[Grovenet] Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention

[David Morelli]

I would expect that Senator Biden will investigate the comments made  
by Kilkenney.

<quote>
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative." During her 6  
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over  
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the  
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation  
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a  
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she  
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they  
benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration  
weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed  
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left  
it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin  
encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure  
that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city  
lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for  
construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through  
to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear  
title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later -- to the delight  
of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition  
to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she  
claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road  
projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
...
as Governor...
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she  
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while  
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's  
surplus, borrow for needs.
</quote>

If those charges stand up to review, then Mayor Palin looks more like  
a "tax and spend politician" than anything else.  If she was a  
Democrat, no one would accept the "fiscal conservative" label.  I  
would expect that Governor Palin is vulnerable in that arena.

David

On Sep 4, 2008, at 8:59 PM, Allen Warren wrote:

> When I heard that John McCain had selected Sarah Palin, the  
> governor of Alaska, my original thought was, "What the?  Who is  
> Sarah Palin?  Did he just commit political suicide?"
>
> Since then, I've come to appreciate his selection only because it  
> has REALLY stirred up the political arena.  I can't think but  
> President Bush is jumping for joy seeing Sarah in action.  Palin  
> has really breathed new life into the Presidential election process  
> as she seems to be, again, seems to be, almost as forceful and  
> direct as the President himself.  I think she has actually stolen  
> the RNC show from McCain.  And even though her speech Wednesday  
> night was carefully scripted, her delivery was extremely  
> impressive.  Unless I'm being totally snowed under, I think  
> Democratic Vice President elect Biden is going to have his hands  
> full in any debate w/Palin as he'll be cast as the been-in- 
> Washington-forever "old boy network" politician and she'll be cast  
> as the fiery, get-it-done-whatever-it-takes ball of fire.  And  
> Biden will have to be very careful he doesn't come across as  
> condescending or sexist.
>
> I'm thinking whatever post-DNC eupohria Obama & Biden might have  
> had is now pretty much been tossed under the bus by the energy  
> brought by Palin entering the race.
>
> In terms of our two-party system that will probably produce our  
> next President & VP (no Ross Perot out there this time), it looks  
> at the moment that McCain has scored big w/Palin.  It will most  
> certainly be interesting to see how the Democrats counter this  
> surge by the Republicans.
>
> Allen Warren