We can disagree if ######## is right or ######## is wrong. But we can agree that ######## is fun.

Could someone find out what the budget was for the previous year?
Legislatures sometimes put a cushion into items they know the gov will
want to cut.

Terrible, but not all that surprising considering how republicans vote against the interests of most people habitually.

Yet I am sure that state funds will go towards providing health care for Gov Palin's daughter and grandaughter. I am positive that some of the perks of being gov / vp will trickle their way down to those two, and I am positive that their housing will be paid for by the government!

Equal Pay.

While Rick Davis and John McCain simply hope women will vote for Sarah Palin, the Democrats are trying to force McCain to actually take a stand on women's issues.

Democrats have hammered Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) this summer over his vote against legislation pushing equal pay for women and men. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will get a second act in September, as Democrats seek to remind voters that McCain opposed it, according to an e-mail from the Democratic Senate message center. It lists "[e]qual pay legislation" as among the issues the Senate will take up in September.

Rudy Giuliani hit Obama this week for voting "present" in the Illinois Senate, which was actually a legislative strategy designed to blunt the effectiveness of state Senate Republicans in trapping Democrats in uncomfortable positions on wedge issues.

McCain on the other hand, rarely shows up in the Senate to vote. Last time he had a tough decision to make on this bill, he just wasn't there. If voting "present" says something bad about Obama's leadership abilities, what are we to make of McCain not showing up at all?

To quote Dick Cheney: so?

Remember the framing here: there's nothing wrong, in fact it's a "blessed event," when a white conservative has a child out of wedlock, because they won't be expecting "government handouts."

But when the government gives handouts, that encourages liberals and people of color to have children out of wedlock, and that constitutes a "national crisis."

Try to keep up.

The only exception to this is if the white conservative also happens to be a celebrity (ie Jamie Lynn Spears), in which case they are "pinheads."

Unless that person is a celebrity for being conservative, in which case they "deserve privacy."

Unless they trot their family out on a giant stage and wave them in everyone's face, in which case they are "walking the talk" of their family values.

Which does not mean that their family is now fair game. Quite the contrary, it is despicable in the extreme to comment in anything but glowing terms of admiration about the children of a politician.

Unless her name is Chelsea, in which case it's "all in good fun" to comment on her looks every time you need filler before the erectile dysfunction/debt consolidation/invention idea registration commercial break.

JimboSlice @ 7:

Yet I am sure that state funds will go towards providing health care for Gov Palin's daughter and grandaughter. I am positive that some of the perks of being gov / vp will trickle their way down to those two, and I am positive that their housing will be paid for by the government!

We should demand that Palin toss her sinful, prideful, disobedient, thoughtless slut/whore of a daughter out in the street. Seems to me stoning would be an appropriate punishment, given the magnitude of her sins.

"Today’s jobs report is a reminder of what’s at stake in this election – John McCain showed last night that he is intent on continuing the economic policies that just this year have caused the American economy to lose 605,000 jobs. John McCain may believe that the fundamentals of our economy are ‘strong,’ but the working men and women I meet every day are working harder for less, the typical working age family’s income is down $2,000 since George Bush took office, and their purchasing power is as low as it’s been in a decade. John McCain’s answer is more of the same: $200 billion in tax cuts to big corporations and oil companies, and not one dime of tax relief to more than 100 million middle-class families. If I am President, I will cut taxes for 95% of all working families and provide an immediate $50 billion to struggling states so that they don’t have to cut back on health care and education and can rebuild roads and schools. That’s the change working families need right now."

Talk about Compassionate Conservatism! Taking funds away from young mothers! I thought the fetus always comes first with these people? I guess poor girls aren't worthy of compassion.

Lawmakers to issue subpoenas in Troopergate

(ANCHORAGE) – Legislative leaders today announced that a joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will take place on Friday, September 12, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in Anchorage to issue subpoenas in the ongoing investigation into the events surrounding the termination of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. They also set a date of October 10, 2008, for the completion of special counsel Stephen Branchflower’s report.

This week, seven key witnesses informed Mr. Branchflower through their attorneys that they would not provide depositions. Their depositions, which had been agreed to and scheduled earlier with Mr. Branchflower, were cancelled within the last 72 hours. Additionally, the Governor’s lawyer has stated that he represents the Governor and the Governor’s office, and has forbidden any contact by Mr. Branchflower with any member of that office. Mr. Branchflower wishes to depose some of those employees. The issuance of the subpoenas is intended to get at the truth and to expedite the completion of his report to the public.

