I think everyone recounts this past Tuesday when Barack Obama was elected President by the American public in a relatively close popular vote – certain sections of the media pointed to the electoral college vote and declared it a “landslide.” Barack Obama is, after all, their adopted son and he can count on their support. However, the topic of my post today is Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska and John McCain’s vice presidential running mate.
My view of Sarah Palin has jumped around quite a bit during the course of the election. I, unlike most Americans, did know who she was before John McCain announced that he had chosen her for the number two position. I had heard she was the most popular governor in the nation with an approval rating in the 80s and that she was very fiscally conservative with a borderline libertarian economic position. She took down a lot of corruption in Alaska, where my friend who lived there for a half a year confirms that politicians there tend to be pretty corrupt. However, I heard she was the exception (and still believe that.) I was hoping that McCain would either pick her or Bobby Jindal (they are both non-corrupt governors of corrupt states, young vibrant traditionalists, fiscal conservatives and are both either a woman or a minority – which would help their election.)
I did some intense investigation into Palin once the election was underway. I read her whole biography.
http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Hockey-Alaskas-Political-Establishment/dp/0979047080
It was an illuminating read. I saw how she got into politics, fought corruption and became governor first-hand. She seems like a real life Mr. Smith. A genuine outsider. She may be just what we need-someone to shake up the political establishment of the whole country just like she did for Alaska. Maybe turn the Republican Party back to its real small-government style. She did support Pat Buchanan in the past. I see that as a good sign.
To fully understand Palin, one should look at others that are around her, such as her lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell. Palin and Parnell have had a close relationship within the Alaskan Executive Branch. They kept the door separating their offices open at all times. They were both fresh young faces fighting corruption and runaway spending. They both sought national office in the 2008 election season. Palin ran for VP and Parnell ran for the US House against scandal-ridden, corrupt RINO Don Young. Parnell was endorsed by Palin and the Club for Growth. Unfortunately, Young beat him by a slim margin in the primary. I do not think it was all in vain, though. Palin and Parnell have reformed the Alaskan establishment heavily in the past and although they did not succeed that particular time, they sent out a message that will resonate with liberty-loving citizens in the future.
