“My reaction:  Reports of her political death are greatly exaggerated.  Yes, resigning as governor is high risk, and, yes, the Left’s attacks on her have been savage enough to drive almost anyone out of office.  But I don’t believe she’s running from a fight.  This move frees her up to campaign in the lower 48 states, build a top notch political organization and improve her issue development work.  In six months we will know whether the gamble worked, but I for one am hoping it does. “

The Democrats are saying it is irresponsible.  Jonathan Martin quotes a DNC spokesman to that effect. 

My take is that Alaska appears to have ethics and related laws that may hurt her if she openly seeks the Presidency.  There is a law forbidding the governor from any outside work.  Palin may have a TV gig ready.  She has a book deal and can now promote it on her own dime. 

I think  she’s still running.  But regardless, its Jindal or Paul for me in 2012! 

UPDATE! 

I still think this is a deck-clearing for a book tour and possibly a TV show.  That speculation is shared by RealClearPolitics’ Roger Stone:

“The obvious place for Palin to re-tool her political image is FOX television. FOX’s viewers are Palin’s potential voters. It is ironic that FOX president Roger Ailes is the genius TV producer who erased candidate Nixon’s flaws in a controlled environment and facilitated the greatest political comeback in American history, is at the helm at FOX.

As Bill Kristol, the only DC based analyst who “gets it” said the move also frees Palin to “write her book, give speeches, travel the country, and educate herself on some issues.” It also frees her to build a net work of fundraisers and supporters throughout the country – many of whom will be her TV viewers.

Palin will also be more in demand as a dinner speaker, fundraiser and campaigner than any other Republican in 2011. She can suspend her TV career and will have a chance to collect countless political IOUs along the way, campaigning for candidates and raising them money and hitting the State Republican dinner circuit. Demand for the “New Palin” will only increase.

Palin’s “star-power,” charisma, presence and genuineness can not be discounted. No one can discount her moxie, her energy and her inspirational qualities. Her anti-elite middle-class message can have resonance again when the Obama economic polices likely fail. The Ivy leaguers and Hollywood crowd so high on Obama may be riding for a fall. The media has unfairly labeled her as “dumb.” All she must do is disprove this…and she can have sixty minutes each week to do it.”