Alterior Motives With Sarah Palin's Resignation?

Governor Sarah Palin announced, Friday, that she will step down as Alaska's chief executive by the end of the month. She added that she will not seek election to a second gubernatorial term in 2010.  During her speech she said, "Only a dead fish goes with the flow." 

According to CNN, a Republican source close to her said that it was a "calculation" she made that "it was time to move on." The source also said that Palin's "book deal and other issues" were "causing a lot of friction" in Alaska.  It's speculated that she is "mapping out a path to 2012."

Palin, who was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, has been thought of as one of the 'lead-cards' for the GOP nomination in 2012.

Her decision to step down as governor speaks to the speculation that she might just be planning to run for the White House.