Sometimes I cannot bite my tongue.

Sarah Palin doing an interview while turkeys are being slaughtered in the background. I have no words.

via HuffPo

So long, Sarah Palin.

Dear Sarah -

So this is it. The end of the line. You and the first Dude can head back to the great state of Alaska.

Sarah, you're a very special lady. Until I met you I never thought I could hate someone more than George W. Bush, but you practically knocked him off the charts. I could go on, but I don't need to. I could post more clips showing how ridiculous you are, but I'm not going to.

Because now it's all about the love. And that is all about President-elect Barack Obama.

So all I'm going to say is so long Sarah, please stay out of the spotlight, because I truly hope I never need to post here again.

It's been real,

Girl Friday

PS - If you want to do just one thing for America, saving the polar bears would be a great start. America (hearts) polar bears.

Sarah Palin to "French President Nicolas Sarkozy": We should go hunting!

The "lovely" Sarah Palin gets pranked by a Canadian comedy duo known as The Masked Avengers. Via Jezebel.



It doesn't get better, yet more frightening, than this people...or does it?

GET YOUR OBAMA-VOTING BEHINDS TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY AND VOLUNTEER IF YOU CAN!

"I will stop calling Sarah Palin a bitch when she stops calling Obama a terrorist sympathizer."

"And I will stop calling Sarah Palin a bitch when she stops calling the parts of the country where I don't live more Pro-American than the part of the country where I do live. And I will definitely stop calling Sarah Palin a bitch when she stops acting like a bitch." - Helen Philpot, from the blog: Margaret and Helen, Best Friends for Sixty Years and Counting…

About:
"My name is Helen Philpot. I am 82 years old. My grandson taught me how to do this so that I could "blog" with my best friend Margaret Schmechtman who I met in college almost 60 years ago. I have three children with my husband Harold. Margaret has three dogs with her husband Howard. I live in Texas and Margaret lives in Maine."

This might be the best thing I've read in the last year. Keep it up ladies.

McCain's Choice

Top 10 Dumbest Sarah Palin Quotes

Idiotic Quotes by Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin

via About.com

1. "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008 (Watch video clip)

2. "We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. ... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation." --Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in Greensoboro, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008

3. "Well, let's see. There's -- of course -- in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings." --Sarah Palin, unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs. Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008 (Watch video clip)

4. "All of 'em, any of 'em that have been in front of me over all these years." --Sarah Palin, unable to name a single newspaper or magazine she reads, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008 (Watch video clip)

5. "They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." --Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Oct. 5, 2008

6. "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." –Sarah Pailn, on the Iraq war, speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008 (Watch video clip)

7. "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?" --Sarah Palin, interview with CNBC's "Kudlow & Co," July 31, 2008 (Watch video clip)

8. "[T]hey're in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom." --Sarah Palin, getting the vice president's constitutional role wrong after being asked by a third grader what the vice president does, interview with NBC affiliate KUSA in Colorado, Oct. 21, 2008 (Watch video clip)

9. "I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." –Sarah Palin, who was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it.

10. "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'" --Sarah Palin, as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council.

Happy Halloween

"Why dontcha take yer nuts out of your little Gucci purse, grab your noodle and act like a man?"

Nalin' Palin, as read by Thandie Newton & Ricky Gervais. Brilliant.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

The Liz & Sarah Show

Kill me now.

Team Sarah

I flew Jet Blue today and was flipping between MSNBC, CNN and yes, Fox News (one must know one's enemy, no?) I managed to watch a bit of the Hannity and Colmes show, not steadily as Sean Hannity kept making me want to punch the small TV embedded in the seat before me, and learned about a web site that I was sure would make me horrified when I visit it.

The site is Team Sarah and, sadly, it did not disappoint. Here are some gems - NOTE: each was individually screengrabbed, they are not a fluid conversation because the chat window is small, I cut them together for ease of posting. Again - this is not one linear conversation. Click to see slightly larger text.



At that last one, I had to stop. To some of the member's credit, there were a few people that told "Erica" to stop being ignorant. But fuck. Such blatant hatred?

