ThinkFast: September 4, 2008
ThinkFast: September 4, 2008
Eight protesters at the RNC were charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act yesterday. The suspects’ lawyer called the charges ridiculous, saying the accusations are “an effort to equate publicly stated plans to blockade traffic and disrupt the RNC as being the same as acts of terrorism.” So far, nearly 300 protesters and journalists have been arrested.
“Sick Americans who travel far or frequently to get medical treatment are skipping or delaying appointments, leaving support groups and applying for grants,” because of the high price of gas.
Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, “who pleaded guilty to a scheme to corrupt Congress, asked a federal judge for mercy on Wednesday, saying he was ‘not a bad man’ although he acknowledged he ‘did many bad things.’
When Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) as his running mate, McCain “emphasized her role as the commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard” and “her military command experience as governor.” Yet Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the service commander of the Alaska National Guard, noted that Palin “has no command authority overseas or anywhere in the U.S. other than Alaska.”
On the trail: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will be in St. Paul, MN today, to accept his party’s nomination at the Republican National Convention. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be at a rally in Lancaster, PA.
A 4,500-year-old ice shelf “nearly the size of Manhattan” that has “broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada’s northern Arctic” is the latest sign that “warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier.”
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) “wrote e-mails that harshly criticized Alaska state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law.” The e-mails were provided by former public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan, who was dismissed by Palin in July for allegedly refusing to fire state Trooper Mike Wooten, “who at the time was feuding with Palin’s family.”
Condemning “an illegitimate, unilateral attempt to change your country’s borders by force,” Vice President Cheney reaffirmed the Bush Administration’s commitment to seeing Georgia enter into NATO. The remarks came one day after the U.S. proposed $1 billion in aide to Georgia.
“An Iraqi freelance photographer working for Reuters has been detained by U.S. and Iraqi forces south of Baghdad,” after U.S. military officials said he was “assessed to be a threat.” In April, the U.S. military freed AP photographer Bilal Hussein, after holding him for more than two years.
And finally: Jamie Lynn Spears is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the pregnancy of Bristol Palin. Spears reportedly spent “$60 on pink burpcloths” and had them sent over to Palin, according to a “source close to the Beverly Hills baby store Petit Tresor.”
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Sarah Palin and Mark Halperin’s complaints of “liberal media”
UPDATE: Speaking of the merger of right-wing talking points and media narratives, the AP’s Tom Raum last night “reported” — falsely — that “many liberals are belittling the choice, suggesting that as a mother of five children — including an infant with Down syndrome — she has neither the time nor the experience to become vice president.” National Review’s Kathleen Parker echoes that claim almost verbtaim today: “Some also have questioned whether Palin, whose son Trig has Down syndrome, can be both a mother and a vice president? These questions aren’t coming from the Right — so often accused of wanting to keep women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen — but from the Left.”
Which “liberals” — who “on the Left” — have done any such thing? Neither AP nor Parker bother to identify a single person who has. Here, however, is right-wing icon Dr. Laura Schlesinger:
I am extremely disappointed in the choice of Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Republican Party. . . . I’m stunned — couldn’t the Republican Party find one competent female with adult children to run for Vice President with McCain? I realize his advisors probably didn’t want a “mature” woman, as the Democrats keep harping on his age. But really, what kind of role model is a woman whose fifth child was recently born with a serious issue, Down Syndrome, and then goes back to the job of Governor within days of the birth?
Another one I found very interesting, that Glenn didn’t post, was an article by Maureen Dowd. Maureen Dowd wrote an Op-Ed piece entitled Vice in Go-Go Boots?. One of her more memorable quotes. “Enthusiastic Republicans don’t see the choice of Palin as affirmative action, despite her thin résumé and gaping absence of foreign policy knowledge, because they expect Republicans to put an underqualified “babe,” as Rush Limbaugh calls her, on the ticket.” Wow, Maureen’s not pulling any punches there.
The McCain camp, they decide to bring out Ann Coulter the right-wing commentator to defend Palin. “Having young children didn’t prevent JFK, whom I hear is America’s most beloved president, from being president,” said Ann Coulter. “If Palin can’t do that, then you’re saying that no woman with children can ever be equal to a man in politics and can certainly never be a president or vice president,” she told ABCNews.com. But, she and others concede, Palin will require help. “As there are no fisheries and no oil rigs in D.C., Mr. Palin ought to be able to spend more time on child rearing,” said Coulter.
(I have to give a Hat Tip to Lindsay at Firedoglake, she had links to the Op-ed of Maureen Dowd and the Ann Coulter speech.) What I found funny was how anyone thought Ann Coulter was the appropriate parenting skills spokesperson.
As you see it isn’t the liberal left that is doing the condemning. Oh no, the right-wing Neo-cons are doing a great job of crucifying Palin all by themselves.
Salon
September 4th, 2008 at 9:01 amEight protesters at the RNC were charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act yesterday.
Witch Hunts 2008!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:03 amThe Best Statement Yet About Palin
What’s galling is this: When the subject is a pregnancy to an unwed, minority teenage mother growing up in some (presumably Democratic) urban area, that pregnancy becomes fodder for lectures from conservatives about bad parenting, the perils of welfare spending and so on. But when the subject is a pregnancy to an unwed, white teenager from some small town in a Republican state, that pregnancy is…a celebration of the wonders of God’s magnificence–and choosing life!
-Thomas Schaller
(H/T to Bozita at Democratic Underground) IMHO, I completely agree with her. (IOKIYAR) She found this statement at the Salon Warroom.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:04 am“Sick Americans who travel far or frequently to get medical treatment are skipping or delaying appointments, leaving support groups and applying for grants,” because of the high price of gas.
The Plague, Part II
Sponsored by the Republican National Party
September 4th, 2008 at 9:04 amMaj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the service commander of the Alaska National Guard, noted that Palin “has no command authority overseas or anywhere in the U.S. other than Alaska.”
I’m sure we’ll soon be hearing about how she prevented an invasion of The US through Alaska by the Russians by attacking the powerful Russian Army with the Alaskan National Guard - all 10 of them.
