Posted on 04/19/2010 5:52:15 AM PDT by reaganaut1
Sarah Palin, 55 percent unfavorable poll ratings notwithstanding, is a political phenomenon the likes of which American public life rarely has seen. There's something distinctive, something deeply personal, about the way her legions of strong supporters rush not just to defend her but to counter-attack any and all of her critics. Palin has a way of establishing a sense of connectedness with her backers -- such a strong, attitudinal sense that she is not just like them but one of them -- that she has created what amounts to a one-woman, conservative "identity politics" writ very, very large.
Yet if conservatives are to continue a political love affair with this admirable and galvanizing woman, we need to insist on more than mere identity. And more than mere attitude.
We know that Sarah Palin shares our conservative values. But is she the leader conservatives need?
IN HER RECENTLY RELEASED memoir, Going Rogue, Palin tells a story about how she approached the first state budget she handled as governor. It sounds like something right out of the 1993 Kevin Kline movie, Dave, except that Palin's tale is fact instead of fiction.
We worked late into the night with the warm midnight sun still pouring through my office windows....Pens in hand, we combed through the budget, line by line, page by page -- my inner nerd coming out again, just like Wasilla City Council days....I had to know what was in there, or I wasn't doing my job. We spent days trying to decipher who put in what and why. Late one night, I looked up from the table and asked our veteran staffers, "What did past governors do? How did they get through these budgets with so little detail?" "They didn't," was the response.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
No, its not the old newbie argument; you’ll never be anything but ‘in training’ in any aspect of life, ever.
You’re ill equipped to weigh in on Palin, since you haven’t the personal development to understand where she’s coming from, nor why all the real American Christian patriots recognized her unique suitability to the presidency.
Finally, calling attention to your short comings is not “adhominem” since you are not the subject, and it is necessary expose the facts in order for all to assess your lack of qualifications to address any of the issues, or acceptability as a presenter of evidence.
Cite it, so we can see the source and laugh at it.
Hogwash. Her Lt Gov. is completing her agenda and will keep the seat in Republican's hands. Alaska is saving millions of dollars. There are no bloggers or DNC operatives filing bogus ethics charges against her successor.
She could have fought back against those bastards, but she chose to cut and run.
Perhaps you should read her book and the Ethics Law.
Her enemies exploited a loophole in the law. The law as written had no recourse for Palin to fight back (She had no help from the state or the AG). She had to pay legal expenses out of her own pocket.
If she would have stayed, she would have been financially and politically ruined.
Actually you are wrong sir. Her very own AG would assign a special investigator who would turn over the report to the Personnel board. At last count their were 22 frivolous ethic complaints filed and dismissed. Sarah did fight every one with her own personal lawyer and won every one of them.
If you honestly think it was going to stop you are NUTZ. Between the time Sarah announced her stepping down to her actual leaving office at least three more ethics complaints were filed in a week. Nice try. you see WE have the FACT and you DON’T.
We win and you Lose.
Here you go all the info you want is right here. We will not do the work for you.
“Governor Palin is a wonderful person and top notch in my book; she would however be better suited for the time being as a US Senator for about six years”
Just because one was a good governor doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be a good senator. Look at Palin’s predecessor, Frank Murkowski. He was a decent senator, but a bad governor.
What about Michelle Bachmann, Doug Hoffman, Marco Rubio and Allen West? Good conservatives all, who Sarah backed.
“fiscal conservatives again have reason for concern: the town’s long-term debt reportedly jumped from $1 million to $25 million.”
On one hand, some complain about her increased spending between the 2008 and 2009 budget, claiming that this proves she is not a fiscal conservative. True, spending did go up, then again, state revenue almost doubled at the same time. When this happens, it is important to not only put money in the bank and save it for a rainy day, which she did to the tune of $5 billion, but there is nothing wrong with increasing spending. The increased revenue needs to make it back into the hands of the people via services or a check. Governor Palin did both. The people of Alaska received an extra $1200 in addition to their Permanent fund checks, plus she increased spending on education and infrastructure projects. This is a good use of the extra revenue.
sign of a real fiscal conservative is how they handle the difficult times. No doubt about it, we are facing some difficult times.
Did Governor Palin increase spending?
Absolutely not!
FY 2009 Operating Budget: $11,200,000,000 ($11.2B)
FY 2010 Operating Budget: $9,700,000,000 ($9.7B)
Net Cut in Operating Budget: $1,500,000,000
Total Percentage Cut in Operating Budget: 13.4%
FY 2009 Capital Budget: $2,632,000,000 (after Governor Palin vetoed $268 million)
FY 2010 Capital Budget: $1,800,000,000
Net Cut in the Capital Budget: $832,000,000
Total Percentage Cut in Capital Budget: 31.7%
Overall FY 2009 Budget: $13,832,000,000
Overall Proposed FY 2010 Budget: $11,500,000,000
Net Reduction in the Overall Budget: $2,332,000,000
Total Percentage Cut in Overall Budget: 16.8%
When it comes to budgets, this is a huge number. HUGE!
Keep in mind, this budget includes a large percentage of the stimulus funds in the operating and capital budgets. Some of the stimulus funds were inserted by the Governor (mostly in the capital budget) and the rest inserted by the state legislature (mostly in the operating budget).
Well, I didn't extensively research his background. My point is that Carter didn't know anything about how to lead and was far too much a policy wonk. I last great policy wonk before Obama was Clinton. I liked Clinton alot too. (Not) I am just saying that super-genius in every minute piece of crap often equals a micro-manager who can't lead worth a tin whistle, like we have now.
All you need to know about this author. He didn't have the basic honesty to disclose that the increase in long-term debt was due to the Wasilla Sports Complex which Palin insisted be put to a vote of the people, which they approved.
BTW, this debt is being retired this year, a year earlier than forecast.
And none of them were elected to subsequent higher office.
Get a good nights sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.
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During the war my uncle was a Sargeant Major in the Navy.
Probably doesn't count for you though. Too long ago, or he was a Democrat. I'm sure it's something. LMAO.
Poison Ivy That Is.
“Here’s the difference: In 1775 people had experience in self-government. In 2010 they have experience in the “governance” of others. I have no problem chosing which kind of experience I would prefer in a leader.”
I think you make a very good distinction, which is completely lost on the Quin Hillyers of the world.
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A. It is not my quitting meme. It is Palin's track record of quitting.
B. Cool that it's ignored by thousands of enthusiastic supporters...she'll need 70,000,000 American voters to ignore it though, if she wants to be POTUS.
I don't think that will happen but your carefully crafted, rationally presented arguments sure are persuasive.
Wow, you nailed it. You have been dismissed by the usual supporter. He seems unable to face the legitimate concerns and shortcomings listed. This “opposition” candidate fits the Statist mold of a suitably staged opposition that knows how to hit the right notes, but has flaws the puppet-masters believe will serve them in their growing authoritarian takeover of our once great republic.
Reading this thread and seeing her inconsistencies dismissed and the contradictions ignored surely says many for whom I’ve formerly held out hope have become so desperate for a champion or heroine, they are engaging in useful idiocy, or possibly gone over to the dark side.
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