NINETY-NINE
Palin on the AOGCC
On p. 99 of GR, Sarah continues her discussion of her resignation as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. She writes:
"I prayed long and hard. I loved the job. And I had to consider that by making any drastic moves I would be crossing swords with the most powerful men in my own party. My political career would be over. My whole future was before me. But I also knew I couldn't sit there and be a party to all of this.
"I knew what I had to do, so I resigned--stepping away from the ethical lapses and hierarchical blinders to effect change where I could--on the outside.
"After I left, a state assistant AG issued a sixteen-page ethics complaint against Randy [Ruedrich], who eventually agreed to pay the highest civil fine in Alaska history. He retained his GOP chairmanship.
"Out of a job but sleeping well again, I knew that any shot I might have had to become a GOP insider was gone, which was fine, but I wanted Alaskans to be able to believe in the party ideals again. I knew the GOP planks made the strongest foundation upon which to build a strong state and country."
What a marvelous testimony of a great-hearted patriot!! There are not many people in our contemporary society who would be willing to sacrifice the six-figure salary of the AOGCC chairman on the altar of principle!!
I would like to focus my thoughts this morning on a few words from the above citation.
The Governor speaks about being "on the outside." She says that she had lost any chance to be a "GOP insider." And she talks about the "planks" of the Republican Party.
I would like to suggest that there is a universe of difference between being a "GOP insider" and being inside the best of the GOP, as constituted by its loftiest and highest ideals.
There are TWO REPUBLICAN STRUCTURES.
One is constructed on the "planks" and walls of cronyism, of greed, of corruption, of power-mongering.
The other is built out of the idealistic, pro-American planks that drew Sarah into the GOP in the first place when it came time for her to register to vote.
It was these ideals, the planks of the GOP platform, along with the living example of President Ronald Reagan, who personified, who incarnated, who breathed life and form and stature into those planks, that moved the young Sarah Heath to sign up with the Grand Old Party.
Now, these two parallel GOP structures sit there. They occupy what we may term the same "denominational space." What I mean is that we employ the same term "Republican Party" to designate both of them. And yet, when we advance in thought and in perception to the level of REALITY, two entirely different entities occupy that "denominational space."
Each one bears and carries the name "Republican Party"; however, under the mask and mantle of the one and single designation reside two diametrically opposed notional and political and spiritual worlds!! These two worlds are galaxies apart.
Therefore, it is facile and easy to perceive that to be INSIDE one of these structures is to be utterly OUTSIDE the other, and vice-versa.
So our Sarah, at the very moment that she forfeited any chance of being a GOP "insider," in that very instant, with her heroic AOGCC resignation, entered deep into the inner sanctum of the Republican Party in its finest and best form.
Conversely, had she compromised and given in to the corruption in her Party, while she might have been given a place at the table of the "good ole boys," she would have excluded herself forever from that MANSION OF THE MIND AND SPIRIT that is formed and made, not of bricks and wood and nails and mortar, but of the highest and loftiest ideals of America.
So, if Mitt Romney and his people attempt to bar her from the GOP convention in Tampa next month, if they do not give her a prominent speaking slot, if they dare to exclude the Party's most recent vice-presidential nominee and its most powerful speaker and advocate, she will be indeed "OUTSIDE" the physical confines of the convention hall.
However …
She will be INSIDE so much more!!
She will be INSIDE the minds, INSIDE the hearts, INSIDE the imagination of so many millions of American patriots: Republicans, Democrats, Independents.
The very attempt to silence her, her very absence from the convention, would speak even more powerfully than the Governor could from the speakers' podium.
Sometimes OUTSIDE is INSIDE and INSIDE is OUTSIDE!!!
God bless the Governor for the principled and heroic choices she has made and continues to make that the country she loves may live and survive and flourish!!!
Whatever else happens, Sarah Palin of Alaska, our Lady Warrior, will always be an INSIDER for us, will always be inside our grateful hearts and minds and memories!!!
