Friday, October 31, 2008
FOX's Neil Cavuto tells John McCain why he is losing. WTF? Is this a trick?
First Shep Smith and now big headed Neil Cavuto?
The ship must be taking on water like crazy for these two rats to be jumping off already.
I wonder how long it will be before Sarah Palin starts talking about how badly the McCain campaign is doing.
Former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein says McDonalds vets their employees more then John McCain vetted Sarah Palin. Oh snap!
The election is still a few days away but the Republicans are tripping over themselves to declare the McCain/Palin candidacy dead in the water.
I keep visualizing a long line of nattily dressed GOP members holding forks in their hands and taking turn sticking John McCain in the ass and declaring "Yep, he is done alright!"
Both Alaskan Democrats and Republicans demand an apology from the McCain/Palin campaign for vilifying Walt Monegan. God I love Alaska!
Here's a letter written earlier this week to Sen. John McCain from former Alaska House Speaker Gail Phillips, a Republican from Homer, and former Alaska Senate President Chancy Croft, a Democrat from Anchorage. Phillips e-mailed it to news media today. They ask for an apology "from your campaign to Alaskans and our former Commissioner of Public Safety, Walt Monegan."
No response from the campaign.
Here's the letter:
October 28, 2008
Honorable Senator John McCain
John McCain 2008
P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215
Dear Senator McCain:
We are writing because we believe an apology is owed from your campaign to Alaskans and our former Commissioner of Public Safety, Walt Monegan. As former legislative leaders of both major political parties in Alaska, we haven’t always agreed upon political issues. However, we adamantly agree that Mr. Monegan, who is well respected in Alaska by people of all party affiliations, is owed an apology. The attacks against Commissioner Monegan for his role in administering a personnel issue, now known statewide as “Troopergate”, were unwarranted and wrong. Mr. Monegan is a former U.S. Marine, a front-line police officer, was Chief of Police in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, served as our State’s Commissioner of Public Safety and served both Republicans and Democrats with professionalism and honor.
This summer Governor Palin fired Mr. Monegan as Commissioner, which was within her purview. However, in July, the Legislature, through unanimous action by the bi-partisan Legislative Council, voted to investigate Commissioner Monegan’s termination and whether his refusal to fire Trooper Wooten played a role in his termination. The investigation had nothing to do with your campaign.
After Governor Palin was named as your running mate, your campaign stepped into the fray. In an effort to discredit and stop the bi-partisan legislative investigation into whether or not Governor Palin acted improperly in seeking the termination of her former brother-in-law, Trooper Wooten, your campaign engaged in a near-daily course of personal attacks against Mr. Monegan and members of the legislature. It’s obvious to many of us that you probably were not aware of these attacks by your campaign committee; however, since the final responsibility is yours, we feel Mr. Monegan is owed an apology from you.
In an effort to halt the bi-partisan investigation, your campaign staff tried to vilify Commissioner Monegan. Before Governor Palin was selected to your presidential ticket, she had agreed to the investigation; she publicly said it was justified and that she and her staff would cooperate with the investigation. She stated to the press that the public had a right to be concerned whether or not her administration may have placed improper pressure on the State Department of Public Safety to fire her former brother-in-law.
Following Governor Palin’s selection as your running mate, your campaign sent staff to Alaska to try to stop the investigation that Governor Palin had previously agreed to. Your campaign staff accused the legislative action as partisan in spite of the fact that the unanimous vote of the Legislative Council was bi-partisan.
Your campaign accused Mr. Monegan of being a “rogue”, of being insubordinate and other defamatory statements. To justify your involvement in this Alaskan issue and the Governor’s termination of Commissioner Monegan, your campaign continually changed the excuses for his termination. The various and changing excuses given by your campaign speaks clearly to the lack of credibility in its involvement.
Despite your campaign’s efforts to stop the investigation in court, and by public pressure, the investigation was recently completed. On October 10th the investigative report was released and the independent investigator, Steve Branchflower, concluded that the Governor had violated the State’s Executive Ethics statute by pressuring for the termination of Mr. Wooten from his position as an Alaskan State Trooper. The investigation also found that one of the probable reasons Commissioner Monegan was terminated was his refusal to fire the Governor’s former brother-in-law.
We acknowledge the authority the Governor has for terminating Commissioners; however, your campaign’s interference into this State matter and attempts to discredit Commissioner Monegan for campaign purposes is very troubling. Both the vilification of Mr. Monegan and the attempts by your campaign to stop the investigation were wrong.
We respectfully request an apology from your campaign to Mr. Monegan. He is a good man who has put his life on the line for Alaskans many times and he deserves better treatment from you and your campaign. Not only have the personal attacks from your campaign deeply affected and hurt the Monegan family, but also the people of Alaska who care and respect Mr. Monegan.
Sincerely,
Gail Phillips
Former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives
Chancy Croft
Former President of the Alaska State Senate
Now this is more like it!
John McCain tried to bully Alaska and we handed him his ass!
And Sarah Palin allowed and encouraged it to happen, and that makes her a traitor to her state, and the people who elected her to office.
Princess Palin forgot that she works for us, and started treating our people like dirt. Well I have news for you Governor, your pink slip is in the mail!
No response from the campaign.
Here's the letter:
October 28, 2008
Honorable Senator John McCain
John McCain 2008
P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215
Dear Senator McCain:
We are writing because we believe an apology is owed from your campaign to Alaskans and our former Commissioner of Public Safety, Walt Monegan. As former legislative leaders of both major political parties in Alaska, we haven’t always agreed upon political issues. However, we adamantly agree that Mr. Monegan, who is well respected in Alaska by people of all party affiliations, is owed an apology. The attacks against Commissioner Monegan for his role in administering a personnel issue, now known statewide as “Troopergate”, were unwarranted and wrong. Mr. Monegan is a former U.S. Marine, a front-line police officer, was Chief of Police in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, served as our State’s Commissioner of Public Safety and served both Republicans and Democrats with professionalism and honor.
This summer Governor Palin fired Mr. Monegan as Commissioner, which was within her purview. However, in July, the Legislature, through unanimous action by the bi-partisan Legislative Council, voted to investigate Commissioner Monegan’s termination and whether his refusal to fire Trooper Wooten played a role in his termination. The investigation had nothing to do with your campaign.
After Governor Palin was named as your running mate, your campaign stepped into the fray. In an effort to discredit and stop the bi-partisan legislative investigation into whether or not Governor Palin acted improperly in seeking the termination of her former brother-in-law, Trooper Wooten, your campaign engaged in a near-daily course of personal attacks against Mr. Monegan and members of the legislature. It’s obvious to many of us that you probably were not aware of these attacks by your campaign committee; however, since the final responsibility is yours, we feel Mr. Monegan is owed an apology from you.
In an effort to halt the bi-partisan investigation, your campaign staff tried to vilify Commissioner Monegan. Before Governor Palin was selected to your presidential ticket, she had agreed to the investigation; she publicly said it was justified and that she and her staff would cooperate with the investigation. She stated to the press that the public had a right to be concerned whether or not her administration may have placed improper pressure on the State Department of Public Safety to fire her former brother-in-law.
Following Governor Palin’s selection as your running mate, your campaign sent staff to Alaska to try to stop the investigation that Governor Palin had previously agreed to. Your campaign staff accused the legislative action as partisan in spite of the fact that the unanimous vote of the Legislative Council was bi-partisan.
Your campaign accused Mr. Monegan of being a “rogue”, of being insubordinate and other defamatory statements. To justify your involvement in this Alaskan issue and the Governor’s termination of Commissioner Monegan, your campaign continually changed the excuses for his termination. The various and changing excuses given by your campaign speaks clearly to the lack of credibility in its involvement.
Despite your campaign’s efforts to stop the investigation in court, and by public pressure, the investigation was recently completed. On October 10th the investigative report was released and the independent investigator, Steve Branchflower, concluded that the Governor had violated the State’s Executive Ethics statute by pressuring for the termination of Mr. Wooten from his position as an Alaskan State Trooper. The investigation also found that one of the probable reasons Commissioner Monegan was terminated was his refusal to fire the Governor’s former brother-in-law.
We acknowledge the authority the Governor has for terminating Commissioners; however, your campaign’s interference into this State matter and attempts to discredit Commissioner Monegan for campaign purposes is very troubling. Both the vilification of Mr. Monegan and the attempts by your campaign to stop the investigation were wrong.
We respectfully request an apology from your campaign to Mr. Monegan. He is a good man who has put his life on the line for Alaskans many times and he deserves better treatment from you and your campaign. Not only have the personal attacks from your campaign deeply affected and hurt the Monegan family, but also the people of Alaska who care and respect Mr. Monegan.
Sincerely,
Gail Phillips
Former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives
Chancy Croft
Former President of the Alaska State Senate
Now this is more like it!
John McCain tried to bully Alaska and we handed him his ass!
And Sarah Palin allowed and encouraged it to happen, and that makes her a traitor to her state, and the people who elected her to office.
Princess Palin forgot that she works for us, and started treating our people like dirt. Well I have news for you Governor, your pink slip is in the mail!
Author Erica Jong warns that an Obama loss will spark a second American Civil War.
Erica Jong, author of "Fear of Flying" among other books has become very concerned that this election will be stolen from the Democrats again.
Here are some of the things she has written about her fears:
"The record shows that voting machines in America are rigged."
"If Obama loses it will spark the second American Civil War. Blood will run in the streets, believe me. And it's not a coincidence that President Bush recalled soldiers from Iraq for Dick Cheney to lead against American citizens in the streets."
"Bush has transformed America into a police state, from torture to the imprisonment of reporters, to the Patriot Act."
To be honest I have worried about many of these same outcomes on November 4th. And that was one of the reasons that Obama and his supporters have stressed how important it is to get out the vote. If this thing turns into a landslide for Obama, then the Republicans cannot steal it from us.
But I have stopped worrying recently.
I have seen such amazing people, doing such amazing work, being led by such an amazing candidate, that I simply cannot see how this thing does not work out the way we all expect that it will.
Barack Obama has tried to get us to embrace hope again in our lives.
I have done that, and it brings me great peace.
If I could speak to Erica Jong I would tell her to have no fear, that change really is coming in just a few more days.
And I would tell all of you reading this to please volunteer to make some phone calls, or go door to door, or make a donation, and certainly not forget to vote, so that Ms. Jong and the rest of America can finally breathe a sigh of relief. We could all use a good nights sleep after this is over.
Here are some of the things she has written about her fears:
"The record shows that voting machines in America are rigged."
"If Obama loses it will spark the second American Civil War. Blood will run in the streets, believe me. And it's not a coincidence that President Bush recalled soldiers from Iraq for Dick Cheney to lead against American citizens in the streets."
"Bush has transformed America into a police state, from torture to the imprisonment of reporters, to the Patriot Act."
To be honest I have worried about many of these same outcomes on November 4th. And that was one of the reasons that Obama and his supporters have stressed how important it is to get out the vote. If this thing turns into a landslide for Obama, then the Republicans cannot steal it from us.
But I have stopped worrying recently.
I have seen such amazing people, doing such amazing work, being led by such an amazing candidate, that I simply cannot see how this thing does not work out the way we all expect that it will.
Barack Obama has tried to get us to embrace hope again in our lives.
I have done that, and it brings me great peace.
If I could speak to Erica Jong I would tell her to have no fear, that change really is coming in just a few more days.
And I would tell all of you reading this to please volunteer to make some phone calls, or go door to door, or make a donation, and certainly not forget to vote, so that Ms. Jong and the rest of America can finally breathe a sigh of relief. We could all use a good nights sleep after this is over.
Alaska progressive blogger's favorite host, Rachel Maddow, got to talk to Alaska progressive blogger's favorite Presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
Part deux.
Actually I cannot speak for EVERY Alaska progressive blogger, but I would bet some big money that all of us were riveted by this interview.
Obama is so smooth and confident and intelligent, that it makes it almost impossible for me to listen to Bush, or McCain, or Caribou Barbie speak. It is the difference between drinking a honey laced green tea or drinking rubbing alcohol.
WE LOVE YOU RACHEL!
