Palin resigns: US readers' views

Sarah Palin stepped down with a parting shot at the media

Former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has formally stepped down as governor of Alaska, 18 months before the end of her term in office.

She had announced earlier in the month that she would resign, leading to speculation of a bid for the presidency in 2012.

Here readers from the US give their reaction to her resignation and discuss what they think the future holds for Mrs Palin.

A woman with a similar amount of experience as Obama is railroaded by our media. Then for the good of her state resigns and is labelled a quitter. We need more Sarah Palins in our governments. We need someone who is not groomed for a position. Someone who has the courage to do the right thing, no matter the consequences.
Steven Stalbaum, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA

I hope she does not stay away from the national picture, because she was and is a breath of fresh air from the typical hot air of politicians of both parties. Once again Sarah Palin has upset the applecart of expectations, to the chagrin of those who want her to stay out of the way in good old Alaska.

She was straightforward and sincere about her reasons for leaving office, but once again the media is not content to leave her alone until they get in a dig against her. You'd think no other person had ever come from nowhere - such as a certain peanut farmer from Georgia [Jimmy Carter].
Jim Wittstruck, Lakeville, Minnesota, USA

In the US, the mainstream media is pro-liberal and pro-Obama and hates this woman. We are in grave danger with Obama leading his socialist agenda of losing our freedom-loving nation. We can only hope that she turns out to be a great conservative leader like Margaret Thatcher.
JL, Texas, USA

Governor Palin seemed to me a very dedicated civil servant who served her state. It is somehow a dogma that upon selection by Senator McCain as a running mate, she may have gone way in over her head. Having said that, Governor Palin still needs to polish up her speeches, her knowledge about the world and to stop defending herself so much. She is accountable to her state and people make mistakes all the time. If you ask me, I'd say she has not blundered as much as former President Bush did in taking us to war in Iraq.
Saul Badjie, Troy, Michigan, USA

It seems not to have occurred to anyone in the media that perhaps Mrs Palin is simply sick of politics and the baggage that comes with it.
Scott W, Port Orchard, USA

This is the best thing Sarah has done since the US liberal news media decided to trash her and her children. She's got my vote and donation.
J Jeffery, Puyallup, Washington, USA

If Mrs Palin is resigning in preparation for a run at the 2012 presidency she is making a big mistake. We learned during this past election season, and especially during the vice-presidential debates, that she has little expertise or organic comprehension of many of the most important issues which face the United States. As governor of Alaska she was a long shot for national political office, but now, as a freelance political vigilante, she has completely taken herself out of the running.
N C E, Palo Alto, California, USA

We are delighted that her never-ending dramas are out of our local government. We thank her for helping President Obama to get elected. We are happy she stepped down. She does not have what it takes to be anywhere in politics, locally or nationally.
Charmagne, Juneau, Alaska, USA

While I wish Mrs Palin well, I'm relieved that she has elected to leave office. Initially, in spite of her inexperience, she served the state well, promoting cross-party initiatives and acting in the interests of her constituents. However, she has since clearly served a very different master. Her politically-motivated refusal of federal stimulus money created a mountain of work for the state legislature (already limited by a 90-day session) to overcome. Sarah, God bless you, but good riddance!
John DePalatis, Sitka, Alaska, USA

Most of my friends and acquaintances up here in Alaska breathe a sigh of relief that the state can get back to the business of government. We have no room for a quitter here.
Barb Loop, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

For me, she could not leave soon enough. It is just plain embarrassing that she was elected to public office anywhere in this nation.
Brant, Los Angeles, USA

While Sarah Palin's motivations for resignation may be unclear, early speculation that she plans a bid for the presidency would only prove how far the Republican party has fallen since its nomination of George W Bush. Her legitimacy as a political leader in the United States is all but spent. I feel a position as a television chat show host would suit her far better than a position in the field of international politics.
Coleman Durkin, Northfield, Minnesota, USA

Using a basketball analogy, Mrs Palin said the point guard keeps her eye on the ball. I think it is clear that Ms Palin always has her eyes on the crowd of spectators, and everything she does is some sort of manipulation of reality, some sort of political and personal game she is constantly playing. Not a good idea to have her serve as an elected leader. Better as a talk show host, I would imagine.
Jennifer Miller, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Sarah Palin is a quitter. I hope her star soon fade. She was utterly unworthy of a nomination for vice-president of the USA.
Cathy Olson, Fairfield, Pennsylvania, USA

I'd like to say that our long national sideshow is over, but I worry that Palin will return to the scene as part of yet another cynical bid to garner Republican votes on the basis of image rather than substance.
Chris LeCluyse, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Quitting your job is not a character trait I want in an elected official. Imagine if she ended up being president. "Sorry people of the US, I just can't take the media beating me up all the time. I quit."
Wayne, Clearwater, Florida, USA

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version