In October 2006, when Sarah Palin was the Republican nominee for Governor, she participated in a 5-person debate with her Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and independent opponents. There were actually six candidates for Governor on the November 2006 ballot. The 6th candidate, Alaskan Independence Party nominee Don Wright, was also invited into the debate. However, he did not make an appearance. The November 1 2006 paper issue of Ballot Access News has a comprehensive listing of all the instances at which minor party and independent candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate were able to debate their major party opponents during the 2006 campaign season.
Perhaps there will be an opportunity for “Rock the Debates” activists to ask Sarah Palin if she will debate any of her minor party opponents for vice-president, when she debates Joe Biden. Although presumably John McCain already signed an agreement with the Commission on Presidential Debates that he will not participate in any debates except the exclusionary Commission Debates, it is unlikely that Palin has signed any such agreement.
Palin also appears pro-minor party in her speech welcoming the Alaskan Independence Party state convention to Fairbanks in 2008. She says, “Competition is so good; and that applies to political parties as well.”
In this clip, Alaskan Independence Party leader Dexter Clark is heard making a speech to athe 2008 AIP state convention). The clip is 9 minutes long. At six minutes and 15 seconds into the clip, Clark says that Palin was once a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, in the period before she ran for Wasilla City Council.
There are legions of Democrat operatives heading to Alaska right now, to dig up any and all dirt they can find on Sarah Palin.
No doubt, in the coming days, we are going to learn that she was indeed a dues-paying member of the Alaska Independence Party at one time (oooh scary!), and actually attended two meetings of the Alaska Libertarian Party as a speaker.
Watch them try to smear Palin as a “Libertarian” or as an “Independence for Alaska supporter.”
It’s coming. I give it 3 or 4 days, maybe sooner, if Leftwinger Democrats read this blog.
Thanks, Eric.
The correct name of the party is “Alaskan Independence Party”, not “Alaska Independence Party.” But lots of mainstream press get that wrong, and even the attorney for the party got it wrong in his briefs. The party is in court to keep an obstreperous registered member of the party from running in its primaries. The case was argued in the 9th circuit on August 8.
I hope BAN gives the national press the definitive enrollement and nominating participation (petition signing and primary) history of this VIP candidate.
billvanallen
Actually the AIP doesn’t support Alaskan independence. They are simply asking for the vote on independence they were supposed to have been given. From their website:
The Alaskan Independence Party’s goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:
1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.
I think that’s fair enough. The Alaskans will vote to stay a state and then we can all get on with our lives.
Alaskan Independence Party History
We are putting together our history and historical documents for your review … please bear with us!
Exerpt from book:
American Independence Movement, by Thomas Naylor
According to the Alaska Divisions of Elections they only have the history as below … We have been in existance since the 70s and have run candidates before the state declared the AIP a “political party.”
1984 – Recognized Political Party per emergency regulation 6 AAC 25.150, effective 6/14/84.
1986 – Vogler / Rowe (Governor / Lt. Governor candidates) received 5.5% of votes cast for Governor, retaining Recognized Political Party status.
1990 – Hickel / Coghill (Governor / Lt. Governor candidates) received 38.8% of votes cast for Governor, retaining Recognized Political Party status.
1994 – Coghill / Ward (Governor / Lt. Governor candidates) received 13.0% of votes cast for Governor, retaining Recognized Political Party status.
1998 – Sullivan (Governor candidate with no Lt. Governor running mate) received only 1.92% of the votes for Governor, but there is a sufficient number of voters registered under the party name to retain Recognized Political Party status.
2002 – Wright / Denardo recieved less then 1% but there is a sufficient number of voters registered under the party name to retain Recognized Political Party status.
2006 – Wright / Welton recieved less then 1% but there is a sufficient number of voters registered under the party name to retain Recognized Political Party status.
