Thursday, September 10, 2009

Palin's Response to the President’s Health Care Speech

From Sarah’s Facebook Page:

Response to the President’s Health Care Speech

After all the rhetoric is put aside, one principle ran through President Obama’s speech tonight: that increased government involvement in health care can solve its problems.

Many Americans fundamentally disagree with this idea. We know from long experience that the creation of a massive new bureaucracy will not provide us with “more stability and security,” but just the opposite. It’s hard to believe the President when he says that this time he and his team of bureaucrats have finally figured out how to do things right if only we’ll take them at their word.

Our objections to the Democrats’ health care proposals are not mere “bickering” or “games.” They are not an attempt to “score short term political points.” And it’s hard to listen to the President lecture us not to use “scare tactics” when in the next breath he says that “more will die” if his proposals do not pass.

In his speech the President directly responded to concerns I’ve raised about unelected bureaucrats being given power to make decisions affecting life or death health care matters. He called these concerns “bogus,” “irresponsible,” and “a lie” — so much for civility. After all the name-calling, though, what he did not do is respond to the arguments we’ve made, arguments even some of his own supporters have agreed have merit.

In fact, after promising to “make sure that no government bureaucrat …. gets between you and the health care you need,” the President repeated his call for an Independent Medicare Advisory Council — an unelected, largely unaccountable group of bureaucrats charged with containing Medicare costs. He did not disavow his own statement that such a group, working outside of “normal political channels,” should guide decisions regarding that “huge driver of cost … the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives….” He did not disavow the statements of his health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, and continuing to pay his salary with taxpayer dollars proves a commitment to his beliefs. The President can keep making unsupported assertions, but until he directly responds to the arguments I’ve made, I’m going to call him out too.

It was heartening to hear the President finally recognize that tort reform is an important part of any solution. But this concession shouldn’t lead us to take our eye off the ball: the Democrats’ proposals will not reduce costs, and they will not deliver better health care. It’s this kind of “healthy skepticism of government” that truly reflects a “concern and regard for the plight of others.” We can’t wait to hear the details on that; we look forward to working with you on tort reform.

Finally, President Obama delivered an offhand applause line tonight about the cost of the War on Terror. As we approach the anniversary of the September 11th attacks and honor those who died that day and those who have died since in the War on Terror, in order to secure our freedoms, we need to remember their sacrifices and not demonize them as having had too high a price tag.

Remember, Mr. President, elected officials work for the people. Forcing a conclusion in order to claim a “victory” is not healthy for our country. We hear you say government isn’t always the answer; now hear us — that’s what we’ve been saying all along.

- Sarah Palin

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Palin: "my Bible is the Constitution of the State of Alaska"

 "As Governor of Alaska, my Bible is the Constitution of the State of Alaska."

MYERS: Interestingly as governor, she has not pushed the [abortion] issue. There were times, for example, that members of the state legislature, who had anti-abortion bills to add more restrictions, wanted to bring those bills up as part of special legislative sessions on other issues. And Governor Palin said no. She has not proposed any added restrictions on abortion. And Alaska has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. 

[More good material and a link at the article:]


Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Palin: Stimulus dollars must not result in government expansion

Stimulus dollars must not result in government expansion

By GOV. SARAH PALIN
Published: March 28th, 2009 05:28 PM

“My job is to help Alaskans count the cost for the long term, not sell our birthright for short-term gain. Alaskans must acknowledge that if we dig a fiscal hole, it will be filled by our families and businesses. Reliance on Washington is not our only option. We could exercise fiscal responsibility and prudent planning, develop our resources, energize Alaskans and revitalize our spirit. We are up to the challenge. This is the best lesson we can teach our children.”

adn.com/opinion/story/739833.html

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Looney attacks may send Sarah to the WH

“Are Alaskans outraged, or at least tired of this yet — another frivolous ethics charge by a political blogger? This would be hilarious if it weren’t so expensive for the state to process these accusations and for me to defend against these bogus harassments. Yest, I wore Arctic Cat snow gear at an outdoor event, because it was cold outside, and by the way, today I am wearing clothes bearing the names of Alaska artists, and a Glenallen Panthers basketball hoodie.  I am a walking billboard for the team’s fundraiser! Should I expect to see an ethics charge for wearing these, or the Carhatts I wear to many public events? How much will this blogger’s asinine political grandstanding cost all of us in time and money?”   - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, March 24th 2009. 

From Hillbuzz:
We chuckled when we read the piece in Talking Points Memo because we’re coming from two different places, but arrive at the same conclusion.  The TPM piece is WARNING Democrats to stop attacking Palin lest they make her President in 4 years.  We think these lunatics should continue to attack Palin, because very soon someone on Team Sarah is going to find a way to really endear Palin to many Independents and Moderate Dems who won’t want to associate with liberal loons who engage in this sort of thing.  

