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Bullied by Media, Palin Resigns

Written by Dana Oshiro / July 5, 2009 7:00 PM / 63 Comments

palin_resign_jul09.jpgRegardless of your political agenda, Sarah Palin is right, there has indeed been a change in climate towards American politicians. Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska and spoke of how "a real climate change began in August" and how her treatment by the media has negatively affected Alaskans as a "superficial, wasteful, political bloodsport."

Upon first seeing the resignation coverage, even I wondered why Tina Fey was continuing to beleaguer Palin with her spot-on impersonation. After a few minutes I realized only Andy Samberg would have the gall to produce a Saturday Night Live skit of this length and settled in to watch Palin defer her duties to Republican Lieut. Governor Shawn Parnell.

Maybe it was Palin herself who conjured the surreal environment in American politics. From her Katie Couric interview debacle, to her aerial hunting antics, to her strong stance on abstinence despite her daughter's teen pregnancy, Sarah Palin is an easy target. And while Hollywood definitely took its share of jabs at the now former Governor, it's the internet that ignited the tournament of torment.

In 2008, Palin Halloween costume posts were extremely popular, a NYC bar saw record customers for their widely promoted Palin drag show and BoingBoing even featured a Hustler film touting a Palin lookalike.

While last year's election would not have been dull, it appears that Sarah Palin and her many iterations were the internet's comic relief in an environment that might have otherwise been staunch. In fact, Palin took the brunt of ridicule on the Republican side while John McCain only came under scrutiny for his advanced age.

So the question remains, did Americans turn out to polls in record numbers because of their wholehearted belief in Barack Obama, or was a portion of that due to a mainstream distaste for Sarah Palin?

Said Palin in her resignation speech, "You are naive right now if you don't see a full court press from the national level picking away right now - a good point guard. Here's what she does, she drives through a full court press, protecting the ball... she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And that's exactly what I'm doing..."

Michael Jordan was a great point guard and he didn't quit the first time to help the Chicago Bulls, he quit to pursue a Minor League baseball career. When Palin says she's going to "make a positive difference from outside the Governor's office," do you think she's going to launch a presidential campaign, land a talk show deal or do something else?


Comments

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  1. Let's face it , she is a quitter. It is a clear sign that she never was ready for prime time. There are related posts at beginning at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

    Posted by: carly | July 5, 2009 7:13 PM



  2. Doubt a TV show or the like coming out. With the stupidity and hate of the mainstream media, I'd say she's "passing the ball" to the other true conservatives who aren't already being hated (unjustly) by the media so that they can rise and turn our country back in the right direction. Hopefully the media will f off since they have no reason to torment her now (as if they ever did).

    Posted by: TrueConservative | July 5, 2009 7:25 PM



  3. One reason, and One reason only.........

    She's setting her sights on 2012 and the presidential
    campaign, and she knows she needs to start now currying
    favor with her parties elite so that she can do what her
    former running mate John McCain failed to do, and that was
    to raise enough campaign contributions to win. She is also
    hopeful that by clearing her calendar now of any pesky state business that might pop up, she'll have plenty of response time should any mistakes or unforeseen troubles occur during the Obama administration.

    Mistake it not, this is a cold, and calulated political move, showing a level of political savvy that - given her performances in the media up to this point - Palin has never shown herself to possess. Therefore, it must be surmised that the impetus for this move came not from Ms. Palin herself, but from a party higher up the food chain in the GOP.

    Posted by: Kelly | July 5, 2009 7:33 PM



  4. Jordon was a shooting guard, not a point guard. He retired the first time not to pursue a career (although he eventually did), but because he wanted his dad, who was murdered not long after the Bulls' third championship, to see his final game.

    Posted by: Johnny B | July 5, 2009 7:41 PM



  5. Did I miss something? Is Read/Write Web a political blog now? Arianna...is that you?

    Posted by: David | July 5, 2009 7:53 PM



  6. Hillary Clinton dealt with this for 16 years and President Obama has been called a Muslim terrorist since the day he announced his candidacy.

    This is not new and Sarah Palin did not go through any worse than we've seen in the past.

