[Vision2020] Fw: (Fwd) Fw: A voice from Alaska

[keely emerinemix]

I'm gonna go with "running out of smarts" here, Deb.  In the same way that Bush, Sr., thought we'd all swoon over Dan Quayle.
 
I'll be amazed if she lasts through the month; every day seems to reveal something both dumb and dishonest.  And it's sexist to not take her on . . . Keelyhttp://keely-prevailingwinds.blogspot.com/> From: debismith at moscow.com> To: suehovey at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com> Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:16:38 -0800> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Fw: (Fwd) Fw: A voice from Alaska> > Wow! thanks, Sue. I am printing this and passing it on to the College > Democrats, the Pro-Choice groups, and the Coalition for Women Students.> > My question is: How did the Republican Machine not vet this person more > thouroughly? They usually cover (or cover up) every base. Are they suicidal? > Just running out of smarts? The democrats generally have difficulty getting > together on anything (not just herding cats, they have been herding canaries > until this political cycle), but the Republicans usually march in lockstep. > What happened? Sarah Palin is a liability, and Republicans usually don't > have those until say, maybe, 8 years later....Can only hope the electorate > "gets it", but with the dumbing down of the US populace, who the heck knows?> > The more things change....> > Debi R-S> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sue Hovey" <suehovey at moscow.com>> To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>> Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 8:32 AM> Subject: [Vision2020] Fw: (Fwd) Fw: A voice from Alaska> > > >> I received this last night. It does speak to her attempted banning of> >> library books, but does not mention the books in the email.> >> > Sue Hovey> >> >> >> Sent: Saturday, September 6, 2008 12:26:06 PM> >> Subject: A voice from Alaska> >>> >>>> >>> http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html> >>>> >>> ( Updates on general history are below Anne Kilkenny's letter. )> >>>> >>> A note to all by Anne Kilkenny> >>>> >>> Dear friends,> >>>> >>> So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in> >>> the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .> >>>> >>> Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in> >>> common: their gender and their good looks. :)> >>>> >>> You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email> >>> contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not> >>> post it on any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .> >>>> >>> Thanks,> >>> Anne> >>>> >>> [ Note by webadmin: This was already posted on Washington> >>> Independent comments area and was meant by the author to be read by> >>> many, but readers need sourcing. The NY Times has talked with Anne> >>> since. ]> >>>> >>> ABOUT SARAH PALIN> >>>> >>> I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.> >>> Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on> >>> a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her> >>> father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a> >>> first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more> >>> City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of> >>> the residents of the city.> >>>> >>> She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular> >>> girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and> >>> won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because> >>> she is a 'babe'.> >>>> >>> It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret.> >>> She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and> >>> parents for seven months.> >>>> >>> She is 'pro-life'. She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome> >>> baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.> >>>> >>> She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the> >>> gym.> >>>> >>> She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just 'puts things out> >>> there' and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.> >>>> >>> Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a> >>> champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly> >>> sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his> >>> work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month> >>> or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing> >>> their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been> >>> anything like that of native Alaskans.> >>>> >>> Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.> >>>> >>> She's smart.> >>>> >>> Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about> >>> 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state> >>> with about 670,000 residents.> >>>> >>> During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running> >>> this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been> >>> pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she> >>> had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which> >>> had given rise to a recall campaign.> >>>> >>> Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a 'fiscal conservative'. During her 6> >>> years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by> >>> over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by> >>> the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation> >>> (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a> >>> regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she> >>> promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than> >>> they benefited residents.> >>>> >>> The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration> >>> weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed> >>> money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left> >>> it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin> >>> encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure> >>> that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the> >>> city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for> >>> construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through> >>> to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear> >>> title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight> >>> of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice> >>> addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the> >>> profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds> >>> for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs> >>> without any borrowing.> >>>> >>> While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office> >>> redecorated more than once.> >>>> >>> These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.> >>>> >>> As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget> >>> surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology> >>> that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as> >>> Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every> >>> individual in the state.> >>>> >>> In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she> >>> recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while> >>> she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's> >>> surplus, borrow for needs.> >>>> >>> She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside> >>> ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't> >>> generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their> >>> merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.> >>>> >>> While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly> >>> respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider> >>> removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City> >>> residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against> >>> Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and> >>> withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to> >>> oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.> >>>> >>> Sarah complained about the 'old boy's club' when she first ran for> >>> Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of 'old boys'. Palin> >>> fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and> >>> as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure> >>> people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and> >>> eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing> >>> their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged> >>> happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).> >>>> >>> As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he> >>> 'intimidated' her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent> >>> firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He> >>> served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him,> >>> but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to> >>> fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a> >>> State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had> >>> to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff> >>> and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to> >>> fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired> >>> with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment;> >>> when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.