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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is seen as a reformer in a state rife with political scandal, and the vice presidential candidate may have her own
... Continue reading »
9 months ago
10 months ago
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 . . .
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.
Anne Kilkenny
annekilkenny@hotmail.com
August 31, 2008
10 months ago
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10 months ago
"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 . . ."
A informative as it is, this post must unfortunately be deleted...
10 months ago
10 months ago
10 months ago
PLEASE remove Anne's info from this comment!
10 months ago
10 months ago
I have personally met and interacted with Anne Kilkenny. We actually attended the same church in Wasilla. I have also met Governor Palin (when she was Mayor) and have family members (not immediate) that work underneath her administration. Given the choice of Mrs. Kilkenny’s opinion on a matter or Sarah Palin, I would take Sarah’s any day (And I am not even in favor of her as a candidate). I have seen Mrs. Kilkenny make herself a public spectacle many times. Her email is full of misinformation and if time allows in the next few days, I will try to address the inaccuracies.
10 months ago
No, it sounds like a town of 7,000 people who are getting stuck with the bill for the infrastructure for 60,000.
It sounds like a town with a mayor who has no concept of how tax breaks to big box stores cause people property taxes to rise dramatically.
This sounds like a town that had sh!t for brains planning and management by its mayor.
This sounds like a nightmare of a town that had potential, but needed someone a bit less greedy and grasping in their governance, and a little more understanding of stewardship and public trust.
Incidentally, the "I have met" so and is a silly narrative to start. The fact that Ms. Kilkenny was willing to put her name to her opinion will go a long ways towards people's ability to evaluate the veracity of the information for themselves.
What Ms. Kilkenny has kindly done for us, is to give us a place to start looking for the truth. In minutes of city council meetings, in the budgets and votes and public records.
The truth will out, and people will be able to decide for themselves whether or not the truth has a liberal bias.
In the meantime, I expect that Ms. Kilkenny will continue to enjoy fine health and her reputation and an upright, forthright citizen of her town. I expect that she will not be the subject of any harassment or threats. I expect that if she is the subject of any threats, there will be any number of people, law enforcement and otherwise, who will be called in to protect her civil rights.
10 months ago
First, no one, including myself, has made any threats to anyone. I am unsure why you brought this up, Mo. All I have done is present a differing opinion. Last I checked this was what this country was founded upon, freedom of speech.
Secondly, thank you for telling me about my town. You being from some other place must know more than I.
Thirdly, since you are using all of Mrs. Kilkenny's "facts" as your basis for your opinion, it is quite obvious where you stand and thus I do not need to address any of your other points since they are just reiterations of Mrs Kilkenny's email.
My post stated exactly what I was trying to achieve, to point out that this email is one woman's opinion, which has some factual flaws. Nowhere within her email was there anything to support her claims, yet most everyone seems to believe it to be fact.
Again, I am not a proponent of McCain's VP selection, but I am for factual information.
10 months ago
The only "fact" you mention is that Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska has a larger population than Wasilla, Alaska. In the year 2000 the population density was 2 people per square mile. Wasilla is the largest town in that borough. Every single town in America is smaller than the county or borough surrounding it. So what is your point?
To support your argument you point out the valley has a Super-Walmart, and a few other big box retailer's. There is a town of 15,000 a 45 minute drive from where I live that has Super-Walmart. There is literally nothing anywhere around it.
I moved a decade ago from a small mid-west community of under 30,000. The metro area had 500,000. Even the largest town 15 miles away had a small town feel. This is 70% of the entire population of Alaska. I imagine damn near no one reading this has heard of it.
Congratulations, you accomplished making your area look a lot more insignificant than I imagined it.
Wow here is something interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasilla_High_School
According to Principal Dwight Probasco, Wasilla High School’s curriculum pushes abstinence education. The school is prohibited from distributing contraception.
A Johns Hopkins University study named Wasilla High School as a "dropout factory". ...Only 58% of incoming freshman graduate as seniors.
That really explains a lot.
I am sure there are plenty of thoughtful, world wise people in Wasilla. Anne Kilkenny sounds like one. Sarah Palin does not. Who targets the city librarian with a pink slip?
10 months ago
Go ahead and read this article: http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2007/11/05...
Wikipedia is not the definitive source you would like it to be.
"The only "fact" you mention is that Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska has a larger population than Wasilla, Alaska. In the year 2000 the population density was 2 people per square mile. Wasilla is the largest town in that borough. Every single town in America is smaller than the county or borough surrounding it. So what is your point?"
My point is that most of the items that were brought up in the email are misleading at best. Tell me, who are all of these people that are rushing to an area that has crappy schools, corrupt government officials and is a "wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots"? http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST200... (Hint: 34th Fastest Growing County in the US)
To reiterate, I am not supporting Sarah Palin, she is far from perfect, but there is many incorrect facts being stated.
10 months ago
i am not for either of the 2 party nominees. i will repeat i am not for either side, but i have been appalled at the willingness of democrats to sling mud at the new girl on the block, as well as so blood thirsty to find something wrong with her they will listen to invention, or sour grapes!
None of the nominees have impeccable backgrounds, but from everything i have heard, including the bad so far, Palin is the most exculpable.....so in throwing stones one might watch out for the return rally.....
10 months ago
Private individuals and the main stream media have asked questions that officals and candidates of the Republican party have refused to answer.
Sarah Palin has only given one interview since the VP announcement and that was to People magazine. Tonight the McCain campaign tells us that Sarah Palin has things to do, and will not be around for interviews over the next 6 days.
Why are they hiding? How much longer can they hide? If McCain made a bad decision, perhaps he should own up to it and dump Palin. As the Republicans say, Country First...
10 months ago
Palin has already repeatedly claimed to have told the Federal government "no thanks" on the infamous "bridge to nowhere" when, in truth, she supported it until it became a political hot potato. She then took the money from the earmark even though Alaska ALREADY was awash in oil money - so much so that every Alaskan received over $3000 last year. She has repeated a troubling pattern by firing people in arbitrary and capricious ways one of which has led to her investigation for ethics violations. She says she'll cooperate with the "troopergate" investigation but then her lawyers suddenly say she's not available for deposition and demand the investigation be put in the hands of political appointees of Palin.
This is just the start. Where there's smoke, there's very likely fire and the media understandably reacts when it feels someone it trying to create a smokescreen of lies. And, if anything, the Democrats have been far too polite and quiet about this appalling choice. Palin has already proved herself to be ethically challenged and dishonest just in the brief time she's been on the public stage.
Anne Kilkenny may have an axe to grind and may have some facts wrong (Yanos has yet to share his version of the facts), but their is enough that comports with what is already know to make her very believable.
10 months ago
10 months ago
you mean you don't want to take a chance on this Palin woman being the "leader" of the free world?
won't she just do what the corporations tell her to do, like all the rest of these people? So what is the difference? They are all POLITICIANS. I am asking a question, what really can we know about what any of these people who want these jobs, will do? Obama wants to take more troops into Afghanistan..what is that about eh?
.
10 months ago
Common sense maybe?
10 months ago
What else would they say in their own defense other than they disagree with the methodology? I guess they could always call John Hopkins researchers a bunch of poo poo pants. I hear that works well.
As far as the growth of the borough, I'd like to point out it is the size of West Virginia. Go back to that census link you posted and look at Riverside county, CA. It's net increase in population in 4 years was nearly half the entire population of Alaska.
Pretty easy to show a high percentage growth rate when the population is small to begin with. Palin's tenure as mayor started in 1996, when the population was even smaller.
Again this is the only "fact" of Anne's you have tried to refute and not even that holds much water.
10 months ago
10 months ago
here! here!
10 months ago
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(the sound of crickets)
10 months ago
The big box stores came to Wasilla because Sara enticed them with good deals, NOT because Wasilla is the borough hub. How does being the big box store mecca of Alaska elevate the status of Wasilla and by association Sara Palin as the previous mayor? Don't forget, the "Valley" is also the pot-growing and meth lab hub of Alaska. By your reasoning Sara should take credit for that too.
10 months ago
Thanks for your story.
10 months ago
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Yeah, like THAT will happen.
10 months ago
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What Ms Kilkenny says is 99.95 accurate. I'd give her 100, but the thing with Bristol upsets me. Not that she's "pregnant", but the fact that she seemed to be last year. When Trig was born, it was like a total shock to most of us. No one thought she was giving birth to a child. She never showed. She sure did in other pictures of her pregnancies. Why this one didn't is because, I don't believe she had Trig, It doesn't add up. If Bristol miraculously has a miscarriage (right) then Ms. Palin can hide behind this. If not and she doesn't give birth in December????? I just don't think she will.
As far as voting for Ms. Palin, well I did for governor. Not a good vote, but one I apologize for. I should of went with Knowles. My bad!!! Will I vote for her as VP, no way in hell. We up here know this woman better now than 2 years ago. To vote for her and McCain would do this country a serious injustice.
