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Freedom Isn’t Free – We Still Aren’t Free of Sarah Palin

By Mary Lyon

Happy Independence Day, on the eve of which we’ve been reminded that we are FAR from declaring our national independence from the Sarah Palin addiction.

After watching her rambling, disjointed “W-T-F Moment” as she announced she’s not only not running for reelection as Alaska’s governor but she’s bailing out now, I guess what I’m doing is marveling. It’s just really impressive what human flypaper this woman is. After all, this actually pushed the Michael Jackson obsession off the top of the headline list, for Pete’s sake.

Palin may still have some conservatives still singing Sarah-nades, from columnist Rich (“Sigh! She winked at ME!”) Lowry to TV elder Pat Buchanan who clings to what seems uncomfortably like a dirty-old-man pipe-dream. But Charles Krauthammer evidently harbors few such fantasies, sniffing that she’s “not a serious candidate for the presidency.” No kidding, Chuck!

Sarah Palin makes me want to run screaming into the night. This newest jumbled speech of hers leaves me aghast that anybody finds her appealing – at least once you get beyond her looks. She’s still physically fetching enough and cameras everywhere, from either side of the aisle, still adore her. I suspect some of her appeal may finally fade as she ages. By then, perhaps, her addled, disconnected statements won’t be so excusable. It may not be post-partum depression as some McCain aides speculated in recently-released emails. It may be signs of the early onset of dementia. How else would you explain her insistence that anyone who hunkers down and stays on the job to try to get along and maybe work something out anyway is really a quitter and she won’t go there – which, of course, is why she’s resigning?

Huh?

There are some political observers from Keith Olbermann onward who gleefully rub their hands together, hoping she’ll stay on the front-lines forever. They, too, can’t get enough – but not for the same reasons in Rich Lowry’s dreams. They celebrate her as a national pet rock, her enduring popularity still inexplicable, her enduring image growing all the more ridiculous. They relish her sticking around as a target for hilarity figuring this pretty weirdo will make anyone running against her look even better. Well, okay – if you insist.

I don’t look forward to that – AT ALL. I don’t care if she does make any Democratic opponent look brighter merely by opening her mouth. I wish she’d shut up and go away. There’s almost no one other than Dick Cheney and George W. Bush whom I’d rather hear less from, again. The embarrassment is very nearly crushing. I’m humiliated for other women politicians who have this trainwreck of a template to live down. That Palin remains one of the highest-profile of female pols is frankly an insult to what many of us have worked toward for years. Yes, ladies, women have finally proven that even the flakiest among them can crack the last glass ceiling. Yippee – I guess.

I cringe to think that Palin’s announcement means that we will have her to kick around indefinitely. She’s not going to do the decent thing at long last and go quietly, and gracefully, into private life. No such luck. There’ll be the book, the inevitable speaking tour, the guaranteed 24/7 TV profiles and interviews and media sideshows. There’ll be the perpetual campaign pitches that she’s already threatened to give across the “lower 48” for any candidate who REALLY loves America and those admirable Republican Sanford/Craig/Ensign/Gingrich/Vitter values. I’m sure Fox News is already talking to her representatives about a “Huckabee for Good-Ol’-Gals” hour or some such nauseating nonsense.

Sarah, if you claim the family you wear the way some of your colleagues drape themselves in the flag is delighted that you’re bailing out, why not go all the way? Show America you’ve really got guts and just quit, PERIOD. You’d be doing more effective public service to your country than the savviest community organizer you’ve ever publicly scorned. You’d even have the last laugh over David Letterman – denying him and others like him any further fresh material. Ironically, you’ve announced your babbling bailout on the eve of Independence Day. The people of Alaska may indeed finally be free of you. Unfortunately, the rest of us are about to become hostages.

Mary Lyon is a veteran broadcaster ad five-time Golden Mike Award winner, who has anchored, reported, and written for the Associated Press Radio Network, NBC Radio "The Source," and many Los Angeles-area stations including KRTH-FM/AM, KLOS-FM, KFWB-AM, and KTLA-TV, and occasional media analyst for ABC Radio News. She began her career as a liberal activist with the Student Coalition for Humphrey/Muskie in 1968, and helped spearhead a regional campaign, "The Power 18," to win the right to vote for 18-year-olds. She remains an advocate for liberal causes, responsibility and accountability in media, environmental education and support of the arts for children, and green living. In addition to OpEdNews, Mary writes for Democrats.us, World News Trust, and WeDemocrats.org's "We! The People" webzine. Mary is also a parenting expert, having written and illustrated the book "The Frazzled Working Woman's Practical Guide to Motherhood."

