She was reading from the paper.

In her hand, pal.

She explained it fully and simply. She wanted to be governor for a reason and it was not to be spending the states money on court proceedings caused by the left wing press, who don't have to answer for their false accusations. lIKE SHE SAID IF YOU ARE THE STAR BASKETBALL PLAYER AND YOU HAVE THE BALL, YOUR EYES ARE ON THE BASKET, AND THE TEAM IS WHAT COUNTS, SO IF THE OTHER TEAM HAS ALL THEIR MEN SURROUNDING YOU THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO PASS THE BALL TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S OPEN TO MAKE THE BASKET. Every accusation has been proven to be false so far, but the state has spent 2 million of their coffers and she has another 1/2 million of her own to pay.

Firstly, the "left wing" press didn't cause Palin's legal problems; those complaints were filed by her own constituents in Alaska.

Secondly, Alaska has a state budget of about $13 billion. The $2 million spent on Palin's legal woes is about 1/6500th of the state budget. Why on earth would anybody quit their job as state governor over that?

Thirdly, this is state government, not a basketball team. Palin doesn't work for the "team"; she works for her constituents, e.g. the people of Alaska. The idiot reduction of every situation to a sports metaphor is truly repellent, but I guess it's needed for people like you who can't actually fathom what's going on without it being explained in Sesame Street language.

Finally, here's a little clue about that button marked "caps lock" on your keyboard. When you punch that baby while making a post, everybody who has to read your drivel automatically knows you are part of the 'spittle on the monitor' crowd. There's kleenex in the bathroom. Don't forget to wipe up.

because they can't comprehend that she's not the calculating politician they're accustomed to.

She's just what she appears to be, a housewife/mother turned mayor, then governor, who ran unsuccessfully for VP.

She's probably the last regular/normal person you'll see run for higher office. Like Mark Steyn says, only the single-minded are cut out for modern day politics.

And I think I've finally figured out why leftists attack her with such venom - it's because it bothers her conservative supporters and gets a reaction from them. If we continue to react, they'll continue to call her names until 2025, if need be.

Sarah Palin is likely suffering from either Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder. There are numerous clues in her recent and distant life story. She is very high functioning without a doubt; she eventually obtained a university degree, she scrapped her way to a minor state governorship, through an astounding sequence of events she found herself as a VP candidate, etc.

Trying to find rational explanations for the behavior of individuals suffering from BPD/NPD is truly a fruitless enterprise. Likewise, predicting future behavior. There is no non-pathological way to determine why things were done, or why things will be done.

Though when I was channel surfing, the bit of Fox commentary I caught was not supportive and pretty much as non-plussed as everyone else. But I didn't keep checking back, so I don't know if that was an odd blip in the talking points or not.

Totally agree that while some talking heads and their fan bases will rally around her, the serious contingent of the Republican party will lose whatever confidence they had in her.

One point that no one seems to bring up is what a lame duck political figure she has been from the start. What I mean is, she was brought in suddenly as the second bananna to a sure-to-fail outside-the-mainstream-candidate who only got on the ticket because no one with a chance of winning the presidency wanted to go up against Obama or Clinton. Everything was pointing for a Democratic win after such a long time of Republican rule, and so they let the party crank have his shot.

He took on this neophyte because she was a woman, and it brought some publicity and she got a national image. And, geez, anyone who gets on television is going to develop some following; even Jon and Kate have their partisan supporters.

But none of this suggested he had a chance of winning or she had a greater future in politics. When he failed, as he was expected to, she'd go back to being the nonentity she was, and the party wouldn't want anything else to do with either of them. The most future she could hope for would be an anchor job on Fox News.

This has seemed obvious to me almost from the start. I'm not sure why anyone takes her seriously.

as part of the Palin Fan Base, let me as you this...

do you think people would vote for someone for president who will in all likelihood quit when it isn't fun any more?

It is understood that Palin people will love her no matter what she does, but do you really think that she will attract sane voters?

LeftWing Nuts See Something Sinister in her Resignation.....because they can't comprehend that she's not the calculating politician they're accustomed to

Yeah, and Mark Sanford really was out hiking, Larry Craig was just tapping his foot in a public bathroom, Mark Foley just liked to IM sweet kids, and David Vitter was just wearing Huggies for for the fun of it.

Ms. Palin has removed herself from the playing field.

Mr. Koppelman, will you kindly get out of her PANTIES and go to the PENALTY BOX?

What? You can't hear me?

Your ears must be filled with PANTY LINT.

/blows whistle

As I read this article and all the posts from Salon.com fans I am once again reminded of the weird, distorted view from which the Left views life. It must be hard to see the world this way. While I found Sarah's announcement a shock, more shocking was the way she was belittled and denigrated by liberal women. I thought you were for women, but obviously only liberal women. You don't have a clue that most average, middle america admires her greatly. She's like them. Oh wait, you do have a clue...that's why you dispise her so. Indeed, she speaks for them. Just because Sarah chose to have her latest child, which in your mind should have been "terminated," and because she doesn't sound like haughty, depressing Mareen Dowd with a cocktail (#3) in her hand, you find her loathsome. What a sorry crowd you are. As life rolls along, your bitterness will surely only increase, and consume you. It's a kick to watch women like Joan get on the air and fake a smile...it's hard work indeed for you people. Ok, here's my jaw, start snarling...throw your usual leftess slime jabs. Foul language and nasty sarcasm and elitist insults will only reveal all the more how hard it is for you folks to get out of bed and face the world. Better, the moderator can bar my posts from this blog. Isn't that what liberals do in the name of free speach, silence conservatives?