(HA! beat ya to it, Carlos :)
MSNBC:
Report: Palin resigning as Alaska governor
Former vice presidential hopeful won't finish out first term
WASILLA, Alaska - Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she will resign as governor of Alaska in a few weeks, saying she will try to "affect positive change" from outside government.
The former Republican vice presidential candidate hastily called a news conference Friday morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement.
She said the decision has been "in the works" for a while and comes after "prayer and consideration" and discussions with her family.
She is handing the reins over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn in at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks on July 26. Parnell and most of Palin's cabinet and Palin's family were at the announcement.
Palin was vague about why exactly she is stepping down rather than finish out her first term, which ends in 2010.
"We know we can affect positive change outside government at this point in time on another scale and actually make a difference for our priorities," she said. She added that she was tired of what she described as "superficial, wasteful, political bloodsport."
Some have speculated in the past that Palin may be interested in running for president in 2012, but she did not mention running for another office at her press conference. Sources told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that this resignation announcement indicates Palin is out of politics for good.
No 'lame duck'
Palin said she didn't want to be a "lame duck" politician.
“Many just accept that lame duck status and they hit the road. They draw a paycheck and they kind of milk it. I’m not going to put Alaskans through that. I promised efficiencies and effectiveness," she said.
Later, on the micro-blogging service Twitter, she promised supporters more details: "We'll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election ... this is in Alaska's best interest, my family's happy ... it is good. Stay tuned."
Palin's decision even took Parnell by surprise. He said he was told on Wednesday evening, and was not aware that any presidential ambitions were behind the move.
Palin was elected Alaska's youngest and first woman governor in 2006 at age 42. She emerged from relative obscurity nearly a year ago when she was tapped as Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate.
She was only the second woman to appear on a major party presidential ticket — Democrat Geraldine Ferraro was the first when she ran unsuccessfully for vice president with Walter Mondale in 1984.
'You bectha!'
Palin made headlines from the start of the campaign, with comedian Tina Fey famously imitating her elaborate hairstyle and folksy "You betcha!" on "Saturday Night Live."
Most recently, she was involved in a public spat with "Late Show" host David Letterman over a joke he made about one of her daughters being "knocked up" by New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez during the governor's recent visit to New York. Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, is an unwed, teenage mother.
Letterman later apologized for the joke.
Palin's family and the ridicule they endure being in the public eye was apparently part of her decision to step down as governor. She complained that her 14-month-old son, Trig, who was diagnosed with Down's syndrome, had been "mocked and ridiculed by some mean-spirited adults recently." She didn't elaborate.
Palin campaigned on ethics reform in the 2006 election, defeating incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and a former two-term Democratic governor, Tony Knowles, in the general election.
She enjoyed an extended honeymoon with lawmakers and voters alike. Her popularity was in the 80 percentile range, even though that fell after the bruising, partisan presidential campaign.
29 comments:
We know that some of McCain's staffers betrayed her-
interesting--Lynn Forester-a McCain staffer during 2008 campaign - just interview last hour on FOX---supported Palin during the campaign and didn't believe she was finished with the idea of seeking some another office...(my paraphrase)--
Forester stated that she is a conservative Democrat!!!
44 Dems voted AGAINST Cap and Trade...
Conservative coalition - anyone!....
C-CS
...some other office --
C-CS
Maybe she's fed up with the GOP?
I don't know. I didn't see her speech.
Apparently, it has been revealed that Todd Palin was a member of a secessionist political organization for seven years.
Perhaps Palin is hoping she can run for cover, and come back at a later date.
By the way, not that I feel like this, but if you think about it, a secessionist group can easily be perceived as treasonous.
Todd Palin made a huge mistake. And frankly, as much as I like Sarah, she's an idiot for being involved with him and/or allowing him to do it.
Maybe she didn't know she wanted a career in politics.
I don't much care, the woman is not ready for prime time in my opinion. I agree with Krauthammer.
The other 'experienced' Rs are too slick for me...
'been there - done that'...
I'll take Sarah--over any of the others now proposed...
secessionist leaning husband or not....
Sanford was 'involved' w/a 'babe' in a shack up --
Todd Palin in Sarah Palin's husband...quite a different 'involvement'...
C-CS
..IS Sarah Palin's..
I need a keyboard - fingering editor...:-)
Todd Palin made a huge mistake. And frankly, as much as I like Sarah, she's an idiot for being involved with him and/or allowing him to do it.
1. He joined after they'd been married a long time, right?
2. As for her stopping him, well, a spouse can't always stop the the mate's doings.
How many times Mr. AOW tried to stop me from blogging! He finally gave up and "submitted."
What kind of secessionist group? Inuit?
I've got to look into this angle that I hadn't heard of before now.
HERE in an MSNBC article on the topic of the Independent Party. The article is dated September 3, 2008.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, twice registered as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a fierce states' rights group that wants to turn all federal lands in Alaska back to the state. Sarah Palin herself was never a member of the party, according to state officials.
