I have admitted I have a slight crush but am more amazed by the strength of anger focused on Mrs. Palin from some Democrats and also perhaps the degree of adoration by certain Republicans. There is a very good article in The New York Times - that bastion of leftiest lies - entitled "The Unusual Challenges Palin Faced in Alaska" that points out that the Governorship there is never a cakewalk and that her two years were more active than most.
I don't need to hear the lipstick and bulldog joke again, however. We should not be in a position where her family, gender, age or decision to work in leadership become questions. We do not question absentee Dads ever and she has no plan to be an absentee. Her speech was more than polished - it balanced that somewhat embarassing effort by Rudy Giuliani. I have a sense (avoiding the now worn out word "hope") that she will be able to speak to specifics - perhaps even demand them - in the campaign. That would be good. I have a sense that the Vice-Presidential debate may be more interesting than the senior circuit's one.
But she has flip-flopped on the Bridge to Nowhere, lives (like Canadian conservatives) with the dillusionary effects of resource based surpluses, has a love hate relationship with earmarks and has to decide whether she is rejecting or embracing the apparently gushingly offered title of "American's Sweetheart". I hope she rejectes it and the accompanying cloy. I hope this is about capability as much as experience. But having hope about politics is a bit of a mug's game.
Comments
Paul MacLatchy - September 4, 2008 10:17 am
I am very curious to know where she, as the govenor of Alaska, stood on the Bush administration's desire to open up the Alaska Wildife Reserve areas to petroleum exploitation.
Anybody happen to know?
Alan - September 4, 2008 10:29 am
She's a pumper as far as I know. But, being an Atlantic Canadian, I fear no off-shore rigs.
Alan - September 4, 2008 10:30 am
Unless the Reserve is not only (or at all) marine in which case I don't know that much.
sean - September 4, 2008 11:15 am
She is pro-destruction of the environment.. Check out wired magazine online, the politics blog. I'll try to post a link after this post but it usually dumps my entire comment when I do.
sean - September 4, 2008 11:16 am
insert an htt p before the slashes //blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/john-mccain-pic. insert an html after dot
Alan - September 4, 2008 11:36 am
"She is pro-destruction of the environment..."
That is just stunned.
And please use the "<a href..." tag to create links. It is easy-peasy.
sean - September 4, 2008 11:57 am
Fine, I'll use tags, but I will say my HTML days are in teh past, I want WSYIWYG!!
I guess I meant pro-drilling or anti-bear.
Alan - September 4, 2008 12:00 pm
That is where "kitten eating" comes from. It makes it hard to actually consider the subject matter.
She is both pro- and anti- bear as far as I can tell. Happy to kill them but also happy to eat them, too.
David Janes - September 4, 2008 1:07 pm
I like her, but I have to say I'm laughing my ass off at "Caribou Barbie" ;-)
Alan - September 4, 2008 1:15 pm
Does that Barbie accessory pack come with it's own moose for back country dressing? And does this not go some way to confirm the relationship with Big Jim after all?
David Janes - September 4, 2008 2:47 pm
I don't know about Big Jim, but given the 5 kids I doubt it's Ken as he's umm, lacking somewhat in package department.
Alan - September 4, 2008 5:38 pm
Interesting column in the other Times.
Peggy McGilligan - September 4, 2008 8:30 pm
Again, ever see a skater go down hard; legs akimbo, that look of disbelief. We’re seeing Sarah Palin’s detractors fold like lawn chairs. It’s a long overdue moment. Bet you can’t watch just once: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX7X4FovYRA&NR=1 And how ‘bout them Dems, they done yet: http://theseedsof9-11.com
Alan - September 4, 2008 8:34 pm
Wow - you had me going there but you blew it with the conspiracy flake stuff at the end.
Wolfe - September 4, 2008 10:24 pm
She's definately been for drilling in the infamous anwar reserve.
Its better for the environment - that oil doesn't have to come from a place where standards are lower. Unless it just drops the price of oil. But we don't have to worry about that, since it wouldn't come on line for 10 years anyways!
Apparently, she rejected the plan from the big 3 American oil companies to build a pipeline from AK to the mainland, and instead took bids for a shorter one to connect to the Canadian system. A Canadian company won the bid, they say.
But I am pretty biased and in love.
sean - September 5, 2008 9:47 am
Well, I have trouble trusting anyone that evengelicals fawn over, and the fact that she is supporting drilling in the reserve when the oil companies have gazillions of acres of untouched places they could be drilling in instead, but don't, bugs me.
And I'm sorry Wolfe, but she was cute five kids ago. Now she's just Laura Roslin to me and thats not a good thing, which places me smack in the middle of the Cylon supporters, I know, I know.
sean - September 9, 2008 2:22 pm
Interesting how CNN has started to notice how Mrs. Palins rather evengelical bent (what wit the speaking in tongues and yearing for the apocalypse stuff) has been downplayed. Whereas in Canada where people are less religious, it is never entirely mentioned at all that Steve-O (and Chuck Strahl) belongs to a fairly non-mainstream brand of evengelical faith. Same one from which the "Children of God" cult formed... I guess we have a Theocratic leader here too..
Sean - September 16, 2008 11:38 pm
Egad.. Further evidence that Palin is the anti-Sean:
Sean - September 16, 2008 11:39 pm
Dang.. that href thing no work.. I try again
<a href=Egad.. Further evidence that Palin is the anti-Sean:
Sean - September 16, 2008 11:41 pm
Argh
put an http here then a ://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/15/john-mccain-literally-antiscience/
that aughta work