BREAKING NEWS: Sarah Palin Resigns as Alaska Governor

Just when we thought the Fourth of July weekend was going to be dominated by continuing coverage of Michael Jackson's death, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin stepped in to give us something else to talk about -- her sudden and unexpected announcement that she will resign before the end of the month.

At least one journo is wondering if Palin is resigning because she is pregnant! You can watch the full speech (see video below) which was a little on the bizarre side, especially the part about only dead fish going with the flow.

She said she's not wired like a normal politician and doesn't want to advocate for Alaska in the usual manner and so is starting down this new path for Alaska? Palin compares herself with a point guard in her decision? She sure seemed like an overly caffeinated point guard to me and the people of Alaska have to be asking themselves, "What were we thinking when we elected her governor?"

These are some really concerning ramblings by a woman who came awfully close to being the Vice President of the United States. And after reading the Vanity Fair article about her just today, I have to believe she still has political aspirations -- but if so, her actions make absolutely no sense. Maybe in her mind she is carving out a new path to political fame, but it seems like it will be a winding and unlikely path.

Palin says this decision has been in the works for a while, partly because some have mocked her son Trig? Really? I haven't heard any of that.

To be honest, her ramblings made no sense and really made me question what is really going on here. And, if she had become vice president, would she be resigning that office today? Or is there some oddly crafted plan to run for the Senate in 2010 or the White House in 2012? And why would anyone vote for her again if she can't even last four years in the Governor's office of a sparsely populated state?

There's sure to be a lot of speculation and analysis over the coming days and I, along with many others, definitely want to be there to see how this unfolds. My biggest hope is that the very strange tale of Sarah Palin doesn't dissuade other mothers of small children from running for office. There's something to be said for having that perspective in state houses, governor's offices and in Washington, D.C.

I hope the strange path that Sarah Palin seems to be on doesn't keep other moms away from the political world. I think there's more to explore and examine on this story and I am looking forward to writing about it in the coming days!

BlogHer News & Politics Contributing Editor Joanne Bamberger also writes about politics at her place, PunditMom.

Submitted by PunditMom (view blog

) on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 2:38pm

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I can't tell whether she's leaving public
life or kicking off a

...national campaign. What do you all think?

Here's the conclusion via CNN, which picks up where the clip above leaves off...

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 15:11

I vote option c

Taking a job as a high powered 7-figure lobbyist for the oil industry.

That or a role on Real Housewives of Wasilla.

Mom-101

Submitted by Mom101 on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 17:19

And today's Option D for Sarah Palin: News in
an investigation?

The Mahablog openly "speculates" as one of four reasons:

"Whatever she’s being investigated for is about to hit the fan."

The Brad Blog: Exclusive: Palin resignation 'damage control' for coming 'iceberg scandal'

The Common Room: "I believe she has an obligation to the people who elected her to office."

Momocrats: Links the full text of Sarah Palin's resignation speech

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 07:05

Scandal on the horizon

I wasn't going to say it, but that was my first thought when I learned of her

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

Submitted by Nordette on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 08:37

I almost think she is immune

Run a google on "palin affair husband" and you'll see all sorts of stuff from 2008 -- including a supposedly sworn affadavit from someone that Palin had been having an affair...and an article in the Enquirer. Maybe this is only alleged, maybe it is the Ghost of Indiscretions Past coming to visit. Impossible to tell. But I am also waiting for some kind of THUD.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Submitted by Mata H on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 09:09

PunditMom, thank you for this important
comment, my favorite:

My biggest hope is that the very strange tale of Sarah Palin doesn't dissuade other mothers of small children from running for office. There's something to be said for having that perspective in state houses, governor's offices and in Washington, D.C.

I must say, your years of experience watching women inside the Beltway is showing...thank you for that.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 15:18

So bizarre

I hadn't seen that. You're right, it was bizarre. I don't think she came off well at all. I can't imagine what she was trying to accomplish.

And I join you in hoping this won't dissuade other mothers from running for office.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

Submitted by AmberS on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 15:29

the "magnets" got to me

I flinched when she said, although she added that she had explained fully, that she was reminded of the magnet on her Mom's refrigerator --"Don't explain , your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway."

The speech was rambling, cliche-filled and generally on a clarity level with her Katie Couric interview. I still don't know why she is resigning.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Submitted by Mata H on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 15:54

Must be fun there in bizarro land, Sarah.

I could have sworn she just said that staying in her elected office and doing her best by the thousands who supported her and contributed money to her campaign was "taking the easy way out"...while quitting halfway through her term is doing the tough thing?

At least she's always been consistent. Consistently underestimating the public's ability to see through her total and utter bull cr*p, but consistent.

She's right about one thing in that speech: Alaska will be better off.

Mom-101

Submitted by Mom101 on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 16:53

Commitment to service?