    She's overrated and couldn't hack it so she quit.

    If she wants to be a drama queen she can do it on her own time.

    Posted by: Arbusto | July 5, 2009 7:54 PM



  7. "mainstream distaste"? Not at all.

    The mainstream admires Sarah Palin. The left despises her because she is an independent woman who stands for everything they hate.

    Posted by: Mary | July 5, 2009 7:56 PM



  8. Completely unrelated to the bulk of the post, but it's a contested theory that MJ's first retirement was less voluntary than he ever let on. While only Wikipedia has my back here, it's more anecdotal than anything that it was a guise punishment for his gambling.

    Then again, while I have the opportunity to prove the point of the piece, as a commenter on a blog, allow me to suppose that perhaps Gov. Palin may be at the heart at similar closed-door requests to step away for the time being.

    Posted by: DL | July 5, 2009 7:57 PM



  9. There was much to ridicule about Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy. She was likely among the most unqualified candidates on a major ticket in American history. As a leftie, I breathed a sigh of relief when John McCain selected her. It was at that moment I knew Obama/Biden would win big.

    That said, there is no excuse for comedians to go after her family the way they did. As the person running for office, she is fair game for parody and satire (though there are lines that should not be crossed there as well, like pornography depicting her).

    If this were only about the abuse she has taken, I would say she needs to grow a thicker skin if she is going to be on the national stage. The issue is muddled by the breadth and range of the attacks against her.

    Posted by: Andrew Hedges | July 5, 2009 8:22 PM



  10. "Regardless of your political agenda, Sarah Palin is right, there has indeed been a change in climate towards American politicians." Sarah Palin is not right. Look at what Thomas Jefferson had to go through: In the 1800 election, Jefferson was subjected to a pamphlet that accused him of cheating British creditors, obtaining property by fraud and robbing a widow of 10,000 pounds. The pamphlet further stated that if Jefferson were elected “murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will all be openly taught and practiced.” Hmmm, I don't remember Jefferson quitting?

    Posted by: Kevin | July 5, 2009 8:23 PM



  11. Is it just me or does she not come off like a polished neo-nazi?

    Posted by: jc | July 5, 2009 8:24 PM



  12. I don't even know why it's a question... of course she's setting her sights on 2012. And god, I hope she does... it will be the final nail on the GOP's coffin.

    If this idiot is all they can offer, then, they're done.

    Say hello to the Whig Party for Mary.

    Posted by: Troy Peterson | July 5, 2009 8:24 PM



  13. Nevertheless she still seems to be newsworthy for some http://tinyurl.com/oz5z8l

    Posted by: pcd2k | July 5, 2009 8:27 PM



  14. I was unhappy with any of the choices this last election, but I think you're missing the entire story on this one. Palin wasn't just bullied by the media, she was also bullied by her opposition. She has an estimated $600,000 in legal bills from the false accusations of ethics violations. I'm afraid the annual pay for Alaska governors doesn't quite cover that.

    I don't mind if Palin gets run out of politics due to her politics... but it's an unfortunate time in this country when you can simply ruin someone you fear by mounting false investigations and burying them in legal debt. I would hate to see this happen to any Democrat or Republican.

     Posted by: Douglas Author Profile Page | July 5, 2009 8:28 PM



  15. What does this have to do with tech?

    Keeping your worthless political drabble off this site.

    Posted by: Mike | July 5, 2009 8:29 PM



  16. So much jealousy.

    Posted by: DT | July 5, 2009 8:33 PM



  17. Those of you that called her too dumb to hold national office...you are so right...luckily we have a brain surgeon type in Joe Biden to look after the VP slot now...the court jester/bafoon is the perfect counterpoint/mental margarita to the destruction the country is suffering under Obama's marxist agenda/empire.
    Im sure in two more years when the unemployment rate tops 15% and interest rates are double what they are now...everyone will enjoy a good laugh with Joe aka "the new Sheriff".

    Posted by: JL | July 5, 2009 8:43 PM



  18. Palin suffers from "Blues Brothers Complex".

    She thinks she's on a mission from God. Therefore she is not beholden to the mundanities of her gubernatorial obligations.

