Arkansas Blog

Story that Sarah Palin sold Alaska state jet on eBay is a campaign-trail tall tale

By CORKY SIEMASZKO
Daily News Staff Writer

Friday, September 5th 2008, 12:05 PM

The folksy tale of how Gov. Sarah Palin saved Alaska millions by unloading the state jet on eBay is fast becoming a campaign fish-that-got-away tale.

Sen. John McCain not only repeated that story on the stump Friday to tout his Republican running mate, but added, "She made a profit, too."

The truth is that Palin couldn't find a buyer last year when she tried to peddle to plane on eBay - and lost the state money when she did sell it.

Palin's predecessor, Frank Murkowski, originally bought the 20-year-old Westwing II for the state of Alaska for $2.7 million. She listed it on eBay for $2.5 million.

When no offers came in, Palin hired a jet broker - Turbo North Aviation in Anchorage - which sold the jet for $2.1 million to an Alaska businessman.

"We handled the sale for the state of Alaska," jet broker Rob Heckmann told the Daily News. "The eBay thing didn't work out for them."

Twenty months ago, when Palin was running for governor, she pounded Murkowski relentlessly about the jet and called it an extravagance, even though he shared it with the state's Public Safety Department.

Heckmann said Palin isn't the first politician who has tried to sell a state plane on eBay.

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Story that Sarah Palin sold Alaska state jet on eBay is a campaign-trail tall tale

By CORKY SIEMASZKO
Daily News Staff Writer

Friday, September 5th 2008, 12:05 PM

The folksy tale of how Gov. Sarah Palin saved Alaska millions by unloading the state jet on eBay is fast becoming a campaign fish-that-got-away tale.

Sen. John McCain not only repeated that story on the stump Friday to tout his Republican running mate, but added, "She made a profit, too."

The truth is that Palin couldn't find a buyer last year when she tried to peddle to plane on eBay - and lost the state money when she did sell it.

Palin's predecessor, Frank Murkowski, originally bought the 20-year-old Westwing II for the state of Alaska for $2.7 million. She listed it on eBay for $2.5 million.

When no offers came in, Palin hired a jet broker - Turbo North Aviation in Anchorage - which sold the jet for $2.1 million to an Alaska businessman.

"We handled the sale for the state of Alaska," jet broker Rob Heckmann told the Daily News. "The eBay thing didn't work out for them."

Twenty months ago, when Palin was running for governor, she pounded Murkowski relentlessly about the jet and called it an extravagance, even though he shared it with the state's Public Safety Department.

Heckmann said Palin isn't the first politician who has tried to sell a state plane on eBay.

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Not bad JB not bad.

Click on the blue for a John McBush reality Check. If you haven't viewed it yet it's awesome.

sorry for the double post. I have connection problems today. Max or staff would you please take down one of the posts. Thank you.

I'm still incensed that John McCain could be so cynical as to try to put this woman within a heartbeat of the Oval Office. It really makes me despise him and I hope the voters wake up and realize how utterly stupid it would be to allow him to get away with this. This isn't about "country first". This is all about a power grab and McCain's obsession with finally getting the presidency and the opportunity to show he's a warrior by sending our sons out to die for his vain idea of finally getting Vietnam done to suit him.

As long as the scrutiny of Palin doesn't dwell on the fact she is a female, nothing is off limits as far as I'm concerned and she should be forced to talk to the media. How dare they hide her away and scream about sexism just because people want to know how she plans to handle the job she wants. Women shouldn't be treated differently than men and when they are, that is sexism. I never wanted special treatment because I was a woman and I never encountered a boss I thought capable of sexual harassment tho I admit it's possible. Sarah Palin, on the face of it is less qualified than anyone since Dan Quayle and possibly less than Quayle when you consider comments from people who know her about her temper and single mindedness. One co-worker is quoted as saying that working with her is a on-way street. You either agree with her or you're out.

It's pathetic that McCain would stoop so low and shows a definite lack of concern for this country. The problem is that many mind-numbed voters are soaking this up and will support this idiot team and subject us all (if they succeed) to a catastrophe.

Obama seems to me to be coasting and I'm getting very angry with him also - he had better get it in gear fast, because he wanted this thing and if he loses it to these two bozos many will never forget it. I never understood how the 'party' could be so angry with its losers, but I understand perfectly today. If Obama loses, I will never look twice at him again for any office.

