‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE!

14 09 2008

I attended the Welcome Home rally for Sarah Palin this morning.  Hooo.  It was an experience. About a thousand (maybe) hard-core Palin supporters showed up to hear her speak at the new Dena’ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage.  

After shaking it off with a good double shot of espresso, and a brisk walk back to my car, it was time to head to the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally.    It was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage.  Home made signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men.  I had no idea what to expect.

The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee.  It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee.  It’s probably an impressive list.  These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets.  One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host.  Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally “a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots”, and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought.  The women, of course, received many nasty,  harassing and threatening messages.

So, as I jettisoned myself from the jaws of the ‘Drill Baby Drill’ crowd and toward the mystery rally at the library, I felt a bit apprehensive.  I’d been disappointed before by the turnout at other rallies.  Basically, in Anchorage, if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it’s a success.  So, I thought to myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren’t sent by Eddie Burke, we’ll be doing good.  A real statement will have been made.  I confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by hundreds of menacing “socialist baby-killing maggot” haters.

It’s a good thing I wasn’t tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody’s trunk.  When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep!  I could hardly find a place to park.  I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs.

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage.  The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators).  This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state.  I was absolutely stunned.  The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by.  And even those that didn’t honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute.  This just doesn’t happen here.

Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up.  He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn’t be heard.  Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high. 

So, if you’ve been doing the math…  Yes.  The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin’s rally that got all the national media coverage!  So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery.  Feel free to spread the pictures around (links are appreciated) to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans.  The citizens of Alaska, who know her best, have things to say.

UPDATE – Eddie Burke suspended without pay for one week.  Better than nothing!

Advertisement

Actions

Information

1,725 responses

14 09 2008
eajphd

Congratulations!!

You must be exhausted keeping up with all of this.

14 09 2008
A Brit abroad aka Flag Cobra

Thank you Mudflats! Brilliants stuff (and to all the others who were there taking pictures, reporting). Something tells me that the Republicans have vastly underestimated the power of the Internet/bloggers/e-mail…

14 09 2008
BigSlick

This is amazing and needs to be picked up by the MSM so all the WORLD knows that the largest political rally ever in Alaska just took place to REJECT SARAH PALIN.

Great work by the folks who risked their personal safety organizing the event, and great work reporing AKM!

BTW – I found this on the web and wanted to make sure its readily available too – from this document all can see how vindictive the Heath/Palin clan can be.

Click to access Memo_of_findings_10-29-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf

14 09 2008
gc

Hey you made The Washington Post and it has enough hits to make Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire..YES!!!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/13/in_anrchorage_an_anti-palin_pr.html

All the best from the lower 48!!

14 09 2008
jimstaro

Just Tried To Find Local Coverage, TV and Vids, only one station had it but it was good:

KTUU

The Writeup with Vid

The Video

The code on the Embed is huge, you might try it here to see if it posts.

The other stations looked like they haven’t updated their pages in a few days.

And I left a message on the open thread:
The Women who oragized have another task, They’ve Gotta Go After The Radio Jock, File Charges. According to the vid the station is going to discipline him, Not Enough, that kind of Speech and Call Out Actions Need To Stop On The Public Airways. The fat clown ‘chickenhawk’ isn’t going to anything but he knows he’s inciting others who will than he’ll claim Innocence, can’t Happen, Have Him Arrested and he Needs To Be Tried!!!!!!!!!!!

14 09 2008
solsticeatsea

This Democrat Abroad in the Netherlands is delighted to see that we’re finally fighting back. Given enough time, the truth would probably put an end to the infatuation with Palin, but I’m not sure we have enough time for that.

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

AKM, this is a very heartening post! I read with trepidation the beginning paragraph and your concern of a few being surrounded by many hate-filled, non-platform aware Pro-Palin protesters. I am so proud of USATODAY reporting the truth; that the Pro-Palin rally was “smaller.” If media was smart, they would be talking to the Alaskan people and asking what they think. Congratulations! Well done!

P.S. Knowing the causes that North Face sponsors, I wonder what they would think of small-minded Eddie having their logo plastered on his jacket as he tries to promote anti-choice, anti-environment, pro-War candidacy….just sayin’

14 09 2008
Jo MacD

Just fantastic to see so many women standing proud and telling the world what they think – the signs are great.
Thankyou SO much for covering this, let’s hope the word really gets out!

14 09 2008
Anonymous

I heard the mosquitos were big up there- but that Burke doofus is the biggest maggot I’ve ever seen !!!!

14 09 2008
Snoskred

Well done, rally attendees. You stood up for what you believe in. It is never an easy thing to do. Good on you!

In this case everyone please remember this was an act of enormous bravery to just show up there given what that Eddie Burke guy did. I was worried about what was going to happen, and I’m half a world away. I’m glad he was outnumbered so greatly.

I firmly believe he should be fired – and if all the people who went to the rally jumped up and down I think it could happen. If he would do that to the rally organisers just because he doesn’t agree with them, what else is he capable of?

Worst case scenario – finding out the names of pregnant teenagers who had abortions and airing them on his show calling them baby killing maggots, complete with their home telephone numbers?

When you put your heads together great things happen, and I think Eddie finding a new job would be a great thing for Alaska.

Being in the media is a big responsibility and people have to do the right thing. Eddie did not. A big thumbs down all the way from Australia, Eddie!

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
joy - fl

AKM you’re the best, thank you. Keep safe.

14 09 2008
Wondering_Lake

I’ve always assumed Alaska was actually Democratic at heart. I think most Alaskans are so independent that voting feels too linked to The Man. There’s too many hippies up here to be a genuine red state. We’re a freaken tie-dyed state, for gawd’s sake.

To quote my favorite non-politically correct t-shirts: Alaska Girls Kick Ass! and The media is not fooling me.

Get your Pop Art portrait of Sarah Palin as Mooselini t-shirts and pins here! Mooselini. That’s right, I said it and I meant it!

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

To coincide, had my Independent Friends who need Enlightenment Dinner last evening. I had invited approx. 20 people and they ALL showed up; some whom I never knew were really Republicans. Here’s the consensus from last evening, so take heart:

1) More die-hard Republicans are going quietly against their Party this year than I thought. The Bloomberg article is quietly circulating. Palin is killing McCain among the moderate Repubs who are smart enough to know there is another agenda that is not being shared by having her on the ticket. The Obama tax hike hysteria is being debunked all over the place by financial analysts and planners (and we had several there last evening who agreed). The war mongering b.s. is not playing well after 8 years.

2) People with even a gumption of morals are disgusted by the smear and out and out lies McCain and his troops are spreading. They are not being fooled by his “aw shucks” POW routine. As one man said: “Reagan helped usher out the Cold War, and McCain wants to bring it back in.”

3) A LOT of people are oblivious to the Extreme Right connection. I know McCain prefers to keep it that way (deceit – there’s another one of those virtues he’s left behind), so get that out as much as possible. The extreme right are not the vast majority. The Republians need for the moderate Christian to believe s/he is voting for something else.

4) Palin’s naivete is showing. I was so proud of one woman who stated just because one can see Alaska does not make one a foreign policy expert!! YESSS!!!!!!

Now, understand there is this “pride” thing so many Repubs are stating publicly that they are aligned with their Party. Do not expect that to change.

At the end of the evening, we encouraged each couple to hold a dinner of their own and discuss the issues. I encouarge y’all to do the same. This is the way the campaign will be won. It feels great to know there are more like-minds than different and the shrill of hypocrisy, hate, and deceit circulating with McCain/Palin will be drowned out.

VOLUNTEER. DONATE. VOTE.

14 09 2008
Bizzaro

Alaska,

Go make us proud!!

14 09 2008
Karrie Jacobs » Blog Archive » “She scares the bejeebers out of me…”***

[…] in Anchorage, organized by a group of local women over coffee. Attendance, according to the blogger Mudflats, was comparable to attendance at the official pro-Palin rally. The “HYPE” poster […]

14 09 2008
BigSlick

Let’s all give a shout out to “Frisco” Eddie Burke

9075228921 9073370388 9073370388

14 09 2008
lookingglass

ROCK ON! This just made my weekend!

We shall show them what Community Organizers can do!

14 09 2008
elie

Congratulations to everyone for a great rally. Keep up the good work!!!!! By the way..If you want some comic relief watch the SNL Clinton/Palin skit. It was awesome!

14 09 2008
Snoskred

Maybe it is Frisco, just nobody ever bothered to tell him?

I have some Skype credit.. what numbers are those BigSlick? 🙂

14 09 2008
NY Dem

To ‘borrow’ a phrase from the best commnetator on television, be it politics or sports, Keith Olbermann:

Eddie Burke — Today’s worsttttttttt person in the worldddddddddd !!!!!!!

14 09 2008
Dee

Happiness here in PA. Hugs to all the wonderful people of Alaska who made their voices heard. And, Mudflats, YOU ARE THE MAN!!!

14 09 2008
gdylan1

This is AWESOME to see. Made my weekend, as a women I realize that it’s not just that we want a women for President or Vice President, we want a QUALIFIED women. If Sarah get’s into office I just feel this would set us back 50 years, she is a talking head and not the mover and shaker that she tries to portray, anyone can read from a script. She is being used, when John McCain asked her to run on his ticket, that is when she should have said THANKS, BUT NO THANKS…..

14 09 2008
Lindainboston

When there is a great need, sometimes communities even begin to organize themselves!!! Fantastic and many kudos to those women over coffee…great things happen that way. Keep the faith.

14 09 2008
Oragone

Good on you.

Wish I wasn’t so pessimistic about Obama’s chances. Seems as though the low informed voters will determine the outcome of this election. The McPhalin campaign relies on this, so they lie, lie, lie(say it three times and it’s true) with no repurcussions and will win.

Eddie Burke=Michelle Malkin in pants

14 09 2008
Glenn2008

Watch the video of the corwd. Impressive.

Thanks! I had some video, but this is better. I put it in the post. I remember when that woman drove by with the camera. Awesome.
AKMuckraker

14 09 2008
Belgian Observer

Great to see that despite their apprehensions, people were brave enough to go out and join the rally – the desire to make their voices heard is what made it such a success!

The head of a major Belgian political party was the guest on a midday talk show, and at the end, she was asked for her Top and Flop of the week. She praised firefighters as a group (two recently perished in a blaze in Brussels) and gave a resounding thumbs down to “the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Republican Party in the United States, who thinks war is God’s plan – God deserves to be associated with better things than war.” (an off-the-cuff translation here, I’ll have to listen to it again to be sure.)

Unfortunately for Americans, more and more people abroad are beginning to associate “Americans” as a whole with the policies of the Bush administration and the far right, which are viewed in a very negative light. I hope the results of the November 4 election will change their minds!

14 09 2008
bwilder

AKMuckraker- YOU are my hero/heroine for the day!!

Between this and the front page of the NY Times I’m gonna
be smiling all day.

Have already emailed my girls across
the country so they can take a look at your blog and to
ask if they’d like to have rally’s in their cities. If so, I’ll
do all I can to help them get it organized.

It would be great if we could one date in October that women
across the US could have rallies at the same time????
Of course our brothers, fathers, sons, husbands, and
male friends can join in too.

How about a National Women Reject Palin Day ??

Any ideas on how to make this happen- email me
berta@birthsearcher.com
Subject Line: Women’s Rally

14 09 2008
White Agate

Let me tell you, I think this election may be decided by women discussing things over coffee, like everything else. The signs were witty and terrific…my favorite is ‘Reckless/Inexperienced’ that looks like the McCain/Palin graphics. Priceless!

Nice polar bear, too.

Stay safe…I just printed out a listing of Dems in my neighborhood to call and I was surprised to see how many there are. More than anything, it’s good to get out and see that you are not alone, in Alaska or anywhere else.

Here’s a link to the Banerjee photos of ANWR, the ones that were moved around in the Smithsonian 2 years ago. He continues to do a lot of important work in the arctic. The comments are really good in terms of illustrating how human activity has impacted this part of the world.

http://www.subhankarbanerjee.org/selectphotographs.html

14 09 2008
lemonfair

I see big slick beat me to it. This is an analog of people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. anywho.com is your friend. Only 1 Eddie Burke listed for Anchorage. Keep it clean folks.

907-522-8921

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

WOOHOOO!!! MAKING POLITICAL HISTORY!

I noticed how many men were protesting with you – even better!! 8)

14 09 2008
Made us proud

After all the news coverage on “ignorant” Alaska enabling the Pitbull, this gives me hope that the truth will overcome the lies. THANKS FOR DOING THIS => AND KEEP IT UP.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@lemonfair, did you say keep it clean???

Anchorage Daily News (AK) {PUBLICATION 2}
July 22, 1994
Section: Metro
Edition: Final
Page: E3

BURKE TO PAY $1,500 FINE IN INCIDENT BUSINESSMAN PLEADS NO CONTEST TO ASSAULT, COMPOUNDING CRIME
LIZ RUSKIN
Daily News reporter
Staff

A tearful, apologetic Eddie Burke pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanour charges for grabbing at a waitress’s crotch, then offering to pay her $400 to keep her from reporting him to the police. Burke, owner of a downtown gas station and former Anchorage Assembly candidate, was fined $1,500 for assault and compounding a crime. Prosecutor Susan Wibker said Burke was out carousing that April night, going from strip joint to strip joint in a white limousine with friends. After midnight, Burke stopped by the Peanut Farm, a restaurant and bar on Old Seward Highway.

“He was intoxicated and he was sexed up,” Wibker said.

Burke approached a waitress from behind, pinned her against a cash register and stuffed his hands into the front pockets of her apron, groping her between the legs and laughing, Wibker said. Later, he assaulted a bartender, putting him in what Wibker described as a headlock.

Defense attorney Carmen Gutierrez said it was more like a bear hug.

Gutierrez argued that Burke, 32, should be given credit for all the good deeds he has done, which include fund raising for the Special Olympics, volunteering for the Chamber of Commerce and giving free turkeys to the needy on Christmas Eve.

“He’s been punished,” she said. “It will take him years to overcome the humiliation.”

When it was his turn to talk, Burke said he was truly sorry.

As his wife and children looked on, he stood to address District Court Judge Gregory Motyka.

“I’ve prepared a statement, your honor, and I’d like to read from it,” Burke said. But the businessman paused, looked down at the defense table and cried. After a brief break, he continued. He said he’s given up drinking.

“If there’s a silver lining in this dark cloud, it is that I have learned my lesson,” Burke said. “By the grace of God, this courtroom will not see my face again.”

In February, in a different courtroom, Burke was tried and acquitted on a charge alleging he assaulted a motorist who followed him to his house to complain about his driving.

Judge Motyka ordered Burke to write apology letters to the waitress and the bartender. If Burke complies with a host of conditions, including alcohol screening and an aggression-awareness program, the assault conviction will be wiped from his record. Motyka, however, decided to make permanent the conviction for compounding the crime.

Copyright © 1994, Anchorage Daily News

14 09 2008
lemonfair

My faves:

Candidate to Nowhere

Hey Hockeymom. Keep the puck out of DC

Here’s a heartfelt thank you to a small group of people who have lifted the spirits of many.

14 09 2008
DavidE

Hi-

What is Ms Palin’s current approval rate? All we hear in the lower 48 is that she has an 80% approval rate, but I can’t find the source of that rating.

Please help.

btw…I live in New York and I sure know a lot about England. I can almost see it from here!

Thank you,

David

Her approval rating went from the low 80s, to about 67% after Troopergate started to hit the news. Then she bounced back to 80%. The latest polls have her at an 80% approval rating as governor, but only 65% as a vice presidential candidate. And that was over a week ago. I’ll be interested to see where the polls go from here.
AKMuckraker

14 09 2008
ocliberal

AKM: What an absolutely surreal moment it must have been for you to drive up to the library and see all those people, mostly women, carrying signs. I know I would have been choked up and probably starting crying.

This has reaffirmed my faith in so many ways. I think many of us were starting to feel helpless and depressed as we watched the blatant effort by the Republicans to hijack our morality and to insult our intelligence by their disgusting campaign of lies and deception.

Thank you to all the wonderful women of Alaska who made a huge statement yesterday that will reverberate around the country blog by blog by email by post.

I’m so glad I’m on the right side in this one. I would hate to have to justify my position if I were a Republican. And so far I haven’t run into one who can’t do it without telling lies or distorting the truth.

I know I speak for all mudflatter when I say, how very proud we of you! And the pictures are fantastic!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart…

14 09 2008
JohnW

Best way to deal with a bottom feeder like Eddie Burke? Have the rally attendees call his show sponsors and gently let them know that they are sorry to see that they support that type of person and they will keep that in mind when making shopping decisions.

Might not get him fired, but could get some on air groveling.

14 09 2008
Phillybits

OMG! That’s awesome! Thanks for updating everyone on this.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

Sponsors of Burke’s radio station (don’t forget, the station manager came out in support of him)

Alaska House of Yamaha, Big Lake 907-892-1000

Today’s Window Fashions® — (a national brand)
Jeff and Jan Stoeckle
Palmer, AK 99645
907-746-6822
877 99-TODAY

Prudential Jack White Vista Real Estate (Anchorage)
Michael Schwartz
Phone 907-351-4228
Mobile 907-351-4228
Fax 907-762-3189
Email alti2d@gci.net

First Frontier Mortgage (Anchorage)
Office 907-222-6001
Direct 229-2287
Fax 907-222-1478
Email info@FirstFrontierMortgage.com

14 09 2008
lemonfair

Aussie puck mule.

Yeah, I did say keep it clean, and i meant it. It’s really important to keep the story on Eddie Burke’s childish, crude, antics, and on Palin, and not on any of us in a negative way.

Besides, I’m sure he’d just love to sue anybody who threatened him.

Thanks for posting that ADN article. Absolutely amazing. What a pity anybody listens to him.

14 09 2008
BigSlick

WONDERING_LAKE

I recommend the proceeds of your Mooselini T-Shirt sale be used in two ways:

1) Donations to Obama campaign

2) Set up a trust fund to pay for rape kits in Wassilla on behalf of victims without health insurance that covers those costs

14 09 2008
lemonfair

Aussie puck mule

Thanks for posting those advertiser addresses.

I encourage those of you who plan to email them to create new addresses on Yahoo, hotmail, or with one of your extra accounts on your server, so you don’t end up getting harassed by email yourself.

14 09 2008
coryshubert

Hey, great stuff. Please create a Flickr account and post all these and any other photo’s there. It is much easier to share and get the images around the world. Let me know if you need any help doing so and I will be glad to.

Keep it going. We only have a short time to keep the true information going.

Cory

14 09 2008
Bridgie

This warms my heart – wish I could personally hug each and every prson at the rally!. Thank you all so much for standing up and expressing yourselves, and thanks to AK Muckraker for bringing us the unfiltered view, as always. This blog is a national treasure.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@gc – I just had to post this in full from the Washington Post !!

In Anchorage, an Anti-Palin Protest
By Karl Vick
ANCHORAGE — A couple of hours after Gov. Sarah Palin returned to the Outside, as Alaskans call the Lower 48, her local critics swarmed an Anchorage intersection to correct the widespread impression that the whole of the Last Frontier endorses her candidacy.

The midday protest outside a city library drew a crowd in the high hundreds — perhaps surging past a thousand — from the city’s relatively liberal environs, who seemed very happy to see one another and be reminded that they are not alone.

“The whole thing grew out of frustration,” said Charla Sterne, one of the organizers, who like several people at the rally declined to say where they worked (several said they were state employees and feared retribution).

“Last week this was just ten women sitting around talking about this perception that all of Alaska supports Sarah Palin. We apparently hit a nerve and started a movement,” Sterne said.

A sense of festival obtained. There was a woman in a polar bear suit representing “Polar Bear Moms Say: No Palin.” Drivers on 36th Avenue saw a little girl waving a sign “Don’t Ban My Books.”

Maia Nolan, 29, wore a sticker reading, “My Mom for V.P.”

“My mom is from Alaska. She’s a working mother. She’s good looking,” said Nolan. “So she seems to be qualified to be vice president.”

There were also a few score Palin supporters in the mix, most of them alerted to the event by a conservative talk show host.

Eddie Burke of KBYR-AM showed up in person, but while there was no evident friction between the two camps, cheerful chants of “O-bam-ah” effectively drowned out whatever he was saying to the cameras in the center of a mini-media scrum.

The din did not prevent reading the signs, pro and against:
Bush In A Skirt
Palin: She Be Failin’
I Love My Alaska Girl
Jesus Was a Community Organizer
We Luv Our Lady Guv
Palin: Thanks But No Thanks
Smearing Alaska’s Good Name One Scandal @ a Time
Candidate To Nowhere
Rape Kits Should Be Free
Voted For Her Once: Never Again!
Community Organizers are the Real Patriots
Barbies for War
I Shall Not Be Pandered To
Give Palin Your Vote AND Your Draft Age Child
Sarah Palin: So Far Right She’s Wrong
Sarah Palin Is My Hero
Alaska Is Not Frisco
Gun Rights
Coat Hangers for McCain
Sarah Palin, Undoing 150 Years of American Feminism
Hockey Mama for Obama (on a hockey stick)

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@gc – thanks, it’s brilliant!

14 09 2008
Cartoon Pig Dog

Great job, Mudflats!!! Didn’t someone say “it may only be 10 people or it may be a hundred” ? Well, it looks to me like there were more than expected. I just donated to Defenders of wildlife (for the second time) to help get their ad on air about aerial hunting of wolves and bears. I’d like to ask everyone here (especially those of us from the lower 48) to go to http://www.grizzlybay.org/SarahPalinInfoPage.htm and read what they have to say about it then follow their link to Defenders of wildlife and match (or hopefully beat) my donations. I’m disabled and have a very low income so I wasn’t able to donate much ($25 the first time, then another $50 this morning), but every penny helps to spread the word.

Let me just end this with one of my favorite lines from our great President George W. Bush.
“Sometimes we repeat ourselves, we need to keep saying the same things, uh, — over and over, to,–uh–to, uh, to,– catapult the propoganda”

Only this time we need to catapult the truth.

14 09 2008
ocliberal

MSN has another Palin article on the front page today.
Palin cut own duties as mayor of Wasilla

This article honestly chronicles her time as Wasilla’s mayor. I think the picture is starting to emerge clearer and clearer that this is an ambitious woman who rules by cronyism and favoritism, who doesn’t tolerate dissentors and really doesn’t have a lot of interest in actually ‘doing’ the job she is elected for. She is pure raw ambition of the scariest kind.

Keep them coming MSM. And the beautiful part is all the MSM is doing is just telling it like it really is and was. No distortion necessary.

14 09 2008
Cartoon Pig Dog

Oh yeah, can I steal a few of your pictures for a couple of my own sites? I’ll link them back to you of course.

Yes! Yes! Get them anywhere they can be helpful. AKM

14 09 2008
Way Outsider

Does the red meat crowd know that McCain is quietly telling illegal immigrants that he’s really their friend?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/13/mccain-ad-slams-obama-senate-democrats-on-immigration/

This is the lowest of the low. He tells small town America he’s going to put up a wall, then slips in a Spanish-language commercial denying it all.

14 09 2008
jimstaro

And the beautiful part is all the MSM is doing is just telling it like it really is and was. No distortion necessary.

Vetting the Resume, which is what the Mac camp and the Repugs should have done, or if anyone knew they went with their tried and true, their Base wouldn’t Give A Crap!!!!

14 09 2008
BigSlick

“Frisco” Eddie needs to hear what you think of his mysoginistic alcohol addiction, anger management issues, and his tearful confession of drunkenly groping a waitress to a judge!

8921 BOULDER BAY CIR
907 522 8921

832 E 6TH AVE
907 337 0388

6416 COLGATE
907 337 0388

14 09 2008
NY Dem

The NY Daily News has fun a “Palin-tology quiz in today’s paper.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/toplists/palintology_what_do_you_know/palintology_what_do_you_know.html

For instance — Do you know who ” Iceman ” is ?

That’s the code name the Secret Service uses for Todd Palin !

(Somewhere, Val Kilmer just threw up)

14 09 2008
Lisa

Nicely done Mudflats, very nicely done. Though I don’t have the time to write great and inspiring pieces like yours I do appreciate reading them. I write what I can in the time I have and hope the message is clear enough, but you go above and beyond, and for that I appreciate you. Keep up the phenomenal work. 🙂

14 09 2008
unlikely_burrito

Thank you so much for the photos….it’s one thing to read reports….but when you get to see visuals – the report some how last longer.

Those voter really had some fantastic lines on those signs….it showed their passion…..Two thumbs up!!!

14 09 2008
Deb

I’d like to recommend this site for fellow mudflats readers – http://freedocumentaries.org/
I’m not associated with that site or the particular film I’m recommending in any way, but I think it’s awesome that they make full length films available online for free. Of particular interest in this election cycle when we can clearly see how the media treats or doesn’t treat the candidates, is a film called “Orwell Rolls in his Grave”. Interesting stuff. We should all be thankful that – for now – we have open access to the internet, and blogs like this to offer insight and opinion that we’ll never get mainstream.

14 09 2008
Dem in VA

awesome!! I wish I could have been there!

14 09 2008
Hick Town in W PA

Great article today in the Boston Globe

For Palin, political issues still unresolved in Alaska
Likely to share ballot with two GOP stalwarts

By Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff | September 14, 2008

ANCHORAGE – The signs said “Welcome Home.” The brooch on Sarah Palin’s black suit glimmered “Alaska.” The Wasilla High School pep band in which she once played flute added Sarah-specific lyrics to its version of Offspring’s “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy).”

“I thank you for what you have instilled in me. There is no better place to come from than Alaska,” Governor Sarah Palin told a morning rally yesterday, suggesting that she might not return before November.

Despite the exuberant sendoff, Alaska might not be done with her yet. The governor leaves behind several unresolved issues that could force her in coming weeks to renegotiate the tenuous political divorce from the state’s Republican establishment that she has used to cast a “maverick” silhouette as a vice-presidential candidate.

“What she’s saying on the national stage is not at all what she’d say in Alaska,” said Ivan Moore, an Anchorage pollster unaffiliated with any state or national campaigns.

While Palin brags outside Alaska that she battled the state’s “old politics-as-usual . . . big good-old-boys network,” she will likely share a ballot in November with two of its charter members: Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Don Young, erstwhile rivals both struggling in their bids for reelection due to related corruption scandals.

Palin has so far not said whether she would endorse – or even vote for – either of her fellow Republicans. A McCain campaign spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on the subject. When asked yesterday if he expected that Palin would back Stevens and Young, state party chairman Randy Ruedrich said only that “we’ve talked to the governor about the election. . . . We’ll work with all kind of people and see what happens.”

While Palin’s campaign rallies elsewhere in the country last week were festooned with placards promoting local Republican candidates, the walls were bare in Anchorage. Stevens and Young will hope nonetheless to be pulled up by her coattails, according to a longtime strategist for both who said that finding common cause with them in the interest of party loyalty would not damage Palin politically.

“When you look at the contradictions that are around her, I don’t see how it would complicate her anymore,” said Art Hackney, who is working for both this year. “You could safely say there is a basic team dynamic that everyone recognizes when it comes to McCain-Palin, and Stevens and Young.”

The two Alaska legislators are facing reelection under dramatically different political and legal circumstances. While Stevens faces trial later this month, a federal investigation around Young has not brought charges. Yet polls show Stevens closely trailing his opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, while Young lags his, former state representative Ethan Berkowitz, by a significant margin.

“She has campaigned with him, and they are enjoying a good relationship,” Hackney said of Stevens. “She certainly has not got as good a relationship with Young as with Stevens.”

Palin backed her lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell, in a challenge to Young in the state’s Aug. 26 primary. The counting of votes has yet to be completed: Young currently holds a 239-vote advantage, with 280 outstanding absentee votes to be tallied on Thursday, according to an election divisions spokeswoman. At that point the election is likely to be certified, but given the closeness of the race either Parnell or a group of voters could demand a recount.

Parnell has not conceded the race or said how he intends to proceed, and Palin has given no indication whether she would support a recount. Polls show Parnell, a close ally who was the only Alaska politician to appear with Palin at the Anchorage rally, would be a far stronger Republican nominee than Young.

Both Stevens and Young have built their political careers on success financing Alaska projects through the congressional earmarking process, one of the favorite targets of McCain’s reform agenda. It is a subject hard for Palin to avoid when she returns home: her new campaign charter plane took off yesterday from Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport for a rally in Nevada last night.

Since joining the ticket, Palin has repeatedly claimed that she said “thanks, but no thanks, on that bridge to nowhere,” referring to a $400 million Ketchikan-area bridge whose earmarked funding had been largely engineered by Stevens and Young. Like many Alaska politicians, Palin initially backed the bridge, withdrawing support only after Congress eliminated the earmark in 2005 and the project became politically toxic.

