Finally watching this. This isn't the speech of a future presidential candidate, this is the speech of someone on the verge of a breakdown. It's all over the place, but I don't think politics got to her. I'm guessing something happened internally. - Rob H. from Bookmarklet

Very odd indeed. - Todd Hoff

"someone on the verge of a breakdow" Robert, agree with your sentiment. And Todd, indeed, this is *very* odd. - Meryn Stol

Agreed with Robert. - John (a.k.a. dendroica)

Why is she talking so hurried? - Meryn Stol

A sign of stress I would imagine. This isn't the calm earned from a hard decision made for the better. She didn't want to do this. - Todd Hoff

Todd, yes, something like that. Combined with the wording... part of me thinks she could better tell the truth and the whole truth, no matter *what* the repercussions. This is not what I call "graceful"... - Meryn Stol

Craig she gives it out pretty good. As she did in this speech. It's a little hard to believe she can't take it as well. I'm not sure where a "cover up" fits in. - Todd Hoff

I'll celebrate when people stop thinking ignorance is a praise-worthy worldview. - Andrew C

A blogger didn't photoshop her son, it was Something Awful: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthr... - Rob H.

It's not clear how that would keep anything out of the news. Once revealed it would still be news. If anything the democrats would love to have her run, don't you think? The "you can all celebrate now" is weak. - Todd Hoff

Much worse has been done to others. And she has said "Absolutely not. I think that, if I were to give up and wave a white flag of surrender against some of the political shots that we've taken, that ... that would ... bring this whole ... I'm not doing this for naught." - Todd Hoff

OK, my bad. Apparently the SA Photoshop thread was in response to Palin's response to the blogger's Photoshop. - Rob H.

Yeah, what Todd said. National TV pundits like Limbaugh quite famously attacked Chelsea Clinton. The right thing for those politicians to do, then and now, is defend their kids, but not just step down. - Andrew C

I can see there's no discussion here Craig. But it would be interesting to know what happened. I hope nothing horrible is going on. - Todd Hoff

That's the default conclusion because what politician resigns out of selflessness? - Rob H.

She's got a very young special-needs kid and a young grandchild. If she's actually doing this for family's sake, I can respect that. - Rob H.

See, but if she's doing it *NOW* because she's got a very young special-needs kid and a young grandchild... all of these cards were on the table when she was running with McCain. If she can't be governor now for that reason, what the heck was she doing running for VP? Gotta be something more going on. - Wirehead

[eats amphetamines] [washes down with can of Red Bull] Of all the things with which people can take issue, i don't see why people are finding anything wrong with this speech which is reminding me of the great words of previous Palin speeches which always have been at their very heart pro-America and full of fondness for that country which we call America and Alaska specifically of which she was governor until of course recently when due to politics as usual and questions which by the press have been raised over the ethics of her holding of a fish instead of concentrating on the issues that concern Alaska and indeed concern all Americans be they black or white or Muslim or pro-American or not pro-American and that is key to understanding the reasons for which she is seeking to not step down from the governorship which would be quitting but instead she is making a lateral move and finding new ways to help the people of Alaska and indeed all of America due to her love for the great country that it is and was even in the days of the Founding Fathers who understood such things and loved their country even though at the time it really wasn't a country as such but part of the British Empire but they knew they could serve America better by stepping down from their relationship with England and in fact help to realize the great country of America in realizing all of its potential as a nation which all is that she as governor has ever tried to do in supporting her family and all of its members including Trig who is a symbol of the greatness of America which we all look to as an example of the diversity of our people and the inspiration they take from the natural resources of our land which she has helped through such programs as the improvement of the safety of Alaska's roads and through things such as not engaging in politics as usual which indeed was the point of her service to the people of Alaska and the very reason for which the announcement is being made at this point... more... - Karim

Karim +1000 - Andrew C

Is there a North Korean missile headed for Alaska? Is that why she was in such a hurry? - Vince DeGeorge

+1 Vince - Bill Sodeman

I think Karim just said it all. Dude... - Abstinence-only works!

*nominates Karim for VP* - Derrick