Sarah Palin resigns as governor-- but still getting dissed by the media

July 6, 2:07 AMMiami City Buzz ExaminerRobbin Swad

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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: