Hundreds in Anchorage rally against Palin spot on GOP ticket

[FlyingSquirrel]

Source: Kansas City Star/McClatchy Newspapers



Hundreds of protesters turned out in Anchorage, Alaska, today in a rally against Gov. Sarah Palin's candidacy for vice president. At least 500 protesters were outside the Loussac Library waving signs.

At least 100 Palin supporters were on the other side of the street showing support for the governor.

The protest came hours after the governor held a morning rally in downtown Anchorage, attended by as many as 1,500 cheering supporters, then flew off to Nevada to resume campaigning. It's the first public demonstration against Palin since she accepted McCain's offer on Aug. 29.

The protesters included a mix of Obama supporters, anti-war protesters, abortion-rights advocates and people upset that Palin, when she was Wasilla mayor, asked a city librarian about removing books.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/445/story/795397.html

---

Thanks to DU'er Kadie for finding this!


ALSO: Washington Post, "In Anchorage, an Anti-Palin Protest"

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/13/i...

[livetohike]

1. So much for her supposed 80% approval rating

Way to go protestors!

[mcg]

40. 65% and sinking fast, Bush got 62% of the vote in Alaska in 2004,

So it's not like she's got bipartisan appeal.
She appeals to Bush voters.

[ladywnch]

75. is this Palin is down to 65% approval? if so,where what is the source?

how recent is this rating? details please.

[mcg]

80. WP interview w Gregg Erickson

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion...

"Her approval ratings are high--65 percent, or so--but down from 80 percent earlier in her term. Most Alaskan's haven't watched her as closely as most reporters or legislators. If you took a poll of reporters and legislators I expect her approval rating would be down in the teens or twenties."

[roguevalley]

49. go to the anchorage daily news each day and read the letters.

they are routinely against her. This is a big crowd for a protest in Anchorage. GO, ANCHORAGE!

[Arm Chair Politician]

63. I circled the block honking my horn for a while...great ralley Alaska! n/t

[livetohike]

72. Thanks roguevalley!

I have a list of Alaskan papers/media bookmarked. I'll have to start doing that .

[BlueCaliDem]

81. I saw the pollster who did the poll. A glassy-eyed Repub guy.

It was as if he was in love with her! I mean, the way he gushed...

I don't believe in Polls anymore. They're seriously erroneous and misleading.

Instead of counting the poll numbers, count the money!

Obama beat McPain for August again!

[BeyondGeography]

2. LOL...the "bridge" theme is catching on

Run with it, people!

[kurth_]

3. I hope they'll still have jobs tomorrow

This is so disrespectful to the Palin mafia...

[jovi]

5. FINALLY... I was beginning to think all the people of Alaska

worshipped her and kissed the ground she walked on. I hope the protesting spreads to all the stops she and McCain make.

[Kadie]

4. Found a Washington Post link...

Thanks for posting this FlyingSquirrel.


In Anchorage, an Anti-Palin Protest
By Karl Vick
ANCHORAGE -- A couple of hours after Gov. Sarah Palin returned to the Outside, as Alaskans call the Lower 48, her local critics swarmed an Anchorage intersection to correct the widespread impression that the whole of the Last Frontier endorses her candidacy.

The midday protest outside a city library drew a crowd in the high hundreds -- perhaps surging past a thousand -- from the city's relatively liberal environs, who seemed very happy to see one another and be reminded that they are not alone.

"The whole thing grew out of frustration," said Charla Sterne, one of the organizers, who like several people at the rally declined to say where they worked (several said they were state employees and feared retribution).

"Last week this was just ten women sitting around talking about this perception that all of Alaska supports Sarah Palin. We apparently hit a nerve and started a movement," Sterne said.

A sense of festival obtained. There was a woman in a polar bear suit representing "Polar Bear Moms Say: No Palin." Drivers on 36th Avenue saw a little girl waving a sign "Don't Ban My Books."


more...
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/13/i...

[Bubba Ho Tep]

16. Wow. That's like ten percent of the town's population she governed.

And that is a statement as to the real feelings towards the wolf-killer and anti-environmentalist in her state.

"Most popular governor" my ass.

[Doremus]

37. Ten percent of the population is huge!

500 anti-Palin protesters vs. 100 pro-Palinites.

That's an equally stunning statistic.

[barbtries]

23. 2 really good alaska links:

http://mudflats.wordpress.com /
you got to read this guy's blog - he's a terrific and prolific writer. he's currently reporting on the rallies.
http://www.kudo1080.com/Article.asp?id=881593
progressive talk radio - i've been listening to CC and it's good.

