Consolidated Governor Palin's resignation discussions - Page 15

littlegreenmom · 07-04-2009, 12:19 AM

That is funny, Tega.

3bm103 · 07-04-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

No one resigns from being a governor for the reasons she has given thus far.

She didn't put a lot of thought into running for VP, what makes you think she used any logical decision making processes to resign as Governor?

missypie · 07-04-2009, 09:20 AM

I'm on vacation and don't have time to follow this discussion - darn! SP just keeps providing such great material! 07Dad, can you PM me a one paragraph synopsis?

hayden · 07-04-2009, 09:27 AM

It is undeniably true that Palin generates a strong emotional response from Democrats, and I think intparent posted a very interesting link that tried to explain the response. I think to some extent it works for both those who are pro and con. The argument essentially is if you loved George Bush, you will love Sarah Palin; and if you hated what Bush did during his terms, you will see Palin as respresenting more of the same. (Not to say everyone fits into these categories, of course.) I'm excerpting it for people who didn't check out the link:

Quote:

Palin is the most Bushlike of all the Republicans who have emerged as contenders for the national ticket: the smirkiness, the smugness, the regional accent (although Palin's, I assume, is not feigned), the malapropisms, the contempt for media (both the people who cover it and their mediums), the express deference to religious faith, the occasionally undeniably likable moments of joviality and regular guy/gal-ness, the tendency toward self-dealing, the bulldog/barracuda mentality, the comfort in one's own skin (Palin was crippled when she lost hers late in the campaign), the (apparent) preference for isolation in [Wasilla, Crawford], and last but not least, the no-holds-barred, no-apologies conservatism.

And sure, some of this is complicated by the fact that Palin is a woman, and a very attractive woman. Would Palin be resented to the same degree by (some) liberals if she looked like Susan Boyle? Well ... maybe not. But would she have been picked for the national ticket? Well ... maybe not. But this has less to do with Palin herself and more to do with the manner in which she was elevated to the national stage. Liberals believe very deeply in the idea that life ought to be meritocratic. Palin didn't seem to have earned it, especially in comparison to John McCain and Barack Obama and even Joe Biden who had such compelling life stories. To a lot of people (not exclusively liberals; Kay Bailey Hutchison's contempt for Palin was obvious), it felt like another case of the pretty girl getting the promotion.

This doesn't exactly hit on why I am not a Palin fan, but it's an interesting analysis. For those of you who may want to dismiss it because it's liberal, please keep in mind it is written by a liberal, explaining a liberal mindset, not a liberal trying to explain a conservative mindset.

BigG · 07-04-2009, 09:42 AM

Whether Palin or any other conservative as any chance in 2012 depends on how well the country is doing economically. If President O's economic policies work or if the country just recovers despite them, his re-electon is assured.

We are living through the failure of capitalism. Excess greed has skewed decision making processes in business too much toward short term goals. When everybody is trying to get a bonus by short term manipulatation of stock prices, the real economy that provides long term jobs and profits suffers. Investors that support these short term thinkers are engaged in a game of musical chairs with other investors. Who can get cash out before the enterprise crumbles?

Ultimately it is not whether a policy is liberal or conservative but whether it works.

sax · 07-04-2009, 09:57 AM

BigG.....yes,yes,yes.

AnudduhMom · 07-04-2009, 09:59 AM

momof2inca said:

Quote:

Focus on the thread topic people. Deflection is a debating tactic you shouldn't fall for.

It turns out that deflection IS an effective form of teflon-coating, along with changing the subject with an ax, and maintaining an active persecution complex. It turns out those meanies in the media are to blame for Gov. Palin's resignation, and whatever was said about Trig (wait, which one is Trig?). So brilliant stroke of solipsism this, anything that has been said or will be said about Sarah Palin in the MEDIA is part of the persecution that made SP resign. Oh, and let's not forget about basketball, the Fodor's recitation of the glories of Alaska, and a trip to Kosovo/Landstuhl, because all of those in some way relate to the duties of a governor and whether or not to quit, 'cut and run' or 'change horses in mid-stream' or whatever the quaint-isms the GOP liked using during the last election.

So, at risk of appearing to be a "media meanie" can I just raise a timid hand and ask whether the quitting has anything to do with investigation into the cozy contracting job Wasilla House-Sports Complex? At all?

Pizzagirl · 07-04-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Palin is the most Bushlike of all the Republicans who have emerged as contenders for the national ticket: the smirkiness, the smugness, the regional accent (although Palin's, I assume, is not feigned), the malapropisms, the contempt for media (both the people who cover it and their mediums), the express deference to religious faith, the occasionally undeniably likable moments of joviality and regular guy/gal-ness, the tendency toward self-dealing, the bulldog/barracuda mentality, the comfort in one's own skin (Palin was crippled when she lost hers late in the campaign), the (apparent) preference for isolation in [Wasilla, Crawford], and last but not least, the no-holds-barred, no-apologies conservatism.

Yes, THIS is why I didn't care for her. It had nothing to do with "hating" her (I don't hate her, I wouldn't wish her anything but well on a personal level). It's the lack of intellectual curiosity, the lack of gravitas, the deference to fundamentalist Christianity, and the look-I'm-just-a-regular-gal-and-a-hockey-mom schtick, which represents pretty much everything I *don't* want in my elected leaders.

Quote:

And sure, some of this is complicated by the fact that Palin is a woman, and a very attractive woman. Would Palin be resented to the same degree by (some) liberals if she looked like Susan Boyle? Well ... maybe not. But would she have been picked for the national ticket? Well ... maybe not.

