Sarah Palin Slashed Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs
By Logan Murphy Thursday Sep 04, 2008 2:45pmST. PAUL -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.
After the legislature passed a spending bill in April, Palin went through the measure reducing and eliminating funds for programs she opposed. Inking her initials on the legislation -- "SP" -- Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers. Read on...
So Mrs. Palin throws her full support behind her own pregnant, unwed teen daughter, but it's tough sh*t for all the other girls? It's bad enough that by bringing her out and center, Palin's daughter is now the poster child for the failures of abstinence only "education," but to now find that with the stroke of a pen she made things tougher on pregnant teens to get the services they need really takes the cake. That's just the kind of compassionate conservatism that America could do without.









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We can disagree if ######## is right or ######## is wrong. But we can agree that ######## is fun.
Ah man, I got filtered! T&&N S&x that is.
Could someone find out what the budget was for the previous year?
Legislatures sometimes put a cushion into items they know the gov will
want to cut.
I do wonder though what went on behind closed doors when the poor kid did get preggers. And I wonder if the vetting of her by the right-wing actually went so far as to find out about this before they picked her. Poor kid. I do feel a little bad for that child.
Terrible, but not all that surprising considering how republicans vote against the interests of most people habitually.
You sound so surprised! :)
Yet I am sure that state funds will go towards providing health care for Gov Palin's daughter and grandaughter. I am positive that some of the perks of being gov / vp will trickle their way down to those two, and I am positive that their housing will be paid for by the government!
Spike @ 5:
...and the brain-dead, six-fingered, slack-jawed, booger-eatin' yokels keep voting for them.
Equal Pay.
While Rick Davis and John McCain simply hope women will vote for Sarah Palin, the Democrats are trying to force McCain to actually take a stand on women's issues.
Democrats have hammered Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) this summer over his vote against legislation pushing equal pay for women and men. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will get a second act in September, as Democrats seek to remind voters that McCain opposed it, according to an e-mail from the Democratic Senate message center. It lists "[e]qual pay legislation" as among the issues the Senate will take up in September.
Rudy Giuliani hit Obama this week for voting "present" in the Illinois Senate, which was actually a legislative strategy designed to blunt the effectiveness of state Senate Republicans in trapping Democrats in uncomfortable positions on wedge issues.
McCain on the other hand, rarely shows up in the Senate to vote. Last time he had a tough decision to make on this bill, he just wasn't there. If voting "present" says something bad about Obama's leadership abilities, what are we to make of McCain not showing up at all?
She just wanted to be a Granny to go with Grampi McSame.
To quote Dick Cheney: so?
Remember the framing here: there's nothing wrong, in fact it's a "blessed event," when a white conservative has a child out of wedlock, because they won't be expecting "government handouts."
But when the government gives handouts, that encourages liberals and people of color to have children out of wedlock, and that constitutes a "national crisis."
Try to keep up.
The only exception to this is if the white conservative also happens to be a celebrity (ie Jamie Lynn Spears), in which case they are "pinheads."
Unless that person is a celebrity for being conservative, in which case they "deserve privacy."
Unless they trot their family out on a giant stage and wave them in everyone's face, in which case they are "walking the talk" of their family values.
Which does not mean that their family is now fair game. Quite the contrary, it is despicable in the extreme to comment in anything but glowing terms of admiration about the children of a politician.
Unless her name is Chelsea, in which case it's "all in good fun" to comment on her looks every time you need filler before the erectile dysfunction/debt consolidation/invention idea registration commercial break.
> She just wanted to be a Granny to go with Grampi McSame.
Never go full granny.
JimboSlice @ 7:
We should demand that Palin toss her sinful, prideful, disobedient, thoughtless slut/whore of a daughter out in the street. Seems to me stoning would be an appropriate punishment, given the magnitude of her sins.
Apparently karma really is a bitch.
"Today’s jobs report is a reminder of what’s at stake in this election – John McCain showed last night that he is intent on continuing the economic policies that just this year have caused the American economy to lose 605,000 jobs. John McCain may believe that the fundamentals of our economy are ‘strong,’ but the working men and women I meet every day are working harder for less, the typical working age family’s income is down $2,000 since George Bush took office, and their purchasing power is as low as it’s been in a decade. John McCain’s answer is more of the same: $200 billion in tax cuts to big corporations and oil companies, and not one dime of tax relief to more than 100 million middle-class families. If I am President, I will cut taxes for 95% of all working families and provide an immediate $50 billion to struggling states so that they don’t have to cut back on health care and education and can rebuild roads and schools. That’s the change working families need right now."