The irony is not lost on me that this whole blog is dedicated to my hate of That Woman. Maybe I'm walking the fine line of hypocrisy, but as much as I cannot stand her, maybe "hate" is too strong a word.

So I am left feeling exhausted and disgusted and I am without the proper mindset to appropriately comment right now. I'm deeply troubled and disturbed and for the moment, I have been rendered...speechless.

Even the conservatives dislike the Sarah

From Charles Buckley, in New York Magazine:

"I will readily confess that I was one of many who swooned the day after the announcement, but it's kind of like dating a supermodel. There comes a moment, unfortunately, where they start talking."

Buckely stated that McCain's choice of Palin was roughly 60% of the reason he crossed the aisle. More on Buckley's endorsement of Obama here.

Palin angles for the "vagina vote"

At a recent rally near Vegas, our dear Sarah was heard to cry “Our opponents think they have the women’s vote all locked up, which is a little presumptuous since only our side has a woman on the ticket.”

I have only three things to say, mostly because you irritate the fuck out of me in a way that most people can't:

1. Having a vagina does not make you a feminist.
2. Having a vagina does not mean you stand for women's interests.
3. Having a vagina does not secure you the women's vote.

Grrr. Palin Criticizes Obama as Faux Feminist

SNL Weekend Update with our least favorite lady!

I guess we're supposed to think "good sport". I personally think "loser."

Wave those hands Sarah. I was hoping for some pageantesque-booty-shaking but I guess we'll have to save that for Dancin' with the Stars.

“Proud to be voting for a hot chick”

Among Rock-Ribbed Fans of Palin, Dudes Rule
10.19.08
New York Times

BANGOR, Me. — It is not unusual for fans of Sarah Palin to shout out to the Alaska governor in the midst of her stump speeches. It is noteworthy, however, that the crowds are heavily male. more...

Hearing about people wearing "Proud to be voting for a hot chick" buttons and men that come to the rallies "just to look at her" make me throw up in my mouth a bit.

Update: Jezebel rips into the Palin Dudes here.

Tina Fey on Sarah Palin's "Crazy Voice"

It's pro-choice, asshole.

We watched the debate last night in a bar, which was far more fun than my living room.

I know I started this blog for the purpose of hating our very dear Sarah Palin. Until very recently, McCain couldn't inspire such passion in me. He was more of a shrug...a meh...a flatline.

But last night, watching the debate with his smug, forced smile, he managed to get me a bit riled up.

Besides being all around terrible, his "pro-abortion" remarks drove me batty. In one breath he said that he would consider any qualified judge, despite what their particular stance on certain issues may be. In the next he said without hedge that any judge that supported roe v. wade would not be one he considered qualified.

McCain: "I voted for Justice Breyer and Justice Ginsburg. Not because I agreed with their ideology, but because I thought they were qualified and that elections have consequences when presidents are nominated. This is a very important issue we're talking about.

Senator Obama voted against Justice Breyer and Justice Roberts on the grounds that they didn't meet his ideological standards. That's not the way we should judge these nominees. Elections have consequences. They should be judged on their qualifications. And so that's what I will do.

I will find the best people in the world -- in the United States of America who have a history of strict adherence to the Constitution. And not legislating from the bench.

SCHIEFFER: But even if it was someone -- even someone who had a history of being for abortion rights, you would consider them?

MCCAIN: I would consider anyone in their qualifications. I do not believe that someone who has supported Roe v. Wade that would be part of those qualifications. But I certainly would not impose any litmus test.

So essentially you find it hard to believe that someone that has a different opinion than you couldn't be qualified. [Insert poison-dart look.]

I think Obama was excellent throughout - he smacked down McCain's non-points time and time again, with even, rational arguments that were eloquent and understandable. I think my favorites were Obama's retort to McCain's accusations about who he associates with.

If we elect that dead-fish of a man for president, I am seriously blowing out of this country because we will get what we deserve.

