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Doodles of Dreams

October 07, 2008 12:33 PM

Do you remember last year when Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., donated a doodle for an auction to benefit The Neurofibromatosis Association and epilepsy research? The doodle, of some of his Senate colleagues, sold for more than $2,000 on eBay.

Now we have a doodle from another campaign 2008 rock star, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

New Republic senior editor Noam Scheiber went up to Alaska to profile the governor and during a visit with Palin's former colleague on the city council, Laura Chase, found this document -- the  back of a Wasilla city budget which Palin doodled on in 1996 as she plotted her mayoral campaign.

She makes notes on slogans: "You would be my boss! No tax increase! ... Wasilla needs a conservative choice in leadership."

She makes notes on her resume: "Life Long Alaskan; Graduate: Wasilla High School, Univ. of Idaho (Bach. In Journalism, minor Politics); Wife, mother of three, Homeowners, Businesswoman, TAXPAYER!;…NRA supporter," "taxpayer!"

There's a close-up scan of the document HERE.   

**

Two policy items of note:

Planning out her campaign promises, Palin writes, "no automatic pay increase for the mayors position" and also "City Hall says it sees the need for an increase in sales and property tax to pay for some local politicians wish list. There is no need to raise taxes, Wasilla is collecting two million dollars a year than what we had projected when we sold the sales tax proposal to you four years ago."

Both of these are forms of claims she has since made on the vice presidential stump -– that she took a pay cut as mayor, and that she fought taxes.

The reality of both is more complicated.

"As mayor, I took a voluntary pay cut, which didn't really thrill my husband,” Palin said on Sept. 9 in Lebanon, Ohio.

According to documents released by the city of Wasilla,  Palin's mayoral salary did, indeed, drop from $64,200 in October 1996 to $61,200 in January 1997.

But then, a year and a half later, in June 1998, it increased to $68,000.

It went down again one year later, in July 1999, to $66,000 (still higher than her starting salary) but then it increased again, to $68,000 in October 1999, staying at that level until October 2002, when she left office.

So, for most of her time in office, Palin took a raise.

As for taxes, Palin at the vice presidential debate on Oct. 2 said, “as mayor, every year I was in office I did reduce taxes. I eliminated personal property taxes and eliminated small business inventory taxes, and as governor, we suspended our state fuel tax. We did all of those things knowing that that is how our economy would be heated up."

All true.

But Palin didn’t mention the sales tax (though she did mention it in her 1996 doodle) which did go up during her tenure.

Politifact has a thorough look at her debate claim, but the bottom line is that Palin supported a referendum (as did voters) to increase city sales taxes by a half percent to pay for an indoor sports center.  One of the ways that Palin as mayor was able to afford lowering all the other taxes was because the sales tax brought in more and more revenue to local government coffers -– almost $6 million in 2002, an increase of approximately 50% from the time Palin began as mayor –- a testament to the city’s growth.

“Under Palin’s mayorship,” notes Politifact, “the city also took on an additional $23.7-million in long-term debt to finance the sports complex, as well as for street and water projects.”

So noted. (Though not so doodled.)

- jpt

October 7, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (177)

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I thought she said she didn't belong to the Wassilla Assembly of God??? Its listed on the right toward the bottom.

Posted by: tim | Oct 8, 2008 10:40:25 AM

Ryan, The idea that Hillary supporters wont support Obama sure was true in August - but you re right - it looks completely different now. Last week, someone (I'd take a wild guess and say the McCain campaign) tried to start a political meme that women were for Sarah Palin. Posts showed up on every site, always from new posters, always with the same language, and always devoid of data. Sarah Palin. according to every single poll has the lowest approval rating of any of the candidates. The only women who appear to support her are solid Republicans who would have voted for McCain no matter who his VP was. It was a bad gamble - and a terrible choice. It makes you wonder who John McCain would appoint if her were ever elected. If he picks a VP on the role of a dice, how would he appoint cabinent members> supreme court justices? Nominte for head of the CIA?

Posted by: mara | Oct 7, 2008 7:55:38 PM

Maybe she should doodle smething from Joe Vorge or from the Mugee the witch-hunter. "American schools are full of witchcraft and sorcery."

Posted by: mara | Oct 7, 2008 7:49:40 PM

MORE INFO ON AIP - TODD PALIN'S ANTI-AMERICAN SECESSIONIST GROUP

AIP's founder Joe Vogler's greatest moment of glory was to be his 1993 appearance before the United Nations to denounce United States "tyranny" before the entire world and to demand Alaska's freedom. The Alaska secessionist had persuaded the government of Iran to sponsor his anti-American harangue...

