A Veep After Rove's Heart? McCain Reformer Brand FAIL

by Josh Orton, Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 07:20:14 AM EDT

Over the last eight years, our government has suffered a toxic management strategy at the hands of George Bush and Karl Rove: politics first. Loyalty before competency. U.S. Attorneys like David Iglesias were fired, despite competence, for a simple lack of political fealty.

Now hints are leaking out that Sarah Palin started abusing her authority early (via the Washington Independent):

If a small-town mayor ever ruled with an iron fist -- it was Palin. Eleven days after taking office in 1996, she mailed letters to each of the city's top managers requesting that they resign as a test of loyalty.

The Anchorage Daily News at the time reported the strange events: (via Nexis)

Mayor Sarah Palin sent the resignation requests Thursday to Police Chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak and Mary Ellen Emmons, the head of libraries. A fifth director -- John Cooper, who oversaw the city museum -- resigned earlier this month after Palin eliminated his position.

Cooper initially resisted resigning, but to no avail. Palin also later fired the police chief, saying she knew in her "heart" that he did not support her. She left the head of libraries a letter saying she was out -- though Palin later decided to spare the librarian after being convinced that she would tow the line.

Lovely.

This is the sort of detail most damaging to Palin, because McCain chose his running mate to reinforce his mythical image as a maverick, and continue his re-branding as a "reformer." We hear over and over from the right-wing that Palin "took on" the corrupt establishment in Alaska. David Brooks gushes with new-found Palin-love in today's column:

...she seems to get up in the morning to root out corruption. McCain was meeting a woman who risked her career taking on the corrupt Republican establishment in her own state...

Spare us.

Palin is the anti-corruption crusader the Republicans were hoping for? Loyalty firings? Potentially abusing the Governor's office to settle personal conflicts? Paper-thin claims of a personal fight against wasteful spending?

Good luck with that.

Tags: Karl Rove, Sarah Palin (all tags)

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36 Comments

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A horrible VP pick

She's what them English majors call an "albatross"...

Forgetting Sarah Palin

by LibertarianSocialist 2008-09-02 07:30AM | 0 recs
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Re: A horrible VP pick

hilarious!

by Doug Tuttle 2008-09-02 07:47AM | 0 recs
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Yikes

What about Sarah Palin makes you want to serve her?

DONT GET ME STARTED ROFLCOPTRZ.

Er, sorry.  

Anyways, the loyalty test thing is spooky.

by Dracomicron 2008-09-02 08:03AM | 0 recs
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Re: Yikes

I really shouldn't go there, but...  can the question be answered in the Biblical sense?

by username 2008-09-02 09:02AM | 0 recs
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That's the thing

It's human nature to reduce issues to the lowest common denomonator.  On other... less refined... forums I frequent, posters had a "thing" for Palin BEFORE she became the VP nominee, and the last few days were predictably full of innuendo.  

This is one reason that the pick was so cynical by McCain; he chose someone that would get a lot of attention for her attractive appearence and mastery of "guy arts" such as fishing and hunting, which not only drums up interest in general, but gives multiple built-in minefields to transverse when going after her.  In his debate, Biden will have to thread the needle between "you're sexist" and "don't hit the girl," and there's plenty of chances for a major gaffe along the way.

Is it fair?  No.  Is it accurate?  I think so.

by Dracomicron 2008-09-02 09:22AM | 0 recs
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Re: That's the thing

I was infinitely amused to see that "vpilf.com" was registered on August 4 to a Scottsdale, AZ company... ;)

by username 2008-09-02 09:34AM | 0 recs
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David Brooks has made an ass of himself

He writes a glowing column on Sarah Palin, based on completely false claims, then tries to act like he doesn't think she's qualified. He even claimed Obama did not do well in his acceptance speech. Even loony Bill Kristol had to give Obama some kudos.

by Lolis 2008-09-02 08:08AM | 0 recs
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I don't get Brooks sometimes

He knows that Obama is the real deal.  He's not stupid.  Most of his columns are "Sure, Obama is really awesome, but there's this one little spot that we need to pick at."

I don't see how he could go from annoying-but-honest to full-on talking points like this.

