Well, not my blog, really, but she screwed up this post. I was just drafting a post on how I expected Obama’s visit to Russia to include an apology for purchasing Alaska for so little money (never mind that Russia thought they were sticking it to us at the time), and I half expected him to give Alaska back, which not only would have fulfilled his psychological need for unnecessary apologies but would have rid him of the Sarah Palin threat as well.

Alaska should be safe, now, with Sarah Palin resigning.

But what the heck are we supposed to make of this? This may be a “new beginning” for her, but only in a personal sense. It’s hard to see her as a serious presidential contender in 2012. She’ll now be painted as a quitter in addition to  whatever other charges are leveled against her. And to the extent she was hounded from office by frivolous ethics complaints and the expense of fighting them, claiming to be worried about taxpayer money being wasted on those investigations is overshadowed by caving in to those tactics and can only encourage their more widespread use.

I’m afraid Ace and Allahpundit are right — her presidential chances are dead — and Smitty is dreaming. It’s a nice dream, but a dream nonetheless. Sarah’s finished. Though I’d love to be proven wrong.

UPDATE: Ed Morrissey captures my thoughts:

I liked Sarah Palin and supported her inclusion on the GOP ticket last fall.  I thought she had more toughness than this.  It’s a big disappointment, and it’s the end of any hope of Palin getting taken seriously as a politician on the national level in the future.

UPDATE #2: With a link to Sister Toldjah, The Anchoress reminds us to maintain some perspective:

Sister Toldjah: has links to important stories you’re missing, while you’re either crying about Palin or laughing about her. Good point. Since we know nothing, it might be good to think about why Obama is against new sanctions against Iran, but strongly supporting them for Honduras.

UPDATE #3: American Power chronicles lefty reactions.

UPDATE #4: Hell, maybe OCBill, commenting at The Anchoress, has it right:

Career is not over unless she wants it to be. The “career over” people already didn’t like her. People who like her, mostly because of her ideas, will back her when ever she wants to come back into public life. Unless it turns out that she has a soulmate in Argentina.