Stimulus Interruptus: Palin's Lies to Nowhere About Obama's Recovery Package
As the clock ticks down on Sarah Palin and her final response to President Barack Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, she has found herself painted into a shrinking political corner in which she finds herself at odds with just about every interest group in Alaska--Democrats and Republicans alike, young and old, Native Alaskans and several civic groups like the Alaska Municipal League.
Palin has until May 25 to sign or veto a bill approving the funds. If she vetoes the $930.7 million stimulus package, or any portion of it, she will risk further angering Alaska constituents, as her approval numbers have been in serious freefall since she returned from the campaign trail last November. If she votes to accept the entire package, it will be viewed as a final cave-in to her original opposition and will carve away her support among the conservative base in the national Republican Party.
Either way, it's a no-win proposition that she orchestrated for herself in January when she pandered to Rush Limbaugh & Co. by slamming Obama's stimulus proposal. She called it "an unsustainable, debt-ridden package of funds." At one point she likened it to "a bribe." A smart poker player might have held her cards closer to the vest and let the hand unfold. Her play was a loser from the first draw.
Three months ago, Palin announced on her Facebook page--yes, her Facebook page--right below her pitch for SarahPAC, that she had "serious concerns" with Obama's stimulus package.
It's a given that a stimulus package is needed and will happen. With guaranteed spending on the table, I am arguing for needed construction projects and tax breaks that will truly stimulate the economy and create jobs, and against increased federal programs that will become a state's unfunded mandate to continue funding for generations.
Huh? Palin's position put her in the same ring with other gubernatorial clown-acts gathering for the 2012 Republican circus, including Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford and Rick Perry. But it also placed her in direct conflict with several Republican and independent allies in Alaska facing the cold, hard realities of an economic recession. Federal projections are that the stimulus would "create or save" 8,700 jobs in the Last Frontier over the next two years--this in a state with a work force of only 300,000 and a 9.3 percent unemployment rate.
Many in Alaska saw Palin's stance for what it was--calculated political posturing purely for her own personal benefit. "I'm worried the governor is taking this sort of national political stance," said Anchorage Democratic legislator Les Gara, "which is that she's going to be the opposite of Barack Obama on everything."
In April, Palin held one of her bizarre, unscripted news conferences (where her body language screamed that she would rather be somewhere else), and as the delightful Alaska blog Mudflats reported, Palin spouted the same economic gobbledygook that she introduced to the American electorate during her infamous interview with Katie Couric:
We're gonna consider how to manage the public's expectation desiring the lawmakers and the public acknowledge these are short-term temporary funds that should not lead to government growth two years from now when the dollars are gone, and we will...we will consider on a case by case basis whether the dollars need to be applied for or the dollars that are in the budget today could or should be vetoed. It's going to be a long process still in deciding what to do with the dollars.Yes, folks, that is a direct quote.
Palin indicated that she was initially going to veto more than 30 percent--or $288 million--of the stimulus package. Her reasoning was that it "would grow government" and leave the State of Alaska holding the bag for expanded programs two years down the line when the funds ran out. She then floated a proposal to accept the stimulus funding if the legislature agreed to cut state spending, primarily for education, and use the federal money instead--a proposal that was summarily rejected by the Republican leadership in the legislature.
And when push came to shove to fight the stimulus, Palin was nowhere to be seen. The Alaska legislature held 20 public hearings on the recovery bill and discovered that the strings Palin and her economic advisers claimed were attached to the funding were nonexistent. There were no "unfunded mandates."
Palin also bailed on a scheduled meeting with state lawmakers, and then blamed them for the cancellation, leading Gary Stevens, the state's Republican Senate President, to essentially call Palin a liar. He vehemently characterized Palin's account of events surrounding the cancellation as "absolutely false." Indeed he was so emphatic about it that he used the phrase "absolutely false" twice.
In the end, Palin and her administration exerted zero influence during the legislative debates on the stimulus, and when the final vote came to endorse acceptance (it was nearly unanimous), Palin had hightailed it for Indiana, preaching right-to-life homilies to those already converted. Exerting political leadership is clearly not her forte.
Then she went into flip-flop mode and rather strikingly resembled a freshly-caught salmon on the deck of an Alaskan trawler. "I can't predict how much or what funds legislators might add to my request, and we haven't heard all the public testimony yet," Palin backtracked. "To say now what might happen with an unknown bill would be premature."
Palin has continued to slide down the slippery slope of hypocrisy. Her last bastion of opposition to the stimulus package is $28.6 million in State Energy Program funding. Palin claims that "Alaska's vast expanse and differing conditions are not conducive to a federally mandated, universal energy code" and that "one size does not fit all."
