Palinmania
All things considerd, if you’re going to get involved in an abuse of power scandal, one that involves an attempt to fire a state trooper who “had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin’s sister, Molly McCann” and who “was briefly suspended for ten days for threatening to kill McCann’s (and Palin’s) father, tasering his 11-year-old stepson, and violating game laws” doesn’t seem like the worst possible way to go. Certainly by the standards of Alaska GOP corruption it’s kind of small potatoes.
But of course the weird thing about the Alaska Republican Party is that while they send these endlessly re-elected legislators to DC to push for hard-right legislation, pork, and various forms of sleaze they’re running a government based on a weird form of socialism in one giant swathe of sub-arctic wasteland. Normal governors don’t get involved in controversies about state-owned dairy farms and the like (I believe it was Mikhail Gorbachev who moved to privatize the agricultural sector) and there’s no other state whose oil tax revenues are big enough to just cut the entire population welfare checks. It’s a bit hard to know how you shift from that into non-fantasyland world of federal policymaking.
73 Responses to “Palinmania”
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August 29th, 2008 at 9:23 am
What you call pork, we call infrastructure building. And the hard right legislation is the trade-off.
Locally, though, you are right, we run pretty socialist on the spending and pretty liberal social policy-wise (2oz of weed is legal, for instance). Weirdly, it seems to be our democrats that want to take all those goodies (like state run farms and native corporation bennies) away in our state.
So don’t confuse the trade-offs our national guys make to get much needed infrastructure building money with what the man on the ground in the state believes. That infrastructure is important, most of Alaska not even as developed as Mexico.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I don’t get the “She’s so hot” thing. Also, I’ve only seen a couple of clips of her talking, but she seems very PTA-like, not at all like a governor with any real heft.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:33 am
She’s Fox News Ready.
I’d take even money on her as McCain’s choice. Were I a betting man, that is.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:36 am
They did win with Quayle and she sort of has a demented 21st Century Teddy Roosevelt thing going on.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Take a look at the hilarious posts on the Corner right now quickly rationalizing the potential Palin pick from a foreign policy perspective. Apparently sound judgment is more important than Bidenesque foreign policy experience. Who knew?
August 29th, 2008 at 9:43 am
A Palin pick would help to nail down the evangelicals, which should be McCain’s top priority. We’d all be treated to endless media coverage about how she refused to abort once she found out she was carrying a Down’s Syndrome fetus. This would shift the domestic debate away from the troubled economy and back to the hot-button social issues that the GOP feels work better for them in a close election. A Palin pick would also signal that McCain is confident the country is with him on national security and foreign affairs and that he needs the overturning of Roe v. Wade to divert attention away from his views on, say, the tax code and privatizing social security.
The GOP is betting they could neutralize Obama’s new-found populist fervor. Make no mistake: they do this kind of thing very, very well.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I was reading the Corner just now and thought, what ever happened to Romney? NRO endorsed him during the primaries. How come nobody over there wants him?
August 29th, 2008 at 9:46 am
“That infrastructure is important, most of Alaska not even as developed as Mexico.”
Why should it be?
August 29th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Alaskan politics are certainly strange. One of the unique things about AK is that much of the economic activity is spurred by government spending. Certainly the oil companies and other natural resource extraction based jobs exist (mining, timber, fishing), and tourism is starting to make some inroads, although they greatly overstate their impact, but because it is so isolated from the rest of the world and in a fairly harsh environment, the government plays a large roll in keeping things going. The Permanent Fund Dividends, or as you called it “welfare checks”, are an annual economic stimulus package that keeps the state’s economy afloat. Without a massive influx of state and federal dollars, the economy in AK would be decimated.
The PFD checks are paid to Alaskan residents, not from oil tax revenues, but rather from a percentage of the funds overall earnings for any given year. In that, the money is not from tax revenues, but rather from a broad base of investments. The fund has its genesis in oil taxes (as does 90% or so of the entire state, for with no oil the population would plummet) but it’s not as direct as you make it out to be.
