Governor Palin Abruptly Quits. Shocks G.O.P.

Governor Sarah Palin announced on Friday that she was quitting at the end of the month and will be replaced by Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Palin was supposed to serve through the end of 2010.

Speculation abounds as Republicans try and figure out if Palin is leaving politics altogether or just setting the stage for a presidential run. But she did offer these words:

“As I thought about this announcement that I would not seek re-election. I thought about how much fun other governors have as lame ducks. They maybe travel around their state, travel to other states, maybe take their overseas international trade missions.”

“I’m not going to put Alaskans through that. I promised efficiencies and effectiveness. That’s not how I’m wired. I’m not wired to operate under the same old politics as usual.”

She then went on to misattribute a military quote to Gen. Douglas MacArthur that was actually said by Maj. Gen. Oliver Prince Smith:

“We’re not retreating; we are advancing in another direction.”

John Weaver, a former senior strategist for John McCain, had this to say about Palin’s sudden announcement:

“Good point guards don’t quit and walk off the floor if the going gets tough. Today’s move falls further into the weirdness category; people don’t like a quitter.”

Alaska House majority leader, Ralph Samuels, added:

“It caught everybody by surprise. I’ve had a million calls today from friends, all political junkies, and everyone is asking the same questions: Is it national ambition, or does she want time to write the book, or is she just tired of it? Don’t have a clue.”

Yes, it seems Ms. Palin has recently signed a very lucrative book deal. No surprise there.

William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and an outspoken supporter of Sarah Palin, stated:

“Everybody I’ve talked to thinks it’s a little crazy. But maybe not. What is she going to accomplish in the next year as governor? Every time she left the state she got criticized for neglecting her duties. She’ll take a little hit for leaving the job early, no question about it. But if she writes this book and gives speeches and travels the country and educates herself on some issues, that’s good.”

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what’s next. One thing’s for sure, leaving office will take some of the attention off of her flubs and possible misdeeds, whether to the benefit of her personal or professional future. Or both.

Lyda Green, a former president of the Alaska Senate and one time friend of Ms. Palin until a falling out a few years ago, observed:

“The longer she stays in, the more people become disenchanted and see something they hadn’t seen before. This has been a pretty precipitous fall.”