National Organization for Women PAC Endorses Obama-Biden

Statement of Kim Gandy
Chair, National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC)

September 16, 2008

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce today, on behalf of the nation's oldest and largest women's rights organization, that the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) proudly endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States.

It is no coincidence that I am joined in this announcement by so many allied organizations that collectively represent a broad and diverse cross-section of U.S. women. From teachers to social workers, from business owners to college students, women in this country are lining up behind the candidate who is out there every day standing up -- clearly and consistently -- for women. Women of all ages, races and ethnicities are coming together in support of Sen. Obama and his pledge to fulfill this country's promise of equal opportunity for our daughters as well as all our sons.

Although it is very unusual for us to endorse in a presidential election, this is an unprecedented candidate and an unprecedented time for our country. The NOW PAC reviewed Sen. Obama's record and public statements on issues that disproportionately affect the women of this nation, and I spoke with him at length about his commitment to women's equality. For example:

On pay equity. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to end wage discrimination against women.

On reproductive rights. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, to strengthen access to contraception and reproductive health care, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. He strongly supports Roe v. Wade and will oppose any efforts to overturn it.

On violence against women. Sen. Obama supports the continued reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act -- of which Sen. Joe Biden is the chief sponsor -- as well as the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, which is legislation to provide legal, medical and financial support to victims of domestic violence.

On the Supreme Court. Sen. Obama opposed the nominations of George Bush's extreme right-wing nominees to the Supreme Court, who have consistently ruled against women's rights,

For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said "yes" to women's rights, while John McCain has consistently said "no" - NO to pay equity, NO to contraceptive access and reproductive rights, NO to appointing Supreme Court judges who will uphold women's rights and civil rights, NO to funding shelters and other anti-violence programs, and NO to supporting working moms and dads with policies that support work/life balance.

NOW supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary, and now we join with her in saying "NO" -- No Way, No How, No McCain! And we proudly stand arm-in-arm with her in putting our hopes and our dreams, our hard work and our hard-earned money, behind the next President of the United States -- Barack Obama, and his running mate, longtime friend and ally of women, Sen. Joe Biden.

For more information, visit the NOW PAC Obama website.

i *heart* manhattan mini storage

i saw this yesterday and sadly my camera was dead but flickr to the rescue, here's the latest from our liberal-minded storage company.



i love a company that is not afraid of putting their views out into the world. if i ever ever need storage, i know where i'm going.

Hating is hard work aka I'm on vacation

Why so quiet you ask? I'm away in a remote place with no interwebs and far from news about that woman. Hating takes energy and for at least a few days I'll be saving that for more fun things.

Can't live blog :(

Will try to post a not-so-live string later.

Dear Sarah: You Can Take It!

Dear Sarah -

We are less than an hour away of your very first Vice Presidential debate. My day has been full of speculation over how this will go. I'm listening to the pundits on CNN yack about how everyone's been underestimating you along the way. Again, that's you're folksie, and likable, and "come a long way".

Now they speak about how Biden has to be careful, because this is different.

I'm tired of worrying about how he's going to treat you, how people are going to take it if he gets tough, that he could be seen as a bear.

This is all fucking bullshit.

If you are woman enough to run for vice president, not to mention give birth 5 times, you can take whatever Biden has to give out.

I really hope that Biden does not hold back. I hope he calls you on every gaff, shows just how incapable you are of leading this country, and scores some points against on your ever-more creepy running mate (PS - where's the real John McCain? I am certain that he wasn't always such a snide, smarmy fucker). I hope that he shows the world the difference between the sort of person that should be 2nd in Command and who should go back to the woods.

No walking on egg shells. No pussy footing. Because you know what? That would be sexist!!

And Sarah? Leave the crib notes at home and be yourself for once, hmm?

