She is also good for some laughs. Seriously, all the political junkies I know think Pawlenty is the next GOP presidential candidate.

So if she can't handle the heat of media ridicule and ethics probes as Governor of Alaska and VP candidate how in the heck does she think she'll be able to handle the scrutiny of seeking the GOP presidential nomination?

The GOP has already exploded! It's just that someone forgot to tell them....

@ andy...all you have to do to answer that question is look no farther than Palin's interview with Couric and her "gotcha" (read: we as american citizens have no clue as to who you are and you're *interviewing* ad hoc for a job, so information as to *who* you actually are is crucial in our decision whether or not to vote for you) questions.

My guess is that there is some unbroken scandal about to break and her resignation is a pre-emptive attempt to limit the fallout.

From all that I've read and deciphered, my belief is that she was given a ton of money to quit and there's something we're not being told. The "staying home with babies" is a cute idea, as is "the media was mean to her". Awww, ain't she sweet? I don't buy it, and you shouldn't either. Governors/politians don't quit because of either. Scandals? Yes. Business as usual? No. Something is awry, and eventually we'll find out (or perhaps already have with the "Palin for President 2012" billboard). Keep yer eyes peeled - we haven't seen the last of her yet.

i'm with gwanto on this one. we've been kicking it around a day or two and i keep arriving at the same conclusion...being that, i'd be very surprised if it were anything other than some sort of scandal.

she did make reference to "other" politicians who've quit their posts to focus on a campaign...*when* that is, (and pay attention, Sarah) there's a campaign to run...we're sitting in the middle of things right now. nobody's really campaigning for president already, are they?

"Palin--I'm balin'!" would make a catchy bumper sticker.