It’s too soon to tell whether the theme song for Sarah Palin’s sudden resignation as governor of Alaska is "How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm?" or "Before They Make Me Run."
On the one hand, as bmaz @ Emptywheel has noted, "Her term was up in 2010; [leaving Palin] plenty of time to honor her duties and still run for national office in 2012."And Josh Marshall adds that "this clearly happened so quickly that Palin hasn’t even had a chance to come up with a coherent cover story for her resignation." There’s even vague speculation about a possible indictment forthcoming.
I wouldn’t rule that out. In the Age of Sanford, who knows if we’re about to find she’s hiked an Appalachian Trail or two in her time (either morally, or in terms of more mundane political/financial corruption)?
But then again, it could easily be the other way around — perhaps Palin realized that as long as she’s stuck doing a job she couldn’t care less about, the only possible developments would be unwanted controversies (issue-related, scandals, or otherwise). In that sense, not having an official position is the best possible preventive measure.
And remember, we’re dealing with someone who’s infamous for narcissism and having a short attention span. I was struck by this bit of pre-resignation spin reported stenographed by CNN: "She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward." In other words, she’s nationally famous now — even in a "famous for being famous" way, a post-millennium equivalent of Charo or Kato Kaelin — so why waste a moment more in a remote backwater state, and being expected to work on top of it?
And to those who count her out as a presidential contender in 2012, or even hint that she’s "out of politics for good," all I can say is that six years after Richard Nixon made a similar statement that the press wouldn’t have him to kick around any more, he was elected President. And if there’s one thing we know about Sarah Palin, it’s that she’s a runner.
Who cares if even conservatives like Charles Krauthammer suggest that Palin "“is not a serious candidate for the presidency…. You cannot sustain a campaign of platitudes and clichés over a year and a half if you’re running for the presidency." Just goes to show that Krauthammer is always wrong — George Bush got away with it for eight years even after he got the job!
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Something sure does smell hinky about this. I almost wonder though if the Vanity Fair article didn’t play a part. Or her Governor Trollop rendition in Runner’s World — I mean sure, she’s a serious runner, but she came across as an ill-informed shallow wannabe.
Commentator job at FOX that gets her whole family out of Alaska: that’s my guess.
And that’s why one of the kids said, ’Hell, yeah.”
Also, someone needs to explain to Joe Scarborough that we don’t believe his lies about why he left office for the sake of his kids in the middle of his fourth term in Congress.
With all due respect, these are much different times.
Richard Nixon would’ve been done if the internet and 24 hours news cycles existed then.
Politically, she’s done.
Now, there’s much cash for her to make on the wingnut welfare lecture circuit, but politically it’s over.
How do you solve a problem like “Meh” Sarah?
Dead body?
What dead body?
“I love Alaska” is the key. It was almost “I’ll always love Alaska”
Scandal coming out and/or Fox News job. Or both. Look at Rove.
They’re gettin’ testy on CNN: ”no narrative” ”Alaska’s in a mess” and ”her family’s a mess. ”What is she hiding?”
Palin done messed up their holiday Friday. They already had all the breaking news they needed in the can thanks to MJ all day. The ”B” team didn’t need all this drama.
BREAKING: Todd Palin Implicated in Michael Jackson Death Drugs…. naw, just kidding. Bet we find out something soon, though.
There’s no way she would have resigned to run for president– you can’t run for president if you’re a quitter.
A commenter at HuffPo speculated it might have something to do with Levi saying his book would have something really damaging. There has to be something really bad about to come out.
(Actually I guess that should be the crazy methdealing aunt, huh?)
Remember when people were saying Trig might not be her baby? I think it’s something like that.
It wouldn’t surprise me if The First Hubby was dealing meth.
hmm.. could it be something First Dude has done?
i think I’m going to go out and buy a very expensive bottle of wine.
I’ve just posted an Oxdown Gazette diary on this from my Alaska blogger’s perspective.
my money is on oxy’s … isn’t that was bristol’s baby daddy’s mom was dealing?
If she was caught cheating I wonder if the First Dude would stand by her. You know, the way all the Republic wives have been standing by their husbands.
OT – The 87yo son of my company’s founder went into hospital Tuesday with an inner ear infection. They found him at 0530 this morning on the floor and unresponsive. Massive stroke. Family is all there. Palms of Pasadena wasn’t equipped so a medical flight was arranged. As that was going on and the family was about to go to Bay Front in St Pete, this happens.
Mr C is at Bay Front, has been taken off life support. Quick. Had a long life and lived well. Nice man.
“You cannot sustain a campaign of platitudes and clichés over a year and a half if you’re running for the presidency.”
Obama did exactly that, and still does.
“Ding dong, the witch is dead!
Which old witch?
The wicked witch!”
Savor the wine, ET — it’s a great day for Alaska. Congratulations!
The dig at lame duck governors who take international trade mission jaunts was a not-veiled reference to Mark Sanford, and explicitly violated St Ronnie’s Eleventh Commandment.
We’ve got a lot of work to do.
She’ll be palling around with the GOP, just not in the limelight. She’ll still be rolling in the dough she craves so much. The woman is a shark, always moving, always knowing where the next meal is.
Yeah, I caught that too. Like Look at me! I’m not as bad as Look over there that guy! See the difference? I’m being responsible, he isn’t.
She’s a shark, but a really immature person. Very much like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction.
