Palin's pork requests confound reformer image

[morteduzionism]

I just read something suggesting that Dems/etc should lay off Palin because she'll probably self destruct due to a variety of issues. She advocates teaching crationism along with evolution and she's pro-life.

That type of person may have worked in '04...but I think the country is tired of being beat over the head with people telling us who we can/can't marry, what women can/can't make personal decisions on and whether or not Bibles/prayers should be in public schools/buildings.

...that's my opinion.

In reference to the linked article...good gawd! It does seem like her being considered a "reformer" is dubious at best.

I'm not sure why the McCain campaign tried compare Palins' requests to Obamas'. According to the article he asked for @$1 billion over three years. According to the article it averaged out to be @$24 a person/year ($311 million last year).

Just this year under Palin the state (Alaska) has asked for earmarks that total $300/person. The average for other states was $34.

I'm not sure how asking for that much (in Obamas' case) is really a big deal when it's factored in that it's for a state with a population 20x's that of Alaska.<----maybe someone can explain this, is it just the fact that he [Obama] asked too?

What do you think?

[Chaigidel]

I think they will try anything they can to draw attention away from the fact that palin is the least qualified candidate possible ; and everyone on every news station constantly talks about her out of wedlock childs baby--- on election day it will be obama vs unwed teen mother.

[morteduzionism]

on election day it will be obama vs unwed teen mother.

That would be bad. That could backfire. If people start sympathizing with her...they [McCain/Palin] could win because they got "feel good" votes.

[Chaigidel]

all the voters that generally like mccain are the ones most pissed--- virtually every old man and woman I know have completely soured on Mccain because they come from a time when such things were anathema( unwed mothers)--they are disgusted that teen pregnancy is so acceptable now, and willing to vote for obama and biden because they will not put a teen pregnancy as the first or second family.

[Ishoss]

I'm not sure why the McCain campaign tried compare Palins' requests to Obamas'. According to the article he asked for @$1 billion over three years. According to the article it averaged out to be @$24 a person/year ($311 million last year).

Just this year under Palin the state (Alaska) has asked for earmarks that total $300/person. The average for other states was $34.

I'm not sure how asking for that much (in Obamas' case) is really a big deal when it's factored in that it's for a state with a population 20x's that of Alaska.<----maybe someone can explain this, is it just the fact that he [Obama] asked too?

What do you think?

Alaska is densely populated. But at the same time it's a HUGE state. Only ca. 600k lives in Alaska... 34*600,000=20400000, 20 millions. 20 millions per year isn't enough to get things done in such a large state as Alaska.

[morteduzionism]

Alaska is densely populated. But at the same time it's a HUGE state. Only ca. 600k lives in Alaska... 34*600,000=20400000, 20 millions. 20 millions per year isn't enough to get things done in such a large state as Alaska.

What is the "habitable" area vs "uninhabitable?" I'm not criticizing I'm just wondering what is trying to be done?

The article also says she was in support of the "Bridge to Nowhere." Before switching stances.

[Chaigidel]

if your incompetent like palin

[Mikelus Trento]

Another prime example of Republican slime.

Just like when Thompson last night said she was the governor or the largest state in the US. Of course it has the largest amount of land, but he knew full well that many stupid Americans would equate the word "largest" with "most people".

I wonder how many other folks besides me are getting so angry at the Republican sleaze-ball tactics that they will never vote Republican again?

[danzig]

Another prime example of Republican slime.

Just like when Thompson last night said she was the governor or the largest state in the US. Of course it has the largest amount of land, but he knew full well that many stupid Americans would equate the word "largest" with "most people".

I wonder how many other folks besides me are getting so angry at the Republican sleaze-ball tactics that they will never vote Republican again?

Probably same amount of people who never vote for Dem again due to sleezeball tactics like suggesting a woman isnt the mother of her own child.

[Mikelus Trento]

Probably same amount of people who never vote for Dem again due to sleezeball tactics like suggesting a woman isnt the mother of her own child.

I'll take judgement and intelligence any day over experience Danzig. We shall talk more the morning after the election, ok? A day of posting I am so looking forward to.

How about you?

[danzig]

I'll take judgement and intelligence any day over experience Danzig. We shall talk more the morning after the election, ok? A day of posting I am so looking forward to.

How about you?

