It’s been tough in Alaska for Gov. Sarah Palin the past few days. She’s been embroiled in a tug of war with the legislature over a replacement to fill the unexpired term of a state Senator who resigned to go to work for the Obama administration. The lawmakers appear certain to restore millions of dollars of the federal porkulus funds she had turned down, and they rejected her nominee for Alaska attorney general just yesterday. The legislature even voted down her selection for a seat on the state’s Board of Fisheries by a vote of 42 to 16.
That’s just some of the fallout the governor has had to deal with from her unforgivable sin of accepting her party’s nomination for the vice presidency and campaigning on behalf of Obama’s Republican opponent in the presidential race. Old bipartisan alliances between Sarah Palin and the Democrats in her legislature have been dissolved. Longstanding tensions between her and some elements in her own party in Alaska remain.
Meanwhile, the media and her other political opponents have tried to make much hay over her family and would-be family matters, playing up the recent television appearances by her daughter’s former fiance, his mother’s arrest on drug charges and her sister-in-law’s arrest for breaking into a house that wasn’t hers. The rats have been quiet as a mouse, however, about the president’s brother-in-law and his troubles with British authorities stemming from his arrest for sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl there. Some crimes are more heinous than others. Better for your media image to be a sexual predator named Obama than a cat burglar named Palin.
But last night, all of that dissonant noise faded away as Sarah Palin stepped up to a podium in Indiana to speak at a right to life banquet. Tickets for the event quickly sold out, and its organizers had to arrange a closed-circuit narrowcast at a nearby auditorium and rush to print more tickets. The result was a crowd of 3,000 (for an event which typically draws much smaller audiences) and a need for local authorities to block off nearby streets with barricades.
Palin was greeted by fans seeking her autograph and photograph as she tried to make her way into the event, and inside there were people actually standing on tables to get a better chance to see her. She was introduced by RNC chairman Michael Steele, who himself delivered a passionate life-affirming address. In his words of introduction, Steele reminisced about an appearance he made on Fox News just before John McCain announced his running mate. There was much speculation at the time about who the Senator would name the next day. When asked whom he believed McCain would choose, Steele said that it would be Pawlenty or Palin. Then the chairman raised more than few eyebrows in the room when he added, “I think it’s going to be Palin. Now I wasn’t sure, but I sure was hoping.”
The governor took a poke at Alaska’s legislature early on in her speech (video here), as she quipped:
“They condemn anything that I do, but especially traveling outside the state to speak in another state at a function like this. Which is ironic, because these are the same critics who would love to see me outside the state forever, permanently, you know, outside the governor’s office anyway. But they had heartburn about me leaving.”
From there, Gov. Palin launched into a sales pitch for Alaska, and she rattled off a list of facts about her state, which she used to setup a punchline:
“Now if I’m wrong on any of that trivia, I don’t want Katie Couric calling me and telling me I did something wrong. You call Mr. Heath in Wasilla, AK. I’ll give you the phone number, and you can correct my dad.”
In her far-ranging address, she touched on several issues which she used to criticize the Obama administration. She seized on the issue of energy security, a familiar one for her, and touted Alaska’s abundant oil and gas deposits as a big part of a domestic solution to U.S. dependence on foreign oil. That petroleum, she said, comes from countries which don’t have America’s best interests in mind. She mentioned North Korea as a threat and named Alaska’s missile defense system as a way to counter it, voicing her hope that “the feds” do not cut the program. Then she had harsh words for the Democrat’s federal stimulus, which, she explained, forces local government to grow bigger:
“This isn’t free money folks. Our nation is $11 trillion in debt. This is borrowed money. We’re borrowing money from China, and we may someday find ourselves enslaved to countries that hold our notes.”
But the governor’s strongest slap at the president was saved for the issue which drew her to the event. She said that those who support abortion had turned their backs on the very principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that the founders cited as unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence:
“So whether it’s a child not yet born, or a newborn in a single parent’s arms, or an elder with Alzheimer’s, or a brave or a scared young soldier willing to offer the supreme sacrifice to protect all of our lives, innocent life is to be cherished and protected. And may our culture embrace that. The culture of life affects every aspect of our lives and society. And we must stand on the life-honoring foundation of our republic, and we must speak out against actions that erode that foundation. Don’t be afraid to speak out. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion when you see our president, through policy changes, want to erode part of that foundation. And by the way, I’m just a governor, but I don’t believe that it’s above my pay grade to rally you to speak up.”
Near the end of her speech, Gov. Palin became emotional when she talked about her son Trig and the apprehension she felt before his birth, knowing that he had Down’s Syndrome. It was faith, she said, that gave her the strength to carry her youngest son to term.
As is to be expect from a crowd of pro-life activists, Sarah Palin’s speech was warmly and enthusiastically received. But a media which has been very critical of her was forced to admit that it was a powerful one and well-delivered. Politico headlined its report “Out of Alaska, Palin’s star shines” and said that the governor “reminded Republicans why she remains a party heavyweight and a top prospective presidential candidate in 2012.” Even AP’s coverage, with the headline “Palin Takes Obama to Task for Stance on Abortion,” seemed to frame the story in terms of a potential future match between the governor and the president:
“Some in the crowd wore white ‘Palin 2012′ T-shirts, hoping she will be the Republican presidential candidate in 2012.”
Whatever political plans she may have, Gov. Palin tried to stay close to home and keep a low profile outside of Alaska during the legislative session to head off criticism from her local political opponents. She now seems to realize that despite the effort, they were going to criticize her, in the strongest possible terms, regardless. Now, the gloves have come off, and she’s going to weigh in on national issues, just as other leading GOP governors have been doing. She’s also very likely to be making more trips to the lower 48 for appearances which will be carefully selected to enhance her stature as a national political figure.
