Althouse: Sarah Palin resigns as Governor of Alaska!

July 3, 2009

Sarah Palin resigns as Governor of Alaska!

Well, that can only mean one thing, right?

276 comments:

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Jim said...: The one thing I'm not seeing anyone talk about is the horrible personal cost that the Left is intentionally inflicting on her through their frivolous ethics complaints - wearing a jacket? talking to a reporter? WTF?

She's run up a $500K legal bill (the state doesn't cover legal expenses - even when you win) trying to fight obvious political hackery, and staying in office meant that Leftists will just continue to harass and intimidate her in order to drive her into bankruptcy.

So she's done the smart thing. By leaving the governor's office, they lose an important line of attack. She's got a good record of accomplishment. She won 15 out of 15 ethics complaints. She'll have the opportunity to build a political base and write her book without Leftists abusing the ethics process.

[Another one of those tactics that Leftists are going to inevitably regret. There are plenty of states around the Union where Democratic officials can be similarly intimidated through abusing the ethics process. If that's where the Left wants to play this game, there are plenty of conservatives who can fill out frivolous ethics complaints too. If bankrupting political officials is the new battleground, then the Left better be prepared to leave more than a few bloody and battered bodies on the battlefield.]

Let's face it: she has more time in office as governor than Obama has in office when he ran for President, so this whole line of argument that she isn't experienced enough at this point is wishful thinking. She actually has accomplishments she can point to, whereas Obama had an ethics bill he cosponsored and promptly violated as soon as he became president.

It remains to be seen where she goes, but it's pretty obvious that there's an awful lot of wishful thinking by Leftists that they have somehow "won." If that's what they think, they're engaging in a great degree of self-deception. Not that it's ever stopped them before.; 7/3/09, 6:24 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "Well that explains your lack of perspective when discussing current events."

Probably so. Because for me, "current events" don't necessarily extend into grievance-mongering festivals and pity parties so that I can feel vindicated about things that happened thirty fucking years ago!; 7/3/09, 6:25 PM
TWM said...: "Somehow, the Palin-worshipping right-wingers will try and spin her strange resignation as making her even more fit to be Prez of the USA. Well, whatever. I can't wait to hear the real reasons she quit."

And somehow Palin-hating left-wingers will try to spin her strange resignation as making her even less fit to be Prez of the USA. Well, whatever. I can't wait to hear the real reasons she quit.; 7/3/09, 6:26 PM
TWM said...: "Probably so. Because for me, "current events" don't necessarily extend into grievance-mongering festivals and pity parties so that I can feel vindicated about things that happened thirty fucking years ago!"

When the current president is not only following in the footsteps of those thirty year-old things, but actually doing worse, then I think they are worth talking about.; 7/3/09, 6:28 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I was all of two years old when Jimmy Carter was elected.

Well look at the bright side. Now that you're a grownup, you too will be able to experience what you missed out on when you were crapping your pants and drooling on your mom's shoulder.

You might find yourself doing that again in six months time.; 7/3/09, 6:28 PM
sakredkow said...: This way, she can go after David Letterman full-time.

You're all invited to my place tomorrow - just a simple outdoor get together; we'll throw a few flags on the fire. See you then!; 7/3/09, 6:29 PM
Cedarford said...: Seven Machos said...

I agree that the Cult of Palin is a little odd. What's abnormal and vile, though, is the Cult of Palin Haters, who for whatever bizarre reasons have nothing but hate for this woman. It's really, really sad to see it fester, even today. Get help, you silly drama queens..

As a moderate on most domestic, foreign policy issues I think the only politician that I remember that was absolutely loved by their Party's Base of Support, but met with visceral antipathy elsewhere, is Jesse Jackson.
As a kid, our family went to a huge 1984 campaign rally for Jackson. Not because we were supporters, but because it was 5 miles away and I guess my Dad thought it was cheaper than taking the family elsewhere on a summer weekend.
About what you would expect...howling blacks talking back every 2nd sentence in "affirmation", "That's Right, Brother! You tell 'em!"
Excited Jewish college students passing out "Reagan is a Murderer of the Working Man" literature. Weeping middle-aged hippie women.

