I’ve just got to quote 323…
to get things started…again…
it was so well said, I’d hate to lose it…..
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands to be paid to work (per diem) in her own home and town while telling the Native villagers to leave their ancestral homes and towns to work in jobs that she’s dictated as appropriate.
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands that the state pay for her children’s travel expenses because (as she states so sanctimoniously) “the discharge of my duties should not prevent spending time with them” but expects the young Natives to leave THEIR families (without travel reimbursement, I might add) to discharge the job “duties” that she’s dictated as appropriate for them.
Unbelievably aloof, ignorant, self-entitled, and condescending.
I think i saw two boxes of mac an cheese and a box of crackers. couldn’t see any thing else, but I was thinking to my self boy that is not going to last long.
Hope you are feeling better AKM
How can the State of Alaska condone taking a child out of school for the purpose of promoting the state’s business?
By paying for the travel and meal expenses for that GINO’s children for trips made during the school year, the State of Alaska is condoning truancy. Yep…truancy while promoting the state’s business. The best interests of the children should be paramount.
Wonderful videos!! I love international good will events. I promote sports travel and sports tourism in Alaska. I blew my knee total apart many years ago in pre Olympic down hill race. Now I’m support the sport of soccer, futsal, X-country skiing, and international offshore adventure ocean racing. I would love to get a Job doing something for the 2010 winter Olympics.
I’ve been working on a blog entry about the increasingly fundamentalist nature of Republicanism–I find myself making the case that it’s developing into a religion all its own. But Governor Palin and the villagers keep getting mixed up in it. Think I’m going to have to do an entry about that, then move on to the creepy conjunction of Republicanism with That Old Time Religion…
“WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama challenged the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo.”
eastcoast:HYPOCRITICAL that she demands to be paid to work (per diem) in her own home and town while telling the Native villagers to leave their ancestral homes and towns to work in jobs that she’s dictated as appropriate.
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands that the state pay for her children’s travel expenses because (as she states so sanctimoniously) “the discharge of my duties should not prevent spending time with them” but expects the young Natives to leave THEIR families (without travel reimbursement, I might add) to discharge the job “duties” that she’s dictated as appropriate for them.
Unbelievably aloof, ignorant, self-entitled, and condescending.
***********************
Also telling them that the “government can’t do everything, don’t depend on the government” and she turns around and claims a per diem from Alaskan tax payer most illegal….although caught this @ Phil’s blog…
The first vid. at 3:09 GINO: “Flew out of Juneau last night, to WASILLA, then taken out of Wasilla today…”
Is that a REAL per diem she’s trying to claim here?
GINO=disrespectful POS!
Team Alaska,
Originally I would have loved to have been able to go to them too but that won’t be happening anytime soon. A friend got tickets to 2 events as her name was drawn in the draw. I’m not sure how it totally works but its crappy. She had to enter her name for 3 sports events and they could not be all for the same sport. Her name did get drawn for the one skating event but not really interested in the other events. The two events are 8 days apart which makes for an expensive trip. For what they charge and the way they run getting tickets, I’ll keep my money thank you. If I wanted skating, I don’t want to be standing at the ski jump!!
Our family connection to Olympics is my cousin’s daughter who is a Special Olympics figure skater. She eats, breathes and sleeps skating. In fact, she was one of the members of the Canadian Team when Alaska held the World Special Olympic games a few years ago. She had a blast.
I lov AKMs little weather thing…..i can not think of it being that cold for so long. It was below freezing her for two weeks and I thought that was bad. I have tulips up, crocus blooming and the Camille is about to bloom….Yup..Yup spring is around the corner.
BodieP,
If you haven’t read it yet, pick up a copy of “Kingdom Coming, the Rise of Christian Nationalism” by Michele Goldberg(http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Coming-Rise-Christian-Nationalism/dp/0393060942) It’s pre-Sarah, but it sure goes into some detail about the movement–it’ll scare the be-jesus out of you
Catherine
I’ll definitely pick that up. I’m a writer/English person/artist, not a politician by trade, but I find myself very concerned about the images and associations that are being created and fostered among the GOP and conservative Christians.
BodieP – check into American Civil Religion… very interesting subject – almost downright scary at times but certainly “explains” the Reaganesque imagery and the appeal of Winthrop and Edwards
harold Bloom wrote a really good book several years ago that is still relevant – maybe more today than ever
“The American Religion: The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation” and Dr. Martin Marty of U/Chicago has always been at the forefront on this theo-political phenomenon.
oops sorry – one more book to “discover”
Habits of the Heart – Individualism and Commitment in American Life
by Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler, and Tipton. (Really really good)
HI there,.. I have not posted before, but since AKM is not feeling well, I thought I would offer a solution for the thinking.. it rids Alaska of Palin, pays off the national debt, stabalizes the Alaskan govenment – but it does have it have a few drawbacks. Sell Alaska to Canada. That government is very stable, the banks are secure, and there are many wonderful benefits to being a Canadian, eh?! Just thought I would throw that out to stir up the conversation, it would make the AIP happy, they want to seceed anyway!! LOL.. Pam
@BodieP
increasingly fundamentalist nature of Republicanism–I find myself making the case that it’s developing into a religion all its own
”””””””””””””””””””’good observation…it really does seem true
@austintx & anon blogger
anon blogger – Piper is in training for the day she looks at Todd and says “You quit , Bristol quit , F**K IT!! , I quit too.also
”””””””””””””””””””like the Repug fundy’s insisted on seeing PO’s birth certificate…I want to see palin’s college degree. It’s assumed she has one, but I beg to differ. It’s just NOT apparent!
Wow–lots of reading ahead of me! I’m going to postpone that blog entry until I can do some reading, and see if I have anything to add to the discussion.
Wouldn’t this action by one of GINO’s Deputies here be embroiling the State government in partisan politics? Ethics breach??
________________________________________________________________
Thanks for the post. Les Gara’s response to Palin’s pawn is an excellent read — very clever and subtly made his point. Bravo, Les!
This is my favorite part:
“I just don’t know that telling me how misguided Republicans feel the President of the United States is (surprise surprise), advances out interest in working together to make sure the funds we receive create jobs, strengthen our schools, reverse Alaska’s rising unemployment rate, and move us forward together.
You asked. I won’t, in return, send your office any of President Obama’s speeches on this subject, which roughly 60% seem to agree with at this point. Thanks. Les Gara”
I think the only way we would consider taking Alaska would be as a fourth territory. The Turks and Caicos has a better chance of becoming a province (and they’ve been asking for years). Better weather, for one thing. Sorry.
But we’ll consider applications for landed immigrant (or even refugee) status from disgruntled Alaskans.
Canadian neighbor————
I am glad for you but it still looks like she has her eye for the2012, so for us that is bad.
Ya that dang per diem that she gets. How ever my silver lining here is that the ice queen and the toad have gotten used to kind of a grand life style and can you imagine how they will feel when she is out of office and trying to live on half the salary and having to go back and shucks just being “people” again.Talk about the depression. There could never be enough tanning beds to take care of that.
In my research on Republican fundamentalism I ran across an article that makes the case that Sarah Palin’s Wasilla church is part of an extreme (“cult-like” is their word) branch of the evangelical Christian right. The article is alarming in a conspiracy-theory sort of way. I’m including the link here.
How very delightful to finally be a part of the conversation!! I have been reading Mudflats for many months, I heard it mentioned on NPR way back in September and have been lurking ever since. I think this site is addicting, and I have heard that from others as well. But, like coffee, I don’t think it will hurt my health.
I am so glad that there are such persitant people out there to devote the time and energy to expose the Alaskan political and economic situation to the rest of the lower 48. I am an avid supporter of transparancy, you know, like the truth. Good luck in your continued research,.. all of this Palin stuff is just too crazy to believe. I am so glad I have never met anyone like her.
I will probably continue to just do some gentle lucking and enjoying the popcorn and such as requested by AKM from time to time. “You just can’t make this stuff up” love this site.. Guess I will have to send off my village package tomorrow.. best to you all.
I have many questions. If the young villagers leave to find work elsewhere who is left to care for the elders? Where I live (in Calif.) and especially in these times I can’t imagine an employee can split his/her schedule in such a convenient way as Sara suggested. If a person has a job today, and walks away from it for a few months means goodbye employment.
Is it possible the not-so-good governor of Alaska wants to see the traditional ways and villages disappear in the name of economic progress so certain industries can find a way to claim the land if she and her ilk deem said villages defunct?
@ BodieP
I haven’t looked at the site you just posted, but yesteday, two or three other sites were posted with (apparently) similar information. I’ll see if I still have any here, otherwise, it’s ploughing through 600+ posts. Or, google “7 mountain” – or Muthee.
Nan and BodieP,
Today I spent some time looking up some of that stuff concerning Palin and it gets very scary. There was one site that said that Alaska is like the place to go to be safe in the end times. So, if there’s an influx of chritian freaks claiming end of times, thank GINO. I’ll have to see if I saved that site. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God/Jesus, I just don’t believe in teaching through fear and emotions and the rapture.
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands to be paid to work (per diem) in her own home and town while telling the Native villagers to leave their ancestral homes and towns to work in jobs that she’s dictated as appropriate.
****
Great insight!