[Divernan]

27. Anchorage radio poll: 89 % vote Palin is not qualified to be VP

Go to the KUDO link in the above post, and then go to "HOME" and you'll see this poll.

KUDO Political Poll

Is Gov. Sarah Palin Qualified to be the next Vice President of the United States?


Yes 11%
No 89%
Too early to tell 0 %

[RoccoR5955]

39. It's 10% yes, 90% no now!

So much for her 80% approval rating. Looks like the holiday is over for Caribou Barbie!

[1950]

76. Anchorage radio poll: 89 % vote Palin is not qualified to be VP

Of course its going to be @ 80%.
If you went to a Conservative station her yes vote would be higher.

[Kadie]

29. Thanks!

[beac]

30. I've become a big fan of 'Mudflats'--

great insight from someone 'on the ground' who has been following Alaska politics for years.

I'm also looking forward to the forum on Palin that KUDO will be hosting on 9/15.

[harpboy_ak]

43. more alaska blogs

FYI, Mudflats is female...

Progressive Alaska:
http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com /

Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis:
http://divasblueoasis.blogspot.com /

Kodiak Konfidential:
http://kodiakkonfidential.blogspot.com /

[barbtries]

64. i had no idea

SHE is a terrific writer!

[Blue_In_AK]

59. Also ProgressiveAlaska.com

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2008/09/anchorage...

[trashcanistanista]

74. Kicking for mentioning mudflats blog. He went to

the rally and they counted 1400 protesters surrounding the library. He said it was the largest political event in the history of Alaska, more than Palin's own rally. He did not count the numerous thumbs up and supporters they got from cars passing by the event.

[crossroads]

6. The bloom is fading off the Rose and some don't like the smell

Palin stinks!

CR

[leftrightwingnut]

7. 100 is a lot of people in Alaska

Palin's mayoral seat had 6,000.

[leftrightwingnut]

8. See what happens when you're not around to smile and wave and wink at people?

She needs to go home and crush these protesters like she did her ex brother-in-law.

[Kaleko]

9. Vote for Fundierella and the Geezer

if you want perverts in the White House who endorse torture, illegal invasions, shooting wolves from helicopters, but forcing women to have babies after incest and rape. Yayyy, these are your guys!

[marshall]

10. What sort of person were these people expecting to be on the GOP ticket?

Palin is as right wing as they come--it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that her views are in line with the base.
This would be far more compelling if included in that mix of Obama supporters and pro-choice advocates there was a contingent of GOPers.

[xxqqqzme]

35. At this point, I'll take what we can get.

The publican base is not rong wing, end time fundies. Fundies would love you to believe that.

[Demeter]

11. Now THERE'S a Sight You Don't See Every Day!

Usually the Favorite Son or Daughter has one state solidly in the corner...

Exceptions; Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Joe Lieberman, all GOP or as good as...

[Arctic Dave]

12. My wife "Arctic Jodie" was down there.

We are all not fundie screwballs in Alaska.

[Hugin]

13. Personally, I never thought so.

They happen everywhere.

[Kukesa]

22. Way to go, Dave & Jodie! Good for you! n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Please thank Jodie

from a Kansas red state hell resident.

[Arctic Dave]

32. I will text her right now with your thank you.

[Blue_In_AK]

60. Hi ya, Arctic Dave.

I sure wish I could have been there. We won the Denali lottery so were up in the park this weekend and missed all the frivolity. I'm thrilled to see there was such a big turnout. I wonder if Sarah got the message.

[Arctic Dave]

71. If she didn't get the message today,

I'm sure she will in the coming weeks when people start to get a chance to think about what a bad choice she is.

Hope you had a great time up in Denali.

[VeraAgnes]

14. Ed Schultz radio is there today!...

http://www.kudo1080.com/default.asp


I hope they have a good turnout. Is this rally affiliated with or coordinated with the broadcast of today?Anchorage, it's your turn

The Ed Schultz Show Town Hall Meeting, Saturday September 13th at the WILLIAMSON AUDITORIUM, on the campus of the UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE.

The Town Hall Meeting will run from 7:00 to 10:00pm.

Come out and tell America about your governor, the ANWAR, or anything else that's on your mind.

The show will broadcast all across the lower 48 and the rest of the world.

Don't miss the chance to meet me and to make your voices heard.