Many on the left end of the spectrum that is the internet have pronounced Sarah Palin politically dead or dying because of a contemptuous Alaska legislature, exploitation of her family by snarky celebrity tabloids and biased media reporting. But the governor’s opponents may soon be reminded that this mama bear still has sharp teeth and claws, and her nature is not to back down from a fight. She told the crowd early on in her speech last night that she was going to restart her engine. The 36-hour vacation and friendly crowds she’s enjoying in Indiana seem to be providing it with plenty of fuel.
- JP
She Needs to Do What Sanford Did...
EzOnTheEyez Friday, April 17th at 3:47PM EDT (link)…and find primary opponents for the Republicans and general election candidates for the Democrats who are thwarting her conservative agenda.
I’m a Romney 2012 guy myself, but I have deep respect and admiration for Gov. Palin. I’m looking forward to finding out what her future holds.
Gee golly, I'm just so gosh darn tired of hearing about Palin
its_a_right_wing_thing Friday, April 17th at 4:08PM EDT (link)She screwed up on the Couric interview by not even being able to answer a question of some of the daily newspapers she reads, then she couldn’t figure out the role of the VP, and her horrid accent just makes me want to puke every time I hear it. I’m a conservative but I’ll always associate her with McCain and we all know how that worked out………
No one's forcing you to read articles about her, or comment on them
Finrod Friday, April 17th at 4:15PM EDT (link)You don’t even have any knowledge about the inner workings of Alaska, like Achance does. In other words, you’re a whiny git that’s repeating liberal tripe. Go away.
—
Finrod’s First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
You're not so 'tired' as to post on the subject though, are you? NT
USNJIMRET Friday, April 17th at 4:16PM EDT (link)Mediocre moby, wouldn't you say? nt
Achance Friday, April 17th at 4:19PM EDT (link)In Vino Veritas
Achance, I know that
Tanggor Friday, April 17th at 5:06PM EDT (link)you and Sarah have issues between you. But I can’t help but wish, at times like these, that she would reach out to you to leverage your experience and wisdom.
Given the awesome stuff you’ve written here at RS, I firmly believe it would benefit her.
“It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.” – George Washington
You are a lying moby, and it's YOU that does not know the VP's role.
E Pluribus Unum Friday, April 17th at 4:41PM EDT (link)I suppose you think Biden’s answer in the debate was correct, don’t you?
Carthago delenda est
Do your conservative t-shirt Christmas shopping at EPU Gear. Save the conservative muse, save the world.
Mr. Right Wing Thing
Steven Willis Friday, April 17th at 4:50PM EDT (link)The VP is President of the Senate. He is the presiding officer. He has the power of the gavel, which includes recognizing speakers. He has the power to rule a speaker or motion out of order. Of course, members may appeal his rulings, but he retains the basic power. He votes in the case of a tie.
VP Biden may not use those powers and thus may not do his job. Nevertheless, that is his job. Gov. Palin was and is correct. You are wrong.
Too bad you rely on an edited interview for your information and conclusions . . . especially when Couric and company performed the edit.
I listened to Governor Palin’s speech. God, I love her.
Palin/Jindal or Jindal/Palin 2012.
“Let it be said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
Paul, Second Timothy 4:7, The New Covenant.
Steve Willis
Professor of Law
University of Florida College of Law
Well said
jazzycmk Friday, April 17th at 8:35PM EDT (link)Thank you Steve. It’s also important to note that Palin was answering the question of a young grade school child at the time so she kept things in the simplest of terms.
jcmk
“90% of people don’t care about your problems…..and the other 10% are glad you have them” - former football coach Lou Holtz
Gotta expect some flak when you criticize a "rising star"
its_a_right_wing_thing Sunday, April 19th at 11:40AM EDT (link)Palin/Cheney 2012? Are you serious? That would get about 114 votes. Having Cheney on the ticket would simply invite all the Democrats to reignite all the bad Bush years. Why would you be in favor of that?
Why are you telling me the role of the VP? I didn’t ask the question.
“Too bad you rely on an edited interview for your information and conclusions . . . especially when Couric and company performed the edit.”
Too bad you’re too blindly loyal to the party. I on the other hand, am loyal to conservative ideology and not party politics. Just because someone has an “R” by their name doesn’t automatically get my support as Palin does in you’re eyes.
She’s fine for the people of Alaska, but when it comes to real politics, we need someone more qualified and I believe in order to win in 2012 that person has to be someone yet unnamed, someone capable of turning blue states red instead of red states blue as Obama did.
I do not know who that person is and I don’t think He has surfaced yet. Yes I said, he.
I do not think any Republican would have won this past election. It just wasn’t meant to be. It was a Democratic year and a testament to the Bush Administration. It also didn’t help that we had two weak and divisive candidates to the Democrats lone shining star who could do no wrong and to whom nothing stuck.
2012 I think will be lesser Republican revolt and we’ll start to get a few seats back here and there as the trust comes back but it will take time as the brand is tarnished and people are still angry over the last four years.
Its funny how willing to dismiss a person who doesn’t agree 100% with you.
So it will be a he, why so? there...
JadedByPolitics Sunday, April 19th at 11:48AM EDT (link)are plenty of women conservatives and OBTW they are the MOST vocal in the Republican Party but that is neither here nor there 2012 is a long way off BUT your dismissing of Cheney (WONDERUFL VICE PRESIDENT) is more telling about your brand of Republicanism than the person who made the suggestion of Palin/Cheney….it won’t be that because the man has given ALL he can to his Country and did so with grace and dignity! He took the HEAT for his President and that is the TRUE MARKER of a VP!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Door's over there (nt)
Neil Stevens Friday, April 17th at 6:43PM EDT (link)Want to run for conservatives? Give.
There Is No Crisis
Then Go Away
bc3 Saturday, April 18th at 12:30AM EDT (link)It’s a free country. No one forced you to read Painter’s thread.
I’m a little sick of people showing up on Palin threads and saying they are tired of reading about her,
bc3
Did you just say
Josh Painter Friday, April 17th at 4:13PM EDT (link)that you’re a conservative butt?
