Sarah shows us her hand again on Native issues

The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention begins today, the biggest annual gathering of Native people in Alaska.

Any hope of Palin treating the convention seriously this time around was dashed by this weekend's SNL performance. The Eskimo stereotypes that Alaska Native people have tried to get away from for so many years were struck a bit of a blow with the Eskimo rap, enthusiastically cheered on by our illustrious governor - herself the mother of Alaska Native children.

I can generally forgive Lower 48 people, who are fed only images of Alaska Native people as igloo-living, dog-mushing people who have yet to come out of the 18th century. If you haven't been here, there is little to counteract the images propagated by Hollywood.

But Alaskans should know better. Alaskans married to "Eskimos" should know even better. Our governor should know most of all the price to be paid for the stereotypical PR move that move was. I asked myself why I bothered trying to develop children's curriculum that fights the stereotype, when Alaska's most prominent leader will go on a comedy show and promote it.

But never mind. It may have set things back a bit, but at least she acknowledged at least some version of Native people in this state, albeit rapping Eskimos.

The real tragedy of the SNL skits was that Palin feels completely comfortable making fun of the fact that she won't answer any questions. McCain, Clinton and Obama all appeared on SNL, and were funny in their own rights. Obama - brief but the surprise factor for initially coming on with the mask and then the "witch" comment sold it. Hillary and Obama both had shameless plugging of their qualities, and Hillary had a great moment by making fun of her laugh. McCain's play that we should elect a "really, really, really, really" old guy is classic.

Palin seems to have missed the point. It's about making fun of things that everybody else can find funny too - Obama's "perfect" image, Hillary's laugh, McCain's age. But I don't find the FACT that she won't answer questions funny. I don't find it funny that she refuses to show herself to America. I have been able to laugh at Obama, McCain and Clinton on SNL this election, but I wasn't able to laugh at Palin. It was too seriously tragic.

One of the other "most watched" media events in the election in the last week was McCain appearing on Letterman on Thursday. For the few that don't know, it was his first appearance since lying to Letterman about canceling his appearance because he was "rushing" to the airport to save the economy - not quite the truth. He made a point of being quite exuberant about Todd Palin and his Native heritage (sometime during Letterman asking the questions so many media have been unable to get out of him.)

There have been a few more articles on Palin and Native issues, one in the Anchorage Daily News that seems to have been timed to come out for the AFN convention.

From the article:

"She's just sort of absent on issues. It's like an indifference," said Kookesh, the co-chairman of the Alaska Federation of Natives, which has its annual convention in Anchorage this week. He said Palin's much-touted ties to Native culture through her husband's family have resulted in "no measurable impact on the Native community."

There was also one by Indian Country Today on Palin's silence on Alaska Native issues.

Palin also promised to support tribal economic development and fishing subsistence issues, while noting personal fondness for Native culture. However, when she was ultimately elected governor, she ended up becoming the de facto head of several state lawsuits that some Natives believe have been detrimental to fishing and hunting subsistence issues, as well as tribal sovereignty and language preservation.

Yet it is still brought out about Todd's heritage at every stop, as if the very fact that he has Native blood will bode well for Native issues. It hasn't been so far - no evidence that it will be in the future. Sarah's given us just one more example of what she thinks of Native issues - maybe we should take solace in that Eskimos rapping with her is at least a step towards being noticed...

Palin "Troopergate" report released

The Branchflower (Troopergate) report was UNANIMOUSLY voted to be released today, finding Palin did abuse her power. Alaskans were shocked.

Okay, not really.

It was actually kind of an interesting reaction I saw. Relief that the report was released and not squashed, but also like, "Well... yeah. The report pretty much confirms what we know about her now." I think people were so caught up in the "officialness" of what it would say that we (okay, maybe just I) didn't realize that the fact that she and her administration heavily pressured Monegan, and others, to get Wooten fired is out there and... well, FACT. Todd Palin confirmed it in writing, Palin held a press conference admitting she "discovered" some members of her administration "may have" pressured Monegan. And the recorded tape confirming that.

I only skimmed the 200 and something page report though, so I'm going to hunker down this weekend and actually read the whole of it. The link above will take you to the ADN story on it, and they have a pdf copy for the interested.

Some other places to go for more on the release of the report and Troopergate in general:

Progressive Alaska

Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis

Alaska Report

Mudflats

Meet Sarah!

Mudflats has a really good account of actually waiting outside the council's door all day (yeesh). A bit from the blog:

Stoltze (one of the legislators): He had some differences with the report, but thought the process was thorough. Felt the release of the report was a “no brainer.” It utilized public funds, and is a public document. He said he had received hundreds of emails from all over the country urging him to vote to release the report, and was hoping if the report was released he’d be able to get through his inbox again...

...When Stoltze talked about all the emails he received, you could see the knowing looks on the faces of all those who were there. They knew they had an important decision to make, and they knew that people across the world were watching...

...It isn’t often that good people resist political pressure and do the right thing. I’ve seen things like this go the wrong way, time and time again. Today renewed my faith in the political process. I think I’m going to send out one more set of 12 emails saying, “Thank you."

Some other news of interest:

The angry McCain/Palin rally people have gotten the McCain camp some bad press lately, and in McCain finally addressed it. Of course, he was booed for saying we should treat Obama with respect.

Though I do like the part where he says you don't need to be "scared" of an Obama presidency (their basic campaign strategy at this point.) But even in an interview with McCain and Palin on Fox (and I can't BELIEVE I'm quoting this from Fox) when talking about the withdrawal from Iraq, Hannity mentions that Palin has "used the word dangerous" about Obama in the debate. Palin, "Yes."

HANNITY: Beyond naive, beyond irresponsible. Dangerous for the American people.

PALIN: Yes.

One of McCain's most smear-worthy ads out (in which he seems to create the image that Obama is bad-talking our troops when the speech he took the comment out of is ironically trying to get the troops more resources) the woman ominously says of Obama - "How dangerous..."

So he's dangerous... but we shouldn't be scared?

McCain can only play on the fears of Americans now, and it's pretty blatant now - it's just a bit funny that he's now forced to correct some of the fervor he's stirred up. Will Palin now be forced to say something to her crowds when they yell things like, "Kill him!" or shout racial slurs at members of the attending media? So far she hasn't, but the polls certainly haven't improved for them since they started the outright fear campiagn (instead of just the undercurrent one.)

Big rally, Alaskans demand truth, and two Tlingit moms

Alaskans demanding justice!

Today at least 1200 (don't have the final count yet) fellow Alaskans gathered for the Hold Palin Accountable Rally, hosted by Alaskans for Truth. The gathered to demand that the state government be taken out of the McCain campaign's hands and be put back in the hands of Alaskans.