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel.
So much for Palin's tough talk on Iran. Her friends in the AIP were clearly collaborating with Iran. Her husband was clearly a member of this fringe party for seven years. And Sarah Palin herself clearly supported them, praising their "good work" and asking God to "bless them" only this year.

Posted by: you betcha that's a problem | Oct 7, 2008 7:35:29 PM

HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN/PALIN
Posted by: hanna | Oct 7, 2008 6:12:17 PM
==================================

don't embarass Hillary

Posted by: palin is failin' | Oct 7, 2008 6:49:52 PM

"it will be young and stupid voters who have no perspective on life and are being supported by mommy and daddy still. They should not be allowed to vote until 21, and I will work for that after this election is over."

Hear that young voters?

Right wingers want to take away your rights.

Something guaranteed by the 26th Amendment to the US Constitution.

Why do you hate the Constitution of the United States hanna?

Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 7, 2008 6:47:39 PM

There are still going to be probably about 7 million Hillary supporters THAT WILL NOT SUPPORT OBAMA. That being said they are spread throughout the country and not just in the 7 states that determine this election.
THIS ELECTION RESULT WILL NOT BE MALE/FEMALE, BLACK/WHITE......it will be young and stupid voters who have no perspective on life and are being supported by mommy and daddy still. They should not be allowed to vote until 21, and I will work for that after this election is over. Must be 21 to vote, unless you are serving this country or employed full time.
THE YOUNG AND STUPID KOOK AID DRINKERS WILL ELECT THE ROCK STAR DUDE INTO OFFICE. Sad statement about our country.
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN/PALIN

Posted by: hanna | Oct 7, 2008 6:12:17 PM

Sarah Palin....the real deal, real Middle American, ready to represent ME in the WH. I trust her completely. OBAMA AND TRUST ARE TWO WORDS THAT I COULD NEVER PUT TOGETHER.
NEVER OBAMA.
McCAIN/PALIN ALL THE WAY!

Posted by: hanna | Oct 7, 2008 6:06:06 PM

Perhaps you never took basic economics.

The goal of taxes is to maximize revenues while minimizng loss of transactions.

When you tax something like sports, you cripple demand and destroy economies. When you tax something inelastic, people hurt less and they benefit more.

Posted by: John | Oct 7, 2008 5:32:13 PM

Shortly after John McCain’s announcement that Palin would be his running mate, several polls a showed a strong swing of white women toward McCain. An ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted immediately after the Republican convention showed a 20-percent swing among white women toward McCain. White women went from supporting Barack Obama 50-42 percent to supporting McCain 53-41 percent, a swing that helped McCain close a six percent gap in the poll in only a week.

But Obama has since regained his lead with white women in most polls.

And Obama now leads among all women voters “despite all the talk of disaffected Hillary Clinton voters and the fact that Sarah Palin might pull some women voters from the Republican ticket to the Democratic ticket,” Carroll said.

The shift back toward Obama reflects that “the gender gap is not about the gender of the candidate, it’s about the issues,” said Debbie Walsh, CAWP’s director.

Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 7, 2008 5:05:35 PM

If it weren't for Bill Ayers there probably would not be any Barack Obama in politics.

Was Barack Obama selected and groomed by Ayers (and others in Ayers circle) to be their inside man in political office?

After all:
- It was Ayers that in 1995 had "a coffee" in his house to introduce Obama as the new person running for office in Chicago politics.
- Prior to that it was Ayers who personally selected Obama to oversee the distribution of grants in Chicago of a $100,000,000 Annenberg Project (Ayers was also on the board of directors).
- Later between 2000 and 2002, Ayers helped select Obama for the Wood Fund of Chicago. Ayers had been on the Board of Directors since 1999.
Ayers put Obama on those boards so Obama could use the money and power to purchase influence, be very visible and make a name for himself in Chicago.

Again, without Ayers there would be no Obama.

----------

The question is, how early did Obama know Ayers?
They were both in New York in the mid-1980s. Ayers lived not far from Obama. Both were going to school and/or working in NY.
When Obama leaves NY where does he go?
Chicago. Ayer's home town.
Obama had never been to or had any connections in Chicago. Of all the cities in America to live Obama chooses the home town of Bill Ayers?
------------

Did Ayers (and associates) help arrange for Obama to get into Harvard in late 1988?