-girl friday

Letter from a Hater: Thank You Sarah Palin

Dear GF,

Just wanted to drop you a note. After watching these interviews with Katie Couric I realized that I owe Sarah Palin some thanks. I feel bad that it took me so long to come around, but as they say, better late than never. So let me take a minute to thank Mrs Palin for jolting me out of my political apathy. Election time has gotten increasingly tense over the years, and in the past I usually sat back and hoped America would see the light. That come election day they would do the right thing. Sarah Palin has made me realize that I must do my part to get the right candidate elected. People SAY she's an idiot, and they SAY they couldn't imagine her as President but come election day will they DO the right thing? So to help insure that they do I've decided that I need to check in with my friends and family who may just get lazy on election day, or who aren't really sure what they are going to do or who they should vote for. I need to remind them that this is just some SNL skit (although the SNL skits are really fuckin funny) but if they don't do something she WILL be moving to Washington and she WILL be the face of our nation to many foreign leaders. And if that happens, I'm not sure we will be laughing.

thanks GF,
beckycity

YEAH! There's the attitude! Everyone get off their butts and do something NOW so we don't have to deal with that woman in Washington!

Debate fun: Palin Bingo

Get your cards here!

The Palin Speech Impediment is Contagious.

Letter from a Hater: I'm concerned.

Sent at 2:22am, Oct 1.

I'm concerned. Watching her couric and gibson interviews, I think what has happened is essentially she has too much information fed to her about too many things, and the interview process is more of a "quiz show" format, like answer these things.

If she feels her audience is the american public and not the hoity toity intelligentsia asking her the questions, then I think she can relax and feed a line of bullshit more carefully. And now that her expectations are so low, I am afraid that her just showing up will be considered a "win."

My main reason for saying all of this is this video of her gubernatorial debate.

She has a pretty good grasp of Alaskan issues, but much more importantly, she's easy to connect with at a gut level (if you're not a hunky young asian man, but you know, a walmart mom).

That is all,
Mike

Screw "relatable" - give me a miracle.

Dear Sarah -

All over, I hear talk about how "relatable" you are to the people of this country. That they can see a little bit of themselves in you. In your "normal", "small town" life - just a hockey mom doing her thing. In the way you are all "folksie" in your g-droppin, smile-full charm.

It makes my ears and eyes bleed, because I personally do NOT want President or Vice President to be run-of-the-mill-ordinary-folk. I want them to be exceptional.

In a time where our reputation in the world couldn't be worse, our economy is in ruin and so many people I talk to have little faith in our ability to make it right, I want a president and vice president to invoke awe.

I am a pretty smart girl, but I want leaders that are way smarter than I am, that blow my mind with their intelligence and knowledge. People that are brilliant. Insightful. Thoughtful. Articulate. Candidates that can inspire people to action. That have DEEP understanding of the issues at hand. A President and Vice President I can trust to change the crash course that our country is on.

What we need is nothing short of a miracle. And all partisan bias aside - you, dear Sarah, have no business being anywhere near this ticket.

If you really want to put America first, stop going for the glory and go back to Alaska.

-gf

Gams and Gammers

via The Daily Show.

Katie Couric is a tough-talking big city reporter, and Sarah Palin is a moose-hunting maverick governor with real specs appeal.

"I love this show! It's like the first season of Lost, only it makes less sense."
-Jon Stewart

"Any of 'em that have been in front of me all these years".

Dear Sarah -

How on earth did you have time to be governor when you are reading all the news! I mean, there's so much out there!

Maybe you have the super power of OSMOSIS! Come, fess up! You do, dontcha!

Either way, I guess we sure is lucky we have such a well-read candidate for vice president.

Can't wait to see that perty little smile of yours get wiped off your face this evening!

Kisses,

GF

It has been overwhelming to me that confirmation of on a much more local level been those terrorists who would seek to destroy America and our allies.

Via the Sarah Palin Fictional Quote Generator.

Have fun kids!

The Sarah Palin Pity Party

Thank you Rebecca - I too am one cold dame!

Via Salon

Everyone seems to be oozing sympathy for the fumbling vice-presidential nominee. Please. Cry me a freaking river.

By Rebecca Traister

Sept. 30, 2008 | Is this the week that Democrats and Republicans join hands -- to heap pity on poor Sarah Palin?

