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First Term Quitters Hall of Fame

A number crunching Mudflatter sent the following:

On a hunch, I reviewed online lists of all the men and women who’ve been elected governor of their state since the year 1900. Pored over them for a few hours. Over 1200 politicians have taken that first-term oath of office. Some soon died in office. Many resigned to accept other positions in government, including Spiro Agnew who was “tapped” by Nixon after being the Governor of Maryland for about five minutes. On a handful of occasions, a first-termer was dragged off to the slammer or impeached. One was incapacitated by a nervous breakdown and one left just as impeachment came knocking on his door. So—how many out of over 1200 just up and quit before the end of their term?

Three: Jim McGreevy, Eliot Spitzer and Sarah Palin.

 

[h/t Mudflatter WalterNeff]

Comments

comments

Comments
116 Responses to “First Term Quitters Hall of Fame”
  1. MinNJ says:

    mlaiuppa: loved the quote. Perfect.

  2. let it run says:

    What!?? Is she reading Plato in her spare time. Nah, that must be a Starbucks cup. Line up Machevelli next!

    To be fair to McGreevey and Spitzer (LOL) tehy were FORCED to quit (due to their own stupidty, ego and actions but forced nonetheless).

    She quit of her own volition.

  3. Justin says:

    10cats4me Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 7:05 PM

    It has been just one week since Palin announced her upcoming resignation. Stories have been all over the place, but HP stories are now getting the truth out. Did she really think her story would last? Everything she has said is being proven wrong/inaccurate.

    GOP delegates in many areas do not want her campaigning for them. Even Levi has spoken up.

    Oh my, I am starting to laugh. She is so ridiculous.

    Can you be very specific about “Everything she has said is being proven wrong/inaccurate”? That would be an interesting list to peruse.

    Thank you.

  4. Maria says:

    The first two in this list quit because of scandal. What’s Palin hiding? And when will Sanford be added to this list?

  5. mlaiuppa says:

    Plato? Pluto? Play-dough?

    Here’s a quote for Palin’s next tweet:

    “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” – Plato

    Do you think she’d get it?

  6. seattlefan says:

    You know you have a ridiculous situation when an 18 year old young man is coming out with a tell-all book on a 45 year old woman. Quite humorous and telling. I can’t wait. He is claiming she quit for $$$$$$$.

    KO was hilarious tonight on this whole thing. He brought up all the lies and even poked fun at her shopping at the consignment store in Wasilla. LOL! He is relentless when he smells a great story.

  7. LiladyNY says:

    @10cats4me Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 5:36 PM

    The Alaska Dispatch article is great. I recommend it to all. I remember reading part of this last Fall. It has been expanded greatly and explains a lot.
    ———————————————————————-
    An excellent illuminating article. I also recommend reading it.

  8. 10cats4me says:

    It has been just one week since Palin announced her upcoming resignation. Stories have been all over the place, but HP stories are now getting the truth out. Did she really think her story would last? Everything she has said is being proven wrong/inaccurate.

    GOP delegates in many areas do not want her campaigning for them. Even Levi has spoken up.

    Oh my, I am starting to laugh. She is so ridiculous.

  9. bucfan says:

    Isn’t it interesting that Grievey and Spitzer resigned but Larry Craig (convicted of having a wide stance), David Vitter (prostitutes), John Ensign and Mark Sanford either are still serving or left when his term expired. And if we go back and look, I will bet Craig and Vitter also called for Bill Clinton to resign. We already know the other two did. So obviously, if she did resign because of a scandal on the horizon, it’s not sexual in nature. Republicans never resign over sex. Course they will tell you who you should and shouldn’t have sex with….

  10. WakeUpAmerica says:

    The fact is, not just anyone can grow up to be president. Hopefully we have enough people in this country who have a clue and would not elect someone who is poorly educated, woefully ignorant, and suffering from some kind of mental disorder. Just sayin’.

  11. 10cats4me says:

    The Alaska Dispatch article is great. I recommend it to all. I remember reading part of this last Fall. It has been expanded greatly and explains a lot.

    Stay cool folks. Stop feeding her anger. Stay cool.

  12. Lee323 says:

    A former McCain advisor whose unflattering portrait of Palin will be in his book to be released in October is wondering if his book is the cause of Palin’s abrupt resignation:
    ————————————————————–
    “Titled I Am Martin Eisesenstadt: One Man’s Wildly Inappropriate Adventures with the Last Republicans, the book is due for release at the end of this October through publisher Farrar, Straus, Giroux. You’ll recall that Eisenstadt is the controversial pundit who claimed to be the source for the FoxNews story that Sarah Palin didn’t know Africa was a continent.” (snip)

    “While I continue to enjoy a warm relationship with my publisher and editor at FSG, I can’t help but wonder if the timing of Palin’s resignation is somewhat suspect. Just this very week, FSG started to send out early galleys of the book for review. I have no reason to initially suspect any of FSG’s direct employees of leaking the galleys to Palin. But did someone in the media who got an advance copy somehow slip it to a Palin ally? Or maybe an outsourced subcontractor at a print shop? At this point, there’s no way to be sure.”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-mirvish/does-sarah-palin-fear-upc_b_225801.html

  13. Sue says:

    I just sent Time magazine a letter at letters@time.com saying:

    For a woman who accused President Obama of “palling around with terrorists,” and who incited some in her audience to chant, “Kill him! Kill him!” Palin certainly has a thin skin. Evidently she can dish it out but can’t take it. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen–or quit and go fishing. Whatever works for you.

