Bed Time in Alaska – Open Thread
OK Mudflatters…are you confident in your readiness? Ready in your confidence? Are you wired for the mission? We need a little help in moderating the upcoming VP debate live chat, and we’re looking for volunteers. The live chat was great fun, but Snoskred and Sephy were the only moderators for the whole 2-3 hour chat last time, which was a big job! This time, we’d like to have 8-10 moderators (who approve comments as they come in) that are prepared to take a 10 minute shift. Interested in helping out? Go to the Forum, click on Action Alerts and there’s a post that says “Volunteers Needed” where you can check in and find out the details! Thank you! 3 days and counting to Veep Madness!
Have fun chatting… How ’bout that 700 billion dollar bail-out, that wasn’t? Interesting times.
Seems like Repugs got their feelings hurt, took their ball, and went home.
oh, and McCrazy ain’t lookin’ too good coming out of all of this, either.
It’s been said before, ya can’t make this stuff up, and it’d be a great movie if it all wasn’t so real…good grief cheerios.
‘night AKM, thanks for everything
‘night Brian
‘night Mudpuppies
“nox!”
Good night, AKM!
Zbigniew Brzezinski seems not to be one of Sarah Palin’s biggest fans:
“…”I do not see how in any fashion it is possible to argue that McCain took the long-term interests of the United States at heart in his [vice-presidential] choice,” said Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security advisor to former president Jimmy Carter, in a Vancouver interview Monday.
“He chose someone who is literally unequipped to be vice-president, not to mention being president.”…
…Brzezinski, the author of several books on American foreign policy, compared seeking Palin’s advice on international affairs to canvassing people at a gas station for their thoughts on foreign policy.
“Decision-making entails much greater need for knowledge, sensitivity and an instinctive awareness of what is important and what isn’t,” said Brzezinski.
“And there is not the slightest bit of evidence that Mrs. Palin has ever spent any time thinking about either foreign policy issues or national economic issues.”…
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=4c7c5709-18ad-4eeb-95b4-986545b6e956
Mornin’ Front page in NYT today “Concerns About Palin’s Readiness as a Big Test Nears” …http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/us/politics/30palin.html?hp
Polling suggests that the number of Americans who think she is not fit to be president has increased since her introduction to the country last month. A number of conservative columnists and thinkers have publicly turned against her, or criticized Mr. McCain for choosing her, including George Will, David Brooks and Kathleen Parker, who wrote a column entitled “She’s Out of Her League” for the National Review Online.
Mr. Frum noted the difficulty that Dan Quayle, who was elected vice president in 1988, had in recovering from an early set of mistakes that led him to be ridiculed as an intellectual lightweight. “The story of Dan Quayle is he did probably 1,000 smart things as vice president, but his image was locked in and it was very difficult to turn around,” he said. “And Dan Quayle never in his life has performed as badly as Sarah Palin in the last month.”
If I were going to be anywhere within clicking distance of a computer, I’d love to help moderate, but I have a date for the local theater (the beer, pizza & couches kind of theater, no less.) The Pres debate was one rowdy night in this here deep blue state! Sorry to miss the mudflatter comments, though; it would be the place to set up with the popcorn otherwise!
Good Morning, Everyone!
I’m listening to NPR –Nina Totenberg is talking about Sarah Palin and her campaign woes: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95196691
I’d love to help moderate, that is, if I’m not laughing too hard to read the comments. I have a funny feeling that Palin is going to be hilarious to watch even if they are sending her to “debate camp” for a crash course on how not to make a fool of yourself in a debate. Of course, if they win the election they’ll have to send her to “VP camp” for a crash course on how to be a vice president.
And speaking of vice presidents, where has Cheny been hiding recently? You would think that the VP would be intimately involved in this economic fallout, but I haven’t seen him anywhere yet.
I can’t get to the forum from work, but I’d moderate if you don’t get enough.
Can I just say two things?: First, SWWNBN, please STOP wearing pink!!!
And second, McCan’t, are you stinging yet because you took credit for that bill that didn’t pass because your cronies didn’t listen to you? I sure hope so.
As a point of interest regarding today’s vote by House Republicans, how many of you remember them shutting down the Federal government in 1995 because they were angry ay President Clinton for “snubbing” Newt Gingrich.
http://edition.cnn.com/US/9511/debt_limit/11-16/budget_gingrich/
So it should be no surprise I guess that they voted down the bail out because Nancy Pelosi was “partisan.” It’s also clearly consistent with their pretension regarding the need to be deferential and respectful to Palin.
I don’t think we can ever expect them to grow up.
Ripley – right on!
Pig Dog – Cheney’s too busy being the war-monger to pay attention to important stuff like the economy. Besides, he’s already in a fall-out shelter under a granite mountain so he’s not too concerned about the blast getting his ass in a dither.
As for the so-called bailout bill, don’t even get me started. Pelosi should never have called to a vote an extremely important measure that too many reps never had a chance to half-review. Of course, had McCain not attempted to insert himself at the last second… ah hell. Don’t get me started. Don’t we have some Alaskan beauty queen to distract us from the realities of life?
Thursday is the time for Joe Biden to step up and say…
The time for quirkiness and pithy sayings are over. Our country is in a deep finanacial crisis which is the dragging down the entire world economies. Thousands of our citizens are losing their homes and jobs everyday. The country is fighting a war on two fronts and there will be more trouble on the horizon. It is now undeniable that climate change is with us. Look in the mirror, Gov. Palin and don’t be afraid to blink. You can be 1 72 yr old heartbeat from having this entire burden fall on you. Are you truly ready to take on this type of awesome responsibility? These are not problems that will be solved by selling Air Force One or firing the help. They will require you to surround yourself with the best people available and not ones that agree with you. For the sake of the nation….blink Gov. Palin.
I know the Palin tax returns are coming later in the week.
Does any know if Todd actually finished high school? I am not going to hold it against him, I am just wondering.
Also, has anyone found it interesting that the McCain/Palin camp has not threatened to sue of the Enquirer affair story?
Halcrow (02:43:17) :
Zbigniew Brzezinski seems not to be one of Sarah Palin’s biggest fans:
—–
I agree 100% with Brzezinski. I finally realized what is really bugging me the most about these upcoming debates. Everyone is discussing whether or not Palin can ‘cram’ enough in two days to be ‘prepared’ to debate Biden.
The purpose of debates are to let the American people know candidates’ qualifications as to how well the arey versed on the important issues of the day and what their stand on those issues are.
Ms. Palin has absolutely no inkling about the important issues of the day. She has NO intellectual curiousity about anything which I would think would be the minimum requirement for a person running for the 2nd highest office of the land. I don’t care if she’s ‘cute’ or can read a teleprompter well. The American people need leadership and they need someone who is ten steps ahead of everyone else, not ten steps behind regarding the problems facing all of us. She can offer NOTHING in the way of leadership or solutions because she is completely clueless. The learning curve she is behind on takes years of study, not a couple of days.
I don’t care if she comes into the debate reciting all 600 pages of McCain’s policy manual standing on her head without blinking once. The point is she doesn’t KNOW it now, hasn’t a clue on even the fundamentals of the most important issues facing us in a very scary time. She doesn’t have a clue where McCain stands on issues and most seriously she not have her own world view.
The whole thing is a joke and an insult to every American. And besides Palin being an incredibly, arrogant fool with the unbelievable audacity to ever think for minute she was qualified for this job, the real fool is John McCain who should have known after talking to her for even just fifteen minutes that she had no business being put a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
****************************
Amen.
AKM
Troopergate suit heads to court
Looks like Troopergate is going to come to a head Thursday.
http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/541179.html
I wonder how the decision will effect her composure during the debate. It will be interesting to see if Sarah can put out a fire while at a debate.
Don’t count your chickens!! I have a friend in Alaska who told me that Sarah does GREAT in debates – she manages to swing the topic away from the question asked and give a recitation on her issues. Halcro and Knowles apparently found this out during the governor’s race.
IF she isn’t wired for the debate this week, she will probably try to take control of it by giving non-answers to specific questions, leading the whole thing astray. Hopefully when the MSM picks it apart (which didn’t happen for the gov debates, I guess), they will make a point of all the times she evades giving specific answers.
Also, do the VP candidates get a list of the questions ahead of time? If not, how can they possibly fill her empty head w/ intelligent answers for every possible question?? Unless . . . she is wired . . .
Nice that she is squeezing the kids in for a few minutes between now and Thursday, too.
Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire Palin
“how can they possibly fill her empty head w/ intelligent answers for every possible question??”
When you’re dealing with a perfect vacuum there’s no problem getting the stuff in. The problem is getting it back out again in some sort of coherent fashion. Think of her head as black hole, presumably logical stuff gets put in it, but broken up bits and pieces get spewed out, broken down but not digested
Anybody know what Judge Michalski’s record is? Is he in Anch or Jnu – and which gov appointed him?? I can’t wait to see what his ruling is – hope he comes out on the side of the “good guys” . . .
