John McCain picks Alaska Governer Sarah Palin as VP.

[The Germanator]

Originally Posted by Professor S

Germ, that is an interesting question that she'll have to answer in interviews I'm sure. Her pick intrigues me, but I am very skeptical or her ability to perform in that position. There is no question about the fact that she is politically advantageous, though.

1) The Obama camp can't question her experience, because they are the no experience necessary ticket. If they argue that Palin is not experienced enough, they can simply answer "I know! Thank God she's not running for President!" If Obama or Biden attack experience, they attack themselves. The press can push Pain's inexperience, and they will, but the camapign can't without casuing a serious gaffe and McCain's group know this. And the more the press mentions Palin's inexperience, the more they inadvertently will raise awareness of Obama's and see it as a negative.

2) She is the ultimate outsider, non-beltway, salt-of-the-earth candidate. You can't say someone is elitist when they regularly eat Mooseburgers and their husband is a firefighter.

3) Evangelical through and through. Hello bible belt, and she'll make many Godly folks much more confident in choosing McCain.

4) Policy-wise, she's Ronald Reagan with a vagina. Her pick energizes the conservative base and with bring many of the bloggers and radio hosts strongly behind the ticket, even with her lack of experience.

5) She has a vagina. Many women who are disaffected by the whole Democratic primary might consider voting for McCain because of the chance for a woman to be elected to national office. Plus, its a media blitz. Anyone talking about Obama's speech anymore? NOPE. One part of the mission is accomplished.

Now these points make her a decent candidate in that she helps the ticket, but thats also a big problem with American politics... its all about helping the ticket and not nominating the right people.

I like Palin. I think she is a hell of a Governor and truly acts on what she thinks is right, and not what is "in the people's best interests". I love her speaking style too; straight forward and humorous, often pointing out the obvious which is rare in today's politics. I think she could have been an excellent candiate, and in only a few years, but not now. To be honest there is NOTHING in her record that justifies her pick to national office and breath away from the most powerful position in the world.

Honestly, you can't criticize Obama for his inexperience, and not criticize palin's choice to accept this nomination. She's not ready. Not yet.

You know, I pretty much agree with all of this (surprise, surprise) and I kind of understand what the GOP was trying to do with this pick, but your last point is hard to ignore considering the circumstances. Normally the VP choice isn't the biggest deal, but John McCain would be the oldest president ever if he was elected. Considering the life expectancy of a US male is 76 years old, coupled with the fact that McCain has had cancer, I would not be surprised that people would be terrified of voting for the McCain/Palin ticket knowing the probability of her actually rising up to Commander in Chief is much more likely this time around.

Also, I'll agree that Obama/Biden would be foolish to attack the experience factor. They can still hit the "3rd Bush term" pretty hard, knowing that Palin is even more conservative than McCain. What seems strange though, is that the McCain camp also just took away one of their biggest weapons. They can't really attack Obama on experience any more either, can they? It just seems that the GOP took away one of the better strengths in terms of going after Obama.

And yes, she may have a vagina, but she's also anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-creationism, approves of taking polar bears off the endangered list, etc. Hillary Clinton supporters aren't that dumb. I suppose she might energize Republican women, but I'd be surprised if lots of women jumped shipped and voted against things Clinton and Democrats believe in simply because of the va-jay-jay factor.

That said, she's definitely a politician. She had her first good flip-flop today when talking about the Bridge to Nowhere. Two years ago she had this to say, "

5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?

"Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Which is pretty much the opposite of what she said today. Oh well, that's politics...

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by The Germanator

You know, I pretty much agree with all of this (surprise, surprise) and I kind of understand what the GOP was trying to do with this pick, but your last point is hard to ignore considering the circumstances. Normally the VP choice isn't the biggest deal, but John McCain would be the oldest president ever if he was elected. Considering the life expectancy of a US male is 76 years old, coupled with the fact that McCain has had cancer, I would not be surprised that people would be terrified of voting for the McCain/Palin ticket knowing the probability of her actually rising up to Commander in Chief is much more likely this time around.

That is a huge concern of mine as well. Not enough for me to vote for a Marxist, but I wish he would have chosen Jindal or Lieberman.

