Sarah Palin has been a lot of things: hockey mom, a Miss Alaska pageant winner, a high school point guard, and a Republican Vice Presidential candidate. But in a few weeks, one thing she won't be is Alaska's Governor. On Friday she surprised the nation when she announced her resignation from the post. Joining The Takeaway to discuss Alaska's reaction to the news, and to guess what Ms. Palin will do next, is Larry Persily, former aide to Governor Palin and a long-time Alaska journalist.

On Friday afternoon, seemingly out of the blue, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resigned. Her rambling announcement and strange career choice was only the latest chapter of gubernatorial follies. We discuss the political theatre with Gail Collins, a columnist for The New York Times, who wrote about Sarah Palin and her speech in her Saturday column, Sarah’s Straight Talk. Ms. Collins joins The Takeaway (again!) to review what's wrong with governors these days.

Did you miss Gail Collins' previous visit to The Takeaway to discuss gubernatorial antics? Click here!. And to find out who are listeners nominated as the worst governors in history, click here.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resigned late Friday afternoon with no warning. The reasons for her move remain a mystery. Is she making a play for national politics? Or is she really done with the political scene? Joining The Takeaway are Libby Casey, the Washington correspondent for Alaska Public Radio Network, and Steve Heimel, a reporter for Alaska Public Radio Network, based in Anchorage, Alaska, who are here to discuss how this resignation is resounding in both cities.

If you missed her speech, here are some highlights:

When South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford gave his emotional confession last week – saying he was in love with a woman in Argentina – his wife, Jenny, was noticeably absent from his side. Yesterday, though, she said that her husband’s actions were “inexcusable,” but that she is willing to forgive him. To discuss whether the Sanfords' relationship can be salvaged, The Takeaway talks to Mira Kirshenbaum, couples' therapist and author of When Good People Have Affairs: Inside the Hearts & Minds of People in Two Relationships, which is coming out this month. She's also the Clinical Director of the Chestnut Hill Institute of Boston.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's admissions about his private life have raised as many questions as they have eyebrows. If nothing else, the governor has sparked a conversation about sex in America. The Takeaway talks to Audacia Ray, a professor of sexuality at Rutgers University and author of Naked on the Internet: Hookups, Downloads, and Cashing in on Internet Sexploration . We're also joined by Debby Herbenick a research scientist at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University. Debby is the author of the forthcoming book, “Because Its Feels Good: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction.”

Over the past week we have become way too familiar with the affairs of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. But if you think the nation is consumed, just imagine how it is for South Carolina's First Lady Jenny Sanford. Luckily for Jenny, the women of South Carolina have rallied around her and offered their support — most recently in an online campaign called “Stand with Jenny.” Joining The Takeaway to discuss the campaign is Cindy Mosteller, former chairman of the Charleston County Republican Party, part of the evangelical organization that is spearheading “Stand with Jenny,” as well as Beccie Robbins, communications director for South Carolina Progressive Network.

Click here to Stand with Jenny.

As Governor Sanford stays in the headlines with new comments about his infidelity, Republicans are wincing. Sanford may not have a political future, but does his party? To look at what the recent sex scandals are doing to the Republican Party, Amity Shlaes, columnist for Bloomberg News, talks to The Takeaway.

For more Amity Shlaes, watch her appearance on The Daily Show:

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The saga of South Carolina governor Mark Sanford continues to capture the attention of his constituents, the nation, and the country of Argentina. Yesterday the wayward governor announced that his Argentine mistress was his soul mate, but that he would try to reconcile with his wife. Joining us for the latest from South Carolina is Mark Quinn, the host of South Carolina ETV and Radio’s Public Affairs Program, The Big Picture.

In the video below Sanford discusses his affair.

The situation of admitted adulterer Governor Sanford is not unique. From Illinois to New Jersey to South Carolina to New York echoes the sound of gubernatorial apologies. New York Times columnist Gail Collins joins The Takeaway as we take an historical tour of the worst governors and their best antics.

South Carolina's missing governor, Mark Sanford, returned—and brought some news. He had been in Argentina having an extramarital affair. Joining us is another South Carolinian: Mark Quinn is the host of South Carolina ETV and Radio’s Public Affairs Program, The Big Picture.

It was the Case of the Missing Governor. After a seven-day disappearance, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford resurfaced with news that he had been in Argentina (not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff reported). At first he claimed he needed to “recharge” somewhere “exotic,” but at a press conference yesterday, he admitted to having an affair with a woman in Argentina. For more of the story The Takeaway turns to Yvonne Wenger, a reporter for the South Carolina Post & Courier who has been following this story.

To see Governor Sanford's comments on the affair, watch the video below.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has stumped his constituents, the media, and even his wife. He disappeared for five days with no contact with his family, staff, or state leaders. While his staff claimed he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, a news report this morning says he was actually vacationing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bad geography? Or something else? Yvonne Wenger, a reporter for the South Carolina Post and Courier, joins The Takeaway with more of the story.

State Senator R. Creigh Deeds won Virginia's three-way Democratic primary for governor Tuesday. Deeds’ win over former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe was something of a surprise. What is the political future of this "purple" state? The Takeaway talks to Beverly Amsler, morning anchor for WVTF radio in Roanoke, Virginia.

Governors in nine states, mostly in the South, are thinking about rejecting millions of dollars in federal stimulus money pegged for increased unemployment insurance. Joining us this morning is Michael Luo, a New York Times writer who is reporting that many jobless people in those states are angry that they may not get benefits from the stimulus package.

Read Michael Luo's article from the New York Times at Jobless Angry at Possibility of No Benefits

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour discusses why he turned down funds for his state.

After an evening of conflicting reports on whether Caroline Kennedy was in or out of the race to fill Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat, late last night she officially withdrew her name citing personal reasons in her brief statement. It's a startling development for the political world and leaves many questions as to who New York Governor Paterson might ultimately choose for the Senate seat. We are joined by WNYC's state politics reporter, Elaine Rivera, who has been watching these events closely.