Why's Palin Bailin'?

Like almost everyone else, I’m having a difficult time reconciling Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s decision to resign as Governor. While her press conference wasn’t as weird as the one she gave last Thanksgiving, where a man stood in the background shoving turkeys into a decapitation device, as the Governor babbled on, it was pretty close. For anyone who hasn’t seen the video on you tube, it shows a chirpy Sarah Palin telling a reporter how much she enjoyed the Thanksgiving tradition and her recent run for the vice-presidency while a demented looking guy in blood soaked overalls kills turkeys. It is surreal given Palin was at the turkey farm to pardon the Thanksgiving bird.
Like the Thanksgiving video, last week’s announcement set off another round of “what a wack job” to “never underestimate Sarah Palin” depending on your political persuasion. The press conference was held in the back yard of her home in Wasilla. The only people in attendance other than press were her family and a couple of neighbors. She then launched into a “what is she talking about” ramble that had to have had even the biggest Sarah Palin fans scratching their heads. I kept waiting for the turkey guy to amble across the field behind her.
Even the timing of her Friday news conference was puzzling. Why would anyone want to compete with the wall to wall Michael Jackson coverage and the 4th of July? The only time a politician wants to announce anything in an environment like that is if it’s bad news. Well, I still can’t figure out what it is. Listening to Palin was like listening to Professor Irwin Corey. (You youngsters can google him up). You knew she was talking but you just weren’t sure what she was saying.
Not only is she quitting her job as Governor of Alaska, she’s resigning early. This leaves her vulnerable to the charge she’s a quitter. Americans don’t like quitters or whiners. She did a little of both the other day. As best I could interpret her remarks, she says she’s sick and tired of being criticized and lampooned.
Now I don’t disagree that the liberal media has been pathological and pathetic in its criticism but it goes with the territory these days. Palin should read up on my old boss, Richard Nixon. No one was more vilified by the liberal press than Nixon. The liberals hated him because he was right on communists in government and Alger Hiss in the late ‘40’s. He was written off time and again yet managed to be elected president in 1968. He knew he would never win over his critics so he focused on the so-called silent majority.
My instinct tells me Palin isn’t done yet although leaving a governor’s mansion early is a curious way of keeping your presidential aspirations afloat. But it’s important to remember she’s governor of Alaska. If you’ve never been there, it’s a hike. It’s a full day’s air travel and doesn’t lend itself to quick political appearances. Nor is the national media likely to spend much time or money keeping a correspondent or film crew in Anchorage. So is Palin wants to build on her celebrity, she can’t be tethered to Alaska. She needs to be closer to the big media markets like New York and Washington.
That leaves her two alternatives. She could run for Senator next year and hope a victory would bring her more Beltway exposure and an opportunity to grow her foreign policy chops a la Hillary Clinton prior to a presidential bid in 2012. Or she could land herself a chat show on cable but given the media animosity towards her, she’d probably have to settle for Fox News which would be tantamount to preaching to the converted. That’s exactly why former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has a show on Fox. It keeps him in the mix and provides a launching pad for 2012.
Then, of course, there’s the remote possibility she’s had enough or she’s getting off the stage before some sort of corruption scandal engulfs her. I doubt she’s had enough because it sure looked like she enjoyed the klieg lights last year. And like most politicians, she’s surrounded by acolytes telling her how fabulous she is. As for a scandal, resigning won’t get prosecutors off your back, so I don’t buy it.
My best guess is she simply wants a time out and she knows there’s plenty of time to get back in the game. Remember, this woman has had an incredible year on so many levels. Even a hockey Mom needs a little time on the bench.