The following is my effort thus far to document-as much as possible-by direct sources and where not possible by sources that refer to a primary source exactly what we know about Sarah Palin. You will note I haven't discussed Trooper Gate or her child since the first issue is still murky and the child is a non-issue. I also haven't gone into her potential dominionist ties yet because that's murky and complex and difficult to communicate. I've tried to focus on what is clear, direct and reducible to a soundbite.
Below the fold I detail Sarah's problems and provide extensive documentation.
Sarah: A Risky Choice for John McCain
Inspired by Frank Rich's Column
"It’s not rocket science. Its 6 million dollars and 53 employees."
Sarah Palin on being Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.
That Folksy feeling
She’s known and referred to as "Sarah" both by her adoring fans and also by her foes. We all heard her snide, sarcastic and yet highly effective and widely praised acceptance speech on TV. She’s shown that she can throw mud just as well as any man and play political hardball with the big boys (just not on Chris Matthews’ show). The GOP has accused the media of sexism for attacking her. Yet Barack Obama has been subject to intense media scrutiny, recently even appearing on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News show. Yet thus far the corporate controlled media has been intimidated by the McCain campaign, or has been too lazy or just plain unwilling to really dig into and publicize. She’s become an instant celebrity. But is she-"The One?" (Source: general knowledge).
If You Can’t Stand the Heat
Then don’t leave Alaska. Sarah likes to talk about her.Workout Routine. The McCain campaign has said Sarah will not give interviews until she is treated with defeence and feels comfortable. She will reportedly give an interview in Alaska to ABC’s Charlie Gibson. But does anyone really think that Gibson will ask Sarah all the "when did you stop beating your wife" and "are you now or have you ever been" kinds of questions he asked Barack Obama in the infamous ABC debate with Hillary Clinton? And does anyone think Sarah will go on Countdown with Keith Olberman? The clock until she appears on Rachel Maddow’s new show starts today.
Not Ready to Command on Day One
According to the The Anchorage Daily News Sarah’s "command experience" is virtually nil. Alaska National Guard troops that are overseas are under federal command. And when the 4200 member Alaska National Guard has been dispatched to deal with such issues as security at a Marathon and soil erosion, the decision has been made by Major General Craig Campbell. The one recent decision approved by the governor’s office to deploy a military cargo plane to Lousiana to help with hurricane relief was signed off on by her chief of staff. She has made one overseas trip-to Kuwait.
A Bridge to Nowhere
In her campaign for governor of Alaska in 2006 Sarah campaigned for the bridge and told the residents of Ketchikan that they were not "nowhere". It was only later that she decided against the bridge but she still kept the money ($223 million). She also used federal money to build a highway to nowhere on Ketchikan. Yet we've all heard about she opposed the bridge to no where
How to Lose $600,000 on E-Bay
We’ve heard that Sarah auctioned off a state owned luxury jet on e-bay for a profit. The plane was advertised on e-bay but it did not sell on e-bay. Instead, it was sold for a $600,000 lossto a prominent businessman who learned about it through his contacts with a Republican legislator.
It’s Time to Roll Out the Pork Barrel
And have a barrel of fun!In her last four years as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska she used a lobbying firm to bring her town, Wasilla Alaska, $27 million in federal funds in four years. Wasilla has a population of 6700 residents. That’s $4000 per person in federal money, or about $1000 a year.
Wasilla’s Legal Woes add to Taxpayer Expense
According to the The Wall Street Journalone of Sarah’s biggest projects as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska was building a $14.7 million sports complex for a town with an annual budget of 20 million dollars. Yet the project experienced multiple delays and cost overruns to the tune of $1.3 million. After failing to get legal permission from the owner of the land the complex was being built on, the city of Wasilla took the owner of the land to Court to force her to sell her property.
Sarah and the Alaska "Good Ole Boys" Network
Sarah benefited from that Good Ole Boy's Networkwhen she was Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. The law firm Sarah Palin hired to help her lobby Washington for pork barrel projects gave the account to Steven W. Silver, a partner in the firm. Steven Silver was a former chief of staff to Ted Stevens. Just this past February, as governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin sent Ted Stevens’ office a request for $200 million of federal money.
High Oil Prices Make it Easy for Sarah
Sarah really is a popular governor. But why? Like everyone else, Alaska residents have struggled to make ends meet with rising gas prices. And as unemployment rises to 6.1% nationwide and inflation makes a comeback, most state governments are feeling the pinch and having to make unpopular political choices. But Alaska does not have a personal income tax and every year it sends its citizens royalties from its oil revenues. As oil prices and gas prices have skyrocketed, Alaska’s coffers and its state budget have swelled. So when oil prices go up, royalty payments to Alaska residents do too. Of course she’s popular in Alaska. It’s easy to be popular when times are good. But how would she manage if oil prices suddenly fell? Sarah has never faced a fiscal crisis.
"Alaska First" or "America First"?
Though it isn’t clear whether or not Sarah was ever a member of the Alaska Independence Party (AIP) her husband was reportedly a member until 2002 when Sarah ran for governor of Alaska. Sarah does have a long history of pandering to the AIP which advocates secession from the U.S. and whose founder has expressed contempt for the institutions of the U.S. government.
Sarah’s Pastor Problem
Sarah is a partisan member of the religious right wing Republican base. Her church actively seeks to convert Jews to Christianity and one sermon by a visiting leader of Jews for Jesus has referred to terrorism in the Middle East as a "judgement from God" Sarah Palin’s pastor has also preached that God will "deal with"what he calls a "slippery, slidey nation like America" for acts of unjustified violence.
The Young Phyllis Schlafly
Gloria Steinem has said "the only thing" Sarah shares with Hillary Clinton is a Chromosome. Sarah wants to make all abortions-even those that are due to rape-a crime.