As Mr. Van Flein kindly articulated in his "threatening" letter: "To be blunt—this 'story' was alleged during the campaign, evaluated then by national media and deemed meritless. Nothing has changed."

Add to that the fact that Palin "already faces $600,000 in legal bills inflicted by Democratic plumbers chasing down similar rabbit trails for 'news'" (as readerreader has pointed out) -- well, the letter is neither "odd" nor "menacing."

As for your statement that "Max Blumenthal added details Saturday in the Daily Beast." Sorry, Joan, but Mr. Blumenthal hasn't added anything at all. He's simply resurrected an old rumor and you are more than happy to jump right back on board, despite the fact that the FBI itself has denied this rumor as recently as today. But don't let the facts get in your way. They never have before, have they?

Tell me, Joan, if this meritless rumor once again turns out to be just that, will you be apologizing to the woman Salon has made a fortune misogynizing since the day she appeared on the national stage?

"Naturally, the lawyer's letter, with reference to the scandal, made the Washington Post today -- just what Palin wanted? Mention in the New York Times and on MSNBC can't be too far behind."

DING! DING! DING! DING! We have a winner! Next up: the announcement of the job with Faux News. Also note that Bible Spice's mug has been on the front page of Salon all weekend. Last laugh?

Also, what tomcruz and mercedes von uppity said.

Selah.

Wherefore art thou? I guess you are as struck dumb by the sheer stupidity on display as the rest of us...

Palin's enduring popularity is a testament to the fact that we have not progressed much with women's rights. It is obscene that after decades of fighting for legitimacy, success as a woman still boils down to sex appeal. Palin's wink during the debates was an admission of defeat. She was broadcasting to the world that skill, intellect, gravitas and just plain hard work simply do not work for women, but sexual playfulness and willingness to brand yourself a MILF (now a GILF) sure do. Now she has provided fodder for critics who contend that mothers simply can't manage motherhood and responsible careers.

I agree with commentators who sincerely hope her resignation means Palin is going away. I don't want to see her continue in the limelight even for entertainment value, though I suspect she will. For professional women, Palin's behavior is just one more obstacle we have to overcome on the way to being treated as full and equal contributors to society.

1 - John Stewart did an awesome video clip of Palin's critique of HRC next to her own whinging about the media - about a year ago (along with other Republican hypocrisies side-by-side). If you missed it, it's worth going back for.

2 - Palin is the ultimate wanted-to-go-to-Hollywood personality. The David Letterman fit, the "consecrated photo of Trig" fit - could she be anymore desperate to grab publicity? The only other explanation is that she really is the thinnest-skinned person to make it past puberty and if she wants to continue, she needs o learn that she's not 13 and we're not in high school. She looks beyond needy freaking out about every non-worshiping thing printed about her. That just has to be an act, really.

3 - Lastly, her lawyer's tone sounds much like hers - it's stunningly unprofessional. If this scandal stuff is untrue, she'd look best by letting those spreading the story look stupid all by themselves when it turns out to be untrue. (Much as when the Repub's did after spreading the rumor there was a video "coming out any day now" of Michelle O ranting against "whity".) That being said, if this rumor feels truly defamatory, that's one I could understand her taking legal action against. It's not a petty accusation. But this letter is hardly a legal document. It's a finger-pointing, victim-playing playground soliloquy. I can't tell - is it really a legal warning or a threat that he'll tell mommy if they don't stop being meanines?

And the comedy material just keeps on a-comin! Too bad SNL has to wait till fall!

Palin's biggest problem are the handler she has hired to handle her public relations. Anyone who had an ounce of sense or good experience in public relations of a public figure would have prevented Palin from engaging in many of her media missteps.

For Instance:

- Allowing her to do those TV interviews withoutout proper preparation or knowledge on the subjects..

-Giving a press conference during thanksgiving in front of facility where turkeys were being killed in the background.

Palin, unfortunately has no fear of public speaking, yet she does not even realize that every one of her speeches and public statements makes no sense at all. She consistently uses improper grammar, inserts words into her rambling sentences which have relevance to the sentence.

She is a darling for the 'under educated' who resent intellectuals, and is loved by those family values supporters who really lack good ethics.

Yes, they were! I went back and listened to it again because the first time I was watching with the family and between all the laughing in the house and the smart-ass remarks being thrown at the tv, ("Are those ducks? Loons? Goats? Is she giving a speech to the barnyard animals? Maybe she has assembled a manger-obvious Jesus complex and all...") I thought maybe I had missed the REASON she gave for quitting.

But upon listening a 2nd and even 3rd time, she still never gave a reason that was comprehensible to anyone. I would have more luck understanding what the ducks were saying!

Ms. Walsh,

Were I in need of a lawyer, I would certainly NOT use this gentleman.

There's an awful lot of opinion and personal attacks here, and very little in the way of demonstrable facts. It seems more likely this is a part of a planned media campaign to keep Governor Palin's name, (and ongoing drama), in the public spotlight, while portraying her a the innocent victim of those mean leftist media elitists.

Odd, indeed; Palin's announcement just prior to a holiday weekend was curious enough. Now, her lawyer's "defense" comes during the same holiday. What, he couldn't wait until Monday?