Molten – yes, but if she completely goes off topic onto something that she DOES comprehend (NRA, abortion, aerial wolf hunting, no global warming), she might sound intelligent and even reach some people who would not know what the intelligent answer to the real question would’ve been anyway, you know??
I wonder if the AG is going to tell the judge, “We do not recognize your government”.
I really believe the subpoenas are going to be enforced and the timetable for depositions reset. Then the Palin people will ask for a special investigator that will have to answer to the legislators and insist it will take time to appoint the right investigator, thus setting the timetable closer to November.
@Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire Palin (05:46:40) :
She may do well on some of those topics, but when she has to speak about them in terms that expand outside of Alaska, which Gwen will ask her to do, things will get foggy. Guns in Alaska are very different than assault rifles in Baltimore, Detroit, and DC. I am not apposed to gun ownership. She really has to have a broader picture of gun ownership as it relates to crime and it’s victims.
I doubt we see any report by October 10 either. Unless it’s very very preliminary . . .
@Grammy…..
“Don’t count your chickens!! I have a friend in Alaska who told me that Sarah does GREAT in debates – she manages to swing the topic away from the question asked and give a recitation on her issues.”
Hopefully, Gwen Ifill will do her job as moderator and keep Palin on point. And if she doesn’t, I’m sure Joe Biden will point out that Ms. Palin did not answer the question as it was asked of her.
Nina Totenberg gave a let’s-not-bother-being-nice report on Palin on NPR this morning: Palin Tries For Second Act On The Road.
“But most of the time, she is sealed in a protective cocoon. Reporters who have been with her since McCain chose her as his running mate say they can’t even get close enough to yell a question.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95196691
bPoint
I know – and as mayor of Wasilla, she supported legislation to allow concealed weapons in schools, banks and bars – so you’re right, she has a very very narrow (sheltered?) view of the world but those ideas would be popular w/ more than just Alaskans (by the way, that bill was passed by the Alaska Legislature and vetoed by Gov Knowles – it was also not supported by the Wasilla Police Chief, whom she fired for not being in her corner).
Susie – I hope they keep trying to pin her down!! But Biden doesn’t want to look like he’s picking on the little Princess by saying over and over “she didn’t answer the question”!!
Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire Palin
Don’t count your chickens!! I have a friend in Alaska who told me that Sarah does GREAT in debates – she manages to swing the topic away from the question asked and give a recitation on her issues. Halcro and Knowles apparently found this out during the governor’s race.
—————————————————-
Sound advice, BUT … as the Navy guys (like my dad) would tell us: “That’s fine, sonny, but this here’s the FLEET.”
It’s all very well to swing topics when you’re only up against your fellow big fish in your own small pond – but this here’s the NATION. This is Joe “Jaws” Biden she’s dealing with here. No, he’s not the smoothest flow when it comes to rhetoric or delivery, but he has three huge advantages over anyone of Palin’s ilk (apart from vastly greater experience):
1) He’s relentlessly verbose.
2) He doesn’t put up with BS from anyone.
3) He actually KNOWS something and can ARTICULATE it in COHERENT ENGLISH.
So no … Miss Wasilla pull this one off? I’ll believe it when I see it. I think all this advance praise of her mad debating skills is a pretty transparent set-up – to psych her into her own destruction. I’m thinking Clay vs. Liston.
“Joe comes out to meet Sarah,
And Sarah starts to retreat.
If Sarah goes back an inch further,
She’ll end up in a ringside seat!!!”
I feel kind of sorry for her . . . and I think the saddest thing is that she honestly doesn’t realize her limitations and will go out there and put her foot in it . . . I guess the rest of us will be the only ones who are embarrassed as she won’t realize that she should be??
This debate is 90 minutes long. That is an extremely long time to regurgitate newly acquired information without the use of notes or a teleprompter. There will be no standing 8 counts(or life lines). If she gets wobbly in the first 10 minutes, viewers are not going to be able to stomach the stumbling for the remaining 80 minutes and will turn the channel, clicking back once in a while to see if Sarah is still wobbling.
I am pretty certain Joe Biden will talk about the Obama policies and if necessary contrast how they contrast with McCains. If Sarah can’t coherently talk about the McCain policies well, she will not have done her job, which is not to survive the debate, but to tell the American people why they should vote for McCain/Palin.
Grammy, I agree that Palin doesn’t realize her limitation and that is sad. She’s a narcissist and as such believes she can do and have anything to which she believes she is entitled.
Something tells me that Palin’s narcissism is at the base of her kid’s problems. They are trying to get some kind of attention from their mother (and probably father too) and will act out in order to try to get that much wanted attention.
And if I’m not making much sense, please excuse – I’m on the cusp of pneumonia and probably am not thinking right myself.
Good morning folks, I’ve been AWOL for a day or two. Have an executive from Japan here looking over the facility. He came wearing cowboy boots and hat. Seems like a number of overseas executives I have met he is a fan of Westerns.
Anybody else feel like the whole world has gone crazy and the sane people are few and far between? Between John and Sarah, crashing stocks markets, and Washington politics seems like the collective mind has finally tipped over the edge.
I have a number of orders coming in appears the dire staights of things here in the good old US have prompted companies from other countries to step up and try to help out their suppliers here by throwing work our way.
Well I am off to work just thought I would drop in. I have a meeting with the troops this afternoon all the folks are worried I am going to announce more layoffs, this time I get to bring good news, we are ramping up not much but enough to keep everyone going for a few more months and maybe even bring back a few of those laid off. I am looking forward to it.
Susie, do you think maybe the kids’ visit w/ her in AZ might result in her sudden need to bow out and concentrate on her family?? Doubtful but it might give her the chance to “gracefully” w/draw from the campaign??? I hope she doesn’t b’cuz they might get someone good . . . but you never know!!
bPoint:
Also, has anyone found it interesting that the McCain/Palin camp has not threatened to sue of the Enquirer affair story?
—————————————–
Yeah, I DO find that bit of silence rather intriguing, but in fairness, everyone concerned has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
I’ve filed the Enquirer item in the drawer marked “schadenfreude” for future use.
This is off topic but refers to one of the other threads on Mud Flats – the mystery pregnancy. I did a search for images around the time of her pregnancy announcement and found the following links. The first is the ADN photo at the time of the surprise announcement, The second is five days later (the image can be clicked to enlarge and if you copy it and raise the brightness and contrast there is no stomach bulge) Hmmm?
March 9th photograph
[http://www.adn.com/politics/story/339576.html]
March 14th photograph
[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-03-14-973052854_x.htm]
Folks, please be sure you’re registered properly. I checked online and all was OK. I applied for an absentee ballot and was told I’m not registered. My county is working it out right now.
I’ve never encountered this before. I’ve voted in 2 general elections with the incorrect spelling of my name. (Idiot clerk entered my name incorrectly.) I’ve been called for jury duty with that name.
PLEASE make sure you are registered with ALL accurate information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for Sarah, I don’t want to underestimate her, but that would be a tall order. I’d be shocked if Ifill didn’t call her on her incoherent ramblings. Two minutes may seem like a short amount of time, but that’s only if you have something of consequence to say.
This isn’t an elementary school debate. She needs to give substantive answers with actual facts. If they can adjust the microchip in her head, maybe they can program her to give respectable answers, but I’m not too sure they have enough time to do that.
Johnny Mac can’t sit next to her, the way he did during the second Couric interview.
I don’t feel the least bit sorry for Palin. As in any Greek tragedy, it will be her own undoing. I only hope people see her for the dolt she is. Diehard Republicans will think she did well. Dems will laugh. Hoping Independents will become sufficiently frightened of her vast stupidity.
Just stopped in for a minute.
I just made a connection:
Remember the article last week about the Army unit from the 3rd Infantry that was being assigned under U.S. command to be available in case of national emergencies, terrorists, etc.? Here’s the URL: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/
This has never happened before in the past. Ever. So why did the Bush adm do it just recently?
Becuase those MFers knew there was going to be an economic meltdown and wanted to have soldiers on the street to quell riots. They KNEW it was going to happen and did NOTHING. Just like they did with 9/11.
I also believe that, like 9/11, that this economic meltdown did not occur without help, at least in the form of those who could take measures to stop it or mediate it before it occurred doing nothing, or perhaps with even more active measures.
Off to work.
I don’t know, Grammy. I just read an article on FiveThirtyEight about why she can’t drop out as it would mean handing the election to our man on a silver platter (not that I see anything wrong with that, however.)
Not to blow my own horn, but I started saying that she would self-destruct immediately after the republican convention. I think she’s done that, with the help of Gibson and Couric.
The repubs. have painted themselves into a corner and there is no way out for them.
Debbie AKA Commando coalfire Palin:
Good morning folks, I’ve been AWOL for a day or two. Have an executive from Japan here looking over the facility. He came wearing cowboy boots and hat. Seems like a number of overseas executives I have met he is a fan of Westerns.
——————————————————–
LOL …..
