In an historic first, the Alaska Legislature rejected Governor Sarah Palin’s choice to be Alaska Attorney General, Wayne Anthony Ross. The vote was 35 to 23 to reject the controversial figure, which included 9 Republicans.
“I think he is too controversial for the state of Alaska. We’ve got in some people’s mind a controversial governor and I think that he just has too many controversies out there,” said House Speaker Mike Chenault, a Nikiski Republican.
Even Ross’ opponents in the Legislature had said just a few days ago that he had enough support to be confirmed despite widespread opposition from Alaska Native groups, his calling gays “degenerates” in the 1990s, and allegations that he made offensive comments about women. But a tipping point appeared to come this week when Ross gave what lawmakers called bad and politicized legal advice to Palin about a fight she’s having with lawmakers over a state Senate appointment.
Palin suggested lawmakers who voted no were turning their backs on voters. They rejected an attorney general, she said, who strongly supports the issues important to Alaskans — gun rights, constitutional rights and developing resources to the maximum benefit of residents.
via Lawmakers reject Ross as AG in historic vote: Politics | adn.com.
Said Ross of his service as the appointed attorney general:
“I had a neat office for two and a half weeks and I was attorney general under the law for two and a half weeks for the state of Alaska. And the big question I have now is whether they will put my picture up with the other (former attorneys general) for only two and a half weeks’ service,” Ross said.
Palin was once the most popular governor in the country, but now she is just a laughingstock. The more she opens her mouth, the more mockery she inspires. Decisions like this appointment and subsequent rejection by the legislature only further nail her political coffin shut. And that is all to the good for the United States.
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