Sarah Palin: Obama embarrassed the Supreme Court

*
Sean Hannity and FOX News contributor Sarah Palin discussed President Obama's diss of the Supreme Court during his State of the Union Address Wednesday night. After viewing a clip of Justice Alito shaking his head and mouthing "Not true" when Obama criticized the high court's decision which struck down the McCain Feingold legislation, Gov. Palin described Obama's behavior as "embarrassing the court" and said he was not "respecting the Separation of Powers."

Palin also said that either Alito or Obama was being disingenuous, and she left no doubt that she believes it was President Obama. Finally, the GOP's 2008 vice presidential candidate said that she thinks that this is going to be a "huge takeaway moment from the speech."



h/t: Freedom's Lighthouse

- JP

Meanwhile, back in Alaska

Governor Palin's 36-hour visit to Indiana for two events left her very little time for relaxation, save what rest she was able to get on the plane. Now back in Alaska, the precious few hours away from the 49th state may seem like a vacation. Here's some of what she returned home to:

The "Legislature of No" cut off funding for an intra-state natural gas line, Gov. Palin's top priority. The governor's $9 million request for the in-state gas transmission line might resurface in a supplemental bill the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to consider today.

A federal appeals court has called a halt to expansion of oil and gas development in Alaska's coastal waters, ruling that the Interior Department did not adequately evaluate the environmental impact of offshore drilling. The ruling will likely delay oil and gas exploration off of Alaska's northern coast for what could amount to years.

The parental notification bill is going nowhere, and even a compromise endorsed by Gov. Palin wasn't able to save it. The legislation had passed the house, but liberal Democrats in the Senate, including kangaroo court commander Hollis French, locked it up in committee. How dare parents want to know when their underage daughters try to get abortions!

Alaska's unemployment rate has risen to 8.5%, making it equal to the national average. That is up 0.6% from February and two percentage points from a year ago. On the upside, Alaska is one of only four states which have economies still growing despite the national recession.

Gov. Palin will have the opportunity to make another appointment to the state Supreme Court. Justice Robert Eastaugh has announced his intention to retire in November. The Judicial Council will accept applications for the vacancy for 30 days, and then the legislators will submit at least two names to the governor from which she can make her selection.

Good news! The House has passed a bill outlawing bestiality. The vote was unanimous. It remains to be seen whether liberal Democrats in the Senate will allow the measure to pass, as it may be considered "discriminatory" by some. Hey, some people are just born "that way." Besides, the government has no business sticking its nose into people's barnyards. [/sarc]

Update: Gov. Palin's reaction to the gas line vote is here.

- JP

Palin: 'I do not have litmus tests' for judges

The Anchorage Daily News sent Gov. Palin a list of questions about the process of selecting judges, and the governor answered them in writing. Here is an excerpt:

ADN: Did you anticipate your selection of Morgan Christen being controversial?

Palin: Virtually every leadership decision I make is viewed as controversial by somebody. It is no different when selecting a nominee to appoint to a judicial position.

Some in a group called the Alaska Family Council were off-base with a knee jerk reaction to my decision; I believe they learned some things through this process. We had a lot of positive comments submitted for both candidates; individual personal experiences with these candidates were shared (and those who commented signed their names, I’ll add). I respect Alaskans’ voices on these appointments, and I welcome their input. Ultimately, while my views may not run parallel with any judge I’ve selected, I am confident that I selected a justice who will be an asset to the bench and to Alaskans.

ADN: What were your main considerations in making the appointment?

Palin: As mentioned above, I look for the nominee that is able to approach every case with an open mind and the best knowledge, skills, and ability to analyze the legal issues and apply the law to the facts of the case. It was my opinion that Judge Christen was the most qualified nominee. At the same time, I respect Judge Smith.

ADN: Did you ask about Planned Parenthood or abortion?

Palin: I do not have litmus tests or litmus questions for judicial appointments. Of her own volition, Judge Christen was open about her time on the Planned Parenthood board and offered her perspective. Judge Christen has always been a strong advocate for adoption, and she joined the organization to promote the issue statewide. During her time on the Planned Parenthood Board, it was the only one in the nation that did not perform abortions. Additionally, while she was on the board, she successfully championed the inclusion of the Crisis Pregnancy Center under the United Way donation umbrella. Letters we received supported this. The reaction of the Alaska Family Council was a bit of a surprise to me, but they must not have had the benefit of all the information about Judge Christen as I did.

- JP