Luckily I’ve never seen any Korean execs pull that stunt … on the other hand, we do have that chain bar known as “Rodeo” with those damn cigar-store wooden Indians out front, in every single city.
Part of the fun of living in Asia is watching people try to appropriate pop-cultural costumery and poses (in all directions, mind) with no idea how silly they look. E.g. a few years back Britney Spears turned up for an in-store in Seoul (new album out at the time) wearing an ill-fitting hanbok gown … she looked too ridiculous for words.
Alaskan judges are elected.
Fairly self-explanatory, really. It bulges…
McCains’ contributions must be starting to dry up I would have thought.
@Derek Rock Crane (06:37:58) :
Yeah, I DO find that bit of silence rather intriguing, but in fairness, everyone concerned has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
I’ve filed the Enquirer item in the drawer marked “schadenfreude” for future use.
Just some butter for the pan!
Regarding Cheney. This is what he was doing in 2006 with his OWN money.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13851.htm
And this was written in 2006.
bPoint
@Derek Rock Crane (06:37:58) :
Yeah, I DO find that bit of silence rather intriguing, but in fairness, everyone concerned has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
I’ve filed the Enquirer item in the drawer marked “schadenfreude” for future use.
Just some butter for the pan!
———————————————-
Yup, squirt some lemon and parsley on, mash some spuds, up, steam up some broccoli and we’re good to go …
Hey, maybe next summer when the sockeye are running, we can all head up there and have a Mudpuppy BBQ ….?
Todays Gallup:
Obama 50%
McCain 42%
http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx
for anyone who may have missed it in the earlier comment thread, i repost here for your amusement the palin interview answer generator!
http://interviewpalin.com/
here’s a sample (warning, this has the appearance of actually being a true palin answer but it is indeed fiction, which unfortunately cannot be said of the couric interviews):
SMR
Here’s the info on how judges become judges in AK – see the Judicial Appt Process at http://www.state.ak.us/courts/ctinfo.htm
Alaska has a merit selection system for judges and justices. The governor appoints a supreme court justice or a judge of the court of appeals, superior court, or district court from a list of qualified candidates submitted by the Alaska Judicial Council. The governor has 45 days from receipt of the list to make the appointment.
Here’s a great article that will really strike a chord with women readers here (and possibly some men too). Hope’s it’s not been linked over & over already:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/30/palin_pity/index.html
I can’t say I’m worried about the debate on Thursday, but I believe the bar is set so low now for Palin that if she get’s through it without looking like a total idiot it will be a good debate for her. I can hear people saying……oh she wasn’t quite the idiot I thought she’d be, she wasn’t that bad.
Biden on the other hand will be expected to be knowledgeable and somewhat perfect. He also has to be careful to not be condescending towards Palin. I hope he sticks to the topic and compares McCain and Obama’s policies and basically ignores Palin.
I think Palin’s game plan will be to goad Biden with her attack dog personality much like the speech at the GOP convention. I hope he ignores it. He is known for talking alot and sometimes inserting a foot or 2. I hope he lets Palin talk, because she tends to drift further and further away from the topic the longer she speaks. Ramblin Barracuda…now there’s a song title.
Finally I’m so confused. McCain headed to DC to save the US economy last week, because after all only he and he alone could get the job done. Somewhat like Mighty Mouse “Here I Come to Save the Day!” When he gets there he basically says nothing in person at the meeting, but phones in all weekend. Then he takes credit for the success of the bailout plan passing, but oops it didn’t pass. So now he says it’s all Obama’s fault. Did I get that right?
It seems that Newt Gingrich played a major role in the collapse of the bailout plan:
[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/30/report-gingrich-stabbed-b_n_130487.html]
It’s not surprising given his role in the government shut in 1995: [http://edition.cnn.com/US/9511/debt_limit/11-16/budget_gingrich/]
The interesting thing is that the first time it was because he felt snubbed. This time the Republican’s official excuse is that Nancy Pelosi is “partisan”.
Regarding Palin and her performance in the Alaskan debates, please remember that she went into those debates with no expectations at all. She was the cute new kid on the block and she was not going in carrying in the two tons of baggage she now owns, as well as already being publically humliated by her own performance in recent interviews.
Expectations for Palin, no matter what anyone pretends, are very, very high. Everyone has their bullshit radar on because they know exactly what that looks like now. You would have to be living under a rock to not see some part of either Couric’s interview or Tina Fey’s Palin spoof. This whole Palin just needs to be Palin BS is just that, complete BS.
Palin needs to be anyone other than Palin to succeed. She needs to be a literate, thoughtful, intelligent woman who can formulate an answer that isn’t just a flurry of meanlingless words. She needs to demonstate an abaility to not just answer a question but convince people that she actually understands the question and isn’t just reciting memorized talking points. She need to demonstate that she is capable of intelligent, deductive thought. And so far I have seen NOTHING that shows she is capable of that.
I don’t doubt she did ‘adequately’ in the Alaska debates. But this isn’t Alaska anymore. This is the entire country and this country is full of a lot of people who are very edgy right now. I would think just about everyone’s tolerance level is at an all-time low. I would say the ability to tolerant bullshit artists is nonexistent.
Have you thought through hat we are going to do in a post Palintologic era ?
Only 34 days left of her reign, so please enjoy while you can.
We are going to miss you, Sarah !
I hope we can still see you in commercials for the new eyewear line “Don’t blink” and the food brand for busy mothers “Family in the soup”.
ocliberal
Regarding Cheney. This is what he was doing in 2006 with his OWN money.
Cheney has dumped another (estimated) $10 to $25 million in a European bond fund which tells us that he is counting on a steadily weakening dollar.
——————————————
And let me tell you how well THAT’S working right now: The dollar ROSE against the euro over here today, since Asian markets are snapping it up as their own currencies go in the toilet. They’re waiting for their exports (i.e. their US sales) to crash.
Not to defend Lord Vader, but … I’ve lived overseas for six years now, and the logic of it is very simple. Wherever you’re making your money, if you bank it elsewhere you PRAY for that country’s currency to DROP. Since the Korean won is right up there with the old Turkish lira (or Kleenex) for stability and value, I always bank my salary back home in the US, save for living expenses.
Unfortunately, since Korea’s economy is ENTIRELY export, and the credit markets here have been turning hollow, the won has gone steadily down against the dollar this year. When I first came here in 2002, it was 1100 won/$1. For quite a few years in between, it strengthened to 900-950/1, and now it’s dropped back down to 1200 (!!!) this week.
This at a time when I’m preparing to move back home and get married … only after this week’s events, I’m wondering if I’d best just grab my fiancee and her cat, and head straight back over here after the holidays. I really hope not, I’m getting sick of the whole globo-hobo thing, and would REALLY like to live in my own country again.
Sigh …. I suppose it could be worse, I know where I can always get work if I want it … but I’ve burned out on kimchi, y’know?
cheney made an appearance in the halls of congress last week and they basically threw rotten fruit at him so he went back to his secret bunker.
Hey, we are in luck if Michalski stays on: (Sarah, of course, supported the ban) – wonder if he will have a conflict on the Troopergate issues?
An Alaskan Superior Court judge ruled Friday against Alaska’s ban on same-sex
marriages, ordering the state to show why it should be able to regulate who
people marry. The ruling does not legalize same-sex unions in Alaska, but
forces the state to prove a compelling reason why such unions should be
illegal. Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski said choosing a partner is a
fundamental right and the state Constitution protects both the “traditional
choice and the nontraditional choice.” An Anchorage gay couple of almost 20
years, Jay Brause & Gene Dugan, filed suit against the ban passed by the
legislature in 1996.
A portion of Judge Michalski’s ruling included the following: “The Court
finds that marriange, that is the recognition of ones choice of a life-
partner, is a fundamental right (under Alaska’s Constitution).
Some info on the antecedents of Judge Michalski:
http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/MichalskiPeter.htm
I am beginning to sense a line of conspiracy in some of the comments, above.
Palin is not going to suddenly disappear, no matter how much some people wish it.
The judge is not going to rule based on politics. Like Judge Jones down here in pennsyltucky with the Dover Schools Intelligent Design case, the judge assigned to troopergate arguments will rule based on law. Will he appoint an “independent” investigator when there’s already an investigator? Doubtful because that’s essentially giving in to a falllacious argument.
We need to leave the pregnancies alone. There are what they are. But I do have a question. A month ago, it was stated that Bristol was 16 when impregnated but she’s to turn 18 on October 18? I realize my lower 48 math might be a little weak, but she’d have to have the world’s longest running pregnancy if she’s not delivering until after her 18 when she was knocked up at 16. Or has the human gestation period increased measurably beyond 9 months??
Biden needs to keep his responses short and crisp on Thursday. If he rambles on, it will limit the amount of time she gets to respond. And we all want her to be the one responding and responding and meandering and non-responding, etc. Right? Give us all a chance to see her in her shining cluelessness, Joe. Shut up and stay on point.
Glenn – perhaps we won’t miss Palin once she’s once’n'done. Word is that Heff has offered her big bucks to pose for Playboy. Can you imagine? That could be more fun than that mockup of her in a bikini holding a deer rifle.
