The Democrat Thread

[HuskyCaucasian]

Freudian Slip?

Republican National Committee co-chair Jo Anne Davidson mistakenly referred to the party's presumptive vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, as "Sarah Pawlenty" at the Republican National Convention Tuesday.

 

Boy, even the GOP Co-Chair doesnt know who she is

[jackie hayes]

McCain Campaign Manager Rick Davis:

"This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

Everything I saw of the GOP convention today, I filtered through that quote. And I gotta say, I think it explains quite a lot.

[bmags]

get ready for tomorrows washpost from what I hear.

[DukeNukeEm]

get ready for tomorrows washpost from what I hear.

bmags you cruel tease.

[BigSqwert]

8 Reasons Sarah Palin is More Qualified than Barack Obama

 

Sarah Palin (sp?) has ignited the presidential race and fired up the GOP -- as evidenced by three women at the RNC who took the time to print the words "We," "Love," and "Sarah" on pieces of paper and tape them to the backs of their t-shirts. Sarah's even won the backing of the level-headed Rep. Michele Bachmann (R- MN) -- not exactly known for toeing the party line. Clearly, the liberal left realizes that it can't match this kind of unbridled enthusiasm for its candidate. So what are they doing? Attacking her character. Questioning her qualifications. Imagine a political group attacking an opponent because it can't win on the issues or the record. It's disgusting.

 

So let's set the record straight. Sarah Pahlen (sp?) is not only more qualified for the Oval Office than Barack Obama -- she might just be the most qualified political candidate in our nation's history:

 

1. Putting Country First - Her membership in the Alaska Independence Party proves that she's exactly the kind of leader America needs: the kind that will always put country first -- even if that country happens to be The Republic of Alaska. Obama claims he loves America -- but has he ever loved it enough to favor seceding from it? It's called tough love, Senator. Look into it.

 

2. Independence - Sarah hates indicted Senator Ted Stevens, but raised money for him. She hates the "bridge to nowhere," but supported it. She wants to shatter Hillary's glass ceiling, but wears t-shirts touting the size of her boobs. We're dealing with an innovative politician; one who refuses to be categorized. Obama may call himself the candidate of "change," but Sarah Pailen's (sp?) entire political life has been about saying one thing, and then doing another. Now that's "change we can believe in."

 

3. Family Values - This is someone who's not afraid to preach abstinence for your daughter, even though her own unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. This is someone who's not afraid to hop on a plane from Texas to Alaska while she's in premature labor. This is someone who's not afraid to hit the campaign trail with a 5-month-old special needs baby. That's what I call dedication to family. Obama, on the other hand? A Muslim.

 

4. Intellect - Yes, Sarah recently admitted that she didn't know exactly what it was the Vice President did. Yes, she wants creationism taught in public schools. Yes, she doesn't believe global warming is manmade. But I'd like to point out the fact that she wears glasses -- and that's not something dumb people generally do. Obama? No glasses.

 

5. Military Affairs - As Governor, Pollen (sp?) is authorized to deploy Alaska's National Guard in times of emergency. And while the Guard's Adjunct General admits that she plays no role in national defense, and isn't briefed on military exercises, the fact is -- she's been photographed holding a machine gun, while Obama has yet to wield so much as a .38 for the cameras. When it comes to keeping me safe, that's all I need to know.

 

6. Foreign Affairs - While Obama likes to take Middle East tours, meet with Europe's leaders, and brag about his running mate being the foreign policy voice of the Senate, he can't hold a candle to Palenn's (sp?) understanding of today's complex, dangerous world. Yes, Sarah admitted that she hadn't paid much attention to the war in Iraq, but she knew enough to rightly call it a "task from God." Yes, she's only left North America once in her life, but her experience as a local sportscaster gave her the ability to follow events as they unfold at lightning speed. And as Cindy McCain pointed out, while Barack Obama was sipping lattes in Cambridge Square, Sarah Pinkston (sp?) was staring down the barrel of Putin's Kalashnikov -- a one woman wall keeping America safe from invasion.

 

7. Restoring America's Image - Who better than a former beauty queen to add some new luster to America's battered image? Paylen (sp?) will take a proverbial can of Aqua Net to our nation's unruly hair, and apply liberal (no pun intended) amounts of blush to Lady Liberty's cheekbones. In a word, she'll dazzle the world with her charm and style. Even the most anti-Western extremists will melt when they see the People and Vanity Fair spreads of Sarah warming her fur-lined extremities over burning science textbooks. And how would Obama restore our leadership in the world? The question we should be asking is: why does he only have two children, while Sarah has at least twice that number? What does Senator Obama have against America's children?

