Monday Morning Rant 53

It was never my intention to write a political blog. With the current state of affairs in national politics it is very difficult to resist. It is even more so on the “Rant.” My mental health demands an outlet for my frustration and disgust with some of my “fellow Americans". The behavior of some of the principals is abominable.

As I have learned more and more about Governor Palin and her family, I am starting to fully realize the genius of McCain’s pick. These folks actually “live” the full rich life that some of our leaders can only describe from dreams and not reality. In reviewing her accomplishments in a short experience as governor of our largest state, she has managed to accomplish what the average guy thinks he would like to do if he were able. She cleaned up a huge mess in corruption and favoritism in her capitol without regard to party affiliation. Finding the state jet unnecessary, she auctioned it off on E-Bay and put the money in the state treasury. She demonstrated that she knows that the citizens of Alaska are the boss and directed her efforts on their behalf.

On a human level we find an adamant pro-life mother of five with a loving husband, a son soon deploying to the Middle East with the Army, and an infant son with special needs. We see a life member of the NRA, an outdoorswoman, and a preference for Moose Stew. Add that to Cindy McCain’s beer business and some (not I!) would call that combination a dream team.

As governor of Alaska, Palin's state has only two neighbors: Russia and Canada. Part of her job is to interact with the governments of both. In the case of Canada, she just shepherded a deal for a pipeline which topped $21 billion dollars. She is constantly faced with treaty and boundary (well in excess of 1000 miles) matters with the Russians. They share critical fishing waters. As CIC of the state’s National Guard, she traveled to their base in Asia, met with the troops and sought to find out first hand about their well-being. This equates to genuine, hands on experience.

A Terrific Satire

Apparently, she has not read the instruction manual for politicians. I found an excellent synopsis in the comment section of a blog which was written by Damiano (his nom-de-blog) which offers a satirical view of what’s wrong with Sarah’s approach. I am shamelessly including it for your instruction and entertainment.

“Palin is completely inexperienced and utterly incapable.

You heard me. The initial euphoria over the idea of a naughty librarian on the TV news each night for the next 4 to 8 years has worn off. Now, it’s back to hard, pragmatic reality and the reality is that she has no place in Washington, DC.

Want proof? Consider the following:

Only an amateur would speak off the cuff, as she usually does. Experienced politicians avoid speaking extemporaneously whenever possible. Otherwise, the electorate might find out what they really think.

If Palin had meaningful experience, she would have known that the job of Ethics Commissioner is SUPPOSED to be corrupt, thus saving her the trouble of resigning in protest and then running for the highest office in the state.

Only an amateur would attain political office by actually defeating opposing candidates at the ballot box.. An experienced politician would have eliminated opposition candidates by protesting technical glitches in their nominating petitions or petitioning to change the party rules on how votes are counted in primary elections or hiring groups like ACORN to register 14 people who all, coincidentally, have the same names and reside at the same abandoned and boarded-up restaurant.. Did she not once consider taking lessons from the Chicago political machine that got Obama elected? Sheesh.

Any experienced politician knows that upon assuming high office, you are supposed to demand a larger plane; not sell the useless behemoth that was recently purchased by your predecessor.

Only an amateur would implement a comprehensive energy and conservation policy shortly after taking office. A more experienced politician would have avoided the issue outright for at least 30 years while demonizing oil companies, then banning any voting on the topic followed by a recess vacation through the next election

Any experienced politician knows that once elected, you are not supposed to spend your first 20 months in office actually doing the job you were elected to do. You should be campaigning for another office – as Obama could have told her.

Sarah Palin was only supposed to TALK about government reform and utter platitudes about exiling corrupt, entrenched politicians – not actually do anything about it. She demonstrated her naivete by creating a smooth running government that included representatives of other political parties, thereby making it impossible for her to find a scapegoat if anything goes wrong.

Only a political greenhorn would thumb their nose at the environmental lobby by hunting and actually shooting moose and caribou. Worse yet, she foolishly told the truth: the proposed oil drilling site in ANWR is NOT the secret location of Eden but is, in fact, a barren wasteland.

What Sarah Palin does not seem to understand is that here in the 21st century, chief executives do not negotiate beneficial business deals for their states with foreign nations or take time to actually hang out with soldiers in Iraq. That time is better spent preening for the cameras in Berlin – something else a more seasoned and experienced politician such as Obama could have told her.

Holding oil companies accountable and successfully negotiating mutually productive agreements with them proves she does not understand their true purpose: if you work with them to the benefit of your state, you will no longer have a faceless villain to scare people into voting for you.

By creating new jobs instead of demonizing capitalism, Sarah foolishly enabled people to become more reliant on themselves and less reliant on government, hereby diminishing the dependant voter base – a classic newbie mistake. After all, if people have jobs, they will not have much need for the government and will be too busy enjoying their lives to protest the U.S., its corporations and, of course, opposing candidates.

Worse yet, Palin created a budget surplus and mailed it back to the taxpayers. Doesn’t she know that if the government generates a surplus, it’s doing something wrong? An experienced leader like Obama or Biden knows that taxpayer money belongs to the government – not to the people.

In another rankly amateurish move, she cooperated completely with government officials investigating accusations made against her. Experienced politicians know that you are supposed to stonewall, obfuscate, pressure libraries to expunge any record of unsavory political associations and ship potential witnesses off to Caribbean islands – another good reason not to sell the executive jet.

Yup, she is hopelessly inexperienced.

That is why I ♥ SARAH’CUDA and why I am voting McCain/Palin ‘08”

Yet Another Speech

David Brooks is responsible for the following proposed speech which he suggests might likely be used by Barack Hussein Obama. Actually it is multi-purpose and might be heard from either side of the chamber. For best results, read this aloud in your best imitation of senatorial self-importance and amaze yourself, your family and your friends.

“We stand at a crossroads at a pivot point, near a fork in the road on the edge of a precipice in the midst of the most consequential election since last year’s “American Idol.”

One path before us leads to the past, and the extinction of the human race. The other path leads to the future, when we will all be dead. We must choose wisely.

We must close the book on the bleeding wounds of the old politics of division and sail our ship up a mountain of hope and plant our flag on the sunrise of a thousand tomorrows with an American promise that will never die! For this election isn’t about the past or the present, or even the pluperfect conditional. It’s about the future, and Barack Obama loves the future because that’s where all his accomplishments are.”

And Finally

There is much more to be covered on this general subject and the next post will take up where this one leaves off. I did take some time yesterday morning to listen to one of my very favorite preachers. As usual, his topic was God and his attitude toward sin. He related a story told in Joshua 7 which pretty well sums up God’s attitude on the subject. If you ever think about sin and haven’t read that chapter in a while, it’s a good read and might encourage you to rethink the outcome of separating oneself from God.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon