same sphere as Rosencrans but I too use my actual name. I support Sarah Palin spiritually, religiously, morally and financially. Even though I do not see eye to eye with her on some of the issues the fact that she is straightforward, honest, and unassuming makes me conclude that she is exactly what this country desperately needs as a leader. How ironic that the very personification of beltway incumbency is who we must thank for bringing her canadicy to the forefront. (Even a blind hog finds an acorn in forest once in a while.)

stephanie ruff| 7.8.09 @ 12:52PM

GO OLDE FARTE! You are spot on.

AND OF COURSE SARAH PALIN TOO!

Kathie| 9.26.09 @ 2:53PM

Ms Ruff if you are the person I met at a conference I know you are gay and live with your partner. How can you agree with Olde Fart and be in favor of Sarah Palin..

Tim| 7.8.09 @ 2:04PM

Her resignation has confused and enraged me. Maybe I'm the childish one. Maybe.

AllIn| 7.8.09 @ 2:10PM

Appleby| 7.8.09 @ 8:54AM

"People just naturally hate other people who made different choices ...and are just different than you... nes pas?

Sounds like you and Oldefarte are SoulMates there Appleby, especially since hating comes so naturally to both of you.

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.”
-Galileo Galilei

Doorgunner| 7.8.09 @ 2:31PM

Mr. Rosencrans And Mr. Hauschild,

Sans sarcasm, I am glad you are both able to eschew anonymity. As enlisted personnel, I'll keep mine, thank you.

I think I failed to make my point in my initial post. I too regard running for office distinct from that in which one is currently serving as reprehensible. However, resigning one's term for the 'sake of the state' is, I believe, a decision that cannot honorably be made by office-holder alone. We are not discussing a Human Resources action. We, or in this case the people of Alaska, are the state; the electorate. The faith of the electorate is misplaced, and the obligation of fidelity on the part of the office-holder misunderstood -or ignored- if in this situation the office-holder does not, at the very least, publicly confer with lesser elected representatives of the public before resigning.

And the oath of office, as is the oath of enlistment, is not just some silly ritual. It is solemn- look up the definition of the word if you've forgotten all it's connotative and denotive glory.

Siegfried X| 7.8.09 @ 3:05PM

" I raise my hand, swear to God to serve faithfully"

That's why I would never vote for any self-described "maverick" like Palin or McCain. Politicians are supposed to be "public servants", who work for the people, not themselves. Also Republicans need to be a team to beat the Democrats, not a bunch of maverick rogues doing whatever they want.

JeffW| 7.8.09 @ 4:28PM

I find it interesting the opinions of people stating she broke her oath of office by quitting. I disagree, she did serve faithfully. Let me pose this question to you. If you were trying to faithfully serve your people but could not do to the fact that you were drawing enemy fire their direction would you not try to draw the fire away from them? By stepping down Sarah Palin has helped herself, her state and her legal fees. Her state can now function normally as all the baseless, petty lawsuits will die down. She can repair her families financial outlook, prepare herself for future office runs or simply lend a helping hand to the movement of her choice. Or she could have stayed in office, continued being a lame duck due to fighting legal battles, got nothing accomplished for her state or the conservative movement and had her hands tied. Sorry but as a private citizen I believe she diminished the liberals ammo against her while increasing her abilities to fight back. Time will tell if it was a wise stategy.

Rules 16, 17 & 18 of the Art of War
16. While heading the profit of my counsel,
avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances
over and beyond the ordinary rules.

17. According as circumstances are favorable,
one should modify one's plans.

18. All warfare is based on deception.

ds80| 7.8.09 @ 4:38PM

I was taught to always give the benefit of the doubt. Based on what I do know about her, and what kind of person she is, I trust Governor Palin's motives.

Anyone who does otherwise is only sniping, carping, nit-picking, and being destructive. And it is oh so obvious.

Disclosure: voted Palin in 2008 and expect to vote Palin in the future.

Richard Baker| 7.8.09 @ 5:27PM

Siegfried X:
Would you continue to be so harrassed that you couldn't do the business for which you were elected? She has determined that spending all her time on frivolous investigations meant that she was responding to these actions instead of serving the State of Alaska. So what would you do? Since you don't have her responsibility tell us how you'd be the Governor. Curious.

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.8.09 @ 5:41PM

The resistance to Palin that originates in the Republican establishment, both. Media and beltway, has nothing to do with her stands or stances but from the fact that she is refreshingly “pure” and not tainted with the body politic odor. Her allies are within the electorate, she is “one of us” and not “them.”
No doubt we will soon see Glen Beck back on the Romney bandwagon, Kristol and Barnes licking their McCain generated contusions and lacerations desperately seeking both validation and enumeration from some other beltway dinosaur, while Huckaby remains playing base to his base. The old tired spavined elite is braying “we have spoken,” but the truth be known, we are tired of listening to losing politics from loser politicians. Quitting for a valid reason trumps losing for all the same reasons every (EVERY) time. What part of honest, trustworthy, energizing and fresh do not you in the dissenting fail to understand? Better cinch down your stocking caps boys, the young lady from Alaska is going to take us all on a snowmobile ride to restoration.

SarahsDiary | 7.8.09 @ 6:07PM

Dear Diary,

No one understands me. It's like I'm speaking some Eskimo dialect or something. Andrea Mitchell follows me all the way to Kanakanak Beach and I get a French manicure and set up this huge photo op for her, even though she spooked the salmon.

Todd and me are in our cool fishing bibs. Piper's helping out on the boat. It's an amazing day that shows how our Creator favored my beloved Alaska, gatekeeper of the continent, and makes a great shot for all the network reporters up here to milk. This progresses me away from my image as some kind of flaky "rogue diva" and back to my image as a tough huntin' and fishin' gal.

