[Dialogue] Update from Anne Kilkenny: answers to FAQ about Palin

[elliestock at aol.com]

This is an update by Anne Kilkenny (Wasilla, Alaska) from her original 8/31/08 email and 9/9/08 addendum re Sarah Palin.  It is long but informative.
Ellie Stock


-----Original Message-----
From: Anne Kilkenny <annekilkenny at hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 1:42 am
Subject: answers to FAQ about Palin




ello,
Thank you for emailing me with your thoughts and questions about Sarah Palin. I 
ave received over 14,000 emails in response to my email of 8/31 which “went 
iral”!   Today I’m replying to current emails and the 1,300 emails I received 
ept 3rd & 4th, when I had to use a “vacation reply” to let people know that I 
as getting more emails a day than I could even read.   
I apologize for the length of this “FAQ” email.   If I don’t address one of your 
uestions it is because I don’t know the answer.  (I do not open attachments, as 
ome have attempted to send me viruses, so I cannot comment on your attachment.)   

 know Sarah Palin in her public roles, not socially, so I don’t know about--and 
m unwilling to research--personal, family, and church issues; I suggest that 
ou buy the National Enquirer if those issues are of interest  and importance to 
ou.   
Who are you?
 am a real person who has lived in Wasilla, Alaska, since 1981.  Wasilla is 
bout 45 miles from Anchorage, on the road to Fairbanks.  And, yes, if you’ve 
aken the train to Denali or driven from Anchorage to Fairbanks, you’ve been 
hrough Wasilla.
Since the beginning of September you might have seen clips of me on NBC’s 
ightly News with Brian Williams, the Today Show, and Good Morning, America.  
ou also might have heard me on NPR, Pacific Radio, and several satellite radio 
rograms.  All of these organizations approached me, thanks to those of you who 
orwarded my email to them.
I am the writer of an email dated 8/31/08,  about Sarah Palin that “went viral”.  
OME PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED A DISTORTED, EDITED VERSION OF THIS EMAIL and there 
as no photo attached to my email.  I urge you to go to the website listed below 
o see what I actually wrote (with an Addendum I wrote on Sept 9th) and 
onfirmation that I am who I say I am.  (My original email and addendum are also 
ncluded at the end of this email.)
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/130537.
On Sept 4th, I asked the Anchorage Daily News if they would post on their 
ebsite my original email.  I asked them to do this for several reasons:  1)  
hey are the largest newspaper in Alaska, 2)  they are not aligned with either 
arty, 3)  I was being told that people were changing what I wrote,  and 4) 
-importantly--they know me.  When I go to City Council meetings there is always 
 reporter from the Anchorage Daily News there; they can verify that I am a 
esident of Wasilla and frequently to go City Council and other meetings.
If you go to Snopes.com you will see that they have updated their report and 
pologized to me.
I HAVE NEVER BLOGGED.  I DO NOT HAVE A WEBSITE.  If you find other things with 
y name attached, it is campaign dirty tricks.  I’ve also just been informed 
hat if you click on some google links in my name some disgusting, dirty 
aterial is automatically downloaded.  I have NOTHING to do with this garbage!
I am NOT working for either campaign, however, by now I assume they both are 
ware of my email as many of you have told me that you have forwarded it to 
hem.  I am not a spokesperson for any group.  Nobody connected with either 
ampaign suggested that I write my email, nobody has paid me, and nobody has 
sked me to stop answering my email.  Sitting next to my keyboard as I type, 
owever, is the most beautiful bouquet of flowers which were sent to me by a 
otal stranger in Connecticut in appreciation for the time I put into writing 
t!
I always vote.  My commitment to my family has precluded me from running for 
ffice until my family is grown.
How and why did you write your email?
y piece about Sarah Palin evolved over a 3 day period in response to questions 
 got from friends and relatives who live outside Alaska.  By the afternoon of 
he 3rd day I was getting replies from friends of friends of friends--in other 
ords, people who didn't know me--and they were asking "Who are you?"  and "Why 
id you write this?", so I added sections to my email to address those questions 
nd then sent it out to about 30 people on my email list with whom I had not yet 
ommunicated.  Within a couple of hours somebody posted against my wishes this 
ersion of my email on a website. From there, it was posted on numerous other 
ebsites. 
