I echo Reihl's thoughts here: Sarah Palin's Poor Judgment In Kentucky Raises Serious Concerns
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Quin Hillyer went to great length at Am Spec to raise questions around Sarah Palin's current suitability for high office. Frankly, I don't think she's running for anything any time, soon. And while Hillyer raised some good points, I found the analysis so over done, it left me wondering what his motivation might be. Unfortunately, a recent decision she made does give me serious concerns about her judgment.
Yet if conservatives are to continue a political love affair with this admirable and galvanizing woman, we need to insist on more than mere identity. And more than mere attitude.
The problem with Palin is that she's not ready for the presidency. The promise of Palin is that she has plenty of time to prepare -- if, that is, she and her fans will both accept the prudential virtue of patience. Sometimes progress requires a pause. And the perspicacity to use it productively.
Palin has always been a strong defender of the military. But her endorsement of Rand Paul suggests to me that she took a very superficial view of things in making what can rightly be called a significant endorsement by backing Mini-Paul.
I've taken time to watch multiple videos and am absolutely convinced that Paul is from the Alex Jones and Adam Kokesh wing of whatever movement they fancy themselves a part of. The last straw for me was when I learned that Paul invited Adam Kokesh to a fundraising event for him in NYC. That's eight minutes into this video Grayson's campaign doesn't even seem to have the intelligence to capitalize on in an efficient way.
I like Palin. I like her energy, her personality and what she brings to the political table in many ways. But all I can conclude is that she took a quick look, thought, how cool is that, a chance to endorse a name I kind of know versus a more establishment-looking candidate!
Unfortunately, that suggests she either has no idea how important she's seen as by many in the grassroots, or she wasn't willing to do the work to look under the hood before weighing in on a race she should have simply stayed clear of.
I'm all for genuine outsiders, as well as an increased influence for libertarianism within the GOP. But Paul's willingness to embrace the likes of Kokesh is simply too much to ask. And if Palin is comfortable with it, than I am seriously uncomfortable with her and what she may ultimately do with whatever influence she has.
Whatever her reasoning, it was an imprudent and reckless endorsement given her stature, to say the least. And I can't get past it enough to trust her judgment going forward as things stand, no matter how much I might still genuinely like her. If we're learning anything from Obama, it's that simply supporting change for the sake of change isn't enough. And if this is the type of change Palin has in mind for the GOP, then count me out.
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