The American Spectator

Kitty| 7.10.09 @ 6:39AM

Not a bad column, but I see people are still milking Sarah Palin's name for all it's worth.
...

Appleby| 7.10.09 @ 7:46AM

I am glad you wrote this column.

I used to keep a slip of paper in my top desk drawer with the words I QUIT printed on them. Every time my miserable job got too much for me I would open the drawer and read those words, and get the courage to go on -- simply because I knew I did not have to. I only chose to.

Thank you. On a Friday that helps a lot.

supra shoes| 7.10.09 @ 8:17AM

Thank you very much. I am wonderring if I can share your article in the bookmarks of society,Then more friends can talk about this problem.

Bohred| 7.10.09 @ 8:49AM

Many years ago I kept a ready made resignation saved on my computer. The job was great, but my boss horrible. When he finally threw a fit in front of two of our biggest customers because I would not let him break Cal-Osha safety regulations, I was able to clean out my desk and hand him the resignation within 10 minutes. That ready resignation kept me sane, I knew it was always there, waiting and working to keep my stress level tolerable. I took a year off after that.
It was wonderful.

Franny| 7.10.09 @ 8:51AM

Cheers to your article and Palin. I appreciate your work. Becky

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.10.09 @ 9:18AM

Judging from all the brouhaha one would gather that losing (i.e. Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, McCain), is somehow equated to quitting. What would a potential "new" employer (the electorate) prefer, someone who has is a "loser" or someone that would soon be available while preparing for the new position by recognizing what has not worked for others in the past. There is a significant difference in someone who seeks advancement to a new job from a position of personal decision and the person who was fired for their inadequacies.

Michael Tomlinson| 7.10.09 @ 9:46AM

Who cares?

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 9:47AM

By George, I think he's got it.

I've been there myself. I've been there, caught in the all-too pervasive vortex of entropy, no-win negativity, a toxic working environment and an internal political culture so corrupt that the abuse of the workhorses in favor of the showhorses wasn't even hidden.

It really does feel good when you stop hitting yourself in the head with a hammer.

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 9:47AM

By George, I think he's got it.

I've been there myself. I've been there, caught in the all-too pervasive vortex of entropy, no-win negativity, a toxic working environment and an internal political culture so corrupt that the abuse of the workhorses in favor of the showhorses wasn't even hidden.

It really does feel good when you stop hitting yourself in the head with a hammer.

Matt Morehouse| 7.10.09 @ 9:54AM

At age 51 I was an executive with a large publishing firm. The whole mess finally got to me and I quit.
Now I am the owner of a small publishing firm that threatens to become a large publishing firm.

Matt Morehouse| 7.10.09 @ 9:55AM

At age 51 I was an executive with a large publishing firm. The whole mess finally got to me and I quit.
Now I am the owner of a small publishing firm that threatens to become a large publishing firm.

Big J| 7.10.09 @ 10:22AM

Personally, I have quit 2 jobs in the last 20 years.

I quit my employer of 11 years due to complete lack of upward mobility.

Next, I quit my employer of 2 years due to what I felt was lack of appreciation for what I did.

The latter was over 7 years ago. Since then, I have employed several people, payed for their education, health insurance and holidays / vacation. All of the above is accomplished on my terms, not anyone else's terms. That is a feeling of freedom that few ever know.

I don't think I'll get rich, but that's really not the goal. Freedom is a fair trade for "riches" in my mind.

If I were a bettin' man, I would say that Sarah Palin probably feels the same right about now.

Peter McGrath| 7.10.09 @ 11:05AM

I wholeheartedly support Sarah Palin's decision, which was in the best interests of the nation, the State of Alaska, and her wonderful family.

Palin simply cannot galvanize conservatives nationwide while trying to govern Alaska. Stepping down in order to, hopefully, sojourn among the lower 48 for a few years of networking, fundraising, coalition-building, and preparation was a GREAT idea. America need her leadership.

Moreover, Alaska had had enough leftist thuggery, in the form of constant media assaults and ethics complaints, which certainly detracted and distracted Palin from her important work as governor. It certainly appears that her lieutenant governor is up to the task and, certainly, Sarah is available - as necessary - to counsel and support him.

Finally, by returning the private life, she is no longer a public figure vulnerable to defamation and slander. As a private citizen, any of the vile minions of creeps on the left publishing lies about her (or her family) will now be exposed to damages for defamation and slander. I look forward to contributing to her legal offense fund. I hope she sues one or more of the many Soros funded leftist attack organizations into oblivion.

I wholeheartedly support Palin. She is certainly more representative of most hard-working, independent American women than the whining feminist wing of the liberal party, who cling to their kleenex, valium, IUD's, and daytime TV.

Contrary to the MSM doggerel, she is intelligent and engaging. Certainly, she is capable of reasoned debate (as opposed to most liberals, including our pathetic CMC - Chief Moral Coward - who runs in fear from any interview with anyone other than a cloying Kool Aid sipper).

Sarah Palin is a tonic to anyone sick to death of the hypocrites, liars, soothe-sayers, and snake oil salesman who pass themselves as "leaders" in this Republic nowadays.

God Bless Sarah Palin!

Peter R McGrath| 7.10.09 @ 11:11AM

I wholeheartedly support Sarah Palin's decision, which was in the best interests of the nation, the State of Alaska, and her wonderful family.

Palin simply cannot galvanize conservatives nationwide while trying to govern Alaska. Stepping down in order to, hopefully, sojourn among the lower 48 for a few years of networking, fundraising, coalition-building, and preparation was a GREAT idea. America needs her leadership.

Moreover, Alaska had had enough leftist thuggery, in the form of constant media assaults and ethics complaints, which certainly detracted and distracted Palin from her important work as governor. It certainly appears that her lieutenant governor is up to the task and Sarah is available - as necessary - to counsel and support him.

Finally, by returning the private life, she is no longer a public figure vulnerable to defamation and slander. As a private citizen, any of the vile minions of creeps on the left publishing lies about her (or her family) will now be exposed to damages for defamation and slander. I look forward to contributing to her legal offense fund. I hope she sues one or more of the many Soros funded leftist attack organizations into oblivion.

I wholeheartedly support Palin. She is certainly more representative of most hard-working, independent American women than the whining feminist wing of the liberal party, who cling to their kleenex, valium, IUD's, and daytime TV.

Contrary to the MSM doggerel, she is intelligent and engaging. Certainly, she is capable of reasoned debate (as opposed to most liberals, including our pathetic CMC - Chief Moral Coward - who runs in fear from any interview with anyone other than a cloying Kool Aid sipper).

Sarah Palin is a tonic to anyone sick to death of the hypocrites, liars, soothe-sayers, and snake oil salesman who pass themselves as "leaders" in this Republic nowadays.

Once again, America needs her leadership. God Bless Sarah Palin!

L. Ross| 7.10.09 @ 11:44AM

Again I say

Sarah Palin - Yum!

Liberal Reader| 7.10.09 @ 12:30PM

What a cynical piece of commentary.

All those paragraphs, and not one of them makes an argument about anything substantive.

Is Palin still charming to her followers?

Of course.

Is she still a charismatic woman?

Of course.

But is "quitting" a quality we favor in leaders? No.

Did she give a good explanation for why she is resigning the office she was elected to serve? No.

Did she give truthful reasons for quitting? Increasingly, the answer seems to be that she did not.

As a local paper in Alaska reported today, the figures spent on so-called "ethics" complaints were distorted by Palin. Palin cited the cost of hiring lawyers to respond to these complaints, but those lawyers were on the government payrolls anyway. It's not as if she had to hire lawyers especially to respond to the complaints.

In addition, there are only 3 pending ethics complaints, and given the speed with which most of the other complaints have been dismissed, these could hardly have been so burdensome as to prevent a competent governor from managing the affairs of state.

