So how did Palin get to be governor?

[Phredicles]

I'm mainly asking those of y'all who're Alaskans or at least well-versed in Alaska politics.

I understand that Alaska is a pretty conservative state, but how did some extremist nut case from a dinky little town get elected governor? What put her on the map? What was the campaign and her opponent like? Who are her backers, besides the oil people?

I realize that the Alaska forum probably has a lot of the answers, but I'm lazy that way. So what's her story?

[kath]

1. anyone??

I'm very curious as well.

[WindRiverMan]

2. Okay, here is the run down

Frank Murkowski was our Senator. He ran for governor and won, effectively giving up his Senate Seat. Then, as governor, he got to appoint the new Senator. He chose...........LISA MURKOWSKI HIS DAUGHTER, yes folks, this is Alaska and our politics are fun. Just a FYI, we have NEVER had a congressmember elected for their first time, all have been appointed since statehood.

Anways, Frank was a goon. He wanted a private jet, was told no by the state legislature, so he went and used other funds to purchase a 12 million dollar private jet for him to fly around in. He wanted to impose a sales tax (oil was about 28 dollars per barrel at the time and the state was hurting for money) and a whole host of things. He had an approval rating of 8%, yes 8% when the primaries came. Palin beat him and went on to win the governership

So to date, Palin has beaten a man with an 8% and run a state with huge surpluses.

[PermanentRevolution]

3. I assume the GOP candidate usually wins?

Alaska being a pretty solidly red state, I'm guessing the governor's GE race is mainly a formality?

[Awsi Dooger]

4. Palin defeated a former 2-term Democratic governor

Tony Knowles. She beat him by 7.6% after leading by double digits then seeing the lead narrowed late in the race. Knowles lost by 4% in the '04 senate race vs. Lisa Murkowski.

Palin is likable and took advantage of an unpopular incumbent to seize the nomination. Republicans realized Frank Murkowski was toast vs. Knowles. The polling was huge lead for Knowles vs. Murkowski, but Palin led Knowles. The Alaskan Republicans made a strategic choice, somewhat like McCain's pick of Palin.

[PermanentRevolution]

5. I see...

Never really paid too much attention to Alaska politics, I'll confess. Thanks for the run-down.

[Phredicles]

8. Ah. So then the question is, How did she beat Knowles?

How well-regarded is he in Alaska?

[WindRiverMan]

6. Alaska is NOT a red state

Alaska has more registered independents than anything else. The thing is Alaskans are, in general, very indebted to the government. Every job up there is either oil fields, military, mining, hunting or fishing guide, or contractor to the military. That pretty much sums up your economy as all mineral development is on federal lands. As such, liberal ideas do not float well, which kind of makes sense. You would have to be a dumb-shit to want to shut down oil, mining, military and hunting and fishing since that is most of the economy. Liberal ideals just dont work well in Alaska, which in reality, is something some here would do well to heed. The whole state is dominated by Republican type industries.


Now, as for Palin. She is fundamentally pretty right, well actually, very right. People here will demonize her, but make no mistake, she does have a strong populist streak in her. The old regime hated her because she tried to do what was right for the people more often than not, even to the expense of the old guard. I cannot quite figure out what her moral code is, but I do know she sticks to it like white on rice. She is however, woefully incompetent and woefully in over head to be vice president. I think that will become clear as the election cycle continues.

In my opinion, McCain f$#%ed up. Palin was good to very good at what she was, a small rural state governor. She will get eaten alive in Washington, and just listening to her speak is enough to make those with IQ's above 120 want to jam needles into our ears. I am intrigued with the pick, but not overly worried. I belive this pick will be a flash in the pan.

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Alaska is a conservative state on the federal level

The percentage of registered voters is irrelevant. By that reference point, Oklahoma is a liberal state.

Like always, a state is defined by percentage of self-identified liberals and conservatives. Nothing else matters.

Alaska always registers in the 44% range in conservatives. Obama had no chance in Alaska. His strategist Plouffe, or whatever his name is, was always kidding himself if he believed otherwise. A swing state is basically 20-22% liberals, 32-34% conservatives. Obama can't yank a state with 40+% conservatives.

That's why I always get a chuckle at obsession with state polls. State polls will make you go broke if you look at them with no background in the foundational truisms. States like Indiana, Alaska and Georgia are a pipe dream.

[kath]

9. here are some articles that give good background:

This one (written when she was running for gov) says she was groomed for a *long* time by the Repug Religious Right crowd, injecting right wing crap into what were previously non-partisan positions:
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/story/8334949p-8231037c.html



Also very good, updates her history since she became gov:
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/

[TahitiNut]

10. The population of Alaska is less than the population of several major cities - including Detroit.

She's as relevant and reasonable a VP candidate as Kwame Kilpatrick.

IGNORE her! McC**t just flipped the bird to American voters, without respect to anything resembling responsibility.

[AkFemDem]

11. She's NOT an extremist nut case in Alaska!!

Alaska has always been red, and to be honest we are closer to libertarian than republican as a state.

Wasilla is very small by lower 48 standards but in Alaska it's one of a handful of large towns. We have exactly 3 "cities" and they are not real cities. The largest is Anchorage- and Wasilla is almost a suburb of that in lower 48 terms. I keep seeing comments about her tiny town and I understand the orientation of such comments, but truly here in Alaska you say, "Oh she's from Wasilla" anywhere in the state and everyone knows where it is. A lot of bush shoppers go to Wasilla rather than all the way to Anchorage to shop because it is considered a large place.

There is nothing surprising about Sarah Palin being Governor here.

It is however SHOCKING that she would be chosen by John McCain (even republicans I know agree on this) because we are not naive, we know how different governing the vast nation is from governing Alaska. SO the shocking thing isn't how small Wasilla is, but is how small the population of Alaska is. She is completely unprepared to be president if something happens to McCain. Republicans should be much more nervous than they seem to be.

[janx]

13. They aren't nervous because they know they are going to lose. n/t

[WeDidIt]

12. She had only one qualification

She wasn't Frank Murkowski.