The Western Standard, a conservative Canadian website (once a magazine which ceased publication last year) with its own separatist sympathies, has taken it upon themselves to contact the Alaskan Independence Party to get further details on Palin's past membership. Alberta, where the Standard is based, has had its own separatist party for some time. During my last visit to Alberta, at election time, there were more signs up for the separatist party in some areas than for other Canadian mainstream parties such as the NDP
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/...
The gist of it:
Responding to a request for comment from the Western Standard, Clark wrote:
"Yes, Governor Palin was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party. She joined the Party and attended the AIP Statewide Convention held in Wasilla in 1994, along with her husband, Todd. In 1996 she changed her registration to Republican and Todd re-registered as undeclared, a registration he holds today."
Clark maintains that she, as Chairman of the AIP, is "not so excited about having [Palin] as a V.P. candidate," and added that she feels "somewhat betrayed as an Alaskan that she would attach herself to a candidate [John McCain] that has long held an opposing view to the development of our republic and its' resource wealth." John McCain has opposed efforts to permit drilling for oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (or ANWR).
As for Palin's current views about the AIP, Clark wrote, "I cannot say where Governor Palin now "stands" regarding the AIP Platform, however, she did send a wonderful DVD from her office for the 2008 AIP Statewide Convention sharing her opinion of the importance of this Party."
The video, which many of you are already familiar with:
What are claimed to be the full emails between the Western Standard online editor, Peter Jaworski, were posted on this forum:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/...
Peter Jaworski wrote:
> Hello Lynette and J.R. -
> > My name is Peter Jaworski, I'm the online editor of the Western Standard, a Canadian libertarian/conservative online news outlet.
> > I was hoping you might be able to offer me a comment about Sarah Palin's possible connection to your party. Here is where I came across that possible story:
> http://www.dailykos.com/...
> > I should point out that the Western Standard is sympathetic to all pro-liberty movements, including those calling for secession or decentralization. We have published our own poll on secessionist feelings in western Canada, particularly in Alberta, dealing with the
> secessionist movement in a fair and sympathetic manner.
> If you can offer me just a short statement, I would appreciate that very much.
> > Thank you very much, and I hope to hear from you soon,
> > Peter Jaworski,
> www.westernstandard.ca
> >
Hello Peter,
Thank you for writing and for the web link about the Governor being an AIP member.
Yes, Governor Palin was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party. She joined the Party and attended the AIP Statewide Convention held in Wasilla in 1994, along with her husband, Todd. In 1996 she changed her
registration to Republican and Todd re-registered as undeclared, a registration he holds today.
I, as AIP Chairman, am not so excited about having her as a V.P. candidate. I feel somewhat betrayed as an Alaskan that she would attach herself to a candidate that has long held an opposing view to the development of our republic and its' resource wealth. I cannot say where Governor Palin now "stands" regarding the AIP Platform, however,
she did send a wonderful DVD from her office for the 2008 AIP Statewide Convention sharing her opinion of the importance of this Party.
As to the labeling of the AIP as a "fringe", I would remind you that the Republicans held that same label when they stated with Abe Lincoln. The AIP is now 28 years old, we have seated a Governor and Lt Governor, along with various members of our State Congress. We currently have two
candidates campaigning for the US Senate, Bob Bird, and US House, Don Wright. I firmly believe the term "fringe" no longer applies.
This Party took an almost fatal blow when in 1993 the Founder, and then Chairman, Joe Vogler was kidnapped and murdered, but has weathered that storm and has still endured. The AIP Platform is one of State's Rights
that the Founding Fathers of the original colonies would be proud of, but we also address the legality of the Statehood vote that occurred in 1958. Our reasons are fully addressed by Mr Vogler on the akip.org web
site under "the Primer". Just one short week after receiving a letter of sponsorship to the United Nations to come plead Alaska's "case", he disappeared.
If you have any other questions, please, feel free
to contact me.
Sincerely,
Lynette Clark, Chairman
Alaskan Independence Party
In a last second update before posting, I also found this link from the Western Standard comments section. In it, Alaska Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Bob Bird has even more allegations, and several bones to pick:
http://www.independentpoliticalrepor...
Palin had attended the 2006 AIP convention to give a speech (I missed that one). This was astute, because in a small state where we are all friends and neighbors, showing up at cross-party functions is not that unusual or seen as duplicitous.
Palin’s VP nomination now shows the secret dynamics that were likely in place: her nomination, the TC gas line — and the likely "bone" they will throw to us in probably opening up ANWR at long last—makes Alaska far more beholden to economic control from the Lower 48/East Coast elite than ever before . . . exactly where they like to keep us, and where they have had us all along, before and after "statehood" (quotes on that last word are intentional).
With all this in mind, it may not be helpful to throw the word 'traitor' or 'unpatriotic' around. Besides, views change, people change, and hell, people pander. Regardless we've seen enough details and allegations now for Palin to require an explanation.