At the moment, all signs point to yes, as some strange bedfellows reveal that they have been feeling sorry for the vice-presidential candidate ever since she stopped speaking without the help of a teleprompter. Conservative women like Kathleen Parker and Kathryn Jean Lopez are shuddering with sympathy as they realize that the candidate who thrilled them, just weeks ago, is not in shape for the big game. They're not alone. The New Republic's Christopher Orr feels that Palin has been misused by the team that tapped her. In the New York Times, Judith Warner feels for Sarah, too! And over at the Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates empathizes with intelligence and nuance, making clear that he's not expressing pity. Salon's own Glenn Greenwald watched the Katie Couric interview and "actually felt sorry for Sarah Palin." Even Amy Poehler, impersonating Katie Couric on last week's "Saturday Night Live," makes the joke that Palin's cornered-animal ineptitude makes her "increasingly adorable."

I guess I'm one cold dame, because while Palin provokes many unpleasant emotions in me, I just can't seem to summon pity, affection or remorse. more...

I'm just a Bill

I thought with all the talk about the bail out bill everyone could use a little refresher on how a a bill gets passed, thank you Schoolhouse Rock.

Too close for comfort

My man and I watched this SNL skit from last night. He hadn't seen any of the real interview. Watch it here

[Editorial note: I tried to embed it but its wide screen is too big! Hulu, get a blog friendly embeddable player please]

After we watched that one, I had him watch the real thing:



He said..."wow". I think that just about sums it up. Shock and awe...ike a watching a train wreck.

And in case you didn't quite catch it...here's a read:

Couric: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more, and put more money into the economy, instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

Palin: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in. Where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it's got to be about job creation, too. Shoring up our economy, and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade -- we have got to see trade as opportunity, not as, uh, competitive, um, scary thing, but one in five jobs created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation.

Debate...GO!

Dear Sarah: You are a disaster.

I don't think I have to say anything else. But I will later.

Free Sarah Palin! Amen Sister.

Imitation is the best form of flattery

Everyone get their Dear Sarah's on! Send them here and up they go.

Dear Governor Palin: Why So Afraid Of The Fourth Estate? via Jezebel

That Bitch Shot Bullwinkle!

Thanks Don

McCain camp tries to to keep reporters out of Palin meetings

Dear Sarah -

Will you please get your boys to stop censoring you? You should be screaming SEXISM at the top of your lungs to your own party - not to the press!!

McCain camp tries to to keep reporters out of Palin meetings
Posted: 01:45 PM ET, September 23rd

(CNN) — McCain-Palin campaign officials shifted course Tuesday after being informed by television news organizations that they would not broadcast footage of Sarah Palin’s meeting with Afghan leader Hamid Karzai Tuesday in New York — the Republican VP nominee’s first with a foreign leader — if a reporter was not allowed in to observe the pair. more...

Thanks,

Girl Friday

UPDATE: You know it's pretty bad when Fox News is getting in on the act.

Palin Street Art

Sarah Palin's "Personal" Email Hacked by Anonymous

javascript:void(0)
These don't look so personal...shocking! Thanks Anonymous (yes, the same group that targets the Scientologists)

More at gawker.com and wikileaks.org

A lazy post.

Courtesy of Fine Furious Life

Is it fiscally conservative to install a tanning bed in your mansion?

There's all sorts'a things wrong with that question.

Palin Tanning Bed Installed In Governor's Mansion

"It kind of cracks me up. It is so far out of the realm of possibility and reality."

The bold words of our very favorite Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin! (golf claps). Courtesy of The New Republic

On the vice presidency:

"But as for that v.p. 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 v.p. does every day?"

--July 31, 2008, CNBC's "Kudlow & Company"

On Iraq:

"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice, and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."

--March 21, 2007, Alaska Business Monthly

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [American soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

--June 8, 2008, Wasilla Assembly of God Church

On creationism:

"Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject--creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."

--October 25, 2006, gubernatorial debate

On global warming:

"A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one, though, who would attribute it to being man-made."