Alaska- we don’t want Palin. I will personally throw my old black rubber boots at her. Both of them!
We already have Harper, a smarmy fat guy who wears powder blue button-front sweaters and wants to run a theocracy. And you know what- I just realized I’ve never seen his wife. Can’t summon her face at all. This is probably A Good Thing.
In my research on Republican fundamentalism I ran across an article that makes the case that Sarah Palin’s Wasilla church is part of an extreme (”cult-like” is their word) branch of the evangelical Christian right. The article is alarming in a conspiracy-theory sort of way.
My question is: is this article based in fact?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BodieP-I’m sure you have read the talk2action site, they have a link “dark christian” which a forum, that has many links and they talk about “outing Dominionism”
They have a “Dark christian wiki” that shows the links between church’s, org., etc. http://dark-christian.clanxanadu.org/
They have talked about AOG, Joel’s Army, and CNP was specifically behind GINO’s pick for VP.
At the Dark Christian forum, look for dogemperor and troutfishing who also write blogs/dairies on Kos.
It is scary sh*t! The taliban in America!
Lainey @ 17:52
—like the Repug fundy’s insisted on seeing PO’s birth certificate…I want to see palin’s college degree. It’s assumed she has one, but I beg to differ. It’s just NOT apparent!
–
I think you may have something there. Here’s something I found way back…shows vetting info on Palin…Wechsler IQ..SAT…
BrodieP
———–
A Lot of this I have either read or seen elsewhere. Yes it is very scary..I never knew these people were out there. I did see the video of Gino getting dewitched and pastor munthee praying for her to be in the right place at the right time.
yup you betch it keeps me up at night. Her with her own little army that she told sometime you might have to die doing gods war.
In my research on Republican fundamentalism I ran across an article that makes the case that Sarah Palin’s Wasilla church is part of an extreme (”cult-like” is their word) branch of the evangelical Christian right. The article is alarming in a conspiracy-theory sort of way. I’m including the link here.
My question is: is this article based in fact?
————
I’m no expert in crazy fundamentalism, but the information there is consistent with what I have seen from talk2action and other watchdog groups.
Here’s a handy site to defend yourself when confronted with fundy’s aka American Taliban’s…. How to Fight the Religious Right
A guide to defending yourself against Fundamentalist Christians http://elroy.net/ehr/fighttheright.html
BodieP – checked out the site given and I don’t remember hearing about this, which I copied from the site—
“Palin is now under investigation for possible improper use of state travel funds for a trip she made on June 8 to Wasilla. Her trip in turns out was to attend a Wasilla Assembly of God ‘Masters Commission’ graduation ceremony, and a multi-church Wasilla event known as ‘One Lord Sunday.’ At the latter, Palin and Alaska LT Governor Scott Parnell were publicly blessed, onstage before an estimated crowd of 6,000, through the “laying on of hands” by Wasilla Assembly of God’s Head Pastor Ed Kalnins, her former pastor.”
BodieP, there is book out there (and I know it’s buried here in my office somewhere) that does a pretty good job looking at the architecture of American Civil Religion. When I find it, I’ll post the title. It’s well worth a read. Not too pedantic or theoretical, but pretty rock solid in both theo-political concepts and tying them into how a nation views itself through its government buildings. Offers some comparisons to the Finnish government buildings designed by Alvar Aalto who was the truly first organic architect (not Frank Lloyd Wright)
Evening all… our nor-eastah is just starting to wind up so I hope all you fellow east coastahs and mainahs are bundled in nice and tight.
Sarah Palin… she sure does appear to have a nice no-show job don’t she? Gets a nice taxpayer-funded salary, too. As for the remaining Palin kids who are not yet preggers, I suspect their school-going days are all done now. Or is there any evidence to the contrary?
Yes, we got a quick update from Ann this evening! She’s planning to write a full update when she recovers a bit:
“Trying to catch my breath from handing out Sam. Purse food… (there’s more here about reporters and SP but didn’t know if Ann S wanted me to include it so I left it out)…
Oh well, we got 1540 lbs of food out. That’s what’s important. I am just exhausted physically and mentally from today. The boxes had EVERYTHING on my list minus the baby stuff and the coffee and TP. “
@saiuerkraut — bundled in and trundling off to bed so I can be nice and fresh for snow shovelling come morning. Although a glance out the window indicates a lull at least. But wait 5 minutes, as we say here.
@anon blogger…….whoa, thanks much for the vetting info…good stuff!
so, palin has an IQ of 83!!!???? not the sharpest knife in the drawer, is she?
and palin “earned” a BA in 1 year? dropping out all the previous years? hmmm
blanking the dean?
a 2.3 gpa? how did she even get into college? all that alaskan pot must have killed her brain cells!
this info is priceless! I saved it to my C drive, so I can ‘study’ it later…before the ‘infamous they’ think to remove it.
thanks again.
Thank you Crystalwolf for that website, I know I’ll be reading it in detail and using it. Wish I had it a couple of years ago when I was called a dumbocrat at work.
Seen video…but I guess I forgot Parnell was included on the video. What is the status of the investigation into misuse of state travel funds, do you know?
There are so many, many “-gates” it is hard to keep them all straight. Maybe GINO spun so much crap to take away from the real issue..a cult is taking over Alaska.
Os Hillman looks a little off, he kind of has that mind controlling way about him.
I’m not impressed and this is noting I want my State Governor to be a part off. This is a religious movement that should be separated from State Business. Its quite clear that GINO is unfit to manage the state of Alaska with out guidance of the 7 mountains movement, and this nation wide group of mind controlling narcissistic psychopaths.
AKM, Hope you are feeling better. As good mudflatters, we know how to keep ourselves busy by learning what we need to know in your absence. Thank you for this open thread.
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About some on the religious right & fundamentalists:
The whole GINO religious affiliations were introduced here prior to the November defeat of republican politics.
After checking out talk2action and checking out ‘dominonism’ as suggested by someone here, I was appalled and righteously indignant that so much negative had been made of President Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Rev. Wright is not a coward. He basically spoke truth to power and many did not want to hear what he had to say. He was branded ‘Marxist’ though the history of prophetic preaching in the Black Church preceded Marxism. Rev. Wright’s words were used to ‘condemn’ Mr. Obama (by association) in the most despicable way.
Connect the dots:
Watching the recent Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) interview with Tim LaHaye (& Jerry Jenkins), authors of the ‘Left Behind’ series which have sold over 65 MILLION copies, I better understood the whole religious right demonization of President Obama as a ‘socialist who wants to punish the rich by redistributing wealth.’ I’ve heard people make that statement who don’t IMHO have a clue about the definition of ‘socialism.’
There are very interesting online reads about Tim LaHaye’s faulty theology regarding ‘the rapture’ and the end times with his interpretation of the book of Revelation. Scary stuff too.
Those “leaders” (media wh*res) will only leave with their (forked) tails between their legs when their weak and desperate followers, including palin’s, recognize the magic act…it’s just frightful that there are so many out there grasping onto anything to believe in. I don’t how to reach and teach these types, but something needs to be done. It’s just like the Middle East fighting for thousands of years over religious semantics…I don’t want the same turmoil existing here. jmo
Lots of reading to do here. I’m going to be following links for a long time (I’ve also ordered a couple books). The think that I keep thinking is that fundamentalist and evangelical christianity both have an apocalyptic world view (sheesh, all that religious education is coming in handy here). That means that they see the end of the world, and its concomitant disasters (the Time of Trouble and the End Times) as something to be courted. In other words, they WANT things to go badly. In a sort of weird way, working to make the world a better place, and to solve the problems we are facing, can be seen as anti-Christian.
To not write off the world means that you “love the things of this world,” and we all know what THAT means! I am beginning to wonder how much that apocalyptic worldview is playing into our politics these days, particularly among the GOP Faithful. If you believe that the world is evil, and needs to fall apart before Jesus can come, what’s to stop you from giving it a little (or big) push?
I can’t entirely get where their head is, because it was God who put us here (for a purpose and we don’t know when our work is done) and God will remove us in His time…we (they) are totally out of this equation. I don’t see loving the things of this world as being a bad thing…people I love are in this world and hopefully I can see the loved ones who passed in the next.
If ‘they’ believe that the world is evil and needs to fall apart before Jesus can come, then why do ‘they’ keep lying and stealing and committing adultery (hear that, palin) and all the things that go against God? They’re just hypocrites using religion. I’m thinkin’ out loud too.
if you read their books how how to train “the children” it is just heart breaking. Ya know you can not have a bunch of crying kids around. They really believe in the rod.If they cry you know that you have their attention. So you just keep at it until they learn not to cry.
@mhrt–”if you read their books how how to train “the children” it is just heart breaking.”
——-
Funny you should mention this–in dealing with the effects of some of that “spare the rod” parenting I was steered toward a wonderful book by Alice Miller, a German psychiatrist turned psychologist, “For Your Own Good.” She set out to explore how it was that Germany managed to produce a whole generation of people who loved their children, were kind to their pets, attended church–and went to work every day in the death camps and committed atrocities. Her study led her to the German child-rearing techniques, which I am here to tell you are a shaping force in fundamentalist child-rearing ideals today. I know this–I had those damned books quoted at me for years. And I learned not to cry. Didn’t work–they just kept beating until I did–and then they told me to “stop, or I’d get something to cry about–they hadn’t hit me that hard.”
