As we go into the second of four possible VP choices I have chosen to highlight Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Elected in 2006 Sarah Palin is the first woman, and the youngest person at 44 years of age, to hold the office of governor in Alaska. Nicknamed “Sarah Barracuda” while she was leading her High School basketball team to the State title. She has gone after corrupt politicans on both sides, supports drilling in ANWR and drilling off-shore, is a strong fiscal conservative, and a devout Christian. She currently has around a 90% approval rating. Let’s start with looking at how she has attacked corrpution in her state.
Governor Palin has passed ethics reforms in her state and is ethical to the point where it almost cost her a political career. She is refered to as, “A crusading corruption buster”. She has gone after corrupt Republicans as well as Democrats in Alaska. “The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah,” says pollster Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign. It includes Ruedrich, Renkes, Murkowski, gubernatorial contenders John Binkley and Andrew Halcro, the three big oil companies in Alaska, and a section of the Daily News called “Voice of the Times,” which was highly critical of Palin and is now defunct.” (Hard to sell papers critizing someone with a 90% approval rating.) It is now a crime in Alaska for public servants not to report bribery that they know about.
Another issue where she would be a plus is on Coastal drilling as well as drilling in ANWR. With high energy prices and American’s screaming for congress to act Palin will help highlight one of Obama’s biggest weaknesses. Also being from Alaska Americans may be more interested in her opinion about drilling there than they would a politican who may have visited once or twice in their lifetime.
Governor Palin also has a record has a strong fiscal conservative. She believes that people can handle their money better than government, an overriding conservative principle. Palin cut property taxes while at the same time increasing services as a Council Member/Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. As Governer She has vetoed 1/3 of earmarks put into legislation, including several put in by Republicans.
Governor Palin is a devout Christian. This can only help McCain with the social conservative base of the party. Who, for whatever reasons, do not believe he shares their values. Palin is pro-life and believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. However she failed to sign a bill outlawing Gay Marriage due to the fact the Alaskan Supreme Court had said the law would be unconstitutional. She refers to her State Constitution as “my bible in governing.”
Let’s see did I forget anything why else would this young woman be a good pick for VP. That’s right, because she’s a young woman. Having a energetic young woman on the ticket would help McCain with the women’s vote and Palin could also do a great job on energizing the base. Also with a nickname like “Sarah Barracuda” you have to believe she could fill out the traditional role of the VP has an attack dog very well. I would not want to be on the other side of a debate with her.
Go to NewConservative for more from me.
A barracuda with weak teeth , she missed some. Young and Stevens should have been ate alive within months of her taking office. She probably has a suitcase full of documents on each of them, just waiting to leap and bury the suckers.
There is a significant number of conservatives up here who wonder what planet those who have been put under the Palin spell live on. The governor is responsible for a 400% increase in taxes on the oil industry, the life blood of the state, and has successfully made their marginal tax rate 70%. Oh, and it is progressive, so if the price of oil reaches a certain point, the marginal tax could reach 100%. Those who hate Exxon love her–and who disparages the oil industry? Liberals.
ric
Scrap Iron, I believe Palin just endorsed Young’s Primary opponet in an Statewide ad. I think the Stevens situation is taking care of itself.
Ric, She has an almost 90% approval rating so the number can’t be that significant.
Palin is little more than another RINO. She recently did the dems work for them, at least on the state level, by robbing oil companies of a fortune for drilling and making it almost impossible for them to produce in Alaska. As a VP she would make a good fit with McCain only because she is also a conservative pretender and typical vote buying politician.
Yes I have heard some rumblings from Alaska about her. I think she would be a pretty good VP candidate, but needs more experience though, and the things some of the people from Alaska, make me a little less enthusiastic for her.
That post might have been more convincing had anyone other than “Syrian” been able to post comments on it. The problem is the crazy people on any side of an issue are always the loudest. However maybe I should look into the tax hikes on oil companies to see what the reasons for the hikes were. Also to get the actual numbers instead of just trusting a post. Not saying that post isn’t true just say I think I’ll look into it for myself.
The oil tax law was rewritten because the oil industry bribed legislators during the writing of the first oil law.
“But the energy industry has gotten little sympathy from proponents of the rewrite, which was set in motion amid revelations oil executives had used bribes to try to influence the tax law that passed a year ago.”
Btw do some research before you make a post. This took me less than ten minutes to find.