And when you scanned the crowd, you saw singularly unethusiastic whites, hispanics, and even bored-looking mainline Dem hacks sitting on the campaign stage.

Palin is like that. She has little experience, huge knowledge holes...but like Jackson, she tosses out the red meat "her People" crave in easy to understand slogans. Like Jackson, she is despised by not just the Other Party, but most independents.

---------------
My take is that her abruptly quitting her office on 3 weeks notice 3+ years out from the next Presidential election marks her as not just a drama queen - but unstable and erratic. It makes little sense if her intent is to be President.
It makes sense, others note, if she is medically-speaking, cracking, under all her challenges and the fishbowl life - or family has medical issues...

It also may make sense if she follows the Jesse Jackson route. Jackson realized that he had the millions of adoring supporters needed to make him rich. After his failed campaigns, he was out making millions and millions as a TV host, going into radio syndication, then pocketing fat corporate consulting fees.
Many have noted Caribou Barbie is ideally suited for channelling her Cult backing into being a media star. And going from middle class to buying all the fancy clothes and going to all the Elite fancy-pants parties and getting the adoring attentions from Cult of Goddess Sarah believers - she just got a brief taste of, but definitely loved.

Wait a few days. See if she cooked up a 1-2 year media deal worth millions.

Meanwhile, Tim Pawlenty is raising a glass of beer and Mitt Romney is likely clinking a tall glass of good fresh cool milk with Missus Romney.; 7/3/09, 6:30 PM
Frodo Potter said...: Here is one very possible scenario: Palin knows something about one of Alaska’s sitting senators, that one of them is ill, having family problems, whatever, something that will take the senator out of the game sometime in 2010. Meanwhile, Palin resigns, writes a book, goes on a speaking tour, makes a lot of money, keeps her profile high, etc. She becomes moderately wealthy and puts a little more polish on herself and her family.

Then, in 2010, the aforementioned Alaska senator resigns. The new Republican governor, her former Lt. Governor, appoints her as the new senator. Presto, Mrs. Palin goes to Washington and is now Senator Palin. Then, when she runs in 2012, she can claim a little bit of foreign policy experience, in addition to her executive experience. That is my prediction. She will still likely lose to Obama, but it’s actually not a bad strategy.

Montana Urban Legend, a few months back, the Times of London, hardly a right-wing newspaper, had a group of historians rate the American presidents, from George Washington, all the way up through George W. Bush. Jimmy Carter definitely came in the bottom quarter. Ronald Reagan was in the top quarter.; 7/3/09, 6:30 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Probably so. Because for me, "current events" don't necessarily extend into grievance-mongering festivals and pity parties so that I can feel vindicated about things that happened thirty fucking years ago!

Good then tell that to the moron in chief who thinks our 'history' with Iran forbids him from speaking out about shooting demonstrators in the streets.

If you need some tissues, I hear Kroger has a but 2 for 1 sale.; 7/3/09, 6:31 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "crapping your pants and drooling on your mom's shoulder.

You might find yourself doing that again in six months time."

And that's a perfect way of describing what you're doing right now, at this very moment.

Is this really the way you prove yourself capable of intelligent thought and serious conversation? Yes, I suppose it is.; 7/3/09, 6:33 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "Good then tell that to the moron in chief who thinks our 'history' with Iran forbids him from speaking out about shooting demonstrators in the streets."

I can see now that I've come around to getting under "Hoosier's" skin. Good! It's about time!

This has nothing to do with what's forbidden and everything to do with smart politics that doesn't kowtow to the cries of YeeHaw! that constitute diplomacy in your feeble mind.

HeeHaw.

Also, Kissinger and George Will agree.

And they were around during the vaunted presidency of your obsessed nemesis: Jimmy Carter.

Some day your party will feel comfortable allowing people with brains to attend the conventions once again. Just not today, apparently.; 7/3/09, 6:36 PM
Meade said...: Freeman Hunt said...
"If Palin offers any lesson to non-leftist women, it is this:

Do not enter political life until your children have grown up.

