Community | July 03, 2009 | 161 comments

Sarah Palin to resign as Alaska Governor

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Future_America
Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she will resign as governor of Alaska in a few weeks, saying she will try to "effect positive change" from outside government.

Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008, hastily called a news conference at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement.

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.

There was no immediate word as to why she will step down before the end of her first term. Some have speculated in the past that Palin may be interested in a run for president in 2012, but she did not mention running for another office at her press conference. Sources told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that it appears Palin is out of politics for good.

UPDATE: video of Sarah Palin saying why she resigned.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31775042#31775901
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161 comments // Sarah Palin to resign as Alaska Governor

  • psphenom
  • psphenom
  • Yessamin_G
    • 0
      Yessamin_G  
    • Eversince the election, Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin has been making news. However, now there's some Sarah Palin news that's at least worth a little attention. She has announced that she will resign her post as Governor of Alaska. There hasn't been a reason given specifically as to why she has resigned the post as Alaska Governor, but it's rumored that she's doing it to concentrate on being the frontrunner for the 2012 Republican Candidate, and she's probably also looking into some instant payday loans for campaign funding. Sarah Palin is loved by some, detested and ridiculed by others, and secured loans for a 2012 Presidential run might not be ill spent. http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/07/03/sarah-palin-resigns-trig/

    • 2 years ago
  • Cynic2
  • Dpm
    • 0
      Dpm  
    • I really wished the media would stop giving this non-person,uninteresting weird and in general off the wall crackpot, a medium for any their sounds bites.
      Please?

    • 2 years ago
  • aaaa
  • ks_kickapoo_woman
    • 0
      ks_kickapoo_woman  
    • YEA ... the woman is a nut .... she needs to worry about her DD child that she brought into this world .... and her grandson that her irresponsible daughter made ....

    • 2 years ago
  • Denica_Cassandra
  • MirrorLake
  • proxstoner
  • theultimateend
    • 0
      theultimateend  
    • "Gov. Sarah Palin along with daughter Bristol, left, watch the Juneau Fourth of July parade, as husband Todd, looks over son Trig and Bristol's son, Tripp, on Saturday in Juneau, Alaska."

      Together their children make the phrase "Tripp Trig"

      Which is very close to a saying that means "to shoot" :P

      She really likes her gun rights.

    • 2 years ago
  • jadasic
  • Siriuslyfun19212
  • el_chivo
  • Marilynn_Murray
  • jiminycricket
  • Mr_Green_Khalid
    • 0
      Mr_Green_Khalid  
    • jiminycricket:

      You are too funny. I do hope that whole thing was some wise way of being sarcastic, cause I find it hard to believe that anyone could really feel that way about such a washed up turd.

      For one, you really think that the Democrats tried to to smear attack her? Really? :P Funny, cause I thought they would just role the tape and let the footage speak for itself. Sorta like Bush, the old walking punch line, that could not get in front of a camera with doing or saying something worth being taken back by. Palin did not even know the position she was running for.

      And you say she has a great ingredient for leadership, and that is common sense. Hmmmm... In high school psychology I learned that there is no actual such thing as common sense, just a set of beliefs that many people agree upon, which rarely actually is viewed entirely the same by that many others, but when it is broad enough, people will agree that is "common sense". So what common sense do you speak of? Her views on "real america"; a land that is only conservative when it comes to the level of IQ she appeals to, other than that these so called "conservatives" are willing to create laws and rules to regulate who can get married, what a woman can do with her body while allowing the greedy and ignorant to do what they will with the environment and our security Clearly this common sense you speak of is the root problem of the Republican party, which must be dealt with if they believe they have any chance in any future elections. And let us make it very clear where this "common sense" stems from, its your Christian beliefs; and until the conservatives stop trying to govern a free nation with religion then they will be viewed from under our noses. Now when I say "our", this does not make me a Democrat, I am a registered Republican, but that does not make me a Christian, and that is where "conservatives" fail to hold true to the ideals of the party, because I am all about small government, but I am very open-minded and do not want to see the government stepping in the peoples social arena. Its all a distraction, even this is. But I do not let it slide simply for the problem I have with those that are arrogant about their ignorance.

      Oh and so people might have had a problem with Palin receiving $150,000 from the RNC to pretty herself up for the campaign, and not much was said about Obama spending $100,000 for a dinner with his wife; but maybe the guy deserves a $100,000 dinner since he got left with a 7 trillion deficit and busting economy, two wars and a world that was hating everything America, gay rights that is heading into the next civil rights movement, and all the other failures that were dropped on his lap from the last years from that absolute buffoon and the evil administration. After all the work he got done, Obama can take a nice million out of our taxes for dinner. At least he lets us know what the hell he is doing. We might not have all the facts, and it does seem to be self defeating to be spending all this money, but I'll tell you this, I trust him any day over that fool Palin.

