Palin: I'm Not Leaving Politics

McCain Says His Former Running Mate Simply "Changed Her Priorities" in Resigning as Alaska's Governor

(AP)  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she's not only staying involved in national politics, but she plans to jump back into the national scrum when she leaves office at the end of the month.

The former Republican vice presidential nominee said she plans to write a book, campaign for political candidates from coast to coast - even Democrats who share her views on limited government, national defense and energy independence - and build a right-of-center coalition.

"I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation," she said during an interview published Sunday in The Washington Times.

Palin shocked critics and allies alike when she announced on July 3 that she would leave the governor's office while in the middle of her first term. The governor chose not to seek re-election and suggested it was unfair to hold onto the office as a lame duck. Instead, she will step down July 26 and pursue a national profile. She has not said whether she is building toward a presidential campaign for 2012.

Republican Women Federated of Simi Valley announced Palin was scheduled to speak to the group's private gala on Aug. 8 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The event - reporters will not be allowed to attend - will take place in an airplane hangar that houses a retired presidential aircraft Air Force One and will stir more questions about her curious resignation.

Palin defended the decision because "pragmatically, Alaska would be better off" if her state weren't spending time on ethical complaints against her. She also said the plan to resign had been in the works for months.

Her 2008 running mate disputed suggestions the telegenic and plainspoken soon-to-be-former-official was a quitter.

"Oh, I don't think she quit," said Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008 who plucked Palin out of near-obscurity and made her a household name. "I think she changed her priorities."

For now, though, Palin isn't detailing those priorities.

"I'm not ruling out anything. It is the way I have lived my life from the youngest age," she said in the Washington Times interview. "Let me peek out there and see if there's an open door somewhere. And if there's even a little crack of light, I'll hope to plow through it."

The self-described hockey mom plans to write a memoir but declined to discuss any potential deal for her to become a television commentator.

"I can't talk about any of those things while I'm still governor," she said.

Yet she's already reminding audiences of her bipartisan and family-oriented appeal.

"People are so tired of the partisan stuff even my own son is not a Republican," Palin said.

Like his father, 20-year-old Track Palin is registered as "nonpartisan" in Alaska, she said.

McCain said he believes Palin will play a major role in politics, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that "she has the ability to ignite our party and to galvanize us and get us going again and give us a strong positive message."

That said, McCain declined to endorse a Palin for President campaign.

"We've got a lot of good, strong, young, attractive, articulate spokespersons for our party and our principles," McCain said, citing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

[coach0831]

The comments here seem pretty juvenile. Some of you have anger problems and this is your outlet.

[Hobbs09]

IT's nothing but a distraction so the powers that be can "Raise taxes, over and over and over and over and over and over. Wake up!!!! Let's have a second stimulus package.

[lemonskinkus]

There was a hit tune called, The Ballad of Caribou Barbie. I have a link to it.

www.ronnierayjenkins.com

It's hilariously true.

[omnibus66]

"I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation,"

I would be willing to make a substantial wager that not a single candidate for office, either Republican, Democrat, or Independent, will allow her to speak for their campaign. She has become a pariah, an albatross to be shunned and kept away. The few radical votes she would attract would not be worth the loss of the thinking voters.

Watch for her to join The Fake News Network. She will fit right in.

[nextgenman09]

The Moose Kissing Trailer Queen just loves attention. Hilarious.

[vielmann]

CBS: Take a hint. NOBODY GIVES A POOP ABOUT THE PALIN.

[Newster1]

Palin defended the decision because "pragmatically, Alaska would be better off" if her state weren't spending time on ethical complaints against her."

LOL, yeah honey, right, in other words the investigators are getting just a little close to home base eh? getting abit nervous about some of those "irregularities" and expenses? figgerd ya'd best resign so they would stop probing and hopefully not uncover some secrets?

Yeah, I figured as much :)

BYE caribou barbie!

[proudmilvet]

If the Republican Party can ever go back to being the Party of Classy,Real Hero's Like Senators Bob Dole & yes, John Mcain,Maybe they will become relevant again.Then again this would all have to be approved by "Dear Leader" Limbaugh. Which is not about to happen because it is all about Him!The Republican Party has been hijacked by the extreme right wing,just as Islam has been hijacked by Fundamentalist Extremists. Sad...Very Sad.

[harpoot]

I'll bet that trailer trash Palin can't even spell politics.

[proudmilvet]

Demwatcher3:Your Comments are as Ignorant as the combined Intellectual capacity of your two Leaders, Rush Limbaugh & Sarah Palin.Absolute ZERO. The Republican Party of today is about as relevant to Politics & the National Discourse as a Trailer Trash Mindset is to Common Sense & Intellectual Curiosity. Of course your only comeback will be all the usual Neocon name calling."Liberals", "Libs","Lefties","Liberal Left Elitists",ect.The only real elitist around is that Flag Waving, Hypocritical,Drug Addicted, Thrice Married & Divorced,Draft Dodging,Multi-Millionaire, "Dear Leader of yours, Rush Limbaugh.

[Stormy500]

She will be great on Fox. I hope she wears her waders...she will need them.

[dprice123-2009]

She is getting ready to split the Republican party.This is her payback for the way the Republicans used her during the election.

[dprice123-2009]

She is getting ready to split the Republican party.

[aheadace]

Palin is sick she needs help!

[areuforreal]

why are so many of you so nasty to each other. When will all of you realize we are all in this grand experiment together. Obama won the election fair and square, so get over it. There is no point in finger pointing and gloating, we still have a lot of problems that affect us all. Those of you who speak of the real america obviously have not learned the simple truth that republicans fell from grace because of their antiquated views and misguided policies. The other side have also been guilty of this in the recent past, no one is exempt from making these kind of mistakes when power goes unchecked. We can agree to simply disagree, we do not need to make childish attacks on someone who disagrees with us, we need to agree to disagree. We also do not need vulgarity to be our response it shows lack of intellegence and needless disrespect.

[toldyouso29]

Stupid people in this country ruined our economy and our sense of honor and integrity--now we torture, start unprovoked wars, spy on avg citizens and our leaders need immunity from war crimes--as if all that was not enough, the ignorant among us now would like to finish were they left off--since Bush was out, they's like to complete the self destruction of America by turning it over to the C student, 6 college, illiterate, ignorant, hypocritical, vindictive, ethically challenged, secessionist sympathizing, double standard toting bimbo, whose claim to fame is that despite being amazingly stupid, the Bush sheeple are proving that they can be even more blind and stupid than they were when they elected Bush by liking and trying to promote this joke of a politician.

[toldyouso29]

Yet she's already reminding audiences of her bipartisan and family-oriented appeal.

"People are so tired of the partisan stuff even my own son is not a Republican," Palin said.

Like his father, 20-year-old Track Palin is registered as "nonpartisan" in Alaska, she said. "

Things to clarify:

1. Palin has NO bipartisan appeal--looks like she is trying to position herself to take advantage of the appeal of the Dems since her own party is about as popular as Nazism these days.

2. Her son does not identify with the REpublican party? Not surprising, the level of racism, and blind loyalty are really vestiges of another generation, besides, if he goes anywhere claiming he is a REpublican, he is liable to either be ostracized or beat up. (Except if he goes to one of those on campus geekville clubs for up and coming con men)

3. Todd is a secessionist. that is sort of nonpartisan--in that it borders on treason and as Vogler said--it affords a hatred so glacial and cold for the US that the fires of hell cannot faze the hatred...Vogler for the clueless was the founder of the Alaska Independent Party, the party Todd not only belonged to but for year contributed to and attended their meetings--even Palin found time for them.

Good luck in cleaning that up if you decide to run, Sarah--because it and your Katie Couric interviews will be ready and waiting to be reposted for viewing over and over again, should you dare to be stupid enough to run--great thing about video tape --like a diamond baby...it's forever...just ask Hilary Clinton about her fresh retakes of the sniper fire in Bosnia. Ready when you are, Sarah--played prior to you speaking, and right after your "witty soundbites" until people see you for the joke you always will be.

[toldyouso29]

"
The self-described hockey mom plans to write a memoir but declined to discuss any potential deal for her to become a television commentator. "

Can we say Ghostwriter? Palin cannot construct a decent sentence without butchering it. Indeed, her entire thought process is suspect...if we are to credit Ms. Airhead for thinking at all. What she is good at doing is playing up to an audience, that, a pole and a reasonably dark room could make her some good money.

[mahdeealoo]

Oh Geez us. How about just raising your kids? This is just ridiculous.

[justsane-2009]

"Oh, I don't think she quit," said Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008 who plucked Palin out of near-obscurity and made her a household name. "I think she changed her priorities."

so if i get fired, it's not that i've lost my job, but just that my employer changed my priorities for me?

[nirak2-2009]

Can you see Palin as President? It gets tough and she quits. LOL