She couldn’t govern Alaska and run a presidential campaign in the lower 48 (and be a mom) at the same time.
One of them had to give. Alaska is hours away from Iowa and even further away from New Hampshire. South Carolina is further still.
Not even superwoman can do it all. Especially when her main rivals are freed from their duties, busy punditing around.
So the former gave. Consider this her official announcement that she’s running for president in 2012. This will make her more experienced than Barack Obama was when he ran. She has calculated, I imagine, that the ‘not experienced’ canard won’t work, because of that, should she become the nominee. But can she show the American people that she has the judgment? That will be her question.
Still waiting on Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee to announce…
UPDATE: She’s resigning!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
This marginally decreases the chances of a Republican winning in 12′, and marginally increases the possibility that I end up voting for Governor Romney (again). Not the happiest day for me and, I suspect, ultimately a pretty poor one for Palin herself.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Excuse me? Running for office is experience? Why not interning at Disneyworld? Give me a break, Alex.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
A clear mistake if true. With her unfavorables through the roof there really isn’t any way she can win in 2012. Since the election her image has own gone south and she has done nothing to shore up anything but her own cheering section. She can potentially win the primaries, even though she will probably be destroyed in the debates, but unless Obama is totally ruined i see no way of her winning the generals.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Chris Wallace just said that the timing may indicate that Governor Palin doesn’t want to run for national office. Maybe Palin has had enough of all the press bs and has decided to get out of the business.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
1 – Don’t tell me you weren’t expecting this. Not happy?
2- Huh?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Well Obama has to be smiling at this news.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Chris Wallace just said that the timing may indicate that Governor Palin doesn’t want to run for national office. Maybe Palin has had enough of all the press bs and has decided to get out of the business.
Yeah right.
A clear mistake if true. With her unfavorables through the roof there really isn’t any way she can win in 2012. Since the election her image has own gone south and she has done nothing to shore up anything but her own cheering section. She can potentially win the primaries, even though she will probably be destroyed in the debates, but unless Obama is totally ruined i see no way of her winning the generals.
But, but, but, but, haven’t you seen the CROWDS she attracts?!
Just like Madonna gets huge crowds; therefore, the entire country must love Madonna.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Run Sarah Run !!! Let the underestimation begin – just like when she ran for Gov. (stipulating running nationally is much different than statewide).
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Underestimating her.
Sarah’s got ‘em right where she wants ‘em!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
The CNN source provides a strong clue:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/03/palin-will-not-run-for-re-election/
“She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward,” one of the sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. “She sees what a positive influence she has had on people’s lives from traveling the country in the last year.”
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Alex:
If Palin is in fact running for national office, this is very odd timing. 4th of July is a media blackout. Why not try and make a big splash with this announcment?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
This is going to be 1999 all over again.
Palin is going to sign up every fundraiser and activist she can…nothing will be left for the rest.
Don’t believe CNN, she is running for President.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
She’s not REALLY announcing her 2012 campaign, Jonathan.
She’s announcing that she’s not running for re-election.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
#11,
The media is now mostly electronic. A holiday means nothing.
Plus, she wants to avoid all the 2012 questions.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Maybe she’s getting ready for a BLITZ. She will suck up all the air from the room.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
CBO reports she’s resigning in a few weeks? WTF?!?!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Love me or hate me it’s still an obsession
Love me or hate me that is the question
If you love me then, thank you
If you hate me then, f**k you
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Alex,
I was starting to lean towards expecting it (remember my 65% likely rating or whatever), but that’s only because I’m convinced that Palin is surrounded by rank national political amateurs and this is the king of amateur moves. And no I’m not happy: Sarah Palin has an excellent chance of winning the GOP nomination if she runs, in 2002, and almost no chance of winning the general election. I like her quite a bit and always have, but I don’t let that fact get in the way of an objective evaluation. And Palin’s entry may effectively crowd out anybody save Romney and Huckabee. At best there’s room for one more (though Gilmore never got terribly far with cries of RudyMcRomney) if the anti-Big 3 forces can get their acts together and settle on someone; which is, of course, impossible because half of them are pining for mystery candidate X or a miraculous second Rudy Giuliani run. It’d be nearly a disaster if I couldn’t live with Romney.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Why is she resigning?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Maybe she has an Argentine lover too…!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Parnell will be sworn in as Governor by September 1st.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
16 – What is CBO?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Or pregnant again?? The suspense is killing me!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Maybe she just want a job on tv, maybe E¡ or ESPN.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Huh? Wait, is she really resigning? WTF?