Also, I'll agree that Obama/Biden would be foolish to attack the experience factor. They can still hit the "3rd Bush term" pretty hard, knowing that Palin is even more conservative than McCain. What seems strange though, is that the McCain camp also just took away one of their biggest weapons. They can't really attack Obama on experience any more either, can they? It just seems that the GOP took away one of the better strengths in terms of going after Obama.

To be honest, they've been going after the celebrity thing more than experience. Also, I think the experience attack is still in play (not as effetive, though) because of the differences between VP and Pres. VP is seen more a a President in Training position, historically. But I agree, it does hurt the argument.

And yes, she may have a vagina, but she's also anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-creationism, approves of taking polar bears off the endangered list, etc. Hillary Clinton supporters aren't that dumb. I suppose she might energize Republican women, but I'd be surprised if lots of women jumped shipped and voted against things Clinton and Democrats believe in simply because of the va-jay-jay factor.

I didn't say they would vote for her, but she might increase some crossover. I don't think crossover will be huge, but in an election that will be close, it will be interesting considering it gives extra excuses for a spite vote against Obama.

And by the way, I agree with ehr stance on Polar Bears. Their numbers don't meet any of the criteria for the endangered species list and their numbers have been increasing for decades. Their addition is political, and nothing more.

That said, she's definitely a politician. She had her first good flip-flop today when talking about the Bridge to Nowhere. Two years ago she had this to say, "

5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?

"Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Which is pretty much the opposite of what she said today. Oh well, that's politics...

Well, thats true and false. She came out against the bridge well before her speech today, and she has been a huge reformer in her state, which I think was inspired by her bridge revelation after that statement and first hand view of the waste. It does make an awkward soundbyte though, I agree.

[Jason1]

Originally Posted by Professor S

I like Palin. I think she is a hell of a Governor and truly acts on what she thinks is right, and not what is "in the people's best interests".

And you think thats a good thing? So its better for the president to just do what they feel like and not whats best for the American people?

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Jason1

And you think thats a good thing? So its better for the president to just do what they feel like and not whats best for the American people?

You don't take well to sarcasm, do you... The quotes were in place for a reason.

Seriously, though, Jason, do you just look for any reason to take the opposite opinion of a Republican? I've actually come out and agreed with many on the left that Palin is not qualified, and you have to cherry pick the tiny amount of positive opinion about her?

Its kind of sad.

[TheGame]

I've read up a lot more on Palin, and honestly I respect her a LOT now. I wanted to save my opinion for when I became more educated on her. Honestly I would place her a level above obama for leadership experience, but I wouldn't say either of them truely have a long enough track record to be in the oval office.

Overall I do not think this is a bad decision for Mccain by any strech, though its not shocking to see people put off by the fact that she's female.

[Jason1]

Originally Posted by Professor S

You don't take well to sarcasm, do you... The quotes were in place for a reason.

Seriously, though, Jason, do you just look for any reason to take the opposite opinion of a Republican? I've actually come out and agreed with many on the left that Palin is not qualified, and you have to cherry pick the tiny amount of positive opinion about her?

Its kind of sad.

Okay I did not read that as sarcasm, especially coming from you. I apologise. I havent even attempted to bash her yet. Honestly, the dems shouldnt spend much time arguing about her lack of experience, due to obvious reasons. It would be hypocritical for them to do that. I would never bash someone just because they havent been in politics very long. In fact, as ive said on numerous occasions, I find Obama's lack of "experience" (if you want to call it that) a good thing. Just because someone has been in politics a long time dosent mean they will make a good president or Vice president, likewise, just because someone has NOT been in politics very long dosent mean they will be a BAD president.

[The Germanator]

Originally Posted by TheGame

I've read up a lot more on Palin, and honestly I respect her a LOT now. I wanted to save my opinion for when I became more educated on her. Honestly I would place her a level above obama for leadership experience, but I wouldn't say either of them truely have a long enough track record to be in the oval office.

I understand the Obama camp won't argue the experience factor, but I will. Palin is more experienced than Obama? I just think that's a joke.