Maybe he just thinks she's hot.

by Dracomicron 2008-09-02 08:25AM | 0 recs
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Re: I don't get Brooks sometimes

Brooks is just weird.  When he forgets to be partisan, he seems like a smart guy (at least on MacNeil-Lehrer), but he can also be a mindless hard-core partisan.  Then again, I guess we can all do that, but it's much more obvious coming from the other side.

by username 2008-09-02 09:06AM | 0 recs
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Re: David Brooks has made an ass of himself

David Brooks is the prototypical conservative concern troll.

by blueAZ 2008-09-02 11:58AM | 0 recs
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Re: David Brooks has made an ass of himself

You can predict everything that David Brooks is ever going to write.  He never surprises.

Plus, it's just his opinions.  Other columnists have sources to people in power.  Others, like Thomas Freidman or Bob Herbert give lots of "man on the street" stuff, where you get a view that you wouldn't ordinarily have access to.  David Brooks is just "stuff I was thinking about when I was taking a dump."

by Jordache 2008-09-02 02:52PM | 0 recs
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It is a wonder

that she was not part of the bush amdin. She is truly One Of Them!

by kevin22262 2008-09-02 08:09AM | 0 recs
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Re: It is a wonder

She is truly the gift that keeps on giving. No matter how she performs at the convention she is proving how out of touch with America she and McSame really are. America has turned to the left and they have taken a HARD right turn.

by venician 2008-09-02 08:54AM | 0 recs
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I figured it out!

McCain picked her to punish all of the fundies who would not let him follow through on his mancrush with Joementum... only reason I can think of for this pick now.

by JDF 2008-09-02 08:25AM | 0 recs
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Re: McCain Reformer Brand FAIL

Good Lord, this woman is a complete disaster and cannot be allowed anywhere NEAR the White House after the last 8 years. I've given to Obama 4 times now and apparently I'm going to have to again.

by Mullibok 2008-09-02 08:30AM | 0 recs
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You are correct
We all need to try and give again. See more here:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/9/1/18354 /42159
by kevin22262 2008-09-02 09:52AM | 0 recs
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The unraveling of a successful campaign

At some point the posters at MyDD will step back in say, boy that Classical Liberal saw it coming.  We, with the support of the MSM, really did de-rail the Obama campaign.

This woman has been continually underestimated and it really makes her job of impressing the American public easier.  

The arguments against her only highlight problems in the Obama campaign and show the depths in which you are willing to go to win.

by Classical Liberal 2008-09-02 08:42AM | 0 recs
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Re: The unraveling of a successful campaign

Classical Liberal= McTroll.

Enough said.

by venician 2008-09-02 08:48AM | 0 recs
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Re: The unraveling of a successful campaign

Great argument - the McCain camp is counting on mindless knee jerk reactions like that to bring  moderates and independents his direction.

by Classical Liberal 2008-09-02 09:09AM | 0 recs
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Re: The unraveling of a successful campaign

One does not argue with McTrolls, they are here only to cause divisions. One would also suggest you return to the mother ship (the straight talk express) it has DERAILED!

by venician 2008-09-02 09:19AM | 0 recs
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Re: The unraveling of a successful campaign

I think independents, at least the intelligent ones, are running from her fast.
Look, first impressions are key and her first impressions have been terrible.  The news about her past has only gotten worse over the last 4 days.   She is the best fodder for late night jokes since Quayle and probably since Eagleton.

First she praises Hillary, then she is silent on Hillary.  Then she was for the Bridge to nowhere before she was against it.  Then she was a reformer who forced loyalty oaths.    

She goes way above anything Cheney has done.   Additionally, this is evidence that McCain has no desire to put country first, he really is that old man standing on his porch yelling at the whippersnappers to get off his lawn.

by gavoter 2008-09-02 09:31AM | 0 recs
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Re: The unraveling of a successful campaign

I disagree vehimently.  Thoughts about her child rearing and if she should be spending time with her family instead of in Washington would be much stronger if the electorate were able to come to that conclusion on thier own.  Force feeding it too them only endears them to Palin.

People haven't even heard her speak yet.  Those first impressions will start with low expectations due to idiots attacking her on weak arguments.

by Classical Liberal 2008-09-02 01:42PM | 0 recs
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You mean

like mccain's knee jerk reaction in picking this joke of a vp?

by kevin22262 2008-09-02 09:53AM | 0 recs
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Re: The unraveling of a successful campaign

How do you expect her to "impress" anyone when she has a worldview straight out of the 19th century?  A nice speech and genuine earnestness isn't going to cut it.

by rfahey22 2008-09-02 09:28AM | 0 recs
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Please acknowledge my brilliance!!!!