I had no idea it would "go viral".  For years, I had drafted PTA newsletters 
hat went electronically to hundreds of people, and they never went viral!  In 
act, I have reason to believe most of the time they weren’t even read! ha! 
What has been the feedback from people who just received your email randomly, 
nd in Wasilla? 
hen I wrote my email I asked that it not be posted because I thought there were 
 lot of kooks out there.  Yes, there are kooks, but they are vastly outnumbered 
y wonderful people.  America is full of unsung heroes, people who have made 
uge sacrifices for the common good; I know, because many of them have sent me 
heir stories.  I doubt that anything I’ll ever write will ever be read by so 
any, but if that should happen, I will not fear it.
On 9/30 there was a story in the LA Times about all the email I have received;  
hat story gave the INaccurate impression that I have been inundated by  “hate” 
ail.  (I should have suspected that a distorted story was being concocted when 
he reporter only wanted to see the nasty emails that I had received.)   The 
ast majority (92%) of people who reply to my email tell me that it was very 
elpful information and that it helped them decide who to vote for.   
Here, in Wasilla, many  people have thanked me for providing them with answers 
hat they could give to the many inquiries that they are getting from friends & 
elatives in the lower 48.  There have been awkward moments, but no-one has been 
asty..
Critics of my email who like and agree with Sarah Palin have not been able to 
dentify a single compliment that I failed to give her.  Critics of my email who 
islike and disagree with Sarah Palin have mentioned to me many negative and 
ritical things that I either didn't know about or considered not important 
nough to mention. 
I do not know the writers of other widely distributed emails about Palin; none 
f the writers of the emails I’ve seen went to City Council meetings regularly.
What do people say about you in your town?
eople in Wasilla say that I have long been an active and involved citizen who 
oes her homework.   Some people in positions of authority who don’t like to 
ave anyone questioning them would say I can be a pain.  One of Palin’s best 
riends calls me a “nut case”.
Would you say that you dislike Palin, or respect her?
 have tremendous respect for Sarah Palin--for what she has accomplished, for 
er political skills, for her energy, her time management skills, her speaking 
bility--there’s lots to admire!
There is a difference between disliking and disagreeing.
I don't agree with Palin on social issues and political philosophy because I am 
 fiscal conservative and social liberal.
Some people have picked up on my irritation, but most are mistaken as to its 
ause.  I am very frustrated about the incessant “spin” and “image control” that 
ermeates campaigns.  What gets me is when people claim to be--or are portrayed 
s--something that they aren’t!
What would happen if you ran into Palin in the street?
arah and I always had friendly social conversation.  I don't know what would 
appen if I ran into Sarah Palin on the street now because it appears that 
unning for VP has changed her.  She is being "handled" now.  For my part, I 
ould apologize for my use of the word "hate"--see my addendum to my email for 
n explanation of this.
How do you know anything?
 have been a Wasilla resident since 1981. In 1996-7, during Palin’s first year 
s Mayor, went to many City Council meetings because  I was the author of a new 
hapter in the City of Wasilla Municipal Code, and it took a year to shepherd 
his new code through the City Council.  (It passed unanimously).  Prior to and 
fter that, I went to meetings sporadically:  when there was something on the 
genda of interest to me and around election-time.  
Can you verify the truth of what you wrote?
our request for facts to check is appropriate and fair.  I have been 
nterviewed by many (3 dozen???) newspapers, and NBC, CBS, ABC and CNN (but not 
OX yet).  I have supplied them with all the names of the individuals involved 
n each of the situations I describe so they could fact-check what I wrote.  I 
uggest that you go to the following sites to check out what  the mainstream 
edia has reported.  (I am so impressed with the reporters I’ve met; they are 
iterally working around the clock to get to get up to speed  and to 
rove/disprove the things I wrote about.)  
I have become aware of some factual, grammatical, and personal errors in my 
mail which I have shared with several fact checking websites.  You should be 
he judge if these errors are substantial and significant. These errors are 
ddressed below and in the addendum to my email which is posted on the Anchorage 
aily News website referenced above and is included below.

