Posts with the tag VP

The questions most asked of me so I want to ask you

Women-Eye For Change — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:09:58 EST

Is Barack Obama another Martin Luther King, Jr?

What would Dr. King say about the election of Obama?
Is the election of Obama as the first African-American president of the United States mean that Dr. King's dream has been fulfilled?
Did I ever think an African-American would become president of the United States 40 years after the death of Dr. King?
Does Obama's election indicate that racism for all practical purposes no longer exist in America?
Will Obama's election have any impact upon the number of African-American men incarcerated of the high percentage of out of wedlock births within the African-American community?

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Lieberman Tacitly Agrees: McCain Exhibited His Bad Judgment With VP Pick

Sheldon from Doylestown — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:08:17 EDT

Senator Lieberman, Former Democratic VP Candidate now McCain pusher talking about Sarah Palin yesterday:"Thank God, she's not gonna have to be president from day one, because McCain's going to be alive and well," Lieberman said in a conference call with reporters.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/25/lieberman-on-palin-thank_n_137769.html

Forget $150,000- can someone give me $150 for some clothes?

Andr�a- (You've called him everything else- now call him Mr. President!) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:44:54 EDT

We now get word that the Mavericky one- John McCain decided to upgrade his VP pick.

I'm curious...

How does a campaign who doesn't hesitate to call Sen. Obama an elitist get away with such pricey items?

Was Gov. Palin's Alaskan chic not chic enough for the RNC?

Who paid for this new and improved wardrobe? It seems like the taxpayers (except Joe the Plumber, since he owes OH about $1,100 in back taxes).

Here is the biggest question of all... How is the average person supposed to feel, when they look around and see their refrigerator a little less full, or peek at the gas tank and see that needle never reaching the "F" because getting to the "F" costs too darn much, see their 401K drop like a lead balloon-

How are we supposed to feel when we are experiencing these very difficult economic times and then... word comes out that Sen. Maverick is rolling in so much of taxpayer dough that he has plunked down $150,000 to make his VP look "hot"?

How are we supposed to fee?

We should feel like voting for Sen. Barack Obama.

See you at the polls!

10/23: Articles and Excerpts. Debate and Discussion Encouraged.

EMK — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:03:21 EDT

A hodgepodge of links, some more humorous than others.

Enjoy!

Total Fail: McCain's Own Aides Can't Defend Palin: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-9VW4ewI1M (PWNED!!!!! Here's the references: Article I, Sec. 3 & Article II.)

I thought we threw out that SOFA! Reuters: Thousands march in Baghdad against U.S. pact: http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSLI497299._CH_.2400 (Sorry, I can't seem to insert the link. Just copy and paste onto your address bar, or Google the bold text.)

Is history repeating itself? From PR.com: (Read in the Extened Post, the excerpt about the Gold standard).

Executive Experience

Joshua Mathews — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:43:56 EDT

Amazing what you can do in your first 20 months. So this is "executive experience":

Abuse of power (guilty)
Ethics violations (probe in progress)
$17,000 in per diem tax dollars for sleeping in her own bed
Airline tickets and hotels for the family to watch Todd in a snowmobile race...
Over $400 million in earmarks (47th most populous state)

After being found guilty of abusing her power as governor in the so-called "troopergate" scandal over the firing of her ex-brother-in-law, Palin now faces a second probe over whether she violated ethics rules in the affair.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081023/ts_alt_afp/usvoterepublicanpalin;_ylt=AjHwJaaTvU1BFlwxM6rTMFus0NUE

The Troopergate probe was launched after a unanimous vote by 8 Republicans and 4 Democrats.

Executive Experience

Joshua Mathews — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:16:42 EDT

Amazing what you can do in your first 20 months. So this is "executive experience":

Abuse of power (guilty),
Ethics violations (probe in progress)
$17,000 in per diem tax dollars for sleeping in her own bed
Airline tickets and hotels for the family to watch Todd in a snowmobile race...
Over $400 million in earmarks (47th most populous state)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081023/ts_alt_afp/usvoterepublicanpalin;_ylt=AjHwJaaTvU1BFlwxM6rTMFus0NUE

Executive Experience

Joshua Mathews — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:16:14 EDT

Amazing what you can do in your first 20 months. So this is "executive experience":

Abuse of power (guilty),
Ethics violations (probe in progress)
$17,000 in per diem tax dollars for sleeping in her own bed
Airline tickets and hotels for the family to watch Todd in a snowmobile race...
Over $400 million in earmarks (47th most populous state)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081023/ts_alt_afp/usvoterepublicanpalin;_ylt=AjHwJaaTvU1BFlwxM6rTMFus0NUE

GOLD STAR FOR JOE BIDEN

KiDS for OBAMA - Missouri — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:37:07 EDT

I am home from school today because I am feeling just a little sick, but I think you should know what happened in Colorado yesterday. Mom gave me permisson to type this, but then I have to go back to bed. Joe is Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Joe Biden.

Joe talked about something unexpected that happened to him earlier in the day. He said a man came up to him and said, "bring our kids home from Iraq."

Joe's eyes got watery as he said, “he pinned this on my lapel. It’s a gold star. The only way you get a gold star is if you lose a child in battle."

He then said, "And folks," his throat tightening a bit, “that’s the second reason why I’m running. We’re going to end this war.”

“Amen!” a man shouted as volunteers applauded, several wiping their eyes.

OBAMA-BIDEN '08

Sara's inexperience argument

Daphanie — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:37:29 EDT

R the Reps delusional?? It is simply not the same thing! First of all When John Mccain's health gives out and Sara becomes president that's it, she is an airhead at best with poor judgement, Now if (God forbid) something happened to our new President Barack, we have a strong VP to fall back on and lead. did i miss something??

VP debate

Rockmama — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:16:38 EDT

You know...I found much to dislike in the VP debates. Sarah Palin's actions said, 'I'll do what and to heck with the rules.' Her refusal to follow debate protocol and utter disrespect for Gwen Ifill's position as moderator shows the same type of arrogance that has fueled this administration for almost a decade. Her willingness to find 'flexibility' in the constitution for VP power, but not for same sex couples or reproductive rights shows a complete and utter distortion of principals. Power over People? I guess that's what this whole election is about in a way. I cheered when Biden cleared that whole 'Constitution thing' up for her. LOL

People have to show up in this election like no other time in history. If we don't make our votes count, this Palin ninny could be running the show!! I'm running across folks that haven't voted in 30 and 40 years and are now registered. It's amazing really when people remember the government is supposed to be by the people, for the people (or vice verse).

I find it curious that so many 'powerful' types are willing to voluntarily forget that principal and sit through this election. It's like....'if it can't be my way, I'll take my toys and go home' only to have them return and complain when the election doesn't go their way. Isn't it our duty to attempt to work within the confines of the system? That's why we have a system, right? It's great that so many people feel empowered and entitled enough to have that no-vote option...but many do not. Far too many people have suffered and even died so I could have my vote counted...I refuse to waste it.

Gosh, I'm about two sentences away from a sermon. Please allow me to pack up my soapbox now, and forgive my rant. :o)

Ciao!

Sarah Palin: Palling Around Secessionist

Nia "Hussein" J. — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:18:35 EDT

The Video pretty much says it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniG9l_7its

Make this Video go Viral...share fare and wide

The VP debate

GS2 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:16:27 EDT

Last Thursday, the VP debate took place. It pretty much was a copy of the first Presidential debate. Biden did a great job and actually answered all of the questions while it has been proven that Sarah Palin didn't answer 10 of them.

Polls already show that Biden one by a long shot. In fact, I think he did a better job then Obama. I guess picking Biden was a wise choice.

Sarah Palin on the other hand didn't do that well at the polls. However she did exceed expectations. Which was true in some moments in the debate.

One thing that I didn't like about the debate was how palin talked and mispronounced so many words, to

names a few: "joe sixpack" "nucular"

c'mon!!!!

~GS2

VP Power

Andrew Keys — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:28:17 EDT

Under the Constitution, the Vice President is granted two powers: 1.) to vote in the Senate in the event that the other Senators are tied, and 2.) to certify the electoral college votes. That is the extent of the VP's power. Any additional assignments and duties are informal. VP candidate Sarah Palin mentioned in Thursday's debate that she, like Dick Cheney, believes that the Constitution is open for interpretation in outlining the Vice-President's power. Both believe the Vice-President is part of the legislative branch of the U.S. government.

The basis for this arguement is that one sentence in Article I, the article granting legislative powers, state's that the VP shall preside over the Senate. But, under the sections relating to the Senate and House, it is expressly stated that these members are ELECTED by the people in their respected consituencies. Clearly, the Palin-Cheney view is untrue, and any attempt to give legislative power to an UNELECTED official who is aligned with the Executive branch undermines the very system of checks and balances that our government is founded upon and has kept us free from the tyranny of dictatorship or monarchy.

Over the last 8 years, we have witnessed the devastation that a consolidation of Executive Power can cause. President Bush has increased the power of Executive Order, and Dick Cheney has expanded the role of Vice-President to a level unimaginable prior to 2000. Recently, Cheney has claimed that he is immune from the scope of the Presidential Records Act because he is part of the legislative branch. This is absurd, and I fear is the reason McCain-Palin follows the Cheney view of VP power. Both plan to use this loophole (litigation pending against Cheney) to destroy key documents that would give the public some insight into the innerworkings of the Bush administration's foreign policy making. This abuse of power must stop, and the people must be allowed to have oversight of the government in order to restore trust in our elected officials.

My Thoughts on the VP Debate

Michelle — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:27:52 EDT

I find it hard to believe that immediately following the debate, the pundits were saying that Sarah Palin had no major gaffes. Really? I caught one major gaffe that made my head turn. Some may think that it was misspeak, a jumbling of her words, but taken as a whole, I think it was not misspeak because it clearly bolstered the McCain/Palin position of tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations in hopes that it trickles down to the middle and working class Americans that need it now. Misspeak it was not; it was McCain/Palin through and through.

When asked about bankruptcy, specifically if Palin would have supported a bill that would make it more difficult for debt-strapped mortgage-holders to declare bankruptcy, to get out from under that debt, a bill John McCain supported, a bill that goes against those very same middle and working class Americans that McCain and Palin are trying to fool into believing that the Republican ticket has their best interests at heart -- Palin said, yes, she would also support that bill.

In that same answer, Palin said:

It is a crisis. It's a toxic mess, really, on Main Street that's affecting Wall Street.

In effect, Palin is blaming Main Streeters, Joe-Six-Pack and Hockey Moms across America, for this toxic mess that is affecting Wall Street. A gaffe? I would think so. A misspeak? I think not. Here's why.

A bit later in the debate Palin said:

We need also to not get ourselves in debt. Let's do what our parents told us before we probably even got that first credit card. Don't live outside of our means. We need to make sure that as individuals we're taking personal responsibility through all of this.

Again, Sarah Palin is going back to putting blame on the American people for our recent economic meltdown, for the sub-prime mortgage lending crisis, but when she realizes that she's spent about 30 seconds blaming the American people, something middle and working class Americans wouldn't be too happy with, she backtracks and says:

It's not the American peoples fault that the economy is hurting like it is, but we have an opportunity to learn a heck of a lot of good lessons through this and say never again will we be taken advantage of.

As far as I'm concerned, that's a little too late to be backtracking, especially when it comes from Sarah Palin, a member of the ticket that would rather help the super wealthy and large corporations with tax cuts than give tax cuts to those that need it most, middle and working class Americans who have been hard-hit by this economic downturn. So, no, it wasn't misspeak -- she meant what she said which is why her party wants to reward big corporations and the super wealthy with tax cuts -- the McCain/Palin ticket thinks that's fair b/c in their minds, middle and working class Americans have lived beyond their means and gotten us into this mess, so if the economic prosperity trickles down from the top to them over the long term, fine, if not, well, McCain/Palin think they got what they deserved for living above their means in the first place.

I liked Biden's response to Palin throwing blame onto the backbone of the American people.

Those people who say don't go into debt, they can barely pay to fill up their gas tank.

Yes, Sarah Palin can say to middle and working class Americans -- don't go into debt, don't live outside your means, but when you can't afford to pay for gas and the groceries you need to feed your kids keep getting more and more expensive and your son needs to go to the doctor because he's had a cough for 5 days that just won't go away -- well, in this economy, a credit card sometimes is your only answer and debt is the only thing that keeps you and your family surviving these tough times. Our wages have been stagnant and costs for major necessities like gas, heating oil, groceries, have continued to rise; this may not be a big deal for people like Sarah Palin and McCain who are at the top 5% of Americans in terms of wealth, but for someone who is trying to make ends meet with $40,000 and 3 kids, well, you can see why a credit card is sometimes their only saving grace.

So when Palin made these comments, they resonated with me, because a comment like that coming from Obama or Biden, candidates that have always been about giving tax cuts to those making $250,000 or less, not big corporations and the super wealthy, who have been about affordable healthcare and really bolstering the middle and working class, the backbone of America, then it's misspeak. When it comes from a candidate whose ticket has never put country first, has never favored helping those with the least before extending more of a helping hand to those with the most, then it's not misspeak, it's a gaffe. And it's only a gaffe b/c Palin broke character; for a moment, she showed the true colors of the Republican ticket to middle and working class Americans, for a moment, she let on that, despite how much she and McCain have tried to fool them, it's true, they are not on their side.

Expanding VP's powers

Rakesh from Albany, NY — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Palin wants to expand the powers of the Vice President. She knows not what the existing powers and duties are. Its like buying a truck when you barely have realized what a car will do for you. If the VP does what is bestowed and expected of him or her, in good faith and with best efforts, there is no need to expand those powers yet. How about reading the constitution for starters. Moreover, leading a country is not guess work, its making out of oneself the best one can be. She sounds like an overenthusiatic graduate trying to sound perky on her first job interview. Are americans ready to hand over the wheel of our country to a driver who just got a learner's permit, especially when she chooses to hit the gas before clearing her vision. I am surprised with McCain, who seems to have chosen a VP as a strategy more and a caution less.

VP Debate

Tonja — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:24:01 EDT

I have to agree with Ellen Fitzgerald. It was “Folksy”. All those gosh and gollies were irritating. I just wanted her to answer the questions. She didn’t seem to want to give a straight answer. The other thing is she needs to learn what a VP does and the “limits” of that power. After hearing her response I felt as though I was seeing a Cheney 2nd coming. I guess that was an early Halloween gift.

As for Biden, thank you for showing that there are male single parents. I was extremely touched by his response. My father was a single parent and sometimes I think people forget what it’s like for them. They assume that only women feel the burdens of raising a family. Thank you for that.

There is no doubt as to who won this debate. Biden was clear and factual. Palin made me feel as though I was watching a beauty pageant.

VP Debate Total

R from Rockwall, TX — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:01:07 EDT

Okay, here are my results. I'm pretty sure they're close...

Alaska: SSS,BB,S,GG
Blink: none
Lie(s): Biden got close once with "not true"
Maverick: SS,S,S,S,BBBBBB
Media: S
Qualifi-:none
Russia/Putin: none
Nukular: SS,SSSSS,SSSSS
I-ran: SSSSS

A couple words had no mentions so I added a couple that bother me, Nukular and I-ran. The letters represent who said the words (B: Biden, S: sarah palin, G: Gwen Ifill), with the commas separating questions. I added I-ran about half-way through so I may have misplaced some commas.

Alaska: $40
Maverick: $55
Media:$5
Nukular: $60
I-ran: $25
Total: $185

Now, let's see where the pundits and polls line up as to where the money goes...

VP Debate Watch Parties

Zach in Helena — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:46:05 EDT

Tonight, across Montana, supporters will be gathering to watch the first and only Vice Presidential Debate between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden. Find a debate watch party near you.

Debate Watch Party in Trout Creek

Find a debate watch party near you.

You're invited - Biden VP Debate Watch Party!

John Cavanaugh — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:40:00 EDT

Please join us TONIGHT to cheer Joe at

BUCK MULLIGAN'S IRISH PUB
510 Creekside Plaza
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
(614)498-0300

If possible, please RSVP to the events section so we'll have enough seats reserved for everyone. Thank You!

Sarah Palin Doesn't Know Much About Russia Either

Nia "Hussein" J. — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:27:09 EDT

CNN did a fact check on palin's Russia claim...turns out, it isn't true...AT ALL...go figure

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/cnn-sarah-palin-has-never_n_130752.html#postComment

Sarah Palin - Setting the Bar Higher, Not Lower, for the VP Debates on Thursday

Brian M Ross — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:10:03 EDT

Right now, as we speak, Sarah Palin is dropping off the radar... intentionally.

The governor is being sequestered at one of the seven estates in the McCain family stable, a rancho in Arizona, where the Republican presidential aspirant and his top aides are going to begin a systemic brainwashing that is supposed to produce a somewhat more articulate, politically savvy Sarah Palin for the Vice Presidential Debate against Joe Biden on Thursday, October 1, 2008.

