This morning, the Knowles campaign announced a joint press conference with Halcro that was to follow a candidate forum in front of a group of school principals at the Sheraton. The topic was to be: Where's Sarah?
But Palin showed at the forum, spoiling the press conference, which never happened. Halcro says he and Knowles are frustrated by Palin's absence at events, while the Palin campaign is looking to show how often Palin will appear with her opponents over the next three weeks by making her schedule public today. Looks like she'll have head-to-head meetings with Knowles and Halcro 10 times before the election.
Here's the list, from the Palin camp:
October 16 – Alaska Health Alliance Forum
October 16 – Fall Principals Conference
October 17 – Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Debate
October 23 – Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Campaign Forum
October 24 – Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Debate
October 25 – Kenai/Nikiski Chamber Debate
October 25 – KAKM Running Debate
October 26 – AK Forest Assn., AK Miners Assn., RDC, Alliance Debate
October 27 – AFN Debate
October 29 – KTUU Channel 2 News Debate
October 31 – Anchorage Rotary Debate
November 1 – KIMO TV Debate
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.
11 October 21, 2006 - 6:43am | turdball
Tony resisted education............. state official
This is not time for regression, it's time to put faith in a candidate who will move us forward.
Alaskans should be building the gasline now, as this is written, with no excuses. Instead Alaskans received the following:
. "According to one revenue official, however, “as it turns out, Knowles was not that interested in getting ‘educated’ and what we did was develop a pretty close relationship with the Cambridge Energy analysts”.
Another official adds, “we tried to use Cambridge Energy to ‘educate’ the real policy makers and the governor, so they would make more informed decisions, and that was not as successful as it could have been because the governor was not interested … he was anti-knowledge............”.
Arthur Mason PhD
UC Berkley
Winter 2005
Alaskans deserve better. We deserve a Governor who sets priorities, and meets goals. A governor who is willing to be educated and move the state forward. Even the experts realized Tony did not perform. He had his eye on the US Senate seat and sadly put Alaskans second.
He had his chance. Now we need to elect a governor who will listen. A governor who can move Alaska forward, a governor who remembers who she works for, and one who does not use the office as a stepping stone.
flag this »
10 October 17, 2006 - 10:46pm | akisok2
Funny how she is skipping yet another...
... debate / forum against Knowles and Halcro. Everyone knows that she loses ground in the debates. As Andy said, "When you're ahead in the polls, you can pick and choose the safe events."
The latest debate she is skipping is the UAF debate. What's the deal Sarah? Everyone knows that you will be in Fairbanks that day - what's so important that you can't make it to the event? Even Frank made it to the UAF debate when he was campaigning - and he had to fly all the way from DC!
Perhaps it's because "there's always the risk of saying something stupid, and that has to be taken into account," according to Jerry McBeath, a UAF political science professor.
flag this »
9 October 17, 2006 - 10:17pm | alaskastraightalker
New Energy for Alaska? Transparency too?
Sarah Palin claims to want transparency in government. Yet, if her campaign is any example, Alaska will be back to secret meetings and limited access to public documents as quickly as you could say...Fuhs.
Why do I say that? Palin handed out a document yesterday to the school principals' conference. Unlike Knowles, who distributed position papers on things like K-12 education, preschool education- issues one would expect from a candidate for Governor, Palin copied something posted on her website that was, especially in the context of a principals' conference, a little strange- and slapped it on her letterhead. When its distribution was reported on this blog, what do you think happened?
That's right. The Palin campaign took it off their website. Quickly.
I think it's great that Palin loves her parents. I'm sure the other candidates love theirs as well. The question is: Wasn't the candidate for Governor prepared to hand out her positions on critical issues facing our schools, instead of a document which indicates simmering anger over an event which occurred over 3 years ago? And why did the campaign attempt to cover up the existence of the document? Is the speed in which it was removed from the Palin website what they mean by new energy?
Let's take a look at the document Palin doesn't want you to see. The following is an unedited copy of the document removed from the Palin website (sorry for the length).
"‘Who’s Your Daddy?’
