Learning about Sarah Palin - Bio, Timeline, Troopergate, Alaskan media

Here are a number of Alaskan reactions to Sarah Palin's selection:

"Sarah Palin's chief qualification for being elected governor was that she was not Frank Murkowski. ... She was not elected because she was a conservative. She was not elected because of her grasp of issues or because of her track record ..."

Dermot Cole, a longtime columnist for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

State Senate President Lyda Green said she thought it was a joke when someone called her at 6 a.m. to give her the news.

"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" said Green, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla. "Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"

Green, who has feuded with Palin repeatedly over the past two years, brought up the big oil tax increase Palin pushed through last year. She also pointed to the award of a $500 million state subsidy to a Canadian firm to pursue a natural gas pipeline that is far from guaranteed.

State House Speaker John Harris, a Republican from Valdez, was astonished at the news. He didn't want to get into the issue of her qualifications.

"She's old enough," Harris said. "She's a U.S. citizen."

Former House Speaker Gail Phillips, a Republican political leader who has clashed with Palin in the past, was shocked when she heard the news Friday morning with her husband, Walt.

"I said to Walt, 'This can't be happening, because his advance team didn't come to Alaska to check her out," Phillips said.

Phillips has been active in the Ted Stevens re-election steering committee and remains in close touch with Sen. Lisa Murkowski and other party leaders, and she said nobody had heard anything about McCain's people doing research on his prospective running mate.

"We're not a very big state. People I talk to would have heard something."

Few wanted to talk about anything else on talk radio Friday. Conservative host Rick Rydell said there are some benefits to the state, but it's a gamble for McCain to pick an unknown with what he considered "questionable vetting."

"It seems almost like a Hail Mary pass at the end of a football game," Rydell said in an interview after his show Friday.

Rydell said McCain has destroyed his argument about Barack Obama's lack of experience.

Alaska Democratic Party chairwoman Patti Higgins, attending her party's national convention in Denver, said she was shocked to hear the news this morning.

"In this very competitive election for them to go pick somebody who is ... under a cloud of suspicion, who is under investigation for abuse of power. It just sounds like a pretty slow start to me," Higgins said.

The state Legislature is investigating whether Palin and her staff broke state law by pressuring the public safety department to fire a state trooper who was in a custody battle with her sister.

"We need a vice president who can step in if, God forbid, something happened to John McCain," Higgins said. "I don't think she's someone who is ready for that 3 a.m. phone call."

Anchorage Democratic state Sen. Hollis French said it's a huge mistake by McCain and "reflects very, very badly on his judgment." French said Palin's experience running the state for less than two years hasn't prepared her for this.

Source:  Choice stuns state politicians, 8-29-2008, Anchorage Daily News

Then there's this scathing item from the editorial board of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:

Alaskans and Americans must ask, though, whether she should become vice president and, more importantly, be placed first in line to become president.

When a candidate for president picks a vice presidential running mate, that partner ought to have more qualifications than this: "She's not from Washington." [...]

McCain offered that justification this morning for his decision. There was a lot more, of course, about the governor's "grit, integrity and devotion to the common good." But after cataloging her basic decency and compassion for the common man, what was there? "She's not from Washington."

No doubt about it. In fact, as the governor herself acknowledged in her acceptance speech, she never set out to be involved in public affairs. She has never publicly demonstrated the kind of interest, much less expertise, in federal issues and foreign affairs that should mark a candidate for the second-highest office in the land. Republicans rightfully have criticized the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, for his lack of experience, but Palin is a neophyte in comparison; how will Republicans reconcile the criticism of Obama with the obligatory cheering for Palin? Or will everyone just be forced to drop the subject? That's not a comforting possibility. Although no one has the perfect resume and experience isn't everything, it is an important quality to weigh. Palin, if elected vice president, would ascend to the presidency if anything should happen to McCain, who turned 72 today. [...]

Most people would acknowledge that, regardless of her charm and good intentions, Palin is not ready for the top job. McCain seems to have put his political interests ahead of the nation's when he created the possibility that she might fill it.

It's clear that McCain picked Palin for reasons of image, not substance. She's a woman. She has fought corruption. She has fought the oil companies. She's married to a union member. These are portrayals for campaign speeches; they are not policy positions.

