If you don't watch any other video on this page, please watch this one. This is a monologue by Keith Olbermann yesterday about the blatant disregard for the memory of those killed in the attacks on the WTC. Olbermann says it best-
"This is supposed to be a day of remembrance. Remembrance of the attack, remembrance of the national unity which followed it.
Most important of all, remembrance of the dead.
But 9/11 has become a brand name. A Republican campaign slogan. Propaganda of the lowest form. 9/11 has become 9/11 with a trademark logo."
Please watch this and pass it along!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
MORE
I know I'm probably boring you all to tears with all this politickin' and shit, but goddamnit, this is the most important issue in America today and I want to be able to say that I actually tried to help Obama in the Presidency so that when McCain wins I don't feel bad about moving to Australia. I'm sorta just joking. But anyway, here are five more videos on McCain that every voter should watch.
The Real McCain Part 2-
Less Jobs. More Wars: What is this 'Iraq war' charge on my bill?
The Real McCain Part 1-
McCain's Spiritual Guide: The video that caused McCain to renounce Rev. Rod Parsley's bigoted endorsement-
Why Won't McCain Sign the GI Bill? Presenting the most blatant hypocrisy of the McCain campaign-
Please tell everyone you know about these double standards. Imagine what they would think of Senator McCain if they saw these videos!
The Real McCain Part 2-
Less Jobs. More Wars: What is this 'Iraq war' charge on my bill?
The Real McCain Part 1-
McCain's Spiritual Guide: The video that caused McCain to renounce Rev. Rod Parsley's bigoted endorsement-
Why Won't McCain Sign the GI Bill? Presenting the most blatant hypocrisy of the McCain campaign-
Please tell everyone you know about these double standards. Imagine what they would think of Senator McCain if they saw these videos!
More lies please! Thank you.
This is an article that appeared in the Washington Post about some fishy per diem fees Sarah Palin charged the state of Alaska while acting as governor.
Read the article here.
This next article in the UK Guardian talks about the false claims by the McCain campaign that Sarah Palin opposed the "Bridge To Nowhere" in Alaska.
Read the article here.
I don't know where the Guardian got their poll numbers from, but all the polls I heard about today read Obama one point over McCain.
Palin has outright lied with her "Thanks, but no thanks," mantra a total of seven times, even after being confronted with the fact that she did not oppose the bridge, but endorsed it. What the fuck? Why do they think they can just say whatever they want and people will just take it as truth?
Also, she did not stop the building of the bridge, as the McCain campaign claims. Congress stopped it, and then Governor Palin neglected to give the money (223 million) back! What a maverick!
Read the article here.
This next article in the UK Guardian talks about the false claims by the McCain campaign that Sarah Palin opposed the "Bridge To Nowhere" in Alaska.
Read the article here.
I don't know where the Guardian got their poll numbers from, but all the polls I heard about today read Obama one point over McCain.
Palin has outright lied with her "Thanks, but no thanks," mantra a total of seven times, even after being confronted with the fact that she did not oppose the bridge, but endorsed it. What the fuck? Why do they think they can just say whatever they want and people will just take it as truth?
Also, she did not stop the building of the bridge, as the McCain campaign claims. Congress stopped it, and then Governor Palin neglected to give the money (223 million) back! What a maverick!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
In the words of my room mate Ryan,
"Why does it take The Daily Show to give us the truth?" No shit, man. Here are a couple videos which CANNOT be denied by anyone. Silliness aside, the clips they use speak for themselves.
THANK GOD FOR ANNE KILKENNY
I was listening to NPR the other day, and they had an interview with a woman named Anne Kilkenny from Wasilla, Alaska, the same small town that Sarah Palin is from. She was busy fielding calls and emails (hundreds per hour) because of an email she had written her friends about Sarah Palin, who she is on a first name basis with since school. I was naturally intrigued, so I looked it up.
Here is her letter, in full, for your enjoyment. And don't forget to forward this along to anyone you know who wants to know more about our political candidates!
