The myth shows no sign of dying. To the contrary, it is gaining momentum, as shown in the reporting of Keith Olbermann on MSNBC on September 17. Olbermann noted Palin's claim that she increased funding for special-needs kids. But there's a "problem," reported Olbermann: "As the chief executive up north, she vetoed $275,000, crossed it out, of the state funding for the Special Olympics. She cut the Special Olympics budget in half and is campaigning as an advocate for special-needs kids. That's pretty sick."

Added Olbermann: "Well, at least we do know which charity I should donate that hundred bucks to every time she lies about her record: the Alaska Special Olympics." According to the Huffington Post, Olbermann has thus far donated $3,700 to the Alaska Special Olympics, presumably for Palin's alleged cascade of lies.
Also taking aim at Sarah the Slasher is the liberal blog ThinkProgress, which carried this headline: "Palin cut funding for Alaska Special Olympics." Ali Frick wrote, "Palin vetoed $275,000 in Special Olympics funds . . . slashing the organization's operating budget in half."

And most recently, Al Hunt wrote in an oped: "Her decision to have a Down syndrome child this year and pledge to be an advocate for families with special-needs kids was inspiring for any family with such children. Why then did she veto a bill passed by the Alaska legislature increasing funding for the Special Olympics?"

As we write, opposition researchers are going through Alaska budgets looking for more "cuts" in funding. What's the truth?

The confusion stems from a failure or refusal to understand the difference between cutting funding and declining to increase funding to the requested degree. In a cut, you get less money; with a denied raise you get at least as much as you got before. This is not the first time liberals have abused these terms for political purposes.

Last year, the state of Alaska gave the Special Olympics $250,000. This year, the Alaska legislature requested $550,000 for Special Olympics, which would have constituted a 120 percent increase. It is typical, of course, for advocates to submit impossibly high budget requests, even during budget crunches, in the hopes of getting whatever they can. This is understood by anyone who has ever run an organization or prepared a budget that requires legislative or executive approval.

Gov. Palin denied the request, but not completely: She reduced it to a 10-percent raise, approving a gift of $275,000. A 10 percent raise during tough times is very good, as any employee in America would quickly attest. For most employees, a raise of 3 to 4 percent is a good raise.

In other words, not only did Palin not cut funding, she actually raised it just not as much as some would have liked.

As a further check into the context of the 2008 raise, we went back to the 2005 budget. For that year, the Special Olympics received only $125,000. We also reviewed the Special Olympics 990 form for 2006, which shows that the group received over $1.8 million in revenues that year; thus, the organization gets the vast majority of its money from sources other than the state.

These numbers are straightforward. This information is easily accessible on the state of Alaska and Guidestar websites, and took us about 30 minutes to find. In other words, two professors at a little college in Western Pennsylvania have been left to do the simple research that America's top news organizations scrambling all over Alaska to dig up information on Gov.Palin have ignored or, worse, abused.

No, Mr. Olbermann, there's nothing "sick" about the way Palin balanced her commitments to special-needs funding and fiscal responsibility. What is sick is how the political biases of American journalists have corrupted their ability to do their job.

So before the smears start up on this issue--I thought I would post this.

Sarah the Slasher

Sounds like the title of some grade B horror flick.

Hey Murph, wacha got on Putin's head in Alaskan airspace?

Howbout a plan to tell teens not to do it, without explainin what happens when they do...as they all must?

How bout banned books, anything up with that?

How bout Troopergate, any news there?

Here's a straight question Murph,
If Sen McCain passes away in the first month after he wins, are you gonna be greatful that he chose Sarah Pslin as your CIC?

Murphy seems to have taken it upon herself to become the pig's chief lipsticker.

There is too much dirt, too much ugly, to sweep under the rug, Murph. If we get a chance to see her Thursday, it should mark the end for all pretensions to the contrary. herm

Ankles ankles ankles.

HOW THE FUCK DO YOU BAN SOMEONE FOR THAT, RCADE?

FUCK YOU PUSSY-ASS MOTHERFUCKERS.

I don't believe character assassination is the right word. You usually use that when lies are being told.

The most damning things about her are all true.

she is known to have questionable morals and has engaged in allegedly (the investigations aren't done yet) illegal activities in every political office she has held.

she knows less than your average high school civics student about government.

McCain will probably be dead before 2012.

Murphy - she reduced the requested funding, and no times were not hard, times were good, she was taxing the oil companies to death, she was mailing 3K checks to each and every Alaskan, she pocketed 200 million for the bridge to nowhere that she spent elsewhere, and she couldn't come up with a measly 200,000 increase for special olympics? Yeah a real advocate for special needs.

wacha got on Putin's head in Alaskan airspace?

Her reference to foreign policy is local to Alaska-is it the as much experience as Biden or McCain --No of course not. Is it more than Obama--Yeah.

Howbout a plan to tell teens not to do it, without explainin what happens when they do...as they all must?

It was all explained and her daughter didn't listen. When you have kids of your own--maybe you'll understand.

