We all saw this one coming when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for her position on climate change and global warming. Palin went right for Schwarzenegger's weakness: His state's (our state's) upside-down finances.
"Why is Governor Schwarzenegger pushing for the same sorts of policies in Copenhagen that have helped drive his state into record deficits and unemployment? Perhaps he will recall that I live in our nation's only Arctic state and that I was among the first governors to create a sub-cabinet to deal specifically with climate change," Palin wrote on her Facebook page. "While I and all Alaskans witness the impacts of changes in weather patterns firsthand, I have repeatedly said that we can't primarily blame man's activities for those changes. And while I did look for practical responses to those changes, what I didn't do was hamstring Alaska's job creators with burdensome regulations so that I could act 'greener than thou' when talking to reporters."
The point easily goes to Palin on this debate.
The more i hear from Sarah the more impressed i am with her wisdom and wit, Arnold may be our Gov. but some times his mouth moves before his brain is connected. Everyone can continue to pick on her right up to the inaguration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arehMcyi930
Don't mess with this moose hunting woman she'll shoot your eye out. I hope she is President one day. The ooner the better. She's not gonna let people stomp on her and her family this time. Go Sarah
Wait.....she's comparing her job as governor of Alaska to being governor of California?
Alaska - about 680,000 people.....roughly about the same as Charlotte, North Carolina.
California - a little over 36,750,000 people.
Gee....good comparison.
Alaska - A little over 437,000 registered passenger vehicles.
California - Almost 22,000,000 registered passenger vehicles.
Gee....another close comparison.
Meanwhile, Alaska, the state with a few people living there, enjoys huge revenues from oil, while California, often touted as the 7th largest economy in the world, struggles.
U.S. News, February, 2008:
It may be the worst of times in many states, but it's the best of times in some. Sales and income tax revenue is drying up in California and Florida, but some mineral-rich states—New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming, for example—are watching tax revenue grow from another income stream: oil.
In Alaska, where almost 90 percent of the state budget is fueled by taxes and royalties on oil and other minerals, the high price of oil has the state sitting on a roughly $3 billion surplus. Up north, the debate in the state Legislature isn't about what to cut but what to spend it on: A massive new hydroelectric dam near Anchorage is being discussed, as is an "energy rebate" that would hand out between $500 and $1,000 to every resident.
And Sarah quit while Arnold is still trying.
So Sarah, how would you like to try your hand at California Governor? Show us what you have by doing something real and then I might gain a little respect for you.
Scot...have you ever been in charge of anything?Name some of your successful endeavors as Governor of Scot(land).It's easy for you to run to the internet and find your self affirming little nuggets but the difficult thing...sacrificing time,taking action and entering the fray...well,who's got time for that.
Scot why would Palin be interested in California when she can get the whole banana republic to rebuild?
Scot-
The principles remain the same regardless of the scale of the resaponsibility. The fact is California (primarily its legislature) has acted like over-indulged 8-years olds for the last ten years. Add to that governors (Republican and Democrat) that lacked the stand firm on anything resembling responsibility and you get the mess we're in.
I think you're looking at this from the wrong perspective. If you shipped this group of Sacramento yahoos to Alaska, I'm sure they could wring up a $24 billion unpaid debt in no time at all on the 680,000 people who live in Alaska.
Now, I don't have a strong opinion either way about Sarah Palin, but this governor (and the legislature) should not be lecturing anyone on any public policy until they get this state back in order.
Joe...do you see Mrs.Palin as more effective and a little bit less controversial if she runs as the VP on the 2012 ticket with maybe Romney or Jindal than going all in as a presidential candidate in the primaries.I think the whackos who suffer from "Bush Derangement Syndrome" are susceptible(if not already)to be infected by "Palin Derangement Syndrome" and that the media will only spread the virus.She may be most effective as a talk show host if "The Leftist Mafia" doesn't shut down "Free Speech" to quiet her and other "Truth Advocates".Where do you think she would have the most impact to further "Conservatism"?
Joe, (since you're the only one with a response that didn't sound like the adults in a Peanuts cartoon) yes, the principle is the same but the scope isn't. There's far more to running California right now in our current situation than there is to running a Alaska with a few people, a few schools, a few state employees, a few counties, one [sort of] big city, and a huge windfall revenue coming in from oil reserves paying for every luxury you want.
You're right, Arnold has no business lecturing policy. He stepped into a mess and hasn't been very successful in fixing it. Governor material he isn't, but at least he's trying. I'd like to see Sarah give it a try. It would be a good test for her.
