Palin Problems

"Marry in haste, repent at leisure." - Anonymous

My favorite so far is the last item noted here. Video included for the curious.

What McCain Didn't Know About Sarah Palin - The Atlantic - 31 Aug 08

"They've bragged that Palin opposed the famous 'Bridge to Nowhere,' only to learn that Palin supported the project and even told residents of Ketchikan that they weren't 'nowhere' to her. After the national outcry, she decided to spend the funds allocated to the bridge for something else. Actually, maybe it's more fair to say that coincident with the national outcry, she changed her mind. The story shows her political judgment, but it is not a reformer's credential.

Likewise, though she cut taxes as mayor of Wassila, she raised the sales tax, making her hardly a tax cutter.

She denied pressuring the state's chief of public safety to fire her sister-in-law's husband even though there's mounting evidence that the impetus did indeed come from her. Ostensibly to clear her name, Palin asked her attorney general to open an independent investigation—the legislature had already been investigating. (I am told that the campaign was aware of the ethics complaint filed against her but accepts Palin's account.)

McCain's campaign seemed unaware that she supported a windfalls profits tax on oil companies and that she is more skeptical about human contributions to global warming than McCain is. They did not know that she took trips as the mayor of Wasilla to beg for earmarks.

They did not know that she told a television interviewer this summer that she did not fully understand what it is that a vice president does."

( Video of her query on what VPs do exactly . . . )

Palin Problems

"Marry in haste, repent at leisure." - Anonymous

My favorite so far is the last item noted here. Video included for the curious.

What McCain Didn't Know About Sarah Palin - The Atlantic - 31 Aug 08

"They've bragged that Palin opposed the famous 'Bridge to Nowhere,' only to learn that Palin supported the project and even told residents of Ketchikan that they weren't 'nowhere' to her. After the national outcry, she decided to spend the funds allocated to the bridge for something else. Actually, maybe it's more fair to say that coincident with the national outcry, she changed her mind. The story shows her political judgment, but it is not a reformer's credential.

Likewise, though she cut taxes as mayor of Wassila, she raised the sales tax, making her hardly a tax cutter.

She denied pressuring the state's chief of public safety to fire her sister-in-law's husband even though there's mounting evidence that the impetus did indeed come from her. Ostensibly to clear her name, Palin asked her attorney general to open an independent investigation—the legislature had already been investigating. (I am told that the campaign was aware of the ethics complaint filed against her but accepts Palin's account.)

McCain's campaign seemed unaware that she supported a windfalls profits tax on oil companies and that she is more skeptical about human contributions to global warming than McCain is. They did not know that she took trips as the mayor of Wasilla to beg for earmarks.

They did not know that she told a television interviewer this summer that she did not fully understand what it is that a vice president does."

( Video of her query on what VPs do exactly . . . )

Wingnut Preachers Doing Their Thing

Some may find it somewhat ironic, perhaps prophetic, that it's the GOP convention that's being disturbed by "acts of God" after this stunt by the latest Dobson-inspired knucklehead. What is it with these preachers that makes them think they have a special in with the ultimate power elite? Time to revisit the history of Constantine I?

Prayer Video That Sought a Barack Obama Drenching Gets Yanked - LA Times

"The political arm of the socially conservative Focus on the Family religious group today yanked from its website a video that called on folks to ask God to open the heavens and let precipitation pour on Barack Obama just before his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 28."

Wingnut Preachers Doing Their Thing

Some may find it somewhat ironic, perhaps prophetic, that it's the GOP convention that's being disturbed by "acts of God" after this stunt by the latest Dobson-inspired knucklehead. What is it with these preachers that makes them think they have a special in with the ultimate power elite? Time to revisit the history of Constantine I?

Prayer Video That Sought a Barack Obama Drenching Gets Yanked - LA Times

"The political arm of the socially conservative Focus on the Family religious group today yanked from its website a video that called on folks to ask God to open the heavens and let precipitation pour on Barack Obama just before his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 28."

More On Compressed Air

Seems like compressed air is gaining speed in the press. [Sorry about the printer dialog popup with the link.]

Compressed Air Plant Could be National Model - Al.com - 31 Aug 08

"PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, then called Alabama Electric Cooperative, built the world's second compressed air energy storage plant atop a Washington County salt dome in 1991. The first was built in Huntorf, Germany in 1978."

"Electric power industry groups were promoting compressed air energy storage at the time and gave PowerSouth $8 million toward the $65 million project to induce the cooperative to try the technology. Plus, PowerSouth had access to a salt dome, replicating the German setup for storing air.

'Somebody had to be first,' said Lee Davis, who manages the 13-employee plant. In the winter, peak times might only be short periods in the morning and evening, said Ron Graham, energy resources manager for PowerSouth. On hot days, the afternoon and evening peak, driven by air-conditioning needs, might last six to eight hours."

"'In the near future, the grid can handle it [wind and solar sources],' Denholm said. 'The nation can get 20 percent of its electricity from wind without the need for storage.' But beyond 20 percent, everyone agrees that ways to store energy will be a must, making it important to get ready now. 'At that point, storage is going to be critical,' Succar said. 'We need as much industrial experience as possible in a lot of different types of geology and with many different vendors.'"

