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SEIFFE:  The Palin Choice

Monday, August 29, 2008 

By Ralf Seiffe

At the risk of repeating comments in the earlier post, here are a few reasons that Alaska governor Sarah Palin is a spectacular choice:

The usual choice for a country electing a “first” woman is a conservative like “Iron Lady” Golda Meir, the similarly ferrous Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and more recently, Angela Merkel.  Palin is such a conservative.

If 173 days as a senator is enough experience to be president, the even two weeks as a governor is the equivalent.  Barack can point to nothing notable on his resume. Palin can point to creating the compromise that will result in a $26 billion pipeline to supply natural gas to the lower 48.  This was a real achievement as it broke the nearly 30 year logjam on this project.

Alaska is nudged by Russia.  Enough said.

The Democrats have chosen a young, inexperienced presidential candidate and a poltroon for vice president.  Contrast that to an experienced presidential and a new, apprentice.  This is forward looking positioning and shows a plan for succession.

Alaska has no income and sales tax.  It’s a better place to start than “we need more revenues.”

As vice president, Palin would be the President of the senate. She would reinforce McCain’s war against pork barrel spending.  Also, as a real reformer and one of the killers of the Bridge to Nowhere, she could bring transparency to lawmaking and show us why a smaller government is best.

Most important is that Sarah Palin is a fisherman, a hunter and a NRA member.  This outlook on life puts Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan into play because there are lots fishers and hunters who can be motivated to vote to protect those activities, especially given Obama’s record on the Second Amendment.  The first day of deer season closes business across these states—the same effect could happen on Election Day.      

Good job, Senator!

Ralf Seiffe advises business start-ups and product launches from Chicago, Illinois and is a political analyst and columnist for the Illinois Leader and Illinois Review.

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