HE MOST COMPREHENSIVE WRITE UP OF SARAH PALIN is in Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
I’ve read many  Palin biographies since she was named, and this is one of the 
ost complete, but it is rather lengthy:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/10/uselections2008-sarahpalin1 
A shorter story dense with facts and information about Sarah Palin's first 6 
onths as Mayor can be found at:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html
Another story about her mayorship can be found at:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/17/palin_mayor/
A more comprehensive look at her terms as Wasilla’s Mayor and her 20 months as 
overnor can be found in a NY Times story that appeared 9/14/08, and can be 
ccessed at the website below:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1221415398-aXQkakmNv2hz9SVPQ1KEuw
This is a fact checking site that covers many Palin topics of interest:
http://www.samefacts.com/archives/campaign_2008_/2008/09/palin_v_reality.php
To read what Sarah Palin has said on various hot topics, you can go to
http://www.ontheissues.org/sarah_Palin.htm#Immigration
I’m sorry, but I cannot validate any of the many other quotes that have been 
ttributed to Palin that people have asked me about.
Politifact and Factcheck have checked out my revenue and expense numbers for the 
ity of Wasilla.    You’d think that numbers would be the easiest thing to 
heck:  NOT!  I said general government expenditures rose 33%, Politifact says 
5% and Factcheck says 23%.  I said tax revenues increased 38%, Politifact said 
3% and Factcheck said 29%.   You can check out their reports for yourself at:
ttp://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/705/
ttp://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/what_about_that_anne_kilkenny_e-mail.html
ABOUT THE LIBRARY BOOK BANNING ISSUE. . . . 
Below is a link to a segment from Good Morning, America on 9/10/08, which covers 
he attempted book banning and attempted firing of the librarian.   It is 
ccurate to the best of my knowledge, however I can’t confirm or deny that the 
amed books were the target(s).
http://www.acakadut.com/videos/v-VcdqcXZ1jqU/Ross-on-Palin-ABC-09-10-09.html 
Did the Mayor ask the Librarian about removing books from the Wasilla Public 
ibrary? 
es. Members of Palin’s church had been pushing for the removal of some books 
or sale at bookstores, were checking books out of the library and not returning 
hem to remove them from circulation, and were redacting sections of books that 
hey found offensive.  I was a witness to one of the occasions on which Mayor 
alin asked the Librarian about removing books from the collection. My 
ecollection was that Mayor Palin stated that there were books in the library 
hat shouldn’t be there, and she asked the Librarian what the procedure was for 
emoving books from the collection.   
tories in the Anchorage Daily News & Frontiersman newspapers report that Mayor 
alin asked such a question.  Snopes reports that the McCain campaign also 
cknowledges that she did this.
Was there a list of books?  
ot as far as I know.  I’ve always said I didn’t know of any, Gov Palin says 
here was no list, and the list in circulation looks bogus because some of the 
ooks on it weren’t even published at that time.  In recent weeks, many people I 
espect have come forward to say that the members of Palin’s church who were 
ushing book banning were focused on books about homosexuality ; I find this 
elievable, but cannot confirm it.
Were any books removed from the Library?  
o. Not as far as I know.  The City also says books were never removed.  If you 
ead carefully what I wrote, you will see that I said that she “attempted” to 
ensor the  collection, not that she actually was able to.
What does Palin say?  
onflicting things.   At the time that all this happened, Palin acknowledged to 
oth of the local newspapers that she had asked the librarian about removing 
ooks from the library; she said that her questions were “rhetorical”. However, 
BC News broadcast video of her telling Charles Gibson that all of this was an 
old wives tale” and  I have been told that she is telling people around Wasilla 
hat this whole library story is “B.S.” 
What remains in dispute?  
ayor Palin’s motives for discussing censorship of the library collection remain 
n dispute.   Palin claims her questions were rhetorical.   Her question sure 
idn’t sound rhetorical to me!   A rhetorical question elicits an explanation in 
esponse, and after an explanation is received the question doesn’t need to be 
sked again, but this question was, by Palin’s admission, asked more than once.  
 challenge elicits a defense; the librarian responded defensively.