And just who was a surprise guest?

Walt Monegan's mom!

Yes, the same Walt Monegan that was fired by Gov. Palin, and was the reason this whole Troopergate investigation began. The crowd rippled when it was announced who was speaking, and many got quite emotional. She began by saying she didn't realize her son "had so many friends."










After Betty (Walt's mom) spoke, she was flooded with people that wanted to speak with her.

One of them was this woman hugging her, who said that she worked for APD in the 80's, where Walt started. Walt had supported her in sexual harrassment claims she had made against other officers, and gone beyond what liability meant. He made sure she was okay, made sure she got professional help, counseling. She wanted Betty to know she supported Walt.



There were quite a few speakers, talking about anything from personal experiences with Gov. Palin to demanding that Talis Colberg resign or be fired, to support for Walt Monegan.

The recent taking over of the state government by the McCain campaign got the most response from the crowd, as well as the smearing of Walt Monegan by Palin's administration.





There was a petition available for all to sign, demanding justice through the removal of Talis Colberg.











I see Celtic Diva speaking! Do you?

Okay, neither do I, but here she was. She talked about a response that many people here in Alaska had. When she first met her, she thought, "All right, she's pretty good." Palin is pretty personable.

But she also talked about the more recent revelations we've had about Palin, beginning before the VP thing, about Palin's vy for power, and cover-ups. Much of what was said was about not knowing much of Sarah except her personality, and now that we know... well...


Lots of dog owners in attendance, including this one who joked about her "pit bull against Palin."

















But the Palin supporters were out too!

Or... well, it was pretty much this one guy, who kept shouting "Support Palin!" at intermittent times. the 1200 other voices shouting something much different did not allow for much else.

I did hear (but not see) that there was someone with a sign down lower in the road, that said, "Bitter women ahead."

Maybe the same person who asserts that any questioning of Sarah Palin is sexist?



The rock star of the day though really was Walt's mom. She spoke only briefly, and was really surprised by all the attention, but she carried both a sense of humor and an emotional support of her son through it all. Even while being surrounded by media and Walt Monegan supporters, she carried herself very well, and joked about what her son might say once he found out about all this. She also spoke eloquently about how proud she is to be Tlingit, and that her son is proud also. I will post later about some of the many Alaska Native overtones that took place throughout the rally.

Note: Did you know Walt Monegan's dad was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor?



Two awesome Tlingit moms!

My own mother, and Walt Monegan's mom! The next governor and Lt. Gov., you think?

This is actually right after they hugged, and my mom said, "When I heard who you were, I just had to come over and meet you."

Betty's response,

"Because I'm Tlingit?"

:) Well, Tlingit people DO like meeting other Tlingit people... :)


Short clip of the main protest.

Palin and Sexual Abuse Policies.

I've been posting about Sarah Palin's policies (or lack of them) on Alaska Native and American Indian issues, both here and on Alaska Real. Although I have mentioned this before, it's becoming more and more apparent to me the most serious "Native" issue that Mayor or Governor Palin has has a negative impact on is the one surrounding sexual abuse here in Alaska.

Some of it's seriousness is in just how drastic the rate of abuse is for Native women in this state. But then, the rate of rape and abuse is pretty astronomical no matter what race you are. If you are a woman in Alaska, the chances are pretty high that you have been abused.

For those that have not heard by now, Alaska has the highest rate of sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, etc. etc. Pick out any three women in Alaska - one of them will have "experienced sexual abuse" in her lifetime. Some facts from STAR:

Alaska is the number one state in the country for rape, and has been for 23 out of the last 30 years.Alaska’s reported rate of rape per capita is 2.6 times the national average.

Anchorage has the ninth highest sexual assault rate of any city in the United States, and Fairbanks is ranked first. (Not the best top ten list to be on.) Fairbanks’ rape rate is 4.7 times the national average.

AK’s Child abuse rate is six times higher than the national average.

The stats get even grimmer if you look at how Alaska Native women fare. If you really don't want to sleep at night, take a look at Amnesty International's report, "Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA".

I thought that the seriousness of her treatment of the sexual abuse issue was limited to the firing of her (Alaska Native) commissioner, who was really getting at this issue. I cannot emphasize enough how well-known Monegan was for fighting against abuse. Palin even commended him publicly on his work with domestic violence at a conference, just months before she fired him. She said the "indication of our committment" to the issue was his participation and work.

What does it say when she fires the "indication of her committment?"

If you do half a search on Monegan and fighting sexual and child abuse in Alaska, you will pull up a lot of information about so many ways he was active and fighting for this cause. In an extreme amount of sad irony, Palin is now saying (months after the fact) that the "last straw" before he was fired was his "insubordination" at trying to lobby for a major sexual assault bill - traveling to Washington without permission, in fact, when Palin hadn't signed off on the bill.

Of course, about two seconds after this was announced, ABC released the travel authorization, signed by Palin's chief of staff, authorizing the travel. Palin's staff responded by saying they signed off "as a matter of routine." Wish I had a boss like that.

With all that aside, I now find myself longing for the time when "all she had done" to make the effort to fight sexual assault in this state harder was fire the guy doing the best job of fighting it than any guy in years. But then the news about Wasilla's charging for rape kits came out.

This really did make me ill, and I was pretty ready not to believe it. I didn't realize numerous cities around the state and nation charged the victims for rape kits, much less Wasilla, about a 45 minute drive away, and that the city (while Palin was mayor) had to be forced to stop this practice by the passing of a state law.

Alaska Rep. Croft: "It was one of those things everyone could agree on except Wasilla," Croft told CNN. "We couldn't convince the chief of police to stop charging them."

Palin has not addressed this charge herself, but her supporters are trying to say she didn't neccessarily support it, and she may not have known about it. Really? There was 6,000 people in the town, and the mayor and chief of police don't talk much about something the state had to impose on them to stop doing? At the very least, she didn't read the local paper.

"I find it hard to believe that for six months a small town, a police chief, would lead the fight against a statewide piece of legislation receiving unanimous support and the mayor not know about it," Croft said.

It's one of many situations surrounding Palin that supporters have cried, "But she probably didn't know about it!" If she did know, and she let it happen, it's a nightmarish thing to do to women. If she didn't know what her police chief and the state were fighting about - my word, get that woman out of office!

To really seal the deal for her attitudes and negligence of the sexual assault issue in Alaska, she's lately been under fire from agencies in the state that work with abused women, as shown in this ABC report:

"She's really done a lot of work on oil and gas, but when it comes to violence against women and children. . . we haven't been on her radar as a priority," said Peggy Brown, executive director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

and

"I don't believe Gov. Palin has made this a priority," said Geran Tarr, co-chair of the Alaska Women's Lobby. "We have not seen Gov. Palin do anything that would indicate this is a priority."

