Login HereIt is against the law for the governor to officially advocate for or against a ballot measure; however, Palin took what she calls "personal privilege" to discuss one of this year's most contentious initiatives, which voters will decide Tuesday.
Along with taking a position on the big mine's side, Palin's administration apparently used state Department of Natural Resources resources to lobby for defeat of the Clean Water Initiative under the pretense of creating a state run website to "educate" citizens. The citizen group Alaskans for Clean Water responded by filing “a complaint against DNR for a recently-launched state website meant to clarify the issue for voters. “
The complaint alleges that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) improperly attempted to influence the outcome of an election by publishing information against the initiative on its website. It also alleges that DNR failed to report to APOC the expenditures, including employee time, related to creation of the information.
“It has become clear to us that the Department of Natural Resources is working hand-in-hand with the industry, and that the state is inappropriately making efforts to influence voters on this ballot initiative,” said Art Hackney, a co-sponsor of Ballot Measure #4.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission agreed with the Clean Water advocates and ruled that the website had to be taken down:
APOC ruled that the state has an obligation to be “fair and neutral” and that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) web site was not fair. In fact, the Commission said it had problems with the wording on nearly every page of the site. APOC also ruled that all state officials are enjoined from making public statements that are critical of the initiative.
The Clean Water initiative which was opposed by mining interests required that wild salmon runs be protected by any new mining operations.
The initiative was defeated – with the Governor’s help – on August 26 – opening up Bristol Bay for the largest open pit mining operation in the world.
Way to go Gov Palin – respect for law? Protection of the environment? Not so much.
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That is just disgusting.
She’ll fit right in.
Obama!
Not a good start for the McSame/Palin ticket
Aloha, Siun! I’m back! ;-)
her behaviour is appalin’
Appalin’ Palin.
My hat is off to ya Siun.
What did I see earlier?
” Rule #1, Don’t fuck with the hippies”……
Sarah Palin: Stunt Casting
Sarah Palin: Stunt Casting
http://www.dailykos.com/story/.....582/579110
But she’s so darn purty! And she’s a hockey Mom! And she has a baby with Down Syndrome, whom she didn’t abort!
Digg it!
The videos of the Bristol Bay are stunning - and the damage this will cause is horrifying.
The advocates for the Clean Water initiative included native peoples, commercial and sport fisherman, environmentalist and more - the opposition was the big mining companies and Gov Palin.
And Bristol Bay is also threatened as a possible drill drill drill location.
WWF profiles it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHynzyARr_U
She seems to have zero respect for the environment…you know…the world…the one she and her five kids and husband use…the one that supports their lives with air and water…the one that has “created” beautiful creatures like polar bears and wolves. Yeah, that world.
This woman seems to be a narcissistic individual and a power freak. Very unenlightened and oblivious.
Kinda like W.
Thanks Siun. So Palin is just another stinking, law breaking, neo-con Corporate Lobbyist. Who could have anticipated…
Just watching the film clip of the announcement on PBS. Someone noted on another blog—haven’t been here much today—that McThuselah (happy 72nd!) had to stop and read every word, including her name off his cue cards.
He’s been doing that a lot lately. I seriously think he’s losing it. He couldn’t say “announce my running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin” without looking at a crib sheet? WTF?
Jesus, this fuckin election ain’t gunna be close unless the fascists borrow poll watchers from Robert Mugabe ta secure the Deibolt ballots.
rumor has it its s her daughters baby….what do i know
Someone a couple threads down asked about the NPR story about Palin’s wikipedia entry being padded yesterday in anticipation of today’s announcement.
http://www.npr.org/templates/s.....d=94118849
Turns out that McBush only met this woman ONCE before picking her- and then says “When you get to know her like I do- yer really gonna LOVE her ass”…what bullshit!
and her portfolio is managed by . . . wait for it . . . . Smith Barney!
Oh and the voice!!! How much do you want to hear that voice?
daughter absent from school for 4 months….mother anounces she is pregnant 1 month before she gives birth….wtf
Now Siun - you know the rules. IOKIYAR. Doesn’t matter what where, or when, it’s always OK for them.
what makes you think they won’t?
That’s just it, he loves her ass!
Another Gooper committing crimes for Big Holes In The Ground.
More of McSame.
So does this mean that Palin does have experience?
Where are you getting that info?
ill give link
Uhmmm, so much for her husband being a fisherman. Does anyone know if he fished Bristol Bay? He better hang on to that day job with big oil.