Leave it to Seeruh.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Realclearpolitics is reporting she’s resigning too. My head…issss…exploding.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
What is going on up in Alaska? Not running for another term is politically understandable, but resigning for some unknown reason? This is odd at best.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Palin is resigning by August 1st.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I think we are missing another plausible reason behind this: money. Sarah Palin just recently signed an $11 million book deal. Free from office she will have even more chances for huge paydays. Radio, televison, and who knows what else. Palin is big business, and if she is tired of the media attacking her on her political ambitions, then perhaps she will just settle for making hundreds of millions of dollars.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
She’s stepping down, transferring power to Lt. Gov Parnell.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
#22 – Should have been BNO… too many acronyms floating around inside my head.
http://www.bnonews.com/
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Palin has apparently lost her mind or there’s some monumental scandal waiting in the wings that all but forces her retirement. I’m not sure which one I prefer. If she’s lost her mind, I prefer she wander off and commiserate with Mark Sanford about the glories of Argentinian curves during a purple Gibbon moon.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
she’s done for 2012 if she is resigning. its between huck, romney and mystery person now.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
What the hell?!! She’s not gonna run for president if she’s resigning. This sounds juicy.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
#31, I was thinking, “what a scoop by the congressional budget office” haha!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Are we absolutely sure that Sanford’s mistress is in Argentina and not Alaska???
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Where are you seeing this resinging stuff?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Fox is reporting that Palin is resigning at the end of July.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
How does she not finish her term???
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
This is why I support her.
She is going to go after every liberal and rhino republican that attacks her and she is running for President in 2012.
When you think she is down, she trumps everyone.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Obama never finished his?
Carl Cameron just tried to put her on par with Pawlenty, which is complete BS because T-Paw will have served two full terms; not less than two-thirds of a first.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
How is it responsible to RESIGN from her duly elected job in order to apply for a job which doesn’t open up for more than 3 years? I mean, what the hell? That CAN’T be the reason she’s resigning. That’s just madness whipped up in a big frothing bowl of delirium pudding.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
#42,
This is American politics. She is going to try to become the official opposition to Obama.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
#42 exactly, there’s something strange about this. Hopefully it’s not an illness or family problems. But as I try to be charitable I can’t really think of much else that makes sense
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Kristofer,
That’s just…just…just…where’s Mark Sanford to show us level-headed thinking when we need him?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
lorelli. what crack are you smoking cause I would love some!
this says quitter all over it, it says i cant even last in a pretty red state, it says I am unreliable. Too many questions as to the real reason why.
of the three recent issues in the GOP leadership- Ensign, Sanford, Palin – this is the worst from a national leadership standpoint and from a questions unanswered standpoint.
Not a good 2 weeks for the GOP at all
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Matthew,
People did not believe what Obama did, Palin just trumped it.
Take my word for it, she could not run for President and be Governor of Alaska.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
42,
I imagine we’ll find out soon enough….either that or someone had the goods on her lol and she decided to fold. whatever the case I simply don’t see how this is a run for the presidency. People don’t resign from the governorship 3 yrs before the next election to focus on building a campaign. That would be complete insanity.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Maybe Palin confused herself with Sanford, and thought she’d do the decent thing.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
#40:
Kristofer, this has nothing to do with liberals and rino’s. Resigning is just bad politics. If she wants Lt. Gov Parnell to have a head-start to win the governorship in 2010, all she has to do is endorse him. From a political standpoint, this makes utterly no sense.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Todd Palin confirms to Fox, says she will help the country outside government.
2012.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Guaranteed, this isn’t because Palin is planning on spending 3 years running for President full-time. Something’s up and I’m betting scandal. Maybe she knew something big would break against her (maybe that affair Knickers uncovered (lol)) if she hung in there and didn’t want to hurt the GOP so soon after the Sanford debacle? I’m trying to be positive.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Palin must have known this wouldn’t go over well, or she wouldn’t have announced it on the afternoon of Friday, July 3.
That will further fuel speculation that something is amiss, especially with the short notice (gone in 4 weeks!).
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
#50, yes it.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
#52, I agree there’s probably a scandal.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Kristofer,
tell me how not finishing her term helps her? hasnt the whole issue been her inexperience? Romney completed his term as mass governor, Pawlenty has 2 terms, Huckabee completed his terms.
I mean how much time did she have left to serve? months? a year? why not serve out the term
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
#52,
Based on the changes in the Governor’s office and the network she is developing, she is running for President.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Matthew,
#52.
