Palin's Escape to Twitter

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans

(AP)

The speculation over Sarah Palin's political future has run rampant since she abruptly announced her resignation from her post as governor of Alaska last week. Based on the content of her Twitter account, the former vice presidential candidate has no intention of staying out of national politics.

"Talk in DC of a 2nd 'Stimulus' Pkg: Impacts on AK? We'd be partaking in even more Big Govt largess & immoral natl debt," reads a Wednesday morning tweet from Palin, who uses the social networking site under the handle "AKGovSarahPalin."

Later Wednesday morning, the governor left a message possibly shedding some light on the thinking behind her resignation: "Today,try this: 'Act in accordance to your conscience -risk- by pursuing larger vision in opposition to popular, powerful pressure'-unknown."

That was preceded by another potentially enlightening tweet: "Couple of thoughts for the day on beautiful bright AK morn:'You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.'- George Allen."

Palin, who launched her Twitter account in late April, was compelled to use the Web 2.0 tool, as well as the more-popular Web site Facebook, to answer to the frenzy of questions and theories that developed after her largely-unexplained resignation. Her hostility to mainstream media's coverage of her announcement was evident: Her attorney even threatened legal action against certain media outlets.

The governor has regularly expressed her displeasure with media coverage she receives, and it was one of the first topics she broached upon joining Twitter, which limits users to a 140-character limit.

"AP gravely misquoted my staff, saying I 'changed my mind' on the stimulus package," her second-ever tweet read, pointing followers to a link for "accurate info."

John Fund in the Wall Street Journal writes that Palin's desire to sidestep her critics -- in the media and elsewhere -- was in fact, central to her decision to resign.

"Attacks inside Alaska and largely invisible to the national media had paralyzed her administration," said a source Fund described as close to the governor. "She was fully aware she would be branded a 'quitter.' She did not want to disappoint her constituents, but she was no longer able to do the job she had been elected to do. Essentially, the taxpayers were paying for Sarah to go to work every day and defend herself."

Fund points to other reports that say Palin's serious suspicion of mainstream media led her to reject hundreds of interview requests from presumably "friendly" reporters.

Reaching followers through social media has its pitfalls, of course.

One July 4 tweet from Palin reads: "Unfortunately fake 'Gov Sarah Palin' twitter sites r doing their thing today:unscrupulous, untrue- so sorry if u recv false info @ fake site."

More than a dozen Twitter accounts use Palin's name or title, and some show her photo, Bloomberg points out.

And ultimately, Twitter may only bring Sarah Palin closer to the mainstream media she claims to despise. Just look at the list of other Twitter accounts she is following -- including CNN, NBC's "Meet the Press" and Newsweek.

Palin doesn't follow Hotsheet, but you can here.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by elocutionist July 10, 2009 8:33 AM EDT: "Unfortunately fake 'Gov Sarah Palin' twitter sites r doing their thing today:unscrupulous, untrue- so sorry if u recv false info @ fake site."

You can't fake the Master Fakir, who wears a "trough of makeup" [in her own words], who B.S.'s her fake answers about the vice president's duties and the "Bush doctrine", who can name more cosmetics (e.g., "Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundations") than supreme court cases, who (recently) can't seem to win an election or hold her own job, whose blizzard of words ices us over faster than could the Alaskan tundra, who stymies her daughter's marriage but claims to want the opposite for others, who was pranked by guys sounding no more like Sarkozy than a nasally-challenged yodeling moose, whose one big achievement seems to be a spasmodically soporific Twitter account, whose name will live forever in the momentous indubitable debacles of all time.; Reply to this comment

by hockeymom441 July 9, 2009 3:09 PM EDT

Honestly - this woman needs to go back to grade-school English class! How can she NOT realize that almost 100% of what she says, makes NO sense. I also can't stand how anytime something doesn't go here way, she complains about it like a little girl. Grow up and get out of sight. You disgrace and humiliate professional women every time you open your mouth.

She thinks it's folksy to talk nonsense and make up here own grammer rules. She criticizes Obama's scholarly accomplishments ? Wow - sure, let's celebrate a beauty-queen indiot who think Americans who aspire to a greater cause or higher education are losers. Does she even hear what she's saying?

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by ladypirate2 July 20, 2009 12:40 AM EDT: You shouldn't tell anyone to go back to school since you need to go back yourself! You misspelled the word her twice and you misspelled the word grammar and you used the word think in the singular when you should have used it in the plural. You should have typed thinks.

When you criticize someone's grammar you should be sure that you know how to spell first!

by cs4466 July 8, 2009 11:45 PM EDT

We have a quitter on twitter and she sounds bitter and needs a babysitter for Trigger.

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by mattcat25 July 9, 2009 9:40 AM EDT: We have a quitter on twitter and she sounds bitter and needs a babysitter for Trigger along with her litter of critters!


by cranialnerves July 8, 2009 11:26 PM EDT: We have a quitter on twitter and she sounds bitter.; Reply to this comment


by stevex47 July 8, 2009 11:14 PM EDT: tweeter and facefook are two non main stream media outlets. No pesky journalists to ask you difficult questions, like what magazines do you read?

I'd feel bad if she left the lime light completely. Sure, she's a right wing extremist. Maybe folks like her help us to know our boundaries?

With respect, I would vote for her for Mrs. June or July or something.; Reply to this comment


by Observant1X July 8, 2009 10:47 PM EDT: I looked up the word "flake "in the dictionary and saw Sarah Palin's picture.

It's amazing that in spite of her public statements and record she still manages to capture the adoration of the few Limbaughicans that still believe she's the second coming.

As far as I and many of my friends are concerned, it's goodbye and good riddance.

NOTE: Sarah, go home and be a REAL mom. Maybe then you may be ready for the national stage. Until then you are a punch line.; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso29 July 8, 2009 10:23 PM EDT: Sarah Palin is a bonafide twit. It is only fitting that the twit ---twitters.; Reply to this comment


by cs4466 July 8, 2009 8:16 PM EDT: This sounds like a gift to me - the Witch of Wasilla being limited to 140 characters.

Why isn't anyone cheering this on??? Gee!; Reply to this comment


by benighse July 8, 2009 8:08 PM EDT: Just when you thought Sarah was going to keep all the scandal/god headlines, along pops another story on the Senator Ensign affair in his OWN handwriting to take back the news. Check it out:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/08/spouse-ensign-affair-says-senator-should-resign/

God told him it was a sin; so he tried for six more months to quit sinning.

Bet he hopes there is more to the Sarah Palin story then just ...stupid is as stupid does...; Reply to this comment


by habu99-2009 July 8, 2009 7:31 PM EDT: Bring her on to the national stage! She's unelectable and will actually have to answer questions intelligently instead of vomit words that make no sense. Crying foul anytime somebody points out what an idiot she is, playing the poor innocent victim, dishing it out but unable to take it, she'll be a train wreck in slow motion.

Even some Republicans don't like this ditz. While I don't agree with the policy positions of Newt Gingrich or Mike Huckabee, at least they understand governmental policies and can speak intelligently about them. Not Palin. She's a block of wood in a dress and silly eyeglasses. While wingnut conservatives may love her, candidates are ultimately elected by those in the middle, not the extremes, and Palin has zero chance there.; Reply to this comment