I keep coming back to “holy…” and then I can’t write the rest of what I’m thinking, because my grandma might be reading this.

Sarah Palin will resign from Alaska’s Governorship:

WASILLA, Alaska — In a stunning announcement, Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday morning she will resign her office in a few weeks.

…Palin made the announcement flanked by (Lt. Gov. Sean) Parnell and all of her cabinet. She said that recent incidents brought up by national media and the spate of ethics complaints have been taking away from her mission to serve Alaska.

She felt that it would be best to step aside and let Parnell and her cabinet continue. Palin said she discussed the decision with her family, and they were united in their support of her decision to step down.

Not having read any other commentary yet, I’m unsure what the conservative marching orders are. So I’m gonna wing it. If she’s doing this in order to free herself for more national travel – for a presidential run – then she’s making a mistake.

During the 2008 campaign, I wrote:

You don’t become CEO of a major corporation four years out of business school. You don’t become Chief of Police four years after joining the force.

You don’t. You can’t. It takes time to learn. It takes personal knowledge of a variety of situations, events, emergencies, and how to deal with them. You have to understand the limits of your authority and of those around you. Know the personalities. The relationships.

Some positions, okay, four years is plenty of time. Department manager at Wal-Mart, for example. Others, though – head coach, general, CEO – four years isn’t enough.

President? Now, President of the United States…sure, that’s okay. Four years is plenty.

If you’re a Democrat.

Events are proving that Obama wasn’t – isn’t – ready for a job as big as POTUS. How will Palin be any different after serving less than a full term as Governor?

She won’t.

Honestly, I don’t know how the Palin family was going to make it through the next three years and, possibly, a presidential run. The simple awfulness being directed at them. Constantly. I don’t think I could take it. Not with a young family.

On the other hand, boy does she have a chance to make a lot of money. A lot of money. She’s got rockstar status in conservative circles, and that won’t disappear just because she’s not Alaska’s governor anymore. Whether she ever runs for another office again or not, she can set her family up good. For good.

And she really should.

And, hell, maybe she’ll run for the Senate. Maybe she’ll become Secretary of the Interior, or Energy, in the Rick Perry administration. Maybe she’ll chair Americans for Prosperity, or the Club for Growth.

She’s young. There’s time. Her star is high in the sky right now. But after this, it’s not high enough for a presidential run, and it won’t get there between now and 2012.

UPDATE - tons of links over at Flopping Aces. Found the video there, too:

Reaction is highly mixed, from “great tactical move” to “that’s all she wrote.” I’m not quoting anybody. I’m paraphrasing.

UPDATE II - Just watched the video. Boy, she talks fast.

UPDATE III - Stacy McCain is…where? Alabama? Do they have internet in Alabama? Radio? Telegraph?

How am I supposed to know what to think with McCain in…Alabama?

UPDATE IV - Linked at All American Blogger, and at Obi’s Sister. Good roundups at both.