In an interview with ABC News on Friday, Palin said “the abuse of earmarks, it’s un-American, it’s undemocratic, and it’s not going to be accepted in a McCain-Palin administration. Earmark abuse will stop.”

Yet another project also known as a “bridge to nowhere” – to connect Anchorage to the area near Palin’s Wasilla home across the Knik Arm Crossing – continues to receive state support, though its congressional earmark was eliminated at the same time. Championed by Stevens, the Knik Arm Bridge will be twice as expensive as the Ketchikan project.

“Governor Palin’s been in the news and she’s been talking about one ‘bridge to nowhere’ and not the other,” said Lois Epstein, director of the Alaska Transportation Priorities Project. “She canceled one bridge, but that was the easier of the mega-projects her predecessor left her with.”

A local quasi-public authority responsible for construction is negotiating with private investors and waiting for the Federal Highway Administration to accept a study of the project’s impact on local communities and to sign a “record of decision,” according to a department of transportation spokesman.

Democrats have pushed Palin to impose a public review and legislative oversight on the process, claiming that the project has been mismanaged and that the authority has underestimated its cost.

At her Anchorage rally, Palin did not once mention the “bridge to nowhere” or address the subject of earmarks, staples of her stump speech elsewhere but still broadly popular with Alaskans. A decision this fall on how to proceed with the Knik Arm Bridge could force Palin to again choose between the state’s political establishment and burnishing her national reputation as a reformer, observers say.

“It’s pretty much a Republican-driven entity. It’s a good-old-boy kind of a deal down there,” said Moore. “If she killed it, she would [anger] her base here.”

“But if she doesn’t win in November,” he added, “She’d have to come home.”

Sasha Issenberg can be reached at sissenberg@globe.com.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Thanks for the report, AKM. I can’t even imagine what’s going on in your head. We’re listening and looking hard, but you’re in the eye of the storm.

I was listening to ABC talk radio late last night and they reported that the Welcome Home rally had 10,000 people. They said it was so packed that they had to put people in another room to view it on the monitors. I don’t get it! I’m hoping that erroneous report will self-correct but I’ll take action if I hear it again (I would have last night but I was half-asleep at the time).

10,000??? I don’t think so. I posted a picture in the ‘Infiltrating the Palin Rally in Anchorage’ post that shows the entire crowd, smushed in behind the tape lines. The room capacity was 5000. The crowd may be 1000 but no larger than that. And they definitely didn’t need to open another room.
AKM

14 09 2008
Cartoon Pig Dog

Wasn’t the “Iceman” the crook that Nick Nolte was looking for in “Another 48 Hours”?

14 09 2008
John Henry

Congrats Mudflats! Score one for the good guys. Everyone did such a great job with the signage. You guys made an important statement. And it looks like everyone enjoyed making it.

We need to subtract people who felt compelled to spend their Saturday afternoon at Sarah’s rally for fear of not being a ‘team’ player. 🙂

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat (04:01:02) :

I can see why you have so many friends. WTG!! 8)

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Amused and Bewildered (05:07:48) :

AKM has posted several pics to demonstrate the crowd pushed together to look a bit bulkier. 😉

Perhaps you could email one to ABC talk radio in your area.

14 09 2008
Nebraska Native AKA Froth Moonshine Palin

@Aussie… left a comment for you on open thread 🙂

14 09 2008
michiganvoter

Thank you for your unique insight into this election. This runaway freight train is so depressing, your positive report brought tears to my eyes.

14 09 2008
ENOUGHwiththetrainwreck

this is so so so absolutely cool. i feel honored to have been a lurker and sometimes poster to mudflats and to have had the glimpse this site provides into the hearts and minds of Alaskans.

when i heard the audio of the Burke fellow – i felt shame that our country has this kind of derision festering inside. someone on the list mentioned the need to fire him – well, look what his cold calculating words has produced? maybe that is the true value of free speech. to KNOW what is on the minds of others and to be able to shout back with equal freedom.

when i explain the details of the pipeline and the natural gas sales, etc to friends and such (including the cashier at the grocery store) by citing Alaskan legislation and USGS reports and Canadian treaties and the testimony presented to the legislature — not one person misunderstands the depth of the lie. but that takes time and patience on both my part and the listener. (i talk fast) they all agree that news cannot or will not take the time to report that type of detail. so we get lipstick.

as you well know – there are so many people that will not pursue that depth of information needed to make a qualified election decision. some will not even read certain newspapers or any papers at all……..and therefore restrict their knowledge base considerably.

many will never read the blogs, the comments, or watch the videos or even know that those sources of varied opinions and facts are available. the fact is that not every family has a computer and internet access.

certainly few will spend 100’s of hours learning about the candidates and the issues surrounding them – including religion, lobbying, budget realities, the war(s), and that huge concept called foreign relations.

they still believe there is a walter cronkite to tell them how it is. we lost tim russert. we have new rising stars in newsmedia – but it takes time to learn their biases and to hear the facts in all the innuendo and in some cases, paid rage.

this blog has been so fantastic – so levelheaded – so compassionate – wow.

from here i have scoured the ‘net to read for myself all of the various tones and opinions and to do a bit of vetting myself via more document-laden sources. again – with the help of excellent posts and links on this blog.

and there cannot be enough said of the value of youtube – to watch the raw footage of speeches, meetings, etc and to learn from the montages and opinion pieces found in abundance there as well.

whatever McCain, et al had in mind for this election – they have done one thing very well – they have awakened a herd of sleeping giants and the stampede to the truth is on!

i have to head out on the road for a week and i am homesick for this blog already (smile). i will keep the AWRP signs and messages in my heart and even now typing this it brings a comfort that the vigorousness of thinking america can plow through the horror that “win no matter what lies you say” is the republican code of this time in us history.

i want to stand with the people that know that this country is not the priveleged playground of a few persons or corporations — but hundreds of millions of real people that deserve the best information and resources to build our nation on a foundation of honesty and integrity.

14 09 2008
jackie

dear alaskan protesters…i think i luv ya…
an obama mama from texas

14 09 2008
Lizzie

AKM and Alaskan women….you continue to inspire. Thank you.

I have a tradition of reading with my kids before they go to bed. Our current book is “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok….and last night, we read the section where Potok describes how Americans reacted to the announcement of Roosevelt’s death. Stunned sense of loss….sadness…..bewilderment. Crying in the streets.

That was before my time, but I remember that even in Hong Kong, we sat around the radio every day when Kennedy was running for President…..feeling much the same emotions that I feel today about Obama’s candidacy. How people in Hong Kong cheered when Kennedy won! Then…..Potok’s words could have been used to describe the world’s reaction to Kennedy’s assassination. Stunned sense of loss….sadness….bewilderment.

As we read the book, I realized that my kids (the youngest is 12) have never experienced that sense of respect and trust in a leader. It’s been a long time since we’ve had someone the country believed in. It’s been a long time since we’ve shared common goals and were united in our direction.

There’s a poignant article in WAPO today about how black people would react to an Obama loss. I think you could take the word “black” out of the article, and it would express how all Obama supporters would feel.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091202414_2.html?nav=hcmodule

14 09 2008
NY Dem

Wasn’t the “Iceman” the crook that Nick Nolte was looking for in “Another 48 Hours”?

——–

Yes – but I referencing the movie Top Gun.

But……….”Another 35 Hours” until Keith and then Rachel are on the air again. Can’t wait……….

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Aussie, as stated above, if I hear it again, I will. These things often have a way of self-correcting. Especially with it being Sunday, which is a very big news day here. Getting ready to for my Sunday dose of political talk shows right now! It’s going to be goooood.

I woke up this morning hoping that the AWRP rally would start a trend and wondered where we would go to try to rally the troops in each of our areas. Went to http://www.womenagainstpalin.com and saw that there’s something in Golden, CO on 9/15. Here’s the info.:

Colorado WAP Rally Monday, Sept. 15th
Women Against Palin
Action
Go to…HomeForumTake Action!MediaAbout Colorado WAP member, Michelle, is organizing a peaceful rally during Sarah Palin’s visit to Golden,
Colorado on Monday.

When: Meet 7 a.m. on Monday, Sept 15th
Where: Meet at Starbucks Highway 93 & Washington. We’ll all carpool from there to Jefferson County
Fairgrounds
What: Peaceful rally against Palin at Palin’s speech at Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Who: Women & Men

Go to to http://www.womenagainstpalin.com and register to commune with like-minded people in your neck o’ the woods! I just did. I really do think that the AWRP rally is just the beginning and the http://www.womenagainstpalin.com site seems like a good place to convene.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Oh, Aussie. I just got what you wrote (morning brain!). Yes, I am well aware of the true number.

14 09 2008
NY Dem

BTW, wonder if Rachel might be up for a run at the Presidency in 2016 – she’d get my vote !

14 09 2008
bawdywench

Great job at being fair and balanced and I mean that in truth. The MSM long ago gave up any pretense of reporting facts and now spins the news however they wish. Thanks for your courage in the face of the hostile partisans who are trying to cover up everything shady. Report the facts and let us decide.

14 09 2008
TheraP

I can hardly wait to click on each picture and enjoy the protest!

Alaskan women, THANK YOU!!!! From the bottom of my heart I will be forever grateful.

I honestly think it will be women who can save our country this time. We had the Founding Fathers. But this time it’s the Ladies at Last!!!

14 09 2008
snowbird42

How was Ed SChultz’ forum last night? It will be broadcasted on his showw tomorrow. 12-3 EST

14 09 2008
King Baeksu

Excellent work, sir!

— an encouraged reader from Seoul, Republic of Korea, formerly from Berkeley, CA

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Froth and misskae – thanks, have replied. 😉

14 09 2008
Prairie Sunshine

Thank you for your reporting on the scene! All of us together from all over the country will get the truth out, whether the McCainstream media and the Very Important Pundits in the Village of DeeCee want to hear it.

Learned of this story at dailyKos, and I appreciate the opportunity to pass along your reporting at my blog. Keep up the good work!

14 09 2008
Cartoon Pig Dog

Can anyone from Alaska please tell me when Eddie’s radio show is on air? (and the number for the station) I’d like to give him a call while he’s on the air.

14 09 2008
John Henry

@Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat (04:01:02) :

That’s good to hear. It was apparent Republicans were forced to settle for John McCain as the front runner. With the exception of the neocons – the War Baby War crowd, I don’t think any other faction – theocons (religious right), supply-siders, values voters, libertarians,etc – ever really trusted him. He’s proved them right. It looks like the Sarah pick is McCain’s sacrifice to the theocons in order to put Country First – I mean get elected. I’ve heard thecons comprise as much as 40% of the electorate.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/153/story_15355_3.html

14 09 2008
jimstaro

From ‘The Real News Network’

Video: The “lipstick pit-bull” goes to war

As usual Escobar gives it like it is Reality!!!!

14 09 2008
Wisconsin woman

Stunning, it gave me the chills. The power of women to speak back against threats is awesome. Congrats to all the Alaska women who turned out for the rally.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Cartoon Pig Dog, the radio station address is http://www.kbyr.com – they even have a special ‘rant’ line 😉

14 09 2008
bambambam

All I can say is ZOMG.

You are wonderful.

14 09 2008
TheraP

Mr. TheraP just had a good idea: Somebody (you, AKmuckraker?) needs to put this on youTube. Just the series of photos. Get some nice music for background.

Surely someone can make the vid – and it will be viral like nobody’s business!

14 09 2008
sbuent

You go, Alaska. I’m from Texas and constantly filled with shame at what we provided to the nation. I hope you are more successful at keeping your shameful politician at home. I love seeing the pictures from this rally–it gives me the first positive view of your state that I’ve seen in a couple of months!

14 09 2008
dragonmage06

Thanks for telling us about this when the national news media is not. The fact that there are women in Alaska who are showing their lack of support is very heartening. Keep it up and hopefully your efforts combined with ours down in the lower 48 will keep this trojan moose out of the White House!

14 09 2008
Cartoon Pig Dog

Thanks Aussie, I love to rant 😀 and I have a good one for him. Wonder if I can piss him off enough to get him to come all the way to PA to see me, I have a lot of women friends here that would just LOVE to meet him.

14 09 2008
Geraldine

Please, Please post this article on your blog at Huffington Post. More people read the Post than read or listen to the MSM now adays.

14 09 2008
Cynthia, TX

bawdywench (05:34:24) :

i was sitting here thinking the same thing how in the heck can the MSM media report such nonsense when clearly the Anti Palin rally was much bigger!!! What a joke!!!

WAKE UP AMERICA!!! they are not on our side…we have to make them be!!!!

14 09 2008
Nan

Great photos. I am lifting a couple and of course will provide a link. Thank you for all the great work you’re doing.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

OMG! My favorite picture of Palin so far!!!! I clicked on an article called “Obama tries to blunt Palin, by attacking McCain”. LOOKEE AT THE PICTURE! Best one yet! I hope it appears aaaalll over the web.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLjQnanGwe-0Mst6UJiA8xD7JcHw

14 09 2008
Justina

Congratulations to all the wonderful people in Alaska who came out to protest Sarah Pahlin. Great job!

As a Democrat Abroad living in Venezuela, it is heartening to see that there are so many people in Alaska opposing McCain-Pahlin’s fascist policies and working to restore American democracy.

The whole world, not just the U.S., is heavily impacted by the actions of the U.S. government. The last eight years of Bush-Chaney crimes have tragically affected millions around the world. Thus, the world is watching us and praying that U.S. returns to political sanity by electing Obama.

My thanks to Mudflats for being such a wonderful source of factual news and interesting comments about Pahlin.

return to sanity

14 09 2008
fixthebroken

That’s wonderful!!

It makes me question the 80-90% approval rating she has gotten. I guess people can think she is doing a good job for Alaska but is not ready to be VP.

But I love to see these types of rallies.

BTW, did anyone see that she spoke in Nevada yesterday giving the exact same speech — plane on Ebay, bridge to nowhere, blah, blah. Ugh.

14 09 2008
Mary Nagle Chicago

Thanks Mudflats. What are we going to do about voter caging? It is happening in Ohio and Wisconsin as we speak. The tide is turning toward Obama away from the lies but will the votes count? Thia is my major concern.

14 09 2008
laura

Thanks to mudflats for your accurate and enthusiastic reporting of what for you must have been a looong day! I have a few pics of rally at my blog if readers want to see more!

14 09 2008
BJA

You just made my day. I sent some of the photos out to my e-mail list with the title:
Behold the power of women.

I encourage you to show your discouraged women friends what is possible. Time to mobilize.

14 09 2008
UK lady

UK lady (05:54:12) :

Wow, just saw this, they don’t mince their words or worry about being pc do they.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-09-2008/106354-palindevil-0

Please, please read this, you will be gobsmacked.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

Did anyone see the Mooselini babywear that Wondering Lake posted?

http://www.cafepress.com/mooselini

Poetic justice!

14 09 2008
fixthebroken

OK folks, this is the type of rediculousness we are dealing with:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.palin14sep14,0,4638337.story

The last paragraph takes the cake:

“Right now, for me, gender trumps everything else. If Democratic women wait for the perfect woman to come along, we will never elect a woman. I will vote for McCain-Palin. I urge other women to do the same. I promise to be the first person knocking on her door if Roe v. Wade or any other legislation that goes against the rights of women is threatened. But in Governor Palin, I find a woman of integrity, who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. I can work with that. I will work with that.”

YEAH, you go ahead and knock on her door and watch how she opens it and slams it right back in your face. Don’t let it hit you in the ass on your way out. Is this woman really that naive?

14 09 2008
testarosa

Heartwarming, to say the least. I love your website. Thanks for giving us in the lower 48 a taste of what is really happening up there. I love the photos and a great job on the signs!!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

WOW! Consider me gobsmacked!

[quote]UK lady (05:54:12) :

Wow, just saw this, they don’t mince their words or worry about being pc do they.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-09-2008/106354-palindevil-0

Please, please read this, you will be gobsmacked.[/quote]

As we say in Australia – bloody hell!

14 09 2008
sarah

saturday night live clip…. tina fey as palin and amy poehler as clinton… too damn funny!!!! 🙂

14 09 2008
anonymous

Thank you Alaska, women. And please support OPRAH on Monday 9/15/08 or online (despite the Oprah boycott being urged by FOXNEWS over a faux Palin-related matter) for her program urging passage of S.1738 PROTECT Our Children Act. The grassroots must unite on this nonpartisan issue, in fact, GOP women may be the key to the bill’s passage.

9/15 TOPIC:Internet Predators: How Bad Is It?
No one knows how bad it really is or fast it spreads…it’s time we all found out. Online sex predators—we’ve got to change the law. Interviews with Wyoming FBI Special Agent Flint Waters and others.

The related House bill passed almost unanimously.
http://www.house.gov/list/press/fl20_schultz/PROTECTmediapage.html

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1091.xml

Due to inadequate funding, 2% of KNOWN INDIVIDUALS involved in online ‘child sexual exploitation’ are investigated, yet US SENATE FAILS to authorize additional funds to FBI/DOJ, and despite 30% of offenders identified by ICAC databases being typically associated with local child victims.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-15-childporn-main_N.htm
Limited funds hinder child porn fight (interview with Agent Waters)

http://www.protect.org/childPornography/
Thank you!

14 09 2008
aka Mustache Warthog Palin

Great job akmuckraker! I’m grinning ear to ear with my coffee this morning!

Gotta love the crowd that turned out to show the rest of us what Alaska really thinks. The hand made signs were a brilliant idea. So many clever signs and quips. I just love people with brains.

Worst repub bumber sticker I’ve seen all week: “Republican, because not everyone can be on welfare.”

14 09 2008
jimstaro

UK lady:

Yep, no mincing of their thoughts, can only imagine what others are saying as well, probably Very Similar!!!!!

14 09 2008
Bettex99

Great stuff. Forwarded this to my mother in Seattle one of those dreaded community organizers, asking her to please spread the word. Also its time to encourage Stewart and colbet to have Ole man mudder on their shows. I am emailng them today.

14 09 2008
UK lady

AUSSIE PACK MULE – glad someone read it, just – bloody hell!!!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@fixthebroken (06:06:12) :

Read the Russian article I just reposted and then she can talk about walking the walk!

Game on!

14 09 2008
Alaska Women Reject Palin - Debate Politics Forums

[…] and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute. This just doesnt happen here. Alaska Women Reject Palin Rally is HUGE! Mudflats Pictures of the rally can also be seen at the site (above). __________________ Change will not […]

14 09 2008
Mel

Thank you so much! You have brought back sanity in my life that Palin has taken away. For weeks I though I was stuck in a bad episode of the Twilight Zone. I just made another donation to the Obama/Biden campaign. I encourage everyone to do the same.

14 09 2008
DemsAreNotAfraid

That rally is inspiring! I certainly couldn’t get that many Democratic women with signs to show up in my conservative Southern community for fear of censure and shunning by their own church members!

This makes my day ~ Go Alaskans! Lead the way back to sanity.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@aka Mustache Warthog Palin (06:10:46) :

geez, I hope you’re not a girl!

14 09 2008
Nebraska Native AKA Froth Moonshine Palin

@Aussie… OMG– totally different press “rules?” Great link. Made me feel kind of naughty reading it. Bloody Hell indeed!

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Aussie, re: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-09-2008/106354-palindevil-0 — good find. IMHO, this hasn’t been brought enough but I’m hoping it will be. Just by virtue of what she said, I worry. Just unreal.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@UK lady (06:11:53) :

I’m proudly Aussie PUCK Mule Palin. 😉

Like the other Palins, I didn’t ask for a weird name……

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

Amused and Froth, UK lady posted that some time ago, I just reposted it ….

Scary, huh?

14 09 2008
Patty Morse

thank you , thank you, thank you!!!!!

14 09 2008
UK lady

sorry for typo puck mule, so excited by my Russian story, fingers not working.

14 09 2008
Zim in Oz

Well done Alaska Sistas ( and bruvvas…LOL)

I really love seeing Democracy ‘happening’

Off topic….I watched CNN ‘Biden revealed’ today…..
He is HOT ! ‘Common’ ladies….(I am over 50) Who agrees with me ….?

BTW AKM…..I have noticed there are Mudflatters world wide….how about a supporter map…..?

PS….Palin sounds like Mary Murphy….( DYTYCD) !!!!

I have tried to do that, with no luck. Not particularly skilled with widgets and the like…can you tell? Also been trying to figure out how to transfer this blog to a different version of WordPress. ARgh. AKM

14 09 2008
Lizzie

Nice put down by Tony Knowles in NYT…..and he didn’t even name names. In the paper’s op-ed pages today, they asked a number of people w/ similar experience to the candidates to write about how (and if) their life experience would contribute to the Presidency.

Knowles: “My state has a partnership with the federal government to provide health care for children whose working parents cannot afford it. Giving incentives to families to continue to work is a moral, social and economic mandate. Yet today, sadly, fewer children in Alaska have a chance for this vital service than when it was initiated in 1998, even though the state now has huge surpluses as a result of the high price of oil.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/opinion/14knowles.html

The series is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/opinion/14intro.html?hp

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

Mary Nagle Chicago, the idea is to try and prove someone doesn’t live there any more, evidenced by the return-to-sender. I think it’s just a fishing exercise.

SOMEONE, please some advice about caging!!!!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Zim, I would consider a decent proposal from him. 😉

14 09 2008
antsy

@UK lady

Thanks for the Pravda article — We HAVE to elect Obama/Biden

14 09 2008
snowbird42

Ill be checking this site often thanks.
Together we can win.

14 09 2008
Laura

Bravo, one and all! You are the Americans who speak the truth. My heart and thoughts are with you!!! Thank you, a million times over.

I have sent this to my daughter who has suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for 21 years. Her over all condition is deteriorating. No longer can drive, severe vision damage, loss of bodily functions, nerve pain, mobility issues. Her husband is a diabetic suffering with the on going results ofchildhood diabetes. He has had mutiple heart problems, nerve damage, inability to swollow, digest food, and now vision damage. My daughter will be 40 in a month, my son in law is in his early 40’s.

Both are faced with tremendous medical bills and worse yet will have to decide what they can and cannot afford. Stem cell research would help them both.

As a mother, watching my child suffer from this terrible condition, and seeing my son in law struggling to keep his job, caring for my daughter, and in the midst dealing with probable vision loss is heart breaking.

So, please accept my heartfelt gratitude. Our country’s future is at stake.

14 09 2008
pamela

AKM (and everyone else who attended/posted) – Thank you for the reports and pictures. They’re so inspiring.

Lots of talk about Palin on the Sunday news shows, but nothing about the rallies, at least so far.

@Sarah, SNL was priceless. SP should have hired Tina Fey to do the interview w/ Charlie Gibson. I’m guessing Tina has at least thought about the issues, and if not, she’d have done a better job spouting the talking points.

14 09 2008
Laurie

As a Canadian who has been a mudflatter since early days….I cant tell you how excited I was for this post.

Those people have much more gumption than many would think. Imagine how this could have gone, given that gross Conservative radio personality. What I wouldnt give to have him in a room all by myself for 10 min.

Bravo my friends….;you have done far more than you know. Thankyou for doing what you did. You make this woman proud.

14 09 2008
Intrigued

Great reporting! Thank you.

Please remember that not everyone who knows the truth about Palin is an Obama supporter. Your excellent blog is attracting all kinds of people, many of whom are disaffected Republicans (like myself) who are disgusted with the two-party system in general so will be casting a third-party vote. Thank you.

THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.

14 09 2008
White Agate

Wow, that Pravda article is not for the faint of heart. Of course, the last line doesn’t speak to Russia’s many problems with health and social issues.

Nuclear war is not something to mess around with. End of discussion.

Has anyone found any other international articles on this? I know some English and Irish posters have listed some…interested in what they are saying in France.

14 09 2008
Ennealogic

Wow. Just wow. I haven’t cried such tears of joy in a long time.

Thank you.

14 09 2008
The "Alaska Women Reject Palin" Rally « Homosecular Gaytheist (and friends!)

[…] AKMuckraker over at Mudflats went to Palin’s Welcome Home rally in Alaska, got bored and went to a bigger, more exciting party. […]

14 09 2008
Tracy in NC

Thank you women of Alaska!!
I’m just sorry she’ll be back as your governor when the Repub ticket is defeated in Nov. (Start that recall petition!)

14 09 2008
Laurie

Oh Laura…I so wish I could help you. My mom was diabetic and had cancer. She had the best medical care….not a dime out of her pocket. This is what nationalized health care is about.

Obama will be elected my friend. Then….you all will have healthcare. That is my prayer.

14 09 2008
liz

congratulations on the success!
i just wish the media would cover it. good Lord.

i really love reading your blog, keep up the good work!!

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
swineprincess

ok, i am looking for my nerf brick to throw at my tv… Carly Firiona is making me crazy and needs toust hush. Claire McCaskill is a class act and was just so eloquent on ABC This Week.

14 09 2008
White Agate

Aussie Puck Mule:

Oh, and caging. I tried to post a longer thing about it the other day, but it got lost. I live in MN and we got a very tacky ‘absentee ballot’ mailer with a terrorist gallery the day after 9/11. There are lots of online reports about it in swing and purple states. The idea is to get voters to fill out the form and then certain ones get ‘lost’ in the mail.

I am going to my local DLF office to show it to them, and then to the Secretary of State’s office. It looks very official, and was actually addressed to my husband, who is registered but is a busy type who might do absentee ballot.

Document what you got, research the addresses on it, and report it to local political authorities and the Secretary of State. They take things like this very seriously in MN, other states vary a lot.

Why would I trust anyone else with my vote?

14 09 2008
White Agate

Oh, and sorry, the source was the McCain campaign, I should say. No Palin on the mailer, interestingly.

14 09 2008
Jean

Go Alaskan women! I was wondering why everyone up there was willing to lie down and act like a doormat for this woman, and it turns out it isn’t true. Love the pictures.

14 09 2008
A Brit abroad aka Flag Cobra

@ Agate – this is Le Monde’s US election site: http://www.lemonde.fr/web/sequence/0,2-829254,1-0,0.html

14 09 2008
CindyPDX

Thank you so much for your outstanding report and pictures on this Rally! If it were not for the internet, I would not have known about this HUGE RALLY.

14 09 2008
Intrigued

Fixthebroken —

Yes, it IS the kind of ridiculousness we are dealing with! And I have seen it with Hillary supporters as well (we must elect a woman at all costs!). AND Obama supporters (we must elect this black man all at costs, so we can make history and we may never have another chance!). These mindless idiots can’t even tell you the positions their candidate takes on the issues — all they care about is the sex (not gender! that is incorrect) of the candidate and/or the color of the skin. And in Palin’s case, what they look like — many males are voting for Palin because she is “hot.”

The American populace is so dumbed down it IS ridiculous! They have no critical thinking skills. That is why so many sheep are voting for one of the major party candidates.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

Alaskan Women rule. I am so proud of ya’ll. Thank you for standing up and being LOUD for the rest of us in the lower 48 + Hawaii. thanksthanksthanks.

14 09 2008
mk2000

Great coverage Mudflats. Thank you for this heartening news.
I was wondering what you know about this woman: http://syrin.vox.com/
Her Palin’s “Abuse of power” entry is worth reading yet I’ve never seen this posted anywhere. I saw her name buried in the middle of a NY TImes article from yesterday and found her blog. Here’s the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Have you done any pieces on her?

14 09 2008
antsy

@swineprincess

I wonder what Carly Firiona expects to get from McSame. She is so repugnant.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

Intrigued, where are you getting this “at all costs” you have heard from Hillary and Obama supporters… I have been pleasantly surprised at the lack of that type of thinking. I would argue that we are “over” that kind of thinking in the Democratic party and that the nomination of Sarah Palin shows (for one thing) that the Republicans entered into that thought process. Democrat Women and African Americans are much more thinking than to be “single gender voters”.

14 09 2008
Cariad

I am a white southern woman from a small town. I live in Wales (in the UK) right now, but am very concerned about what is happening in our country. Way to go, Alaskans. Way to go, Mudflats. Don’t let SP get to stay in her ‘witness protection program’ bubble. If we all do all we can for the next few weeks, we have a chance to move the country away from gutter politics. I’m so glad that there are so many true patriots in Alaska.

Thank y’all so much.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

PS Intrigued… not slammin’ here just would like to know your sources

14 09 2008
Irishgirl aka puck mule

That video of the anti-palin rally is heartwarming. For the first time I’m beginning to feel a sense of optimism. Keep up the good work muckraker and your fellow Alaskans.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

antsy absolutely… on a quick google she was, back in may, mentioned briefly for VeePee — but obviously she’s not hot enough

14 09 2008
swineprincess

ooops

“single gender voters” or “single race voters”

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

I don’t know who posted this video earlier on, but thank you — it’s brilliant!

Barbies for war!

14 09 2008
galwhohashadenough!

