Even more "dramatical" things happening

Hello Everyone,

So since I blogged last, I just wanted to let you know that this Palin-gate mess is starting to come to a huge head, as in it's getting better by the second. I couldn't have anticipated this whole election process better if it was a piece of fiction. After the whole "Whose Baby is it?" fiasco, which brings up a couple of questions that I'll address, there's also Trooper-gate and charges of abuse of power and corruption, which I'll also address, there's the question of the LIE that was told. Reports are saying Governor Palin misled, I'll just go on and say it, the b**ch straight up lied! (And when I say b**ch, I don't mean it in the disrespectful way, but the other way, and that will be the subject of an upcoming blog.)

Tonight, along with the coverage of Hurricane Gustav, I watched as the drama unfolded, via CNN and MSNBC, and there are three charges against Republican Party Presumptive Nominee Senator John McCain's Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska. After I watched, I processed the information, did a bit of research to confirm and wanted to blog right away, just so that I didn't forget it later. So, yet again, for all those who ask me, and there are enough, whether via email, facebook or myspace message or text, is the breakdown.

The first problem is Babygate, also known as the "Who's the Baby Mama?" drama. While there is a little less controversy surrounding the younger child, Trig, who suffers from Down's Syndrome, because of the Governor's statement that he is in fact her child and not the child of her eldest daughter, Bristol. The controversy is now with the fact that Bristol is actually five months pregnant. The Governor did not disclose that to the public before or immediately after accepting the appointment to McCain's campaign. They say she disclosed it to Senator McCain when he asked her to be his VP, but not to the national media. However, when the story was first made public, an aide for Senator McCain said that the her was not aware of the pregnancy. They later, I assume because they did not want McCain to look like an even bigger idiot, "renounced" that statement, saying that aide misspoke, and that McCain was fully aware of the pregnancy and felt it had no impact on his choice. Personally, I have to call bulls**t on that one, because the girl was always seen holding the baby in front of her with a huge blanket in between her and the child. She was hiding that baby, and trying to hide it from McCain as well as everyone else. Now, Palin may have told him before she released a statement to the media, but he didn't know that girl was pregnant. He can deny that all he wants, but I know he didn't, because I believe he would not have picked her to be his VP if he had. Simply put, he did not want any one with any dirt on his ticket because the campaign would have to spend far too much time justifying it, and with less than 70 days to the election, time is of the essence. 

The second problem is Troopergate, which is probably the biggest of them all. Why? If proven, it proves that the Governor has a serious problem with honoring the moral and ethical standards of her office as Governor, will affect her credibility with voters, will affect her ability to reassure donors and voters that she is ready to assume responsibility for one of the most powerful positions in American government, and that she is trustworthy and honest. What's Troopergate, you ask? Simply put, the allegations are that Governor Palin asked Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan to fire a state trooper. There's no problem with that, given certain circumstances, but in this case the trooper was Palin's former brother-in-law. He'd just divorced her sister. That was her sole cause for asking Monegan to fire this trooper. Monegan refused, so he was fired instead. Seems a little weird to me. To make the situation even worse, there seems to have been no background check done on Monegan's successor, because he, Chuck Koop, had allegations of sexual harassment to deal with. I'm not sure if I were Governor of any state, much less Alaska, that I would appoint someone Public Safety Commissioner (in charge of crime prevention and police, as well as the safety of the citizens) who had charges of sexual misconduct in his past. 

This "Troopergate" is starting to come to a bit of head with the announcement of recorded phone calls and emails from the Governor's office to the office of Monegan. As a result, a formal investigation has been launched, and Palin has been appointed legal representation in the matter. This shows that she is not above using pressure and intimidation to get what she wants, and since she touts herself to be a 'champion of reform', proves to be nothing but a hypocrite. Hiding this matter as well, shows yet again that she is untrustworthy and dishonest. If she can lie to the less than one million people who reside in Alaska, she can easily lie to the hundreds of millions who live within the confines of the United States. After all, if you tell a lie a number of times, it starts and begins to feel as if it's the truth. 

The third issue that is the most pressing is that of the LIE that was told. I consider something said once to be construed as misleading, but said more than once to be a lie. At the same speech where Senator McCain announced Palin as his running mate, she told an story about how she turned down an offer from Congress to build a "Bridge to Nowhere". In actuality, the bridge would have connected Gravinia Island in Alaska to Ketchikan International, an airport used by 200,000 people a year and therefore, one of Alaska's main entryways. Governor Palin said just Friday that she told Congress "Thanks, but no thanks." However, in actuality when she was asked if she would continue to allocate state funding for the building of [the same bridge], she replied differently. She said, "Yes, I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner than later. The window is now- while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." Only later, when Congress felt the $@00 million dollar project was met with large disapproval, did Governor Palin start to backpedal and eventually, she canceled the project. She said at the time that they were about 330 million short of the full amount needed to complete the project, and since Congress would not share in the funding, that the project should be shelved if not abandoned altogether. 

There is the additional issue, connected to the Babygate dramatics, that asks the question of parenting. If Palin does not believe in safe sex being taught in schools, only abstinence, and coming from Alaska, a state with extraordinarily high rates of STDs within its teen population, does she not see the fault now in not teaching her child about condom usage? And what kind of impact is this having on poor Bristol. I know if it were me, and everyone was blogging/talking/writing about my pregnancy that I probably had no idea how to handle, I'd be begging my mother to reconsider taking the shot at the Vice Presidency. I personally have to question the judgement of a mother who would leave behind a young infant (the Downs Syndrome diagnosis or not) as well as a young teenager who is dealing with her own lessons in maturity on the world stage, but also with being pregnant for the first (maybe) time. I know that when I am blessed with life growing inside me one day, I will be looking to my mother for support, not to be justifying my behavior to her friends, family and peers. I will want her to help me pick out strollers, and be there for me when I get weepy, not to shy me away from her and pretend as if it's some sort of problem that needs to be justified. We all make mistakes, and unfortunately this young girl has to live hers in the spotlight.

Honestly, this all leads to one result. Governor Palin should step aside, if she's not asked by McCain to do so in the next day or two. I only say that because they both have to be in hiding, and this is not the time to hide, not when they desperately need to be out amongst voters and attending to the affairs of the Republican Convention. CNN gave both Obama and McCain a chance to appear for a short interview on Anderson Cooper 360 to discuss the events surrounding Hurricane Gustav, and only Obama accepted. Cooper made it known that McCain was asked and turned it down. Why turn down publicity at this point of the game? Because there are too many secrets to hide, and this time they aren't McCain's. Besides, Palin needs to be a supportive and loving mother to both Bristol and Trig, and gain real experience. However, if I'm right, and I usually am, the aftermath of all this will leave her out of office after her first term and simply a flash in the pan. And maybe that's best.

Thoughts?

*Ashley Robin*