[Silver]

I ruptured my achilles 3 weeks ago.

Damn, that's supposed to be a bitch.

Get well soon.

 

[jimmydean]

Awesome:

"I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere," Palin said in her convention speech last week.

That's not what she told Alaskans when she announced a year ago that she was ordering state transportation officials to ditch the project. Her explanation then was that it would be fruitless to try to persuade Congress to come up with the money.

"It's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island," Palin said then.

Palin indicated during her 2006 campaign for governor that she supported the bridge, but was wishy-washy about it. She told local officials that money appropriated for the bridge "should remain available for a link, an access process as we continue to evaluate the scope and just how best to just get this done."

Palin has cut back on pork-barrel project requests, but in her two years in office, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. And as mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

^^ There's really nothing wrong with that...I mean she's a pitbull w/lipstick that drives kids to hockey practice. I mean...what the hell else is there to do but make your own news?

Just look at Jaime Lynn or Britney... No press, no care. Just make some sh*t happen.

Insta-media.

I bet Billy Mays would be all over that sh*t. I gotta trademark that.

 

[jimmydean]

^^ There's really nothing wrong with that...I mean she's a pitbull w/lipstick that drives kids to hockey practice. I mean...what the hell else is there to do but make your own news?

Just look at Jaime Lynn or Britney... No press, no care. Just make some sh*t happen.

Insta-media.

I bet Billy Mays would be all over that sh*t. I gotta trademark that.

The fact that her and McCain were smack talking Obama's earmarks is humorous considering his total looks higher, but works out to be $25 a person vs. $295 a person in Alaska (this year alone).

Obama hasn't asked for any earmarks this year. Last year, he asked for $311 million worth, about $25 for every Illinois resident. Alaska asked this year for earmarks totaling $198 million, about $295 for every Alaska citizen.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

The fact that her and McCain were smack talking Obama's earmarks is humorous considering his total looks higher, but works out to be $25 a person vs. $295 a person in Alaska (this year alone).

I smack talk all the time. Mostly about things I have no clue about. A lot like Palin actually...Wow...I must be a log cabin republocrat er some sh*t...

That's what the call disenfranchised white youth that don't know anything about anything, right?

 

[dante]

The fact that her and McCain were smack talking Obama's earmarks is humorous considering his total looks higher, but works out to be $25 a person vs. $295 a person in Alaska (this year alone).

the source for that:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26611103/

 

[Jim Mac]

Sarah Palin Book Buring Partaaaay! (apologies if this has already been posted)

LiveLeak.Com wrote:
Books Sarah Palin Wants Banned

The list of books that Sarah Palin opposed is a standard right-wing Christian hit list. There is nothing on the list that indicates that Palin put any thought into what she wanted banned from the library. Samuel Clemens' (Mark Twain) classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn stands out as its banning usually comes from the politically correct crowd that Palin and her allies are perpetually at war More.. with, because of the use of the "N"-word.

Here are the books, and for a few of them, the reasons why the Christian right finds them objectionable:


Books Sarah Palin Wanted Banned

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (most un-Christian ultra-violence not in the cause of Christian warriors)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (not sure why but I know a bannable book when I see it!)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner ("N"-word and disrespectful to Confederacy)

The Bastard by John Jakes (its naughty title an attack on the idea of childbirth only after holy wedlock -- did you hear that, Bristol???)

Blubber by Judy Blume (general naughtiness, faintly salacious title)

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (utopianism and socialism)

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (unwholesome fantasy)

The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer (classic smut, or smoote, if you will; un-Christian depiction of female sexual desire)

Carrie by Stephen King (Christian girls shouldn't know about menstruation)

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (mocks the military; disrespectful of God's calling to kill enemies, both foreign & domestic)

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (promotion of morbid individualism, lack of respect for caring, nurturing parents and teachers)

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (subversion of Christian fund-raising endeavors)

Christine by Stephen King (disrespectful of classic Detroit automobiles and sacred MADE IN USA in a Saipan Sweatshop" ethos)

The Color Purple by Alice Walker (attack on fundamental values keeping a Christian home and society together by well-known socialist)

Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Christian children shouldn't be exposed to masturbating Utopians who are ur-Communists)

Cujo by Stephen King (disrespectful of dogs, a Christian man's best friend)

Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen (black magick!)

Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite (promotion of faggotry)

Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck (disrespectful of Christian values in denigrating "the other white meat"; promotion of un-Christian vegetarianism, which is particularly distasteful in gun 'n huntin' happy Alaska where Sarah Palin rules as Diana, Mistress of the Hunt)

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (mocking the American Dream and Protestant Work ethic; NOTE: Marilyn Monroe's commie-symp non-Christian ex-husband defied the House Un-American Activities Committee which was doing God's own work by attempting to clean out the Hollywood pig sty)

Decameron by Boccaccio (classic filth, or fylthe if you will)

The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth (provides comfort to Lucifer, the Son of the Morning Star, the Enemy of the One True God)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck (teenage rebellion, unauthorized interpretation of Book of Genesis, written by commie-symp)

Fallen Angels by Walter Myers (disrespectful of God's chosen agents of change)

Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure) by John Cleland (Dirty Book, or "D.B." if you will -- Along with Lady Chatterly's Lover and Tropic of Cancer, this is the granddaddy of all D.B.s!)

The Figure in the Shadows by John Bellairs ("figure" is a word that can be used for naughty ends to promote naughty minds)

Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes (debases belief in miracles)

Forever by Judy Blume (smut for teenagers)

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (witches brew of socialism and smut; promotes cruelty to animals, specifically, our terrapin friends)

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

Grendel by John Gardner (bad language, disrespectful of classic Nordic literature no one has ever read)

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (attack on author's Christian fundamentalist betters)

Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam (pagan evil)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (see above)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (ditto)

Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (ditto)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (ditto)

Have to Go by Robert Munsch

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman (lesbian crap responsible for rising popularity of Ellen on boob tube)

The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Snyder

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell (promotion of unsanitary eating habits)

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens mocked Christianity as the one true religion)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (unacceptable indictment of white Christian paternalism towards our benighted dark brothers and sisters, one with us in Christ)

Impressions edited by Jack Booth (unknown, but author does share surname with authentic Confederate, er, American hero who fought tyranny!)

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (promotes un-Christian eating habits)

It's Okay if You Don't Love Me by Norma Klein (author is suspected to be non-Christian)

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (offended Georgia fruit lobby)

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence (D.B., see note Fanny Hill)

The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (unwholesome gay propaganda wholly injurious to young, developing Christian minds)

Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

The Living Bible by William C. Bower (undermines the literal Word of God!)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding (see Note for It's Okay if You Don't Love Me)

Love is One of the Choices by Norma Klein (ditto)

Lysistrata by Aristophanes (it's a Greek thing and therefore unwholesome and un-Christian)

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (undermines the Christian ideal of the sanctity of a contract no matter who is party to the deal; on the other hand, it does feature a conversion to Christ)

More Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz (subversive)

My Brother Sam Is Dead by James L incoln Collier and Christopher Collier

My House by Nikki Giovanni

My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara (Papist pagan horse-worship by author with allegiance to anti-Christ in Rome)

The New Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman (kiddie porn!)

Night Chills by Dean Koontz

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (supports euthanasia for both man and beast)

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer

One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (not quite sure about this one but obviously, if the say it should be banned, I'm for banning it!)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (although its revelation of the Wall St.-money Easterners dominated "Combine" is appreciated, Kesey subverts American values by supporting euthanasia and offending the American Medical Association by an oblique attack on the medical profession via Big Nurse)

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (commie-symp trash)

Ordinary People by Judith Guest (glamorizes suicide and teenage lust!

Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Collective (pornography)

The Pigman by Paul Zindel

Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (any book "good enough" for Barbra Streisand is good enough to be banned!)

Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl (filth)

Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz

Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

The Seduction of Peter S. by Lawrence Sanders (the "S" word)

Separate Peace by John Knowles (glamorization of Eastern Establishment that is in league with communist Russia)

The Shining by Stephen King (promotion of un-Christian spiritual values such as telepathy; promotion of unhealthy disrespect for paternal figures; historical revisionism -- someone told me that the book was an indictment of Christian America's treatment of the pagan red Indian)

Silas Marner by George Eliot (undermines notions of Christian thrift and industry)

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (mocks good Christian warriors and the Good War)

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (attack on Christian values)

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume (D.B. writer targeting teens)

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (undermines Christian values by questioning the "peculiar" order of things in the South, possibly ghost-written by notorious homosexual)

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (celebration of pagan values by cross-dressing English fairycake)

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff (motherload of dirty words)

The Witches by Roald Dahl (Roald Dahl has a naughty mind!)