Just browsing through some web sites and ran across this article. Guess how much Obama raised in August? Click here to find out: http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080914/ap_on_el_pr/obama_3

AKA
Slap Spears Palin

14 09 2008
swineprincess

I LOVE TINA FEY’S interpretation of Sarah Palin!

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

@swineprincess: Carly Firiona is making me crazy and needs toust hush. Claire McCaskill is a class act and was just so eloquent on ABC This Week.

Same here. Maybe people should examine her own economic record a little more closely so they understand who they’re listening to! Do people so quickly forget the circumstances under which Fiorina was dismissed by Hewlett-Packard??!! (I know, rhetorical question!)

On a brighter note, Debbie Wasserman Schultz did a very good job on “Face the Nation”. (Had to tape “Meet the Press” — it makes me crazy that these shows are on at the same time.) Now looking forward to what’s sure to be a lively discussion on “The McLaughlin Group”!

14 09 2008
fixthebroken

Intrigued,

I am voting for Obama because his policies are guaranteed to steer this country back on course, while McCain’s will drive is deeper into disaster. Trust me, I am very informed. Plus, McCain has lost all my respect for the campaign he is running.

I would have voted for Hillary Clinton as well.

Race, gender, whatever doesn’t matter. Trust me.

14 09 2008
galwhohashadenough!

I’ll try this again. Guess how much money Obama raised in August? Click here to find out: http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080914/ap_on_el_pr/obama_3

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

YES!!!! McLaughlin Group is starting out with the NATO and Georgia comment!!!

14 09 2008
California Cowboy

Mudflats:
I’ve been reading your blog for the past couple of weeks. It’s great to find a site that not only shares truthful insights, but in such a excellently written way. Congrats to all who turned out yesterday at the Anchorage Library. Keep up the good work. And not all us saddle tramps are Republicans.

14 09 2008
scdem

This gives me hope – thank you so much! The comparison between the two rallies makes me wonder about the Obama approach for the rest of the campaign. Since we know the Repubs are going to continue playing to the tightly controlled “performances” being called town halls, I am hoping that the Obama rallies continue to show the energy and enthusium of real (normal) people as a stark contrast.

14 09 2008
Hick Town in W PA

This is Spiegel in Germany

09/10/2008 02:24 PM
SARAH PALIN’S RELIGION
God and the Vice-Presidential Candidate

By Alexander Schwabe

Sarah Palin’s Pentacostalist past explains a lot about what she says in public, but the McCain campaign wants to play it down. Can a gas pipeline really be a manifestation of God’s will?

More than once, vice presidential candidate and current governor of Alaska Sarah Palin has shown a habit of investing secular matters with religious meaning. A $30 billion gas pipeline in Alaska was “God’s will,” the war in Iraq was a “task that is from God.” She’s argued for creationism to be taught in schools, alongside evolutionary biology, and she’d rather do away with sexual education completely.

Now the real reason for Palin’s fixation on God — obscured in official biographies — has emerged: For more than two decades, she was a practicing Pentecostal. Until 2002 she belonged to the Wasilla Assembly of God, a Pentecostal community in Wasilla, Alaska, the city of 10,000 where Palin also served as mayor. Since leaving the Assembly of God, Palin has attended the non-denominational Wasilla Bible Church.

The Pentecostal movement emphasizes “expressions of the Holy Spirit” in the form of “spiritual gifts” such as the ability to speak in tongues, prophesize or heal. Assembly of God members also believe in faith healing and “end times,” a massive upheaval that will supposedly herald Jesus’ second coming.

Tim McGraw, Palin’s pastor until 1998, told American broadcaster CNN that the Wasilla Pentecostal community has members who adhere to these beliefs and who speak in tongues, although he has never seen Palin herself in that trance-like state. Caroline Spengler, a member of the Pentecostal community, described the experience as follows: “When the spirit comes on you, you utter things that nobody else can understand … only God can understand what is coming out of our mouths.”

The Republican Party, hoping John McCain and Sarah Palin will bring home a win in the November presidential election, has played down this religious background of the 44-year-old mother of five. Through spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton, McCain has freely admitted that Palin is deeply religious. That fact should be well received by conservative American voters, especially in the so-called Bible Belt. At the same time, campaign strategists have been careful not to let their candidate’s religious enthusiasm loom too large. Biographies of her online and the McCain campaign itself avoid too much detail about her past. Governor Palin does not consider herself a Pentecostal, is the succinct and official word.

McGraw told CNN he could imagine why the Republican Party was trying not to emphasize Palin’s Pentecostal leanings: “I think there may be issues of belief that could be misunderstood or played upon by people that don’t know.”

But what is so difficult to understand? Hasn’t Palin already gone far too far for her political views not to be seen as a consequence of her beliefs? And can her faith truly be judged only by those who believe the same?

McGraw tries to allay these fears. He says he’s sure Palin’s religious convictions don’t influence her political decisions in office.

Until recently, though, Palin was returning to her original congregation, where she attended discipleship classes to strengthen her Pentecostal beliefs and to become a better leader, McGraw says. By then she was already mayor of Wasilla. And when Palin returns to the Pentecostal flock, it is by no means only in a personal capacity, but also as a government official.

Just this June, Palin attended a graduation ceremony for ministry students at the Wasilla Assembly of God. The governor didn’t just offer a few edifying words. Instead, she spoke to these students in Alaska about the war in Iraq. “Pray for our military men and women who are striving do to what is right,” said Palin, whose son had voluntarily enlisted to join the U.S. army and be deployed to Iraq. The graduates were encouraged to pray “for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for — that there is a plan, and that plan is God’s plan.”

Palin acts as though all political decisions emanated directly from a divine resolution — and as if the Republican understanding of this resolution were the only one that could be correct.

On the issue of the gas pipeline as well, Palin linked political and economic business with her personal concept of divine providence, calling on her audience to pray for the controversial planned $30 billion pipeline project. “I think,” Palin told the audience at the Wasilla Assembly of God, “God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas pipeline built.”

And there’s more. On August 17, shortly before she entered the wider public spotlight as vice presidential candidate, according to CNN Palin attended an event at her current congregation, the Wasilla Bible Church. One of the preachers there was David Brickner, founder of the “Jews for Jesus” movement. He made clear to the assembled that in his opinion, terrorist attacks in Israel revealed God’s judgment on Jews who had not found Christ. “When a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people,” according to Brickner, he was unmistakably an instrument of God’s judgment.

The McCain camp tried to de-emphasize attitudes in Palin’s religious circle, making it clear that Brickner’s comments didn’t reflect the vice presidential candidate’s views. Palin, they said, is pro-Israel.

Pastor Ed Kalnin, one of the congregation leaders at Palin’s former Pentecostal church, comes from the same circle. Four years ago he campaigned against John Kerry, then the Democratic candidate for president. Whoever voted for Kerry, Kalnin told his congregation, wouldn’t go to heaven.

The Assembly of God later released a statement: They apologized, saying Kalnin had meant it as a joke.

14 09 2008
Kurt

All of you rock! Great job organizing and making your opinions known. It’s obvious Palin is a HUGE mistake for this country. We are all proud of everyone in Alaska who thinks rationally and logically.

14 09 2008
afriend

Hello all from eastern Canuckland. Just wanted to let you folks know that I caught wind of the rally on a blog. Thank you so much. This is very heartening. Although I cannot vote and this isn’t ‘my’ election what happens with you folks affects us and we watch with held breath and trepidation. I, we those like me want the best for everyone no matter where they come from. There’s been so much BS and illusioning (yes it’s not a word but I think it’s fitting to create it) that’s been circling around the nether about how Alaska and absolutely everyone (especially women) in Alaska loves Palin (and ergo one should vote for her because of it) that sensibly even though I know it’s not true it’s makes such a difference to actually see it and hear about it! So I’m doing my part to get the word out and have posted the links in several places.

Keep up the great work and keep up the fire in your hearts!

14 09 2008
mk2000

Great idea NY DEM,
“To ‘borrow’ a phrase from the best commnetator on television, be it politics or sports, Keith Olbermann:

Eddie Burke — Today’s worsttttttttt person in the worldddddddddd !!!!!!!”

If everyone emails Keith, I wonder if this jerk could really be showcased on Monday’s Countdown. Here is the email:
countdown@msnbc.com

14 09 2008
White Agate
14 09 2008
Laurie

I am currently watching my favourite Canadian Sunday news program. For anybody who tells you, that Canucks dont have a right to desire a positive outcome of this election…please note.

Banking issues…..affect us too. The mortgage companies crisis is the worst since the great depression and Canadian monies are invested there too.

14 09 2008
pamela

AKM, didn’t you say that Maureen Dowd from the NYT was at the rallies yesterday? For those who haven’t seen her op-ed piece, it’s worth re-posting http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/opinion/14dowd.html And I loved the link from the NYT home page: “Dowd: Palin vs. Thinking”

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@fixthebroken (07:00:56) :

My household was hoping to vote for a white woman, now they will vote for a black man …. we would vote for the drover’s dog if he had good policies! 😉

14 09 2008
White Agate
14 09 2008
ReaderInMD

I read somewhere that there Secret Service names are “Denali” (Sarah) and “Driller” (Todd)

14 09 2008
swineprincess

@ A&B
In the CDT I am still stuck on the Round Table…. can’t wait for McLaughlin… Nato/Georgia huh? Hapily Meet the Press gets delayed in the KC area because of local news and The Chiefs (oh please).

On another note… has anyone noticed how the McCain campaign ads use pictures of Obama that show him mostly scowling? They are trying so hard to paint him as the “angry black man”. Of course Obama campaign ads are using every picture of McCain looking goofy so I guess it is tit-for-tat.

Finally: Arrrrghhhh! at 55 I am a “senior citizen” (at least as defined by the AARP) and I am NOT voting for John McCain!

14 09 2008
Alaskans Rally Against Palin « ReadingWritingLiving

[…] This totally made my morning. I love Mudflats, a blogger from Alaska. […]

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@pamela – I loved the phrase ‘positive UNthinking’

14 09 2008
VetTheVeep

ROVE-BOTS MUST WAKE UP
Thank you AKMuckraker and women of Alaska for standing up!!!!
I live in a small town in the south and the bullying that goes on here is incredible. So many people are afraid to come out and talk about their views if they differ from the Republican Party line.I’ve started my own email news report for those who believe there must be a better way to run this country. Most people do not or cannot do their own research, so I send real articles and links from the Internet. Today we are a hopelessly RED state, but hopefully we can find more people who don’t want to live like a Stepford Wife or a Rove-bot.

14 09 2008
Hick Town in W PA

Speigel’s recap of other German media

THE WORLD FROM BERLIN
‘Sarah Palin Will Cost the Republican Party Dearly’

Sarah Palin is a fresh-faced fishing and hunting wild card in the US presidential race. She just might be able to lure the media away from Obama. But can she attract enough voters from the right to make up for those she might lose McCain in the center?

Who is Sarah Palin? More importantly, what does McCain’s pick for vice president think or know about foreign policy? Even after her speech at Wednesday’s Republican National Convention, Palin remains both a mystery and a subject of intense curiosity. She is by turns characterized as a savior of the Republican party, an enormous mistake and something in between.

“Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election,” said Palin during her speech Wednesday. “In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers, and then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.”

Some, however, see her very candidacy as a cheap ploy to steal some of the limelight from a charismatic opponent. Palin’s family drama has certainly splashed her name all over the media. “Our family has the same ups and downs as any other, the same challenges and the same joys,” said Palin at the convention as she introduced her husband and five children — including her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol.

As a plucky outsider, though, she may appeal to some voters who want change, though not Obama-style change. Palin is thoroughly uncompromised by national politics. “And I’ve learned quickly these past few days that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone,” she said at the convention. “But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion; I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country.”

German papers appreciate Palin’s maverick qualities — especially since McCain’s “straight talk” turned into straight talking points once he became the Republican candidate. But they fret about her lack of foreign-policy knowledge and argue that the narrow scope of Palin’s experience has deflated one of McCain’s primary criticisms of Obama.

Left-leaning Die Tageszeitung writes:

“If anyone’s nominating party congress stands for change this year, for flouting conventions, it is that of the conservative Republicans. The Democrats’ mobilization show in Denver ran just like people are accustomed to from past conventions. Highly emotional and professional and staged down to the very last detail. Obstacles were overcome; love of country and love of family were celebrated. Not so for the Republicans …. With the nomination of Sarah Palin as vice-presidential candidate, John McCain took on exactly what Obama avoided at all costs with Biden: a much-talked-about risk. McCain/Palin — this is where real life romps.”

“The McCain campaign can be sure of one thing while running with Sarah Palin: unceasing media coverage of the type reserved until now for Obama. If Palin is regarded as having managed to deliver a good talk as an engaged politician, mother and non-fanatical middle-aged pro-lifer on Wednesday, she might peel off her label as an ‘Oh my God!’ choice and advance as a ‘Hey, wow’ candidate. It might just be enough to steal the show from political comet Barack Obama in the last two months of the race.”

Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung argues:

“McCain used to look like an ideal candidate for the party. The conservative free spirit repeatedly defied the current president and thereby emanated seriousness and self-assurance.”

“Sarah Palin threatens to demolish [McCain’s] halo. The part-amusing and part-dramatic details that people are discovering about their potential vice president are in themselves no reason for panic. On the contrary, many Americans sympathize with this full-of-life 44-year-old woman, who hunts and fishes and governs a state for good measure and who will be a grandmother sooner than she expected. Destiny! However the the lingering impression that McCain called this fresh face to his side purely out of strategic campaign calculations and without adequate vetting could be fatal. Palin’s selection comes across as imprudent, unserious and, yes, dangerous.”

“McCain has miscalculated: those Democrats who were disappointed by Hillary’s failure and might possibly have voted for the Republican veteran will hardly be lured by the ultraconservative pro-lifer. … McCain only hopes that the evangelical base will gather behind him with new fury. That is important — but not enough to win the election in November. The payoff for this deputy from the right is less than the price of the risk that McCain runs with the center. Sarah Palin will cost the Republican Party dearly.”

The Financial Times Deutschland writes:

“McCain’s hubris and irresponsibility are by now blatant. Hubris — because only a belief in his own immortality for the next four years could justify the choice of a vice president whose only experience, aside from two years as governor of Alaska, was as mayor of a suburb of Anchorage. Irresponsibility — because US presidents run a high risk of being attacked, as exemplified by John F. Kennedy’s assassination, but also by the attack on Ronald Reagan. That occurred on March 30, 1981, 69 days after Reagan took office, and almost cost the new president his life. Imagine what would happen if a President McCain were shot on the evening of March 30, 2009. The world would wake up the next morning to a President Palin, who in an interview about the Iraq war less than two years ago said: ‘I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq.'”

“More has been publicized in the last few days about Palin’s person and family than about her views on domestic and foreign politics, which doesn’t show either the American intellectual condition nor their public media in the best light. A minister moderated the first debate between presidential nominees Obama and McCain during which they had to answer questions on faith and how they would handle the evil bad guys of the world. A politician whose attitude toward war and peace are largely a mystery could become president in five months — and people discuss the implications of her daughter’s pregnancy. The country where all this is happening is the most powerful in the world. But for how much longer?”

14 09 2008
Alaskan Women are not a bunch of Sarah Palin Cronies « Mondo Diablo

[…] bunch of Sarah Palin Cronies September 14, 2008 Posted by alleee in Uncategorized. trackback ‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE! Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage.  The organizers […]

14 09 2008
nothoney

I read your blog every day and post some of your columns to my Facebook. Thanks for doing all of this to keep us informed of what’s really happening in your state. Much appreciated.

s.

14 09 2008
Melba

voter caging and the rest

The Republican war on democracy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/20/uselections2008.civilliberties

14 09 2008
mvngfwd

Good Morning Mudpals,

Bravo!!!! It will get out to MSM. If you notice we are about 3 days to one week ahead of everyone on the scoops. But the images (all the negative SP/MC stuff) are making a difference. I would love to see the Veterans come out big now. If I had made the honorable sacrifice that they have and then had to listen to McBlowhard pontificate about his experience I would be screaming. Especially when he has voted AGAINST them over and over again. How can we help them do what our brave souls in Alaska are doing? Many veterans, current enlistees and POWs have a problem with him and his voting record. Let’s try to point the spotlight on McCain from all sides and then the American public might finally see him for who he really is, warts and all. http://www.votesmart.org for the voting record truth.

14 09 2008
pamela

@Laurie, With the world so “flat” (to borrow a phrase from Tom Friedman) we all have stakes in each others’ elections. The news media here doesn’t cover it much, but I know there’s an upcoming Canadian election, too. How does that look?

14 09 2008
silvio

Great post. Once again, you’re doing amazing work on behalf of all of us.

***ATTENTION MUDFLATS READERS***

Send the link to this post to Huffington Post, to Andrew Sullivan, to mainstream media in your state, to any reporter you can.

That this rally was so huge deserves the same attention as the insane level of coverage of Palin getting off the plane in Alaska.

SPREAD THE WORD!!!!

14 09 2008
sprite

Eddie Burke’s tactics bring to mind what Michelle Malkin did to the Students Against the War, publishing their phone numbers and email addresses. Reminded me of your blog about Rove Coming to Alaska. Makes one wonder doesn’t it where Burke got his idea to do this.

14 09 2008
nearlynormalized

I too thank you and be careful you never know what the Evil Penguin (Rove) and Peter Sellers look-a-like Cheney (movie, BEING THERE) and their gang are ready to do. It takes the pressure off the so called, “Maverick McCain.” Thanks again and keep it up.

14 09 2008
t4me

Thank you Alaska! Keep hope alive!

14 09 2008
Mikkelina

I can’t believe I got teary-eyed when looking at the pictures! with all the drooling over Palin we have to see it is SO refreshing to see and hear that Alaskans are making their voices heard! phew!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@mk2000 (07:05:25) :

[quote]“To ‘borrow’ a phrase from the best commnetator on television, be it politics or sports, Keith Olbermann:

Eddie Burke — Today’s worsttttttttt person in the worldddddddddd !!!!!!!”

If everyone emails Keith, I wonder if this jerk could really be showcased on Monday’s Countdown. Here is the email:
countdown@msnbc.com [/quote]

I just emailed, and told them where they could get all their resources, too -including pics 😉

14 09 2008
Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky’s PREA Prez Blog

[…] Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage.  The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators).  This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state.  I was absolutely stunned.  The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by.  And even those that didn’t honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute.  This just doesn’t happen here.  The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin’s rally that got all the national media coverage!  Mudflats […]

14 09 2008
Toon Moene

This Obama–supporter in the Netherlands won’t vote in your election – so in that regard, you’re on your own.

But we will wave our banners from the Right Side of the Atlantic: Go, Barack, Go !

14 09 2008
judi

Thanks AKM…..keep up the good work.

14 09 2008
LibertyLover

WOW! That’s what I call a real grass roots effort! I’m sending this around to my friends. I believe that similar sentiments exist in the lower 48, as well, it’s just not getting through the corporate media.

(Maybe you need to send a “Thank you” to Eddie Burke for stirring the pot.)

WE still need to get out the vote in November. Watch out for “voter caging.”
Remember they can only win if they cheat.

14 09 2008
plwalsh

I have an off-subject question for people who were dresses: what is the STORY with Cindy McCain’s wardrobe?

I don’t follow women’s fashions very much but it seems to me lately she has been dressing in garish bad taste. And that weird CW-style hairdo! To me, it doesn’t belong on a woman older than 25.

I saw a clip from the McCain’s appearance on The View. All the panelists were dressed in professional-looking black and cream. Cindy came out in a flaming red outfit, showing a bit too much cleavage for a mature woman in public life, and with a pearl choker big enough, if real, to buy half of Wasilla.

She’s also taken to wearing Jackie O style dark glasses. She’s an attractive woman– I don’t know why she has to make herself look so blatantly gauche.

My experience says women often use their clothes to broadcast messages about their state of mind. My question is, what is Cindy saying here? Is she trying to look younger than Sarah Palin? Is she starved for attention? Is she deliberately ignoring advice or just not getting any? Is she playing the role of the ex-trophy wife who has been superseded?

Any ideas?

14 09 2008
Mary from TN

Thanks so much from Tennessee! We, and Obama, need you guys for the next 50 days….we in the lower 48 have to make sure that the 24/7 ‘entertainment’ media pick up on your great web sites and gets the message out.

You guys are doing your job, now we have to do ours. ENOUGH is ENOUGH….FIRED up and READY TO GO!

14 09 2008
Anonymous

As a foreigner this is what I love about the USA – the factor that changed my mind from cordial dislike of the USA (mainly linked to foreign policy), to taking every opportunity to visit various bits of the USA as often as possible. Not specifically Democratic policies or Obama-support or whatever, but just the general existence of large numbers of people who are able, reflective and have the strength of mind to think and act independently, and to do so in a humanitarian manner and with a sense of humour.

So much more than the stereotypes implied by opinion polls, you’re the best, all of you. 😀

14 09 2008
willpen

Support “Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund” , and denounce “Sarah Palin’s support for Aerial Hunting of Wolves. SPREAD THE WORD !!!

http://www.willpen.wordpress.com

14 09 2008
Rebecca in Chicago

What an amazing story! My heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes out to all of you brave people!

14 09 2008
ReaderInMD

Sprite,

Not to get too hysterical, but this was the same tactic that was used in the Rwandan genocide.

14 09 2008
Mainiac

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!!!!
Keep up the good work and we will do the same!!

PEACE

14 09 2008
Anon - AKA Blaster Commando Palin

WOMEN OF ALASKA,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You have stood up bravely for liberty, freedom, truth and justice, in the face of one of the biggest and most ruthless propaganda machines in US history!!!!! I AM AMAZED AND AWED BY YOU! HOW CAN WE EVER THANK YOU ENOUGH?

Next week, I will be canvassing in PA for Obama, and I am doing it to try to thank you in “action”–one citizen to another–and to try to help elect our great candidate Sen. Obama,

14 09 2008
White Agate

http://www.wsj.com/article/SB122100226859616967.html?mod=hpp_us_inside_today

This is a great article from Thomas Frank, author of ‘What’s the Matter With Kansas?’ and ‘The Wrecking Crew.’ It’s called ‘The GOP Loves the Heartland to Death,’ appeared in the WSJ on 9/10/08.

Good for forwarding to fence-sitters.

14 09 2008
Laurie

@Intrigued…..where are you getting your info? The ONLY women I ever heard talk like that were the PUMAs …and they havent had much to say lately.

Any person who would vote for someone because they are female/male/black/yellow/whatever…doesnt deserve the privelige of having a vote.

The issues….thats what you need to focus on…man or woman

14 09 2008
HUGE turn out for Alaskan Women Reject Palin Rally. « The Political Pendulum

[…] one has to wonder if that was in reference to her pandering to special needs?  Hop on over to the mudflats to read more. Tags: Alaskan women, democrats, demonstration, government, Politics, Rally, Reject […]

14 09 2008
Mary from TN

To plwalsh – my take on Cindy McCain is that she is dressing the way Mr. McGoo wants her to dress. McGoo likes cleavage and likes bright colors. The jewelry – that’s all Cindy (it’s a way for her to ‘wear’ her wealth).

I also sense that Cindy does not like the attention that Palin is getting. Cindy, unlike McGoo, is sensing that Palin is moving quickly to be known as the Palin/McGoo ticket and Cindy, unlike McGoo doesn’t like the idea. I am beginning to believe McGoo’s only wish is to be called Mr. President, not really have any of the responsibility that comes with the job – Palin will have more clout than we saw with Cheney – that’s darn scary!

Cindy is just trying to get the attention of McGOO, that’s all.

14 09 2008
Pacificnwgal

Whoooooooo…… (jumping up and down with JOY!). Thank God people are coming to their senses. Just had a conversation with a close friend last night over Palin. Her daughter and son-in-law are voting for McCain based on the usual misinformation spread by the Republicans about Obama. I spent over an hour “setting her straight” about those issues mostly due to your wonderful coverage and info about Palin and Alaska! With deep felt thanks to you and prayers that all of our efforts will succceed in creating a more humane world with Obama as our next President.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Laurie, swineprincess, it’s possible intrigued is a troll. Always seemed that way to me.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

CAGING from wiki

“A political party [guess which] sends registered mail to addresses of registered voters. If the mail is returned as undeliverable – because, for example, the voter refuses to sign for it, the voter isn’t present for delivery, or the voter is homeless – the party uses that fact to challenge the registration, arguing that because the voter could not be reached at the address, the registration is fraudulent. If a political party challenges the validity of a voter’s registration; for the voter’s ballot to be counted, the voter must prove that their registration is valid.”

So if you receive registered mail – sign for it, track it down, whatever!

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

McLaughlin Group wasn’t as riveting as I’d hoped. And FYI, Mudflatters — seems that Charlie Gibson actually did make a mistake about the ‘Bush Doctrine’, specifically by reciting content from 2002. It was revised (possibly several times) but last, in 2006 and the content did change. I know it doesn’t change the fact that she didn’t know what the heck it was at all (her response when Gibson asked her what it is was “His world view?”) That is, IF you care. Some don’t care that she knew or not in the first place. However, for those who do care, I’m just sorry that Gibson got it wrong — that’s what they’ll pounce on.

At the end of the show when they do their “predictions” part, McLaughlin’s prediction was about Palin and that the events of last week will hurt her. His line was priceless and made the whole show worth watching. The exact words might be slightly off but it was something like:

“In romance, as in politics, slow introductions are usually better than fast ones.”

14 09 2008
HorsesAss.Org » Blog Archive » Alaskans stand up for American values

[…] Alaskan blog Mudflats has photos and their own account of the rally, including this little tidbit regarding a right-wing talk radio host named Eddie Burke, who tried to […]

14 09 2008
Julie Fanselow

Mudflats rocks! Thanks for letting America know what’s REALLY going on in Alaska.

http://redstaterebels.typepad.com/redstaterebelsnet/2008/09/pro–anti-palin.html

14 09 2008
plwalsh

Mary:

That’s more or less my take on the wardrobe issue. Since Palin was picked, Cindy has been looking pretty miserable to me.

As for who will run the country if the ticket wins, I would review I CLAUDIUS for clues. Palin strikes me as the 21st century spiritual descendant of those ruthless shallow Roman women, interested only in power and pay back, whose political tool kit included heavy does of sexual politics and exotic poisons.

And remember what happened to all those Republican men who helped Palin’s career in Alaska? McCain’s biggest rival may well be on the bottom of his own ticket.

14 09 2008
kirsty815

Did a post and gave you some linky love over at our site BRILLIANT!!!

http://thepoliticalpendulum.wordpress.com

14 09 2008
swineprincess

ooohhhhh… Pat Buchanan just called McCain supporters “McCainiacs” now that one I haven’t heard. I like it!

14 09 2008
Gina

Kudos! I hope the women and men of the lower 48 will follow your brave example! The emperor has no clothes, and you were willing to put yourselves out there. Thank you women of Alaska, and many thanks to Muckraker!

14 09 2008
Regi

Speechless :with joy: What an amazing group of women you have up there, I’m sorry Palin twisted that to her advantage.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

@Aussie… I am thinkin’ you’re right. I have seen several posts by Intrigued that bother me. S/he is very subtle… not a planted troll, you know… just a troll. I hereby decide to ignore Intrigued from here on out!

14 09 2008
Former Alaskan

More photos from the Anchorage Daily News

http://www.adn.com/photos/v-gallery/story/525182.html

14 09 2008
ICD

A funny thing happens when you look-up Eddie Burke’s radio sponsors on google maps.

14 09 2008
A.P.
14 09 2008
RS

Awesome, thanks, Mudflats – keep up the good fight!

14 09 2008
Tricia Christensen

What a wonderful piece! This woman from California is so proud of all of you in Alaska!! It warms my heart to know that you can go just about anywhere & find true, thinking, good-hearted women and men of purpose and morals.
Makes me a little sad that you can’t find them on the Repub ticket.

You all deserve a terrific pat on the back and a warm hug for attending the rally and showing the world your view.

Tricia Ellis Christensen

14 09 2008
GJ in Idaho

Way to go AK. women and men with open minds. I’m so excited for you. To listen to the MNM the whole nation is on the Sarah band wagon. I’m off to several small ratherings of friends that support Obama. Keep up the great coverage, the world needs to know.

14 09 2008
Patricia

Thank the stars above! I was beginning to think all the women and men in Alaska had lost their minds and were following Palin and her VP choice McBush to the ends of the earth. You go girls!!!!!!!! If you need any help protesting that animal killer and book burner, let your sisters in California know and we’ll be there!

14 09 2008
Ione

Extremely well done. McCain thought he would throw in
another of his sleazy moves. Thought he could pair up
with another like minded Liar. Well done again! We
support you and will send the link around.
Truth really does speak!