Already the lemmings, sorry, pundits and journalists, are lowering the bar for sad Sarah to crawl across.

Debate Fund Raising Challenge

R from Rockwall, TX — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:12:37 EDT

Okay, at dailykos, somebody had based a fund raising challenge on the first presidential debate. I thought it was a nifty idea/game and I thought I'd give it a go. Here's how it would work,

Choose certain words and associate dollar amounts to go with each one.
Choose your donation destination.
Watch the debate(s).
Count the number of times those words are spoken.
Multiply those words' count by your dollar pledge for each word.
Make your donation.

So, here's mine...

Words & amounts: (Helping is good, breaking oneself is not.)

Alaska: $5
Blink: $5
Lie(s): $5* **
Maverick: $5
Media: $5
Qualifi-: $5*
Russia- or Putin: $5*

* any variation
** a direct reference to Palin's lies: $5²

Donating to:

If Palin "wins" (as far as undecided voters go) by Friday evening, I'll donate to Obama, otherwise various Democrats.
If she doesn't show or if the debate is delayed, I'll jump to my probable financial limit of $100, which I'll send to various Dems.

If ya wanna post your words & amounts here, great, we can help each other count. No pressure, just a friendly challenge for each of us to help where we can, how we can and in ways that are important to us.

If you're looking for places to donate, here are some ideas...

Obama
Your Local Democrats
Daily Kos' Orange-to-Blue candidates
Al Franken
DNC
HRC
NPR or PBS
Your local women's shelter

(My apologies: the site won't let me apply my own styles and they've messed with the spacing for unordered lists so I had to make the last three lists ordered.)

upcoming VP debate

FiredUpVoter — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:50:46 EDT

I'm looking forward to the VP debate. I'm sure Palin will be sharp tongued and full of zingers, one-liners, and phrases meant to speak directly to the Republican base- All that rabid, hate infused, stuff. I'm sure she is currently rehearsing all sorts of scripted nonsense.

I trust that Biden, through his experience and intelligence, will be able to ace it. oh- and he's a gentleman, too- like Obama. I don't tbink he'll treat her with the contempt and condescension that McCain displayed toward Oabama. So as long as Biden's statements are effective and not too wordy, he'll be fine.

Palin in 4 Minutes

Joshua Mathews — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:13:52 EDT

This is everything you need to know about why President Palin is a terrifying concept:

A must see!

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6bda020b0f

VP Debate Rules Changed to Compensate Sarah Palin

CTackett — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:52:01 EDT

Palin will also have the options of:

Ask the audience
Phone a friend
Pass the question
50/50

She will also get 3 "thanks, but no thanks" responses.

BIDEN REPLACED?

Gloria from Philadelphia, PA — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:24:52 EDT

THIS HAS BEEN IN EMAILS AS WELL AS OVER THE INTERNET.

WHY DID BIDEN EVER SAY HILLARY WOULD MAKE A BETTER PICK

QUOTE! NOT FROM ME!

ANY ONE KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THIS

ON OR ABOUT OCT. 5TH. BIDEN WILL EXCUSE HIMSELF FROM THE TICKET, CITING HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HE WILL BE REPLACED BY HILLARY..

VERY STRANGE!

"Read My Lipstick: I'm Voting for Obama-Biden" VP Debate Party

MOMocrats — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:37:22 EDT

The MOMocrats are hosting a series of debate-watching parties all over the nation. The first one we've set up is October 2, in Palo Alto, CA for the VP Debates. We're serving "Joe-jitos" and collecting unused lipstick and other cosmetics for women in our local homeless shelter. We'll be liveblogging at our site: www.momocrats.com, and hope to have at least one MOMocrat on the scene at the debate. Join us, or consider hosting your own party! We hope to raise $10,000 when all is said and done. Even if you can't make it, please consider giving a donation. To RSVP and make a donation of $25 or more, go to:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsxgpp

What Palin pick says about McCain

Pamela from Evanston, IL — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:54:25 EDT

There's been lots of venom directed at Sarah Palin herself. How does her selection as VP reflect on McCain? Here's great piece on that.

http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=12066224

Post financial crisis Opportunities for Obama

Eric — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:00:56 EDT

The titanic shift of national attention back to reality over lipstick enables Obama to reopen and reframe some key issues that have been distorted by Press and Repubs

VP Choice - to reframe and refocus the VP issue to what is truly important:
1. The VP choice is a candidate’s 1st Presidential decision w national import, so it reveals, judgment, values and temperament (as well as the quality of the thinking, i.e. has the candidate put country first?)
2. For years, the consensus view has been that the primary consideration on the VP is the ‘able to assume the Presidency on day one if necessary’ test.

i. Due to his age, 72, and health his having had 4 bouts w serious skin cancer, McCain’s pick is especially relevant issue.

ii. With the selection of Sarah Palin, McCain’s JUDGMENT that she is ready for VP, let alone presidency is questionable at best.

1. The focus has to be on McCain, not Palin.

i. One: Was this decision responsible, ‘country first’ or reckless? It can be argued reasonably and persuasively that it an astonishingly irresponsible choice for VP in terms of country first; her qualifications for the job are what exactly?

1. This is clearly a political calculation: a ‘what is good for McCain choice’, NOT a ‘what is best for the country first choice’.

ii. Two: Vetting process – as a surrogate for the way he makes decisions, the superficial vetting of Palin reveals he was RASH and shallow in this the fist presidential-level decision.

1. Republican history of reckless, politics first VP choices (reinforces negative branding of republicans thru assoc w Bush, Cheney, Quayle)

iii. Three: now that the decision is framed, examine her qualifications and public record only! It is not that she’s a woman (We Democrats have put forward the first serious woman contender for the presidency and she supports Obama, now), it’s a question of Palin’s public experience, record, character. Do you the voter agree?

Iraq – To reframe the Iraq invasion as reckless and irresponsible. The decision to go to war is the most monumental consequential decision a President can make. Absent an actual attack (the Iraqi’s had nothing to do w 9/11, despite Bush/Cheney), and the American people have a right
1. Was the decision to invade Iraq wise, when we were already in a war in Afghanistan?
The economy – ENRON is a better scandal to associate McCain with than the 80s era “Keating 5” scandal (McCain was one of the five). Everyone remembers Enron. McCain and Phil Gramm and Enron. Ken Lay, Enron and Bush. Republicans and deregulation. The role of deregulation and evisceration of the SEC in the breakdown in the financial/banking sector.
On Bush 3rd Term – tie McCain to Bush and Cheney. The tie to Bush is obvious; McCain’s link to Cheney is through their sharing a Neo-con worldview. McCain signed the PNAC letter to Clinton urging him to invade Iraq in the late 90s.
1. Interesting to note a fact that came out in ‘Angler’, the new book on Cheney. Cheney was in charge of Bush’s VP selection team. He vetted himself less rigorously than the others on Bush’s VP list, undermined the other candidates. And look what we got: two wars, an economy on the rocks, American stature and moral authority in the pits, Pakistan, Iran, and the list goes on.

My Double-Vetting is More than Palin Got (I Should Be McCain's VP)

Chris Orcutt, Deputy Field Organizer — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:09:02 EDT

So, tonight I got a call from the Obama for America campaign. Actually, make that TWO calls.

First, a nice man named Al called, then another man named Haram (sp?). Both asked the same questions, making sure that I could commit to at least 2 weeks in a battleground state--probably Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes.

At the end of the second phone call, I remarked to Haram, "You know, this is the second of these calls I got. I think I hit the 'Apply Now!' button twice. Sorry."

"That's no problem, Mr. Orcutt," Haram said.

And then, from the easy chair, my Chief of Staff, Alexas, said, "Yeah, tell him you got more vetting than Palin. YOU should be McCain's VP."

Tomorrow I'm supposed to get a phone call from OFA telling me where the Obama Camp training is. During this weekend's training session, I'm to learn what my responsibilities will be as a Deputy Field Organizer.

As I said in my application to them, I have no excuses for not getting involved--no children, no 9-5 job (I'm freelance, baby!), no shrewish wife (Alexas rules).

Looks like I'm heading for Pennsylvania.

WE ARE TAKING BACK THE WHITE HOUSE, BABY!

The Best of Sarah Palin

Nancy Blachman — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:34:14 EDT

Below are insightful articles (titles, links, and the complete text) on Sarah Palin, which friends sent to me and that I found via Google News. I hope you can find time to read or skim these articles and pass them on.

Nancy

Roger Ebert on Sarah Palin: The American Idol

candidatehttp://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1156080,091008ebertpalin.article

Gov. Palin's Worldview

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/opinion/13sat1.html?ref=opinion

Will Palin Get the Same Scrutiny Hillary Got?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/09/will_palin_get_the_same_scruti.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Palin: wrong woman, wrong message Sarah Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Hillary Clinton. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.

By Gloria Steinem

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-steinem4-2008sep04,0,7915118.story

Palin, `Average' Student at 5 Schools, Prayed, Planned for TV

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYY9hiQdr5E4&refer=home

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If you would rather not have Sarah Palin as our next Vice-President, please take a minute make a donation to the Obama campaign of any size, $5 to $2300:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/NancyForObama

A SWIFT BOAT ATTACK II ON SENATOR BARACK OBAMA

funkfresh01 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:27:22 EDT

Saturday September 13th the News and Observer will be distributing a DVD to their 160,000 subscribers entitled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" If anyone hasn't heard about this movie you can view the trailer here.

I don't know about you but I do not remember any other time where a news paper has ever sent out a DVD let alone one that his very biased and portrays Islam as an extremist religion!!!!!!!

I find it quite appaling that this type of garbage would be sent out to further instill fear into the public. It again puts innocent Muslims on the defensive and makes them worry about backlash.

http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/trailer.php

John McCain On Computers and Email : "I just never really felt a need to do it. "

KravitzKravitz — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:09:44 EDT

McCain agrees with the 'out of touch ad.'

Senator Obama need not change the 'John McCain is out of touch because he doesn't use computers or the internet' ad or copy one note or punctuation mark, nor need anyone back down from or question just how valid it is.

McCain, to reiterate, agrees with the statement made in the ad.

This is an update of my Daily Kos post, "John McCain Uses A BlackBerry."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/13/103735/543/712/597294

Obama Risking Big; Losing People

Eric from Yuba City, CA — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:10:45 EDT

Obama is risking it big by focusing just on change.. because change is associated with FEAR, and people resist change... They like staying the same.

If I were him I would just ask; "Are you better or worse off than you were eight years ago? Elect me and I will help you make things better."

Leave the word change out of it... Change is a negative word. It brings up fear, fear of the unknown, fear of upsetting things, taking things away, losing things, etc...

It also did not help that Obama had his ego get in the way and picked someone older and male to be VP. He needed a woman to win, and Clinton would have given him another 18 million votes for sure... He assumes he does not need them... Having two males in the ticket is part of the old and dead paradigm, all male, all old, all white. Both tickets are changing that dynamic, but Obama could have thrown away the mold forever.

Now, the Republicans picked a woman VP and are gaining momentum.. Is it too late to change his mind? He risks losing by going with the old tried and true.

Wild about McCains reckless choice

Thelonious — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:56:31 EDT

Everyone is wild about Palin… the Christian fundamentalist more than anyone. Why? VP is not an exciting or glamorous job. There are some obvious reasons: -She is attractive -She is charismatic -McCain is hyping her up to distract voters from the real issues -She is new -She is lying -Maybe somebody called her a pig But the hidden reason that nobody can say on TV is that in our hearts we all feel that McCain is not gonna make it through the whole of his first term… McCain looks tired now. How will he feel in 3 or 4 years when he is 75 or 76? The WackoRight is sure that Palin will become president. Historically 1 in 3 VP later go on to become President… 33% odds. What are the odds when the President is already 72 years old and in bad health??? Take a long hard look at this beauty queen. Ask yourself, is she really ready to be the most powerful person on the planet?

Picking a VP candidate

Brian — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:58:09 EDT

Maybe this will give you some ideas for talking points.

Primary jobs of the Vice President: For 4 years, President of the Senate and continuously ready to take over the duties of President. The day-to-day job is working the wheels of government to get the agenda of the president passed; to twist the arms in the Senate and House members; to negotiate and find the votes to pass the legislation. And, of course, other duties as assigned or commandeered, such as “Energy Task Force” with national security status. ;-)

Senator Biden

eric anderson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:16:37 EDT

Senator, why do you keep undermining your choice as Barack's VP? I have seen two separate instances: one, in reference to Governor Palin and how you didn't understand Barack choosing you, the other in reference to Senator Clinton and how she may have been a better choice.

Is this a tactic I don't understand? If it is sincere then can you see how this may undermine the strength of the Obama-Biden ticket?

e

Sarah Palin is a "loose gun" neoconservative

Johann — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:33:09 EDT

Palin can answer on her feet and put together argumentation, but she seems very indoctrinated and slightly ignorant. She also seems like a "loose gun" - reckless, trigger-happy and a bit short-sighted in her foreign policy stance.

Sarah Palin basically lacks wisdom.

Sarah Palin ABC Interview A Very Scary Failure

Gregory Henschel — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:54:21 EDT

It became very apparent that Palin has no clue to International affairs. It also became very apparent she is very dangerous. All my fears have become a reality. A war mongering right wing fanatic is running for Vice President for a man that is very likely to not finish his first term if elected. Her strong religious view's from the very far right wing of her party would more than likely evolve in a world war with Russia and incinerate the world 1000 times over. Albert Einstein once said "I don't know What World War 3 Will Be Like, But I Know WW4 Will Be Fought With Sticks And Stones". This is not funny anymore. Lipstick, Pigs and all of the other sideshows that have been pushed are meaningless. Our very lives are in serious danger. We as Americans can not stand silent and let the republican's steal this election. We must do everything in our power to get Barack Obama and Joseph Biden elected. This is not an election we can let slip away. The world is depending on us.The ABC Interviews can be found atwww.youtube.com/cmdrgmh

Keeping Them on the Issues

Claudette from Saint Petersburg, FL — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:57:40 EDT

Thank you, Barack Obama for refusing to tolerate the old republican playbook of scandal, distraction from the issues, and lies. Not even today's Republicans recognize the party. I know, I live with a registered Republican who has been and continues to vote democratic. He says that the Republican Party has moved so far to the right that he does not even recognize it. I am a descendant of Alexander Hamilton with family ties to Western Virginia, and have watched my husband’s western Virginia family farms lost because of the inability of small farmers to compete with national and multi-national agricultural conglomerates, we need to return to our American values and away from the Republican protection of big business.

Civil liberties have disappeared. We are in wars (yes, more than one) and losing our brave young men and women to a commander-in-chief who believes that the body count is all he needs to know about the war. Our economy is a disaster. Health insurance for the middle class is non-existent or financially out of reach. The world no longer views America with respect. Our government and the powerful oil conglomerates want to drill, drill, drill (which is only a stopgap solution and will lead to environmental disaster). They will not face the emerging changes necessary to explore and develop new and varied sources of energy. Did I mention our food and water are barely safe in America?

This is America, once the greatest country in the world. Without real change, all of the above will only get worse. Obama is the real change we as Americans (Democratic, Republican or Independent) need. The tactics of the same old McCain and his "any woman will do candidate for VP," Palin, shock the conscience of this American, middle class, fifty-one year old, white woman.

Claudette Siar

Saint Petersburg, Florida USA

VP for a Moment?

Candi H. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:21:08 EDT

I doubt there is anyone who was not taken aback by McCain's VP pick, regardless of one's political affiliation. If the Republicans needed the nation to focus on something other than what was 'stirring in America' after Denver, Palin provided such a distraction. Enthusiasm, which was sorely lacking among McCain supporters, was perfectly manufactured in the mayor from Wasilla. But even now almost two weeks later aren't we still curious as to the real reason for such a cynical choice?

First, let's concede that politics is foremost about winning, punching and counter-punching to thwart any perceived advantage by your opponent. For example, Biden is a smart move if you need to counter the 'experience' attack or if your electoral strategy depends heavily on Pennsylvania. So, does Alaska with three electoral votes figure into the battle? In an ordinary election year, probably not, but this election is anything but ordinary.

Does Palin provide a soft landing for disaffected Hillary supporters? What? Do they think we're stupid? For all the Republican claims of media sexism, do they really believe that Sarah and Hillary are interchangeable and we can't tell the difference? If I were Hillary (and I'm not) or any one of those 18 million cracks in that ceiling, I would consider Palin a huge insult. Talk about experience versus a great (an ok) speech... but then again Hillary v. Sarah is the proverbial apples and oranges personified. Ahh, but recent polls show a significant move by women toward the Republicans.

Maybe Palin helps shore up the conservative base even though Alaska has the most liberal abortion laws in the nation? Or maybe saying 'no thanks' to the 'bridge to nowhere'...but wait she was for it before she was against it.

