Why is Palin poplular in Alaska?

[Saturday]

Why do you think she has a high approval rating there?

[1corona4u]

1. She probably paid someone to file the stats for her....

but she gets the residents about 3K a year in funds from the oil royalties.

[Quixote1818]

2. Because she gave everyone $1,200 tax rebate

from Oil company profits. Basically what Obama has proposed.

[KathieG]

11. ding ding ding!

[galaxy21]

3. rumour has it the polls are fixed

[PRETZEL]

4. Pork, plain and simple

people only bitch and complain about pork when others are getting it.

They don't give two hoots about whether or not it's pork, it's a new bridge, a new road, new jobs to support a research grant for something or another.

She's popular because she fed off the gov't trough and Alaska got big and fat.

[grantcart]

5. she cut alot of friviolous expenditures and with the increase of oil

was able to increase the royalty check that everyone gets from the state.


Same exact the Saudi family is popular in SA (well except for cutting frivolous expenditures lol)

[Seen the light]

7. Bingo. All about oil increases

[skooooo]

6. Well since you ask...

I've posted this several times and never have gotten much of a response -- Palin is popular with Alaskans because she did undercut a lot of the old-time Republican guard that were very entrenched and corrupt. A relative of mine, who's quite liberal even likes Palin, though doesn't think she's ready for VP.

She's brought a lot of money into Alaska, and has planned for even a number of social services to get much increased funding. She's not status quo by any means. Of course its easier to be popular when you've been in office for less than 2 years.

[TwilightGardener]

10. I don't get it--she's proving to be just as corrupt in her use of the office.

[skooooo]

14. Those allegations haven't been proven yet, and.....

...they pale in comparison to the kind of corruption Alaskans have become acquainted with. Most of them don't really care much about it all anyway as long as they get their checks.

[TwilightGardener]

16. I agree, they do seem to be willing to put up with anyone for their handouts.

[skooooo]

20. Their "handouts.."

Well, I guess the annual checks can be seen as a handout. On the other hand, it does cost more to live in Alaska, and people living up there do contribute to the lower 48 with their work. I don't begrudge them the money.

[AkFemDem]

22. Actually the PFD (permenant fund dividend) is not related to cost of living

It's an annual dividend paid to Alaskans based on our oil trust in the 80s, she doesn't get credit for this as Alaskans voted on this long before she was gov.

I guess she does get credit for the fuel rebate, but I could have lived without it if it would have meant never seeing her name on the McCain ticket.

[skooooo]

24. I know legally it's not tied to the cost of living...

...I was just explaining the way I tend to think about the issue. There are certain burdens with living in Alaska, and I don't begrudge them the money.

[Bake]

25. I'm sorry ... they CONTRIBUTE?

I didn't know the oil and gas coming out of there was free. I thought we paid for it ... through the nose.

Bake

[skooooo]

26. You think you've been paying ..

..what gas really costs?? especially from the Alaskan pipeline?? Nah!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

27. That's good...

'cause in addition to the oil money, Alaska is the Thrid highest recipient of Federal funding in the US. It may not be a handout, but Alaska constantly has its hand out to grab from that awful 'lower 48'.

[skooooo]

28. Well I'm sure there are plenty who will disagree with me..

...that's just my opinion and the way I look at it. Ever been up there?? It's complete wilderness basically with 6 months or more of almost complete darkness.

[Viking12]

8. Raised the cost of gas & oil for the other 49 states and redistributed wealth to Alaskans

[LTR]

9. Republican governor in a red state

Can't be that tough.

[Overseas]

12. She gives away money. Gave taxes back and left Wasilla with $20 million debt.

A True Republican. Hand out money to make friends.
Give tax cuts and leave debt for your kids and their kids.

[maui9002]

13. She was governor while Alaska went from deficit to surplus

primarily due to Alaska's share of oil revenue, which has increased significantly during the 20 months she's been in office, and which allowed her to increase the payout to each Alaska cit. In addition, I don't doubt she's popular because she's a working mom, she's one of them (she hunts, fishes, snowmobiles, and loves the outdoors), and because she's got a sunny personality (or at least appears to have one).

[hatrack]

15. Because she's not Murkowski, basically, and even that aftergow is fading rapidly

Frank Murkowski left office (not voluntarily) as arguably the most venal, arrogant and corrupt governor in the history of the state. Couple of examples:

1. He appointed his daughter to succeed him in the Senate when he became governor, which was fine with the Pukes, but a little less appealing to the rest of the state.

2. When he was moving heaven and earth to cut funding and tighten eligibility for Denali KidsCare, which is the indigent health insurance system for children, he suffered some chest pains and was immediately rushed by corporate jet to the best hospital in Alaska for his treatment. Again, not a real crowd-pleaser.

3. When the state was renegotiating its long-term oil & gas leases with the oil companies, Murkowski demanded - demanded - that the Legislature pass the bill his creatures introduced to the floor, but they weren't allowed to read it. That was the last straw for many, and he ended up finishing a distant third in the primary that brought Palin to the fore as the nominee.

[eleny]

17. Ed Schultz is going up there Sept. 13th to have a town hall gathering

I think it's going to be an evening event and will be available online. but I don't know if it will be live online or just available for a download afterward.

I think we'll get some interesting insight into her popularity or lack of.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Same for Vladimir Putin. Oil prices are high. LINK HER TO HIGH OIL PRICES!

[progressivebydesign]

19. She gave fat tax rebates, instead of fixing infrastructure. WE paid for that!

See. her scheme was to give the voters as much cash as possible, instead of investing the surplus (NOT from her financial prowess, but from the OBSCENE gas/oil profits) in the needs of the State. She let the AMERICAN taxpayers pay for their projects (to the tune of millions for her little tiny town of Wasilla) with earmarks and pork. That was her scheme.. let US fund their State's projects, and give $$ to the voters. Alaska already has that mentality of being cared for by the govt with the oil payouts and the hardship payouts. It's a scam.

She also replaced the gov that was ousted for ethical issues, even though she's totally linked to that guy. Make no mistake she had NOTHING to do with "cleaning up" the governor's office -- she just ran against a sleazeball.

[Neshanic]

21. AZ gov is just as popular. No fat nanny state checks involved.

[CampDem]

23. Her numbers are slipping up here

Since Troopergate hit last month her approval rating may have dropped according to Andrew Halcro, an Alaskan who ran for governor in 2006 as an independent

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/what_palin_has_to_do_to_help_mccain

snip~
When you look at political polls dating back to Eisenhower, Republicans have always won on issues like national defense, the economy and public safety. Democrats have always won on the issue of who is looking out for you. What Sarah has done is capture that traditional Democratic catagory.

In fact, according to one extensive poll done during the primary election, Palin's approval ratings have stayed elevated by continued support from Democratic women. While some attribute this to Palin refusing to push a conservative social agenda, others would argue it's because she appears to be looking out for their best interests.

And while the news media still trumpets eighty percent approval ratings, a poll done on behalf of one of the ballot measure groups shows that her ratings have slipped into the mid sixties.

Regardless, Palin's poll numbers would be coveted by any politician.

The bottom line is that while many feel she is likeable but yet unqualified to be Vice President (anybody with the same resume would be), the question has to be asked how can she help Alaska and strengthen McCain in November?

snip~