      Ok I think that went pretty swell. I wish you the best of luck supporting Palin.. that was more smart alack cause I don't believe in luck. Think about it.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • jiminycricket:

      Jiminy...how will she answer the question about experience?

      Mayor of Wasilla and a half finished term as governor of one of the countries least populous states isn't what you would call a strong resume. And before you start barking about Obama's experience remember...he's going to have been President for 4 years when this election happens. Of course before you even get to that, imagine how she'll match up against the other republicans...you know, the people who didn't quit their jobs to make millions on the speaking circuit. Country first? That was their tagline...right? lmao.

    • 2 years ago
  • isnamthere
  • notsure
    • 0
      notsure  
    • jiminycricket:

      "Common sense. Her thinking is sound. She has common sense, (A double Dose?) a moral compass and a very definite understanding of good and evil." You Betcha!, Luv ya, Fuk ya. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman. I mean Mr. Cricket (Parallel Universe joke) as you know your terms ie..Moral Compass, Good and Evil. Are indefinable …………….for lack of better words: Bullshit. She needs to run for PTA President of Podunk, AK. Just because She talks like a simpleton, that does not make the world a simple place. Pitbull….Lipstick…..wink,wink…Please tell me your comment is satire.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mr_Green_Khalid
    • 0
      Mr_Green_Khalid  
    • jiminycricket:

      JIMINY CRICKET!!! You really are not joking! Well you just claimed you want Chuck Norris as VP. Clearly, jiminy, you are the joke. I'm not even worried about simple minded people like yourself. You can waste 20% of the vote on someone that resembles your image of your neighbors and family, while the rest of us vote for a someone that is able to lead this country and be a good diplomat in the face of other nation's. I guess its safe to assume that you are one of many buffoon's with the one mantra in your head that represents your country; "We are #1! We are #1! We are #1!" Hey turn off your tv for a little while and go read a book.

    • 2 years ago
  • theultimateend
  • Marilynn_Murray
  • wmorrison13
  • thrillya
    • 0
      thrillya  
    • I recently saw some newd pictures of what looked like her doing some sucking. I wonder if that has anything to do with the resignation.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • Ihatethemall
  • thrillya
  • isnamthere
    • 0
      isnamthere  
    • thrillya:

      Way to back up your words, Thrillya! OK, Ihatethemall, where are YOUR pics of Obama's mama? You don't have any do you? All mouth and no action. Hurry and cruise the net to find some porn pics of an old black woman and try to pawn them off as Obama's mama.

      I'm not saying that thrillya's pics are genuinely Sarah Palin, but at least he had something real to back up his post, all you do is throw out the accusations.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
  • mstarr67
    • 0
      mstarr67  
    • Who could blame her, is it really worth having you and your family attacked constantly, I would say screw it too. These attacks are why we can't get good people to seek office.

    • 2 years ago
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  
    • mstarr67:

      Unlike the relentless attacks on Obama and his wife? Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton? Reap what you sow hypocrite. We have got in the past, and now have good people, and they weathered the storm. Toughen up crybaby.

    • 2 years ago
  • jb83
    • 0
      jb83  
    • mstarr67:

      Seriously ....has it ever been a surprise when you take office (or when you become famous in any sense) that people are going to be all in your business? Everyone knows this. It's the cost of being in the lime light. That is not an excuse for bailing on your job. It happens to anyone in a similar position.

    • 2 years ago
  • jb83
    • 0
      jb83  
    • Yeah this is odd. She doesn't need to step down in order to pursue the next presidential election. Plus I'm not sure how i feel about a candidate that just leaves office giving no particular reason why. People leave office to fill positions that they've already won. They don't just bail (to presumably pursue an office that's opening years down the line) and then give no clear reason why.

    • 2 years ago
  • RFIDemocracy
    • 0
      RFIDemocracy  
    • Uh oh...

      Reporters are beginning to piece together an explanation for Sarah Palin's abrupt resignation announcement that stands in stark contrast to the reasoning Palin offered in her speech.