"At some point the posters at MyDD will step back in say, boy that Classical Liberal saw it coming.  We, with the support of the MSM, really did de-rail the Obama campaign."

Why is it all these goofballs have to pump up their egos, telling us HOW SORRY we will be when they are proving right,yada yada yada....?

Yes, Classic Liberal, we will build you a statue commerating the date you were THE FIRST to predict Sarah Palin was the second coming of Ronald Reagan.

Now, my advice is, retire from blogging while you are riding this amazing winning streak!!!

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-02 09:47AM | 0 recs
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Re: A Veep After Rove's Heart

Damn. what a creeper.

by alyssa chaos 2008-09-02 09:02AM | 0 recs
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Another Cheney!

She's Cheney on steroids! Loyalty oaths? She's making the wing nuts look sane.

Unbelievable. Every time the Rethugs raise the bar for the most outlandish behavior, they clear it with ease.

by Bob Miller 2008-09-02 09:08AM | 0 recs
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Incredible!

How can anyone say that these issues are not important??  If she was a he, people would be just as all over it as they are now.  I think it's sickening how she's used her 4 month old son as a political statement.  How she's abused power and how she's just plain lied.  The rethugs are right, she has a record and it's BAD!!!

Any woman who claims to have supported Hillary and now supports McPalin was lying about their support to Hillary in the first palce.  How can you support a woman who will try to over turn Roe vs Wade?  How could you support Hillary on ANY issue and say now that you support McPalin?  She is the polar opposite of everything Hillary stands for!!!  

I also feel this is a slap in the face to any INTELLIGENT woman!  Did they think we would take their word that she was "good" at what she did??  Oh, she's good all right!  She's good at being a bully and a thug, just like every other rethug out there!

If I had ANY doubts who I was going to vote for, they were put aside the minute they announced this choice.  There is no choice now, Obama MUST win!!!

by Pa Woman 2008-09-02 09:19AM | 0 recs
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Firing positions

Funny how nobody complain when Clinton did the same thing. But if a women does it, it is somehow wrong. I guess women are not allowed to be strong executives who demand loyalty from their employees.

by dMarx 2008-09-02 09:36AM | 0 recs
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Re: Firing positions

Clinton did the same thing?

Please show proof.

by Alobama 2008-09-02 09:43AM | 0 recs
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Re: Firing positions

For example, Clinton fired 93 US Attorneys, the entire travel office, which was traditionally a non-patronage position, and lots of other executives.

The fact is, executives get who ever they want running the departments they are in charge of - because they get the blame when something screws up.

So you can't fault Palin for doing what is 1) very common in politics, 2) completely within the executive powers of a mayor, and 3) something that would be seen as strong leadership and "cleaning house" if a man did it. Also, Palin was reelected by a landslide, so she didn't offend too many people in that small town.  It seems like this is barking up the wrong tree.

by dMarx 2008-09-02 10:23AM | 0 recs
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Re: Firing positions

They weren't loyalty firings.

The travel office thing was investigated to death by Porn Starr who found nothing.

The US attorney firings were routine and raised no criticisms even from witch hunting Republicans at the time.

So, your GOP talking points aside, Palin practices a bushian policy of preferential hirings and self serving firings -- which she is now being investigated for as governor.

by Alobama 2008-09-02 01:50PM | 0 recs
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Re: Firing positions

I'm not sure what you're getting at re: Clinton, but how many qualified police chiefs, finance directors, and public works directors do you think you can find in a town of 6,000 people?  Who the hell demands a loyalty oath from a librarian?

by rfahey22 2008-09-02 09:45AM | 0 recs
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Re: Firing positions

I don't think the "loyalty oath" thing is well supported. Kind of like the fake pregnancy thing.

Also, if the argument is that she replaced the police chief with somebody less qualified then you have to explain how she  was reelected by a landslide. Apparently she performed well enough to please the voters of Wasilla.

Like I said, this seems like the wrong tree to bark up.

Lack of experience is a better tree, IMHO.

by dMarx 2008-09-02 10:25AM | 0 recs
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I smell talking points n/t

by Neef 2008-09-02 10:06AM | 0 recs
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Re: I smell talking points n/t

I smell chauvinism.  Deal with it.

by dMarx 2008-09-02 11:57AM | 0 recs

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