Sorry–side trip there. Bottom line: Miller found that raising children in a world where dissent and questions are forbidden, along with the appropriate expression of anger, creates an adult who basically abdicates all responsibility to the perceived “authority figure,” church, state, or familial. It really doesn’t matter. Such a person will do anything with a clear conscience. They are, after all, only “following orders.”
Speaking of following–I’ve been following links. Seems to me there’s really no point in writing about the religious/GOP links–that’s been done and done and done. The nice thing is that this means I get to be creative.
@Moose Pucky (16:40:28) :
Willows are beginning to leaf out. Yummm.
———–
hahahaha … LEAVES? Where I am, it still looks like the pix Ann S. posted on her blog. Snow & drifts! We won’t see leaves until later in April.
@anon blogger (16:50:14) :
eastcoast…in addition…
How can the State of Alaska condone taking a child out of school for the purpose of promoting the state’s business?
———
ESPECIALLY when Piper is the ‘poster child’ for the National Education Association! Wonder what they think of that???? Is that the kind of national model they want to emulate for EDUCATION?
@BodieP (16:52:58) :
I’ve been working on a blog entry about the increasingly fundamentalist nature of Republicanism–
========
Rotsa Ruck! Don’t know if I’d want to tackle that. But truth be told, somebody seriously needs to dig into it – deeply.
Don’t know if I’d call it a religion all its own, though. I think 7 Mtns. is at the heart of it. Of course, if you’re looking at Republicanism in general, then yeah, it expands generally to conservative evangelicals. What they all have in common is no respect for Separation of Church and State. Think you’re on the right track with the ‘creepy conjunction.’
Bodie, I’m sure you’ve previously posted the URL for your blog, but I don’t have it. Would you mind sharing it? TX!
oops, sorry for the big no-no faux pas … I asked for BodieP’s blog address w/o checking first to see if was already there. And of course, it was. Thanx, Bodie. Now gotta go read it!
Here is a link to a youtube video which Max Blumenthal has also posted on his website. It reveals how far the nutty Christian Right have infiltrated politics and how much they believe in their own importance. Watch and squirm.
Max’s site is witty and offers a fresh perspective on the many issues facing Republicans today……..he sort of lets them fall on their own swords which I find rather amusing.
@anon blogger (19:08:52) :
I think you may have something there. Here’s something I found way back…shows vetting info on Palin…Wechsler IQ..SAT… http://www.thelegaluniverse.com/PalinVettingBackground1.PDF
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Yikes, never saw this before … had read references to it though. All of that stuff, all in one place, is truly scary. If that person were applying for a job in my shop, they could forget it.
Yes, those scores do look rather low. But they’re from a long time ago, so not sure I know how to interpret them. Is there an education-type mudpuppy out there who can make sense of them? (It’d be fun to find out how she compared to others who took the same test…)
@the problem child (an aunt, also) (19:16:22) :
anon blogger (19:08:52) :
Hate to break it to ya, but that site has been pretty much been debunked as a fake. It is pretty amateurish.
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prob child – do you recall where it was debunked?
Speaking of books and SAT scores – Virgil Griffith , a Caltech grad student has done extensive research and determined that students that list “The Holy Bible” as their favorite book have the lowest SAT score of the research. He has a web-site called – Booksthatmakeyoudumb.com – I read a post on him this am on reddit.com He is also the founder of Wikiscanner , a database that tracks ISP Addresses of anonymous Wikipedia editors. He is definitely a truth seeker.
the problem child (an aunt, also)No Gravatar (20:05:12) :
Oops, too many vowels in sauerkraut.
________________
blame it on the vinegar!
Not a huge deal here although already more than most weathermen predicted. Stuck in the house due to PennDOT being about as useful (useless?) as Sarah Palin’s government.
I need someone to begin to open Churchgate. I believe that GINO is stepping all ever the premise of Separation of Church and State. There HAS to be something someone pursue about this. It can’t be legal or ethical. I just hope she has crossed the line and someone has it transcripted.
I really hate her. I don’t like to hate, but she brings out the worst in me.
crystalwolf………I was just catching up on the last cookie thread, it’s 10:33 am here in MO……I seem to miss many of the later in the day posts from other parts of the country and don’t see them until the next day.
anyhoooo……..this is for you and those posting about Palin Pets. (I accidentaly posted this on the cookie thread, sorry to repeat, I meant to go forward to this thread, lol)
Palin doesn’t have pets now, at least I don’t think so……my post was pointing out what she grew up with, her dad was a science (I think) teacher, he had animals around the house used as teaching aids.
I was pokin fun at how these things may have formed our sick Sarah’s psyche and thought processes in order to explain what we seem to have today.
Dogs and skunks……..what works for me is cheap tomato juice, works wonders, the acid must neutralize the spray somehow, just pour it on, rub it in, let it sit a while, then hose off, redo if necessary……but, I’ve always applied it right away, I don’t know about weeks or days later……crystalwolf……I’d try drenching the ground area with juice.
I’m not so sure that the site is a fake…I believe it! She acts like her IQ is 83 and her GPA was 2.3! And I know she did “try” out many different colleges.
I still question her degree…now, THAT could be fake! Hell, she lies about everything else.
Sorry for those who may read the last cookie thread…….this is another accidental post put there……it fits better in an open thread anyway.
Below is a comment from ADN article………I’m thinkin we need to do some delving into Joe Schmidt’s political ties…….I simply cannot understand “why” Palin would select this certain person to take over the gov or lite gov position if need be…….WHY? it’s just flat out weird.
I got thinking more about this last night after watching a news media coverage about the drug lord battles escalating in Mexico……and ties in US, including AK………ties including money, guns and drugs.
It’s really bad! The corruption in Mexican government and law enforcement is so huge its growing worse rapidly, becoming accepted as a way of life. Thousands of people are being executed by these thugs, they showed something like 11 police officers laying on the ground, murdered, decapitated as a “message” don’t mess with the drug lords. pitiful! people suspected as informants, the same, whole families murdered and put on public display, hung in the open to show what will happen. Mexican mafia gone rampant, over drug smuggling, gun selling and buying, money funneling, arg!
We should be very worried about this people. There are things going on around us, in our country that need to be exposed, the sooner the better.
There has to be US people involved, working with these drug lords, in airports, shipping, border control points, private planes, hangers, politicians, law enforcement, and yes, prisons, where is the heroin coming from in AK, it’s now becoming the lead drug to abuse in AK, meth has become harder to make, oxycontin is expensive…….all are addictive creating a vicious cycle to fund and get.
Alaskans seem to have a lot of unwatched freedom with so much private plane travel…….it’s easy to think much can be smuggled in or out………do they ever sweep these planes or hangers. Todd has his plane parked outside their house, how many others do the same?
It’s just unsettling……I know i’m not articulating this very well. But I don’t trust all the corruption in AK, so few people and so much crime…….not slamming all the good people of AK or your beautiful state, but I am worried about what goes on up there. You guys have got to watch every move by politicians, every appointment made, don’t just read articles and think nothing more, listen to the watchdogs! Thank goodness someone is interested in paying attention and connecting the dots.
this article seems nothing big on the surface, but read this comment and how much deeper and wider it goes…….read his/her last sentence…….think Bill Allen, felons, corrections, Joe Schmidt, Palin puppet, drugs, guns, money, Mexico mafia?
Immigration administrator guilty of hiring unqualified personnel
The Associated Press
Published: March 1st, 2009 09:45 PM
Last Modified: March 1st, 2009 09:46 PM
TACOMA, Wash. — A former administrator at a privately run immigration lockup in Tacoma won’t serve any jail time after she admitted hiring guards without background checks to speed up the process.
fsmith wrote on 03/02/2009 00:48:29 AM:
Wong worked for GEO Group which has had a highly questionable past. Known previously as Wackenhut, with felons Bill Weimar and Bill Allen, they tried to build a for-profit prison on 40 acres of city property in South Anchorage, with the help of Eldon Mulder. ADN 3/28/96
GEO has been outed for overcharging the state of Florida for millions of dollars and for offering the then-current Director of Prisons in Colorado about a million dollars if he could get a prison built for them. They lost a wages and hours suit in California for $10 million where they were also made illegal campaign contributions. They hired drunken driver who killed another motorist in Texas. He left GEO to become warden of a CCA prison in Eloy, Arizona, where Alaska sends it inmates. GEO was indicted for murder as a result of inmate deaths in Texas where their prison
So the prosecutors’ question should have been, did Wong hire illegal guards entirely of her own volition, or at GEO’s direct or implied orders?
@ Ripley in CT
I think you’re right. The hard part is that to “reasonable” Americans, a candidate’s religion is not approached. Rev Wright being the notable exception. Most feel that one’s religion is one’s own business and that’s that.
The “other folks” seem to feel that everyone’s religion is *their* business. Rev Wright being a notable example.
The only way I can see to get the religion thing done is to coax it out. “How has your faith sustained you in your life? …in your work? …in your office/position? How could that translate to *what* you do in your work? (i.e. office/political office – but without using those words)
…Because from what I see, the (scary) Relig Right are incapable of keeping their mouths shut about religion for any extended period of time. Sooner or later, they’re going to have to show just how rabid this mentality is – sooner would be better than later – and then the topic is fair game.
