Yes, it’s true. Sarah Palin resigned today. Although the collective political IQ in America just went up about fifty points, the Alaskan moose just became a little bit more endangered.
Here’s PZ‘s take (presumably with apologies to Monty Python & The Holy Grail):
Brave Dame Sarah ran away.
(“No!”)
Bravely ran away away.
(“I didn’t!”)
When danger reared it’s ugly shead,
She bravely turned her tail and fled.
(“no!”)
Yes, brave Dame Sarah turned about
(“I didn’t!”)
And gallantly she chickened out.Bravely taking (“I never did!”) to her feet,
She beat a very brave retreat.
(“all lies!”)
Bravest of the braaaave, Dame Sarah!
(“I never!”)
Yeah, I LOL’d.
We’ll miss ya Sair … you betcha.
What's REALLY going on here? There's GOT to be more to this story than Palin lets on. There's rumors of a criminal investigation out there. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/03/sarah-pa…
I can't believe that Palin thinks she has a chance to be President in 2012 (one of the rumors for why she is resigning), though she has proven to be obtuse on many other issues.
I dunno, Erich; I suspect she does hope to run for POTUS in 2012. Anyhoo, that's the resignation theory I'm partial to.
Consider this: According to Todd Purdum's Vanity Fair article, she surrounds herself with family and loyalists and can't seem to take advice or criticism. Purdum writes:
"More than once in my travels in Alaska, people brought up, without prompting, the question of Palin’s extravagant self-regard. Several told me, independently of one another, that they had consulted the definition of 'narcissistic personality disorder' in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—'a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy'—and thought it fit her perfectly."
If that's true, her appraisal of her own chances at the big prize can't be reality-based. She's swathed in several layers of insulation: living in an isolated state; surrounded by family and yes men; beloved of the Religious Right; possible personality disorder; and let's not forget her delusional belief system–hey, sure, she thinks she has a shot, you betcha!
And she has her supporters. The RR still love her; so does William Kristol.
Besides, it ain't like the GOP has got a whole lot of likely contenders to choose from right now. She does have that folksy thing down pat, and if it was good enough for Dubya….
Lord knows what the truth is. Mrs Palin's the most acutely obtuse politician I've ever encountered. But if it's about a 2012 run I don't think bailing out of her first term as governor is much of an advertisement for her perseverance or courage under pressure.
Whatever it is, something tells me we haven't seen the last of Caribou Barbie.
Until I saw the following youtube of Palin's announcement, I had assumed that Palin was motivated by money and that she was going to go on the talk-circuit to rake in lots of cash like Ann Coulter. That way, she could buy lots of fancy clothes, which she got accustomed to during the campaign.
That was before I saw the youtube. Now it appears that there is something big out there motivating Palin's resignation. Is it the federal investigation? Is there more family scandal? Or did Palin just melt down, realizing that she doesn't have the mental horsepower or inquisitiveness to run even one state? One thing is certainly true. Politicians who are quitters will likely never again hold office. And quitting in the MIDDLE of one's term really makes no sense. You've certainly got to hold on until the end of the term, if at all possible.
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How the heck can anyone say so little in almost 7 minutes? What DID she say, anyway? Well, I suppose that as long as she doesn't decide to become a teacher, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.
Paul Begala did some rudimentary yet shocking statistics on Palin's speech:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-begala/sarah-p…
I've been working hard to not post anything on Sarah Palin, who continues to gather publicity for reasons I can't fathom. I must say, though, that I am aghast at her recent position on the illegal Jewish settlements. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_d…
Mrs. Palin is a whiner and a quitter!
Please let the GOP nominate this wretched woman for President in 2012!
Ya'll need to get over it. Name calling conservatives will never get independents like me. Try to be more balanced and analyze Sarah's actions/remarks to the same degree as your beloved Obama. Also, please stop judging people to be stupid just because they don't agree with you! This elitism in the liberal party is just sickening.
Hey, Get Over It,
What do we do if someone actually happens to BE stupid? I suppose we could say they're rationality challenged.
But seriously, I don't for a minute think this woman is stupid. I think she's opportunistic and such a thorough-going politician that she'd use just about anyone, including her family, to win.
BTW, American Right To Life (one of many similarly named organizations) is complaining that she's too liberal, too "soft" on the abortion issue. This about a woman who says even if her daughter were raped and became pregnant that way she'd make her have the baby.
It is fascinating to watch the right devour itself.
Get Over It,
It's not about a difference of opinion. Mrs' Palin has repeatedly and proudly her voiced opinions in ways that exhibit a wanton ignorance of current events, world history, and global politics.
She has on many occasions voiced opinions that show grounding in the prejudices and stereotyping common to those who prefer to leave the heavy thinking to someone else. These are not the qualities of a good leader. They are the qualities of a political puppet.
Palin quit some appointment to an oil board because of GOP "corruption."
Palin says the McCain people didn't let her have her say. The media just did "gotcha" moments on Palin.
Palin quits being governor two years early because of conservative allegations of her being "corrupt." Just after Palin pays back Alaska for bilking the state for travel for her kids and for staying at home in Wasilla when her office in Anchorage was some 20 minutes away (yes, I've been to Wasilla, and to Anchorage!).
"Get over it" is no independent but a card carrying Palin person.
And Palin is a whiner and a quitter!
Please GOP nominate Palin, the whiner and quitter, for president in 2012!!!!