Seven reasons not to vote for Sarah Palin if you love wine
1. Last April, hailing Alaska’s Alcohol Awareness Month, she said, “alcohol isn’t necessary to have a good time.” Hell, neither is shooting moose. Why does Palin come across as such a smarmy, holier-than-thou schoolmarm?
2. She signed a bill, HB 118, that would fine a person throwing a party where an underage person possesses alcohol $500, even if that person was not responsible for providing the alcohol. For somebody who denounces Big Government, this intrusion into the household has frightening implications.
3. According to the Associated Press, in July, as part of her new Public Safety Plan, Palin called for legislation that will slow the flow of alcohol to rural Alaska. Sheesh. Today it’s rural Alaska, tomorrow it’s the cities, the next day it’s the whole f*****g country.
4. She fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan because (among other reasons) he was not making satisfactory progress on resolving alcohol issues. Seems Monegan refused to back up her scheme to raise the drinking age for moose to 25.
5. She signed a bill, SB 128, that requires the state Alcohol Control Board to maintain a database documenting the sale, distribution, and purchase of alcoholic beverages. More big brother stuff. What’s next, library books?
6. She’s a homophobe who supported Alaska’s 1998 ballot initiative to put a ban on same-sex marriage in the Alaskan constitution. Bad news. Everybody knows gay people are huge wine supporters (unless they’re in rehab).
7. She believes creationism should be taught in the public schools. As far as I’m concerned, anybody who doesn’t believe in evolution actually needs to drink more, not less.
Sarah Palin is bad news for the wine industry. On the other hand, Cindy McCain may be good news for the beer industry. Just put a Coors sign on the White House and let the taps roll!
P.S. Please visit my new post at Wine Enthusiast’s Unreserved.
Interesting post…
Not that I already haven’t come to grips with the fact I’m certainly not comfortable with the swaggering, gun-totting, Miss Congeniality.
I have a business connection who works in the Pentagon. He told me years ago that when the Democrats are in office, wine flows pretty freely; and, when the Republicans come into office, all the cork screws are put away…
Hi Jo, well, the Clintons liked their wine, but so did George H.W. Bush, and Reagan was a good friend of the California wine industry. I think Carter didn’t drink, so it’s a non-partisan issue. As for George W., he put all the cork screws in his Cabinet.
Well you know what I think of Sarah, wine-wise and otherwise.
I think the First Dude is a swell guy, however. He gave me a grrrreat interview too! http://tdh46.typepad.com/mondosapore/2008/09/the-todd-palin.html
How the wine flows is meant for parties and state dinners et al, and this person is one who “attends.”
There’s a completely different head set for each administration, according to this Washington insider.
Democrats aren’t the neo-prohibitionists, the homophobes, etc. – as a general rule. We can’t completely stereotype, but Palin does represent a majority of very conservative issues.
Including the right to choose, #8 on your list…
Great post and I am in full agreement on all issus and share the same opinions on Palin as my fellow commentators.
As a representative from a winery, I can’t help but wonder what would happen with McCain in office on the distributor side of things? Would that effect all the progress we have made with regards to direct shipping? What about franchise laws? Most of these issues are settled at the state level, but there has to be some ramifications? Steve, any thoughts?
Cheryl, I don’t know anything about McCain’s views on alcohol distribution, direct shipping, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a free market guy who was generally in favor of relaxed distribution. But with a radical conservative like Palin, with her evangelical ideology, who knows but that she would influence him in unfavorable ways.
Seven, eh? Mmm…Now I have to add these seven to the 13 reasons I already had. That passes my threshold. Obama-Biden it is.
Nice post.
Tom…
Steve.
As a former fraternity president, I support HB 118 (or the idea behind it) – no matter on what side of the isle it originates. If you throw a party, you may be held legally liable if someone leaving your party causes an accident and harm. Having been the one who signed his name on a multimillion dollar liability policy, I see this as a liability and public safety issue and not one of Big Brother.
Re#6: My gay friends are pretty representative of the rest of the population (when sexuality is taken out of the equation) as far as wine knowledge and appreciation goes.
There are the savvy and those that couldn’t tell if they are drinking TBC or something better.
I’m not a fan of hers, except for that leather skirt photo, but in her defense the issue of alcohol in Alaska is unrelated to the rest of us. Partly due to genetics of a large portion of the population as well as remnants of the Potlatch culture, alcoholism is one of the states big problems.
I am unaware of any damage a V.P. or even a tea totalling prez can do to us, given our experience with Dubya. And gay bashing is a well established form of Republican vote getting. Someone has to have the homophobes.
But note the glass of wine in the photo. This girl is ready to PARTY!
Well, Morton, I’m not as sanguine as you. For more on this topic, please see my post here tomorrow morning.
You said:
“1. Last April, hailing Alaska’s Alcohol Awareness Month, she said, “alcohol isn’t necessary to have a good time.” Hell, neither is shooting moose. Why does Palin come across as such a smarmy, holier-than-thou schoolmarm?”