“In December, a group of Mexican soldiers was found with their heads cut off, and a note from traffickers warning “for every one of mine you kill, we will kill 10.”
A decapitated man was left hanging from a bridge; his head was found in the town square. Last year alone, nearly 6,300 people were killed in Mexico’s drug war – more than double the number the year before.
“The power of Mexico’s drug cartels has already spread far beyond the border. Just this week, the Justice Department announced they had arrested more than 700 people in the U.S. connected to just one cartel.
Mexican traffickers are operating in some 230 American cities, according to the Justice Department, and they’re now considered the number one organized crime threat in the United States.
“You’re seeing drug cartel involvement in Anchorage, Alaska.
In South Dakota. In Atlanta. In New York City,” Cooper told Napolitano.
“Right. Right. That’s why I say every– you know, the United States has a real stake in this. We have a stake in it– at that level. That– that they’re selling drugs. These drugs are being distributed throughout our cities, our communities, our neighborhoods. So this issue in Mexico, this very brave battle that the president of Mexico is fighting, is something that every American has a stake in,” she replied. “
I just watched the Tucker/Palin video, I wish more people had the guts to stand up to her like that, I felt so sorry for him, she acted like she couldn”t wait to get away from him, like he was a bother to her. What an a-hole she is!! No respect for this native elder at all!! Wake up Alaskans she has no respect for any of you, its all me me me me.
Thanks for the link………disturbing and sounds very republican……using public money to buy rare book collections, antique furniture, “trips”, spokesperson denying any wrong doing with a lame excuse, they did nothing wrong, wahhhhh.
But the fact that the board is made up of X-FBI and X-Military is very disturbing don’t you think? egads………and they’re caught helping big oil against environmentalists?
So Bill Allen and other AK corrupt officials were involved in Wackenhut which is now GEO……..so who in AK is involved with GEO and the correction systems? and do they have anything to do with Palin appointing Joe Schmidt?
……………………………………………………….
“The alarm was raised in July when auditors found that managers for another private company were using public money from the drug programme to buy a rare book collection and antique furniture for themselves. A wider investigation was ordered and Wackenhut officials were allegedly found to have used $700,000 on what the Texas Rangers investigators describe as “unallowable petty cash expenses”. The money went on mobile phones and trips to Britain. The state has suspended payments to the firm while the inquiries continue.
The chairman of the Texas investigating task force, Senator John Montford, has said that two-thirds of the drug programme operators could face fraud charges. Wackenhut denies any impropriety saying that it had agreed to carry out the work with addicts for a fixed price and there was nothing wrong in keeping any savings made. “We carried out all the programmes successfully at that fixed price and we are convinced that all the costs were incurred properly,” said a spokesman.
Wackenhut’s board is dominated by ex-FBI and US military officers. Its services include helping employers break strikes and running undercover operations to unveil moles in multinational corporations.
The US Congress has been highly critical of one of its “stings” which involved agents posing as environmentalists to find where a leading green activist was getting his information about American oil firms.
Watch the video and listen to the trust in Deborah Fleishman’s voice. She honestly believes, as do the inmates, that FOX News has their best interests at heart and will actually send in a crew to do an “investigation.” Little does this poor woman know that FOX News has been bought and paid for by the very interests that abused her son in the first place.
Check out the tone in Cavuto’s voice at the very end of the segment and see if you think he’s ever going to speak with this woman again.
………………………………………….
(and) here we have x-prez Bush
Under the heading “Warden for Profit” the Religious Freedom Coalition of the Southeast reports that George Zoley, CEO of The GEO Group was a large contributor to the Bush 2004 campaign.
The Warden for Profit
George Zoley makes no secret of what he wants from Bush: big-dollar contracts for his security firm, the GEO Group, to guard federal prisons. “We don’t want to provide guards at the local shopping center,” he says. “We are looking at a single government payer for our services.” Zoley’s company, formerly known as Wackenhut Corrections, is the world’s largest operator of private prisons, earning more than $600 million a year incarcerating inmates. Its facilities are notorious: In Louisiana, where guards routinely beat and tear-gassed teenage offenders, a Republican judge lambasted GEO for treating children “as if they walked on all fours.” In Texas, where male guards molested female inmates, a fourteen-year-old named Sara Lowe committed suicide after her release. Asked by CBS whether Lowe deserved an apology, Zoley said, “Not that I’m aware of. I don’t know what you meant by that.”
GEO Group, Inc.: Despite a Crashing Economy, Private Prison Firm Turns a Handsome Profit
by Erin Rosa, Special to CorpWatch
March 1st, 2009
“I suspect that it’s a pattern all over. When you try to run prisons as money makers what you do is cut back on the most expensive thing you can, which is medication and medical care.”
GEO has said it will not publicly comment on pending legal cases or abuse claims by third parties, including nonprofit groups. Company spokesman Pablo Paez says that on the subject of business plans, “we have no comment beyond what’s in our public disclosures.”
Despite a wide array grievances and tragedies, GEO has accrued contracts worth more than $588 million in federal tax dollars since 1997, according to available federal procurement data. And as long as federal officials continue to remand a growing number of inmates and immigrants over to private businesses, without imposing strict oversight, GEO will likely remain profitable.
this should be interesting to watch, lol…….hmmmm who bets she’ll come up with her own appointment, oh lets see, like a high school or family friend OR will she select an appointee from the Dem. leg. list?
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: March 2, 2009 – 12:42 pm
“Gov. Sarah Palin will select Elton’s replacement but needs a majority of the Democrats in the Senate to approve her pick. The Democratic Party in Juneau will submit names for Palin to consider, but she does not have to follow its advice.”
Oh, paleeeze, like she has any high school friends who are residents of House District 3 who aren’t already employed by her and aren’t actually still registered in the Wasilla house districts…!!!
thanks AKM – hope you are feeling better! (((Hugs)))
Yay! My scrolling finger was SO fatigued!
AKM comes up for air!!!!
AKM – Hope you are on the better side of the “book flu” !!
Please do all you can to stay healthy. You are needed immensely. Prayers and best wishes are coming your way…
Take good care of yourself and let the dear spouse do everything else.
AKM, hope you’re snuggled up with your pillow and blanket. Get Well.
OT – Just saw this commercial on TV for first time – Cute. It’s for Vancouver 2010 Olympics by Wonderbread and found it on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGUnZsXW9Sw
Does anyone know what were in the boxs of food that went to the bush with GINO?
I’ve just got to quote 323…
to get things started…again…
it was so well said, I’d hate to lose it…..
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands to be paid to work (per diem) in her own home and town while telling the Native villagers to leave their ancestral homes and towns to work in jobs that she’s dictated as appropriate.
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands that the state pay for her children’s travel expenses because (as she states so sanctimoniously) “the discharge of my duties should not prevent spending time with them” but expects the young Natives to leave THEIR families (without travel reimbursement, I might add) to discharge the job “duties” that she’s dictated as appropriate for them.
Unbelievably aloof, ignorant, self-entitled, and condescending.
Nice to see your blogging a bit again, AKM. Stay warm and well, we miss your great wit and commentary.
Team Alaska…heard it was 15 items in each box. That’s all I heard.
Has Ann checked in today? She was suppose to get a plane of things from Sam’s Purse, does anyone know if weather permitted a fly in?
Willows are beginning to leaf out. Yummm.
i noticed my willow tree here in so cal leafing out, too, moose pucky.
another mudpuppy connection.
I think i saw two boxes of mac an cheese and a box of crackers. couldn’t see any thing else, but I was thinking to my self boy that is not going to last long.
Hope you are feeling better AKM
Happy March, Fawnskin.
And all.
eastcoast…in addition…
How can the State of Alaska condone taking a child out of school for the purpose of promoting the state’s business?
By paying for the travel and meal expenses for that GINO’s children for trips made during the school year, the State of Alaska is condoning truancy. Yep…truancy while promoting the state’s business. The best interests of the children should be paramount.
Canadian Neighbour (16:27:45) :
Wonderful videos!! I love international good will events. I promote sports travel and sports tourism in Alaska. I blew my knee total apart many years ago in pre Olympic down hill race. Now I’m support the sport of soccer, futsal, X-country skiing, and international offshore adventure ocean racing. I would love to get a Job doing something for the 2010 winter Olympics.
I’ve been working on a blog entry about the increasingly fundamentalist nature of Republicanism–I find myself making the case that it’s developing into a religion all its own. But Governor Palin and the villagers keep getting mixed up in it. Think I’m going to have to do an entry about that, then move on to the creepy conjunction of Republicanism with That Old Time Religion…
BodieP (16:52)
I read your other post a day or so ago…I can’t wait for your new one!
http://www.anchoragepress.com/articles/2009/02/27/news/doc499cc0798e21d924618805.txt
Wouldn’t this action by one of GINO’s Deputies here be embroiling the State government in partisan politics? Ethics breach??
The news just keeps getting better:
“WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama challenged the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo.”
anon blogger – Piper is in training for the day she looks at Todd and says “You quit , Bristol quit , F**K IT!! , I quit too.also.”
Willows in WV coming out too.
