Politicians come and go, and some hold the same office seemingly forever. But others move on, by choice, happenstance or at the behest of voters.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced last week her choice to move on, not to seek re-election and to leave her job toward the end of July. Since her revelation, there has been speculation about the reasons, her immediate and long-term political and otherwise futures.

At this point in time, it really doesn't matter, so we should take her at her words, which seemed clear, and turn off the spotlight.

Regardless of political party or leaning, anyone would be foolish to suggest Palin hasn't made a name for herself in a short period of time. But her fame hasn't come cheaply; she has paid dearly, sometimes bringing criticism upon herself, including last week, by simply opening her mouth. It isn't usually what she says, but how she says it.

Some have become enamored with Gov. Palin for her straight talk, euphemisms, colloquialisms and "aw shucks" lines, such as: " � only dead fish go with the flow" � "being right is better than being popular" and "gotta put first things first." Others have questioned her depth of substance because of specific word choice, speech inflections and lack of experience.

Her announcement last week left a whirlwind of discussion. She is not the first to not complete a term of office. There shouldn't be shame in that alone, if the reasons seem appropriate. Situations closer to home that come to mind are Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman and Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. And, Gov. John Hoeven might wake up one morning in the next couple of months and find himself facing a similar possibility.

But Palin is taking heat for her decision because some believe she hasn't been honest and is deserting her post without good cause. Listening to her speech, when she asked Alaskans and others to "trust" her, didn't help. It isn't always a good thing when a politician asks constituents for blind allegiance. But in reading her speech, her choice and intent seems much clearer.

She doesn't seem to see a point in fighting the critics, defending against "slings and arrows," standing on her limited-in-height soap box to comment about an "obscene and immoral national debt." She says she is tired of watching political opposition "digging for dirt" and what she describes as a waste of resources time and money and the negative impacts on her, her family and the state.

Gov. Palin doesn't seem to have the heart, at least right now, for what she described as "the politics of personal destruction … insanity … and absurdity."

So her choice seems clear. It is personal.

Time will tell if Gov. Palin keeps, expands or loses her role as a national political figure. Over the next several months, America will learn if her decision was linked to other issues, such as monetary concerns. And how her love for state and family is manifested while out of office will become evident.

But for now, golly gee, let's leave her be.