Tim's Favorite Blogs
Media Matters
Blog Directories
Monday, July 6. 2009
A Quitter and a Winner
When the going gets tough, Sarah Palin quits! She claims she didn’t want to be a lame duck governor — she decided not to seek re-election — and she asked her family, including the youngest children, if they would rather she fought for everyone from outside the governor’s office. They all said, “Yes.” Except for one who said “Hell yeah!”In 2011, when she formally starts running for president, people will remember she has a history of being a quitter. She quit her job as chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2004, when she saw an opportunity to win the governor’s job. Since the beginning of the year she has signed on for two high profile speaking engagements and then backed out of both.
Sarah Palin is a political opportunist. She spouts populist thoughts, they aren’t really ideals, then charges ahead if and when she can see an opportunity bear fruit, like when she did take on the big energy companies and get more money for Alaskans. It carried her into the governor’s office … where she fell flat. Her biggest feat as governor (before being tapped to be a vice presidential candidate) was selling the state jet bought by the previous governor.
She did start the talk about a natural gas pipeline, something many Alaskans want, but it is far from certain the state will have the pipeline. That could have been one Hell of a legacy for her as a governor.
She was very bi-partisan though, a laudable accomplishment, getting most of her legislation passed with nearly 100% Democrat cooperation. That was until she was asked to be John McCain’s running mate. Then she got a taste of partisan politics and the national spotlight and all of a sudden, Alaska was too small. In media exposure terms.
Sarah Palin got roundly criticized for leaving the state for political events after she and McCain lost the presidential election, accused of ignoring state business for political purposes. That was unfair, as were the various ethics charges brought against her, but on the other hand it’s part of the political landscape.
During the presidential election President Obama had to put up with people saying he “palled around with terrorists.”
The reasons Sarah Palin gave for quitting her job, besides not really making any sense, weren’t the real reasons she is quitting. Sarah Plain has a book deal worth millions and as the only Republican who can generate large crowds and raise campaign money in large amounts, she is in great demand to speak and to campaign for people running for various offices. Sarah Palin is a cash cow, pardon the term. No one would claim she looks like a cow.
But first and foremost Sarah Palin is running for president and she wants to do it unfettered by the ties that are required of a sitting governor, especially one who is in the northern most state in the union, separated from the bulk of the country by another country.
But when she formally runs for president she will have a Senate with a Democrat super majority. Comedian Al Franken is now the Senator-elect for Minnesota. After nearly eight months of legal hassles, caused by his opponent Norm Coleman, the State Supreme Court of Minnesota ruled in favor of Franken and Coleman finally conceded defeat. Franken was gracious and this week when Congress reconvenes, Al Franken will be sworn in as Minnesota’s junior senator.
It’s about time and more important, the health care bill that President Obama signs will most likely have a public option. The Democrats won’t need the Republicans. A few Democrats will need some arm-twisting, but the Democrats can finally get it done.
The health insurance and drug companies are spending $1.4 million dollars a day to maintain the status quo so it won’t be easy to get it through, but there no longer is any excuse, at least not when it comes to ending yet another Republican filibuster.
Al Franken isn’t a quitter, he stuck with it until the state Supreme Court made its ruling, after two other courts made their decisions in Franken’s favor. Norm Coleman pushed for these court decisions, not Franken. The man from Saturday Night Live had to make a living in show business and it isn’t an industry for quitters.
Which makes me wince when TV talking heads refer to Sarah Palin as a “rock star.” Stars in the music business have to work hard and stick with it to make it to “rock star” status. Sarah Plain is a quitter, she doesn’t have the credentials.
Calendar
Quicksearch
Categories
AD Links
Referrals
Syndicate This Blog
Blog Administration
Powered by
TheForkesReport