In mid-1988, Obama traveled for the first time to Europe for three weeks and then for five weeks in Kenya, where he met many of his Kenyan relatives for the first time.
Obama started Harvard in late 1988.
How could Obama pay for all the travel to Europe and Africa plus tuition and living expenses at Harvard? All on the salary of a Community Organizer?
Who was sponsoring Obama? Ayers and associates?
------------------
How far back does the connection between Obama and Ayers really go?
Was Barack Obama selected and groomed by Ayers (and others in Ayers circle) to be their inside man in political office?

Posted by: Zank | Oct 7, 2008 4:59:27 PM

"Lynn Forester de Rothschild"

You mean the same lady who called Obama elitist for his statements on people she characterized as "rednecks"?

You're treating her as the voice of authority on PUMA?

ROFLMAO!

According to Gallup, Obama currently enjoys 86% support from Democrats. McCain enjoys 88% support from Republicans.

Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 7, 2008 4:27:07 PM

Lynn Forester de Rothschild mentions the Pumas in a Pennsylvania newspaper:

“One organization – PUMA, which stands for PEOPLE United MEANS ACTIONy – has more than 5 million members across the country, she said. Jamie Brazil, a longtime friend of the Clintons and the Rodham family, is serving as national director of Citizens for McCain. Brazil accompanied de Rothschild on her Scranton visit.”

“Barack Obama has never had the mandate of Democrats,” she said. “And Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi ignored the 18 million people that voted for Hillary Clinton. They can’t be surprised at the 5 million to 7 million Clinton supporters who are now supporting McCain.”

Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 7, 2008 4:10:01 PM

Sarah Palin is slightly full of herself, ya think??? The McCain's are rich and have no clue how the rest of us live from paycheck to paycheck. They own 7 houses??? Isn't that nice? And to think that there are still people who think they can buy their groceries and pay their mortgage just on their right-winged principles. If you think the economy is bad now, it can only get worse if McCain is elected. Take the Palin blinders off.

Posted by: Mitsy | Oct 7, 2008 3:57:42 PM

I question the patriotism of both Sarah and Todd Palin. It's no secret that Alaskan's have no respect for those of us who live in the ‘lower 48‘. But the part that really troubles me is the association and membership that both Sarah and Todd have in the Alaska Independent Party which calls for Alaska to secede from the United States.

AIP founder, Joe Vogler has made the following comments regarding seceding and the United States in general: "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government," and “I won't be buried under their damn flag,"

Sarah and Todd Palin have never repudiated or distanced themselves from those statements.

Posted by: PhilBgood | Oct 7, 2008 3:55:02 PM

Why do we bother talking about Sarah Palin? She is ignorant, coarse and an embarrassment, especially to modern women.

Posted by: Passin Thru | Oct 7, 2008 3:49:41 PM

Is McCain and Palin's plans is to have clan meetings? McCain and Palin didn't say a word about what was say. Is this where McCain and Palin want to take this nation? And just WHO is Palin?

Posted by: Ethel | Oct 7, 2008 3:39:50 PM

Howdy DO

I think Obama is going to try and get universal healthcare by getting costs down first...

the entire primaries that's what he talked about ...cost.... and universality out of that cost.

(besides children...they are a priority obviously)

it was the biggest disagreement that i took away from all the times I saw them really between he and Hillary...

she focused on the universality bringing down costs similar to E. Edwards but he kept talking about cost.

I wish that everyone got to see him answer questions on this...

it was the issue that made me want to support him.

it was the issue where he sounded more middle of the road and practical than Hillary.

but yet determined to reform the healthcare before it broke us with baby boomer retirement.

Posted by: dl | Oct 7, 2008 3:35:19 PM

southern_conservative...not a history major I see...Clinton was not impeached, he served 8 years duhhhhhhhh.
Read much?

Obama/Biden '08

Posted by: Bev | Oct 7, 2008 3:26:21 PM

"Woody just blew my mind by advocating single payer."

I think I'd pay to see that, your mind blowing up, that is. ;-)

Conservativism doesn't have to mean demagoguery. Nor does liberalism for that matter.

The biggest problem with the Swiss system is government controls/limits on salaries for doctors and nurses. That's a tough pill to swallow for conservatives, but all things considered I think it's the best system for our country. The clincher for me is everyone feels some pain (copays for all) and everyone benefits (preventative care for the most needy, fully computerized system, transferrable records, etc.)

Again, it makes too much sense so it will never happen.

Posted by: Woody | Oct 7, 2008 3:25:57 PM

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