- JP
“An armed society is a polite society” - Robert A. Heinlein, “Beyond This Horizon” (1942)
I was there
dforston Friday, April 17th at 4:28PM EDT (link)…in the satellite room. Steele and Palin both came over to the satellite room in person after her big speech to say a few words.
It was a great night and so nice to have her come to the cornfields of Indiana.
Don't dismiss her out of hand
mblack Friday, April 17th at 4:37PM EDT (link)Governor Palin may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but she has connected with a lot of Americans who feel like she is one of them, & understands their concerns.
For the sophisticates and the apparatchiks of the party machine out there it may be hard to come to terms with, but the the average voter is fed up with the usual Ivy league lawyer stuffed suit that gets pushed out every election season. Most of all they don’t give a toss about Katie Couric and the rest of the character assassins equipped with a notepad & a camera crew.
I am just going to wait & see for myself.
Excellent post!
USNJIMRET Friday, April 17th at 4:44PM EDT (link)“For the sophisticates and the apparatchiks of the party machine out there it may be hard to come to terms with, but the the average voter is fed up with the usual Ivy league lawyer stuffed suit that gets pushed out every election season.”
Indeed.
Although you might also include life long career Politicians of every stripe, pedigree and education that sees the White House as their ‘earned’ reward for the life long ’service’.
Touché
mblack Friday, April 17th at 4:55PM EDT (link)What a great and succint point, , thanks for that!
Well said, mblack
Rich Tandler Friday, April 17th at 8:57PM EDT (link)I’m not quite sure what to think of her, but I’m sure as heck not going to let the media, the left, and the GOP county club bluebloods decide for me.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed with the tears of defeated politicians of BOTH parties and at ALL levels over the next few election cycles.
The Three T’s of reform–Term Limits, Tax Reform, and the Tenth Amendment
Just don't defend her too well you might get banned!!!
newagegop Friday, April 17th at 5:19PM EDT (link)I defended Sarah in a way that got me banned from HotAir. Oh well. I was my fault. I was too effective in mocking troll talk and upset the Romney guys over there.
I love the woman and it’s gotten to the point that I don’t care if she gets to be President anymore. I just know she inspired me to be a better father, husband, and Christian. America may not be good enough for Sarah Palin but I’m certainly grateful there are millions of Todd and Sarah Palins in America.
AllahPundit Is an Idiot
bc3 Saturday, April 18th at 12:33AM EDT (link)Why Michelle Malkin keeps him is a mystery to me. He’s better suited for the Huffington Post or Daily Kos.
bc3
One thing certain
Rapunzel46 Saturday, April 18th at 8:28PM EDT (link)He isn’t fond of Palin OR Beck!
Sarah
rick554 Friday, April 17th at 5:27PM EDT (link)The leftys and their buds in DC took their best shots at Palin last year and as far as I’m concerned ,they were WIDE left. They are truly scared of her. I say, You tell ‘em Sarah!!!
PALIN/CHENEY 2012!!
Rick554
The "Scorched Earth" approach is always best ...
Martin Knight Friday, April 17th at 5:35PM EDT (link)… against bad faith opposition.
If indeed, as you say Josh, Gov. Palin has realized that nothing she can do or say would placate her critics, that their opposition is actually personal and not policy-based, then I extend a hearty congratulations to the lady.
She is free - the shackles are off.
She should throw aside the rule book, forget being a lady and attack and name names, be constantly on the TV and radio in Alaska advocating for and defending her positions and policies with no quarter or compromise. She should instruct her cabinet appointees to make kangaroo court committee hearings an exercise in pain for all involved.
She should openly start recruiting challengers to recalcitrant Republicans and vulnerable Democrats and holding campaign events for them. Her office should, in no uncertain terms personally name and denounce members of the Press who write false stories about her or target her family.
If she cannot win their love, then she should at least have their fear.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it.
- Margaret Thatcher
NOTE: “consensus” = “Bipartisanship™”/”Centrism™”
5 stars
LJ "Beaglescout" Miller Friday, April 17th at 6:03PM EDT (link)Advice for the ages.
You don’t take a knife to a gunfight.
A gun to a knife fight, on the other hand, wins.
“Each of us has a natural right, from God, to defend his person, his liberty, and his property.”
Unfortunately, Republicans take boxing gloves to knife fights while Democrats bring guns. [nt]
Martin Knight Friday, April 17th at 7:12PM EDT (link)To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it.
- Margaret Thatcher
NOTE: “consensus” = “Bipartisanship™”/”Centrism™”
Ah, "The Chicago Way"
Josh Painter Friday, April 17th at 8:07PM EDT (link)“They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.”
- JP
“An armed society is a polite society” - Robert A. Heinlein, “Beyond This Horizon” (1942)
You Wanna Get Capone ?
Swamp_Yankee Friday, April 17th at 8:22PM EDT (link)Not Dead Yet!
Was on TV last night
bs Friday, April 17th at 8:28PM EDT (link)It’s one of those movies I can’t resist watching over and over. One of Sean Connery’s better roles, IMHO.
Decorum is fo’ suckas - unless it’s one of the good guys
Andy Garcia Was Good Too
Swamp_Yankee Friday, April 17th at 8:37PM EDT (link)I thought Garcia was going to become a major star, but he fell off. Godfather III ruined a lot of careers.
Not Dead Yet!
If she did learn that
JoeG Friday, April 17th at 8:50PM EDT (link)She will have learned a lesson that GWB was unable to reach after 8 years in office.
It just saddens me that for the first time in 60 years, the Republicans had all the levers of power and their only focus during that time was to try to get Dems to like them too.
What a waste of an incredible opportunity.
