Sarah Palin Complains That Critics Are Applying A 'Double Standard' To Her Decision

So, over the weekend, Sarah Palin announced that she would not be seeking re-election as governor of Alaska. Then, declaring herself a lame duck, she said she would resign her post, to spare Alaska the agony of having an elected official who would not be running for another term by choice. THIS ALL MADE PERFECT SENSE, TO EVERYONE. Why haven't John Baldacci, Phil Bredesen, Donald Carcieri, Charlie Crist, Dave Freudenthal, Jennifer Granholm, Brad Henry, Tim Kaine, Ted Kulongoski, Linda Lingle, Mark Parkinson, Tim Pawlenty, Sonny Perdue, Ed Rendell, Bill Richardson, Bob Riley, Mike Rounds, Mark Sanford, and Arnold Schwarzenegger done the same? Are they just blind to the pain their constituents are going through? Like Palin said:

And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn't run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks... travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade -- as so many politicians do. And then I thought -- that's what's wrong -- many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and "milk it." I'm not putting Alaska through that -- I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! That's not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old "politics as usual." I promised that four years ago -- and I meant it.

See, this is a brilliant elucidation of an entirely new strategy for governance! But all anyone seems to want to focus on is how Palin is a big old Quitty McQuitsalot who wants to use Twitter to sue to the internet and send the blogs to Syria for "enhanced interrogation techniques." I wonder if Palin sees any of this as a "double standard."

Palin responded Monday by saying there's a double standard. She brought up the fact (Lisa) Murkowski left the legislature when her father, then-Gov. Frank Murkowski, appointed her to the U.S. Senate seat he gave up to become governor.

"The double standard that's applied here is a bit perplexing. ... Didn't Lisa Murkowski leave office to go take her dad's seat? (Govs.) Huntsman left, Napolitano just left ... ," Palin said, referring to governors who took positions in President Obama's administration.

Palin said she is embarking on a "different, more effective path" than finishing her term. Asked how, she said she didn't know at this point, other than to campaign for political candidates who represent the values she supports.

Of course, what naturally comes to mind, considering Murkowski, Napolitano, and Huntsman, is that they all actually had other jobs to go to, instead of some generic, ill-defined plan to "take a stand," and "effect change" and "make a difference."

I also don't understand this:

PALIN: "I'm going to keep working hard for Alaska, I'm going to be there for Sean Parnell when he needs me and if the staff and lawmakers, certainly any member of the public needs me, I'm going to do all I can for this state."

Huh? Is there to be some sort of Bat-Signal arrangement?

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Comments

[AverageJill]

Take a look at the discussion here (sorry, I could not figure out how to make this a link on this page, you will have to copy and paste):

http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2009/7/11/22018/9123/Diary/Palin-s-Personality-Disorder

Do you believe Palin has a personality disorder, a learning disability, neither or both?

[CalifroniaMark]

As in everything else that She has done Palin makes Herself the "Victim" so it can (in Her mind) justify Her self serving actions. Sarah Palin does what is best for Sarah Palin regardless of who or what gets hurt in the process. Her supporters have got to be so embarrassed right now and if They aren't they should be.

[Tavi]

You're all just jealous of Sarah. That's why you can't stop talking about her. Real Americans "get it" and you liberals never will. Being a conservative Christian on a mission from God makes her special, and since all liberals hate traditional morality and Christian virtues there is no need for God's "chosen ones" to make their true intentions known to you. It's enough that we can speak in "code" and understand each other, and what we understand is that uneducated is the new smart, simpleminded is the new sophisticated, quitting equals fighting, and regular folksy people are better at running entire governments than intelligent politicians from elite universities.

We really HATE intelligent politicians!! Can't you tell?

[hugs4u]

why cant she just shut up and stay home.

[dax49]

she is always complaining about something

[seal62]

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081124/palin_video ty john...i cant wait until you get back

[BlueFloyd]

so by her logic, such as it is....


A governor should quit as early in the term as possible, to save the good citizens of his/her state. What if you're a governor who plans on running for a second term, but unexpectedly have family issues and you cant run, or perhaps you do run and you lose. In case those events happen, the safest, most effective, and most selfless, for-the-go­od-people-­of-the-sta­te thing to do is to quit as soon as possible. How about right after you are sworn in for your first term? This way, you eliminate all possibilities of functioning as a lame duck. Vacate your post, and let someone else take over. Someone who will be....a...­.lame....d­uck.....an­d then, oh wait, that person will have to immediatley quit too.....as will that person's successor, and that person's successor, and so on and so on and so on.

OR.....her­e's a novel idea: stick with the job, and work for the people who elected you. If you have any strength of character at all, you wont worry about wasting your time and money as you ride out your term. OR.....her­e's another novel idea: quit, as this current dolt did, and just be honest about why you quit: you are no longer interested in your state; you dont give a carp about the people of your state; you want more and more for yourself, and you want to maximize your earnings.

[hs3144]

I wish she would have told GWB and DC what the responsible thing to do is when you are a 'lame duck'. We would have had Nancy as president from 2006 to 2008.

[dogboy]

Sarah, answer to your higher calling, become a community organizer.

[walleymr]

no, critics are being critical, it's what critics do ... try to keep up

[realpolitic]

Palin seems to be saying in her usual goofy way that any lame duck governor instead of filling his or her duties to the end of his term would serve the state better by quitting. In that case why run at all? She says instead of "milking" the governorship for travel or meeting dignitaries do the right thing and quit. As with most of her meanderings, her meaning is hard to figure. Well, of course it is all an attempt to rationalize her extreme self-centerness.

What is funny her conservative base will not care. They hate government anyway, so why not quit in mid-term. She can launch her presidential campaign on the slogan "I was maverick enough to quit!"

[SeattleNick]

Sarah Sarah Sarah. You are a quitter. How can the people of the US depend on you. You abandon the people of Alaska then attack people whom question you. It seems you can't handle the heat. So you quit. The previous people you mentioned either left because they had a been offered a new position or decided not to run again. They did not quit because of the pressures of political office. You want us to believe in you. Go raise Trigg.

[sasidechick]

I agree but what you suggest actually involves THOUGHT. When Bible Spice opens her mouth, one thing we know is that she doesn't think.

[Jon Carroll]

Theoretica­lly...What is the point in running for a second term in a term limited state? Shouldn't you just resign the day you are re-elected? Aren't you as lame a duck on day one as day 100? I don't get it.

[Tavi]

That's because you're THINKING.

Clearly, you would never make a good conservative.

[GunneraGirl]

I loathe this woman utterly and completely.

[SouthPrairie]

They could have truncated that headline and actually used it for every Palin article:

PALIN COMPLAINS!