WOO HOO spring is around the corner, I HOPE!
eastcoast:HYPOCRITICAL that she demands to be paid to work (per diem) in her own home and town while telling the Native villagers to leave their ancestral homes and towns to work in jobs that she’s dictated as appropriate.
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands that the state pay for her children’s travel expenses because (as she states so sanctimoniously) “the discharge of my duties should not prevent spending time with them” but expects the young Natives to leave THEIR families (without travel reimbursement, I might add) to discharge the job “duties” that she’s dictated as appropriate for them.
Unbelievably aloof, ignorant, self-entitled, and condescending.
***********************
Also telling them that the “government can’t do everything, don’t depend on the government” and she turns around and claims a per diem from Alaskan tax payer most illegal….although caught this @ Phil’s blog…
The first vid. at 3:09 GINO: “Flew out of Juneau last night, to WASILLA, then taken out of Wasilla today…”
Is that a REAL per diem she’s trying to claim here?
GINO=disrespectful POS!
Canadian neighbor
————————–
very cute commercial…..lov the kids
Team Alaska,
Originally I would have loved to have been able to go to them too but that won’t be happening anytime soon. A friend got tickets to 2 events as her name was drawn in the draw. I’m not sure how it totally works but its crappy. She had to enter her name for 3 sports events and they could not be all for the same sport. Her name did get drawn for the one skating event but not really interested in the other events. The two events are 8 days apart which makes for an expensive trip. For what they charge and the way they run getting tickets, I’ll keep my money thank you. If I wanted skating, I don’t want to be standing at the ski jump!!
Our family connection to Olympics is my cousin’s daughter who is a Special Olympics figure skater. She eats, breathes and sleeps skating. In fact, she was one of the members of the Canadian Team when Alaska held the World Special Olympic games a few years ago. She had a blast.
I lov AKMs little weather thing…..i can not think of it being that cold for so long. It was below freezing her for two weeks and I thought that was bad. I have tulips up, crocus blooming and the Camille is about to bloom….Yup..Yup spring is around the corner.
BodieP,
If you haven’t read it yet, pick up a copy of “Kingdom Coming, the Rise of Christian Nationalism” by Michele Goldberg(http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Coming-Rise-Christian-Nationalism/dp/0393060942) It’s pre-Sarah, but it sure goes into some detail about the movement–it’ll scare the be-jesus out of you
Catherine
Thanks, Catherine–
I’ll definitely pick that up. I’m a writer/English person/artist, not a politician by trade, but I find myself very concerned about the images and associations that are being created and fostered among the GOP and conservative Christians.
BodieP – check into American Civil Religion… very interesting subject – almost downright scary at times but certainly “explains” the Reaganesque imagery and the appeal of Winthrop and Edwards
harold Bloom wrote a really good book several years ago that is still relevant – maybe more today than ever
“The American Religion: The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation” and Dr. Martin Marty of U/Chicago has always been at the forefront on this theo-political phenomenon.
oops sorry – one more book to “discover”
Habits of the Heart – Individualism and Commitment in American Life
by Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler, and Tipton. (Really really good)
Show this to the climate change deniers:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090218135052.htm
HI there,.. I have not posted before, but since AKM is not feeling well, I thought I would offer a solution for the thinking.. it rids Alaska of Palin, pays off the national debt, stabalizes the Alaskan govenment – but it does have it have a few drawbacks. Sell Alaska to Canada. That government is very stable, the banks are secure, and there are many wonderful benefits to being a Canadian, eh?! Just thought I would throw that out to stir up the conversation, it would make the AIP happy, they want to seceed anyway!! LOL.. Pam
@BodieP
increasingly fundamentalist nature of Republicanism–I find myself making the case that it’s developing into a religion all its own
”””””””””””””””””””’good observation…it really does seem true
@austintx & anon blogger
anon blogger – Piper is in training for the day she looks at Todd and says “You quit , Bristol quit , F**K IT!! , I quit too.also
”””””””””””””””””””like the Repug fundy’s insisted on seeing PO’s birth certificate…I want to see palin’s college degree. It’s assumed she has one, but I beg to differ. It’s just NOT apparent!
Wow–lots of reading ahead of me! I’m going to postpone that blog entry until I can do some reading, and see if I have anything to add to the discussion.
Pam,
The borders have been secured. She’s not allowed in Canada. We don’t want her.
THANKS — BUT NO THANKS!!!
BodieP-what is the address of your blog?
Poor ms palin ..No on wants the ice queen
mhrt,
We don’t pay per diems. Therefore I know we are safe!
JanmarieNo Gravatar (16:56:42) :
http://www.anchoragepress.com/articles/2009/02/27/news/doc499cc0798e21d924618805.txt
Wouldn’t this action by one of GINO’s Deputies here be embroiling the State government in partisan politics? Ethics breach??
________________________________________________________________
Thanks for the post. Les Gara’s response to Palin’s pawn is an excellent read — very clever and subtly made his point. Bravo, Les!
This is my favorite part:
“I just don’t know that telling me how misguided Republicans feel the President of the United States is (surprise surprise), advances out interest in working together to make sure the funds we receive create jobs, strengthen our schools, reverse Alaska’s rising unemployment rate, and move us forward together.
You asked. I won’t, in return, send your office any of President Obama’s speeches on this subject, which roughly 60% seem to agree with at this point. Thanks. Les Gara”
I think the only way we would consider taking Alaska would be as a fourth territory. The Turks and Caicos has a better chance of becoming a province (and they’ve been asking for years). Better weather, for one thing. Sorry.
But we’ll consider applications for landed immigrant (or even refugee) status from disgruntled Alaskans.
@crystalwolf aka caligr
The address for my political blog is http://notesfrommainstreet.wordpress.com/
There are links there for my other blogs, for those who care for them.
Canadian neighbor————
I am glad for you but it still looks like she has her eye for the2012, so for us that is bad.
Ya that dang per diem that she gets. How ever my silver lining here is that the ice queen and the toad have gotten used to kind of a grand life style and can you imagine how they will feel when she is out of office and trying to live on half the salary and having to go back and shucks just being “people” again.Talk about the depression. There could never be enough tanning beds to take care of that.
Second opinions, please!
In my research on Republican fundamentalism I ran across an article that makes the case that Sarah Palin’s Wasilla church is part of an extreme (“cult-like” is their word) branch of the evangelical Christian right. The article is alarming in a conspiracy-theory sort of way. I’m including the link here.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10167
My question is: is this article based in fact?
Just saw this-
NOW here is a couple of people who are trying to actually help those in rural Alaska.
http://alaskadispatch.com/tundra-talk/9-talk-of-the-tundra/895-a-future-with-dignity
How very delightful to finally be a part of the conversation!! I have been reading Mudflats for many months, I heard it mentioned on NPR way back in September and have been lurking ever since. I think this site is addicting, and I have heard that from others as well. But, like coffee, I don’t think it will hurt my health.
I am so glad that there are such persitant people out there to devote the time and energy to expose the Alaskan political and economic situation to the rest of the lower 48. I am an avid supporter of transparancy, you know, like the truth. Good luck in your continued research,.. all of this Palin stuff is just too crazy to believe. I am so glad I have never met anyone like her.
I will probably continue to just do some gentle lucking and enjoying the popcorn and such as requested by AKM from time to time. “You just can’t make this stuff up” love this site.. Guess I will have to send off my village package tomorrow.. best to you all.
I have many questions. If the young villagers leave to find work elsewhere who is left to care for the elders? Where I live (in Calif.) and especially in these times I can’t imagine an employee can split his/her schedule in such a convenient way as Sara suggested. If a person has a job today, and walks away from it for a few months means goodbye employment.
Is it possible the not-so-good governor of Alaska wants to see the traditional ways and villages disappear in the name of economic progress so certain industries can find a way to claim the land if she and her ilk deem said villages defunct?
@ BodieP
I haven’t looked at the site you just posted, but yesteday, two or three other sites were posted with (apparently) similar information. I’ll see if I still have any here, otherwise, it’s ploughing through 600+ posts. Or, google “7 mountain” – or Muthee.
Nan
the year of the blogger…the year that responsible, everyday citizens took down an empire…you betcha
Welcome mudflatter Pam!
BodiePNo Gravatar (18:28:24) :
@crystalwolf aka caligr
The address for my political blog is http://notesfrommainstreet.wordpress.com/
There are links there for my other blogs, for those who care for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BodieP, thanks
Nan and BodieP,
Today I spent some time looking up some of that stuff concerning Palin and it gets very scary. There was one site that said that Alaska is like the place to go to be safe in the end times. So, if there’s an influx of chritian freaks claiming end of times, thank GINO. I’ll have to see if I saved that site. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God/Jesus, I just don’t believe in teaching through fear and emotions and the rapture.
HYPOCRITICAL that she demands to be paid to work (per diem) in her own home and town while telling the Native villagers to leave their ancestral homes and towns to work in jobs that she’s dictated as appropriate.
****
Great insight!
Alaska- we don’t want Palin. I will personally throw my old black rubber boots at her. Both of them!
We already have Harper, a smarmy fat guy who wears powder blue button-front sweaters and wants to run a theocracy. And you know what- I just realized I’ve never seen his wife. Can’t summon her face at all. This is probably A Good Thing.
BodiePNo Gravatar (18:31:56) :
Second opinions, please!
