Casey, please. No one is taking a "tone" with you. I was merely informing you that it's already been established that she is anything but a "reform" candidate. FACT: She left Wasilla with a deficit. FACT: She was all for the bridge until voter sentiment turned against it. FACT: She asked for over $20 mil in earmarks from the Fed. FACT: She billed the taxpayers for her travel, even when staying in her own home.

Need I go on? How is this "reform". Please, I'd love to hear your rebuttal.

The only issue here that I have been able to research here is the earmarks. From what I understand Palin did make inroads in the Alaskan practice of using earmarks. According to online sources, prior to Palin, Alaska used to request over 100 earmarks each year to be secured by Alaska's congressional delegation. Palin's administration cut the earmark request to 51 in her first year. In her second year that number was reduced again to 31. Sources say that 27 of those 31 are continuous or previously appropriated. When changing a methodology for funding, it takes time to implement legislation and other revenue sources for projects that would normally be funded for the state on the federal level by these earmarks. Prior to Palin earmarks requested for Alaska totalled upwards of $550 million but during her time that amount was reduced to $200 million.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031808...258953362.shtml

I do not however have all the specific details of what those requested earmarks did fund. I know that some of them were transportation earmarks. Does anyone else have that information?

And by the way, I'm posting alternative information here. I am still neutral in my support. Don't kill the messenger! hehe

Edited September 12, 200817 yr by wiccachick_1

But then people will say she's been under a rock/glacier (since she's from Alaska) and that she doesn't know enough about national politics. Kind of double-edged either way you go.

That's true..To be honest with you..I couldnt have recited the Bush Doctrine either (until yesterday). I am very much into politics, but I have never taken the time to read the doctrine. I think Palin has been pretty involved with Alaska, so I could understand her not knowing the specifics of the doctrine.

I bet McCain would be able to define the Bush Doctrine. He is the foreign policy expert for the republican ticket.

The only issue here that I have been able to research here is the earmarks. From what I understand Palin did make inroads in the Alaskan practice of using earmarks. According to online sources, prior to Palin, Alaska used to request over 100 earmarks each year to be secured by Alaska's congressional delegation. Palin's administration cut the earmark request to 51 in her first year. In her second year that number was reduced again to 31. Sources say that 27 of those 31 are continuous or previously appropriated. When changing a methodology for funding, it takes time to implement legislation and other revenue sources for projects that would normally be funded for the state on the federal level by these earmarks. Prior to Palin earmarks requested for Alaska totalled upwards of $550 million but during her time that amount was reduced to $200 million.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031808...258953362.shtml

I do not however have all the specific details of what those requested earmarks did fund. I know that some of them were transportation earmarks. Does anyone else have that information?

Thanks for that..Every state has earmarks. At least she did cut back the amount coming into Alaska.

She didn't accept the earmarks for the Bridge... Did Obama turn down tax payer funded travel? I haven't heard that. If he did, then I could understand why it would be an issue for Palin. I know in one instance of travel she sold the state's jet. That cut out the pilot and crews salary, not to mention the fuel costs. Sounds pretty reformative to me...

Ok. Point taken. Has Obama accomplished any thing in the Senate to prove a record of "change"?

Obama has sponsored 136 bills since 2005. Out of those, most of them are still in committee and 2 have been enacted. Some of the more significant bills incorporating change include voting for Equal Pay for Equal Work (a woman's issue), funding for Vet care including a homeless provision act, a climate change education act.

I could go on. But that should give you some ideas of the change Obama has worked on in the Senate.

Obama has sponsored 136 bills since 2005. Out of those, most of them are still in committee and 2 have been enacted. Some of the more significant bills incorporating change include voting for Equal Pay for Equal Work (a woman's issue), funding for Vet care including a homeless provision act, a climate change education act.

I could go on. But that should give you some ideas of the change Obama has worked on in the Senate.

Wow, I didn't realize he had sponsored that many bills. Good for him...I heard the other night that he has only attended around 100 sessions since becoming a US Senator. I never would have imagined that the number of bills he has sponsored would out number the amount of sessions he has attended.

I wonder why wikipedia has a list of Obama's bills but not McCain's?? Maybe there are too many to list in 30 years of service.

Obama has attended 143 sessions (work days) of the US Senate 2004-present

Obama has sponsored 136 bills since 2005. Out of those, most of them are still in committee and 2 have been enacted. Some of the more significant bills incorporating change include voting for Equal Pay for Equal Work (a woman's issue), funding for Vet care including a homeless provision act, a climate change education act.

I could go on. But that should give you some ideas of the change Obama has worked on in the Senate.

http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/art...rUnhidden=false

McCain's Senate Voting Record.

