Sad day for American politics (and not for the reason you might be thinking)

Another example of how elected officials have no understanding of statesmanship. Washington stepped down...after he finished his terms. He did not want the position, but he discharged his duties for the sake of his country. He was serving his fellow man. The Founding generation wanted to live private lives with their communities.

Public SERVICE is just that, SERVICE. (done for the sake of others, not ourselves)

Perhaps the most corrupting perspective is that public service is, ought, and inevitably has to be a career.

Elected officials have given their time and energies to the public for an allotted period of time. They are "not their own."

While Sarah Palin stepping down to be with her family (perhaps some of the reason?) may be something for the church to rejoice about in their lives, it's not a moment of political joy; that is, she's not a better politician for it, and the U.S. isn't better off politically because of this precedent (if it is one).