REALITY CHECK: Palin’s political career is kaput

The national political pundits are crazy if they think Sarah Palin resigned from the governorship of Alaska Friday to prepare for a run for President.

First and foremost, the resignation was professionally timed. The Friday before a major holiday, a day when reporters great and small were starting a long weekend, was the perfect moment to pull up stakes if Palin was seeking to minimize press damage and scrutiny.

Second, of course, is the fact that it sends a horrible message for a person who aspires to the presidency that she can’t take the heat of the kind of ethics inquiries that all modern-day officeholders know comes with the territory. If the heat of Alaska’s kitchen is too great, how might we expect her to react when the going gets tough at the White House?

Third, if you’re attempting to build your professional portfolio, resigning the governorship isn’t exactly a resume-builder. What will she now point to in a future debate, her months on the job until she quit?

Free advice to future politicians: No one likes a quitter. And many people wouldn't dream of voting for one.

This also confirms my suspicions that Sen. John McCain blew a judgment gasket when he selected Palin as his running mate.

Meanwhile, The New York Times seems a little more circumspect. Janie Lorber and Kate Phillips write: “But what it all means is still a bit curious. Though her sometimes rambling address sounded much like a farewell-cruel-politics speech, the announcement stirred more speculation that she would use her newfound freedom from governing responsibility to try to position herself for a presidential bid in 2012. She has a book contract, and has demonstrated again this summer that she remains popular among voters.”

It's not all that curious. But it is unclear. There's something more to this, or Palin would have tried to get more coverage for her whiny farewell.

I'm no expert, but I'd guess that a person interested in a future job in governing wouldn't want the phrase "newfound freedom from governing responsibility" associated with their name.