Why not, they lie about everything else she’s done…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:07 amPalin is like Michelle Bachman on Meth…quick to criticize, grasping at straws with no rationale logic and chattering about issues she has never been in a position to address.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:08 amThe remarks came one day after the U.S. proposed $1 billion in aide to Georgia.
What about $1 billon in aide to Katrina victoms? Americans without health care? $4 gallon prices? The melting Arctic? Homeless vates? Or some other actual and worthy cause?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:10 amMcGeezer’s choice of Caribou Barbie for VP is an insult to the American people. People will see through this.
This is McStain’s election to lose.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:12 amNote that MN Governor Tim Pawlenty was absent from the hooplah.
Forever the Bridesmaid, little Timmy is pissed. He’s been campaigning for McGeritol for 2 years but was thrown under the bus for an unknown Yukon Yuckster.
Timmy, this is what McCain does; use people to enhance his ‘image’.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:13 amooo — straw men, all lined up! Let’s see if we can count them!
Straw man #1: The mean liberals are picking on poor Sarah, claiming she shouldn’t be running for vice president because she has five children, including one with special needs.
Straw man #2: The mean liberals are picking on poor Sarah AND her 17-year old daughter because her daughter is pregnant and unmarried.
Straw man #3: The mean liberal media are picking on poor Sarah by asking her intrusive questions about her experience and qualifications for the second highest office in the land.
Straw man #4: The mean liberals are sexist, sexist, sexist. And no, don’t ask us for any specific examples — that would be sexist.
Can we clear all the straw out of here and get into some meaningful discussion relevant to the issue at hand? No, I thought not. If we were to have a real discussion about Palin’s qualifications, the GOP would be hopelessly outmatched.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:13 amHey Zooey…
google: Palin National Enquirer
Looks like the NE, of all places, may have been the first to learn of the current alleged pregnancy of Palin’s daughter..so it may be real (they have LOTS more dirt on Governor Palin, actually, that is coming out in print soon..will be interesting to see where that leads), however my bet is that while her daughter may actually be preggers, the amount of time shes been preggers is being lied about…if shes been pregggers for 4 or less months that child they were toting around like a prop could very well still be hers..she looks like she takes after her mother, the substance abusing highly promiscious type, so its very likely shes the type of girl who could easily be serially pregnant…steward nailed it last night talking to gingritch, when he said the kids are fair game when you’re using thier “choice” as a campaign prop..kudos to “fake news” outlets like the Daily Show and the National Enquirer as being the closest thing to real journalism this country gets.
keep up the fight folks…Palin is no pitbull, but she is a pig, and she WAS right about about the lipstick part…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:13 amApparently, Senator Songbird sees American citizens as subjects for military control. The GOP viewfinder: mercenaries in support of empire abroad; martial law for dissent at home. Fascisti.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:14 amSeptember 4th, 2008 at 9:15 am
WASHINGTON– Senator John McCain just announced his choice for running
mate:
Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. To follow is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife
Action Fund.
“Senator McCain’s choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a
decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.
“Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British
Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes
to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has
lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to
> > drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska’s coasts, and put special
interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions
that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to
address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been
to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from
the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As
unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the
Bush administration.
“This is Senator McCain’s first significant choice in building his executive
team and it’s a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters
about John McCain’s commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts
of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.”
The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (www.defendersactionfund.org)
September 4th, 2008 at 9:16 amprovides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our
conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and
political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and
lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against
those that do them harm.
Ps. make sure to hit the CNN poll..it was at “thumbs down” for Palins speech for most of the evening and is currently being Freeped:
http://www.cnn.com/
September 4th, 2008 at 9:16 amAnybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:17 amDid anyone see Palin’s speech last night?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:17 amWhat a b*tch!
And her voice? Shrill! Like fingernails on chalkboard!
Palin never ordered the national guard to do anything:
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ mcclatchy/ 20080903/ pl_mcclatchy/ 3035478
Palin files ethics complaint against herself:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/51592.html
September 4th, 2008 at 9:19 amGood Morning unbelievable :) Good to see you… I read this an immediately thought of you….Only in Texas could this be possible. I added my own snarky comments along the way, I couldn’t help myself. I knew you would appreciate this one.
Schools Under Siege in Texas by Representative Warren Darrel Chisum (R). This Neocon decided to draft a bill (H.B. 1287) that would require all Texas Public schools to offer instruction on the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. With help from Liberty Legal, a group committed to defending religious freedoms and First Amendment rights, had been asked to submit a brief on the issue of requiring schools to teach the Bible. (A little background about Liberty Legal, they have a campaign against the ACLU. This one had me ROTFL. It starts with: ACLU Infiltrates Texas– In Texas alone, the nation’s leading anti-family and same-sex “marriage” promoter plans to double its army and operations. It reads like a satire piece that the Onion would write.) Here is the link to the campaign: FreeMarketFoundation
House Bill 1287 was approved by state lawmakers and it was signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. It states all school districts must offer the course as an elective at the high school level by the 2009-2010 school year.
WorldNetDaily
September 4th, 2008 at 9:19 amFirst American citizens shipped to guatanamo?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:19 amPalin Fails by Her Own Standards
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin accepted the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nomination Wednesday night in a confident and insistent address that attacked members of the media and Washington “elites” who questioned her experience to be vice president and mocked Barack Obama for his qualifications, stances on issues and even his inspiring words.
After several days of silence, Palin introduced herself to America as the newest GOP attack dog. She alternately wrapped herself in what she described as all-American small-town values and engaged in nasty smear tactics — belittling Democrats, mischaracterizing Obama and insulting Americans, who she and her campaign speechwriters must think will not have enough sense to see past such a thin veil.
Palin established the confrontation tone early in her speech by deriding “pollsters and pundits” who “wrote off” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the Republican nominee, early in his presidential campaign for supporting a troop surge in Iraq. She then introduced her family, praised her rural upbringing and experience in local and state government, and concluded — in a departure from reality — that her brief political resume qualified her to serve as vice president.
“And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves,” Palin said, comparing herself to Obama’s community work after law school. “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.”
