# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/401 "2009-07-05T15:54:37Z")
Well, no real problem with any of that as a reason to ditch, but it doesn’t touch on the (seemingly) urgently improvisational tone of the announcement. I mean, if this is the motivation, what accounts for the pell-mell rush to the microphone? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/402 "2009-07-05T15:59:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In fact, **there is no objective, primary evidence the Rush Limbaugh “did you know there’s a White House dog?”/Chelsea Clinton joke ever took place.** There is no tape of it and no transcript, and it wasn’t mentioned anywhere at the time it is alleged to have taken place. > > The earliest known mention of it is a Molly Ivins column written November 12, 1993, which which Ivins claims it happened, but she provides no explanation of when the joke is alleged to have aired. What’s been repeated over and over is Ivins’s story, not the original event. > > All the claims of “I remember such and such happening” are almost certainly memories playing tricks on people; they’re reconstructed memories of the incident based on how much it’s been written about on the Internet. The incident probably never happened. > > Limbaugh’s an ass and I wouldn’t put it past him to make such a joke, but I think it’s important for the record to note that the story is very likely an urban myth, not truth. While this may well be true (I didn’t look; I trust you to have checked it out), the fact that people who might under normal circumstances be expected to jump to the defense of a man who presents himself as a conservative commentator have themselves attested to having heard it and been disgusted by it, leads me to give it more credence than the average rumored-but-unprovable stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/403 "2009-07-05T16:02:44Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, no real problem with any of that as a reason to ditch, but it doesn’t touch on the (seemingly) urgently improvisational tone of the announcement. I mean, if this is the motivation, what accounts for the pell-mell rush to the microphone? Impulsive decision-making maybe? ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/404 "2009-07-05T16:05:59Z")
I hate to continue this hijack, but here’s what Limbaugh said: > [@](#): > > LIMBAUGH: Now, this is Michael J. Fox. He’s got Parkinson’s disease. And in this commercial, he is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He is moving all around and shaking. And it’s purely an act. This is the only time I have ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has. I know he’s got it and he’s raising money for it, but when I’ve seen him in public, I’ve never seen him betray any of the symptoms. But this commercial, he – he’s just all over the place. He can barely control himself. He can control himself enough to stay in the frame of the picture, and he can control himself enough to keep his eyes right on the lens, the teleprompter. But his head and shoulders are moving all over the place, and he is acting like his disease is deteriorating because Jim Talent opposes research that would help him, Michael J. Fox, get cured. [Link to Media Matters, which also has the audio.](http://mediamatters.org/research/200610240001)[Here’s the ad in question.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WB_PXjTBo) The dyskinesia that MJF is showing in the ad is not a symptom of Parkinson’s itself, but a common side effect of long-term treatment with levodopa. Fox says that when he doesn’t take the meds the dyskinesia isn’t as bad, but he has difficulty speaking. ([See the quote at his Wikipedia page.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Fox#Fox_on_living_with_Parkinson.27s_disease)) Rush’s original comments can be excused by simple ignorance, though he could have educated himself with five minutes and a few web searches. He should have apologized to Fox, but instead he tried to spin his way out of it. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/405 "2009-07-05T16:13:08Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > This is excessively polite. Sarah’s action is not a mistake, it is a **boner** of _monumental_ proportions. No sane person would ever give her the chance to resign from high office again, and if she ever choses to run again, that point will be hammered home again and again and again, until even the Republican freaking _base_ gets it! It seems so obvious doesn’t it? If she can’t handle the bad press and accusations and finish one term as governor how could she ever run for a higher office. Still, I can imagine the conservative base believing what she’s saying about serving a higher calling and being so hounded by the media and others. Stranger things have happened. MAybe she doesn’t really understand that those folks are a dwindling percentage of the American public. Still, I tend to believe she saw more money and less hassles by not being a political figure. She can spout conservative platitudes without actually knowing anything or making any policy decisions. We’ll see if there will be some scandal brewing that she can point to and say “See, told ya they were after me” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/406 "2009-07-05T16:32:25Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > IMHO the deluge of slime levied against her has been totally unprecedented. But if she cannot handle it, then she’s done the right thing in quitting. Unprecedented? Mountains of shit have been flung at politicians since John Adams ran for reelection. This is in no way unusual. She’s just whining about it. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/407 "2009-07-05T17:06:58Z")