14 09 2008
plwalsh

This is really interesting. From the Bloomberg piece:

“In recent days, journalists attending the [McCain-Palin] rallies have been raising questions about the crowd estimates with the campaign. In a story on Sept. 11 about Palin’s attraction for some Virginia women voters, Washington Post reporter Marc Fisher estimated the crowd to be 8,000, not the 23,000 cited by the campaign.

“The 23,000 figure was substantiated on the ground,” McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said. “The campaign is willing to stand by the fact that it was our biggest crowd to date.”

“Since day one, this campaign has been consistent that we’re not going to win or lose based on crowd size but the substance of John McCain’s record,” Bounds said.”

14 09 2008
Women and the white house « Clouddragon

[…] Luckily not all Alaskan women are as stupid, and have been organising a rally against Palin. A radio host has had the bad manners, and lack of decency, to read out the phone numbers of the organisers, with the incentive to call them and let these women think how you feel about them. So much for democracy, and being a free society. As Palin likes to point out. read here […]

14 09 2008
Toon Moene

Wow, I love this place – sensible politics in the US, up north.

What’s the weather like, around solstice (I biked up to the North Cape in Norway, 1989).

No biking for me now – walking is better when you’re 50+ …

Send me your prospectus !

14 09 2008
plwalsh

Hmm. Here’s a thought. Maybe Palin’s popularity has been inflated by the McCain campaign? If the campaign has been fooling the media about the size of the crowds at the rallies, maybe they have somehow been manipulating the polls as well?

Certainly, AKM’s photos of the Palin ralley in Anchorage suggested that there is a disconnect between image and reality when it comes to Palin’s following.

14 09 2008
Terry
14 09 2008
Bonnie

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!! John McCain picking Sarah Palin and doing so simply because his campaign decided woman are so stupid they’ll vote for any woman regardless of her experience and positions on issues is beyond offensive. What’s worse is that picking her so far has worked. Last night I received an email with a link to a group of woman organizing around the this theme and now I just got a link to your blog talking about this successful rally. It’s the 1st time I’ve felt encouraged in 2 weeks. We’ve got work to do!!!

14 09 2008
TheraP

Lady MacDeath – A Faustian Bargain of Sinister Deception

When you sell your soul, you never really know the ultimate price at the time of the sinister bargain. It all seems so easy at first. A vote here. A vote there. And pretty soon you’re all the way up to 90% – Prisoner of W – POW-90%! But that’s never enough! Mephisto wants your complete subjugation. Till finally you have to agree to a wedding with Death. A deadly consort is chosen. *Call her Lady MacDeath.*

Jesus, the community organizer – executed by a governor – chose the opposite path. If you don’t know your bible, then maybe you don’t know know the third temptation of Christ – where the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. And told him, you can have all that you see – just bow down and worship me.

Jesus refused the Faustian bargain. John McCain did not. The result? His consort – Lady MacDeath.

Back in the summer I boiled the race down to this formula: Obama versus The Corpse. Little did I know!

Here’s how I see it now. Once upon a time we were worried that W would prevent an election and we’d end up with a Dictatorship. Cheney and Rove had a better idea. Hold an election. But insist on a Faustian bargain with the candidate. W endorses – if you sell your soul. And the price of the sale? Well, I doubt that was ever really discussed. Because the thought of all those kingdoms, the thought of all that power…. Well, some can reject the bargain and will never sell their soul for an election. Obama won’t. But John McCain did.

Now we have Lady MacDeath.

“Waiting for a Corpse” could be one title of this play. We’ve had the first two acts. W. And W. One act of W was enough for many. Two acts of W has been too much for more. But the third act here is POW – or not. Our choice. We hope. And POW – The Faustian Bargian is not really Senator MacDeath alone – it includes Lady MacDeath, his Handmaiden “Lady in Waiting.”

Death and his Consort.

We know by now that bush/cheney/rove was nothing more than a criminal enterprise disguised as government. It’s a stinking pile. It reeks. Secrets, deceptions, and lies. Needing to be hidden. By more lies. More disguised government as a criminal enterprise. And who better to do that than someone who has sold his soul? Someone of pretense. And no, I will not bother to count the ways.

But the secret is getting harder and harder to hide. Because to cover secrets, you need lies. Lies and deception. More and more lies. More and more deception. But at some point it all piles up so high – that even the press can’t pretend ignorance any longer.

The Himalayan size pile of secrecy, lies, and deception is hidden in plain sight now.

The Corpse or Obama.

The Corpse and his Handmaiden, Lady MacDeath – a siren of secrecy and lying – but oh, so enticing!

Or a couple of guys working hard every day and asking us to work right along with them.

(posted earlier at tpm Cafe: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/lady-macdeath-a-faustian-barga.php#comments)

14 09 2008
redstarcafe

I’ve been following your blog from Canada since you started reporting on this campaign. Kudos to you for giving us daily insights from Alaska, and to the many many women (and men) who clearly told the world that they do not endorse the McCain/Palin recklessness.

14 09 2008
Sharon

Hi all, I would be very interested in rally here in Central FL. Who would I need to get in contact with?

14 09 2008
scdem

VetTheVeep, I would like to know more about your efforts. I have the same issues here in SC and would LOVE to support something similar.

14 09 2008
raingods

With 66 million in donations for Aug. and 500.000 new donors for Barack, I’m feeling very hopeful!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@plwalsh, there is a post up near the top on an ABC radio report on the welcome home gathering on Saturday morning, saying there were 10,000 and they had to open another room and folks were hanging from the rafters (or whatever) ….. yeah, right! 😉

14 09 2008
Harley

While my distaste for the tactics being applied to this race by the Republicans
remain solidly intact, the race itself has done much to raise my hopes for America in terms of world view. I am an American living in another country.
For the last ten years I have been a resident of the beautiful country of Canada.
I have been afforded this opportunity due to marriage. My husband is a Canadian. When I first arrived here to begin my life with my new husband, I came with a heart that always considered Canada my second ” home “.
I had previously visited Canada many times before meeting my husband, usually for day trips and twice for extended long week-ends. I had always been greeted by Canadian citizens with respect and always wondered what it would be like to live here.
Ten years ago I found out that my view of Canada was correct, the ciizens of this beautiful country were exactly the same as the citizens of America.
They were hard working, loving and giving and respectful to a ” hilt ”
as my Gram used to say. Upon discovering I was an American, new people I was introduced too often had many questions but welcomed me with open arms.
The tide seemed to change however after the Iraq War began.

Due to the nature of the work my husband does, not only have I been blessed with the opportunity to live in six of the Canadian Provinces,
I have also met many people from all walks of life and varying
financial ” categories “, from a myriad of different nations of the globe and from differing religious beliefs. In all but a very few cases, these people again never once disparaged me for having been American.

And for the most part, this has remained true even after The Iraq War began.
Then something seemed to change. Not towards me as an individual, rather in the conversation. Questions from people I know and meet now are geared
more towards political viewpoints and religious and racial viewpoints rather then the typical ” Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?, Isn’t it the most beautiful place on earth? ” I am sure you know what I mean, “Have you ever seen Fishernman’s Warf and what is the weather like in Maryland?

Now I am asked, “Are people racist in the United States?, or is that limited to the southern portion only? ” { an actual verbatim question by the way }
I am constantly asked questions about Mr. Obama and why is it that most Americans seem to simply hate him. I am asked “Why in the world would anyone in in America even consider Mr. McCain given the current state of affairs when they have been presented with such a wonderful alternative
for your country to go in a different direction?”

My response to them is ” I have not got a clue ” and sadly, I do not.

The world is watching ladies and gentlemen, make no mistake.
The world is rooting for America.
The world is actually rooting for the world.
It seems that the only stumbling block to peace, prosperity
and equality for all the citizens of the world is America itself.
America needs to let go of its fears, prejudices and ” religion ”
and welcome all ideas, people of all faiths and ethnic background.
In conclusion, America needs to wake from its slumber and enter the 21 century.
If it does do that and do that soon, there will be no more America.
Indeed, there be no more world.
God Bless America, my home, my country, land that I love.
Thank you world for caring, and keep praying for America and all of us.

14 09 2008
lucas

this is awesome. thank you for the report!

14 09 2008
‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE! « Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest

[…] ‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE! […]

14 09 2008
plwalsh

From Frank Rich’s column in the NYT:

“No longer able to remember his principles any better than he can distinguish between Sunnis and Shia, McCain stands revealed as a guy who can be easily rolled by anyone who sells him a plan for “victory,” whether in Iraq or in Michigan. A McCain victory on Election Day will usher in a Palin presidency, with McCain serving as a transitional front man, an even weaker Bush to her Cheney.

“The ambitious Palin and the ruthless forces she represents know it, too. You can almost see them smacking their lips in anticipation, whether they’re wearing lipstick or not.”

14 09 2008
Lizzie

@Sharon: At http://www.my.barackobama.com, you can create an account that informs you about all that is happening in your local area. There are also tools to plan events of your own, contact neighbours who are Obama supporters, etc. You can even create your own blog there. Hope it helps.

14 09 2008
lucas

oh i forgot to include a link to the bloomberg story about how the mccain campaign is basically MAKING UP and INFLATING the “record number of people” who come to their rallies. these people have no conscience and are lying with a straight face, and it’s time we all call them out on it.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a1J0tfV3XJYs&refer=politics

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Sharon Hi all, I would be very interested in rally here in Central FL. Who would I need to get in contact with?

Sharon, the central source I’ve found that seems to have the most potential is http://www.womenagainstpalin.com. Other than that, look for something local. I hope that the WAP site gets hopping though — it would be a great way for all of us to communicate and join forces to plan rallies!

14 09 2008
Ione

There is hope America. This group of Woman, without
the resources of Signs, Money, had something far more
important. The Integrity and strength to tell the World
that all you need is “I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE THE PALIN
LIES SITTING DOWN.
Wonderful inspiration & good sample of the power of
Community Organizers!
Thank you Woman Against Palin! Ladies – spread this
Link to every woman you know in every small town!
Womans Group in Canada!

14 09 2008
whabs

Beautiful. I am speechless. Thank you.

14 09 2008
raye1

I need someone at this point to reassure me that all the information we are getting daily on this ticket will even matter. I live in Switzerland and just last week helped to register over 100 expats to vote. And am now wondering if it was even worth it.

When I see the stories that go ignored such as this one, and then how then media refuses to put this ticket in a media blackout due to the fact that they refuse to allow her to be interviewed; I am losing hope.

All I have had for the past 19 years of living abroad is hope. I was hoping that in the next few years , under a President Obama , I would be able to return home.

I was with the Senator in Berlin( I am a Co-Chair for his campaign in the German Region of Switzerland), and there were thousands of Expats there , all making plans to return home if Sen. Obama is sucessful . Now on our Expat blogs , mostly everyone has lost hope. We read the blogs stateside. But most of all we see and hear the blatant racism that has taken control of our country.

I grew up in Portland Oregon. A place with a very small African American population. But I can tell you this, never in my life was I ever made to feel less than a human due to the color of my skin. I feel like my Paradise has been lost!

Come on y’all, give me some HOPE! I’m all OUT!

Renee

14 09 2008
PJ

Great rally, loved the photos!!!

14 09 2008
Pohjola

What an outstanding rally – and excellent diary by frsbdg at Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/14/103042/902/965/597033

Regards
Pohjola (also living above 60th latitude = Finland)

14 09 2008
Wheezer

You ladies should be so proud of yourselves. I am so excited for how this turned out. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

14 09 2008
PJ

Raye1, don’t give up! Your efforts are badly needed. Ex-pats need to vote! The Palin bubble has burst, the more she speaks the more people realize how inexperienced she is.

But let’s not forget, this is about McCain. How dishonorable he is acting now.

14 09 2008
Tobias

Kudos to you guys for speaking out like that – I admire you.

14 09 2008
kravitz

theys pailins gonna be havin a long list of them enemies whut they be limpin back tuh thet there seaplane….

Excellent work Alaskan Women! Glad to hear it!!!!

14 09 2008
Harley

You go raye1

keep registering !

I do my part by sending emails to family and friends.

I wonder how many ” ex-pats ” are here in Montreal?

Tomorrow, my goal is to find out and see what I can do about it.

However, I really do not think too many people here are against Obama.

But hey, every little bit helps

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Sharon, if you read all the blog posts (not the comments), you’ll learn how the rally came about. It wasn’t sponsored by an organization, it was truly a grassroots thing that just grew.

Basically, you’ll need a group of friends to start with ……. and a dollop of anger and frustration that you have been take for a fool if they think Sarah Palin is going to swing your vote.

If I were you I would contact women’s groups in FLA tomorrow – you might find someone is already planning a rally.

I hope things go well in Florida, I understand it’s not looking too healthy this week.

Good luck, Sharon

14 09 2008
Sharon

Lizzie & Amused and Bewildered, Thanks so much – This rally has really inspired me to get involved more. Thanks

14 09 2008
Sharon

Thanks Aussie – I will

14 09 2008
Susan

I want to share the pictures with my McCain-leaning Mom. Is there a way to view all the photos without viewing one > pressing Back > viewing next one > pressing Back etc.? A slideshow, I guess? We need to share these pictures far and wide.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Knik Arm Bridge??? Alaskans, shed some light?

Article from the Boston Globe

For Palin, political issues still unresolved in Alaska
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/for_palin_political_issues_still_unresolved_in_alaska/?page=1

Yet another project also known as a “bridge to nowhere” – to connect Anchorage to the area near Palin’s Wasilla home across the Knik Arm Crossing – continues to receive state support, though its congressional earmark was eliminated at the same time. Championed by Stevens, the Knik Arm Bridge will be twice as expensive as the Ketchikan project.

14 09 2008
PJ

Susan, Daily Kos has a post with a slide show of the photos.

14 09 2008
Let'sGetReal

amr – is there anyway to see the photo’s in a slideshow? Maybe there is, but I’m not seeing it.

14 09 2008
Lizzie

@raye 1: IT IS NOT A LOST CAUSE!!!

Although the world seems focused on Palin right now, there’s tremendous groundwork going on for Obama. He collected $66M in August….a historical high. Many here feel that the backlash against McCain/Palin is taking hold; if you’ve noticed, most recent news about the pair has been negative.

AKM and Alaskan women have been remarkable in making their voices heard….the effort must, and will continue.

14 09 2008
Sharon

Thanks Aussie – I will, I just join the N2N friday night and had some volunteers stop by Saturday that signed me up. Hopefully we can change the polls here in FL. I think alot of the problem is people are listening to the lies and believing them or they are just staying quiet. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks again, I am glad I joined.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Sharon Craig’s List might be another good idea — I’d check (and get the word out) everywhere possible!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@raye1 (08:09:32) :

RENEE – never give up hope! HOPE is what Obama represents!

Don’t be fooled by the mainstream media, they have masters to serve. And don’t be fooled by all these so-called polls.

This is a time when every citizen in every country should be working towards a Democratic America. So much depends on it.

Patience. And steel.

🙂

14 09 2008
A Brit abroad aka Flag Cobra

@Amused “Knik Arm Bridge??? Alaskans, shed some light?”

Is this the second bridge to nowhere? I’ve seen a blog somehwre in all my googling asking when it’s going to see the light of day…

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

Sharon, you’re about to get a visit from Botox Boy McCain in Florida in a few hours, aren’t you? Make your sign right away! Show him what you think today!

Heck, show him what we ALL think. 😉

14 09 2008
Byrne-ing Up The Internet » Blog Archive » News You Don’t Hear

[…] is a link to a blogger in Alaska: https://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/alaska-women-reject-palin-rally-is-huge/ It is a first hand account of a  rally that was the same day both Fox News (?) and CNN […]

14 09 2008
raye1

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement. In case there are any Expats out there who are not registered to vote, or have teens who have not yet registered, please go to http://www.votefromabroad.org It only takes about 5 minutes with the registration wizard.

If you are military personale we recommend you use http://www.overseasvotefoundation.org

To all the rest of you, please when sending mails to friends who are Expats, include both links in your signatures.

Once again thanks, and I am preparing as we speak to send out a link to this page to our groups over here in the German Regions of Central Europe.

Huggles,

Renèe

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

While all voices are important in the Palin debacle, the voices of women could very possibly emerge as being the most important. Not only in terms of Roe v. Wade, etc. — I really think she could set back women’s opportunites for higher office in the future and the best way to circumvent this is by women speaking opposition. She does NOT represent us as we want to be represented in regard to her abilities (lack thereof). She is an incompetent selection for higher office but not all women are.

14 09 2008
bassblue

Alaskans! You remind me of Iowa. You know what they did, rght?

14 09 2008
Harley

@ Susan and anyone else who wants the pics

I have made the pics available for anyone
on my server. I have zipped them all, I have also rar’d them all or you can grab individual picks.

You can grab them HERE

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

@A Brit abroad aka Flag Cobra

Yes. This was the first thing I’ve seen on it. You too?

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

F Y I

CAPE COD TODAY (front page)

This email has been landing in countless Cape Cod email boxes this week.
We pass it along for your consideration – The Editor

Please take a minute to participate in this effort if you believe, as I do, that with the addition of Palin to the ticket, the risk of McCain winning has become graver than ever.

“Friends, compatriots, fellow-lamenters,
We are writing to you because of the fury and dread we have felt since the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. We believe that this terrible decision has surpassed mere partisanship, and that it is a dangerous farce on the part of a pandering and rudderless Presidential candidate that has a real possibility of becoming fact.

Perhaps like us, as American women, you share the fear of what Ms. Palin and her professed beliefs and proven record could lead to for ourselves and for our present or future daughters. To date, she is against sex education, birth control, the pro-choice platform, environmental protection, alternative energy development, freedom of speech (as mayor she wanted to ban books and attempted to fire the librarian who stood against her), gun control, the separation of church and state, and polar bears. To say nothing of her complete lack of real preparation to become the second-most-powerful person on the planet.

We want to clarify that we are not against Sarah Palin as a woman, a mother, or, for that matter, a parent of a pregnant teenager, but solely as a rash, incompetent, and all together devastating choice for Vice President. Ms. Palin’s political views are in every way a slap in the face to the accomplishments that our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers so fiercely fought for, and that we’ve so demonstrably benefited from.

First and foremost, Ms. Palin does not represent us. She does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as American women. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters We want to disagree, publicly.

Therefore, we invite you to reply here with a short, succinct message about why you, as a woman living in this country, do not support this candidate as second-in-command for our nation.

Please include your name (last initial is fine), age, and place of residence.

We will post your responses on a blog called “Women Against Sarah Palin,” which we intend to publicize as widely as possible. Plese send us your reply at your earliest convenience the greater the volume of responses we receive, the stronger our message will be.

Thank you for your time and action.

VIVA!

Sincerely,
Quinn Latimer and Lyra Kilston
New York, NY, email ; womensaynopalin@gmail.com
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY! If you send this to 20 women in the next hour, you could be blessed with a country that takes your concerns seriously. Stranger things have happened.”

14 09 2008
Patrick Alcatraz

Thanks, from the American West

http://www.BadChili.blogspot.com

14 09 2008
Janet Jones

It isn’t right. What does Ms. Paylin run the news too??? What can we do NOW to get the word out that just because we are female we would vote for this very scary lady.
This is too important to leave anything to some ? women.

14 09 2008
Sharon

It’s in Jacksonville :(, but tomorrow will be in Tampa 🙂 – Thanks

14 09 2008
concernedcanadian

I am floored as to how well your rally went! Bravo to all of you Alaskan woman, men and children. It gives me a spark of hope that come Nov. we will see Obama/Biden in the white house and a change. Huggs to our Alaskan neighbors. You are truly a great inspiration to America and the world.

And a BIG GOODLUCK to the woman who are rallying in other states in the near future.

14 09 2008
Mary Meredith

Thank you so much for posting this! What a positive display of community democracy. You made my weekend!!!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

Harley, you’re a genius! 🙂

14 09 2008
makeitgoaway

The first thing I’ve done since waking up this morning has been to immediately log on to Mudflats as I anxiously awaited the report of the rally. Simply amazing!!! The contrast of the pic of the pro-Palin rally with the vast expanse of empty space and the crowd bunched together for effect vs the exhuberant anti-Palin rally of clearly more than 1000 is incredible. The MSM must report on this. I am so proud of my sisters up in AK taking the risk and speaking for the rest of us. I loved the “hockey mamma for Obama with her sign tacked to a hockey stick” 🙂

14 09 2008
Susan

Thanks for the tips on viewing the pictures! Off to send the email to Mom.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Here we go: (re: Knik Arm Brige)

Palin yet to say ‘no thanks’ to other big earmarks

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/05/palin-yet-to-say-no-thanks-to-other-big-earmarks/

14 09 2008
Harley

LMAO, there is nuttin to it !

I too can see the St Lawrence Seway from mywindow……..guess I can
I can now navigate the world and be vee pee!

14 09 2008
wow

holy cow no amount of cnn polls can refute this. huge grassroots effort. i am stunned that is in her home state. great to see a lot of people get involved in politics.

14 09 2008
Harley

tragically, I can not type well however

14 09 2008
Lynn

Good work! Now get it out to the MSM.
Please send the story and photos to MSNBC’s “first person” at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18616878/

They do not accept html tags, only first person accounts.

14 09 2008
Cassie aka Jeep Pike Palin

To all the women of Alaska and the men who support them–

Well Done!

We can thank you, and believe me, we do! But each and every one of you now shares a secret, don’t you? It is one you will carry through the rest of your lives.

Think about your rally…and if I’m not mistaken, there was a moment, some fractional second during your voicing your heartfelt opinion, that YOU FELT THE EARTH SHIFT…EVER SO SLIGHTLY…a little more toward center.

And that moment was more than empowering, it was ENLIGHTENING.

I am so happy for all of you, and I’m happy for those of us who could not be with you.

Jeep Pike Palin (but I wish I were Jeep Trout Palin, because I keep having this feeling that I’m diving, rather than swimming!)

14 09 2008
Laurie

@Harley

What a great post my friend. I am glad that we Canadians made you welcome, but I am not surprised. Canadians love our US neighbours, but since the Iraq war…we have quite often felt slapped in the face. I dont know if you remember, but when; the Iraq war started, many neocons in the US publicly berated us, because we were not part of bushies “coalition of the willing”. No we werent, and our Prime Minister knew ;better than to try. He would have been chased out of Ottawa with a kick in the pants for good luck.

We are in Afghanistan though. Things are desperate there, and you never hear McCain talk about that. Is he so senile he forgets about it.

There was some talk here…..not sure if its the same; but the US was told that we would leave Afghanistan by 2009 unless and until the US and the rest of the world sent in more troops.

Osama Bin Laden is NOT in EYE RAK …..he is in Afghanistan.

If John McCain wins…our politicians will be in a pickle of their own.

14 09 2008
whabs

219,303 hits on Brutal and the Palinites are there again.

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Hey, I’ve actually BEEN to Russia! Maybe I should run! 🙂

14 09 2008
Quiet Advocate

If it had not been for the bloggers and the websites like this, the silenced media would have buried the truth. Our basic right to knowing the truth was denied both by the Republican Party and the intimidated media. That’s when the blogges went to work and showed the world that this is, after all, a country of ordinary citizens where the real power rests. Now the question is if our strength will/can persuade the other half to see the real difference between McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden. We must demand the media to do their job of objective reporting. We must NOT allow Karl Rovian negative campaign to be part of our democracy! Our country is or should be better than this! Keep fighting! Thanks, Alaskan Women, for taking the risk to show us your courage!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Amused and Bewildered (08:44:10) :

I’ve couldn’t find Russia on a map but why should that stop me? 😉

14 09 2008
Loretta Frey

Sarabots have got go be kidding!!!
Send her packing back up North!!!!

14 09 2008
Kruseski

Oh, AKM, I am so energized by this posting. When you said there will be lots more to come in the previous post, you weren’t kidding. I looked closely at every photo and I love the women’s faces (and the men’s and children’s, too) and their obvious energy towards stopping this Palin mess. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I read those wonderfully home-made signs that express exactly how I feel, too. Thank you so much.
Your blog scoops the MSM media by 5-7 days. I have been reading your blog since Aug 29 and almost every comment.
In regard to Cindy McCain…ever since that rally in Sturgis, she seems to want to appear more “sexy” and youthful. At the beginning of the campaigns, before I knew how wealthy she was, I thought, wow, how does she always have such a different “do” every day? Does she travel with a stylist? Now I think, with her straggly messy style, she is trying to look like she just came from a “roll in the hay” with her “ever-so studly … NOT”… hubby. You see, he is much more virile than his 72 years convey. What a man!
What a joke!

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
marksmyword

Thanks to all of you who braved the wrath of Sarah to rally for Obama. I’m praying daily for your safety and for an Obama victory!!

14 09 2008
Liz I.

I hope you’re not tired of praise!

This is a great story, and I’m so happy to see the posting at Kos and the many references at The Field to this blog. Please keep up your excellent, and important, work reporting to us from Alaska!

A former Alaskan

14 09 2008
Harley

Thank you Laurie, I love Canada ! I love America too !

I do NOT HATE Sarah Palin however.
She does terrify me and I do hate what the republicans are doing.
I just wanted to make it very clear I do not hate Sarah, I just cannot support anyone with her views and obvious inability to run my country on ANY level in any regard.
She and Mr. McCain Do Not Reflect What I Stand For and I will do anything in my power to help stop them in their tracks.

14 09 2008
tonya

@ Snoskred

You previously posted on “Infiltrating the Palin Rally in Anchorage” that you thought I was a troll. So I wanted to make it clear that I am NOT a troll. And I apologize if I gave that impression.

I’ve actually never really been on a blog until Palin was announced as VP candidate and I came across this site, and like many others, have become addicted. I didn’t even know what a troll was until a few days ago. lol

I am definately for Obama!! The thought of McCain/Palin being in office makes me ill. And I think it is a HUGE insult to the American people for McCain to pull Palin out of a hat to help run this country and not expect people to want to know who this person is and what they’re about. After all it is OUR tax dollars that’s paying their salary.

I haven’t really posted much here, just a few links to articles. I posted the one about the Paline interview because I saw the article on several different sights. I didn’t get to see the 20/20 interview.

There seemed to be a lot of comments about it on all the sights, so I figured it was going to be the next thing they were going to scream foul play about. Just thought it was good to know what the other side was doing/saying.

Sorry if the link was inappropriate.

14 09 2008
Jens

Keep spreading the word – you fantastic Alaskan women! We need you all speaking up like this!

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Amused and Bewildered (08:44:10) :

That depends – are you willing to wear red peep-toe stillettos to run in?

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

It is amazing though — searching the ‘news’ section of Google, only 17 hits come up for Knik Arm Bridge.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=%22knik%20arm%20bridge%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

14 09 2008
One Good Thing About Sarah Palin | Comments from Left Field

[…] Here is a post about the beyond-their-wildest-dreams success of an anti-Palin women’s rally in Anchorage: I attended the Welcome Home rally for Sarah Palin this morning.  Hooo.  It was an experience. About a thousand (maybe) hard-core Palin supporters showed up to hear her speak at the new Dena’ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. […]

14 09 2008
Kate

Can’t read all the posts right now but thanks for the pics and the good news!
Well done alaskan women! This and the NYTimes page 1 story made my day.

14 09 2008
kk

Many shout outs for the peeps in Alaska!!!

As to Fiorina (not calling her Carly as she likes being an icon), ask any of the HP folks what they think. She did the same twist the truth and lies at HP. She is of the “wink wink” genre. It has many parallels to Palin. Most of the women of HP were overjoyed that one of theirs was finally getting a chance. It was like watching smart people become not so smart just on gender.

It was dark days and about the same time W became president. It felt like the world had gone wacko. She was clearly for herself. She fired Antonio Perez because he challenged her (in fact, it parallels Palin very well) and something about the jets “being an east coast thing”. She got rid of a lot of good people because they challenged her. She brought in people who said “yes” “nice shoes”. She made herself chairman and CEO so no one would challenge her.

Just when they thought it would only end in the company imploding, HP still had some smart people left to rise to the challenge and still had a board that wanted to do what was right. Here is hoping AMERICA gets it and does the same… and a lot of the women wised up to the game. Some too late. They lost their jobs.

Moral of the story: it is not about you.. it is about them. What they can get for their ambitions. We are pawns for them to get to their positions and the morality of their desire does not include telling the truth or destroying lives…

If Carly could destroy a great company with her “thinkin”, imagine what that thinking could do to America?

PS. Frank Fiorina was on the payroll but no one could figure out what he did to get paid that money.. they spent $1M in remodeling that Gulf stream…. because they didn’t like the decor. Must be nice when the previous CEO took commercial flights..

going to do volunteer work today!

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

@Aussie

No, I’d run on the Wodka Party. On a serious note, I was there when it was the Soviet Union and on the cusp of Estonia declaring their independence. It was quite eye-opening.

