(Soon To Be Former) Gov. Palin's Political Posturing

Regarding her stance on "politicians," Sarah Palin is a study in contrasts.  Like the maverick image painted during the 2008 election, Palin seems to want to be seen as the anti-politician politician.  But, in stereotypical politician form, Palin keeps talking out of both sides of her mouth. 

In a post-resignation announcement interview with Andrea Mitchell, Sarah Palin said she didn't like politicians who pretended as though they didn't know if they would run again but also said she didn't know what the future holds for her:

Palin: What is all of it is, knowing I wasn't going to run for re-election so Alaskans, being perfectly honest with them, not wanting to play that political game that most politicians do, and that's they kind of pretend that they don't know if they wanna run again. Well I knew! I wasn't gonna run again so I'm going to be honest with Alaskans and say one term was enough.

[...]

Mitchell: Can you imagine yourself running for president?

Palin: I don't know what the future holds. I can't predict what the next fish runs gonna look like much less what's gonna happen in a couple of years. But my focus is on my state, still, and it always will be, and my family, and what is best for them. What is best for them is to not run for re-election and to avoid a lame duck wasteful session in a final year of office.

Similarly, in an October 2005 press release announcing Sarah Palin's plan to run for Alaska governor, the Palin team both lauded her political experience and decried the activities of politicians:

Palin is no stranger to the political arena.  In 1996 she was elected to the first of two terms as Wasilla City Mayor, the position also serves as the City Manager. Before that, Palin was twice elected to the Wasilla City Council and served two years as President of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. In 2003, Palin was named Chair of the State of Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission - a post she resigned from in 2004.
 
"If my resume is to be questioned by a field of long-time, career politicians, I feel I can combat that from a position of strength," said Palin. "It's my belief that Alaskans don't have much of an appetite for professional politicians. I talk to people almost daily who say they're frustrated with the disconnect that's so prevalent at the highest levels of government. It's time to change that and I look forward to serving all Alaskans."

In 2005 she looked "forward to serving all Alaskans" as a non-politician with political experience. She doesn't like politicians who pretend they have no plan, but won't give an answer as to what her plans might be.  She "is no stranger to the political arena" but does not (or at least didn't in 2005) want to be grouped in with the Alaska politicians who exhibit a "disconnect" with Alaskans. Now, in 2009, Sarah Palin has been a "career politician" for fourteen years and she is keeping her focus on Alaska while resigning before her term is up.

Maybe her strategy in avoiding being categorized as a politician is to keep resigning before she's finished serving (her resignation as Governor will be her second resignation from political office).  Or perhaps she intends to avoid the classification by dodging questions about possible future campaigns (politicians don't dodge questions, do they?).

Sarah Palin's career path is wide open.  Rumors are flying that she is planning to run for another office, write more books, go on the lecture circuit, or host a talk show.  She could also simply decide that being in the public eye causes too much strain on her family and will focus on her children for a few years. 

Whatever she chooses to do, she needs to pick a clear path.  Unless she wants to stay in politics, where she will, presumably, continue to try to convince everyone she isn't a politician while asking for money to support her newest campaign.