Several explanations abound.
The most obvious, of course, is that she’s prepping for a 2012 campaign. She wants to walk away as quietly as possible, burying this in the middle of the three-day holiday weekend. In the meantime, she’ll write her book — which will be personal but also filled with policy ideas; it will be The Manual for the 2012 operation — and devote all of her time to studying foreign policy and national-level economics. She has truly, seriously decided to get ready to debate Romney, Huckabee, and company — and Barack Obama. She knows that she can’t fulfill her duties as governor in 2009 and 2010 while becoming a serious study when it comes to foreign policy (as well as raise kids and keep her profile high amongst the national in-charges). She wants time to assemble a top-notch team. Alaska is far removed from the rest of the country. It’s a long way to DC — to say nothing of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. She wants to be president, but does not want to merely float by with her — let’s face it — limited knowledge.
And she doesn’t want to wait. She wants to take a chance, here, before her star power fades. She understands that her stock is limited.
She’s not worried about questions of experience, because she can just shoot back that her opponent was hired after being a senator for only a couple of years, while she was a governor for a couple of years. Good enough, right? That’s the new standard.
She just hired a new spokesman, so it’s not like this doesn’t line up with what’s going on. And now that she’s gotten “credit” for the natural gas pipeline deal, well…
Of course, there are the alternative, semi-plausible explanations, but they don’t account for the new hire:
* She’s utterly sick of the media spotlight and just wants to be a mom again.
* We haven’t seen the end of this: there’s a scandal involved and she’s stepping down so as not to cloud the integrity of the office.
* She’s tired of having her money sucked up by ethics “scandals.”
But I seriously doubt it.
She’s running in 2012, and she’s using this time in the interim to campaign for candidates in the lower 48, build ties, study up, and refine her message.
Count on it.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
This is very unlikely but perhaps she’s goin to challenge Murkowski in a primary for the U.S. Senate?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Senate seems most likely to me. Why quit to run? Obama kept his day job and ran. He didn’t resign.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Or challenge Don Young for his congressional seat?
Very weird. Big surprise up here, I’ll say.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
This doesn’t make sense. Why quit now? Why not at the end of the year and then officially announce you are running for pres.
When does her term end?
She needs all the experience she can get to counter the “mentally ready” argument.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Bizarre. She isn’t running for President. If she is, this was a vvvveeeerrryyy stupid choice. I think a scandal of some sort.
Her terrible resignation speech is kind of weird. It sounds like she still has national ambitions.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I hope that she just wants to spare her family from the spotlight.
It’s more likely she has a scandal about to break.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
This also gives Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell time to build his resume before he runs for a full term as gov in 2010.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Why wouldn’t she has served the remaining 17 months? Bizarre.
I hope she or Todd or anyone isn’t really sick (cancer or something else). That’d be absolutely horrible, but one of the few explanations I can think of.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Again, Alex is correct.
Listen to him.
Take my word for it. She is putting together an organization and raising $. I have been receiving the email suggesting this.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I smell a scandal. 2 weeks notice is fine when you’re leaving your job as claims adjuster.
3 weeks doesn’t really work as governor.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I doubt there’s a scandal. She’s not leaving office until the end of July and will be on hand for the swearing in of the Lt. Gov. at the most public event of the year, her annual Governor’s Picnic in downtown Anchorage. If there was a scandal, she’d leave now.
I’m inclined to go with Alex on this one.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
If she did this because she wanted to run for President, then she is far stupider than I thought.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
How is she going to explain this to Katie Couric? Q: Why would you resign 15 months before the end of your term? A. Obama has gone too far and I needed to be out there defending the American people. Q: What about the people who trusted you to do your job in Alaska? A: Lt. Governor Parnell is more than capable. Q: So being the governor of Alaska is a job you can just hand off? A. Deer in headlights…
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Sarah’s brother says that she is resigning because she was no longer able to effectively govern.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I liked her complaining about lame ducks. WTF? If she is elected twice, is she just going to step down in 2019 because she hates being a lame duck?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
#12:
I agree. From a purely political standpoint, this makes no sense. Even Romney finished out his term as Gov of Massachusetts before he started running.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Palin ran on the following;
- Forward fun education
- Pipeline
- Ethics reform
- Balance Budget
Done.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I don’t buy it. Even Palin has to know she’s in a far better position as a candidate with a full term in office than as a two and half year governor. And the suddenness. Something is off.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I just think Alex is pretty obviously wrong on this one. Sarah Palin is, for whatever reason, out of elective office for the forseeable future.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
So she just quits when she meets a couple of her goals?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
This is awesome! A 3 1/2 year campaign!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
#14. If that’s true she is definitely, 100% NOT ready to be president. Sure the MSM has put her and her family through hell, but that’s the price to pay when you’re a strong conservative. Weak.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Makes absolutely no sense if she is trying to run for pres. The cost far outweigh the possible gains from this insane stunt if she has presidential ambitions.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
if Kristopher is right about running and getting organized it means that Politico story a few days ago about Romney and his team being ready and waiting must have struck a nerve with Sarah.