It's yet another Palin twist of the truth.
This past week, two state senators--Anchorage Republican Lesil McGuire and Anchorage Democrat Bill Wielechowski--have formally confronted Palin on her position. So has freshman U.S. Senator Mark Begich (the former Democratic mayor of Anchorage) and a host of other community activists from all across the political spectrum.
Several have pointed out that Palin has exaggerated and distorted the federal requirements attached to the energy funding, noting that virtually all Alaska municipal codes already meet federal guidelines and that rural communities with populations of less than 2,500 are exempt. Wielechowski and McGuire asserted in a letter to Palin that "Alaska can meet the requirements for receipt of $28.6 million in State Energy Program stimulus funds through adoption of local energy standards, rather than a statewide energy code." All 49 other states have accepted the funds.
So much for Palin's argument of "one size" needing to fit all. It's yet another of her lies to nowhere.
As of this weekend, Palin has yet to announce how she intends to play out her hand. Either way she'll be a loser. If she sticks to her guns and declines the energy stimulus, it will unleash an avalanche of anger throughout the state that will make her bid for re-election as governor next year all the more problematic. If she buckles, it will be another case of a Palin flip-flop--this time saying "no thanks, but thanks" to federal funding.
Stay tuned.
Award-winning investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Geoffrey Dunn is at work on a book about Sarah Palin and her role in American politics, to be published by Macmillan/St. Martin's in 2010.
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“But perhaps the most striking aspect of this veto is to contrast it to $1,200 Palin paid out last year to every man, woman and child in Alaska for energy assistance, boosting everyone’s Permanent Fund dividend to $3,200, and raising her popularity to record levels helping secure her as the Vice Presidential running mate pick with Senator John McCain. Apparently, when it suits the Governor’s purpose she will happily spend Alaska’s resources, and again when it meets her political needs she will reject very useful federal stimulus funds for Alaskans,” Poe added.
Poe concluded, “Governor Palin’s choice to veto federal stimulus funds for energy efficiency should leave no doubt in voters’ minds that her highest priority is not Alaska, but her run for President in 2012.”
“But who is this still semi-mysterious Bob Poe?” some Alaskans may still be asking. Just some guy who sounds like he knows what he’s talking about?”
**WARNING** Do not watch this video if you feel insecure about your resume.
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Add another voice to the growing number of Alaskans who have just had it up to their eyeballs with the governor’s rejection of stimulus money designated for energy efficiency. Beyond the slap-in-the-face obvious fact that this is Alaska, and might just be a good idea to promote energy efficiency, you’d have to have your head in a bag to not “get” that this has nothing to do with Alaska, nothing to do with our economy, and everything to do with a certain governor’s dreams of grandeur, and higher political aspirations.
“Once again Governor Palin has demonstrated her narcissistic governance of Alaska by becoming the only Governor in America to reject federal stimulus funds to promote energy efficiency. These are funds that not only help stimulate a growing base of alternative energy companies in Alaska, but which would pay dividends in additional energy cost savings for many years to come.”
Poe added, “This is just a cynical way for Palin to save a little face nationally in her earlier much touted stand to reject as much as 40% of the federal stimulus funds. Considering that one third of Alaska’s current economy depends on federal spending, it further underlines the Governor’s remarkable lack of understanding of the economic underpinnings that have helped our state avoid many of the economic difficulties currently experienced by many others.”
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Believe me Martha12, as an Alaskan for thirty years, most of us voters know that she has thrown Alaska under the bus.
Oh Brother, here we go again with more Palin hate. I live in Alaska, and the majority of Alaskans are not down on Palin, as this author would have you believe... "as her approval numbers have been in serious freefall".
Every time I read a statement she makes I have to read it twice ,because I cant figure out what she
is trying to say
So dose everyone in Alaska have no concept of syntax and word order and dose everybody have such a poor vocabulary? Do you know what hubris is?
> her approval numbers are higher than most governors and still very commendable.
Based on Hays Research report, from 7/27/08 to 5/5/09 her ratings changed thusly:
* Very Negative: Increased 20 points
* Somewhat negative: Increased 7 points
* Somewhat favorable: Decreased 11 points
* Very Favorable: Decreased 13 points
> People here still very much support her and believe she has done well for this state
A CBS/NY Times poll put Bush's final approval rating at 22% -- some folks will like *anything*.
> She is concerned about "All Alaskans," even those that dislike her.
