Gov. Sarah Palin is letting her constituents in Alaska down by resigning without giving an explanation of why.

In 2006, they voted to give her four years in the office she sought. She now decides to not fulfill her obligation. She cites a “higher calling” to unite the country on conservative values — but that is a murky answer. Will she go a whistle-stop tour or found some new nonprofit organization?

She is quick to blast the media for being out of touch with the people, but the media merely are asking the questions that the people in her state want to know.

Why?

Without giving a clear answer, it only leads to speculation. And yet it seems she and her lawyer are surprised when people who run blogs make speculations over imagined crimes. Of course they will, just like old folks in any coffee shop in Wasilla, Alaska, would.

Would Palin blast them, too, for being out of touch?

Sure, seeking a higher political office could be what she means, but if that is the case, wouldn’t it look better to fulfill her term and not seek re-election, much like Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is doing?

Resigning mid-term — and without something clearly higher such as a Cabinet appointment — only makes her look like a quitter. Who wants to vote for or nominate a quitter? She has dashed her chances for higher offices.

If politics is her game, she is making a poor political choice.

But politics isn’t her game. Money is. Palin won’t admit it, but she resigned so she can shed herself of the ethical constraints of public office and get lucrative deals from her celebrity status.

The GOP thrust her in the limelight last year. Now many Republicans regret her veep nomination and wish she would go away. She’s unpredictable and makes the party look silly. A Palin speaking tour would do more good for Democrats than for Republicans.

Nothing is wrong with making money, but the people of Alaska elected her to serve, not to line her own pockets. In the end, they can take solace that Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell must take greater interest in serving the constituents than she did. He said he plans to seek election in 2010.