      Speaking on MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell reported that, according to "people very close to Sarah Palin," she has "told her supporters that she is out of politics, period. She is fed up with politics. She doesn't like her life. She feels that she needs to raise her family. She's sick of the commute from Wasilla to the capital. And she really does not want to run for higher office, that this is not a case where she is stepping down in order to clear the way for a presidential run. In fact, she has told some of her biggest backers in the national Republican Party that they are free to choose other candidates for 2012, which of course opens new avenues for Mitt Romney, for Tim Pawlenty, for other potential candidates who are definitely in the running."

      Meanwhile, Alaska-based reporter-blogger Shannyn Moore is hearing potentially more damaging revelations are to come. "For weeks the rumors of a criminal investigation against the governor have been brewing," she writes. She spoke of the rumors with MSNBC's David Shuster, saying the talk of a criminal probe into Palin has been circulating for six to eight weeks, and that today's press conference seemed to be Palin's effort at "damage control for news to come out later."

    • 2 years ago
  • RFIDemocracy
    • 0
      RFIDemocracy  
    • Scandal emerging? Of course there is.
      Hear me now and forget me later. Palin would never resign for the lame reasons she cited in her bizarre but peredictably rambling and disjointed 'speech', and I use the term 'speech' with reckless abandon.
      This story is not new and it's not even the only aspect of the story that is potentially troublesome but it is probably the most serious.

      Blumenthal: CNN and other major news outlets have reported that Sarah Palin has abruptly resigned as governor of Alaska. The suddenness of her announcement raises the question about whether Palin resigned to avert a major scandal. One logical place to start looking is the affair that has Alaska political circles buzzing: an alleged scandal centered around a building contractor, Spenard Building Supplies, with close ties to Palin and her husband, Todd.

      Many political observers in Alaska are fixated on rumors that federal investigators have been seizing paperwork from SBS in recent months, searching for evidence that Palin and her husband Todd steered lucrative contracts to the well-connected company in exchange for gifts like the construction of their home on pristine Lake Lucille in 2002. The home was built just two months before Palin began campaigning for governor, a job which would have provided her enhanced power to grant building contracts in the wide-open state.
      SBS has close ties to the Palins. The company has not only sponsored Todd Palin's snowmobile team, according to the Village Voice's Wayne Barrett, it hired Sarah Palin to do a statewide television commercial in 2004.

      Though Todd Palin told Fox News he built his Lake Lucille home with the help of a few "buddies," according to Barrett’s report, public records revealed that SBS supplied the materials for the house. While serving as mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin blocked an initiative that would have required the public filing of building permits—thus momentarily preventing the revelation of such suspicious information.
      Just months before Palin left city hall to campaign for governor, she awarded a contract to SBS to help build the $13 million Wasilla Sports Complex. The most expensive building project in Wasilla history, the complex cost the city an additional $1.3 million in legal fees and threw it into severe long-term debt. For SBS, however, the bloated and bungled project was a cash cow.

      Prior to her sudden announcement, Palin gave every indication that she intended to complete her tenure as governor.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • Partial Transcript from the 2012 New Hampshire Republican Primary Debates:

      Moderator: On to the question of experience…Governor Romney, where can the voters of New Hampshire look to assure themselves that you have the experience necessary to be the country’s chief executive?

      Romney: Well, I think my track record speaks for itself. Beyond my time in the private sector and as president of the 2002 Winter Olympics, I was proud to serve as Governor of Massachusetts…and of course I honored the people who had voted for me by actually serving the full term and not quitting half way through when things got a little rough.

      Moderator: Hmmm…Governor Palin, would you like to respond to that?

      Palin: Maverick…lipstick…hockey…troops…point guard…pit bull…maverick.

      Moderator: Um, that wasn’t even a sentence.

    • 2 years ago
  • reconmom
  • iamwilliamhello
  • annica2
    • 0
      annica2  
    • she'll never stand a chance of not being on the council on foreign relations and being elected as even running against obama after primaries. she is just another side show for the neo con campaign. with that said, the obama/biden/bush's third term is no better.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
    • 0
      bombastinator  
    • This seems to be becoming a trend. Popular younger republican currently sitting officials temporarily pulling out of politics.

      The impression I am getting is that they know the economy is going to continue to get worse and will not have recovered sufficiently by the time the next election rolls around. No surprise to anyone.
      Whoever is in office can then be blamed whether they were the former bush officials that originally caused the problem or not.

      Not being in office during the bad stuff allows them to say "wasn't it better when I was in office?" Cause the problem, duck the responsibility, take the credit. It's not a bad plan really.

    • 2 years ago
  • ultravphunter
  • miles_ahead
    • 0
      miles_ahead  
    • She is resigning ahead of a breaking corruption scandal which would have forced her to resign, anyway. She is a crook, & it's about to come out. She can't govern Alaska from a jail cell, don'tcha know? Winky wink!

