Palin's resignation shocks Alaska, nation

Gov. Sarah Palin stunned Alaska and the nation Friday by abruptly announcing her resignation from office. Palin, the governor of Alaska for two and a half years, said she will step down in three weeks and hand power over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.

Palin made the announcement at a hastily called press conference held at her Wasilla home as the holiday weekend began. She complained about ethics complaints lodged against her, said the media isn't reporting her accomplishments, and struck conservative political themes like smaller government, resource development and national security. Her statements sparked an immediate national debate over whether this kills any chance Palin had ever winning national office, or frees her up to concentrate on national politics.

Palin, 45, said she decided first not to run for re-election next fall when her term is up, then figured in that case she'd just leave now. Palin said she didn't want to be a "lame duck," a political phrase for officeholders who have signaled they are leaving office and therefore lose clout to push their political agenda. Palin said that instead, she'll work for the Alaska's interests without the title. "Many just accept that lame duck status and they hit the road, they draw a paycheck. They kind of milk it. And I'm not going to put Alaskans through that. I promised efficiencies and effectiveness," she said. But Palin could have waited until next year to announce she wasn't running for re-election, said Valdez Republican state Rep. John Harris, who plans to run for governor now that Palin isn't. The deadline for her to decide wasn't until next June, after the next legislative session is over. Harris called her decision "strange."

Palin's explanation makes no sense, agreed state Rep. Mike Hawker, a leading critic of her. "That isn't a reason. Seated governors just don't resign in the last year of their term no matter how successful or for that matter unsuccessful they've been. Right now there are a lot more questions than answers. And until the governor chooses to reveal more of her motive here, it's just one of those questions we will never know the answer to," said Hawker, a Republican from Anchorage. Hawker noted that Palin's decision to quit "gives her unfettered ability to pursue her economic interests, whether it be a book deal or speeches, that type of thing, without being cluttered by state ethics law."

Source: Anchorage Daily News