Sarah Palin's Hypocrisy
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is refusing to accept almost half a billion in stimulus money. Palin stated she will only accept $514 million of the $930.7 million allocated to Alaska. Unlike GOP governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Charlie Crist of Florida who have welcomed the stimulus money, Palin is following the pattern set by Republican governors Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who are part of a group that have rejected the stimulus money allocated for their states.
From the Anchorage Daily News:
“The news Thursday drew anger from those who accused Palin of putting her national political aspirations ahead of the state’s interests, and admiration from others who say she has courage to turn down money that would expand government. The state Legislature will have an opportunity to override her decision.”
“Palin said she is accepting the federal stimulus money that would go for construction projects, but not funding directed at government operations.”
“The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau said she is “shocked and very disappointed” that Palin would reject the schools money. She said it could be used for job preservation, teacher training, and helping kids who need it.”
The Democratic National Committee released the following statement:
“After soliciting and accepting more federal dollars per capita than any other governor in the union, Sarah Palin’s decision today to deny the state of Alaska over half a billion dollars in recovery and reinvestment funds – including millions for schools, energy and public safety – appears to be nothing more than political posturing. At a time when her state is suffering, Alaska’s working families cannot afford a governor that puts her political future ahead of the needs of the state and its families.”
Exactly! Palin is turning down…
- $160 million for education.
- $17 million in Department of Labor funds (vocational rehabilitation services, unemployment services, etc.),
- $9 million for Health and Social Services
- $7 million for Public Safety
It is obvious to all but the most partisan that Palin is positioning herself for a run in the 2012 presidential elections. She is laying the groundwork for her future campaign cry of smaller and more fiscally responsible government. In light of her record as governor, the stench of hypocrisy coming out of her office is sickening.
Look for the Alaskan State Legislature to overturn her decision.
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Silly Simple Sarah.
I say 2012 is a gray-area right now primarily because it’s too soon to make accurate predictions. Obama (and the rest of the Democrat Party) will need to make significant accomplishments in straightening this country out.
We saw what an all-Republican government did for 6 years, now we’ll see if the Democrats can build on what they did following the reclamation of Congress. If they can do that, the Republican Party will probably run Sarah Palin because they know they’re not going to win in 2012 and save their best candidate for 2016.
Good analysis, arctic. I’m in total agreement with your assessment. As confused and unfocused as the republican party appears to be, there still are enough smart ones in there who would never allow a Sarah Palin to hijack their party.
State Governors are refusing to accept parts of the stimulus package because it will establish programs where the funding will run out over the next year or so. Especially in the areas of extending unemployment benefits. Then the state will be left to either continue the funding at it’s own cost of discontinue the program. It’s a simple matter of fiscal responsibility. Someone has to establish some reason to this spending madness.
Of course, I guess they COULD just decide Conservatives and Republicans are earning too much because they don’t agree with Radical Liberals and their policies. Then just impose a 90% Tax on THEIR earnings. That should keep them quiet.
Right now my friends, this Administration and the Democratic Party is in more of a shambles than even the most zealous of you could have wished on the previous administration. Anything President Bush did over the last eight years pales in comparison to the Illegal and Unconstitutional actions taken by these dimwit, dirt bags Frank and Pelosi.
The following quotes are also from the Anchorage Daily News. As usual, our Canadian Friend only posts those comments that fit his agenda. Do any of you run your personal budgets the way Congress is running our Country’s budget?
“It is a matter of discussing with our lawmakers if the expansion there is something we’re willing to pick up the tab for when the federal dollars dry up, when they no longer flow into Alaska,” Palin said.”
“Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman suggested a combination of factors could be at work. “She’s got the best interests of the state and her career at heart,” said Stedman.”
“Palin said she’d work with the Legislature to see if it wants to go ahead and accept some of the money — although she didn’t rule out vetoes if she doesn’t agree with the choices. Palin said a dialog with legislators and the public is needed for Alaska to chart its course.”
“The governor could have a point in not wanting the money, said state House Speaker Mike Chenault. “There’s a number of us that have the same concerns about what does it do to our budget in the future.”
