The Leal Family Blog

Category: Politics/Social Topics

Our political and social viewpoints and research.

Palin: An Initial Study

First, I know I was going to have my research on Biden and my dissection of the Obama acceptance speech out soon, but this topic caught my attention!

HERE WE GO!

Governor Sarah Palin (R, Alaska) has been nominated for Vice President of the United States. I was quite surprised by this pick. I thought he would pick Romney, but alas JSM surprised us. At first, I thought just like Michael Savage (His Headline: McCain throws election, picks inexperienced woman from Alaska), but I am changing my mind. It appears Governor Palin is a brilliant pick! This still may not be enough to get me to vote McCain/Palin, but I am looking.

I spent the day researching her before too much minutiae got out there to pollute the water. I am happy with what I have found. I found one scandal that appears the actions are exactly what everyone would do. I fully realize that more information will come out, but my initial reaction is Wow!

So, let’s dive in!

Things I like about her:

1. Palin opposes same sex marriage and benefits to homosexual couples:
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/governor06/story/8049298p-7942233c.html
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5843150
http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/8508726p-8401181c.html

2. Strong on the 2nd Amendment, Hunter, Lifetime member of the NRA:
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=4156

3. Only one of the candidates to hold an executive position: Governor of Alaska. And, she did it with 5 children!!

4. Believes in Liberty, reining in government
“…competition is so good and that applies to political parties as well”
“My administration remains focused on reining in government growth so individual liberty and opportunity can expand.”
Said in this address to the Alaskan Independence Party. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8

5. She is pro-life:
She not an in-vain pro-lifer. She found out during her recent pregnancy that the child would have downs syndrome. Her family chose to still keep the baby. Instead of saying “Why us?,” she said “Why not us?” Windy and I chose to not even have the tests because it would not change our decision to have the baby.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-10-4082128881_x.htm

6. Fiscal policy:
How she came up with the idea that will save Alaska $7.1 Billion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAsgJR5Im5c
During the first days of her governorship, she followed through with campaign promises by selling the private jet purchased by the previous administration. She made $237 million in cuts to the budget reducing government and further decreasing construction budgets by $1.6 billion.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml
She realized that the higher gas prices paid my Alaskans were actually paying for their own oil. So, because the Alaskans own the oil, she wants to give that money back to them.
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/407821.html
She reduced the Alaskan budget killing 300 projects and shrinking the government:
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml

7. Energy Policy:
Position on Drilling in Alaska including ANWR for natural gas and oil:
3:45 Oil Tax Increase
5:09 Decontrol, Deregulate energy policy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ys4HGbiONY
4:21 Suing FED over Polar Bear Declaration, Drilling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3jnbiHAMuY

Consequences of drilling of ANWR, Renewable energy, Energy Policy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GE11URmmnc

8. Then, she stands up to big oil:
She fought against big oil (Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron) by passing tax increases on oil profits.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a13e84JyS2B8&refer=home

She spearheaded a natural gas pipeline which negated a bad contract to a coalition that included BP (which is one of her husband’s employers – Again, doing the right thing.)
http://alaskalegislature.com/stories/060607/leg_20070606018.shtml

9. She fights corruption even against her own party members:
While she was head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, she resigned because nothing was done after she reported to the Governor ethics violations of someone who was a REPUBLICAN (AGAINST her party – Also, known as doing the right thing). The state of Alaska passed laws to prohibit her from speaking out about ethical violations and corruption!! Later, the person forced to admit and pay fines for the abuses.
http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?pg=1
http://www.adn.com/fbi/story/335318.html

Some things I don’t like:

1. Believes in climate change; established Climate Change Sub-Committee (I believe it is a farce):
http://www.pewclimate.org/node/4875

2. Lack of experience. She has only been governor for 20 months! Before that, she was mayor of a small city. That being said, she has done allot in those 20 months while being pregnant. Tough, but the truth is: Lack of experience. After-all, she could be just a heartbeat from the Presidency.