Palin-Jindal 2012?
reaganiterepublicanresistance Friday, April 17th at 6:39PM EDT (link)There is of course a strategy of pre-emption afoot, with the MSM and online media such as HuffPo all going after Palin in a substained effort, as mysterious “leaks” from nobody/false rumors, persist. If Sarah Palin is so silly and irrelevant, why the obsession?
Clearly the Left noted her appeal, and are out to eliminate the threat- It’s not like it’s not obvious-
And liberals’ double-standard sexism is appalling; she’s “dumb” because she’s a happy and attractive Christian, who enjoys being a mother? Real feminists need to be angry, wear combat boots, no make-up, short hair, and live alone in a studio apartment in the East Village?
She’s not the right kind of example because she doesn’t support affirmative action… but instead went out there and just kicked butt? Sarah Palin has been highly successful in life while ignoring the left-wing feminist model… this helps to explain the extra dose of venom in the attacks.
Democrats are plenty afraid of Palin coming-back at them in 2012 with a dynamic and complementary VP like Bobby Jindal… or visa versa. And they have plenty of reason to fear her. Palin is the most popular governor in the country; her 60+% approval rating exceeds that of the MSM-pimped Obama… are all those people up there idiots?
Alaska was a pretty corrupt system until she stepped in. Her reforms took on entrenched politicians (inc. Republicans), a mafioso-style union boss, and Big Oil.
Wouldn’t it have been nice if Obama had been principled and brave enough to confront the corrupt Chicago Democratic Machine? Or shady political operators like Tony Rezko? Racist preachers? Instead of doing business with every last one of them?
Go get em, Sarah- and don’t mind the press, nobody will be listening to them anymore after the pending Obamamania implosion.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2008/11/palinjindal-2012.html
Who, other than Gov. Palin, told you that
Achance Friday, April 17th at 7:10PM EDT (link)she stepped in? What mafioso-style union boss did she take on? She did get her windfall profits tax passed on the oil industry with the help of the Democrats and the FBI. Every Republican in the State was afraid to vote for anything the Industry wanted for fear the Public Integrity Section would have them in the dock. That would be the same PIS team whose conviction of Sen. Stevens got thrown out and which is facing contempt charges. Sarah Palin was just fine with that “old boy system” when it was sponsoring her from PTA mom, to City Council, to Wasilla mayor, to candidate for Lt. Gov., to the AOGCC, the sweetest, highest paying, best-travelled, most do-nothing patronage job in the Executive Branch. Every one of those steps was over the politically dead body of the “good old boy” who helped her get there. Those red Naughty Monkeys are about the same as the red hourglass on a black widow spider.
She certainly wasn’t alone in any of the things she brags about and was hardly involved in some of them at all, yet everybody in the Lower 48 thinks that she’s some St. Georgette who slays dragons here.
In Vino Veritas
Achance, We Can't Spare this Woman...
Section9 Friday, April 17th at 7:43PM EDT (link)…She Fights. She fights like no other. That’s why she’s loved down here.
And she knows how to fight like a Democrat.
Now much of what you say may be true. However, the PIS had everyone in Alaska politics running scared in those days. Palin had the smarts to climb over the dead bodies. What we don’t know is which Alaska Republicans weren’t on the take and which were. We know Stevens was set up; we may be able to clear a lot of other Republicans if we find out that the D’s used Justice to try and clean out the Alaska Oil Patch and take over your state. The Bushies were so scared after the Gonzales attorneys scam that the Democrats ran out of Arizona that Justice ran wild.
It may have been a case of Palin riding an anti-Republican, anti-Murkowski wave. You have to admit, Frank’s propping up of his daughter wasn’t the smartest decision he ever made. I happen to think that he was a good Senator, though.
I think what Palin’s figured out is that what got her through the Easy Money days of last year won’t wash this year because Obama has a big target on her back. Like it or not, she’s going to have to make up with the House Republicans of this world and recognize that while there were patronage interests involved in the pipeline project last year, no Democrat will help her out this year. WAR’s going down yesterday should have told her that.
When you’re Sarah Palin, it’s much better to have the Alaska Republicans in the tent peeing out than outside the tent peeing in. Her decision to help out Lisa was a good first step. She also showed again what a dadgum good speaker she is, but I agree-there’s repair work to be done.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
I don't really disagree with anything you've said.
Achance Friday, April 17th at 7:56PM EDT (link)I supported her for Governor and voted for McCain and her. I actually had to hold my nose more for McCain than her. I’ve said repeatedly here that Murkowski sealed his administration’s fate with the Lisa appointment. Drove me nuts and I had to predicate everything I did on working the delicate balance of keeping the unions scared and off-balance but not so much so that they would be able to effectively mobilize for the ‘04 election in which Lisa had to actually win a Statewide election against a pretty formidable opponent. God knows the government of Alaska can use a jet, but trying to get one almost did in Democrat Governor Bill Sheffield back in the early ’80s. Lot’s of us remembered how ugly that was and we tried to dissuade Murkowski, but Murkowski don’t do that listening stuff. Neither does Palin, BTW.
My old Daddy always told me that I should never pee in a well I might have to drink out of. Sarah Palin has peed in a Helluva lot of Republican wells. Only one Southeast Alaska Rep or Senator voted with her on WAR; Munoz from Juneau. Munoz’ calculus is that she has to try to get along with the woman, since she’s done everything in her power to strip the Capital from Juneau short of actually introducing the bill. You can be real concilliatory with a gun to your head.
Look at the Nays on WAR. The Speaker and both Finance Chairs voted against her nominee. No Cabinet level appointment has EVER been refused confirmation! It is equally unheard of for Leadership to vote against a Governor of their party. She has some fences to mend.
In Vino Veritas
"God knows the gov't of AK can use a jet"
Josh Painter Friday, April 17th at 8:13PM EDT (link)But sometimes a turboprop will get the job done.
; - )
- JP
“An armed society is a polite society” - Robert A. Heinlein, “Beyond This Horizon” (1942)
Sometimes; if you have the time, Josh.
