Thoughts on Sarah Palin's Resignation

I was out shopping yesterday & I got a mobile Facebook update on my cell phone.  My friend, Renate, had written on my wall, "What's up with Sarah Palin?"  I didn't know what she was talking about, but I knew one way I might find out.  I went to my People Magazine application & sure enough, there was a news article - Sarah Palin Resigns As Alaska Governor.

I was surprised & curious & kind of sad.  Since being introduced to Sarah Palin, along with the rest of the lower 48 last August, I have come to respect her a great deal.  I respect & agree with the things she stands for, and I love that she will stand up for herself & her family.  I find it to be refreshing.  Being a conservative, she is despised by the far left & the majority of the media, but she is true to who she is, and she's transparent.  I like that.  (I'm sure Keith Olbermann is foaming at the mouth, waiting to rip this story & Governor Palin herself into shreds.  He's comical.)

Governor Palin never struck me as the quitting type.  She seems to be one who will persevere rather than throw in the towel.  So to get the whole story, I read the speech she gave when she announced her resignation, and I think it makes a lot of sense.  (To read the speech for yourself - click here.)  Of course, the media is going to focus on the resignation itself and ignore the reasons behind it.  But her reasons show that she is more concerned about her state of Alaska than she is about her title.  

She explained that she & her staff are having to spend the majority of their days defending against these countless (now dismissed) ethics claims that were filed against her.  She & her husband, Todd, have accumulated over half a million dollars in legal fees, just to set the record straight & defend themselves.  The work in Alaska that she should be doing is not getting done as effectively as it should, due to all these distractions.  She could easily stay in the job for the remainder of her term and just do what a lot of others would do ... collect the paycheck, travel the country, etc.  But, she is choosing to do the right thing.  She's stepping aside so the work can get done.  She doesn't want the time & money of Alaskans wasted, so she's stepping aside.  I think that's a very honorable & selfless thing to do.  She demonstrates a level of class that is rarely seen in politicians.  (Let's compare & contrast Sarah Palin with Nancy Pelosi, for example.)  I think Sarah Palin should hold her head high & keep moving forward.  

I don't think we're finished hearing from her yet.  I hope we're not.  She's a true conservative & there aren't many of those left.  I'm anxiously awaiting what's next for her, and she'll have my support & continue to have my respect.