The Note: Palin Caught in Image War

and this is all before the new info on her business being shut down by her own state and her video of the “sermon” she gives about our soldiers “fighting for God”
the worst choice for Vice president in our nation’s history…
America’s done with the right wing …their war on science and democracy…
get this woman out of the debate…

Palin is Alaskan for “right wing drama”

Image – Schmimage! Look at the issues and the choice is clear as night and day [dare I say... it's as clear as black and white?]

I was student body president for 2 years in my high school and 2 years residential student body president at my college…over twice as many people as the number in Palin’s home town
do I have enough “executive experience” even if I, like Palin, can’t spell “mujahadin” never mind explain what it is?
again THE worst choice for VP and self-serving judgment by a Presidential candidate in our nation’s history.

I can see why McCain picked her… she’s under investigation for corruption and abuse of power to retaliate against her enemies. That’s all the vetters needed to know.

I don’t care what they say about Sarah Palin. I’m voting for McCain-Palin, or McCain-Whoever. Democrats should realize that not all Democrats are LEFT-WING NUTS. Some of us are moderate Democrats, and we DO consider Obama’s membership in a racist, anti-Semitic, un-American church relevant. The Dems lost me for this year, although I will vote Democratic in my state. Obama was a bad mistake. He has no more foreign affairs experience than Sarah Palin, and she’s at the BOTTOM of the Republican ticket.

Y’all do realize if she supports secession she doesn’t even want to be an American, right?
I think this is one of the truly bizarre storylines I’ve seen in American politics.

The more the liberals attack Sarah Palin, the more I like her. I am sickened by my own party. They trashed Hillary, and now they’re trashing another woman. And they expect my vote. LOL

And a male governor picked to run as a vice presidential candidate while he was being investigated for abuse of power… we’d never hear a word about that.
Damned sexist media!

mhhunt: “These questions are all just media hype.”
No they’re not. She is under investigation. That’s not media hype. Now, granted, investigation doesn’t equal guilt, but we do know she’s already been caught in a lie about the potential abuse of power.
And while we don’t know whether she was involved with this secessionist party or not, we have heard from three members including a former AIP chairman who say on the record she was involved, and recently, too.
Not media hype at all.

And just to clarify the lie comment, Palin once said she didn’t have any direct communication with the guy she fired about him not firing her brother in law… only to now learn investigators have voicemails and e-mails to the contrary.

McCain’s Judgement & McCain’s Ulterior Motives are going to be EXPLOITED on this one in the WORSE OF WAYS !!!
McCain did Not Vet This Woman at all !!!
—————
Source: http://www.thenewyorktimes.com
Note: The surprises, however, continued Monday when it was revealed that Palin’s 17-year-old daughter was pregnant, that the governor had hired a lawyer to defend her in an ethics investigation, that she attended meetings of a fringe party calling for Alaskan independence and that her husband had been arrested for drunken driving.
Big Note: Ms. Clark said that Ms. Palin’s Husband, Todd, was a Former Member of the Party.
—————-
Big Note: After checking the party’s archives, Ms. Clark said that she could find no documentation that Governor Palin had been a member of the party.
———
The Biggest Note: She said Ms. Palin ATTENDED the party’s (1994 and 2006) Conventions and Provided a Video-Taped Address as governor to the (2008 Convention)
————–
You were surprised, sure. But what about McCain?
September 2, 2008, 10:32 pm
Alaska Party Official Says Palin Was Not a Member
By The New York Times
The chairwoman of an Alaskan political party that advocates a vote on the state’s succession from the union said Tuesday that she had been mistaken when she said Gov. Sarah Palin was a member of the group.
A front-page story in The New York Times on Tuesday and articles in other news media reported that Ms. Palin was a member of the Alaska Independence Party for two years in the 1990’s.
Big Note: The information in the Times article was based on a statement issued Monday night by Lynette Clark, the party’s chairwoman, who said that Ms. Palin joined the party in 1994 and in 1996 changed her registration to Republican.
COVER UP, COVER UP: On Tuesday Night, Ms. Clark said that her initial statement was incorrect and had been based on erroneous information provided by another member of the party whom she declined to identify.
The McCain campaign also disputed the Times report, saying that Ms. Palin had been registered consistently as a Republican.