If you are a religious person, pray -- pray hard -- for President McCain's health!

"choreographed like Oswald's prison transfer" ?

federal regulators shut down a failed bank in Nevada less than 12 hours after the RNC ends and John McCain makes his acceptance speech. a bank that just happened to have had Andrew McCain on it's board of directors, including it's audit committee. at least until a month ago when Andrew resigned.

and they say they're different from the Bush family ?

Raising taxes
Increased public spending
Sharply increased public debt
Hiring outside consultants and lobbyists
Bending the truth
Directing public $ to private projects supporting personal views.

Sounds like what goes on in Washington DC where "changes" are now promised.

Yet all of the above have occurred under Palin's public service posts.

Does a tiger ever lose her stripes?

I guess when the other smears didnt work you guys always can call Christians "nuts" Huh.

Question :How long did it take for them to investigate the political radicalism at Trinity United Church of Christ and Jeremiah Wright? 15 months. How long did it take for them to start with Palin and her religious beliefs?

Less than a week.

Critics have pointed to Palin's Pentacostal religion as evidence of religious extremism, criticizing the practices of their church,The Miami Herald reported on Palin's religious "spookiness" but The New York Times debunks that particular myth today in a look at Palin and the role religion plays in her life.

Deep into the article, readers find this factoid that the Miami Herald and Max here somehow missed: "One of the musical directors at the church, Adele Morgan, who has known Ms. Palin since the third grade, said the Palins moved to the nondenominational Wasilla Bible Church in 2002, in part because its ministry is less "extreme" than Pentecostal churches like the Assemblies of God, which practice speaking in tongues and miraculous healings.
"A lot of churches are about music and media and having a big profile," Ms. Morgan said. "We are against that. That is why it is so attractive to politicians because they can just sit there and be safe."
"We've gotten a lot of their people when the other churches get too extreme," Ms. Morgan continued. However, she added, "If you lift your hands when we're singing, we're not going to shoot you down."

This sort of garbage by the media and leftists like Max and Brummet were warned against, because they could cause a backlash. A backlash you only have youselves to blame for.

Backlash at the link.

Palin's religion means nothing to most of us as long as she doesn't think that her views should be forced on the rest of us. I oppose her because she is silly, dumb and a kook - don't care about her religion at all.

CJ, you might want to reread this little tidbit and think about it:
"A lot of churches are about music and media and having a big profile," Ms. Morgan said. "We are against that. That is why it is so attractive to politicians because they can just sit there and be safe."
In case you don't get it, I'll repeat it: "That is why it is so attractive to politicians because they can just sit there and be safe."
Choosing a church based on political expediency? Never heard of such, have you? Well, maybe I have, but it's usually because practicing some sort of religion is expected of politicians. But to be "safe" in church? From what? Voters thinking she might be a nutcake?

"It includes this link to a deep Democratic Party review of Palin for her gubernatorial run, a far more searching look than McCain took."

Unless you have a reference for that, I'd have to assume it is just idle speculation.

I'm with Mr. CitizenJournalist.

Oooh, child, she can flat deliver a speech. Even if it was wrote for her. And by a man. With all them phronetic prompts up on the screen and what not.

When she prays for them pipelines to lay down and flood Alaska with oil, I can just feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost right through my t.v. screen.

If that sweet praying and sweet smile and memorizing and speechifying ain't all anointed of the Holy Ghost, I'll eat my hat. And them with eyes to see knows that Mrs. Sarah Louise Palin don't mind a bit in the world to give speeches wrote by men.

Because that's what being a good Christian woman is all about. Subjecting yourself to the men that God has chosen to be head of the household and the nation.

Just like God chose Mr. George Bush to lead, he's choosing Mr. John McCain to lead, with Mrs. Sarah Louise Palin by his side to help him speak phronetically and remind us of the One Who Leads Us ALL!!

Talk about rich...religious-nut Sarah hasn't granted the MSM (People/US weekly don't count) a single interview since being anointed McSame's emissary to the religious-nut wing of the Republican Party. Yet cj wants us to believe they're picking on her and that the MSM are liberal ha. If we had a liberal bias in the MSM, Monkeyboy wouldn't have gotten away with selling his war on LIES, the Edwards/Limbaugh scandals wouldn't have been broken by the Enquirer and McSame wouldn't be able to sell himself as a maverick after holding Dubya's dick for the last eight years.

The dominant bias in the mainstream media is money...eLwood's God.

Floating more always credible Kos rumors huh? That she's racist? What hacks you are. This reminds me of the Democratic primary all over again.

I wonder if this is coordinated like the "Eagleton option" rumor.

At the link.

This attitude CJ and the rest of the right wing machine is spitting out is completely laughable. Instead of denying the dirt coming out on Sarah Palin - which they can't - they simply say the Press shouldn't be reporting it, because they didn't report the same way on Obama. It's kind of like saying the fire department should let one house burn because they screwed up on putting another one out last week. Reminds me of a little girl getting busted by her teacher for chewing gum in class, then saying "Well Jimmy farted while you were out of the room!"
Nothing new here from the REpugs. Kill the messenger.
Rovian.
The problem is, it works, and they know it. They'll bitch and whine about being treated unfairly, and the press will drop their drawers and bend over, just like they did building up to Bush's personal war in Iraq. And look how well that turned out.
You guys, CJ, have plenty of places from which to puke out your extremist right wing propaganda, including a major TV network and the entire media of Talk Radio. Whattaya want?
Somehow, I don't think The Arkansas Times is going to succumb to your relentless sniveling and join the ranks of Rove trouser-droppers.

Here's the greeting on the last web site CJ linked to, as supporting evidence for his contentions:

"A Note from the Founder
Welcome to the world's first full-service conservative Internet broadcast network!"

Fair & Balanced, no doubt.

"Talk about rich...religious-nut Sarah hasn't granted the MSM (People/US weekly don't count) a single interview since being anointed McSame's emissary to the religious-nut wing of the Republican Party." -some wackjob

Ok then why in the hell is she scheduled for interviews then ?

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Colorado and New Mexico
10:00am Media Interview
10:30am Satellite into AARP Convention
11:30am Media Interview
12:30pm MT "The Road to Victory Rally"
Colorado Springs, CO
1:45pm MT Depart Colorado
2:50pm MT Arrive NM
3:30pm MT Media Interviews
7:00pm MT "The Road to Victory Rally"
Albuquerque Convention Center

That looks like three set-asides for media in one day, comprising at least three hours of face time for McCain and Palin. I'm fairly certain that the media will be more interested in Palin than McCain in these blocs of time, and I'm also quite certain that national media will ensure that they get their fair share of attention. That doesn't look like a media bubble to me.

Im sure Max, as a fair and equitable journalist also recieved this is his inbox today but Im sure he didn't report it to you because it wasn't important.

Mmmmmmm.............

Whats a matter Rick do you want me to leave ?

Didnt you just write the other day that you actually agreed with a lot of what I say ?

Don't you liberals wrap yourself in the idea that we should be tolerant of others views? Aren't you supposed to be open minded?

I guess it's only that way when its a view you agree with. At least I got one of you to admit the press has been unfair.

No, CJ, "Obama is a Muslim" isn't a part of the Republican platform or a public pronouncement of McCain, and Obama didn't say that it was.

He said the Republicans (I read it even more specifically as "Republicans in general") are saying that, and he's right.

I guess you could argue that the Freepers aren't Republicans, but just "misdirected bloggers," but let's face it.

Like the swift-boating of Kerry, these lying, dishonorable personal attacks on Democratic candidates stem from well-orchestrated and -financed Republican organizations filled with Republican party members using Republican talking points to get Republicans elected.

I'm glad to hear Obama talk about Republicans saying he's a Muslim, because he's speaking the truth.

But you can't handle the truth, can you?

I forgot to add my usual reminder:

Not all Republicans are racists, but all racists are voting Republican.

With the further clarification that the Republicans are happy to have them.

Yippee...she's agreed to give interviews...(and I mean the yippee). Are these real interviews, cj, or empty PR pieces where questions are screened and/or journalists are hand-selected by the McSame camp? Campaign appearances where she gives speeches written for her and where journalists are in the crowd but don't get to ask their own questions don't count.

If Obama/Biden can grant interviews to O'Reilly/FOX surely she can make the Sunday morning news shows...without McSame et al standing between her and the media.

