# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/21 "2010-12-10T15:49:55Z")
I recall reading somewhere that this usage should properly be reserved for former _executive_ officials, and not former legislators. Thus one would not call Bob Dole “Senator Dole” anymore. But Bob Dole probably doesn’t mind. Bob Dole. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/22 "2010-12-10T18:41:01Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > 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." I completely agree, but to a large number of people he would have come off as a stuffy asshole if he had insisted on something like that. He would have been utterly correct, but public perception would have worked against him. Whoever came up with the idea for her to do that, I think they displayed some very, very crafty political gamesmanship. It played straight into her folksy every-woman image, and had the potential to put Biden off his game a little. I thought he handled it exactly as he should have, but on the inside I did want to see him give her a verbal smack-down. ---
**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 10, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/23 "2010-12-10T18:47:19Z")
_Game Change_ says that Palin’s handlers told her to do that because she kept referring to Biden as “O’Biden” during debate prep, so they told her to do the “can I call you Joe” think to avoid her having to say his last name. I agree it was a crafty thing to tell her to do, and it was request Biden could not have refused without looking like a dick. ---
**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, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/24 "2010-12-10T18:59:27Z")
Also, “Say it ain’t so, Senator Biden” just didn’t have the same ring to it. **CookingWithGas** , that’s interesting. Was Nixon still supposed to be called “The Honorable Richard M. Nixon”, or was that dropped from his name? I’m fairly certain he was still called that in passing, but my memories are hazy. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/25 "2010-12-10T21:08:36Z")
I’ve said it before, but I believe that no one should be entitled to use any title before their name based on their holding of a public office in a democratic system. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/26 "2010-12-10T23:54:13Z")
I was close to the Cecil Underwood campaign in 1996. He was previously Governor of West Virginia from 1957-1961. During the campaign, many people called him “Governor.” Whether it was proper or not, I will leave to the manners experts, but it seems that if once you hold the office, you keep that title. ---
**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 11, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/27 "2010-12-11T01:35:54Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I was close to the Cecil Underwood campaign in 1996. He was previously Governor of West Virginia from 1957-1961. During the campaign, many people called him “Governor.” Whether it was proper or not, I will leave to the manners experts, but it seems that if once you hold the office, you keep that title. That’s what Judith Martin says, with the exception of President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/28 "2010-12-11T07:31:23Z")
> [@These are my own pants](#): > > Though to be fair he’s not as big a fruitloop as Palin. Many of us from Minnesota would disagree with that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/29 "2010-12-11T09:17:27Z")
Well, then you are not familiar enough with “Governor” Palin. I don’t care for either Ventura’s or Palin’s politics, but from what I’ve seen of both, Ventura is far, far better. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/30 "2010-12-11T12:48:57Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > That’s what Judith Martin says, with the exception of President of the United States. President Ford referred to himself as President Ford. There was a U of M alumni meeting at a hotel I once worked at and he called to talk to them. I was thrown for a second by him referring to himself as president. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/31 "2010-12-11T13:38:48Z")
At least she isn’t asking to be addressed as maestro 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/32 "2010-12-12T05:24:23Z")
> [@These are my own pants](#): > > 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. You have not been listening to him enough. Palin is just a poor choice for high office. Ventura is a giant frootloop. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/33 "2010-12-12T21:09:11Z")
So, according to Miss Manners, neither the President nor Vice-President retains his title when he leaves office. Then, what would you call George H. W. Bush (“No. 41”)? Would you refer to him as Congressman Bush, since he held the office of U. S. Representative from 1967-1971 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/34 "2010-12-12T21:20:31Z")
Ambassador was his highest title before he became vice president, I think. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/35 "2010-12-13T02:37:19Z")
That sounds acceptable to me. I really can’t see a distinction between an elective office and an appointment, and “Ambassador” does carry a high degree of honor with it. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/36 "2010-12-14T09:48:26Z")
Robert Hickey, a man who wrote a book on protocol FWIW, appears to mostly agree with Miss Manners. > [@Robert Hickey](#): > > This approach is traditional for any office for which there is only one office-holder at a time. So, with officials such as Mayors, Governors or Presidents … only the current office holder is addressed as Mr. Mayor, Governor, or Mr. President … formers are not officially addressed that way. > That’s not to say that a friend might not call a former Mayor “Mayor Smith” or a former President “President (Surname)” unofficially, socially, and as a courtesy … but most formally and officially it would be the most incorrect. > With offices there are many at the same time … Senators, Admirals, Judges, etc. … and so it’s not disrespectful to a single current office holder. > To explain the correct form I would say “using the title of her former position is flattering to the former official and he or she may not correct you, but not respectful to the current office holder. There’s only one “(name of the office)” at a time.” [On-Line Guide to Forms of Address - Robert Hickey](http://www.formsofaddress.info/FOA_president_US_former.html) So formally speaking, we could call her Mrs. Palin or Ms. Palin depending upon her preference: we shouldn’t call her Governor or Mayor Palin. But informally, it is acceptable to refer to her as The Former Half-Term Governor, Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/37 "2010-12-14T13:02:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > That sounds acceptable to me. I really can’t see a distinction between an elective office and an appointment, and “Ambassador” does carry a high degree of honor with it. Except that even a serving ambassador is not referred to as “Ambassador Smith”. He’s just Mr Smith, the American Ambassador to Wherever. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/38 "2010-12-14T13:15:41Z")
Formally: Mrs. Palin Semi-formally: Part-Time Governor Palin Informally: Sarah “Quitter” Palin ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/39 "2010-12-14T15:58:38Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > That sounds acceptable to me. I really can’t see a distinction between an elective office and an appointment, and “Ambassador” does carry a high degree of honor with it. Acceptable for what? Nobody in real life follows the Miss Manners-type rules anyway. Every former president is routinely addressed as “president” in almost all the circumstances in which most people will encounter. So there’s really no reason to go about looking for a different rule. Only in very narrow, specialized official diplomatic/state-level occasions would someone like George H. W. Bush be referred to as “Ambassador Bush” instead of “President Bush” and, not having any direct experience with such circumstances, I don’t know whether this kind of rule followed even then. And, anyway, we are always moving towards more egalitarianism. I prefer “Mr.” or “Ms.” for everyone who is in public office or who has formerly held public office. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560/40 "2010-12-15T12:09:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Formally: Mrs. Palin > Semi-formally: Part-Time Governor Palin > Informally: Sarah “Quitter” Palin On second thought, that’s a little too jokey for GQ-Apologies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-palin-calling-herself-governor-palin/563560.md?page=3)