Read it all:
http://www.alternet.org/ election08/ 97529/ palin_fails_by_her_own_standards/
**I had every intention to watch the speeches last night but couldn’t stomach Ghouliani’s negative attack-dog, ugly, insulting…had to mute several minutes in. Then tried the same for Caribou Barbie and threw up in my mouth a little (a lot???) How dare she compare her credentials with those of a constitutional lawyer/professor? This is just as bad as it get. How many decent minded voters were swayed by her “speech?” I would like to hope the answer is a big fat zero, but we’ll see.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:21 am>Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of >McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
Ask me after the results of the complaint she filed against herself come out. I’m sure the fact the results of the current investigation shes trying to derail by filing the complaint will come out 4 days before election day have NOTHING to do with her sudden decision to start insisting that she starts acting ethically..
September 4th, 2008 at 9:22 amEight protesters at the RNC were charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act yesterday.
__________________________________________________________
How many different definitions of “terrorism” can we get thrown at us in a 24-hour period? First, we have Rudy equating terrorism with Muslims, echoing a long-held belief that unless Muslims are doing it, it’s not terrorism (this is why the acts done by Tim McVeigh, Eric Rudolph, et al, are not terrorism).
Now, we have a bunch of protesters charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism. Which now includes blocking traffic and disrupting a political convention.
I always thought that “terrorism” consisted of acts designed to instill terror in others. Such acts might include bombings, shooting rampages, etc. Blocking traffic and disrupting a convention would instill annoyance, irritation, anger, and possibly a raging pain in the a$$, but I doubt too many people would be “terrorized” by it.
Yet another term cheapened. Sigh.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:22 amPalin was more than happy to use that liberal media to spread the content of her speech. Last night I read an AP story online. It quoting the very words I just heard her deliver. The article said it was 2 hours and 45 minutes old. Palin was giving her speech live on CNN.
How did the media get her speech early to write the story? As for delivery, I’m not sure Sarah should imply Hillary is shrill.
The end result is we have the Rocky Less ticket. McCain is the trainer, and Palin Rocky’s eye glasses wearing wife. They might try to punch Apollo Greed off K Street, but they don’t have Rocky’s strength or heart.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:23 amNot me, I found her to be a well spoken liar. I don’t think they did theirselves any favors last night. They might have unified their base but that’s it…..that won’t be enough this year.
just more of the same but with a mouthy woman…more nastiness with no facts.
yeah, they are going to cut taxes, right. That’s just a big ole lie and you can ask bush I if you don’t believe me. Someone has to pay for the financial debacle that has been the last 8 years……the bill has come due and mccain will raise taxes on American working class….Obama will not and he will make the corps pay their share of the cost of running the nation they profit so much from.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am#9 Zimzone Says:
Note that MN Governor Tim Pawlenty was absent from the hooplah. Forever the Bridesmaid, little Timmy is pissed. He’s been campaigning for McGeritol for 2 years but was thrown under the bus for an unknown Yukon Yuckster.
Good Morning Zimzone :) I miss your sense of humor when you are not here. I love it McGeritol!!! LMAO
Don’t ever change, please. You are the best….
September 4th, 2008 at 9:25 ambackup Says: Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
Uh, hello, we had first thoughts about him picking Palin.
Remember, WE began vetting here after he named her as his running mate?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:25 ambackup Says
September 4th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
_________________________________________________________
No, I’m standing by my initial gut reaction (slackjawed disbelief). The more I hear her and the more I hear about her, I’m convinced it was the right reaction to have.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:26 amIt was just one speech, but I think Sarah Palin has been underestimated:
http://www.time.com/ time/ politics/ article/ 0,8599,1838553,00.html
You can attack her experience level - but in reality it’s not much different than Obama’s.
You can say she’s just a last minute, patronizing effort to appeal to Clinton voters, but her address last night has shown there’s more to her than the tiara.
I still believe the best way to address Palin is on the issues. Creationism, hard line on abortion, budgeting priorities, etc…
Or you can use the Jack Cafferty approach - she’s just a girl and McCain doesn’t know what he’s doing.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:27 amFred Says:
Eight protesters at the RNC were charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act yesterday.
First American citizens shipped to guatanamo?
Fred, the St. Paul riot squads were doing ‘premptive strikes’ as early as last Friday in the Twin Cities. ‘Knock’ warrants were actually door busting SWAT intrusions with handcuffs, felony charges and flash grenades.
Is ‘der Homeland’ becoming more free under ‘the New Republics’?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:27 amSo by protesting..which is a right..they are arresting and jailing people that disagree.Heaven forbid we should disagree with these perfect people and perfect policies…Shut them down…Those police looked like they were ready for serious BATTLE! Is this where we’re headed now????Didn’t see that at the Dem convention, did we?? This is the direction this country would go in if they were elected. I fear…Sarah’s already trying to figure out how she can ban books for crying out loud!I suspect we’ll all just have to shut up and pledge allegiance to McCain/ Palin now….OVER MY DEAD BODY! My blood pressure is rising…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:28 amIt pains me to say this, but like Han Solo was so used to saying: “I have a bad feeling about this.”
After the last eight years, I’m fully prepared and will vote to remove republicans from the White House come November. Yet I’m having this dreaded feeling the American public will (for the third time in a row) vote the republicans back into the oval office.
If this happens, I will be convinced, without a doubt, that this country is (and has been) sewing the seeds of it’s own downfall. I seem to be the only one in my entire family who isn’t a hard core, conservative republican. They are all gushing over Palin as VP, and they can’t wait to go and vote for the McCain ticket. At family gatherings, when they get to foaming off at the mouth about their thoughts on this, their feelings on that, as well as what Rush, Hannity, O’Reilly, and Glen Beck said last night (and how they agree with every word), I just reach for another beer and keep my trap shut. If I dared to speak my mind and inject with a difference of opinion, I’d be eaten alive. Sometimes it’s a lonely feeling, especially when family is all around you. Ironic, isn’t it?!
BTW, I live in Texas. That might help to explain some of it!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:28 amEight protesters at the RNC were charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act yesterday.
Well, it looks like we have officially become a police state. I have no problems with the police arresting people who disobey the law. I have a very big problem with the police arresting people for something they may possibly do.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:28 ammiss molly. I appreciate you sticking by your guns. 2 months is forever in politics and she won’t have the prompter.
