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BREAKING: Whistleblower exposes McCain--claims he used Senate staff for cover-up on Cindy McCain

Hat Tip to: Pam's House Blend

Per Open Left:

A whistleblower is coming forth against John and Cindy McCain, and the picture he is painting is not a pretty one. You've probably heard about Cindy McCain stealing prescription drugs from her charity in the 1990s. Today, Tom Gosinski, her former employee and a close friend of the McCain's, came out on the record about the entire sordid episode. And it appears that McCain used his Senate staff and resources to cover up Cindy's drug use, and potentially to prevent the Drug Enforcement Agency from investigating his wife's theft of illegal prescription drugs. John McCain certainly used his political connections to begin a campaign of intimidation against Gosinski, because at the time - this was after the Keating 5 scandal - another major scandal would have derailed his career. Gosinski stayed quiet out of fear until today; a recent fight with cancer has strengthened his resolve. As he told me today, if he can beat cancer, he can go on the record regarding how the McCain's do business.

This is going to be huge!

McCain's claim of a DNC "air drop of lawyers" is false, but we in Alaska knew that already

Per Talking Points Memo:

As noted below, the McCain campaign has a new ad out designed to portray Obama as a predator and Sarah Palin as prey by pointing to 30 opposition researchers that the Obama team allegedly sent to Alaska to savage her.

Of course, the article that the ad references doesn't say Obama sent them -- it actually says Democrats sent them.

But the Democratic National Committee's chief of research, Mike Gehrke, tells me that the DNC hasn't sent a single researcher to Alaska. "Zero," Gehrke says.

We knew that already as a direct result of Alaska Republican Party spokesperson McHugh Pierre's comments on this blog. He made these comments in response to my sharing the information that the McCain folks were on their way within 24 hours of Sarah's selection...VETTING HER AFTER THE FACT.

Per McHugh:

Thanks for the plug, but could you please pick a better picture of me! ; )

I never said McCain folks are coming to Alaska to investigate Palin and "Troopergate"! That is hilarious!

What I did say is that Obama political snoops just came up to Alaska to dig dirt on Palin and were going to be looking into the "Troopergate" allegations and anything else they can find.

Good luck running down more rumors and gossip.

What's hilarious is that he hasn't said a word since the source for my story came forward...the woman who heard him say it was the McCain campaign coming to Alaska the next day.

So when I heard this being spewed as a Republican Party line just a day or two after the comment was posted, I knew it was the cover story they were using to explain all of the Republican Party black suitted lawyers showing up in Alaska to do the job they should have done BEFORE they picked Palin.

Thanks for the tip, McHugh!

P.S. Could someone artsy show me what an air drop of lawyers looks like? I have great pictures of it in my head but I'd love to see some in print!

McPalin Family Values--Updated

Golly, we are rolling in stories over the last few days about Sarah Palin's relationship with her family and the McPalin ticket's relationships with other people's kids.

It's not a pretty picture.

First, we'll start with the blog that originally talked about at least part of the story that the National Enquirer said they "broke"...Track Palin's legal troubles and the basis for his entrance into the military.
Per "What Do I Know:"

While I trust my sources, I don't have enough independent information to nail this. So I'll drop my editorial based on this and just offer the basic allegation.

Four high school students were arrested for vandalizing school buses in Wasilla in 2005.

Troopers did not release names of the juvenile suspects, but David Coon's mother confirmed her son was one of two Burchell High School students involved in the incident. The other two boys are Wasilla High School students.

We also have this story from Detroit's Free Press:

Her oldest son, Track, lived in Portage [Michigan] during most of his senior year in high school. He played junior major hockey. During an interview at the National Governors Association conference in 2007, she told a Free Press reporter that her son went back to Alaska in March to graduate with his class.

The story I was told is that Track Palin was one of them and that he chose to enter the army rather than go to jail (or have a record?).

*****************UPDATE*********************

Progressive Alaska has deleted their "National Enquirer" post for reasons detailed in the linked article. Since my article here only uses the Track and Bristol stuff (which blogs already knew about) and my post has many parts to it of which the NE stuff is only one, I'm not going to delete this. However, I will post this as a disclaimer.