A note to all by Anne Kilkenny
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in
common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
Thanks,
Anne
[ Note by web_admin: This was already posted on Washington Independent
comments area and was meant by the author to be read by many, but
readers need sourcing. The NY Times has talked with Anne since. ]
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out
there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will
make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she
proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated"
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't
fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew
her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the "old boy's club" when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to
nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork".
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march
to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to
global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
-Hockey mom: true for a few years
-PTA mom: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since
-NRA supporter: absolutely true
-social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
-pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it.
-Pro-life: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life
legislation
-Experienced: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
-political maverick: not at all
-gutsy: absolutely!
-open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
-has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
-a Greenie: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
-fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
-pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
-pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
-pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla's history.
-pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +
Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local
government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen
when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out
of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no
fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will
cost me somehow in the future: that's life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's
attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible
for a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are
swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The
day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.
Anne Kilkenny
August 31, 2008
Here is her letter, in full, for your enjoyment. And don't forget to forward this along to anyone you know who wants to know more about our political candidates!
A note to all by Anne Kilkenny
Dear friends,
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in
common: their gender and their good looks. :)
You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .
Thanks,
Anne
[ Note by web_admin: This was already posted on Washington Independent
comments area and was meant by the author to be read by many, but
readers need sourcing. The NY Times has talked with Anne since. ]
ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out
there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will
make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she
proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated"
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't
fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew
her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the "old boy's club" when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to
nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork".
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march
to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to
global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
-Hockey mom: true for a few years
-PTA mom: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since
-NRA supporter: absolutely true
-social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
-pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it.
-Pro-life: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life
legislation
-Experienced: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
-political maverick: not at all
-gutsy: absolutely!
-open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
-has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
-a Greenie: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
-fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
-pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
-pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
-pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla's history.
-pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +
Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local
government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen
when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out
of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no
fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will
cost me somehow in the future: that's life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's
attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible
for a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are
swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The
day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.
Anne Kilkenny
August 31, 2008
Youtube magically solves all of your political questions.
The Daily Show exposes the secrets of Small Town Values-
A little wake up call about Palin-
McCain tries to sound Presidential, but ends up sounding like your grandma-
Bush tours America to survey damage caused by his disastrous Presidency-
Obama sets the record straight-
A little wake up call about Palin-
McCain tries to sound Presidential, but ends up sounding like your grandma-
Bush tours America to survey damage caused by his disastrous Presidency-
Obama sets the record straight-
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Thanks, fool.
Last Saturday was the Booty Bassment in San Diego, and a notable one indeed. Six years has past since we started doing our little old thing at the Whistle Stop. It was a great time. We did the booty shake contest, we had Nite Jewel from L.A., we had Ryan Poulsen from S.F., we had Mario Orduno from Art Fag, and of course, good old Rob Moran. So much fun!
I just wanted to say that I really appreciate everyone who has come to the Bassment in the past six years. You have made it fun for me to play the same rap records over and over again, and you have given me yet another excuse for searching out new stuff (which is probably my favorite pass time). Lawrence Braun took photographs, which I have not seen yet, but I will post them as soon as I get them. Thanks again to everyone who has made this event possible!
I just wanted to say that I really appreciate everyone who has come to the Bassment in the past six years. You have made it fun for me to play the same rap records over and over again, and you have given me yet another excuse for searching out new stuff (which is probably my favorite pass time). Lawrence Braun took photographs, which I have not seen yet, but I will post them as soon as I get them. Thanks again to everyone who has made this event possible!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Beer and Rap
A couple months ago I was talking to Mario and Nate at a party about rap records that we love. I mentioned the old St. Ides commercials from the 90's that Ice Cube and Wu-Tang and others had done, and they didn't know what I was talking about. I have been thinking about these ads for ages, wishing I still had those old video cassettes that I had taped back then with hours of Rap City videos and probably all those amazing St. Ides commercials.
My dreams have been answered by a special man named DJ Drank. He put together a compilation with all 30 commercials produced by E-Swift, Sir Jinx, DJ Pooh, and King Tee with a veritable who's who of golden era rappers including Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren G, The Geto Boys, Eric B and Rakim, EPMD, MC Eiht, Yo Yo, and of course, The Wu. All the songs are short; most about one minute. But, for a fan of 90's rap like me, this is amazing.