Of course I am because I think Mccain or Obama the country will be in good hands...I LIKE both but Im leaning Mccain but how Palin performs in debate will factor into it as well. That's been my whole point, prejudging people before we know. If Obama is elected and I end up voting for Mccain Iwont be mad or upset...because Mccain or Obama either one is lightyears improvement over the past 8 years. So Im looking forward to this election, no voting against someone...

Why is that question off limits?...You have to admit the whole scenario seems...hinky.

1) no bearing on is Sarah palin qualified for vp
2) it is a personal, family matter
3) it is false, it is pure smear that has no basis in fact and as stupid as obama=muslim

[morteduzionism]

Probably same amount of people who never vote for Dem again due to sleezeball tactics like suggesting a woman isnt the mother of her own child.

Why is that question off limits?...You have to admit the whole scenario seems...hinky.

[Delvecchio1975]

Probably same amount of people who never vote for Dem again due to sleezeball tactics like suggesting a woman isnt the mother of her own child.

daily kos is not exactly the democratic party as a whole, is it. whereas the republican party regularly explores new depths in mudslinging (with effect, mind), obama condemned the whole baby episode ...

[DimeBagHo]

morteduzionism: I read the article. It says that in two years Palin cut the state government earmark requests from 550 million to 198 million, and is working to eliminate Alaska's reliance on earmarks entirely. The article also says that most of the remaining 198 million is just to maintain funding for existing projects.

I'm stunned. That is an astonishing record. I have never heard of anything like this in American politics - a governor achieving spending cuts on that level, and she did it by turning down federal money! Almost as amazing is that she achieved these cuts while maintaining an 80% approval rating.

[DisgruntledGoat]

Theres an article on cbc.ca/news which paints a bad picture for Palin. It would seem that the McCain campaign didn't even bother with the vetting process as well.

It now appears that the team of lawyers and operatives conducting the selection vetting arrived in Alaska only the day before McCain announced his selection. Reporters canvassing the governor's friends and colleagues can find no one who has been approached by the McCain team. This includes colleagues in the Alaskan Republican party and those she worked with when she served as mayor of Wasilla.

McCain's office told the Washington Post on Sunday the FBI had done a background check. On Monday, the agency said it had not.

The governor had been a member of the Alaska Independence Party, which lobbied for a vote on whether the state should secede.

When McCain introduced Palin to American voters, he made much of her opposition to the famous "Bridge to Nowhere," a pork barrel project engineered by the Alaskan congressional delegation in Washington. McCain said his newly minted partner killed the deal and saved taxpayers $223 million.

That's not quite the story. At first, Palin was a supporter of the bridge and lobbied for the project. She opposed the deal only when it attracted national attention as an extravagant earmark. What is also not disclosed is the governor ended up with the money that will be used for other Alaskan road projects. No saving at all.

Not only did Palin keep the bridge money; while mayor she hired a Washington lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks, which was about $1,000 per resident. This is exactly what McCain has fought against for years. It didn't stop when she took over the governor's desk. In February, she sent Republican Senator Ted Stevens a 700-page memo outlining nearly $200 million in new funding requests for her state.

[and worst of all the allegations]
But even on Tuesday, American television is reporting that more e-mails from the governor's office have surfaced, e-mails that were sent to the public safety officer who was eventually fired for, he says, for refusing to dump the trooper Palin wanted fired. Palin admits she wanted the trooper, who was her former brother-in-law and involved in a messy divorce from her sister, fired. But Palin denies she attempted to use her influence to see that happen.
The special investigator appointed by the Alaskan state Senate has been ordered to have his report in late in October. That's only a week before the election and a negative finding could have a devastating effect on the election

Read the full story here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromab...for_palin.html

[Maraxus]

By the way, Alaska is one of the least... no its the least developed state in the US. Alaska is still mostly an unsettled frontier. Plus Alaska is one of the largest energy producing states. So yeah, its going to need money to develop the little luxuries like roads and bridges to airports for example.

Furthermore, everything I read about Palin is actually quite flattering. She didn't abort her down syndrome kid, and if its not her child like some claim, then she still adopted it, giving him a loving home, HOW DARE SHE! Also her 17 year old daughter is pregnant and having the kid, oh my god! She's marrying the father too... seriously what kind of parents get married! What kind of human beings make the choice to have children... that's downright despicable.