The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Snyder

Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth (primer for pagans)

 

[$tinkle]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp

good factchecking ya got there

 

[dante]

yup. she only insinuated that she *wanted* to ban books, and when faced with opposition she tried to fire the librarian. the truth is bad enough without resorting to outright lies.

 

[Jim Mac]

...and both Heller and Vonnegut were "war heroes" too! Sheesh! Vonnegut was also a POW, cleaning up the dead German bodies post Dresden bombing. So much for respecting the Troops! :biggrin:

 

[X3pilot]

After days of hearing about her, reading about her, researching her, reading these post, it's become apparent in my little pea brain that she is a politician who does whatever she thinks she needs to do to advance the particular cause she is working on at the time. I truly believe she has made decisions and choices in Alaska to try and benefit Alaskans and herself. Politics is a ego driven career field and she is as guilty of that as all the others. Corruption of power is almost inevitable in politics, even at the city council or school board level. (Here in Pa and NJ, they are several corruption cases ongoing at any given time for local politicians). She's no different. Show me a politician of any party affiliation who has not at some time or other tried to use their power, either real or perceived, to try and gain favor or administer the stink eye on a foe. I think her thing is that she hasn't done everything she's done and said everything she has with a filter as to how it may play out in the future on the national political stage. She hasn't been a politician that has played every decision safe, think about how it may someday look during a presidential campaign.
Not that I think she's anymore qualified after watching the past week, my pick still would have been a Romney/Hutchinson ticket, but I think I understand why McCain picked her a little better now.

 

[$tinkle]

yup. she only insinuated that she *wanted* to ban books, and when faced with opposition she tried to fire the librarian.

The stories are all suggestive, but facts are hard to come by

Four days before the exchange at the City Council, Emmons got a letter from Palin asking for her resignation. Similar letters went to police chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton and finance director Duane Dvorak. John Cooper, a fifth director, resigned after Palin eliminated his job overseeing the city museum.

Palin told the Daily News back then the letters were just a test of loyalty as she took on the mayor's job, which she'd won from three-term mayor John Stein in a hard-fought election. Stein had hired many of the department heads. Both Emmons and Stambaugh had publicly supported him against Palin.

that bastard bush had the nerve to clean out the whitehouse staff, cabinet, & state dept as well when he took office.

the truth is bad enough without resorting to outright lies.

so you're playing the middle?

 

[$tinkle]

Politics is a ego driven career field and she is as guilty of that as all the others.

anonymous for president!

 

[ohio]

that bastard bush had the nerve to clean out the whitehouse staff, cabinet, & state dept as well when he took office.
so you're playing the middle?

Don't pretend you don't the difference between a president's cabinet and the appointed heads of various (theoretically) non-partisan agencies and institutions.

 

[Silver]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp

good factchecking ya got there

You can't factcheck a chain email that has the word "faggotry" in there...

 

[$tinkle]

Don't pretend you don't the difference between a president's cabinet and the appointed heads of various (theoretically) non-partisan agencies and institutions.

i hadn't used a strawman yet today.

bugger off you.

 

[ohio]

Show me a politician of any party affiliation who has not at some time or other tried to use their power, either real or perceived, to try and gain favor or administer the stink eye on a foe.

If you can't distinguish degrees of corruption, favoritism, and self-interest, maybe you should pick a new game to play. This argument that all politicians are corrupt therefore are equally corrupt is a fallacy we seem all too willing to accept because it puts our consciences at ease. You may be right that many other politicians are equally dirty, but there are thousands that are cleaner AND dirtier. In the various villages, towns and cities I have lived in, no mayor has ever marked their taking of office by firing every prominent appointee that opposed him or her in the election. None. So that's at least 5 mayors that are cleaner than her.

She hasn't been a politician that has played every decision safe

She hasn't played it safe, ethical, or thoughtful. Her decisions seem to not even be politically motivated, but personally motivated. This sort of thoughtless, emotional, gut-driven decision-making was a hallmark of Bush (though tempered by his cabinet... where the thoughtfulness was unfortunately from Cheney, Rove, and Wolfowitz) AND McCain (which may explain why he seems to like Palin). The office of the presidency is NOT a place for thoughtless emotional decisions to be made. That is NOT a characteristic of all politicians. Do not let yourself be fooled into this lazy thinking.