Local and state level blogs often provide a more comprehensive look at a given politician's record over time and Mudflats is no exception. The blog has been following Sarah Palin along with the rest of Alaskan politics for quite sometime as in pre-McCain-selection. It's written by AKMuckraker who has been "a promotional writer and editor in the magazine industry, marketing, advertising" and now is "a citizen who is paying attention".

There are three items of interest to us this time around. First, he provides a roundup of local reaction to the selection. The second item is a summary of Palin's political history in Alaska in "What is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan's Perspective.". Third is the category link to the rest of his pre-McCain-selection writing on Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin has left a well-recorded trail behind her. This diary reviews her appearance on a radio show which disparaged her fellow Republican and president of the Alaska State Senate, Lydia Green, as a cancer and a bitch. Audio of the radio show is included. The Anchorage Daily News columnist Don Fagan called the appearance "one of the most unprofessional, childish and inexcusable performances I've ever seen from a politician." Mr. Fagan has more details about the show and reactions by others.

Karen Breslau at Newsweek interviewed Sarah Palin in March 2008 and has just posted video of the interview along with an article about Gov. Palin. Hillary supporters will find her less than sympathetic towards Hillary in the second video. Here's an alternate link to the 8 Newsweek videos with a larger viewing area.

Then there's Palin's curious response to a question about McCain VP speculation on Larry Kudow's show on CNBC. She didn't know what a VP did and wanted that question answered first; in essence, she pooh-poohed the position and said she'd view it in terms of what benefit it would bring to Alaska. She also appeared on Kudlow's show on another occasion and it's immensely clear that her solution to energy independence is drill, drill, drill.

NPR ran a story on the scrubbing of Sarah Palin's wikipedia article by "Young Trig". There's more indepth analysis of the changes by the dkos community. The selections of items to be altered, added and deleted is revealing.

A little digging, inspired by the NPR wikipedia story, reveals that despite her current claim to killing the "Bridge to Nowhere" earmark, Palin was all in favor of it and wanted it built "sooner rather than later". Blue Hampshire blogger Mike Caulfield also tracks that story down. A couple others are checking into the "scrubbing" of Palin's online record including this item on removal of press releases from her website.

UPDATE:

Governor Palin's appearance in her Wasilla Church for their "Masters Commission" graduation ceremony was taped in June 2008. The "Masters Commission" graduates are people who have completed a training program the church runs whose ultimate goal is to evangelize non-believers in Alaska. It is MUST SEE video.   Part 1   Part 2

NPR's All Things Considered just aired a segment on these videos along with more background about Governor Palin's relationship with the church. Please do check it out as well.

TalktoAction has more background information on the Masters Commission program, its genesis and what it represents in the Assemblies of God churches.

END UPDATE

And then there's "Trooper-gate" or "Wooten-gate", otherwise known as the scandal that's currently unfolding in Alaska. Here's coverage of it by Alaskan media:

-- 'Out of the blue,' top cop Monegan gets Palin's axe, 7-13-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Palin denies accusation over firing of Monegan; HALCRO: Former state representative says family dispute fueled dismissal., 7-18-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Monegan says he was pressured to fire cop; PALIN'S EX-BROTHER-IN-LAW: Former commissioner says governor's husband, others asked him to investigate trooper Wooten., 7-19-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Lawmakers may look into Monegan firing, 7-19-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Monegan says Palin administration and first gentleman used governor's office to pressure firing first family's former brother-in-law, 7-19-2008, KTVA CBS News

-- Hired help will probe Monegan dismissal; $100,000: Legislators vote to have independent investigator look into controversial firing, 7-29-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Bombshell in commissioner controversy, 8-14-2008, KTVA CBS News

-- Palin staff pushed to have trooper fired, 8-14-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Excerpts from conversation between Frank Bailey and trooper Rodney Dial, 8-14-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Palin says staff's calls were not pressure, 8-15-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Despite VP nomination, Palin investigation continues, 8-29-2008, KTVA CBS News

Attached to several of the ADN articles is a sidebar item containing links to primary sources of information including PDF's of notes, transcripts, and emails, raw video of interviews, and transcripts. ADN has also created a webpage which organizes links to all coverage of the Monegan firing.

