//09.04.2008

Palin, Because We Don’t Need It

Here is a story from the younger pages of John Gourley (going by Johnny at the time)…

My first hunting trip.

All through my smaller years, from a boy through to a man, I have known true Alaskans. People who hunted for a living. By "a living" I should be sure to mean "for survival" or "as a necessity… Something along those lines… It was just a part of life growing up here in Alaska. People hunt, people work, people live, and fish and sleep and work and work and work and so on.

One of my earliest memories is also one of the most influential lessons of life in my later years. My first hunting trip.

I must have been around 6 or 7 at the time and the setting is Alaskan winter at my childhood home in the small town of Knik. My parents were both dogsled mushers* and we lived in a house powered by generator alone. (*purely out of the adventure and experience. Not necessarily our main form of travel… though there were some points in my life where it became our most available source of transportation.) Our nearest neighbors were a couple of miles away, give or take. This, again, is not needed in this story but only here for you to understand the place in which the story is set… We happened to be sitting in our living room when, outside our massive picture windows, we spot a moose. I will say, to a young boy, this animal was a giant. I can’t honestly tell you in any way how large it actually was, but to my eyes there was and will be nothing bigger. My family and I were sitting around watching it mill about minding its nature and peeling bark from the young birch trees. After a few moments my father turns to me "Hey Johnny, you want to go hunting? You want to go get a moose?” My mind went running. I had never been hunting before. EVERYONE I knew had been hunting and hunted. They had gone out with their fathers and now it was my turn. I nodded my little head and ran to throw on my snowsuit while my dad went to get his gun.

We walked outside in the cold and the snow, him in his bunny boots and winter coat and myself waddling out like a small scale Michelin man to meet our Moose and our dinner for the next few months. I remember the snow being very deep. Realistically, a foot of snow was deep to a small child. For effect and in the spirit of adventure and Alaskan winters I will say it must’ve been the wildest winter I can remember. Meter upon meter of snow. The naked birch trees blending with the white now, leaving little blotches of black and grey at the knots and branches. There was our moose. We had run right into its path. Right where we wanted to be. My father crouches down to my already shrunken size "Are you ready Johnny? Should we get it?" I again nod my head. My father raises the barrel and looks through the scope. We were less than 20 yards away, if that. He pulls his head away from the scope and looks to me again. "Are you sure? Do you want me to shoot it?" This time I am confused. In my mind I am thinking, "Of course I want you to shoot it! We are hunting! This is what we do, isn’t it? My friends have done it and I know you have as well! What are we waiting for?" But again, I nod. The nod was more out of fear of the moose hearing me. Normally I would have spoken my thoughts out loud. At the very least I would have questioned the hesitance. My dad looks through the barrel one last time. He turns off the safety and readies the rifle. He sights the moose and sits there for a moment. All the while I am looking from him to the moose then back to him then back to the moose. I hear the safety come back on and a turn back to see my father lowering the gun and resting it by his side. At this point I am about as confused as a small boy can be. Dad is looking at me and he says, "We’re not going to get it." I ask him why. What he said has stuck with me throughout my entire life. "Because we don’t need it." We simply stood up and walked back to the house, leaving the moose to its dinner of baby birch.

"Because we don’t need it." Possibly the best lesson a man like this could have taught me. He moved up to Alaska in 1970, 2 years after he graduated. He lived in the deep woods in the mountains of Chase. He has run one of the most intense races in the world, The Iditarod, he worked as a potato farmer, lived off of 300$ for an entire year out in these woods… This man is as Alaskan as anyone I know. The lesson he handed to me was a respect of the world we live in. A respect for the animals we live with and the people we deal with. He has traveled around the state working in construction. Building homes for the people and buildings for companies and upon entering these small towns for work always insisted we hire within the community and support their way of life and living, despite what these companies felt to be the most economical. He has handed me so much, all of my family, really.

"Because we don’t need it." My mother, Jennifer Gourley, is much the same. While my father was away working she would take care of our dogs and run the house. She would fix the generator when it would break down. She took us to baseball and hockey and gymnastics. She took on foster kids that needed help. Gave them good meals and a family setting. She volunteered as a firefighter when there were forest fires threatening the areas. When Big Lake and Knik were being evacuated. She has since, in the most recent years become a fire fighter, an ambulance driver, a rescue technician, part of the dive rescue team, and Willows firefighter of the year. She is a part of her community.

"Because we don’t need it" was something that has been taught to me every day of my life through these amazing people and to watch Sarah Palin get so much attention based on what? 2 years as Governor of the State of Alaska? Or is it based on her time as the mayor of Wasilla? The town of 5,000 at the time.

"Because we don’t need it."

We don’t need drilling in some of our most beautiful and untouched land. We need to work towards options. We should be investing and working towards clean fuels. We don’t need to be draining our planet of every last drop before moving on to the next. Sarah Palin disagrees

We needed votes to add the polar bear to the endangered species list. (I know, I know, that polar bear rug would really bring the room together!). Sarah Palin disagreed

We don’t need aerial hunting… Again. We do NOT need this. I don’t know of any true Alaskan that feels it is good sport to shoot an animal from a plane. Sarah Palin disagrees

We don’t need book burners and censors. Sarah Palin pushed to get the librarian of Wasilla fired when certain books were not removed from the public library. Who else in history has banned books? Not very good company is it?

We don’t need more debts. Palin spent 15 million on a new sports center in the valley, leaving the small town of Wasilla, Alaska in debt to the amount of 22 million. (That’s 22 million more than the debt she took on when taking on this lovely playtime as mayor.) 15 million just for a new sports center.

We don’t need family feuds interfering with duties. I know you feel your ex-brother-in-law was a dick… but trying to get him fired based on this may cause a little trouble. Sarah?

We don’t need another vote against gay marriage. This is just standard every day equal rights being overlooked. Sarah Palin disagrees.

We don’t need to overlook global warming. Science can now tell us "Yup. That is happening.” Not my words, that is science speak. Sarah Palin disagrees.

We don’t need a wolf in sheep’s clothing… or a sheep in wolves clothing, depending on how you look at it. She has billed her self as this overly average "hockey mom" and it is just not what I see. I see the sport hunter, the censor, choice taker, the revelations reader, and the high school cheerleader. It is endlessly embarrassing to watch people fall all over this idea. This is not my Alaska. The Alaska I know.

What we do need is love and respect for one another and respect for the world we live in.

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Comments:

