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- Rollleft, on 09/02/2008, -1/+12Since the phrase "Fair and Balanced" has been tainted by Fox. Perhaps we could at least credit this biography with the "Ring of Truth" .
- johnnr2, on 09/02/2008, -0/+24She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city. - jasonspurlock, on 09/02/2008, -0/+16I liked this line in the piece:
“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000. - booksnmore4you, on 09/02/2008, -0/+13Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.
She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the
basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once. - jhuckabee, on 09/03/2008, -0/+13Good for this woman for staying involved in her community and not being afraid to speak the truth. This lady has done her homework. Although she puts to rest the Trig story, she opens up a whole other can of worms. If this is any indication of how Palin would serve as VPOTUS or POTUS, I wouldn't want anything of the sort!
- pixelate, on 09/03/2008, -5/+4Ugh, I wanted to digg this... but I'm not going to because of the sensationalist (and completely non-descriptive) headline.
- Echota, on 01/05/2009, -2/+1
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for president; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being president.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there are a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
Claim vs. Fact
1."Hockey mom": True for a few years
2."PTA mom": True years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
3."NRA supporter": Absolutely true
4.Social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, but vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
5.Pro-creationism: Mixed. Supports it, but did nothing as governor to promote it.
6."Pro-life": Mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby but declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation.
7."Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
8.Political maverick: Not at all.
9.Gutsy: Absolutely!
10.Open and transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
11.Has a developed philosophy of public policy: No.
12."A Greenie": No. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
13.Fiscal conservative: Not by my definition!
14.Pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
15.Pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
16.Pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.
17.Pro-labor/pro-union: No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/17341
- Echota, on 01/05/2009, -2/+1
- LaceKing, on 09/03/2008, -0/+7ABSOLUTELY AMAZING letter, thank you for posting it! DUGGGGGG!
Not only that, but the woman was willing to give contact info. Credible! - Tootie5347, on 09/04/2008, -0/+2The state of Alaska has 24,000 employees and only 700,000 residents.
My state has under 40,000 employees and 8 million residents, not including all the students and retirees and tourists. We have a Democratic governor.
Now, how is it that such a state with only 700,000 residents needs a payroll of 24,000 employees? I thought Repubs were about small government. - TomJx, on 09/04/2008, -0/+2"During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign."
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