I'll post my thoughts here again, as this idea seems to be received well:
Palin and her ilk in the religious right do not actually care that their candidates or their candidates' families conform their actual behavior to their moral code. Actions, you see, are far less important than beliefs. The important thing -- as it is in their fundamentalist version of their religion -- is to believe that certain actions are right or wrong, not to actually behave accordingly. Immoral acts can always be forgiven if the actor believes the right things. Immoral beliefs, however, may never be forgiven. The wrong beliefs send you straight to hell.
We all stand flabbergasted at the hypocrisy they display. But once you understand that they subordinate action to belief, you'll understand them better. Consider that a mere adulterer like Bill Clinton is a heathen to them, while diaper-clad whoremonger David Vitter gets a standing ovation. Clinton's real crime is not adultery. It's not believing adultery was the worst, most impeachable thing ever. It's the action without the remorse they want him to display. Vitter might have done something much worse according to their moral code, but since he espouses the belief that what he did was wrong, and wants to make it illegal for everyone else, he is righteous in their eyes.
They want a theocracy in which the law conforms to their religious code. All they care about in a candidate is that s/he espouse beliefs in their code, and seek to make that code the law of the land. Once the belief is espoused and the agenda laid out, the candidate is free to break the code him- / herself in spectacular fashion. Always remember -- bad acts can be forgiven; bad beliefs cannot. It goes hand-in-hand with the religion they want to enforce on us all.
Talk about Compassionate Conservatism! Taking funds away from young mothers! I thought the fetus always comes first with these people? I guess poor girls aren't worthy of compassion.
"Sarah Palin Slashed Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs"
gee...shoulda, woulda, coulda, huh grandma?
Lawmakers to issue subpoenas in Troopergate
(ANCHORAGE) – Legislative leaders today announced that a joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will take place on Friday, September 12, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in Anchorage to issue subpoenas in the ongoing investigation into the events surrounding the termination of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. They also set a date of October 10, 2008, for the completion of special counsel Stephen Branchflower’s report.
This week, seven key witnesses informed Mr. Branchflower through their attorneys that they would not provide depositions. Their depositions, which had been agreed to and scheduled earlier with Mr. Branchflower, were cancelled within the last 72 hours. Additionally, the Governor’s lawyer has stated that he represents the Governor and the Governor’s office, and has forbidden any contact by Mr. Branchflower with any member of that office. Mr. Branchflower wishes to depose some of those employees. The issuance of the subpoenas is intended to get at the truth and to expedite the completion of his report to the public.
House Judiciary Chairman Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, said that the reason for the earlier completion date for the report is to avoid the appearance of a last-minute ‘October surprise,’ and to give both sides plenty of time to respond to the contents of the report. “I met with Mr. Branchflower on Wednesday, along with my vice-chair Representative Nancy Dahlstrom and Senator Hollis French. We agreed that an earlier completion date was achievable, and that it was fair to all sides. We are satisfied that the report can be finished by no later than October 10, 2008.”
Representative Ramras expressed confidence in Mr. Branchflower’s ability to produce a timely report. “I just met the man for the first time Wednesday. I was impressed. He is organized and task-oriented. He says he can get done ahead of schedule. I believe him.”
“We also discussed and agreed amongst ourselves that no subpoena will be issued for the Governor,” said Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River. “She has told the public that she intends to cooperate with the investigation, indeed, she has told the public that she welcomes the investigation and I have every faith that she means it. If necessary we can send Mr. Branchflower to wherever the Governor is, or she can give her statement to him over the telephone, whatever is most convenient for her. We recognize that her schedule is extremely busy, and we want to accommodate that.”
Under Alaska law, a subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness before a standing committee may be issued by the chairman of a committee when authorized to do so by a majority of the membership of the committee and with the concurrence of the Senate President or of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“We had scheduled and then cancelled a joint House-Senate Judiciary hearing for Aug. 18, 2008, because at that time every witness that Mr. Branchflower contacted agreed to sit down and give a statement,” said Senator Hollis French, D-Anchorage.
Senator Charlie Huggins, R-Rural Mat-Su/Chugiak, the vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also expressed his support for an earlier report. “Clearly it is in the best interests of everyone to get the job done ahead of schedule,” said Senator Huggins.
JasonS @ 11:
You meant "unless it's Chelsea in which case she's referred to as "the family dog" on national television.
Is it my imagination or has not one prominant conservative said that Palin’s daughter shouldn't have had sex before she was married?
