A few quick thoughts.

1. It now seems clear that Andrea Mitchell's sources were wrong. Palin is not getting out of politics.

Today, she proclaimed that "all options are on the table," and we all know there are only two broad options of public curiosity: running in 2012, and not running. Sarah told us today she actively considering a 2012 run.

2. Beware of fish stories. Today, over a salmon catch, Palin told reporters she can't predict the next fish run, much less whether she will plan to run for president. Bobby Knight used to say he would rather break a fish catching record than Dean Smith's record for career wins.

Generally speaking, when an ambitious person tells a hokey fishing story to disclaim ambition, keep an eye out for the ambition. Palin is all but an announced candidate at this point, at least for the likes of Mike Huckabee and his proto-efforts to build support in Iowa.

3. Yes, but what about her "disastrous" speech last week? Gee, I don't know. No less a liberal than Stanley Fish defended her in the New York Times today, saying it seemed like a handwritten, heartfelt statement, and such things are refreshing.

Besides, as I explained before, I think she had to do this, as a form of befuddlement vis-a-vis her presidential ambitions.

4. And speaking of befuddled, Palin lost the National Review today. They led with an unflattering "wink" photo of Palin. Lead editor Rich Lowry slammed her for faking concern over ethics charges, and essentially cashing in for speaking fees through rank opportunism.

Aw. Rich should pop in a copy of Dr. Strangelove and watch General Ripper's screed against those who have neither the time, nor the training, nor the inclination for strategic thought. Rich may be one of those people.

(Incidentally, I agree with Lowry to a point. I just don't have a problem with the opportunism . . . I mean, opportunities. Politics aside, I hope Palin makes a killing).

5. By the way, I thought the press conference last week was supposed to have been hastily scheduled, ill executed, and indicative of impending scandal. Today, all three networks plus CNN were up in the Arctic Circle bobbing about Palin over a salmon catch and speculation on her presidential future. It's almost like this was a choreographed media strategy or something.

And by the way, even ABC was gushing that Palin, looking quite photogenic with her fishing gear, was getting back to her hockey mom roots. She also mentioned that she wants to get away from overt partisanship and seek out political independents in the future. I wonder if that has anything to do with presidential politics.

6. Of course, Sarah will irritate some by saying it her way. She noted that she's receiving lots of helpful advice (i.e., unwanted), but that she will continue to be "pretty darn independent." Then, she dropped a genuine Palinseque gem, stating in inverted fashion that she does not need a Republican "political machine" the likes of which have not proven "extremely successful" on "some" recent occasions.

7. Here's the beauty of it. Palin is writing her own resignation speech, issuing her own press releases on Facebook, making quite clear that she will map out her own political strategy. Who gave her permission to do this?

8. Yes, but won't new polls come out showing a post-resignation fade? That's possible, but she has another ace in her sleeve: the announcement of 1/1 through 6/30 PAC fund raising, which is due by 7/31. That announcement can segue into fall campaigning, and one person with whom she does have a good public relationship is the colorful, Palinesque RNC chairman, Michael Steele.

9. Oh, and one final thought. I've mentioned before that seeing Palin and the Republican wise men (e.g., George Will, Charles Krauthammer) is like Elvis Presley with Steve Allen in 1956. Allen insisted that Presley wear a tuxedo and sing to a live hound dog to avoid the bluesey, black, Memphis gyrations which characterized his initial performances.

Presley was completely sui generis as a national performer, and ultimately went his own way. Palin is like that, too: an audaciously down-to-earth, do-it-yourself conservative with a loyal grass roots following and irrepressible likeability.

So, to sum it up: another day, another bit of joy watching Sarah Palin.

Let's see...strong maternal women....politics...

Geraldine Ferraro

Sandra Day O'Connor

Christine Todd Whitman

Ann Richards

Hillary Clinton

the list goes on and on..

oh, wait - none of THEM quit.

from the Anchorage Daily News:

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/850854.html

Ethics complaints against Gov. Sarah Palin and top members of her administration have cost the state personnel board nearly $300,000 over the past year, almost two-thirds of which appear to be from the Troopergate investigation of the governor.

The bulk of the expenses -- $187,797 -- appear to stem from Troopergate, the messy case involving Palin's former brother-in-law, a state trooper, who got on the wrong side with Palin and her family.

Palin herself initiated at least a part of the ethics case to counter a legislative investigation into the same matter. An additional Troopergate ethics complaint was brought by the state troopers union, which complained Palin and others improperly disclosed confidential personnel and workers' compensation records of her former brother-in-law, Mike Wooten, and engaged in systematic efforts to have Wooten fired. The personnel board dismissed the union complaint...

however...

The most high-profile ethics issue was the Troopergate matter. A report commissioned by the state Legislature concluded that Palin broke ethics law and abused her power in allowing her husband and top aides to push for Wooten's firing.

Here's an overview of the "troopergate" case -

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/ak_gov_says_staffer_pressed_for_troopers_firing.php

and here

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/211769.php

But, just to clarify - this issue began BEFORE she was the Republican nominee. Palin ABUSED the power of her office in a personal vendetta to attack the ex-husband of her sister.

Palin fired the Public Safety Commissioner who refused to use public office for personal vendetta. This same man told Todd Palin that the family's attempts to punish Wooten via political power was a bad move.

So, excuse the fuck outta me if I don't cry for Evita Palin for abusing the power of her office in some trailer trash vendetta divorce and custody battle, racking up lot of legal fees for her abuse of office, then whining that politics had just gotten so... mean... so much about the politics of personal destruction.

PALIN is all about the politics of personal destruction. Those ARE her politics.

She does not represent any feminist ideal at all. In fact, the opposite is true. She is a gutter snipe and it wouldn't matter if she were male or female, this definition would fit. She's Karl Rove in drag.