Palin Changes Line of Succession, Pal Now in Line for Lt. Governorship

Carrying on a long tradition of helping her friends, Alaska's Frost Lady has changed the line of state succession, paving the way for her high schoolmate Corrections Commissioner Joe Schmidt to be lieutenant governor should the current lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell, be unable to serve.

Talis Colberg, who resigned earlier this month, held that position when he was attorney general. Under state law, the governor must appoint a back-up from her cabinet to step into the lieutenant governorship--and should Palin be unable to serve, running the state as governor. How sweet that Palin feels Schmidt is qualified--he's spent 20 years running prisons, you betcha he can run a state!

In 2008 the Alaska Correctional Officers Association voted against Schmidt in a "no confidence" measure, but the ever-loyal Palin stood behind him and called him a reformer, dontcha know!

The line of succession is not 100% secure yet; the state legislature must okay Schmidt's potential position.