I say this because it’s a common misconception. I know a bit about the Fund, it’s creation and is application as it was my father’s idea when he was Speaker of the House in AK. He, along with a few other people created it, passed it, and implemented the dividend program. The basic idea was that Alaskan residents have a right to a portion of the income derived from extracting a public resource and that it is better spent by individuals than allowing a small group of petty special interests divide up the pie.
I have had far too many discussions about it’s role in the Alaskan economy to count. As anyone whose been up there in September and October can tell you, every local business seems to run PFD specials and those dollars, unlike a lot of money from extraction economy, stay and are recycled in Alaska. It has more characteristics of an investment in public works projects than traditional welfare.
Suffice to say that it is the sacred cow of Alaskan politics.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I was reading the Corner just now and thought, what ever happened to Romney? NRO endorsed him during the primaries. How come nobody over there wants him?
You clearly have been filtering out K-Lo’s bleatings (and congrats to you for doing so). She’s still obsessed. I think the rest of them have decided that Mitt would be one rich guy too many on the ticket, given the seven houses issue and the Biden pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I think Palin could be a wise tactical choice, but more importantly, it might help to improve the Republican Party in the long term, to help lead it back to being a regular political party which favors its natural bases rather than the preserve of the extremist, all-too-frequently Southern-based freaks who have dominated it for the past 30 odd years.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:51 am
At least by naming the second woman vp nominee McCain’s candidacy will’ve served some positive pupose other than keeping Huckabee away from any lever of power.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Drill here Drill now Drill here Drill now Drill here Drill now ad infinitum until November.
Plus: identity politics, women!
I’m already tired of how much will be McCain parroting talking points in the most parrotlike way.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:53 am
GILF
August 29th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Fuck Mittens, where the hell is Fred? He was supposed to be the one to sweep down and rescue conservatism with his basso profundo voice and Old Spice scented suits.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Not to be a concern troll, but Biden talks to stupid people like they’re stupid. Could Big Mean Joe Biden beating up on the Poor Young Mom be the story McCain’s looking for from this?
August 29th, 2008 at 10:06 am
she can’t be VP, she has at least one more season to do for 30 Rock.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Alaska should be a little more developed so that it can get its own tax base and not need so much outside support.
As far as I can tell, outside interests want two things from Alaska: a very large park and Alaskans paying for the privilege of maintaing a park for all the tourists.
What I would prefer is infrastructure injections with an eye towards building enough that we no longer need pork.
I think it is embarrassing that a substantial number of people up here don’t have toilets or the ability to have other similar luxuries. It isn’t as simply as buying them – rural Alaska lives on a genuine barter economy.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I am always amazed that so many of these western states where people have such strong libertarian views really depend upon the government – both state and federal (i.e., the rest of us) – to keep them from being complete wastelands. And then they go on and on about the virtues of ‘rugged individualism, etc.’ while turning a blind eye to their public teat-sucking dependence. I’m specifically talking about both of you, Alaska and Arizona.
In that sense, McCain and Palin are a very good fit – but very bad for the rest of us.
I still think McCain is going to surprise everybody and go with Jeb.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
With this pick they lose their argument of gravitas and experience. McCain is old, he could drop dead tomorrow and we’re left Palin as president. She has no experience, she has no credibility on the national stage, she adds zip to the ticket.
It’s a pick only PUMAS could love.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
She’s got the experience to lead! Who the hell is she?
August 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am
This is a desperate and clever choice. She has no experience and probably would be eaten alive by Biden, but the Repugs will use the “woman hater” card to deflect everything, like POW is used for McCain. Will the right want her as President if McCain does not survive his term?..No..but to say so is so very anti-woman. Such commentary on Mittens or Pawlenty would be expected and taken on their merits.
She is immunized.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:26 am
“As far as I can tell, outside interests want two things from Alaska: a very large park and Alaskans paying for the privilege of maintaing a park for all the tourists.”