Finally for all those below who ask for this thread to be removed, what are you trying to cover up? The fact that McCain
B. Johnson
Anchorage, Ak
10 months ago
What Ms Kilkenny says is 99.95 accurate. I'd give her 100, but the thing with Bristol upsets me. Not that she's "pregnant", but the fact that she seemed to be last year. When Trig was born, it was like a total shock to most of us. No one thought she was giving birth to a child. She never showed. She sure did in other pictures of her pregnancies. Why this one didn't is because, I don't believe she had Trig, It doesn't add up. If Bristol miraculously has a miscarriage (right) then Ms. Palin can hide behind this. If not and she doesn't give birth in December????? I just don't think she will.
As far as voting for Ms. Palin, well I did for governor. Not a good vote, but one I apologize for. I should of went with Knowles. My bad!!! Will I vote for her as VP, no way in hell. We up here know this woman better now than 2 years ago. To vote for her and McCain would do this country a serious injustice.
Finally for all those below who ask for this thread to be removed, what are you trying to cover up? The fact that McCain
B. Johnson
Anchorage, Ak
10 months ago
Why was she taken out of Wasilla H.S. at mid-year, according to the principal, right around the time Palin said she found out she was pregnant with Down baby?
Sorry, it's true. This baby thing does not add up.
10 months ago
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and all obumma's special interest?? I could go on and on but will not waste my time here. At least she can memorize a speech and obumma loses all he has if his teleprompter fails! There is muck on all side and this type of article is no difference. Of course there is always those tax hikes obumma wants to do, and any tax hike in a downturning economy are just foolish. Wasilla is not a "small town" as it impacts a much larger area than this writer indicates. I suspect she is grandstander with paybacks to give or doing this for others like her ilk. And this is such reputable
site or rag? Give me a break. I will GLADLY take my chances with McCain/Palin any day.
10 months ago
Perhaps you should take your chances with an education. I would suggest starting off with basic english, with an emphasis on spelling and grammar. Reading comprehension would be the appropriate next step for objective information gathering. Political science is an advanced curriculum of study.
10 months ago
If you think the article is relevant, click on the "discussion" tab and ask for it to not be deleted.
Just go to Wikipedia.com and type in "Anne Kilenny"
10 months ago
10 months ago
Voters are sick of corruption? Then run as a reformer.
These people get in office, throw a few people in jail (though Palin seems not to have done even that), then set up their own patronage system.
Heck, the first Mayor Daley ran as a reformer!
(As did George Bush, come to think of it.)
10 months ago
Now, let's get back to the subject at hand,,,which is one individual's actions and whether that individual is (after studying all the facts) qualified to lead the country in the event that she should ever have to do that.
10 months ago
10 months ago
link has videos and links
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/4231/184...
10 months ago
10 months ago
These rumors may be made up out of whole cloth but there are enough unanswered circumstantial questions that it should be investigated.
If it's not true, Doctor and hospital records could quickly dispel it.
Why is is it important? Many answers to that question.
A few of them:
It goes to the question of the Governor's honesty and candor.
It goes to the question of McCain's judgement one more time (a two conversation vetting?)
It sullies the campaigns claim of wonderfulness for not aborting the Down syndrome baby
10 months ago
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FIRST the National Enquirer.
THEN the McCain supporting Corporate Media can have it.
10 months ago
10 months ago
Today's news - that Bristol's pregnant - might allow you to question Palin's "abstinence-only" stand, sure... I'd still leave that aside, but I wouldn't stop you.
The pregnancy misdirection - that's just not on.
10 months ago
http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog...
We are tracking and cataloging all this in one place to try and see thru the fog and obfuscation.
This has nothing to do with the daughter but Mom threw her under the bus instead of simply saying look here is a pic of the entire family with me in the hospital bed right after the birth - which she has described as the "easiest" of the 5...
She and McCain did not? Why that would have completely shut this up AND not outed poor Bristol and Levi.....Palin's own press person did not know about the pregnancy 2 days before but the campaiign did and still put on the ticket???
Why does this not make sense to me.
Also we have had pictures doctored, web site pages disappear and reappear, MySpace pages disappear
http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog...
10 months ago
The presidential candidates submitted their medical records -- some of their records. Palin should too.
10 months ago
The whole town where they live knew her daughter was pregnant, this was no secret... It is hilarious how weather is now politicized - Gustav does nothing, so what do the reporters do? In the absence of a real shocking story, they squeeze every drop of "scandalous" out of Palin's daughter's pregnancy to the teenager boyfriend... It must be Palin's, right? it must - otherwise why would the media even care, right? Or could it be that there's just nothing that shocking to report on her?!
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Or perhaps the moron Republicans supporting her are looking at just that and saying, "Now we have a candidate!" That's some scary stuff right there. I'm really starting to associate Republican with stupid slowly but surely. I used to vote Republican. What's wrong with these people? It's like they're willing to kill their child to keep their half during a divorce or something. I can't really think of a good analogy, but this is just insane. Supporting this woman is like raising your hand in a crowd of doctors and saying I'm stupid and I should say what goes here.
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I find it ironic you would compare the biggest book burner in history to someone taking a stance against another one. Sarah wanted books removed from the library because they "offended" her. (and then tried to fire the librarian for refusing) Wow let's just do the biblical thing and "cut out" everything that offends Sarah Palin. God forbid we upset her.
Gabe....You my friend need to read....desperately.
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Do you have any leads on the finances of Wasilla, pre- and post-Palin? According to a Politico story citing Democratic sources (I think), Palin left Wasilla $20 million in the hole... Though I guess that makes her a success in Republican circles ;-)
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Disclaimer: I don't know this blogger from Adam
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/
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"Vote Palin: She's not pro-corruption!"
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*cringe*
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...What. *What.*
I just... please God let that be a troll, otherwise I feel the need to go slam my head against the wall and cry for a while. Dear lord.
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That sort of thinking is WHAT'S WRONG IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW!! If I weren't so much in favor of free speech, I would absolutely love to see Hitler pricks like you halled out back and shot in the head. But alas it is a free speech society and I have to tolerate that B.S.
10 months ago
By the way it's not really all that much that it's "Ruthless", it's immoral to put someone out of a job with a family for no reason other than to further yourself.
10 months ago
More from the story:
Palin said she made the request for resignations to find out who supports
her as mayor.
"Wasilla is moving forward in a positive direction," she said. "This is the time for the department heads, to let me know if they plan to move forward or if it's time for a change."
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Sarah Palin - For nepotism! Agains Corruption!
Sarah Palin - She was for corruption before she was against it.
Sarah Palin - Kleptocracy in motion
Sarah Palin - The Anti-Cheney
The level to which the US national discourse has sunk is near impossible to fathom. Whatever Diebold is calling itself these days, McCain must have received assurances that no matter what, he'll come out on top.
10 months ago
Pro-guns, anti-women's rights
She's a fundie creationist, the first ever to be nominated for such a high office. Considering that our founding fathers fought so hard for separation between church and state, her selection as VP candidate shows how far America has fallen from its roots.
10 months ago
BTW, if you are anti-drilling you have not educated yourself enough regarding all aspects of the energy problem and the feasibility and timeline of implementing the arsenal of solutions we could bring to bear against the problem.
I need to go cool off now. Good luck in rationalizing your world.
10 months ago
Let's examine your claim about drilling for oil. Let's take the oil deposits of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as an example. Estimates vary widely as to how much oil is recoverable in ANWR. A reasonable bet is 6 billion barrels of oil. Oil is sold on the world market, which as of now consumes around 85 million barrels a day.
It is simple math here, no differential equations needed. I realize with my lack of education, I would be screwed. At any rate, ANWR will supply 70 days of our oil supply needs. Meanwhile it will take perhaps 5 years to begin serious extraction. Then it will take 10 to 20 years to fully recover the oil.
So if we start next week, after perhaps 25 years we can claim to have solved two months of our oil problem. Oh yeah, and a week...and three days, hopefully a Labor Day weekend.
Oil companies want at these deposits while their market capitalization is still healthy. When the markets realize the resource base is permanently shrinking they will ditch these stocks regardless of the price of oil. It is a race against time to make a tidy profit before the goose stops laying all those multi-billion dollar eggs.
As far as the American consumer is concerned, ANWR will not make one wit of difference at the pump. The United States oil production has been in terminal decline since 1971. We could drill every acre of the United States and we will never equal the domestic oil production of 1969. Of course we would go broke even trying.
A better idea is to save these deposits for a rainy decade in the future when we need the oil for something very important like pharmaceuticals, rather than burning it up on route 66. By then Global Warming perhaps will have wiped out all the polar bears anyway, so we can go whole hog.
The reasonable conclusion is that not drilling ANWR results in a net increase in national security, while everyone else uses up the last of a precious limited resource selling it to us.
When I hear that Sarah Palin is an expert on energy matters, I get the giggles.
Drill Baby, Drill!
10 months ago
IBD: What's your best assessment of Alaska's ongoing oil and gas potential and especially how much can be gotten from ANWR?
Palin: There are billions of barrels of oil underneath the ground up there on the North Slope including ANWR. In Alaska alone we can supply seven years of complete crude-oil independence, and eight years' supply of natural gas for Americans with ANWR (and) other areas of Alaska that we want to allow for development. That's proof that Alaska can be a significant player in the world market.
IBD: How long will it take to develop these areas? Critics say five to 10 years.
Palin: ANWR would take five years to begin providing crude oil to our pipeline. But you have to consider that if we'd started this five years ago, then we wouldn't be in this position right now. And who knows where we're going to be in another five years.
