This too shall pass
2500 years ago, the Roman army was trapped by two opposing armies. The Roman senate in a panic, turned to a simple farmer, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, who was counsul at the time. They vested him with complete and total power, making him a dictator. He personally led a new army to the rescue. Upon returning to Rome, he stunned all of Rome, and history students for centuries to come, but resigning his power as dictator. He went back to his farm and, for the most part, led a simple life.
It is possible that someone has some dirty gossip or some other leverage over Governor Palin. It is also possible that someone in her family or Governor Palin herself, God forbid, is ill. And it is possible that Governor Palin is fed up with the unfair and personal attacks to which a biased and petty media have subjected her. But, it is also possible that she should be taken at her word, that she she feels her detractors are an unfair burden to the governing of Alaska and she does not value political power.
Time will tell whether Sarah Palin was forced out of office, left voluntarily as a political tactic, or simply wished to live her own life in peace. I truly hope that she and her family are healthy and happy, and that she continues to be an inspiration to men and women all over the world. In any event, it is entertaining to watch people who value nothing more than political power watch someone voluntarily walk away from it.