July 7, 2009
Posted: July 7th, 2009 04:59 AM ET

From

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) - No legal "bombshell" or personal scandal lies behind Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's resignation, but off-color jokes by talk-show host David Letterman contributed to her decision to step down, Palin's attorney said Monday.

Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008, abruptly announced Friday that she would leave office in late July. The decision to resign a year and a half before her term ends, and her rambling, often-disjointed resignation speech, have fueled days of debate among political analysts.

But Thomas Van Flein, Palin's personal lawyer, said no surprises await. The governor needed a break after being "on duty now for two and a half years solid," he said.

"There is no bombshell. There is no shoe to drop. There are no investigations of any type that I'm aware of - no IRS audit, no federal investigation, no state investigation," Van Flein told CNN. "There is no legal reason in terms of a legal problem that compelled the governor to resign."

Friday was "deliberately chosen" for the announcement because of its proximity to the July Fourth holiday, Van Flein said: "She declared her independence from politics as usual."

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Filed under: Sarah Palin


church of realism   July 7th, 2009 10:08 am ET

I, For one, would like to applaud David Letterman as the straw that finally broke the moose's back. When a comedian can get you to quit elected office, you should'nt have been there in the first place.

southerncousin   July 7th, 2009 9:57 am ET

An inept president dealing with the Russians, NKorea firing missles at us, Iran building a bomb and Israel threatening to attack, as well as a failed trillion dollar stimulus program, a failed auto bailout, a failed financial bailout, a soon to be disaster of a health care plan and all CNN cares about is providing great coverage of a two week old death and a chance for all of the left wing nut jobs to heap more of the scorn and hatred on Sarah Palin. This liberal media and its controllers, George Soros, ACORN and the unions are some real sick people.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   July 7th, 2009 9:53 am ET

It was only the realization that she couldn't handle the political big leagues. She can only talk... Which isn't much when you need to show some results or work. I can't see that she has done much; where is a listing of what she has done?

Kevin -- Evansville, Indiana   July 7th, 2009 9:49 am ET

"She declared her independence from politics as usual."

Independence from who? When the voters hire you to do a job, you are expected to complete it. Really, she should have declined McCain's offer, based on her lack of qualifications, and prior commitments.

white supremacist = al qaeda =hamas = terrorism   July 7th, 2009 9:46 am ET

That's why she can see Russia from her house. Go to school palin. Get some education. Read more about your country, not alaska.

SEE YOU IN 2024

Scott, Tucson   July 7th, 2009 9:46 am ET

Heck..if Barney Frank and Chris Dodd can screw up the economy by their failures with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and not be forced to resigned, than nothing that Palin can do would cause her to resign except voluntarily as she has done so.

bglg2005   July 7th, 2009 9:44 am ET

She may not be a quitter but she ins't a fighter either.

John, Brooklyn, New York   July 7th, 2009 9:42 am ET

Wow. If jokes from David Letterman led her to decide to throw in the towel, imagine what she's do with the rhetoric coming from Ahmadinejad if she were to become president. She'd be running for the door to hide in Wasilla, fur sure (wink)!

citizenjane   July 7th, 2009 9:41 am ET

Either way she spins it the bottom line is that Sarah Palin by calling it quits half way through her contract as governor has thrown those who voted for and put their faith in her under the bus, effectively ending any future career in national government she might be anticipating.

Brandon   July 7th, 2009 9:40 am ET

Ya think up in Alaska they'd have a little thicker skin, ya you betcha. She can't handle the heat so better stay out of Alaska.

yuri   July 7th, 2009 9:40 am ET

Palin's recent performances pale in comparison with her previous ones as a veep candidate and a mayor. But we wonder wee bit about her finesse, or savoir faire, or lack of those, in a murderous political playground.

Realistic   July 7th, 2009 9:39 am ET

The Palin saga continues.Maybe she will go away for awhile and stop attracting media attention because it has been way over board. Palin do us all a favor and go away for awhile, we need a break from the soap opera.

tm   July 7th, 2009 9:35 am ET

She needed a break after being on duty for 2 and a half years???? How long does she think that she would be president if she ran and won???? She is not up to the pressures of the presidency

johnny   July 7th, 2009 9:34 am ET

You creeps really need to leave David Letterman out of this discussion. He made a joke similar to one made by Jay Leno, and it was way less offensive than the allusions to incest that were made on SNL. Sarah Palin wraps her mind around something and can't let go. She obsessive, and that's just not healthy. Oh, also she's a narcissist, and that is also not healthy.