> >>>> >>> She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her> >>> in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around> >>> town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City> >>> Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected> >>> Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people> >>> who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.> >>>> >>> Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying> >>> anything publicly about her.> >>>> >>> When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah> >>> got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation> >>> Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best> >>> paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of> >>> scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining> >>> in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that> >>> job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware> >>> that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of> >>> the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a> >>> gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political> >>> suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of> >>> the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron> >>> saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the 'old boys' club'> >>> when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations> >>> (for which he was fined).> >>>> >>> As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from> >>> Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel> >>> politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the 'bridge> >>> to nowhere' after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.> >>>> >>> As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget> >>> guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing> >>> projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative> >>> action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply> >>> because she was not aware of their importance--but with the> >>> unobservant she had gained a reputation as 'anti-pork'.> >>>> >>> She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party> >>> leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated> >>> them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a> >>> fiscal conservative.> >>>> >>> Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.> >>> They call her 'Sarah Barracuda' because of her unbridled ambition> >>> and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly> >>> stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be> >>> made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's> >>> mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and> >>> experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.> >>>> >>> As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of> >>> package of legislation known as 'AGIA' that forced the oil companies> >>> to march to the beat of her drum.> >>>> >>> Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National> >>> Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked> >>> to global warming. She campaigned 'as a private citizen' against a> >>> state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams> >>> from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in> >>> the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the> >>> State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list> >>> polar bears as threatened species.> >>>> >>> McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be> >>> a heartbeat away from being President.> >>>> >>> There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more> >>> knowledgeable and experienced than she.> >>>> >>> However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are> >>> regretting it.> >>>> >>>> >>> CLAIM VS FACT> >>> *'Hockey mom': true for a few years> >>> *'PTA mom': true years ago when her first-born was in elementary> >>> school, not since *'NRA supporter': absolutely true *social> >>> conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that> >>> would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships> >>> (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).> >>> *pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to> >>> promote it. *'Pro-life': mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's> >>> syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on> >>> some pro-life legislation *'Experienced': Some high schools have> >>> more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more> >>> residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other> >>> than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial> >>> experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about> >>> 5,000. *political maverick: not at all *gutsy: absolutely! *open &> >>> transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining> >>> actions. *has a developed philosophy of public policy: no *'a> >>> Greenie': no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and> >>> disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.> >>> *fiscal conservative: not by my definition! *pro-infrastructure: No.> >>> Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage> >>> treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early> >>> 20th century standards. *pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for> >>> businesses, increased tax burden on residents *pro-small government:> >>> No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's> >>> history. *pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works> >>> union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any> >>> claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.> >>>> >>> WHY AM I WRITING THIS?> >>>> >>> First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed> >>> voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting> >>> programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +> >>> Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local> >>> government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.> >>>> >>> Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that 'Bad things happen> >>> when good people stay silent'. Few people know as much as I do> >>> because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.> >>>> >>> Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out> >>> of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am> >>> no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this> >>> will cost me somehow in the future: that's life.> >>>> >>> Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the> >>> 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against> >>> Sarah's attempt at censorship.> >>>> >>> Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid> >>> to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.> >>>> >>> CAVEATS> >>> I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in> >>> spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for> >>> Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of> >>> the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for:> >>> did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it> >>> is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City> >>> Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.> >>>> >>> You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for> >>> the population of Wasilla, ranging from my 'about 5,000', up to> >>> 9,000. The day Palin's selection was announced a city official told> >>> me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000> >>> census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was> >>> Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the> >>> mid-90's.> >>>> >>> Anne Kilkenny> >>> August 31, 2008> >>>> >>> =======> >>>> >>> UPDATES (relevant articles):> >>> Palin's Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual - NY Times, 9/3/08.> >>> Documents detail Palin's political life - Politico, 9/2/08. The> >>> Unusual Challenges Palin Faced in Alaska - NY Times, 9/4/08> >>>> >>> REFERENCE:> >>> On the Issues - with quotes> >>> Books and videos> >>>> >>> ON THE LIGHTER SIDE:> >>> Palin's Hometown Friends Enjoy the Show - NY Times 9/4/08 - a fun> >>> read. A funny send-up of convention speeches - NY Times 9/4/08, Gail> >>> Collins> >>>> >>>> >>> To Home page> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> ________________________________> >> Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with> >> Windows Live. See Now> >> ------- End of forwarded message -------> >>> >> > =======================================================> > List services made available by First Step Internet,> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.> > http://www.fsr.net> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com> > =======================================================> > > > =======================================================> List services made available by First Step Internet, > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. > http://www.fsr.net > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com> =======================================================
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