adn.com | Alaska Politics Blog : "I have known Sarah since 1992..." (Updated, 9/9)

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Contributors

Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

Features

2008 Election

At one point the races with Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young promised to be the highest-profile campaigns in Alaska history.

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Palin coverage

The nation was captivated by Sarah Palin's run to the White House, and now Alaska awaits the return of their governor.

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Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

"I have known Sarah since 1992..." (Updated, 9/9)

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: September 4, 2008 - 12:11 pm

We'd appended an update from Kilkenny at the end of her original post.

From David Hulen in Anchorage --

The e-mail below has been bouncing around the Internet since Sunday. It was written by Anne Kilkenny of Wasilla - stay-at-home mom, letter-to-the-editor writer and longtime watcher of Valley politics. She's a registered Democrat. She was one of the delegates to the Conference of Alaskans in Fairbanks back in 2004. Her bio from the conference is here.

She e-mailed this letter over the weekend to family and friends Outside, and (despite her request not to post it) it went viral on the Internet very quickly, showing up on blogs and Web sites all over. Since then, Kilkenny has been inundated with phone calls and e-mails. She said she stayed up until 3 a.m. last night answering e-mails, and found nearly 400 new ones waiting when she logged on this morning.

It's posted here with her permission.

***

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,
Anne

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 recommended 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. They 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 (Anne Kilkenny + 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 for 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.

Anne Kilkenny
August 31, 2008

***

Dear Readers,

As I write, it has been more than a week since the email I wrote to friends and family about Sarah Palin began to ping-pong around the country. In that time I’ve received over 9,600 emails. I’ve lost track of the number of journalists--maybe 3 dozen?-- who have challenged me to provide sources to substantiate all that I mentioned in it. I have cooperated fully with everyone, providing all the information anyone has requested, and offering all the help I could.

It is a strange thing to have your words echo back to you from around the world. If I were to write my email today, I would make the following changes.

1) If I could change one word, it would be the word “hate”. I said Sarah Palin hated me. That was inappropriate. I should have said that Sarah knows that she lost my support when she sought to remove books that she didn’t like from the library.

One of the great things that America has given the world is the tradition of irenic debate: the understanding that we can agree to disagree, that there is a difference between disagreeing and disliking. I failed to demonstrate that important concept when I used the word “hate”. Sarah has always been polite and gracious to me in public. I don’t know how she feels about me, and it was inappropriate for me to use that ugly word to describe her feelings.

2) I wrote: “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.”

I should NOT have written “. . . because the Librarian refused . . . “ . I should have written “ . . . .after the Librarian refused. . . . “

3) If I were to write my email today I would add that I have no recollection of what specific book titles Mayor Palin wanted removed from the library, or if she even named any. There is a list of books out there; I know nothing about that list! It looks bogus to me.

4) I wrote: ““PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since”.

This appears to have been a somewhat inaccurate statement. Sarah Palin has referred to herself as a “PTA mom” for so long that I just assumed it was true. Having been active in PTA since 1996, I assumed that she was an officer before that. Even McCain, when announcing her as his running mate, referred to her executive experience in PTA. But the Alaska State PTA office says it has no record of Sarah Palin ever having been a PTA board member; they do record that she paid dues.

5) I wrote: “Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.”

I should have capitalized “native”, as in: Eskimo, Inupiat, Athabascan, etc.

For your information, I do not have a website, and I don’t blog. So if you see my name out there attached to anything besides my original email and this, it’s somebody else trying to smear me.

The response to my email has been totally unexpected and amazing. I am SO impressed and heartened! My inbox is full of story after story of generous, courageous, everyday people who have made personal sacrifices for the common good: stories of quiet courage. We are a nation of unsung heroes!

And ours is truly a Christian country. It is obvious to me that people are really trying hard to practice the Christian faith that they profess. I am so pleased by the thoughtful, respectful arguments that people have put forward for why they have chosen one ticket or the other. The vast majority of the people out there reject the Karl Rovian politics of personal destruction and wish that campaigns could be free of “spin” and “image”.

I am pleased to know that the overwhelming majority of the readers of my email found the information helpful.

Dozens of journalists have researched what I have said. They have found nothing else to be inaccurate.

Anne Kilkenny
September 9, 2008

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115 November 10, 2008 - 10:20am | viking47

We've Known Sarah Since 2007.

If one were to offer humble and totally unsolicited advice to Anne Kilkenny concerning her email, they could start by saying her email is candid, to say the least. But at most, simply candid is all it is. Colloquially speaking, her email lost credibility when Kilkenny espoused that Hillary Clinton is “good looking.” It was precisely because Sarah acted more as womanly, vice pants-wearing Hillary that got her immediate and positive attention. Ultimately, the point is much larger: in addressing her email, the Hillary comment sets a bad tone for the rest of Kilkenny’s email. It gives the reader the feeling that the objective notes taken by someone close to Palin will be sullied by personal subjectivity, and the deep perspective they want to see will not come about.

While we’re all happy that Kilkenny knows “Sarah” on a first name basis, talking about someone in professional terms, using first name basis simply makes the writer less competent, no matter how intimate the relationship. “I know Jack” might score points when establishing connection on the witness stand; but if I speak about him to others, using “Agent Bauer” simply acknowledges that you give the respect due, and makes your anecdotes more credible.

