Sarah Palin Thinks Being President Might Be Too “Shackley”
Sarah Palin apparently thinks having an actual job would be too confining.
Sarah Palin appears to the laying the groundwork for the announcement that she won’t be running for President, with the basic argument being something along the lines of the job being beneath her:
A Palin presidency: Too “shackle-y?”
That’s what Sarah Palin suggested on Fox News’ “On The Record with Greta VanSusteren” tonight, saying that she’s concerned jumping into the 2012 presidential race will muffle her message.
“Is a title worth it?” she asked, rhetorically. “Does a title shackle a person? Are they someone like me who’s maverick? I do go rogue and I call it like I see it and I don’t mind stirring it up in order to get people to think and debate aggressively.”
“Is a title and a campaign too shackle-y?,” she continued. “Does that prohibit me from being out there, out of a box, not allowing handlers to shape me and to force my message to be what donors or what contributors or what pundits want it to be? Does a title take away my freedom to call it like I see it and to affect positive change that we need in this country? That’s the biggest contemplation piece in my process.”
Palin expressed a concern about “being caricatured” if she runs, and asked again “whether a title is needed to make a difference or someone can be rogue, can be maverick, can be passionate about issues and can get people to think very wisely about issues.”
Palin also said she didn’t know anything about a recent e-mail her political action committee sent to supporters saying she’s “on the verge” of making a 2012 decision: “Well I don’t know what went out to voters that said I’m on the verge.”
But she admitted it’s getting late.
“For logistical reasons though, certainly, decisions have to be made,” she said. “You have to get your ducks lined up in order to get your name on ballots.”
Indeed, now that Florida is on the verge of moving its primary to January 31, 2012, those deadlines start falling on October 31st.
As for Palin’s comments, I suppose I’d just join Greg Sargent in noting that President of the United States isn’t just a “title,” it’s an actual job with actual powers and responsibilities. Of course, considering that she quit the last position she was in that has actual powers and responsibilities and has spent the last two years touring the country on bus tours and pontificating on Fox News Channel from her custom built Wasilla studio, I can understand why she might not want to be all shackely-ied down with job requirements and all that stuff. After all, it’s much more fun to talk about stuff than actually do stuff, isn’t it?
The other notable part of last night’s interview was the way manner in which Palin dismissed Herman Cain as a “flavor of the week” and, well, kept referring to him by a nickname I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have:
Take Herb Cain. Look at why he’s doing so well right now. He’s, I guess you could say, with all due respect, the flavor of the week because Herb Cain is the one up there who doesn’t look like he’s part of that permanent political class. Herb Cain — he came from a working class family. He’s had to make it on his own all these years. We respect that.
Some commentators have said they thought that Palin was referring to him as “Herm Cain,” which would at least be closer to his actual name although no less strange. I’m not sure why Palin choose to not only dismiss such low-hanging fruit as Cain but also refer to him by something other than his actual name.
In any event, I suppose we’ll be getting popups like this from Palin throughout October as she drags this thing out as long as possible, but this strikes me as the clearest signal yet to whatever’s left of her supporters that she isn’t going to run. The other signal, of course, being the fact that she’s done absolutely nothing to put together a campaign organization either nationally or in any of the early primary states. The worst you can say about Chris Christie is that he’s being coy. Palin’s being a tease.
Clearly Palin is secretly a San Francisco liberal, and she’s just given herself away by accidentally referencing the SF Chronicle’s legenday columnist Herb Caen!
So Palin’s not running and her stated reasons are gibberish. Got any more dog bites man stories.
Like the rest of the so-called republicans she is not interested, or caple of, governing.
Kudos to Sarah for admitting to it.
Now if only the rest of them would.
La Diva Palin translated: Running for president will prevent me from raking in the bucks for running at the mouth and spouting nonsense and require me to do actual work. No thanks!
Coming from a blogger, that’s some downright hilarious humor right there!
((In the interest of humility, I must point out that the only way to make it even more ironically funny is for it to come from a blog commenter.))
Wow, I haven’t paid attention to Palin (nor Doug’s posts on Palin) in quite a while. How does one listen to her trite BS without throwing up a little?
@Boyd:
I’m not pretending to fool people into think I’m running for office.
Palin’s income for doing…whatever it is she does, has fallen off sharply since her days as bestselling author/in demand speaker/reality TV show star.
But I think she’ll put off her sad Norma Desmond style presidential campaign until she needs to milk its funds to maintain her and her brood.
@Doug Mataconis: Of course not, Doug. But it still gave me a chuckle.
