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Palin resignation could signal RNC nightmare
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In this Saturday, June 6, 2009 photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin listens during a tour of the Seward House Museum in Auburn, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli, file)
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced today that she would not seek reelection in 2010, and further her resignation as governor. Palin said that will turn over her authority to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell effective July 26th.
In her announcement, Palin said that once she decided not to run again, she felt compelled to resign immediately. She said that she did not want to be a "lame duck" or to "milk" the Alaskan treasury for foreign trips and other perks. She characterized her resignation as consistent with her record of cost-cutting and "positive change" for Alaska.
Her stunning announcement is provoking a torrent of speculation as to her motives and timing. Some commentators point to a recent scathing profile of her in Vanity Fair by Todd Purdum entitled "It Came from Wasilla", wherein several unnamed staffers from the 2008 McCain presidential campaign characterize her in exceptionally unflattering terms, for example, calling her and her entourage "the little shop of horrors." Such frankly derogatory comments about candidates are unusual for professional campaign members, although all speakers remained anonymous.
Palin characterized anyone as "naive if you don't see a full court press at the national level," indicating that her resignation may have something to do with her negative criticism in the popular press. Speculation on The Sean Hannity Show today was that Palin might be pursuing a lucrative business opportunity, such as talk show host or CEO of a large corporation.
Since the topic of lucrative opportunities has already been breeched, let me pose another one: Independent presidential candidate in 2012. If Palin made such a move, she could destroy the plans for normal electoral activities of both the DNC and the RNC, and quite possibly be the deciding factor in the 2012 presidential race. Amid the political swirl and tumult of such a move, Palin could author a book or two and retire from public life as a millionaire. If Palin is capable of cold, political calculation, this potentiality must certainly be a part of her thinking.
Current polling indicates that public opinion on Palin has crystallized to the point that she is either loved or hated. For their own sakes, both of these groups had better hope that she is not contemplating a 2012 presidential run as an Independent.
If you liked this article, try these:
GOP's critics will be unrelenting
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m6d17-GOPs-critics-will-be-unrelenting
Palin Letterman controversy timeline
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m6d19-Palin-Letterman-controversy-timeline
== Outlinks ==
Palin resigning as Alaska governor - AP via Yahoo
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_us/us_palin_resigning_11
It Came from Wasilla - Vanity Fair
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/08/sarah-palin200908
Romney's Image Improves; Palin Well Regarded by Republican Base - People Press
http://people-press.org/report/524/republican-favorability
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