And after a week, we’ll be back to focusing on Obama vs. McCain.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:29 amI continue to be delighted with McLame’s VP choice. It is a disastrous choice. Watching the various Republican mouthpieces scramble in the aftermath is hilarious. They are really losing it now. The best part is that McCain’s surrogates are going to the wall to piss off the very media that has fawned so much over him.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:31 amFreedom Rebel Says: Good Morning unbelievable :) Good to see you… I read this an immediately thought of you….Only in Texas could this be possible. I added my own snarky comments along the way, I couldn’t help myself. I knew you would appreciate this one.
Good to see you, as always. Excellent news finds!
Thanks for the article. It’s definitely one of my -pull-out-the-soapbox issues with our utter lack of valid Science education in most of this country. How do expect to make progress if we can’t even accept reality?
I just wish people who champion the bible(s) would actually just read any one of them - from cover to cover. But, I’m still unconvinced that many of those who take it as a literal word of some invisible sky wizard actually can read.
Have a wonderful day. Unfortunately, I’ve gotta run for now.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:32 amChocolate Jesus Says:
google: Palin National Enquirer
The National Enquirer has published a story saying that Sarah Palin had an affair with her husband’s business partner. The McCain camp is threatening to sue. I don’t know exactly how they can do that since it is supposedly slandering Palin not McCain. Anyway, the Enquirer has told them to “bring it on”.
The Republicans are going to have a tough time with this. They got all over the press for not covering the Edward’s affair after the Enquirer broke the story. They can’t exactly expect the press to stay quiet on this one without looking like the hypocrites they are.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:32 amYou know, a lot of not so great singers make it big because they are produced and a lot of talented musicians never get heard……same thing going on here. Just a big production to make her look like something she is not.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:33 amAnother thought on the Enquirer story on Palin. This is also going to be a problem for the Republicans because it is their base that reads the Enquirer.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:34 amPalincomparison is the straw that broke McGeezer campaign.
Can’t wait to see Biden vs. Palincomparison.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:35 am#10 misshusseinmolly Says:
Can we clear all the straw out of here and get into some meaningful discussion relevant to the issue at hand? No, I thought not. If we were to have a real discussion about Palin’s qualifications, the GOP would be hopelessly outmatched.
Good Morning :) You are a great read as always… As much as I could stomach the RNC speeches last night with the help of powerful antacids; all they did was attack Obama.
There was no meaningful plan on how to solve any (even one) of the problems we are facing as a country. New stats out say that 7,000 homes a day are being repossessed. From the RNC **crickets**. Another thing I found interestng was how many seats were vacate on their biggest night.
I completely agree with you about Palin. It seems easier for them to attack Obama on experience to cover the fact that Palin has such a skimpy resume….
Have a good day missmolly…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:35 amunbelievable. Let’s just say the first week of progressive vetting may have been less than deliberative.
http://thinkprogress.org/ 2008/ 09/ 02/ maddow-on-palin-i-think-the-question-right-now-is-whether-or-not-she-will-be-withdrawn/
September 4th, 2008 at 9:36 amFrom my Blog:
September 4th, 2008 at 9:36 ambackup Says:
It was just one speech, but I think Sarah Palin has been underestimated:
And I think you are overestimating her. But I think you are right about one thing: next week the discussion will be back to Obama and McCain, because the minute the convention is over Palin will be whisked away and protected from any unscripted interactions with the public or the media (at least until some more dirt comes out on her and puts her back on the front page). The important thing is that McCain and his surrogates have rather viciously attacked his own friends in the media. Beltway journalists are among the most thin-skinned people I’ve ever witnessed, so I expect to see some payback.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am#15 Chocolate Jesus Says:
Ps. make sure to hit the CNN poll..it was at “thumbs down” for Palins speech for most of the evening and is currently being Freeped:
Thanks for the heads up, I hadn’t seen that.. I put in my vote.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:37 amThe remarks came one day after the U.S. proposed $1 billion in aide to Georgia.
I hope that Congress has to pass this package. I also hope that they refuse to give Georgia any money to arm themselves. Georgia has proven itself to be an aggressive country with designs on its neighbors. I don’t think we should be arming countries like that.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:37 amThey don’t care what you think. They know best and you are an idiot /snark.
It’s the mob/bully mentality that dominates every corner of our society thanks to the radical right running things for much too long.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:38 amDisgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, “who pleaded guilty to a scheme to corrupt Congress, asked a federal judge for mercy on Wednesday, saying he was ‘not a bad man’ although he acknowledged he ‘did many bad things.’
________________________________________________________
Um…the same thing could be said about any given inmate in our prison system. Doesn’t Abramoff understand that we don’t lock people up for being “bad people” — we lock them up for doing bad things?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:38 amNov.10th: the day SP returns to Alaska crestfallen.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:38 amYes, $1 billion to Georgia? That free democracy targeted civilians in its efforts to militarily retake the South Ossettian capital. They fired at apartments, the university and hospitals.
Cheney slinks around Georgia with palletloads of cash, glossing over this fact.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported Pakistan is very upset over U.S. troops raiding a village in their territory. It’s the first time foreign soldiers entered Pakistan to fight terrorists. Previously, the U.S. used drones to fire missiles at targets.
Bush wants Osama in the worst way and Cheney wants more war…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:39 amABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because she is a “babe”.
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.
She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She’s smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s surplus, borrow for needs.
She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated” her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit, exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000?, up to 9,000. The day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.
Anne
September 4th, 2008 at 9:39 amChocolate Jesus, I love your posts (and appreciate that you answer my posts), but come on. Trying to influence opinion poll results?
It signals Palin as a threat.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am>BTW, I live in Texas.
>That might help to explain some of it!
> Anyway, the Enquirer has told them to “bring it on”.
>The Republicans are going to have a tough time with this.
Yeah, I’m SURE they are accurate..beyond my own instiuitions on the matter, these days the Enquirer is throroughly vetted because of past lawsuits. I beleive it only took them loosing one to learn their lesson. I just hope the Enquirer is able to get their hands on some “gary hart” style pictures or at the very least able to get one of her lovers to come forward…without a smokin gun palin would NEVER admit an affair because it would pretty much open her up to such blatant charges of hipocrosity that even the most right wing media outlets couldnt spin it away..
