Sarah Palin NOT Coming to Speak at the Reagan Library

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Just days after officially stepping down as governor of Alaska, former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is dropping out of an advertised speaking engagement in Simi Valley.

Palin was slated to attend on Aug. 8 the 50th anniversary gala of the Simi Valley Republican Women, Federated, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. It would have been her first public appearance since leaving office and had been widely reported by media outlets.

Pat Saraceno, the spokeswoman for the Simi Valley Republican Women, said they found out Thursday that Palin wasn’t coming.

A Woman in the White House ~ 2012 or 2016?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Asked about the prospect of a woman winning the presidency during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded: “I’m not going to pretend that running for president as a woman is not daunting….and it is….probably a path that doesn’t appeal to a lot of women even in elective office because it is so difficult.”

Sarah Palin

Clinton’s comments — coupled with the resignation of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) over the weekend — got us to thinking about the dearth of female politicians in the political world at the moment who are actively discussed as presidential mettle.

Clinton was widely regarded as the best hope women had to see one of their own elected to the White House; she was well-known, had a huge political machine at her disposal, pots of campaign cash to spend and was widely seen as up to the job by the American public.

“Meet” host David Gregory asked Clinton the “if not you, who” question to which Clinton responded: “I am convinced — and I don’t know if she is elective office right now or preparing to run for office — but there is a woman who I am hoping will be able to achieve that.”

But, who?

A quick glance at the roster of women currently serving in the Senate or as governor — the ranks from which presidential candidates typically emerge — turns up 17 senators and six governors.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Of that group, just one — Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) — has ever been seriously mentioned as a national candidate. But, Hutchison seems set on returning to the Lone Star State full time with her 2010 primary challenge to Gov. Rick Perry (R). If she wins that race, Hutchison would theoretically be in position to run but she would be 69 years old on election day 2012 and putting together a national campaign would be hard to imagine.

Governor Jennifer Granholm

Outgoing Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm was widely seen as a rising star with the Democratic party when she was elected in 2002 but the cratering Michigan economy has diminished her appeal significantly. Also, she’s Canadian — not that there’s anything wrong with that! — making her ineligible to be president.

That leaves 21 other women — none of whom are actively discussed as potential national candidates. The best possibility is Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) who could be appealing given her ability to win statewide in Missouri. But, McCaskill will almost face a serious re-election fight in 2012 (Jim Talent, anyone?) and has to get through that race before she can be seriously considered.

Senator Claire McCaskill

Down a level to the House, the pickings are also slim. (Historically running from the U.S. House is a death wish for presidents; the last — and only — sitting member of Congress to win the White House was James Garfield in 1880.)

The most obvious choice would be Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) who has a strong political pedigree (her grandfather was governor, her father was a longtime state legislator), the ability to win votes in a red state and is young enough at 38 to spend the time needed to build the sort of network she would need to run for national office. But, Herseth Sandlin declined an expected run for governor in 2010 — delaying an expected ascent into a more high-profile office. If Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) decides against seeking a fourth term in 2014, Herseth Sandlin would be the obvious choice.

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Among the candidates currently running for statewide office in 2010, there are few obvious choices. Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) and former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (R) are each young, highly regarded and running for the Senate; at the gubernatorial level, former eBay President Meg Whitman (R) and Florida CFO Alex Sink (D) might be possibilities if they can get elected.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan

But, that is far down the road. The simple fact is that Clinton was by far the best positioned woman to win the nation’s highest office and there is no one like her in the political minor leagues at the moment.

Could Palin be that person? Perhaps, although her high unfavorable ratings with Independents and Democrats complicate any path for her to the White House even if she decided to run.

Former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte

Are there up and coming women we missed? Feel free to offer their names in the comments section below.