But Andrea makes such a darn big deal about how I'm quitting in the middle of my term.

"You're not listening to me!" I snap.

She says maybe I didn't want to go back to the nitty-gritty of Alaska politics after the bright lights of the national campaign.

"The nitty-gritty, like, you mean, the fish slime and the dirt under the fingernails and stuff that's me?" I said. Awesome response, huh?!!

It's the same old double standard. I am not one of those who would whine and cuss. It's just not how I'm wired!!! But the minute I start to whine and cuss, the mainstream media totally misunderstands my verbiage and the combination of things that brought me to this place of knowing. And I know that I know that I know those crappy bloggers will put out more confliction stories.

I keep explaining what impacted me, but everyone seems more confused and ironic than ever. What is it about average, hard-working Americans like me that Americans can't understand?

I love Alaska too much to waste any more time on her Bridge to Nowhere. I need to be able to go forth out there and fight for what is right. And what is right is for me and my First Dude to take that big fish run to the White House.

So people should stop being so stinkin' mean to me because this is a goal-setting thing, a full-court press, a sub-four marathon. Karl Rove thinks I'm not prepared for the national stage??? Pundits think I should read a book before I write one??? Man, I feel a grizzly rising up in me!!!

Every mom we know multitasks. And I am one to believe I can use an all-of-the-above approach, too. I can abandon Alaska and ambition myself for the presidency. I can get bored with my job and fight apathy. I can take the easy path out to work hard on a path for fruitfulness. I can move on selfishly and call it altruistically. I don't need a title now when I can shake up the good ol' boys and get a better title in the end.

You didn't really think I was going anywhere, did you? I'm one of Google's hot trends. We're doing a fund-raising push this week on SarahPAC to destroy Obama's attempt to destroy capitalism. And forget about Obama's youth revolution. I posed for a cheesecake shot in Runner's World with short-shorts and a crumpled American flag that's destined to be on the bedroom wall of every conservative 12-year-old boy. It's the metaphor, stupid! Heck yeah, I'm running! As I learned when I was a beauty contestant - flags and gams show you it's about country.

And before you say anything though about the glam shots of me stretching and preening on the waterfront in my cute running outfits, don't bother. That would be a sexist double standard.

Nobody said anything when Obama walked around in Hawaii without his shirt, showing off his washboard abs. Well, maybe they did, but I betcha they say more about me because, of course, we know by now, for some reason, a different standard applies to my decisions.

It's just like when Obama, the One Who Must Be Obeyed, said his family was off-limits so everyone left them alone. But they never left mine alone. Thank goodness for that though because we hate being out of the limelight! It was a blast to see Bristol with my grandbaby Tripp on the cover of People as the ambassadress of abstinence!

It's the same different standard with the dirt-digging behind these frivolous ethics complaints. As I told the reporters who chased me up here, if I were in the White House instead of Alaska, the Department of Law down there would look at some of the things that we've been charged with and automatically throw them out. Later, the media brats began making a big, fat ugly scene about there being no Department of Law in Washington.

I say, tell that to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who are risking their lives to protect our system of laws. How sad that the unpatriotic, godless media picking away at me will never understand it's about country.

It's about me running the country.

It's about me running.

It's about me.

The media doesn't get Sarah Palin. I hear planes buzzing. Oh, no!! Have they all left?? Even that Time reporter who I showed how to smoke salmon???

Maureen Dowd
July 9, 2009

Siegfried X| 7.8.09 @ 6:10PM

"So what would you do?"

Fight back, every politician in the same situation besides Palin has done. As Governor, Sarah could propose changes to the ethics laws -- in fact she created some of them in the first place.

She also started a political fund and collected $400,000.

What if ethics charges are filed by Democrats against the new Republican governor? Will he resign too? Sooner or later some Republican needs to make a stand or the entire government will be Democratic. They can't all run away.

ruth| 7.8.09 @ 6:25PM

SarahsDiary
Too funny...just had to change my Depends

Doorgunner| 7.8.09 @ 6:45PM

Sarah's Diary,

To steal from Chelsea "Chunky Chihuahua" Clinton:
Wow, no one has ever re-posted another's work here before. (Check your sarcasm meter; it should be pegged)

Look, not only is Maureen Dowd a joke to anyone who didn't 'bong it' all the way through whatever schooling they received; one must observe that narcissism in the awesomely ugly is funnier than in anything Dowd will ever write.

ds80| 7.8.09 @ 10:38PM

SarahsDiary | 7.8.09 @ 6:07PM

Dear Diary,

...

Post is way too long. Waste of time. Scroll to the end. Maureen Dowd? Loser. And a cute-and-paste from HuffPo. 'nuff said.

Marcell| 7.8.09 @ 11:20PM

You have lost your mind if you believe Palin has a chance to ever becoming President or VP.

The days of conservatives spinning their way out of jams went away with The Dick Cheney & G.W. Bu$h.

I would love for the sure loser Palin to run against Obama.

Bill Hussien O'Stalin| 7.9.09 @ 9:09AM

Bob by any other name remains the same.

Richard Baker| 7.9.09 @ 9:49AM

Marcell:
I'd suggest you read Sun Tsu. Palin has flummoxed you guys and you don't know it. Besides, if she's such a loser then why all the fuss about her decision? If your enemy chooses to shoot themselves, stand back and watch the show. Or do you have something else in mind? Hmmmmm?

Richard Baker| 7.9.09 @ 9:49AM

Correction: Sun Tzu.

bonjour| 11.25.09 @ 7:26AM

Very good artical.Thank you for sharing.Good luck !

poptropica| 4.9.10 @ 10:35PM

I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You

Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale

You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. Poptropica I’ll have a full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You

Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale

You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need