Palin credentials:
- Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Idaho.
- Briefly worked in broadcasting as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations.
- She spent four years on the Wasilla "City" Council.
- Two-term mayor of Wasilla, population approximately 6000 people, from 1996-2002.
- Governor of Alaska, population 670,053, from December 2006 to present.
- Member of the PTA, has 5 kids, Alaska is near Russia so she has "international relations" credentials.
(Okay, I just added these to be a dick, but the McCain campaign has legitimately touted these as qualifications. In my opinion that is pathetic)

Obama credentials:
- Bachelor's degree in political science and foreign relations from Columbia University
- Law degree from Harvard Law School. Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Majored in Constitutional Law.
- Senator of the 13th district in Illinois from 1996-2004, representing approximately 653,647 constituents.
- Representing Illinois in the U.S. Senate from 2004-2008 Obama was representing approximately 12,831,970 constituents.
- Member of: Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Member of Veterans' Affairs Committee; Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs; Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
- Has been to the Middle East and met with leaders from Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Israel, along with European allies.
- Here's a link to his senate accomplishments...http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/08/3...nts/#more-6370

I personally think it's not even close. Plus, Obama defeated the Clinton machine to get here. His campaign has been tremendous and he's stood strong through many tough attacks. That shows leadership to me. He's been properly vetted by the 18 million Americans who voted for him. Palin was handed this gig.

Yeah, she's a VP candidate and he's a presidential candidate and I think that's just about right.

The people crying sexism already bug me too. It's been three days! The media is talking about how inexperienced she is because well, SHE IS! If it was a dude, they'd be doing the same thing. Anyway, just my thoughts.

[gekko]

Wow. Last time I saw two people no one wanted in office, Ventura filled the void bringing tears to the entire state.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by The Germanator

I understand the Obama camp won't argue the experience factor, but I will. Palin is more experienced than Obama? I just think that's a joke.

Palin credentials:
- Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Idaho.
- Briefly worked in broadcasting as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations.
- She spent four years on the Wasilla "City" Council.
- Two-term mayor of Wasilla, population approximately 6000 people, from 1996-2002.
- Governor of Alaska, population 670,053, from December 2006 to present.
- Member of the PTA, has 5 kids, Alaska is near Russia so she has "international relations" credentials.
(Okay, I just added these to be a dick, but the McCain campaign has legitimately touted these as qualifications. In my opinion that is pathetic)

Obama credentials:
- Bachelor's degree in political science and foreign relations from Columbia University
- Law degree from Harvard Law School. Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Majored in Constitutional Law.
- Senator of the 13th district in Illinois from 1996-2004, representing approximately 653,647 constituents.
- Representing Illinois in the U.S. Senate from 2004-2008 Obama was representing approximately 12,831,970 constituents.
- Member of: Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Member of Veterans' Affairs Committee; Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs; Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
- Has been to the Middle East and met with leaders from Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Israel, along with European allies.
- Here's a link to his senate accomplishments...http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/08/3...nts/#more-6370

I personally think it's not even close. Plus, Obama defeated the Clinton machine to get here. His campaign has been tremendous and he's stood strong through many tough attacks. That shows leadership to me. He's been properly vetted by the 18 million Americans who voted for him. Palin was handed this gig.

Yeah, she's a VP candidate and he's a presidential candidate and I think that's just about right.

The people crying sexism already bug me too. It's been three days! The media is talking about how inexperienced she is because well, SHE IS! If it was a dude, they'd be doing the same thing. Anyway, just my thoughts.

Keep in mind that I said "Leadership Experience". She has executive experience, and from what I can tell has been in more positions where she had to be the one making outright tough decisions on her own. Opposed to Obama's experience where he's never been an executive, but has had more of an activist type history.

Not taking anything away from him though, he was voted to be the voice of the group he represents. But I don't see anything there that I could draw as being even similar to being the president of the united states. He's been in a position where he can share his opinions on things and can gamble with Ideals which are argueable because in his spot no one person controls anything.

I'm very tired while typing this, and I might see something different when I wake back up. But to sum it up Palin has been in situations where she had to power to make positive changes for her people and state government, and she stood up and did it. She's been in a position where every day she had to make the hard decisions for her people right or wrong and had to deal with the results of it... And Obama just hasn't.