House Judiciary Chairman Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, said that the reason for the earlier completion date for the report is to avoid the appearance of a last-minute ‘October surprise,’ and to give both sides plenty of time to respond to the contents of the report. “I met with Mr. Branchflower on Wednesday, along with my vice-chair Representative Nancy Dahlstrom and Senator Hollis French. We agreed that an earlier completion date was achievable, and that it was fair to all sides. We are satisfied that the report can be finished by no later than October 10, 2008.”

Representative Ramras expressed confidence in Mr. Branchflower’s ability to produce a timely report. “I just met the man for the first time Wednesday. I was impressed. He is organized and task-oriented. He says he can get done ahead of schedule. I believe him.”

“We also discussed and agreed amongst ourselves that no subpoena will be issued for the Governor,” said Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River. “She has told the public that she intends to cooperate with the investigation, indeed, she has told the public that she welcomes the investigation and I have every faith that she means it. If necessary we can send Mr. Branchflower to wherever the Governor is, or she can give her statement to him over the telephone, whatever is most convenient for her. We recognize that her schedule is extremely busy, and we want to accommodate that.”

Under Alaska law, a subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness before a standing committee may be issued by the chairman of a committee when authorized to do so by a majority of the membership of the committee and with the concurrence of the Senate President or of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“We had scheduled and then cancelled a joint House-Senate Judiciary hearing for Aug. 18, 2008, because at that time every witness that Mr. Branchflower contacted agreed to sit down and give a statement,” said Senator Hollis French, D-Anchorage.

Senator Charlie Huggins, R-Rural Mat-Su/Chugiak, the vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also expressed his support for an earlier report. “Clearly it is in the best interests of everyone to get the job done ahead of schedule,” said Senator Huggins.

Is it my imagination or has not one prominant conservative said that Palin’s daughter shouldn't have had sex before she was married?

cynical yes but this is how you keep the church busy/full
they don't want people to become co-dependent on
government assistance....so theydirect you to those shiney faces at the church. i have NO problem with getting/giving assistance at the church but why not have both options i also have a problem palin's view on the Pill and condoms if i understand her stance correctly.
the extreme base of her party love this stuff. i would like to see a NATIONAL regarding her view on contraception.

Karen @ 17:

So Mrs. Palin throws her full support behind her own pregnant, unwed teen daughter, but it’s tough sh*t for all the other girls?

I'll post my thoughts here again, as this idea seems to be received well:

Palin and her ilk in the religious right do not actually care that their candidates or their candidates' families conform their actual behavior to their moral code. Actions, you see, are far less important than beliefs. The important thing -- as it is in their fundamentalist version of their religion -- is to believe that certain actions are right or wrong, not to actually behave accordingly. Immoral acts can always be forgiven if the actor believes the right things. Immoral beliefs, however, may never be forgiven. The wrong beliefs send you straight to hell.

We all stand flabbergasted at the hypocrisy they display. But once you understand that they subordinate action to belief, you'll understand them better. Consider that a mere adulterer like Bill Clinton is a heathen to them, while diaper-clad whoremonger David Vitter gets a standing ovation. Clinton's real crime is not adultery. It's not believing adultery was the worst, most impeachable thing ever. It's the action without the remorse they want him to display. Vitter might have done something much worse according to their moral code, but since he espouses the belief that what he did was wrong, and wants to make it illegal for everyone else, he is righteous in their eyes.

They want a theocracy in which the law conforms to their religious code. All they care about in a candidate is that s/he espouse beliefs in their code, and seek to make that code the law of the land. Once the belief is espoused and the agenda laid out, the candidate is free to break the code him- / herself in spectacular fashion. Always remember -- bad acts can be forgiven; bad beliefs cannot. It goes hand-in-hand with the religion they want to enforce on us all.

My belief is that you hit the nail on the head. Well done.

Cafferty's wife died suddenly. God Bless, Carol Cafferty.

Looks like she cut a community food program too. Very compassionate.

Amalink @ 4:

I do wonder though what went on behind closed doors when the poor kid did get preggers.

There's lots of information out there on the web, but you have to pay for the good stuff.

P.D. @ 29:

Breaking: Jack Cafferty's wife died.

That's horrible.

Somewhat Off Topic: AP is now reporting(as on Yahoo News) that 4 in 10 feel that
Palin has "enough experience" to be VP.
The poll, as I understand, was taken in various Bars, in alley-ways, and of individuals
attending the Repug Convention.
Seems misleading for the headline to say: "Only 4 in 10 Say Palin Has Needed Experience". More accurate: "60 Percent of Those Survey, Indicate Palin is Lacking
in Experience."
But nevertheless, I hold to my earlier comment that many, many, many persons
within the U.S. are ignorant, misinformed and dumbed down...In fact, I'd observe
that citizens of the U.S. are the most stupid group on Earth.