In short, Palin seems to be quitting for reasons other than those she emphasized in her erratic, confusing, incoherent speech last Friday.

If her reasons really are personal, then they should stay that way -- and more power to her for tending to the needs of her family.

But if their economic or political -- if she is quitting lower office to seek higher, or if she is quitting to write a book (before ever having read one), then it speaks strongly against her character.

There was time when conservatives were concerned about things like character. Now they seem as star-bedazzled as any mourner at Michael Jackson's funeral.

Liberal Reader| 7.10.09 @ 12:35PM

Peter McGrath --

You typify the illogic of Palin followers.

Palin is made incapable of governing Alaska, a sparsely populated state that floats on oil money and federal allowance, by "leftist thuggery," so she's going to quit the office she was elected to fill in order to -- alley oop -- seek HIGHER office, where "leftist thuggery" will presumably be all the more intense. Oh yes, this makes perfect sense!

GeneCar| 7.10.09 @ 12:52PM

Liberal Reader

' . . .to write a book (before ever having read one) . . .' in that phrase you gave yourself away. for goodness sake do you really believe that Governor Palin has never read a book?

Jed Skillman| 7.10.09 @ 1:00PM

Somehow I can't picture Sarah Palin saying "I quit". Unless we've got her figured wrong there has got to be something else in the mix.

But how would we know? The media has been so outright hostile to her that, aside from our own individual observations of her at the convention, the VP debate or at rallies, none of us have a clear picture of her.

I just posted a piece on my blog, Plumwood Road, speculating that a possible reason for her resignation could possibly be her husband Todd. Todd Palin is an old-fashioned American. Ever notice those shots when he's on stage? He always seems to be watching and analyzing. After the treatment his wife and family was subjected to -- and are still subjected to -- we might understand him reaching a few negative conclusions about American Politics right now. It's a safe bet Todd Palin is full-up-to-the-eyeballs with panty-waist talking heads and late night comedians bashing his wife and kids.

Jed Skillman| 7.10.09 @ 1:22PM

Somehow, I can't picture Sarah Palin saying "I quit". Unless we've got her figured wrong there has got to be something else in the mix.

But, then again, how would we know? The media has been so outright hostile toward her that, aside from our own individual observations of her at the convention, the VP debate or at rallies, none of us have a really clear picture of her.

I just posted a piece on my blog speculating that a possible reason for her resignation could be her husband Todd.

Todd Palin is an old-fashioned American. Ever notice those shots when he's on stage with her? He seems friendly enough, but he always seems to be watching, analyzing. After the treatment his wife and family were subjected to -- and are still subjected to -- we could understand if he reached a few negative conclusions about the state of American politics. It's a safe bet that Todd Palin is full up-to-the-eyeballs with panty-waisted editorialists and late night comics bashing his wife and kids.

lulubelle| 7.10.09 @ 1:49PM

Good for her. She can do a lot more damage to the Dems out of the governor's mansion. She'd be great in the Senate, House, (Minority Leader or Whip, anyone?) or supporting sane candidates.

AKSaraAlso| 7.10.09 @ 3:27PM

Scratch the surface and look a little closer...

She quit for MONEY nothing more nothing less.

Also too...

Narcissistic personality disorder is a real and dangerous mental condition that often requires hospitalization to treat. I found an online Narcissistic personality quiz that someone close to Palin should have her take. Seriously.

I have had to deal with people with Bipolar disorder, and the most difficult thing was to convince them they have a problem. In their minds, it’s everyone else that is wrong, no matter how bazaar and erratic their behavior is. Palin is constantly saying “I’m not wired the same as everyone else”, is a classic example of how people with a mental illness view the world and the people around them.

Here’s a description from WebMD.com:

Narcissism is a term used to describe a focus on the self and self-admiration that is taken to an extreme. The word “narcissism” comes from a Greek myth in which a handsome young man named Narcissus sees his reflection in a pool of water and falls in love with it.

Narcissistic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions called dramatic personality disorders. People with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. Narcissistic personality disorder is further characterized by an abnormal love of self, an exaggerated sense of superiority and importance, and a preoccupation with success and power. However, these attitudes and behaviors do not reflect true self-confidence. Instead, the attitudes conceal a deep sense of insecurity and a fragile self-esteem.

What Are the Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

In many cases, people with narcissistic personality disorder:

* Are self-centered and boastful
* Seek constant attention and admiration
* Consider themselves better than others
* Exaggerate their talents and achievements
* Believe that they are entitled to special treatment
* Are easily hurt but may not show it
* Set unrealistic goals
* May take advantage of others to achieve their goals

I believe it describes Palin exactly. I know that I’m not an unbiased observer, because I disagree with her on many different levels. But I think if Palin’s friends, family, staff and supporters would be honest with themselves they would see that Palin really may need help.”

Otis, my man!| 7.10.09 @ 3:44PM

Liberal Reader,

You have just made a parody of yourself. Read Ann Coulter's latest column. You sound just like one of the liberal characters quoted in it.

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 3:54PM

AKSarahAlso:

You think Sarah Palin fits a narcissistic profile?

Good grief!!! I pray you are not employed anywhwere near the field of psychology.

Let's see, I'm trying to think of some good examples of REAL narcissists in politics. Oh, I have a few: Barak Obama. Nancy Pelosi. Barney Frank. Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton. Jimmy Carter. John Kerry. Joe Biden. John Edwards. Ted Kennedy. Patrick Leahy. Tom Harken. Barbara Boxer. Dick Durbin. Charles Schumer. Chris Dodd.

The list goes on, of course. Classic solipsistic, selfish, craven narcissists each and every one.

Each of these fools views other human beings as simply either tools to assist them in their self-glorification or obstacles to be eliminated.

Sarah Palin a narcissist? Are you libs EVER going to stop trying to smear her?

Let me guess: You're also pretty darned sure she fits the profile of a serial killer.

JuneauBircher| 7.10.09 @ 3:57PM

Sarah Palin needs to shut her mouth.

Palin’s delusion and bizarre self-promotion has only gotten worst since her speech last Friday. Each day since then she has tried to offer new evidence or tried new ways to convince us her quitting was in the best interest of Alaskans. She argues over and over that fighting is quitting and quitting is fighting. The more she tries to make the argument, the crazier she appears.

Those of us in Alaska know the ethics complaints have been filed by Alaskans, not “Political operatives descended on Alaska”. Palin knows it too. She lied. But that’s what she does. She lies. Over and over and over and over and over again.

The real question regarding Palin is not whether she tells lies. Half of what comes out of her mouth isn’t true. 80 percent of her resignation speech isn’t true. The real question is: Has she become so mentally unstable and delusional that Palin now believes if something comes out of her mouth it becomes true?

A perfect example is when she describes fulfilling her commitment to voters and finishing her term as “a quitter's way out.” She must realize the absurdity of what she is arguing. Or does she? Has she lost all sense of reality? Have the rallies with tens of thousands of adoring fans convinced her she has become someone so special she can now create her own reality? Someone who can do no wrong. If she says or believes something it automatically becomes true.

There is a lesson to be learned here. If you spend your life trying to impress and craving the favor of man, it will eventually get to you. Sarah Palin is an extreme example. She’s an approval seeker on steroids. And it has driven her to lose all sense of reality

Palin continues to take many of her loyal followers on a 'Snowmobile Ride to Nowhere'.

Liberal Reader| 7.10.09 @ 4:02PM

Here's an excellent piece on Sarah Palin by PEGGY NOONAN (a conservative woman who knows how to think and write):

Sarah Palin's resignation gives Republicans a new opportunity to see her plain—to review the bidding, see her strengths, acknowledge her limits, and let go of her drama. It is an opportunity they should take. They mean to rebuild a great party. They need to do it on solid ground.