    I feel much better now. : )

  14. Ratfish says:

    At least McGreevy and Spitzer had a reason to quit.

    Palin’s in a class of quitter by herself.

  15. curiouser says:

    Great hunch, AKM! And what a find!

  16. PepperzMom (GA) says:

    Well, now we know the truth. The bailin’ one does indeed money…she used hers up to help Ensign’s family….

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/ensign-paid-mistress-fami_n_228931.html

    Sigh…

  17. London Bridges says:

    Sarah has finally earned her G. E. D. !!!
    Governor’s Ethical Demise.

    Congrats!

  18. PepperzMom (GA) says:

    Please head over to the OPEN THREAD – CRAZINESS. Its an off-topic item, but given the history of ‘tasering’ in AK….

    It makes me madder than a disturbed hornet’s nest…

    Gr-rrr-rrr!

    (Dang, I’m sounding like a certain ‘grizzly mama’ – help!!!!)

  19. PepperzMom (GA) says:

    KateinCanada Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    Sarah is reportedly furious about all of this, as she was looking forward to possibly moving to Hollywood or New York City if this deal went through, and has actually tried to get the great RM on the phone personally to deal with it, but so far he’s not returning her phone calls. Babe, next time, get it in writing…

    Too bad the great RM (Rupert Murdoch) news empire is in deep ka-kaa over in merry old England…might that have something to do with the maybe nots so fast – if this is true….

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/08/murdoch-pays-gag-money-to_n_228285.html

    Hmmm…as The Dirty Old Man would say – “velly intellesting”…

  20. austintx says:

    Think Progress is turning up the heat. 2nd post today.
    http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/09/palin-plato/

  21. PepperzMom (GA) says:

    AKM…please check your e-mail.

    Thanks!

  22. KateinCanada says:

    Comment on a link posted here- New rumor, I think?
    http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/09/palin-ethics-factcheck/
    carolinadancer Says: July 9th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
    “Okay, got this from a media person…..

    Between the “scandals” and the “wardrobe issues” plus she and Bristol’s medical expenses not covered by insurance, special stuff for Sarah’s baby, and etc. ad nauseum, the Governess is broke. As in flat. Since Todd doesn’t exactly pull in a hefty sum in that professional career of his (loses money) he isn’t much help on that front.

    Fox execs verbally offered Sarah the chance to co-star with Elizabeth whosiwhatsit from The View in a conservative talk show to be shown around the same time during the daytime AFTER SHE LEFT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. Well, she suddenly pops up and resigns two weeks after receiving this offer, and now Fox is backpedaling…

    Sarah is reportedly furious about all of this, as she was looking forward to possibly moving to Hollywood or New York City if this deal went through, and has actually tried to get the great RM on the phone personally to deal with it, but so far he’s not returning her phone calls. Babe, next time, get it in writing…

  23. sauerkraut says:

    51 C. Rock Says: July 9th, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    I wish everyone would just leave the kids alone. It’s not there fault that they got dragged in the dirt. Blame Buttercup Quitter pants. Just say in……
    _________

    I totally agree. Leave the blessed kids alone. Makes all of us look stupid, makes Palin look credible and is very unfair to the kids. Leave them alone.

  24. carolyn says:

    “Three: Jim McGreevy, Eliot Spitzer and Sarah Palin.” – now there’s a group!!! LOL

  25. anon blogger says:

    Rob in Ca #78

    Not the FBI…a distraction, you see….really the IRS…per Gryphen, go see. (See comment section on a post a few back.)

  26. lonnie says:

    I’m from New Jersey and when Gov. McGreevy resigned, he did so with dignity. It took courage for him to admit his affair with another man. I remember his resignation speech with his parent’s standing behind him and his wife (now ex-wife) by his side, you could see the pained expression on his father’s eyes. After the shock died down New Jerseyans respected him for his honesty. He wasn’t perfect but at least he was human.

    I’m sure other Governor’s wouldn’t want to be caught “palling around with a quitter”. Republican candidate Chris Christie doesn’t want her to stump for him. So much for Sarah saying she will go out and campaign for others.

  27. MadCity Chick says:

    Sorry if it’s been posted. Frum is Bush’s former speechwriter if I’m remembering correctly.

