Can I get an Amen from Sarah Palin and Anne Kilkenney shooting blanks

Will those writers at the Huffington Post ever stop stop their huffing and puffing.

You know I am one of those cradle Catholics and I don't profess to be that religious, but when one's son is going off to war, what the hell (sorry father for I have sinned) is wrong with asking for prayers.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html

In reading the headlines of the Church Lady story, I get the feeling that the use of "may" be in response to the lack of "facts" in their vetting story on Palin. The money quotes in paragraph.

Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

The devil made, no, make that "may" have made her do it.

What I find interesting is one comment that was entered under the article. It is found here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html?show_comment_id=15254017#comment_15254017


Anne Kilkenney go get your gun. Anne from Wasilla goes on a political killing spree. But alas, as Paul Harvey states, the "Rest of the story".

From hearings on education funding, Anne was a busy beaver trying to spend more money on education.

From: Anne Kilkenny [annekilkenny@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 15,
2007 9:33 AM
To: Joint Leg Ed Task Force
Subject: Education task force

Sirs,

For a couple of years ago in the late 1980's I was a regular sub in the Mat-Su School District. I have not been a school district employee since.

I am just a parent, a concerned citizen, who has payed close attention to education funding in Alaska since about 4 months before SB36 was enacted. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE FUNDING FORMULA is that it provides no mechanism, incentive or funding to encourage districts to address the issue of dropouts and to improve education/graduation requirements. What do I mean?

If a district wants to increase graduation requirements, it will require additional funding since students will have to take more classes. But there is no increase in funding to accommodate such an increase in cost.

Example: the Mat-Su School District School Board has tried several times to increase graduation requirements by 1 credit (from 3.5 yrs of high school--21 credits--to 22), but has had to roll the back the increase because they couldn't afford it.

Simply put, we cannot afford to provide a 4 yr high school education for every
student in the MSBSD. That borders on criminal, in my opinion.

The rest of her comments can be found here. http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:ZdCk2sfckoMJ:housemajority.org/coms/hlef/written_testimony_20070815.pdf+Anne+Kilkenny+wasilla&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=95&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

Someone should ask Anne "get your gun" Kilkenny who signed the bill increasing the education funding? http://community.adn.com/adn/node/120150

Palin signs education bill into law

From Wesley Loy in Juneau –
Gov. Sarah Palin has just signed House Bill 273, the big education funding package.
One of the main provisions in the bill kicks up the state’s base per-pupil funding by $100 in each of the next three years. Currently the level is $5,380 per student.

We all have our takes on things and criticisms, but Kilkenney has an axe to grind and when she shows her attacks, you have to ask Anne what about her signing the legislation that you were for.

Nadda.

Here is a Democratic hack, one who has a problem with free speech being displayed on signs in the Mat-su. While taking on Palin about the efforts of banning books?

From the W.P.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/09/dual_loyalties.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

From the NYT: "Ann Kilkenny, a Democrat who said she attended every City Council meeting in Ms. Palin’s first year in office, said Ms. Palin brought up the idea of banning some books at one meeting. “They were somehow morally or socially objectionable to her,” Ms. Kilkenny said.

How the story goes from the Anchorage Daily News Archives (I paid for the damn things, so no link):

Anchorage Daily News (AK){PUBLICATION2}
January 31, 1997
Section: Metro
Edition: Final
Page: B1

WASILLA MAYOR FIRES POLICE, LIBRARY CHIEFS
Stephanie Komarnitsky
Daily News Mat-Su Bureau

Staff

Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin fired the city's police chief and the library director without warning Thursday, accusing them of not fully supporting her efforts to govern. Irl Stambaugh and Mary Ellen Emmons said letters signed by Palin were dropped on their desks Thursday afternoon telling them their jobs were over as of Feb. 13 and that they no longer needed to report to work.

Emmons has been the city's library director for seven years. Stambaugh has headed the police department since it was created in 1993. Before that, he served 22 years with the Anchorage Police Department rising to the rank of captain before retiring.

While both struggled with Palin when she was first elected in October, they said the letters caught them off guard.

Both had publicly supported Palin's opponent, long-time mayor John Stein, during the campaign last fall. When she was elected, Palin questioned their loyalty and even initially asked for their resignations. But both said Thursday that they thought things had been worked out.

''After the initial roller coaster, we were ready to work for Mayor Palin,'' Emmons said. ''Unfortunately I think we were both fired for politics.''

