Palin Resigns: Only the Beginning?

If you've already gotten a head start on your big 4th o' July weekend plans, you may or may not know that Sarah Palin resigned from her position as Governor of Alaska today. As everyone knows, I adore this woman and assuming there are no trips to Argentina hidden behind this news (and I'm going to assume there aren't because I may not have tons of talents but I am usually a good judge of a character and am seldom wrong about people), I can only say my opinion of her has not changed. Maybe I like her more.

As you all know, I have been a fan of Palin's since she became the governor of Alaska for the same reasons that millions of Americans have fallen in love with her. She's authentic, she does what she says, she believes what she says, she stands up for what she believes in and she puts the interest of other people before her own. She stands up for those who can't stand up for themselves and she does it with honor and integrity. As she said in her speech today, she puts her family and faith first, and that's not just a line to win votes; she has proven that time and time again. I don't think I need to go on about how great she is because I have at length and at this point, those who get it, get it, and those who don't, don't. I understand that people are skeptical by anyone with the word "politician" in their job description and I don't blame them. Look at the ones we've had to put up with over the years.

But this is what I don't get. Many of us sit around saying we're tired of the same old ways of doing things. We're tired of the same old politicians. We have the tea parties, we protest, we blog, we twitter, we wear t-shirts and put up signs and bumper stickers, we wear our feelings on our sleeves. So when someone comes along who embodies everything we want in a leader, why is it that we turn our collective nose up at them. Why don't we give her a chance to be that person. Why don't we take her at her word and see what she has to offer? We say we're tired of "politics as usual," but when someone comes along who is anything but your usual politician, who doesn't "play the game" just because that's the way everyone else does it, we freak out. Is it because we don't know how to react? Is it because we are so jaded and skeptical? Is it because so many of us have become complacent and allow the media to filter our thoughts? I honestly don't have the answer to that question.

What I do know is this: there are few people in positions of leadership that I would trust with my life, my family's lives, and my country. Sarah Palin is one of them. Maybe the only one of them right now. I know I will get a lot of flack for saying this but that's no reason to back down from my feelings. So many people have raised the question of her running for President in 2012, only to turn around and say "bad idea." The media will crucify her. The left will ruin her. She's not this enough or not that enough. When did we become people who are scared of things such as that? When did we become people who sit back and let our competitors or the media dictate how we live our lives?

I don't really know why Sarah Palin resigned today. No one but she and maybe her husband and kids know the real answer. As I said, I take her at face value because I honestly in my heart believe she is good. There are few people in the world I can say that about. You can laugh at me, you can say I drank some sort of dreamy kool-aid with a side of idol worship. That's fine. If there's one thing Sarah Palin and others whom I admire have taught me, it's not to worry about what other people think about what I believe in. As a matter of fact, I was pretty burned out on politics and my hope for the general population until Sarah Palin was chosen as John McCain's Vice President. As I watched Governor Palin give her speech today (a transcript of the speech can be found here), as I watched her hold her head high, standing next to her family, fighting back tears, I found that same hope. In a world where Michael Jackson trumps ridiculous and excessive taxation in the news, I found that same hope. I saw that one person who is in a position to do something about it - not because she is a Governor or was a potential Vice President, but because she loves people and wants to help them and they trust her in return - recognize the direction in which this country is going. Palin did so much for the state of Alaska in a few short years. She did so much for women, especially Conservative women (just go visit Team Sarah to get an idea). But we never heard those stories because we were force fed the irreverent and have become too lazy to seek the truth.

Unlike recent speeches from individual politicians about "tragic love stories," I saw someone who was tired of the same old games. Someone who really wants to make a difference in this world and someone who will rise above the ridiculousness that has become our government and our media to do that. Someone who will, no doubt, become a leader again in some capacity. Someone who, if I ever have children, I will want them to look to as a role model. Someone who could be the person that saves this country, its people, and its ideals put forth in the Constitution from all who seek to destroy it, including most of the people we have in office today.

As radio host Tammy Bruce said today, "Palin has committed the unpardonable sin of not being destroyed by the Liberal Gestapos. Run, Baby, Run!"

Palin, who seems to be as big a fan of great quotes from great people as I am, quoted General MacArthur today: “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.” If Sarah Palin meant that and is ready to lead some people in this country to real change, in or out of office, I stand behind her 100%.

And in the event that I'm wrong, in the event that Palin just wants to stay home and raise her children and spend time with her family, I wish her the best of luck. Even if her face never graces my television again, I'll always be grateful for what she inspired in me me and millions of others across the country.