Kristol: A Contrarian Take  —  If Palin wants to run in 2012, why not do exactly what she announced today?  It's an enormous gamble - but it could be a shrewd one.  —  After all, she's freeing herself from the duties of the governorship.  Now she can do her book, give speeches …

First on the Ticker: Palin will not run for re-election  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to announce Friday that she will not seek a second term, three sources tell CNN.  —  Palin has scheduled a 3 p.m. ET news conference at her home in Wasilla.

Palin Will Run In '12 On More Retardation Platform  —  In Sarah Palin's resignation announcement she complained about the treatment of her son Trig who always teaches her life lessons.  She said that the “world needs more Trigs, not fewer.”  That's a presidential campaign promise we can all get behind.

First Signs What Happened  —  Okay, we're getting our first indication of what happened.  It seems like a colossal sulk on Palin's part, or perhaps better to say an effort on her part to ingeniously combine anti-liberal media bias agitation with Christianist politics by portraying herself as having been crucified by the liberal media.

EXCLUSIVE: PALIN RESIGNATION ‘DAMAGE CONTROL’ FOR COMING ‘ICEBERG SCANDAL’ ... MORE: EMBEZZLEMENT INDICTMENTS COMING?  —  [See update below for exclusive source details from Alaska...FURTHER UPDATE now added below: AK sources say ‘embezzlement’ scandal, federal indictments may be in offing.

Full Text Of Palin's Resignation Speech  —  The Governor's website posted this transcript on Friday, July 3.

But I'm doing what's best for Alaska"  —  Lots of heavy media anticipation over a Sarah Palin announcement expected any minute from Wasilla.  —  Here's CBS: … Feel free to speculate.  —  Allahpundit has a developing round-up; multiple sources reporting that Palin will say she's not going to run for governor again in 2010.

Palin's Reasons for Stepping Down  —  Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy … Some say things changed for me on August 29th last year - the day John McCain tapped me to be his running-mate - I say others changed.  —  Let me speak to that for a minute.

GOP Official Who Emailed With Palin Moments Before Decision, Explains Her Move  —  The head of the Republican Governor's Association said on Friday that in emails sent to him moments before she announced her resignation as governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin discussed expanding the role she played in the Republican Party.

Palin To Resign, Focus on Presidential Run  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is looking to build a national political operation in advance of 2012.  (AP Photo/Chris Miller, File)  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office later this month, according to several sources familiar with her decision …

A Letter to Sarah  —  You're blowing it.  —  We haven't met, but you might remember I was one of the first columnists to tout you for John McCain's running mate.  I cheered you mightily when Senator McCain selected you, and I still believe that you were the smartest choice he could have made given the obstacles before him.

Palin to Resign as Governor of Alaska  —  Update |  5:30 p.m. Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska announced Friday that she would step down by the end of the month and not seek a second term as governor, fueling speculation that she is seriously weighing whether to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.

Breaking: Palin to resign within weeks?  Update: Is her career over?  —  No word as to why but Stephanopoulos has a hunch.  If it's related to her plans for next year, which way should Palinistas be rooting?  Presumably they hope she's not running for reelection so that she can devote herself full …