 

[X3pilot]

If you can't distinguish degrees of corruption, favoritism, and self-interest, maybe you should pick a new game to play. This argument that all politicians are corrupt therefore are equally corrupt is a fallacy we seem all too willing to accept because it puts our consciences at ease. You may be right that many other politicians are equally dirty, but there are thousands that are cleaner AND dirtier. In the various villages, towns and cities I have lived in, no mayor has ever marked their taking of office by firing every prominent appointee that opposed him or her in the election. None. So that's at least 5 mayors that are cleaner than her.

Agreed, but it was to point out that some of the media portrayals focus on her 'corruption' investigations as if she's the first candidate to have ever been accused of being corrupt. As to the firing of appointees, doesn't an appointee serve at the pleasure of the office they serve? A hired civil servant or elected official can;t be summarily fire like that, but I do believe an appointee serves at the whims of the office they were appointed by. Ain't saying it's right or nice, but..

She hasn't played it safe, ethical, or thoughtful. Her decisions seem to not even be politically motivated, but personally motivated. This sort of thoughtless, emotional, gut-driven decision-making was a hallmark of Bush (though tempered by his cabinet... where the thoughtfulness was unfortunately from Cheney, Rove, and Wolfowitz) AND McCain (which may explain why he seems to like Palin). The office of the presidency is NOT a place for thoughtless emotional decisions to be made. That is NOT a characteristic of all politicians. Do not let yourself be fooled into this lazy thinking.

I was referring to making a safe decision in the context of making the decision based solely on what the political outcome to her career would be.
I agree that the office of POTUS is not a place for rash, foolish decisions, nor is any elected office. Hard decisions as a leader always will involve emotion, if it didn't, we wouldn't need humans, just let the computer decide the best possible statistical outcome and go from there. How a leader tempers their emotion and how it plays into a decision making process helps define good leadership.

Like I said, not campaigning for her, just think it's odd at all the media frenzy attached to her prior service and records and wondering if this didn't turn out to be a great tactical move by the McCain campaign.

 

[ohio]

As to the firing of appointees, doesn't an appointee serve at the pleasure of the office they serve? A hired civil servant or elected official can;t be summarily fire like that, but I do believe an appointee serves at the whims of the office they were appointed by. Ain't saying it's right or nice, but..

Having the power to do something doesn't make it right, nor does having the power mean that everyone uses it the same way. Even if not illegal (though current Justice Department proceedings would indicate there are some limits to how and when you can fire people), it is a frightening indicator of her decision-making process and should not be overlooked.

As for the effect on the McCain campaign, I think after initial fervor this will backfire. She won't hold up to scrutiny (for most people) and it will be one more black mark against a McCain2008 that bears little resemblance to McCain2000. Indications are he wanted Lieberman and very un-maverick-ly buckled to appease the hard-right and party core.

 

[jimmydean]

She used taxpayer dollars for travel and per diem while she was home.

Report: Palin tapped travel allowance at home

An analysis of travel statements filed by the governor, now John McCain's Republican running mate, shows she claimed the per diem allowance on 312 occasions when she was home in Wasilla and that she billed taxpayers $43,490 for travel by her husband and children.

 

[X3pilot]

She used taxpayer dollars for travel and per diem while she was home.

Report: Palin tapped travel allowance at home

That's not that unusual for many government agencies, federal and state. Dig up some of the perks of per diem that Congress gets.



Now, the kids and husband..that's a different story.

 

[Silver]

Now, the kids and husband..that's a different story.

More so the kids. I can think of lots of BS cocktail parties where you'd expect to have the husband be there.

 

[X3pilot]

More so the kids. I can think of lots of BS cocktail parties where you'd expect to have the husband be there.

Sure, the husband is expected to make appearances, just like a wife, at certain functions and in some cases, fill in for the Gov.

Kids? Yeah, in particular the trip she took Bristol to NYC w/ hotel rooms at $700/night??

 

[jimmydean]

That's not that unusual for many government agencies, federal and state. Dig up some of the perks of per diem that Congress gets.

Per diem at home? That's just plain wrong. Also, the CEO of WalMart spends less than $100 a night for hotels when on business. Not saying his other practices are awesome, but surely you could find lodging in NYC for less than $700 a night.