——————————————————————————–
Officers from the past:
1992, Convention Westmark Fairbanks
Chairman Joe Vogler
Disappeared May 93, body found may 94 Fairbanks
Vice-Chairman Edgar Paul Boyko
Assumed Chairmanship 6-93 Anchorage
Secretary Lynette Clark Fox
Treasurer Rita Leake Fairbanks
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
1994, Convention Best Western Wasilla
Chairman Edgar Paul Boyko Anchorage
Vice-Chairman Doyle Holmes
resigned 5-95 Willow
Bob Logan Two Rivers
Secretary Lynette Clark Fox
Treasurer Rita Leake Fairbanks
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
1996 Convention Fox Roadhouse, Fox
Chairman Jack Coghill
resigned 10-97 Nenana
Vice Chairmen Mark Chryson
Assumed chairman 10-97 Memory Lake
Bob Logan
Resigned 6-96 Two Rivers
John Fields of Fairbanks took over 11-97
Secretary Lynnette Clark Fox
Treasurer Doug Welton
Resigned 5-96 Weltown
Paul Chizmar of Fairbanks took over 11-97
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
1998 Convention Capt Bartlett, Fairbanks
Chairman Mark Chryson Memory Lake
Vice-Chairmen John Fields
Resigned left Alaska 12-99 Fairbanks
Dennis Oakland Chugiak
Secretary Dee Fields
Resigned left Alaska 12-99 Fairbanks
Treasurer Paul Chizmar Fairbanks
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
1998 Convention Capt Bartlett, Fairbanks
Chairman Mark Chryson Memory Lake
Vice-Chairmen John Glotfelty Delta Junction
Verne Rupright Wasilla
Secretary Bernadette Rupright Wasilla
Treasurer Paul Chizmar
resigned 10-01 Fairbanks
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
Convention 2000, Mat-Su Resort Wasilla
Chairman Mark Chryson Memory Lake
Vice-Chairmen John Glotfelty Delta Junction
Verne Rupright Wasilla
Secretary Bernadette Rupright Wasilla
Treasurer Paul Chizmar
resigned 10-01 Fairbanks
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
Convention 2002, Fox Roadhouse, Fox
Chairman Mark Chryson Memory Lake
Vice-Chairmen John Glotfelty
Larry Wood
Resigned 4-03
Pat Skuza
Assumed Position 5-03 North Pole
Lazy Mountain
Kenai
Secretary Lydia Wood
Resigned 4-03 Lazy Mountain
Diana Glotfelty
Assumed position 5-03 North Pole
Treasurer Linda Winkelman North Pole
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
——————————————————————————–
2004 Convention, Pikes Waterfront Lodge, Fairbanks
Chairman Linda Winkleman North Pole
Vice-Chairman Pat Skuza
Kenai
Secretary Rita Leake
Fairbanks
Treasurer Linda Winkelman North Pole
Parlimentarian Dee Roberts Fairbanks
The story just broke at ABC News. Much sooner than I would have predicted:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/members-of-frin.html
One wonders now if Libertarians and Constituionalists will now react to the liberal media slam on Palin for being connected to Third Parties? Or, will they just sit on their hands?
I think Sarah Palin and her supporters have one or two other more important issues to deal with right now than whether or not “left wingers” or the “liberal media” have any interest in her suppport of or connection with third parties (breaking news: they, like virtually all of planet Earth, couldn’t care less).
The family values fanatics who cried tears of joy upon her VP selection should be wondering why/how/when the 17-year-old unmarried daughter of an astonishingly conservative state governor managed to get pregnant. What a shame it is that people like Gov. Palin are so opposed to Planned Parenthood, a visit to which by her daughter – who apparently, like most American teenagers, has not benefitted from abstinence-only sex education – would have, ironically, rendered her situation nonexistent.
Oh wait a minute, I forgot…..there IS no Planned Parenthood either in Juneau or Wasilla, Alaska. Perhaps that will change now.
You mistake badly. Ms. Palin is NOT A CONSERVATIVE! She’s a LIBERTARIAN. That’s spelled L-I-B-E-R-T-A-R-I-A-N.
Perhaps you’re part of the DailyKos Libertarian-hating media, ‘eh there Mr. Gaines?
Palin is not a Libertarian.
Not sure why one adjective in that whole post was all that was worth responding to.
Anyway, anyone who knows me, and this Eric Dondero person does not, would laugh heartily at the suggestion that I have anything to do with Daily Kos, or that they would want to have anything to do with me. Clicking on my name and spending 4 or 5 seconds reading what you find will disabuse you of that notion. You know what they say about making assumptions….
Having spent 10+ years in the Libertarian Party, back before most of the people reading this even knew it existed, I don’t need think I need a snotty lecture on how to spell the word. Everything about this woman that has been made public thus far points to her being quite conservative. My memory is a bit hazy but I don’t recall ever meeting anybody in the LP who believed in, much less supported the teaching of, creationism, or publically allied himself or herself with evangelical Christianity, or who promoted anything resembling “family values.” Also, “libertarian” is not the word that leaps to mind when insufferably arrogant ultra- conservative windbags like Grover Norquist fawn all over themselves praising Gov. Palin.
Mr. Dondero, have a beer and relax. The Bob Barr campaign needs you.
Is 1992 Ross Perot campaign withdrawal the most likely equivalent to the political vessel Sarah Palin nomination fills in 2008 — also during the DEM convention helping Clinton win?