So you’re saying that telling kids that there are alternative methods of having fun other than getting smashed out of their minds on alcohol is somehow “holier-than-thou”?
Well, speaking as a paramedic who’s seen hundreds of drunk teenagers smashed into the windshields of cars, thrown out of convertibles and had their faces ripped off by pavement as they slid across it, and held their dead bodies in my hands because they were crushed when they slammed their cars into trees, I can safely say that you’re the most arrogant, stupid, and totally unthinking cretin I’ve ever heard from.
You claim she’s “holier than thou”? YOU are acting more “holier than thou” than she is with that stupid and ill-thought-out tirade! Oh, you’re SOOOOO smart to call her “holier than thou” when you’re acting the same.
Go practice what you preach! Go to a hospital emergency room on New Year’s Eve when they’re bringing in the kids who’ve been in car accidents and tell their grieving parents that it’s OK for the kids to have been drinking and that they (the parents) are “holier than thou” by telling their kids to avoid alcohol.
Do it, you arrogant douchebag! Go to the funeral of a 14-year-old who died of alcohol poisoning and give a tirade about how it’s important to let kids drink and that the entire congregation is “holier than thou”.
Do it, you pathetic cretin! Show us the courage of your convictions! Get out from behind your computer and show your face at a funeral or an emergency room and lecture the parents that alcohol is OK for kids.
You stupid, uninformed, arrogant, mouth-breathing idiot. Because of people like you, kids are dying every day. Take your “holier than thou” attitude and shove it down your throat until you choke to death. You’ll be doing the world a favor.
Chuck, you sort of overapplied Steve’s post. And did he really advocate that young kids be allowed to drink?
You skewed everything to suit YOUR tirade, which is really a right-wing rant. ‘Fess up and admit you are the one with an agenda. And just cool it, you’re not winning anyone over here.
#5? well, she actually did try to ban some books she found not to her taste …. anyone that tries that? is just showing their own ignorance …
the following is from a letter written by Anne Kilkenny who is from the same town as Simple Sarah :
“While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.”
Anne Kilkenny
Updates:
See Palin’s Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual – NY Times, 9/3/08.
Also, Documents detail Palin’s political life – Politico, 9/2/08.
Chuck’s zeal or fervor (or whatever you want to call it) is rooted in a very grim reality. Before med school, I was an EMT and can say that a large majority of alcohol-related vehicle injuries and deaths occur among younger people. The scenario replayed in med school and in residency training during ER rotations.
Morton voiced a thought which crossed my mind. I did not have the background info, but I suspected that there may be some unique issues pertaining to alcohol consumption (and abuse) in the Alaskan population.
And, Morton< I agree she looks damn hot in that pic, but I suspect there may be some good photoshop work here. I mean… platform stripper shoes with stiletto heels (even if black leather) are just a bear in the snow – no matter one’s socio-political leanings….
Wow….followed the link here from Wine Business.com hoping for some interesting and substantial information.
Instead I got 4 wastes of my time that don’t belong in a wine blog (#s 4-7), one obviously doctored photo that I’ve already been forwarded 10 times, one piece of melodrama (#3) and two relevant comments, both of which I happen to side with Gov. Palin on.
We should not encourage the overconsumption of alcohol, and it is unrelated to hunting moose. Yes, you are responsible for what occurs in your house. I have no idea whether it was a law or just a scare tactic, but tickets were issued for serving minors at house parties when I was in college a decade ago….
And I’m not a Republican!
Steve – I will read your blog for information about the wine business. I really couldn’t care less about your political views and whom you endorse, although you’ve made it obvious that you think your readers should.
Please stick to writing about significant wine issues. I get bombarded with enough political commentrary from the talking heads and everybody with a bumper that has room for a sticker or some extra time to wave a sign already.
Nate, the swell thing about a blog is the owner can say whatever he wants. He can go all off-topic and everything. Simple solution for your complaint: Skip the post.
Arthur–isn’t the whole concept of blogging is that is provides a forums for users to share and comment on ideas?
And, last I checked, this post WAS about wine….the laws that govern wine in this country are always changing. How does a bill get written, supported and passed? Well, it certainly helps to have a favorable administration for whatever the issue of the day may be. In any case, as a wine consumer, it is imperative to be informed. Some of the other points were tongue in cheek….but that’s what makes it a good read.
One of the things that I like about this blog is the additional commentary and thoughts that we receive from an industry insider that has been around the block a few times. If you don’t like what he has to say, then go to the Wine Enthusiast site for his “work” blog. This is a great forum for personal antidotes.
Strappo-
Will do. Normally I do just that. Like I said, I followed the link here from WineBusiness.com, assuming from the headline and the fact that it’s lnked there that the content would have some substantial information about Gov. Palin’s stances on alcohol, or specifically, wine production, distribution and sales. Call me cynical, but that’s not what I read….
From my [honestly] non-partisan POV, the information herein tells me that Gov. Palin opposes overconsumption and serving alcohol to minors. Hardly groundbreaking.
Cheryl
I wonder if you are not mistakenly attributing somebody else’s comments to me…
Sorry. Meant Nate…