September 4th, 2008 at 9:40 amAnd good morning to you, Freedom Rebel. I enjoy seeing your post #1 daily, sharing good information and insight with facts.
‘It isn’t that John McCain doesn’t care; it’s that he just doesn’t GET IT’.
-Barak Obama / 8-28-08
‘You’re welcome to your own opinion, but NOT your own facts’.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am-Joe Biden / Meet the Press
>BTW, I live in Texas.
>That might help to explain some of it!
my apologies. so do I! i dont go out much.
but lets face it…most of these people who are frothing at the mouth after hearing palin were honestly looking for any excuse to go out and vote against a darkie…whether they admit it or not…i think they now might be more excited about somethign they were planning on doing whilst holding their nose previously..
September 4th, 2008 at 9:42 ambackup Says:
You can attack her experience level - but in reality it’s not much different than Obama’s.
In reality it actually is. Even in your fantasy you can only muster the “not that much different” remark.
Experience favors Obama. Intelligence favors Obama. Leadership skills favor Obama.
Get real.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:43 amJudging from Peggy Noonan’s not-so-private remarks captured by an open mic, it sounds like Kay Bailey Hutchison is livid that Palin was chosen over her. I would be too, were I Hutchison. And she might have actually drawn more than a few disgruntled Hillary voters.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:43 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
Blocking traffic and disrupting a convention would instill annoyance, irritation, anger, and possibly a raging pain in the a$$, but I doubt too many people would be “terrorized” by it.
__________
Misshusseinmolly, them GOOPers are just easily frightened folks, plain ‘n simple.
Lookit how terrified they are at the possibility of a ***gasp*** black man in the White House…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am>Trying to influence opinion poll results?
hahahahaha. Any idea where the term “freeping a poll” comes from my friend?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am#24 stateofthedivision Says:
How did the media get her speech early to write the story? As for delivery, I’m not sure Sarah should imply Hillary is shrill.
Good Morning :)
September 4th, 2008 at 9:45 amI couldn’t believe it when I saw this last night, Palin Deliveried Romney’s Speech. The Left Anchor
Sarah Palin was such a last-minute surprise pick, that even the McCain people hadn’t anticipated it, having already drafted the speech to be delivered by the vice presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention.
backup Says:
It signals Palin as a threat.
The threat is the fodder that the spinsters like yourself will gain as Palin supporters give the same “rallying cry” to their peers to vote thumbs up.
You’re so transparent.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:46 am…he was ‘not a bad man’ although he ‘did many bad things.’
RNCC theme for the 2008 Republican Congressional campaigns.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:47 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
Um…the same thing could be said about any given inmate in our prison system. Doesn’t Abramoff understand that we don’t lock people up for being “bad people” — we lock them up for doing bad things?
_______________
Don’t forget what AG Muki recently said… just because a law has been broken, it doesn’t necessarily men a crime has been committed… ewwww… head… hurting… getiing,,, dizzy… blacking out…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:47 amSo, we don’t have a right to register our honest opinion? That is somehow wrong to you? The republicans are doing this for the exact reason that you suggest and they really don’t believe it, they are just towing party line.
You are really a sad sack backup/captain girltastic
September 4th, 2008 at 9:49 ambackup Says:
unbelievable. Let’s just say the first week of progressive vetting may have been less than deliberative.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:36 am
#1 - Look up the word “vetting.”
#2 - There’s still time between now and the election for Palin’s name to be withdrawn.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:50 ambackup Says:
Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
____________
Lemme see lemme see… hmmm, well, I thought I was an embarrassingly silly move on McStain’s part the day I heard about it… and now… I still feel the same way, even more so… does that count as the “second thought” yer lookin’ fer, young feller?
Saaaay… why are you wearing a smoking jacket and cravat this time of day? Isn’t that a bit much?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:50 amS/b “it”… it was a silly move the day McStain made it, and I still do…
Heh… no coffee yet…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:51 am#57 Iolair Says:
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
Awesome Post Iolair :) Great Research…. Thank you…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:51 ambackup Says:
——————————————————————————–
Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
Not me. But here are a couple of second thoughts.
Noonan, Murphy trash Palin pick over open mikes
OOPS!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:52 amFred Says:
backup Says:
Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
Not me, I found her to be a well spoken liar. I don’t think they did theirselves any favors last night. They might have unified their base but that’s it…..that won’t be enough this year.
Actually, I think they have done themselves a great disservice. This convention has shown them to be even more right wing than Bush, if that’s possible. That is not how to get the independents to vote for you and the independents are the ones who are going to call this election.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:53 am>There is no cover-up involved, here;
> Trig is her baby.
That part could be true. So much conflicting information. Still.. I sense an ENORMOUS desire on Palin’s part to avoid scruitiny of her and her family’s genetics. Why exactly that is.. maybe the National Enquirer can find out for us..
September 4th, 2008 at 9:56 amSara Palin’s urge to ban books is much like Bush’s plan to ban the Constitution.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:58 amWant to clarify this please?
September 4th, 2008 at 9:59 amsatirev, et al…
the left, especially the left blogosphere, does nuance.
the right does “phuck you.”
“Phuck You” trumps nuance everytime…
we are so GOPhucked…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:59 ambackup Says:
Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
Yup, my second thoughts are the EXACTLY the same as my first thoughts.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:00 amPali is:
A liar
Unqualified
Illprepared
Over extended
INappropriate
Too extreme
Too Conservative
Too pious
Too bankrupt as a leader
Too Scandalous
Too self-absorbed
Too Maniacal
Not loving enough
No caring enough
Too Cold hearted
Too gun totting
Too shoot ‘em up
Oh and did I say she is a liar. That too
satirev Says:
Tweedster: Looks like your matinee idol, Chris “Tweedie” Matthews has thrown your side to the wolves. He’s incited the media to now begin turning over rock in Alasks and has made Sarah Palin’s lurid past “fair game”…..”game on”!
Whose side? What? The satire is too deep. Err, game? On?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:03 amThe mantra that is going to be coming out of the right for the next week or so is “would the left be attacking Sarah Palin for her family life if she was a man?” My answer is yes. If she was a man with as little experience as Palin and he had a messy family life, then yes, I would question his qualifications the same way I am questioning Sarah Palin’s qualifications.