//152 Comments

Although I consider myself an environmentalist and an avid animal activist, people come first.
As someone who is clearly passionate and concerned with the big issues, I assume you would take in all available evidence before drawing a conclusion.
First of all, science CANNOT tell us for sure that “global warming” is a true, indisputable fact. As of right now, it is only a hypothesis, essentially an unproven theory. Yes, I know Al Gore would like you to believe otherwise, but making a film is an easy medium to grab people’s emotions while only painting one side of the picture (just ask MIchael Moore). Over 17,000 scientists have signed a petition rejecting the Kyoto Treaty (it’s not just Bush and his Bible-banging ways denying science in his quest to burn the world). If you are as smart and reasonable as I think you are, you will look into sources on the subject from more than one perspective. Visit the following site for some more information: http://www.sitewave.net/news/s49p1354.htm
Now let me state I am ALL FOR a sustainable way of life. Yes, we need better fuel sources. There’s hardly a person in the country that would argue otherwise. However, our current economy and way of life cannot be halted and instantaneously converted to be completely “green.” As is the case, we have to find a way to A) lower our dependence on foreign fuel sources (hence off-shore and AWR drilling until we work something better out), and B) lower gas prices to curb the effect of economic recession (Notice how the price of everything goes up when gas is pricey? “Sorry, your monthly pool cleaning bill is another $15 more. Yeah, gas prices and all . . .”). Can you honestly say you would rather have our nuts in an Arabian vice grip than put up some barges off the coast of Florida? Which, by the way, there are several countries just outside the US waters already drilling and taking what could be our oil. Green-mania, which I believe to be entirely out of control and full of hypocritical false-prophets with private agendas (Al Gore, for instance, uses 20 times the national average of electricity in his home. Let’s not even discuss how much fuel he burns through for his personal jet. . .), has done good. It has made the average joe aware of the need for sustainable products. At this point, even if, theoretically, McCain got elected and Palin got her drilling, the incredible green zeitgeist would continue to hurtle forward in the same direction.
As for Palin, take it or leave it. Just don’t play the fool and put someone like Obama up on a pedestal. He’s not the Messiah or reincarnation of JFK, he’s an amorphous, egomaniacal empty-suit without a credential to his name and shadier past than the crazy ex-hippie meth-head that lives across the street from me. He will say and do anything to get votes. He brilliantly capitalized on the long dormant youth vote, a group of people notoriously lazy in their efforts to go to the polls, let alone actually research the candidates (ie- omg! obama was on rolling stone!1! he’s so cute lol). You should really look into the truth about him-and barackobama.com does not count as a reputable information source, though.
Overall, I agree with your “Because we don’t need it” theme. However, sometimes things don’t have a win-win solution. Everyone is honestly just trying to do what they think is best. That, I think, is at least respectable even if you don’t agree with the same policies.
I hope you found this reasonable and informative. I would love to share more information if you’re interested. If I came across hostile, it was purely unintentional.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
PS- I know putting up a couple of websites featuring information contradictory to a person’s beliefs and expecting them to read up is usually a hopeless endeavor. A girl can try though. . . Hopefully you prove me wrong!
Keep up the good work.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Thanks for the thought provoking read and for providing some insightful description of your home . . . . . . sounds like an amazing place. Keep up the good work and we’ll see you this winter in Omaha.
JDS//09.05.2008
Glad to see the opinion of someone who has first-hand experience. Especially the book-banning part. Great company indeed!
Also, I love your band.
El Steve//09.05.2008
I was wondering what your opinion on Palin was. Definitely don’t think she’d do a very good job. I really dig Alaskan Mike Gravel though, it’s a shame he didn’t win the Democratic nomination. I guess he ran for the Libertarian nomination afterwards, and obviously lost it to Bob Barr and has since retired from politics, which is a bummer.
Also, in response to Kelsey… Even if global warming didn’t exist, which I hope you come to realize that it does, it makes no sense to not work towards renewable forms of energy… Pollution is pollution, regardless or whether or not it’s causing global warming.. It’s still doing damage.
James//09.05.2008
Great read, I’ve been curious to know opinions of some Alaskans on the matter. If Mccain wins and creationism is taught in schools/ oil is continued to be dug for/ talk about a draft arises/ etc etc, then I’m going to have to move to Iceland.
Also, going to see you guys in Allentown when you come to PA, this is will be my 6th time watching you play music; I couldn’t be more excited.
Thomas//09.05.2008
You article is SO RIGHT! Paiin is such an awful woman. I think she may even be the anti-christ. Obama for life!
Jake Riesterer//09.05.2008
We do appreciate your comments and we welcome dissenting opinions on all topics. We have done our research and we are fairly confident in our opinions. This post was made because it has put a spotlight on our home, a place we love immensely, and we felt it was important for us to make a small statement from our small corner of the world.
You will notice that our comments were not about Obama or McCain, rather about topics that about personal topics and experiences.
One point of note. If you look have at the economic assessments (both federal and private) of drilling off-shore and in ANWR over the past 5 years you will see that they all agreed the impact at the pump would not be realized until at the earliest 12-15 years. It was only over the past 18 months or so that assessment has changed. And to whose benefit is this…I believe Exxon made record profits last quarter.
Thank you for your link. We read it and we read several other articles written by Wm. Robert Johnson ( http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/opinion/index.html ). We must say that we do not agree with most of his opinions, but that is the luxury of living in this great country. We can have opinions and we can disagree with opinions. Just respect everyone’s rights
portugaltheman//09.05.2008
One more important part. We do not intend for this site to become a political forum of hate. treat each post with the respect you would want yours to be treated. Love to all
P.TM
portugaltheman//09.05.2008
John you’ve made me love and appreciate you as a person so much more.
Can’t wait to see Portugal at Slims in a month or two!
Chad Heimann//09.05.2008
Kelsey: Science is not about what random people on the net who’ve never read a peer-reviewed paper in their life and have no background on the topic think. Science is about building consensuses of those who work in the field and know the topic. As for the cited, decade-old Oregon Petition, it’s a joke; it contains “scientists” names that are obviously not serious, such as Michael J. Fox, Robert C. Byrd, John C. Grisham, Geraldine Halliwell (the Spice Girl; she’s on there twice), and so on. Scientific American studied the list in 2001; they took a random selection of 30 names from the list. Of them, 26 could be tracked down to real, existing people. 11 of the 26 (out of the original 30) said they still agreed with the petition. Only one was an actual climate researcher, and only two had relevant experience. Extrapolating, only about 200 people on the list are climate researchers — a relevant but very small portion of the climate science community.
The *actual* consensus report of the *overwhelming majority* of climate scientists is the IPCC, which is assembled from scientists in the field from international scientific community. The IPCC does not do research; they just summarize the peer-reviewed literature, so their report reflects the state of peer-reviewed science on the subject. Here’s the last report:
http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/wg1-report.html
If you disagree with them, by all means, the several thousand papers covered are all referenced; check them out for yourself. Conversely, to get an idea of how papers on the subject are cutting, go to any prestigious scientific journal such as Nature or Science and look at what the papers being reported there are saying. Finally, if *that* isn’t enough, check out the stances of major scientific organizations. Of all of the world’s ~3 dozen major scientific organizations that have taken stands on the issue, there are *zero* that disagree with anthropogenic-caused global warming, and only two that take neutral stands. Even the American Asssociation of Petroleum Geologists moved from “Opposed” to “Neutral” (the other neutral is the American state climatologists, who are political appointees).
Portugultheman: I just ran into your site and your music thanks to some coverage in the news. Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Meme//09.05.2008
Although I can’t speak for all Canadians (I’m in Hamilton, Ontario), I do know that most of us here are not impressed by glittery speeches complete with “Super Bowl” type fireworks, balloons and confetti. Also, we have a lot of hockey mopms here who actually care about their children and wouldn’t put them through the abuse Palin is inflicting on hers. (especially the hearing damage that 4 month old must now have)
She is sending a chill though Canada as her careless comments about military matters to impress her new boss are puitting our canaduan soldiers at further risk……as well as Canada for our de-facto association with the likes of Bush, Cheney and now possibly McCain and Palin.
She is wreckless in her actions and words and seems to really enjoy her 15 minutes. Well, it’s now into the 16th minute and let’s see how well she does when she fields “real” questions with reporters and in a debate. The teleprompter will be nowhere to be seen.
Does she even realize that her insane and careless mockery of prisoners having their rights read to them the other night further puts our troops in harms way and danger ?? And by the way, is she suggesting the Geneva Convention rules of war should be pitched overboard?
I am so happy that you have better thinkers in the USA like Senator Obama and President Clinton et al to somehow act as checks and balances and feel comfortable in jumping in front of the runaway War Mongers train. Will Obama make mistakes? Probably. Every President in history was a rookie on their first day in office. At least he will correct his mistakes quickly and move on.
I’m looking forward to see what “real” bombshells have yet to come out on Sarah Palin. I’m biting.my fingernails in anticipation here. I can only imagine the worry the McCain camp is going through. Everytime their blackberries go off, their heart rate must rise in fear of what’s there.
Good Blog here !
I’ll pass the link around here in Canada.
Cheers!
And contrary to what some Americans believe, we Canadians love you like family……….because, really, we are family!
We both just get some morons in office at times…………..eh?….(had to put the “eh” in for you…..lol)
Your friend for life
mike
PS……..here’s a link to my City of Hamilton (we’re about in the middle between Toronto and Niagara Falls……50 miles each way)
http://www.tourismhamilton.com/pagedetail.cfm?id=44
I’m always proud to shamelessly promote my hometown as you guys should be also in spite of your Governor.
mike//09.05.2008
James- you must have just skimmed my piece as I did say that whether or not “global warming” is real, it is important to find more environmentally friendly systems. I certainly will not come to realize a phenomena that is backed by the media and not science. If facts aren’t convincing, I can’t imagine what would be. I realize I am in the minority here, but I’ve done my research and I can accept my opinions with full confidence, not just because the populous is telling me to do so. Perhaps it comes back to the societal influence on the individual- essentially peer pressure.
As for John, I do appreciate your articulate and thoughtful postings. I can definitely respect that. I simply brought up Obama because if you’re going to trash one side, you ought to do everyone justice. Your perspective on the Alaska related issues are obviously closer to heart, so I see no point in attempting to debate. Regardless of politics, I will undoubtedly continue to support you guys. Please keep making amazing music.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Oh, and one more thing………..somebody call McCain and let him know that we in Canada “get it” that he’s a Viet Nam War Hero and is a great American citizen………….seriously, we don’t need to hear the story, especially out of his own mouth a gazillion times………he’s starting to get embarrassing and probably turning off a lot of other war veterans by the constant “look at me !…I’m a hero!!”
I know he’s a great man and his story is compelling………however!……enough!!……..don’t ruin the legacy!!
We in Canada salute every soldier who puts themselves in harms way for Democracy and Freedom…………There are a million heroic stories that we will never hear and are sealed in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier……… for God to know about only………….John McCain is one of thousands and possibly millions over time.
It’s time for McCain to go silent on his own story and be humble…………. We “get it”
(with all due respect)
mike//09.05.2008
PS- really regretting posting anything at all. Please don’t jump and attack me everyone, I won’t be checking this forum again
Kelsey//09.05.2008
I can not repeat this enough. Respect and love your neighbor and their differences.
Thank you ALL for your opinions
“The love you take is equal to the love you make”
portugaltheman//09.05.2008
Mike-As of right now I have about a million other things to read for school, but I will read up on that when I get the chance.
Don’t mistake my departure as avoidance, I just have things to do
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Kelsey, stay and debate……….it’s important that all sides get a voice………..you Rebublicans (we call them Conservatives here in Canada), have to grow thicker skin. (lol……)
Seriously, we have some real concerns about the Republicans and specifically Palin and Cheney.
Why would she ever dream of taking Polar Bears and Beluga Whales off the endangered list?….for what?……….drilling?……..she’s out of control!
She’s a big-time manipulator and power freak quite clearly and her GI Jane/Annie Oakley meets Washington schtick is going to blow up in………10-9-8-7…………and so on.