.....Such a pretty face... such an ugly track record....JD

Rusty Shackleford @ 39:

Jeff Akston @ 31:

Previous year's budget: $1.3 million
Proposed budget $5 million.
She gave them $3.7 million.

Please recap how that is "slashing"? And.....go!

Please recap where C&L said that Sara Palin slashed the budget.

And...go!

Here, I'll help. It's the title of he post:
Sarah Palin Slashed Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs

As usual Karen, point well made.

In twisted Christianland, the fact that an out of wedlock pregnancy could (and did) happen to such an upstanding, righteous, God-fearing clan as the Palins only reinforces their religious conviction that the devil is indeed a powerful force. Why, if it could happen to them it could happen to anyone, but of course, as you pointed out Karen, it is OK when it happens to a true believer, one who was raised on the ideal of abstinence instead of contraception, but when a pagan gets seeded, they are the scum of the earth.

Perhaps this story is not the perfect one to comment on, but I need to express this with frequency until someone agrees with me in public.

THE MCCAIN/PALIN TICKET IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE!!! I need a bumper sticker that says, "McCain/Palin -- The Joke's On U.S.!".

AMERICA SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR EVEN TROTTING THIS TICKET AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE ARE, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, GOING TO PUT AN ELDERLY, 72 YEAR OLD MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE???!!!! THAT'S SHAMEFUL FOR OUR SOCIETY, PERIOD!! We shouldn't do that to any person. And when McCain dies from skin cancer in 2010, we're going to have Sara Palin as our President??!!! This is a joke. She's been governor for 1 1/2 years of Alaska, people. It's the most rural state in our country and it's thousands of miles away from the mainland. They describe her as not your typical beltway politician, which is code for "has no clue about the Washington machine." And we're going to throw her into that fire because she's pretty? That doesn't make sense. Where did this woman go to college? Why is her 17 year old daughter pregnant? Why does no one care? And the way she and all the others didn't even attack Obama, but MADE FUN of him and got away with it?? She (and folks like Guliani) literally mocked and laughed at Barack Obama and then were merely called "feisty." That's beyond outrageous and just sad.

This is a HUGE setup, folks. The real puppeteers in the GOP have created this ticket of the elderly and the clueless so that when the sh@#$ hits the fan, they can order them to do the GOP's bidding. McCain is too old to be powerful anymore, and Palin is too clueless to challenge anything. They are about to be installed to the white house to carry out orders for a maniacal Christian crusade and their thirst for power, money, oil and Muslim blood.

problem is to Republicans this story is a plus. They believe that people are better suited to look after themselves rather than have government solve the issue.

I think we need to focus on the stronger issues to defeat her.

Doggiebobo @ 40:

Somewhat Off Topic: AP is now reporting(as on Yahoo News) that 4 in 10 feel that
Palin has "enough experience" to be VP.
The poll, as I understand, was taken in various Bars, in alley-ways, and of individuals
attending the Repug Convention.
Seems misleading for the headline to say: "Only 4 in 10 Say Palin Has Needed Experience". More accurate: "60 Percent of Those Survey, Indicate Palin is Lacking
in Experience."
But nevertheless, I hold to my earlier comment that many, many, many persons
within the U.S. are ignorant, misinformed and dumbed down...In fact, I'd observe
that citizens of the U.S. are the most stupid group on Earth.

i continue to say this is a valid and good strategy of attack on her/him. last night msnbc had a reporter in alaska saying she was starting to hear people chatter about her NOT being ready.....i believe they (R) want to
shut that.....i've saying all along if mccain was president and couldn't serve let's say as early as
MARCH/09 and palin would step vs. obama can't serve
and biden steps in.....i'm hearing alittle but it seems the media is avoiding that scenario....i know it's hypothetical but it a probabilty....mccain will be 72.5.
my point is that needs to get out their so people can
ponder it.

On the palin affair: The request to seal the divorce records of her lover was made a couple of days ago... The courts denied it.

Also... The squeaky clean Hockey Mom's purported lover?

A local Palmer politician and...
A Hockey Coach

You just can't make stuff like this up!

RayRay @ 48:

Perhaps this story is not the perfect one to comment on, but I need to express this with frequency until someone agrees with me in public.

THE MCCAIN/PALIN TICKET IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE!!! I need a bumper sticker that says, "McCain/Palin -- The Joke's On U.S.!".

