Sarah Palin

               I selected Sarah Palin as my very important person (VIP) this week because I like her.  I like her spunkiness; I like her ability to articulate exactly what needs to be said.  I like her clear vision of what is really happening in our nation and her fearlessness in letting her voice be heard.  I believe that she plays a very important part in our elections even though she does not actually hold a political office.  I believe she may be doing more for our nation by doing exactly what she does than she could if she were in office.

                Palin uses common sense and speaks the thoughts of many conservatives.  She to always adds a zinger such as:  “People have a constitutional right to burn a Koran if they want to, but doing so is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation – much like building a mosque at Ground Zero.”  Here is another zinger:  “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities.”

                Here are some excerpts from a recent post on Palin’s Facebook page that pertain to what we are facing today: “So we’re bombing Syria because Syria is bombing Syria?  And I’m the idiot?

                “President Obama wants America involved in Syria’s civil war pitting the antagonistic Assad regime against equally antagonistic Al Qaeda affiliated rebels.  But he’s not quite sure which side is doing what, what the ultimate end game is, or even whose side we should be on.  Haven’t we learned?  WAGS don’t work in war.

                “We didn’t intervene when over 100,000 Syrians were tragically slaughtered by various means, but we’ll now intervene to avenge the tragic deaths of over 1,000 Syrians killed by chemical weapons, though according to the White House we’re not actually planning to take out the chemical weapons because doing so would require `too much of a commitment.’

                “President Obama wants to do what, exactly?  Punish evil acts in the form of a telegraphed air strike on Syria to serve as a deterrent?  If our invasion of Iraq wasn’t enough of a deterrent to stop evil men from using chemical weapons on their own people, why do we think this will be?

“Our Nobel Peace Prize winning President needs to seek Congressional approval before taking us to war….

“Bottom line is that this is about President Obama saving political face because of his `red line’ promise regarding chemical weapons.

                
               “As I said before, if we are dangerously uncertain of the outcome and are led into war by a Commander-in-chief who can’t recognize that this conflict is pitting Islamic extremists against an authoritarian regime with both sides shouting `Allah Akbar’ at each other, then let Allah sort it out.”

Presidential Candidates

The highly anticipated debate between GOP presidential candidates will be held August 7, 2011. I plan to watch the debate because I want to see the choices available. I recommend that you watch it also and listen carefully for what principles are important to each candidate. In order to be well-educated at election time, we must start doing some real listening and understanding!

As we search for a candidate that we can support, it is important that we educate ourselves about the principles of each candidate. Noah Webster, one of our Founders, counseled, "In selecting men [and women] for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate - look to his character…" (Letters to a Young Gentleman Commencing His Education, 1789).

I was once asked by some family members about who I would want to be the Republican candidate for President. Would I vote for Mitt Romney because he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (sometimes known as Mormons) or would I vote for Sarah Palin because she is an Alaskan? I answered that I didn't know if I would vote for either of them. I won't vote for anyone simply because they belong to the same Church as I do, and I won't vote for Palin simply because she comes from Alaska. Here are some of my thoughts about possible candidates.

Mitt Romney looks "presidential" and has previous experiences to prove he has the ability to lead. I believe that he bases his life on good, moral principles and that he has the good of our nation at heart. I believe strongly that he could improve the economical situation. My main objection to Romney is that he seems to be more liberal than I prefer in a Republican candidate. He seems to be wishy-washy about where he stands. I am afraid that he would be another John McCain and lose the election. The fact that Democrats and the Republican Establishment like him scares me!

Sarah Palin is definitely conservative enough. She shows great courage as she stands on her principles. I voted for her for Governor of Alaska, and I have positive feelings about her service. Knowing the pressures and constant court challenges against her, I think that she made the right decision to resign as governor. By resigning, she allowed Alaska to move forward in its business. Having said all that, I hope that she does not "throw her hat into the ring." I think that she has enough fame and influence as a well-known private citizen and hope that she decides to protect her family from further "mud slinging." For me personally, I would rather have a man as President of the United States - even though I recognize that women are just as capable of doing so.

I don't like Jon Huntsman, another member of my Church, at all - and I don't know why. He doesn't seem to me to be presidential. He doesn't look the part and hasn't impressed me yet.

Herman Cain is the only Black GOP candidate in the race. I once wondered if the failure of our first Black president would keep people from voting for any other Black candidate. I don't think so. I have listened several times when Cain was interviewed. I like him. He seems to have strong moral principles and has shown good leadership skills in the business world. I would vote for him if he became the GOP candidate, but I don't expect him to be selected.

Michelle Bachman is definitely conservative, but I can't see her as President. I believe that she should stay in the House of Representatives doing what she has been doing so well.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is at the top of my list at this time. I can see him leading our nation. He seems to be conservative enough to satisfy me and seems to be unafraid of blunt statements. We need a candidate who is not afraid to be blunt. He definitely has leadership ability. People are moving to Texas because the jobs are in Texas! I'm anxious to watch how he does in the debate. His political star is rising because he offers a complete alternative to Obama.

