16 reasons: Why?

You didn't think I would get very far in posting before Palin comes up, did you?

So - for those of you out of the country or under a rock this holiday, Sarah Palin will resign as Governor of Alaska effective later this month. Boy, did this set off a round of speculation as to why? Why now? Why resign?

Mickey Kaus (and - if you aren't reading his blog, you better start) has documented 14 reasons that he has heard in the press to explain the resignation. The list in italics, and my thoughts:

I can see 14 Palin theories ... and counting:
1) She's running for president;

EZ: In 2012? No way, not now. Too much damage was done with this announcement.

2) She's undergoing fame withdrawal and plans to get more attention in the lower 48;

EZ: Is she this much of an egomaniac? I guess you have to be to be in politics.

3) She wants to cash in ($);

EZ: This certainly seems plausible. Cash in now while you are still a celebrity.

4) There's another shoe about to drop;

EZ: Remind me...what was the first shoe? Wasn't she cleared of all wrongdoing?

5) She'll now run against Murkowski for Senate.

EZ: Wow. Lisa Murkowski is the Republican senator from Alaska who was elected in 2006; charges of nepotism ran wild after her father resigned in 02 and named his daughter- Lisa- to the Senate. Lisa won the full six year term in 2004, and is up for reelection in 2010.
Running against Murkowski -for Palin- would be a high stakes gamble. It's one thing to lose as a VP. However, if you lose a Senate primary - a PRIMARY - in Alaska - well, that takes you down about 537 notches. If she wins, Palin could become one of the party leaders in Washington. If she loses, it's curtains. Too risky.

6) She needs to tend to her family.

EZ: Are we that cyncial not to believe that? (Don't answer that)

7) She's bonkers.

EZ: No comment.

8) She's preggers.

EZ: Wow. No comment either.

9) She wants to "effect positive change outside government at this point in time on another scale and actually make a difference for our priorities."

EZ: English, please?

10) Actually being a governor in a recession is no fun. Gives you ulcers.

EZ: Ask Mr. Corzine, Schwartzenegger, Paterson, Patrick, Strickland, etc. etc. etc.

11) She worried she wasn't giving "Alaska's issues" the attention they deserve, and was being criticized for that;

EZ: Um, sure, but.....like she wasn't going to be reelected in 2010....

12) She's "fed up with politics ... the personal garbage" etc..

EZ: Sure...but if she is fed up with this, then she has no busness in a natinal office. Juneau? Cmon. You can handle it from Juneau...

13) She wants to fight back without one hand tied behind her back.

EZ: Not sure what this means....

14) The Alaska legislature now hates her;

Some bonus theories:

P.S.: Howard Kurtz is sure! "No way Palin can run for president now." ... Update: Now he asks, "How can these talking heads pop off about the meaning of Palin's resignation when not one of them saw it coming?" ... It's the return of Kurtz vs. Kurtz! ...

and finally:

P.P.S.: I'm waiting for someone to claim it was all the Scientologists' idea. So far, noone. But the night is young.

My mother - of all people - had the best, most plausible theory. She will be named head of the RNC in the near future (fall, 2009), replacing Michael Steele. Makes perfect sense. It reenergizes the party; it is an instant money maker for the Republican candidates in 2010 (and they are going to need money), gets her in Washington to learn while staying visible, and keeps her in the public spotlight. From here, she can run for Senate against the Democrat in 2014 (this is the seat the Ted Stevens lost due to his "non" scandal), and then gt national experience for a Presidential run in 2020 or 2024. For the 2024 election, she will only be 60 years old, so it's possible.