Speaking of Rush … anyone know what he spin he has taken on Palin’s quitting the Governorship? His support she needs. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/408 "2009-07-05T17:07:04Z")
So with this thread we have an certain archetypal SDMB political thread: 1. Some Republican does something scandalous, stupid, or illogical. 2. People jump on the discussion. Some of it is serious, but much of it is pointing fingers and laughing. 3. Some True Conservative Posters show up expressing OUTRAGE, OUTRAGE I say at some trivial comment that was made by perhaps one poster. 4. The same TCPs set up distraction after distraction (Clinton, assertions involving mangled logic made up on the spot, Libruls do stupid stuff too, etc.) in order to divert attention away from the Republican who had behaved scandalously, stupidly, or illogically. The more beloved the idiot Republican blunderer, the more intense are the attempts at distraction. 5. All attempts to continue a discussion of the actual OP are lost forever. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/409 "2009-07-05T17:21:09Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Speaking of Rush … anyone know what he spin he has taken on Palin’s quitting the Governorship? His support she needs. We’ll see tomorrow, but my guess is that its Obama’s fault. After all, [he was at fault for Sanford’s affair.](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/25/165628/139) ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/410 "2009-07-05T17:53:23Z")
Btw, why does a point guard keep her eye on the basket? The basket stays in the same place all the time, doesn’t it? I’d think a point guard, assuming she had the ball and was dribbling toward the basket, would want to keep her eye either on the area surrounding herself (to make sure no one takes the ball away), or the area around the basket (to see if someone gets clear) or on the ball itself (to make sure she doesn’t fumble it, or whatever the basketball equivalent of fumbling is). ---
**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 5, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/411 "2009-07-05T18:05:43Z")
That’s a good point. There’s no reason to look at the basket unless you’re going to shoot. A point guard is supposed to read defensive sets and call a play. Their job is to look at players, matchups and spacings, not the freaking basket. The basket isn’t going anywhere. A PG who just eyeballed the basket all the way down the court would get benched in pretty short order. I thought she supposedly played basketball. Why doesn’t she know anything about it? ---
**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 5, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/412 "2009-07-05T18:06:10Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > 1. All attempts to continue a discussion of the actual OP are lost forever. Wait, you’re saying that this thread wasn’t about Rush Limbaugh? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/413 "2009-07-05T19:10:27Z")
(This post assumes there’s no major scandal on the horizon that she both knew about and knew she wouldn’t be able to survive.) I think the calculus is fairly simple. My assumption is that she’s going to rake in huge amounts from book deals and speaking engagements, and has her sites on a deal with Fox (or the RNC Chair?). As for the Fox show, either she (or the programming execs at Fox) realize that she wouldn’t be suited for taking random calls or interviewing any but the most congenial guest. So what? She’s _exceptionaly_ suited to delivering prepared, rehearsed remarks. Furthermore, she’ll likely be very adept at garnering publicity, attracting attention, and drawing guests. Attach a stable of writers to the show, have her anchor a program with commentators and speeches, and her weaknesses are all but non-existent. Fox has already tried to compete with the Daily Show; this could be it (albeit with someone else doing the 8 minute interview segment). Since she’ll only be reading prepared bits between segments (or some other form), she’ll be able to vet her material for regrettable commentary (or someone can) and disclaim any portion of the show that could haunt her in a future political run. Since she’s no longer in public office, she will be much freer to take funding from any source she chooses. Having editorial discretion will give her immense opportunity to earn a secondary income. Same with speeches and book deals — there’s no need or requirement for scrutiny if