Achance Friday, April 17th at 8:39PM EDT (link)I don’t know if you’ve ever travelled in Alaska. Nobody in Alaska knows how far it is between any two points in miles; distance is expressed in time and aircraft type or time and vessel type.
From Seattle to Ketchikan is two hours by B737. KTN to Juneau is an hour give or take. JNU to Anchorage is an hour and a half to an hour 45 depending on weather. ANC to Fairbanks is an hour. FAI to Barrow is a little over an hour and a half. Western Alaska is only accessible from ANC. ANC to Kotzebue is an hour and change. Nome is another fifty minutes or so; you can’t go to one without the other. ANC to Bethel is an hour. ANC to Dillingham is an hour or so. ANC to Kodiak is an hour, weather permitting and pilot willing. You don’t want to think about the distances, time and costs out to the Aleutian Chain. Now those are the “Hubs” the larger towns that you can get to by B737. From those places, you enter the world of the Cessna Caravan and 207, the Twin Otter, and in Southeast the Otter and Beaver, all either props or turboprops.
If you go and look at all those B737 times, you have to double them with a turboprop and accept far less weather capability in many cases. Were I still working for the State, if for some reason I really, really had to get to Barrow right now, I can get there by early afternoon tomorrow flying commercial. A State jet would have me there in three hours max if it could go non-stop and a little more if it had to stop in ANC, double that for a prop. Can we get by without one? Sure. Do we need one, Damn right we do, but it makes for good class warfare stuff to insist that everyone go commercial. The turboprops belong to the Troopers and are technically for prisoner transport and to bring Troopers to areas where they’re needed; they’re only executive transportation when a governor demands it or if the plane is already going and the Gov hitches a ride. Mostly, Governors and everybody else fly commercial as far as they can and then either charter or fly with the Troopers. BTW, the last time I checked, that ticket from Juneau to Barrow was about $1500.
In Vino Veritas
Alaska needs to get past its Populist phase
Section9 Saturday, April 18th at 12:01AM EDT (link)For it to do this, now that the Stevens Scam has been revealed, Palin needs to mend fences with the Party. The WAR debacle revealed that. Shame it happened to WAR, who was a former NRA board member and, AFAIK, a good conservative lawyer.
Now would be a good time for Sarah to call in some members of the Alaska Republican Party and ask for some suggestions, including yourself. In other words, now that the Radioactive Guy has been turned down, someone just as conservative, but less radioactive, can get approved. This is what I think she’ll do, so she can line up Republican support over the Beth Kertulla issue (which is, apparently, a grudge match between her and Beth over Beth’s part in Kim Elton’s Troopergate scam).
People like a reform Governor. But they want someone who gets things done. Arnold’s act ran out of bells and whistles really quick because, in the end, he ran away from the California Republican Party. I don’t believe Sarah actually wants to do that-she needs the AK Party to serve as her national foundation. That’s why I think she’s started to mend fences with the Murkowski Familia and has stayed as reasonably close as she could to Ted Stevens.
It’s her relationship with the Republicans in the State Legislature that needs work. And yes, she needs a jet.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
To Section9 and Achance
SCSoxFan Saturday, April 18th at 8:13AM EDT (link)You say Palin needs to reconcile with the AK GOP. But, reconciliation takes both sides. I am not an Alaskan (as you can tell from my handle) but I have been following Alaska politics since January as well as someone from down here can.
You both are implying that she is the one who has to mend fences. But, from the contempt resolution against her staff and husband to the continual snide remarks about her “national ambitions” and this whining about her taking a day to go to Indiana for this speech, it appears that most Republican legislators seem to be petty bastards who want to take every pound of flesh from her that they can. So, I’d say that THEY have as much work to do on their side of the fence as she does on hers. Right now, I suspect that she thinks that if she reaches out her hand it will get slapped back. She seems to be making peace with the Murkowskis and her olive branch to Stevens’ supporters may be well received. But, the GOP in the legislature will have to reach out as well.
Maybe we should elect some Democrats
Achance Saturday, April 18th at 2:10PM EDT (link)that aren’t “petty bastards.” Frankly, most Rs would be reticent to reach a hand out to her for fear of having it bitten. She drove the Republican President of the Senate out of office. She and her Lt. Gov. took on Rep. Young. No matter what she says now, she openly called for Sen. Stevens to resign. Gov. Palin didn’t rise to power all by herself the Alaska Republican Party made her. She was among the more favored up-and-coming political figures in the State. Murkowski openly favored her as his Lt. Gov. When she lost he gave her one of the cushiest patronage jobs in the State, which she blew up in his face. Her career is built on the dead bodies of Republicans who helped her. And, you know, we didn’t know that we were all corrupt and incompetent “good old boys” until she told us and a national audience and continued her Pharisiacal mantra of elect me for I am not as others. She liked that “old boy” system just fine until she got to the point she didn’t think she needed it anymore. We were also surprised to learn that she had said “No thanks” on the Ketchikan bridge money. No, she said no to the KTN bridge and kept the money so it could be spent elsewhere in the State. That would explain Sen. Johansen’s (R-Ketchikan) vote against WAR or pretty much anything else she might want. Yeah, there’s some fences to be mended all right.