John Oliver of the Daily Show does a hard hitting expose on "community organizers". And by "hard hitting" I mean hysterical.
Wow, I thought Oliver was about to get a beat down for asking that ACORN woman about crack!
Now THAT would have been some great television!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sarah Palin finds that "drill baby, drill" line will not work on everybody. Workers in a solar power plant for instance? Not so much.
Palin spoke after touring Xunlight Corp., one of a handful of solar technology startup companies in Toledo, a struggling industrial city in this swing state. The city's leaders are hoping that the solar companies will create jobs to replace some of those lost by downsizing in the auto industry.
But Palin made only a passing reference to solar power in her speech and instead renewed her call for more drilling in U.S. coastal waters. She repeated her signature anthem, "drill, baby, drill," which seemed to fall a bit flat on the audience at the plant even as it's become a popular chant at her rallies.
This is the danger of going rogue and not paying attention to the campaign handlers who are there to make sure you don't say anything stupid. If you don't listen to them you are guaranteed to say something stupid!
When I heard that the Sarah supporters were demanding that the McCain campaign let her speak for herself , and to "let Sarah, be Sarah", I was absolutely giddy with excitement.
You see I KNOW who Sarah Palin is. And now the rest of the country can see for themselves that despite $150,000 in new clothes, constant cramming for policy questions, and a high priced make up lady from "Dancing with the Stars", Palin is just an ignorant hick from Wasilla who is in way over her bouffant hairdo.
She is a mannequin. A prop. A distraction. She was never supposed to do more than provide window dressing, and she may be unqualified to do even that!
And in a little more than five days, we are going to get her back.
And I for one can hardly wait!
But Palin made only a passing reference to solar power in her speech and instead renewed her call for more drilling in U.S. coastal waters. She repeated her signature anthem, "drill, baby, drill," which seemed to fall a bit flat on the audience at the plant even as it's become a popular chant at her rallies.
This is the danger of going rogue and not paying attention to the campaign handlers who are there to make sure you don't say anything stupid. If you don't listen to them you are guaranteed to say something stupid!
When I heard that the Sarah supporters were demanding that the McCain campaign let her speak for herself , and to "let Sarah, be Sarah", I was absolutely giddy with excitement.
You see I KNOW who Sarah Palin is. And now the rest of the country can see for themselves that despite $150,000 in new clothes, constant cramming for policy questions, and a high priced make up lady from "Dancing with the Stars", Palin is just an ignorant hick from Wasilla who is in way over her bouffant hairdo.
She is a mannequin. A prop. A distraction. She was never supposed to do more than provide window dressing, and she may be unqualified to do even that!
And in a little more than five days, we are going to get her back.
And I for one can hardly wait!
John McCain realizes that his mascot "Joe the Plumber" has gone "rogue" again and has one of the most embarrassing moments in television history.
AWKWARD!
According to MSNBC this crowd consisted of about 6000 attendees, 4000 of whom were bussed in from schools in the area.
What kind of education system would force their students to serve as props in support of a Republican Presidential candidate? Do all of the parents of these children support McCain? Somehow I doubt it. I wonder if they will have anything to say about how their children were used?
And have you noticed how reliant John McCain has become on two of his props? He simply will not stand before the American people without his "Alaskan beauty queen" or "Joe the Buttcrack" sharing the stage with him.
What is wrong John? Are you afraid that nobody will show up just to see your sorry ass? Well I guess if they have to bus in two thirds of their audience then we already know the answer to that question.
Cajun boy says that there is an explosive story about Sarah Palin and "babygate" being sat on by my very own morning newspaper.
So according to Cajun boy, who has a mole within the Anchorage Daily News, there is a HUG story about Sarah Palin and the birth of Trig Palin.
The paper is very hesitant to run the story for fear of backlash.
But if you are like me, you desperately want to see this story released.
So take a moment to write to the Anchorage Daily News and let them know that they owe us this story. Remember if the ADN had done their jobs the first place we may very well have NEVER seen a McCain/Palin ticket in 2008.
Update: Apparently this has resulted in another dead end.
The paper is very hesitant to run the story for fear of backlash.
But if you are like me, you desperately want to see this story released.
So take a moment to write to the Anchorage Daily News and let them know that they owe us this story. Remember if the ADN had done their jobs the first place we may very well have NEVER seen a McCain/Palin ticket in 2008.
Update: Apparently this has resulted in another dead end.
Bill Clinton explains to Florida, and the rest of the country, that Barack Obama is the future of this nation.
Bill still has a lot of passion for this election, and his connection with the common man is undeniable.
Clinton was late to the party, but he clearly brought the fireworks.
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show takes note of how many "Rogues" the Republicans seem to have now. And then Barack Obama stops by for a chat.
Did the Republicans just lose Shep Smith? Well thank goodness Neil Cavuto is still a huge ass kissing, stick strictly to the script, douchebag.
And then Jon gets to interview the man himself. I don't know about you, but my television seemed brighter, hope filled if you will, every time the camera showed Obama. It was a little eerie.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A tale of two rallies.
For a number of weeks there has been a Mark Begich rally scheduled to start tonight at 5:30 p.m.. Then without warning it was announced that there was another rally planned.
This one for the recently convicted Senator Ted Stevens, and coincidentally it ALSO started at 5:30. Uh oh!
What is a liberal political blogger to do?
Go and show support for Democrat Mark Begich, the man who I believe will be our next Senator? Or go to see the return of the beaten and bruised Ted Stevens?
Well of course I had to do both. First the Stevens rally.
It was the worst of times: Ted Stevens was due to arrive at the Penn Air hanger by 5:30.
In the meantime his supporters and some other political necrophiliacs milled around waving signs and waiting for the man who has been the Senator of this state for the last 40 years. Which was longer then some in attendance had even been alive.
Of course this lion of the Senate was not coming back the conquering hero, as he has so often in his political life, no this time he was returning to Alaska a convicted felon. But the crowds in that brightly lit hanger did not seem to care one little bit about that. They were their to support THEIR Senator. Music blared from the speakers, and the ambiance was quite festive. (The song of choice? Journey's "Don't stop believing". I wonder how Steve Perry would feel about that?)
Before his plane landed we were treated to an appearance by Senator Lisa Murkowski, who took the opportunity to take a couple of verbal shots at the Washington crowd and the Democrats. (Boo! Democrats are bad! Hiss!)
We also saw Ted's youngest daughter, Lily Stevens, who spoke about how proud she and the rest of the family were of their famous father. (There WAS one glaring absence however. Ted's embattled eldest son Ben Stevens was a no show. Of course he might very well be preparing for his own indictments that are certainly heading his way in the very near future.)
When Senator Stevens finally made his much anticipated appearance I was immediately struck by how tired and wan he looked. Once he mounted the tiny stage he took a few minutes to realize that he was standing next to a microphone, but once he bumped into it he grabbed it forcefully and immediately declared that he was innocent.
At that the crowd roared, and Ted seemed to brighten a little. He talked of his honesty, and reminded them that they knew him, and they had trusted him, and that he needed them to continue to support and trust him. I scanned the faces in the audience and found many that were showing clear signs of emotion and sadness. In the air was the palpable sense that this may be the last time that any of them would gather to voice their support for a man who has represented this state almost since the day it first attained statehood.
As the rally wrapped up I was surprised that I felt a little sorry for the Senator. Though politically we are worlds apart, we are still both Alaskans. Not the opportunist Alaskans that followed the oil money up here and then stayed for the lack of state taxes and the yearly dividend checks. No Ted is an OLD Alaskan. He and I were here when there were only two television stations to choose from, unreliable electricity for our homes, and only a handful of paved roads even in the biggest cities. So yes I did feel a certain sense of pain at how his career was coming to an end.
But Ted was only the victim of his own avarice and feelings of entitlement. He knew the risks and he made his decisions fully aware of the possible consequences.
The end of Senator Ted Stevens career can be blamed on only one man. And that is Senator Ted Stevens himself. So my sense of pity can extend only so far.
If Stevens had wanted to leave the Senate with his dignity intact he could have done so. But Ted thinks of himself as a fighter, and a true fighter does not leave the ring while he still has fight within him. No the only way he admits defeat is when they carry him out of the ring. Tonight I think we saw Uncle Ted being carried out. Soon he will hang up his gloves, clean out his locker, and walk into the mists of time.
It was the best of times: I arrived late for the Mark Begich rally.
The crowds had thinned out and only the most stalwart supporters and political junkies still ambled about reuniting with old friends and talking to the one lone reporter who had come to cover the event.
Mark Begich himself was shaking hands and providing his autograph for all who requested it, all while talking about his enthusiasm for the election that is now only six days away. If he had any doubts it certainly did not show.
While in the midst of a conversation about the national ticket, Mark's young son came up and grabbed his hand in an attempt to drag him over to some delightful treasure he had discovered amongst the stacks of chairs and tables in one dark corner. Mark resisted valiantly, and the boy decided to leave his dad to his boring "politics" and ran off on his own, followed by his father's words to "be careful" and "please don't touch that". This helped to remind us all that Mayor Begich is still a young man with a young man's responsibilities.
When he goes to Washington it will be as much to represent the future of that little boy as it will be to represent the state that he loves so much.
As much as Ted Stevens represents the Alaska of yesterday, Mark Begich surely represents the Alaska yet to come.
This one for the recently convicted Senator Ted Stevens, and coincidentally it ALSO started at 5:30. Uh oh!
What is a liberal political blogger to do?
Go and show support for Democrat Mark Begich, the man who I believe will be our next Senator? Or go to see the return of the beaten and bruised Ted Stevens?
Well of course I had to do both. First the Stevens rally.
It was the worst of times: Ted Stevens was due to arrive at the Penn Air hanger by 5:30.
In the meantime his supporters and some other political necrophiliacs milled around waving signs and waiting for the man who has been the Senator of this state for the last 40 years. Which was longer then some in attendance had even been alive.
Of course this lion of the Senate was not coming back the conquering hero, as he has so often in his political life, no this time he was returning to Alaska a convicted felon. But the crowds in that brightly lit hanger did not seem to care one little bit about that. They were their to support THEIR Senator. Music blared from the speakers, and the ambiance was quite festive. (The song of choice? Journey's "Don't stop believing". I wonder how Steve Perry would feel about that?)
Before his plane landed we were treated to an appearance by Senator Lisa Murkowski, who took the opportunity to take a couple of verbal shots at the Washington crowd and the Democrats. (Boo! Democrats are bad! Hiss!)
We also saw Ted's youngest daughter, Lily Stevens, who spoke about how proud she and the rest of the family were of their famous father. (There WAS one glaring absence however. Ted's embattled eldest son Ben Stevens was a no show. Of course he might very well be preparing for his own indictments that are certainly heading his way in the very near future.)
When Senator Stevens finally made his much anticipated appearance I was immediately struck by how tired and wan he looked. Once he mounted the tiny stage he took a few minutes to realize that he was standing next to a microphone, but once he bumped into it he grabbed it forcefully and immediately declared that he was innocent.
At that the crowd roared, and Ted seemed to brighten a little. He talked of his honesty, and reminded them that they knew him, and they had trusted him, and that he needed them to continue to support and trust him. I scanned the faces in the audience and found many that were showing clear signs of emotion and sadness. In the air was the palpable sense that this may be the last time that any of them would gather to voice their support for a man who has represented this state almost since the day it first attained statehood.
As the rally wrapped up I was surprised that I felt a little sorry for the Senator. Though politically we are worlds apart, we are still both Alaskans. Not the opportunist Alaskans that followed the oil money up here and then stayed for the lack of state taxes and the yearly dividend checks. No Ted is an OLD Alaskan. He and I were here when there were only two television stations to choose from, unreliable electricity for our homes, and only a handful of paved roads even in the biggest cities. So yes I did feel a certain sense of pain at how his career was coming to an end.
But Ted was only the victim of his own avarice and feelings of entitlement. He knew the risks and he made his decisions fully aware of the possible consequences.
The end of Senator Ted Stevens career can be blamed on only one man. And that is Senator Ted Stevens himself. So my sense of pity can extend only so far.