Stop using laundry lists of non-sequitar. The comparison to a popular middle school girl. The secrecy around her pregnancy. It doesn’t follow with anything substantial; or at the very least, is about as deep as a country music song in describing the woman through these comments.

Use of the word “progressive” and “regressive” are misnomers and inherently partisan. Sales tax? Oh my. It’s like, the other 49 states, or something. Kilkenny cites that the city had a zero balance pre Palin, and a significant deficit, post- Palin. What she doesn’t explain is how the city wouldn’t have been in the red had the “sewage treatment plant that the city lacked” or the “new library” been built in the sporting complex’s stead. Implying that Palin’s leadership had caused the deficit, and leaves it as that.

In like-fashion, Kilkenny does not mention why the firing of the City Council person who escorted Palin around took place, or why it was wrong- only inferring that it was somehow “mean,” and leaves it at that.

Then, there are the sections were truth by anecdote stops, and any questioning mind or skeptic just has to say “prove it.” Kilkenny states “[Palin] only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.” Is that the only reason, and if so, is this methodology wrong? After all, if representing constituents’ wishes is what a politician is about, does this not fall in line with that duty?

Kilkenny’s “Claim VS Fact” section is mired in uncalculated and unmethodical observation- specifically; one’s personal beliefs have nothing necessarily to do with what they push for in office. Secondly, readers of your email can all tell that you are “not a statistician,” but lauding yourself and your involvement does not make the anecdotes you tell about another people more true, nor is painting yourself as some willing, if-need-be social martyr.

In the end, I believe most people truly and honestly see nothing about your email- save the junior high anecdotes- that one could not find on their own through search engine or state archives. I think everyone, from the Kool-Aid drinking Liberals who attack anything remotely GOP, to the blindingly staunch defenders of Palin would all agree that being an “informed voter” is important. My question is, if “being informed” is your goal, then how does biased and personal anecdotes filled with hearsay and unresolved implications make anyone more informed?

114 September 21, 2008 - 10:38pm | Razzmatazz

McCain Rallies To Take Lead In Dishonesty

And, dksun, here is what Investors Business Daily says about McCain:

"Ideological differences aside, John McCain's campaign has been more dishonest, more unfair, more — to use a word that resonates with McCain — dishonorable than Barack Obama's.

Both candidates are guilty of playing trivial pursuit in a serious season, campaigning from gotcha to gotcha. Obama also has eagerly taken every cheap shot — McCain wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years, doesn't get the economy, can't count his own houses. Neither candidate is running the honest, confront-the-hard-questions campaign he promised.

McCain's transgressions, though, are of a different magnitude. His whoppers are bigger; there are more of them. He — the easy out would be to say "his campaign" — has been misleading, and at times has outright lied, about his opponent. He has misrepresented — that's the charitable verb — his vice presidential nominee's record. Called on these fouls, he has denied and repeated them.

The most outrageous of McCain's distortions involve Obama on taxes. He asserts that Obama's new taxes could "break your family budget," and that an Obama presidency would inflict "painful tax increases on working American families." Hardly.

Obama would lower taxes for most households, and lower them more than McCain. The only "painful tax increases on working American families" would be on working families making more than $250,000.

Likewise, the McCain campaign has its story about Sarah Palin, and it's sticking with it — facts be damned. She said "thanks but no thanks" to that "bridge to nowhere," except that she didn't: She backed the bridge until it was unpopular, then scooped up the money and used it for other projects.

More than a year after McCain began railing against the bridge, Palin, then a gubernatorial candidate, said the state should build it "now — while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Palin sold the gubernatorial jet, on eBay and for a profit — except that she didn't. She didn't take earmarks as governor — except for the $256 million she sought last year, and the $197 million wish list for 2008.

Sitting on the couch with the women of "The View" last week, McCain offered a litany of excuses for his conduct this time around: Obama's ads are hard-hitting, too. The tone wouldn't be so negative if Obama had agreed to more debates. McCain's own lipstick comment was different because he was referring to health care.

You had to wonder: Are there any corners left for McCain? Is there any reason to trust that a man running this campaign would go on to be an honest president?"

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=306538958932517&kw=palin

113 September 20, 2008 - 11:41am | Frita

Palin is a Female George Bush

Check us out at FemaleGeorgeBush.com

Folks, Palin is clearly a Female version of George Bush.

She's been hand picked as someone who will play on your fears and appeal to your sense of everyday values. That is understandable, but the sad truth is McCain/Palin represent the republican party thats been taken over by short sighted crooks that really do not have the best interests of the country at heart.

McCain/Palin will push to keep sending trillions to the middle east in oil money while continuing to fight the war causing thousands of soldiers and others to die while spending $150+ billion a year. They'll also continue to enable the dollar to lose value. You have to understand the price of oil, value of the dollar, loss of US jobs, spending in Iraq and not investing in domestic energy are all connected and leading to the economic meltdown of today.

Palin believes 9/11 was caused by Iraq. Palin believes endangered species don't matter. Palin believes war with Russia is a reasonable option.

You know better. You deserve better. Make sure you listen to the truth and go beyond your fear.

Check us out at FemaleGeorgeBush.com

112 September 18, 2008 - 9:14am | rocolio

Sarah is not running for president...YET!

