Of Women and Judgments

I congratulate my Republican friends on the addition of Sarah Palin to their Presidential ticket. True, it comes 24 years after the Democrats named a woman to their ticket, but let’s not be picky. I also agree with them that Gov. Palin should not be asked questions that solely pertain to her personal life or family. She should only be asked questions that would be just as appropriate if asked of a man. That said, here are a few of the questions that we have every right to ask of Gov. Palin.

1. Why do you keep saying you said “Thanks, but no thanks” on the bridge to nowhere? In fact you were for the bridge when you ran for governor. You later changed your mind when it had become clear the bridge wasn’t going to happen. But, most importantly, you kept the money earmarked for the bridge. Why does that make you a champion for governmental reform? What you really said was “Thanks for the earmark, but let us decide what to spend the money on.”

2. Why do you call yourself a champion for governmental reform when you hired a lobbying group to help your city get earmarks? And, why have you repeatedly and on the record praised Alaska’s congressional delegation for doing the best job of obtaining earmarks?

3. Why do you say you an expert on foreign policy just because your state borders Russia? I guess that means because my state borders Maryland, I am an expert on crabbing.

4. Why did you repeatedly try to censor the books in your town’s library. And, when that didn’t work, why did you try to fire the chief librarian? We know you support the second amendment, but how about the first?

5. Why do you repeatedly chant “drill, drill, drill”, when virtually every expert agrees (i) drilling offshore will have at best a miniscule effect on oil prices and (ii) even this limited effect won’t happen for at least seven years.

6. Why do you call yourself a fiscal conservative when it has been widely reported that during your six years as mayor, expenditures increased by 33% and taxes increased by 38%?

We should judge Gov. Palin by the same standards as we would a man – her achievements (or lack thereof), her beliefs, her treatment of others and her truthfulness.