14 09 2008
raye1

I owe my Brothers and Sisters up in Alaska an apology!! My Swiss hubby always says we should take a cruise up there . I have told him time and time again….”no way!!! they eat democrats for lunch up there!” Thanks for correcting my misrepresentation of your fine state!!!

If Barack wins (even if he doesnt ) I think I will have to take a spin up to Alaska. I am originally from Oregon, so I guess I should visit a sister northwestern state!

GO ALASKA!!!!!!

14 09 2008
MissSue aka Barrel McRaven Palin

I manage a local bar in my town. We are considered to be “just a neighborhood bar”. Our customers are mostly white, middle to upper aged southern boys, although the surrounding neighborhood has become very racially mixed. Needless to say, I spend alot of time trying to calm the “boys” down. Over the last few months Obama’s ethnic background has stirred hundreds of years of hatred in some of them. But exciting things have been happening the last couple of weeks. They all know I am an Obama supporter, and while they have enjoyed staying away from the issues and speak only of race, and smear truths, I have continued to speak to them rationally and truthfully. A couple weeks ago, a very racially motivated republican gave me the “nod”. He let me know, although it was to be our secret, that he intended to vote for Obama. I was, to say the least, thrilled. It made me start thinking there might be others. I have been delighted to find out that there are many, who although in a crowd will deny, plan to vote for Obama.
I wanted to shout from the rooftop. But my husband made me understand that the fact that they trusted me with their “dirty little secret”, as he called it, meant that they trusted me to keep it. So I will. But rejoice Mudflatians, for there is Hope!

A big “Thank You” to the Woman of Alaska who dared to be heard.

The reality is that changes are coming… They must come. You must share in bringing them. ~John Hersey~

14 09 2008
Sad In Red State Texas

You all were Great . Thanks from the bottom of my heart for being brave and letting your voice’s be heard. Alsaka Women are HOT Palin NOT !!!!!!!!!!!

14 09 2008
rachelbirds

Great work, Muckraker.
You are at ground zero and
can bring us truth.

http://thehaikudiaries.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/september-14-2008/

14 09 2008
Susie in Jersey

Congratulations to all who organized and attended the anti-SP rally. You have done a wonderful thing for this country.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Amused and Bewildered (08:53:54) :

Yes, I remember when the Lithuanians broke away, and the price they paid – being starved of oil and Ray-gun not lifting a finger. Brave people, I never forgot them.

Gives us all hope, doesn’t it?

here is this gorgeous War Barbie vid again in case you missed it – I love it!

‘nite all

14 09 2008
beed

Does the fact that I can look up and see the stars make me qualified to be an astronaut?

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@MissSue aka Barrel McRaven Palin (08:57:31) :

Brilliant! We won’t tell. 😉

14 09 2008
CK

Aussie Pack Mule,

Are you actually in Alaska?

CK from Perth

14 09 2008
Irishgirl aka puck mule

@MissSue,
Thanks for sharing that. That is my hope too, that there are a lot of people that just won’t admit publically to voting for Obama.

14 09 2008
J T
14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@CK (09:02:48) :
no, I’m in Victoria, so you can see it’s way past bedtime 🙂
We are an Australian-American family.

You sure as heck don’t have to be from Alaska to support these incredible people – don’t even have to be American!

Everybody has a stake in this…..

‘k, nite

14 09 2008
Enjay aka Turbine Yukon

In the Open Thread posts was a question about Sarah Palin’s Choice

where many Down Syndrom are terminated

that article is on the http://www.salon.com
Sarah Palin’s choice
I greatly admire her decision to have a child with Down syndrome. But she would likely deny other women the right to choose for themselves.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected since it was originally published. You can find Salon’s complete coverage of Sarah Palin here.
By Rahul K. Parikh, M.D.

14 09 2008
Divatalk

Afternoon, morning, or night, whichever part of the world my fellow mudflatters are in.
This is fantabulous! I checked the Washington post first this morning and was extremely happy to see the coverage of the event.

You guys are the best! “Out of a few, there came many”

So how do we duplicate this. Someone mentioned picking a date in October.
If that’s the plan, why not be October 2 the day of Biden/Palin debate.

14 09 2008
Intrigued

Swineprincess — My statement was based on numerous political discussions with people from all walks of life who belong to both parties. I was first introduced to the concept in the late 1980s when a neighbor of mine, a woman who was a member of the Green Party, implored me to vote for women on the ballots at all costs. “We must get more women into office!” was her constant refrain. Prior to that conversation I had no idea that people with that mindset even existed; I had made the mistake of projecting and assumed that everyone else carefully studied the issues and the candidates’ positions, as I did.

Ever since I have made it a point to broach the subject in conversation and “feel people out.” They are very enthusiastic with their respective mantra, so it doesn’t take long for them to reveal it. This election cycle I have encountered several blacks (via my good friend who is a black Democrat) who believe that this is “their” one shot to get a black into the Presidency, so they “can’t blow it.” When Hillary was still in the race, I met women who felt that way about her candidacy.

There you go with the “only Republicans do that.” That is patently untrue, and in your heart of hearts you must know that this is a HUMAN thing and is not relegated to any particular party. It really is about which group a person identifies with, which may be based on race or sex rather than political.

14 09 2008
KittenStCyr

Great shot after great shot, AKM. You’ve got the knack for composition
I can confirm that there are plenty of people in this state who support Obama. I call 50 Alaskans almost every weekday from Obama HQ in Homer. At first, I wondered why we don’t call Outside (say , in Ohio or Florida) but my completed calls -about 10 out of every hundred attempts – reflect a close race in Alaska. Yes, I hear a few more “McCains”; only a very few say,”I’m voting for Palin”.
But when I note the tally at the end of my shift, the results are split right down the middle. I’m sayin it…Alaska is a battleground state. Wish I could have been there. Thanks, for using your skills and talent
(and wonky ferocity) to illuminate AK politics and for gracefully bearing the enourmous amount of attention you’re getting.

14 09 2008
Political Irony › Palin’s home town disadvantage

[…] Sarah Palin went back to Alaska for the first time since her nomination, and held a “Welcome Home” rally and speech in downtown Anchorage in front of around 1000 people. What was interesting, however, was that a nearby protest rally, called “Alaska Women Reject Palin” had a significantly larger turnout than the pro-Palin rally. Some reports say the protest rally was the biggest political rally in the history of Alaska. […]

14 09 2008
nancy-INDIANA

I cried when i read this. THANK YOU ALL so much!

14 09 2008
winstonsmithcloned

more evidence that the poll numbers being released are skewed in a misleading way

http://thepage.time.com/2008/09/14/obama-smashes-his-fundraising-record/

14 09 2008
Divatalk

AKM, my I get the video of this to create along with some music. I’ve got the perfect music I think would go with this.
if it is ok, can you email me a divatalk@helloworld.com
thanks

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

hi all-
i try to read all before posting,
but, may i say to you all, and uk lady…
i am completely totally GOBSMACKED!!!!

OMG

i can’t define it, but i sure as heck know what it is…………

everyone on my email list will be too, some of em need to hear it, others will just feel like we do. and if they don’t like getting all this from me? tough. like i said, this time its personal.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Enjay aka Turbine Yukon (09:10:46) :
Enjay, the question was why was she tested for it.

14 09 2008
VetTheVeep

SCDem ….I’m in south Carolina too. I have started a group called Thinking Freely. We are having our 1st meeting this Monday night. it went from 5 members to 40+ in less than a week, by word of mouth. Too many people don’t have the time or don’t know how to use the Internet to do research. So I am up late at night reading Mudflats (and comments), Huffington Post, Real Clears Politics, FactCheck.org, re-watching The View McCain Interview, Rachel Maddow, etc, etc… and capturing the best and putting into small readable chunks with links. This is why I have only posted a few times. I read, copy and paste all night long. Most here are still the ‘Inbox Generation’ but this is a step up from “I don’t do email.”
I’m just trying to figure out what to do to help.
I want to get people out of the closet….I would love to talk to you further. I don’t know how to get in touch with you through a forum.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@Laughing No Longer… (09:15:30) :

Game on! 🙂

14 09 2008
Aliza Sherman

Awesome! I can’t believe you were there. Wish we had met!

Here is my flickr stream of photos and videos. Please feel free to distribute them widely. You can credit Aliza Sherman with them – an Alaska mom of a 2-year-old girl! They are also on my mommyblog: Babyfruit.

Alaska Women Reject Palin Rally Sept 13, 2008

Hope our paths cross for an espresso drink sometime!

14 09 2008
Irishgirl aka puck mule

Sorry, meant to say publicly – am trying to get the dinner and blog at the same time. Am addicted to Mudflats!

14 09 2008
Divatalk

I just read on MSNBC that Obama raised $66 mil $10mil for Palin speech for month of August with 500K new donors. McCain raised $47 mil plus $10mil from since Palin speech.

Let’s keep it up. Donate, Vote, Donote

14 09 2008
girldujour

Apparently, you aren’t the only one who was covering the rally:

http://womenagainstpalin.com/blog2/2008/09/11/join-alaskan-women-to-reject-palin-rally-on-satuday-sept-13th/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/14/103042/902/965/597033

http://babyfruit.typepad.com/baby/2008/09/babys-first-political-rally-and-mommys.html

This third one has videotaped interviews with rally attendees.

How does one get this coverage in the mainstream press?

14 09 2008
winstonsmithcloned

if you are reading this blog and you understand the fierce urgency of now then of course, you need to do the thing which matters the most. be sure
to vote.

make sure that you are registered and able to do so

the Barackobama.com site is prepared to help regardless of party affiliation

http://www.voteforchange.com/index_obama.php

14 09 2008
mvngfwd

Calling all Floridians!!! I am game for a rally if you are. I have my coffee in hand right now and am ready to chat my “sisters in arms” about how we can put this in motion. I’m in Miami but will travel so let’s see what we can do. Any takers?

14 09 2008
swineprincess

Remember back in the late 1960s (1967 I believe) when Barbara Garson skewered the Johnsons with her savage MacBird parody/spoof/political dramady of Johnson-as-MacBeth and Kennedy-as-Duncan (the character’s name was John Ken O’Dunc as I recall…)? The suggestion in the play was (obviously) that Johnson had a role in JFK’s assassination. Well, I don’t believe that it was true. What I do believe right now, especially after re-reading the NYTimes article, is that Sarah Palin is capable of almost anything. Maybe the next spoof we’ll see is McHamlet with Palin-as-Claudius. Mackie keep your ears plugged and only let Lieberman close enough to whisper in them.

14 09 2008
Catherine

Just wow. That was awesome to see.

Don’t lose hope, Renee – the game ain’t over yet. It’s still mid-September, and the election isn’t for another month and a half. Plenty of time left to work. 🙂

“It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.” — Sir Winston Churchill

14 09 2008
gelfling545

I don’t believe that the republicans have any idea of what they have unleashed with the nomination of Palin. A lot of my friends here in Western NY and even my daughters rather lost interest in the campaign when Clinton lost the nomination BUT once Palin was nominated have become vehement Obama supporters. They are now insulted, angry and active. I’ve just sent off the link to this article to a lot of people and would like to add one I just received which gives a real insight into the absurdity of Palin’s candidacy.

http://michaelpalinforpresident.com/

14 09 2008
J T

MissSue aka Barrel McRaven Palin –
I was thinking what you wrote, about those racist, who may actually be considering Obama.

Racism and Sexism are two unpleasant realities, and over the years we have made strides in this country…yet we have a long way to go.

If you think of it, historically the “white male” has been quicker to accept race over gender.

It was the Black Man who got the vote before women. And while many may hate to hear it phrased this way, it was a black man who made it as a presidential candidate before a woman.

If McCain was a much younger man, without a history of cancer, his VP might not be such a hot issue. Sure, she would still be of media and public interest, yet the reality that she might step into the president’s shoes would not be as pressing.

Because of McCain’s age and health, the voters are going to give his VP more scrutiny than another candidate, with or without the Palin-factor.

The more I think about it, perhaps Obama was correct in choosing a white man. (I am sorry Hillary, nothing against you, simply the reality of our society.)

If it was Obama-Hillary ticket, many equality challenged voters would not consider the ticket.

History does have a tendency to repeat itself.

14 09 2008
HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline

ENOUGHwiththetrainwreck (05:26:02) :

“whatever McCain, et al had in mind for this election – they have done one thing very well – they have awakened a herd of sleeping giants and the stampede to the truth is on!”
——————————–
BINGO!

Your entire post was excellent.

Kudos to the women of Alaska who stood up FIRST IN THE NATION to make a statement en masse.

“CANDIDATE TO NOWHERE” was my fave!

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

John Henry (05:42:24) : “That’s good to hear. It was apparent Republicans were forced to settle for John McCain as the front runner. With the exception of the neocons – the War Baby War crowd, I don’t think any other faction – theocons (religious right), supply-siders, values voters, libertarians,etc – ever really trusted him. He’s proved them right. It looks like the Sarah pick is McCain’s sacrifice to the theocons in order to put Country First – I mean get elected. I’ve heard thecons comprise as much as 40% of the electorate. ”

Thanks, JohnHenry! I’m counting on this as well. At the end of the day, MOST Americans do pride ourselves with a dose of commonsense.

We’re just getting back in from Church and of course, I had to catch up with the wonderful Patriots and heroes on this blog! Congrats again! I am so encouraged. We’re beginning to hear questions (EVEN at Church!), and I agree with earlier posts that the newness and curiousity with Sarah Palin is beginning to wear off.

This morning, I was walking our dog and was joined by a wonderful couple who travels quite a bit. The talk turned to politics, and I discovered this was the first election in which they could vote as they are new American citizens. Imagine that! 🙂 We talked rationally and gently over several minutes and then I sent them some links before we left for Church with the title: Food for Thought – Make Your Vote Count. Upon return this afternoon, I was greeted with a plate of cookies (this IS the South, after all!!) and a thank you for helping make the issues more real.

The key is we cannot let up! This election is all about who wants to win more. It’s a real game now, and we have to get out and be heard every day. Every day. Biden is in Charlotte this evening – is anyone going?

Talk with your neighbors and friends. YES WE CAN. YES WE CAN.

14 09 2008
Laurie

On CNN right now…there is a panel discussing Israel bombing Iran. They are thinking that it will happen either October or November. If McCain wins it will happen period

14 09 2008
Lizzie

Hmmm….this about says it all:

“…Sarah Palin is the distilled essence of wingnut. She has it all. She is dishonest. She is a religious nut. She is incurious. She is anti-science. She is inexperienced. She abuses her authority. She hides behind executive privilege. She is a big spender. She works from the gut and places a greater value on instinct than knowledge.

And most dangerous of all, she is supremely self-confident to the point of not recognizing how ill-equipped she is to lead the country.”

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=11290

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline (09:26:45) :

I vote for your Palin Baby Name! It is so funny!

14 09 2008
Niroshini

Go REAL women and men of Alaska! Sending support and tons of organic double shots of espresso from Boulder, Colorado!!

Obama-Biden for those with integrity!

14 09 2008
AnneinWA

Thanks again Mudflats! Clearly outstanding reporting…

I KNOW it may sound sappy to tell you that I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face…but I AM! I am off to go horseback riding with a small group of women with whom I have only discussed politics once, because the conversation was IMMEDIATELY and abruptly halted by the tantrum of one right-wing rider (try saying that 3 times quickly!). However, today I am going to give it another go. If only ONE like-minded woman is in the group, possibly we can start a bit of community organizing!

14 09 2008
Leonard Pinth-Garnell

Can someone explain why NOBODY in Alaska has the cajones to start a RECALL PETITION?

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@gelfling545 (09:22:40) :
thank you, that was gorgeous – I would vote for Michael Palin any day

14 09 2008
Gina

MissSue:
I am so encouraged by your post, yet somehow saddened at the same time. Change is slow and difficult. I often wonder how much racism and sexism is for show. It’s good to remember that everyone casts their vote alone.

14 09 2008
Aussie Puck Mule

@mvngfwd (09:21:01) :
Just about to go to bed and I remembered reading that Obama has a couple of dozen offices in Fla – you might find some really pissed off sisters there.

14 09 2008
Irishgirl aka puck mule

@gefling545
Enjoyed that vid. Am a Michael Palin fan too!

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

an espresso stand? they don’t serve LATTE”S, do they?
anyone got a pic of SCARAH drinkin’ one o’ them there latte’s, do ya?
what’s next? chardonnay?

on one hand, latte Drinkers, on the other, war with russia. hmmmm. it’s all so dern confusin’!

14 09 2008
Largest political rally held in Alaska’s history sends the message: REJECT PALIN! « the bruce blog

[…] NOW, to read the rest of this post and see the great Pics of the rally, click HERE. […]

14 09 2008
willpen

_________________________________________________________________________________
QUOTE:
Aussie Puck Mule (06:59:16) :

I don’t know who posted this video earlier on, but thank you — it’s brilliant!

Barbies for war!
___________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for this link. I am posting it on my blog and hoping to spread the word.

http://www.willpen.wordpress.com

14 09 2008
Bruce

This is exciting and really good news. Gave me heart! I took part of it, put it in a post and linked by here. Hope this gets ready by EVERYONE!

14 09 2008
Sara

All the way from south Mississippi, thank you for sharing!

I’m a white woman from a red, rural, notoriously backwards state, and Sarah Palin DOES NOT speak for me.

14 09 2008
Harley

I have added the Saturday Night Live Opening Video to the pictures link I gave earlier. Just in case it gets taken down for copyright infringement as stated that it might be earlier. It is a flv file.
For those you who may not be familiar with flv, you may need
a free, small and safe little player called VLC to play it.
So if you want it to keep for whatever reason and you do not know how to get
it as an actual download, I have placed it there for you.
You can grab the VLC player too from me if you want ( PC not MAC )
or you can go directly to the VLC site HERE.

I will go ahead and post the url to where to grab the rally pics and Saturday night Live Video once again since the original post is now so far back.

Download Anti Palin Rally Pictures from Mudflats Here and also SNL Opening Video

Go Obama !

14 09 2008
MH

Please, please make your next post about the “other” bridge to nowhere — Knik Arm. I feel this is the next item that should shine in the spotlight! Oh… and the $73M she STILL has from the original bridge!!!

14 09 2008
Harley

thebrucelog

has been blogrolled !

thanks …..fantastic blog !

14 09 2008
swineprincess

Re: Sarah and the Bush Doctrine

NLP wise, she didn’t even TRY to remember what the Bush Doctrine was — she went straight for the bluff. This means to me that the McBush programmers coaching her think so little of the term “Bush Doctrine” that THEY didn’t remember they should coach her on it.

to all these commentators “out there” in MSM and otherwhere, who are saying that she didn’t blink… oh no… she blinked.

I have seen many grad students in many classes go down in the same flaming try she put up for that little bluff…

As far as her triple repetition of not judging what Israel has to do to protect itself… (sigh) never mind, you’ve all heard me say the say-it-three-times-and-it-is-true thing…

14 09 2008
Payette Gals

Determined Women are the best community advocates in the world! Anchorage Ladies you ROCK! We need more women to pay attention to the true facts and not just the fact that she is a woman. Do your research, she’s NOT all sweetness and light and her calling herself a “pitbull with lipstick” is an insult to pitbulls! If she were a TRUE hockey mom, she’d be sending her son to college and not to an illegal war. Isn’t that the normal next step for kids going to high school? College builds toward their future. Most hockey moms know that their sons ambition is to play in the NHL, the Army doesn’t have a hockey team!

14 09 2008
Alice

Funny and insightful

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-reiser/yeah—-you-and-whose-arm_b_125929.html

The press is always complaining about Obama not having the short and brutal answers….he is too thoughtful and speaks to us like…well… adults. It is crazy to me that so many people find it more admirable to act form the gut. That so many people would rather have some that they can be comfortable eating “potatoe” chips with then someone who might inspire them to put that bag down and go for a walk instead. The republicans treat their constituency with even less respect then treat their children…..they just keep on pouring out the kool-aid

14 09 2008
Bruce

P.S. I emailed this post to Arianna. I hope she reads it.

14 09 2008
Wisconsin shopgirl

Thank you to all you brave Alaskan women!!

Huffpost has posted an article about it:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/14/palin-met-by-hundreds-of_n_126276.html

It’s on the Politics page. Let’s hope that the MSM picks it up as well.

Let’s keep alive what the Alaskan women have started down here in the lower 48. We have a lot of work before us, but let’s get fired up. Get out there and donate your time, your money, and your energy for Barack and Joe. This election is too important for our families and our country!!!!

14 09 2008
karen

The pictures were wonderful, the signs were wonderful, I just had a small stroke 3 days ago & I’m quite sure it was this election, I promised my doctor I would stop watching the tv & stop blogging, but I just can’t give up Mudflats, I just can’t. Would like to donate to these educated brave women in Alaska. Pray for our country, pray for OBAMA!!!

14 09 2008
Robin

So happy to see this! I’m one of the millions of Americans who asked “Sarah WHO?” just a couple of weeks ago. After hearing time and time again “She’s the most popular guv’na EVER!” as one one of her “qualifications” it’s great to have yet another McCain/Palin lie brought to light.

OBAMA/BIDEN ’08!!!!

14 09 2008
drjanice

Haven’t seen anything this beautiful since the marches of the early 70’s! Brava, women of Alaska!

14 09 2008
Carmen M.

Finally the truth is coming out!
Thanks Alaska for helping America!!

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

karen, please be careful and take care of yourself.
watch snl, laugh, bruceblog is funny. be well.
know that we will keep on,
and you must be well to VOTE and enjoy the fruits of your efforts when our President Obama is sworn in. xoxo

1-20-09

14 09 2008
Harley

Hope you stay well Karen
Will say a prayer for your continued health.

14 09 2008
Sharon

awesome! 🙂

14 09 2008
nancy-INDIANA

THE “LIBERAL MEDIA”

From newsweek article (http://www.newsweek.com/id/158738/output/comments) :

Posted By: blowfly @ 09/14/2008 10:51:31 AM

Comment: Please note 91% of commercial talk radio is conservative, pro-Republican.

In the last 20 elections, the majority of newspapers have endorsed a Democrate only twice (1964, 1992), that’s just 10% of the elections.

The fastest growing news network, FOX, is blatenly pro-Republican and it’s owner Rupert Murdoch does not deny this, in fact flaunts the stituation.

It’s well know that voters are not happy with the media (presenting bad news is it’s business), so that Republican focusing on the proveably false claim that the media is “liberal”, is an attempt to associate something voters dislike with their opposition, the same way they try to associate them with a lack of morals (both parties have a problem there) and playing fast and loose with the budget (last Democrat, budget down, federal debt down, last Republican budget up, federal debt up).

The reality is that these associations and “knee-jerk” reactions are counter-productive and simply make debates “you’re ugly”, you’re fat”, etc. not the basis for good decisions.

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

I’m glad to hear that the people there shut Eddie Burke up. He needs to be shut up. I just watched a tv spot where Burke said “I didn’t tell those people to be threatening when they called”. Well what in the hell did he think that rabid Palin supporters were going to do when they were given the phone numbers, on the air, of the rally organizers. He knew exactly what they would do. Yes, we do have freedom of speech, but you still can’t yell “fire” in a crowded room, and that’s what Burke did. Some day one of these right winger talking heads are going to incite a crazy who kills the person the right winger vilifies. At that time, I hope that murder charges are brought against the right winger talking head.

14 09 2008
Alice

The rally was truly a wonderful moment…There were a lot of great signs, but I wondered why I did not see any signs concerning the AIP. Is it a dead topic?

I have asked this a couple of time and I have yet to get a response. I think that I must be missing something…so please someone. Set me straight!

When will Palins connections to the AIP be reported. It is clear that the political choices that she has made support both small minded evangelist’s values and a secessionist’s philosophy. Of course she went after the republicans system…she is not really one of them. There is damning evidence that she and her husband are both a traitors and an infiltrators!

14 09 2008
ds55

I’ve been looking at the photos and video of the protest rally over on DailyKos.
http://www.dailykos.com/hotlist/add/2008/9/14/103042/902/displaystory//

Readers voted on their favorite protest sign:
McCain/Palin = Unstable/Unable

This is a big deal! I love it.

14 09 2008
Payette Gals

Don’t call her a “wing nut” it is an insult to the “Wing Nuts” here in Detroit! We OWN the name and are nothing like the goober-nut Palin. WING NUTS ARE TRUE HOCKEY FANS OF THE THE CHAMPION DETROIT RED WINGS! We are also TRUE hockey moms, not flip floppers like Sara Palin. Please, do not insult us any further by linking her name with us.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

Karen, take care of yourself and don’t let the Republiars have your health.

14 09 2008
expatforobama

This is sooooo wonderful!!! Man, I can’t stand when the MSM misses stuff like this. How was it reported in the local Alaskan papers?
Anyway, thank you so much for this. You made my day (you and NY Times with their ongoing blitzkrieg of lie smashing)

14 09 2008
NMJ

I just emailed Senator Obama with the following request:

There was an anti-Palin rally yesterday in Alaska…the largest political rally in the state’s history! This rally was half again larger than the pro-Palin rally that took place earlier that day. The pro-Palin rally was notable for how many people stayed away in droves.

Senator Obama, you MUST go to Alaska! You have galvanized that state and are bringing together diverse people, philosophies, and issues there in a way that has never been done before. Please don’t leave your supporters out in the cold…you may find that, indeed, Alaska is a blue state!

And please check out the blog http://www.mudflats.com, a site that has gained world-wide renown for well-written and intelligent commentary on Alaskan politics, by an Alaskan.

Please email Obama and ask him to go to Alaska. Imagine the size of that rally!

14 09 2008
winstonsmithcloned

fact check

checkin’ up on a comment from ‘the most educated individual on energy in the country’ or something to that effect.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/energetically_wrong.html

14 09 2008
Mari Ippolito

I was at the rally and it was liberating! Thanks so much to the organizers for their efforts and to Mudflats for the balanced coverage. I’ve seen the Anchorage Daily News and some of the local TV coverage (Channels 2 and 11) and their coverage was, as expected, biased in favor of Sarah Palin.

14 09 2008
swineprincess

ohhh… Payette Gals this needs to get out. WingNuts Untie (er) Unite! WingNuts against Palin!!!!! Maybe you have found your calling!

14 09 2008
Alice

NMJ

That is great! I hope that it happens.

14 09 2008
sally

now if Arizona could turn blue, there so many here voting for mccain just because he is the az senator, i think he is so pathetic, and desparate to rule!
oh yeah and on the palin doll they should put a pull string on it where she keeps repeating her only statements:
1 bridge to nowhere, thanks but no thanks
2 difference between me and a pitbull? LIPSTICK

14 09 2008
Non-Alaskan

My hat goes off to the brave women of Alaska. There still is courage left in this country. Well done.

14 09 2008
anniekelleher

thank you!!! i posted and linked back to this on my blog, The Cranky Crone. we can win this thing if we WASP’s (women against sarah palin) all work together!

14 09 2008
Regi

OMG now they’re all harping on Obama and Biden voting for the “bridge to nowhere”. Once again using people’s ignorance against them. Why isn’t the MSM making it clear Alaska GOT the money??? It was up to Palin to use it for the bridge or not? It’s not about whether the Bridge was a bad idea but her LIES about earmarks.

14 09 2008
moose

TomDispatch.com Interesting site. Third article by Schwartz is very interesting. I really enjoy this site. I hope Obama comes to Alaska.

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

Karen –

Take care of yourself. You may not be getting universal healthcare if Palin gets in.

VOTE!!!!!!!

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

yes! Operation Alaska

the warmonger liar party of scarah and mcshame are famous for taking their rallies into the center of blue country… they always make a big deal how much money they raise here on the upper east side..
a rally in alaska says a lot on so many levels,
take it to the belly of the beast, and see what happens.
NOTHING will look better than a huge turnout in alaska. and maybe right down to phoenix after…

14 09 2008
HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline

Amused and Bewildered (05:57:40) :

OMG! My favorite picture of Palin so far!!!! I clicked on an article called “Obama tries to blunt Palin, by attacking McCain”. LOOKEE AT THE PICTURE! Best one yet! I hope it appears aaaalll over the web.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLjQnanGwe-0Mst6UJiA8xD7JcHw
—————————————-
OMG. THAT is the photo to use on the “Mooselini” posters.