Indeed. Otherwise, why Friday afternoon (when all politicians release their mea culpas) on July 3rd, with only 4 weeks notice before she’s gone? If there is no scandal, she looks like a flake.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
#56, The experience argument does not work. It failed in 2008 for McCain.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
#54:
Her term is up at the end of 2010. That gives her plenty of time, particularly with her devoted following, to build an organization and laying the foundation for a national run. This will just feed into the perception that she is a little odd.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Alex answered your questions above.
She can only be 2 of 3 (mother, Governor and POTUS candidate).
All these arguments we made against Obama failed.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
You know there are reporters now booking the next flight to Palin’s trash cans.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Well at least now I’ll get the interview.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Kristofer,
but why not finish the term? i mean 2010 its over and you have 1 1/2 years to be ready for the primaries in 2012? i dont get this move if she is serious about being a serious contender for POTUS.
help me understand
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Kristofer,
Nope. I know how much you love her, but you’re wrong. People running for President don’t resign 15 months before their first term ends, and at least 12 months before they’d need to lay ANY serious groundwork for a run. It’s not in the cards for whatever reason.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Kris,
Okay, why only 4 weeks notice, and why- if this is big exciting news- did she announce this when everyone is drinking beer on the front porch (except us dweebs) and not watching TV?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
This sucks. I was hoping to spend all weekend watching 24/7 Jacko media coverage and now Palin goes and does a thing like this. I was just about to find out what happened to Bubbles the Monkey- !?#*!@!
Kristofer may be right. ["She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward," one of the sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. "She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year."] If that’s really her reason I think it’ll backfire big time.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Does that mean, come 2011, that you’d consider Republican supporters of Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, Pawlenty or Giuliani, who attack Palin in the run-up to the primaries, to be ‘liberals’ or ‘RINO Republicans’? Do you actually think it would serve Palin well to get into it again with Letterman? Surely, you don’t want her engaging in a substantive debate over policy with Collins or Snowe.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
#64,
I do not think you understand how difficult it is to be Governor and set yourself up for 2012. She wakes up 4 hours after news stories hit the wire. She was not aware of the Letterman attacks until after the rest of the country knew.
Palin needs to hit back and hit back hard. She needs to take on Obama and get her supporters organized.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
This does not sound like a scandal.
“Palin: “I can effect change from the outside. We need…protectors of indiv. rights”
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Aron,
Palin and Gingrich are allies. This move by Palin is going to ensure that Pawlenty, Huckabee and maybe Gingrich will not run.
I am talking about the former Bush administration officials who want to keep the GOP in status quo mode.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I think Palin’s odds of winning a primary fell drastically when she decided to leave her duties as Governor.
I hope she’s quitting elective politics to work on her family. They’ve suffered enough in the media spotlight.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Sarah Palin Explains Her Decision to Resign
“I know when it’s time to pass the ball for victory,” soon-to-be-former Governor Sarah Palin says at a press conference with her family, standing before a picturesque river and seaplane.
She says she’s looking forward to the swearing in of Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. “All I can ask is that you trust me with this decision,” she says. “I cannot millions of dollars and time go to waste just so I can remain as governor of Alaska.
“This decision has been in the works for a while. It comes after a great deal of prayer and deliberation.”
She said when she put the decision to her family, the vote was four “yes”es and one ‘Hell yeah.’ She mentions the family’s reaction to the mockery of Trig.
She said her decision was “fortified during her visit to the troops in Kosovo.”
“It hurts to make this choice, but I’ve given my reasons. I’m reminded of a sign on my parents’ refrigerator, ‘Don’t explain; your friends don’t need it, and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.’”
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I’m sorry guys the party is over, Sarah just blew her chance for the presidency.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
#69
Kristofer. i can see that motivation, but who is seriously thinking about 2012 right now, except all of us junkies?
couldnt she be in the news doing good things in Alaska, like balancing a budget, improving education, tackling healthcare, etc.?
are you suggesting she will need to move to the east coast to get an advantage that she doesnt have now?
I mean if 4 hours is too much she has to leave right? wont that be viewed as opportunistic?
Huck has to be feeling pretty nice right now
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
The Palin quotes reinforce the notion of scandal. She refers to the protection of Trig. How would a Presidential run help that? She says she won’t give the real reason, and doesn’t have to explain.
“Just trust me,” she says.
Something ain’t right in Anchorage.