100 Dollars VIP Seating 100 Seats Available!
Special Meet and Greet at 5:30pm for VIP Tickets!


25 Dollars General Admission 930 Seats Available!

http://www.bigeddieradio.com/events/alaska.asp

[VP505]

21. Thanks for posting that!

Reminder, he will broadcast it on his show Monday so tune in and hear what Alaska really thinks about Caribou Barbie.

[Judi Lynn]

65. Thanks for the alert on when we can hear this show. n/t

[Arctic Dave]

28. I just text my wife and she is down there right now .

She scored a ticket from another Obama buddy.

[Mad_Dem_X]

15. Wow - good for them!

I love this!!!

[sabrina 1]

17. Polar Bear Moms V Hockey Moms

Easy choice, she should have left the wolves and the bears alone.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

78. Hi, I am a polar-bear supporting Hockey Mom!

There are lots of us Hockey-Mamas-for Obama!

Good for all the Alaskans who are getting the truth out!

[pnorman]

18. See this DU thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

pnorman

[Imagevision]

19. Those not supporting palin for VP. slot better hide their faces, Palin will get even...

[K8-EEE]

20. Hell even some people who approve AS NEW GOV don't want her to be President!

Which whoever the McCain Veep is gonna be, he's not looking well.

[pleah]

24. K&R!

[TNMOM]

25. we need a "bridge bridgade"

to follow shallow palin every where she goes -- to remind people that she's a liar.

[TNMOM]

26. better yet -- let's call it the "lipstick brigade"

-- a group of women who are determined to elect a QUALIFIED woman to the White House.

[HuskiesHowls]

33. Found some good pictures of this protest

http://www.laurainak.blogspot.com/

[Kukesa]

34. Nice pics; nice puppies. Thanx. n/t

[Willo]

36. I like some of the signs they were carrying

Eddie Burke of KBYR-AM showed up in person, but while there was no evident friction between the two camps, cheerful chants of "O-bam-ah" effectively drowned out whatever he was saying to the cameras in the center of a mini-media scrum.

The din did not prevent reading the signs, pro and against:
Bush In A Skirt
Palin: She Be Failin'
I Love My Alaska Girl
Jesus Was a Community Organizer
We Luv Our Lady Guv
Palin: Thanks But No Thanks
Smearing Alaska's Good Name One Scandal @ a Time
Candidate To Nowhere
Rape Kits Should Be Free
Voted For Her Once: Never Again!
Community Organizers are the Real Patriots
Barbies for War
I Shall Not Be Pandered To
Give Palin Your Vote AND Your Draft Age Child
Sarah Palin: So Far Right She's Wrong
Sarah Palin Is My Hero
Alaska Is Not Frisco
Gun Rights
Coat Hangers for McCain
Sarah Palin, Undoing 150 Years of American Feminism
Hockey Mama for Obama (on a hockey stick)

[Waiting For Everyman]

38. Oh, wow! Thank you, Alaska!!!

And Flying Squirrel, for posting this.

I can't think of anything that could've made me feel better today, than this does. Alaska Dems rock! Maybe they see this as their chance to get rid of Palin too. Way to go, Alaska! I'm going to check in with the AK bloggers next and see what they're saying about it among themselves.

[d_b]

41. DAMN. wish I had heard about this.

I so would've been there.

[scot]

42. This is just beyond stupid....

First Obama falls into the trap of arguing credentials with the BOTTOM of the opposing ticket. And now dems do everything they can to keep the spotlight on a woman that has clearly captured the imagination of a considerable part of the electorate. Like it or not - that's the fact. Obama should ignore Palin and focus on McCain. Leave Palin to Biden and even he's got to be damn careful not to cross the Lazio/Clinton line. Flame away.....

[harpboy_ak]

45. Sorry, but a heartbeat away is a heartbeat away

I don't like having her as Governess, and she's certainly NOT qualified to be in the Oval Office. You concern trolls really are annoying --- I agree that OBAMA needs to get out and push HIS message and point out that both McSame and Slick Sarah are liars, over and over, but it doesn't hurt for others to continually point out her faults.

[scot]

46. "Concern Trolls"?

[lisainmilo]

48. key word = "IMAGINATION"

because she simply does not have the goods to be VP or POTUS, one must use an "IMAGINATION". A nobody with good looks, the pugs think people are stupid and would not look into her credentials or her past. I think it is fantastic Alaskans held a rally to let us know what they really think, this is an important piece of media, as we have been told so far that she was "a popular governor" we didn't know her popularity is NEGATIVE! Enough Said!