If Stevens had wanted to leave the Senate with his dignity intact he could have done so. But Ted thinks of himself as a fighter, and a true fighter does not leave the ring while he still has fight within him. No the only way he admits defeat is when they carry him out of the ring. Tonight I think we saw Uncle Ted being carried out. Soon he will hang up his gloves, clean out his locker, and walk into the mists of time.
It was the best of times: I arrived late for the Mark Begich rally.
The crowds had thinned out and only the most stalwart supporters and political junkies still ambled about reuniting with old friends and talking to the one lone reporter who had come to cover the event.
Mark Begich himself was shaking hands and providing his autograph for all who requested it, all while talking about his enthusiasm for the election that is now only six days away. If he had any doubts it certainly did not show.
While in the midst of a conversation about the national ticket, Mark's young son came up and grabbed his hand in an attempt to drag him over to some delightful treasure he had discovered amongst the stacks of chairs and tables in one dark corner. Mark resisted valiantly, and the boy decided to leave his dad to his boring "politics" and ran off on his own, followed by his father's words to "be careful" and "please don't touch that". This helped to remind us all that Mayor Begich is still a young man with a young man's responsibilities.
When he goes to Washington it will be as much to represent the future of that little boy as it will be to represent the state that he loves so much.
As much as Ted Stevens represents the Alaska of yesterday, Mark Begich surely represents the Alaska yet to come.
Senate Republicans scramble to "re-gift" contributions from newly minted felon Ted Stevens.
The cash-strapped Senate Republican campaign committee plans to relinquish a portion of the funds raised by Alaska Republican Ted Stevens this election cycle, a move that represents the party's latest break from the convicted senator.
Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), said Wednesday that the committee would donate to charity the $30,000 it received from Stevens's Northern Lights Political Action Committee.
"We are in the process of returning the money that Ted Stevens gave directly to the NRSC this cycle to charity," Fisher said. "We believe that is an appropriate response to the situation."
If the Republicans are treating CASH from Ted Stevens as if it is radioactive, can you imagine how they would deal with Ted Stevens in the FLESH if he were to actually win his re-election bid and rejoin them in the Senate?
There would be Senators diving behind desk and chairs every time Uncle Ted entered the room.
Ted Stevens: "Hi guys!"
Republican lawmakers: CRASH...SMASH....."Oh God don't make eye contact with him!"...."Help me get this window open!"....CRUNCH...."I told you to lock his office door from the OUTSIDE!"....."Oh my God, he is coming this waaaayy!"
It will be f**king mayhem.
Please save the Republican party from any further embarrassment, vote Mark Begich.
Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), said Wednesday that the committee would donate to charity the $30,000 it received from Stevens's Northern Lights Political Action Committee.
"We are in the process of returning the money that Ted Stevens gave directly to the NRSC this cycle to charity," Fisher said. "We believe that is an appropriate response to the situation."
If the Republicans are treating CASH from Ted Stevens as if it is radioactive, can you imagine how they would deal with Ted Stevens in the FLESH if he were to actually win his re-election bid and rejoin them in the Senate?
There would be Senators diving behind desk and chairs every time Uncle Ted entered the room.
Ted Stevens: "Hi guys!"
Republican lawmakers: CRASH...SMASH....."Oh God don't make eye contact with him!"...."Help me get this window open!"....CRUNCH...."I told you to lock his office door from the OUTSIDE!"....."Oh my God, he is coming this waaaayy!"
It will be f**king mayhem.
Please save the Republican party from any further embarrassment, vote Mark Begich.
Doonesbury takes on FOX News.
I love how many in the media are finally starting to expose how unrepentantly biased FOX News is, and that they have always been nothing more then a propaganda outlet for the Republican party.
To be fair however, Garry Trudeau has been going after FOX News for many, many years.
It is the other news outlets and entertainment shows that have been a little late to take them on.
And the Obama campaign has certainly not shied away from taking FOX on either, as demonstrated in this exchange between Obama spokesman Bill Burton and, FOX's estrogen infused doppelganger to Bill O'Reilly, Megyn Kelly.
Do all FOX News talking heads have to attend histrionic yelling classes before being allowed on the air? Just wondering.
More good news for Obama supporters this Wednesday morning.
Barack Obama now leads in four states won by President Bush in 2004 and is essentially tied with John McCain in two other Republican red states, according to new AP-GfK battleground polling.
The results help explain why the Democrat is pressing his money and manpower advantages in a slew of traditionally GOP states, hoping not just for a win but a transcendent victory that remakes the nation's political map. McCain is scrambling to defend states where he wouldn't even be campaigning if the race were closer.
Less than a week before Election Day, the AP-GfK polls show Obama winning among early voters, favored on almost every issue, benefiting from the country's sour mood and widely viewed as the winning candidate by voters in eight crucial states — Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
"If you believe in miracles," said GOP consultant Joe Gaylord of Arlington, Va., "you still believe in McCain."
It is hard not to be very excited and gratified by these numbers.
But we must not get complacent.
This thing is not over yet.
So if you have not voted yet, and your state allows early voting, then get out and vote today!
And if you are a young voter between 18-24 you should know that much of the reason that the McCain campaign is still having any confidence is that historically your demographic does NOT turn up at the polls in large number. So even though there are more young voters registered, then ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY, the Republicans are counting on you to be too lazy or distracted to make it to the polls. So my young friends, PROVE THEM WRONG!
Vote like your life depends on it! Because in many ways it does.
The results help explain why the Democrat is pressing his money and manpower advantages in a slew of traditionally GOP states, hoping not just for a win but a transcendent victory that remakes the nation's political map. McCain is scrambling to defend states where he wouldn't even be campaigning if the race were closer.
Less than a week before Election Day, the AP-GfK polls show Obama winning among early voters, favored on almost every issue, benefiting from the country's sour mood and widely viewed as the winning candidate by voters in eight crucial states — Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
"If you believe in miracles," said GOP consultant Joe Gaylord of Arlington, Va., "you still believe in McCain."
It is hard not to be very excited and gratified by these numbers.
But we must not get complacent.
This thing is not over yet.
So if you have not voted yet, and your state allows early voting, then get out and vote today!
And if you are a young voter between 18-24 you should know that much of the reason that the McCain campaign is still having any confidence is that historically your demographic does NOT turn up at the polls in large number. So even though there are more young voters registered, then ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY, the Republicans are counting on you to be too lazy or distracted to make it to the polls. So my young friends, PROVE THEM WRONG!
Vote like your life depends on it! Because in many ways it does.
Jon Stewart has a lot of fun with Ted Stevens felony conviction.
And what is with John McCain's "air quotes" and dismissal of women's health issues?
Samantha Bee has something to say about that.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Charles gets to meet Barack Obama. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to watch this, trust me.
The message from Charles to the young men and women who are going to someday be in charge of this country is something that every one of them should take a moment to watch.
Charles, and the young people he talks about, make me proud to be an American.
Bless you Charles.
Sarah Palin the "Diva" is dead. Long live Sarah Palin the "Whack job"!
In convo with Playbook, a top McCain adviser one-ups the priceless “diva” description, calling her “a whack job.”Well you won't get any argument from this Alaskan on that point.
My friends and I had a very in depth discussion about that very thing this last weekend.
The state of her mental health was one of the main topics.
Sarah Palin's hidden base.
I promise you will see nothing scarier this Halloween then what you see in this video.
John McCain tells Ted Stevens to "step down".
"It is clear that Sen. Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down," McCain said. "I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will be spurred by these events to redouble their efforts to end this kind of corruption once and for all."
Wow this is huge!
I know that Stevens, feisty bastard that he is, wants to continue to fight this verdict. But it is beyond obvious he has lost the support of his party. How can Senator Stevens justify continuing his run for the Senate in the face of this conviction and the vote of no confidence from the leader of his party?
If, by some miracle, Ted Stevens wins this re-election bid, he will soon be ousted by the Senate. Who will the Governor select to take his place? My guess is she would select herself.
We know she has acquired a taste for the national spotlight and it is unlikely she will be happy back here in our small pond, being such a big fish and all.
But Alaskans need to understand that the only REAL choice we have is Mark Begich. Begich will join the overwhelming Democratic majority that will now dominate both the Senate and the Congress.
It is very unlikely that ANY Republican from our state will get any support in this new Senate and it will take a Democrat to start making the alliances and friendships that will help Alaska in the future.
So when you vote on November 4th (or earlier if you want to), then remember to think of the future, and what kind of Senator will most likely have the best chance of steering Alaska toward prosperity in the years to come.
(I need to give a hat tip to my friend Phil Munger over at Progressive Alaska where I first saw this incredible news.)
Update: I hate to have to admit I made a mistake, but I made a mistake.
The Alaskan Governor CANNOT appoint a replacement for Senator Stevens if he is forced out of the Senate. That right was stripped away from the Alaska Governor after Frank Murkowski appointed his daughter Lisa Murkowski to his abandoned Senate seat after he was elected Governor. After that Alaska adopted an amendment to keep that from happening again.
But what DOES happen is that we have to call a special election. So if by some chance Stevens wins this re-election bid, and he ends up getting jail time or being kicked out of the Senate (which is more then likely with a Democratic Senate), then there will have another election in which Mark Begich will certainly emerge victorious.
So no matter what happens on November 4th, Mark Begich WILL eventually be our new Senator.
But Steven's chances have now been reduced even more since Sarah Palin, having tested the political winds and decided it is in her best interests to distance herself from Senator Stevens, has now asked him to step down as well.
Jon Stewart brilliantly exposes the hypocrisy of the McCain campaign. "McCain/Palin : Building a bridge to the 13th Century.
In this segment John Oliver discovers that fear is prevalent in BOTH the McCain and Obama campaign rallies. Well it is sorta...kinda....the same.....I guess?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sarah Palin issues statement about Ted Stevens felony convictions.
Governor Sarah Palin today released the following statement on the felony convictions of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens:
“This is a sad day for Alaska and for Senator Stevens and his family. The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company that was allowed to control too much of our state. That control was part of the culture of corruption I was elected to fight. And that fight must always move forward regardless of party or seniority or even past service.
“As Governor of the State of Alaska, I will carefully monitor this situation and take any appropriate action as needed. In the meantime, I ask the people of Alaska to join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system. I'm confident Senator Stevens will do what is right for the people of Alaska.”
Uh oh, it looks like Sarah is about to throw Uncle Ted under the bus along with John McCain, her daughter Bristol, and anybody else who stands in the way of her achieving her political aspirations.
“This is a sad day for Alaska and for Senator Stevens and his family. The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company that was allowed to control too much of our state. That control was part of the culture of corruption I was elected to fight. And that fight must always move forward regardless of party or seniority or even past service.
“As Governor of the State of Alaska, I will carefully monitor this situation and take any appropriate action as needed. In the meantime, I ask the people of Alaska to join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system. I'm confident Senator Stevens will do what is right for the people of Alaska.”
Uh oh, it looks like Sarah is about to throw Uncle Ted under the bus along with John McCain, her daughter Bristol, and anybody else who stands in the way of her achieving her political aspirations.
Obama's closing speech in Ohio will knock your socks off.
How anybody can listen to this man speak these words and not want to work to make sure he is our next president is completely beyond me.
It looks like I will be making some phone calls in the next few days.
Keith Olbermann calls on John McCain to take responsibility for his campaign.
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Keith provides a smack down to FOX News for its irresponsible fanning of racial tensions over the Ashley Todd incident in which she claimed that a black man hit her and cut her because she had a McCain/Palin sticker on her car.
And then Keith calls on John McCain himself to finally put an end to the racism bubbling up in his campaign rallies and, as this incident so clearly demonstrates, also lives in the hearts of many of his supporters.
Keith remains calm throughout his soliloquy, I am not so sure that given that forum I would be able to express myself so eloquently and calmly.
Keith provides a smack down to FOX News for its irresponsible fanning of racial tensions over the Ashley Todd incident in which she claimed that a black man hit her and cut her because she had a McCain/Palin sticker on her car.
And then Keith calls on John McCain himself to finally put an end to the racism bubbling up in his campaign rallies and, as this incident so clearly demonstrates, also lives in the hearts of many of his supporters.
Keith remains calm throughout his soliloquy, I am not so sure that given that forum I would be able to express myself so eloquently and calmly.
