The more I read about Palin the more she appears Bush like to me. To me is is smoke and mirrors for McCain to slect her over the many more qualified females in the country. She and McCain are preped, sponsed, supported by the Bush camp. She and McCain are the same old thing and nothing new. And how dare the McCain/Bush camp insult the american women by thinking they would vote for her, just because she if "female".
Michael Wrightson
· 1 year ago
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
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.
Thank you for your courage in writing this. You are right when you point out "bad things happen when good people stay silent." Oncegain, thanks.
zbrit
· 1 year ago
Anne, it took a great deal of courage and effort to write this. You are absolutely right on when you point out "bad things happen when good people stay silent." Your opinion of Mrs. Palen does seem to be shared by others. Keep on speaking out! I believe you are reaching beyond Alaska.
moderatemidwestmom
· 1 year ago
Thank you for a well-framed and relevant article. This brings us so many issues that need to be explored and exposed before it's too late. The GOP has shored up its support for this questionable candidate, and is firing back with clearly scripted rhetoric at anyone who asks even the most simple and logical questions about Palin's real experience and judgement.
wrldtree
· 1 year ago
Thanks, Anne, for writing this. Your courage and intelligence serves us well.
Steve
· 1 year ago
@ Michael Wrightson - Do you have a problem with reading comprehension? What part of the following don't you understand? "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...
cris
· 1 year ago
Steve, loosen your belt so you can get some circulation.
Morris Cox
· 1 year ago
Listen up, retard. Anne has requested that it not be posted on any websites. Michael Wrightson did anyways without permission. It was inconsiderate of him and could get him into legal trouble. So get a brain and learn how to use one.
Kevin22262
· 1 year ago
Michael or the admins!!!!
PLEASE remove Anne's info from this comment!
Luke
· 1 year ago
This comment has gotten A LOT of circulation. Thanks for posting. Did you just repost Anne's original comment from a different site? who is Michael Wrigston?
yanos
· 1 year ago
While Mrs. Kilkenny's census numbers may be correct, the implication of Wasilla being a minute town in Alaska is not. Wasilla is only a small part of the Matanuska Susitna Valley. Many who live in the Valley and outside rely on Wasilla’s infrastructure and the businesses within. According to the 2000 census, 59,322 people resided in the Valley. As of 2007, it is estimated that there are ~80,000 residents (http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_BLOCK...). A large number of business have recognized that Wasilla is the hub of this area. For example, the following businesses are located in/near Wasilla’s city limits: the first Wal-Mart Supercenter in Alaska, the Second Target in Alaska, the third Lowe’s in Alaska, the fourth Home Depot in Alaska, the third Costco (being built) in Alaska and the second Sportsman’s Warehouse in Alaska. Does this sound like a town of 7,000 people? My point is that the decisions by the Mayor of Wasilla impact many more than 7,000 people. This is just one example of how Mrs. Kilkenny has skewed the “facts” for her personal political beliefs.
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.
Mo
· 1 year ago
Does this sound like a town of 7,000 people?
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.
yanos
· 1 year ago
Excuse me? There is so many things wrong with your post, I am unsure where to begin, but I will attempt to.
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.
Jacob
· 1 year ago
Yanos, you are correct in stating this is one person's opinion. Much of what she says however can be corroborated with newspaper sources.
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.
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?
yanos
· 1 year ago
"A Johns Hopkins University study named Wasilla High School as a "dropout factory". ...Only 58% of incoming freshman graduate as seniors."
"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.
annonymous
· 1 year ago
Yanos.......How refreshing to hear someone who is interested in truth instead of slurs!
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.....
Jacob
· 1 year ago
I haven't heard a Democratic Party official sling mud at Sarah Palin yet. Obama and Biden have been very gracious.
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...
Johnbo
· 1 year ago
Palin and McCain have brought scrutiny upon themselves the old fashioned way - they've earned it.
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.
talibanana
· 1 year ago
Agreed . . . 100%. She told a big fat whooper about the bridge to nowhere. How does she use that as a positive? What they did is took the money behind the scenes while making a big show of rejecting it to deceive the public . . . How are we supposed to believe this woman is a reformer? She is a political animal who is set on dividing this nation, like Bush, into people who support her and people who don't. In short, she is a trainwreck. Vote for Obama the unifier. If we fail this time around God help America.
what?
· 1 year 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?
.
Skip
· 1 year ago
Ummm....Looking for Osama Bin Laden? Prevent the Taliban from reforming in their home territory??
Common sense maybe?
Jacob
· 1 year ago
Yanos, the sources in that news article are from the school system itself.
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.
eva grecius
· 1 year ago
People who make a public spectacle of themselves are my very favorite kind of people, and they are very often right. Those who are afraid to go out on a limb to stand up for important principles are my LEAST favorite kind - the kind of people who think everyone should be "nice" all the time. The fact that you say Anne makes a public spectacle of herself only makes me trust her more, and you less.
bemused
· 1 year ago
"People who make a public spectacle of themselves are my very favorite kind of people" here! here!
truth888
· 1 year ago
whats your name and your family may get promoted
stand up and be counted
· 1 year ago
yanos maybe you should give your name as that is a braver thing to do as that girl did,i do not have to but you are really saying she is a nutter.that is personal about ann so lets see your real name instead and maybe back up your article that say she made a specticle of herself,in what way by protesting against an abuse of powers
Jacob
· 1 year ago
Well yanos it has been a few days as you suggested. I was curious if you planned to "address the inaccuracies" of Anne's letter as you said. Inquiring minds want to know.
Johnbo
· 1 year ago
chirp . . . chirp . . . chirp (the sound of crickets)
Joe
· 1 year ago
The area outside of the "city limits" of Wasilla is governed by the Matanuska Susitna Borough, which is an entirely separate entity from the city government of Wasilla. The borough government serves the bulk of the residents of the "Valley". The decisions of Wasilla's mayor have little effect.
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.
hot flash
· 1 year ago
Thank you for your comments and willingness to speak out. Living in a very small town, I know how hard this and repercussions that come with it. The Palin nominaiton is unbelievable on so many levels and the more people that can add any insight into the kind of a legislator she is is much appreciated.The media hype and the Republicans are busy spinning their own stories so it is hard to know what is the truth. Thanks for your story.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
Good for you for speaking out, especially given the apparent risk! Americans already have an overwhelming positive impression of Alaskans, for their spirit and independence and choice to live so close to raw nature. Palin won't affect that, though she might make Alaska seems a little less exotic and more full of ordinary town politics and personalities, as no doubt it is. If McCain loses, it won't be her fault, it will be his; not least for his choice of her. If he wins, though, Alaskans better hope she doesn't turn out to perform mediocre or worse, because that would be both a powerful message about Alaskans and would certainly taint the waters for future Alaskan forays to the lower 48. (And if McCain becomes one of the 25% of American Presidents whose VPs actually have to take over, then if she is mediocre or worse we as a nation could be in serious trouble.) Alaskans shouldn't be embarassed or feel they need to enforce some state-wide code of silence - Americans will judge Palin on her own as an individual. But silence might harm the country: good men and women need to actively participate in our electoral process, or we deserve whatever we end up getting.
Elitist Farmer
· 1 year ago
You are indeed a hero[ine], Anne. Thomas Paine is applauding you from his grave!
Praedor
· 1 year ago
Sad when writing this simple stuff (the facts) brings on thank yous for courage. That said, I thank you for supplying on-the-spot information from someone who knows Palin on a (more or less) personal level. You stood up for one of her enemies (a librarian with the "gall" to stand up for liberty and freedom to read and against censorship) and that makes you solid. Now, if only journalists would be as thorough in checking into her background as you are. Maybe they could step away from writing about her hair style or her makeup and other total crap for a bit and writing up some of the info you present.
Yeah, like THAT will happen.
Scott
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the information!!! She's is exactly the type of of woman I judged her to be and I hope everybody out there gets to read this!
Marina
· 1 year ago
Thank you for being honest person and tell the truth.
Holly
· 1 year ago
Thanks so much for your post Anne. I appreciate it and hope that more people will verify these facts so they can come out in a mass public media forum. People need to know the truth about all the candidates and who or what they are voting for.
B. Johnson
· 1 year ago
I live in Anchorage. I grew up in Wasilla, when our High School only had 120 kids total. I was born and raise here also. That said, now the fact that I know about Ms. Palin.
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
B. Johnson
· 1 year ago
I live in Anchorage. I grew up in Wasilla, when our High School only had 120 kids total. I was born and raise here also. That said, now the fact that I know about Ms. Palin.
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
seatown
· 1 year ago
She (Bristol) seemed to be pregnant last year?
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.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
How could I know that you storytellers are from anywhere near Anchorage, Ak?
Jeff
· 1 year ago
Thanks for real insight into who is is "Sarah Plain"
Nicole
· 1 year ago
Thank you
CVMissouri
· 1 year ago
Thank you Anne for your courage. You are an American with a true heart.
Cindy
· 1 year ago
People are actually considering bringing a person to the national government level who has only recently brought to bear her pit-bull tactics in scuffles with small town officials? If she doesn’t even understand how to deal with a local library employee, HOW could she begin to understand the finesse required in meetings with foreign leaders??
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Referring to pit-bull tactics in scuffles: Do you mean like the way that Mr. Bush appointed John Bolton the pitbull tactical scuffler to be our representative at the UN (United Nations). There was so much whining when he was appointed after being held up for confirmation by congress. He then went off to the UN and grabbed them by the shirts and shook. What then ensued was the exposure of what has become a very corrupt world power. Even most DEMS that study FACTS admit this now.
Rick
· 1 year ago
Interesting article but obumma and byeden are not lilly white either. Jerimiah wrong, byeden, ayers, 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.
Bart
· 1 year ago
Judging from your writing skills, you probably actually would receive a greater tax break from Obama and NOT McCain's tax plan (income under $112k). Source: The Tax Policy Center.
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.
Barney Smith
· 1 year ago
PLEASE VISIT THE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ON ANNE KILKENNY:
If you think the article is relevant, click on the "discussion" tab and ask for it to not be deleted.
I'm from Illinois where corruption runs rampant. I understand only the AK corruption stuff superficially so this is perhaps a poor comparison. Lots of pols in IL run on changing things but they are all part of the same corrupt system and to survive a career at the state level you pretty much can't avoid the corruption.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Exactly.
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.)
traveler22
· 1 year ago
I'm from Illinois, too. I hate when people don't read all the facts and claim that "you pretty much can't avoid the corruption." That's completely bogus. I'm not denying that corruption happens in Illinois (or Indiana or Michigan or Florida or New York or...), but there are also good people doing good things, including on the political front, and to wrap everyone in the corruption blanket shows an unwillingness or an inability to do your homework. Susan, take some initiative and study all your facts before you make those kinds of uneducated blanket statements.
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.
I always worried that Barbie Doll would decide to go into politics.
Wes Cain
· 1 year ago
There is not even a mention of the pregnancy misdirection rumors.
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
RS
· 1 year ago
That's a dangerous road (particularly as it involves a minor). Let's leave that to the National Enquirer, shall we?
SDSL
· 1 year ago
Sorry, no chance of that. We are talking about one of the most important positions in this land, and I want to know why Palin didn't take more responsibility to raise her children properly. Not everyone's family ends up sounding like the Spears!
swift_goat_pet_for_truth
· 1 year ago
Look at the John Edwards story. FIRST the National Enquirer. THEN the McCain supporting Corporate Media can have it.
lefty
· 1 year ago
"McCain supporting Corp Media" -exactly! There's a reason McCain gave a "No comment" to the Edwards story. He lives in a glass house - Cindy was his mistress before she became his 2nd wife.
RS
· 1 year ago
The original point from Wes Cain was about the "Trig was Bristol's baby" ("pregnancy misdirection") rumors - not the breaking *news* today. 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.
jnail
· 1 year ago
Misdirection, sleight of hand, hide the pea, 3 card Monty all the same. Ths issue here is NOT Bristol but judgment in the travel from TX to a remote hospital and no record of the birth there....something is fishy and could easily resolve this with a birth cert or some family hospital pics..
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???
I agree. With Palin's lack of a record, all we have to go by is what she says. And every account I've read, no one suspected she was pregnant -- at seven months. But her daughter looked pregnant and was missing school.
The presidential candidates submitted their medical records -- some of their records. Palin should too.
JP
· 1 year ago
What medical records are you talking about? She's not running for President... 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?!
Observer
· 1 year ago
I'm not interested in the tabloid aspect. But a correction: she is in fact running for president. That is what it means to be the next in line.
Skip
· 1 year ago
That is VERY much correct. It really bothers me people are not looking at McCains age and thinking very slowly and clearly about the running mate.
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.
Bozzy44
· 1 year ago
Have a bit pof problem with her wreckless behavior when she KNEW she was carrying the "special needs" baby..glaringly in 7th month taking a long flight to Texas to give a speech, water broke--an ALERTING situation for someone in their 7th month and especially so with a KNOWN special needs baby..She forewent medical consultation at a medical facility there in Texas, gave her speech, boarded a plane without informing the crew of POSSIBLITIES that could evolve so that THEY could b"be prepared for emergency needs, travel the 11 hours , deplanes in Anchorage which has excellent medical facility with an excellent NEO NATAL unit preferring instead to drive 45 miles to her rural community medical facility to give birth...Sorry, thoughts come to mind of needlessly endangering the infant she was about to birth, perhaps subconsciously allowing for the possiblity of a "natural abortion" ..She gives birth and spends but three days BONDING with the special needs infant then heads back to the office while others take over the care and nurture of the newborn. Now reports emerge that she was NOT pleased with the news of the teen daughter though on stage she professes to be looking forward to the additon of a grandbaby to the family fold but WHY would a parent REALLY allow the glare of public scrutiny and humliation to a greater extent than many are acknowledging semi silently and off stage..Perhaps was her way of "teaching" consequences to her teen daughter as well as NOT about to allow anything get in way of HER OWN opportunity for historic markings...There is no way she could have been so naive to expect the "news" not to become public knowledge but now is spun as magnificient and no parent to held accountable for actions of offspring who makes wrong decisons/etc/etc/etc and argh ? Say what to those that profess THEY teach their own family values and etc and none other should have the any right to find fault with whatever THEY choose to teach no matter what the outcome...In particular is her stance on right to life and who gets to decide..admirable but others have their rights too and which need to be accomodated as well according to THEIR beliefs. She is an advocate of abstinance and not even contraception teachings by decree no less. Sorry, she is NOT THE arbiter for all but she imposes her positions on others and there IS detrimentals from such impositions. Thin it IS fair game to review her family and her vbeliefs and positions but now ruled off limits --can NOT be off limits when she could hold sway over others and demand their preferences/choices be denied and but hers followed. You can NOT use the family as props then turn around and declare PRIVATE and OFF LIMITS, there is a balance in that COULD be achieved but it takes HONESTY from all quarters.
Dave
· 1 year ago
You are incredible! "It sullies the campaigns claim of wonderfulness for not aborting the Down syndrome baby". What kind of statement is that! I think there has been a lot of excitement after her speech and McCain is going to win! I will enjoy every minute!
Gabe
· 1 year ago
Hitler would be very proud of you Bozzy.
Skip
· 1 year ago
Gabe you need help if you think questioning an idiot running for VP is in any way related to Hitler. I suggest you start reading and researching. It's actually the other way around. Hitler would be proud of Sarah Palin.
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.
lamont
· 1 year ago
The taped conversation about Wooten shows the undue influence Todd Palin has. He's not a government employee but the Palin aide mentions him by name several times as if he was running the show.
RS
· 1 year ago
Laura: 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 ;-)
Laura McGann
· 1 year ago
I'm looking into this right now. She was responsible for a very expensive hockey rink project, so that could be the deficit. Will let you know.
RS
· 1 year ago
Thanks!
Woodstock
· 1 year ago
During all the hoopla that's been taking place since Friday, I came across some interesting Alaskan bloggers. In case you haven't stumbled across this person (link below) yet, I highly recommend this site: well-written, knowledgeable about Alaskan politics and humorous - you can't get much better than that. Disclaimer: I don't know this blogger from Adam http://mudflats.wordpress.com/
Laura McGann
· 1 year ago
thanks, I'll check this out!
Bob
· 1 year ago
every one should read it
Richard
· 1 year ago
I'm sure glad you posted that link, but just lost two hours reading it.
greeny
· 1 year ago
this selection for V. P. shows McCains true nature, reckless, thank God he didn't hold the reins when the georgian incident ensued.
BH
· 1 year ago
It is a rather pathetic state of affairs when the GOP needs to tout a candidate as being anti-corruption. I can hear the ads now:
"Vote Palin: She's not pro-corruption!"
TheOutsider
· 1 year ago
I came across a somewhat similar sentiment a couple of days back, asserting that her anti-abortion stance show's she's actually pro-choice: the right of a rapist to choose the mother of his child.
TheOutsider
· 1 year ago
My gods, did I actually type that apostrophe in "shows?"
*cringe*
Asuka
· 1 year ago
"[...]asserting that her anti-abortion stance shows she's actually pro-choice: the right of a rapist to choose the mother of his child."
...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.
AnnaCatherine
· 1 year ago
Sarah Palin and the "National Stage". She doesn't know what that is. Beyond the complicated soap opera that defines Ms. Palin is the woman who could end up running our country. McCain's judgement comes into question often, why not now? Most of us are not convinced that he can't run the country much less pick a successor. His choice will not win the women's vote. Ms. Palin rubs many of us the wrong way. She doesn't have to nail her foot to the kitchen floor, but while she preaches "having babies" she must know that taking care of them is part of the deal. If she cares as little about us as she does about her children, especially the newest"special child" her priorities start & end with Ms. Sarah. Well ain't she special.
moe99
· 1 year ago
You wrote: "Palin has conceded that she was justified in pushing for the dismissal of her former brother-in-law, though she maintains it had nothing to do with her decision to replace the safety commissioner." I think what you mean to say is that Palin has conceded that her staff pushed for the dismissal, not that she conceded she was justified in doing so. That's not a concession at all. Its a rationale and you don't concede a rationale.
ajm8127
· 1 year ago
So she fired people that did not support her, giving no justification for her actions? Can you say Alberto Gonzales?
Skip Kent
· 1 year ago
Ruthless? Yes. But she did what was completely within her power and jurisdiction to do. Firing those who are not 'team players' and appointing those who are is standard procedure in the political world. Just ask the Clintons.
ajm8127
· 1 year ago
Maybe, but she wanted to fire the librarian because the librarian would not condone censorship of the reading materials in the library. The public safety commissioner had to go because he would not fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law over a personal matter concerning the messy divorce he and Palin's sister went through. It just looks really, really suspect on her part. It's like she can't be trusted.
Skip
· 1 year ago
Yeah and if you notice Hillary didn't make the cut for similar reasons. Firing those that are not 'team players' might be normal in your world but to the rest of us it's the kind of crap that causes people to show up at work and shoot a couple dozen people for 'no reason'. I personally would like to see a law say NO-ONE can be fired without just reason you a-hole.
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.
Skip
· 1 year ago
Excuse me I meant to say "hauled". Easy to make a mistake when you get irate about something.
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.
Martin Johnson
· 1 year ago
Re: Wasilla firing. It's more than that. The Oct. 28, 1996 edition of the Daily Sitka Sentinel, reported that Palin "asked all of the city's top managers to resign in order to test their loyalty to her administration."
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."
Skip
· 1 year ago
They all should have gotten together and burned her house at that point. (I somehow don't think local law enforcement would have stopped her.) Jeez...How the heck can this woman be even considered as VP. It's just frightening.
SteinL
· 1 year ago
The angles here are impossible to count.
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.
PastorAgnostic
· 1 year ago
Pro-drilling, anti-evolution 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.
iLoveCluelessLiberals
· 1 year ago
Hey PastorAgnostic, I find it interesting that you and other liberal extremists like you choose the words "Pro-guns", (which our founding fathers were and attempted to ensure the people's rights to keep and bear them); along with "anti-women's rights" to describe a right (abortion I presume) that would have been unfathomable to the founders. Now don't get me wrong, I could care less if a women wants to kill their unborn child. It's one less mouth you liberals will require the rest of us to feed. It's just ironic that you don't even recognize or acknowlege the inversion of your logic.
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.
Jacob
· 1 year ago
Hello iLoveCluelessLiberals,
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!
iLoveCluelessLiberals
· 1 year ago
You are misinformed... Palin is well informed on the subject of Alaskan energy resources and the feasibility of bringing them to market. ANWR represents only a small fraction of what Alaska has. It's about the same size as LAX and is not environmentaly unique. We are not talking about dumping radioactive waste all over the place, we're talking about responsibly extracting resource below the ground. Within a few years after drilling is finished you will have a hard time detecting humanity was ever there. Nature has a way of taking back the land if left to do so. It should not be the sacred cow that it's been made into. That is my belief based on the research I have done on this subject and as an environmental engineer. I believe as she does that we should be throwing everything we've got at the problem. Longer term bio-oils can supplant petroleum ones for pharmaceutical and other traditional purposes. Below are some excerpts from a recent interview with her...
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...
Jacob
· 1 year ago
Well how about that. The only source you give is from Palin herself. Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea have already begun to be leased and/or explored. Because of the difficulties in the location it will take perhaps 10-15 years to get at the oil. Truth of the matter no one knows how much is there so her estimates are likely best case scenarios.
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?
"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.
dgrinsell
· 1 year ago
Bottom line. Oil is a finite resource and that's that. You could plant an oil well on every available acre in Alaska and we would still eventually run out. We need to change our consumption pattern and develop more sustainable energy sources.
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.
Skip
· 1 year ago
You're an idiot if you think drilling is going to solve our problems. It will take as long for that to even LESSEN our foreign oil dependence as it will to put renewables into use.
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.
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.
Curious About Stevens Tie
· 1 year ago
I would like to know more about her support of Senator Stevens' re-election bid. The guy is under indictment. Did this reformer help his opponents in the primary? Is she supporting or opposing him in the general election? Does she or has she held any formal role in his campaign? Has he supported her at any time in her rise?
buck turgidson
· 1 year ago
This is a somewhat superficial report--as, I suppose, first-level analysis might be. It does have something new--Palin appears to have a history of firing people who "don't support" her. But it's missing two well-documented bits that help to put Palin's reputation in perspective. First, she campaigned on her support for bridge-to-nowhere and she took federal money for the project. She also only redirected the funds that the state could keep--and continued to build the road to the bridge that is no longer in the plans. Second, her association with Stevens is a bit more complicated. Palin kept Stevens's endorsement ad even after the indictment but only until the VP announcement. TMP reported that the ad has now been scrubbed. I think, it would be fair to say that Palin opposes corruption not in principle, but only after it's been exposed--and even then, perhaps only if the facts become inconvenient. This woman cannot be trusted.
Filucy
· 1 year ago
May I ask a question of you that I haven't seen the answer to anywhere. A former resident of my home town lives now in Alaska said that the "bridge to nowhere" was actually meant to connect a town to its airport is that correct?
Praedor
· 1 year ago
So I read too, HOWEVER, Alaska is swimming in funds. So much that they give money to every resident rather than collect taxes...yet they beg for federal dollars on a level much higher, per capita, than any other state. So, how about using the EXCESS funds to build bridges and whatnot rather than seeking out MY tax dollars to do it? How about spending that excess money first, THEN seeking federal aid when absolutely required? QUIT STEALING FROM THE REST OF US!
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?
Richard
· 1 year ago
Yep. the bridge would've spanned the (approximately) thousand yard Tongass Narrows and connected Gravinia Island, where the airport is, to Revillagigedo Island, where Ketchikan is located.
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.
Skip
· 1 year ago
Considering the cost of the bridge it seems to me it would have been cheaper to move the airport.
Curious About Stevens Tie
· 1 year ago
I'm also curious to know more about the First Dude's role in her governing.
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?
burro
· 1 year ago
"I'm also curious to know more about the First Dude's role in her governing."
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.
Curious About Stevens Tie
· 1 year ago
One more issue: I saw a video where she was giving a warm welcoming speech to the Alaska Independence Party convention.
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.
xargaw
· 1 year ago
She is the newest Monica Goodling.
David
· 1 year ago
Maybe the newest Tonya Harding.
stephennnn
· 1 year ago
Is McCain throwing more meat to the faithful? Putting natiional party pandering above national governance is a risky game. It may play well with the conservative evangelicals, but what about the independents? Of course we know that the independents are ex-Regan Democrats that went Republican and would never vote for a black man. There's solace in hypocracy. And speaking of hypocrisy, the keystone of fundamentalism, where was McCain when Katrina visited New Orleans, and why did McCain trhow his exwife under the bus? Also, are the old adages true?? Beauty is skin deep (beware the evil inside). Don't wish too hard (Conservatives) it may come true. Power corrupts (Women are included as well). I would certainly take a hard look at this woman, beyond her family and religous conservative values.
Filucy
· 1 year ago
Actually, I would probably be considered a Reagan democrat. I cast my first vote for Reagan, then voted for a democratic governer, a republican senator, and a democratic representitive. I have always looked at the person and their positions regardless of party which is why I have never voted for Geo W. Barrack Obama is to me a well spoken and ditinguished man with good ideas, while I have concern that John McCain is showing signs of memory loss and his ideas seem to be similar to the things that have gotten us into our current state of affairs. Seems like a no brainer vote to me, skin color is irrelevant .
Masoninblue
· 1 year ago
Sarah Palin just announced that her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is three months pregnant. Palin said Bristol will marry the father and have the baby. Bristol is the daughter whom some folks in the blogosphere suspect to be Trig's true mother. Trig is the 7-month-old baby born with Down's Syndrome. Speculation regarding the identity of Trig's mother appears to be based on three circumstances: (1) Bristol took a 1-year medical leave of absence from school allegedly due to a bout with mononucleosis; (2) Palin surprised her staff when she announced that she was 7-months pregnant at age 44, even though she showed no sign of being pregnant; and (3) approximately 1-month later, just before a scheduled speech in Dallas-Fort Worth, she announced that her water had broken and, instead of going to a hospital, she delivered the speech and returned to her home in Alaska, which involves approximately 6 to 7 hours of flying time -- not counting time spent waiting in airports, including Seattle, where she caught a connecting flight to Anchorage, and time spent driving 45-miles to her home in Wasilla.
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.
Dadwboys@yahoo.com
· 1 year ago
I helped my wife with all 6 deliverys of our kids even the cut across the belly to get Josh who was 23 inches long and could not turn around. I helped delivered 3 kids to women who were working in RICE PADDYS in Vietnam when their water broke and they vould not get back to the village or the villagers has run away when we came into their towns. I have never seen the water break and then the woman being able to walk very far. But I am not a doctor just someone who has had different experiences that many men.
ElizabethB
· 1 year ago
Frankly, it doesn't. That stuff strikes me as personal family junk. Now all those firings are very relevant, as is her astounding lack of knowledge about anything.
josh
· 1 year ago
is it feasible that this child is the result of incest with her brother? sick as it may seem, incestuous pregnancy will lead to a mal-formed baby. why is the son being sent to Iraq? could it be that they wish to hush this up? could it be that this "soldier" meets his demise once stationed in Iraq????
Holli
· 1 year ago
You've got to be kidding! Please stop reaching to the bottom of the barrel with that muck.
Praedor
· 1 year ago
While her total lack of showing any signs of pregnancy and the supposed story of her water breaking and STILL doing a speech and then taking a looong flight home afterwards is suspicious beyond words, a Down's Syndrome baby IS par for the course for older women having children. Comes with the territory. Either she really did have the baby and had a no-BIG-surprise Downer baby (her eggs are beyond their sell by date) OR her daughter did it and Palin is a goddamned hypocrite liar.
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?
TheOutsider
· 1 year ago
Dude, you're reaching. Sometimes I reach a bit, but you're really, really reaching. Also, two points: 1 ) he's not a "soldier" -- there's no need for sarcastic quotation marks since he really is an enlisted member of the armed forces, though in this case, it's more accurate to refer to him as a marine, and 2) if you feel the need to use comic-book style punctuation to highlight your point ("????"), maybe you need to review the validity of your premise.
Roberto W
· 1 year ago
I have been blogging all weekend some stories you might think about pursuing while you're up there:
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:
Please, please, please before things get out of hand, please realize that these so-called “scandals” that you are trying to pin on Gov. Palin show that she clearly posses the EXPERIENCE and Rove-Cheney-like knowledge, skills, and ability needed to oversee our U.S. Justice Department. Let’s elect this ticket in the interest of continuity.
josh
· 1 year ago
how do spell abuse of power, you moron.
Michaelle
· 1 year ago
josh;
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.
TheOutsider
· 1 year ago
LOL. Indeed. She clearly meets or exceeds all currently accepted standards for executive-branch conduct.
(Some of us need to look up the definition of Poe's Law, which is just as equally applicable to conservatism as to fundamentalism.)
Richard
· 1 year ago
Hey, Lame McSam, looks like some folks can't spell satire, eh?
arthur
· 1 year ago
It has only taken a few days for the absurdity of this selection to become perfectly clear. In choosing Sarah Palin, John McCain has put forth the worst vice presidential prospect in U.S. history (and that's saying something!), but he has also shown that his only concern at this point is his personal ambition. He has done the country a great disservice.
mike
· 1 year ago
I think McCain's choice was not based on careful consideration and vetting. He has chosen someone, who at his age, is clearly not able to run the United States of America. There's so much we don't know about Palin. Will the media interview her (Fox News Sunday, Meet the Press, ABC with George Steph, etc.)?
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?
josh
· 1 year ago
she knows how to increase the population of the U.S.A.
osage
· 1 year ago
VOTE FOR PALIN OR BIDEN AS BEST VP PICK AT RNC WEBSITE:
This is every bit as relevant as Pres. Clinton firing the White House travel agency.
Dov King
· 1 year ago
1) I agree with Senator Obama that Ms Palin's family is off limits, besides it misses the real issues. 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
RS
· 1 year ago
Ab/Use of power is absolutely as critical as temperament and judgment. See Cheney, Dick.
jonz316
· 1 year ago
A Library Director ????? You have got to be kidding. There has to be more to this story. "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment ..."???????????
Hodgepodge
· 1 year ago
Take the Moose-eating moron DOWN!
Janice G Washington
· 1 year ago
Birds of a feather flock together! KEATING FIVE!
Dadwboys@yahoo.com
· 1 year ago
See if the Governor is going after the Hospital Employees who told her 17 year old is the mother is the youngest child too. 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.
Ceanna
· 1 year ago
Sarah Palin is another corrupt junior politician mentored by one of the biggest crooks in the Senate: Stevens, who panders to the religious right. - - but in the end, it's always do as I say and not as I do when the truth comes out.
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
KT
· 1 year ago
While in AK, why don't you also look into the propriety of the role that Todd Palin has played in governing during the Palin Administration. Specifically, perhaps you could look into the precipitous termination of John Bitney, who allegedly made a "fatal employment mistake" by getting "on the bad side of Todd Palin" when, in June of 2007, "t became known that Bitney was dating the soon to be ex-wife of Todd Palin's good friend. Palin reportedly began demanding that Bitney be fired." Details of his termination can be found at Andrew Halcro's website: http://www.andrewhalcro.com/shadow_governor 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.
Dadwboys@yahoo.com
· 1 year ago
This explains a lot. The Republican Party has been grooming Pakin to take Senators Stevens job for a while and her husband has been running interference for her to get the best spot light for her.
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!
Laura McGann
· 1 year ago
I am interested in Todd Palin's roll in all this. It seems strange that his name came up at all in troopergate.
hmu2008
· 1 year ago
Please look into her appointments as Governor, especially Chuck Kopp. Also, the price of a hockey rink in Wasilla. She paid ten times what the land was worth as Mayor. Who benefited from that?
e forest
· 1 year ago
sounds like palin is a controll freak, everyone obeys her or else !!!!! her character is seeming more 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.
Julie
· 1 year ago
Why do I have the feeling that if she makes it to the White House we will be hearing about scandal after scandal?
josh
· 1 year ago
based on her past, anyone opposing the white house position will probably disappear and be found under the ice in alaska once it all melts. should\ve put her in a position as head of the C.I.A. lol
Deanna
· 1 year ago
John McCain has put his political ambitions above the safety of this country by placing this woman a heart beat away from the Presidency. 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.
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
I don't believe Palin was vetted at all. If so, I think McCain believes since American voters put Bush in office twice, they'll go for anything.
swift_goat_pet_for_truth
· 1 year ago
I would like to know about her management of Wasilla money. 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.
Boy, she is someone to keep out of the White House for sure!
Katherine
· 1 year ago
THIS IS A TOTAL DISASTER!!!!!!!
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!!!!!
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
I kind of wish you had pulled those court records BEFORE you published this article. There's a mighty machine cleansing the moosetracks up there in Alaska. This is no longer local Alaska politics.
Laura McGann
· 1 year ago
Yeah, unfortunately it's a holiday. Will check back.
cettel
· 1 year ago
Obama is right that Palin's personal life isn't of public concern, but nonetheless, her lying about her private life is of public concern.
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?
Nat Turner
· 1 year ago
Hope you enjoyed Palin while you could. She'll be dropped like a hot potato by the GOP.
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
Terry
· 1 year ago
The media and especially the GOP praise Palin for being a mom who successfully balanced her job with taking care of her children... What a lousy job she is doing! To think that she's for abstinence and she cannot even get her children not to have sex and to get pregnant on top shows that she is not there for her family and she should be taking better care of her family before trying to run for VP. Is that the american family values? I have seen the likes of Sarah Palin in my job, she is a snake who uses her looks to manipulate feeble minded fools (like John McCain) to accomplish her goals. That shows you how John McCain would lead the USA. Want a gambler? Another cowboy like Bush to have his finger on the button that might get up senile one morning and go with his gut and push the damn button? Then all you have to do is elect McCain/Palin in 2008. In bonus, you will get a new wave of corruption, firing and appointing of judges. You will also see all scientific books like the evolution of species by Charles Darwin be sent into the fire because Miss Alaska Palin want's people to follow the Bible like others follow the Coran.
Maria
· 1 year ago
I did not think there was a person I could despise more than I despise George Sr and George Jr well, Sarah Palin is my new most hated person on the planet. She makes the other two seem slightly demented while she is some kind of the worst evil. A Mafia capo with a taste for blood, whether it be moose or other. I hope there are more Anne Kilkennys out there and less Sarah Palins...wait, no Sarah Palins.
Carol Avrin
· 1 year ago
With public office comes great responsibility and considerable interpersonel skills. How an individual with authority treats subordinates is a measure of that persons leadership. Early indications are that Sarah Palin lacks these requisite skills for leadership. In California, she would not last one semester as a principal of a public school let alone as a superintendent of a small district .
James
· 1 year ago
Who fires their neighbors in a tiny rural town? Many towns that size don't even have mayors. Is she a reformer or power hungry megalomaniac? Is this how Huey Long got his start?
Tonia
· 1 year ago
Pitiful! Another four to eight years of Cheney. When will America learn?
josh
· 1 year ago
hard to believe america is this gullible to fall for a tactic of putting the Partridge family on stage with a loser. america is so enamored to have a woman that they will not see through this phony 'HOCKEY MOM, MISS PTA , MISS SELF RIGHTEOUS, MISS ABSTINENCE, MS AMERICA.".
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---
Moderate Dad
· 1 year ago
And there's yet another revealation about a personally motivated firing involving Gov. Sarah Palin (and her husband Todd). John Bitney, who knew the Governor from their days as school kids, worked in the Governor's office. In June of 2007, it became known that Bitney was dating the soon to be ex-wife of Todd Palin's good friend. As such, Todd Palin reportedly began demanding that Bitney be fired. http://www.andrewhalcro.com/shadow_governor
Ted
· 1 year ago
The fact that all sorts of issues/questions have surfaced about Palin is an indication of the poor or minimal vetting of the candidate by McCain. For Laura and others to check out a surprise candidate, we should have been hearing from McCain on each major item that has surfaced; there should have been no major surprises.
