I ask this because it seems quite unbelievable. Here's a woman who:
*. ...billed rape victims (or their insurance companies) for the use of forensic rape kits.
* Despite Alaska having the highest rates of forcible rape per
capita, she has increased funding for victim's assistance by just
percent. There has been no further funding to try to prevent
assaults from happening – or to ensure prosecution of offenders. (also
see TrooperGate)
*Paid hunters $150 per killed wolf, despite Alaska having repealed
bounties in 1984. Also promotes "aerial hunting" which means you shoot the animal while IN A PLANE Even some professional hunters discount this strategy.
*Bridge To Nowhere: 'Nuff said.
*Road To Nowhere: Palin supported $30M project to build a
road from the village of King Cove to the nearest all-weather airport.
The 25 iles of road would run through a National Wildlife Reserve.
King Cove has a population of 800 people. The town already has access
to a hovercraft and improvements to the local health clinic were made
as an answer to emergency medical situations. That was the result of
$38M bill in 1998.
*Troopergate; 'nuff said part II.
*As mayor, tried to start ban certain books from library system, and
also tried to fire librarian who wouldn't go along with it. Relented
due to public pressure.
*Billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her
first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to
cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.
This amounted to a little more than $16,000.
* Got earmarks up the ass. McCain said she
hadn't sought earmarks or special-interest spending from Congress,
presenting her as a fiscal conservative. But state records show Gov.
Palin has asked U.S. taxpayers to fund $453 million in specific Alaska
projects over the past two years.
* During her six years as Mayor, Palin increased general government
expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of
taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. Wasilla had no debut
when Palin took office. When she left it had a $22M deficit.
**BONUSES**
The Alaskan Independence Party. "Keep Up the Good Work"
Has handed out several jobs and positions to people solely on the
basis of ...they went to High school with her.
Conversely, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed
her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal
grievances, according to a review of public records and interviews
with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
..and then there's the Special Olympics thing, the Witch-Hunting doctor thing, the...huff, huff...I'm out of breath! Damn, I've got Palin-Fatigue!
Anyway, I think you see my point. McCain's vetting team is either made up of crack addicts or undercover Democrats. (In much the same way, I have always held close a nugget of conspiracy thinking that Mark Furhman was actually on the payroll for the defense in the OJ Trial). If this is true, then I say Bravo! It's about time we started getting involved in the dirty tricks thing! If not though, McCain needs to start conducting random drug tests for his staff.
Because I cannot fathom that McCain, as smart and as savvy as someone who's been in Congress this long could possibly choose a Sarah Palin as a credible VP pick. Impossible. He didn't just fall off the turnip truck, fergoshsakes, he's been around for a while.
And let me say this about Caribou Barbie: I, as many people watching that interview have stated,(including Glen Greenwald) actually feel sympathy for her. I shouldn't seeing as how if she gets into office she'll evolve into an actual symbiosis of Bush and Cheney, but dammit, watching this was like watching a baby zebra get taken down by a lioness on Animal Planet.
In addition to not having a working knowledge of foreign policy, she CLEARLY cannot handle the pressure of these simple interviews, and doesn't have the savvy to re-route herself. Katie blatantly offered her a chance to back down off the "I can see Russa from my backyard" thing, and she went and COMPOUNDED the silliness. It was truly like a Monty Python skit come to life! And then there was the equally tortured thing about the bailout and she suddenly went off on this wild tangent about tax reductions. It was train-wreck TV at it's finest.
Plus this is ALL OVER the morning radio shows in the DC area today.
Have no idea what other morning djs are doing in the rest of the country, but this is quickly developing into a "You're No Jack Kennedy" moment.
And while yes, we did elect GHWB even with a schnook like Dan Quayle at his side, but that was with a good economy, the slow death of the Soviet Union and a healthy George Senior.
If she's telling the truth about not hesitating when McCain asked her about being VP, then it shows she has no sense of self-preservation OR her own limitations. Just like the guy who's in the WH now.
I'm now hoping McCain loses not merely for our sake, but for HERS.