And Finally, I challenge people to find a politician who doesn't pork barrel... BESIDES MCCAIN, which the article indicates.

[Mikelus Trento]

By the way, Alaska is one of the least... no its the least developed state in the US. Alaska is still mostly an unsettled frontier. Plus Alaska is one of the largest energy producing states. So yeah, its going to need money to develop the little luxuries like roads and bridges to airports for example.

Furthermore, everything I read about Palin is actually quite flattering. She didn't abort her down syndrome kid, and if its not her child like some claim, then she still adopted it, giving him a loving home, HOW DARE SHE! Also her 17 year old daughter is pregnant and having the kid, oh my god! She's marrying the father too... seriously what kind of parents get married! What kind of human beings make the choice to have children... that's downright despicable.

And Finally, I challenge people to find a politician who doesn't pork barrel... BESIDES MCCAIN, which the article indicates.

I keep hearing the refrain..."they are going to get married."

The question I have is, why aren't they already? If I was the young man I would certainly hesitate to get embroiled into political life.

[Viking Prince]

I keep hearing the refrain..."they are going to get married."

The question I have is, why aren't they already? If I was the young man I would certainly hesitate to get embroiled into political life.

Looks a bit OT to whether Palin takes pork from Washington DC.

To answer: Perhaps finishing high school first. Does not matter though. It seems a personal decision between daught and husband to be. How does this affect the qualities in Gov. Palin?

[morteduzionism]

Looks a bit OT to whether Palin takes pork from Washington DC.

What does OT mean?

To answer: Perhaps finishing high school first. Does not matter though. It seems a personal decision between daught and husband to be. How does this affect the qualities in Gov. Palin?

I would've thought it might be used as an indication of her abilitiy to...run things. If she's an advocate of abstinence and she can't get her own children to do it...what's to say she'd be able to get anybody to listen to her about anything.<---not really my opinion just responding to your question.

I would've thought that this would've turned off social conservatives.

Maybe I don't understand their [christian conservatives] value system. I constantly hear them using the term "values" but I can't really understand what they "value." Is it just about abortion and gay marriage? I mean this [kids having unprotected sex] seems more like a problem than whether there was a subtext of homosexuality in Happy Feet or if a Tele-tubby is gay or not.

But the christian conservatives made issues out of those not this one. Why?

Looking at it anecdotally:

1) no bearing on is Sarah palin qualified for vp

It shows whether or not she can run her own family. If your shown to be a bad parent why should someone trust you with more responsibility?

Bill Clinton/Chelsea Clinton: no crazy stories about her; he was a good president -- some question what type of guy he was but I think most agree he was a good POTUS

George Bush/Jenna Bush: underage drinking; he is not a good president -- some argue he may be the worst in history

>So it might have a relation to her ability to govern.

2) it is a personal, family matter

She's running for public office. She gave that up the second after she accepted the offer. That's the reality.

3) it is false, it is pure smear that has no basis in fact and as stupid as obama=muslim

Until it was proven false it was a viable question, right? If she was playing musical baby to hide a family shame, that's something people should know.

[Viking Prince]

Let's take the personal affairs out of the debate.

What does OT mean?


I would've thought it might be used as an indication of her abilitiy to...run things. If she's an advocate of abstinence and she can't get her own children to do it...what's to say she'd be able to get anybody to listen to her about anything.<---not really my opinion just responding to your question.

I would've thought that this would've turned off social conservatives.

Maybe I don't understand their [christian conservatives] value system. I constantly hear them using the term "values" but I can't really understand what they "value." Is it just about abortion and gay marriage? I mean this [kids having unprotected sex] seems more like a problem than whether there was a subtext of homosexuality in Happy Feet or if a Tele-tubby is gay or not.

But the christian conservatives made issues out of those not this one. Why?

The issue would be abstinence until marriage -- not unprotested sex. People are not perfect. We all make mistakes. Children make mistakes. There is still personal responsibility even if you are not an adult.

Parents can love and support their children, even when they fail. Nothing inconsistent with the standards and goals that are set by the parents.

Your other examples were from individuals and not a broad consensus of the conservative or christain conservative movement. Beyond the scope of this post -- I will just say I do not agre with those examples. I will not explain not defend them.

A side point -- Is it impossible to appreciate the honesty of how Gov. Palin lives her life. Can you oppose political opponants without needing to destroy?