Instead the media will do the vetting for him and it's at his peril and Palin.
Joyce Ellis
· 1 year ago
As a woman I have always supported getting the "best man" for a job even if it was a woman. I have watched women who were unqualified be promoted beyond their abilities and as they failed it was claimed it was because they were female. It is true that many men have been promoted beyond their capabilities and in general have received multimillion dollar golden parachuetes - hopefully never to be heard from again. For Senator McCain to select a 44 year old woman who was elected govenor when there was a vaccumn in Alaska - no one with any sense wanted to get into the mess they had gotten themselves into - knowing that she could become president only shows how little respect he has for the United States of America. McCain, obviously, expects to finish out his full term, if elected, and is happy to have Sarah going to state funerals around the world. 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.
Patience
· 1 year ago
One small quibble: I would not describe Palin as a "mother of five-turned-politician"-- which makes it sound as though one day she put down the skillet/vacuum cleaner/housewifely implement of your choice and decided to run for office. She was first elected to the city council in Wasilla when her eldest child was two years old and has combined a political career with giving birth to and raising four more children. More power to her, but it makes as much sense to call her a parent-turned-politician as it would to say the same thing about Joe Biden or Barack Obama, both of whom have combined raising young children with their political careers.
Erik
· 1 year ago
PALIN HAS SAID THAT SHE NEEDS SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN TO HER EXACTLY WHAT THE VP DOES EVERY DAY!!!!! Seriously people.
josh
· 1 year ago
ANYONE who states that this woman is more than qualified to run the most powerful country in the world needs listen to what they are saying. when Palin was asked about the war in Iraq----HER RESPONSE WAS THAT SHE HASN'T GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT=====OH PLEASE----THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE BACKING FOR VICE PRESIDENT????? GET YOUR HEAD OUT FROM THE SAND AND WAKE UP ADMIT THAT JOHN MCCAIN HAS LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY---IMAGINE HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE TRYING TO MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION!!!!!!!!
Deb from NJ
· 1 year ago
Palin is a lovely woman, with a great personality and she's probably a smart enough Governor for Alaska. I question her motherhood priorities, because the jobs she seeks are not the kind of jobs that run from 8 to 5 , or where you can take a leave when your child has a fever. Mosr important, there's no background that shows she's qualified to be a heartbeat away from the oval office. Palin was 2nd runner up for Miss Alaska, but hopefully she'll be 1st runner up for Vice President,
ALlen Gladfelter
· 1 year ago
Could someone here answer a question? How many Wal-Marts were in Wasilla in 1992, and how many were there in Wasilla in 2002. I think the answer to this question may provide some insight to her work as councilwoman and mayor.
8yearsoffear
· 1 year ago
experience without good judgement is useless!
Promise
· 1 year ago
Type your comment here. I would be interested in knowing if the firing of the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmonds, had anything to do with censorship of books.
hmu2008
· 1 year ago
Nicole Wallace, spokesperson for the McCain campaign, just spoke to Katie Couric with a straight face that she could not believe how vicious the liberal blogger smear campaign has been on Sarah Palin. This is the laughable. Where is her "American" hat? Maybe she has not heard of the internet and looked what has been done against Obama, Kerry in 2004, McCain in 2000 by the radical right.
josh
· 1 year ago
ok lets all do the math here----if the youngest member of the Palin family was born on April 18, it would not be possible to be the child of bristol palin since she is now supposedly 5 months pregnant. lets all suppose that the pregnancy is 3 months along---NOW IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CHILD TO BE BRISTOL'S. So, lets see how this plays out----if the baby is born in 4 months (with defininte proof), then the baby was not bristols. However, what happens to this theory if there is a miscarriage along the way??? COINCIDENTAL???
Court Jester
· 1 year ago
If her husband works for BP, and apparantly likes to "sit in" on meetings that the Governor attends, how is it again that she is a reformer who takes ethics seriously?
I mean, given the importance of resources to the Alaskan economy, how can the situation with her husband NOT be a conflict of interest?
jalolits
· 1 year ago
Good for you, Laura Mc Gann to this in-depth coverage -- let's have more followup stories. Can you find the evidence that anyone has been able to stay in Palin's government and maintain an independent point of view in a council meeting, for example. I'd like to know more about what the librarian said that convinced Palin they could work together. Is there any censorship issue here?
PhDiva
· 1 year ago
There's actually a third firing then. A man whom her husband didn't like because he dated a friends estranged wife was fired as well.
lucy-yougotsome'splainintodo
· 1 year ago
sounds to me like lovers of indiscriminate sex (those silly hol(e)y rollers) (what is a post denominationalist anyway) should move to alaska - sounds like a lot of these people don't read very much (high high school drop out rate - so their maturity level kind of stays in high school) - "oh, the fodder", drools the press - and it is cold in alaska, so, what do you do - for god's sakes, the state needs people and oil companies need workers and gun purveyors need buyers - - after reading all this, best case scenario for Mrs. Palin - position herself ( haha) for US Senate race (duh) and play chamber of commerce for the great state of alaska
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--------"
Eric
· 1 year ago
What about Palin's involvement with Steven's 527 Group, where from 2003 to 05 she was closely tied to the now indicted senior senator. There's also the approximate 26 million in Big Federal Money that she got as mayor of Wasilla: that goes against McCain's stand as an anti-big federal money politician.
paul
· 1 year ago
This is going to get worse and worse.
Henry
· 1 year ago
There is another scandal; at least I would call it that because it still hasn't emerged from under the covers to benefit from the sunshine. This one involves allegedly illegally hiring someon, for a government position, who wasn't qualified, but who is connected to her and the others who along with her are named as suspected of corruption in the complaint against them. Go to Sunshine.org to read about this other ongoing investigation and spread it around. We need more sunshine.
FormerRepub
· 1 year ago
Nice. Eerily similar to the Bush firings of prosecuters without cause that were literally doing a good job, but wouldnt do the illegal things the bush admin wanted them to do, so he fired them for that.
ExRepublican
· 1 year ago
McCain decided to pick Beauty Pageant Barby, he just does not understand how shallow her concept of reality is. He married to Malibu Barbie after he met her in a bar and cheated on the wife with her. The first Mrs. John McClain stood by him through his Vietnam experiences and raised their kids. Blonde Barbie believes that Brunette Barby has enough international experience, because Alaska is geographically close to Russia. To me it appears that John McCain has built a Barbie collection so that now he can keep one on each arm. This man has obviously lost touch. If there ever was a time for a McCain presidency, that time has now past. I'm moving to Independent and voting for Obama/Biden; at least then we will not have to endure a cabinet with Midge, Ken, Skipper, P.J., and the rest of the synthetic generation. McCain has turned the GOP into a laughing stock, for a Republican to follow him is blindly voting party lines without regard to political integrity. Sometimes it is necessary to clean house at home, this election it requires that Republicans show fortitude and plan for 2012.
jenni
· 1 year ago
Why can't media just give us the facts for a few weeks? 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.
Marsha
· 1 year ago
I won't blame Gov. Palin for her seventeen year old daughter's pregnancy. However, as a mother that was once in that position, I do question her reasoning for trying to hide it when she and McCain announced her for VP. You don't think she tried to hide it? Look at the picture of the girl holding her baby brother. The black dress, white blanket covering her entire top and midsection, and who holds a baby that way? I alway hold a small one on my shoulder. Would it have not been better for the child to have been upfront about the pregnancy? Also, as for the Republicans and their "family values" does anyone remember when Murphy Brown was an unwed mother and Dan Quayle was quite upset about that?
Martina
· 1 year ago
First, thanks to Anne K. for her info and courage! But secondly, while I think the pick of Sarah Palin is a sham, I can't stress enough that anyone who WANTS to see Sen. Obama elected had better back off on her and focus on McCain and his issues! Obama and his team are going to end up taking the fall and being seen as bruts who are attacking this "Christian" woman! Remember, the Evangelicals have swayed the past two elections! Those voters are a powerful force who are taking over our nation! And they will forgive one of thier "clique" ANYTHING! They are very selective as to who they choose to point fingers at! If a Dem. does something they are "sinners", if a fellow "Christian" does the same they claim cruelty if they are scrutinized! No matter how many VERY valid points you raise against this woman, and there ARE many, you will only demonize the Dems and cause the Evangelicals to rally around her MORE! Everyone needs to be very careful here! We DON'T want 4 more years of a White House that caters to the Evangelicals and leaves everyone else out in the cold!
Luke
· 1 year ago
Not a great arguement, but noted
Mo
· 1 year ago
I love how the party of swiftboats and Paris/Britney ads cries when people are mean to them - which means asking questions they don't want to answer. Frankly I've seen nothing akin to what the GOP has thrown at Clinton, Kerry, Obama, and Biden come anywhere near her. Balin is on tape calling Hillary a whiner but she has yet to make the interview rounds and they are already playing victim? How stupid do they think we are? It's embarrassing to watch, to see what the Grand Old Party has come to in the last 15 years.
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.
Chas Webster
· 1 year ago
Thanks to Anne Kilkenny
She should be on Larry King ASAP
Kiku
· 1 year ago
Didn't we have a problem with the Attorney general firing the federal judges for the same reason? With her connections to oil, and fighting the environmental protection issues, she's sounding more like George Bush every day.
Robin Brown
· 1 year ago
Palin was fully justified in wanting her ex-brother-in-law fired.
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?!?
meeme
· 1 year ago
go to adn?politics and read all 30 some pages of the investigation.maybe you will understand after reading it .there r 2 sides to every story
Mo
· 1 year ago
Robin
What part of CONFLICT OF INTEREST under the law don't you understand?
Marie
· 1 year ago
The issue with the ex-brother in law is an issue because Palin was well aware of the stuff he was accused of way before she tried to pull strings to get him fired. She lived with the knowledge of this stuff and made no issue of it until after he and the sister split up.
Oomingmak
· 1 year ago
This firing of the police chief smells bad. Sounds like she thinks like Dick Cheney.
mrlogic
· 1 year ago
just another example of why Palin Isn't Ready. This is an outrageously pandering move by John McCain.
Were then any news reports of the library incident where she tried to fire the librarian because she wouldn't withdraw books?
caroline
· 1 year ago
It will take the tabloids to bring out the truth about Sarah Palin's political behavior and her youngest son because mainstream media appear scared to do any further probing. I believe Trig is the daughter's and the pregnancy revelation yesterday was a smoke screen.
josh
· 1 year ago
i wholeheartedly agree with you. If i had to bet a milliion dollars, the daughter is probably not pregnant. this was all fabricated to cover up the possibility that the child belong to the daugher. did you notice that the "pregnant daughter" does not let go of the new baby in the family? why doesn't mister wonder palin hold the child????
Emperor Bob
· 1 year ago
because she was hiding her tummy. It was planed and staged. There is no doubt that the daughter is pregnant.
Linda
· 1 year ago
What of the allegations by Andrew Halcro that Gov Palin allowed husband Todd to sit in on meetings conducting official business and that he was included on the email copy list? Why on earth would he have special priveleges that no private citizen should have? Google Todd Palin: Shadow Governor by Andrew Halcro. He supplies names and it shouild be easy enough to check out.
josh
· 1 year ago
give me a break, now they are flying in the boy that impregnated the daughter to join this disfunctional family at the convention---TALK ABOUT A CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE. MAYBE MCCAIN WILL APPOINT THIS BRILLIANT LAD WITH THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF EDUCATION FOR THIS COUNTRY AND THE DAUGHTER WILL BE CHOSEN FOR THE POSITION OF SURGEON GENERAL.
MIGHT AS WELL ATTEMPT TO APPOINT MORE UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT KNOW MORE THAN MCCAIN. GO FOR IT!!!!!
margotb
· 1 year ago
Interesting story
margotb
· 1 year ago
interesting story--thanks
gloria
· 1 year ago
Recently saw Mrs. Palin's Dec 2007 Vogue magazine cover. Viewing that photo, I saw a self-serving pageant queen; not christian wife and mother of 5 and governor!
linda
· 1 year ago
AMERICA DOES NOT NEED SARAH PALIN; HER FAMILY DOES!!
ex-rebublican
· 1 year ago
It's too bad for the Republican's that she can not do the honarable thing as Harriet Meyers did and withdrawl her nomination. This is great for the Democrats and the fun with her has just begun.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
The simple fact that so many liberals hate her...well, that just makes me love her and pray for her all the harder. I see all of your scrambling...and yes we have a 'Kilkenny Woman" in our town too; no one can stand her and my dog has more credibility. While she writes well, her verbiage belies an unmistakeable 'sour grapes' undertone to it. I wonder where Sarah crossed her in their past; or is it just a case of long-term jealousy that has finally, at long last, been given a voice.
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.
josh
· 1 year ago
Just in case you want an education in politics, you need to work with people not immediately fire everyone that has a different opinion than you. FIRE A LIBRARIAN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME BELIEFS AS YOU??? LET 'S GET REAL. This is the 21st century and there is freedom of speech. Trying to ban books about evolution??? You consider that a positive thing?? This so called superwoman that strongly believes in abstinence obviously can't even control her own daughter no less try to impose this 18th century belief. I also suppose you can back the bill that does not allow equal pay for equal work?????? WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. I GUESS YOU ALSO HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH NOT ALLOWING ABORTIONS IF A WOMAN IS RAPED???? I ALSO WONDER ABOUT SOMEONE THAT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN GLOBAL WARMING???? SEND THIS WOMAN BACK TO ALASKA NOT TO WASHINGTON WHERE THIS COUNTRY WORKS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A LITTLE BACKWARD TOWN.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
How old are you?
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!!
josh
· 1 year ago
Please keep in mind that this is America---not a dictatorship. Corporations have the right and the ability to keep who they want in whatever position. The government of the U.S. is made up of a conglomeration of different people with different beliefs. If you wish to clean house and not have equal representation of different factions, you need to move to a communist country. Oh and by the way, even though Alaska is close to Russia, it IS PART OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. CIAO BACK TO YOU
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Look at a flock of geese in the sky. There is a leader and those following are what? Yes, they are going in the SAME direction. You make it sound like all government positions are equal, but they are not. Sarah had people in SUBORDINATE positions (or else she could not have fired them...right?), that were not following in her direction. They had no intention of supporting her or her agenda, which she believed to be the ppl's agenda. Remember she was the Executive Officer of the Great State of Alaska. The LEADER. If they didn't want to follow, then they needed to vacate.
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.
elfrus
· 1 year ago
You seem sincere, but you should rethink you're conclusion about "no harm done." If you are wrong, you have contributed to the destruction of the planet through pollution and overpopulation. If progressives are right, on the other hand, then there is no harm done - we breath cleaner air and future generations will have more of our finite resources to lead comfortable lives.
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
elfrus,
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.
Asuka
· 1 year ago
Sorry to interject here but your argument regarding abortion is flawed, in the sense that you're operating under the assumption that life begins at conception. Not everyone believes that; historically, the church didn't either until people with an agenda to push made it an issue.
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Asuka,
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.
Dave
· 1 year ago
What makes you think your life began at conception, and not when your dad made your sperm and your mom made your egg?
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Did you make this up? Or did someone teach it to you? Who is the author of such a thing?
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...
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
And just how do you propose to avoid those unwanted pregnancies? I know!! How about providing condoms and lots and lots of sex ed to school age children, discussion beginning at the elementary level, alongside readin', writin' and 'rithmatic? D'ya think?
Oh---wait a minute---we're already DOING that...and there's no notification to the parent required----well, how's that working?
Asuka
· 1 year ago
I think you're blowing this immensely out of proportion.
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
It is grievous that our culture has blown sex itself immensely out of proportion.
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?
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
PS...LOVE the criticism about Sarah's daugher and her ability to 'control' her...Tell me again, about YOUR experience, raising YOUR kids....and how easy it is to control them. And about how easy is it for your Mom to control YOU??? Especially when you were that age, in our society that says don't worry about getting pregnant, we'll just KILL the baby and all will be well again. Poor boy, you are speaking out of both sides of your mouth, be careful you don't get any on your starchy shirt.
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!
Catherine
· 1 year ago
Talk about "speaking out of both sides of your mouth". Good ol' Palin is anti-abortion, but pro-death penalty. You can't have it both ways.
"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]"
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Both sides of my mouth?? Kindly expand, if you can, pls. Have we spoken?
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?
Ryan
· 1 year ago
You said "MURDER is NEVER, EVER right" in your defense of abortion, but you also endorse murdering murderers. I'm not commenting on your opinions, just pointing out the contradiction.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Well, Ryan, as soon as you show me an unborn baby who has commited murder--that is, the killing of another human being--- I will endorse the taking of his or her life in return. As it is, however, abortion viciously, heartlessly robs a human being from even taking a first breath, let alone getting to even feel his/her mother's breath brush across their sweet face as they suckle life from her, let alone being given the opportunity to breath our free country's air, to make choices.
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.
Asuka
· 1 year ago
Why are you endorsing the taking of life in the first place?
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
It is the greatest deterrent to taking another's life.
Do you have a better one?
CommonTater
· 1 year ago
Pookiebear60 says, "Well, Ryan, as soon as you show me an unborn baby who has commited murder--that is, the killing of another human being--- I will endorse the taking of his or her life in return. "
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?
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Wow CommonTater, you reaaaaaally had to reach for that one. Impressive.
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.
farwalker
· 1 year ago
Pookie,
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
I could. But then, that would make me a fool in God's eyes.
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.
farwalker
· 1 year ago
An old Latin proverb says " always be wary of those who only read one book".
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
On single parents' funding. Sorry, don't buy it. You got drunk and careless? Now THERE'S a reason I should be paying your rent and daycare.
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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
I could. But then, that would make me a fool in God's eyes.
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.
Teacher
· 1 year ago
Pookie, You are carrying your pride, not a valid argument.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Pls forgive me, "Teacher", you don't make sense.
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.
josh
· 1 year ago
GO PALIN, TAKE OUT YOUR AK-47 AND KILL THE CRAP. ELECT PALIN AND SHE CAN SINGLEHANDEDLY CLEAN UP THIS COUNTRY. SHE CAN "LEARN" TO BECOME THE JURY AND THE FIRING SQUAD. THEN SHE CAN FEED THE BODY TO THE MOOSE UP IN ALASKA. OK, I'M NOT CONVINCED---KEEP THE WOMAN IN ALASKA---LET HER BE THE GREAT GOVERNOR OF ALASKA.
josh
· 1 year ago
POOKIE, WOULD YOU REALLY EXPECT THIS POLITICIAN TO COME OUT AT THIS POINT IN A POLITICAL RACE TO BERATE HER DAUGHTER. OF COURSE SHE WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER AND STAND BY HER SIDE. I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT MY 2 CHILDREN HAVE NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE FOR ONE MINUTE IN THEIR LIVES. I HAVE ONE CHILD IN COLLEGE WORKING ON HIS MASTERS DEGREE AND I HAVE ANOTHER CHILD GRADUATING WITH A AA DEGREE AND THEN GOING ON TO OBTAIN A B.A. DEGREE. SO IF YOU KNOW HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILD AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM, YOU CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL PARENT. I MYSELF DID HAVE GOOD PARENTS AND WAS NEVER IN TROUBLE LIKE THIS CHILD THAT COMES FROM A VERY RELIGIOUS SELF RIGHTOUS INDIVIDUAL. AND STRANGE FAMILY.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Good for you, josh!!
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!
josh
· 1 year ago
bless you and your opinion. I have mine and you have yours. that is what makes this country the greatest country in the world. when 2 diverse opinions can be heard and both of us are not afraid to speak their mind. did not mean to seem like i was yelling.
so may the best "person" win this election and make this country better thani its been under nit wit bush.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
I have to stand for Pres Bush. Perfect? No. Done everything just right? Oh, my no. I don't agree with lots of stuff he's done and not done. But he's stood for what he's believed without excuse and without fear of those who would call him a nit wit. For that, I call him my hero. THAT kind of courage is what makes our nation a wonderful, wonderful place to call home.
Yes, dear anonymous friend, I pray with you in agreement for God's best for our beloved home.
mary
· 1 year ago
Oh My PookieBear (very cute!) 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.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Wait a minute - let me adjust my ruby slippers here....
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...
Catherine
· 1 year ago
My reference a day ago about about "speaking out of both sides of your mouth" and following it up with a Paliln reference meant exactly that....SHE can't have it both ways....but after reading these comments, I guess it does refer to you as well. No where in the Bible is murder justified or suggested as a deterrent to murder. So if you are going to be spouting off all these biblical quotes to support your position, you'd better keep reading. Murder is murder no matter how you look at it. You can't choose to follow the teachings of the bible when it conveniently SEEMS to fit your opinion.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Tell me, O Great Theologian,
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?
Beaula
· 1 year ago
Having grown up in the '60s and '70s, I can answer about how "easy" it was -- and still can be -- for a mother to control her daughter: Not all that difficult when a parent is at home and insists that the child is there, too. Of course, when a child knows that she will be yelled at for hours and hours, repeatedly, and probably hit several times if she does get pregnant, there's a considerable incentive to avoid doing those things. I also recommend showing 15-year-olds a video of a real, live birth -- that was more effective than anything else in convincing me I didn't want to go through that, and the way to avoid it was to not have sex. Frankly, I fail to see the point in having four or five (whichever) kids if you're not going to hang around home enough to enjoy them. And, oh, by the way, I couldn't care less what your "Bible" says, nor do I believe in any kind of "judgment." So quit trying to force your beliefs onto my body. Pro-choice people are NOT trying to FORCE anyone to have an abortion; we simply allow for the possibility, and try to allow for other options as well. Antiabortions FORCE women to have babies, therefore refusing to respect the beliefs of the women making that choice, as well as any rights or privileges they might have to controlling their own bodies. I think I'll run on a platform of forcing religious nuts to abort all their pregnancies so we don't have so many of them trying to force everyone to follow their beliefs. THAT is the true opposite position in this matter. If you refuse to respect my beliefs, I have no reason to respect yours.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
There sure is a lot of bitterness in your heart; I am sorry for you.
But it can't be that keeping guard over your kids and beating on them for violations is the way either...
Why are you telling Sarah Palin what to do with her body, by judging her for her wanting to lead our country while mothering 5 kids? And you sound like a true feminist - why are you berating her for working outside the home? Perhaps her husband is going to take primary care of the kids. Little double standard going on there...Beaula??
I am not telling you what to do with YOUR body. In fact, go cut your leg off. And, if you want to, your right arm and a few fingers and your left ear, too. Then pierce the right ear 17 times. Have at it!! But leave that baby alone. Abortion doesn't involve just YOUR body. It is the destruction of a defenseless body - a human being, who is being robbed of the choice whether they should have been conceived or not. YOU have made that choice for them. If you don't want to have a baby don't put yourself in the horizontal position to get that way. It's that plain and simple. It's about so much more than just YOU, Beaula.
No matter how you slice it, dice it, price it, abortion is WRONG. And for me and others like me to stand back and not tell you so and not warn you would be just as wrong. Someone HAS to stand up for the little ones. Jesus spoke about it: Matthew 18:5-7 "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"
Very powerful---and timely--- words. Spoken by the God-Man, Jesus Christ. That's good enough for me,
Believe it now or believe it later. The Truth shall make YOU free.
anti-tm
· 1 year ago
Republicans usually steer clear of candidates involved in current scandal. This whole situation with her daughter is getting a lot of press. I think this is misdirection on two fronts: passive agression -- palin comes of as the embattled woman in a man's world (appealing to Clinton voters) and diversion -- the GOP wants us looking at the 'scandal' instead of Palin's history (what better diversion that steamy teen sex). KEEP DIGGING THIS IS VERY FISHY
Emperor Bob
· 1 year ago
First of all many of the 'complaints' about trooper Wooten weren't reported by Palin for years after the infractions. Palin had to change her testimony several times during the investigation of those charges to cover her tracks. All of the charges had been fully investigated, and judgment passed before Palin was even elected. This is clearly a case about an elected official trying to get a protected state employee removed even though the issues had been fully investigated with appropriate punishment passed down by the authorities responsible.
Having raised two teenage sons, I can tell you without a doubt that if one of my sons asked to be tazed because they wanted to know what it felt like, I would have probably done it too. It's not like Wooten tazered his son as punishment or torture. There was no lasting damage or harm done. It's just something that people like to bring up, because it sounds a lot worse than it is.
All of the testimony against Wooten has come from the Palin/Heath families only after the custody battle was in full swing. Anyone who has ever been through that sort of thing knows that both sides tend to exaggerate or minimize events to suit their purposes.
Bottom line is Governor Palin attempted to do what a regular citizen couldn't do, that the law doesn't allow, and fired her Commissioner of Department of Public Service because of it. She compounded the problem by selecting a replacement that had been reprimanded for sexual harassment in his previous command position.
She said she didn't nothing wrong. She said none of her staff did anything wrong. Then the tape of Baily and the troopers come out and she immediately says he did so without her knowledge or consent. Now why would he do that? Just out of the blue, with no direction decide for himself that he was going to try and get a trooper fired that Palin just so happened to be unhappy with.
Palin is a mean spirited, vindictive, close minded, religious zealot that would be an absolute disaster in the White House.
Does she breastfeed her child? This child needs her and I believe it is selfish for her to have accepted this nomination. It appeared she has sold her soul and sacrificed her child's well being along the way.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Where are all the big strong feminists when you say something like that? Nobody ever asked Obama if he is home-schooling his kids while they are young and need HIM?
My mother had five of us and worked full time and then some. Really, I am no worse for the wear and all my siblings and I are pretty productive by nature because of it. I think her work ethics wore off on us.
This is a chance of a lifetime for her and for our country. We need her abiltiy to lead the way in our energy crisis away from dependence on a people who love holding their oil over our heads in disgust and hatred, when Sarah has made it quite clear we have a lot of opportunity within our own right. When that baby is a voting, taxpaying, driving adult, and he's paying less than we are for gasoline to cruise with his girlfriend, he will be proud of his mother and what she's done for us; for him.
B
· 1 year ago
I disagree with the chance of a lifetime for her and our country. If Obama's or Biden's daughter was in the same predicament as Palin's I would believe the same as I state here. The child made a mistake. She is pregnant. That is done and I believe she needs her family to rally behind her and accept whatever decisions she makes regarding the pregnancy. What she doesn't need is a media blitz aimed at her. What she doesn't need is an entire country following every decision she makes. What she doesn't need is the stress a campaign will put her under. What she does need is a mother that cared enough about her to put her own political agenda aside and help her at this time. Palin would have had a hard enough time doing this as a govenor....now she is a candidate for one of the most important positions in our government. She will have to campaign for that position. I cannot imagine this woman cancelling anything because her daughter needs her....
Also, I don't find the pit bull joke amusing. As a former softball, soccer and baseball coach, umpire and referee, I find parents with "pit bull" attitudes annoying and would much rather they stay home than bring such an attitude to the fields. BTW, I am a female...so let's nip that in the bud.
My ex hubby and I raised four children as divorced parents. Then I was working full time and yet finding time to particiapate in their lives as team mom, coach or whatever they needed. My children are good, productive members of society. I have a daughter that had a child at the age of 16. So I know what Palin is going through. My granddaughter is now 16, an honor student and has ambitions of being a child physchologist. It does take a "village" and our "village" gathered around and helped my daughter. I found a wonderful man and married him about the time my granddaughter was born. I took a part time job rather keeping my full time job so that I could be there for my daughter. I was able to care for the baby when she needed to go to school. We didn't have nannies and babysitters caring for the baby. Yes, we could afford them but felt the child needed family at that tender age.
I don't know from experience the sacrafice it would have taken for Palin to turn down the nomination for VP. However I know what it is like to step down from a job I loved and remove myself from advancements so that I could help my daughter. I do wonder what would have happened "IF" I had stayed at my job. However I don't for a moment regret my decision. How could I ? I have a wonderful granddaughter who is very special and gives us so much joy. I now have four grandchildren and cannot remember life without ANY of them !! I am very blessed.
I don't know what it is like to have a special needs child so I cannot comment on that other than to conjecture. I would imagine the child needs the parents so much more than a normal child....I don't know. I only know that if he were my child I would want to be there 24/7, if it were possible. I respect her decision to have the child rather than abort. It was her decision to make. I would have also respected her decision to abort the child if she had so chosen.
I hope Palin never regrets whatever desicions she makes, now and in the future.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Well, if it would have been either one of those guys' daughters, what's chances she would have just aborted to keep it quiet and convenient?
I don't know why this is Sarah's time. I don't know how it all works in the plan. But given the choice between the standing candidates, and their running mates, I'll take the Ol' Man and the Hockey Mom.
Your time was with your daughter. Kudos to you. That was right and good, what you did. But I must ask, do you know how Sarah plans to take care of her family? What kind of role do you think her husband, father and new grandfather, will play? You were divorced, and I don't know what role your daughter's father played in her life. Are you sexist enough to believe that only SHE, as a woman, can orchestrate family life with the children, and that her husband is incapable of doing just that? Tsk, tsk....
Get a sense of humor about the lipstick joke, really B. She didn't mean it literally. She just wanted you to know her determination isn't superficial. It's real; she won't be put off so easily. Pray for her, you know some of what she is going thru, so it should be closer to your heart. I will pray in agreement with you for God's best in healing for our nation.
True_Red_Neck
· 1 year ago
I really enjoy the President Election Times, because it's the best reality show on. It brings out the gods, prefect people and those, who think, that they are above both of these kind of people. They should name the show or series "TRUE MUD" or " CLOSET CREATURES COME ALIVE". They could put Obama as Bat Man and save on make up, McCain as General Putten with large hands were he could slap our problems in the face to solve them.The Vice-Presidents to be following as Palin as Lucy and the Demo Candidate as Ricky and call it "I LOVE IT'.
It goes back to what, I always said, you could go out on the streets and found two candidates better then, what is running in both parties. Just don't think you are going to find the best ones are you will be hunting to you die. There is only one God and he does not want the office. So for the rest of the story, God help US.
Rick
P.S. Thanks for the read material I enjoy it. It will be placed in the proper room of the house.
noname
· 1 year ago
As I recall didn't Hilliary cause a uproar when she fired White House employees. It amazes me how the news media twists everthing.
marcus
· 1 year ago
no matter the name the ticket of Mccain is still the same
Skip Kent
· 1 year ago
Wow. Sounds like she can be rutheless.
In terms of foreign policy, THAT's the one thing every other candidate is short on.
Now I'm REALLY in love! Can we switch the ticket and have her run for President?
flatbush
· 1 year ago
pallins record as a political reformer seems to be that she ratted onpeople who helped her get jobs,e.g.state petrol.& gas commission chair,and then when she ouit the job she ratted on people on the commission to advance herself. she double crossed people in her party and job again to advance her career. in the brooklyn ,I grew up in many yrs. ago the word for pallin is not reformer. we clled them,rats,ratfink and doublecrosser.They didn't last. As for her family ,thats her affair just don't tell others how to live their life. as for bio. only the right wing thinks its a big deal.
Jana
· 1 year ago
Uh, excuse me for butting in here....
Palin as mayor, BY LAW as your article stated, had the AUTHORITY to fire the police chief in Wasilla...
and likewise, BY LAW, the Public Safety Comissioner serves at the perogative of the Governor so she had the RIGHT to fire him also (which she actually didn't do...just wanted to reasign him...so he quit!)
And you call these "SCANDALS" ????????? Don't make me laugh!
Get back to me when she actually did something illegal.
Oh...and btw...
WHY aren't you in Chicago investigating REAL SCANDALS covering MILLIONS in misappropriated education grants, or sweetheart deals with convicted slumlords, or earmarks for hospitals that give your wife a huge raise???
Yeah, I know...it's Chicago...that's the BIG LEAGUES of scandals...you could get hurt.
Much easier (and a heck more pleasent) to rome around Alaska pestering the small town folk with your questioning...
lucy-yougotsome'splainintodo
· 1 year ago
maybe mccain never really left the democratic party and maybe he's really doing all he can to get a democrat elected - these party people - who (hu) is going to clean up after the party ?- (not me, man, i'm going to arizona and drink some beer) i mean, who (hu) needs all that oil anyway?
Roger Snowden
· 1 year ago
I seem to recall Hillary Clinton firing the White House Travel Office staff with impunity. Of course, in Hillary's case, she had no actual authority to do so. Nor the authority to invoke the IRS's investigative powers. Yet, it happened and the press gave her a pass.
Now, along comes Sarah Palin, who indeed has the authority to fire a political appointee for any reason whatever, and suddenly the press wants to hang her from the nearest tree.
You want to see corruption? Investigate the journalism industry.
josh
· 1 year ago
can you come up more EXCUSES about Palin trying to fire a librarian because she wanted to have certain books removed from the shelves. this is america, freedom of speech. DID YOU LEARN THAT IN SCHOOL???? Palin repeatedly had government officials removed from office because she didn't like them; was intimidated by them; attempted to date a friends ex-wife. YES I AGREE WITH YOU, THESE ARE ALL VALID REASONS FOR FIRING CIVIL SERVANTS NOT
IT ALL STILL BOILS DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICANS CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE STRUGGLING MIDDLE AMERICA --- THEY ARE OUT TO LINE THEIR POCKETS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR WORKING MIDDLE CLASS. MCCAIN IS JUST GOING TO GIVE US 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH ECONOMICS---GET THEM OUT OF THE WHITEHOUSE AND PUT IN SOMEONE LIKE OBAMA WHO IS AT LEAST MORE CREATIVE AND IS AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
Dorothy
· 1 year ago
Palin sounds like a dictator not a person who says she is going to help the people. It seems that if you don't like what she says or does she fires you or degrades you. She's very ruthless with peoples lives. We canot have a person like Palin and Mcaine in office running this countrty. It's George bush and Cheney all over again. Two oil people is disasterous as we all know too well what has happened to our country as it has gone down the tubes. We need someone who will pick up this country and bring it to the top where it has always been. The whole world hates America and what Bush and Cheney has done to all the other countries. With Obama we will be welcomed again as friends to all. Palin is very hateful person and she must have her own way or else. That is why most of the Alaskian people call her SARAH BARACUDA.
josh
· 1 year ago
amen!!!!! you've got that right. talk about doing things for your own benefit. why would a town with 8,000 people spend 15 million dollars for a hockey rink?????? Guess that's why she is known as the "hockey mom" -----why didn't she spend that money cleaning up all the meth labs that were known to exist in record numbers in the "Model" city???? KEEP DIGGING--- THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT WILL BE UNCOVERED ABOUT THIS SO CALLED SAINT.
Julian Jons
· 1 year ago
If she is a barracuda as she is called, why is the GOP crying wolf when she has been facing serious press? The VP position is not subject to hearings from congress and this is the only way we can find the truth and confirm or deny the position with votes from the citizens.
schmuck281
· 1 year ago
Thanks for putting that out there.
Detailed information on a candidates past history is a must in an election.
Too bad there is no one in Illinois that is brave enough to put forth the same type of information on Obama.
But the truth is, there are no consequences for criticizing a Republican. But doing the same to a Democrat candidate, especially Obama, will unleash a frenzied hunt for dirt and embarrassing information that would make the Stasi proud.
We still don't know how Barry Obama rose through the Chicago political machine or what he accomplished as a "Community Organizer" or a State legislator. There seems to be a strange, or maybe not so strange in Chicago, lack of a paper trail where ever he goes.
But every facet of Sarah Palin's background, even to her husband's twenty year old DUII, is discovered and splashed across the news media within hours of McCain announcing his choice.
Amazing what can be accomplished if you really try.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
Here, here!! Well spoken and echoed at this end.
And really, if that's the best they can do, puhleeeeease.
Cements my decision.
Joel
· 1 year ago
I wish I could take credit for this, but I can't...
