Sarah Palin's New Low - Funeral Crasher - from Shannyn Moore

[Blue_In_AK]

Shannyn writes not only a terrific eulogy for Alaska pioneer and former governor Wally Hickel, who passed away May 7, but also a wonderful put-down of The Quitter. This is really worth reading, even if you're not familiar with Wally.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/sarah-palins-new-low-fune_b_579801.html

"I don't give a damn about her." -Wally Hickel 1919-2010

Half-Governor Sarah Palin crashed twice-Governor Wally Hickel's funeral today. Trust me, if Sarah Palin was paying her respects, the check would bounce. The guest list was impressive with many Alaskan dignitaries. And then there was Palin with her daughter Piper, the 8-year-old human shield, in tow.

I met Wally and Ermalee Hickel when I was 21-years-old and living in Halibut Cove. I didn't always love his politics, but I loved his spirit. He made me a better Alaskan. Sadly, he couldn't do the same for Sarah.

When Palin was elected governor, I shrugged. Wally liked her. We had proof he was bigger than his party.

Once protested by environmentalists after appointed as Nixon's Secretary of the Interior, Hickel imposed stringent cleanup regulations on oil companies and water polluters after an oil rig explosion off the coast of Santa Barbara, in 1969. He also fought to save the Everglades from being destroyed by developers and advocated for making Earth Day a national holiday. He was an unwitting war protester.

Progressives felt comfortable with his endorsement of the unknown candidate.

<snip>

Alaska is mourning a true statesman with the death of Wally Hickel. Our loss isn't bi-partisan, it's non-partisan. It's Alaskan. Just like he was. Not since the death of Governor Jay Hammond have we come together to bow our collective heads and be thankful for leadership. We didn't have to agree with policy to agree we live in an amazing place.

Today, Sarah Palin darkened the door of a funeral. Wally didn't give a damn about her and most Alaskans don't either. She represents herself, and she does that badly.

The Anchorage Daily News reported Palin's comments, "Our state has lost a great leader. What he has left behind will have changed all of our lives, and he spoke so often about energy and security, and energy and prosperity and the nation, and we must not forget that."

Really, Sarah?

You cherry-picked Hickel's positions to support your own. You shill for BP and beg legitimacy from a man you only considered a rung on your ladder to wealth. He wasn't afraid of oil companies-he forced them to pay $1.8 billion in back taxes. Wally Hickel summoned execs and leveraged Exxon for $1 billion in damages to buy land and fund SCIENCE in an effort to recover Prince William Sound. You chant "Drill, Baby, Drill" and embarrass us with your lack of depth and understanding to the true loss Alaskans faced from the Exxon Valdez spill.

<snip>

[indepat]

1. Have faith that Sarah can continue to scale new lows virtually on a daily basis

:P

[Warpy]

2. While I deplore that vapid woman as much as anyone can

I am unaware that guest lists are now being issued for funerals. I've always thought that was one occasion you were just expected to show up for, no invitations or RSVP notes ever being necessary, with only a graveside service occasionally being restricted to family.

It's also nice she was aware of at least one person she stepped on during her social and political climbing.

Her presence might have been as welcome as a case of herpes, but I wouldn't call it crashing.

[Barack_America]

3. On the contrary, funerals are frequently private.

Particularly when they're for people who were in the public eye.

That being said, I do not know whether this particular funeral was public or private.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. This one was a very public funeral

attended by over 700 people apparently. In fairness to Sarah (as much as I hate to admit it), she was damned if she showed up and damned if she didn't. Basically, she's just damned, period. :evilgrin:

http://www.adn.com/2010/05/17/1282218/memorial-for-walter-hickel-begins.html

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I understand what you're saying.

And I might feel more charitable towards her if she had shown a little more respect for Mr. Hickel in the tweet she sent out immediately after his death, instead of using it for an opportunity to pump up her own positions..."he spoke so often about energy and security, and energy and prosperity and the nation, and we must not forget that." She couldn't even be bothered to write a full-fledged press release simply expressing sorrow at his passing or whatever.

Especially when you consider that Gov. Hickel was so instrumental in the early days of her political career ... much to his later regret. I think she turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments to him in his long career.

And, of course, she WAS using Piper as a shield, as always.


Please excuse anyh typos. I went to the eye doctor in the middle of this post and I can't see a thing now through my dilated pupils.

[roguevalley]

7. Hi, Blue. I loved Wally and hated his politics, mostly. He loved

this state and her people and you could see him out and about. I love his hotel, The Captain Cook. I remember coming out of the parking garage and opening the heavy door. It hit someone on the other side on the head. I stepped back and it was Wally. He was so sweet and gracious about it. His wife was very, very nice and they loved their grandkids. Sad day for her to poop on, the twit.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Pretty much my feelings, too.

My earliest recollection of Wally Hickel was him being fired by Richard Nixon over his stand on the Vietnam War. I wasn't even living in Alaska yet, but I thought that was so awesome. But, like you, I didn't care for some of his "boomerism," although it seemed like in his later years he toned that back quite a bit. Overall, I think I still prefer Jay Hammond as a politician, but I had a huge amount of respect for Wally Hickel.

[profile this]

4. Her daughter

gets 30K for speeches. Unreal.

[Rex]

8. Sarah is a walking, talking George W Bush. Maybe a little bit smarter

but twice the evil dicktater. I wouldn't trust her with a wooden nickle.