Great question! I see that I got a “thumbs down” on the Anchorage Daily News Sunday scoreboard with an accompanying insinuation that may not have the appropriate dad to allow me a particular public service role. (Note: Apparently in July 2003 the ADN noted "DOWN - Would-be Murkowski rivals: Jerry Hood? Johnne Binkley? Sarah Palin? Who's your daddy?" in reference to Frank appointing his daughter). Maybe the ADN should interview us wanna be’s (or has-beens!) and find out who are our daddies? Binkley’s, Hood’s and Palin’s. It may shed light on how we’ve come to do what we do.
I’ve always said my parents are much too smart and way too nice to be in politics. My dad is not rich or famous or powerful. He’s more than that. My dad is Mr. Heath... schoolteacher extraordinaire. He came north in ‘64 to teach in Skagway. Forty years later he still subs in our district because his gift is connecting with Alaska’s young people.
More often than not when people out here in the real world run into me they don’t say, “Oh, so you’re Alaska’s Oil and Gas Commissioner? Or, “Oh yeah, you ware that mayor.” Nope. They say, “So you’re Mr. Heath’s daughter? Cool! He’s my favorite teacher of all time!” I wouldn’t wish it any other way.
My dad is in Zimbabwe today. He and mom are celebrating their 42nd anniversary trekking through some African jungle. They regularly do things like that. They recently returned from their umpteenth season working on an Aleutian island where they “shoo away” birds from an airstrip so Villagers’ airplanes can land safely. Before that they spent their second season on Palm~, volunteering for The Nature Conservancy “shoeing away” giant rats that have inhabited TNC’s remote, tropical island In between gigs they worked clean up at the site of the World Trade Center rubble.
Their travels arid adventures, always together, never end. But they always make it back by fall so they won’t miss the start up of the school year, ready and rare to go with new found excitement and perspective that they’ve gained from some recent exploration. Anxious to teach about the wonders of nature, especially the nature here in our Great Land.
Sometimes I haven’t a clue, coming from non-political Chuck Heath, why l remain passionate about wanting to change the world through Alaskan politics. But I know without a doubt that my Dad’s love for this state, his Independence, his strong work ethic and right priorities are my foundation and influence for every decision I make. He’s my most loyal supporter. Me, the media-stamped ‘bard core conservative Republican”! He’s also the number one fan of one of his best buddies and hunting partners, Dr. Curt Menard, the well known democrat. See, he’s much too smart and way too nice to base relationships on politics.
A Boston marathoner, Chilkoot Trail hiker, cross-country skier, snowmachine traveler and obsessed angler. A lucky escapee of avalanche and bear scares and close calls in duct taped-together airplanes. He’s done it all and he keeps going back for more.
I’m thankful for all my dad taught me and allowed me to do. I’m glad he dragged my butt out of bed early, early autumn mornings to hunt ducks with him before cross-country running practice. He taught me to bag a caribou, fillet a fish, dig buckets of darns, and find the plumpest blueberries. He wouldn’t put up with my wimpy reasons why I couldn’t thaw frozen fish egg bait in my mouth, like he does, when ice fishing. But he did understand when I looked up at him quizzically once upon his request to “please hold those” while he searched for something to put our freshly butchered moose’s eyeballs in so his students could observe them later that day. He graciously understood, and I didn’t have to hold those ungulate’s warm parts that morning in the alders.
My dad gave me two of the greatest gifts in my life: an upbringing in Alaska and an appreciation for all one can gain from athletics. He was Wasilla High School’s track, cross-country and freshman basketball coach. He never let me quit, no matter how bad it hurt or how the odds ware stacked against his athletes. He taught “no pain, no gain.., and you reap what you sow,.. and there ain’t no such thing as a flee lunch.., and dig deep, push hard and fully rely on your ROCK!”
(In our case, that ROCK would be God.) These are lessons I draw on everyday.
In terms of support for all our activities and ambitions, gender was never an issue in our home and I hope I am perpetuating that mindset with my own daughters now because I want it to be a foreign thought that they can’t do something based on gender.
Dad raised four healthy, happy kids who are now, with our spouses, all happily doing our thing serving Alaskans as: school teacher, state trooper, nurse, dental hygienist, commercial fisherman, oil production operator, community volunteer and coach. And one unlikely (or has been!) politician!
Aging athletes all, I might add.