Mrs Palin is not running for President but statistically McCain is very close to tragically give the presidency to his VP.. GOD BLESS HIM for his service but John Mc. is just a human being , he is not super man or any action hero. He should've known better. He is 72, older than many of our grand parents. Lets face it, GOD Forbid it's very possible Palin might get the presidency with out ever running for it.
So please stop the none sense "Sarah is not running for president"........I Rather have Bush again at least we know how stupid he is and what he is capable of doing. Regardless Anne's email,This lady Palin we have no idea who she is, no experience , no credentials. Very irresponsible coming from McCain to pick up somebody like Palin. I guess he rather win an election than doing what is best for his country. My father an old Rep is voting Dem this time , he says he rather vote Dem than put the white house in the hands of that "novice good looking lady".

November 23, 2008 - 8:59pm | serena

MTS converter

November 23, 2008 - 9:00pm | serena

111 September 18, 2008 - 6:59am | dksun

Sarah vs Obama? SHE's NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!!!

You seem to forget, Sarah is not running for President. You should be scared of the man, Obama, that is! Read this from INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
Posted 7/28/2008

Election '08: Before friendly audiences, Barack Obama speaks passionately about something called "economic justice." He uses the term obliquely, though, speaking in code - socialist code.

During his NAACP speech earlier this month, Sen. Obama repeated the term at least four times. "I've been working my entire adult life to help build an America where economic justice is being served," he said at the
group's 99th annual convention in Cincinnati.

And as president, "we'll ensure that economic justice is served," he asserted. "That's what this election is about." Obama never spelled out the meaning of the term, but he didn't have to. His audience knew what he meant, judging from its thumping approval.

It's the rest of the public that remains in the dark, which is why we're launching this special educational series.

"Economic justice" simply means punishing the successful and redistributing their wealth by government fiat. It's a euphemism for socialism.

In the past, such rhetoric was just that - rhetoric. But Obama's positioning himself with alarming stealth to put that rhetoric into action on a scale not seen since the birth of the welfare state.

In his latest memoir he shares that he'd like to "recast" the welfare net that FDR and LBJ cast while rolling back what he derisively calls the "winner-take-all" market economy that Ronald Reagan reignited (with record gains in living standards for all).

Obama also talks about "restoring fairness to the economy," code for soaking the "rich" - a segment of society he fails to understand that includes mom-and-pop businesses filing individual tax returns.

It's clear from a close reading of his two books that he's a firm believer in class envy. He assumes the economy is a fixed pie, whereby the successful only get rich at the expense of the poor.

Following this discredited Marxist model, he believes government must step in and redistribute pieces of the pie. That requires massive transfers of wealth through government taxing and spending, a return to the
entitlement days of old.

Of course, Obama is too smart to try to smuggle such hoary collectivist garbage through the front door. He's disguising the wealth transfers as "investments" - "to make America more competitive," he says, or "that give us a fighting chance," whatever that means.

Among his proposed "investments":

. "Universal," "guaranteed" health care.

. "Free" college tuition.

. "Universal national service" (a la Havana).

. "Universal 401(k)s" (in which the government would match
contributions made by "low- and moderate-income families").

. "Free" job training (even for criminals).

. "Wage insurance" (to supplement dislocated union workers' old
income levels).

. "Free" child care and "universal" preschool.

. More subsidized public housing.

. A fatter earned income tax credit for "working poor."

. And even a Global Poverty Act that amounts to a Marshall Plan for The Third World, first and foremost Africa.

His new New Deal also guarantees a "living wage," with a $10 minimum wage indexed to inflation; and "fair trade" and "fair labor practices," with breaks for "patriot employers" who cow-tow to unions, and sticks for
"nonpatriot" companies that don't.

That's just for starters C first-term stuff.

Obama doesn't stop with socialized health care. He wants to socialize your entire human resources department - from payrolls to pensions. His social-microengineering even extends to mandating all
employers provide seven paid sick days per year to salary and hourly workers alike.

You can see why Obama was ranked, hands-down, the most liberal member of the Senate by the National Journal. Some, including colleague and presidential challenger John McCain, think he's the most liberal member in Congress.

But could he really be "more left," as McCain recently remarked, than self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (for whom Obama has openly campaigned, even making a special trip to Vermont to rally voters)?

Obama's voting record, going back to his days in the Illinois statehouse, says yes. His career path - and those who guided it - leads to the same unsettling conclusion.

The seeds of his far-left ideology were planted in his formative years as a teenager in Hawaii - and they were far more radical than any biography or profile in the media has portrayed.

A careful reading of Obama's first memoir, "Dreams From My Father," reveals that his childhood mentor up to age 18 - a man he cryptically refers to as "Frank" - was none other than the late communist Frank Marshall Davis,
who fled Chicago after the FBI and Congress opened investigations into his "subversive," "un-American activities."

As Obama was preparing to head off to college, he sat at Davis' feet in his Waikiki bungalow for nightly bull sessions. Davis plied his impressionable guest with liberal doses of whiskey and advice, including: Never trust the white establishment.

"They'll train you so good," he said, "you'll start believing what they tell you about equal opportunity and the American way and all that sh**."

After college, where he palled around with Marxist professors and took in socialist conferences "for inspiration," Obama followed in Davis' footsteps, becoming a "community organizer" in Chicago.

His boss there was Gerald Kellman, whose identity Obama also tries to hide in his book. Turns out Kellman's a disciple of the late Saul "The Red" Alinsky, a hard-boiled Chicago socialist who wrote the "Rules for
Radicals" and agitated for social revolution in America.

