The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Alaska, do we have a problem?

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

Ashley — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:37:22 -0000

Although I live in China, I still faithfully download my NewsHour podcasts. The Friday show had an interesting group of Alaska folks, both pro and con on her time in Alaska politics.

KAYLENE JOHNSON, Author, "Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down"; MICHAEL CAREY, Anchorage Daily News; LINDSEY HOLMES (D), Alaska State Representative

The final words....

JUDY WOODRUFF: How do you think she'll do, having watched her?

LINDSEY HOLMES: You know, I think it's going to be a real challenge for her. We're talking about a small-time mayor who's learning to be governor of the state, has been spending the last year-and-a-half gearing up to that, but I don't think has had much exposure to the national and international scene. I think it's going to be a really steep learning curve for her to get up to speed on the national and international issues.

MICHAEL CAREY: I am really not sure. I know that she will take this as a challenge. She said in the piece that you played that life is not for the safe; there are risks to be taken; the ship isn't built to stay in the harbor.

And I'm sure those beliefs, and her own personal faith, and her own sense of destiny will buoy her as she goes along. On the other hand, I don't think she's ever faced a challenge like this. And I'm confident that she really doesn't appreciate how difficult this is going to be.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec08/palintalk_08-29.html

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

GM — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:15:19 -0000

Another great source is Andrew Halco , who ran against Palin for governor as an independent -- fairly thorough on the more substantive issues surrounding politics in Alaska.

Highly recommended.

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

zic — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:30:54 -0000

A dKos diary written by a resident who grew up with her as mayor suggest she's mostly good at opening Walmarts and encouraging suburban sprawl; reports a steep decline in the schools while she held office.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/19534/4063/266/579434

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

stephen — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:41:42 -0000

I managed to find one Alaskan with an interesting perspective.

What is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan’s Perspective.

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

hurls — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:51:12 -0000

Well, I'm from the bottom (not top) of the West coast so I can't comment

But I'm thinking, TNC, that Wu-Tang allusions will actually get you pretty far in many cases, but not so much in Alaska

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

Deborah — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:00:48 -0000

Andrew found a second Alaskan to go with Jamie up there. So far we seem to be looking at "we really like her, but I don't know how she translates."

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

Jamie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:40:57 -0000

I have no idea how she'll come across to the rest of the country, but she's pretty popular in AK. The Republican establishment is so corrupt that she's just been a breath of fresh air. She's too conservative for me to vote for her, but I do like her a great deal.

Mostly I'm just irrationally excited about this happening to someone from my hometown!

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

Deborah — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:24:36 -0000

On the Alaska side, I think she does potentially appeal to the western libertarian moose-shooting independent, a group that was helping turn those red mountain states purple and maybe blue.

We'll have to see more speeches and interviews to determine if she comes across as so-gosh-darned commonsensical or fatally thin on resume. But the response has been very right-coast; not hearing much from the mountain states. Do none of Alaska's 700,000 odd residents read TNC? Is there an Idahoan or Montanan out there?

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

Ta-Nehisi Coates — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:48:03 -0000

LAWL. Clearly I've overestimated my reach. Wu-Tang allusions will only take you so far...

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

Alaska — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:06:59 -0000

We hear you we hear you TNC but she is such a good wife and a very loving woman. Isn't she so pretty...just adorable. I bet she will just light up that white house.

Re: Alaska, do we have a problem?

mark — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:54:42 -0000

*crickets chirp*

Maybe they're all simply stunned into silence?