Sarah Palin's pity party turns off Alaskan GOP

[medeak]

The Anchorage Lincoln Dinner: Gov. Palin calls us out
Posted on 22 March 2009

By Dave Stieren

If political parties are families, or at least some semblance of one, then Friday night at the Anchorage Lincoln dinner, we looked through the family album, laughed at some old photos, and found out some things about the GOP. It appears we’re rather dysfunctional, but we do know who’s in charge, and with that, order will come from chaos. And while who is in charge may surprise some, and start arguments from others, that person represents what our state face should be in Republican circles, and perhaps regain a certain level of respect for ourselves. One person gave a speech with clarity, purpose, and direction. Someone else, for lack of a better descriptor, chewed republicans out.

As I wrote last week, there are some items that Gov. Palin may have had trouble with, at least in theory, in addressing a room of Anchorage republicans, many of whom she’s been at odds with since the primary. When she took the stage after 3 taped messages from Michael Steele, Don Young, and Lisa Murkowski, respectively, she wasted little time in rehashing her run for VP, and the position it put her family in. As her address continued, she intermixed references to President Lincoln, and the struggles he endured prior to and during his presidency, and her own struggles with the “mainstream media” and how she has had to endure the financial and political hardships of ethics complaints and criticisms from within and without her own party. An opportunity to give a message of direction and purpose for the faithful, turned into a lot of “why is everyone against me?” Occasional references to this point would have been acceptable, but the size and passion in delivering this message was stunning.

To be sure, the governor has taken a sizable amount of criticism from conservatives, but it must be pointed out that until her VP nomination, the ADN and members of the Democrat party had little to complain about and indeed many helped shape much of her early legislation. However, Gov. Palin referenced those elected officials that may share her party but not her views on AGIA as being motivated by an agenda that in her mind runs contrary to the best interests of the state. I would point out, that if the Daily News and almost every elected Democrat make a statement fully endorsing AGIA, then it would almost be incumbent on some in the party to call for a review of the current economics and the liability the state faces in light of the dynamics of the market. She stated repeatedly that she encourages healthy debate within her administration, but didn’t cite a single instance where someone made an argument that changed her view. One could guess that the last one to do that is now running for Anchorage mayor.

edited for link: http://www.thealaskastandard.com/?q=content/anchorage-lincoln-dinner-gov-palin-calls-us-out

[ellenfl]

1. hm-m-m-m, written by a republican. interesting. eom

[medeak]

2. laughed my arse off! n/t

[Cass]

3. She just won't quit whining.

She knocked Hillary for whining yet she is whining louder than anyone. What a hypocrit.

Gah, I wish she would just go away already.