Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has announced that she will resign from office on July 26th. The news has led bloggers and comedians to breath into paper bags and use emergency dial-ins for their analysts across the country. Palin has been God’s gift to bloggers, including this blog. But fear not, this announcement may actually promise more not less Palin!
There was no explanation given for the news, though there is speculation that she is committing herself to run in the 2012 presidential election. One spokesperson, however, blamed the onslaught of ethics complaints as the reason, here.
She insists that, since she does not intend to run for a second term, she is simply avoiding that awkward lame duck period. She stated that she is “determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path. … Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional lame duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose.”
That is a curious rationale since voters probably thought that they were voting for a full term — since that is what she was running for when she asked for their vote. Under this logic, every term would be cut short by roughly a year if the incumbent was not looking for a second term. Moreover, instead of serving as a lame duck governor, she has given Alaska a governor who was not elected to that particular office. Since when is completing one’s promised term “another dose of politics as usual.” That would seem more like a promise as usual.
Palin has long had trouble with quotations, particularly with regard to the Framers. Her departure speech is no exception. The most notable line was a quote attributed to Gen. Douglas MacArthur: “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.” For those of us who are military history nuts, the line is well-known and not the words of MacArthur. 
Some attribute it to General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller (left) at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir when the 1st Marine division was surrounded. However, Puller is more often quoted as saying “”We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” Some attribute it to Gen. Oliver Prince Smith (right). Others deny the quotation was actually ever made, here.
What was clear is that it was not MacArthur. I am not sure why Palin wants to portray herself as surrounded in the first place and coming up for another word for retreat. The more apt paraphrased quote from MacArthur would be something along the lines of “Alaskan Governors never die, they just fade away.”
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated as the new governor at the end of the month.
For the full story, click here.
enoibob:
Thank you, I do love that scene. I can picture Cousin Sarah on that bunting draped podium now, “… and those wonderful people out there in the dark [who voted for me]. Alright, [Mr. Chief Justice], I’m ready for my close-up.”
“She stated that she is “determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path. … Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional lame duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose.”
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Personally I was hoping she would have realized she didn’t want to run for a second term before her first run for office and then decided not to run at all to avoid being a “lame duck” back then. I noticed the mis-attributed quote too, but after suffering through the first part of that rambling, helter-skelter address where she somehow mentioned our troops, her Down’s child, and all those nasty ethicists after her, I rather thought it the highlight–sort of like whipped cream on a dunghill.
A picture is worth a thousand words:
From the Anchorage Daily News;
“Palin decision mystifies some, thrills others”
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/852787.html
From the New York Daily News:
I think this nails it.
WASHINGTON – Sarah Palin’s bizarre bailout dooms her chances of ever being President, Republican mandarins said Friday – but she was already finished.
The Alaska governor’s disastrous star turn as John McCain’s running mate, followed by her lurching, controversial encore on the national scene, had already sealed her fate – except, perhaps, with the GOP’s most far-right wing.
Still, the experts were unanimously stunned to hear her walk off the job with 16 months left in her term – shrinking her résumé even more and surrendering the best platform she has beyond her double-edged celebrity status.
“If you aspire to the highest office in the land, then suddenly think your lieutenant governor can do a better job – not exactly a profile in courage,” one party pro told the Daily News.
Few GOP insiders were surprised Palin decided against running for reelection. The Alaska statehouse is too isolated a locale for any politician aspiring to high national office, they said.
“You need to be in the Lower 48 to be credible politically,” a senior adviser to several Republican Presidents noted.
But quitting mid-term with a rambling rant is not the way to get there.
“She proved she couldn’t play in the big leagues last fall and now she’s proven it again,” one of the party’s most prominent kingmakers said. “If you can’t even handle a governorship, there’s no way you can handle the White House.
“She couldn’t win – but now she can’t even run,” added the official, who once was among her most fervent boosters.
“She has an incredibly thin résumé, a serious lack of gravitas, no coherent philosophy and the people around her are amateurs,” another top Republican pol argued. “She’s finished.”
the decision taken by Sarah Palin is not so cool to avoiding the decision of reelection and now we have to wait for new governor.
To quote General McCarthur: “I think I just stepped on a duck.”
Buddha,
I understand your concern, and I think you have good reason to be wary. However, in this case, due to the economic crisis, I think the opposite may be occurring.
I think the Novel H1N1 is the real deal. We don’t currently have a vaccine available, so it is being downplayed to avoid panic.
If panic ensued, the hardest hit would be the travel and tourism industries. In tough economic times, that could be devastating to some areas. In addition, the general public doesn’t really need any more bad news.
