Hoo, boy

In the McCain campaign post-mortem, I almost began to feel sorry for Sarah Palin. In retrospect, the whole campaign was pretty much doomed from the start, and when the long knives came out I think she was scapegoated a bit. (The whole kerfuffle about her wardrobe, for example, was a bit much.) This isn't to say that the thought of her within spitting distance of the White House wasn't terrifying beyond verbal description, but I didn't really want to see her totally destroyed in the media, either.

Thankfully, she has gone to the trouble to remind me of why I opposed her so much in the first place. From the Anchorage Daily News (via Washington Monthly):

Gov. Sarah Palin is refusing to accept more than 30 percent of the federal economic stimulus money being offered to Alaska, including dollars for schools, energy assistance and social services.

The news Thursday drew anger from those who accused Palin of putting her national political aspirations ahead of the state's interests, and admiration from others who say she has courage to turn down money that would expand government. The state Legislature will have an opportunity to override her decision.

[snip]

The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau said she is "shocked and very disappointed" that Palin would reject the schools money. She said it could be used for job preservation, teacher training, and helping kids who need it.

It looks like Palin is pulling a Sanford. Why do I suspect that she's hoping the Legislature overrides her decision so she, like the South Carolina governor, can reap the political benefits with her base without having to pay the price of doing without the actual money? Kind of a cake having/eating situation. Now, this would just be the typical political posturing (no great surprise, and not exclusive to Republicans) were it not for one niggling detail. Look at where those cuts would hit hardest, then remind yourself of one of Gov. Palin's purported signature issues.

Sarah Palin today picked an issue close to her heart for her first major policy speech -- special needs children.

Palin, whose 6-month-old son Trig has Down syndrome, told a crowd in Pittsburgh that the federal government should do more to help those children and their families, and give parents more choices.

"The truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable," said Palin, who has said that, if elected, she would be an emissary for those families in the White House.

The truest measure of any society, huh? The federal government should do more to help? Really? Why, I guess that would make you a raging hypocrite then, wouldn't it, Gov. Palin?