Ted Stevens is found guilty! That is guilty, guilty, guilty!
A jury has found U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens guilty of all seven counts of lying on his financial disclosure forms.
It is the highest-profile felony conviction in a sweeping four-year federal investigation into corruption in Alaska politics, and a rare conviction by a jury of a sitting U.S. senator.
As the verdict on the first count was read, Stevens slumped slightly. When the second count was read, his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, reached over and put his arm around Stevens' shoulders.
Jurors found that Stevens willfully filed false financial disclosure forms that hid such gifts as the renovations that doubled his home in size. Those gifts, valued at as much as $250,000 over seven years, came mostly from his former friend Bill Allen, the star prosecution witness in Stevens' trial and the former owner of Veco Corp.
This all but means that the Senate race is over, and that we will definitely have a Democrat representing Alaska in Washington.
This is a huge deal in Alaska politics. Conventional wisdom had it that NOBODY could defeat Ted Stevens, but with this decision he is damaged beyond repair.
I still cannot help but wish that he would have simply resigned and held onto a little dignity. I would not have begrudged him that, But it was time for him to leave and if this was the only way that could have been achieved, then so be it.
Don Young's heart rate must be through the roof today. He knows he is next on the chopping block. And can Sarah Palin be far behind?
Alaska, where justice has recently made a triumphant return!
It is the highest-profile felony conviction in a sweeping four-year federal investigation into corruption in Alaska politics, and a rare conviction by a jury of a sitting U.S. senator.
As the verdict on the first count was read, Stevens slumped slightly. When the second count was read, his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, reached over and put his arm around Stevens' shoulders.
Jurors found that Stevens willfully filed false financial disclosure forms that hid such gifts as the renovations that doubled his home in size. Those gifts, valued at as much as $250,000 over seven years, came mostly from his former friend Bill Allen, the star prosecution witness in Stevens' trial and the former owner of Veco Corp.
This all but means that the Senate race is over, and that we will definitely have a Democrat representing Alaska in Washington.
This is a huge deal in Alaska politics. Conventional wisdom had it that NOBODY could defeat Ted Stevens, but with this decision he is damaged beyond repair.
I still cannot help but wish that he would have simply resigned and held onto a little dignity. I would not have begrudged him that, But it was time for him to leave and if this was the only way that could have been achieved, then so be it.
Don Young's heart rate must be through the roof today. He knows he is next on the chopping block. And can Sarah Palin be far behind?
Alaska, where justice has recently made a triumphant return!
Would you like to hear some very good news this Monday morning? Your wish is my command.
Aides to George W.Bush, former Reagan White House staff and friends of John McCain have all told The Sunday Telegraph that they not only expect to lose on November 4, but also believe that Mr Obama is poised to win a crushing mandate.
They believe he will be powerful enough to remake the American political landscape with even more ease than Ronald Reagan did in 1980.
How does that feel? Good?
Well then let me remind you that the only way that this reality will come to pass is if you vote.
An America that is completely free of the poisonous influence of the Republican fundamentalists and neo-cons who have virtually destroyed our nation is within our reach.
But this simply will not happen on its own, it needs your help.
Please don't delay, vote early if you can. And if you can't then make sure you make it to the polls on November 4th. The whole world is putting their hope in you, do not let them down.
They believe he will be powerful enough to remake the American political landscape with even more ease than Ronald Reagan did in 1980.
How does that feel? Good?
Well then let me remind you that the only way that this reality will come to pass is if you vote.
An America that is completely free of the poisonous influence of the Republican fundamentalists and neo-cons who have virtually destroyed our nation is within our reach.
But this simply will not happen on its own, it needs your help.
Please don't delay, vote early if you can. And if you can't then make sure you make it to the polls on November 4th. The whole world is putting their hope in you, do not let them down.
Judge in Ted Stevens trial chooses alternate juror and instructs jury to continue deliberation. This should be over sometime this week.
Judge Emmet Sullivan paused proceedings Friday morning after the juror learned the previous night that her father had died and she needed to depart to attend his funeral. He had hoped to bring the juror back to continue deliberating with the other 11, but couldn't reach her Friday or over the weekend to determine whether she would still be available.
Instead of the trial being delayed any further, an alternate will take the missing juror's place and jurors will continue deliberating this morning. The juror who's in California will be dismissed.
"We have four alternates for this reason," Judge Sullivan said in court Sunday evening, in a rare weekend hearing. The four alternate jurors have sat through the entire trial.
This is very good news.
Last night we were discussing this very scenario and whether or not it would delay the deliberation or not. I am very glad that this trial is back on schedule.
Having this verdict delivered before the election will undoubtedly help Mark Begich, the Democrat who is running for Uncle Ted's Senate seat.
I have a feeling that Ted Stevens is not quite so anxious to have the trial over before November 4th.
Instead of the trial being delayed any further, an alternate will take the missing juror's place and jurors will continue deliberating this morning. The juror who's in California will be dismissed.
"We have four alternates for this reason," Judge Sullivan said in court Sunday evening, in a rare weekend hearing. The four alternate jurors have sat through the entire trial.
This is very good news.
Last night we were discussing this very scenario and whether or not it would delay the deliberation or not. I am very glad that this trial is back on schedule.
Having this verdict delivered before the election will undoubtedly help Mark Begich, the Democrat who is running for Uncle Ted's Senate seat.
I have a feeling that Ted Stevens is not quite so anxious to have the trial over before November 4th.
The word for today is VOTE!
If you have not taken advantage of early voting then stop wasting your time reading this blog and get your ass up and go vote!
No you are not too busy.
No it is not just as good to wait until November 4th.
The time to vote is now!
You have NOTHING to do today that is as important as voting.
If your state gives you the opportunity to vote early, and make sure it is not screwed around with on election day, then take it!
I voted last Tuesday and I can say from experience it was the best day of my week. The feeling that washes over you after filling out that ballot and slipping it into the big silver box is, simply put, euphoria.
My 21 year old daughter is going to vote today with her friends and hopefully send me a video of the experience so that I can share it with you. She is excited to be part of this process. She is excited to be part of history.
When you vote YOU will also be part of history. Your voice will be heard, your passion will be felt, and you will have an important impact on the lives of your children, your friends, and your family.
Voting in this election may be the only time that many Americans will truly feel that they have made a difference in the world.
Now why would you want to put that off?
Update: But if you don't want to just take my word for it, then go ahead and read TIME magazines 7 things that could go wrong on election day.
No you are not too busy.
No it is not just as good to wait until November 4th.
The time to vote is now!
You have NOTHING to do today that is as important as voting.
If your state gives you the opportunity to vote early, and make sure it is not screwed around with on election day, then take it!
I voted last Tuesday and I can say from experience it was the best day of my week. The feeling that washes over you after filling out that ballot and slipping it into the big silver box is, simply put, euphoria.
My 21 year old daughter is going to vote today with her friends and hopefully send me a video of the experience so that I can share it with you. She is excited to be part of this process. She is excited to be part of history.
When you vote YOU will also be part of history. Your voice will be heard, your passion will be felt, and you will have an important impact on the lives of your children, your friends, and your family.
Voting in this election may be the only time that many Americans will truly feel that they have made a difference in the world.
Now why would you want to put that off?
Update: But if you don't want to just take my word for it, then go ahead and read TIME magazines 7 things that could go wrong on election day.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Obama draws more than 100,000 in Denver, Colorado.
As late as yesterday McCain was still touting a possible victory in this historically red state.For McCain, Colorado’s nine electoral votes are essential if he is to get the 270 needed to win the White House. His campaign believes those Centennial State votes are within reach, despite Obama’s average 5-point lead in polls here.
Well I guess McCain can pull his campaign staff out of Colorado now as well.
This is astounding!
John McCain went on "Meet the Press" and ran into a buzzsaw named Tom Brokaw.
McCain probably expected Tom Brokaw to go kind of easy on him, as he did during the second debate which Brokaw moderated. But this was a different Tom Brokaw, and he did not hold anything back. He essentially kneecapped McCain and left him on the defensive with video after video of him saying the exact opposite of the positions he has taken during this election cycle.
Altogether it is devastating, and by the end John McCain looks like he would much rather have been back at the Hanoi Hilton then sitting across from the pugilistic Mr. Brokaw.
I tried to post this earlier today and ran into some trouble with the embed.
This is the ENTIRE episode of Meet the Press from today. The John McCain portion is over at the half hour mark, but then there is a very interesting roundtable that follows. Definitely worth the time it takes to watch it.
The Anchorage Daily News, Alaska's largest newspaper, endorses Barack Obama for President!
It is Sen. Obama who truly promises fundamental change in Washington. You need look no further than the guilt-by-association lies and sound-bite distortions of the degenerating McCain campaign to see how readily he embraces the divisive, fear-mongering tactics of Karl Rove. And while Sen. McCain points to the fragile success of the troop surge in stabilizing conditions in Iraq, it is also plain that he was fundamentally wrong about the more crucial early decisions. Contrary to his assurances, we were not greeted as liberators; it was not a short, easy war; and Americans -- not Iraqi oil -- have had to pay for it. It was Sen. Obama who more clearly saw the danger ahead.
The unqualified endorsement of Sen. Obama by a seasoned, respected soldier and diplomat like Gen. Colin Powell, a Republican icon, should reassure all Americans that the Democratic candidate will pass muster as commander in chief.
Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.
Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.
Wow I am almost speechless.
Many critics have called the ADN a "liberal rag" but in truth is has been more moderate than liberal. So for them to do this, knowing it will definitely cost them subscribers, is pretty bold and admirable.
Good for you ADN!
I wonder how much of an impact this will have on voters in Alaska? Could it be possible that Alaska could go Democrat this year? Do we dare hope for such a thing?
Well this is the year of hope, now isn't it?
The unqualified endorsement of Sen. Obama by a seasoned, respected soldier and diplomat like Gen. Colin Powell, a Republican icon, should reassure all Americans that the Democratic candidate will pass muster as commander in chief.
Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.
Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.
Wow I am almost speechless.
Many critics have called the ADN a "liberal rag" but in truth is has been more moderate than liberal. So for them to do this, knowing it will definitely cost them subscribers, is pretty bold and admirable.
Good for you ADN!
I wonder how much of an impact this will have on voters in Alaska? Could it be possible that Alaska could go Democrat this year? Do we dare hope for such a thing?
Well this is the year of hope, now isn't it?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Palin refuses to listen to McCan advisers decides to go rogue. Oh this is going to be good!
Four Republicans close to Palin said she has decided increasingly to disregard the advice of the former Bush aides tasked to handle her, creating occasionally tense situations as she travels the country with them. Those Palin supporters, inside the campaign and out, said Palin blames her handlers for a botched rollout and a tarnished public image -- even as others in McCain's camp blame the pick of the relatively inexperienced Alaska governor, and her public performance, for McCain's decline.
"She's lost confidence in most of the people on the plane," said a senior Republican who speaks to Palin, referring to her campaign jet. He said Palin had begun to "go rogue" in some of her public pronouncements and decisions.
Anger among Republicans who see Palin as a star and as a potential future leader has boiled over because, they say, they see other senior McCain aides preparing to blame her in the event he is defeated.
"These people are going to try and shred her after the campaign to divert blame from themselves," said a McCain insider, referring to McCain's chief strategist, Steve Schmidt, and to Nicolle Wallace, a former Bush aide who has taken a lead role in Palin's campaign.
Reporters really began to notice the change last Sunday, when Palin strolled over to a local television crew in Colorado Springs.
"Get Tracey," a staffer called out, according to The New York Times, summoning spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt, who reportedly "tried several times to cut it off with a terse 'Thank you!' in between questions, to no avail."
I am sorry is it Christmas? I thought it was still only October, how can so many gifts be coming my way?
Sarah Palin has decided to bite the hand that plucked her from obscurity in the wilds of Wasilla and to start speaking for herself? With no script? With no kindly old grandfather sitting next to her to correct her when she says something stupid?
Well if she wants to start answering questions for herself, and possibly face "Meet the Press" or "60 Minutes", or Anderson Cooper on her own then all I have to say is, let her! Please, oh please, let her!
