Cutting through the B.S. on Sarah

I have to do something to take my mind off of Ike and the terrible aftermath of his visit through our area. Maybe this will help.

I received this e-mail last week from a friend who received it from her mother who received it from a friend of hers who received it from ... ... ... ... who originally received it from an old Air America buddy in Alaska.

It's verbatim, so be prepared to see some words I don't usually use in my posts.


And from an Alaska man who is a very serious cynic about all things political, here is my take on Sarah.

I first met and spoke with Sarah Palin about two years ago at our downtown Park Strip. It is a place for walking, carnivals, political outdoor things, and such. She was cooking hotdogs at a fund raiser and introducing herself to the public as a Governor hopeful.

She came by and said the usual, "Hi, I'm Sarah Palin and I am running for Governor." I expected her to keep on to the next person, but she asked me who I was and what I did in Alaska and we ended up talking for 15 minutes about me, Air America (she was all agog!) and my career in the Army and AAM. She is a pilot (Super Cub), I'm told, although all she told me about was that she loved flying.

As I watched her over the next six months as she successfully ran for Governor, I was really impressed. I was impressed greatly even before that after she resigned a good position (Alaska Gas and Oil Regulatory Commission) because a fellow Commission member (Chair of the Alaska Republican Party) misused their office and position. He was using the FAX, computers, printing room, and all to promote the Republican endeavors while in a State job. That is a huge no-no in any government employment position.

She resigned and made her point, and within weeks Randy Ruderich (the above bad guy) found his ass out on the street. A subsequent investigation found him guilty and he was fined $12,000. Small change, actually, but a giant point was made.

Next she went after our most horrible Governor ever, Governor Murkowski, and damned if she didn't beat him! All of us here in Alaska, except the Democrats, are sick of our State's corruption. That fact was shouted to the heavens after she was elected with an overwhelming point spread.

After she got into office she started after corrupt legislators and with the FBI's help we've put four of them in prison, indicted six more and the "Corrupt Bastard's Club", as they arrogantly called themselves (even had hats made with CBC on the front!), suddenly found it no fun anymore. Club membership is now in the toilet!

The current flap, which has cost her a ten point loss of popularity (she's still 82%!), was over firing a popular Commissioner of Public Safety who is responsible for our Alaska State Troopers. She fired him for no STATED reason which was her prerogative as the Governor. He served entirely at her option.

She and her whole family had a bad, bad experience with a rogue Trooper who was married to Sarah's sister. His name is Trooper Wooten. This dimwit Trooper had threatened Sarah's father (death threat!), threatened Sarah ("I'll get you, too"), tasered his 12-year-old stepson, drove drunk in his AST cruiser, got a pass by a fellow Trooper who stopped him for erratic driving a second time while in civvies and just a host of other things not yet released to the public. He got away with it and got another pass by the Commissioner's appointed AST Trooper Internal Affairs investigator with a tiny slap on the wrist. Five days off without pay to be exact!

This maverick Trooper is still on the payroll but only just. The Union intervening saved his malcontent ass. He'll yet get his I'm sure. Incredible heat is being heaped on the Troopers. Public heat, not the Governor's office.

The Democrats had the audacity to appoint an obviously biased investigator, Rep. "Gunny" French (so-called because he lied about being in the USMC while running for the Legislature), who is a staunch liberal and under the orders of Senate President Lyda Green who hates Sarah. She hates Sarah because after being elected Governor, Sarah told the whole Legislature in one of her first meetings with them that, quote: "All of you here need some Adult Supervision!"

Sarah was seriously pissed and not afraid of anyone there. That played wonderfully well with Alaskans after all of our corruption and after all of her successful battles against a seriously entrenched corrupt government here in Alaska. It pissed off the whole Legislature, though! They have stayed pissed but are also afraid of her because of her popularity.

She reminds me personally of our Alaska wolverine which will fight anything in its path if it sees fit to do so. No respect at all for size or position. Wife Cindy is in this category, too. Unfortunately.

In closing I must tell you that she is the best, most moral and most focused leader I've seen since President Reagan. I feel, really strongly, that like Alaska the rest of our country will love her within a few weeks.

Put simply, she represents middle America like NO leader we've ever had. I think McCain made a totally brilliant move in choosing her. She's a maverick who is probably tougher and more focused than McCain himself ... and she won't be a total "Yes Man" or more appropriately, woman. McCain will love her.

In 2012 she will be President.

My best to all of you in the hurricane belt. I hope you are all OK. We just had another mini Air America reunion here in beautiful Soldotna, Alaska along the Kenai river. We'll be doing this every year now, I guess. Like our Flying Tiger pals before us, there are not that many Air America guys left. I'm 71 myself this September 16. Where the hell did the years go so fast?

My best to you old buddy

Semper Fi,

George W. Murray



The title of the e-mail is the title of this post. I lay no claim as to the authenticity (or lack thereof) of any "facts" contained therein. Certainly it represents one man's opinion and perspective.

I include it now for a couple of reasons: 1) People (myself included) have been asking, "Who's Sarah Palin?" Well, this should give you at least a bit more info than you might have already had. 2) As I said, I wanted to try and get my mind off of Ike. Mission accomplished, however briefly.