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Alaska just wasn’t far enough from Washington for Sarah Palin last week where in one of the most entertaining resignation speeches in recent memory she stepped down as governor only one year before re-election.

Obscurity seemed to serve her best - comparing herself to battle wounded American soldiers in Kosovo is undoubtedly a midpoint highlight. Could she be the first post-modern presidential candidate, choosing to seriously engage with the political center of America by removing herself from it?

Strangely disturbing (and so far unreported) was the increasing din of various political animals that began to rise in the course of Palin’s comments. Their discomfort becomes particularly acute when Palin leads into success policy stories under her governorship [Part 1 @3:20 ]. At another point [Part 1 @4:30] there is a chorus of wailing when Palin remarks (in the context of ACES):

We cleaned up previously accepted unethical actions; we ushered in bi-partisan Ethics Reform.

Perhaps the political animals were sensing some general hypocrisy underlining Palin’s words by mincing them with roaring squawks of disapproval?

The noise reaches drowning discomfort [Part 1 @8:12] when Palin responded to the ethics complaints that are currently under severe public scrutiny in Alaska. Passing the ball - for victory [Part 2 @2:00] was another memorable moment for all political animals concerned.

Other notables include:
Clip 1 @ 2:08, 2:24, 2:50, 3:20!, 4:26, 5:00, 5:59, 7:23, 9:50,
Clip 2 @ 0:50, 3:02

Before getting stuck into the comments and blogosphere this speech has to be seen to be believed! Enjoy.
[*here is a copy of the speech for further consultation and bed time reading]

Highlights from Palin’s speech include:

Our destiny to be reached by responsibly developing our natural resources. This land, blessed with clean air, water, wildlife, minerals, AND oil and gas. It’s energy! God gave us energy.

Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me — sports… basketball. I use it because you’re naïve if you don’t see the national full-court press picking away right now: A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket… and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And I’m doing that, keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities: smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom. And I know when it’s time to pass the ball — for victory.

Only dead fish ‘go with the flow’

Some Alaskans don’t mind wasting public dollars and state time. I do. I cannot stand here as your Governor and allow millions upon millions of our dollars go to waste just so I can hold the title of Governor.

Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I’ve been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations - such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.