“Jesus was a Community Organizer, and Pontias Pilate was a Governor.”
schmuck281
· 1 year ago
That would be in line with the deification of Obama. But I really wish you would separate your religious dogma from politics.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
...Yeah...and they crucified my Saviour....
The Pain of McCain
· 1 year ago
Just one thing to say....
"If you want to live in a country run by religion, move to Iran."
That is all.
Pookiebear60
· 1 year ago
If I wanted Iran's religion, I would surely do just that.
But it's not religion I want from my country. No matter where I choose to call home, my relationship with Almighty God will remain.
Don't worry, I'm not mad at you. You didn't give me my peace; you will NEVER, EVER be able to take it away.
But help me understand this contradiction: you speak out of one side of your mouth about freedom of speech and about the evils of censorship; and out of the other, you berate me for expressing my beliefs, my feelings. Is it not because I am speaking, but what and Who I am speaking of?
Proverbs 19:3, "The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD."
You can't escape that stirring in your heart. Try to drink it away, smoke it away, or snort it away; but it is still there, that still small voice.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!! I once was lost; but now am found. Twas blind, but now I see..."
PS. I choose to stay here. I like snow.
mary
· 1 year ago
Maybe there is nothing to uncover....how simple is that????? DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!
schmuck281
· 1 year ago
So, for most of Obama's life he has just been showing up and accompishing nothing?
Maybe there is nothing there. But it would seem like a really good idea to take a look. The only one that has attempted to do so was Stanley Kurtz and there was a well managed attempt to stop him from looking at the records of Obama's time with the Annenberg Challenge.
That doesn't make me think that there is nothing there.
But if there is "nothing" then why keep people from looking?
Teacher
· 1 year ago
You are out of date, everythings been looked at and everyone that looked felt quite foolish
Now why is it that Sarah Palin won't give an NBC CBS ABC CNN non entertainment interview? Is there anything of substance behing those glasses? Let us have a peek inside the head of this mystery from Mayberry.
Wilson
· 1 year ago
Well, sounds like she is the perfect choice then for the Republicans. Absolutely perfect. Corrupt. Inconsistent. Small minded. Full of personal vendettas and agendas. Unprepared for the job. Able to deflect the truth with savy grins. Thinks Iraq war is related to September 11 attack. She's perfect! Republican voters voted in a corrupt administration twice which led us to a senseless, endless war, an economic disaster and the possibilities or raping our natural resources yet again. She will continue the agenda ... So, unless an extra 10 million people wake up, smell the coffee and start votin for Democrats, we're just stuck in a pretty stinky hole. We'll writer her into episode #9... http://www.funwithwarcrimes.com
josh
· 1 year ago
wilson, you have hit it on the head on every point---it sickens me that this ridiculous combination could actually be elected to run this country. after the last election when dip stick bush was elected i could not believe how stupid the majority of this country could be. then it comes to fruition that most people have been screwed over by this administration. NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT RIGHT AND IT LOOKS LIKE 8 YEARS OF CRAP DOESN'T NOT MAKE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ANY SMARTER. The last time I checked, there are more middle income people in this country (BY FAR) and they are mostly less well off now than 8 years ago and they are willing to put another idiot in the white house again. GOD HELP THIS COUNTRY---BECAUSE WE NEED IT.
Praedor
· 1 year ago
I would think the firing of the librarian would be fairly obvious: Palin is a bookburner/book banner. The librarian probably had the "gall" to refuse to ban books. POOF! Fire the freedom-loving librarian in hopes of putting someone in the position willing to hold official book burning parties.
Hmmmmm
· 1 year ago
Could you also follow up on her use of her staff as Mayor to run for gov. What about copying her husband in on official gov. emails? and then trying to claim privledge on them. Did Alaska make First Dude and official position?
josh
· 1 year ago
he's known as the alaskan mafia moose--- he takes care of what sarah leaves behind. they both hide behind their guns. isn't the mafia also big NRA believers?? lol
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Do you really believe that you are gathering facts that can be trusted here on this website. This is merely a place of opinion and that's about it. What a joke you all are who thing you are getting to the bottom of something here. There is no gathering of journalistic facts here. At least ole Pookiebear can dust off an old book and quote from it's contents. And .........sincerely believe in what's contained within. The rest of you info hunter/gatherers are now praising someone who tells how well they know Sarah Palin. There is NO dividing line between the descriptions, observations and opinions that Anne Kilkenny annekilkenny@hotmail.com delivers. And Anne: Guess what? This is now plastered across some website spewing Sarah Palin disregard. On one hand it looks like Anne truly is trying to be objective, yet on the other, maybe that was just a ruse get buy-in from this gullible crowd. Does Anne really just have an AXE TO GRIND. Where I come from we call that fish-on. Also there are others here who dig deeper to get to the truth. They go to the Daily Kos to obtain information. WHAT A JOKE! The Daily Kos is self described as "Political analysis and other daily rants on the state of the nation." Those of you that take an open reasoning approach to things will get a real laugh at the "Daily Kos" I will warn you that they can be very crude and filthy there. If you're not used to putting up with people spitting out pure garbage and filthy mouthed trash then don't go vistit the Daily Kos.
bemused
· 1 year ago
"pure garbage and filthy mouthed trash" Interesting. I never find that there and I visit Daily Kos 3-4 times a day... I do however, find extremely well written diverse points of view that have credible sources and very good references. Course, I'm not afraid of that, nor is that my only read.
Barbara
· 1 year ago
WE NOW KNOW WHO 'PINOCCHIOANNIE' IS....BUT WHO IS GEPETTO!
Of course...Bush/Cheney/Rove...
Julian
· 1 year ago
Ladies and Gentleman: I give you Spiro T. Agnew, Version 2.0.
Z
· 1 year ago
your proctologis called and they found your head? nice try in a piece that is missing one crucial piece of information...
do some homework laura and certainly it will make sense?
vicster
· 1 year ago
"your proctologis"...
Z, your 5th grade english teacher called. You're being held back for your dismal use of sentence structure, capital letters, spelling and punctuation. What "crucial piece of information" is missing? It is quite apparent she did her homework; about 16 years worth
abacus101
· 1 year ago
"about 16 years worth" And how is your syntax? It is predictable that ..............She did her homework as she sized up your coming to this website...............she reeled you in like a fish when you believed her partially true, partially stretched and partially payback driven story. Now the most reliable thing she said I can fully agree with is: "there are too many kooks out there" So does that mean I think your a kook? Nope. NOT AT ALL. You're just inquisitively gullible.
vicster
· 1 year ago
.....worth.
Robert
· 1 year ago
Shucks and gosh a'mighty! If Ms Kilkenny's allegations are factual, it would seem Palin attended the Bill & Hillary school of political double-dealing and mayhem.
Curious Al
· 1 year ago
Just out of curiousity, what where the banned books? I'm really curious.
Farhenheit 451 all over again? Seriously though, what are the books? Did she ever publish the list? I'm not comfortable in banning literature from libraries. But, maybe there is a logical/defendable reason for certain books. I can't imagine a town with a small population containing over 100+ books that are worthy to be banned. Come to think of it, I can't even think of a single book to ban. Heck, walmart carried the "Scrolls Of the Elder of Zion" or whatever the book was called!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Would porn be acceptable? To some it here it no doubt would.
of courseobama
· 1 year ago
Dear Ann,
Thank you so much for a very informative e-mail. I am also a stay-at-home mom. I will make it my mission before election time to forward your story to everyone I know, every blog, every journalist...I will get your story out.
When rumors started flying about Sarah...I knew she was a phony...unfortunately, her family is suffering as a consequence.
Thanks again for confirming what my instincts told me all along.
Of Course Obama
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Your instincts stink. What are instincts? You're so called instincts have you in such a fantasy land with Obama that you now believe everything you want to hear. Have you checked any history on your great OBAMA when he was running for senator in the Illinois primary? Did you ever see any of those pictures of him in the papers with the turban wrapped tightly around his head? (not within the last year but several years ago) That and the things he said then really impressed me to the point that I never voted for him then and wouldn't dream of it now even if it would help get rid of him.
Josh
· 1 year ago
Hello!
I've read somewhere online that Mrs. Palin wanted to fire her local librarian because the librarian categorically refused to ban certain books deemed by Mrs. Palin as "inacceptable" from the library.
This does give you something to think about. -- But, mind you, it's only something I've read somewhere online. I have no proof.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
If "I have no proof." then why bother. I heard a lot of things at work today, but most of it was just a bunch of blah blah blah which was just someone on a rant. You just increase your carbon footprint when you get wound up. Your heart rate increases, and you take in more oxygen and breathe out so much more of that planet killing carbon dioxide.
Katherine Jones
· 1 year ago
Yep, she's a Republican alright! She fits the ugly patterns of dirty politicians. Too bad so many people are taken in by that pretty face! Censorship is WRONG! Period!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Oh yes of coarse anything in print should be ok to check out from the local library? "Censorship is WRONG! Period!" Oh GAG Katherine Jones. We don't need any rules as to what is qualified to be called literature? Thank goodness all libraries have guidelines that are followed
Judgement
· 1 year ago
Why in God's name would she fly on an airplane when her amniotic fluid was leaking with Trig?
michele weinger
· 1 year ago
As a hockey and baseball mother , I am wondering the same thing
abacus101
· 1 year ago
How much fluid was leaking? Can someone check on that? I heard somewhere on the internet that it was just a slow leak like a tire on your car that needs air added about once a month or so.
Of Course NOT Obama
josh
· 1 year ago
that's because she was on the way to the hospital to see her daughter give birth. she would never have passed up 2-3 hospitals to give birth in a specific hospital. WHO WOULD PUT THEIR CHILD IN A POSITION OF TRAVELING 7-8 HOURS TO GET TO ONE HOSPITAL---UNLESS YOU WERE NOT PREGNANT---This was a dangerous pregnancy and a "TRUE" mother would never put the baby in a dangerous position by flying on a commercial flight no less----what would have happened had she really been pregnant and gone into serious labor?????? I understand she is "A PIT BULL" but thin itself is BULL.
Cris
· 1 year ago
I think Palin is off the rails. It is offensive that she uses her children for her gain. She' not the only woman to not abort a downs syndrome baby and her son maybe going to Iraq, but you can be sure with her in this position he will not be in the front lines. Her poor daugther who's having a baby. Teenagers have enough issues. The boy friend looked like a deer in the headlights on stage the other night. And yet they are being paraded across the stage.. Good Grief. As a woman she surely doesn't reflect who I am or my agenda for america.
James Myers
· 1 year ago
Only one piece of evidence is necessary to show how cheap the comment below is.
It indicts Palin for raising spending by 33% and revenue by 38% and then argues that this was disproportionate because inflation was low. What is not considered is that Wasilla is one of the fastest growing parts of the state. Indeed the author of the nasty comment even admits at the very end that "the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s." Population growth, not Palin's budgeting, led to that growth.
There are always the disgruntled and unhappy, especially in local politics. But if she was truly as unpopular as the note claims, she wouldn't have been re-elected or enjoy the stellar approval Alaskans have given her.
Sarah will get more of this. Voters should see it for what it is.
The Pain of McCain
· 1 year ago
George W. Bush wasn't all that popular in 2004, but, somehow, he got "re-elected."
These days, popularity seems to have less to do with one's propensity to be re-elected than, say, who you might know at Diebold, Inc.
Bugsy
· 1 year ago
HOLY COMMENTS! Glad to see people discussing things. Be nice kids!
InSuspense
· 1 year ago
One thing's for sure: short of cheating, the winners in this election will clearly reflect the America of today.
Hartley
· 1 year ago
In two days you came up with a lot of sour grapes....You don't seem to have accomplished much in your life otherwise you would have had a lot more exciting background than Palin.....Obviously you love Obama and that is fine' but viscious tactics are always obvious. I like the way you started with the begining report of how wonderful she was (expository english class 101) and then wammy you laid into her thick and heavy....better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president.
Teacher
· 1 year ago
not likely with the reports of her Sambo comments
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Teacher (screen name) Can you name one single place with ANY merit that will back up this horrid "Sambo" claim? I'll give you this, you did make me go and look. Without anything credible the statement is more loser oriented then that of a real teacher. Go figure.
jj
· 1 year ago
palin is the biggest joke ever in politics. hopefully enough americans see through the gop. some voters are just so completely stupid it almost makes me sick.
thank you anne kilkenny, you just confirmed what we were already thinking
obama/biden '08!!!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
This is worth repeating again and again. better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president. better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president. better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president. better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president.
Brigid
· 1 year ago
Ann, you have made me proud to be an American! The picture you paint of Sara Palin is quite different than the one that was paraded before the American people by the GOP. Thank you for your courage in speaking up and educating those of us who want to understand who McCain has chosen to be second in line to the Presidency. I know for this Ohio voter, I will proudly and enthusiastically pull the lever for Obama Biden knowing that we can't risk four more years of the same. Thanks.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
If only everything Anne said was true.
Kathy Shepard
· 1 year ago
Thank you..Please keep the news coming. It is obvious that Palin will be giving any interviews to the press. This women is dangerous. I hope that she does not get to Washington. 1. Is she ready for the presidency? 2. Will she act as an early warning radar for brewing problems which means having deep connections in the government . 3. Do we want her to represent us abroad? Kathy Shepard
JFR
· 1 year ago
Anne,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I knew something sat terribly wrong with me about Sarah Palin, but didn't have facts to put behind my gut feeling. I'm a firm believer in listening to all sides, and planned to listen to all main speeches of the Republican convention, but I had a visceral reaction to Palin that caused me to turn the TV off within five minutes of her speech. I couldn't bear to watch or listen to her. I couldn't explain it at the time ... I'm usually more tolerant than that, even to opposing viewpoints ... but she struck me as so totally SCARY that I felt sick to my stomach.
In contrast to what some others have written here, I find you incredibly articulate and careful to qualify your statements. I have degrees from Stanford and UC Berkeley, am known for my writing and editing ability, and have been a librarian for thirty years, so guess I have some qualification for my evaluation. As a librarian, I must let you know the national listservs for librarianship have latched on to the story of Sarah Palin's alleged attempt at censorship/book banning, and are all abuzz with discussion about it.
I live in a city of 68,000 in California. I've been here as a resident and city employee for nine years now, and have experienced many similar politics to those you describe. I couldn't have put such a clear description on it as you have done, but I recognize it perfectly and therefore find it truly believable. I abhor people of the ilk you describe and have stood up against them myself, risking my job, my reputation, my future. Luckily I've been able to affect some changes for the better by speaking out and enlisting community support, and though I haven't bettered my chances for promotiom or favoritism in the 'good ol' boys network', at least my job is safe and my work allows me to influence people through education (unbiased); what more could I ask?
Again, thank you for speaking out, for taking the time to write what you did, and for risking distribution of it over the Internet. Open dialog and sharing of ideas and information is the most important thing we can do in this election. I admire your contribution tremendously.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
"... but she struck me as so totally SCARY that I felt sick to my stomach." That's just because you realized that ....... "she will most likely be your next vice president."
ROMAD Ray
· 1 year ago
Ms. Palin's acceptance speech was one of the most hate filled speeches I have ever heard. It must have been written by Karl Rove. Her comments regarding community organizers says volumes about her values. I guess she must have a real hatred of that community organizer, Jesus of Nazareth.
Concerning Levi's and Bristol's upcoming "shotgun" wedding. Before the wedding plans go any further, Levi needs to request a paternity test before he embarks on this farce of a marriage. Do you really think Bristol was only having intercourse with Levi? Does anyone in their right mind believe that this marriage is destined to last? Of course if he does not marry Bristol, I am sure that Ms. Palin would ensure that he ended up on the Sex Offender's Database, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After all, he did engage in sexual intercourse with an underaged female.
I have the utmost respect for Senator McCain's military service. What he went through as a POW, well I can only imagine. However, that was then and this is now. The Republican Party has been taken over by religious zealots intent on establishing a state sponsored religion. Mr. Bush claims to be "born again." However, his actions over the past seven and one-half years indicate that he is little more than a petty vindictive individual willing to use what used to be the world's most formidable military to settle personal goals. His actions have broken our military's spirit and equipment. If we were to pull out of Iraq today, it would be decades before our military is back up to 100%. We had a very real demonstration of how our military strength is perceived when Russia invaded Georgia. If we had not been bogged down in Iraq, does anyone believe that Russia would have pulled such a stunt?
The reign of George II is rapidly coming to an end. I can only hope that the American people will see Ms. Palin for what she really is. A bitter, right wing, socially conservative Tali-Christian intent on bringing her brand of religion into government. She was chosen to shore-up the followers of Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson and the like.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
JFR: "I have degrees from Stanford and UC Berkeley" Now I've heard UC Berkeley is otherwise known as the capitol of the "Left Coast" JFR also said: "I abhor people of the ilk you describe" According to Webster "For synonyms of abhor see HATE" ................hence an ABHORRER is a HATER. Now I read that you say you are known for you writing and editing ability so why didn't you just say that so the simple like me could understand it more plainly? YOU HATE SARAH PALIN In all of your writing you are getting nowhere due to your hate.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Yes as you say: This women is dangerous. Well, she is dangerous to the Democratic parties chance of occupying the White House for the next 12 - 16 years. Maybe they can look for someone near the center of the political spectrum next time instead of the most liberal Senator ever to be in Washington. And to think they even picked someone to the left of John Kerry. If the democratic party could only pick someone in alignment with their own views in stead of this far left nonsense.
Grover
· 1 year ago
"percolating on national blogs" Wow, percolating on NATIONAL: blogs. That does it for me. Sarah must go.
And go she will----right straight to the White House.
Aaron
· 1 year ago
After reading this and the comments from Anne Kilkenny (if those things are true) I feel like more people that really know her should be interviewed so that we can get the true picture of who she really is.
Alaskan
· 1 year ago
Governor Palin flew from a meeting in Texas back to Alaska after her water broke and she was in active labor. This was her 5th child and the flights probably totaled 8 + hours. Because she wanted her child born in Alaska she not only put her child's life in danger, but herself and the crew and passengers of the aircraft, at what cost? Is this the person we want in charge if something happens to McCain? Not on your life.
Female Voter
· 1 year ago
I know her personal life is her business not mine, but if I had responsibility for 5 kids, including a baby and a teenager who was having a baby, I would give them first priority and not run for VP. I can see that her family can benefit from more attention.
Also, a problem I'm having with her is that I find her voice very grating. I have a hard time listening to her. Anyone else find that?
Alaskan
· 1 year ago
Here's a url of Sarah (Heath) Palin as a young newscaster (speaking of her voice being grating....) and another url of some pictures of her I'd never seen before.
I firmly believe in hearing all sides of an argument. I was determined to listen to the major speeches of the Republican convention, though I have never, and probably never will, vote Republican. However, I had such a gut revulsion to Sarah Palin, knowing nothing about her, that I could not stomach more than a couple minutes of her speech. She filled me with fear and disgust, just by her manner and tone, and the sarcasm and brash ownership she displayed, I had to turn the television off. I surprised myself with the strength of my negative reaction. I'm usually fairly tolerant of other points of view. But there was something that seriously bothered me about Palin, and I was actually relieved to have my concerns validated here by Anne Kilkenny and others.
Thanks all for open communication!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Oh it's still all the same. You DEMS believe in hearing all sides even though you will PROBABLY never vote republican. Then when a person of the party of your opposite gets up at a political rally for their own you can't stand it due to the manner of their tone and sarcasm. That's what happens at all political events. And that's what happened at both of the conventions. Did you really think that your side could bash the other and then expect the other to give nothing in return. At least Mr McCain gave Mr. Obama one day of silence. I've never seen that before. In short you are just whining like I might even do yet today or tomorrow, but can you do this? At the end of the day when Bill Clinton became president, he became my president even though he was lower than my last choice. I still have respect for him today for the office he held. Did I agree with him all of the time. No, but occasionally I did. Regardless whatever he did or said he was still the leader of the free world. Now GW Bush was my guy. Did I agree with him all of the time. Not nearly enough. In Spite of all of that he is still the leader of the free world. And further, when Obama or Mcain get the job (and of coarse I want McCain) that person like him or not will be the leader of the free world. Regardless of who he is will you be able to make him your president? We gather 1% of the facts made available in all political matters and form a conclusion. Anything we that we hear that appeals to us personally we mold into facts and then tout them as such. LAST REMARK: LOOK FOR ACCURATE VALIDATION NOT JUST PRINTED WORDS
merrimoles
· 1 year ago
<In Spite of all of that he [ GW Bush] is still the leader of the free world>
Not so sure about that. A true leader has willing followers. GWB lost the respect of the free world quite some time ago.
LA78
· 1 year ago
I am sorry but when I read the comment, "At least Mr McCain gave Mr. Obama one day of silence" I almost have to laugh. Silence implies that McCain would not have set up a television commerical directly before and after Obama's HISTORIC speech. Silence implies that McCain would allow one day campaign postponement to allow this country to revel in a true step toward equality. Silence is NOT what McCain gave. He created a splash for himself by touting an admittedly nice speech. If I thought for one second it was motivated by any other reason other than geting positive airtime during his opposing party's convention I would feel more tolerant. It wasn't. He did what any plitician would do...created empty hype to garner whateer drop of attnetion he could. So much for mavericks and political change...
As for as I am concerned, my candidate and his running mate returned the "kindness" by flat out refusing to crucify their opponent over her daughter's preganacy. I am the first to admit Dems in the past, as well as Republicans, would have jumped on that "immoral" bandwagon. But not Obama or Biden. And think of how easy that would have been. My gosh she forces schools to teach "abstinence only" and her teenage daughter becomes impregnated! I mean it's ever political comedian's dream come true! I am rpud of their restraint.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Mr. Obama has children. Based on the worry of Mrs. Palin not having time to be a mother and vice president and a mother should apply EQUALLY to him as well. Isn't a father's role in a growing child's life EQUALLY as important?
arcticlady
· 1 year ago
Palin is not running against Obama,.She is running for VP. Maybe she and others still don't know what the work of a VP is. Also, she is having her speeches written for her by one of Bush's speech writers. The only thing they contain are anti- Obama's work as a community leader. Obviously she doesn't realize that he was State Senator and a Washing Senator. Palin trouts herself as "one of us." I don't have my own plane, and I have worked in the State for 28 years, but then, I have worked with the poor and at community organizing.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Check some real sources for the facts in this event. Oh yeah, a question. How were ....... "the crew and passengers of the aircraft" lives put in danger? You are wasting keyboard strokes with this speculative chatter.
Barney Smith
· 1 year ago
PLEASE VISIT THE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ON ANNE KILKENNY:
If you think the article is relevant, click on the "discussion" tab and ask for it to not be deleted.
that's because he spelled her name wrong. Anne Kilkenny
That should work better.
n0mad
· 1 year ago
80%+ Approval Rating as my Governor ... And bringing down the house at the RNC .. no surprise the witch hunt is on ...
paul
· 1 year ago
I have more friends on Facebook than 80% of the population of AK. Maybe McCain should have picked me.
mountaingal
· 1 year ago
Our city treasurer has been on "The O'Reilly FActor" and our city is three times bigger than WAsilla. I guess she qualifies, too. Especially since she's a conservative Christian who got elected to the Legislature to fight gay marriage. Indeed, I'd expect that there are millions of American women with Palin's "qualifications", though they may not be as cute. After all, she was chosen in a cynical attempt to win over dumb women. Racist men like Abacus were already guaranteed to vote against their best interests.
ed bock
· 1 year ago
she is a piece of crap//////being used by a senile old man//////// a big zero////////
abacus101
· 1 year ago
What are all of those slashes? Are you a slasher? ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Ha Ha Ha, I made more slashes than you.
rick
· 1 year ago
Ut oh... sounds like Chaney in a skirt!
rick
· 1 year ago
Ut oh... sounds like Chaney in a skirt!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
That doesn't bother everyone. Cheney got elected just like she will. Ut oh, more of the same, won't it be great?
Yurgus
· 1 year ago
I didn't know that Lon Chaney ever wore a skirt...but he sure was great in The Phantom of the Opera.
Perhaps you mean Lon Chaney, Jr? But, hey, I don't recall him ever wearing a skirt either, even in The Wolfman...
yates33333
· 1 year ago
Who did you send to Chicago to check on Obama's associations with the former underground terrorist? With the Daley machine? With Acorn?
bemused
· 1 year ago
Are you kidding me? Do you read anything other than what FOX news sends out?
yates33333
· 1 year ago
No. I read about Palin in the Anchorage Daily News. Ever read it? I assume you can read since you can write two sentences.
mountaingal
· 1 year ago
Oh, for the love of Pete! Get over the Ayers thing. He is currently a respected, aging professor. Obama sat on a neighborhood committee with him. Terrorist association, indeed! Didn't you just say about Palin where there is smoke doesn't mean there is fire? He knew a real estate crook and let same crook help him with finding him a house. There you are. Obama's skeletons. He knows a crook and a man who was a terrorist when Obama was 8 years old. On the other hand, Palin has supported Ted Stevens as late as this July. And only denounced the bridge to nowhere when it got so much negative publicity. She was for it before she was against it. John McCain's kind of "maverick."
yates33333
· 1 year ago
Perhaps you do not know this man's past. Perhaps you do not care. I think it tells a lot about a person if he associates with individuals who are or were terrorists and committed acts of terror. In addition Obama is a man who sat 20 years listening to a preacher vilify whites and the United States but either didn't understand or hear what he was saying. Anyone who believes this and also believes association with a former terrorist doesn't tell you much about such an individual is a fool. I would prefer not communicating with you. I can't change the mind of fools, and fools cannot change my mind. Herbert
Herbert J. Yates, 111
bill tirkot
· 1 year ago
If she has the power to fire the police chief and librarian why shouldn't she. That is why she has that power. To not use it because of fear of public opinion would make her a wimp, and empower her enemies. Good article, I like her straight forwardness.
yates33333
· 1 year ago
The last few paragraphs of this story illustrate that the reporter is still a "muckraker," in the tradition of many of those of the late 19th and early 20th century. Most of the people commenting here know very little about history, and perhaps the writer knows little. If they thought for a moment they would know that whenever mayors take office from administrations that opposed them they begin replacing their appointees where possible. Both the police chief and librarian had supported John Stein, Palin's opponent in the election and the incumbent. Sarah Palin not only asked the police chief and librarian to resign, at the same time she asked for the resignations of the public works director, finance director, and a director who over saw the city museum. She rehired the librarian because of widespread support for the librarian among townspeople. This is pretty routine political stuff. Perhaps it doesn't make her the kind of reformer McGann likes, but it doesn't make her any different than 99 percent of the political leaders in this country right now. Do you think Obama has people working for him who supported his opponent in his race for the Senate, or that Joe Biden does?
Likewise, absolutely no evidence exists that she was trying to ban books from the library. June Pinell-Stephens, chair of the Alaska Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, checked and could find nothing indicating that Palin intended to ask the city librarian to withdraw any books. This is the kind of Red Herring created to stink up a candidate, particularly a female candidate of religious convictions. It is an unholy attempt to smear a candidate that seems to have energized a national party ticket. It sure isn't very good journalism. It is MUCKRAKING by someone trying to MUCK THINGS UP.
Hillary Yates.
arcticlady
· 1 year ago
Why don't you investigate her relationship with the Mat. Dairy. this is by far a more serious mis-use of power than any of the others. Palin literally destroyed the only Alaskan Milk producing company. She fired the whole board and put in her own, only to close down the whole company, etc. etc. I guess the cows couldn't produce oil....
kathleen Brennan
· 1 year ago
What a bunch of petty gossip!!!
D. Albert
· 1 year ago
McGann places her own objectivity in serious question. Since when does an accusation without proof constitute a scandal? It definitely makes one wonder if her approach is as follows: " let's call the accusations scandals....then we'll go and check for facts that support the allegations and make a more complete report later...and, of course, we'll conveniently leave out any facts that don't support or contradict an obvious rush to judgement." Where does McGann get her marching orders...and who gets to investigate her?
happyas
· 1 year ago
I think it is most distressing that Sarah Palin has been chosen by McCain as the candidate for VP on the Republican ticket. Here we go again, stressing the same things that were stressed for the last two elections.She is as conservative as they can get. and who wants a conservative candidate, especially when they are unemployed, or losing their homes, or just trying to make ends meet. Or when there are billions spent for the war in Iraq, when this money could be spent to make food cheaper, or infrastructure, the bridges which are falling down. Someone who speaks of providing jobs, and has a plan to do so- when so many of the jobs are going overseas. Palin knows nothing about foreign policy. All she knows is about keeping the family together in the most 19th century way, no abortion, abstinence before marriage. Her theme is just like Nancy Reagan's - "just say no!" Only her daughter did not. I hope we don't have another administration colored by her views. To take her views, some kind of romantic stupor would overtake me, and I would not be willing to see the world as it really is.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Happy as "Obama speaks of providing jobs" That's where it ends. He's never had a real job or given anyone a job. He is a good speech giver with a teleprompter, but sadly is poor off the cuff. The only thing he has done a good job at is run for president just as Bill Clinton did with James Carville and G W Bush did with Carl Rove. As soon as Obama’s mastermind gets a name he will be someone too. Apart from his campaigning there is NOTHING that he has done that will suggest he will make a good president.. That's why in comparison Sarah Palin who is running for the number two spot at least has a few things written on her resume. She has at least taken on some things that were messed up in her part of country and won each time. Even though her items might be small in some people's regard she has more than Obama's big fat goose egg. He's a nada candidate.
Jackster
· 1 year ago
Hye abacus we already know you are a PAID RNC creep we checked your IP you're toast fella. Go follow your old senile man into the grave. lol. We're coming to change washington ..yeah ..on a walker you old senile fool. and Palin she's a whore...
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Jackster you are such a joker in poor disguise. Of course a third grader could have seen that through your writing skills that you are not someone that knew how to ping my address for location. Are you old enough to vote? Have you ever voted? This forum might never know as you have sized up your current character in your few short words. Get some class and try to be someone yourself. As long as you breathe you can change for the better. Actually I'm a card carrying United Auto Worker from Local 2488 with almost 19 years who will have to vote for McCain since all the Dems have to put up is an empty suit that has never ever done anything. You know in all honesty I would have much rather have seen Hillary win the nomination. If she would have gotten in at least she has the integrity and fortitude to take the reins. She at least has the know how through her gut to deal with world powers. And no I wouldn't have voted for her either, but do know what she stands for. And no unlike YOU I would never call her or any politician a whore in a public forum. And if you happen to get your guy to Washington things will change. Sadly if Mr. Obama learns to do anything if elected, it might not be good change, but it will be change. Regardless of all said he will become my president and I will respect him as the leading world power. Oh and one more thing. Get yourself a grade school English book.
raiffer
· 1 year ago
Sir, I can type and spell. I vote my wallet, my conscience, my knowledge of world events, my concerns for our nation, my hope. You, sir, seem hopelessly tied into innuendo and false accusations. Please write something original and insightful. Your criticism of others smacks of GOP tactics. Perhaps it's time for a change in your time spent. Don't dictate without citing fact, attributions, available sites.
jeanie
· 1 year ago
Get two copies and give him one!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Jackster: After thinking about it you did get one thing right. "Go follow your old senile man into the grave." Someday I surely will as my father died around this time two years ago of complications developing after years of struggle with Alzheimer's. Don't worry, I am used to your kind. Unfortunately you are many Mr. Ha Ha
Jackster
· 1 year ago
Ha.ha..ha.. the poor republcians are toast....
Ralph Thayer
· 1 year ago
Win or loose, McCain's pick for running-mate has opened wide the door for a whole new generation of exceptional American conservatives: Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, Eric Cantor, Tim Pawlenty, Michael Steele — just to name a few. The supercilious big-government thralls of the ossified New Deal and bloated Great Society sense it. They are going the way of the dodo bird. And they are afraid. Very afraid.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
You call it right sir.
GARINTEED
· 1 year ago
THYE BLOATED SOCIETY YOU TALK ABOUT EXSIST NOT BECAUSE OF AID TO THE PEOPLE BUT TO THE WASTEFUL EXPENSE OF COORPERATE WELFARE, THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL POWER WARNED AGAINST BY IKE AND THE POWERFUL LOBBYING FORCES OF THE FIVE PERCENT OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY WHO ARE STEALING BILLIONS IN TAX EVASION EVERY YEAR (ALL OUT OF OUR POCKETS}. COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD, WE ARE UNDEREDUCATED, UNDERINFORMED AND UNDER MEDICALY TREATED. THE WORST INTERSTRUCTURE OF ANY MODERN COUNTRY. TALKING BIG DOESN'T MAKE US BIG. NORTH KOREA, IRAN, VENUZULA AND NOW RUSSIA ARE EXAMPLES OF OUR STANDING. " YOU CAN"T LEAD FROM THE CABOOSE"
mountaingal
· 1 year ago
Out of date programs? How about "Let's revive the Cold War?" Let's start wars all over so we can say we're tough. How about "Victory in Iraq"? When they can't even say what victory looks like. We're supposed to stay there until they figure it all out - paid for by the ever-dwindling middle class and our service people. Support the troops, indeed! I'd rather have the Great Society than Vietnam II. How about making birth control for women almost impossible to get - except for the wealthy, and aboretion illegal even for rape and incest victims? Talk about going backwards!
drpg
· 1 year ago
I feel compelled to point out that the Federal government and the Federal debt grew more under the Reagan and Bush (Jr.) administrations than at any other time in the history of our country. I know Republicans like to say that they are all about small government, but the evidence runs to the contrary.
Ralph Thayer
· 1 year ago
Rindi White of the Anchorage Daily News wrote yesterday:
"The stories are all suggestive, but facts are hard to come by...
"In December 1996, Emmons told her hometown newspaper, the Frontiersman, that Palin three times asked her ... about possibly removing objectionable books from the library if the need arose.
"Emmons told the Frontiersman she flatly refused to consider any kind of censorship. Emmons, now Mary Ellen Baker, is on vacation from her current job in Fairbanks and did not return e-mail or telephone messages left for her Wednesday.
"... the matter came up for the second time in October 1996, during a City Council meeting ...
"Four days before the exchange at the City Council, Emmons got a letter from Palin asking for her resignation. Similar letters went to police chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton and finance director Duane Dvorak. John Cooper, a fifth director, resigned after Palin eliminated his job overseeing the city museum.
"Palin told the Daily News back then the letters were just a test of loyalty as she took on the mayor’s job, which she’d won from three-term mayor John Stein in a hard-fought election. Stein had hired many of the department heads. Both Emmons and Stambaugh had publicly supported him against Palin.
"Emmons survived the loyalty test and a second one a few months later. She resigned in August 1999, two months before Palin was voted in for a second mayoral term.
