When SarahPAC sends out "Governor's Statements", I cringe. Sarah Palin is as predictable as Alaska weather; random, erratic, and dangerous.
Her full run embrace of RNC Chairman Michael Steele must be in response to his statement, "We have turned the page. We have turned the corner. No more looking in the review mirror." Palin translation? "Enough about Reagan, what about ME?!"
Alaskans know if you lick steel in the cold, your tongue sticks.
As Governor, Sarah Palin has passed the largest budgets in state history. Her "Alaska energy bailout" last fall, on top of the Permanent Fund Dividend checks, was $740 million. Her political ambition has denied Alaskans $28.6 million in federal stimulus funds for weatherization and energy assistance despite bi-partisan pleas to accept the money.
Palin's criticism of President Obama's "unprecedented reliance upon foreign countries" is rich. She has continually held up her Alaska Gas line Inducement Act (AGIA) as a star in her governor's pageant crown. She selected TransCanada to build the Alaska gas line, and "induced" them with $500 million. Not only are we relying on a foreign company for essential delivery of energy infrastructure, WE ARE PAYING THEM HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO DO IT!
Sarah Palin also accused President Obama of threatening health care to Native villages in Alaska. Perhaps she was too busy putting out a press release about her new Twitter account and missed the news from Senator Mark Begich. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Bristol Bay Area Health Center was awarded $1.3 million over the next two years. Native tribes across the state will receive $2.9 million for child care and development assistance. Indian Health Services (IHS) has approved $152 million for the construction phase of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome. The project summary submitted to Senator Begich stated the project will create an estimated 200 construction jobs; an additional 100 new positions once it's completed; and 450 existing jobs will be retained. What does Palin want? A personal colonoscopy from the Oval Office?
Sarah Palin's response to starving Western Alaska villages was a photo-op fly-in with the Rev. Franklin Graham. "Jesus loves you, and I do too! Also!" She baked them cookies. Really.
Alaska does not have a friend in Michael Steele. We do have a governor who is the first in Alaska history not only to be absent at the Juneteenth Celebration (the national celebration of the end of slavery), but to be mute. Sarah Palin refused to retroactively sign the Juneteenth Celebration Proclamation and is now being sued. The platform used to bash Obama and blow smoke up the skirt of the RNC Chair could have been used to help Alaskans rather than forward her personal political agenda.
Palin could have talked about the worst flooding in Alaska history along the Yukon River this month. The Yukon River divides Alaska in half. The headwaters originate in Canada and it empties into the Bering Sea 2,300 miles west. As a result of widespread flooding, E. coli is growing in the basements of destroyed homes; diesel fuel is covering the belongings of flood victims and contaminating an already crippled ecosystem. Critical fishing runs crashed last year. As a result, the state and feds cut subsistence fishing 50% on the Yukon River this year. No telling what havoc will be wreaked on fragile spawning habitat.
There is a long list of major concerns Sarah Palin could spend her political capital on to help our state. Instead, she squanders it on the likes of Michael Steele, bashing Obama, and her great defense (and misguided understanding of the first amendment) of Miss California, Carrie PreJean.
Statement from Governor Sarah Palin
The transition from Candidate Obama to President Obama has been as predictable as Alaska's winter snow.We are now witnessing actions that will lead to a monumental shift away from free market capitalism and the strong work ethic that built this great country. 'Change' in this administration has meant rapid movement toward massive government growth, huge tax burdens on future generations, and an unprecedented reliance upon foreign countries.
Today, we learned that Obama's decisions continue to impact Alaskans; while we as taxpayers now own General Motors, Obama closes another dealership - this time in Soldotna as more of Alaskans' hard-earned money and jobs are lost to big government. Government should not be in the auto industry business. In Alaska, we have also seen a shift in federal priorities that threaten the loss of subsidized village health care services under the same candidate who led you to believe he'd insure all Americans. The inconsistent messages and actions are unsettling.
But we have another voice in Washington, DC - a man who understands what Alaskans believe: less centralized government control, restrained budgets, more opportunity for development, and fewer taxes. Today, we have a friend in RNC Chairman Michael Steele and his bold and courageous speech defines his leadership goals that will guide us all through this most difficult time for our nation."
Governor Sarah Palin