The voice– yeah, that’s what I thought, too. McCain-Palin– what a ticket. I wonder how many times we’ll actually see them together in anything but a cameo role. Their voices are like water and oil– they don’t mix well.
This is gonna be interesting.
Bob in HI
On March 5th, 2008 Alaska’s Republican Governor, Sarah Palin, announced to the media that she was 7 months pregnant with her 5th child. She is currently 44.
The controversy arises from two sources: First, Palin does not appear preganant in any recent photographs. The announcement came as quite a shock to people who had worked closely with her, and have been quoted as saying that she did not appear pregnant whatsoever during the prior 7 months. While this is debatable, you can judge for yourself here: http://gov.state.ak.us/photos.php
Second, Palin’s daughter Bristol is 16 and attends an Anchorage high school. Students who have attended class with her report that she has been out of school for months, claiming a prolonged case of mono.
Obviously I don’t know much about Alaska but would they really not notice for 8 months that their Governor was pregnant?
Hmmm…I found a post about that story. That could explain why she was back at work 3 days after giving birth.
I haven’t been able to find any info on the family fishing business - would love to see it if anyone can find links, etc
Did the thugs forget that Ted Toobz goes on trial Sept. 25? Don’t you think there might be some attention paid to that?
The Alaska gov link does not work.
Hmmmmm.
This is more great stuff, Siun. Whether it be the stuff from Iraq or this — great job. I heard Bob Dylan describe open pit mining they did where he grew up on the Masabi Iron range. Sounds li9ke they basically just rip craters in the earth and leave it.
On the political siode of this…… I said in an earlier thread that i thought it was a good pick from McCain’s point of view. Since then I’ve talked to a few people — apolitical types. They’ve all been telling me how sick of Obama they are. “Beerfart, if you think he’s any different; if you think he’s going to change anything, you’re crazy. These guys are all the same.” All of them thought the Palin pick was hilarious and are sure McCain just blew the election. I’m not sure it’s that simple but I’m rethinking my positions as to whether this was a good move for McCain.
They just can’t stop digging themselves bigger holes…! Is there a DSM IV diagnosis for it? ;-)
well, prolly not, considering they go around in mucklucks and parkas half the time.
I was under the impression Robert Mugabe got HIS poll watchers from the GOP as part of a “foreign aid package?” In fact, having more clients now than they know what to do with, Republicans are planning to turn the installation of dictators under the guise of democracy into a franchise operation.
Reddit
that was me ! yup. Thanks Hugh I wonder if anythign can be made of that :)
Indoors?
Hi everyone - this is really interesting. Pretty much all I’ve heard today is how squeaky-clean this woman is - elected on anti-corruption platform, shut down a “highway to nowhere” under construction, and sold off the gov’s private airplane.
But it sounds like she has some pretty clay-ey feet. Only hope more to come!
btw, has ET checked in with comments yet?
And she makes him look old and stooped over and shriveled. I mean, he is old and stooped over and shriveled, but I wouldn’t think he’d want to accentuate it.
Exactly. When I first heard that earlier I was horrified. A mother leaves her baby, that has a disability no less, after three days to go to work!?!? Jeezus that’s messed up, unless this rumor is true. Let’s make sure the National Enquirer is on this story.
At 44 especially, how the hell could she even physically do that?
Blackwater.
“That the pregnancy is so advanced astonished all who heard the news. The governor, a runner who’s always been trim, simply doesn’t look pregnant.
Even close members of her staff said they only learned this week their boss was expecting.
“I thought it was becoming obvious,” Palin said. “You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger.”
But people just couldn’t believe the news.
“Really? No!” said Bethel state Rep. Mary Nelson, who is close to giving birth herself.
“It’s wonderful. She’s very well-disguised,” said Senate President Lyda Green, a mother of three who has sometimes sparred with Palin politically. “When I was five months pregnant, there was absolutely no question that I was with child.”
“Palin said she decided to reveal the pregnancy after she felt the signs were giving her away, like doing less running this winter and being “ravenously hungry.”
She’s known as a fashion plate, but said she hasn’t been dressing differently to cover her barely perceptible bulge.”
http://www.adn.com/front/story/336402.html
Mark Shields shilling for her on PBS right now.
Antisocial Personality Disorder seems to cover it.
As part of the NPR story on the wikipedia padding - a Wikipedia spokesperson said they removbed it all - just too suspicious.
The capitol dome is constructed from blocks of snow. No, in reality they built is out of bales of money from Big Oil.
