For Your Consideration

* I want all of you to know [ and by all of you I mean my Republican family and friends from the East ] I'm watching BOTH conventions. That said, please review some points made in an email from moveon.com (not endorsed by a candidate mind you)and fully supported and documented resources:


-Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." 1, 2
-Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'" 3
-Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact.4
-Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." 5
-Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. 6
-Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. 7
-Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. 8
-As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor." 9
-She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." 10

Sources
1. "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24701&id=13709-9867311-8915RJx&t=6
2. "Palin wasn't 'really focused much' on the Iraq war," ThinkProgress, August 30, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24702&id=13709-9867311-8915RJx&t=7
3. "The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
4. "McCain and Palin differ on issues," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24703&id=13709-9867311-8915RJx&t=8
5. Ibid
6. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
7. Ibid
8. Ibid.
9. "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record," Time, September 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24704&id=13709-9867311-8915RJx&t=9
10. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/



Most disturbing is the confirmation of these facts from these sources and other reliable entities. No abortion choice for a rape victim?? Book banning?? Abstinence only, which didn't work for her own daughter? The WAR is "God's Task"?

*Best clip I've seen this week is John Stewart discussing Karl Rove's 180 on small town mayors being capable of running the country.


* In other news... my son clung to me and sobbed for 30 minutes straight, making me almost late for work and causing me to have an emotional meltdown five minutes prior to period 1. When I pick him up today, he tells me he had a great day and got a stamp for being the only good listener. I want to pull every last hair out of my head, follicle-by-follicle.

I also realized at 3 PM why my kid didn't get into the class with the Kindergarten teacher I really liked-- her daughter is in my Honors class! I guess since there were no options on my end, it was decided he should be put with another teacher. Probably a coincidence, you say? I think not.

Nonetheless, he's gotten 3 star tickets this week for class, so all seems to be going well. We are feverishly reading to "shoot for the moon" and learning our "Alphafriends" at a blistering pace. Tomorrow, the first weekly homework packet comes home. Yikes!