General Comments To Those on the Left Who Condemn Governor Palin and Others:
I'm very disturbed by the condescending arrogance of the Left, that demands that any African-American or woman must dance to the so-called “Progressive” tune or be demeaned and disparaged. God forbid that men and women dare to think for themselves, instead of succumbing to the pressure of the mob. God forbid that a Supreme Court Justice dares to base his decisions on the language of the Constitution and the intent of those who drafted and ratified it (and its amendments). For example.
Really.
The racism and sexism inherent in this condescending attitude is so transparent. Why can we not respect every man and every woman as an independent thinking human being, capable of forming is or her own sincere opinions, instead of demanding that they be mere marionettes of identity politics.
I’m not saying that you must agree with the views of Justice Thomas or Governor Palin, but for God’s sake, if you do disagree, do it in terms of a discussion of the substantive issues. You may just be surprised to learn that there are reasonable arguments supporting some of their positions.
I just listened to Governor Palin’s remarks from yesterday. From what I’ve read and heard, Sarah Palin is no Dan Qualye. Of course this is how the partisan Democratic polticos will strive to paint her.
Only with time will we know whether she was the best V.P. pick for John McCain. However, one thing is now certain. The election of 2008 will be groundbreaking. It will result in the election of either the first African-American President of the United States, or the first woman as Vice-President of the United States. That says a great deal about where we’ve come, and what our country is truly all about. I feel very good about this.
Who is Sarah Palin?
By STEVE QUINN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, Aug. 29 2008
JUNEAU, Alaska -- In just two short years, Sarah Palin moved from suburban
hockey mom and small-town mayor to vice presidential contender.
The 44-year-old Republican, Alaska's first female governor, arrived at the
Capitol in 2006 on an ethics reform platform after defeating two former
governors in the primary and general elections. On Friday she was ready to leap
to the national stage as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's surprise
choice for running mate, according to two senior campaign officials who spoke
on condition of anonymity because the announcement was pending.
She already has a national reputation for bucking her party's establishment and
Alaska's powerful oil industry back home.
With ethics the centerpiece of her campaign, Palin defeated incumbent Gov.
Frank Murkowski, who served 22 years in the U.S. Senate before winning the
governor's seat in 2002.
Her task didn't seem any easier in the general election, but she handily beat
Tony Knowles, a popular Democrat who already served two terms as governor.
During her first year in office, Palin distanced herself from the powerful old
guard of the state Republican Party, even calling on Sen. Ted Stevens to
explain to Alaskans why federal authorities were investigating him.
Since then, their relationship has warmed, and they have appeared together at
several events. Stevens even said lawmakers should follow Palin's lead in her
efforts to get a natural gas pipeline built.
Stevens is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 22 in Washington, D.C., on charges he
failed to disclose more than $250,000 in home renovations and gifts from
executives at oil services contractor VECO Corp. He won the GOP primary on
Tuesday with more than 60 percent of the vote. He's pleaded not guilty.
Palin also asked Alaska's congressional delegation to be more selective in
seeking earmarks after what came to be known as the "Bridge to Nowhere" turned
into a national embarrassment and a symbol of piggish pork-barrel spending.
She also successfully took on the oil industry, leading to a tax increase on
oil company profits that now has the state's treasury swelling.
Typically seen walking the Capitol halls in black or red power suits while
reading text messages on Blackberry screens in each hand, Palin made a recent
appearance in Vogue, the fashion magazine.
And she oversees a state that's hardly shy about admiring her swept-back hair
and celebrated smile. Bumper stickers and blogs have proclaimed Alaska and
Palin: "Coldest State, Hottest Governor."
Palin describes herself as a "hockey mom" and an occasional commercial
fisherwoman. She lives in Wasilla, a town of 6,500 about 30 miles north of
Anchorage, with her husband, Todd, a blue-collar North Slope oil worker who
competes in the Iron Dog, a 1,900-mile snowmobile race. He is part Yup'ik
Eskimo.
Her previous political experience consisted of terms as Wasilla's mayor and
councilwoman and a stint as head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission.
Palin's troubles with the GOP began when Murkowski named her chairwoman of the
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. There, Palin exposed current Alaska
Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich, who was also an AOGCC commissioner,
for ethical violations.
In 2005, Palin co-filed an ethics complaint against Murkowski's longtime aide
and then attorney general, Gregg Renkes, for having a financial interest in a
company that stood to gain from an international trade deal he was helping
craft.
The Palins have five children: Track, 19; Bristol 17; Willow 14; Piper, 7, and
Trig, who was born in April with Down syndrome.
Track enlisted in the Army in 2007 on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, and has been assigned to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.
Palin was born Feb. 11, 1964, in Idaho, but her parents moved to Alaska shortly
after her birth to teach. She received a bachelor of science degree in
communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.