The other attack the trolls will be making is comparing her to Joe Biden, because Biden was the caretaker of his two boys and still was in the Senate. The point they are missing is that he went home every night to his children even though it meant spending 3 hours on a train every day. I doubt that is a sacrifice that Sarah Palin would make.
Then we have trolls like backup who tell us that Sarah Palin is striking terror in our hearts. Exactly the opposite is true. We love her as the VP candidate. She’s a gift that just keeps on giving.
Today I will buy my first ever copy of the National Enquirer.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:04 amWas anyone else amused (or horrified) by the general lameness of Giuliani’s lauding Palin’s “executive” experience?
He said, “the first day she was mayor, she had more experience as an executive than — than Obama and Biden combined.”
This is technically true, if you are talking about experience in an elected executive office. Mayor, governor, and president are executive offices, while representative and senator are legislative offices. So what’s the deal? I could honestly say that I have more experience as a resident of Washington State than Obama and Biden combined, and it would be about as relevant.
If executive experience is so important, why did the GOP nominate a candidate for president who has none? And why did they nominate candidates for president AND vice president in 1996 who had none? And why does the GOP tolerate having our current veep, who has no “executive” experience? (Oh, wait. Cheney was WH Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford, which meant that he may have been in charge of a staff larger than the one Palin had in Wasilla — so I’ll have to concede that one.)
I expect a certain amount of political spin from both parties during an election year. But the contortionism coming from the GOP is just insulting to my intelligence.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:06 amI bet Obama’s Public service as a community leader had him touching the lives of more people that she had as mayor. Her friggin town had 5000 people in it for Gawd’s sake. He must have touched and helped more than that in his years of community service. It is NOT about the title, it is about the interactions.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:06 amChocolate Jesus Says:
Palin files ethics complaint against herself:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/51592.html
She is trying to skirt the Alaska house which is investigating the ethics violation, her lawyer is playing legal games to stall them from impeaching her before november.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:10 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
The other attack the trolls will be making is comparing her to Joe Biden, because Biden was the caretaker of his two boys and still was in the Senate. The point they are missing is that he went home every night to his children even though it meant spending 3 hours on a train every day. I doubt that is a sacrifice that Sarah Palin would make.
Palin is trying to get the state of Alaska to move its Capital fom Jeneau to Anchorage for her convenience.
http://origin.foxnews.com/ wires/ 2006Dec01/ 0,4670,JuneauapossSnub,00.html
“JUNEAU, Alaska — Is this some kind of dark plot to dump Juneau as Alaska’s capital?
Political pundits drew their own interpretations this week after Gov.-elect Sarah Palin announced she would buck an unbroken tradition and take the oath of office outside the capital city.
She will be sworn in Monday in Fairbanks, more than 600 miles north of Juneau, the nation’s most inaccessible state capital.
Palin, Alaska’s first woman governor and at 42 the youngest ever to hold the office, said she chose Fairbanks to mark the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the Alaska Constitution, which was drafted in Fairbanks three years before statehood in 1959.
Her gesture, however, sent a shiver of anxiety through Alaska’s southeastern region.
“Juneau, beware; it’s the first step,” warned an editorial in the Ketchikan Daily News, giving voice to a nagging fear that Palin’s real agenda is to move the capital from Juneau, population 31,000.
Those who want to move the seat of government often complain that Juneau is too far from Alaska’s population centers and reachable only by plane or boat.”
September 4th, 2008 at 10:12 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
He said, “the first day she was mayor, she had more experience as an executive than — than Obama and Biden combined.”
The point the right keeps missing and the MSM doesn’t call them on is that if that is true, she has more “executive” experience than McBush has, so in their mind, she should be more qualified to be President than McBush. Why isn’t the MSM pointing that out?
Besides, when she was mayor of Wasilla, she hired an administrator to do the real “executive” stuff.
She spent most of her time working with lobbyists to get money for her small town and apparently was quite successful. But, even though she got quite a bit of pork for her town, she still left them 22 million in debt. That is $3,384 per person in Wasilla. And when she took office, the city was debt free.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amZooey Says:
——————————————————————————–
snip:
#1 - Look up the word “vetting.”
#2 - There’s still time between now and the election for Palin’s name to be withdrawn.
**Amen Zooey! Yesterday on Randi I heard that some oddsmakers are saying that Palin will withdraw/be withdrawn. My bet is before the Biden debate. I can’t believe she will be ready for thay no matter how much prep she gets. What I will be interested in is, if she does get that far, will they “dumb down” the questions for her?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amHonesty, seriously, this BibleHumping Barbie having her finger on the button is one of the most frightening thoughts I’ve ever had, one that essentially is making a left wing atheist pray to god for Mccains continued health.
Between Diebold and the media these guys have a huge leg up and obamams going to need to win the critical states by +5 percent or greater to do it, otherwise the Diebold factor costs him the race.
If Palin fizzles out these guys are going to try something else. Hail Mary pass V2.0 . As many other people have said, these guys will do ANYTHING to try and hold onto power, and we if let them have it much longer, we very well might be looking at the very real possibility of the Armageddon these nutballs so freakishly desire..
Redouble your efforts everyone, seriously. These people will stoop to anything and if this bimbo doesnt move the polls like they want, we’re going to see SOMETHING else freakishly unpredicable from these people…never underestimate a cornered animal, and right now these peopel are cornered and know that if they dont keep thier own in charge, ALOT of them will be going to jail. We’re talking RICO stuff here people, and even a prosecutor with restraint could probably find valid grounds to put half of congress (dem AND republican) in jail…
September 4th, 2008 at 10:13 ambackup Says:
Anybody here having second thoughts about the wisdom of McCain picking Palin as a running mate?
one post answers another:
Wayne Says:
Chocolate Jesus Says:
Palin files ethics complaint against herself:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/51592.html
She is trying to skirt the Alaska house which is investigating the ethics violation, her lawyer is playing legal games to stall them from impeaching her before november.
to some,
being a crook looks
good on a republican resume.
but to the voters not so much.
*
thank you.
#
September 4th, 2008 at 10:15 amsatirev Says:
Alecto: Here are some astonishing facts:
The town of Wasilla lists it’s population at approximately 5,000 - under 5,000 when Palin was Mayor.