I think even Mrs. McCain is getting antsy about her as Palin wants to take over the role of everything……..Looked like McCain is getting pissed at Palin already and is scared she’s trying to bully the spotlight……..
Oh, and tell Palin the joke about lipstick, bull dogs and hockey moms has been going around Canadian hockey arenas for a long time……….even Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell know that as they are hockey parents up here in Canada in the Toronto/Hamilton area and are seen regularly huddled in the arena with hot chocolate and coffee on cold mornings like the rest of us.
Sarah needs to drop the “hockey mom” thingy ……..that’s “old” already !………..we “get it”
again, stay Kelsey!………..debate is good!
mike//09.05.2008
Addendum:…….my last post said “Palin and Cheney”………….should have been “Palin and McCain”………see how she confuses the mind already?……..lol
Also, 10-4 Kelsey………gotcha!……
cheers!
mike//09.05.2008
oh pish posh, I love debate. Honestly, if you could convince me to be on the global warming side I would LOVE IT! I could stop being an outcast!
But really, I am in the process of getting ready to go somewhere so I will have to disappear.
Here’s my thing: if you dislike Palin and McCain because you dislike their policies, that’s at least respectable. If you support Obama/Biden because you’re a democrat and you always vote democrat, that, too, is understandable (abeit, lazy). However, it literally terrifies me that people genuinely believe everything Obama has to say. They actually believe him when he says he’s a different kind of politician. If you actually read about him, you’ll find that he’s just like every other politician: a deceptive, misleading, opportunist. I found the comment about Palin and her teleprompter particularly hilarious. If you’ve heard Obama off script, it is truly a riot.
As for conservatives needing to grow thicker skin- yeah, they do. They really get beat up a lot these days. However, I consider myself a Libertarian, not a conservative/Republican
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Also, I have huge problem with the way the GOP candidates have been treated. Now, let me clarify: I am not a republican. Got it?
It disgusts me the way the media is treating these individuals. The bias is both enormous and undeniable.
Point 1- Experience. People are questioning Palin’s experience. Really? What about Obama? I have not met an Obama supporter who can name a single thing he’s accomplished. It always comes back to some kind of he-makes-me-feel-good statement. I think it’s better to have a less experienced person in the number 2 position than head of the country.
Point 2- Baby Mama Drama. It is both irrelevant and offensive to drag Palin’s daughter into this mess. If your problem is with her policies, I understand that. Her kid got pregnant- it happens thousands of times everyday. Notice OK Magazine (I believe it was OK, might have been US or People or some other trash rag) published two magazine covers. Palin on one with the headline- “BABY! SCANDAL! LIES!” The other was Obama hugging his wife- It was a fluff piece about their marriage and how they read Harry Potter to their kids at bedtime.
Another point- the victim card. Obama has been playing it since day one. “I know I don’t LOOK like. . .” Continued emphasis on his black heritage. The thing is, he’s 50% Arab. If he was elected he would be the first Arab president, not black. He’s only about 8% black. He’s using this to his advantage to make people feel guilty for disagreeing with him. It has worked marvelously though. Palin (and Hllary for the most part) actually refuses to play the victim card, despite the fact women have not only been oppressed longer (and till this day in many parts of the world), but are still disregarded in the professional arena. It also sickens me that the pro-feminist left all of a sudden flips on a coin when the GOP gets a female nominee- “She should be at home taking care of her kids!” Yikes. Talk about setting the women’s movement back a couple decades.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Both candidates are BAD. It comes down to who you think is the lesser of two evils. Thanks to our terrible two-party system, perfectly designed so people can be as ignorant as they please and just vote for the red or blue team on election day, we’re left with some pretty crappy options.
As much as I feel the environment is a priority, I just hate to see my dad, a man who worked for pittance in the Air Force for 33 years and who is finally making some money since retiring from the military, get half of his paycheck taken away and used to pay for useless government programs or to support people who are content with being in the lowest bracket (as long as they keep getting that check without working for it, who cares, right?).
I believe after that we’re at least tied, sir.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
I am a big fan of this one from Jon Stewart. Let’s be real, all politicians are full of shit and they do not represent the citizens of the US they represent the corporations.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card
portugaltheman//09.05.2008
” Experience. People are questioning Palin’s experience. Really? What about Obama? I have not met an Obama supporter who can name a single thing he’s accomplished.”
You’ve met one. Obama was graduating from Ivy-league Columbia University with a degree in Political Science with a focus on International Relations when Palin was graduating high school and competing in beauty contests. He was professor of Colombua law university, organizing Chicago’s largest voter drive in history, and a professor constutional law when Palin was changing between six low-key colleges and earning a degree in journalism (minor in polysci), then working as a part time sportscaster and fisherman. Obama was in the state senate authoring over 800 bills when Palin was elected mayor with just over 640 votes, to a job that she herself described in one interview as trivial (talking about how there were only 53 employees and a six million budget). Obama was elected US senator from one of the US’s largest states with 3.5 million votes and has served there twice as long as Palin has served as Governor, where she was elected with 114k votes. As a Senator, he served on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, probably the most prestigious committee in congress (as well as 12 other committees), and has met with dozens of leaders across the globe in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. She only got a passport in 2007; her foreign policy experience is listed as Canada (because she’s crossed the border before), Kuwait (because she visited the national guard there and never left the base), Germany (stopped there on the way back from Kuwait, same thing), Ireland (because her plane stopped to refuel there; she didn’t even leave the plane), and Russia (because Alaska is close to Russia). Heck, he’s been campaigning for president almost as long as she’s been a governor, dealing with donations from over twice as many people as Alaska has taxpayers and managing almost twice as many volunteers as Alaska has state employees. That’s just his *campaign alone*.
Oh, and in case you were asking about bills? He’s sponsored, last I checked, almost 150 and cosponsored over 500, ranging from international nuclear disarmament to making it illegal to transport toys to the US that contain lead to banning banks from misleading wording with mortgages to a number of cleantech and healthcare bills, housing for veterans, making the millenium anti-poverty goals binding, and so on. He’s even the reason why it’s illegal for lobbiest bundlers to act without reporting. I can get you a list of resolution numbers of his bills that passed if you’re interested.
Meme//09.05.2008
Here you go — I just found a URL where you can see his bills:
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html
Oh, and I was wrong about the number of bills: that was just the number of bills he’s sponsored and cosponsored in the *110th* congress alone.
Meme//09.05.2008
That is pretty funny. It’s not hard to catch pundits eating their own words. I’ll take Colbert over Stewart any day of the week.
Just for fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-QevraCQUc
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Palin’s mismanagement of her state’s budget is indefensible. Her failed eBay sale of the luxury jet purchased by your former governor, and this sports center $15 million splurge make me wonder – do any kids go without food or electricity or shelter in Alaska? 94% of New Orleans doesn’t have power right now, and Cindy Mccain wore a $300,000 outfit to the RNC. All this talk of taking care of america and service from the GOP, and where is it?
Alexandra//09.05.2008
John, Thank you for having a brain in your head. I am an avid music fan but have not heard of your band before. I will be sure to check them out. If you ever tour through Oregon I will definitely check out your live show.
Kellsey, a simple google search can show you some of the things that Obama has accomplished, for instance:
from http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/fact_check_on_milbanks_claim_t.php
“Obama Passed Bipartisan Legislation That Expanded Health Care Coverage To 154,000 Residents, Including 70,000 Children. As a state senator, Barack Obama sponsored and helped pass legislation that expanded and made permanent Illinois’ KidCare program by raising eligibility from 185% to 200% of the federal poverty level. The legislation provided coverage for an additional 20,000 children and 65,000 more Illinois adults in the first year, and by 2007 had expanded health care to 70,000 kids and 84,000 adults. In its endorsement for his Senate race, the State Journal–Register wrote, “Obama brings similar common–sense views to improving health care in America — for example, as a state senator he championed the successful KidCare program that assists thousands of children of the working poor.”
I am from Illinois, and am by no means a staunch Obama supporter (actually I supported Ron Paul), but the thought of what this Republican ticket could do to this country (which is already descending) is terrifying. And I also believe that it is utterly ridiculous of the Mccain/Palin team to cry “sexism” after her comments about Hillary and also to yell about the “liberal media” for even attempting to look into her past, seeing as she is almost completely unknown except to the 700,000 people of Alaska. It all comes down to politics, both sides are very shady, but the right sides continued support of GW policies is scary as hell. Well, at least we live in America where we are free to voice opposite opinions without fear of retaliation.
Cheers,
Eric
Eric//09.05.2008
Corr: that was supposed to read, “He was a president of Harvard Law Review”, not “He was a professor of Columbua law university”; I should have proofread.
Meme//09.05.2008
“I just hate to see my dad, a man who worked for pittance in the Air Force for 33 years and who is finally making some money since retiring from the military, get half of his paycheck taken away and used to pay for useless government programs or to support people who are content with being in the lowest bracket (as long as they keep getting that check without working for it, who cares, right?).”
Your father would get a bigger tax cut under Obama’s plan than under McCain’s. Seriously:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/
If he makes $38k-$66k, it’s a cut of $1042 versus $319 for Obama and McCain, respectively. For $19k-$38k, it’s $892 and $113, respectively. And for under $19k, it’s $567 versus $19. The average person in a given bracket doesn’t pay more on Obama’s plan up until you get to the $112k-$161k bracket, wherein there’s a small difference in favor of McCain’s plan. Obama’s plan is a cut for everyone up to the $227-$603k bracket, which has to pay $12 more in taxes. The big contrast is on the big earners ($2.9 million or more) — McCain gives them a $269,364 cut while Obama gives them a $701,885 increase.
As for revenue from the two plans, Obama’s plan works out to an average $160 lower per person in the US, most of that being at the low end. McCain’s plan works out to an average of $1,200 per person, almost all of that being at the upper ends. Hence, you get gyped on your tax break *and* you get what the government provides cut 7.5 times more than under Obama’s plan. Sound like a deal to you?
As for “useless government programs”, you should know that the lion’s share, the overwhelming majority of the federal budget goes to four things: 1) Social Security (~21%); 2) Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP (~19% combined); 3) interest on the national debt (~10%), and 4) the Pentagon (~21%). Which do you want to cut?
Meme//09.05.2008
Barack is great at taking credit. Not only has he been handed bills to pass since the announcement of his candidacy (hey, gotta put something on that resume!), many of these bills he claims were “his” but which were actually written by others or passed by a larger group (yes including him, but saying “I passed A and B!” is a little misleading). Also, Mike- I looked on that website for his records of bills he SPONSORED. I found that a great majority were “to honor the life of _____” or “in celebration of ____” or “condemning the violence in____” Not very serious stuff. I’m still not impressed nor convinced. He was also a “senior lecturer on leave” not a “professor of law”- “senior lecturer” doesn’t sound as prestigious though.
Regardless of all that, let’s say he’s a super experienced, honest guy with a heart of gold (blech), I still disagree with his policies. Mainly, his devastating lack of economic knowledge (or should I say, lack of common sense). If you tax people to death, there is no incentive to work hard. SOCIALISM DOESN’T WORK! It’s been proven time and time again, (Soviet Union, Cuba, etc).
Also, rich people aren’t the enemy. Just because you’ve been rewarded for hard work doesn’t make you evil. Everyone has the same opportunity in this country. You should all read a little book called Atlas Shrugged.
Eric- did someone send you here to debate? Just wondering if you’ve never heard of this band.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
He won’t get a bigger tax cut. Yeah, sorry my dad is considered “wealthy.” He worked for it though, and that is entirely respectable.
The first two please!
1) Social Security should be privatized. This ain’t gonna last much longer. Things that are private work better. Fact. People shouldn’t be babysat because they don’t think saving money is important. Take care of yourself. I can’t remember who said it, but I love this quote: “I don’t want to be a burden to my kids, but I certainly don’t have the right to be a burden to anyone else’s kids.”