Stambaugh said he considers it a slap in the face.

''I've been in law enforcement for 26 years and I take pride in what I've gained,'' he said. ''I would never do anything to undermine the city or the police department.''

Reached at her home, Palin denied the firings were politically motivated, but said she couldn't discuss the matter because it involved personnel.

''I'm going to get myself in trouble if I keep talking about it,'' she said.

Palin said she planned to meet with Stambaugh and Emmons this afternoon. She also disputed whether they had actually been fired. ''There's been no meeting, no actual terminations,'' she said.

Stambaugh's response was to read part of the letter given to him.

''Although I appreciate your service as police chief, I've decided it's time for a change. I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment. . . . ''

''If that's not a letter of termination, I don't know what is,'' he said.

Stambaugh said he plans to talk to an attorney.

Both Stambaugh and Emmons serve at the mayor's pleasure, but Stambaugh said he has a contract that prohibits firing without cause.

The two said relations with the mayor have been strained in the past couple weeks and they had heard rumors that Palin was unhappy with their work.

But they met with Palin on Wednesday, and there was no indication they were about to be fired, they said.

By Thursday night, several people had gathered at Stambaugh's house, including fellow officers, friends and Stein.

Stein, who originally hired Stambaugh, said he was equally mystified by what had happened. ''It's just a huge loss for the community,'' he said.

There is more to the story:

Anchorage Daily News (AK){PUBLICATION2}
February 1, 1997
Section: Metro
Edition: Final
Page: B1

WASILLA KEEPS LIBRARIAN, BUT POLICE CHIEF IS OUT

S.J. Komarnitsky
Daily News Mat-Su Bureau

Staff

City librarian Mary Ellen Emmons will stay, but Police Chief Irl Stambaugh is on his own, Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin announced Friday. The decision came one day after letters signed by Palin were dropped on Stambaugh's and Emmon's desks, telling them their jobs were over as of Feb. 13.

The mayor told them she appreciated their service but felt it was time for a change. ''I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment ...'' the letter said.

Palin said Friday she now feels Emmons supports her but does not feel the same about Stambaugh.

As to what prompted the change, Palin said she now has Emmons' assurance that she is behind her. She refused to give details about how Stambaugh has not supported her, saying only that ''You know in your heart when someone is supportive of you.''

The three met briefly at Wasilla City Hall Friday afternoon, and Palin called them twice at Stambaugh's home before making the decision.

Palin said she asked Emmons if she would support efforts to merge the library and museum operations. Emmons said she would, according to Palin.

Her conversation with Stambaugh was short, both said. He asked: ''What's the basis for this?'' and she gave no details.

The actions have caused a stir in Wasilla, a town of about 4,600. City Councilman Nick Carney, who has been an outspoken critic of Palin, said he received several calls at his home Thursday night and Friday from outraged citizens.

The sudden personnel shift is part of bigger problem of mismanagement in the city, he said, and may prompt a recall petition.

''Before, I told (people) to hold off, but now all bets are off,'' he said. ''I fail to see what good this is doing for Wasilla.''

But Councilwoman Judy Patrick said people voted change when they elected Palin and part of that is changing who is in charge.

Reached at home, Stambaugh said he still doesn't understand why he's been fired. ''There never was an appropriate response,'' he said. ''How did we not support the administration?''

Now he's talking to an attorney. While both Stambaugh and Emmons serve at the mayor's pleasure, Stambaugh said he has a contract that prohibits the city from firing him without cause.

Both Stambaugh and Emmons publicly supported Palin's opponent, long-time mayor John Stein during the campaign last fall. When she was elected, Palin questioned their loyalty and initially asked for their resignations. But Stambaugh said he thought any questions had been resolved.

Stambaugh has headed the Wasilla Police Department since it was created in 1993. Before that, he worked 22 years with Anchorage Police Department, rising to the rank of captain before retiring.

Emmons, who has been the city's library director for seven years, would not comment about the affair.

UPDATE: A Mea Culpa of sorts from Anne Kilkenny http://community.adn.com/adn/node/130885

3) If I were to write my email today I would add that I have no recollection of what specific book titles Mayor Palin wanted removed from the library, or if she even named any. There is a list of books out there; I know nothing about that list! It looks bogus to me.

Anne, what about your stance on campaign signs on private property, were you in favor of First Amendment Speech or against it when it came to people showing their support of their candidate and excersising their First Amendment rights.