In my research on Republican fundamentalism I ran across an article that makes the case that Sarah Palin’s Wasilla church is part of an extreme (”cult-like” is their word) branch of the evangelical Christian right. The article is alarming in a conspiracy-theory sort of way.
My question is: is this article based in fact?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BodieP-I’m sure you have read the talk2action site, they have a link “dark christian” which a forum, that has many links and they talk about “outing Dominionism”
They have a “Dark christian wiki” that shows the links between church’s, org., etc.
http://dark-christian.clanxanadu.org/
They have talked about AOG, Joel’s Army, and CNP was specifically behind GINO’s pick for VP.
At the Dark Christian forum, look for dogemperor and troutfishing who also write blogs/dairies on Kos.
It is scary sh*t! The taliban in America!
BodieP:
Here is an article and videos from Huffington Post that will help explain Palins church.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/palins-movement-urges-god_b_139987.html
Lainey @ 17:52
—like the Repug fundy’s insisted on seeing PO’s birth certificate…I want to see palin’s college degree. It’s assumed she has one, but I beg to differ. It’s just NOT apparent!
–
I think you may have something there. Here’s something I found way back…shows vetting info on Palin…Wechsler IQ..SAT…
http://www.thelegaluniverse.com/PalinVettingBackground1.PDF
BrodieP
———–
A Lot of this I have either read or seen elsewhere. Yes it is very scary..I never knew these people were out there. I did see the video of Gino getting dewitched and pastor munthee praying for her to be in the right place at the right time.
yup you betch it keeps me up at night. Her with her own little army that she told sometime you might have to die doing gods war.
BodiePNo Gravatar (18:31:56) :
Second opinions, please!
In my research on Republican fundamentalism I ran across an article that makes the case that Sarah Palin’s Wasilla church is part of an extreme (”cult-like” is their word) branch of the evangelical Christian right. The article is alarming in a conspiracy-theory sort of way. I’m including the link here.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10167
My question is: is this article based in fact?
————
I’m no expert in crazy fundamentalism, but the information there is consistent with what I have seen from talk2action and other watchdog groups.
Here’s a handy site to defend yourself when confronted with fundy’s aka American Taliban’s….
How to Fight the Religious Right
A guide to defending yourself against Fundamentalist Christians
http://elroy.net/ehr/fighttheright.html
anon blogger (19:08:52) :
Hate to break it to ya, but that site has been pretty much been debunked as a fake. It is pretty amateurish.
Sorry, should have said PDF, not site.
Welcome Pam
BodieP – checked out the site given and I don’t remember hearing about this, which I copied from the site—
“Palin is now under investigation for possible improper use of state travel funds for a trip she made on June 8 to Wasilla. Her trip in turns out was to attend a Wasilla Assembly of God ‘Masters Commission’ graduation ceremony, and a multi-church Wasilla event known as ‘One Lord Sunday.’ At the latter, Palin and Alaska LT Governor Scott Parnell were publicly blessed, onstage before an estimated crowd of 6,000, through the “laying on of hands” by Wasilla Assembly of God’s Head Pastor Ed Kalnins, her former pastor.”
what????
This was actually on video
BodieP, there is book out there (and I know it’s buried here in my office somewhere) that does a pretty good job looking at the architecture of American Civil Religion. When I find it, I’ll post the title. It’s well worth a read. Not too pedantic or theoretical, but pretty rock solid in both theo-political concepts and tying them into how a nation views itself through its government buildings. Offers some comparisons to the Finnish government buildings designed by Alvar Aalto who was the truly first organic architect (not Frank Lloyd Wright)
Evening all… our nor-eastah is just starting to wind up so I hope all you fellow east coastahs and mainahs are bundled in nice and tight.
Sarah Palin… she sure does appear to have a nice no-show job don’t she? Gets a nice taxpayer-funded salary, too. As for the remaining Palin kids who are not yet preggers, I suspect their school-going days are all done now. Or is there any evidence to the contrary?
Bodie P – here’s a quick read article – may be a good starting point for you
http://www.robertbellah.com/articles_5.htm
@ Team Alaska
@ Peaceful Granny
Yes, we got a quick update from Ann this evening! She’s planning to write a full update when she recovers a bit:
“Trying to catch my breath from handing out Sam. Purse food… (there’s more here about reporters and SP but didn’t know if Ann S wanted me to include it so I left it out)…
Oh well, we got 1540 lbs of food out. That’s what’s important. I am just exhausted physically and mentally from today. The boxes had EVERYTHING on my list minus the baby stuff and the coffee and TP. “
@saiuerkraut — bundled in and trundling off to bed so I can be nice and fresh for snow shovelling come morning. Although a glance out the window indicates a lull at least. But wait 5 minutes, as we say here.
@anon blogger…….whoa, thanks much for the vetting info…good stuff!
so, palin has an IQ of 83!!!???? not the sharpest knife in the drawer, is she?
and palin “earned” a BA in 1 year? dropping out all the previous years? hmmm
blanking the dean?
a 2.3 gpa? how did she even get into college? all that alaskan pot must have killed her brain cells!
this info is priceless! I saved it to my C drive, so I can ‘study’ it later…before the ‘infamous they’ think to remove it.
thanks again.
Oops, too many vowels in sauerkraut.
@crystalwolf aka caligrl
took a gander at your How to Fight the Religious Right…some funny but useful truth…will read in depth later…thx
see? everyone gets it, but them
Thank you Crystalwolf for that website, I know I’ll be reading it in detail and using it. Wish I had it a couple of years ago when I was called a dumbocrat at work.
Is this church of hers the one that uses snakes for healing purposes????
LMAO, my favorites list is getting filled up real quick just from the mudflats. It’s a good thing.
mhrt (19:35)
Seen video…but I guess I forgot Parnell was included on the video. What is the status of the investigation into misuse of state travel funds, do you know?
There are so many, many “-gates” it is hard to keep them all straight. Maybe GINO spun so much crap to take away from the real issue..a cult is taking over Alaska.
Reclaiming the 7 mountains!
1) Cookie Mountain in Rural Alaska
2) Demon Mountain of non believers
3) Dairy Mountain
4) Media Mountain
5) Coal Oil and Gas Mountain
6) Pebble Mountain
7) Trooper Gate Mountain
Seriously, I watched those videos Huffingtonpost.
Os Hillman looks a little off, he kind of has that mind controlling way about him.
I’m not impressed and this is noting I want my State Governor to be a part off. This is a religious movement that should be separated from State Business. Its quite clear that GINO is unfit to manage the state of Alaska with out guidance of the 7 mountains movement, and this nation wide group of mind controlling narcissistic psychopaths.
AKM, Hope you are feeling better. As good mudflatters, we know how to keep ourselves busy by learning what we need to know in your absence. Thank you for this open thread.
——-
About some on the religious right & fundamentalists:
The whole GINO religious affiliations were introduced here prior to the November defeat of republican politics.
After checking out talk2action and checking out ‘dominonism’ as suggested by someone here, I was appalled and righteously indignant that so much negative had been made of President Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Rev. Wright is not a coward. He basically spoke truth to power and many did not want to hear what he had to say. He was branded ‘Marxist’ though the history of prophetic preaching in the Black Church preceded Marxism. Rev. Wright’s words were used to ‘condemn’ Mr. Obama (by association) in the most despicable way.
Connect the dots:
Watching the recent Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) interview with Tim LaHaye (& Jerry Jenkins), authors of the ‘Left Behind’ series which have sold over 65 MILLION copies, I better understood the whole religious right demonization of President Obama as a ‘socialist who wants to punish the rich by redistributing wealth.’ I’ve heard people make that statement who don’t IMHO have a clue about the definition of ‘socialism.’
There are very interesting online reads about Tim LaHaye’s faulty theology regarding ‘the rapture’ and the end times with his interpretation of the book of Revelation. Scary stuff too.
South Side Chicago
Those “leaders” (media wh*res) will only leave with their (forked) tails between their legs when their weak and desperate followers, including palin’s, recognize the magic act…it’s just frightful that there are so many out there grasping onto anything to believe in. I don’t how to reach and teach these types, but something needs to be done. It’s just like the Middle East fighting for thousands of years over religious semantics…I don’t want the same turmoil existing here. jmo
new post
Lots of reading to do here. I’m going to be following links for a long time (I’ve also ordered a couple books). The think that I keep thinking is that fundamentalist and evangelical christianity both have an apocalyptic world view (sheesh, all that religious education is coming in handy here). That means that they see the end of the world, and its concomitant disasters (the Time of Trouble and the End Times) as something to be courted. In other words, they WANT things to go badly. In a sort of weird way, working to make the world a better place, and to solve the problems we are facing, can be seen as anti-Christian.
To not write off the world means that you “love the things of this world,” and we all know what THAT means! I am beginning to wonder how much that apocalyptic worldview is playing into our politics these days, particularly among the GOP Faithful. If you believe that the world is evil, and needs to fall apart before Jesus can come, what’s to stop you from giving it a little (or big) push?
Just thinkin’ out loud here…
I can’t entirely get where their head is, because it was God who put us here (for a purpose and we don’t know when our work is done) and God will remove us in His time…we (they) are totally out of this equation. I don’t see loving the things of this world as being a bad thing…people I love are in this world and hopefully I can see the loved ones who passed in the next.