She has her own scandal underway right now for getting some trooper fired. Sounds like she’s dirtying up nicely if that’s true. She’s only been Gov for 2 years, after all
i have never heard of such a thing except in THE GOOD EARTH”G”
1,1/2
Good for wikipedia. That’s one source of propaganda down
Interesting, you say? . . .
Once upon a time, there was a pastor’s wife who showed up for church one Sunday in an outfit that was just horrid. The colors clashed, the cut was wrong, and she was blissfully clueless about it. She came up to one of the matriarchs of the church, gushing, and asked “So, what do you think of my new outfit?” Said the matriarch, diplomatically, “It’s very . . . interesting.”
Even better.. i mean.. worse
The State Trooper was her ex-brother in law: in a custody fight with the Governor’s sister.
Nice piece of work McCain chose.
what nobody has disscussed is WHO would be her close viceroy/advisor if McPutz kicks it…Darth just perchance
It’s reported that she was able to keep trim, and keep her knocked-upedness secret,by walking long distances in the Statehouse and the governor’s mansion to alternate bathrooms so no one would notice she was pissing every 7 minutes.
aka Republican Diplomacy Corp.
Palin won the governors office w/ 115K- votes w/ less than 250K cast. The population of Alaska is 684K, Anchorage has a pop of 280K. How many cities in the US are larger than alaska? How many cities have more complex bureaucracies? How many times in her life has she been in a real city? Does she understand what the problems of real cities are? Does she understand the meaning of law.
They already have a new campaign poster out.
H/T Maru.
Oh yeah. We’re all just amazed over here. About the only thing she does for McCain is -maybe- garner a few evangelicals. At the debates between her and Joe we all expect a Monty Pythonesque death match with her as the loser.
Running through a comparison of her and Biden… are there more people in Delaware or Alaska? My daughter has weighed in. The verdict. Uh oh. Mistake, Johnny boy. “She isn’t even very pretty.” There you have it.
Don’t forget, the mayor of Anchorage is Mark Begich who is running against Toobz Ted Stevens for the Senate.
Palin was the Mayor of Wasilla (sp?), a town of 8k, before being elected governor.
I like the fact McSame only met her once…! Apparently, they didn’t vet her very well. Should be interesting to see Alaskan politics become front page news with Young and Teddy piled on top for good measure…!
Why not Monty Pythonesque. She’s Michael Palin’s sister-in-law, isn’t she?
Did you leave off the snark tag?
I have known some tall, slender, athletic women who barely looked pregnant in their 8th or 9th month… but the other factoids are ..interesting.
Mark Shields needs his retirement more than he realizes. His commentary on PBS is dull. He rarely, if ever, calls David Brooks out on his nonsense. I suppose if Colmes leaves Hannity there would be a seat waiting for Shields.
I found it pretty heartening that the local news radio station here in DC, the first thing they mentioned was the ethics scandal, and they briefly mentioned her anti-environmentalism, too. I guess some reporter actually decided to do a quick Google search and run with the top items instead of just using the McCain press release.
To Republicans nothing insures loyalty like a big walk-in closet full o’ skeletons.
Thanks Siun.
Hehe Michael did spring immediately to my mind as I said it
Is this another John McShame pander?
Does she have to understand any of that? She’s a Republic. Can she ride a bike?
Never been in a city? Irrelevant to Repubs. All Repubs live in the suburbs or small town, y’know. They’ve cerainly demonstrated no interest in cities for the last 30 or 40 years.
Looked it up. More people in Delaware. The point? None. Absolutely none.
It was 5700 when she was elected and 8K is an estimate
Governor Global Warming
Shields reminds me of the dormouse in Alice in Wonderland, mostly asleep most of the time.
LOL
It’s actually a good point. Governorships are not equal. After all,
the Decider was a Governor of sorts.
Probably already been discussed but after a week of semi-positive on-air reviews of the Dem convention, Brooks NYT column this morning was completely deranged. It seemed like an attempt at Gonzo journalism which failed because he has the stream but alas, no consciousness.
could she get away with “the big cover up”
Be careful not to diss small towns … they have very active voters.
Lack of any experience on global issues - go for it.
And corruption and troopergate and being in bed with big oil and mining … better still.
IMHO, McCain’s choice of Palin was the result of all his first tier choices turning him down. Insiders must know that McSame and the Republicans are going to be sent to the woodshed in Nov. and none of them wanted any part of this train wreck. Sarah Palin will make a great “where are they now?” subject in 20 years.
