RealClearPolitics - HorseRaceBlog - Maybe She Doesn't Want To Be President

RealClearPolitics - HorseRaceBlog - Maybe She Doesn't Want To Be President

Jay Cost makes the should-be-obvious point that seems to have escaped many in the right-wing blogosphere who dumped on Sarah Palin on Friday.

"My guess is that Palin had not seriously considered a run for the top job when McCain came calling last August. After all, the governorship of Alaska is a lousy perch from which to start a run for the White House. In fact, of the 150 governorships and Senate seats - I'd say that being governor of Alaska is the worst place to begin....

"It's important to remember that it was John McCain who invited her to the national stage.... She was there by his request. Since her introduction to the nation - it hasn't gone all that well for her. Her performance generated mixed reviews.... Worse, she and her family have become fodder for wild speculation from irresponsible bloggers, salacious stories from celebrity magazines, groundless ethics complaints from political opponents, lousy jokes from late-night comedians who should have retired a decade ago, and criticisms from former McCain flacks looking to deflect blame for the haphazard, incoherent campaign they ran. You would have to really want to be president to press forward in the face of the headwind she has faced.

"It's hard to blame her for doing what she did on Friday, although many critics still managed. If I were in her shoes, having been asked by my party's nominee to accept the vice-presidential nomination, then having been put through the wringer the way she and her family have, I wouldn't want to run for the presidency. I wouldn't want to run for reelection as governor. And I too would be inclined to resign altogether. One difference between her and me: I would not have been as gracious as she was last Friday."