John Feehery
Special to CNN
Editor's note: John Feehery was a staffer for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other Republicans in Congress. He is president of Feehery Group, a Washington-based advocacy firm that has represented clients including the News Corp., Ford Motor Co. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He formerly was a government relations executive vice president for the Motion Picture Association of America.
It shouldn't have surprised anyone that Gov. Sarah Palin would surprise everyone by announcing that she was quitting her job by the end of July.
Everything about her career has been a surprise.
I remember distinctly when Arizona Sen. John McCain selected Palin to be his vice presidential running mate. It was, to say the least, a surprise.
I had just taken the red-eye from Denver, Colorado (and the Democratic convention), and friends were calling me, concerned that McCain was going to pick Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman.
One friend, in particular, was pushing for a little-known governor from Alaska, of all places, who seemed to hit all the right buttons for conservatives. This governor was pro-life, pro-gun and anti-tax, had high popularity ratings in the state, and best of all, she was a woman. The thought was that she could help with that all-important female voting demographic.
| Enough |
July 8th, 2009 11:45 am ET Is their a point to this story? sounds like nothing more than a personal opinion which is of no interest. |
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| Melissa |
July 8th, 2009 12:05 pm ET No, it isn't. Not until we are sure that she isn't going to run for 2012. People are already forgetting the Bush nightmare, when they shouldn't be. They should not forget the Palin catasrophe. |
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| Arachnae |
July 8th, 2009 12:14 pm ET Shorter John Feehery – "Nothing to see here. Move along." |
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| michael moore |
July 8th, 2009 2:44 pm ET I'm so sick of hearing about this woman. The only one with any interest is Tina Fey. |
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| RLWellman |
July 8th, 2009 2:53 pm ET It's about the same that Barrack Obama quit his job as Senator, right? You left can't pass up an opportunity to stick the knife in a little bit farther and then twist it. It's okay for him to quit, but Sarah is a quitter? Is this all you can report on? You don't have any other news to report on except Sarah Palin and Michael Jackson? No wonder your ratings are down. Maybe you should be reporting on how thw Government is ripping us off. Maybe you should report on how much money they are spending and how much control they are trying to get over our lives? Maybe you could even lie a little and tell how good these programs are going to be for us. |
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| n.bashiir |
July 8th, 2009 4:01 pm ET The way Mrs Palin talks, makes me feel that she cuts and pastes the words orally. does anybody feel like that? Wak Wak like a duck!!! |
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| Lala |
July 8th, 2009 6:37 pm ET sarah palin is Toast! By 'Quitting' the Govenorship she is no longer viable for the 2012 Pres Race other than to her Hard Core Right Wing – Perhaps she will do a Richard Nixon like return and reappear years later as she is still young. |
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| SpicaSeven |
July 8th, 2009 6:55 pm ET She get's an "F" for not completing her assignment to the people, I think they (GOP) told her to step down and please kept your mouth shut! And, quiting in the middle of the game, lack of morals and values. She is an embarrassment to America. |
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| Annie Kate |
July 8th, 2009 7:14 pm ET A GOP member saying he was mistaken about Palin. At least he has the wits to see it and the gumption to admit to it. I hope the rest of the GOP takes a leaf from his book. |
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| Lampe |
July 8th, 2009 9:53 pm ET SpicaSeven: I agree with you that quitting in the middle of the game, shows a lack of morals and values. That is why I am so surprised that many more people aren't up in arms about Obama's behaviour. I mean after all he didn't finish his Senate position, and he continued to take a pay from the people of Chicago while he and his family were on the campaign trail, shows a real lack of morals and values. Wouldn't you agree? The bigger embarassment is what the Democrats in Washington are doing to this country starting with Obama and Biden. |
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| Christy Lane |
July 8th, 2009 10:32 pm ET The charges against Sarah Palin have caused taxpayers time and money. It's ridiculous and should be dismissed. I'm sorry to see her go as Governor. I have never seen so much media attack against anyone before (except Michael Jackson). I give credit to Sarah Palin for standing up for herself and her family. |
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| Elizabeth Kelly |
July 8th, 2009 10:45 pm ET For some reason this little lady drives you liberals insane. |
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| Jan |
July 8th, 2009 10:47 pm ET I am terrified that the people who elected W, not once but twice, could possibly elect Palin. |
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| Sharon |
July 8th, 2009 11:24 pm ET Anderson, if you really want to dig deeper into those ethic complaints against Sarah Palin, why don't you interview her lawyer? Wouldn't that be more fair and honest ? |
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| Carol Thomas |
July 8th, 2009 11:41 pm ET I love Sarah Palin! Please, God, give her the presidency in 2012. |
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| g2 |
July 9th, 2009 1:48 am ET I wish you all would learn to report the do's and don't's of the party and the ideas of the party, rather they are democrat or republican, |
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| RLWellman |
July 9th, 2009 9:59 am ET Wasn't it the last two years that the Democrats controlled both houses? I'd say things were pretty good until the Democrats took over. Now, they have control of all 3-houses and look at the garbage they are passing now. |
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