BREAKING NEWS: PALIN CLEARED

Palin pre-empts state report, clears self in probe

By MATT APUZZO – 55 minutes ago
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — On the eve of a report on a legislative panel's abuse-of-power investigation into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, campaign officials released their own report clearing her of any wrongdoing.

Palin, running mate to Republican presidential nominee John McCain, is the subject of two inquiries into whether she abused her power by firing her public safety commissioner. The commissioner says he was dismissed for resisting pressure to fire Palin's former brother-in-law, a state trooper.

Lawmakers are expected to release their findings Friday.

The report the McCain-Palin campaign released Thursday night says the firing was based on a budget dispute. Since then, the report says, the matter has been muddled with innuendo, rumor and politics.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOTk11gvqDAgD0cY3i4WjI_2YOxwD93NB6NG5

View All Recent Blog Posts:

I Can See Clearly, Now.....

by Janet Crain

There have been many jokes made about Sarah Palin stating that Russia can be seen from Alaska. Note she never said from her house. Reportedly, reporters were even sent to Little Diomede Island to check this out and said they could not see Alaska. This just sounded fishy to me. Why would so many prominent Alaskans assert this if it were not true? A web search quickly turned up this article. I'm sure there are many more. I am inclined to believe the residents of Alaska, not some greenhorn reporters. Like so many other Sarah myths, this one bites the dust. Or the permafrost.


Fascinating Facts: Alaska & the Russian Far East

"Divided Twins" – Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko describing Alaska and Siberia.

"At the dawn of the 21st century, Alaska and the Russian Far east can join hands across the Bering Sea to build on our long history together, cooperate in ventures that can benefit the economies, environment and peoples of both regions." – Alaska Governor Tony Knowles

Alaska and Russia are a mere snowball’s throw away. On a clear day, you can see from here to there, from today to tomorrow – and you can even walk!

At their closest Alaska and Russia are 2.5 miles apart – the distance between Little Diomede Island, Alaska, and Big Diomede Island, Russia. The two islands straddle the U.S.-Russian maritime border in the middle of the Bering Strait. In mid-winter, when the Bering Strait freezes, it is possible to walk between the two islands – from American to Russia, from today to tomorrow, or from Russia to the United States, from today to yesterday. It is even possible to stand on the frozen Bering Strait, with one foot in America and one foot in Russia, straddling the frontiers of distant boundaries and time travel. But don’t try it. You can be taken into custody by border guards. And the frozen Bering Strait can have huge ice ridges as well as open holes of water (polynyas). 55 miles separate the Alaska and Russian mainland at the point where Alaska’s Seward Peninsula and Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula reach out toward each other. Alaskan and Russian Eskimos travel by walrus skin boat between the Alaska villages on St. Lawrence Island and the Chukotka villages near Provideniya. The prevailing theory is that America was first peopled by a land migration across the Bering Strait more than 10,000 years ago, when sea levels dropped in the last ice age leaving a wide swath of land – Beringia or the Bering Land Bridge – connecting the Asia and American continents. The Bering Strait has long served as a lure for those seeking to pursue geographic, travel, cultural and even political adventures that span one of the world’s most out-of-the-way boundaries. People have tried to cross the Bering Strait – and some have succeeded – by walking, swimming, wind-surfing, hot air balloon, skiing, dog sled, kayak and even, unbelievably, by driving (and failing). Gennady Gerasimov, Gorbachev’s spokesman, in one of his many visits to Alaska, once stood on Little Diomede Island in the middle of the Bering Strait, and with great emotion, remarked on being able to stand on American soil and see the Motherland. The 150 residents of Little Diomede Island, Alaskan Eskimos and American citizens, live on a slope that faces west, which means that from their homes, they cannot see Alaska and the United States, but on a clear day, they can see Big Diomede Island and the Russian mainland.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/trade/2003/tad/russia/facts.htm

View All Recent Blog Posts:

Pride in Palin

James W. Muller

09.10.08, 1:00 PM ET

Alaskans are recovering from the media onslaught after Republican presidential nominee John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.
For the last week, our phones rang off the hook, suitcases were bumped from iJames W. Muller 09.10.08, 1:00 PM ETnbound planes by checked TV cameras and e-mails flooded into the state from faraway friends and strangers.

People who used to run into Palin buying groceries, cheer her husband at snow machine races, go to school with her children or hear her speak at the Rotary Club suddenly realized their neighbor might be elected vice president. We continually joke about the big shots in the media who are clueless about Alaska; they ask each other where they were when they heard about McCain's choice--as if it were as shocking as an assassination.

Having watched Palin as governor for almost two years, Alaskans know she's a skillful speaker and a quick study. Unlike the fancy press, they weren't surprised when she shone at the Republican National Convention, nor do they expect her to stumble when she's interviewed by people who are just beginning to figure out where the North Slope is.

Already acquainted with the expert pacing, sudden wit and suppressed energy that startled convention viewers, Alaskans know she can do more than follow a script. They wonder if the first October surprise of this campaign will be a victory by Palin over Joe Biden in their televised debate. After all, she likes to win.

Cont. Here:

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/09/10/sarah-palin-alaska-oped-cx_jwm_0910muller.html

Fresh Face More Popular than Obama

A week ago, most Americans had never heard of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Now, following a Vice Presidential acceptance speech viewed live by more than 40 million people, Palin is viewed favorably by 58% of American voters. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% hold an unfavorable view of the self-described hockey mom.

The figures include 40% with a Very Favorable opinion of Palin and 18% with a Very Unfavorable view (full demographic crosstabs are available for Premium Members). Before her acceptance speech, Palin was viewed favorably by 52%. A week ago, 67% had never heard of her.

The new data also shows significant increases in the number who say McCain made the right choice and the number who say Palin is ready to be President. Generally, John McCain’s choice of Palin earns slightly better reviews than Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden.

Perhaps most stunning is the fact that Palin’s favorable ratings are now a point higher than either man at the top of the Presidential tickets this year. As of Friday morning, Obama and McCain are each viewed favorably by 57% of voters. Biden is viewed favorably by 48%.

There is a strong partisan gap when it comes to perceptions of Palin. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Republicans give her favorable reviews along with 33% of Democrats and 59% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

She earns positive reviews from 65% of men and 52% of women. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows that Obama continues to lead McCain among women voters while McCain leads among men. The Friday morning update—the first to include interviews conducted after Palin’s speech--showed the beginning of a Republican convention bounce that may match Obama’s bounce from last week.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans believe that most reporters are trying to hurt Palin’s campaign, a fact that may enhance her own ratings.

Cont. Here:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/palin_power_fresh_face_now_more_popular_than_obama_mccainain

Sarah Palin Biography