The Chicago-based Woods Fund provided Kellman with his original $25,000 to hire Obama. In turn, Obama would later serve on the Woods board with terrorist Bill Ayers of the Weather Underground. Ayers was one of Obama's early political supporters.

After three years agitating with marginal success for more welfare programs in South Side Chicago, Obama decided he would need to study law to "bring about real change" - on a large scale.

While at Harvard Law School, he still found time to hone his organizing skills. For example, he spent eight days in Los Angeles taking a national training course taught by Alinsky's Industrial Areas Foundation. With his newly minted law degree, he returned to Chicago to reapply - as well as teach - Alinsky's "agitation" tactics.

(A video-streamed bio on Obama's Web site includes a photo of him teaching in a University of Chicago classroom. If you freeze the frame and look closely at the blackboard Obama is writing on, you can make out the words "Power Analysis" and "Relationships Built on Self Interest" - terms right out of Alinsky's rule book.)

Amid all this, Obama reunited with his late father's communist tribe in Kenya, the Luo, during trips to Africa.

As a Nairobi bureaucrat, Barack Hussein Obama Sr., a
Harvard-educated economist, grew to challenge the ruling pro-Western government for not being socialist enough. In an eight-page scholarly paper published in 1965, he argued for eliminating private farming and
nationalizing businesses "owned by Asians and Europeans."

His ideas for communist-style expropriation didn't stop there. He also proposed massive taxes on the rich to "redistribute our economic gains to the benefit of all."

"Theoretically, there is nothing that can stop the government from taxing 100% of income so long as the people get benefits from the government commensurate with their income which is taxed," Obama Sr. wrote. "I do not see why the government cannot tax those who have more and syphon some of these revenues into savings which can be utilized in investment for future
development."

Taxes and "investment" . . . the fruit truly does not fall far from the vine.

(Voters might also be interested to know that Obama, the supposed straight shooter, does not once mention his father's communist leanings in an entire book dedicated to his memory.)

In Kenya's recent civil unrest, Obama privately phoned the leader of the opposition Luo tribe, Raila Odinga, to voice his support. Odinga is so committed to communism he named his oldest son after Fidel Castro.

With his African identity sewn up, Obama returned to Chicago and fell under the spell of an Afrocentric pastor. It was a natural attraction. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright preaches a Marxist version of Christianity called
"black liberation theology" and has supported the communists in Cuba, Nicaragua and elsewhere.

Obama joined Wright's militant church, pledging allegiance to a system of "black values" that demonizes white "middle classness" and other mainstream pursuits.

(Obama in his first book, published in 1995, calls such values "sensible." There's no mention of them in his new book.)

With the large church behind him, Obama decided to run for political office, where he could organize for "change" more effectively. "As an elected official," he said, "I could bring church and community leaders together easier than I could as a community organizer or lawyer."

He could also exercise real, top-down power, the kind that grass-roots activists lack. Alinsky would be proud.

Throughout his career, Obama has worked closely with a network of stone-cold socialists and full-blown communists striving for "economic justice."

He's been traveling in an orbit of collectivism that runs from Nairobi to Honolulu, and on through Chicago to Washington.

Yet a recent AP poll found that only 6% of Americans would describe Obama as "liberal," let alone socialist.

Public opinion polls usually reflect media opinion, and the media by and large have portrayed Obama as a moderate "outsider" (the No. 1 term survey respondents associate him with) who will bring a "breath of fresh
air" to Washington.

The few who have drilled down on his radical roots have tended to downplay or pooh-pooh them. Even skeptics have failed to connect the dots for fear of being called the dreaded "r" word.

But too much is at stake in this election to continue mincing words.

Both a historic banking crisis and 1970s-style stagflation loom over the economy. Democrats, who already control Congress, now threaten to filibuster-proof the Senate in what could be a watershed election for them - at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

A perfect storm of statism is forming, and our economic freedoms are at serious risk.

Those who care less about looking politically correct than
preserving the free-market individualism that's made this country great have to start calling things by their proper name to avert long-term disaster.

October 10, 2008 - 12:08am | megal_1

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September 21, 2008 - 10:52pm | Razzmatazz

Correction from IBD

Correction: In the first installment of this series on Tuesday, the Luo ethnic group in Kenya was identified as "communist." The father of the Luo leader cited, Oginga Odinga, did espouse the post-colonial African version of communism in the 1970s and '80s, and his son, Raila Odinga, calls himself a social democrat. But communism as an ideology did not characterize the entire tribe.

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=302396723240343

110 September 17, 2008 - 11:42pm | kmw5555

Isn't Free Speech Great?!