Sauerkraut aka Polished Mooseberry Palin:
The judge is not going to rule based on politics. Like Judge Jones down here in pennsyltucky with the Dover Schools Intelligent Design case, the judge assigned to troopergate arguments will rule based on law. Will he appoint an “independent” investigator when there’s already an investigator? Doubtful because that’s essentially giving in to a falllacious argument.
—————————————–
Funny you should mention that case, just last night I stumbled onto the web site for the PBS/NOVA special about the Dover case. (You can watch the whole thing here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/program.html)
What I found hilarious about the whole affair, scary as it was, was that -
1) The ID folks went in thinking they’d have a friend in Judge Jones, simply because he was a Republican churchgoer and Bush appointee; they hadn’t reckoned with his being sane, much less honest.
2) They had the nerve to commit outright perjury in their depositions, and yet were too dumb to cover their tracks.
3) They thought they wouldn’t get sued because their lawyers were so good – but ignored those same lawyers’ advice: “You WILL get sued, and you WILL LOSE.”
God in His infinite mercy has a wicked sense of humor.
I think McCain is goin’ down and this is a prime indicator; the number of flags behind him as he makes statements.
In his latest ‘pronouncement’ last evening….only one flag. lLast week he was surrounded by lots US flags. Campaign budget cuts????
Palin’s Apocalypse
http://newsproject.org/node/134
karen marie
Yippeee!! Sheffield was a Democrat; also, Michalski has been around for over 20 years, knows the game so we can really hope he will rule on those subpoenas quickly on Thursday!!! Wow, considering the time difference, he might just rule on them before the debate . . . . unless he takes it under advisement.
Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire PalinNo Gravatar (05:37:02) :
Don’t count your chickens!! I have a friend in Alaska who told me that Sarah does GREAT in debates – she manages to swing the topic away from the question asked and give a recitation on her issues. Halcro and Knowles apparently found this out during the governor’s race.
IF she isn’t wired for the debate this week, she will probably try to take control of it by giving non-answers to specific questions, leading the whole thing astray.
___
Grammy,
I think you are onto something here. However, I believe there is another factor to consider here – THE AUDIENCE! As I’ve said before, my husband is a Republican and when Sarah gives those long-winded-Tina-Fey answers to Couric, HE DOESN’T BLINK! Of course, I sit in the same room with him, hear the same “blizzard of words” and my hair lights on fire, my blood pressure goes up and I want to scream! If I raise a question about what she uttered, he simply tells me what she “MEANT TO SAY!” Her answer about Russia, for example, made perfect sense to him…and HE could explain it in a logical, well thought out manner (SHE couldn’t – that was my point to him!).
I think the other thing we are up against is this (and I realize this is elitist thinking), but most viewers (voters?) who haven’t been paying attention until now, probably won’t know whether or not her answers will be making any sense either! We all know how much overall impression matters – remember her RNC speech? I cringed and vomited ( well, sorta – maybe an exaggeration here) while watching and listening to her mock others – my husband smiled and thought she was the greatest new pitbull on the block!
Sorry for rambling…I need coffee!
The most appropriate image for this discussion was taken from the protest the other day, and I posted it on my website, giving attribution back here. Obviously, I want to thank the person in the protest who created it, and am making this reply to do so. Why? Because I laughed.
http://www.themudflats.net/wp-content/uploads/truth77.jpg
If this has already been posted…sorry. I tried to read earlier responses, but still haven’t had my coffee yet!
Author Chides GOP And Dems: Stop The “Sarah Palin Pity Party”
Sept. 30, 2008 | Is this the week that Democrats and Republicans join hands — to heap pity on poor Sarah Palin?
At the moment, all signs point to yes, as some strange bedfellows reveal that they have been feeling sorry for the vice-presidential candidate ever since she stopped speaking without the help of a teleprompter. Conservative women like Kathleen Parker and Kathryn Jean Lopez are shuddering with sympathy as they realize that the candidate who thrilled them, just weeks ago, is not in shape for the big game. They’re not alone. The New Republic’s Christopher Orr feels that Palin has been misused by the team that tapped her. In the New York Times, Judith Warner feels for Sarah, too! And over at the Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates empathizes with intelligence and nuance, making clear that he’s not expressing pity. Salon’s own Glenn Greenwald watched the Katie Couric interview and “actually felt sorry for Sarah Palin.” Even Amy Poehler, impersonating Katie Couric on last week’s “Saturday Night Live,” makes the joke that Palin’s cornered-animal ineptitude makes her “increasingly adorable.”
I guess I’m one cold dame, because while Palin provokes many unpleasant emotions in me, I just can’t seem to summon pity, affection or remorse.
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/30/palin_pity/
I have recently found another great Political Blog. This guy fits right in here with all of us. Lets give this guy some nice Mudflat hits:
http://lefteyeonthemedia.wordpress.com/
Dear AKM
I’m confident in my readiness and ready for my confidence, but I’m overprepared, so, I’m going to just be me and just not blink.
I’ll get back TO YA.
: )
: )
Ok a little off topic but I am crazy?
I keep reading that people think the bail out is bad because of Wall Street and the predatory lenders and the people who borrowed money they could not afford. So let the everything go down in flames!!!
The logic in this alludes me and is driving me crazy! The term predatory lenders seems to say it all to me. You blame the people who were the prey? Is this a little like blaming the rape victim for the rape?
Is it just me? Or are they crazy?
Would somebody explain to me why I should also be punished as I watch my retirement acct. go down in flames? Because of the greed of others.
Also to say that you voted this bill down because you did not like Pelosi speech? WTF So punish me some more?
I really feel that those who voted with this in mind should be yanked out of office immediately! Am I wrong?
I am going to take up drinking.
grammy, after i posted the bit of info i found on judge michalski, i read elsewhere in this thread that he had made a sound, constitutionally-based decision in regard to the legality of marriage restrictions in alaska. of course, that will be used as fodder for the deadenders when he rules against them in the troopergate matters but anyone with two brain cells to rub together can recognize sound judicial reasoning when they see it.
Annie in WA
You hit it on the head!! My husband is also Republican – I criticize every single thing she does and says and when asked about the election, he says he’s CONFUSED!! I live in W PA, very Republican area, and if her name comes up, every single man glazes over – one guy said “there’s just SOMETHING about her” – another gal and I were there when he said that and she & I both said at the same time, SHE”S STUPID and he just restated what he had said. So, men have fantasies about her and then fill in the blanks when she doesn’t answer questions – if a woman went gaga like that over a male candidate, we would never hear the end of it!!! And don’t forget if these same guys had to live w/ the bimbo for any length of time, they would be bored in a few days. Just amazing!!
karen marie
Yes, that’s why I wonder if he will want to take on this Troopergate thing – they’ll say he is pre-disposed to rule against her . . . we’ll see . . . they have to have really good reasons to ask a judge to recuse himself and all he has to say is that he can be fair and balanced and issue a decision on the merits!
Planned Parenthood petition to appear all over St. Louis for the debate. Please sign. (I don’t know if it will actually do anything, but at a moment in time when I’m feeling powerless, I’m doing whatever I can.)
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/openletter_palin?rk=ldSDtwn1xV9ZE
Back to making phone calls to Ohio voters…
Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire PalinNo Gravatar (08:21:05) :
Annie in WA
You hit it on the head!! My husband is also Republican – I criticize every single thing she does and says and when asked about the election, he says he’s CONFUSED!! I
___
Grammy,
I’m not sure it’s the ga ga factor. My husband “fills in the blanks” (and there are many) for JohnnyMc as well! It’s a stubborn, dug-in state of mind.
I have simply decided NOT to remind my guy when voting day arrives! I’ll tell him it’s garbage day, confuse him and let him put the can out!
Springsteen, Joel To Hold First Joint Concert For Obama
Now we are talking about Rockin’ the Vote!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/30/springsteen-joel-to-hold_n_130545.html
Even Sarah and kids will want to attend this show!!
Grammy.
That’s just habit at work.
Apparently if you dig a trench across the path that cows take to get to the milking barn they will walk straight into it, one at a time, even though they can see the trench and can see their herd mates falling in.
It’s as though the mind plays a movie of the world as you’d rather it were instead of the way it is.
And changing your mind takes effort; the mind hates that.
According to today’s Gallup, Bush’s approval rating has dropped to 27%.
How can it even be that high?
“So, men have fantasies about her and then fill in the blanks when she doesn’t answer questions.”
I asked my nephews about this last night. Both in their 20s. It’s the naughty librarian thing. Fortunately, I didn’t have to discuss this with them. Because they’re voting Obama, they can enjoy whatever fantasies they want.
Maybe at another time I would discuss how they perceive women, etc. As long as they’re in the election booth and the blood is flowing to the head that counts, I’ll save that convo.
And Florida is tied with 4 weeks to go and Obamas’ positives climbing like an F15.