Her history does not need to be rehearsed at any length. Ten months ago she was embraced with friendliness by her party. The left and the media immediately overplayed their hand, with attacks on her children. The party rallied round, as a party should. She went on the trail a sensation but demonstrated in the ensuing months that she was not ready to go national and in fact never would be. She was hungry, loved politics, had charm and energy, loved walking onto the stage, waving and doing the stump speech. All good. But she was not thoughtful. She was a gifted retail politician who displayed the disadvantages of being born into a point of view (in her case a form of conservatism; elsewhere and in other circumstances, it could have been a form of liberalism) and swallowing it whole: She never learned how the other sides think, or why.

In television interviews she was out of her depth in a shallow pool. She was limited in her ability to explain and defend her positions, and sometimes in knowing them. She couldn't say what she read because she didn't read anything. She was utterly unconcerned by all this and seemed in fact rather proud of it: It was evidence of her authenticity. She experienced criticism as both partisan and cruel because she could see no truth in any of it. She wasn't thoughtful enough to know she wasn't thoughtful enough. Her presentation up to the end has been scattered, illogical, manipulative and self-referential to the point of self-reverence. "I'm not wired that way," "I'm not a quitter," "I'm standing up for our values." I'm, I'm, I'm.

In another age it might not have been terrible, but here and now it was actually rather horrifying.

McCain-Palin lost. Mrs. Palin has now stepped down, but she continues to poll high among some members of the Republican base, some of whom have taken to telling themselves Palin myths.

To wit, "I love her because she's so working-class." This is a favorite of some party intellectuals. She is not working class, never was, and even she, avid claimer of advantage that she is, never claimed to be and just lets others say it. Her father was a teacher and school track coach, her mother the school secretary. They were middle-class figures of respect, stability and local status. I think intellectuals call her working-class because they see the makeup, the hair, the heels and the sleds and think they're working class "tropes." Because, you know, that's what they teach in "Ways of the Working Class" at Yale and Dartmouth.

What she is, is a seemingly very nice middle-class girl with ambition, appetite and no sense of personal limits.

"She's not Ivy League, that's why her rise has been thwarted! She represented the democratic ideal that you don't have to go to Harvard or Brown to prosper, and her fall represents a failure of egalitarianism." This comes from intellectuals too. They need to be told something. Ronald Reagan went to Eureka College. Richard Nixon went to Whittier College, Joe Biden to the University of Delaware. Sarah Palin graduated in the end from the University of Idaho, a school that happily notes on its Web site that it's included in U.S. News and World Report's top national schools survey. They need to be told, too, that the first Republican president was named "Abe," and he went to Princeton and got a Fulbright. Oh wait, he was an impoverished backwoods autodidact!

America doesn't need Sarah Palin to prove it was, and is, a nation of unprecedented fluidity. Her rise and seeming fall do nothing to prove or refute this.

"The elites hate her." The elites made her. It was the elites of the party, the McCain campaign and the conservative media that picked her and pushed her. The base barely knew who she was. It was the elites, from party operatives to public intellectuals, who advanced her and attacked those who said she lacked heft. She is a complete elite confection. She might as well have been a bonbon.

"She makes the Republican Party look inclusive." She makes the party look stupid, a party of the easily manipulated.

"She shows our ingenuous interest in all classes." She shows your cynicism.

"Now she can prepare herself for higher office by studying up, reading in, boning up on the issues." Mrs. Palin's supporters have been ordering her to spend the next two years reflecting and pondering. But she is a ponder-free zone. She can memorize the names of the presidents of Pakistan, but she is not going to be able to know how to think about Pakistan. Why do her supporters not see this? Maybe they think "not thoughtful" is a working-class trope!

"The media did her in." Her lack of any appropriate modesty did her in. Actually, it's arguable that membership in the self-esteem generation harmed her. For 30 years the self-esteem movement told the young they're perfect in every way. It's yielding something new in history: an entire generation with no proper sense of inadequacy.

"Turning to others means the media won!" No, it means they lose. What the mainstream media wants is not to kill her but to keep her story going forever. She hurts, as they say, the Republican brand, with her mess and her rhetorical jabberwocky and her careless causing of division. Really, she is the most careless sower of discord since George W. Bush, who fractured the party and the movement that made him. Why wouldn't the media want to keep that going?

Here's why all this matters. The world is a dangerous place. It has never been more so, or more complicated, more straining of the reasoning powers of those with actual genius and true judgment. This is a time for conservative leaders who know how to think.

Here are a few examples of what we may face in the next 10 years: a profound and prolonged American crash, with the admission of bankruptcy and the spread of deep social unrest; one or more American cities getting hit with weapons of mass destruction from an unknown source; faint glimmers of actual secessionist movements as Americans for various reasons and in various areas decide the burdens and assumptions of the federal government are no longer attractive or legitimate.

The era we face, that is soon upon us, will require a great deal from our leaders. They had better be sturdy. They will have to be gifted. There will be many who cannot, and should not, make the cut. Now is the time to look for those who can. And so the Republican Party should get serious, as serious as the age, because that is what a grown-up, responsible party—a party that deserves to lead—would do.

It's not a time to be frivolous, or to feel the temptation of resentment, or the temptation of thinking next year will be more or less like last year, and the assumptions of our childhoods will more or less reign in our future. It won't be that way.

We are going to need the best.

--- PEGGY NOONAN

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 4:06PM

It's predictable that if you throw a normal, attractive human being into the conservative arena the insensate liberal mob will descend on that person like ants on a sugar cube.

Feel better now, Juneaubitcher, or do you still have the twitch? Maybe there's a three-legged dog somewhere near you trailer that you can kick.

Hey, be grateful: If you didn't have hate, you'd have nothing at all but whisky and long winters.

Maybe if she has an affair with a 14-year old boy or raided the public treasury or spouted socialist pabulum 24 hours a day you'd like her better.

Appleby| 7.10.09 @ 4:07PM

AKSaraAlso, you have perfectly described Barak Obama.

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 4:09PM

The bats are coming out of the belfry!

First off, liberal reader, Peggy Noonan is NO conservative. Hasn't been for some time.

Hell, she's got posters of Obama on her bedroom wall. I'll lay even money that she's used the word "dreamy" to describe him.

Second, if you think she's a good writer maybe you ought to have your glucose levels checked. Her writing is so precious and treacly I'd go into insulin shock if I still read her weekly suck-ups to liberals dogma.

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 4:27PM

Peggy Noonan has devolved into a sort of high-rent Maureen Dowd.

One's a call girl, the other's a whore.

Of the two, I'd have to say Maureen Dowd is the more straightfoward. But in the end, they offer the same thing.

Pete| 7.10.09 @ 4:32PM

I was a gov't employee for almost 10 years and grew sick of the pure waste, laziness, whining, childish behaviors exhibited by my fellow employees, who couldn't hold a private industry job. It'd be to hard!
I quit also, am doing great, and salute her and her families strength and courage to fight this double edged sword put before them.
Sidebar - One of my friends asked me, between Sarah Palin or Nancy Pelosi, which one would you like to escort to your High School Reunion as a guest speaker?

Old Texican| 7.10.09 @ 4:37PM

Liberal reader, Alsoto, Juneau

Heh heh! keep up your B S. and One day we will meet over open sights....no matter how deep your mommas' basements are.

Seriously, fools! Don't you idiots understand what fools you are being made of by your "leaders"?

It is very obvious that you guys have never built ANYTHING.....but word castles.

You guys are the ones they are going to dress up to be targets. You guys are the pawns to be swept off the board with a sneer by your own leaders.

Please don't go there.

Liberal Reader| 7.10.09 @ 4:59PM

Grzmlyk --

First of all, Noonan was one of Reagan's chief speech writers. She never espouses anything remotely resembling liberal ideas -- unless you consider her plea for civility and literacy liberal, which I guess (understandably) you probably do.

As for calling Maureen Dowd a "whore," all I can say is such language is extremely low and ungentlemanly. You clearly are a pig, and both Noonan and Dowd have way more class than you'll ever have.

