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Monday Morning Comment: Irony

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July 6, 2009: Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, who will assume the role as governor on July 25, just three weeks after Governor Sarah Palin quit, wasted no time in getting into a dust up with Alaska's Senior Senator Lisa Murkowski.

On Friday after Palin's bombshell announcement, Sen. Murkowski issued a statement that read, "“I am deeply disappointed that the governor has decided to abandon the state and her constituents before her term is concluded.”

Appearing on FOX News Sunday, Parnell stated that he was "disappointed" at the press statement Murkowski issued regarding Palin's quitting with sixteen months to go in her term and said he didn't think there was a point to her press statement.

Parnell told a panel of politicos, "You know, I was actually disappointed when I saw the senator’s release. And does she have a point? I don’t think so. I think what the governor did was actually look out for Alaskans in this."  

Really?

Murkowski saying she was disappointed that the governor bailed out with no discernable reason and with sixteen months to go in her term doesn't represent a legitimate reason to be disappointed?

What's odd about Parnell's statement is that in defending Palin's decision to quit in response to the Murkowski release, he invoked the military and wounded soldiers.     

Parnell told FOX News, "But I have to tell you, when she (Palin) went to Kosovo and visited our Guard members and the wounded soldiers there and in Germany, she saw that she doesn’t need a title to effect change and bring some hope to people who need it."

The undeniable irony of this is that Palin quitting represents the absolute, unmitigated antithesis of what Guard members and wounded soldiers sacrifice by joining the military to serve and defend the country.

Soldiers don't have the luxury of saying, "I'm tired of people taking shots at me so I'm quitting half way through my tour of duty."

Andrew Halcro's blog

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*eyeroll*

Submitted by LisaB on Tue, 2009-07-07 04:15.

The point Parnell's missing is that it shouldn't be about Sarah. It shouldn't be about "Sarah finding her own fulfillment and making a difference her own way." The people of Alaska elected her into the highest office of the state. They *placed their trust* in her to lead Alaska. Now they've learned they've served their purpose. Sarah's got better options now, options that don't come with niggling little details like "ethics" and "work." Sarah can play the victim all she wants, but the truth is, if she were really a fighter, she would have finished her term and done what the voters asked her to do--be Governor. As a woman (and perhaps Sen. Murkowski feels this as well) I feel she has done great harm to the image of women in high political office. Now people will think we don't want to do the job, we just want to "follow our hearts where ever they lead us." *cue music*

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Quitters never win!

Submitted by gimmeabreak on Tue, 2009-07-07 00:26.

When soldiers "quit," it's called "going AWOL" (absent without leave). Yes, I would say that Palin has a grasp on that, but she thinks it will be without real consequences. Hopefully Parnell grows a backbone and learns objectivity towards the woman who did give him the best opportunity of his life after all...(perhaps that makes it easier to understand why he is still kissing up to her so much). I didn't vote Murkowski the last time, but with her ability to have independent thought in this regard is impressive and appreciated. She has my vote next time around and I didn't think I'd ever say that.

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Good for Alaska?

Submitted by harold on Mon, 2009-07-06 07:52.

Considering how little Sarah has done for Alaska thus far I think maybe stepping down is actually good for Alaska. I hope Parnell will focus more on state business. I am more optimistic than disappointed.

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