Sarah Palin to Resign as Alaska Governor on July 26 – What’s Next?

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she is resigning from office at the end of the month without explaining why she plans to step down, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate hastily called a news conference Friday morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement. State troopers blocked late-arriving media outside her home, and her spokesman, Dave Murrow, finally emerged to confirm that Palin will step down July 26. He refused to give details about the governor’s future plans.

“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,” Palin said in a statement released by her office.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the governor’s picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month, Murrow said.

A shrewd political move or is Sarah Palin bidding farewell to political life? And, for how long?

On Twitter, Sarah Palin tweeted:”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”

Flap’s take:

Sarah Palin is fed up with political life and will step back for now in holding public office. She will take her celebrity and do the following:

• Raise money for the GOP on the banquet circuit
• Host a talk radio show
• Host or co-host a television show
• Write books with the concomitant tours
• And, most importantly – raise her children and spend time with her husband, Todd.

Then, and only then will she entertain running for office again – if she ever does.