Here's What We Know About Sarah Palin's Decision

There is a lot we don't know about Sarah Palin's decision to resign. But there is one thing we do know: She thought it was politically damaging.

No one announces good news late on Friday before Fourth of July weekend. That is someone who is trying to bury bad news as much as possible. With Michael Jackson and Mark Sanford stories still lingering around, everyone on vacation, and as little reporters working as possible, she releases this bombshell. That's someone who obviously thinks what she is doing is not going to help her, at least in the short term.

There are three main possibilities for why she did this:

1. Political Reasons

She is going to run for President in 2012 and she thinks she is better served going around the country laying the groundwork for that run rather than stuck in Alaska. Plus, she already checked off "Governor of Alaska" on her resume. No need to linger. Take the short term hit on the early resignation and build for the long term move.

If this is what she's thinking, then I think she made a mistake. She looks callous and indifferent to any office she holds. It makes her seem flighty and overly ambitious. Plus, does anyone have any confidence that she gives a damn about policy or making a difference? No, her main interest is plainly obvious now -- the career of Sarah Palin.

2. Personal Reasons

No, not because she wants to better take care of her family. Come on, how funny does that sound? She seemed fine with juggling her family and her career when she was on a national ticket. No, by personal reasons I mean -- money.

The Palins have always had an eye for the good life. This is her one chance to definitively cash in. Who knows if an opportunity like this comes along again? Huge speaking fees, book advance, etc. Hopefully, she makes the money and increases her profile at the same time, setting her up for a decent shot at the Republican primary. Win or lose, she gets more famous, repeats the cycle and makes even more bank.

This strategy probably will work. Will she gain enough momentum for a decent shot at the presidency? No, this could backfire in that regard. Will she make plenty of money trying? Yes.

3. Upcoming Scandal

This is always possible when a politician resigns abruptly and talks about spending time with their family. There are already rumors floating out there that there are federal investigators in Alaska already looking into influence peddling for financial favors. These stories would dovetail nicely with the "go for the money" attitude described above.

She could also just be tired of all the ethics investigations when she has already checked off the "Governor of Alaska" line in her resume. It's so tiresome being in public office and trying to appear ethical when you can be as unethical as you like in the private sector.

We need more information before figuring which of these possibilities (or combination of possibilities) is closer to true. But what we do know is that whatever the reason was, she gets that it makes her look pretty bad now. We'll probably find out soon enough why she was willing to take this hit at this time.

Watch The Young Turks Here

Follow Cenk Uygur on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

Comments

[DLSteinhardt]

What about money? We know she had a book deal, and we know she was informed by ethics officials in Alaska that she couldn't take any money for it.

Why is so mystifying that a corrupt, greedy woman would resign in order to get the money she's now prevented from getting?!?

[chucky6]

Sarah - Please run in 2012 and bring on Johnny Mac as your VP candidate, Yes indeed

[iconoclast6]

Excellent observations as usual, Cenk. Ready for Saint Sarah's l.a.w.s.u.i.t? I'll bring the popcorn!

[powerlift2201]

I think it's funny and sad when she complains about the double standard when other politicians don't finish their terms to run for President referring of course to President Obama. Either she doesn't realize that just about every politician runs for President during their current term. They don't quit their position before their term is up and 2 years before the next campaigns start though. She either doesn't understand the difference or she is taking stupid, illogical little pot shots at our President, again.

Palin seems determined to wrap Obama in her dramatic issues. Or she is trying to stir her extremist base into some kind of furor.

[leorising]

I've said it before, but this'll be the last time: Ms. Palin, seek therapy.

[JKPHILLY]

Palin grew used to shopping at Niemans, how can we expect her to go back to her "favorite" Wasilla consignment shop? This whole resignation screams scandal and I am happy to sit back and watch her go down!

[LinkSync]

Palin is going to win in the next Alaska Senate race, and take out the new Dem put in after StevensGate.

[StephCaster]

Nice framing of the possibilities. My only quibble would be that Mitt Romney has already proved that a governor can go for Option 2 without leaving office. Romney basically stopped being governor two years into his four-year term in Massachusetts -- without resigning. He used his position and salary to fly around the country for his Presidential campaign, bad mouthing Massachusetts at every opportunity, and publicly opposing (on the national stage) what little legislation he did work on (in the state) such as health care legislation. In the process, he changed his position on just about every issue he had run on (for the governor's race) just two years previously.

Palin's actions are bizarre, but she has a lot more to do to reach the level of irresponsibility and hypocrisy of a Romney. (That these two are the best the Republicans have to offer is as strong a condemnation of the party as one can make.)

[Mojo2009]

Honestly, I just want Sarah Palin to go away. Why, oh why, does everyone (including The Huffington Post) continue to give this woman soooooooooo much undeserved attention? Please, please STOP with the articles (and now books? folks are writing books about her?!) and jokes. Let's work together to get this c&^% out of the spotlight.

[mlaiuppa]

Oooo. Those are ruuuuuuuumors.

You are so gonna get suuuuuuuuuuuuued.

[isadora]

$aint $arah bings to mind a line from a song in "1776" 'Tisn't morals, tis money that saves.

[Schmice]

Here's another possibility. Alaska's economy is going south. The serving governor will have to slash state budgets because of shrinking oil revenues, corruption and mismanagement. That will not look good for Sara Palin if she opts either to run in 2010,2012 or else become a broadcaster espousing a neo-conservative trickle down economic message. You might compare it to insider trading when the CEO sells her stock shortly before the bad quarterly numbers come out. She'll come out okay while everybody else takes a bath. Mark my words, Mrs. Palin is going to argue that Alaska was doing well under her, but it was the doings or un-doings of others that caused the state's fortunes to ultimately decline. Her supporters will agree and laud her service and she will be marketed as the answer to this country's problems, well, superficially, at least. Yikes, look out!

[rayy]

Good point--then again, do you really think she is capable of that level of analysis? Maybe Greta made her do it!

[way2sunny]

Here comes the chick version of O'Reilly. First the speaking gigs, then the tour to support the book that someone is writing for her, next stop Fox plus a radio show to air following Rush. She's got it made, really. The brunette Ann Coulter. No way does she intend to run for anything ever again.

[miamia]

It's the money, hairdresser and stylist.... She looks-a-mess, I'm sure she thinks she will have a better chance with a good makeup artist.

[rayy]

can't buy class, though . . .

[Tsar Bomba]

I think It's reason #2. She will pander to the ignorant conservative base and milk them for all they are worth. This is a welfare program for wealthy RW politicos to live off the pathetic RW base, however conservatives will get no return on their "investment", it will disappear in the black hole that is Palin