The New Republic: Goodbye, Palin (NPR hit piece, AK Dems/Reps bash Sarah)

National Public Radio (NPR.Org) ^ | July 24, 2009 | Suzy Khimm

[CedarDave]

When Sarah Palin abruptly announced that she was planning to leave office, it was clear whom she blamed for her early exit. ... Blasting her adversaries for paralyzing the Alaska governor's office with charges of "frivolous ethics violations," Palin and her representatives accused these unnamed "Outside interests" of harming her ability to govern after returning from the presidential campaign. ...

There's no doubt that Alaska's state government has been paralyzed since Palin's return, with anger and frustration emanating from both the governor's office and the state legislature. All of Palin's major bills failed to pass this year's first 90-day session. But conversations with both Republican and Democratic legislators reveal that Palin's inability to get anything done has little to do with the media attacks the Alaska governor claims drove her from office. The lawmakers say it has more to do with how national exposure changed her, moving her much further to the right than she had been and making her nearly impossible to work with. And state Republicans seem just as incensed about it as the Democrats.

When it came to legislative matters of any substance, "we got very little information from the state," says Republican House Speaker Mike Chenault. "We couldn't get any decisions out of the governor," says Persily, who spent two years working in the Alaska governor's Washington office. "It had nothing to do with critics harping at her—it was a lack of attention to governing."

~~snip~~

Of course, the barrage of ethics complaints filed against the governor exacerbated in-house tensions and probably served as a distraction. But Anchorage's state of utter dysfunction wasn't due to nefarious Democratic operatives who had crept up from the lower 48 to sabotage Palin; it was Palin's national ambitions that were primarily responsible for her undoing.

[CedarDave]

This long article, more than others I've read, goes into details of her problems with the legislature and seems to focus on her not being able to get along with her own party.

Two more hit pieces are out there today, also. Both from soon to be extinct (hopefully) AP:

Palin's mid-term resignation comes with costs By RACHEL D'ORO, AP

Makeover Time for Sarah Palin's Brand By Steve Pendlebury , AOL News

The latter article comes with a series of polls about Sarah politically and personally that are in serious need of FReeping.

What is your overall opinion of Sarah Palin?

• Mostly negative 52%
• Mostly positive 44%
• Undecided 4%

Total Votes: 2,476

[Jeff Head]

Oh how they fear her. At the mere mention or hint of any ambitions or intentions to the Presidency, they go into hissy fits and tantrums. She's absolutely and directly over target and has them expending their ammunition (which for the most part consists of absolute duds) prematurely and far too soon.

Hehehe...Go SARAH Go!

Fact is, Sarah initiated a brilliant flanking manuever against the left, the DNC, the MSM and the RINOs that has them all in a frenzy wondering what her next move will be and how it will be perceived...and has them frothing at the mouth in their efforts to discredit her.

Sarah will now get her book out, go on tour, give speeches and promote conservatie principles all over this country in the midst of the Obama administration disaster and gain great political capital in the process. Then she will support conservative candidates in 2010 and help them win, amassing much more political capital. She will then take all of that and make an awesome, stunning run for the Presidency in 2012.

MANY MORE STICKER DESIGNS HERE

[FroggyTheGremlim]

If (when) Conservatives take the majority again in DC, they better, repeat THEY BETTER cut off all taxpayer funding for NPR, PBS and the like.

I’m tired of my taxes funding crap like this hit piece.

They can get their own contributions by giving away tote bags, no more of my tax money.

[FastCoyote]

You are exactly right. What will they have left to throw at her a year from now when 1) she is still popular with the base despite their bleatings, 2) Palin is giving speeches nationwide and 3) she has more money than Fort Knox?

[SaraJohnson]

You wanted to give Palin’s smear mob front page on Free Republic? Thanks.

[Monterrosa-24]

NPR and the New Republic are about as anti-American as one can be.

You’re right. Sarah is going to stir the pot plenty going into the GOP pick up of seats in 2010.

[SoCalPol]

Rush said last night on FOX the Liberals don’t go after Huckabee, Mitt and the others, they keep going after gov. Palin as the liberals know she has the best chance to defeat Obama. He said the liberals want to take her out before the election.

Some on FR have taken the liberal bait and are doing their work for them.

---

Palin 2012

[DanZanRyu]

But Anchorage’s state of utter dysfunction wasn’t due to nefarious Democratic operatives who had crept up from the lower 48 to sabotage Palin; it was Palin’s national ambitions that were primarily responsible for her undoing.

---

Why didn’t the GOP Congress voted to defund NPR a few years back? I hate having my tax dollars be used for Left causes.