Are you guys suggesting that this could be a case of “Ma, Ma, Where’s my Pa? Gone to the White House, Hardy Haw, Haw” (Grover Harding). Of course, she’ll refuse to have a genetic test done on the baby…but imagine if some young man in Alaska came out and apologized for getting Palin’s daughter
pregnantsick with mono.I knew there had to be a simple explanation. *g*
Governor of Texas is a ceremonial postion… This mystery pregnancy stuff is just too delicious.
Hmmm.
http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html
Read it first thing this a.m. at my desk. Obnly reason i kept going was to see if it could get stupider and worser. It did. Satire that misses the mark is worse than…. well, a beerfart.
FWIW, I grew up in a small town with a then population of 5200 and now has 6600 or so.
And there’s no way in hell I would vote for any of the mayors of that town for VP or even governor.
Maybe State Senator or House. Maybe.
lol!!
I recall hearing that before throwing his hat in the gubernatorial ring Bush told an associate he’d RATHER be baseball commissioner. When that didn’t pan out he ran for governor. Too bad for America that major league team owners are smarter than Supreme Court justices.
Could be all about getting the fundies to turnout (?)
What cracked me up was when McCain made the big claim that she was the commander of Alaska’s National Guard.
Well…every Governor is such…by law. It doesn’t mean that they have any military experience at all. Talk about a pathetic effort to build up her credentials!
The story of Palin’s pregnancy is another example of the media reporting nothing to see here move along, except your common sense kicks in and you realize it doesn’t make any sense at all.
David Gregory and Rachel just said that Palin’s water broke prior to her speech and then flew back to Alaska…!
I think you mean Grover Cleveland.
great post, Siun. Thank you!
so, has anyone heard from joe lie on this little matter? or is he still trying to pick up the pieces of his sploded head?
Palin has a good story and her husband is a union member so she best not be under sold in Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania. She had a choice on carrying her child and more power to her, but I want to protect that choice.
LOL!
oh, that’s rich Bluetoe2!
See me at #91
“I don’t think it was unreasonable for her to continue to travel back,” Baldwin-Johnson said
——————
this is total Bullkackkkkkkky
I try to avoid most of NYT’s columnists. I see enough of Brooks on the NewsHour, too much.
Read that link. This part was disturbing.
In a letter she e-mailed to relatives and close friends Friday after giving birth, Palin wrote, “Many people will express sympathy, but you don’t want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this.” She wrote it in the voice of and signed it as “Trig’s Creator, Your Heavenly Father.
The baby’s creator was the Heavenly Father? Look, I was raised catholic and we were always taught that happened once and once only and they broke the mold. Never to be done again.
Well, Romney would have said yes.. but McCain hates Romney but i could easily see Lieberman saying no and it’s not a stretch to suppose that the others are seeing the handwriting on the wall. The Maverick’s gotten gelded nicely.
Like I said…she’s kinda like W.
Right? And my uncle was a POW. Never thought he should be president. That ticket really sucks.
This Palin nomination will not last until Monday. Her multiple scandals (firing the trooper, firing all the town’s managers when she became mayor, illegally weighing in on a state referendum, and her donations from VECO when she ran for LtGov) will sink this nomination. The GOPs will postpone their convention one week because of Gustav, McCain will pick Cheney as his running mate, and the GOP ticket will ride off into the sunset.
ymmv
The question I want answered before deciding if she is qualified to be Commander In Chief is how many airplanes has she crashed?
ok …2 nutballs…..she might be the next Santorum……..oy
I think we can assume that our Dr. Murphy is going to go nuts over this VP choice. She really hates the environment.
I don’t have a problem with her beliefs but I do have a problem that she wants to dictate her beliefs to me. She had a CHOICE AND SO SHOULD WE. The creationism in science class really bothers me.
Palin and her husband have five children, Bristol, Piper, Track, Willow, and Trig. Her son Track joined the army in 2007.
Mitt and Tagg must be really furious by now.
LOL! Maru! from WTF.
yup
Mhm that’s what I’m thinking. As Bluetoe pointed out earlier… if Huckabee turned him down he would be at a loose end and gettign desperate turned to the first evangelical woman he could find. Rewriting Palin’s bio last night on Wikipedia suggests that they will try to rewrite her history so that she’s one of “the good people.”
The only one I go out of my way to read is Frank Rich.
Rape and pillage the “people’s commons” for corporate gain. Ignore the law in your elected office, lobby for the corporate interests in place of the people’s….
A “Family Values” candidate! Their family, not yours.
Not the Mittster? Darth is so toxic…