Nice try. There are so many things not to like about the GOP ticket, it's really not necessary to manufacture stories.
http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/09/04/our-operating-budget-was-not-reduced...
Obama/Biden '08
cynical yes but this is how you keep the church busy/full
they don't want people to become co-dependent on
government assistance....so theydirect you to those shiney faces at the church. i have NO problem with getting/giving assistance at the church but why not have both options i also have a problem palin's view on the Pill and condoms if i understand her stance correctly.
the extreme base of her party love this stuff. i would like to see a NATIONAL regarding her view on contraception.
Breaking: Jack Cafferty's wife died.
Karen @ 17:
My belief is that you hit the nail on the head. Well done.
Previous year's budget: $1.3 million
Proposed budget $5 million.
She gave them $3.7 million.
Please recap how that is "slashing"? And.....go!
Cafferty's wife died suddenly. God Bless, Carol Cafferty.
I would like to see NATIONAL poll regarding her stance on
cotraception for adults and teens.
is this site having some challenges today seems slow. i think it been going on last two weeks....just wondering
Looks like she cut a community food program too. Very compassionate.
Karen, very nice analysis...
Amalink @ 4:
There's lots of information out there on the web, but you have to pay for the good stuff.
That little baby is going to have a difficult time when it gets to know the history of his or her birth and reads all the stories about it, including that it's dad didn't even want children. Was Sarah thinking about this when she brought her unwed teen aged daughter into the spotlight?
I'm beginning to think that Sarah may be almost, if not as, heartless as george bush. She seems to be as big an opportunist as he is. Anyone who trusts anything she says or does, better be damned careful.
P.D. @ 29:
That's horrible.
Jeff Akston @ 31:
Please recap where C&L said that Sara Palin slashed the budget.
And...go!
Somewhat Off Topic: AP is now reporting(as on Yahoo News) that 4 in 10 feel that
Palin has "enough experience" to be VP.
The poll, as I understand, was taken in various Bars, in alley-ways, and of individuals
attending the Repug Convention.
Seems misleading for the headline to say: "Only 4 in 10 Say Palin Has Needed Experience". More accurate: "60 Percent of Those Survey, Indicate Palin is Lacking
in Experience."
But nevertheless, I hold to my earlier comment that many, many, many persons
within the U.S. are ignorant, misinformed and dumbed down...In fact, I'd observe
that citizens of the U.S. are the most stupid group on Earth.
someguy@38, It is tragic. She died suddenly, but Wolf Blitzer didn't give any details. Of all the blowhards on MSM, I like Jacks commentaries.
.....Such a pretty face... such an ugly track record....JD
Karen @ 17:
And I'll take this one step further, Karen. Having watched *minimal* amounts of the Republican convention this week--but also having been subjected to the cudgel of how "wonderful" their candidates are by the fawning press--I have come to believe that there's no point in arguing with or trying to convince them of anything.
Obama's election will live or die on turnout. Left-leaning voters need to turn out en masse for him to win. The right-wing Christian Republican base would vote for a corn scarecrow if it had the words "Christ died for your sins" on a sign around its neck. They will not reexamine their thinking, even at their own peril.
I'm still hoping, however, that there are some influential moderate Republicans out there who see what terrifying implications the McCain/Palin ticket holds both for the economy and national security. And I'm hoping they'll speak up in favor of the more qualified choice. Country over party, right?
Rusty Shackleford @ 39:
Here, I'll help. It's the title of he post:
Sarah Palin Slashed Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs
Rusty Shackleford @ 39:
Ohhh, semantics is fun. Would an equally accurate headline not be: "Sarah Palin Mor Than Doubled Funding For Teen Pregnancy Programs"
As usual Karen, point well made.
In twisted Christianland, the fact that an out of wedlock pregnancy could (and did) happen to such an upstanding, righteous, God-fearing clan as the Palins only reinforces their religious conviction that the devil is indeed a powerful force. Why, if it could happen to them it could happen to anyone, but of course, as you pointed out Karen, it is OK when it happens to a true believer, one who was raised on the ideal of abstinence instead of contraception, but when a pagan gets seeded, they are the scum of the earth.
Sarah has just been denied. It seems her husbands business partners divorce papers are going to be made public. You think McCain would appoint somebody with less baggage.
Perhaps this story is not the perfect one to comment on, but I need to express this with frequency until someone agrees with me in public.
THE MCCAIN/PALIN TICKET IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE!!! I need a bumper sticker that says, "McCain/Palin -- The Joke's On U.S.!".
