| Yesterday, Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin announced her resignation from public office under speculation that she's either about to be indicted on corruption charges, committing herself absurdly early to a 2012 presidential bid, or just cashing in on her fame in hopes of becoming the right-wing equivalent to Oprah Winfrey.
No matter her reasoning, Palin is abandoning the people of Alaska and forsaking the public's trust. As much as any of the ignorance, shallowness, and narcissism she revealed on the 2008 campaign trail, this demonstrates once and for all just how truly unfit she was to be a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the world. It is embarrassing that she was nominated and just plain frightening that she came as close to being elected as she did. We should all have nightmares about how that election would have played out had it not been for the virtual collapse of the U.S. economy that made the call for fundamental change one of simple survival for our country.
At this point, we have to give credit to Nebraska's then-U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel for being the most prominent Republican in the country to go public with his doubts about Palin during the election. Hagel saw through her facade and declared, "I think it's a stretch...in any way, to say that she's got the experience to be president of the United States."
Of course, for that statement, our local Republican leaders denounced Hagel and jumped to Palin's defense. In fact, they were little more than cheerleaders for Palin throughout the 2008 Presidential campaign. Now that we've seen just how unfit for office Palin truly was, let's take a little closer look at those elected officials and party leaders who rallied in support of Palin and vouched for her as our Vice President.
Hal Daub At The GOP Convention (LJS, 09/03/2008):
"I was so thrilled by her selection," said Hal Daub, chairman of John McCain's Nebraska presidential campaign. "I had been walking around with my fingers crossed. Her choice united the party. It brings the conservatives home".....
Daub gives McCain high grades for "his first executive decision" as the presidential nominee. Palin has had executive experience in public life for 13 years, he said, and brings demonstrated conservative credentials to the race.
"And she happens to be a woman," he said. "He picked well. I think it's terrific and quite historic.
Adrian Smith at the GOP Convention (LJS, 09/03/2009):
Rep. Adrian Smith, the only member of Nebraska's congressional delegation who is attending the convention, said Palin "brings a new dynamic" to the campaign.
"She can identify with common, everyday Americans," he said.
Dave Heineman at the GOP Convention (OWH online, 09/03/2009):
Nebraska's governor gave full-throttled support today for Sarah Palin, John McCain's vice presidential pick.
Gov. Dave Heineman said he has met Palin and found her to be energetic, articulate and smart. He also called her tough, noting that she faced competition in the primary during her successful bid for governor in 2006.
Heineman scoffed at the notion she didn't have the experience to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. He said he found it interesting that one member of the national news media noted incredulously that Palin had never even been on the powerful Sunday morning show "Meet the Press."
"If that isn't an elitist attitude, I don't know what is," Heineman said.
Mark Fahleson at the GOP Convention (OWH, 09/03/2008):
"The base is very energized by her selection. I've had more people ask me to get a McCain-Palin bumper sticker. Not a McCain bumper sticker," said Mark Fahleson, a Nebraska delegate from Lincoln and a spokesman for the state GOP.
Chuck Sigerson at the GOP Convention (OWH, 09/03/2008)
"Republicans understand that Sarah doesn't have the know-how that McCain has or (Joe) Biden has. But she's not running for president. She's running for vice president, and she'll learn when she gets there," said delegate Chuck Sigerson, an Omaha city councilman.
Mark Quandahl Defending Palin, Attack Hagel (OWH, 09/19/2008):
The anger felt by many Nebraska Republicans toward Sen. Chuck Hagel rose to new heights Thursday after Hagel questioned whether Sarah Palin has the experience to serve as president.
State Republicans are "worn out" with Hagel and his propensity for controversial comments aimed at fellow Republicans, said Mark Quandahl, chairman of the Nebraska GOP.
Quandahl went out of his way to distance the state party from Hagel's remarks about Palin, the party's vice presidential nominee. Quandahl said few Nebraskans would agree with Hagel, the Nebraska party's senior elected official.
Dave Heineman Defending Palin, Attacking Hagel (OWH, 09/19/2008):
Gov. Dave Heineman said "most Republicans are not happy" with Hagel right now.
Heineman said Hagel's comments about Palin's lack of foreign policy experience could be said about many governors who became president, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
"They all came to the presidency with little foreign policy experience and did quite well," said Heineman, who won a crucial endorsement from Hagel in the 2006 governor's primary....
When asked if Hagel would be welcomed at any Republican event in Nebraska in support of a GOP candidate, Heineman replied: "I don't know how to answer that for sure. Nebraskans are polite and respectful people, but I would say right now they disagree with Senator Hagel."
Lee Terry Defending Palin, Attacking Hagel (OWH, 09/19/2008):
"It's amazing to me that people are comparing the resumes of a vice president nominee to a president nominee," said U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb. "Under that comparison, I think both resumes of Senator Obama and Governor Palin are admittedly thin, but I think they're both very comparable."
Adrian Smith Defending Palin, Attacking Hagel (OWH, 09/19/2008):
U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., took exception to Hagel's comments that Palin has traveled little outside the United States. Smith also jabbed at Hagel's frequent appearances on Sunday morning television talk shows.....
"Governor Palin's long record of public service demonstrates there is more to experience than how many times someone has simply traveled abroad or been on television," Smith said. "She doesn't just talk about reform. She accomplishes it."
"Critics can say what they wish, but I join many Americans in enthusiastically supporting her and Senator McCain," Smith added.
Lee Terry at Palin Rally (OWH, 10/05/2008):
Terry called Gov. Palin a "straight up person," and said she is the key to energy independence, because she advocates drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, something Sen. John McCain opposes.
"Sarah Palin is the one that understands that and is gonna drive it home in the administration and set us free. We can use our own resources to do it," Terry said.
Jeff Fortenberry at Palin Rally (OWH, 10/05/2008):
U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln is speaking. About Palin: "I'd never heard of her ... now all of America knows about her."
Said Palin is a hit among his five daughters. "One of my little girls said, 'Is Piper going to be there?'"
He said Palin has a heart in public service starting with the PTA. He said the PTA is the toughest level in politics.
The PTA is the toughest level in politics? "She'll learn when she gets there"? Questioning Palin means critics have "an elitist attitude"? That's how low these elected leaders had to stoop making the argument that Palin was qualified to be our country's Vice President.
For that, they should be embarrassed. They should be ashamed. And, yes, they owe the people of Nebraska an apology for engaging in such deception. We deserved better than Sarah Palin and deserve better than this current crop of hard-core Republican partisans who will always put politics before people and their own careers before the future of our country. |