Now, I find it very hypocritical that someone who has missed more votes than anyone in the Senate is telling voters he will hold both brances of Congress accountable for getting the job done.

Edited September 12, 200817 yr by Roman

Official Attendance Records from Govtrack.us

John McCain has missed 18% of votes since becoming a Senator in 1993.

Barack Obama has missed 23% of votes since becoming a Senator in 2005

Remember John McCain has participated in two presidential campaigns and still has a higher attendance record.

Edited September 12, 200817 yr by Casey008

Oh. So him not being in the Senate since April means nothing.

I see. Thanks, Casey.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/12/c...ch-as-bush-has/

You know what pisses me off about this? This clown carried the water for this man for two election cycles, and now acts like he can call Bush out for his failures.

Damn, Chris helped put that clown in office!

Oh. So him not being in the Senate since April means nothing.

I see. Thanks, Casey.

Yeah, it means he is campaigning.

Does the overall attendance record mean anything?

Great DNC talking points...all misleading...

The request for earmarks was part of the Bridge to Nowhere. She did think it to be a good idea initially (bring in revenue for Alaska), but then realized the cost and turned the project down. Requesting earmarks and getting them are not the same thing.

All public official travel is funded by taxes..Sarah Palin is by no means alone in that respect.

She did not leave Wasilla with a deficit, she left the town with a higher debt. There is a difference. She also increased revenue for the city which matched and surpassed the debt.

I've rebutted..now can you cite an example of Obama or Biden as a reformer??

Palin DID INDEED request earmarks. She hired a damned lobbyist to lobby D.C. for them! Alaska's the most taxed and spend state in the union per citizen! Palin DID INDEED leave Wasilla with a $20 million DEBT! Obama is MOST definitely a reformer. McCain was, but now he isn't. He's changed a lot in the last couple years, when he decided to run with W and then support W/Dick even though he used to oppose W/Dick.

She didn't accept the earmarks for the Bridge... Did Obama turn down tax payer funded travel? I haven't heard that. If he did, then I could understand why it would be an issue for Palin. I know in one instance of travel she sold the state's jet. That cut out the pilot and crews salary, not to mention the fuel costs. Sounds pretty reformative to me...

Ok. Point taken. Has Obama accomplished any thing in the Senate to prove a record of "change"?

Not for the bridge, Palin didn't, but she accepted the funds anyhow and spent it on other things. She was for the bridge until she started getting flack then she turned on her cronies.

Oh. So him not being in the Senate since April means nothing.

I see. Thanks, Casey.

Great post Roman! Short and to the point!

Palin DID INDEED request earmarks. She hired a damned lobbyist to lobby D.C. for them! Alaska's the most taxed and spend state in the union per citizen! Palin DID INDEED leave Wasilla with a $20 million DEBT! Obama is MOST definitely a reformer. McCain was, but now he isn't. He's changed a lot in the last couple years, when he decided to run with W and then support W/Dick even though he used to oppose W/Dick.

Not for the bridge, Palin didn't, but she accepted the funds anyhow and spent it on other things. She was for the bridge until she started getting flack then she turned on her cronies.

Great post Roman! Short and to the point!

Did you miss Wicca's post about the earmarks?

Yeah she did leave Wasilla with a debt, but she also left it with an income. Debt and deficit are two seperate things.

What has Obama reformed?

National Polls

RCP* Average 09/05 - 09/11 -- 47.7 44.9 McCain +2.8

Rasmussen Tracking 09/09 - 09/11 3000 LV 48 45 McCain +3

Gallup Tracking 09/08 - 09/10 2718 RV 48 44 McCain +4

Hotline/FD Tracking 09/08 - 09/10 902 RV 46 44 McCain +2

FOX News 09/08 - 09/09 900 RV 45 42 McCain +3

NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 09/06 - 09/08 860 RV 45 46 Obama +1

ABC News/Wash Post 09/05 - 09/07 LV 49 47 McCain +2

USA Today/Gallup 09/05 - 09/07 823 LV 54 44 McCain +10

CBS News 09/05 - 09/07 655 RV 46 44 McCain +2

CNN/OpinionResearch 09/05 - 09/07 942 RV 48 48 Tie

*realclearpolitics.com

I stopped believing in polls when all polls in 2004 were showing Kerry leading and then W and the Dick won again.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesi...stand-them.html

Sarah Palin's Charles Gibson Interview—We Know She Can Memorize the Talking Points, but Does She Understand Them?

So true, so true!

All the candidates suck! The US is going to hell with either one in office!!