********************************************

Then we have the Energizer Bunnies, the folks at The National Enquirer and their heartwarming story yesterday which included the Track-avoids-jail-in-the-army story, faithfully reported by Progressive Alaska:

The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively that Sarah's oldest son, Track, was addicted to the power drug OxyContin for nearly the past two years, snorting it, eating it, smoking it and even injecting it. And as Track, 19, heads to Iraq as part of the U.S. armed forces, Sarah and her husband Todd were powerless to stop his wild antics, detailed in the new issue of The ENQUIRER, which goes on sale today.

THE ENQUIRER also has exclusive details about Track's use of other drugs, including cocaine, and his involvement in a notorious local vandalism incident.

Of course, that was only the part about Track Palin, there is still the Bristol chapter:

“Bristol was a huge stoner and drinker. I’ve seen her smoke pot and get drunk and make out with so many guys. All the guys would brag that the just made out with Bristol.”

When Sarah found out the teen was pregnant by high schooler Levi Johnston, she was actually banished from the house. As part of the cover-up, Palin quickly transferred Bristol to another high school and made her move in with Sarah’s sister Heather 25 miles away!

And here's the money quote:

The friend also confided that both Bristol and Levi “broke up a few times and they definitely messed around with other people.”

Moving on from the Palin family to the McPalin family values in action...

Alaska Real's Writing Raven mentioned the Lipstick...Pig...Hypocrisy story, but I was more interested in Part II--McCain's assertion that teaching children how to escape child sexual abuse is the equivalent of "sex ed":

This latest attack takes Obama's support of preventing sexual abuse of children as "teaching sex ed to kindergartners."

I worked with young children (before they reached kindergarten!) for five years, and one of the things that was very important to teach them the difference about was "good touch, bad touch" and how to recognize predators.

McCain's assertion that they would know "sex ed" before reading, is somewhat true, but not because Obama is in support of abuse prevention. In actuality, there are far, far too many children who will be sexually abused before they learn to read, and they will know far too much, far too early. Children who know the basics of recognizing a predator are more likely to speak up, and prevent the abuse in the first place, or report an offender to prevent him from further abuse.

So does McCain think that supporting high school anatomy classes is the equivalent of promoting pornography?

Moving from child sexual abuse to disabled children, The Anchorage Press this week describes a shocked Alaska Legislature after Palin's acceptance speech:

“I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.”

It sounded fantastic, and rang true coming from the mother of a child with a disability.

But the declaration was a revelation to some legislators who’ve worked with Governor Palin for the last 21 months.

“I can tell you she wasn’t a champion for disabled children as governor,” says state Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage). “I was surprised to hear her say that in her speech.”

The state of Alaska has what’s called a “Developmental Disabilities Waiting List,” a list of individuals whose needs qualify them for assistance, but that the state doesn’t have adequate funding to help. At the time of the most recent report, issued in December 2007, the list had 943 individuals on it. The report estimates that it would cost nearly $45 million to provide the services those on the waiting list need. Estimates vary, but most place the state’s budget surplus at about $5 billion.

So we're supposed to believe, Governor Palin, that the child that sprung forth from your uterus has completely changed your mind set regarding the priority of disabled children in your budget plan? Does this mean that as soon as you get the opportunity you will call an emergency session of the Legislature to make sure that $45 mil is allocated?

I'll start holding my breath now.

(Picture photoshopped and provided by Brian Little)

You are right, Matt, we can't have that...

There is no such thing as too much Matt Damon...

The Alaska Mythbusters--teleconference with Gov. Tony Knowles and Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein

Today, the Obama Campaign launched "Alaska Mythbusters," a group of Alaskans who have followed Governor Palin’s career and will set the record straight about whether Palin has what it takes to bring the change that’s needed in Washington, DC. Former AK Governor Tony Knowles and Mayor Bob Weinstein of Ketchikan, the city of the "Bridge to Nowhere," headlined a press conference call this morning on Palin’s Alaska Record.

