# Why did Sarah Palin resign as Alaska's governor?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 9, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736 "2010-08-09T17:54:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/21 "2010-08-09T20:03:55Z")
[Palin’s Book: Lawsuits and Legal Bills](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/11/13/palins-book-lawsuits-and-legal-bills/) - WSJ Blog
[http://www.sarahpalinlegaldefensefund.org](http://www.sarahpalinlegaldefensefund.org) - (\*From the site: Alaska is perhaps the only state in the U.S. where the Attorney General does not routinely represent the governor when accusations and complaints are filed against the governor under the operative ethics statutes. **This means that the governor has to personally pay for her or his own defense**.) (Bolding mine.)
Even her own legal defense site admits she has to pay her own way.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/22 "2010-08-09T20:07:18Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> That’s bollocks. She wasn’t paying anything out of pocket.
At least some of her fees are out of pocket. There are Anchorage Daily News and New York Times articles about it, and an analysis by [Law.com](http://Law.com)
[http://www.adn.com/2009/03/20/731157/palins-legal-debts-pile-up.html](http://www.adn.com/2009/03/20/731157/palins-legal-debts-pile-up.html)
> **[Legal Bills Swayed Palin, Official Says (Published 2009)](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/us/06palin.html)**
>
> Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska said Sunday that Gov. Sarah Palin’s decision to resign was largely prompted by the personal legal costs of the ethics investigations against her.
[http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202432145600](http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202432145600)
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/23 "2010-08-09T20:12:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> You’re the one making the assertion. You’re the one who needs to back it up.
>
> She said in her word salad resignation speech that the taxpayers paid for her defenses, though. I’ve seen no evdience that she paid a dime out of her own pocket.
Actually, you’re the one challenging my cite. Where’s your cite?
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/24 "2010-08-09T20:14:27Z")
The WSJ is now a Murdoch rag, and I don’t exactly trust anything from her own defense fund either.
Why did she say in her speech that the state had paid $2 million dollars to fight the lawsuits?
Even if some of it was technically charged to her personally, she still set up that fund to suck the money out of donors. I doubt she lost a penny of her personal money. She’s not the type to ever pick up a tab.
It’s also not an excuse to quit. If it was that easy to run a governor out of office by trying topersonally bankrupt them with ethics suits, then why doesn’t it happen all the time?
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/25 "2010-08-09T20:15:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
> >
> > You’re the one making the assertion. You’re the one who needs to back it up.
> >
> > She said in her word salad resignation speech that the taxpayers paid for her defenses, though. I’ve seen no evdience that she paid a dime out of her own pocket.
>
> Actually, you’re the one challenging my cite. Where’s your cite?
You didn’t provide a cite.
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### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/26 "2010-08-09T20:19:35Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> I’ve seen no evdience that she paid a dime out of her own pocket.
To follow up, I think you should go up to Idaho and check up on her birth certificate. Sandpoint is awful close to Canada. Might be important in 2012.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/27 "2010-08-09T20:21:40Z")
Really? It’s crazy to say that she probably hasn’t paid anything out of pocket? What was the defense fund for?
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### Author:  [@Gregg64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregg64)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/28 "2010-08-09T20:28:11Z")
Let me first say that I’m more or less conservative but I don’t pay much attention. Until her resignation speech if asked I would have been favorable to her. But the day she resigned I was driving between my homes from Gettysburg to Cincinnati and listened to that speech and the commentary they gave on whatever cable news channel I was listening to on sat radio for 7 hours and by the time I got home I was ready to throw the radio out the window and was utterly convinced she was perhaps the dumbest person to get that much attention since Jim Garrison solved the Kennedy Assassination.
She sounded like the one true bitch who has taken over the neighborhood watch committee or the local PTA who you just want to slap on sight. Our neighborhood had a lady that was like that, ever time she spoke she started “I’m Lillian, I live in the only house with a wrap around porch in the development” which almost made me build one to shut the bitch up.
That said, I think she was really tired of getting sued for everything she did, saw a chance to make millions of dollars and not have to worry about it if she bought a beer with public money and said “sod it all”, took the money and ran. I doubt she’ll ever run for any office ever again, why should she. She’s damn good at being America’s village idiot and the pay is pretty good.
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### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/29 "2010-08-09T20:32:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> . Their lawyers were paid for by the state.
Yeah, so just what was the defense fund for ?
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/30 "2010-08-09T20:35:24Z")
Ah yes. The [illegal](http://www.adn.com/2010/06/24/1339431/settlement-of-ethics-complaint.html) defense fund she set up. She was advised it was not permissible when she established it, but on advice of Gingrich’s lawyer, she did anyway.
With saintly behavior like this, I can’t imagine why ANYONE would question her ethics!