“Members of the all-Republican state Senate minority said Palin is taking a wise course and it’s important not to accept federal money that could end up costing the state in the long run.”
“This offer from the Congress and the Obama administration is a little bit like having way too much to drink,” said Sen. Con Bunde, a Republican from Anchorage. “A good time may be had by all, but the hangover the next day, and the consequences of what you did while you were drunk, may be with you for a long, long time.”
And for the sake of accuracy, something that can sometimes be a little elusive here, Governor Palin is “considering” turning down $288 million of the $930.7 million targeted for Alaska.
NOT the $416 million stated above.
Hmmmmm…all this was in the same Anchorage Daily News article?????????
Wow! I left out a bunch of quotes from Republicans agreeing with Caribou Barbie! Shocking!
Hey, anyone who cannot see the pure hypocrisy of Palin’s transparent act just doesn’t want to see it.
Here again is the only relevant quote one needs to understand what bubblehead is all about.
“After soliciting and accepting more federal dollars per capita than any other governor in the union, Sarah Palin’s decision today to deny the state of Alaska over half a billion dollars in recovery and reinvestment funds – including millions for schools, energy and public safety – appears to be nothing more than political posturing.”
I just filled in the blanks that Nanook of the North left out. Why be so nasty and insulting because you got called for trying to create a false message with selective posting…..again?
Oh….by the way. You did it again here. It’s not “over half a billion”. It’s $288 million and maybe not even all that. And with reason.
Is it possible the Federal Government is trying to encroach on State’s Rights with these open ended funding “carrots”?
That’s not the only relevant quote OR consideration. Whether bubble headed or not. What YOU don’t seem to have the capacity to understand is that not everyone thinks alike. Who in the heck are you to dictate what is the only “relevant” anything??
Thanks for the entertainment Nanook!
You have quite the nasty disposition, don’t you cix? Unless your name is Sarah Palin or a close relative of hers, no one on this page has given you cause to get personal in your arguments. Surely you can make your argument without personally attacking the individuals who choose to comment here.
As of yesterday, Palin was planning on refusing 45% of the $918 billion allocated to Alaska. From Miami Herald…
“Palin first told the news media that she’s turning down nearly half the federal stimulus money – but later conceded that does not count the Medicaid money she is accepting. That brings down what she’s refusing to 31 percent of what the state government could get.”
From the same article…
“The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau said she is “shocked and very disappointed” that Palin would reject the schools money. She said it could be used for job preservation, teacher training, and helping kids who need it.”
And that my friend, is disgusting. Palin is playing politics – pure and simple.
And YOU my friend, have a lot of gall to accuse ANYONE of nastiness. I have read so many of your posts on here where you hurl open ended nasty names and insults at large groups of people. I’m sure I probably belong to at least one of those groups you have insulted and called simpletons or morons as I am not of the same Political Persuasion as you.
I furnished you with information from the Anchorage Daily News above. That’s from an article dated March 19th and updated today. It proves that at least part of what you said and then repeated is untrue. It also presents substantiating reasons for declining to accept some of these funds different from your single minded premise. You cherry pick information to give the impression you want, then get nasty with name calling when it’s pointed out or if one suggests your comments may not be correct or complete.
There are other veins of thought than yours. You did everything you could to make it seem that these Governors are refusing parts of this money simply for Political Ambition. While I would never deny that Political Ambition may well figure into the equation, I also understand there is concern about starting up programs that will run out of funding in a year or so and then that Governor will be put in the dubious position of having to either terminate the program or raise taxes to fund it after the Federal Funding runs out.
I also understand that some governors and others have concerns about the encroaching heavy hand of the Federal Government into State Rights and responsibilities. Something our Constitution sought to guard against and insure, that States maintain rights that could not be set aside or over ridden by the Federal Government. That’s what makes America…America.
It appears to me that you try to set up your comments as the ONLY “relevant” information when there is much information that you leave out and is available to one if they simply put in a little effort. I’m not nasty nor is my disposition. I just don’t think you do a subject justice when you try to influence opinion and thought with selective and out of context commentary.
Aside from that, I simply furnished information to prove there was more to this situation than you would seem to have us believe. Read YOUR reply and then tell me who turned it ugly.