I have enjoyed reading all your opinions pro and con but especially like the title of the last one "Let's All Calm Down"...as a retired psychologist I found Anne's contributions to the Democratic party quite interesting - the words one chooses to describe and attempt to influence can be so revealing. The facts remain that Gov Palin has energized the Republican campaign to a phenomenal degree and that all reports are that over 80% of Alaskans approve of their governor. This blog represents many of the 20% who don't, and it's important that we hear their perceptions also. Those two facts are going to be hard for anyone to ignore, though. Doesn't help that Obama's constant attacks on Palin indicate to those of us out in the lower 48 that he's more afraid of her than of McCain. I am an Alaskan who has strayed to warmer climes; I keep up with my home state by reading the daily papers and listening to my friends and family in Anchorage and the Bush. It's been overwhelmingly pro-Palin until this campaign. This e-mail reminds me of the research that shows that women support each other UNTIL one of them rises above the others and then the teeth come out - one rarely hears a MAN say "I wonder who she slept with to get that job". I'm an Independent, preferring to vote for the person rather than the parties that I don't believe serve the people anymore - my personal opinion is that the government for the people, of the people and by the people appears to have been subverted by a government for the corporations, of the corporations, and by the lobbyists.... it frightens me to watch what's happening to our country because we're in a real MESS....more than ever before we need strong leadership borne of vast experience; I don't think we'll get it from O or P... I'm much more wary of an Obama presidency. I don't think he OR Palin is ready to responsibly do a better job than the jokers we have in there now, but he's running for President and she's not. I know McCain to be a man of integrity and vast experience - and I trust Biden - any Senator who is $300,000 in debt while all the rest got rich on the job has proven himself to be honest...and so I'm on the fence still. I will not make up my mind until I've seen everything possible to learn about each of them before November. Personal attacks obfuscate the candidates for those of us trying to intelligently work this important election, so please everyone keep reading and listening, and since these folks are going to be our only choices, ignoring the anonymous e-mails (how do we even know if Anne Klein exists, that she's not one of Obama's staffers making up stories to fight Palin's popularity?). Think long and hard before you vote because we're all going to have to live with it for a long while. Just look at the last 8 years.
kmw5555

September 21, 2008 - 9:54pm | Razzmatazz

Anne Klein??

Anne Klein?? Isn't she a fashion designer? Did you mean Anne Kilkenny? And you are a college educated phychologist? LOL Glad I didn't have to attend any of your lectures or be a patient of yours! LOL

109 September 17, 2008 - 7:46am | rocolio

"Roberto" :LET'S all calm down

Ok let put things in perspective.
1.- We all agree that the world has gotten more dangerous now since our enemies are not as well defined as in the cold war.
2.- Instead of having one enemy we have many enemy countries and organizations.

Let's all go back to the cold war, would we have chosen Palin as VP to possibly face Nikita Khrushchev? or the Ayatollah Khomeini? Of course not , so why would we do it now in the 21st century? With all due respect to all the Vets etc, no matter if you're a Rep or a Dem, Just think.! when the stakes are high and the planes start dropping from the sky you want Palin to face a crisis? who would disagree with her in the oval office?
if she decides to tell Putin to f**off who would stop her?..If eveyone is afraid of her, her cabinet would look like Dick Cheney's cabinet.. any one in disagreement with the White house would face the same treatment as the former CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Whether Anne is Right or not i have heard these rumors before about Palin. let's vote with our heads, not with our hearts, or our Hormones. This is not a beauty contest nor Wasilla's popularity contest, I do not want to drink beer with my President or VP . I want them to face the music, and do their work professionally and intelligently . They should be able and willing to hear and respect different opinions.

we do not need another Cheney or a Fidel Castro in a skirt.

108 September 16, 2008 - 7:40am | Dxf289

Independent Voter

When Sarah Palin first burst on to the scene, I thought, "Wow!! What a dynamic individual!!! She is really going to change the course of this election." Her speech at the RNC was sharp and entertaining. And let's face it, she's a babe. But then the unthinkable happened. It wasn't a Democrat trick or mud slinging tactic. It was just the truth very clear and very much out in the open. Gov. Sarah Palin was interviewed by ABC's Charlie Gibson. I first made the excuse that Mrs. Palin was nervous, but when Gibson asked her about Bush's doctrine it was all very plain. Gov. Sarah Palin is not ready for this job. I hoped that she would be and that she was ready. Sadly, she was not. Gibson even attempted to nudge her to a credible answer, yet she was still unfamiliar with the views of her party's leader. Any highschool student with a decent civics education could have answered that question better. I hadn't made a decision until I saw that interview. I am not slinging mud, nor am I a Democrat or Republican. At first, I was excited by Palin (and not just below the waist) but as I see her more and more off the cuff, I'm less and less impressed. This speaks volumes to McCain's judgement to make her his choice as a running mate, and to hers to accept. Unless there is a third party candidate that can sway me, Obama will get my vote.

107 September 14, 2008 - 10:09am | hypo

Palin Article

I appreciate your insight into this woman, and was very hopeful until I got to the end of your commentary. ...."And our is truly a Christian country". I take great offense at comments like that. I am not a Christian and there are many people who are not Christians in our country. Our country is full of honest and true people. You do not need to be a Christian to have morals and values. We are thoughtful and respectful. Leave the religion out. If not, you are no better then the other bigots who populate our country.

September 14, 2008 - 8:41pm | justicewarrior

Christians

If all Christians actually behaved like Christ they wouldn't be so full of themselves. Christ was most humble and tolerant, consitent with other great religious leaders.

106 September 8, 2008 - 8:41pm | toomuch

Forget about them GOOD OLD BOYS

They got nuthin on the GOOD OLD GIRLS!
Of course WHO would ever think to question ANYTHING that those little old ladies ( OLD piranhas) had to say about someone????????

Let's see , Kilkenny just took over the lead from GREEN , AAAAANNNND Kitteredge IS COMING UP FROM BEHIND! And THEY ALL TRIP OVER EACH OTHER TO GET THE MEDIA ATTENTION!!!!!

However, the media smartened up and got a clue , they think that the old women are pathetic back biters and walk away shaking their heads, mikes in their hands and packing up their gear.