Gov. Knowles started by saying that as a former governor, normally he "was reluctant to critique sitting governor." However, in this situation it is not just a sitting governor, it is a candidate for VP just "one heartbeat from the Presidency."

He then went on to discuss the "serious concerns" he had about her qualifications--the fact that McCain chose her with a "serious investigation going on," —citizens said needed to be one to “clear the air.” Said Knowles, "It's more important now that the results should be known to the American people."

“Troopergate”

Gov. Knowles discussed the history leading up to the entire "Troopergate" scandal, covered as it became public (and even before it was public) on this blog.

He emphasized that two rarely-covered facts about the investigation are that 1) it was a Legislative-initiated investigation which hasn't happened before in the history of the State and 2) it is also a Republican-controlled investigation as the Judiciary Committee has a Republican majority.

Gov. Knowles also pointed out that this was a “very serious charge” which was asking the question: can a governor interfere with the results of this case and by means of a personal vendetta extract further punishment from Officer Wooten?

Gov. Knowles also discussed "character" of the people running for an important office and how he's seen Sarah Palin change from publicly stated comments and open cooperation to now being represented by a state-funded lawyer who has said none of her Administration will cooperate. Not only that, but Frank Bailey, who was put on paid leave to cooperate is also not doing so. The other outrageous aspect to this investigation is that Gov Palin filed an ethics complaint against herself to try and get the whole case referred to the personnel committee which makes it's decisions in executive session (behind closed doors) and wouldn't render an opinion for about four months. (And as Bob Weinstein pointed out later, all members are appointed by the Governor.

"Bridge(s) to Nowhere"

Bob Weinstein, the Mayor of Ketchikan, discussed the "Growing credibility gap between what Sarah Palin says and what the facts are." His specific task was to explain the truth behind the "Bridge(s) to Nowhere."

The true name for the originally-referenced bridge was the "Gravina Island Access Project" and the purpose was to provice Ketchikan with better access to Gravina Island--partially because the airport was there and the other part was because not much land for us to develop on Ketchikan and it was used up. Gravina has thousands of acres available. It was deemed a necessary project

In 2005, Congress included 450 million in 4 earmarks for the two bridge projects. In late 2005/early 2006 3 of the 4 earmarks were stripped from the budget. However, the State of Alaska received all 450 million dollars!

So, not only did the bridge earmarks get yanked BEFORE SHE WAS EVEN GOVERNOR, the State received EVERY DIME of that 450 million so SHE NEVER SAID "NO" to anything!!!!

Mayor Weinstein pointed out that during her September 2006 campaign for Governor at a stop in Ketchikan, Sarah Palin was asked if she supported the Gravina Island project. She clearly stated her support, to the point of calling the use of the phrase “bridge to nowhere” a "derogatory term" comparable to calling someone from MatSu “Valley Trash.” In a separate interview on that same day, she said that we had to "come to defense of Southeast Alaska" and not allow "spinmeisters" to determine our resource development.

In an article from October 2006, the Anchorage Daily News also confirmed her support for both bridges.

The Governor released a Sept. 2007 press release at 5:00 AM East Coast time Alaska Time (9:00 AM EST, so it was to make the media on the East Coast) cancelling the Gravina bridge project...there was no communication with the Congressional delegation, Ketchikan or anyone else involved. She promised to come to Ketchikan to explain but has never done that.

"Earmarks"

Mayor Weinstein also pointed out that despite Palins claim of fighting "earmarks" she actually loves them. Sarah Palin aggressively pursued earmarks while she was Mayor of Wasilla and since becoming Governor she used the same lobbyists Ketchikan hired to push the Bridge project. As Governor, Palin has requested 750 million in Federal earmarks.

Tony Knowles also pointed out one more interesting bit of information, that the second "Bridge to Nowhere" was the Knik Arm Bridge which would cross from Anchorage to Point MacKenzie...benefitting the Governor's precious Wasilla. That project is far from "dead" and is moving forward.