Alaskans paying? Just looking at some 2005 data (http://www.nemw.org/fundsrank.htm), I notice that Alaska is the largest per-capita recipient of Federal dollars, and pulls in a tidy $1.83 for every dollar it puts into the tax kitty. (Only Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico get better returns on their tax money.) Us chumps in the “lower 48″ pay through the nose to subsidize the Alaskan lifestyle, and I think it’s a little rich for you to lecture people from, say, New Jersey (only 65 cents returned on every tax dollar) about how Alaska needs to be left alone except for lots and lots of infrastructure investment.
How many bridges to nowhere do we have to build for you people?
August 29th, 2008 at 10:27 am
alaskandiaspora:
Alaska is a huge state land wise. What’s the state’s population? Why is Juneau even the state capital? It’s not easy getting electricity to the state capital for cryin’ out loud. Are electric companies going to build out infrastructure for just a few people? It’s not economically feasible for them.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:27 am
She also just gave birth to a child with Down syndrome in April. She won’t be a mother to that child if she’s the VP. Taking the slot would say something important about the nature of her ambition.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Ethel-to-Tilly, we should all be so lucky to have him pick Jeb. God, just the mental image of “McCain/Bush” signs gets me giddy.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:31 am
And as far as Palin goes, if she’s on a plane or in Ohio now, she’s the pick. On the other hand, Ezra posted that she’s still in Alaska which, if true, means she’s not.
Pawlenty’s in Minnesota, so he’s out. Where are Romney and Lieberman?
August 29th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Alaska a Wasteland!
Alright Matt, You are officially now in my mind an effete, trust fund scumbag!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Palin will also help immunize McCain against attacks that the GOP is in bed with big oil — the oil companies hate her here. She dramatically raised their taxes; refused to support their plan to build a natural gas pipeline because she favors a Canadian pipeline co’s proposal; and her administration is in the process of revoking leases owned by Exxon, BP, Chevron, and Conoco for their failure to develop one of the largest remaining oil fields on the North Slope.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Alaska shares more in common with middle eastern oligarchies than the rest of the US. It has all the earmarks of a resource extraction economy, especially the heavy levels of corruption at the top with little flowing down hill.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Wow, every joint appearance with the McCains and Palin will look like a creepy “Daddy-daughter purity ball.” Yuck.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:45 am
For starters, it is easy getting electricity to the state capitol, just not when avalanches take out the powerlines, and even then there was still electricity.
As to population there is only 500,000, so it should be easy to kick a little money up that way to make it possible to have a self-sustaining economy.
Also, if you subtract out the money that goes to maintaining land that is mandated to be maintained, the numbers look better per capita spending-wise. You should look at the per acre spending.
Also, no one is asking electric companies to build infrastructure for free. People seem to find a way to pay for electricity. Roads would be nice, relaxation of certain environmentally inspired restrictions could help, something to soften the blow of the fisheries, timber and mining troubles could do wonders. Hell, building roads and relaxing restrictions would probably do ok, and that doesn’t cost too much.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Jeebus, McCain is picking my older sister. While it might create some initial excitement, the fact McCain turns 72 TODAY means that his running mate needs to be ready to be president — and quick. Please, someone tell me how she could possibly be qualified right now. I also don’t see how she helps him on the economy. The whole thing strikes me as nothing more than a lame attempt at identity politics. Hillary voters should be insulted.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I’d like to think that the Alaska fantasy land will just mean that Palin will approach real world problems more…er…creatively.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:51 am
What Sir Humphrey Appleby would call “a courageous decision”.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I guess we’ll be in good hands if the president’s plane is hijacked by Cossacks until he’s able to overtake them.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Damnit, I was still holding out hope for Joementum.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I must say, though: this is a really smart pick, a true game-changer. Not without its risks, including many mentioned above (age gap, taking the inexperience argument off the table), but it gives McCain a chance to win. Pawlenty, Romney, and Lieberman would not.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:07 am
A “Hail Mary” pass if ever I saw one. Obviously an “affirmitve act.” Will it backfire as too obvious a pander?
He’s counting on her not to get dinged for her thin resume, which is probably a good bet…except that advancing her character and judgement over her experience blunts one of his own strongest lines of attack on Obama.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
McCain/Palin — He’s not dead, he’s restin’!