3. The scandal that never was:

Wooten Scandal:
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/jul/28/scrutiny-wooten-raises-conduct-questions/
http://www.anchoragepress.com/site/basicarticle.asp?ID=748
Aide says he acted alone:
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/13/palin-says-recording-shows-staffer-pressing-troope/
Is Wooten a good trooper?
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/476430.html
The documents:
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Complaint_memo_against_Wooten_4-1-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Trooper_warning_to_Wooten_4-12-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/13/071607-palin-monegue-050205-interview-transcript.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/12/071608-palin-monegue-sarahtodd-interview.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/12/071608-palin-monegue-troopernotes.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/12/071608-palin-monegue-todd-interview.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/21/18/Wooten_interview.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Heath_e-mail_10-11-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Memo_of_findings_10-29-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/23/10/palin-email.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/26/13/Wall_invest_support_5-1-05.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Memo_overturning_findings_2-1-06.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/25/20/Correction_-_addition_to_memo_of_findings__2-1-06.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/21/16/Wooten_suspend_letter.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
What she says about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pak-rH0dCeA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQx42Tsz5NQ
What I think:
I think if she was involved, she did what everyone would do. Wooten is NOT a good trooper and should have been released. However, I have to be fair and balanced. Did she do this because of the family issues? I cannot put it past anyone to do it. Did she do this because he is a really bad trooper that she knew about? If so, I think I would do the same. If you have knowledge that any trooper is bad, shouldn’t you act on it? Isn’t it the right thing to do?

Before you die-hards start, BHO’s scandals don’t compare. First, BHO’s track record illustrates a pattern. This one “scandal” does not illustrate a pattern. I will concede that this could change as more information becomes available. Again, this is an initial study.

Standard Info:

Real American:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrBe9AJyb-k

10 things you didn’t know about her:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1837523_1837531_1837528,00.html

Acceptance Speech:
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/163813.html

Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

Fun on Craig’s show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh-lW2opLyQ

August 30, 2008
15 Reasons John McCain is Bad for America

OK, Friends…time for McCain.

1. McCain-Feingold – Arguably the worst legislative attack on the 1st amendment. Even John Edwards hated it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq4uNo2hyWI).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartisan_Campaign_Reform_Act

2. Immigration and Immigrants using social services. In his own state, the people approved proof of citizenship before someone can vote or participate in state giveaway programs by 56%. He still believes this was wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Proposition_200_(2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WaZgF1rEYU

3. Supreme court appointees. Voted to confirm Ginsburg and Breyer to the Supreme Court. Both recently voted against 2nd Amendment rights (Districk of Columbia v. Heller).
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf

4. NAFTA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TShPYA-OuPs

5. McCain voted against creating a federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and had this excuse:
“I had not really been involved in the issue. I just had not had a lot of experience with the issue.”
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/04/03/mccain-reversal-on-mlk-holiday-an-issue-as-he-visits-memphis/

6. He believes climate change is real.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/65bd0fbe-737b-4851-a7e7-d9a37cb278db.htm
Energy tax he co-wrote with Lieberman:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E7D8103EF93AA35752C0A9659C8B63

7. “John McCain Will Stop Filling The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) To Reduce Demand. International demand for oil is bolstered by federal purchases for the SPR. There is no reason to fill it when oil is so expensive; the overall SPR is of adequate size, and when it places further upward pressure on prices.” I believe that is precisely the reason to fill the reserves! I don’t like this line of thinking.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm

8. John McCain thinks merging America would be good. I believe in and wish to maintain our soverignty as a nation:

McCain said the following: “Four and a half decades ago, John Kennedy described the people of Latin America as our “firm and ancient friends, united by history and experience and by our determination to advance the values of American civilization.” With globalization, our hemisphere has grown closer, more integrated, and more interdependent. Latin America today is increasingly vital to the fortunes of the United States. Americans north and south share a common geography and a common destiny. The countries of Latin America are the natural partners of the United States, and our northern neighbor Canada.

Relations with our southern neighbors must be governed by mutual respect, not by an imperial impulse or by anti-American demagoguery. The promise of North, Central, and South American life is too great for that. I believe the Americas can and must be the model for a new 21st century relationship between North and South. Ours can be the first completely democratic hemisphere, where trade is free across all borders, where the rule of law and the power of free markets advance the security and prosperity of all.”

This comes from a speech he gave: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/872473dd-9ccb-4ab4-9d0d-ec54f0e7a497.htm

9. McCain is against the federal marriage amendment.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/14/mccain.marriage/
then, he flip flops, but what is his real view?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29IzOBfqo3Y

10. McCain labeled Christian leaders are ‘agents of intolerance.’

11. McCain entertained idea of being Kerry’s VP.

but, would not entertain being Bush’s VP:

12. McCain is one of the Keeting 5 who cost US tax payers ~$160 billion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five
http://www.wmsa.net/People/john_mccain/ariz-republic_chap_V_1999.htm

13. McCain cheated on his first wife after she had a severe accident. We won’t let it go for Clinton so we can’t let it go for McCain. BTW-My father stayed with my mother for 15 years after she was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/09/john-mccains-first-wife-s_n_106021.html

14. McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts multiple times (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005).
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2006/feb/27/20060227-123409-3819r/

Now, he supports them to get the nomination. I believe his first choice is how he truly feels.

