Jedediah Bila Responds to Mona Charen's Rant

Via Jedediah Bila at Human Events:In a National Review Online column on November 19, Mona Charen provided an explanation of why she believes Sarah Palin shouldn?t run for President. She argued that after the 2008 campaign, Palin ?quit her job as governor after two and a half years?and seemed to chase money and empty celebrity.? She asserted that ?Palin seems consumed and obsessed? by the media, labeled Palin?s new TLC show, Sarah Palin?s Alaska, a ?cheesy entrant in the reality-show genre,? and took issue with the fact that Sarah and Todd sit in the Dancing with the Stars audience ?cheering on their unwed-mother daughter.? She opined that Palin?s ?endorsement of Christine O?Donnell was irresponsible and damaging? and suggested that ?She would be terrific as a talk-show host ? the new Oprah.?First and foremost, let?s address one of Charen?s opening points as to why Palin should sit 2012 out. She stated, ?Americans will be looking for sober competence, managerial skill, and maturity ? not sizzle and flash.? Perhaps a walk down policy lane is in order.As Governor, Sarah Palin actualized AGIA, the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, the largest private sector infrastructure project in North American history. Palin?s administration opened up drilling for oil and gas at Point Thomson for the first time in several decades. As Governor, Palin reduced earmark requests for Alaska by 80%, established Alaska?s Petroleum Integrity Office to oversee safe energy development, placed the state checkbook online, and reduced spending for Fiscal Year 2010 by over one billion dollars from Governor Murkowski?s Fiscal Year 2007 budget. Palin signed ACES, Alaska?s Clear and Equitable Share bill, into law, incentivizing development and ensuring that Alaskans would receive a ?clear and equitable? share of oil profits. She cut costs by selling a private jet purchased by the previous governor and saying ?no thank you? to the Executive Mansion?s personal chef. She has served as Chairperson of the AK Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Vice Chair of the National Governors Association Natural Resource Committee. Prior to her time as Governor, Palin served as Mayor of Wasilla, AK, and city council member in Wasilla. She has also been involved in running a commercial fishing business with her husband Todd.More here.

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