Is Sarah Palin's political career over?
With her poll numbers sinking, Mama Grizzly passes on the 2012 presidential race. Will she ever run again?
Sarah Palin's decision not to run for president in 2012 didn't exactly come as a surprise — she had already said the demands of a campaign might be too "shackle-y" for her maverick spirit. But her fans were still dismayed by this week's news that she's officially out, even though polls suggested that Palin stood little chance of winning the Republican nomination or the general election against President Obama. Is Palin just waiting for her moment, or is this the end of her career in elected politics?
Palin's political career is over: Palin's "political career was brief, bizarre, and sordid," says David Frum at FrumForum. "But now at least it is definitively finished." She "exploited, abused, or embarrassed almost everyone who believed in her" since she quit as governor of Alaska and started cashing in on her fame. Even before she bowed out this week, her political voice had dwindled. "Now it will sink altogether into inaudibility."
"Palin: Already almost forgotten"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
She is still a force to be reckoned with: The "haters" have been writing Palin's political obituary for years, says David Brody at National Review. But she's "young enough to run in 2016 if Obama gets a second term. Heck, she can run in 2020 and age wouldn't be a problem." And even if she never puts her name on another ballot, she'll still play a big role leading the movement to "remake the Republican Party into a band of constitutional conservatives."
It's hard to imagine politics without her: "It would be a mistake to assume the political class won't have Sarah Palin to kick around anymore," say Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns at Politico. It's true that she looks like a losing candidate now, but she still has enough fans to play kingmaker should she decide to endorse somebody during the Republican primary fight. And while she's suffering from "extreme overexposure" now, if she disappears from view long enough to rehabilitate her image... who knows?
"5 questions about Sarah Palin"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 21, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - devilish decrees, biblical blunders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 carefully selected cartoons about the Trump-Daniels jury selection process
Cartoons Artists take on a stress-free life, rare peers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Loire Valley Lodges review: sleep, feast and revive in treetop luxury
The Week Recommends Forest hideaway offers chance to relax and reset in Michelin key-winning comfort
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published