AMERICA SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR EVEN TROTTING THIS TICKET AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE ARE, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, GOING TO PUT AN ELDERLY, 72 YEAR OLD MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE???!!!! THAT'S SHAMEFUL FOR OUR SOCIETY, PERIOD!! We shouldn't do that to any person. And when McCain dies from skin cancer in 2010, we're going to have Sara Palin as our President??!!! This is a joke. She's been governor for 1 1/2 years of Alaska, people. It's the most rural state in our country and it's thousands of miles away from the mainland. They describe her as not your typical beltway politician, which is code for "has no clue about the Washington machine." And we're going to throw her into that fire because she's pretty? That doesn't make sense. Where did this woman go to college? Why is her 17 year old daughter pregnant? Why does no one care? And the way she and all the others didn't even attack Obama, but MADE FUN of him and got away with it?? She (and folks like Guliani) literally mocked and laughed at Barack Obama and then were merely called "feisty." That's beyond outrageous and just sad.
This is a HUGE setup, folks. The real puppeteers in the GOP have created this ticket of the elderly and the clueless so that when the sh@#$ hits the fan, they can order them to do the GOP's bidding. McCain is too old to be powerful anymore, and Palin is too clueless to challenge anything. They are about to be installed to the white house to carry out orders for a maniacal Christian crusade and their thirst for power, money, oil and Muslim blood.
i am no republican but the only details you list is that she cut it from 5 million to 3.9 million. who is to say 3.9 million wasn't an appropriate amount given the overall alaska budget? certainly no one here would have a clue.
i think it's appropriate to present the information and ask questions but not just present the information and make conclusions based on raw numbers w/o any additional details.
problem is to Republicans this story is a plus. They believe that people are better suited to look after themselves rather than have government solve the issue.
I think we need to focus on the stronger issues to defeat her.
Karen@17: Yes, I totally concur. You did good in "nailing" those ultra conservative,
right wing ,religious zealots.
Doggiebobo @ 40:
i continue to say this is a valid and good strategy of attack on her/him. last night msnbc had a reporter in alaska saying she was starting to hear people chatter about her NOT being ready.....i believe they (R) want to
shut that.....i've saying all along if mccain was president and couldn't serve let's say as early as
MARCH/09 and palin would step vs. obama can't serve
and biden steps in.....i'm hearing alittle but it seems the media is avoiding that scenario....i know it's hypothetical but it a probabilty....mccain will be 72.5.
my point is that needs to get out their so people can
ponder it.
roger @ 49:
Here's a link to Convenant House's financial records. . It was $1.3 million last year. $1.1 the year before that. They asked for $5 million. She gave them $3.7. To conclude in any way that this was "slashing" anything is irresponsible. Palin is a bad VP pick. She is unqualified. There are enough REAL scandals with actual proof behind them (like earmarks, bridge to nowhere, troopergate) that for people perpetuate outright lies like her "slashing funding" for teen pregnancy, or wanting to teach creationism, or banning books is offensive, and helps the right paint the picture that the librul meedya is biased and lying to hurt her.
More detail about some of the Palin myths
On the palin affair: The request to seal the divorce records of her lover was made a couple of days ago... The courts denied it.
Also... The squeaky clean Hockey Mom's purported lover?
A local Palmer politician and...
A Hockey Coach
You just can't make stuff like this up!
Jeff In Ohio @ 44:
Woops, my bad. I thought when he said "budget" he meant the entire budget, not just the teen pregnancy program.
RayRay @ 48:
I like your bumper sticker--and I hope we won't need to apply it.
I disagree that Palin is "clueless," though. This woman is scary-smart--devious, I'd say. She knows the odds are high that McCain may not complete his term--or may only choose to serve one term. And then what? She's virtually insured of heading her party's ticket in the next election--where she can do the bidding of the people who selected her and with whom she's ideologically aligned. She will cheerfully be their willing servant. Newt Gingrich has already said he's all for it. Right-wingers are champing at the bit to get McCain out of the way. This is their ticket to the next 12 years or more.
This is exactly why moderate Republicans need to step up and stop this. Their party has been hijacked--it was long ago--but this is taking it to the next level. More importantly, though, Palin's "God is on our side" views lead us into completely dangerous international waters. The country won't survive it.
Jeff Akston @ 45:
Considering that the Governor's thin track record included leaving a trail of debt alternating with lavishing Federal pork and oil revenues on her constituents, I'd consider the underfunding "slashing". "Road to nowhere indeed". For single teen moms, that is.
