Shadow Governor

In the Palin administration, Todd appears to have had an unusually strong role, the extent of which remains unclear. He is not on the state payroll and was never elected -- but the First Dude has crossed over from the standard-issue supportive political spouse to something far more influential, weighing in on policy and political matters in ways that few observers seem to understand. His apparent influence in his wife's administration -- some in Alaska have referred to him as the "shadow governor" -- has raised questions about whether a Sarah Palin vice-presidency would hand the same type of backstage power to Todd, and what that might mean in the running of the U.S. government.  --from: Sarah Palin's powerful "First Dude" (Salon)

Recently, I was clicking through WAPO's slideshow of the day and found two shots of Todd Palin dated April '07.  The first, the one above, showed Palin meeting with the Arctic Slope Regional Corp. training coordinator to discuss the organization's labor development programs in Anchorage.  The second photo -- which I've been unable to locate again -- showed Todd meeting with the Alaska International Brotherhood of Electoral Workers statewide training coordinator to discuss that union's training programs. 

On the surface, this activity would seem fairly benign.  His Wikipedia says Todd Palin "advises the Governor on workforce development issues."  In early May, The LAT related how "Palin has been asked to champion ... young Alaskans toward jobs in the oil and gas industry."  Sarah Palin related Todd's agenda as "... passing information on to me and participating in getting workforce development programs up and running in Alaska.”

In reality, however, the First Spouse's supposedly nominal role in his wife's administration has been contradicted by the facts.  Todd's training agenda was expansive enough, for example, that a couple of mining companies interested in digging in Alaska flew him around the state in late '07, the cost of which the first couple expensed as gifts.  And of course, the "Troopergate" report released Friday detailed how Palin spent more than 50% of his time in the Governor's office, had his hands almost everything, and one the labor issue specifically, was privy to emails dealing with the state's union matters.

There are innumerable images of husband, and snowmobiler, and fisherman Todd floating around the web.  Curiously though, there are precious few pictures capturing "First Dude" functioning as a self-assumed agent of the state and the governor's office.  Well, here's at least one.

(image: Al Grillo/AP. Alaska. April 2007)

Comments

[donna]

The Todd, and the Palins' abuse of power, are the things that most concern me about Palin. Their abusive tactics in running a small government are certainly not a very positive message for how they would handle national office. Theirs is an extremely dysfunctional family, in my view.

[Samantha]

Todd doesn't seem that bright to me. He's no Cheney, by a far cry. But that doesn't mean he does not help her govern, or have his hands in things,
because I'm sure he does. I think this probably speaks to Sarah Palin's way of governing, which is to let other people tackle the problems and she'll articulate it to the public. She seems to be enjoying her national tour, despite the losing ticket, because it's exactly the part she loves - traveling, meeting exciting new people, signing autographs, just as the hockey video illustrated.

Sarah's background consists of beauty queen and tv commentator. Those are her interests, there is no actual interest in governing, so why enter politics? Maybe she saw it as a way to expand her contacts to an elite list of people she otherwise would have no access to. Todd may have pointed out the financial benefits.

Having spouses in the major's office, governor's office, etc, has been done before, but not without (usually justifiable) criticism. It tends to be a small town thing, with wives or husbands or other relatives blocking the door of the elected official. You don't often see it on a national level. First Ladies try to stay out of official business because the stakes are so high. No longer is it about deciding whether to build a damn on a river, but whether to go to war. One notable exception has been of course Hillary, but Hillary was as educated and committed to public service as Bill was, which was advertised up front when he ran. So, as a practice, I wouldn't say the Todd Palin role is alarming, but certainly we would need transparency with that, and a chance to look at his qualifications, biases, etc. We have not been given a chance to do that in this campaign, and that is more than troubling. Honestly, I think that decision disqualifies her from office.

[g]

One of the articles I read about Troopergate mentioned a meeting that Todd had held with someone to discuss Trooper Wooten, and there was a description of the conference room where Todd sat with a stack of personnel files in front of him - and I thought - WTF? Aren't employee personnel files confidential? why would someone who has no official HR capacity have access to someone's personnel files?

