Sarah Palin meets and greets returning troops at the airport, at Elmendorf AFB, and at Fort Richardson whenever they arrive. She has shown up at 2am just to say "welcome home". This isn't a publicity stunt. She does it because she cares.
I have read about a lot of accusations about Alaska being a welfare state, and how it takes a lot of federal funds.Publish Post
I am completely remiss. I should of pointed out Christina Samuels rebuttal of the false claims of Sarah Palin cutting money from special needs.The difference in funding, however, is because the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy moved to a budget line item of its own. In the fiscal 2009 budget, you can see that the academy alone has a budget of $6,082,100. When you add that to the $3,156,000 that is being spent on all the other projects, it adds up to $9,238,100--an approximately 12 percent INCREASE in spending on all those particular programs, put together, since fiscal 2007.
It should also be noted that Alaska spends far more on education than just these few programs indicate. Education is typically one of the biggest parts of any state's budget, and in Alaska lawmakers plan to spend about $1.2 billion for fiscal 2009.Edweek also has a few more Sarah Palin related articles up.When asked during a televised debate in 2006 about evolution and creationism, Palin said, according to the Anchorage Daily News: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."
In a subsequent interview with the Daily News, Palin said discussion of alternative views on the origins of life should be allowed in Alaska classrooms. "I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum," she said.Alaska has one of the nation’s most unusual performance-incentive programs, which rewards school employees with payments for gains in student achievement. The state-run program is distinct in that it includes many different kinds of employees, from administrators and teachers to custodians and secretaries, offering them payments for increased student performance at their school.
and
Members of education organizations in Alaska generally spoke favorably about Ms. Palin’s record on school issues since she took office in January of 2007. The governor has become a popular figure among the 13,000 members of the Alaska National Education Association, said Barbara Angaiak, president of the state affiliate of the National Education Association.
The union official credited Ms. Palin for having backed a legislative proposal, which became law this year, that overhauled the state’s school funding system. That plan brought more money to the state’s many rural and remote school districts and raised spending for students with special needs. ("Alaska Legislators Overhaul Funding," April 30, 2008.)
I own the website hotgovernor.com (nothing but a holding page right now). I thought about selling it and donating the money to the McCain campaign, but I am afraid whoever bought it would use it for nefarious means.
Alaska calls them snowmachines. The rest of the U.S., uses the word snowmobile.
Do you think the secret service is having nightmares about trying to guard Sarah Palin while she is hunting in the middle of an Alaskan winter?
The election has come down to two lawyers versus a hockey mom and a veteran.
A certain someone who got in a certain situation, was hardly mentioned in the media today. I guess having that person's significant other on state with her wasn't such a bad idea after all.
As the Weekly Standard pointed out, there is an evil smear going about, which I was able to get retracted at Washington Monthly.
The Weekly Standard pointed to this article over at edweek by Sean Cavanagh which also disproved the notion.
But I have even more information. The original smear is based on funding documents for "Special Schools". What they failed to note, besides for the movement of the Alaska Challenge Academy funding to a separate category, is that Alaska special education funding is also covered under the Department of Education and Early Development Student and School Achievement.Gov. Sarah Palin and state lawmakers have gone ahead with an overhaul of Alaska’s school funding system that supporters predict will provide much-needed financial help to rural schools and those serving students with disabilities.
The plan, enacted in the recently concluded session of the legislature, is based on recommendations issued by a legislative task force last year. It will phase in a greater flow of money to districts outside of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, over the next five years.Advocates for rural and remote schools have lobbied for years for more funding, in particular noting the higher fuel, transportation, and other costs associated with providing education in communities scattered across the vast state.
A second part of the measure raises spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Palin: "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."
Sarah Palin might have changed her mind on this one recently. However, a comment here notes that Palin actually slashed funding for schools for special needs kids by 62%. Budgets: FY 2007 (pre-Palin), 2008, 2009 (all pdfs).
A commenter (Jim Syar) accused Sarah Palin of reducing the special education budget by 62%. That is false. The special education budget actually increased by nearly 12%, as explained below.Burn. I posted in the comments. Check back to find out if a retraction is printed.
As Syar correctly notes, the Alaska 2007 budget for special education was $8,265,300. But that included $5,352,000 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.
In the 2009 budgetary document to which Syar links, astute observers will note that there is no mention of the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. Instead, you have to look elsewhere. And guess what: There is now a specific document providing $6,082,100 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/budget/EED/comp2837.pdf So combined with the $3,156,000 that Syar notes, the total is $9,238,100. A nearly 12% INCREASE, not a 62% decrease.
Posted by: SB September 3, 2008 3:38 PM
Screw politics...
The Obama campaign will try and divert focus away from Palin, and try and redirect it back to McCain. He has a better chance against him.