More On Compressed Air

Seems like compressed air is gaining speed in the press. [Sorry about the printer dialog popup with the link.]

Compressed Air Plant Could be National Model - Al.com - 31 Aug 08

"PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, then called Alabama Electric Cooperative, built the world's second compressed air energy storage plant atop a Washington County salt dome in 1991. The first was built in Huntorf, Germany in 1978."

"Electric power industry groups were promoting compressed air energy storage at the time and gave PowerSouth $8 million toward the $65 million project to induce the cooperative to try the technology. Plus, PowerSouth had access to a salt dome, replicating the German setup for storing air.

'Somebody had to be first,' said Lee Davis, who manages the 13-employee plant. In the winter, peak times might only be short periods in the morning and evening, said Ron Graham, energy resources manager for PowerSouth. On hot days, the afternoon and evening peak, driven by air-conditioning needs, might last six to eight hours."

"'In the near future, the grid can handle it [wind and solar sources],' Denholm said. 'The nation can get 20 percent of its electricity from wind without the need for storage.' But beyond 20 percent, everyone agrees that ways to store energy will be a must, making it important to get ready now. 'At that point, storage is going to be critical,' Succar said. 'We need as much industrial experience as possible in a lot of different types of geology and with many different vendors.'"

Palin's Kid Preggers, BabyGate Saga Continues

Weirder and weirder. I'm not sure how this rebuts the BabyGate issue. That chick has already hatched. Frankly, it gives more fuel to the idea if anything. [Addendum: Okay, I get the month count part now. I missed that part in the article.]

Thomas Eagleton, Part Deux coming up? Time will tell.

To Rebut Rumors, Palin Says Daughter, 17, Pregnant - Reuters - 01 Sep 08

"The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child."

"McCain officials said the news of the daughter's pregnancy was being released to rebut what one aide called 'mud-slinging and lies' circulating on liberal blog sites. According to these rumors, Sarah Palin had faked a pregnancy and pretended to have given birth in May to her fifth child, a son named Trig who has Down syndrome. The rumor was that Trig was actually Bristol Palin's child and that Sarah Palin was the grandmother."

Mucho hyperventilation (with photos) on the Daily Kos. Even before I read about the BabyGate references, the statement that Palin finished a half hour speech in Texas and flew all the way back to Alaska after her water broke seemed counter to everything I've ever thought I knew about what is typically done in under such circumstances.

BabyGate: Explosive New Details [Photos+Video] - DailyKos - 31 Aug 08

"Yesterday, the nation at large was introduced to Sarah Palin's fraudulent claims of maternity by numerous photographs, video, and a timeline that made even those accepting of the 'official' story turn their heads in confusion.

The revelation that had been whispered among the Alaskan legislature was explosive. Sarah Palin is not the mother of Trig Palin. Her daughter is the mother. Scarce if any refutations to the contrary have come forward, and now damning incidents and evidence has come to light.

Mothers of the world have reeled back in disgust and horror at Sarah's dangerous and possibly fatal story of flying 4000 miles even as she was supposedly in the process of entering labor a month early. Sarah needs to honestly answer for her lies, promptly."

Palin's Kid Preggers, BabyGate Saga Continues

Weirder and weirder. I'm not sure how this rebuts the BabyGate issue. That chick has already hatched. Frankly, it gives more fuel to the idea if anything. [Addendum: Okay, I get the month count part now. I missed that part in the article.]

Thomas Eagleton, Part Deux coming up? Time will tell.

To Rebut Rumors, Palin Says Daughter, 17, Pregnant - Reuters - 01 Sep 08

"The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child."

"McCain officials said the news of the daughter's pregnancy was being released to rebut what one aide called 'mud-slinging and lies' circulating on liberal blog sites. According to these rumors, Sarah Palin had faked a pregnancy and pretended to have given birth in May to her fifth child, a son named Trig who has Down syndrome. The rumor was that Trig was actually Bristol Palin's child and that Sarah Palin was the grandmother."

Mucho hyperventilation (with photos) on the Daily Kos. Even before I read about the BabyGate references, the statement that Palin finished a half hour speech in Texas and flew all the way back to Alaska after her water broke seemed counter to everything I've ever thought I knew about what is typically done in under such circumstances.

BabyGate: Explosive New Details [Photos+Video] - DailyKos - 31 Aug 08

"Yesterday, the nation at large was introduced to Sarah Palin's fraudulent claims of maternity by numerous photographs, video, and a timeline that made even those accepting of the 'official' story turn their heads in confusion.

The revelation that had been whispered among the Alaskan legislature was explosive. Sarah Palin is not the mother of Trig Palin. Her daughter is the mother. Scarce if any refutations to the contrary have come forward, and now damning incidents and evidence has come to light.

Mothers of the world have reeled back in disgust and horror at Sarah's dangerous and possibly fatal story of flying 4000 miles even as she was supposedly in the process of entering labor a month early. Sarah needs to honestly answer for her lies, promptly."