Mr. Heath is grandpa to 12 fortunate young Alaskans, having an especially unique bond with his autistic eight-year-old grandson. From the first born, Track, on down, to Bristol, Willow, Piper lndi, McKinely, Happy, Karcher, Lauden, Payton, Keir, Heath (just 12 days old!) and Tico (who will enter this world and meet his Grandpa in September), our kids will grow up having the privilege of being positively influenced daily by their very own resident school teacher. (Starting kindergarten I remember feeling sorry for classmates who weren’t Teachers’ Kids. TK’s had a jump on other students, I felt, who may not have been taught via casual dinner table conversation the difference between a crocodile and an alligator, or a grizzly and a brown bear, or told clever acronyms for remembering planet alignments and chemical compounds... and all that other good stuff that elementary school science teachers just know we need to know.)
No doubt dad will give these grandkids all the sage advice he gave me. Like, “Money isn’t everything. In fact it’s nothing in terms of happiness, but remember you can fall in love with someone rich as easily as with someone poor.”
And his not-so-subtle advice to “Turn off the TV! Read! Get outdoors!”
And my favorite, “Life’s too short to be stuck in a rut so do what you enjoy doing.”
Recalling that particular bit of advice today has me contemplating what it is I’m doing now. My dad believes in paying your dues as you progress because nothing comes free, but you’d better be challenged and happy and energized in what you are doing or it’s just not worth it.
It’s good contemplation material.
So seeing the “thumbs down” on the newspaper editorial scoreboard with the suggestion that my dad may not be the right dad to allow me to progress towards some political position that probably isn’t in the cards for me right now anyway... well, I got to think about just who my dad is today. I thank the ADN for that.
‘Who’s Your Daddy?” In my book he is rich because he continues to share the wealth. I’m proud of him and thankful for his humble, adventuresome spirit and energy and compassion. And especially for his love far Alaska and for teaching others about this Great Land. In fact, the next time my name is in that newspaper, they should go ahead and use my maiden name. Sarah Heath Palin. Because my dad is Mr. Heath, and he’s a teacher."
By Sarah Palin
flag this »
October 21, 2006 - 1:45pm | turdball
Streetwalker you have time on your hands
too much perhaps. And I have a silly sense of humor. How many people actually read a blog that long. Of course I have ADHD. Lots of people think so.
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October 22, 2006 - 5:53pm | alaskastraightalker
Exactly right
And how many principals do you think read it when she passed it out at their conference? One look is all it took.
flag this »
October 21, 2006 - 6:46am | turdball
Tony resistant to......education?... Revenue official
This is not time for regression, it's time to put faith in a candidate who will move us forward.
Alaskans should be building the gasline now, as this is written, with no excuses. Instead Alaskans received the following:
. "According to one revenue official, however, “as it turns out, Knowles was not that interested in getting ‘educated’ and what we did was develop a pretty close relationship with the Cambridge Energy analysts”.
Another official adds, “we tried to use Cambridge Energy to ‘educate’ the real policy makers and the governor, so they would make more informed decisions, and that was not as successful as it could have been because the governor was not interested … he was anti-knowledge............”.
Arthur Mason PhD
UC Berkley
Winter 2005
Alaskans deserve better. We deserve a Governor who sets priorities, and meets goals. A governor who is willing to be educated and move the state forward. Even the experts realized Tony did not perform. He had his eye on the US Senate seat and sadly put Alaskans second.
He had his chance. Now we need to elect a governor who will listen. A governor who can move Alaska forward, a governor who remembers who she works for, and one who does not use the office as a stepping stone.
flag this »
October 19, 2006 - 7:56am | armoury
Not surprised at such tediousness
I am not surprised at this, I understand there is a vindictive side of Sarah; that she does not forget a perceived insult and will get back at her foe in some fashion.
Lee Reeves
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October 17, 2006 - 10:49pm | akisok2
Actually...
... as of 11:49pm it is still on the site, they just removed the links to it. You can still download the unedited Word document here.
And if by some chance they decide to remove that one too, you can head over to R.A. Dillon's blog for a good PDF version of the letter.
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8 October 17, 2006 - 9:38pm | Loquitur
Good idea!
