by Sandra Fikes

Created on: July 04, 2009   Last Updated: July 11, 2009

After Alaska's Governor was set before the national spotlight she quickly skyrocketed in popularity with select segments and seemed to create an image of what the nation thought all Alaskans were like (talk about your misconceptions!). July 3, 2009, Governor Palin proved beyond a doubt to me that she is not the kind of stuff Alaskans are made of, nor the stuff American presidents should be made of.

Alaska is a tough place to live. Winter weather drops to -60 F and more below zero, short summers make it difficult to get things that need to be done finished before the cold returns, and living even in the cities can mean living in the wilderness as moose and bears wander into yards and walk down streets. To live in Alaska demands that you have a strong spirit and (to quote Galaxy Quest) a 'never give up, never surrender' attitude.

Governor Palin gave up this morning. With only 18 months left in the promise she made to govern Alaska for 4 years, Palin stepped down as Governor of Alaska.

I don't know what to say other than I hope that she drops out of politics completely. I for one do not want her as my President in 2012 if I have to wonder if she is going to whine that she is being picked on so is going to quit and let the Vice President take over. Can we really trust her to hold the highest office in the nation under the pressure of media scrutiny if she can not hold the governorship of Alaska under it?

As for the timing she said people would bring up, I'll bring it up since she felt it worthy comment. I find it strange she would say her stepping down has been in the works for some time, then wait for July 3rd to make the announcement. A day when many Alaskans are out in the wilderness enjoying the beauty of this great State and not listening to the news for a few days. When many Americans are spending their time with their families and not worrying about the news for a single weekend. The day before the media is concerned that North Korea is suspected to possibly be going to make a strike toward Hawaii. I'm no political or media expert, but it seems to me that she wanted to to sure that her announcement is buried under everything else in the news and she can just quietly announce her resignation and not get as much flack as she might otherwise get for such a move.

I know I'm biased, but let's face it, I knew Palin was not to be trusted when she reneged her campaign promise to the WWII era senior citizens of Alaska. She promised that, if elected, she would reinstate the Alaska Longevity bonus program for those who had been getting it in the past, to allow them to receive the promised checks and have the program phase out as they lived out the remainder of their lives in Alaska. We're talking 80+ year olds, some who'd lived in Alaska since before it was a State. She broke the promise she made to those men and women, to our nation's greatest generation. If she is going to lie to the men and women that helped save the world, then why should anyone believe anything she says - especially when she lied to the entire state of Alaska when she promised she would lead it for 4 years?

Will she get a second chance? I hope not. I want to know that the man or woman who holds that office is above lying to the elderly to get their way. I want to know that when we place our faith in a man or woman to lead us, that person is going to be strong enough to weather any storm - not cry they are being picked on by the media and Late Night Talk Show Hosts so their Vice President is better suited to lead our country.

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