Supercilious Sarah?
“Though Yahweh is high, yet He looks upon the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.” Psalm 138:6
The Palin-Gibson interview brought forth scripted responses generated and written by GOP wordsmiths. Are these answers the true thoughts of Sarah Palin, or are these canned responses? One of the problems that can be found in Palin’s answers is superciliousness. What does this mean? Simply put, she was haughty in her responses to Gibson’s questions. I did not watch her interview but read the Q&A on Powerlineblog Dot Com. The question and subsequent answer that troubled me was this:
“GIBSON: Governor, let me start by asking you a question that I asked John McCain about you. And it is really the central question. Can you look the country in the eye and say, I have the experience, and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?
PALIN: I do, Charlie, and on January 20th, when John McCain and I are sworn in, if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, we'll be ready. I'm ready.”
Taking a quantum verbal leap from being ready to serve in a Vice-Presidential capacity to being ready to assume the office of the President is what is called superciliousness. Whatever makes her think that she is qualified for either position? It appears that preparations are being made by the GOP et al for the demise of John McCain given his age and possible health problems. And, the same can be said about their rivals. If by extension Joe Biden withdraws from the race and is replaced by Hillary Clinton, Obama must then wonder about his possible demise. Politics is a very dirty business; it’s all about power and achieving it no matter the cost. Back to Palin! One of the major problems that can be found in Palin being selected as McCain’s VP choice is her inexperience and fiscal ineptitude.
Palin was the Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and when she left that position she left Wasilla approximately $20 million of debt, and that is a lot of money for a city with about 6,300 inhabitants during her tenure as Mayor. Being one for the facts first and then the decision based on facts, one can hardly assume Palin is qualified based on her record as Mayor and then Governor of Alaska. What are the statistics where budget and debt are concerned? Now the question arises concerning believability, who will you believe Palin, or actual published reports? The troubling statistics reported by The Daily Kos are yet to be answered satisfactorily as the GOP and Palin continue their fiscal irresponsibility dance, and serve Kool-Aid to all that attend their ambiguous meetings. Palin should fit right in as the Republican Party are the most financially irresponsible party between the two. Bush 2 will leave us with a record budget deficit of over 480 Billion dollars. The public debt clock is at 9.6 Trillion dollars and counting. By the time Bush 2 leaves office it will certainly exceed 9.7 plus Trillion dollars. Palin is continuing the GOP fiscal irresponsibility policy. Anyway, the facts about Palin’s true fiscal responsibilities as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.
“Debt Service Increased 69 Percent Under Palin. In fiscal 2003 — the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget — the total government debt service was $658,662. In fiscal 1996—the year before Palin took control of the budget — the debt service was $390,385. The increase was 69 percent. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 1]
Palin Left Behind Almost $19 Million In Long-Term Debt, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor. In fiscal 2003 — the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget — the bonded long-term debt was $18,635,000. In fiscal 1996—the year before Palin took control of the budget—there was no general obligation debt. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 10]
Long-Term Debt Was $3000 Per Capita When Palin Left, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor. In fiscal 2003 — the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget—the bonded long-term debt per capita was $2,938. In fiscal 1996 — the year before Palin took control of the budget—there was no general obligation debt. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 10]
When Palin Left Office, 6.24% of Government Spending Was On Debt Service, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor. In fiscal 2003—the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget—the ratio of debt service to general government expenditures was 6.24 percent. There was no long-term debt before she took office. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 11]
Palin Signed Ordinance to Issue $15 Million in General Obligation Bonds and Increase the Sales Tax From 2 to 2.5 Percent. In 2001, Palin signed an ordinance authorizing the city to issue general obligation bonds in the principal amount of $14,700,000 to finance the acquisition and construction of park and recreation capital improvements. The ordinance also increased the sales tax from 2 to 2.5 percent and put the issue on the ballot. After it was adopted by voters, Palin signed an ordinance issuing the bonds. In 2002, Palin signed an ordinance putting the higher sales tax into effect. [Ordinance 01-55 (am), 12/10/2001; Ordinance 02-14 (sub), 4/8/2002; Ordinance 02-49, 8/12/2002]
Palin Was Accused By Stein of Overspending By Approving $5.5 Million Bond; She Replied that It Had Been Approved By Voters. "Now Stein is urging voters to turn the tables again. He’s accused Palin of overspending city money and has been particularly critical of a $ 5.5 million road and sewer bond passed last year by voters. He says the bond payments could make the city vulnerable should the economy turn down. Palin notes residents approved the bond, which she says was needed for critical road work." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 10/5/99]
Palin Said the Reason for the Increased Cost of Government Was Interest on Bonds. "‘‘Sarah rode in on a conservative horse, but the actual cost of government has gone up,’’ he said. But Palin says most of the increase is due to the $ 400,000 in interest owed on the road and sewer bonds, a measure she notes the voters approved. Much of the rest is due to some positions now included in her budget that weren’t when she first took over, she said. Stein also criticized the $ 5.5 million bond package, which he said will cost too much to pay off and could make the city vulnerable should the economy turn down." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 9/20/99]”
The only catch was that the city began building roads and installing utilities for the project before it had unchallenged title to the land. The misstep led to years of litigation and at least $1.3 million in extra costs for a small municipality with a small budget. What was to be Ms. Palin's legacy has turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla...
(http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/6/175447/3823/493/589385)
Lucy, you’ve got some splaning to do! Sarah skirts these deficit issues by blaming the voters. She says they approved these financial measures. Sarah! You ride a conservative horse and approve more debt? You can’t have it both ways Sarah! If you went by the facts on Palin’s fiscal capabilities, you must ascertain that Palin is inept in this department. But, on the other hand you could say that these published reports are nothing but lies and these facts are only generated to smear Sarah Palin! Keep drinking that Kool-Aid GOP supporter; one and all. If truth doesn’t fit the Palin profile, change it to make it fit your preconceived fallacious perception of Saint Sarah. On the one hand people (the GOP) are making the stigmatizing appellation that Obama is a “Messiah” type figure, while their view of Palin comparatively speaking is saintly, the Alaska Governor is a Saint sent to preserve the GOP and their expensive spendthrift ways. So, in summation:
· Palin is not a very humble person.
· Palin is fiscally irresponsible.
· Palin is not truthful.
· Palin like most politicians, practices deceit for her own grandiose plans.
· Palin is not qualified for the office of VP or (Heaven forbid) the office of President.
On the other hand, the Democrat Party will most likely raise taxes if elected. However, noticeably, the Democrats are actually more fiscally responsible than the Republicans! The statistics verify this truth. This year the best thing will probably be to follow Joseph Farah’s (World Net Daily) advise; “none of the above.”
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18