Coverage of Governor Palin by other media:

-- Palin Focus of Probe In Police Chief's Firing, 8-30-2008, Washington Post

-- Alaska's Palin Faces Probe; Star GOP Governor To Be Investigated For Abuse of Office, 7-31-2008, Wall Street Journal

-- Gov. Sarah Palin views on oil, polar bears may be liabilities, 8-29-2008, KTVA CBS News (Alaskan media)

-- McCain campaign statement on when McCain met Palin, 8-29-2008, Washington Wire blog, WSJ.com - He'd met her once briefly at the National Republican Governors Association meeting in Feb. of this year. He added her to the short list to be investigated on the basis of that meeting.

-- Scholars question Palin credentials, 8-30-2008, Politico -- Presidential scholars and historians are stunned by McCain's selection of Palin.

-- Defining Sarah Palin, 8-29-2008, NYT's The Caucus Blog -- a roundup of commentary on Pali - the comments from NRO people may surprise you.

-- McCain's choice of Palin is a risk, 8-30-2008, LA Times

-- McCain's 'Hail Sarah' Pass; His choice for veep is all but set up for failure in the fall., 8-29-2008, by Jonathan Alter, Newsweek

-- Palin's $500 million Pipeline to Nowhere, 8-30-2008, by leveymg at Daily Kos

-- David Frum: Palin the irresponsible choice?, 8-29-2008, National Post

-- McCain's maverick mistake by Diane Francis, 8-29-2008, National Post

UPDATE:
-- The attempt to recall Mayor Palin in 1997 for abuse of power, 8-29-2008, Hat Thief blog - This blogger quotes from and links to articles by the Anchorage Daily News about the attempt to recall Mayor Palin after she fired the city of Wasilla police chief and library director because they did not endorse or support her re-election as mayor. The ADN articles are now pay-per-view.

-- Additional information on the recall is available in this post: Palin Almost Recalled As Mayor

-- Palin thinks Pledge written by Founding Fathers, 8-31-2008, Daily Kos -- report on Palin's response from the Alaskan 2006 gubernatorial candidate questionnaires.

UPDATE #2:
-- Alaska Business Monthly Interview with Governor Palin, 3-1-2007 -- There is a slightly byzantine registration process to view the article although access is free. Her only known statement on foreign policy was made during this interview:

ABM: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?

Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.

UPDATE #3:
Courtesy of The Edge of the American West blog which has blogger awc plumbing the depths of Alaskan newspaper archives, here are articles on Palin's actions as mayor of Wasilla attempting to fire people she felt did not sufficiently support her re-election efforts.

-- Palin asks all the city's top managers to resign as a test of loyalty to her, imposes gag order on city department heads, Daily Sitka Sentinel, 10/28/96, p. 3.

-- Firings include elimination of position of city historian, Daily Sitka Sentinel, 2/11/1997, p. 13.

-- sacking of museum staff, Anchorage Daily News, August 6, 1997

-- Can tell how loyal someone is by looking in her heart, Daily Sitka Sentinel, 2/3/97

UPDATE #4:
-- email from Anne Kilkenny, Wasilla resident who has known Sarah Palin since 1992, published in the comments of Laura McGann's post on The Washington Independent -- Read this one for an unvarnished look at Palin's tenure as mayor in Wasilla.

Update to the update: NPR just aired an interview with Anne Kilkenny. She is a real person who lives in Wasilla and knows Sarah Palin.

UPDATE #5:
-- Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview, 9-2-2008, Huffington Post - Excerpts from Sarah Palin's speech to the June 2008 ceremony honoring Masters Commission program graduates at her church, Wasilla Assembly of God, give some insight into her lack of separation of church and state. Scroll down further to review what is taught at her church. The article was based upon review of newspaper articles and review of 4 years of audio recordings of church services.

TalktoAction has more background information on the Masters Commission program, its genesis and what it represents in the Assemblies of God churches.

UPDATE #6: Sarah Palin and the Matanuska Maid state-owned dairy, 9-3-2008, Daily Kos - a very well-documented post by an Alaska native. Mat Maid, as it's known, and Palin in brief:

Palin fired the whole state Agriculture and Conservation board in July 2007, ostensibly to save a mismanaged state-owned dairy, and then replaced it with her usual gang of cronies. As a result, the dairy lost more money than it had in twenty years. The dairy, an Alaska icon, closed anyway in two months, taking hundreds of thousands of dollars of additional state money with it. Millions of dollars in dairy equipment ended up, at a steep discount, in the hands of a local Palin ally, who now runs a remarkably similar operation with the help of a Ted Stevens earmark.

