Sarah Palin’s decision to quit as Alaska governor makes her the third Republican in less than three weeks who may have derailed a promising political career, adding to the woes of a party struggling to redeem itself with voters. Sarah Palin: Frankly, Alaska, I’ve outgrown you! ...

Plenty of current and former U.S. senators had memorable professions before they got to Washington: country fiddler (Robert Byrd of West Virginia), astronaut (John Glenn of Ohio), jewelry-maker (Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado). But none were dogged by a satirical persona, as is already ...