GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

Campaign watch: Introducing Sarah Palin

Alaska Governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin wowed the conservative base and gave the GOP a much-needed morale boost Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. Maligned by the media and liberals for just about every personal and professional choice she’s ever made, Palin proved that she is no shrinking violet with a blistering speech that took to task Barack and Michelle Obama, Joe Biden and the whole gang of useful idiots for their lack of conviction and their elitism. She was vibrant, energetic and had a powerful stage presence. And she did much of it from memory after the teleprompter malfunctioned, with no Obama-esque stuttering.

When John McCain picked Palin to be his running mate last Friday, the Democrats were knocked back on their heels. How could they go after her without further alienating the segment of the female vote that is ready to bolt from the Democrats after the party’s perceived slights of Hillary Clinton? Enter the “mainstream” media. The New York Times called Palin a risky pick and suggested that McCain’s vetting process was flawed because of revelations that Palin’s daughter is pregnant out of wedlock. Perhaps they would have thought differently if he had introduced her as “my running mate Sarah Palin, who by the way has a pregnant and unwed 17-year-old daughter.” We would remind readers of Barack Obama’s views on that subject: “Look, I got two daughters—nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.” A study in contrasts, indeed.

Palin is the true Washington outsider that Obama only wishes he could be. Obama showed what he means by “change” when he picked a running mate who has been in the Senate almost as long as Obama has been alive. Palin, on the other hand, is a daughter of rural Alaska, a small-town mayor who rose to become governor of a state larger than Texas and California combined—or put another way, 250 times the size of Biden’s Delaware, and with just as many electoral votes. Virtually everything about her—her family, her lifelong membership in the NRA and her all-American background—is antithetical to the Left’s views of how the world should be. And it’s driving them nuts. Post-convention analysis in the media looked more like Democrat damage control, as pundits such as Chris Matthews and George Stephanopoulos claimed that Palin’s impact at the RNC was overstated and that her speech was too divisive. MSNBC’s blowhard Keith Olbermann typified Leftmedia consternation with his brilliant analysis: “People who like this sort of thing will find this… the sort of thing they like.”

It won’t do to attack Palin on what liberals perceive as a lack of experience. She addressed that charge best herself with her zinger about mayor versus community organizer in her Wednesday night speech. But her record also answers the charge.

Upon taking the governor’s office, Palin immediately began fighting corruption—even in her own party. First, she defeated an incumbent Republican governor in a primary and then a former Democrat governor in the general election. She called a special legislative session to rewrite an oil bill signed by her predecessor, GOP Gov. Frank Murkowski. Her bill raised taxes on oil companies, but that’s not the whole story. According to federal investigations, oil industry executives had bribed several legislators, ensuring passage of the previous bill. The tax was rebated to the people of Alaska, who had paid the bill for oil industry perks. Still, Palin is pro-energy and supports expanded drilling in ANWR and offshore. As governor, she also cut taxes and balanced the budget. She is strongly pro-free market, pro-school choice, pro-Second Amendment and pro-life.

Obama, for his part, has been merely a willing practitioner of Chicago’s machine politics for the last dozen years. His three and a half years in the U.S. Senate have largely been spent running for president. Some qualifications.

This week’s ‘Alpha Jackass’ award

This week, CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Obama, “Some Republican critics say you don’t have the experience to handle a situation like this [Hurricane Gustav]. They’ve in fact said that Governor Palin has more executive experience as mayor of a small town and as governor of a big state like Alaska. What’s your response?”

Obama replied, “Well, you know, my understanding is that, uh, Governor Palin’s town of Wasilly [sic] has, uh, 50 employees, uh, uh, we’ve got 2,500, uh, in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. Uh, uh, we have a budget of about three times that just for the month. Uh, so I think that, uh, our ability to manage large systems, uh, and to, uh, execute, uh, I think has been made clear over the last couple of years. Uh, and certainly, in terms of, uh, the legislation that I’ve passed just dealing with this issue post-Katrina, uh, of how we handle emergency management. The fact that, uh, many of my recommendations were adopted and are being put in place, uh, as we speak, indicates the extent to which we can provide the kinds of support and good service that the American people expect.”

Memo to former “community organizer” Obama: Palin is, in fact, governor of Alaska, which has annual budget of approximately $11 billion and more than 20,000 employees. She manages far more than a campaign and has done far more than co-sponsor non-controversial legislation.

And if Obama were in charge of Wasilla, the town of 9,000 would no doubt employ 2,500 on a budget of $36 million a month.