Independents and Moderates were alienated by the loony Right’s attacks on Hillary Clinton.  To punish the Right, in a sense, those Independents and moderates (of both parties) sent Hillary Clinton to the Senate. 

Who knows to what higher office Independents and Moderates will send Sarah Palin to punish the liberal loons?

http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/the-universe-sends-sarah-palin-the-wrong-french-toast/

Palin family income under 250,000 ?

Palin made $131,891 last year, counting her $125,000 salary and expense payments she collects when she’s away from Juneau, according to the disclosure. Todd Palin made $86,150 from his two jobs, as a commercial fisherman and a BP production operator.
adn.com/palin/story/731157.html

================

Isn't that, like, under the $250,000 income that Obama said should be the cut-off for his tax / spread the wealth plan?

Harrassing suits are "political blood sport ... personal destruction"

“On August 29, it seems the political landscape changed in Alaska. Now, it seems in order to do this job as Governor, with the political blood sport some are playing today, only the independently wealthy or those willing to spend their income on legal fees to defend their official actions in office … can serve,” Palin said in the written response to Daily News questions.

One [suit]  was filed under the name of a soap opera character, Palin said. Another concerned the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute using her photograph to promote seafood.
....
Zane Henning, a North Slope worker, filed a complaint in November after the election, accusing Palin of partisan “post-election damage control” for talking to reporters about the campaign in her state office. 
....
“Obviously we cannot afford to personally pay these bills — and really no future governor should feel the sense of financial vulnerability at the hands of those with a political vendetta bent on personal destruction,” Palin wrote. “Some have suggested a legal fund to pay these bills. We’ll have to pursue that.”

adn.com/palin/story/731157.html

Friday, March 20, 2009

Palin on Obama's 'Special Olympics' gaffe

“I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics,” Governor Palin said. “This was a degrading remark about our world’s most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world.

“These athletes overcome more challenges, discrimination and adversity than most of us ever will. By the way, these athletes can outperform many of us and we should be proud of them. I hope President Obama’s comments do not reflect how he truly feels about the special needs community.”

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YTQ2Nzk1NjAzMjdiN2U4YTExZDg4ZTA5YjRmMTYxMTU=


Thursday, March 19, 2009

Palin leads for 2012; imo she is wise

Even during the campaign some anonymous McCain 'staffers' were discrediting Palin. She was called a 'diva'; and who leaked the info about the wardrobe the RNC had supplied? If she had refused to wear those clothes, they would have called her a 'diva' for the refusal!

But it's not working. In a poll this month iirc, she was still the choice of all GOP for 2012 (though narrowly, a 3-way split) -- and 10 points ahead with GOP women.

I know some Hillary supporters had a bad reaction to Palin's manner, conservatism, etc and of course they are the ones who got the publcity. But a poll showed that about an equal number of Hillary supporters liked her,  so it balanced out.

I'd like more detail, but I get the impression that Palin is very ... WISE ... about deciding what to focus on, and managing her career by getting real things done for the real voters in Alaska. Obviously she has wonk brilliance with numbers and high-powered negotation (gas companies, pipeline). But sfaik her strategy with building on real accomplishments shows a good balance of judgment. (See USA Today's "Palin governed from the center.")

And when in doubt, she focuses on practical and ethical. Instead of fighting for a bill that would have denied state employees' same-sex partners benefits, she vetoed it, saying that it was unconstitutional and not many partners were applying anyway, so it was cheaper to pay the benefits!

Same with her appointment of Judge Christen. Instead of going with ideology, she chose the candidate clearly most qualified.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Heidi Li on Christen

http://tdg.typepad.com/heidi_lis_potpourri/2009/03/congratulation-judge-christen-on-your-appointment-to-alaskas-supreme-court.html


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

About off-topics

Madeline, Kevin, others....

I've now made a whole blog for off-topics, at http://florasteele.blogspot.com/

Please come on over there....

Monday, March 9, 2009

Praise for Christen appointment from enemy media

Links to CNN video positive about the Christen appointment. Also to an AK paper usually negative to Palin.

http://helpmejoseph.typepad.com/puma_for_life/2009/03/cnn-gives-positive-press-to-palin-is-it-ok-to-faint.html

Christen to AK Supreme Court - per Alaska Dispatch


This long piece is very supportive of Palin's appointing Christen to the AK Supreme Court.
Christen is highly qualified and was clearly the best candidate on the short list. She dominated every critical category in the Judicial Selection Survey scores and was reviewed by a higher percentage of respondents than any other candidate.

