Commentaries on Sarah Palin

Posted by Frank Gerjevic

Posted: August 29, 2008 - 11:53 am

With her selection Friday as John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has Americans wondering who she is and what she stands for. Here are some recent commentaries by Alaskans on the woman who may be the next vice president of the United States.

Start with this appreciation from June 24, 2007, by conservative talk radio host Dan Fagan, a frequent critic:

"Tony Soprano has nothing on Sarah Palin. A small town hockey mom with the clout of a mob boss. She has the business community nervous, oil companies shaking in their oily boots, politicians terrified.
Have you ever seen anything like it? I haven't.
"Let's do a body count. Randy Ruedrich, Gregg Renkes, Jim Clark, Frank Murkowski, John Binkley, The Republican Machine, Andrew Halcro, Tony Knowles, Paul Jenkins, Bill Allen, Voice of the Times, Exxon, BP, Conoco Phillips and, yes, now the Alaska Board of Agriculture and The Alaska Creamery Board. She whacked them all and didn't suffer a scratch. Barracuda Palin can have you swimming with the fishes, never to be heard from again.

"Lisa Murkowski is U.S. senator today because Palin decided not to run against her. But she may still. Lisa, Don and, yes, even Ted, you better hope she feels at home at the mansion. Can you imagine running against her? What do you say, 'I am the anti-truth-and-transparency candidate'?

"Every time someone challenges this woman something bad happens to them. She slays her foes like the Israelites struck down enemies in the Old Testament. I'm not saying divine intervention is in play, but if you believe in that kind of thing, this would be close.

"What is it about Sarah Palin? While she's whacking people left and right she also charms the public and the media. She has more juice than any Alaska politician in recent memory.

"How does she do it? Does she have ice flowing through her veins? Is she really that tough, that savvy? Is she calculating, cold blooded, vindictive?

"No, the complete opposite. She has a heart of gold."

Fagan in critical mode:

"Gov. Palin is revealing her ugly side during this, her toughest political battle to date. As she continues to dig a deeper hole for herself day by day in the so-called Troopergate scandal, the more desperate she appears. Sarah Palin is not handling the pressure well."

Other views
From Juneau economist and columnist Gregg Erickson on Palin and the Alaska Gasline Incentive Act:

“Palin's Alaska Gasline Incentive Act passed with ease despite oil company opposition. Legislators with close oil industry ties became reluctant to spend limited political capital on the industry's behalf. Also important were Palin's clear focus on what she wanted and her willingness to accommodate lawmakers on details.” June 3, 2007

From former campaign rival and current critic Andrew Halcro on the Alaska Gasline Incentive Act:

"Seven months of hype about a competitive process and what did we get? One viable applicant. Ironically, the one viable applicant has said consistently that without the producers there will be no natural gas pipeline. How long will the Palin administration continue this charade until it admits AGIA failed and sits down with the producers to discuss fiscal terms on the 30-plus-billion project?" Dec. 31, 2007

From Anchorage writer and columnist Elise Patkotak on Palin and oil taxes:

So many oil apologists in this state act as though the only way to approach industry is on bended knee with hand outstretched in supplication for whatever crumbs they are willing to leave us.
Palin doesn't like that approach. Good for her.

Standing up to industry and demanding our fair share is something we should have been doing all along. Good for Sarah Palin for getting this state up off its knees in front of these huge conglomerates and letting them know there is a new sheriff in town and she's not afraid to use her power to protect the people she swore to serve.

You want to know why Sarah Palin is still so popular? It's because she stands tall and does not bow to outside interests. Isn't it interesting that just when we needed a John Wayne to make us proud again, we got Annie Oakley instead? - Jan. 16, 2008

From Patkotak on Gov. Palin pregnant:

This woman was doing shoots for Vogue magazine when she was at least four or five months pregnant, and they weren't pictures of women who happen to look good pregnant. They were pictures of powerful women who just look good period. If she is trying to lose the vote of every woman who has ever run through the grocery store with a hoodie pulled up over her head because she was having a bad hair week, she's done it.

Then, just when I thought she had finally pushed me to the limit, what with being beautiful and having a seemingly great husband and nice kids and a good job and all that stuff, I read this quote from her in the newspaper story that broke her pregnancy secret: "To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave." And I fell for her all over again.

Young women entering the work force today may not completely understand what this means to those of us who entered the work force at a very different time and under very different circumstances. - March 12, 2008

Former governer and columnist Wally Hickel on Palin and her drive to further increase the 2006 oil tax boost:

Congratulations to Gov. Sarah Palin for calling the special session to correct the faults of the oil and gas tax passed last year. She accurately understands the concerns, indeed the outrage, of the Alaska people over the illegal tactics used last year to pass the 2006 Petroleum Profits Tax. - Oct. 28, 2007

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