14 09 2008
winstonsmithcloned

the thrill is gone

ok, here’s the ‘best’ thing about Sarah Palin’s history (or lack thereof). now there is nothing left to write about. After two weeks of daily front page above the fold pictures and stories, my morning look at more than twenty different national news sources comes up with a few small pieces all of them critical.

and that includes two or three links back to the SNL Tina Fey impression which was pretty (no pun or sexism intended) ripping.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

from this, i am concluding that the thrill is gone. clearly, Ms Palin is no Gandhi, has zero new ideas and after the analysis, has done almost as little in her experience as she has gained knowledge about world affairs, energy or well, no one seems to have asked any specifics about hockey yet but my guess here today is that she is not that familiar with hockey either.

one great quote that i found yesterday was this:

we did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children

if you care about your children and the children of everyone around the world, make sure you are registered to vote and then make sure you go out there and do the one most powerful thing that you can do to keep people with small and generally empty minds out of the government.

get registered (this link is non partisan) and make sure you vote

http://www.voteforchange.com/index_obama.php

14 09 2008
sally

sorry i hit enter before i meant to, i wanted to say to the Alaskan women: “YOU GO GIRLS” it gives when your hear the rep say american women are behind her, “NOT”!!!!
NO TO MCSAME/MCPAIN…….
God Bless
sally from Arizona

14 09 2008
judi

Laughing–scarah and mcshame..Luv it! 🙂

14 09 2008
John Henry

@UK lady (06:04:21)

Wooooo!

Anyone who knows anything about Russia knows that though its getting worse over here for regular Americans, we’re still better off than the Russians. Barbara Walter’s would be assassinated in Russia if she confronted McCain the way she did on the View. If anyone wants to see what its like when the government lies to you 24/7/365 days a year. Brush up on Russian history.

But, its good that you bring Russia up because what pissed me off most from the NYT article is this:

And four months ago, a Wasilla blogger, Sherry Whitstine, who chronicles the governor’s career with an astringent eye, answered her phone to hear an assistant to the governor on the line, she said.

“You should be ashamed!” Ivy Frye, the assistant, told her. “Stop blogging. Stop blogging right now!”

Can you imagine SP trying to do this on the national level? Who does she think she is?!?! You can’t be Vice President if you dont believe in the 1st Amendment.

WE ARE AMERICANS! WE ARE NOT IN RUSSIA!

We have a right to speak freely.

Its no longer scary or chilling to me anymore. I am pissed!

I donated to Obama again today and have volunteered for an event here. I am FIRED UP and READY TO GO! There is too much at stake this time!

14 09 2008
» Thinking Alaskans Reject Palin Obama Magazine

[…] More from Mudflats .gallery { margin: auto; } .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } .gallery img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } […]

14 09 2008
Largest rally in Alaska history - Pro-Obama « Egads!

[…] READ ABOUT IT AND CHECK OUT THE GREAT PHOTOS AND COMMENTS HERE […]

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

i have to watch a little of my skins. my brain hurts.
i am still gobsmacked. uk lady blew my doors off today. and my doors are well affixed. its very rude, but beyond SERIOUS
i have sent it to people i don’t even remember why they’re in my phonebook.
link again, just in case you have not been gobsmacked yet…

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-09-2008/106354-palindevil-0

14 09 2008
Harley

@ Amused and Bewildered and also HamletsMill

I placed that little beauty with the pics

Its called the real sarah.jpg

Thanks for that !!!!!

14 09 2008
jimstaro

If You Missed, or Don’t Get the PBS Series ‘Bill Moyers Journal’ You May Want To Watch or Read the Show From This Past Friday.

Why you might ask, Well It Sheds the Light on Alaska’s, and all of ours public airways, Chubby Big Mouth ‘Shock Jock’!!

Rage on the Radio

September 12, 2008

What happens when America’s airwaves fill with hate? BILL MOYERS JOURNAL takes a tough look at the hostile industry of “Shock Jock” media with a hard-hitting examination of its effects on our nation’s political discourse.

14 09 2008
Catherine

Harley is an internet deity, I think. 🙂

Cindy McCain’s dresses puzzle me, too – I saw her wearing a yellow thing the same color as her hair, and she looked like a giant banana.

I finally figured out what seems so funny to me about the constant, un-inventive lies – it’s as though the Republicans are operating in a world where they haven’t fully realized the internet exists and anyone with a computer and internet connection can figure out the lies with a quick google. It reminds me of characters in scary movies, and how they always look back at the wacko with an axe chasing them, where if they had ever seen a movie they would know not to do that. It’s like the world has moved on without them and they are trying to catch up, but not doing very well.

@ Payette Gals: “Wingnut” in lower case means the same thing as a world-class nutbar, not Detroit fans (as with capital letters).

(I’m so happy the season is about to start – I always loved Marian Hossa with the Senators, and can’t wait to see him in the red and white on a line with Datsyuk.) 😀

14 09 2008
Fred

Hello from California. You are awesome! Keep fighting against the lies.

14 09 2008
Regi

moose (10:06:31) :

TomDispatch.com Interesting site. Third article by Schwartz is very interesting. I really enjoy this site. I hope Obama comes to Alaska

Love those anecdotes about over protected Cheney. C’mon if you were Cheney wouldn’t you be terrified of meeting your maker :X Can’t say I blame him.

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

judi-
yesss, SCARAH
say that one 3 times and get it to stick!

14 09 2008
njr

the library, you say

ironic, the citizens of Wasilla first pushed back against Sarah Palin Mayor when she tried to tinker with the city library

14 09 2008
nancy-INDIANA

mccain camp lies. a good site to see a running list and explanation of some of the bigger palin lies:

http://thepage.time.com/obama-camp-memo-on-the-straight-talk-express/

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

@anniekelleher (10:05:49) : we can win this thing if we can get WASP’s (Women Against Sarah Palin) to unite….

I love this!!!!! Is there a web site or group that has taken this name?

New tee-shirt with the bright Lily Pulitzer colors. Shoot, even a golf polo and a small monogram with WASP would be great and how much fun to wear on the course! I’m all for reaching out at the “clubs” any way we can.

14 09 2008
Janet

Thank you for the coverage of the protest! Maybe it’s been mentioned but Ed Schultz of The Ed Schultz Show at http://www.wegoted.com is in Alaska this weekend interviewing residents about what Sarah Palin is really like. It will be broadcast on his show Monday. I’m pretty sure you can listen at his website. The show is on the radio from 11-2 CDT.

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
Lizzie

For all those who are aching to help….

I’m a disabled single mom making do on a small fixed income. Over the past few months, I’ve been wracking my brains about what I could do to help with the Dem. campaigns. Blogging is great, but at times, I felt that I was preaching to the choir. So I’ve been sending out a lot of emails both to an ever growing email list as well as letters to media companies. Yesterday, I went to a local Camp Obama to make calls. I was a little nervous, wasn’t sure how my shy nature would hold up. But it was a great experience! Wonderful group of people, and the phone conversations were both enlightening and moving.

I just took a look at http://www.fivethirtyeight.com, a website that had the most accurate predictions for the Congressional races. Have avoided it over the past few days…for good reason. For the first time in months, Obama is down both in electoral votes and popular vote predictions. There’s much work to be done. So happy to have the support of all on Mudflats.

Onwards!

14 09 2008
Regi

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLjQnanGwe-0Mst6UJiA8xD7JcHw

ACK ! It’s like that old mommy threat “careful or your face will freeze that way”, that’s exactly what Old Lady Palin will look like one day !

14 09 2008
Palin’s Unreported Welcome Home

[…] Over 1400 people attended the first “Alaska Women Reject Palin,” rally outside the Ancho…. […]

14 09 2008
earthmoon

Thank you SO MUCH for writing about this and especially for the photos! I’m linking to your post on my LiveJournal with text and links to a bunch of photos to spread the information and to send people over here.

The anti-Palin sentiment is being so radically under-reported it’s very angering. I know I’m not the only liberal mother who finds her outrageous, but it’s hard to tell if you look at the press! So thank you so much 🙂

14 09 2008
kirsty815

I twittered about this article, to friends, to CNN, to Rachel Maddow, and a few others. i urge others to do the same and let’s see if it makes news???

14 09 2008
John Henry

@swineprincess (06:44:46) :

I know I just saw a clip Carly lying too about earmarks as Governor. They are past the bottom of the barrel. They are now officially drilling a dry well.

14 09 2008
Cynthia, TX

I want someone to make an ad or you tube video with mccain in and call him a LIAR!!! who has the balls to do that!!! I am sick and tired of his lies and Palin and her right wing nut job stances on women issues!!!

14 09 2008
Roxy Dragon Pebbles

Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I thought that I was alone in thinking Sarah Palin was a religous zealot with only her own interests at heart. It is gratifying to know that there ARE people out there who see her for what she really is.

14 09 2008
Joe Lang

Can’t tell you how much I appreciated this. Made my week.

Keep up the good work, I’ve enjoyed your blog tremendously.

J. Lang in Washington State, once and future Alaska resident

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

winstonsmithcloned (09:20:24) :
make sure that you are registered and able to do so

This is the most important thing to do. Call your county registrar before the last day to register is past. That way if they have your registration mixed up, you can fix it by registering again.

Also, ask your country registrar for an absentee ballot and use it. Then you won’t have to wait in line and you won’t have to vote on a hackable voting machine.

Finally, if you receive an absentee ballot in the mail, unsolicited, check it out thoroughly before you use it. The McCain campaign is sending out altered absentee ballots that either go back to the wrong address or have been altered in a way that the registrar will void the vote. Pass this on to everyone you know.

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
The Angel Of Death

One thing those pro- and anti-Palin protesters had in common yesterday was that they were all dead were they stood, just as America is dead. Wait until the euthanizing of the baby boomers begins as a result of tens of millions of abortions performed during the last thirty-five years. The ‘entitlement programs’ of Medicare and Social Security are broke. Alaskans’ livelihoods exist from two sources: the american taxpayer and black gold. Take away the 70s pipeline, and the population of Anchorage is 50,000- a quarter-million persons less than it is.

Alaska was a beautiful place…before man came around and, as usual, fucked everything up, as is the case with everything he touches.

14 09 2008
Harley

“Catherine (10:14:11) :

Harley is an internet deity, I think”
——————————

Nah, I had to learn how to do many things with the ” interwebs ”
because after 22 years as a nurse with the Veterans Administration in the United States I now spend my working hours helping hubby sometimes.
He is an art director, cartoonist and advertising ” dude “.
We have our own business. He designs websites, print ads, brochures,
and themes for conventions and the like.
That said, he knows nothing of actually CREATING the website we design via , we hire ” back-end ” people for that. He simply designs via the art end what the site should look like, creates the elements and then we get someone else to do the XHTML, CSS, PHP and all that jazz. Works out quite well actually.
This winter I am going back to school to learn how to all that myself.
Then we will not need the third party designers anymore !
In the meantime, much like Ms. Palin, I am ” learning on the job ”

LOL

14 09 2008
judi

regi…thanks for the Palin pix I have enlarged it and put it in my garden and the crows have vanished..

14 09 2008
Pursang

Makes me wonder if Ms. Palin doesn’t make it as the Vice President will she even make it through this term as Governor let alone be reelected.

Eddie Burke didn’t look so tough in those pictures did he. Especially given how flat out nasty he looked on that TV News interview he did over this thing. I just love people who can’t accept the rights of others to speak their mind. The Bush mantra of “if you’re not with us you’re against us” is certainly the mantra of Burke and Palin it seems.

When I heard about what Burke did I was going to write to the radio station General Manager and voice my displeasure, especially given his disgusting endorsement of Burke’s actions. When I got to the website I saw all the Palin and conservative propaganda along with the link to Fox News and the use of their “Fair and Balanced” tagline and decided it wasn’t worth spending the time. While I don’t mind discussing opposing viewpoints with people if you’re touting Fox News and Fair and Balanced then you’re mind is as closed off as it can be.

I really wanted to thank you for posting this. It does my heart good to see people fight back against bullies and that is exactly what Palin and her bunch are. I hope Ms. Frye enjoys being the governors babysitter, that will look really good on her resume no matter how she tries to fluff it up.

14 09 2008
Pat

amused & bewildered……thanks for the PERECT palin photo, I have been working up some cartoons, it was just what I need!

14 09 2008
Ingrid Bengis Palei

PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FORWARD THIS. THERE IS NOTHING ON THE SITE WHICH SAYS “E-MAIL”. THIS IS URGENT.

14 09 2008
Harley

BTW…hubby will get that avatar finished for me today;
The mushroom cloud one.
He is going to create it as a cartoon with glasses and bun for you.
He had to finish a project late into the night yesterday.
Sorry about that.

14 09 2008
ds55

@ Catherine: LOL! “giant banana”
The Repubs are, as you say, operating as though the internet doesn’t exist. I think it’s because their base doesn’t do ‘the internets’.

There are a lot of folks out in rural and small-town America who get the bulk of their info from radio (Limbaugh) and whatever big headlines are flashed in front of them (FOX News, CNN). The way to reach them is to make a big noisy splash. No facts, proof or truth is required.

14 09 2008
Alice

jimstaro,

Thanks for the heads up on the Moyers piece.

I hope that blogging can do something to comabate such hate radio.

Aren’t some of these guys guilty of “inciting a riot”?

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

@Harley – BTW…hubby will get that avatar finished for me today;
The mushroom cloud one.

Yippee!!!! That’s me – nothing like a little drama to start the week!! THANK YOU!

Is anyone in Charlotte, NC? Joe Biden will there tonight.

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

You know, she calls herself a HOCKEY MOM, (I dont want a hockey mom runnging my country) ok she is a mom (she told us) and she is a woman, Is that sexist? its noticeable we can see she is a woman, did you notice Obama is black (bi-racial actually) oops can’t touch that! Obama is a dad that loves his children very much, did you know that? well we wanna know what kinda mom, what kinda woman she is…..1)she chose to keep her baby, does that mean she considered not having the baby? and what if her baby wasn’t special do you think she would have pledged special treatment if you vote for her? 2)She’s against sex education because girls might get pregnant (oops don’t look my daughter got pregnant) can’t touch that…. oh but she still believes in abstinence for ours, (because it worked so well for hers) 3)So what if her children were struggling with drug use (mine have) then what? I’m against drug use/abuse, does that make me a bad mom? or maybe it would be ok if that was the case, because then I would have an advocate in D.C. Is this sexist? oops can’t touch that! Before Palin was in the picture Obama was dragged thru the mud, He came out standing because he is strong in his beliefs and values and he has enough credentials to trust he is not after POWER, just our best interest, he wants the best for his children as a dad, and I know as a President he wants the best for all Americans. What I don’t understand is why are they so defensive? what exactly offends them? the fact that we know she is a woman? does she want special treatment because she is a woman? I’m sorry is that sexist? oops!

MY Plea to Arizonans, PLEASE DONT VOTE FOR McCAIN, JUST because he is the senator of Arizona, that is not a good reason, separate him from AZ and take a 2nd look…….

and to ALL THE WOMEN, PLEASE DONT VOTE for McCain JUST because of Palin, just because she is a woman. It’s like she is Ms ALASKA running for Ms USA, Guys oops I mean WOMEN, this is not a run for Ms Congeniality , this is the run for the VicePresident of the United States of America, Cmon women there is a reason we had to fight for the right to vote, the men didn’t trust that we could make an unbiased vote, that we might vote for someone pretty and fun. Id rather have Oprah!

Why can she take aim against Obama/Biden but no one can take aim at her? oops I forgot its sexist to ask questions like that! IM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!! right now its kinda embarrasing, the world must be laughing at us, Osama is probably cracking up, you got Russia, Iran, China, probably Iraq too! all we need is the Germans and Philappines… Thanks alot Maverick! He is more like a desparate old man with the last chance in his life to be The President.

OUT with analog in with Digital in 2009!

I have a question? What is Middle class? I guess I would have to know what is low and what is HIGH? what is average and what is normal? You can’t forget who you represent, Me & him! Thank you!

And the 911 tragedy, hurricane disasters sorry that’s an American thing, DONT TOUCH THAT!

You know, they should be known as McSame/McPain! she seems programmed, can she say anything else, she seems programmed, is she campaigning for him or running for VP?

I have an idea, lets put a pull string on her new little barbie, there are plenty of repeating statements.

1) Hi! Im a Hockey Mom!

2) Whats the difference between a pitbull and me, Lipstick!

3)the bridge to no where, I said Thanks but no thanks!

4)the Plane, I put it on Ebay! yea!

Obama you go! Baby! they are messing with you don’t waiver, you need to hang in with Change and economy, the times have changed right before our eyes, technology, energy needs, awareness to the enviroment, change is coming no matter what, that is what you have to preach…….

and as for the war, i think we went in wanting revenge, the outcome well you see what its caused, but we do have to end it but with dignity for our soldiers, all i know is McCain better make sure and be an advocate our soldiers when they get Home.

AND WE ARE NOT JEALOUS!!!!!!!

By the way where is McCain? Hello i don’t see you anymore, I can’t hear you! Your strategy was to distract Obama and get Hillarys girls

Guys It scares me, just the idea, Maveric huh?

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

14 09 2008
C.

Thanks for the post and pictures. I’ve told the peeps in my social networks to digg this story.
-C

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

Pat, my pleasure, LOL! That photo really says it all, doesn’t it? (Thank goodness that one slipped out there!)

Also, re: Sherry Whitstine’s blog, the woman who Ivy Frye called to tell to “Stop blogging!”, here’s the link. I posted it in another one of the comment sections so some may not have seen it and it’s not that easy to find.

http://syrin.vox.com/

14 09 2008
HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline

swineprincess (09:46:26) :

Re: Sarah and the Bush Doctrine

NLP wise, she didn’t even TRY to remember what the Bush Doctrine was — she went straight for the bluff. This means to me that the McBush programmers coaching her think so little of the term “Bush Doctrine” that THEY didn’t remember they should coach her on it.

to all these commentators “out there” in MSM and otherwhere, who are saying that she didn’t blink… oh no… she blinked.

I have seen many grad students in many classes go down in the same flaming try she put up for that little bluff…

As far as her triple repetition of not judging what Israel has to do to protect itself… (sigh) never mind, you’ve all heard me say the say-it-three-times-and-it-is-true thing…
—————————————-
swineprincess,

Very insightful observation! As you point out, they did NOT even bother to brief her on one of the most important changes in American foreign policy philosophy in 230 years. We MUST get this nation out of the Neocon/Theocon hell that has destroyed our soul as a nation.

As I have posted before, we have this level of resolve for November 4th, 2008.

Everyone VISUALIZE all of us getting ashore in the first, second, and third waves into a new future for our nation. We are all together. I love every one of you here!

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

Lizzie (10:19:22) :
I just took a look at http://www.fivethirtyeight.com, a website that had the most accurate predictions for the Congressional races. Have avoided it over the past few days…for good reason. For the first time in months, Obama is down both in electoral votes and popular vote predictions. There’s much work to be done. So happy to have the support of all on Mudflats.

Don’t despair. The polls are being cooked by polling equal numbers of Democrats and Republican when Democrats are 12% more than registered Republicans. The polls also can’t account for cell phone users and the millions of newly registered voters.

But, don’t get complacent either. I am actually glad that the polling companies are skewing their polls to make it look like a horse race. That will keep Obama supporters on their toes and working hard. It will also encourage the new young voters to actually get out and vote!

14 09 2008
DownInMississippi aka Jeep Pike

beed,

Seems to be that not only can you be an astronaut, I think you are qualified to be King of Space or something.

And me? Well, I live one-half block from a bank. I can definitely see it and sometimes when I am on my porch, I can even hear customers talking to tellers at the drive-thru.

As luck would have it, I am qualified to be the Chairman of the Federal Reserve! Well,that is, just as soon as someone tells me exactly what it is that the Chairman of the Federal Reserve does.

If that doesn’t work out, I can see the Chinese restaurant a block and a half from me if I go to the edge of my front yard–sounds like I might be in line for an ambassadorship to China. Other qualifications: eating Chinese food, playing Chinese checkers, being the owner of china. Oh, and I played Chinese firedrill when I was a youth.

I am not qualified to be Secretary of Commerce–can’t see that grocery store a block away because of the trees.

14 09 2008
Chris Brown

HI!

I used to live in Anchorage, went to UAA (GO SEAWOLVES!!) and am so happy to see this attitude in my former home. Good stuff and thanks for sharing.

14 09 2008
Karen

I am SO thrilled to read this entry, I sent it to everyone I know! Thank you, thank you, thank you brave Alaskan progressives!

I encourage everyone to forward this URL so that this rally gets the attention it deserves in the national media. The lie being perpetrated about how so many women are thrilled with Palin needs to be debunked, big time.

The homemade signs are absolutely wonderful. I would like to see women with signs like these, accompanied by a polar bear, at every single Palin rally everywhere she goes. They’d be guaranteed to get local media coverage that would help burst the Palin bubble.

14 09 2008
Linda in Virginia

Just wanted to add my thanks to Mudflats, AWRP, and all the folks who’ve been posting here. I am outraged by the contempt for truth the McCain/Palin ticket demonstrates every day. Thank you all for helping to get the truth out and for working so hard to prevent fear and hatred from carrying the day!

14 09 2008
Alaska Women Reject Palin « Not Very Bright

[…] 14, 2008 by notverybright Read about the big rally over at Mudflats a topnotch Alaska blog you should add to your blogroll for at least the next two […]

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

jeep pike LOL, i love it!!!!

14 09 2008
Irishgirl aka puck mule

@HamletsMill,
Saw that picture of SP. Looked uncannily like a pitbull.

@Karen,
Please take care. My thoughts are with you.

Is anyone else starting to believe that this community at Mudflats may just be about to influence the elections? The information that is being accumulated here eventually ends up in the MSM. I’m beginning to feel like I may be participating in a historic event.

14 09 2008
JPittleman

Alaska women and men ROCK in the USA!!! Way to go… keep on… I am with ya here in the lower 48!!! What was McCain thinking??

14 09 2008
Cruz

Please, those of you from states leaning toward McPain/Calin, please work hard to get the word out in your states. California, where I’m from, is easily going with Obama. But, the swing states are vital for Obama to get elected! Please talk to your neighbors, friends, enemies. Please do the same thing that happened in this demonstration. Please send emails to everyone and provide information as to why McPain/Calin will mean more disaster for our country, that a vote for Obama is our best hope for a better future. Please, this election is too important…….and watch those voting machines. If you suspect something, protest!!

14 09 2008
Divatalk

Intrigued,
Let me let you know just a couple of things. I am an African American female. And at the beginning of this race I just knew I would be supporting Hillary. I’ve always liked her. She’s smart, experienced, well connected and has taken a lot from all sides, both politically and personally. I knew she was no pushover.

I did not know anything about Obama and initially never gave him a second thought. Until a friend of mind asked me if I saw what happened in Iowa. Since I had not I began to take notice.

I then began to listen to him speak and it reminded me of JFK. He also began to inspire me to take action. Though Hillary was experienced, Obama motivated me to get involved.

From that point forward I began to look more closely at both candidates. My observation became this:

After each debate I followed I realized that they both had the same agenda. For most of their policies they were identical only with a few variations. Hillary appeared to be a little more centric when it came to foreign policy and how to deal with terriorism and she did vote for the war. Other than that I sumized that it would come down to who do you like as person and not their politics.

For me it was a very difficult choice because either way it was historic, which I found terrific.

However for me at the end of the day, I had to remember my parents and grandparents and what they went through. And that even though I am a women, as an African American women, it was twice as hard.

As you mentioned, people do vote for someone they can Identify with. However recognize that if I did not believe Obama was capable, He would not have my vote.

HE is not the first Black man to ever run for President. And Hillary is not the only female to have run. Shirley Chisholm ran in 1972 (Black woman) and Jessie Jackson ran in 1984 and 1988. There would have been no way in the world I would have ever voted for Jessie Jackson however he did get more votes for nomination than anyone ever thought. Also Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 Vice President.

So this is not the last chance. However there is a since of pride for African American to know since we this close, there may be a cold day in hell that we would ever get this chance again. There is a since of urgency.

Just like it is with women. But don’t in your wildest imagination believe that we are voting for Obama ‘just because he is black”. Since Black are overwhelmingly Democrats, we have always voted for a white person because we had no choice. This time we Do.

To go from No choice, to CHOICE, who would not stand behind that. Unlike popular opinion, we (Blacks and women) are not stupid but when you are given a choice of equal substance, we do as most humans do, what we believe is best for us

14 09 2008
Alice

OK, I am going to try this again

I have asked this a couple of time and I have yet to get a response. I think that I must be missing something…so please someone. Set me straight!

When will Palins connections to the AIP be reported? It is clear that the political choices that she has made support both small minded evangelist’s values and a secessionist’s philosophy. Of course she went after the republicans system…she is not really one of them. There is damning evidence that she and her husband are both a traitors and an infiltrators!

The rally was truly a wonderful moment…There were a lot of great signs, but I wondered why I did not see any signs concerning the AIP. Is it a dead topic?

14 09 2008
Harley

He is working on it right now Proud

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

Glenn2008 (04:32:44) :

Watch the video of the corwd. Impressive.



Wow, that’s an impressive crowd, especially for Alaska. It looked to me to be more than 1,400 people, but that’s the count the organizers came up with.

Good work!

14 09 2008
Alaskan Woman

Thank you to Mudflats for everything. I’d go crazy without you! I feel so isolated in this small Red Alaska town! Also, a huge thank you to the brave and wonderful women who organized the Anti Palin rally. I hope other states follow this incredible example. Please somebody, tell me how to get in contact with those organizers. I live 3 hours from Anchorage, but I will travel, send moola, or do anything else I can do to support them.

I too think if Barack came here it would help to energize women all over the country.

14 09 2008
Paula

For those in Florida: This article may come in helpful.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/14/71953/5266/529/597461

14 09 2008
kileigh7

Nice!

It’s so wonderful to see that the people of Alaska are NOT fooled by Palin’s schtick. Thank you for those photos and all.

Now..if we could just get the rest of the country to pay attention and make an informed choice…

14 09 2008
marksmyword

The anti-Palin rally has inspired me to make another donation to the Obama/Biden campaign. Our local campaign headquarters does not have any yard signs: I bought one today (along with campaign buttons, rally signs and a t-shirt).

Go Obama/Biden!!!

14 09 2008
Sandy

Join with me believing that women are not as stupid as the male-dominated government and news media paint us! Thank goodness. I was starting to doubt my lifelong dream of visiting Alaska for an extended visit 🙂 I refuse to join in giving her any more energy. Thank you, Alaska!!!

14 09 2008
janaycore

Keep up the good work here. I’m excited to see that women in Alaska are willing to show the world that Palin for vp is definitely not a pretty face. You guys would know best.

14 09 2008
Cynthia, TX

Can you afford 8 more years of a MCCAIN/PALIN ADMINISTRATION??

aSK youself!

Spike in jobless rate for women is worst in more than 33 years

you can read about why not here

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/52399.html

14 09 2008
Marcella

thank you SO MUCH for writing this!! It give me hope, and I can’t wait to send it on to one of my friends who works for Obama here in Chicago!!! Your courage and dedication is amazing and inspiring. Gives me goosebumps, in fact!!
thanks again!

marcella

14 09 2008
Palmdale, CA

@ocliberal and others in SoCal
While many in our area are true blue, others of us live in the red hinterlands. What say we get together and see if we can raise enough interest to do our own version of the anti-Palin rally? If you’re interested, please contact me privately at stitchergini@yahoo.com. Wouldn’t it be great if we could gather a good sized group at various key intersections around in the redder parts of SoCal on different days.

14 09 2008
Wired Differently

Posting at what is probably the tail end of a long thread. My timing is always impeccable, but I had to read and wait until I had it figured out.

First, brava to the folks to had the guts to participate in the first demonstration in the country counter the Republican propaganda machine.

Next, I have been pondering what, if anything, to say to my mother, with whom I have not talked politics (by mutual agreement) in 7 years. She ventured a positive comment about SP after her RNC speech, and I had to ask her not to go there.

But we’re having dinner tonight I think I’ll ask her permission to break the silence. If she agrees, here’s what I’ll say.

Never mind the Bridge to Nowhere. Pork is a way of life in Alaska. Nothing new there.

Never mind Troopergate. Probable violation of ethics? yes. Indication of a habit of patronage and political decisions made for personal reasons? yes. Again, nothing new in the world of politics (and elsewhere). Apply the adage: It’s not the act that will get you, it’s the cover-up. With all the attention brought to the issue, she and her handlers have turned a rather minor event into a national issue. Their problem.

Never mind the evidence that her parenting skills are less than stellar. I’m a raging feminist liberal (aka socialist baby-killing maggot), yet none of my kids are pregnant, forced to decide between the army and jail, all have graduated from high school, etc.

Do mind that her running mate, John McCain, is failing physically and the odds are much higher than usual that he will not be able to serve out his term if elected, elevating her to the presidency.

Do mind the evidence that she’s guided by a fringe, fanatic religious organization that would take many of our hard-won civil liberties away from us. (censorship, anti-choice)

Do mind her shocking ignorance of the world beyond Wasilla, Alaska. (proximity to Russia notwithstanding)

Above all, Do mind that she looked America in the eye and told us blithely that we may have to go to war with Russia.

Mom, I want you to think about what that last statement means for your four grandchildren. Can you justify voting for McCain/Palin knowing that she would (unblinkingly) bring that on? You stopped smoking for the sake of having a better chance of watching your grandchildren grow up. They’re now all beautiful, eager young adults with great aspirations for their lives. Could you please consider not voting for the people who have no scruples about throwing those beautiful young lives away?

