Sarah Palin: Fiscal Conservative?

[Nonno]

On the heels of the final, historic 2008 presidential debate, the Wasilla Project releases Part 3 of our series, where we examine Palins record as a fiscal conservative. Clearly, the economy has emerged as the dominant issue of the 2008 presidential campaign and we hope that this video will be a useful contribution in understanding some of the history of Palins public service in Alaska.

After 8 years of a Republican White House, there still seems to be a reality distortion field around the concept of Fiscal Conservative. Governor Palin presents herself as a fiscal conservative who has a record of helping taxpayers in her state. The reality has often been quite different.

Its surprising that someone who came into office as mayor to cut wasteful spending and lower property taxes, actually left office with Wasilla over $20 million in debt, when records show that she entered office with city debt at one million or less.

Some $14-15 million of that debt was due to a hockey rink she built while in office, land for which Wasilla negotiated the purchase for $145,000. They eventually paid out nearly $1.5 million for the land, not counting legal fees, due to Palin moving forward on the project before the city had clear title to the land. This echoes in significant ways Palins later negotiations as governor on the Alaskan pipeline, where she committed $500 million in taxpayer money, without assurances that a Canadian company would even build the pipeline.

As the economy worsens in the United States, markets around the world are crashing and people are losing their homes and pensions, its irresponsible not to question the economic positions and records of the candidates. In the case of Palin, her record has been extremely troubling and reflects part of the reason that she has lost credibility with so many Alaskans in recent weeks.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Nonno

On the heels of the final, historic 2008 presidential debate, the Wasilla Project releases Part 3 of our series, where we examine Palins record as a fiscal conservative. Clearly, the economy has emerged as the dominant issue of the 2008 presidential campaign and we hope that this video will be a useful contribution in understanding some of the history of Palins public service in Alaska.

After 8 years of a Republican White House, there still seems to be a reality distortion field around the concept of Fiscal Conservative. Governor Palin presents herself as a fiscal conservative who has a record of helping taxpayers in her state. The reality has often been quite different.

Its surprising that someone who came into office as mayor to cut wasteful spending and lower property taxes, actually left office with Wasilla over $20 million in debt, when records show that she entered office with city debt at one million or less.

Some $14-15 million of that debt was due to a hockey rink she built while in office, land for which Wasilla negotiated the purchase for $145,000. They eventually paid out nearly $1.5 million for the land, not counting legal fees, due to Palin moving forward on the project before the city had clear title to the land. This echoes in significant ways Palins later negotiations as governor on the Alaskan pipeline, where she committed $500 million in taxpayer money, without assurances that a Canadian company would even build the pipeline.

As the economy worsens in the United States, markets around the world are crashing and people are losing their homes and pensions, its irresponsible not to question the economic positions and records of the candidates. In the case of Palin, her record has been extremely troubling and reflects part of the reason that she has lost credibility with so many Alaskans in recent weeks.

Wait, did her record as a mayor matter or not? I thought it was no more than a community organizer, 'cuz they've got such responsible roles and budgets and employees and decisions and such.

So, if her time as a mayor is pointless to her record, why discuss it? If it's not pointless to her record, why did you say it was?

[Kerad]

A hockey rink is a necessity, not a luxury.

Money well spent.

[chernmax (Premo)]

Yeah she obviously sucked so bad that she was elected to a second term, then Governor of the state, bad girl!!!

[jaksprat]

Gee, let's see...

a) Alaska is enjoying a multi-billion (b as in billion) dollar surplus because of her
b) She vetoed about $500 million over the last 2 yrs that was proposed by state legislatures (has guts)
c) She still was able to increase spending for education (alot) and reimburse Alaskans with a $1200 energy rebate.

It's funny how she is the ONLY one of the 3 others in the running (McCain, Obama, Biden) who has actually run a government and shown she is fiscally responsible.

The debt that was mentioned in your video was a voter approved debt for building the sport center, street and water projects. It seems to me the people in the video are just liberals with an axe to grind.

I was tickled pink when McCain picked her for VP. I'm sick of the wasteful spending that our government slobs have squandered. I think Palin is a breath of fresh air.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Kerad

A hockey rink is a necessity, not a luxury.

Money well spent.

As I recall, the rink was put to a public referendum. The people asked for it, got it, and need to pay for it.

That's how stuff like that is supposed to work.

[wintersprings]

Originally Posted by This_person

As I recall, the rink was put to a public referendum. The people asked for it, got it, and need to pay for it.

That's how stuff like that is supposed to work.

But Comrade Nonno would just tax the rich for it.......

[Bann (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Kerad

A hockey rink is a necessity, not a luxury.

Money well spent.

Originally Posted by This_person

As I recall, the rink was put to a public referendum. The people asked for it, got it, and need to pay for it.

That's how stuff like that is supposed to work.

Yeah, and it *is* Alaska, afterall. Ice. Cold, etc. It most probably is something they'd consider a necessity - which they're allowed to do if they, the people, decide to do it.