Palin is “not a Libertarian” ‘eh?
Check out RealClearPolitics.com right now. There’s a big editorial there, “Palin the Libertarian.”
Also, Denver Post two days ago. Same deal, “Palin the Libertarian.”
Mr. Gaines, you obviously do not know who I am. I was an enthusiastic supporter of Bob Barr. I petitioned in 7 states to get him on the ballot: Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, New Hampshire, Conn., Rhode Island and Maine.
While I wish the LP ticket the best, I am now supporting John McCain, all as a result of him picking Libertarian Republican Sarah Palin as his running mate. I’ve never been more excited about a candidate in my entire life, than Palin. She is the very, very best we will ever see in our lives.
And btw, I fully believe McCain picked libertarain Palin to head off the support going to Barr and the Libertarians.
You libertarians sound worse than Trotskyists. Everyone is a libertarian to some degree. John McCain is a little libertarian. Palin is too, probably a little moreso but she’s still not especially libertarian. That goes for both social issues and economic ones.
Guv. Palin is now a puppet R-O-B-O-T of the Elephant machine of death and destruction — to try and get some marginal Hillary Donkey votes and some marginal libertarian votes in the marginal gerrymander Electoral College States. TOTAL EVIL.
All of her past is totally irrelevant.
AIP may not be strictly secessionist, but it sent representatives to the 2007 Second North American Secessionist Conference where they rubbed elbows with white-supremacist secession advocates like The League of the South.
Joe Volger, the founder of the Alaskan Independence Party, famously said “I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.”
For a ticket that has made “Country First” its slogan, isn’t it fair to ask, “which country?”.
as a former alaskan I wish she was at the top of the ticket , then I would vote for her even though she is a repub but I still will not vote for Obama or MCcain. But Im glad she is there the lesser 48 needs to see the pragmatism of Alaska !!
Eric,
Uhm so if Barr doesn’t get on the NH ballot does this mean you arn’t going to go door to door knocking and telling each and every libertarian how un-libertarian Phillies is? And more important… If Barr isn’t on the ballot in NH do I still have to honer my pledge that I made to you to make a donation?
Eric,
Bonas Noches!
Eric,
looks like McInsane has out smarted A Dondero?
If Barr isn’t on the ballot in NH do I still have to honer my pledge that I made to you to make a donation?
Barr is on the ballot in NH. The quesiton is whether or not Phillies will be on the ballot as well. This is important not because they want Phillies off the ballot pe se, but because they want to preserve the option of substitution.
Palin is an honest person, the solution to John McCain’s problem. She’s a conservative who is almost libertarian. She supports jury rights, free speech, and gun rights, but is undecided on drug rights (and thus inconsistent and mixed on property rights), and on the right to own one’s own money (taxation), especially regarding the socialization of healthcare (which she at least partially favors).
She is not a Harry Browne, a Lysander Spooner, or an Ayn Rand. Nor does she appear to understand those thinkers’ ideas in great depth (I don’t know whether she’s read them or not).
But she is HONEST. She is not a typical politician. And she does stand up for what she believes is right.
She is certainly the lesser of two evils. If the world was already perfect, I’d never vote for her.
I’ll be voting for Barr/Root, because I like Root, and I want the LP to retain ballot access in the future (after the current crowd of criminals –minus Bill Redpath– is no longer running it).
Good Luck to Sarah in the General Election. The ideal outcome for this election is for McCain to have a debilitating heartattack when he hears he’s won the election, and for the LP to get enough of the vote that they’re on the ballot automatically in all the easy states. Then, President Palin forces them to rescind the ballot access obstacle laws, under the threat of withholding federal funding for their federal elections, etc…
Steve, the Phillies vs. Barr battle is so far down the list of importance these days, that it doesn’t even matter.
We are engaged right now in a Huge struggle with the Left who have attacked a libertarian-leaning Vice-Presidential candidate. The whole libertarian movement needs to rally to her defense, and I note this morning libertarian Republican Governor Mark Sanford has done so. (See LR blog link above.)
I hope you’ll join us by attacking the Leftist scumbags at DailyKos and their allies in the MSM.
Whether Gov. Palin is Libertarian or Republican she is significantly powerful to get marijuana legalized in the only state to do so.
Whether Gov. Palin is Libertarian or Republican she is significantly powerful to get marijuana legalized in the only state to do so.
Did Palin really support marijuana legalization? I’m wondering what about her is libertarian. A lot of people are self-styled “libertarians” or get called “libertarian” by the press — like MA Governor William Weld, who doubled the size of state government.
Palin has always opposed marijuana legalization, since she has been in public life.