    David Frum: Good reason to fear Sarah Palin
    http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/07/09/298988.aspx

    In reply to his former mentor Bill Kristol’s painful-to-read defense of Palin, which concludes ” What are they afraid of?”, Frum writes

    That’s easy to answer: They – we! – are afraid that Palin’s distinctive combination of sex appeal, self-pity, and cultural resentment has a following in today’s GOP. We are afraid that it is not utterly inconceivable that she could win the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, and we are afraid that if she did so she would lead the party to a 1964-style debacle, accompanied by unnecessary losses down the ballot.

    Them’s fightin’ words. Frum goes on:

    We are afraid that even if Palin does not win the nomination, that she will still help to brand the Republican party in a very damaging way…My friend and mentor Bill Kristol may think it is cowardly to take counsel of those fears. I think it is irresponsible not to..

    Body blow.

    Some were supportive:

    If only she had the Department of Law to protect her from the scurrilous left leaning press.

    Palin is a god send for the democrats. Find a shelf for her as quickly as possible,

    Evidently, this poster hails from some part of fake America, where he/she has been warped by them libruls. He/she may even be a librul!

    Taken from a post at dailykos on Frum’s article.
    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/9/751668/-Palinapalooza:-David-Frum-and-the-National-Post-Blog-(Update)

  28. Rob in Ca says:

    Here is a wonderful article suggesting why Sarah quit, and in fact marveling that it took her this long!!

    I still, personally, believe her hasty press conference and breathlessly manic demeanor suggests a more proximate cause…but the article still explains why she would be prone to quit.

    Don’t miss this one!

    http://www.alaskadispatch.com/palin-watch/1283-palin-how-she-gained-control-and-then-lost-it

  29. SlappyOC says:

    I had the same though about the Emperor’s new clothes. But I think in this case her followers are the ones that will find themselves naked in the end (and up to $150 poorer).

    I wish more media outlets would point out that she did not quit for another job and should not be compared to those that did (especially those that left for the White House…come on!).

    Also, too…this has probably been posted in the thousands of comments lately but I consider this an idiocracy hall of fame, really good summary:
    http://trueslant.com/jeffhoard/2009/07/08/100-reasons-why-palin-is-the-queen-of-idiocracy/

  30. Ashkee Colorado says:

    Thanks, Dr. Chill @ 58. I thought ross’s butt sniffing was way out too.

  31. LiladyNY says:

    @Gasman
    By being the only governor to quit for absolutely no reason at all, our Saint Sarah of Wasilla is going all mavericky and blazing a new trail right past the U.S. Federal Department of Law! Go Sarah, Go!

    Wonderful, just wonderful!

  32. Gramiam says:

    I wonder what would happen if every single one of us in the media and on blogs would simply STOP!! No questions, no posts, no comments, no attention whatsoever. wouldn’t Buttercup’s reaction to publicity withdrawal be revealing?

  33. anon blogger says:

    Thanks for the research, AKM…..hope there’s not a video, I mean pattern…..

    Sally Quinn was on MSNBC just a little while ago. She is a writer for Washington Post and founder of On Faith. She said that Palin “exploited” her children. Kudos to Ms. Quinn!

  34. MadCity Chick says:

    Just read this in the Letters to the Editor at ADN for 07/07/09.

    A motto for Wasilla schools?

    Emblazoned on the gymnasium wall of our middle school is the motivational quote “A Winner Never Quits and a Quitter Never Wins.” I’m guessing that the Wasilla schools don’t do quotes.

    — Pat McNary

    Homer

    Kudos to Pat McNary!

  35. Cassie Jeep Pike Palin says:

    LMAO!

    I googled “famous quitters” and there is an ad for caPharaS….can you believe it?

    http://www.who2.com/Quitters.html

  36. Gramiam says:

    mlaiuppa Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 10:39 AM

    Forget the Powerpuff Girls. Try Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore:

    I’m called little Buttercup, dear little Buttercup, sweet little Buttercup, I.

    There’s a lot more. And G&S is always fodder for political parody. I’m surprised no one’s done it yet.
    *************************************************************************************
    I sent it to Lynnrockets two days three days ago, and I hope she uses it!!

  37. austintx says:

    Another addition to the urban dictionary under “Palin”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/pullin-a-palin-now-in-the_n_228545.html

  38. Star says:

    31 @Austintx….I soooo agree… Maybe it was a blessing in disguise..If she hadn’t accepted we would of never seen what a friggen piece of work she really is…

  39. Martha says:

    The following needs some huge correcting!! Here are the real Gallup poll results and a great price by KO on Palin taking a trouncing in the polls, for reference.
    =============================================

    http://www.gallup.com/poll/121514/Americans-Political-Future-Palin.aspx

    Palin takes a pounding in the polls

    July 8: According to recent polls, three in ten Americans saw their opinion of Sarah Palin change after her resignation. Newsweek”s Howard Fineman discusses the decrease in her popularity.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/31807910#31807910
    ===========================================
    This gal, Bonnie Fuller, needs a good mudpuppie smackdown for those who are so inclined:

    Don’t Count Saint Sarah Palin Out for President in 2012!