 

8. Her Soul - In one 15-minute meeting, and one follow-up phone call, John McCain was able to determine that Sarah was more than his running mate -- she was his "soul mate." Not only that, but that she was more qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office than any Republican on earth. Yes, this is a testament to the power and quickness of McCain's decision making. But it's also a testament to the power of Sarah Payton's (sp?) soul. As a Muslim, it's not even clear that Obama has a soul.

 

So is Sarah Pillston (sp?) qualified to be Vice President? To be one bad biopsy away from being the most powerful human being on earth? To lead America back to prominence and prosperity, while keeping us safe from a world of ever-changing threats?

 

In her own words: "Yup...yup."

 

LINK

[BigSqwert]

And courtesy of the Onion:

 

Cheney Waits Until Last Minute Again To Buy Sept. 11 Gifts

September 1, 2008 | Issue 44•35

 

WASHINGTON—Busy dealing with important paperwork and other vice presidential duties in recent weeks, Dick Cheney was forced to put off until the last minute a cherished annual tradition: gift-shopping for his favorite holiday, 9/11.

 

"I looked at the calendar yesterday, and I couldn't believe my eyes—9/11 is almost here!" a rosy-cheeked Cheney said upon returning to the White House Sunday with two giant bags overflowing with gift-wrapped boxes and big red bows. "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

 

While Cheney is known by many to be cold and taciturn for the other 11 months of the year, those close to the vice president say there is something about the 9/11 season that puts a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Each Sept. 11 morning since 2001, Cheney has come to work donning a fireman costume and handed out small, thoughtful gifts to all White House staffers. In addition, at his home on 9/11 Eve, Cheney lays out large piles of presents for his children and grandchildren underneath the colorfully lit, six-foot-tall 9/11 towers that he sets up by the fireplace.

 

"I think I've outdone myself this year—I bought the president a box of cigars and a brand-new fountain pen, I got Condoleezza [Rice] a beautiful blue blazer, and for my wife [Lynne] I bought a diamond necklace, a new winter coat, and this neat little motorized airplane ornament to hang on the 9/11 towers," Cheney told reporters while perusing the windows of New York's famed Park Avenue shops. "And for [grandson] Samuel I bought about a million toys and games and 9/11 nutcrackers. I probably went a little bit overboard, but it's his first 9/11, and I want it to be as special as my first 9/11."

 

The vice president then reiterated how fortunate he was to have received his big 9/11 bonus early this year.

 

Although Cheney himself has never received any Sept. 11 gifts, with the exception of a pair of silk pajamas from his wife and a second term in office, he insisted that he gets more joy from giving than receiving. According to Cheney, Sept. 11 is a time to reflect and give thanks for all the benefits and blessings 9/11 has given him in the past.

 

Cheney, however, lamented the fact that he has seen a recent decline in the nation's 9/11 spirit.

 

"I don't know what's happened," Cheney said. "Less than seven years ago, 9/11 seemed like a huge event for every American. Back then, on Sept. 11 morning, everyone would dart downstairs at 8:46 a.m. sharp, shouting and screaming, and the ground outside would be blanketed in the most beautiful gray as far as the eye could see. I especially loved the streets of New York during this season—the lights, the sounds, people rushing every which way, the sidewalks so crowded you could barely move, the wide-eyed looks on the people's faces. The whole New York skyline was lit up like a Christmas tree."

 

Cheney then sighed happily, adding, "I wish every day were 9/11."

 

While he's disappointed that so many seem to have forgotten the lessons of his beloved holiday, the vice president said he simply could not stay sad with 9/11 just around the corner. Lynne Cheney told reporters she expects her husband will once again go overboard in his celebrations this year, buying a larger 9/11 front-yard display and making himself sick eating too many broken Pentagon cookies.

 

"He really gets into it," she said as her husband cheerfully decorated the Blue Room of the White House with pieces of smoldering cinder and charred flesh to recreate the setting of Ground Zero. "I try to tell him that it's just a silly holiday, that he's making a fool out of himself when he goes around shouting 'Happy Sept. 11!' to people while ringing a large bell, but he never listens. He just loves 9/11."

 

But amid all the decorating and gift-giving, Vice President Cheney is careful not to let all the 9/11 festivities distract him from the deeper significance the day holds.