    • 2 years ago
  • Hou_Kairs
    • 0
      Hou_Kairs  
    • yeah, thats great and all that she is out of politics for good, hopefully!
      But why do I have a feeling that she is not going away. What she have up her sleeve!

    • 2 years ago
  • TimothyF
  • wayseeker
    • 0
      wayseeker  
    • The Republican party is reaching it's final stage of implosion. Thanks Sara Palin for helping brings to a less than painful conclusion. Now please run for president to provide us with some additional entertainment.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • theultimateend
  • Ihatethemall
  • neocongo
  • Ihatethemall
  • TentativeChaos
    • 0
      TentativeChaos  
    • I guess she got tired of always making a fool of herself. Or more likely she want's to stop investigations into her questionable actions as governor (such as using government money so fly her kids around).

    • 2 years ago
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  
    • Hot Air's Allahpundit from: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

      "Jim Geraghty [theorizes] why it is that the left despises [Palin] so. He’s certainly got part of the answer — happy, successful pro-life conservative women are a grievous offense to leftist feminism — but I think he misses the element of sheer contempt they have for her intellect. To the left, I think, she embodies a sort of comfort with ignorance that they think characterizes most/all conservatives."

      The perfection of that last sentence, it's like a bite of lobster soaked in butter.

    • 2 years ago
  • RFIDemocracy
    • 0
      RFIDemocracy  
    • neocongo:

      That's a nice theory. What I object to about people like Palin is that her so-called convictions are secondary to her ambition.
      She has been described by Max Blumenthal's current Daily beast article as 'wildy unethical'.
      LOL

    • 2 years ago
  • notsure
    • 0
      notsure  
    • Joe The douche bag and Palin are going on a road trip. She will be giving talks around the country of 50k a pop and selling "her" book. She has a financial scandal in the closet that she needs to pay off. She will not be running for anything. She will be pimping for The Grand Old Tired Party. (GOP)

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
  • nobamayomama
    • 0
      nobamayomama  
    • notsure:

      "Joe the douche bag". Wow, how hateful. So a typical American asks a question of Obama and the sharks come out after him. I wonder if they'll do the same to Helen Thomas now that she's "questioning" Obama tactics for press conferences?

    • 2 years ago
  • notsure
  • RFIDemocracy
    • 0
      RFIDemocracy  
    • Palin gave sixteen reasons why she is quitting including she was tired if having her kid she should have aborted referred to as a potato (not by me).

      Truth is, it appears she likely is under federal investigation for extortion.
      Anybody who has observed Palin knows she wouldn't have quit a gig where she is in a position of power wherein she canregulartly strike at her political foes with glee. There is a back story emerging.
      Hear me now and forget me later.

      http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/07/03/rumors-fly-about-palins-iceberg-scandal/

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
  • krag2112
  • FallenMorgan
  • neocongo
  • JohnA
  • nkeg87
    • 0
      nkeg87  
    • JohnA:

      So many people liked Palin just off looks...that I first thought your comment was based on the same superficial nonsense. After re-thinking about it, I hope not.

    • 2 years ago
  • CalgarC
  • Birdieball
  • Mr_Green_Khalid
    • 0
      Mr_Green_Khalid  
    • Birdieball:

      Good eye! But im sure that they will notice and bring it to the fore front. Just like how they did not let Micheal Jackson's death wash over the protests in Iran or even South Carolina's Mark Sanford's affair.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
    • 0
      Ihatethemall  
    • Birdieball:

      I'm sure she took that into consideration. What a fuckin stupid thing to say. Do you really think anyone gives a rats ass about those people you mentioned? Who the hell even watches them anyway?

    • 2 years ago
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • David Gergen just trashed Sarah Palin. Said she's not a credible politician. That's tough coming from a guy who worked for Reagen and Bush Sr.

    • 2 years ago
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  
    • Oh Sarah. Why does God hate so much, you, your party that is in tatters, and the "Real America" each and every one of you pig fuckers live in.

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  
    • It's pretty funny the rumors now are she couldn't handle the press and all the stuff said about her family. Thank god she was the vice president can you imagine the pressure she couldn't have handle with the world.

    • 2 years ago
  • maxjunk
  • mgerlach22
    • 0
      mgerlach22  
    • Funny how soon the Obamanites forget about how their one and only assumed his Senate seat in January, 2004...and by February, 2007 had already announced his bid for the Presidency. He shafted his Illinois constituents out of his salary, and more than 18 months of fair representation in the Senate while he was campaigning. If Palin is indeed making a run at the Presidential election in 2012...at least she has the decency to not continue accepting her salary without doing her job.