I think Brummett wrapped this up nicely. But as the Nixon tapes showed, I think we're a little naive about how nice nice most people in politics are and what they say and do behind closed doors. If it's not cutthroat at all times, you soon find yourself working at Dairy Queen. The higher the level the nastier it is. By the time you start talking about P and VP, everyone involved is Edward Scissorhands without a drop of sweet.

I remain a fan of Rev. Wright because he spoke the truth no matter if we like it or not. History will prove what he said about them chickens was right and the public reaction was wrong. Just set your clock to half past history and see if Rev. Wright doesn't fair a lot better than his detractors.

Now...is he a little nuts otherwise.....probably..aren't we all? In answer to CJ, I think all who believe in an Imaginary Friend up in the sky are nuts. I also think men who spend hours sitting in their study* looking at old postage stamps are nuts. Guys that put 100,000 dollars in a 57 Chevy are nuts. Women who don't breast feed are nuts. Guys who have the AT blog up on their computer 24-7 are nuts....we're all nuts of some kind.

I don't care if you think Jesus is under your bed or hovering over your breakfast table as long as you don't try an push him down my throat. I'll turn ugly on you quick. But I'll turn a hell of a lot uglier if you try to stick Jesus in our government and schools. Stamp collecting shouldn't be used to govern us either. You can be a championship Square-dancer and I won't give a damn unless required Square-dance lessons becomes the law of the land. Keep your religion hobby at home and I'll never cause ya any trouble. It's the only way lots of ideas and beliefs and personal tastes can get along in this small world we live in.

We shouldn't be having a public discussion on abortion. The government shouldn't be involved...it is a private matter like circumcision. Whack the end of your boy's penis off if makes you feel better, he'll never remember it and who knows, he may grow up to be our next gold medal Olympic swimmer and it'll help him go thru the water faster. But it's none of my business....whack away!

If you handle snakes at your church BE CAREFUL....but handle away, just don't bring your snake into my public court house. If you pray at home, get after it, just don't be praying out loud in my kid's school. It's hard enough for them to learn without all that mumbling going on. And non-Christians will no doubt want to stand up and do their own brand of mumbling which will just cause a big fight. So keep it at home!

Learn to love science! Like everything else it's not perfect, but as time goes by, scientists do their damnedest to make it more perfect. They'll get it right in 10 thousand more years, just wait and see. Most science has proof as we know it at the time, behind it. Your Imaginary Friend book is set in stone and never changes. Part of it has father-daughter sex. Other parts tells you to kill your own kid if he does X. And why is it boyfriends go to prison for killing their girlfriend's baby, but God gets off scott free setting his own son up to be killed. Contract killing is contract killing!

But this is supposed to be about Sarah Palin. From the looks of things she's gone to the mountain top to talk to a burning Bush. Come back Sarah and talk to teddy bear! (1966 Red Sovine reference)

It's going to be a long 60 days, but I bet it feels a lot longer to Sarah Palin, but she asked for it.

* Has anyone on this blog ever known anyone who had a study? Ward Cleaver had a study, Andy Hardy's doctor dad had a study, but I don't think I've ever seen on in real life. Sounds like a great place to keep yer weed.

No way CJ. I don't want you to leave. I love you, man. I'm a LIBERAL, I love everybody.
Here, by virture of your postings, and those of some other rabid REpugs, we have the benefit of getting the right wing talking points well before others get them. Gives us some time to mull them over.
And I did agree with a lot you have posted on here. But lately you've gotten bitter, dude. I know you guys hate to lose. Your party, right or wrong. And "open minded" is not the way I'd describe you, if you'll forgive the analysis. To be "open minded" you have to hear all sides of the issue, instead of trying to intimidate people like Max into silence. Like I said before, you obviously get enough of the Neocon influence from other sites, then you come here and demand the same thing. We get what we get here, and then are honored by your two cents worth. Ya'll report. I'll decide.
Sorry. I gotta run for a while. Powerball is calling, and I gotta go to another state to answer.

Oooh, child. Thank you for posting all them performances for us, Mr. CitizenJournalist.

I sure do wish the Lord would send me to one of them Rode to Victory rallies, especially the one in Colorado Springs. Reckon I could see that nice Rev. James Dobson of that sweet group Focus on the Family if I went to that Rode to Victory rally.

I was so excited about them rallies that I just did me a little googling for the Lord, and guess what I done found out? Them Rode to Victory rallies at which Mrs. Sarah Louise Palin has kindly consented to answer questions from the godless sexular media was INVENTED by Focus on the Family and other Christians!

That Mr. Alan Cooperman said in the Washington Post two years ago,

"Phil Burress, president of Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values, one of the state-level groups working with Dobson, said the summit will be a 'pep rally' similar to the 'Road to Victory' conferences that the Christian Coalition used to run in election years."

If y'all want to read more about this and I bet the Lord wants you to it's at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/15/AR2006081501098.html.

So don't y'all worry too much that the godless sexular media going to try to trip up Mrs. Sarah Louise Palin at them Rode to Victory rallies. She'll be surrounded by God-fearing Christians ever step of the way!

LOL.

No harm done Rick.

I really am open minded though. I just get irritated at Max over him complaining out loud about not being taken seriously but then pushing Kos rumors on his blog.

I think thats an honest critique.

What is the difference between Palin and food poisoning? You always feel better after throwing up when you encounter food poisoning.

Hey Max, I just thought I'd mention that that "incendiary story" or more accurately the smear job you were promoting that Sarah Palin is a racist has vanished down the memory hole.

The "always reliable" daily kos strikes again.

Care to retract it ?

Every passing day proves Sarah Palin has less class than her husbands ever present chin stubble.

However, as a southerner who always tried to live regular life by the "never wrestle in the mud with pigs because you both get filthy and the pig loves it" meme.. It doesn't work in politics.

So I must ask..

Do the Palin children use the word "Sambo" at the dinner table in order to garner a family laugh?

I had a surprise last year when I went up the hill to Fayetteville to hear the real Kos speak. It was a shock to find out that I am much farther to the left than MarKOS Moulitsas. The key to him is that his bottom line is building up the Democratic Party.....period. He thinks, rightly or wrongly, that everyone should be a Democrat and get off their sofa and actually get involved in politics. He thinks change only comes from political movements........I can't say I agree.

I am not opposed to that idea though I am not very loyal to just one political party. At the moment the Democrats are the good guys, but give them a decade in power and all that will change. I am 100% a member of that little known party, the DO THE RIGHT THING party. Anyway, after listening to Kos speak and talking a with him a little bit after it was over....he's a Liberal with a small L.

However, people who are hung up on labels bother me. I don't wake up every morning, look in the mirror and say Hello Liberal! My thoughts and hopes and dreams and conduct are not based on the Liberal code, if there is such a thing. I just figured out in the late 90s that I was a Liberal and if you naturally are one, you don't have to keep checking the playbook. I agree with John Dean....it's a brain wiring thing.

But here is a good guideline I suggest everyone follow....anyone who uses the term Elite in a sentence is an asshole. There may be an Elite in America, but you and I don't know em and don't get invited to their parties. Elite is a code word that all conservatives use to induce orgasms. It's pretty meaningless, just a rallying call, just something snobby assholes use as a secret handshake. It should be removed from Websters.

I agree with DBI that the party doesn't always matter, but I only arrived at that understanding recently. A year ago I would have said that I was forever a Democrat, but now I'm not so sure. However, there is one constant in my life that I learned many years ago - I'm ready to help any movement that isn't 'conservative' as we know it in the US. That's where the evil lies. That's the group that hates and steals elections and is filled to the brim with 'elites' (people who think they are better than any others).

The Democratic Party showed this liberal in the past few months, that they can hate, manipulate, lie, and destroy right along with the best of the conservative haters, so for today I help the Democrats but with a wary eye toward the future. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Democrats reaction to the RNC hate: Outraise money 8:1!

This from the WSJ/Washington Wire:

Sarah Palin's speech to the convention Wednesday night energized conservatives, allayed concerns of some nervous party insiders - and inspired excited Republicans to donate a cool $1 million to the Republican National Committee's effort to elect John McCain.
But....

UPDATE: Bloomberg reported that Palin's speech was even better for Democrats-Barack Obama has raised $8 million since Wednesday's speech. "Sarah Palin's attacks have rallied our supporters in ways we never expected," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said. "And we fully expect John McCain's attacks tonight to help us make our grassroots organization even stronger."
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/09/04/donations-pour-in-to-rnc-after-palin-speech/?mod=googlenews_wsj

Good news, eureka!

When Democrats are raising more money than Republicans...Monkeyboy just spent eight years pissing the bulk of the country off and they ain't buying McSame's maverick routine or Sister Sarah's gussied-up religious zealotry. Greed and incompetence finally got em...hallelujah!

Go Obama!!

And then hubby reminds me that they didn't win the last two presidential elections, either.

You can slice it and dice it anyway you want but the bottom line is that she helps McCain's campaign. Before he picked her I would bet that around 23% of conservatives wouldn't vote. Now I think that he has those folks for the most part (except me). Obama is in trouble. It was never a sure thing for him before but he has got to be sweating it out now big time. You and ARKBLOG are going to have to live with the reality. You don't have a choice.

The last Daily Kos story you published about Palin turned out to be completely false.

Max, I'm honestly surprised. As much as I disagree with you politically I've been reading the Times for years. I remember you speaking at Boys State. It seems Huckabee was right about your tabloid mentality.

All of these guys on this blog who are lefties have warped their brain on the kos. The kos has no idea what regular folks think. Unfortunately, they follow their fearless leader, Max(wasn't that the name of the dog in 'the grinch that stole christmas'), who is also clueless about regular folks. You guys need to diversify some. You are going to have warts grow on you palms if you keep that up.

Hey, guys, I hear that kos claims that they have aliens in their closet. I have it on good authority that the aliens got out and took over. I guess that explains it.

Here's the simple truth to how things work. If you are a major party candidate for VP, and you can't in one week even answer a single reporter's question, then that alone should disqualify you.

Not one honest person with a brain is being fooled by this charade. No one. This shows exactly how cynical and insulting to the American public this pick by McCain was. He chose someone for #2 that he can't even trust with a reporter let alone this country. Why then should this country trust her if McCain can't? Why should we trust McCain if he is going to pull stunts like this?

Now before you start bringing up how the press (the Fourth Estate) has no right to demand anything from Palin, bear in mind that every honest person knows that the reason is that Palin isn't prepared to speak to the press and that's the reason why access to her is so controlled, and not because the press is mean to her. To suggest anything else but this is disingenuous, but such hypocrisy has never stopped a Republican before. In fact, we're almost completely immune to hypocrisy in this country...but this really takes the cake.

What are you talking about? I have seen her in interviews. She doesn't leave me with the impression that she can't handle anyone. If I were joe 'boca grande' biden I would be practicing a whole lot. He is going to have to tame his so called 'attack dog' mode with a woman. I remember how the women got all bent out of shape when 'whats-his-name' ran against hillary for the new york senate seat and just walked near her in the debates. She is no shrinking violet so insinuating that she isn't smart enough or strong enough to handle the group of people who have journalism degrees is a bit of a stretch.

Type in Palin + press interviews and all you get are articles that state that Palin has given no formal interviews and that have MCCain and campaigners saying they will keep her away from such for now. Get your facts straight.
If she's so good, then why is she being kept under wraps? If she's so great in interviews, then why hasn't she been allowed interviews with the major news networks?

We don't have to insinuate anything here when the fact is obvious and well reported and thoroughly documented that Palin hasn't done a formal interview since being announced as the VP candidate. So, why don't you give us the name of the program she's going to be on tomorrow or the day after or next week. There aren't any listed.

The McCain campaign advisors are blatantly saying that she hasn't given a formal interview and may not give one at all if they feel it is in the campaign's best interests.

The Idiot Savant is back full force. The facts are there for all to see. There is no formal interview for Palin; she is being muzzled by her own people who openly state that such is OK. When all major news sources are saying "no Palin interviews" and the McCain staff supporting this contention, then why should I believe the BS and lies put out by someone blind to the facts.

Each day Palin doesn't face the press and the nation to answer questions is another day her credibility goes down. McCain himself is not very fond of meeting the media if you have been following the news. Biden was with the 60 minutes news team the same evening he was announced as VP. Obama has even gone on the O'Reilly show. Compare this openness with the Republican recalcitrance and outright demonization of the press.

Palin? Nada! No formal press interviews. Zilch. There's the true Zero of this campaign. And the McCain campaign promises more of the same if it "is in their best interests." Not the nation's interest - their interest. If she's so good, then logic says she should be out there right now letting her talents shine. But she's not out there. They're not letting her go out there. So, why are they doing that if she's "smart enough or strong enough to handle the group of people who have journalism degrees"?

