Veteran Republican Political Strategists Split On Sarah Palin's High Risk Gamble

Two veteran political strategists, Ed Rollins and Mary Matalin are split on their assessment of the high risk political gamble of Sarah Palin to quit her office of governor before even completing a single full term. Ed Rollins' view was expressed on the CBS EARLY SHOW, in which he seems to think that Palin never really established herself as a genuine national figure on her own, but it was John McCain placing her on his ill-fated ticket that gave her national exposure. In Rollins' view, a more genuine political leader needs to really establish themselves on their own with their own platform, policies and issues.

Rollins also believes that Palin will now get tagged with the label of a "quitter" which will sink her in states such as Texas in which Rollins referred to many still having a fighting "Alamo" never give up, never quit spirit.

On the other hand, Mary Matalin takes the opposite view, that Palin's move was somehow "brilliant". Matalin believes that since Mitt Romney is no longer the governor of Massachusetts, he has the luxury to spend all of his time building an organization for a very serious 2012 run. Palin can now compete. Yet, Matalin didn't address how Palin can possiby avoid being labeled a "quitter" which may hurt her among many voters.

However, neither Rollins or Matalin offered opinions on some questions that a number of ongoing ethics issues, her continued publicity antics, family problems, and her major book deal were all creating enough friction in her own home state, forcing Palin to quit her office before an issue could possiby blow up. The fact of the matter is that Palin might have been on the political decline in Alaska ever since losing her bid to become vice president. Much the same thing happened to the once popular South Dakota Senator George McGovern or even New York Congressman woman Geraldine Ferraro. Both of their of their political lives only began to spiral downward after their election losses. The presidential campaigns of both failed candidates only opened up too many personal shortcoming for their voters in both states.

Palin is also very prone to gross exaggerations when she speaks. During the 2008 campaign, Palin started the absurd claim that presidential candidate Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists" which was a far cry from the truth that Obama merely served on a school board with a number of persons, including a former 1960's political radical , William Ayers, who mellowed out and now works within the system as an educator. Palin also recently exaggerated that late night comic David Letterman somehow told a "rape" joke about their 14 daughter, when a writer for the program simply mistook the younger daughter for the older one when the Palins attended a NY Yankees baseball game. The fact of the matter is that both Palin girls, the 18 and the 14 year old both have long dark hair, look a little similar, and the younger one wore dark sunglasses that day, only adding to the identity confusion. However, because Palin is a constant publicity seeker, she exaggerated the botched joke into a major incident and a political stunt, and likely part of the reason that Palin quit her job, and not Letterman, was partially because of some problems at home in Alaska only stirred up by this and other silly Sarah Palin antics.

Maybe with so many swirling ethics questions and public fatigue with Palin only growing at home, Palin decided to quit her Alaska job before she might be formally challenged with some ethics charge, or even face possible political defeat at home in 2010. Either way, Sarah Palin is likely a rapidly declining force in GOP politics. I think veteran Republican strategist Ed Rollins best states that view as well. Probably, Sarah Palin fatigue is starting to set in with too many voters for her to ever have a decent chance at any office, nationally or in Alaska. Palin is likely a declining political entity.