Palin Forced Staff To Resign In Loyalty Test

Washington Independent:

Earlier today, First Lady Laura Bush urged us to remember Gov. Sarah Palin's record as mayor of her hometown from 1996-2002 when assessing her experience. I agree.

Driving around this city today, I decided it looks more or less like a string of strip malls, 45 minutes northeast of Anchorage. I couldn't help but think that being mayor of a place like this would be something akin to running a large neighborhood watch.

The main highway that runs through town is lined with new big-box stores, including a Target and a Wal-Mart. A handful of fast-food chains as well as some local restaurants also sprinkle the main drag. Breathtaking mountains, the peaks still lightly dusted with snow, create a striking backdrop. Despite the chain stores, this small city feels distant from the rest of the world. I'd have guessed Palin would have run the city with a "we're in this together" theme.

It turns out she had a somewhat different approach. If a small-town mayor ever ruled with an iron fist -- it was Palin. Eleven days after taking office in 1996, she mailed letters to each of the city's top managers requesting that they resign as a test of loyalty.

Read the whole story: Washington Independent

Comments

[dpiyjrtmfr]

06:10 AM on 09/04/2008

I my life I have had the chance to wander the world a bit. I spent one very unhappy week stranded in Wasilla, AK a couple of winters ago. When I heard that the mayor of Wasilla was John McCain's VP nominee I laughed and laughed. I thought it was a joke.
When people natter on about her executive experience in "running" Wasilla they are showing their breath-taking stupidity.
That said, we should not underestimate her. I was living overseas during the 2004 presidential elections. Everyone I talked to was confident that Bush was going to be turned out of office. I was too. I remember having to try to explain our president to a lot of well-informed foreigners who could not understand why he had been reelected. They thought that Kerry was the obvious choice over Bush.
I fear that America may choose style over substance again in 2008.
What seems obvious to us may not seem obvious to the rest of our country.

[piper1233]

08:57 AM on 09/03/2008

As a symbol of loyalty to the Country Sarah Palin should withdraw her name from contention as VP to McCain.

[evolution1223]

12:47 AM on 09/03/2008

Don't know about where SP is from, but I work for a governor and it's definitely at his pleasure. I can be fired at anytime, for any reason.

But I've never heard of being forced to resign--to prove loyalty? How does that even prove loyalty? Yes Mrs. Mayor, I'm so loyal to you that I don't care if I can't feed my family and pay my mortgage. Because, Mrs. Mayor, it's all about you.

[ShamusNYC]

11:17 PM on 09/02/2008

Ok, HOLD ON.

I think this has all been one big giant joke,

AMERICA - WE'VE BEEN PUNK'D!

Ashton - you can come out from behind the hidden camera.

Dude, you TOTALLY got us! Oh, man - I am sooo totally going to get you back, man!

[Xenopus]

11:07 PM on 09/02/2008

Well, that sounds like more Christian values. Sarah Palin is just full of power struggles. Goes against all the people she was for when running for Governor and who helped her. Fires city employees a few weeks after becoming Mayor. Sarah Palin sounds like someone I wouldn't want to turn my back on.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

08:14 PM on 09/02/2008

I don't know if anyone mentioned this or not but in a town that small it's not very easy to find a new job to support yourself let alone a family.Instead of firing whoever she wanted to get rid of,she had them resign.Sort of like a modern day scrooge, she brought misery to the town,then the state and now to our nation.I think she's a good fit for managing the Walmart,similar business practices,keeping everyone afraid.Kinda reminds me of some other people in power now.

[wagadog]

06:42 PM on 09/02/2008

But, but, but...she lights up a ROOM!

What adorable dimples! How can you RESIST that GLORIOUS smile?!?!?!?

[LemonMeringue]

10:59 PM on 09/02/2008

Her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

[rollingdivision]

06:15 PM on 09/02/2008

Political appointees required to be loyal to the person who has the power to appoint, oh my! This is rich.

[BlueInARedState]

05:31 PM on 09/02/2008

Perfect match for McCain.

[ShamusNYC]

04:52 PM on 09/02/2008

Wow, I guess she is Presidential...

[jayburd]

03:59 PM on 09/02/2008

If any verifiable copies of this loyalty oath letter are unearthed, she'll be cooked. I mean, this is comic book supervillain stuff. Not worthy of a VP candidate...

[Zingaro Zorro]

03:14 PM on 09/02/2008

Loyalty oaths prove that abuse of power is necessary to control the agenda of a corrupt political party owned by Big Oil and operating to manipulate and deny Congress of the United States of America to oversee the Executive Branch.

[Tommygun264]

03:09 PM on 09/02/2008

Has anyone ever seen this woman and Kate Harris in the same place at the same time? They are starting to sound like the same woman.

[NoblesseOblige]

02:45 PM on 09/02/2008

Loyalty oaths--reminds me of the Joe McCarthy era back in the 1950's. That was such a proud and noteworthy period in this country's history.

[abby4ever]

03:45 PM on 09/02/2008

It reminds me of Henry the VIII and the Oath of Allegiance. That kind of oath is the first step on the ladder to total power. Imagine what P*lin would be like if McDrill became incapacitated, or d*ed.

"Sign it and swear on it or else!"

I bet that right about now many senior republicans are once again eyeing Pawlenty or Romney or Hutchinson or Sebelius. Even Huckabee! What a blow to the convention to have all this drip drip drip, a surprise a day, all the way to the 4th of November.

[Big0725]

09:01 PM on 09/02/2008

...and we saw what happened to McCarthy, disgraced and dead of alcoholism three years later.

[Mia319]

02:45 PM on 09/02/2008

Please understand that this is about the poor, poor judgment of a man trying to become leader of the free world!! McCain just doesn't have the judgment to lead us . His temperment and impulsivity could destroy our country!!