There is an agency that seemed to support her, but they are similar to the Native (not Alaskan) organizations I've heard support her - it's all the "PR" type "support" from Palin. Tarr, the AWAIC lady in the ABC story above says she's publicly spoken out against domestic violence (because so many speak for it...) - and that, despite the promised fast track law that was supposed to have been completed and is apparently in lala land - she did raise the funding by 2% to cover abuse treatment after the fact. And she proclaimed the month sexual assault awareness month. No prevention funding, but we've named a month...

The irony is, Tarr, the AWAIC lady who spoke to ABC saying Palin was supportive was negated by her boss who later said Tarr "did not speak for the organization." They were staying out of the politics.

If you are a woman in America, I would truly be frightened at the idea of this woman getting the keys of influence and power. She will not do anything to protect you. For that matter, if you are a parent, I would be even more scared. She will not go out of her way to protect the third of the women in her state against what seems pretty gauranteed to happen to them.

An article in the Juneau Empire last January cited a state trooper, in regards to new studies about the prevalence of the violence, as saying:

"Time is critical," he said. "We need to give troopers more time. We need to refocus them."

The trooper said he hoped the study would lead to increased staffing and resources. Did he know Palin was trying to cut the trooper budget by $2.5 million then, despite the state swimming in billions of dollars of surplus?

People are surprised when they see Palin's reported "support" rating, and then anyone from Alaska who speaks out. Some of them will be actual supporters, come hell or high water. For some of them, it is the novelty factor, a "hot" female governor who is getting all this attention (she got national attention before this, and Alaskan's took note - Vogue magazine, the Craig Ferguson show.) For some, they approve of her governing the state, but NOT as VP.

I still can't believe I haven't heard much about WHY she had such a high approval rating right off the bat! Everyone knew coming in she was following the unseating of an incredibly unpopular governor. Gov. Murkowski had the worst rating of any governor in the country. All she had to do for the first year was not be Murkowski - her approval rating was literally in the 90's before she had done anything at all.

And for Alaskans, everything is about oil. She made big hay about getting that "pipeline for Alaska"... that will be made by Canada. And, oh yeah, might not be built despite the hundreds of millions she's giving them. But people now associate her with oil. Even democrats run on a "drill now" platform, if they want to consider getting votes.

And by the way, she gave each and every Alaskan $1200 a few weeks ago. You think that doesn't inspire "approval?"

When it comes down to it, Gov. Palin hasn't made a difference in any of the real issues of the state, and her stand on sexual abuse is turning back the clock. We can't afford to go back - we've been the bottom rung state in this area for nearly half of our existence as a state. We may be number one for wealth, but the poverty of solutions for the worst problems is becoming more and more apparent.

Todd Palin and his heritage, the "Series of Tubes" looks at both the Palins

I'm Palin'd out. Again. Or still. The freudian slip she posed today by calling it the "Palin and McCain" was chillingly unshocking, not to mention the refusal by Todd to speak, despite the subpeonas.

I paused today to Google Palin with some keywords to see what was being said about her and Native issues. The last time I did this was a bit horrifying. There was a lot of "Her husband is Native, so she must support Native issues" kind of information, a flash-back to her gubernatorial campaign here in Alaska.

Now, the bulk of the information on Palin and Native issues, though still relatively tiny, is fairly accurate. The pdf document Sarah Palin's Record on Alaska Native and Tribal Issues is, by far, the most dominant document/article in regards to her stand on.... well, obviously Alaska Native and Tribal issues.

Some myths, and questions, persist about Todd Palin's Yup'ik ancestry. A few:

For starters, the PC terms (I know, I know, but we Alaskans have a set of our own terms, too) would be Yup'ik or (groan) Yup'ik Eskimo if the person is okay with it. Eskimo is not the most popular term to be used by non-"Eskimo" people in reference to them. Yup'ik is best.

NOT Inuit. NOT Native American. NOT American Indian. Alaska Native is acceptable. (I have a big ol' post about this, and the confusion of it, but just trust me on this. You'll make more Native friends this way.) Some of these terms are not even because of PC, but government distinctions.

As for the "ancestry," the numbers of his blood quantum I've heard range anywhere from 1/4 to 1/16. I've seen a few comments of "why does this matter?" Ah... the long raging politics of blood quantum!

We, as Native people, must show proof of Native blood for most things regarding Native services, organizations, or (in my case) jobs. To me, it sounds as though Todd must be 1/8 or less at least. Although he is a shareholder of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, all you need to be a shareholder is to inherit the shares (which he could have gotten from his grandmother or mother.)

What hasn't been mentioned is whether he is an enrolled member of a tribe. There are more stringent blood quantum requirements for some tribes. That they haven't said, "And a member of X tribe... or X village tribal organization..." is pretty telling.

What keeps being mentioned is that he is a descendant of a Yup'ik woman (his mother.) I didn't connect with why this kept coming up in American Indian (Lower 48) commentary until I realized that, as Alaska Native people, this is a very common term because of the corporations. For many services or memberships, you can either be an "original shareholder" or a "descendant." If you were not 1/4 blood quantum Alaska Native in December of 1971 or before, you could not be an original shareholder - which is why, though I have more than the required blood quantum, because I was not born earlier, I am not an original shareholder. I am a "descendant." The frequent mention of his mother and of his being a descendant tells me that he is used to signing on as a descendant, not an original enrollee, which means that, despite him being born before 1971, he was not 1/4 or more Yup'ik.

To be very clear - I absolutely do not believe that blood quantum defines how "Native" you are. The frequent mention of it as a disqualifying factor is wrong. For that matter, there are countless ways to be a proud member of the Native community, and none of it has to do with that extra 1/16 more Native blood you have than the next guy over. What defines you as a Native leader, and a Native example is much easier to nail down, and in this case, Todd would not be the definition of either.

He has also never been part of the Southcentral Alaska Native culture, nor have his children, despite being raised here. To me, this says he is either disinterested, or because he is limited in a few of the organizations (namely tribal) he is rejecting the whole. In any case, both the Palins have a dismal record on Native issues, so please, do not look to Todd's heritage to help with them. That he hasn't done anything because of it so far is a good indicator that he won't be encouraging his wife on anything in the future.

Here are just a few of what I am finding now around the "series of tubes" (just one more Alaskan nod for ya'...:

From Indian Country Today, the examination of John McCain and Sarah Palin on some Native issues and legislation.

Presidential snakes on the Indian plane

From the Washington Independant, more on Alaska sexual assault than purely Alaska Native women, but it makes the connection well.