    I don’t agree with critics that claim Sarah was speaking gobeldy gook when she was announcing her resignation. No, she was saying exactly what she wants to do. And it’s clever.

    A new nationwide USA TODAY/Gallup Poll has found that two-thirds of Republicans want Palin to be “a major national political figure” in the future. In fact a whopping 71% of Republicans say they’d likely vote for her if she ran for president in 2012. And this poll was done after her resignation!

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bonnie-fuller/saint-sarah-palin-is-alre_b_228466.html

  40. Gasman says:

    Hey, when the going gets tough, Sarah gets going! Staying and finishing your term is so status quo, that’s just what the gothca liberal media elites would have her do. Not doing your job by quitting is actually being more true to the values of the average hockey mom and joe six-pack and our brave troops serving in Iran for our beloved Freedoms. Let’s not forget those brave troops! Would they want Sarah to serve her full term? Hell no! And don’t forget our Christian values. It would be an insult to them for Sarah to finish out her full term. That’s what those godless socialists, palin’ around with terrorists would like her to do. I heard Jeremiah Wright wants her to serve out her full term! I’ll bet a Muslim would have her finish the term, too! They are why she is quitting! To show those liberal, socialist, Muslims how true American mavericks do without the status quo! God bless our troops and God bless America! (Cue the band playing the Star Spangled Banner.)

    By being the only governor to quit for absolutely no reason at all, our Saint Sarah of Wasilla is going all mavericky and blazing a new trail right past the U.S. Federal Department of Law! Go Sarah, Go!

  41. LiladyNY says:

    petepeta Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 10:34 AM

    Here’s one that I haven’t seen mentioned yet from Meg, the gift that keeps on giving:
    http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/07/09/a-final-palin-post/
    ————————————————————————
    It strikes me greatly is that nearly every commentor is demanding FACTS to substantiate assertions! I sense change. : )

  42. DrChill says:

    C. Rock Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 11:25 AM
    I wish everyone would just leave the kids alone. It’s not there fault that they got dragged in the dirt. Blame Buttercup Quitter pants. Just say in……
    ============
    I don’t know anyone who has criticized her minor children.
    The eldest chose as an adult to use her noteriety as an unwed teen, to nationally espouse her message of how to be a sexually responsible person.

    I question the choice, but few pay attention to her, except perhaps as a reflection of the Palin family.
    I’ve criticized the adult female Plains as publicly waving their dirty laundry as a banner of honor.
    Like a celeb getting ‘good’ press for going to rehab.

    Some adults may deserve criticism, but adults who have chosen to be public figures, like Bristol and Sarah, invite it.

    Q: Do you mean never discuss the kids, and how they’re paraded around by Sarah? or do you mean never criticize them?

  43. C. Rock says:

    LMAO I think we have all gone off topic here (including me ) Sorry AKM

  44. austintx says:

    I was just sharing………..don’t agree with the guy.

  45. deist says:

    Great thing about kids– my child, who is about Piper’s age, thinks Piper is great (I do too). But I can’t stand Palin– too bad kids grow up!

  46. mt says:

    WOW, I havent been on in quite sometime, came back to Alaska. Summer vacation, I think. But July 3rd will always be a happy day for me. When Sarah Palin resigned, the first thing I noticed was the media coverage in Alaska. I m on a remote Island now, and we have only one tv station. The thing I noticed, is how the media in Alaska… reports on this, compared to the MSM in the states. They mentioned one thing that was NOT TRUE. That, Sarah Palin was still a popular person “down south” something like that. It made me laugh, at first then I realized, this is how she is portrayed, FAR FROM THE TRUTH! At any rate, let us hope something comes out. She did mentions frivilous complaints, as the main reason-and points out a couple. i.e. her picture “fishing”…it wasnt so much her picture, but the fact that she got paid isnt it? (commercial fishing?) It is obvious her main appeal is to the “men” which is why I think she asked them to film her fishing. But it takes much more than that, to be a true leader. Maybe she might get nominated, but it would be hard to pursuade anyone that they can lead, after quitting!

  47. John says:

    There could be a looming scandal, but I think Buttercup’s decision is entirely explainable without a scandal. In fact, it would be out of character for her to quit because of a scandal.
    Buttercup does not believe she is capable of doing anything wrong, so quitting under pressure is not her style. Quitting because she doesn’t like to work and has other doors opening for her is her style. Look how she quit her last job with the Oil and Gas Commission. And how she quit her Mayor’s job to run for Lt. Governor. And how she quit how many colleges before getting her degree. (a degree in communication!!!)

  48. UK Lady says:

    Susan, that emperor story is great. The MSM seems to be at least 3 days behind the blogs that follow the story closely.

    This is probably just as much to do with fact checking as being completely pathetic, although I wouldn’t rule being pathetic out.

    Mae Lewis – Great quote.