In Vino Veritas
Bill Cox makes the case for turboprops
Josh Painter Saturday, April 18th at 1:06AM EDT (link)“Still, turboprops continue to do some things better than virtually anything else in the business-aircraft class. In addition to lower acquisition cost, better specific fuel consumption and cheaper direct operating costs, propjets offer cabin size, noise and vibration levels comparable to many jets, and because jets must spend more time climbing, the speed trade-off isn’t always as significant as you might imagine. Turboprops sometimes can produce good speed in the lower flight levels, whereas most corporate jets must be operated above 33,000 feet to realize their speed potential. Also, turboprops offer better short-field performance than pure jets. They’re typically able to operate from shorter, semi-prepared runways with less danger of FODing an engine.”
http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/aircraft/pilot-reports/beechcraft/the-littlest-king-air.html
- JP
“An armed society is a polite society” - Robert A. Heinlein, “Beyond This Horizon” (1942)
It's not like we can't afford some of each. nt
Achance Saturday, April 18th at 1:13AM EDT (link)In Vino Veritas
Sounds Like Sour Grapes
bc3 Saturday, April 18th at 12:41AM EDT (link)From your posts it’s clear that you don’t like Palin because: 1) she torpedoed some of your buddies (who probably deserved it) and 2) she wants to relocate the state capitol from Juneau, which is a ridiculous location anyway - a 21 hour drive and ferry ride from the state’s largest city (the time it takes to drive from Detroit to Miami).
Most of your constant criticism of Palin appears to be in your best interest.
bc3
oh my...
DONTREADONME Saturday, April 18th at 12:48AM EDT (link)I am joking with you BTW.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the UNITED AbomiNATIONS”-Megadeth
No worry, he just ain't worth the effort. nt
mbecker908 Saturday, April 18th at 12:57AM EDT (link)Well, bc3, when a pissant like you can tell me one thing
Achance Saturday, April 18th at 1:17AM EDT (link)about Alaska politics, I’ll give a damn what you think.
In Vino Veritas
Dear Mr. Achance: One difference between you
Outrider Saturday, April 18th at 9:14AM EDT (link)and Gov. Palin is that she does not publicly refer to those who disagree with her as “pissants.” But, I suppose you are right in saying that you know more about politics than she does. I am certainly in no position to judge. I’m curious by the way, how people have actually voted for you? In how many elections?
And you know that how?
Achance Saturday, April 18th at 10:00AM EDT (link)Word here is the reason she’s trying so hard to keep those emails from being released to the public is that some of them are quite “colorful.”
I’m usually quite civil with those with whom I merely disagree. Not so much of people who make accusations, something most Palinbots do far better than actually formulate positions which support the Governor. Interestingly and ironically, the Palinbots respond the same way the Obamaniacs do: If you critize anything BHO says or does you’re a racist and you’re just angry because he took the Presidency away from the Republicans. If you criticize Gov. Palin, you’re a misogynist and you’re just one of the disgruntled old boys that she “kicked out.”
In Vino Veritas
Palin is extremely gifted...
Section9 Saturday, April 18th at 6:28PM EDT (link)But she’s going nowhere fast without the Alaska Republican Party. The D’s figured out just how naturally talented she is, and they want to kill her. Her problem, of course, is that she alienated some people that she shouldn’t have early on in her climb up the ladder.
Now, part of the problem is that there were some corrupt Republicans running around. That made it easy for her. The whole Ketchickan bridge thing was an imbroglio that didn’t need to happen, primarily because Gravinia Island actually needs that bridge built. More people are moving to Ketchickan and that airport is going to need a bridge built to it from the mainland. Gravinia Island became a poster child for a corrupt Republican Congress gone haywire.
Sarah wasn’t just running against the Alaska GOP in 2006, she was running against the Washington GOP. It’s part of the reason she won.
It’s also part of the reason she can’t get the Party behind her: there’s a lot of bad feeling left over from Gravinia Island and other incidents early in her career. Thus, a really, really good guy like WAR pays the price for some score-settling.
As I said earlier: you makes amends by doing the little things. Helping out Lisa is a start. Going to the House Republicans to ask them for suggestions on WAR’s successor and taking their advice is another. Let the legislative party get some skin in the game. Pick some fights with Democrats that don’t involve the Palin family and that involve public policy and oil and gas improvements.
Politics isn’t beanbag. I wouldn’t want to elect a Governor of Alaska who was a candy-a$$. She fights. That’s what matters to me. However, too many of her fights have been with the wrong people. That’s got to stop.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
Not that it really needs to be said, but Art has it dead on again
AKSteveB Saturday, April 18th at 1:17AM EDT (link)I know he has had some personal interaction with her, while I haven’t, so we’re coming from different places. What the outside supporters need to understand is, that this isn’t about destroying a possibly promising national figure or even anything real personal. We’re just in a tough spot up here right now, (well actually at this second I’m in Arkansas, but anyway) … and ..resources (oil, mining) are pretty much what we have. I’m only speaking for me, but I’m concerned that all the national stuff is putting us further behind the eightball in terms of preparing for the future. Remember, we’ve been butted around for years by the outside Greenies, it doesn’t feel a whole lot better when it is *our* outsiders who have their own interests first. A bunch of us I’m sure want to scream at everyone “Just leave us alone” and no doubt that is part of the tension between Alaskan Repubs and some of you all.
Hell is other people - Sartre
Yeah, but look, it is what it is.
Section9 Saturday, April 18th at 6:32PM EDT (link)McCain picked an extremely talented, young politician who has excited movement conservatives as no one has since Reagan.
She also tends to be a fighter. There’s a point at which one says that it can’t be helped. If Ken Salazar is going to try and shut Alaska down for political reasons, then that’s what’s going to happen.
Do you fight that, or do you bi**h about Palin?
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
Sarah wasn't born yesterday...
Section9 Friday, April 17th at 7:16PM EDT (link)She knows that nothing she can do will appease her opponents.
I suspect what you’ll see come out is a continuation of her old Reformist tendencies and a broad-based, Reaganesque assault on the heart of Obama’s program. Obama’s program is succeeding because there is no national Republican to articulate any kind of coherent opposition.
There is no one around who is arguing that 11 trillion dollars in deficits are madness.
No one is articulation that while health care reform is necessary, National Socialism is not only unnecessary, but will bankrupt the country.
Palin can do this, but she needs to begin a sustained argument against the core of Obama’s program and cohere opposition around her person. The rest of the Republicans will fall into line behind her.