I for one am sick of loyalty being the litmus test for high office appointments ( and some not so high in Justice). Tell the folks that survived Katrina how well loyalty works at FEMA. "Great job, Brownie." Gonzalez? Slavishly devoted to Bush, and a total moron who wouldn't make it in any self-respecting law firm. It will take years just to clean out the loyalty appointees of the Bush years who have no other qualifications than being loyal to the GOP. They have permeatead our federal structure and eaten away at it like termites.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Abacus 101, Obama's "a nada candidate"? And you're a UAW? I doubt that. If you are, you're as dumb as dumb is. Sure why not vote for 4 more years of Bush? Eventually, your UAW job will be shipped overseas, and then you can beg for a minimum wage job cleaning toilets in some two-bit diner somewhere. Is that what you really want? Are you really better off now than you were in 2000? You can't possibly be, as a UAW. You're lying about this, just as the Republicans lie about EVERYTHING. Sarah Palin? H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E. She believes in and preaches abstinence, yet her underage daughter gets pregnant and now will have a shotgun wedding. This would be so amusing, if it wasn't so sad. Where's her parenting skills? Where's her LEADERSHIP as a mother?? Clearly, her skills and leadership are horrendous, given what's happened with her daughter who engaged in (presumably regularly) pre-marital sex. Yeah, Palin's a good Mother, all right! And her abuse of power, and attempts at censorship at the local library? Un-frickin'-believable. We've had 8 years of this crap, how can anyone who's using more than 1% of their brain, really want another 4 with her and McCain??
abacus101
· 1 year ago
TruthSpeaker: As you quote "You're lying about this, just as the Republicans lie about EVERYTHING." you show your own colors. I have nothing to hide and realized that telling the truth about being UAW would be like bait to someone like you who's worldview is apparently narrow. You can't even play a hunch on your guy because there is no history of his true character other than his deliberately trying to let America that He's African American and that depicts something special. Isn't the truth that while he rests on this that he is really if broken down 50 percent White 40 percent Arab and only 10 percent African American. Just American would have been good enough for me for any candidate in this country for me. Again for me the problem is that the guy is an empty suit that would take too much risk for me to bet on. And oh yeah, what a great cause the DEMS have been for LABOR. Bill Clinton and EEgore didn't have any problem shoving NAFTA down our throats. And the democratic party is the party of labor. If that happened while you were still in Grade School then I won't hold you to it. And with Sarah Palin and your blame. Are you yet a parent? Every parent can have a kid slip up and it not be their fault. Shame on you for your accusations. So you might want to change your Screen Name to something else as many of your quotes are not true at all. Everything I said of myself is 100 percent true, but if you prefer to take the road of the Jackster who mentioned my senile old man then I'll remember you for what you are. Apparently you have not yet figured out that there is a lot more to life than your job and how much money you have in the bank. Sure the place I work at is about to close down and would like to take $10 an hour away plus pension and some medical. And in truth they are a greedy bunch who can't see past the end of their nose. But if I would have to become the way you show your character in your rant then I don't care if I have a dime as I think with the 1 percent working part of my brain.
mountaingal
· 1 year ago
Wow! There are still bigots like you out there? Does the UAW also provide biological break-downs for all candidates? Or just the non-white ones who have the effrontery to run for public office based on their intelligence, honesty, and clean-living? What is the Palin break-down? What is yours? Have you been here 10,000 years like a Native American? (Who really migrated here from somewhere else, too) If Obama weren't a native-born American, he wouldn't be eligible as a candidate according to what's left of ouf Constitution after 8 years of neo-cons. But, of course, the ignorant haven't ever read the Constitution and don't give a rat's patoot about it.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Abacus 101: Your ignorance and lack of knowledge is appalling. Clearly, you are not very educated, nor have you taken it upon yourself to become educated. Your sentence structure is terrible, and I can't even understand what you're trying to say in the 4th sentence. And then your 5th sentence... the coup de grace: Obama is 40% Arab and 10% Black. Really? Are you this frickin' stupid?? Where’d you hear that from, Rush “Drug Addict” Limbaugh or Bill “Adulterer” O’Reilly? If not, whatever drugs you're on, I'd like some of those. And Obama's an empty suit? You know absolutely nothing about him, as all you do is buy hook, line & sinker the Republican party line. You have bought into the character assassination that defines the Republican party -- because they have no ideas and nothing to offer the regular Joe. That’s really sad. Regarding NAFTA: Did you know that all or most of the Republicans were in favor of and supported NAFTA? Did you know that most Democrats were not? Yes, Clinton convinced enough Democrats to join the Republicans so he could get it completed. I never agreed with that myself. But here's another interesting fact I'll bet you DON'T know: NAFTA was *signed* by George H.W. Bush in December of 1992. It was your favorite president's father that brought that bill into fruition. Did you know that? I doubt it. Yes, it still needed each of the 3 country's legislatures to ratify it, which Clinton oversaw for our legislature here. But one cannot blame Clinton entirely for NAFTA. You have to blame Bush Sr. and the Republicans too. Oh yeah, they are big supporters of labor, that's for sure!! And Palin: LOL, "shame on me for my accusations"? At least you made me laugh reading your post. The issue, Dear Brutus, is that Palin sets herself up as a "moralistic" person who preaches abstinence. If she didn't preach abstinence and didn't say "I'm a moral person," then I wouldn't criticize her. But because she does, she deserves the criticism. She failed as a Mother -- in this regard. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial. But more than that, Palin is a hypocrite, and an abuser of power, from her time as a small-town Mayor to her brief time as Governor. Don't believe me? Then start educating yourself on the facts. Lastly: Yes, there is a lot more to life than one's job or how much $ they have. Sorry to hear that where you work may close down. I really don't wish ill will on most people. (Maybe just hypocrites and crooked politicians.) But who do we have to blame for a lot of this? Our elected leaders? We have had a succession of bad presidents since Nixon, no? But who's fault does this ultimately rest with? Us. We the people. Most of this country is dumb and uneducated, so they buy the fear tactics and Nazi propaganda tactics of people like Karl Rove, and then elect the worst president this country has ever had for a 2nd term in 2004. We are to blame, because most Americans don't read, don't study, don’t research the facts. They buy whatever is fed to them without questioning its veracity.
girlygirl72
· 1 year ago
I agree, TruthSpeaker, and frankly, it's hopeless to try and argue with someone who has clearly made up his mind that it's easier to use the 1% of his brain than to develop and challenge the rest of it that is going unused.
Swedgeblock
· 1 year ago
She can't be responsible for the actions of her daughter. All a parent can do is teach kids good morals and to be responsible for their own actions , and then the kid has to make their own choices. I probably won't vote for the Republicons, I never have, but that is not a fair statement.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
It is a fair statement, because she parades herself around as a "moral" person and preaches abstinence. If she DIDN'T do this, then it wouldn't be a fair statement, necessarily. Let's look at this objectively for one moment. Her daughter is engaging in sex, and Mom Palin doesn't know it. So where is Mom Palin with communication and relationship with her daughter, such that her daughter is doing something that clearly Mom disagrees with and disapproves? This is a no-brainer. There's a breakdown in relationship here, a breakdown in communication for this to be happening. Mom Palin is absent in some way, and quite frankly, she is not being the best Mother that she can be. Is this right? Is this "moral"? Is this a good example of Family Values? Where ARE the family values in the Palin family? This is a complete joke.
Thinking
· 1 year ago
Sorry, no Palin for me. I think. I question.
Future1
· 1 year ago
Obviously your a Democrat :). To think, to question is the only way to find an answer. How can you decide without your questions answered. I hope the GOP starts thinking and questioning!
Obama/Biden '08!!
jj
· 1 year ago
sad that some american voters are such mindless followers, listening to anything the gop puts out there. do a little research people! thank you anne kilkenny. every single voter should read this letter.
obama/biden '08!
Torchlight
· 1 year ago
Get off the computer and go exercise your body instead of your bad judgement.
raiffer
· 1 year ago
Is the same advice appropriate here?
CeeVee
· 1 year ago
She is truly a republican. She is so busy governing her state in political office, while her child is having a baby. Who is taking care of her children. Surely not her or her husband. I am a republican but I will be voting democrat for this presidential election. I am upset how the economy is, the war and I feel that voting for McCain will be more of the same politics of the Bush administration.
raiffer
· 1 year ago
If you are for Obama, please follow his suggestion and stay away from criticiziing Palin on family issues. I hope you will instead point out her lack of real executive experience (she had to hire a city administrator after failing at management issues), her ties to controversial religious doctrine, her far-right obligations (not just leanings because she now owes her backers), or her flip-flop on ethics in office (troopergate for one, loyalty oaths for another). I don't mean to deride your efforts. I only hope we can take a look at pertinent issues. Those are so exigent.
Yurgus
· 1 year ago
Well stated, but Sarah Palin is a crucible for controversy and attention through her loose-cannon demeanor and past record. It's difficult to ignore when this pattern extends into her personal life.
She could alleviate some of the heavy breathing if she agreed to any in-depth interviews, but at this point, all she's going to do is give Charlie Gibson a brief choreographed shot. You can blame Rick Davis for this - the campaign is apparently not comfortable with taking her off the leash in public at this point.
The public should take this into consideration as a presentation of her lack of readiness to assume office.
Donald Conklin
· 1 year ago
I don't know why people still listen to the same old garbage and swallow it. Neither party has changed any thing but there own pay and bennifits. I think that any one that is part of the old gang is not going to change anything same old song and dance. How come Floridas vote didn't count till after Hillary backed out. If I vote at all it sure won't be for the party that screws over one candidate to get one of there boys elected. Palin just might what we need in Washington . WE should give her firing powerThere also.
mountaingal
· 1 year ago
Florida's vote? Party rules. Democrats try to play by them. Hillary agreed to them - then changed her mind. Those are the facts. Live with them.
Yukkione
· 1 year ago
The leaders of the Florida Democratic pary broke the rules. I'm a Florida Democrat and it's the leaders who made the decision who have my ire. Do not blame the National committee or the party in general for the mistake of a few yahoos. A real Democrat wouldn't support the Palin McCain ticket.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Donald Conklin says: "How come Floridas vote didn't count till after Hillary backed out?" Good God, man, do you really not know? Do you really not know the whole story behind Michigan and Florida? It was all over the news media for months. Use google for chissakes and read what happened and why it happened. For one thing, Florida "counted" before Hillary was out, so you got that wrong. Do yourself a favor... educated yourself. You want to vote for McCain, fine, vote for him. But educate yourself, stop being a redneck who watches bad TV shows and plays video games 6 hours a day.
Yurgus
· 1 year ago
If you are a TruthSpeaker, then how can you describe a man you don't even know as a redneck who watches bad TV shows and plays video games 6 hours a day? Perhaps you don't know Sarah Palin very well either? Perhaps...
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
I'll tell you how: Because anyone who says "How come Floridas vote didn't count till after Hillary backed out?" has bought some BS propaganda, which A) is flatly not true, and B) where the heck has this person been for the last ~5 months? Clearly they do not read what is going on politically, yet have the "moxie" to go around -- like here -- and repeat some stupid, false (and uneducated) belief. That's Redneck, dude. With a capital 'R'. That's what rednecks do. They believe what is told to them by friends, family, those in "authority," and don't use their brains to really analyze and think about what is the truth or not. No other way to say it. They simply do not use the intelligence God gave them. So they go around like automatons, many of them, parroting the extreme views and false beliefs of those they align themselves with (such as the Republican Party). Just like Abacus here, who says/believes Obama is 40% Arab. Or any of the 12 or 15% of Americans who think Obama is Muslim. They're morons. God gave them unlimited intelligence to live and experience life with, and it's as if they said to Him: Thanks, but no thanks, I don't need the brain. I'll just live and believe as I'm told.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
One more thing to Donald Conklin: You said, "If I vote at all it sure won't be for the party that screws over one candidate to get one of there boys elected." Not to be too petty here, but you spelled "there" wrong... you meant "their." More importantly, Bush screwed over McCain in 2000, big time. And the Republican party screwed over McCain in 2000, big time. These are facts, no hyperbole. But I'll bet you voted for Bush anyway in 2000, didn't you? Hmm... a word comes to mind that I attribute to many politicians. What word might that be... oh, yes, "hypocrite." (You might buy yourself a dictionary if you're not sure what that means.) You appear to be one of the most uneducated people posting on this board, and that's sad.
mountaingal
· 1 year ago
Good parents can - and do - influence their children. The problem with the right wing is that they are really good at telling other people how to run their lives - from conception till death's door. But their own lives? It's not fair to judge them, She did promote "Abstinence Only" for sex education classes - an approach which has produced as many unintended pregnancies amongs its proponents as in the general population. Read: it doesn't work. That Palin speaks out of both sides of her mouth, but never directly IS fair grounds for criticism.
marly
· 1 year ago
I don't believe any of the candidates, as none of them have talked about the 20million illegals that have INVADED the USA and are the reason for higher unemplyment numbers. They are devastating our healthcare system because they get it FREE. The press hollers that they are treated like criminals when they are arrested for illegally being here. They commited a FEDERAL crime doesn't that make them a criminal
ConcernedCitizen
· 1 year ago
You are actually WRONG....they didn't commit a FEDERAL crime, as immigration law is entirely separate from federal law, smartypants. AND while you're at it why don't you confront all the Israelis and other white immigrants who are working on tourist visas (against the law) or let their passport stamps expire and are eligible for deportation....maybe it's because they don't speak a language you don't like or look as different from you. Remember also that there are millions of latino immigrants here who are DOCUMENTED but not yet citizens. They pay taxes just like you and work three times as hard as most people who had the privilege to be born here.
Immigration is a complicated issue. If you are going to make broad, sweeping statements, you should educate yourself first.
We're spending $10 billion a month in Iraq RIGHT NOW. Believe me, thats hurting us MUCH more than immigrants who work here every day and can't access the job markets that citizens can (which are more desirable anyway).
Diane Berger
· 1 year ago
Thanks for your hard work. Keep Digging!
Carol
· 1 year ago
The author of this email states her reasons for; "Why am I writing this ?" Well.....They failed to list the sixth reason "why": Jealousy.
Yurgus
· 1 year ago
Why are YOU writing THIS?
PolarBearsRule
· 1 year ago
how typical you must be too
Joanne James
· 1 year ago
oooo how horrible - I can't quite remember how many people were fired by the Clintons when they took office .. can you help me out? and - oh ya I hear Palin's ex brother in law was pretty much a wife beater - sham on her again.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Why are the Clintons even being mentioned here? No one -- that I can see here -- is defending the Clintons. Many politicians do this, they "clean house," and it's certainly not a practice I support. What's relevant here, is that this is clearly indicative of the TYPE of person Palin is, and speaks volumes about what we'd get if she were in Washington. We've had nearly 8 years of extreme partisan politics -- and from a guy who said he'd bring both parties together, to work together, to get things done. Anyone remember that? I didn't think so. For a party that uses an elephant as their identity, Republicans are the worst at *remembering* promises made and then broken. Ironic, isn't it? I think there's only one -- ONE -- promise Bush made in 2000 that he kept. Every other one was broken. And look where that's gotten us. You want 8 more years of this endless war and a broken economy? Vote for McCain/Palin. You're only hurting yourself. (Sure, it hurts others too, but it hurts you.) You want a shot -- a shot, not a guarantee -- that we can have a better economy again, and spend that $10 BILLION per month on domestic things instead of endless war? Then maybe you diehard Republicans should consider, at least consider, the other guy. Will Obama be as great as many on the left think he will? Who knows. Probably not. Most people never live up to the hype we throw on them. But it is a fact, (yes, a FACT) that our economy has been better and done better under a Democratic president every time since before WWII. We need someone who understands and will hire intelligent people (advisors, economists) to get the country on the right economic track again. Not someone who says "I don't really understand the economy." (Yeah, McCain said that many months ago, do you Republicans know this?)
Ana
· 1 year ago
If she is sooooo bad why is she still in office in Alaska?????? I am not voting for her but I have read all this bad stuff about her and THE PEOPLE could just not vote for her so whats up????? This is what bothers me everyone has bad things to say about all of them but they are still in office and if she was thjat bad she wouldn't still be.Lets face it he picked her for 2 reasons 1- she looks good and 2 she has a big family and works. She will appeal to the masses and I hope Obama can hold on strong I pray he can!!!!!!! He really messed up he should have picked Clinton.
L
· 1 year ago
Well, Ana, she's only been in office 20 months and is pretty good at keeping secrets. Who knew she was pregnant? Not the Alaskans! Who knew her daughter was pregnant? Not the Alaskans! Who knew she fired a librarian who wouldn't take the books Palin thought offensive out of a library? Not the Alaskans!
Shalomae
· 1 year ago
Don't forget that she will be able to push through the plans for drilling in Arctic refuges. And according to her in an interview on public radio the day she received the nomination, she won't let those polar bears get in the way of development. She's a "shootin, huntin, kind of [gal]"
This woman is a viper, a hypocrite, a liar...I'm so ashamed to be sharing a country, let alone a gender, with her. Can you just imagine how the World's leaders will react to her? She wouldn't stand a chance.
L
· 1 year ago
Suggest you read Dan Fagin's column in the Sept. 7 ADN. I hardly every agree with him but he has it right this time. It is not that the trooper was so sterling but that she was overriding the rule of law and attempting to use her political power and office to accomplish what she thought was right. The Bush Administration has given us eight years of exactly that type of thing. And who is packaging and handling Ms. Sarah as the VP candidate? That's right. The Bush's political team. Is this going to give us anything but 4 more years of Bush Republicans?
abacus101
· 1 year ago
I'll bet it really bums out you deep thinking head scratchers see Zogby shows McCain/Palin up by 4 and Gallup shows them up by 3. Maybe they are the best choice. Well, with the choices there are to make, they are by far the best choice. This might not be a photo finish after all. Oh and don't say polls never mean anything. You dems live by them.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
"Deep thinking head scratchers"?? Wow, man, you really do have something against intelligence. Oh, that's right, you're the guy who said Obama is 40% Arab. LOL. Of course McCain would get a bump in the polls, this is historical for any candidate after a National Convention. For you to make the assumption that "Maybe they are the best choice" because of a poll is ludicrous. And then... you accuse Dems of living by polls -- lol, man, you're funny. Sounds like you're living by this poll yourself; you're certainly making assertions about it. I'm going to make a suggestion, but I know you won't follow it. Nevertheless, here it is: Take a look at John Dean's "Worse Than Watergate." Take a look at Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies." Take a look at Ron Suskind's "The Price of Loyalty." (These are all books.) Do some reading and research, man, and educate yourself re: the truth about what's been going on. This is about the most important thing you could do in your life, at this stage. You don't even have to change what you believe in, if you don't want to. But don't continue to go around espousing falsehoods and ignorance. You were given a huge gift of intelligence by the Creator, and you have entirely wasted it to this point in your life. But it's never too late, IF you begin to develop it.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
TruthSpeaker: says "But don't continue to go around espousing falsehoods and ignorance." My point in the poll statement was that neither side is a runaway train.........yet. And yes those might be great reads if I thought with your mindset. Really John Dean "The Squeeler" These books only contain part of the truth and then they get out their silly putty and stretch the rest in like Michael Moore, who's own party members admit he stretches things out of proportion. I don't believe what a lot of writers say because they are just making money. The vast majority of political writing whether from the left, the center, or right are often riddled with pieces of truth, which tend to hide the stretched truth and the out and out lies. Oh and don't try hurting me by shoving the Republican name down my throat because I am not one of those. I'm also no where near what the Dems have become. JFK would not fit at all in his party today. The closest Republican to me would probably be Pat Buchanan. Joseph Farah at WND is also a good read. And no these guys are not "Bushlovers" although that doesn't make me an out an out "Bushhater". Someone else who I read be Jack Wheeler who is known as the Indiana Jones of the Republican party. Not that you would agree with it, but he is the inventor of the "Reagan Doctrine". Now did the guy arm wrestle Putin and his body guard and win? Well he says he did. Do I believe absolutely everything I have read about him. Well, no I do not. I do however believe his explanation of Mr Obama's heritage. I also misquoted from memory as I said that Mr Obama had 10 percent African American blood. His African American blood is zero as he has zero slave heritage. The ten percent is only African. Now that's to you is not true and maybe a big deal over nothing. What I like however is not to be mislead on basics. Finally has my life been wasted up until this point as you suggest. You know that's why I used the word head scratcher in the last post to describe your kind. Because you think that you have me figured out by reading a few of my posts which I do in part just to get a rise out of you. And I know it works in both directions. And thru it, I do see somewhat what you believe in as well. I'm just not buyin' it. What I do when away from this is not focus my life and future what happens in politics even though it can have an impact on me. I only post at these things in bursts often months apart. In my life however, I'll never waver on things that matter to me. For instance, since I believe that a fetus growing inside of a woman is really a child brought by the Creator, then I will never agree to kill (or tell someone that since it is their body that it would be ok for them to kill it) because of circumstances, what the Creator has brought. While that's not my litmus test at all, it is a very basic test for ME. Many from your party would then label me after making that statement as being in the "Far Right Wing" when in reality I would describe myself as being no where near the FRW in many things.
Mich
· 1 year ago
Just plain scary. One heartbeat away.. one very old heartbeat.
Rick
· 1 year ago
I'm curious. How long did it take the writer to find the most unflattering picture she could find? This is an obvious partisan hit piece. Both sides are guilty of these tactics. It's going to be a muddy campaign season
thededa
· 1 year ago
As a reforming figure hailing her rejection of the famous bridge - see Rich, NYTimes today saying it happened after the public rallied against it - she did NOT RETURN the funds to the federal, right? she kept the money and simply distributed it to her own liking. what's not to like about such opportunism. but let's not be fooled it to be ethically driven. Also, as the hockey-mom she claims to be, what about the tactics of the game? go against the old guard in your party, which everyone knows is corrupt, not to be ethical but simply to kick them out. a pure power strategy. McCain ought to watch his back with such a star shinning so dark behind him.
Doretha McKinney
· 1 year ago
I feel this woman should take her country self home and try and rear her special needs child and stay out of the public on the national level. She is some one we do not need for a VP. I McCain should win and something should happen to him we do not need her for a President that does not know beans from shineola. She is a very vindictive person and we do not need this in America.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Then why do 80% of Alaskans like her? She is among the highest in approval in the nation. Are 80% of Alaskans duped dummies? Does her "babe factor" play that high? It APPEARS there is a lot of grasping over this woman. That doesn't I'm claiming she's a genius with morals. Could it be that she is just a breath of fresh air that while opinionated has seen a lot of thing that common sense and basic morality can see thru and then sets out to fix those things. There aren't too many politicians in Washington that are that way including the Greats McCain and Obama. Yes McCain has done some things right and swept other things under the rug or messed them up, and Obama ..........well .......... he's done nothing at all as yet.
bssjersey
· 1 year ago
A week ago you didn't know anything about Sarah Palin. I wouldn't hire a lawyer or a financial advisor I knew so little about. There's only 58 days to the election, and she has yet to be subjected to even a press conference - let alone the debates the other three candidates faced in the primaries. Are you willing to bet the whole country on her? John McCain is - which says a lot about his poor judgment. He spoke to her - what? - twice before picking her? Sounds a lot like Bush looking into Putin's soul. That worked out well. I'd be skeptical about that 80% approval rating. She followed a governor with a 19% approval rating, and it's easy to please your voters when your state is awash in oil royalties and you can send very person a fat rebate check. She wasn't so popular when she got elected - in fact, she didn't win a majority. She got 48.33% in a 3-way election where the independent got over 9% and the Democrat 41%. Check it here: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06general/data/... Last observation: common sense and basic morality aren't sufficient to craft intelligent foreign policy or to manage the largest economy in the world. And she and her backers keep saying things that defy common sense - like that bit about her having foreign policy savvy because Alaska is next to Russia. That's like saying because you live next to a hospital you're qualified to do brain surgery.
jim
· 1 year ago
It would seem abacus101 has done nothing to actually check out Obama's Senate record at both the National level and the Illinois level. After you do one might be more willing to give some weight to your comments.
akbirdwm
· 1 year ago
Palin does not have an overall 80% approval rating in Alaska! She got in with under 50% of the total vote. I'd say her rating is somewhere around the same, and tanking since she's been under investigation for her potential misuse of governmental office, for saying she's transparent but her actions are anything but, and for lots of other lies and distortions she's told. If she had ran against an even playing field, not having Murkowski with his issues to climb up on, I don't think she'd have got in.
Jim
· 1 year ago
I agree but have more burning questions: Where is she now? Why won't she speak with the press, other than ABC, which stinks of the generals Bush would prep and send over to misrepresent the truth.about Iraq Why doesn't the press go after her? Hold her feet to the fire? Demand answers to the multitude of questions Americans are asking? Could it be that all press that makes any difference in the US is in the republican pocket? It is infathomable to me that McCain can get away with "hiding" his vice presidential pick from the American public. Why? Is he secretly ashamed of her? And why havn't the American people demanded she come forward with answers in a format like Meet the Press?
Jim
Barbara
· 1 year ago
Contact Anne Kilkenny in Wasilla. She knows Sarah Palin well! 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. S he 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 exp erienced 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. < br> 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=2 0now, 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.
John Birks
· 1 year ago
CNN just reported a "debunking" of an email going around saying that Sara Palin tried to ban books in the Wasilla library while she was mayor. That email was probably an exaggeration since it listed books that hadn't even been published at that time, but if it's true that Paline tried to ban books and theatened to fire the librarian, then this is very, very important, and I hope that Anne Kilkenny will disclose this to CNN. How can we get CNN and/or other news organizations to talk to Anne and others who knew about this and make it known nationally?
craig in ct
· 1 year ago
I have read some of the bad things people are saying about Sarah Palin. Are these comments that would be made about a man in the same political venue? I think that if/when she is elected to public office, along side of John McCain, that history will probably give her the same degree of or higher accolades than have been given to Dr. Ruth or Golda Meir, who were a military sniper and staunch, even rabid, female defenders in the nation of Israel. Can one overlook the turbulent backgrounds of Ruth or Meir, and not overlook the relatively minor scrapes in which Palin has been involved in her rise to power?
nailbunny
· 1 year ago
I think you make a good point. My problem with Palin is that her entrance into politics and her behavior while in office have been about power. I realize it may be naive, but aren't our elected officials supposed to serve the people that elected them, not abuse the position to give their friends jobs, dismiss people for no reason and seek retribution on anyone that may have opposed them? I'm not thrilled with the way McCain seems to have sold out, because he used to be the guy pointing out useless expenditures in government. That seems far less power-hungry and more public servant to me. Just because she's a woman, are you saying we're not supposed to scrutinize her? I would hope that male or female a candidate for the second highest office in the land could stand up to scrutiny without whining about how 'she's just a hockey mom' and we're just big meanies for holding her accountable for her actions.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Don't let the Anne Kilkenny Doctrine dominate here. It's just more of the same blah blah blah.
nailbunny
· 1 year ago
Why shouldn't truth dominate a discussion? And it is true, but I suspect you just don't like it. This is a tutorial on fact-checking, something you seem to know nothing about. Go to this site and follow the advice at the bottom to verify the claims in the email by Anne Kilkenny: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_anne_k...
Find the truth all by yourself. It's easy. It's fun. It's empowering and illuminating!
abacus101
· 1 year ago
From Dr Jack Wheeler @ to the point news The gusher starts with the world's most famous woman. Mark this week as when Omania fizzled out. O stands for Over. There's little to add about Sarah right now except to stand back in awe, and contemplate the blessings of Providence upon America.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
So what are ya gonna do when your factory shuts down? Blame Clinton again? Bush/McCain have done more to hurt this economy than anyone else in the last 20 years. Instead of spending the last 8 years trying to keep jobs here, Bush has let them go overseas in droves. And instead of spending the $1 Trillion here at home domestically, it has gone to fight a fictitious war. Good luck living on your soon-to-be privatized Social Security, if McCain wins. Mark my words. Write this down and save it for 4 years... then take a look at it again. And good luck getting the medical care you might someday need, if your UAW benefits diminish.
DemocratsAreFascists
· 1 year ago
You might want to mention that Anne Kilkenny is a Democrat operative from Berkeley, California, transplanted there to undermine Republican operations.
This letter of "hers" comes direct from Obama's "Dirty Tricks" team, out to protect "The Brand."
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
LOL... I love this person's nick: "Liberals Caused 911." Another redneck moron who wouldn't know the truth about 911 if it walked through this person's door and bit this person on his/her ass. Probably an overweight one too. (Sorry to anyone who may be overweight... it's just that rednecks and bigots appear to have a higher percentage of obesity. True or not, it just seems that way...)
nailbunny
· 1 year ago
It isn't mentioned because it's not true. That's a lie:
Fact-checking: something Republicans don't know anything about. By the way, your little dirty tricks of saying lies repeatedly until they seem true are not going to work this time around. Just out of curiosity, what on earth are 'Republican operations'? What are you people actually doing up there in Alaska that it warrants the word 'operations'? Maybe somebody should get up there and set things straight.
susan j
· 1 year ago
See for yourself. Here is the Video: Sarah Palin, touts her service as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. This slide show takes you to the remote town where Palin's political career began. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid9...
akbirdwm
· 1 year ago
I'm an Alaska too, my mother lives in Wasilla and I work with native communties in the southcentral region on environmental and community health and sustainability issues. Everything that Ann Kilkenny wrote below is accurate and true. Sarah Palin would be America's worse nightmare if she were to obtain the Presidential office, and who knows what kind of senanigan's she'd get into just being VP!
akbirdwm
· 1 year ago
I meant to say, Barbara's (who is not Kilkenny) post below on the facts of Sarah Palin is correct.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Or maybe you live in Virginia. If you and your mother could possibly be in Alaska then there are eight people that approve of her compared to the two of you that don't.
Mayorsmalltown
· 1 year ago
Getting rid of a "good ole boy" is the way to go. I am sure that the police chief had to go or disrupt the term of the mayor. Having something to say about her ex brother in law and putting pressure is not a sin, he probably had to go also. Maybe when she gets into "BIG GOVERNMENT" some of them will go also. One can only hope.
ConcernedCitizen
· 1 year ago
What about censorship in PUBLIC libraries and demanding resignation from a librarian doing her job? That doesn't sit well with me, nor does a woman calling herself a FISCAL CONSERVATIVE when she pushed the LARGEST expansion of local government and spending (big boxes, etc) in a small town! This is exactly one of the top crimes of Bush, hi-jacking the Republican party when they are really neo-cons (Palin left Wasilla with $22 million in debt!).
This is more of the same, more like the worst parts of Bush than even McCain.
I'm no fan of Joe Biden, but Obama isn't a heartbeat away, and Obama can work with both sides on any issue. This is what you hear from everyone that has worked with him.
akbirdwm
· 1 year ago
You need to understand that the Trooper had been disciplined through proper channels - years ago. The Gov using her office to pressure her Police Commissioner to terminate a Trooper who had made no other violations was WRONG, and Monegan saved the State a lawsuit otherwise. If Palin wanted the Trooper gone, there are proper proceedures to go through. Also, the Trooper through the Policeman's Union is now suing the Gov and the State for the improper release of his personel and worker's comp file. These personel laws and proceedures are in place for a reason, so that personal vendettas by powerful people on the working person can't be done.
targetbustermom
· 1 year ago
I'd rather support a straight shooting hockey mom and well liked governor (I like to believe it's because of more than the $1200 checks, but who knows...?) than a man who counts 1960's radical terrorist bombers, America hating ministers and shady, shady real estate moguls amongst his friends and backers. I agree, we don't really know Palin, after only a week or so. But Obama is unknowable and untouchable and seemingly protected from any form of scrutiny or criticism. Anyway, I understand the "heartbeat away" phrase that everyone's tossing around, but Palin isn't running for President and I assume she can attend state funerals as well as Joe Biden....
A.Smith
· 1 year ago
I find it fascinating when people just blatently toss out the baby with the bath water. I am not an Obama supporter (as a matter of fact, I support no candidate) but how presumptuous of you to not recognize that Obama has publicly gone against the comments of the minister, denied the support of criminal behavior on any level and has no close relationship with the man who sold him his property. I am much more concerned over his wife's comments that show her feelings about America. How she and "her people" have been and continue to be abused by white people. Plain one the other hand is a shark and by all accounts shoots down anyone who goes against her will. She is dangerous - and would be too close to the presidency. I would suggest you try and educate yourself a bit more on the issues and then like me end up choosing not to vote for anyone as they are in the long run, useless, worthless politicians.
justink
· 1 year ago
You have got to be insane lady and totally uninformed if you believe that nonsense about Obama. I am an independent thinker and like most of those that are posting on this site, I believe Palin is not qualified for the position.
Please explain to me why McCain picked a VP candidate with very little experience from the far right fringe instead of a moderate that would actually appeal to people in the middle. The only people excited about Palin are the social conservatives, while McCain did nothing to placate the concerns of moderates and independents.
It was interesting that the Republicans do not let Palin speak on the issues she is most passionate about: religion, pro-life, NRA, the same issues that would be the most divisive with swing voters. I wonder if they can keep that muzzle on her through November.
I hope the honeymoon is over before election day so that people like you can see the light of Sarah Palin for what it is
abacus101
· 1 year ago
justink: I think anyone who by now has heard of Sarah Palin know what her root beliefs are. You DEMS have helped get that word out. What everyone might not no is how far to the left the Obama's are.
He voted against filtering pornography on school and library computers and he voted for sex education for kindergarten children through the 5th grade.
Also, in 2001, he voted “present” on a bill to keep pornographic book and video stores and strip clubs from setting up within 1,000 feet of schools and churches.
In February 2004, his wife, Michelle, sent out a fundraising letter (for him), which actually stated her concern over the rise of conservatism in the Country, and that the ‘so-called’ partial-birth abortion was a legitimate medical procedure that should be protected.
Maybe you could explain to all, you being an independent thinker how partial birth abortion is not a cruel procedure, and why it should be protected. Also, why does pornography need to bee allowed on school computers.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Abacus: If you're going to be an operative for the Republicans, and spout BS and lies here, could you at least learn how to spell and write? I've mentioned this before. Sometimes your sentences don't make sense, and in this post above, you use the word "no" instead of "know." Let me ask you, what grade were you in, in school, before you dropped out?
akbirdwm
· 1 year ago
Well liked? I'll give her a 50% for the State. I sure don't like her. Didn't vote for her and have not been happy with how she's run the Govenor's office since she's been there. Are you for women's rights? Are you for sex ed in the classroom? Or are you like Palin and want to teach abstinence only and Creationism in school? Do you think the war in Iraq is God's war and our holy right to be there? If so, then I guess she's the one for you. Me, I'd prefer someone with a little more compassion and critical thinking skills in the White House.
vote4Obama
· 1 year ago
I’m an Alaskan resident and Sara Palin is riding HIGH on the wings of her predecessors and many Alaskans will tell you the very same story. Alaskans know that her high approval rate is not based upon her it is based upon the government establishment that was in office prior to her taking office because they were even more corrupt they she is.... Her so called accomplishments are the hard work of many she works with now and those that held office prior to Palin. She is one of those folks that tell people the way it is going to be by asserting authority but does not know how to work with others based upon mutural respect and that is not a leader. Americans need to do their home work; we absolutely can not afford to have a McCain/ Palin in the most powerful positions in America! Our future is too important to give it away to people that will mismanage their power and position.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Well, you didn't convince me. You didn't even convince me you live there.
Bee
· 1 year ago
she doesnt have to convince...people r so ignorant
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
No one's going to convince you, Abacus. You're a bigoted redneck, through and through. If you were to end up broke and destitute someday, and traced one of the primary causes, maybe then you could have a deathbed conversion. But until then, you will not entertain anything other than what your narrow mind will hold. Whether you're a neo-Nazi, White Supremacist, or aging skinhead, I've no idea. But Pat Buchanan is one of your heroes, as you've indicated, and that says it all.
time4change08
· 1 year ago
take it from the Alaskan native! Palin is bad deal! we can not have her running this country!! so much for family values when you hide you 17 year olds pregnancy from everyone for 7 months! vote OBAMA 08!!!!
Pray for America
· 1 year ago
It would seem that Gov. Palin lacks the ability to work with anybody who does not agree totally with her point of view. Sen. McCain has stood on his record of being able to reach across to the democrat side of the house to work in a cooperative manner. It is puzzling that he chose a running mate who does not have the same skills. I have to be honest that Gov. Palin makes me nervous. I don't feel that she will work with any group outside her narrow understanding of how America should look. So, the poor, minorities, gay Americans, religions (outside her belief) and anyone who she perceives as not "supporting her" are in trouble. And I'm sorry, but that is not how America should look. This great country should be about diversity and incluciveness. The Republicans made it clear at their convention that unless you are part of that elite 51% of the their delegates worth at least $500,000, you don't fit in their vision for America. Well, in Sarah Palin, they got the right "pit bull" to keep everyone else away from the table.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Pray for America: Who do you pray to?