Is there a more cynical rationale for Sarah or what exactly is the most cynical rationale? Conspiracy theorists listen up. Remember this is about winning. If you are the incumbent party with the nation in recession, you're down in the polls with 60 days to November, the clock is winding down, it's all bets in (or is it off?), this one's for all the marbles, no holds barred, send up your best Hail Mary, (insert appropriate game-on-the-line cliche) etc., etc.

What if Palin was chosen for this moment and this moment only? A contract player who within a year's time would develop personal challenges such as the need to care for an infant with Down syndrome, a daughter who is now a teenage mother, a new grand-child, and a son in Iraq, requiring her to give up such a powerful job (yes powerful thanks first to Gore and then Cheney) and put Family First? Who could or would blame her? She would be heralded for making that choice and grow her legend with conservatives everywhere. Can you imagine the book deals, the made-for-TV movies, more magazine covers, finally an appearance on Oprah? Can you say Celebrity?

Before Rove, the mere suggestion would have me rolling my eyes and tuning out on such a ridiculous line of reasoning. Now...I don't know...could this be possible? Section Two of the 25th Amendment states: "Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress." When Spiro Agnew resigned, Gerald Ford was chosen and confirmed as Nixon's VP. Later when Ford became President, Nelson Rockefeller was selected and confirmed as VP.

Hmmm, choose your real VP after the election, no messy approval/vetting by your conservative base necessary? Sure solves McCain's pre-Palin VP problems with his base by taking a potential internal party fight off the table in time for the home stretch. Does anyone see Palin at the top of her ticket in four to eight years? This of course all presupposes a win in November.

Finally, when the dust settles and Palin goes back to Wasilla, what will be the legacy of her nomination of the moment? The rule of unintended consequences might actually predict a step forward for women in spite of Palin's pick. This election is historical for placing cracks in all sorts of ceilings and psychological barriers. Wouldn't it be nice next time to know support for a woman is due to belief in the merits of the candidacy? Now that's cynical.

Here we go again.

Michelle — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:59:09 EDT

Those who can't pronounce the word "nuclear" have no business promoting it as a potential source of energy.

It's pretty dangerous stuff. While I believe that nuclear energy does have a future potential with the right research, it hasn't been done yet..... yup, it's dangerous stuff. And if your "gal" can't invest the time to learn the word to include it as part of her vast experience.... how much can we expect her to absorb about half life and radioactive isotopes?

Remember the cowboy who couldn't pronounce "nuclear"? He hasn't even left office yet and we as the public have already forgotten him. We've forgotten his legacy of debt, constitutional debauchery, war mongering, and war crimes.

Somewhere, somehow, sometime recently, I think that the big sky guy just did a master reset on everyone's brains. What is a legacy anyway? And just who am I talking about? I can't remember.

But I must tell y'all. She has such great hair. She wears it in so many ways and it does look good! And what is that shade of lip color? Inquiring minds want to know.

Michelle

McCain On VP Duties

Ange — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:43:21 EDT

STEPHANOPOULOS: What authority would you delegate to the office of vice president? And should those authorities be more clearly defined through a constitutional amendment?

MCCAIN: Having been considered for that post several times, I've thought a lot about that. The vice president really only has two duties. One is to cast a tie-breaking vote in the case of a tied vote in the Senate. And the other is to inquire daily as to the health of the president. I really would do what some presidents have done in the past.

Fw: An Alaskan woman's view of Sarah Palin

Synergy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:27:55 EDT

Date: August 29, 2008 9:19:27 PM EDT

Subject: FW: [Bryn Mawr Class 1968] John McCain's VP nominee

Thought you might be interested in an Alaskan woman's view of Sarah Palin.......

Rosemary

Dear classmates (Bryn Mawr Class 1968)

As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on
Sarah Palin, Senator McCain's choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I
know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that
he picked her.

The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in
the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life
time member of the NRA and has w orked tirelessly to allow
indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and
bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial
hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars
that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school
system. We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the
country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad,
but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are
many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is
appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial
hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to
informative web sites.

She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet
the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has 'green' policies. The
only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has
consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power
plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home
town of Wasilla),strip mining, and almost anything else that will
unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy< /FONT>
its environment.

Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla,
a small red neck town outside Anchorage. The average maximum education
level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade.
Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and
other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put
Palin in office in the first place. I know what I'm talking about.
These people don't have a concept of the world around them or of the
serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don't care. So long as
they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears
and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the
wilderness, they're happy. I wish I were exaggerating.

Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal.
She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn't
like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man's
performance and ability weren't considered; it was a totally personal
firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn't
close to the scandal of Ted Steven's corruption, it shows that Palin
isn't 'squeaky clean' and causes me to think there ay be more issues
that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn't care.

When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable
if it weren't so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics
(admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs,
knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment,
health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads
of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me.

In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in
the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John
McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that
the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and
possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate
as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try
to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. When McCain introduced her
today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and
Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton.

To those of you who, like me, supported Hilary and were upse t that she
did not get the nomination, please don't think that Sarah Palin is a
worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you
think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine
her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To
those of you who are independent or undecided, don't let the choice of
Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified
McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I
guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the
poor choice of Palin tells us a grea t deal about McCain's judgment.
While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is
obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally,
a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and
unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president.

I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high.
I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political
affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to
live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.

Jackie S.

Palin's Misguided Views

Mahfuz — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:50:33 EDT

The only issue we see from Sarah Palin is that she tried firing her ex-brother-in-law. There are more issues besides this one that people seem to not look at. She wants drilling in ANWR, the attack on the bridge to nowhere is bleak, she has asked to take out the polar bear out of the endangered species list because it would affect the energy development in Alaska, move the beluga whale off of the endangered species list, and supports shooting wolves from low flying airplanes. On top of that, she doesn't believe global warming is caused by humans.

Biden v. Palin: No Contest!

Not-a-Sheep : ENOUGH is ENOUGH! — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:22:19 EDT

To even consider putting Palin on par with Joe Biden is an absolute OUTRAGE and insult to Senator Biden who has been in the Senate nearly 40 years, is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a Constitutional law expert, has been involved in thousands of policy initiatives throughout the years, knows and has known global leaders personally from all over the world. WHAT in heavens name are these people thinking who took CNN's poll and have a more favorable rating for Palin than Biden? What dream world do they live in??? I interned for Joe Biden when in high school (way back in the 70's) and Palin was a CHILD then!! The difference in their world and political experience is NIGHT AND DAY! Heck, there are more people in the tiny state of Delaware than ALL of Alaska!

What experience does she have with a global economy, the war, healthcare, education, immigration, crime, the mortgage crisis and the impending credit crisis to follow, campaign finance reform, pending legislation on numerous issues of policy, or anything else ON THE ISSUES? Why is she hiding from the press? Do you know why; so she can be coached on all these issues where she has NO EXPERIENCE, and knows NOTHING. Granted McCain is the top of the ticket but seeing as he offers nothing new beyond the Bush Administration, and is elderly, has senior moments, and has cancer....what happens when he dies in office and we are left with this neophyte to run the country???

Sara Palin from the ground

Cactus Wren from Tucson — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:24:36 EDT

This was checked on Snopes.com and it was in fact written by someone who knows Sarah Palin and her history. Interesting reading.

ABOUT SARAH PALIN
by Anne Kilkenny

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.

My Reaction to Palin VP Announcement

Debbie West — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:28:25 EDT

Here we have a person who has been governor of the most culturally isolated state in the union for 20 months, a state with the population of San Francisco and a state whose economy is solely based on natural gas, oil, and federal dollars. She is extremely socially conservative, and she HAD TO GET A PASSPORT IN 2007 to visit the Alaskan National Guard troops in Kuwait - apparently she also visited guardsmen in Germany and had a stopover in Ireland as well. I find there is no way for me to research her background, advisors, management style, policies, etc. because there are no independent sources that have credibility with me (I don't have enough time reading Alaska newspapers to have a credibility rating on them, and I have used no television sources in my evaluations as I find my research more throrough than theirs). I am outraged that John McCain says she is ready day one in the same breath that he says he cares deeply about this country. Anyone who spouts the party line that she is ready day 1 and more experienced than Obama will lose all credibility with me. Maybe we should start a website to keep a list of these folks for future reference.

Analogies I like:

Matt Damon (paraphrased): This is like a bad Disney movie, hockey mom from Alaska, takes husband and 5 kids to Washington, becomes president. (note: Disney would include a pregnant daughter because the conservative right would boycott).

Mine: This is like taking a gas station manager and promoting them to CEO of Chevron.

Is Mrs. Sarah Palin's speech consider Manifest Destiny

funkfresh01 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:00:35 EDT

Is Mrs. Sarah Palin's speech consider Manifest Destiny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a--9ZEf42rE

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-77413

What is your Opinion?

Palin: Wrong Woman, Wrong Message

Nia "Hussein" J. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:28:45 EDT

Palin: wrong woman, wrong message
Sarah Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Hillary Clinton. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.
By Gloria Steinem
September 4, 2008

Here's the good news: Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right wing -- the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party -- are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this to women -- and to many men too -- who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley Chisholm, who first took the "white-male-only" sign off the White House, and to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny to win 18 million votes.

But here is even better news: It won't work. This isn't the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It's about making life more fair for women everywhere. It's not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It's about baking a new pie.

Selecting Sarah Palin, who was touted all summer by Rush Limbaugh, is no way to attract most women, including die-hard Clinton supporters. Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton. Her down-home, divisive and deceptive speech did nothing to cosmeticize a Republican convention that has more than twice as many male delegates as female, a presidential candidate who is owned and operated by the right wing and a platform that opposes pretty much everything Clinton's candidacy stood for -- and that Barack Obama's still does. To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, "Somebody stole my shoes, so I'll amputate my legs."

This is not to beat up on Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to me. I regret that people say she can't do the job because she has children in need of care, especially if they wouldn't say the same about a father. I get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn to compete with Sen. Joe Biden's 37 years' experience.

Palin has been honest about what she doesn't know. When asked last month about the vice presidency, she said, "I still can't answer that question until someone answers for me: What is it exactly that the VP does every day?" When asked about Iraq, she said, "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

She was elected governor largely because the incumbent was unpopular, and she's won over Alaskans mostly by using unprecedented oil wealth to give a $1,200 rebate to every resident. Now she is being praised by McCain's campaign as a tax cutter, despite the fact that Alaska has no state income or sales tax. Perhaps McCain has opposed affirmative action for so long that he doesn't know it's about inviting more people to meet standards, not lowering them. Or perhaps McCain is following the Bush administration habit, as in the Justice Department, of putting a job candidate's views on "God, guns and gays" ahead of competence. The difference is that McCain is filling a job one 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency.

So let's be clear: The culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a belief that women can't tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions, right down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act.

Palin's value to those patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality. She believes that creationism should be taught in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control but supports government control of women's wombs; she opposes stem cell research but approves "abstinence-only" programs, which increase unwanted births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions; she tried to use taxpayers' millions for a state program to shoot wolves from the air but didn't spend enough money to fix a state school system with the lowest high-school graduation rate in the nation; she runs with a candidate who opposes the Fair Pay Act but supports $500 million in subsidies for a natural gas pipeline across Alaska; she supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, though even McCain has opted for the lesser evil of offshore drilling. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.

I don't doubt her sincerity. As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn., she doesn't just support killing animals from helicopters, she does it herself. She doesn't just talk about increasing the use of fossil fuels but puts a coal-burning power plant in her own small town. She doesn't just echo McCain's pledge to criminalize abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, she says that if one of her daughters were impregnated by rape or incest, she should bear the child. She not only opposes reproductive freedom as a human right but implies that it dictates abortion, without saying that it also protects the right to have a child.

So far, the major new McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Of course, for Dobson, "women are merely waiting for their husbands to assume leadership," so he may be voting for Palin's husband.

Being a hope-a-holic, however, I can see two long-term bipartisan gains from this contest.

Republicans may learn they can't appeal to right-wing patriarchs and most women at the same time. A loss in November could cause the centrist majority of Republicans to take back their party, which was the first to support the Equal Rights Amendment and should be the last to want to invite government into the wombs of women.

And American women, who suffer more because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who know that women can't be equal outside the home until men are equal in it. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should be, can be and want to be at home for their children.

This could be huge.

Gloria Steinem is an author, feminist organizer and co-founder of the Women's Media Center. She supported Hillary Clinton and is now supporting Barack Obama.

Sarah Palin: Something Amiss

Nancy Lloyd — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:14:28 EDT

People, people, people -- We have so been played. While we played the "Veepstakes" for months and tried to figure out which qualified Senators, Governors or even corporate gurus might be chosen as running mates, only Barack Obama made a thoughtful, well-reasoned, best-for-our country decision.

Like a well-plotted murder mystery whose resolution completely surprised us, those of us who cannot stomach even one minute of Rush, who will not tolerate the White House's al-jazeera FOX propaganda machine voiced by RushHannityGlennBeckWallaceO'Reilly, et al, completely missed the months-long marketing of Sarah Palin. Rush Limbaugh has been baiting John McCain throughout the entire primary and general election season, even getting people to vote for Hillary, remember? After the selection of his running mate, Rush even called him John McBrilliant!

THIS IS IMPORTANT: The key to Karl Rove’s campaign philosophy is that you do not target your opponent's WEAKNESSES -- the public will figure that out for themselves. You find your opponent's STRENGTH and hit them THAT. At this point John McCain's strength is the popularity (inexplicable as it may be to US) of Sarah Palin. We MUST hit them on it!! We can take the Obama High Road, and still get the truth out. And we must. We cannot turn the other cheek this time and win. This is the 21st Century and too much is at stake.

The right (with Rove’s guidance) is targeting Obama’s strengths of intelligence, judgment and experience, and, without a moment’s pause, is calling them elitism, weakness and community “ha-ha” service.

No need to talk about family matters, anything about the kids, whose baby it is, the boyfriend, his MySpace page, her alleged affair, the other guys’ sealed divorce record, or even about the former brother-in-law, the ethics investigation that is already all about what a bad guy he is and sure to find no wrong on her part for firing the guy who wouldn’t fire him. Because it is only people like me, the voters, who care in the least about any of that, anyway, NOT the bad, bad media, who investigate and report such things. Those items are only about, how you say, cccc..character.

Sarah Palin is touted by the Republicans as "the most popular governor in the U.S."

§ Alaska’s median income is $55K, 6th in the U.S.

§ Alaska’s population is 683K ranked 47th in the U.S.

§ As Governor of Alaska, she has issued HUGE checks to ALL citizens – popular!

§ As Governor of Alaska, she lobbied for FEDERAL earmarks

§ As Mayor of Wasilla, she hired lobbyist to get earmarks (McCain’s talks ad nauseaum against!)

§ Her views on science, religion, and having been elected by a higher power are positively Bushian

§ No State sales tax in Alaska, No Income Tax

§ Spin-meisters consistently started calling Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge “AN-WAHR”, so people would forget its primary purpose! LET’S START CALLING IT BY IT’S NAME AGAIN!

§ Wants to take polar bears off the Endangered Species List

Please go to YouTube and Wikipedia and research the above right wing shows, Sarah Palin and get educated! Then get the word out. Send to both your left and right (right and wrong) friends. There is so much amiss with the Governor of Alaska as a VP candidate, this task will almost work itself.

--Nancy Lloyd 09/07/08

Palin is NO Hillary Clinton

EMC — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:57:45 EDT

We need Hillary to speak out - Palin is exploiting Hillary's career and success and likes to imply that she' the same.

Palin is playing the gender card and also whining about "media attacks b/c I'm a woman" - Hillary never did either of these.

Palin's positions are VASTLY different from Hillary's and the GOP thinks that it doesn't matter b/c "a woman is a woman".

PLEASE spread the word - Hillary, we need you (as a woman, a Dem, a smart & dedicated politician)!!

Please Join Me In A Letter Writing Campaign!

Robin Z — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:31:36 EDT

With barely two months to Election Day, there's no time to waste in doing everything we can to support the Obama/Biden campaign. I've just sent my first Letter To The Editor throught the Obama website. It's easy to do, and I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and join me.

Start by going to the homepage for the state you live in (mine is Indiana), and follow the link there. They walk you through the entire process, inviting you to pick from a selection of pertinent topics, suggesting talking points, reminding you to keep things simple and respectful, and then click, you're done. You've just sent out an important message for the campaign to a batch of newspapers.

In my case, my letter went to 10 papers, ranging from the Kokomo Times to the New York Times. THINK OF THE IMPACT IF EVEN ONE LETTER GETS PRINTED!! Not everyone lives online, and there are market segments the Obama campaign needs to reach who still read only traditional newspapers.

I chose Joe Biden as my subject, and here's the letter I wrote. Wish me luck in seeing it in print somewhere!