Update: If you want the 411 on how John McCain got saddled with this albatross, the New Yorker has the whole sordid story for you here. (And many thanks to my friend Jean for bringing this story to my attention.)
Hah! This is great! Donesbury has a straw poll asking why Sarah Palin does not release her medical records.
Here is how they ask the question.
During a recent NBC interview, Sarah Palin announced that she'll finally release her medical records. At least, we think she did. Her final word was: "Never been seriously ill or hurt. You will see that in the medical records if they're released." Apparently, the operative word is "if". Spokeswoman Maria Comella later told ABC News: "When medical information related to Governor Palin's health is ready to be released, we will make that information available."
Then the site gives three choices as to what the hold up might be.
Number three is of course my favorite, because it reads:
Necessity. I really, really wish I could think of something else, but since I can't, it's about Trig. Medical records would reveal routine details about her pregnancy, pre-natal care and childbirth. Unless... um... they don't exist.
So even Garry Trudeau has doubts about the Palin pregnancy story. How much longer can Sarah Palin really keeps these lies secret?
Click on the title and add your vote. And then you can click on the results and see which answer most of the participants picked. I don't think you will be very surprised with their choice.
During a recent NBC interview, Sarah Palin announced that she'll finally release her medical records. At least, we think she did. Her final word was: "Never been seriously ill or hurt. You will see that in the medical records if they're released." Apparently, the operative word is "if". Spokeswoman Maria Comella later told ABC News: "When medical information related to Governor Palin's health is ready to be released, we will make that information available."
Then the site gives three choices as to what the hold up might be.
Number three is of course my favorite, because it reads:
Necessity. I really, really wish I could think of something else, but since I can't, it's about Trig. Medical records would reveal routine details about her pregnancy, pre-natal care and childbirth. Unless... um... they don't exist.
So even Garry Trudeau has doubts about the Palin pregnancy story. How much longer can Sarah Palin really keeps these lies secret?
Click on the title and add your vote. And then you can click on the results and see which answer most of the participants picked. I don't think you will be very surprised with their choice.
Oooh look what I got today!
It took forever for the Anchorage campaign offices to get these, but I finally have mine. And it really adds something to the place, don't you think?
The Ap investigates Sarah Palin's natural gas pipeline deal with Canada. Are there problems? It's Sarah Palin, of course there are problems!
Gov. Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment - a contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 - emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated Press investigation shows.
Beginning at the Republican National Convention in August, the McCain-Palin ticket has touted the pipeline as an example of how it would help America achieve energy independence.
"We're building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever, to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets," Palin said during the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate.
Despite Palin's boast of a smart and fair bidding process, the AP found that her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited the winner, TransCanada Corp.
And contrary to the ballyhoo, there's no guarantee the pipeline will ever be built; at a minimum, any project is years away, as TransCanada must first overcome major financial and regulatory hurdles.
In interviews and a review of records, the AP found:
-Instead of creating a process that would attract many potential builders, Palin slanted the terms away from an important group - the global energy giants that own the rights to the gas.
-Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada.
-The leader of Palin's pipeline team had been a partner at a lobbying firm where she worked on behalf of a TransCanada subsidiary. Also, that woman's former business partner at the lobbying firm was TransCanada's lead private lobbyist on the pipeline deal, interacting with legislators in the weeks before the vote to grant TransCanada the contract. Plus, a former TransCanada executive served as an outside consultant to Palin's pipeline team.
-Under a different set of rules four years earlier, TransCanada had offered to build the pipeline without a state subsidy; under Palin, the company could receive a maximum $500 million.
When you hear John Mccain and the other Republican talking heads waxing poetic about Sarah Palin's energy "expertise" this is the only thing they are referencing. Her ENTIRE energy experience is based on this one deal.
And it is terribly flawed. In fact it is NEVER going to come to fruition!
You see Sarah Palin is not an expert on energy. Nor, despite her recent "policy speech", is she an expert on special needs children. As far as I can tell, she is not an expert on ANYTHING. Except possibly passing her herself off as something she is not.
She is a faker. And she has managed to smile and wink her way into the hearts of millions of ignorant people and who want desperately to believe her.
The facts are that Sarah Palin seduced Alaskans into blowing 500 million dollars on a deal with a company that has no financial backing. And a deal that will soon fall apart taking her political career and her vaunted "expertise" with it.
In the end she is just a joke. But she is not a funny joke. Because she is a practical joke that was played on Alaskans, and we will be the ones with egg on our faces when this thing is finally over.
If Sarah Palin thought Alaska was a cold place to live when she left, just wait until she comes skulking back. Lady you have not seen cold yet!
(For more on this gas pipeline scandal you can visit the Huffington Post here.)
Beginning at the Republican National Convention in August, the McCain-Palin ticket has touted the pipeline as an example of how it would help America achieve energy independence.
"We're building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever, to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets," Palin said during the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate.
Despite Palin's boast of a smart and fair bidding process, the AP found that her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited the winner, TransCanada Corp.
And contrary to the ballyhoo, there's no guarantee the pipeline will ever be built; at a minimum, any project is years away, as TransCanada must first overcome major financial and regulatory hurdles.
In interviews and a review of records, the AP found:
-Instead of creating a process that would attract many potential builders, Palin slanted the terms away from an important group - the global energy giants that own the rights to the gas.
-Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada.
-The leader of Palin's pipeline team had been a partner at a lobbying firm where she worked on behalf of a TransCanada subsidiary. Also, that woman's former business partner at the lobbying firm was TransCanada's lead private lobbyist on the pipeline deal, interacting with legislators in the weeks before the vote to grant TransCanada the contract. Plus, a former TransCanada executive served as an outside consultant to Palin's pipeline team.
-Under a different set of rules four years earlier, TransCanada had offered to build the pipeline without a state subsidy; under Palin, the company could receive a maximum $500 million.
When you hear John Mccain and the other Republican talking heads waxing poetic about Sarah Palin's energy "expertise" this is the only thing they are referencing. Her ENTIRE energy experience is based on this one deal.
And it is terribly flawed. In fact it is NEVER going to come to fruition!
You see Sarah Palin is not an expert on energy. Nor, despite her recent "policy speech", is she an expert on special needs children. As far as I can tell, she is not an expert on ANYTHING. Except possibly passing her herself off as something she is not.
She is a faker. And she has managed to smile and wink her way into the hearts of millions of ignorant people and who want desperately to believe her.
The facts are that Sarah Palin seduced Alaskans into blowing 500 million dollars on a deal with a company that has no financial backing. And a deal that will soon fall apart taking her political career and her vaunted "expertise" with it.
In the end she is just a joke. But she is not a funny joke. Because she is a practical joke that was played on Alaskans, and we will be the ones with egg on our faces when this thing is finally over.
If Sarah Palin thought Alaska was a cold place to live when she left, just wait until she comes skulking back. Lady you have not seen cold yet!
(For more on this gas pipeline scandal you can visit the Huffington Post here.)
The Christian Right makes their case for McCain in an intelligent rational manner. Just kidding they are using scare tactics!
Terrorist strikes on four American cities. Russia rolling into Eastern Europe. Israel hit by a nuclear bomb. Gay marriage in every state. The end of the Boy Scouts.All are plausible scenarios if Democrat Barack Obama is elected president, according to a new addition to the campaign conversation called "Letter from 2012 in Obama's America," produced by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family Action.
The Boy Scouts? Oh my God! Why does Barack Obama hate the Boy Scouts? How Un-American can you get?
And how desperate must these knuckle draggers be that they are resorting to these transparent attacks?
If you are unfamiliar with Focus on the Family, then you should know that they are the people who have programs like "Pray away the Gay" and who prayed for it to rain during Barack Obama's DNC speech.
James Dobson is the leader of this crazy, homophobic group and he has been a huge fan of our very own Governor Sarah for quite some time. In fact there are even rumors that he forced Caribou Barbie on the cantankerous John McCain. No wonder he is so damn irritable these days.
And Dobson even tried to interfere with Alaska's investigation of Palin's possible wrongdoing by sending his Liberty Legal Institute pals up here to challenge it's validity, and after failing that they tried to suppress the release of the Branchflower Report.
But thanks to "Alaskans for Truth" they failed to have any impact at all.
We were able to beat these jerks simply by getting out the truth and I am confident that once people understand their real agenda that these indefensible attacks will have little to no impact on the outcome of this historic election.
The Boy Scouts? Really? Give me a damn break!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Rachel Maddow talks about Sarah Palin's sworn testimony for "Troopergate" investigation phase two.
I love how Rachel points out that Palin's constant renaming of "Troopergate" to "Tasergate" kind of contradicts her point about why Walt Monegan was fired.
Just another reason why Alaska bloggers absolutely LOVE Rachel Maddow!
And then she interviews Alaska State Senator Hollis French, who does a great job of laying out the facts of the case and the further contradictions from Sarah Palin and her spokespeople.
He is also a big favorite of Alaskan bloggers.
This video cuts off before Rachel's comments about how intelligent and well spoken each representative from Alaska that has appeared on her show has been so far. And THIS Alaskan really appreciates that she took the air time to point that out. I truly hope that these appearances on her show and others have helped those in the lower 48 to see that Sarah Palin does not represent REAL Alaskans.
Brian Williams interview with Sarah Palin part trois.
"Americans deserve to know the background, the associations, the affiliations of the VP candidate. I am willing to be an open book"
Alrighty then, is this anything like the pledge to be open and transparent made to Alaskan voters when they elected her Governor? Or her promise to cooperate with the "Troopergate" investigation before being chosen as John McCain's VP and then refusing to be deposed, or allow many of her staffers to be deposed, for the report? If that is the case I am not going to be holding my breath.
To his credit Williams offers Palin the chance to correct the "lies" that the media has told about her, but the Governor does not take the opportunity. Too bad I would love to have heard that.
Chris Matthews talks about the future for Sarah Palin on "Hardball".
I think Ron Brownstein is incorrect.
I believe that the American people have a very short memory about some things, and I believe that Sarah Palin can indeed reemerge as a shiny NEW Republican that the party will embrace with open arms.
Christ, I just got a cold chill up my back.
Well Sarah Palin has to face Alaskans, the REAL Alaskans, when she gets back. So if I were her I would not be putting that house in Wasilla on the market just yet.
She lied!
A McCain campaign volunteer made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in a politically inspired attack, police said Friday.Ashley Todd, 20-year-old college student from College Station, Texas, admitted Friday that the story was false and was being charged with making a false report to police, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department's investigations division. Police doubted her story from the start, Bryant said.
Todd, who is white, told police she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night.
She now can't explain why she invented the story, Bryant said. Todd also told police she believes she cut the backward "B" onto her own cheek, but did not provide an explanation of how or why, Bryant said.
Todd initially told investigators she was attempting to use a bank branch ATM when the man approached her from behind, put a knife with a 4- to 5-inch blade to her throat and demanded money. She told police she handed the assailant $60 and walked away.
Todd told investigators that she suspected the man then noticed a John McCain sticker on her car, became angry and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground and telling her "you are going to be a Barack supporter," police said.
I refused to post anything about this story originally because, while I suspected it to be false I did not want to attack this woman without proof or give credence to a story that seemed a little fishy.
My only reason to spend any time on this at all is to make the point that this HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JOHN MCCAIN.
In no way should he, or his campaign, be blamed for the actions of this disturbed young woman.
If it had been true that an African American criminal had hurt her in the name of Barack Obama, that would have sad NOTHING about Obama, and now that we know the truth it says NOTHING about John McCain.
I feel very badly for this young lady and hope that she gets some counseling. Now let us move on to more important matters.
Palin press conference.
I am watching Sarah Palin giving a "policy speech" concerning increased care for special needs children if she and John McCain win the election.
I have no idea why she is talking about this today since the campaign is in serious trouble and she is scheduled to give her deposition later today to the second troopergate investigation. You would think she would be concentrating on that.
She has mentioned that her "son" has special needs almost a dozen times, and has also outed her sister's son as having autism. Why?
This whole thing seems like some kind of preemptive strike but I am not sure for what reason.
I will update this post as I learn more. But so far I am just puzzled. (I am no longer puzzled, just go to the bottom to learn the REAL reason for this speech.)