More at the above link.
I'm with Pastorius on this. We will need someone far more substantial than Palin by the time 2012 rolls around. Better candidates are out there, the trick at this point would be getting one of them to run and finding enough serious voters to pay attention. By 2012 circumstances may have changed sufficiently to allow for better candidates from the GOP or even a third party.
Todd Palin's involvement with the AIP isn't exactly breaking news, though. It popped up during the campaign last year. Why would that lead to her resignation now?
I'll take her at her word in that she really does sound as if she is fed up with "politics as usual" and wants to focus on opposing Obama more effectively. But that doesn't mean she is or will be the best candidate a couple more years down the road.
I just listened to Palin's full statement. I didn't count how many times she said "Time is short," but that seemed to be a motif. She seemed to mean that life is short.
What's up with that?
RRA,
Let's name some better candidates.
Disclaimer: The above is not to be taken as my endorsement of Palin. I've had serious reservations about her from her first appearance on the national political scene.
For What It's Worth --http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1060965/the_palins_and_the_alaska_secession.html
Todd Palin and the Alaska Independence Party
Husband Todd Palin, the so-called "First Dude", however, was a member in good standing of the Alaska Independent Party from 1995 to 2002, registering twice to vote as a member of the AIP. On their website, the Alaska Independence Party affirms that Todd Palin was a registered member, but "never participated in party activities."
2002? Hardly a reason for her to resign seven years later.
Also, the goal of the AIP is NOT secession but a vote most native Alaskans didn't have in 1958 as stated at their site:
The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:
1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.
At the same time on the same page they state:
We believe and hold a firm footing in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and following the Constitution of the United States and Alaska. We are a States' Rights party, as is reflected in the AIP Platform. We stand on a firm Constitutional foundation. The continual growth of membership of the Alaskan Independence Party has created one of the largest third parties in the United States. Join us as we lead Alaska to the Prosperity, Freedom and Liberty that Alaskans expect, deserve and should enjoy.
Our main "goal" is a legal vote and ballot; one that was not given in 1958 and was in violation of International Law and Treaty. Alaskan were robbed of the choices we were to have as a non-self-governing territory, and steam-rolled into the current classification of a State. The Native population of Alaska, in a large percentage, did not even receive a ballot because of the Federal Voting Rights Act in place, at the time requiring the ability to read and write English, and for the first time in any Statehood vote of a Territory entering this "Union", the military and their of age dependents, through a special act of the US Congress, were allowed access to the Statehood ballot. Then, as today, corruption abounds. The US government is far and away outside the bounds placed on it by the 9th and 10th amendments and is operating illegally for all .
(http://www.akip.org/)
Now don't take this as an endorsement or defense of AIP but many of us have said the very same things and we are hardly secessionists (right? right?) but just presenting, in their own words (without a lot of deep research) what this secessionist party is really all about.
Again, hardly seems reason to resign. I thin k she wants to unshackle herself from the propriety of being a governor and can attack Obama and liberal policies more unhindered by niceties.
Me? I'm behind her right now. I'd vote for her. And 3 years in politics can harden and sharpen you pretty quick.
Just look at the piece of shit we have in office now.
Oh, I did not know that this was not new news. The first time I heard about it was this week. I was not aware it was an issue during the campaign.
But MR, I don't understand. If one of the things they entertain is becoming "a separate and Independent Nation" how could you say that that is not a secessionist party.
And, here's the thing, how can a person run for President of the United States when their spouse doesn't even know if he wants to his state to be part of the U.S.?
I don't get it.
It seems to me that people are not recognizing this is a huge issue because Alaska is so remote.
But, maybe I'm misunderstanding something.
For the record, I very much like Sarah Palin as a human being. She seems to stand for the American Tradition, unlike the man who is President now.
From everything I can tell, she believes is the Unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. She certainly lives in such a manner.
And, I love that she bugs lefties so much. I just don't think she is an international stage politician AT THIS TIME.
Who knows, perhaps she will grow into one.
My opinion. Not meant as a statement of fact.
AOW,
Your point is well-taken. Obviously, we can not control our spouses. However, if my spouse did something which imperiled my ability to stand for the things I believed in, I would surely divorce her. If my wife, for instance, became a Muslim, there is no doubt I would divorce her.
Frankly, if this political party Todd was a member of is what it seems it is, then he imperiled her ability to stand for what she seems to believe in. That's a travesty.
Gov. Perry of Texas 'gently' suggested secession -and not too long ago...
C-CS
found a Mark Levin audio -his take is like mine:
http://carolmsblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/sarah-im-not-giving-up-on-you.html
C-CS
CS,
Just to be clear, here's what I said in my initial comment:
"By the way, not that I feel like this, but if you think about it, a secessionist group can easily be perceived as treasonous."
