Now that Sarah Palin has announced on Facebook that the pursuit of a "higher calling" is the reason she is stepping down as the governor of Alaska, all we have to do is figure out what job might qualify. POTUS? Talk-show host? Litigant?
That last one might be among her more immediate aspirations, according to her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, who issued a statement Saturday denying that Palin or her husband profited from the construction of a sports facility in her hometown of Wasilla, and threatening legal action against anyone who suggests otherwise: "To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as 'fact' that Governor Palin resigned because she is 'under federal investigation' for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law."
What Moore has written is that "For weeks the rumors of a criminal investigation against the governor have been brewing. They are rumors, but are swirling fresh again with Palin's resignation.'' Given that trying to prove there were no rumors seems a self-defeating exercise, that truth is an absolute defense against a defamation charge, and that as a public figure Palin would additionally have to prove actual malice, my (free, and worth every penny!) advice is that such a course of action seems an excellent way to rack up legal fees on top of the $500,000 she already reportedly owes as a result of various ethics investigations. And wasn't that mountain of bills one of the reasons she's leaving office? At least, I think that's what she said.
Though I didn't see how quitting halfway through her first term would set her up for a presidential run, her Facebook message does sound as if some sort of national leadership role is what she has in mind: "I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I've never thought I needed a title before one's name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness! God bless you! And I look forward to making a difference - with you!''
And whatever her plans, they definitely include continuing to run against the media, a tactic her base loves (and which liberal press-haters view no differently). "How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country," Palin's FB posting said. "Though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make." Which we in the media can only hope means she's cutting and running in order to run.
Melinda Henneberger is the editor-in-chief of PoliticsDaily.com. She spent 10 years as a reporter for the New York Times, in the paper’s Washington and Rome bureaus... more
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SARAH CANT BE TOO DUMB IF SHE HAS A BALANCED BUDGET,HAS ALASKA DEBT FREE AND THINGS GOING WELL IN HER STATE. SHE EVEN SENDS OUT TAX PAYERS RESIDUES OF THE OIL PROFITS...SHE IS ONE HELL OF A LADY..IN MY BOOK . TO KEEP ALASKA IN LINE AS WELL AS RAISE A FAMILY, ALONG WITH A RETARDED CHILD... MY, OH MY, DONT YOU JUST LOVE SOME ONE LIKE THAT? WITH MORALS , DECENCY AND HONESTY. ... I WISH WE HAD SOMEONE TO GET US OUT OF DEBT AND PAY US OFF WITH OUT TAXING US AND SPENDING TRILLIONS OF OUR TAX PAYERS MONEY FOR OTHER COUNTRIES BILLS... MY OH MY, IM GLAD YOU LIKE GIVING AWAY YOUR GRANDCHILDRENS MONEY AND LEAVING THEM WITH A DEBT THAT THEY CAN NEVER PAY... WHAT FINE FELLOWS YOU MUST BE???????SOME PEOPLE ARE TOO DUMB TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN.... PALIN IS A WINNER AND ALWAYS WILL BE... YOU WANT TO LOSE YOUR MONEY AND YOUR FREEDOM... YOUR RIGHT ON TRACK,.....TRASH THE GOOD PEOPLE ...THATS ALL YOU NOW HOW TO DO. WHEW..SOME PEOPLE NEVER LEARN.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-6)
satxgypsy
5:10AM Jul 5th 2009
Don't be an idiot! The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend was instituted long before Ms. Palin even thought of running for office! It was created over 30 years ago to provide Alaskans with direct benefits from the revenues for State oil leases and has been paying residents of Alaska every year! Had nothing to do with her!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
cjjanis001
9:26AM Jul 5th 2009
Sandy you douche bag! using are hard economic times to push Greenes BS program! And it has nothing to do with Palin! Beware folks Greene system is BS and will cost you money for info that is free! Some of the successful users of this system listed on the site had no idea they were being used and never used the system! One guy listed is considered to be one of the worst E-Bay sellers and is banned and was charged with fraud.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
ssdwyer115
11:42AM Jul 5th 2009
Palin is a winner. I will vote for Palin
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Hi Guy
3:37PM Jul 5th 2009
Alaska has been debt free and sending out checks to it's residents since Sarah Palin was still in diapers and learning to walk. A rock as the governor would still result in a debt free and check issuing Alaska. Alaska is this way because of it's oil wealth and will continue to be this way as long as we and Canada must rely on oil. She is the governor of a state that has less people and less cars, roads, etc. than a large number of cities in the US. Though she is a governor she governs over less problems than most large city mayors govern over.
Palin might be a very smart individual, but as a national office seeker she was a very dumb politician. She even angered and embarrassed the very person/people who chose her as the VP running mate, greatly hurting the GOP's chances in the 2008 elections. Since then she has continued to step before the public and press, making error after error and causing further embarrassment to the GOP and even the state legislature of Alaska. She dearly needs to follow thru with this resignation and then to stay out of politics above the city/town or county level.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
Candace honest conservative
7:26PM Jul 5th 2009
I think Sarah Palin has a tremendous amount of class and definately practices what she preaches. She has graciously handled extreme disrespect and false accusations and I think she is an intelligent, down to earth, breath of fresh air!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-4)
g1jezabel
6:23PM Jul 5th 2009
Everyone is entititled to their opinions. Thanks for posting yours, as yours is amongst the minority of opinions, however it is your right.