2) Dependent people should get health care, not people who don’t WANT to save for it. The thing is, health care is extremely expensive. Doctors, equipment and medicine are expensive. There’s no way around that. If you create socialized healthcare, the quality drops drastically. I don’t want to wait 2 years for a dentist appointment, thank you. Also, we young people don’t need as much healthcare. We would end up paying exorbitant amounts in taxes for something we don’t need. No thanks!
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Btw, I’m not saying the current healthcare system is great. Don’t get me wrong, it is a MESS. Socialized healthcare isn’t the answer, though.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Kelsey, nope; I found an article about Portugal.theman on a google news search, it was about a Wasilla indie rock band that had made a statement about Palin. And, being a fan of indie rock (well, music in general) and politics, I thought I would check it out. Where else would you find better information than from someone actually in the city thats all over the news.
Why? Are you paranoid?
http://blogs.courant.com/eric_danton_sound_check/2008/09/wasilla-indie-rockers-not-buyi.html
Cheers,
Eric
Eric//09.05.2008
Ok. I’m done debating (for now). Gotta go be productive!
Kelsey//09.05.2008
paranoid? No I was just curious how you ended up here. WHY? YOU YELLA? haha.
Kelsey//09.05.2008
” If you tax people to death, there is no incentive to work hard. SOCIALISM DOESN’T WORK! It’s been proven time and time again, (Soviet Union, Cuba, etc).”
How is a tax cut “taxing people to death”? Seriously, please stop repeating talking points and focus on the actual policies in question. FYI, the tax rate on the top bracket during our nation’s largest boom period (post-war 1940s to the late 1960s) fluctuated between 70% and 90%. It’s presently in the upper 30s if I recall right, but honestly, most wealthy people don’t pay near that much because most of their income comes from capital gains, which is taxed at a much lower rate. Warren Buffet famously offered a $1 million reward for any Forbes 500 company CEO who could show that he paid a larger percent of his income in taxes than his secretary. There were no takers.
Just ignoring that, and assuming that they actually *did* pay a larger percent on their taxes: picture it this way. Imagine it the other way around: what if it was all based on sales taxes? Well, most people would agree that it’s only fair to tax luxury goods at a higher rate than necessities. So, for example, you’d have a high rate on a diamond ring, but a low rate (or no rate) on a head of lettuce. However, it gets complicated quickly. What rate do you use for a can of mushrooms? Fresh button mushrooms? Shiitake mushrooms? Truffels? You’d pretty much have to have a separate rate on every good in existence; there’s no way that could realistically work. However, you can invert the paradigm. The poor and middle class *cannot* spend most of their money on luxury because it’s mostly going to necessities. The wealthy *cannot* spend most of their money on necessities; what, are they expected to eat $2 million dollars in cheap food a year? Hence, taxing the poor and middle class at a lower rate is essentially an approximation of taxing necessities at a different rate than luxuries. In an ideal world, you’d have the tax on each individual good, but in practice, that cannot be done.
By the way: I should add, my father is a president of a the US branch of one of the largest oil companies in the world. I only stand to lose from the wealthy being taxed more.
Meme//09.05.2008
I’ll refute that later. I’m out, homies
Kelsey//09.05.2008
Right on, peace out Kelsey.
One more thing before I head out, I just read the comments on that blog and they criticize your band for using this whole scenario to your advantage. I say more power to you, a small band has got to start somewhere and get their name out, hopefully the views you wrote truly reflect your opinions on the issues, otherwise you might as well become a politician. I know several Alaskan kids here in Oregon and they, for the most part, share similar views as yours.
Cheers,
Eric
Eric//09.05.2008
“He won’t get a bigger tax cut. Yeah, sorry my dad is considered “wealthy.” He worked for it though, and that is entirely respectable.”
Indeed, it is, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Of course, he won’t exactly be “taxed to death”; in fact, he’d be getting a tax *cut* under Obama’s plan unless he was in the upper end of the $227k-603k bracket, where there would be a trivial increase. And if he were in the sort of million-dollar-income bracket where it would be a relevant amount, to be quite honest, it’s not exactly going to hurt him much. But a lot of people *are* hurting.
You seem to subscribe to the philosophy of “I got mine, Jack”. From a moral standpoint, does a CEO who earns $3B a year “deserve” 100,000 times the money of a hot tar roofer just because the market was willing to pay that? Don’t get me wrong; the free market is great. If there’s something common like sand and something rare like gold, it’ll balance out the prices in short order so sand is used commencerate with how common it is, and likewise with gold. But the problem when it applies to people is that it doesn’t reward based on how hard people work; it rewards based on rarity. There’s some correlation between the two, but not causation. Said CEO doesn’t work 100,000 times harder than the hot tar roofer. He isn’t 100,000 times smarter. He didn’t take 100,000 more times the risk. Yes, he probably worked his arse off to get to that position. Yeah, he was probably pretty darn smart. Yeah, he probably took more risks to get to where he is. But 100,000 times as much? Of course not. The moral argument falls right outside the door. Declaring an economic system (the free market) to be a judge of morality is to abdicate the concept entirely.
“1) Social Security should be privatized. This ain’t gonna last much longer. Things that are private work better.”
A) Too late. Social security works like a pension system, where people put in . To close down the social security system means to cut off every American who has been paying into it and needs it when they retire. Where’s that going to come from?
B) What led to the Social Security system was the disaster of Poor Houses across this country, wherein the burden was merely transferred to counties. Where poor houses weren’t available, there was a huge epidemic of homelessness among the elderly. I hope you like vagrants.
“2) Dependent people should get health care, not people who don’t WANT to save for it.” The thing is, health care is extremely expensive. Doctors, equipment and medicine are expensive. There’s no way around that. If you create socialized healthcare, the quality drops drastically. ”
How are you enjoying your socialized military? Socialized fire extingishing? Socialized police protection? Socialized road construction? Seriously, do you actually trust the government to handle these things, but think they can’t handle *insurance*? We’re not talking about changing anything about the *services* provided; we’re talking about *insurance*.
FYI, you need to check the World Health Organization ratings of the healthcare systems in vaiorus countries. Our rank is attrocious. We have norrible infant mortality, life expectancies, and ridiculously high costs in comparison to other first world nations. Even *Cuba* has almost the life expectancy of us. It’s humiliatingly bad. With the exception of Japan, which is only slightly government-run, the leading countries in all metrics all have government-run health insurance. So while you may philisophically disagree with the concept, it’s hard to deny the results.
Meme//09.05.2008
Er, posted too soon: “Social security works like a pension system, where people who put in today are paying for the people who are retiring today, not for their own retirement.”
Meme//09.05.2008
love the story and the first hand experience. and John. Gourley that is.
Donny//09.05.2008
RIGHT ON! i feel the story and thoughts are heartfelt, intriguing, informational & refreshing.. i sent it to my many conservationist-flyfishing-republican relatives .. i also didn’t know about pallin’s stance on creationismuntil today. as a person living next to kansas, to hear that other states are considering this type of direct harm to our kids’ education system is terrifying
kelsey – please take meme’s advice and if you want something easier to read, how about this handy-dandy link (with pictures!) on weather.com:
Some Frequently Heard Arguments from Climate Skeptics and Why They’re Wrong (or Simply Irrelevant)
http://climate.weather.com/science/urban-legends/
p.s. meme, where are you? i was just going to post the ipc stuff & then i just fell instantly in love with you after reading your post.. =)
p.s.s. to the band- the music is wonderful too .. cheers!
killabeas//09.05.2008
You’re father is very wise man, indeed. I can think of few better lessons that I can impart on my own seven-year-old boy.
Thanks for a genuinely heartfelt piece and best of luck.
JJ//09.05.2008
OK Kelsey, I am an atmospheric Sciences Professor in Calagary Canada. There are maybe 400-500 scientists who are qualified to comment on global climate change (i.e. experts in the feild). With the exception of 2 of these, their is a consensus that climate change is occuring and that it is most likely caused by human action. Now, I didnt even bother going to the link that you gave because I have read every single academic peice published on climate change (this is my feild of study and I have been in it for 23 years), but there is absolutly no way that 17,000 scientists have signed any such document. 17,000 people maybe, but not many could be qualified scientists.
I know of about 22 ’scientists’ who debate global climate change in North America (only 1 atmospheric scientist ). Of these 22, 22 of them recieve their funding from energy companies, none has published an academic paper in over a decade. I am sorry, but global climate change and its link to human behaviour are almost as strongly agreed upon as the theory of gravity. You are correct though, even gravity is not proven 100%.
Bob//09.05.2008
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Sarah Palin. I appreciate it, and wish more people who know her would do the same. Because we need it.
Dan Burchard//09.05.2008
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Sarah Palin. I appreciate it, and wish more people who know her would do the same. Because we need it.
Dan Burchard//09.05.2008
I agree with your outlook completely. I think anyone who doesn’t support a green energy revolution is simply fearful of change. It’s not going to wreck our economy to spend the next 10 years weaning ourselves OFF OIL. This is the 21st century. We do not need to settle for an oil-driven economy. A green revolution will create jobs, industry, new technology…so much good and not a lick of bad. I see no need whatsoever to expend any resources to expand drilling in our most beautiful natural areas in order to PUT OFF THE INEVITABLE. Why cling to oil when there are better options? You know, a lot of people once worried about the whale oil industry…don’t see much of that anymore, and I don’t see a lot of damage from the loss.
I urge the nay-sayers…don’t underestimate the power of positively motivated people to make great and positive changes in our country! Take a look at your own arguments and tell me if you are motivated by proactive, hopeful, positive, forward thinking or are you motivated by fear? Fear of an economic collapse, fear of change, fear that we’ll somehow fail…
I’ve got to tell you, I prefer to be motivated by the hopeful promise of a brighter more progressive future.
Megan//09.05.2008
[...] be able to weigh in on what has been a, to put it mildly, controversial choice. From their blog: We don’t need book burners and censors. Sarah Palin pushed to get the librarian of Wasilla fired [...]
Scripted Failures » Blog Archive//09.05.2008
As a black person I want to know, Kelsey, how on EARTH somebody can be 8% black? Are you serious?
Ashley//09.05.2008
Hello P.T.M,
While you have kind of an ‘ugly’ picture up top there, art is in the eye of the beholder and all that…I just wanted to say that it seems like your parents did a great job of raising you, imparting decency and discernment, and all that. That sounds like an old lady thing huh. Oh well.
Of course, I agree with your initial statements, but the rest of this page shows it too. Some people just want to show off or rage and you didn’t go there. I wish Obama WOULD at times, but I know he doesn’t want to get down in the dirt with them. You certainly didn’t either. Cool. Best to you in the music business!
kem//09.05.2008
also a great job to you, Meme and Eric. I am copying your posts for later use. thanks!
me//09.05.2008
[...] Saturday morning reading comes from the band Portugal. The Man. One of the band’s members, John Baldwin Gourley, grew up in Wasilla, Alaska, also the home [...]
Irregular Times: News » Another Wasilla Resident Speaks Out Against Palin//09.06.2008
Isreal and rest of world are starting to see Obama as Arrogant even putting it in Major newspapers. If the world can see through his rhetoric why can’t the rest of America….they are saying tons of good stuff. People around the world saw what the American Press did in the Character assassination of Governor Palin to help paint Obama in a better picture, but the article is the best argument as to why Govoner Palin is more Qulified then Obama. People are saying best argument hands down! If the world sees it How come You guys don’t….
READ THIS ARTICLE below.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220526712963&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
denise//09.06.2008
Oh Denise, I’m only a dumb Canuck and even Ican see through your rhetoric……….Obama?.Arrogant?…….that’s rich coming from the Republican side……
Oh, by the way, Obama spent the day today actually talking to Americans about what he plans to do for the economy….IN DETAIL that made sense !
Palin/McCain?……………hockey Mom talk, War mongering and breaking the news to America that he is a Viet Nam War Hero……..Ciny McCain look like she’s about had it with Palin and wants her to go away!!
Obama actually sounds Presidential and confidant……….McCain?…..he’s being led around by a psychotic!……….with lipstick of course.
mike//09.06.2008
And also!……….Wow!……….wanna talk pit bulls?………….Biden!!……he was awesome today and I’ve never seen him so forceful….Game on!
I reallyyyyyyyyyy can’t wait for that VP debate!………
What Sunday talk show did Sarah Who go on today?………huh?…..
mike//09.06.2008
Wow, am I impressed. I want to meet Meme and I want to hear Portugal The Man’s music. Good job guys! So glad I saw a piece with this link in the ToTheCenter board. (I’d love to see Meme join that board. Highly articulate and full of sense.) I hope the band meets with great sucess and has a blast doing it.
MplsVala//09.06.2008
It’s so refreshing to hear people who are actually informed enough to make a legitimate opinion; people who use their own knowledge and not campaign-defaming propaganda. And in response to Kelsey, I’m at least glad that Obama refused to badmouth Palin about personal issues.
