Sarah Palin announced this afternoon that effective July 26, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will become Governor of Alaska and that she is stepping down.

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot!?

This has taken political pundits of all stripes off balance.

The big question is why?

Why would she want to almost immediately resign as Governor of Alaska? What purpose would it serve?

Here are my thoughts on the matter:

1. Her family can’t take it any more. Her family has been subjected to an almost constant barrage of crap since her elevation to national politics. You can argue all sorts of things such as why, why not and she deserves it, but her kids? Please. Kids deserve jokes about them being accosted by athletes as a punch line made by millionaire “comedians”? I don’t think so. Even some on the left are seeing how she is being wrongly treated.

Note: If it is the main reason, she has shown the way to “take out” a politician: hound the family until they crack.

2. She has accomplished her goals and wishes to move on. If this is the reason, I find it admirable. At least she isn’t maintaining power for power’s sake.

Note: If this is the reason, it gives the current Lt. Gov and soon to be Governor of Alaska a better position to run and possibly win. Didn’t we conservatives lament often that because of Vice President Chaney’s vow not to run for President, it left a void in leadership of the party? If this is the case, it could be a road map for responsible “stewardship” in the future.

3. There is a big scandal a coming. Resigning before it hits is a time honored way of minimizing the impact.

Ever since she ran as McCain’s running mate, she has had more “ethics complaints” thrown at her than just about any politician currently serving. Every complaint meant she had to spend her money to fight it in court. The Palin’s are a lot of things, but they are not rich. They are not a political or financial dynasty in Alaska. She did not get where she was because her husband/father/uncle etc was rich and powerful. She got there on her own.

Note: I would be hugely disappointed if this were the case. But even if it seems like a scandal is the reason, it will take a lot of real, hard evidence for me to believe it since she has had so many flung her direction.

Secondly, it will also provide further “play book” guidance on political foes: keep flinging ethic violation crap until something sticks and get rid of your opponent that way. Ug. Just what we need.

4. Someone (or her) in her family is sick.

That would be very sad, but again, I could see her point in not wanting to “handle” it in public.

5. She wants to run for President.

Being in Alaska and trying to run for President is a considerable hardship. She would have to fly, at her expense, and the time needed to do so because of the distance involved is tremendous. So is the money. Europe is closer to the Eastern Seaboard and Midwest (Iowa) than to Alaska.

If this is the case, is it wise to not serve an entire term?

Who knows…

Is she being reckless? Is she done as a politician? Does she want to be?

Only time will tell.

I could write a lot more, but will stop with this Sarah quote:

“Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose,”…

She promises more information via Twitter:

We’ll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election… this is in Alaska’s best interest, my family’s happy… it is good, stay tuned

By the way, Sarah’s Twitter feed is by far, the best. She sends a Tweet or 2 out every day. It is always informative. I look forward to it like I do a best friend.

I will miss that more than anything.

For more info, the following have great coverage:

The Anchoress

National Review Online: The Corner (keep scrolling down)

Michelle Malkin