How bout banned books, anything up with that?

This is a non-issue and not true--but you knew that. It was a question--not a policy. The books that the left listed were not even in print when this supposed incident took place. You know why? Because it never took place.

How bout Troopergate, any news there?

This is another issue that turned political because of the Obama supporter running the investigation (French). The guy was fired because he was insubordinate and disobeyed her policies. He went to DC without her consent or knowledge begging people for earmarks in DC. He had meetings without her. He was rightly fired.

The trooper himself is an idiot and still has his job--which he shouldn't. He threatened Sarah's father--to put a bullet in his head. Drank alcohol on duty inside his patrol car and shot a moose out of season. And tazered an 11 year old boy. Nice guy--keep up defending him though.
-------------------

LB--sorry you don't know or comprehend the difference of a cut and and an increase. Sarah raised/increased the ASO contribution from the AK gov't 10% from the year before.

She negotiated the deal with the oil companies and that is what they owed to the people of Alaska. And she rightfully turned some of the money over to the residents of Alaska--that is a liberal concept--you should be loving that.

As for the bridge--you ever try to give back something to gov't? You can't. She took the earmark as they got it. She then spent it on other infrastructure--so what.

Sorry for the italics--

The Declining Popularity of Sarah Palin

Palin Favorability

9/9 - 42/34

9/28 -38/41

AU - off topic...

When do the Lions produce a decent football team?

Murphy - you really are that dense aren't you, I was actually willing to give you the benefit of the doubt but that was silly of me. SHE SAID THANKS BUT NO THANKS. SHE COULD HAVE WRITTEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A CHECK FOR 200 MILLION AND SENT IT IN. She chose to keep the money and yet she couldn't give a measly 1% of that to the Special Olympics?

How bout banned books, anything up with that?

This is a non-issue and not true--but you knew that. It was a question--not a policy. The books that the left listed were not even in print when this supposed incident took place. You know why? Because it never took place.

One of the books did exist: "Pastor, I'm Gay" by Howard Bess:

Howard Bess, author of Pastor, I am Gay and former pastor of Church of the Covenant in nearby Palmer, recalls that his book challenging Christians to re-examine their ideas about and prejudices against gays and lesbians was not well received in Wasilla when it was published in 1995 the year before Palin was elected mayor.

Virtually every book store in Wasilla refused to sell it.

Bess said he gave two copies to the Wasilla Library, but they quickly disappeared. So he donated more copies.

Murph, you whiffed on the question. When McCain comes up unable to perform his duties as pres, will you be greatful that Sen McCain selected the Gov of Alaska to succeed him as CIC?

Ignore everything she's done - good or bad - prior to being the (R) VP candidate. Based on what you've seen of her since, do you honestly think she's a good choice?

Murph....chirp fuckin chirp.

For you chickens waiting around--

Yes--Sarah is a great choice for VP and has more executive experience than the other three put together.

________

Gal--What does that incident have to do with a rhetorical question by Sarah and the librarian? Nothing--

__________

LB--

You need to understand the process of earmarks and when a state or party receives it. YOU cannot give it back for one.

And the party is required to spend it on the issue it was destined for. In this case, infrastructure for the state of AK.

If an earmark is for a museum or a park or transportation or whatever--it has to go there.

The people of AK were not going to foot the other millions or billion needed to complete the bridge.

She changed her mind (rightly so) and used the funds for other infrastructure and roads for the state.

--------Read this for prepping of the debate--

"She changed her mind (rightly so) and used the funds..."

So she really didn't say "no thanks", did she?

She said thanks for the funds but no thanks to the bridge.

You'll get it all in the debate--there is more to this than what the media is portraying--especially when you get it from Huf n Puf or DKO's.

"She said thanks for the funds but no thanks to the bridge."

So it really wasn't "no, thanks" in regards to the MONEY. Thanks for admitting that.

Still havn't answered the question about you being greatful for McAint leaving the delicate flower who cant even go on the Sunday news shows for fear of having her hat and ass handed to her by having to take tuff questions.

Are we going to be glad that Sarah the Silent will be our CIC when McAint's melanoma recurrs and the chemo kicks his saggy ass?

Dan--please see post #21

Old guy--you are underestimating Sarah--but it will have to be seen by yourself and then you will still deny she has a brain and is smart and knows what the heck is going on.

McCain's early demise is greatly exagerated by you and the media--but to your chagrin no doubt.

It's rather pathetic that you would bring this up.

Gal--What does that incident have to do with a rhetorical question by Sarah and the librarian? Nothing--

You claimed none of the books named to be banned were in pritn:

This is a non-issue and not true--but you knew that. It was a question--not a policy. The books that the left listed were not even in print when this supposed incident took place. You know why? Because it never took place.

The book I cited was and is thought to be the reason for Palin's question to the librarian. Hence, the relevance of the incidents I cited.

Gal--the media splash on this listed Harry Potter and other books that were supoposedly "banned" or talked about being banned. Potter was not even printed at the time--Hence the story is false and exaggerated and over the top by the flailing left blogs to smear the VP candidate.