On the topic of green energy.. I read an article on how being environmentally/ethically conscious is treated as more of a “hobby” in the US, and I agree with it. Though rising fuel prices suck, I see it as a big positive in one way: it forces a lot of people to opt for more resourceful cars and alternatives.
Anu//09.06.2008
I watched a video of aerial hunting for only a couple of minutes and started to cry. It’s so cruel and unnecessary. On the one hand she says life is precious and on the other she says killing children in Iraq is God’s will.
Nancy//09.07.2008
[...] Palin, Because We Don
Palin: Because We Don’t Need it « In One Ear… Out the Other//09.07.2008
Thanks so much for your perspective on this. One of the first things I thought of when I heard the Palin announcement was, “what do the P. the Man guys think about her?” It’s nice to have an insider’s perspective on this rather than just pundits speculating, even though it turns out that the opinions largely coordinate.
I posted the this to my political blog at outtheotherear.wordpress.com, as we have been covering the Palin selection quite a bit. I hope you don’t mind.
Mike//09.07.2008
Portugaltheman: WONDERful article.
To Kelsey: Since you consider yourself to be an environmentalist you might check out Sara Palin’s record on the environment-it’s worse than dismal. (Incidentally, I am pursuing my degrees in Microbiology and Environmental Science.) But thanks for your posts-they are making for some great debate. I haven’t been this entertained in ages!
Cecily S.//09.07.2008
Kelsey: You also stated that you were an animal activist. If this is true, how can you possibly agree with her stance on aerial wolf hunting?
Cecily S.//09.07.2008
SARAR PALIN IS A MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE IS SATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don’t think global warming is real then id LOVE for you to tell everyone at THE HISTORY CHANNEl and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC that their scientists are completely wrong!!! If you (ignorant people like kelsey) have ever seen videos of the Greenland Ice fields melting at an alarming rate then you really should! If Greenland’s ice melts their will be extremely devastating flooding in Northern Europe, Florida, New York city, and it will lead to the destruction of all OCEAN CURRENTS! I GUARANTEE that Kelsey hasn’t seen an inconvenient truth or Earth: the biography (water or ice episode).
BUT ON TO PALIN! She wants to teach CREATIONISM in PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!! I’m pretty sure the constitution says something about SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
Palin want’s to teach abstinence instead of comprehensive sex education in public schools because she thinks its PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY to teach their children about sex. THIS SHOWS A COMPLETE LACK OF MORALS CONSIDERING HER 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT!!! SHE CAN’T EVEN CONTROL HER FAMILY LET ALONE A COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH AND HER DAUGHTERS BOYFRIEND EVEN SAID THAT IT DIDN’T want children on his myspace!!!!! can you say MISTAKE!!!!!
I am a homosexual and I will not sit around letting someone tell me who I can and cannot love!!! Marriage is a fucking word! GET OVER IT! I guarantee I love God far more than she ever could, especially because she doesn’t want to preserve the earth, God’s greatest gift to humans. I am also pretty sure that Jesus wouldn’t be a member of the NRA if he was alive!
Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin toldmembers of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to ‘keep up the good work’and ‘wished the party luck on what she called its ‘inspiring convention.”
Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. 6
> * Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn’t even support abortion in the case of rape or incest.
As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banningbooks because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, ‘news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker fornot giving ‘full support’ to the mayor.’ 9
> * She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said ‘thanks,but no thanks’ to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying thatAlaska should take advantage of earmarks ‘while our
congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.’10
PALIN IS PURE EVIL AND IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE UR JUST IGNORANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brad//09.07.2008
To start this, I would like to point out that I have lived in Alaska my entire life. I have never once blogged in my life. I have never thought of posting what I think as being of enough importance that someone else needs to read it, or cares to read it. But, as of late, with the elections and all, I feel like I have some things I need to get out. I read a blog today that was truly moving. The writer was eloquent, and made his point quite clear. He speaks with great visual imagery and told a story that I thought was truly great. After the story, he posted some things that are relatable to his story in that they would affect this “Alaskan lifestyle” in which he is accustomed to. These things, I have felt, didn’t quite add up for me, so I just wanted to address them, from my own point of view, meaning no disrespect for the original author. And these things may mean nothing, and I definitely don’t have the influential pull that the original writer possesses due to placement in the entertainment industry. So read with an open mind and take with a grain of salt. His posts will be shown in bold and will also be italicized.
We don’t need drilling in some of our most beautiful and untouched land. We need to work towards options. We should be investing and working towards clean fuels. We don’t need to be draining our planet of every last drop before moving on to the next. Sarah Palin disagrees
There are obviously issues that I agree and disagree with Sarah Palin on. This is one of the issues I am in the middle with. Sarah Palin is about production and drilling of ANWR, I am against it. But it isn’t like she is alone. Ballot measure 4 in Alaska was a huge controversy. Yes on measure 4 would mean stricter rules for mining waste and clean up, and due to some wording issues, it seemed that it would shut down the mines, which was a bit of an exaggeration. No on ballot measure 4 would obviously mean that current mining regulations in place are enough. Results from the primary elections -( keeping in mind voter turnout is obviously not 100%, probably not even 50%, but those who chose to voice their opinion counts, and the people who chose not to vote, chose to let someone else choose their future)-
Ballot Measure 4 (Mining Initiative):
- No: 95,615 votes, 57.14 percent
- Yes: 71,722 votes, 42.86 percent1
Palin showed considerable support for this campaign to turn down the ballot measure, but the votes still came out opposing the initiative. She showed support for what Alaskans wanted- the people she was in office to serve. This is not my Alaska. The Alaska I know. Things may have changed since you left. I am in no way questioning that ANWR is not open for a reason. Drilling is not an answer to our nation’s economy problem, but there needs to be something to happen to free our reliance on foreign oil until alternate energy solutions can be found. ..we lived in a house powered by generator alone. Average gas price on a gallon of fuel in 2003 1.512- average gas price today – $4.332, not to mention some people are in the rural areas are paying upwards of ten dollars a gallon to fuel their homes. You cannot say that people are making enough to pay two and half times the amount today as they did just 5 years ago. Not to mention how cheap gas was at the time of heating your rural area. Considering in 1998, it was as low as $1.063. I am in no way trying to take away the fact that you did have an experience of a log cabin and all, but 300 a year isn’t going to cut it anymore, adjusted for inflation that is 571 dollars today, which isn’t enough.
We needed votes to add the polar bear to the endangered species list. (I know, I know, that polar bear rug would really bring the room together!). Sarah Palin disagreed
On this issue, I need to refer to another issue brought up, which in some small ways contradict each other.
We don’t need aerial hunting… Again. We do NOT need this. I don’t know of any true Alaskan that feels it is good sport to shoot an animal from a plane. Sarah Palin disagrees
In this statement, I feel you are overlooking and interpreting facts to support your own conclusions (and sway the ideas of those who are uninformed on the issue of aerial wolf hunting without actually telling them what it is for or about). To clear up any misconceptions, you cannot just jump in a plane and go hunting, it requires governmental permission. The idea behind aerial wolf hunting is that there needs to be predator control. There are remote areas of Alaska where moose and caribou population become close to extinction, not endangered species, area specific populations being dangerously low. The aerial wolf hunting allows government agencies to aerially hunt these predators so people who do rely on these moose and caribou for food, those who need it, not to be confused with a statement (“Because we don’t need it.”), because some do, can have those animals available. (“I don’t know of any true Alaskan that feels it is good sport to shoot an animal from a plane. Sarah Palin disagrees “) Again I would like to make a motion towards Alaskan voters, this is referred to in our recent primary elections as ballot measure 2.
Ballot Measure 2 (Predator Control):
- No: 92,741 votes, 55.59 percent
- Yes: 74,082 votes, 44.41 percent
No means that aerial wolf hunting is to continue as it currently is, yes means it would make it more strict on regulations, the ballot measure basically asked “should aerial wolf hunting be more controlled?”Alaskans answered no, I again refer to – This is not my Alaska. The Alaska I know. It may be different now.
My main point of the contradiction here is that you want to stop aerial wolf hunting, even though it saves populations of animals, and you jump on her about the polar bears issue. I would like to point out some information on one of the scientists who first realized that the polar bears are becoming desperate. And I quote-“Stroeve, whose research is quoted in the proposal several times, said she was happy to lend a hand, but had one issue: “How is listing them going to protect (them), if the ice is going to melt anyway? Stroeve said all the ice will most likely be gone in 10 to 20 years, especially if we keep having hot summers. Despite her predictions, she said the listing would help bring attention to climate change.” This is environmentalists using ice melting to stop the drilling issues. Climate change was the cause, which will act as my segway into the next bit of information.
We don’t need to overlook global warming. Science can now tell us “Yup. That is happening.” Not my words, that is science speak. Sarah Palin disagrees.
Yes, carbon dioxide in the air has increased in the last century due to the use of fossil fuels. Yes, global average temperature has increased 0.8 degrees F in the same century. Unfortunately, the temperature increase came first: most of the temperature increase was before 1940, and most of the new carbon dioxide was added after 1960. Would you trust a “scientist” who said the result came before the cause? I’m not trying to say your “science” isn’t correct, but there is more than one view of global warming in the scientific field. There is no room for dogma in science, there is no absolutism in science, and that is the only true fact you can pull from science. The fact that something is really only true until it has been proven wrong again. I realized this next example would be outdated, but at a time, scientists did believe the earth was flat and that the sun and other planet systems revolved around us. I am just saying it, “not my words, that is science speak.”
In the aggregate, livestock has a greater impact on global warming than the entire transportation sector i.e. planes, trains, and automobiles. Which means that simply eating less meat can potentially reduce your carbon footprint more than driving a Prius.
Again, I am not science your scientists are wrong, I just feel that they may be interpreting facts to support their own conclusions, just like the scientists who believe global warming is a hoax may be doing. You have to see my logic here. There are holes in the evidence on both sides of the argument, so jumping on the issue isn’t completely in the best interest do to because of “science speak.”
We don’t need book burners and censors. Sarah Palin pushed to get the librarian of Wasilla fired when certain books were not removed from the public library. Who else in history has banned books? Not very good company is it?
I am in complete agreeance with the author here. I believe censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. Removing books from a library is wrong, but stating that she is a book burner, is just incorrect. This is, however, what brings me to another criticism of Sarah Palin, though overlooked in your posting, is something I would like to bring up, because in a way you have strengthened my argument on the issue. We don’t need censors, I completely agree on the issue. Sarah Palin is all about teaching creationism is schools alongside evolutionary theory. The government quite obviously has banned and censored this act in schools. Isn’t the idea that we are bashing Palin because she wanted some books removed a bit contradictory on the fact that the government can censor whatever they want and not get questioned. If people in my elementary school had a choice, not to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance that is fine. It is their right as free citizens, just as it should be their right to hear both sides of an argument. At this point, I would like to quote Malcolm X, because even though he may not have believed that creationism in schools was important, he would have wanted to her both sides of the argument, and I quote,” the purpose of education is not to fill the mind, rather is in place to open it.” If we are to argue censorship and bash Palin about it, you might as well complain about the central government’s monopoly on the public education system and call the banners and censors as well.
We don’t need another vote against gay marriage. This is just standard every day equal rights being overlooked. Sarah Palin disagrees.