Barbara
· 1 year ago
I don't scare easy, but this woman scares me! Hockey mom? Sounds more like pitbull mom. A woman who is antiabortion yet votes against giving aid to under age pregnant mothers who do not have the support of their family? We all can not be as rich as Sarah or have former ties the oil companies. And we've seen what happens to people who disagree with her. They get fired and lose their livelihood quickly! What happens if old man McCain doesn't make his four years? He's not extremely healthy. What kind of relations with other countries will we have or what will happen to people within the the government who disagree with her policies? A scary thought. I believe in the right to bear arms and owned guns but she comes off like a militant warmonger ! I love the way she originally wanted the bridge to know where, then when she saw she wasn't going to get her way, did an about-face. But let's not forget she kept the money ? And let's not forget McCain complaining, (years ago) about all the federal money that went to her town after she got in bed with political lobbyists ! Gun lobbyists! She definitely seems like a typical good old boy even though she's new on the scene. I have to laugh when they talk about her experience as a mayor of 4000+ .I live in one of the smaller suburbs of Chicago and the population there is over 20.000 lets see her run that town. They brought her in to pick up the Hillary Clinton voters (women who would vote for a woman just because she is a woman ) and though I am not strong Clinton supporter, Hillary is far superior to this woman, at least Hillary will listen to the people. Hillary also believe's a woman's has a right to do with her body as she wishes not be controlled by government or religion.
bryan
· 1 year ago
Twittle dee twittle dumb
Roger
· 1 year ago
How discusting, Dem's can't come up with facts but can stab her in the back! More MoveOn.Clinton crap the ultimate in political backstabbing and dare I say more!
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
What have you "said?"
abacus101
· 1 year ago
I just saw why everyone is so upset with McCain and his VP picks. It all of the dumb uneduacated folk in this land. TruthSpeaker recommended that I "Do some reading and research, man, and educate yourself re: the truth about what's been going on." And I have. I just came from realclearpolitics (facts without partisonship) and see much more than poll bounce from the convention. McCain +10 on one. (since I speak the truth here, you might be tempted to call me the TRUTHSPEAKER2) Only two ties with McCain leading in five out of seven national. Oh, don't worry if that other fella would happen to get back ahead, I probably won't put much stock in polls.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Wow. Again, wow. Yes, I said do some reading and research, and educate yourself re: the truth about what's been going on. You got that part right. But what did you do? You went to look at polls. POLLS. LOL. God, you really are dumb. Polls have NOTHING to do with truth or what's been going on for the past 8 years, lol. Instead of actually reading some serious stuff, you (essentially) resort to comic books. Good work, bubba, keep it up. You're a credit to the human race! :) Oh, and love your last sentence... "I probably won't put much stock in polls." You say something like this everytime you quote a poll about how McCain is doing so much better now than Obama. You won't get the irony here, but which is it? You believe in polls (since you're constantly quoting them) or you don't (since you then nullify them). Which is it??? lol.
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
You're rough!
Can Think For Myself
· 1 year ago
Rough maybe. But has a very clear argument. Enough of people making decisions based on long-held rusty positions. (Those dam Democrats... Those damn Republicans...dirty hippies... dirty capitalists...) Enough! Can we for once, have an election where we actually discuss THE ISSUES and the related FACTS? Here's an important emerging issue: the next wave of technology will be ET, Environmental Technology. And if we don't get it together (business and government partnerships like we did to develop IT in the 80s and before) CHINA will leave us in the dust. Yup. If we are to maintain our standard of living (which involves that nasty Lefty word "jobs"). We are in a race RIGHT NOW and most Americans are completely UNAWARE. ("I just wanna keep mah gun and mah hard-earned money" or "Equal rights for gays is the civil rights issue of the new century") WAKE UP PEOPLE!! We will be squabbling about political position until the end of time, but our ECONOMIC FUTURE is getting decided in teh next few years. Which candidate will move us into this new economy and new technology faster? What ties or limited vision will hold them back? The only role the VP will play in this critical area is who is influencing them and what impact those forces will have on teh President. Think! Just stop yammering away at useless drivel and think. For the future of your children and grandchildren, think. If you cant get your head around this stuff, talk to someone you know who can. Try to listen only to "news" that speaks to these ACTUAL ISSUES and watch how the candidates react and the actual next steps they propose. (No one can have a comprehensive "plan" yet, too many unknowns.) Peace be with you.
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
I agree but he's brutal.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Jim: You're right, Abacus101 has done no reading or research on Obama. He's just quoting the Republican party line from the various convention speeches. Obama's done more in his short few years in the Senate than McCain has in that same time frame! In fact, McCain has been absent from how many Senate votes over the past year and a half? Someone here knows.... quite a lot. Abacus101: You said... "Really John Dean 'The Squeeler'?" That is so telling. You're like the gangbangers of some inner city who believe whistleblowing is a "sin" and not to be respected. That it is not moralistic, or the right thing to do. Wow. Everything I've said about you -- personally -- stands. Sorry, it just does. If there's corruption in the government, or White House, why shouldn't someone come forward, particularly when the President was involved in illegal activity as Nixon was. Ah, but I guess you were a Nixon lover, sounds like it, since you like Pat Buchanan, a hypocrite and bigot. That CNN has him as an "analyst" is disgusting. Yeah, Pat Buchanan, the same guy that railed against foreigners in his presidential bids, but drove around in a BMW.... till the press noticed and asked him about this. LOL. Another great line from you, Abacus? "I don't believe what a lot of writers say because they are just making money." So is this your reason, your excuse, for not reading? For not researching to discover truth (political, economic, whatever)? So you what, get your info and "knowledge" from Fox News? Or Rush "Drug Addict" Limbaugh? Or Ann "I'm a Liar and Proud of It" Coulter? (Who ALL lie to MAKE money.) You mention Jack Wheeler, who you reference thus, re: Obama: "His African American blood is zero as he has zero slave heritage. The ten percent is only African." What?? Your ignorance is, once again, appalling. "African American" is the 'label' to describe those who live (and were born) in this country who's original heritage was from Africa. Perhaps this could be worded more eloquently, but "African American" is not a classification for those whose ancestors were slaves in this country. Obama was born in the U.S. His father was from Africa. You really should -- again, for your own good -- become more literate.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
TruthSpeaker - It would seem that the wheels have fallen off your wagon and you are now trying to humiliate me into becoming the great thinker and chooser of great literature that you believe you are. The great reads of our day are certainly not what you recommended that I pick-up and call research. Your main problem is your ability to discern what books would be good resource material. You pick-up books that are only to your liking (which many people do) and use them as your only source of information to form your opinions from. That’s not to say they wouldn’t be interesting reads. I will admit to dragging you around a bit to see what makes you tick. You seem to especially hate Pat Buchanan. (It was a Mercedes and he sold it) Do some REAL research on him and read some of his current articles on ALL ISSUES. I would BET that you would see eye to eye with him on many things. Oh yeah, when you were on your uncontrollable rant you mentioned Rush and Coulter. They're nowhere near my mentors, but I would bet they get a floor pacing rise out of you. If you were to pull your head out of the leftist sand pile you have it in, you wouldn't go on such a rant against my pulling out information as to how your mind thinks. I would also guess that your bursts of resorting to name calling put you barely out of college if you did complete something at one. You thought you sized me up so well over and over, when you really allowed me to show everyone honestly thinking in these posts what You Yourself are truly like. You truly don't make much of a representative for your party when you lose control even though you seem intelligent, but both parties have "problem children". I had one goal in these postings and that was to not let people accept anything they read on the internet as facts or "resource material". People grossly misquote both sides in politics and all other side taking issues. Even though I may sometimes add to the pot of confusion, I don't like to hear either side melt in gossip with facts, which is what was heavily relied on in the comments below this article, and the majority of all political reads. There are testing protocols to prove something worthy and people often skip it on the "information super highway. As an example, surely you don’t believe all of the “urban legend e-mail your misguided friends send you without at least going to snopes or somewhere similar to check it out. (for anyone else reading snopes is not part of the Right Wing) I’ll likely see you in another post and I'll check-up on how you are doing. Love abacus101
PS: In spite of the fact that you allege that I don’t read from your research of me, I do read quite a lot from all points of view from left of center to right of center. I’m known to be quite ambidextrous. (webster 1,2 and 3)
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Abacus: You amuse me. Your arrogance is amazing. "I will admit to dragging you around a bit to see what makes you tick." LOL. You think you're "making me tick" and "getting a rise out of me." Sorry, but you're not. I truly don't care what you think. I've been responding to a number of things you've said to have fun. I am also speaking the truth, but I am having fun too. You think you're upsetting me, but you don't know me at all. But then you wouldn't, because you see life through a prism of narrow mindedness and ignorance. You're sentence structure isn't great -- though it's better since I've pointed it out -- which means you're re-reading and correcting before you post. You spout really ignorant anti-Obama stuff, which tells me you're really a White Supremacist or skinhead type person. And my "name-calling"? Well, you actually began the name-calling (against others) and I just started calling it like it was -- that you are truly uneducated and ignorant. But hey, it's your life. Me? I don't care what people think about me. We're all anonymous here, so why would I care? These posts roll off after about a day at the bottom anyway.
One last thing, though. You said here: "Even though I may sometimes add to the pot of confusion, I don't like to hear either side melt in gossip with facts..." Then why do you do it? Why do you distort the truth and lie? Why do you write lies like Obama is 40% Arab? Since I've been here for a couple days, you are one of the most responsible people posting here for telling lies. So... what you just wrote to me, is indeed, another lie.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
TruthTwister - you show your colors again. I am I not a part of any of the smear names you attach to me. If I wasted my time to reread all the things you called me, I probably deplore them all. But since it's from someone of your coarse/crude style it means nothing. It just shows even your own that you're not even a praiseworthy democrat. As much as I disagree with many of his policies and beliefs even Mr Obama would not support any of your nastiness. I know I promised to wander away from your slanderous rants. Now I am breaking that promise. Since your Savior might be headed for freefall, I knew you needed this because he is 40% Arab. And thank-you.........for calling me "responsible" mr. literate sentence structure guy. You've got a great syntax flow also.
On Obama - He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya . Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively. What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it. Let that sink in: Obama is not the descendant of slaves, he is the descendant of slave owners. Thus he makes the perfect Liberal Messiah. Not my quote, but well put Jackson. My intention was never to belittle his family you truthtwister not truthspeaker. Ok I finally called you a name although not near so eloquent as the childish ones you continually use on me. My only point then, and is now, that the guy has a tough time being his real self in reality. He even has his followers believing he is much more centrist then he votes or “just sits there counted as present”. Study him further and your African History before you label this and me as some great big liar which you can no more prove wrong than I CHOOSE to further prove right.
JIM MCAINT
· 1 year ago
PALIN IS JUST A BIG LIAR!!! SHE IS FOR SOMETHING UNTILL ITS POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY IS GONE THEN SHES AGAINST IT. TALK ABOUT ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS. AND IRAQ IS GODS WAR? AND THE GAS PIPELINE THROUGH aLASKA IS GODS PIPELINE? WHAT A STRANGE WAY TO REACH OUT TO ALL AMERICANS. IM SURE THE TOP WEALTH EARNERS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE IN LOVE WITH HER BUT AS A MAN WHO HAD TO CANCEL HIS ENTIRE FAMILIES HEALTH INSURANCE SHE SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME FOR THE OTHER 80 PERCENT OF US THAT ARE NOT EITHER BENEFITING FROM THE PORK MONEY GOING TO ALASKA OR EARNING 175K PER YEAR. THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU VOTE.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Hey try some lower case letters or is all of this yelling?
Molly Shearer
· 1 year ago
I am so glad to receive this about Sarah Palin. My first impression of her was that if elected, this country is in for a lot of trouble. I don't know if I want her to run our country if called to do so. She is against all that women are about. I have a gut instinct that Palin does not have the experience either to handle forign policy if called to do so.
Judy Jarrell
· 1 year ago
It is interesting that you found a media article that supported your first impression of Palin. Your statement that "she is against all that women are about." is totally wrong. First, you are so dipped in "NOW" BS that you think all woman think like you and have the same values as yourself. In fact, Palin represents the views of a very large segment of women in our country. These women, unlike yourself and other NOW gals have realistic values of mohterhood, abortion, etc. Simply put, Palin is not a liberial. Therefore, you don't consider her a real woman. Palin has achieved all that the liberal left strives for women to work for. She has done it and they are seeing red just because she is not "one of the good ole boys".
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
What exactly, Judy Jarrell, DOES Palin represent about "a very large segment of women in our country"? Tell me specifically, what? That she lies? That she exaggerates? That abuses power? These are qualities or values that represent most women. At least most women I know. Maybe the women you know are all sleazy and give you a skewed perspective on the gender?
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Got interrupted by a phone call.... THESE are NOT qualities or values that represent most women that I know. Most women I know have morals and ethics, unlike Sarah "Barracuda" Palin. She didn't get that nickname for nothing!
Mary Smith
· 1 year ago
This is just more lies and negative publishing by the media - cannot believe anything they publish - ever - the result of all this back stabbing media is: ' WAKE UP AMERICA ' - IT's McCAIN / PALIN ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE "
Dean Coffin
· 1 year ago
So, if the facts are checked and they hold up, ie. that Palin has abused power, her money management is dredfull and her pandering to corporations has hurt the state of Alaska, will you vote for a positive change for America by voting for Obama?
James Hyatt
· 1 year ago
But there has to be some better dirt on Palin! Let's get some good juice on this uppity babe; some sex scandals, drug use, or taking bribes. Oh, sorry, that was the Governor of Michigan, the Governor or New Jersey, the Mayor of Detroit, and the congressman from Louisiana with a hundred grand in cash stuffed in the fridge. Yeah, I know, there are lots of rotten Republicans, too. And we should bring back the time honored practice of dipping corrupt politicians in boiling oil and rolling them in coarse turkey feathers no matter their party affiliations, age, or sex. But I don't think there is enough boiling oil and turkey feathers to do justice to the most corrupt political machine this country has ever seen: the Chicago Democrats. Where, as you might recall, Obama was steeped in it as a 'community organizer.' NOW there is experience that makes a person worthy to become president of the United States.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Oh this is priceless! "James Hyatt" labeling the Chicago Democrats as the most corrupt this country has ever seen. LOL. What a riot. Dude, where have you been for the last 8 years?? The Bush Administration has been the absolute most corrupt this country has possibly ever had. The treasury has been looted entirely -- we've gone from a $4 Trillion deficit to a $10+ Trillion deficit -- bringing the U.S. dollar to the lowest it's been in decades (and possibly ever). Bush's and Cheney's friends (Haliburton, KBR, etc.) have profited in the billions, all at the expense of us. No one can hold a candle to this crooked Administration.
Joey Tranchina
· 1 year ago
There needs to be some very serious fact checking on several of these Palin stories.
1. The claim that she exercised bad judgement in making economic decisions as mayor. 2. The assertion that her tax policies favored corporations over families. 2. The charge that she abused her political power for personal ends 3. The charge that she ever attempted to censor books then attempted to fire the librarian who resisted 4. The claim that she keeps an "enemies list."
These are questions that must not be answered by partisans. The must be addressed by facts. Are there any real reporters... you know "journalists" out there in partisan land?
Moshe
· 1 year ago
She is a hunter, wow! kills animals for entrainment, imagine her walking with her big gun terrorizing the forest. A woman plays the role of a combat macho-man; no compassion and no empathy for the wild-life that she kills. Do not let her into the White house.
ruben
· 1 year ago
One sick dangerous BITCH!.......as most of those who follow and support her. I am no Obama fan either, but will give him my vote for the sake of keeping this dizzy bitch -facist who needs serious help....God bless America and hope God exposes her for using his name.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Drill baby drill; she will pierce the planet to death.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Sarah Palin gave a great speech in the convention. I do not believe she has the brains to write it. A top notch writer was hired and she rehearsed well. Did the puppet/image makers do a good job? No, we can see the truth beyond the veils. Remember the convention and the speeches are just Theater. Think for yourself.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Almost none of them including Mr Obama write their own speeches. You can usually find who write for these politicians. I believe I heard she used one of the same writers that write for Bush.
Lynne
· 1 year ago
I am concerned by the fact both McCain and Palin have tempers. They could be at each other all day long. She does not take suggestions, opinions or open ideas not generated by her staff. I do not care for her tactics on getting rid of people becauce she doesnt feel their support. I dont care for these make believe assertions of hers and McCain about how she cut costs up in Moose Country. The woman put a town in 22million debt by the time she left 6 yrs later. How could anyone want someone with a degree in journalism to run this country. Seriously. Very Seriously. I think McCain could start getting dimensia between now and four yrs from now and to leave this Moose in control of this country scares me no end. I am also tired of them parading that baby on stage. And yes it is Public Relations. Called PR. And she is not going to cut fat from anything in Washington. Just her daughter after she has that kid.Oh and how smart is it to get this kid married at the age of 17. These girls today are not as mature as they were 20 to 30 yrs ago. There are no parents around to teach them common sense, least of all this one.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Amen, sister.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
But..................she is a help to the GOP's desire to win.
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
Your concerns are legitimate.
l. reutzel
· 1 year ago
Has anyone thought about the fact that Palin was willing to put her 17 year old daughter out there, for all the world to see, unmarried and pregnant, for her own political gain? That child was thrown to the wolves, and thank God for the good graces of the dem's, they took the high road on this.
Catrina
· 1 year ago
McCain's choice of Palin is an unfortunate one. I've thought relatively highly of McCain in the past - he has a history of going against traditional republican base to get things done. However, Palin is a rash and poorly thought-out choice - one that I'm guessing McCain regrets as more background information about her comes to light. I used to think that regardless of who was elected this year - McCain or Obama - then they probably can't put our country in a worse situation then our current administration has managed to. But, with Palin on the ticket, this might not be true. Not only is she clearly a poor choice to help lead a large nation of mixed beliefs and racial backgrounds, but this also demonstrates on a national scale that McCain is very capable of rash and poorly thought-out decisions. I'm still waiting for both of them to stop the political bickering and mud-flinging (which I HATE more than anything!!!) and say something impressive and substantial about the important issues.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
I agree with this. I didn't think either one would or could be worse than Bush. But now, I feel McCain could be, with this looney on the VP ticket. I actually do see Obama making substantive policy statements, and talking about the issues. But he has been forced to play the mud-slinging game (to defend himself) because McCain reneged on his promise to run a clean and respectful campaign. Anyone remember him making this promise, more than once? He did. Yet he decided that because he was behind, he had to attack, because attacks work. By and large, the American people are very influenced by negative campaigning. And it has worked. McCain's polling showed it worked, so he's kept doing it. Next time you hear him speak anywhere, good luck actually hearing a substantive policy statement or issue being spoken about. And because of all this, Obama has had to respond and attack himself. That's politics, sure. But just listen closely. Obama will speak about issues and policies, and what he would do. McCain does not.
Brian Dani
· 1 year ago
Choices-McCain's pick of Palin-bad choice? Obama's choices, Rev. Wright, Bill Ares, Tony Resco, and more. This is a pattern of associations that are telling of his character. These are people he is obviously comfortable with. I ask you Obama supporters, would you have these people as your associates or friends? If the answer is yes, you really need help. Denying guilt by association does not work, just by being with a crowd that is causing trouble you are just as guilty because you are condoning the behavior. And exposing your children to this is more troubling. Obama supporters take a careful look at the man, not his great speaking abilities or your hate for Bush.
josh
· 1 year ago
ok brian, consider this palin first in favor for the bridge to no where---then tells everyone she was against it---LIES palin fires the chef when she became governor---half truth---she moved the chef in to a new position--obviously claiming she saved alaska money---misleading she led the american public to believe she sold the plane on e-bay ---misleading she wound up selling it AT A LOSS THRU SOME MIDDLEMAN she does not believe man is responsible for global warming ---now she can accept the idea---WAFFLE she did not take any earmarks as governor----BIG FAT LIE!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT ONLY DOES ALASKA ASK FOR EARMARKS, THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE PER CAPITA STATE IN REQUESTS FOR EARMARKS. she has been a tough negotiator against oil companies---true---but now since the oil companies have to pay the state of alaska fees for drilling in alaska, the rest ot the country is PAYING significantly more for gas----RATHER SHORT SIDED trooper gate---she used the governors office for her own vendetta against her ex-brother-in-law ---ABUSE OF POWER ---how many times is this story going to change--she now admits to being involved to some extent---unreleased e-mails to her husband---WAS TROY ELECTED AS THE ASSISTANT GOVERNOR???? SHE HAS REQUESTED 300 PER DIEM PAYMENTS FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA FOR STAYING AT HOME DURING HER TERM AS GOVERNOR----FISCALLY UNSOUND PRACTICES--I WORK FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL--- she has charged the taxpayers of alaska $43000 approximately for travel for her family---WHAT????????? she travelled to new york (for some type of seminar) with her daughter and spent $700 per night for 3 nights FISCALLY UNSOUND PRACTICE She travelled to foreign countries, giving her knowledge to handle foreign affairs---NOT---HER PLANE LANDED IN IRELAND TO REFUEL ---CLAIMS SHE WAS IN IRAQ----100% FALSE----Her state borders russia--THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US AGAINST A NUCULAR (YES SHE PRONOUNCES NUCLEAR JUST AS WELL AS THE BRILLIANT PRESIDENT) ATTACK FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT NOT ALLOWING ABORTIONS EVEN IN THE CASE OF INCEST OR RAPE----WAKE UP AND GET WITH THE 21ST CENTURY. does not believe in equal rights and equal pay for woman---SAY WHAT???? EXPLAIN THAT ONE
ON AND ON----- this woman has got so much baggage she would need to fly a 747 by herself with no room for anyone else on the plane
LIES, DECEPTION, POOR JUDGEMENT, LITTLE EXPERIENCE----
YES THIS IS THE PERSON THAT WE WANT TO PUT INTO A POSITION AS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT POSITION IN THE WORLD ---- YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING
IF YOU HONESTLY THINK IT IS, THEN YOU ARE ONE OF THE REASONS THIS COUNTRY IS IN THE SHAPE THAT IT CURRENTLY IS---HAVE YOU NOT HAD ENOUGH OF FAILED POLICIES AND GOOD OLE BOY MENTALITY FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS -- DO YOU WANT 4 MORE????
AND OH YES, MS. PALIN WAS LINKED TO A JEWS FOR JESUS JACKA** THAT LEGITIMIZED THE MURDER OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PRAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY GOD---JESUS CHRIST
AND OH YES, MS. PALIN HIRED ONE OF HER FRIENDS ($95,000) TO HANDLE A POSITION IN THE AGRICULTURE ARENA IN ALASKA.
He's as sleazy as they come, double-speaks as needed, and flat outright lies to "get the job done." This piece contains the clip that mocks one of Obama's choices for VP weeks ago, then "reverses" himself on the exact same criteria to praise Palin. Classic Karl Rove, one of the dirtiest, sleaziest people in politics.
This is great, but for those that lack intelligence, the humor & parody will be over your head, so just skip it.
Mel Forrest
· 1 year ago
these are political muck raking and not worth thinking about however Obama had 20 years associations with rev. wright and constant contact with a terrorist as well as a relationship with Farakhan these can not be forgotten nor forgiven
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
Your grandfather is a racist. He was responsible for instilling values in your father. Your father raised you but you decided as you ventured out into this world to reject your father's beliefs.
Now, I just met you but I knew your grandfather and father well. Should I believe that you are racist too?
auntpretty
· 1 year ago
where did you get your information?
Kam51
· 1 year ago
DO you really think that the prez and VP run the country...LOOK at the locals you have put in the senate and congress. they make the FINAL decisions ... what about ALL the advisors... Dont you make decisions and options on WHAT YOU THINK?? that is what they have done.. ALL politicians and advisors are liars..
Alieninthissociety
· 1 year ago
If you work or have worked in a corporation, you can relate to what I'm writing.
In the decision making process, especially when there are huge dollars at stake, the company's existence is at stake, and several people's livelihood are at stake, you must consult with a team, seek advice from experts -- specialists, and gain consensus. A RESPONSIBLE LEADER works in this fashion. Then he (or she), after weighing all the scenarios, makes a decision.
"ALL" are not liars. But when you must appeal to a majority, gain a majority consensus, sometimes you must modify your position and sometimes you must compromise.
There is a difference between a blatant lie and a shift on a position. And as a responsible voter, you must learn to discern them [ Truth, shift, compromise, lie ] and decide what you can live with.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Abacus101: I can't stop laughing... okay, here we go. You said to me: "It just shows even your own that you're not even a praiseworthy democrat." I'm not a democrat, sorry to disappoint you. I'm an independent, who is voting for Obama. This country is in deep, serious trouble, and if McCain is elected, he will NOT reverse the bad shape we're in. We're doomed if things are not begun to be turned around, and quickly. In truth, we may be doomed anyway, particularly if the Greenland ice sheet melts even faster than it already is, or if some of the major ice shelves in the Antarctic do. I know this would come as a surprise to you, as I've no doubt you are unaware, but try looking into the secret Pentagon report that was done in 2002/2003. When it landed on Bush's desk in the Oval Office, he & Cheney quashed it. But bits of it got leaked anyway. Most of the media didn't pursue the story, and it did not coincide with Bush's agenda of invading Iraq. But it's clear what the report said, and that between 2008 & 2015, there will likely be catastrophic global disaster. And we are very likely past the point of no return. But if we're not, at least Obama will do more to address the climate issues than McCain, no question. (Mark my words on this, print this post out and save it for the next 7 years.... then let's see whose head is in the sand, as you say.)
On what you say about Obama: You said "My intention was never to belittle his family" yet you continue to do so, and so I call you a racist, when you said the things you did. Such as this little gem from below: "What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave." I know you don't see it, but it's unbelievable that you spout this crap. Whose definition of "African-American" are you using?? Who said that this term only applies to those who are descendants of slaves in this country? I know of no African-Americans who subscribe to this definition, nor do I know of any white people who do. But then I don't listen and read the rantings of racists or blowhards, as you apparently do. Skinhead? Maybe you are, maybe you aren't. You certainly sound like one, when you say the crap that you do.
You really should seek some psychiatric help, and I mean that in the kindest sense.
Randy Childs
· 1 year ago
I am not convinced that Palin is the best choice yet. I sure hope so. I will say however that as I run my company I do so with the ability to fire someone not working for the betterment of the company. If I new that an employee had actred in an unsafe or dangerous way (Threats) and carried a gun in a job of authority, I would immediatley instruct that persons supervisor to fire that employee. If the supervisor refused to carry out my instructions I would immediatley fire that supervisor. My job is to look out for the welfare of my employees. In Palins job her duty is to look out for her bosses, the citiznes of Alaska.
Mike
· 1 year ago
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . &nb sp;.
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 mon ths.
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 expe rience 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 &nbs p;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 t otally 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 scor ing 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 now here' 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 storie s 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-li fe': 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 def inition!
* 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, e ducation, 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 spendi ng & 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.
Poor Anne, you are pitiful. Has Sarah just beat you out of everything. Reading your article puts Sarah on the world's worst people list. You sound hateful, jealous, and resentful. Me thinks you object too much. You have an agenda my dear. You gave yourself away, no one is all bad.
Hope
· 1 year ago
I agree, Donna. Sounds like sour grapes to me. I think someone feels a little inferior.
If she is so bad then why is she as popular as Anne says on numerous occasions during her rant?
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
Donna & Hope: Palin is not as popular as she or supporters claim. She only won the Governor's race with about 50% of the vote. She's as crooked as Bush, but you are probably completely blinded by her "moral values," which include abusing people, abusing power, and lying. Yeah, I'd sure like my kids to grow up with those values, all right!!
Valerie Kelley
· 1 year ago
Duh! She's obviously popular because she's for big oil, and the menfolk want to fuck her! Grow half a brain, please!
Jim
· 1 year ago
And, Donna, you just played your hand. If you had stayed with the issues involved here you might have come across as credible. Instead you deflect and attack the messenger. Don't know if you are a Karl Rove fan. But, your tactics are Rovian.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
Thank you for speaking out. The media in this country should have half the guts.
Ms Parker
· 1 year ago
Finally someone has "The rest of the story." Kudos to Anne Kilkenny for standing up and letting the world know exactly what this woman is about. The funny thing is that I haven't heard any mention of this letter on any main news channels (CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, etc.). Look forward to the interview with Charles Gibson and hopefully Bill O'Reilly will get some time with her. Wouldn't that be something? Wonder how many of you would say that he has a case of sour grapes?
Jp
· 1 year ago
With your list of half truths here.....there is the sound bitterness about something other than what you consider Palin's lack of accomplishments. Saying the she HATES you for the librarian thing was off the wall. The whole truth was missing there, too. Sounds more like you just hate her.
Valerie Kelley
· 1 year ago
Thank you, Anne. Thank you for having the guts to stand up and tell the truth about an incompetent backstabing witch that we don't need in the White House. I hope she doesn't attack you, but if she does, I would suggest mobilization with the people she's hurt to launch a counterattack. In fact, you all need to make a preemptive strike and go to the big media with all of this. If you all go together, the bitch will go down.
Donna
· 1 year ago
Wow! Laura, that is some real dirt. Wanting to fire the librarian and firing the police chief. Usually a new administration gets rid of the old and brings in the new. The trooper deal isn't a scandal, it is an investigation. What would you do if your trooper brother in law, accosted your nephew and threatened your Dad. I would have done the same, maybe more.
Rachel
· 1 year ago
You know, I keep seeing people trying to dismiss the attempted firing of the librarian as "political turnover." But how is a LIBRARIAN a political appointment? Why on earth does the librarian need to give the mayor "full support in [her] efforts to govern the city of Wasilla"?
Anyone who views a librarian who won't ban books as a political threat should not wield executive power over the entire nation.
Vida
· 1 year ago
Sorry to hear that you would bypass the law. I hope you are in the minority.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
You don't even have a clue as to the real story. Look at the news today. Palin was rebuked 2 times by the judge in the divorce case, for harassing the trooper. THE TROOPER WAS BEING HARASSED, NOT HIS EX-WIFE, gang. Stop believing the lies of your vaunted fake-moral values politicians.
Jim
· 1 year ago
What's at issue here, Donna, is the reason behind Sara Palin's firing of the Wasilla Librarian. The librarian rebuffed Palin's suggestion that some books be banned from the Wasilla Library. About 100 of Wasilla's citizens raised a big stink about that. So, Palin rehired the Librarian. Wasilla at the time had about 5000 population. 600+ voted for her. 400+ voted for her opponent.
Here is a bit more on her history. Perhaps it will give you some food for thought.
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.
jimp94605
· 1 year ago
The real issues are the economy, job, the war, the government spending, loss of jobs, the housing crisis, our crumbling infrastructure, privacy AND THE SUPREME COURT. Honesty and integrity of the hypocritical republican lie machine, Republican "I'll say anything to be elected" approach to politics. McCain’s lack of honesty and “being above reproach” as military officers are expected to be.
I would love for my employer to pay me per-diem to stay at home and work oops I forgot my mileage to get to work..
Brian Dani
· 1 year ago
Ms. McGann, From the manner in which this article is presented, your objective is obvious, you are in search of dung. There are always two sides to any story, there are pluses to minuses, for ever action a reaction. I do hope that you will include the positives that Ms. Palin has accomplished, if not you really can not consider yourself a reporter, you are just a gossip like the majority of the main stream media. This is unfair to Americans and devalues you as a person.
Violet
· 1 year ago
Sarah Palin has NO foreign policy experience, (and sorry, morons, but the P.T.A. is not experience for helping us out of an unnecessary war the Republicans in office now began), is governer of a place that is 1/4 the size of Brooklyn, New York, has been quoted saying that she hasn't really given much thought to the war in Iraq, since she has been dealing with state issues, is anti-abortion, anti-environment (Drilling for oil in our wildlife refuges? She has to be kidding, right?) is pro-abstinence but cannot even keep her unmarried daughter from getting married (And question to all the holy rollers on here: Isn't it against your beliefs, and Sarah Palin's, to have sex out of wedlock? Especially if you are going to try and control the bodies of every female in the country with your laws.) This is worst than the 1950's, folks. Backwards, ignorant, ridiculous, laughable, heinous. And any woman who would go from voting for Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin has got to get their brains checked, and fast. You are just the moronic idiots that McCain THINKS you are. He has NO respect for women, assuming that women are dumb enough to vote for someone just because she has the same body parts.
If you want our country to go to hell, vote Republican come November. And then blame yourselves when you find yourself out of work, living in a country that is laughed at and scorned by every other country, a country in one of the worst recessions and deficits of all time, a country that contributes greatly to global warming (Which Sarah Palin has questioned having anything to do with humans) and a country whose "leaders" should be held accountable for the crimes against humanity they have committed and be tried as the war criminals they will continue to be.
If you are too ignorant and dumb to "get it", educate yourselves or bring our country into a state of hell never seen before. In eight years, our country has become the laughing stock of the world. If McCain and Palin get their hands on us, we will never recover and all but the tiny percentage of the very, very wealthy will be poor, miserable and in the hands and clutches of the wretched and greedy.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Violet, well said. I am with you. McCain is not a Maverick. He and Palin are common Republican hypocrites.
Cary Ryerson
· 1 year ago
BRAVO to you. I have been preaching this VERY thing to EVERYONE. I am a GAY man and I am NOW, because of Bush, a SECOND CLASS CITIZEN. I was born and raised in this country. I worked here, pay taxes here, went to college here and I supported this country every step of the way, even when my "votes didn't count", I always thought, "this is America", we can all overcome our differences for the betterment of ALL, even when the person I voted for didn't get elected. I DID think that until the "Republican Agenda" , with it's "Christian" diplomacy of "values", which means DIVIDE, SEPARATE AND THEN CONQUER CAME TO THE FORE. You are RIGHT, when you say all these people who would vote for McCain and Palin, need to WAKE UP. Today, it's MY RIGHTS that have been "thrown" away because NOW I AM CONSIDERED "ALIENABLE". Listen up folkies, any group who thinks they are "INVULNERALBE" to the "Republican Agenda" is FOOLING themselves. Today it's GAYS who have been DIVIDED, SEPARATED (BUT NOT!!!) AND CONQUERED, tomorrow.....................................who knows?? Maybe it'll be folks with RED HAIR, GREEN EYES or who live on the WEST as opposed to the EAST side of the street? This is AMERICA, a DEMOCRATIC nation where EVERYONE'S voice is SUPPOSED to count, but this country has turned into an ELITIST, CAPITALIST, FASCIST, STATE WHERE THE ONLY GOD (which IS Ironic since the Republicans TOUT their religious background constantly!) IS $$$$$$$$.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
Thank you for the article and keep up the good work as I look foward to your travels to Alaska. The former Mayor Of New York City had a few comments regarding the want-a-be vp as well.
Vida
· 1 year ago
I was shocked that McCain chose Palin as a running mate. It is an insult to all professional women. I have known women like her in my own profession. Women who are not as competent as other women and being good looking and manipulative get "help" from more powerful men to reach their goals. After the men help them, a few years later, the same good looking women stab those men in the back. Yet, Palin is what she is -- a good looking and very successful manipulator who clearly is not competent to fill even a mid-level government job in a large US city. I have a greater problem with McCain. He has lost all self-respect and respect of many people (including me). He is worse than Bush because he is a smart man. He knows he has sold his soul for a chance at the presidency. The close race scares me. If the Republicans win it is just another nail in the dying promise of America -- a country whose citizens are increasingly uneducated and unable to critically analyze what they hear -- so, they want to elect someone they think they can ideintify with. Nevertheless, I continue to believe that America has always had good thinkers and ethical people. I hope the Republicans can find them among their ranks in the future. Presently, if we want to have a future, I sincerely hope that there are enough objective and clear thinking Americans to elect OBAMA AND BIDEN in November.