I watch the media and my democratic party rip apart Hillary and display sexism that would have fit in perfectly circa the early 1900s. I absolutely will not stand by and see it happen to yet another strong, very capable woman. The more they try to beat her up the stronger resolve I get. I’m spreading the word and promoting her to everyone I meet.

What worries me most about McCain/Palin ticket is their environmental policy (especially regarding drilling in the ANWR). I think it is evermore important for us, as consumers to support ‘green businesses’ that benefit the environment. For example, http://www.simplestop.net stops your postal junk mail and benefits the environment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/31/alaska-national-guard-gen_n_122860.html
SARAH PALIN & MAJ. GENERAL CRAIG CAMPBELL, DO NOT CONTROL THE ALSKAN NATIONAL GAURD, THE PRESIDENT & THE PENTAGON ITSELF, “CONTROLS THE NATIONAL GAURD.
————
NOTE: Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin “extremely responsive and smart” and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder.
————-
NOTE: But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell said He and Palin play NO ROLE IN NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTIVITIES, even when they involve the ALSKA NATIONAL GAURD
The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.
Stephen C. Donehoo, managing director of Kissinger McLarty Associates in Washington, and former military intelligence officer specializing in Latin America:
“No doubt the campaign staff have her hooked up to a fire hose on foreign policy issues,” said Stephen C. Donehoo, managing director of Kissinger McLarty Associates in Washington and a former military intelligence officer.
“No doubt they fear a debate with Joe Biden that touches foreign affairs,” Donehoo said. “My guess is Graham and (Joe) Lieberman are doing a lot of tutoring.”
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota appears to have no such worries, given what he considers to be Obama’s lack of experience.
“The PRESIDENT sets the TONE,” Coleman said. “The EXPERIENCE issue is on the other side. The No. 1 guy there is the guy without the experience.”
___
Contributing to this report were AP writers Tom Raum, Jim Kuhnhenn, Glen Johnson and Nestor Ikeda in St. Paul and Anne Sutton in Juneau, Alaska.

Humble American: “The more they try to beat her up the stronger resolve I get.”
Please. She’s a governor under investigation. If the media didn’t pursue that, they’d be derelict.
And even the thing about the daughter. Some blogs awkwardly repeated rumors that some Alaskans had started about the DS baby being a grandchild rather than a child. To counter those blogs, the McCain campaign released information about the daughter being now pregnant.
The media relayed that release.
If anything, the media is getting played for chumps by the McCain campaign.
“Oh look at that. They reported our release. Those sexist pigs!”

o. – the president controls “federalized” National Guardsmen, but when not in that status they are under their respective governor’s control.

This is what happens, media aside, when a candidate is not vetted fully and the presidential candidate lacks solid judgement. Now, this selection of “Sarah WHO” is being turned into a sexist-ridden incident rather than lack of experience and illegal dismissals of government employees are coming to the forefront. So much for John McCain being his “own man”! Howard Gallas, Reno, NV.

Be afraid, be very afraid.
Palin is part of a heretical Christian movement that promotes end-times “theology” and believes that the ends justify the means.
I knew someone from Alaska who believed this same stuff and evidently it is not that uncommon there. They believe that Alaska is the place of safety for people to hide out during the Tribulation. They also believe in prophecies from these pastors who tell them to get ready for Armageddon. I’ve read some stuff her pastor has said and it made the hair rise on the back of my neck. It is the same stuff this person I knew use to spout off.
Also, I believe this will BACKFIRE big time on McCain. I’m a Christian and I believe that the mainstream Christians of this country cannot go along with the heresy that her pastor preaches….and that she has been videotaped agreeing with. I think there will be a crack in his base when word gets out about what she actually believes, and knowing what I know about this movement, there is no way she will disavow her pastor as Obama did after he came to his senses about him. She WON’T come to her senses because she is brainwashed into believing that some sort of Christian Jihad is called for.
Kool-aid anyone?

She has no image… she is an EMPTY SUITE just like McCain. I watched the convention last night. What a bunch of blow up crap and no substance. To actually think we would fall for the words “CHANGE” coming from a Republicans mouth is actually laughable. They have nothing… they have said nothing… they have no policies except for the same 8 years we got screwed in. No thanks!

