Sarah Palin quits as governor of Alaska in surprise move

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Sarah Palin quits as governor of Alaska in surprise move

Sarah Palin has made the surprise move of announcing she is resigning as governor of Alaska later this month.


By Alex Spillius in Washington
Published: 10:30PM BST 03 Jul 2009


However, she said that she was "not retreating".

The announcement fuelled speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in 2012 but also prompted questions that she had buckled after months of relentless criticism

Speaking in her hometown of Wasilla, Mrs Palin said she was quitting because she was not going to seek re-election in 2010 and did not want to be a "lame duck" governor "wasting millions of dollars" on trade missions and official trips in the meantime.

But in an edgy and at times incoherent performance, she also cited criticism of her actions and her family since the presidential campaign as a reason for her decision to hand over to her deputy, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell, on July 26.

She said: "I look forward to helping others - to fight for our state and our country, and campaign for those who believe in smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence.

"We are not retreating, we are advancing in a different direction. We know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time."

"I polled the most important people in my life, my kids, where the count was unanimous," she said.

"Well, in response to asking, 'Hey, you want me to make a positive difference and fight for all our children's future from outside the governor's office?' - it was four yeses and one 'Hell, yeah!' And the 'Hell, yeah!' sealed it."

Since she ran alongside John McCain for the White House, Mrs Palin has been the target of repeated denigration for her shortcomings as a vice-presidential candidate.

Earlier this week aides to Mr McCain re-opened campaign wounds with a series of anonymous attacks on the governor in Vanity Fair magazine.

Her troubled family, with her teenage daughter giving birth and then breaking up with the father, has left her open to unwelcome publicity while she and her husband Todd have spent heavily defending themselves against ethics investigations in Alaska.

Supporters interpreted her decision as typically bold. "It will seem genuine and authentic, especially to her people," Pat Buchanan, a former candidate, told MSNBC.

He said Mrs Palin, who remains highly popular with many in the Republican Party's conservative base, was now free to travel the country before launching a bid for the 2012 Republican nomination some time late next year.

However other observers said the timing of her announcement, on a Friday afternoon on the eve of the July 4 Independence Day, suggested her career was effectively over.

She used none of the normal code language to signal a run for a presidential nomination. Such bids are normally signalled, if not confirmed, with a carefully timed and presented speech in front of a select audience.

"Everyone is shocked," said Ed Rollins, a former advisor to President Ronald Reagan. "Everyone will assume there is another story. You certainly don't do it like this as a stepping stone to running for president. This just makes her look fairly inept."

[Arse]

Maybe she's having an affair.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Maybe she's having an affair.

With the Governor of South Carolina.

[Bella Fortuna]

Quitting but not retreating. Yeeeeeeah.......

[Psi Wavefunction]

She wanted to become PRESIDENT?

[Animavore]

Are you really that surprised?

[Transgirlofnofaith]

People of advanced stupidity levels are unable to estimate limits of their personal possibilities which are constrained by their stupidity. Or, simply said, she's too stupid to realize that she's too stupid to have a shot at being prez.

[AshtonBlack]

In my opinion, she has never shown enough gumption to be governor let alone a president.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

In my opinion, she has never shown enough gumption to be governor let alone a president.

Well, that's because Alaska is kinda fucked up. Since it's in the north and near Canada you would think that it would be more moderate, but for some reason it's a unique outpost of whackjobbery.

[FBM]

Good. I hope the twunt disappears from public life altogether.

[Chinaski]

Maybe she saw Larry Flynt's homage to her and decided that line of work suited her.

[Thinking Aloud]

Quitting but not retreating. Yeeeeeeah.......

I hear she's moving down the coast a little way. No I don't. See that removals truck pulling up opposite?

[Geoff]

Awww, she was the best thing about the whole nomination race - some of the most hilarious one-liners! I hope she has another go in 2012, just for lulz.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

People of advanced stupidity levels are unable to estimate limits of their personal possibilities which are constrained by their stupidity. Or, simply said, she's too stupid to realize that she's too stupid to have a shot at being prez.

*cough* George W. Bush *cough*

[Geoff]

People of advanced stupidity levels are unable to estimate limits of their personal possibilities which are constrained by their stupidity. Or, simply said, she's too stupid to realize that she's too stupid to have a shot at being prez.

*cough* George W. Bush *cough*

Never underestimate the power of voters' stupidity...