Sep 3, 2008 1:48pm

McCain-Palin All in the Family on the Tarmac

ABC News’s Bret Hovell reports: John McCain has arrived in the twins cities in advance of his nomination as the Republican Party’s candidate for president.

McCain, who flew in from Cleveland Wednesday afternoon, was greeted on the tarmac by his family and the family of his Vice Presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

McCain hugged wife Cindy and daughters Meghan and Bridget before sharing an awkward half-handshake, half-hug with his son Jack, a midshipman at the Naval Academy.

All seven of McCain’s kids were there, including daughter Sidney, and sons Jimmy, Doug and Andy.

He then greeted Palin and her husband Todd, and their five children. Palin’s 17 year old daughter, Bristol, was with her boyfriend Levi Johnston. McCain chatted for nearly a minute with the couple, who are engaged to be married and expecting a child.

McCain and his entourage departed in a motorcade numbering nearly 30 cars.

User Comments

I can’t wait for Obama to be president so I can quit my job and get free things! Free health insurance! No taxes ’cause I’ll have no income above poverty! Hey, no incentive to work feels great – thanks Mr. O!

Posted by: greg | September 3, 2008, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm

What? No fistbumps? How unAmerican is that.

Posted by: geevill | September 3, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

Hey Bret – let’s keep the families out of this, shall we?

Posted by: Deep Release | September 3, 2008, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

I can’t wait for Obama to be president so I can quit my job and get free things! We should all quit because the Big O will provide for us (hey, “fair” is “fair”) with his campaign money-making prowess. Sovereign Wealth Funds can buy American and provide for us! Social Security problem solved!
I had no incentive to work before but with O, I can actually live it!

Posted by: greg | September 3, 2008, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

did anyone get to ask ehr a question while she was there?
that would be nice
something outside of a speech someone else wrote.

Posted by: dl | September 3, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

So the Christian right has no problems with two unmarried folks carrying on a sexual relationship together huh? And what about the fact that the girl is underage and the boy isn’t? When did the Bible rules change? Does Lynn Spears now get a pass? Bloody hypocrites!

Posted by: Kevin | September 3, 2008, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm

greg,
I am waiting for my $1000 bucks since I got $0 from the stimulus package that your poor, less-educated bitter people received a few months ago.

Posted by: d0 | September 3, 2008, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

Kevin — you have no stones to throw, hypocrite!
a sitting Dem president with an affair in the white house.
A Dem candidate who had an affair while his wife had cancer.
A Dem prez nominee with a history of drug use.
And Lord knows what scandals the Kennedy’s have had.
STOP judging others where your Dem closet is piling up unethical skeletons by the minute.

Posted by: decentAmerican | September 3, 2008, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm

REPUBLICAN SHOT GUN WEDDING?
On the father-to-be, Levi Johnston: “On his MySpace page, he calls himself a ‘redneck’ who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes… But mostly loves hockey,”
ABC’s Lisa Fletcher reports. “He’s in a relationship but quote, “doesn’t want kids.”
Personal revelations on a Website page that has now been taken down.”
Palin the gift that keeps on giving!!!!

Posted by: Davis | September 3, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm

LOOKS LIKE DISFUNCTION JUNCTION TO ME

Posted by: face value | September 3, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

Its funny, Mccain complains of media not covering him, Now he is given the Obama’s treatment but ironically, he no longer wants the media coverage. HAAAAHHaahahha. This election is like a Springer stuff. The news keep on getting better.

Posted by: vuzous | September 3, 2008, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm

When Dems attack Palin, Reps will turns their own words against Obama, because they are perfectly apllied to “empty suit” Obama…
It is Rep’s strategy to keep public to focus on comparison of Palin and Obama personally: If Obama claimed he is ready, why not Palin?

Posted by: S.O.S | September 3, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm

I’ll take looking at the Obamas & Bidens representing Me and America over this crap shoot any day.

Posted by: conservative American | September 3, 2008, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

If I was a Republican I would be beating my head against the wall!!!
None of you Republican trolls here can deny that McDummy’s poor pick of Palin for VP has thrown your whole campaign off message and stopped your attack!!!
You dummies will spend every waking minute left in this campaign defending McCain’s poor choice of VP and his horrible JUDGMENT!!!
In fact that is the NEW theme of the Obama campaign – JUDGMENT!!
Thank you John McCain!!!

Posted by: Davis | September 3, 2008, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

The difference is Democrats are not making Moral as their signiture banner. Republicans are. If you say something and does the other way, that make you hypocrite.