Posted on July 05, 2009

Comments

Amen!

And God help us.

Posted by: Chris at July 5, 2009 08:17 AM

I see the Lyon's hate machine didn't take the holiday off...

Perhaps she is hoping for a guest slot on Letterman so she can use rape as joke material too?

Posted by: Jay Gould at July 5, 2009 09:01 AM

Can't attack the message Jay, so you have to attack the messenger eh. Admit it, Palin is a joke.

Posted by: Doug at July 5, 2009 09:22 AM

Mary Lyon, shame on you and your quite obvious jealousy!!! I suppose if I looked like you and didn't have the drive/morals and integrity of Sarah Palin, I too would be jealous.

Go watch your Oprah, bitch and moan, get in line with Hillary and let our nation go to hell while stuffing your pockets and pointing your fingers.

As for me and my family, we support truth. Truth doesn't change!!!

Sorry about your confused state of mind and we will keep you in our prayer!!!

Posted by: Mickey Roberts at July 5, 2009 09:30 AM

Wow. First, I think it's out of bounds to make fun of someone's appearance. Second, did you just say the integrity and morals of Sarah Palin???? ROTFLMAO. She has neither as she has proven over and over again. That's hilarious. No wonder the Republican party is on the verge of death.

Posted by: Doug at July 5, 2009 09:35 AM

Wow - for people that are supposed to be tolerant of diversity, progressives sure get a burr up their ass when the subject comes to Sarah Palin, don't they?

Posted by: George Hanshaw at July 5, 2009 09:48 AM

Tolerant of diversity has what to do with Sarah Palin?

Posted by: Doug at July 5, 2009 10:04 AM

Tolerant of diversity has what to do with Sarah Palin?

Diversity of opinions and ideas. The fact of the matter is that I believe President Obama is incredibly naive and inexperienced, and likely to get this country in an awful lot of trouble, both economically and in terms of failing to protect us adequately from REAL dangers out there that he doesn't truly understand.

For all that, he seems a likable enough guy, a good father, and someone who truly believes in what he says. I don't see him as some evil Hitler or Stalin figure - even if his policies turn out to be disastrous. More like Jimmy Carter - a well intentioned idiot whose heart is in the right place but whose naivete and outright ignorance just don't let him do a good job. Sort of like Joe Biden in that respect.

The 'progressives' on the other hand have treated Sarah Palin like evil incarnate from the first moment she appeared on the national scene. I realize some of them can't ever forgive her for not destroying her youngest child in utero, but I'm not just too sure why all the others despise her so much. With all the truly evil people in the world, you'd scarcely think they'd bother with the governor of our 47th most populous state - particularly considering the crook she replaced.

Alaska in its entirety only has a sixth more population than the CITY of Washington DC, but the 'progressives' largely gave Marion Berry a pass - even when he was caught in all sorts of problems (that's still going on, by the way...
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/05/marion.barry.arrested/) but they were all over Palin likely ugly on an ape from day one.

Posted by: George Hanshaw at July 5, 2009 10:22 AM

"Diversity of opinions and ideas."

I'm still not following you. You want a liberal to vote for a conservative?

Posted by: Doug at July 5, 2009 10:38 AM

You are right, the "progressives" seems to be double minded. Sarah Palin speaks what is on her mind and she is smart, conservative and oh yes easy on the eyes. I think that the language used in the op-ed shows that progressives just don't get it. You vote for a President that not only hates freedom of enterprise but lies to America and those who voted for him. He is the worst thing for America and it is time for all people to stand up and love what this great country stands for.