Alaska Dispatch stories about Palin

Hm, was the Alaska Dispatch one of those papers recommended as fair to Palin?


Good summary (except about the trooper firing issue)

From August 2008, not a bad summary of Palin's record. 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4635147.ece

However like most media, where she tried to get a trooper fired for tasering his 10 year old stepson -- it leaves out the taser and the child and just says there was a 'nasty divorce' proceeding.

Actually the trooper went on a CNN interview, admitted the tasering, driving drunk in his trooper car, etc -- and said good things about Palin and the Palin family.

More Palin blogs

http://helpmejoseph.typepad.com/sarah_palin_tundra/2009/03/sarah-palin-shes-clever-in-supreme-court-choice.html

Many Palin blogs listed here. When I have time, I'll put some of the links here.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Re Alaska newspapers

From "Puma for Life" blog:

I am from Alaska, the majority of people(in a recent poll)taken in the Juneau Empire newspaper her popularity is still 63% and the chances are still really good for reelection. The small percentage that criticize Sarah are the politically motivated Democrats and liberals. They have no set agenda about her they just want to smear her. These people are not happy with anything, they just want to whine and some are coming in from out of state with the same agenda. The ADN newspaper is the most biased in Alaska. The Alaska Dispatch and Juneau Empire seems to be fair and balanced.

Palin's intelligence and qualifications - discussion

Here are some of my posts today from The New Agenda (a non-PUMA blog). If anyone cares to continue the discussion, we can get into issues here that are off-topic at TNA.

Flora (fsteele) on March 7th, 2009 10:25 pm

Madeline,

From Palin's record in Alaska, it seems clear that she is brilliant in dealing with the details of these huge complicated projects (oil companies, gas pipeline), and in negotiating agreement among mega-parties. To go from the PTA to defeating her own party incumbents and governing with a high approval rating argues some sort of unusual abilitiy.

I don’t think we can just average this evidence together with the bad performances in the interviews and come out with a verdict of ‘mediocre intelligence.’ For a very capable person to occasionally make a bad performance (especially in an area marginal to their expertise) is a common occurence. For an idiot to manage the accomplishments she has in Alaska, is not even possible.

As to just how much of the interview problem was hers and how much was hostile interviewers, see a Mark Levin page with a less edited transcript of the Gibson interview. I could also find cites showing hostile maneuvers by Couric (newsbusters or media matters or some such site, plus some of it was visible to the naked viewer). Even in those, we are still getting transcripts that came through the Gibson and Couric agencies; we don’t have the full raw data. (Greta at Fox may have published raw data from her interviews after the Nov election; certainly it is very different.)

As to ‘non-intellectual’ — how would you rate Hillary on that? Hillary’s brilliance also seems practical, how to rather than why to.

--------------------

  1. Flora (fsteele) on March 8th, 2009 2:22 pm

    Madeline,

    Rather than Liberal/Conservative policies, I’m interested in the issue of Palin’s intelligence, the media treatment, etc — and people judging Palin’s intelligence by factors like her speech patterns, hairstyle, and mannerisms (I had such negative reactions myself and am re-examining my own prejudices).

    As for the Gibson intervinew, it was not his glowering but the extreme editing of content. Have you seen the fuller transcript at Mark Levin? It’s too long to copy here, but I can find links for you. Whole chunks were dropped out, her answer to one question was presented as though it were the answer to a previous question.

    In the Couric interview, the minor editing given to most interview subjects, cleaning up their grammar, etc, was not done; her words were spelled phonetically to make her sound uneducated: “get back to ya.” Couric went after questions about McCain that had nothing to do with Palin’s own experience or expertise. She put words in Palin’s mouth and then asked McCain to comment on them, as though Palin had initiated those words (”depression”). Palin said later that she had told McCain’s staff that the Couric interview (spanning several days) was not going well and she wanted to end it, but the staff insisted she go on. (Maybe I should start a blog “Puma for Palin” to put all this material in one place. :-), if that hasn’t been done already.)
    In the debate and elsewhere Palin was speaking for McCain as instructed by his staff.

    In a national campaign she was out of her element, performing on short notice, and following orders from the McCain staff. Her poor appearance there is not a reflection on her intelligence in general, or on her fitness for the Presidency in future.

    ------------------------

    Flora (fsteele) on March 8th, 2009 3:06 pm

    Madeline,

    I’d like to pursue the issue of a possible difference in kind of intelligence between Hillary and Palin. I haven’t seen either of them discussing “complex and esoteric subjects” in a complex way. Can you give some examples?