Palin to step down as governor of Alaska

At the end of the month, Governor Sarah Palin will resign as governor of Alaska and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Parnell. The reason seems to be that after coming to the conclusion that she won't seek re-election in 2010, she doesn't feel as though she can be a lame duck governor. She cited wasteful spending by other lame duck governors and said she doesn't want this to be "politics as usual." KTUU-TV (NBC); Anchorage Daily News: Palin to quit as Alaska governor.

Update: Former Fed prosecutor and opposition researcher Tim Griffin, appearing on MSNBC, says this press conference sends "all the wrong signals."