From the Left: Deny everything

Democrats appear ready to pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration, with both Democrats on the presidential ticket lending their support this week. Barack Obama said, “[I]f crimes have been committed, they should be investigated.” He quickly added, “I would not want my first term consumed by what was perceived on the part of Republicans as a partisan witch hunt.” Perceived? Meanwhile, vice presidential nominee Joe Biden echoed the sentiment. “If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation, they will be pursued,” he said at a campaign stop in Florida when asked about the issue. According to Biden, it would be “not out of vengeance, not out of retribution, [but] out of the need to preserve the notion that no one, no attorney general, no president—no one is above the law.” Biden’s memory is short, however—or selective. On Thursday, he denied the report, saying, “That’s not true. I don’t know where that report’s coming from.” Well, other than seeing you say it on video, Senator, we have no idea where it came from, either.

But it might be the actions of his relatives that bring unwanted heat to Biden’s pursuit of higher office. It was revealed recently that Biden’s son Hunter was acting as a consultant to MBNA Corporation, one of the nation’s largest credit card companies, during the legislative push to make it more difficult for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection. Biden was one of the key Democrats supporting a Republican bill to tighten bankruptcy rules at that time, an effort that ironically often found him at odds with freshman Senator Barack Obama. The Obama campaign has acknowledged Hunter’s lobbying for the company that was supporting the bill that Hunter’s father eventually helped push through the Senate, but they maintain there was no impropriety. That’s a tough statement to accept considering that MBNA is also Biden’s single largest campaign contributor, having given him more than $214,000 over the years.

Hunter and Biden’s brother James are also involved in two lawsuits brought about by a former business colleague who claims they defrauded him in a hedge fund partnership that went sour. Funny, but the mainstream media seems to be far more fixated on Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter than Joe Biden’s ethically challenged family.

Lawsuit filed against Obama

A Pennsylvania attorney filed for declaratory and injunctive relief against Barack Obama and the DNC this week in Philadelphia. The main thrust of the suit deals with questions about Obama’s citizenship, an item that has been heating up under the surface of late. Some excerpts from the suit: “Obama committed Fraud upon Plaintiff and the American Citizens by running for President claiming to be eligible knowing he was not eligible as a result of his failure to regain his United States Citizenship and by maintaining multi citizenships with Kenya and Indonesia.”

It continues, “Obama attempted to defraud Plaintiff and the American people by allowing an altered and forged Hawaii Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) to be placed on his campaign website. Obama was well aware the Government issued COLB was altered and forged…” And finally, “Obama further attempted to defraud Plaintiff and the American People by claiming to be a United States Citizen, knowing this information to be false.” There are questions regarding Obama’s mother’s citizenship as well, and evidence that when he traveled to Pakistan in 1981, Obama used his Indonesian passport. It will be interesting to see what comes of this legal action.

NATIONAL SECURITY

Warfront with Jihadistan: Anbar turned over

Anbar Province. Two years ago, that name was synonymous with a failed U.S. war effort. Indeed, Anbar was the deadliest province for U.S. troops in all of Iraq, claiming a third of U.S. casualties. The Sunni-controlled area had become a major base of operations for al-Qa’ida and saw the most intense urban combat of the war during two major U.S. offensives. But on Monday, after the hugely successful surge strategy over the past year and a half, the U.S. military formally handed control of Anbar over to Iraqi forces, a true watershed event for the Iraq war. With about 23,000 Iraqi police and 24,000 Iraqi troops now in Anbar, some 9,000 U.S. servicemen have already left, leaving about 28,000 American troops still in the province. The increase in local security has combined with a significant decrease in local support for terrorist activity to force al-Qa’ida and other terrorists out of Anbar and Iraq.

While no doubt a milestone, officials realize that terrorist groups are still capable of executing high profile attacks in the province. Just two weeks ago, a car bomber killed five policemen and wounded seven others at a police checkpoint in the Anbar capital of Ramadi. Yet despite such attacks, many former residents who fled during the fighting have returned to Anbar, and some normalcy has returned to civilian life. Many restaurants now stay open late, and residents remain out on the streets until 1:00 a.m. or later, socializing and playing local games such as soccer and backgammon.

That deafening silence you hear from the Leftmedia on this story is rather telling. This is perhaps the most significant development in the Iraq War since the surge. The Leftmedia remain silent as well on General Petraeus’ comments this week that the U.S. and Iraq are finalizing a security agreement that may allow U.S. troops to leave Iraqi cities by next summer and the country by 2011. No need to let good news from Iraq get in the way of smearing John McCain’s vice presidential pick and her family with tabloid sleaze. The MSM bias and their lack of shame is truly appalling.

Aid for Georgia

The Wall Street Journal reports, “Vice President Dick Cheney sought to rally the international community behind embattled Georgia and its president, Mikheil Saakashvili, in a brief visit aimed at underscoring U.S. support for its ally in the strategically important Caucasus.” Responding to the Russian invasion last month, Vice President Cheney pledged $1 billion in U.S. humanitarian and economic aid, saying, “America will help Georgia rebuild and regain its position as one of the world’s fastest growing economies.” Congress must still approve the aid package. In meetings with Georgian military officials, the vice president also reiterated the United States’ commitment to Georgia’s gaining NATO membership—which would have prevented the invasion in the first place.

