Palin Echoes Whitman: “Wasilla is open for business.”
I prefer to write my own stuff and am extremely reluctant to simply pass on the work of others. But, I write about the environment and sometimes a story or quote is so good – particularly on a critical issue – that I feel compelled to pass it on. In this case, with many stories about how over-development is destroying water quality here in NJ, the environmental issues resonate as well (see: More Bad News on Water Pollution http://blog.nj.com/njv_bill_wolfe/2008/09/more_bad_news_on_water_polluti.html
In addition to similar environmental problems, amazingly, Governor Palin has taken a slogan from our own NJ Governor Whitman:
“But while Mayor Stein tried to impose some reason on Wasilla’s helter-skelter development, and its growing pressures on Mat-Su Valley’s environmental treasures, when Sarah Palin took his place, she quickly announced, “Wasilla is open for business.”
So here goes – just another in an escalating series of McCain/Palin lies:
“Palin recently told the New Yorker magazine that Alaskans “have such a love, a respect for our environment, for our lands, for our wildlife, for our clean water and our clean air. We know what we’ve got up here and we want to protect that, so we’re gonna make sure that our developments up here do not adversely affect that environment at all. I don’t want development if there’s going to be that threat to harming our environment.”
But as mayor of her hometown, say many local critics, Palin showed no such stewardship.
“Sarah’s legacy as mayor was big-box stores and runaway growth,” said Patty Stoll, a retired Wasilla schoolteacher who once worked in the same school with Palin’s parents, Chuck and Sally Heath. “The truth is, Wasilla is just plain ugly, it’s not a pleasant place to live. It’s not thought out. And that’s a shame.
“Sarah fouled her own nest, and I can’t understand why. I hate to think it was simply greed or ambition.”
Among the environmental casualties of Wasilla’s frenzied development was Palin’s own front yard, Lake Lucille. The lake was listed as “impaired” in 1994 by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and it still carries that grim label. State environmental officials say that leaching sewer lines and fertilizer runoff caused an explosion of plant growth in the lake, which sucked the oxygen out of the water and led to periodic fish kills.
[…]
“I try to avoid driving to Wasilla so I won’t get depressed,” added the official, who asked for his name to be withheld, to avoid Palin’s “wrath.”
“You get visually mugged when you drive through there. I take the long way, through the back roads, just to avoid it.”
Wasilla City Council member Dianne Woodruff hears the same lament about her town all the time. “Everywhere in Alaska, you hear people say, ‘We don’t want to be another Wasilla.’ We’re not just the state’s meth capital, we’re the ugly box-store capital. Was Sarah a good steward of this beautiful valley? No. I think it comes from her lack of experience and awareness of other places, how other cities try to preserve what makes them attractive and livable.
“The frontier mentality has prevailed for so long in Mat-Su Valley — the feeling that ‘you’re not going to tell me what to do with my land,‘” added Woodruff. “That’s fine as long as you have endless open space. But when you start to fill in as a city, you can end up with a sprawling mess. With million-dollar homes next to gravel pits — and dead lakes.”
Read the complete story here: Sarah Palin’s dead lake
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/19/palin/
[Update: looks like words out on Sarah:
I find the troubling :
The Trooper-Gate investigation and the link of Sarah Palin to the focus in the family organization. Liberty Legal Institute is the legal arm of the Free Market Foundation, a conservative activist group associated with Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family. They are now involved in the investigation.
Some who worked with Palin termed her rise to power in Wassila as
“The end of the innocence for the city,”
It has been reported that Palin broke the law by spending $55,000 of road maintenance funds, without the council’s permission.
When challenged palins r response, ‘I’m the mayor and I can do anything I want until the courts say I can’t,'”
In Oct 1996 Palin inquired as to whether Emmons (Wasilla town Liberian) would object to library censorship. Palin then raised the possibility that people may circle the library in protest, to which Emmons replied that the American Civil Liberties Union would get involved. She backed down
Palin fired Emmons on 1/ 30/1997. The next day she withdrew the firing after an expression of public support for Emmons.
Regarding the bridge to nowhere. In 2006, Palin ran for governor on a “build-the-bridge” in her platform. She urged speedy work on Alaska’s infrastructure projects “while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.
After the bridge received sharp criticism from John McCain and other congressional members she backed down.
Palins lack of curiosity about the world and international affairs.
Ms. Palin first applied for a passport last year.
SARAH PALIN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Given McCains health issues and age Ms. Palin could in deed become the President of the United States.
Focus on the Family running the White House
Scary
Can you say the earth is flat and Witch trials??
Good comments cawren. This Palin thing is all about McCain sucking up to the religious right. In return for the full-throated support he’s getting from them he’s basically agreeing to keep the GOP and the country in their hands. He will be merely a way to carry them to their next stop — a birdge to nowhere if you will.