Palin also says that the community reaction to her attempt to fire the Librarian 
ad nothing to do with the fact that she fired the Librarian one day and rehired 
er the next.   
Palin’s approval rating
he reason for Palin’s past high approval ratings in Alaska and her ability to 
raw people to campaign rallies are similar.  Governor Palin is a very 
ttractive, warm person, with lots of charisma.  People who have met her on the 
ampaign trail or know her only socially generally like her.  It is in her 
fficial roles that she becomes the pit bull in lipstick.   Few people have the 
ime to observe government in action.  She used to work at the largest TV 
tation; media coverage here had been pretty complimentary prior to her 
nnouncement as McCain’s running mate.  It was thanks to reporters from outside 
hat we learned how she  claimed per diem while living in her own home because 
he didn’t want to live in the governor’s mansion.  
Local polsters are predicting that her approval rating in Alaska will be below 
0% by the election if current trends continue. Recent news that she uses 
ersonal BlackBerries for transacting state business so she won’t have to supply 
opies of her emails has many questioning her claim to “open and transparent” 
ecision-making and governing.  Her claim that she was “vindicated” in 
heTroopergate report (see below) has people questioning her intelligence and/or 
eracity.  Her approval rating has dropped 20 points since 9/2, to 62%, and even 
n Wasilla there is widespread disenchantment about her.
What do other Alaskans say?
A pro-Palin story by an Alaskan can be found at:
ttp://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_deb_frost_on_palin.htm
This link is to a story by an Alaskan who is not a Palin fan:
ttp://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/11/sarah_palin_alaska/print.html
On Sept 13, 2008, pro- and anti-Palin rallies were held in Anchorage and the 
nti-Palin rally was the larger; some say this is because there had been many 
ro-Palin rallies already.
Reporters tell me that they are having a very hard time finding anyone in 
asilla who will speak on record in support of Palin: this is the exact opposite 
f how it was here 3 weeks ago.  The following story may shed light on why this 
s so.
ttp://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-troopergate21-2008sep21,0,829160.story
About aerial wolf-hunting in Alaska.
 personally oppose aerial hunting for sport.  The recent aerial wolf hunting 
ssue on the ballot was not about sport hunting.  It was about whether or not 
nly State Fish & Game employees would be allowed to shoot wolves from planes 
hen there are emergencies and packs of wolves are roaming through villages, 
hreatening kids and eating alive family pets while they are chained, or when 
here is the danger people will  be unable to find adequate meat due to 
xcessive wolf preditation.   It is hard for people who have not been to Alaska 
o grasp how remote and inaccessible many of our small villages are; aerial 
unting is the only practical way to address such emergencies in the bush.  This 
as NOT a hunting issue; it was a prey management issue.   I think it highly 
nlikely that Palin has participated in any aerial predator management hunts. 
Funding for students with Special Needs 
t is true that  the Alaska State Legislature increased funding for Special 
eeds education this year; this was on the recommendation of a special education 
ask force that Palin set up.  When Palin took office in 2006, the state was 
pending about  $27,000 a year per child. The budget she signed this year raised 
hat funding to about $49,000 per child. In three years, the amount will rise to 
bout $74,000, which is roughly equal to the yearly per-child cost of educating 
pecial needs children.  So, yes, there was an increase, however, since the 
ncrease in funding for educating students with special needs doesn’t yet cover 
he cost, there will be no improvement in services.  And, given the inflation we 
re seeing, by the time the amount of funding covers the current cost, the cost 
ill be higher!  (The deficit in funding is made up by shifting funds for 
eneral education to special needs education.)
Since having declared herself an advocate for children with special needs, I 
xpect Palin will start taking a leading role in improving services and funding.
The reduction in the Wasilla property tax rate didn’t reduce education funding.  
chool funding is the responsibility of the State Legislature.  The Borough 
county) contributes about 25% from BOROUGH property taxes.  City property taxes 
ay for city government and services,  not schools.