Palin and Alaska Native Women

From Green Party Watch, focused on (you guessed it!) more Green Party concerns than strictly Native issues, but these issues often coincide.

Sarah Palin and Alaska Natives, Part 1

Sarah Palin and Alaska Natives, Part 2

From Native American Netroots, an unabashed Biden supporter stacks the two VP candidates up (I know, she said the Palin/McCain administration, but she really is still technically going for the VP slot)

Biden vs. Palin on Indigenous issues

From Daily Yonder, it would almost be funny, if it weren't so frustrating. Democratic Convention Native Delegates = 143. Republican Convention Native Delegates? 1. No, that's not a typo. ONE. His name is Bobby, he's a Bible cover manufacturer, and he used to be a Democrat.

Searching for signs of Native American life at the Republican Convention

From New American Media, a more broad look at what Palin has done on... well, the title sort of says it all...

Palin has no record on diversity or civil rights

Alaskans show up in huge numbers to protest Palin

Wow - the "Anti-Palin" protest at the Anchorage Loussac Library today was IMPRESSIVE. I kept trying to get a wide shot, but there were just too many people!

I was running late and was worried I'd missed the whole thing, but this thing was huge!

And by the way, thanks Eddie Burke!

I talked to five people in a row as they left who said they heard about it from "that news story" about Burke's calling the anti-Palin organizers "socialist maggots" on his radio show, and giving out their phone numbers to have his listeners call them. Many callers threatened the organizers, and KTUU at least ran a story on the local news about it.

I was also worried not many people would show up - Alaska rallies no matter what the cause just are never that big. If you get a few dozen people, it's a good showing. Outside on a kind of dreary day, I was hoping there would be at least a hundred.

I've heard early reports that it could have been 1,000, very easy to believe.

Having just been down in Denver for the Dem. Convention, where we witnessed some somewhat disorganized protests, it was pretty neat to see so many Alaskans coming together to voice their opposition in an impacting - and peaceful - way. Though APD had a presence, their biggest problem was making sure there wasn't any jaywalking going on.

You could hear them a few blocks down, and saw the crowd before you even saw the flashing police lights.

I was also expecting a lot more "pro-Palin" protestors. There were a handful, but not that many. Burke had said he was organizing a "pro-Palin" rally for the same time and place, but they were much less evident than those opposing Ms. Palin as a VP - or simply supporting Obama.

I had to run and do a bunch of errands before the banks closed, and drove by over an hour later. Although much smaller, there was still a good hundred or more holding signs and garnering lots and lots of car horns.

There's a whole lot of Anchorage folks who are very against the McCain/Palin ticket.

Wow - Palin mentions the phrase "Yup'ik Eskimo" - and a few questions answered

Too bad it was for great political gain. I already have e-mails asking, once again, about her support for Native issues.

But I can only comment on her lack of them.

Who's playing the "race" card now? I would expect a candidate that has actually done something for Native people to establish their record of that - but to just throw out the "I'm married to an Eskimo" defense is pretty cheap. After McCain has accused Obama of playing the race card, I would think he would discourage such tactics - silly me.

Fortunately, most of the Alaska Native/American Indian/Native American/First Nations/Indigenous (we have too many dang names!) people that have e-mailed me are out for an informed vote, not a "jump on the 'who can be related to the most minorities'" band wagon. I have actually been pretty proud of the Lower 48 Native population reaction, like this Indian Country article.

It shows the Republican side - ''John McCain has a strong record of working with the tribes, and Gov. Palin will be a strong partner in his mission of reforming Washington.''

Uhhh... right.

This includes the letter she wrote Rural voters in Alaska. Not really impressed with the fact that all her action towards Alaska Native issues during her campaign was focused in a letter, or that the only mentions it can come up with for her support is the same superficial, photo-op-y stuff when it is convenient, such as, "Also of note, the governor proclaimed June 10-13, 2007 as ''National Congress of American Indians Days'' in recognition of a conference held by NCAI in Anchorage."

I would like to know if Sarah, after this cold campaign message that Native langauges should be "treasured" and "held close to our hearts" has ensured her part-Yup'ik children know as much of the Yup'ik langauge as I do - a Tlingit/Athabascan who learned only enough Yup'ik to converse with one-year old children. My guess is pretty bleak on that note - and our languages are in too much trouble to be given only empty words back to win an election.

The article also brushed on subjects of concern to many Native people in Alaska about Palin, including the now-infamous firing of Walt Monegan:

Palin also concerned some Indians in July when she abruptly fired Walt
Monegan, the first Alaska Native public safety commissioner in the state. The
governor said she wanted to take the Department of Public Safety in a different
direction, but a Republican rival said Monegan was fired because he refused to
take action against state trooper Mike Wooten, who was recently divorced from
Palin's younger sister.

Really, the idea that Monegan was someone who was finally really addressing the issues in Rural Alaska with extremely high rates of abuse, violence, child neglect, and that he was let go for such petty reasons is the bigger concern.

Holly Miowak Stebing, the Inupiaq woman chosen to meet Obama last week at the convention, was interviewd in this RezNet article (Go Holly! She is pictured above in the picture from Celtic Diva's blog) The NCAI director was encouraged about the ticket because Palin has (getting a little dejavu in here) attended their events and notes "that her husband has Native ties" and that will help.

Seriously, if I here one more silly defense like that...

Former (Inupiaq) Alaska state representative and Holly did a good job stating reasons to be concerned about a supposed benefit for Native people if Palin were elected:

Degnan also criticized Palin for failing to allow Native Alaskan
representation on the Alaska Coastal Management Program — an
organization that protects the state's coasts.

Alaskan
Republican Party officials did not return phone calls and e-mails.

While she understands Sarah Palin has only served as governor
for two years, Stebing is disappointed she hasn't done more to improve the lives
of Native Alaskans, many of whom live in remote, poverty-stricken areas. They
are places where some are so poor they lack running water and sewage and must
carry out their human waste in large pails called "honey buckets."

Stebing hopes whoever wins in November will address the dire
needs of rural Alaskan Natives.

"That we have that here in
Alaska really bothers me," she said. "This is the 21st century."

Go Holly!

I have been getting some e-mails that are asking me to address some issues that I already have -please see my previous posts from this month and late August about Palin and Native issues as well.

I can address a few though:

Bridge to Nowhere - this one is actually been done in the mainstream- that Palin was for it until she saw how unpopular it was becoming - but there are a few notes here. Including that she still built a "road to nowhere" after the project failed, and kept the federal money left over.

I was asked more about this - if it really was a "bridge to nowhere."

