By Jimmy Orr | 08.30.08
While the media, pundits, insiders and know-it-alls continue to blab endlessly about the pros and cons of new McCain running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, there is a fair amount of blabbering going on up in Palin’s home state as well.
Surprised, shocked and stunned seem to be words thrown about most often in describing first reactions to hearing the news. In fact, Alaska’s Attorney General compared it to landing on the moon. Not Palin landing on the moon. Although if it polled well – and chances are the McCain team has already polled it – she’d be giving her speech next week from orbit.
Regardless, the headline of the day came from an article written by a disaffected writer named Alan Suderman in Juneau admonishing the national media for mispronouncing Governor’s last name. His headline, “Note to nation: Palin rhymes with Van Halen” sets the record straight.
“The most notable gaffe was the mispronunciation of her last name on television and radio,” Suderman writes. “Several pundits called her PAL-IN, instead of PAY-LYN (rhymes with Van Halen) as Alaskans call her. Even McCain’s spokesman, Tucker Bounds, got her name wrong.”
Other media commentary from the 49th state include:
Anchorage Daily News
McCain’s choice of Palin was somewhat surprising because she most definitely is not a standard-issue Republican. She worked with liberal Democrats in the Legislature to pass a multi-billion-dollar tax increase on Alaska’s oil industry. She went back to Democrats again to win approval of her natural gas pipeline deal, which bypasses Alaska’s major oil companies in favor of a Canadian company.
In fact, Palin is almost totally alienated from the Republican Party establishment here. She tried and failed to get rid of ethically compromised party Chair Randy Ruedrich; they’re not on speaking terms. In the August primary, Palin urged fellow Republicans to desert long-time Congressman Don Young in favor of her inexperienced and uninspiring lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Most people would acknowledge that, regardless of her charm and good intentions, Palin is not ready for the top job. McCain seems to have put his political interests ahead of the nation’s when he created the possibility that she might fill it.
It’s clear that McCain picked Palin for reasons of image, not substance. She’s a woman. She has fought corruption. She has fought the oil companies. She’s married to a union member. These are portrayals for campaign speeches; they are not policy positions. Read More.
McCain’s Choice: But who is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin?
NY Daily News
BY CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, August 29th 2008, 10:38 PM
She’s the runner-up beauty queen who could wind up in the White House.
She’s a mooseburger-eating hockey mom married to an Eskimo.
She’s a gun-toting, pro-life Christian conservative – and a Republican reformer who took on crooks in her party.
Meet Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, John McCain’s unlikely choice for running mate – a mother of five who drives a snowmobile, flies a plane, fishes for salmon and wears the mantle of maverick like a parka.
“I didn’t get into government to do easy things,” the 44-year-old bespectacled brunette told a rapturous Republican crowd yesterday after McCain introduced her to the country.
Nor was Palin expecting to be the first women – and first Alaskan – on a Republican presidential ticket. Read More.
McCain Picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
The Washington Post
Photo: AP
DENVER – John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, according to the McCain campaign, a surprise pick sure to shake up the race and reinforce the idea of the Arizona senator as a reformer.
The news that Palin, the mayor of a small town in Alaska just two years ago, was the pick came after CNN reported that a private plane had traveled from the Last Frontier to Dayton, Ohio where McCain is set to unveil his vice presidential pick later today. The Palin news came after the two supposed frontrunners — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — each confirmed he would not be traveling to Dayton today.
In picking Palin, McCain is taking a calculated risk. She is totally unknown and untested on the national stage but also has impressive credentials in her short time in public life. Read More.
Palin Pleased with Obama’s Energy Plan
Includes Alaska’s Natural Gas Reserves
Photo: Wikipedia
Below is Google’s cache of http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1384.
It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on Aug 23, 2008 16:56:14 GMT. According to NBC’s Domenico Montanaro, “the link to the press release was not working as of 12:30 p.m. ET.”
August 4, 2008, Fairbanks, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today responded to the energy plan put forward by the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
“I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.”
In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process.”
Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.
“We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home,” Governor Palin said. “This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board.”
The Governor did question the means to pay for Obama’s proposed rebate — a windfall profits tax on oil companies. In Alaska, the state’s resource valuation system, ACES, provides strong incentives for companies to re-invest their profits in new production.
“Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue,” Governor Palin said.
