LETTER FROM AN ALASKAN

Every once in a while something comes to my attention that takes precedence over my original thoughts. This is such an occasion. This letter was written by a woman living and working in Alaska to one down in the lower 48. She requested that it be spread around and I thank her for the permission as it should be read by all.

" I have been so mortified since McCain chose her, since the willing media found their princess, since the campaign, AGAIN devolved to circus.

So. Deeeep cleansing breaths, everyone.

Palin absolutely has the ability to win this thing for McCain. She will avoid interviews of substance, unless seriously coached. Meanwhile, the press will take a pass at serious journalism because, gee. She's SO HOT!

I feel sickeningly like history is repeating itself in the worst possible way.

When she ran for governor, she ran against Murkowski, former us senator, who took the job for one reason only. To appoint his daughter to the US Senate seat he vacated. He spent the rest of the time eliminating revenue sharing for Alaskan communities, flying around on the (now famous) jet, and generally driving his poll numbers into the low twenties. Enter the beauty queen. (Love the Caribou Barbie comment, btw). Pretty, vivacious, and vapid, but who cared? She was HOTHOTHOT. And the bar was set so low, she just had to smile and that was enough for this blood red state to sweep her in. At the time, working for her opponent, I knocked on many doors, where men told me they didn't care that she was incompetent. She had their vote cause she was HOT. It got to be a mocking refrain. Who cares about Troopergate? She's HOT. Applaud the Brdge to Nowhere? So what? She's HOT.

Then, with a resume so paper thin, she is elected governor. Sitting on a multi-billion dollar surplus, (caused by the hardship we all endure over 4.50 dollar a gallon gas) she decides, instead of planning a future for her state, to just give it to us in a lump sum (1200 dollars a person). Popular move, that. My guess is that anybody could be governor with that kind of surplus. But she did NOTHING to fix the gutted retirement system that was dismantled by the Republicans three years ago. She did NOTHING to reinstate the revenue sharing to communities, the absence of which made Fairbanks property taxes among the highest in the nation.

Imagine a woman who even fires a librarian for disloyalty. What a harpy. (Note from Yiayia Online: a few words removed by me to restrict further retaliation to the librarian). To my profound disappointment, she refuses to talk to the press, who have been swarming around her endlessly. The truth of that little story is that she was fired three different times, and rehired two times for one reason or another. But the real reason is because she is a democrat, and had campaigned for Sarah's opponent when Sarah sought the Wasilla Mayor's seat.

Imagine someone that vindictive heading up a country with the Patriot Act backing her up. Meanwhile, the gaff she made about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac makes nary a ripple in the press. That comment showed just how unschooled this woman is. She can be coached for sound bites, but scratch her surface, and she's as shallow as a person can be, intellectually.

I tell everyone to spread the word, hard and fast, there's absolutely no time to lose. There is way, way too much at stake to reelect the Bush administration, the Karl Rovian attack dog, the train wreck that has been the last eight years. Hard to remember, but Bush inherited a 200+ billion dollar SURPLUS in 2000.

Commit your time, your energy, and if you haven't already done so, your hard earned money to stop this. The bar is set so low by Bush, that pretty-pretty princess could toss off a few snarky one-liners, and help McCain step over it.

I am proud to be an American. These days though, it's hard to be proud to be an Alaskan. Feel free to spread this email, if being from Alaska makes any difference to people. Fence sitters out there, don't be fooled by the pretty face and the updo."

There should never be a person elected as Vice President who is clearly not suitable to be President instantly, should necessity dictate. How can people think of this person as being ready?