the real Sarah Palin - perspective from a Wasilla mother

For Refman, and perhaps weslinder,

I've seen this bit noted by several sources now. It is apparently true.
What's your take on that?

It is also true that she has enjoyed immense support in her political life from federal earmarks, and that she only opposed the infamous bridge late in its political life.

So, to attempt to agree on basics...
we know she: is young, smart, savvy, aggressive, and self-confident. She is arguably the most popular governor of a state, with a sky-high approval rating. She is friendly to business. Counter to a true fiscal conservative, she has greatly increased government spending, and she has accepted significant federal earmark funding for Wasilia and Alaska.

Does that sound fair to you?

This probably won't: If I could editorialize, I keep hearing things that suggest she is more than aggressive -- that she is ruthless and at times vengeful. (This letter, which you may dismiss, definitely relays ruthlessness.) Just on an emotional level, her snide remarks in her RNC speech resonated with this idea, IMHO. If this is part of her character, that is a huge factor for me. It's just the wrong way to administer government, and I think it's what has made Cheney such a loathed figure for so many Americans.

 

Are you joking? Did you see the cartoon, the last 4 (alleged) conservatives racked up massive debt, where Clinton ran a surpluss.

People need to wake up before this country is broke and owned by foreign governments.

DD

 

It actually says in the letter that the town was actually only about 5000 when she was mayor. 7000 is giving her an increase of population of about 40%, if the letter is true.

 

What really scares me is that she is seemingly unwilling to budge or compromise with people who have opposing views. Talking to her, unless you're in complete agreement with her, would be like talking to a brick wall. I just don't understand people who are unwilling to see (or at least try to see) the other side of things. What about the balance? Hardliners who are unwilling to promote discussion are not good for federal government.

 

You are getting your wish

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/mccain_palin_obama.html

So when will she start having news conferences?

"Within the next few days,'' McCain said of his running mate. "I am strongly recommending that she come on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer. That will be the first of her 65 appearances.''

 

No surprise there.

McCain has been on Face the Nation more than any other program.

 

They are letting the press make themselves look bad by all the negative jabs at Sarah, while letting all the accusations come out of the woodwork, which will let them know what they will have to answer to. Simple.

 

That's a losing strategy, ask John Kerry.

 

I swear to God that I told my wife this very same thing about Palin the day after she was chosen. I never thought I would ever say that about anyone.

 

One email is all it takes for you to form that opinion?

I'm a Nigerian prince with a lot of money and need help getting it out of a bank. If you wire me some money I promise you will be rewarded when I make it to the states.

 

The author of this email says up front she is a life-long Democrat.

What politician is not a "ladder climber?" Obama? Riggggghhhht! BTW, so far I have no evidence of Obama working across party lines.

If true, what books was she try to ban? There are certain types of "f" books I wouldn't want to see in any library, and I'm very liberal when it comes to freedom of speech and authorship.

Give me a FLIPPING break!

 

There is no real hope to change hardcore republican minds that Bush was the worst president in History and John McCain and Sarah Palin equate to more of the same. They are on Palin-co-Cain.

So the hardliners here will not change even if you show them pictures of Sarah blooding her childrens' noses with her fists...they will just call her strong.

Let's hope that the moderate republicans and independants can see through these magician acts and smoke screens of lies and misrepresentations.

 

Tell ya what she knows more about Palin than anyone posting in this thread, so I am inclined to take her information as legitimate....

She even says that Palin hates her....and it seems fairly balanced.

McCain is a gambler that much is certain....I don't want him gambling with MY COUNTRY....

DD

 

Bush has certainly been awful, but only history will show whether he was worse than Carter.

You don't KNOW this. You THINK it, but do not KNOW it.

Ah...more references to those that disagree with you being on drugs. You are such an asshat.

 

Yep...and the fact that she wrote this in an e-mail naturally makes it true.

 

Nope but reasonable people will be able to read it in a reasonable manner and make conclusions based upon that data....and the writer's bias - which she freely admits.

Unreasonable people will just see it as an attack...which are you?

DD

 

I think there's a lot to agree with here. But as Mayor, she inherited a small but growing town with major infrastructure issues related to the growing pains. I don't know about your town, but in mine, because no one ever wants to run with a surplus and save beyond the rainy day fund, they sell bonds for infrastructure upgrades. I think you'd have to ask the citizens of Wasilla about whether they agree that the upgrades were for the greater good.

I definitely think that she's ruthless. I think the "Trooper-gate" so-called scandal belies that. She saw a trooper abusing his position to harm her nephew. She would roll heads of powerful men to make sure that he got fired. There's definitely a "mama bear" quality about her. (Is that sexist? I don't mean for it to be.) I'm not sure it's as much a negative as you think. If she uses it to fight for the people, as she has her whole short career, it's a huge asset. If, for example, Cheney had used his bulldog-mentality to fight for more competition in oil contracts (like Palin did) instead of more favoritism in oil contracts, his bulldoggedness wouldn't be such a negative either.

I had a conversation this week (maybe with Sishir) where I said that some politicians are made to be executives, and some are made to be representatives. As much as I love Ron Paul and worked for his campaign because of the values he stands for, when I step back, I admit that he's not really an executive. Sarah Palin is definitely an executive, in every sense of the word.

 

I personally don't see it as either. I personally think that the author, despite her "plea" to not post it on the net, intended for it to get there. I think that some people want to write opinions just to get noticed.

Now she is an internet celebrity. There could be a person in Alaska write an email annointing Palin as the next in line for sainthood and I'd feel the same way.

I do think that the data about the Wassila budget is misleading. That town was growing at an incredibly rapid rate. The budget had to expand in order to provide infrastructure for the influx of residents. You normally have short term deficits in that situation.