[RainDog]

51. No this is real. Every female I know is horrified about Palin

and very worried that the McCain/Palin ticket might win. And I do mean horrified. Women I know see her as a saboteur, as one poster said, set on undermining generations and generations of women who worked for equality against the misogynistic interpretation of women in traditional monarchical religions.

Women find her creepy because of her extremist religion-inspired beliefs.

I assume there are women in this nation who support her, but, honestly - women don't take the issue of things like a morning-after pill for a raped daughter lightly. What if you had a 12 y/o daughter who was raped who did not have the option of a morning-after pill to prevent any pregnancy in such a situation. What mother would do that to her child? None that I know of. It would be cruel.

She's so corrupt, her oil co. masters are more important than the polar bear population of the world. How egotistical and short-sighted is that? How cruel.

She's part of an extremist sect of Christianity. Maybe you have to be a female to know the apprehension this sort of religion creates in every educated women I have talked to about this woman. Religion that works to enable the state/power structure is one of THE biggest enemies of female equality.

[scot]

83. We clearly run in different circles.

I know women who don't support her and others that are very positive on her. I haven't spoken to anyone who was "horrified" by her.

And why do you assume that I'm not female?

[RainDog]

86. I told you what I heard, over and over and over yesterday

and actually the day before, too. I'm helping out where I used to work and people talk about stuff who come in and that was the conversation. Not one woman said anything positive about her and several used the EXACT same word to describe Palin: "scary."

I live in a somewhat unusual place. It has one of the best-educated populations per capita, and for this and other reasons Forbes Magazine listed it as one of the top ten places to start a new business. The WSJ recently wrote about it and it has been consistently ranked as one of the best places to retire because of its affordability combined with a variety of things to do that are usually not available in a town of its size. It's a college town.

I have no idea who you are, male or female, tho with "scot" the assumption would most likely be male for most people. I also don't know why my remark was somehow offensive to you - or at least that's my impression by your tone.

I mentioned this because it was my actual experience with total strangers over the last two days. ymmv, obviously.

[emmadoggy]

73. They're ALASKANS.

They are protesting against Palin being in the VP slot - letting it be known that not all Alaskans support her. They are trying to show the rest of the country that, as Alaskans, they know her better than the rest of us and here is what they think.

So, should all Dems just sit quietly at home and do nothing and just wait for the election and hope it goes our way?

BTW, Palin may be at the bottom of the ticket, but because McCain would be the oldest man to take office, she has a much better chance than any VP in a LONG time to actually take the reigns, so I think going after BOTH McCain and Palin is appropriate. And there is plenty to go after.

Doing nothing, saying nothing is stupid.

[scot]

84. I understand their motivation.

And I agree that both are appropriate targets. I just don't think that its good strategy to keep the spotlight on her the way the campaign has. The most important battles are often those that are not fought.

[Willo]

44. A few videos of the protest are up on Youtube

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=PNlcYaEOLRM

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=eQfcSmlkoaA

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=uWK70_nVMoI

[jennydabud]

47. palin info..

site has a lot of info you dont see in mainstream media.

palininvestigation.com

[Douglas Carpenter]

50. Kick and recommended -- very important !!!!!

[volstork]

52. LOOK! Their signs

are even spelled properly!!!

[sutz12]

53. I always wonder about state support for candidates...

Do they really want them in charge of the federal gov't, or are they just anxious to get them out of their state?

Nice to see some reality reporting.

[ClayZ]

54. Anti-Palin Rally video! BRAVO, ANCHORAGE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNlcYaEOLRM


K and R

[Life Long Dem]

55. I think McSame hit his peak, and this was it.

And now the excitement is wearing off. I also saw Obama rising in the polls during the same time in several key battleground states.

McSame has been playing more TV ad's in New Hampshire than Obama. But Polls look good... I don't know where McSame is getting the money but it looks like he's trying to win NH.

[Imagevision]

56. Hundreds in Anchorage rally against Palin? Sarah won't blink?

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

57. Protesters: Move beyond candidate and target constituencies too!

It's one thing to go after a candidate. I think we need to start aiming more of our visible discontent toward the right wing institutions themselves. Picket anti-gay organizations and censorship squads. These organizations, both at the elite and the grassroots level, have enjoyed virtual freedom from any direct sidewalk questioning. I say find out the people in line with Palin's far right ideology and go after them too!