But nice post. It really made some witty points that illuminated conservative philosophy is productive, interesting ways. You really should consider going into politics yourself. You've got that charm that people really respond to.

Liberal Reader| 7.10.09 @ 5:10PM

WANTED:

Intellectually curious, avid reader who wishes to read more well thought out conservative opinions SEEKS website that welcomes and encourages debate and the free exchange of ideas.

Not interested at ALL in racist diatribes or people that believe the essence of conservatism is the hatred of liberalism. Not interested at ALL in reading the opinions of people who do not read and who do not seek to understand philosophies or world views different from their own, since people like this are boring.

Any recommendations? Links? Names?

papaya| 7.10.09 @ 5:22PM

AKSaraAlso| 7.10.09 @ 3:27PM
"Scratch the surface and look a little closer...

She quit for MONEY nothing more nothing less.

Also too...

Narcissistic personality disorder is a real and dangerous mental condition that often requires hospitalization to treat. I found an online Narcissistic personality quiz that someone close to Palin should have her take. Seriously.

I have had to deal with people with Bipolar disorder, and the most difficult thing was to convince them they have a problem. In their minds, it’s everyone else that is wrong, no matter how bazaar and erratic their behavior is. Palin is constantly saying “I’m not wired the same as everyone else”, is a classic example of how people with a mental illness view the world and the people around them.

Here’s a description from WebMD.com:

Narcissism is a term used to describe a focus on the self and self-admiration that is taken to an extreme. The word “narcissism” comes from a Greek myth in which a handsome young man named Narcissus sees his reflection in a pool of water and falls in love with it.

Narcissistic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions called dramatic personality disorders. People with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. Narcissistic personality disorder is further characterized by an abnormal love of self, an exaggerated sense of superiority and importance, and a preoccupation with success and power. However, these attitudes and behaviors do not reflect true self-confidence. Instead, the attitudes conceal a deep sense of insecurity and a fragile self-esteem.

What Are the Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

In many cases, people with narcissistic personality disorder:

* Are self-centered and boastful
* Seek constant attention and admiration
* Consider themselves better than others
* Exaggerate their talents and achievements
* Believe that they are entitled to special treatment
* Are easily hurt but may not show it
* Set unrealistic goals
* May take advantage of others to achieve their goals

I believe it describes Palin exactly. I know that I’m not an unbiased observer, because I disagree with her on many different levels. But I think if Palin’s friends, family, staff and supporters would be honest with themselves they would see that Palin really may need help.” "

Oh, please...this more accurately describes our current president, not Sarah Palin.

Peter McGrath| 7.10.09 @ 5:49PM

Palin is the real deal. Committed Christian Conservative. Wife. Mother. Professional. Walks the walk. Talks the talk. No dissembling. Wonderful on the stump. Getting better at being a wonk.

No wonder the liberals are a-twitter. She is capable, perhaps more than any other, at exposing the soft bigotry of low expectations which leftist elites inflict on the poorly educated, single women, who comprise their voting base.

She, more than any other, may show such women a way to empowerment and self-fulfillment, and help them escape the dreadful mire of self perceived victimhood.

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 6:01PM

Wow, liberal reader!

I appreciate the flaccid attempt at condescension. I'm cut to the quick. You'll just have to take my word for it.

And thanks for the little bio of Peggy Noonan - I've only followed her closely for 20 years. But do go on.

As for the "gentlemanly" comment, I suppose it's gentlemanly to call me a pig.

No doubt you think Peggy's trajectory from Reagan to the present day is her wising up. I think she wanted to still be considered a player long after the old odometer passed zero again.

I think that, like many erstwhile conservatives, she craved the warm glow of approbation of the beltway salons, where all the witty and evolved folk gather for tea and crumpets and to pretend that human nature - well, THEIRS, anyway - has evolved beyond "pigs" like me, and if only everyone were as selfless as THEY, why, what a wonderful world it would be.

And so Ms. Noonan espouses big-tent moderation - the dilution of conservative principles to the point where, guess what, they are indistinguishable from those of our rarefied useful idiots on the left.

In other words, Peggy has either whored out her values for a place at Sally Quinn's table or else she has lost her mind. Take your pick.

Maureen Dowd? Come on. The only class she ever had was that experiment in polyamory with the boys from the class of, what was it now, 1974?

Ever since her undergraduate days as a radical feminist at Catholic University, she's been trying to channel her callow indignation and concupiscent sexual frustration into vitriol for anyone who's not a sophomoric Cliff-Notes Communist.

Maureen Dowd may be many things - and she is. But classy is not one of them.

AKSaraAlso| 7.10.09 @ 6:27PM

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 3:54PM
AKSarahAlso:

You think Sarah Palin fits a narcissistic profile?

Let's see, I'm trying to think of some good examples of REAL narcissists in politics. Oh, I have a few: Barak Obama. Nancy Pelosi. Barney Frank. Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton. Jimmy Carter. John Kerry. Joe Biden. John Edwards. Ted Kennedy. Patrick Leahy. Tom Harken. Barbara Boxer. Dick Durbin. Charles Schumer. Chris Dodd.

Back at ya Grzmlyk...the big difference between the above mentioned politicians is that your gal...QUIT for no apparent reason other than $$$MONEY$$$ and BLEW OFF THE OATH OF OFFICE!

She quit on the tails (no pun intended) of two other fine GOP pres hopefuls...Ensign and Sandford. Good morale boosting week for you guys huh?

From what they're sayin' she has an offer on the table for a reality show aka 'The Desperate EX-Governor Housewife of Wasilla'. Nice. No I take that back, pathetic.

Richard Baker| 7.10.09 @ 6:36PM

Liberal Reader:
If she's such a bozo and is destroying herself, why the agitation from you lefties? If my opposition wants to kill themselves, I'm going to stand back and watch. Are you afraid that she's a tad bit cleverer than you think or is she not doing it fast enough? I'd love for you lefties to repeat your calumnies in front of Todd. Have the huevos?

rdman| 7.10.09 @ 6:37PM

The Sarah Palin threads and posts have been very encouraging and positive by patriots who love our magnificent Country and Constitution, but extraordinarily repulsive and disgusting by leftists who have little to offer except their culture of hate, name calling and attempts of personal destruction, even aiming their venom at Sarah’s special needs baby, Trig. Have these leftists no shame??

For years and years, I have wondered why leftists are referred to as Liberals and lately, Progressives. In the true meaning of these words, there is nothing liberal or progressive about these hateful leftists.

Back in the 1930’s, there was a Socialist who ran for President five times and lost five times, garnering less than one percent (1%) of the vote. After losing for the fifth time, this Socialist suggested that no leftist would ever be elected to the Presidency of this country if they ran as a Socialist. So the disingenuous coward leftists co-op’d the term LIBERAL and have been hiding behind the term ever since. Heretofore, the term Liberal was associated more with the Libertarian Party. In recent years, the leftists have also been using the term Progressive which may be a better fit from the leftist point of view… from Socialist to Marxist to Communist.

But this only scratches the surface of the leftist mind set. There is a much deeper component.

An eminent psychiatrist recently wrote that leftist thinking is a mental disorder and the so-called Liberals are clinically MAD!

The Liberal (Socialist) agenda preys on weakness and feelings of inferiority in the population by:

• creating and reinforcing perceptions of victimization;
• satisfying infantile claims to entitlement, indulgence and compensation;
• augmenting primitive feelings of envy
• rejecting the sovereignty of the individual, subordinating him/her to the will of government.

The roots of liberalism (socialism) and its associated madness can be clearly identified by understanding how children develop from infancy to adulthood and how distorted development produces the irrational beliefs of the liberal mind. When the modern liberal mind whines about imaginary victims, rages against imaginary villains and seeks above all else to run the lives of persons competent to run their own lives, the neurosis of the liberal mind becomes painfully obvious.