--August 29, 2008, Newsmax

On energy:

"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that."

--June 8, 2008, Wasilla Assembly of God Church

On receiving $1.8 million in federal earmarks for the city of Wasilla:

"FYI This does not include our nearly one million Dollars from the Feds for our Airport Paving Project. We did well!!!"

--June 14, 1999, Wasilla City Council Informational Memorandum 99-62

On that "Bridge to Nowhere":

Question: "Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?"

Palin: "Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

--October 22, 2006, Anchorage Daily News

On library books she doesn't like:

"What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?"

--October 1996 conversation with librarian Mary Ellen Emmons, Anchorage Daily News

On the secessionist Alaskan Independence Party:

"Your party plays an important role in our state's politics ... keep up the good work, and God bless you."

--2008* video address to Independence Party's convention

On Ivana Trump:

"We want to see Ivana because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture."

--April 3, 1996, Anchorage Daily News

On running Wasilla:

"It's not rocket science. It's six million dollars and fifty-three employees."

--October 1996, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman

On being governor:

"I will unambiguously, steadfastly, and doggedly guard the interests of this great state, as a mother naturally guards her own. Like a Southeast Eagle and her eaglets, or, more appropriately here in the Carlson, like a Nanook defending her cub."

--December 4, 2006, inaugural address

On the prospect of becoming a candidate for vice president:

"It kind of cracks me up. It is so far out of the realm of possibility and reality."

--August 14, 2008, Financial Post

Did the New York Times grow a pair?!

Dear Sarah,

Don't cry unfair now, but the New York Times has a most excellent article that helps shine a light on the way you do business.

Remember all that that you said...what was it...something about small towns growing good people who are honest and sincere?

Hmmm. Maybe it should have said more about surrounding yourself with your high school friends, firing people who disagree with you and burying official business by sending it through your "personal" email account.

I guess I must be "bad people who are anti-Alaska."

Congratulations to the New York Times for growing a pair. Or maybe they went ahead and borrowed Hillary's like SNL suggested.

Get ready Sarah, I have a small hope that this is just the beginning.

-gf

For all you haters, this is a must read:

Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes

"and I believe it's just God huggin' us closer"

"You have to know what you're gettin' into"

***This post is sponsored by the letter "g", which is painfully missin' from many of Palin's endin's***

Dear Sarah -

Given all the hoopla from your camp about the press givin' you a hard time, I find this clip very, very interestin':



Sarah, a little friendly advice: you gotta stop lettin' them boys do your talkin' for you, cause what you say here, is totally in conflict with the GOP cryin' over how you're bein' treated by those liberal, elitist, biased folks in the media. You know, you gotta plow through that.

-gf

"In what respect Charlie?"

Dear Sarah -

I have only been able to watch snippets of your first major interview so far, but shit, if you're going to preach to us about America and Terrorists and the Troops and America here in America, your interns could have done a little better research for you.



Or maybe you should have just come out and said that you have no clue what the Bush Doctrine refers to. Then at least we'd know that you know your limitations. I only had a vague notion of what it is myself until about Charlie spelled it out for you and everyone watching, but then again, I'm not running for the position of second in command behind an old guy that could drop dead at any minute.

You should send Charlie a nice, warm thank you note for not calling you out right there.

Go America!

-gf

"It's like a bad Disney movie..."

Dear Sarah:

OoooooOOOOOoooooo! Matt Damon would like to get to know you better Sarah! *Swoon*

But with all seriousness, I post this not because its "Matt Damon, Celebrity" (I could really give a rat's ass about what celebrities think about politics in general) but because he expresses the concerns that many of us have about you, very very well.



-gf

UPDATE: Walt Disney Presents: The Sarah Palin Story Courtesy of Jezebel

ECTFOIGT

I have not yet watched The Interview, but in response to all the muttering and grumbling on the left, I've stolen a mantra from a friend of mine, and it goes a little something like:

What's the Difference Between News & Distraction?