Charging rape victims for tests.
es, during Palin’s mayorship it was the policy of the City of Wasilla to rape 
ictim’s insurance for their rape tests.  When this was brought to the attention 
f a member of the State Legislature, he authored legislation which was passed 
aking this practice illegal.   At that time, the media reported that Palin’s 
olice Chief fought this legislation, saying it would cost the City  $4-15,000 
o pay for rape tests.   I don't know why Police Chief Fannon said it would cost 
4-15,000 unless he had already billed women that much, however, the City is 
aying  that it can’t find any evidence anyone was ever charged.  
Unfortunately, former Police Chief Fannon is not answering questions.)  Mayor 
alin reviewed all department budgets line by line; I find it hard to believe 
hat Palin wasn’t aware of this issue, especially when Cheif Fannon was being 
uoted in the press about it.   I find it amusing  that campaign operatives who 
ouldn’t even have found Wasilla on a map a not long ago now profess to know all 
bout what was going on here during Palin’s mayorship up to 12 years ago!
This is a link to a video on the rape kits issue: http://www.wasillaproject.com/
Drilling.  Why do Alaskans favor drilling in the pristine areas of Alaska?  Does 
arah?  
Like most Alaskans, Sarah Palin accepts the necessity of drilling in ANWR.
Let's put drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) into 
erspective. If Alaska was superimposed over the lower 48 states, the Aleutian 
hain would extend west into the Pacific Ocean beyond San Diego, the 
outheastern panhandle would be in northern Florida, and I'd be somewhere in the 
idwest. So, do I object to drilling in northern Minnesota? No.  Put this way, 
o you? 
Do I want the drilling pad to be kept as small as possible? YES!  Prudhoe Bay IS 
gly: very, very ugly!  But what's our choice? The reality is that drilling 
sn't pretty, but we need oil. Where else are we going to get oil?  Shall we pay 
hrough the nose to get it from foreigners?
Multi-use Sports Complex
ayor Palin has taken credit for having built the Wasilla Multi-use Sports 
omplex, so it seems to me that she should take the responsibility for its 
osts.   When Palin ran for Mayor part of her platform was infrastructure 
mprovements and small government.  The Mayor controls the agenda of the City 
ouncil.  She put bonding for a sports complex on the agenda and she encouraged 
he Council to pass it so that the voters could vote on it.   She did this 
nowing that passage of these bonds would make it impossible for the City to 
ond for any other project (like the sewage treatment plant) for many years.  
he bonds and increase in sales tax passed with a margin of under 20 votes.  
alin then directed the construction of this complex before clear title to the 
and had been obtained; settling the title issue has cost us about $1.3m so far.
How would you characterize Palin in one sentence?
 consider Palin a very successful, extremely attractive and charismatic social 
onservative who has campaigned on--or put aside--her core values as was 
olitically expedient , and who has overseen expanded government and budgets 
hich were financed with tax increases, borrowing and earmark appropriations.
Various questions
In 2006, Palin won 114,697 (48.33%) to 97,238 (40.07%) for Governor 
I’ve been repeatedly asked if I could verify the accuracy of a racist, sexist 
omment that is being attributed to  Palin.  I cannot either confirm or deny 
hat she made this crude comment.
Her husband was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party (not Sarah); she did 
peak at one of their conventions.    AIP party officials have retracted their 
tatement that Palin was a member at one time.
Yes, her husband is part Native Alaskan (Yup’ik) 
Her children go to public schools.  Wasilla High’s enrollment is approaching 
,300.
Information about Palin’s academic career, etc. can be found on Wikipedia.
Yes, I did use KidsVoting one year (1996), but after that developed a more 
pecialized and localized program based on Alaska Voter Registration documents 
hich also covered local and state offices.
Wasilla has a strong mayor form of government;  the mayor is full-time and is 
aid significantly more than the local average income.  The Administrator Mayor 
alin hired to run Wasilla (pop 4800-5400) was also full-time and paid well by 
ocal standards.
Yes, the Palins were members of the Wasilla Assembly of God church where some 
peak in tongues.   Now she attends the Wasilla Bible Church, I am told.
No, the photo of Sarah in a bikini with a rifle is not real; it was a photoshop 
ob.