That's the reality."

Men too.; 7/3/09, 6:41 PM
Randy said...: Be that as it may, neither Will nor Kissinger will agree that Carter ranks above the lowest quartile of U.S. Presidents. Nor have most historians whenever surveyed since his departure from office almost 30 years ago. Nor did the American people at the time, which is why 60% voted for someone else when he ran for re-election. Nor do most Americans alive today, for that matter.; 7/3/09, 6:43 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "Be that as it may, neither Will nor Kissinger will agree that Carter ranks above the lowest quartile of U.S. Presidents."

And neither one of them are historians. They are simply educated Republicans who disagree with the idea that shrieks of "YeeHaw! and "Go America and Liberty!" will make the world free.

"Nor have most historians whenever surveyed since his departure from office almost 30 years ago."

If you have a citation...

"Nor did the American people at the time, which is why 60% voted for someone else when he ran for re-election. Nor do most Americans alive today, for that matter."

We're talking about educated opinions, right..? (although I know that bothers some people...); 7/3/09, 6:47 PM
TWM said...: "Be that as it may, neither Will nor Kissinger will agree that Carter ranks above the lowest quartile of U.S. Presidents. Nor have most historians whenever surveyed since his departure from office almost 30 years ago. Nor did the American people at the time, which is why 60% voted for someone else when he ran for re-election. Nor do most Americans alive today, for that matter."

By any objective standard Carter is one of the worst presidents EVER. I guess it's understandable that one might argue this if one were not an adult when he was in office, but if you were an adult either you were in a coma or stranded on a desert isle if you disagree with this assessment.; 7/3/09, 6:48 PM
rcocean said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/3/09, 6:51 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: Of course, the evidence indicates otherwise. But who cares about evidence when you can come up with snappy things to say about comas and desert islands?; 7/3/09, 6:52 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Steve Schmidt

Just because.; 7/3/09, 6:54 PM
essaybee said...: Wikipedia?? Way to bring out the big guns, MUL.; 7/3/09, 6:54 PM
Synova said...: I just realized that she resigned her job before running for Governor. In that case it was necessary because she was running on the fact that her previous job had revealed corruption that had to be opposed.

I don't think that this is the same, it would seem to make far more sense to quit at the end of her term. She'd still be able to present it as the responsible thing to do (very different from a certain Senator that essentially never bothered to serve at all.)

So this seems like a really risky decision... at least not being able to see on the inside what is going on... until we look at some of the things she was getting "investigated" for... like talking to a reporter in her office or wearing her husband's team jacket.

In one fell swoop she gets all the protections of any private citizen to do and say whatever she wants to do and say, wear any company logo she wants to wear, and to go where she wants to go.; 7/3/09, 6:55 PM
Synova said...: If Carter wasn't the worst president ever... he's by far and away the worst EX president ever.; 7/3/09, 6:56 PM
rcocean said...: How Palin ever win against an old rich, out-of-touch white man in a business suit?

Romney has everything Repubilcans look for in a candidate:

i.e. dullness, past political failure, insincerity on social issues, slavish support for big business and a complete lack of a popular message.

He's a shoe-in.; 7/3/09, 6:57 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: Only 2 out of 9 polls on the Wiki page show Carter at 33rd or lower (bottom quartile), and one of those was conducted in 1982 during the height of Reagan's popularity. The other was WSJ so you see where the skew comes in. And then there's the ranking by conservatives that place him at #30, which is still in the third quartile. And those are conservatives.

But these are comprehensive polls that also take account of presidents such as Buchanan, Pierce, Harding, etc. So you can see where this focus on the entire history of the office of the president gets us. A little far afield from someone's obsession with their snapshot of thirty years ago as if that is the only meaningful era of history when it comes to judging the success or failure of presidents.; 7/3/09, 6:58 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "Wikipedia?? Way to bring out the big guns, MUL."