Next time you are in a debate (if you can stand the name calling) with a Socialist/Marxist, besides the froth and spittle on the corners of his/her mouth, focus for a moment on their eyes… that’s what INSANITY looks like!!

Richard Baker| 7.10.09 @ 6:46PM

rdman:
Instead of Progressives, how about Regressives?

Grzmlyk| 7.10.09 @ 6:52PM

Maybe she quit for no reason that's apparent to YOU; that is not the same as no reason. And it doesn't make her a narcissist. I must have missed that bullet point in your checklist for narcissists:

"Quits the office of Governer of Alaska for reasons that do not satisfy me."

She's been pilloried from coast to coast and slammed with dozens of frivolous law suits from the jackels on YOUR side of the fence and she's broke.

Maybe, just maybe, the paralisys that's descended on Alaska isn't good for anyone. And EVEN if she wants to make money, it's still ok to make money in America, isn't it? At least until your King gets hold of all our lives entirely.

And, last time I checked, it wasn't proof of narcissism to make money. Didn't Obama sign a furtive book deal (a child's version of Dreams From My Father, ugh) for $500,000 just prior to taking office (but after the election) - a move unprecedented among US presidents? That's on top of the $2.5 million he made on his other two books in 2008. Of course he is a narcissist, but that isn't why.

And just as a point of fact, neither Ensign nor Sanford resigned their offices (Ensigned resigned his party leadership post). And even if they did, what's that got to do with Sarah Palin?

If they were Dems, they'd get ticker-tape parades for their infidelity. And what were those sounds from the mainstream media after sleazeball extraordinaire John Edwards was cheating on his wife during the campaign? Oh yeah. They were the sounds of silence.

And it's really intellectually rigorous of you to report what "they" are saying about a putative reality show for Sarah - and to judge her as pathetic for something that exists only in your mind.

That'd be like me saying, hey, AKSaraAlso, "they" say you were known as the human beer bong in college. Pathetic!

I'm not even saying Sarah is ready for prime time - and yes, liberal reader (BTW, I get it, I get it, you are a bookworm. I'll bet you wear glasses to show everyone what a towering intellectual you are!)
I read the Noonan article.
It drips with her own brand of elitism and condescension - which no doubt is why you are so fond of her.

The jury is out on Sarah Palin; I think Noonan is ridiculously dismissive, but yes, Sarah Palin has something to prove - if she runs, which she may have no intention of doing.

But Noonan's insistence that we have intellectual giants running things - please! Woodrow Wilson was an intellectual - a PhD! Roosevelt was a supposed intellectual blue-blood; JFK, of course, sat at the head of the Knights of the Round Table in the castle of the Best and the Brightest. They made a bungle of the Bay of Pigs, stumbled through the Cuban Missile Crisis (throwing Turkey to the dogs in the process of saving face) and got us into Viet Nam.

Frankly, I'd rather have Sarah Palin running my government than some hubristic ivory-tower intellectual. God, those are the fools who brought us Marxism in the first place.

rdman| 7.10.09 @ 9:11PM

Richard Baker| 7.10.09 @ 6:46PM
rdman:
Instead of Progressives, how about Regressives?

Richard... the irony Leftists face is that they unwittingly bring about what they most fear… REJECTION when their narcissism, exploitativeness, malice, deception, vindictiveness is realized by their worshippers and followers. The Leftists who were so desirous of being affirmed are now exposed and despised as liars, subversive frauds and worse. So much of what their followers admired turn out to be false fronts, thin facades are now collapsing, revealing the Leftist’s nothingness and emptiness. Their worshippers and followers realize that they were so seduced by the slick package that they did not realize that there is nothing in it… the package was the message.

Liberal Reader| 7.10.09 @ 9:29PM

Richard Baker --

I never said Palin was a "bozo," and I'm not agitated.

And I most emphatically do NOT want "the other side" to go kill themselves.

On the contrary, I'm for a more active, more vigorous, more lively, more diverse public debate on the issues.

I want to hear conservative ideas and understand conservatives' world-views better.

Read over some of the posts above and see how the generalize about "leftists" or "liberals." It's absolutely fruitless and shallow to think in this way. I don't believe all conservatives are thus and such, and I know liberals are as different from one another as conservatives or anyone else.

None of this means I'm incapable of criticizing Palin, and none of this means I think defenses of her resignation -- or celebrations of her resignation -- aren't a little desperate and perverse.

I know, I know -- I'm a liberal. Therefore I'm evil, full of deceit and malice and sympathy for terrorists. Whatever.

AKSaraAlso| 7.10.09 @ 9:36PM

rdman| 7.10.09 @ 9:11PM
lefties ...were so seduced by the slick package

Yup almost as good as the 8 year 'package' of George W. Bush.

Speaking of being seduced? Better hurry up 'cause Mrs. Palin's snowjob mobile is headin' out of town fast, ya betcha.

IL| 7.11.09 @ 5:14AM

Whatsamatta, lefturds? Sarah Palin's been so successful at raising a family and running a state while you losers can't even find anyone who wants to marry braindead losers like you? That sure fits your wrinkled hag presstitute Maureen Dowd's profile:

http://www.fredoneverything.net/Maureen2.shtml

Maybe you should all move to Massachusetts or something; but I doubt even the queers and fairies there would want to "marry" ugly lefturds like you. As P.J. O'Rourke says (on the subject of being called a Nazi by the likes of you): "No one has ever had a fantasy about being tied up and sexually ravished by someone dressed as a liberal."

James Glasscock| 7.11.09 @ 8:04AM

Choice between fishing and being governor? No contest. Fish and hunt as a bonus. TV reporters should consider more fishing for fish and less for slanted stories.
Longdrycreek Ranch
Texas Panhandle

ds80| 7.11.09 @ 10:07AM

Liberal Reader: "I want to hear conservative ideas and understand conservatives' world-views better."

Non-intrusive government limited to constitutionally granted authority.
Free market capitalism.
Strong national defense.
Pro-life.
Traditional marriage.

Carpenter| 7.11.09 @ 10:09AM

Over the past year or so, liberals have been forced to witness their media champions utterly destroy the common notion that liberals and democrats are somehow “nicer”. The abuse, hate and misrepresentation of Sarah Palin has been the most egregious and obvious example.
Now, as a ploy to re-establish the myth of occupying a higher moral plane, liberals continue the attempt to reduce Palin to somehow justify the public revelation of their hypocrisy and cruelty.
Americans see through it, and understand that liberals, for all their talk, care nothing for rules, justice or honesty; only for power.

Marc Jeric| 7.11.09 @ 10:31AM

Amazing the quantity of far-left bile, hate, name-calling, vicious personal attacks, and character assasination produced by our "intellectuals" against that poor, uneducated, stupid, insignificant woman Sarah Palin. Why? Is it something there that puts their complex of superiority in danger?

Grzmlyk| 7.11.09 @ 11:54AM

Hey liberal reader:

Somehow I doubt your ingenuousness when you say you are curious and want to understand conservatives' world views better.

They are very simple to understand: Individual liberty is a superior organizing principle in government than statist parsing of people into "groups." The former allows for prosperity and individual expression to flourish in innumerable and inpredictable ways, which accrues to the benefit of the people.

The latter makes serfs of us all, serving the state's definition of things like what we drive, how much we drive, what we eat, what we can do for a living, how much we can make, which group is favored by bureaucratic diktat, what we can and cannot say, what we can and cannot think.

Conservatives believe capitalism is the economic manifestation of individual liberty and that, as an organizing principle, it produces wealth that trickles down to all, raising the standard of living for all. Liberalism believes in planned economies, running business by decree; minimum wage is a perfect example of such a decree and its corrosive effects on business are many. Whereas capitalism produces shared wealth, liberalism/progressivism/socialism produces shared misery.