The whole story is nonsense.

Nothing was banned--it was a rhetorical question to the librarian and nothing sinister.

So someone in the town of Wasilla took exception to a gay guys' book. Or liked it so much they kept it. So what.

Are his copies there today? By your inference they are on the shelf.

Sarah did not tell anyone to take the book away and there was no executive order to remove it or any other books for that matter.

It is a non-issue.

from the link I gave above:

But the Frontiersman reporter who wrote that article in 1996 now says Emmons told him Palin did mention three books that she wanted removed from the shelves.

Paul Stuart is semiretired, though he still occasionally contributes articles to a weekly paper, the Mountain Ear, in Conway, N.H., where he lives.

Stuart told PolitiFact that in a conversation with Emmons after his article ran, she listed three titles. He said he could recall only two, and initially said they were I Told My Parents I'm Gay and I Asked My Sister. We looked for these titles; they don't appear to exist.

"Mary Ellen told me that Palin asked her directly to remove these books from the shelves," Stuart said. "She refused."

Asked later if the first book could have been Pastor, I am Gay, a controversial book written by a pastor who lives just outside Wasilla, Stuart said that was it.

Howard Bess, author of Pastor, I am Gay and former pastor of Church of the Covenant in nearby Palmer, recalls that his book challenging Christians to re-examine their ideas about and prejudices against gays and lesbians was not well received in Wasilla when it was published in 1995 the year before Palin was elected mayor.

Virtually every book store in Wasilla refused to sell it.

Bess said he gave two copies to the Wasilla Library, but they quickly disappeared. So he donated more copies.

The controversy over the book was part of the context of that time period, he said. "Knowing Sarah's religious connections and the people involved, I would be surprised if my book was not one of those at issue," Bess said. "But I don't know that for a fact."

"I don't think anyone has the facts except Mary Ellen, and she ain't talking," Bess said.

I guess we'll never know for sure since the librarian isn't talking, but I think it is highly possible that Palin did want to ban the book "Pastor, I'm Gay." When asked specifically about the books to be banned, the librarian responded:

The local newspaper reporter who covered the controversy, Paul Stuart, claims he was later told by the librarian that Palin wanted three specific books removed from the library.

In her statement to ABC News, the librarian said, "I am unable to dispute or substantiate the information Paul Stuart provided to you."

It sounds to me like the librarian doesn't want to be part of this contraversy:

She would not address her reasons for leaving Wasilla, but friends say she felt badly treated by Mayor Palin.

"I don't care to revisit that time in my life," Baker told ABC News.

So, Murph still refuses to express deep gratitude for the patriotic, America over Party choice.

Gal--we are going to have to agree to disagree--you are chiming in with innuendo.

The librarian isn't talking--what a surprise.

Sarah explained that she merely asked a general question "If there is a policy to remove books"

____________

Old whiskey dude--

My choice is for America First. That would be McCain/Palin. McCain was not my first choice and I like Sarah and will soon enough prove to folks that she is every bit ready for the position.

-------------

There is no way to vote for a liberal lawyer who hangs out with bastards like Rev Wright and Ayres for 15-20 years and doesn't think it was bad judgment until he was caught. He wants to raise taxes--BS line for the 95%. 40% of those folks don't even pay taxes--so Obama is trying to buy their vote with a $500.00 check.

He is for killing the unborn without regard. he will pick judges who feel the same way.

Obama is for redistribution of wealth--marxism at it's finest. Expand the gov't, anti gun, pro illegals--give them DR Licenses and health care, universal per school is a joke and another way to expand gov't and take away our freedoms and pro class warfare.

He is utterly naive about foreign policy an appeaser and Biden who voted for the war before he was against the surge isn't saying much. Biden wants to dictate to the Iraqi's to split up the country in thirds. That is ridiculous.

The ticket is upside down--Obama has no business running for POTUS--he even said he did not have teh experience in 2004--but ran anyway to get his name out there.

-----
All of the listed above issues--McCain/Sarah are opposite and they are reformers and will cut spending and better--the best for America at this time.

I could go on--but I have an appt.

Later gaters

"He is for killing the unborn without regard. he will pick judges who feel the same way."

wrong.
nice of you to read what others say about him
accept what he says about it

"Obama is for redistribution of wealth--marxism at it's finest."

wrong
mccain and palin both believe in the redistrubution of the wealth from the poor to the rich through ways of better tax breaks for the rich, better health care for the rich. shit if you are rich in the usa mccain is your lenin
if you are poor then he gets all "the markets" on ya

"He is utterly naive about foreign policy an appeaser and Biden who voted for the war before he was against the surge isn't saying much."
wrong
the entire republican foreign policy is naive
and foolhardy

"The ticket is upside down--Obama has no business running for POTUS"
wrong
just like kennedy/johnson
reagan/bush
looks like its mccain thats flipped. and not for the first time or the thousandth time
brain freeze on all functions accept fists and vital signs

you could go on
but you are WRONG