I just love the constant attacks on Palin’s character, personal choices, and motherhood by liberals who CLAIM to support feminism. She is a classic feminist in every sense. PLEASE, PLEASE, keep it up. Women voters across the company are getting angrier by the day. This will backfire spectacularly.

Note to the uninformed women of America, the ability to birth, sustain and nuture a child is what set us women apart from men, we are certainly equals but different. This cynical ticket designed to gain Hillary voters should not sway us, nothing about Palin is about women’s issues. This is a man’s way of shutting us up by danggling infront of us, what he thinks we want, a woman she is, just not the right woman. In 90% of this world a four month old is still breastfed, the female leaders you see today have delayed having or taken time off to have children, there can be no two ways about it, as is proven by the results of her daughter’s decision. If Palin doesn’t get this then she cannot be a true representative for any female, let alone champion our causes.

This pretty much sums up the McCain mentality:
McCain’s Voice Mail to Palin Leaked to Press (Listen)
http://www.236.com/blog/w/lee_camp/mccains_voice_mail_to_palin_le_8644.php

How stupid would a real Hillary voter be if they were swayed to Palin? She is the polar opposite of every position. The only Hillary voter she would steal would be a moron.
She wants a sex education policy of ignorance, and we can see what that brought into her house. Very successful plan ma’am.
She grabbed as much pork as she could as Mayor and Governor, and now claims she was against it. Please. Do 10 seconds research and you can see the flagrant lies.
She’s a ‘reformer’ who directed Ted Stevens’ 527 organization! Yeah, reform. That’s the Ted mantra.
She wants Creationism taught in school. Absurd enough, but AS SCIENCE?!?!
She’s not capable of running the United States and I’m not sure she should have been running Alaska. With the health questions for McCain, this choice cost him my vote. No way I’d put someone so compelled to stupidity by their religion in a position to dictate the next 3 Supreme Court Justices.
I agree with the earlier post – Why is this Levi kid not up on charges for child molestation and rape? He belongs on a sex offenders list. Oh, that’s right, that list is only for other people.

Every day when I think the media can’t possibly sink any lower…they prove me wrong.
Kind of hypocritical attacking Palin, when the media in this country couldn’t get elected dog catcher.
I haven’t watched ABC in a long time, because every time I do they are constantly trying to spoon feed me their spin on the news.
I don’t care about what ABC has to say about Palin, I am a big boy and I can decide for myself.
I learned a long time ago the ones making the biggest noise is usually doing so to try and make up for their own shortcomings.

It’s interesting how the McCain camp has been given so many passes by the media from gaffe after gaffe. Now, all of a sudden they’re pissed because the media is actually doing their job for once. The media vetted Palin before the McCain campaign did!!
It’s obvious Palin wasn’t vetted. Actually, a new Washington Post article states that she was interviewed the day before McCain chose her as his VP candidate. So that makes a total of two times they have met.
Would you entrust someone to help you run the country that you’ve only met twice? We’re in the middle of two wars, the economy’s in the bucket and somehow Palin’s the best VP choice McCain could find? Sounds like a bridge to nowhere…

Never seen Democrats so “uneasy” about Sarah Palin.
I LOVE IT!
By the way, as of today, your party is just leading by 3% in the polls, just following your convention… you should be leading by 10-12%.
By the way, keep up the bashing of women – you’re upsetting many of them. I know of a few “hard core” liberals who are disgusted by the attacks on Palin’s family and are now voting Republican for the first time!!!
Smart man, McCain… It’s working!!!

Mark C-Virginia:
I’ve been thinking the same thing. I wonder when the media is going to pick up on that?

Republican woman, stay away from me. Republican woman, mama let me be. Don’t come hangin’ around my door. I don’t wanna see your face no more. I got more important things to do. Than spend my time growin’ old with you. I don’t need your war machines. I don’t need your beauty queens. Northern lights can hypnotize. Sparkle someone else’s eyes. Goodbye, Republican woman. Goodbye, Republican chick. Goodbye, Republican broad … (Adapted from The Guess Who’s American Woman)

Another Sarah = another PUMA straggler who doesn’t realize that PUMA has been thoroughly debunked and exposed to all America as the cloaked Republican racist group that it is.
Give it up, you sorry fringe freak, we’re laughing at you.