As she does this, it will be critical for her to present coherent, realistic alternatives that House Republicans can use on the Hill to beat the ruling liberals over the head and, conceivably, split the ruling caucus down the line. The objective, of course, is to make the Blue Dogs scared of their own Leadership’s madnesses before 2010.
Palin is no superwoman, but she connects with working people who can relate government deficits as far as the eye can see with low productivity, massive waste, and Chinese supremacy. Fortunately for us, the Democrats do NOT get this yet. I see no indication at all that the Ruling Party, in the White House or on the Hill, understand the danger they are in yet.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
Sarah is a CATALYST
lonebeagle Friday, April 17th at 7:50PM EDT (link)Sarah Palin is important because she really is a catalyst–she causes conservatives to become excited and participate. That’s why she is important.
Sarah Palin might not be the next GOP nominee for POTUS, but right now that’s not important. What’s important is that she is energizing the conservative base of the Republican Party. The GOP is in dire need of something and/or someone to get a reaction or movement going.
Bobby Jindal is also a possible force to get things rolling since he is also not from the standard issue mold. And let’s face it, the GOP standard issue candidate is about as exciting and inspiring as a slice of Wonder Bread.
You don’t have to be a Harvard lawyer or Fulbright scholar to be POTUS–you just need vision and the ability to get the people excited and motivated. Remember Ronald Reagan–he was everything that Obama and Clinton aren’t.
So Sarah is very important right now and probably in the future.
5 5 5 .....RIGHT ON...she may not be the next POTUS...
JadedByPolitics Friday, April 17th at 7:53PM EDT (link)BUT she brings energy and money to the cause! If anyone cannot see that then they just are not paying attention or they HATE her so much they are blinded by the reality!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Jaded she desperately needs some professionals
AKSteveB Saturday, April 18th at 1:22AM EDT (link)who will give her some direction, and who she would trust enough to listen to what she might not want to hear. I do see the energy, but it needs to have some focus and discipline. I’ll give her this, when she speaks about Alaska to that group, wow.
Hell is other people - Sartre
Great, she'll turn into just another politician...
lonebeagle Saturday, April 18th at 2:23AM EDT (link)“Professionals”? That’s the problem with politics today. It’s all phony, mass marketing, focus group sweet n low.
Discipline? Like Bill Clinton or “The One”?
Our country will meet its demise because its people and politicians became corrupt and dishonest. I bet a huge portion of the people out there don’t even know what being “honest” means.
Remember the ridiculous hand wringing done by the MSM when it asked if “Character was a necessary quality for being President” in regards to BJ Clinton? The position that the left took was that it was only important if Clinton was doing his “job” (or someone was giving him a job).
Well we’ve gone down a few notches from those days.
Sarah Palin needs no “coaching” or “professionals” since it’s obvious that people are attracted to her because she is real. You know, just like a regular person! What a concept! That people are just people and not gods or celebrities or whatever.
If George Washington were to come back to save our nation, the pundits and political “professionals” would say, “Look George, things have changed and you’ve really got to reinvent yourself to be relevant today. Character, judgement and a belief in God are “so yesterday”.”
Of course in my opinion she is just another politician
AKSteveB Saturday, April 18th at 12:04PM EDT (link)but I know others vehemently disagree.
Having said that, politics IS a profession. I’m not talking about focus groups, polling, marketing. I’m talking about knowing what battles to fight, when to fight them, who to talk to, who not to talk to etc. There is no reason for her or hers to be talking to tabloids. NOTHING is gained by that. In terms of discipline, yes that is always a good thing, politican or not. I’m not sure why you mentioned Clinton in that. His lack of self discipline was his undoing.
Finally, anyone either in a postion of power or potentially in one, needs confidantes who will tell them what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear. You can’t just sirround yourself with sycophants. Show me a successful anything, and I’ll show you someone who picks good people and listens to them.
Hell is other people - Sartre
If all it takes is being "real" let's pick the POTUS by lottery
Achance Saturday, April 18th at 12:12PM EDT (link)from names in the phone book next time.
I’d prefer that we have a President or a Governor that actually knows what the switches and levers of government do and not only what a government should do but what it takes to get it to do it. Somebody with enough political savvy that if they wanted to appoint someone with a lot of controversial baggage to be their Attorney General, they might think it was smart to wait a couple of weeks and appoint the AG when the Legislature isn’t in session so he could serve until the next Session before facing confirmation. Stuff like that.
In Vino Veritas
Art, whoever Palin appointed was going to get hit.
Section9 Saturday, April 18th at 6:36PM EDT (link)St. Francis of Assissi wouldn’t have gotten past that legislature.
That said, she should have waited. It would have been the clever move, and it would have gotten everyone used to WAR. Your point is taken.
Now she has to go hat in hand to the House Republicans to get their advice. At least, that’s what I’d do if I were her.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
I dunno, Section9, it would be hard to think of
Achance Saturday, April 18th at 7:25PM EDT (link)a more controversial AG nominee than WAR, and it ain’t the NRA Board that makes him so. In Alaska, even liberal Democrats are NRA life members. Eric Croft, the liberal candidate for Anchorage mayor and former State Rep, is a Life Member who sponsored the carry unless prohibited law here. WAR is deliberately bombastic and flamboyant. The Red H-1 Hummer with the WAR ego plates is just the tip of the iceberg. (And I’m not really being negative towards the H-1, wouldn’t mind one myself, and I drive a Speeding Ticket Red Chrysler 300, lowered, with loud exhausts, and with an ego plate - in a town with 38 miles of road.)
In Vino Veritas
All the more reason for Palin to invite in Republicans
Section9 Sunday, April 19th at 10:07AM EDT (link)To sit down with her and “consult” with her about WAR’s replacement. Again, I don’t think Palin’s really in trouble for 2010, but I do believe that this defeat indicates that she needs to sit down with the House Republican caucus and work with them as a team.
