# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/221 "2009-07-04T15:36:30Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Then what is the name of the philosophy that espouses fiscal conservatism and low government intervention? Is that still conservative or does it have a new name now that conservative has been stolen? Complete Fantasy, since there has never been a politcal party that actually pracises those beliefs. ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/222 "2009-07-04T15:38:18Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Ok, I think it’s seriously time to start a “last (wo)man standing” pool for the Republican nomination in 2012. Seems like all the top candidates are trying as hard as they can to seem unqualified. :eek: > > Who’s gonna be left standing? Who can navigate two more years without looking like a political noob/maroon??? I know - we need a “2012 GOP Presidential Hopefuls Political Deathpool”! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/223 "2009-07-04T15:39:05Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Complete Fantasy, since there has never been a politcal party that actually pracises those beliefs. Actually, the Republican Part of President Taft did. But that’s going back a bit. 😃 ---
**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, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/224 "2009-07-04T15:39:25Z")
I also find the paucity of the crowd very telling. If this happened in Virginia, even the smallest town could drum up a couple of hundred GOP supporters on a couple of hours’ notice. Also, the Lt. Gov shows sign that he doesn’t believe what he’s saying whenever he compliments her. There’s also a look of disgust when he mentions her “depth of character and integrity.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/225 "2009-07-04T15:47:40Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > [If anyone knows where I can watch/hear the entire speech from beginning to end, please post a link. [url=[Sarah Palin resignation -- VIDEO](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/3/749656/-Sarah-Palin-resignationVIDEO)]Daily Kos]([Palin stepping down this month - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/03/palin/index.html#cnnSTCVideo)) (as you might expect) has the full clip. This link goes to the diary only, without the comments, so you won’t be opening a mega-page. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/226 "2009-07-04T15:48:43Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > **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. She’s also spared Letterman’s barbs, since his show last night was a rerun. ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/227 "2009-07-04T16:27:04Z")
I think, maybe, she’ll be on TV. Tina Fey is quite busy and could use a stand-in. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/228 "2009-07-04T16:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I am hoping she spends two weeks of every month now touring the states doing fundraisers for a the sweeping Republican revival in 2010 that is now developing. I hope she establishes a new national grassroots organization to fight for conservative causes. And I hope she starts a new national think tank in Washington. > > She could pick up the mantle for social conservatism for the late Paul Weyrich in Washington, reinvigorating the pro-life cause and defense of traditional values. She could advocate sane, grown up energy policies through these organizations, favoring increased production of traditional as well as alternative energy, including nuclear power, while opposing fruitcake ideas like cap- and-trade taxes, and runaway corporate welfare that would bring back Jimmy Carter’s synfuels. She should also lead the nation’s mothers to oppose mandating replacement of incandescent light bulbs with the new mercury poison gas bulbs. > **[Sarah Palin Outsmarts the Left](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sarah-palin-outsmarts-the-left)** > > Sarah Palin's resignation as Governor of Alaska is a brilliant liberating move for her career, and a potential turning point for the national conservative movement. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/229 "2009-07-04T17:00:14Z")
i’m still baffled on what it could be. she grabbed onto the vp nomination with troopergate and a teenage daughter who should have been protected from press, not shoved into the limelight; and a new born with down’s. what could possibly have her backing out of the govenor’s chair?! she isn’t a back down type of person. i did enjoy the loons on the lake as she gave her frantic frothing “speech”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/230 "2009-07-04T17:03:09Z")
> [@](#): > > …She should also lead the nation’s mothers to oppose mandating replacement of incandescent light bulbs with the new mercury poison gas bulbs… (from Squink’s linky, above) We can only hope that America’s mothers will rise up and march against mercury poison gas bulbs. Just as soon as we lick this whole Cognitive Dissonance thingy, as recent evidence indicates we are in ever-increasing peril! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/231 "2009-07-04T17:20:31Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i’m still baffled on what it could be. she grabbed onto the vp nomination with troopergate and a teenage daughter who should have been protected from press, not shoved into the limelight; and a new born with down’s. > > what could possibly have her backing out of the govenor’s chair?! she isn’t a back down type of person. > > i did enjoy the loons on the lake as she gave her frantic frothing “speech”. Money impropriety, back taxes (there was some concerns about her tax returns when the Palin’s finally released them - and some of concern about her using the state budget for potentially unethical personal things). Other impropriety. A college abortion (she never released medical records). A job offer as a TV commentator. The desire to publish a tell all book. The realization that she hasn’t backed down and yet people are continuing to snipe at her family - and that if she really does step out of the limelight, her kids could have ‘normal lives.’ It is possible that last summer she was just naive and stupid - and not malicious and power grabbing. And that she has finally realized that no matter how much she believes her life is justifiable, or what kind of life she chooses to lead, a public celebrity is going to be exposing her family to rumors, innuendo, and outright nasty claims. This is what I’d really like to believe. Honestly, the list of reasons why is really long. I suspect if its a scandal, it will break next week. If its a job offer, we’ll find out about that over a few months. And if she is really tired of celebrity, she will quietly disappear. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/232 "2009-07-04T17:42:37Z")
