Is Palin a ‘Reformer’?

This is what the Obama campaign said this morning about Palin's "reform" record, BTW, per the New York Times:

While allowing for a compelling personal story that will make a “great speech” tonight, Mr. Gibbs then turned to her record in Alaska, listing her initial support for the “Bridge to Nowhere,” the fact that “her city of only a few thousand hired a lobbyist to get earmarks” and an endorsement with Senator Ted Stevens, who has been indicted in a corruption investigation.

By contrast, Senator McCain and Governor Palin have portrayed her record as one befitting that of an independent fighter, against the “old boy network” of Republicans and the big oil companies. Coming from a small town, and from a state that rarely lands in the national spotlight during presidential campaigns, she’s also being introduced as a fresh candidate who, as former Senator Fred Thompson said last night, isn’t part of the Beltway cocktail circuit.

Mr. Gibbs disagreed with the upshot of that portrayal, saying “you’re not going to hear about big changes” in her speech. “Her reform and John McCain’s reform already looks a lot like what is going on in Washington today.”

(And remember that lobbyist she hired is tied to Abramoff. Maybe she didn't vet, either.)

Of course, we should consider that "reformer" may mean something completely different up in Alaska. The Alaska Independence Party, which claims Palin as a member in the '90s and her husband until 2002 when she ran for governor, is not a big fan of the U.S.A.:

"The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government ... and I won't be buried under their damn flag."
- Joe Vogler, Founder of the Alaskan Independence Party (AIP)

We're getting a long way from the question of wearing flag pins here.

Palin's image may be presented as a reformer to those that do follow politics or understand the inner workings on the Hill. For Palin to be chosen as the VP, she must have some very important D.C. connections. Your name just doesn't pop up on political lists because you are a reformer, it pops up because someone, somewhere knows you from political dealings. Now that doesn't sound like reform.

Well, knowing that Bill Kristol was pushing for her to be the choice, she's got some connection with the cocktail circuit in D.C.

Pat Buchanan's a big fan, too, I hear.

excellent point.... Who was lobbying for her to be the VP?
This would be an interesting chain to follow, I bet you will find alot of "good old boys". And I keep asking myself "WHY? McCain did not make this selection by himself. Where is this leading? This whole process is scary.

At first, it was being said that she supported Pat Buchanan. Recently, it has came out that she supported Steve Forbes

According to AP....Buchanan himself told MSNBC's Chris Matthews last week that Palin "was a brigadier in 1996 as was her husband ... They were at a fundraiser for me, she's a terrific gal, she's a rebel reformer."

But of course McCain people are disputing this.

I saw that, too, booker. Also that she wore a Buchanan button during one of his visits to Alaska, I think. Who knows? It seems like the McCain rapid-response team is up in God's county stuffing all sorts down the memory hole.

And I'll be honest with you: I don't have the energy to start posting the disturbing stuff from her preacher's sermons or her own remarks at her church. It's all over the Internet today.

Speaking of, I just found a an excellent Alaskan blog, Mudflats (hat-tip to Folo; y'all are doing a great job). Go read the whole thing for insider poop, but I'll share this one quote from Alaska state Rep. Mike Doogan (a Dem); love the briefing book image:

…But debating foreign policy with Joe Biden? What’s she going to do? Hit him with her briefing book? If Palin has two thoughts about foreign policy, she’s managed to keep them to herself. Ditto health care. National energy policy. Fiscal policy. You could make a long, long list, but I’ll stop there. She’s going to need a lot of handlers feeding her a lot of talking points, and she’s going to have to hope that the discussion only goes about yay-deep.

She’s also going to have to hope that the national media is as pliable as Alaska’s has been. Palin doesn’t like people criticizing her, and she’s as competitive as any linebacker you ever met. If the campaign gets a little rough and tumble, that could be a bad combination.

So she could be great as a candidate. Or so so. Or blow up on the pad. But if the McCain-Palin ticket should win? Yikers. There’s no way on God’s green earth that she’s prepared to be president of the United States. The only consolation for me is remembering that J. Danforth Quayle once held the job she’s trying to get, and the world didn’t end.

But Sarah Palin?

Really?

Here's a reform piece in the L.A. Times: Palin's earmarks for Wasilla showed up three times on McCain's list for "objectionable spending." Isn't this kind of thing what they're supposed to be reforming?

OK, look. This is all ridiculous. It is clear that McCain acted rashed and without vetting his choice. It's not her fault, but that he did not take the time to figure out that she is not some big "reformer," and so on.

I am starting to feel really sorry for her family and even even Palin: McCain exercised very poor judgement over pulling her into an arena she was not ready or prepared for.

Now, he can't just cover that up by attacking the media.

I love how this pick has the Obama camp running scared! Definite excitement in the GOP.

Harry, I know that's a talking point -- but where is the evidence that "the Obama camp is running scared"? Methinks you're pulling that one out of yo' butt, pardon de expression.

It's folks who attack the messenger who are the scared ones. See above.

