# How will quitting as governor affect Palin's chances. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 2, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051 "2011-06-02T05:13:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/41 "2011-06-04T06:20:36Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > If you guys want to keep up that line of attack, splitting hairs over which instance of political opportunism is more valid than the other and so forth, then knock yourselves out. The fact remains that in politics, anytime there appears to be vulnerability on the other side, that vulnerabilty will be exploited for all its worth. And no one, including most certainly Democrats, stops first to consider whether that exploitation meets some sort of benchmark for legitimacy. > > Now with regard to Palin’s allegedly shortchanging voters who counted on her, **I would imagine that most of the conservatives in Alaska who voted for Palin for governor are quite happy that she’s out and about in the country rallying people to the conservative cause**. As I said in the beginning, the likelihood is that most of the people who are outraged over her quitting are people who wouldn’t have voted for her in the first place. Bless your heart, there seems to be almost no limit to what you would imagine! ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/42 "2011-06-04T14:43:36Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > If you guys want to keep up that line of attack, splitting hairs over which instance of political opportunism is more valid than the other and so forth, then knock yourselves out. The fact remains that in politics, anytime there appears to be vulnerability on the other side, that vulnerabilty will be exploited for all its worth. Funny then, with supposedly so many good examples, you decide to choose one that’s complete bullshit. But this is a pretty consistent pattern now. “37% of Republicans think Obama is a communist muslim sleeper cell agent? Well a leftist blogger criticized Bush over Iraq and said some nasty things in 2004! Now you’re a hypocrite for acting like those are different! Equivelance!!!” Anyway, I’ll stop, since this wasn’t the topic to this thread, but it amuses me when you think completely logical reactions to things that actually happened are equivelant to nonsense conspiracy theories without any substance driven only by hatred. It’s consistent with the rest of your world view - the ultimate irony is that you’re trying to use these points to demonstrate how all sides are all equally guilty of retarded partisanship. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/43 "2011-06-04T14:57:55Z")
[http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/palin-least-popular-in-alaska/polls/](http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/palin-least-popular-in-alaska/polls/) Starving just makes shit up. Palin has very low popularity in Alaska. She couldn’t get elected as dog catcher. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/44 "2011-06-04T15:01:52Z")
She quit and she is stupid. [http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/06/sarah-palin-badly-mangles-the-story-of-paul-reveres-ride-in-statement/](http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/06/sarah-palin-badly-mangles-the-story-of-paul-reveres-ride-in-statement/) How do you sweep this response about Paul reveres ride away? I know you will though. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/45 "2011-06-04T15:17:31Z")
I forgot to add that it’s pretty silly to dismiss quitting her position as a political non-issue that would only be brought up by partisans. If Obama retired today suddenly and mysteriously, yet decided to run in the 2012 election for president, you wouldn’t be saying “wtf, he quit for no good reason and abandoned his duties and now he expects people to vote for him again?” - and you’d think anyone who made a fuss out of his quitting doesn’t truly care or think it matters but is only taking partisan shots? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/46 "2011-06-04T22:22:56Z")
I wonder what it would take for Starving to quit on her. Her statements are so stupid that they are funny. She quit as Governor. She has no understanding of history and politics. She has no intellect and when she speaks, people cringe in embarrassment. Most Republican pundits dismiss her as a joke. What the hell does it take? Perhaps he believes she is the best the Repubs have to offer? ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/47 "2011-06-04T23:20:39Z")
She is mindless and babbling, but she is smarter than her base. Her base believes that quitting as Governor was the bold move of an outsider. She has an excellent campaign manager - although he goofed by letting the press get to her on the Paul Revere question. Palin does not have to be good, all she has to do is beat the field. Romney is the front runner and Palin can easily squash him. Palin is the likely Republican nominee. Crane ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/48 "2011-06-05T00:23:57Z")
I think Palin will perform like Pat Buchanan did in the early GOP primaries. When there are 6 or 7 candidates in the field, you can win with 26% of the vote. But as the field narrows, Buchanan (or Palin) never picked up any more votes. Palin has a core of a support that would max out at around 30% of the GOP vote. She could do well and win Iowa and New Hampshire, but her share would never go any higher. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/49 "2011-06-05T00:52:23Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I wonder what it would take for Starving to quit on her. Her statements are so stupid that they are funny. She quit as Governor. She has no understanding of history and politics. She has no intellect and when she speaks, people cringe in embarrassment. Most Republican pundits dismiss her as a joke. What the hell does it take? If the right wing leadership decides another politician is their candidate and Palin doesn’t gracefully step aside. The right wing media will then denounce Palin and all of the dittoheads will nod and agree that obviously that quitter is dumb to be President and who ever said otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/50 "2011-06-05T01:06:41Z")