Posted by: Danny Blaze at July 5, 2009 11:12 AM

'ALL CAPS KEYBOARD DISABLED' : PALIN HAS CLEVERLY USED SPUNK AND CHRISMATIC GOOD LOOKS,INCLUDINNG PHOTOGENIC PERFECTION TO HER POLITICAL ADVANTAGE,SO MUCH-SO THAT EVEN 'MC CAIN'..FELL FOR IT!
AS A PHOTOGRAPHER FROM YEARS AGO,I RECOGNISED HER ANGLE OF SELF EXPLOITATION. SHE IS CLEVER,BUT NOT WELL READ.SO PERHAPS SHE IS TAKING TIME OFF TO AQUIRE A DEGREE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND POLITICAL SCIENCE? IF SHE DOES THAT AND GRADUATES,GOD HELP WE PALIN BASHERS,BECAUSE HER NEW-REFURBISHED PACKAGE OF BOTH LOOKS AND BRAINS...COULD BE A NEW POLITICAL-DYNAMITE- REALITY!
IMAGINE; A FEW YEARS LATER,PALIN..BACK,WITH REAL COLLEGE DEGREES AND AGAIN INTERVIEWED BY KUTE-KATTI-KURICK,BUT NOW ABLE TO DESCRIBE ALASKA'S RELATION TO RUSSIA IN A MORE SUCCENCT MANNER? IS THIS WHAT SHE IS UP-TO? AS LONG AS HER 'LOOKS'..ARE PRESERVED,THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE FUTURE CANIDATE ON THE REPUG TICKET WHEN OBAMA COMPLETES HIS FOUR YEARS?

Posted by: DAWK at July 5, 2009 11:13 AM

"[...]The 'progressives' on the other hand have treated Sarah Palin like evil incarnate from the first moment she appeared on the national scene.[...]"

Sarah Palin with the ICBM launch codes...
Game.
Set.
&
Match.

Posted by: George Lowry at July 5, 2009 11:16 AM

I have never seen such hatred for someone that is more like everyday people than any politician we currently have. We cry out for change and for politicians that truly understand us and yet when that middle american soccer mom emerges people can't wait to tear her down. I don't get it. We don't truly want someone who understands us, we want the smooth talking BS artist just like we have had for decades that empty our wallets and control every aspect of our lives. Well when Mr. Obama is done with this country and if anything is left, I will certainly give Sarah Palin a chance. For all those women who claim to want to see a strong woman in the Whitehouse. Liars!

Posted by: Morris1 at July 5, 2009 03:28 PM

Sarah Palin with the ICBM launch codes...
Game.
Set.
&
Match.

Perhaps she could at least hold on to them....

Unlike Bill Clinton, who LOST his and didn't tell anybody until the next batch were issued?

Posted by: arturo at July 5, 2009 04:11 PM

Doug,

Oh I got the mesage just fine. I just don't think the foaming at the mouth blanket rudeness towards all on the other side of her issues of Ms. Lyon should be given a pass yet again.

Do you?

Posted by: Jay Gould at July 5, 2009 08:28 PM

Ya, I prefer those really smart, well read, sly, forked tongue, socialist "Good Ol boys" we have in office now- especially that well read, well dressed, well--well- Nancy Pelosi, what a true winner!!!
ya thats the ticket!
ya
Tea?

Posted by: Gordon at July 5, 2009 10:13 PM

Who the hell do you think you are woman??? What hate speech!! I hope Sarah Palin is our next President. She is terrific. Just what this country needs. If we have a country left by the time Obummer gets out of office, which I hope is sooner than soon.

Posted by: Paulette at July 6, 2009 12:52 AM

I wish Sarah Palin were president. The country would not be in the mess it is in if she were running the place (you know, someone with actual executive experience) instead of that inexperienced, evil, nutcase Barack.

Posted by: michael at July 7, 2009 08:47 AM

I have been a registered Democrat for 20 years, and I think this article makes you sound like a bitter woman who is jealous of another woman's beauty and success. If you do not like her ideas, then you should criticize those, not her as a human being. You have no idea why she is resigning, maybe her disabled baby needs her, maybe her daughter who is now a mother needs her, maybe she is ill. Who knows? Nobody, and that is why we shouldn't judge her decision. The fact is she has a job that you will never have and your jealous. Bitter, petty, and a complete lack of empathy for the struggles of another woman. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Posted by: Gonzalez at July 7, 2009 10:40 AM

"I have been a registered Democrat for 20 years"

I call bs

Posted by: Doug at July 7, 2009 10:47 AM

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