Palin the Non-President

Gov. Sarah Palin’s sudden resignation as the governor of Alaska without any clear future plans leaves me, as many people, baffled. I had Friday off, however, and spent the weekend celebrating Independence Day instead of reading every pundits thought on the surprise political twist. Looking back after the dust has settled some, we seem just as confused as before. Many such as Mark Steyn says she is tired and wants out of the national stage. It certainly is a reasonable position for any mother (and grandmother) with five children to take–life is stressful enough without the relentless attention, scrutiny, and late-night TV jokes. Others say she is stepping back to focus on 2012, but if that were the case she surely would have been a bit more scripted in her approach. Victor Davis Hanson says it is a long-term strategy to prepare for 2016 or beyond, an argument I find plausible but not fully watertight.

When John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, I grudgingly consented on the basis of novelty and last-minute campaign boosts. She has impressed me since then, but generally comes across as somewhat naive and in need of more experience and training, but with the right ideas and energy. The sudden pullback seems to me either a very carefully thought decision or a very hasty one; both likely inspired by a need pull back for the sake of her family and consider what the future holds.

She could leave politics for good. This seems doubtful, given her sudden rise and popularity with many Republicans. More likely in my mind is Victor Davis Hanson’s suggestion, that she spend the next several years developing herself into a candidate more ready for prime-time and with credible exposure. People who hoped Gov. Palin would lead the GOP to victory in 2012 are sadly delusional–Sarah Palin’s popular anti-establishment with homegrown doses of conservatism has many appeals, but would be hopeless against a black president who won on the platform of “change.” As an instrument of conservatism, she would fall easily. If, however, she determines to strengthen her positions and knowledge in the next several years, she could easily come back as an articulate, intellectual and punchy answer to the Left  in 2016.

That is a big if. But it is the only way for her to have any presidential aspirations in my mind. Perhaps after a rest she will return, either to Alaska state politics or the broader national scene, but Republicans should give her time to think and consider the costs to her family and the high-states she will be playing. She is not ready at this moment, and if she is ever to be ready the GOP should look elsewhere until then.

Sanford & the GOP

I, like many people, was shocked and saddened to hear of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s affair. The pain and sorrow he and his entire family are experiencing deserve the sympathy of all Americans. But I also found myself incredibly angry, not only with Governor Sanford but also with a party and officials who constantly fail personally and politically. Mark Sanford is merely the latest in a string of personal scandals for Republicans beginning with Congressman Mark Foley (anybody remember him?).

The issue at stake is credibility, and Republicans have successfully proven within my young memory that they have none to offer. The sweep of the 1994 elections (the year Mark Sanford was first elected to Congress) and the Contract with America was supposed to continue Reagan era and lead us back towards limited government and personal freedoms. Instead, fed by a booming economy and an amiable President Clinton, Republicans quickly lost focus and will, collapsing into gridlock after Newt Gingrich’s own extra-martial affair. The election of George W. Bush, whom I admire and respect on many levels, continued a bloated conservatism that trampled on the ideas of fiscal conservatism, small government and personal responsibility. The world certainly changed on September 11th, but conservative ideals did not. But rather than adapt to a new world of terrorism and para-state politics, the Republican party largely abandoned any idea of principles and became a softer form of the Democratic opposition.

Having proved our indifference in politics, Republicans attempted to returned to moral high ground by carrying elections on appeals to Evangelical Christians and the broader “Christian Coalition.” This too, was a mistake, for the Christian Coalition (as an organization and movement) lost much of its potency in the 1990s as Americans not only turned away from religion, but from scandal-ridden preacher demagogues. Even as someone raised within the “Christian Right,” I am horrified by the blatant attempts to associate the Republican party with the idea of a Christian America. Especially when those claiming “moral values” fail to live up to them.

All men stumble and fail, and all may receive forgiveness from God and their fellow man. But politically, Republicans have reached the end of the rope. We have exhausted every avenue of credibility we have—fiscally, individually and morally. We spend like mad men and then attack President Obama’s proposals as “irresponsible.” We proclaim personal freedom and responsibility and pass the PATRIOT Act and authorize TARP funds. We proclaim family and marriage only to leave our wives for other women. Why should anyone trust us?

Ever since the 2000 Election the GOP has suffered from a leadership vacuum. Many have attempted to fill it, all have failed. Some, such as Senator Ensign or Governor Sanford, were considered front-runners to lead the GOP and even as candidates in the 2012 elections. But as the last weeks have shown, neither are up to the calling; and few are in line to replace them. Things have gotten so bad we have attempted to resurrect Newt Gingrich to lead a clarion call of conservatism—but who can forget his own past failings? Those who say the GOP just needs to “stick to its principles” over-simplify things, but are correct that principles are only worth the weight you personally put in them.

Republicans need to clean house, if there is any house left standing to clean. I believe in forgiveness, but forgiveness does not mean a future in politics. Governor Sanford should resign, as should Senator Ensign. To put it bluntly: our party has no room for liars, adulators or hypocrites. There can be no more “rehabilitation” or return for them to elected office. Their opportunity came and they squandered it and the name of the party in the process. A party that is struggling to focus its message and restore its brand—as the GOP should be doing—cannot tolerate any deviation from the key planks, as Senator Ensign and Governor Sanford have clearly done. Unfortunately, the existing party leadership and roster of elected officials offers few options to replace them. Massive reforms, energy and focus are needed if the GOP is to survive, and new leaders must be cultivated and launched to ensure the party’s future. If not, we deserve to die as a failure of the political free market.

Ted Stevens Innocent; Prosecutor Guilty

While he may have been guilty of some political misjudgment, it seems that former Senator Ted Stevens was brought down not because of wrong-doing but because of a reckless, politically motivated prosecutor.

Cheers for the judge, who deserves a hand for stating the obvious: this matter of partisan politics being played out in the courts is out-of-control. Time to reign in the real bad guys.

I’m getting tired of false charges and public trials. Are you?

In-State Tuition For Illegal Aliens

A proposal to grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants passed out of a Colorado state Senate committee this week. The bill passed 5-4 and now heads to the Senate floor.

According to the Washington Post Democrats have argued that the bill would have a positive effect on the state budget because more students would be attending state universities and thus paying tuition. Republicans counter that the state will lose money because those students would ordinarily be paying the higher out-of-state tuition rate.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput suggests that, “Openness to immigrants is part of our national identity.” He goes on to note that, “Federal law mandates free public education K-12 for all young people in the United States regardless of their immigration status.” In essence, the Archbishop favors tuition breaks for children of illegal aliens because these kids are better off in a classroom than unsupervised on the streets.

Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo argues that such tuition discounts is illegal because, among other things, well, the recipients are here illegally.

I’ll admit to being a bit upset about the whole thing. Our legislators are dealing with a $700 Million deficit, and serious cuts are about to be made to our state budget. There are many, many issues of extreme importance to be discussed and acted on. Giving illegal aliens a tuition discount seems not only odd – it also seems politically motivated. With the Dems in complete power here for the first time in many years, it appears they are willing to build a new base which includes illegals. After all, it isn’t a stretch to see that today’s tuition break could easily lead to tomorrow’s legislation giving illegal aliens the right to vote.

[Editor's note: The Colorado Senate rejected the bill Monday evening, while other states are reconsidering their own policies of granting instate tuition to illegal immigrants.]

And now things get dirty

This web ad by Senator John McCain’s Presidential campaign, while perhaps more in the tradition of Rush Limbaugh than Senator McCain, proves one thing: that McCain has found his big guns, and he is finally willing to use them on Senator Obama. The new few months are going to be dirty, folks

EDIT: 6/24/09 to fix broken link.