Posted by: ROME | September 3, 2008, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm

So now we see the children that John McCain abandon from his first marriage.. Where is Carol McCain, John’s first wife that he divorce in order to marry his mistress Cindy Hensley?
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/mccain-lied-about-his-divorce-and-remarriage-

Posted by: joe | September 3, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

Its just a speech that she is giving.. nothing more…
I am sick that the Obama campaign said it would be a speech that will have the convention standing on its feet….
Its a speech and nothing more, does not change the fact that she is corrupt and unqualified.
So go ahead ABC and all other news media… and applaud her and gush all over her…. she still is nothing.
McCain a maverick? nope just a moron.

Posted by: l | September 3, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

Davis,
Yuor post tells us McCain supporters that liberals are peeing their pants in fear over the Palin selection.

Posted by: geevill | September 3, 2008, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm

Trig is Bristol’s son by Todd. Palin faked her pregnancy.

Posted by: jrysk | September 3, 2008, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm

Obama had a good judgment to dance with Chicago Political fixer for 17 years and sit in the most racist church for 20 year..
He picked Biden as his VP because he has no idea how to deal with international affairs – just like Junior Bush picked Senior Cheney….
Obama has no little sensible judgment so far…

Posted by: S.O.S | September 3, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm

Geevill,
The RNC is out trying to HIRE “people of color” off the streets of St. Paul right now!!
If you are HOMELESS and a person of color the Republicans are finally going to give you a job!!!
After last nights display of a 99% Lilly White crowd of fat, bald and rich looking white people attending their convention, they need an IMAGE CHANGE in a HURRY!!!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Davis | September 3, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm

I’ve changed to McCain/Palin. I can’t stand the childish Obama bloggers any longer. What a bunch of losers!

Posted by: dl | September 3, 2008, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

The difference is Democrats are not making Moral as their signiture banner.
Posted by: ROME | Sep 3, 2008

You moron. Speak for yourself about your immorality. Democrats are as moral as anyone else. Zero-bama, on the hand hand, is a different story. He sold his fellow democrats as racists, equating the Clinton administration as that of Bush’s; that is immoral.

Posted by: d0 | September 3, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

Head of the Alaska Independence Party from 1995 – 2002 on the Palin pick.
“I just wanted to let you know … Sarah Palin who McCain just picked as the next vice president is one of the most honest people I have known. I have known her for over 15 years, been in her house and have had numerous conversations with her, in person, on the phone both for personal issues as well as political issues.
“She is an excellent choice and this might have even saved McCain from going down in history as a loser in the presidential race. Sarah is one elected official that I can’t say anything negative about. And after 15 years of knowing her if there was something that was bad I would have known it.
“This lady has contacted me personally to get help discovering how one of her co workers was abusing his state office because she didn’t believe she could trust the states department of law. The guy later copped a plea, paid a hefty fine and lost his state job but this was after she quit her 2000 / week job and was forced to go public to expose his corruption. By the way he was/is the chairman of the state republican party “She is VERY approachable which is going to make the insiders and secret service crazy.”Wanted to let you know.”
Mark Chryson
Wasilla, Alaska

Posted by: blakec | September 3, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm

Davis,
The GOP is not wasting their time on those voting 98% for Obama. Meanwhile voter fraud has been discovered in Wisconsin with Obama supporting Acorn people.

Posted by: geevill | September 3, 2008, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm

love when people try to use my name…
lol
Palin …Alaskan for “one big drama”

Posted by: dl | September 3, 2008, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm

the worst jedgment of President in the history of our nation…picking this massive gravitational center for drama for VP
throwing the Nation’s welfare under the bus for an election gimmick.

Posted by: dl | September 3, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

It is not exactly a shotgun wedding. Levi was given a choice. Marry Bristol or go quail hunting with Cheney.

Posted by: Joel | September 3, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

“…And what about the fact that the girl is underage and the boy isn’t?”
The girl isn’t underage. Sixteen is the age of consent in Alaska.

Posted by: bobbiewick | September 3, 2008, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm

Obama’s people (and probably him as well) would much rather practice abortion as a remedy for out of wedlock children rather that assuming the responsibility of raising it even though Obama himself was the illegitimate child of a bigamist.

Posted by: dl | September 3, 2008, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

“dl” is a name? I thought it stood for Obama’s favorite hobby. “as in on the..”

Posted by: geevill | September 3, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

When someone is engaged to another, one refers to that person as their “fiancee”, not “boyfriend”.