Title: JOE BIDEN IS THE BEST VP CHOICE FOR AMERICA

Dear Editor,

I am so grateful that Senator Obama has chosen Joe Biden to be his running mate.

It is a relief to know that America can once again have leaders who are willing to do whatever it takes to set this country back on its feet, and not put themselves first.

Joe Biden knows foreign policy inside out, having traveled the world and having met most of the world's leaders. And he knows Washington. He's a straight shooter who can bring people together across partisan divides. He is intelligent, has integrity, and understands the problems that face Americans every single day.

His experience is endless. He's led legislation on global warming, reducing the crime rate, making college more affordable, and stopping violent crime against women by holding batterers and deadbeat dads accountable. And he's a strong proponent of equal pay.

But what I like best about Joe is that he's just a regular guy. Maybe it's because he's never lived in Washington, instead choosing to travel home every night to Delaware to be with his family. I feel like he'd just as gladly sit down and talk issues with you, me, the national press, the Senate or a foreign leader, if it would help get something important accomplished for America.

As I said, I am so grateful Barack Obama selected Joe Biden. We are so lucky to have these two extraordinarily talented men on our side.

Sincerely,

Robin Z.

About the REAL Sarah Palin

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:56:29 EDT

PLEASE take the time to read this letter from a concerned American that actually knows about the real Sarah Palin. I just came across this article and I wanted to share with everyone before it ends up missing forever. The main link appears to have been suspiciously "SUSPENDED" for some reason (very reminiscent of China's censorship of the government documents proving they used under-aged gymnasts in the Beijing Olympics) but for now you can still use this link to get to Google's cached version or read further in this blog :

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:lepOYLKwhdEJ:www.thepresidentialcandidates.us/about-sarah-palin-a-letter-from-anne-kilkenny/741/+Anne+Kilkenny&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Forget Palin - More McCain Incompetence

James Andre — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:16:36 EDT

Perhaps the biggest secret of the Presidential campaign is the choice of the Vice Presidential nominee. The choice is revealed at the last minute and raises the stakes of the election game a great deal. It is often called 'the first act as President.' The selection is thought to expose strategy, temperament, and planning.

Read entire article...

Sarah Palin Is a George Bush Look-Alike

Nancy Pace — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:14:44 EDT

The U.S. already elected a Palin lookalike--George W. Bush--a "pretty," likeable, electable young face with an earnest, authentic voice, ideological convictions and good intentions, someone "real," "like us," who didn't know much but who who was willing to "learn." The American public trusted and hoped that he would be instructed and guided by a range of wiser experts, as necessary. Consider where that got us. Should Palin need to step up to the top job, her office and her mind, too, will be taken over by the same little committee of small-minded, incompetent, warmongering political insiders who now direct her campaign, and they will once again run the country amok.

Hillary Clinton is the person best-qualified to speak to the legitimacy of Palin's candidacy. She can stop Palin's runaway train (wreck) from happening if she offers her best work now. Keeping Palin from succeeding will also support the likelihood that future well-qualified Presidential candidates will not have to run after the ignominious failure of a first, failed woman President or Vice President.

The McCain campaign would love for the American public to think this campaign is "about" being "for" or "against" Palin. It's not. It's about choosing between Obama and McCain on the issues that affect the American people. But the McCain campaign very much hopes we will forget about the issues, in the midst of all the Palin drama they'll keep stirring....

Palin will do a LOT to open feminism up to conservatives, so there is some good in that. She is in many ways a good, remarkable woman, just misguided and ill-informed. I admire her grit and her many abilities and accomplishments. However, I certainly do not agree with her politics, and she is in no way qualified to be either President or VP of the U.S.

No major party would dream nowadays of nominating a man with such weak credentials, so they nominated her in part in hopes of stealing the women's and evangelicals' votes, and in part because she is a very talented, smooth political operative. I would not entrust such an important office to an unqualified woman, no matter how appealing, and I will vote for the ticket which is best-qualified and most likely to solve our many global challenges and right our economy, and make the rest of the changes we need here at home--Obama/Biden.

Palin knows almost nothing about national and international politics, and on several issues, she is a right-wing extremist clearly out of step with most Americans. Shame on McCain. His gambit may work, but it's cynical and self-serving.

Palin is a good spokeswoman for Republican ideology, and certainly unique, and I wish her much growth. She has a bright future in conservative politics as a talking head for the powerful insider Rove/Limbaugh/Cheney puppeteer troupe (although they may find her harder to "handle" than Bush was--maybe not.)

But regardless of her politics, she is in no way ready to run our country in it's hour of greatest need.

Although admittedly, Palin is a big step up from Cheney....

Hillary and other feminists need to say, Yes, a qualified women for VP or President, but Palin is not qualified. I'm sorry, but Palin's face and style keep reminding me of Annette, the Mouseketeer. J-O-H N-S-M C-C-A-I-N! Sorry, Annette. But if it quacks like a duck....

I also think we need someone who will be a 24/7 President, as Obama has promised. He has pre-arranged the excellent care of his children with his wife, in-laws and friends, and they are counting on him to show up and be Daddy on occasion, but not to have any family responsibilities other than being father, husband, friend. He does not have five children, one a special-needs infant, one heading to Iraq and one young, unmarried, pregnant and vulnerable.

Clearly, Palin's husband will be playing the traditional parent-at-home job, and I suspect he'll be good at it. If Palin is willing to turn the raising of the family over to him and others, as Barack has done, and leave herself only the responsibility of showing up to be loving Mommy on occasion, as Barack does, then she can be a 24/7 leader. Otherwise we're gonna get cheated.

Both candidates should of course be with their families during major family crises, which arise more often in families of five children than of two children (see above). Presidents are also needed on the job during world crises. Enough said. I welcome the national dialogue that will occur on this issue, of just how much responsibility any parent of either sex can reasonably take on simultaneously at home and at the office, and still perform "equitably," satisfactorily, laudably

Obama's judgment and patriotism is so evident in his choice of Biden, and McCain's seems ever more unstable, imprudent, impulsive. Certainly Palin was not thoughtfully vetted.

We desperately need national leadership, and we need a clear vision of where we are going and how to get there, not partisanship. We need someone who can give us good reasons to pull together, not someone who's extremism will tear us apart. McCain is all about scaring people into voting for him, and about making people think this election is about Palin and not Obama or McCain.

By insisting that the media is to blame for critically vetting Palin, the Republicans are setting themselves up to excuse Palin from future unscripted media dialogue, interaction, and risky exposure. Palin's a maverick, it's true, but a maverick whom we know little about, who should not be cutting her pretty teeth on the Presidency.

By the way, I understand McCain will soon be shipping Palin back to hide out in Alaska to prepare for the upcoming VP debate. She desperately needs uninterrupted time to bone up on all the national and international “stuff” that she has remained happily clueless about for forty-four years. She'll also be able to stay safely away from the pesky (i.e.,"unfriendly") press scrutiny and risky unscripted media events Barack has been subjected to for the last nineteen months (not counting his previous four campaigns for public office.)

When the only tool you know well is a hammer, all problems look like nails, and McCain's most familiar hammer is the military. None of the national and global problems the next President will face can be solved militarily (or by a rookie testing out her learning curve.)

I once enjoyed hunting too, my daughter was a very competitive basketball player, I admire strong, ambitious, talented women and I love to see them get ahead in politics. But really, Vice President? I don't think so.... This is a big decision, folks. Let's all do some serious thinking about it's implications. Our lives and our children's lives, our money, the fate of the nation, the world, our very planet is at stake.

Sarah Palin is a train wreck waiting to happen

Marcy in Genesee WI — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:49:27 EDT

At some point in time, the media must decide that the "pit bull with lipstick" has no business being in the White House. What we have learned about her in the past week should have been enough for McCain to remove her from the ticket. Now he is stuck with her, and that's a good thing for us.

Her experience as a PTA member, soccer mom, tv news anchor, beauty queen, small-town mayor and governor of a state of 600,000 gives her no credentials to be a heart beat away from leading America.
There is an ethics investigation in her home state alleging abuse of power
She flip-flops on issues when it suits her (e.g., the "Bridge to Nowhere").
She believes God tasked us with the war in Iraq.
She is mean-spirited and vindictive (her cheap shots at Obama at the convention, and her vengence on her ex-brother-in-law).
She has no foreign relations experience, unless you count being close to Russia. She didn't even have a passport until last year.
She attended six different colleges in six years. Her degree is in journalism.
The State of Alaska is much different than the states in the continental US. Different issues, smaller population, different culture.
Palin said the Alaska pipeline is "God's will" and her constituents should pray for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k84m2orSOaM&feature=related

There's so much more. At length, the truth will out.

Here's an interesting blog: http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2008/08/sarah-louise-palin-is-not-fit-to-be_31.html

MOMS AGAINST SARAH PALIN

4 THE LOVE OF PEOPLE — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:23:23 EDT

After reading please go to http://webpages.charter.net/suasponte/. It truly sheds light on the true Sarah Palin. It is written from a resident of Wasilla, Alaska.

:
http://momsagainst.livejournal.com/

I was and
am deeply offended by Gov. Palin's speech.
Here all eyes were on her and she could have delivered something that
will comfort the America people about where our country will go. Instead, she degrades herself not Obama and
present herself as the attack dog of the Good Ole Boys Club.   Before the speech I had a slim amount of
respect for her, after the speech I
would not vote for MCCain or her if they gave me a million bucks.    She was rude, definitely not a lady or
respected politician. I support Obama
but she can't hold a candle to Hillary.
Hillary has more integrity in her pinkie finger than in Sarah's whole
existence. I am a woman, an American
woman, and you will and could not ever
earn my vote. I pray that America will wake up and not be fooled by this below
the belt, offensive, no merit, arrogant along with ignorant tactics.

As a
mother of two, one being a 3 month old,
I could not imagine placing my love ones in the front lines of battle.   It as if you praise yourself for having a special
needs child.   I saw the baby toss from
person to person as if it was a football.
As if they were saying, "It's your turn, no your turn."   It was sickening how she paraded her family
as a trophy won at the last Iron Man Snowsled Show.     Is this what we want representing America
to other countries?    I scream
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Her performance
last night was despicable, appalling, arrogant and JUST PLAIN IGNORANT.    You unjustly criticized a man that have
only been gracious and respectful in his words for you and your family.   He stood against the media ridiculing and
judging your daughter being pregnant.
That brings up another point, if
you were on your JOB at home, would your child even be pregnant?????   We all know that you give a child too much
freedom at a time that they need guidance, all sorts of things can occur: teen pregnancy, drug abuse, alcholism,
STD's.   Ms. Palin claims to be an
advocate for the renown "SOCIAL
CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT" that cherish the principles outlined in the BIBLE
but all I heard WAS hate, sarcasm, and
arrogance far from humility and love that surrounds the principles of
the church.

Before
you preach to the choir take heed of your own sermons. I encourage mothers who were insulted by
her speech, stand together and fight against this cynical BELOW THE BELT
tactics. I am forming "MoMs Against
Sarah Palin." Please let me know
if you want to join the movement.

God Bless

Must See...Funny But True

Mr. Mr. — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:27:52 EDT

Please watch and share

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card

A Response to Sarah Palin Speech

Ligaya — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:24:14 EDT

In the spirit of the Obama campaign, I will make this blog about the facts and from my own heart. I was compelled to write something, anything after watching Palin’s speech to defuse some of this pent up emotion.

Granted, I was already a dedicated Barack Obama supporter and I was stumped to hear that John McCain had selected a female running mate that had been a relative unknown in the political circles; however, I am obligated to at least know where people stand and should be a responsible citizens by hearing other views if I am to call myself an informed voter. Try as I might, it was difficult to watch Sarah Palin’s performance in its entirety. On so many different levels I could not relate, connect or anything remotely close to finding a commonality with this woman. I had hoped that she would appeal to me on at least one talking point. Instead, I found her presumptuous, divisive, negative, and lacking conviction in her message. Allow me to elaborate on each of these interpretations.

Presumptuous – “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.” Gov. Palin, it is the hard work of us community organizers that impact the lives of the people in our respective communities. Unlike the paid officials who WE pay to serve us and our communities, we “community organizers” are the ones who bring about reach healing, reach change, real solutions when you paid elected officials fail us time and again. It’s us “community organizers” who exhaust our time, our resources, and ourselves to raise our voices and bring attention to the issues that you paid elected officials ignore. Whether it’s me in small-town Nashville, Tennessee or Maureen Burrows from New Hampshire who is a community organizer and delegate that has worked hard “for the past eight years” on behalf of Senator McCain, WE, community organizers have actual responsibilities. Those responsibilities are the ones elected officials like you were paid to do, but we end up having to take up on our own. So next time you decide to pose as a dummy for the Republican ventriloquists, at least take the time to understand that your attempts to attack Senator Obama is actually an attack on tens of thousands of community organizers that support both parties and thousands of issues.

Divisive – “… what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it. More fear mongering, more untruths. It distresses me that this woman has obviously not educated herself on her opponent’s positions and plans or has not even listened the speech he gave just last week. In her first public address to the nation as the VP nominee, she jumps on the Republican bandwagon of attacking Senator Obama when his positions are recorded and open for scrutiny.

Negative – “But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.” “Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit.” “Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.” Really, Gov. Palin? This talk is not only negative but irresponsible. When you can finally get your head out of the “I can’t believe I was selected” cloud, perhaps you can bring yourself to utter truths. It is one thing to allow speechwriters to dictate what you will say to a crowd of millions of viewers on your historic debut, and it’s an entirely different thing, an irresponsible thing, to continue down the same path as your Republican party by telling blatant lies. What I learned from you, from your own performance, is that (1) you are more of the same as the current administration that will do and say anything at the cost of your own reputation and degradation of the American way of life; (2) you specifically and your party generally do not represent me or the many of the American people for that matter in your views, your tactics, your message, your lack of integrity, your lack of inclusively and community, your fear mongering and your extremist values; (3) you have no respect for the causes of the everyday people who attempt to improve the conditions of their lives through grassroots activism (though your speech is laden with so-called empathy for small-town America, you managed to contradict yourself by demeaning the work and commitment of these same people who serve as community organizers); (4) that you do not know what “real responsibilities” really are; (5) that you do not represent many woman of this day if you accept standing as a puppet and reading insincere speeches that are written for you that contain harsh, mean-spirited and divisive language combined with jovial, American pie personal narratives that didn't even come across as heartfelt when delivered; (6) that you either have nothing to contribute in terms of potential solutions to the real issues America is currently faced with or that you do not have a real grasp of these many issues if you elected to use your moment in the spotlight to attack your opponents instead of conveying to America your aspirations for a brighter, healthier, thriving and safe future; and (7) there is no chance of me reconsidering my support for Senator Obama when you’ve pushed me so much further into his corner, so much so that I may ask him to consider me for VP on his second term. I get the feeling that he would consider the second in command position far too important to risk selecting someone with a business administration background and zero nationally impacting policy making experience. I will have loved the opportunity to respectfully decline on the basis of my lack of qualifications, lack of foreign policy experience, lack of national policy experience and the knowledge that there are many people far more qualified and prepared to serve in the VP capacity than me.

Finally - “If character is the measure in this election ... and hope the theme ... and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.” Thank you, Gov. Palin, we will. We will elect the great man Senator Barack Obama as the next president of the United States of America. After all, it is Senator Obama who has displayed character throughout the past 19 months and hope was his theme from the very beginning. It was just recently that your guy decided to adopt these measures and themes when he saw how successful Senator Obama has been. The difference is that while McCain can try to steal these words as his new slogans, Senator Obama has been living and exemplifying them since, guess when . . ., since he was a community organizer.

Country First

Jeremy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:14:55 EDT

Hi my name is Jeremy and for anyone that knows me, this is not a document that anyone would be expecting to read from me. But in 63 days our country is going to decide the next President of the United States, and on that very day we will decide as Country where this Country is today and where it is going in the future.

On one had we have Barack Obama trying to bring change to this Country by changing the way this country does day to day business. He wants to lower taxes imposed on the middle class, create jobs that people like you and I can excel at, he wants to help reduce if not eliminate our dependency on foreign oil, and lower health care cost. He wants to make American strong by making our backbone stronger. People like you and I are that backbone, it is not the super wealthy that make our Country strong. It is people like you and I that work 40 + hours a week just so we can enjoy those few quite hours at home with our family and friends. It is the kind of ideas that Obama is bringing to the table that will make a difference in lives of people like you and me.

One the other hand we have John McCain running a campaign on the principle of putting Country first, if to imply the fact that the other side does not. It is this "Country first" idea that has me pulled into this election hook line and sinker, because one would have to ask the question: Country first, Really? Career First, More Likely.

With his first major decision he brings on to the seen a fast talking, good looking, popular Mayor with absolutely no experience to be Vice President of the United States and currently under investigation for abuse of power. While a campaign should not be about the Vice President in this case it is. We have to look at what Palin brings to the table, and ask the question would someone putting Country first really put this person in charge of the country? Ask yourself the following.