The name of the game is hardball and can you handle the tough pitches. More and more, it is becoming a Republican tradition to hide from the press whom the founders of our country thought to be essential to democracy, liberty, and freedom. Don't talk about someone being a great hitter when they won't even get in the batter's box in the major leagues to face the pitches.

The Republicans tout Country First but don't even have the decency to first present themselves and their plans to the country. Now we understand why they want to make the campaign about personalities and not issues.

Honest people will see thru the Palin ploy. McCain talks about transparency and honesty in government and then does an about face with his VP.

My God! how can anyone STILL puke out the Republican RightWingNut talking points? Why do you guys hate America?!?!?!?!

"if reading speeches off a teleprompter were the only requirement for being commander in chief of the US armed forces, then yes Sarah Palin reading a series of speeches written for her would be enough. But it's not enough, and it suggests that McCain thinks Palin is an idiot who can't even answer a simple question from the media, or the American public (or worse, she she's so tainted by scandal, they refuse to put her out there at all). It's downright disturbing how the McCain campaign is handling Palin and her growing list of scandals/controversies. " [Click]

You're darn right this woman must give interviews and if they keep her hidden away and hide her background and history, the people should take to the streets. We have EVERY right to know everything there is to know about a silly 44 yr old ex-beauty queen that McCain has the hots for and who just might have to step in and be president some day. She was plucked right off a street corner and I'll be damned if they should get away with thinking her history is not our business. Everything about this woman is our business and if she doesn't like the scrutiny she should just take her 5 kids and go home.....

today's talking point from the lefty wackjobs:

"Sarah Palin's scared of the press! What's she hiding? Why isn't she letting them do her a favor by interviewing her?"

Not that anybody with a bit of common sense can't figure it out, but I'll explain it to everybody else: Because the press hasn't earned it yet. She was in the national spotlight for all of three days before once-legitimate newspapers started running with demented Internet rumors that she'd faked her pregnancy.

Why would she now assume they're acting in good faith?

The only people who are screaming to see her interviewed are the ones who are desperate for ammunition to use against her. Why give it to them?

And the news weasels have nobody to blame but themselves.

There's already a list as long as your arm of unfounded accusations (and true, but irrelevant, factoids) that the orchestrators of this blatant smear campaign have thrown at her, and the news is doing its level best to thoroughly investigate each and every one.

If they dug into Obama's connections to black separatists and domestic terrorists and other hope-and-change advocates as thoroughly as they're digging into Palin's PTA records and pizza delivery receipts, we might have a whole different election.

But that would only happen in some sort of mirror universe, one in which Obama got a huge boost in poll numbers and crowd turnouts in reaction to the blatant double standard.

So far you pathetic cretins have come up empty, but you still can't stop. The more you realize that this woman really might be as squeaky-clean as advertised, the harder you try to find something.

Anything. And the dumber they look, the angrier and sloppier they get. Every "Gotcha!" turns into a "D'oh!"

Good. Keep it up until Nov. 4, you noble gatekeepers.

Oh, yes. I saw someone mention that she was going to have to talk to the press and her knees started shaking. I mean that girl was scared. I mean real scared. You see as Governor she never had to deal with the press so she just doesn't have any experience. Of course, she isn't very smart so she has that disadvantage as well. You see, only liberals can talk to the press because they are naturally so confident in their position because everyone knows that liberals are so smart. yea, she just isn't able to deal with the press cause she is a conservative.

What a bunch of sorry excuses. Try to scare us with the big bad press scenario. Try to impress us with how noble and strong this empty suit is. Whine and more whine. Just don't ask questions.

After 19 months of campaigning in which candidates of all stripes answered questions from the press and the public, suddenly one is off limits and kept away by her own campaign from doing interviews. Don't ask questions.

In a campaign that is run on the premise that personalities are more important than issues, just make sure the nation asks no questions.

Sorry guys but your excuses are as flimsy as Bush's approval ratings. You are even contradictory. One talks about how great she'll be in battle with the press and the other says she doesn't need to do battle with them. You can't even agree on an excuse. Sort of like dumb and dumber:

"Why are they asking all those hard questions?!"

They're only hard when you don't have the answers or refuse to answer them.

