Posted on 07/04/2009 5:58:03 AM PDT by kellynla
Even for a nonconformist, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has defied political logic with her sudden, stunning announcement to leave office more than a year early.
Supporters and critics alike say the former GOP vice presidential candidate's resignation, announced Friday afternoon and effective July 26, is an inexplicable move for a high profile Republican widely seen as a contender for a White House run in 2012. A half-term governor campaigning for president?
"If she is thinking that leaving her term 16 months early is going to help her prepare to maybe go on to bigger and better things on the political stage, I think she's sadly mistaken. You just can't quit," said Andrew Halcro, a Palin critic who lost the 2006 gubernatorial race to her.
Palin's abrupt announcement Friday rattled the Republican Party but left open the possibility of a presidential run. She and her staff are keeping mum on her future plans.
Palin's spokesman, David Murrow, said the governor didn't say anything to him about this being her "political finale."
"She's looking forward to serving the public outside the governor's chair," he said.
And Pam Pryor, a spokeswoman for Palin's political action committee, said the group continues to accept donations on its Web site, which saw an uptick in contributions Friday afternoon.
The announcement caught even current and former Palin advisers by surprise. Former members of Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign team, now dispersed across the country, traded perplexed e-mails and phone calls about the vice presidential nominee's decision to step down.
In a hastily arranged news conference at her home in Wasilla, a suburb of Anchorage, Palin said she had decided against running for re-election as Alaska's governor, and believed it was best to leave office even though she had 1.5 years left to her term. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will take her place.
"Many just accept that lame duck status, and they hit that road," Palin said. "They draw a paycheck. They kind of milk it. And I'm not going to put Alaskans through that."
Palin has proven formidable among the party's base. But the last week brought a highly critical piece in Vanity Fair magazine, with unnamed campaign aides questioning if Palin was really prepared for the presidency.
The backbiting continued with follow-up articles elsewhere recounting the nasty infighting that plagued her failed bid. Her advisers sniped with other Republicans, underscoring the deeply divided GOP looking for its next standard bearer.
Meghan Stapleton, Palin's personal spokeswoman, shot down speculation that ranged wildly from Palin dropping out of politics altogether to eyeing runs against fellow Alaska Republicans Rep. Don Young and Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Palin's comment about serving outside government refers to the present, she said.
Stapleton, however, said it's too early to say whether Palin would seek the presidency. In the meantime, the governor will continue to work to bring "positive change as a citizen without a title right now," she said.
"Her vision is what's best for Alaska, which translates into what's best for America," Stapleton said.
Murkowski, whose father was the governor when he lost to Palin in the 2006 Republican primary, was dismissive of the announcement.
"I am deeply disappointed that the governor has decided to abandon the state and her constituents before her term has concluded," she said in a one-sentence statement.
At the news conference, Palin alluded to how she could help change the country and help military members _ an indication that she didn't think her time on the national stage was over.
On her Twitter page Friday evening, Palin wrote that she was remembering America's service members on the eve of Fourth of July.
"Thinking of our vets who kept us free & our troops keeping us free today: THANK YOU!" she wrote on the social-networking Web site.
Palin's decision not to seek re-election is a familiar one for those considering a presidential campaign. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney chose not to seek another term as he geared up for an unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced he won't seek another term, giving him plenty of free time ahead of a potential 2012 bid. But Romney completed his term and Pawlenty plans to finish his.
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said the announcement left many confused. "I think it eliminates her from serious consideration for the presidency in 2012," he said.
Palin, 45, also has the potential to make far more money in the private sector than the $125,000 or so she has been making as governor. She already had a deal with publisher HarperCollins to produce her memoirs, with publication planned for next spring. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Six-figure book deals are common for high-profile political figures.
Palin emerged from relative obscurity nearly a year ago when she was tapped as then Republican presidential candidate McCain's running mate.
She was a controversial figure from the start and soon became the butt of talk-show jokes. Comedian Tina Fey famously imitated her elaborate updo and folksy "You betcha!" on "Saturday Night Live."
In Alaska, she saw her popularity wane this year after returning from the presidential campaign. She's become a polarizing figure, and multiple ethics complaints have been filed against her with the state personnel board.