1. Should a President or Vice President EVER imply that our Country is fighting a War of God's plan & that our troops are doing the work of God? First off is War ever really God's plan?

2. Should a President or Vice President EVER have a say in what books go into our libraries?

3. Should a President or Vice President EVER allow creationism and nothing else be taught in our Public schools?

The above are NOT principles that make this Country what it is and what it should be. American stands for Freedom, Freedom of speech, Freedom of CHOICE, Freedom of Religion, that is why we are the United States of America. The above thoughts, principals, and ideas take a stab at that Freedom. Choosing Palin as a running mate is NOT putting Country first, it is putting Career First… No Question!

So Put Country First, Put the Middle Class First, Put Jobs in America First, Put OUR Economy First, Put Change First, Put our God given right to CHOOSE the path we want to take First, Put Obama in the White House!

VOTE Nov. 4th.

Thank you Sarah Palin

Bradley from Urbana, IL — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:53:21 EDT

Dear Sarah Palin,

Last night, I almost broke my television. Why you ask? I happened to be throwing objects at it. Such an act was brought on by the audacity of one Republican vice presidential candidate making her acceptance speech at the GOP convention. Yes Sarah, step away from your down syndrome baby and future-war hero son and realize... I'm talking about you.

Now Madame Governor, I know the media is making your speech out to be some sort of message sent from God. A friend of mine referred to you as "America's new sweet heart," and several pundits have compared you to Reagan. I have a problem with this. Last night you proved something to me. You proved that you are just like every other Republican running for office, especially someone we all know as Commander-in-Chief 43. You used divisive scare tactics to try to win votes. Your speech was nothing more than an attack on Barack Obama. Guess what Sarah? It won't work this time.

What right, Mrs. Palin, do you have to make such an attack? Who do you think you are? What experience do you have that gives you the right to determine if Barack Obama is prepared to be president?

You were mayor of a town of 8,000 people. Let me tell you something, I come from a town about that size and our mayor doesn't do shit. And don't even get me started on the "executive experience" argument because John McCain has held a seat in the House and the Senate... that constitutes NO EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE. So if you are going to rip on Obama's lack of executive experience, then you should throw your own old, stiff white guy into the same ring. Shame on you Sarah.

Speaking of executive experience, let's turn to your time as an executive for a minute, shall we? Last night you stated, "I have championed reform to end the abuses of earmarks." Really Sarah? I guess I don't define "championed" as hiring a Washington lobbyist to bring $27 million dollars in earmarks to your town. Just a difference of opinion on the definition of "championed" I guess. Maybe what you meant by "championed" was the $750 million in federal spending that you requested in your two years as governor, more than any other state.

Sarah Palin, you have a way with words. But you have no record on which to back those words. And, ironically, that is what your party has been saying about Barack Obama for months now. But for some reason with you, it's not the case. HYPOCRISY.

While we're on Obama's experience, you stated last night that he has "not authored a single major law or reform." Sarah, please use google or wikipedia and learn about last year's BIPARTISAN legislation on the illegal shipping of WMDs. Or check the IL records for legislation on racial profiling, ethics reform, and death penalty policies. It might help clear up some of your fallacious statements about Obama.

Miss Palin you are a liar. Mike Huckabee lied last night. Mitt Romney lied last night. And I don't doubt that John McCain will try to pull a fast one over on me as well. Actually, I shouldn't call you a liar. After all, you didn't write that speech... A MAN DID.

For this, I want to thank you and your party.

Thank you Sarah Palin.

Your lies, your fear-mongering, and your deceptive rhetorical ways have mobilized the Democratic party. According to an article I recently read, volunteers for the Obama campaign have shot through the roof since you spoke. Now, some may say that is because we're scared. Your speech was just so amazing that now we're all shaking in our boots and we know we have to act! Well, I can tell you this. I signed up to volunteer for Obama in Ohio for 5 days preceding November 4th. And I was a volunteer for the Clinton campaign in April and May. I didn't do it because you scared me. I did it because you made me realize that I cannot let my country continue down the path of close-minded destruction you advocate.

For this Miss Palin, I thank you again.

A conversation between a former HRC supporter and myself

Beth from ColoradObama — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:08:52 EDT

One of my coworkers, who supported Hillary Clinton during the primaries, has a respectable grasp of the issues, and I asked her if I could blog a recent e-mail exchange. Private information has been deleted.

I felt like posting this because I'm feeling some anxiety because of how easily McCain's VP pick is getting away with HER lack of experience and fiery rhetoric. I can only hope the Obama campaign is waiting to pounce at the right time. I wish they would pounce NOW. I need reassurance before I have an anxiety attack meltdown! You know it's bad for me when I won't watch The Daily Show or The Colbert Report. :>(

Sarah Palin

Shep — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:37:37 EDT

Everyone seems to be ranting and raving about Sarah Palin's speech last night. It looked to me as if Karl Rove had his hand up her back. Since she does not have any experience or clout within the republican party she WILL be their puppet. When Barack decided that Joe Biden would be his runningmate he did not make the decision to win over a couple of votes. If he wanted a few more votes he would have chosen Gov. Kaine of Virginia. Obama chose Biden because of his experience, morals, and his record. Joe Biden and Barack Obama will make a great team because Barack respect's Biden's opinion and Biden will tell Barack what he is thinking, even if they are not in agreement. Sarah Palin does not have the experience nor knowledge to gain the respect of John McCain. He will not listen to her opinion and i would be surprised if he would even meet with her on a regular basis. This woman will be a puppet for the Republican party. period.

Disappointed and Angry

Jamina1 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:33:48 EDT

I'm so very disappointed, and so very angry.

I'm disappointed because the media continues to frenzy about stupid topics on both sides, instead of focusing on the real meat of the situation.

Leave Palin's poor kids alone - they're going to have a hard enough time if their mother gets elected VP.

I'm also angry that so many women I have spoken with are falling for McCain's trickery.

September 4th

Amy C — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:38:25 EDT

Instead of watching the RNC last night, I went door knocking with another volunteer in my neighborhood. I was kind of nervous and shy before we started... you just never know how people are going to be, you know? Plus, I think I'm generally an introvert, so actually going door to door... it's hard! I hate to think I'm bothering people.

Anyway, overall, it was really good! People were really very nice, even if they weren't interested. I did speak to a few people who flat out told me that they were Republicans and that they WOULD NOT be voting McCain/Palin - mostly because of Palin. Some of the women I spoke to were FURIOUS at his choice. Almost like one woman is as good as another... I did get mildly attacked (too strong) by a dog. He jumped on me and grabbed my sweater is his teeth!! Bite marks were luckily just on my clothes... but those can be repaired. I'm really glad I went out last night. It gave me a confidence boost that what we're doing here is helping to make a change. Also that there are many, many, many people out there who are also on board.

I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker this morning regarding Palin that's gotten me thinking. We (me included) have been saying (either under our breath or outloud) that we wonder how Palin will be able to be VP and raise a family. Wait... Wait! Are we really actually saying she can't do it all? If Todd Palin was the VP contender, would we be saying the same thing? Granted, I understand that women do 99% of the child-rearing in this country, but... it's just interesting.

Who am I kidding - she won't be VP! So I guess it's not really going to be a problem. :)

Until next time,

Amy

Palin gives a good speech

Bill — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:37:11 EDT

Wow! What a performance Gov. Palin gave last night. Everyone is so impressed...so what

I find it interesting that the republicans feel that giving a great speech is proof positive that Sarah Palin is ready to the V.P. These same people claimed only a week ago; the exact same reason for Obama's not being ready to be the President!

I am outraged;but glad that the speaking part is over. Now Let's get real about this election!

I think that Time magazines' Joe Klein said it best... Calling the McCain campaign’s assault on the media “insidious”, “bullying” and “not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.”

The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign’s war against the press … So what’s going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he’s ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field…any intimations that he’s gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable. The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair–sexist (you gotta love it)–personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the fact the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media–about the substance of Palin’s record as mayor and governor. …There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is “a task from God.” The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.

That’s straight talk, the clear-quill real deal.

Klein comes in for a lot of grief from liberal blogs because he was originally a vocal supporter of the Iraq invasion. It’s been a goodly while now since Joe said that was a mistake he regrets and that’s good enough for me. Liberals really should be cutting Joe some slack - he’s a well-connected, establishment journalist who has worked out that he was fooled once and is determined not to have it happen again.

Let's Talk Issues.

Let's Talk Truth.

Let's leave the Rove, Bush "old" RNC tactics out in the cold.

How to promote your VP

John from Houston, TX — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:33:19 EDT

Sarah Palin has an incredibly compelling story and represents a growing wave of support among social conservatives, helping to raise the level of enthusiasm for the Republican ticket well beyond any it has enjoyed so far in this election cycle. Here is how to make the most of this situation: paint a picture for the American Public of how Joe Biden will approach the office of the Vice Presidency, and how a President Obama would make the most of Biden's credentials.

I think the wrong tactic right now is to try and attack or even criticize Governor Palin's record, which will only result in much more backlash and distaste than score points. Don't worry, there are plenty of media sources which will bring up all of her dirty laundry on their own, the Obama/Biden campaign needs to focus on what will most help the American people. They can do that by talking about how a President Obama would elevate the office of the Vice Presidency by tasking Joe Biden with the serious effort of helping to restore America's place on the global diplomatic stage.

Joe Biden has the background and connections to become a "global" ambassador for the United States by actively seeking to repair the diplomatic damage done by the Bush Administration. He can work with the Secretary of State and meet with foreign leaders from all parts of the world to help them to understand the foreign policy vision of the Obama Administration and work together to address some of the serious issues that all countries face: terrorism, poverty, climate change, and diminished financial integrity.

Who'se not ready now?

the_right_is_wrong — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:09:13 EDT

As Sarah Palin tries to walk into the light that Hillary Clinton worked so hard to build, the Republicans have worked even harder to sell the idea that Palin has more executive experience than both Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.

The funny thing is that by this argument, she also has more executive experience than John McCain! Let us not forget that Obama's constituency alone is bigger than the population of her entire state. What's even more unfortunate is that she is not running for President. She is running for Vice President - a job that she had to have spelled out for her before she would even accept the nomination. But it's okay - she would only president of a legislative body that she's never had any experience in. Can Joe Biden slam dunk? If so, can we get a video clip of that?

John McCain and the Republicans will say anything to win this election. And what they don't understand is that they cannot buy what Hillary earned! Hillary wasn't selected at the last second by a man weary of his political weaknesses. She fought valiantly to the bitter end as a fierce contender for the Democratic Nomination. Like dogs, John McCain thinks he can wave a bone in the face of women and that they'll sit, upright and obedient, and do the will of their master.

I can't imagine a bigger insult than this, and that is at the root of the liberal frenzy over his pick. We'll see what it adds up to in November, and hopefully things will be fully spelled out for him over this shameful last minute Hail Mary. No pun intended...

What People Who Know Palin Are Saying

Mark from Boulder, CO — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:08:22 EDT

From Brad Smith to Anne Kilkenny:
Dear Anne,
Since you live in Wasilla where Sarah Palin was mayor please tell me about
her as a person and public official. Did you know her personally? What
observations can you share about Sarah Palin as she moved forward in Alaska
politics?
Regards, Brad
--------------------------------------

From Anne to Brad:

I have known Sarah since 1992. Wasilla is a small town. Everyone here
knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis.
My son is a friend of her daughter Bristol. 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 has matured a lot since her early days on the City Council. Thank God.

She is enormously popular, having enjoyed approval ratings above 70%, and
as high as 80%, as Governor. 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".

She's smart and savvy, but her only real experience is as mayor of a city
with a population of about 4,500 (at the time), and 1.5 yrs as governor of a
state with under 700,000 residents.

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 eight
months.

She is "pro-life" and she walks that talk. She recently gave birth to a
Down's syndrome baby.

She has terrific parents who have been there for her and lots of help
raising her kids and managing her family. She has good kids.   Like all
politicians, she is a largely absent parent, and spends more time with her
kids in public when there are cameras rolling than in private.   Her family
was slow to grasp the reality of political life and used to complain about
her parenting.

She is photogenic in spades. She is a good smiler. She is a former TV
reporter and is comfortable behind the camera. She is a former beauty
queen.

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.

She has taken on the Republican Party power-brokers in Alaska.

Her husband works "2 on, 2 off" on the North Slope for BP and is a champion
snowmobile racer. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon
in Bristol Bay for a month 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; her pro-NRA positions are not
just political posturing.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this
small city was turned over to an administrator who she had been pushed to
hire by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble
over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall attempt.

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 brags about benefited large corporate
property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her 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? 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. $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs
without any borrowing. Meanwhile, the City still lacks a sewage treatment
plant and other basic infrastructure.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office re-decorated
more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a small city (population at that
time of about 4,500). Public indebtedness under her mayoral administration
increased over $4000 per capita.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in
Alaska. Rather than invest it in technology that will make us energy
independent and increase efficiency, she proposed distribution of this
surplus to every individual in the state.

SPEND AND BORROW. 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. 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 didn't like. 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", so what did she bring Wasilla?
A new set of "old boys", including Wasilla's worst-ever Public Works
Director, the totally unqualified wife of a powerful person in state
politics. She fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the
City and as Governor she hired/elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful, so 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).

Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told
the press. 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 the
nomination.

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. People fear her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah demanded
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.
A member of the Commission and the State Chair of the Republican Party was
ethically challenged, by dramatically quitting and accusing him of ethics
violations (for which he was fined) she 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 status quo.

She is solidly Republican. Her battles with the Republican party were not
over philosophy. They were over ethics and power. She is no political
maverick in terms of philosophy.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They
don't call her "Saint Sarah"; they call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her
unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. When Sarah's mother-in-law
ran for Mayor, Sarah endorsed the person who was running AGAINST her
mother-in-law who was a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President. It scares the heck
out of me to think that someone as inexperienced as Sarah Palin could become
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 under-estimated her and are
regretting it.

The McCain Head Fake

Amy DiLisio — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:43:44 EDT

It occurred to me today that Sarah Palin won't be on the Republican ticket in November...

A Secessionist Extremist VP???

Cory from Albuquerque, NM — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:51:34 EDT

Republican VP-Candidate Palin is against ALL types of gay marriages and gay benefits. Is this the American way? Is this the American mentality? No, this is an extremist's way. This is an extremist's mentality. Do we Americans not have enough extremists in the world with whom to deal, or do we really need in-house extremists as well???

Would someone be willing to remind John McCain what constitutes vetting?

Short and Sweet Palin VP Rebuttal

Joe Monica — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:35:47 EDT

Our nation loves sound bites. We'll watch a two hour debate hoping for that one-liner that will define a candidate for the rest of the election. Rebuttal of the Palin selection by democrats should be simple and clear, no convolutions, no complexity so that it is easily digestable by the masses, so here's my suggested response to the pick.

I'm pro choice, but not this choice.

He Said / She Said

Muther Bear — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:33:53 EDT

Within the first five minutes after the announcement of Governor Palin as Senator McCain's VP pick, the speculation about how careful Senator Biden would have to be during the debate with her began.

In the perfect-world fantasy-land that I live in, I trust that the candidates in all of the debates will come armed with their best strengths, their sincerest passions, their most thoughtful wisdom, and their utmost respect for the American public and each other. I believe all reproductive organs should be left at the door - figuratively speaking, of course.

Women only achieve the goal, but not the equality, if, when they get there, they still express the need to be treated differently.

I, too, hope to witness spirited, thoughtful discussion between a red blob and a blue blob during the VP debate. Having said all of this, I only have one thing to add.....

GO BLUE BLOB, GO!

Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and the GOP Identity Crisis

rahga — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:14:28 EDT

(Note: I originally wrote this on August 31 for a different venue)

When John McCain selected Sarah Palin – the former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 9,000) and, for 20 months, the governor of a state with fewer than 700,000 people – he provided clear evidence the GOP was having an identity crisis.
In the weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention, John McCain had been playing Peter Ramus to Barack Obama’s Aristotle. If you have never heard of Ramus – the renaissance philosopher and fierce critic of Aristotle - don’t worry. You do not need to know who he is to understand why he -- and his argument with Aristotle -- are important. For his part, Aristotle defended rhetoric (the art of public, persuasive communication) as foundational to any sense of democratic social order. Nearly two millennia later, Ramus attacked Aristotle’s rhetoric as a messy and inconsistent attempt to meld form and content. In layman’s terms, Aristotle, like Will Rogers, believed that public oratory and disputation (i.e., rhetoric) may be a messy business, but it represents humankind’s best bet at a just social order. Regardless, the sixteenth century was not a big time for democracy and Ramus won the day. In effect, he cleaved the teaching and study of rhetoric in two, and in subsequent centuries Ramus’ arbitrary separation of form and content came to be accepted as self-evident. By the twentieth century, most scholars had rejected Ramus’ argument. Nevertheless, it has persisted in the pervasive public bias against the word “rhetoric” as concerning deceptive and/or superficial political oratory.
By running a series of television and Internet ads in which the images and words of Barack Obama were placed in association with those of Hollywood stars such as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, the GOP attempted to tap into this public predisposition. In essence, by adopting a “rock star” strategy were asking voters to accept the Illinois senator’s rhetorical success as prima facie evidence of minimal political content. Put another way, they were betting swing voters would buy into the Republican’s Ramus-like separation of form and content and subsequently refuse to engage the substance of Obama’s arguments. The ubiquitous descriptions of Obama as a Messiah candidate served, simultaneously, to frame and dismiss him as an empty signifier – a slick-talking, inexperienced, political oddity whose arguments were not worth engaging. The strategy was transparent and eerily familiar. In the heat of a presidential campaign John McCain had decided to gamble his political reformer credentials by channeling Lee Atwater and Karl Rove.
August 29, 2008, the day McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, the GOP’s Peter Ramus strategy imploded. With the selection of Governor Palin (a person with arguably the thinnest political resume of any national candidate in modern history) the GOP was sounding more like Herschel Walker than either Ramus or Aristotle. Mr. Walker, many will recall, is the phenomenally talented ex-professional football star who recently admitted to a life-long struggle with a serious mental illness, dissociative identity disorder (better known as multiple personality disorder). And, like Walker, the GOP now faces a serious dilemma. Who are they? Ramus? Or Aristotle? More to the point, in a post-Palin world, who is Barack Obama? Only two weeks earlier Republicans had spent millions telling the nation the Democratic presidential candidate was a glib talker and a political lightweight. Radio talk show pundits such as Rush Limbaugh made explicit what the “rock star” ads clearly implied. By selecting an articulate African American as their candidate, the Democrats provided clear evidence they were more interested in “identity politics” (i.e., the facile manipulation of “superficial” matters such as race and gender) than substantive political issues.
The speed with which conservative pundits changed arguments is instructive. For example, despite months of haranguing about the Democratic Party’s myopic fascination with race and gender, within hours of McCain’s announcement, Rush Limbaugh trumpeted his sudden conversion to identity politics by posting a story with the following headline to his website:
Sarah Palin: Babies, Guns, Jesus
Hot damn! This is a woman with accomplishments.
The statement is blunt, crass, and unambiguous. By selecting Palin, Limbaugh suggests, the GOP has sealed the election. Like McCain, he is clearly betting women will flock to Palin simply because they share her biology. Early results suggest a significant number of female voters, the most clearly contested “identity grouping” in this election, are not impressed. In the Gallup and Rasmussen polls released one day after her nomination, Palin was clearly more popular with men than women and garnered the lowest confidence rating of any VP candidate since Dan Quayle. In other words, it appears Palin faces an uphill climb if she expects to win over significant numbers of disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters, most of whom – to be charitable - do not share her views on matters such as abortion, the economy, and the Iraq War. As Sarah Seltzer, a columnist with the Huffington Post wrote, “It's as though the McCain camp believes our irrational she-hormones will lead us, like sheep, to pull the lever for any candidate who looks like us--even if she has a strong record, as Palin does, of standing against women's interests.” To be sure, even some conservatives have been willing to admit that by picking Palin the GOP risks being accused of blatant hypocrisy. National Review columnist Ramesh Ponnuru, for example, attacked tokenism head on by asking, “Can anyone say with a straight face that Palin would have gotten picked if she were a man?” To be clear, none of this should be taken to mean McCain and Palin might not eventually win the White House. Recent elections make clear that voters can be a fickle lot and if the Hillary Clinton campaign tells us anything at all it is that women can think for themselves. If the GOP is to win this election, however, they must find a way to convince voters their new identity as champions of Aristotelian rhetoric and women’s rights is sincere. In that regard, one can hope that at the very least McCain and his strategists spent a long time talking about whether or not voters would perceive a contradiction between their message about Obama’s supposed superficiality at the beginning of August and their new message about the substance of Sarah Palin’s political resume only two weeks later. Whether or not the new strategy succeeds may depend on the degree to which women voters are willing to reflect on the tenor and substance of previous campaigns and on the GOP campaign to date. Palin has only been on the ticket for two days and it is already clear that many women perceive a performative contradiction between the party’s old and new messages. This is not good news for the McCain campaign. If these trends hold – that is if women remain ambivalent toward Palin and if her candidacy fails to gain traction in the blogosphere - the GOP is likely to have at least four years to figure out just who they are as a party – Peter Ramus or Aristotle of Stageira. And if that doesn’t work, Rush Limbaugh has the answer. Embrace your multiple personalities.

Lugar-Obama and Columbia University

rahga — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:59:40 EDT

Here is what I want to know: Why is the Obama Campaign not emphasizing the Lugar-Obama Non-Proliferation Bill and Obama's education at Columbia University?

On the first point, as a former high school debate coach who has had countless discussions with students about the earlier Nunn-Lugar legislation, I think I have a fair grasp of the importance of Lugar-Obama to national security and international relations. Quite simply, Lugar-Obama is one of the most important pieces of legislation to come out of the US Congress in the last decade. It seems to me McCain's nomination of a candidate with virtually no experience in foreign policy (let alone substantive education in IR) provides a perfect opportunity for the campaign to talk about Lugar-Obama (again), thus underscoring his IR credentials.

Second, Barack has a BA from Columbia University in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations. Governor Palin, by contrast, has a BS degree in communications-journalism and a minor in political science from the University of Iowa. Sigh.... I listend as long as I could last night (maybe 15 minutes) as callers to the Sean Hannity show complained about Obama's "elitist" education. Look, I'm not denigrating Sarah Palin for studying journalism, or having faith or attending a state university. I am a Christian with beliefs many would find conservative, and I'm currently finishing a PhD in communication at a state university. But since when are degrees from presitgious universities with extraordinarily high standards a liability?

I am concerned about these two issues because a quick serach of Lexis-Nexis this morning turned up NOTHING about Lugar-Obama. Meanwhile the McCain campaign is shouting long and loud about Palin's executive credentials.

Please, please... I hope the campaign reads this entry and decides to talk about these things.

Did I mention that Palin is a global warming skeptic? Heaven help us! Really. The world is a very big place and Wasilla, Alaska is a verrrry small town.

Why the crazy attacks on Palin?

TJ — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:43:24 EDT

She's the VP pick for heck sakes! I don't get it? Why the unfair blithering frenzy about her?

What are people afraid of here?

A Secessionist VP?

Cory from Albuquerque, NM — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:58:10 EDT

Why in the world would Americans want or allow a former secessionist as our Vice President? Palin couldn't even get a government clearance with that kind of history. Why would we even trust her with our country's security???

McCain Abandons Choice to Appease Far-Right Demands

TheRealFish — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:58:42 EDT

The extreme energy devoted to chatting about John McCain's vice-presidential "choice" of Sarah Palin is, I believe, energy mis-directed. It is easily noted that she was not well vetted, or that she appears vastly unready for that office -- but that focuses on the wrong issue. The real issue, if looking at underlying facts that have been reported, is most accurately reflected by my little headline.

A Very Interesting Article on McSame's Pick of Palin

Amanda Thompson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:06:19 EDT

I got this great op ed article from my ass kickin' G'ma Pat. Enjoy!

John Didn't Get What He Wanted

Sep 2, 2008 (Political Animal) John Didn't Get What He Wanted

From the NYT:

"A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice. The campaign was still calling Republican operatives as late as Sunday night asking them to go to Alaska to deal with the unexpected candidacy of Ms. Palin. (...)

In Alaska, several state leaders and local officials said they knew of no efforts by the McCain campaign to find out more information about Ms. Palin before the announcement of her selection, Although campaigns are typically discreet when they make inquiries into potential running mates, officials in Alaska said Monday they thought it was peculiar that no one in the state had the slightest hint that Ms. Palin might be under consideration.

"They didn't speak to anyone in the Legislature, they didn't speak to anyone in the business community," said Lyda Green, the State Senate president, who lives in Wasilla, where Ms. Palin served as mayor.

Representative Gail Phillips, a Republican and former speaker of the State House, said the widespread surprise in Alaska when Ms. Palin was named to the ticket made her wonder how intensively the McCain campaign had vetted her.

"I started calling around and asking, and I have not been able to find one person that was called," Ms. Phillips said. "I called 30 to 40 people, political leaders, business leaders, community leaders. Not one of them had heard. Alaska is a very small community, we know people all over, but I havenâ€™t found anybody who was asked anything."

The current mayor of Wasilla, Dianne M. Keller, said she had not heard of any efforts to look into Ms. Palinâ€™s background. And Randy Ruedrich, the state Republican Party chairman, said he knew nothing of any vetting that had been conducted.

State Senator Hollis French, a Democrat who is directing the ethics investigation, said that no one asked him about the allegations. "I heard not a word, not a single contact," he said."

As far as I'm concerned, the story about Sarah Palin is what John McCain's decision to make her his running mate says about his judgment. And what this tells us is stunning. It is basic, basic politics that before you ask someone to become your running mate, you vet them thoroughly. You want to know what you're getting into, and you don't want any unfortunate surprises. Apparently, McCain didn't bother to do this. That's astonishing. It's like starting surgery before you do an initial medical workup and diagnosis, or handing all your money over to a financial advisor before you find out whether she's legitimate. In this particular case, there are two huge problems with what McCain did.

The first is the most obvious: in choosing a Vice Presidential nominee, McCain is choosing someone who might well end up taking over as President. This would be true for anyone, but it's especially true in McCain's case, since he is a 72 year old cancer survivor. Anyone who "puts country first", as McCain is fond of telling us he does, would have taken care to ensure that that person was up to the job, and had no unpleasant secrets like, oh, past membership in a fringe secessionist organization. Not bothering to do the most basic due diligence before naming her as his running mate is staggeringly irresponsible.

The second is that McCain was willing to take a huge gamble not just with our country, but with his own political interests. As I said earlier, gambling with the country is worse, but gambling with your own interests is a different kind of bad judgment, and worth noting in its own right. If you are selfish enough to put your own interests above the interests of your country, that's awful. But it doesn't move you into the realm of the wholly unpredictable, the people from whom you truly never know what to expect. (It's like being one of those dictators who are nonetheless rational enough that things like deterrence can work with them: you are bad, but bad in a way that makes it possible to anticipate what you might do next.)

Being willing to take a huge and reckless gamble with your own interests is not like that. It's not cool and collected selfishness that leaves room for some hope that if your interests and the interests of your country align, you might end up doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. It's sheer impulsive stupidity: an unwillingness to think, in even the most basic ways, before you act. That's a terrible trait in a President.

Consider what one of McCain's advisors said about how he made this decision: "This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn't get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge."

John didn't get what he wanted. Right. He could have waited to make his decision until after Palin had been thoroughly vetted. That, however, would have meant giving up his clever idea of announcing his VP pick the day after Obama's convention speech. Alternately, he could have gone with one of the people who had been thoroughly vetted: Pawlenty, for instance. But "neither was the transformative, attention-grabbing choice Mr. McCain felt he needed, top campaign advisers said". So he decided to gamble it all on someone he barely knew and had not vetted.

Was it pique at not being able to nominate the people he really wanted? A desire to be the "attention-grabbing" maverick again, or a Norma Desmond-like urge to show the young whippersnapper who has the gall to say that he's the agent of change how it's done? Pushing back against the discipline of a campaign? Or just plain unadulterated idiocy? I have no idea, though I suspect it's all of the above. What I do know, though, is that I don't want someone who makes decisions like this to be my President.

John McCain Wears Flip-Flops; Sarah Palin Dons Scandals

Sean from Stony Brook, NY — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:04:55 EDT

In a matter of hours, Sarah Palin, known by a relatively small number of Americans - those under her neoteric governance in our nation's forty-ninth state and politically-savvy pundits alike - has become a household name. Palin's relative "hotness" according to Google, is volcanic. Indeed, just minutes after the official announcement of her candidacy for the second highest office in our nation, the number of searches for her name increased one-hundred fold; that, and she's probably the most attractive politican to come along since Margaret Thatcher. Now there's a fox! Me-ow!

Anywho, by choosing a politican who is not just a relative unknown, but one who has spent less than two years as governor in a state some forget is part of America, John McCain and his dogged campaign have accomplished four things:
First, they were able to run an ephemral story at the perfect time to refract any lengthy discourse about Barack Obama's historical speech 45 years after Martin Luther King, Jr. first dreamt of peace and harmony. It was one of the campaign's wiser moments. Second, by nominating a female, they guaranteed that it is not only the Democratic party poised to make history in November. It was almost as if, with this pick alone, John McCain said, "Hey, you don't have to vote for Obama if you want to be a part of history." Indeed, it is all but certain that, come November, for the first time ever, a team of white males will not occupy the desks at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. With this pick, John McCain and Sarah Palin invited those vacillating and disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters along for the ride. Noting that "the women of America aren't finished yet," and that they can "shatter that glass ceiling [the one frequently referenced by Mrs. Clinton in many of her speeches] once and for all," Sarah Palin produced her first rallying cry. Admittedly, it is an enticing offer for many women who know little about politics and even less about Ms. Palin. I will introduce her to you in a moment, but I wanted to briefly touch upon the other two things the McCain campaign has accomplished. By nominating someone whose political experience consists of being a two-term city council member and mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (google maps, anyone?) before launching a failed campaign to attain a lieutenant governorship, the now-governor Palin brings nothing but a new face to the campaign. It also destroys John McCain's strongest argument about Barack Obama. For months, John McCain has hammered away at Obama's relative inexperience, while touting his own lengthy stay in Washington as a positive element to his campaign. He has told the country that they cannot take a chance on someone who, by McCain's account, is not ready to serve. Now, by bringing aboard a political newcomer to be the second-highest ranking figure in America, someone who has to always be ready to assume the title of commander-in-chief, someone who has not even been involved in politics at the national level, McCain's most powerful rallying cry must trickle to naught but a whisper. How can anyone in the McCain camp decry Sen. Obama for inexperience when their number two has even less than he does? How can John McCain possibly discuss Sen. Obama's lack of preparedness when his number two has only been governor for less than two years. To put it in terms the former PTA mother of five might understand: it is the political equivalent of asking a second-year graduate student to be an assistant principal; like asking a resident doctor to be the assistant to the chief of medicine. Simply put, it is not only ridiculous, but ridiculously insulting to those with much higher credentials. Lastly, with this token pick, Sen. McCain has thrust an unprepared Sarah Palin into the spotlight and has left her record free to be examined at will by journalists, members of the media, and those of us in the blogosphere. I promised you an introduction, didn't I?

Sarah Palin welcomed herself to the national stage by giving a bland, but informative, introductory speech to let the 299,000,000 Americans not living in Alaska get to know who she is on a more personal level. She mentioned volunteering for the PTA, being a hockey mom, and loving her five children - one of whom, Track, enlisted in the U.S. Army last September. What she didn't mention was the following:

- On May 22, 2008, Gov. Sarah Palin announced that the state of Alaska would be suing the Department of the Interior for listing the polar bear as a threatened species. Her reason? The conservation of the animal and its natural habitat threatened the development of oil and natural gas. Despite many reputable scientists arguing for the preservation of the bear, Palin let loose with a revisionist history and a complete inaccuracy of the animal's numbers, saying "Polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation." (Source: http://www.adn.com/polarbears/story/413710.html) Even the Bush administration did not go that far.

- July 2007: Matanuska Maid Dairy was a state-owned business. When the State Dairy Board recommended closing it because it became unprofitable, Palin fired the entire board and appointed long-time Mat-Su Borough associates to run the company, including influential real estate businesswoman Kristan Cole. The new board quickly approved raising the price of milk offered by the dairy, in a vain attempt to control fiscal losses, despite the fact that milk from Washington was already offered in Alaska stores for less than Matanuska Maid milk. Ultimately, the dairy was forced to close, and the state tried to sell the assets to pay off its debts, but no bids were received. (Source: http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/matsu/mat_maid/story/9261530p-9176496c.html) Sarah Palin's clear lack of fiscal responsibility forced not only the closing of a once-profitable business, but the loss of jobs held by honest, hard-working Americans who happened to show her the truth she never wanted to see.

- July 11, 2008: Palin dismissed Walter Monegan as Commissioner of Public Safety and instead offered him a position as executive director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which he subsequently turned down. The right of the governor to fire him is not in dispute since the Commissioner serves at the will of the governor, but Monegan alleged shortly after his dismissal that it may have been partly due to his reluctance to fire an Alaska State Trooper, Mike Wooten, who had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin's sister, Molly McCann. Showing her penchant for never mixing personal and professional life, Governor Palin is currently under independent investigation to determine if she abused her power when firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. (Source: http://www.adn.com/politics/story/469135.html)

Ladies and gentlemen, please give Sarah Palin the welcome she deserves: a hearty congratulations for being only the second female in history to be nominated as vice-president, and give John McCain a handshake for committing political suicide. Sarah Palin, once America gets to know the real you, like the timing of your nomination, you too will soon be ephemeral. Add a comment | 5 comments | View original post

Vetting Sarah Palin

Sue — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:22:53 EDT

It's become quite clear over the last 72 hours that the McCain campaign did minimal vetting of Sarah Palin, if any at all, prior to nominating her to be Vice President.