Hey. At least I brought some evidence to bear. Which is more than I can say for... anyone else here. And the article itself heavily cites the relevant polls of scholarly and popular opinion.

So in other words, kindly shut the f* up.; 7/3/09, 7:00 PM
TWM said...: "Of course, the evidence indicates otherwise. But who cares about evidence when you can come up with snappy things to say about comas and desert islands?"

Look man, I don't know what you are reading, but I lived through 13% interest rates, double-digit inflation, gas shortages, record unemployment, a very real and depressing national malaise, and Iran kicking our ass so I will take my personal experience over your info any day.; 7/3/09, 7:00 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: Maybe she wants to make more money?

Governors don't get paid that much. What about $175k. That's lot much and she has lots of mouths to feed.

I don't blame her for wanting to make more money. She can and she should.

It is kind of weird to think she has only been governor for 2 1/2 years and came on the national stage in less than a year.

She can get a multi million dollar contract from Fox, give paid speeches, help other republicans raise funds, write books. She's all set.

Is Sarah going to be a New Yorker?; 7/3/09, 7:02 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: I am a fudgie Ricpic but I can appreciate a hot woman.

I do think Palin is the hottest female politician ever, not that there is much competition.; 7/3/09, 7:03 PM
TWM said...: "How Palin ever win against an old rich, out-of-touch white man in a business suit?

Romney has everything Repubilcans look for in a candidate:

i.e. dullness, past political failure, insincerity on social issues, slavish support for big business and a complete lack of a popular message.

He's a shoe-in."

Well, Romney will have to go a long way to be more insincere on social issues than Obama. Just ask all the gays who have seen him betray them on DADT and DOMA.; 7/3/09, 7:03 PM
TWM said...: "I do think Palin is the hottest female politician ever, not that there is much competition."

Not stateside but overseas there is some competition. Still, Sarah doesn't do too badly there either.; 7/3/09, 7:04 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: I bet she could get 10 million alone to be in Playboy.; 7/3/09, 7:04 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "Look man, I don't know what you are reading, but I lived through 13% interest rates, double-digit inflation, gas shortages, record unemployment, a very real and depressing national malaise, and Iran kicking our ass so I will take my personal experience over your info any day."

First of all, I cited (at least one source of) what I read. Second, if information is meaningless to you, then you've got a bigger problem than any argument with me will fix.; 7/3/09, 7:04 PM
TWM said...: "First of all, I cited (at least one source of) what I read. Second, if information is meaningless to you, then you've got a bigger problem than any argument with me will fix."

Look, I lived through it. You want me to disregard my own personal experience for something some historian wrote?; 7/3/09, 7:06 PM
TWM said...: "I bet she could get 10 million alone to be in Playboy."

More, but thank goodness she is better than that. I like mystery anyway.; 7/3/09, 7:08 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: Who said to "disregard" your personal experience?

If you want to "disregard" the context provided by what historians have to say about Carter's role in the ranking of presidents, then that's a different issue. (But similar, in a way).; 7/3/09, 7:09 PM
Meade said...: I hope palin doesn't pose for playboy. Jimi Carter might lust in his heart for her. And that might cause him to have another stroke.; 7/3/09, 7:09 PM
Meade said...: And as everyone knows, I'm not talking about a stroke
of genius.; 7/3/09, 7:14 PM
TWM said...: "I hope palin doesn't pose for playboy. Jimi Carter might lust in his heart for her. And that might cause him to have another stroke."

When did he have a stroke? Why was I not informed of this? I hate not being in on things.

Jimmy lusting in his heart was the only thing I ever respected about the guy. The fact that his lust was mostly for communists and terrorists shot that down though.; 7/3/09, 7:14 PM
rhhardin said...: Palin is doing a Ross Perot.; 7/3/09, 7:14 PM
Meade said...: I wonder if Titus would do Ross Perot.; 7/3/09, 7:17 PM
TWM said...: "Palin is doing a Ross Perot."

At some point that will be doable, but not yet.; 7/3/09, 7:19 PM
Cedarford said...: montana urban legend said...
I didn't pontificate on Carter. I left that to the historians. As W. says we should do with him.

If you dumbasses ran more competent candidates to get into the office (i.e. NOT Nixon. Not W.).

Yes you did pontificate on the dismal Carter. And were properly buried by people who pointed out he is rated a cellar-dwellar by historians.
( he is in the bottom 5 of Presidents in most historian's polls.)

Nor are you right about Nixon. Even the the most hard-Left Jewish communist in NYC weeping for the departed Rosenbergs knew they could not get a "dumb, or incompetent" charge to stick to Nixon. NOt when Nixon rose from poverty to be offered a Harvard scholarship he still couldn' afford..or finding an alternate path that put him #3 at Duke Law in a work-study admission deal. Or becoming a decorated war hero personally commended by the Navy Secretary. Or 14 years of solid accomplishment in high office.

So the spin became..."He may be brilliant, but Nixon is evil! evil! evil! He must be destroyed!"

-------------
Palin might learn from Nixon. He, not Reagan, was key to how the Republicans rebuilt after the Goldwater debacle. Aided by great Republicans like the Tafts, Dirksen, Reagan, George Romney..Nixon helped broaden and moderate the Party, define it by not what they were against - but what things they stood for, for the New Majority (later renameed Silent Majority).

Had Wallace not run in 1968, Nixon would have had another electoral landslide that election, to go with his greatest ever landslide in 1972 (losing only Mass and DC).

If Palin does go into media, she can help herself and her Party in the long term by not taking up zany right wing or neocon "cause" issues believed by only a small fraction of the population, but responsible focus on the basics..plus an issue or two she can seriously damage the Democrats on - like cap and trade.

And at all costs avoid the crazy ideology things like "Yah gotta invade Iran if Israel wants us to, because yah never 2nd-guess Israel because God chose them.."; 7/3/09, 7:32 PM
Unknown said...: REJOICE! Andrew Sullivan, Todd Purdham (Vanity Fair), David Letterman and all the bullies who enjoyed mocking Sarah Palin's 18 year old daughter, her baby Trig with Down's Syndrome, and her Alaska roots.

Politics is dirty and mean and onLy someone like the extraordinarily tough careerist Hillary Clinton or like the "chosen one" Barack Obama
can survive or even want to survive in the cesspool that is politics.; 7/3/09, 7:36 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: George W Bush survived too!; 7/3/09, 7:45 PM
CharlesVegas said...: Why not take her at her word? She could not be an effective governor when she spends 80% of her time, her family savings, and millions in state dollars and staff hours responding to frivolous ethics complaints.

The Left had her in a cage and were poking sticks at her. She had no way to effectively respond.

By resigning, her lieutenant becomes the incumbent governor and has an excellent chance at winning the gov race in 2010. This is an essential rear guard protection for her as she advances on national politics.

Finally, maybe she recognizes her immediate role is not public office but simply supporting conservative principles. If she delivers the House in 2010, this will be long forgotten.; 7/3/09, 7:47 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: Bill Clinton survived and we was accused of killing people.

I love the Clinton Chronicles.; 7/3/09, 7:47 PM
garage mahal said...: Wow. Just wow.; 7/3/09, 8:03 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: Oh no! I've been berated as having "pontificated" and "buried" by the mouth-breathing Jew-hater, Cedarford.

Need I say anything more?; 7/3/09, 8:06 PM
Jim said...: Charles -

You nailed it in your post. Romney has such a lead on her in building a national infrastructure that as governor she simply would never be able to compete as a sitting governor of a state 1500 miles away. There wouldn't be enough state business to justify the number of trips she would have to make - especially with Leftists filing a new frivolous ethics complaint every time she so much as breathed.

Her best bet was/is to take an active part in the 2010 elections: giving speeches and raising funds for senators and representatives and earning their support for a 2012 run. As you said, if she helps deliver the House in 2010, then no one will care about what happened today because the story will be about how Palin helped an otherwise moribund GOP charge back and retake the House.