[jean]

Glad to see this getting out into the light. Andrew Halcro, a longtime Alaskan activist, politician and blogger has been talking about this since Palin became governor. The 'first dude' has put his nose into more than just getting his former b-i-l fired.

[harrier]

I notice, too, that once again T. Palin has his eye fixed on the camera. I'm sorry to say that he may regard this whole exercise as a run up to a race for the Senate in the future. A race he will probably win, via his surrogate/wife, unless they are completely
discredited in the eyes of Alaskans.

[not a snob]

Without higher education,
without humility to learn from others,
--call me a snob--
a high-school graduate on a snowmobile does not qualify a vice president (as regent)
or worse, an accidental president (also as regent).
Somebody save us from those simpletons with snake tongues!

[zzyzx]

There is something spooky and discomfiting about Todd's movements behind the scenes in this campaign and from what we know of his earlier activities. I, too, have noticed how Todd maneuvers to just happen to be within the camera angle with Sarah and McCain.

I heard somewhere, but cannot confirm, that republican officials had been in AK for months prior to Palin being chosen. Were they looking for dirt, covering it up, or setting up Palin for her debut? Can anyone else confirm this? I just have the sneaky suspicion that she was picked by the roveans because they know well that McCain is on his last leg and they want someone they can control, just like Bush. Clever enough to pass, but dumb enough to go along. The myth that McCain picked her is belied by his expressions of a cat who was just given a live mouse to play with. And I still think there was something strange about how McCain just happened to be the winner after being so far down. Could it be while no one was watching the republicans they tipped those machines? I think he's sicker than we are being allowed to know. Isn't his health much more important to this election than who the hell ayres is?

OK, I'm done.

[Kit (Keep It Trill)]

From zzyzs: There is something spooky and discomfiting about Todd's movements behind the scenes in this campaign and from what we know of his earlier activities. I agree.

I heard somewhere, but cannot confirm, that republican officials had been in AK for months prior to Palin being chosen.<.i>

I think this is true too. Some anonymous person named 'Ted' left a comment on a June 4th post (Hillary as McCain's VP?) of mine that Sarah Palin should be chosen as VP. The media was as shocked as everyone else when McCain picked her at the end of August. Whoever left that comment, I think was a right wing plant to sprinkle the idea throughout the blogging community, via subliminal suggestion. She has so many skeletons in her closet combined with a massive ego that she'd be the perfect puppet for the New World Order.

[itwasntme]

Seems neither parent has been home with the kids.

No wonder they have a knocked-up teenager.

[Johanna]

There's quite a bit of resemblance between the Clintons and the Palins. In both cases there was no transparency about the spouse's role. That's because in a democracy the spouse is not officially entitled to a role. Yet Hillary ran on the idea that she played a large unofficial role. The firings were certainly a feature of the Clinton administration. As to the advertised intention of having Mrs. Clinton play a big role (two for the price of one) in the Clinton administration, come on. That doesn't change the unorthodox character of it. I think the first, and gravest abuse of power in the case of both couples, is giving the unelected spouse a governing role, that spouse being unaccountable to the electorate.

[Ferry Fey]

Todd Palin and his partner received a penalty for cheating in the 2007 Iron Dog snowmobile race. They cheated by working on their snow machines "off the clock" at a time in the race when all racers were not supposed to make repairs. They still won anyway.

Scott Davis and Todd Palin (mister first mister of AK) were caught greasy-handed, wrenching on their machines off-the-clock a few minutes before the restart in NOme. I saw it with these two eyes. Scandilous! and the Iron Dog race directors may actually sweep it under the carpet.

http://www.supercub.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=138795&highlight=

[Oct8pus]

Buy the Patan, er Palin button here!!

http://www.zazzle.com/patan_button-145571009900617768

And of course, the "unofficial" McCain/Palin pin too!

http://www.zazzle.com/mcfester_and_the_crazy_housewife_button-145513240975812724