Sarah Palin, so detested by elite liberals and conservatives alike, finds her foundation in none other than Abigail Adams, wife of our second President, John Adams.
During the days of the American Revolution, when George Washington was attempting to lead a rag-tag army in what Washington referred to as "our glorious cause," liberty stood teetering on the precipice of the abyss. Independence was by no means certain, and a good number of colonists would rather just hit the snooze button and remain British serfs for a while longer rather than make the tough choices that need to be made.
Washington himself, understood the odds and the severity of the situation while appreciating what historian Joseph Ellis calls the "purity of the cause" in rallying his often demoralized and exhausted troops. Washington's orders to his men to, "Remember officers and soldiers, that you are Freeman, fighting for the blessings of Liberty--that slavery will be your portion and that of posterity, if you do no acquit yourself like men," gives a glimpse into his vision and passion for the hard-won American freedom.
Ellis also asserts in his book, "His Excellency George Washington" that:
"How much of this rhetoric Washington himself believed is unclear...what is clear is that Washington believed that his own personal honor, bound tightly to the course of independence now officially declared, left him no choice but to fight."
During a particularly trying time for the revolution, when John Adams noted that "the eyes of the world" were upon Washington and his British opponent, the outcome was never quite certain. As men began to waver in their commitment to freedom, one woman demonstrated the courage and strength of character necessary to win our independence.
Abigail Adams, upon being told by her husband John that Washington was on the verge of defeat, Mrs. Adams remained steadfast, arguing that even if the entire American army was defeated, the British would still find themselves opposed by a "race of Amazons in America!"
Abigail Adams' love of liberty knew no end and had no price limit. Like her husband and many of the founding fathers, Abigail was willing to surrender all to the cause of liberty and freedom from oppression.
Fast forward to today, and you have the nation being largely represented by two political parties--both of which, have sold out their primary constituents in their pursuit of a permanent ruling class. Gone are the famed "citizen legislators" who served out of a love and commitment to this country. In their place, we have professional politicians who, once firmly ensconced in power, never let go of the reigns willingly. Indeed, today's politicians would scoff at the words of James Madison when he argued that political leaders should be "called for the most part from pursuits of a private nature and continued in appointment for a short period of office." Short period of office? Certainly no politician today could yield to such a blow to their ego!
As a result, the folks running the show in Washington and many of their chattering friends in the media (on both sides of the aisle) no longer represent government as defined by the founding fathers, but rather a ruling aristocracy, through which all blessings flow. No longer do everyday people have a firm hold on the reigns of power, but rather entrenched special interests and career politicians run the show with little to no interest in the will of the people.
When ordinary citizens rise up to try to re-claim that seat of power, they are called "angry mobs" or "Nazis" by a fearful ruling class hellbent on remaining in power. The folks, right and left, in Washington, no longer fight for every day Americans. They certainly don't fight to protect the freedoms found in the Constitution. They fight only for their own glory and to preserve their own power, America be damned.
So when a political leader willingly casts aside her office in an effort to more effectively champion the changes and reforms needed in American political life, it is no wonder she remains an affront to everything the ruling elites stand for.
Sarah Palin, however, embodies the "American Amazon" spoken of by Abigail Adams so many years ago, when another ruling elite sought to trample on the rights of the individual. Like Adams, Palin is not afraid to fight, with or without a title.
With the upcoming release of Palin's book, critics from the left and the right have resumed vicious attacks on her electability, mental acuity, and personal character. She's stupid. She's unqualified. She would be a catastrophe in 2012. These same folks have no problem accepting a community organizer with staunch socialist and even terrorist ties as President of the United States, but a woman who speaks her mind and isn't in politics for the title and prestige? Never!
Those who speak of Palin's resignation before the end of her first term as Alaska Governor as evidence that she isn't electable might want to brush up on history. Another "outside of the box" political leader, Andrew Jackson, served as U.S. Senator for one year before resigning in disgust. He also served as the military governor of Florida for less than a year. Apparently rough and tumble Jackson wasn't known for staying in one position for too long.
Palin's two and a half year experience as governor gives her more executive experience than Barack Obama and Joe Biden combined. In fact, another U.S. President, known to most simply as Honest Abe, was only a one-term congressman before becoming President of the United States. People like Palin who have true leadership abilities can do just as much to effect change outside of the structure of government as they can within it. This is particularly true in the case of Palin and the Alaska Governorship. Her resignation freed Sean Parnell to advance her agenda without all of the nonsensical ethics violations that were taking all of her time, while freeing her up to go toe-to-toe with Obama.
It is generally accepted that Palin's insurgency via Facebook helped to shape the national debate and solidify opposition to Obama's risky health care scheme. Her book and subsequent appearances throughout the nation will unquestionably result in a greater advancement of conservative principles than remaining in Alaska for 18 more months working on fishing licenses and local issues. Thus far, Palin's resignation has shown her to be every bit the Amazon that Abigail Adams' envisioned. Where the ruling elites have dropped the ball, the pit bull with lipstick has picked it up on the behalf of the people.
Her approach is that of common sense, something lacking in governing elites of both parties. Instead of forcefully standing up to Obama's socialist health care pitch, most of the Republicans have been simply attempting to cut the plan back without forcefully and bluntly arguing to the American people about the fundamental destruction of America as we know it with the spread of socialism throughout one-fifth of the nation's economy.
Yet when one woman can cut through the legalese and communicate great conservative truths succinctly and sensibly to the American people in a way that is not condescending or confusing, she is vilified for it. Part of the argument, of course, is that by simplifying it, Palin lacks intelligence. She only has a Bachelor's degree from some unknown college after all.
Again, of course, folks who adhere to this line of thinking would have to disqualify Harry Truman for the office of the Presidency on the basis of not having attended college. Or perhaps, Ronald Reagan, widely regarded in poll after poll as one of the most successful presidents in our nation's history, should be disqualified for his pathetic college education at little-known Eureka College.
No, the reason these folks oppose Sarah Palin is precisely because she represents what Adlai Stevenson declared of Truman, as she is "an example of the ability of this society to yield up, from the most unremarkable origins, the most remarkable men [and women.]"
When Palin was tapped to be John McCain's running mate in August of 2008, she was the only one of the four candidates for national office that hadn't been pursuing it for years. Naturally, that resulted in some mis-steps, which were enhanced by the fact that she was not the one calling the shots on her campaign. Her candidacy, however, generated the highest ratings ever for a Vice Presidential acceptance speech and Vice Presidential debate. Her campaign rallies were like rock concerts with tens of thousands of people showing up. As a woman dedicated to serving America and protecting the ideals that this nation was founded on, Palin left the 2008 campaign a changed person.
Changed because she had been touched by destiny. It was a path chosen for her, but one which would call for a tremendous courage to pursue. Palin recognized this and saw her obligation to the calling of destiny. She made tough choices, but knew in her heart that they were right. Politics to Palin, isn't about building a resume or compiling a healthy retirement plan. It is about protecting the common sense brilliance of our founding fathers that is also the root of real authentic conservatism.
That is what is so sad to see as even "conservatives" savage Palin for her intellect and character. Once upon a time the great conservative William Buckley famously quipped that he'd "rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people in the Boston telephone directory than the faculty of Harvard University." Buckley, like other conservatives, trusted the people and resisted the urge to create a ruling aristocracy.
As such, Palin is an "American Amazon" feared by those who lack her political instincts and personal courage. Her genuine honesty and candor as a public figure considering higher office represents a confounding enigma to her would-be competitors who lie as easily and as often as breathing and who prize image over substance every time. She represents their comeuppance.
Sarah Palin is the real deal. Her presence on the national stage would serve as a calming reassurance to the founding fathers that even in the face of encroaching socialism, one woman in the mold of Abigail Adams remains fully aware that her own personal honor and that of her nation's calls for her to stand and fight no matter the cost.