But what is she referring to with “millions of dollars” going to waste?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Maybe the talk about millions of dollars and change from the outside means she is (permanently) done with elective office and just wants to be a celebrity.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
well wow…now this does shake things up.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-167
GOVERNOR PALIN ANNOUNCES NO SECOND TERM NO LAME DUCK SESSION EITHER July 3, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin announced today that she will not seek a second term as Governor of the State of Alaska and will relegate the power of governor to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell in order to serve Alaska’s best interests. Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will move into Parnell’s current role.
“People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved Alaska,” said Governor Palin. “Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.” Standing outside her home in Wasilla, Alaska, Governor Palin reflected upon some of the administration’s accomplishments for Alaska as she approaches her final year in office. “I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path,” said Governor Palin after the announcement. “Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional ‘Lame Duck’ status in this particular climate would just be another dose of ‘politics as usual,’ something I campaigned against and will always oppose. It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success. I look forward to helping others – to fight for our state and our country, and campaign for those who believe in smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence.” The transfer of power will occur following the Governor’s picnic in Fairbanks on July 26. At that point in time, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell will be sworn in and Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will assume his role as Lieutenant Governor. Governor Palin will spend July 4th in Juneau. ### Selected Accomplishments of the Palin Administration
General
Transferred more control of public issues to the local level Natural Resources
Created the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to oversee responsible development
Held the line for Alaskans on Point Thomson that encouraged drilling
Restructured the state’s oil taxes to create a clear and equitable valuation formula for our oil and gas
Initiated and implemented the largest energy project in the world through the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act
Removed government from the dairy business and put it back into private-sector hands
Ethics
Ushered in ethics reform
Cleaned up previously accepted unethical actions affecting development
Fiscal Notes
Slowed the rate of government growth
Worked with the Legislature to place billions of dollars in savings
Vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars in capital budget line items
Reduced Alaska’s dependence on federal earmarks by nearly 85%
Eliminated state-funded personal luxuries like the jet, the chef, and junkets
Refused a pay raise, along with the Lieutenant Governor
Education
Provided unprecedented support for education initiatives Public Safety
Filled long-vacant public safety positions over the last year Corrections
Broke ground on the new state prison
Fish and Game
Maintained biologically-sound wildlife management for abundance Environment
Established first sub-Cabinet on climate change
Legal
State’s rights protected in two recent victories handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court
###
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
If you read her press release (#79), it means she is running for President.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Palin just reaffirmed on Twitter that everything is good and the family is fine.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Kristofer, I am sorry to say this, but I think you are as crazy as Palin right now. There is no way that I would vote for a candidate who did not serve out her term. There must be some type of scandal coming. And pretty bad too.
At first I thought that she was just saying that she would not run for reelection. Which would be a sure sign that she is running for POTUS in 2012. But down right quitting and saying this decision has been in the works for awhile. It sounds like she is ready for a nervous breakdown.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Oh no… The community organizer vs. the prom queen.
Who wins…
NOBODY.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
“Are we absolutely sure that Sanford’s mistress is in Argentina and not Alaska???” Hahaha, some of you character just won’t give it a rest. I highly doubt tat Mr. Sanford is the reason for Mrs. Palin’s resignation and I almost do not care why she is resigning. I am still proud to be a member of the Palin camp and I will continue to donate to her legal defense, her campaign and charities in Alaska. However, I am now starting to question whether whether she is a strong enough candidate as a result of this. I am in no hurry to join another camp even if the Palin camp goes defunct, but I have to start thinking seriously as to who of the other 3 of the Big 4 is the next best choice.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
84. It starts with Rom and ends with ney.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Well Micah, Mr. Romney might very well be the second best thing, but even if Mrs. Palin is officially out of the game, I am in no hurry to officially join another camp.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Don’t blame you. Allot can happen between now and when things heat up.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
#82,
Did you vote for Bush?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
88. What is going to be your point here?
If Bush would have resigned in the summer of 1997, he would not have become President in 2000.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Here’s the link to the press release:
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2009/07/03/12/Palinpressrelease.20427.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
She’s done. She could have easily run after 2011, when her term ended.
I wish her well. She has a Down’s Syndrome Child and that will take all of her time.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
You know one of the questions about this is her inexperience, right? If she wanted to build that part of her resume, she would need to continue with her service as governor. Well, that’s not really all that true when electing a president or even supporting a nominee. Huckabee IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED OF THE BIG 3 AND EVEN MORE SO THAN PAWLENTY! He served 10 years as governor. Yet, a lot of people aren’t supporting him for one reason or another. So even though this decision won’t make me want to support her, there are still a lot of people that will regardless of this decision.