Posted on 11/19/2010 12:37:20 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
I promised myself that I'd stop defending Sarah Palin. But it's a hard habit to break.
While I found the former Alaska governor refreshing during the 2008 presidential campaign, she has been a disappointment since then. Instead of hitting the books and learning the issues, Palin ditched class, resigned her post and concentrated on making money. As a result, she doesn't seem any more informed now than she was when she exploded on the national scene two years ago. So she tries to get by with a wink and a smile - and the occasional slab of red meat for the GOP base.
Still, many of the attacks upon Palin are unfair and unwarranted - not to mention, eerily bipartisan. It's not enough that she has to put up with a steady stream of snarky criticism from liberal Democrats who obviously feel threatened by the rock-star greeting she gets from the throngs of people who turn out just to catch a glimpse of her at a speech, fundraiser, or book signing.
Those fans can see and hear from her this month with the release of her latest book, "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag" and the launch of her new television series, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," on The Learning Channel.
These days, Palin is also getting an icy reaction from conservatives who likewise feel threatened - this time, by what seems to be her bid for greater influence with Republicans in Washington. Recently, Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., a nine-term congressman, told members of a Chamber of Commerce in his district: "Sarah Palin cost us control of the Senate." With no evidence to back up the claim, Bachus insisted that the tea party candidates endorsed by Palin - specifically Christine O'Donnell in Delaware - were so weak that they torpedoed the GOP's chances to reclaim the Senate along with the House.
Really? Bachus may believe that Republicans had a realistic shot at capturing Vice President Joe Biden's old seat if they would have gone with Rep. Mike Castle. But since Castle was defeated by O'Donnell in the primary, we'll never know.
This sounds like just another excuse to bash Palin and the tea party movement, one that continues a thread started just days after the election when Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott caused a stir in GOP circles by telling Politico.com that Republicans had not nominated their best candidates in races that could have been more competitive.
How petty. Before this election, Republicans had become so accustomed to losing that even in victory, they still sound defeated. Instead of being pleased with a strong performance, some GOP lawmakers prefer to see the glass as half empty and portray themselves of victims of an insurgency by the tea party. They never consider the possibility that it was the tea party votes that allowed them to compete in the first place. Nor do they consider the possibility that the GOP establishment might be as much to blame as anyone for not winning control of the Senate.
In any case, what difference does it make why the Senate stayed in Democratic hands? All that matters is that it did. Republicans have to find a way to deal with this reality, and still have a hand in shaping public policy until they can reclaim the White House and/or the Senate in a future election. They should be looking forward and not backward.
Of course, Palin brings much of this criticism upon herself by tweaking her critics. Just recently, she posted on her Facebook page some friendly advice for the incoming Congress.
"Stick to the principles that propelled your campaigns," Palin said. She urged lawmakers to defund "Obamacare." Then, she said, they should cut spending, extend tax breaks, and increase border security. She also told them to "extend a hand to President Obama and Democrats in Congress."
The smart thing for establishment Republicans to do right now is to stop complaining and extend a hand to Sarah Palin.
She's not their enemy. And she can actually do them a lot of good by energizing the masses - the same people they like to think they represent but, in truth, barely recognize.
Before this election, Republicans had become so accustomed to losing that even in victory, they still sound defeated. Instead of being pleased with a strong performance, some GOP lawmakers prefer to see the glass as half empty and portray themselves of victims of an insurgency by the tea party.
They never consider the possibility that it was the tea party votes that allowed them to compete in the first place. Nor do they consider the possibility that the GOP establishment might be as much to blame as anyone for not winning control of the Senate.
This article from Navarette is laudably sensible and even pro-Palin.
I’m just not seeing 2ndDivisionVet’s devious plan here.
One problem is that establishment Republicans and conservative voters mean two different things by “best candidate”. For them, it’s whatever warm body can get elected while calling themselves a Republican, no matter how weak their conservative principles, if any. They want to shorw up their power. For us, it does no good to shore up power with a body calling itself a Republican if in principle he might as well be a ‘rat. Our comcern is for the policies which will affect us and how they’ll vote. So, our interests and theirs are opposed. Trent Lott needs to shut up regarding politics, he rolled over like a possum when the ‘rats chided him and quit when we lost the majority. Since he wasn’t willing to stick it out to help protect conservative citizens, he needs to just shut up about what we’re doing to protect ourselves. Whiney barsted.
