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Tag(s): 2008 Election Presidential; Alaska; McCain-John; Opinion Punditry Columns Op-Ed; Pulpit Pundits; Pundits-Commentators; Sarah Palin
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August 30, 2008 at 09:14:18

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Promoted to Headline (H3) on 8/30/08:
Local Alaskans See Sarah As Potent Asset But Vulnerable

by Rob Kall Page 1 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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While many Democrats are laughing at McCain's “folly,” my interviews with local Alaskans in the last 24 hours suggest McCain’s selection was smarter than they perceive. If Democratic attacks on Palin are to gain traction, they won’t be about inexperience. They’ll be about how much she could be like Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez.

Sarah-- everyone in Alaska just calls her Sarah, "just like Hillary," is VERRRRY popular, with ratings as high as 90%.

She's known as a populist reformer, since she took on Randy Rudrick, the head of the state Republican party. Rudrick was fined because of her intervention. It seems he was, working for the state, and on state time and pay, making Republican party calls, sending out emails on state-owned computers. Sarah reported him. He's still the Republican party head and needless to say, they don't get along well.

Sarah, her husband Todd and four of the five kids live at home in Wasilla, just under an hour from Anchorage. The fifth son enlisted to fight in Iraq.
She commutes to Juneau, but doesn't go there often because she's set up an office in Anchorage. There has been pressure, from corporate interests to move the capitol to Anchorage, so her practice serves their interests well. The easier to meet with lobbyists, perhaps?

Democratic Committeewoman Kathy Cross, of nearby Mat Su Borough observed She cleans for herself, cooks for herself and her family, drives herself to work, was even in a fender bender recently. She very modest, very approachable.”

No wonder everyone loves her.

The chink in Mrs. average's armor may be “troopergate.” She fired the supervisor of her sister's former policeman husband when the man refused to fire her brother-in-law. Seems her brother-in-law was in a nasty divorce with her sister.

This firing led to the state legislature investigating Sarah for abuse of power. She denied it, saying the man had tasered a child. But later, after it came out that a number of her friends and family had been advocating for the firing- which she rejected any knowledge of, she changed her story.

Now, it turns out that this isn't the first time Sarah fired someone. When she was the Mayor of Wasilla, (about 5,000 population at the time,) she fired the Chief of Police. This led to a lawsuit and an out of court settlement paid for by the public.

More than one leader in the Alaska Democratic party told me, off the record, that her reputation was "my way or the highway. "When she ran the city of Wasilla-- she was the same way—“reward friends, punish enemies, get personal."

These sound like the kinds of personality characteristics Dick Cheney could relate to. And let's not forget dear, pliable, ever cooperative Alberto Gonzalez and his team of partisan players who hired and fired based upon the most illegal criteria. Sarah might fit in very nicely and, with that pretty face, she just might evade comparisons to Darth Vader or Cruella, even though her history shows the potential to be worse.

The problem is, this pretty mom, whose husband Todd is such a regular union guy (funny how his employer BP Oil has let him take off time as needed, what with his wife being gov and all) will be very likable to millions.

Patti Higgins, head of the Alaska Democratic party, told me she fills in a lot of gaps for McCain. “He's old. she's young. He has a lot of houses. She has one.”

You can go on and on with the ways she's the yin to McCain's yang.

He's filthy rich, thanks to his wife. She's average income.

He's become an obedient suckup to the Republican, neocon, evangelical powers that be. She's a reformer who turned in the head of the Republican party.

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Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.

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A few declarations. -While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans. -My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.