UPDATE #7:
-- 2006 Oppo Research document with newspaper clippings and interviews, article and pdf of full 62 page document, 9-2-2008, Politico

-- Another Controversy for Sarah Palin: Former Police Chief Says He Was Fired for Challenging Palin's Campaign Contributors, 9-3-2008, ABC News

UPDATE #8:
-- AndrewHalco.com, a blog by a very well informed Alaskan with lots of political connections. The blog posts and the comments on the posts add to the picture of Sarah Palin. I would recommend these in particular: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

UPDATE #9:
-- Palin's stall; Governor is stonewalling the Troopergate investigation, 9-5-2008, Anchorage Daily News

-- Palin education took her to five colleges, 9-4-2008, Anchorage Daily News

UPDATE #10
-- Palin's chef not fired but transferred, 6-29-2008, Anchorage Daily News -- Further analysis of why the transfer occurred shows that the transfer was precipitated by Palin's decision to work from Wasilla rather than the governor's mansion in Anchorage.

UPDATE #11:
-- Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home; Taxpayers Also Funded Family's Travel, 9-8-2008, Washington Post

UPDATE #12:
-- This is not a media outlet or blog but certainly should be noted. Per Ben Smith,

"The City of Wasilla has put together a useful set of online documents giving its responses to questions about Sarah Palin, including past city budgets, descriptions of her duties, and an answer to the question of whether any books were ever banned from the city library.

UPDATE #13:
-- Alaska's Bloggers on Sarah Palin, 9-9-2008, TIME magazine -- a profile of 4 Alaska blogs that follow Alaskan politics.

-- Sarah Palin's Alaskonomics, 9-9-2008, TIME magazine -- How Alaska under Governor Palin (and prior governors) has taken advantage of the Federal dole, much to the disadvantage of the citizens and taxpayers of the other 49 states.

UPDATE #14:
-- Ethics Adviser Warned Palin About Trooper Issue, 9-11-2008, Wall Street Journal -- WSJ has talked with a former US Attorney who was an ethics advisor for Palin. He has given the WSJ the letters he wrote to Palin telling her the "situation was 'grave,' and calling for an apology." A PDF of the actual letters and related correspondence is included.

UPDATE #15:
The New York Times and Washington Post reporters file their reports after spending a couple weeks interviewing people in Alaska about Palin's tenure as major and governor. It's not a pretty picture. Her approach to governing, personal vendettas, absolute emphasis on loyalty, promotion of unqualified cronies into responsible positions, use of personal email for official business to circumvent record-keeping, emphasis on secrecy, and high school-like meanness towards those who disagreed with her all come out in the wash.

-- Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes, 9-13-2008, New York Times

-- Active Role for Palin's Husband in Alaska Government, 9-13-2008, New York Times

-- As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin Cut Own Duties, Left Trail of Bad Blood, 9-14-2008, Washington Post

UPDATE #16:
-- The pastor who clashed with Palin, 9-15-2008, Salon.com

-- Palin's Project List Totals $453 Million, 9-15-2008, Wall Street Journal -- a follow up article on the earmark discussion and their original article: Record Contradicts Palin's 'Bridge' Claims published on 9-9-2008

UPDATE #17:
-- No one is above the truth, even Palin, by Dan Fagan, 9-16-2008, Anchorage Daily News -- Fagan is a conservative talk radio host on KFQD

-- Sarah Palin's wasteful ways by David Talbot, 9-17-2008, Salon -- A report on Palin's tenure as mayor. Here's additional coverage of Sarah Palin by Salon.

END UPDATES

As for reaction in the blogosphere, I suspect Angry Mouse said it best on behalf of Hillary Clinton supporters:

No, Senator McCain, I Am Not An Idiot

Andrew Sullivan has two memorable posts, one that he wrote and one from a reader:

Three words.

American Conservatism's Assisted Suicide

Then there's Robert J. Ellsberg's comprehensive post at HuffPo which pretty much sums it all up.

The Worst Vice-Presidential Nominee in U.S. History

Huffington Post has created a "Big Page" for Sarah Palin which collects all the articles and blog posts about Palin that HuffPo has featured.