She's a lot savvier than any of critics have ever given her credit for - all the way back to her time as mayor of Wasilla. Her road to the governorship was extremely unconventional, so thinking that she's going to somehow change tactics and become a stodgy, conventional candidate is a mistake.

Being unconventional and risk-taking have worked for her, and as we can see in this thread, infuriating to her critics. She has confounded them more than once, and it would not be surprising to look back a couple of years from now and see today's announcement as a political masterstroke.

There's a lot of territory between here and there, but those who are carving her political tombstone are premature at best, embarrassingly wrong at worst.; 7/3/09, 8:10 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: Would we love her if she wasn't hot?

My sense is if she wasn't hot she would be just another Virigina Foxx from North Carolina.

What I am saying here is hotness matters.; 7/3/09, 8:19 PM
rcocean said...: Its good that the Republicans can now line up with Romney. Which is what they want. Too bad their real choice their dream man - Bush I is too old.

Bush I - now there was a President. A war hero. A business man. An Ivy Leaguer. A foreign policy genius. Brought the Republicans back to the center from Reagan extremism. Won the First Iraq war. Nominated Souter. Remember Jim Baker and David Gergan - wow, those were the days.

I'm really looking forward to Romney and the return of moderate Republicanism.; 7/3/09, 8:22 PM
TitusHello,Happy4th said...: I think we all need to be honest about the hotness factor.; 7/3/09, 8:24 PM
Meade said...: I'll be honest with you. I've seen hotter.; 7/3/09, 8:31 PM
Synova said...: "Hotness" is an issue for any candidate. They have to be at least a little bit photogenic or they've got an incredible up-hill battle.; 7/3/09, 8:50 PM
jr565 said...: My guess is she's so burnt out on politics she doesn't give a shit anymore. She's taking her ball and going home. The election is come and gone and still the media has a hard on for destroying and ridiculing her and her family. Letterman has nice little skits about people having sex with her daughter months after she is no longer the VP candidate. Sullivan is having a gay orgasm over his pet theories that Bristol is actually the mother of Sarah's baby, Huffington post on hearing the news put up a nice little blog about "Sarah Palin will run in 12 on more retardation platform (Because her son is retarded. GET IT? GET IT?)
And her enemies are doing nothing but putting up ethics complaints after ethics complaints which she seems to keep betating by the way, but not that that will stop them). Then she has people on her own side on the campaing that she was in (and by the way, truth be told If she weren't on the campaign Obama would have won by an even larger margin) knifing her at every turn.
And my personal opinion is she simply said, you know what? Fuck all of you. The presidency isn't worth it and neither are the assholes tearing her down.; 7/3/09, 9:10 PM
chickelit said...: I'd buy rhhardin's the third party idea. But first I hope she gets some quality time with her family, writes a fabulous tell-all best seller, and spends more time on Fox news, at ABC's expense (viewership and advertising bucks); the nation will be better off.

Have a great weekend everybody!; 7/3/09, 9:20 PM
jr565 said...: You know who's hot Titus? That Obama chap. He's so dreamy with those finely honed pecs. And everytime he says hope and change its instant panty wetness just like when the Beatles sang "I want to Hold Your Hand" and all the prepubescents had orgasms. Just as CNN and MSNBC. Hell, he's so hot he's been known to give Chris Matthews instant hard ons and Olberman has already donned the knee pads for his inevitable servicing of the presidents johnson. And he's not even gay!; 7/3/09, 9:21 PM
Dutch Canuck said...: AJ Lynch @ 3:44 pm, FTW!

Lordy me, how that poor woman gets under some people's skin. This news has got to be catnip to Dr. Sully MD OB/GYN. Anyway, all the best to Sarah and her family, whatever happens when the other shoe drops. I like CharlesVegas's theory best.

Nansea @4:16: There are more than a few folks up here in the Great White North who are looking at the current situation in the U.S. and thinking, hey, this may be a once-in-a-millenium opportunity. It's not every day that the great power next door commits suicide in a single generation.