Dear Sarah, with a CC to the news media:

Since you are not woman enough to speak to the press at this juncture, I'll say what any strong independently-minded woman would say in regards to this chaos over cosmetics and swine: MOVE ON.

The expression in question is just that. Simply because it uses lipstick does not mean it was directed the sole female on the campaign trail.

And don't give me that crap about the similarity to the charming hockey-mom joke.

For the sake of women everywhere, tell McCain to stop defending your honor, and GET BACK TO THE ISSUES.

You are not a pig and Obama is not a sexist.
Neither is the news media competent for blowing this non-issue up. You no longer get to call them biased Sarah.

With you hiding behind the good old boys club of the GOP, there should be no further discussion about whether you are or are not a feminist.

Stop being a lap dog and speak for yourself.

-gf

Letter from a Hater: Bgirl Calls for Help From the Big O

Send me a letter and it could end up here. Today's post courtesy of bgirl - thanks for writing, but more - for acting!

***

Dear Girl Friday,

I love your blog cause I too hate Sarah Palin. When McCain chose her to be his running mate I was actually excited. The more I heard about her positions on issues and how conservative they were I was sure the people who were floating someplace in the middle would come back to Obama. THEN I started hearing about her personal controversies and scandals and thought for sure McCain did us a favor by choosing her. I think there are infact, many people who were disappointed that Hillary did not win and thinking of voting McCain who are not solidly in Obama's camp. But now my biggest nightmare has been realized. There are masses of women who RESPECT Ms. Palin.

A hockey mom with a 17 year old, pregnant daughter who is headed to the alter rather than college??!! Is she really what American women aspire to be like? Someone who uses her power to ban books in libraries, limit choice of girls like her daughter, and wield her power to have people fired because they cross her? All because she wears 'cute' glasses and has 'nice' hair?! Please! I try to give women credit and fight those who like to pigeon hole us as not smart or strong enough to lead a business let alone a country. But blindly falling for her one liners without really listening to what she is saying is more than i can take.

Obama has enlisted Hillary to campaign, to light the fire she once inspired in people. Unfortunately I think the people Hillary reaches (for the most part) know they need to support the party. There is one goldmine left untapped... OPRAH. So attached is my letter to Oprah.

Dear Oprah,
I am writing to you today to enlist your help. Using all my energy not to beg, but it is close. You have such a strong voice among American women. You have their attention, and have gained their trust. You take care with issues, you open people's eyes to things as small as reading more. Now it's time to open their eyes to the issues at hand.

To the things the Republican party has done a good job of sweeping past these women in a blur. She's pretty, she's fit, she's fun, she's vocal but she's going to strip many of our women of liberties they currently take for granted. It is time women put down the weekly tabloid magazine and start reading the real news. Reading the real facts.

Oprah, you got them to read Anna Karenina surely you can convince them to read a newspaper or tune into Meet the Press to really HEAR these people discuss the issues. Not listen to their neighbors reiterate something they heard around the water cooler. If they listen, really listen to the issues and still choose to support McCain/Palin then I will accept that. But what i am seeing is much different and completely disappointing. Blind faith in an election year is frightening.

Would a mother hire a babysitter for their children without looking into her background? So why elect a President of our country, of our children, without the same attention to detail?

Just a little more reading, that's all we need the women of America to do. I have a feeling the rest will fall into place.

Holding out hope.

bgirl

Heart says RNC’s ‘Barracuda’ use is fishy

Ann and Nancy Wilson have sent a ‘cease-and-desist’ letter to Republicans

LOS ANGELES - The rock group Heart, angry that its 70’s hit “Barracuda” is being used as the unofficial theme song for Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, is biting back at the Alaska governor.

Heart singers Ann and Nancy Wilson said a “cease-and-desist” letter has been sent to the Republicans asking them not to use the song.more...

Donny Deutsch is a Sexist Douchebag

Dear Sarah -

Someone has a crush on you.



Donny, I hope some of the women at Deutsch quit on your disgusting ass.

A servant's heart

Dear Sarah,

In your speech on Wednesday, you said:

But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart. I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States.