McCain on Fox this morning saying he might suspend his campaign again — will do whatever it takes to help our economy……
Could this be prepping us for cancelling the debate on Thurs?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/30/mccain-may-suspend-campai_n_130553.html
Sauerkraut aka Polished Mooseberry Palin (07:41:35) :
“Word is that Heff has offered her big bucks to pose for Playboy. Can you imagine? That could be more fun than that mockup of her in a bikini holding a deer rifle.”
Ok, you reassured me. As long as she does not blink, and does not forget the lipstick, I am ready for it. But this time we cannot let McPain participate in the shot to help her out… I am cringing at the thought.
What is McCanine going to do exactly after 4th Nov, my friends?
epic:
FYI, as a life-long rancher, I can say that although cows aren’t the smartest animals in the kingdom, they won’t walk blindly into a trench, when they don’t expect it to be there.
Proud Community OrganizerWA:
I keep reading that people think the bail out is bad because of Wall Street and the predatory lenders and the people who borrowed money they could not afford. So let the everything go down in flames!!! Is it just me? Or are they crazy?
————————————————
I know, I know, but … okay, I’ll tell you why I wrote Sen’s Patty and Maria saying no. Not just because I voted Ron Paul in 88.
I would personally rather have no bailout, and I’m willing to bear some immediate pain now in the hope of avoiding far worse down the road, having put off the problem. But I’m also enough of a realist to know that it won’t fly; I can tough it out, but many people can’t – and at the very least, symbolic action *is* needed to calm nerves.
But this was just a BAD, BAD bill, albeit improved from a HORRIFYING one in its initial form. Too much money up front, too much leeway for SecTreas, utterly toothless oversight, and no real restraints placed on recipients of aid or investment. (Remember the “Pauper’s Oath” they used to require in exchange for gov’t assistance? Something like that should apply to Wall Street. You borrow the public’s money, you do it on the public’s terms. Or go fish.)
Also, the whole thing was foisted on us too damned quickly – in the midst of an election cycle yet!!! – and any decision made in a hurry under fearful conditions is CERTAIN to be the wrong one. (Patriot Act, anyone?)
So: However much of the “no” vote came down to posturing and hardheadedness, it was the right move. I wanted them to vote down a BAD bill, the better to think things through and get a GOOD bill. I think we will, now that the matter’s got everyone’s full attention. Boeing strikes have gone that way several times; the union leadership recommends a settlement offer, the rank-and-file reject it, and everyone finally gets serious.
We’ll get there, just stay calm and guard your post. They still want to get re-elected. ;-D
“Never appeal to a man’s ‘better nature’, he may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.” – Robert A. Heinlein
C in CO
Now’s a good time for Obama to reiterate that McSame voted w/ Bush 90% of the time . . .
I can’t stand it anymore! As a real, live *naughty* librarian, I am begging you all to stop calling her that. Is there another profession that has more demeaning stereotypes associated with it?? We’re either dull, plodding bookworms or secret dominatrixes (dominatrices?) (sorry, that’s the librarian in me).
Think of the librarian who stood up to her in Wasilla. Who else has had the guts to do that? That’s who we are. Defenders of your right to be informed and to read/view/listen to all points of view. Sheesh.
Okay. Done with rant.
Seems like McCain is going for – “I suspended my campaign, and saved America”
Ladies, speaking as a man, please don’t assume that we all find Palin attractive. While I will admit that she is somewhat “pretty” I am not in the least bit attracted to her. Maybe having a shrill, whining voice, being mean, sarcastic, and dumb as a post has something to do with it….
I’ll need a Xanax if they cancel the debate on Thursday, really I will!
Glenn 2008
Does she have to win or lose the election to get that Playboy offer? I’m assuming that all of the very conservative folks that she was supposed to pull into this election to support McSame would not approve of a VP appearing nude? At least not publicly . . .
thanks for the info Grammy. I guess we get to vote them in/out AFTER someone has appointed them. I’ve voted several times for/against judges in local elections, don’t know the particulars about time frames, but I do know that I’ve heard very good things about Michalski from legal friends.
Naughty thought for the day-
RE: Too prepared, to be herself
Sarah Palin – Dan Quayle’s ‘special needs’ sister.
Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire Palin:
And don’t forget if these same guys had to live w/ the bimbo for any length of time, they would be bored in a few days. Just amazing!!
———————————————
I get bored with bimbos after 30 seconds of breathing the same air, which is why I never dated them. I can’t bear the company of any woman who is less than my intellectual superior. (Such as my fiancee back in Seattle.) Any girlfriend I can win an argument with is automatically disqualified – how could I possibly respect such a person?
I also learned not to go near any gal who owns a Yorkshire Terrier, but that’s another story ….
“FYI, as a life-long rancher, I can say that although cows aren’t the smartest animals in the kingdom, they won’t walk blindly into a trench, when they don’t expect it to be there.”
Damn. And it was such a wonderful Pythonesque image too.
Hey! ‘Bunty Palins’ Flailing Circus’
“And now for something completely undecipherable.”
C in CO (08:49:40) :
“McCain on Fox this morning saying he might suspend his campaign”
Not again… Did they also say what a “mavrick”, superb, amazing, incredible, gigantic, unbeatable political chess move that would be? Even bigger than las’t week?
Thanks god the McCampaign are not running out of ideas. Last time Stewart and Colbert had a field day.
SMR – Yes, all judges would have a retention election, is it every 10 years? So that is probably why you thought they were elected. Sort of a check and balance system (how novel!) so that governor appointed judges are under public scrutiny.
Wow, Thursday could be a heck of day for Sarah! Maybe she will go down the tubes in both forums??
@Glenn2008 (09:03:07) :
Not again… Did they also say what a “mavrick”, superb, amazing, incredible, gigantic, unbeatable political chess move that would be? Even bigger than las’t week?
Thanks god the McCampaign are not running out of ideas. Last time Stewart and Colbert had a field day.
Yeh, he sure had us all fooled the first time when he cancelled his campaign — NOT! McCain must think the are all very, very stupid, or he is completely delusional, or both!
Good afternoon (eastern time), all of you lovely and/or handsome Mudpuppies!
While scanning those “internet ‘tubes” during lunch, I found the following comment/editorials at the Anchorage Daily News site. The first one is pretty scathing, and is titled “Palin losing friends on the home front”:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/541124.html
The second is a bit more mellow, but discusses her governing style and how the ADN thinks it might play out as VP:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/540072.html
Enjoy!
PS: AKM, I love meece and other large animals, and I’m an interior designer! Can I be Secretary of the Interior? (bats eyelashes in hopes that it will help my chances…)
And next time he shows up in your yard, please blow a kiss to Brian for me. He was too cute for words.
***IS THIS SOMETHING NEW?
BREAKING: Alaskan Troopergate Witness Flips Under Oath
by Eman
Tue Sep 30, 2008 at 09:31:48 AM PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/30/11451/4129/817/615479
jwa -
You are a GOOD guy, or at least you said ALL of the right things, love it!
Derek Rock Crane
But this was just a BAD, BAD bill, albeit improved from a HORRIFYING one in its initial form. Too much money up front, too much leeway for SecTreas, utterly toothless oversight, and no real restraints placed on recipients of aid or investment. (Remember the “Pauper’s Oath” they used to require in exchange for gov’t assistance? Something like that should apply to Wall Street. You borrow the public’s money, you do it on the public’s terms. Or go fish.)
Also, the whole thing was foisted on us too damned quickly – in the midst of an election cycle yet!!! – and any decision made in a hurry under fearful conditions is CERTAIN to be the wrong one. (Patriot Act, anyone?)
So: However much of the “no” vote came down to posturing and hardheadedness, it was the right move. I wanted them to vote down a BAD bill, the better to think things through and get a GOOD bill. I think we will, now that the matter’s got everyone’s full attention. Boeing strikes have gone that way several times; the union leadership recommends a settlement offer, the rank-and-file reject it, and everyone finally gets serious.
____________________________________________________________________
There is much in your post I agree with. But my question is why not just say very bad bill and we need more time to hammer out the issues? Not use Pelosi as an excuse. This is very bad form to me and implies that many are not taking this crisis very seriously.
If we really stop to analyze this there is plenty of blame to go around in my book from the top down and that includes the voting public.
I just can’t take these meaningless phrases being thrown around anymore.
I just want one voice of reason to stand up and explain the whole process to the voting public and quit posturing. I feel that they are for the most part inciting panic.
I hope this post is coherent as I am truly a little crazed this morning.
This is actually quite good. I especially like this bit:
From now on, anyone who answers an assertion of fact by calling the speaker of the fact an insulting label has to wear a sign saying, “I Am Too Stupid To Talk With Intelligent People.”
Seems like Meg Stapleton (and others so obvious I won’t name them) should be wearing one of those…
See the full editorial here:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article829973.ece
obama’s on msnbc – talking sense!
