Palin to Reemerge into Public View

Alaska Governor Will Sign Bill on Public Safety - in Remote Village North of Arctic Circle

(AP)  Gov. Sarah Palin is returning to the public eye four days after her bombshell resignation announcement, albeit in a place far removed from the glare of the national media: in a remote fishing village 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Palin is scheduled to appear in Kotzebue to sign a bill designed to bring public safety officers to small towns. Kotzebue is a town of about 3,000 people that is 550 miles northwest of Anchorage and lies on a spit of sand at the end of a peninsula.

Despite the location, Palin will inevitably be faced with questions about what motivated her to abruptly resign just as she tries to elevate her national profile ahead of a possible 2012 presidential run. There has been speculation that she has some legal issue that is not yet known to the public.

But her lawyer told The Associated Press on Monday that she has no legal problems whatsoever, and simply is tired of the hostile political climate, legal bills and other distractions.

"She is leaving now because I think she believes that she has become the issue, rightly or wrongly, with all these ethics complaints and with the issues involving the Legislature, the combativeness they've been demonstrating toward her since she returned from the campaign," Thomas Van Flein said.

"I think she believes it's in the best interest of the state to progress forward, for her to move on to other issues."

Palin has become a lightning rod for partisan politics in Alaska since her return from the 2008 presidential campaign after John McCain selected her as his running mate for the Republican Party ticket. She has racked up an estimated $500,000 in legal bills defending the flurry of ethics complaints, including one filed Monday that alleges she is violating ethics law by taking per diem payments when she stays in her Wasilla home instead of the governor's mansion in Juneau.

In addition, her relationship with Democrats in the state Senate - once among her staunchest allies — deteriorated in the last session.

The Palin resignation was noticed in halls of the state Capitol in Juneau as well.

The "Time to Make a Difference" clock that counted the time left in Palin's term was taken down from the wall outside her office. And people from around the country called up her office to inquire about the situation, as did a few cruise ship tourists who made the trek to the Capitol.

The young woman at the desk outside Palin's office was busy answering phones.

"Yes, she is getting swamped with e-mails," the woman tells one caller. "Yes, they do get forwarded to the appropriate person."

"Unfortunately, we are having a back load of e-mails so it will take some to get a response," she tells another.

Where is she? Why is she stepping down? When is her last day? Why so soon?

The tour guide tried to politely answer the questions for the tourists when she could, but for the most part had no answers.

Some of the visitors left Palin messages in a guest log.

"Sarah — Please Stay!" one person wrote.

Kathy Waldo-Gilbert, a registered Democrat from Iowa who was on her honeymoon in Alaska, said she was especially disappointed because she believes that Palin's early departure from the governor's job will make it harder for other women who want to be taken seriously in high-profile positions. Waldo-Gilbert voted Republican for the first time in last year's presidential election.

"When things get hard, you stick around," she said.

Erika Fagerstrom, executive residential manager at the governor's mansion, said Palin and her family will be missed. Even though Palin lived most of the time at her home in Wasilla, she spent "quite a bit" of time at the stately columned mansion near the capitol building, she said.

"We are sad to see her go. They are a great family," she said.

Palin will be succeeded by Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who has announced he will seek to retain the office in the 2010 election.

State Rep. John Harris, a former House speaker and Republican from Valdez, announced Monday that he's preparing to file paperwork with state election officials in a bid for governor.

[gravyboat4000]

"Palin to Reemerge into Public View".

As what, a tour guide in Kotzebue?

[hungry1968-16]

I finally agree with Fox News on something:

Fox News contributor Liz Trotta?s off-message remarks on Palin Monday afternoon: "The woman is inarticulate, undereducated," Trotta said. "She just begs for adjectives like flaky and wacky."

[formrusmcsgt]

Agreed, hungry. Anyone who bothers to look under the hood finds a squirrel running on a wheel....

[antoniof123]

The real reason the Republicans are in such dire straights is they are not really conservatives they are reactionary. The only thing they can do is hope for an I got ya. But with each passing day and the Democrats get more I got yas at the Republicans expense it makes it harder and harder for them to come back. If they continue on this path they will become a regional party unable to come back.

[formrusmcsgt]

Palin's an empty wrapper.

She possesses physical beauty in abundance.

But she has no intellectual horsepower or even maturity, in my book.

Like a Testarosa with the engine removed - pretty to look at, but no functionality whatsoever.

[formrusmcsgt]

And as Palin was quitting, she was telling all she's no quitter.......

Sheesh.

[republicants]

I am cuckoo for coco puffs, Palin/Limbaugh 2012

[stupa1]

Thanks for the warning...I'll be out to lunch when she returns

[zonkzilla]

The Republican dream team ticket for 2012: Governor Sanford of SC the guy who abandons his job to mess around with a woman in another country, and Palin a whiney little spoiled drama queen who quits if anyone dares say anything about her.
Perfect Republican ticket!
I bet Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, and their loyal mindless lemmings are so excited they can't sleep at night.

[skyk-2009]

The problem with the Republican Party today is they are trying to hold on to something that never existed in the first place. They are attempting to create a two class society whereby the "Godly" are superior to those who do not agree with the Party. It has never worked and only makes the look like what they are, TIRED, OLD and OUT OF STEP. This nation is changing, we have a New Generation on line with New Ideas of how to change the Nation and the World. Standing in the way will benefit no one.

[gangesdak]

The loud mouth retarted flight attendant will not go away for sure. The good news is that, the Limppaw led party will put her co-incharge of the GOP circus, and will get into death spiral. Don't worry, we will be standing by and cheer. Go Palin baby, go.

[45ford]

so Palin announces her resignation then suddenly takes sabbatical thereby leaving Alaska to run itself. BRILLIANT! heck Palin's own press secretary admitted that she took off without letting anyone know when and where she'd return. this is taking on a feel similar to Mark Sanford's disappearance.

Palin gets more strange and repulsive with every move. no wonder the people of Alaska - a strong majority of them being Republicans - are ready to show her the boot. now that's what you call flattering behavior. forget the bridges to nowhere -- Palin is burning her bridges.

[cranialnerves]

Don't cry for me dear Alaska
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance

And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired

They are illusions
They are not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me

Don't cry for me dear Alaska

[stn_sage]

So, I take it you're slyly suggesting she reminds you of Eva Peron?! Prima Donna extraordinaire?!

Do you notice her eyes? How dark and lifeless they look? Like shark eyes! They give me the creeps!
And sharks eat their own! She certainly is 'gnawing over' the GOP!

[cs4466]

Poor poor bitter quitter Sarah. Doesn't matter how far she runs she cannot hide from her mistakes. She's the gift that keeps on giving - to the Democrats. Thank you, Scary Sarah! :)