But in all fairness, **Dio** , you haven’t provided one shred of evidence that she doesn’t have to take care of her legal bills, while there seems to be evidence that she has paid her legal bills. I think a system where an elected official cannot be represented by government lawyers for acts they did while in office is a stupid idea, but it does seem to be the law in Alaska. Just goes to show how silly conservatives can be if there are no moderates or liberals to shake a little sense into them. As a result, they pass dumb laws that end up running their poster-child out of office.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/31 "2010-08-09T20:35:26Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> > [@Magiver](#):
> >
> > Actually, you’re the one challenging my cite. Where’s your cite?
>
> You didn’t provide a cite.
Yes, I did. Not only did I provide one but 2 other posters added to the list.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/32 "2010-08-09T20:59:00Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#):
>
> > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
> >
> > . Their lawyers were paid for by the state.
>
> Yeah, so just what was the defense fund for ?
Probably to buy clothes with.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/33 "2010-08-09T21:45:05Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> Why did she say in her speech that the state had paid $2 million dollars to fight the lawsuits?
She didn’t. What she said was:
> [@](#):
>
> 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.
She’s talking about the money and time the state spent on ethics investigations of her. Read the [law.com/AP](http://law.com/AP) article I linked to:
> [@](#):
>
> Palin says her family has racked up more than $500,000 in legal fees and the state has poured about $2 million of taxpayer money into investigating the complaints. Just last month, her handlers made a plea for supporters around the nation to donate money to her legal defense fund. . . .
> The cost of the ethics complaints to the state is a bigger financial issue. The state provided a breakdown of the $1.9 million cost this week, with the “Troopergate” scandal, staff lawyer research and public records requests making up a large portion of the cost. Palin says the series of complaints distracted staff from doing real work for the state, and the money could be spent on more useful things, such as roads, cops and energy and fish research. The state has spent $296,000 just on independent lawyers to investigate complaints, state administrative director Linda Perez for the governor’s office.
>
> Still, the $1.9 million cited pales in comparison to the $730 million the state spent last fall to distribute $1,200 in energy relief to every Alaskan. The state’s overall budget for the 2010 fiscal year is more than $10 billion.
>
> The ethics grievances are still piling up, with the latest filed this week against the former GOP vice presidential candidate. Sixteen ethics complaints have been filed. Three are still pending, the others have all been dismissed – although one was resolved when Palin agreed to reimburse the state more than $8,000 for the costs associated with nine trips taken with her children.
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### Author:  [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/34 "2010-08-09T21:51:58Z")
For all her bullcrap about the Constitution, apparently “freedom of speech” only applies as long as no one expresses a negative opinion about her.
[http://www.themudflats.net/2010/08/09/sarah-palins-homer-moment-doh](http://www.themudflats.net/2010/08/09/sarah-palins-homer-moment-doh)
> [@](#):
>
> Risking accusations of being all “Wee-Wee’d Up“, one Homer woman made a sign in her shed. She then took the 30 foot by 3 foot banner out to the boat harbor. It said “WORST GOVERNOR EVER“. Kathleen Gustafson is a teacher married to a local commercial fisherman. She felt like Sarah Palin had let the state down by becoming a dollar-chasing celebrity and ignoring the oath of office she’d sworn on a Bible.
> [@](#):
>
> In what has become typical tragic irony, Sarah initially claimed to support Kathleen’s First Amendment Rights. But as soon as Billy Sullivan walked toward the dock, one of Palin’s entourage tore down the sign to great applause from her group.
The video is worth watching.
Kathleen Gustafson is my new hero (heroine?).
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/35 "2010-08-09T22:10:36Z")
Shame on you Sarah Palin critics.
I think Sarah Palin truly believes in doing the right thing for the State of Alaska and the United States of America. She undoubtedly left her job as governor so that Alaska could have a competent governor, and to let the rest of the country know how dishonest and uninformed she is in case her name ever appears on a ballot again. This is truly selfless service to country.
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### Author:  [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/36 "2010-08-09T22:13:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Shame on you Sarah Palin critics.
>
> I think Sarah Palin truly believes in doing the right thing for the State of Alaska and the United States of America. She undoubtedly left her job as governor so that Alaska could have a competent governor, and to let the rest of the country know how dishonest and uninformed she is in case her name ever appears on a ballot again. This is truly selfless service to country.
Whew. You had me worried for a minute. :smack:
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/37 "2010-08-09T22:20:13Z")
She’s a whore who realized she had the opportunity to raise her price and get higher-paying johns.
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### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/38 "2010-08-09T22:41:47Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> > [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#):
> >
> > Yeah, so just what was the defense fund for ?
>
> Probably to buy clothes with.
You definitely have a skill that deflates my drive in attempting to keep you on the ropes till I make you honest 😃
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### Author:  [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/39 "2010-08-10T00:26:46Z")
She is better at reading speeches that are written for her than governing. As Governor of Alaska she would be expected to achieve things. Her shortcomings would be more obvious.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-sarah-palin-resign-as-alaskas-governor/549736/40 "2010-08-10T01:28:21Z")
She was voted to be governor. She saw a chance to make fast money. She bailed out on the citizens of Alaska. It was shameful and opportunistic. It was a cheap and dishonest thing to do. She is a low class, lying dirt bag.
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