So long old women! Won't be seeing ya in the funny papers!

105 September 8, 2008 - 7:19pm | vhsusan

Palin and McCain

I likely would be as contradictory as Palin given the opportunity to satiate my ego by becoming the VP. I admire her tenacity but she should realize that when you step on people on the way up, they won't catch you when you fall down. Her views are to 'out there' for the world today. People like Palin, eventually will make it so no fundamentalist of any sect can run for offices. Too many documents have negative things to say about Palin. Some of them to are likely true. I wish the other writers would validate their connection to the candidate. I have no connection to her, wouldn't want it if I could have it... also, many many men and women around the world have been in prison camps...if the war had been with todays products McCain wouldn't have been in jail so long...He has to get over his being a hero...he was one of many...and that doesn't make one presidential. He was a war hero, and has hid behind that fact ever since cheating on his wife and eventually leaving him for the monied Cindy. Take note that Cindy is not at a distance when John and Sarah are out on the trail!

104 September 8, 2008 - 3:59pm | cor

I disagree with Kilkenny's conclusions

As an Alaskan who has no long time grudge against Gov. Palin like this woman does, I totally support Gov. Palin and appreciate what she has done for the State since we elected her by a landslide in 2006. What I've noticed since is that everyone she defeated in the election is negative and bitter but the majority of the people like her and what she has accomplished. I see that she has stood up for the people of Alaska at every opportunity and my interpretation of what she has done is in complete opposition to Kilkenny's who it seems has finally found her way to vent her anger. 83% of us do not agree with Kilkenny and say that if the USA elects McCain and Palin they will get a great duo. Go Sarah!

103 September 8, 2008 - 3:22pm | mc2sail

Sarah Palin

I am a Pennsylvania resident and a Hillary supporter who now supports Barack Obama. But when I heard Sarah palin speak, I could not believe the McCain had chosen this sarcastic, bombastic, and unqualified person as VP. It was a "politics first" not "country first" decision, pandering to women and ultra-conservatives. As a woman. I am insulted, as she is poar opposite from Hillary. Thank you for the great article listing the truth about her, it is very brave of you. I can only hope the mainstream media will investigate her background fully, as she needs to respond to all of these issues, instead of relying on her looks and obvious devious political gifts. THANK YOU AGAIN !!!

102 September 8, 2008 - 12:46pm | Bellevu

Does anyone know Barack Obama?

Berg vs. Obama, Civil Action No. 08-cv-4083. According to www.ObamaCrimes.com, Barack Obama was served court papers concerning
his United State citizenship. Is he a citizen of Kenya, Indonesia, or Canada? Does anyone know if his parents are U.S. citizens? Information please.
Why are you worried about Sarah. You should be worried about Barack. At least we know Sarah is a US citizen.
Go To obamacrimes.com

September 13, 2008 - 6:39am | drummintime

Obama is a citizen

The US Senate would not let a non-US citizen serve for 3+ years. Here's Obama's birth certificate released by his campaign:

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/Polarik/BO_Birth_Certificate.jpg

A little more about Obama's citizenship:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/citizen.asp

September 11, 2008 - 3:14am | Letitrip

I know where it started

It started with a nutcase in PA. It's going no where, because Barack is a citizen of the United States. It's a rumor to say other wise. Living in Hawaii and Kansas are part of the U.S.

It's a stupid to say Sarah tried to censor books. It didn't happen BUT they miss the point to abused her power in trying to fire the librarian for embracing the Constitution and freedom of speech and press. Sarah is a nut case and belongs in PA with the odder nut. :)

September 11, 2008 - 5:39am | brianchester

I am getting a feeling that

I am getting a feeling that alot of your comments and emotions stem from some sort of bad experience or dislike for Pennsylvania. You side step the bigger political issues while throwing your heavy punches at Pennsylvania. I was born in levittown PA in 1957 and am proud of my roots. We are good people. My community was amongst the first "planned communities" in this country. I take pride in being a part of the American Dream. "To own a home, a car, and a house full of kids". This is the solid, wholesome core element of Pennsylvania People.

September 8, 2008 - 6:38pm | abqnm

Barack's citizenship

Bellevu--

I don't know where it started or how such a ridiculous (not to mention racist) rumor started, but, YES, Obama is a citizen--born in the USA. His mother was a student, his father from Kenya. A good, reliable, unbiased place to check political facts is
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/

101 September 8, 2008 - 10:53am | tcjacobs

Thank you Anne Kilkenny of Wasilla

It is hard for people to hear your truth if they are caught up in lies to themselves about what a good choice they made last time with Bush. I don't understand how people who voted for Bush not once, but twice, have the nerve to trust themselves again. I don't know how they have the nerve to proclaim anything but "I Am Sorry." I really hope all the angry RepubliMcCane folks get straight with themselves somehow, go get disillusioned if necessary with all the stale, false ideology. Then come join in the real work ahead of us. And get off Anne K's case. I am glad she took the time to share what she knows.

100 September 8, 2008 - 9:18am | HMM

Disgruntled Anne Kilkenny

What a coward Anne is! She can't go to the news media in person and say what she has to say, she sends an e-mail. How do we know Anne doesn't have a grudge against Palin and this is her way of exacting revenge? I doubt that anyone who states that Palin "hates" her is going to be unbiased. I have a friend who lives in Alaska and although she's not a fan of Palin's, she said a lot of this crap is way overblown and taken out of context. Instead of being proud of someone from Alaska that has the chance to be V.P. (which will probably be the ONLY time in history) Anne has to do something like this. How pathetic...I feel sorry for her! She has done the state of Alaska an injustice!!