    Palin claims that she left office before finishing her first term because she desires to "serve a higher calling" (what ever that might be). Basically, this is Palin-spin for "my current job has become a ball-and-chain holding me back from pursuing my personal ambitions and my desires to attain greater wealth and political clout in the lower 48".

    Palin needs to learn that if you wish to take full credit for your own successes, then you must accept full responsibility for your own failures and shortcomings

    Posted by: labman57 | July 5, 2009 8:46 PM



  19. Just a heads-up: Michael Jordan wasn't a point guard.

    Posted by: Dave | July 5, 2009 8:47 PM



  20. What I love about some of the women comentators especially ..is how they are suggesting she is shallow and got ahead only because of her looks ..nothing more...I mean talk about just hitting below the belt...why not suggest that Obama got elected because of the color of his skin (and ability to read a telepromter like a news anchor)..and nothing else...since his actual resume for the Oval Office was seriously lacking any real substance..go ahead take the gloves off!!!

    Posted by: JL | July 5, 2009 8:47 PM



  21. So..Palin is "inarticulate"...how articulate do you have to be to say
    1) No more government in our lives
    2) No more taxes
    3) No more wasteful spending by government
    4) STOP racking up national debt that we will never pay off
    5) STOP inflating our currency and raising interest rates in a recession..this will lead to STAGFLATION soon.
    6) STOP being tolerant of radical leftist regimes all over the world. Call Achmadinijad what he is..a ruthless dictator propped up by religous zealots living in the 12th century
    7) NO Cap and Tax..global warming is not a phenomena that is generally proven in the scientific community beyond level of criticism necessary to base government policy on.
    8) NO government healthcare...if the problem is the cost is too high ..how is the answer adding more government (overhead) to the problem?

    Give me a less polished genuine person with conservative principles vs the expert teleprompter reader with marxist ideology

    Posted by: JL | July 5, 2009 8:59 PM



  22. When you decide to run for Governor of Alaska, you are saying to the People of Alaska: "I'm the right person for this job, I can do it!"

    When the people of Alaska elect you, they are telling you "we believe you and trust you will do the job"

    Quitting more than a year ahead of time with no reasonable explanation whatsoever, is proof positive that you are not fit to be neither governor nor President.

    I thought it was impossible to find a more incompetent and stupid politician than George W. Bush, but along came Sarah Palin - god help us all if she is elected for any position of influence.

    Posted by: Michael | July 5, 2009 9:24 PM



  23. I agree. I don't know what the hell this is doing on RWW.

    Posted by: df | July 5, 2009 10:15 PM



  24. Kind for your information resign is not a solution of any problem.

    Posted by: mdeals | July 5, 2009 10:35 PM



  25. Sorry !!!!!!!!!!!! but i don't agree with you.

    Posted by: Avenir labs | July 5, 2009 10:39 PM



  26. Dear Democratic Weasels,

    When this healthcare thing damn near ends our country, you'll be begging for Sarah Palin.

     Posted by: Alissa Author Profile Page | July 5, 2009 10:52 PM



  27. She doesn't need any help from the media--she continues to self-destructs all on her own. She belongs on FOX cable w/ the other parrots. (I also suggest the cooking channel for her--"I shoot 'em, I cook 'em--game meats for everyone.")It's all about Sarah--not the people of Alaska. The people in her own party (NOT the liberals) have been most critical of her. McCain's handlers got to know up close and personal that she is not qualilfied to hold national office and regret their choice.

    Posted by: erin | July 5, 2009 11:40 PM



  28. Road to somewhere? Regardless of one's politics, Palin displayed to all future politicians that if you are going to remake yourself for political reasons, that you now leave not only a media trail of who you were before, but also a horrendous library of media assets of your "affected" self. I thought the two YouTube debate remixes "Bridge to No Underwear" and her killer composited debate against John McCain, The Blame Game Palin 2012, really demonstrated this.

    Anytime the legal system is used for harassment rather than justice, it is a sad day for our judicial system. It's obvious though, as Palin has demonstrated in her attempt to "sexualize" politics with her newfound, fake folksiness (that didn't exist when she ran for Governor), that we need to fix our flawed political system first; when special interests no longer reshape the debate from issues to personality, then perhaps as a country we could have politicians that represent the people.

