A little-noticed private curtain call for Sarah Palin after defeat

Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska who burst onto the nation's political scene Aug. 29 with her selection as the first woman on a presidential ticket in the Republican Party's 164-year history, quietly walked off the Phoenix stage with her running mate, John McCain, last night after his concession speech. (See the complete text here.)

But a little while later, the rest of the country's attention was focused on Barack Obama's speech on Chicago's lakefront (see complete text here)

Thanks to the sharp eyes of The Times' Seema Mehta, Palin and her large, extended family were spotted walking back out onto the Biltmore Hotel's expansive lawn to what would have been the victory celebration site.

There, where McCain had graciously conceded shortly before, the Palin family posed with one another in front of the large U.S. flag hanging as the backdrop. A couple of dozen people nearby began chanting, "2012, 2012, 2012."

Palin smiled and waved. Was this the start of something? Or the end?

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Jim Watson / AFP/ Getty Images

Comments

[Dave J]

McCain conceeded months ago......what a horrible campaign he ran. If he had spent less time praising Obama and more time pointing out the differences, he might have done better. And if it wasn't for Palin, he would have lost much worse than he did. She's the only reason alot of us voted. I hope the Republican leaders heard the message.....give us someone conservative next time!!

[david]

I liked Gov. Palin and it's too bad the MSM attacked her so much and did not give her a break like they did with obama.

[J. Henese, Sydney Australia]

I really really hope that the Republicans make Palin their leader.

That would cement the Democrats hold on power for the next decade.

[Howard]

McCain has to be lamenting on the selection of Sarah Palin. "2012". Are you kidding me? You'll see the Republican party starting to sprint away from Sarah Palin and never look back. She is the modern day Dan Quayle that the party should of avoided.

The last line of this article points out how sad Palin's popularity has fallen. - "A couple of dozen people nearby began chanting, 2012, 2012, 2012." - Wow, a couple of dozen. 24 or so people with no clue on the blunder of the party's huge mistake

[Spanky Jones]

RON PAUL 2012 ....no more dumb-dumbs in the white house, please.....

[Berkeleyan]

It is the end of Sarah Palin. She cannot fight 62.3 millions American "terrorists, socialists, or Marxists" whom the whole world is cheering on! Good grief. I hope we never have to see her again on the national spotlight.

[Jarome Walliz]

Just crawl back under your Alaskan rock and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more!

[nath4ever]

it's really the end ...

[John]

Sorry Palin. Hope to NOT see you and yr corruption again in four years!! Vive la liberte!!

[Damon Devine]

In that Sarah Palin was the joke, if not the very downfall of the McCain campaign in 2008, why on earth would anyone take her seriously in 2012. There is no longer room for her mentality..well...anywhere.

[Jeff]

Bye bye Sarah. Take your rapture and get out of here... preferably right away.

[MotorCityMe]

Let's hope it's the end. America does not need Palin's divisiveness or her very public religiosity. Been there, done that, and it didn't work. Time for a change.

[Ol' Whip]

2012? Honestly to what end? In spite of what she said, Palin's views represent a step backwards. The GOP got mauled last night and having Palin on the ticket had much to do with that. She could handily run for a Senate seat (and probably win), in Alaska but the lower 48 sees here for what she is. The dumb blond of politics.

[joel palmer]

Sarah Palin was an anchor for a drowning man. She revved up the base, whicis about the same group of people who still think America is on the right track.

She will be a trivia question in a couple months; if the Republicans think she is going to lead them from the wilderness they find themselves in, they will disappear as a party

[Adakin Valorem]

Sarah might be the GOP's first thought right now... but while she's sitting behind her desk in Juneau over the few years, Mike Huckabee will be adding to his core following that started for him back when he was the only articulate and thoughtful candidate in the GOP primary.

My hopes are for his promotion of the FairTax, his ability to reach across party lines without being disagreeable and his common sense solutions for our nation's problems.

[Bob]

So gracious in victory -- such hope! such change! Welcome to Obama thugocracy.

[Frank]

"She is the modern day Dan Quayle that the party should of avoided. "

Are you kidding me? That gives too much credit to Dan Quayle.

She is the modern-day Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Gordon Liddy, and Phyllis Schlafly all rolled into one disturbing little package. Good riddance to her and her brand of politikkking.

[sal]

I was insulted as a republican when i first heard the Palin pick. you betcha, dogggonit, mavericky.. can it get any worse?

Sarah, your vision of america is exactly what made us lose. It is not a joe the plummer america you folks in small town america think.. grow up and look around, stop being whiteys, america is a colored nation.

[anthony]

The best of all outcomes. After the toppling of Bush who was drafted by the GOP for the same reason as Palin, the Christian US Far Right now has a new icon to cluster and pray around, and it suits her messianic ego to stay right there, unelectable forever.

See you in 2012, Sarah!

[Pojack]

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...now that your 15 minutes of McFame is over, you can go back home, clean up your assault rifle, sit in your moose blind, and wait for Bullwinkle.
You can also:
* Sell the new wardrobe on QVC
* Complete the "bridge to nowhere
*Join Huckabee as a FOX celebrity commentator
* Get a clue about how badly your divisive comments will play out in this country post-Bush

[Joe]

David & others that supported Palin you earn respect from the media. Palin was by far the least qualified to ever run for our second highest office in my 40 years of voting.It didn't take much to figure out Palin is not that bright! Obama shown he has the character & wisdom to run our country. Its not going to be easy regardless of who would of won. Proud I supported Obama-Biden & hope all Americans unite to support our 44th President of these United States.

[Chris]

Sarah Palin will go down in history as an indication of what long and desperate odds McCain was facing. Even the Republican "dream girl" couldn't save what George W. Bush has laid to waste.

[CommonSense]

The Republican Party should make a quiet exit--a permanent one. We have no need for an ol' party anymore.

[Sarah The Parrot]

burst onto the nation's political scene - was thrust upon the unsuspecting public.

start of something? Or the end? - a return to obscurity.

[BazookaDave]

While I voted for Obama I feel compassion for Palin. SHe was plucked from relative obscurity, put in an impossible situation and given a script to read. Sure, she read it with conviction, but those were Rove's words, not hers. I hope she finds peace in her return to Alaska. And I wish her the best as she raises her family.