Jeff Akston @ 45:
Not really. If I read the statment from the chairperson for Covenant House Alaska (assuming it's really from her, because it's nowhere to be found other than the throckmorton link) and it is a 3 year phase in for the 3.9 mill it remains almost exactly the same amount of funding at 1.23 mill.
constituent @ 52:
We concur. But, even tho a hypothetical, when presented to "those idelogical,
religious zealots, they are the same group that continue to believe that man/woman
and the dinasours co-existed about 6,000 years ago...and attempting to persuade that
particular group is, unfortunately, like pissing into the wind. I know, I have had discussions with some and they are unbendable and look to the "Good Book" only
(or at least mostly) for their rational. One cannot educate/inform the "dumb, dumber
and dumbest".
Rusty Shackleford @ 55:
Woops, my bad. I was reading the actual article, not making stuff up. Where did it say she cut the teen pregnancy program? That's right, nowhere. The article said she "slashed" funding to Covenant House. ONE OF THE THINGS Convenant House does is support pregnant teens (not even explicitly - it's a friggin home for runaways).
Nowhere in the article does it say or even imply that she cut their teen pregnancy program. No, it says she slashed funding. Which is, basically, an outright lie. She more than doubled funding.
Giving less than asked is "slashing"? What if they asked for $8 trillion in funding?
I must say that Sara Palin's greed is the thing I find most troubling about her. She wants to keep all the pride for herself. Sure she's proud of her daughter's decision to have and keep her out-of-wedlock baby. But she wants to deny all the other mother's in the U.S. in the same situation a similar measure of pride in their unwed pregnant daughters by the simple expedience of denying them any choice at all.
If I had to give my impression of Sarah palin I'd have to say "completely corrupt" is at the top of the list.
Sarah Palin is a radical, fanatical, right winged Assembly Of God, Pentecostal, Holy Ghost unknown tongue talking, church isle shouting, laying on of hands casting out devil, divine healing, slain in the spirit, anti-sex education, anit-Catholic, anti-Jew, anti-Mormon, anti-gay, radical nut case....just like her fellow Assembly of God, pentecoastal denominational member brothers and sisters: Pastor John Hagee, Benny Hinn, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, Paul and Jan Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network, Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyes, Paula White, Ted Harrert, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and the Oral Roberts group! And if the people of this nation do not think Palin will use her life long radical theological convictions to "line item" and change ANYTHING that does not measure up to her fanatical, religious beliefs...YOUR NUTS...This proves she's already done it!
If she goes into office Benny Hinn and the others will be walking the isles of congress speaking in toungues, laying on hands and casting out devils of anyone who does not agree with "Sister Palin".
THIS WOMEN IS A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY!
Jeff Akston @ 60:
They didn't ask for $8 trillion. In state budgetary terms, $5 million is a rounding error. She certainly didn't miss an opportunity to spread the pork around, either as mayor or governor. You are correct about the Covenant House's focus. But I trust that the money was requested because there was a need. (In case you haven't noticed, the economy hasn't exactly been terribly rosy, particularly on the bottom rungs of the ladder.) But I will argue that in light of Palin's tendency to throw around money, the less-than-requested funding is tantamount to "slashing."
Jeff Akston @ 60:
See me At 58
"Life happens."
The McCain catch-phrase for f@ck-ups and knocked-ups.
More important are the programs for which she approved funding. Many sports-related, I believe, with little benefit for the majority of the community.
cubiclegrrl @ 64:
parsing, redirecting, obfuscating.
The point is: This headline is a lie. This article is a misleading. This misinformation should continue to be published.
If someone wants to write an article taking her to task on what she used her line item for & what she didn't or what she doubled funding for (like Covenant House) and what she didn't - those would be great articles and I would read them.
But as I said, there's more than enough scandal around Palin where you don't have resort to outright fraudulent headlines and false stories.
I'm curious... if Palin and the right doesn't want tax dollars to pay for unwed mother's babies... If Bristol's mom helps support her daughter before she gets married, does that mean Bristol is getting tax-dollar support because her mom is the governor?
Fanon @ 65:
I haven't seen that link. "therockmorton"? Still though, keeping funding steady is also not "slashing".
Their budget was $1.3 million in real, actual money.
They requested $5 million (or $1.67 if it is phased in over 3 years). Not real, actual money
Their budget went to $3.9 million (or stayed steady if it's phased in) in real, actual money.
Whether it's giving a smaller increase than requested or it's merely keeping funding steady can't be called "slashing" by any stretch of the definition.
Palin's a racist.