That's my own take on it, as far as Media goes they're going to be biased on the situation one way or another so I ignore all the bullshit spewing from Media most of the time when making judgements.

[manasecret]

Yikes, after hearing more about her extremely social conservative record, she makes me very afraid of a Republican win. And, though I missed her speech, the little I've heard seems to be her simply attacking Obama with little reference to the problems facing the U.S. I was leaning towards Obama before the Palin pick, with McCain a slight possibility, but if her social conservative record is true, then I would never vote for McCain.

I must caveat and say I have only heard of her social conservative record. I'd like to read something factual about it. I'd also like to read her speech.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by manasecret

Yikes, after hearing more about her extremely social conservative record, she makes me very afraid of a Republican win. And, though I missed her speech, the little I've heard seems to be her simply attacking Obama with little reference to the problems facing the U.S. I was leaning towards Obama before the Palin pick, with McCain a slight possibility, but if her social conservative record is true, then I would never vote for McCain.

I must caveat and say I have only heard of her social conservative record. I'd like to read something factual about it. I'd also like to read her speech.

Oh, she is very much a social conservative, but keep in mind that it is the democrats that are traditionally federalists. Even the great abortion debate that everyone goes crazy over isn't about banning abortion... its about overtuirning Roe vs. Wade which would give the decision back to the states and they could make the decisions, which would likely lead to more moderate abortion law in some states, but not a elimination of it all together.

As for embryonic stem cell research, McCain is for it, and that makes him to the left of me on that issue, so no reason to worry there.

Gay marriage, even I'm not sure what the big deal is quite honesltly, but the odds of it ever being a federal and not a state issue are VERY slim. I'll agree that the idea of having a admendment to "protect marriage" is one of the least conservative things I've ever heard. It would be the first time an amendment was ever passed to prevent equal rights, and I find that a distasteful idea.

As for non-social issues, I don;t know how you could possibly be on the fence. Either your for bigger, more expensive and intrusive government or you're not. Its that simple.

[manasecret]

This opinion piece is from Anne Kilkenny, a resident of the town of Wasilla of which Palin was mayor. She self-describes herself as knowing Palin since 1992, which she says is no big deal for people from her town, but also attended more City Council meetings while Palin was in power than 99% of the residents of the city.

Whether her points are right or wrong, this may well form the basis of virtually all arguments that follow about Palin.

Provocative to say the least. Read on --

A note to all by Anne Kilkenny

Dear friends,

So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the
last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .

Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in
common: their gender and their good looks.

You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .

Thanks,
Anne

[ Note by web_admin: This was already posted on Washington Independent
comments area and was meant by the author to be read by many, but
readers need sourcing. The NY Times has talked with Anne since. ]

ABOUT SARAH PALIN

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a "babe".

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.

She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out
there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their
major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything
like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

She's smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about
670,000 residents.

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

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

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

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's
surplus, borrow for needs.

She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the
basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated”
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't
fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew
her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to
nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march
to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to
global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a
heartbeat away from being President.

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.

However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it.


CLAIM VS FACT
•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life
legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +
Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local
government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen
when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out
of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no
fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will
cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's
attempt at censorship.

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible
for a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are
swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The
day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.

Anne Kilkenny
August 31, 2008

Check the link for further updates and links about Anne Kilkenny.

http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by manasecret

This opinion piece is from Anne Kilkenny, a resident of the town of Wasilla of which Palin was mayor. She self-describes herself as knowing Palin since 1992, which she says is no big deal for people from her town, but also attended more City Council meetings while Palin was in power than 99% of the residents of the city.

Whether her points are right or wrong, this may well form the basis of virtually all arguments that follow about Palin.

Provocative to say the least. Read on --

Check the link for further updates and links about Anne Kilkenny.

http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html

I'd really like to hear some of the sources of the numbers from this opinion piece, and also a lot of the facts, such as letting an administrator run the city, seems like information she wouldn't be privy to. In the end this is one person's opinion. Not to say she's wrong, but I won't take her word for it.

And she is a governor, too, BTW, with a tax surplus. No debt there.