The name of it was a great ploy on the part of the dissenters. It was actually a bridge to the airport in Ketchikan. Having been in and out of Ketchikan many times in my life, the bridge would have been nice, yes. The transportation situation in Alaska isn't well understood by many except Alaskans, and getting from Anchorage to Ketchikan is a bit of an all-day endeavor (I would visit my relatives much more often if this wasn't the case.) I've heard many stories about someone who has missed the ferry and so missed their flight, waiting in sight of the plane taking off.

Was a bridge totally neccessary? That's for people with a much stronger grasp of fiscal spending to go over and over. I know there have been much more frivolous spending on much less practical items. As someone who frequents the airport and Ketchikan - yeah, it would have been nice to do without the ferry any time you want to visit Ketchikan. Please keep in mind that the ONLY way to get to Ketchikan - besides a boat - is the airport and ferry. There is no road connection to anywhere, the case for much of Alaska. But then, it's an inconvenience, not a life and death sort of thing. Not that that's where the money went instead...

The search for Palin supporting Native issues

Finally, in my searching, I have found something "positive" about regarding Alaska Natives people and Sarah Palin. During her campaign to become governor, I was frustrated to hear again and again, when I would bring up concern about her lack of attention to Native issues, "But her husband is Alaska Native!"

This was the refrain, with nothing to back it up. I've finally found a supportive article about Palin and Native issues. Unfortunately, it's more of the same:

"Sarah Palin on Native people"

The letter is written to address the "rumor circulating that Sarah Palin is against Native people." But, once again, the only support that comes out is, "Her husband Todd is a Yupik Eskimo from Dillingham." No policies, no record of support for Native issues, nothing but a quick hello and a photo-op.

Unfortunately, this holds about as much weight as the defense used when people defend their prejudice by saying, "But I have black friends!" It only has meaning when there is action behind it.

Sarah is not a supporter of Alaska Native people, issues or culture. Even in her "official issue statements" as she ran for governor, there is plenty of opportunity to address Alaska Native issues. But the closest she gets, in subsistence, is to point out that she is raising her children in the "Alaska culture" by going hunting and fishing. Huge opportunity lost.

In contrast, nearly every other candidate or incumbent for pretty much every major office in Alaska has at least a small part devoted to Alaska Native issues, or mentions the Alaska Native plan on individual issues.

But our governor has not.

I would love to support someone with a possibility of having the president's ear, to be able to remind him that there are Alaska Native and American Indian people and issues that need to be looked at. Unfortunately, Sarah Palin has shown she will not be that person, whether she was elected or not.

Palin, Palin, Palin

As much as I've tried, the onslaught of Palin cannot be ignored today. With the lack of information about her from the rest of the U.S., to the "down the political rabbit hole" soap opera-ness that continues about her candidacy, I've been getting e-mail after e-mail about Palin, Palin and Palin. I was able to debrief with my family about Obama, and the amazing experience of being able to participate in the Democratic National Convention - of which more posts will be devoted to over the week - but for the most part, people want more info about Palin.

Celtic Diva had shared the news of Bristol's pregancy a few weeks ago - before we'd left for the Democratic Convention in any case. At the time, I was feeling bad for her because it would mean a few days of attention in the Alaskan news. One of my reaction's when Palin was chosen as the VP pick, just four very long days ago, was, "Holy crap, she's really going to put her daughter through that?"

The issues about the effectiveness of "abstinence only," the hypocrisy of the McCain campaign now shouting "families are none of your business," the lack of real vetting (or judgement) by the McCain in vetting Palin - I'm sure all of this will be done ad nauseum.

But the concern for me as an American and an Alaskan - and an Alaska Native woman - is Palin's extreme lack of credentials to be a VP or President, her lack of attention on anything to do with Alaska Native/American Indian issues, and the absence of any kind of plan or attention to Rural Alaska, not to mention the hostility she tends to show to Southeast Alaska - an entire region.

I was grateful to Grassroots Science for sending me a link to a site with Palin's take on issues. The Palin Web site is not available - it shoots directly to the McCain Web site (a little funny when you consider Biden's site is still up.) I have found that most Alaska politicians have a section on Alaska Native issues, or, like Mark Begich's site, instead mention the specific Alaska Native issues within others. Even Ted Stevens and Don Youn, whom I don't support, have sections on Alaska Native issues.

With nearly 20% of the population in Alaska being Alaska Native - and more than a few communities being almost entirely Alaska Native - this attention to the issues is more than just a small section of people you should look at - it's a large and neccessary section of people that are your constituents.

THERE IS NOT ONE MENTION OF THE PHRASE "ALASKA NATIVE" IN PALIN'S OFFICIAL ISSUE STATEMENTS. Not one.

Despite the fact that we are here in great numbers, despite the fact that these issues are important, despite the fact that Palin's own children and husband are Alaska Native people themselves, Palin has completely ignored these issues. In all the research I've been doing, the only things I can find are convenient photo-ops and superficial appearances.

It is not just her stated issues that show her lack of interest in Alaska Native and American Indian issues - her brief governorship has been a practice in ignoring Alaska Native issues. As mayor of Wasilla, the Alaska Native issues were a much smaller voice, and easier to ignore. But as governor of some 100,000 Alaska Native people - roughly 1/6 to 1/5 of her constituents - she cannot continue to ignore the population.

I have seen so many interviews now with McCain spokesman who are asked very simple but direct questions about Palin and cannot answer them. "Is Sarah Palin the most qualified person McCain could have chosen?" "What foreign policy experience does Sarah Palin have?"

I am convinced that a talking point they are given by the McCain campaign is that if they are asked these kind of questions by newspeople who won't accept their dodge (which they are) is to then cry "I'm offended!" by their "attack on women?" Seriously, I've watched this happen four times now. It's insulting to women that to question Palin's qualifications is to demean women. I was glad, at least, that on Larry King a woman was there to put a stop to the McCain woman's "are you saying women can't be qualified" defense when she couldn't answer the question, "Is Palin the most qualified candidate?"

If you want to see what I'm talking about, check out one of these YouTube CNN clips - the question about her foreign policy experience starts about 3:15 in, and the McCain man just cannot, no matter what, answer the question, and after a failed attempt to put forward her "head of the Alaska National Gaurd" as a qualification, resorts to saying Campbell Brown shouldn't "belittle" Palin's decisions - unfortunately he was asked point blank to name one decision she made, and couldn't.

"Auntie Raven" sent me this column, a good look into what some Alaskan reactions have been to the Palin pick.

An extraordinary night

We're waiting in Seattle now, and the Democratic National Convention is really over for us. With all the news in the past days, the Republican VP pick, hurricance Gustav, what happened in Denver has been pushed back.