Palin about Obama beating Hillary: “So Sambo beat the bitch!”
StirFry @ 71:
Ohhh, smoking gun. A nameless, sourceless, evidenceless article by a schmoe.
As an aside? Sambo? I guess I'm not up on my racist barbs.
Again, there's more than enough real, actual scandal from Palin to focus on without resorting to making stuff up like above. I'll move on.
Palin's water breaks at a Texas conference where people are surprised to hear she was even pregnant with her 5th child. Instead of going to the hospital in Texas she flies to Seattle. A risky thing considering she's technically in labor at this point. She doesn't find a hospital in Seattle, but rather takes her connecting flight on to Alaska. She lands in Anchorage, but doesn't seek out a hospital in the biggest and best equipped medical center in the state. No, she then takes a 4 hour drive to her po-dunk town and at that hospital she delivers after an estimated 18-25 hours in labor. She gives birth to a son with downs syndrome, a common condition associated with teenage pregnancies.
Anyone connecting the dots here?
Soccer Mom @ 63:
Hold the boat!
John Hagee and Sarah Palin are part of the same Assembly of God denomination? Didn't McCain reject John Hagee's endorsement because of his radical religious views? DUMB BO JOHN MCSHAME choose Palin as his Vice President running mate and she is from the same Assembly of God denonimation?
McCain is NUTS and so is anyone who votes for him or Palin !
Jeff Akston @ 70:
I'll grant you the definition of "slashing." But I still see it as curiously inconsistent for a politician who was otherwise such a sugar-mommy with other people's bling. Not even a cost of living increase? Sheesh... So much for those Christian values she allegedly brought to the office with her.
Jeff Akston @ 72:
Actually, we found a 1930s-era book in an old trunk titled something like "Little Black Sambo" when my Mom-in-law died. But yeah, until someone comes up with a YouTube clip or a relatively unimpeachable source, no sense in acting like the knobs who screeched about Rev. Wright.
Deleted-Spam
Jeff Akston @ 72:
Sorry I still have Rovian gas from last night's RNC. Mea culpa.
At the age of 14, my parents lectured me about the dangers and pitfalls of premarital sex.
Got a '48 Chevy when I was 16.
So much for the lectures.
I think the Palin daughter thing is relevant because it shows the failure of the abstinence approach in the family of an ideologue.
While this particular matter might not be that important, it does serve to illustrate what can happen when we have an ideologue versus a results oriented politician. If the goal of reducing teen pregnancy can be met with birth control, that should be supplied in addition to the abstinence approach. But, what we see from the ideologue is using the campaign to reduce teen pregnancy as a means of proselytizing the good book, results be damned.
A far more serious matter are the ideologues that champion that the public sector can't accomplish anything, and that everything should be left to marketplace forces and the private sector, no more thinking required. That "no more thinking" means, don't look at the results.
Nowhere does this approach fail more miserably than in health care. The marketplace approach means first and foremost, enhance shareholder value. That can be best accomplished by maintenance regimes that have patients paying into an endless revenue stream. That's why maintenance regimes have sprouted up, ranging from restless leg syndrome to irritable bowel syndrome. But there is no enhancement for shareholder value for cures because a cure doesn't present a recurring cash flow. And the ideologues who want to leave these matters to the private sector cut spending to the National Cancer Institute, which has an emphasis on cures. We lose the equivalent of an American city to cancer, year in and year out, but the ideologues spend less than $5B on cancer research. Yet the same ideologues will justify a $600B military budget to prevent losing an American city.
To sum up, the pregnancy of Palin's daughter (and the impending shotgun marriage) is an entertaining example of an ideological approach backfiring. But this is just an example. The whole ideological approach in all aspects of government is the problem, because results don't matter. We're paying for it in foreign policy, fiscal policy and health policy.
I wouldn't get too far out ahead on this one.
1. It fits in perfectly with the "personal responsibility" and "family values" narrative. (ie-parents are responsible for taking care of their OWN kids...) The reason why the personal responsibility narrative has served the Republicans so well is because it provides a convenient and plausible psychological cover for greed. Thus, it's no longer a matter of "I don't give a shit about anybody else but me," and becomes a case of "according to the 'compassionate conservative philosophy' it's spiritually unhealthy for us to let deadbeat parents off the hook for taking care of their own kids when they make mistakes.
and,
2. I can already see the talking point: "why do you Obama libruls HATE people who actually have the executive responsibility of MAKING financial decisions?"
Heart not so happy with mccain/palin. Gawd I love this stuff, they're such failures, no one of intelligence or creativity wants to be associated with them.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080905/n_entertain_reuters/entertainm...