15. McCain didn’t support the GI Bill.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=4652517
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10331.html

So, friends, how do we choose between these horribly candidates? I believe there is no good choice.

GOD HELP US ALL!

July 10, 2008
15 reasons Barrack Obama is Bad for America

I think that if Obama wins the presidency our country is in serious trouble. It could be said for McCain, too. Remember, I am an independent conservative.

Here are my 15 reasons for why I don’t like Obama:

1. He actually expects us to believe that he sat in a church for 20 years and identifies Rev. Wright as a mentor and he never knew about Wright’s views. I think he actually believes the same views as Rev. Wright.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-kD0QdRJk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYYYv8NiPig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSkwOK4yHI4

2. He is friends with William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. Both are known terrorists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEajOYOE5Yw

3. His wife’s comment about just now being proud of America makes me believe that he also believes this. Wow! Just wow!

4. Obama voted for the Patriot Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6jD_jySiwg

5. Obama said he would vote for NAFTA. Bill Clinton initially passed NAFTA. It has taken jobs away from Americans and had the greatest impact on minorities.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/breaking-obama-says-he-w_b_67780.html

6. Obama wants to go into Pakistan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama2aug02,0,5330469.story?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed

7. Obama’s health care plan does not reduce the cost of health care. It just passes it on to the American people in the form of taxes and debt.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

BTW-It’s Socialized medicine. Canada is doing it. See how it’s going:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada

8. Obama may be owned by the Jewish lobby.
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/solomont.html

9. Obama does not tell the truth when he says he doesn’t take money from lobbiest.
http://www.infowars.com/?p=422

10. Obama has done a flip flop on nuclear power and is now owned by the nuclear lobby. Nuclear power is very dangerous to the health of people of the world. Because of the nuclear tipped weapons used by the American military army, this nuclear waste is circling the earth and increasing degenerative disease such as diabetes across the Southern part of the United states.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

11. Obama is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations which has controlled who gets into the White House and the congress since it came into being. Obama has been endorsed by one of the most dangerous Republicans of all time, Zbigniew Brzezinski. So now we see Neocon Republicans shifting their support from Hillary to Obama. This should tell you something.
http://barackobama-blog.blogspot.com/2007/08/barack-obama-endorsed-by-zbigniew.html
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html

12. Obama’s 2nd amendment viewpoints are moronic. He still believes that gun laws help crime. When will he use actual data? Gun laws only impede law abiding citizens not criminals–remember, they are criminals and don’t pay attention to the law anyway! If I remember right, DC has 5 times the murder rate of anywhere in the US that doesn’t have a gun ban. BTW-Wanna know something really scarey? The vote this week on the 2nd amendment passed 5-4. Meaning that it was only one justice away from being upheld!!!!! One justice and it would be OK for complete bans on handguns!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu_LXb0ZPws

13. Obama’s bitter comment leads me to agree that he is elitist and actually doesn’t have small town values and doesn’t care about them. Listen to Meet the Press give a REAL unbiased breakdown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyDxHPC74X0

14. Out of 517 votes in the senate, he chalked up 207 NVs (Not Voting, Excused, Absent, or Present). That is 40%!! BTW-Can anyone name one important piece of legislation he has helped put through? This points to his lack of respect for the job at hand. He is doing his current job poorly. I don’t want a President to only give 60% of his time! These numbers are my own. Please check my math!!
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

15. Obama’s proposed programs will have to be funded through taxes. Lots and Lots of new taxes. Sure, there are some programs that need to be closed down and/or rebuilt, but he wants to build a new government! BTW–He doesn’t only want us to pay more for our US programs, but the whole world’s needs–check out his plan for a global tax:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/02/the_global_candidate_proposes.html

OK–It’s hard to keep it at 15, but I thought I’d throw in one where I somewhat agree with him:
Gasoline. You all know my feelings about gas. I think we are finally seeing prices almost where they should be. I think $5.50 – $6.50 per gallon would be about right. I don’t think we should do anything. BHO agrees with me, in fact, he states here that he wished it would have been more gradual!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJLdHfIBnr0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4y1-W_VmS4

So, friends, I leave you with one last link to peruse and I challenge each of you to check the facts I have above and on this website. Please don’t just listen to the media or Rush or whoever. Think for yourself. I know it is hard sometimes, but if we don’t practice doing it now, we may find that we won’t have a choice in the future. And, if only one third of the facts on this website are true, would you rather OHB be put in jail? I think so!

http://www.theobamafile.com/

Now, I could just as easily put together 15 reasons on McCain, but not this evening. I hate this two party system! Think about it, we have had a Bush or Clinton in power since 1980!! Isn’t that odd?

July 10, 2008