Here is some more factual evidence about Sarah Palin from a Wasilla resident and education advocate in Alaska...
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a “babe”.
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.
She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out
there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their
major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything
like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She’s smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about
670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been
pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had
given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will
make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she
proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s
surplus, borrow for needs.
She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the
basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated”
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t
fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew
her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to
nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march
to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to
global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a
heartbeat away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life
legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +
Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local
government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen
when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out
of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no
fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will
cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s
attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible
for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are
swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000?, up to 9,000. The
day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.
Anne Kilkenny
This is the same cut and paste article that is going through all the forums that allow political posting.
Sounds like sour grapes.
At best, Sarah seems to be just a smoke screen, the real issue is the economy, and it is in a sorry state and getting worse by the day.
At face value there is much to like and admire about Sarah, but it seems, too, she is not all that she presents herself to be, and she hides alot about what she is. She liked going for the ridicule and that sounded pretty snide and sarcastic, and that is not what McCain promised. Her kids are off limits, so lets keep them off limits; in her narrative, Sarah has made much of her lifestyle choices; some will question what her personal choices mean and how they impact her decision making, which seems legitmate, without crossing the line to question what kind of parent she is, but what kind of poliicies she proposes and supports. Issues of substance are entirely appropriate; she should be treated like any other candidate and questioned on just about everything. To do otherwise, would be to patronize her.
Small town voters are smart, and we see behind smoke screens in time. Now that we have had a few days to vet her, we are finding out some rather interesting information. The election is less than two months away so we have work to do. I can see that McCain did not do his home work and that Sarah is not overly big on the truth; McCain's judgement is highly questionable and his lack of homework tells me he is not capable of making sound decisions regarding cabinet members, secretaries and advisors. No one from the Alaska Republican party indicates they have been contacted regarding Sarah's qualifications. That is pretty strange - were they all Sarah's enemies, and if so, why?. But again Sarah will have to make her own case and we as voters will have to decide what to make of her. She might become the next Dan Quayle but she is not the first female VP candidate. VP's don't decide the election, and I doubt she will either. She is a diversion - chosen by McCain so that voters don't notice his weaknesses. He is no economic genius and neither is Sarah.
- Sarah actively sought out multimullion dollars in earmarks for her town. None of the money associated with the "bridge to nowhere" was ever given back to the US Treasury. She argues like a reform and behaves like a politician with her hand out. McCain is against earmarks and Pork, she accepts PORK.
Alaska is heavily subsidized if not more so than any other state, by the feds, and apparently Sarah wants more handouts. She has been shaking down the US government at tax payer expense. AK already has huge oil revenue at this time coming out of oour pockets at the gas station and as a result has a surplus, so Palin is not in the position to have to make difficult decisions in a declining economy. We have a reported 6.1% national unemplyment rate that appears to be higher than that and growing. In the Mora area is already at 6.9%
- Sarah has been fiscally irresponsible as mayor. Wasilla built a sports center; because the city took over teh land before it had title to the land, it has cost this small less than well healed city over a million dollars in court costs. This is not prudent behavior for a small town mayor. Imagine if the mayor of Mora, Ogivlie or Braham tried that? Read about it in the Wall Street Journal on Sat 9.6.08
- Sarah likes to ban books at the library. Fascists in Germany liked to burn books, ban books. Wasilla's librarian successfully stopped the book ban. She is my hero. Small gov't should not be interferring with what library patrons read.
The Bush-McCain economic nightmare will continue to cause great havoc in our lives, in our towns, schools and county. McCain being one of the Bush Republican peers - in Washington for 26 years - helped create the nightmare. He is not credible as a reformer, as McCain voted with Bush 90-95% of the time. McCain is more of the same. More loss of jobs, more inflation, more foreclosures, more phoney education reform represented by No Child Left Behind, more deregulation that led to this credit crisis, teh mortgage fiasco, and the mess the collapse of the housing market and the confidence we had in our gov't for public good. Fannie and Freddie bailouts that resulted will likely be announced over the weekend as reported in today's Wall Street Journal.
Record deficits and record government spending are the legacy --- just as inflation and foreclosure are. Ask yourself if you are better off than you were four years ago, 8 years ago. The country is not. And McCain does not deserve our votes to do more of the same.
"Small town voters are smart, and we see behind smoke screens in time." I love that line! Perhaps, the same could be said about Obama, and the fraud he is.
Lets go over the facts.
Obama stated that there is 57 states in the Country, even my daughter in first grade knows that there is 50. Did he not learn anything in college or in school?
Obama's half brother lives in a hut in Africa, making less than $12 a year. Where is his compassion for his own family?
How about of him giving a ringing endorsement for State Senate (the same seat he sat) of Alderman Dorothy Tillman, after it was found that she would replace nurses and firefighters with her own family members to management type positions making a six-figure salary. (This a published source from papers within Chicago) When asked about giving this endorsement he felt it was due to her work on his Senate Campaign, rather than agreeing with countless other politicians (including democrats and republicans) on not giving an endorsement. Why would you lend your good name to a crook?