Ha! Smart move Halcro and Knowles! Now they have Palin right where they want her... at the debates!
Let the fun begin!
Or as Palin might say... "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" ;-)
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October 19, 2006 - 7:58am | armoury
I agree, you know what they
I agree, you know what they say about allowing someone enough rope.
Lee Reeves
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7 October 17, 2006 - 12:37pm | marty2
Won't matter much
There aren't very many undecided voters left. Most of us have already made up our mind. These debates over the last final days may help a few undecided voters figure out which way to go. Many of them won't even vote.
We aren't looking for a brilliant debater. I think Halcro is a great debater.
We aren't looking for someone who thinks they know all the answers. Both Halcro and Knowles have lots of answers.
We are looking for a clean, fresh start with someone who puts Alaska first. Sarah Palin is that person.
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October 17, 2006 - 7:46pm | christineofkodiak
curious?
Are many of you on this blog campaign workers, either paid or unpaid? Because if you are, you are probably wasting your time. The political junkies who actually make entries on the blog as well as the junkies who spend time reading it have undoubtedly already made up their minds. For the record, I am a Palin supporter but am not a campaign volunteer. And absolutely nothing that I read on this blog is going to change my mind.
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October 18, 2006 - 7:47am | rfn
You are, of course....
absolutely correct.
This blog, like most, is populated by those who minds are made up and will not be swayed.
On the one hand we're folks who have no jobs and nothing better to do (except wait and hope for a cushy patronage position).
On the second hand, there are those who just refuse to understand they're wasting their time trying to change hearts and minds here. Sincere, though deluded.
Then there are those of us who are retired and love to toss out barbs to see what might rise to the bait.
Not the "what" that is astounding; it's the gullibilty. Why, these folks are such innocents that they even believe all news media (print, especially) are unbiased.
Of course that threat of a personal income tax...now that's real. For those who feel Alaskans don't pay their fair share of government I'd offer a balm to your conscience:
Write a personal check to the state treasurer today, contributing what you think your fair share might be. Pay up or shut up!
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October 17, 2006 - 10:05pm | marty2
Not a campaign volunteer.
I don't know anyone on the campaign.
Since Leslie is the only one who is upfront about her position. Let's see try to sort it out by how many us are NOT campaign volunteers.
Of course, that assumes honesty. Quite an assumption.
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October 17, 2006 - 8:36pm | justintime
Not I.
I am not a volunteer for any of the campaigns. I am just sick of the free ride Palin gets.
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October 17, 2006 - 7:10pm | ilovelucy
Good Idea
Don't look for somebody with answers. In fact, cover your ears during the next 2 weeks.
I suppose when you buy a used car, you refuse to look under the hood. You just look into the eyes of the used car saleswoman and think, "I trust her. She wouldn't lie to me." Then buy the damned car. Good plan, Marty.
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October 17, 2006 - 10:15pm | marty2
Answers
I guess I could have been more clear about answers. Halcro and Knowles have lots of answers. But that assumes they know the real questions. They assume they know the answers. They set their answers up front so that they may appear to be men of SUBSTANCE. And apparently some people buy it.
Just because you have answers doesn't mean they are the right ones. Halcro and Knowles both have answers, but they aren't the same answers...what does that mean?
Marx, Lenin, and Stalin had lots of answers too. This is not to equate communism with Knowles and Halcro. It's just to show the simple mindedness of having "answers" to all the questions.
A little humility, a little counsel, a little care, a little boldness after consideration goes a long way when confronted with problems. Knowing all the right answers ahead of time is a sign of inflexibility that leads to disaster.
Does that make more sense?
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October 18, 2006 - 11:30am | ronb
Hummmmm......no.
I guess you can have candidates that answer our questions with intelligence, pertinence, and substance like Halcro and Knowles.....or....you can have candidates that answer with vagueness, double-talk, and confusion...Palin...all so that we can form our opinions about them...that's what it's all about....or....I guess you might prefer a candidate that sits there and blinks at you slowly....maybe even a with a little drool coming out of the corner of the mouth after being asked for their position on the tough issues that face our state.... Different strokes for different folks I guess...