Massachusetts has had its share of governors who left office without serving their full term. The idea of someone not honoring their commitment to govern is just amazing to me although I guess if it turns out she's running for president she wouldn't really be governing then either.

She's certainly mercurial. It'll be interesting to see what comes next for her because I know she won't just go away. I suspect she likes the media attention.

http://blog.candelarisilva.com

Good and plenty!

Submitted by Candelaria Silva on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 16:57

Well, her youngest child is six,

there are plenty of politicians with younger ones.

Of course, to me she looks like she's on drugs, but I'm naturally suspicious-natured.

http://www.blogher.com/blog/she-who

Submitted by She Who on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 18:37

Just Not Credible

If Sarah Palin really thought this was a way to get herself to higher office, I suspect she's sorely mistaken.

If she wanted to resign because the heat's become too much in public life for herself and her family she should have just said so. I'd have respected her for that and understood.

But this pretense that she's doing it for the people of Alaska is so blatantly ridiculous, it's laughable.

Thank God she never got even close to the Vice President's mansion.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

Megan's Minute

Submitted by Megan Smith on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 19:44

Mixed messages

At the same time that Palin is leaving office, her PAC has been making a fundraising push. Today, the text of her announcement is posted, along with a donation link.She clearly expects to be a player in national politics, and she has people like Bill Kristol who are trying to spin this a s a politically smart decision.The timing is definitely suspicious, though. I expect another shoe to drop.

Thanks, Joanne, for jump-starting this conversation.

KimBlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|

Submitted by Kim Pearson on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 04:25

Yup, that next shoe

I've got my ears open for the thud!

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

Submitted by Nordette on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 06:01

Thank you for keeping us up on Palin

I keep thinking of how often she switched colleges, how one of the main criticisms of her during the election was not enough experience. The world is changing and so what gives one adequate experience to be president is changing as well, but this just seems odd.

Thank you, Joanne, for posting and giving us food for thought.

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

Submitted by Nordette on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 06:00

From the frying pan to the fire

If she's complaining about the scrutiny and negative comments directed at her now, how could she possibly cope in a presidential (or vice-presidential) role?

Would she be spending more time fighting off the media and bloggers then, say, running the country?

Policitics is a profession that requires an extremely thick skin and flame-retardant wear. If you can't stand the heat (and I know *I* couldn't), stay out of the kitchen.

Submitted by BarbD on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 06:03

Fox Future for Palin?

Maybe she'll be on Fox now; that will be the platform from which she won't be contested and she will be able to earn a nice salary. I cannot believe that she has any plans to fade into obscurity, she seems to be enjoying being at the center of attention too much. Afterall, she keeps putting herself there.

What lesson is she giving her kids? Quitting is a good thing?

Laura, www.RebelliousThoughtsofaWoman.com

Submitted by rebellious thinker on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 06:40

I'm sure it's not the end

Thanks to everyone for the lively discussion while I was a little bit out of pocket over the weekend.

She's not a person who's ever been able to stick with anything -- colleges or elected/appointed positions. I suspect she doesn't see that as a bad thing and is counting on the current supporters she has to carry her through.

One thing she's sure to bring up more explicitly -- she hinted at it in the speeh -- is the fact the Barack Obama only spent one year in the U.S. Senate before he announced he was running for President. Apples and oranges, but she is sure to try to legitimize her decision with that.

Submitted by PunditMom on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 06:11

Way to Go

I think the pressure was getting to her. I am praying that she will run in 2012. She has my vote all day long!!

The current administration is cutting back on tax relief for the general public. I donated my car to charity later found out that the current adminastration is thinking about cutting what you can claim in half. Sarah would never let this happen. She is all about charity work.

Submitted by Patrica6411 on Wed, 07/08/2009 - 15:32

just the facts

I have also donated my car to charity - fortunately before the BUSH administration in 2004 cut the deduction benefit from the fair market value of the car to what the charity was able to sell it for. Current efforts are to undo the damage caused by the prior administration. Here are the facts about vehicle donation:. There is also further info on the site about the Cash For Clunkers plan :

[bolding is mine]
The passage of U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 571 will help the situation by reinstituting some of the tax benefits for vehicle donation to charities which were withdrawn by Congress in 2004.Accompanied by the economic downturn, those limitations have resulted in an average 52% reduction in vehicle donations according to industry sources. Currently, taxpayers are only allowed to deduct the fair market value up to a maximum of $500 or what the charity sells the car for, whichever is greater. Under HR 571 taxpayers would be allowed to ascertain and deduct the Fair Market Value up to $2500 for their car donation, and the appraised value over $2500. As of the end of June this bill is showing promise and has been co-sponsored by twenty Representatives from both sides of the aisle and every region of the country.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Submitted by Mata H on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 10:47