And if quiet, friendly milquetoast Canucks are thinking that, God only knows what America's enemies are thinking. Makes me feel sad and fearful, for all my American friends. A hard rain's a-gonna fall before this gets sorted out.; 7/3/09, 9:30 PM
traditionalguy said...: Meade... You sly devil.The only sore spot for Palin admirers is the odd look we get from our wife who is not exactly like her. But the Sarah Palin bright spot is her courage and coolness under fire. The female good features are in many people all around us. It's the inner strength and good heartedness mixed in that completes the package, even for Titus whmI expect loves her for those same reasons.; 7/3/09, 9:34 PM
Dutch Canuck said...: Oh, and Happy July Fourth, everyone!; 7/3/09, 9:40 PM
Meade said...: Tradguy: thanks for noticing. Nicely put.; 7/3/09, 9:40 PM
William said...: She will write a book that will sell more copies than those of both Clintons combined. She will give speeches, some for lucrative fees. She will make more money than she ever dreamed possible a year ago and go to Saks on her own dime. This money will be a small fraction of the $100 millions that the Clintons made. Her money making efforts will portrayed as greedy and grasping by members of the press hoping for their own book deal......I don't speculate on any occult reasons or ambitions behind this decision. It seems too me that there is a great deal of wish projection from those here who are trying to figure it out. Perhaps she simply felt that she and her family would have a better life if she resigned and cashed in her chips. People sometimes make sane decisions based on their morals and rational self interest and not on the promotion of their political careers. Sarah is a sane and moral person, and I hope this decision leads to greater happiness for her and her family. That's the whole point of the game.; 7/3/09, 9:44 PM
Frodo Potter said...: Montana Urban Legend, you cited Wikipedia. I am citing The Times of London, October 28-31, 2008. It’s also in the timesonline. I believe you can google if you have trouble. According to The Times poll of historians: Jimmy Carter at #32, Reagan at #8. You said no one but you was providing evidence. There is my evidence, dude. Check.; 7/3/09, 9:46 PM
Ken Pidcock said...: The transcript should be read.

We need those who will respect our Constitution where government’s supposed to serve from the bottom up, not move toward this top down big government take-over… but rather, will be protectors of individual rights - who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed and are willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it’s time so the team can win! And that is what I’m doing!

Inspiring.; 7/3/09, 9:56 PM
LoafingOaf said...: william: She will write a book that....

Ahem. You mean she'll hire someone to write it for her.; 7/3/09, 10:24 PM
chickelit said...: Ahem. You mean she'll hire someone to write it for her.

I'll still buy it! And just how long will that pussy-clamp leg hold last for you before you shake it off?
huh?; 7/3/09, 10:30 PM
Jim said...: LoafingOaf -

"Ahem. You mean she'll hire someone to write it for her."

Better than Obama having Bill Ayers write his and claiming it as his own. Palin's already hired an author and isn't trying to lie about it.; 7/3/09, 11:02 PM
Ralph L said...: Do not enter political life until your children have grown up....

Men too.

Todd looks pretty grown up to me.; 7/3/09, 11:07 PM
Anonymous said...: I cannot believe that Montana is still here pontificating on the absurd failure that was the Carter presidency, that he admittedly knows nothing about because, as he says, it happened when he was a toddler. (Never mind, Nixon, which happened before that, but that he knows in spades.)

The link to wikipedia is almost too priceless for words.

Thanks for the laughs, dude.

God bless you, Sarah Palin. Here's your dignity back. Please don't run for president any time soon. You are as unqualified as Obama. May you and your family find happiness and, if you want, some solitude.; 7/3/09, 11:11 PM
Meade said...: Good one, Ralph L.; 7/3/09, 11:18 PM
Peter Hoh said...: I'm finally listening to Palin's statement. Wow, she's talking fast. And overall, I'd say she carries on a pretty upbeat tone.; 7/3/09, 11:47 PM
former law student said...: She's going in, Rambo style, to liberate Iran.

Freeman won the thread as far as I'm concerned.

Sarah's resignation can only mean that she's accomplished all that she could as Governor, and it's time for her to move on.