Here’s another astonishing fact. The town of Wasilla currently has 6,500 residents. It has a full-time mayor paid $68,000 a year. Only in Alaska could this occur. How many of you live in a town of 100,000 or less. And how many of those towns have a full time mayor, much less a well paid full-time mayor?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:15 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says
September 4th, 2008 at 10:04 am
The mantra that is going to be coming out of the right for the next week or so is “would the left be attacking Sarah Palin for her family life if she was a man?”
___________________________________________________________
Of course it will be. And they will hope nobody realizes that the left isn’t attacking Sarah Palin for her family life NEARLY as much as the right is screaming about the left attacking her for her family life.
This is their strategy. They are using Palin’s family matters as an issue to attack the “mean old left”, and they are screaming “sexism!” every time anybody asks about Palin’s qualifications for the job. They figure if they do this enough, they will force Biden to treat her with kid gloves at their debate instead of mopping the floor with her, as he could easily do.
Politics is a messy business, and if you want to jump into that cesspool, you’re going to get muddy. You cannot demand special treatment if you are a woman, if you are black, if you are disabled. There are no handicaps awarded for this event.
Oh, by the way — I seem to remember that the right attacked Geraldine Ferraro regarding her husband’s business dealings. Did they do this because she was a woman? No, I think they would have done the same if she was a man, and rightly so. I don’t recall any great cries of “sexism!” at the time.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:16 am#Chocolate Jesus Says:
Honesty, seriously, this BibleHumping Barbie having her finger on the button is one of the most frightening thoughts I’ve ever had, one that essentially is making a left wing atheist pray to god for Mccains continued health.
She also attends a Pentecostal church. They believe in the rapture. Won’t it be nice to have President, whose finger is on the button, believing in the rapture? The pastor of her church has said some really nasty things too, but I doubt we will see them in the MSM.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:17 amsatirev Says:
Maybe Trig isn’t even Todd’s child now?
The relationship between Down’s and age of the mother makes it extremely unlikely that Palin’s daughter gave birth to the child. But now I am wondering the same thing as you, whether the child was fathered through an affair.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:18 amsatirev Says:
The town of Wasilla lists it’s population at approximately 5,000 - under 5,000 when Palin was Mayor.
The State of Alaska lists it’s population as 626,932 or approximately the same as the size of Austin, Texas who weighs in at 656,562.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:09 am
_______
And as The Daily Show reminded us last night, it was just a few weeks ago that Karl Rove was dismissing potential Democratic VP nominee Tim Kaine’s service as mayor of Richmond. Now he’s lauding Sarah Palin’s executive experience governing a state that’s smaller in population than Omaha, Nebraska.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:19 amFrom Ted Anthony of the AP:
September 4th, 2008 at 10:21 amwe need to start getting some rape victims on political ads.. seriously.. the whole “if your daughter is raped, john mccain will force your child to have her rapists baby” line would strike a chord with alot of people… it would make the bible beaters freak out, but their freaking out would only draw more attention to the commercials and get them free news media airplay..
Honestly, sometimes i believe that the majority of political advertising/consulting companies are actually right wing fronts purposelfully giving thier left wing clients bad advice..I know it to be true here in texas, and i dont doubt its probably very similar elsewhere..
DEMS, HIRE THE STAFF OF THE G#DMNED DAILY SHOW TO BE YOUR POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AND YOU WILL WIN!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:22 amWayne Says:
She is trying to skirt the Alaska house which is investigating the ethics violation, her lawyer is playing legal games to stall them from impeaching her before november.
____________
Sayeth Palin’s laywer (the one hired in a big hurry on Monday) in the affair:
“… all communications need to go through the lawyers. He said he had recently learned that Branchflower tried to call Todd Palin directly “on a secure and confidential line. This represents a serious security breach that we may be obligated to report to the Secret Service.”
_________
Huh… the Secret Service??? He’s kidding, right? What will come next? Botch throwing his “magic cloak of Executive Privilege” over the whole thing until after the election, when it presumably won’t matter?
Or will Cheney simply invite Branchflower to go duck hunting w/ him?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:23 amEven Roger Simon gets in on it with this sarcastic column today. Why the media should apologize for asking questions.
McCain is losing his “base” - the press.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13143.html
I am short of time now - I just have to ask if you all heard the audio (left on) yesterday between Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy and Chuck Todd.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am>Won’t it be nice to have President, whose finger is on the >button, believing in the rapture?
F$cking terrifying. Palin really is rabid. McCain seems cool and levelheaded by comparison. At least he has the pragmastism to be for sale. This lady is something worse, a grotesque study in cognitive dissonance who both embodies the worst “frat boy d$uche bag” qualities of the wholly unprincipled Dumbya with the frightening fanaticism of the people who put thier kids in snakepits to test how much god really loves them. Someone who will do or say anything to beleive in whatever insane thing they beleive in this week.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:28 amAs much as I dislike Bush and Mccain, theres a cold comfort in knowing that these people truly beleive in nothing.
satirev Says:
Your game, Tweedster, and it’s over. Go back into your necrotic corner, troll.
Ooooh necrotic, eh?
You’re incoherent buddy. I play no flesh rotting games.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:32 amRapture beliefs + Nookular bombs = End of life on this planet.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:36 amAnne>>>You better alert the news media and tell the facts to more folks than us….we already know she’s an idiot!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:38 amHey satirev, did someone spike your coffee this morning? What the heck is your problem?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:38 amAnne….Thanks!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:38 amI think it’s time for progressives to bring the focus back to McCain as president, and forget about Palin.
The bottom line? If Dan Quayle could do the job for four years, how hard can it be?
Palin would be Dick Cheney in go-go boots. That is the point to be made. Not that she’s unqualified, but that she would be a continuation of the unaccountable vice-presidency we have witnessed these last eight years.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:39 amAnd it’s the point reporters should be asking McCain: would your VP continue the Cheney precedent of unaccountability?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:44 amSP: she just seems like such a horrible person. and a real
September 4th, 2008 at 10:50 amb_tch to boot!
satirev Says:
I’m wondering what this persons game is this morning. Calling random people trolls is not amusing.
I know I’m not a troll and I haven’t seen tweedster post anything except progressive thoughts.
