Last night, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin absolutely rocked the Republican National Convention with a powerful, well-delivered speech aimed at rallying the Republican base, showcasing her own "executive experience" and trivializing the experiences of her rival, Barak Obama.
The speech laid plain many of Palin's beliefs, which line up with traditional republicans. These include being aggressive in the fight against terrorists while painting the zeitgeist as "a crucial hour for our country," promoting family values - she was not afraid of parading her own family for political gain, being fiscally conservative - which she said she demonstrated by selling the corporate governor's jet on eBay and cutting the budget, taking a hard line approach against Iran, and achieving "victory" in Iraq. She went on to express support for drilling for more oil and gas in Alaska and elsewhere, expanding the use of clean coal, and obtaining energy independence from foreigners.
"Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to
lay more pipelines ... build more nuclear plants ... create jobs with
clean coal ... and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other
alternative sources."
Of course, some of the achievements she touted were exaggerations, such as her objections to the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," which she actually supported before being elected Governor and became against once sworn in. She also promoted herself as an outspoken anti-pork barrel legislation
advocate to the likes of John McCain, despite working with lobbying
firms to obtain tens of millions of pork dollars while Mayor of
Wasilla.
"I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and
championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I
told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere," said Palin.
Stretching the truth aside, Palin was savvy in catapulting herself to leadership status while denigrating Obama's experience as little more than feel-good community outreach.
"Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look
down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.
I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities...there is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man
who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not
even in the state senate."
The Obama roast went on for another few minutes, painting him as a reckless, economy-smothering promoter of higher taxes for individuals and corporations and bigger government. This is the traditional attack-dog role of the VP and a predictable republican stance against a very liberal democrat.
What wasn't included in Palin's speech were her more right-wing beliefs. These include her desire to teach creationism in school alongside evolution, privatize health insurance, and overturn Roe v Wade. Palin also opposes stem-cell research and is a card-carrying NRA member, though in Alaskan bear country who could blame her? And surprisingly for a global warming fighter like McCain, Palin says she remains unconvinced that global warming is exacerbated by humans, even as the roads in her home state cave from melting ice underneath them.
How does all this translate to government policy?
Well, as a VP, the reality is that it may never translate to policy unless she takes over the Oval Office as President. If that happens, she will likely cut spending on global warming mitigation and research, ban stem-cell research, promote faith-based funding, work to allow states to teach creationism in schools, appoint conservative judges, continue the Iraq War, attempt to open up more federal lands for drilling, cut the federal workforce and outsource more work to contractors, and provide greater funding to natural gas and clean coal research and development. And like the current Vice President, she might also end up shooting a friend in the face during a hunting trip.
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