[hoosier hick]

The Palins would be welcome here in Indiana. Of course our dog sledding and caribou hunting aren’t that good....

hh

[TexasFreeper2009]

Palin approval #’s are almost as high as -9bama’s atm.

Can’t wait till she passes him in approval rating and can watch the DU Dummies heads explode.

[CedarDave]

You wanted to give Palin’s smear mob front page on Free Republic? Thanks.

I thought about that. But all the other articles posted rehashed that incorrect AP article from the other night. This one had more "substance" to it in that they interviewed fellow Republicans. Now whether these were some of those whose toes she stepped on when she exposed back-room ethics deals, I don't know. If, on the other hand, she does have a problem focusing on issues and dealing with politicians of her own party, then that needs to be revealed too. There are two sides to every issue and no one is perfect, including Sarah no matter how much we want to put her up on a pedestal. And, BTW, I still have my "I'm voting for Sarah" bumper sticker (from Jeff Head) on my pickup.

[Al B.]

This one had more "substance" to it in that they interviewed fellow Republicans. Now whether these were some of those whose toes she stepped on when she exposed back-room ethics deals, I don't know.

I haven't read the article but I can guess who was interviewed. Lemme see:

Mike Chenault
Mike Hawker
Jay Ramras

Just to name a few candidates to be interviewed for their "unbiased opinions".

Am I close? Lying corrupt bastards, all of them.

[Al B.]

Well, I see Mike Chenault’s name in the excerpt. That’s one of ‘em.

[tjd1454]

This media uber-obsession with destroying Sarah Palin politically is almost frightening in that it is so patently obvious what is going on. The media and their enablers blissfully pretend that these are legitimate news stories - as if Sarah Palin, alone among all politicians on the national and state level in these United States, genuinely warrants such an unprecedented barrage of negative stories that leave no pebble unturned in their endless quest to smear her character. The real story in all of this is how this sham is being perpetrated upon the American people virtually unchallenged. I believe that if she does make a run for the presidency - and I dearly hope that she does - that the onslaught against her will be palpable and relentless, having discarded all pretense of journalistic objectivity, all with the goal of driving her from the race, or, if she persists, of ensuring that no one of her faith, beliefs, and convictions succeeds in winning the White House. In the light of this massive juggernaut arrayed against her (ignoring all their own media-proclaimed “front runners”), it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Sarah Palin may well be the last and greatest hope for our Republic. At least it appears that the media is convinced that she is, and fears and loathes her accordingly. Go Sarah!

[Radix]

Despite the unending assaults on Romney out here, I still believe that he would make the best President.

The issue of gay marriage in Massachusetts I believe is falsely charged as Romney's work.

Romney's true baggage is the required health care that he signed into legislation. Worst political move ever by a conservative. He has no legitimate chance at the nomination despite his obvious potential for restoring the economic climate.

Sarah Palin is a symbol now. The media is obliged to take her out of the equation. Things are bound to get much uglier.

I will definitely work for her, and I certainly hope that she can take the heat that is undoubtedly coming her way.

[SandRat]

They are Crapping in their collective pants with fear of her.

[stephenjohnbanker]

BUMP

[ansel12]

The issue of gay marriage in Massachusetts I believe is falsely charged as Romney's work.

"I am more convinced than ever before that as we seek to establish full equality for Americas gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent.

I am not unaware of my opponent’s considerable record in the area of civil rights, or the commitment of Massachusetts voters to the principle of equality for all Americans. For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponent’s record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will.

We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and the bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share.

As we begin the final phase of this campaign, I need your support more than ever. By working together, we will achieve the goals we share for Massachusetts and our Nation."

Sincerely,

W. Mitt Romney

[CedarDave]

I haven't read the article but I can guess who was interviewed. Lemme see:

• Mike Chenault
• Mike Hawker
• Jay Ramras

Just to name a few candidates to be interviewed for their "unbiased opinions".

You nailed all three, all right. Here is Hawker's acerbic comment:

But upon returning to Juneau last fall, "she managed to alienate most of the 60 members of [the Alaska] House and Senate," says Larry Persily, an aide to state Republican Representative Mike Hawker. "It wasn't a matter of burning bridges—she blew them up."

With no agenda here other then trying to find out the facts and at the risk of being called a troll, I have to ask are there Republican legislators who support her?? Is she too conservative for them or are they the ones with the "ethics" problems?? These questions are not going to go away and we know they will be asked again and again as she moves onto the national scene.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Those three guys, they are all lobbyists who took money from the oil industry. They are as crooked as they get