There are even bigger sources of crude than ANWR . . . such as offshore areas like the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea. Congress can help us with those areas right now, bringing even more energy than ANWR and bringing it quicker.
We frequently find ourselves at the mercy of those who think that we must be protected from ourselves. Shell is up here wanting to drill offshore, but they've been fighting various environmental groups through the 9th Circuit Court and are running into very fierce pushback. In this area, Congress could help us with the development and bring those sources of energy to market quicker than ANWR.
In case you missed it... "There are even bigger sources of crude than ANWR . . . such as offshore areas like the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea. Congress can help us with those areas right now, bringing even more energy than ANWR and bringing it quicker."
That's a few years, for those other areas...
10 months ago
Basically all Palin is saying is that she wants Congress to put an end to all environmental regulation to shave some time off the process.
Here is a link from this very site. You ever bother to read it?
http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3031/drill...
"The Bush administration’s own Energy Information Admin. projects that offshore drilling “would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030.”
Stupid EIA libuuralls.
Read the article.
Now, let's break down what Palin is saying here. The only area she mentions that isn't being actively explored is ANWR. But as pointed out above, ANWR and the remaining off-shore areas are only meaningful to those producing not those consuming. So who benefits? The oil companies. Palin is only acting as an oil-industry lobbyist in the guise of an elected official.
"[W]ith those resources, which would take years to develop, you would only postpone or temporarily relieve our dependency on fossil fuels," McCain said when asked about offshore drilling. "We are going to have to go to alternative energy, and the exploitation of existing reserves of oil, natural gas, even coal, and we can develop clean coal technology, are all great things. But we also have to devote our efforts, in my view, to alternative energy sources, which is the ultimate answer to our long-term energy needs, and we need it sooner rather than later."
These comments were made by Senator McCain in May, and are consistent with his long time position against off-shore drilling. But I guess the reality of the situation has changed considerably since then. Why the flip-flop? Perhaps, per your comments, he was "misinformed" and he had not "educated" himself as to the problem.
Perhaps McCain has changed his position to reflect that of the "informed" voters such as yourself. Or perhaps it is just election year posturing. But since McCain say he puts "Country First", I can not imagine such a thing.
10 months ago
As to allowing access to ANWR and other sensitive areas, I come from a mining state and I'm sorry to say that the industry has a poor track record of restoration once the damage is done and the profits reaped. Have you ever tried getting a dime from a bankrupt subsidiary of a foreign corporation? It isn't happening anytime soon and yet we still keep hearing the promises of jobs and economic development just so long as the average citizen can be made to pick up the tab.
I'm also curious as to how many locally owned small businesses were run out when the big box stores were given their tax incentives to come in?
Different locale, different politician, same story.
10 months ago
I with you on the gun issue but people keep telling you idiots OVER AND OVER AND OVER there simply isn't enough oil in this country to meet the demand. WE MUST USE LESS!!!!!!!! You idiots just don't get it. There are cars that get 120 to 300 mpg IN PRODUCTION in this country and the government acts like they don't even exist.
www.aptera.com Don't call me a liar.
I'm definitely for drilling LAST. If we are THOROUGHLY positive that we can't improve mileage to 100mpg fine, drill. But we can. There are batteries in development that will charge in a couple of minutes verses hours. The developers are hoping to have them ON THE MARKET in less than five years. There are solar panels IN PRODUCTION right now that cost less than $1 per watt - cheaper than coal by the way - and again the government acts as if they don't exist. It should be a code requirement to install solar hot water heating on ALL new construction to reduce energy use. There are some REALLY efficient solar water heaters on the market right now that even work in the far reaches of Canada. Why are we even listening to $h*t bricks telling us that wind turbines are ugly? If they don't like them MOVE. The only ones complaining are the people with multi-million dollar homes on coastlines. You know what? They shouldn't be living there in the first place. They get hit by hurricanes and the POOR people in surrounding areas insurance skyrockets to pay for their homes.
While you're cooling off try reading something instead of mouthing off at people that don't like something they very well shouldn't like.
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I want Palin to explain how her state can cut checks for residents every year because of surplus oil funds but still goes above and beyond in seeking federal dollars?
10 months ago
Gravinia Island to Revillagigedo Island...
Where else do you get to ride a ferry to get to your plane. I always enjoyed the ride.(O.K., not so much the winter months) But then I always rode solarium deck in from Outside, too.
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As I understand it, he has a practice of appearing at and attending confidential meetings that normally would only involve the governor herself. I also get the impression that he is used by her as a messenger to carry her views to other people - not just in the Troopergate issue, but more generally. I even understand that, while he was copied on emails that were requested under a FOIA request, these emails were withheld on grounds of executive privilege even though he has no formal state role (and if he has no formal state role, his receiving the emails would void any privilege),
What exactly is the deal here? What does his role in Alaska tell us about what his role - and her role - in DC would be?
10 months ago
That is an understatement of mega proportions. This is The Dukes of Wasilla and I have no doubt that Daddy Palin has some interesting color to add to the story.
10 months ago
The AIP has as its ultimate goal an independent nation of Alaska, seceded from the US and full self sufficient.
Although she's a Republican, she goes out of her way to give a speech to this extremist fringe party. She talks about values she shares with them, but doesn't say squat about issues where she might disagree - like loyalty to the US.
Given the brouhaha over Obama's judgment in attending a church where a minister sometimes made whacko comments, this seems worthy of investigation. She wasn't a 30 year old private citizen when she reached out to their convention; she was the sitting governor of a state they want to split off from the US.
Either she thinks the folks who think Alaska should secede have a point, or she has zero judgment in choosing to support them with her words of kindness. Either way, I would like to know the score.
I also would like to know more about what the AIP stands for. I would like to know more about her involvement with them - I gather she was once a card carrying member.
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After drawing your own conclusions, ask yourselves if this curious situation is relevant to evaluating her credentials to serve as Vice President, one heartbeat away from serving as President.
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In any case, her daughter is a poster child for the effectiveness of abstinence only. Does she even know (the daughter) what a condom is? Or the pill? Or a diaphram?
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Dairygate/Mat Maid scandal - Palin fired an entire government board to keep money flowing to a few well-connected friends - will many links to local media:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/115317/...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/31/133347/...
Palin's stint as mayor - a good time for earmarks, skating rinks, and local property owners:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/115753/9...
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AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! There are morons throughout the ReThuglican party. And, these morons that want to continue the same old, same old need a big shock to their egos. They need to be put in their place and they need to know that this country does not stand for ReThuglican States of America but; stands for the "United" States of America. Come November, we need to prove that, to all of those power hungry conservatives ReThuglicans in full force. We need to prove to them that there are more than just conservative views in this country. They need to know that they can't force their views on everyone and their pushy attitude stops on Election Day. I for one, as a woman won’t let anyone tell me what I can do with my body and those women that adheres to that kind of intimidation is weak minded and they are the type that will always let someone tell them what they can and can not do.
10 months ago
(Some of us need to look up the definition of Poe's Law, which is just as equally applicable to conservatism as to fundamentalism.)
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Barack Obama has been through the longest primary of all time, and did 21 debates, he built and ran a successful campaign -- plus was State Senator in Illinois for 8 years before being in U.S. Senate for 4 years now. He's travelled and met with major leaders and is fluent on topics domestic and foreign. Joe Biden has been around forever and is an expert on Foreign policy.
What about Palin?
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http://www.gop.mfbiz.com/#/newpalinbidenpoll/45...
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2) Abuse of Power is an important issue, yet it is secondary to what Senator Obama calls "temperament and Judgement"
Never mind the latest in the McCain/Palin rerun of Fred Thompson's Law and Order/SUV psycho-drama as to who mothered which child.
Simply go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9AIDRGzUAw and listen to Sarah Palin's inane giggles as her neighbor, and colleague is called a "b---ch", and a "cancer" by Sarah's shock-jock "friend", Bob Lester . Lyda Green is a Senior Citizen, a cancer survivor, and Christian. As a senior citizen and cancer survivor, Ms Palin's giggles culminating in an invite to her shock- jock friends are not only insulting but belie any claim she has to following the teachings of Jesus. I've never in my life known of a public official who scorned and laughed at another's illness. For a Christian to mock another's illness is blasphemy.
How four-time cancer survivor John McCain can smirk and call this desecrator a Soul-Mate speaks only to their common hypocrisy and duplicity.
Dov
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Nurses have a way of talking without talking around here and the truth always gets out even though we remind them constantly about privacy laws.
10 months ago
Yeah I really want some beauty contest winner who majored in journalism to be VP. If you listen to what all those contestants say they want to do, it's to be in front of a camera one way or another? Oh yeah, and to make a difference = politician LOL
10 months ago
Press Archives of John Bitney's firing:
http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=6772376&...
http://aprn.org/2007/07/09/john-bitney-leaves-g...
Halcro also asserts that there is an issue of withholding emails under the guise of "executive privilege" that, although generated by the Governor and her staff were also copied to Todd Palin, although he is not an employee of the State nor in any way authorized to see such documents. See the Halcro post (above) for details.
10 months ago
TODD PALIN = MEYERS who covered up Bush's AWOL problems, threatened all the ladies Bush use to party with about even talking to the press about cocaine use, got all the PHOTO'S off the Barroom Walls of Bush drunk and partying!
