This afternoon, Sarah Palin announced that she will retire as the Governor of Alaska at the end of July. The current Lt. Governor Sean Parnell will officially take over at Alaska’s Governor’s Picnic on July 26. During the press conference, in front of her home in Wasilla, Sarah Palin said since she isn’t running for re-election, she has no interest in ‘lame duck’ politics and would find another way to make positive changes for the people of Alaska.

“I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path,” Palin said. “Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional ‘Lame Duck’ status in this particular climate would just be another dose of ‘politics as usual,’ something I campaigned against and will always oppose.”

“It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success.”

Don’t cry a river, Palin fanatics. This won’t be the last you/we hear from her. Although not stated, you think she’ll make a run in the 2012 presidential election? You betcha!