There are indications that the virus has started to mutate. As long as it doesn’t become extremely deadly, and since we don’t currently have a vaccine, the correct course is to downplay it.
My only real problem with the current coverage is the failure to identify high-risk areas. The Chicago-Milwaukee area has consistently produced about 26% of the cases in the entire country. -With such a consistent high percentage, the people should be informed so that they make an informed decision as to their risk.
I respect epidemiology. It’s a valuable science. I’d like to throw out a couple of things to consider though.
1) Epidemiology is by its’ very nature is more political than some sciences as you are dealing with subject matter that transcends the borders and laws of nations yet still “reflects” upon them to the ego-bound within the system. Because of this, politicians will meddle and point fingers – see the recent “I know you are but what am I?” exchanges between the US and Mexico over H1N1’s origins.
2) The most common secondary infection in a pandemic of any sort is fear. It’s a natural reaction. But it’s not like anyone has ever used fear as a political weapon, have they? It also provides a nifty excuse to interfere with travel. Something else no politician would abuse now, would they? I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy. I’m not saying H1N1 isn’t a real flu or addressing its’ potential severity. I’m saying there is a political value in pimping a non- or semi-existing public health emergency. After all, who can concentrate on details like holding criminals within the system accountable when the citizens are all worried about the “killer” flu? Or hemmoragic fever? Or Cootie X? Fear isn’t just for motivation. It can be used for distraction and confusion as well.
Just something to consider when looking at reporting surrounding epidemiological issues.
Jim Byrne,
I have wondered how much about the H1N1 is hype, in order to push some products. In the past decade or so there have been a march of “new” infectious diseases every couple of years or so. They have not investigated if this strain of virus is more virulent than the usual flu virus commonly encountered in the cold season. And that site does not provide a comparison in virulency, morbidity or mortality with the “common” flu virus, and I not sure how valid, or unbiased their statements are.
AY, This story explains the ‘Iceberg’ thing- possible problems with the ‘buddies’ Todd said helped him build their 3.400 sq. ft. lake house. There is a comment that alludes to some major dirty dealing (corrupting Alaskan politicians) that are the focus of ongoing Federal investigations and tied to the Veco/Stevens scandal.
Whatever it is has got to be big- Governors just don’t resign.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7280
***Off Topic
For those who haven’t been following the progression of the H1N1 Pandemic in the U.S.:
On June 3rd we had 11,054 cases and 17 deaths
As of today we have 33,902 cases and 170 deaths
http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/
is a pretty good site to help you keep abreast. All updates are verified. Concerned citizens from around the world, including medical doctors and scientists, are working hard to keep up with the info. The CDC is about a week behind, and the WHO is about two weeks behind. -That doesn’t include the delay in getting test results.
slartibartfast writes:
Just a guess, but I don’t think that Sarah Palin is in politics anymore.
was she ever really in politics? I know she was governor of alaska but she always seemed to be in the entertainment business.
now she gets to be one of those folks who is famous for being famous.
Indentured Servant,
AY:
by the way I enjoy your sparing with Patty C-
I do hope you keep it up, it is certainly a recreational interlude.
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Uhmmm you are going to be on the receiving end now. This is how is all starts. You get sucked into the vortex and you can never get out of the conundrum. The web attaches itself to you and you will feel like you have had your first prison love from a real wanna be woman. Strap on Shaft in, your sweet A** better learn to bend.
B-Ball will be played and a rim shot will be taken. You will know why the sheep in Missouri are nervous but ready. Baaaah
@The Artist Formerly Known As FFN
Governor Sanford abandoned his post.
Shes as frozen as the land, thats why Todd mopes around in the background.
AY:
by the way I enjoy your sparing with Patty C-
I do hope you keep it up, it is certainly a recreational interlude.
I hear a lot more scandals are coming out something about the Alaskan Iceberg. I do not know what that means totally.
just another cheesy politician. She is a woosy. Oooh they were mean to me so I am leaving.
She talks about the troops not giving up and she caves like a house of cards. Go fishing and stay in Alaska populist princess.
whooliebacon,
Don’t frighten me like that. I know you’re right but I don’t need to hear about it. I will be p[acing yet another order at Brigade Quartermaster. (Brigade’s Action Gear® – equipment, clothing and knives for outdoor adventure, camping, survival, military, tactical, Law Enforcement & Spec Ops use.)
http://www.brigadeqm.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/store/index.tam
Their 4th of July theme is very nice this year.
Agreed, we’ll be hearing about the scandal soon enough. Jon Stewart won’t be crying too long!