Monday is soon enough. Enjoy the moment.
BTW Swopa, love the headline. I listened to her wanting to affect change for aLASS-ka…and the rest of America too! and chills went up and down my spine. Glad someone else caught that too.
Watch out, America! Here she comes!
Chuck Todd speculating *baselessly I am sure* that Sarah Palin may run against Lisa Murkowski, incumbent Senator up for reelection in 2010.
So what’s the real story here?
Is she fucking Mark Sanford?
Is TODD fucking Mark Sanford?
perhaps we’re barking up the wrong tree and this is just about money. Perhaps Fox offered her Billo’s job and pay packet.
What’s with that Runner’s World photo?
Is that any way to treat an American flag? Even those who burn it in the US are treating it with more respect than Paylin in that photo, since they burn it because they understand what it represents, and hopefully inspire more citizens to understand what Liberty really means.
For Paylin, it’s a photo prop and nothing more. Typical Repub.
Rollins on CNN: ”stupid.” It gets worse each time he’s on camera! He’s fuming.
It’s actual desecration, that’s what it is. For all her mother’s angst about how Trig was treated by bloggers, she has the gall to be photographed leaning against a flag being used as a drape, which specifically violated the US Flag Code. Of course, she is married to a secessionist, so there’s that.
”stupid, stupid, stupid move”
Per her statement that “the world needs more Trig Palins, not less” Rick Sanchez on CNN speculates that she’s pregnant again.
Agree that it set the stage for ‘issues’ and insider vendettas to bubble up a bit more. But something else surely lies deeper. AK has tons of $$ and maybe the oil and gas guys needed someone who could do the heavy lifting, whereas Palin was too much the narcissist for even those guys to deal with?
Then again, it would be interesting if the FBI drew any connections between Toobz and Palin. Dunno. Waiting for ET to update.
there you Liberals go again, with all your pesky details….and facts. Quit persecuting me!11!!! (oh, and by the way, be sure to look for my soon to be released book…$19.95 at fine bookstores everywhere). And leave my family alone!!!11!1! (oh, and watch for my exclusive interview on Fox News, and then be sure to tune in for my teenaged daughter’s exclusive interview on Fox News, where she’ll talk about her experience of having a child out of wedlock while still in high school).
Have you no shame, Liberals?!?
I’m an Ed Schultz fan, but he’s been in the joy juice already today.
He’s on with Schuster now and says that this is all about 2012 and (get this) freeing herself up to bring the GOP back.
Someone needs a cool towel for his forehead.
Just based on the body language at the presser, I very much doubt that this resignation is voluntary.
Also, why didn’t they think to put some bug spray on Piper before they went outside – poor kid was being eaten alive.
Nixon was evil but smart, Bush was dumb but rich, Sarah is evil and dumb not smart or rich I’m thinking she’s done.
Ron Christie now saying that neither John Ensign nor Mark Sanford was ever going to be a viable candidate for president in 2012. Also, it would be ridiculous to think that Sarah Palin’s resignation is bad for Republicans.
Oh dear god…
Soooo, what have we got?
a. new scandal
a.1. Levi knows something
a.2. Palin’s sleeping with i. a moose ii. dead dem iii. Gov. Sanford.
a.3. Todd’s sleeping with…
a.4. fill in the blank
b. She has a book deal
c. She has a TV deal
d. She wants to run for Senator
e. She wants to move to Argentina
f. She hates this economy and math is hard.
h. She has a new child on the way?
i. She wants to spend more time stalking Todd Purdam (sp?)
j. Write in a new motive
Did I miss any?
Cockeyed Ron is now auditioning for her 2012 campaign manager.
Then he added:
“The Republican party is in just fine shape, David.”
He really said that.
Stress does make you forget stuff I’m thinking Sarah, Todd the whole family was stressed from what I can tell in the comments.
Oh, well, if Ron Christie says that, well then, it must be so…/s
ET certainly makes the money angle sound plausible.
Me, I’m holding out for tales of Palin/Sanford orgies at The Family’s DC pad…
Another daughter is knocked up, criminal indictments, the old rumor about Sarah’s kid really being her daughter’s , Jeb, Mitt the corporate wing of the GOP want her out and they want us blamed. Someone threatened to make Sarah read a book etc etc
Ooh, I like that one. That could work.
Good news for the Republicans.
Per ET on his Oxdown thread:
Brain Bleach Stat!
Maybe Sarah got tired of living under the threat of Putin!
Jane’s upstairs with more insider Alasa stuff.
WooT wooT!!!
Why the spit do they keep putting christie on? Other than he happens to be both AA *and* republican. His comments were cut from the same piece of crazy cloth as palin’s.
Mike allen luuuuuvs him some palin.
Rut Roh….
Congrats Phil, and to all the AK Bloggers that kept on keeping on. Avoiding the impulse to sink into tawdry with all that you have endured speaks very well. I’m aware there is more to come so take the well deserved breaks throughout the summer. Hat tip, and good gardening!
I really hate the way she uses Trig as a prop.
Geez, that’s sad. I’m an Ed Fan, also. But this is just insane, coming from him.
Did Sarah write his script?
while I’m thrilled that Palin is gone I cringe at thinking of how many Countdown and Rachel shows I’m gonna have to miss bc I am NOT listening to any more about this creature.
the upside is if she does get a job at FOX I’ll never have to hear her again.