Much is being made of McCain's vetting process. Let's be real folks. He went with his gut instinct, which is what the President must do in a crisis. Weigh the options and make a decision. Well I am here to tell you that the decision that the media has been decrying all weekend is starting too look like a brilliant choice.
Quotes from the comments over at Washington Monthly.
After tonight, I was so worried that I coughed up another $100 to the Obama campaign. And $10 to ActBlue.
This will test the Obama campaign.
Posted by: John O on September 4, 2008 at 12:02 AM | PERMALINKI agree with the poster who said this will launch a comeback for McCain. This speech is going to be very well reviewed, and not just on wingnut sites. The MSM is going to cream big time, and tomorrow we'll see many, many Sarah puff pieces. At minimum, tonight will end all the distracting silliness about Palin leaving the ticket. She was everything they needed her to be.
On the positive side, Barack in his speech laid down a kind of gauntlet for the Republicans when he challenged them to run a positive campaign on the issues. Now that they've done exactly the opposite, no one can blame him for responding in kind. I only hope he's capable of actually doing so.
Posted by: mib8 on September 3, 2008 at 11:54 PM | PERMALINKThe chances of her leaving the ticket just dropped to approximately zero.
Yes that's true. I was wrong. She is in.
But thats the best news imaginable.
She is all about base.
But base isn't enough to win this time around.
She is an alienator and a divider.
That's the wrong tack to take in 2008.
This chick is good. But not good enough. Obama, just like in the Primary, will find another gear. Voter turn out. Voter turn out. Please don't let them steal yet another one. Please.
Posted by: getready on September 3, 2008 at 11:36 PM | PERMALINKShe is all about base. But base isn't enough to win this time around. She is an alienator and a divider. That's the wrong tack to take in 2008.
It worked before, it can work again.
Sorry, kids, Governor Palin is delivering. The RNC and the fascist machine are going to go "all in on Palin". How many low-information voters can the DNC reach before November?
What will be interesting to observe is how the trad media reacts. Brooks, Coulter, Limbaugh, Boortz, Hannity, O'Reilly, Krauthammer, Broder, Will, et al, aren't going on vacation for the next 9 weeks. How tightly they embrace this ticket, and how the rest of the crew (National Enquirer included) goes about the business of journalism is going play as big a role as in 2000, 2004.
Complacency for the Democrats puts McCain and Palin in the West Wing.
Posted by: GuyFromOhio on September 3, 2008 at 11:12 PM | PERMALINKYou're all wrong. This speech, despite its bullshit, is going to launch a huge McCain comeback.
Red meat for the droolers. Pitch perfect, and Biden will get hassled if he's too mean to her.
Did I mention that McCain was a POW?
I, for one, am worried. Most of the electorate doesn't give a flying shit about reality, nor do they view politics as having any impact on their lives. Think, "sporting event," or, if I may, "beauty contest."
You'll see. McCain will keep her away from the press (that groundwork is already laid) and it will be another nail-biter, despite any objective evidence for what it should be.
Posted by: john O on September 3, 2008 at 11:09 PM | PERMALINK
America sees what the Alaska already knew. Whether you support her politics or not, she is good.
Obama and McCain should refuse to talk to any reporter representing a news organization that has anything currently published about Governor Palin's daughter.
Labels:
media,
Sarah Palin
I would never, ever, ever survive a media vetting even 1/10th as intense as Governor Palin.
Is There a Particular *Reason* that Community Organizer Barack Obama and his Surrogates Refuse to Acknowledge that Sarah Palin is the Governor of Alaska?
LINK DELETED
NOTE: Original post deleted because Independent George pointed out I was out of line, which I was. I apologize.
This post is a preemptive "I told you" so for me to link to in the future, after the following events take place.
1. Sarah Palin's speech at the RNC kicks ass.
2. Sarah Palin performs awesome at her first interview/press conference.
Oh, and to really enjoy it, I am including this video for all my doubting thomas readers.
Oh, it's going to be so enjoyable. Feel free to use it as well.
Folks, it looks like the smear machine is running out of oil. Fortunately the left wing outsmarted themselves. They piled up so much shit in such a short period of time, they forgot to realize that it all gets ignored for the big scandal of the daughters pregnancy. In the long term, the only thing that the public is going to remember is that a poor 17 year old was put through the ringers because of the left wings invasion of privacy.
Prediction: The heat will intensify out of desperation on Thursday after Governor Palin's highly successful speech.
God help me, I can't stop watching (train wreck, maybe).
She's likable. Cute. Perky. Might play well with some mom's in the midwest. She has that upper midwest twang (which I have to say is getting to me. I didn't realize Francis McDermond from Fargo was on the ticket). Too bad she's as full of shit. But this is their convention so it's to be expected.
Posted by: MsJoanne on September 3, 2008 at 10:56 PM | PERMALINK