As soon as I saw this story, I came to Salon because I knew Joan would have something interesting and intelligent to say about this woman. As for the comments on this thread, no one says it better than Faulkner, Jr. and Xrandadu Hutman. Thanks, guys, for your always insightful ways of communicating my thoughts exactly. BTW, I listened to Ms. Palin's press conference speech several times and I could never figure out what she was trying to say. She lards her sentences with so many extraneous words, it is difficult to find the meaning therein.

makes her more determined to overcome. Motive? Who knows. Crazy like a fox? Yes. Dems are scared to death that this points to the end of Marxism.

just when I thought I couldn't hear anything more ridiculous, you surprise me.

***Heavy sigh***

I know this is very difficult for you to accept, but Palin is finished.

You're in the denial phase, but as soon as you reach the acceptance phase, the healing can begin.

They'll just go back into their caves gnashing their teeth cuz there's no Sarah to kick around anymore. We shall overcome. Even against charlatan scum from IL and MN.

Thank you, RZ79, for pointing out the obvious parallel.

This is brilliant. Palin can now hit the interview circuit if she likes, and explain her decision every time with reference to the legal bills

Ha! You're funnier than Tina Fey!

Plain's gonna hit the interview circuit and explain stuff? The dingaling can't even "explain" what newspapers she reads without making a total fool of herself.

And the last thing on earth any (successful) politician is gonna do is run around the country talking about how they're in legal trouble. Vote for me, I'm a fucking crook!

My advice for Sarah Palin would be, don't quit your day job.

Whoops! Too late!

tho quite literate and astute. Problem is, conservatives don't relate to how you frame your argument, as an apologist for a politician in the name of a greater cause. The true believers truly believe in Palin because of everything we scorn, not in spite of. Oh, the powerbrokers - Kristol et. al. - know better, of course. He plucked her out of obscurity as a tool for his own cause. But not the vast majority, who - and I use this term constantly because it constantly applies - just don't think the way we do. They just don't. The world, basic realities, priorities (oh, priorities) simply don't coincide. So to say to one: are you really willing to sell your soul for Palin, just doesn't compute. There's nothing about her to sell one's soul for. While Kristol, of course, sold his long ago, and willingly, eagerly, I have no doubt.

As for doubleReader, I see literary references are a major part of his/her intellectual approach. Of course, once s/he grabs the reference, only s/he gets to interpret its meaning.

My man, I insist you provide me with the name and contact information of your dealer. I've GOT to get me some of whatever it is you're hittin'!

The last thing that Sarah Palin should want to do is put herself in a position where she has to repeatedly "explain" anything. Her strength is not "explaining" stuff. I submit today's "speech" as evidence. To paraphrase a previous poster (alliteration purely coincidental), Tina Fey is gonna have to break out the You Betcha getup again.

The simple truth (I'd say the unlovely truth, but I dont like that fool, and I dont think this particular truth is all that unpleasant) is that the sort of people who would have Sarah Palin as their President are becoming politically irrelevant. Demographics are their enemy. The smart folks in the GOP know this, and are in the midst of trying to figure out what to do about it. The Republicans who are actually interested in winning national elections are weeping tears of elation that the Sanfords and Palins are leaving the scene, though they were chagrined when Jindal did so poorly in his national debut. The America that Sarah Palin represents is, if it ever truly existed, long gone now, and I must confess to saying "good riddance".

Now if my man can put down the Urdu poetry long enough to get this economy in shape, or cede his office to John Stewart, Colbert, or Lewis Black, all will be well, and we will be showered with blessings from on high.

Enjoy your weekend, bro!

The Liberals from New York were making it impossible for her to remain the governor.

--yes, that's a great excuse. she's supposed to lead the most powerful nation in the world but can't be governor of a state that's smaller than a major American city because of the scary liberal media!!!

I can't WAIT to see that one used to explain why she would be such an effective leader. What would she do it Putin said something mean to her? Resign as president?

She made the announcement today because it's a news dump. Every pol, no matter what side of the aisle, gives shitty news on dead Fridays, and the day before a big national holiday is super plus good to bury a story.

Her approvals ratings in Alaska since she was McCain's vp have consistently fallen.

Although the republican base loves her, independents MOST DEFINITELY DO NOT. You cannot win a national election with the 20% republican base that thinks Jesus rode dinosaurs that Noah put on the ark. You just can't.

Her own statement about being tougher than a pit bull and "not quitting" is discredited by... quitting.

I would bet this is closer to the truth: the portion of the Republican party that realizes they cannot win a national election with hate-based campaigns pushed her out, using the pending charges against her to make their case.

Honestly, the ONLY "reason" she gave for her resignation were the problems with ethics charges. She tried to paint herself as the victim but her problems with such issues go back before McCain picked her so... fail.

When she resigned, the right wing media wasn't even prepared with some sort of spin - another indication, to me, that the (megan) McCain republicans are working to destroy her. Kristol didn't have a clue (as per usual for him on a variety of issues).

This take down FROM THE REPUBLICANS is reinforced by the hit piece in Vanity Fair. There's no way McCain's campaign manager would have gone on record if he did not want to hurt her politically. She screwed over the republican presidential nominee by her actions after the campaign (complaining about McCain's running of the campaign, etc.) when the truth is that Bush had some of the lowest approval ratings of any sitting president, Republicans had already lost control of the house at midterms because the American people had had enough of the likes of Kristol and Cheney and Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld.

So the truth, which may be uncomfortable for right wingers on Salon, is that the republican party only wants your vote but not your candidate.