There are opportunities presented to everyone in public life at one point or another to make a difference – - to enlighten, to focus attention on meaningful things, to engage in important public discussions.  An eager audience waiting on every word, hoping for elucidation, looking for a leader.

Such was the opportunity presented to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin this weekend.  The stage and the microphone were hers to do with as she pleased – - a slow pitch, that hanging curve batters dream of, just asking to be hit over the left field wall.

In what could have been a substantive prelude of things to come, a setting of the table for future speeches she will undoubtedly give, she instead chose demagoguery. Instead of meaningful, she chose mean.  Where there could have been important words on important issues of the day, she chose pettiness and petulance.

The would-be United States Vice President took the low road on her way out of the governor’s office over the weekend.  She said it should be obvious to everyone why she decided to leave office 17 months before her term ended.  She said she was stepping down to take her political battles to a larger stage and to avoid what she thought would be an unproductive lame duck status.

Assuming there is some legitimacy to that political “wisdom,” perhaps we should expect a run on resignations by other governors.  After all, isn’t it a truth that all governors find themselves ultimately as lame ducks facing what would be unproductive final months in office.  It’s a cheeky question, but do you think former President George W. Bush should have resigned two years into his second term for those same reasons?

Whatever her reasons were for resigning, she could have taken a higher path on her way out.  She blamed the national media for her woes, and she urged it to leave her replacement’s kids alone.  Former Lt. Gov., now Governor Sean Parnell, has not trotted his kids out on stage, or made them part of his political face, as she did, so it’s not likely to happen anyway.

The Mighty Diefenbaker - Alaskan Malamute

And it wasn’t Katie Couric’s question that was wrong or out of place or inappropriate last year – - it was Sarah Palin’s inability to answer it that caused the problem.  She was woefully unprepared for that interview, or for anything other than delivering prepared remarks to a microphone.

It was not a Nixonian speech yesterday, as she did make it clear her future would be a public one.  However, in its pettiness and petulance, it came close.  He did rehabilitate himself, and six years later he did make it to the White House, and maybe she will, too.

Last summer at this time, her approval rating was almost six out of ten.  A Washington Post-ABC poll taken almost two weeks ago suggested it was now showing a favorable rating of 40 percent, with an unfavorable number at 53 percent.  It would seem like she’s got a lot of work to do, then, and yesterday’s walking away words aren’t likely to help.

I’ve never been to Alaska, and I’d like to visit someday.  My dog is an Alaskan Malamute, a big fellow, great company, able hunter and great defender of our family pack.  That’s his photo above.  It is often said of Mals that they are all brawn and no brain.  Somehow that sounds familiar.