'
And then the gaffe about people clinging to their god and their guns. This one just cracks me up, sure he can go ahead and say it in front of a bunch of elitist Californians, but of course he wouldn't dare say it to the average "Joe" citizen.
Then add in there his loony minister. I know he quit his Church, but how can you sit in a Church for 20 years and consider him a good friend and not know his hateful and vicious views of America? I know that kind of speech is not taught or preached at my Church, and I don't think its Christian in nature either to talk about G*D D**M America. Again just my opinion.
Then add in his friends. The numerous friends, do I really need to go into names.
Would you like me to go on?
Then add in his policies, which I don't agree with.
Ready4, please talk about: creationism, book banning, Palin misrepresenting (lying) about AK earmarks accepted, the $27 million approach road Palin built to the bridge to nowhere using federal dollars from us taxpayers, the per capita earmarks Palin actively lobbied for and got while Mayor, many with the help of Ted Steverns. Is she a real reformer that one, or all talk, all rhetoric, tightly scripted by Rove handlers, and not too truthful?. Please also comment on McCain's impulsive judgement and careless lack of vetting of Palin (no FBI background check, not even checking with the AK Republican party - Why not? Were they all her enemies and if so, why?)
I would also be interested on your take on McCain's falilure to be a maverick and put his choice, Joe Lieberman, on the ticket because the base didn't like Joe's position on abortion, Palin's belittling and bullying behavior in public (which she appeared to be proud of), and how it matches McCain's rhetoric in his speech at the RNC or how that belittling language serves as a role model for young Americans. You could also talk about secession and Palin's comments at the Assembly of God church (her minister problem) for me.
And lastly, how does McCain 90-95% record of voting with Bush/Cheney make him a maverick and reformer? One more topic: Can you tell me how McCain can credibly be in the House and Senate for 26 years and credibly claim to be a reformer and an agent of change, when McCain appears to be an insider and and as elite as they come? I am trying to get my head around that one and am having a hard time. You might have some useful insight. And if he has been in Washington for 26 years and is not an insider by now, how effective is he really? I see he does not talk about immiigration reform either. Why is that? Is he fearful his base didn't like his approach?
I am looking forward to learning your opinion on these matters, to hearing what you can share. If you have sources that would be good if you share them too, so I can and anyone else that is interested, can llook them up so we can discuss them. I usually learn something when I debate with others; And I anticipate you will do your homework and have something to share on these many points. Lively give and take is great. We all learn from it. Thanks and good day, Ready4.
Where do you get this stuff? Seriously, I think you're watching too much MSNBC, with Chris Matthews.
Let me see, I went to the factcheck website and this is what I pulled.
"She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term." There is a difference between asking and demanding.
"Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum." Does that sound like she wanted only creationism taught. A direct quote from Palin on Oct. 25, 2006: "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. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject – creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides." It sounds like Palin is open for children to have discussions about both sides of an issue. What is wrong with teaching both sides? Aren't children smart enough to weigh through the information?
As far as Palin's belittling comment, does that have to do with an Alaskan state senator whom she had an issue with. I'm sure we didn't hear the whole story on that either. Did you know that she this senator tried to have a government functions scheduled so she would miss her son's graduation ceremony and other family/school functions. But of course, we don't want an active parent involved in politics do we?
Wow, were gettting into her minister now. That should be interesting because she actually left that Church after she felt it was a little weird.
The next point of contention is the bridge to nowhere. "This is not the first time Palin has cited her choice to kill the bridge in 2007 as an example of her anti-waste stance. It’s true that she did eventually nix the project. But the bridge was nearly dead already – Congress had removed the earmark, giving the requested money to the state but not marking it for any specific use. Palin unplugged its life support, declaring in 2007 that the funds would not be used for the Gravina bridge." FactCheck. So they opted to use the money for another project instead of the bridge to nowhere. I do have to agree that from my research she has accepted Federal Government fund s on both the local and state level, but then doesn't every city and state across this Country look to the Government to help fund some of their projects.
My point was that Senator Obama certainly has more skeltons in the closet than Governor Palin.
As far as the reformer image, "As mayor of Wasilla, she cut her own salary, and was appointed ethics commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. She resigned from the post after complaining that her fellow Commissioner, Republican Randy Ruerich, was raising money for the state party from energy companies he was charged with regulating. He later resigned from the commission and paid a record fine for conflict of interest violations. Palin was elected governor after campaigning as a reformer, and shortly after taking office, she passed a sweeping ethics reform bill regulating lobbyist activities and forcing more disclosure from lawmakers." This was taken from Time Magazine, in which she did reform the politics of Alaska. Can the same be said for Obama and the corrupt Chicago seen of politics?
