Sadly, quantity of Palin is inversely proportional to quantity of cowbell…
Item the First: Instant Karma: This is from a hard-copy of the Alaska 2008 state budget, procured by the Washington Post:
The slashed-down “Covenant House Alaska” runs a handful of programs receiving state funds, including “Passage House,” which is…
“…a transitional living program…[providing] young mothers a place to live with their babies for up to eighteen months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives.”
Passage House “works with parenting teens to help them become productive, successful, independent adults who create and provide a stable environment for themselves and their families.” (More here.) As you can see, Governor Palin line-itemed 20% of their budget out this year. So roll out your schadenfreude for the trashy Us Weekly cover.
Item the Second: If at first you don’t secede: Todd Palin, Alaska’s “first dude,” was registered as a member of the Alaska Independence Party between 1995 and 2002. Sarah doesn’t appear to have ever been card-carrying, but she addressed their convention via video within the last year. So let’s talk AIP:
“I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.”
-AIP founder Joe Vogler
For real. Too bad Michelle Obama has that patriotism problem. Let’s look over the best of their current platform:
To amend the Constitution of the State of Alaska so as to re-establish the rights of all Alaskan residents to entry upon all public lands within the state, and to acquire private property interest there in, under fair and reasonable conditions. Such property interest shall include surface and sub-surface patent.
In other words, privitize (sell) all federally protected lands…
To prohibit all bureaucratic regulations and judicial rulings purporting to have the effect of law, except that which shall be approved by the elected legislature.
…and nullify all Supreme Court decisions.
To support the privatization of government services.
Fantastic. Problem is, the petro-state of Alaska relies on Washington for their right-wing-socialist slush fund. Peep their FAQs:
Q: If Alaska were independent, what would happen to my social security check, federal pension, or military retirement?
A: People receive these checks around the world, regardless of their place of residence. In most cases eligibility for such checks would not be effected by Alaskan independence.
So basically we privatize everything on Independence Day, but don’t worry because grandpa will still get his social security checks from Uncle Sam. Except, of course, that grandpa would cease to be an American citizen. Clearly they haven’t thought this out.
Or have they?
Q: Would I lose my U.S. citizenship?
A: Depending on the form of independence, several forms of citizenship would be possible, including the retention of U.S. citizenship or dual citizenship. However, considering the moral, educational, and economic decay of the U.S., Alaskans’ who hold themselves to a higher standard might very well decide to at least maintain an arm’s length distance from a country in decline.
“Depending on the form of independence?” I’m sure the United States would gladly offer dual citizenship to the inhabitants of a state formed in response to America’s “moral, education and economic decay.” In case you were wondering how far they’ve reformed from America-hating Joe Vogler, well, you can still buy the t-shirts. Oh, and Pravda ran a great interview with AIP’s Chairman back in April in which the Chairman called the state “a colonial warehouse” on the order of French Algeria. Because remember, Michelle Obama has a patriotism problem.
(They do have a beautiful logo.)
Item the Third: Losing the Jews: We’ve heard plenty about Obama’s Jewish problem, especially considering it might be a unicorn. Obama was up something like 60% – 35% among Jews against McCain back in the spring, so while Kerry won Jews 75%-25% it’s not like he has miles to make up; and I haven’t seen any Jews-only polling since he’s settled in as the nominee. (Nor since he picked the Yiddishe Veep. )
So seeing Politico pick this up was nice. Problem is, it may not get the traction it deserves. Yes, Palin was in church when a visiting Jews for Jesus evangelist proclaimed terrorist attacks on Israelis to be God’s “judgment of unbelief” on Jews who haven’t embraced Christianity. But I wouldn’t expect her to reject and denounce anyone any time soon. (Bear in mind that Obama had to distance himself from not only Reverend Wright but Louis Farrakhan, a man who shares exactly zero of the Senator’s religious and political views; and it was the so-called “liberals” leading the charge.) I guess the McCain campaign figures they’ve got all the Jews well-counted anyway…
Item the Fourth: Is this thing on? CNN reports:
(CNN) – Prominent Republican analysts Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy became the latest victims of an open microphone Wednesday, caught after a segment on MSNBC trashing John McCain’s pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Murphy wanted more of a centrist:
“I come out of the blue swing-state governor world, Engler, Whitman, Thompson, Mitt Romney,” Murphy said during the mishap which has since been posted on YouTube. Murphy later flatly says of the pick, “It’s not going to work.”
Noonan says “it’s over,” and continues:
“I think they went for this — excuse me– political bulls–t about narratives,” Noonan also said. “Every time the Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.”
Noonan genuflected in the Wall Street Journal, while never forgetting that critical deflection: “I am certainly sorry that someone abused my meaning in the use of the words, “It’s over.” Because you know, Noonan belongs to the “party of personal responsibility.”