Because he fell in line so well, the rightwing noise machine now tries to drown out serious discourse from the campaign and pummel the “liberal media” whenever legitimate questions get asked. They are on his side, but already it’s starting to look like it won’t be enoough.
The independent voters’ flirtation with Palin is on the wane because while it is possible to put lipstick on a pig it’s not so possible to make someone as lame and scary as she is appear to be otherwise.
cawren – I didn’t intend this post as an all out assault on Palin, but as I just posted a comment over on Mulshine’s column in which (witch?) I called Palin a “theocrat”, I must agree with you troubling observations!
Today I also read that Palin has a disdain for the rule of law – she is director her staff not to comply with Legislative subpoena’s and her husband is flouting the law as well. From Glenn Greenwald of Salon:
“Associated Press today, on Todd Palin’s refusal to comply with the Alaska State Senate’s subpoena:
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s husband has refused to testify in the investigation of his wife’s alleged abuse of power, and key lawmakers said Thursday that uncooperative witnesses are effectively sidetracking the probe until after Election Day.”
Todd Palin, who participates in state business in person or by e-mail, was among 13 people subpoenaed by the Alaska Legislature. Palin’s lawyer sent a letter to the lead investigator saying Palin objected to the probe and would not appear to testify on Friday. . . .”
Ignoring a legislative subpoena is punishable by a fine up to $500 and up to six months in jail under Alaska law. But courts are reluctant to intervene in legislative matters and the full Legislature must be in session to bring contempt charges, Wielechowski said. The Legislature is not scheduled to convene until January.
It is illegal in the State of Alaska to fail to comply with legislative subpoenas. But Todd Palin has announced he will do exactly that which the law prohibits for one simple reason — because nothing can be done about it until after the election, and even then, it’s unlikely much will be done to punish him for breaking the law. Sarah Palin has similarly ordered all of her aides to refuse to comply with these subpoenas even though doing so is illegal, because she, too, doubts there will be consequences for this illgeal behavior.
There is no doubt that the Legislature has the right to investigate and that these Subpoenaas are lawfully issued. Before Palin was selected as Vice President, virtually everyone in Alaska — including her — agreed that the Legislature could and should investigate these allegations. From The Anchorage Daily News, July 29, 2008:
“The governor has said all along that she will fully cooperate with an investigation and her staff will cooperate as well,” [Palin spokeswoman Sharon] Leighow said. . . .
Supporters as well as detractors of the Republican governor generally agreed the legislative investigation is needed into the circumstances leading up to Monegan’s dismissal. . . .
Sen. Gene Therriault of North Pole, leader of the small Republican Senate minority that generally has backed Palin’s policies, said he expects the governor will cooperate, and if she’s cleared, the investigation could strengthen her. . . . Senate President Lyda Green, a Wasilla Republican and member of the Legislative Council, said the investigation is “absolutely” needed.”
sorry, can’t post links in comments – go to Salon dot com
Good comment joiseygal – but, while I agree, I prefer to keep the focus on environmental issues.
I will have another far more important Palin environmental story tomorrow.
The Obama supporters spent days finding 23 people in Alaska, and 7 people in Wasilla who don’t like Gov. Palin.
If they were to ask the people of New Jersey what they thought of Gov.Gov Corzine they would have no trouble finding 3 or 4 million voters who don’t like the job he is doing.
Patty Stoll a retired school teacher in Wasilla said “Wasilla is just plain ugly” should come to New Jersey. Just give her a look at Camden, Newark, and a few hundred other places in NJ. She would run home and kiss the ground in Wasilla.
Hey TomTallTree – maybe you should out-migrate to Alaska yourself – you might fit in well there, given your views.
TTT, agreed.
For years we heard from the crying left how the Bush/Rove book presented lies and distortions about Gore. But the daily MSM and all these here constantly attacking Gov Palin are all hypocrites.
How much time did you investigate Sen Obama in South Chicago and all the work as a community organizer? I’m sure all the garbage strewn houses and graffiti makes for a nice article.
Why not discuss Obama’s accomplishments? Oh, there are none. Where are all his supporters from Chicago going on record explaining Obama’s accomplishments? Oh, better to hide the terrorists, criminals, …etc. Yup, it’s clear to me now.
hmh44 – your comment is so confused and absurd, I hardly no where to begin
First off, Rove and the Swiftboaters were lying about Gore.
In contrast, the media reports on Palin are true, and Palin is lying to cover them up.
Obama was working for a church as a community organizer to prevent and alleviate some of the urban poverty problems you identify. How can he be blamed for those conditions?
Last, Obama is a Harvard Law School graduate, editor of the Law Journal there, and Law Professor at University of Chicago Law School.
Actually, I don’t think facts and reason can persuade you or many who share your beliefs. But I feel obligated to respond, even to absurd garbage.
