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 …

Palin won't run for re-election in Alaska, source says  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to announce Friday that she will not seek a second term, a Republican source close to Palin tells CNN.  —  Palin has scheduled a 3 p.m. ET news conference at her home in Wasilla.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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, 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 …

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

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.

10 Possible Reasons for Palin's Decision  —  1. Her political standing has slipped enough that she could have lost a re-election bid if she tried to retain her current office.  —  2. Her political standing has slipped enough that even if she had run and won, she would have likely been bloodied in the race, maybe even in a primary.