And she can actually do them a lot of good by energizing the masses - the same people they like to think they represent but, in truth, barely recognize.
I was thinking the same thing! I was going to jump in and defend you 2nd, but I thought, "He's a vet, he can handle himself."
BUT! If you need some help, give me a holler!
What do you mean you’re not sure she can govern? Have a look at this and don’t tell me she can’t govern:
Governor Sarah Palin’s Accomplishments that garnished her a whopping 92% approval rating:
Energy Independence, Development, and Environmental Stewardship
*Governor Palin’s cornerstone accomplishment is AGIA (Alaska Gasline Inducement Act). During the Palin administration, TransCanada and Exxon formed an alliance to build a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the Lower 48. Under Governor Palin’s governance, the project was expanded and revised from what previous governors had proposed with an open policy process for the Alaskan people. More progress was made on this effort than in the previous 30 years. This is the largest private sector infrastructure project in North American history and helps put us on the path to energy independence.
*Governor Palin’s administration opened up drilling for oil and natural gas at Pt. Thompson for the first time in decades.
*Governor Palin created the Alaska’s Petroleum Integrity Office to oversee all aspects of energy development and to make sure oilfield equipment was safe to operate and a Climate Change Subcabinet to comprehensively and honestly evaluate climate change.
Fiscal Conservatism
*Governor Palin reduced earmark requests for the state of Alaska by 80% during her administration, requesting only earmarks that would benefit the country as a whole.
* Governor Palin reduced spending in her budget for Fiscal Year 2010 by more than one billion dollars from the previous governor’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget, a 9.5% real reduction in spending. Her FY2010 budget was $10.57 billion compared to Governor Murkowski’s FY2007 budget of nearly $11.7 billion. At the same time, she fulfilled her campaign promise to forward fund education, allowing districts greater flexibility and predictability in their planning.
*Governor Palin opposed much of the “stimulus”, wanting only to accept 55% of the money allocated to Alaska, specifically only dollars dedicated to infrastructure [projects. Although the Alaskan legislature ultimately overturned her veto, she stood firm on her commitment to help Alaska to become more self-sufficient while not adding to not add to the skyrocketing national debt.
* Governor Palin invested $5 billion in state savings.
Walking the Walk on Fiscal Responsibility
*Governor Palin sold the private jet purchased by the previous governor. She state it was an unnecessary financial burden on the state and was unable to land on many of the state’s landing strips.
* To cut costs that would be incurred by continuing to use a personal driver like previous governors, the governor drove herself from Wasilla to her office in Anchorage. She also dismissed the governor’s personal chef stationed in Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
* Governor Palin accepted less state per diem for herself and her family than her predecessors even though she had a larger family.
10th Amendment Advocacy/Promotion of State Constitution
*Showing that she is a strong supporter of the 10th amendment, Governor Palin advocated for the sovereignty of the state of Alaska.
*Governor Palin’s administration sued the federal government for placing the polar bear on the endangered species list, as this restriction affected energy development which would increase energy costs.
*A Constitutionalist, Governor Palin signed Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share (ACES) bill into law. The Alaska constitution states that the Alaskan people own the oil and other resources. This law ensures that the “owners”, the people of Alaska, receive a clear and equitable share of oil profits.
National Defense/Veterans
*Governor Palin supported ground-based missile defense Ft Greely and other Alaskan Bases around to protect America from America’s enemies. She criticized the Obama administration for cuts that they made to this national defense system.
*Governor Palin, with Senators Murkowski and Begich, fought for retirement benefits from the federal government that were due to the Alaska Territorial Guard members who fought during World War II. These benefits were eventually rewarded to these veterans by the federal government.
* Governor Palin visited Alaskan soldiers in Kosovo and Kuwait.
Transparency/Anti-Corruption
*Governor Palin signed bipartisan ethics reform legislation into law that helped to hold both the legislative and executive branches accountable.
*Governor Palin put the state checkbook online, allowing all constituents to see how state money was being spent.
Health Care
*Governor Palin introduced health care transparency legislation which aimed at putting information in the hands of consumers about cost and quality of health care as a way to make health care consumer driven and accessible.
