Consider, Sarah Palin was a popular Governor of Alaska of whom nobody would know about in the lower 48 states. She was dragged into McCain’s presidential campaign when it was imploding for good reasons. She nearly dragged John McCain to victory. Where the Republican’s justly gained their hard won reputation for being brain dead was not only nominating McCain but not hitting back at the Democratic attacks. From the very start Sarah Palin was under attack by nonsensical criminal and civil lawsuits. Not only did John McCain or the Republican party did not support her, but when Sarah Palin outshined McCain, she was thrown to the media wolves. The McCain staffers even went so far as to sabotage Patin’s part of the campaign through media leaks.

When the campaign season came to a end, the attacks from the left did not stop. Even when all the current lawsuits were proved to be pure bulls—t, more lawsuits were filled. Not one Republican “leader” stood up for her. The Republican party members treated her as a competitor and rival.
The leadership must be brain dead to allow one of its members to be savaged by the political opposition without response. By leaving one of its members deep in debt by political opposition lawsuits, the party elders have proved themselves unworthy. If a party does not support its members, why should the members support the party or its leadership.

What was over the top despicable was no one considered Sarah Palin was telling the truth when she said she was calling it quits. Why should she go on without party support. She did not have the family wealth to absorb the lawsuits. The sad fact was Sarah Palin was too good for Republican party politics.
She was too honest for both the Democratic and Republican party’s politics. Now she is gone, to the Republican party’s loss.

I think there is a bit of resentment on Sullivan’s part toward Douthat. Ross was (is?) an up-and-coming fresh face in conservative journalism who never quite fit in with Sullivan’s brand of waffling/doubting libertarianism. Ross is steadfast in his efforts to build on social and religioius conservatism for the GOP, which entails a continuation of the merger of religion and politics that is anathema to Sullivan. Ross also took his work out of Sullivan’s beloved blogosphere and turned to, arguably, the most mainstream media outlet around, the Times op-ed page.

I’ve read both their works for a while now, and I have never gotten the sense that Sullivan is enamored with Ross’ writing or political philosophy. Particularly on topics such as sexuality, they couldn’t come from more opposite ends of the spectrum. Mabye Palin was the best topic to bring about the long-held disagreements between the two, much like two roomates who get along fine until one of them misses their first rent payment.