If we are going to bring this issue about, I might as well point out another person’s point of views as well. Because Barack Obama is opposed to gay marriage as well. While it is no question that he supports gay rights and civil unions, but you are being short sided, because there is not one candidate in this election that does support gay marriage. If we are going to get into it, John McCain voted against a same sex marriage ban, he felt that it should be left up to the states, just like Obama does. McCain is the one running for president here, Palin stance on the issue matters, but ultimately it is McCain who would make the decision, and he has obviously agreed with his democratic opponent on the issue. To come back to the original issue, you are right, Palin does oppose gay marriage, but she again is not the only one, she is just a target.(stance wise, bring up that sexist, “she is a target because she is a woman” and I will pull my hair out, she is under the microscope about everything is all I am pointing out.)
At this point, I feel I have put to much time into this already, but I would like to say that these are issues and how I feel, if you disagree, that is fine.
I decided to cite some sources for the enjoyment of it.
1. http://alaskapride.blogspot.com/2008/08/alaska-2008-primary-election-results.html
2. http://www.alaskagasprices.com/Prices_nationally.aspx
3. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/exhibit/history.html
4. http://ontheissues.org/
JASON THE ALASKAN//09.07.2008
Brad, you need to read my post and realize your a simple minded sheep, who follows what they hear in liberal media
JASON THE ALASKAN//09.07.2008
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing your sentiment. I will not go as far as to refer to Sarah Palin as Satan or anything over-the-top like that. Plain and simple she is bad for our nation and you have hit a lot of nails on a lot of heads.
Thank you for taking the time to write this.
Jeremy//09.08.2008
Okay, kids, dig out your American Government texts and review what authoring and sponsoring a bill in Congress means.
I’ll give you a study tip: Authoring a bill is way more impressive than sponsoring one. Authoring is the actual work of creating the legislation. An author or a sponsor may introduce the legislation, but the author is the one who’s done the heavy lifting. (More precisely, the staff of the author has done the work in conjunction with the member of Congress.)
Barack Obama has never authored a bill. And why would he have ever had time? He’s been running for President for the majority of his term.
Malcolm//09.08.2008
Malcolm. Grow up and grow a set!
Aunt Judy//09.08.2008
She’s got my vote. I agree with her on most of the things that you don’t.
Ind//09.08.2008
thank you. outstanding commentary.
megan//09.08.2008
JASON! THIS ISN’T ABOUT ALASKA!THIS IS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! You brought up some good points in your blog concerning aerial hunting as it has been in use for decades to control species population, but that is besides the point. This is about Sarah Palin and how well she could do as VP.
Jason when it comes time to say “I told you so” concerning global warming, it will be so bad that I probably wont want to. And how dare you call me a small minded sheep. My points of view are completely derived from Peer Reviewed Journals, not cnn or other bullshit news station. At least i’m not a close minded, small town hick, zealot.
SHE IS PRO CENSORSHIP! The truth has nothing to fear from investigation!
SHE IS ANIT PRO CHOICE IN ALL CASES INCLUDING RAPE OR INCEST!!! And fuck all you conservatives who say that liberals are for abortions. we are for the right to choose. How dare anyone say they have control over someones body. McCain who has said countless times that he is pro choice BECAUSE WOMEN WILL STILL GET ILLEGAL ABORTIONS IF NOT LEGAL ONES, but has now changed his stance to gain votes! Unfortunately I have even met a person who gave themselves an abortion because one was not available! I was absolutely appalled and knowing that women around the country are resorting to coat hangers is appalling! But no you conservatives are right it’s more important to have unsafe and potentially devastating illegal abortions. (thats sarcasm FYI)
Her husband is a secessionist who she supports.
SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOOOOOOOO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE!!!!! FOX NEWS (or whatever conservative media is?) can’t even lie about her experience. One correspondent tried to say that “of course she has foreign policy experience, she is right next to Russia”. WTF IS THAT BULLSHIT!!!! YOUR RIGHT YOUR CONSERVATIVE MEDIA IS SO INTELLIGENT!!!!!!!!! They can’t even lie for her. That’s truly pathetic.
She wants to teach CREATIONISM in PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!! I’m pretty sure the constitution says something about SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
Palin want’s to teach abstinence instead of comprehensive sex education in public schools because she thinks its PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY to teach their children about sex. THIS SHOWS A COMPLETE LACK OF MORALS CONSIDERING HER 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT!!! SHE CAN’T EVEN CONTROL HER FAMILY LET ALONE A COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH AND HER DAUGHTERS BOYFRIEND EVEN SAID THAT HE DIDN’T want children on his myspace!!!!! can you say MISTAKE!!!!!?????
Brad//09.08.2008
I don’t care how Gov. Palin sings. I don’t care about your opinion on politics.
Stick with what you know, son.
GEAH//09.09.2008
Glad to see so much enthusiasm for this debate. I would like to point out a few things.
The Environment. Whether you believe in Global Warming or not, everyone should have a pro environmental perspective. Unless of course you have no family, hate everyone in the world, and have no desire for the earth to continue once you are dead. Pollution, run-off, garbage dumps, sewage, deforestation, etc. are all issues that are real. We need to consume less, recycle more, and preserve what we have. Loosening the laws/fines on business will never be the answer. I don’t know about you but I prefer to be able to to go out for a jog and not have to jump over garbage while chocking on the air.
Hunting/fishing. Both are OK and should always be allowed. But really shouldn’t it be a sport, shouldn’t there be some equality to it. Hunting to thin a diseased herd from a plane is one thing. Hunting from a plane for sport is just lame. That is like challenging a 5 year old to a game of one-on-one.
portugaltheman//09.09.2008
I am really impressed by all the views and information presented here.
What really stumps me, however, is how well educated and informed individuals can come to such different conclusions with regard to factual information. I can tell that no matter what anyone writes, proves, presents, whatever . . . Kelsey will continue to see Obama as an inexperienced politician delivering sound bites and global warming as scientifically unproven.
Kelsey, what moves you to think out of your box?
Cece//09.09.2008
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html
yarrrrr//09.09.2008
“Kelsey, what moves you to think out of your box?”
Kelsey seems incapable of thinking out of the box. Every single sentence she made came out of the “Republican Shill textbook”. I’ve read the exact same words, the exact same accusations, the exact same half-truths, the exact same lies too many times already.
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it” Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda
“In politics stupidity is not a handicap” Napoleon Bonaparte
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it and eventually they will believe it” Adolph Hitler
“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play” Joseph Goebbels
“Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives” John Stewart Mill
I’m very sure Karl Rove and Steve Schmidt are quite familiar with all of these propaganda quotes because it’s what they base their strategy on. Sarah Palin is nothing more than a political ploy to shore up the evangelical vote and possibly sway some ex-Hillary suporters to McCain’s side. I only pray those making efforts to expose this hoax are relentless in their pursuits because this country and the world cannot afford another 4 years of Republican rule.
corine//09.09.2008
Thank you so much for writing this! I was born and raised in AK (I now live in Portland, OR), and have been really irritated with the way Palin has been portraying our home state. Apparently, I lived in a completely different Alaska than she does. You have articulated all the points I have been unable to.
Thank you.
Kyle//09.09.2008
[...] website discussing Wasilla, AK and Governor Palin at length. Choice excerpts are below. Click here to view the full blog. My dad looks through the barrel one last time. He turns off the safety and [...]
Portugal. The Man Gets Political//09.09.2008
“The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt” Bertrand Russell
portugaltheman//09.09.2008
Wow. Beyond all the hysterical comments from both sides, this fellow northwesterner just wanted to commend you on a really beautifully written and memorable story. Parable-worthy, really.
And something that anyone of any political persuasion should be able to understand and believe.
CJ//09.09.2008
I read most of the arguments, and I gotta say that Kelsey got owned. All her arguments were lame, and somewhat contradictory. For example:
“I just hate to see my dad, a man who worked for pittance in the Air Force for 33 years and who is finally making some money since retiring from the military”
and
“He won’t get a bigger tax cut. Yeah, sorry my dad is considered “wealthy.””
Well, which is it?!? Surely, to be classed wealthy, in that area where McCain’s policy gets a bigger paycheck, he aint earning pittance (which , Kelsey, by the way means not a lot)
Also, about socialism. Socialism has worked for Cuba, it’s working in Venezuela too. Cuba places above the US in terms of healthcare, despite it being socialized. Also, according to surveys and stuff, Cuba tends to rank above the US in terms of happiness. Not job happiness, but happiness in general. Cuba has made huge leaps under socialism, as has Venezuela, it’s just that the American media doesn’t want to show this, just like they don’t show how badly the Israelis treat the Palestinians.
Also, while Kelsey raised a good point about how irrelevant family life is, surely when you claim to be a good christian family, but your 17 year old unmarried daughter gets married, that surely says something about your little fantasy world, or that your family isn’t as close-knit as you would like.
Lastly, it doesn’t matter that Obama, according to you, lacks economic knowledge. That’s what policy planners are for!!
Main point in summary: Kelsey’s arguments are conceited and ignorant. to say the least.
Ryan//09.09.2008
Loved your story. Also am extremely fearful of Sarah in her disguise. She is without a doubt the anti-Christ. Somebody just needs to check for the 666.
Jackie in NJ//09.10.2008
I am a homosexual and I will not sit around letting someone tell me who I can and cannot love!!! Marriage is a fucking word! GET OVER IT! I guarantee I love God far more than she ever could, especially because she doesn’t want to preserve the earth, God’s greatest gift to humans. I am also pretty sure that Jesus wouldn’t be a member of the NRA if he was alive!
good thing she said you couldnt love each other, fool
she said you arent gettin benefits for a marriage, but she is a VP, McCain is offering civil union, state decisions, and benefits, you just wont get marriage
and to point out something fun for you – Obama, and actually, to make this clear, EVERY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE IN THIS ELECTION OPPOSES GAY MARRIAGE – SEE I CAN USE CAPS TO MAKE A CLEAR POINT CLEAR
im not saying anything negative about your lifestlye, nor i have i pointed out my personal views, but wake up and smell the coffee son
Jason when it comes time to say “I told you so” concerning global warming, it will be so bad that I probably wont want to. And how dare you call me a small minded sheep. My points of view are completely derived from Peer Reviewed Journals, not cnn or other bullshit news station. At least i’m not a close minded, small town hick, zealot.
congratulations on making yourself a fool twice over, and im two for two
we are currently on a website, debating about a post made by a guy in a band who is not only from a cmall town of 8000, but he clearly lived outside it, near willow, population about 1500. you are standing up for him,
i, personally, happen to live in the city that is home to HALF OF ALASKA’S POPULATION, THE STATE’S BIGGEST CITY population of around 300,000, if you do the math here, i live and grew up in a place with 200 times the amount of people. i didnt grow up in a cabin, i have a house, and i live in a normal city, so when you criticize on the basis of not wanting the opinion from a “small town hic” you may want to rethink your postings, because you are thrashing on the very band you are here to defend
and i never once have attacked your personal life, do it to me, ill make you look like the way you are, an uniformed person who gets worked up on things and doesnt have thick enough skin to take debates
SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOOOOOOOO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE!!!!! FOX NEWS (or whatever conservative media is?) can’t even lie about her experience. One correspondent tried to say that “of course she has foreign policy experience, she is right next to Russia”. WTF IS THAT BULLSHIT!!!! YOUR RIGHT YOUR CONSERVATIVE MEDIA IS SO INTELLIGENT!!!!!!!!! They can’t even lie for her. That’s truly pathetic.
gosh you make this fun for me, she is a one term governor from alaska, which acts as the liason for the eastern countries, she may not have the experience you want, but Obama is a one term senator from illinois, his foreign policy experience is a trip to the middle east, not really heavy in foreign policy
now lets get to the real point of my message, YOU ARE COMPARING A VP TO A PRESIDENT, if you want to argue McCain’s Foreign policy experience with Obama’s, you might as well just want to stop now, because McCain has been dealing with foreign policy since before Obama has been in office, or probably even a community organizer for that matter
i fear if i go much further i will destroy and rhetoric in this argument you might have thought you had, read your shit, come back when you can talk issues
Jason the Alaskan//09.10.2008
i would like to first commend Kelsey for her standing up t what she believes in in this forum, i should have been in here longer to help he defend the conservatives, right wing, republicans, whatever you lefty, demo, lins will call us. Fun right, all the names, how about FELLOW AMERICANS, you pride yourselves on you freedom of religion and freedom of speech and then attack her on own points of view. so i have decided to give everyone some lessons on ecomomics, the right wing, and why i think kelssy is the smartest person here
Raising the minimum wage