These ads were surrounded by controversy in the media and by activist groups. St. Ides was accused of advertising their products to teenagers through the voices of their foul mouthed idols.
"Getcher girl in the mood quicker... Getcher jimmy thicker with St. Ides Malt Liquor." Mr. Ice Cubes
Who can say, but St. Ides sales increased by 25% that year. Not too shabby. Unfortunately, the ad campaign was dropped, simultaneously depriving the public of all these great malt liquor soaked ditties, as well as opening the door for Cristal to take the place as the drink of choice in the rap community (even if Cristal didn't want it).
I hope you enjoy this comp. as much as I do. Download it below (they are 320 kbps mp3s... the entire album is about 69 megs).
DJ Drank's Greatest Malt Liquor Hits
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Presidential Picks
Heard a funny story on NPR the other day. Like ta hear it? Here it go....
The two presidential candidates were asked to give their top ten songs. Kind of some odd picks in there. John McCain's number one is especially ridiculous:
John McCain's Top Ten
1. 'Dancing Queen' ABBA
2. 'Blue Bayou' Roy Orbison
3. 'Take a Chance On Me' ABBA
4. 'If We Make It Through December' Merle Haggard
5. 'As Time Goes By' Dooley Wilson
6. 'Good Vibrations' The Beach Boys
7. 'What A Wonderful World' Louis Armstrong
8. 'I've Got You Under My Skin' Frank Sinatra
9. 'Sweet Caroline' Neil Diamond
10. 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' The Platters
Barack Obama's Top Ten
1. 'Ready or Not' Fugees
2. 'What's Going On' Marvin Gaye
3. 'I'm On Fire' Bruce Springsteen
4. 'Gimme Shelter' Rolling Stones
5. 'Sinnerman' Nina Simone
6. 'Touch the Sky' Kanye West
7. 'You'd Be So Easy to Love' Frank Sinatra
8. 'Think' Aretha Franklin
9. 'City of Blinding Lights' U2
10. 'Yes We Can' Will.i.am
I'm not mad at ABBA by any means, but number one? Jeez, Louise, bro. Looks like someone forgot to grow a pair.
Actually, I don't really get Obama's number one, either. I mean, it's not as lame as McCain's, but almost like he was trying too hard.
In equally idiotic news, some idiot decided it would be a good idea to make a Barack Obama action figure. Don't fucking ask me.
Why do we have to have an action figure for ever prominent figure in American society? It's stupid. Save the petroleum it takes to make this pointless piece of plastic (that will probably be worth $3,000 in 20 years) and fill up your Escalade with it instead. All the full grown men that still collect toys should really reevaluate their lives.
My suggestion to curb this childish behaviour is for all the ladies out there: if you go over to a guy's house and he has action figures hanging on his wall, don't fuck him, and tell him why you aren't going to fuck him. He will quickly mend his foolish ways, and we will all be saved the pain of seeing our political figures being mocked by being modeled into a Curious George looking toy.
Another point against the mental retards that made this toy is that they are charging $15 for it, and only giving $1 to Obama's campaign for every toy sold on the internet. Weak.
The two presidential candidates were asked to give their top ten songs. Kind of some odd picks in there. John McCain's number one is especially ridiculous:
John McCain's Top Ten
1. 'Dancing Queen' ABBA
2. 'Blue Bayou' Roy Orbison
3. 'Take a Chance On Me' ABBA
4. 'If We Make It Through December' Merle Haggard
5. 'As Time Goes By' Dooley Wilson
6. 'Good Vibrations' The Beach Boys
7. 'What A Wonderful World' Louis Armstrong
8. 'I've Got You Under My Skin' Frank Sinatra
9. 'Sweet Caroline' Neil Diamond
10. 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' The Platters
Barack Obama's Top Ten
1. 'Ready or Not' Fugees
2. 'What's Going On' Marvin Gaye
3. 'I'm On Fire' Bruce Springsteen
4. 'Gimme Shelter' Rolling Stones
5. 'Sinnerman' Nina Simone
6. 'Touch the Sky' Kanye West
7. 'You'd Be So Easy to Love' Frank Sinatra
8. 'Think' Aretha Franklin
9. 'City of Blinding Lights' U2
10. 'Yes We Can' Will.i.am
I'm not mad at ABBA by any means, but number one? Jeez, Louise, bro. Looks like someone forgot to grow a pair.