Update: I found a portion of the video. But it does not feature the bizarre portion at the beginning where Palin seemed to be struggling to make some point about Trig being her child, and how she and Todd first learned that he would be special needs, and how they have felt so blessed to have him in their lives. And also how her sister, Heather, has a special needs boy as well and how both Palin and her sister have been advocates for special needs children for over ten years. I do not believe there is any evidence of that, but I will surely check.
But anyhow here is the part of that interview where she lies about Obama taxes having an impact on special needs parents ability to save for their children's future. This is absolutely false by the way.
Update 2: Okay so like I said up above at the beginning of this post, I was very confused as to why Palin was giving her first policy speech so late in the game. It was not until I saw FOX News talking about it that I had an epiphany.
This has NOTHING to do with the McCain/Palin campaign! This is the first policy speech of the Palin 2012 campaign!
Now hear me out on this. You see the Republicans have come to realize that the McCain campaign is doomed and the time has come to start planning for the future. Many Republicans on the down tickets are treating John McCain much like they did George Bush in 2006.
Ultimately they will blame the failure of this ticket on John McCain himself. He was not a REAL Republican. He was not CONSERVATIVE enough. He was too OLD. In other words he will be thrown out with the unused election night confetti.
But Sarah Palin is a whole other matter. The spin will be that the only time the McCain campaign showed any life was when they added her to the ticket. That at least she had managed to achieve a draw in her debate with Joe Biden, while McCain lost all three of his debates. If the numbers tighten up in the end right before election night, Palin will be given the credit. And the reason given will be that America finally saw the REAL Sarah Palin in this speech today, and the ones that are sure to follow.
In other words, the Republicans will make the case that if SHE had been at the top of the ticket she could have beaten Barack Obama! IS that crazy? Hell yeah!
Will the Republican base eat it up? OH HELL YEAH!
So my friends this will be the new battle, stopping Palin from being nominated to run in 2012.
And the battlefield? Right here in Alaska, the last frontier.
Stay tuned kids this is going to get very, very interesting.
I have no idea why she is talking about this today since the campaign is in serious trouble and she is scheduled to give her deposition later today to the second troopergate investigation. You would think she would be concentrating on that.
She has mentioned that her "son" has special needs almost a dozen times, and has also outed her sister's son as having autism. Why?
This whole thing seems like some kind of preemptive strike but I am not sure for what reason.
I will update this post as I learn more. But so far I am just puzzled. (I am no longer puzzled, just go to the bottom to learn the REAL reason for this speech.)
Update: I found a portion of the video. But it does not feature the bizarre portion at the beginning where Palin seemed to be struggling to make some point about Trig being her child, and how she and Todd first learned that he would be special needs, and how they have felt so blessed to have him in their lives. And also how her sister, Heather, has a special needs boy as well and how both Palin and her sister have been advocates for special needs children for over ten years. I do not believe there is any evidence of that, but I will surely check.
But anyhow here is the part of that interview where she lies about Obama taxes having an impact on special needs parents ability to save for their children's future. This is absolutely false by the way.
Update 2: Okay so like I said up above at the beginning of this post, I was very confused as to why Palin was giving her first policy speech so late in the game. It was not until I saw FOX News talking about it that I had an epiphany.
This has NOTHING to do with the McCain/Palin campaign! This is the first policy speech of the Palin 2012 campaign!
Now hear me out on this. You see the Republicans have come to realize that the McCain campaign is doomed and the time has come to start planning for the future. Many Republicans on the down tickets are treating John McCain much like they did George Bush in 2006.
Ultimately they will blame the failure of this ticket on John McCain himself. He was not a REAL Republican. He was not CONSERVATIVE enough. He was too OLD. In other words he will be thrown out with the unused election night confetti.
But Sarah Palin is a whole other matter. The spin will be that the only time the McCain campaign showed any life was when they added her to the ticket. That at least she had managed to achieve a draw in her debate with Joe Biden, while McCain lost all three of his debates. If the numbers tighten up in the end right before election night, Palin will be given the credit. And the reason given will be that America finally saw the REAL Sarah Palin in this speech today, and the ones that are sure to follow.
In other words, the Republicans will make the case that if SHE had been at the top of the ticket she could have beaten Barack Obama! IS that crazy? Hell yeah!
Will the Republican base eat it up? OH HELL YEAH!
So my friends this will be the new battle, stopping Palin from being nominated to run in 2012.
And the battlefield? Right here in Alaska, the last frontier.
Stay tuned kids this is going to get very, very interesting.
Will Farrell as President Bush and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. What is not to love?
Todd Palin hunting down a fleeing John Mccain on snowmachine is priceless!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
More of the Brian Williams interview with John McCain and Sarah Palin. Do you think she got any smarter? Nah!
So Bill Ayres is DEFINITELY a terrorist because he wanted to blow up the Pentagon and other buildings in America? But if OTHERS were so inclined to blow up those buildings then Sarah Palin just does not feel comfortable putting a label on them? That is of course unless they supported Barack Obama, in which case hanging is too good for them!
Thankfully Grampa is there to make the point even less clear.
And John McCain also helps us to understand the definition of "elitism". In his definition it is most likely somebody who lives in New York or Washington D.C., and attends cocktail parties in Georgetown. It is certainly NOT somebody who has had the best medical care available in this country for the greater part of his life but would not allow every American to have that same privilege. Nor is it somebody who bills her state for the travel expenses of her children and charges a $60.00 per diem to spend the night in her own home.
And of course no way is it somebody who charges the Republican donors $150,000 for new clothes just to appear fashionable while making appearances on Saturday Night Live or before huge throngs of supporters.
Well I certainly have to thank Senator McCain for setting me straight, because I must admit I had that definition all wrong.
Update: So after so many campaign missteps and damaging Sarah Palin interviews, who is out there that the McCain/Palin can count on to vote for them?
Well they still have this low hanging fruit to rely on.
Wow, do I feel sorry for that woman's husband!
Opie and Andy Griffith, Richie Cunningham, and the Fonz are all asking us to vote for Barack Obama. Gee whiz how could we refuse?
See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die
Okay that was a little hokey but you have to admit it was imaginative and pretty heart felt.
I really used to love those shows.
The Ted Stevens jury may need an exorcist.
A juror in Sen. Ted Stevens' corruption case who fellow jurors complained has been "rude, disrespectful and unreasonable" and engaged in "violent outbursts" will stay on the panel even though her 11 peers wanted her ousted.
Yesterday, they passed U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan a note asking to be dismissed a little early because deliberations had gotten "stressful" and they needed a break for "clarity."
Today, jurors passed Sullivan four notes, including one about the combative juror in question. The juror, No. 9, works for the National Guard as a bookkeeper.
Out of the jury's presence, Sullivan read from the note the foreman had sent him, which began, "We the jury request that juror No. 9 be removed from the jury."
"She is being rude, disrespectful and unreasonable," the foreman wrote. "She has had violent outbursts with other jurors and that's not helping anyone. The jurors are getting off-course. She's not following the laws and rules that are being stipulated to in the main instructions."
She is being "rude"? She is being "unreasonable"? She has "violent outbursts"? She refuses to "follow the laws and rules"?
Oh....my....God!
This woman is possessed by the dark cantankerous spirit of Ted Stevens!
It is all clear to me now. Clearly his essence is seeking a host body, knowing full well that the one it currently occupies is falling apart and will not be able to contain its evil for much longer.
I think the only hope this jury has of reaching a fair and reasonable decision is to have this poor woman exorcised by a qualified Catholic priest and then to have a pentagram of power drawn around the deliberation room to protect her from further spectral influences.
Perhaps we should all send prayers, or light some incense, or sacrifice a goat, and send some positive energy to battle the evil forces at Uncle Ted's disposal.
This is an election year of "hope" we must not allow the forces of darkness to prevail!
Yesterday, they passed U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan a note asking to be dismissed a little early because deliberations had gotten "stressful" and they needed a break for "clarity."
Today, jurors passed Sullivan four notes, including one about the combative juror in question. The juror, No. 9, works for the National Guard as a bookkeeper.
Out of the jury's presence, Sullivan read from the note the foreman had sent him, which began, "We the jury request that juror No. 9 be removed from the jury."
Out of control juror? Interesting I wonder if that means anything.
"She is being rude, disrespectful and unreasonable," the foreman wrote. "She has had violent outbursts with other jurors and that's not helping anyone. The jurors are getting off-course. She's not following the laws and rules that are being stipulated to in the main instructions."
She is being "rude"? She is being "unreasonable"? She has "violent outbursts"? She refuses to "follow the laws and rules"?
Oh....my....God!
This woman is possessed by the dark cantankerous spirit of Ted Stevens!
It is all clear to me now. Clearly his essence is seeking a host body, knowing full well that the one it currently occupies is falling apart and will not be able to contain its evil for much longer.
I think the only hope this jury has of reaching a fair and reasonable decision is to have this poor woman exorcised by a qualified Catholic priest and then to have a pentagram of power drawn around the deliberation room to protect her from further spectral influences.
Perhaps we should all send prayers, or light some incense, or sacrifice a goat, and send some positive energy to battle the evil forces at Uncle Ted's disposal.
This is an election year of "hope" we must not allow the forces of darkness to prevail!
Sarah Palin's response to Brian Williams "The medical records? So be it!"
"I had FIVE kids, that will be in the medical records".
It will? Well that is interesting news. How will she manage that I wonder?
I don't know about you my friends but I have my magnifying glass ready and will be examining these medical records with a fine tooth comb.
You know watching these two together I don't know which one creeps me out more, Uncle Fester or the brainless moose hunting mannequin?
Obama talks about his grandmother's health with Harry Smith on CBS.
Watch CBS Videos Online
For those who still think that Barack Obama is aloof and unemotional this should provide them with another perspective entirely.
You can clearly see the worry and pain in Obama's face as he talks about his ailing grandmother and not being present when his mother passed away.
It is certainly easy to empathize with his situation, and feel his pain.
Update: I certainly hope that Barack's grandmother gets a chance to see these numbers from the Big Ten Battleground Poll.
Head-to-head results for individual states
Illinois
Obama 61% McCain 32%
Indiana
Obama 51% McCain 41%
Iowa
Obama 52% McCain 39%
Michigan
Obama 58% McCain 36%
Minnesota
Obama 57% McCain 38%
Ohio
Obama 53% McCain 41%
Pennsylvania
Obama 52% McCain 41%
Wisconsin
Obama 53% McCain 40%
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show have a lot of fun with Sarah Palin's $150,000 clothing expenditure.
Jason Jones also weighs in after his daring escape from the pitchfork wielding mobs of Wasilla.
You know I am one Alaskan who is not all that angry about the $150,000 spent on Sarah Palin to make her look like a neo-con wet dream. As far as I am concerned that is $150,000 Republican dollars well spent. At least they aren't spending that money on those racist robo-calls that claim Barack Obama is a muslim or that he pals around with terrorists. You know what I mean?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Remember when you saw Representative Michelle Bachman on "Hardball" and thought she was crazy? Well you had not seen crazy yet!
By the way since this wingnuts appearance on Hardball her opponent, Elwyn Tinkleberg, has received almost a MILLION dollars in campaign donations.
Boy seeing her up on that pulpit reminds me of Alaska's very own "fool for Christ", Sarah Palin.
Just how many crazed anti-gay Republican mommy politicans are there in the world anyhow?
I am watching "Hardball" with Chris Matthews and apparently Sarah Palin said she WOULD release her medical records!
Matthews was talking to Brian Williams and Chuck Todd about the John McCain, Sarah Palin. interview that is on NBC tonight.
During the back and forth Chuck Todd mentioned that McCain and Palin have absolutely NO chemistry together. He said that it was almost like two strangers had been picked off of the street and put together in a room to give a joint interview. He stressed again that they were very unfamiliar and uncomfortable with each other. It was a very telling statement.
Then Chuck Todd said that when asked about whether she would release her medical records Sarah Palin said she would, and that apparently this came as a complete surprise to John McCain and her campaign staff.
Gee I wonder how they will walk her back from that remark?