I don’t understand with the economy in shambles there is still concerfn about Obama being our next president? It amazes me people are not focusing on the fact they may not have jobs or pensions which baffles me they want four more years of Bush who has desroyed the ecomony which we are seeing right before our eyes.. Are some people blind and cannot see what their futures will hold?Will you have a job, a pension, a home, healthcare and will you be able to afford to heat your homes, buy grocieries and put gas in your cars? These ae the REAL issues which you need to focus on. Stay focused, people.
People,put down your rascism. It’s not about Obama. It’s about who has the necessary ideas and the means to implement those ideas which will work for our country and the American people. McCain and Palin talk the talk, but can they really walk the walk for the Amerfcan people? Don’t wake up the day after the election and find you made a huge mistake which caused your livelihoods to go down the toilet because you focused on color instead of substance and real change.
nohesitation:
“Rove and the swiftboaters were lying about Gore”?
The swiftboaters were 250 veterans of the Vietnam war, many of whom had served in the same unit and/or with Kerry during his few months over there. They told the truth about the man who wrote his own after-action reports and his three(3) purple hearts.
If by the term “swiftboating”, you mean telling the truth, then you got it straight!
Remember, these guys came home and did not denigrate their fellow vets or throw away their medals – these are true American heros!
richardcwa it’s not 2004 any more. The lies of the swiftboaters have been documented as lies. The issue wasn’t that they served their country admirably; they did and so did Kerry.
The issue to some is that Kerry went public against the war, which doesn’t change his military record. You think the swiftboaters are getting a bad deal? You know what to do: GET OVER IT!
And don’t act so surprised to find out that we are NOT going to let it happen again. If this campaign focused on the issues raised by CaseClosed2 there would be nothing Nurse Sarah could do to keep Johnny on life support. As it is their days are numbered because people are figuring out what’s really facing the country and who can help turn it around. Hint: it ain’t McCain.
richardcwa – sorry for my obviously bad writing – I combined GOre adn Kerry adn Rove adn Swiftboaters in one sentence. Again, sorry for that terrible writing. That’s waht happens when you rush comments on a blog.
This obviously isn’t the forum for the debate, but there is a huge body of credible academic literature that documents:
1) the Vietnam War was a national disaster (thus protestors were not only vindicated historically but are shown to be the true patriots, as opposed to those in the military who slaughtered millions of innocent vietnamese civilians, mostly women and children, and from some from 35,000 bombing missions like the “war heror” running for President); and
2) the swiftboaters claims were factually false and thus lies.
Have a nice day.
What I find amazing in this whole campaign is that we have sinked to such a low level that no-one knows what is true or not.
Just the simple fact that possibly the two of the most disgusting people in the US (Carl Rove & Newt Gingrich) are disgusted tells volumes.
You are right on the money zohar – I big piece of the blame lies at the feet of the media, who have abdicated any truth telling role.
They amplify and enable the lies. Stenographers.
ZoharLaor – You said Carl Rove and Newt Gingrich are tow of teh most disgusting people in the US. I respect your opinion no matter how wrong it is. If you want the “MOST” disgusting people in the US look at Bill and Hillary Clinton.
To all you folks who think the Swift Boat claims were lies. Take it from a VET, they were true. John Kerry bought it on himself when he pretended that his service in Vietnam made him qualified to be President.
He was and still is a disgrace to all of us who served honorably.
TTT you are entitled to feel Kerry acted dishonorably by protesting the war. But that doesn’t make the swiftboaters’ lies true. Unless you served with Kerry everything you know about this is second hand whether you were in Vietnam or not.
If you think his protests mean it was right to lie about him (he “bought [sic] it on himself”) then you’re pure and simply wrong.
And if I could be in a room with Bill or Hillary or with Karl and Newt, wow no contest. Bring on the Clintons.
joiseygal – How long did you serve with John Kerry in Vietnam?
Perhaps you are getting some second hand information.
John Kerry wrote his own recommendations for medals. He is know to exaggerate a bit. He did a dishonor to those wounded who earned the Purple Heart.
The progressives in the Democratic People’s Republic of NJ are going to need hours of intensive psychotherapy when Obama loses in a landslide. I feel your pain.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to throw my cans and plastic out by the curb for the regular garbage pickup.
You whacko environmentalists are hysterical….you love trees and carribou….but you hate people.
Dear Bill and responders:
One sees here a typical span of ideologies and quite a few idiots as well.
That last one is a doozie. Yes, let’s kill everything and cook it on the campfires of the logged forests. And then strew it all with garbage.
For some reason I am getting an image of that great big trailer park-
Alaska?
nohesitation: I find you remarks about me very insulting.
