Murkowski: Sarah Palin Lacks “Intellectual Curiousity” Needed In A President

In case you were wondering if Lisa Murkowski is holding a grudge against Sarah Palin for backing Joe Miller in the primary last August, wonder no more:

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she would not support Sarah Palin if she decides to seek the presidency because the former governor lacks the “intellectual curiosity” for the job.

“I just do not think she has those leadership qualities, that intellectual curiosity that allows for building good and great policies,” Murkowski told Katie Couric in a “CBS Evening News” interview. “You know, she was my governor for two years, for just about two years there, and I don’t think that she enjoyed governing. I don’t think she liked to get down into the policy.”

Murkowski, who is on track to win her write-in campaign to retain her Senate seat, has said previously that Palin is not an ideal presidential contender. The two Alaska Republicans have had a long, tense relationship stemming from when Murkowski’s father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, appointed his daughter to serve out his Senate term instead of Palin.

Murkowski didn’t do much to downplay the iciness of the relationship.

“I’m still her senator. I’m going to work hard to represent her too. We don’t really have much of a relationship,” said Murkowski.

Gee, you don’t say……..

The personal animosity between Palin and Murkowski has been fairly apparent in recent years and stretches back, of course, to 2006 when Palin defeated Murkowski’s father in a three-way race for Governor. I doubt this year has done much to calm those tensions.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. wr says:

    Yeah, basically she’s George W. Bush without the towering intellect.

  2. daveinboca says:

    This RINO biyotch should have been put away like the rabid dog she appears to be. I’m glad Sarah showed what an entitlement crone this Daddy’s Girl really is. No brains either.

  3. Steve says:

    DaveinBOCA-

    Watch your mouth. If you can’t contribute anything to the discussion other than schoolyard names, learn to keep quiet. Further free advice: If you’re looking to further any sort of debate, you’d be better off not throwing around gems like “no brains either”. You just make yourself and whatever cause you believe in look silly, poorly educated, and a bit violent.

    Are you really advocating that an elected representative be killed “like the rabid dog she appears to be”? Next time, think before you (virtually) speak.

  4. Tominkodiak says:

    your newest tea party republicans are busy getting the ring in their nose from the old party leaders who have given them so much help getting into office.
    Sara signed a four year contract with the people of Alaska to serve as their governor we got just a little over one year from her and another few months from her blackberry. It seems she found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. but to get it she had to jump ship.
    Alaskans did not vote for lisa so she could blindly follow the republican agenda. the RNC droped her like a hot potato. so she won this all on her own.
    do you take your tea with one lump or two?

  5. Smooth Jazz says:

    Yeah, this is news (Tongue planted firmly in cheek): A woman with an obvious axe to grind since Gov Palin beat her father years ago (Murkowski) talking to an admitted Lib who had it in for Gov Palin from Day 1 (Couric). Two jealous and vindictive losers; Yeah, this is news alright.

    At least you were honest enough to point out to your readers that there is a history of animosity between the 2 women, and Murkowski’s comments should be taken with a grain of salt. You should be commended for that.

  6. Don Singleton says:

    RINO Murkowski’s “intellectual curiosity” has already led her to say if Obama succeeds the country succeeds so she will not try to undermine him. I guess socialism, communism, authoritianism, etc appeal to the intellectual curious. That makes me want to support Palin that much more.

  7. reid says:

    Obama, the second coming of Stalin. You nailed that one, Don!

  8. john personna says:

    It’s kinda sad the sort of fanboi who follow the links to any Sarah-criticism.

  9. wr says:

    Hey Smooth — If there’s a jealous and vindictive loser in the Alasaka senate race, it sure isn’t Lisa Murkowski, who is cruising to a historic victory over Palin’s pet thug.

  10. Gerry W. says:

    Usually, this is what you get (lack of curiosity) from the right. It is just tax cuts, laissez-faire and God and country. Someone a long time ago on TV said Bush lacked the curiosity. And it is true. It was “stay the course” on the wars and the economy. Even Tony Blair said that Bush seemed to be disinterested in the wars as they were getting worse. I have seen no curiosity from Palin. It is just the same old ideology.