Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain’s running mate, was a breath of fresh air when she was elevated to her running mate status before the Republican Convention. It was great to see the Republican Party place a woman in that position. But it was more of a strategic move than anything else. A move, as I see it, to place a woman in the vacuum left by Hillary Clinton to court female voters.
Since her nomination, it has come out that there was a Alaska State Trooper who was married to her sister and they were in a custody dispute. According to some, Governor Palin wanted the trooper fired and Commissioner Walt Monegan refused. Shortly after Monegan was fired by Palin over budget disputes. In October Alaska lawmakers concluded that Palin abused her authority and broke state ethics laws by sanctioning a campaign to pressure subordinates to fire her former brother-in-law. Oy vey.
Palin has also come out as of late saying that she is for a Constitutional ban on gay marriages(1) . I am by nature a conservative. I am also equally open minded. A Constitutional ban on abortion, anyone?
Some of the pluses about Palin is that she is not a political insider, is not entrenched in Washington politics (yet) and is very tenacious.
Do I believe she can be an effective Vice President? Yes. President? Yes there too. Do I follow her personal, religious and political beliefs, no. Her behavior during the Troopergate affair is troubling to me.
Start Footnotes
End Footnotes.
Popularity: 5% [?]
The Trooper in question has admitted to tasering his child, drank on the job, and abused his wife (Palin’s sister). His threat against his father-in-law was credible, and he had to go. He was a dangerous individual. I believe he went before the governing board of the State Troopers and was, at the very least, reprimanded for his behavior. You’re telling me her calling saying “why isn’t he fired yet?” is something actionable or even bad at all? In fact, she told her husband to stop calling the people in question. “Troopergate” is probably the biggest non-issue in the election.
Indiana Jim’s last blog post..Star Wars Codename: Starkeeper – Act VI – October 11, 2008