Posted by: Kate | September 3, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm

Davis, what does race have anything to do w/this again? It’s liberals in the DNC and conservative in the RNC… and?
why does anyone have to change their image when people have a choice to live their lives the way they see fit? Hate it when we have to be politically correct about something. Is that what the Democratic party is all about? a facade? Just an outer image?

Posted by: K | September 3, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm

dO states: “Democrats are as moral as anyone else. Zero-bama, on the hand hand, is a different story. He sold his fellow democrats as racists, equating the Clinton administration as that of Bush’s; that is immoral.” … Hmmmmm, you know, that’s a great point. Never thought about that until you’ve pointed it out. Seriously!!
I would however, disagree w/you on something… re: moral. I would say that moderate and sensible democrats are as moral. Extreme anything is always nuts.

Posted by: K | September 3, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you see BEN STEIN on CNN just now?
He was laying into Palin like NO Democrat has done so far!!!!!!!!!
Look for this “tie-raid” to be all over the Internet this afternoon!!!
BEN STEIN, STAUNCH REPUBLICAN RIPS PALIN ON HER LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND SAYS “NO WAY IS SHE READY TO BE VP!!”
Thank god at least one top Republican is willing to tell the truth, instead of just spouting the Republican talking points about her, like they are reading from a script!!!!
He said Henry Kissinger should be her “babysitter” teaching her about national politics and foriegn policy, from now until the Election!!!!!!!!
Wooo Hooo!!!!

Posted by: Davis | September 3, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm

Huh. I thought right wing Christians thought no one has a right to privacy? All of a sudden we’re supposed to respect this family’s right to privacy? Wha?
The poor girl’s mother doesn’t believe in sex education or contraception, and what do you know, the obvious happens. (Palin does believe women have every right to die giving birth to some rapist’s child, though – glad she’s not my mom.) She also believes it’s in her teenaged daughter’s best interest to give birth to a baby (or, as rumor has it, baby number 2 before the age of 18), and force her to marry some high school twit, and the child – that would be Palin’s daughter – has no choice in the matter. Pregnancy as punishment!
Republicans who think these are good family values are the laughing stocks of the free world right now, never mind what this mess says about McCain’s intelligence.
Free our daughters and our selves from the clutches of these idiots…
Obama/Biden ’08!

Posted by: Cathy | September 3, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm

What a lovely moment.

Posted by: DMR | September 3, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm

blakec @Sep 3, 2008 2:36:41 PM, great read… thx!

Posted by: Austin | September 3, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm

Cathy, you sound too angry… have you been out in Minnesota breaking the laws w/your anarchist friends as of late?
No one is stopping you from from how you teach your daughter. Now go sign up for meditation somewhere will you?

Posted by: Aurora | September 3, 2008, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm

Okay, I agree that the attacks on Palin has been disgusting. But lets not be so crazy norbert. We get your point, but that’s just disgusting to even imagine.

Posted by: Aurora | September 3, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm

Cathy, I bet you didn’t think Bill Clinton was a “laughing stock of the free world right now”.
“… never mind what this mess says about McCain’s intelligence”… I’ll tell you what it says. The women will be envious that we get to live the life we do, to be called upon to run for a high office. People around the world truly does have more on their mind than we do. Further, their 17 y.o women will put ours to shame for how grown up and how much life they’ve experienced. Their wit and street smart blows our women of 17 years of age out of the water. We truly do shelter our children too much. I believe in children should be children, but they need to be strong and independent too. And 17 is really not being a child any more… they are young adults, so let them be. Be their to guide them once they’ve made their decision. Your quick judgement assumes Palin’s daughter was forced into keeping the baby. That’s a big assumption, knowing that the press or you know much about Palin’s personal life. But I guess coming from a person who believes that Palin’s youngest belonged to her daughter, I should’t even bother explaining life issues to you… as you may not be able to grasp it.

Posted by: Kim | September 3, 2008, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm

Mat-Su Frontiersman newspaper, October 1996: “”It’s not rocket science,” Palin said, “It’s $6 million and 53 employees.”
http://www.washingtonindependent.com/4027/palin-on-running-wasilla-its-not-rocket-science

Posted by: mos | September 3, 2008, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm

I’m truly embarrassed with my fellow democrat’s sexist attacks. Truly embarrassed! This is a telling tale about how Obama coaches his bloggers.