If ‘they’ believe that the world is evil and needs to fall apart before Jesus can come, then why do ‘they’ keep lying and stealing and committing adultery (hear that, palin) and all the things that go against God? They’re just hypocrites using religion. I’m thinkin’ out loud too.
if you read their books how how to train “the children” it is just heart breaking. Ya know you can not have a bunch of crying kids around. They really believe in the rod.If they cry you know that you have their attention. So you just keep at it until they learn not to cry.
@mhrt–”if you read their books how how to train “the children” it is just heart breaking.”
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Funny you should mention this–in dealing with the effects of some of that “spare the rod” parenting I was steered toward a wonderful book by Alice Miller, a German psychiatrist turned psychologist, “For Your Own Good.” She set out to explore how it was that Germany managed to produce a whole generation of people who loved their children, were kind to their pets, attended church–and went to work every day in the death camps and committed atrocities. Her study led her to the German child-rearing techniques, which I am here to tell you are a shaping force in fundamentalist child-rearing ideals today. I know this–I had those damned books quoted at me for years. And I learned not to cry. Didn’t work–they just kept beating until I did–and then they told me to “stop, or I’d get something to cry about–they hadn’t hit me that hard.”
Sorry–side trip there. Bottom line: Miller found that raising children in a world where dissent and questions are forbidden, along with the appropriate expression of anger, creates an adult who basically abdicates all responsibility to the perceived “authority figure,” church, state, or familial. It really doesn’t matter. Such a person will do anything with a clear conscience. They are, after all, only “following orders.”
Speaking of following–I’ve been following links. Seems to me there’s really no point in writing about the religious/GOP links–that’s been done and done and done. The nice thing is that this means I get to be creative.
@eastcoast (16:29:58) :
“HYPOCRITICAL…”
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Amen!!! Yes, someone keep track of this. It’s very clear and really highlights the differences.
@Moose Pucky (16:40:28) :
Willows are beginning to leaf out. Yummm.
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hahahaha … LEAVES? Where I am, it still looks like the pix Ann S. posted on her blog. Snow & drifts! We won’t see leaves until later in April.
@anon blogger (16:50:14) :
eastcoast…in addition…
How can the State of Alaska condone taking a child out of school for the purpose of promoting the state’s business?
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ESPECIALLY when Piper is the ‘poster child’ for the National Education Association! Wonder what they think of that???? Is that the kind of national model they want to emulate for EDUCATION?
@BodieP (16:52:58) :
I’ve been working on a blog entry about the increasingly fundamentalist nature of Republicanism–
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Rotsa Ruck! Don’t know if I’d want to tackle that. But truth be told, somebody seriously needs to dig into it – deeply.
Don’t know if I’d call it a religion all its own, though. I think 7 Mtns. is at the heart of it. Of course, if you’re looking at Republicanism in general, then yeah, it expands generally to conservative evangelicals. What they all have in common is no respect for Separation of Church and State. Think you’re on the right track with the ‘creepy conjunction.’
Bodie, I’m sure you’ve previously posted the URL for your blog, but I don’t have it. Would you mind sharing it? TX!
oops, sorry for the big no-no faux pas … I asked for BodieP’s blog address w/o checking first to see if was already there. And of course, it was. Thanx, Bodie. Now gotta go read it!
Bodie P
Here is a link to a youtube video which Max Blumenthal has also posted on his website. It reveals how far the nutty Christian Right have infiltrated politics and how much they believe in their own importance. Watch and squirm.
http://tinyurl.com/awkdwn
Max’s site is witty and offers a fresh perspective on the many issues facing Republicans today……..he sort of lets them fall on their own swords which I find rather amusing.
http://maxblumenthal.com/
@anon blogger (19:08:52) :
I think you may have something there. Here’s something I found way back…shows vetting info on Palin…Wechsler IQ..SAT…
http://www.thelegaluniverse.com/PalinVettingBackground1.PDF
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Yikes, never saw this before … had read references to it though. All of that stuff, all in one place, is truly scary. If that person were applying for a job in my shop, they could forget it.
Yes, those scores do look rather low. But they’re from a long time ago, so not sure I know how to interpret them. Is there an education-type mudpuppy out there who can make sense of them? (It’d be fun to find out how she compared to others who took the same test…)
@the problem child (an aunt, also) (19:16:22) :
anon blogger (19:08:52) :
Hate to break it to ya, but that site has been pretty much been debunked as a fake. It is pretty amateurish.
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prob child – do you recall where it was debunked?
@bushgrma
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that was way before the election
@yukonbush
There was a bit of discussion of it here, as well as other places. Sorry I can’t be more specific without researching it & need to shower.
Speaking of books and SAT scores – Virgil Griffith , a Caltech grad student has done extensive research and determined that students that list “The Holy Bible” as their favorite book have the lowest SAT score of the research. He has a web-site called – Booksthatmakeyoudumb.com – I read a post on him this am on reddit.com He is also the founder of Wikiscanner , a database that tracks ISP Addresses of anonymous Wikipedia editors. He is definitely a truth seeker.
More info on the religious right from a group dedicated to keeping church and state separate:
http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=resources_religiousright
Oh and re: those SAT scores: http://gawker.com/5062871/sarah-palins-fake-sat-scores-forged-from-born+again-virgin-dawn-eden Follow links within.
There are lots of others references if you care to google.
And what honor society is Sarah Palin a member of ??……………………………..hello ??………………………the only thing I hear is crickets………………
the problem child (an aunt, also)No Gravatar (20:05:12) :
Oops, too many vowels in sauerkraut.
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blame it on the vinegar!
Not a huge deal here although already more than most weathermen predicted. Stuck in the house due to PennDOT being about as useful (useless?) as Sarah Palin’s government.
I need someone to begin to open Churchgate. I believe that GINO is stepping all ever the premise of Separation of Church and State. There HAS to be something someone pursue about this. It can’t be legal or ethical. I just hope she has crossed the line and someone has it transcripted.
I really hate her. I don’t like to hate, but she brings out the worst in me.
Something is rotten in (Denmark)
An amusing article on disgust- moral disgust or filthy toilet has the same physical expression. Only Canadians would bother to do research on this.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090227.wlmoral27/BNStory/lifeMain/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsUp
AKM…..hope ya feel better! sick is not fun
crystalwolf………I was just catching up on the last cookie thread, it’s 10:33 am here in MO……I seem to miss many of the later in the day posts from other parts of the country and don’t see them until the next day.
anyhoooo……..this is for you and those posting about Palin Pets. (I accidentaly posted this on the cookie thread, sorry to repeat, I meant to go forward to this thread, lol)
Palin doesn’t have pets now, at least I don’t think so……my post was pointing out what she grew up with, her dad was a science (I think) teacher, he had animals around the house used as teaching aids.
I was pokin fun at how these things may have formed our sick Sarah’s psyche and thought processes in order to explain what we seem to have today.
Dogs and skunks……..what works for me is cheap tomato juice, works wonders, the acid must neutralize the spray somehow, just pour it on, rub it in, let it sit a while, then hose off, redo if necessary……but, I’ve always applied it right away, I don’t know about weeks or days later……crystalwolf……I’d try drenching the ground area with juice.
Hey, maybe GINO knows, lol or call Chuck, lol.
I’m not so sure that the site is a fake…I believe it! She acts like her IQ is 83 and her GPA was 2.3! And I know she did “try” out many different colleges.
I still question her degree…now, THAT could be fake! Hell, she lies about everything else.
Sorry for those who may read the last cookie thread…….this is another accidental post put there……it fits better in an open thread anyway.
Below is a comment from ADN article………I’m thinkin we need to do some delving into Joe Schmidt’s political ties…….I simply cannot understand “why” Palin would select this certain person to take over the gov or lite gov position if need be…….WHY? it’s just flat out weird.
I got thinking more about this last night after watching a news media coverage about the drug lord battles escalating in Mexico……and ties in US, including AK………ties including money, guns and drugs.
It’s really bad! The corruption in Mexican government and law enforcement is so huge its growing worse rapidly, becoming accepted as a way of life. Thousands of people are being executed by these thugs, they showed something like 11 police officers laying on the ground, murdered, decapitated as a “message” don’t mess with the drug lords. pitiful! people suspected as informants, the same, whole families murdered and put on public display, hung in the open to show what will happen. Mexican mafia gone rampant, over drug smuggling, gun selling and buying, money funneling, arg!
We should be very worried about this people. There are things going on around us, in our country that need to be exposed, the sooner the better.
There has to be US people involved, working with these drug lords, in airports, shipping, border control points, private planes, hangers, politicians, law enforcement, and yes, prisons, where is the heroin coming from in AK, it’s now becoming the lead drug to abuse in AK, meth has become harder to make, oxycontin is expensive…….all are addictive creating a vicious cycle to fund and get.
Alaskans seem to have a lot of unwatched freedom with so much private plane travel…….it’s easy to think much can be smuggled in or out………do they ever sweep these planes or hangers. Todd has his plane parked outside their house, how many others do the same?
