Another post on Sarah Palin? I’m sorry. I’m not sure why, but that woman fills me with vitriol. The main reason (and I’m not proud of this) may simply be the fact that she has proven so exciting to Republicans, and so may increase substantially the chances of a McCain presidency. I’m not very happy about that possibility.
I do have respectable reasons for disfavoring Mrs. Palin, however. For one, her pro-ID statements worry me deeply, as does her generally strongly social conservative policies. What is most irksome, however, is her platform of reform, and how much her record belies calls into question her commitment to it.
Consider, for example, her speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. She made much of her record of fighting Congressional earmarks while governor of Alaska, but made no mention at all of the now well-known lobbyist, Steve Silver, that she hired specifically for the purpose of securing earmarks while mayor of Wasilla.
Even more galling is this statement from the speech:
I told the Congress “thanks, but no thanks,” for that Bridge to Nowhere.
The “Bridge to Nowhere” to which she referred was a proposed project to link the city of Ketchikan, Alaska with its airport, which then and now must be reached by ferry. While governor, Palin vocally supported the bridge, and the need for federal dollars to build it. In addition, she was in no position to say “thanks, but no thanks” to Congress. As is plainly stated in this article from 2005, the earmark requirement to use the federal money on bridges was removed before she became governor. More on that in this excellent post.
In short, she lied about her record as regards earmarks. As, again, this CBS news post spells out admirably, she lied about a lot of other things too.
It’s exciting to see a female vice presidential candidate nominated by a major party, to be sure. But that’s no reason to vote. Given what Sarah Palin has said on pretty much every topic, I have no desire to see her within a heartbeat of the presidency.
Tags: bridge to nowhere, earmarks, election, election 2008, ketchikan, Politics, republican national convention, sarah palin
Allusions of Grandeur 
October 13, 2008 at 12:47 am |
Obama whom your going to vote for has hired lobbyists, the DEMS this year gotten more money from businesses in the banking industry than the GOP did. It’s not surprising there is a push for nationalizing the banks. Big business loves regulations, small businesses do not…
Palin is by far the most outsider ever to run for President. I believe Palin changed her mind about the bridge. She originally wanted the bridge to make it more accessible for Alaskans to travel. You say don’t vote because she is a female but it’s really that she is part of the GOP party who is a creationist which bothers you.
October 13, 2008 at 6:57 am |
And the GOP hates regulations of any kind, hence the financial crisis in which we find ourselves.
OK, I think my tone may turn insulting here. You may not have noticed, but the ticket says “McCain – Palin.” McCain is running for President, not Palin.
Then you need to read the post more closely. She didn’t just change her mind, she flip-flopped and lied about it. She changed her mind about the bridge after it was too late to do anything about it, and still claimed in her speech that she told Congress “thanks but no thanks.” And the town still got $200 million in earmarks!
Where have I said that? Honestly, learn to read buddy.
Hell yeah it bothers me that she’s a creationist. I want someone in office who knows how to think critically, not someone who buys into fundagelical crackpottery.