"Sending in the Clowns" - Andrew Halcro on SP's recent weird behavior

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/send_in_the_clowns

(4/3/09) Somewhere in the back of my mind I keep hearing the soothing sounds of Frank Sinatra crooning, "And where are the clowns, quick send in the clowns, don't bother they're here."

The bottom line is Juneau has quickly degenerated into a circus.

Maybe it's because Governor Sarah Palin has failed to pass any meaningful legislation this year to address Alaska's greatest public policies challenges, including failing to pass her energy legislation that she told Alaskans back in January was her administrations highest priority this session.

Maybe it's because she has spent more time communicating with the outside media rather than communicating with her own staff on issues like pending legislation or stimulus funds.

Or quite simply it might be due to the fact that with only two weeks left in the legislative session, Palin's only strength has become grousing instead of governing. Whatever the reason, the capitol has become the big top.

With just sixteen days remaining in the legislative session, Palin is on the verge of being able to claim only one accomplishment this session; denying Juneau representation in the State Senate.

Today's story in the Anchorage Daily News announcing that Palin is now challenging the way new appointees have been approved by lawmakers for decades is yet another clear sign that her focus is about getting even rather than governing.

The traditional process of filling vacant legislative seats has been a standard practice for decades. Even Palin followed the same practice when she appointed Republican Wes Keller in 2007 to replace the indicted Vic Kohring.

But today, after Democrats rejected her choice of Tim Grussendorf to fill the vacated Juneau Senate seat held by Kim Elton, the governor suddenly wants to rewrite the rules. "I believe my selection of Tim Grussendorf is legitimate and it stands until they take that vote in an open, public forum with more than just the partisan participants," Palin told the Daily News.

Where was that demand when Keller was nominated? There was no vote in public, no open forum with more than just partisan participants, however Palin didn't object then.

In fact there have been six Republicans tapped to fill vacant legislative positions by Republican governors over the last six years, and every one of them went through the same process as the Democrat Grussendorf did this past week.

So why the inconsistency?

Save your brain cells.

It's growing increasingly clear that Palin is running on empty when it comes to rational reasoning. Her bizarre call for Alaska Senator Mark Begich to resign in the wake of the Justice Department dropping the case against former Senator Ted Stevens is another example.

Thankfully, Alaska's Republican congressional delegation offered a better grasp of reality, one that Palin failed to subscribe to.

"In light of the good news yesterday, I am sure many of us wish we could turn the clock back to last November," said Begich's Senate colleague, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "Unfortunately, that is not an option."

Alaska's lone congressman Don Young went even further. "The seated senator there, Mark Begich, will be in the Senate, he will do a good job," Young told Fox News.

However the erratic behavior of the governor is not limited to trying to impose her unilateral view on legislative bodies and who should be seated, it goes to the heart of her administration that is sinking before her very eyes.

In this week's edition of the Alaska Budget Report (ABR), Publisher Rebecca Braun writes about an administration, forced to embrace the same vacuous governance as dictated by their boss.

Tensions between Palin and legislators have not abated. In addition to the fracas over stimulus spending and the governors claim of federal strings when actually there are none, lawmakers are expressing frustration because Palin refuses to lead.

"It appears the administration doesn't really push their own bills," Republican State Sen. Bert Stedman told Braun. "They ask other members within the legislature to sponsor them and move them forward, with little-apparently-support."

Take the case of Valdez Republican State Rep. John Harris who introduced a controversial measure to adjust cruise ship wastewater standards. "I was asked to sponsor the bill because the administration didn't want to. It really should have been an administration bill."

Meanwhile, legislators are finding it continually difficult to work with administration officials because they are afraid to express any policy positions on pending legislation. "They're not really allowed to say they support anything," Democratic State Sen. Johnny Ellis said in the ABR this week.

And those administration officials that dare take a public position, are quickly silenced.

Last Saturday during a marathon meeting of the House Finance Committee to discuss stimulus funds, one assistant commissioner appeared to step out of line according to Braun's Alaska Budget Report.

Finance Co-Chair Mike Hawker asked Alison Elgee, Department of Health and Social Services assistant commissioner for financial management, if the department would like to see the legislature appropriate a portion of the stimulus monies for her departments needs. "Mr. Chairman, yes, we would," Elgee responded.

Surprised that Elgee would say yes, after the governor had already said no publicly, Hawker went on to ask, "Alison, are you now in political peril for your job?"

Later, in an interview with Braun, the governor's legislative liaison Jerry Gallagher said that Elgee's statement of support was "inconsistent with the governor's position."

Right hand meet left hand. Left hand meet right hand. But at least we know clearly where Palin stands on matters of grave importance like whether she believes U.S. Senator Mark Begich should resign or not.

During Saturdays finance committee hearing, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Fairbanks), a loyal defender of the governor, voiced concerns about the mixed messages being sent by the Palin administration.

"I guess what I need to hear in each of these cases is, has the administration changed its position? Otherwise, somebody watching this could think they're peeking in on a zoo," Kelly said.

Not quite a zoo, but definitely a circus.

"And where are the clowns, quick send in the clowns, don't bother, they're here."