“The McCain campaign will launch a television ad directly comparing Governor Palin’s executive experience as a governor who oversees 24,000 state employees, 14 statewide cabinet agencies and a 10 billion dollar budget to Barack Obama’s experience as a one-term junior Senator from Illinois,” a campaign aide tells The Note.
==========================================
By this same logic, wouldn’t that mean that Palin also has more experience than McCain himself? And if that’s the case, shouldn’t the GOP take McCain off the ticket and replace him? Just sayin’ is all.

hamishdad, very nice. It would make a nice campaign ad!

Got curious about the “PALIN INVESTIGATION” some of the Obama supporters are ranting about without offering any FACTS against Palin..So I thought I’d offer them: Trooper Micheal Wooten (ex-brother-in-law of Palin) Married and divorced 4 times. The record indicates a serious and concentrated pattern of ABUSE OF POWER AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY..Col Julia Grimes,(2006) Head of Alaska State Troopers gave written instructions to suspend Trooper Micheal Wooten. He has been written up seven times since he joined the force..for such things as:
Child Abuse: Using a taser on his kid
Illegal Hunting
Drinking and Driving on the job
Threats of violence against citizens of Alaska.
Now if I were in a position of authority it stands to reason that this is one rogue cop that should not be in the job . And if he is being protected by Walt Monegan, he should not be on the job either…AND THATS WHAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS ALL ABOUT.
Information: Anchorage Daily News, article written by Lisa Demer, 07/27/08..

Maybe even James Dobson didn’t vette her enough
Palin belongs to a religious denomination that is not well liked by mainstream protestants. The Assembly of God denomination, a pentecostal sect, has long garnered distrust from Baptists for its faith healings, exorcisms, snake handling during church services, and its worship of the Holy Spirit.

i have never see so much crap being said before about a person.You know you are all talking about a 17 year old girl..If that was your daughter it would be ok?.You know the world is watching and you all have made us look like a joke.no wonder the rest of the world don’t think much of us. we are a bunch of babies.She did this he done that. Everyone even you have done something wrong in your past but of course you don’t want anyone to know about it.But its ok for you to beat someone else to the point of no return but don’t do it to you( right).Grow up. Party lines have gotten so out of control.In some country’s you would be hung for saying the things you are saying. thank god for America where we can say what we want no mater what happens to someone else.Freedom of speech more like freedom to be stupid.

So, they are SERIOUSLY going to contend that Palin’s government experience exceeds Obama’s? I think a simple waterhead with a minimal knowledge of how government works would know that isn’t true.
The Palin appointment is basically a desperate and cynical move by McCain to appeal to arch- conservatives, whom he shares little political ground with—and to appeal to women, some of whom are on the fence about Obama, but should be scared as hell over Palin’s political leanings.
It’s a Hail Mary (literally) by McCain. And he has his spin machine in full swing over Palin, which is the most cynical part of their already cynical and bitter campaign. To say that sexism is a reason for scrutinizing and criticizing Palin’s record is beyond belief.

I was kind of in the middle, but after last night, it seems like Republicans are more eager to work together as Americans.
There is also no doubt that there is no prouder American than McCain. His love for this nation is incredible.
I have to see Palin tonight, but so far she seems like someone I can relate to as an American mom. I think she really understands hard working American values and everyday concerns better than Obama / Biden. They’re flying way above the clouds.
The smear tactics against Sarah Palin’s family have also turned me off.
I will probably go for the McCain/Palin ticket in November.

The Truth About Sarah Palin:
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, last name redacted
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.

I agree with Ashame. this is so out of control.So much hate.pointing figures at everyone.No wonder why everyone hates us.We can’t even like ourself s.

Palin is a religious extremist who is dangerous. Even mainstream protestants are afraid of her weird beliefs, one of which is speaking in tongues.

