| Jan 31 @ 10:36 AM |
How she looking now?
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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Alaska lawmakers question Sarah Palin's focus
JUNEAU, Alaska – Driving home at night from her Capitol office, the leader of Alaska's House Democrats often passes the governor's white-columned mansion and wonders why more lights aren't on.
Rep. Beth Kerttula assumes Gov. Sarah Palin is out of town, though Palin's staffers say so far their boss has been there for most of the legislative session that began Jan. 20.
It's a small matter, but it's part of the buzz around the Capitol among lawmakers who are seeing less of their governor than in years past and wondering what it means in the wake of a Republican vice presidential run that brought Palin global fame and notoriety.
They're accustomed to spotting her striding past, using two BlackBerries, stopping to chat in the hallway or inviting reporters into her office while she prepares for a speech.
Palin insists her focus is still on Alaska.
"I swore to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interests of this great state like a grizzly with cubs," she said in her State of the State address two days after the session began. "We've got to fight for each other, not against, and not let external sensationalized distractions draw us off course."
Some say she appears more tense than the vice presidential candidate who delivered sly jokes and incendiary speeches to packed rallies across the Lower 48.
"Not so sparky," said Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, who wonders if the distractions of her newfound celebrity will keep Palin from devoting her full attention to Alaska's looming budget shortfall.
Others grumble that she didn't seem to reach out to the nearly 60 lawmakers assembled before her.
"I think her speech was not directed to us but right over our heads to a national audience," said Rep. David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, who remembers a much different Palin from just six months ago.
"There were days when she walked around the building with (her daughter) Piper, handing out bagels. I think those days are gone," he added.
Speculation that Palin is positioning herself for a presidential run in 2012 was fueled by news that she formed a political action committee.
"The half-life of political celebrity is really quite short, so she has to make a move," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
Some pundits say Palin should go after U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's seat in 2010, but Sabato doubts Palin would win that contest.
He said she would do better by running for re-election and launching a White House bid during a second term as governor. She'll have to prove that she's engaged and energized over Alaska issues, though.
"If she gives any indication that she's bored, she will literally get herself in trouble with what would otherwise be a slam dunk re-election," Sabato said.
Some Alaska lawmakers say Palin already has proved she's engaged.
"So far, I've seen the governor deliver her energy package, she delivered her budget on time and she met with the majority caucus," said Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole. "I've not seen or heard anyone come up with anything the executive is supposed to be doing that she has not done. It appears to me she's back on the job full-time."
Palin's spokesman says her press office continues to receive hundreds of media requests for interviews, most of which she turns down. She has yet to hold a press conference at the Capitol this year.
However, just a few days ago, she walked out of the mansion after meeting with majority lawmakers and took reporters' questions. She greeted the small group with a cheerful, "Hi guys," then she addressed the issue of her priorities.
"I'm sure legislators know I am the governor of Alaska, and this is first and foremost on my mind and my agenda. Any travel or meeting or participation outside of Alaska will only be if it's good for Alaska," she said.
Juneau Democrat Kim Elton, a member of the Senate's ruling coalition of Republicans and Democrats, predicts Palin will be tested this session.
"Is she going to have a legislative agenda that speaks to a national base, or is she going to have a legislative base that speaks to Alaska's future?" he asked. "I'm not sure it's easy to answer at this time, but I can assure you people will be watching very closely."
House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, said he wants the governor to keep the lines of communications open. Then he won't be worried that travel and political organizing will detract from her state job.
"What the governor does is of her own concern as long as she's here to address the Legislature during the session and as long as her administration is engaged," Chenault said. "If it doesn't interfere with running the state government, I'm fine with it."
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| Jan 31 @ 11:03 AM |
How she looking now? |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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I smell a break down in the making.
That's the strong leadership that the republicans believed in. 
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| Jan 31 @ 11:06 AM |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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Governor Palin was in Washington for the Alfalfa dinner. In her initial press statements about the dinner, she indicated she would be one of the speakers (later corrected by the dinner's organizers who said she wasn't slated to speak) and that she would use the opportunity to have some face time with President Obama.
Furthermore, she indicated that she was establishing a PAC to pay for her travel out of state on non-Alaska business. To me that says she plans on being out of Alaska quite a bit. It also says to me that she will forego challenging Lisa Murkowski in 2010 for the Senate seat Murkowski currently now holds. There is bad blood between the women -- Palin defeated Lisa Murkowski's father, Frank, in the Republican primary for governor. Lisa Murkowski had also asked Walt Moneghan to travel to Washington for meetings on getting more money for Alaska's domestic violence program. In the Troopergate fiasco, Palin cited that trip as her reason for firing Moneghan and not because he wouldn't fire her former brother-in-law.