Palin the trophy VP?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
“I have a good fwiend in Wome named Biggus Dickus….”
Oh, not that Palin.
(Sorry, had to say it)
August 29th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I think this doesn’t show any understanding of the evangelical sector. They aren’t just anti-abortion, they are extremely leery of women in power, unless said woman is a proxy for a husband – the case with many a Southern woman governor. The values voter, unlike the pollster, doesn’t categorize values and make a check list – values, rather, bleed into each other. Being subordinate to one’s husband bleeds into looking at Palin and voting for her to be the potential president.
I can’t believe McCain is this politically stupid. Is he trying to commit election suicide? Libby Dole was the natural pick, if he really wanted to appeal to evangelicals. Rich, has a last name from a husband, etc., etc. It is odd that the Republican party doesn’t understand its own constituency. Wow, I guess the country club boys who run the thing have finally got lost in their own bubble.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Good Lord, it’s Sharon Osbourne.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Osbourne
August 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
For crying out loud, how is McCain going to make any argument based on experience now? Two years ago she was mayor of Wasilla, a town of 5,500 people. She hasn’t even had a full term as governor of a State of only 600,000 people. This is a hail mary, desperation heave.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
This is such a one-dimensional pick, and not really as clever as McCain might think it is. It’s obviously trying to appeal to the Clinton supporters who don’t really care about the issues and more about the person. If this works (and hearing some of the interviews I fear it might) then we should all hold Clinton responsible for the election’s result.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:27 am
“My freinds, I’d like to introduce you to the next vice president of the United States. A woman unique in her acceptabilty to the religious right and her willingness to be on the ticket – Governer … what’s your name again? … Sarah Palin!”
August 29th, 2008 at 11:30 am
You losers lose again.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
A “Hail Mary” pass if ever I saw one.
You know what? I like Hail Mary passes. I’m glad the Democrats took a gamble by nominating Obama, and while I don’t want to see Palin become VP, I admire the McCain campaign for deciding to go for broke on this one.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Picking a virulently anti-choice creationist is breaking the grip of the extremists? WTF?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
All of that stuff is bad, but I love the way you have utterly ignored Obama’s attempts to stifle any and all dissent. In the grand scheme of things, I’ll take petty corruption over the kind of raw disdain for the opposition that Obama and his acolytes are showing.
Four years of Obama will be four years of concentrated assaults on freedom of speech.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I find it kind of jarring that Mac picked the governor of Alaska, a state as dependent on federal largesse as any other, as his running mate.
Regardless, he picked her for one reason only, and that’s to cull HRC supporters and try to cop some of the change message.
He is still a neanderthal.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I love the way you have utterly ignored Obama’s attempts to stifle any and all dissent
Not true – we keep trying to talk about it, but every time we get stifled!
Oh my god, they’re here! Even as I type I can feel the stifling closing in on me… mmmmmsfffff…
August 29th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
They split the baby in half. One side of the GOP camp wanted hard right red meat and the other something that would appeal to women and young voters. Does such a half-breed exist? Not really, but Palin is the best approximation.
And now and also vitally, the snowboarding eskimo vote is locked up.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
So after 8 years of Bush, Mc Cain chooses an inexperienced governor from another corrupt oil state. Bravo. That’s change we can beleive in.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Its a bit rich for us Obama supporters to be criticizing Palin on the experience line. Seriously folks, do you want to be seen as hypocrites?
The reason to dislike Palin is that she wrong on most issues and is aligned with McSame for f’s sake.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
One of the unique things about AK is that much of the economic activity is spurred by government spending.
It’s a libertarian’s wet dream: the freedom to do what the fuck you like, especially with guns, quietly underwritten by the federal government.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
she can’t be VP, she has at least one more season to do for 30 Rock.
Lorne Michaels is on the phone right now, because Kristen Wiig can’t pull this one off.
In the grand scheme of things, I’ll take petty corruption
White Flight Personified.
Four years of Obama will be four years of concentrated assaults on my lawn tractor.
fyt.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Yes, now if there was only some way to put her on the ticket and yet place her as a subordinate and helpmeet to an older and more powerful man.
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