I was astonished by Sarah Palin’s announcement that she is going to resign as Governor of Alaska. I’ve read over her “point guard” explanation for doing so, and I still don’t get it. She’s says he going to advance the causes she believes in by leaving public office? She will evidently leave office with only 16 months to go in her term (she says she’ll resign July 26 and Alaska governors take office in December); why not serve out the 16 months? It’s not that long a time.
It’s hard to realize that Palin has been an important national figure for only 10 months. Through that time I have thought it unfair that her personal life has evoked so many strong feelings, from admirers and especially from detractors. It seems that some pro-choice people can’t forgive her for making the choice to give birth to her fifth child, and the volume of hate and vitriol directed at her has been stunning.
My impulse has been to try to evaluate her as a public official and a political candidate. But now she’s going to stop being a public official pretty soon, and it’s not clear whether she’s going to be a political candidate. Some are hailing her resignation as a political masterstroke. I’m just puzzled. How does resigning as governor strengthen her as a presidential candidate?