This is a HUGE setup, folks. The real puppeteers in the GOP have created this ticket of the elderly and the clueless so that when the sh@#$ hits the fan, they can order them to do the GOP's bidding. McCain is too old to be powerful anymore, and Palin is too clueless to challenge anything. They are about to be installed to the white house to carry out orders for a maniacal Christian crusade and their thirst for power, money, oil and Muslim blood.

I like your bumper sticker--and I hope we won't need to apply it.

I disagree that Palin is "clueless," though. This woman is scary-smart--devious, I'd say. She knows the odds are high that McCain may not complete his term--or may only choose to serve one term. And then what? She's virtually insured of heading her party's ticket in the next election--where she can do the bidding of the people who selected her and with whom she's ideologically aligned. She will cheerfully be their willing servant. Newt Gingrich has already said he's all for it. Right-wingers are champing at the bit to get McCain out of the way. This is their ticket to the next 12 years or more.

This is exactly why moderate Republicans need to step up and stop this. Their party has been hijacked--it was long ago--but this is taking it to the next level. More importantly, though, Palin's "God is on our side" views lead us into completely dangerous international waters. The country won't survive it.

Jeff Akston @ 45:

Rusty Shackleford @ 39:

Jeff Akston @ 31:

Previous year's budget: $1.3 million
Proposed budget $5 million.
She gave them $3.7 million.

Please recap how that is "slashing"? And.....go!

Please recap where C&L said that Sara Palin slashed the budget.

And...go!

Ohhh, semantics is fun. Would an equally accurate headline not be: "Sarah Palin Mor Than Doubled Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs"

Not really. If I read the statment from the chairperson for Covenant House Alaska (assuming it's really from her, because it's nowhere to be found other than the throckmorton link) and it is a 3 year phase in for the 3.9 mill it remains almost exactly the same amount of funding at 1.23 mill.

Rusty Shackleford @ 55:

Jeff In Ohio @ 44:

Rusty Shackleford @ 39:

Jeff Akston @ 31:
Please recap where C&L said that Sara Palin slashed the budget.

And...go!

Here, I'll help. It's the title of he post:
Sarah Palin Slashed Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs

Woops, my bad. I thought when he said "budget" he meant the entire budget, not just the teen pregnancy program.

Woops, my bad. I was reading the actual article, not making stuff up. Where did it say she cut the teen pregnancy program? That's right, nowhere. The article said she "slashed" funding to Covenant House. ONE OF THE THINGS Convenant House does is support pregnant teens (not even explicitly - it's a friggin home for runaways).

Nowhere in the article does it say or even imply that she cut their teen pregnancy program. No, it says she slashed funding. Which is, basically, an outright lie. She more than doubled funding.

Giving less than asked is "slashing"? What if they asked for $8 trillion in funding?

If I had to give my impression of Sarah palin I'd have to say "completely corrupt" is at the top of the list.

Jeff Akston @ 60:

Rusty Shackleford @ 55:

Jeff In Ohio @ 44:

Rusty Shackleford @ 39:
Here, I'll help. It's the title of he post:
Sarah Palin Slashed Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs

Woops, my bad. I thought when he said "budget" he meant the entire budget, not just the teen pregnancy program.

Woops, my bad. I was reading the actual article, not making stuff up. Where did it say she cut the teen pregnancy program? That's right, nowhere. The article said she "slashed" funding to Covenant House. ONE OF THE THINGS Convenant House does is support pregnant teens (not even explicitly - it's a friggin home for runaways).

Nowhere in the article does it say or even imply that she cut their teen pregnancy program. No, it says she slashed funding. Which is, basically, an outright lie. She more than doubled funding.

Giving less than asked is "slashing"? What if they asked for $8 trillion in funding?

They didn't ask for $8 trillion. In state budgetary terms, $5 million is a rounding error. She certainly didn't miss an opportunity to spread the pork around, either as mayor or governor. You are correct about the Covenant House's focus. But I trust that the money was requested because there was a need. (In case you haven't noticed, the economy hasn't exactly been terribly rosy, particularly on the bottom rungs of the ladder.) But I will argue that in light of Palin's tendency to throw around money, the less-than-requested funding is tantamount to "slashing."

"Life happens."
The McCain catch-phrase for f@ck-ups and knocked-ups.

cubiclegrrl @ 64:

Jeff Akston @ 60:

Rusty Shackleford @ 55:

Jeff In Ohio @ 44:
Woops, my bad. I thought when he said "budget" he meant the entire budget, not just the teen pregnancy program.

Woops, my bad. I was reading the actual article, not making stuff up. Where did it say she cut the teen pregnancy program? That's right, nowhere. The article said she "slashed" funding to Covenant House. ONE OF THE THINGS Convenant House does is support pregnant teens (not even explicitly - it's a friggin home for runaways).