  49. DrChill says:

    31 austintx Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 10:50 AM
    She should have said no.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/opinion/06ross.html
    ——
    I have a couple of problems with that editorial. It suggests what would have happened IF ONLY things had been different. It suggests that her local problems would have been small local problems, of no national significance. As if a track record didn’t matter, as if the only scandals are false and frivolous and not of her own making.

    He suggests that she just needed to spend some time preparing and learning, to be ready for high office.

    Also he suggests that because Obama went to Harvard, his is not the – ‘anyone can grow up to be president’ story Palin’s would have been.

    Lets assume that Palin would have developed larger ambitions. How would she have called attention to her-self as a viable candidate for – anything?
    Her popularity would still have fallen as the reality of her governance set in.

    McCain’s choice for her as VP, would be absent, and not provide motivation to give her a second moment’s thought.

    Bloggers dedicated to Alaska would still be blogging about Palin, still asking questions, and still trying to expose the truth and expose her shortcomings.

    We’ll never know how Palin would have behaved if she had not been bitten by the celebrity bug.

    We do know she has some character traits that make her unsuitable for high office, and no amount of cliff notes study or cramming can make an unsuitable person into a suitable one.

    And no amount of rooting for – hoping for- making excuses for- your favorite – reality TV star – is going to give them more talent than they have.

  50. Paula says:

    quit·ter (kwtr)
    n.
    One who gives up easily.

    quitter
    – a person who gives up too easily “there was too much for one person to do”
    – one who formally relinquishes an office or responsibility
    – someone who quits school before graduation
    -a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

  51. Seagull Junker Palin says:

    Thanks Susan for the great read. The Emperor has no clothes.

    http://www.anonymousliberal.com/2009/07/emperor-has-no-clothes.html

  52. Paula says:

    I for one could care less about the kids. Until they write the mommy dearest books. Then I am in.

    Levi, write, son, write.

    Bristol, move far from mommy and make yourself some money of your own. Write, girl, write.

  53. patstevens says:

    That was an inspired thing to research, Mudflatter! I loved it.

    as austintx points out: “A Gay man who came out after living a lie , a whore monger , and sarah………”

    no need to qualify this list any further. I like the company SP keeps.

  54. Paula says:

    Here you go AKM, a new writing assignment for you or Shannon or whoever. I’ll look for it here, and on HP:

    I would like to see this annoying chick disappear as much as anyone else, but this is just nitpicking and splitting hairs on accounting practices that are actually pretty common. I would prefer this story be approached from the angle that this is proof she is incapable of governing, because her own incompetence in the ethics legislation came back to bite her in the arse, and this is a convenient excuse for ducking out before she needs to prove she can do any real work or governing.

  55. rpahk says:

    C. Rock: agree completely. Leave the kids out of it even if they were used by SP during the election. You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives.

  56. sandra in oregon says:

    FW: Yes, Piper did enjoy the spotlight during the Presidential campaign. She has seemed very perky in later shots. But, I think some children are barometers of the family feeling. I hope she’ll be looking happy soon.

  57. C. Rock says:

    I wish everyone would just leave the kids alone. It’s not there fault that they got dragged in the dirt. Blame Buttercup Quitter pants. Just say in……

  58. London Bridges says:

    Let’s see … At least Eliot Spitzer paid for his sex out of his own funds. Did Sarah pay for her house?

  59. rpahk says:

    “Quit happens” -KO

  60. austintx says:

    This is a good thing. Amanda is not to be trifled with. Ask Billo.

    http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/09/palin-ethics-factcheck/

  61. OMG says:

    lemonfair, I agree with your posts. Is it possible that Palin is winning in the whining wars…enough to frighten the MSM from doing their job. I have not seen a balanced story in a while, especially about the millions Palin claims that the State spent on her defense for all those complaints. Has the MSM decided that fact checking the reality behind the spin only gets them in trouble with Blamey Whinehouse (I loved John Stewart’s name for her). Is she frightening news organizations into bending backwards to let her have the last word lest someone call them Palin Bashers? Wow…maybe Spitzer should have tried this, or how about Blasonofabitch (to borrow Leno’s pronunciation of his name).

  62. Paula says:

    lonnie- I read it yesterday. It was funny, along with about 43 other things!

    Media Matters has a conservative Christian who wrote a Palin bashing article about how if Palin is really a conservative Christian she should be going home to care for her family. LOL!

  63. Paula says:

    agreed! Excellent quote!

  64. lonnie says:

    Has anyone read Maureen Dowd’s “Sarah’s Secret Diary”? It’s hilarious.

  65. trisha says:

    mae lewis: Excellent!

  66. trisha says:

    austintx: I read that nytimes piece. Sounds like he is defending Palin…a lot.

    I guess some others here would have better insights into her policy as he states she never cut the budget for special needs kids,etc.

    I hope some who know the truth first hand will post there.