When people are blowing up photos of your prepubescent children on the Internet and circling their stomachs to “show” that they’re pregnant, I imagine anyone might quit their job. No job is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/233 "2009-07-04T17:45:47Z")
Money would not explain the suddeness. The “sniping at her family” is imaginary (plus she LURVES playing the victim), so it can’t be that. The abrupt scramble during a holiday weekend strongly suggests some unexpected news. During her scattered press conference, she expressed a lot of anger about the ethics investigations, so I think it’s most likely that. Because of her NPD, she is not capable of understanding that as anything but an unfair attack on the only person in the universe who matters. Did anyone read that Vanity Fair article, by the way? She actually signs her emails as being from God. Michael Jackson would have thought this bitch was a little self-centered. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/234 "2009-07-04T17:46:00Z")
The Daily Beast has a list of 11 possible theories as to why the Lady Diva suddenly resigned. Personally, I gotta go with #7, with #8 thrown in as a given. > **[The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/?cid=hp:mostpopular3)** > > A smart, speedy take on breaking news and opinion in politics, media, entertainment, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/235 "2009-07-04T17:53:07Z")
The transcript of her speech is quite hilarious. Here is a [version](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/07/full-text-of-palins-resignation-speech.php)on TPM full of caps which reads like something written by a teenager. Then apparently they released a cleaned up [version](http://www.gov.state.ak.us/exec-column.php) removing most of the caps. But even this is full of absurdities especially the use of quotation marks: For example: > [@](#): > > So I choose, for my State and my family, more “freedom” to progress, all the way around… so that Alaska may progress… I will not seek re-election as Governor. And check out this sentence: > [@](#): > > We need those who will respect our Constitution where government’s supposed to serve from the bottom up, not move toward this top down big government take-over… but rather, will be protectors of individual rights - who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed and are willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it’s time so the team can win! They can’t even get their basic grammar right: > [@](#): > > In the words of General MacArthur said, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.” And apparently it wasn’t MacArthur but General OP Smith who said these words. Finally why on earth was she gasping throughout the speech? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/236 "2009-07-04T17:53:09Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > When people are blowing up photos of your prepubescent children on the Internet and circling their stomachs to “show” that they’re pregnant, I imagine anyone might quit their job. No job is worth it. Is anyone doing that? Did they do it before she resigned? If not, then how can it be a reason? Have you seen the shit that gets said about Barack Obama and his family? It’s far worse than anything that gets said on the internet about Palin, and it comes from elected Republicans and mainstream media voices, not just anonymous assholes on the internet, yet I haven’t seen Obama running away like a pussy or constantly playing the victim card. You think it doesn’t hurt to see Republican staffers circulating emails calling his wife a “gorilla?” There really haven’t been any attacks on Palin’s family at all outside of meaningless internet noise, and that would not explain the rush. Plus, she’s too much of a narcissist to actually give a shit about her kids. They’re accessories to her, not people. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/237 "2009-07-04T18:11:00Z")
I noticed that when she polled her children about resigning, she got back “four yes’s and a ‘hell yeah’”. That is one smart f-in’ baby. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/238 "2009-07-04T18:13:33Z")
> [@Where in the world are you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-you/54380/16): > > > [@](#): > > > > In the words of General MacArthur said, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.” > > And apparently it wasn’t MacArthur but General OP Smith who said these words. And he WAS retreating, but he had a sense of humor about it. Palin isn’t smart enough to know the difference. It’s like the sum of her education was late night cram sessions with Bartlett’s. Though I do believe some have attributed that quote to MacArthur as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/239 "2009-07-04T18:14:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Is anyone doing that? Did they do it before she resigned? If not, then how can it be a reason? > > Have you seen the shit that gets said about Barack Obama and his family? It’s far worse than anything that gets said on the internet about Palin, and it comes from elected Republicans and mainstream media voices, not just anonymous assholes on the internet, yet I haven’t seen Obama running away like a pussy or constantly playing the victim card. You think it doesn’t hurt to see Republican staffers circulating emails calling his wife a “gorilla?” > > There really haven’t been any attacks on Palin’s family at all outside of meaningless internet noise, and that would not explain the rush. > > Plus, she’s too much of a narcissist to actually give a shit about her kids. They’re accessories to her, not people. We’re not arguing about whether the shit people say about Obama’s family is worse than the shit people say about Palin’s family. You said the attacks on Palin’s family were imaginary, when clearly they aren’t. Although most of it is anonymous internet douche bags, not ALL of it has been. She’s mocked and ridiculed on plenty of pop-culture venues, and she probably just doesn’t have the stomach to fight it the way other successful politicians do. She’s just not cut out for national political attention, and she’s trying to quit without looking like a quitter. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/240 "2009-07-04T18:22:30Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > You said the attacks on Palin’s family were imaginary, when clearly they aren’t. Although most of it is anonymous internet douche bags, not ALL of it has been. She’s mocked and ridiculed on plenty of pop-culture venues, and she probably just doesn’t have the stomach to fight it the way other successful politicians do. She’s just not cut out for national political attention, and she’s trying to quit without looking like a quitter. Really? Seems to me that early November 2008 would have been the perfect time to go back to Alaska, STFU, and spend two more years doing the job for which she campaigned and successfully got elected. But, no, she wanted the keep The Sarah Show going. I have a hard time feeling sorry for her. -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=13)