Obama has voted and is still in strong support of raising the minimum wage, time and time again i will say that this has proved itself to the detriment of the lower and middle class. Charity is an important thing in business. I think charity is great, but when someone is hired as unskilled labor at 5.50 an hour at the minimum wage, that is their worth. If we are to raise the minimum wage to 7.25 an hour, we are now forcing business to donate charitably to a person who is under qualified. The real problem with raising the minimum wage is that it is supposed to help those people in the unskilled labor force, when in actuality it hurts them, and i will explain why, and explain why obama supports it. In every type of movement like this,(minimum wage icrease) there are two organization involved, those who belive this will do some good,and the special interests. In this case, the special interests are who obama draws main support from, the labor unions. For years the labor unions have had lobbyists in washington hoping to raise minimum wage more and more, now they are just backing the candidate foolish enough to promote it. When minimum wage goes up, business want skilled labor, becauase the price for an unskilled worker is becoming so dangerously close to a skilled worker, they might as well just contract out the unions. The unions have business people in place to make sure that their union members get hired, all the way at the top of this are the lobbyists who make it happen on a bigger scale. So with raising the minimum wage, you are making inflation skyrocket, and getting more low class people less jobs. In addition, if someplace like McDonalds has to hire 15 year olds and pay them 2 dollars above their worth, you can be damn sure that a meal at McDonalds is going to have to cost much more, in the fact that they are now selling the same product, excepthaving to pay the person to hand it to you two dollars mroe than their worth. Then, comapnies big enough, will automate everything because it will be cheaper for maintenance on a machine than it will labopr cost
on to another economic issue at hand, over taxing the people who make more than 97000 dollars a year
you have to be honest with yourself here and think straight, by taxing the people who make that much, you are just passing the costs off to the people working for them, these”low and middleclassed” people who work for these” upper class” over 97000.
you cannot imagine the same amount of revenues being made, the same employees, except now you are getting taxed because you own the business, and you took the risk, not the people who decided to play it safe and just get another job. Come on people, raised taxes for this class, even though they already pay a ridiculous amount, will only lead to lay-offs, no raises, and ultimately fewer jobs. If you want governmental control to this level, go check out cuba and venezuela where people in this thread have praised them for their socialist governement. with unemployment in the nine and ten range, or check out france, with all their centralized government, 10% of the peope are unemployed. Free Country and power in the states, not in the central governement, Obama will centralize, and for all of you dems who always say the government has too much power, look at your candidate who is going to give the feds even more power, or look at the GOP nominee, who is all about returning power to the states
Now onto why i think kelsey is smarter than all of you
she came in here presenting facts based on science, not on the entertainment industry, Fall out boy is doing ads for global warming, science doesnt need marketing to prove its point, here is something for you all to mul over
while it is true that the world has, on average, increased .8 degrees farenheit over the last century, around 70% of that warming came before 1940, when most carbon emisssions and pollutions from travel industries came after 1960. And to point out another fact for you, the live stock of the world puts off more harmful gas in feces and flatulence than all of the travel industries combined, so technically eating less meat is more beneficial to our society and world than driving a prius. so when you say pollution is doing this, look into science, and not the entertainment industry
i am all about alternate energy resources, and i do agree that drilling is not the answer to get out of this, but we have to do something now or we will continue to be controlled by foreign countries. honetsly people, bitch at the gas station, and then praise obama for not thinking now. R&D has been going on alternate fuels for decades, and where are we now, nowhere, we could have an answer tomrrow, it could be twenty years, because that is an uncertain factor, what we are sure of is that we need freedom from foreign control
i dont chekc thi that much so leave your responses and ill come in and respond later
Jason the Alaskan//09.10.2008
THANK YOU JOHN, for pointing out the TRUTH, and sharing your sentiments as a TRUE Alaskan.
I flat out DON’T trust Palin. Period.
Steph//09.11.2008
First of all, I live in New Zealand, on the opposite side of the world from America.
When I was 18, the minimum wage in New Zealand was $5.50. I am now 21 and the minimum wage has hit 12.00
That’s over 100% increase in 3 years. So, according the ‘Jason From Alaska’ they are getting paid, what, $7 more than their worth. Fair enough. Until I bring up the fact that prices at McDonald’s HAVEN’T changed in that 3 year period. Businesses earn enough money to be able to pay their employers that amount in a small country like New Zealand, so surely companies in America, with the biggest companies in the world would be able to as well.
I guess that’s the thing: more pay, higher job satisfaction. Higher job satisfaction, higher work output.
Ryan//09.12.2008
First of all, I live in New Zealand, on the opposite side of the world from America.
When I was 18, the minimum wage in New Zealand was $5.50. I am now 21 and the minimum wage has hit 12.00
That’s over 100% increase in 3 years. So, according the ‘Jason From Alaska’ they are getting paid, what, $7 more than their worth. Fair enough. Until I bring up the fact that prices at McDonald’s HAVEN’T changed in that 3 year period. Businesses earn enough money to be able to pay their employers that amount in a small country like New Zealand, so surely companies in America, with the biggest companies in the world would be able to as well.
I guess that’s the thing: more pay, higher job satisfaction. Higher job satisfaction, higher work output.
obviously McDonalds is not the only company i am duscussing here
and our country was founded on the issues of free trade and a strong state right, not a central government. New zealand would have a higher miimum wage, you guys basicaly invented it. And the reason you guys wouldnt be afftected, is obviously due to your low level of globalization. Lets be fair and say production and factories probably dont run hugh in a place like new zealand. In america, if something is going to cost a ridiculous amount, it will be outsorces, or replace by machinery that wont need many people. You have to be realistic and realize i wasnt only referrring to the mcdonalds labor force, and if you want to look into it, why dont you look at a man who was awarded the nobel prize for his groundbbbreaking research and views on economics. Milton Friedman. Youtube his on minimum wage increase and unemployment, tell me he is wrong, support your decision with information, then i feel ok about saying i am wrong, until then, fight of the most celebrated economists in history
Jason the Alaskan//09.12.2008
milton friedman opposes govt regulation of any kind.
i think we’re all seeing where that road takes us.
~~
P.TM – really digging your music and looking forward to the new release and hopefully catching you at Slim’s. a friend in a band called Overview and turned me on to your stuff. i saw that you’re from wasilla and have been wondering what you thought about the last couple of weeks…
found this page through a googlenews search, so i think you’re moving up the media ladder!
no offense to your hometown, but nominating this woman for the office of VP is an insult to me, to you, and to the office itself. the media was able to dig up more info on her in two days than the mccain camp bothered to find out in four months, and even they were surprised at how much came out and how fast.
i suppose that like my own hometown back in the southeast – wasn’t much to do on a friday night but get wasted. i was wondering what’s your view on the national enquirer stories about drugs and affairs and all that?
c’mon, guys! inquiring minds want to know the inside scoop! lol
be safe out there.
peace
martinchill//09.14.2008
Who wannabes. You guys need to stick to music and not whinning about Sarah Palin not letting you have a skate park. If Obama lets you have one will you stop crying? Does having a bear rug make you a bad choice for V.P? Which is a useless position anyway so why would you and everyone out here waste time fighting something that is invisible.
Are you in need of a purpose in life? Volunteer your time and close your mouths and do something that matters, ok pete, keith, roger and john!
Imposters.!!!
mike g//09.15.2008
Ha. You think we sound like The Who? Interesting, we will take it.
She actually eventually built the skate park. Zach had to raise $75,000 and she reluctantly matched it after much complaining. Problem with the press is they misquote things all the time.
VP used to be a useless position until Dick Cheney got into power and decided to lie and torture
portugaltheman//09.16.2008
“Does having a bear rug make you a bad choice for V.P? Which is a useless position anyway”
VP GHWB=three term president
neocons=destroyers of worlds
Q “Do you think [Sarah Palin] has the experience to run a major company, like Hewlett Packard?” asked the host.
A “No, I don’t,” responded Fiorina. “But you know what? That’s not what she’s running for.”
the rug would really tie the oval office together, tho…
congrats on the new record, fellers. my canary is digging Hard Times.
peace
martinchill//09.16.2008
All arguing besides, I think it speaks volumes for the American public when there are articles in the newspapers like “females flock to Palin”.
Apparently she’s doing a number on the democrats’ female voters. Just because she, too, is a female?
HGonestly, I knew Americans (gross generalization mode) were superficial, but not to this extent
Ryan//09.17.2008
Thank you.
We don’t need any Palins running public affairs policies anywhere. Not at a time like this.
Regarding John’s story,
You should check out the book,”This I Believe” edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. This I Believe is compilation of short essays from all sorts of common and/or accomplished people writing about every day personal philosophies and it is associated with National Public Radio. Your story is so insightful, you could probably get published. More people need to live by this philosophy of “But we don’t need it.” We read This I Believe in my first year writing class and had to write our own ‘this I believe” essay. So even if your not interested in getting this story published as a ‘This I Beleve’ essay, I think you would enjoy the book.
keep being awesome people.
peace
Kaysha//09.17.2008
Hi there,
I’m Coming from Luxembourg, Europe (One of the Worlds Biggest Money-Wash-Machines, and one of the Worlds smallest Countries)
Here, I’m getting quite some information about you elections and especially about your Alaskian Govenor. To get straight to the point one could summery her speeches as right-wing anarchistic peppered with lots of religious conviction and salted with a good portion of ignorance.
But what does seldom reaches us here is the fact, that the Americans ar not in general as their vice-president candidate. Therefor I am very glad I read your Post. You’re absolutely right: We DO NOT NEED IT, nor does the world needs Palin! I think she’s dangerous, unhealthy for the peace and the climate in the World. Drilling in Alaska is the very last thing needed, put the money in affordable public transport, in insulation and renewable energy sources.
Instead of pushing billions into wide open banker asses, get Public Healthcare, retirement pay and social security!
I don’t think, Obama is an issue…but it is the lesser evil.
Please People, don’t let Palin realize her mad Visions of Manmade Armageddon come true!
Thanks,
your Moe
By the way, I like your music stuff
Moe//10.03.2008
bravo.
tonya//10.06.2008
Does Sara Palin conduct herself in Alaska the same way she does on the national stage?! God help us if she and McCain get elected.
Cecily S.//10.08.2008
Very eloquent. Thank you.
Jon//10.09.2008
Alaska is the great unknown to many of us. Reading your story reminds me of the way I thought of Alaska before the Palin fiasco. I feel sorry for Palin. She has been propped up and is way out of her league.
KELSEY- I am not sure where in this story Al Gore is mentioned as a source for global warming. Sure he made a documentary. but an overwhelming number of scientist believe that in fact it does exist. The only people that seem to be clinging to the notion that it doesnt base their decisions on religion…or are just in denial.
You also say…
“He’s not the Messiah or reincarnation of JFK, he’s an amorphous, egomaniacal empty-suit without a credential to his name and shadier past than the crazy ex-hippie meth-head that lives across the street from me. He will say and do anything to get votes. He brilliantly capitalized on the long dormant youth vote, a group of people notoriously lazy in their efforts to go to the polls, let alone actually research the candidates (ie- omg! obama was on rolling stone!1! he’s so cute lol). You should really look into the truth about him-and barackobama.com does not count as a reputable information source, though. ”
I would bet that your reputable news source is fox news.
Again, I am not sure who said he was the messiah or jfk. What has Obama said or done just to get votes? Please educate me on this. I have done plenty of research on both candidates.
“shadier past than the crazy ex-hippie meth-head that lives across the street from me”
If you are referring to William Ayers please give it a rest. Honestly it’s ridiculous. Jeremiah Wright? If the left leaning media were so far to the left. There would be much more press regarding McCain’s spiritual advisor.
“he accepted the endorsement of the Reverend John Hagee, a Texas televangelist who has called the Catholic Church “the great whore” and a “false cult system.” After the Catholic League protested and called on McCain to renounce Hagee’s support, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee praised Hagee’s spiritual leadership and support of Israel and said that “when [Hagee] endorses me, it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for or believes in.” After being further criticized for his Hagee connection, McCain backed off slightly, saying, “I repudiate any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee’s, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics.” But McCain did not renounce Hagee’s endorsement.”
Why am I voting for Obama?