Chris Cillizza
The Washington Post

Senators Feinstein and Cardin Introduce Measure to Ban Inhumane Practice of Allowing Hunters to Shoot Wildlife from Aircraft in Alaska

Press Release

Aerial hunting is against federal law but former Governor Sarah Palin had created loopholes for idle rich trophy hunters in some cases using machine guns from helicopters as they pick off bears and their cubs, wolves and their pups.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Senators Feinstein and Cardin Introduce Measure to Ban Inhumane Practice of Allowing Hunters to Shoot Wildlife from Aircraft

-Feinstein-Cardin legislation would close loophole in the Aerial Hunting Act of 1971-

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) today introduced legislation to explicitly ban the inhumane practice of allowing hunters to shoot and kill wildlife, such as wolves, from aircraft.

In 1971, Congress banned aerial hunting of wildlife after gruesome images of the cruel practice were broadcast on television. However, there is a loophole in the law that permits States to allow private citizens to engage in airborne hunting under the guise of wildlife management. For example, the State of Alaska currently allows private citizens to hunt wolves from aircraft, citing the need to protect herds of caribou and moose.

The Feinstein-Cardin legislation would close the loophole in the Aerial Hunting Act. It would ban civilians from aerial hunting and limit the practice to employees of federal and state wildlife agencies. This will ensure that this practice is used solely for the purpose of responsible and biologically necessary animal population control, such as when the sustainability of a wildlife population’s is significantly threatened by an excess of predators.

The bill is endorsed by the Defenders of Wildlife, the Humane Society of the United States, and nine former members of the Alaska Board of Game.

Sarah Palin Grabs the Grievance Grab Bag From Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on NBC's "Meet the Press" this past Sunday.

The woman who was prematurely counted in is out. And the woman who was prematurely counted out is in.

Goodbye, Sarah. Hello, Hillary.

In their vivid twin performances Sunday — Hillary on “Meet the Press” in Washington and Sarah at her farewell picnic in Fairbanks — two of the most celebrated and polarizing women in American political history offered a fascinating contrast.

Hillary, who so often in the past came across as aggrieved, paranoid and press-loathing, was confident and comfortable in her role as top diplomat, discussing the world with mastery and shrugging off suggestions that she has been disappeared by her former rival, the president.

Sarah Palin

Sarah, who was once a blazingly confident media darling, came across as aggrieved, paranoid and press-loathing in her new role as bizarre babe-at-large, a Nixon with hair extensions ranting about “American apologetics,” which sounds like a cross between apologists and Dianetics.

Sarah once criticized Hillary for being a whiny presidential contender, arguing that women who want “to progress this country” should not complain about being under a “sharper microscope,” but instead should just work harder to prove themselves capable. Now Sarah is a whiny presidential contender, complaining about the sharper microscope that women wanting to progress this country are under and rejecting advice to work harder to prove herself capable.

The Alaskan who shot to stardom a year ago as the tough embodiment of Diana the Huntress has now stepped down as governor and morphed into what the Republicans always caricatured Hillary as — preachy, screachy and angry.

Palin To Hit The Radio Airwaves?

Sarah Palin in Auburn, New York.

Inside Radio reported that Sarah Palin’s camp is exploring the syndication potential of the ex-Governor of Alaska. While it is difficult to imagine Palin succeeding across airwaves given that her speaking style–some call it incoherence–draws much criticism, a national radio show could serve as a potent platform for spreading her views and realizing her resignation-speech mission of effecting “positive change outside government.”

The article notes that it will be “an ironic twist” if Palin takes to the mic because of her negative opinion of media. But this “irony” is typical Palin operation. Indeed, the same woman who fought a public battle with Letterman and told the media to “quit makin’ things up” in her farewell speech once said in a 2008 interview that Hillary Clinton should avoid anything that could be a “perceived whine” when discussing her media coverage.

Of course, Palin does have a history of enjoying social media. Her Twitter account as governor, which shut down on Sunday, boasts 514 tweets.

But that is media she controlled. Which is why if radio becomes a reality for Palin, it seems likely that any calls she takes from listeners will be screened heavily.