.......Palin’s water breaks at a Texas conference where people are surprised to hear she was even pregnant with her 5th child. Instead of going to the hospital in Texas she flies to Seattle. A risky thing considering she’s technically in labor at this point. She doesn’t find a hospital in Seattle, but rather takes her connecting flight on to Alaska. She lands in Anchorage, but doesn’t seek out a hospital in the biggest and best equipped medical center in the state. No, she then takes a 4 hour drive to her po-dunk town and at that hospital she delivers after an estimated 18-25 hours in labor. She gives birth to a son with downs syndrome, a common condition associated with teenage pregnancies.
Anyone connecting the dots here?.......
You know, I've noticed that she seems to carry "her" baby around in a rather awkward position. I live in Europe and I see Gypsy beggar women carrying babies around in a similar fashion -- awkwardly. That's because they haven't bonded with the baby because the baby was borrowed for use from somebody else. That's what Palin is. A Gypsy Beggar.
I'm really confused about Sarah. I have no idea how she gets any non-religious-nutjob support at all. As a father of two girls I would NEVER vote for a team who would support judges who would deny my daughters the right to CHOSE. We've seen that they've been taught sex education and so far so good. For Sarah to say "respect her daughters decision" I say RIGHT ON - but Sarah HOW DARE you try to deny my daughters their CHOICE!
Ok, forget hearsay. But here's the real reason why Palin went back to Alaska:
From Anchorage Daily News:
Governor is stonewalling the Troopergate investigation
Amalink @ 4:
I find it quite stupid that some people would actually think McCain campaign
didn't know about Bristol's pregnancy. First of all, the girl is 5 months pregnant and showing, and McCain did have his people fly out there to meet the family. Are you assuming they're all blind?
Second, she's from a small town, anyone in that town knows what's going on with their neighbors, everyone in a small high school would know she's pregnant. You could have probably just googled her name and found this information on myspace or facebook. It wouldn't even take any kind of sophisticated vetting.
That's of course aside from the fact that if you're running for office - which she has done on several occasions - your whole life and family become public. She's knew there would be absolutely no way to hide one of her children. That's just common sense, the liberal media went with that story to insinuate that McCain is not a good decision maker. LOL. They better switch focus and try to figure out why their genius candidate opposed the surge that has saved thousand of lives and virtually resolved the main conflicts in Iraq. He finally admitted it worked - after denying it for months - but he still won't say he was wrong! Wow, what a stand up guy.
Mylegacy @ 82:
Well, I am pro choice as well and I can tell you why I am voting for McCain/Palin ticket. Roe vs. Wade will never be overturned. It doesn't matter what the president or vice president believe, you need Congress to pass a bill and that will never happen. So people like me focus on other issues that can actually pass, and vote accordingly. If you're a free thinker you're not very likely to agree on absolutely everything with one candidate. For example, I'm very much pro gay marriage. There was not one candidate - that actually had a chance of winning the primaries - that supported gay marriage (not civil union). So what? Was I supposed to not vote because no one supported my views on this subject? You pick your battles, and right now most people are worried about fiscal issues, not social.
Meet Sarah Palin:
http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html
Karen @ 17:
Oh crap...thanks for cheering me up.
steven @ 85:
JasonS @ 11:
You're not seriously suggesting that maccain would have a clue about the fiscal issues facing the country and it's citizens, because if he does, he's done a masterful job of hiding that fact.
I'm so sick and tired of the same old republican scare mongering, he's not old enough, he's inexperienced, well God save from the so called "experienced" ones. Finally i refer you to this.
http://static.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/greenberg21.jpg
Jeff Akston @ 31:
in other words, the teen pregnancy program was miniscule...the legislature (controlled by repugs) attempted to raise it to adequate levels...but palin knows better
then her daughter gets knocked up and she looks like an idiot
same way she looks like an idiot when she spent a bunch of time trying to shutdown bootlegging, when the real prob seems to be all the meth labs in wasilla
42 and counting
but maybe she wants them open for a reason....hmmm...guess thats how she stayed so thin during her 5th pregnancy
steven @ 86:
are you a full retard??
the supremes can overturn roe
then it returns to the states
and mccain was very much a part of the repug majority that went wild with spending, and is willing to keep shoveling money into the black hole of iraq
go vote for mccain
when more of your rights are infringed upon....when you see the rest of manufacturing get sent overseas...when the middle class is totally wiped out (while his wife wears clothing worth more than some people can earn in a lifetime) dont come back here crying
Jeff Akston @ 60:
i admitted my mistake. Why are you being a dick?