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republican and presidential all the time!!!!!!, what a poor pick, and an insult to other candidates, and america, maybe mc cain will admit he is wrong and pick a real candidate,its not too late.
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For those who think they can compare her being a part time mayor for 6 years and a Gov. for 1 and 1/2 to Obama's 12 years in the State Senate and 3 in Washington? Try educating yourself before it's too late.
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Rumors have it that in 3 years she left $20 mil long term debt.
Long term debt can be good, as well as bad.
How was the money spent, and is Wasilla benefitting from the spending.
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http://allainjulesblog.blogspot.com/
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Sure shows that McCain has poor judgment!!!!!
Also, I doubt that a woman with 5 children and 1 soon to be grandchild would have time to devote as vice president...
Sounds like she should have devoted more attention to her family!!!!!
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On 18 April 2008 Trig Paxson Van Palin was born, 6 pounds 2 ounces.
On 5 March 2008 was first announced by the Governor that she was 7 months pregnant. Staffers at the time were reportedly shocked, because they didn't have any inkling she was pregnant, with this child who was to be prematurely born at 6 pounds 2 ounces six weeks later. Every pregnant woman who isn't grossly overweight is blatantly big-bellied by the sixth month, but Sarah Palin was slender and had no belly in what was supposedly her 7th month.
It is also reported elsewhere: "Palin's daughter Bristol is 16 and attends an Anchorage high school. Students who have attended class with her report that she has been out of school for months, claiming a prolonged case of mono. Apparently, this rumor has made the rounds in the upper echelon of the Alaska legislature, and is a closely guarded secret. As far as I know, this rumor has not been discussed by any media outlets."
Elsewhere is reported: "Mrs. Palin's adventure started in mid-April, a month before her due date, when she attended a Republican governors energy conference in Texas with her husband, Todd. While at the conference, Mrs. Palin's water unexpectedly broke, but the sudden development did not derail the governor. After checking with her doctor, Mrs. Palin decided to stay in Texas to deliver her 30-minute speech before hopping on a flight with her husband on Alaska Airlines. Even after Mrs. Palin arrived in the 49th State, labor still had to be induced. 'By my fifth child, I know what labor feels like,' Mrs. Palin said in explaining to reporters why she decided to finish her obligations at the conference and make the eight-hour flight from Dallas to Anchorage. Mrs. Palin stated she was never in full-blown labor and only experienced a few contractions during the flight."
Is it really credible that Sarah Palin is Trig's mother? Please ask a local obstetrician. If the answer is no, then perhaps you should ask to see Trig's birth crertificate. However, that would probably show Sarah as the mother even if Sarah is actually the grandmother. Is a DNA test possible? Can you check with members of the legislature? (Try Democrats, of course.) How can this mystery be solved? Will you be the one to solve it?
Today, Sarah Palin said that Bristol is five months pregnant. Many people believe it's probably more like three months pregnant. Is this Bristol's second child, unmarried?
Trig is afflicted with Downs Syndrome. Shortly after his birth, his "mother" Sarah Palin was back at the tasks of governance, which would be outrageous if it were true.
2+2=4. Sarah Palin is lying. What is this rabid opponent of sex education in the schools hiding, and why?
10 months ago
McCain didn't know sh..........
Investigations of Gov Palin
Daughter having second baby in 2 years
WOW!
The baby's father is going to turn out being an African from Kenya.
Wouldn't that be so Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.
POTUS OBAMA - ITS INEVITABLE
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PLEASE TELL ME---- EVERYONE----ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN YOU WERE 8 YEARS AGO??? THAT IS THE TRUE QUESTION---NOT PUTTING A BEAUTY QUEEN IN THE WHITEHOUSE.DO YOU WANT MORE OF THE SAME POLICIES AND FAVORITISM THAT HAS LINED THE POCKETS OF THE POLITICAL FAVORITES OF THE REPUBLICANS????
YOU PUT BUSH IN THE WHITEHOUSE IN 2004 AND REALLY BELIEVED HIS STORY BACK THEN AND NOW LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF THIS COUNTRY---
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Instead the media will do the vetting for him and it's at his peril and Palin.
10 months ago
McCains hero status does not trup such arrogance and lack of concern about the future of America.
We need all the gods we can muster to get past this one.
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I would be interested in knowing if the firing of the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmonds, had anything to do with censorship of books.
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I mean, given the importance of resources to the Alaskan economy, how can the situation with her husband NOT be a conflict of interest?
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Hey, was she in Kuwait at the same time as McCain in July 2007 +9 + 5 = september 2008
Dear Senator Biden - Please be a good mentor
"Let's go on with the show - l e t 's go on w i t h t h e s h o w--------"
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America a "nation of whiners" and we are in a "mental recession all driven by the mass media with drive by reporting.
"It's a strategically brilliant development for We the people of the USA.”
This is what this nation needs, real people in office.
McCain said he's running "to fight for you, to make government stand on your side, not in your way." In Palin, he found "the right partner to help me stand up to those who value their privileges over their responsibilities, who put power over principle, and put their interests before your needs."
McCain has enough money and power to just retire yet he wants to serve the people.
His record reflects true care and concern for all the people of this great nation. And fundamentally we are strong.
Palin would have had a whole lot more fun as Gov over VP yet she is willing to work with all other elected persons to serve WE THE PEOPLE. Help here can be obtained from Hillary/Mitt, Nancy/Ted with Lou/Rush Wolf/Hannity, et al.
McCain is a real person, rich yes but more importantly honest, did he pick Sarah because she is also a real person? Young yes but more importantly she has worked her way to her current job, not by pushing the systems to work for her but working for the people and making the systems of government work for her constituents. ‘We suspect her record of fighting the status quo was uppermost in John McCain's decision.’ Wsj.com 2008. Her daughter is just as real as any one in Mississippi & 17 girls at Gloucester High School are real too. A child is a gift from GOD. Just ask Madonna and Angelina Jolie's children. And hello it’s a whole lot colder in Alaska than rural Mississippi and I would guess not as many Walgreen’s or clinics. We need more Glenn Beck type shows to just give us the person at face value.
CNN, C-SPAN, FOX/MSNBC, & PBS et al, must now show the playing field as even.
Obama: 7yrs state senator + 2yrs US senator (143 days) =9 years (lawyer to politician)
Palin: 4yrs city council + 6yrs Mayor + 2yrs (20 MOS.) Governor = 12 years (blue collar worker to governor)
Rush 8/2008 ~ “I think they've been rope-a-doped here. The Drive-By Media is not happy. “
One young enough to ask the hard questions and want answers & One old enough to know where to find the answers, and who can help with the real work ahead. Jobs for citizens and immigrants alike.
(595 arrested in ICE and Department of Justice joint immigration enforcement action initiated at Mississippi transformer manufacturing facility) Unemployment figures show only those who must have that taxpayer hand out to live.
WE the People need the work and the work done and done right. Roads, parks, bike lanes, green fields & levees.
WE the People of the USA are not the World’s police force but we will and do help all creatures on the earth.
Let’s get walking Mississippi, go for bike ride California, Love to run in Boston, Love to hunt in the USA.
We the People need Modern schools. Why does Mississippi have to have a battle over funding education? "The school system in this country – public and private – is designed for the industrial age," she said. "We're in a technological age. We don't want our kids to memorize. We want them to learn." Jada Pinkett Smith ~ wife of Will Smith
“Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Don Fowler apologized Sunday for recently joking Hurricane Gustav's expected landfall on the same day as the opening of the Republican National Convention suggested God was on the Democrats' side” CNN – while RNC asked us to help out. And hello, the police are in the right to arrest Amy.
WE THE PEOPLE must make the best choice for the future. Power is in the VOTE. So go vote.
In knowledge-sharing communities and organizations, people often cite altruistic reasons for their participation, including contributing to a common good, a moral obligation to the group, mentorship or 'giving back'. Unknown 2005 ` We the people must earn while we learn. We are not entitled. Citizens who care will do all they can to help not hinder.
Bob, Ron, Ralph and Cindy/Rosa along with Barack/Joe, John/Sarah must be asked the tough questions; nice stages and good speeches don't get the job done. Rick Warren showed us that anyone who is willing to set it up can ask and get answers. Comments on air are great but We the people need Tim Russert style hard ball ‘no spin’ to the point answers from all candidates. We need real facts not opinions (I like Jack though) not last week’s talking points. All 360 degrees of each party’s candidates must be the shown. All interested parties. Small, large – North, South East & West!
Why can't media just give us the facts for a few weeks? We need more Glenn Beck type shows to just give us the person at face value. People that work for a living are not home to take a survey. Mass Drive by media networks do not get it, the voters are not at home when they call. Media do your job, report. The suppression of a free press is a sign of a drift towards dictatorship and has no place in a democracy. “Now, for the first time ever, more viewers - 8.1 million - turned on CNN for a major news event rather than watching any of the so-called "big three" networks - NBC, CBS and ABC. The latter newscast attracted the second-highest number of viewers, 6.6 million.” 2008 CNN Blitz by John McCaslin ~ In contrast, msnbc.com's online surveys — or Live Votes — may reflect the views of more individuals, but they are not necessarily representative of the general population. And they may be even less representative of those people who are registered to vote and who do in fact vote.”