As Governor Knowles quipped..."she said “thanks” without the “no thanks”".

Bob Weinstein also pointed out that a 48 million earmark was not stripped from the Ketchikan project and the contract was awarded to construct 3.25 mile road. Even when they cancelled the Juneau access road they DID NOT cancel the Gravina road. So now, the Gravina Highway (since it has no bridge attached) really is a "road to nowhere."

The DNC plans on regular "Mythbusting" telecons and I hope they happen often. It will be interesting to see if they actually make an impact.

***UPDATE***

Per Mayor Weinstein:

Re your story

You wrote: Mayor Weinstein also pointed out that despite Palins claim of
fighting "earmarks" she actually loves them. Sarah Palin aggressively
pursued earmarks while she was Mayor of Wasilla and since becoming Governor
has used the same lobbyists Ketchikan hired to push the Bridge project. As
Governor, Palin has requested 750 million in Federal earmarks.

Being a picky person--the press release- I'm told- was sent out 5:00 AM
Alaska time, not EST, to meet the national media news cycle.

As governor Palin does not use the same DC lobbyist (Steve Silver) as
Ketchikan (borough) did for bridge. She used him when she was mayor.

Regards.

Bob

Sorry, I normally fact check what I heard based on the press release that is normally sent out right after a teleconference, but I didn't get one. (Dangers of being your own "ears" and editor.)

I thank the Mayor for his corrections and for reading the blog and I've encorporated these changes above!

There will be something for EVERYONE Saturday in Anchorage!

**Cue calliope music**



"The Ex-Gays are Coming! The Ex-Gays are Coming!"

Focus on the Family's "Love (Hate) Won Out" Conference will be at the Abbott Loop "Community" Church this Saturday, September 13th. Yes, THIS is the conference that Sarah Palin's Church has been promoting which has been broadcast all over the news.

The explanation is per Bent, Alaska:

On Saturday morning, PFLAG families, supporters and allies will come together in Anchorage, Alaska as Love Won Out brings its so-called "ex-gay" conference to our 49th state. PFLAGers will gather outside the conference to offer support for youth attending and information for parents and families.

"Families never win at Love Won Out," said Jane Schlittler, president of PFLAG's Anchorage, Alaska chapter. "The conference's organizers maliciously target often well-meaning parents who are dealing with a difficult issue in their lives, and in the process put their kids' well-being at risk. Make no mistake: There is far more 'preying' than 'praying' taking place at these meetings, and far more harming than healing in the doctrine of Love Won Out."

Programs such as Love Won Out, which is a project of the far-right American Family Association, use out-moded medical theories and radical religious beliefs to justify trying to alter gay and lesbian people's natural sexual orientation.

"Programs like Love Won Out are dangerous for kids and divisive for families," said PFLAG National executive director Jody M. Huckaby. "Every bit of evidence available suggests that children who grow up in homes that accept them – and not try to change them – are far happier and healthier than those subjected to these anti-family tactics. It is nothing short of extremist to imply that families should do anything other than love their children as they are, and nothing short of outrageous to infer that LGBT kids aren't fine just the way they are."

In response, the LGBT Community and PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will be hosting some excellent events starting on Thursday September 11th. Go to the blog for more information and to RSVP.

To be part of the Saturday event outside of the Abbott Loops Community Church, email Anchorage PFLAG President Jane Schlittler. (I'll be there with my friendliest smile!)



Big Eddie is coming to Anchorage this Saturday because "It's our turn!"

Per KUDO/Tati Broadcasting Press Release:

NEWSTALK 1080am KUDO, Alaska's Progressive Voice is pleased to announce:

America's premiere progressive talk show host, Ed Schultz, is coming to Alaska to host a town hall meeting!

Now that she has been chosen by Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain to be his running mate, Big Eddie wants to learn everything he can about Governor Sarah Palin. He also wants to learn about Alaska... from its history, to its people, to its issues.

The town hall meeting will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2008, from 7 to 10pm at The Wendy Williamson Auditorium at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The event will be recorded and played back Monday, September 15th on all of Schultz’s national affiliates coast to coast.

