Bridge to Palin,
aka to nowhere
Wright on the Left
Tommy Wright
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Opinion
But Palin backed the earmark for the bridge when she ran for governor in 2006, according to a USA Today article on Sunday. As mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, she hired a Washington lobbying firm that helped bring in $8 million for projects in the town, which had a population of 9,780, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The provision for the bridge was eventually removed, but the money stayed in a transportation bill. According to an article on Monday in the New York Times, Alaska was able to keep the money and direct it to other projects.
Palin could be considered a maverick, but not in a kind way. According to a Wednesday article in the New York Times, her first months in office as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska were so alienating that there was an effort to recall her. The article stated that she talked about banning books from the library. She also forced all town employees to get her permission before they spoke with the media.
The New York Times article also stated that Palin forced out city employees who supported her rival, the incumbent mayor John C. Stein.
Palin is currently being investigated by the Alaska state legislature for firing a public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan. According to an article from the Washington Post which was viewable online on Wednesday, Monegan had e-mails sent to him by Palin that support his contention that he was fired by her for not firing her former brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten.
For a politician with a relatively short career, she brings a lot of baggage to the McCain ticket. If Palin is elected, she will bring change to the federal government and the country, but the differences will not be in the best interest of our country and the people. She has been disingenuous, and now that she is in the spotlight, more will be revealed about her past.
Perhaps I'm being a bit cynical about her. I guess I should turn to our president to see if she is truly a maverick.
"Governor Palin is a proven reformer who is a wise steward of taxpayer dollars and champion for accountability in government," President Bush said in a statement shortly after she was added to the ticket.
In fact, the Republican National Committee Web site has a video on its main page titled: "Sarah Palin: Alaska Maverick." So she must be a maverick if her party says so.
The provision for the bridge was eventually removed, but the money stayed in a transportation bill. According to an article on Monday in the New York Times, Alaska was able to keep the money and direct it to other projects.
Palin could be considered a maverick, but not in a kind way. According to a Wednesday article in the New York Times, her first months in office as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska were so alienating that there was an effort to recall her. The article stated that she talked about banning books from the library. She also forced all town employees to get her permission before they spoke with the media.
The New York Times article also stated that Palin forced out city employees who supported her rival, the incumbent mayor John C. Stein.
Palin is currently being investigated by the Alaska state legislature for firing a public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan. According to an article from the Washington Post which was viewable online on Wednesday, Monegan had e-mails sent to him by Palin that support his contention that he was fired by her for not firing her former brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten.
For a politician with a relatively short career, she brings a lot of baggage to the McCain ticket. If Palin is elected, she will bring change to the federal government and the country, but the differences will not be in the best interest of our country and the people. She has been disingenuous, and now that she is in the spotlight, more will be revealed about her past.
Perhaps I'm being a bit cynical about her. I guess I should turn to our president to see if she is truly a maverick.
"Governor Palin is a proven reformer who is a wise steward of taxpayer dollars and champion for accountability in government," President Bush said in a statement shortly after she was added to the ticket.
In fact, the Republican National Committee Web site has a video on its main page titled: "Sarah Palin: Alaska Maverick." So she must be a maverick if her party says so.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
D. Czonke
posted 9/04/08 @ 12:16 PM PST
I'm glad you read newspapers, too bad you didn't do any more in-depth analysis. Mrs. Palin did support the "Bridge to Nowhere" as a mayor and as a candidate, but once she took over as Governor and saw all the competing needs in the state, she let the Bridge drop and used those funds for more important projects - just exactly what we voted her into office to do. (Continued…)
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