Actually, I don't really get Obama's number one, either. I mean, it's not as lame as McCain's, but almost like he was trying too hard.
In equally idiotic news, some idiot decided it would be a good idea to make a Barack Obama action figure. Don't fucking ask me.
Why do we have to have an action figure for ever prominent figure in American society? It's stupid. Save the petroleum it takes to make this pointless piece of plastic (that will probably be worth $3,000 in 20 years) and fill up your Escalade with it instead. All the full grown men that still collect toys should really reevaluate their lives.
My suggestion to curb this childish behaviour is for all the ladies out there: if you go over to a guy's house and he has action figures hanging on his wall, don't fuck him, and tell him why you aren't going to fuck him. He will quickly mend his foolish ways, and we will all be saved the pain of seeing our political figures being mocked by being modeled into a Curious George looking toy.
Another point against the mental retards that made this toy is that they are charging $15 for it, and only giving $1 to Obama's campaign for every toy sold on the internet. Weak.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Fucking American Shit-Cunts
I was watching the tube the other night when something terrible happened... a commercial. Yes, I know this is enough to drive anyone up the bloody wall, but I had some special disdain for this one.
It was a fricking Mars Bar commercial using the song Ça Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand. Great song. It always makes me sad when they use good songs for commercials because I can't focus as much hateful energy toward being subjected to advertising when it's on.
When I was looking for the commercial on the Youtubes, I stumbled upon this lil' doozy commited by Snickers. They use a really bad cover of the song for it.
Earhole cleaning time- the original song by Plastic Bertrand from 1978.
And now the weird gay and violent cover(?) version by Elton Motello, Jet Boy Jet Girl.
Download both versions of the song below-
Plastic Bertrand - Ça Plane Pour Moi
Elton Motello - Jet Boy Jet Girl
It was a fricking Mars Bar commercial using the song Ça Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand. Great song. It always makes me sad when they use good songs for commercials because I can't focus as much hateful energy toward being subjected to advertising when it's on.
When I was looking for the commercial on the Youtubes, I stumbled upon this lil' doozy commited by Snickers. They use a really bad cover of the song for it.
Earhole cleaning time- the original song by Plastic Bertrand from 1978.
And now the weird gay and violent cover(?) version by Elton Motello, Jet Boy Jet Girl.
Download both versions of the song below-
Plastic Bertrand - Ça Plane Pour Moi
Elton Motello - Jet Boy Jet Girl
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Our Six Year Anniversary
August marks the six year anniversary of Booty Bassment in San Dagotown, brol. We are all purrty excited by this, so we's doing a big old git-together on the 23rd. Ryan Poulsen, my partner in San Francisco, Rob Moran, Bassment originator, and Nite Jewel, from L.A., will all be gracing us with their stench on this night of wonder. It is also Dogg Captain Orduno's birthday, so come and pay your tributes to the man by listening to his selections.
We will also be having another booty shake contest, and if you were at the last one, you know you will not want to miss this. Cash and prizes go to the least disgusting contestants. The celebrity MC and judges will be announced this week. Stay tuned.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Free Floating Agression 8/10/08
I am watching the Olympics right now; it's ladies gymnastics. Pretty cool, but a commercial for Direct TV came on and ruined me for the next few minutes. Remember my previous post regarding the Lollapalooza references all these idiots keep making? (Read it here.). Well, in this commercial, Jimmy Kimmel refers to a football game as a, "Hail-Mary-Palooza." What the hell, bro? What the fucking hell, broseph? Why? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
Bad move, dogmaster. That commercial places your ass on my shit-list.
In other news, I have decided to begin my campaign to speak out against Willow, from the movie Willow. I am in full support of Burgelkutt.
Also, I have decided to protest my company, Basstanic, and all events promoted by my company.
Bad move, dogmaster. That commercial places your ass on my shit-list.