GOD BLESS the USA ~
"It's a strategically brilliant development for We the people of the USA.”
Choice is freedom.
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It's not the daughter. It's not the Ketchikan Bridge. It may not even be the Trooper/BiL. It's the lies, the games, the lack of judgment. 'Twas ever thus.
And is having a Wal-Mart a good thing? I guess if you like screwed-over employees selling poisonous toys and dog food, enjoy.
10 months ago
She should be on Larry King ASAP
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What part of tasering his eleven-year-old step-son do you not understand?
The guy was drunk on the job.
He threatened to kill his father-in-law.
He terrorized his family during drunken rages.
Do you REALLY want to go on record as stating that he should have continued as a trooper?!?
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What part of CONFLICT OF INTEREST under the law don't you understand?
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http://www.palinisntready.com
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MIGHT AS WELL ATTEMPT TO APPOINT MORE UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT KNOW MORE THAN MCCAIN. GO FOR IT!!!!!
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I have worked, as all of you have, in a position where I knew key people needed to be fired---their productivity gone or never there in the first place--- but no one had the brass to do it; didn't have the teeth to do it because they were afraid. Well, Sarah had both brass and teeth and employed them well. She did more in 2 yrs than most people, male or female, could do in twice the time. I can't wait to see what she will do as our new Vice President.
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OK. You've given me a lot of fodder on which to chew.
I don't want an education in politics. Don't need it, Grasshopper. Haven't you ever heard of a new CEO of some big company coming in and cleaning house? Firing all the 'rocks' to bring in new life to a decrepit old situation? Well, that's all Sarah did and she was right to do so. Can you deny that she did get things done? While you may not agree with what she did or how she did it, she did it. Give credit where credit is due; she shook her world and made things happen. Her campaign promises weren't empty words that she used just to get into office. Agree with her or not, she did what she promised what she would do. To make that happen, she got rid of all the people who were going to fight her tooth and nail to accomplish the goals she outlined in her campaign talk. They were only liabilities. They weren't willing to get with the program, so why let them continue on? It happens when an administration changes in any
form of government; any democrat knows they could lose their job if they don't want to follow their new republican boss' authority and vice versa. Especially if they are going to speak out against their new boss and try to undermine that authority. No doubt in my mind that this is what she was up against.
But I suppose you work in an environment where everyone gets along and works for the common good of humanity and everything that is supposed to happen does. Or, perhaps you are one of those rocks, whose complacency has made you very comfortable in a job where you believe you will never lose your place, and you can just be, without having to work or try to get better to accomplish more in your position. Whatever the case, Sarah was right to do what she did with those working, not with her, but against her.
Why is it that teachers are not allowed to teach creationism in school as an alternative to evolution; but when it's faulty conceptions are questioned in the same situation, the liberal left gets all itchy and scratchy? What are you afraid of? Censorship? It seems to me that our children deserve the right to hear ALL sides of a given arguement. I mean, didn't you just tell me that this is the time for 'freedom of speech'? Or does that just mean when it is what YOU want to hear, the same sort of attitude you are getting all over Sarah Palin for. Tell me more about your theory about why she wanted to fire the librarian. Give me your sources and dates; I need a little more than what you are giving me at face value. Keep in mind, too, that the librarian did wind up keeping her job. So, are you going to bawl about Sarah being so rigid she refuses to change her mind and redirect? Can't, can you? She is human and in that
situation, proved that she is not above turning back, altho I would like more info about it.
I have to get to work, busy day today. But, I just want to answer your last questions: MURDER is NEVER, EVER right, no matter what = except true self defense or in defense of the defenseless. Neither is the case in abortion, where we kill the defenseless simply because they threaten our 'right' to live as we want to (i.e., any way we durned well please, no matter who we hurt). Abortion is a plague on our society. It undermines our very existence, making us look like our lives have no value whatsoever; when in fact, that's not true at all!! We are all creations (there's that word again... - go get your benadryl lotion...), each individual unique with purpose and meaning. Abortion robs us of that and, as Alveda King says, it is the most abomidable form of civil rights violation, but worse because it is our...uh...CHOICE. I am ashamed we entertain it here; yes, EVEN in the form of rape. Ask a child of rape what their value is. The reason
rape even happebns is the lack of respect for human life, another's human life. Abortion is a part of that thought process, and when you coddle it, it becomes the foundation for even more evil in our society. Why do teenagers commit suicide in such vast numbers?
Global warming is a way to distract us from our REAL concerns; read and study reeeeeeal hard and you will find that it's not really all it's cracked up to be. No matter what Al Gore says, as he rides his bicycle from place to place, proclaiming his...drivel. Oh wait=== he doesn't ride his bike....he rides his big AIRPLANE...do you think it runs on ethanol? Go check it out, Josh.
Pls rethink your stature. It is so much bigger than we, you and I, are. I believe I am right and you believe you are right. But only one of us is, really. I will die with my hard earned, hard learned convictions, with a clear conscience, and I will stand before Almighty God; I will not have to cower because of my sin that would make me kill a rape baby. If I am wrong, I have lived a good, honest life; no harm done. But if I am right, how will you fare, my friend?
Ciaio!!
10 months ago
10 months ago
I've been in her position, altho naturally not nearly on that scale. People like those who've stood against her nurture deep seeded jealousies and pettiness and they make it their personal mission to undermine change and thus, progress at all costs. If THEY are not in charge, by golly, NO ONE will be in charge...and they set out to destroy what is being done and the one trying to do it. But not for the common good...to feed that jealousy, to feed that pettiness.
Where would YOU have been in her situation? You may not have voted for her, but would you have supported her if she was voted in as your boss? Now, I know you were never a problem for your parents and your kids have never given you so much as a gasp of a problem. But how are you toward those you don't agree with that are in authority over you? Or, what would you have done if you were her, and were bent to get the things done you'd promised? Put yourself in both sets of shoes and advise pls.
10 months ago
Absolute bans, like the one that you propose for abortion, based on spiritual (not factual) beliefs, always fail. Did prohibition stop alcohol consumption in this country? No, it simply made it an unregulated free for all. Abortion has its place as an unfortunate but sometimes necessary medical procedure. One way to reduce that necessity is to discourage unwanted pregnancies (which Sarah Palin failed to do in her own family).
Sarah Palin seems like a somewhat flawed and petty small-time politician. The country would suffer further with her in a national office.
10 months ago
If you knew me--- and you certainly don't--- you would know that I have re-thought my position and 'progressive' (tho a cool term) ain't where it's at. At the cost of human life, you want to have your way. You want to be able to 'dispose' of an 'inconvenience' to perpetuate your way. Out of one side of your mouth, you talk of squandering natural resources, and out of the other, you tell us that the infanticide of millions of our most precious resource - our children - is an unfortunate necessity. Huh??
The Bible says "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." We can deceive ourselves into believing that it's ok to inject saline into a baby's spine to avoid inconvenience, or we can criticize Sarah Palin's failure to control (did you mean dominate??) her daughter - and her boyfriend. There were TWO involved in that union.
Anybody in your family ever brought your relation into some kind of scandal? Does that make YOU a failure? Got a brother who's been in prison or an aunt that runned off with the piano player from the local watering hole? Shame on YOU, then, right? No, silly goose!! That gives you the opportunity to respond well to help shape a bad situation into good, unless you just wanna throw rocks at someone you're supposed to love. You figure Sarah could've lied and said her daughter's already married. She could've kept her daughter hidden away for an extended period. But she didn't. She laid it all out on the table so that the sharks could smell the blood. And they sure fell for it; but did you see her tonite? She was radiant - not just physically - but can't you see a strength in her? Guts? Determination? That steely confidence of a person who KNOWS she is right, no matter who is throwing rocks at her. I see it, and honestly,
compared to the alternative - Senator Fantasy Land and Big Mouth Biden, I am happy to take a chance with her and her running mate. It's almost like Ross Perot - how many years ago was that? That guy had ZERO political experience, save that of his rise to power in big business. But the people loved that 'little cur' and for an Independent, he took a good percentage away from the Republicans and the Dems, because the people were ravenous for change. She's not so different than he, really. I often wonder what would happened if Perot would have won that year.
My very first leadership job was like a foreman kinda thing, years ago. Before my interview, I was scrambling to learn as much about the job as I could, all the technicals, all the logistics, all the details. But when I got in to the interview, there were several people there and they didn't ask once about the job itself. They asked about me. About my honesty, my ability to set goals and accomplish them and my problem solving skills. They wanted to know what I would bring to the position I wanted so badly. The rest, I found out later, they knew they could trust me for. If I had a solid foundation of character, the rest would come naturally. This is sorta how I see Sarah Palin on a greater scale, of course. Combine her pluck with John McCain's experience and there is no limit to what they can do---they compliment one another and it's so apparent to me. It's going to be a hard road no matter who wins. But I want to see them
fly...