Russia is predictably not happy with U.S. arrangements. According to The New York Times, “President Dmitri A. Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin have already complained that humanitarian supplies delivered by the American Navy and Air Force were a disguise for delivering new weapons.” Russia is moving in other former Soviet Republics as well, destabilizing governments in Estonia and Ukraine and apparently working toward the restoration of its empire.

North Korea reassembles Yongbyon

North Korea is apparently working to reassemble its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, with workers no longer discharging spent fuel rods, but returning equipment to the site right under the nose of inspectors. The North Koreans claim the move is because the Bush administration has “failed to keep its own side in the agreement” by not removing Pyongyang from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The U.S. has lifted economic sanctions, but so far has not removed the nation from the terrorism list because dictator Kim Jong Il is not cooperating in the verification process of the destruction of the communist state’s nuclear assets. “Everyone has known from the beginning that the actions they were taking at Yongbyon were reversible,” said a State Department spokeswoman. “The question is: Are they deciding that they just want to blow it off or are they just posturing? They like to posture.” Indeed, former UN ambassador John Bolton, long a vociferous critic of the lawless NoKo regime, was correct in his warnings.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Regulatory Commissars: ‘Fat tax’

In 2010, Alabama will begin charging state employees $25 a month for health insurance—not surprising given rising healthcare costs. But this plan has a provision that has many calling it a discriminatory “fat tax.” Workers can avoid the fee if they submit to a series of in-office tests, including that of their body mass index (BMI). Those with a BMI under 35 are exempt; those scoring 35 or higher must pay unless they can demonstrate to a doctor proof of their failed attempt to shed the pounds. Most medical professions consider a BMI of 30 or above as obese, which, looking around our humble shop, we find a bit deflating.

Critics claim the “fat tax” is a counter-productive and humiliating method to achieve health goals. They also point out that this sort of government mandate is a slippery slope and may lead the way to more intrusive programs. But the executive director of the Alabama State Employees Insurance Board, William Ashmore, defends his program as a viable method of preventative healthcare. “There are folks walking around with diabetes and hypertension that don’t even know it, and it’s just a matter of time before something catastrophic happens to them,” Ashmore said. “If we can get people to manage their health, we’ll have healthier employees and less healthcare costs.” Ashmore may have a point. No one can argue that something must be done about a problem that has grown to, well, sizeable proportions. Two-thirds of American adults are overweight, and Alabama is second only to Mississippi as the fattest state in the land.

Alabama, however, is willing to put its money where its mouth is. Next year the state will spend an additional $1.6 million on additional preventative health measures.

Unused healthcare

According to a new study from the National Institute for Health Care Management, 12 million potential enrollees for the government’s Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance Programs fail to take advantage of the programs. Nevertheless, our taxpayer money is being spent to make these bankrupt programs available to persons who either do not want the programs or who face significant bureaucratic barriers to obtaining the coverage.

The majority of the qualifying nonparticipants are from low-income families, including 6.1 million uninsured children. Spotlighting the waste of public money, many conditions the programs are required to cover are rarely or never needed, such as in-vitro fertility coverage for unmarried men. While we don’t mind if Americans decide to pass up tax-supported programs, we certainly do not want innocent children to suffer due to negligent parents. These and other insolvent government programs, especially those providing unwanted care and coverage, must be overhauled or eliminated.

Hurricane hits, oil drops

As Hurricane Gustav swept toward Louisiana landfall (more on that below), many feared that oil prices would surge once again. However, as The Wall Street Journal noted, “The hurricane’s landfall, which left energy facilities in the Gulf Coast largely unscathed, produced an abrupt fall in oil prices as traders undid wagers that had prepared for the worst.” The fact that oil dropped below $110 per barrel was not welcome news to everyone, however. Some think it’s a bad omen. Doug Cliggott, chief investment officer at Dover Management, a Connecticut investment firm, thinks the downturn suggests “a for-real, full-blown global slowdown.” He added, “We haven’t suddenly found a bunch of new oil.” Sounds like a problem that needs a solution. Has anyone thought of drilling for more?

CULTURE

Around the nation: World doesn’t end

With much media fanfare, Hurricane Gustav made landfall Monday, hitting Louisiana as a Category 2 storm before weakening to a Category 1. As camera crews homed in on New Orleans, reporters hammered one question: Would the rebuilt and strengthened levees stand? But as newscasters stood gripping their microphones and waiting with bated breath for the answer, something interesting happened. The rest of the city—and, in fact, almost two million people in Louisiana and thousands more from coastal Mississippi, Alabama and Texas—left.