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October 17, 2006 - 1:52pm | undeclared
Let's be irrational
Marty2, your support of Palin is baseless and completely irrational. I won't say you're the only irrational one out there - we have George W. Bush and the absolute mess we are in today thanks to people like you.
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October 17, 2006 - 3:14pm | marty2
Maybe I am irrational
But I join a lot of other like minded people :-)
Actually I don't see it as irrational at all. It is obviously a difference of opinion. But you can think what you want. I'm glad I live in a country where the peasants are allowed to vote.
I know the Halcro folks and the tonies like to make it sound like they are the only ones with an IQ above 100. That's fine, we can let them think that. Isn't it nice that the constitution lets the rest of us vote?
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October 17, 2006 - 1:48pm | ronb
That makes no sense.....
I beg to differ... I DO want a governer who has all the answers... Halcro is a great debater because he is intelligent, his responses come from his instincts and experience, he doesn't fumble through pre-prepared notes only to respond to questions with vagueness and generalities.... I DON'T want a governer who can't handle a debate...and after watching several of the debates it's very consistent....Palin waffles, stammers, and is clearly not on the same level as Halcro and Knowles...in every area...the issues, her position, her content, her composure, her delivery... If she can't handle a simple debate, how is she expected to run a state? I read another post on the blog here that stated that running the state is many times more demanding and complicated than running a campaign....and....as time goes on....we are finding that Palin's campaign is full of mistakes, inconsistencies, vagueness, and double-talk.....I don't want that in a governor....
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 3:23pm | marty2
Halcro is a good debater
That may serve him well in the senate where they sit around and talk a lot. And given the right circumstance I might even vote for him for senate.
But I want a leader for governor. Halcro obviously can't get a following. A policy wonk, or a debate team captain does not automatically make a leader.
Knowles is about moving backwards. I really don't have anything against him personally. I think he was about as good a governor as a democrat can be. But he had his chance, and he's a democrat. Two strikes against him from my side of the world.
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October 18, 2006 - 10:52am | rkniaziowski
All about Party?
Marty2,
I never understood my R friends extreme dislike of Clinton, until Bush was elected and I found myself reacting as they had. A clenching of the stomach. An immediate need to turn down the volume, change the channel. And I'm a non-partisan.
A long winded way of saying I understand your feeling that being a D is a point against. Similar to how I feel about R's after all these years of mismanagement on a state and national level. Would the D's have done a better job? I have no clue.
I'm working hard to deal with my prejudice. It is my hope that behind all the campaign rhetoric all of us share 99% of the same values and beliefs. We have to work hard to control the extreme elements on all sides and work together in that large middle ground.
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October 18, 2006 - 11:35am | marty2
Yes, and No
As much as I would like to say it's only about the person, it's not.
If you elect a democrat you will get a whole government full of democrats. The same thing goes for republicans. They will appoint commissioners, and judges that generally agree with them.
I used to be an independent until I saw the light. You have to make a choice. Call yourself undeclared or non-partisan if you will, but you are going to vote for a house full of democrats or republicans. Check out the websites of each and make your choice.
Or you can vote Halcro...
Or you can not vote...
Those are really the only choices you have no matter how much you wish it were different.
So if you really are a democrat deep down inside...vote for one. If you believe in more regulation, more welfare, bigger government, higher taxes, and less freedom go ahead and join the democratic party.
flag this »
October 19, 2006 - 9:12am | rkniaziowski
I'll maintain my non-partisan.
You make choosing a party sound like choosing a religon.
I suppose party loyalty has some purpose, but I can't handle the labels and stereotypes that go along with it - and the compromises sometimes forced on the candidates for the sake of party.
D's must cater to unions, be pro-choice, and lean a little to the green side. R's have to bow to corporations, anti-tax of any kind, want enforcement of the regs in the hands of the users, and be pro-life. And both have to say they won't touch the PF without a vote of the people. All of the above leads to gridlock and absolves everyone from having to think each issue though on it's own merits.
Alaska (like life) is complex. We need a statesperson to come along and cut through all the BS, the rhetoric, the political posturing. The closest I've seen in Alaska was Jay Hammond.
But I stray.... No Thanks - I'll continue to vote the person - never the party.
flag this »
October 19, 2006 - 8:13am | bmcdaniel9
Freedom?
