Washington Post distortions on Federal dollars for Wasilla

The Washington Post is reporting that while Sarah Palin served as mayor of Wasilla, she helped secure [cue sinister music] earmarks for her fair city. According to the report, this undermines McCain's message of cleaning up pork barrel spending.

In fiscal year 2002, Wasilla took in $6.1 million in earmarks -- about $1,000 in federal money for every resident. By contrast, Boise, Idaho -- which has more than 190,000 residents -- received $6.9 million in earmarks in fiscal 2008

So let's examine the Post's comparison. Wasilla's population from 2000 to 2007 grew from 5469 to 7100 indicated almost 30% growth rate, while Boise's population growth from 2000 to 2007 went from 185,787 to 203,600 or 9.5% growth. What nefarious deeds did your hard-earned tax dollars go for?

• $1.9 million for the Wasilla Intermodal Transit Project, to realign rail and bus routes to increase use of public transit in the region.
• $500,000 for Kids Are People Inc., an emergency shelter for youths transitioning out of juvenile detention facilities.
• $15 million for a rail project to connect Wasilla with Girdwood.
• $1.75 million to upgrade emergency communications between authorities at the Wasilla dispatch center.
• $600,000 to upgrade bus stations.
• $900,000 to upgrade water and sewer facilities.

Imagine! We put trust in our elected officials and they use it to improve transportation, bring efficiency to first responders, and rehabilitate juvenile delinquents? FOR SHAME!!! So the money that went to Wasilla was meant for one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country and provide public transportation between Anchorage's suburbs. And the monetary figure used by the Post is an Olympian reach, because sizable chunks of their $6.9 million are shared with neighboring communities. Not pork by any measure. Oink oink, indeed.

Don't buy ABC report on Palin not being in Dayton

ABC News claimed the following an hour or so ago:

But one person who will not be there: Palin. The Governor's spokesperson, Sharon
Leighow, tells ABC News she's going to the State Fair in Anchorage, Alaska.

Ms. Leighbow never said Palin won't be in Dayton. It is highly probable that Palin could leave Ohio at 1:00 PM Central time and be back in Alaska in time for the State Fair fireworks at 10:15 PM UTC-9. As a matter of fact, with the time zone change, I'd venture to say the Governor could make the Honky Tonk Allstars at 5 if she's really hauling.

McCain's best shot, Palin and simple

One of the reasons I started this blog was to recognize the rising stars of the Republican party; the reformers and moderates who energize voters by promoting equality and tolerance while simultaneously fighting for fiscal responsibility. Sarah Palin embodies all of the aforementioned principles. Her leadership has provided Alaska, one of the most corrupt states in the Union, a hope for the future. She has provided this hope not through vague promises of a better future, but through practice.

Among her other achievements, Mrs. Palin pushed a comprehensive ethics bill that tightened loopholes around her fellow state officials. Some of its provisions include:

• Requiring legislators and legislative employees to disclose all boards on which they serve
• Increasing restrictions on employment after leaving service in the executive branch
• Barring political use of state aircraft except when that use is incidental
• Provides for forfeiture of certain pension contributions when an official is convicted of a felony such as bribery in connection with official duties

Take, for instance, Thundervision or the Boeing Tanker deal. In each case, the guilty parties continue to collect full retirement benefits. If Palin had the opportunity to battle corruption in Washington by stripping retirement benefits for crooked federal employees, it could have a dramatic chilling effect on procurement. Imagine Palin's war on corruption as an extension of McCain's crusade against pork barrel spending. It could lead to tangible change on the way our money is spent.

Additionally, Palin brings instant economic and energy credentials to the table. Slashing almost a third of the capital budget in her first year in office while supporting revenue sharing for local governments, Palin embodies a return to small government and restoring local responsibility.

On social issues, Palin satisfies the conservative wing with both her views and credentials on abortion. She knew early in her pregnancy that her son would be born with Down's syndrome, yet she demonstrated her commitment to life and pressed forward. Trig Paxson Palin was born on April 18th, 2008. While opposing gay marriage in her state, she eventually signed benefits for same-sex couples into law in Alaska.

These alone are more executive credentials than the Democratic party managed to submit for the 2008 election cycle. Mrs. Palin; a mother, wife, journalist, hunter, governor, and most importantly an agent of change. Senator McCain has a historic opportunity to have both members of his ticket be reform-minded Republicans in the tradition of Theodore Roosevelt.