She's got the social conservative wing of the GOP sewn up -- her story is far more compelling as Huckabee's and she appeals to the same people. Plus she gets the Jesse Ventura voting bloc -- all the guys who don't know much about politics but who will think, wow, cool!

Her being Nixonesque is the prime quality here. I know you guys rushed to her defense as she carried out the vendetta against her ex-brother-in-law, but being Nixon in a short skirt and a tight shirt is a good thing for those who want to get elected: Persevere. Never give up. Use your animal cunning. Know where all the bodies are buried. And know what to kiss, and when.; 7/4/09, 12:05 AM
Kev said...: The real but seldom spoken of fact in accepting any new person seeking an authority promotion in any system is that they must first undergo a certain amount of un-fair attacks while keeping a good attitude. These are the required dues that must be paid first. Fraternity pledges' initiations, military basic training, and the new lawyer in front of a Trial Judge for the first time come to mind. After that gauntlet is run successfully, then the new relationship is celebrated by both sides.

I can't speak for the military or lawyers, but in fraternities, that's called hazing, and it can get the chapter shut down and possibly subject its members to legal liability.

The whole idea of "you have to break people down before you can build them up" is slowly but surely being debunked in the Greek system, and more than a few of the most egregious hazers are finding themselves without a charter.

And besides, even if you think it's OK to haze Palin to better prepare her for national politics, the attacks on her family still went way over the top.; 7/4/09, 12:40 AM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/4/09, 8:32 AM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: #32 is still not in the bottom quartile, Frodo, so no check. (See how that fancy math thing works! 44 divided by 4 equals 11! And 11 times 3 equals 33! So the top 33 presidents are still in the 75th percentile! Amazing how math works! Even in a publication biased toward the opposition! Math still works!) And the evidence I cite makes use of the following polls:

1982 Murray-Blessing survey of 846 historians
Chicago Tribune 1982 poll
Siena 1982 poll
Siena 1990 poll
Siena 1994 poll
Ridings- McIver 1996 poll
CSPAN 1999 poll
Wall Street Journal 2000 poll
Siena 2002 poll
Wall Street Journal 2005 poll
CSPAN 2009 poll

Further, USA/Gallup polls and Rasmussen corroborate the findings. They are also available at the same site. Again, Wiki is a secondary source, so unless you have a problem with Siena, WSJ, Gallup, Rasmussen, then your only recourse is to berate Wiki for citing sources and evidence that you find legitimate? That's nonsensical. If The National Enquirer subsequently wrote about a story that was already broken and checked in the non-tabloid press, that doesn't damage the original story's credibility either.

Oh, and Machos - you might want to put your thumb back up your butt. I'm starting to smell a leak.; 7/4/09, 9:07 AM
Anonymous said...: I don't think it will be feasible for her to re-enter the political scene if that's what she's planning on doing in a few years.; 7/4/09, 12:30 PM
Frodo Potter said...: Montana Urban Legend, you lay down some very interesting and seemingly clever snark about 32 out of 44, but you are overlooking some fundamental facts. First, note the date of the article in The Times of London: October 28-31, 2008. Now note the date of the election: November 4, 2008. In other words, Barack Obama had not yet been elected, much less inaugurated. Barack Obama is the 44th president. Moreover, my recollection is that George W. Bush was not in the poll, which means there were) only 42 presidents.

But wait, it gets even better! Even if W. was counted, there are still only 42 presidents. Why is this? Well, very simply, there was this man called Grover Cleveland. About 120 years ago, he was president; then he wasn’t president; then he was again. Thus, “According to a ruling of the State Dept., Grover Cleveland should be counted as both the 22nd and the 24th president because his 2 terms were not consecutive” (2002 World Almanac page 551).

I even went through the World Almanac and counted the little thumbnail pictures of the presidents and even including George W. Bush, there are only 42 pictures. Up until January 20, 2009, only 42 human beings had ever been President of the United Sates. Being rated #32 means a president is in the bottom quartile. Do the math.; 7/4/09, 5:35 PM