A 2 tour RVN vet special forces medic, I saw first hand how we surgically extracted or eliminatred the targets we were given. I also saw many GI’s painful death and held many a dying mans hand or cradled his head, legs missing and told him it would be ok the chopper’s almost here.
Don’t even pretend to call us baby killers. Yes the entire “CONFLICT” was wrong but the fact is that those of us who went, and I was no inner-city looser, went because it was our job and we followed orders.
I wish the draft was still in place for all the naysayers who believe peace,and security just happen. Military life teaches you that you can be self sufficient, dependable, accomplished and compasionate while performing the job you are assigned.
You need to be damn thankful people with guts and discipline are protecting your tail and that you have the honor and privelege to live inm the most respected and desired location in the world.
You don’t see people flooding the borders in eastern Europe, Asia or South America do ya?
If you intend to critique an era, I suggest you get your facts from someone who lived it first hand.
Here’s a question for you… Who was it that comitted the US into Viet Nam and when?
Funny how Sarah wasn’t doing a thing wrong UNTIL she became McCain’s VP pick.
jcmarlton – sorry, I had no intent to offend, and respect your service, but history is history and facts are facts. Women and children were slaughtered. But I never used the word “baby killers”. (I was alive at the time and some the domestic carnage of that war in my own neighborhood).
You ask an interesting question re “commitment” of US troops.
Many books have been writtten on that topic. And of course there are the Pentagon Papers (see first volumed re: 1945-1960 period).
For simplicity here, I blame Truman for not following through on FDR’s anti-colonial views; for not honoring the Atlantic Charter’s self determination policy; and for not responding to the nationalist Ho Chi Minh in 1946 negotiations (and subsequent Cold War generating anti-communist Truman Doctrine adopted in the Spring of 1947.)
In post WWII negotiations, it was more important to Truman to appease French colonialist desires than to do the right thing. This cast the die that essentially sent the US down the road to ground troops.
drericblair – any more name calling comments will be deleted.
Make arguments, express opinions, but please grow up.
drericblair – people drink water? breath air? eat food? depend on nature? live in communities? Go fishing and hunting? Love the outdoors, forests, parks and open spaces?
The folks who protect these essential elements of civilization are those you call wacko’s.
No just who is the wacko?
kathcetera – You are factually false.
Plain herself agreed to cooperate in the Troopergate investigation LONG BEFORE the VP candidacy.
Palin did several otehr things that were highly controversial BEFORE the VP candidacy was announced.
I will write on her actions on global warming science and the Alaska lawsuit against the Bush administration’s proposed protections of polar bears due to global warming.
She is a liar and a fraud.
TTT,
The following is an example of why I seldom if ever respond to anything Bill Wolfe/nohesitation writes anymore:
“Hey TomTallTree – maybe you should out-migrate to Alaska yourself – you might fit in well there, given your views.”
I simply come in here to encourage you to leave him alone.
As you know, I don’t always agree with you either, but I enjoy considering your pov and your pithy comments … which is what the bloggosphere is supposed to be all about.
Best regards,
hg
come on hglindquist – lighten up.
TTT expressed disgusted with NJ cities and an an interest in kissing the ground of that glorious sate of Alaska.
Well, I say “Alaska First!” ned folks like TTT!
NJ – “Love it or Leave it” hahaha – do I hear an echo somewhere?
Like I said, it was an example … I didn’t write down the laundry list …
If bloggers like TTT didn’t comment in your threads, I wouldn’t even read them.
Is that uptight enough for you?! 😉
hg – if it’s a private conversation you want with TTT, why not cut out the middle man and stop wasting SL bandwidth – and just use email!
Who said it was a private conversation?! Looks pretty darn public to me. How does it look to you?
hg – I was responding to YOUR comment:
“If bloggers like TTT didn’t comment in your threads, I wouldn’t even read them.”
That clearly says you have no interest in reading my content but only in the comments of TTT. So, why not just email TTT and keep it private?
OFF TOPIC BS IS NO LONGER TOLERATED.
Under Mulshine rules, I will begin to delete OT and fact free namecalling garbage.
NOW you’re getting it! 😉
I did a search on Realtor.com and looking at homes in Wasilla, I wouldn’t call it an ugly town at all. There are many parts of the area that would be as described but there are MANY MANY homes that are quite affluent.
This writer is jaded, what else is new. For once I’d like to see a little less bias in these articles… but NJ.com is not my failing business, its theirs.
Jerseyson – What “writer” do you claim is jaded and biased?
Did you even read the entire article? Your focus on one aesthetic judgment suggests not.
There are facts in the article I excerpted – water quality impairment is a legal determination based upon scientific data – in this case, to simplify, it means the Lake is polluted.
Palin’s pro-development decisions as Mayor made the pollution worse, not better, yet she brags about her love and respect for the environment – in case you didn’t get it THAT”S THE POINT!