 

[Silver]

Per diem at home? That's just plain wrong. Also, the CEO of WalMart spends less than $100 a night for hotels when on business. Not saying his other practices are awesome, but surely you could find lodging in NYC for less than $700 a night.

For NYC (actually in the city) that probably wasn't an extravagant hotel, but the big question is who paid the airfare for the daughter?

 

[X3pilot]

Per diem at home? That's just plain wrong.

Her 'duty post' is technically in Juneau. If she chooses to and it is standard policy for her to be able to spend some of her work time in Anchorage, and commute to and from there while living at her house in Wassilla, then that's technically not wrong, as long as she submits travel receipts and it is approved practice and policy via state treasurer rules and that same policy would apply to other state employees or political appointees at the same executive level.

Many private sector jobs have the same policy and make similar arrangements for their employees.

While I was in the Navy, when I deployed, I received per diem, amount depending on location, and in the later years, traveled exclusively by commercial air and utilized hotels. Is that wrong?

My current job is home based in Maryland, but I live in Allentown, Pa, work out of an office in Philly and have to travel to MD once to twice a month. When I travel to MD, I get per diem, mileage and lodging paid for. Is that wrong?

 

[X3pilot]

For NYC (actually in the city) that probably wasn't an extravagant hotel, but the big question is who paid the airfare for the daughter?

What is Alasakan taxpayers, Alex?

 

[$tinkle]

<even-handed stuff>

STOP IT X3! there's an evil conservative white woman to be strung up.

this is their sport & they have permits

 

[Silver]

Her 'duty post' is technically in Juneau. If she chooses to and it is standard policy for her to be able to spend some of her work time in Anchorage, and commute to and from there while living at her house in Wassilla, then that's technically not wrong, as long as she submits travel receipts and it is approved practice and policy via state treasurer rules and that same policy would apply to other state employees or political appointees at the same executive level.

Many private sector jobs have the same policy and make similar arrangements for their employees.

While I was in the Navy, when I deployed, I received per diem, amount depending on location, and in the later years, traveled exclusively by commercial air and utilized hotels. Is that wrong?

My current job is home based in Maryland, but I live in Allentown, Pa, work out of an office in Philly and have to travel to MD once to twice a month. When I travel to MD, I get per diem, mileage and lodging paid for. Is that wrong?

Yeah, but the governor's job usually comes with a house in the state capital, no? I'd say it's a little different.

 

[X3pilot]

Yeah, but the governor's job usually comes with a house in the state capital, no? I'd say it's a little different.

Sure, now I don't know about AK, but normally they get the mansion. But there have been other governors that have refused the use of the mansion before. I think Jindal of LA doesn't use it and neither does GA's Gov. but i don't have that down for fact.

But anyway, it could be argued that the payment of a mileage and per diem would offset cost of running Gov. mansion, I suppose.

Congressmen, while in session, get per diem and meal allowanaces and some of those folks keep pretty nice houses in DC, so in a way, I guess they would be accused of the same misuse of the "per diem" at home issue.

Also, I know LA's legislators get a mileage and per diem while in session as well as PA's. But I'm pretty sure it's tuned to the Federal standards which right now are .585 cents per mile

 

[jimmydean]

If by per diem, they mean "hookers and blow", I'm cool with that.

 

[reflux]

If by per diem, they mean "hookers and blow", I'm cool with that.

Is it too late for me to switch gears? Perhaps I'm in the wrong line of work...

 

[dante]

Obama talks about how McCain is just the same old politician, trying to reinvent himself as change, and says you can put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig.

Palin gets self conscious.

 

[Defenestrated]

Obama talks about how McCain is just the same old politician, trying to reinvent himself as change, and says you can put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig.

Palin gets self conscious.

ahaha

 

[stinkyboy]

Alaskans protest their girl:

 

[Jim Mac]

Exclusive Palin Interview!

 

[reflux]

"I can see Alaska from my house."

Does this mean your average 16 year old male is qualified to be a gynecologist?

 

[?????]

Who else can't wait for the Dem's to suck up their losses for another 4-8 years?

 

[reflux]

Who else can't wait for 90+% of Americans to suck up their losses for another 4-8 years?

fixed yo.

 

[?????]

fixed yo.

I wasn't including those relying on P. Diddy to tell them who to vote for.