I dont make over 250 thousand dollars a year so my taxes will not go up. They are only going to go up if you make more than 250 thousand dollars a year.
Obama is going to roll back the tax cuts that Bush put into place. As Warren Buffet said at a fundraiser:
“The 400 of us [here] pay a lower part of our income in taxes than our receptionists do, or our cleaning ladies, for that matter. If you’re in the luckiest 1 per cent of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99 per cent.”
McCain wants to keep the Bush tax cuts. Thanks John because the bush tax cuts have been real helpful. They have been helpful for the rich. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet get tax breaks while the rest of us do not?
McCain likes to use words like victory, evil and defeat. He talks about Iraq as if there is win or lose column. Let’s be honest the Iraq war is lost. Do you know that for the amount of money we have spent in Iraq we could have paid off every mortgage in the U.S. The definition of winning in Iraq does not exist. That would be like saying we have won the war on drugs. The war in Iraq will be a never ending battle. The surge worked. The surge just made them all go to afgahanistan. When we get afghanistan under control I assure you it will move somewhere else. Thanks McCain for Iraq. The war in Iraq has been as easy as you said it would be.
David//10.09.2008
Just enjoyed the blog you have here. When one thinks of Alaska, I would certainly hope the description you gave would be more fitting than the one created by this wench Palin. I enjoyed the story about the moose and not needing it. If this country and it’s self serving population (not everyone, but a lot) were to take a moment and realize what a beautiful place we live and take care of her (Mother Earth) we would all be a little better off. But NO, gotta talk about this stupid woman and her antiquated thinking and bias BS…
Anyway, I didn’t want to start a rant, but it sure is refreshing to read what you say…Too bad more people don’t learn to appreciate something instead of using it to an end and then wonder what happened?!
moodus//10.10.2008
wow! i just began listening to portugal. the man and really i haven’t stopped. I beleive your music is unbeleiveable and something that makes me respect you even more is your political views. really you have inspired me and i saay Portugal. the man for president!!!
Nick//10.10.2008
[...] can read the blog entry here: Portugal. The Man: Palin, Because We Don’t Need It. Share [...]
LateForLife » Musicians and Politics: Alaskans Speak Out//10.11.2008
Thank you for your wonderful story. The description of your childhood and the area where you grew up filled my head with wonderful images and feelings. You dad indeed taught you a very important and basic lesson that day. One in which I have lived by myself.
I also appreciate your perspective on Gov Palin. The hate mongering she is instigating is sad and disturbing. She is not only risking the life of Sen Obama but of his supporters, African Americans and the Secret Service Agents who are assigned to protect all the candidates. It makes me wonder if McCain’s recent attempts to calm the rabid crowds by saying Obama is a good family man and not an Arab, etc is due to the FBI and the Secret Service sticking their foot up his ass.
Best wishes for you and your band.
Namaste
Debbie//10.12.2008
[...] released his first statements on Sarah Palin via PTM’s blog on September 4th. The band has recently returned from a European tour, and Austin Soundcheck was [...]
Portugal. The Man Gets Political, Playing Emo’s Saturday//10.14.2008
[...] you’ve never heard of the wild indie-rock band Portugal. The Man. But chances are good you’ve heard of their hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. And when we found [...]
How Local Teens Beat Sarah Palin In The Battle Of The Wasilla Skate Park | Broken Magazine - Skateboard Magazine of Fury//10.17.2008
[...] you’ve never heard of the wild indie-rock band Portugal. The Man. But chances are good you’ve heard of their hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. And when we found [...]
How Local Teens Beat Sarah Palin In The Battle Of The Wasilla Skate Park | Hot Wild Celebs//10.17.2008
[...] you’ve never heard of the wild indie-rock band Portugal. The Man. But chances are good you’ve heard of their hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. And when we found [...]
How Local Teens Beat Sarah Palin In The Battle Of The Wasilla Skate Park | Ink and Virtue//10.17.2008
I cannot agree with you more on this matter. I was born and raised in Wasilla until I was 16. It was just my mother and I from the time I was 5, so no hunting was involved in my upbringing, but like you, every one of my friends had been! So of course, now I live in Jacksonville, Fl, which is drenched in conservatives wrapped up in the politics of religion, and all I hear when I tell someone I’m from AK is “Oh so you must really like Palin”…….makes me cringe every time!! I’m such a hippie at heart! lol anyways, its a huge relief to see another Alaskan who doesn’t like Palin for the simple fact that she is from Alaska. See you guys Fri at Jack Rabbits!
SS//10.20.2008
Kelsey,
Keep living in your fantasy world, ignoring the immediate threats to this one. It really helps…
/Sarcasm Begin – Also, when your children are sick, refuse medical care, because after all, not every scientist agrees on the exact causes of any illness, therefore it is highly likely that the medicine won’t work at all, so why bother…
I’m sure that you’re probably actively abstaining from sexual activity, which will result in 5~10 children out of wedlock before you are aged 32. Therefore, even though you are withholding medical care from them, two or thee of them will likely live to adulthood – statistically speaking. Oooops! There I go with the ‘Science’ again! Shame on me…
Look! Over there! Is that Jesus?!?!
Crap it was just some homeless dude… Oh well, we don’t really need to worry about the planet or each other, b/c, as I’m sure Kelsey already knows, Jesus will be along any day now to rescue us from the worldwide dumpster of a planet we’ve created… /Sarcasm End
Shawn//10.20.2008
Kelsey,u are wrong.Obama is black and white,thats it.so he would be the first african american president.cant believe u said 8% black.are u retarded?this thread is about palin anyway.i am a Obama supporter and i can tell u tons of things Obama has done in his career that has helped Americans.u havent responded in a while on here so im not sure if u still come on.get at me if u wanna discuss this.OBAMA FOR PRES 08!!
DC//10.21.2008
[...] you’ve never heard of the wild indie-rock band Portugal. The Man. But chances are good you’ve heard of their hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. And when we found [...]
How Local Teens Beat Mayor Sarah Palin In The Battle Of The Wasilla Skate Park « Sarah Palin Truth Squad//10.21.2008
Help Sarah Palin and Senator Ted Steven support a Bridge to Somewhere!
http://www.eventbrite.com/preview?eid=190740510
Help Sarah Palin and Senator Ted Steven support a Bridge to Somewhere!
Kind of, but not really. But this a fun idea and, of course, not original to us.
Thanks to Senator Ted Stevens and the nomination of Sarah Palin for Vice President, we’ve all heard of Alaska’s “Bridge to Nowhere”. We’ve heard of the mega line-item pork that provides for sometimes crazy projects to take place. But instead of us complaining about how horrible they are, let’s all make a donation to something that reminds us (and them) of the importance of supporting projects that make sense and should receive funding. I propose we help fund a “Bridge to Somewhere”. But not just any bridge. This bridge actually makes sense. It is a pedestrian bridge in Moscow, Idaho. In a time with rising fuel prices and increased consciousness about the environment, not to mention the negative impact of vehicles to neighborhoods, the time is right to build a bridge like this.
This pedestrian bridge has been approved by the Moscow City Council and the Mayor. However, the city does not have the funds for this bridge. They paid for soil testing at the site and everything is good to go except for the funds to build the bridge. This pedestrian bridge will make it possible for pedestrians, bicyclists, and the disabled to cross a creek and connect them to neighborhoods via the flattest route in town. Third Street Pedestrian Bridge Project, Inc. has been able to raise about $7,000 this year but much more is needed!
Here is the good part: The Third Street Pedestrian Bridge Project, Inc. asks that you make donations in the name of Sarah Palin and Ted Stevens. For each donation of $5 or more we receive, we will send a Thank You note to them for their donation to the “Bridge to Somewhere”. Of course, if you would rather the donation be in your name, a family members’, or in memory of someone, we will send you/them a thank you note as well. Our goal is to send out 20,000 Thank You notes. Please help us by donating now and passing this email on to all of your friends.
This is a brilliant idea for $5, $10, $20 or more!
If you can’t donate with a credit/debit card on this site, then Donations need to be sent to:
Third Street Pedestrian Bridge Project, Inc.
1026 East Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843
The Third Street Pedestrian Bridge Project, Inc. is a non-profit Idaho corporation and has applied for 501c3 status with the Internal Revenue Service. While the IRS status is pending, donations are not tax deductible.
pedestrian bidge to somewhere//10.21.2008
[...] happier than any other interview I’ve ever done, hand to Heaven) posted a long, impassioned blog entry explaining his feelings on the new spotlight on their hometown, called Palin, Because We [...]
Portugal. The Man Interview | Antiquiet//10.24.2008
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Madonna//11.21.2008
Nice blog! Thank you
Asaka//12.07.2008
[...] heard of the wild indie-rock band Portugal. The Man. But chances are good you’ve heard [...]
How Local Teens Beat Sarah Palin In The Battle Of The Wasilla Skate Park | Beautiful Lie - Music & Beyond//01.15.2009
[...] Portugal.The Man ” Blog Archive ” Palin, Because We Don’t Need It [...]
How to Check Credit Report of your future Tenant | My Credit Check Now//01.20.2009
[...] in classic rock or jazz, it is always soulful. Plus, they get points from me for speaking out on their site against that impostor, Sarah Palin back in [...]
Can’t stop listening to… « Battle Bunny//02.13.2009
[...] in classic rock or jazz, it is always soulful. Plus, they get points from me for speaking out on their site against that impostor, Sarah Palin back in [...]
Can’t stop listening… « Battle Bunny//02.13.2009
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Pixels store//04.14.2009
Very passionately written john, i agree 100%
sarah palin is the devil.
Lindsay//06.25.2009
i agree with this amazingly well written story/essay. I can tell you truly understand the importance of life, nature, and a healthy planet. your music is great as well as what you all stand for. Thank You
Jake//07.02.2009
Well, I enjoyed reading this and I do agree with most all of what you’re saying. Though you are a bit confused when it comes to global warming. Global Warming is a theory and if you would like to take science into account, perhaps you should do some research. Recently, 12 times the amount of scientists that authored the IPCC 2007 Report were taking a stand against global warming used as a political vehicle. All claimed it was a lie and CO2 emissions are not increasing the world’s temperature. In fact, since 1962, the world’s temperature is .4 degrees C cooler. 31,000 US scientists alone, including 9,000 climatologists and scientists with degrees in earth sciences, have banded together to sign a petition claiming global warming is a lie. The fact there is, that if you want to talk in “science speak”, an overwhelming majority will tell you that global warming is a false theory used to keep Europeans in the driver’s seat and developing countries walking barefoot.
Again, I agree with everything you’re saying here, but don’t be so fast to jump on the global warming bandwagon; especially if you aren’t a scientist. Palin is an awful person, but then again, most politicians are; that includes democrats. However, global warming is indeed a myth.
Ryan//07.21.2009
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megan fox//09.11.2009
global warming is a theory, only the blind follow the blind, the sun is getting warmer, as it only naturally should, but when people ie. politicians want to make a profit from it , that disgusts me. by the way, the reason i found out about you was from googling palin, which took me to wasilla, which took me to you, listened to your videos and really like your music and your creative videos, i live in seattle, you guys remind me a great deal of Modest Mouse, maybe better, anyway good luck and get rest, that is one hell of a schedule you got comin up
peace to you
bill//09.14.2009
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hot lindsay lohan pics//10.07.2009
As a lifelong Alaskan; RIGHT ON!
Kiana//10.26.2009
Too bad this person is only parroting what he’s heard others say and doesn’t really know anything for himself. He needs to get his facts straights. As another very long Alaskan resident, I say he’s way off base. Sarah Palin cares for the people and we need her to get our country back on track again…..before we lose all our freedom due to BO’s crazy schemes.
NPNana//11.19.2009
I’m way late on this conversation. I do agree that we shouldnt pull books from libraries regardless of their content. Books were written to be read. If people arent wise enough to choose the right reading material for them, there’s a bigger problem than removing books. As far as gay marraige, that’s the same as if someone else said “people should just quit voting for gay marraige. it’s wrong and people should go ahead and realize it.” It’s all about representing what you believe. Last year’s election was a difficult decision because neither side seemed to have truly good intentions which more or less left America choosing the lesser of two evils, but I am glad that you guys didnt put your oppinions on the backburner. It’s means so much to see people today that are willing to express their oppinions without getting angry or hurling insults. It seems like that’s all most people know to do anymore.
J.J.//12.27.2009
I’m a huge fan of Ayn Rand’s work, and the objectivist philosophy. Free markets, and free will lead to growth and prosperity. More government and regulation leads to less growth and prosperity.
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Myrick//03.15.2010
I think it’s really cool that you interact with your fans as much as you do John. A fantastic piece to say the least. Your views are exactly what all the politicians in DC should follow.
and there is no doubt I’m coming to your next NC show..
p.s. COME BACK TO NC please
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