Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Palin in Philly: Obama’s “Catch-22”?
by W. T. Howes
The image of a very popular governor and possible 2012 rival hangs over the President-elect as he establishes a professional relationship with her. BHO is in a Catch-22. On one hand, he has an obligation to work with her on the natural gas pipeline project. On the other, if he helps make it a success, does he hand a potential rival an accomplishment?
Back before he disappeared off the face of the political map, Joe Biden declared that Barack Obama was a “new type of intelligence”. It is an article of faith among liberals that the President-elect is very, very intelligent. People of all stripes agree that he is highly talented. BHO will need all of his vaunted intellect to solve the political Catch-22 that is Sarah Palin.
Today, 40 of the nation’s governors and governors-elect will join BHO at Independence Hall in Philadelphia for an economic summit. Many prominent governors will arrive in Philly with their hats in hand. Many states have structural deficits as as the result of decades of overindulgence in Great Society programs. Big government social programs have become unsustainable. Instead of cutting their budgets and payrolls, some of these governors - like New Jersey’s Jon Corzine - are going to lobby the President-elect for their own bailout.
Governor Palin does not come to Philadelphia with an unsustainable budget. With Alaska’s fiscal house in order, she is free to lobby for the pipeline. The proposed pipeline would parallel the route of the existing trans-Alaska oil pipeline to a point south of Fairbanks. It would then follow the Alaska Highway, continuing through northern British Columbia to link with the Alberta Hub on TransCanada’s pipeline grid in northwestern Alberta. The Alaska section would be approximately 750 miles in length, with six compressor stations at start-up and at least five natural gas delivery points in Alaska. The Canadian section to Alberta would be approximately 965 miles, with ten compressor stations at start-up and eight intermediate delivery points in the Yukon.
Sarah was the irresistable force in Alaska that moved the pipeline project through the legislature and through the bidding process. The pipeline is a signature accomplishment for her. If it continues to succeed, then it will be a signature accomplishment if she runs for president. So whither Obama?
The pipeline will help the nation move toward energy independence in an environmentally responsible manner. BHO has promised to move the nation toward energy independence. BHO has promised a more perfect union in which he works across party lines to accomplish things for the American people. Will he help? If he does not, he breaks major campaign promises in a very palpable way, in which case he would be exposed on the 2012 campaign trail. If he does help, he may be helping to create a resume for a 2012 rival. If BHO is truly a new type of intelligence, he will figure it out.
For Governor Palin, it is a no-lose opportunity to use her new found fame to benefit her constituents, the people of Alaska.