I don’t think Sarah will be bothered by her performance on Thursday, however it turns out. And not just because she is a narcissist (sp?) though she is a SHINING example of that…
It is because God is on her side! Nothing touches her! Nothing ever will. Any criticism comes from the evil non-Christians who seek to persecute her, so there is no reason to acknowledge it. And there are a hell of a lot of people out there ( a lot more than I like) who will ALSO see it that way. I am surrounded by them, in this red state. Daily.
As long as there are still more of us who actually think intelligence and some semblance of honesty is a positive thing in the highest office(s) in the country–which would represent a sea change from the last 8 years–we will be all right.
But I won’t be convinced until November 4.
Make a $30 (or more) donation to the Obama campaign by midnight 9/30 and get an election T shirt. They promise you’ll get the T by 10/17.
I posted the link, but my personal info came up. I’m sure if you go to https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/
and seek to make a donation, you’ll find the page that offers the T. Even if you don’t, please consider making a donation.
I know times are tough and we’re all scared about the economy, but I’ll be more scared with McCain in office.
Even people who are telling me that Obama isn’t the precise candidate they’re looking for, they feel he has the intellectual prowess to lead. The cognitive ability to make the best decisions. At this point, I don’t care if they’re making the decision because they think he’s a better speaker. I just want the man in office. The alternative truly frightens me.
epic(09:01:56) : ‘Bunty Palins’ Flailing Circus’
“And now for something completely undecipherable.”
————-
Good thing no one else was in the office with me just now. I barked so loud they would have come looking for the pooch.
Proud Community OrganizerWA:
There is much in your post I agree with. But my question is why not just say very bad bill and we need more time to hammer out the issues? Not use Pelosi as an excuse. This is very bad form to me and implies that many are not taking this crisis very seriously.
————————————–
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ……….. I think that comes under the psychology heading. The whole thing just happened too fast, everybody was on edge, and when people are in that state they don’t think clearly. Look at it this way: They finally voted. The vote failed. Armageddon didn’t happen. (Yet.) The “no” vote gives everybody time to take a deep breath and THINK, which is what they WEREN’T doing.
(Notwithstanding the GOP flatheads who tried to wedge their way in for points, of course. Newt being a case in point. Some people simply have no shame.)
Oh, and another thing: the bailout prospect is distorting the market, as nobody will sell off bad assets privately at pennies on the dollar when they think the gov’t is ready to offer a far higher price and less demanding conditions. So they may make some deals in the interim. It won’t solve the problem by itself, but it WILL give everybody time to calm down – and more room to maneuver. I think ultimately, that’s what everyone needs in order to get the deal done right.
jwa – Cheney Wolfhound PalinNo Gravatar (08:59:19) :
Ladies, speaking as a man, please don’t assume that we all find Palin attractive. While I will admit that she is somewhat “pretty” I am not in the least bit attracted to her. Maybe having a shrill, whining voice, being mean, sarcastic, and dumb as a post has something to do with it….
___
jwa
I make no assumptions about all men…about anything. That said, I am counting on you to assume I AM NOT LIKE SARAH PALIN!
FAIR ENOUGH?
The whole thing is getting so surreal I have to pinch myself every time I read Mudflats to check whether I am really awake…
The question is could the McCampaign still save the day and have Paris Hilton for VP ? She was a genius presenting her energy policy compared to SWWNBN. Could someone send a copy of Playboy to the GOP for a selection of backup candidates?
There is a really good story up at the LA Times about Anne Kilkenny. Alaskans should be proud of her and her family.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-kilkenny30-2008sep30,0,3962236.story?page=1&track=rss
MJC (09:12:19) said:
BREAKING: Alaskan Troopergate Witness Flips Under Oath
by Eman
Tue Sep 30, 2008 at 09:31:48 AM PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/30/11451/4129/817/615479
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If this is true, HOORAY for Murlene Wilkens:
“…she admits to denying Trooper Wooten’s previously approved claim at the direct request of Sarah and Todd Palin.”
Could it be? Will the truth come out?
http://www.pubrecord.org/component/content/359.html?task=view gets you the full article on the latest on Troopergate. The Kos just has a tiny blurb compared to this.
fun times in mudflats — troopergate is getting a splash of truth…….
see story in dailykos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/30/11451/4129/817/615479
it appears that Wilkens’ story under oath suddenly changed, and after seeing hard evidence, including sworn testimony of one of her own employees, she admits to denying Trooper Wooten’s previously approved claim at the direct request of Sarah and Todd Palin.
woo wee — with all the noise in the news – this little tidbit won’t get much play. but it is what alaska has been waiting to hear.
hahaha – just saw that the previous post is on the same thing. at least we are all looking for the truth together.
stillHARDrock palin
SMR (09:22:22) :
RE: Minimizing McCains time as a POW.
The author thinks its important not to minimize it.
I think its totally irrelevant to qualifications or preperation for high office.
Yes facts are important, but so is judgement of character.
Being a POW is totally irrelevant to either.
OMG!!
Just Breaking:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/30/11451/4129/817/615479
Witness in troopergate – new testimony
Derek Rock Crane
I am so hoping you are right. I really am.
I will try to set aside today the feeling that keeps plaguing me which is, are we just playing a risky game of Russian Roulette.
I will try to replace it with some of the points you have made.
If all else fails I will resort to media silence for the day.
Here is a more detailed account of the Wilkens testimony:
http://www.pubrecord.org/component/content/359.html?task=view
Wilkes has a $1.2 million contract with the state to handle workers compensation claims. Her contract with the state was up but her firm was recently given a new contract despite the fact that there were others who provided the state with a lower bid than Wilkes’s firm. One of the other applicants who submitted a lower bid has appealed the decision.
Wilkes told Branchflower she believed it was impressed upon her from Palin’s office that she would lose the contract if she did not deny the claim, state officials knowledgeable about her testimony said.
RW (09:46:46) :
OMG!!
OMG !!!
Palin is toast…
AKM, you have said that you are a small business owner. Are you self financed? Here you are with a big audience. Is the country being smoked when the administration says that credit is or has dried up? Do you have any direct experience to verify that in your business or from people you know who are small business owners? Here’s an opportunity for you to expand your sphere of influence by adding more real information to the information economy.
I think we all know what to expect on thursday and how it is going to be evaluated. Right thinks ‘she nailed it’ Left thinks ‘he nailed it’ undecided in the middle? Well, if they tend to be rational thinkers, they will tend to be distanced from the cluelessness that will be displayed. If they are sheeple looking for a shepherd who can bring victory and rid the planet of evil…..
Wow oh Wow – I hope that busts the Troopergate thing wide open – it should help the judge to decide whether those subpoenas should be honored – obviously, there is a story to be told and the people who need to tell it are stonewalling and hiding the truth. So if one witness comes forward, others will follow and the Plains will have to participate in the process. This is great!
RW – I was just reading Daily Kos about Troopergate!
Palin Implicated By Witness in ‘Troopergate’ Probe
it appears that Wilkens’ story under oath suddenly changed, and after seeing hard evidence, including sworn testimony of one of her own employees, she admits to denying Trooper Wooten’s previously approved claim at the direct request of Sarah and Todd Palin.
Much more to Sarah Palin’s abuse of power and her vendetta against the ex-brother-in-law is beginning to surface. And of course, goon-husband Todd is right in the middle of it.
DeMoNo Gravatar (09:37:47) :
MJC (09:12:19) said:
BREAKING: Alaskan Troopergate Witness Flips Under Oath
by Eman
Tue Sep 30, 2008 at 09:31:48 AM PDT
dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/30/11451/4129/817/615479
_____
YOW! Thanks for the link regarding the under oath “truth change”!
OCTOBER SURPRISE!
DrChill:
Palin is toast…
————————————-
She’s BEEN toasting so long, the toaster blew the kitchen fuses!
Not to worry, bPoint and I just came back from Costco with a crateful of butter. See above.
This just shows Todd is right in the middle of all of the Troopergate mess!
Proud Community OrganizerWA:
If all else fails I will resort to media silence for the day.
—–
Good idea. God knows I find occasional withdrawal and detox a relief.
Being an ocean away from all this does have its upside!
DeMO
I think Wilkens came out w/ the truth after being presented w/ evidence that another (former, I believe they said) employee had already spilled the beans. I wonder why that employee is a former employee?
Looks like this thing is getting ready to blow open!!!! I can’t wait!
This Troopergate break might not be a good as it looks.
The Palin side may say this Wilke testimony taints their chances for a fair investigation. The subpoena was not yet confirmed to be valid(I know this is debatable) and therefore the Wilke deposition should not be heard. But because it has leaked into the public domain, it was heard without cross examination, so the Palins will cry foul. A diversion, yes, but what else to they have. It might work, it might not.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/30/11451/4129/817/615479
Tue Sep 30, 2008 at 09:31:48 AM PDT
It seems that at least one independent witness in the Troopergate investigation has changed her tune once she was sworn under oath.
