Alaska’s Sarah Palin continues her speed-dating trip around the country this week, leaving residents to bemoan her departure with drama unseen in daytime television. “You can’t leave us, we have such plans!” whine the masses. “I’m sorry, I’ve met someone else,” the cunning heroine proclaims, “and I’ve got to think of me now!” 

Palin-istas love her as Governor, not as VP, and want her home where she belongs. A growing cadre of Alaskans are clamoring to keep what is theirs—Palin as Governor represented a new start from the Good Old Boy era, a breath of fresh air for folks sick of investigations and indictments.

In 2006, Palin’s overwhelming defeat of then-Governor Frank Murkowski (R) in the primaries proved a point for many voters anxious to purge corruption within the ranks of Alaska’s politicos. Pompous Murkowski had managed in a single term to tick off most of the state with several unpopular decisions, the most deplorable of which came in the appointment of his daughter, Lisa, to fill his vacant Senate seat. Amid howls of protest claiming nepotism, Murkowski’s actions prompted an Alaskan ballot measure in 2004 stripping the power of governors to appoint U.S. senators, only one of three states to do so.

And then there is the matter of the Jet. Murkowski attempted to have the Department of Homeland Security underwrite the cost of the infamous aircraft to shuttle about the world. Sarah Palin used the Jet as a campaign hot button, promising upon her (ultimately successful) election to dump the elephant as soon as possible, even posting the aircraft on eBay. Eventually it was sold with assistance from a broker for an underpriced $2.1 million.

Yes, Alaskans were ready for somebody else to drive the dogsled, and Palin seemed to fit the bill as the tough, no-nonsense Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission. She had risen up through the ranks of local political circles until securing an edgy spot in State government. By the time Palin decided to run for governor, Alaska had polar bears, a bridge going nowhere, and a collection of Corrupt Bastards making for a hefty list of problems.

However, Palin’s victory over Tony Knowles (D) indicated that while Alaskans wanted change, they weren’t willing to cross party lines to do it. Sarah Palin brought relief for Republican voters in this reddest of red states. People wanted to like her even though they were well-acquainted with her vindictive nature and propensity for trailing family issues into policy decisions. Even the current falderal of Troopergate didn‘t faze Palin’s approval rating; it fell from 90 percent to 67 percent, still better than most.

Some still live in a state of denial that Palin would actually leave Alaska. The mere idea of breaking in a new governor is daunting for Alaskans; underneath it all they just don’t want to go through any more political upheaval. They have, in simple terms, had enough.

Erin K. Kirkland, a freelance writer and one of our MomBloggers, lives in Anchorage, Alaska. Check back for more on this series on her insider take on this historic election year.