Centrocitta @ 82:
and allegedly the baby was 1 month early....but was 6 lbs, which even at nine months is fine....
most down syndrome kids are born with lower birth weights....not this one
it aint hers
i wanna see the dna test
Okay - check this out. A seemingly credible black guy says he's the father of the young Palin's baby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VELIG92GDXw
If it's parody - it's pretty funny. If it's real - wow.
Jeff Akston @ 31:
she did cut the budget for special needs kids...by a full 60 percent
http://momocrats.typepad.com/momocrats/2008/09/sarah-palin-sla.html
great advocate
Jeff Akston @ 45:
Well, you'll note in the actual article that the Alaska legislature - a bunch of bleeding-heart liberals, I'm sure - passed a spending bill giving Covenant House $5 million. Palin unilaterally reduced that amount to $3.9 million. That's $1.1 million that won't be going to fund Covenant House, thanks to Sara Palin.
scruzman @ 78:
well then your parents did a shit job
cuz my parents were straight with me, and told me about condom use and responsibilty...including what would happen if the girl got pregnant
and i chose to wait to have sex, until well after i turned 18
It's not the governments responsiblity to take care of teens mistakes. It's the teen's family that should be supporting them. When did it become my problem if your daughter gets pregnant? Why should my tax money support your childs lifestyle? Unless it was one of my sons that did it, it's not my problem.
Sadly Palin pared budget slated for special needs children by 67%
From a Republican, what a surprise!
Cause and effect are a bitch....
JimboSlice @ 7:
woody, tokin librul @ 13:
Don't you mean Palin'stwo grandaughters and Todd's two daughters?
Jack Damage @ 42:
But still,like every other voter in America, you'd do her, right?
Dee Neyce @ 100:
That's called partial-life abortion
Rusty Shackleford @ 93:
You'll probably not read this, but whatever. I misread your post. I thought you were being sarcastic. My apologies.
Dee Neyce @ 100:
repugs are turning this around too
palin does increase the budget in 2011....after 3 years of decreases
what the wingnuts dont answer is why 2011, when they have the money now?
i mean, lets say they drill here, drill now, drill lots...wont that cut into oil revenue??? hahahahahaha....i made a funny
do you put country first or family first? can't be both ways
lucy @ 86:
No, she's a distraction, meant to distract that McCain wants to continue trickle down economics by continuing Bush economics, to distract that McCain intends to continue Bush foreign policy initiatives, and so forth.
The thing to watch for is being myopic. Palin is an issue, chief being, whether picking her as VP reflects bad judgment on the part of McCain, principally due to her lack of experience, and lack of embracing the national issues at all, prior to her pick as VP candidate? Her daughter's love child is not an issue about her ability to assume the presidency, even as it does relate to Palin's embrace of an exclusive "abstinence only" sex education curriculum, which is not result motivated, but is instead, a mechanism to proselytize the "good book".
We have to switch the debate from "experience" to "judgement". I have no confidence in either McCain's or Palin's judgment.
"...Then let them die and decrease the surplus population!" ~
DickensPalinre: 98
You've got to be kidding, right?
There is societal interest in supporting children. Poor nutrition/parenting/education of less-than-wanted, initially-unwanted, low-income, "underprivileged" children costs us real $$$ in the long run. Providing services is an investment that will pay back exponentially - in unrealized future costs.
All I can say is "duh".
And if you were being sarcastic... never mind.
Finally, if all this cr## is making you frustrated, don't just give another $5 to Obama. Plan to take the day off on election day and arrange to drive people to the polls, or serve as a poll watcher. If you have the luxury of taking more time off, then go to one of the states with "questionable" voter ID laws, and do what you have to do.
Obama cannot win if all we do is log on once in awhile!
Jeff Akston @ 105:
That's cool, thanks.
Does Sarah have 4 or 5 children. We “the people” need a simple fact check! If you want to know the truth about the Sarah Palin pregnancy HOAX, check out this website which has all the links and facts/lies in one place. Give yourself an education and then you can judge for yourself! These are almost all news articles and some simple mental conclusions.
http://www.ourchiropractic.com/sarah-bristol-fake-pregnancy-hoax-links.html
http://www.ourchiropractic.com/sarah-bristol-fake-pregnancy-hoax-links.html
Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 97:
Sorry UJM, my parents told me the same stuff. I chose to ignore it. Quit picking on my parents. Go pick on Sarah Palin's daughter.
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