In other news, I have decided to begin my campaign to speak out against Willow, from the movie Willow. I am in full support of Burgelkutt.
Also, I have decided to protest my company, Basstanic, and all events promoted by my company.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Diplo Bites Me Part II
Huh... I actually got a response from my email to Mad Decent. If you haven't read the blog before this one, then do that and then come back here.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: MAD DECENT
Date: 01 Aug 2008, 11:03
Hey Dimitri,
This is DJA, the engineer and producer at mad decent who suggested we start using black metal influenced design. We all actually do enjoy black metal music (especially me, i've been aware and listening to it in various forms since I was a kid in the 90s) We don't think its a joke.
I really like the darkthrone style logo on the first few. Why would you get so mad about this? We aren't blatently stealing anything from you, we weren't aware of your fliers before we made any mad decent related black metal style imagery.
The thing with Vice, i dunno. Didnt that guy do a photo style thing like 4-5 years ago and just now Vice decided just recently to flip it for a kinda half baked article?
derek
+++++++++++++++++++ Here's my response +++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello, Derek.
Thanks for your quick response. I guess my reaction is kind of pointless, now that I think about it. The thing is, which I explained in my first email, that for people who know about Booty Bassment, the flier art always comes part in parcel. What I mean is that people know when they see some weird corpsepainted dude standing in front of a Rolls Royce on 20's parked in front of a burning church that it is a Booty Bassment event. So, when I see other people in the "dj world" using the imagery from black metal, it is just too close for comfort. I don't feel as though I'm being unreasonable about this.
I suppose it was bound to happen at some point. But when I came up with the idea to mix the stark black and white photocopied images of black metal with the misogynistic and opulent imagery of modern rap, no one was doing it. Like I said, most people didn't even know what black metal was.
The fliers I make are more than just an advertisement for me. My first concern with each one is the image. This is why I am upset. Because I have been doing this event for almost 6 years and I have made every single flier for every event. That is one a month for 6 years in San Diego, one a month for almost two years in San Francisco, and a couple for our recent Los Angeles events.
I guess it is just another trend that is bound to play itself out (see examples)-
http://flickr. com/photos/dimitridickinson/2385440893/
http://flickr. com/photos/dimitridickinson/2722465229/
Thanks for your time.
D
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: MAD DECENT
Date: 01 Aug 2008, 11:03
Hey Dimitri,
This is DJA, the engineer and producer at mad decent who suggested we start using black metal influenced design. We all actually do enjoy black metal music (especially me, i've been aware and listening to it in various forms since I was a kid in the 90s) We don't think its a joke.
I really like the darkthrone style logo on the first few. Why would you get so mad about this? We aren't blatently stealing anything from you, we weren't aware of your fliers before we made any mad decent related black metal style imagery.
The thing with Vice, i dunno. Didnt that guy do a photo style thing like 4-5 years ago and just now Vice decided just recently to flip it for a kinda half baked article?
derek
Hello, Derek.
Thanks for your quick response. I guess my reaction is kind of pointless, now that I think about it. The thing is, which I explained in my first email, that for people who know about Booty Bassment, the flier art always comes part in parcel. What I mean is that people know when they see some weird corpsepainted dude standing in front of a Rolls Royce on 20's parked in front of a burning church that it is a Booty Bassment event. So, when I see other people in the "dj world" using the imagery from black metal, it is just too close for comfort. I don't feel as though I'm being unreasonable about this.
I suppose it was bound to happen at some point. But when I came up with the idea to mix the stark black and white photocopied images of black metal with the misogynistic and opulent imagery of modern rap, no one was doing it. Like I said, most people didn't even know what black metal was.
The fliers I make are more than just an advertisement for me. My first concern with each one is the image. This is why I am upset. Because I have been doing this event for almost 6 years and I have made every single flier for every event. That is one a month for 6 years in San Diego, one a month for almost two years in San Francisco, and a couple for our recent Los Angeles events.
I guess it is just another trend that is bound to play itself out (see examples)-
http://flickr. com/photos/dimitridickinson/2385440893/
http://flickr. com/photos/dimitridickinson/2722465229/
Thanks for your time.
D
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