Palin as Senator?

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Genx87
Why would she give up being gov for a senate position?

More national exposure. Senators are in the news all the time if they have policy impact. Nobody knows who a governor of a state like Alaska is. If she wants to run for President or VP in the future, national experience and exposure could be helpful. Of course her problem is that she's just a ridiculous excuse for a politician, but I don't think she views it that way.

In recent times we typically elect govs as presidents, not senators. She enjoys a ridiculously high approval rating in Alaska and should continue to do so and gain reelection in 2010.

It's true that senators don't get elected to the Presidency very often, but clearly being governor of Alaska didn't help her much this time around...several more years of that won't be much help either.

 

[RightIsWrong]

I really hate to break up the wonderful world of what-if scenario party with facts, but here it goes anyway.

Under Alaska law, the governor appoints a temporary replacement and then there is a special election.

Sec. 15.40.145. Temporary appointment of United States senator. [See revisor's note]..

When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified. If a special election is not called for the reasons set out in AS 15.40.140 , the individual shall fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the next general election are certified

Chances are, whomever she appoints will lose to the guy that was barely beaten by Stevens. He already has the name recognition and was so close already that the temporary that she appoints would be ousted in pretty short fashion.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
I really hate to break up the wonderful world of what-if scenario party with facts, but here it goes anyway.

Under Alaska law, the governor appoints a temporary replacement and then there is a special election.

Sec. 15.40.145. Temporary appointment of United States senator. [See revisor's note]..

When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified. If a special election is not called for the reasons set out in AS 15.40.140 , the individual shall fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the next general election are certified

Chances are, whomever she appoints will lose to the guy that was barely beaten by Stevens. He already has the name recognition and was so close already that the temporary that she appoints would be ousted in pretty short fashion.

I think that is unlikely due to the fact that Alaska is a very Republican state.

Stevens was convicted of a crime and still won his seat, any decent well known Republican should win the seat easily.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: Genx87

In recent times we typically elect govs as presidents, not senators. She enjoys a ridiculously high approval rating in Alaska and should continue to do so and gain reelection in 2010.

If by ridiculously high you mean 60%....then, yeah...you're right.

Consider something else when judging whether she's a good team player: Todd told me that the presidential campaign has torpedoed Palin's once stratospheric approval rating in Alaska. It's down 20 points since she's assumed the partisan pit bull role.

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
I really hate to break up the wonderful world of what-if scenario party with facts, but here it goes anyway.

Under Alaska law, the governor appoints a temporary replacement and then there is a special election.

Sec. 15.40.145. Temporary appointment of United States senator. [See revisor's note]..

When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified. If a special election is not called for the reasons set out in AS 15.40.140 , the individual shall fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the next general election are certified

Chances are, whomever she appoints will lose to the guy that was barely beaten by Stevens. He already has the name recognition and was so close already that the temporary that she appoints would be ousted in pretty short fashion.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All well and fine RightIsWrong, unless Palin appoints herself as temporary replacement, or appoints a ringer who will not run in the special election. Then Palin can run for election for Senator in the special election with the latter choice not forcing her resignation as Alaska Governor until the full terms Senate seat is safely won. Palin could easily becomes a Senator in her own right by the end of calendar year 2009.

In terms of Begich, yes he will have name recognition, but so will Palin.

But first Stevens must win this election and then be forced out soon thereafter. Or that Palin option door closes. Or for that matter, death by natural causes could also happen, more likely with Stevens who does not look very healthy at 84.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: jonks
The knives come out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...africa-i_n_141653.html

"She didn't know Africa was a continent"
"She didn't know what countries were in Nafta"
"She threw tantrums in the morning when reading her news clippings"
"She's a shopaholic"

Jesus.

Is anybody really surprised by this? Are there people out there who thought she was a serious, mature leader who would do a good job if thrust into the most important job in the country?

Surprised by its depth. Surely you are, too, even in your wildest nightmares I doubt you thought she was so completely brainless that she didn't know her continents or the members of the most important trade treaty to her country. I didn't, this goes beyond, way beyond. I think that not knowing Africa is a continent is similar in scope to not knowing the square root of 100, I really do.

 

[shrumpage]

If she were to appoint herself as temp, i really doubt Alaskans would vote for her in the special election. She blew too much of her good-will capitial in the presidential race - plus people have NOT forgotten what triggered the change in the law: Murkowski appointing his daughter to the senate.

Its a double whammy - she won't do it.

Most likely, and her best course of action is just to lay low doing her running the state of alaska.

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: jonks
The knives come out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...africa-i_n_141653.html

"She didn't know Africa was a continent"
"She didn't know what countries were in Nafta"
"She threw tantrums in the morning when reading her news clippings"
"She's a shopaholic"

Jesus.

Is anybody really surprised by this? Are there people out there who thought she was a serious, mature leader who would do a good job if thrust into the most important job in the country?

Surprised by its depth. Surely you are, too, even in your wildest nightmares I doubt you thought she was so completely brainless that she didn't know her continents or the members of the most important trade treaty to her country. I didn't, this goes beyond, way beyond. I think that not knowing Africa is a continent is similar in scope to not knowing the square root of 100, I really do.

Grain of Salt though, these are statements made by McCain's staff. Not that they aren't probably true, but ...