Murlene Wilkens, the private contractor hired to manage Workmens’ Compensation claims for the State of Alaska at first released statements that no pressure was put on her in the case of Trooper Wooten, Sarah Palin’s ex-brother-in-law.
posted yesterday:
Palin Implicated By Witness in ‘Troopergate’ Probe
it appears that Wilkens’ story under oath suddenly changed, and after seeing hard evidence, including sworn testimony of one of her own employees, she admits to denying Trooper Wooten’s previously approved claim at the direct request of Sarah and Todd Palin.
@Derek Rock Crane (09:54:52) :
Burn baby burn!
When will the MSM pick up the update on Troopergate?
Derek Rock Crane (09:54:52) :
DrChill:
Palin is toast…
————————————-
She’s BEEN toasting so long, the toaster blew the kitchen fuses!
———–
Okay okay… It was coming, but this is an irreversible precipitatating event.
MSM will pick it up.
McCain’s choice has got a lot of ‘splain’in to do.
Is she going to call this ‘gotcha journalism’ ?
or cry – “Its the Democrats and Obama’s fault!”
muffled whimper sound…
18 out of 21 GOP candidates in competitive or toss up reelection campaigns voted against bailout, MSNBC is reporting.
I think that says something. Up to you to decide what it says.
It says to me that they care more about holding their seat than doing what’s best for the country.
However, if they heard from their constituents and the message was that they didn’t support it, then they acted in the interest of their constituency and that is their job.
Personally, I think the inability of Congress to act in a bipartisan manner is a damning condemnation of our elected representatives. I get that politics is partisan and I understand why, but when our very economy, in a global economy, is at such risk, there comes a time when one does what is right.
I think so many things came into play. Republicans are distancing themselves from Bush and his failed tenure. Democrats don’t want all the responsibility on their shoulders. If no one wants to stand up and take responsibility, everyone will fall.
Not to change the subject but this was a topic earlier today – Palin’s debates in Alaska in 2006 – looks like it’s over an hour but could be useful and/or entertaining:
http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/videogavel.cfm?video=10367&request=C6497DB02F8E8B2EEBD6187CB905DEAA
Bec…I agree, October surprise and 1 day early
Karen Marie, ..thanks for article on Anne Kilkenny. a stand out story, a stand up lady. She will be remembered by us as the 1st to vet and the 1st to do the press’s job in regards to McCains surprise.
Kos story: another stand up person to tell the truth. thank you to all who shared for us lurkers.
one person at a time is all it takes.
Just reading an interesting article on fivethirtyeight about dumping Palin. They said it isn’t going to happen. I agree. Those Repub lawyers in Alaska will do all they can to stall this Trooper stuff until after the election and assume their base will call it “witch-hunting” (PUN intended). Palin will keep crying “gotcha Journalism” and get by with it until election day.
But that doesn’t mean they will win this election. I don’t think there is any way to turn this around for McCain, now. IMO
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/mccain-is-stuck-with-palin.html
But do we really really want Palin dumped? Really? Personally I’d rather she stayed on and caused an Obama landslide, ‘cos right now she’s doing a good job of alienating her own side.
Just my 2 öre from Sweden…
Proud Community OrganizerWA said:
If all else fails I will resort to media silence for the day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When all else fails, I call swing state voters. Admittedly, some of them are less than thrilled to hear from me, but when I speak with an Obama supporter, my spirits soar. I think we buoy each other and it feels good.
If on one answers, I leave a message scripted by the campaign, but I add my own touches and emphasis. At the very least, I feel like I’m doing something in an atmosphere that feels increasingly out of control.
bPoint (09:59:40) :
This Troopergate break might not be a good as it looks.
The Palin side may say this Wilke testimony taints their chances for a fair investigation. The subpoena was not yet confirmed to be valid(I know this is debatable) and therefore the Wilke deposition should not be heard. But because it has leaked into the public domain, it was heard without cross examination, so the Palins will cry foul. A diversion, yes, but what else to they have. It might work, it might not.
————
Whether the subpoena was or was not valid, or the statement was leaked or not, this woman made a sworn statement. That means an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
A right to cross examination does not usually apply at inquiries, and certainly not to someone giving a deposition. Essentially, Branchflower was the one cross-examining her based on the contradictory sworn testimony of someone else.
Edit: To clarify, this is not a trial or an “adversarial” proceeding, but an “inquisitorial proceeding” — as its known in the legal community — although I recognize that it is being done what most people would consider an adversarial way. (And I’m sure that the Palins think they are the victims of that famous Catholic witchhunt, the Inquisition.)
You know, from what little I’ve grasped of this kerfuffle, it sounds as though Miss Wasilla could have avoided this by just giving a timely deposition, and then leaving the whole process alone.
And that the whole thing didn’t really boil over until the J-Mack crew shoved their spoon in.
WHAT IN GOD’S NAME WAS SHE THINKING????
Someone in Mudflats a week or so ago, explained the difference between personnel and WC files. Employers are privy to personnel files, but do not have legal access to WC files. If that is the case, then the Palins and some of their staff broke laws when they had Wooten’s file copied and sent to the Mayor’s office.
Bad Language warning…it IS Sarah Silverman, after all.
And Happy Rosh Hashanah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCwSWFyMLjM
Federal laws?
You are right antsy – someone with personnel experience did explain that. Sarah or Todd should never have had access to the WC files.
We also heard that Todd was out shooting photos for proof against WC claims.
Here is what AP is saying (and they are known for being pro-McCain) (from HuffPo)
AP Reports on the damage the failed bailout bill has done to John McCain’s campaign: Republican John McCain has maneuvered himself into a political dead end and has five weeks to find his way out.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/30/analysis-with-bailout-mcc_n_130482.html
@bPoint (05:36:24) :
I loved the comment from O’Callaghan when asked if the McCain campaign had any role in the lawsuits: “The lawsuits were not initiated by any lawyer in the campaign, but we’d be happy to consult”.
Well, duh, the lawyers IN the campaign aren’t licensed in AK, so they couldn’t file the suits. Another splendid non-answer from the Head Weasel.
@Shove Maggot Palin aka the problem child (10:11:09) :
Whether the subpoena was or was not valid, or the statement was leaked or not, this woman made a sworn statement. That means an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
A right to cross examination does not usually apply at inquiries, and certainly not to someone giving a deposition. Essentially, Branchflower was the one cross-examining her based on the contradictory sworn testimony of someone else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree with you 100% but it does not be Palins people will not try to create a diversion around it, by blaming the truth for showing up without their invitation.
WHAT IN GOD’S NAME WAS SHE THINKING????
Sarah, thinking, not apparently all that mixy.
I have posted information at the Forum regarding the “Countdown to Truth” as regards the Troopergate dilemma here in Alaska. It is under the Actions & Alerts thread, titled: Alaskans for Truth — Countdown to Truth. Please read Mudflatters!
Please read it & contact our state senators & representatives!
Here is the reply that I received today from Senator Kim Elton:
As chair of the legislative council, the entity that authorized the investigation, I am committed to finishing the report and releasing it to the public.
Kim
bPoint (10:20:04) :
“I invited the inquiry, I didn’t invite the TRUTH”
I nominate you for today’s best t-shirt/ protest sign slogan!
I still go back to that Monegan statement he made many moons ago that impressed the hell out of me, regarding Palin. He said, “I will die for the Governor, but I won’t lie for her.”
Perjury is not something any person enters into without serious consideration about the consequences. Why do you think all those witnesses are ducking supoenas?
The fact this woman changed her testiomony UNDER OATH doesn’t surprise me at all.
Perjury is a felony and how many civil servants are really going to protect someone like Sarah Palin by perjuring themselves? You may protect your ‘political’ career or save your job in her administration, but it’s not going to keep you out of jail.
epic:
WHAT IN GOD’S NAME WAS SHE THINKING????
Sarah, thinking, not apparently all that mixy.
————————–
Granted, granted, but I figured, “well, she manages to walk, talk, drink water and breath air, etc ….” Silly me figured being a carbon-based life form implied a connection …
Derek Rock Crane (10:11:21) :
You know, from what little I’ve grasped of this kerfuffle, it sounds as though Miss Wasilla could have avoided this by just giving a timely deposition, and then leaving the whole process alone.
And that the whole thing didn’t really boil over until the J-Mack crew shoved their spoon in.
WHAT IN GOD’S NAME WAS SHE THINKING????
Perhaps Thomas Muthee whispered in her ear that the Divine Right of Kings has resurrected itself as the Divine Right of Going-with-God Governors?
It’s very difficult to get inside the mindset of megalomaniacs, especially those megalomaniacs who are able to surround themselves (at the state’s expense) with sycophants and ‘advisors’ who are family members.
Nepotism rarely works in family-owned businesses; it certainly doesn’t work (or last) when the public is able to see what their hard-earned money is paying for in their government (and those five kids, growing up immersed in a gimme culture, will be hard to wean off of the public teat should they ever manage to latch on to it).
I don’t think that Palin thinks; I think that she just does, and then she relies on charisma, connections and cash (remember the administrator hired to deal with the mundane details of her mayoring job in Wasilla?) to wriggle her way out of it.