I've had trouble trying to put it into words, and feel almost as if I am doing a disservice to the whole night in trying. But of course, I will try!

But what happened in Denver has been a long time coming. How incredibly appropriate for the the first black man to be nominated for President of the United States to accept his nomination on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior's "I Have a Dream" speech.



Martin Luther King III had the whole crowd silent for a moment, then erupt into appluase when he said that his father would be proud of what was happening, proud of Barack Obama. Just 45 years ago, to the day, a man gave a speech that resonated around the world, dreaming of a time when people of all colors would be seen as equals. Maybe we are not "there" yet, but I really do wonder if Dr. King could have imagined this coming true, and that his own son would be there to mark the day a black man would be nominated by millions of people, all around the country, as their choice for President.

I was looking forward to the presentation they were going to give about Dr. King for weeks. But I was not prepared for how emotional I would be just watching the video about him. I wasn't the only one.

The screen flashed images of the times, the hosings and arrests, the "White's Only" signs, the marches, the images of a time that really wasn't so long ago. Dr. King's words were played throughout the video.

I found myself thinking of the signs that used to be up in Alaska: "No dogs or Indians," signs I knew my grandparents and great-grandparents saw as part of their day. I thought of the struggle in Alaska for Native people to be accepted, first as citizens, having to throw out their culture just for the privilege of doing so. I thought about their struggle for equality, to be given an even chance at education and livelihood.

Here we were, in a convention in which the "minorities" were the majority. I, a mixed Tlingit/Athabscan woman, sitting next to a half black, half white girl and a man from Ethiopia. The Alaska delegates were a majority of women, (as was the convention as a whole) with black men, Alaska Native men and women, white men and women - all sorts.

One of those Alaska delegates was Cal. He surprised me the morning of Obama's acceptance speech by being introduced as someone who had been there, 45 years ago, at the march on Washington. He heard Dr. King's speech, and he would hear Obama's speech.

When he spoke, he spoke about the time, and what it meant. He spoke to the Alaska delegation about a different time, but we could see it through his words.

Two members of the Alaska delegation were there on that day 45 years ago, and I couldn't help but wonder if they saw this possibility then, coming in their lifetime.

I asked Cal today if he imagined at the time a black president within his lifetime. He at first said he didn't really think of it at the time, and then realized that just the idea that it wasn't thought of meant no, he didn't really think of the possibility of a black president. He said that being from the south, at that time, listening to that speech, that what really felt more possible was getting someone in office - a white man - that would speak for them, an advocate.

I asked him what he was thinking of during Obama's speech, and he said he wasn't really thinking of the people present - that he was thinking of all the people who had gone before, the people who had died who worked so hard for exactly this.

I can't help but echo what he said in what I was thinking during much of that last night. The people who had gone before, who worked so hard to see this result, and so much more to come. I thought of my grandmother's work in Alaska Native education and rights, I thought of those who came before her, of Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich and the countless Native civil rights activists. I thought of my grandmother's mother and father, a white man and a Native woman. An auntie had once pondered what my great-grandfather and grandmother had done, walking through town where one could go inside a store, and one was not allowed.

During the Dr. King presentation especially, I finally got the full meaning of the phrase, "Standing on the shoulders of giants."

After many, many speeches and presentations, the crowd erupted again when they began to show a video of Barack Obama - a little bio of his life. First, an "Aww..." for a baby picture, followed minutes after by more when Michelle was talking about him (At first she just thought he was a nerd with a funny name, before he talked her into dating.)

You got a real sense Barack as a person after the video, and the crowd knew who was coming next...

I don't know if they actually announced his name, because as soon as a glimpse of Barack Obama - the crowd roared. I also don't know how long he was standing there as the crowd wouldn't stop cheering, but a pretty long time.

I have tried to describe the speech, but come up with really inadequate words like, "awesome" or "inspiring." It was not just an exercise in emotional speech-giving - you got a real sense of this man's intelligence and fervor for change with his words. The most touching part, again, was his mention of Dr. King. I won't slice the speech hear, but will post it when I get back to Alaska tonight.

The man on the right was from Ethiopia, now living in Denver. He was on the edge of his seat during the whole speech, and I don't think anyone realized how long the speech was - we could have listened to much, much more. Although we just met, after especially good points, or very astute observations, he would look at Morrigan and I and just go, "Wow" or not say anything. Such was the case around the arena. Everyone wanted to share the experience with everyone else.

I talked to several people after that were not that supportive of Obama before. They believed the hype that he was all rhetoric, no substance, or that he was just some winner of a superficial popularity contest. What they saw, listening to the speech, was quite the opposite, and everyone had changed thier minds when I talked to them. He told everyone exactly what his plan was, and just how we, as America, could get there. More importantly, he pointed out that it wasn't going to be just him - it was going to be all of us, working together, to get it done.

I had done my research months ago, not wanting to be a part of some "celebrity" emotional pull, and knew his background, knew his substantial plans for things little and big in the country - including a great plan for First American issues. But listening to him that night, you get the greatest sense of how intelligent this man really is, and just how big the plans for change he has for the country are. When he said that this campaign has not been about him, it has been about "you," it was not the ring of empty rhetoric - you know he meant it, because that is what the whole campaign is about. He touches so many people through his speeches because he is merely backing up the actions he has taken for so long.

What I finally understood on the last night of the convention, was that this really was a celebration. It was a process, yes, to officially elect Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee. But it was a celebration of who we were electing, why we were electing him, and a rememberance of the years that came before. The years in which this kind of election would have been impossible.

Everyone I spoke to imediately leaving had something of the same reaction - "He just has to be President."

It is this sense that no less than the fate of the world actually hangs in the balance that many of us left with. But not in the fear-promoting kind of way so many employ - we did not leave with worry that if the other guy won we would be fearing for our lives, or concern that our lives would be over.

As Obama so aptly reminded us, a young preacher, 45 years ago could have spoken of fear and anger. He could have played to all of our worries for ourselves and the country. But he didn't. He spoke of dreams like "hope" and "change," and reminded us, black, white and in between, that we can. We can make the impossible possible, we can live in a world without anger and hate, and it is ourselves, it is the people that will do it.


I am sure I have not done the speech, or Obama justice, and, wading between the news of the GOP VP pick, the hurricane, and everything else, there is actually quite a bit about this historic night, and this great man. Here is one article I really like from a former Hillary supporter, her "conversion" after going through the convention. On that note, it still amazes me that there is so much in the media about how "separated" the Hillary and Obama sides are. You certainly got no feeling of that in the convention - there was a gennuine feeling of unity, with those who were against it on the far, far minority. I hope you will spend some time examining Obama, his background and his plans.

Palin - Alaska Native issues

As the madness ensues, with the bizarre pick of Palin by McCain, we spent our last full day in Denver trying to be tourists - trying to take a mini-break from the political zoo this has become. It didn't work so well - pretty much everyone that found out we were from Alaska had questions about just who this "Sarah Palin woman" was: "Who is she? Is she any good?"

Up until yesterday, I was not too pleased to discover what Alaskan's were politically known for in the Lower 48 - the Ted Steven's indictment. I had thought it would be ANWR - but no. It's Ted.

Until yesterday, of course. When McCain chose Palin, all of a sudden we found ourselves answering the question, "Who is she and what has she done?" over and over.

Unfortunately, the TV news crews were scrambling, and in the meantime just shot off whatever they could find out (I swear they were using Wikipedia or something.) Own the Sidewalk commented on an earlier post: "...no media report I've seen since the VP news broke has been able to sum it up without error or significant omission of fact."

No kidding. I wanted to tear my hair out just listening to all these things that really, I don't know where they're pulling from. Even a Palin supporter I talked to in Alaska was wondering why on Earth they just seemed to make up facts as they went along.

One of the more frustrating for me as an Alaska Native woman is how much is coming out now about Todd Palin's Alaska Native heritage. Not that it is mentioned that he is a quarter Alaska Native (and that her children are an eighth.) But that it is being used as if this means Todd and Sarah will, by default, be supportive of any Alaska Native/American Indian issues.

No way.

Grassroots Science sent me a whole slew of media reports mentioning, or even playing up, his "native Eskimo" heritage.

Let me try and make a comparison about why it is so frustrating to have this mentioned in the media - when I am so proud of Alaska Native people and want to see our causes forwarded:

I am proud to be voting for and supporting the first Black/Mixed race President. But I am not voting for him because he's black. I'm voting for his ideas, his plans, his experience, his obvious desire and will to change America for the better. "Any black man" will not do. He's the man for the job, and it's a bonus that he will also be breaking the racial "glass ceiling." But he's done plenty for black America, from legistlation on racial profiling to his work in Chicago - he was a civil rights lawyer!

But this is the kind of stuff that concerns me about the Todd Palin mentions (from the Baltimore Chronicle):

Married to a native Eskimo, and with four mixed-race children, she can
expect to appeal to many non-white American voters, on whose support the Obama campaign is counting.

I cannot stress enough - Sarah Palin has done nothing for the Alaska Native community - a community that includes her own children.

Any venture into the Alaska Native community has been superficial at best. I can't even take issue with her Alaska Native policies, because she has NOTHING of substance. She has ignored Alaska Native people from before she took office as governor - an act all the more harmful because it is her own children's heritage she is not acknowledging.

The only thing I know she's "done" for Alaska Native people - fire them. Or not hire them in the first place. The more recent one is Walt Monegan. I absolutely don't believe she fired him because he was Native - I believe she fired him because he wouldn't fire her ex-brother in law- despite the investigation that had already been done on him, with findings and reprimand.

The most troubling part of all of that was, here was a man who was finally doing something about the horrible rates of violence and abuse in Rural Alaska - and for Alaska Native people. He was passionate about these issues. So she fires him. To "go in a new direction." The problem was, she hired a guy to replace Monegan who had been reprimanded for sexual harrassment. And she never could explain what that "new direction" was.

I don't know what Sarah Palin's views on Alaska Native issues are, mostly because she hasn't said what they are. She's skated by without addressing those issues so far. But before she fires any more staffers for personal reasons, she needs to remember we're here, and that these firings can affect Native people in a big way.

Correction: Grassroots Science pointed out that Todd Palin is Yup'ik and not Inupiaq, which I previously reported - or rather, re-reported from what other media were saying (should have known better.) I only knew that he was a BBNC shareholder - which is in Yup'ik country, so I really should have known!

You must watch this! Palin/John Stewart video

Kodiak Konfidential posted John Stewart's take on the Palin VP pick - nothing like taking the truth and showing just how tragically laugh-out-loud this pick is.

Rural Alaska and Palin

Grassroots Science posted this in the comments below, from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner (one of the larger Alaskan newspapers) about how unqualified Palin is. Opening line:

Sarah Palin’s chief qualification for being elected governor of Alaska was
that she was not Frank Murkowski.
She was not elected because she was a
conservative. She was not elected because of her grasp of issues or because of
her track record as the mayor of Wasilla, an office she won in 1996 by
collecting 617 votes.

Grassroots Science also posts:

I guess the repubs are breaking out the epoxy to repair the cracks in the ceiling.

If anyone wants to know what thoughtful solutions Palin brings to
today's (and tomorrow's) complexities, they should watch her Charlie Rose
interview with Gov. Janet Napolitano.

If anyone wants to know what she has done for rural Alaska (real
Alaska) tell them the indigent scientist for the Unorganized Borough needs a
job. A $1200 sop will not do.

It is a return to the late 70s, the beginnings of the current
Bush-Cheney era and more of the same ol' tired rhetoric with concomitant action
for the few.NB-- just because the election sounds like a no-brainer, that's
exactly what a lot of turned out voters prefer. It's no time to let ourselves
and our neighbors down by "coasting to victory"

What she has done with State Troopers - i.e. firing an incredibly competent and great commissioner in Walt Monegan - has directly affected Rural Alaska and Alaska Native people. Monegan, an Alaska Native man himself, was the first one in a long time to really begin addressing the incredibly high rates of abuse, violence and other social problems in Rural (Bush) Alaska. He was getting the ball rolling, but after only a year and a half at the job, Palin abruptly fires him because "she's going in a new direction." The direction she went was with a new commissioner who had already been reprimanded for sexual harrassment. Not much hope he'd be tough on the sexual abuse, of which Rural Alaska suffers from the highest rates in the nation of.

As far as Alaska Native issues go, the only substantive things Palin has done for Alaska Native people and Rural issues is fire people that are actually getting the job done.

What Alaskans are saying about Palin for VP

Alaskans know Sarah Palin best, and I've heard a lot going both ways. 'Course, I'm down here in Denver for the convention. But what I've seen so far today from talking with, e-mailing and texting friends, family and many interested persons back home.

My talks with Alaskan Democrats:

"But she doesn't have any experience!"

"Is it because she's so pretty? Because she can't help him out any!"

"...totally a desperate grab for the Hillary supporters. I sure hope they don't bite."

"I was going for Hillary, but I sure hope she comes out against Palin. Hillary is what we need in a women candidate. Palin is just a beauty queen. Talk about playing to 'celebrity'! She must be his Paris Hilton pick."

"I liked her when she started out, but she'll just be another corrupt politician in D.C."

"Do they know she's under investigation? Guess they don't care.

