Saturday punditry, with a twist of Sarah Palin.
Howard Fineman:
I have covered politics for a long time. I can tell when someone is running for president. Sarah Palin is running for president.
Howard, you might be right, but you're wrong about this: she may be running but she's no longer a player.
But you never say "never" in politics, and there are reasons why it’s worth paying attention to what she is up to these days.
Bullshit. That is, unless All My Children and The Young and the Restless are pre-empted.
WaPo:
"We've seen a lot of nutty behavior from governors and Republican leaders in the last three months, but this one is at the top of that," said John Weaver, a longtime friend and confidant of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
Arena/Politico response, all sides of spectrum, none of it supportive:
Sherrilyn Ifill, Professor of Law, U. Md.: Watching this news conference felt like watching a public figure unravel before our very eyes. And it wasn't pretty. This lady was spooked, scared, angry, I thought, and incoherent.
Andrew Rotherham, Co-founder and publisher, Education Sector: I can see political trouble from my house.
Patrick J. Egan, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, NYU: Governing was never her strong suit.
Patrick Dorinson, Political communications strategist and commentator: I am quite sure the media snobs and elitists are ecstatic that they have successfully destroyed her and her family in the process.
Bradley A. Blakeman, Republican strategist, consultant, entrepreneur: The people of Alsaka elected Palin Governor expecting that she would serve an her entire term absent a compelling reason to step aside. She has NOT given a good enough reason in my opinion to step down. This is just another bizarre event in what has become a series of uncomfortable political misteps that raises more questions about her judgment and ability.
David Boaz, Executive VP, Cato Institute: Will we one day say that her presidency was "born on the Fourth of July"? I doubt it.
William Jelani Cobb, Professor of History, Spelman College: This is obviously part of a vast left-wing conspiracy designed to assure Barack Obama a second term and, if Rush Limbaugh is to be believed, several more after that.
Larry J. Sabato, Professor of Politics, University of Virginia: Welcome to Bizarro World. We’ll see what the real, full story is behind this seemingly nonsensical move. But one result is clear: Sarah Palin is no longer a credible candidate for President in 2012.
Dan Balz:
But are Palin's rules those of someone with the capacity to seek and win her party's presidential nomination in 2012, as many believe is her ultimate goal, or of someone who has flashed like a meteor across the political skies but ultimately with limited impact? That question was at the center of the discussion among Republican strategists who were baffled by what they had just heard from Alaska.
CBS:
With the stunning news of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s sudden resignation, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that there is "something else out there" that has forced her to make this decision. There might well be, but ever since her return to Alaska after her electoral defeat in November, it has been very clear that she has loathed the new dynamic that has greeted her there.
It isn't that she was fed up with Alaska. Alaska was fed up with her.
William Kristol:
If Palin wants to run in 2012, why not do exactly what she announced today? It's an enormous gamble - but it could be a shrewd one.
Yeah, and I could be considered a shrewd commentator, and a brilliant strategist, too. And pigs could fly. So, put wings on this porker and call it Alaska Airlines. As Sarah goes, so go I.
Jonah Goldberg: Sarah, you're the laughingstock of the Democratic party [and maybe now the Republican Party. Also.] I am, too. but still, even I think you're blowing it.