Happy Trails

Love her or hate her, it's imposible to deny that Sarah Palin has impacted American politics and will likely continue to do so as long as the public and the media continue to give her importance on some issue or the other. As she approaches the end of her Gubernatorial term as Governor of the state of Alaska, Palin has decided not to run for re-election and has decided to resign her office prior to the end of her term. While this strikes many as odd, I think that she's continuing to play a political game like only she can play it. But if the reports coming in from former McCain-Palin campaign aides is any indication, it may be yet another wrongly made decision that could hurt her chances rather than help her chances.

At the tail end of the 2008 elections there was already strong outcry and support for Sarah Palin in 2012 as a potential frontrunner for the Presidency. Now some people may gag on that statement or proclamation but I for one believe that there is quite a bit of truth to it. I do believe that Palin has higher aspirations when it comes to the American political scene but for better or for worse, I think she may end up hurting her chances more than helping them. But before you hit the mail button and inundate me with spam regarding my low IQ or the fact that Palin is the future of this nation, allow me to explain why I think she's making a mistake that could potentially cost her success in the future.

Palin would certainly not be the first GOP governor to go from the Governor's mansion to the White House. In the last three decades at least three of our President's were former Governors and at least two of them were from the Republican Party. That's certainly one thing in Palin's favor since the stats are on her side. However I think one thing that was different between Palin and the rest of the pack was that by some means or the other, the three other former Governors all had some exposure to the world by some means or the other. In other words, they had passports before they stepped onto the world stage. Sure not every one of those candidates could correctly identify countries of the world or what was going on in those countries despite their being featured so prominently in the news (case in point, George W. Bush appearing rather clueless when asked about his thoughts on General Musharaff and his coup in Pakistan shortly before one of the debates leading up to the 2000 elections).

Nonetheless, given that Bush's father, Senior Bush, had served in the government so long and was the former head of the CIA his exposure to the world appeared to be more than what Palin's has been. Of course one can certainly see Russia from Alaska and they 'share airspace' but is that enough to justify being leader of the world's most prominent nation? I don't think so. But so what? Some may argue that it doesn't matter that she's not well travelled or that she doesn't know about world events. What impact will it have on her running for higher office. That's true but what about the other factors going against her given her decision to resign?

Resigning from office, Palin claimed that she had accomplished all that she wanted to accomplish in her term as Governor. So as many have asked before, does that mean that Alaska is in perfect shape now? I don't think any state or territory in the union can make that claim but perhaps Alaska (being so far to the north) is fine and we just don't know it down here in the contiguous United States. But even if that were the case, if someone was doing such a fine job shouldn't that be all the more reason to stay in office and at least run for re-election to continue to do great things and build up one's reputation?

Maybe she's following the philosophy of 'leaving on a high note' which says that you leave when you're on top. Maybe she's on top of her game in Alaska and people are thrilled to pieces but then why again would you resign before your term finishing up? Why not just finish out your term? Is it because of criticism or comments in the media? If that's the case then what would happen if she were President? I saw bumper stickers calling for Obama's impeachment even before he had taken the oath of office. In the face of all that, what if Palin (and stranger things have happened) is elected President and the opinion of everyone is so low that she feels stymied and then wants to resign again? Is that the mark of a responsible or forward-thinking leader? I don't think so. To me is seems like more the case of someone making a pre-emptive CYA move. In other words, covering your ass.