One thing about soon-to-be former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. She certainly doesn't follow conventional norms of politics.
Her stunning announcement last Friday that she will resign as Governor on July 26 rumbled through the political landscape like an earthquake, and sparked all kinds of speculation as to what her real motives were.
Let's try to focus on one thing right now, and that is the race for the White House in 2012.
Palin has obviously shown that she fires up a chunk of the Republican Party. She also fires up her critics in a way that's highly unusual.
Does that 'lightning-rod status' make her a good choice for the GOP in 2012? Will she even try? Does she have a chance?
I can get you answers 'yes' and 'no' to every one of those questions.
One thing Palin has done though, is give her critics even more ammunition. It's not too hard to write a 30 second attack ad against her, with the title of "Quitter."
We can have an earnest debate about whether it's the right choice. But that's not really the point.
The point is that in politics, your enemies will take any crack in your armor and try to exploit it. And like dealing with your spouse, you want to keep on the straight and narrow as much as possible.
If Palin would have served out her term, she would have been a one-term Governor running for the White House.
Now she can't even say that, and believe me, she will be reminded of that decision if she gets into the race for the White House.
One very good thing that Palin has done is that she certainly grabs the GOP and shakes it up and down from time to time.
I can't imagine she is just going to shrivel up and fade into the background. She has a book coming out next year and I could see her on the rubber chicken circuit making big money and lots of speeches.
Whether that makes her into a better candidate or a more acceptable candidate is anyone's guess at this point.
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