Sarah Palin and Trib-Review Article

Information From Elephantman

I received today the following information from Adam, "Elephantman," who blogs at http://palinforvp.blogspot.com, which I urge you to visit:

Actually, this news story is about GOP governors saying it's too early to say there's a favorite in the 2008 Race, but read Palin's quote very carefully:

"A lot of us are sitting back and waiting to see if there will be new players in there," Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said. "That's probably why that box that says 'none of the above' is so popular right now." [See my analysis of these comments at end of this piece]

Is there anything between the lines there? I don't like to make lots of presumptions, but something inside me wants to think that Gov. Palin knows what's up.

We may also get some good material on Palin in the next few days as she is visiting Alaskan troops in Kuwait

As Adam suggests, this is very, very interesting.

Dimitri Vassilaros Column in 07/23 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Adam, Trish Houser (www.palintology.com/), and I were quoted in Dimitri Vassilaros' "The Palin Effect" that appeared in the July 23, 2007 Tribune-Review. Dimitri says the following about us (and other Palin boosters): "Ardent Palinistas strecth from Alaska to Ambridge [PA]. They praise her honesty, leadership, and for worshipping the state Constitution. But they freely admit they know nothing about her stands on most national issues. One of the most ardent [he's referring to me] doesn't want to know, at least yet."

The point I tried to get across to Dimitri is that Sarah Palin is a state official -- not yet a national one. Alaska, like every other state in the union, including Pennsylvania, DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN POSITION ON ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION AND IRAQ.

It's true I don't know Sarah's "positions" on Iraq and Immigration Reform, but I also don't know the positions of PA Governor Ed Rendell, whom I've followed closely for many years, on either issue. Their roles as governors don't require them to take stands on every subject of national interest. Sarah isn't yet a declared candidate for the national ticket. I hope she will be soon.

In fact, however, she has strong positions on many state matters that have national implications.

For example, as her actions show, she's strongly opposed to excessive government spending and the resultant heavy taxes. She's very much in favor of getting Alaskan energy -- especially the state's vast reserves of natural gas -- to us in the lower-48. She has stood foursquare against the kind of political corruption that is prevalent among politicians both in Alaska and in the rest of the country. She's deeply aware of the need to protect Alaska's fragile environment against oil spills and other forms of devastation.

One of the most important issues confronting the Republican ticket (including Sarah) in the 2008 election will be to build national support for common sense positions on controversial issues -- something she excels at. As the Bush Administration's record shows, no reforms (in Social Security, in Immigration, or in the WOT) will take place without national understanding and support.

I'm not advocating purely poll-driven politics. The Democrats have a monopoly on that. Rather, it's clear that without the backing of most Americans, no elected official can "reform" anything. In Alaska, Sarah Palin has achieved an approval rating of 90%, which shows she knows how to get her messages and policies across to voters.

Sarah Palin's policy recommendations on key matters -- especially Iraq, Immigration, and Social Security-Medicare -- will be very important. That's why I hope she and, of course, the eventual presidential nominee, take the time to get their positions right.

The people at the top of the ticket will have to propose NEW solutions, ones that strikes most Americans as reasonable, fair, and workable. In other words, the presidential and vice-presidential nominees will have to show the same kind of political and communication skills Gov. Palin has demonstrated in Alaska.

Yes, we're asking a lot of one governor, but no one has ever gone broke betting on Sarah Palin.

Stephen R. Maloney
Ambridge, PA

Adam (Elephantman) is intrigued by Sarah Palin's comments about possible "new players" entering the presidential primaries. Of course, she could be referring to Fred Thompson (who may, or may not, have been talking to her). Another possibility is that Sarah is thinking about being one of the "new faces" in the campaign for the nation's highest office.

In terms of political strategy, it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to jump into the fray. There would be no better way for her to gain one thing she now lacks: national name recognition. Also, she can see that none of the current candidates has truly caught fire, especially with conservative Republicans.

Sanity102 and others have been making the point that Sarah isn't fully ready for the top slot. On the flip side, however, anyone who runs for the vice-presidency is in fact a heartbeat away from the presidency.

When Franklin Roosevelt died near the end of the World War II, Harry Truman probably wasn't fully "ready" to be President. However, he got ready in a hurry. I believe Sarah could do the same.

John Edwards was a trial lawyer who became a one-term U.S. Senator. Barack Obama has been in the Senate for a year-and-a-half. Neither of them has any executive experience in government. Yet they don't get the "lack-of-experience" tag.

Elephantman is right about Sarah's comments being provocative. She's now in Kuwait, meeting with soliders, and I'll be all ears about what she says . . .