More Risks Ahead for Palin

A vast majority of the people in Alaska support drilling in ANWR.
Is it your suggestion that she ignore her constituents and instead support the position of some student living in Maryland?

Perfect comment cfpete. Do we want someone a heartbeat away from the presidency who represents the interests of a state with more moose than people? Our NATIONAL parks, wilderness areas and wildlife reserves are protected for ALL Americans, and Alaska is very well compensated for this conservation. Representing her constituents, especially Exxon-Mobil, while ignoring the national interest, is not what Americans are looking for.

cfpete,
It's fine if she argues for her constituents and for oil. But her backers say she's taken on Big Oil. That's a total and complete lie. Nobody in Alaska takes on Big Oil.

So Green,
In your opinion, a Governor should not represent the interests of her constituents.
75% of the people in Alaska support drilling in ANWR.
You can disagree with the people of Alaska all you want, but I believe any rational person would agree that is the job of elected representatives to speak for the electorate.
She may have a different perspective as a VP nominee, but she was speaking as the Governor of Alaska in the referenced article.
It may surprise you, but certain people in this country may not always agree with you.
However, they are citizens of the United States and have the same right to elect representatives to speak for them as you do.

cfpete, It is not a governor's right, nor that of a tiny minority of the national population, to decide what is done on public lands.

Can Alaska distance itself from the oil companies?
No, that is impossible.
However, you know that windfall profits tax that Democrats support.
Republicans in Congress oppose it, but the Governor and Legislature of Alaska actually put it into effect.

Seattle Times

I understand that Green, and that is why it is blocked at the National level.
I just find it hard to criticize the Governor for representing the will of the Alaskan people.
That is her job, is it not?

cfpete said: "A vast majority of the people in Alaska support drilling in ANWR."

Simple math, one shouldn't be surprised. The more oil extracted in Alaska... the bigger their annual welfare check.

That is true Steve, but that is what the people of Alaska want.
That is also why the Governor and Legislature decided to increase taxes on the oil companies to provide even bigger checks to the people.

Interesting reading from the front page of Yahoo! News:

6 things the Palin pick says about McCain

1. He’s desperate...
2. He’s willing to gamble — bigtime...
3. He’s worried about the political implications of his age...
4. He’s not worried about the actuarial implications of his age...
5. He’s worried about his conservative base...
6. At the end of the day, McCain is still McCain...

On the upside, his team did manage to play to the media’s love of drama, fanning speculation about his possible choices and maximizing coverage of the decision.

On the potential downside, the drama was evidently entirely genuine. The fact that McCain only spoke with Palin about the vice presidency for the first time on Sunday, and that he was seriously considering Lieberman until days ago, suggests just how hectic and improvisational his process was.

Steve, I don't know how that is relevant to this discussion.
However, I will say this about the Governor:
She holds a lot of positions that don’t exactly fit with McCain or the RNC.
If Democrats really want to attack her, they should highlight those differences.
Increasing taxes on the oil companies – how did the Obama administration miss that?
The Republican base is excited by her selection; perhaps that excitement could be tempered by highlighting the issues in which she agrees with Democrats.
There is some meat there if you really want to do some research – Republican corruption – she highlights it. Her fighting Republican corruption, that is.
Don’t attack her – she is a pretty compelling figure.
Say – We are pleased that Governor Palin has chosen the side of the people in taking on the Big Oil Companies and Republican corruption. We just believe that she would be better served representing the true Party of the People, the Democratic Party. In our Party, she will find others dedicated to fighting the political influence of Big Money Lobbyists and Big Business.

I'm missing something here... so she supports oil companies and drilling in Alaska. And she'll continue to support oil companies and drilling as VP. First of all what's changed from Bush/Cheney? This makes it clear that McCain/Palin will continue those policies.... It's no secret that McCain supports oil drilling. Didn't McCain thunder at the Faith Forum that he believed in drilling as a way of solving our problems? :)

So whether Palin follows the will of her people or continues her support of oil companies as VP doesn't matter..... It's the same thing: she supports oil companies... whether or not you agree with her position is a different story. Anyone who thinks she's going to stop supporting oil companies as VP, especially given that all the other Republicans are supporting oil companies, has got a screw loose in their head...

David's post was about this.... McCain may think of himself as a maverick and he may take comfort that choosing Palin confirms his own maverick image of himself, but the support of big oil is another issue that ties McCain to Bush and in reality shows that McCain isn't the maverick he believes he still is. Choosing Palin, another Republican supporter of big oil, just shows that McCain isn't bringing fresh ideas into the party. A fresh face, yes, but not fresh ideas....

This decision will only strengthen the Dems' case.

"Increasing taxes on the oil companies – how did the Obama administration miss that?"

Funny how Republicans wail against welfare or any assistance given to those who need it and any tax increases at all, but then when the government increases a tax on a particular type of business and gives the proceeds of that tax directly to the people (many of whom are well off to begin with) that suddenly those Republicans become pro-tax in this one instance and pro-welfare.

I'm sure that Obama hasn't missed it... but it's a tricky issue because this is a state issue and not a federal issue. WIth my strong libertarian leanings I think Obama and all politicians (national) should let the states and localities govern and tax as they see fit.... Obama should not go after this, even though it may gain him political points. I wail about the Republicans sticking their nose in issues that should be left to the states, local government and individuals (depending on the issue) whenever they can win an election and I'll do the same when Dems do it.

With regards to the specific tax and welfare in Alaska, with the oil proceeds... That's not to say that Obama and McCain can't both use this as an example of how their programs would be successful, which they can both do if careful.

But this is a complicated issue on the national level.... Alaska is a net exporter of oil so the Alaska taxes on the oil companies can be passed along to consumers (everyone on the lower 48). In effect each of us in the lower 48 are putting money into the pockets of Alaskans....

Also I will add that the federal government gives subsidies to Alaska, which help keep their taxes low. It will be very important for Obama to hammer this home with the rest of the country when Palin's Republican supporters point to the fact that Alaska has low taxes.... They do, but we (the rest of the country) are paying them so they can have lower taxes...

Of course, David has no problem with both Democratic candidates being in bed with the trial lawyers association. Senator Obama is proposing new transportationa nd energy programs that everyone know will never occur unless the trial lawyers get their cut.

Maybe progressive wonk wannabes would have some credibility is they questioned the special interest of the Democratic Party as much as they want to quesiton Republican special interest.

At least the average American can purchase shares of ownership in Big Oil. However, only insiders can benefit from BIG LAW, BIG LABOR, or BIG GOVERNMENT. I guess David likes the Democratic Party's because they are more elitist than the Republicans's.

SD, I guess, in the spirit of Milton Friedman and beyond, you believe companies should be free of government regulation and consumers and employees should have no right to sue, nor the courts to punish fraud and incompetence. With the legislature and executive working strictly on behalf of big business, the courts are the last recourse for those who have been victims of fraud, willful neglect and incompetence. Let unfettered corporate greed drive all our decisions as a nation. Right?