# Palin Resigns as Gov? WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 3, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843 "2009-07-03T19:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/201 "2009-07-04T08:47:34Z")
WHy do these things happen just as The Daily Show goes on holiday? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/202 "2009-07-04T09:41:20Z")
Not sure if this has been cited yet: Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman has a column in the NY Times. I hope I’m not infringing on any copywrites by reproducing it here in it’s entirety: [Whom the gods would destroy ... - The New York Times](http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/whom-the-gods-would-destroy/) Whom the gods would destroy … … they first make Republican governors. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/203 "2009-07-04T11:58:01Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Speaking from the perspective of the right, I’m delighted. I’ve defended her in the past but always with a sour taste in my mouth. The sooner she leaves the public spotlight the better it will be for the Republicans. So why did you defend her? ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/204 "2009-07-04T12:06:38Z")
Anyway, I’m with the scandal or just sick of politics crowds. She’s smart enough to know that this looks _really_ bad if she plans on running in 2012. She could have easily finished out her term, not run for re-election, and then had almost a full two years to run for pres. And I do think it’s quite possible she’s sick of the scrutiny her family was put under (whether or not you may think she brought much of it on herself is immaterial). I could completely understand her getting fed up that aspect of political life. Frankly, I hope this is the reason, and think this is the most likely. Because a coming scandal is the only other thing that makes sense at this point (but even then, I’d expect her to stick around and try to fight it, if she was interested in a political future). ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/205 "2009-07-04T12:09:54Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > And I do think it’s quite possible she’s sick of the scrutiny her family was put under (whether or not you may think she brought much of it on herself is immaterial). I could completely understand her getting fed up that aspect of political life. Frankly, I hope this is the reason, and think this is the most likely. I think that this is the reason as well. Although, if it is true, it doesn’t speak well of her if she has future political ambitions. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/206 "2009-07-04T12:36:04Z")
I watched the whole thing again yesterday, paying extra attention to young Piper. It looks to me like she either didn’t put on any insect repellent, or didn’t put on enough. I think she’s being singled out by the mosquitoes and is arching her back and trying not to scratch too much. You can see her moving around uncomfortably and trying to swat them away. I’m no fan of Palin, and was roused to become an Obama volunteer when she came on the scene, but I hope the talk of her youngest being in a family way does not gain traction. Poor kid. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/207 "2009-07-04T12:41:57Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > So why did you defend her? “My side, wrong or right.”? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/208 "2009-07-04T12:45:24Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > As for Palin’s announcement, she sounded like someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown; it’s hard to believe that a senior politician could be so inept and incoherent while making one of the most important speeches of her career. Her entire performance in the national spotlight has been a non-stop farce and yet many in the GOP still believe she is Presidential material; a good indicator of a political party and movement which is completely unfit to govern. Indeed, arch-conservative columnist David Frum argues that may be bad for the GOP, because it would have been good for them to run her in 2012 and thereby absolutely blown out of the water in a massive, 47-state slaughter. This, is theorizes, would have cleansed the party of “Palinism.” But now that it might not happen this shiot might drag through several election cycles. It’s an interesting theory. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/209 "2009-07-04T13:31:04Z")
Lord knows I don’t have a clue about why Palin announced her imminent resignation in this rushed, poorly-prepared press conference. But I’m gonna scratch off the “sick of politics and petty sniping at her and her family” item from the list. This is a woman who, after the first week of November, could have gone back to Alaska and the work of governing (the stuff that only quitters and dead fish do :D). Instead, she did her best to continue grabbing the spotlight, and almost eagerly sought out and did her best to make the most of petty feuds such as the one with Letterman. This isn’t the behavior of someone who’s sick of all the attention and sniping. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/210 "2009-07-04T13:45:28Z")
You know who must really be relieved right now? John Ensign, the first of the GOP 2012 hopefuls to have his hopes dashed by scandal. After Sanford and now Palin, nobody’s paying attention to his troubles anymore. I’ve been humming that old Prince lyric _all seven and we’ll watch them fall…_ but we’d still need four more GOP prospects to go down in flames, and what are the odds of that? If she ever runs for office again, I expect her opponents can torpedo her by playing snippets of yesterday’s surreal speech in their ads. As a Dem, I’d be even more delighted than ever if the GOP were to nominate her in 2012. Landslide, baby! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/211 "2009-07-04T14:03:04Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > You know who must really be relieved right now? John Ensign, the first of the GOP 2012 hopefuls to have his hopes dashed by scandal. After Sanford and now Palin, nobody’s paying attention to his troubles anymore. > > I’ve been humming that old Prince lyric _all seven and we’ll watch them fall…_ but we’d still need four more GOP prospects to go down in flames, and what are the odds of that? There were a couple before the presidential election, most notably the guy who tried to get a handjob in the airport bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/212 "2009-07-04T14:27:58Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > WHy do these things happen just as The Daily Show goes on holiday? There’s a reason funky news is delivered on Friday afternoons. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/213 "2009-07-04T14:32:02Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’ve been humming that old Prince lyric _all seven and we’ll watch them fall…_ but we’d still need four more GOP prospects to go down in flames, and what are the odds of that? About 50/50? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/214 "2009-07-04T14:36:30Z")
**Hippy Hollow** – that could be plausible. Right now Huckabee has been trying to assume that role but AFAIK gained little traction so far. **zuma** – the problem I have with completely buying the family thing is that through the word soup she still seems to be saying she will continue actively on the hustings, just not in an official post, so what good is that to family stability? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/215 "2009-07-04T14:42:00Z")
At least we won’t have to listen to that vituperous bitch Meg Stapleton any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/216 "2009-07-04T14:46:16Z")
Maybe Palin just got tired of looking at Russia and wanted a change of scenery. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/217 "2009-07-04T15:08:36Z")
I think she _really can_ see Russia! She knew N.Korea was going to launch those missiles and blow her headline away. I can’t wait for her outrage at the talk about her daughter. She has pushed her family on stage at every possible opportunity, then she blames the world for the attention they get. I also can’t wait for the coming scandal. I’m glad to know that less people will be at risk due to her leadership. I wish her a long, happy career at Fox (even after the scandal) where she can’t cause any real harm. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/218 "2009-07-04T15:24:51Z")
[Palin speech clip](http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/03/palin/index.html#cnnSTCVideo) The more I listen, the more it seems that there is something she expected us to know about. . . something which would require enormous amounts of time and resources to fight. I think she’s trying to set up someone else to look bad if they pursue whatever it is with State funds. I can’t wait to hear it. If anyone knows where I can watch/hear the entire speech from beginning to end, please post a link. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/219 "2009-07-04T15:28:52Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > there is something she expected us to know about. Isn’t this consistent with the narcissistic personality disorder that she seems to suffer from even more than other public figures? ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/220 "2009-07-04T15:34:46Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > WHy do these things happen just as The Daily Show goes on holiday? **Bearflag** nailed it; to ask the question is to answer it. I can only imagine the brutal and hilarious barbs that Stewart and Colbert would sling. Palin may be dumb, but even she knows not to give them days to mock the hell out of her. Really, doing this on a Friday/holiday afternoon is the only smart thing about the whole affair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=12)