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Showing posts with label frank murkowski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frank murkowski. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

For "Mean Girls" Like Lisa Murkowski, Everything's Personal: A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice



In her latest interview, liberal leaning, mainstream media journalist and anchor Katie Couric spoke with Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska who, after losing a bitter primary battle to Joe Miller, launched a write-in campaign in an attempt to remain one of Alaska's senators. In her interview with Couric, Murkowski remarked that she does not feel Sarah Palin has the "leadership qualities" and "intellectual curiosity" to develop "great policy." She also said, "You know, she was my governor for two years there, and I don't think she liked to get down into the policy." Really, Lisa? Is that the best you can do? It is clear that Sarah and Lisa have always had a not-so-friendly relationship. Even though Sarah is known for working across the aisle and being a successful governor, Lisa does not seem to realize this. Maybe it is because Lisa has held a grudge against Sarah ever sense Sarah defeated her father for the Alaska governorship. It is clear that Lisa still has not gotten over her father's defeat. While losing a hard-fought election can be very difficult, most people learn that it is best to move on and let bygones be bygones in order to work together with the party for the common good on behalf of the people. Although this is a lesson most people learn, it is clear Lisa Murkowski has never learned, or maybe never was taught, this important lesson. We see this in the way she has treated and spoken about Sarah. I believe this has to do with the fact that she and Sarah are two different individuals who, while both Alaskans, have lived very different lives. On one hand, we have Sarah Palin, who rose from humble beginnings and worked her way up, learning nothing ever comes without hard work and dedication. Her phenomenal parents, whom I had the privilege to spend time with last summer in Alaska, taught her the value of hard work and determination. Sarah began by serving in the PTA, then the city council, then as the mayor of Wasilla, and finally as Alaska's first female governor. This is vastly different than Lisa's political journey. When her dad was governor, he appointed his daughter, Lisa, a lawyer who had served in the AK State House, to the Senate. You may remember some of this twisted tale from Sarah's discussion of it in her best-selling book Going Rogue: An American Life. Apparently, when Governor Frank Murkowski called Sarah into his office to interview her for the open Senate seat, he asked if she would be up to the job because she was a mother with young children. Given that this assertion in itself was ridiculous, what was even more ridiculous was that, in the end, Frank Murkowski ended up appointing his daughter, who, in fact, had young children of her own. The rest, as they say, is history. To her credit, Lisa was re-elected by the people after being appointed and has been a Senator ever since.

I am not writing this blog to question Lisa Murkowski's fitness to be a senator. I do not take issue on her fitness for office, for it is clear that she is qualified just as Sarah is more than qualified to hold any political office she desires to hold. What I do take issue with is the statements she has made and continues to make against fellow Republicans like Sarah, Joe Miller (Remember how she questioned his fitness for holding the job of Senator?) and most recently what she said about Jim DeMint, telling POLITICO:

"I think some Republicans in the Congress feel pretty strongly that he and his actions potentially cost us the majority by encouraging candidates that ended up not being electable.... I think there's some folks that feel that DeMint's actions didn't necessarily help the Republican majority.... So the real question is, what's his desire? Does he want to help the Republican majority , or is he on his own agenda, his own initiative?"

What I would like to know is who or what gives Lisa Murkowski the authority to make such comments? Last I checked, she had to resort to running a write-in campaign after Joe Miller, whom Jim DeMint endorsed, beat her fair and square in the primary. It is clear that Lisa Murkowski has this all-about-me complex in that the seat she hold belongs to her, when in reality, it is the people's seat. While it appears that she may end up retaining it when all the write-in votes are counted, it is clear that Lisa Murkowski is a woman who seems to view herself as an entitled individual who can throw insults and negativity around, but just cannot take the fact that she is losing vast amounts of credibility every time she opens her mouth and makes a snide comment.