As for the Obama campaign, it sounds like they're doing the same thing they've been doing for months so effectively. For example, this just came in e-mail:

Since yesterday, 40,000 people have donated more than $550,000 to help register half a million young voters in the swing states that will decide the election. And they've each snagged a hip Obama T-shirt in the process.

Can you help us put our organizers on the ground and reach our goal of 50,000 T-shirts? Click here to chip in $12 so we can send you a free Obama T-shirt:

http://pol.moveon.org/obamatshirts/?rc=kicker&id=13684-4264937-pFh1p_x&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

- Peter

I think more interesing information about Palin will come out as more people investigate her background. Yes, it is obvious that McCain made a rash decision. This pick seems to be a high risk (or in the McCain camp thinking high reward) choice. The reform piece is all politcal spin. Both Palin and McCain exercised poor judgement in this pairing. McCain for choosing and Palin for accepting. Earlier today, this move was compared to Bush choosing Harriet Meyers as Supreme Court Justice. I would say that comparision alone would not be a good outcome for those involved.

Palin is definitely a reformer - a person that has already improved the looks of John McCain and his candidancy. In the barber shop last night and at a restuarant later I couldn't count the number of fellows saying, boys, y'all know what, I've never been able to look at government like this before. One young white friend at the restaurant said his favorite show on television is the weather report on Channel 16 News when Jennifer Cook is starring, but now, although he's staunch Democrat, if the repugnants win somehow at least he'll be able to watch the works of vice-president with re-newed interest. He said with Palin in office he won't have to wait until the vice-president shoots somebody to notice them.

Yeah Harry, Democrats are sacared to death Palin. God forbids McCain dies early, we'll be overthrown in 2 years. She's more incompetent and unprepared than Frank Melton.

I think I violated your request. Please remove. Thank you. Sorry. Didn't see it in time.

I love how this pick has the Obama camp running scared! Definite excitement in the GOP.

Actually, there's an even funnier retort to this. Apparently, Ron Paul's rally in Minneapolis got more people to it than there were on the convention floor at the RNC:

Paul's is Bigger than McCain's

I'll take derailin' Palin any day over Ron Paul. However, I accidentally saw a little of that Ron Paul stuff last night. The part I saw was Jimmy Vaughn, Stevie Ray's big brother, doing a bluisy song over there. I had to stop since I'm a sucker for music and comedy. I guess if the later was always true (a sucker for comedy) I'd be watching the Farce on Minnesota across town from Ron Paul's camp full time. He, he..

Paul's is Bigger than McCain's

Um, Todd, could you rephrase that? ROTFL

LW, I thought you were a good and clean eagle queen. You learn something new every day. Maybe David Banner knew something when he did that song. Smile.

BTW, for all the complaining about the media tramping all over the Palin kid's privacy...the McCain camp just had a tarmac photo-op of McCain greeting the Palin clan, including the baby daddy.

NOW will they still accuse everyone under the sun of playing this up? Serious?

Walt, don't go there. That's all I'm going to say.

This brings up reform again. Yes, Palin is a reformer as she and her husband is forcing the boy to marry the girl in this day and time. For all we know, the boy could have said Bristol we ain't spose to be doing this and Bristol said I'll tell everyone you're gay and, to boot, have my mother and daddy kick your butt if you don't have sex with me. None of this seems to matter to Palin and cialis. Sorry, I meant McCain.

We all know that dating without love should not lead to marriage, sex without feelings or enjoyment should not lead to more sex or marriage (but with alcohol, drugs and desperation it often does), and a powerful mother and mad daddy with a shotgun plotting to kill you will not lead to a lasting marriage, but more than likely only to resentment and divorce.

Forced marriage and fatherhood without any means to protect and feed is nonsensical. But Palin is a reformer who is not about to let a boy get any milk from her home without taking the cow too.

If Palin, McCain and the rest of the repugs are successful with this venture all boys will finally learn, after all this time, to keep their Johnsons or fishing poles out of the wrong fishing ponds. This makes all of them reformers.

What Palin says or does tonight is irrelevant to the hard Right.

She can come on stage and read the ingredients of a box of Fruity Pebbles and the Republican true believers will say she's the best thing to come along since Abe Lincoln.

When you're starving, even a stale saltine cracker is a feast fit for a king.

That. Is. Hilarious, Jeff.

She can come on stage and read the ingredients of a box of Fruity Pebbles and the Republican true believers will say she's the best thing to come along since Abe Lincoln.

Perhaps, they're all coo-coo for Coco Puffs?

Good one, Jeff!

Walt said...."forcing the boy to marry the girl"

yep that boys life is no longer his....it belongs to the hard right. That was one expensive little tryst. Maybe an agent is waiting in the wings.

Walt, maybe you are kidding, but if not, who said anything, or where is there any evidence of, "forced marraige?"

Is it that madening, threatening, or unimaginable that the two might be taking responsibility? Maybe even something crazy like they love each other?

My friend, Matt, you're one of the few republicans I like and respect. However, Matt, that boy doesn't know sh1t from shinola and shouldn't be marrying that girl for political reasons. He described himself as a hockey redneck. When has a redneck had any sense, cognition, cerebration, acumen or sober reflection or critical thoughts?