Signed, A formally good looking woman and nonmanipulative woman who raised two very successful sons as a single mother, and who rose to a very high position in her profession - now retired..
Cary Ryerson
· 1 year ago
Amen to you and your comment. Let us ALL "pray" people in this country USE THEIR HEADS instead come November.
Jim
· 1 year ago
Vida, thank you for realizing the importance of being a critical thinker. This country needs many more women as well as men with the same reasoning skills. We no longer have a fair and balanced main stream media that seriously deals with this country's issues. The coverage is more like the Super Bowl or Miss America Pageant. I think the Democrats will again cast the majority of votes in November, as they did in 2000 and 2004. But, if the Republicans are able to again manipulate the vote count with the electronic voting machines, and, again get away with it, then we the people may be in for a long hard ride. You will understand what happened. As will I and many others that are able to think for themselves. But, those that insist on drinking the right wing coolaid. will be wonder what happened when the fantasy bubble bursts. The Bush credit card comes due. the young are conscripted. Social Security and Medicare are essentially gone. Oh, what the h---. Have a great day and I truly wish the best for what could still be a great nation. And, the good citizens living within it's borders.
He's as sleazy as they come, double-speaks as needed, and flat outright lies to "get the job done." This piece contains the clip that mocks one of Obama's choices for VP weeks ago, then "reverses" himself on the exact same criteria to praise Palin. Classic Karl Rove, one of the dirtiest, sleaziest people in politics.
Emri Mata
· 1 year ago
Give the girl a break - she is the best thing that happened to both the Republicans and the United States in a very long time - and, should, God forbid, anything happen to John McCain during his mandate, she would do us proud as President.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
"The best thing that's happened to.... the United States in a very long time..."??? OMG, we are in such deep doo doo with people out there thinking like this. And then people wonder -- wonder!! -- why this country is so f*cked up, and why our economy is so bad. They think "Oh, it's just the bad luck fairy who's dusted the U.S. with bad-luck dust. It's certainly not George Bush or Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld or the Republican party. No, can't be them that's screwed everything up. Even though they lie and cheat and display extreme callousness over the deaths of our soldiers, they're still moral!" Yeah, right. Those of you who think this, think like this... you need to start taking responsibility for this country having gone down the tubes.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Running the country is not a Fairytale. McCain and Palin did not get it. They are for the old failed politics. Do not let them to become the next losers. We cannot afford electing disastrous politicians in order to provide material for the comedy writers.
John
· 1 year ago
Palin lies. She said Obama authored "not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.”
REALITY: OBAMA PASSED THE MOST SWEEPING REFORMS SINCE WATERGATE IN BOTH THE ILLINOIS AND US SENATES, AMONG OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Obama Helped Pass The 2007 Ethics Reform Law, Which Curbed The Influence Of Lobbyists And Was Described As The “Most Sweeping Since Watergate.”
In the first week of the 110th Congress, Obama joined with Senator Russ Feingold to introduce a “Gold Standard” ethics package. Many of the Obama/Feingold bill’s most important provisions were included in the final ethics reform package passed by the Senate in late January
In September 2007, the Associated Press reported, “Sen. Barack Obama, ... was one of four lawmakers who participated in "the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.” ..a product Of Bipartisan Work [S. 230, 110thCongress; S.1, Became Public Law 109-110-81, 9/14/07; AP, 9/15/07;TheWashington Post, Editorial, 1/21/07]
Obama Passed Illinois State Gift Ban Act “Heralded As the MostSweeping Good-Government Legislation in Decades.” [HB672, 3R P 52-4-1, 5/22/98; PA90-0737, 8/12/98; Chicago Tribune, 8/13/98; Chicago Independent Bulletin, 6/4/98]
Obama and Sen. Dick Lugar (IN) passed Legislation Boosting U.S. Efforts To Keep WMDs And Other Dangerous Weapons Out Of The Hands Of Terrorists. [P.L. 109-472, 1/11/07;House Report 109-706, 9/3/06; S. 2566, 109th Congress; S.1949, 109th Congress; Senate Report 110-40, 3/29/07]
In 2006,Obama and Coburn co-authored a bill to create a “Google-like” database of information on federal spending.. [S. 2590, Passed by Unanimous Consent,9/7/06; Became PL 109-282, 9/26/06]
In 2005, Obama sponsored and passed an amendment ensuring that wounded veterans recovering in military hospitals do not have to pay for theirown meals or phone calls to family members. [S. Amdt. 390, Passed by unanimous consent,4/14/05 to H.R.1268, Signed by the President, 5/11/05, Became PublicLaw No: 109-013; Obama Press Release, 5/11/05]
Obama Proposals Providing Improvements In Health Care For Recovering Soldiers Were Passed Into Law, Including Mental Health Screenings . H.R. 976, [Vote307, H.R. 976, Passed, 68-31, 8/2/07; S. 713, 110th Congress; S. 1271,110th Congress; Obama Press Release, 7/25/07; H.R. 4986, Became PublicLaw No: 110-181, 1/28/08]
Obama Worked With Republicans To Pass Legislation, Which Became Law, Improving And Increasing Services For Homeless Veterans. [S. 3421/P.L. 109-461; S. 1180, 109th Congress; S. 3475, 109thCongress; Obama Press Release, 6/26/06]
Obama Passed Bipartisan Legislation That Expanded Health Care CoverageTo 154,000 Residents, Including 70,000 Children. [93rdGA, SB 130, 3R P 42-13-2; Signed into law 6/30/03, PA 93-0063; ChicagoDaily Herald, 7/2/03; Blagojevich release, 1/9/07; Blagojevich release, 4/13/07; Kaiser family report, 5/07; State Journal-Register,10/29/04]
Obama Passed A Bill Creating $100 Million Earned Income Tax Credit AsA Member Of The Minority Party In The Illinois Senate. [91st GA, HB 3939; 4/14/00, 3R P; 59-0-0; P.A. 91-0700,5/11/00; Chicago Tribune, 4/10/99]
Obama Passed Near-Unanimous Death Penalty Overhaul Package. Obama wasthe chief co-sponsor and voted for bill creating the CapitalPunishment Reform Study Committee Act. The proposal, which wasapproved on a 57-1 vote, [93rd GA, SB 0472; 4/3/03,3R P; 57-1-0; 5/29/03, HA1 SC; 56-3-0; 11/5/03, OAV P; 58-0-0; P.A.93-0605, 11/25/03; Pantagraph, 4/4/03; Associated Press, 4/24/03]
Moshe
· 1 year ago
He is the hope to pull the country out of the mud.
Jp
· 1 year ago
He is the hope to push the country into the mud.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Drill baby drill; they will pierce the planet to death. The next industrial revolution/Boom is going to be green energy, systems the produce and/or use sustainable energy. McCain and Palin want to drill more. They are lunatics that live on another plant. They do not notice what the rest of the world sees. Let’s keep the oil, coal, and gas buried forever. This will result in a better planet for all its inhabitants, not just for the few rich. After Ronald Reagan took office he canceled the green subsidies that Jimmy Carter set off. Danish and Japanese companies bought up the solar and wind energy struggling companies. Today, who are the leaders in winds and solar energy? Japan and Denmark! McCain and Palin will repeat this disaster 1,000 times folds. The result will be industrial and economic tragedy for the US. Imagine US a third worlds country with a giant army and restricted human rights. A dangerous trend that Gorge Bush Started and McCain and Palin will successfully will bring us there.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
While the wind and solar are good ideas they have lain idle not only through Reagan/Bushes term, but also thru Clinton's and his great AL Gore’s. How long and at what cost does it take to bring those things on-line? If the economy is allowed to be further dragged down by the lack of petroleum how will we get thru the transition from one to the other? (wind and solar will still have to have coal and nuke back-ups for decades. Right now isn't T Boone Pickens the only one putting big money behind wind from the private sector? (11 billion) His thing is also to do more with natural gas. He’s a rich oil baron who still has a head on his shoulders yet still at his roots is driven by the thought of making more money. The only reason anything happens in this country and all others is to make money. Big business and big money don't care whether you have a job or whether you are happy. That being a given leaves us at the mercy of also needing ANY transition available also. Oil companies pull out their books and say they are only making 4% after everything, which seems like they’re fudging, I would guess it’s nowhere near the percentile that our fed and state governments are sticking it to us in taxes on oil. If you think that this country (from poor to rich) will forget about our oil while waiting on wind and solar it just won’t happen. Do you think that we would possibly move on to something nearer to 3rd world status while that money making stuff sits in the ground? Our use of oil is decreasing but the world’s use will continue to increase. The prices will fluctuate but never go down drastically unless the world economy collapses (could happen). The American materialistic driven way of life is affected but not destroyed. We all have just like wolves tasted the “red meat” of this materialistic societal living. I’m sorry but I think we may as well drill and get it out of the ground since the transition phase of the planet will now ensue regardless of what this nation does with drilling. But we will stay in this staggered state the longer we wait to begin. If we had taken our oil twenty years ago it would be gone unnoticed, but those days have passed by. If we all just buy carbon credits, and someone plants a few trees with those credits, we can run around in our Suburban’s and fly around in our jets and act like we are making a difference. At that point we would be just as big of a materialistic imposter as those on both sides of the aisle in Washington.
TruthSpeaker
· 1 year ago
There's absolutely no point in drilling more here. It will take (they say) 10 years to bring it online where it might make a difference, but given how much we could get out, it won't (according to the experts). 10 years. We put a man on the moon in less time than that. If this country wants to get off foreign oil in 10 years, we could do it. T. Boone Pickens is one who's putting money into this, so is Richard Bramson. If we had a President who was willing to get behind this (clearly not McCain) we could be off fossil fuels in a decade. Wind, solar, alternative fuels (ethanol, sugar cane, whatever), nuclear. We should not build more nuclear plants, but just maintain the ones in existence. Brazil in the 1970s had the foresight to see the future and oil problems, and made the collective effort to get off fossil fuels for their cars. The result? Today nearly all of their cars run on ethanol (from sugar cane). We could have done this. We didn't. With McCain, we won't. Yeah, Clinton/Gore could have done more -- way more -- while in office, but they were bought and paid for just like the Republicans to not do much in that regard, and to not increase fuel milage for cars. It's going to take leaders who are willing to stand up to the oil and car companies.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
With all the propaganda, deceptions, and lies it is clear the Iraq war was for the OIL. Many LIVES were shuttered. Resources and money were burned in the Mesopotamian desert. These CRIMES continue happening right now. Imagine instead of the war of all this human life, energy, martial, and monetary effort would be used to build solar and wind farm. Calculate how many watts of CLEAN ENERGY could be produced by now. Imagine how many jobs would be created? Deceptive and corrupt “leaders” should be prevented from reaching office. These sleazy politicians want us to think that corruption is the nature and norm in politics. We can changes it and elect leaders that do and believe that the public/planet needs are a priority. McCain supports the Iraq war and selected a comic leader, Palin as his running mate. Do not let them to reach the white house. Obama will be 1000 folds a better choice. He voted against the war.
Jim
· 1 year ago
Please remember that Congress makes the laws. Congress was controlled by the Republican Party from January 1995 to January 2007. That's all but two of Clinton's presidency and 6 of G. Bush's. T. Boone Pickens reminds us that the USA with 4+% of the worlds population and 3% of the worlds oil reserves, uses approximately 25% of the oil. And, we are sending $700,000,000,000.00 overseas each year to buy 70% of the oil we consume. But, for the most part we agree square on. :)
kay
· 1 year ago
John, Me thinks you do not know the difference between authoring (writing and initiating)a bill (which is what has been said about Obama) and either co-authoring or being on a bill as a co-sponser. I watched congress on C-Span daily for a number of years and it is very common for congressmen to ask the actual authors of a bill if they could be added to the bill as a co-sponser or as a co-author (agreeing of course to meet with the actual writer of the bill at least once in conference (sometimes not at all, though they might add a sentence or two. Also, If one is bring groomed for the position of Presidency at a future date, many of the party congressmen will actually put the name of the one being "groomed" so that they can claim a legacy.
Natalie
· 1 year ago
MY REPLY TO THIS COMMENT:
"Choices-McCain's pick of Palin-bad choice? Obama's choices, Rev. Wright, Bill Ares, Tony Resco, and more. This is a pattern of associations that are telling of his character. These are people he is obviously comfortable with. I ask you Obama supporters, would you have these people as your associates or friends? If the answer is yes, you really need help. Denying guilt by association does not work, just by being with a crowd that is causing trouble you are just as guilty because you are condoning the behavior. And exposing your children to this is more troubling. Obama supporters take a careful look at the man, not his great speaking abilities or your hate for Bush."
Firstly, I know someone who knows Bill Ayres and apparently he's a really fun interesting guy. If he wasn't remorseful for what he did there's no way he would have been hired to teach at a university. He is very remorseful for what he did 40 years ago, but my question to you is George W Bush remorseful for the thousands of bombs he has dropped on the Middle East, killing innocent women and children. is he remorseful for sending our young men to die there? Is he remorseful for the people in this country who are dying because they do not have appropriate healthcare?
As for Rev. Wright all the hype about him being a black supremacist is way out of context... I suggest you read his whole speech. By crying God Damn America he wasn't saying we should blow it up, just that we could and should do better. There should be equality and there isn't. As a white woman, I can only imagine what Rev. Wright's generation has gone through in terms of being rejected by a racist society. Rev. wright doesn't hate whites, he even acted as a marriage councellor to the Clintons. Total rubbish.
The bottom line is no one can find dirt on Obama so they need to take his speeches out of context, lie about his lack of accomplishments (why should he have executive experience - I think the fact he has devoted his life to helping the less fortunate has shown exactly what a great humanitarian president he will be) and most importantly, make accusations that he is somehow best friends with a pack of anti American thugs. How dare McCain accuse him of calling Palin a pig in lipstick when we have footage of McCain laughing when someone called Hillary a bitch.
Why are you so worried about who Obama is associated with? I am more worried about who Sarah Palin is. If you want to talk associates how about her husband Todd who was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party until 2002? How about Nazi Sympathizer Pat Buchannan who Sarah Palin reportedly campaigned for? THAT is what you shoudl be afraid of.
Someone was telling me that his sister in law works for Fox News and that they laugh about the fact they twist the news to make all the viewers vote against thier own economic interests. My father used to work for a newspaper, also owned by Murdoch who did the same thing.
So unless you are making over $250 000 a year I suggest you stop buying into such fearmongering and racism and vote for the candidate who will actually make this country a better place. Obama of course.
Jean
· 1 year ago
You started out sensible and then I realized that it was just a quote. Too bad. Blaming the president for the war in the middle east is forgetting how it started. Blaming him for the high cost of health care is - I'm sorry - but it's downright stupid. The Clinton's left that same problem. About the Fox News tidbit ... . "someone says" is not a reliable source. Considering CNN and others....it was not worth mentioning in the first place.
Hoppy
· 1 year ago
Ditto...If Clinton had acted when the Trade center was bombed, or when the embassy was bombed, or even when the USS Cole was bombed, The Twin Towers would still be standing and most like not at war now at all. Even Bin Laden could have been taken care of by Clinton. Clinton emboldened the terrorists by not acting. The whimpy draft dodger he was.
table three
· 1 year ago
Though I am Republican I could not with good conscience vote for Bush in the last election. Once again my party represents nothing of who I am. I've seen and read enough to know that Palin is a good parent but beyond that her history with regards to public service exemplifies an individual who is unusually self serving. It is coming to light that in performing her public duties she may have broken the law - but even if she is found innocent I believe her actions , whether legal or not, reflect one who is not fit for public service. I feel sorry for her in the sense that I really don't believe she understands what the fuss is all about. I pray for this country that we do not put her in the White House. I find myself more and more going back over the history of the JFK administration - "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" , we can be a great country once again - we just need to put the leaders in who truly represent the greatness that our country can be. I said I was republican but in putting my country first my days as a republican are behind me.
ScaredMom
· 1 year ago
I'll tell you what would put our country in "way deep"; an unqualified, dishonest, inexperienced candidate like Sarah Palin in office. Not only do I hope that Palin loses this election right along with McCain, but I am baffled daily by how many Americans are somehow under this woman's spell. She is a right-wing, ridiculously conservative person who is being groomed by the McCain campaign and the republican party to help McCain win! Please, I beg you, look at her actual positions, experience, and what she really stands for. I think you will find that she is not who you want as the president of our country if something happened to McCain. I am a scared mom hoping McCain/Palin lose big in 7 weeks.
RedinMass
· 1 year ago
""I beg you, look at her actual positions, experience, and what she really stands for. I think you will find that she is not who you want as the president of our country""
Change she to he, and you have an accurate statement about Obama. Its funny how democrats can yell about how experience doesn't mater for 15mo. and then decide it does.......
Scared Womens Rights
· 1 year ago
I could not agree more with ScaredMom. The people of America need to WAKE UP! This woman is a puppet that was thrown into this candidacy to do exactly what she seems to somehow be doing, moving the polls in favor of McCain by gaining support from women's rights activists, etc. If you call yourself an activist and you are backing this Palin decision, I think its time to educate yourself. You owe it to your country to read this.....
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:05 AM Subject: Fwd: More on Palin from Wasilla Voter
A note to all by Anne Kilkenny
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
[ This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area, &n bsp; with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the author to be read. ]
Thanks, Anne
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has h er 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< BR>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 pr ofit-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 ou tside 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 unwis e 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 t hat 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.
HOPPY, come ON! I hardly think trying to get her ex brother in law fired who she had been feuding with hardly qualifies HER to weed out crooked politicians. You need to read EVERYTHING, not just what you WANT to read about her to make a sensible, educated decision. To each to their own but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read between the lines and get smart about her first.
mikeylikesit2
· 1 year ago
View slideshow from Anti-Palin rally this Sunday in Anchorage, AK
She still has nearly 80 % approval. Name one congressperson or Governor with better.
Moshe
· 1 year ago
What is truly frightening about Sarah Palin
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Burston, Palin, McCain, Obama
TEL AVIV - It was in the taxicab this morning that it finally struck me about Sarah Palin.
I get it. I get that millions of Americans have a crying need for someone to stand up and say the things that Sarah Palin has been telling them.
I get that many, many Americans are fed up with big government and shame in patriotism and energy dependence and media condescension. I recognize that there are many on the right who are galvanized by a woman addressing the nation in condemnation of gun control and abortions. It's clear that many in the heartland and even on the Blue State coasts have been waiting years to hear someone take a take-no-prisoners verbal lash to Beltway waste and liberal political correctness and, by implication, to cultural pluralism and tree hugging and the very mention of the word Washington. Advertisement
But it wasn't until I got into the taxicab this morning, that I realized what the American voter truly faces this November.
The radio was playing a clip from her ABC News interview, the one in which she was asked about the Bush Doctrine.
The problem was not that she was unacquainted with the doctrine. Millions of Americans are unacquainted with it.
The problem is that Sarah Palin was also asking those millions of Americans to put her first in line for the most important position in humankind.
True, the Bush Doctrine, and the National Security Strategythat contains it, are not a one-sentence, easy to digest credo, and the doctrine is open to many interpretations. Sarah Palin had none of them.
This, despite the doctrine's contribution to the fact that America is at war, and that Governor Palin's own son is at war. This is the doctrine that underpins the policy that has had Americans fighting in Iraq two years longer than America fought World War II. And this is the doctrine which will serve as a guide if there is to be war in Iran.
The problem is that John McCain and Barack Obama and Joe Biden have spent years studying the assumptions and the foundations and the consequences of the Bush Doctrine. Governor Palin has not.
Yet Sarah Palin was proud of having had no hesitations, no reservations, no qualms about accepting John McCain's offer to share the national ticket. It was a matter of ideology with her.
"I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink.
"So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate."
The question about the Bush Doctrine was not a trick. It was not a trivial point designed to make Sarah Palin look bad. It is the summary of a worldview that has guided American foreign and military policy for the seven years since September 11, 2001. It is America's formal explanation for sending Americans into harm's way. It is America's explanation to the world for what America has done.
Even my Israeli cab driver, a non-American through and through, knew more about the Bush Doctrine than Sarah Palin. And that is cause for serious concern.
The cabbie knew, for example, that the doctrine provided for anticipatory self-defense, and pre-emptive strikes to forestall hostile acts even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack.
"This would never have happened in Israel, ever" remarked a journalist friend, referring to the choice of Governor Palin, whose credentials in the realms of foreign policy, statecraft and the military are limited in the extreme.
With irony bordering on the painful, the journalist added, "Sarah Palin has restored my faith in Israel."
Israel is far from a model of good government, wise policymaking and exemplary leaders. But here, at least, voters and the politicians they make it their business to know inside and out, relate to politics not as if it were a spectacular bowl game or a reality show.but for what politics really is, in America and Israel both: a matter of life and death.
What, at root, are Americans looking for when they see Sarah Palin? A reprieve from their disappointment over elected officials? The prospect of cleaning house and overhauling a wasteful and ineffective Federal bureaucracy? Does she have what it takes to protect and rebuild an American slipping from the First World to the Third?
Or is Sarah Palin, in the end, a diversion, a curiosity, that most pressing of contemporary American needs: an entertainer?
We have little time to make a decision. We have heard McCain and Obama on the campaign trail for what seems like forever. And Biden has been a national figure for decades. Sarah Palin has less than 50 days to prove that she has the intelligence, the humility, the learning ability, and the wisdom to assume the burdens of the commander in chief. We have less than 50 days to learn about her.
George Bush, who spoke incessantly about leadership before his election, has had more than seven years to prove himself a leader, and managed to prove conclusively only that he was not.
This is what is truly frightening about Sarah Palin. There is something in the smugness, the faith-based rigidity, the dismissiveness, that suggests that once again, we may have a national leader who knows better how to divide than to rule.
True, for millions of people, Sarah Palin has lanced a cultural boil. They feel anger, betrayal, and a profound alienation from the basic institutions of American life. The American dream is receding from them. She has given voice to the ache in their hearts, and, as such, has lifted their spirits.
Sarah Palin has given a voice to people who, even with an ostensibly fundamentalist Republican president in the White House, feel disenfranchised. It is not their Supreme Court, not their Congress. She has done a service for people unhappy with the America that they see. But that does not qualify her to be president.
Governor Palin has suggested that the special interests and superfluous bureaucrats are scared of her and the reforms she and John McCain intend to undertake. One hopes she's right. But what is certainly scary about Sarah Palin is how little that voters know about her, and in particular, how much she herself recognizes that she needs to learn.
Asked during the interview if she had the ability and the experience to serve as president of the United States, she replied without hesitation, without reservation, without contemplation - and without knowing, on a profound level, what that would, in fact, entail. "I'm ready."
Here is the answer that is truly frightening. It lets us know that the nation may be in danger of electing another leader bearing the most profound of George Bush's shortcomings: blindness to one's own shortcomings.
Blindness, that is, to the breadth and depth and height and shape of what one does not know. Say what you will about Donald Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary knew an unknown unknown when he saw one. Sarah Palin, for whom appearance is understandably significant, has one in her mirror.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
By the time inauguration day comes this woman will be briefed on everything that could effect this country. Mr Obama and Mr Biden as well as Mr McCain are also receiving the same treatment of being brought up to date. That is why Mr Obama has come out very strongly and forceful against Iran. It is also why this Iraq thing, which propelled him into this campaign, is no longer even close to resembling his original position. The pair that have shown, and convinced the majority that they have the unchanging character and drive to lead this country will win. You can dig up all of these little nitpicking things you want about this woman in attempt to assassinate her character, but so far she is the shiniest one of the four. Continual squawking to say the same things over and over will not change a thing. If you have new credible material, then bring it. If you can't, she is going to carry the old man from Arizona to the White House.
Quantum Fusion
· 1 year ago
??If you have new credible material, then bring it.?? I don't think you read the article you posted this reply to. Some one sent me this most apt joke.
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President. The old rancher said, “Well, ya know, Palin is a post turtle.” Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.
The old rancher said, “When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle.”
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. “You know, she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.”
Mayhem4Masses
· 1 year ago
I think the funniest thing about the whole Palin thing, is that some stupid Americans think Vps actually have any power in Washington. The sick sad truth is McCain will be dead before his term is up because he is so damn old, and Palin will be president, and history has shown that a Vp taking office is never a good thing. Especially one that thinks she knows anything about Russia because as she put it “I can see Russia from my house we’re like neighbors.”
I found the websit for the hospital where sarah palin supposedly gave birth to "her" fifth child. There was NO LISTING for a baby named Trig Palin . I 've seen Trig's birthdate listed as April 18th and April 28th. Whatever the actual date, THERE WAS NO LISTING.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Is Trig an alien?
don
· 1 year ago
she can truly make anybodys dick hard if you aren;t dead i think she could probably make a few dead ones stand up. These absoutely fake pictures are as sick as the democratic dumb ass running for president.
abacus101
· 1 year ago
"Democrats to let offshore drilling ban expire" The Democrats have given up.
Thank-you Sarah Palin
boomerpatriot
· 1 year ago
It is news to myself and many others... Did Sarah teach Constitutional law at a university? Has she been in Federal government, or been aware of the other states of the union? Does she know ANYTHING about community service and helping for the good of the people, and environment? Obama selected a very experienced Joe to work with, instead of a self proclaimed oil-drilling maverick.
faisal
· 1 year ago
well what ever people think of her...................................i think she is a really hot woman. what do u think??
josh
· 1 year ago
use your hand, you'll be more satisfied.
JIM1366
· 1 year ago
THIS POST SHOULD BE ON THE WEB SO EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT A PHONY AND A LIAR SHE IS, ALSO A CONIEVING SELF CENTERED
PRETENDER. AFTER SERVING 6 YEARS IN THE MARINES SHE WOULD SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF ME WITH HER HAND ON THE RED BUTTON
PEOPLE DO NOT INVESAGATE THESE PEOPLE THEY JUST SAY THINGS LIKE I8 LIKE HER SHE HAS BALLS, MAYBE BUT NO BRAINS, THIS ELECTION WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IN MY LIF TIME AND A LIAR LIKE HER I WILL NOT SUPPORT. REV JIM USMC
JIM1366
· 1 year ago
FOR MC STUPID TO WIN HE HAS TO TAKE ALL BATTLEGROUND STATES INCLUDING FLORIDA, AS IT STANDS HE IS LOOSING 3 RIGHT NOW AND FLORIDA IS NOT GOING WITH HIM SO FAR IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR MC STUPID TO GET THE NOD. REV JIM
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Obama-hate, and Sarah Palin's War on Terror
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Palin, Israel News, Burston
If you are planning to vote for John McCain because you view him as a man of rare integrity, demonstrated courage, intellectual and political independence, and because you believe him to be more seasoned and more savvy than Barack Obama in the realms of foreign policy, the applications of military force, and such domestic issues as taxation, health care, social security and welfare reform, you can stop reading this right now.
If you have decided to vote for Sarah Palin because you admire her as gutsy and fresh-thinking and an authentic Reagan Republican, and because you identify with her views on abortion, the right to buy and hold arms, and the excesses and interventions of big government, you can stop right here.
This is not going to be a column about issues, nor fitness for high office. And though this is not about racism in the classical sense, it is specifically about the passion and prejudices - race being just one of them - with which some people hate Barack Obama.
Obama-hate is worth a close look not only for what it tells us about political campaigns, but for what it can teach us about America itself, its divisions and the possibility of healing.
This is, as well, about the role Sarah Palin can play in the process. She can, if she chooses, elevate the level of debate on the urgent challenges Americans must face. Or she can say something like this:
"We see America as the greatest force for good in this world," Palin told a fund-raising event in Colorado on Sunday. "Our opponent though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."
"This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America," she said. "We see America as a force of good in this world."
Since taking the national stage a month ago, Sarah Palin has been subjected to an onslaught of invective, dismissal, insult and smear. Now, the debate safely behind her, she has chosen a new means of response: incitement.
Does she really believe that Barack Obama, and by extension, those who support him, do not see America as a force for good in this world?
If she does not, her statement was obscene. If she does, America as a whole is in trouble. And not because she's right.
There are many among her admirers who celebrate her for speaking unvarnished truth, for saying out loud the kinds of things that "you and I" really feel.
The problem is not unvarnished truth, but thinly varnished hatred.
As she proved in her speeches accepting John McCain's and her party's nominations, Governor Palin is a person with acute skills of self-expression. She knows exactly what response - and what bigotry - she will elicit when she denigrates the concept of a "community organizer."
Just as she knows precisely what message she's sending when she states that Barack Obama "is not a man who sees America like you and I see America."
She knows to the letter what flags she's flying when she implies that Obama not only does not love his country but reviles it, even to the point of being a fellow traveler to subversives and potential terror murderers.
Nor is it any accident that she uses the term "terrorists" - unnamed, plural, and in general usage in America, often referring to Islamic radicals - rather than focusing on the one man in question.
Sarah Palin has crossed a line. She could have used her powers of persuasion to advance her ideals. Instead, she has joined those who have chosen to fight Obama with prejudice. In the process, she has widened America's fault lines, equating her coy "you and I" with love of country. Her opponent, then, is the Non-Us, the AntiUs, and, by extension, the Unamerican.
Is this to be the Palin Doctrine - that the Right has a lock on love of country?
In making the Colorado declaration, which she was to repeat twice more that day, she drew a stark distinction between those who love America - her people - and those who love Barack Obama.
In doing so, and in tarring him as a man who consorts with terrorists, she has joined those who have leveraged other lies to extraordinary success, in particular, the lie that Obama is a Muslim.
It was the phenomenal power of the Muslim lie that has lent fuel to all others. The falsehood granted free rein to intolerance. It has successfully disguised racism as patriotism. It has granted false license to irrational suspicion and grotesque stereotyping on the basis of faith.
In short, it has freed people to hate a black man right out loud.
In painting her opponent as a fellow traveler with subversives and terrorists, Palin has joined those who have promulgated bigotry in inciting against Obama, those who say, in clear hints if not in so many words:
1. Vote against Obama because you fear and loathe Muslims
2. Vote against Obama because you fear and loathe Arabs.
3. Vote against Obama because you've had all you can take of affirmative action, immigrants, names which defy pronunciation, pluralism, and bend-over-backwards tolerance.
4. Vote against Obama because liberal Democrats are hypocritical wimps, not real Christians, and, in fact, closet gays - and deserve to be punished.
5. Vote against Obama because the New York media and Hollywood deserve to be exposed and disgraced.
6.Vote against Obama because in this day and age in America, white people get the short end of the stick.
7. Vote against Obama because the one group facing the worst discrimination is the community of believing Christian Republicans.
8. Vote against Obama because blacks hate whites.
9. Vote against Obama because even though Jews once helped blacks, blacks hate Jews.
10. Vote against Obama because the Left hates America. Because liberals are ruining America's core institutions, schools, the military, the economy.
In segregating America into Us and AntiUs, Sarah Palin is asking for the votes of all Americans in order to speak for half of them. The half she believes loves the country. In denying Barack Obama his love of country, she has denied the vision, the values, and the profound patriotism of the remainder. In doing do, she does a disservice to both sides, and to America.
roby
· 1 year ago
I am a strong supporter of Sarah Palin. However as a staunch Catholic I have lately been troubled that her father and her whole family left the Catholic church to which they belong and became Pentecostal. Is this true? Were they, first Catholics? ...If this is not true, all my Catholic friends and I would like to support her but if they deserted the Catholic Church it will be difficult for millions of American Catholics to support someone who is unfaithful to her own Church.
Kenneth Stewart
· 1 year ago
I am a strong support of John McCain and Sara Palin for President of the United States. I have an email that I consider urgent for them see. But the Republican Party email addresses - They answer the emails but don't read them. I am dispersed. Can you help me?
I will send it to you if you like. They need to consider it Please help me!
Moshe
· 1 year ago
Palin as Olmert? Free flights, fancy clothes and life of luxury
By Benjamin L. Hartman, Haaretz reporter
It turns out, the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom isn't just lipstick, its designer lipstick, Manolo Blahnik pumps, and a $2,500 Valentino jacket. That should keep you warm at the Iron Dog snowmachine race.
It emerged this week that with the U.S. in the grip of one of its worst economic crises, the Republican National Committee had the clear and present judgment to run up a reported $150,000 bill to deck out Sarah Palin, the running-mate and rising Republican star who "is just like the rest of us", that is, if the rest of us drop a few thousand dollars at Nieman's on the way to the hockey rink.
As the Huffington Post reported Wednesday, the splurges included a reputed $75,000 shopping spree in a single day at a Nieman Marcus (or "needless markup" as they're widely known) store in "not so sure it's real America still" Minneapolis, as well as $50,000 spent at Saks Fifth Avenue chains in no-longer real America St. Louis and 10th circle of hell New York City.
In retrospect, though her rationale defending her foreign policy credentials was widely lampooned, it could be that Palin can in fact see Russia from Alaska; it would certainly explain how she came to adopt the fashion tastes of a Russian oligarch's wife since she became McCain's running mate.
The revelations have the potential to be infuriating and puzzling to many mainly because they come from the campaign that has played the "elitist" card with reckless abandon, and has made a central issue of their campaign the idealization and ownership of working-class "small-town values", hard-to-pin-down ideals that presumably cannot be found within a hundred miles of a Saks or Nieman's branch. Furthermore, over the last week, said campaign has turned its entire message into the celebration of one Joe the Plumber, an everyman who works with his hands and whose endorsement apparently bears more weight than that of former secretary of state Colin Powell.
From an Israeli-American point of view, Palin's "makeovergate" and the revelations this week that she billed the State of Alaska for thousands of dollars worth of commercial flights for her daughters, and for luxury hotel rooms for a family vacation, bear a certain resemblance to the travails and scandals of our disgraced outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert, a man who came to power suddenly as vice premier, when the septuagenarian former warrior who swooped him into the halls of power fell terminally ill. Ring any bells?
Although the case was later closed, the Rishon Tours affair involved allegations that Olmert used thousands of dollars in state funds to pay for foreign air travel flights for his family. During the investigation, it was alleged that the flights were paid in large part through the funneling of money intended for charity organizations, and by writing off the tickets as official state business, not dissimilar to claims that Palin air-freighted her daughters at the taxpayers expense while governor.
Palin's shopping sprees were legal, but they do display a lack of judgment or consideration for how the acts may be perceived by the public. The fact that both Olmert and Palin seemed to be willing to put their careers or public approval in jeopardy for such petty rewards at a time when they were ostensibly well-off public servants seems reckless at best.
In Palin's case, even if she was just following the advice of campaign handlers with blank checks who wanted to spruce up her image, the fact that she would take part in such a breakneck spend-a-thon at some of America's ritziest stores while the country is on the verge of depression, shows a bewildering level of obliviousness that Olmert could surely understand.
While in office, both Olmert and Palin adopted the standpoint of cheapskate guests at an expensive wedding, or underpaid employees suddenly given an expense account, with the attitude that "hey, if some somebody else is paying for it, why not supersize it? Why not first-class? Who cares who's watching?" Or better yet, like guests who paid for an all-inclusive weekend in Eilat who assume that means not only can they avail themselves of the all-you-can-eat buffet, but they might as well pocket the silverware while they're at it.
The decision is also indicative (again) of the McCain campaign's seeming ignorance of the power of the Internet and the instant fact-checking that has changed the nature of the news and political campaigns forever. Like with the quicksilver vetting process of the Alaska governor, which some say missed "Troopergate" and Palin's pregnant teenage daughter, or the repeated, groundless attacks on Obama that have been easily debunked by anyone with access to Google, Palin's spending sprees show an ignorance of the instant access to information and the 24-hour news cycle, and possibly, in the worst case, an outright contempt for the very public whose values they pander to.