  67. FW says:

    Sandra…Piper is probably depressed that she would get to do her pageant wave to adoring fans anymore, and I am saying this in a concerned and sincere way. That little girl only knows from being in the spotlight since she’s been able to remember things. She was signing AUTOGRAPHS during the presidential campaign and was on every stage with her mother every day. This was bound to giver her a princess complex, and not in a good way. The way she was grabbing at Trig and insisted on holding him was very telling.

  68. mae lewis says:

    Sarah has been twittering away, even quoting Plato. All right, I didn’t trust her so I went to look up the quote. I found one that is more appropriate:
    “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools beacuse they have to say something.” -Plato

  69. Greytdog Δ says:

    NYHawk, I was thinking the same thing – Spitzer & McGreevey quit because of wee willie winkie problems, not because they woke up one day and said, “well okey dokey, I’m done”. Spitzer resigned to salvage his career (still not buying the idea he salvaged his marriage, but. . .) and within a short time frame, even the media was saying “we need spitzer back”. . . .don’t think anyone in AK will say that about Sarah. She’s a quitter, plain and simple.

  70. FW says:

    You know, we have one of those crazy ass politicians here in DC…Marion Barry. This guy was caught with crack and hookers when he was mayor, charged with not filing his taxes (which he’s currently still on probation for), and just recently was charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend (that’s been dropped) who he gave some kind of illegal $20,000 payment to. He is still an elected city councilman. Barry never resigned, never quit, and still has his job. No one in DC has called on him to resign.

    My point is this…there is a very good reason or reasons Sarah quit, and it is alot worse than crack, hookers, and tax evasion. And no one better give me the tired old money excuse, because she already cleared her book deal with her ethics committee. She is either seriously and clinically deranged, or she is threatened by something as yet undiscovered.

  71. Laurie says:

    I read excerpts from the Time article. It was ridiculous in the extreme. I just don’t get it. Are these reporters not supposed to be half ways honest and intelligent? They are all just smitten with her lovliness…..and it shows in their water carrying behaviour and writing. Morning Joke was praising the author of the piece this morning. I nearly tossed my cookies.

  72. Paula says:

    lemonfair Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 10:40 AM
    TIME magazine is being Sarah’s lapdog in it’s cover story this week. Impressively bad reporting. Disgraceful. Thank God for Andrew Sullivan, who longs to sink his teeth into the truth on this story and insists he’s going to badger the MSM.
    _______
    This was a hastily thrown together piece to sell magazines. I am guessing there is a higher up banging his (or her) fist and saying bad words right about now.

  73. sandra in oregon says:

    I don’t think Piper is doing very well right now. I hope she is getting some attention off camera. She seems despondent from seeing her by the podium during the resignation speech and at the wheel of the boat. You would expect being able to steer the boat would have livened her up.

    There was the disappearing picture of the stroll in Juneau on Friday night that showed Bristol and Willow with their mother. Maybe they are around but silent. I would expect Piper’s affect to reflect sibling problems more than the public ones.

    I wish they would leave Piper out of the spotlight.

  74. Paula says:

    So, if the first was an out of the closet gay affair, the second was an out of the closet pay for sex ring… wonder what the thrid will be in the end? Did Palin have a paid with Alaskas money girl on girl party? Hmmmmmm….

  75. Susan says:

    A must read: “Emperor Has No Clothes”

    http://www.anonymousliberal.com/2009/07/emperor-has-no-clothes.html

  76. Curtis E. Mayle says:

    Just ‘cuz she’s so darn mavericky … also too, very pathological.

  77. austintx says:

    She should have said no.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/opinion/06ross.html

  78. leenie17 says:

    CG Says:
    Willow is a 15 year-old that just finished 8th grade.
    Let’s leave her alone.

    ————–

    Actually, she, Piper and Trig are the ones I feel most sorry for in this whole mess. As a mother herself, Bristol is old enough to make her own (often foolish) decisions and face the music, but the other three are just innocent victims of their mother’s insatiable need for attention and power. They were dragged across the country on the campaign trail and shoved in front of the cameras whenever it benefitted Sarah, regardless of the negative impact on them. I hope that somehow, once this circus settles down, they can find some peace and begin to enjoy their childhood as they should. I also sincerely hope that Trig is getting some of the physical and cognitive therapies he will need in order to achieve his greatest potential.

  79. lemonfair says:

    mlaiuppa- the question is whether anybody in the MSM will pay attention to it even if it does come out. Without that, very few people will know. And here’s where Sarah is crazy like a Fox. Her whining about the MSM means that news organizations have to be careful not to alienate her very loyal base. Of course, they should take a cue from David Letterman, but I don’t think they will.

  80. austintx says:

    A Gay man who came out after living a lie , a whore monger , and sarah………

  81. John says:

    In another week she will be as relevant to Alaska politics as Steve Cowper.

  82. lemonfair says:

    TIME magazine is being Sarah’s lapdog in it’s cover story this week. Impressively bad reporting. Disgraceful. Thank God for Andrew Sullivan, who longs to sink his teeth into the truth on this story and insists he’s going to badger the MSM.

