I just [...]]]> I went to the Democratic primary here in Steamboat. And I asked a couple of women who were wearing Clinton buttons why they were supporting her. The answers I got were, “Because she is a woman.” Now some of these same women are supporting Sarah Palin. Why? Because she has a vagina.

I just finished reading an article on Politico where some of the supporters at Palin’s latest rally were asked why they had come out in support of her. Here’s some quotes just to show you how amazingly ignorant these people are:

“PTA, Soccer Mom, that kind of stuff,” explained Luann Tiner.

“She’s the only candidate of all four who can actually shoot an assault rifle,” chimed in her husband, Ken.

“It’s fantastic what she’s accomplished, being able to do it with a family, and keeping that baby, that was very special, and she’s got a boy in the service and going over to Iraq,” said Betty Beck, who lives in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

“She’s an American,” said Blake

Not one mention about issues. Why? Because no one knows what in the hell this woman stands for!!!
Everything that has come out about her thus far has been nothing but lies, half-truths and factual omissions. The plane was a lie. Firing the chef was a lie (she was appointed to a different position). Her “Bridge to nowhere” line is absolute bullshit. She supported it to win the election for Governor. Her stance on abortion is so off the charts that I cannot believe any woman could support this. Kiss Roe v. Wade goodbye people. Palin does not believe in abortion for any reason. If you are the victim of rape or incest tough shit. In fact, she will also make you pay for the evidence test which can run around $1200. Read about it here.

Is Sarah Palin really a champion for women’s rights that she says she is? I suppose as long as you don’t get raped and don’t get pregnant from that rape. Although that appears to be easier said than done in the state of Alaska.

Alaska: rape, incest and domestic violence; Palin and Monegan

Since 1976, Alaska has ranked in the top five states in the nation for the highest rate of reported rape per capita. In 1993, Alaska ranked 1st in the nation: highest per capita incidence of rape.
Alaska has 6 times the national average of reported child sexual assault.
1 in 4 girls before the age of 12 and 1 in 6 boys before the age of 18 nationally will be sexually assaulted.
Fairbanks Health Center surveyed 419 clients over a 3-week period and found that 24% reported physical abuse in the past 6 months while 39% reported some form of sexual abuse (1995).
In 3 out of 4 reported cases, the victim knew the offender, the most commonly reported type of sexual abuse is a father who commits incest with his daughter–usually the eldest daughter.
As many as 4 out of 5 offenders were sexually assaulted as children.
One-third of incest victims’ mothers were sexually abused as children.
Alaska’s rape rate is 2.2 times the national average overall.

If you are a woman and are supporting Sarah Palin, you my dear, are an imbecile.

Let’s talk about that luxury jet, shall we? In her speech Palin made the following statement which was then followed [...]]]> The more of Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech that I read, the more lies I uncover. I have already covered the topic in regards to her statement on Alaska’s budget surplus. (See Sarah Palin’s Experience Challenged

Let’s talk about that luxury jet, shall we? In her speech Palin made the following statement which was then followed by thunderous applause:

I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.
While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor’s office that I didn’t believe our citizens should have to pay for.

That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay.

The jet was actually put up on the auction block at eBay. So I guess you could say that she wasn’t really lying. However, after two unsuccessful attempts at selling the plane, it was finally brokered by John Harris, the speaker of the Alaska House. The plane which was purchased for $2.7 million dollars was eventually sold to Valdez businessman Larry Reynolds for $2.1 million dollars. Reynolds is now asking the Alaskan government for $50,000 to cover maintenance fees.

At first glance, this may seem petty. But it is this exact type of misstatements that the Republicans have been spitting at us for years. Unfortunately, the sheep in elephant’s clothing are only too happy to lap up this continuously growing pile of horse shit.

Here is a quote from Palin’s acceptance speech:

Our state budget is under control. We have a surplus.

The state does have a surplus – a $39 billion surplus. However, [...]]]> I have been working on some research into Sarah Palin’s experience and have learned quite a lot about the state of Alaska in the process.

Here is a quote from Palin’s acceptance speech:

Our state budget is under control.
We have a surplus.

The state does have a surplus – a $39 billion surplus. However, this money sits in a Permanent Fund which was set up in the 70′s when Alaska started reaping in mounds of cash during the oil boom. It is an investment fund whose principal is untouchable.

To say that the state’s budget is under control is a misleading statement. Residents of the state of Alaska do not pay income tax or sales tax. Over 80% of Alaska’s revenues come from oil and gas. With the skyrocketing price of gas, Alaska is currently enjoying a large windfall of cash. However, the state also receives money in the form of federal subsidies. These subsidies, which the rest of us pay for, are to the tune of $8 billion a year. Even with the cash haul from oil revenues, Alaska is completely dependent upon these federal subsidies. Meanwhile, qualifying residents of Alaska receive a check every year from the Permanent Fund dividends. In 2007 the check was in the amount of $1,654.

Now I can understand why Sarah Palin has an 83% approval rating in her state. Who wouldn’t love getting that yearly bonus? I’m not sure that I can agree with the assertion that Palin is the most qualified in matters of the economy. Alaska’s economy is completely unique to the rest of the United States. Simply being governor of Alaska for two years does not mean that you have an understanding of the federal budget.