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7 comments

In 2004, Rady Ananda joined the growing community of citizen journalists. Initially focused on elections, she investigated the 2004 Ohio election, organizing, training and leading several forays into counties to photograph the 2004 ballots. She officially served at three recounts, including the 2004 recount. She also organized and led the team that audited Franklin County Ohio's 2006 election, proving the number of voter signatures did not match official results. Her work appears in three boo...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Rady AnandaIn 2004, Rady Ananda joined the growing community of citizen journalists. Initially focused on elections, she investigated the 2004 Ohio election, organizing, training and leading several forays into counties to photograph the 2004 ballots. She officially served at three recounts, including the 2004 recount. She also organized and led the team that audited Franklin County Ohio's 2006 election, proving the number of voter signatures did not match official results. Her work appears in three boo...

to see more of bio, click on member name

and she posed topless in 1984

winning the Miss Wasilia contest. See Weigh the Coverage of Sarah Palin against Aung San Suu Kyi

by Rady Ananda (133 articles, 300 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 1229 comments) on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 9:34:00 AM

Concerned Citizen. I am a father of one and a husband that has had enough of the fair and balanced lies and spin spewed by the mainstream media. Truth has been abdaoned in the name of giving vile creatures their due to spew.

It is time for all good men and women to stand up and be ready to sacrifice for the earth and children! It aint going to be easy destroying the old and birthing the new. A world of community, creativity, fun, and local food production is just waiting to be born...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Crede CalhounConcerned Citizen. I am a father of one and a husband that has had enough of the fair and balanced lies and spin spewed by the mainstream media. Truth has been abdaoned in the name of giving vile creatures their due to spew.

It is time for all good men and women to stand up and be ready to sacrifice for the earth and children! It aint going to be easy destroying the old and birthing the new. A world of community, creativity, fun, and local food production is just waiting to be born...

to see more of bio, click on member name

She's toast

Turn Out Turn Out Turn Out. Count all the votes. If that happens the gop is sunk. Dems are way motivated. All Gop'ers are not motivated for more wars on lies. Many will just not vote. MCain just does not have what it takes to rally the people. He's a mediocre speaker and we are sick of medicore speakers that can't keep their facts straight.

Biden will chew her up and spit her out in a debate if he is cagey. If the media would just cut us a little slack and help save our nation...geesh

Mcsame is sick and could die, and we don't need a wing-nut mom in the whitehouse, with zilch experience. If folks are that stupid to elect McSame and Pallid and not bury him and her in a landslide of unstoppable proportions, we are done, and we deserve to be done.

<> Obama better fight for every vote and not do a Kerry on us.

by Crede Calhoun (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 35 comments) on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 4:35:15 PM

American Expat in Asia
pftAmerican Expat in Asia

It is best

Palin reminds me of that TV series a few years ago, Commander In Chief, where an inexperienced woman VP, ends up in office after the President dies, and then does a great job. It had great ratings but was pulled after only 1 season (2 half seasons), the conspiracy theorist in me speculated that Bush thought she made him look bad and got it shut down.

Hopefully our reality is not written by the TV writers (maybe thats why they went on strike last winter), but it does look like everyone in both parties are following a script.

by pft (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 576 comments) on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 7:16:08 PM

Patriot, Beer Lover:

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."
Sam AdamsPatriot, Beer Lover:

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

I dunno, Darth Palin?

Turning her into Dick Cheney in a skirt may be harder than highlighting her gross inexperience for president, let alone commander-in-chief. Then again, all I keep hearing from so-called analysts is that Obama won't be able to go after her for her inexperience without looking hypocritical and ungentlemanly. It's the "ungentlemanly" thing that really gets my goat.

McCain's choice for Veep was opportunistic, cynical and dare I say even sexist (because it assumes Hillary voters will flock to another woman just because she's a woman). Then again opportunistic and cynical often works in politics. I personally hate the choice, but it just might work.

A sad commentary on the political scene? Yes, but what isn't? That said, dirty her up at your own peril. A nice smile seems to go a long way in politics. Too long by far, but a long, long way indeed. Plus, if you hit her too hard on the ethics question, then you look sexist for beating up on a woman who's trying to shatter that glass ceiling. Unbelievable perhaps in this day and age, but true.