She’s probably done MORE of that than you give her credit for doing, but as much as I like WAR, there was absolutely no reason this AG appointment should have gone down the way it did. She screwed up, and if she was set on WAR, she should have set it as a recess appointment to give everyone in the Republican Caucus time to get used to him. She can’t be superwoman, I get that. But she CAN create alliances. That’s basic politics.
Unlike you, I think she gets that and the whole “I back Lisa” deal is the primary indication of her long term state strategy of trying to do a Republican + Independent + “Palin Democrat” strategy statewide. The whole strategy of running against the GOP has come a cropper with the detonation of the Stevens case and the news that the D’s were using the Bush justice department as a vehicle to take over Alaska politics. Now all those Radiocative Republicans aren’t so Radioactive anymore, and the PIS’ name is mud in Anchorage and Juneau.
This, by the way, is a new reality which works to the advantage of the State GOP in a big, big way. I think Sarah gets this, which is why you’ve seen the repositioning over Stevens.
By the way, as to WAR, you actually have to like that nomination and what it says about her judicial thinking. Limited government, Second Amendemnt, Hummers. Unfortunately, bad timing.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
My only problem with WAR is the one I'd have with any
Achance Sunday, April 19th at 5:49PM EDT (link)flamboyant trial lawyer as AG, and with lawyers generally as political managers. First, their mouth WILL get them and their boss in trouble; no doubt, no exception, they will shoot off their mouth about something and get the Gov in trouble. Second, lawyers and other advocates have to believe they can win any argument. A lawyer as a political manager will always figure out some way that he CAN do something and not spend nearly enough time thinking about whether he SHOULD do it. A good rule if you’re an officeholder is that you should run anytime one of your lawyers tells you something is “arguably legal.”
In Vino Veritas
The other way to look at the WAR appointment
Achance Sunday, April 19th at 5:54PM EDT (link)is that she was being pressured to appoint him and she did then threw him to the wolves. Don’t know how I feel about whether she’d do that or not. If WAR feels like she threw him to the wolves, she will have made herself one Hellaciously loud and belicose enemy.
I kinda like WAR too, but I don’t know that I’d want him in any administration I was a part of; too independent, too flamboyant. Sorta like me! I’m like what they say about guns; you only need me when you REALLY need me. The rest of the time you try to keep me out of sight.
In Vino Veritas
Josh, you missed the BEST PART OF IT ALL!
Rod_Patrick Friday, April 17th at 8:34PM EDT (link)IT’S MY FIRST TIME AGAIN TO HEAR AN AMERICAN POLITICIAN SPEAKING IN THE PODIUM WHO IS SO SINCERELY UNABASHED IN SAYING….
“I PRAY TO GOD!”
… NOT ONCE…. BUT MANY TIMES.
I remember those good old days of a beautiful America.
Amen, brother.
Josh Painter Saturday, April 18th at 1:08AM EDT (link)- JP
“An armed society is a polite society” - Robert A. Heinlein, “Beyond This Horizon” (1942)
Palin rocked !
redright Saturday, April 18th at 4:01AM EDT (link)Can’t wait to see more. Palin gets her message across with such sincerity, no wonder she scares those idiots. I so want her to go all the way being the lead in the ticket. I don’t care who her running mate is because Palin will make the right decision.(my hope is another conservative woman) It would be nice to watch the lefty medias heads explode. My pick would be susan bachmann, wow. Think about that? Palin/Bachmann 2012
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I don’t know who will lead us, but they must be made to speak to this spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society.
What do I think?
Moe Lane Saturday, April 18th at 8:09AM EDT (link)I think that you need to attribute your Lee Atwater quote. Not to mention properly quote it in the first place.
By your next post, please.
Check out my new blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (blogging-related) wish list.
And Reagan's Counsel Reminds Us To Keep Palin In Perspective
Swamp_Yankee Saturday, April 18th at 2:33PM EDT (link)Interesting articel in the L.A. Times about the veep selection process. The selection committe was led by A.B. Culvahouse, Reagan’s chief counsel. Culvahouse vetted 26 candidates and it seems everyone was infatuated with Palin. Culvahaouse had 30 Washington, D.C., attorney vetters and all 30 were “impressed with her presence”. These are salty old vets of D.C.
According to the article:
“She fills up a room,” Culvahouse told a Washington meeting of the Republican National Lawyers Assn. (See video below.) Even difficult questions, he said, she knocked “out of the park” during the vice president interview process.
While the media continues their campaign to destroy Palin by death from a thousand paper cuts and local Alaskans are immersed in the tawdry business of state politics, let us not forget her raw talent and raw appeal. The battle scarred, tried and tested veteren lawyers of the Reagan years see it, so should we.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/sarah-palin-mccain-vp.html
Not Dead Yet!
People keep referring back to
Rapunzel46 Saturday, April 18th at 8:35PM EDT (link)the Gibson and Palin interviews, but I read the transcript of the Gibson interview and they totally hacked the video they showed, it did not match the actual transcripts — never mind his professoral attitude… and Couric… personally I would like to see raw, uncut, footage of the entire series of interviews. Clearly she and Sarah did not hit it off, but she, too, was very condesending to Sarah… and her unprofessional approach has earned her nothing but praise and rejuvenation of her own career.
What really bugs me is how many people believe it was Palin who said: “and I can see Russia from my house” when that was actually a joke line on SNL from Tina Fey… that one joke formed many people’s incorrect views of this candidate.
Bear in mind, Palin was really New back Then
Section9 Sunday, April 19th at 10:11AM EDT (link)This was a woman who was beaten up in two interviews because, in her mind, she was treating a Presidential Campaign as if it were an Alaska Gubernatorial Campaign and as if she were talking with someone from the Juneau Empire.
She won’t make this mistake again.
Yeah, she was handled poorly by idiots who worked for the Bush Communications staff-but it was partly poor judgement on her part not to do more fightback against McCain Campaign idiocy.
She learned, and is now both harder and wiser.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill