What about the others who quit mid-term?

To the editor:

Dear citizens of Wasilla and the great state of Alaska.

Thank you for allowing us to meet your friend Sarah Palin. I wanted to write to respond to the extensive ruminating the media and bloggers are doing about Gov. Palin.

First, as I listened to her resignation speech and considered the timing, I felt I understood exactly what she was saying. It was not as some have stated “incomprehensible,” “flustered,” “lacking in focus,” or worse “imbecilic” or “moronic.” I have seen much worse also on Twitter, which makes me wonder when we did away with decency standards in America completely.

Second, I wonder where the outcry of “quitter” was for Janet Napolitano, ex-governor of Arizona; Kathleen Sibellius, ex-governor of Kansas; Hillary Clinton, ex-Senator of New York or Rahm Emmanuel, ex-congressman of Illinois. All of these abandoned their constituents mid-term to enjoy the bigger paycheck and prestige they would enjoy working for President Obama. For that matter, ex-senator Joe Biden, Sen. John McCain and ex-senator Barack Obama both abandoned their constituents mid-term to campaign for office while still taking a paycheck from us.  

Third, The media are simply not connected to the American people. Those of us that understand the peril this country is currently in and how far we have strayed from the principles that made us great, honor and respect Sarah’s decision to step down. I understand that she did so in order to allow the Alaska government to function at full efficiency and capacity for the benefit of all it’s people while moving all of the litigation and ankle biters out of the Capitol.

Fourth, we understand that, yes, politicians have to be prepared to take the blows, but Sarah’s values and ideals are so far removed from what the media elite and far left bloggers can even comprehend (I compare darkness to light), that they cannot seem to hear her past their fear of what she stands for. Hence they must attack her, her children, her education, her fashion, etc. in the most heinous ways they can imagine and in ways that have never been done before, even to other female candidates. Sarah is strong enough to take it, but she must and will protect her family.

Fifth, we are anxious to see her here in the Lower 48. I immediately understood that her first aim is to help conservative governors and others get elected or retain their seats in 2010. That must be accomplished before worrying about 2012. We have a great candidate here in Florida who needs her support in his run for Senate against the state and D.C., establishment-backed moderate Gov. Charlie Crist. We wish he would step down while he’s running since he spent 1/2 of his term getting married. Sarah, if you happen to read this, please check out http://www.marcorubio.com, especially the video of his farewell as Speaker of the House. You speak the same language.

Would we love to see Sarah in office? Absolutely. I could see the Senate in 2012 or the White House. But I will support Sarah in her well-considered decision no matter what she decides is her next step. The media just cannot abide not being “in the know.” And we the people love that.

Susan Gordon

Tampa, Fla.