Posted by: dl | September 3, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

A must read…pass it around
The Real Sarah Palin, from someone who knew her since 1992:
http://my2bucks.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/a-letter-from-someone-who-has-known-sarah-palin-since-1992/#comment-416

Posted by: all about sarah | September 3, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm

from another poster:
UPDATE: If you go to http://www.adn.com/photos/v-gallery/story/509850.html?/1521/gallery/509852-a509987-t3.html (cut and paste it) you will see that the photo that claims Bristol looks pregnant is from 2006! It is in the Anchorage Daily News, I feel to be a credible resource. PLEASE check that out – what are your thoughts now since it is from 2006?

Posted by: all about sarah | September 3, 2008, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm

With Obama’s followers, it’s always about abortion. No other issue comes close to defining the party.

Posted by: Aston | September 3, 2008, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm

Two beautiful families representing most of America..blended….and two that have/had special needs…Gov. Palin’s four month old, Trig and Bridgette who the McCains adopted as a baby and had a cleft palate. John has adopted 3 in total. Tweleve children altogether! Too bad media run on the Obama’s girls is OVER. But that’s what they wanted, right…no more media coverage of their trotted out girls for the whole campaign.
McCAIN/PALIN ALL THE WAY!

Posted by: Debra | September 3, 2008, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm

from a palin interview baout how she feels about hillary clinton “She said she felt kind of bad she couldn’t support a woman, but she didn’t like Clinton’s whining.” So what with McSame crying about the media attackign you Palin – or your illegitmate grandchild!

Posted by: jozy | September 3, 2008, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm

Wow, Davis, if Ben Stein said that it can compare WITH HILLARY AND BIDEN SAYING NO WAY IS BOZO QUALIFIED TO BE PREZ! We’ve all seen it and heard it over and over, and the Reps will hopefully revisit that loop/tape in October.
NEVER THE EMPTY SUIT….McCAIN/BIDEN

Posted by: Debra | September 3, 2008, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm

jozy….watch the tape, she did not dis Hillary as whining….only Obots want to spread that rumor.
PROUD HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN/PALIN

Posted by: Debra | September 3, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm

hey kids you now have a new great grandpa

Posted by: Omentum | September 3, 2008, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm

HEY DAVIS!!!!
FOR THE HUNDREDTH TIME I AM ONE FOURTH BLACK AND A REPUBLICAN SO YES THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE PARTY! aLSO A GUY THAT WORKED WITH MY GRADFATHER ON OUR COUNTY LEGISTLATURE WAS BLACK AND A REPUBLICAN SO THERE!!! GIVE IT UP YOU IDIOT BECAUSE BOTH PARTIES HAVE COLORED PEOPLE IN THEM, JUST THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MORE THAN THE REPUBLICANS! aLSO BOTH PARTIES HAVE RACISTS IN THEM AS WELL! tHE ONLY REASON I AM ANNOYED WITH MY PARTY IS BECAUSE OF THE ULTRA-CONSERVATIVES HOLIER-THAN-THOU ATTIUDE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF SOME OF COLOR LEADING THEM(I. E. OBAMA)!!!! IF NOT FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND SARAH PALIN’S NON-BELIEF IN SCIENCE, ETC I WOULD STILL BE SUPPORTING MCCAIN, BUT NO MORE AFTER SHE GOT ANNOUNCED AS HIS RUNNING MATE!!!! NOW IT IS OBAMA ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!1

Posted by: New Obama Supporter | September 3, 2008, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm

Wow, Bristol looks a lot smaller here than on stage tonight at the convention. They way over did the baby prosthetic.

Posted by: Saly | September 4, 2008, 12:06 am 12:06 am

Of course those kids will marry – and just days before the election. Whose taking bets on how long the marriage will last. Not their fault: The Republicans made them do it!

Posted by: Cedarglen | September 4, 2008, 12:52 am 12:52 am

I found this to be very interesting, this letter highlights the good and the bbad
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the
last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in
common: their gender and their good looks.
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
[ This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area,
with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the
author to be read. ]
Thanks,
Anne
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a “babe”.
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.
She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out
there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their
major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything
like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She’s smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about
670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been
pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had
given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will
make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she
proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s
surplus, borrow for needs.
She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the
basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated”
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t
fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew
her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to
nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march
to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to
global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a
heartbeat away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life
legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +
Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local
government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen
when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out
of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no
fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will
cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s
attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible
for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are
swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000″, up to 9,000. The
day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.
August 31, 2008

Posted by: Cicly | September 4, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am

Curious as to why the husband/father-to-be’s parents weren’t there for such an important event…at least they weren’t featured. Maybe they are having a decision forced down their throats.

Posted by: EJD | September 4, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm

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