Well I plan to hold her to that statement. She said it, it is on record, and we deserve to have her finally keep her word on something!
Come on Governor show us your medical records! Unless you have something to hide that is!
Update: Here is the video.
During the back and forth Chuck Todd mentioned that McCain and Palin have absolutely NO chemistry together. He said that it was almost like two strangers had been picked off of the street and put together in a room to give a joint interview. He stressed again that they were very unfamiliar and uncomfortable with each other. It was a very telling statement.
Then Chuck Todd said that when asked about whether she would release her medical records Sarah Palin said she would, and that apparently this came as a complete surprise to John McCain and her campaign staff.
Gee I wonder how they will walk her back from that remark?
Well I plan to hold her to that statement. She said it, it is on record, and we deserve to have her finally keep her word on something!
Come on Governor show us your medical records! Unless you have something to hide that is!
Update: Here is the video.
Keith Olbermann offers his first "Campaign Comment". Can you guess who it is about?
Visitors to this blog might as well get used to seeing Olbermann and his comments featured here often. Both Keith and Rachel Maddow are absolutely the stars of television journalism in my humble opinion.
And the points that he makes so well about Sarah Palin, and her ignorant reply to that third grader, are much like the ones I made yesterday only much more expansive. Which essentially puts us on the same team. You know the team of people trying to get the truth out to the American people, and cut through the ridiculous talking points of the ever more desperate McCain/Palin campaign.
And believe me we could use as many people on that team as we can possibly recruit. It is a daunting job to say the least.
Results of our poll "What should Alaskans do when Sarah Palin returns to our state?"
So the results of the poll were as follows:
"Welcome her with open arms and thank her for bringing so much attention to our state". 25 votes,
"Start a recall petition". 134 votes.
"Pressure our legislators to impeach her". 114 votes.
"Let her finish out her term and then vote her out in the next election". 63 votes.
I do believe that based on this poll, as well as those on numerous other Alaska blogs, we have ourselves a mandate.
"Welcome her with open arms and thank her for bringing so much attention to our state". 25 votes,
"Start a recall petition". 134 votes.
"Pressure our legislators to impeach her". 114 votes.
"Let her finish out her term and then vote her out in the next election". 63 votes.
I do believe that based on this poll, as well as those on numerous other Alaska blogs, we have ourselves a mandate.
Sarah Palin to be deposed on Friday.
Gov. Sarah Palin, already found by one investigation to have abused her power, will take time from her vice presidential campaign Friday to give a deposition in a second inquiry into her firing of the state’s top public safety official. It will be the first deposition in the affair by the Republican vice presidential candidate. Palin wasn’t subpoenaed to answer questions in an investigation by the state Legislature, though her husband, Todd, gave an affidavit in that probe.
I was very excited when I first read this because I thought that Governor Sarah was deigning to return to Alaska. I naively thought, "Maybe we will get video of the deposition" or "Perhaps some local news outlets will finally get a chance to ask her some REAL questions". Since apparently Alaska counts as the REAL America.
But I should have known better.
The Palins’ attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said Tuesday that the governor and her husband will both give depositions Friday afternoon outside of Alaska, but declined to say where. She is on the campaign trail as Republican John McCain’s running mate. McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin said Palin’s Friday schedule has not been released.
I should have known better. My guess is that Governor Sarah will not lower herself to return to our little back water until she has been soundly defeated and slinks back to Wasilla to lick her wounds and formulate her plans for a Presidential run in 2012.
Maybe then we will get a chance to see the fancy new duds that she has buying for herself with GOP money.
So I cannot help but wonder when this second investigation will reveal? Will we see some of that super secret information that the Branchflower report decided was too sensitive? And will this report come out before November 4th? And will we even get a chance to see it?
Stay tuned kids for the continuing saga of "Sarah Palin and her imploding political career".
I was very excited when I first read this because I thought that Governor Sarah was deigning to return to Alaska. I naively thought, "Maybe we will get video of the deposition" or "Perhaps some local news outlets will finally get a chance to ask her some REAL questions". Since apparently Alaska counts as the REAL America.
But I should have known better.
The Palins’ attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said Tuesday that the governor and her husband will both give depositions Friday afternoon outside of Alaska, but declined to say where. She is on the campaign trail as Republican John McCain’s running mate. McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin said Palin’s Friday schedule has not been released.
I should have known better. My guess is that Governor Sarah will not lower herself to return to our little back water until she has been soundly defeated and slinks back to Wasilla to lick her wounds and formulate her plans for a Presidential run in 2012.
Maybe then we will get a chance to see the fancy new duds that she has buying for herself with GOP money.
So I cannot help but wonder when this second investigation will reveal? Will we see some of that super secret information that the Branchflower report decided was too sensitive? And will this report come out before November 4th? And will we even get a chance to see it?
Stay tuned kids for the continuing saga of "Sarah Palin and her imploding political career".
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I voted today and it was awesome!
So I went to the Region 2 Elections Office in midtown right after work today and voted!
There were quite a number of people there and the sweetest old ladies you ever saw were running the place.
I simply showed them my voter registration card and my ID, got my ballot, and cast my vote for a nice young man named Barack Obama.
Then I put my ballot in the "sleeve of privacy" walked it over to a silver box and slipped it through the slot on the top. And just like that I became part of history.
And I spent the rest of the day with the biggest damn smile on my face that you could imagine.
My advice to everybody who reads this is get out there and vote now. Do not wait until November because that is when the Republicans are going to really ramp up their efforts to suppress our votes. Maybe if enough of us vote early and it becomes clear that Obama will win in a landslide the GOP will lose confidence and just accept their fate.
Yeah I don't believe that either. But I still want you to vote early. And do you know who doesn't want you to vote early? John McCain, that's who.
Now who do you want to listen to? Me or John McCain and that empty headed little moron from Wasilla?
P.S. I also talked to my daughter about her voter registration problems in Georgia and she is going to contact the Obama offices and ask them for some help in straightening it out.
Hopefully I will have an update for you soon telling you that she voted early as well.
There were quite a number of people there and the sweetest old ladies you ever saw were running the place.
I simply showed them my voter registration card and my ID, got my ballot, and cast my vote for a nice young man named Barack Obama.
Then I put my ballot in the "sleeve of privacy" walked it over to a silver box and slipped it through the slot on the top. And just like that I became part of history.
And I spent the rest of the day with the biggest damn smile on my face that you could imagine.
My advice to everybody who reads this is get out there and vote now. Do not wait until November because that is when the Republicans are going to really ramp up their efforts to suppress our votes. Maybe if enough of us vote early and it becomes clear that Obama will win in a landslide the GOP will lose confidence and just accept their fate.
Yeah I don't believe that either. But I still want you to vote early. And do you know who doesn't want you to vote early? John McCain, that's who.
Now who do you want to listen to? Me or John McCain and that empty headed little moron from Wasilla?
P.S. I also talked to my daughter about her voter registration problems in Georgia and she is going to contact the Obama offices and ask them for some help in straightening it out.
Hopefully I will have an update for you soon telling you that she voted early as well.
Even after seven weeks Sarah Palin STILL DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT DOES!
This idiot actually believes that the Vice President gets to work with the Senate to create policy. This is unbelievable, and as an Alaskan I am beyond embarrassed that she represents my state in any way.
I looked for this video and could not find it after seeing it on MSNBC. But my friend Phil Munger over at Progressive Alaska had it so my hat tip goes to him. Thanks Phil!
Video of the day. Activist Jeanine Bonaparte attempts to place Karl Rove under citizens arrest.
I am giving Jeanine Bonaparte a standing ovation.
If more Americans had her courage we could have brought these criminals to justice a long time ago.
It is my fervent hope that once the Democrats get control of both the House and the Senate that we launch an intensive investigation into the criminal behavior of this administration and that at the end of it many of these bastards receive stiff prison sentences.
Maybe I will finally get to see Karl Rove frogwalked into a van and hauled off to the penitentiary.
What a great day in America that will be.
They are trying to disenfranchise my daughter!
My 21 year old daughter called me last night.
She lives in Georgia and found out that there is a problem with her voter registration.
Apparently they called into question whether she was actually a resident of Cobb county, where she is registered to vote. My daughter sent them back a packet of information, including a copy of her drivers license (issued in Cobb county) and a copy of a bill she received at that address, to prove that she lives there.
But she said that right now her situation is still unresolved.
I told her not to give up and to make sure they let her vote. I told her that this is her right as a citizen and that NOBODY has the right to take it from her.
By the time I got off of the phone with her I know she was fired up and ready to vote.
I cannot fathom how Republicans can allow this kind of garbage to happen in their name. I know that most Republicans are good, hard working, fair minded people, who cannot possibly embrace these kind of tactics. But they need to stand up and tell their officials to KNOCK THIS SHIT OFF!
Personally I am not somebody who would EVER consider cheating to win at anything! If I cannot win fairly then in my opinion I simply do not deserve to win. I cannot believe that I am in the minority with that point of view.
But I have news for the assholes trying to keep my little girl from voting. She WILL vote, you can bet the farm on that! I know that kid and she will not allow anybody to take this away from her. I have never seen her as excited about participating in anything as she is about casting this first vote.
But I understand why you fear her. Because she, and millions of other young Americans, are about to turn this election year on its head. And there is NOTHING you can do to stop them!
And as for me? Well I was going to wait until November 4th to cast my vote, but not anymore. Today I will go and vote. I will vote so goddamn hard that the voting booth will need a cigarette and a nap when I am finished!
And my advice to EVERYBODY who wants to participate in this historic election, is to get out just as soon as you can and vote to take this country back from the kind of people who believe that winning is everything and that the only valid point of view is their point of view, and that nobody else deserves the same rights that they demand for themselves.
We are ALL REAL Americans, and ALL of us have the right to choose the next President of these United States.
She lives in Georgia and found out that there is a problem with her voter registration.
Apparently they called into question whether she was actually a resident of Cobb county, where she is registered to vote. My daughter sent them back a packet of information, including a copy of her drivers license (issued in Cobb county) and a copy of a bill she received at that address, to prove that she lives there.
But she said that right now her situation is still unresolved.
I told her not to give up and to make sure they let her vote. I told her that this is her right as a citizen and that NOBODY has the right to take it from her.
By the time I got off of the phone with her I know she was fired up and ready to vote.
I cannot fathom how Republicans can allow this kind of garbage to happen in their name. I know that most Republicans are good, hard working, fair minded people, who cannot possibly embrace these kind of tactics. But they need to stand up and tell their officials to KNOCK THIS SHIT OFF!
Personally I am not somebody who would EVER consider cheating to win at anything! If I cannot win fairly then in my opinion I simply do not deserve to win. I cannot believe that I am in the minority with that point of view.
But I have news for the assholes trying to keep my little girl from voting. She WILL vote, you can bet the farm on that! I know that kid and she will not allow anybody to take this away from her. I have never seen her as excited about participating in anything as she is about casting this first vote.
But I understand why you fear her. Because she, and millions of other young Americans, are about to turn this election year on its head. And there is NOTHING you can do to stop them!
And as for me? Well I was going to wait until November 4th to cast my vote, but not anymore. Today I will go and vote. I will vote so goddamn hard that the voting booth will need a cigarette and a nap when I am finished!
And my advice to EVERYBODY who wants to participate in this historic election, is to get out just as soon as you can and vote to take this country back from the kind of people who believe that winning is everything and that the only valid point of view is their point of view, and that nobody else deserves the same rights that they demand for themselves.
We are ALL REAL Americans, and ALL of us have the right to choose the next President of these United States.
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens makes it into Esquire magazines top ten worst members of Congress.
What a travesty of justice!
How can Stevens only be at number ten?
He is MUCH worse then some of those other politicians on the list.
I mean has Rep. Joe Baca of California ever been wiretapped by the FBI? No he has not!
And here is the pathetic description they give for all of Uncle Ted's years of hard work bringing up barrels of pork for Alaskans and to give to that loser son of his.
For all its resource riches and talk of rugged individualism, Alaska is by far the welfare state of the Union, relying on Washington to support its economy more than any of the less ruggedly individualistic states. Stevens has always been Alaska's consummate pork farmer. Now, inevitably, he's under indictment for having a donor remodel his vacation "chalet" to the tune of $250,000 or so.
