There is no more eloquent statement of modern Republicanism than resigning office with time still on the clock. Mrs Palin has chosen to talk about power, rather than exercise it. She would rather write a book and give lectures about being a governor than actually be a governor. And her party has made the same choice. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
Best assessment of the Republican Party I've seen since before the 2008 election, and it comes from a British paper. Many American observers tend to agree that Sarah Palin has become the de-facto head of the GOP, but none have provided this much context for the idea. The central argument here is that the Republicans, whether they know it or not, have demonstrated they're more content fighting the Democrats and liberal establishment than they are actually governing. This dovetails with Adam Nagourney's analysis in the New York Times on Monday. He wrote that the most the Republicans are currently doing to reclaim power is waiting for the Democrats to screw up, "biding their time" to make a comeback if Obama's agenda falters. These perspectives can only add to our understanding of the balance of power in Washington. Highly recommended story.
There is no more eloquent statement of modern Republicanism than resigning office with time still on the clock. Mrs Palin has chosen to talk about power, rather than exercise it. She would rather write a book and give lectures about being a governor than actually be a governor. And her party has made the same choice.
One of Mrs Palin’s constant refrains when asked about giving up her office is that she didn’t want to practise “politics as usual”. Well, she can certainly be acquitted of that. And there is nothing wrong with unusual in politics from time to time. But for a party that seeks to govern to speak so openly of its dislike of governing, of the people who govern and of the place from which they govern, isn’t entirely serious. Mrs Palin need not worry too much about this, because she has worked out that she can have an entire career, a public voice and a good income entirely by pleasing the Republican base. More broadly, her party has concluded that it can have a fine life just pleasing itself.
The central charge of American conservatives, almost their most important message, echoes that of Mrs Palin. The liberal media is out to get them. Perhaps it is even true. But if the media matters at all, then there is only one thing for it. The Republicans have to win round the liberal media. They have to build friends in it. They have to use it to win. Now that really would be an end to politics as usual.
