Sarah Palin Resigns as Alaska Governor

This is a stunning development that’s raising more questions than it answers. The first thing that comes to my mind is there must be some kind of nefarious scandal waiting to go public? Why else would a woman on the GOP’s shortlist for the 2012 presidential candidate suddenly bow out of the public limelight after only two-and half years in office? Politicians are like bad headaches. They generally hang around forever, especially if they intend to run for higher office. But if you listened to Palin’s rambling, metaphorical speech yesterday where she compared herself to a point guard ready to pass the basketball so her team can win you wouldn’t think this is part of a grander plan. Seemingly nervous and shaken, she was hardly able to take a breath as she relinquishes her highest platform, and prepares to ride off into the sunset leaving behind the Republican Party with a laundry list of copious scandals in the last several weeks.

There’s no question the beginning of 2009 has been as difficult for Palin as was the end of 2008. She’s been hounded by a number of unsavory headlines, including the recent scrimmage with David Letterman, which was fueled by his over the top comments about her teenage daughter’s sex life. Even still she’s been a scrappy brawler, fighting back in support of her daughter’s pregnancy during her campaign for Vice President, issues with the State of Alaska paying for her children’s travel costs, against the Republican Power brokers, and stories about her clothes and hair dresser. Perhaps the toll these battles have inflicted has caused more damage then believed. Still, many who strongly support Palin suggest this move is strategic allowing her to position herself to run in 2012. John Weaver, a former adviser to John McCain disagrees. “This makes no sense. The way for her to increase her changes in 2012 is to be reelected in 2010.” I second this emotion. How can you be the leader of America, if you can’t even be governor of a state that has more Caribou than people? So, is there something far more dubious then what the media spin is leading us to believe, or is this just the most awful political suicide imaginable? Funnier still, why the Friday announcement when news is typically buried, and on a holiday weekend no less? I actually voted for McCain and Palin, but now I believe she’s probably not cut out for public office, and she realizes she has a lot to learn about politics behind the scenes.