  83. CG says:

    Willow is a 15 year-old that just finished 8th grade.
    Let’s leave her alone.

  84. DrChill says:

    I’m proud to have lived in both of the other states.

    For Jim McGreevy it wasn’t so much that he was gay, or that he came out, or that his wife didn’t know either… it was the a former security aide to the governor, a man, who had readied a sexual harassment lawsuit against the NJ governor thing that did it.

    Now Elliot, well its just that he was SO hell bent on cleaning up corruption. As AG of NY he made some enemies, who (Rumor has it) got wind of his trysts with expensive hookers. New Yorkers didn’t like the governor doing that.
    His Wife didn’t like it much either.
    There never were criminal charges filed. The reason? “He always used his own money.”

    Palin’s reason… she wants to progress Alaska by quitting and going fishing…
    Uh okay, Actually I’m really okay with that.

  85. mlaiuppa says:

    Forget the Powerpuff Girls. Try Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore:

    I’m called little Buttercup, dear little Buttercup, sweet little Buttercup, I.

    There’s a lot more. And G&S is always fodder for political parody. I’m surprised no one’s done it yet.

    I thought I was the only one. I’ve had that song running through my head for DAYS. Make it stop! AKM

  86. mlaiuppa says:

    Hmmm. Considering the company she’s keeping, I wonder what Sarah is hoping to keep under wraps with her resignation. (And you know it’s going to come out anyway, right?)

  87. petepeta says:

    Here’s one that I haven’t seen mentioned yet from Meg, the gift that keeps on giving:
    http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/07/09/a-final-palin-post/

  88. LibertyLover says:

    AW. You’re just being mean to Palin coz she’s a woman.

    A really, really incompetent woman.

    On the other hand… thanks for driving her out of office. 😉
    As Harry S. Truman used to say… “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

    Maybe Palin’s take on that would be: “If you can’t be a dead fish and flow with the river, then you might just be a mavericky type moose, also, too and need to, you know, heed the call of the mother bear.”

  89. Sue says:

    Re: Willow and Bristol — These 2 sisters have been absent from Palin’s recent media events. I think they have had enough and have finally told their mother “NO!” They can get away with such disobedience because they know the “secret about Trig” and can threaten to expose SP if she doesn’t leave them alone and let them stay home from her circus events. I noticed that Willow has most always tried to stay in the background, even when she was required to attend. Perhaps she has learned from watching Bristol that it is better to be invisible.

  90. Rob in Ca says:

    That Dan Fagan column is outstanding. He doesn’t mince words, does he!

  91. mike from Arlington says:

    I saw this paragraph posted here http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-party/key-reason-palin-gave-for-quitting-appears-to-be-false/#comments . Second comment down. It’s was worth highlighting though again….cheers.

  92. BigSlick says:

    I am not LynnRockets, but I thought this was pertinent to the Buttercup meme.

    Build Me Up, Buttercup
    by The Foundations

    Why do you build me up (Build me up)
    Buttercup baby just to
    let me down (Let me down)
    And mess me around
    And then worst of all (Worst of all)
    You never call baby
    When you say you will (Say you will)

    In addition, you can find another Buttercup reference here, one that I find strikingly appropriate.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Powerpuff_Girls#Buttercup

    Buttercup

    Buttercup (voiced by Elizabeth Daily) is “the tough one”. Her signature color is light green, and she has short black hair in a flip. She was named because “Buttercup” begins with the letter “B” like her sisters, much to her chagrin. She is a tomboy and is easily enraged. Sometimes her aggression gets the better of her, making her reckless and stubborn. She possesses a mean and somewhat vindictive streak not shared by her sisters. She has, however, shown a softer side in several episodes. For example, in the episode “Cover Up”, she had a soft green blanket that she was obsessed with that she would hug that gave her the confidence to be a better fighter, and she is quite protective over her sisters. She hates baths and loves getting dirty. Interestingly, Buttercup is the only Powerpuff Girl without special powers (Blossom has her ice breath, and Bubbles has a gift of languages), although in “Nuthin’ Special”, it is revealed that Buttercup is the only Powerpuff Girl (and Townsville citizen) who can curl her tongue.

  93. A Fan From Chicago says:

    Is there a catagory for governors who put on their jogging outfits when the feds called at 7 am and said they were at the front door waiting to arrest them? Mine stands alone on that one!

  94. WalterNeff says:

    I’m the mudflater who crunched those numbers— it surprised me. I would have guessed at least several dozen, but no. Essentially, no first-termer EVER quits without a reason. It’s just never happened. The nervous breakdown guy was from 1914

  95. Cynthia, TX says:

    We understand McGreevy and Spitzer, but

    there is no explaining for Palin

    somebody find out the real deal soon!!!

    I want to see her go down ‘BIG TIME”

    *i keep asking were is willow? you don’t see her at any press conferences, the gig she did in New York, the parade, the ball game. come on everyone where is the other daughter?