Oh, did prohibition stop alcohol consumption here? No, but overturning that law opened up vast millions in revenue to our govt. The same as they'd love to do with marijuana. And how about Mary Jane? While the laws don't keep ppl from smoking it, it doesn't keep it from being.....WRONG. It all comes down to personal accountability. If you get an abortion, or whine until your loved one (daughter, girlfriend, sister, mother) gets one, you are responsible for the death of that child, like it or not, believe it or not. If I stay silent and allow you to exercise what you've been deceived into thinking is right, then I am responsible, too. Again, as I stand before Almighty God (the reason I believe in Intelligent Design as fact, based on what is STILL the best selling Book of all times- and more fact than we can comprehend with our puny little minds) in judgement, with all my heart I don't want to hang my head in shame because I
didn't speak based on that Truth. How will you fare that day? Oooohh...did you feel a little something in your heart just then? And don't you want to fight it? Run from it? Argue with it? You can, but it will not diminish the way it makes you squirm when you think about it, even though you try so hard not to think about it. You can't deny it away. It IS something awful to fear, standing before a Righteous God in judgement.
And pls, will you site some solid references on the overpopulation issue? Is that why about 5 of our schools within two school districts in a three county radius in our region had to shut down? How about why is it that we have no babies to adopt to those who can't conceive children? Why does everyone have to go to China to pay $30 grand for a baby? I know 3 families around here that have done just that after years of red tape trying to adopt a newborn. Live ones are few and far between. Plenty of dead 'fetuses' however. Name them: she would have been Rachel. He would have been Travis. The twins would have been Marcy and Maryann.
And the pollution element: I need some real stats there. We've done major, major reconstruction on our planet and we have made huge strides. Don't you see that? I, personally, recycle and I don't even buy new clothes - I shop at thrift stores to be a good steward of the resources entrusted to me. I told you that I live a good honest life...I don't kill anyone and I don't disrespect others to get my way. It's just not the way I do things, and I wish you wouldn't assume that if I'm wrong in my conservative stance, I'm still a harmful entity. I'm not. Don't make the assumption that conservative is automatically wrong on all things, any more than I should assume that liberal is unequivocally stupid in all things.
Again, if I am wrong, so what? I was good to the planet, I used my resources wisely, I loved my neighbors, and I didn't have to kill even one person to get my way or to avoid inconvenience. Life well lived and no harm done. But what if I am right, elfrus? How will you 'progressives' stand? There will be no excuses then, nowhere to hide and no argument. The thought sobers me. Proverbs tells us, " Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." God is just as Righteous as He is loving and merciful. But don't ever make the mistake of thinking that He winks at our sin - lets us slide by; He does not.
Fair is fair. Don't be afraid to re-think YOUR position.
10 months ago
You have the right to believe whatever you like but the Bible I read tells me God isn't as much of a judgemental asshole as people like to think.
Also not everyone who disagrees with the pro-life stance is okay with abortion. Pro-choice is the ability to choose, and as much as many of us don't like it, we acknowledge that abortion too is a choice. I don't think it's one I would make for myself, but I also admit that I've not been in a situation where it was a choice that I might potentially have to make.
Mrs. Palin may believe she is right and if so then I give her that much credit, but believing you are right, despite all claims to the contrary, does not actually make you right.
10 months ago
When did YOU begin as a human being? Everyone one of us began at conception. Why wouldn't I work based on that assumption? Why is there a question of that? Without conception, not one of us would exist. We are each products of a man and a woman coming together, even in the case of artificial insemination. There are no exceptions.
Job tells us in Job 31:15, "Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?" Hmmm...that implies that there was work on each of us, making us who we are in the womb.
I love the Psalms. Pls look at Psalm 127:3,4 "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward (look up the definition of REWARD). As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." It would appear that God gives great value to our children, so why don't we?
More Psalms: 139:12-14, "Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb (implying that God's work in our lives begins at conception; not just at physical birth). I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
Isaiah 49:1, "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name." Verse 5a: "And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant..." Now, we all know that from conception, a child begins to FORM - that's a verifiable fact. It takes about 9 months. It doesn't begin at birth, this forming of our bodies. Jeremiah also tells us that God's work in our lives begins at conception.
Jeremiah 1:5. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God KNEW Jeremiah at conception, and ordained him for His service at conception. He didn't wait until he was physically born. Why is that, Asuka?
Why in the world do you want to take a chance of being wrong on such a crucial issue?
Further, pls guard the way you speak about my Lord and my God to me. He is judgemental; but He is the only one that has a right to be. Romans 14:12 speaks at that quite clearly. " But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
Like it or not, we will all stand in judgement. I will not be silenced in the face of this man made, man justified atrocity. I will not compromise my stand one iota. Abortion is murder. Abortion is sin.
Why don't you just tell me what the Bible YOU read tells you.
10 months ago
Your life didn't begin in either place - it was there in a woman hundreds or thousands of generations ago, and it's been carrying on un-interrupted since then. Whether you think of that woman as an advanced primate or as Eve herself in God's image, that ever-moving, ever-churning, ever-striving breath of life has been passing itself on from person to person for thousands of years. Every cell in every human that has ever lived - Hitler, Ghandi, MLK, Stalin... every one of those cells came from a single egg and a single sperm coming together and then splitting an unimaginable number of times.
So your question is really when did I, as an individual start? I could give you a few answers: Conception, when your DNA first became yours. When your brain first developed the cells needed for thought. When you become a viable to survive without your mother. When you were born. But when did your life start? Millennia ago.
10 months ago
My only answer to you is the Word: Romans 1:16-32: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to
be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
These words you write are empty and souless. Reading them, I wonder if you feel you have a purpose in your life at all. Before you sleep tonite, ask God, if He really IS real, to reveal Himself to you. Search for Him with all your heart, your sad, empty heart. I was hopeless like that; but He has changed my life...
10 months ago
Oh---wait a minute---we're already DOING that...and there's no notification to the parent required----well, how's that working?
10 months ago
Telling kids - who are going to do what they want no matter what their parents threaten, or how much information is withheld from them, or how much sex is made out to be evil, or how much the boogeyman will come throw them into a lake of fire - how to practice some form of responsibility doesn't equal handing out condoms to young children.
It's been my experience, both as a student and an educator in the public school system in Texas, that abstinence-only programs do not work. Period. They don't. They do nothing to stem the rates of teen pregnancies, and in fact end up being harmful in the long run.
I took sex education in the fifth grade and digested it as I would any other form of information that might be useful in the future. I have never had any other partner than my husband. I would say that knowing these things at the age of 11 was not at all harmful to me, nor would it be to anyone else - the decision one makes in one's personal life is determined by the individual and that individual's experiences, not by whether or not someone told them if sex was something to avoid.
10 months ago
There is a time and a place for sexual education. It is NOT in the public school. It is NOT at the elementary level. Why should a teacher be held responsible for instilling solid values in children on such things, when each teacher his/her self are so diverse in their own right? Will the gay teacher in the room next to yours teach the same as you in your room with a whole different group of kids? We can teach them all we want about methods of uh...protection... and all of the scientific details of procreation; but what about the second part of the lesson that is perhaps even more important? Teaching them the sanctity of sex. The priceless gift that it is. I contend that too many children are not ready for it at the point it is being presented, and that the vast difference of the belief systems of those required to teach them makes such a responsibility too overwhelming.
To teach kids about sex is to make them too aware much too soon about things they are not yet mature enough to learn. While our society makes sex look like some kind of sport, when it is much more beautiful and yes, more sacred than that, so that the kids take off from the lesson half loaded, but dangerously so. Informing them - offering condoms- gives them permission, in a sense. It's just plain wrong.
When you say 'nothing', pls provide stats on the abstinence programs in your area, before and after their administration, and the duration with which they were utilized. And who was offering them? Who taught absitnence to the kids? To make the observation you made about them gives me no assurance of accuracy. I need more. And, do you offer then, that the free condoms program is working? Let's see stats on that, too.
Did you have sex with your husband before marriage?
10 months ago
Simple fact is that she --and her family--- are standing by their convictions, even in the face of HUGE adversity. Sarah, herself, kept her Down's Syndrome child, knowing he would be a 'liablity' (liberal word, not mine) to her for keeps, when she could have aborted to make her life easier. But she didn't, because of her convictions. She is LIVING out what she believes and for that, for one reason anyway, she will get MY vote, and more power to her.
Later, Gator!
10 months ago
"Palin Said "Hang 'Em Up" When Asked About the Death Penalty. Asked about the death penalty, in extreme cases such as the murder of a child, Palin said, "My goodness, hang 'em up, yeah." [Anchorage Daily News , 8/18/06]"
10 months ago
What better deterrent for taking a life than knowing you'll be forfeiting your own life in return?
I can't think of even one. Can you?
Or are you a fan of rehabilitation for muderers? So that they are free to run the streets amongst the unknowing vulnerable? Or perhaps we should just keep them caged up until natural death takes them out of circulation. What say thee?
10 months ago
10 months ago
When one chooses to become a murderer (and it IS a choice, is it not?), one, in essence, surrenders their life to pay for the life they took. There is a price to pay. Take a gander at the term "capital punishment". It means just what it says: the highest price you can pay as punishment for choosing to take another life.
There is no contradiction here; these are simply two completely diverse issues. It all comes down to CHOICE. Who has one and who doesn't.
10 months ago
10 months ago
Do you have a better one?
