The Ultimate Sarah Palin is Unfit to be Vice President List
List by: Picka Last Updated: 9/5/2008
As Sarah Palin is a largely unknown figure in national politics, we have gathered and compiled information from various news sources about her political career in Alaska. Republicans tout her experience as mayor of Wasilla, but her 616-413 winning vote margin was not a compelling mandate for a city of 5,500. Nor is the picture painted by Alaska residents and others as flattering as the one being spun by the Republican Party with scandals, controversies, failures and more. We will continue to update this list as we learn more about her.
Palin Demonstrates Poor Business Management and Fiscal Skills
Sarah Palin may claim she is a fiscal conservative and makes political points like selling the Governor's jet, but the reality is she has poorly managed both city and state finances and spending priorities. Her mismanagement of spending priorities as Governor would have received more visibility except that rising oil prices and increased state revenues from royalties covered her budget shortfalls.
When Palin took over as mayor, Wasilla had zero debt; when she left office 6 years later it had $20 million in debt ($3000 per resident). [8]
She put higher priority on a $15 million sports complex rather than a sewage treatment plant. [1]
She was forced to hire a fulltime administrator as she faced a recall vote for precipitous firings. [1]
She proceeded with construction on the sports complex without closing on the land, ultimately costing the city $1.5 million. [24]
As Governor, she provided little guidance and direction to the Legislature on budgets. [2]
She used the line item veto to kill several “pork projects” to gain publicity, but after public outcry she restored the projects stating that she was not aware of their importance. [1] [2]
Her publicity seeking actions on earmarks earned her a popular reputation as “anti-pork” that influenced, in part, McCain’s decision to select her as his VP running mate. [1] [25]
In 2008 Alaska leads the nation in earmark requests with $556 per capita ($380 million) compared to an average of $34 per capita for other states. [3] [26]
In 2006, Palin campaigned on a “build-the-bridge platform”, but reversed herself once elected. She said “thanks but no thanks,” but she kept the money for other pet projects. [3]
As Mayor of Wasilla between 1996-2002, Sarah Palin sought and receieved nearly $27 million in earmarked federal funding. [46]
"They've definitely become addicted to earmarks," said Ellis, of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "And Gov. Palin has continued in at least some form that addiction." [3]
Both Palin and McCain have distorted her record on budget cuts and spending, and how she stood up to Senator Ted Stevens on the “Bridge to Nowhere”. [4]
A Frontiersman editorial wrote, “Mayor Palin fails to have a firm grasp of something very simple: the truth.” [44]
The Alaska budget is growing at a rate of 10% per year and the $1,200 payouts due to Alaskans in September are not consistent with restraining government growth. [4]
She allocated $500 million subsidy for a gas pipeline project awarded to a Canadian company, TransCanada, rather than negotiate with an existing private venture to save money. [23]
Palin exhibits Poor Leadership and People Skills
Palin is another divider. Someone who will not listen to others viewpoints and thinks she is always right. She is not a leader.
As Governor she has shown poor judgment by hiring inexperienced people and valuing loyalty to her ahead of competence for the job. [1] [2] [44]
She has reputation for bullying, being intolerant of others opinions and not listening to ideas of others. [1] [44]
As Mayor, demonstrating her value for loyalty, she often dismissed ideas that didn’t originate with her staff without considering the merit of the ideas. [1] [44]
She is defensive when challenged with opposing views, and has been known to fire people that disagree with her. [44]
She tried to fire highly respected city librarian who refused to remove books that Palin found to be "morally or socially objectionable to her". [5]
She fired members of the Alaska Agriculture Board in order to replace Creamery Board members who she could not fire. [6]
As Mayor, she fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because she claimed that he “intimidated” her, but the Police Chief says it was because he was not loyal to her. [1] [27]
The Police Chief cites retaliation by Palin's campaign contributors, including bar owners and the NRA, as one reason for his dismissal. [7]
As Governor, she fired Alaska's top cop because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper, and now is "stonewalling the Legislative investigation". [1] [45]
As Mayor, in an act of ruthlessness that stunned those in the community, she fired her loyal City Administrator. [1]
Fear of retribution has kept many in Wasilla from speaking out about her in public. [1]
Frontiersman editorial stated "at every turn we find hints of cronyism and political maneuvering. We see a woman who has long-since surrendered her ideals to a political machine.” [44]
Palin had to use detailed notecards to directly read answers to questions in debates when she ran for Governor. [14]
She skipped four major debates during the 2006 general-election campaign for Governor of Alaska [14]
The Frontiersman stated, “Wasilla is led by a woman who will tolerate no one who questions her actions or her authority.” [44]
Palin supports big businesses and oil companies at the expense of others including the Environment
As mayor, Palin raised locals taxes while giving breaks to large companies [1] [44]
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. [1]
She sued the Department of Interior on its decision to list polar bears as threatened species because “it would hamper drilling for oil and gas”. [1] [28]
She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is really linked to global warming. [11]
As governor, Palin vetoed a 50-megawatt wind farm and a clean coal facility. [8]
Palin opposed efforts to protect beluga whales (only 375 estimated) located in a specific Alaskan inlet deeming it a threat to the oil and gas industry. [22]
She opposed a "clean water" proposition to help prevent open pit mines from contaminating local drinking water and threatening salmon. [29]
Palin's has various controversial viewpoints and associations
Palin has some alarming views on some issues and has connections with various groups which can make you worry about what kind of extreme actions she make take as vice-president. She also invokes "God" in her political statements.
Referring to the planned gas pipeline project from the North Slope,"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get the gas line built, so pray for that." [9]
Palin describes the war in Iraq as “a task that is from God…a plan that is God’s plan.” [9]
She opposes abortion for instances of rape or incest, and supported a Constitutional Amendment saying the Constitution does not give right to an abortion. [15] [44]
Sarah tried to get books banned at her city's library. [5]
Palin is for teaching creationism in public schools. [19]
Palin supports a ban on gay marriage and denying benefits to gay couples, stating that she "doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.” [44]
Pat Buchanan stated that Sarah was one of his "brigaders" in 1996 and was at a fundraiser for him. [20]
Palin is a Political Opportunist who is in it for herself
If you study her record closer you will find that she is not this 'maverick' or political reformer who exposes corruption and political cronism. She shows a lack of integrity by engaging in a lot of negative political tactics and the same old cronyism looking out for herself and not her constituents.
Appointed to chair of oil and gas reserve by Governor despite being highly unqualified. [1]
Was for the "bridge to nowhere" before it became politically favorable to be against it. [1]
One resident says she is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit. [2]
Frontiersman editorial wrote, “Palin continues to lose public faith sticking by her philosophy that either we are with her or against her.” [44]
to be continued...
The governership IS executive experience.
