One thing is for sure, Sarah Palin has everyone talking. I realize she is a politician, which means she will probably say just about anything to get elected, but I am just not accustomed to a woman with a “smart” mouth. I don’t think it is becoming.
Anyway, I wondered whether she was like that before getting the big head as a Vice Presidential candidate, so I decided to see if I could get someone in Alaska to talk to me about the Sarah they know, the Sarah who is Governor of the state nearest Russia. In this interview with Beth Kertulla I find out that Sarah has undergone a change since being selected as McClain’s running mate. Beth is a Democrat and is the Minority Leader in the Alaska House of Representatives. Her father served in the Alaska legislature and Beth has now served for 10 years or so.
According to Beth, Sarah did reach across the aisle and work with Democrats to work out a new deal on royalties paid by oil companies. Alaska gets money for every barrel of oil pumped out of the ground. They get so much money from oil production that the state has no sales tax, no state property tax or income tax. A few fees and registrations maybe, but that is it. Man, what a state! However, this also means that when Sarah Palin claims credit for cutting taxes in Alaska, she is not talking about much because there ain’t any! Maybe in a city like Wasilla.
However, as Beth points out, the Democrats had led this fight for years. The Republicans in the Alaska legislature were buddied up with the oil companies and so in order to get anything changed, Sarah had to court Democratic support.
The most interesting comment by Beth was her observation that the voice of Sarah Palin to which Tina Fey has become accustomed, is not the voice that Alaskans are familiar with. It seems Sarah has developed an accent she never had before! Now, that is just plain spooky.
Beth also says that a lot of people are horrified at the image Sarah is creating. They even have rallies solely for the purpose of protesting against Sarah. I don’t think I have ever seen such a thing since the Vietnam War.
It also seems that Sarah is taking a lot of credit for things where someone else was the motivating force, like in divesting Alaskan investment in Darfur! Now, who would have thought that a nice Republican like Sarah Palin would claim credit where credit was not due?
Beth also made it clear that when Russia’s Putin does fly over Alaskan air space, no one calls the Governor for permission. Also, Palin did support the Bridge to No Where, but opposed it when she got elected. Not that that should matter since she kep the money the government sent Alaska for the bridge they didn’t build.
According to Beth, if Sarah and McCain don’t win, Sarah may have some things to answer for when she resumes her duties as Governor. Apparently, the people of Alaska think Sarah has changed.
This is really one of the most interesting interviews I have ever had. Thanks Beth and more power to you and the Democrats in the Alaska legislature.
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