Will those people who are complaining about “smear tactics”, please be even handed about it?
If you’re going to complain about the rumor about Trig not being Sarah’s (a rumor that’s been in national circulation for all of three days), then complain about the rumor that Obama is a Muslim (which, though consistsntly disproven, is still in circulation) or that Michelle Obama rants about “whitey” (which, again has been proven false, but is still around).
ALL of these smears are just distractions. Let Palin stand up and talk about her positions, plans, promises and record. Then judge her based on these and some straightforward fact-checking. It’s that simple.

Oh, here we go … the Republicans, as always, are now spinning this whole matter as sexism. It is so typical Republican propaganda, and it’s amusing how some people are biting. To those that commented that they will switch their votes from Hillary to Sarah, because she’s also a woman – guess what, that is also sexism. You are only voting for someone because she is a woman, and not really looking at what she really stands for as a person, and as a politician. I for one do not care whether she is a woman or a man. Any new and pretty unknown person running for VP should go through this type of scrutiny. I want as much information about her to be revealed (good or bad). Do we want to find out about these things once she is in office – when it is to late to make a decision on her?

whats with all the name calling bimbo, extremist.and calling her daughter names. What has this country come to when adults act like kids. we are in so much trouble.

Palin’s minister Brickner described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God’s “judgment of unbelief” on Jews who haven’t converted to Christianity.
Palin was in church that day, Kroon said

The Palin policy: DONT ASK, DONT TELL.
DONT EDUCATE THE YOUNG.
DONT PROVIDE CONTRACEPTIVES.
And my personal favorite, global warming policy by Bibllical retort: there can be no global warming because the planet is only 5000 years old. There was no ice age.
And she was not a member of the secessionist party but her husband was.

hamishdad…Let’s see that’s an Indonesian name isn’t it…Now where have I heard “Indonesian” mentioned with regards to our current election…hmmmmm..BTW hamishdad is a professional paid blogger…Try changing your name to Frank or Dave or I know “Paul”

half you people are hypocrites. I bet you know , or even have parents who were pregnate at 17. its not that uncommon , hell even obama’s mother was 17 when , oops she was pregnant with the little Muslim.

Big TX, you are a Big-Ot. You know very well he is not a Muslim and never has been.

People like you that spread outlandish lies are despicable.

Back From Iraq, have you examined McCain’s record on military and veteran’s issues? It is deplorable. He was against the new GI Bill. He voted against seven different bills that would have increased veterans health care. He voted against flack vests for Guard and Reserve troops. He voted against the mandatory rest period between deployments. The Disabled American Veterans gave him a 20% rating on vet’s issues; the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a letter grade of D. McCain pretends to be a big supporter of troops and vets, and then stabs them in the back. He is a hypocrite. This is one vet (1970-72) who is not fooled.

Gotta say Christopher reading your “essay” brings up memories of most of my university professors, read the first 7 chapters and provide critiques of all by our next meeting…..PAINFUL TO GET THROUGH….I have a real problem with information provided without the sources cited..BECOMES JUST ANOTHER OPINION BASED UPON RUMORS..

Doc DB,
You’re right, Obama is not a Muslim; he’s not a Christian either; he’s a self centered, self proclaimed prophet of the ultra left who thinks he can create some sort of undefined change and form us all in his image. Sounds more like an Eastern Cult to me. Regardless, he will never be president and commander-in-chief; his handler and trainer David Axelrod saw to that.
–McCAIN-PALIN ’08–

But Back from Iraq,
aren’t you concerned about McCain’s horrible record on vet’s issues?

Big TX,
Admittedly, Obama shouldn’t have taken the bait on that question. The problem with this “executive experience” tagline that the GOP has produced won’t last for very long. McCain has never ran a city or a state for that matter, so does that make him not qualified?
Unlike John McCain, Obama is the one who makes the final decisions on how his campaign is run. McCain was pressured by his staff to pick Palin, that’s not country first, that’s caving in to your base.