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Chubby Bubba
7:12PM Jul 5th 2009
Yes, all of that *would* be impressive IF it was true.
Face facts, the woman is they worst sort of hypocrite == the moral avenger who will not walk her talk. If my son had to join the military in order to avoid prosecution for breaking and entering, vandalism and being involved with an Oxycontin ring AND my teenage daughter gets knocked up out of wedlock I would not be lecturing half the country about how morally superior I am.
But...that is nothing new for the wingnuts...It's always the OTHER guy's fault. No doubt she would tell us that her kids were corrupted by liberal values and she was the real victim.
Is the right wing ever going to take responsibility for their problems?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
eldoradoangel
7:13PM Jul 5th 2009
I know very little about current Alaska politics, but I do know Gov. Palin has little if anything to do with the distribution of oil money. Gov. Jay Hammond set up the permenant fund back in the '70s to do this.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
mary
8:17PM Jul 5th 2009
Dear gtale -
I am appalled that you would call Ms. Palin's youngest child "retarded". Don't you have any sense of decency? In today's world people with disabilities are always PEOPLE first. They are not known by their disability. While, personally, I have absolutely no positive regard for Ms. Palin, I do hope that the time she has taken "off" is so that she can see to her son's growth and development. A child with special needs does require more of your time. It is a lot of work to help a child w/disabilities realize their maximum potential and it can't be done while seeking to prove yourself, as Ms. Palin seems to be so wrapped up in doing.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
Donna
8:48PM Jul 5th 2009
I think she is an incredible woman. She is one of the few people in this country that still remembers what it means to be an American. She is courageous and this country needs more politicians like her.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
Spetsnaz
9:31PM Jul 5th 2009
AMEN. This inane and pointless article was written by another clueless Liberal leech.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-4)
gnmk09
12:22AM Jul 6th 2009
Sarah Palin is a perfect example of what a person in politics should be. She is an honest and decent politician unlike others in DC. The very reason she was hated by the Leftist Democrats, as well as the Leftist Republicans, who are steeped in corruption and fraud. They are motivated by power and greed seeking only to further their Socialist agenda that will inslave us all. I am amazed at the followers of this kind of thinking, who when faced with facts, even still will not concede and rage against those who disagree.
God help us all. It will take "Divine" intervention to straighten this mess out, we surley cannot depend on those who were elected to represent us to do it. Time for them to go. People need to wake up and see where we are at and vote these frauds out of office. The future of this country depends on it.
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ele9999
1:03AM Jul 6th 2009
Sarah Palin will never be president of the USA, not enough people in the Republican Party right now to elect anyone to that office. No matter who. Do the math, look at reality. Will need Independents like myself, some Democratic votes to pull that off. But Palin runs those AWAY from her. So, not there. Cannot do.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (3)
Titanman4U
2:58AM Jul 6th 2009
If Palin is so great, doing a wonderful job and loves her Alaska...why does she want to QUIT. Does she HAVE to go on those trips and waste tax payers money? Or go on the trip and really make them worthwhile. Or stay in Alaska, as gov., and continue to try and make a difference for the ones who gave money and time to put her there...If nothing else she could always look out her window and see Russia.
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drscot
7:50AM Jul 6th 2009
GTGALe you are an idiot-please look at Alaska's current fiscal situation- they are in trouble under her leadership. It was easy to run a budget when oil prices were the highest in history ,but now that the state is in trouble she has quit-she had no answer but to bable about herself-her handicapped son and her illegimate bastard grandson- that she drags into every conversation and tows to every event.(at time at the expense of the citizens of her state)
RATE THIS COMMENT: (3)
kelshiker
4:08AM Jul 5th 2009
Your cat claws are showing. You are also not very intelligent if you think the usual lies about Palin are going to take hold. She is GAINING in popularity every day, and you gutless, lying, bought, poor excuse for human beings, so called journalists are loosing your popularity everyday.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
PCL
3:27PM Jul 5th 2009
I have never heard of anyone who's popularity was 'growing' to 'quit' their present 'job'. I can understand any governor of any state resigning their position if they're caught up in any scandal (unless you're the governor of South Carolina, of course)--but, I thought Ms. Goody Two Shoes was as pure as the driven snow. So, what gives?
I managed to listen to her speech yesterday--such as it was (I have heard high school seniors in public speaking courses do much better)--and I can only hope that her 'higher calling' has much more to do with repairing the damage that her own arrogance has done to her own family, particularly Bristol. When a parent so clearly violates rule number one rule of parenting (First Do No Harm), they should expect a visit from 'karma'.
Palin clearly overestimates her own fascination with herself--that is some magical mirror she's got.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
jennifer borland
5:31PM Jul 5th 2009
popularity does not equal intelligence or the ability to lead you ninny