 

"Sometimes, in all the hustle and bustle of the season, it's easy to forget the true meaning of Sept. 11," Cheney said. "Sept. 11 is not about fancy 9/11 parades, or big 9/11 office parties. In fact, it's not even just about two buildings crumbling to the ground and leaving thousands of innocent people dead."

 

"No," Cheney continued. "No, 9/11 is about the warm feeling you get when you help an elderly woman cross the street and then whisper to her that the terrorists can strike at any moment. 9/11 is about the satisfaction of telling people to do things and then them doing it—not because they want to, but because they are afraid to do otherwise. 9/11 is about removing Saddam Hussein from power. But most of all, 9/11 is about love."

 

Cheney said he plans to spend a quiet Sept. 11 at home this year, during which he will exchange gifts with loved ones and watch his taped VHS footage of the old 9/11 TV specials while he smiles and laughs.

 

"I have a feeling this is going to be the best Sept. 11 ever," Cheney said with a grin. "I just dread the day I have to tell my kids that 9/11 isn't real."

[southsider2k5]

LINK

 

I quit reading when the guys very first point wasn't true.

[lostfan]

I quit reading when the guys very first point wasn't true.

The article was dripping with sarcasm, its factual basis wasn't really the point.

[southsider2k5]

The article was dripping with sarcasm, its factual basis wasn't really the point.

 

Sarcasm works better if there is factual basis to it...

[BigSqwert]

Emphasis mine

 

Serious Palin vetting took place one day before official selection

 

"Ala

s

k

a Gov.

S

arah Palin wa

s

not

s

ubjected to a lengthy in-per

s

on bac

k

ground interview with the head of

S

en. John McCain

’

s

vice pre

s

idential vetting team until la

s

t Wedne

s

day in Arizona, the day before McCain a

s

k

ed her to be hi

s

running mate, and

s

he did not di

s

clo

s

e the fact that her 17-year-old daughter wa

s

pregnant until that meeting, two

k

nowledgeable McCain official

s

ac

k

nowledged Tue

s

day. "

 

In the first and most telling executive decision of his potential presidency, John McCain makes a rash, reckless decision that, God forbid he falls ill while in office, will be disastrous for this country. Is that the kind of judgment we need in the White House for another four years?

 

 

John Cole makes a great point:

McCain had three month

s

free to do whatever- to fund rai

s

e, to campaign, to ma

k

e the ca

s

e for him

s

elf, to

s

hore up the ba

s

e, to wor

k

on the platform, and, pre

s

umably, to begin vetting hi

s

running partner.

What, then, did the McCain team do with the extra three month

s

they had to choo

s

e their candidate?

Beat

s

me, but it

s

ure a

s

hell wa

s

not a careful examination of

S

arah Palin.

 

Who do you want a

s

Commander In Chief? An intemperate flyboy, or a cautiou

s

thin

k

er?

What’s even worse is that despite all the evidence proving the McCain did a piss-poor job of vetting Palin, McCain still insists that the background check was thorough and he’s pleased with the results. Wow. Just wow.

 

To me, the question is no longer whether or not Sarah Palin is ready to be VP; it’s whether or not John McCain has the temperament and judgment to be President. His choice of the eminently unqualified Palin pretty much answers that question.

 

LINK

[HuskyCaucasian]

Edited September 3, 2008 by Athomeboy_2000

[HuskyCaucasian]

Trying to Hide Palin's Problems.... GOP Set To Attack Obama's Character

Hoping to shift the media gaze from Sarah Palin, Republicans plan to launch an aggressive push into Barack Obama's background and controversial associations, according to an RNC official.

 

The move indicates just how much the GOP wants to tag Obama on character instead of mere policy, a line of attack they feel emboldened to pursue after Democrat attacks on the number of homes the McCain's own and the intense media scrutiny into the background of Palin.

 

According to an RNC official, they'll "press the Obama campaign to follow through on his promises of transparency."

 

This means questions about his years as a state senator, but more importantly his ties to convicted felon and Chicago wheeler-dealer Tony Rezko and the former domestic terrorist, William Ayers.

 

Republicans are still holding back on going after Obama on his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but third-party groups may target this, the most politically explosive element of the Democrat's biography.

 

The GOP will launch a wave of press releases, press conferences and talking points fed into the conservative echo chamber meant to highlight questions about Obama's character.

