# Why is Palin calling herself "Governor Palin"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560 "2010-12-09T18:53:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fell\_through\_the\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9adbd/32.png) [@Fell\_through\_the\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fell_through_the_Ice)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/1 "2010-12-09T18:53:11Z")
From here: [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/08/palins-website-hit-by-cyber-attack/?iref=obnetwork](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/08/palins-website-hit-by-cyber-attack/?iref=obnetwork) Governor? Of what? Didn’t she quit like 2 years ago? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/2 "2010-12-09T18:56:33Z")
She didn’t call herself anything. Her spokesman did the talking. That aside, he was following protocol. In general, you call elected officials by the highest title they have attained (assuming they don’t hold another position at the present time). So you can find countless examples current references to Bill Clinton as “President Clinton,” for example. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/3 "2010-12-09T19:08:10Z")
I saw a few clips of that Jesse Ventura conspiracy show (which bizarrely has June Sarpong or at least to those in the UK) and they call him ‘the Goverrnor’ and ‘Governor Ventura’ a few times on it. Though to be fair he’s not as big a fruitloop as Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/4 "2010-12-09T19:10:56Z")
“Governor Palin” sounds a lot more dignified than “Palin the Quitter”. Yes, technically she’s entitled to be called Governor Palin, because she was elected to that office. And of course if she’s going to run for another office, she (and her handlers) are going to want to claim every bit of credibility that she/they can. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/5 "2010-12-09T19:16:40Z")
However you think of her politically (and I dislike her immensely), she is entitled to be called “Governor” by standard usage. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/6 "2010-12-09T19:21:37Z")
It’s not like there’s a law about it, but I don’t think you should expect to retain the title if you quit. That’s a special circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/7 "2010-12-09T19:23:07Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …In general, you call elected officials by the highest title they have attained (assuming they don’t hold another position at the present time). So you can find countless examples current references to Bill Clinton as “President Clinton,” for example. Countless example which the expert says are incorrect. [According to Miss Manners](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012003558_pf.html)he should be addressed as Governor Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/8 "2010-12-09T19:25:02Z")
Didn’t she put in her rider for speaker engagements that they must call her “Governor Palin”? ---
**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:** [December 9, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/9 "2010-12-09T19:31:15Z")
[Yes](http://wonkette.com/412530/sarah-palin-has-special-rules-for-media-coverage-of-her-mall-appearance). ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/10 "2010-12-09T19:36:01Z")
> [@](#): > > The Palin adviser said Sarah and Todd Palin’s personal credit card information was compromised Wednesday, but there was no immediate confirmation that the credit card problem was related to the cyberattacks. Gotta stay off those porn sites, Todd… ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/11 "2010-12-09T19:43:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > However you think of her politically (and I dislike her immensely), she is entitled to be called “Governor” by standard usage. Back in their debate when she first greeted Biden and said, “Do you mind if I call you Joe?” I wish Biden had said, “This is a formal and serious debate and I think we should treat it as such, and so I’ll call you ‘Governor’ and you call me 'Senator”, though you may certainly call me ‘Joe’ in any personal conversation we have in the future when this debate is over." ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/12 "2010-12-09T20:40:55Z")
Callers to Ed Koch’s radio show still often call him Mr. Mayor. As others have mentioned, you kind of retain the honorific for life, unless (I should hope) your name is Kwame or something. Dad and his friends still call one another “Marine” (there’s another thread that comes to mind about this one). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/13 "2010-12-09T23:13:24Z")
The point is when she quit, she should have forfeited her right to being called Gov. She should be called 'the Quittinator". Jesse Ventura served out his term. He deserves the respect. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/14 "2010-12-10T01:38:19Z")
I oppose any policy which might have caused Palin to stay in office. I’d even support a constitutional amendment allowing Palin to call herself President Palin as long as she agreed not to actually run for the office. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/15 "2010-12-10T02:18:03Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The point is when she quit, she should have forfeited her right to being called Gov. She should be called 'the Quittinator". > Jesse Ventura served out his term. He deserves the respect. “Should have forfeited”? The point is that you can call her what you want and deal with the consequences, such as having many people who don’t respect you and someone coming up with a title they think you should have. Ventura forfeited his right to my respect by conspiracy theory mongering. I’ll address him as custom prescribes, however. But if I ever get to ask Obama a question and he answers using my first name, I’ll say “Thanks, Barack.” I figure if he opens the door of familiarity, I’ll go through it. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/16 "2010-12-10T04:53:55Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Didn’t she put in her rider for speaker engagements that they must call her “Governor Palin”? Whenever I’m in a shopping mall, I insist upon the title “His royal and mighty highness and pretender to the Throne of France.” I find using that title makes it easier to get the stores to accept my personal checks. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/17 "2010-12-10T14:35:58Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > But if I ever get to ask Obama a question and he answers using my first name, I’ll say “Thanks, Barack.” I figure if he opens the door of familiarity, I’ll go through it. Make it, “Thanks Barry.” It sounds more insolent that way. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/18 "2010-12-10T14:40:18Z")
If you’re black, I’d go with “my nigga”. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/19 "2010-12-10T14:56:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not like there’s a law about it, but I don’t think you should expect to retain the title if you quit. That’s a special circumstance. Agreed. Referring to “President Nixon” always seemed wrong, too. But that was the correct protocol, even though he resigned in disgrace. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/20 "2010-12-10T15:13:49Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Agreed. Referring to “President Nixon” always seemed wrong, too. But that was the correct protocol, even though he resigned in disgrace. Not according to Judith Martin, see link upthread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560.md?page=2)