All but two of the 15 complaints have been dismissed with no findings of wrongdoing, although one complaint led to Palin's agreement to reimburse the state about $8,100 for costs associated with trips taken with her children. The state says it has spent nearly $300,000 to investigate the complaints, and Palin says she has racked up more than $500,000 in legal fees fighting them.
If she is going to run she did the right thing. I just hate these people who keep their job collect their check and do not DO their job while campagning.
I agree!
I am behind Governor Palin all the way.
She is going about this in a very intelligent manner.
Gee, I wonder how that happened... Couldn't be anything to do with the mass media trying to tear her down could it... They were afraid she my interfere with their god's ascendance to the Presidency...
Did Palin Fire an Inspector Gerneral ?
Did the Edwards Presidential candidate have his “affair” covered up for months ?
Did Palin call the CIA Liars ?
Inexplicable by the state run Media....the Media wants to take credit for anyone leaving office...They can’t do it on their own.
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said the announcement left many confused. “I think it eliminates her from serious consideration for the presidency in 2012,” he said.
Why is it pushed to the side that the piece of trash currently occupying the White House abandoned his job as a US senator midway through his term, while spending a little more than 100 days actually working? He campaigned for 2 years while collecting a full US Senators salary. One thing Obama did do is change the way politics are run and these old school experts, like the expert quoted above, are clueless as far as understanding that.
Governor Palin’s actions yesterday just shows her brilliance. Something else to consider. If McCain had one, Sarah would be in Washington , having resigned as Governor in January.
Why should she spend $2 Million fighting $oro$ to be Gov? She had no choice.
Pray for America and Saracuda
If McCain had one. OOPS
Make that if McCain had won.
http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/uptotheminute.cfm?recid=24240
Security for Jindal’s travels costs Louisiana taxpayers
by The Associated Press
04/09
BATON ROUGE — As Gov. Bobby Jindal’s profile in the Republican Party rises, so does the bill for Louisiana taxpayers.
Widely considered a GOP presidential contender, Jindal insists he’s only interested in re-election as governor, but he has traveled to a dozen states to collect campaign dollars and stump for himself or other Republicans.
An Associated Press review shows that providing legally mandated security on such trips has cost the state treasury tens of thousands of dollars since Jindal took office in January 2008, money that has not been reimbursed by Jindal or his campaign........
excerpt, more at link.
I think most would ask "you want to be president, but you couldn't even serve out your first term as governor?"
Doesn't set a very good example of leadership, IMHO.
I think is showes tremdous class. She is not running for anything on the governments or states dime. I feel absolutely screwed when someone runs for something while pretending to keep their present job. If they think they can do it part time (representing our state) then lets MAKE them part time. They can’t even read the bills they sign NOW!
“She’s become a polarizing figure”
Funny, she wasn’t a polarizing figure prior to becoming McCain’s running mate. She won by a huge margin, was immensely popular, and worked great with Democrats.
It’s like a middle-aged man saying that the 5 year old was seductively dressed, so he had no choice but to violate her. The man had nothing to do with the outcome, it was the girl’s fault.
I never said otherwise.
I feel absolutely screwed when someone runs for something while pretending to keep their present job.
I agree, however she didn't say she was stepping down in order to run in 2012. That's all speculation.
Vanity Fair magazine, with *{unnamed campaign aides*}msm still sucking dirt.
Mr. Obama, you want to be President, yet you've never held a job in your life and are in the very beginning of your first term as a US Senator, a group from which very few Presidents are elected (and for good reason!)?????
I bet they did, especially after Schmidt's backstabbing gossip in VF.
I agree with you on that. I also see where Ms. Palin does not need the Alaska governorship in order to have the kind of profile needed to speak out nor does she need the constraints of that job either on her time or the content of what she might want or need to say. This makes her a high-profile free agent who cannot be criticized for “ignoring her duties” as governor or subjected to constant “investigations” which would prevent her from serving effectively anyway. In effect, she can step put of the circle while maintaining the level of visibility to speak out and be heard.
I have a question: when will it be fashionable to put my (still new) Palin bumper stickers on the trucks?
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