Remember which party lied to us about WMD, lied to us about torture, destroyed the economy, allowed the spectulators to destroy the housing and pretroleum markets, funneled 90 billion dollars to Halleburton, has borrowed 800 billion from China, and made comments about not caring what the american public think, aka Tricky Dick Cheney. These are the people who don't believe in abortion(in public)but have killed thousands of children in the middle east. Trust me I'm not a democrat, because I don't know if it would be any different. So what they say and do are two different things. Face it, this government is broken and needs an overhaul.
Ready4, look at FactCheck.org a little closer.
The real Sarah is not the Sarah she wants us to know. Iraq is god's plan, the will of God....sounds like George W. Bush. Assembly of God or Wasilla Bible church, with appearances while Gov. McCAIN is very upset about her statements. There is a link to a vide that I can provide to those interested. See for yourself, and make your own assessment.
Sarah has become a rock star it seems......Buts lets remember, its the top of the ticket that matters....and McCain's selection of Palin puts the party first and country last....had he actually vetted Palin, we would not be finding this stuff out now...BUT WE ARE FINDING IT...it seems McCain did not bother to look...even on the internet. It is all there for anyone to see.
SO if McCain was so reckless and impulsive in his judgment and with his lack of vetting, how can he be trusted on anything else? ..McCain caved to the party when he wanted Lieberman as VP...McCAIN lost his chance to be a reformer, when he sold out to Bush in 2004 and when he voted with Bush 90-95% of the time. No reform here...and no talk about immigration policy because it alientates his base.
Top of the ticket is no reformer and the VP is not the deal...its what McCain will do as pres...likely select the same retreaded NIXON appointees that George W appointed. AND LOOK where that got us? record deficits...broken govt...that cannot be depended on...lost jobs, high unemploment...high inflation, high food prices, high cost of oil and more....its broken..having it fixed by the party that broke it is not wise...Sarah is just the lastest Republican mouthpiece with lipstick...more of the same. no change, no reform. Rhetoric that does not match actions is not reform, its hot air!
For those that want to check out the rhetoric, to to FactCheck.org..this is the link I have, just paste it into your browser, if the link does not work, and it might not here. Thanks.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html
You're comparing Sarah to the rock star image the media has portrayed of Obama. Thats priceless.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html
John McCain calls her the rock star...seems he can't figure out if it is an insult or an adulation, depending on the day of the week or the week...
Seems like the double standard game played yet again, the old avoid talking about positions and policies game too...McCain can't beat 'em so he mimics them...
Where are your policy positions John? Rather just repeat the failures of the Republicans for the last 8 years, tell us voters what you will do rather than mock or belittle your oponnent. Voters will decide what to think...that is our job, not yours candidate McCain. Let's hear about what you will do. Let the other guy tell us what he will do. Then we decide when we vote.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html
Now with the first interview, voters can make some of their own assessments about the bottom of the ticket. Lots of places to find the interview on line too, if you did not see it. And analysis if you like that, Draw your own conclusions on the polarization and Sen. McCain's judgement, and Gov. Palin's readiness and sense of mission and "unblinking" wiring.
We have 50 some days to size up what Sen. McCain offers and what a person we know little about that could be VPOTUS and potentially POTUS, offers. If Gov Palin's handlers keep her under wraps and as controlled as they have so far, it will be tough to really know what the Gov brings to the ticket. So far, we have some info, but my mind is not yet put at ease that the Gov is ready for the role she seeks or could be placed, should circumstances dictate it. Her saying she is ready is not good enough, I have to decide that on my own as I decide who gets my vote.
Gov Palin has some executive experience, all the other 3 Senators involved have far more legislative branch experience. When I look at experience and all that, I look at all three branches of government and when I think of community organizing I think of Lakes and Pines and all the good they do for this community. Belittling community organizing is pretty suspect, in my mind, just as it would be to belittle anyone in public service, such as police, fire and teachers. These people make major contributions to our society and serve as advocates for less advantaged, whether kids or adults, but often for the poor.
To be an informed voter is not an easy job this year; ads on TV do nothing to help me, as most are designed to mislead or downright lie. I was taught in Sunday school not to lie and somehow euphemisms don't change a lie into something else: a lie is still a lie no matter how many times repeated. It becomes a question of judgement and character and integrity for me. Being raised here in MN, I favor a straightforward honest approach, focused on policy postions, world view and character, and not the digs or slams of your opponent, however witty or sarcastic. Some of the oneliners might even be funny, depending on your point of view, some are just taunts that a bully would use, and diminish the issuer, not the target. One stops a bully by standing up to him or her, not running away.
For those who are feeling cynical about all this, please persevere; if you don't, you serve the interests of those that benefit if you do not vote. This could be a very close election, so every vote is a big deal. Minnesotan's by and large do vote, but often young people do not. My sense is that this is an election that could be a textbook case in the future. We most likely study this election as a watershed event. If it is your first vote, you might likely remember it the rest of your life. Good day everyone. (PS: sorry if I did not catch all the the typos.)