Well moose, since you won’t answer, I’ll answer for ya.
Let me inform you.
Palin was forced out of office due to combination of financial considerations, being shut out of Alaskan legislature post 08 election, fending off bogus ethics complaints and a constant drumbeat of “politics of destruction.”
If you studied the Alaskan ethics laws, it was quite easy to file an ethics complaint for the lamest of reasons. Some were filed out of state, by postcard, by bogus names and by those who had an axe to grind. The penalty for filing a bogus complaint...ZERO. The cost to the governor (out of her own pocket) to hire lawyers was 20k to 30k per pop. After 500k-600k in legals bills, it was apparent that the goal was to smudge her image and drive her into bankruptcy. Any help from the RNC or the McCain camp? Nope. The detractors even filed an ethics complaint over her legal defense fund!
During this time, she was spending most of her time fending of these complaints and FOIA requests. Meanwhile, the Democrat and Republican legislature would not work with the governor to pass anymore of her agenda items. The DNC had told to Democrat Alaskan legislatures that anyone who helped the governor would be primaried big time. The Republican legislatures wanted to go back to the days of the CBC (corrupt bastards club). Both sides saw Palin as a national figure and wanted her out. Essentially, it was a tag team effort.
The state itself spent 2-3 million dollars and countless man hours investigating. The charges made the headlines but the dismissal was put on the back pages. It was apparent the complaints were meant to smudge her image and drain her of funds. Had she stayed, the legal bills could of easily been over a million dollars while the MSM mantra would of been her “ethics problems”.
The ethics law was changed (giving future governors the right to counsel, funded by the state government, as well as changes in the law) but AFTER she left office.
When the stimulus funds were available, they overrode her veto to accept them.
Since there was becoming a stalemate, and nothing was getting done, Palin decided it was best to resign and pursue other ventures. Her stumping for candidates in 2010 yield good results and there are plans to endorse in 2012.
In her resignation speech she mentions the lawsuits but doesn't give that as the reason for her resignation.
From the resignation speech of Sarah Palin™:
And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it”. I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! ? That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it.
You can read the full transcript here and watch the speech here: Part1 Part2
I don't know how you can claim lame duck (def. 3) status when you have 16 months left in your term.
A few months later with Bill O'Reilly, she again cited the "lame duck" status as her reason for quitting.
I guess "undefeated" was a poorly chosen movie title.