Here’s the article.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1640378920071116
Reply to New Conservative: I can play this game too. Key point–“… Palin introduced a graduated tax pegged to increased oil prices. The state Legislature modified her proposal to increase the state’s take even further.” Sen. H. French, D Anchoarage, was pleased.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
ric
As I said before I do not agree with everything Syrin says. But there are some more out there that do not like her also. I agree that Palin is trying to get rid of all the backhanded deals that are going in in Alaska. Hell, just look at Young and all the others that are in trouble. I think they should all be thrown in jail and loose the key. They make Republicans and all politicians look bad. Same with the Abramoff dealings.
I do think that many of those that are against her are part of the oil industry up there. And they have a big lobby right now and could be a detriment to McCain and her candidacy.
I am looking for someone that will not get caught up in scandals, and she is caught in some others, but I think mostly because she is going so hard against the abuse up there. They are mostly done by the ones she is going after, but still with that it will be a drag on any presidential race.
I think she would be a great VP, and wish her luck, but with all the probes and other shananigans going on in Alaska it might not be her time. I still think that she may need more experience in dealing with this kind of stuff also.
Another thing is that she has got a baby with Down’s Syndrome, not to say that is wrong or anything, but it will take up a lot of her time, and we need someone there all the time.
Just my 2 cents.
Stix 1972 I can’t find one Politican everyone likes. I also think your right about people going after her because she’s gone after the oil industry and other crooked politicans. I think her going after crooked Republicans makes her a great fit with McCain. Country First.
Ric I read the article. I seriously doubt the oil industry would stop investing in Alaska. However there is no doubt she raised taxes on them. Of course not all tax hikes are bad. It depends on what you do with the money, and why your raising taxes. Example: There is a one percent sales tax for schools on the ballot in my area. The local Republican Party is supporting the measure. We’re not against all taxes were against needless taxes and wasteful spending.
If the Oil Companies are going to destory the land in Alaska and take their oil they probably should pay for it. They have every right to take the oil, but the State has the right to set the price. If the price is too high they can stop drilling. If that happens and the State starts losing money they will reduce the cost of drilling. It’s all supply and demand.
I live in Alaska and like Gov. Palin, but she should not be the nominee. This is not because I want to keep her here and not share with America. Here’s why:
1) She did increase taxes on the oil industry. It was because she felt the deal the previous governor gave to the oil industry on tax restructuring was deeply flawed (and perhaps corrupted). But Democrats may make hay in the fall that McCain picked a tax increaser. Fair or not, that is the way it is.
2) Her potential scandal involving the firing of the Commissioner of Public Safety. She denies any wrong doing. I believe her. But it is still a black cloud.
3) She needs to clear the air on her own political problems and spearhead the effort to reform Alaska Republicans. It’s a project still in its early stages.
4) Part of the reform effort was Palin’s endorsement of Lt. Governor Parnell to run against Rep. Young In the Republican primary for Alaska’s only seat in the House. We can’t have our top two in state government running for office while serving terms as elected state officials. Democrats would have a field day saying state Republicans are too busy running for other jobs to know what is best for the state.
All McCain has to do is say in lieu of national security interests (because energy security IS national security), ANWR should be open to drilling. And nominate someone else. Gov. Palin’s national political future lies in 2012 or 2016 running with a guy named Jindal, not now.
Elroy- Your reasons only show me you think Alaska needs her more than the country does or McCain does to get elected. Not good enough!
What she brought to Alaska she could also bring to Washington and do alot more for the country that needs someone like her in there.
Please…some things are just bigger than one state!
Jetson,
If not Palin who should McCain pick? I guess that question is open to everyone.
The Dems and the MSM are salivating for McCain to pick Romney and are utterly terrified of McCain picking Palin!
Despite the Dems and the allied main stream media’s desperation to see Romney as McCain’s Veep, Mitt is clearly out, with (1) Obama doubling down on the class warfare theme (McCain’s 7 houses) and (2) McCain doubling down with ads showing the hypocrisy of Biden attacking Obama in the primaries — Romney did way more than that contra McCain.
This leaves only Govs Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty. Pro-abortion Ridge and Dem-Lieberman were never real considerations, despite relentless media goading. Pawlenty’s lackluster TV performances, coupled with Palin pizzazz, the primacy of oil drilling and the ticked off women/Hillary voters, does now portend a McCain/Palin checkmate on the Dems. This is so albeit the Dems and liberal media dare not mention Palin’s name, that is, everyone but…..
And if there’s any question as to Palin being uniquely positioned and able to more than nullify Biden in debate, see the excellent discussion at palinforvp.blogspot.com
Team McCain, well done!!!