Kerry Golds
The Atlantic Monthly

Two from Sarah Palin’s ‘Inner Circle’ Resign from Gov. Parnell Administration

Frank Bailey resigned as the director of Boards and Commissions.

Editor’s note: This story incorrectly stated that Kris Perry announced her resignation Tuesday. That announcement was in fact made prior to Gov. Sarah Palin’s resignation.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Two major players in former Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration won’t continue on with Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration.

Frank Bailey, director of Boards and Commissions, said he was stepping down Tuesday.

Kris Perry, former governor Sarah Palin's closest confidant, has resigned ahead of Palin's departure from office.

Kris Perry, who managed Palin’s Anchorage office, turned in her resignation sometime before Palin herself resigned Sunday, governor’s office spokesperson Sharon Leighow said.

Both Perry and Bailey were considered as being in Palin’s “inner circle,” and Perry was regarded as Palin’s closest confidant.

Bailey came under fire during the so-called “Troopergate” scandal after a recording revealed Bailey was attempting to pressure the Alaska State Troopers into firing Palin’s former brother in-law, Mike Wooten.

Palin vs. the Planet

Congressman Ed Markey, co-author of a new energy bill in the House, fires back at the Alaska governor for her confusion, fuzzy math, and inaction on global warming.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin posed for a portrait in her office in Anchorage, Alaska.

The future ex-Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, decided to dip her toe in the water on the national debate over energy and climate legislation in an op-ed in the Washington Post recently. Hailing from Alaska, one would assume the Governor might have noticed the water around her is indeed rising.

While the Governor’s op-ed does not mention the words global warming, Alaska sits on the frontlines of climate change, with temperatures rising four degrees Fahrenheit in the last 50 years; melting permafrost is sending homes and roads in coastal villages like the centuries-old Shishmaref plunging into the sea.

Conservative Fred Barnes: Palin Has A “Whiny Edge” (VIDEO)

In the wake of Sarah Palin’s resignation, even conservative magazine editors are getting tired of her relentless anti-media shtick. Charles Krauthammer said Monday on Fox News that her complaints have a “whining quality.” Fred Barnes of the “Weekly Standard” agreed:

“There is a way to deal with the press. Look at the way Ronald Reagan did. He didn’t attack the press. He teased them. He made fun of them. He jokes about them, embarrassed them. It was great. People loved it and it didn’t have that edge, that whiny edge that you always want to avoid.”

Watch:

Rachel Weiner
The Huffington Post

Palin’s Siren Song

In denouncing Hollywood and Washington insiders in her farewell speech, she shows that the culture wars are still alive, at least for some.

Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, congratulate incoming Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell.

Sarah Palin’s valedictory address as governor of Alaska will (we hope) be little noted nor long remembered. But its denunciation of Hollywood and Washington insiders reflects a perennial obsession by some conservatives that mainstream politicians are too eager to indulge. As Republicans regroup after the disaster of 2008, they would be wise to resist this shrill siren song.

Sarah Palin Insults Our Intelligence One Last Time

Sarah Palin at the RGA Conference on November 13, 2008.

Sarah Palin isn’t stupid. She just thinks we are stupid.

She thinks we will sit there and quietly nod while she yammers like a pageant runner-up answering the final question, and speaks against divisive partisan politics after months of indulging in divisive partisan politics.

She thinks we will believe that she is quitting the Governor’s office so she can serve a “higher calling” and “be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right, and for truth.” She plans fight for the truth — just not right this second.

Because the truth is, she is quitting because she has one of the thinnest skins and smallest minds ever to hold office. Her over the top reactions to David Letterman’s jokes about her daughter tell you all you need to know. She insults our intelligence by making nonsensical speeches and dredging up hoary political clichés thinking we won’t notice (“We fight them over there so we won’t have to over here,” etc.), and then gets mad when we notice.