no other way to explain it than she saw herself falling way behind and needs to start now to catch up.
of course MWS, Mcon, birch,jonathan, et al could be right as well and she is just proving again that she isnt ready to be a primetime player
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
If she runs in 2012, her opponents will say she ran away from a challenge. There is no explanation for this resignation. None.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm
From Palin’s twitter account:
“We’ll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election… this is in Alaska’s best interest, my family’s happy… it is good, stay tuned”
http://twitter.com/AKGovSarahPalin
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Did she wink in the Twitter?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
i mean tweet!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Ha, #27. She should have added a
at the end.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Being governor of a small, remote state is a horrible springboard for the top national job. And governing had to have become nearly impossible. So why not bring out the checklist from her candidacy, declare victory, and quit? She can finally cash in the big bucks on her book deal without conflicting with Alaskan constraints on governor’s earning money outside office. Plus, she still has time on her hands, with no dire need to challenge Obama in 2012 as a last shot at the POTUS spot.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
No corep…I don’t really think this signals a run for the pres. I think perhaps she is putting her family first….which would make her a prime time player in my book.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I think Sarah Palin runs for President the way I play chess: Since you don’t really know what you’re doing, f*** with your opponents’ minds by making every move one they’d never expect and then hope they make dumber moves than you in their stupefied reaction.
It generally works in chess (unless the person I’m playing against is really good). It’ll be interesting to see how this tactic plays out on a campaign trail.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
some folks nearby at work are reacting to Palin news, talking about what an idiot Palin is. Everyday Americans. Palin is tainted goods. CW is that she’s stupid. How can anybody think she has a shot?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
“Being governor of a small, remote state is a horrible springboard for the top national job.”
And being a resigned governor of a small, remote state with only 30 months experience is a better springboard? Answer: NO!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
After this, she is done. Only 2 1/2 of being Governor.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Mcon
have to think the limelight of running for pres is far brighter than Gov of Alaska. If so she is getting out of the frying pan and into the fire.
now if she is going to take 12-16 months to settle the family and take time to do what all the rest of us do with our families then that is a good move, but….
time will tell which she has chosen.
although i still dont see a positive from an ability to lead standpoint of quitting halfway through something just becuase you happen to think you have accomplished all you should, what about excelling beyond what you thought you could do, oh yea that would be Kneppers argument about things and we dont want to rehash that one do we
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
OH boy, this has got to be the dumbest idea…wow, just downright stupid and shocking to call it quits in middle of her term, who does she think she is bobby knight?…just sorta a high school-ish prank with this stunt…kinda funny, she really did sound like some high school senior speaker in her pc, talking in generalities and all….bottom line, this doesn’t show much for her decision making process and who her counsel is…no ? she wants to run for president in 2012 and being in a celebrity culture who knows what will happen but i’m not impressed at all with this game plan.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
#33, the only reason I even know this resignation announcement got made is because someone just tried to call my dad and tell him (I answered the phone). This guy calling my dad was like, “Yeah! She’s got my vote!” Everyday Americans are all TOTALLY divided on Palin. Some think this is the dumbest move ever, some think it’s brilliant.
I think it should be interesting to see how this plays out. If she handles it right, she could make a good reintroduction of herself for the next several years…
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Mitt Romney just won the GOP nomination.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
#39, he might not even run.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Assuming that she means it, that she is tired of Politics (Which I am taking her at her word). What will her supporters do now?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
IMHO, this is a totally dumb move. The race is now down to Romney, Pawlenty, and Gingrich. Maybe Marsha Blackburn will throw her hat in now.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I don’t pretend to know her personal intentions or ambitions. But leaving public elected office in a nearly no-chance demographic outpost before the effects of Obamanomics kick in — wrecking the national economy and most heavily affecting areas reliant on natural resource extraction — will surely be meaningless in seven years. In fact, were she to entertain POTUS ambitions in the longer term, she might have chosen well to leave now, at the top of her gubernatorial game, before the coming national economic malaise.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
If she’s resigning because she’s tired of politics, that’s a terribly sad statement on our political climate. I’ve never viewed Sarah as the perfect politician, but I’ve always viewed her as something like a perfect citizen; civic-minded, patriotic, passionate, and principled. It’d be devastating to see a citizen-politician run out of the rat-race because of the ugliness of it all.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
#40,
Obviously Romney running is presupposed when I say this move wins the nomination for him.