 

Remember, "This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

Edited September 3, 2008 by Athomeboy_2000

[HuskyCaucasian]

McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin

McCain has made opposition to pork-barrel spending a central theme of his 2008 campaign. "Earmarking deprives federal agencies of scarce resources, at the whim of individual members of Congress," McCain has said.

 

But records show that Palin -- first as mayor of Wasilla and recently as governor of Alaska -- was far from shy about pursuing tens of millions in earmarks for her town, her region and her state.

 

This year, Palin, who has been governor for nearly 22 months, defended earmarking as a vital part of the legislative system. "The federal budget, in its various manifestations, is incredibly important to us, and congressional earmarks are one aspect of this relationship," she wrote in a newspaper column.

 

In 2001, McCain's list of spending that had been approved without the normal budget scrutiny included a $500,000 earmark for a public transportation project in Wasilla. The Arizona senator targeted $1 million in a 2002 spending bill for an emergency communications center in town -- one that local law enforcement has said is redundant and creates confusion.

[kapkomet]

McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin

You're just a f***ing anti-McCain MACHINE. I don't think an RSS feed can spit this s*** out faster then you can post 'em here.

 

 

[HuskyCaucasian]

You're just a f***ing anti-McCain MACHINE. I don't think an RSS feed can spit this s*** out faster then you can post 'em here.

psssh... RSS is soooooo 2 months ago. ReloadEvery for FireFox is the thing now.

[kapkomet]

psssh... RSS is soooooo 2 months ago. ReloadEvery for FireFox is the thing now.

 

Ah HA! Your secret's out.

[BigSqwert]

Palinguage

 

Are conservatives being hypocritical with their defense of Gov. Sarah Palin and the controversies which have leaked out concerning her? Depending on how you plan on casting your vote there may seem to be a double standard. To compare and contrast how each side spins events, we’ve collected a guide to all the “Palinguage” being spoken these days:

 

 

 

If you’re a minority and you’re selected for a job over more qualified candidates you’re a “token hire.”

 

If you’re a conservative and you’re selected for a job over more qualified candidates you’re a “game changer.”

 

 

 

If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you’re a “baby daddy.”

 

If you’re the same in Alaska you’re a “teen father.” (Actually, according to your own MySpace page you’re an F’n redneck that don’t want any kids, but that’s too long a phrase for the evil liberal media to take out of context and flog morning noon and night).

 

 

Black teen pregnancies? A “crisis” in black America.

 

White teen pregnancies? A “blessed event.”

 

 

 

If you grow up in Hawaii you’re “exotic.”

 

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you’re the quintessential “American story.”

 

 

 

Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you’re “unpatriotic.”

 

Name your kid Track, you’re “colorful.”

 

 

 

If you’re a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fulling vetting the individual you’re “reckless.”

 

A Republican who doesn’t fully vet is a “maverick.”

 

 

 

If you say that for the “first time in my adult lifetime I’m really proud of my country” it makes you “unfit” to be First Lady.

 

If you are a registered member of a fringe political group that advocates secession that makes you “First Dude.”

 

 

 

A DUI from twenty years ago is “old news.”

 

A speech given without proper citation from twenty years ago is “relevant information.”

 

 

 

And, finally, if you’re a man and you decide to run for office despite your wife’s reoccurrence of cancer you’re a “questionable spouse.”

 

If you’re a woman and you decide to run for office despite having five kids including a newborn with Downs Syndrome… Well, we don’t know what that is ‘cause THAT’S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK!

 

LINK

[kapkomet]

LINK

Ok, this is just bulls***, in fact, it needs to stop being posted (not aiming at you, BS, but this kind of s*** is just over the top nonsense.).

[Rex Kickass]

Ok, this is just bulls***, in fact, it needs to stop being posted (not aiming at you, BS, but this kind of s*** is just over the top nonsense.).

 

It's no worse than the cartoons or attempts at humor that get posted on the GOP thread.

[kapkomet]

It's no worse than the cartoons or attempts at humor that get posted on the GOP thread.

Sarcasm is one thing, these "blogs" trying to pass this off as "fact" is another. Again, this comment is not directed at BS at all, except that it gets passed on again and again.

 

If I think something's bulls*** over there, I'll post the same damn thing.

[HuskyCaucasian]

A Clinton supported, who now support mcCain, just said on CNN that she doesnt think a McCain presidency will overturn Roe v Wade.

 

What part of McCain makes her think this? Him publicly saying RvW SHOULD be overturned? McCain saying he wants to clone conservative judges Alito and Roberts? McCain told Tim Russert he would support an amendment that BANS abortion.