Sergio Bricco   July 7th, 2009 9:32 am ET

Wow, talk about calling someone out. Got to love the soon to be ex Gov of AK blaming David Letterman. Way to go Dave. WQe all figured Lorne Roberts and the SNL crew would do it but it took you to knock her off her high horse. Why can't political figures just tell the truth. She left because she A- wants to run for higher office and wants a head start ( ie forming her own PAC ) or B. shejust couldn't take the daily limelite. Political figures must think the american people are just too nieve. I think most knew the Gov. of SC was cheating on his wife when he came out with a whopper of a story. I was hiking, lol sure you were. And that leads to miss Sarah Palin. Stop trying to blame David Letterman or the media. You weren't smart enough for the job as a running mate is " I can see Russia from my house" I think the GOP base needs your electricity but not you. Good luck on whatever you do, but avoid the media and jail.

Ellen in Ohio   July 7th, 2009 9:32 am ET

I feel sorry for her. I wish she wouldn't have resigned, but think of everything she's been through! The strongest of us would falter under such heavy scrutiny, and just look at how many times CNN has mentioned her in their political ticker. Even after the election! She is under a microscope that no other governor has to deal with.

If I were in her shoes, I would make the same choice, because it is clearly in the best interest of her family – which should be every parent's #1 priority. Hopefully, the media will allow her the privacy that being a private citizen allows and her five children (some of whom are very young) will no longer have to suffer through inappropriate jokes and blatant lies.

Florida Joe   July 7th, 2009 9:31 am ET

Oh great, an off color joke forces her from office.....And McCain thought she was suitable to be VP?

elliott   July 7th, 2009 9:30 am ET

I gotta hand it to you. You liberals are doing your best to destroy Palin. I have never seen Repubs attack anyone so viciously as you are attacking Palin. But I don't think you will take her down. She'll be back. President Palin.....Vice President Palin....?........suck it up.

GOPer   July 7th, 2009 9:26 am ET

Perfect – Quit and leave it up to a lawyer to explain your position while you go on vacation.

Have fun fishing, you wrecked your political career.

katiec   July 7th, 2009 9:17 am ET

Give us a break. Anything Palin does is for her own personal gain.
She deserved all negativity she got with her dirty politics, firing those
who do not totally agree with her, manipulation of ordinances, laws,
hypocrasy, and phony holier than thou attitude.
She destroyed any hope for a political career by deserting the
people of Alaska. Guess she realized with her ebbing popularity
she would not be able to maintain the support of her state by
"winking".

GI Joe   July 7th, 2009 9:15 am ET

OK – she will no longer be a politician – don't put her on the political ticker any longer. This show has closed down.

Now, if she wants to campaign and spread the hate and fear-mongering (getting people to yell "KILL HIM") that's another story.

The best fear-monger that tax-paying campaign contributors' money can buy.

Susie   July 7th, 2009 9:14 am ET

Time will tell. I'm betting on a bombshell.

A. Goodwin   July 7th, 2009 9:13 am ET

This is rediculous...they use the excuse that the Letterman comment contributed to her leaving office? What a lie! If its true, than THANK GOD she did not win the VP slot. She would have had a breakdown in a week!

I do not feel sorry for her one bit. Boo hoo..you had to work two full years. I feel so bad for you – NOT!!! While I dont have the media spotlight on me constantly, I can say I probably work harder and more efficiently than she ever did. I have had moments where I've wanted to give up because the stress was to high – but I didn't! The worst part about this is that she gave up on Alaska, not just herself. She IS a quitter. Most people understand that "today is the tommorrow we were worried about yesterday..." and move on when times get tough. Every time Palin has had it "tough" she bails...like in college, her early career as a commentator, etc. She acts so tough, but the reality is that its just a front...she's not tough at all.

Ken in NC   July 7th, 2009 9:12 am ET

She can dish it out but can't take it. I do not want a President that is subject to resign in the middle of a term because the people or media attack his or her or their family. I disagree with family attacks but they do get caught up in the media frenzy.

George Bush ... With Lipstick ?   July 7th, 2009 9:12 am ET

No ... not yet but the haste of her actions suggests there is something "dishonest" about this. Americans are not willing to accept this bizzare behavior as it has been conveyed ... it's an issue of trust.

Alaskans could trust her to finish her term .... what else lurks out there?

Va 4 Obama   July 7th, 2009 9:11 am ET

Sarah Palin is CLUELESS!! Let her make millions on Faux News, just don't let her anywhere near a position of responsibility! Shame on John McCain for unleashing this idiot on the American people!!

Billy   July 7th, 2009 9:10 am ET

Time will tell. Meanwhile, another ethics complaint will be filed against her today for accepting Per Diem while living out of her own house. Literally tens of thousands of dollars stolen from the people of Alaska.

It a lucky thing for her that palin controls the ethics panel that investigates these things or she would've been impeached before Blogo.

Lowell   July 7th, 2009 9:07 am ET

Do you think it's possible that she finally realized what a joke she is, that intelligent people didn't take her seriously and she didn't want to make a fool of herself anymore by pretending to be someone "important?"

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