Whether Palin runs or not, this removes her from being a serious contender. Unless she endorses Huckabee I don’t see how Huckabee beats Romney head-to-head.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
What will her supporters do now? For now, sit tight and see how the cookie crumbles.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Kristofer,
romney is running and you know it. he is doing all the right things, saying all the right things, and starting to become the voice for the GOP on issues beyond the economy.
if sarah is doing as you say then its because her hand has been forced by Romney, Huckabee, and to a lesser extent Gingrich
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
# Kristofer Lorelli Says: #39, he might not even run. (Romney)
Why wouldn’t he, all of his political opponents are dropping like flies and his Wifes health is in good shape.
However, my theory is she is looking at the Senate run in 4 1/2 years (Steven’s old seat).
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Resignation date is july 25th.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
40) I think it might be smart for romney not to run in 2012…instead go to utah and challenge the dem congressman in 2010, well it might be an open seat since that dude is probably running for gov of utah…romney should serve 3 terms in the house, let his son take over in 2016 and romney run for president that year after two obama terms, odds are obama beats any repub in 2012, so romney should position himself for 2016 instead. Back to palin, if she wants to quit politics or run for president in 2012, just finish the term and don’t run again…crazy to quit like this, not like she was in a bob dole spot where his quitting was rational…
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
This is a very smart move politically for Governor Pallin. She is playing a game of strategy with the other full-time candidates (Mitt, Huck, TPaw) and she just check mated all three of them. Game, set, match Sarah.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Palin:
“We are not retreating, we are advancing in another direction.”
2012.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Sources tell MSNBC I(yes I know) that Palin is done with politics.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Maybe Romney paid her off so she would not win. Remember he just told Carl Cameron that he would be willing to dip into his own funds again if needed.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Pruce,
“This is a very smart move politically for Governor Pallin. She is playing a game of strategy with the other full-time candidates (Mitt, Huck, TPaw) and she just check mated all three of them. Game, set, match Sarah.”
I think that pretty well settles if this was a good decision or not……
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Palin’s speech was clearly marked as an opening salvo for 2012. However, this whole resignation thing will leave people scratching their heads. People are going to be asking; why is she resigning if her term is up in 2010?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
32,
If you were playing me, you’d get your a** kicked.
The problem with this is that if she is running for president, she’s going up against some very, VERY good politicians in Huck, Romney and even Pawlenty. I don’t see this as setting her up for a run at the presidency. It would be more likely if she were in a second term already, but not 2 1/2 years in the first term. SHE IS NOT RUNNING. I’d give her a 10% chance that this is leading up to a run for POTUS.
What does this mean for the race? Huckabee and Pawlenty just benefited from this in a huge way. Probably hard to say who more, but my bet is on Pawlenty benefitting more. People that supported Palin won’t be looking to the other 2 of the big 3 and this gives pawlenty an opening.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
My advice to palin…do nothing in politics until the alaska senate race in 2014…chill out with the family and make some coin, than re-enter the political world running for senate in 2014…guess she could land a cabinet job if a repub somehow wins in 2012 but no way she should run for president in 2012.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Scandals and campaigns aside, maybe the most likely possibility is the most mundane, that no one is talking about.
Maybe she just wants to be a highly paid celebrity. Make speeches. Write books. Sit on conferences. That sort of thing.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
#57: I don’t doubt I would get my a** kicked. It’s a tactic that only works with people who know how to play chess roughly as well as (or maybe a little tiny bit better than) I do. But it does work.
Now the question is whether it can work in politics…
(my guess is no, but it will still be fun to watch!)
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I was so stunned that I backed out of a bar-b-que. This makes no sense whatsoever. The only way it would make sense is if Palin were to quit politics for good, but if that were the case then she should have definitely stayed on, enjoyed the perks and just ignored her critics.
The idea that someone who many voters did not think was qualified to be VP can quit half way through her term and be a credible presidential candidate is absurd. And please drop the comparisons to then Senator Obama being in his first term. He had already served in the Illinois legislature and, frankly, has a brain the size of a planet. More importantly, whatever experience he didn’t have he will have in spades in 2012.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
6 – Exactly. It smells like there is some huge scandal on the horizont and the only way to prevent it (or minimalise the damage)is by resigning.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Barack Obama DOES NOT have a “brain the size of a planet” #61. He’s the dumbf***ingest a**hole I’ve ever seen in my life. Just because he speaks really slowly and furls his brow a lot doesn’t mean he’s intelligent.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
i think she was just sick of it. fed up with msnbc, vanity fair, letterman, all of it. i think she concluded it just wasnt worth it.
pretty powerful statement, a woman with the nomination for president in her hand, gives it up to take her family away from the monsters in the liberal press.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
*furrows* his brow that is.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Video of Palin resigning at HotAir
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/03/video-palin-resigns/
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Mike Carey, Anchorage Daily News
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
It was a campaign speech for god sakes….