I am setting up this blog to share information discovered about Sarah on the internet. I am not interested in rumors or gossip, only in legitimate stories that can be substantiated, or questions raised in reaction to what the McCain campaign puts forth about her, her positions, and her experience.

Sarah Palin: Obama supporter

wentzr — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:06:36 EDT

Did you know that McCain's chosen VP, Sarah Palin from Alaska has gone on the record, supporting Obama's judgement on energy policy over McCain's and expressing excitement that Obama was pulling ahead in her homestate???

<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Palin_praisesObama.html" target="blank">j</a><a href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-71266" target="blank">u</a><a href="http://adventurebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2008/08/30/1807216-sarah-palins-own-words-speak-for-themselves-she-supports-obamas-call-for-change" target="blank">s</a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/30/palin-was-excited-that-ob_n_122632.html" target="blank">t</a> <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/09/08/080908ta_talk_gourevitch" target="blank">w</a><a href="http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive-59841.html" target="blank">o</a><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html" target="blank">n</a><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008147909_palinsidebar30.html" target="blank">d</a><a href="http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Palin_Supports_Obama_s_Energy_Plan_but_don_t_tell_anyone" target="blank">e</a><a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/29/1304936.aspx" target="blank">r</a><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/09/08/080908ta_talk_gourevitch/">ing</a>.

(you wont want to miss any of those links above, especially the last one.)

Palin did question Obama's proposal to tax oil company profits... <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_19961010/ai_n10099532" target="blank">because the state of Alaska's JACKPOT is windfall tax from oil profits!!!</a> No brainer.

Not taxing oil profits might be reallllly good for the state of Alaska, but not so good for the rest of the country who rely on other industries that have been completely neglected and not offered the incentives and loop holes available for oil companies. This is a big "screw you" to blue collar workers who don't work for the oil industry. Palin might be "experienced with working in the energy business" but that doesn't mean she's not in tight with the oil business no matter how hard the McCain camp tries to spin her away from it... her self-before country politically charged stance on windfall taxes are a crystal clear demonstration of exactly why she is a pawn of the oil industry, and not the "she-maverick" the McCain camp is trying to paint her out to be.

Palin claims: “Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue,” A strong talking point for Republicans is their believe that stubbornly not taxing profits REGARDLESS of economic situations (believe me we have an economic SITUATION) reduce the incentive to invest in industries... TOTAL BS. Oil is a COMMODITY. Currently, our country completely relies on it. believe me, there is incentive to get involved with the oil industry. If you ask me, Windfall profits taxes ENCOURAGE technological developments and advancements in streamlining our economy instead of putting our economy in molasses thick stalemate. It places incentive and encourages investments on ALTERNATIVES to relying on Oil PERIOD. Windfall taxes encourage advancement and... you guessed it.... change.

If Obama did implement windfall tax on oil profits he would prevent oil companies from being able to bump up the price because of the tax, something Palin wasn't able to do when she originally voted to (HELLO) raise taxes on oil profits in August 2006 because she wasn't also president of the country. Bush allowed speculators AND oil companies to raise prices with the taxes taken into account, which raised Alaska's gas prices after she voted FOR the tax. All of this will come out to the public eye soon. I certainly hope Obama makes a point of this before McCain can try to spin it. I can only imagine it's comin' big time.

Obama knocked the ball out of the park on Thursday. Both Bidens as well as John Kerry knocked it out the night before.

So then.. McCain tries to steal the thunder by announcing his VP pick the day after Obama's historic nomination acceptance speech at the DNC, which undeniably detracted from people otherwise going to the news to see recaps. Nice, McCain, I gotta hand it to ya.. you DO know how to play politics. BUT. considering the fact that McCain's most significant talking point against Obama is a so-called "lack of experience", McCain's decision to pick an unknown, completely inexperienced VP, this choice displays just one thing: political panic.

Well... not to mention gender based manipulation, irresponsibility, and politically motivated judgement to benefit John McCain, and not the United States.

I can't speak for women, but I find his pick horridly insulting. It's all the guise of exalting women in leadership... which I don't argue, is a good thing. My woman boss is easily the best boss I've ever had. I have no idea what her wage is but It certainly BETTER be higher than any male boss I've ever had. But even she, who is on the fence politically couldn't help bringing this topic up with me first thing Friday morning, expressing her complete disgust with both McCain for selling out women and insulting their ability to follow politics enough to care about the issues, but also she was utterly sickened by Palin for accepting to be such an obvious pawn. I have to agree completely, I can't see how this pick won't backfire.

He'll probably forget her name publicly and call her Michelle or something. (he met her in person ONCE before choosing her as VP)

If I were a McCain supporter I might be blind to the fact that putting this inexperienced pawn into a vice presidential position demonstrates extremely poor judgement as it's a terribly irresponsible decision, but I really don't think McCain supporters are blind.

McCain's VP

Ben — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:53:40 EDT

Sorry about the delay, I've been camping and enjoying nature. I shudder to think with McCain choosing a VP that doesn't belive that global warming was caused by humans, how much longer I will be able to go to real scenic beauty 2 hours drive away. Is this some kind of joke?! Sarah Palin has no foriegn policy experience. With McCain 72 years old and a cancer surviver I honestly ask this question to any McCain voters, do you really want Sarah Palin answering that phone at 3 AM? I didn't think so. Sarah Palin didn't even get a passport until 2 years ago. Is she prepared to be dealing with Iran and North Korea? Listen to what one Alaskan says about her:

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She's a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. —Christine B., Denali Park, AK 1. She was elected Alaska 's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.2.

1. MoveOn.org 2. "Sarah Palin," Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008

McCains's VP Pick

Steve Shadik — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:31:09 EDT

Keep things simple when discussing McCain's VP pick.

Two on-going wars. Iran. Russia. Etc. The #1 role of the president is the role as commander-in-chief (ie, protecting the American people).

This pick demonstrates McCain's poor judgment. He has a responsibility, especially b/c of his age and health, to make sure the American people safe under any circumstances. He has acted irresponsibily.

It has nothing to do with her lack of foreign policy experience. It has everything to do with her lack of ever having demonstrated any judgment on the issue. Remember, this election is not about experience.

Barack, in making his vp pick, put the safety and security of the American people first. McCain did not.

How About That Palin?

Peach McD — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:02:46 EDT

Had a fellow parishioner accost me this morning with, "How about that Palin? She's the greatest. What took you women so damned long to get someone so great running for high office?" It was shocking to me that he was trying to pick a fight just before church. If he hadn't been so elderly, I might've given him one, though.

The right-wing echo chamber was caught flat-footed by the VP choice, but they've wasted no time coming up with talking points for the dittoheads to repeat whenever challenged. My fellow Christian got the idea somewhere that this woman was a feminist's dream come true. Oy, veh! Perhaps Alzheimer's disease has destroyed his memories of Shirley Chisolm, Geraldine Ferraro, and (already!) of Hillary Clinton (whom Palin called a whiner during the primaries for objecting to sexist treatment by the press).

Old Al is convinced that Palin is a great woman, whose beauty is an actual asset in politics, and whose less than two years as governor of a state less populous than Milwaukee qualifies her for any position the US can offer her. Oy vey some more.

I can't blame the GOP for getting desperate. I can't be surprised by their cynicism anymore. I can't fault their use of the news cycle. But I would rather have had Danny Quayle in the White House than a woman who laughs at nasty jokes about a colleague who is a cancer survivor.

I also have deep qualms about Palin's possible abuse of executive power being investigated by the Alaska legislature. All we need is more abuse of executive power in the White House!

There are already several YouTube videos testifying to young Republicans' desire to vote with their penises ("Putting C%ntry First"?), which shouldn't surprise anyone, but this beauty queen's air-headed dismissal of the need to really understand what a Vice President does all day is really scary.

Also scary, given John McCain's age and health problems, is Mrs. Palin's Fundamentalism. This entails a position against a woman's Constitutionally-protected right to choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

I'm a faithful Episcopalian who knows history well enough to know that legislating morality doesn't work. A return to pre-Roe vs Wade laws won't decrease abortions - it will increase back-alley and coat-hanger abortions. Still more frightening for those who want every child to be a wanted child is the Religious Right's turn toward blocking access even to contraception.

One wonders whether the rumors that Palin's youngest daughter is actually her grand-daughter might reflect a family where birth control was not discussed except in negative light. If, as may be, that rumor proves as true as the John Edwards tabloid story, Palin's abbreviated vetting will blow back and McCain's campaign will be toast. Then it'll be me asking my fellow parishioner, "How about that Palin?"

Reel In the Hillary Voters Today!

Jarrett in Florida — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:15:03 EDT

Sensitivity Training: How To Talk To Hillary's Voters

My name is Jarrett. I am a life-long Democrat who campaigned and voted for Hillary Clinton in the highly contested swing state of Florida. Once again, Florida will decide the Presidential Election for the year 2008/09.

I have now switched my support to Barack Obama because his policies and outlook are far closer to my ideals than those of John McCain. The decision was easier for me than it will be for many Hillary voters because I am more familiar with the cut-throat nature of politics.

What I've noticed, since joining the Campaign for Change, is that many long-time Obama supporters don't really know how to effectively communicate with Hillary's supporters. Without further delay, I will explain the "do's and dont's" concerning the way we should solicit support from a Hillary Clinton voter like myself:

Remember H.I.L. (Humility, Interest, Love)

Humility - Hillary voters don't want to hear about you are the best and you beat them... They don't agree. We know that Hillary Clinton actually won the popular vote in swing states that will matter later on... If Obama supporters seem unaware of this inconvenient fact, they will appear foolish and egotistical to a Hillary supporter. The best thing you can say to a Hillary voter is "We REALLY need your vote/help in this election... We can only do it with support from motivated and knowledgeable folks like yourself."

Interest - Take a moment to hear what Hillary voters have to say and brace yourself... They might want to talk about how Hillary was railroaded by the media, about how sexism prevented her from winning, or about how she had the right idea concerning Universal Healthcare. You must NOT take these statements as a threat to the Obama campaign, but rather assume that these statements are a SUPPORT for the Democrats as a whole. Show the supporter that you agree with their concerns and that is why we need to stick together... Just remember that letting a Hillary voter do the talking will satisfy them - they want to educate YOU, not the other way around. The only thing they want to hear from you is that you are against Bush/McCain.

Love - Hillary solicited votes from Women, Young People, Gays and Lesbians and African Americans by speaking gently and lovingly about how much she cherishes each and every supporter. She speaks at great length about how amazing and inspiring each and every supporter is. You probably missed this if you were watching the mainstream media - but her supporters got wonderful HTML emails expressing gratitude and gifts and warm wishes. At her rallies, Hillary spent hours waving and smiling and shaking hands, and LISTENING to others. Quite frankly, this seems missing from the Campaign For Change because we are approaching crunch time. We need to always keep in mind that these are our neighbors, grandmothers, best friends, classmates and teachers. We have waited our whole lives to see a Female President of the United States of America and we are VERY concerned about Healthcare for our loved ones. Hillary voters WANT to support Barack Obama, but any percieved insult or indifference to Hillary as a person will steer them FAR away from that goal. Do not distract us with old arguments from the past. This is the NOW and we are all friends again.A good thing to say regarding this might be, "Gosh, it's really unfortunate that they wound up running against eachother in the primary because they are both such wonderful candidates."

Hillary voters MUST be reassured of the following things:

Barack Obama likes Hillary and appreciates her support in his campaign.
That Michelle Obama will be a phenomenal First Lady that we can all be proud of - JUST LIKE HILLARY IS.
Hillary is still in the game. She is a great asset to the Democratic party and to Barack Obama's campaign.
That Obama takes Healthcare very seriously and will create a path for Hillary's vision of proper care for EVERY American whereas John McCain simply does not care.
We LOVE Hillary too and we were never really "against" her... It's a race against John McCain and the corruption within the Bush Administration - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton share a common vision and will work TOGETHER to clean up America!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and please forward it to only your friends who are active in the campaign so we can continue to Ba-Rock the Vote together.

- Jarrett For Obama/Biden '08

Advice to Biden on Debating Palin...

Joseph — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:18:54 EDT

There is a two-pronged pitchfork aiming at Joe Biden every time he looks to tear down Sarah Palin in debates or on the stump: 1) she's a woman and it's best not to look like a bully; 2) in the wake of the Barack-Hillary standoff, it's necessary to treat her as a viable candidate (because a woman can be) but not let that treatment vet her for the voting public.

Strategy points to be considered are:

1. Clinton: let Hillary be Hillary; ask her to come in and do some of the grunt-work of blasting both McCain and Palin, let her take on some of the more flagrant attacks, pulling no punches on any point.

2. Spin: Palin is lying about her position on earmarks; the McCain campaign is touting her as a crusading reformer, when in fact she has reacted to Democratic-backed ethics reform, out of necessity and political expedience.

3. Oil: she may not be "in the pockets of big oil", but her energy policy is entirely rooted in her role as an Alaskan politician; her position on oil is not scientific at all, but is about directing foreign oil profits and federal dollars to a socialist fund that is paid to Alaskans; it's a way of steering money to Alaska, not a fix for our energy problems. If she cannot evolve on energy and recognize how little relevance new drilling would really have to reducing overall energy costs, she needs to be exposed on that failing.

4. Economic policy: we need the kind of elbow-grease budgetary work that characterizes Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden both, the complexities that affect our national economy in ways a small-state governor cannot see from her perspective. Is the woman who talks about the bridge to nowhere actually part of McCain's economic plans "from nowhere"?

5. History: Hillary can question Palin's ability to contribute "to history", and if Palin goes in that direction, she risks appearing to diminish the meaning of Sen. Obama's revolutionary candidacy, and she will bring up the stark contrast between the two tickets on that count.

6. Judges: she wants even more conservative judges than we now have; the balance on the Supreme Court is already radically conservative, with two of the most fringe-radical justices ever named now on the court. To continue that shift —when Roe has still not been overturned, due to the Constitutional basis of the ruling— is just to impose on generations of Americans a single ideology that does not represent the mainstream or long-standing judicial precedent.

7. Foreign policy: Biden knows foreign leaders, Obama has traveled to every corner of the world (except South America?) on official Senate business, Palin has negotiated fishing rights with neighboring states.

8. Cute vs. Charismatic: Gov. Palin is an intelligent, informed, well-spoken and determined political figure; she is capable and she can defend her positions with charm and poise. She will rely on that charismatic edge in supporting her rhetoric. Throw it back at her. There is too much about her that makes that tendency seem like a willingness to try to be "cute" instead of fully explaining herself. DO NOT BE CONDESCENDING on this point, but in a statesmanlike way, make her seem irresponsible if she looks like she's playing that card.

9. Joe: let Biden be Biden. He's unpredictable, a wild-card, but an experienced statesman whom no one doubts. Add verbal discipline and sharp answers to that host of edgy qualities, and she will be unprepared to give straight answers.

Insult to Women

Chris B — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:40:58 EDT

John McCain picked Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. For putting a person within a heartbeat of the the highest office in the land you better make danr sure that person has enough experience, but also the character and sound judgement to lead a nation. Ms. Palin does not.

Less than two years as Governor of Alaska does not qualify you for that position. Then again our economy is fundamentally sound, so says the guy that picked her.

As all pundits and politicos will sy that the very first executive decision a presidential nominee will make is his/her vp pick. They say it says a lot about their character, ability to lead and so forth. So... what does it say when you have a person that has no foreigh relations experience except for traveling to visit troops once in Afganistan? Before being governor of Alaska she was mayor of a very small town, Wasilia. Population as of 2000 census 5,470. Now even though the city says the population has grown to 6,400 as stated on the cities website, I hardly call this a great experience builder for someone to potentially lead a nation.

Insult to women: Women in this country are shocked by the decision. That is those that are not swayed by their long-standing political allignment with the Republican Party.

Women that are pro-choice are offended. Women that believe that there are a multitude of many qualified others even within the republican party are offended. Women that believe even within that very short list McCain had there more qualified people are offended.

It seems to me that everyone is offended or shocked to some degree. But John McCain just doesnt get it. So that will be HIS mantra in Novemeber as well. John McCain and the presidency? He just doesn't get it.