Barack Obama needs to be denied a second term in order to preserve our American life. Anyone who wants to maintain our democratic republican government must understand that Obama is trying to destroy it. All Americans must be honest when determining whether or not Obama has made life easier and better in the United States. I have seen the following statement or a similar one in several different places. "If you voted for Barack Obama to prove that you are not racist, vote for someone else in 2012 to prove that you are not stupid." When I first read the statement, I laughed. As I processed the statement, I thought of friends and family members who voted for Obama and realized that I would not consider any of them as being stupid. They are all have good educations and are intelligent people; they simply think differently than I do because they have had different life experiences. To them and anyone else who voted for Obama last time, I ask the following questions: Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is the United States better off than it was four years ago? Will Obama make things better for you or our nation if he gets re-elected?

Alaskan Women

Two Alaskan women have been making national headlines recently, but they are not the only extra-ordinary women in Alaska. Sarah Palin and Lisa Murkowski represent many outstanding women who make their homes in Alaska. Alaskan women are a special kind of person because they are capable of surviving and prospering under very difficult conditions. Even though many of the women live in Alaska simply because their husbands found work here, there are many others who live here because they have a great love for the Alaskan way of life.

My family has lived in Alaska for more than 37 years, but I will admit I moved to Alaska with the idea of spending one year here and then get on with our lives. My attitude changed as my husband and I drove up the Alaska Highway with our two babies because I simply fell in love with Alaska. We have often talked of moving out of Alaska, but we have never found any place that we like as much as we like Alaska. One of the reasons I like Alaska so much is the women who surround me. I am convinced that any woman who loves Alaska in spite of the cold, ice, and darkness of winter is a special woman in deed.

I have many Alaskan friends who live extra-ordinary lives but are not well known. Driving on icy roads and jumping car batteries are common activities for Alaskan women, but there are many other fun activities. My good friend Linda gets more excited about flying, hunting, fishing, camping, and exploring in Alaska than any person I know. Her enthusiasm and excitement are contagious, and I love to share these Alaskan activities with her. My friend Brenda decided to drive her children to school one day because the roads resembled icerinks. She found the school bus in the ditch not far from her home. Another friend named Linda visited Alaska in her younger years and was not content until her husband obtained work here. Within just a few years of moving to Alaska, she was able to convince most of her adult children to move their families here also. When her source of water froze early this winter, my daughter Jennifer simply walked out to the spring and hauled water back home. She may have used her dog sled and two sled dogs to haul it.

Sarah Palin and Lisa Murkowski are not the only Alaskan women who have made national headlines. Libby Riddle made history in 1985 when she became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. She was also featured on a float in the Tournament of Roses parade on January 1, 2009. The float was entitled "Celebrating Alaska - Spirit of the Wild" and won the award for "the best depiction of life in the U.S.

"Susan Butcher was another Alaskan woman who became famous for her dog handling skills when she became the second woman to win the Iditarod Race in 1986. She later became the second person to win the race four different years and the first to win four out of five sequential years. Alaska lost a powerful woman when Susan died of cancer in 2006.

Michelle Mitton is an Alaskan blogger who is known nationwide. I knew Michelle as a child and young woman, and I enjoy reading her blog about motherhood in Alaska.

Lisa Murkowski made national headlines when she embarked on a write-in campaign for an Alaska seat in the U.S. Senate. She was appointed to the seat by her father Frank Murkowski, and she won the seat two years later against Democrat Tony Knowles. She lost the 2010 Primary to Joe Miller, a TEA party backed candidate and went back on her word to drop out of the race. She became the first person to win a write-in contest in Alaska and the first Senator to win on a write-in vote in sixty years. These are notable accomplishments; however, her politics are not notable. She is a Republican in name only or a RINO. Her name is now linked with the most liberal Republicans in Congress. She won the write-in vote of unions and Alaska Natives by promising to bring more pork to them, and she voted for EVERY item on President Obama's wish list since the 2010 election. I've been told that she was "not smart enough" to be hired by an Alaskan law firm, and yet a majority of Alaskans chose her to be their Senator. Are the majority of Alaskans unintelligent also? I personally am ashamed to admit that she is my Senator!

Sarah Palin is a conservative Republican woman who put Alaska on the political map. She is very attractive and very conservative. She is either loved or hated by most people. I am proud of her as a "home town girl who made good." I applaud her for standing on conservative principles of pro-life and constitutional law. I am positive that it was not an easy decision to decide to give birth to a baby with Downs Syndrome. The fact that she chose life for her baby makes me consider her to be extra-ordinary. I like the fact that she is pro-military and pro-religion. I like the fact that she was able to score big when the ball was tossed to her. She was a little known governor when John McCain selected her to be his running mate, and she and her family have walked through fire since that day. I think that she has been able to turn everything she touches into gold, and I say, "More power to her. You go, girl!"

I am pleased to have the opportunity to know many outstanding Alaskan women personally as well as to know of many other extra-ordinary women who choose to live in Alaska.