As for Palin’s comments, I suppose I’d just join Greg Sargent in noting that President of the United States isn’t just a “title,” it’s an actual job with actual powers and responsibilities.
Palin, having served as a governor and held several other executive positions, might have an inkling about what it entails.
On the other hand, the SCOAMF we put in there last time around really shows he had no clue, and can’t really learn…
J.
@Jay Tea:
Yea Jay that 2 1/2 years of work she ran away from to rake in the big bucks and become a media star sure told us how she feels about doing actual work.
@ponce:
Except in La Palin’s case, she got small…
@ JTea…
Can you still call someone a Governor if they give up half way through?
You endorse quitters?
What’s up with that?
I think this is actually the right move to recover her brand.
Sarah Palin as Presidential timber obviously was not flying, but as “provocateur” … that’s hard to contest.
It is all about money and press. Why would she run for POTUS and actually get on the playing field and be accountable? Factor in her thin hide and you have your answer. I am a lifetime member of the GOP and I wouldn’t vote for her on a bet. She has niether the qualifications or my respect.
Do you think Palin ever looked up the definition of the word “rogue”? It has NO positive connotations.
@Hey Norm: A person is entitled to the highest title they held, unless they were stripped of that title. So suck it up — she is entitled. Even Richard Nixon was entitled to be called “Mr. President” up until the day he died.
J.
@Doug Mataconis: Been down that road too many times. You simply choose not to understand her resignation, far more content with your trite, dismissive fairy tale, and I’m tired of trying to teach pigs to sing.
J.
@Jay Tea:
The only fairy tale is the one being spun out of Wasilla, Jay. And you’re one of the few people left who seems to believe in it.
@RWB: Like in Star Wars, with “Rogue Squadron?” Or Rogue, the computer game? Or the Nissan Rogue? Or “Rogue Warrior?” Or Rogue, the comic book character played in the movies by Anna Paquin?
Yeah, that’s a really, really nasty word, ain’t it?
J.
@Doug Mataconis: You know, I’ve missed your crack legal insights into the Palin/McGinniss/Random House dustup. I was wondering why you hadn’t commented on it, and then it turned out that it just might make Palin look good… and it all suddenly became clear.
J.
@ JT
Even when they abandon their post and abdicate their responsibility? Seems like if you surrender you should forfeit the title.
Jay Tea : Look it up.
It’s like if you decided to call someone a douche , but you meant it in a good way.
@ JTea
Nixon actually completed a term. Palin…not. Give up the post give up the title.
@Doug Mataconis: Doug, which part of it is a fairy tale… the massive legal bills she’d piled up defending herself against bullshit ethics charges, the crippling of her administration over those bullshit ethics charges, or the threat to ruin her family financially over the bullshit ethics charges?
And to your actual point of the article… Palin was saying that her activities are far less constrained as a private citizen than as president, and can do far more with her particular skills without the limitations imposed by the office. You wanna argue that point, either?
J.
Isn’t it fun to watch Jay Tea’s contortions?
He devoted himself to this bimbo and of course now he’s stuck. Typical conservative: incapable of admitting error, unable to learn, compulsively doubling down on stupid. If Palin took up pole dancing he’d have some rationale for it.
Incidentally, I had worked more hours by age 21 than Palin has in her life. She’s an utterly useless person — with Jay Tea’s lips permanently glued to her lazy behind.
Re: “shackle-y” usage.
I never thought I would hear a Presidential candidate / quasi-candidate use Buffy-speak.
She’s definitely not a Buffy, though, nor a Willow. She’s somewhere between a Cordelia and a Harmony – there’s definitely a queen bee / mean bitch vibe there.
@john personna:
Actually, I agree with you, that Palin’s forte is in pushing the left’s buttons, qualifying her for the role of “provocateur.”
@michael reynolds:
I bet you could even apply this comment to our current prez!
@jan:
And so she becomes the she-Rush.
Acta
It seems to be fairly predictable that those you disagree with are called ‘stupid,’ and the opposite being true with those you agree with being termed ‘brilliant.’
Palin, being such a controversial figure, falls into these two extremes quite frequently, with those who hate her and those who are her acolytes.
I personally think she is neither. What makes her stand out, though, is her feistiness, and ability to arouse equal measures of passionate interest and condemnation by her blunt, uncensored remarks. Consequently, I don’t think it’s either in her best interest, nor the country’s, to run for the presidency. I further am deducing from her recent remarks, about being hampered by the role of being president, that she is leaning away from such a run.
Instead, Palin will probably happily remain a thorn in the left’s side.
@john personna:
Yeah, that’s about right….
