FAIRBANKS, ALASKA — As thousands of cheering supporters vowed to keep her feisty, down-home political legacy alive, Sarah Palin stepped down as Alaska governor Sunday, pledging to continue fighting for independence from Washington and for Americans' personal freedoms "as that grizzly guards her cubs."
The hand-over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell at a family-style picnic marked an unexpected end to a brief but remarkable governorship in which the 45-year-old hockey mom turned the Republican Party on its head and propelled Alaska's frontier-style, moose-meat-picnic politics into the national dialogue.
"Let's not start believing that government is the answer," she told the largely affectionate crowd of about 5,000 at Pioneer Park. "It can't help make you healthy or wealthy or wise. What can? It is the wisdom of the people. . . . It is God's grace, helping those who help themselves."
Palin, Alaska's first female governor, stood on the podium in a conservative black pantsuit, joined by her husband, Todd, and two of their daughters, Piper and Willow.
Betraying no sadness or second thoughts, she chastised those who question why she stepped down 18 months before the end of her term.
"It should be so obvious to you," she said. "It is because I love Alaska this much, sir, that I feel that it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical politics-as-usual lame-duck session in one's last year in office. . . . I will be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right. And I have never felt that you need a title to do that."
Palin -- who famously described herself as a "pit bull with lipstick" last year, when she accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination -- took the opportunity Sunday to fire a last official grenade at the media, which she has blamed for distorting her statements and fueling controversies that have surrounded her.
"You represent what could and should be a respected and honest profession, that could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy," she said. "Democracy depends on you, and that is why our troops are willing to die for you. So how about in honor of the American soldier you quit making things up?"
Those sentiments drew the loudest applause of her speech.
She added: "Our new governor has a very nice family too, so leave his kids alone."
After her addition to the national ticket, Palin endured frequent bad publicity about her family, including her unwed teenage daughter Bristol's pregnancy and Bristol's breakup with the baby's father.
