"Show Me The Money!"

Gov. Sarah Palin's surprise announcement today that she intends to resign as governor of Alaska at the end of July has engendered media speculation that she intends to run for President in 2012 .

It's a bit early for that, though, if that were her only reason. Her more immediate motivation, I expect, is to be able to give paid speeches and to promote her upcoming book. In other words, to take more financial advantage of her new national prominence than the ethical or practical constraints of doing so while being the sitting governor of Alaska would allow.

But she said during her announcement that, "We're not retreating. We're advancing in another direction."

Referring to herself using the royal "we" does betray presidential aspirations, I think. ("Show us the money, Jerry!")