First, I know I was going to have my research on Biden and my dissection of the Obama acceptance speech out soon, but this topic caught my attention!
HERE WE GO!
Governor Sarah Palin (R, Alaska) has been nominated for Vice President of the United States. I was quite surprised by this pick. I thought he would pick Romney, but alas JSM surprised us. At first, I thought just like Michael Savage (His Headline: McCain throws election, picks inexperienced woman from Alaska), but I am changing my mind. It appears Governor Palin is a brilliant pick! This still may not be enough to get me to vote McCain/Palin, but I am looking.
I spent the day researching her before too much minutiae got out there to pollute the water. I am happy with what I have found. I found one scandal that appears the actions are exactly what everyone would do. I fully realize that more information will come out, but my initial reaction is Wow!
So, let’s dive in!
Things I like about her:
1. Palin opposes same sex marriage and benefits to homosexual couples:
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/governor06/story/8049298p-7942233c.html
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5843150
http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/8508726p-8401181c.html
2. Strong on the 2nd Amendment, Hunter, Lifetime member of the NRA:
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=4156
3. Only one of the candidates to hold an executive position: Governor of Alaska. And, she did it with 5 children!!
4. Believes in Liberty, reining in government
“…competition is so good and that applies to political parties as well”
“My administration remains focused on reining in government growth so individual liberty and opportunity can expand.”
Said in this address to the Alaskan Independence Party. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8
5. She is pro-life:
She not an in-vain pro-lifer. She found out during her recent pregnancy that the child would have downs syndrome. Her family chose to still keep the baby. Instead of saying “Why us?,” she said “Why not us?” Windy and I chose to not even have the tests because it would not change our decision to have the baby.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-10-4082128881_x.htm
6. Fiscal policy:
How she came up with the idea that will save Alaska $7.1 Billion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAsgJR5Im5c
During the first days of her governorship, she followed through with campaign promises by selling the private jet purchased by the previous administration. She made $237 million in cuts to the budget reducing government and further decreasing construction budgets by $1.6 billion.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml
She realized that the higher gas prices paid my Alaskans were actually paying for their own oil. So, because the Alaskans own the oil, she wants to give that money back to them.
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/407821.html
She reduced the Alaskan budget killing 300 projects and shrinking the government:
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml
7. Energy Policy:
Position on Drilling in Alaska including ANWR for natural gas and oil:
3:45 Oil Tax Increase
5:09 Decontrol, Deregulate energy policy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ys4HGbiONY
4:21 Suing FED over Polar Bear Declaration, Drilling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3jnbiHAMuY
Consequences of drilling of ANWR, Renewable energy, Energy Policy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GE11URmmnc
8. Then, she stands up to big oil:
She fought against big oil (Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron) by passing tax increases on oil profits.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a13e84JyS2B8&refer=home
She spearheaded a natural gas pipeline which negated a bad contract to a coalition that included BP (which is one of her husband’s employers – Again, doing the right thing.)
http://alaskalegislature.com/stories/060607/leg_20070606018.shtml
9. She fights corruption even against her own party members:
While she was head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, she resigned because nothing was done after she reported to the Governor ethics violations of someone who was a REPUBLICAN (AGAINST her party – Also, known as doing the right thing). The state of Alaska passed laws to prohibit her from speaking out about ethical violations and corruption!! Later, the person forced to admit and pay fines for the abuses.
http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?pg=1
http://www.adn.com/fbi/story/335318.html
Some things I don’t like:
1. Believes in climate change; established Climate Change Sub-Committee (I believe it is a farce):
http://www.pewclimate.org/node/4875
2. Lack of experience. She has only been governor for 20 months! Before that, she was mayor of a small city. That being said, she has done allot in those 20 months while being pregnant. Tough, but the truth is: Lack of experience. After-all, she could be just a heartbeat from the Presidency.
3. The scandal that never was:
Wooten Scandal:
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/jul/28/scrutiny-wooten-raises-conduct-questions/
http://www.anchoragepress.com/site/basicarticle.asp?ID=748
Aide says he acted alone:
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/13/palin-says-recording-shows-staffer-pressing-troope/
Is Wooten a good trooper?
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/476430.html
The documents:
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Complaint_memo_against_Wooten_4-1-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Trooper_warning_to_Wooten_4-12-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/13/071607-palin-monegue-050205-interview-transcript.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/12/071608-palin-monegue-sarahtodd-interview.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/12/071608-palin-monegue-troopernotes.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/12/071608-palin-monegue-todd-interview.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/21/18/Wooten_interview.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Heath_e-mail_10-11-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Memo_of_findings_10-29-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/23/10/palin-email.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/26/13/Wall_invest_support_5-1-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Memo_overturning_findings_2-1-06.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Correction_-_addition_to_memo_of_findings__2-1-06.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/21/16/Wooten_suspend_letter.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
What she says about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pak-rH0dCeA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQx42Tsz5NQ
What I think:
I think if she was involved, she did what everyone would do. Wooten is NOT a good trooper and should have been released. However, I have to be fair and balanced. Did she do this because of the family issues? I cannot put it past anyone to do it. Did she do this because he is a really bad trooper that she knew about? If so, I think I would do the same. If you have knowledge that any trooper is bad, shouldn’t you act on it? Isn’t it the right thing to do?
Before you die-hards start, BHO’s scandals don’t compare. First, BHO’s track record illustrates a pattern. This one “scandal” does not illustrate a pattern. I will concede that this could change as more information becomes available. Again, this is an initial study.
Standard Info:
Real American:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrBe9AJyb-k
10 things you didn’t know about her:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1837523_1837531_1837528,00.html
Acceptance Speech:
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/163813.html
Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
Fun on Craig’s show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh-lW2opLyQ