Alaska Paper: Baffling Move Smacks of 'Self-Service'

Resignation was genius move, writes Greg Beato

(NEWSER) - Politics is due for a shake-up of the kind the Internet gave to music and newspapers—and Sarah Palin looks like the only politician ready to deliver, Greg Beato writes in Reason. Palin's resignation makes her a true maverick, Beato writes. Just like Paris Hilton realized you don't need to act to be a Hollywood star, Palin has realized you don't need to hold office to be a politician, he notes. More»

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin has changed her Twitter handle to the more civilian-sounding "SarahPalinUSA" now that her old username, AKGovSarahPalin, is defunct, CNN reports. The move sparked speculation that the she may yet tweet again. The former Alaska governor has not tweeted since she resigned, preferring Facebook for her communiqués. But don’t worry, followers: You will be immediately redirected to Palin’s new feed without lifting a finger. More»

(NEWSER) - The governor of Alaska and the architect of the Vietnam War both make fine examples of how not to quit a government post, David Broder writes in the Washington Post. Robert McNamara waited 28 years to explain that he stepped down as defense secretary because of his grave doubts about US strategy, and "the public reaction was harsh"—many believed untold numbers of lives could have been saved if he had gone public sooner. More»

Quitting lets guv 'follow the money'

(NEWSER) - She says media sniping drove her from her job, but in fact, “the media invented Sarah Palin,” and now's her chance to cash in on that celebrity. “Can we stop pretending that Palin is interested in anything other than her own ambition?” Kathleen Parker asks in the Washington Post. “From her book contract alone, she never has to worry about money again,” and there’s talk of a TV show and a newspaper column. More»

Slams critics in first interview since resignation

(NEWSER) - Giving a round of TV interviews in her fishing gear, before heading out on a salmon-fishing excursion, soon-to-be-former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin slammed President Obama, her own party, and critical bloggers this morning—but wouldn’t say whether she plans to run for president. “Don’t know what the future holds. I’m not gonna shut any door,” she told ABC News. Could her resignation end her career? “Politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it,” she said. More»