By the time Gustav hit the coast, reporters in the French Quarter outnumbered residents three-to-one. And the actual storm—albeit damaging in some areas—was less intense than the storm of anticipation created by the media, partly due to its only striking New Orleans with a glancing blow. Interestingly, when reality proved less destructive than expected, reporters suddenly found there was little they wanted to report. Certainly, stories ran that the levies held, residents heeded evacuation warnings, and local and federal officials were prepared. But this information could have been gathered with far fewer reporters—and far less fanfare. And there was one other difference this time: Bobby Jindal, an up-and-coming Republican, is governor now, not Democrat Kathleen Blanco. Even New Orleans Democrat Mayor Ray “Chocolate City” Nagin performed better this time. For a media fixated on another round of devastation and catastrophe, this success story suddenly lost its appeal.

From the ‘Non Compos Mentis’ File

The Washington Post reports, “Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D) pleaded guilty this morning to two felony perjury charges and agreed to resign from office, a stunning fall for a politician who was once considered one of Michigan’s most promising leaders.” Kilpatrick admitted, “Yes, I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit… I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury, to impede and obstruct the disposition of justice.” He had initially fought the charges, which resulted from an extramarital affair with his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty. Several police officers filed a whistle-blower lawsuit, saying they were fired because of investigations that got too close to uncovering Kilpatrick’s extracurricular activities. The officers were eventually awarded $8.4 million. Kilpatrick now has two weeks to leave office and he will serve 120 days in jail and pay a $1 million fine. Perhaps one day he’ll run for Congress. After all, one of the Detroit area’s congressional seats is currently held by his mother.

Climate change this week: Sunspots disappear

For the first time in almost a century, an entire month has passed without a single sunspot being visible on the sun’s surface. The event is significant because sunspots are caused by solar magnetic activity, and solar magnetic activity is increasingly believed by climatologists to be one of the primary factors influencing the earth’s climate. It is not uncommon to see 100 or more sunspots in a single month, but during the first seven months of 2008, the sun averaged only three spots, followed by the total disappearance of spots last month.

The disappearance of sunspots has caught most astronomers by surprise and defied almost all predictions, though one observatory seems to have gotten it right. In 2005, a pair of astronomers from the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson wrote a paper predicting that within 10 years, sunspots would disappear entirely. But their peers laughed at the two astronomers, and Science refused to publish their paper on the grounds that it was too controversial. In the end, “consensus” stifled scientific debate, and the NSO astronomers were ignored.

The scientific community is paying attention now, however. Some climate scientists believe that the sun’s “dynamo” (the process that creates its magnetic field) might be idling. As the sun’s dynamo slows and sunspot activity decreases, the sun’s magnetosphere is reduced, affecting cloud formation and climate modulation on earth. A long absence of sunspots has happened three times in the past 1,000 years: the Dalton, Maunder and Sporer Minimums. The Maunder Minimum coincided with the 400-year Little Ice Age, during which Europe and North America endured bitterly cold winters that devastated agriculture.

If we are indeed entering another solar minimum on the scale of the Maunder Minimum, we can expect severe global cooling to follow, stressing both the agriculture and energy industries. The practice of harvesting corn for use as fuel ethanol will likely become a distant memory, and the United States’ short-sighted energy policies could mean there won’t be enough heating oil, natural gas and electricity to go around in the severest of winters. We hope it won’t come to that, but if it does, at least Al Gore will be where he belongs: out in the cold.

And last…

With all the talk of qualifications swirling around vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the joke has ended up being on Barack Obama, who by the way is running on the top of his ticket. As Palin herself pointed out in her speech, Obama’s strutting about his experience as a “community organizer” leaves a bit to be desired. She compared it to being a small-town mayor, with the exception that the mayor has “actual responsibilities,” a line that will no doubt become immortal in this campaign. James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal notes that while Democrats are complaining about putting “the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency,” Obama, the community organizer, will be “no heartbeats away.” And Taranto still isn’t sure what a “community organizer” does. He asks, “Are we supposed to cast our eyes on the slums of Chicago, behold how well organized they are, and exclaim in wonder, ‘Wow, Barack Obama did that!’?”

After receiving an email from David Plouffe of the Obama campaign explaining, “Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies,” Taranto thinks he’s finally got the answer. “[C]ommunity organizing consists of helping elect Barack Obama president!” He concludes, “The community Barack Obama has organized is, in Plouffe’s own telling, the community of those who admire Barack Obama. He is mayor of Obamaville and aspires to be president of Barackistan.”

Veritas vos Liberabit—Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis! Mark Alexander, Publisher, for The Patriot’s editors and staff. (Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families—especially families of those fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who granted their lives in defense of American liberty.)