September 8, 2008 - 1:56pm | hope4librT

Anne is no coward

HMM, I live in Wasilla myself. I do NOT think that Sarah should have been chosen. She herself should have respectfully declined the offer but she has a hell of an ego apparently. YOU do not know of what you speak. You infer that just because she is from Alaska we should put her in this very, very important position. You have proved that you are among the very gullible, non-thinkers, who vote. It is You who should be ashamed!

99 September 8, 2008 - 8:50am | CapnDee

An old WW II vet weighs in

First time I voted it was for Harry S. Truman. I am an INDEPENDENT and have voted for President every four years since, have been politically involved ever since. And have called the winner each time. I shall vote for McCain-Palin, and I now call them to win for sound reasons, for love of country. SOLID love of country. My URL is www.capndee.com if you want more opinion from someone who has been there, done that.

September 8, 2008 - 1:22pm | hikeandfish

Thank You!

Thank you for your service and continued devotion to our country! I was brought to tears as McCain shared a bit of his POW experience and the true love for our country he, you and all the service men and women must hold in your hearts! The sacrifices you and all who choose and have chosen to service are immeasurable and I thank you! Thank you for our freedoms you so bravely defended and the opportunities you ensured for us! I too love my country deeply and hope for brighter days ahead under the leadership of a great hero, McCain, and a strong conservative in Palin!

98 September 8, 2008 - 7:13am | brianchester

Recent on Kilkenny / King of Prussia

Since the surfacing of this email, more information has been revealed. A number of trips to King of Prussia PA, have been made by Anne Kilkenny. It is reported that she has been involved with Tom. Tom has spent most of his life spewing political comments and designing a world of fiction that exists between him and his keyboard.

It is a middle ground between light and shadow
Between science and superstition
Between the pith of mans’ fears and the summit of his knowledge.

Like Tom, Anne has recently confessed to her own secret passions regarding worlds of fantasy that can bring recognition to those whom have suffered under the oppressive nature that blankets their true nature, and condemns them to an existence of total disregard by a world in which she so much wants to be respected. When Anne found out that she and Tom had so much in common,,,,, well you can guess the rest. She knows that Tom can bring her this respect

More rumors, and I must say rumors, have surfaced on the internet regarding a secret Catholic funded, non-muslim army that Obama has formed. All past information circulating the internet regarding Obama and his associations with a muslim terrorist army are now negated. Unfortunately, it has been decided that Anne's internet comments should also be negated due to the rumors of her unsubstantiated associations with Tom, the King of Prussia. "Yes, you guessed it, Tom is a communist. All of those Prussians are commies.

September 11, 2008 - 3:18am | Letitrip

I need

a shower after that.

Anyone got a shovel in here?

I smell lies.

October 2, 2008 - 11:25pm | Jomeneos

Really? Why? ------ Ajax

Really? Why?

------
Ajax Upload Script

September 10, 2008 - 5:53am | brianchester

I have to agree with Hope

I have to agree with Hope and Jerry. I am glad that somebody is finally listening to me. Yet I have the feeling that Hope and Jerry are also commies

September 8, 2008 - 1:59pm | hope4librT

???

You should seek help.

September 8, 2008 - 7:00pm | Jerry266

???

I agree with you hope4librT.

97 September 8, 2008 - 4:32am | AFwifey00

It is great to see people

It is great to see people using their Freedoms. This Critique of Palin is doing just that. Kilkenny is no hero as one comment suggessted. She is in no grave danger. She is (1) merely being an American and using her freedom to speak; (2) a democrat (so she may be inclined to not agree with Palin and (3) openly against Palin from as early as the late 90's. The beauty of politics is that anyone Democrat or Republican can twist the "record". I reccomend ANYONE goto the respective canidates .gov site and look at their track history, transcripts, voting history, and then formulate your own conclusion... Educate yourself on ALL the facts. Not just bits and pieces from one citizen's views... Don't rely on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News... Educate yourselves America!

96 September 7, 2008 - 11:19pm | bethelmoab02

Another disgruntled old hag

Anne is just an old hag who is jealous of beautiful Gov. Palin. Here is what she said............"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."
Ms. Anne Kilkenny smacks of being an Obama Mama. She is not a credible person since she is a Democrat. Shame on her.

September 8, 2008 - 2:03pm | hope4librT

What is wrong with you people?

You should not be allowed to vote for something so important. So what Sarah is pretty. Good God, your brain dead.

95 September 7, 2008 - 7:23pm | athnay

The comments address

The comments address experience and capability. They are focused on the right things about a candidate, not about stuff like family, scandal, gender, etc. And it is just the perspective of one person. It's ridiculous that some people are making ignorant comments in reply about the author of this having her man stolen, etc, because she attempts to give one viewpoint. Being a responsible voter is about trying to inform oneself and separate fact from fiction; this is just one of many sources out there.

