After handily defeating Murkowski in a primary, Palin never really had to break a sweat on the way to the election; no public polls ever showed her trailing. Before being picked by McCain, Palin enjoyed an astonishing 82 percent approval rating.
“There are no tough decisions, and the tough policy calls end up being divisive between people and the press,” says Persily, who has held many positions in journalism and state government.
“She generally had a good relationship with the Alaska press, which has been somewhat smitten with her personality and populist politics,” says Persily, who thinks that he and others abdicated duty “by not questioning statements as much as we should have—and I say ‘we’ because I was there.”
But Palin’s actions since she became McCain’s running mate, her administration’s inconsistent and opaque response to the Troopergate investigations, and some incidents surrounding information access have caused some reconsideration.
“Maybe it’s true that the press didn’t just hold her feet to the fire more,” says Townsend.
“Now, in retrospect, her apparent openness and willingness to cooperate and all of that, I now look back and ask if that was real or genuine,” says Dougherty. “I think it’s clear now that she’s yet to tell the truth about why she fired the public safety commissioner.”
“I’m not making any apologies for the work, which I think has been good. But are there stories we couldn’t do?” asks Dougherty. “Sure.”
Palin was fortunate enough to run at a time when every newspaper in the country has gotten pounded financially. Even in the best of times, it's hard to get enough reporting firepower trained on a political campaign. Now, however, it's even worse. The ADN is a fine paper that's short of staff. It's easy to fault them when you compare their work with that of the top reporters of the national media who still have some money at their disposal to do more in-depth stories.
Posted by Rainman on Fri 10 Oct 2008 at 01:43 PM
I only wish CJR would put as much energy into identifying Obama's cocaine dealer...
Why do you think that the press is ignoring Obama's cocaine use?
Huh?
Posted by padikiller on Fri 10 Oct 2008 at 11:08 PM
Huh? Cindy McCain is the certified drug addict. Remember when she was prosecuted for stealing drugs? She got probation and treatment.
Obama doesn't have time for drugs and everyone knows that.
Cindy, the patriotic soccer mom, found the time to get into a opiate-pain pill habit every day for years. It shows on her now, with those spooky eyes and frozen smile.
Posted by PhilZ on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 01:10 AM
I heard that Palin squeezes the toothpaste from the middle. Like how could she be nice to reporters? In all seriousness, do you have a point?
No woman was ever charged for the rape kit - Palin didn't put that law on the books. Then they accuse her of banning a book that hadn't even been written. That trooper is like some sheriff from a Buford T. Pusser flick who nightsticks minorities - you should invite him in your home.
Posted by carlos on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 01:59 AM
Padkiller .... fuck the cocain what about ACORN .... I have yet to read a single story about them here at CJR.
Posted by Carl Stevens on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 10:14 AM
Carl wrote: I have yet to read a single story about them here at CJR.
padikiller responds: I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. There's too much to write about Palin's high school prom.
Posted by padikiller on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 10:21 AM
If the Alaska press didn't know about a non-existing issue with payment for rape kits, wouldn't that make them miles ahead of the national press who seem willing to believe this nonsense no matter how many times its been debunked?
Posted by MenloBob on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 11:44 AM
This "nonsense" about the rape kits has NOT yet been debunked. It has not been fully investigated.
The investigation into the "troopergate" thing has shown abuse of power. She does not admit to it, even though it is more than clear to me. Actually, I wish the press would have given a little more detail into the findings of the report to put to rest some of the stories. Like the poaching moose deal. Why not report the whole thing... She loaned her tag to the guy, her dad butchered it, they all shared the meat, whatever. The only point of the "poacher" issue is that Palin and first dude wanted wooten arrested for the incident, even though they particpated.
I watched First Dude say that he made maybe one call to try and get action going against Wooten. But, as the report shows, There were dozens and dozens of calls made. It became their obsession.
The snowmobiling incident was cleared in the report. The use of the patrol car was cleared in the report.
The only thing that wasn't cleared in the report was the abuse of power issue.
And so I don't think the press is being too hard on Sarah Palin. I am being shown a manipulative woman.
I expect I will see more information on the emails she won't produce.
I believe these people are liars. I've already seen Todd lie. Sarah just gives non-denial denials.
Thank you.
Posted by sus on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 02:18 PM
This "nonsense" about the rape kits has NOT yet been debunked. It has not been fully investigated.
The investigation into the "troopergate" thing has shown abuse of power. She does not admit to it, even though it is more than clear to me. Actually, I wish the press would have given a little more detail into the findings of the report to put to rest some of the stories. Like the poaching moose deal. Why not report the whole thing... She loaned her tag to the guy, her dad butchered it, they all shared the meat, whatever. The only point of the "poacher" issue is that Palin and first dude wanted wooten arrested for the incident, even though they particpated.
I watched First Dude say that he made maybe one call to try and get action going against Wooten. But, as the report shows, There were dozens and dozens of calls made. It became their obsession.
The snowmobiling incident was cleared in the report. The use of the patrol car was cleared in the report.
The only thing that wasn't cleared in the report was the abuse of power issue.
And so I don't think the press is being too hard on Sarah Palin. I am being shown a manipulative woman.
I expect I will see more information on the emails she won't produce.
I believe these people are liars. I've already seen Todd lie. Sarah just gives non-denial denials.
Thank you.
p.s. Please forgive if this double posts. I had some problems with the Captcha.
Posted by sus on Sat 11 Oct 2008 at 02:20 PM
To see real videos of real women discussing their reactions to Sarah Palin & the misuse of gender issues in this year's presidential race, please take a look at the following blog (& forward to all your friends, family & open-minded folk at large):
www.speakoutonpalin.blogspot.com
Posted by Women Speak Out On Palin on Sun 12 Oct 2008 at 08:03 PM