she’s not holding public office. With her resignation she’s set to take in much more than she would had she stayed. Noted upthread, it’s a gamble that things may not go so smoothly for her over then next year or so, so she’s cashing in at quite the opportune time. As for the timing, this may work in her favor. Note how Rush, Hannity, Coulter, and almost all of Fox News milks the idea that they are the only ones to speak the truth. Playing wedge politics, they made up terms such as Main Stream Media and others to bolster claims of persecution and faux honesty. Consider what can now be claimed with a fair amount of mock indignation and knowing glances (again, assuming there isn’t a mammoth shoe about to drop): > [@](#): > > So what I resigned (note: resigned, not quit) on a Friday at 4:00? That didn’t suit the Liberal media’s schedule? Look how the media, bloggers, and message boards had to go and work all sorts of angles, pretending at this scandal or that, suggesting such bizarre things as Piper being pregnant. I told you that I wasn’t going to be a typical politician and the mainstream elite couldn’t handle that. So rather than accept that I really want the best for Alaska and America, they go off and spend several days inventing things that weren’t there. So if ya wanna get the real stories in the news with real down-home analysis, tune into Palin Time, coming this fall on Fox in Shepard Smith’s old time slot. Like it or not, Rush and similar have a huge hold on the GOP at the moment. By joining them, she’ll have both absurd riches _and_ the ability to influence policy choices on a national scale. She can endorse/campaign for this or that Republican, depending on who is going to kowtow/pay her. By working outside the government, she’ll still have ego-filling impact and the narcissistic benefits of fame, but without the mundane day-to-day chores and responsibility of actually holding office. If that doesn’t suit her, she can build a sizeable network of supporters and political debtors for the next four to eight years, and when the pendulum swings back (as it always does), she’ll be in a great position to reap the rewards. If not going back to direct elections (political memory is a fickle thing, especially with eight years of exposure to Palin Time), then an appointment to the Cabinet. Barring scandal, writing her off is as premature as writing off the Republican Party. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/414 "2009-07-05T19:26:01Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That’s a good point. There’s no reason to look at the basket unless you’re going to shoot. A point guard is supposed to read defensive sets and call a play. Their job is to look at players, matchups and spacings, not the freaking basket. Oscar Roberston averaged almost 26 ppg at point guard. Magic Johnson was at almost 20. They knew where the basket was. Heck, you could even say that Magic quit in the middle of “his game”. Of course he came down with an incurable disease that was thought, at the time, to be a death sentence. Maybe Palin has Aides? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/415 "2009-07-05T19:33:22Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Wait, you’re saying that this thread wasn’t about Rush Limbaugh? 😕 I am. Aside from any relevant commentary by Limbaugh on Palin, the subject of Limbaugh’s nonsense is closed. [/Modding] ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/416 "2009-07-05T19:54:09Z")
She says “the mainstream media will never understand; it’s about country”. Wait, what’s not to understand? There’s no explanation except a lot of blabbering about going in other directions, etc. She’s right - I don’t understand. Without a concrete reason for resigning - what don’t we understand again? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/417 "2009-07-05T19:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe Palin has Aides? What’s that stand for, acquired immune deficiency extra-letter syndrome? ---
**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 5, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/418 "2009-07-05T20:16:14Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Maybe Palin has Aides? If she does, they’re doing a piss-poor job of advising her. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/419 "2009-07-05T20:35:49Z")
What is clear to me is that David Letterman was the winner. I still remember how the snub by Mc Cain was mercilessly exploited by Letterman and he then made the joke that: **Letterman:** “First of all, the road to the White House runs right through me.” **Shaffer:** “Always has!” Now Sarah Palin has demonstrated that that was no joke; and no, it is not David Letterman that got the power but it was Palin by considering him important enough to attack. Now I think that hosting Saturday Night Live really, really, really did upset her. I do not think now that she was a good sport about it. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/420 "2009-07-05T21:16:06Z")
Did she host SNL? I thought she just did the one bit as herself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=22)