Sanctity and Dignity of All Life
* Governor Palin strongly supported both parental consent and parental notification legislation.
*Governor Palin increased educational funding for special needs’ children.
*Governor Palin implemented the Senior Benefits Program to support low income seniors.
Positions Held while Governor
* Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
*Vice Chair of the National Governors Association Natural Resource Committee.
* She served as chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska’s most valuable non-renewable resources: oil and gas. She was elected by her peers to serve as president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. In this role, she worked with local, state and federal officials to promote solutions to the needs of Alaska’s communities.
She exposed legal violations and conflicts of interest of Alaska Republican leaders, including the former state Attorney General and the State GOP Chairman (who was also an Oil & Gas Commissioner), who was doing work for the party on public time and supplying a lobbyist with a sensitive e-mail. Several went to jail.
Governor Palin signed several pieces of legislation and resolutions during July 2009. They were:
•SB-125: Encourage aerospace development in AK
•SB-177: Extend sunset for sport fishing guides and address harvest data collection
•Pro-energy development and missile defense resolutionsHJR-27: Alaska a Sovereign State
HJR-25: Hydro-Electric a Renewable Resource
HJR-28: Oppose Federal Restriction on Oil and Gas Development
HJR-12: Support Missile Defense System
•SB-88: Power cost equalization
•Defending Second Amendment rights.SB-201: Extends Concealed Carry Permit Expiration to 5 Years from Birthday
HJR-17: Urges Congress not to pass HR-45.The federal legislation would put burdensome licensing and registration controls on individual gun owners.
SJR-10: Urges Congress to pass S-371. The legislation was to ensure that citizens of each state who are licensed or authorized by their home state to carry a concealed weapon, could do so in another state as long as they comply with the laws of that state.
SJR-3: The resolution expresses support to Congress for repealing the ban on carrying a firearm on National Park Service lands.
•SB-3 Requiring information sharing between two agencies.
•HRJ-19 Supports requirement of escort for loaded tankers traversing Prince William Sound.
•The Governor appointed 29 people to boards, commissions and councils and made three judicial appointments between July 6, 2009 and July 26, 2009.Governor Palin’s total appointments for 2009 was123, including 116 to boards, commissions and councils, five judicial appointments, one legislative and one attorney general. Governor Palin averaged one appointment every 1.67 days during 2009.
•The Governor vetoed $28.6 million in stimulus money that would have involved federal interference with the state of Alaska.
Governor Palin signed bills removing experience caps on teacher’s salaries and extending boat safety programs.Governor Palin signed legislation that gave struggling charter schools a one-year grace period to increase enrollments or integrate with other charter schools. She also signed legislation that authorizes Alaska “to enroll in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.”
Governor Palin signed legislation granting birth certificates for stillborn babies
Governor Palin signed legislation authorizing the state to fund retirement benefits for Alaska Territorial Guard veterans. The federal government ceased funding benefits on April 1, 2009
Governor Palin signed legislation safeguarding student loans
Sarah Palin was Commander of the Alaska National Guard. Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the first line of defense unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units in the United States. As governor of Alaska, Palin was briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism daily.
Governor Palin was the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security’s counterterrorism plans.
Hahahahahahaha!Whoooo-Wheeeee, that's one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. Thanks for the great early morning laugh!
Exactly right. They should get behind her, cleans the party of RINOs and take back the Senate and White House. Only then will we start to see our country recover from its current dilemma.
It’s just a crazy, upside down world.....heh
Not to Palin, but to people that Palin endorses; that is where she is most useful and Obama must not win another term
LOL, I didn’t know she had a propensity for wild shrimp, pork, and spam.
I was going to accuse him of being a Romney supporter! NOT
:^)
LOLOL!
Boy are you misuniformed. We got enough enemies here already, we don't need any friendly fire incidents.
Yet.
“Not to Palin”
Sarah Palin is the *only* acceptable candidate for the presidency.
There is no other member of the Stupid Party who has the balls for the job.
Cowardly weasels, the lot of them.
I promised myself that I'd stop defending Sarah Palin. But it's a hard habit to break....
Then he goes on to badmouth her for the rest of his rant.
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