Palin's Escape to Twitter
"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.