    Kudos to RWW for acknowledging Palin's unique contribution to politics in the age of voter-generated content, energizing not only her base but a legion of activists grappling with the legacy of her media precedent.

    Posted by: palinode | July 5, 2009 11:54 PM



  29. Geez, this place is full of right wing, fascist wing nuts. Who would have thought? Keep voting for the corporate interests and the myth the GOP is selling you...however, please...no more Presidents with less than average intellect.

    Posted by: Jimmy Jazz | July 6, 2009 12:11 AM



  30. The reasons of Palin resignation are controversial. What could be the real cause of this decision? Vote on the most possible one - http://www.votetheday.com/america/palin-resignation-424/

    Posted by: VoteTheDay | July 6, 2009 12:23 AM



  31. Hey the conservatives have had their destructive time leading the country. Now it's time for somebody else, plain and simple. You know the old saying that nothing is perfect and you have to take the good with the bad, the problem is though, the conservative bad outweights the good.

    Posted by: gatorfan96 | July 6, 2009 1:08 AM



  32. No politics on RWW please.

    Posted by: JSD | July 6, 2009 3:39 AM



  33. Echoing the comments made by some others, please stick to your knitting.

    As some bloggers more in tune with the media are reporting, there's more to this than meets the eye:

    http://gawker.com/5307136/why-did-sarah-palin-resign?skyline=true&s=x

    Posted by: Dave Culbertson | July 6, 2009 6:56 AM



  34. Worst RWW article ever. Seriously, a partisan political rant? And the Jordan comparison (shooting guard - hahaha) is ridiculous. Jordan was by far the best player in the NBA at the time with multiple championships.

     Posted by: Sam Author Profile Page | July 6, 2009 7:01 AM



  35. Michael Jordan was never a point guard. He was a shooting guard. There's a big difference. If you want to make an accurate analogy, some famous point guards you could cite include these retired ones: Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy, John Stockton and Isiah Thomas; and these active ones: Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd.

    Posted by: Blog Admin | July 6, 2009 7:07 AM



  36. Palin is resigning as she has to be at the opera, as mentioned in a speech during the election campaign.

     Posted by: Jash Author Profile Page | July 6, 2009 8:32 AM



  37. when did jordan play point guard? another liberal biased article.

    Posted by: Tom | July 6, 2009 8:35 AM



  38. Hey Folks, Please note that this is by no means RWW's new focus nor does this reflect all of our opinions. This is me trying a little writing experiment. On both the Palin commentary and the Michael Jordan analogy, it appears I've shot and missed. Thanks for the feedback.

     Posted by: Dana Oshiro Author Profile Page | July 6, 2009 8:57 AM



  39. Palin is resigning as she has to be at the opera, as mentioned in a speech during the election campaign.

    Posted by: John | July 6, 2009 4:24 PM



  40. Time to unsubscribe from RWW

    Posted by: Harold | July 6, 2009 6:27 PM



  41. Palin stands for everything "they" hate? Palin stands for everything YOU should hate, Mary.

    She's a woman who achieved advancement purely because of her looks. She lacks anything resembling substance. Is this what you really aspire to be - a pinup with no ideas of your own, told what to do by every man around you?

    Please, attempt to defend her educational history. Look it up.

    Please, attempt to defend her horrific lack of knowledge on every subject of government. She's not "folksy" - she's stupid. Her "handlers" will include the lobbyists from Wall Street who she would be elected to regulate, not kowtow to.

    Finally, please, attempt to defend her inability to complete the job she was elected to perform. One thing America doesn't support is a quitter -- no matter what party affiliation they claim.


    Jesse Ventura would be a better presidential candidate in 2012 than Sarah Palin. After all, he can finish a sentence.

    Posted by: Unsympathetic | July 7, 2009 7:44 AM



  42. JL...I believe your opinions are EXTREMELY spin towards the "right wing nut" side (there are people on both sides, btw). Let me go down the list of your prat-falls, one-by-one:


    1)The Obama has Marxist Ideologies Argument

    Opinion: By buying these auto/financial bussinesses, Obama is basically leading our Democracy down the road to Scoialism, with the final destination at Communisim.