And yet you went out of your way to undermine Obama's roots as a community organizer. Is it with good will and a servant's heart that you mocked him, and community service as a whole?

Your fellow Republican Rudy Giuliani sneered, "I don't even know what that is." Perhaps you, too, need a refresher on what community service is.

Community service is an activity performed for the benefit of one's community or society at large. It could be something as simple as painting a school or, as in Obama's case in Chicago, helping a community face issues like unemployment after a steel-mill closure and pressing the city to address the clean up of an asbestos-filled residence. It is something done for the greater good, something one undertakes because they wish to give back to their community, their country, or the world at large.

Community service can be difficult, and sometimes, thankless work. Organizing citizens around a cause or a goal is not easy. It takes a person who can not only "organize" (as if organization is such a dirty, dirty word), but inspire and bring people together. According to Loretta Augustine-Herron, a member of the church-based Developing Communities Project board that hired him, Obama insisted..."You've got to do it right. Be open with the issues. Include the community instead of going behind the community's back--and he would include people we didn't like sometimes. You've got to bring people together. If you exclude people, you're only weakening yourself. If you meet behind doors and make decisions for them, they'll never take ownership of the issue." (Source: The Nation)

Sarah, you said "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities." As noted in my previous post one of your fellow Wasillans had this to say about your "actual responsibilities":

"During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign."

I'll take the community organizer over the manipulative small-town mayor any day, the guy who knows how to get citizens to get up and do something about changes they want to see made, the guy who inspires action versus apathy. It's time for the rest of us to stand up to you and yours.

I look forward to November when *this* community comes together and organizes your ass all the way back to Alaska.

A letter from a Brave Alaska Lady

Dear Sarah -

This is an letter from a woman that has seen your work first hand, who felt she must speak out. I've removed her name and contact information as she requested, but clearly you've made an impression on her.

Dear friends,

So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .

Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)

You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .

Thanks,
[NAME REMOVED]

ABOUT SARAH PALIN

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.

She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

She's smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she ecommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork".

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. hey call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.

However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.

CLAIM VS FACT
•"Hockey mom": true for a few years
•"PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
•"NRA supporter": absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
•"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
•"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•"a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name ([NAME REMOVED] +Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that's life.

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

CAVEATS

I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible or a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.

[NAME & EMAIL REMOVED]
August 31, 2008

Sarah Palin Gender Card

Why do I hate thee, Sarah Palin.

Dear Sarah,

Just a week ago, I was blissfully unaware of your existence, and today, today I can not stop thinking about you, reading about you, talking about you. Your very voice is ringing in my head.

Hate is a strong word. My mother taught me that. I reserve it for the things I truly cannot stand, much like that girl-crime-of-a-word that begins with a "c". Most things in life do not deserve such negative energy.

But you, Sarah Palin, are one of the exceptions.

You see, even though I live in a big city, I grew up in a small town. My dad worked three jobs while my sister and I were growing up and he is one of the hardest working, honest men I know. My mother worked at odds and ends while raising two busy girls. They scraped by and tried to give us as many opportunities as they could, instilling us with a salt-of-the-earth work ethic and encouraged by the belief that if we studied hard many opportunities would come our way. My family is a working family...a blue collar family...the sort of family that you've been dug up from obscurity to appeal to.

Last night you said, "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty, sincerity, and dignity."

You may have come from a small town Sarah, but you are neither honest nor sincere. Nor did your catty, snide attacks on your opponents bring any dignity to this race.

You are not good people. And your very presence in this race is condescending to those very people. For you and your party aim, yet again, to appeal to "everyman" for the purpose solely of capturing the election. We saw it with George W. Bush and his cowboy hats, and this time round McCain - married to an heiress, unable to recollect how many homes he owns - could hardly do the trick. You exist to convince the families like mine that there could be one of their own in the White House with their interests at heart, while in reality you stand for a party whose interests lie with big business and the wealthy.

The good people deserve way better than you Sarah, way fucking better.