I don’t want to turn you into a liberal or convince you to share my political beliefs. I just want you to give your grandchildren a chance to live to your age.

I hope I can muster the self-control to pull this off.

14 09 2008
ds55

Is this all true? If so, the radio guy needs a kick in the rear:

“Some of Alaska’s abused women speak out against the Walt Monegan firing.
Apparently, Palin thought it was more important to fire the Top Cop over a vendetta, than to keep the only champion for abused women in the state where rape and domestic violence ranks #1. Women planning to rally against Sarah Palin were called “baby killing maggots” by radio talk show host who gave out their phone numbers over the air. The women were inundated with threatening phone calls from radio listeners. ”

I found this on oldest comments at digg.com:
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Anti_Palin_rally_draws_hundreds_in_Alaska

14 09 2008
Alaskan Women don’t like Palin « Vicarious Living Through Janene

[…] Check out the post here. […]

14 09 2008
John Henry

“@ plwalsh (07:50:54) :
re: Bloomberg Rally Crowd piece:”

Also from the Bloomberg piece here

“Senator John McCain has drawn some of the biggest crowds of his presidential campaign since adding Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to his ticket on Aug. 29. Now officials say they can’t substantiate the figures McCain’s aides are claiming.

McCain aide Kimmie Lipscomb told reporters on Sept. 10 that an outdoor rally in Fairfax City, Virginia, drew 23,000 people, attributing the crowd estimate to a fire marshal.

Fairfax City Fire Marshal Andrew Wilson said his office did not supply that number to the campaign and could not confirm it. Wilson, in an interview, said the fire department does not monitor attendance at outdoor events.”

Another confirmation denied here

“At another recent appearance, the McCain campaign boasted of 10,000 people who attended an event in Pennsylvania. Asked how aides arrived at that number, the campaign said the Secret Service provided the figures. Soon after, the Secret Service said it had done no such thing.”

14 09 2008
nancy-INDIANA

here is another video of the rally with interviews. well worth seeing:

14 09 2008
Laura

OMG! I lived in Alaska for 6 years, and take it from a woman who actually once walked in a Pride Parade of 30 people through the streets of Anchorage this turn out was really something! Makes me proud to be one of us and not one of them.

Thanks for all your work to bring us this and all the real news from the Alaskan front. I read your blog every day and it really helps keep the faith for the rest of us.
Off to work at the Missouri Obama campaign office today to make sure Missouri doesn’t swing the wrong way. 🙂

All my best to you and all the Mudflatters out there.

14 09 2008
MissSue aka Barrel McRaven Palin

swineprincess (10:01:09) :

ohhh… Payette Gals this needs to get out. WingNuts Untie (er) Unite! WingNuts against Palin!!!!! Maybe you have found your calling!

Now there’s a thought! WingNuts Against Palin. I like it! I’ve got 5 Obama-voting Red Wing Fans in my home that are ready to join that group!

lol @ WingNuts Untie…

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

hi all- (hamlet..)
regarding mclaughlins erroneous assertions:

the bush doctrine is an addition to along stream of “doctrines” in our history. each one is a response to the previous, either in departing from its premise, or adding to it.
remember the Monroe Doctrine? says we can mess in the affairs of anyone in our hemisphere. it was a response to european powers meddling in south and central america, and the response of a young country that saw the dangers of pressure from the outside. remember, there were a lot of different interests that were in conflict. agriculture in the south, manufacturing in the north. the civil war wasn’t about slavery as much as divergent economic interests in totality.
the roosevelt correlary added an economic dimension in order to blunt european aid and expanding trade to our neighbors. This one also is the beginning of the basis of expansion of the presidency, leading right up to our imperial exec we got now. each one built on the previous to some extent.
we all heard about the Powell doctrine, a reaction (thus a departure and shift) to miscalculation of our abilities to use war as a solution. I think on the wiki page there is a timeline of doctrines at the bottom.
The Bush doctrine says pre-emptive war is ok. based in the philosophy of the neo-cons, it plays on the “OPPORTUNITY” that the “end” of the cold war presents to the united states. there has been NO departure of this from Bush, Inc. There has been plenty of diplomatic backpedaling, and loads of infighting between the signatories to the PNAC. Their theories proved untenable, but they aren’t willing to give up the notion of hegemonic world power. all this wedge-issue and culture stuff is marketing and distraction. cheney and his ilk truly believe their theory is still correct. dominate or be dominated. thats how they see it.
so mclaughlin is a pundit, and i don’t care if he knows or doesn”t know BASIC tenets of first-year college poly-sci. But, in order to make those “unblinking” decisions, one should have a strong basis of knowledge as to how these forces operate and conflict with one another. The mere idea that one could learn a bunch of policy one-liners with one perspective and posess NO depth of understanding and run this country is LUDICROUS.
john mclaughlin flat out LIED.
jeez, can ya believe they would DO such a thing? in-credible.

14 09 2008
Valhalla

Have you ever wondered about the source for all the SP myths? Today’s ADN de-bunks some of those myths: didn’t score winning point in championship game; helped her father dress a moose, but couldn’t hold the eyeballs; the backcourt mate of SP never heard of the nickname ‘Sarah Barracuda’, “I don’t know if anyone actually called her that.”; her coach thinks she might have picked it up at a basketball camp.
These myths are on the scale of George Washington and the cherry tree.

http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/525556.html

14 09 2008
judi

Wired, very thought provocating….Thanks for sharing:)

14 09 2008
judi

thought provoking, that is!

14 09 2008
fixthebroken

WIred Differently,
I have the same problem with my Mother. I think you just inspired me to go at her. If I show her that video of the aerial hunting (have you seen it), she would get sick to her stomach. And that would be a good thing.

14 09 2008
Alice

Wired Differently,

Good post! I think that we need to focus on her crazy connections with fringe groups as well. Both the AIP and the Pentecostal teachings. She is a scary woman because she does not blink and she does not think. She is acting according to “god plan”

If elected (god forbid), she will most likely be presidint due to McCains declining health.

Good luck discussing this with your mom….perhaps this link will help

heres an idea…begin your talk by pretending that you are born again and have finally seen the light…might be fun.

14 09 2008
CRFlats

(Went thru withdrawal symptoms ’cause I couldn’t get to my computer till today).

THANK YOU ALASKA GIRLFRIENDS!! YOU MAKE ME SOOOO PROUD!

After the SNL opening skit, and now this, I face the week renewed and ready again to take on the right wing-nuts.

Thank you thank you thank you, my Sistas!

14 09 2008
Harley

My brother-in -law lives in Topanga
He tells me that ” the hairdo ” is the number one requested haircut and style in California the last three weeks.

His wife is a stylist and permanent make-up person.
( for lack of a better term )

Why in the name of God’s green apples would anyone want
that silly hairstyle?

Are Americans really trying to backwards in time?

14 09 2008
MinNJ

This is just thrilling! How deliciously wonderful…and the polar bear was just the right touch! Thank you all for this. ‘You make me so very happy, I’m so glad you came into my life…’

UK Lady: Pravda said what I think and feel. Many thanks for the link…sending it to others who need to hear it unvarnished like that. Whoo-hoo!
Moose Roadster Palin

14 09 2008
John Henry

@Alice (10:53:30) :
“OK, I am going to try this again re: AIP”

The problem with this Alice is Democratic strategists rarely if ever insinuate that their opponent is traitor. That’s a Republican strategist’s job. They’ll be mum on AIP. But, I bet you alot of Repubs are talking quietly about it.

14 09 2008
amybean

this story is #1 on reddit at the moment:

http://www.reddit.com/toplinks

14 09 2008
no more

The worm turns. New York Times -most read- top seven articles are good assessments of Palin (finally) and her candidacy. No smears, no dirt, just the truth. Just sorry that the Anchorage Anti-Palin rally hasn’t gotten more press. Thanks Mudflats for getting it “out there”.

14 09 2008
DonnaFL

I saw the posts about ABC radio saying 10,000 people were at the pro-palin’s rally and wanted to call them (ABC) out on the lie, so I sent this to ABC News using their feedback line on abc.com:

Saturday in Anchorage, more people (1500+) showed up at the outdoor anti-Palin rally than at the indoor pro-Palin rally (<1000). ABC News, you need to report the facts, not more made-up attendance lies.

Link to abcnews feedback page: http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3052660

If it doesn’t work, just click on “feedback” at the bottom of the abcnews home page. No account or sign in necessary to send feedback but you do have to give an email address since ABC sends back a “thank you for your comment” email.

14 09 2008
MissSue aka Barrel McRaven Palin

Wired Differently,

I think the talking points you mention will be thought provoking for your mom. Especially the ‘quit smoking’ point. A lot of people need a little prodding to think outside of their own interests. I have no doubt you will give your mom something to think about.

14 09 2008
MN reader

Thank you, Alaska Women!! And thank you Mudflats for a fantastic blog that I now read every day. We here in another far north state, MN, are stunned by Palin and rooting for Obama with all our hearts.

14 09 2008
Jackie Lee

Oh YES! This shows the world the beautiful, strong, independent Alaskans I LOVE! Alaskans I know are the antithesis of the phony, craven, manipulative, ambition-addled Palin.

I teared up when I saw you gorgeous folks up there making us all proud. THANK YOU!

14 09 2008
asenath1az

Quote from Mudflats – Home page:
“I am also fortunate to count as my friends some of those who hold elected office in this state, and remind me by example that there are good people out there in our state and city government who are intelligent, diligent, ethical, and working hard for the best interest of Alaska.”

So my question would be , “Are some of your friends, who hold elected office in your state starting a personal Jihad against the Republican VP?” “Are some of those personal friends Democrats working for Obama?”
It was reported today on FOXNEWS that Obama has $66,000,000.00 to spend on the campaign. Wonder if some of that payroll is filtering into Alaska…
LOL! We don’t do “jihad” here. I think Les Gara did a pretty good summary in his poste here about how Alaskans feel when being accused of that. Funny that the Legislature who voted to investigate her (unanimously I might add) is dominated by Republicans. Nice try. NEXT!

14 09 2008
Jane

Bravo to the Alaskans who can think for themselves. If what is at stake for this country was not so dire, this Palin selection would actually be comical! However, what is at stake is so dire that many who love this country are outraged by Senator McCain. I am one of them, and I am a republican who will be voting for Obama/Biden in November. What is clear is Senator McCain did not put country first with this selection, the MSM must keep up the pressure for truth and truth only, Palin is not qualified for the VP job, let alone the President’s job! They must be pressured into stopping their stupid, pathetic talking points! I am a republican and I am not taking the bait, and neither are the majority of friends, they see straight through the lies and yes, the hate. It is hard to actually believe that this is the McCain of 2000! Another point of interest, he is 72 years old, lets face facts, 72 is old and when you add in his health conditions the situation goes from urgent to an absolute emergency! His health records must be released, in full, without condition! Running for the presidency is a choice, when you make the choice certain things become public information, including your health! Stop the spin this is serious business. Women, please do not be sidetracked, stay on the issues, and only the issues! We are not stupid, the world functions because of us! I am so proud of the Alaskans!

14 09 2008
Alice

Thanks John Henry,

It still seems like a legit talking point that her actions as a so-called reformer a due to her affiliations with this fringe party…not because she is so ethical and courageous.

@harly.

It is hideous hair style! I just hope that I can find a nice wig and some Tina Faye glasses to wear on Halloween

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

‘it was reported on FOX news”

hahahahahahahha
lololololol
yeah, right.

14 09 2008
Aafke

I really enjoyed reading an Alaskan blog on this issue, I have linked from my own blog.

14 09 2008
Harley

lmao @ Alice

and @ asenath1az

faux news ? are you kidding?

you just made my day.

14 09 2008
Cassie aka Jeep Pike Palin

Alice

“When will Palins connections to the AIP be reported? It is clear that the political choices that she has made support both small minded evangelist’s values and a secessionist’s philosophy.”

I think that an Alaskan would be better qualified to answer this question. My own thoughts on it are these:

Alaskans feel very far removed from the lower 48 (49) and in many respects, that is why they have chosen to live in Alaska. This, of course does not necessarily include the indigenous tribes, but primarily the “new Alaskans”, after 1958.

Remember also that after 50 years of being exploited by the lower 48(49) for the purposes of military (the old cold war) and energy policies, Alaskans probably feel entitled to earmarks, since without such earmarks, fiscal management of their state economy would require things like state taxes, something most of us in the lower 48(49) take for granted, and that most Alaskans would be against instituting and giving back the yearly check they receive from the state.

I’m not sure that I wouldn’t be tempted to support, at least ideologically, the AIP, if I were an Alaskan.

It’s a narrow line between “I wish we were not part of the U.S.” and actually proposing and implementing a decision to make it so.

As with all of us who visit this website, it is all of us who comprise the whole of the United States as well.

Further, I would not want to bear the responsibility of pushing Alaskans into a secession vote, would you? There are surely places in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and other parts of our nation who feel “far away” and “removed” from the US. Hell, I feel that way and I’m only a few hours away from Washington.

Rather than further divide people with the secessionist topic, we should be concentrating on uniting our government so that all of us feel more involved in it, not less.

I, personally would not want to be responsible for stirring that particular pot, would you?

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

Who lives in Minnesota? this is definitely a group you need to reach out to:

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/28368614.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

If you need help, let me know as I think I can help answer many of the questions these young people may have. My son has been pulling together a draft email for some of his friends since this is their first election. It is pretty eye-opening. This generation is very civic-minded. They want to do something positive for the world and leave a distinct legacy. I don’t think War has anything to do with it.

Let me know how I can help you guys in MN>….

14 09 2008
DeAnne

This is fabulous, thanks so much for putting all this up!

14 09 2008
Harley

Oh and please take the ” jihad “ reference right back to where it belongs,
The Republican Party and your precious ” Faux News ”

We do not speak hate here.

14 09 2008
ranmon

Awesome pics!! Here I am thinking “well I guess by default Palin gets Alaska.”

14 09 2008
bethincary

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO very proud of you and your fellow Alaskans mudflats.

From THE View-to all of you- women want the glass ceiling shattered and know that Palin is not the woman to represent them….
This Presidential nomination should be about who is best to lead the country/the best choice for a future for our kids…
On that, it’s very clear—Vote Obama.

So proud of you guys/gals!
Keep us updated..
great work.

14 09 2008
Wired Differently

Alice and others,

Thank you for your responses. The funny thing is, my mom is not a church go-er, and is not a social conservative. (So she’d be very suspicious of me being born again. 🙂

I’ve been inspired by horsewoman Anne, who lives near me btw, to try to open dialog with ‘the other side’. Living in a blue enclave, I actually don’t know many Republicans besides my parents. And my dad is a whole other matter. As a WWII vet who saw some pretty horrific things in the Pacific, he’s no fan of a war president.

Back to my postcard writing. I got cards that show the mountains of my state, hoping the recipients will think they’re Alaska :P.

14 09 2008
Dave McLane

Such a great story I put a photo, a teaser and a link to it on BarackObama http://tinyurl.com/6hrx2d and one on AZCentral http://tinyurl.com/66p92h

There’s a story on AZCentral about the Grand Opening of Democratic Arizona Headquarters in Phoenix http://tinyurl.com/4g669o The same story is also on OMNI (Oh My News International) in Seoul http://tinyurl.com/3vsa7z

Wish I was in Alaska, sounds like fun!

14 09 2008
Iaato

I was at the rally. It was very purging and validating. I suggest that for all of the women in the lower 49 who are inspired by this, that it is time to coordinate a rally for Obama in your own neck of the woods. Do you really want this woman standing on your shoulders?

14 09 2008
Bellaboo

Just found this – I think we should deluge them with emails- disgusting.

http://www.obamawaffles.com/pages/about_us.html

14 09 2008
Alice

Cassie,

It is not that I am against the AIP…I am sure that there are a lot of mixed feelings there and some legitimate concerns. What bothers me is that Palin has taken on this mantle of a reformer when she is nothing but an infiltrator.

I do appreciate your answer though…because it has been driving me crazy, not being a talking point. And so now I will drop it.

Thanks

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
Harley

re; Obama Waffles

I just sent one

gonna grab me one of my other emails and send another too

will do it all day long even if I have to create new email addys

14 09 2008
Anti-palin Rally Biggest In Alaska History–mudflats - Sarah Palin | Sarah Palin - Sharpy News

[…] AKMuckraker @ Mudflats: Basically, in Anchorage, if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it’s a success…. […]

14 09 2008
Bellaboo

Thanks, Harley. I am distributing the website around to over 70 active Dems in Sandwich,Ma-

14 09 2008
John Henry

Karl Rove: McCain Ads Fail ‘100% Truth Test’

Rove had to do this because the ‘lipstick on a pig ‘ sexism accusation was the ‘one lie too many’. It even had newly diehard John McCain backers, like Phyllis Schlafly, thinking, ‘Ok John you lost me there’. This is an attempt to get supporters back onto the same page by admitting that obvious misstep.

But then we still have video – ha ha! kryptonite for the fact-repellant, blindly-loyal, lizard brains – of McCain standing by his sexism accusation telling Barbara Walters ‘Obama chooses his words carefully. OK’..

14 09 2008
dorkdestroyer » Blog Archive » awesome photos from ‘alaskan woman reject palin’ rally!

[…] link to source. Filed under: Uncategorized […]

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

@Harley: Oh and please take the ” jihad “ reference right back to where it belongs,
The Republican Party and your precious ” Faux News ”

We do not speak hate here.

SHOUT OUT FOR HARLEY! 🙂

Republicans – In case you have forgotten, Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE and was proclaimed as such by Isaiah and other prophets.

Jesus preaches to help those less fortunate, the poor, the meek, the oppressed – ALL PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY MR. OBAMA AND PROPOSED TO BE CUT BY MR. MCCAIN.

Paul warns against false prophets in Colossians and reminds us to focus on doing good deeds and not falling for those who predict the end of times – it’s a mighty good read for the Extreme Right who is preaching people start Armageddon by bombing Iraq as God says only HE knows the end of days.

I’ll end with Titus 3:9:

“….Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels above the law, because they are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person one, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful, and he is self-condemned.”

SORRY, but the self-righteous bigotry has to stop – quit trying to incite and look inside your own house – the attempt to start a jihad is in there, not here.

14 09 2008
nancy-INDIANA

Just found this – I think we should deluge them with emails- disgusting.

http://www.obamawaffles.com/pages/about_us.html
______________________________________________________
thanks bellaboo, but my advice is NOT to go to this site because we don’t want to give them any hits. basically it is waffle mix with a really racists cartoon depiction of Obama-disgusting. here is the email if you want to send your disapproval:
CustomerService@obamawaffles.com

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian

14 09 2008
DownInMississippi aka Jeep Pike

Alice about the AIP:

Only now is some of the basic info coming out about Palin through the MSM. Thanks to Mudflats, I learned about AIP early on.

In the meantime, what we can do is follow the lead of DeMo, Proud2B, and so many others: send a youtube link to people you know of Palin addressing the AIP 2008 convention, along with the youtube link of clips from the membership meeting for the AIP and beliefs from the founder of AIP, Volger/Vogler.

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

Sorry y’all, I just can’t stand it sometimes. All these self-righteous people taking pock shots in the name of religion and trying to incite hate.

14 09 2008
In the Land of Disbelief

Thanks for the photos Ms. Mflats. I had to leave the rally after 2 hours, but left my sign there. I was happy to see it in your photos the hands of someone else, but not the person I gave it to. Our message lives beyond us.

14 09 2008
TheBad

When did Alaskans start wearing this many clothes for a day like this. A lot of these people are dress like they are from the lower 48.

14 09 2008
Marsha

Thank you for sharing that! From what the mainstream media is saying it seems like everyone just loves this woman and I’ve been so confused as I see nothing about her I like.

14 09 2008
SarahLee

This Texan now living in South Dakota just wanted to drop by and say thanks – links to your blog are everywhere.

Your action gives us some hope after stories like these:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003849746

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/11/215330/858/425/595547

http://firedoglake.com/2008/09/08/the-new-von-spakovsky-voter-suppression-crusade-absentee-ballots/

http://www.newsweek.com/id/158392

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=8987833

http://www.jsonline.com/watch?watch=1&date=9/13/2008&id=46119

http://filthyrag.com/blog/2008/09/michigan-republicans-use-foreclosures-to-eliminate-black-voters/

They are going to do everything they can to steal this election – time is short and there is a great deal of work to do.

Bless you all for standing up!

14 09 2008
no more

Juneau Empire today. Uncle Ted Stevens on Gov Sarah’s positive impact to his senate campaign. So much for reforming the “good-ole boy network. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091408/sta_332203850.shtml

14 09 2008
whabs

nancy-INDIANA (09:14:26) :

I cried when i read this. THANK YOU ALL so much!

I’ve been crying for the last three or four threads. It feels good huh? Frightening! Hopeful! Empowering! Amazing! I knew there were people like this out there!

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

if you are not on this list -copy- paste -and add your name and state!!
no to palin no to palin no to palin
Yes Alaskan women Yes Alaskan women!!!!!!!

14 09 2008
Casbah

Mudflats, et al.: Hi, I’m Casbah (my handle on the Huffington Post, too). Thanks so much for sharing this on The Huffington Post. It does my bleeding liberal NY heart good to see there are some people up in Alaska that aren’t fooled by the Mean Girl administration of Sarah Palin — or as we like to call her in our circle of friends, the Northern Nazi in Nylons. My favorite signs: “Vote Issues, Not Lipstick”; “Hey, Hockey Mom — Keep the Puck Out of DC”; and “We Can’t BEAR Palin!” Bravo to you all for braving the ill winds of your nemesis, conservative talk show host Eddie Burke, and speaking truth to power. Bravo!

14 09 2008
Cary

Awesome!!! This makes me so proud of our Alaskan brothers and sisters! -C

14 09 2008
spincycle

This is wonderful for those of us in the lower 48 to hear!

14 09 2008
OB Rag Blog » Palin Will Never be America’s ‘EveryWoman’

[…] what the AKMuckracker from the Mudflats blog called “the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state,” citizens took to the streets in Anchorage Alaska to show how they feel about Sarah Palin, […]

14 09 2008
blankslatestl

Thanks for this info and the pics! As one from the heartland of the lower 48, I can say I couldn’t be happier to find your blog! We all knew there had to be more to the fawning story of All Alaskans Adore Palin mantra spread by the right!

I put a link to Mudflats on my new election 08 blog: http://blankslatestl.blogspot.com

14 09 2008
Barb Haynes

Going to keep an eye on your site you have some interesting views on the state of American politics. A lot of us down here in Australia follow your politics because what happens over there affects us down here. Good to see some different views on Sarah Pallin.
http://tibchar12.wordpress.com

14 09 2008
GiGi

I posted a couple video’s on my blog about the rally..
I love you Muck, but you are getting so crowded since I started reading I don’t have time to read all of the comments anymore.
As Martha would say.,

“Thats a good thing”

14 09 2008
Cassie aka Jeep Pike Palin

Tried to post this earlier and it went astray:

Alaskan women and their supportive men have lifted my spirits today. Their courage to gather together is inspiring.

Much as I would thank you, and I do, I know that you share a secret that becomes a part of you forever.

Think back to your rally and each of you will remember a moment, maybe only a fraction of a second…when you felt the earth…shift…ever so slightly..to a more centered position.

In that moment, you became more than empowered…you became ENLIGHTENED…and that is the secret you all share with each other and the one that you have allowed us, here, to witness.

Jeep Pike Palin (but I wish I were Jeep Trout Palin, Pike makes me feel like I’m constantly diving instead of swimming!)

14 09 2008
Mollys Mum

DowninMississippi you are hysterical. I have copied your post and sent it to a bunch of friends. LOLOL

14 09 2008
UK lady

MinNJ Glad you liked the link – scary or what! for anyone who missed it I posted it at 5.06 ish. Well worth a look even if it is non pc.

14 09 2008
Tracy

Makes me proud to be a woman! Thank you for protesting and for putting your pictures up. I used one and linked to your blog.

14 09 2008
VetTheVeep

Amused Bewildered – 10,000 at pro Palin rally??….I wasn’t sure who was on ABC Talk Radio so I Googled it. Rush Limbaugh is one. ABC News website doesn’t have anything about 10,000 people at rally. I can’t imagine a Mudflatter was listening to him. So what show were you listening to?
If you Google Palin Alaska Rally …the 1st page is full of the anti palin rally.
Don’t want to pass this on or email ABC (DonnaFL) if its not true or verifiable.
But if it is…….

14 09 2008
DownInMississippi aka Jeep Pike

asenath1az, I just put your name in the baby selector, your Palin baby name is Rovian Troll. (Didn’t I do that yesterday with BobbyLee?)

Harley: Ha Ha — “take your jihad and stick it where the light don’t shine”

(Ok, so I know you didn’t say that, but I just felt like adding a little spin to it.)

Proud2B: once again, good!

JohnHenry, you said something a while back that I liked but at this point, my head is spinning, I can’t keep up, and I really have to do something else today besides mudflats

14 09 2008
Cassie aka Jeep Pike Palin

*^#%$!!

Sorry, can’t seem to post how you wonderful Alaskan women and the men who support you make me feel. Failed to post, again.

Let me just say, then, GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

14 09 2008
Jean

walk on and rock on, Alaskan women! thank you for keeping us all up to date…

14 09 2008
UK lady

Sorry everybody – posted at 6.04 – my brains all blogged up.

14 09 2008
Harley

How can I get my name on the Shout Out List?

14 09 2008
John Henry

@Alice (11:26:34) :

“It still seems like a legit talking point that her actions as a so-called reformer a due to her affiliations with this fringe party…not because she is so ethical and courageous.”

I think that would go the route of the Trig being Bristols son story. Too much speculation without enough documentation. There are enough examples with compelling, documented evidence to prove the reformer claim is just as hollow as all the other ones.

1.) Bridge To Nowhere. She didnt say thanks but no thanks. She shot a dead fish in a barrel and still tried to claim the prize for the biggest and bestest marlin catch.
2.) Is she gonna diss Ted Stevens and not support him for his re-election campaign? Don Young don’t count! Its obvious why she ain’t backing him.
3.) Her spending as mayor and as governor gives new meaning to the term ‘fiscal conservative’.

The list grows everyday.

14 09 2008
DownInMississippi aka Jeep Pike

Cassie aka Jeep Pike,

You asked yesterday: yes, sister we are twins! I guess we know where we were conceived–must have been God’s plan!

14 09 2008
more cowbell

Delurking to give a sincere thank you to those Alaskans at the rally — I once lived in a small town (midwest) and know that it’s a risk for many of you to publicly take that stand. Thank you.

Mudflats – thank you for getting the truth out there before the media does.

You all are making a difference …

14 09 2008
karen marie

i loved the reporting back from both the rally and the demonstration, i loved the still photographs of the demonstrators, but i am greatly heartened by the video.

to be able to see and hear people motivated to publicly stand up against the mccain-palin farce gives me hope of a new day.

i’m just sorry that the film ran out before the length and breadth of the entire demonstration could be seen.

thank you alaskans!

14 09 2008
Mudflats: Alaska Women Reject Palin - Huge Rally « GOV GAP . com

[…] ‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE! […]

14 09 2008
Ed Kohler

Thanks for the great coverage. Much appreciated. I wish I could have been there.

14 09 2008
mvngfwd

Hey, I want on the Shout Out list too! Does being here since “P” day give me enough street cred?

14 09 2008
Presbyterian Gal

Linky Linky. Thanks.

14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

Hillary LIVE ON CNBC.

14 09 2008
GiGi

I keep reading about MSM..what is it??

14 09 2008
infactyou'resoakinginit

TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!! Wow. I’m sitting here with tears running down my face. All those ORIGINAL signs! Every one different (not to put too fine a point on it). These are clearly ALL heartfelt sentiments. THANK YOU AKM for making the effort and spending the shoeleather to get us these FANTASTIC pictures. CHANGE IS GONNA’ COME!

14 09 2008
Harley

@ proud tobusa

grab your picsHerefor the avatars.
I assume you now how to use Gravatar for WordPress
If not, I will help you.

14 09 2008
David

Main Stream Media = MSM

14 09 2008
14 09 2008
Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat

@Harley –

OMG – I just fell off my chair!!!!! LMAO. OMG.

I don’t know how to use WordPress. What do I do now?

THANK YOU {{{{{{{{{{{hugs to you and your hubby}}}}}}}}}}}

14 09 2008
GiGi

Thanks David….