    Fact: If you look a the whole, instead of the "pundits" at Fox News Network (or, whom I like to call the Rebublican News Network for their extreme Right Wing stance on a MULITUDE of issues), you'd notice that Obama really doesn't have too much of a choice in the matter.

    Either he could; a) Let the U.S. auto industry go down a slow, and painfull, which would eventually lead to little to no industry left, or b) own PARTIAL (let me re-emphasize PARTIAL) stock in these companies until they get back on their feet.
    Let me also state that he has been vehement about the fact that he will give the companies FULL ownership when the comapanies are well off.

    Also, had you heard the argument that there are some companies out there that if they would go down, it would become something that would cause more harm than good? Why, then do you think that Mr. Obama wouldn't try to stave off these companies collapses.

    Again, it is not something that anyone would like to do, but it's something that seems nessessary to survive the current economic woahs. Also, please note that this could also be pointed towards your political position's party as well as the 8 years of the person who came before you had lead to some of the issues as well as the president before him (The lack of oversight and the subsidual like of acknolegement afterwards).

    Now, if the same is held AFTER these companies are well off, THEN you could call it a Socialist agenda. Other than that, it is right now the whole country is pretty much in survival mode until the storm passes.


    2) The national deficit is the (Republicans)(Democrats) fault

    Opinion: In a furious "blame"-storming session, one side said that the other side is at fault for the rising deficit/inflation/stagnation of our economy.

    Fact: It ISN'T one side or the other. It is BOTH sides (Starts @ Clinton for not putting an oversight in place and ends with Bush for being ignorant of there not being oversight). Remember, politicans operate mostly under THEIR OWN AGENDA'S. They are sometimes concerned with reelection, and sometimes greed. Some of this means that they will try to slip something under the table to ensure either; more money in thier pockets, or to get another tenure in a rather financially lucrative position of power.

    These "Pork bills" are not just one side, it is BOTH sides. And as much as I hate it, I have to give credit to these news channels for calling Obama out on these wasteful "pork bills" as he said that he would cut them before his election.


    3) The Enviormental Issue

    Opinion: Politicians (on the Republican side) are the ones more resposible for the ignorance of our Enviornment. And the decades of ignorance of the scientific community is leading us down this road to self-distruction.

    Fact: As much as I'd like to totally put ALL the blame on one side. Remember, "it takes two to tango". Also, acknolege the fact that it is more dependant on the majority of the Senate/House and the presidency on the strength of a enviorment bill is as well as the strength of the EPA laws.

    Sad to say, on the flip side, this goes back to my prior statement that politicians are dictated on greed and reelection issues. On a worse note, these stances may be dependant on investments and contributions by these big bussinesses (some of which are not reputable on the enviormentalist side).

    Now, the Republican side would have more bearing on this, as the Bush Administration exhibited the extreme portion of this ignorant mentality (ignorance to scientific evidence). But remember, I believe in 1984, the Democratic side was looking for ways to compete with the Republicans, mainly in the aspect of outside contributions to their respective campaigns.
    Devil's Advocate could connect the respective dots and spin it as much as needed, but it is still a proven fact that BOTH sides of the house had done this. It is also a proven fact that this last election was the most expensive campaign ever. So you would have to be ignorant to see that certain bussiness had made these "contributions" (see: bribes) so that they could get leeway on certian bills and laws passed.

    Also, while Democrats could not pass a bill, the Majority could still push it though, as well as a Presidency could veto/push a bill until the desired effects (Look at the new enviormental regulatory bill as evidence to this).


    Also note, that Healtcare should be something one chooses on it's own. Canada can provide Health Care to all Canadian citizens because there really isn't that great number of people living there. Now compare it to the number of people living in the U.S. now, now compare that to the approximate amount of people that will be around in 2100. See where I'm getting at? It sounds like a wild goose chase, and the goose is NOT going to be able to provide for the gander at this current rate, and if it's able to right now, how will it in the next couple of years? My answer is that it won't. That's why it should be a personal choice, not mandated by the government because it is near impossible for this to occur.