Care to explain yourself? If not I will assume you are the one with an agenda.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:07 am>would your VP continue the
>Cheney precedent of unaccountability?
whoa ace…not that your question isnt a good one, but it contained WAY too many non-monosylabic words to be digested by the average (low information) voters.
heres a better one! will you be as much of
September 4th, 2008 at 11:10 ama d#ck as d#ck was?
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head satirev. The McCain camp’s sudden media blackout following the Nat’l Enquirer story of a Palin affair coupled with the controversy swimming around regarding little Trig. If Palin’s husband’s business partner is uncovered as the father of her baby it would be the best thing to happen in the name of democracy in an oh so long time. Even Diebold won’t be able to throw this election and the “modern” repugs will be thrown further into irrelevancy for generations. I was never a reader of the Enquirer but if this story grows legs and the story proves true I will sign up for a long subscription as a token of thanks. All I can say is that if they possess a smoking gun they should release it ASAP!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:13 amI tried my best to watch as much of the Repuke Hatefest ‘08 as I could stomach last night. When I finally changed the channel I was left with the same feeling that I had in my stomach after seeing the first “Saw” movie. I felt like I needed a shower and something comforting and wholesome like watching a few Brady Bunch episodes to help wash away that slimey feeling that an hour or two in the rat’s nest that is the Republican National Convention leaves you with.
Thank God for the Daily Show because I don’t think I could have slept well last night without Jon Stewart’s unique ability to clear the air and put things in their proper perspective. The feeling of dread wafted away as I watched his piece on the “real” convention party going on 24/7 in the Minneapolis airport men’s room. Best skit of the year, Jon! Although too short in my opinion, his segment with Newt Gingrich was classic. Newt opining how Obama and Biden have never made an executive decision in their careers. Stewart throws back in his face that neither has McCain, forcing Newt to agree to that little mentioned fact.
I can’t wait unitl next week when it’s back to business with Countdown and the new Rachel Maddow show.
Fred Says:
satirev Says:
I’m wondering what this persons game is this morning. Calling random people trolls is not amusing.
I know I’m not a troll and I haven’t seen tweedster post anything except progressive thoughts.
Care to explain yourself? If not I will assume you are the one with an agenda.
I think he’s an idiot with a reading comprehension program coupled with Tourette’s and/or ADHD…
September 4th, 2008 at 11:24 am129. problem, NOT program!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:24 amPoor, poor McCain campaign, reduced to taking on the media.
Vote for the folks waving a half-broken bottle at anyone and anything approaching their lawn!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:09 pmEight protesters at the RNC were charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act yesterday. The suspects’ lawyer called the charges ridiculous, saying the accusations are “an effort to equate publicly stated plans to blockade traffic and disrupt the RNC as being the same as acts of terrorism.” So far, nearly 300 protesters and journalists have been arrested.
Frankly (and I ask sorry in advance to the many honest demonstrators in the board, I know there exist a good number of them), I’ve found always the protesting style used in the USA too mild mannered. The goal of demonstrations is to be seen and heard. Beware, I’m NOT advocating violence, such as throwing molotov bombs, ball bearings, or anything that can harm people. But the USA population has ceded too much power to politicians and police in your country over the years, and now you find yourselves in the “free speech zones”, pepper sprayed and arrested for terrorism if you plan to throw (biodegradable, easily cleanable and not health damaging, of course) some pink paint to a statue, or stop some minutes the traffic by forming a line of protestors holding their hands, or any soft prank alike, done to be noted and not to harm. What is sad is that I know that people is and has been for many years reluctant to do these things out of the fear of be branded as “leftist”, “riotous”, “violent”, “communist” or, in this extreme case “terrorist”.
But, I want you to take a step backwards and see it in perspective. Imagine you’re from a foreing country, and realize that you’ve lived in an authoritarian country, and you’re heading to a quasi (?) fascist state. Politeness is out of order when the enemies of the state are taking it to destroy it.
I know I’m preaching to the choir, but I would consider this worth of posting if only one reader thinks of it seriously, and realizes that the liberties he brags so much about, the “only in America” ones, are being trampled time and again.
Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, “who pleaded guilty to a scheme to corrupt Congress, asked a federal judge for mercy on Wednesday, saying he was ‘not a bad man’ although he acknowledged he ‘did many bad things.’
Hitler had a great plan in mind. Too bad people judged him by his acts. (Snark, of course).
And finally: Jamie Lynn Spears is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the pregnancy of Bristol Palin. Spears reportedly spent “$60 on pink burpcloths” and had them sent over to Palin, according to a “source close to the Beverly Hills baby store Petit Tresor.”
That’s it! We can throw the towel now, the Repukians have the endorsement of the Spears camp! If the Republican logic serves me, as Palin has foreing experience because she lives near a foreing country, a similiar leap of logic can be done here, because Britney spoke for Bush some years ago, and he was elected (for the first time in 2004, thanks Diebold).
Yes, I realize I’ve used “logic” in the same paragraph than Bush, Republican and Britney. The path to supreme snark requires great sacrifices measured in peace of mind and tortuous logic. Now I’m going to take a shower, I feel dirty.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:15 pmRegarding Abramov and Terrorism items:
If Abramov isn’t a bad man, how does one compare the harm done by Abramov vs. the “terrorism” charged of protestors at the RNC ?
Which hurts the country more ?
September 4th, 2008 at 12:22 pmBilbo.
After the past week, it seems that if Republicans are reading the Enquirer, progressives may be the ones writing it.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:31 pmA Patriot Acting Says
September 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
If Palin’s husband’s business partner is uncovered as the father of her baby it would be the best thing to happen in the name of democracy in an oh so long time. Even Diebold won’t be able to throw this election and the “modern” repugs will be thrown further into irrelevancy for generations.
_________________________________________________________
I agree with your general premise that anything that prevents this election from being stolen is a good thing. However, I don’t think it would be good in general for “democracy” if Palin gets kicked to the curb because of her sex life. I would much prefer it if she is rejected by voters because of A) her extreme right-wing ideology, B) her utter lack of qualifications to be veep, and/or C) legitimate questions about her ethics regarding how she has conducted her office.
THAT would truly be a blow for democracy!