Lots of politicians have resigned to seek higher office. Palin’s supporters would have no problem swallowing the excuse that she needed to resign in 2009 to build up to a 2012 campaign, but her GOP rivals will hammer hard on this. Should she actually win the GOP nomination, of course, bygones will be bygones and her erstwhile rivals will line up to lick her boots. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/51 "2011-06-05T03:47:30Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I wonder what it would take for Starving to quit on her. Her statements are so stupid that they are funny. She quit as Governor. She has no understanding of history and politics. She has no intellect and when she speaks, people cringe in embarrassment. Most Republican pundits dismiss her as a joke. What the hell does it take? It isn’t a matter of me “quitting on Palin”. It’s a matter of speaking truth to bias. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/52 "2011-06-05T03:51:41Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It isn’t a matter of me “quitting on Palin”. It’s a matter of speaking truth to bias. Were you speaking truth or bias? I’m gonna guess “bias”. What did I win? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/53 "2011-06-05T04:10:08Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It isn’t a matter of me “quitting on Palin”. It’s a matter of speaking truth to bias. What bias? She came in with a blank slate . Nobody knew who she was when McCain picked her. I had no preconceptions. Then she started to talk. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/54 "2011-06-05T06:57:52Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Lots of politicians have resigned to seek higher office. Palin’s supporters would have no problem swallowing the excuse that she needed to resign in 2009 to build up to a 2012 campaign, but her GOP rivals will hammer hard on this. She managed to run for Vice President while serving as Governor. And her term of office would have ended in 2010 anyway. Considering she still hasn’t officially declared herself a candidate, what was she doing so vital in 2009? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/55 "2011-06-05T12:18:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > She managed to run for Vice President while serving as Governor. And her term of office would have ended in 2010 anyway. Considering she still hasn’t officially declared herself a candidate, what was she doing so vital in 2009? Makin’ money, you betcha! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/56 "2011-06-06T02:29:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > what was she doing so vital in 2009? Clearly not studying American history. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/57 "2011-06-06T02:36:38Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Wow. :eek: > > Anyway, how long do you think it’ll be before she chalks this up to a gotcha questions from the “lamestream media”? Not very long, it turns out: > [@](#): > > ``` > “In a shout-out, gotcha type of question that was asked of me, I answered candidly. And I know my American history.” > > ``` [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56298.html](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56298.html) ---
**Author:** ![JimH52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@JimH52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimH52)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/58 "2011-06-09T01:46:42Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > She has zero chance of ever becoming POTUS. I’ll be taking the oath of office before she ever does. > > She doesn’t really have a shot at the GoP nomination, either. Best she can realistically hope for in the GoP is a chance to play kingmaker and a spot in the administration. > > She could end up running as a third party candidate, and by doing so guarantee Obama wins a second term. > > The quitter thing should be fatal to her political career. I hereby claim copyright on > > “When the going gets tough…Sarah gets going.” > > Bumper stickers, coffee mugs, t-shirts, hats, and other crappy merchandise may be licensed for very reasonable rates. 🙂 Totally Agree! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/59 "2011-06-09T05:55:19Z")
> [@](#): > > “In a shout-out, gotcha type of question that was asked of me, I answered candidly. And I know my American history.” And my “gotcha” question to Palin would be “What do you think the word candid means?” Because apparently she has the idea that it means “not factually accurate by well spun”. In which case, Palin did speak candidly about Paul Revere last week. And her statement that she knows American history is also candid. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051/60 "2011-06-09T18:55:44Z")
And the “gotcha” question was something like, “What did you see and learn about today?” Truly, a question designed to trip up the most practiced of politicians. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-quitting-as-governor-affect-palins-chances/584051.md?page=4)