    To surmise, it all this Republican-Democrat back and forth is pretty useless, when in actuallity, it should be BOTH sides taking blame for the woahs of our country/enviorment.

    Posted by: Paul | July 7, 2009 10:24 AM



  43. Latest blog post: Palin Keeps 'em Guessin' http://tinyurl.com/lhnbyo

    Posted by: Rick Garner | July 7, 2009 10:29 AM



  44. How is Sarah Palin a quitter? Obama quit to run for President...Hilary quit to run for President. Huntsman quit his job as Utah's Gov to be on BO's team. Did anyone say anthing about all these people quitting? Nope, they sure didn't.

    Posted by: AK Jen | July 7, 2009 12:24 PM



  45. There's a saying where i live "You did this to yourself"

    Sarah Palin was not intelligent enough (still isnt) to have been selected as VP...and it showed GLARINGLY.

    Still, was the media criticism - fueled by people like me who think she was a joke and an insult to women all across the country, too "over-the-top"?

    I don't think so...I think it was and still is adequate for someone who thinks she is capable of leading this nation (to where, im not sure...end times is my guess).

    SHE is the joke...and sadly SHE doesnt get it. We'll keep torching as long as she keeps speaking...because every time she speaks we have to spend 20 minutes connecting her disjointed sentences to decipher what the bleep she's trying to say...and in the end she's really got nothing say except "HEY, LOOK AT ME!"

    we're looking...and it's funny as hell

    Posted by: Jessica | July 8, 2009 7:44 AM



  46. AK - Hillary and BO and Biden didnt QUIT to run for the White House, they resigned WHEN they won the white house.

    Had they not won, they'd still be doing their jobs. (Apparently Palin's supporters are as challenged-educationally as Palin herself)

    Posted by: Jessica | July 8, 2009 8:01 AM



  47. For Sarah Palin so loves Alaska that she's sacrificing her valuable TITLE.

    See:

    http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/sarahs-sacrifice/

    Posted by: Mike Licht | July 8, 2009 4:08 PM



  48. she was elected to the job and if she had ANY MORALS OR SCRUPPLES she would at least finish her term.she owes this to the people of alaska.period.no parties and no political bull ..it.the trouble with ALL politicians is that they nONLY care about themselves and the american people with their bellies full think of this as high class tv.god bless us all but the meaning of you only reap what you sow.as far as i can see you are sowing dollar bills to all politicians and the suckers (us )will only reap the tab.anyone thinking they care about you ........reconsider and open your eyes.these people are worse than hitler stalin and all the dictators the world has known.we kneel to them bow to them and what do they do for us .NOTHING !!!i cannot understand as a lot WRITE BOOKS about nothing and wow the money flows forever and a day.to u ???????they should all be put in jail where they belong .sorry america i love this country as much as you all BUT !!!!! wake up smell the roses and get rid of these leeches who are over paid and only look after themselves.why there is another set of rogues just looking to see how bad these idiots running the country are just trying to catch them in their wrong doings.what a way to run a country.the crooked leading the the poor people down the garden path to the road to destruction. lots of luck america

    Posted by: r.kish | July 8, 2009 4:28 PM



  49. You may blame the media but when this lady speaks without any sense of logic this is quite an example of her inability to lead any national office. Blame, blame, blame has been a tool of the Republicans to excuse their ineptitude in handling national affairs. She is the best example of the worst politicians in office (now resigned).

    Posted by: Rayman | July 8, 2009 4:29 PM



  50. Jessica, just go by your middle name - Sic(k) - Paul, you talk too much; "Unsympathetic," if you want to see stupid, look in the mirror. Erin, you're as sick as Jessica. Jimmy Jazz, get those earphones off and start paying attention, we already have someone of less than average intellect as our leader. Face it, Sarah Palin is far above what we have in our reps, because she lives and knows the same life most of us do. As far as her chances to be the next Republican candidate? Well, why is it that the other hopefuls are some of the most vocal critics of her latest action?

    Posted by: Billy Dee | July 8, 2009 4:30 PM



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