Yes, McCain has set a "sexist" trap. But I think his choice was too clever by half. At least I hope so. He shouldn't be rewarded for such a cynical move.

by Sam Adams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 90 comments) on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 1:38:38 AM

58 yr. old white single woman, grandmother of four, mother of three. Raised children as a single parent. Always worked at good professional jobs. Passion for human right's and politics. Have read about everything of the Clinton's, before WH, and since, do research, blog regularily around the world. Thinks that Obama is 'a new era' in the Ring, we must vote for him for any change. Clinton's only promise, put perhaps one good thing for measure then scandals galore. They are dangerous for Ameri...

to see more of bio, click on member name
mare58 yr. old white single woman, grandmother of four, mother of three. Raised children as a single parent. Always worked at good professional jobs. Passion for human right's and politics. Have read about everything of the Clinton's, before WH, and since, do research, blog regularily around the world. Thinks that Obama is 'a new era' in the Ring, we must vote for him for any change. Clinton's only promise, put perhaps one good thing for measure then scandals galore. They are dangerous for Ameri...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Palin vs Palin

Palin has more issue's than you're normal run of the mill v.p. and it has been stated this woman used her charm to get the vote in Alaska......if you know what I mean. Involved up to her neck in corruption - alleged, and has also a roving husband, alleged.

This woman became the object of a $15 M 'surprise' donor in the past few month's, as alleged, and she has a state talking about her pregnant daughter a yr ago, alleged. So, what does this mean to the ordinary person who needs to base their vote on 'truth' or 'lies'??

It means, before the election, everything will be known about Sarah Palin, John McCain and Dick Cheney......who? Yes, dick cheney who apparently has been 'coaching' Sarah Palin as a V.P. pick for month's. How do I know this??? Sarah Palin is a small town girl with a golddigger ambition, alleged. She also has an emotional, very emotional side that starts talking when confusion sets in, alleged.

Sarah Palin was stuck in the middle of many investigations plus incompetency, alleged, and she was talked to and asked to resign as a Republican governor, because of her 'Gestapo' like targeting, and her wrongdoing in government, alleged. I feel this Primary season and the selection of McCain was deliberate for the very reason, Alaska, "according to some" is dismantelling and fragile in government. Republicans have the majority there and are extremely nervous.

by mare (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments) on Monday, September 1, 2008 at 3:36:55 PM

I am a college graduate, a loyal patriot of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, a person whose convictions and pessimism drive my thought invoking others to think, and enjoy some politcal debate. I like truth even if it doesn't set you "free" in this US of A any longer. I am a liberal.
I do a bit of painting mostly in Acrylic. I do a bit of poetry writng mostly inspired by tragic thought. I do a ton of reading, mostly online. I speak straightforwardly and don't plan on changing. It's wor...

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shirley reeseI am a college graduate, a loyal patriot of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, a person whose convictions and pessimism drive my thought invoking others to think, and enjoy some politcal debate. I like truth even if it doesn't set you "free" in this US of A any longer. I am a liberal.
I do a bit of painting mostly in Acrylic. I do a bit of poetry writng mostly inspired by tragic thought. I do a ton of reading, mostly online. I speak straightforwardly and don't plan on changing. It's wor...

to see more of bio, click on member name

clear up this "inexperience" notion

Obama has SEVEN yrs in the Illinois State Senate, and 3 yrs in the US Senate. He has oodles of community service and civil issue works. Whereas Palin has, less than 2 yrs as Governor, and 5 yrs as a Mayor of a very small town. You weigh it out. That is what should be emphasized. Btw, Abe Lincoln had 8 yrs in the House of reps(state) and 2 yrs in the US House of reps.

However, come on ppl, neither group (R or D) is going to restore our civil liberties, and neither is going to stop the MIC. So why keep fighting over Presidential candidates...they both suck...bad.

The repubs already have the machines geared for them, you can put money on that IMHO. Just bring up the "topless" ordeal and that just may eliminate some of those rightie christ'like women. As far as the "Hillary" notion, I still can't believe that ppl who were Pro-choice and against the Iraq WAR, WILL SERIOUSLY VOTE for THOSE THAT ARE AGAINST their ORIGINAL policy beliefs just because of the gender thang. I think it is Rush's "operation chaos" still trying to deceive.

by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 433 comments) on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 6:11:04 PM