Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in response to Evan Allgood’s column lambasting Alaska Governor and GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin. As a fan of both Governor Palin, and Ms. Fey, I have to disagree with his assessment of the two.
Clean Energy/The Environment: Gov. Palin is one of the country’s leaders in energy policy. She created a windfall profits tax that taxed the excess profits that big oil companies made and gave it back to the people, creating the lowest gas prices in the nation. She supports alternative fuels, domestic drilling, and clean energy initiatives such as wind and clean coal. She also drives to work, as opposed to taking the jumbo jet that the previous governors of Alaska took, drastically reducing energy costs for the state. Now Ms. Fey on the other hand drives a hybrid, which research shows aren’t necessarily good for the environment either. After all, Hybrid batteries are toxic to the environment when they are disposed of, and a hybrid vehicles requires so much energy to make that the amount of energy used in it’s production is equal to 1,000 gallons of gas, which would be the equivalent of 100,000 miles on a modern compact fully gasoline powered vehicle. Verdict: Palin
Educational Background: Sure, Gov. Palin attended five schools, but anyone in our mass communication programs knows that it’s no piece of cake to graduate with a degree in mass communication and journalism. And you’re going to compare that to a drama degree? I think we have a draw here. Especially since after college, Gov. Palin was a sportscaster and sports correspondence for a newspaper. Verdict: Draw
Executive Experience: While I’ll admit that Alaska’s not the biggest state by population, it is a very important state. However, while managing a city budget and a state budget may not equate to writing and directing comedies, I think it’s pretty damn important. But there are several things you should also know about Palin’s executive experience: Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units. As governor of Alaska and the unit’s Commander-In-Chief, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, Homeland Security, and counter-terrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden’s. She’s also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security’s counterterrorism plans. Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country’s defense. Fey can’t say that. Verdict: Palin
Foreign Policy: See No. 3. Verdict: Palin
International Appeal: I’ll give Mr. Allgood this one. Fey is popular abroad, particularly because she’s syndicated in countries around the world. Thank goodness that Palin isn’t running for vice-president of the world. Fey really would have her beat. Verdict: Fey
Multitasking: I’m not sure how the mistake made by Palin’s teenage daughter relates to multi-tasking. Sure, her family isn’t perfect, no family is.not even Fey’s. But running a household, raising five children, including one with special needs, managing a state, running for vice-president, doing media interviews, attending presidential debates, and traveling back and forth to Alaska sort of trumps Fey’s modest multi-tasking skills. Verdict: Palin
Understanding of Mainstream America: It was my understanding from listening to the liberals that rich people can’t understand mainstream America. Doesn’t that disqualify Fey, seeing that she’s worth millions? Anyhow, last time I checked, Alaska was still a part of America. Palin grew up as the daughter of elementary school teachers, went to public school, went for a period of time to community college, attended a public university, was a member of the PTA, drove a pickup truck, played basketball, went to her kids hockey games, and made a modest income. That sounds very much mainstream to me. Sure, Fey makes millions of dollars a year, drives a Lexus, and went to a very expensive university as an out-of-state resident, but that definitely doesn’t make her mainstream. Verdict: Palin
I believe that makes the score 5-1 for Ms. Palin. Lets weigh all of the information before declaring a winner. Hopefully, the elitists will stop underestimating Sarah Palin when they learn all the facts.
Jason White
Senior, Political Science
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 17 2008. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
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