If you would like tickets, the only way to get them as of right now is to go to the Ed Schultz website and order them.

I highly recommend going...we'll be there (husband and I) and it's going to be a blast!


I mentioned these ladies yesterday on the blog...while I agree with CC from KUDO 1080 that I'd rather see them named "Alaska Women for Biden," I support the idea to show that Sarah Palin is NOT a "woman-friendly" candidate. All I know about this event is on the flyer pictured above.

So, we have NO EXCUSES this weekend as there are so many "blue friendly" events taking place. Pick one or go to all of them!

I feel Twitter-pated!

I've been using my social networking program "Twitter" account a lot more since the Convention...that was the only way I could get info out of Invesco Field during the last day.

The website to sign up.

You can add me at: http://twitter.com/celticdiva

It's really easy to get breaking news out to folks this way. Does anyone else use it a lot and what do you find useful about it?

Tell me your Twitter ID in the comments so I can add you!

CELTIC DIVA'S BLUE OASIS IS MOVING!!!!!!

Thursday night I will transfer my feed to the new site: http://divasblueoasis.com

NOTICE FOR FEED SUBSCRIBERS: Don't forget that you will have to resubscribe when I transfer the feed as the old feed will be broken!

Sarah's boo boos, nasty revelations of how she treated rape victims while Mayor of Wasilla and lies about pork

So, today, I got an email with this video attached:



Per Huffington Post:

...lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers." The companies, as McClatchy reported, "aren't taxpayer funded but operate as private companies...

...Economists and analysts pounced on the misstatement, which came before the government had spent funds baling the two entities out, saying it demonstrated a lack of understanding about one of the key economic issues likely to face the next administration.

"You would like to think that someone who is going to be vice president and conceivable president would know what Fannie and Freddie do," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "These are huge institutions and they are absolutely central to our country's mortgage debt. To not have a clue what they do doesn't speak well for her, I'd say."

Yeah, you'd like to know that, wouldn't ya?

Of course, you'd like to know that a candidate for Vice President would know that the Founding Fathers did NOT write the Pledge of Allegiance.

You'd like to know that a candidate for Vice President would know the difference between science and creationism.

You'd also like to know that a candidate would have a clue what the duties are of the job that they are vying for (i.e. Vice President of the United States)

Of course, that's not the nastiest (but true) thing that came out today. Americablog posted about an issue from Palin's mayoral reign in Wasilla...something I didn't know about and I lived here (I need to invest in Lexis-Nexis). From an article in the Frontiersman (which is VERY MUCH a real newspaper that frequently scoops the Anchorage Daily News).

From the Frontiersman:

Gov. Tony Knowles recently signed legislation protecting victims of sexual assault from being billed for tests to collect evidence of the crime, but one local police chief said the new law will further burden taxpayers.

The governor signed House Bill 270, sponsored by Rep. Eric Croft, D-Anchorage, outside the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam room at Alaska Regional Hospital. In attendance at the signing were members of victims advocate groups, law enforcement agencies and legislators.

The new law makes it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill victims or victims insurance companies for the costs of examinations that take place to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine if a sexual assault did occur....

While the Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies have covered the cost of exams, which cost between $300 to $1,200 apiece, the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests.

Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon does not agree with the new legislation, saying the law will require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams.

In the past weve charged the cost of exams to the victims insurance company when possible. I just dont want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer, Fannon said.

According to Fannon, the new law will cost the Wasilla Police Department approximately $5,000 to $14,000 a year to collect evidence for sexual assault cases.

The quotes from Fannon are absolutely horrific. However, we all agree that he was just being the fall-guy for Palin.

I would say that any women's organization should spread this information far and wide to our "sistas" and see how they feel about Palin after that!

Also, here's a great rebuttle of the new McCain/Palin add when it comes to her "Bridge to Nowhere" and earmark lies--go TPM go!!!!

