The Cellar - Dear Ms. Palin

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- - Dear Ms. Palin (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=18049)

It seems like most Palin criticism involves cherry picking information. Here's the missing context in the CBS News story:

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaind...l=2&thispage=2

Quote:

For fiscal 2007, the administration of former Gov. Frank Murkowski submitted 63 earmark requests totaling $350 million, Palin's staff said.

That slid to 52 earmarks valued at $256 million in Palin's first year.

This year, the governor's office asked the delegation to help it land 31 earmarks valued at $197 million.

Why the gradual move away from earmarks? Palin recognized that Alaska's coffers were overflowing with revenue from oil profits and felt it was almost unseemly for the state to press so aggressively for federal money, said John Katz, who heads the Alaska governor's Washington, D.C., office.

In December 2007, Palin's budget director put out a memo urging state officials who were assembling their department spending plans to reserve earmarks for compelling needs only, in an effort to "enhance the state's credibility."

"When she took office, we talked about the state's reliance on federal earmarks and she made it clear for several reasons she wanted to significantly cut back on that reliance," Katz said.

What's the larger context of the "loyalty test"? We don't know. Larger context of "troopergate"? We don't know.

And most of her accolades involve picking the other cherries. That's all I'm saying. Quit playing Ms Virtue, Ms Palin, to fool the peoples.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I'm not a Palin fan, but I am honestly not Palin-bashing when I admit to being completely baffled by what I understand of the loyalty test. What I get so far is she asked a number of people to resign - to test their loyalty - then hired them again.

If that is the case - and I accept I may have the wrong end of the stick - in this country it would be considered mondo weird. I have no idea what my reply would be if my boss asked me to do that, but I'm oretty sure I know what my nearest and dearest would advise me - don't you dare, and start looking for another job in the meantime!

We have some weird rituals involving new administrations. Especially when a new party comes in, tons and tons of staff members who have nothing to do with the actual politics of things are fired simply to fill the jobs with people who are perceived to be loyal to the party.

In fact, even when the administration itself doesn't change--when a President is re-elected for a second term, it is apparently common practice for his entire staff and cabinet to tender their resignation. Most are hired back, but it is seen as an acknowledgement that things may change with the new term, and sort of gives the President an "out" from having to awkwardly fire a bunch of people he may want to get rid of, or promote, or just move to different spots in the administration.

It only happens in politics, no other boss in the country would expect something like that.

I don't know if it is true or not, but I read that pretty much everyone on the presidential staff signs their resignation letter the same day they're hired and it is just kept in a file until such time as it is needed.

Thank you, that does help.

That's all true for Presidents, but I wouldn't say it's common practice for most towns of 5,000, or for librarians.

eh, those crazy alaskans, you know. choosing to live in that cold should have been the first hint that some wires might be crossed.

Wait, did she do it when she became mayor, or when she became governor?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble (Post 482802)

Wait, did she do it when she became mayor, or when she became governor?

mayor. But maybe she did it as governor too. I don't know.