Skip to content

Sarah Palin Resigning! Four Possible Reasons Why

2009-07-06 · John · watch on YouTube · US politics & society · news analysis

On Newsday John weighs four possible reasons for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's resignation (her stated lame-duck reason, a presidential run, money, a brewing scandal) and guesses an unannounced scandal.

What is said

00:00:00 — Newsday: Palin resigns; reason one, the reasons she gave in her speech and the lame-duck logic

  • ★★★ John offers four possible reasons why Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced her resignation, noting she is not a usual politician. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ John reports that in her speech Palin said being the focus of ethics investigations was bad for Alaska, criticised media 'bloodsport' and cruelty to her family, and said she could help Alaska more from outside office. — 00:00:00
  • ★★★ John says the reason Palin actually cited was that, having decided not to run again, she would be a lame duck, so quitting was the courageous choice: not quitting would be a quitter's way out. — 00:00:46 > «not quitting would be a quitter's way out»

00:01:15 — Rebuttal of the lame-duck reasoning; reason two, running for president, dismissed

  • ★★ John argues the lame-duck reasoning fails: a governor becomes a lame duck only on announcing she won't seek re-election, which she didn't have to do with 18 months left. — 00:01:15
  • ★★ John says the commentators' theory that Palin quit to run for president makes no sense: she did not quit to run for vice president, so why quit three years before the election. — 00:01:15 · United States presidential election

00:01:44 — Reason three: to make money on the speaking circuit

  • ★★ John finds it more likely that Palin quit to make money. (hedged) — 00:01:44
  • ★★ John says the Alaska governorship pays $125,000 a year, while Palin could make $125,000 in five days on the public speaking circuit. — 00:01:44

00:02:13 — Reason four: a brewing scandal, and why the hasty resignation looks suspicious

  • ★★★ John says Palin's resignation looks suspicious: she told almost no one and announced it at a hastily called press conference without prepared remarks, which in American politics has always meant scandal. — 00:02:13
  • ★★ John says Palin has shown herself genuine about one thing, that she is not a usual politician, without saying whether that is good or bad. — 00:02:43

00:03:12 — Chewbacca-for-president aside; John's guess (reason four) and sign-off

  • ★ Riffing that Chewbacca is not an average politician either, John decides he wants Chewbacca as president with Han Solo as vice president and translator, and ends 'Chewy for president 2012'. (joke) — 00:03:12
  • ★★★ John guesses the cause is reason four, an unannounced brewing scandal, adding that he has been wrong before and would happily admit it. (hedged) — 00:03:12

Humor (significant)

  • John says there are only about three things he wouldn't do to earn his annual salary in five days: kill anyone, hurt anyone, and... — 00:01:44 > «and I wouldn't get above the third rung on a ladder.»
  • John says that as soon as anyone says 'scandal', Palin's supporters and detractors both start shouting. — 00:02:13 > «They basically become giant squids of anger.»
  • A politician resigns 'to spend more time with his family', and a week later the real reason comes out. — 00:02:43 > «because they owned like a kitten killing factory in Indonesia.»
  • Chewbacca is not your average politician either; John first rejects him as president, then embraces the idea. — 00:03:12 > «Han Solo could be his vice president and chief translator.»

Threads in this video

BR2_a018ca82e2