Greed exists everywhere and in every human heart. Conservatives know this, but also know that self interest is as inherent to human behavior as lust or hunger or the need for shelter. Capitalism harnesses enlightened self interest - which is immutable - for the good of the many. Liberalism bifurcates human nature into two camps: The greedy and those enlightened few who "care" about others. It is a fundamental and fatal lie. By their very insistence that everybody view the world as they do, they are proving the very hubris they ostentatiously deny they possess.

It is always the socialist commissars who live in sybaritic luxury and it has never been different. Human beings are not equal. They should have equal opportunity, but not equal outcomes. Liberals lie when they promulgate social justice. There are always two sets of rules: One for the ruling class and one for the proletariat, whom they ostensibly care so much about.

Conservatives believe in values. A world informed by Judeo-Chrisitian values is a world in which good and evil are defineableand fixed concepts, not slippery ideas that are subject to individual and cultural tastes. Therefore, under conservative thought,. good is rewarded and evil is punished. We believe individuals MUST be held accountable their actions (the flipside of individual liberty is individual responsibility). Liberals believe there is always a mitigating circumstance which absolves a person of culpability - when it'sconvenient for the liberal weltanschaaung, of course. When it's a conservative. Thus George Bush is an a-hole who is responsible for every problem on earth since the day he took office, but Barack Obama is a victim of, first, racism, then an economy that was "way worse than we thought," to paraphrase our brilliant Vice President.

Conservatives understand that the translation of "utopia" from the Greek is "no place" - meaning ideal societies can never and will never exist. Liberals believe that humans can "evolve" beyond their primal, selfish states and attain some abstract concept of "fairness" and equanimity. And the irony is they believe that their own decidedly base behavior is inoculated against judgment because, in the abstract, they believe in "social justice."

Conservatives hate dictators. Liberals flock to them. Witness the popularity of Chavez, Castro, and even Putin among the glitterati. Of course, as elites, THEY don't want to be under the thumb of a dictator, but the little people MUST be.

Conservatives believe in the worth of the individual and of individual life. Liberals believe that individuals are useless and detrimental to the machinery of the ideal state.

Conservatism is very, very simple to understand. We don't believe government is the solution - we believe government is the problem. We understand that there will always be poverty, cheating, greed, chaos and every other negative human trait. But we believe those traits do not disappear under totalitarian regimes but instead become institutionalized every time such regimes are either voted into office or arrogate power. Witness the detritus of history that all such regimes have become.

Conservatism doesn't believe you have to come up with a million programs to solve problems - as liberals are always charging conservatives to come up with alternate ideas. We believe the market, the rule of law and human decency prevail and the impersonal power lust of the state always devolves into oppression.

Ok. Now you understand conservatism. Get lost.

Bob| 7.11.09 @ 12:03PM

Marc, is it really name calling to consider Palin to be intellectually incurious? Is it really name calling to say she knows little about the Constitution and the Supreme Court? Is it really name calling to ask to see her position papers on foreign policy prior to her VP gig to verify she knows something about the world and not just the Bering Strait? Is it really name calling to find out if she knows anything about economic theory besides the D she got in macroeconomics? I don't think it is too much to ask of a Presidential wannabe to know they have some knowledge of our country and of the world. She has show precious little of that unless you can link me to one of her position papers or even a book or an article she wrote prior to being the VP candidate in order to verify she has some knowledge of the English language.

Personally, I think she has good character and seems to be a loving mother. But that doesn't qualify her to be President. For those of us who are pro-choice, even as Republicans, and don't see a problem with gay marriage, she has even less benefit. That's why there are loads of Republicans who don't like her.

As for the left wing politicos, their goal is not to minimize Sarah, but to attach her as the poster child for the Republican party, just as they do with Rush, to position the party as red necked and uneducated. Rush, Coulter, and Hannity use the same technique of bringing up Barney Frank to position the Democrat party. If you don't understand this technique, you don't understand media and politics.

I dislike Sarah for what she is doing to a proud party that once believed in fiscal discipline. In addition, when she exaggerates things like the Alaska spending $2 million on her defense when it is really mostly a sunk cost and would be spent anyway and talking about a personal debt but not saying that this has been mostly paid by her legal defense fund, it just makes her look even less qualified.

Let me ask you a serious question. If she were not anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage, would you even give her a second look?

Grzmlyk| 7.11.09 @ 12:04PM

I'm in a hurry, so there are numerous typos in my post - my apologies. DS80 said it succinctly.

Yes, definitely we believe in the sovereignty of the nation-state and the right of nations to protect their borders and their self interests. We believe the ideal of a "one-world" government is an illusion. While we are free traders and believe the entire planet should have access to the global bazaar, we believe that at the end of the day at the market, we should be able to go home to well-defined homes in well-defined countries and that we have a right to protect the integrity of those homes and those countries.

Grzmlyk| 7.11.09 @ 12:15PM

As for us lumping all liberals into a single group, I'd say that's unfair. There are actually two kinds of liberals: the fools and the knaves.

The first group lies to itself, the second group lies to the first group.

Bob| 7.11.09 @ 12:25PM

Here's the problem, Grzmlyk, even liberals want free markets, nice homes, sovereignty, and protection. But markets cannot be free unless they are also fair and transparent. You can't have a nice home unless you have a job. You can't have sovereignty unless you respect the sovereignty of other countries (e.g., Iraq). So these items do not distinguish Democrats and Republicans. What differentiates these groups is the emphasis placed on the amount of government intervention. You certainly want some government intervention for oversight, fairness, and transparency of markets, etc.

Where I draw the line as a fiscal conservative, is that I don't want government to produce incentives either to individuals or businesses. I want a flat tax that is neither progressive or regressive. I don't want government subsidies for ANY industry. I don't want government to intrude when businesses fail. And I don't want tax cuts if they lead to increased debt.

It is not about free markets, the military, or sovereignty -- it is about government intrusion into our lives. And for me, that extends to social issues like abortion and gay marriage. That is up to us individually and not the government to decide.

stephanie ruff| 7.11.09 @ 12:52PM

"scuse me, but didn't our messiah-in-chief "quit" his job as senator of Illinois to run for prez? And didn't Bill's wife "quit" her job as senator in New York to run for prez? HELLO??????

Grzmlyk| 7.11.09 @ 12:54PM

Are you sure you're a conservative?

Because you make the classic mistake that liberals make in assuming the government is a reliable dispenser of fairness vis a vis the "EVIL" corporation. It is not. It is tyrannical - moreso than any corporation could ever be.

Fannie and Freddie's excesses were ostensibly undertaken in the name of fairness. That's the problem - once you take this out of the hands of the market, to which there is accountability in the form of competition and shareholders - and put it in the hands of the supposedly benevolent government, you lose all accountability. And it's not their money, so they can pour dollars down an endless rathole that a private enterprise, which must husband its resources, could never do.

Some rules should be in place, yes. But it is not the government's job to change outcomes and plan the economy. It's immoral, for one thing, and for another, it never works.

Sure, liberals want homes and things - but they don't want a structure that enables market forces to provide these things; they want it doled out by the state. They believe in equal outcomes - for everybody but themselves.

They are happy to tell the other guy HE's greedy and that HE has too much and that HIS taxes should be raised in the name of social or economic justice, but somehow, they're always exceptions to their own rules.

And no, I don't think liberals necessarily want sovereignty - hello, UN, the World Economic Forum and that whole bonfire of vanities.

And the wake of 9/11 tells me many don't want protection - at least for their fellow man (how many said we deserved that attack?). They really believe in the fairyland of one-world government and eternal peace on earth if only we can expunge our human nature.

Sovereignty? You think Obama believes in sovereignty? Like many liberals before him, he's assiduously promoting the argument that America is evil.

Liberals believe thaty, by affecting such a vain pose, they will be absolved of all of their personal sins.

