Friday, August 29, 2008

Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 6,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin share’s John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same.” - DNC statement

SARAH PALIN

- A PTA “hockey mom” with virtually no experience in government. When is someone going to tell her that hockey is the Canadian national sport?


- Only just began serving as Governor of Alaska, 47th in U.S. population (third least populated state) with governing experience of under two years! She actually quit her job as Governor to sell books and give speeches!


- The other little experience she has (mayor of a small town of 5,500) makes Obama look like a political veteran. So much for the experience argument!


Mayor Palin


- Limited her duties by hiring a deputy administrator to handle the town's day-to-day management.


- Even though McCain said Guiliani wasn't qualified because he was only a mayor, he chose Palin after meeting her only once. Palin: mayor of 5,500/ Guiliani: mayor of 10 million. Difference?


- McCain advisor Karl Rove also said in August 2008 that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine would be a bad VP choice for Obama because he didn’t have enough experience as former mayor of Richmond, a much bigger city than Wasilla!


- Top achievement as mayor was the construction of an ice rink, a project that cost the city much more than anticipated.


- Left Wasilla in its first budget deficit ever.


Taxes and Economy


- The Obama presidential campaign budget of one month is greater than Palin's entire yearly budget.


- Supported the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" before she claimed she didn't and kept the $442 million federal dollars anyway.


- Also supported other pork-barrel earmarks totaling another $27 million in funds.


- While every other U.S. citizen suffers at the gas pump, residents of Alaska are receiving windfall profits thanks to Palin's shady oil deals.


- Top achievement as mayor was the construction of an ice rink, a project that cost the city much more than anticipated.


- Billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended for state business travel. Among her only travels: a college sporting event and a sled race in which her husband competed.


- Raised taxes (local sales tax) to pay for an indoor arena and convention center. and then as governor she created the first Alaska state debt in history.



Foreign Policy


- Has zero foreign policy experience, zero exposure to foreign policy, and has only left the country once.


- Hasn't met one single head of state from a foreign nation, other than a few ten minute meetings scheduled all in one day in a September 2008 publicity stunt.


- Besides never having been to Iraq, Palin is seemingly unaware of McCain's war plan.


- Doesn’t want to “surrender” in Iraq, even though the Iraqis no longer wants us there and every major U.S. general has called for a withdrawal plan, but has already surrendered several states to Obama including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Maine.


Social Issues


- Opposes any changes to the crippled U.S. healthcare system, even though nearly 50 million Americans are uninsured and millions more have limited coverage.


- Neglected funding the failing schools of Alaska (one of America's worst school systems) so she could devote more time and funds to recreation.


- Supports teaching of creationism in public schools and belonged to a radical anti-Jewish church that believes war is God's plan and that Alaska is a refuge for those who will survive God's wrath.


- Opposes vital sex-education programs. Supports abstinence even though it didn't work for her own 17 year old teenage daughter.


- Attempted to ban books from her local library


- Denied benefits to same-sex couples.


- Is opposed to life-saving stem cell research.


- Supported ending D.C.'s 32-year-old ban on handguns, even though she had never been to D.C. and has no concept of the district or any other big city’s crime problems.


- Claims to be pro-life, but supports assault weapons on the streets of America, which endanger children and police.


- Although she claims to be pro-life, she is an avid hunter and moose-burger eater, certainly unappealing to those who love wildlife and animals!


Ethical Problems


- Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan for reluctance to fire her former brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper, Mike Wooten, who had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin's sister. Lots of family dysfunction there.


- Palin replaced Monegan with Chuck Kopp, who had allegedly sexually harassed an employee. In August 2008, the Alaska Legislature hired Steve Branchflower to investigate Palin and her staff for possible abuse of power surrounding the dismissal. The Palins have since been subpoenaed and found guilty of “abuse of power.”


- Fired several competent state employees upon entering office because she claimed they belonged to the "boys club" and proceeded to replace them with her unqualified incompetent friends.


- Refused to repudiate the hate speech of supporters at her rallies, on more than several occasions.


The Problem with Todd (former first gentleman of Alaska)


- Our potential first gentleman of the U.S. is a professional hunter/fisherman and oil field worker with no more than a high school degree.


So much for the spouse of the VP contributing to the administration in any capacity other than the U.S. Fish and Game Department.

- Was an active and registered member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which proclaims Alaska's 1959 induction as a state "as illegal.” The creation of this party was inspired by the rabidly violent anti-Americanism of its founding father Joe Vogler. "I'm an Alaskan, not an American," reads a favorite Vogler quote on AIP's current website, "I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."

Sarah Palin attended several AIP conventions and was even the keynote speaker at one.



- Refused to testify even after being subpoenaed for the “abuse of power” investigation.


Anti-animal and Environmental Record


- Supports brutal execution style aerial hunting of wolves and bears even though Alaskans voted twice to ban the practice.


- Dedicated millions of dollars to hunting and recreation, when Alaska's failing schools are worst in the nation.


- Strongly promotes oil resource development in Alaska, despite climate change science and opportunities to advance new green energy.


- Refuses to acknowledge global warming and climate change.


- Supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) a delicate ecosystem of unique and endangered species.


- Palin objected to listing the polar bear as endangered, despite the decision of Dirk Kempthorne, the Republican United States Secretary of the Interior!


Other Qualifications?


- Has only a BA in Journalism earned after failing out of her first two colleges. No advanced degree or studies in law or policy.


- Refuses to speak with the Press and is in violation of every American citizen's First Amendment right to Freedom of the Press. In the one of the only interviews she’s granted (with Charles Gibson) the interview was a controlled condition and heavily edited for television.


- Despite saying that Hillary Clinton needed to learn how to deal with the scrutiny better, Palin refuses to even give interviews to the press.


- Attacks the media and press on a daily basis.


- Changed the subject and delivered a scripted speech during the one debate with Senator Joe Biden.


- Finished second in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant.


- Posed for a photo spread in the fashion magazine Vogue.


- Was a sports reporter before she joined her local PTA.


- Lied about selling a state jet on Ebay.


- Is the first governor since 1976 not to appoint a Native American to the Alaska Board of Game.




When Larry Kudlow of CNBC ’ s “ Kudlow & Co. ” asked her about the possibility of becoming McCain's ticket mate Palin replied:

As for that VP talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day ?




On Hillary Clinton

Apparently Palin has forgotten that she called Clinton a whiner during the 2008 primary since she is now praising her accomplishments and courting Clinton voters:


Despite saying that Clinton needed to learn how to deal with the scrutiny better, she refuses to even give interviews to the press.

Hillary Slams Back:



TrooperGate


Palin neglected funding the failing schools of Alaska (one of America's worst school systems) so she could devote more time and funds to recreation. Not good for Alaskans, not good for Americans.