      The Dems on this site should learn to not be so hypocritical...it's making them look bad.

    • 2 years ago
  • Mr_Green_Khalid
    • 0
      Mr_Green_Khalid  
    • mgerlach22:

      Im not a Democrat, but i will say that they have plenty of room to be a little arrogant, considering all the ignorant arrogance they have put up with. Less then a year ago, Palin seemed to have a chance as VP and hold office. Don't you realize how frightening that was? especially after the last 8 years... hehe :P

    • 2 years ago
  • mgerlach22
  • rockfrek3
    • 0
      rockfrek3  
    • mgerlach22:

      yeah but I know somthing even sacrier Mcain and palin wins election. When the cia suspected that north korea had nukes on a boat. Mccain wanted to storm the boat and take the supplies. Even after the north korean goverment warned that if anyone stormed the boat they would consider it an act of war. and nuke neighboring countries our allies

    • 2 years ago
  • mgerlach22
    • 0
      mgerlach22  
    • mgerlach22:

      Instead, we'll just sit back and let North Korea do whatever they like and continue to build nuclear weapons that they can either use themselves or sell to other more dangerous people while we do nothing about it. Then when they attack and kill thousands of humans, we'll all blame Bush and raise taxes...and continue to worship Obama for his brilliance.

    • 2 years ago
  • michail77
    • 0
      michail77  
    • "Who in there right mind would vote for this dingbat?"

      Apparently 20% of the country would. Which is also Bush's approval rating and Obama's early disapproval rating.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • ashcatash
  • nkeg87
  • mark1957
    • 0
      mark1957  
    • With all the glowing responses, all I can think is the majority of you are scared of her. Not too many of you are scared of Mr. President but you should be.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nazzareno
    • 0
      Nazzareno  
    • Liberalism isn't working, nor is it making jobs, look around you. Conservatives are losing power because they have been imitating liberals too long.
      This website is full of conformists.

    • 2 years ago
  • RFIDemocracy
    • 0
      RFIDemocracy  
    • Nazzareno:

      The opposite is true.
      Where do you see actual liberals in government? I can only name two or three.
      You don't, because they are virtually nonexistent.
      That is exactly what is wrong with government. Democrats are conservative centrists and Repugs are far in the fa right margins, which is why they have ceded power.
      All the political power of the left is outside of government but that doesn't mean they are powerless, otherwise the health care debate would already be over.
      The problem with self-described conservatives (who are anything but), is that they don't understand the meaning of terms such as 'left' and 'socialist', they just parrot talk-show hosts' talking points like Beck who does not even know what he is talking about and is a fake to begin with.

    • 2 years ago
  • Tankguy
    • 0
      Tankguy  
    • Alaskans must be dancing in the street right now. Maybe Mrs.Hipocrite has a hunting show planned on The Outdoor Living Network.

    • 2 years ago
  • eta
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  
    • It appears the CFR is going to set another precedent by putting Sara Pallin in as President. This should set Hilary ablaze with anger. Too there is some reason the Media is still giving her so much media coverage. She's not that great either in the looks department or in the smarts category. Yes I believe the media is going to give her a run for the money. The CFR should be ashamed but they really are not looking for someone with intelligence rather a Dumb Dora that will take orders. But then they may just get the shock of their lives, she's just liable to tell them to go to hell that she's the Prez. Oh well whats the difference as long as we have a Federal Reserve Bank we will have a Puppet President.

    • 2 years ago
  • FallenMorgan
    • 0
      FallenMorgan  
    • Americans are getting more liberal. If the Republican Party wants a serious bid, they have to get someone who's atleast moderate. Palin isn't moderate.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nazzareno
  • RFIDemocracy
  • Ihatethemall
  • Ihatethemall
    • 0
      Ihatethemall  
    • Nazzareno:

      And if you think I would bet that a politician doesn't have some type of trouble brewing that will get them in hot water your nuts. That is a bet you would need to give some pretty big odds on. Like 500 to 1 maybe.
      If thats the case and you give me those odds, I will bet 1 dollar to your 500 otherwise it's a losing bet.

    • 2 years ago
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  
    • Just read there are unconfirmed reports of a criminal probe/ criminal activity.

      I don't know how your jumpshot is Sarah, but you claim to be quite a runner. You might want to strap on some Addidas and take a jog on over to Canada.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • UrbanGypsy
  • isnamthere
  • Found_Avenue
  • neocongo
  • Varex_Sythe
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