  96. lemonfair says:

    Oh this is very good work.

  97. BuffaloGal says:

    Excellent points!

    Polly – I loved that article and during those dark days last fall I felt validated reading it.

    And, just gotta say that , to date, my very favorite Palin nickname is Miss Buttercup McQuittyPants. I’ve been amusing myself with the imagined scene of Palin confronting Shannyn about the vicious rumors, waggling her bony finger in Shannyn’s calm, cool and collected face and, when Palin pauses, heaving to catch her breath Shannyn replies with a sparkly glint in her eye, ” hokay doke. whatever you say Miss Buttercup McQuittyPants.”

    I think calling Palin the salmon slayer maverick warrior “buttercup” would put her over the edge.

  98. deist says:

    Mudflats: Great question, excellent research.

    Now we know why she and her fans are trying to compare her resignation to Murkowski’s– more smoke to fog the truth.

  99. Polly says:

    This article was written in Psychology Today last fall:

    http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mining-the-headlines/200809/sarah-psychopath

  100. Lori in Los Angeles says:

    Well, one had a nervous breakdown – just sayin’. Must read Dan Fagan’s take on this issue today. “Sarah Palin is Mentally Unstable”
    http://syrin.vox.com/library/post/sarah-palin-is-mentally-unstable.html?_c=feed-atom

  101. oregonbird says:

    Saturn Smith, over on Salon (isn’t that a lovely alliteration?) had his own view of Palin, the GOP and the base creatures that appear to be their appreciative audience:

    “If your entire goal is to reduce the size of government, by making government your career, eventually you have to work to eliminate yourself. The base (that tiny, tiny base that remains) of the party already seems to get this. They don’t want elected leaders anymore; they just want the mob.

    “Maybe Sarah Palin gets this. Maybe she resigned to join the mob full time.”

  102. Physicsmom says:

    Great work anonymous Mudflatter. I agree with NYHawk – the other two had major scandals, Buttercup’s scandals are yet to be known. And if they don’t eventually materialize, she looks worse, because then the move is just capricious.

  103. ChiCat says:

    So it’s 2 sex scandals, and…wait, why did Palin step down again?

    Such ilLUSTrious company for your former governor 😉

  104. NYHawk says:

    So—how many out of over 1200 just up and quit before the end of their term?

    Three: Jim McGreevy, Eliot Spitzer and Sarah Palin.
    _______

    The analysis is incomplete: of the remaining three who just up and quit before the end of their term, how may of those were forced to quit because of a huge public sex scandal? Two: Jim McGreevy and Eliot Spitzer.

    Leaving Sarah Palin as the only governor to quit mid-term for no justifiable reason — other than the obvious reason: she is serial quitter.

  105. Sue says:

    This needs to be reported in the MSM. SP’s followers are saying that lots of people–including President Obama–quit their jobs before their terms were over. The MSM isn’t pointing out, however, that they quit to take higher jobs in government. They are letting the SP commentators act as if she is equal to others who have left office. More lies, no MSM follow-through. : ( Quitting to go fishing is NOT the same.

  106. UK Lady says:

    There’s a picture of Spitzer pulling the exact same upside down smile/grimace that austintx likes so much of quittypants, fun to see them side by side – Dr. Chill?

  107. nebraska mudflatter says:

    with friends like those . . .

  108. sauerkraut says:

    Wow… three for the hall of shame.

    Sky rockets in flight

    everybody runs in fright!

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  1. […] Mudflats, an Alaskan blog, on the topic of how many Governors have quit in their first term: On a hunch, I […]

  2. […] 10, 2009 The Mudflats reports: Since 1900, about 1200 people have taken a first-term oath of office as governor of a […]

  3. […] The Mudflats: “On a hunch, I reviewed online lists of all the men and women who’ve been elected governor of their state since the year 1900. Pored over them for a few hours. Over 1200 politicians have taken that first-term oath of office. Some soon died in office. Many resigned to accept other positions in government, including Spiro Agnew who was ‘tapped’ by Nixon after being the Governor of Maryland for about five minutes. On a handful of occasions, a first-termer was dragged off to the slammer or impeached. One was incapacitated by a nervous breakdown and one left just as impeachment came knocking on his door. So — how many out of over 1200 just up and quit before the end of their term?” […]

  4. […] Mudflats checked out how many other first term governors pulled a Palin and quite: On a hunch, I reviewed online lists of all the men and women who’ve been elected governor of their state since the year 1900. Pored over them for a few hours. Over 1200 politicians have taken that first-term oath of office. Some soon died in office. Many resigned to accept other positions in government, including Spiro Agnew who was “tapped” by Nixon after being the Governor of Maryland for about five minutes. On a handful of occasions, a first-termer was dragged off to the slammer or impeached. One was incapacitated by a nervous breakdown and one left just as impeachment came knocking on his door. So—how many out of over 1200 just up and quit before the end of their term? […]