And tax cuts, with spending cuts, will be a great wealth creator in this country. If you're a true conservative, how can you have missed this axiom? Taxes are bad. Taking money from the producers and giving it to non-producers is NEVER going to create wealth. Yes, a small infrastructure has to be maintained, but look at California: Strangling its taxpayers to the tune of, what, secondary education at $14,000 per student per year? That's in the stratosphere, and what do they get for that? Nothing but bloated teachers' unions - skimming off of the producers to fatten non-producers. Too many people tut-tut about loweing taxes without ever addressing the real problem: SPENDING. It's as if the gigantic maw of government should always be appeased - and always with more, more, more, no matter how many dollars disappear into its gluttonous belly.

That's why Europe is finally moving away from the disasterously sclerotic mechanisms of socialism.

It amazes me when people call themselves fiscal conservatives and then eschew basic principles of fiscal conservatism.

And Iraq wasn't a sovereign state. 17 UN resolutions made this clear. Bill Clinton's stated policy of regime change made this clear. But dear god let's not rehearse those arguments.

stephanie | 7.11.09 @ 1:03PM

Thank you Ds80. I believe that's it in a nutshell.
Well said.

And once again, the "feminists" are so jealous and filled with hate that Sarah has done what they couldn't do. Ala, Mo Dowd. What a *itch.
Sarah had not only the job, but also the brains, the husband, the children and the femininity and grace. She, to me, is a complete package and she got there on her own. Not on the coattails of her husband, ala Bill's wife.
Now that she is a private citizen, for a short while anyway, I hope the MSM or the likes of Letterman, goes after her again and she sues the living begeezus out of them.

Tom| 7.11.09 @ 2:25PM

I feel you about the high of telling the boss I quit.

Even better if you can pump up the nerve is to walk up to him/her and tell 'em: YOU'RE FIRED.

I don't like to be called a quitter and it really, really, really pisses off the oaf who has been on your back for however long.

JuneauBircher | 7.11.09 @ 2:35PM

From the News-Miner Editorial

Gov. Sarah Palin’s decision to resign from office later this month is a good decision for the state of Alaska.

The governor seems to have lost interest in the job and is doing the state a favor by quitting now.

Perhaps she is looking out for her future, which might be in national politics or at a national television network. Perhaps 30 months in office proved too tough. Perhaps she and her family are just plain tired of it all and in need of a break.

Whatever her aim is, it isn’t to be in Juneau any more.

The most telling evidence that she now cares more about herself than finishing out the job she was elected to came in her galling failure to explain exactly why she is resigning. She owes Alaskans a real explanation, not the offered “reason” that she doesn’t want to be a lame-duck governor and have to take lots of trips like lame-duck governors do. “They kind of milk it. And I’m not going to put Alaskans through that,” the governor said at her news conference Friday.

So don’t put Alaskans through that. If that’s what bothers you, governor, serve out your term without milking it.

Gov. Palin needs to tell Alaskans, especially the people who voted for her, the real reason why she is leaving 18 months before the end of her term.

From the governor’s view, she must think she is getting out while the getting is reasonably good. By leaving, she is avoiding some potentially tough decisions as Alaska faces some difficult times in the years ahead.

Alaska has several big, problematic issues on the table. Chief among those is the proposed North Slope natural gas pipeline that is key to the state’s economic future. The governor is abandoning office before having to negotiate pipeline fiscal terms with Exxon Mobil and TransCanada, which are working together. Those discussions will need to occur; there’s no pipeline without them. Granting a controversial tax freeze that Exxon has long insisted on could put Gov. Palin at odds with statements she made during the 2006 campaign, when she said, “… sure, the oil companies would love to have stability on their books for all these months, but that’s not fair to Alaskans, to the owners of the resource.”

A turnabout of that magnitude would be difficult to explain.

The governor also is skipping out on budget problems that sit not far ahead; oil production continues to decline, and with it goes a bundle of money. Sticking around in Juneau could soon mean making unpopular budget decisions.

She soon won’t have to worry about any of that, however. She will be her own person, free to do what she wants to further herself. She will be able to avoid the media she has come to constantly complain about. She will be able to travel without the problem of trying to avoid questions from reporters. She will be able to crisscross the country free of having to run a state government, a job that can present any number of pitfalls for someone who might want to run in a national campaign. Or she can fully return to private life and live quietly in Wasilla, if that is her desire.

Whatever it is that she wants, it is best that she leave office if her list doesn’t include being a dedicated governor.

Alaska needs someone who can focus solely on Alaska.

Gov. Palin’s decision to resign means the state can at last move ahead without the continued distraction of a national presence.

ds80| 7.11.09 @ 6:10PM

Bob: "good character and .... loving ... doesn't qualify ... to be President"

So what exactly were Obama's qualifications?

Smooth talker?
Reads well?

Bob| 7.11.09 @ 6:10PM

Grzmlyk, let me respond to a couple of your issues. First of all, the Robber Barons were a direct result of a truly free capitalistic market. Recently, the housing bubble and derivatives were the result of a non-regulated market. I've spent my live as a business executive and can tell you that companies will do anything within the fine print of the law to make money. At AIG, we sold swaps (really insurance) without reserves. You make the mistake that competition will make practices better. It doesn't work that way. Competition forces you to find the next loophole.

Corporations are not inherently bad. AIG was not bad. The vast majority of AIG's businesses were, and are, strong. You make the mistake of most right wing extremists of saying things are good or evil, but do not recognize the big middle. The companies I worked for were great -- including AIG. Yes, a small division ruined the entire company, but that doesn't negate the well run businesses in the other 99% of divisions.

That said, I am not against regulation, but I am against INTERVENTION. It doesn't seem you understand the difference. AIG could have used some regulation to keep proper levels of reserves and accounting procedures to keep the risk levels of the businesses transparent. In YOUR America, the problem would have been much worse. When government starts incenting things like tax breaks for specific businesses or subsidies for ethanol, then it interferes with the market.

Here's a chart on debt creation modified to eliminate inflation:

http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

Note that the greatest increase in our debt came from Reagan and Bush. In real life, tax cuts NEVER result spending cuts -- it just doesn't happen. There are lots of reasons for this, primarily it is because politicians spend in order to get reelected and lobbyists donate to those who will give them contracts or tax breaks. Therefore, if you really want some discipline in the process, you must enforce spending cuts BEFORE you provide tax cuts. Furthermore, tax cuts have never given us significant growth in the economy as shown by this chart:

http://www.data360.org/dsg.aspx?Data_Set_Group_Id=230

You don't see any difference between Democrat and Republican administrations once you take inflation out of the picture as inflation is not real growth anyway. You cannot force any politician to provide spending cuts as proven by the Republican control of our government during the Bush administration. It's easy to be against the cuts now that Democrats are in control because you will never see them.

So, the "principles" of fiscal conservatism as you see it just don't correlate with the data -- your version of fiscal conservatism is simply a fairy tale that doesn't exist in the real world. Your view of free markets is simplistic and again, cannot exist in the real world.

This is the problem with current conservative "principles" -- they are just not true and don't exist. Conservative fiscal principles must rely on the discipline to cut spending first and say that you will pay for everything you want. That will force the setting of priorities. That's why we need to address entitlements which are 53% of our national budget and growing. Discretionary spending (not including military) is just 17% of our national budget. Attacking the 17% guarantees that you will fail. We must attack the 53%.

I just wish more people would study mathematics and economics so they understand how to read charts, normalize the data, and come up with a real understanding how the world works.

Peter McGrath| 7.11.09 @ 6:43PM

Grzmlyk -

Thanks for the great posts. Your elucidation of conservative priniples was both expansive and concise.

Good Stuff!!

Your Friend -

Peter :)

Mike Licht| 7.11.09 @ 6:52PM

Peggy Noonan writes that Sarah Palin is "self-referential to the point of self-reverence"?

An understatement. Try "delusions of royalty."

