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AP Photo/The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Robert DeBerry
Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin, announced Friday that she would be stepping down from her position as Governor on July 26th. In a press conference, Palin stated that she would be turning over her duties to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell as she assured Alaskans they will find themselves in "capable hands".
In Palin's announcement, she stated that the reasons for her resignation were essentially three-fold:
1) Mounting expenses and hours of tax-payer time wasted on numerous ethics complaints.
"Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I've been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations – such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.
Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn't been cheap - the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” … Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. " Miami Herald
2) A decision that she would not seek a second term as Governor and that Palin views her lame duck status as inefficient "politics as usual."
3) Responsibilities to her family and the toll that "mean-spirited" attacks have taken on her and her children.
While Palin's sudden resignation was met with much confusion and speculation, it's not that surprising that members of the media would continue to take swipes at the Governor. Since the inception of her run for Vice-President of the United States last August, Palin and her family have been continuously targeted by both her opponents and talking heads alike.
Despite various rumors and theories as to alternative reasons for Palin stepping down, allegations that the FBI is investigating Palin for public corruption charges appear to be false. LA Times is reporting that according to the FBI's Alaska spokesman , the bureau "had no investigation into Palin for her activities as governor, as mayor or in any other capacity."
"There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we're investigating her or getting ready to indict her," Special Agent Eric Gonzalez said in a phone interview Saturday. "It's just not true." He added that there was "no wiggle room" in his comments for any kind of inquiry."
Sarah Palin and her attorney made it clear on Saturday that they would no longer tolerate news organizations and members of the media continuing to advance rumors against her. A four-page letter from Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, warned of severe consequences should any defamatory allegations be printed stating Palin is under federal investigation.
"To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as 'fact' that Governor Palin resigned because she is 'under federal investigation' for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post,that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law." Politico
Ultimately this latest enigmatic move by Palin, not so surprisingly, has provided that much more fodder for her critics.
On Politico's Arena, former executive editor of The Miami Herald added his take to a series of comments made by "policy makers and opinion shapers" in response to Friday's headline "Sarah Palin has announced that she will resign as governor."
Thomas E. Fiedler's comment on the Alaskan governor's resignation:
"Regarding Palin's desire for the freedom to travel, is she booking any trips to Buenos Aires?"
Thomas E. Fielder, 2001-2007 executive editor of The Miami Herald seized this opportunity, --not to add his professional assessment to a critical political event, but instead, to take a cheap shot at Sarah Palin. Was it a quick and clever quip? Perhaps. Or was this a conscious character assassination? Maybe. And why not?
It was witty after all and it's not like Fielder's influence is far-reaching, as if he holds a position at an institution of higher learning as let's say the dean of College of Communication or anything.
"Nothing more defines the human experience than communication, the ability that each of us has—in fact, the need that each of us has—to convey our thoughts to others and to receive theirs."
You tell 'em.
Thomas E. Fiedler is yet another name that can be added to a long list of media members, commentators, entertainers and politicians who aptly satisfy one of mankind's basic and profound longings.
Indeed, who among us doesn't yearn for just one more [gutless?] joke about Sarah Palin and/or her family?
Could Palin have possibly known that just hours after announcing her resignation, a "36-year career journalist" would intimate that she may be involved in an adulterous relationship?
In the final analysis, isn't a former executive editor of The Miami Herald entitled to express his own opinions. Well... isn't he?
Ironically, Palin ended her resignation speech with the following concerns pertaining to publicly explaining the reasons for her resignation:
“Don’t explain: your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.”
And to that, we conclude with yet another fitting Michael Jackson tribute:
Comments
Hope the media keeps up the pressure. By turning her lawyer on the media she proves she doesn't know what free speech is about. There are related posts beginning at iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
Good govenor good record sad day for the average guy who pays his bills, loves his family and loves God and country. Good day for those who lie scam and spend someone else's money on frivolous endeavors and racks up debt for this and the next generation of Americans. Alaska has been blessed by Palin's leadership and it will continue for a while. Its is proof that there are turkeys in Alaska even though there is no hunting season for them.
biggots
JOHN IS AN IDIOT FOR CONFUSING FREEDOM OF SPEECH WITH DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER SLANDER AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS. THE MEDIA NEEDS TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THE PRESIDENT WHO CONTINUES TO RUIN OUR COUNTRY ON A DAILY BASIS AND DRIVE THE NEXT TWO GENERATIONS INTO UNBELIEVABLE DEBT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE DOING AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB FOR THEIR STATE AND COUNTRY. MANY TRY TO BETTER THEMSELVES AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS, EVEN WHEN ITS NOTHING BUT TRASH.