Controlling women's bodies is a stand for freedom?
flag this »
October 18, 2006 - 1:52pm | ronb
Another view....
I believe going with an independent in this case is a viable option... I am a republican, but after going to several of the forums, voting for the republican candidate who is clearly not prepared, not seasoned enough for the position of governor, is like having the fastest race car in the race, but having someone behind the wheel that can't drive it....it may roar louder, but it's not going to win the race, it would be lucky to get around the race track without hurting somebody... Sarah may have the republican party behind her, but she is not capable of running it....no way... Even though Tony is far more capable than Sarah, he's still a democrat.....that's why Halcro...a republican running as an independent is my choice... He has proven to be clear about his position on the issues, he is decisive on his stance, he has experience, and he makes good, solid sense....
flag this »
October 18, 2006 - 1:02pm | rkniaziowski
More complex than that
Never have trusted simple answers to complex questions and I have a hunch you're the same, despite your comments about IQ, etc., and your description of what life under the D.s would be like.
You know each of those are arguable, especially under Bush and Murkowski.
So it isn't Palin you support but the party she represents.
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October 18, 2006 - 2:35pm | marty2
I voted for Palin
in the primary. I believe she better represents the republican party than does Binkley and Murkowski.
However, had she lost the primary, I would have supported Binkley. I might have supported Murkowski.
The administration basic values permeate the whole system. That includes the dept of education, DNR, OCS, etc on down the line. Not to forget the judicial system.
So the fact that Halcro and Knowles have a list of plans and "answers" is not as important to me as is the worldview of their appointees.
flag this »
October 18, 2006 - 3:07pm | ronb
Party lines....
If the parties ran by themselves....there would be no need for a governor....
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 7:14pm | ilovelucy
Glad you caught the CBC tv ad for Palin
Walking backwards? So that's what you're basing your vote on?
And what is it you like about the republicans - tax breaks for the extremely wealthy, huge deficits, senseless war based on lies, congressmen & senators stealing from the treasury and harrassing underage pages? Or maybe it's what you saw under the murkowski administration. Let me know the details of current policies (you know, in the last decade) that you find admirable.
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October 17, 2006 - 9:09pm | akisok2
While I agree with you...
... I just want to point out that it is the RGA that paid for the "walking backwards" ads. And while the people involved with the Republican Governors Association might all be bastards, let's give credit where credit is due: RGA are much bigger bastards.
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October 17, 2006 - 3:39pm | ronb
Splitting hairs.....
That's my point as well.....I want a leader for governer....a good leader.... Palin's performance in the debates is directly tied to what kind of leader she is...or...isn't... When she is in a head to head debate on the relevant issues....not only does she not lead.....she can't follow....she isn't even in left field....she's out in the parking lot somewhere... I'd rather have a debate team captain then a brain-dead, ditsy cheerleader....that's for sure... The more the candidates are scrutinized....the more Halcro and Knowles pull away from Palin.... I really am amazed Palin has gotten this far...
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 4:49pm | marty2
Pulling away...
In which direction? They are currently behind. To pull away would be to go backwards.
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 9:13pm | akisok2
Only a Palin supporter...
... would think that "pulling away" means going backward. To the rest of the literate world, pulling away means moving away at a different pace than the rest of the pack. As in Lance Armstrong pulling away from the pack to win the Tour de France a zillion times.
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 10:00pm | marty2
Like I said...
The tony and Halcro bloggers are just so much smarter than the rest of us.
I'm just glad they still allow us to vote.
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6 October 17, 2006 - 11:38am | alaskastraightalker
Palin's indecisiveness
Thanks to the Halcro and Knowles people for their brilliant strategy in announcing a press conference, leaking its subject, forcing Palin to attend, and, more importantly, forcing her to commit that she will participate in a number of debates and forums with them.
These events will show Alaskans what is increasingly clear: Palin is indecisive.
To wit: 1. During the primary, Palin supported the All-Alaska Gasline. She was even in ads which said it was "clearly the best choice." Now, because most people who understand gasline economics, including Ted Stevens, support the highway route, Palin is VASCILLATING. In fact, her support of the All-Alaska line was recently removed from her website.