My talks with Alaskan Republicans:

"Holy crap! Are they crazy? She isn't qualified!"

"She just became governor after being mayor of Wasilla! How does that mean she should be VP, first in line for the presidency."

"I voted for her for governor, and depending on what they find with the whole scandal thing, I might vote for her again. But I wouldn't want her to be vice president."

From the Anchorage Daily News comments:

"I am all for Gov Palin But Mccain just made Obama the next president."

"Palin is known for being a maverick? Since when?"

"foreign policy experience
im sure BP sent todd and sarah to mexico, once or twice.."

"Any woman will do?
Did McCain just make the political calculation that grabbing the nearest female governor would reel in the Hillary Clinton votes? Isn't that kinda disrespectful of the Clinton supporters? Hey, look, we've got a woman over here!"

"I will vote for her because...
She is pretty, she is a woman, she was raised in alaska. she doesnt have much experience but she can hire who ever she needs to make the choices for her. she looks like a model."

"watch the investigation go away
All of a sudden, the republican investigation of the republican governor won't be a priority.
Thanks, McCain, for taking care of that."

Get the facts about Palin

The news reports are driving me insane. They keep highlighting her with these crazy things that so many people in Alaska are going, "Really?" right now. The Alaskan's I talked to this morning:

"Really? Well, that's one way to get her out of office."

"Seriously? But she doesn't have any experience!"

(A text message from a Republican friend) "WTF? But she hasn't DONE anything!!"

No kidding.

The media reports:

She's known as a reformer.
FALSE.
She was HOPED to be a reformer. The investigation she is embroiled in has already shown her to be just as corrupt as all the other Alaskan politicians under investigation, indicted or convicted. About two seconds into the investigation, they already found her to be a liar.
She kept saying over and over no one in her administration pressured Walt Monegan to fire her ex-brother in law, and not under her command. Then the tape comes out that her administration did, and why did it sound like he was doing so because Palin asked him to? "I don't know." Seriously. That's the answer from both Palin and her lackey.


She has just as much experience as Obama.
WAY FALSE.
The bulk of her "experience" in big politics is mayor of a small town, with no diversity, who has done nothing for the Native people of Alaska (okay, threw that in their, but we make up nearly 20% of the population under her guidance, and she's still done nothing.) For as much as the McCain campaign has been toting inexperience as the reason Obama should not be a leader, they must really be expecting Palin only to be eye candy, to have her do nothing, and just pray McCain stays healthy enough to remain in office, so she won't have to actually do anything.


She's a champion for women.
FALSE.
Look at her record. She is getting the credit for being a mother and, well, being a woman. Like most of the women in the country. Yes, she's a mother, but just like being a POW doesn't mean you are qualified for being President, toting her motherhood as part of her VP resume is condescending to women. Women are smarter than that. She hasn't done anything for women except be one, and under that criteria, I'm qualified to be VP. Just as McCain asserts people shouldn't vote Obama in just because he's black, he wants us to vote in Palin because she's a woman.

She fights corruption (from McCain himself!)
FALSE
You can't fight corruption if you're corrupt yourself! She's UNDER INVESTIGATION!
Goodness know I was rooting for this governor when she first took office. Although I didn't vote for her, she looked to be doing some good. But the past year she has been showing more and more of who she really is, and has disappointed so many Alaskans. Her administration has already been shown to pressure Walt Monegan to fire her ex-brother in law, after she adamantly denied they did.

Palin's inexperience, McCain's hypocrisy

McCain-
“So I think it’s inexperience and judgment and vision … for the future of this country. And I think that’s what this campaign is gonna be all about,” McCain said when asked what he sees as Obama’s biggest weakness.

McCain-
“I have the knowledge and the experience and the judgment to lead this nation," McCain said. "My opponent does not.”

Guiliani-
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Sunday Barack Obama’s overseas visit is only serving to highlight the candidate’s inexperience in world affairs.

Lieberman-
Lieberman on Obama's Russian/Georgia stand, "one had a kind of moral neutrality to it that comes I think from inexperience."

The McCain keyword for the campaign has been INEXPERIENCE. Despite what President Clinton pointed out them saying the same things about Obama's youth and inexperience as they did about him, the McCain talking points have only ever been INEXPERIENCE, INEXPERIENCE, INEXPERIENCE.

So he picks a running mate with absolutely no experience in Washington, with the majority of her political experience coming from a small, extremely NOT diverse town in Alaska?

I love my state, I love Alaska, and it's flattering to get so much attention to this state (for something other than corrupt politicians.)

But choosing someone who is showing herself to be corrupt is only putting her investigation under the spotlight, and McCain is showing his flip-flopping self again, desperate to compete with a much more passionate, intelligent and popular opponent by hypocritically choosing the most INEXPERIENCED running mate he could have possibly picked.

Sarah Palin??? NO!!

Celtic diva just woke me up on a tip she got - CNN is reporting that they believe our governor, Sarah Palin is going to be the McCain VP pick.

WHAT???!!!

After his whole argument being based on Obama being inexperienced, he would choose someone who was mayor of Wasilla, and governor less than two years? And under investigation on something we've now seen went on??? She's being investigated for abusing her power - so I guess maybe it makes sense that she would be trying to step into the shoes of Bush/Cheney.

A desperation choice if it's true - he wants the Hillary vote, and doesn't care if she has so little experience (certainly far less than Obama!) and is under investigation. That she was mayor of a town with barely 5,500 people does not mean I want to give her the keys to the Oval Office. That she's been governor for less than two years, and already under investigation, is no reason to expect she can step in and run this country.

If you're not from Alaska, you may not know that Palin has recently been acccused of firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan because he would not fire her ex-brother in law, a State Trooper. Although denying anything of the kind, tapes came out about a second into the investigation that members of her administration, did, in fact, try and pressure the Troopers into firing him. She's getting a whole lot of credit for not being Gov. Murkowski - as a "reformer," all she had to do was come in, be a beauty queen, and follow a corrupt governor.

I as all for giving Palin the benefit of the doubt. Following Murkowski, anybody that wasn't him was a relief. He didn't even win the primary. But over the past year and a half, she's been showing her true colors.

Let's hope CNN is reporting incorrectly on a rumor - can you imagine total disaster that would befall us if Palin were a breath away from the White House? She's been absolutely hostile to the Southeast Alaska region - she won't even live there, in the capital. She's made so many decisions to favor her own area - the Mat-Su valley, and spit in the face of Southeast.

As someone nobody outside of Alaska really knows about, they don't know the woman we have come to know. She's going to get a lot of credit for being a woman, being pretty, being young, and coming in after a governor everyone hated.

This Alaskan is not voting for Palin.