Sarah Palin (Failin) never was and never will be able to handle politics. She is uneducated, inexperienced, inarticulate, unintelligent, narcistic, attention grabbing, unethical, unable to speak, dishonest, and an embarrassment to all Americans. She made us the laughing stock of the world. Now she wants much, much more fame! Good Grief!
The average guy(person)is meaningless to those in power whether it be Alaska or D.C. The Republicans just used Sara Palin. She was fool enough to go for it, not much different than those folks who took on mortgages they couldn't affort.
EWW -- You don't make sense. Sarah Palin is the most successful and honest and effective Governor Alaska's ever had. Yet, you say she can't handle politics. Hmm. She didn't embarrass me. People who do not have strong moral principals and have never stood their ground defending them, don't recognize it when another person is strong enough to do so. This seems to be the case with all of you who were "embarrassed" by such a strong and dedicated person.
John: The laws regarding slander and libel still apply to purposeful defamation of even public people. Being "annoyed" seems to be the quickest cop-out for the young, entitlement, leftist generation - although the libs are supposed to be "tolerant," "caring," and concerned about ensuring "diversity" (what a crock!)
EWW: Uneducated because no Yale or Harvard? Give me a break! Inarticulate? Take away Obama's crutch teleprompter, then you will see inarticulate.
Carol and David: Yes, it will be up to us, and our children, to clean up the mess that is now being made of our country.
The Alaskan Juneau Empire has a very interesting research news article about the ethics complaints Governor Palin is complaining about. I was disappointed to see that it appears she was dishonest about this as well. The person who coined the phrase, “truth is stranger than fiction,” certainly must have had Ms. Palin in mind. Here is the Internet source for this article; the informaiton was obtained directly from Alaska's Personnel Board: to the news article: juneauempire.com/stories/070109/sta_457304159.shtml
EWW, can you name anything Obama accomplished before getting the Presidency other than running for the next office?-I'm not a Palin fan but people who attack her and give Obama and Biden a pass are intellectually dishonest-To date there is nothing Obama has done that has been the least bit creative or impressive at any level of office.
I will give him credit for reading eloquently from a tele-prompter and wooing the American Idol crowd, but that is about it.
ARen't you supposed to be writing about Miami City Buzz? What the hell does this have to do with Miami?
Wow. Really important Miami news here. Alaska and Miami have so much in common. And great way to tie in Michael Jackson. Please go write on your own personal blog and quit diminishing other Examiners who follow the standards. Please.
MiMi, When your the writer you can write what you like-It has every thing to do with Miami when you energy cost skyrocket and retired people start dying as a result of not being able to turn the AC on then we can talk about how cruel and mean spirited Obama is to the elderly.
True Examiner (but too cowardly to give your name): Is your writing so pathetic that you can't get 20 hits on your page and display your jealousy by lashing out at one who is more popular? Perhaps you're not familiar with Tom Fiedler who was a fixture at the Miami Herald for years. Robbin commented on his smarmy, petty and mean-spirited remark about Sarah Palin's resignation. It was as low as yours, only a little more subtle.
Get a life!
the funny think about all this is how the demcratic party sudden saw her as a threat during the campaign. in no other campaign history has a party sent out so many investigators and other information gathers on 1 person. now the present, she still is a valid threat in the future and that is way people are still ragging on her and her family. like obama has a clean record, please.....you think those are natural white teeth on biden even when his party say it is....
its ok for people like jorge for there time in the sun, but when it is all said and done, the blame of what happen during the 4yrs or 8yr will go to someone which is why their no accountibility in gov.
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