Pawlenty of Inexperience - Sarah Palin

KendraWantsChange — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:07:33 EDT

Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) appeared on Meet the Press this Sunday, August 31, 2008. He is the national co-chair of the McCain campaign and was invited to speak of the announcements made late last week as well as the Republican National Convention that will kick-off tomorrow, provided that Hurricane Gustav does not turn our attention towards tragedy in the Gulf.

Pawlenty said of Gov. Sarah Palin, "she has AS MUCH OR MORE EXPERIENCE AS BARACK OBAMA, who is running for president."

Are you serious? Read the full quotes and text in my extended post.

The Question of Experience

Rob Lanning — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:33:07 EDT

Let's put the issue of experience to rest once and for all.

SPEECH/MCCAIN VP

Ethan — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:08:58 EDT

First of all the acceptance speech was incredible I went to my local Obama office to watch it and I was moved. The grace with which he was able to slam McCain was extraordinary. My favorite part was the section about how although government can help people still need to commit to things. In more recent news I am once again dismayed by the McCain campaign and there vp pick. The first time I heard this news on the radio I thought,"wow that is soooo smart they can win back hillary voters" but by the time I got to school I was thinking about just how stupid a move this was. 1. How can they think that Women, even independents are going to be swayed just because John McCain has a female vp? 2. They probably lost votes on the right and now they are probably lost for good. If he had picked Romney or someone like him McCain would have had a much easier going to get these voters. 3 This completely kills the Barack is inexperienced argument. McCain had a point and now he sounds hypocritical and in fact he is. If McCain wins and gets reelected he will be 80 when he leaves. Someone of McCains so called judgement should be able to understand that he is very likely to die in office and I wouldn't trust the country to her and I don't he would either. I could write more but its late so I'm gona sign off now.

We Are Fired UP!!!

McCain's 'brilliant move' or irresponsible risk?

John Armstrong — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:10:58 EDT

Some previous blogs have seen McCain's choice for VP as a ' brilliant move' to throw off the issues-oriented discussion that was to be the main theme of the next few weeks before the election. Others have seen it as a rolling of the dice or a 'hail-mary pass'. When you consider what is at stake, the possibility that the VP could be thrown into a fast moving international crisis involving escalating tensions, a military showdown involving nuclear weapons, the idea that you pick the Commander-In-Chief from a pool of completely inexperienced and unknown ideologues after a single meeting can only be seen as bad judgement in the extreme. McCain is not simply out of touch he is showing just how bad his judgement can get.

Sideline Observations—Senator McCain and VP Picks

Wordman — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:05:52 EDT

I used to be a big fan of John McCain. I was touched by the courage he showed in his POW experience and, in the past, bought his “maverick” and “straight-shooter” monikers. When my son deployed to Iraq a few years back one of the items I placed in his first pkg from home was McCain’s autobiography. I’ve learned a lot over the past year and, while I will always honor his service and, in particular his courageous decision to remain with his peers when offered the opportunity to exit captivity, I now find very little else to admire or respect about this politician. I had known about the “Keating Five” story, but hadn’t been exposed to the tale of how he betrayed and ultimately abandoned his crippled wife. And, I might add, it took some digging to find that story. Curious how the media who allegedly are so favorably biased toward Senator Obama despite looping the Rev Wright and bitter American stories for weeks on end have made scant mention of the these items in McCain’s autobiography. McCain’s stated intent to run an honorable, issues-oriented campaign was quickly abandoned and, from my perspective, he has done exactly what he falsely accuses Senator Obama of—reversing his positions at whim and saying and doing anything his campaign staff advises him will help him get elected. The latest and most cynical example is his pick for his running mate. He assured us that his selection would reflect his best judgment of the most qualified individual available to be just one heartbeat away from the role of Commander-in-Chief and leader of the free world and this is the best he could do? There’s no honor in the choice he made, no notion of “country first”--it was a calculated political move that is an insult to his fellow countrymen. A parsing of Gov Palin’s credentials is pointless—she’s as much a victim of McCain and his campaign’s cynicism as the voters are.

On the other hand, I can’t be more pleased with the choice of Senator Biden as Barack’s running mate. Senator Obama passed the test of his first executive decision with flying colors by choosing the very best individual available for his running mate. Senator Biden is truly an experienced statesman and a straight-shooter who has walked the talk when it come to the values of family and work and putting his country first. His personal story is inspiring and his enthusiasm for the opportunity to move this country forward at the side of Senator Obama is clear. I am delighted to see a politician of his stature be rewarded in this way for a lifetime of service to his country and I am confident that he and Senator Obama give us the greatest opportunity for maintaining our security and dealing with the serious challenges we face on so many fronts. Contrast that team with a cynical, saber-rattling, out-of-touch pol who can’t even get the geography and the players right backed up a social conservative princess who is ill-equipped to operate on the national and world stage and I think the choice for the voters should be clear.

Shock and Awe

darbo — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:22:48 EDT

You know, I am seeing a disturbing trend after the shock and awe announcement of the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee. What John McCain's campaign strategists have accomplished among the talking heads on CNN, MSNBC and the like is to deflect attention away from John McCain's weak leadership.

Instead - and this is a bad thing - those heads are clamoring with comparisons between Barack Obama and Sarah X - sorry I can't remember her last name at the moment which tells you what a desperation selection she is.

This is de-valuing Obama's leadership and position atop the ticket and needs to be reined in. I'm sure the strategists are on top of this and much smarter than me in this regard, however, I am shocked and disturbed to see the comparisons even at the start.

my response to McCain's VP choice

Mike10191 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:47:55 EDT

Senator John McCain has been trying to sell himself as a “maverick”. His choice of running mate in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (historic for the Republican Party) may seem to support this argument. However, Governor Palin is straight out of the mold of George W. Bush. She supports limiting personal freedom by outlawing your ability to choose. Like President Bush and Senator McCain she supports big oil instead of breaking our deadly addiction by investing in American made sustainable green technologies and green collar jobs. Governor Palin does not believe in using science to cure disease, just like George Bush.

Maverick? Change? I don’t buy it. Senator McCain has voted with George Bush 90% of the time and picked a running mate out of Bush’s mold. I’m not going to take that risk because that’s not change, that’s more of the same.

McCain VP Choice: Politics Before Country

David G — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:41:30 EDT

In his Vice Presidential choice, John McCain put his own political ambition above the safety and security of the United States. The requirement of any Vice President is to be ready, on day one, to take over as president. This requirement is even more important when the presidential candidate is 72 and has had four episodes of cancer.

John McCain has failed to meet this base-line requirement. Ms. Palin is inexperienced. Less than two years ago she was the mayor of town smaller than most small suburbs. (For those of you, like me, who are in or grew up in a small town think about your local officials being president). She’s been governor of a state with a population less than most cites for only a year and is just learning that job. She has no foreign policy experience and may never have even met a foreign official.

A woman's right to choose

Caroline — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:02:11 EDT

One of the first things that I learned about Sarah Palin, John McCain's pick for VP, is that she is anti-abortion. And while I applaud the difficult decision she made to give birth to a baby with Down syndrome, the important thing is that she made a decision, i.e. she had a choice to make. Ms. Palin knew before giving birth that the baby she was carrying had Down syndrome, and the only way she could have known that is by undergoing amniocentesis, a procedure used to diagnose genetic abnormalities and infections in a fetus. The only compelling reason for undergoing amniocentesis is to be armed with knowledge to make some kind of decision based on the health of the fetus. The decision is either to abort the pregnancy or to choose to carry to term. Whether she likes it or not, Sarah Palin benefited by a woman's right to choose - in a country without that right, there would be no need to perform an amniocentesis, and Ms. Palin and her family would not have been able to prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for the difficulty of raising a child with Down syndrome.

Sarah Palin made a choice, and the women of America also have a choice to make: either to vote for John McCain and chance losing that choice, or to vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden and protect that choice.

Alaska Commentator on Palin VP pick

Rosewalker — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:47:08 EDT

Link for the following post:

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/

Mudflats Tiptoeing Through the Muck of Alaskan Politics What is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan’s Perspective.29 08 2008

Lovely Downtown Wasilla, Alaska

“Is this a joke?” That seemed to be the question du jour when my phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska. I mean, we’re sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of national ‘nod’….but seriously? Sarah Palin for Vice President? Yes, she’s a popular governor. Her all time high approval rating hovered around 90% at one point. But bear in mind that the 90% approval rating came from one of the most conservative, and reddest-of-the-red states out there. And that approval rating came before a series of events that have lead many Alaskans to question the governor’s once pristine image.

There is no doubt in my mind that many Alaskans are feeling pretty excited about this. But we live in our own little bubble up here, and most of the attention we get is because of The Bridge to Nowhere, polar bears, the indictment of Ted Stevens, and the ongoing investigation and conviction of the string of legislators and oil executives who literally called themselves “The Corrupt Bastards Club”.

So seeing our governor out there in the national spotlight accepting the nomination for Vice Presidential candidate is just downright surreal. Just months ago, when rumors surfaced that she was on the long version of the short list, she was questioned if she’d be interested in the position. She said she couldn’t answer “until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day. I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here….”

There is no doubt that Palin has fierce territorial loyalties. When elected governor there was much concern because she came right out and said she would favor her own home town of Wasilla (where she was mayor) and its surrounding environs collectively known as “the Valley” while leading the state. And it’s obvious from her statement that Alaska was on her mind when accepting the VP nod (see my emphasis above).

So what is it that we’re “trying to accomplish up here”?

Palin is currently in the middle of a controversial gas pipeline project in Alaska. She’s favored the ‘Trans Canada’ proposal that will run the pipeline through Canada, in effect shipping US jobs over the border. Many Alaskans, including former governors, have favored the “All Alaska Route”.
She is also sueing the federal government over listing the polar bears as a threatened species. The science was even compelling enough to convince the Secretery of the Interior that the bears needed to be listed. But acknowlegement of this issue, and the potential disruption to development on Alaska’s oil-rich north slope spurred Palin to attempt to stop the listing.
Does she want to open ANWR? Yes. Every politician in Alaska wants to open ANWR. It’s basically a requirement if you ever hope to get elected for anything. Even Mark Begich, the progressive Democrat running against the indicted Senator and Alaskan institution Ted Stevens, is pro-drilling. That’s the sea we swim in up here. There are a few anti-drilling folks, but you have to look hard to find them, and work hard to have them admit it.

Will all this wash with voters in the ‘Lower 48′? Time will tell.

18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling

It was obvious anyway, but became beat-you-over-the-head-with-a-two-by-four obvious when Palin referenced the ‘glass ceiling’ line, that this choice is a blatant pander to women. I would like to believe that women will actually feel insulted by this. Yes, it would have been historic if Hillary had gotten the nomination. It was historic that she made it as far as she did. Yes, it would be great to have a woman in the oval office, or in the VP slot if they are the right woman…a woman who got there with her own drive, grit, determination, intelligence, skill and merits. When you’re hand-picked by a man to win votes simply because you are a woman, that doesn’t count, and it doesn’t break any kind of ceiling. Would we have had a Stan Palin as our VP pick? No. So choosing a woman because you think her gender will get votes is insulting.

Governor “Squeakyclean”….or not.

Another focus of Palin’s introduction today was her reform image. Listen to John McCain and you’ll hear about a maverick reformer who took on big oil, took on corrupt Alaska politicians, and whose ethics are unquestioned.

Alaskans really want to like Sarah Palin. In a state where corruption is the rule, and the same faces keep recycling over and over and over again like a bad dream, a new face, with a promise of reform seemed like a breath of fresh air. Palin defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski (father of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski who he appointed to his own Senate seat when he was elected governor) because he was such an obnoxious, bloviating, downright BAD politician. This staunchly republican state voted with relief, not having to cross over and vote Democratic, but still able to get Murkowski the hell out of office. In the general election Palin swept into office running against a former Democratic governor, Tony Knowles, who was capable but came with baggage. And he represented to Alaskans more of the same, tired old-style politics, and special interests that we have come to loathe.

So, if McCain had made his selection six months ago, the squeaky-clean governor meme would have made a little more sense. But, Sarah Palin is currently under an ethics investigation by the Alaska state legislature. The details of this investigation read like a trashy novel, and I suspect that the players will soon have newfound celebrity on the national stage. I’ll try to explain for all you non-Alaskans who suddenly have good reason to want to know more about Sarah Palin. For those of you not interested in trashy novels, feel free to skip ahead. Here it is…what we in Alaska call “TrooperGate”.

Sarah Palin’s sister Molly married a guy named Mike Wooten who is an Alaska State Trooper. Mike and Molly had a rocky marriage. When the marriage broke up, there was a bitter custody fight that is still ongoing. During the custody investigation, all sorts of things were brought up about Wooten including the fact that he had illegally shot a moose (yes folks this is Alaska), driven drunk, and used a taser (on the test setting, he reminds us) on his 11-year old stepson, who supposedly had asked to see what it felt like. While Wooten has turned out to be a less than stellar figure, the fact that Palin’s father accompanied him on the infamous moose hunt, and that many of the dozens of charges brought up by the Palin family happened long before they were ever reported smacked of desperate custody fight. Wooten’s story is that he was basically stalked by the family.

After all this, Wooten was investigated and disciplined on two counts and allowed to kept his position with the troopers. Enter Walt Monegan, Palin’s appointed new chief of the Department of Public Safety and head of the troopers. Monegan was beloved by the troopers, did a bang-up job with minimal funding and suddenly got axed. Palin was out of town and Monegan got “offered another job” (aka fired) with no explanation to Alaskans. Pressure was put on the governor to give details, because rumors started to swirl around the fact that the highly respected Monegan was fired because he refused to fire the aforementioned Mike Wooten. Palin vehemently denied ever talking to Monegan or pressuring Monegan in any way to fire Wooten, or that anyone on her staff did. Over the weeks it has come out that not only was pressure applied, there were literally dozens of conversations in which pressure was applied to fire him. Monegan has testified to this fact, spurring an ongoing investigation by the Alaska state legislature. But, before this investigation got underway, Palin sent the Alaska State Attorney General out to do some investigative work of his own so she could find out in advance what the real investigation was going to find. (No, I’m not making this up). The AG interviewed several people, unbeknownst to the actual appointed investigator or the Legislature! Palin’s investigation of herself uncovered a recorded phone call retained by the Alaska State Troopers from Frank Bailey, a Palin underling, putting pressure on a trooper about the Wooten non-firing. Todd Palin (governor’s husband) even talked to Monegan himself in Palin’s office while she was away. Bailey is now on paid administrative leave.

As if this weren’t enough, Monegan’s appointed replacement Chuck Kopp, turns out to have been the center of his own little scandal. He received a letter of reprimand and was reassigned after sexual harrassment allegations by a former coworker who didn’t like all the unwanted kissing and hugging in the office. Was he vetted? Obviously not. When he was questioned about all this, his comment was that no one had asked him and he thought they all knew. Kopp, defiant, still claimed to have done nothing wrong and said to the press that there was no way he was stepping down from his new position. Twenty four hours later, he stepped down. Later it was uncovered that he received a $10,000 severance package for his two weeks on the job from Palin. Monegan got nothing.

After extensive news coverage about all this nasty behind-the-scenes scandal, which is definitely NOT squeaky clean, Palin’s approval ratings fell to 67%, still high, but a far cry from the 90% number that’s being thrown around so glibly by the Republicans today. Alaskans are quickly becoming disillusioned once again.

“Executive Experience”

Before her meteoric rise to political success as governor, just two short years ago Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla. I had a good chuckle at MSN.com’s claim that she had been the mayor of “Wasilla City”. It is not a city. Just Wasilla. Wasilla is the heart of the Alaska “Bible belt” and Sarah was raised amongst the tribe that believes creationism should be taught in our public schools, homosexuality is a sin, and life begins at conception. She’s a gun-toting, hang ‘em high conservative. Remember…this is where her approval ratings come from. There is no doubt that McCain again is making a strategic choice to appeal to a particular demographic - fundamentalist right-wing gun-owning Christians. And Republican bloggers are already gushing about how she has ‘more executive experience’ than Obama does! Above is a picture of lovely downtown Wasilla, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. Behind the Mug-Shot Saloon (the first bar I visited when I moved to Alaska long ago) is a little strip mall. There are street signs in Wasilla with bullet holes in them. Wasilla has a population of about 5500 people, and 1979 occupied housing units. This is where your potential Vice President was two short years ago. Can you imagine her negotiating a nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Discussing foreign policy? Understanding non-Alaskan issues? Frankly, I don’t even know if she’s ever been out of the country. She may ‘get’ Alaska, but there are only a half a million people here. Don’t get me wrong….I love Alaska with all my heart. I’m just saying.

I, and all Alaskans will be interested to see how this whole process unfolds. This is definitely a gamble for McCain, and in my humble opinion, a gift to Obama and to Joe Biden who just got thrown a big hunk of red meat for the vice presidential debate.

This is the wedge-issue, desperate ’Hail Sarah’ pass of the McCain campaign.

Now I’m off to get some Jiffy Pop.

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