 

And she really thinks he wont try?

[fathom]

A Clinton supported, who now support mcCain, just said on CNN that she doesnt think a McCain presidency will overturn Roe v Wade.

 

What part of McCain makes her think this? Him publicly saying RvW SHOULD be overturned? McCain saying he wants to clone conservative judges Alito and Roberts? McCain told Tim Russert he would support an amendment that BANS abortion.

 

And she really thinks he wont try?

 

I saw that "hottie", and she should worry about gay rights before she worries about abortion issues.

[lostfan]

A letter from someone who has known Sarah Palin since 1992

 

The more I find out about her the less I like her... I was really hoping I could like her, honestly.

 

A note to all by {the Author}

 

Dear friends,

 

So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the

last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .

 

Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in

common: their gender and their good looks.

 

You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts

with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on

any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .

 

[ This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area,

with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the

author to be read. ]

 

Thanks,

 

Anne

 

ABOUT SARAH PALIN

 

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.

Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a

first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her

father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a

first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more

City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the

residents of the city.

 

She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular

girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and

won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because

she is a “babe”.

 

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She

kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents

for seven months.

 

She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby.

There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

 

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

 

She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out

there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

 

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a

champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly

sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his

work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or

so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their

major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything

like that of native Alaskans.

 

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

 

She’s smart.

 

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000

(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about

670,000 residents.

 

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running

this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been

pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had

gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had

given rise to a recall campaign.

 

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6

years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over

33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the

City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation

(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a

regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she

promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they

benefited residents.

 

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration

weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed

money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it

with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage

the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said

she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a

new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a

multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece

of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was

still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers

involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the

community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it

would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that

could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

 

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office

redecorated more than once.

 

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

 

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus

in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will

make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she

proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

 

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she

recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while

she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s

surplus, borrow for needs.

 

She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas

or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by

her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the

basis of who proposed them.

 

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected

City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from

the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents

rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s

attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew

her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the

Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

 

Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for

Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin

fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as

Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,

creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally

grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power

to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the

case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).

 

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated”

her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top

cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure

and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that

an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t

fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation

for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen

contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she

later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to

replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded

for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew

her support.

 

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in

help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town

introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council

became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She

abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t

like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

 

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything

publicly about her.

 

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got

the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one

of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no

background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great

job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the

high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the

structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this

Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)

engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some

undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all

her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and

garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a

gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit,

exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).

 

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from

Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel

politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to

nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

 

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget

guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing

projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative

action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply

because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant

she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.

 

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party

leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated

them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a

fiscal conservative.

 

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.

They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and

predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly

stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made

point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s

mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and

experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

 

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package

of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march

to the beat of her drum.

 

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife

Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to

global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state

initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from

pollution from mines, or B) tied up in the courts all mining in the

state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s

lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar

bears as threatened species.

 

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a

heartbeat away from being President.

 

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more

knowledgeable and experienced than she.

 

However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are

regretting it.

 

CLAIM VS FACT

•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years

•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary

school, not since

•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true

•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill

that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships

(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).

•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to

promote it.

•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby

BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life

legislation

•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has

residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.

No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on

supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city

administrator to run town of about 5,000.

•political maverick: not at all

•gutsy: absolutely!

•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at

explaining actions.

•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no

•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores

and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.

•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!

•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city

without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built

streets to early 20th century standards.

•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on

residents

•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city

government in Wasilla’s history.

•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union

doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim

that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

 

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

 

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed

voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting

programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +

Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local

government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

 

Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen

when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because

few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

 

Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out

of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no

fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will

cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.

 

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100

or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s

attempt at censorship.

 

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to

say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

 

CAVEATS

I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in

spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)

from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of

Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust

for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible

for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are

swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.

 

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the

population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000″, up to 9,000. The

day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the

current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was

5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to

2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.

 

 

August 31, 2008

[HuskyCaucasian]

A letter from someone who has known Sarah Palin since 1992

I doubt the authenticity of this. I'll withhold judgment until it's proven legit.

[lostfan]

I doubt the authenticity of this. I'll withhold judgment until it's proven legit.

I thought it was an interesting read. We'll see. This is different from all the "omg her daughter is pregnant" bulls*** from the last few days. Some of this fits into what's been said about her. Most of it's new.