Dear Sarah

I can do whatever I want

Here’s one local Republican’s perspective on what happens when you catch Palin red-handed, but let it slide:

“Executive abilities? She doesn’t have any,” said former Wasilla City Council member Nick Carney, who selected and groomed Palin for her first political race in 1992 and served with her after her election to the City Council.

Four years later, the ambitious Palin won the Wasilla mayor’s office — after scorching the “tax and spend mentality” of her incumbent opponent. But Carney, Palin’s estranged former mentor, and others in city hall were astounded when they found out about a lavish expenditure of Palin’s own after her 1996 election. According to Carney, the newly elected mayor spent more than $50,000 in city funds to redecorate her office, without the council’s authorization.

Carney confronted Mayor Palin at a City Council hearing, and was shocked by her response.

“I braced her about it,” he said. “I told her it was against the law to make such a large expenditure without the council taking a vote. She said, ‘I’m the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can’t.’”

“I’ll never forget it — it’s one of the few times in my life I’ve been speechless,” Carney added. “It would have been easier for her to finesse it. She had the votes on the council by then, she controlled it. But she just pushed forward. That’s Sarah. She just has no respect for rules and regulations.”

Oh Jedi Master

Save the debate whether Sarah Palin actually is the Commander in Chief of the Alaskan National Guard, her sum total of national security experience is the fact that she has traveled to three countries (one she actually went to – the other two were refueling layovers on the plane) and the fact that, if she stands on a remote island in the Bering Straits of Alaska, she can see Russia.

I’ve sadly only been to two countries thus far outside of the US – Canada and Mexico. But I was actually in both for considerable amounts of time. Furthermore, I drive by Canada every day on my way to work. Don’t even have to stand on an island to see it. In fact, if I go the lunch room on the 13th floor of work to buy a candy bar and happen to gaze out the window, I’m looking at Casino Windsor.

Of course, the Canucks don’t pose the threat that the Russians do [or did]. But if you’ve spent any time in Canada, you know that they aren’t particularly fond of their neighbors to the south.

Therefore, I would like to submit that I have just as much, if not more, national security experience than Sarah Palin. What I don’t have, unfortunately, is a Jedi Master whose feet I can sit at for the next four years. Damn… game, set, match to Palin.

“She’s going to learn national security at the foot of the master for the next four years, and most doctors think that he’ll be around at least that long,” said Charlie Black, one of Mr. McCain’s top advisers, making light of concerns about Mr. McCain’s health. [Source]

I don’t find that terribly funny. In fact, I find it terribly scary.

Thanks for the clarification

So here it is… McCain explains why Sarah Palin isn’t qualified to be next-in-line to the presidency and she, in turn, explains why John McCain doesn’t represent change.

This was John McCain, late last year on why he was qualified to be the president:

I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn’t a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn’t a governor for a short period of time.

And here is Sarah Palin last night on why she is ready to be a 72-year old heartbeat away from the presidency:

Charlie, again, we’ve got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time. It is for no more politics as usual and somebody’s big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they’ve had opportunities to meet heads of state.

Founded in 1942?

Sarah Palin, answering a 2006 policy questionnaire for the Alaska 2006 gubernatorial race:

Q: Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

A: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

Good enough for the founding fathers? The Pledge of the Allegiance became the official pledge of the United States until 1942. The words “Under God” were not in the Pledge. They would not appear there until 1954.

Flattery will get you everywhere

When John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, the campaign immediately began touting her experience–both foreign and domestic–as “commander-in-chief” of the Alaska National Guard.  But the reality of the situation–that Palin actually had little to do with the National Guard quickly became apparent.  In fact, the idea was undercut severely by comments made by the actual commander of the Alaska National Guard–its Adjutant General, Major General Craig Campbell.

Sunday, 31 August 2008: Major General Craig Campbell, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard, told the Associated Press that:

he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.

Three days later, on September 3rd, General Campbell said it again, in the Boston Globe:

The Alaskan governor is not in the site’s chain of command and has no authority over its operations, according to Maj. Gen. Craig E. Campbell, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard who commands the roughly 3,800 state militia members.

On September 5th General Campbell flip-flopped and began praising Palin’s duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Alaskan National Guard. What changed?

Monday 8 September: After the weekend–and after his complimentary remarks–Major General Campbell is promoted within the Alaska National Guard to the rank of Lieutenant General.  The promotion is not recognized outside the state of Alaska, but he is promoted with his third star, nonetheless.

Wasilla charged rape victims for rape exams under Palin

Eight years ago, complaints about charging rape victims for medical exams in Wasilla prompted the Alaska Legislature to pass a bill — signed into law by Knowles — that banned the practice statewide.

“There was one town in Alaska that was charging victims for this, and that was Wasilla,” [Former Governor Tony] Knowles said.

[Source]