And what I'm wondering is, where did Joe the Plumber get the suit he was wearing on Fox News the other night
Lee Cooper
· 1 year ago
I am not a Palin supporter. However, let's not blame her for McCain's failure to rally his party and the country. Colin Powell said it best. McCain ran too much of a negative campaign and picked the wrong vice-presidential candidate. McCain needs to take responsibility for both decision, and ultimately loosing the presidential election. Palin should go back to Alaska, read up on International Affairs, Belt Way Politics, and resurface in four years with a better track record.
They should also let her keep her $150,000 wardrobe. She deserves it.
chris paul
· 1 year ago
she complained about the "old boys clubs" when running for mayor, only to replace it with another club, she complained about money in politics to shadow other ugly maneuvers like political firings, she's a maverick on different issues than mccain and they clashed because they are "holier-than-thou" on the issues they are mavericky about
DC Tours
· 1 year ago
I think in the end, at least in my neck of the woods, Gov. Palin lost McCain the election. From a former Californian's point of view, it wasn't even the accusations of corruption (though that didn't help) but her policies in regards to social issues. That's actually what led to me changing my vote from McCain to Obama
Washington DC Hotels
· 1 year ago
I have to respectfully disagree with the poster below me. As a transplant to the Washington area from the 'deeper' south, I can tell you that both my relatives at home and many of my more Conservative leaning friends here were spurred into having a real interest in the election and in a McCain victory. They felt like they would finally have a voice in the white house, even if it was from the office next door to the important one.
Respectfully, Jules Guerra
jason
· 11 months ago
israel eats garbage and if you guys out there are christian ,rember when they killed jesus and spit on him.
Guest
· 9 months ago
The user deleted this comment.
Angel
· 1 year ago
This article ultimately says nothing. It should have been saved until all of the "investigations" were completed.
Jean
· 1 year ago
Ditto!! Waste if time even reading it!
Tracy
· 1 year ago
Our country will be in way deep if Obama becomes president. There has to be diversity and Obama just isn't the one to it.....I would be very nervous if he won.
Hoppy
· 1 year ago
I hope Gov. Palin wins the election right along with McCain. Then when she gets to the White House she can fire hundreds of crooked politicians both democrat and Republican! Washington D.C. needs to be cleaned out of all the control freaks who call themselves servants of, for and by the people.
All Comments
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
"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...
PLEASE remove Anne's info from this comment!
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.....
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...
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.
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?
.
Common sense maybe?
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.
here! here!
(the sound of crickets)
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.
Thanks for your story.
Yeah, like THAT will happen.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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"
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.)
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.
link has videos and links
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/4231/184...
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
FIRST the National Enquirer.
THEN the McCain supporting Corporate Media can have it.
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.
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...
The presidential candidates submitted their medical records -- some of their records. Palin should too.
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?!
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.
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.
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 ;-)
Disclaimer: I don't know this blogger from Adam
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/
"Vote Palin: She's not pro-corruption!"
*cringe*
...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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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!
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...
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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...
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.
(Some of us need to look up the definition of Poe's Law, which is just as equally applicable to conservatism as to fundamentalism.)
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?
http://www.gop.mfbiz.com/#/newpalinbidenpoll/45...
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
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
http://allainjulesblog.blogspot.com/
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!!!!!
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?
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
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---
Instead the media will do the vetting for him and it's at his peril and Palin.
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.
I would be interested in knowing if the firing of the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmonds, had anything to do with censorship of books.
I mean, given the importance of resources to the Alaskan economy, how can the situation with her husband NOT be a conflict of interest?
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--------"
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.
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.
She should be on Larry King ASAP
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?!?
What part of CONFLICT OF INTEREST under the law don't you understand?
http://www.palinisntready.com
MIGHT AS WELL ATTEMPT TO APPOINT MORE UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT KNOW MORE THAN MCCAIN. GO FOR IT!!!!!
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
Oh---wait a minute---we're already DOING that...and there's no notification to the parent required----well, how's that working?
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.
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?
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!
"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]"
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?
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.
Do you have a better one?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
so may the best "person" win this election and make this country better thani its been under nit wit bush.
Yes, dear anonymous friend, I pray with you in agreement for God's best for our beloved home.
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.
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...
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?
Frankly, I fail to see the point in having four or five (whichever) kids if you're not going to hang around home enough to enjoy them.
And, oh, by the way, I couldn't care less what your "Bible" says, nor do I believe in any kind of "judgment." So quit trying to force your beliefs onto my body. Pro-choice people are NOT trying to FORCE anyone to have an abortion; we simply allow for the possibility, and try to allow for other options as well. Antiabortions FORCE women to have babies, therefore refusing to respect the beliefs of the women making that choice, as well as any rights or privileges they might have to controlling their own bodies.
I think I'll run on a platform of forcing religious nuts to abort all their pregnancies so we don't have so many of them trying to force everyone to follow their beliefs. THAT is the true opposite position in this matter. If you refuse to respect my beliefs, I have no reason to respect yours.
But it can't be that keeping guard over your kids and beating on them for violations is the way either...
Why are you telling Sarah Palin what to do with her body, by judging her for her wanting to lead our country while mothering 5 kids? And you sound like a true feminist - why are you berating her for working outside the home? Perhaps her husband is going to take primary care of the kids. Little double standard going on there...Beaula??
I am not telling you what to do with YOUR body. In fact, go cut your leg off. And, if you want to, your right arm and a few fingers and your left ear, too. Then pierce the right ear 17 times. Have at it!! But leave that baby alone. Abortion doesn't involve just YOUR body. It is the destruction of a defenseless body - a human being, who is being robbed of the choice whether they should have been conceived or not. YOU have made that choice for them. If you don't want to have a baby don't put yourself in the horizontal position to get that way. It's that plain and simple. It's about so much more than just YOU, Beaula.
No matter how you slice it, dice it, price it, abortion is WRONG. And for me and others like me to stand back and not tell you so and not warn you would be just as wrong. Someone HAS to stand up for the little ones. Jesus spoke about it: Matthew 18:5-7 "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"
Very powerful---and timely--- words. Spoken by the God-Man, Jesus Christ. That's good enough for me,
Believe it now or believe it later. The Truth shall make YOU free.
Having raised two teenage sons, I can tell you without a doubt that if one of my sons asked to be tazed because they wanted to know what it felt like, I would have probably done it too. It's not like Wooten tazered his son as punishment or torture. There was no lasting damage or harm done. It's just something that people like to bring up, because it sounds a lot worse than it is.
All of the testimony against Wooten has come from the Palin/Heath families only after the custody battle was in full swing. Anyone who has ever been through that sort of thing knows that both sides tend to exaggerate or minimize events to suit their purposes.
Bottom line is Governor Palin attempted to do what a regular citizen couldn't do, that the law doesn't allow, and fired her Commissioner of Department of Public Service because of it. She compounded the problem by selecting a replacement that had been reprimanded for sexual harassment in his previous command position.
She said she didn't nothing wrong. She said none of her staff did anything wrong. Then the tape of Baily and the troopers come out and she immediately says he did so without her knowledge or consent. Now why would he do that? Just out of the blue, with no direction decide for himself that he was going to try and get a trooper fired that Palin just so happened to be unhappy with.
Palin is a mean spirited, vindictive, close minded, religious zealot that would be an absolute disaster in the White House.
http://allalaskans.com/emperor
My mother had five of us and worked full time and then some. Really, I am no worse for the wear and all my siblings and I are pretty productive by nature because of it. I think her work ethics wore off on us.
This is a chance of a lifetime for her and for our country. We need her abiltiy to lead the way in our energy crisis away from dependence on a people who love holding their oil over our heads in disgust and hatred, when Sarah has made it quite clear we have a lot of opportunity within our own right. When that baby is a voting, taxpaying, driving adult, and he's paying less than we are for gasoline to cruise with his girlfriend, he will be proud of his mother and what she's done for us; for him.
Also, I don't find the pit bull joke amusing. As a former softball, soccer and baseball coach, umpire and referee, I find parents with "pit bull" attitudes annoying and would much rather they stay home than bring such an attitude to the fields. BTW, I am a female...so let's nip that in the bud.
My ex hubby and I raised four children as divorced parents. Then I was working full time and yet finding time to particiapate in their lives as team mom, coach or whatever they needed. My children are good, productive members of society. I have a daughter that had a child at the age of 16. So I know what Palin is going through. My granddaughter is now 16, an honor student and has ambitions of being a child physchologist. It does take a "village" and our "village" gathered around and helped my daughter. I found a wonderful man and married him about the time my granddaughter was born. I took a part time job rather keeping my full time job so that I could be there for my daughter. I was able to care for the baby when she needed to go to school. We didn't have nannies and babysitters caring for the baby. Yes, we could afford them but felt the child needed family at that tender age.
I don't know from experience the sacrafice it would have taken for Palin to turn down the nomination for VP. However I know what it is like to step down from a job I loved and remove myself from advancements so that I could help my daughter. I do wonder what would have happened "IF" I had stayed at my job. However I don't for a moment regret my decision. How could I ? I have a wonderful granddaughter who is very special and gives us so much joy. I now have four grandchildren and cannot remember life without ANY of them !! I am very blessed.
I don't know what it is like to have a special needs child so I cannot comment on that other than to conjecture. I would imagine the child needs the parents so much more than a normal child....I don't know. I only know that if he were my child I would want to be there 24/7, if it were possible. I respect her decision to have the child rather than abort. It was her decision to make. I would have also respected her decision to abort the child if she had so chosen.
I hope Palin never regrets whatever desicions she makes, now and in the future.
I don't know why this is Sarah's time. I don't know how it all works in the plan. But given the choice between the standing candidates, and their running mates, I'll take the Ol' Man and the Hockey Mom.
Your time was with your daughter. Kudos to you. That was right and good, what you did. But I must ask, do you know how Sarah plans to take care of her family? What kind of role do you think her husband, father and new grandfather, will play? You were divorced, and I don't know what role your daughter's father played in her life. Are you sexist enough to believe that only SHE, as a woman, can orchestrate family life with the children, and that her husband is incapable of doing just that? Tsk, tsk....
Get a sense of humor about the lipstick joke, really B. She didn't mean it literally. She just wanted you to know her determination isn't superficial. It's real; she won't be put off so easily. Pray for her, you know some of what she is going thru, so it should be closer to your heart. I will pray in agreement with you for God's best in healing for our nation.
It goes back to what, I always said, you could go out on the streets and found two candidates better then, what is running in both parties. Just don't think you are going to find the best ones are you will be hunting to you die. There is only one God and he does not want the office. So for the rest of the story, God help US.
Rick
P.S. Thanks for the read material I enjoy it. It will be placed in the proper room of the house.
the ticket of Mccain is still the same
In terms of foreign policy, THAT's the one thing every other candidate is short on.
Now I'm REALLY in love! Can we switch the ticket and have her run for President?
Palin as mayor, BY LAW as your article stated, had the AUTHORITY to fire the police chief in Wasilla...
and likewise, BY LAW, the Public Safety Comissioner serves at the perogative of the Governor so she had the RIGHT to fire him also (which she actually didn't do...just wanted to reasign him...so he quit!)
And you call these "SCANDALS" ????????? Don't make me laugh!
Get back to me when she actually did something illegal.
Oh...and btw...
WHY aren't you in Chicago investigating REAL SCANDALS covering MILLIONS in misappropriated education grants, or sweetheart deals with convicted slumlords, or earmarks for hospitals that give your wife a huge raise???
Yeah, I know...it's Chicago...that's the BIG LEAGUES of scandals...you could get hurt.
Much easier (and a heck more pleasent) to rome around Alaska pestering the small town folk with your
questioning...
Now, along comes Sarah Palin, who indeed has the authority to fire a political appointee for any reason whatever, and suddenly the press wants to hang her from the nearest tree.
You want to see corruption? Investigate the journalism industry.
IT ALL STILL BOILS DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICANS CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE STRUGGLING MIDDLE AMERICA --- THEY ARE OUT TO LINE THEIR POCKETS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR WORKING MIDDLE CLASS. MCCAIN IS JUST GOING TO GIVE US 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH ECONOMICS---GET THEM OUT OF THE WHITEHOUSE AND PUT IN SOMEONE LIKE OBAMA WHO IS AT LEAST MORE CREATIVE AND IS AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
With Obama we will be welcomed again as friends to all.
Palin is very hateful person and she must have her own way or else. That is why most of the Alaskian people call her SARAH BARACUDA.
Detailed information on a candidates past history is a must in an election.
Too bad there is no one in Illinois that is brave enough to put forth the same type of information on Obama.
But the truth is, there are no consequences for criticizing a Republican. But doing the same to a Democrat candidate, especially Obama, will unleash a frenzied hunt for dirt and embarrassing information that would make the Stasi proud.
We still don't know how Barry Obama rose through the Chicago political machine or what he accomplished as a "Community Organizer" or a State legislator. There seems to be a strange, or maybe not so strange in Chicago, lack of a paper trail where ever he goes.
But every facet of Sarah Palin's background, even to her husband's twenty year old DUII, is discovered and splashed across the news media within hours of McCain announcing his choice.
Amazing what can be accomplished if you really try.
And really, if that's the best they can do, puhleeeeease.
Cements my decision.
“Jesus was a Community Organizer, and Pontias Pilate was a Governor.”
"If you want to live in a country run by religion, move to Iran."
That is all.
But it's not religion I want from my country. No matter where I choose to call home, my relationship with Almighty God will remain.
Don't worry, I'm not mad at you. You didn't give me my peace; you will NEVER, EVER be able to take it away.
But help me understand this contradiction: you speak out of one side of your mouth about freedom of speech and about the evils of censorship; and out of the other, you berate me for expressing my beliefs, my feelings. Is it not because I am speaking, but what and Who I am speaking of?
Proverbs 19:3, "The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD."
You can't escape that stirring in your heart. Try to drink it away, smoke it away, or snort it away; but it is still there, that still small voice.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!! I once was lost; but now am found. Twas blind, but now I see..."
PS. I choose to stay here. I like snow.
Maybe there is nothing there. But it would seem like a really good idea to take a look. The only one that has attempted to do so was Stanley Kurtz and there was a well managed attempt to stop him from looking at the records of Obama's time with the Annenberg Challenge.
That doesn't make me think that there is nothing there.
But if there is "nothing" then why keep people from looking?
Now why is it that Sarah Palin won't give an NBC CBS ABC CNN non entertainment interview?
Is there anything of substance behing those glasses?
Let us have a peek inside the head of this mystery from Mayberry.
Corrupt.
Inconsistent.
Small minded.
Full of personal vendettas and agendas.
Unprepared for the job.
Able to deflect the truth with savy grins.
Thinks Iraq war is related to September 11 attack.
She's perfect!
Republican voters voted in a corrupt administration twice which led us to a senseless, endless war, an economic disaster and the possibilities or raping our natural resources yet again.
She will continue the agenda ...
So, unless an extra 10 million people wake up, smell the coffee and start votin for Democrats, we're just stuck in a pretty stinky hole.
We'll writer her into episode #9...
http://www.funwithwarcrimes.com
Also there are others here who dig deeper to get to the truth. They go to the Daily Kos to obtain information. WHAT A JOKE!
The Daily Kos is self described as "Political analysis and other daily rants on the state of the nation." Those of you that take an open reasoning approach to things will get a real laugh at the "Daily Kos" I will warn you that they can be very crude and filthy there. If you're not used to putting up with people spitting out pure garbage and filthy mouthed trash then don't go vistit the Daily Kos.
Interesting. I never find that there and I visit Daily Kos 3-4 times a day...
I do however, find extremely well written diverse points of view that have credible sources and very good references. Course, I'm not afraid of that, nor is that my only read.
Of course...Bush/Cheney/Rove...
do some homework laura and certainly it will make sense?
Z, your 5th grade english teacher called. You're being held back for your dismal use of sentence structure, capital letters, spelling and punctuation.
What "crucial piece of information" is missing? It is quite apparent she did her homework; about 16 years worth
It is predictable that ..............She did her homework as she sized up your coming to this website...............she reeled you in like a fish when you believed her partially true, partially stretched and partially payback driven story.
Now the most reliable thing she said I can fully agree with is: "there are too many kooks out there"
So does that mean I think your a kook? Nope. NOT AT ALL. You're just inquisitively gullible.
Farhenheit 451 all over again? Seriously though, what are the books? Did she ever publish the list? I'm not comfortable in banning literature from libraries. But, maybe there is a logical/defendable reason for certain books. I can't imagine a town with a small population containing over 100+ books that are worthy to be banned. Come to think of it, I can't even think of a single book to ban. Heck, walmart carried the "Scrolls Of the Elder of Zion" or whatever the book was called!
Thank you so much for a very informative e-mail. I am also a stay-at-home mom. I will make it my mission before election time to forward your story to everyone I know, every blog, every journalist...I will get your story out.
When rumors started flying about Sarah...I knew she was a phony...unfortunately, her family is suffering as a consequence.
Thanks again for confirming what my instincts told me all along.
Of Course Obama
I've read somewhere online that Mrs. Palin wanted to fire her local librarian because the librarian categorically refused to ban certain books deemed by Mrs. Palin as "inacceptable" from the library.
This does give you something to think about. -- But, mind you, it's only something I've read somewhere online. I have no proof.
She fits the ugly patterns of dirty politicians. Too bad so many people are taken in by that pretty face!
Censorship is WRONG! Period!
Of Course NOT Obama
It indicts Palin for raising spending by 33% and revenue by 38% and then argues that this was disproportionate because inflation was low. What is not considered is that Wasilla is one of the fastest growing parts of the state. Indeed the author of the nasty comment even admits at the very end that "the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s." Population growth, not Palin's budgeting, led to that growth.
There are always the disgruntled and unhappy, especially in local politics. But if she was truly as unpopular as the note claims, she wouldn't have been re-elected or enjoy the stellar approval Alaskans have given her.
Sarah will get more of this. Voters should see it for what it is.
These days, popularity seems to have less to do with one's propensity to be re-elected than, say, who you might know at Diebold, Inc.
thank you anne kilkenny, you just confirmed what we were already thinking
obama/biden '08!!!
better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president.
better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president.
better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president.
better get to like her, she will most likely be your next vice president.
1. Is she ready for the presidency?
2. Will she act as an early warning radar for brewing problems which means having deep
connections in the government .
3. Do we want her to represent us abroad?
Kathy Shepard
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I knew something sat terribly wrong with me about Sarah Palin, but didn't have facts to put behind my gut feeling. I'm a firm believer in listening to all sides, and planned to listen to all main speeches of the Republican convention, but I had a visceral reaction to Palin that caused me to turn the TV off within five minutes of her speech. I couldn't bear to watch or listen to her. I couldn't explain it at the time ... I'm usually more tolerant than that, even to opposing viewpoints ... but she struck me as so totally SCARY that I felt sick to my stomach.
In contrast to what some others have written here, I find you incredibly articulate and careful to qualify your statements. I have degrees from Stanford and UC Berkeley, am known for my writing and editing ability, and have been a librarian for thirty years, so guess I have some qualification for my evaluation. As a librarian, I must let you know the national listservs for librarianship have latched on to the story of Sarah Palin's alleged attempt at censorship/book banning, and are all abuzz with discussion about it.
I live in a city of 68,000 in California. I've been here as a resident and city employee for nine years now, and have experienced many similar politics to those you describe. I couldn't have put such a clear description on it as you have done, but I recognize it perfectly and therefore find it truly believable. I abhor people of the ilk you describe and have stood up against them myself, risking my job, my reputation, my future. Luckily I've been able to affect some changes for the better by speaking out and enlisting community support, and though I haven't bettered my chances for promotiom or favoritism in the 'good ol' boys network', at least my job is safe and my work allows me to influence people through education (unbiased); what more could I ask?
Again, thank you for speaking out, for taking the time to write what you did, and for risking distribution of it over the Internet. Open dialog and sharing of ideas and information is the most important thing we can do in this election. I admire your contribution tremendously.
That's just because you realized that ....... "she will most likely be your next vice president."
Concerning Levi's and Bristol's upcoming "shotgun" wedding. Before the wedding plans go any further, Levi needs to request a paternity test before he embarks on this farce of a marriage. Do you really think Bristol was only having intercourse with Levi? Does anyone in their right mind believe that this marriage is destined to last? Of course if he does not marry Bristol, I am sure that Ms. Palin would ensure that he ended up on the Sex Offender's Database, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After all, he did engage in sexual intercourse with an underaged female.
I have the utmost respect for Senator McCain's military service. What he went through as a POW, well I can only imagine. However, that was then and this is now. The Republican Party has been taken over by religious zealots intent on establishing a state sponsored religion. Mr. Bush claims to be "born again." However, his actions over the past seven and one-half years indicate that he is little more than a petty vindictive individual willing to use what used to be the world's most formidable military to settle personal goals. His actions have broken our military's spirit and equipment. If we were to pull out of Iraq today, it would be decades before our military is back up to 100%. We had a very real demonstration of how our military strength is perceived when Russia invaded Georgia. If we had not been bogged down in Iraq, does anyone believe that Russia would have pulled such a stunt?
The reign of George II is rapidly coming to an end. I can only hope that the American people will see Ms. Palin for what she really is. A bitter, right wing, socially conservative Tali-Christian intent on bringing her brand of religion into government. She was chosen to shore-up the followers of Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson and the like.
JFR also said: "I abhor people of the ilk you describe" According to Webster "For synonyms of abhor see HATE" ................hence an ABHORRER is a HATER. Now I read that you say you are known for you writing and editing ability so why didn't you just say that so the simple like me could understand it more plainly? YOU HATE SARAH PALIN In all of your writing you are getting nowhere due to your hate.
And go she will----right straight to the White House.
she was in active labor. This was her 5th child and the flights probably totaled
8 + hours. Because she wanted her child born in Alaska she not only put her child's life in
danger, but herself and the crew and passengers of the aircraft, at what cost? Is this the
person we want in charge if something happens to McCain? Not on your life.
Also, a problem I'm having with her is that I find her voice very grating. I have a hard time listening to her. Anyone else find that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_wGvXWfFTY&feat...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JG5Xz5uDcI&feat...
Thanks all for open communication!
In short you are just whining like I might even do yet today or tomorrow, but can you do this?
At the end of the day when Bill Clinton became president, he became my president even though he was lower than my last choice. I still have respect for him today for the office he held. Did I agree with him all of the time. No, but occasionally I did. Regardless whatever he did or said he was still the leader of the free world.
Now GW Bush was my guy. Did I agree with him all of the time. Not nearly enough. In Spite of all of that he is still the leader of the free world.
And further, when Obama or Mcain get the job (and of coarse I want McCain) that person like him or not will be the leader of the free world. Regardless of who he is will you be able to make him your president?
We gather 1% of the facts made available in all political matters and form a conclusion. Anything we that we hear that appeals to us personally we mold into facts and then tout them as such.
LAST REMARK: LOOK FOR ACCURATE VALIDATION NOT JUST PRINTED WORDS
Not so sure about that. A true leader has willing followers. GWB lost the respect of the free world quite some time ago.
As for as I am concerned, my candidate and his running mate returned the "kindness" by flat out refusing to crucify their opponent over her daughter's preganacy. I am the first to admit Dems in the past, as well as Republicans, would have jumped on that "immoral" bandwagon. But not Obama or Biden. And think of how easy that would have been. My gosh she forces schools to teach "abstinence only" and her teenage daughter becomes impregnated! I mean it's ever political comedian's dream come true! I am rpud of their restraint.
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"
Anne Kilkenny
That should work better.
Ha Ha Ha, I made more slashes than you.
Perhaps you mean Lon Chaney, Jr? But, hey, I don't recall him ever wearing a skirt either, even in The Wolfman...
Herbert J. Yates, 111
Likewise, absolutely no evidence exists that she was trying to ban books from the library. June Pinell-Stephens, chair of the Alaska Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, checked and could find nothing indicating that Palin intended to ask the city librarian to withdraw any books. This is the kind of Red Herring created to stink up a candidate, particularly a female candidate of religious convictions. It is an unholy attempt to smear a candidate that seems to have energized a national party ticket. It sure isn't very good journalism. It is MUCKRAKING by someone trying to MUCK THINGS UP.
Hillary Yates.
Actually I'm a card carrying United Auto Worker from Local 2488 with almost 19 years who will have to vote for McCain since all the Dems have to put up is an empty suit that has never ever done anything. You know in all honesty I would have much rather have seen Hillary win the nomination. If she would have gotten in at least she has the integrity and fortitude to take the reins. She at least has the know how through her gut to deal with world powers. And no I wouldn't have voted for her either, but do know what she stands for. And no unlike YOU I would never call her or any politician a whore in a public forum. And if you happen to get your guy to Washington things will change. Sadly if Mr. Obama learns to do anything if elected, it might not be good change, but it will be change. Regardless of all said he will become my president and I will respect him as the leading world power. Oh and one more thing. Get yourself a grade school English book.
"The stories are all suggestive, but facts are hard to come by...
"In December 1996, Emmons told her hometown newspaper, the Frontiersman, that Palin three times asked her ... about possibly removing objectionable books from the library if the need arose.
"Emmons told the Frontiersman she flatly refused to consider any kind of censorship. Emmons, now Mary Ellen Baker, is on vacation from her current job in Fairbanks and did not return e-mail or telephone messages left for her Wednesday.
"... the matter came up for the second time in October 1996, during a City Council meeting ...
"Four days before the exchange at the City Council, Emmons got a letter from Palin asking for her resignation. Similar letters went to police chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton and finance director Duane Dvorak. John Cooper, a fifth director, resigned after Palin eliminated his job overseeing the city museum.
"Palin told the Daily News back then the letters were just a test of loyalty as she took on the mayor’s job, which she’d won from three-term mayor John Stein in a hard-fought election. Stein had hired many of the department heads. Both Emmons and Stambaugh had publicly supported him against Palin.
"Emmons survived the loyalty test and a second one a few months later. She resigned in August 1999, two months before Palin was voted in for a second mayoral term.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?...
---
Obama's "a nada candidate"? And you're a UAW? I doubt that. If you are, you're as dumb as dumb is. Sure why not vote for 4 more years of Bush? Eventually, your UAW job will be shipped overseas, and then you can beg for a minimum wage job cleaning toilets in some two-bit diner somewhere. Is that what you really want? Are you really better off now than you were in 2000? You can't possibly be, as a UAW. You're lying about this, just as the Republicans lie about EVERYTHING. Sarah Palin? H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E. She believes in and preaches abstinence, yet her underage daughter gets pregnant and now will have a shotgun wedding. This would be so amusing, if it wasn't so sad. Where's her parenting skills? Where's her LEADERSHIP as a mother?? Clearly, her skills and leadership are horrendous, given what's happened with her daughter who engaged in (presumably regularly) pre-marital sex. Yeah, Palin's a good Mother, all right! And her abuse of power, and attempts at censorship at the local library? Un-frickin'-believable. We've had 8 years of this crap, how can anyone who's using more than 1% of their brain, really want another 4 with her and McCain??
Your ignorance and lack of knowledge is appalling. Clearly, you are not very educated, nor have you taken it upon yourself to become educated. Your sentence structure is terrible, and I can't even understand what you're trying to say in the 4th sentence. And then your 5th sentence... the coup de grace: Obama is 40% Arab and 10% Black. Really? Are you this frickin' stupid?? Where’d you hear that from, Rush “Drug Addict” Limbaugh or Bill “Adulterer” O’Reilly? If not, whatever drugs you're on, I'd like some of those. And Obama's an empty suit? You know absolutely nothing about him, as all you do is buy hook, line & sinker the Republican party line. You have bought into the character assassination that defines the Republican party -- because they have no ideas and nothing to offer the regular Joe. That’s really sad. Regarding NAFTA: Did you know that all or most of the Republicans were in favor of and supported NAFTA? Did you know that most Democrats were not? Yes, Clinton convinced enough Democrats to join the Republicans so he could get it completed. I never agreed with that myself. But here's another interesting fact I'll bet you DON'T know: NAFTA was *signed* by George H.W. Bush in December of 1992. It was your favorite president's father that brought that bill into fruition. Did you know that? I doubt it. Yes, it still needed each of the 3 country's legislatures to ratify it, which Clinton oversaw for our legislature here. But one cannot blame Clinton entirely for NAFTA. You have to blame Bush Sr. and the Republicans too. Oh yeah, they are big supporters of labor, that's for sure!! And Palin: LOL, "shame on me for my accusations"? At least you made me laugh reading your post. The issue, Dear Brutus, is that Palin sets herself up as a "moralistic" person who preaches abstinence. If she didn't preach abstinence and didn't say "I'm a moral person," then I wouldn't criticize her. But because she does, she deserves the criticism. She failed as a Mother -- in this regard. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial. But more than that, Palin is a hypocrite, and an abuser of power, from her time as a small-town Mayor to her brief time as Governor. Don't believe me? Then start educating yourself on the facts. Lastly: Yes, there is a lot more to life than one's job or how much $ they have. Sorry to hear that where you work may close down. I really don't wish ill will on most people. (Maybe just hypocrites and crooked politicians.) But who do we have to blame for a lot of this? Our elected leaders? We have had a succession of bad presidents since Nixon, no? But who's fault does this ultimately rest with? Us. We the people. Most of this country is dumb and uneducated, so they buy the fear tactics and Nazi propaganda tactics of people like Karl Rove, and then elect the worst president this country has ever had for a 2nd term in 2004. We are to blame, because most Americans don't read, don't study, don’t research the facts. They buy whatever is fed to them without questioning its veracity.
Obama/Biden '08!!
obama/biden '08!
She could alleviate some of the heavy breathing if she agreed to any in-depth interviews, but at this point, all she's going to do is give Charlie Gibson a brief choreographed shot. You can blame Rick Davis for this - the campaign is apparently not comfortable with taking her off the leash in public at this point.
The public should take this into consideration as a presentation of her lack of readiness to assume office.
Immigration is a complicated issue. If you are going to make broad, sweeping statements, you should educate yourself first.
We're spending $10 billion a month in Iraq RIGHT NOW. Believe me, thats hurting us MUCH more than immigrants who work here every day and can't access the job markets that citizens can (which are more desirable anyway).
you must be too
This woman is a viper, a hypocrite, a liar...I'm so ashamed to be sharing a country, let alone a gender, with her. Can you just imagine how the World's leaders will react to her? She wouldn't stand a chance.
Finally has my life been wasted up until this point as you suggest. You know that's why I used the word head scratcher in the last post to describe your kind. Because you think that you have me figured out by reading a few of my posts which I do in part just to get a rise out of you. And I know it works in both directions. And thru it, I do see somewhat what you believe in as well. I'm just not buyin' it. What I do when away from this is not focus my life and future what happens in politics even though it can have an impact on me. I only post at these things in bursts often months apart. In my life however, I'll never waver on things that matter to me. For instance, since I believe that a fetus growing inside of a woman is really a child brought by the Creator, then I will never agree to kill (or tell someone that since it is their body that it would be ok for them to kill it) because of circumstances, what the Creator has brought. While that's not my litmus test at all, it is a very basic test for ME. Many from your party would then label me after making that statement as being in the "Far Right Wing" when in reality I would describe myself as being no where near the FRW in many things.
One heartbeat away.. one very old heartbeat.
This is an obvious partisan hit piece. Both sides are guilty of these tactics.
It's going to be a muddy campaign season
Also, as the hockey-mom she claims to be, what about the tactics of the game? go against the old guard in your party, which everyone knows is corrupt, not to be ethical but simply to kick them out. a pure power strategy. McCain ought to watch his back with such a star shinning so dark behind him.
I'd be skeptical about that 80% approval rating. She followed a governor with a 19% approval rating, and it's easy to please your voters when your state is awash in oil royalties and you can send very person a fat rebate check. She wasn't so popular when she got elected - in fact, she didn't win a majority. She got 48.33% in a 3-way election where the independent got over 9% and the Democrat 41%. Check it here: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06general/data/...
Last observation: common sense and basic morality aren't sufficient to craft intelligent foreign policy or to manage the largest economy in the world. And she and her backers keep saying things that defy common sense - like that bit about her having foreign policy savvy because Alaska is next to Russia. That's like saying because you live next to a hospital you're qualified to do brain surgery.
Where is she now? Why won't she speak with the press, other than ABC, which stinks of the generals Bush would prep and send over to misrepresent the truth.about Iraq
Why doesn't the press go after her? Hold her feet to the fire? Demand answers to the multitude of questions Americans are asking? Could it be that all press that makes any difference in the US is in the republican pocket?
It is infathomable to me that McCain can get away with "hiding" his vice presidential pick from the American public. Why? Is he secretly ashamed of her? And why havn't the American people demanded she come forward with answers in a format like Meet the Press?
Jim
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. S he 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
exp erienced 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.
< br> 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=2 0now, 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.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_anne_k...
Find the truth all by yourself. It's easy. It's fun. It's empowering and illuminating!
The gusher starts with the world's most famous woman. Mark this week as when Omania fizzled out. O stands for Over. There's little to add about Sarah right now except to stand back in awe, and contemplate the blessings of Providence upon America.
This letter of "hers" comes direct from Obama's "Dirty Tricks" team, out to protect "The Brand."
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_anne_k...
Fact-checking: something Republicans don't know anything about. By the way, your little dirty tricks of saying lies repeatedly until they seem true are not going to work this time around. Just out of curiosity, what on earth are 'Republican operations'? What are you people actually doing up there in Alaska that it warrants the word 'operations'? Maybe somebody should get up there and set things straight.
Sarah Palin, touts her service as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. This slide show takes you to the remote town where Palin's political career began.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid9...
This is more of the same, more like the worst parts of Bush than even McCain.
I'm no fan of Joe Biden, but Obama isn't a heartbeat away, and Obama can work with both sides on any issue. This is what you hear from everyone that has worked with him.
Please explain to me why McCain picked a VP candidate with very little experience from the far right fringe instead of a moderate that would actually appeal to people in the middle. The only people excited about Palin are the social conservatives, while McCain did nothing to placate the concerns of moderates and independents.
It was interesting that the Republicans do not let Palin speak on the issues she is most passionate about: religion, pro-life, NRA, the same issues that would be the most divisive with swing voters. I wonder if they can keep that muzzle on her through November.
I hope the honeymoon is over before election day so that people like you can see the light of Sarah Palin for what it is
He voted against filtering pornography on school and library computers and he voted for sex education for kindergarten children through the 5th grade.
Also, in 2001, he voted “present” on a bill to keep pornographic book and video stores and strip clubs from setting up within 1,000 feet of schools and churches.
In February 2004, his wife, Michelle, sent out a fundraising letter (for him), which actually stated her concern over the rise of conservatism in the Country, and that the ‘so-called’ partial-birth abortion was a legitimate medical procedure that should be protected.
Maybe you could explain to all, you being an independent thinker how partial birth abortion is not a cruel procedure, and why it should be protected. Also, why does pornography need to bee allowed on school computers.
Oh, and love your last sentence... "I probably won't put much stock in polls." You say something like this everytime you quote a poll about how McCain is doing so much better now than Obama. You won't get the irony here, but which is it? You believe in polls (since you're constantly quoting them) or you don't (since you then nullify them). Which is it??? lol.
Enough of people making decisions based on long-held rusty positions.
(Those dam Democrats... Those damn Republicans...dirty hippies... dirty capitalists...)
Enough! Can we for once, have an election where we actually discuss THE ISSUES and the related FACTS?
Here's an important emerging issue: the next wave of technology will be ET, Environmental Technology. And if we don't get it together (business and government partnerships like we did to develop IT in the 80s and before) CHINA will leave us in the dust. Yup. If we are to maintain our standard of living (which involves that nasty Lefty word "jobs").
We are in a race RIGHT NOW and most Americans are completely UNAWARE. ("I just wanna keep mah gun and mah hard-earned money" or "Equal rights for gays is the civil rights issue of the new century") WAKE UP PEOPLE!! We will be squabbling about political position until the end of time, but our ECONOMIC FUTURE is getting decided in teh next few years.
