JULY 7, 2009.
By JIM CARLTON
WASILLA, Alaska -- Sarah Palin is resigning as Alaska's governor because the volume of investigations and public-record requests scrutinizing her activities kept her from doing what she wanted, said one of her confidantes.
Kristan Cole, who has been friends with Gov. Palin since both were in the same elementary school nearly 40 years ago, said she heard from the governor over the weekend. She was one of the few to speak with Gov. Palin, who stunned the political world when she announced Friday she was resigning, effective July 26.
The governor gave no specific reason for her exit, beyond citing relentless complaints against her that were hampering her ability to do her job.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ms. Cole said the probes and scrutiny kept Gov. Palin from doing what she loved, which was interacting with Alaskans on issues such as her belief in smaller government.
Gov. Palin had faced increasing scrutiny after her run as the Republican vice-presidential nominee last year, with investigations launched into situations such as one dubbed "Troopergate," when officials looked into whether Gov. Palin or members of her family used their influence to try to get her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. An investigation by an agency under the governor's office cleared Gov. Palin of any wrongdoing, while one headed by a legislative committee concluded she had abused her office.
"Here's the bottom line: She has a ton of support, but she felt behind a desk her resources were being wasted," said Ms. Cole, who runs a real-estate business. "She thinks she can get things done more efficiently this way."
linkPALIN: When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism or you know maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, “Man that doesn’t do us any good — women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country.” I don’t think it bodes well for her, a statement like that. Because, again, fair or unfair, it is there, I think that’s reality, and I think it’s a given. I think people can just accept that she is going to be under the sharper microscope. So be it. I mean, work harder, prove yourself to an even greater degree that you’re capable, that you’re going to be the best candidate, and that of course is what she wants us to believe at this point.
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