Palin’s Announcement: The Annotated Version

July 4th, 2009, 4:03 PM EDT


Palin’s complete remarks on her resignation are quite rambling, odd and vague.


Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I’ve been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations – such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.

 

How about the part where an ethics report declared you wrongfully fired the state safety commissioner because of a family grudge?


…all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won!

 

See above, which references a bipartisan report detailing abuse of power.


It’s pretty insane – my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with THIS instead of progressing our state now.

 

Didn’t you just say you were cleared of everything?

 

I choose NOT to tear down and waste precious time; but to build UP this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!


By quitting the job of serving them?

 

…it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: “Sit down and shut up”, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out.

 

And your way out is to, er—quit.

 

It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”.

 

So, if you were to keep your commitment to serve the people of your state, that would be apathetic?

 

I WILL support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the RIGHT reasons, and I don’t care what party they’re in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or Outside Alaska.


How about those in the Alaska Independence Party, dedicated to seceding from the United States?


I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lam.e duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it”. I’m not putting Alaska through that…

 

There are states, like Virginia, where every governor is a lame duck because of term limits.  There is another option for a lame duck governor, other than accepting lame duck status.  That would be going to work every day.


I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is unconventional and not so comfortable.


So the right path for Alaska is you not running it?

 

I have given my reasons candidly and truthfully…

 

When? To whom?


I cannot stand here as your Governor and allow millions upon millions of our dollars go to waste just so I can hold the title of Governor.

 

I thought you said all ethics questions were behind you.


Let’s just say, this decision has been in the works for awhile…

 

Although, you gave no indication to others close to you, like Senator Paul Begich, during a 45 minute meeting two days before the announcement.


we can ALL learn from our selfless Troops… they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that LIFE is short so they choose to NOT waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than SELF

 

Yes, and troops don’t go AWOL without consequences.  They don’t give up and waste time, because leaving their commitment to serve would be doing just that; unless you think such commitment is wasting time.


I love my job and I love Alaska. It hurts to make this choice but I am doing what’s best for Alaska. I’ve explained why…

 

No you haven’t.


I am taking my fight for what’s right – for Alaska – in a new direction.

 

Would that be out of Alaska?


So God bless you, and from me and my family – to ALL Alaska – you have my heart.


That’s nice, now where’s the rest of you going?

Hitler Pissed At Palin’s Move

July 4th, 2009, 11:24 AM EDT

Andy Rowe did this one.


Sen. Murkowski: “Disappointed” Palin Is “Abandoning” State

July 4th, 2009, 11:05 AM EDT

Fellow Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski issued a one-sentence statement on the sudden resignation of her state’s governor.


“I am deeply disappointed that the Governor has decided to abandon the State and her constituents before her term has concluded.”

 

The press release from the senator went on to say that she was communicating via satellite and unavailable for further comment.  The terseness of the comment resembles that of Murkowski’s December admonition to Palin to stay away from her senate seat remarking, “I can guarantee it would be a very tough election.”  But it doesn’t seem as though the senate is Palin’s next destination.  Stay tuned for the next shoe to drop.

Is Palin Leaving Politics For Good?

July 3rd, 2009, 6:12 PM EDT

NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports that Sarah Palin is “out of politics, period.” Halperin has more.

On Friday’s Radio Show…

July 3rd, 2009, 6:00 PM EDT

What’s behind Sarah Palin’s shocking resignation? Guest host Barry Weintraub fills in for Alan, and will be joined by political comedian Randy Credico.

Palin Resigning

July 3rd, 2009, 3:55 PM EDT

PalinIs she doing this to have more time in the lower 48 in advance of a 2012 presidential run?


She said she would resign at the end of this month and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.

 

Palin made the announcement from her home in Wasilla, flanked by her husband, Todd, and family and state commissioners.

Sanford Takes Trip, This Time Brings Family

July 3rd, 2009, 12:45 PM EDT

Barbecue weekend with the Sanfords will be in Florida, as the South Carolina governor takes the family with him this time.  Even security detail got into the act.


Nothing like a little r&r after a tough week of soulmate-longing, story-changing, confessions of line-crossing and trying to fall back in love with your wife.

Will Democrats Who Care About The Planet Be Thrown Out Of Office?

July 3rd, 2009, 11:52 AM EDT

If you’re Thomas Perriello, a Democrat from a conservative district, you take your career in your hands if you want to stand up for the environment.  Perriello and other Democrats in conservative or mixed districts are being targeted by the right but, to his credit, Perriello says, “There’s got to be something more important than getting reelected.”  But the biggest threat to the economy isn’t the climate change bill as Republicans claim, it’s the unstable price of oil and the very real chance that the costs will go up as our dependence on foreign oil increases.


The NRCC target list included some of the most vulnerable Democrats, like Florida Rep. Alan Grayson, Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey and Ohio Reps. John Boccieri, Mary Jo Kilroy and Zack Space. But the campaign committee also went after senior Democrats, like Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher — who negotiated large portions of the bill — Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon of Tennessee and Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri.


Notice how the GOP, always good at spinning language, refers to the energy “plan” as the energy “tax”.


Mark Sanford’s Campaign Ad Promoting “Christian Values”

July 2nd, 2009, 9:57 PM EDT

Oh, yeah…and it’s really important to tell the truth. Politico has this one from 2002, putting out the message that resulted in him becoming South Carolina’s governor (h/t RightWingWatch).


Jenny Sanford Still Willing To Forgive

July 2nd, 2009, 7:04 PM EDT

Mother Theresa, move over.  Even after her husband said he “crossed the line” with other women, after he said that his mistress was his soul mate and he’d “try to fall back in love” with his wife, Jenny Sanford says she’s willing to forgive.  The First Lady of South Carolina issued a statement, some of which reads:


I am willing to forgive Mark for his actions. We have been deeply disappointed in and even angry at Mark. The Bible says, “In your anger do not sin.” (Psalm 4:4) In this situation, this speaks to the essence of forgiveness and the critical need to channel one’s energy into positive steps that uphold the dignity of marriage and the family, and lead to reconciliation over time. My forgiveness is essential for us both to move on with our lives, with peace, in whatever direction that may take us.

 

[...]

 

…his far more egregious offenses were committed against God, the institutions of marriage and family, our boys and me. Mark has stated that his intent and determination is to save our marriage, and to make amends to the people of South Carolina. I hope he can make good on those intentions, and for the sake of our boys I leave the door open to it.

 

But what tune is the governor singing?