One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Shocker! Sarah Palin Is Not Gonna Run for President
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin tells a crowd of about 2,000, that the country needs to elect business-minded candidates who won't sell their principles for the sake of bipartisanship while speaking at a forum hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Sarah Palin, your favorite g-droppin', celebrity-courtin', Fox News-commentin' hockey mom, vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor of yore, just announced today that she will not run for president.
Palin broke the news in a letter to talk show host Mark Levin and in a letter to her supporters:
My decision is based upon a review of what common sense conservatives and independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office - from the nation's governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. Know that by working together we can bring this country back - and as I've always said, one doesn't need a title to help do it.
This isn't exactly a huge shocker. Although Palin has been very much in the public eye, but she wasn't making the moves you would expect of a presidential candidate. As the Los Angeles Times puts it:
She failed to assemble a national campaign organization or a widespread fundraising organization. She appeared comfortable in her role as a highly paid commentator on Fox News — and there seemed little indication that the network was looking to sever ties with her as it did with other candidates such as Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
Political experts tell the Washington Post that they expect that not running for president is a pretty great career move for Palin:
"This is virtually a win-win decision for her," said Tracey Schmitt, a Republican strategist who worked with Palin in 2008. "By keeping her powder dry for whatever the future holds, she is preserving her power of celebrity."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