94 September 7, 2008 - 7:11pm | lucyboomae

Casting stones, innocence andthe great American dream

It's a funny country we live in. No one wants to hear anything good about anyone. The media is grasping at any straw, true or false, to come up with a story, and lord knows there are many out there ready to put on their best smile at the chance to be published or get on tv.
As Americans, we sure do enjoy our free speech, even if it's at others expense. I haven't gone to school with Sarah. I haven't butted heads with her politically. I'm not a hockey mom. I've never been involved with the PTA. She doesn't hate me and I don't hate her. Darn, no one will want to hear my opinion. I have no credibility.

September 7, 2008 - 7:28pm | hikeandfish

Excellent!

Ain't that the truth!!!

93 September 7, 2008 - 7:11pm | TATurbo

Dear Bigtime BS

Educate yourself.

92 September 7, 2008 - 5:46pm | smithstar4

Big Time BS

Anyone who buys this bull about Sarah Palin shouldn't even be allowed to vote due to stupidity. Kilkenny is such a hero,putting herself in grave danger by coming forth with the true story of the dastardly fiend,Palin. What courage. What bullshit. If this person even exists,more likely the truth is that Palin took every boyfriend she ever had away from her.

September 20, 2008 - 12:16am | Simon574

Not so smithstar4, Anne is a

Not so smithstar4, Anne is a real person I know her personally. Another thing the boyfriend comment, quite immature and totally impossible you don't have a clue.

September 7, 2008 - 7:33pm | hikeandfish

So Refreshing

So refreshing to know that there are people out there that see this small town, high school jealous rant for what it is! Kilkenny did make the comment about men always smiling because Palin is so pretty - hmm - underlying insecurity and jealously on Kilkenny's part? She also makes the "Popularity" comment - strange and so unpolitical!!

Go Gov Palin!!

September 8, 2008 - 2:20pm | hope4librT

Your assuming...

that Anne is as shallow a thinker as you are. If you understood the words that you were trying to read you would know that these are facts and not her oppinion. So... how is that jealousy? Truth is truth. Are YOU capable of deep thought?

September 10, 2008 - 7:13pm | hikeandfish

You know what they say about assuming . . .

Shallow thinking is sort of a funny thing to assume, unless you are willing to make that claim to all of those citizens in Wasilla that elected, elected, and re-elected Mayor Palin as well as the majority of the state that elected her as Gov! The fact is that I hold a Master's Degree in Scientific Research and clearly understand that numbers can be shifted and used to support or negate just about any point!

That fact is that Anne can claim anything she would like to, there are always two sides and more factors involved in an issue than can be summed up in a quick off the cuff letter!

Let's take Anne's claim that Palin is "iffy" on pro life. First of all she points out the fact that the Palins brought 5 beautiful children into this world! Then she says that Gov Palin wouldn't hold a special session for abortion legislation. GREAT! It was legislation that was quite controversial and would be better suited in the regular session. It would cost the tax payers of Alaska a lot of money to have called that special session and Gov Palin did us all a favor by not calling another special session.

Or "pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history." Wasilla also saw the greatest population expansion, so it would seem natural there was need for more officials.

"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." Can anyone say pipeline!

"There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she." Complete opinion - Not a shred of fact to it. Anne K. has no experience to even level such a claim! Obviously some very brilliant political minds think she is! I'll go with their opinion over a chick in Wasilla!!

"Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They 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." Haven't a few people mentioned that this letter was so sort of high school grudge? High school rumors?! Seriously!? Wait there it is right in Anne's words!!

"Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her." This one was my favorite, are you kidding me? Don't we live under the guideline of freedom of speech? Perhaps no one would stand behind Anne and her grudge claims because they are her opinion and her silly opinion only!

Facts can be skewed, so can opinions! hope4librT -I hope you get a clue! Truth is truth!

Go Gov Palin!!

September 16, 2008 - 9:12am | notcroissant

You know what they say about assuming

"Facts can be skewed..."

I'm sorry, but isn't the point of a fact that it can't be skewed? I mean, then it's no longer a fact, it's a lie.

September 7, 2008 - 7:32pm | paris2000

truth

Kilkenny does exist and she never had to worry about losing her husband. She went to most all of the town meetings.

September 7, 2008 - 7:13pm | TATurbo

Seriously?!?

You, I fear, are one of those people who do not bother to check multiple sources for information before you subject the rest of us to -your- BS.

Anne K. -does- exist and -is- in a position to share her personal experience:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_anne_kilkenny_on_palin.htm

Don't berate the rest of us for using all of the info available to have a debate about McCain and Palin, or Obama and Biden. It is the GOP who has kept Palin under wraps for 10 days so that she can be tutored on world affairs, and what's going on in the lower 48.
It's sad that we didn't have an opportunity to hear anything other than her speech at the convention + the rehashing of all of those one liners on 'the trail' this weekend.
Shoot the messenger seems to be a talking point for the GOP these days.

Anne K. -is- courageous for sharing her opinion of Sara with the rest of us. Unfortunately, Palin, McCain and the GOP are apparently very powerful (why else would all of those people who had previously agreed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation of Palin quite abruptly decide maybe they will -not- testify without a subpeona after all?). If is looks like a rat, and smells like a rat....

This Email was obviously well thought out and intended to share what one person who knows the canidate thinks of her. You should be ashamed of yourself for attacking someone for speaking their opinion. And attacking the rest of us for using that opinion to help us form our own.
Your post makes you sound like a total idiot!

Educate yourself, or -you- might not pass the 'right to vote test'.

Tom
King of Prussia, PA

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"I have known Sarah since 1992..." (Updated, 9/9)