She’s running.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
if a campaign speech then a pretty stupid move on her part.
i quit my day job to go after a possible job that my day job would help qualify and prepare me for.
no way there is more to this just like there was more to Sanford taking a few days hiking tour of the mountains
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
69 should read
no way, there is more to this…
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Sorry Palin fans, but this looks like cut and run to me.
Oil income is done, economy is bad, spotlight is too hot, scrotching article comes out in Vanity Fair, popularity at home falling, etc., etc.
I think she’s going for a “bailout” of another kind.
She’s trying to save her reputation (facade) before the house of cards comes down.
I’m very disappointed in her.
One-half and done……
Now we’ll find out just what the GOP is made of.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
…and Mark Sanford was just going for a hike. There’s a career-ending scandal brewing.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Look for Palin to setup home in a recently “blue” state (VA, NC, or FL) which will serve as a double-whammy to Obama electorally by turning it red again, from which she will travel, speak, write a book, and have the lower 48 at her fingertips. Alaska is too far away from which to run a presidential campaign for the next three years.
Sarah Palin is definitely running for president in 2012.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Give it up Alex, she’s done.
She has a Down’s child that needs her full time attention. I wish her well.
And then there were two.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
TPAW in the race gives Huck and Mitt an excuse for not winning Iowa. If he doesn’t win Iowa, he’s done. Mitt needs to win NH. If he doesn’t, he’s done (unless he wins Iowa). Huck needs to win SC. If he doesn’t, he’s done, unless he’s won earlier.
If one person clears the table from Iowa to SC, that person has an in with the party leaders and everyone else will take the hint to get out of the way and not mess with momentum.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Only Palin would say that quiting as governor is good for her state.
To English speaking people of normal mental ability that’s the same as saying that staying on as governor is bad for her state.
I agree with most people here.
Something is screwy.
Either in Palin’s life or in her head.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Wow, I thought Palin was supposed to be formidable? She took on everyone, yet she can’t do the last 2 years of her job? What does that say about her ability to be POTUS?
If she is doing this for the good of her family, then good for her – it’s about time. Trig gets his mom back.
If she’s doing it to run for POTUS this early, she’s an idiot.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
If Palin runs – and wins the nomination and the general, will she quit after 2 years because the dems are too mean?
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
The argument that so is doing this for family is a joke if she’s running for 2012.
If she can’t govern little ol’ Alaska and take care of the family at the same time, then how the hell can she run a presidential campaign, let alone be Prez, and take care of the family at the same time.
But hope springs eternal with some people I guess.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:34 pm
“all of his political opponents are dropping like flies and his Wifes health is in good shape”
How is MS “in good shape” healthwise ? MS must be one of the most unpredictable illnesses/diseases out there, like cancer.
She was not even at the statehouse with him as his portrait was unveiled, and Ann is always with him. Very odd.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
#80 Go Palin: Ann Romney was too at the State House. Don’t spread misinformation!
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
#54 Texasconserv
I was waiting for the smart a** Romney haters to get snarky.
Maybe “Sarahcuda” was nothing more then “Sarahcouldn’t”
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Well the presidency should be much easier….
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
#80; Go Palin: Not only Was Mrs. Romney at the Statehouse, she looked pretty good.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Sorry, I was just trying to be funny. No ill intent on Romney.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
#85
Accepted…..Unloaded on you. Sorry. Just got off some Palin leaning sites that are taking their disappointment out on Romney.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Economic Stimulus. H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, passed 385-35 on January 29, 2008 (Roll Call 25). It would provide about $150 billion in economic stimulus, including $101.1 billion in direct payments of rebate checks (typically $600) to most taxpayers in 2008 and temporary tax breaks for businesses. Creating money out of thin air and then spending the newly created money cannot improve the economy, at least not in the long term. (If it could, why not create even more money for rebates and make every American a millionaire?) The stimulus has no offset and thus increases the federal deficit by the amount of the stimulus because the government must borrow the rebate money. A realistic long-term stimulus can only be achieved by lowering taxes through less government and by reducing regulatory burdens. Marsha Blackburn voted FOR this bill.(Source: The New American – July 21, 2008)
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conservative.
See her unconstitutional votes at :
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=614
Mickey
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Gee, Real Conservative, that should not be totally surprising Real Conservative. After all the celebration coming from the Romney camp that Mrs. Palin appears to be gone and all the bitterness between the camp. Do you think we Palinites wnt to eat more dirt tonight and just surrender to the Romney camp. This is not going to just happen over-night.
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