In the end, when all the votes are counted and a winner is officially named, one thing will remain the same. It is clear that Lisa Murkowski is jealous of the beautiful life Sarah Palin leads. In making these comments the day after Sarah Palin's Alaska aired, it is clear that she is doing everything she can do to discredit Sarah and her ever-growing popularity. What other explanation is there other than to try to steal Sarah's thunder following the show, which was watched by millions across the globe, making it TLC's most watched reality-series premiere ever! It is clear that Lisa's latest shenanigan is a publicity stunt in an attempt to discredit Sarah, but it looks like this stunt has backfired on Lisa and company because many are shaking their heads, wondering why Lisa is getting involved in another woman's life when she has enough to deal with; after all, doesn't she have that whole recount thing to keep her busy? It would be wise if Lisa would start focusing on her own political goals and less on her (not-so-expert) opinion and personal dislike of Sarah Palin.

(Click here to visit Conservative Girl with a Voice and become a follower. Follow me on Twitter @RachelleFriberg.)

Monday, December 7, 2009

Sarah Palin’s Record on Pardons And Clemency Based On Reality And Common Sense




In the wake of the slaughter of four police officers in the state of Washington, and how a liberal policy on pardons and clemency played a roll in this tragedy, we decided to look into the record of Governor Sarah Palin on this issue.

Our research finds that no pardons were issued by Governor Palin. We did find that in the wake of the corrupt Murkowski administration, Governor Palin championed, and signed into law, legislation that mandates the Governor, as well as the parole board, work hand in hand on any grant of pardon, or clemency. The law also mandates that victims are notified of any pending grant of pardon, and are allowed to participate in the process.

From the website PardonPower:



Alaska: Palin and the Pardon Power

In honor of John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin for the vice-presidency, PardonPower found this article from February 20, 2007:

Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today signed Senate Bill 46 and House Bill 69. The Governor was joined by Senator Donny Olson and Representative Ralph Samuels at the bill signing.

Senate Bill 46 extends the deadline for coastal communities to revise their plans for environmental oversight and development. By signing SB 46, coastal districts will have until September 1, 2007, to revise their plans. Without this extension, 12 districts that make up 70 percent of Alaska’s coastline are in jeopardy of losing their ability to have local involvement in their coastal areas.

"I thank Senator Olson for sponsoring this bill," said Governor Palin. "I know that these coastal districts have worked hard on their revised plans and by extending the deadline, we can ensure they will not lose local control."

House Bill 69 now makes it mandatory for the governor and the Board of Parole to work together to ensure any decision on clemency is based on a thorough review of the case, and made in deference to victims and their families.

"In a perfect world, this bill wouldn’t be necessary," said Governor Palin. "Unfortunately, we all know why such legislation has come through with unanimous support and why I sign this bill without hesitation."

In his final hours in office, Governor Murkowski granted an executive pardon to a company convicted of criminally negligent homicide. Whitewater Engineering Corporation pleaded no contest in 2001 to the charge in connection with the 1999 death of one of its employees. The pardon was granted on November 30, 2006. No one from the Murkowski administration notified the victim’s family of the request for clemency or that the pardon was granted.

HB 69 not only ensures that victims of crimes are notified of the governor’s intent to grant clemency but also allows them to become part of the process.




The power to grant pardons and clemency are great responsibilities a Governor and President are given by the state and United States Constitutions, respectively. It’s serious business that can easily be corrupted by either dishonesty or faulty judgment. It’s very refreshing to see that, as Governor, Sarah Palin understood and appreciated the power she was given and the great trust the people of Alaska had placed in her.

Governor Palin’s common sense approach to this great power and trust the people of Alaska placed in her, resulted in a law that will make it harder for someone of lesser character or judgment to misuse this power and trust.

It also says something that Sarah was willing to diminish her power for the good of the process. Not many in politics would do this as, for many, politics is all about the power, not the service. This is yet another example of Sarah Palin putting the needs and desires of the people above all else.