Tom Foreman | Bio
AC360° Correspondent
Cue the orchestra; a tune like you might expect from Yanni if he were thrown from an airplane with his fingers duck taped to a keyboard. High above the center stage a spotlight blooms like a fuel-air bomb on a hair thin wire. The background glows muted, and Warholesque with mountain ranges, rivers, glaciers, frost-bitten miners, and pink salmon. The gaping maw of a Kodiak is projected onto the hardwood, a hundred feet below.
Behold, the final act of Cirque Du Sarah.
Seriously, in all the weirdness of political theater that we’ve seen in recent years, the Governor of Alaska’s air walk from virtually nowhere only a year or so ago, to GOP darling, to pop culture puzzle, to this… this unexpected leap into the unknown this afternoon, left my mouth hanging open. (And in the wake of that Argentina hopping South Carolina Gov, that’s saying something…)
It wasn’t just the sheer surprise of it, and that was considerable. It was also the style. The red outfit, the shimmering water in the background (was that an eagle I heard screaming?) and most of all the over-the-top loopiness of her tone.
Here she is announcing a retreat from the political stage, possibly a career-ending move, and she’s beaming like she just won American Idol; listing all of her accomplishments, gushing over her love of Alaska, and pledging her future care for her state’s well-being. In the name of Dr. Obvious, of course it raises enormous questions: Is there something else involved…health issues, personal matters, plans to become a professional Iditarod musher? Maybe there is some grand, and clever secret agenda at work. Maybe she is simply clearing the deck for a bigger run for a bigger office. At the moment no one seems to know, and as much as it seems like we’re missing a piece to this jigsaw, all we can really do is take her word for it.
Democrats immediately pounced like Wolverines on what they are characterizing as her bizarre behavior. But calling this bizarre is like calling Tiger Woods a golfer; if people have not already noticed, they are under some sort of heavy medication, and pointing it out only makes the Dems look like wagon jumpers. Better for them to simply sit back and let the GOP burn.
But wow…what an exit. Who can really blame anyone for reacting oddly to it? The old line goes, “there are strange things done under the midnight sun,” but Palin’s dive into the bottomless fiord may be one of the strangest we’ll see in politics this year.
© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Help | Advertising Practices
The "Bullying: It Stops Here" town hall
Anderson answers your questions
The art of booking guests
Why did Sarah Palin resign. It's simple. Think of all the money she is going to make on the lecture circuit. Doesn't matter that she paraded her unwed pregnant daughter all over the country, and now resents that she has become the object of ridicule, or that she has violated her oath as govenor. Money talks.
Well my guess is that she hitting premenopause, realizing her special needs child really needs her, at her word wants to get her family out of the caustic spotlight, knows now is the time to write that book or never to make some real money.
She took the state office and tried to run the state from her home ran into some just criticism, got pulled into the national spotlight drank in all the attention and now that uphill climb to the 2012 nomination must look pretty shaky.
Or she is truly delusional- narcisstic and will be back...!
i'm probably not the one to judge (specially since i can only follow american politics over the few podcast i get here in switzerland) – but that was a very bizzare speech of sarah palin and seemed to be even less prepared than her ealier statements ... for me it seems almost like she wants to be more a comedian than a politician ... maybe she feels like tina fey (?) is the better palin than herself ?
This just reeks of strategy. I take this sudden announcement two ways: 1. as an extension of the republican (more specifically, Palin's) presidential campaign or 2. An act of defiance against the new administration–neither of which 'honorable.'
Not to mention that Pailn, as a politician, is wholly insubstantial. This announcement is just like her politics: vague, based off -isms, and ruled by 'ethics.' In her world, everything is right and just. Palin can do no wrong. I feel bad for her family but what politician hasn't faced negative press? I don't see the need for exceptionalism.
I'm annoyed. I thought we'd see the end of her after this election. A bumper sticker I saw earlier this year sums it all : "America's women have not waited 232 years for sarah plain."
I hope her book signings, talk show appearances, and other ventures provide her family with the finances they need. Oh, by the way, the Republican party "divorce" papers should be posting right about ... now! I'm quite sure they're elated the Palin fiasco is over!
Palin was a good Governor and had many accomplishments though the Libs and Tom Foreman don't want to admit it. Have you libs had enough? There were 15 ridiculous ethics charges brought against her by the Libs and all 15 were proven invalid. Leaving the remote state of Alaska to run for president would make sense. Most other politicians including some Senators (Obama, Clinton) dropped their concerns for their state to run for office. I would be happy to consider her as a role model over the likes of Clinton and her political secrets or Palosi and her questionable dealings.
She is clearly covering something. Her publicist was not even in town when she made her impetuous announcement.
Looking forward to hear what the further scan-dal will be.....
She because she's not seeking reelection, it's better to step down now? That makes absolutely no sense. "Lame duck" terms are when politicans can get their own agendas accomplished without having to cater to the swing votes to get elected.
I could see that believe that she truly believes that this is the best way to prepare for 2012, but leaving mid-term after only 3 years of experience will only lessen her chances even more.
Hey dems. she's smarter than you all ,so just sit back ,shut up and see what happens. There is so much hate in the dem.party for this beautiful lady that they themselves cant smell the roses.
A higher calling? Is she going to be a T.V. evangelist or what? Could you imagine her as VP??? "John, I quit, you'll need to find someone to replace me." Quitter!
I can't imagine her doing anything good for the US. She justs needs to stay in Alaska. Do what ever she wants up there while we in the lower 48 can feel safe knowing she's a country away.