Palin

I was pretty impressed.

For one, considering the unbelievable amount of pressure she must have been under she really performed well. She had some really memorable lines... "by the way, you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? The lipstick!" C'mon that was good and you know it.

She was the pit bull last night. The VP's job during the campaign is to go on the attack so that the candidate can be more statesmen-like. Well, she certainly did her job. Personally I do hope that McCain can focus more on the positive and less on the attacks and negative swipes at the Dems.

In Denver Mr. Obama was certainly critical of McCain and by proxy Bush. He did then offer his solution: Change. Change to what? Well, higher taxes and creeping socialism. But no change in their stance on drilling for oil or their stance on pie in the sky reliance on "alternatives". Their idea of change is really a return to progressive ideas of the 60's that have been tried and found lacking.

McCain and Palin do represent change. Change to the Republican party. The party is a mess and is just as corrupt as the Dems. Gov. Palin actually has a lot to add to her credit on reform within the Alaskan republican machine which held the state in its grips the way the Dems hold Chicago under their thumb. Specifically she blew the whistle on corruption with the state government (in her own party). She took on the entrenched network of good 'ol boys and won.

Doing a little research on Gov. Palin actually leaves one more impressed than just hearing her deliver a rousing speech. She has done things that have been good for Alaska. She is tough and accomplished - and is quite popular in her home state.

Natives of Alaska have dreamed of a pipeline stretching for 1,715 miles from the Prudhoe Bay treatment plant to Alberta Canada for more than 30 years. Sarah Palin in less than two years got the bill passed and the framework is now laid for them to move forward with the project.

She signed Order 242 which puts together a co-op of the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Revenue to work with organizations who wish to commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas.

"This solidifies our commitment to facilitating an LNG project that is a product of market interest,” Governor Palin said. “By committing both project capital and natural gas resources to a pipeline that would transport North Slope natural gas to tidewater, an LNG project can remain an integral element of the state’s effort to deliver Alaska’s gas to market"

Obviously energy production is the lifeblood of the Alaskan economy. This is energy that America needs. Since all Alaskans are by law owners of the mineral rights under Alaskan soil it only makes sense that the governor work toward securing and enhancing the states interest in energy developments. She was involved in renegociating with the oil companies that hold the leases on oil and natural gas resources to aquire a better deal for the stae and its residents. Some can call it a windfall profits tax - but that would be a stretch. All government entities negociate with private corporations for mineral rights, some just do it better than others. Everyone in Alaska benefits not just the government and the oil companies.

Under her leadership, Alaska invested $5 billion in state savings, overhauled education funding, and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. She created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to provide oversight and maintenance of oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure. During her first legislative session, Governor Palin’s administration passed two major pieces of legislation - an overhaul of the state’s ethics laws and a competitive process to construct a gas pipeline.

So, yes I am impressed.

Whether this McCain/Palin team wins in Nov. or not, Sarah Palin is someone to watch out for.





CW