Palin Puzzle

" Alaska governor Sarah -- stunned the political world last week with a surprise announcement that she'll leave her post eighteen months early widely considered to be a rising star in the Republican Party and a front runner for the presidential nomination in 2012. Palin's abrupt. Departure leaves many wondering if her future in politics is dead. And who will lead the GOP. Joining the panel this week Wall Street Journal columnist and deputy editor Dan had bigger. Editorial board member Jason Riley and Washington columnist Kim distrust -- making a rare appearance here in New York welcome -- all right."

" So how much has surfing on her political future plumbing it depends on if she did it for her political future -- there is. A group of people out there who think that she may have just. Been sick of the attack sick of the complaints sick of everything was happening to our friendly and that she's. Stunner at least going out for a -- that this was stumped for political reasons I think she hurt herself a lot Obama people be able to say in the future look you had an earlier governor."

" You -- executive position why should we let's -- with a much more rigorous job is as the president though let's -- the problem she always had Paul was in giving independence to think that she had a policy test for this job thinking that."

" That means she always had that they set their their loved it loved her charisma they love to personality he needed to convince even intellectuals within the GOP that you can do this and and you don't do that -- returned eighteen months."

" But I think it also has a certain logic if she wants to run for -- campaigning. From Alaska. With the lower 48 so far away would be very good of -- was gonna end in 2010 anyway she can if that's true let's not kill time and make some money raised the money. For the party. And sort of control her problem her public image and bone up on the on the on the issues on the on the side than. And you know sit back and wait and see what happens after the mid term. You know again I think that she didn't she show and unfortunately I agree that -- with a lot of people say the media was merciless and attacking her and her and her family which is rare. But she didn't demonstrate that she was up to the rigors I think of a presidential campaign and had done the hard work of preparing on the issues to run for president. "

" No not at all and I still don't think she can quite quickly. Fall across the goal line she's gonna have to really go to school. And showed good to me she can speak intelligently about a wide range of issues. If she does that and if this Jason suggest she goes out and -- big box for the GOP. Which he's capable of doing and which is a crucial element of being a presidential candidate these days. I think given her gift of -- her charisma when the time comes she might have a shot but she does have to get across that sophisticated I."

" itself so Republican Party doesn't have really any -- national to. -- identifiable. Leaders. It doesn't matter. Hear that right now or who warned that."

" Little early coming and look what we've got coming up here's a couple of years in the Obama administration we're gonna have a lot of opportunity for some new Republicans to define themselves and we should expect that to happen people --"

" He's gonna be people in congress should easily people of the state houses and he's going to be people in private life. Who may be or like Mitt Romney who who ran before former governor and and and and -- private life again."

" I think you're gonna see more of that the private life and also the governors look right now one thing that the GOP has got going for is with everything that's happening in Washington huge chance for them to define themselves. And a different way especially from state houses as saying this is what you may be doing in Washington this is Austin a different way. The whole states as laboratories are those governors right well you've got people that the people -- talked about so far you've got by the agent doll down on Louisiana you've got people like Tim Valenti out of Minnesota mean you've got that. I'm Mitch Daniels in Indiana he got there a bunch of different."

" But the reality is now they all have to resign you cannot be a sitting governor and run successfully for the presidency. Yeah George Bush did. George Bush did it in 2000 -- Barack Obama ran from the from the Senate. I think I rules have changed the amount of money you have to raise me to have to be out in the country great thing about Mitch Daniels is one of things -- qualities they wanted 2006 and 2008 very big years for Republicans and not in southern Republican conservative states. Don't we have -- Republicans need. Somebody from the north not another southern candidate. The Republicans have a two -- problem one they need a leader they need someone who can articulate an alternative narrative how we got into this situation how we can get out. But two they need someone with. The sort of star wattage to match Barack Obama at target that anything it is -- the very tough road to hoe but that is what. The dilemma that the Republicans face right now I think it's too full glow but I mean -- If if if you're caught talking about a celebrities aren't very many of those in politics that come around can't you just hit somebody who says this can suggest. Look I'm govern well but I did it was different principles. And and and offer kind of sober even stolid kind of alternative leadership I'd start with finding someone whose confidence and then they have to do that first but I think you're also gonna need a charismatic figure which is why I think -- Still as the -- you do you think they're still somehow okay all right I. And even what do you think should 2012 or -- talking made for PM 201620. Briefly. I think it'll be no longer on the road she's got a -- to put forth first -- can still."