Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

Here comes Sara..if you have not heard – Palin – the former Republican VP nominee, resigned today as Governor of Alaska effective July 25th. What an interesting day to make the announcement as the mainstream media and many Americans were “out of the office” preparing to enjoy the 4th. I, of course, as a dedicated professional OTR trucker, am working this “holiday” weekend – headed to Long Island NY with a load of steel for a new Baptist church – as well as bringing you this breaking news.

According to The New York Times: “Ms. Palin’s announcement was another unusual marker in what has been a tumultuous year for this first-term governor since Senator McCain turned her into a national figure over night by shocking his own party and naming her his running mate. It also underscored the instability within the Republican Party as it tries to find a strategy and voice in the wake of losses in 2008.”

However, there has got to be more to all this than Governor Palin is letting on. Believe me. the “whole” story has yet to be told. Bottom line is that Palin is potentially worth mega-bucks, yes millions, as a nationally syndicated radio or television talk show host.

Hannity, Limbaugh, Ingraham and others have become rich as “unofficial” mouth pieces of the conservative right. In July 2008, The Drudge Report said that “Limbaugh signed a contract through 2016 that is worth over $400 million.” Howard Stern’s Sirius deal was reportedly worth $500 million! Limbaugh is not getting any younger or thinner and Stern, for now, remains on board the sinking Sirius/XM “Titanic” satellite radio ship. Palin could easily command similar numbers and potentially could have a larger audience with much more desirable demographics. Just recently, Palin signed a highly lucrative book contract rumored to be in the $7-11 million dollar neighborhood. Her salary as Governor is approximately $125,000 per year.

Again from The New York Times: “Take the words of General MacArthur,” she said. “He said, ‘We’re not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.’ ” Later in the afternoon, as questions reverberated around Republicans circles about what exactly she intended to do, she posted a notice on her Twitter site, reading: “We’ll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election … This is in Alaska’s best interest, my family’s happy … It is good, stay tuned.”

You can read Palin’s remarks at http://gov.state.ak.us/ and The New York Times piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/us/politics/04palin.html?hp

Photo credits: http://mikeresponts.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/laurai61.jpg, lounge.cigarfamily.com, kps186media flickr.com