And beyond that Mr. Nanook, if you are going to be so thin skinned, perhaps you should lay off the colorful name calling yourself! Surely you can construct a comment expressing your thoughts or disagreement with someone without resorting to calling them names? Or can you???
And finally, you pretty much singled out Sarah Palin when there are at least 5 or more Governors considering declining these funds. Even though you mentioned a couple of them in your commentary, you have placed far more emphasis on Palin.
I apologize for allowing myself to be drawn off topic.
Thank you.
Listen cix2012, I asked you politely to lay off the personal attacks. You have not been attacked personally on these pages. You were warned but you persist.
You, as everyone else, have free reign to refer to public figures as you wish. I have no problem with you referring to Barney Frank or Nancy Pelosi as “dirt bags” as you have. That’s fair game. What I have no tolerance for and will not allow is personal attacks on either myself or others who choose to comment here.
As moderator of this site, you are now banned from commenting on these pages. I’m not sure what your problem is but I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with someone with a temperament as ugly as yours.
Here’s some free advice for you: learn to separate yourself from the topics you discuss. You ARE NOT George Bush nor Sarah Palin.
We could of discussed the topic without the ‘Nanook’ references. You chose differently.
Goodbye.
-Mario Piperni
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now the rest of us can engage in civil discourse.
You’re most welcome, JD. Getting threads derailed by way of personal attacks does get tiring.
Mario,
Seems you have a stalker. lol
Sorry about that.
Did you see the Olbermann clip on Palin refusing the money. Sheesh.
Politics over the needs of her state. It’s terrible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanook
An Inuit God. An insult? :-)
Hey, mimi. No, I didn’t see the Olbermann clip. I could just imagine how he ripped into her.
I don’t want anyone to be too tough on Palin – we don’t want to scare her away. After all, we need her to run in 2012. Just imagine an Obama-Palin debate? How special would that be?
This is going to be my final words on the matter.
It is not about a single word or phrase. It’s about the entire demeanor of cix. In a followup email he sent me, he noted that each time I deride Fox News or Rush Limbaugh, he took it personally because he is a Fox viewer and Limbaugh listener. What I take from that statement is that he then felt it only fair that he attempt to mock me (or others) with inflammatory and insulting language.
Here’s what cix did not understand. Each time someone turns the conversation from a public person or entity (e.g. Palin or Pelosi or Fox) to me (or another contributor to this site), it derails the thread. No one is interested in reading on how Mario Piperni defends his own intelligence. They’d rather read (I hope) my reasons for writing the things I do about Fox or Palin.
I welcome all opinions and perspectives. The more varied, the better. But when someone feels a need to mention a person’s place of birth as a valid reason for denouncing the individual’s opinions…well, I have no time for them and neither does this site.
Does anyone on this site know what the pay back policy is for the money the each state is getting? I can see rejecting some or all of the money if the pay back is to risky. Yes I agree that if we ran our home buget as our country runs their buget we all would be in the red. The talk at my work is that if they gave this money for bailout to all the tax payers we would all end up with about $67,000 each. But what we end up with paying the bill for stupidty. And we still end up with nothing to show for it. Except fatting some ceo and his/her upper management pockets. If the bailout money went all the way to the bottom employee it would be great. But we all know better.
Someone knew and tried to point it out. But they got banned.
As much as we didn’t get into this economic nightmare overnight, we’re not about to resolve it overnight. Simplistic answers to complex matters is not the way to go as wonderful as $67,000 might sound. Short-sighted greed is how we got here. Let us hope we now have leaders who have a broader view of the economy than what we’ve been witness to for the last many years.
As for our friend who got banned, as I read it, it was for his unpleasant and crass personality and not for his political views.
Both the people posting pointed out many state’s rights and increased financial responsibilities to the states as concerns for refusing part of the funds. I don’t think either of them gave “simplistic” answers. Personally, I think Political Posturing factors into their decisions, but there are other considerations also and you can’t simply condemn them for the position they have struck.
And I have observed ugliness from both sides of the fence here. But only one side seems to get lambasted.