It’s just unsettling……I know i’m not articulating this very well. But I don’t trust all the corruption in AK, so few people and so much crime…….not slamming all the good people of AK or your beautiful state, but I am worried about what goes on up there. You guys have got to watch every move by politicians, every appointment made, don’t just read articles and think nothing more, listen to the watchdogs! Thank goodness someone is interested in paying attention and connecting the dots.
this article seems nothing big on the surface, but read this comment and how much deeper and wider it goes…….read his/her last sentence…….think Bill Allen, felons, corrections, Joe Schmidt, Palin puppet, drugs, guns, money, Mexico mafia?
thank goodness for comment areas!
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/707451.html
Immigration administrator guilty of hiring unqualified personnel
The Associated Press
Published: March 1st, 2009 09:45 PM
Last Modified: March 1st, 2009 09:46 PM
TACOMA, Wash. — A former administrator at a privately run immigration lockup in Tacoma won’t serve any jail time after she admitted hiring guards without background checks to speed up the process.
fsmith wrote on 03/02/2009 00:48:29 AM:
Wong worked for GEO Group which has had a highly questionable past. Known previously as Wackenhut, with felons Bill Weimar and Bill Allen, they tried to build a for-profit prison on 40 acres of city property in South Anchorage, with the help of Eldon Mulder. ADN 3/28/96
GEO has been outed for overcharging the state of Florida for millions of dollars and for offering the then-current Director of Prisons in Colorado about a million dollars if he could get a prison built for them. They lost a wages and hours suit in California for $10 million where they were also made illegal campaign contributions. They hired drunken driver who killed another motorist in Texas. He left GEO to become warden of a CCA prison in Eloy, Arizona, where Alaska sends it inmates. GEO was indicted for murder as a result of inmate deaths in Texas where their prison
So the prosecutors’ question should have been, did Wong hire illegal guards entirely of her own volition, or at GEO’s direct or implied orders?
Wackenhut was in trouble way back in the mid-nineties.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19950917/ai_n14006700
Are the same people still in charge at GEO? That would be the key.
@ Ripley in CT
I think you’re right. The hard part is that to “reasonable” Americans, a candidate’s religion is not approached. Rev Wright being the notable exception. Most feel that one’s religion is one’s own business and that’s that.
The “other folks” seem to feel that everyone’s religion is *their* business. Rev Wright being a notable example.
The only way I can see to get the religion thing done is to coax it out. “How has your faith sustained you in your life? …in your work? …in your office/position? How could that translate to *what* you do in your work? (i.e. office/political office – but without using those words)
…Because from what I see, the (scary) Relig Right are incapable of keeping their mouths shut about religion for any extended period of time. Sooner or later, they’re going to have to show just how rabid this mentality is – sooner would be better than later – and then the topic is fair game.
my rant earlier came after watching 60 minutes last night…..the Anchorage, AK connection caught my attention. Our own #1 organized crime.
Mexico: The War Next Door
60 Minutes: Homeland Security Secretary Says Every American Has A Stake In Mexico’s War Against Murderous Gangs
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/26/60minutes/main4831806.shtml
“In December, a group of Mexican soldiers was found with their heads cut off, and a note from traffickers warning “for every one of mine you kill, we will kill 10.”
A decapitated man was left hanging from a bridge; his head was found in the town square. Last year alone, nearly 6,300 people were killed in Mexico’s drug war – more than double the number the year before.
“The power of Mexico’s drug cartels has already spread far beyond the border. Just this week, the Justice Department announced they had arrested more than 700 people in the U.S. connected to just one cartel.
Mexican traffickers are operating in some 230 American cities, according to the Justice Department, and they’re now considered the number one organized crime threat in the United States.
“You’re seeing drug cartel involvement in Anchorage, Alaska.
In South Dakota. In Atlanta. In New York City,” Cooper told Napolitano.
“Right. Right. That’s why I say every– you know, the United States has a real stake in this. We have a stake in it– at that level. That– that they’re selling drugs. These drugs are being distributed throughout our cities, our communities, our neighborhoods. So this issue in Mexico, this very brave battle that the president of Mexico is fighting, is something that every American has a stake in,” she replied. “
I just watched the Tucker/Palin video, I wish more people had the guts to stand up to her like that, I felt so sorry for him, she acted like she couldn”t wait to get away from him, like he was a bother to her. What an a-hole she is!! No respect for this native elder at all!! Wake up Alaskans she has no respect for any of you, its all me me me me.
the problem child (an aunt, also)No Gravatar (09:17:15) :
Wackenhut was in trouble way back in the mid-nineties.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19950917/ai_n14006700
Are the same people still in charge at GEO? That would be the key.
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Thanks for the link………disturbing and sounds very republican……using public money to buy rare book collections, antique furniture, “trips”, spokesperson denying any wrong doing with a lame excuse, they did nothing wrong, wahhhhh.
But the fact that the board is made up of X-FBI and X-Military is very disturbing don’t you think? egads………and they’re caught helping big oil against environmentalists?
So Bill Allen and other AK corrupt officials were involved in Wackenhut which is now GEO……..so who in AK is involved with GEO and the correction systems? and do they have anything to do with Palin appointing Joe Schmidt?
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“The alarm was raised in July when auditors found that managers for another private company were using public money from the drug programme to buy a rare book collection and antique furniture for themselves. A wider investigation was ordered and Wackenhut officials were allegedly found to have used $700,000 on what the Texas Rangers investigators describe as “unallowable petty cash expenses”. The money went on mobile phones and trips to Britain. The state has suspended payments to the firm while the inquiries continue.
The chairman of the Texas investigating task force, Senator John Montford, has said that two-thirds of the drug programme operators could face fraud charges. Wackenhut denies any impropriety saying that it had agreed to carry out the work with addicts for a fixed price and there was nothing wrong in keeping any savings made. “We carried out all the programmes successfully at that fixed price and we are convinced that all the costs were incurred properly,” said a spokesman.
Wackenhut’s board is dominated by ex-FBI and US military officers. Its services include helping employers break strikes and running undercover operations to unveil moles in multinational corporations.
The US Congress has been highly critical of one of its “stings” which involved agents posing as environmentalists to find where a leading green activist was getting his information about American oil firms.
goodness goodness………Fox news is tied up with them, such a small world.
http://www.newshounds.us/2007/04/24/indiana_prison_operator_geo_group_formerly_wackenhut_corrections_has_long_rap_sheet_of_neglect_and_abuse.php
Watch the video and listen to the trust in Deborah Fleishman’s voice. She honestly believes, as do the inmates, that FOX News has their best interests at heart and will actually send in a crew to do an “investigation.” Little does this poor woman know that FOX News has been bought and paid for by the very interests that abused her son in the first place.
Check out the tone in Cavuto’s voice at the very end of the segment and see if you think he’s ever going to speak with this woman again.
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(and) here we have x-prez Bush
Under the heading “Warden for Profit” the Religious Freedom Coalition of the Southeast reports that George Zoley, CEO of The GEO Group was a large contributor to the Bush 2004 campaign.
The Warden for Profit
George Zoley makes no secret of what he wants from Bush: big-dollar contracts for his security firm, the GEO Group, to guard federal prisons. “We don’t want to provide guards at the local shopping center,” he says. “We are looking at a single government payer for our services.” Zoley’s company, formerly known as Wackenhut Corrections, is the world’s largest operator of private prisons, earning more than $600 million a year incarcerating inmates. Its facilities are notorious: In Louisiana, where guards routinely beat and tear-gassed teenage offenders, a Republican judge lambasted GEO for treating children “as if they walked on all fours.” In Texas, where male guards molested female inmates, a fourteen-year-old named Sara Lowe committed suicide after her release. Asked by CBS whether Lowe deserved an apology, Zoley said, “Not that I’m aware of. I don’t know what you meant by that.”
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15308
GEO Group, Inc.: Despite a Crashing Economy, Private Prison Firm Turns a Handsome Profit
by Erin Rosa, Special to CorpWatch
March 1st, 2009
“I suspect that it’s a pattern all over. When you try to run prisons as money makers what you do is cut back on the most expensive thing you can, which is medication and medical care.”
GEO has said it will not publicly comment on pending legal cases or abuse claims by third parties, including nonprofit groups. Company spokesman Pablo Paez says that on the subject of business plans, “we have no comment beyond what’s in our public disclosures.”
Despite a wide array grievances and tragedies, GEO has accrued contracts worth more than $588 million in federal tax dollars since 1997, according to available federal procurement data. And as long as federal officials continue to remand a growing number of inmates and immigrants over to private businesses, without imposing strict oversight, GEO will likely remain profitable.
this should be interesting to watch, lol…….hmmmm who bets she’ll come up with her own appointment, oh lets see, like a high school or family friend OR will she select an appointee from the Dem. leg. list?
I bet she chooses her own.
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/138630
Elton leaving Senate for Interior job
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: March 2, 2009 – 12:42 pm
“Gov. Sarah Palin will select Elton’s replacement but needs a majority of the Democrats in the Senate to approve her pick. The Democratic Party in Juneau will submit names for Palin to consider, but she does not have to follow its advice.”
@ Say No — But she’d be a fool not to pick from their list. OH wait!
@Say No TO Palin In Politics (13:21:01) :
Oh, paleeeze, like she has any high school friends who are residents of House District 3 who aren’t already employed by her and aren’t actually still registered in the Wasilla house districts…!!!