Ok, not officially, but her so called ‘state of the state’ address was mere posturing for her silly sycophants that believe even after her disastrous performance as McCain’s running mate, that she is a viable candidate for ANYTHING. I can’t stand to watch or listen to her speak, doing so engages my gag reflex. So, I’m going off of the official release of her speech which I’ve posted here. The bold items are mine.
“Millions of Americans are praying for the success of our new president, and I am one of them”
While I’m sure that President Obama appreciates the prayers, I doubt seriously that Palin’s prayers are genuine. Given the hateful and nasty manner she conducted herself during the campaign. Certainly beneath what I think most Christians would consider Christ like.
“And, for keeping the homeland safe, and being a friend to Alaska, I thank President Bush.”
She didn’t see fit to thank him for getting our country into two wars, running up the national deficit to unprecedented amounts, trashing our economy, ruining our reputation around the world, stomping on the US constitution, and generally being an idiot embarrassing our country. Much like Palin has done for Alaska, with the exception of getting us into a war. Although I suspect if she could, she would invade Canada or Russia just to earn her national cred.
“2008 was the year when America looked to Alaska, and one of our own sprang to national attention. <snip> … and we congratulate our former Senator Mike Gravel”
Oh now, isn’t that cute? She was trying to make people think she was talking about herself, and then delivered that zinger to show us all how clever she is.
But we try to keep things friendly and civil, and we’ve been known to actually succeed.
That must be another joke right? Did she forget or does she think we forgot how she treated the legislators in the last two sessions? Remember “someone has to be the adult”? Or how she summoned legislators to her office to defend their budget requests? Or how about the way she used the veto power to favor her friends and punish her foes?
But I ventured out a bit this past year, and I tell you that, as partisan quarrels go, ours really aren’t so bad. At our best, we are forthright in our opinions, charitable in our judgments and fair just like the people who hired us to work for them.
Oh yes, please remind us again about how you traveled the country, making a fool of yourself, and Alaska in the process. Remind us of your nasty assaults on Obama’s character. Remind us how you paraded your family around like show animals, then whined when the press dared to question your fitness to lecture anyone on ‘family values’. Perhaps if you had practiced what you preached, their wouldn’t be such a sour taste in the mouths of Alaskans and many more around the world.
See, we have that choice, how to respond to circumstances around us. As public servants, will we draw from a servant’s heart the resolve to put pettiness and power struggles aside and work together for the good of the people? We have the choice. I speak for the entire Palin/Parnell Administration when I declare we choose optimism and collaboration and hard work to get the job done.
Really? Why all of the sudden the change of heart. Neither her or her administration has shown any interest in ‘working with’ anyone. She has sat in her throne room, venturing out only when the camera’s were rolling. Perhaps it’s because she proposed a monster budget based on less than even wishful thinking?
And you understood the challenge is not just to think fast and change plans when the price of oil suddenly falls, affecting revenue by billions of dollars. The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices.
And exactly what is this plan you speak of?
Now, unless the price of a barrel of oil dramatically increases, soon, we’re looking at a potential revenue shortfall in excess of a billion dollars this year.
Earth to Queen P, you were told repeatedly by many people when you submitted your budget that it was based on fantasy numbers. Now you want to act like this is news to you and to us? Please, this may play well for your zombie followers in the lower 48, but Alaskans know the truth and we aren’t going to let you off the hook.
We stand ready to work with lawmakers – who hold the purse strings – to amend the budget, as we receive revenue updates in weeks ahead.
Aww yes, classic Palin; shift the blame and responsibility to someone else, anyone else. How about submitting a realistic budget to begin with, instead of passing the buck so you can look good to your lower 48 constituency. Show them how tough you are, and how you held the line on the budget. We’ll just ignore the increases in the operating budget the last two years. We’ll ignore the cuts to the capital budgets the last two years that actually create private sector jobs.
Now obviously, circumstances have changed that even international seasoned oil experts could not predict, requiring us now to adjust even more.
The Queen and her court of fools were the only ones that didn’t see this coming from a long ways off. It was her arrogance and intransigence that produced such a bloated budget in the face of most predictions being less than half of the $70 per barrel price she based the budget on.
In a volatile economy, numbers are not fixed, but principles are. We’ve followed the same principles from the start of this administration: fiscal discipline, limited government, and responsible stewardship.
Oh please stop, you’re killing me here. What principle calls for increasing the operating budget, growing government and cutting spending on infrastructure and community projects?
With our share of federal funds and Congress’ stimulus package, our obligation is equally clear: we must ensure these public funds serve vital needs – as is the case of infrastructure for our gas pipeline, needed by the nation; and the Kodiak Launch Facility, adding to national defense.
Oh you mean the stimulus package that you didn’t request a fair share of? Once again, pandering to your new found friends in the lower 48 who’s conservative banner you want to carry?
Thankfully, in the state, these past couple of years we’ve allocated billions for roads, ports, schools, and other vital public works. That money hits the streets and grows the economy this year – so the private sector creates, and we keep, many thousands of good Alaskan jobs through this.
We can stay on that path of investment in growth with continued support for essential construction projects that will – literally – build this state.
Now, we can’t buy into the notion that for government to serve better, it must always spend more. Reductions we support are a chance to show the true measure in public policy. Simply increasing budgets every year, a common government practice, is no guarantee of success. More often, it’s an incentive to failure. Good public policy is accountable for results, and focused on critical priorities.
Unbelievable. I think she actually expects us to believe this crap. She cut the capital budget and grew the operating budget for the last two years. Now she wants to re-write history to make believe that she held the line on government and invested billions of dollars in capital projects? Once again, I’m sure her lower 48 groupies will love this rhetoric in spite of the truth.