Mrs. Palin actually said she loves Alaska so much that she's "sacrificing her title" for the state.

See:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/sarahs-sacrifice/

rdman| 7.11.09 @ 6:59PM

These Lefties that pollute these threads... not an iota of intelligence or critical thought!

Like spoiled, angry children, they pitch hysterical tantrums that big sugar daddy government meet their every need from baby-cradle to adult-cradle grave, rebelling against all that is normal adulthood. Poor PATHETIC atrophied little brains!!!

rdman| 7.11.09 @ 7:21PM

Here's my description of who I believe Sarah Palin is:

Inner-directed and authentic, self acceptance, everything she seems to be. Self-assured, self-generating, energetic, adaptable, physically attractive and popular. Ambitious to improve self, becoming outstanding, a kind of human ideal, embodying widely admired qualities. Others are often motivated to want to be like her in some positive way.

Big J| 7.11.09 @ 10:43PM

Grzmlyk:

Your 7/11 11:54 post was absolutely brilliant.

Once again, Lib Read is completely out of his league.

Thanks, bro. I am right there with you.

Big J| 7.11.09 @ 10:49PM

"ds80| 7.11.09 @ 10:07AM

Liberal Reader: "I want to hear conservative ideas and understand conservatives' world-views better."

Non-intrusive government limited to constitutionally granted authority.
Free market capitalism.
Strong national defense.
Pro-life.
Traditional marriage."

I hope you don't mind, I just thought these simple principles were worth repeating.

I am so thankful for the sane posters on this site.

To quote an earlier post, the rest can "get lost".

Yep. I am a right wing, radical, gun toten, Bible clingin' redneck, uneducated, construction workin' ENEMY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE!

Damn! That's a HUGE badge to wear, but I wear it with pride!

PapaHans| 7.12.09 @ 2:42AM

What I think the right-wing doesn't get, is how we lefties, which however you want to parse it, is now the majority of America, regard Palin. We cannot comprehend her appeal. And no, this is not some comprehensive cognitive or genetic flaw...there's nothing about her that sets her apart or above, well anyone. She's cruising on her looks, and bod. Don't believe me? Imagine her at five foot one, weighing three hundred pounds, with a huge mole on her forehead, short greasy hair, and everything else exactly the same. Would she now be in this position of being, literally, mindlessly worshipped by a rejected and vanishing right-wing? 'Nuff said.

4thsos| 7.12.09 @ 9:59AM

to what address do i send mrs palins contribution

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.12.09 @ 10:03AM

What few consider in the “Palin: phenomenon is peripheral byproduct of her ascendancy to “spokesperson.” Having been around enough of the political apparatus over the years I hope you will believe me when I speak of the preponderance of the “yes men” (or “yes women”) within a candidate’s cadre. The average “political consultant” is hired for savvy, of course, but the first item on their resume must be, “how many congeniality awards have you received?” Inherent to the campaign process is this very significant core, a core that will eventually assume appointee status if victorious.
If you do not believe the “carryover” effect of proceeding candidates and the “persona concept cult” explain to me the venom emanating from the McCain debacle. It enumerates the parable of the sour grapes, and certainly does not facilitate any type of party recovery; quite the contrary it facilitates and sustains the opposition.
Palin’s strong point is that she is not reliant on the beltway “recycle or reshuffle” that Republicans have invariably brought back to the fore. Her “persona” is not the “maverick” most referenced. It is one thing to be declared having maverick status because of abandonment of core principles (RINOs) and entirely another thing to buck the trend of one-way compromise and capitulation simply to avoid the partisan label.
Palin has already produced positive conservative goals. The MSM is in absolute denial and the only “consulting” the previous two election cycle “architects of defeat” are participating in is with their shrink.

Gazinya| 7.12.09 @ 12:49PM

What I heard from Mrs. Palin was that she had prayed and then consulted with her family. She prayed for guidence from her God. Maybe God told her to 'just quit' and take care of her family. Maybe her God was happy with the things she has accomplished and told her to rest in His serenity. Maybe God told her that her work is finished and that He will take it from here.

Bob| 7.12.09 @ 1:02PM

Michael -- if you are talking to the somewhat small conservative base, your comments are salient and appropriate. However, if you are talking to independents and Democrats and "moderate" Republicans who comprise more than 80% of voters, your comments are meaningless.

That's the problem with blogs like this -- people are basically talking to themselves rather than to a majority of voters. Palin is a politician. She sidesteps questions and obfuscates facts to her favor. But then again, I can find no politician who does otherwise. The only way she is really different from others of her ilk is that she refuses to learn about issues deeply enough to understand them. She is a slightly more sophisticated Michele Bachmann in that respect.

The key for a Republican candidate is that they can appeal to Independents, "RINO's", and even some Blue Dog Dems. The Republican candidate will always get the majority of the vote from the 21% of voters who call themselves Republicans.

Therefore, the argument you make has little relevance. Objectively, if Palin wants the 2012 Presidential candidacy, she will have it because now, 80% of Republicans are social conservatives. There is absolutely no evidence she can win among all of the other groups. She would get the Republican base, but "RINO's" would continue to vote for Obama. Independents will be split because many of them are fiscal conservatives and will cast a vote against Obama. But I'd expect a 65/35 split with Obama on the 65 end given the polling I've seen thus far. You will always have the anti-black vote among seniors but Palin will do worse than McCain with them and I expect the senior vote to be slightly in favor of Obama.

I really hope that Sarah gets the nomination in 2012 so we can get her out of the discourse and get competent Republicans to run again.

Regroupthink| 7.12.09 @ 4:13PM

From the picture above it looks like Sarah Palin quit just for the HALIBUT!

Old Texican| 7.12.09 @ 6:28PM

Fellow Americans

Sarah may have just given all of us productive types a sincere "role model" teaching experience.

If the scumbags in government do manage to punch their agenda through...

LET'S ALL QUIT! say again LET'S ALL QUIT!

Screw them. If we all quit, even for a little while...the tax money dries up and all their great redistribution plans go in the toilet.

Heh! Then ALL THE POVERTS ARE PITHED TOO...AND LYNCH THEM!
Put some money in your mattresses and take a vacation.

Frank| 7.12.09 @ 10:17PM

It amazes me how few Americans understand the template upon which our representative government is based. It is good form and the epitome of the British Parliament to resign one's office at the appropriate moment. This can be driven by a number of factors, one of which is when the office holder can no longer function efficiently. Rest assured the British are laughing at us; not because Palin resigned but because we seem to be incapable of understanding the logic and honor in that decision.

m miles| 7.13.09 @ 6:08PM

"Who cares?"

Apparently, she does. As do a whole lot of us. Sad to hear that you apparently do not.

lynnrockets| 7.13.09 @ 8:22PM

SARAH’S FINALLY OUT OF OUR LIVES
(sung to The Beatles song “Got To Get You Into My Life”)

Now she’s alone, out like the tide
I hope she finds more of her kind there
She’ll hit the road with tearful eyes her rising star no longer shines here

Ooh, Palin’s suddenly taboo
No, gubernatorial review
She has exited from our lives

She better run, she better hide
Because the feds are in hot pursuit
It won’t be long for the indictment and again
We’ll say, “we told you”

Ooh, she’s in trouble now clearly
Ooh, she quit so insincerely
Looks like stormy weather every day

Palin’s finally out of our lives

What can she do? What can she be?
Pig with lipstick and Tammy Faye hair
Is it true? Can we believe?
She’s out of view but will she stay there?

Ooh, as she leaves we’ll say, “See you”
Ooh, will Russia still be in view?
Maybe she’ll receive 3 to 5

Palin’s finally out of our lives
Palin’s finally out of our lives

Now she’s alone, out like the tide
I know she’ll find another bind there
She did implode her winking eyes can see pantsuits with lines there

Her surroundings will be new
Will Russia still be in view?
Every single day… (fading)

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