She ignored the rural villages' 8-12 month long food and fuel crisis until fairly recently.
> She's smart,
In what respect, Charlie?
> savvy,
Four words: Silence of the Turkeys. Doesn't matter if you give a hoot about killing animals -- holding a press conference in front of them getting killed is just classless and dumb.
The interesting aspect of it is that Monegan told her that this was going to happen in SW Alaska and she ignored him.
It's true that Palin still has a lot of supporters in Alaska. But, Dana, I am sorry to tell you, most of those supporters are pretty uninformed and not too well-educated. Her supporters tend to be people who don't know much about state government or business or Native issues. That's just the sad truth -- smart Alaskans (including many, many conservatives) see Palin for what she really is; not-so-smart Alaskans buy into her manufactured image.
I'm sorry DanaHarper, but you are misleading in you're comment. I have lived here in alaska for 30 years and get you're facts right.
owhole1 and inmyopinion said it best for me...
Sarah, I thought she would go away after the election.
I'm going to bet that Palin campaigns right up to the primaries, (at the cost of getting anything done in Alaska) than at the last minute pull a McCain and say that she is needed in Alaska so it wouldn't be right for her to debate Rommney and Huckabee. Than throw her hat in full force for the primary.
It helps to remember that for wingers, the only bonafides that a candidate needs are to openly claim to be a conservative and a Christian. After that, with extremely rare exceptions, anything that a winger candidate does or says is cool beans to other wingers.
How else to explain the idol-like worship and devotion these wingers started heaping on dear Sarah immediately after her debut at the RNC? They knew nothing about her except that she claimed to be one of them.
Idol-like worship? Are you not projecting the Obama worship onto Palin? Really now, lok into the mirror yourself. There has never been such deification as with Obama.
"We're gonna consider how to manage the public's expectation desiring the lawmakers and the public acknowledge these are short-term temporary funds that should not lead to government growth two years from now when the dollars are gone, and we will...we will consider on a case by case basis whether the dollars need to be applied for or the dollars that are in the budget today could or should be vetoed. It's going to be a long process still in deciding what to do with the dollars."
Whenver I read any quote from Sarah Palin I instantly have a flashback to the movie "Billy Madison" and feel the need to tell her...
"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. "
Here's a title idea for her forthcoming book:
Governing for Dummies.
You must mean "Governing of Dummies".
Palin is the the biggest hypocrite,
You do know about michelle bachmann - right?
If I may cross-reference this to Huffpost's recession pain map:
http://www
Look at Alaska. Not exactly a pain-free zone. Palin may have to run her next presidential campaign with the title 'former governer' the same way Romney did.
I think it's probable that if she runs in 2012 it *will* be as "former governor" -- but probably by her own choice, not because she lost an election. The longer she stays in office, the worse her political (and other money-making) prospects become.
If I were advising her, I'd say milk her fame for what it's worth now, because it's not going to last.
One argument I might make against this story ... you can eat fresh caught salmon.
Why in heck would anyone support Palin? We don't need a female G Bush in the White House, who is hellbent on improving her own political agenda before everything else, even America.
Sometimes I wonder who these remaining Palin supporters are and what they are like. I can only imagine that they are like the awkward kids in high school who would do anything to hang out with the popular kids (cough,cough Palin). Do their homework, take the blame, etc..... just so they can be "friends" with the cool girl/guy.
But, they never really are their true friends. They are just being used and will be dropped like a hot potato when they are no longer useful.
I picture these people as those who think that if they "help" the good looking popular girl--some of
her coolness will rub off on them. But, really they are just sad, sad people who allow themselves to be used.
You are right and there is more. For many, Palin is an idol and leader of the pro-life movement. The term "pro-life" is a contradiction with respect to their platform. She is the epitome of a false idol who uses followers but some followers use her.
Palin's nationwide popularity and specifically among Republicans is in the tank. Fewer Alaskans like her, more dislike her. Recent polls show 55% in favor and 42% against Palin. Those numbers are expected to change for the worse.
Palin is a novelty but she thinks she is the real thing. Sooner or later reality will bite her.
It's funny that you used that poker analogy because right before I read that I was think how she must be a crappy poker player
It makes me laugh that Palin supporters attack anyone who dare criticize Palin---even if it's a Republican, and/or people who actually live in Alaska and are living under her lack of leadership. They will bash the people who are actually know best what Palin is like as a leader.
The last ethics complaint was filed by a Republican and whooooo----the Palinbots let loose. There is just something a little scary about these people. Wait until Mitt and all his money set his sights on Palin. Bwhahahaha!
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