One of the great privileges given to me last year was the chance to be a witness for the truth that every child has value; to say to special needs children that they are beautiful and loved.
Yes, it’s all about you isn’t it. But I thought we were supposed to leave the kids alone? But it’s ok for you to use them as you see fit. What do you call a teenager that has quit going to school? A dropout.
We have alarming levels of heart disease, diabetes, childhood obesity – and all of these maladies are on the rise. Now, I won’t stand here and lecture – for very long – but health care reform on an individual basis is often just this simple: we could save a lot of money, and a lot of grief, by making smarter choices.
It starts by ending destructive habits, and beginning healthy habits in eating and exercise. In my case, it’s hard to slack when you have the ever-present example of an Iron Dogger nearby. But many of us could use a little more time in our great outdoors – and when you live in the Great Land, there’s no excuse.
Still all about the Palins, had to get a plug in for the First Dude. Her answer to the health care crisis is to tell everyone to eat better and exercise? Really, that’s all she has? Gee why didn’t we think of that?
Alaskans have shown through our protective laws that we’re willing and able to protect our magnificent wildlife, while developing our God-given resources, by using conservation laws as they were intended. We’ll challenge abuse of federal law when it’s used just to lock up Alaska.
Wow, catch phrases that are sure to please her religious fanatic supporters, and her anti anything green supporters and her anti-Federal government supporters. Of course none of that means a damn thing but it sounds good to those that don’t know any better.
Unfortunately, some focus only on potential obstacles when they discuss projects like the gasline: the giants in the land preventing us from gathering fruit. But as I recall, we’ve already slain a few giants.
Unfortunately the majority of us operate in the real world, not the fantasy rich world of Palin. There are real obstacles, that have to be overcome, but they have to be recognized and dealt with. They aren’t going to magically disappear just because Palin wants them to. What giants as she slain? Or is she taking credit for acts by prior Governors? The only thing she has done is create a hostile and adversarial relationship with the industry we need most going forward.
The big line will be the work of years. Last month we took another step closer to steel pipe when we signed the license with TransCanada-Alaska.
You forgot to mention the 500 Million dollar give away without a requirement to put a single shovel in the ground. You forgot to mention the ties your administration has with TransCanada. You forgot to mention that TransCanada doesn’t have the gas, the financing or the permits necessary. Oh yeah, and there is that ‘other’ line that is moving along much faster without state money. The ones with the gas, the financing, and the permits.
Because even the most promising renewable energy sources are years from general use, between then and now, we need a clean interim fuel to power our grid and heat our homes. Natural gas is ideal.
Is this the same person who said that a local line for in state use was not a priority? That refused to even discuss the Enstar proposal for a small line?
I assure you: The line will be built – gas will flow – Alaska will succeed.
When that happens, it will be in spite of the antics of the Palin administration. At the end of her term, we’ll be able to put AGIA and TransCanada out of it’s misery with a measly half a billion dollars out of our treasury.
So we strictly enforce state laws and contracts with oil companies. We’ll hold them accountable with those contracted commitments they signed, to develop our resources – as we are expected to keep our word to them
Here’s a thought. How about you start with be held accountable yourself? How about releasing your testimony to the personnel board regarding the abuse of your office? How about you be accountable for refusing to even discuss alternatives to AGIA? How about you quit litigating and begin negotiating? How about you quit stamping your feet, holding your breath, and whining, and begin being that adult you claim to be.
Alaska, there will come a day when our success is not measured in barrels. The goal is multiplicity – an economy made strong by a wealth of petroleum, but no longer solely dependent on it. And again, the test of leadership is to be prepared.
Hey, Governor any time you’re ready start leading, I’m sure there will be those that will follow you. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any leadership from your office other than leading us from one press conference to the next. I don’t know what you think you are prepared for, it certainly isn’t the reality of the situation that we find ourselves in.
I have confidence in Alaskans, in their judgment and groundedness. Even more so after the journey I completed on November 4th. I learned more about fighting the good fight, facing long odds, the need to protect family – my own and our Alaska family – and putting Country First even when voters put you second. Not unlike Alaska’s journey.
Back to your favorite subject. Sarah Palin. You lost the election for good reasons, you had nothing new to offer. You offered nothing but fear and hate. Finally the American people woke up and refused to go down the dead end path Bush led us, and you were prepared to follow. You protect your family by not putting them in harms way for your own self-aggrandizement. Hopefully, given another opportunity Alaskans will just say no to you and your kind.
When I took my oath of office to serve as your Governor, remember, I swore to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interests of this great state like a grizzly with cubs, as a mother naturally guards her own. Alaska, as a statewide family, we’ve got to fight for each other, not against and not let external, sensationalized distractions draw us off course.
Was that really in the oath of office? or do you just like characterizing yourself as an animal? I suppose a bear is better is than a pig even though not as accurate. Really Sarah, get over yourself. When you talk about “sensationalized distractions” would that include your trotting around the country running for VP, or supporting other candidates in the lower 48. Could it be your abuse of office? If there were any distractions, they were of your own making, and you continue to go anywhere that will have you to tell them to leave your kids alone. I have an idea – just shut up and the story will die. But then, you’re like the meth heads in the valley, you just have to have one more hit. Just one more interview, one more photo op, and then you’ll quit.. right?
So now, united, protecting and progressing under the great North Star, let’s get to work.
Getting to work would be a nice change of pace for you over the last two years.
Notably absent from this speech was anything about Emmonak or the other villages that are facing potentially life threatening situation. But then the intended audience obviously wasn’t Alaskans. Those outside supporters don’t give a rat’s ass about rural Alaska and clearly they aren’t high on Palin’s agenda either.
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