SARAH PALIN TO STEP DOWN AS ALASKA GOVERNOR AT THE END OF JULY

Sarah Barracuda who some in the John McCain camp called a "rogue diva" for consistently going off message has now pulled an Evil Knievel type stunt on this July 4th eve. She has chosen to step down as governor of Alaska in order to take on Michael Jacksons popularity as a 2012 tune up to the presidency. Look, she can't do any more in Alaska for herself can she? In all seriousness, the ability to raise money nationally for a 2012 run in a party that made Newt Gingrich the speaker last month at their fundraiser has got to be appealing. The timing is odd. Many thought she'd step down in 2010, a time that could appear more reasonable and less controversial. This is Sarah Palin however. Her claim during her outdoor press conference this afternoon in Wasilla that she can now help Alaskans better by being out of office is certainly  not politics as usual.  TJ and the TUX will be going inside this story next Friday to conjure up where Palin might end up as she begins her national run for 2012, um, well, now. For now it's Sarah and Michael in one of the more bizarre July 4th Tabloid weekend battles to hit this country's media since it's inception.