I Thought SARAH PALIN was a Religious conservative. FIRING her small TOWN Police Chief just to keep the bars open?
The Washington Independent reported on Monday that another Sarah Palin firing scandal had been overlooked:
Early in her tenure as mayor, the city council threatened to recall her over accusations that she fired the city’s police chief, Irl Stambaugh, and the library director, Mary Ellen Emmons, without warning. She accused them in a letter saying: “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 …” (The Anchorage Daily News, via nexis)
Ultimately, Palin let the library director have her job back; though Stambaugh’s position was not returned. The police chief took the matter to court, where a judge sided with Palin, saying city law allows the mayor to fire the police chief without cause.
ABC News today gives more information on this scandal. The police chief says he was fired because her campaign contributors, including bars and the NRA, didn’t like his work:
After taking over as Mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Palin fired the longtime local police chief. The former police chief, Irl Stambaugh says he was fired because he stepped on the toes of Palin’s campaign contributors, including bar owners and the National Rifle Association.
Stambaugh’s lawyer, William Jermain, says the chief tried to move up the closing hours of local bars from 5 a.m. to two a.m. after a spurt of drunk driving accidents and arrests.
“His crackdown on that practice by the bars was not appreciated by her and that was one reason she terminated Irl,” said Jermain.
Palin the gift that just keeps on giving!!
Vote for real leaders Obama/Biden ’08!!!

Uh oh – guess the Palin pick isn’t working out so well for the Republicans. They’re back to “issues” like Obama’s secret decoder Indonesian name.

Doc DB,
Like you, my wife and I are both wartime veterans and members of DAV. Having recently returned from duty in Iraq with regular, reserve and National Guard personnel, I can assure you that Obama is not well thought of by the majority of personnel who consider him, as well as Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, Feinstein, Clinton, and what are openly referred to as fifth columnists and traitors to our efforts and successes against the enemy.
Concerning the new GI Bill; it is a good bill, as was the alternate bill proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) but for now unfunded and uncertain in the future. Concerning other veterans’ issues; the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has received more funding under the Bush Administration than the Clinton Administration with only the Reagan Administration coming second. VA health care and administrative services are now better coordinated and more cost effective than other private and public healthcare in America; all under this administration and due to the efforts of conservatives like John McCain. Don’t expect it to continue to improve under a Democratic regeme.
While I am a member of DAV, I am also a member of American Legion who gives John McCain overwhelming support.
–McCain-Palin ’08–

Fair enough, Back. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice and that of your wife. I still am very disappointed in McCain’s voting record on these issues. It has made the difference in my decision.

Back from Iraq: “Having recently returned from duty in Iraq with regular, reserve and National Guard personnel, I can assure you that Obama is not well thought of by the majority of personnel who consider him…”
I have to tell you, I’m retired from the Marines but now work as a civilian on a Marine Corps base. I’m seeing a lot more Obama bumperstickers than McCain bumperstickers.
And among officers, I know of many who were pretty shocked with McCain’s response to the Georgian situation. Raised a lot of eyebrows among people who understand the implications of his kneejerk statements.

Doc DB
Thank you for your fine service too. No candidate will ever be everything to all people; I just have to go with what I see before me and commit. Regardless of who wins, constant interactive participation between elections is a must these days.

Here’s irony for you: I recently ordered a new US Army Veteran baseball cap from a great on-line surplus site. When the cap came, it had a tag saying “Made in Vietnam.” I thought my, how the worm has turned! But hey, forgive and forget, life is short. They even have some upscale resorts that they are marketing to Americans!

backfromiraq…docdb is not EXACTLY correct in his comment:
At issue on the James Webb GI Bill was that McCain opposed the measure, as the Pentagon, “out of concern that providing such a benefit, full-ride college scholarships, after only three years of service would encourage people to leave the military after completing only one enlistment even as the US fights two wars is trying to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps.” He, McCain, and fellow repubs co-sponsored a bill that would increase benefits in conjunction with a veteran’s length of service. USATODAY Article: McCain,Obama spar over new GI bill proposal, 05/22/2008
docdb… AVA grade of D was a grade given nearly 3 years ago..look toward this Fall for the new rating .
WELCOME BACK….Someone VERY SPECIAL TO ME just got back from their 2nd tour to the “sandbox.”

Noexcuses…It is not Palin who is at issue here..it’s her kids and husband who are being slammed by some left-wing bloggers…Look at her and her policies..Her kids and husband will have no affect on future government policy…just as Obama’s family will have not affect

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.”
Now they have dragged this guy into the spotlight today, and further embarrassed both him and Bristol. I thought the Republicans said this was a PRIVATE family matter? Well they just made it about as PUBLIC as you can get!!!!
Palin the gift that keeps on giving!!!!