14 09 2008
Laughing No Longer...

somebody here posted that their dad in nevada was deeply disturbed by the AIP story.
i wonder if he still is
and
i say use whatever works.

theres a lot of talk amongst the pundits that the Bush Doctrine question was unfair to poor little scarah,
nobody commented on my doctrine post (sorry i’m a bad writer) but this needs to be emphasized. (see the uk lady’s gobstopping pravda article) these foreign policy notions cannot be discounted.
one cannot have a depth of understanding when all they possess are a few key-word talking points that encompass one side of a foreign relations policy. people may have felt her interview answers were a little thin, and she could learn, but they need to know why her attitude that she “knows” is deeply flawed.

14 09 2008
Patty @ OB Rag

Thanks AKMuckracker! Proud of them, proud of you, proud of us!

14 09 2008
CindyPDX

@ Silvio… I’ve mentioned HIGH PRAISE on Mudflats Blog over on Huffpo, sent an email to KO and Maddow (hopefully on Monday they will cover this) I’ve posted Mudflats blog on a few of my personal web sites. This is big.. bigger than just sharing to local media — this is a MUST SEE ON ALL MSM!

I’ve been reading Mudflats blog for well over a month… it is the only way this Oregonian was going to get any true understanding and coverage since MSM has failed us yet again.

Thank you again Mudflats! And thank you to the people of Alaska for standing up and sharing your voice! It is finally getting heard!

14 09 2008
Sunny

At no time, has such hateful, mean-spirited and cold rhetoric spoken for me. I only want to hear about the issues but have yet to hear anything useful or informative from Sarah Palin.

I’m so glad to hear she doesn’t speak for you either. Thank you so much for this post.

14 09 2008
nancy-INDIANA: a.k.a. buck shot nugent

drip, drip, drip…
thank you all for your great links!

14 09 2008
Cassie aka Jeep Pike Palin

Proud2BUSA aka Krinkle Bearcat (11:46:27) :

Oh, no, Proud2B—I, for one, loved it!

14 09 2008
timc

Would be pretty funny if the Palin choice turned into a rallying cry for woman toward Obama. Poll numbers show she pushed a lot of white woman into the Mcpander camp but as the truth comes out any moderates who came over are going to be upset for being fooled and active in support of the Dems who have maintained the high ground and did not smear Palin.

14 09 2008
Peggy Gates

From the majestic state of Colorado to the people of Spectacular Alaska – Thank You!!!

14 09 2008
The power of satire « Glad River Dispatches

[…] also stumbled across this blog entry (with lots of pictures) about the large No Palin protest in […]

14 09 2008
ocliberal

I received an email from an old high school friend today with this marvelous commentary by Eva Ensler (‘The Vagina Monologues’ author)

It is a must read for all women (and men) but so clearly
Link Here:
<a href”http://socalmuchacha.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/eve-ensler-on-sarah-palin/ ” Eve Ensler on Sarah Palin

I am having Sarah Palin nightmares.

I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears.

Maybe it’s their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one.

Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice.

Whatever it is, I need the polar bears.

I don’t like raging at women.

14 09 2008
Harley

proud
first to to http://wordpress.com/signup/

just sign up for a USERNAME ( * unless you want a blog of course )

after you do that, just go to http://en.gravatar.com/

sign up
then upload the avatar, and crop it

Voila you will now have your own avatar when posting

14 09 2008
ocliberal

I really am not good with the linking – Let me try again….
Eve Ensler on Sarah Palin

14 09 2008
Palmdale, CA

Those of you who know moderate Repubs or independently-minded voters, especially folks who are old enough to remember John Dean from Watergate days… This might a good conversation starter.
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/

Dean writes a column for FindLaw. He has also written a number of books recently on the current state of affairs. A quote from his book “Broken Government” sticks in my mind. I’d quote it directly, but my copy is out on loan. The upshot is that a fellow survivor of the Nixon admin, whose son held a position in the current one, remarked that the Republicans shouldn’t be trusted to any position in government, even that of dog-catcher. They had no interest in governing, just in winning elections. A similar sentiment was expressed by a McCain spokesman when questioned about the caliber of recent ads.

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona
14 09 2008
Andy

And where was this held? NBC studios?

14 09 2008
Palmdale, CA

For any SoCal folks who tried my yahoo.com addy, it’s now back and reactivated. Sorry for the confusion. Please try again at stitchergini@yahoo.com

14 09 2008
J T

Egads Bellaboo! Yes, I agree, disgusting. Nothing like embracing racism.

14 09 2008
asenath1az

I have been voting for 32 years. registered Republican 19 years, then felt my political views had shifted so now I’m a registered Democrate, have been for the last 13 years. There still are some of us women out there who have been on the PTO, involved in community service, believe in God, hunt elk, love the outdoors, have husbands who are supportive of our careers, live with teenagers, that are ambitious. I feel you are wasting too much time on your vigilante Republican Jihad against Sarah Palin. I’ve followed her career since she became governor. I like her! Maybe it’s because I can relate to her because I grew up in a small town in the mountains of Wyoming or “maybe” it’s because I have researched her policies and dug deep into McCain’s issues. I believe they can take on the SOCIALISTIC trend the Democrats are promising, we are a Democracy. I also live in Arizona, have lived here 21 years, followed McCain policies those 21 years.
Let’s just say this Democrate, come November, won’t be voting the Obama ticket!

So Democrats in Alaska please respond to this:

Press Release – For Immediate Release: – 09/04/08
SERVICE OF LAWSUIT CHALLENGING SENATOR OBAMA’S RIGHT TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE DOES NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS HAS BEEN COMPLETED
Contact information at the end of this press release.
Documents filed with the court and a copy of this press release can be downloaded at the end of this press release.
(Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania – 09/04/08) – Philip J. Berg, Esquire, the Attorney who filed suit against Barack H. Obama challenging Senator Obama’s eligibility to serve as President of the United States, has received confirmation from his Process Service Company that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Senator Barack Obama were served today, September 4, 2008, with the legal documents pertaining to Berg vs. Obama, Civil Action No. 08-cv-4083.
The DNC was served at 12:00 p.m. and Senator Obama was served at 1:00 p.m. The U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted service on behalf of the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) on or about August 22, 2008.

Democratic Convention…brought to you by Corporate America!
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WorldNews/popup?id=5652277&contentIndex=1&page=1&start=false
Reporter pushed around…he was investigating lobbyists at the DNC
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5670682
Lobbyists and loopholes at the DNC…ABC’s “The Money Trail”
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5665854

What’s behind the Obama healthcare program..let’s look at the facts

Obama is holding firm to his party’s commitment to full government control — but doing all he can to hide this fact from the public.
That may turn out to be easier said than done. Obama is already on record pledging his allegiance to a single-payer approach, like those now operating in Canada and the United Kingdom. But Obama now says that his apparent 2003 endorsement of a government takeover, captured on a video that was posted on YouTube, was a misunderstanding. What he really meant, he now says, is that if the U.S. were starting from scratch, he would favor a single-payer plan. But since we aren’t starting over, he wants to build on the current employer-based system, not replace it.
That would be reassuring to millions of swing voters who want reform but don’t want to lose their job-based plans — if it were true. But in health care, the devil really is in the details. And despite Obama’s rhetoric and protestations, his plan would destroy employer-based insurance, not preserve it, by pricing it out of business and subsidizing government-run alternatives. That would put the country on a fast track to government-run health care for everyone.
It’s not hard to see how this would unfold. The Obama plan is built on four interrelated provisions. First, he would impose on all employers a new “pay or play” mandate. Businesses would be forced to either offer coverage and pay a substantial portion of the premium or else pay a tax to the federal government. Second, he would create a new national insurance exchange, through which uninsured Americans and others who don’t have employer-based insurance would get their coverage. The government would dictate what would and would not be covered by the insurance offered through the exchange. Third, he would include among its offerings a new, government-run insurance option. And fourth, he would offer expensive new subsidies to offset the premiums for millions of low- to moderate-income households that get their insurance through the exchange.
The fallout from such a plan is entirely predictable. Under “pay or play,” employers would find it increasingly attractive to drop their company-sponsored plans in favor of paying the tax. The tax, after all, would be based on wages, not health care, and wage growth has lagged far behind health-care cost inflation for more than three decades. Over time, without other reforms, paying the tax would almost certainly be less expensive for most businesses than organizing coverage themselves. And with the government making other options available, employers would finally be able to drop their insurance plans without simply abandoning their workers.
As more and more employers chose to “pay” instead of “play,” millions of workers would be pushed into the national insurance exchange, where they would, in theory, have a choice between private insurance and the new, publicly run option. Obama and other Democrats like to say this structure would foster healthy competition between the public and private sectors. But this would not be real, market-style competition. The government would run the new, public insurance option just as it runs Medicare and Medicaid, with plenty of price controls and cost shifting. Doctors and hospitals would have no choice but to accept the government-dictated fees imposed by a federal bureaucracy. These below-market fees would allow the public option to charge premiums considerably lower than those charged by private insurers. And with these artificially low premiums, the public insurance option would become the de facto plan of choice for millions of workers. A recent analysis of an Obama-like plan projected 40 million new enrolle
es in the public option in Year One. That would be like doubling the size of Medicare — overnight.
Once the plan had been set in motion, the momentum toward a full government takeover would be impossible to reverse. Congress would have every incentive to cut doctor and hospital fees further, to control the costs of the new insurance subsidies promised by Obama. It would not be long before private insurers, lacking this ability to control their costs by fiat, abandoned the marketplace entirely.
…This is what ObamaCare would mean for U.S. consumers. It would vastly expand costs and government control, even as Medicare and Medicaid already threaten to push the federal budget deficit to dangerous levels. If most of the country is enrolled in publicly sponsored insurance, as the Obama plan implies, fiscal reality will push Congress to adopt ever more draconian cost-control measures. It will only be a matter of time before stories start circulating, as they do in other countries, of months-long waits for treatment, and of care denied to patients who fall outside formal or informal “guidelines” for providing services.

And what about your candidates slant on equal pay for women…

By CASEY B. MULLIGAN, The Wall Street Journal
September 13, 2008
Article Excerpt:
Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joseph Biden have proclaimed that they favor equal pay for women, and have alleged that Republicans do not. Sen. Biden has also insisted that Republicans, including vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, represent a step backwards for women. The economic record says exactly the opposite.
I have used labor market data from the Census Bureau to study the amount and reasons for women’s progress in the labor market since the 1960s. One byproduct of my study is a calculation of women’s relative wage growth by presidential administration.
In 1980 — the last full year of the Jimmy Carter administration — the typical woman (older than school age, but younger than retirement age) working full time throughout the year earned 38.5% less per hour than did the typical man in the same age bracket working full time throughout the year. When women earn less per hour than men — even in full-time work — that is known as the gender wage gap. When the gender wage gap narrows, women’s wages have grown relative to men’s.
The gender wage gap was 38.6% in 1976, the last full year of the Gerald Ford administration. By this measure, women made only infinitesimal progress toward equal wages during the four Carter years; women’s wages were essentially stagnant relative to men’s. In 1988, the last full year of the Ronald Reagan administration, women working full time throughout the year earned 30.3% less per hour than did men.
A 30.3% gender wage gap is obviously not full equality. But it is much closer to equality than it was at the end of the Carter administration. Women’s wages grew almost two percentage points per year more than men’s during the Reagan years, compared to less than 0.1 percentage point more than men’s per year during the Carter years.
The nearby chart shows the results for all of the administrations since Lyndon Johnson (I pool Richard Nixon and Ford). Johnson, Carter and Bill Clinton were all Democrats, yet none of them witnessed much labor market progress for women during their administrations. Essentially all of the labor-market progress for women occurred during Republican administrations: eight years of Reagan, four years of George H.W. Bush, and six years of George W. Bush (I do not yet have the data for the last two years of the current administration).
By 2006, the gender wage gap had narrowed to 21%. The Nixon-Ford administrations were the only Republican administrations that failed to witness significant reduction in the gender wage gap during their terms.
Sen. Obama says that he wants equal pay for women. If the historical record is any guide, the best way to achieve this is to work for a labor market that creates opportunities for women like it did during the Reagan and the Bush years. At the Reagan-Bush years’ pace, the gender wage gap in 2016 would be down to about 12%. At the Carter-Clinton years’ pace, women will not see new opportunities, and the gender pay gap will be essentially where it is today.

and don’t forget…

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress – 2nd Session as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 6304 )
Vote Number: 168 Vote Date: July 9, 2008, 02:47 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Bill Passed
Measure Number: H.R. 6304 (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 )
Measure Title: A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes.
Vote Counts: YEAs 69
NAYs 28
McCain (R-AZ), Not Voting / Obama (D-IL), Yea / Biden (D-DE), Nay / Clinton (D-NY), Nay
On June 20, the House passed H.R. 6304, an unconstitutional surveillance bill that sanctions warrantless wiretapping and hands immunity to telecommunications companies for their role in domestic spying. Talking Points on the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (7/1/2008)
The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 is an unconstitutional bill that would significantly modify the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It grants sweeping new monitoring powers to the government with little court oversight, and ensures the dismissal of all pending cases against telecommunication companies.
The FISA Amendments Act was passed by the House of Representatives in June. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation on Tuesday, July 8. Senators should be urged to vote against this unconstitutional bill…the FISA Amendments Act:
• Gives the president broad new powers to spy on innocent Americans’ phone calls and emails – even when they have no connection to terrorism. It legalizes mass, untargeted and unwarranted spying on our international phone calls and emails.
• Restricts judicial oversight of the surveillance program. The FISA court will not know who, what or where will actually be monitored, and the government can continue a spying program even after it has been denied by the court.
• Provides retroactive immunity to the telecommunications companies for their role in the president’s domestic spying program. The test in the bill is not whether government certifications sent to the companies were actually legal – only whether they were issued.

14 09 2008
SoCal Muchacha

Oh my goodness, how WONDERFUL this makes me feel!!! And no big surprise about not hearing a DARN THING about it in the media…sigh.

As someone who has been part of a small group of MoveOn folks holding rallies on street corners for children’s healthcare, and other causes, smack dab in the middle of conservative, Republican strongholds, I know just how FANTASTIC it feels to suddenly realize you aren’t alone, that there are other like-minded folks around, and that the synergy created is just out of this world. Keep up the good work in Alaska, and we’ll do our best to keep it up everywhere else. Again, congrats! 🙂

14 09 2008
Enjay aka Turbine Yukon

Found this on the Democratic Underground — wonder how far he’s gotten in checking out the internet in two months …..

He’s even able to use a Blackberry. From a NYTimes interview just TWO months ago:

Q: But do you go on line for yourself?

Mr. McCain: They go on for me. I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don’t expect to be a great communicator, I don’t expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need – including going to my daughter’s blog first, before anything else.

Q: Do you use a blackberry or email?

Mr. McCain: No

Mark Salter: He uses a BlackBerry, just ours.

Mr. McCain: I use the Blackberry, but I don’t e-mail, I’ve never felt the particular need to e-mail. I read e-mails all the time, but the communications that I have with my friends and staff are oral and done with my cell phone. I have the luxury of being in contact with them literally all the time. We now have a phone on the plane that is usable on the plane, so I just never really felt a need to do it. But I do – could I just say, really – I understand the impact of blogs on American politics today and political campaigns. I understand that. And I understand that something appears on one blog, can ricochet all around and get into the evening news, the front page of The New York Times. So, I do pay attention to the blogs. And I am not in any way unappreciative of the impact that they have on entire campaigns and world opinion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13text-mc

14 09 2008
KTN

watching the talking heads for the republican party today on the news, it almost seems as if John McCain is barely a member of their party …he is juuuuuuuuust republican enough that ,ya know, you should vote for him. Its just Bizzare.

14 09 2008
NY Dem

Interesting article regarding cell phones and polling:

“In the current poll, cell-only respondents are significantly more likely than either the landline respondents or the cell-mostly respondents to support Barack Obama and Democratic candidates for Congress this fall.”

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/901/cell-phones-polling-election-2008

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

You copy the list and paste it in the comment box and add your name and submit!

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian

14 09 2008
Alaskan women reject Palin « Later On

[…] in Election, GOP tagged palin at 1:37 pm by LeisureGuy Thanks to Liz for a link to this amazing post, which begins: I attended the Welcome Home rally for Sarah Palin this morning.  Hooo.  It was an […]

14 09 2008
tanyetta

Thank you for this post!

It goes to show you what a few women getting together for coffee can really accomplish!

🙂

14 09 2008
swineprincess

Dunno if anyone has posted this article, ‘though I do seem to recall someone saying the couldn’t wait to hear what Gloria Steinem has to say about SP http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-steinem4-2008sep04,0,7915118.story

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

she is on right now I cant stand to hear her she sounds like a broken record

14 09 2008
John McCain

That’s just a fake!
Those women were surely paid by the Dems.
Support me and Sarah.

14 09 2008
Alice

@asenath1az

Please take your jihad hate and shove off.

14 09 2008
Harley

lmfao @John McCain above

14 09 2008
Ky

If you give a troll a cookie…

14 09 2008
RedwoodMan

You copy the list and paste it in the comment box and add your name and submit!

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
RedwoodMan – Northern California

14 09 2008
whabs

Hi All.
The Brutal Video is really getting hit hard. If anyone gets bored or can refresh the page once in a while and paste the following, I would love it!!
“Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund are asking for donations to get this aired in Key states. Please donate.”
I am including this in every post I make there at you tube, it seems to derail their smoke screen issue crap

14 09 2008
Amused and Bewildered

@VetTheVeep It was on the actual NEWS, in-between a talk radio show that has nothing to do with politics, at around 3 AM. I can’t believe it was anything more than an error which by now, I hope has been corrected. I have a feeling it probably was since the correct number has been all over MSM.

As for Limbaugh? I absolutely DO listen to him occasionally, as well as tune into Fox News from time to time. I like to hear the propaganda that the other side is dishing out. I know a lot of conservatives automatically call Democrats “liberal” and accuse us of getting our news from biases sources (a case of ‘hello pot, meet kettle’!). That said, I don’t refer to myself as a liberal and I don’t listen to just one news source. Hearing the ‘other side’ just serves to make me stronger in my own convictions! I like hearing ALL sides.

Meanwhile, I just saw a nice little piece of propoganda that’s circulating on the internet. I’ll try to dig it up again and post it a little later. This one really pissed me off. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I just live in another universe than these people!

14 09 2008
Harley

Press Release – For Immediate Release: – 09/04/08
SERVICE OF LAWSUIT CHALLENGING SENATOR OBAMA’S RIGHT TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE DOES NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS HAS BEEN COMPLETED
Contact information at the end of this press release.
Documents filed with the court and a copy of this press release can be downloaded at the end of this press release.
(Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania – 09/04/08) – Philip J. Berg, Esquire, the Attorney who filed suit against Barack H. Obama challenging Senator Obama’s eligibility to serve as President of the United States, has received confirmation from his Process Service Company that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Senator Barack Obama were served today, September 4, 2008, with the legal documents pertaining to Berg vs. Obama, Civil Action No. 08-cv-4083.
The DNC was served at 12:00 p.m. and Senator Obama was served at 1:00 p.m. The U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted service on behalf of the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) on or about August 22, 2008.
———————————————–

REQUESTED RESPONSE :
BOO ! We are so scared !

14 09 2008
DonnaFL

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
DonnaFL

14 09 2008
Alice

harley..you imfaoed me as well and I am not sure why.

please inform

14 09 2008
whabs

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
Carolyn, Washington

14 09 2008
evolution0117

Test

14 09 2008
Big Rally!! | SeevsPlace

[…] in midtown Anchorage. The video below was taken by an Alaskan blogger named Mudflats who has a great write up on his site and dozens of other pictures of this huge rally. He estimates about 1400 anti-Palin people with […]

14 09 2008
evolution0117

Harley – It’s the goober PROUD2BUSA (aka Krinkle) and my avatar and NOW my name is gone. . . . please advise, so I’m feeling kinda lost out here. I cropped. I finished. What happens now?

14 09 2008
KTN

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
Carolyn, Washington
KTN

14 09 2008
Harley

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/

Here is what this NUTCASE Philip J. Berg, Esquire proffers as ” evidence ”
that Mr. Obama can not be President.
I have seen this propaganda before BTW…not ” news” to me.

From Philip J. Berg, Esquire:

1. Where was Obama born? Hawaii; an island off of Hawaii; Kenya; Canada; or ?

2. Was he a citizen of Kenya, Indonesia and/or Canada?

3. What was the early childhood of Obama in Hawaii; in Kenya; in Indonesia when he was adopted; and later, back to Hawaii?

4. An explanation as to the various names utilized by Obama that include: Barack Hussein Obama; Barry Soetoro; Barry Obama; Barack Dunham; and Barry Dunham.

5. Illinois Bar Application – Obama fails to acknowledge use of names other than Barack Hussein Obama, a blatant lie.
—————————————
what a bunch of BUNK !

HERE IS OBAMA’s BIRTH CERTIFICATE
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/birthcert

I refuse to print anything further,,,find it yourselves so other interlopers
will have to do their own work

14 09 2008
ocliberal

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
Carolyn, Washington
KTN
ocliberal in Orange County, CA

14 09 2008
larina

I apologize if this is a reprint, but even Karl Rove thinks the McCain ads went too far. Read here:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/14/campaign.wrap/index.html

14 09 2008
anniewilson

What do you suppose the women are so afraid of? My guess is the fact that she didn’t abort her baby. What do you think? Most nuts are terrified of women who are pro-life.

I guess Ms. Palin is stronger than I ever thought she was before.

14 09 2008
Harley

evolution,

while staying signed into wordpress, just sign in at the bottom of this blog as Proud2busa

after a few minutes, your avatar should show up

It took mine a while too show up too

It showed as a big black box at first

14 09 2008
David

Excellent rally! It’s nice to see that there are still many Alaskans who can tell the difference between gold and “Fool’s Gold”.

14 09 2008
Alice

@ harley
Still waiting for a resonse

All,

I posted this before. It is agood read
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/palin-tology-unearthing-w_b_126037.html

14 09 2008
Lani aka Bash Budweiser

You copy the list and paste it in the comment box and add your name and submit!

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
RedwoodMan – Northern California
Lani aka Bash Budweiser – Hawaii

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

asenath1az (12:32:30) :

I like her! Maybe it’s because I can relate to her because I grew up in a small town in the mountains of Wyoming or “maybe” it’s because I have researched her policies and dug deep into McCain’s issues.

If you are a woman and you like Sarah Barracuda even though:

1) She wants to outlaw abortion even for victims of incest or rape.
2) She had her police department charge women who were raped for their exams (talk about being raped twice)
3) She is a Pentecostal who believes in the rapture
4) She has supported zero legislation that supports women
5) She is a pathalogical liar

Then may god have mercy on your soul.

14 09 2008
KTN

anniewilson:I believe the band HEART has some serious objections to your point of view .specifically Ann WiIson OF HEART .

lol.

14 09 2008
CindyPDX

@ ocliberal thank you for sharing that story and link!
Speaking of NIGHTMARES I had a terrible one after watching the RNC

I even commented about about my nightmare over on a video of Poltergeist II Youtube trailer saying this:

” Thank you for sharing this video. This morning I woke up at 4 am from a nightmare (after watching all the crap from the RNC this past week) What I remember in the dream was watching the crazy religious crowd at the RNC and McCain up on stage with that creepy grin he has and he sort of morphed into that Preacher Henry Kane!!! And his VP selection that would sell her soul and her kids just for power, while McCreepy tries to lead us to HELL. Now that’s scary! ”

I’m over that nightmare.. but it haunted me for days!
Now, this week, every time I see Mac n P even wiggle their lips, I KNOW it’s just another LIE!

14 09 2008
Uncle Joe Mccarthy

phillip berg has a youtube channel under a different nick

he is pretty much a full out nutjob

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

asenath1az (12:32:30) :

BTW, if you have ever been a registered Democrat, I have a bridge to sell you. It was very obvious by your long litany of Republican talking points that you are a Rush Limbaugh Operation Chaos “democrat”.

So why don’t you take is somewhere that people will believe your lies.

14 09 2008
Pro-Choice

“Most nuts are terrified of women who are pro-life”, so says Annie Wilson.
________________________

Those nuts are usually the men who make them pregnant but don’t want to marry them. You sound bitter, dearie. Were you one of these unchosen few?

14 09 2008
Iben

The smell of all those whacked out liberal wingnuts defecating in their shorts. . . . PRICELESS

14 09 2008
Lani aka Bash Budweiser

You copy the list and paste it in the comment box and add your name and submit!

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
RedwoodMan – Northern California
Lani aka Bash Budweiser – Hawaii
Carolyn, Washington
KTN
ocliberal in Orange County, CA

14 09 2008
sunamumaya

Respect goes to people of Anchorage for taking it up front. If folks in my country had that political awareness, we would be a lot further from where we stand now. Actually, if A LOT of other countries and cities would take this as a model, the world would definitely be a better place.

14 09 2008
proud2busa

Test.

14 09 2008
Merlin

AKM:

While not an expert, I am in the process of moving my organization’s website to WordPress, and could give you some information that might be helpful.

14 09 2008
Harley

also proud3b, I think you need to use whatever email you used t sign up with Gravatar when you post here

14 09 2008
proud2busa

Yippee!!! Harley, it works!!! Thanks!! I have lost my Palin Baby Name, but I can remember that. Can you tell who and what it is?

14 09 2008
Alice

Folks,

I think it might be best to ignore the trolls. You are bound to get more now that you are getting so much press.

14 09 2008
Harley

you got it proud !

14 09 2008
Anon - AKA Blaster Commando Palin

annie wilson writes: “What do you suppose the women are so afraid of? My guess is the fact that she didn’t abort her baby. What do you think? Most nuts are terrified of women who are pro-life.I guess Ms. Palin is stronger than I ever thought she was before.”

Speaking for my own perspective, people with low IQs scare me a lot.

14 09 2008
sbkm « Chamblee54

[…] Sarah Palin went back to Alaska. There was a rally of her fans. And another rally of those who are not fans. The second rally was designed for Women to show that not everybody in the 49th state likes the […]

14 09 2008
Kate Henry

anniewilson (12:51:20) :
What do you suppose the women are so afraid of? My guess is the fact that she didn’t abort her baby. What do you think? Most nuts are terrified of women who are pro-life.
I guess Ms. Palin is stronger than I ever thought she was before.

So, you approve of a woman who endangered the live of her premature special needs baby by traveling 9 hours after her water broke to a hick hospital without a neonatal unit. Sure, that showed a lot of courage….NOT. It showed extremely poor judgment. It was by the grace of god her child was born without having suffered from her foolishness. Plus, it doesn’t take a lot of courage to have a baby you know you can palm off onto a nanny or one of your children, even your five year old.

Besides, she needed that baby as a political prop. She drags the poor thing to all her performances.

14 09 2008
sally ~ Arizona

didn’t you just luv saturday night live

14 09 2008
Divatalk

Hey guys, I found this. If you have seen it already> pass it on.

14 09 2008
CindyPDX

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
Cindy and 3 generations of women in my family from PORTLAND, OR

14 09 2008
VetTheVeep

PALIN __THANKS! BUT NO THANKS!!!!!
Mary in TN
California Cowboy
Tracy NC
Jeep Pike Downin Mississipi
Rebecca Chicago
Mary Nagle Chicago
Cynthis Texas
Wisconsin women
Sally AZ
Wisconsin Shopgirl
GJ Idaho
Ny Dem
Dem VA
David E NY
Dee PA
Susie Jersey
Palmdale
Linda Virginia
Sad in red state Texas
Sara Mississippi
Nancy Indiana
Fred Calif
Marcella Chicago
Uk lady
solsticeatese Nertherlands
Australian puck male
Laurie canadian
Carolyn, Washington
KTN
ocliberal in Orange County, CA
RedwoodMan – Northern California
Lani aka Bash Budweiser – Hawaii
VetTheVeep

14 09 2008
Freddie Jones

Looks like they had about the entirety of the 3- 400 members of the democratic party in Alaska people lined up along the road walking in a loop.

14 09 2008
Anon - AKA Blaster Commando Palin

If anyone questions Obama’s birthplace (Hawaii), you might suggest that they take a look at where McCain was born (abroad on a base in Panama).

In fact, the GOP took a lot of time to vet if McCain would possibly be challenged on the grounds of his birthplace from a legal perspective, in terms of being able to be nominated.

14 09 2008
Cassie aka Jeep Pike Palin

Asenathl AZ

You should learn to use these two palces to check on “rumors”
http://www.snopes.com or
http://www.factcheck.com

Anyone can make any accusation–or even file a lawsuit–it doesn’t have to be true….just has to be a nuisance.

If you are not troll, you should clear out you emails and start getting some real information.

If you are a troll….go home!

14 09 2008
Alice

Cindpdx

I had some interesting nightmares as well. We should all start writing them down to compile later.

I have to say after one very bad nightmare I had an Election Day dream in which Barack swept it up. There was dancing in the streets. It was great!

I have tried to be more optimistic since

@harley…still waiting…..do you really think that I am a troll. if so what made you think it?

14 09 2008