That is precisely the point. She is a very attractive woman and it's so evident that the pick was motivated by "hmmm ... if I put a woman on the ticket, it'll attract women who were disappointed that Hillary didn't get the nod, because you know women ... they just want to vote for women, not policies. Let's tout her hockey-mom-ness and they'll just think she's the PTA mom writ large and vote for us."

It wasn't based on gravitas or experience -- and there were plenty of Republicans, including Repub women -- who had such experience.

It's not so much resenting the "pretty girl got the promotion" -- it's being disgusted by the types of people who make their VPOTUS pick based on contempt for the American people as being so stupid that they'll follow a pretty girl anywhere. As opposed to making a VPOTUS pick of someone who would be a viable POTUS if needed.

intparent · 07-04-2009, 10:40 AM

Do you suppose she might have enough chutzpah to try to start her own political party? I think she perceives that she has been treated badly by Republican party leaders in recent months... THAT would make for fascinating contortions on the right for the next couple of years

munchkin · 07-04-2009, 10:44 AM

It's against the rules to post blogs, but I just read from the dailybeast blog by Max Bluementhal about an investigation regarding a building supplies company, a sports complex Palin authorized as mayor of Wasilla.

Sorry if this was posted before, I lost track of the discussion when the threads merged.

Hindoo · 07-04-2009, 10:51 AM

I'm still back on the food aisle. ... As always. Sigh.

AnudduhMom · 07-04-2009, 10:52 AM

This:

Quote:

THE $12.5 MILLION sports complex and hockey rink that is the lasting monument to Palin's two terms as Wasilla mayor is also a monument to the kind of insider politics that dismays Americans of both parties. Six months before Palin stepped down as mayor in October 2002, the city awarded nearly a half-million-dollar contract to design the biggest project in Wasilla history to Kumin Associates. Blase Burkhart was the Kumin architect on the job—the son of Roy Burkhart, who is frequently described as a "mentor" of Palin and was head of the local Republican Party (his wife, June, who also advised Palin, is the national committeewoman). Asked if the contract was a favor, Roy Burkhart, who contributed to her campaign in the same time frame that his son got the contract, said: "I really don't know." Palin then named Blase Burkhart to a seven-member builder-selection committee that picked Howdie Inc., a mostly residential contractor owned at the time by Howard Nugent. Formally awarded the contract a couple of weeks after Palin left office, Nugent has donated $4,000 to Palin campaigns. Two competitors protested the process that led to Nugent's contract. Burkhart and Nugent had done at least one project together before the complex—and have done several since.

A list of subcontractors on the job, obtained by the Voice, includes many with Palin ties. One was Spenard Builders Supply, the state's leading supplier of wood, floor, roof, and other "pre-engineered components." In addition to being a sponsor of Todd Palin's snow-machine team that has earned tens of thousands for the Palin family, Spenard hired Sarah Palin to do a statewide television commercial in 2004. When the Palins began building a new family home off Lake Lucille in 2002—at the same time that Palin was running for lieutenant governor and in her final months as mayor—Spenard supplied the materials, according to Antoine Bricks, who works in its Wasilla office. Spenard actually filed a notice "of its right to assert a lien" on the deed for the Palin property after contracting for labor and materials for the site. Spenard's name has popped up in the trial of Senator Stevens—it worked on the house that is at the center of the VECO scandal as well.

Todd Palin told Fox News that he built the two-story, 3,450-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath, wood house himself, with the help of contractors he described as "buddies." As mayor, Sarah Palin blocked an effort to require the filing of building permits in the wide-open city, and there is no public record of who the "buddies" were. The house was built very near the complex, on a site whose city purchase led to years of unsuccessful litigation and, now, $1.3 million in additional costs, with a law firm that's also donated to Palin collecting costly fees from the city.

Dorwin and Joanne Smith, the principals of complex subcontractor DJ Excavation & Development, have donated $7,100 to Palin and her allied candidate Charlie Fannon (Joanne is a Palin appointee on the state Board of Nursing). Sheldon Ewing, who owns another complex subcontractor, Weld Air, has donated $1,300, and PN&D, an engineering firm on the complex, has contributed $699.

From here:New York

I encourage anyone to refute the claims in the entire article, which reflect a SOP in the Alaska gov.s office of conflicts-of-interest, insider deals, and misappropriation of funds.

I mean we want to be fair here. We don't want to be "media meanies". Any Sarah Palin supporters should correct information in clear terms.

A theory could be that the evidence just got too compelling that the case for indictment was strong.

mini · 07-04-2009, 11:10 AM

Senator Ensign continues his hot streak!

Pizzagirl · 07-04-2009, 11:12 AM

Can someone "on the other side" explain to me why they found Palin an appealing candidate for VPOTUS? Because I seriously don't get it.

Or, was it that it wasn't that you found her appealing, but you circled the wagons around her once she was raked over by the media?

littlegreenmom · 07-04-2009, 12:04 PM

Pizzagirl,

Are you serious?

Did you forget that GOP supporters already did this, for months and months leading up to the election? You think that a rehash of that now is going to somehow illustrate for you why people here would rather vote for John McCain/Sarah Palin, than Barack Obama/Joe Biden?

I think I will pass on that offer. Maybe start with thread 1, post 1 from the last week of August 2008 and work your way though. That might do it.

A retelling of why we believe in the things we do won't make you suddenly change your mind on the GOP or what people believe, or why they vote the way they do. So why would anyone here who voted differently than you did want to bang their heads against the wall explaining their voting choices, all these months later - AGAIN?

We lost the election. Your candidates won. Now, people like me are much more interested in how the administration is proposing to pay for health care bill without taxing us all to death, and how long it will take to pay back the massive spending to boost the economy, how we are going to deal with North Korea and Iran, and a host of other fun issues.

Happy 4th of July! We live in a country where we have the freedom of elections. Isn't that marvelous?