[Blue_In_AK]

58. ProgressiveAlaska.com write-up on this.

We were in Denali National Park this weekend so missed this, but here's the report from ProgressiveAlaska.com

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2008/09/anchorage...

[Kool Kitty]

61. Thanks for the link.

I just read the comments and one jumped out at me about "....Sarah's trip to Iraq but she didn't go to Iraq..." What the hell?

[liberalaska]

62. I was there and it was amazing

I apologize in advance if this doesn't make as much sense as it should, I am freaking exhausted.

I woke up early this morning and headed downtown to check out the spectacle that I thought would be Sarah Palin's homecoming rally. I was expecting massive lines, huge crowds, high energy, and tons of media. About the only one of those expectations that was met was the media. The crowd was in the low hundreds (I am horrible with guessing numbers but I heard 300 a few times, her speech short was boring and completely uninspiring. The crowd cheered on all the right cues, but it never seemed as excited as I thought they would get.

I packed up my stuff (I had a bunch of video gear) and headed down to the local library where the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was supposed to start at noon. I showed up around 11:30 and there were about 100 people there already, over the next 45 minutes the crowd swelled to sizes unheard of up here. It was the largest political rally in recent memory, probably the only ones bigger in the history of the state were for statehood. There were around 1,500 people with an great asortment of anti-Palin signs. As for the pro-Palin contingent in the crowd, it was not at least 100 as the article stated. Sure there were at least a hundred people on the other side of the street, but at least half were there protesting Palin, not supporting her. The pro-Palin crowd was probably closer to 50 than 100.

It was amazing. People were energized, the only thing I have experienced near the feeling in the air today was at the Feb 5 caucus.

Then Ed chultz came to town to record a town hall meeting that will be broadcast on Monday. The crowd there was riled up, and everyone should tune in to hear what real Alaskans think of Sarah.

[zippy890]

66. thanks for that great report!

and for your efforts. Its wonderful to hear about the women in Alaska organizing this way.

and welcome to DU



edited to add- you should post your own thread about this.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Canuckistanian]

68. Please review the DU rules

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detai...

We ban conservative disruptors who are opposed to the broad goals of this website. If you think overall that George W. Bush is doing a swell job, or if you wish to see Republicans win, or if you are generally supportive of conservative ideals, please do not register to post, as you will likely be banned.

You agreed to them when you registered.

[salin]

69. whatever....

go to Free Republic, and type a post extolling the virtues of Barrack Obama, see how long the post lasts and the ability to post lasts.

It is odd, really, that on the one hand you ask for debate and can't we get along, while on the other hand you insult all posters here and on unnamed forums. Forgive me, but I am skeptical.

Policies? Fine - For several years a conservative doctor in the family and I have had a long standing conversation about the need for health care reform. For years this doctor was against any form of govt answer. However, massive layoffs at one major local employers and the closure of the other major employer left the practice with three groups of patients - no insurance (rose to nearly 50% of practice), medicaid and a single insurer that kept negotiating downward what they would pay for different medical procedures. Now that reality has hit, he understands that HSAs would not get the unemployed or now underemployed into the insured ranks those folks and families don't have the money to put in. Also the repayment for services of the now single insurer in the community is not much different than the fed govt, and dealing with the bureacracy of that (giant) insurer is as cumbersome as dealing with the fed govt. Taxing health benefits as real income (and claiming that the tax credit would cover the difference, which it demonstratably would not) combined with increased support for only catastrophic (lower monthly costs but extremely high deductables) and HSAs esp with employees whose salaries are so low that they can not put much (any?) into those savings account, does nothing to solve the current problem, and is likely to exacerbate the current problem by encuraging employers to stop funding health care and thus swelling the ranks of uninsured. This doctor is now very much on the side that the mess is so deep that there needs to be a federal govt solution.

Care to respond?

[Ikonoklast]

70. You're funny.

There is no discussion of issues on any religious or conservative board that I've ever seen. It's either all true belivers, or the eternally damned.

You'll be voting for the people that have you fooled. Good on you.

[codjh9]

77. GOOD, DAMMIT!!!

[DeepBlueC]

79. "Bridge to Deception"

I'd like to see that one catch on.

[The Woodpecker]

82. Even Alaskans now know Palin is a fraud and a liar

After only 20 months in office even Alaskans finally realize the curse they voted in as Gov.

Can anyone here really imagine what would happen if this nut-job took over the office of commander in chief of the free world? End Of Days indeed!

[wordpix]

85. I like the "Obama---Bridge to the Future" sign---great for a bumper sticker/t-shirt/button