The Tragedy of Sarah Palin - Magazine From the moment Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech electrified the Republican convention, she was seen as an unbending, hard-charging, red-meat ideologue—to which soon was added “thin-skinned” and “vindictive.” But a look at what Palin did while in office in Alaska—the only record she has—shows a very different politician: one who worked with Democrats to tame Big Oil and solve the great problem at the heart of the state’s politics. That Sarah Palin might have set the nation on a different course. Robert Hunt It’s hard to escape Sarah Palin. During a week spent traveling there recently, I learned that Palin occupies a place in the minds of most Alaskans roughly like that of an ex-spouse from a stormy marriage: she’s a distant bad memory, and questions about her seem vaguely unwelcome. So has Palin. But if she decides to run for the White House—and she’ll have to make up her mind soon—all of that will change.
Montana Legislature: Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee Meetings l Assigned Studies l Committee Topics l Publications l Staff l Contact Us The Children and Families Interim Committee is a joint bipartisan committee of the Legislature that meets between legislative sessions to monitor the Department of Public Health and Human Services; conduct interim studies; and generally review issues related to health and human services. In May 2011, the Legislative Council assigned two studies to the committee: the House Joint Resolution 8 study of childhood hunger and the Senate Joint Resolution 30 study of childhood health trauma. The committee is also required by law to monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 423, which revises the state's laws related to the use of marijuana for a debilitating medical condition. At its June 2011 meeting, the Committee decided to focus additional committee time on monitoring the state Medicaid program, as well. Committee Members -- Meeting Schedule and Materials -- Sign Up for E-Updates Meetings Committee Topics Staff
National Institute on Money in State Politics EDGE Articles & Commentary This article appears in the Fall 2011 issue of Breakthrough Journal With their impressive election victory of 2010 and the emergence of the Tea Party--the most significant (and disruptive) grassroots political phenomenon since the anti-Vietnam War movement in the 1960s and 1970s--conservatives and especially the self-conscious "conservative movement" might be excused for exhibiting an air of triumphalism. The Democrats' commanding majority in the House has been dispatched, the Senate and the presidency are increasingly on the ropes, and fears that President Barack Obama's 2008 election might have represented a fundamental and lasting realignment of the American electorate are rapidly fading from memory. For those willing to probe a bit deeper, however, it should quickly become apparent that we badly need to take stock of our position. Conservatism, despite these impressive electoral victories, is failing on its own terms. Political and economic indicators bring more grim news.