UnNews:Palin refuses to resign
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4 July 2009
WASILLA, Montana for some reason -— Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly announced Friday she is refusing to resign from office at the end of the month, a shocking move that rattled the Republican party but left open the possibility she would seek a run for the White House in 2012.
Palin, 45, and her staff kept her future plans shrouded in mystery, and it was unclear if the controversial hockey mom would quietly return to the governor's office or begin laying the foundation for a new, improved governor's mansion.
Palin's spokesman, David Murrow, said the governor didn't say anything to him about this, though he was really drunk yesterday.
And Pam Pryor, a spokeswoman for Palin's political action committee SarahPAC, said the group continues to accept donations on its Web site, with an uptick in funds, fun, and fungus after Palin's announcement.
The announcement caught even current and former Palin advisers by surprise. Former members of the John McCain campaign team, now dispersed across the country, traded perplexed e-mails and phone calls.
In a hastily arranged news conference at her home in suburban Wasilla, Palin said she will not formally step down July 26, and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be continue to be relatively unknown. She said she had to run for re-election as Alaska's governor, in spite of the millions of dollars the state must pay for frivulous ethics complaints. "Many just accept that lame duck status, and they hit that road. They draw a paycheck. They kind of milk it. And I'm going to put Alaskans through at least twice that," she said.
. Meghan Stapleton, Palin's personal spokeswoman, shot down speculation that ranged wildly from Palin dropping out of politics altogether to eyeing runs against fellow Alaska Republicans U.S. Rep. Don Young and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Palin's comment about serving outside government refers to the presents, she said. When asked whether these were Christmas or birthday presents, the spokesperson offered no comments
"Her vision is what's best for selfish interests, which translates into what's best for finances, so no, she won't be resigning anytime soon" Stapleton said.
Palin's non-resignation, timed on the eve of the July 4 holiday when many Americans had already begun a one-day weekend followed by a 2 day hangover, seemed designed to avoid publicity. She alluded to how she could help change the country and help military members — code that she didn't think her time on the national stage was over.
One senior Palin adviser, who spoke to the family in recent days, described the governor and her husband as willing to deal with the constant media scrutiny. Nevertheless, the adviser was shocked to hear Palin's announcement Friday.
A longtime confidant who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, the adviser counseled the Palins that leaving government was politically wise, but the governor was resolute.
Though the announcement touched off a flurry of speculation among Democrats and Alaska political bloggers that Palin had been drawn into one of the many criminal investigations that have upended Alaska politics in recent years, the adviser reported seeing no evidence of such an investigation and said if one is under way, then Palin has kept it to herself and it would be yet another surprise to supporters.
Jerry McBeat, a veteran political science professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, called the pending non-resignation a "smart move," both for Palin and the state.
But political analyst Larry Sabotage, in Charlottesville, Va., said Palin's announcement left many confused. "I think it eliminates her from serious consideration for the presidency in 2012."
Palin said her family mattered little in her decision.
"I polled the most important people in my life, my kids, where the count was unanimous," she said. And I ignored the results"
Palin's decision to seek re-election was an odd one for a potential presidential candidate. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney chose not to seek another term as he geared up for an unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced he won't seek another term, giving him plenty of free time ahead of a potential 2012 bid.
Palin emerged from relative obscurity nearly a year ago when she was tapped as then Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate.
In the presidential race, Palin became the butt of talk-show jokes and Democratic criticism, but the media was never biased. That's just insane. .
Fred Malek, a Republican strategist who has advised Palin over the past year, said Palin was "really happy with the way her life was going."
"She felt that the pressures of the job combined with her family obligations and the demands and desires to help other Republican candidates were not as important as the title of governor, and this led her to decide to run again. Once that decision was made, she realized, why not do it now and let the lieutenant governor vandalise uncyclopedia all day," Malek said.
Palin expressed no frustration with her current role as governor.
"An honest governor would say "I cannot stand here as your governor and allow the millions of dollars and all that time go to waste just so I can hold the title of governor." I, however, refuse to step down no matter how good it would be for the state" Palin said, referring to the alleged impact of multiple ethics complaints against her, most of which have been dismissed.
Palin remaining as governor is not good for Alaska, given the "political bloodsport" by her critics, Stapleton said. Stepping down would be a "fighter's move," Stapleton said, essentially Palin stepping around political barriers in her way and pursuing her vision.
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