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| Jan 31 @ 11:06 AM |
How she looking now? |
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pomegranate
Posts: 1,676
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Palin for President? God help us all. 
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| Jan 31 @ 11:07 AM |
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Dukums
Posts: 1,686
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No matter what you say burns... I think she is a hottie! Think I will mosey on down to the Sarah Palin strip show here in Vegas now! 
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| Jan 31 @ 11:16 AM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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Very rare does a beauty queen come with brains. Shes a dime a dozen of the semi pretty faces.
Simply fascinating.
If you can not see the theory of why the republicans choose her you have to be completely blind.
Dukum, that's ok, just remember, you never have to apologize to a whore, or so they say.
I would have been pissed if I was a female republican politician, when the Republicans announced Palin for Vice President.
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| Jan 31 @ 11:36 AM |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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There were quite a few Republican women who were privately furious at the selection of Palin. Far fewer were the ones who publicly voiced their reservations with her choice -- Kathleen Parker and Peggy Noonan are two who come to mind. The problem that McCain had was that some of the more qualified women were as old or nearly as old as he.
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| Jan 31 @ 11:40 AM |
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,892
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.
...Whatever Palin is, she raised McCain in the polls. This OP seems rather favorable to me, as it stated that she is doing her job, while making the right moves and in there getting Alaska's fair share of this latest giveaway program. So she did not deliver bagels or talk sweetly to a couple, they have an issue? 
...What the media will not publish as news. 
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| Jan 31 @ 11:47 AM |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,499
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...Whatever Palin is, she raised McCain in the polls.
Briefly. Until she opened her mouth...
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| Jan 31 @ 11:51 AM |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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And then he sank like a stone. Her interviews on ABC and CBS frightened quite a few people. Her rallies, in which she seemed not to care very much about people calling for Obama's assassination, scared many more -- including her running mate.
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| Jan 31 @ 11:58 AM |
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,892
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...Yea right... he pulled like 47% of the popular vote.
...Say what you want, but she is governor of Alaska and apparently a hell of a lot smarter than the Saturday morning MD crowd.
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| Jan 31 @ 12:14 PM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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Wow the moron just insulted himself.
a hell of a lot smarter than the Saturday morning MD crowd. Careful SG your republican is showing.
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| Jan 31 @ 12:14 PM |
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Nightowl001
Posts: 7,499
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What makes her smarter? Because she has different ambitions? Since when is megalomania a sign of intelligence? So she achieved her pissy little ambition of being governor of the state with the smallest per capita per square mile population density. I don't see that makes her smart in any way.
I'm a little curious as to what you consider "smart" when you start dissing the "Saturday morning" MD crowd. There are quite a few people on here that I would MUCH rather meet and have discussions with than the lipsticked pitbull. 
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| Jan 31 @ 12:17 PM |
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,892
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....You guys are a bunch of jealous neanderthals...
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| Jan 31 @ 12:20 PM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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coming from you that's a compliment.
no go pay your taxes before you get nailed with more fees and fines.
[Edited on 1/31/2009 12:20 PM]
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| Jan 31 @ 12:20 PM |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,904
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Shes looking like an expected scapegoat for blame by some people that refuse to accept their blame for the strong leadership they were expecting from Obama but arent getting...yet..
Quick! Wonder about something unfounded and draw attention to the loser to deflect attention from the guy thats getting nowhere in his bi-partisan goal to save America.
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| Jan 31 @ 12:20 PM |
How she looking now?
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,059
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They look at being governor of a difficult state as being a small thing.
[Edited on 1/31/2009 12:23 PM]
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| Jan 31 @ 12:22 PM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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republicans to the rescue.
rally hoooo,
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| Jan 31 @ 12:22 PM |
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,161
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I'm a little curious as to what you consider "smart" when you start dissing the "Saturday morning" MD crowd.
He was just talking about himself...
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| Jan 31 @ 12:24 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,059
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Jankia said:
Quick! Wonder about something unfounded and draw attention to the loser to deflect attention from the guy thats getting nowhere in his bi-partisan goal to save America.
Absolutely, Jankia. It's looks like they are trying to tak ethe heat off of their guy. 
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