"Alaska First"

Well, here's a new twist on the "Sarah Palin Hates America" story:

Now that it has been confirmed that McCain's VP was once a member of the controversial Alaskan Independence Party (AIP), a group that seeks, among other things, a vote on whether Alaska should secede from the Union, many questions remain unanswered (see background here, here, here and here). While she is now and has been a member of the Republican Party for over a decade, when she was a member of the AIP, did she agree with their platform? What drew her to a group who's motto is "Alaska first, Alaska always"? And how does her history with such a group affect her governing philosophy now that she is a national candidate?

This isn't about whether Sarah Palin "loves America" and certainly nobody is raising any questions about her patriotism. Rather, this may raise questions about her priorities.

When she was a member of the AIP in the 1990s, its motto was "Alaska First, Alaska Always." As her campaign slogan in 2006 for governor, Palin chose "Alaska First."

First: No! Bad blogger!

NEVER preemptively give up something as powerful as "Sarah Palin Hates America" so easily!

They aren't going to stop calling YOUR guy a traitor, and this whole story is about her being less-than-patriotic. They are not going to play by the rules you unilaterally set up, and the public will be too dazzled by the charges to care when you say "hey, that's no fair!"

(No voter has ever been impressed by a liberal or Democrat saying something's not fair. Ever. Sorry. No reporters, either.)

If both sides agree on something, then fine, stick by it. But this just became a war for women's reproductive rights, science in schools, and keeping another global warming denialist out of the VP's office. Even if she's petty, inexperienced, and inclined towards endangering her children, Sarah Palin is dangerous, that's why the theocons love her so much.

Anyway, the good bit:

When she was a member of the AIP in the 1990s, its motto was "Alaska First, Alaska Always." As her campaign slogan in 2006 for governor, Palin chose "Alaska First."

This may be a coincidence. But you know what? It sure as hell doesn't look like a coincidence. It doesn't sound like a coincidence. And if she's as "sharp" as her apologists claim, she'd know about the coincidence.

So my bet is that it isn't a coincidence. Whether or not Sarah Palin Hates America, she sure as hell is currying the votes of those that do. Maybe it was just a cynical ploy for votes, maybe not. Does it really matter?