This isn't a matter of my opinion so much as it is a matter of political reality.
How is a person going to run for President of the UNITED STATES of America, when that person has implicitly endorsed seceding from the Union of the United States of America?
See what I mean?
The "time is short" comment bugged me too, was she speaking personally? Is she ill? Is another family member ill? I don't know, but I am concerned. I've blogged about Sarah several times and I admire her for having enough conviction and courage to at least try...and to hell with the rest of the world who think she is not good enough, or smart enough or polished enough...I think we are already saddled with someone the world thought fit all those attributes and boy did that ever work out well <<<----sarcasm :)
Pasto -- The way I understand (and not being a member of that party) they are not openly advocating secession. What they are asking for is the same vote every other American Territory was allowed to have before it became a state (and I am assuming that is a true statement). One of those options is becoming a separate and independent nation. Another equal option is becoming a state. Another is remainng a territory.
Apparently the residents of Alaska were denied this fair vote in 1958 because of the laws in place then. Most native (whatever that actually means) residents were ineligible to vote because they could not read or write. But American military members stationed there, and their families, were allowed to vote on th ematter though they were not permamnent residents there. Bit of a rigged vote.
Why would the gov't want to be sure Alaska voted for statehood?
I reckon you can hazard some pretty educated guesses on that.
Anyway, I don't see it as a strict secessionist party, but as one who wants to be sure the permanent residents of the state have a fair vote on the matter albeit half a century later.
(Of course one could stretch that argument then to the Lakota, the Nez Perce, Hopi, Algonquin, Comanche etc.)
In that respect it doesn't seem much different than the Tenth Amendment movement currently going on.
Mary & AoW -- I don't think the "time is short" is refering to any illness.
With the speed the Obama admin. is disassembling this country she may feel there is no time to waste to get started running interference.
Now, what that means to her remains to be seen.
I'm not sure that it's a secessionist party -- at least, not in the same sense as the lower 48 interprets the word "secessionist."
I noted this in the party's literature:
The Native population of Alaska, in a large percentage, did not even receive a ballot because of the Federal Voting Rights Act in place
Could that have been part of Todd Palin's attraction to the party?
Was Alaska's statehood railroaded through by "the big boys"? I have no idea.
I had a friend who lived for a time in Alaska. She said that political views there were very unlike those of the lower 48. Unfortunately, I've lost track of her; otherwise, I'd ask her about this political party.
After looking into this Todd Palin side of the story, I don't see that his political affiliation of the past had a thing to do with this resignation.
Pasto,
However, if my spouse did something which imperiled my ability to stand for the things I believed in, I would surely divorce her. If my wife, for instance, became a Muslim, there is no doubt I would divorce her.
That's easy to say, you know.
Would you divorce her if you knew that she'd get child custody or visitation rights?
Taking the children and hiding forever is easier said than done.
Also, I have a neighbor who is a conservative. Her husband is a liberal. They cancel out each other's vote in every election. Their marriage is solid and has been for over 40 years. Interestingly, my conservative friend leaves it to me to argue politics with her husband. LOL. One of their children turned out far left, the other hard right. Also, LOL. Family meals are interesting in that household.
Maybe Sarah Palin just gave her husband "a lot of space." My mother-in-law has done that very thing: she's very conservative, her significant other for the past 20+ years is far left and, if I'm not mistaken, an outright Communist. Now that my MIL is in the latter stages of Communism, I don't bother arguing politics or religion with him any longer: he loves her and takes care of her, certainly more so than her daughters ever did; they robbed her blind and left her penniless. I would also point out that he never interfered in her political leanings, nor she in his. Hmmmm....
Frankly, if this political party Todd was a member of is what it seems it is, then he imperiled her ability to stand for what she seems to believe in.
But did it actually imperil her ability? I don't see that, except that Todd Palin's affiliation with the party gave mudslinging ammo to the Huffington Post.
Back when Todd Palin joined the party -- temporarily, apparently -- that might have been the Inuit thing to do. And back then Sarah Palin had no ambitions to do anything outside Alaska, as far as I can discern.
If Jeremiah Wright couldn't imperil BHO's path to the White House, why should Todd Palin's have imperiled Sarah Palin's political ambitions?
Here's what I think happened with Sarah Palin....
She decided that national politics was too dirty for her to be a part of. In other words, she had a reality check.
I could be proven wrong down the line, of course.
I'm only trying to offer up a possible reason why she may have decided to remove herself from politics for awhile.
Note my question (which no one has yet tried to answer):
?How is a person going to run for President of the UNITED STATES of America, when that person has implicitly endorsed seceding from the Union of the United States of America?"
I think a person could run for POTUS after having endorsed secession IF they run on the premise that the governemnt is so screwed up radical change is needed, explaining his endorsement of secession.
How successful that run would be is another matter entire.
It seems problematic, to say the least. I think it's strange that no one else addresses this issue.
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