BTW doc db Obama got a B+ from DAV Yes, however he was only a Senator for a few months…Fact: Obama voted 80 percent for Disabled American Veterans in 2005, in 2006 he recieved the B+….Obama became a Senator in 2005, January???? So that B+ is based upon just a few months as a Senator…as he only has 3 plus years experience and campaigned for 20 months of that…Qualified to be President????

I thought the Republicans said this was a PRIVATE family matter? Well they just made it about as PUBLIC as you can get!!!!
=========================================
Nothing says family values like parading around the babydaddy of your teenage daughter at a political convention watched by millions of people AFTER requesting that the media stay out of family business.
The GOP is officially the hot mess of the year.

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

I dont understand why GOPs are so willing to take so much risk. Maybe its their pride and just wanna to stick to their decision however wrong it is.
==========================================
This is why the GOP is so scared right now. They know McCain made a horrible decision (if he even made the decision at all, but that just calls into question another one of his many problems).

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!!!!!!!!!!

You need to read “A note to all by Anne Kilkenny”. A longtime resident of Wasilla, Anne has known Palin since 1992 and decided to give the facts of Palin’s tenure in Wasilla, since most people were too scared to do so. It’s not a pretty picture.
Her reason? “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.”
Her link: http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html
Forget the illegitimate baby…that’s small potatoes compared to all the other stuff that’s going to come out; believe me, it’s pretty amazing. I’ve been tracking this for days, weeding out rumor from fact.

Jim in OH,
Palin is no feminist since as far as I know she does not support any issues real feminists care about. She is simply a women trying to balance a career and her family. I do not have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is her positions on issues and the hypocrisy in the Republican party in their support for her. All of a sudden Republicans are okay with the obvious sacrifices to family in pursuit of her career. She has five children, one with special needs that she either takes on the campaign trail with her or must leave with others to take care of. If she were a Democrat she would be villified for that…

Dianne,
As opposed to you listening to all sides before making a decision. Abortion rights means you have a choice. If you want to keep the baby it is your choice. If you want to abort the baby it is your choice. Not the state’s. Conservatives like to talk about liberty unless it is someone elses. Conservatives like to talk about personal responsibility as long as it is someone elses.

LarryMan,
You and all your pro-life friends always miss the point. It is up to women to choose not the government. Conservatives talk loudly about government staying out of people lives until it comes to their personal decisions.

Let me see … McCain-Palin or Obama-Biden. Hmmmmm … gee, I have to make a decision … hmmmm … oh yeah, now I remember. Obama-Biden are Euro-socialists who would fold in a fight with terrorists, misinterpret our Constitution until it didn’t exist anymore, outlaw guns, parental rights, victim rights and a free market economy. They would cater to trial lawyers, criminals and the abortion industry. Meanwhile, McCain-Palin just like to p*ss everybody off; guess that’s why they’re mavericks. We’ll, in light of the choice here, I’ll take the mavericks.
–McCain-Palin ’08–

Let’s just say something: If Obama picked Clinton as his VP, then, I would not even be interested in Palin, nor McCain. However, in the states (big primary states Democrats need to win), Clinton overwhelmingly beat Obama.
In Massachusetts, the vote was 58% to 42%. We are angered. And we are now interested in the McCain/Palin ticket. The more and more the media destroy Palin, without even understanding her positions, her toughness and her intelligence, the more and more, it’s helping us angry Clinton supporters to take a closer look at McCain and Palin. And, I tell you, as a Massachusetts Independent, who can’t stand Bush, McCain gets my vote and Palin does as well.

These charges of sexist treatment by the media are totally bogus. McCain’s very selection of her was inherently sexist. If she were a man with such sparse credentials, would McCain have chosen her? Over Romney, Lieberman, Pawlenty, and Jindal? No way. Why won’t McCain answer the question of why qualified women like Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Meg Whitman, Condi Rice, and Olympia Snowe weren’t on the final list?

It is the same party for the last 8 years, just a different label. So if you want more of the last 8 years these are you people. John McCain has voted with his president 90% of the time and I don’t know if people can vote for a 10% chance on change.