My concern with Sarah Palin overall in terms of Presidential politics is that she doesn't seem to have much depth at this point. I think her main contribution to the Republican party would be two-fold. First, for whatever reason the liberals who suffer from Bush Derangement Syndrome seem to be similarly afflicted by Palin. I think this takes them off of their game and could improve the chances of a more conservative Republican platform. Second, I think she galvanizes the TEA Party group, a necessary component of the Republican party. The blue blood Republicans need to realize that no matter how "blue their blood is" that they only count for one vote each- just like the TEA Party group.
I think the best spot for Palin in 2012 would be as a VP candidate, if another name doesn't rise to the top. At this time I'm intrigued by Bobby Jingal as a strong VP candidate.
Given the direction that the Democrats are going I think that the Republicans may be faced with same situation that the Democrats faced in 1976. Following the Watergate travesty the Democrats could have run anyone and won the Presidential race. For different reasons, I think the Republicans will be able to run anyone in 2012 (if Obama stays his current course and the Dems pass healthcare reform) and win the Presidency. Under these circumstances I think a moderately conservative Presidential candidate coupled with a populist VP candidate could be successful.
As far as a talk show host, I think that is not a good idea for Palin. To the extent that she has the resources, I think she should stay "above the fray", continue to nurture the TEA Party movement, and comment on serious policy issues to demonstrate her ability to grasp/ analyze complex challenges facing the country- ie, appear more "Presidential". A talk show host role will give the emerging Palin Derangement Syndrome crowd too much ammunition and diminish her brand.
All of this is easy to pontificate about in 2009 and by 2012 things may be substantially different. However, given that this current Congress and administration seem dead set on acting in ways contrary to the will of the American people, I think this is as good an estimate as any (and worth every penny you paid for it ha-ha).
Scot-
Appreciate your comment, but I think it illustrates the issue. Governor Palin (rightly or wrongly) gets credit for accessing those resources to benefit a smaller-scale governmental bureaucracy. Look what California has done over the last several years. It has expanded the bureaucracy, taken a decidedly anti-business/ anti-development stance towards private enterprise, and developed a tax structure specifically designed with wild gyrations based on taxing capital gains rather than a reliable, long-term tax base. The difference in results are the principles underpinning the policy decisions. In California we've had big government/ big union/ anti-business policies while Alaska has had the opposite.
Please remember, I'm not saying Sarah Palin could be a savior for California (she doesn't have the depth), but if you instituted California's policies in Alaska you'd have just as big a mess in Alaska as we do here. She had the good sense to avoid California's policies.
Disregarding media hype but concentrating on her record as governor of Alaska and her activity as the member of a family, Sarah Palin appears to be inherently dishonest. And that is different from saying a lie. Everybody says a convenient lie occasionally, even a constitutionally honest person. But ex-governor Palin is not a leader, she is a Pied Piper, luring them down the road. Give her a TV show. Or let her be the better looking half of a Limbaugh/Palin duo. But she is not White House material and that's the matter of concern for many Republicans, looking for change not continuation.
Hey "One Eye"...you are another of the no-name "Intellectually Dishonest" on this blog.Just the lefts' mantra that you regurgitate as if it were fact because if you were honest you would admit that Sarah's resume makes Obamas' look like toilet paper and you clowns made him president.How do square that one "Ol'One Eye".
Ok ole blind eye! So there are progressive Republicans in the Murray book of global politics. Thanks!
Scot and JoeFeldon,
Thank you for making the blog what it is supposed to be like. I appreciate the dialog.
Ol'One Eye...Explain the disparity between Sarah and Barry as far as experience and then explain why one is uniquely qualified and the other is a dishonest "Pied Piper".You can't and you won't unless you flip it 180 degrees and make Obama your "Flutist".Kim...so sorry to disappoint you(maybe I came in third?) but "What a blog is supposed to be like" is what it is like...I was just about ready to reach out to you and Scot but then you guys turned it up and started acting like "Obama-Zombies"...Is it because of the "Flu Shot"?
Scot...again I ask you(sincerely)...what have you managed or run(business,department,soccer team,raffle)?You make judgements and comparisons as if is childs play...You dismiss her as a boob but Sarah Palin has outperformed most, if not all that support or attack her on this blog and in the national media.She and the others you attack(Limbaugh,Beck,Hannity,etc...)have no power in your life.They cannot tax you,send your kids to war,misuse your money and take away your freedoms.Obama,Al Gore,The Liberal Legislature at state and federal levels...they can and will.This is what I mean by "Intellectual Dishonesty"...you have no experience(I assume) yet pass judgements on non-participants while ignoring the true problems and the real threats and those that can/will harm you/me/us.That's my observation and opinion...worth every nickel you paid for it.Merry Christmas and Best Wishes to the "Scot" family.