As I thought about this announcement that I wouldn't run for re-election, and what that means for Alaska, I thought about how, well, how much fun some Governors have as lame ducks. They maybe travel around their state, travel to other states, maybe take their overseas international trade missions.
LOL ! Is Sarah taking jabs at the love-lorn SC Governor?
I don't think she meant that. I didn't take it that way.
I felt her reference to a "lame-duck" and traveling around, etc. while waiting in the interim for the newly elected Governor, was very pointedly saying she had some plans and needs to do them now and didn't want to be criticized for neglecting her office.
As has been written - it's a shrewd and gutsy move. We shall see.
Others have said, like Cokie Roberts - Someone planning on a run for President wouldn't have taken the course she has taken.
Gov. Palin’s Message to Alaska on Her Resignation (excerpt)
Let me speak to that for a minute.
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.
Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn’t been cheap - the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” . . . Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn’t cost them a dime so they’re not going to stop draining public resources – spending other peoples’ money in their game.
It’s pretty insane – my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with THIS instead of progressing our state now. I know I promised no more “politics as usual,” but THIS isn’t what anyone had in mind for ALASKA.
If I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices!
And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. 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!
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.
But I won’t do it from the Governor’s desk.
I’ve never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this - to make a difference... to HELP people. So I choose, for my State and my family, more “freedom” to progress, all the way around... so that Alaska may progress... I will not seek re-election as Governor.
But I have given my reasons . . . no more “politics as usual” and I am taking my fight for what’s right – for Alaska – in a new direction.
In the words of General MacArthur said, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
I don't think she meant that. I didn't take it that way.
I felt her reference to a "lame-duck" and traveling around, etc. while waiting in the interim for the newly elected Governor, was very pointedly saying she had some plans and needs to do them now and didn't want to be criticized for neglecting her office.
As has been written - it's a shrewd and gutsy move. We shall see.
Others have said, like Cokie Roberts - Someone planning on a run for President wouldn't have taken the course she has taken.
We shall see.
PO, I know that you will have Palin's back no matter what...and I respect that. But this just doesn't make sense to me. There is no newly-elected governor of Alaska. They probably haven't even begun campaigning yet for the 2010 elections. By her estimation, there are dozens of lame-duck governors then.
"she has plans and doesn't want to be seen as neglecting her office"? So she, as the elected will of the people, quits with a year and a half left on her term? That's not neglect?
Finally, I don't believe it was written, nor was it shrewd.
PS. I kinda miss the old fights with you.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
PO, I know that you will have Palin's back no matter what...and I respect that. But this just doesn't make sense to me. There is no newly-elected governor of Alaska. They probably haven't even begun campaigning yet for the 2010 elections. By her estimation, there are dozens of lame-duck governors then.
"she has plans and doesn't want to be seen as neglecting her office"? So she, as the elected will of the people, quits with a year and a half left on her term? That's not neglect?
Finally, I don't believe it was written, nor was it shrewd.
The one coming up in 2010 is going to be newly elected. Let's look at
PS. I kinda miss the old fights with you.
Stew,
Read the article that she posts on her website. She goes over all that she has accomplished and appears to feel she cannot do more for that state than what she has done. I'm not going to have her back no matter what - but I'm not going to shoot her out of water until I know what is going on. She seems to be within her rights to resign. No one is questioning that.
The Governor coming up in 2010 is going to be newly elected - hence - in her mind - she's a lame-duck.
Let's look at what her rights or privileges are for resigning - I haven't looked into that.
Stew,
Read the article that she posts on her website. She goes over all that she has accomplished and appears to feel she cannot do more for that state than what she has done.
The Governor coming up in 2010 is going to be newly elected - hence - in her mind - she's a lame-duck.
Let's look at what her rights or privileges are for resigning - I haven't looked into that.
PO, I still don't see how she can see herself as a lame-duck governor. The country is in one of the shakiest times of its existence. If every politician who was over a year away from being replaced quit their jobs, we would all be in trouble. President Bush was not a lame-duck President in July of 2007. We had no idea who the next President would be at that time, and there were plenty of real duties he needed to fulfill until he handed over power in January of 2009.
I've heard incumbents referred to as lame ducks after their replacement was elected and was awaiting the swearing in...never a year and a half in advance of that though.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
PO, I still don't see how she can see herself as a lame-duck governor. The country is in one of the shakiest times of its existence. If every politician who was over a year away from being replaced quit their jobs, we would all be in trouble. President Bush was not a lame-duck President in July of 2007. We had no idea who the next President would be at that time, and there were plenty of real duties he needed to fulfill until he handed over power in January of 2009.
I've heard incumbents referred to as lame ducks after their replacement was elected and was awaiting the swearing in...never a year and a half in advance of that though.
I think she views herself as a lame duck at this point. She also, in her written piece, points out that the Lt. Governor and her are on the same page on their decision making. She sees him as the next Governor.
She also spoke about the frivolous lawsuits that the tax payers have had to pay for. People have been ruthless against her and her family.
I was just reading a comment somewhere else that said they think something came up in the last 48 hours and is why she is making her decision.
Certainly an interesting story to follow.
Last edited by Pressing-On; 07-03-2009 at 06:16 PM.
I think she views herself as a lame duck at this point. She also, in her written piece, points out that the Lt. Governor and her are on the same page on their decision making. She seems him as the next Governor.
She also spoke about the frivolous lawsuits that the tax payers have had to pay for. People have been ruthless against her and her family.
I was just reading a comment somewhere else that said they think something came up in the last 48 hours and is why she is making her decision.
Certainly an interesting story to follow.
It appears that something happened fairly recently. The Lt. Governor said he didn't know about this until Wednesday evening....that would fall into the 48 hour window
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
It appears that something happened fairly recently. The Lt. Governor said he didn't know about this until Wednesday evening....that would fall into the 48 hour window
I'm sure the buzzards will circle and let us know!
But this just doesn't make sense to me. There is no newly-elected governor of Alaska. They probably haven't even begun campaigning yet for the 2010 elections. By her estimation, there are dozens of lame-duck governors then.
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