It worked in small-town Wasilla, as not too many non-Wasillans gave a damn; it seems to have ruffled a lot of feathers within Alaska when her technique was applied to the much-bigger Alaska State stage (but who, outside of Alaska, really knew or gave a damn?); but not too many thinking Americans seem to want to give her the opportunity to try it out at the national level.
Halcrow (10:34:38) :
Great post!
Karen Marie: Thanks for the article.
Anne Kilkenny is my HERO!
For everyone that was annoyed with Bill for being so wishy-washy about Obama and fulsome with praise for McCain, well, I have to agree with the comments that say that Bill is going to be angry about this (though of course it could have been seen from a mile away so was likely a passive-aggressive thing on Bill’s part, now he can smile inside but outwardly act outraged):
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/30/bill-clinton-the-star-of-new-mccain-ad/#comments
Well, the McShame campaign my come to the screeching halt again. Huffington post has him on video saying (in a round-about way) he may suspend his campaign again. Wow. It is a countdown to the Thursday debate…… if it indeed happens.
@Pacificnwgal (10:46:59) :
To be fair, that interview is really Fox trying to get McCain to say he would suspend his campaign. Both interviewers tried more than twice to get him to say something along those lines, and McCain didn’t take the bait.
I don’t think Palin gets dumped because of her ineptitude. It would reflect too badly on McCain’s judgement in picking her. Even though it would be publically cloaked as something else – Trig’s or Bristol’s health, eg.
Troopergate may be another story but not one likely to be resolved before the election.
The real point is the electoral process. Seven or eight states have already started early voting any many more will start it next Tuesday. Ballots are already printed in most, if not all, states. And I don’t know the rules but I assume that the delegates to the Republican Convention would have to approve a replacement, though that could probably be done on a conference call.
So it doesn’t sound like a workable option if it ever got to that.
Serious conflict here in Chicago for Thursday night. Debate starts at 8, Cub’s playoff game at 8:30. Thank God for Robert Adler, the inventor of the remote control (crossword puzzle answer a while back.)
Melangell – what about us ugly mudpuppies?
@Karen Marie
I laughed myself to sleep last night after linking to the interviewpalin site. Thanks!
________________________________________________
WW SWWNBND wear Thursday night?
It was almost like the Faux news team was taunting him to suspend his campaign again. I don’t think anyone will fall for it this time…especially if Palin doesn’t show for the debate…it would make no sense. She can’t do anything in DC, so even if McCain decides he must go to DC to save the day, there’s no logical reason for Sarah to skip out on the debate. If there is no debate on Thursday, I suspect the campaign is over. I will sacrifice the entertainment of the debate if it assures Obama victory.
Chicago-You don’t have the magical DVR? I have to record it for my husband, since he has to work.
It’s unspooling.
Bushs’ credibility is so low that the words ‘Power Vacuum’ have been used.
Paulson just looks like a scary corporate thug.
McCain is starting to resemble a crazed old coot.
Palin is just… with a dozen pieces of legal crap growing in the darkness just out of sight. You can feel them gathering strength. and you can feel the people who support her and cover for her making those evaluations
‘Dig in or jump ship?’
I think McCain thought his henchmen could make Troopergate go away, but not only has it not gone away, it’s getting longer legs by the day.
Hey, I am TOTALLY OK if McCain (permanently) suspends his campaign.. and just concedes to Obama!!
lol
This is fraud in CA,,, and I suspect in AK too, it can result in fines and JAIL TIME- my oh my- (from Kos)
“It seems that at least one independent witness in the Troopergate investigation has changed her tune once she was sworn under oath….
she admits to denying Trooper Wooten’s previously approved claim at the direct request of Sarah and Todd Palin… And of course, goon-husband Todd is right in the middle of it.”
Maybe that is one reason Todd wants to go home.. or that he has been MIA over the past few days… getting his affairs in order before the arrest… or heading out to the wilderness to hide…
Beans Harpoon–
I have to watch both in real time. Don’t want to miss anything!!
I’ll just have to do two things at once.
Woah. I think I’m qualified to be President.
Chicago-
I feel your pain…I usually end up taping one so I won’t miss anything.
Intrade has Obama by a landslide:
http://www.intrade.com/
I wish the election were closer. We have had two stolen from us…one literally and one because of “swiftboating.” I am nervous that the Republicans will make up something that sticks. Although so far…nothing they have tried has worked.
*This is my all time favorite Barak Obama Video
“He sees the world as it is, and the world as it should be” (Michelle Obama)
“Together our Dreams can be won” (Barak Obama)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24U4ScmeCXs
NoCalGal
Apparently the goon, Todd, and the children are meeting up w/ Caribou Barbie at the McSame’s place in Sedona, AZ where they plan to get her ready for the debate; although I think the children are just going to have a visitation w/ Mom, not actually help in the debate practice. It is going to be very interesting to see what happens in Troopergate . . .
I have this giddy feeling verging on hysterical. This is all very entertaining, but guys, I think we have to stay the course. Some pundits are saying the numbers were down on the expectation of how many watched the past debate. I hope the numbers are way up on the Palin/Biden debate. Complacency will not do us well. I’m still waiting for the October surprise. We are being played, and we need very much to pay attention to the ‘game.’ I don’t think we’re in a minority, are we? I am very thankful that I stumbled upon this blog, (as most everyone I read is) what with the great links that I’ve been able to read to at least feel like I am better informed in all of this.
Not to beat a dead horse but I’ve been watching/listening to the 2006 debate between the Alaska gubenatorial candidates and Sarah does not sound anywhere near pathetic – on HER issues, she can speak relatively intelligently -it’s just that she doesn’t have any worldwide knowledge on which to base answers on Thursday night. But she really believes that she can pull it off because she does not accept that she will fail . . . she was full of confidence in this debate:
http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/videogavel.cfm?video=10367&request=C6497DB02F8E8B2EEBD6187CB905DEAA
I really need help with a something very dear to me. JM has been an avid
supporter of the privatization of Social Security. If this scenario had been
in effect when the market crashed, how would it have affected the
recipients of this form of income? I am really curious about this because
I receive Disability Benefits. Also, I plan to use this info for my basis to
educate voters in the area where I live. If you can help me contact me at. E-mail address below.
http://www.vimeo.com/1742831 I think you will like this
video.
deuce244@hotmail.com Thanks, DEUCE!
I’m not at all confident that she will blow it. She could very well do just fine – depending on the questions. She is a somewhat experienced politician and could make it tough on Biden if things go her way. Biden will be working with a handicap since Palin will be free to say whatever she wants and be as mean as possible, while if Joe does the same thing, he will be accused of being rude, ungentlemanly or whatever.
Grammy a/k/a Commando Coalfire Palin (11:19:49) :
NoCalGal
Apparently the goon, Todd, and the children are meeting up w/ Caribou Barbie at the McSame’s place in Sedona, AZ where they plan to get her ready for the debate; although I think the children are just going to have a visitation w/ Mom, not actually help in the debate practice. It is going to be very interesting to see what happens in Troopergate . . .
EEEEK!! Surely Sarah’s not planning on having Piper stand in for her during the vice presidential debate?
The wee girl is as photogenic as her mom; is surely as well-versed as her mom in foreign affairs (at six, her eyesight would be keener than Sarah’s, so she’d be able to see Russia better out of the back window): she’d probably be a quicker understudy and wouldn’t have all of those annoying mannerisms…and everyone loves kids, right?
Just watch McCain’s approval ratings go throught the roof: a VP candidate with absolutely no baggage and he’d be rid of that alabatross presently strung around his neck (what mother wouldn’t smilingly and unselfishly step aside to allow their child a four-year moment in the sun?).
jwa -
I agree – she may not come off as dumb as she has in the interviews – it all depends on how specific they try to make her be – I noticed when asked in the Alaska debate about her stance on abortion even if it was rape, she would just say I’m pro-life and would not elaborate. Whereas Tony Knowles gave a narrative about why he is pro-choice overall and definitely in the case of rape, I don’t know, it just seems like she likes to give short answers and if no one pushes her to elaborate, she might do fine. And Biden is definitely at a disadvantage – but he should still make comments like “to elaborate on Ms. Palin’s SHORT answer and set out the OBAMA plan/message”, etc. But then he doesn’t want to talk TOO much b’cuz the audience will doze off . . . I imagine he is experienced enough to know how to tread in the landmine!!
OK NoCalGal – let’s get the bumper stickers/campaign buttons whipped up:
Piper for VEEP!
@ DeMo
Yes most GOP no votes came from folks in swing states (iffy seats). Another interesting fact was on CBS — despite what Boehner and Cantor said, other GOP reps are saying that blaming Pelosi’s speech was “stupid” and “idiotic.” Their words, not mine. Just blogged on the topic, along with some other telling quotes about what the bailout’s really all about and the state of the GOP.
Comment from England on Canada’s political fracas:
“Only in Canada could they replace the least charismatic Prime Minister in their history with the least charismatic man in the universe. A coup in which whatsisface overthrows whatsisname.”