Thursday, November 13, 2008

Palin to the Senate?

Of course she'll run for the Senate if she possibly can.

She almost has to.

Palin hit 80% approval in Alaska on the strength of a tripling in the price of oil. She raised taxes on the oil companies and paid the cash to the population. And who doesn't like free money?

Now the price of oil has tumbled below $65 - and the government of Alaska faces some painful decisions ahead. Palin's tax policy, which extracted extra benefits for the population as the price of oil rose, implies extra cutbacks as the price declines. Better to get out while the getting is good. Whoever governs Alaska in 2008-2010 will be luck to have an approval rating in the 40s.

Some might suggest that leading a state through bad times is a truer test of leadership than spending windfalls in good times. But who is listening?

11/13 12:55 PM