Which candidate will move us into this new economy and new technology faster? What ties or limited vision will hold them back? The only role the VP will play in this critical area is who is influencing them and what impact those forces will have on teh President.
Think! Just stop yammering away at useless drivel and think. For the future of your children and grandchildren, think. If you cant get your head around this stuff, talk to someone you know who can. Try to listen only to "news" that speaks to these ACTUAL ISSUES and watch how the candidates react and the actual next steps they propose. (No one can have a comprehensive "plan" yet, too many unknowns.)
Peace be with you.
Abacus101: You said... "Really John Dean 'The Squeeler'?" That is so telling. You're like the gangbangers of some inner city who believe whistleblowing is a "sin" and not to be respected. That it is not moralistic, or the right thing to do. Wow. Everything I've said about you -- personally -- stands. Sorry, it just does. If there's corruption in the government, or White House, why shouldn't someone come forward, particularly when the President was involved in illegal activity as Nixon was. Ah, but I guess you were a Nixon lover, sounds like it, since you like Pat Buchanan, a hypocrite and bigot. That CNN has him as an "analyst" is disgusting. Yeah, Pat Buchanan, the same guy that railed against foreigners in his presidential bids, but drove around in a BMW.... till the press noticed and asked him about this. LOL. Another great line from you, Abacus? "I don't believe what a lot of writers say because they are just making money." So is this your reason, your excuse, for not reading? For not researching to discover truth (political, economic, whatever)? So you what, get your info and "knowledge" from Fox News? Or Rush "Drug Addict" Limbaugh? Or Ann "I'm a Liar and Proud of It" Coulter? (Who ALL lie to MAKE money.) You mention Jack Wheeler, who you reference thus, re: Obama: "His African American blood is zero as he has zero slave heritage. The ten percent is only African." What?? Your ignorance is, once again, appalling. "African American" is the 'label' to describe those who live (and were born) in this country who's original heritage was from Africa. Perhaps this could be worded more eloquently, but "African American" is not a classification for those whose ancestors were slaves in this country. Obama was born in the U.S. His father was from Africa. You really should -- again, for your own good -- become more literate.
PS: In spite of the fact that you allege that I don’t read from your research of me, I do read quite a lot from all points of view from left of center to right of center. I’m known to be quite ambidextrous. (webster 1,2 and 3)
One last thing, though. You said here: "Even though I may sometimes add to the pot of confusion, I don't like to hear either side melt in gossip with facts..." Then why do you do it? Why do you distort the truth and lie? Why do you write lies like Obama is 40% Arab? Since I've been here for a couple days, you are one of the most responsible people posting here for telling lies. So... what you just wrote to me, is indeed, another lie.
I know I promised to wander away from your slanderous rants. Now I am breaking that promise. Since your Savior might be headed for freefall, I knew you needed this because he is 40% Arab. And thank-you.........for calling me "responsible" mr. literate sentence structure guy. You've got a great syntax flow also.
On Obama - He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya . Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively.
What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it.
Let that sink in: Obama is not the descendant of slaves, he is the descendant of slave owners. Thus he makes the perfect Liberal Messiah.
Not my quote, but well put Jackson.
My intention was never to belittle his family you truthtwister not truthspeaker. Ok I finally called you a name although not near so eloquent as the childish ones you continually use on me. My only point then, and is now, that the guy has a tough time being his real self in reality. He even has his followers believing he is much more centrist then he votes or “just sits there counted as present”. Study him further and your African History before you label this and me as some great big liar which you can no more prove wrong than I CHOOSE to further prove right.
Your statement that "she is against all that women are about." is totally wrong. First, you are so dipped in "NOW" BS that you think all woman think like you and have the same values as
yourself. In fact, Palin represents the views of a very large segment of women in our country.
These women, unlike yourself and other NOW gals have realistic values of mohterhood,
abortion, etc. Simply put, Palin is not a liberial. Therefore, you don't consider her a real woman. Palin has achieved all that the liberal left strives for women to work for. She has done it and they are seeing red just because she is not "one of the good ole boys".
' WAKE UP AMERICA ' - IT's McCAIN / PALIN ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE "
1. The claim that she exercised bad judgement in making economic decisions as mayor.
2. The assertion that her tax policies favored corporations over families.
2. The charge that she abused her political power for personal ends
3. The charge that she ever attempted to censor books then attempted to fire the librarian who resisted
4. The claim that she keeps an "enemies list."
These are questions that must not be answered by partisans. The must be addressed by facts.
Are there any real reporters... you know "journalists" out there in partisan land?
I actually do see Obama making substantive policy statements, and talking about the issues. But he has been forced to play the mud-slinging game (to defend himself) because McCain reneged on his promise to run a clean and respectful campaign. Anyone remember him making this promise, more than once? He did. Yet he decided that because he was behind, he had to attack, because attacks work. By and large, the American people are very influenced by negative campaigning. And it has worked. McCain's polling showed it worked, so he's kept doing it. Next time you hear him speak anywhere, good luck actually hearing a substantive policy statement or issue being spoken about. And because of all this, Obama has had to respond and attack himself. That's politics, sure. But just listen closely. Obama will speak about issues and policies, and what he would do. McCain does not.
palin first in favor for the bridge to no where---then tells everyone she was against it---LIES
palin fires the chef when she became governor---half truth---she moved the chef in to a new position--obviously claiming she saved alaska money---misleading
she led the american public to believe she sold the plane on e-bay ---misleading she wound up selling it AT A LOSS THRU SOME MIDDLEMAN
she does not believe man is responsible for global warming ---now she can accept the idea---WAFFLE
she did not take any earmarks as governor----BIG FAT LIE!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT ONLY DOES ALASKA ASK FOR EARMARKS, THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE PER CAPITA STATE IN REQUESTS FOR EARMARKS.
she has been a tough negotiator against oil companies---true---but now since the oil companies have to pay the state of alaska fees for drilling in alaska, the rest ot the country is PAYING significantly more for gas----RATHER SHORT SIDED
trooper gate---she used the governors office for her own vendetta against her ex-brother-in-law ---ABUSE OF POWER ---how many times is this story going to change--she now admits to being involved to some extent---unreleased e-mails to her husband---WAS TROY ELECTED AS THE ASSISTANT GOVERNOR????
SHE HAS REQUESTED 300 PER DIEM PAYMENTS FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA FOR STAYING AT HOME DURING HER TERM AS GOVERNOR----FISCALLY UNSOUND PRACTICES--I WORK FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL---
she has charged the taxpayers of alaska $43000 approximately for travel for her family---WHAT?????????
she travelled to new york (for some type of seminar) with her daughter and spent $700 per night for 3
nights FISCALLY UNSOUND PRACTICE
She travelled to foreign countries, giving her knowledge to handle foreign affairs---NOT---HER PLANE LANDED IN IRELAND TO REFUEL ---CLAIMS SHE WAS IN IRAQ----100% FALSE----Her state borders russia--THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US AGAINST A NUCULAR (YES SHE PRONOUNCES NUCLEAR JUST AS WELL AS THE BRILLIANT PRESIDENT) ATTACK
FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT NOT ALLOWING ABORTIONS EVEN IN THE CASE OF INCEST OR RAPE----WAKE UP AND GET WITH THE 21ST CENTURY.
does not believe in equal rights and equal pay for woman---SAY WHAT???? EXPLAIN THAT ONE
ON AND ON----- this woman has got so much baggage she would need to fly a 747 by herself with no room for anyone else on the plane
LIES, DECEPTION, POOR JUDGEMENT, LITTLE EXPERIENCE----
YES THIS IS THE PERSON THAT WE WANT TO PUT INTO A POSITION AS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT POSITION IN THE WORLD ---- YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING
IF YOU HONESTLY THINK IT IS, THEN YOU ARE ONE OF THE REASONS THIS COUNTRY IS IN THE SHAPE THAT IT CURRENTLY IS---HAVE YOU NOT HAD ENOUGH OF FAILED POLICIES AND GOOD OLE BOY MENTALITY FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS -- DO YOU WANT 4 MORE????
AND OH YES, MS. PALIN WAS LINKED TO A JEWS FOR JESUS JACKA** THAT LEGITIMIZED THE MURDER OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PRAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY GOD---JESUS CHRIST
AND OH YES, MS. PALIN HIRED ONE OF HER FRIENDS ($95,000) TO HANDLE A POSITION IN THE AGRICULTURE ARENA IN ALASKA.
GET MY POINT.........
He's as sleazy as they come, double-speaks as needed, and flat outright lies to "get the job done." This piece contains the clip that mocks one of Obama's choices for VP weeks ago, then "reverses" himself on the exact same criteria to praise Palin. Classic Karl Rove, one of the dirtiest, sleaziest people in politics.
This is great, but for those that lack intelligence, the humor & parody will be over your head, so just skip it.
Now, I just met you but I knew your grandfather and father well. Should I believe that you are racist too?
In the decision making process, especially when there are huge dollars at stake, the company's existence is at stake, and several people's livelihood are at stake, you must consult with a team, seek advice from experts -- specialists, and gain consensus. A RESPONSIBLE LEADER works in this fashion. Then he (or she), after weighing all the scenarios, makes a decision.
"ALL" are not liars. But when you must appeal to a majority, gain a majority consensus, sometimes you must modify your position and sometimes you must compromise.
There is a difference between a blatant lie and a shift on a position. And as a responsible voter, you must learn to discern them [ Truth, shift, compromise, lie ] and decide what you can live with.
On what you say about Obama: You said "My intention was never to belittle his family" yet you continue to do so, and so I call you a racist, when you said the things you did. Such as this little gem from below: "What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave." I know you don't see it, but it's unbelievable that you spout this crap. Whose definition of "African-American" are you using?? Who said that this term only applies to those who are descendants of slaves in this country? I know of no African-Americans who subscribe to this definition, nor do I know of any white people who do. But then I don't listen and read the rantings of racists or blowhards, as you apparently do. Skinhead? Maybe you are, maybe you aren't. You certainly sound like one, when you say the crap that you do.
You really should seek some psychiatric help, and I mean that in the kindest sense.
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 . . &nb sp;.
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 mon ths.
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 expe rience 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 &nbs p;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 t otally 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 scor ing 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 now here' 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 storie s 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-li fe': 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 def inition!
* 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, e ducation, 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 spendi ng & 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
If she is so bad then why is she as popular as Anne says on numerous occasions during her rant?
Anyone who views a librarian who won't ban books as a political threat should not wield executive power over the entire nation.
Here is a bit more on her history. Perhaps it will give you some food for thought.
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.
I would love for my employer to pay me per-diem to stay at home and work oops I forgot my mileage to get to work..
If you want our country to go to hell, vote Republican come November. And then blame yourselves when you find yourself out of work, living in a country that is laughed at and scorned by every other country, a country in one of the worst recessions and deficits of all time, a country that contributes greatly to global warming (Which Sarah Palin has questioned having anything to do with humans) and a country whose "leaders" should be held accountable for the crimes against humanity they have committed and be tried as the war criminals they will continue to be.
If you are too ignorant and dumb to "get it", educate yourselves or bring our country into a state of hell never seen before. In eight years, our country has become the laughing stock of the world. If McCain and Palin get their hands on us, we will never recover and all but the tiny percentage of the very, very wealthy will be poor, miserable and in the hands and clutches of the wretched and greedy.
This is AMERICA, a DEMOCRATIC nation where EVERYONE'S voice is SUPPOSED to count, but this country has turned into an ELITIST, CAPITALIST, FASCIST, STATE WHERE THE ONLY GOD (which IS Ironic since the Republicans TOUT their religious background constantly!) IS $$$$$$$$.
I have known women like her in my own profession. Women who are not as competent as other women and being good looking and manipulative get "help" from more powerful men to reach their goals. After the men help them, a few years later, the same good looking women stab those men in the back. Yet, Palin is what she is -- a good looking and very successful manipulator who clearly is not competent to fill even a mid-level government job in a large US city. I have a greater problem with McCain. He has lost all self-respect and respect of many people (including me). He is worse than Bush because he is a smart man. He knows he has sold his soul for a chance at the presidency. The close race scares me. If the Republicans win it is just another nail in the dying promise of America -- a country whose citizens are increasingly uneducated and unable to critically analyze what they hear -- so, they want to elect someone they think they can ideintify with. Nevertheless, I continue to believe that America has always had good thinkers and ethical people. I hope the Republicans can find them among their ranks in the future. Presently, if we want to have a future, I sincerely hope that there are enough objective and clear thinking Americans to elect OBAMA AND BIDEN in November.
Signed,
A formally good looking woman and nonmanipulative woman who raised two very successful sons as a single mother, and who rose to a very high position in her profession - now retired..
He's as sleazy as they come, double-speaks as needed, and flat outright lies to "get the job done." This piece contains the clip that mocks one of Obama's choices for VP weeks ago, then "reverses" himself on the exact same criteria to praise Palin. Classic Karl Rove, one of the dirtiest, sleaziest people in politics.
REALITY: OBAMA PASSED THE MOST SWEEPING REFORMS SINCE WATERGATE IN BOTH THE ILLINOIS AND US SENATES, AMONG OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Obama Helped Pass The 2007 Ethics Reform Law, Which Curbed The Influence Of Lobbyists And Was Described As The “Most Sweeping Since Watergate.”
In the first week of the 110th Congress, Obama joined with Senator Russ Feingold to introduce a “Gold Standard” ethics package. Many of the Obama/Feingold bill’s most important provisions were included in the final ethics reform package passed by the Senate in late January
In September 2007, the Associated Press reported, “Sen. Barack Obama, ... was one of four lawmakers who participated in "the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.” ..a product Of Bipartisan Work [S. 230, 110thCongress; S.1, Became Public Law 109-110-81, 9/14/07; AP, 9/15/07;TheWashington Post, Editorial, 1/21/07]
Obama Passed Illinois State Gift Ban Act “Heralded As the MostSweeping Good-Government Legislation in Decades.” [HB672, 3R P 52-4-1, 5/22/98; PA90-0737, 8/12/98; Chicago Tribune, 8/13/98; Chicago Independent Bulletin, 6/4/98]
Obama and Sen. Dick Lugar (IN) passed Legislation Boosting U.S. Efforts To Keep WMDs And Other Dangerous Weapons Out Of The Hands Of Terrorists. [P.L. 109-472, 1/11/07;House Report 109-706, 9/3/06; S. 2566, 109th Congress; S.1949, 109th Congress; Senate Report 110-40, 3/29/07]
In 2006,Obama and Coburn co-authored a bill to create a “Google-like” database of information on federal spending.. [S. 2590, Passed by Unanimous Consent,9/7/06; Became PL 109-282, 9/26/06]
In 2005, Obama sponsored and passed an amendment ensuring that wounded veterans recovering in military hospitals do not have to pay for theirown meals or phone calls to family members. [S. Amdt. 390, Passed by unanimous consent,4/14/05 to H.R.1268, Signed by the President, 5/11/05, Became PublicLaw No: 109-013; Obama Press Release, 5/11/05]
Obama Proposals Providing Improvements In Health Care For Recovering Soldiers Were Passed Into Law, Including Mental Health Screenings . H.R. 976, [Vote307, H.R. 976, Passed, 68-31, 8/2/07; S. 713, 110th Congress; S. 1271,110th Congress; Obama Press Release, 7/25/07; H.R. 4986, Became PublicLaw No: 110-181, 1/28/08]
Obama Worked With Republicans To Pass Legislation, Which Became Law, Improving And Increasing Services For Homeless Veterans. [S. 3421/P.L. 109-461; S. 1180, 109th Congress; S. 3475, 109thCongress; Obama Press Release, 6/26/06]
Obama Passed Bipartisan Legislation That Expanded Health Care CoverageTo 154,000 Residents, Including 70,000 Children. [93rdGA, SB 130, 3R P 42-13-2; Signed into law 6/30/03, PA 93-0063; ChicagoDaily Herald, 7/2/03; Blagojevich release, 1/9/07; Blagojevich release, 4/13/07; Kaiser family report, 5/07; State Journal-Register,10/29/04]
Obama Passed A Bill Creating $100 Million Earned Income Tax Credit AsA Member Of The Minority Party In The Illinois Senate. [91st GA, HB 3939; 4/14/00, 3R P; 59-0-0; P.A. 91-0700,5/11/00; Chicago Tribune, 4/10/99]
Obama Passed Near-Unanimous Death Penalty Overhaul Package. Obama wasthe chief co-sponsor and voted for bill creating the CapitalPunishment Reform Study Committee Act. The proposal, which wasapproved on a 57-1 vote, [93rd GA, SB 0472; 4/3/03,3R P; 57-1-0; 5/29/03, HA1 SC; 56-3-0; 11/5/03, OAV P; 58-0-0; P.A.93-0605, 11/25/03; Pantagraph, 4/4/03; Associated Press, 4/24/03]
Mesopotamian desert. These CRIMES continue happening right now. Imagine instead of the war of all this human life, energy, martial, and monetary effort would be used to build solar and wind farm. Calculate how many watts of CLEAN ENERGY could be produced by now. Imagine how many jobs would be created? Deceptive and corrupt “leaders” should be prevented from reaching office. These sleazy politicians want us to think that corruption is the nature and norm in politics. We can changes it and elect leaders that do and believe that the public/planet needs are a priority. McCain supports the Iraq war and selected a comic leader, Palin as his running mate. Do not let them to reach the white house. Obama will be 1000 folds a better choice. He voted against the war.
T. Boone Pickens reminds us that the USA with 4+% of the worlds population and 3% of the worlds oil reserves, uses approximately 25% of the oil. And, we are sending $700,000,000,000.00 overseas each year to buy 70% of the oil we consume.
But, for the most part we agree square on. :)
"Choices-McCain's pick of Palin-bad choice? Obama's choices, Rev. Wright, Bill Ares, Tony Resco, and more. This is a pattern of associations that are telling of his character. These are people he is obviously comfortable with. I ask you Obama supporters, would you have these people as your associates or friends? If the answer is yes, you really need help. Denying guilt by association does not work, just by being with a crowd that is causing trouble you are just as guilty because you are condoning the behavior. And exposing your children to this is more troubling. Obama supporters take a careful look at the man, not his great speaking abilities or your hate for Bush."
Firstly, I know someone who knows Bill Ayres and apparently he's a really fun interesting guy. If he wasn't remorseful for what he did there's no way he would have been hired to teach at a university. He is very remorseful for what he did 40 years ago, but my question to you is George W Bush remorseful for the thousands of bombs he has dropped on the Middle East, killing innocent women and children. is he remorseful for sending our young men to die there? Is he remorseful for the people in this country who are dying because they do not have appropriate healthcare?
As for Rev. Wright all the hype about him being a black supremacist is way out of context... I suggest you read his whole speech. By crying God Damn America he wasn't saying we should blow it up, just that we could and should do better. There should be equality and there isn't. As a white woman, I can only imagine what Rev. Wright's generation has gone through in terms of being rejected by a racist society. Rev. wright doesn't hate whites, he even acted as a marriage councellor to the Clintons. Total rubbish.
The bottom line is no one can find dirt on Obama so they need to take his speeches out of context, lie about his lack of accomplishments (why should he have executive experience - I think the fact he has devoted his life to helping the less fortunate has shown exactly what a great humanitarian president he will be) and most importantly, make accusations that he is somehow best friends with a pack of anti American thugs. How dare McCain accuse him of calling Palin a pig in lipstick when we have footage of McCain laughing when someone called Hillary a bitch.
Why are you so worried about who Obama is associated with? I am more worried about who Sarah Palin is. If you want to talk associates how about her husband Todd who was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party until 2002? How about Nazi Sympathizer Pat Buchannan who Sarah Palin reportedly campaigned for? THAT is what you shoudl be afraid of.
Someone was telling me that his sister in law works for Fox News and that they laugh about the fact they twist the news to make all the viewers vote against thier own economic interests. My father used to work for a newspaper, also owned by Murdoch who did the same thing.
So unless you are making over $250 000 a year I suggest you stop buying into such fearmongering and racism and vote for the candidate who will actually make this country a better place. Obama of course.
Blaming the president for the war in the middle east is forgetting how it started.
Blaming him for the high cost of health care is - I'm sorry - but it's downright stupid.
The Clinton's left that same problem.
About the Fox News tidbit ... . "someone says" is not a reliable source.
Considering CNN and others....it was not worth mentioning in the first place.
Change she to he, and you have an accurate statement about Obama. Its funny how democrats can yell about how experience doesn't mater for 15mo. and then decide it does.......
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:05 AM
Subject: Fwd: More on Palin from Wasilla Voter
A note to all by Anne Kilkenny
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the
last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in
common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
[ This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area,
&n bsp; with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the
author to be read. ]
Thanks,
Anne
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out
there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their
major source of income. Nor has h er 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< BR>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 pr ofit-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 ou tside 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 unwis e 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 t hat 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
go to:
http://bigshow.bigfolio.com/?s=000011662&t=0e6a...
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Burston, Palin, McCain, Obama
TEL AVIV - It was in the taxicab this morning that it finally struck me about Sarah Palin.
I get it. I get that millions of Americans have a crying need for someone to stand up and say the things that Sarah Palin has been telling them.
I get that many, many Americans are fed up with big government and shame in patriotism and energy dependence and media condescension. I recognize that there are many on the right who are galvanized by a woman addressing the nation in condemnation of gun control and abortions. It's clear that many in the heartland and even on the Blue State coasts have been waiting years to hear someone take a take-no-prisoners verbal lash to Beltway waste and liberal political correctness and, by implication, to cultural pluralism and tree hugging and the very mention of the word Washington.
Advertisement
But it wasn't until I got into the taxicab this morning, that I realized what the American voter truly faces this November.
The radio was playing a clip from her ABC News interview, the one in which she was asked about the Bush Doctrine.
The problem was not that she was unacquainted with the doctrine. Millions of Americans are unacquainted with it.
The problem is that Sarah Palin was also asking those millions of Americans to put her first in line for the most important position in humankind.
True, the Bush Doctrine, and the National Security Strategythat contains it, are not a one-sentence, easy to digest credo, and the doctrine is open to many interpretations. Sarah Palin had none of them.
This, despite the doctrine's contribution to the fact that America is at war, and that Governor Palin's own son is at war. This is the doctrine that underpins the policy that has had Americans fighting in Iraq two years longer than America fought World War II. And this is the doctrine which will serve as a guide if there is to be war in Iran.
The problem is that John McCain and Barack Obama and Joe Biden have spent years studying the assumptions and the foundations and the consequences of the Bush Doctrine. Governor Palin has not.
Yet Sarah Palin was proud of having had no hesitations, no reservations, no qualms about accepting John McCain's offer to share the national ticket. It was a matter of ideology with her.
"I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink.
"So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate."
The question about the Bush Doctrine was not a trick. It was not a trivial point designed to make Sarah Palin look bad. It is the summary of a worldview that has guided American foreign and military policy for the seven years since September 11, 2001. It is America's formal explanation for sending Americans into harm's way. It is America's explanation to the world for what America has done.
Even my Israeli cab driver, a non-American through and through, knew more about the Bush Doctrine than Sarah Palin. And that is cause for serious concern.
The cabbie knew, for example, that the doctrine provided for anticipatory self-defense, and pre-emptive strikes to forestall hostile acts even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack.
"This would never have happened in Israel, ever" remarked a journalist friend, referring to the choice of Governor Palin, whose credentials in the realms of foreign policy, statecraft and the military are limited in the extreme.
With irony bordering on the painful, the journalist added, "Sarah Palin has restored my faith in Israel."
Israel is far from a model of good government, wise policymaking and exemplary leaders. But here, at least, voters and the politicians they make it their business to know inside and out, relate to politics not as if it were a spectacular bowl game or a reality show.but for what politics really is, in America and Israel both: a matter of life and death.
What, at root, are Americans looking for when they see Sarah Palin? A reprieve from their disappointment over elected officials? The prospect of cleaning house and overhauling a wasteful and ineffective Federal bureaucracy? Does she have what it takes to protect and rebuild an American slipping from the First World to the Third?
Or is Sarah Palin, in the end, a diversion, a curiosity, that most pressing of contemporary American needs: an entertainer?
We have little time to make a decision. We have heard McCain and Obama on the campaign trail for what seems like forever. And Biden has been a national figure for decades. Sarah Palin has less than 50 days to prove that she has the intelligence, the humility, the learning ability, and the wisdom to assume the burdens of the commander in chief. We have less than 50 days to learn about her.
George Bush, who spoke incessantly about leadership before his election, has had more than seven years to prove himself a leader, and managed to prove conclusively only that he was not.
This is what is truly frightening about Sarah Palin. There is something in the smugness, the faith-based rigidity, the dismissiveness, that suggests that once again, we may have a national leader who knows better how to divide than to rule.
True, for millions of people, Sarah Palin has lanced a cultural boil.
They feel anger, betrayal, and a profound alienation from the basic institutions of American life. The American dream is receding from them. She has given voice to the ache in their hearts, and, as such, has lifted their spirits.
Sarah Palin has given a voice to people who, even with an ostensibly fundamentalist Republican president in the White House, feel disenfranchised. It is not their Supreme Court, not their Congress. She has done a service for people unhappy with the America that they see. But that does not qualify her to be president.
Governor Palin has suggested that the special interests and superfluous bureaucrats are scared of her and the reforms she and John McCain intend to undertake. One hopes she's right. But what is certainly scary about Sarah Palin is how little that voters know about her, and in particular, how much she herself recognizes that she needs to learn.
Asked during the interview if she had the ability and the experience to serve as president of the United States, she replied without hesitation, without reservation, without contemplation - and without knowing, on a profound level, what that would, in fact, entail. "I'm ready."
Here is the answer that is truly frightening. It lets us know that the nation may be in danger of electing another leader bearing the most profound of George Bush's shortcomings: blindness to one's own shortcomings.
Blindness, that is, to the breadth and depth and height and shape of what one does not know. Say what you will about Donald Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary knew an unknown unknown when he saw one. Sarah Palin, for whom appearance is understandably significant, has one in her mirror.
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President. The old rancher said, “Well, ya know, Palin is a post turtle.” Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.
The old rancher said, “When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle.”
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. “You know, she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.”
Political Humor at its Finest
http://www.barackobamasworld.com
The Democrats have given up.
Thank-you Sarah Palin
Did Sarah teach Constitutional law at a university? Has she been in Federal government,
or been aware of the other states of the union?
Does she know ANYTHING about community service and helping for the good of the people,
and environment?
Obama selected a very experienced Joe to work with, instead of a self proclaimed oil-drilling
maverick.
what do u think??
PRETENDER. AFTER SERVING 6 YEARS IN THE MARINES SHE WOULD SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF ME WITH HER HAND ON THE RED BUTTON
PEOPLE DO NOT INVESAGATE THESE PEOPLE THEY JUST SAY THINGS LIKE I8 LIKE HER SHE HAS BALLS, MAYBE BUT NO BRAINS, THIS ELECTION WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IN MY LIF TIME AND A LIAR LIKE HER I WILL NOT SUPPORT.
REV JIM
USMC
REV JIM
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Palin, Israel News, Burston
If you are planning to vote for John McCain because you view him as a man of rare integrity, demonstrated courage, intellectual and political independence, and because you believe him to be more seasoned and more savvy than Barack Obama in the realms of foreign policy, the applications of military force, and such domestic issues as taxation, health care, social security and welfare reform, you can stop reading this right now.
If you have decided to vote for Sarah Palin because you admire her as gutsy and fresh-thinking and an authentic Reagan Republican, and because you identify with her views on abortion, the right to buy and hold arms, and the excesses and interventions of big government, you can stop right here.
This is not going to be a column about issues, nor fitness for high office. And though this is not about racism in the classical sense, it is specifically about the passion and prejudices - race being just one of them - with which some people hate Barack Obama.
Obama-hate is worth a close look not only for what it tells us about political campaigns, but for what it can teach us about America itself, its divisions and the possibility of healing.
This is, as well, about the role Sarah Palin can play in the process. She can, if she chooses, elevate the level of debate on the urgent challenges Americans must face. Or she can say something like this:
"We see America as the greatest force for good in this world," Palin told a fund-raising event in Colorado on Sunday. "Our opponent though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."
"This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America," she said. "We see America as a force of good in this world."
Since taking the national stage a month ago, Sarah Palin has been subjected to an onslaught of invective, dismissal, insult and smear. Now, the debate safely behind her, she has chosen a new means of response: incitement.
Does she really believe that Barack Obama, and by extension, those who support him, do not see America as a force for good in this world?
If she does not, her statement was obscene. If she does, America as a whole is in trouble. And not because she's right.
There are many among her admirers who celebrate her for speaking unvarnished truth, for saying out loud the kinds of things that "you and I" really feel.
The problem is not unvarnished truth, but thinly varnished hatred.
As she proved in her speeches accepting John McCain's and her party's nominations, Governor Palin is a person with acute skills of self-expression. She knows exactly what response - and what bigotry - she will elicit when she denigrates the concept of a "community organizer."
Just as she knows precisely what message she's sending when she states that Barack Obama "is not a man who sees America like you and I see America."
She knows to the letter what flags she's flying when she implies that Obama not only does not love his country but reviles it, even to the point of being a fellow traveler to subversives and potential terror murderers.
Nor is it any accident that she uses the term "terrorists" - unnamed, plural, and in general usage in America, often referring to Islamic radicals - rather than focusing on the one man in question.
Sarah Palin has crossed a line. She could have used her powers of persuasion to advance her ideals. Instead, she has joined those who have chosen to fight Obama with prejudice. In the process, she has widened America's fault lines, equating her coy "you and I" with love of country. Her opponent, then, is the Non-Us, the AntiUs, and, by extension, the Unamerican.
Is this to be the Palin Doctrine - that the Right has a lock on love of country?
In making the Colorado declaration, which she was to repeat twice more that day, she drew a stark distinction between those who love America - her people - and those who love Barack Obama.
In doing so, and in tarring him as a man who consorts with terrorists, she has joined those who have leveraged other lies to extraordinary success, in particular, the lie that Obama is a Muslim.
It was the phenomenal power of the Muslim lie that has lent fuel to all others. The falsehood granted free rein to intolerance. It has successfully disguised racism as patriotism. It has granted false license to irrational suspicion and grotesque stereotyping on the basis of faith.
In short, it has freed people to hate a black man right out loud.
In painting her opponent as a fellow traveler with subversives and terrorists, Palin has joined those who have promulgated bigotry in inciting against Obama, those who say, in clear hints if not in so many words:
1. Vote against Obama because you fear and loathe Muslims
2. Vote against Obama because you fear and loathe Arabs.
3. Vote against Obama because you've had all you can take of affirmative action, immigrants, names which defy pronunciation, pluralism, and bend-over-backwards tolerance.
4. Vote against Obama because liberal Democrats are hypocritical wimps, not real Christians, and, in fact, closet gays - and deserve to be punished.
5. Vote against Obama because the New York media and Hollywood deserve to be exposed and disgraced.
6.Vote against Obama because in this day and age in America, white people get the short end of the stick.
7. Vote against Obama because the one group facing the worst discrimination is the community of believing Christian Republicans.
8. Vote against Obama because blacks hate whites.
9. Vote against Obama because even though Jews once helped blacks, blacks hate Jews.
10. Vote against Obama because the Left hates America. Because liberals are ruining America's core institutions, schools, the military, the economy.
In segregating America into Us and AntiUs, Sarah Palin is asking for the votes of all Americans in order to speak for half of them. The half she believes loves the country. In denying Barack Obama his love of country, she has denied the vision, the values, and the profound patriotism of the remainder. In doing do, she does a disservice to both sides, and to America.
but don't read them. I am dispersed. Can you help me?
I will send it to you if you like. They need to consider it Please help me!
By Benjamin L. Hartman, Haaretz reporter
It turns out, the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom isn't just lipstick, its designer lipstick, Manolo Blahnik pumps, and a $2,500 Valentino jacket. That should keep you warm at the Iron Dog snowmachine race.
It emerged this week that with the U.S. in the grip of one of its worst economic crises, the Republican National Committee had the clear and present judgment to run up a reported $150,000 bill to deck out Sarah Palin, the running-mate and rising Republican star who "is just like the rest of us", that is, if the rest of us drop a few thousand dollars at Nieman's on the way to the hockey rink.
As the Huffington Post reported Wednesday, the splurges included a reputed $75,000 shopping spree in a single day at a Nieman Marcus (or "needless markup" as they're widely known) store in "not so sure it's real America still" Minneapolis, as well as $50,000 spent at Saks Fifth Avenue chains in no-longer real America St. Louis and 10th circle of hell New York City.
In retrospect, though her rationale defending her foreign policy credentials was widely lampooned, it could be that Palin can in fact see Russia from Alaska; it would certainly explain how she came to adopt the fashion tastes of a Russian oligarch's wife since she became McCain's running mate.
The revelations have the potential to be infuriating and puzzling to many mainly because they come from the campaign that has played the "elitist" card with reckless abandon, and has made a central issue of their campaign the idealization and ownership of working-class "small-town values", hard-to-pin-down ideals that presumably cannot be found within a hundred miles of a Saks or Nieman's branch. Furthermore, over the last week, said campaign has turned its entire message into the celebration of one Joe the Plumber, an everyman who works with his hands and whose endorsement apparently bears more weight than that of former secretary of state Colin Powell.
From an Israeli-American point of view, Palin's "makeovergate" and the revelations this week that she billed the State of Alaska for thousands of dollars worth of commercial flights for her daughters, and for luxury hotel rooms for a family vacation, bear a certain resemblance to the travails and scandals of our disgraced outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert, a man who came to power suddenly as vice premier, when the septuagenarian former warrior who swooped him into the halls of power fell terminally ill. Ring any bells?
Although the case was later closed, the Rishon Tours affair involved allegations that Olmert used thousands of dollars in state funds to pay for foreign air travel flights for his family. During the investigation, it was alleged that the flights were paid in large part through the funneling of money intended for charity organizations, and by writing off the tickets as official state business, not dissimilar to claims that Palin air-freighted her daughters at the taxpayers expense while governor.
Palin's shopping sprees were legal, but they do display a lack of judgment or consideration for how the acts may be perceived by the public. The fact that both Olmert and Palin seemed to be willing to put their careers or public approval in jeopardy for such petty rewards at a time when they were ostensibly well-off public servants seems reckless at best.
In Palin's case, even if she was just following the advice of campaign handlers with blank checks who wanted to spruce up her image, the fact that she would take part in such a breakneck spend-a-thon at some of America's ritziest stores while the country is on the verge of depression, shows a bewildering level of obliviousness that Olmert could surely understand.
While in office, both Olmert and Palin adopted the standpoint of cheapskate guests at an expensive wedding, or underpaid employees suddenly given an expense account, with the attitude that "hey, if some somebody else is paying for it, why not supersize it? Why not first-class? Who cares who's watching?" Or better yet, like guests who paid for an all-inclusive weekend in Eilat who assume that means not only can they avail themselves of the all-you-can-eat buffet, but they might as well pocket the silverware while they're at it.
The decision is also indicative (again) of the McCain campaign's seeming ignorance of the power of the Internet and the instant fact-checking that has changed the nature of the news and political campaigns forever. Like with the quicksilver vetting process of the Alaska governor, which some say missed "Troopergate" and Palin's pregnant teenage daughter, or the repeated, groundless attacks on Obama that have been easily debunked by anyone with access to Google, Palin's spending sprees show an ignorance of the instant access to information and the 24-hour news cycle, and possibly, in the worst case, an outright contempt for the very public whose values they pander to.
And what I'm wondering is, where did Joe the Plumber get the suit he was wearing on Fox News the other night
They should also let her keep her $150,000 wardrobe. She deserves it.
Respectfully,
Jules Guerra