Nowhere in the article does it say or even imply that she cut their teen pregnancy program. No, it says she slashed funding. Which is, basically, an outright lie. She more than doubled funding.

Giving less than asked is "slashing"? What if they asked for $8 trillion in funding?

They didn't ask for $8 trillion. In state budgetary terms, $5 million is a rounding error. She certainly didn't miss an opportunity to spread the pork around, either as mayor or governor. You are correct about the Covenant House's focus. But I trust that the money was requested because there was a need. (In case you haven't noticed, the economy hasn't exactly been terribly rosy, particularly on the bottom rungs of the ladder.) But I will argue that in light of Palin's tendency to throw around money, the less-than-requested funding is tantamount to "slashing."

parsing, redirecting, obfuscating.

The point is: This headline is a lie. This article is a misleading. This misinformation should continue to be published.

If someone wants to write an article taking her to task on what she used her line item for & what she didn't or what she doubled funding for (like Covenant House) and what she didn't - those would be great articles and I would read them.

But as I said, there's more than enough scandal around Palin where you don't have resort to outright fraudulent headlines and false stories.

Fanon @ 65:

Jeff Akston @ 60:

Rusty Shackleford @ 55:

Jeff In Ohio @ 44:
Woops, my bad. I thought when he said "budget" he meant the entire budget, not just the teen pregnancy program.

Woops, my bad. I was reading the actual article, not making stuff up. Where did it say she cut the teen pregnancy program? That's right, nowhere. The article said she "slashed" funding to Covenant House. ONE OF THE THINGS Convenant House does is support pregnant teens (not even explicitly - it's a friggin home for runaways).

Nowhere in the article does it say or even imply that she cut their teen pregnancy program. No, it says she slashed funding. Which is, basically, an outright lie. She more than doubled funding.

Giving less than asked is "slashing"? What if they asked for $8 trillion in funding?

See me At 58

I haven't seen that link. "therockmorton"? Still though, keeping funding steady is also not "slashing".

Their budget was $1.3 million in real, actual money.
They requested $5 million (or $1.67 if it is phased in over 3 years). Not real, actual money
Their budget went to $3.9 million (or stayed steady if it's phased in) in real, actual money.

Whether it's giving a smaller increase than requested or it's merely keeping funding steady can't be called "slashing" by any stretch of the definition.

StirFry @ 71:

Palin's a racist.

Palin about Obama beating Hillary: “So Sambo beat the bitch!”

Ohhh, smoking gun. A nameless, sourceless, evidenceless article by a schmoe.

As an aside? Sambo? I guess I'm not up on my racist barbs.

Again, there's more than enough real, actual scandal from Palin to focus on without resorting to making stuff up like above. I'll move on.

Soccer Mom @ 63:

Sarah Palin is a radical, fanatical, right winged Assembly Of God, Pentecostal, Holy Ghost unknown tongue talking, church isle shouting, laying on of hands casting out devil, divine healing, slain in the spirit, anti-sex education, anit-Catholic, anti-Jew, anti-Mormon, anti-gay, radical nut case....just like her fellow Assembly of God, pentecoastal denominational member brothers and sisters: Pastor John Hagee, Benny Hinn, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, Paul and Jan Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network, Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyes, Paula White, Ted Harrert, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and the Oral Roberts group! And if the people of this nation do not think Palin will use her life long radical theological convictions to "line item" and change ANYTHING that does not measure up to her fanatical, religious beliefs...YOUR NUTS...This proves she's already done it!

If she goes into office Benny Hinn and the others will be walking the isles of congress speaking in toungues, laying on hands and casting out devils of anyone who does not agree with "Sister Palin".

THIS WOMEN IS A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY!

Hold the boat!

John Hagee and Sarah Palin are part of the same Assembly of God denomination? Didn't McCain reject John Hagee's endorsement because of his radical religious views? DUMB BO JOHN MCSHAME choose Palin as his Vice President running mate and she is from the same Assembly of God denonimation?

McCain is NUTS and so is anyone who votes for him or Palin !

Jeff Akston @ 72:

As an aside? Sambo? I guess I'm not up on my racist barbs.

Again, there's more than enough real, actual scandal from Palin to focus on without resorting to making stuff up like above. I'll move on.

Actually, we found a 1930s-era book in an old trunk titled something like "Little Black Sambo" when my Mom-in-law died. But yeah, until someone comes up with a YouTube clip or a relatively unimpeachable source, no sense in acting like the knobs who screeched about Rev. Wright.

At the age of 14, my parents lectured me about the dangers and pitfalls of premarital sex.

Got a '48 Chevy when I was 16.

So much for the lectures.