10 months ago
While I'm opposed to killing the sentient for any reason other than self-defense, that's a challenge I can't pass up. Ever heard of Twin-to-twin Transfusion System where one fetus takes blood from the other? According to ABC News, "TTTS is a deadly condition that affects only the fetuses of identical twins. They come from the same fertilized egg but share one placenta that connects them to their mother's blood supply. Each fetus fights the other to get enough blood to survive....If nothing is done to correct the unequal blood flow between the twins, it's a death sentence for one or both of them."
I suppose you could counter to say it isn't murder because the fetus doesn't choose to kill its twin. It's simply an unintended consequence in the struggle for its own survival. However, if you argue that murder is the "killing of another human being," it meets that definition, unless you believe a fetus isn't a human being?
10 months ago
Sorry, I don't have the answer. But it's a really interesting proposition. I'll ask God about it. BRB.
OK. I looked up the account of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:21-26. "And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children (The Bible calls them CHILDREN, even whilst still in the womb - see that?) struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when
she bare them."
Now, these two brothers were the epitome of sibling rivalry and it went on - you can read it at your leisure. My point is that they were considered CHILDREN, however. Human beings. While Rebekah was still carrying them. And God's plan was in full swing, at conception.
Now, I prayed and asked God to give me some kind of an idea of how to answer you. I have nothing within my own self to give you to satisfy what prompted you to ask such a thing. Only that knowing God is in control of ALL things and that He begins the work in our lives, each of us, at conception - really, for that matter, even before. The thought that keeps coming to my mind is that perhaps it is not one child killing another for survival, but more that God is taking the lifeblood from one, giving it to another so that one can survive. Perhaps there is not enough to sustain two lives, but one, so He interevenes. Now, I can hear your new question: but if God is in control of all things, why would He do that? Well, that's attached to the question of why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the good die young?
I don't know, CommonTater. But God does. Maybe it has happened so that it would pique your interest enough to challenge me today to shake my faith. Instead however, it has given me a picture in my mind of God, inside the womb of a new mother, intricately working where man is clumsy and afraid. And there, he livens the one child, who will do great things here on earth, where the child is needed (even if not wanted), and in turn, escorts the other-- the weaker-- Home to sit on His lap, our loving Abba Father (it means like, "Daddy"), to be with Him for eternity.
King David had a child with Bathsheba borne of their adulterous relationship. You know the story. But the baby got sick. King David was praying and fasting for the child to live; but he died, as David had been told. He was so upset over this, but why? Why was he so bent that this child of adultery, this child of inconvenience be spared? He set up his lover's husband to be killed at battle; why didn't he want the child to die? Well, anyway, the baby died and his servants were afraid to tell him, he was so distraught. But he calmed down after they told him and asked for breakfast. They were astonished at him for this; but his peace came from his next statement: "And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to
me." His child was in heaven, awaiting his arrival.
I guess it's a matter of perception. You perceive it as one murdering the other, and you want me to feel obligated that I should hold the survivor accountable. I think you want to pin me in a corner. Sorry. Instead, I perceive it as God's way of natural selection; His fingerprints are all over it, sort of like a miscarriage; and I won't question that, trusting His reason, even if I don't know what it is now, can't see it, no matter how hard I try or how hard I want to, or, if it happened to me, how badly it would break my heart.
It is a CHILD--- a living human being at conception. Period.
10 months ago
Do you think you could come up with an argument without using make-believe (aka the bible)?
As a secular humanist I am bound to respect all people regardless of their beliefs but if you can't come up with a rational for your positions other than quoting the 2000+ year old, thrice-translated ramblings of a bunch of sheep herders then I'm afraid your argument doesn't hold much strength.
Abortion is a terrible thing to have to go through but it is essentially a choice for a woman to make, and every one else should just mind their own business. I am not personally in favour of abortion but I recognise that there are situations where carrying the fetus to term is unnacceptable or even dangerous. Children should be wanted and loved, not imposed upon an unwilling parent.
Perhaps you can answer why evangelicals are always talking about saving unborn babies, but continually cut programs to help single parents?
On the subject of capital punishment (which I vehemently oppose) you seem to base your argument on the fact that committing a murder makes the offender's life forfeit and the state has the right to take away that life. Doesn't your bible state that everyone's life belongs to this god character and that he (strange that an omnipotent entity needs a gender) has final say?
Capital punishment has not been shown to be a deterrent in any jurrisdiction in which it is in effect. Rehabilitation, programs to address economic inequalities and mental health initiatives are far more efective in curbing criminal behaviour.
10 months ago
I'd much rather be a fool in your eyes. In time, your opinion will change; like it or not; believe it or not.
Psalm 14:1, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."
Psalm 53:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."
Said twice, the sentiment is accented. There's a reason.
Romans 1:19-25 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things (humanism a la mode...). Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (the essence of
your secular humanism), who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, His love is so boundless---all for you. He knows the heartache and loneliness you're feeling in your life right now; all the issues you're going thru. He wants to help you, and give you the peace you are so desperate for in your heart. I sense pain in your writing; I can't help but want so much to share His joy with you..
Honestly, I don't have any answers on any issues, save what I find in His Word, else my sentiments would be more likely to mirror yours. In my heart, I know it's Truth, there is no doubt or fear. I love being 'a fool' for Him; it is my express pleasure..
Oh, and about the single parent's funding thing...when we choose to have intercourse, we choose to take on the responsibility that comes along with 'the fun part', whether unwittingly or fully aware of the risk . If we are not capable of handling that responsibility - financially, emotionally, etc, well, then, we probably shouldn't be engaging in activities that would invite it into our lives. But, that's why there's abortion, right? So that we can play and never have to 'pay' (i.e., face the consequences of our choice)...Instead of taking responsibility, we'll kill the 'source' of our inconvenience, the 'intruder' into our lives--that WE invited in!! Accountability. A foundation truth in yes, God's Word. So that an innocent life is snuffed out in the interest of our pleasure and our right (is it really a right?) to choose, completely disregarding their right to live.
10 months ago
By all means read this bible of yours, just realize that what you read bears little if any resemblance to what this Jesus guy said. After all there were many more chapters in the bible before the Council of Nicea and most of them were written decades after the death of Jesus of Nazareth.
I'm not trying to convice you to give up your beliefs, or to change this 'magical' thinking that lets you believe that some invisible spirit manages every little detail of your life. Maybe you are right, but maybe you are wrong, none of us know. What I object to is you quoting the bible on a topic (abortion) on which it has absolutely nothing to say (because it didn't exist when it was written, pretty simple). We all have to live in this little mudball together so I'd rather people not try to tell others how to live their lives.
Back to the issue of single parent's funding, you say that we shouldn't have sex unless we are ready to take on the responsibilities. What if you thought you were but later realised you made a mistake? What if you got drunk and fooled around? Do you see forcing women to bear children they do not want as punishment? I thought children were a joy to be cherished?
Human beings make mistakes, often more than once. The mark of civilized society is one that understands this and that helps those unfortunate ones through the difficult times. Compassion matters a heck of a lot more that whichever 'holy' book tells who is good and who is bad.
10 months ago
If it's punishment, don't do the 'crime'. If it's a responsibility you are incapable of handling; don't procreate. And if you do, don't expect everyone else to share your responsibility.
I was a single parent many years; 3 kids, no child support---in fact, I PAID child support while my kids were with me full time; I had NO money for atty and legal battles, but Daddy did. I got absolutely NO govt assistance. EVER. Not even a free block of cheese. So, I'm probably not going to be as sympathetic an audience as you need to plead your case successfully. I took the responsibility for choosing the partner I did. I took the responsibility for the children of that union and I took the responsibility to see to it they were fed, clothed, educated and most of all loved, no matter what it cost me. I never expected others to come to my unfortunate rescue and I never complained about my 3 bundles of joy. And I wouldn't trade all those hard years for anything. In fact, I thank God for it all.
Narrow minded? Probably. But if the Bible was the only Book I'd ever held in my hands; the only Book I'd learned to read; the only Book that I would ever lay eyes on again for eternity, it would plenty enough for me. Mark 13:31, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." God's Word is the Living Word and it has the power to pierce even the hardest most hate filled heart, as mine once was. My earnest hope for you is that you find the peace and complete joy I have found so readily within Its pages, no matter what my 'unfortunate' circumstances have ever have been - or may ever be.
Good thing you're not trying to convince me to give up my beliefs. It would be a grandiose exercise in futility.
10 months ago
I'd much rather be a fool in your eyes. In time, your opinion will change; like it or not; believe it or not.
Psalm 14:1, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."
Psalm 53:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."
Said twice, the sentiment is accented. There's a reason.
Romans 1:19-25 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things (humanism a la mode...). Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (the essence of
your secular humanism), who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, His love is so boundless---all for you. He knows the heartache and loneliness you're feeling in your life right now; all the issues you're going thru. He wants to help you, and give you the peace you are so desperate for in your heart. I sense pain in your writing; I can't help but want so much to share His joy with you..
Honestly, I don't have any answers on any issues, save what I find in His Word, else my sentiments would be more likely to mirror yours. In my heart, I know it's Truth, there is no doubt or fear. I love being 'a fool' for Him; it is my express pleasure..