First the daily show shits all over Wasilla, and now Esquire magazine refuses to acknowledge that our Senator is the "mack daddy" of corrupt politics.
Insulted, that's what I am.
How can Stevens only be at number ten?
He is MUCH worse then some of those other politicians on the list.
I mean has Rep. Joe Baca of California ever been wiretapped by the FBI? No he has not!
And here is the pathetic description they give for all of Uncle Ted's years of hard work bringing up barrels of pork for Alaskans and to give to that loser son of his.
For all its resource riches and talk of rugged individualism, Alaska is by far the welfare state of the Union, relying on Washington to support its economy more than any of the less ruggedly individualistic states. Stevens has always been Alaska's consummate pork farmer. Now, inevitably, he's under indictment for having a donor remodel his vacation "chalet" to the tune of $250,000 or so.
First the daily show shits all over Wasilla, and now Esquire magazine refuses to acknowledge that our Senator is the "mack daddy" of corrupt politics.
Insulted, that's what I am.
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show take the "real America" comments by Sarah Palin very, very personally. And Jason Jones returns to Wasilla.
Are you a "real American"? Perhaps you better take the quiz.
Now that they have made their case about how ridiculous the Right Wing comments about patriotism have been, the Daily Show turns its attention to Sarah Palin's small town Wasilla, Alaska.
Run Wasilla, Run!
Oh damn!
Seriously that was brutal! I am guessing that those who have cable in Wasilla are going to wake up feeling very violated this morning.
After last night I am guessing the whole town of Wasilla may feel the need for a rape kit. And of course since this is Wasilla, they will have to pay for it themselves. And that boys and girls is a little thing we call "Karma".
Monday, October 20, 2008
Just how stupid does Ted Stevens think the people in his jury are?
For the second day, Stevens was confronted with contradictions in his story by the lead prosecutor in the case, Brenda Morris. If Stevens didn't consider furniture from Veco chairman Bill Allen a gift when he received in 2001, for instance, why did he offer it to his son Ben in 2005?Stevens replied that he never owned the furniture.
How about the $2,695 massage chair that Girdwood neighbor and Double Musky owner Bob Persons had delivered to Stevens' Washington home in 2001 and intended it to be a present, based on e-mails Persons sent when he first attempted to get the chair?
It was not a gift, Stevens said. It belongs to Persons. It's just been in his house in Washington for seven years.
"I told him I would not accept is as a gift," Stevens said. "We have lots of things in our house that do not belong with us."
Oh come on! Ted Stevens is an experienced politician, surely he can lie better than that!
Perhaps the good Senator should remember that he did not win his bid to have his trial in Alaska. The people in that Washington jury do not feel indebted to him for bringing them thirty years of pork. They only see him as an arrogant prick who believes that he is above the law.
I am guessing that by the end of his trial they will be asking the judge for permission to apply the death penalty.
Keith Olbermann's Special comment tonight was a condemnation of divisive politics. He is talking to you Sarah Palin!
This Special Comment has something for each and every one of us who are absolutely horrified by the kinds of dirty tricks coming out of the McCain/Palin campaign, and the batshit antics of their poorly educated supporters.
He takes Sarah Palin to task, as well as John McCain, and that crazy Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann.
And he does so with an intellectual scalpel that peels back their political epidermis to reveal the cancer lying just below the surface.
As usual it is a must see for all Countdown fans. A group that I am supremely confidnet is growing larger day by day.
Andrew Sullivan wades back into the Sarah Palin "babygate" controversy.
After the release of the article from the New York Times today, Sullivan could not resist going back and adding it to what we know about the birth of Trig Palin, and what we can surmise once we examine it all together.
In the end he sort of throws up his hands in defeat.
It's a remarkable story and worth laying out in full. What you make of it is up to you. Personally, I just don't know what to make of it any more, but feel a responsibility to lay out the facts as they exist in the public domain. For the record.
I know how he feels, but of course I am not as shy about expressing my conclusions. And as far as I can tell from the people who visit here, and the other blogs who are also obsessed with this story, I am in pretty good company.
In the end he sort of throws up his hands in defeat.
It's a remarkable story and worth laying out in full. What you make of it is up to you. Personally, I just don't know what to make of it any more, but feel a responsibility to lay out the facts as they exist in the public domain. For the record.
I know how he feels, but of course I am not as shy about expressing my conclusions. And as far as I can tell from the people who visit here, and the other blogs who are also obsessed with this story, I am in pretty good company.
New York Times digs into candidates health concerns.
Barak Obama
Here is the potentially bad news:
Mr. Obama has had a notable medical problem: a difficulty in stopping smoking. It is not known how heavily he smoked. Dr. Scheiner wrote that Mr. Obama began smoking at least two decades ago and had made several efforts to stop. Mr. Obama has used Nicorette gum “with success,” Dr. Scheiner wrote, without defining success.
However Obama is a dedicated athlete who works out at least once a day, and that has a lot of heath benefits even for man with a history of smoking.
Joe Biden
Here is the report, which includes the potential bad news:
The Obama-Biden campaign referred me to Dr. Matthew A. Parker, an internist in Washington, who reviewed Mr. Biden’s records and also spoke with Dr. Eisold about them. Dr. Parker said that Dr. Eisold told him that brain imaging tests were not needed now because Mr. Biden had done well for the 20 years after the aneurysm. “It is a nonissue,” Dr. Parker said Dr. Eisold told him.
The question of an aneurysm aside, the documents show Mr. Biden to have relatively minor health problems, including chronic sinusitis and allergies. He has an enlarged prostate, but a biopsy showed no evidence of cancer. With the help of a statin, he has normal cholesterol levels: 173 (HDL 47 and LDL 98) and triglycerides of 133.
John McCain
Here is the potentially bad news:
If Mr. McCain’s 2000 left-temple melanoma was a metastasis, as the Armed Forces pathologists’ report suggested, it would be classified as Stage III. The reclassification would change his statistical odds for survival at 10 years from about 60 percent to 36 percent, according to a published study.
Here is the McCain campaign statement:
“As you know, we disclosed over 1,200 pages of Senator McCain’s medical history to Dr. Altman’s colleagues in the press earlier this year. We also arranged a Mayo Clinic briefing with three of Senator McCain’s physicians that Dr. Altman listened to by phone. Additionally, we released a detailed document outlining his most recent physical and lab test results. It was an unprecedented level of disclosure, and Dr. Altman can look at the public document on our Web site if he wishes to do so. It was certainly more significant than the one-page doctor’s note Obama released, though I have little hope The Times will report it that way.”
Sarah Palin
This all the Times had about the Palinator:
Nothing is known publicly about Ms. Palin’s medical history, aside from the much-discussed circumstances surrounding the birth of her fifth child last April. Ms. Palin has said that her water broke while she was at a conference in Dallas and that she flew to Anchorage, where she gave birth to her son Trig hours after landing.
Last week Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for Ms. Palin, said the governor declined to be interviewed or provide any health records.
My take after reading through this report is that, while there is no smoking gun, there are some real concerns about two of these candidates and some very puzzling questions about a third.
I think it is clear that John McCain's health issues could be a real ticking bomb, considering his age and past health problems. The idea that he could remain healthy through a four year term is questionable, and a second term seems virtually impossible.
Joe Biden is also somebody whose health should be a consideration for the voters to take into account when casting their vote.
Barack Obama's smoking may have the potential to become an issue in the future, but there is no reason to believe it will be a problem even if he is the President for eight years. He seems to be in good health, by all indications has stopped or dramatically reduced his smoking, and is still comparatively young.
The real puzzle is Sarah Palin. She is a 44 year old woman in seemingly good health, yet she REFUSES to provide her medical records or a doctor's statement. Why?
Palin has been surrounded with questions about the circumstances concerning the birth of her last child, Trig Palin. When the gossip reached a crescendo after her selection by John McCain as his running mate, rather then release her health records she outed her 17 year old daughter as an unwed pregnant teen. Now with yet another opportunity to put the questions to rest she simply refuses.
All this does is feed into the idea of a conspiracy and add fuel to the idea that she has something to hide.
I have gone on record as saying I believe she is terrified that somebody will realize that she is not Trig Palin's birth mother, but if anybody has a better theory I am open to hearing it. However regardless of any disagreements over the reason for her non-compliance I think we can all agree that something does not smell right here.
Here is the potentially bad news:
Mr. Obama has had a notable medical problem: a difficulty in stopping smoking. It is not known how heavily he smoked. Dr. Scheiner wrote that Mr. Obama began smoking at least two decades ago and had made several efforts to stop. Mr. Obama has used Nicorette gum “with success,” Dr. Scheiner wrote, without defining success.
However Obama is a dedicated athlete who works out at least once a day, and that has a lot of heath benefits even for man with a history of smoking.
Joe Biden
Here is the report, which includes the potential bad news:
The Obama-Biden campaign referred me to Dr. Matthew A. Parker, an internist in Washington, who reviewed Mr. Biden’s records and also spoke with Dr. Eisold about them. Dr. Parker said that Dr. Eisold told him that brain imaging tests were not needed now because Mr. Biden had done well for the 20 years after the aneurysm. “It is a nonissue,” Dr. Parker said Dr. Eisold told him.
The question of an aneurysm aside, the documents show Mr. Biden to have relatively minor health problems, including chronic sinusitis and allergies. He has an enlarged prostate, but a biopsy showed no evidence of cancer. With the help of a statin, he has normal cholesterol levels: 173 (HDL 47 and LDL 98) and triglycerides of 133.
John McCain
Here is the potentially bad news:
If Mr. McCain’s 2000 left-temple melanoma was a metastasis, as the Armed Forces pathologists’ report suggested, it would be classified as Stage III. The reclassification would change his statistical odds for survival at 10 years from about 60 percent to 36 percent, according to a published study.
Here is the McCain campaign statement:
“As you know, we disclosed over 1,200 pages of Senator McCain’s medical history to Dr. Altman’s colleagues in the press earlier this year. We also arranged a Mayo Clinic briefing with three of Senator McCain’s physicians that Dr. Altman listened to by phone. Additionally, we released a detailed document outlining his most recent physical and lab test results. It was an unprecedented level of disclosure, and Dr. Altman can look at the public document on our Web site if he wishes to do so. It was certainly more significant than the one-page doctor’s note Obama released, though I have little hope The Times will report it that way.”
Sarah Palin
This all the Times had about the Palinator:
Nothing is known publicly about Ms. Palin’s medical history, aside from the much-discussed circumstances surrounding the birth of her fifth child last April. Ms. Palin has said that her water broke while she was at a conference in Dallas and that she flew to Anchorage, where she gave birth to her son Trig hours after landing.
Last week Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for Ms. Palin, said the governor declined to be interviewed or provide any health records.
My take after reading through this report is that, while there is no smoking gun, there are some real concerns about two of these candidates and some very puzzling questions about a third.
I think it is clear that John McCain's health issues could be a real ticking bomb, considering his age and past health problems. The idea that he could remain healthy through a four year term is questionable, and a second term seems virtually impossible.
Joe Biden is also somebody whose health should be a consideration for the voters to take into account when casting their vote.
Barack Obama's smoking may have the potential to become an issue in the future, but there is no reason to believe it will be a problem even if he is the President for eight years. He seems to be in good health, by all indications has stopped or dramatically reduced his smoking, and is still comparatively young.
The real puzzle is Sarah Palin. She is a 44 year old woman in seemingly good health, yet she REFUSES to provide her medical records or a doctor's statement. Why?
Palin has been surrounded with questions about the circumstances concerning the birth of her last child, Trig Palin. When the gossip reached a crescendo after her selection by John McCain as his running mate, rather then release her health records she outed her 17 year old daughter as an unwed pregnant teen. Now with yet another opportunity to put the questions to rest she simply refuses.
All this does is feed into the idea of a conspiracy and add fuel to the idea that she has something to hide.
I have gone on record as saying I believe she is terrified that somebody will realize that she is not Trig Palin's birth mother, but if anybody has a better theory I am open to hearing it. However regardless of any disagreements over the reason for her non-compliance I think we can all agree that something does not smell right here.
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