After over three and 1/2 years on this blog, I'm now moderating comments

Sorry to the 95% of the folks who are excellent readers and posters, the other 5% pushed my patience too far.

Those old stereotypes, myths and lies keep on working for Sarah and those Repubs***UPDATE*** women are fighting back

***UPDATE***
Running L8 mentioned in the comments that there was an Alaskan group called "Alaska Women Reject Palin" and that they are having a rally on Saturday...which is a very busy day in Anchorage (I'll be posting more about that later).

Here are the links for more anti-Palin groups:

- the blog for "Women Against Sarah Palin" and the website

- The Wiki "Sarah Palin is NOT Hillary Clinton"

**********************************************8

You know, I'm really sick of seeing Sarah's dysfunctional family splashed across the screen as "cute" and "normal" so I'm going to start using more pictures of Obama's adorable kids.

And I'm also sick of folks who claim there are 1) a large group of "angry white women" out there disaffected by Hillary not being on the ticket who are 2) going for McCain/Palin purely because of gender.

Don't believe it for a minute. First off, at the Convention I saw lots of evidence of "Unity" and the only evidence of anything else was someone handing me a solitary PUMA flyer.

I went out to dinner last night with one of my best friends of about 17 years where, of course, the Palin issue came up. Our waitress came over and after the drink and food ordering was over, we started having a discussion with her. We discovered that she had lost her husband not terribly long ago and we could see the pain in her face.

It's actually good that I found that out before the rest of the conversation so that I could mentally strap myself down for what was still to come.

She asked us how we felt about Palin and then before we could really answer, she talked about being a Democrat who was probably going to vote Republican for the first time. She talked about frustration and anger over Obama not picking Clinton for VP and how she didn't like Biden (probably because he wasn't Hillary) She also stated that no matter what Obama said, he was really a Muslim and that she wasn't racist because she "liked black people."

**and the red flags started flying**

She also talked about how "honest" and "ethical" Sarah Palin was and that "she would fight for us."

Clearly she hasn't heard about "Troopergate" or Palin lying about the Ketchikan bridge.

Later on, it got a little tougher for me to keep quiet. She said that "we can't let "that black man" win."

So much for the "not a racist" argument...

I've read a number of the articles from the small number of "PUMA" supporters out there. Many of them fit into the category of this waitress...they'll swear to high heaven that race has nothing to do with it but all McCain had to do was add a white uterus...any white uterus...to his ticket and they have an excuse to vote for the Republicans. In doing so, they are voting against every single ideal that Hillary Clinton stands for, but voting against a black man...errrr...I mean "for a woman" seems to take priority over that.

Folks need to stop giving these lost causes any attention.

Comments from Judy Salo, Former State Senator, (D) for Kenai and South Anchorage

I received this forwarded email today:

I just received a copy of the full text of the Kilkenny letter that was referenced in the Anchorage Daily News article today. It is very thorough and puts words to some of the discomfort I feel about Governor Palin's meteoric rise to power. I don't know Ann Kilkenny, but I do know that her recount of events rings true by virtue of other things I have heard here in Alaska political circles.

I would like to see Governor Palin put in a full four years as Alaska's Governor to see if she can sustain progress (and popularity) over time. She has never held any job for that length of time (being Mayor of a small town and hiring a city administrator to do the work doesn't count). There are some red flags about her leadership and serious questions about her experience -- she will paint a pretty picture but should be questioned thoroughly on her rendition of the truth. I applaud the effort of Ann Kilkenny in raising some of those questions.

Sincerely,

Judy Salo (Former State Senator, D for Kenai and South Anchorage)

I got hold of her to ask if I could print this on the blog and she graciously gave me permission but was concerned that we stick to Anne Kilkenny's wishes, clearly unaware that ship had long-since-sailed when Kilkenny's email went viral all over the internet, even possibly used by some to appear as experts on Wasilla.

When we discussed the "fear" part of the equation, she stated that she "had nothing to lose" which is why she spoke up.

I guess Sarah doesn't include that negative part of her "small town experience" in her narrative; she knows how to hurt other small-town people to get what she wants.