http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/09/palins-priorities-and-what-they-tell-us/The YouTube video clip containing excerpts from the upcoming documentary “Media Malpractice” with Sarah Palin has caused quite a stir. The mainstream media, and bloggers have been on a bit of a starvation diet from the maddening, quotable, “blizzard of words” that began as soon as Palin garnered the VP nod. So when everyone was tossed a nice fresh piece of red meat, we all dug in. No doubt that there was plenty of content to go around.
But to Alaskans, perhaps the most maddening thing about Palin’s interview isn’t actually anything she said. And no, it’s not the peach colored suit. It is this:
Alaska is in deep distress. A record setting cold snap (is it still a ’snap’ when it’s gone on longer than a week?) has created ice fog, and hazardous flying conditions which are keeping planes with food, fuel and supplies from reaching some of Alaska’s rural communities. Our budget is seriously out of balance, and despite the earnest attempt of Rep. Mike Hawker to urge the Governor to change her proposal to reflect a concept called “reality”, he’s gotten nothing except a “don’t worry your pretty little head about it” letter. Energy costs are leaving rural residents unable to properly heat their homes without help from Venezuela. We’ve just found out that Alaska has the highest increase in teen pregnancy in the nation. And the Governor has been openly criticized for her aversion for working in the actual state capital, for taking time off during the work day to go shopping at Nordstrom, and for scheduling an absence DURING the legislative session to attend a partisan conference out of state.
I could go on for a long time, but there’s a start.
On January 20, the new legislative session will begin. There will be 90 days to do the state’s business. The starting gun goes off in 11 days.
I’ve set the stage. Now here’s the question.
What was the governor doing Monday morning at 9am?
The answer to this question is more than nitpicking about a particular day, or a particular commitment at a particular time. The answer to this question reflects what the governor’s priorities are, because there’s not much time before we’re off to the races and the session begins. There is little or no time for things which are not a priority.
“Was she in her Anchorage office crunching numbers?” one of you may guess. “No, I’ll bet she was talking to legislators and preparing for the session,” says another one of you. Well, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but no.
On Monday morning, at 9am, Governor Palin was home. Sick? Flat tire? No. She was home in Wasilla getting herself put together for an interview. An interview talking to the people of Alaska about various state related emergencies? No. An interview letting Alaskans know what to expect in the upcoming session? No. An interview with a respected local journalist? No. An interview with a respected national journalist? No.
(You look at me as though you are starting to get annoyed)
OK, I won’t make you play 20 questions anymore.
On Monday morning at 9am, Sarah Palin was putting herself together for an interview with John Ziegler, a conservative radio pundit who is well known for using the n-word on air, and telling Nate Silver of the polling site 538.com to go entertain himself in a way which is physically impossible. The subject of the interview was the media’s “mistreatment” of Palin during the campaign while she was running for VP, more than two months ago. And the interview was done for the benefit of those in the Lower 48, to whom the governor referred in the video more than once. Palin wants them to know the real her. She wants to tell them to look at her actions. She wants them to judge her by her record…..while she’s playing hooky 11 days before the start of the legislative session.
If irony was a giant falling anvil, I’d be in trouble.
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