Murkowski could be a useful foil for Palin

Even putting aside Murkowski’s character deficiencies, she absolutely destroys the narrative advanced by people like Avlon and the political chattering class that moderate/establishment Republicans are fiscal conservatives. There is not a budget too bloated for Murkowski to vote for and there is not an earmark too shameless for Murkowski to request. Murkowski defines political success as the amount of tax dollars that she can steal from the Lower 48 to pay for more welfare for her supporters in Alaska. There is a reason why John Avlon excluded her name from his list of “moderate Republicans” he is excited about because he knows that Murkowski damages the narrative he has attempted to advance in favor of moderate/establishment Republicans against the center-right/conservative movement.

Having Murkowski as the face of moderate/establishment Republicans makes Governor Palin’s life that much easier. Murkowski pretty much validates all the criticisms that Palin and the center-right have of moderate/establishment Republicans. Not only does Murkowski obliterate the narrative that moderate/establishment Republicans are fiscal conservatives but she also provides support for the argument that moderate/establishment Republicans do not believe in anything but holding onto power through any means necessary.