"They're only hard when you don't have the answers or refuse to answer them." by: Jake da Snake

YEAH! When S. Lipstick Palin talks, people listen...

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"yea, she just isn't able to deal with the press cause she is a conservative." by: strangelove

Conservative Hmmm...I thought she was Pentecostal?

Click on name for article about so-called "liberal media" bias which debunks this sorry theory.

There exists equal number of "reasons" to call reporting a "conservative media." Broadcast journalism, especially, has been targeted for such claims at times. It doesn't take long to realize that the authors' bias determines how they view media bias. The data is some of the worst constructed arguments in the history of analysis.

What it boils down to is that the Republicans are more cry-babies about such. They whine and moan and complain. It's their personality, I guess. Definitely is not the issues we want to know more about.

In the put up or shut up phase of this campaign - the Republicans have chosen to shut up.

AMERICA PLEASE WAKE UP!!!

I am a registered Republican, at first I had decided to vote for John McCain, but later changed my mind. When it came to my knowledge that he abandoned what he originally stood for and over the years adopted the Bush hard line. It's understood that he wanted to prove to the Republican base he was one of them and not the maverick they disliked, which proves his inefficiency to stand up to the Republican Party.

On separate occasions the McCain's stated that they were not going to run a nasty campaign, which they contradicted by providing us with dishonest commercials, campaign speeches, and interviews. They denied to the press of having carried out such a campaign. They said whatever they stated regarding themselves and Barack Obama is a fact. Several times John McCain stated that if Barack Obama had done what he had suggested then he could have run a more civil campaign. This sounds like imposition to me. Doesn't he realize that we can see through this excuse?

When people in general raised questions regarding John McCain's age he assures them of having an experienced Vice Presidential candidate, in case something happens to him. Hence he decided the best person for this position would be Sarah Palin. This leaves the country in dismay as she has limited political experience.

However, she was introduced at the Republican convention as a maverick, a reformer, who did not take earmarks, nor support the bridge to nowhere, and who never indulges in wasteful spending. Besides she was declared as an expert on the economy, well versed in foreign affairs, and having more experience than Joe Biden and Barack Obama put together.

Recently in an interview on Sarah Palin, Charles Gibson (reporter for CBS) proved the claims about her to be false. She is a devout Christian, but she refuses to tell the truth, and when Charles Gibson asked her to revise her blatant lies she refused too. Isn't this violating the laws of Christianity? Thus it seems she is willing to compromise her religious faith to be the next VP of the United States of America.

She has extreme beliefs and views on many subjects like the Iraq war (she thinks this war is God's will), abortion (she does not believe in it even in circumstances of incest and rape and if she gets a chance she will overturn Roe V. Wade), views on hunting (she allows people to shoot animals from planes), taking protection way (wants to take polar bears off the endangered species list). Besides she attends a church that believes in getting rid of homosexuality through prayer and that Jews have been persecuted for their refusal to believe in Jesus. She is currently under investigation for a possible abuse of her power as Governor of Alaska. Lastly, she feels global warming is a natural phenomenon and there is no evidence that it is man-made.

As for my belief on the abortion issue I do not believe in abortion for myself as a choice, however, I do believe it should be a woman's choice and not the federal or state government's. God did give humans free will to make their own decisions and as a result we are responsible for all of them. God will be the final judge of all our sins and all sins are created equal in God's eyes. So, does anybody feel Sarah Palin somehow forgot this?

After being disappointed in John McCain and how he has chosen to run his campaign; I decided to start watching the Democratic campaign speeches and realized Obama is at least talking about the issues like the economy, job loss, health care and education. McCain spends the majority of his time distorting Obama's record and lying about his proposed ideas for this country. You would think McCain would spend his time talking about what he is going to do for this country. Well the most ironic thing McCain has done is now he is talking about being the change candidate. Does anybody think it's strange that for the last 18 months or so McCain never mentioned being the change candidate? As I remembered, McCain was running a campaign for the last 18 months or so on experience.

On September the 15th the stock market fell more than 500 points, then Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy; job losses is still at a record high and gasoline prices are on a rise again. On this same day, McCain at a campaign rally made the following statement "he thinks the economy is fundamentally strong". Does anybody really think McCain is in touch with what's going on in this economy? Well, McCain shame on you.

Melissa