Sarah Palin's Resignation for Possible Media Work May Influence Other Politicians

It isn't any secret that the world of politics has dwindled to a select elite few who seem to keep regenerating to more of the same who help their own constituents every election cycle. And it's easy to see why those particular people who shouldn't be allowed in politics are taking over that world when truly good politicians have to face as much dirt as a celebrity being chased through the Hollywood canyons in their SUV's by paparazzi. Being a high-profile politician has become too much of a sacrifice for the most hard-boiled of politicians either living the single life or trying to raise a large family.

For those attempting to raise a family while working in important governmental roles, the fishbowl treatment has finally hit a brick wall. No longer is it being tolerated after so many past examples of prominent politician families sticking it out and ultimately paying the price.

When Sarah Palin went into politics, won the Alaska Governorship and answered the call to be John McCain's running mate, she must have understood the toll it would take on her own family. Some politicians ultimately tuck it all away and stick with the notion the platform they run on will transcend any problems they may have with muckrakers out to...well, shovel in the muck on politicians who have the potential to get into a dangerous state of power. In retrospect, it seems Palin may have been riding so high personally in possibly making history as the first woman VP that she didn't understand many in the media and ordinary citizens would be hellbent to besmirch her in the press.

And while it's not hard to argue that Palin wasn't really ready to be the second in command at the White House, it seems she was shell-shocked on just how bad it really is out there now in the relationship between politician and the press. As we continue to see an ever-widening Yin & Yang schism in the media over political beliefs, the more adamant each opposing side becomes in destroying a significant member of the political universe. While Woodward & Bernstein started a fairer way to eliminate shady politicians 35 years ago, it's no longer fair, more vicious and now taken to intolerable levels that no politician will want to take on in the future as it only gets worse.

The minute I heard Sarah Palin was stepping down as Alaska's governor, it was obvious she had no particular reason other than an immediate escape from the tortuous insanity the media imparted on her life and family. But she also realized that politics has become the new minimum wage job for people who arguably should be making more money. With yearly salary for governor, President and Congress still pulling in less than a notable politician would expect while also dealing with a politically warmongering press, it's no wonder Palin took the route a lot of fed-up and tired politicians are taking: The irony of working for the media.

You can be sure Palin is eyeing something in the media as the media itself suggested, because it's obviously the best place to be now to gain a political following and be able to make millions of dollars in the process.

Yes, politicians running en masse to the world of TV and radio. Don't say what a concept, because it is the concept. Palin may have just set off an exodus...
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Out of the few former politicians who've become talk show hosts on TV or radio, most of them were politicians who couldn't get their political message out to a wide enough audience as the result of the media usually ignoring them. Certainly former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee had some good ideas in health care when he ran for President, yet couldn't rouse much fanfare in the idea of prevention being the focus of health care over anything else. Then when Fox News gave him a Sunday afternoon talk show last year, he developed a much more attentive audience during the inevitable times he brings up his political ideas in the middle of his monologues.

Don't think that Huckabee is doing the show for his health. He now has a much more loyal following than he ever managed on the Presidential campaign trail that could set him up for another Presidential run later if he even wants it. In fact, it's safe to say he's probably the only former significant politician so far to have a successful talk show. Of course, that prize would have gone to Bill Clinton had those rumors years ago panned out that he'd start a talk show.

Why conservative-leaning politicians seem to do better in the talk show circuit is a bit of a mystery other than the simple concept of conservative media putting up more money to advertise or just more loyal listeners. When the once Al Franken-owned Air America radio network brought in former prominent Democrat politicians to star in their own radio shows, most of them flopped. The more glowing personalities in the Democratic Party so far avoid getting into media work for unknown reasons. Someone cheeky (no, not necessarily me) might say it's because they dominate in politics now and don't need the outlet.

The argument is still there, though, that the field of politics is downright rotten now for any politician of any political stripe who gets national attention. If Sarah Palin is testing the waters and sees the conservative politician talk show thriving, you can be sure she'll be there soon--along with prominent Democrats down the road once Palin proves successful at it. Eventually, you may see high-end politics as the stepping stone to talk show deals rather than political office being the final, ultimate pedestal.

That also ensures a nightmare world in the world of public office. Should all the greatest political communicators abandon their governmental roles for the media, would lesser quality politicians end up taking over and make things worse than they already are? Or, we even have the very real possibility of nobody wanting to run for public office when the prospect of residing in the fishbowl is too much of a risk for the thickest-skinned individual.

Sarah Palin's next success will directly hinge on those profound directions in politics. A successful talk show by Palin may finally forward the thought that working in the media is a much more powerful political tool than being elected anyway. For those who don't want Palin to ever run for President, her pulpit on a talk show very well could heavily influence conservative policy while her family has a safer home base and the million-dollar checks roll in...

Source:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/04/2009-07-04_alaskas_governor_sarah_palin_to_resign_dooming_her_presidential_pipe_dream.html