Gov. Palin-R, called a hasty press conference in which only a few reporters were able to respond. She shocked reporters by saying she was quiting effective July 26th. She gave no reason, but she implied she was basically powerless as a lame duck governor and didn't want to waste her time or Alaska's time and money just hanging around until she was replaced.
Some think Palin might have been stepping down to prepare for a Presidential bid in 2012, but if that is the case she certainly didn't indicate it.
Palin's delivery of two weeks' notice rattles a Republican Party plagued with setbacks in recent weeks, including extramarital affairs disclosed by two other 2012 presidential prospects, Nevada Sen. John Ensign and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
Governors just don't give reporters such short notice on something like this, unless it was time critical and based upon her statement it doesn't appear to be that critical.
Something has happened behind the scenes to force her resignation!
What kind of Governor leaves her state hanging with a two week notice? This doesn't sound like Sarah Palin.
This is what you might do if your children have been kidnapped and the ransome includes stepping down as governor. This is what you might do to prevent a war or an attack on citizens, but anything short of that is a stain on one's character.
*Governors just don't give reporters such short notice on something like this...*
It might be exactly what you do when "reporters" have been snooping in garbage cans, gossiping with the locals and sneaking peeks at personal files by announcing & sensationalizing bogus charges for the opposition party to assist "The One they;d been waiting for" in his bid for president. Why give them the time of day?
This is true, but if it is her asperations to run for an even higher office, it doesn't make any sense. If she is walking away from politics then it is far more understandable. The press has treated her pretty rough.
Hmmm, I don't agree.
Sarah Palin has a strong record of working hard for the people of Alaska. She sees her current status as a lame duck as one that gives her little power to work for the people of Alaska, a "waste of her time and their recources". If the person who will take her place plans on running for governor in the next election this move puts him in a stronger position to continue their work while establishing himself as a viable candidate. Her time will be better spent building support for a run at the presidency or VP spot. As she sees it, a conservative win is better for Alaska as well as America...her work for them would in many ways continue.
I guess we'll know soon enough...the press will be like ravins on roadkill.
Obviously it's nothing as dire as the first comment suggests; her children were present at the speech and she was much too composed for a woman who was trying to prevent a terrorist attack, lol. Somehow I can't see her being that cool-headed in such a crisis.
But the reason she gave made no sense. Why are her only two choices being a lame duck or giving up? Why can't she make her second term as governor actually count? It's hard, but not impossible. It just seemed like a really lame excuse, and this kind of bizarre up-and-quitting attitude can't possibly help her political future. If she's flat-out saying that a politician's second term is useless, why would anyone want to elect her as President? Would she quit in her second term then, too?
So either there's a big scandal a-brewing and she wants to go out with as much dignity as possible, or she is (understandably) fed up with all the negative media coverage and flat-out nastiness directed towards her and her family. If it's the latter, I would have more respect for her if she just came out and said it. That would make much more sense than the bogus reasons she gave.
K... Jack Lee commenting now. I think your thoughts mirror my own on this one. Scary I know..., but I do see it as you have explained it. If she is quitting to get a leg up on running for the presidential election, then she is being disingenuous with her weak explanation. There are a lot of us out here who think the election cycle needs a limit on the running and fund raising, otherwise they can keep growing and growing and costing more and more. We think that is a detraction to electing good people. Starting to run almost 4 years before the election seems way over the top...IF that is her hidden agenda.
Next, a lot of people I have talked with about her resignation felt when a candidate is elected its a sort of promise, its a contract with the people that should be served out to the letter. That means if you are elected for a specific period of time you should serve out that time. The only exception might be is if you are drafted to run for higher office right in the heat of an election or appointed to a higher office or for health reasons. To do any less is to trivialize the office you have been elected to represent. I don't know how you avoid that if you quit early for weak personal reasons.
One HUGE thing that supporters like is to be able to take some assurance in predictable behavior of a candidate or elected official. They like to know what they stand for and how they are going to vote. The old apple cart gets upset when they surprise us with things we never expected.
Quitting with virtually no notice has that surprise effect.
Palin's sudden announcement sets her up for a myriad of questions about her reasons, her judgement and quite possibly about her character, and none of them will be helpful to her in the future.
Now that is my personal opinion, but it's one share by almost everyone I've talked too as well.
Always glad when we agree, Jack. :)