2. Capital move: Palin has been on record in favoring a capital move. After the primary, in an effort to calm "jitters" in Juneau, Palin PUSSYFOOTED around her position, now saying it was up to the legislature. A week later, her campaign told Anchorage media that she would sign a move bill if the legislature passed it.
3. Juneau road: According to the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Palin told them that she opposed the road. She has told pro-road people that she supports the road. This is called EQUIVOCATING.
4. School vouchers: Palin told a conservative group that she was in favor of school vouchers. She told the teachers' union she was against them. When confronted with another CHANGEABLE position, her campaign attributed it to a "clerical error." Of course, she could have said that, as on abortion, she would support a constitutional amendment to allow vouchers to go to private and religious schools.
5. Abortion: This is the one issue on which Palin has a CLEAR DECISIVE UNWAVERING position: The state must outlaw abortion, even in case of rape or incest. Unfortunately, when asked to discuss her stand, Palin once again WAFFLED, as she has on many other issues, and said that that she would not provide leadership on the issue- she would act only in case the legislature did.
Palin is saying that, even though she wants to be the CEO of this state and our top elected official, she will exercise zero responsibility over what actually happens in state government on issues like vouchers, abortion, and a capital move.
Can Alaskans really afford an indecisive Governor? Will an indecisive Governor who doesn't understand that Governing is part of being Governor get a gasline built?
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 12:26pm | truthseeker
off script.............
You are getting off the email script. You forgot to mention flip flop a bunch of times and experience.
flag this »
October 17, 2006 - 12:33pm | alaskastraightalker
Sorry..........................
I heard from friends in the Palin campaign that Paul Fuhs, Rick Halford, John Bitney and the other lobbyists running the show didn't like those subjects brought up.
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5 October 17, 2006 - 7:05am | rfn
Will P, K, or H notice?
Notice the latest flight of ads opposing the Reserves Tax?
The word "reserves" has gone AWOL! Now the ads speak of voting NO on a "Gas Tax". In this day of high gasoline prices that suggests to the casual reader that Prop. 2 will somehow increase your cost of commuting.
Slick!
Will any of the gubernatorial candidates comment on this?
I doubt any would dare!
Especially one. Too much oil money riding on it.
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4 October 17, 2006 - 6:47am | fishspotter
The topic was to be: Where's Sarah?
The topic was to be: Where's Sarah?
Oh man, this is rich! Travel around SE Alaska and you will still see a slew of 'Where's Tony?' bumper stickers still on cars and trucks around here!
Vehicles owned by folks who supported the timber industry during Knowles/Clinton anti-development devastation in the 90's..
History in the era of the Internet rolls on..
Maybe someone on the Palin team should find a rusty old pickup truck in SEAK, take a high resolution digital photo and post it on flickr.com? Yeah, that's the ticket..!
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October 17, 2006 - 8:48am | alaskastraightalker
More of the Republican "Blame Game"
There they go again!
The Republican blame game machine blamed Knowles for the shutdown of the pulp mill in Ketchikan during the Clinton years- even though it involved a federal forest, our delegation was Ted Stevens, Frank Murkowski, and Don Young, and the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress. Our delegation- despite their best efforts- couldn't do anything to stop federal policy from changing, because in fact a lot of Republicans in Congress supported the policy changes. So the "blame game" crowd selected Knowles as a convenient target.
The Sitka pulp mill closed when Wally Hickel was Governor and George Bush (41) was President. I don't remember Wally being blamed for a shut down which occurred during the Bush Administration. Nor should he have been. The fact is that no matter who was governor both pulp mills would have shut down as their 50 year federal contracts were expiring, federal policy was changing, and global economics were affecting the timber industry throughout the country.
And even more curious: with the stars all aligned- Bush (43) in the White House, Congress still (until November) controlled by the Republicans, and Frank Murkowski on the 3rd floor- federal timber is still not available to a struggling timber industry in Southeast.
I wonder who's to blame for that- Harry Truman, Jack Kennedy, or Franklin Roosevelt?
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October 18, 2006 - 6:54am | fishspotter
Interesting how you want to skip the Clinton legacy...