@jan:
Jan, she’s not a thorn in our side. We love her. We want her to run. We want her to be the nominee. We can’t get enough of her.
@jan:
You mean remain a continuous butt of jokes, don’t you? To think that she really causes heartburn on the left is delusional. What she does do is make life much easier for the writers of SNL.
@michael reynolds:
Of course you do! It would be the same kind of thrill republicans would receive if Michael Moore ran for the presidency, on the dem ticket. Both of these people are more like pop stars than presidential figures. Obviously, while I don’t dislike Palin like many of you do, I would be disappointed to see her run. Divisiveness is not what we need more of these days.
@ Michael Reynolds…
If she took up Pole Dancing JTea would definitely rationalize it…but more importantly Perry would try to TAX IT!!!!!!!! The so-called republicans hate taxes and love the constitution…except for the first amendment rights and the tips of strippers. F’ing hypocrites every single one of ’em.
“If she took up Pole Dancing JTea would definitely rationalize it…but more importantly Perry would try to TAX IT”
And Newt Gingrich would give her a made-up award if she made a large enough campaign contribution.
@ Moosebreath….
Newt would probably even ditch his 3rd wife for her…especially if the 3rd wife was cancerous.
Class acts each and every one of them.
Happy to be of help…
That explains why you shill for the far right 24/7. Well, not really…
jay tea:
You’re still peddling that same baloney even though I demonstrated it’s baloney (link, link).
Trouble is, she keeps referring to the Presidency as a “title”. It is a JOB. Once elected the President has to GOVERN.
@anjin-san:
You’re hyperpartisan and having tunnel vision if you don’t think both sides are in their divisive corners.
3 years max. ( My prediction on when Sarah Palindrome will be on some Celebrity has been show)
The real Palin question is: Will she pose for Playboy before it’s too late?
Tick Tock!
Sounds like you are coming out of the closet and admitting to being on the fringe right, though perhaps only as a result of not thinking your comment all the way though, and not by design. Why not just be straight up about your beliefs and drop the pretense? No one except Jay Tea is fooled, and that is a pretty low bar to clear. I make no bones about being a partisan Democrat.
Not that I wanted to be a partisan, I was driven to it. I was a Republican until ’88 and and independent until 2003. The modern conservative movement made it impossible for me to be anything other than a partisan Democrat and retain my self-respect. This does not mean I have any great love for the Democratic party, it is only by comparison to the GOP that it looks very good.
Perhaps some day the GOP will return to sanity and nominate someone like Chuck Hagel. He would probably have my vote.
@jukeboxgrad: Facts really do have a liberal bias, don’t they?
@anjin-san:
The hyperpartisan observation was derived from how you tend to blame everything on wingnuts on the right, as if there are no wingnuts on the left. Someone who thinks that way is indeed effected with tunnel vision.
As far as being driven to “partisanship,” I don’t buy it. Yes, at the end of the day one is faced with a choice of either voting for a dem or republican, if they want their vote to make more of a difference, other than being a symbolic gesture of dispair for both parties. But, during the process of approaching the GE one is free to weave in and out of party ideology, supporting or questioning the social/political doctrines, bits and pieces espoused by either side. No one political side is ‘perfect,’ IMO. And, for someone to stay in one political express lane, chiding those who cross over from time to time, is voluntary servitude to one way of thinking.
I think Palin meant to say that being President would make her too much like Robert Sheckley, the late science-fiction writer.
@jukeboxgrad:
You’re still peddling that same baloney even though I demonstrated it’s baloney (link, link).
And he will continue to do so, like clockwork, on every Palin-related thread.
Yup. And when the problems are pointed out, he disappears. That’s what he did in this thread, and it’s what he did in both of the prior threads I cited.
@ Jan
Please show where I have ever “blamed” anything on “wingnuts on the right”. They tend to be ineffectual zeros like bithead and Jay Tea who have never accomplished a thing in real life, and gain notice only via having their voices amplified by the internet. All I do is point out when they are full of it (pretty much all the time) and try to shame them into not being tools anymore. (difficult, as most seem to not grasp the concept of shame)
The people who I “blame”, if that is even the correct way of looking at it, are those who are so successful at keeping them scared and manipulating them.
Well, when one tires to weave in and out these days, they will run smack into the GOP Great Wall of Stupid. No thanks.
I certainly never said it. I have commented several times recently on Sen. Feinstein’s disgraceful shilling for PG&E in the wake of last year’s San Bruno gas pipeline disaster. (It’s worth noting that the tea party is hard at work blocking attempts to upgrade pipeline safety. Apparently freedom, tea party style includes the right to be blown to bits by your incompetent gas provider).