Oh, and about the single parent's funding thing...when we choose to have intercourse, we choose to take on the responsibility that comes along with 'the fun part', whether unwittingly or fully aware of the risk . If we are not capable of handling that responsibility - financially, emotionally, etc, well, then, we probably shouldn't be engaging in activities that would invite it into our lives. But, that's why there's abortion, right? So that we can play and never have to 'pay' (i.e., face the consequences of our choice)...Instead of taking responsibility, we'll kill the 'source' of our inconvenience, the 'intruder' into our lives. Or maybe it's better to make ME pay for it, hmmm?? Why? I didn't get any fun out of the whole transaction. Responsibility. Accountability. Consequences. Solid foundation truths in yes, God's Word.
10 months ago
10 months ago
So, I'll clarify: I want all of my pride to be expressed in regard to my relationship with Almighty God, through His Son, Jesus Christ and His atonement for my sin at Calvary's Cross. It's all I have, you see. Beyond what He's done for me, the work He's accomplishng through me, I have nothing; I am nothing. When I stand before God, Jesus Christ will be my Advocate. He paid my price and I owe all I have, all I am, to Him. To live and speak based on His Word is my worthy goal; nothing less. If I have allowed pride into my speech to detract you from seeing God's character as revealed through His Word, I am sorry.
But perhaps since you offer no rebuttal, I should assume you have no viable argument with which to respond yourself. Why did you respond then? If I am so proud and the arguments I present are so faulty, why bother? If your purpose is not really to 'teach' me--- if you just want to anonymously provoke me, I would offer that maybe instead of "Teacher", you should attach yourself to the moniker of...say..."Seeker".
I challenge you to ask God to reveal Himself to you. You have nothing to lose. No one needs to know. He IS real and He wants a personal, intimate relationship with you - He really isn't just a god we visit on Sunday mornings in a big building with a steeple on top. He's so much more and I, myself, am just beginning to learn about Him. It's the only thing in my life that I've never grown tired of, and I just can't get enough. I will lift your name (whatever it is - He knows) up to Him in prayer as I close. God bless you.
10 months ago
10 months ago
10 months ago
The Bible says that "pride goeth before a fall". I've been around long enough to know that as soon as you say that, something is going to come along to show you differently, so mind your words well, and be grateful for your many blessings.
My children, too, are well behaved and productive citizens of our fair country. Two of them just left my home and what sweet fellowship we enjoy. Perfect? Oh, my, no. No one is. But we love one another and our bond is strong; but it hasn't become that way by osmosis, as it appears yours has. We have worked thru much thru the years, sometimes very difficult times. But, same as Sarah, I will always, always, ALWAYS stand with them and for them, no matter what. Unconditional love, just like Jesus Christ gives me. Have you ever read the story of the Prodigal Son in... I think it's in like, Luke 13...(but if not there, somewhere close to there)?
I can't say that my childhood was so um....Sunnybrook Farm. My parents were both alcoholics and neither really had much time for me; there were so many issues for them both, I'm sure they were overwhelmed within their own lives. Having said that, I am grateful for them nonetheless. I learned a great deal I wouldn't have otherwise from them and this is what I bring to today's table.
No matter how hard you want to, and no matter how hard you try, you just plain can't make others always do what you want them to do. You can only have control over how you respond and how you allow it all to affect you. I'm sure if Sarah and Todd would have attached a chastity belt to Bristol; if they would have chained her leg to her bedpost; if they would have talked the other leg off, Bristol still would have made a poor decision. Gross error in judgement; and I'm sure the girl never had the slightest thought that her actions would stir up so much trouble for her family; and I would bet my eye teeth that she if she could, she would do things so differently now. My heart goes out to her; but there is price to pay for sin; there is no denying that. Consequences. We don't like to hear about that; it goes SOOOOO against our grain; but sorry, it's true. It's the ripple affect. And just like when you watch after you've thrown the
stone in the pond, you can't take it back and you can't stop the ripple.
Bristol made a bad choice; maybe many of them. But instead of aborting her child, instead of making a bad situation worse, she is going to stand up, her family alongside her, and live out the convictions she's learned. I'll bet if you could be alone with her for just a few mins, and get inside of her thoughts, it would break your heart. It already does mine.
But this has NOTHING to do with what kind of a leader Sarah Paliin will be. Well, maybe it does. It shows me she has character and strength---and LOYALTY; her convictions are strong; strong enough to carry her through this storm, and thru whatever the Vice Presidency brings her. When she admitted to using marijuana, she even admitted to inhaling. Whoa. Impressive. At least honest. She doesn't have to be perfect to win my vote.
I know that she will never desert her President in the time of scandal, as Al Gore did while Slick Willy was playing paddy cake with Monica. Look up where he was during that whole uh...'affair', while the court proceedings were taking place. But then, John McCain will never allow us to suffer that embarrassment. I believe in him. Not perfect either, but again, he doesn't have to be to win my vote and the vote of others just like me.
OK. My turn. This is something that's really been plaguing me for several years. The other nite, Sen O said he promised that if I didn't have health ins coverage, that he would see to it that I have the same benefits that the Senate gets. He said he was going to cut taxes for 95% of us and then tax big business to get enough so I can send my kids to college too - that every child would have the same opportunity he and his wife had. OK. So he taxes big business. Where do THEY get the money from to pay these new taxes? Does it come from...out of a big business hat? Does it come from....the bottom of the Grand Canyon? How about would it be on the now infamous Alaska 'Road to Nowhere'? Does it come from....the pot at the end of the rainbow? This will REEEALLY be interesting. Now, John Kerry (Mr. Heinz) promised the same thing 4 yrs ago. Is he still in the Senate by the way? Seems like him and Sen O probably have been working
on this issue all along, like really good team players, right? Like really living out their true convictions, right? It's probably already in place, right - just waiting for someone to pull some magical lever?? I hope so, ' cause I got an aching back that needs attending to. But shux, when the big businesses pay more taxes, don't you think they're gonna to be tempted to pass those costs on to...uh....me? And you?? Oh my, josh, doesn't that just make YOUR back hurt too? But is that how it's going to work? I hope I'm wrong, but that's historically how it's always worked. Big business ain't going to shrink that profit margin--too many big business stakeholders to answer to; but no one really seems worried about my profit margin. Will I be in that illustrious 95% that will see a decrease in taxes? Maybe. But I will bet all I own that it will not begin to cover what it winds up costing me, the middle class taxpayer. But I
am eager to believe differently. I WANT to believe what the guy says. But alas, experience is telling me ---no, it's SHOUTING at me to give it up.
I'll take my chances with the Ol' Man and the Hockey Mom.
Oh, and pls, there's no need to shout at me (you write in all caps...it's kind of unpleasant and I don't feel unpleasant toward you; why should you me?). Altho most of my faculties fail on a regular basis, there's nothing wrong with my hearing.
Thx!
10 months ago
so may the best "person" win this election and make this country better thani its been under nit wit bush.
10 months ago
Yes, dear anonymous friend, I pray with you in agreement for God's best for our beloved home.
10 months ago
You are the self righteous and name calling type of Republican that gives all the rest a bad name. Shame on you for being such a hypocrite! The world does not revolve around people like you....you just live in the fantasy land of your head and think you have been given some special powers that make you better then anyone who disagrees with you. Your "strength of conviction' will not convince anyone and to allude to the fact that unless someone believes what you believe is less of a person and deserves less rewards in this life and after shows lack anything remotely real.
10 months ago
Take a look at your stove. Turn the biggest burner on as high as it will go. Watch it glow reeeeal red. Then tell yourself it is not hot; it is not hot; it is NOT hot. You can convince yourself of that and believe it so much in your head and heart that when you touch that burner, oh my!! well, it will STILL burn the skin off your hand.
No matter how you deceive yourself; no matter how convinced you are or how convincing you THINK you are, the Truth stands. Truth is NOT relative, as you are scrambling in your heart, clinging to believe. Further, there is NO WAY anyone on this earth has all the answers. Not me, not you, no one. You can have a lot of answers, you can even have MANY answers, but no one has them all. There is great mystery in life for all us. Except for the Lord God Almighty, who loves you more than you could ever understand, in all your anger and bitterness toward someone so self righteous as me.
Do you live on my street; you must know me to feel able to call me a hypocrite. Are you in the green house across from the arboretum? Pray, what makes you say that? mary, foolish girl, I am only a sinner, saved by God's amazing grace; and I am NOTHING - NOTHING without Him. In Romans we see: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." and "For there is NONE righteous; no not one." I've made so many bad decisions, I've done so much wrong; I've hurt so many people. But God loved me enough to forgive me and give me a new start. He gave His most valued Gift, His Son, so that this was possible. Then, Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God love has a most humbling effect, you see.
II Cor 12:9-11, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing."
You can spit at me all you want, if it makes you feel better, more justified in yourself. You can yell at me until my hair blows in the wind and my lips flap from the air coming out of your mouth. But it will not ever change the Truth. Jesus said it: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." Whatever our issues are, HE doesn't just have all the answers, He IS the Answer.
I praised Him for 'meeting' you today. I prayed for you...
10 months ago
10 months ago
Why didn't Jesus jump down off the cross then? Why didn't He take the other guys and release them...like weren't they only thieves?
Luke 23:39-41 "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss."
Jesus Christ, God incarnate, heard those words--- yet never corrected them, never uttered a word against their punishment. Except to tell the one who recognized Him that that day he would be with Him in paradise. He only offered forgiveness.
Why is that, pray tell?
10 months ago