August 10, 2011 : What I Would Do If I Were Sarah Palin...And Why

What if I were Sarah Palin? Okay, okay, when you're done either laughing yourself silly or being sick, depending on how that image strikes you, listen up; this is serious! If I were Sarah Palin at this point in time, here's what I would do. That's the thrust of this Hub, and there's a reason for it.

Bear with me a bit; this requires a bit of backstory.

My wife and I ran errands together today. It was payday, she needed to get out, and we needed groceries. But by 4:30 p.m., neither of us having slept well or for long last night, she was asleep and I needed to be. So I turned off the computer and went to take a nap.

Woke up around 7:40 p.m.

In my first seconds out of the sack, I was fantasizing about meeting Todd and Sarah Palin after Sarah had been elected and inaugurated. The meeting was in the Oval Office, between just the three of us. What I'd done to inspire President Palin to grant me this exclusive meeting wasn't specifed. It's a fantasy, okay? There are few people on the planet I'd cross the street to meet if I had to walk to the corner to do it, but the Palins are two of them.

Since it was my fantasy, I made it a nice one. "Madame President," I began--

"Call me Sarah." She stepped from behind her desk, gave me a healthy hug, then stepped back--grinning up at me--as I turned to shake hands with Todd. No words between us. None needed. Just that instant bonding between two old working hands and lifetime athletes.

Man stuff.

That's where the fantasy ended...because the real Sarah Palin (as opposed to my fantasy version) has not yet declared her candidacy for the Presidency of the United States of America. The fantasy ended, and as I dressed for the night's work (I'm often at the computer till the wee hours), I woke up enough to consciously wonder:

What if Sarah really hasn't made up her mind yet? What if she's agonizing up there in Wasilla, praying her true servant's heart out, yet so far not clear on the signs from God, whether she is meant to run or meant to sit this one out? What if she's trying and trying, struggling for clarity, yet still thinking at the end of each day, "I don't know what to do!"

That may or may not be the case, but just in case it is accurate: Sarah Palin, here's what I would do if I were you...and why.

We've all heard the story about the man of God who refuses to leave his home in the face of severe flooding. As the water rises, he turns away neighbors, rescue boats, even an attempt to lift him from the very roof of his home by helicopter. The gentleman finally drowns, arrives at the Pearly Gates, and is granted an audience with God. He asks,

"Lord, I have served you with all my heart for many decades. Why did you forsake me?"

"Forsake you?!" God is amazed. "I sent you a guy in a pickup truck, two boats, and a helicopter! What more did you want?!"

In a way, Sarah, that little story applies to your decision regarding the 2012 Presidential campaign, and we're characters in the tale. You are cast in the role of the man of God on the roof of your home with the floodwaters still rising. I get airsick pretty easily in helicopters, so consider me one of the guys with a boat, ready and willing to support and carry you all the way to where you need to be.

However, I'm hoping and believing that you, unlike the fellow in the story, will "get it".

Here's what needs getting:

On Fox News this evening, one talking head opined that he'd never before seen this much flux in a primary campaign season at this point in the proceedings. He admitted to extreme puzzlement, not quite sure why things are this way this year.

I know why.

Things are in flux because Sarah Palin has not yet entered the race.

And they will continue to be that way until your decision (to run or not to run) is announced.

Now, you're no dummy. Most likely, you've got that much figured out. Duh. But what you may not be clear about just yet is this:

1. If you choose to run, the entire nation will be galvanized into action. A good bit of that will be negative, of course, as the fearful left and their legions of preprogrammed zombies crank up the Palin-Pounding Paparazzi and every other attack dog they can find.

But most of it--enough to guarantee your win in 2012--will be positive. There are literally millions of us, grassroots conservatives from coast to coast and border to border, who are quietly waiting, using our time to sharpen our political axes but otherwise holding our breath. We're waiting for you to say, "Okay, I'm in." When you do say that, be sure you're strapped in--because the political power, the true Power of We the People, is going to make a mere rocket launch look downright wimpy.

2. If you decide not to run, the whole thing--the conglomeration of other Republican candidates--is going to continue sputtering along...without a lot of excitement....bleah!

Yes, in that case, someone will win the nomination. The nominee may well even defeat Obama, who is about as hard to hit politically this time around as the gym floor is to hit if you drop the basketball. But.

But the fire in the country won't be there. Oh, we've got the steely determination to see Obama booted. But it's not the same without you, and the nation will pay the price.

Yes, that's what I'm saying: If I were Sarah Palin, what I would do is declare my candidacy for President. There are times, at least in my experience, that we remain unable to know the rightness of a decision--no matter how much praying is involved--until after the decision is made. This may be one of those times.

I simply hope with all of my heart that you, unlike the goodhearted fellow in the parable who entirely overlooked God's messengers, can recognize me and this little boat-Hub as being sent to help float you clear of those floodwaters of indecision. Or that I'm wrong to worry about it in the first place, and you're not feeling that need to hesitate at all. Either alternative would be just fine. The primary campaign season is in flux, and you're the flux-fixer.

Run, Sarah, Run!!