Clinton was president then, Dan Glickman the point man for the USFS at that
time. Why do you want to run from these facts? Clinton does not sell in Alaska?
Some more facts to chew on that were not reported in 'the news'.. Activists were
on the docks in SE Alaska handing out federal petitions to tourists as they
walked off the cruise ship ramps here in SE AK. They then proceeded to ship them
back to Glickman and the USFS in DC! He then he then of course proclaimed that
he had choice but to suggest to his boss Bill Clinton that the public has spoken
in an overwhelming fashion, and even in Alaska for that matter.... ahem.... 'The
executive orders on the Tongass must go forward..'
What do you suggest that out delegation could have done at the time..? They
rightly blew a gasket, and the elite media gloated, and Tony Knowles said
nothing.. Our US constitution has something in it called separation of powers...
The Alaska delegation could not simply storm the White House and shred the
Clinton directive. They teach this in High School civics... Click here
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/roadless.html and type ctrl+f on your
keybord. Then try to find the keyword Knowles anywhere on the document.
It's not there.. What else is there to say?
Anyway, back to the bumper sticker idea.. I'm sure the Palin team is pouring
through the threads on this forum. For them I will again submit that finding a
truck in SEAK with an 8yr old 'Where's Tony' bumper sticker still attached would
be a wonderful campaing ad.. The vehicles are easy to find around here.. The
bumper sticker is very clean looking. White with red letters Where's Tony?
I'm sure there are plenty of Republican volunteers with a digital camera that
could get the job done..
You go girl!!!
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October 18, 2006 - 8:48pm | mike_l
new Palin bumpersticker
"Got balls?"
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October 17, 2006 - 11:57am | alaskastraightalker
Erratum
By end of 1992, excess pulp production left producers with record inventories. The Sitka mill was especially affected. Mill closures and extended downtime occurred throughout 1993, and the Sitka mill closed that year.
So technically, while the Sitka mill was on the ropes during Bush 41, it actually closed during year one of Clinton.
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October 17, 2006 - 10:01am | rkniaziowski
You mean truth really matters?
Perhaps it was because Tony was thinking of running for Governor in Sep of 1993 when the Sitka mill closed?
And he probably is responsible for the EPA, world pulp market declines and the $200 million to switch to chlorine so the world market would still buy their pulp.
We just don't have the big picture I guess. Sadly enough, form seems to beat substance in most elections these days. I hope this one is an exception.
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October 17, 2006 - 7:41am | fishspotter
rusty truck
Picture of rusty truck with a 'Where's Tony?' bumper sticker on it is what I meant to say.. u all knew that tho..
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3 October 17, 2006 - 2:09am | qtwkids
We have the right to question but will we?
So for quite some time now many of us have read and followed this "blog" and hashed or bashed the candidates. Since we have the list of where she will be and it is pretty safe to say Andy and Tony will be there as well can we collectively come up with 10 good questions for all of them to answer and will we get off our bums and go to a meeting or two and ask these questions. Talking here is entertaining but are we really interested enough to do something and educate ourselves. If we do not we may as well stick Murkowski back in the seat because ultimately it is our responsibility to inform ourselves through investigation and not by taking the word of paid campaign staffers or ex employees who view this blog. What do we collectively want to know about who will run this state? Democrat, Republican, Independent or Green etc... we have something in common... we love and live in Alaska with our families who rely on the health of this state. Next blog... the questions? Hint we should select one question for each department... DNR, DHSS, LAW, ADMIN etc...
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2 October 16, 2006 - 8:54pm | ilovelucy
Palin's Peculiar Handout
I can't believe Kyle hasn't posted Palin's "Who's Your Daddy" hand-out to the Principals' Conference. Besides the all-too-familiar grammatical errors, it's also crazy stuff - who's responsible for this crap?
Knowles, in contrast to Palin's trip into Bizarro World, distributed solid information on early childhood education, K-12 and the teacher retirement issue.
The previous blogger is right - it'll be fun to hear her talk.
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October 17, 2006 - 8:33am | Loquitur
Speaking/writing about weird handouts...
Did any one else get the Palin/Parnell glossy in the mail yesterday? What's the deal with the family org chart? Why do we need to see pictures of children with odd names? I don't care about their kids! I care about the issues!
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