She said “no thanks” to the “Bridge to Nowhere” only after Congress had 
bandoned it  and had agreed to let  Alaska keep the $223 million anyway.  The 
oney went into the State’s transportation budget pot. 
The deal with the jet is that Palin TRIED to sell it on ebay, but it didn’t 
ell, so she sold it through a broker, at a loss.  
About ethics
It’s true:  the man she blew the whistle on when she was Chair of the Alaska 
il & Gas Conservation Commission, Randy Ruedrick, is STILL the state chair of 
he Alaska Republican Party.   No party reforms have been made.
•It was the FBI which brought indictments against our corrupt legislators; Palin 
ad no role in this whatsoever.       
•The ethics legislation which was passed was championed by a bipartisan 
oalition led by the State Senate President, Lyda Green, a Republican and an 
arly mentor of Palin with whom Palin now spars and has sought to unseat.
“Troopergate”
roopergate is about an abuse of power and violation of Alaska’s ethics law.  
his spring Palin fired Alaska's top cop, Walt Monegan. He served at her 
leasure and she had every legal right to fire him.  However, an independent 
egislative investigator determined that prior to the firing, Palin, her 
usband, and members of her staff abused their power by pressuring Monegan to 
ire Palin’s sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper.   The report says, she 
knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was 
laced on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda”, that she 
iolated the ethics law, and abused her power.  The independent investigator’s 
eport was released by  the Legislative Council of 8 Republicans and 4 
emocrats.  A review of the investigator’s report can be found at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/us/politics/11trooper.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
Had Palin initiated reforms, rather than attacked one rogue trooper, there would 
ave been no “Troopergate”.   A piece about what Palin could have done--but 
idn’t--to reform the troopers can be found at:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/story/560649.html
My errors and omissions (Factcheck identified these AFTER I reported them.)
I should have identified Faye Palin (the woman Palin refused to endorse when 
he ran as Palin’s successor) as Sarah Palin’s STEP mother-in-law.  I failed to 
tate that Palin actually endorsed her stepmother-in-law’s opponent.
Laura Chase, Palin’s campaign manager when Palin first ran for mayor, has 
onvinced me that Palin had intended from the outset to hire an Administrator, 
nd was not “pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers”, as I 
tated.
Forwarding/editing/blogging.
es, you may forward my email to your friends and others who you think might be 
nterested in its contents; thank you so much for asking!   PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE 
T OR EDIT IT IN ANY WAY, and that also means please DO NOT remove my name and 
mail address!  
If you want something shorter, write your own white paper and put YOUR name on 
t.  
This may seem strange, but I’d rather you plagiarized me than quoted me out of 
ontext.  
I remain very conflicted about giving permission to post my email on a website.  
 don’t have time to check out all the blogs and websites which have requested 
ermission to post it.  Yet, I don’t want to penalize the considerate and 
onscientious people who ask when so many (800+ I’m told) have not.  So, I am 
ot going to give permission, but I am also not going to do anything if someone 
osts it without my permission.  How you introduce what you post will influence 
ow it is read.  I tried to write a balanced piece; I hope you will respect that 
ntent.   I would prefer that you post the Addendum as well if you chose to post 
y original email.
I hope that I have adequately answered your questions and been a help to you in 
eciding which ticket you want to vote for.  In this imperfect world there are 
o perfect candidates--unless one wants to run for office oneself!  
Bottom-line is:  is Palin the person you want 2nd in line for the presidency and 
ble to handle our present financial crisis and 2 wars, if necessary? 
I encourage you to get involved in the campaign of whichever candidate you 
upport.  The best decisions are made when people are informed and everyone 
articipates.  Hope lives so long as good people don’t give up doing what they 
an to make this a better world.  As someone who emailed me said, “It takes each 
f us to make a difference for all of us.”
Anne Kilkenny
ct 22, 2008
P. S.  PBS is running an online poll asking,  “Do you think Sarah Palin is 
ualified to serve as Vice President of the United States?”  You can find it at:
http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html
MY ORIGINAL EMAIL OF 8/31/08 (opening remarks edited)
So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Plain in the last 2 
ays that I decided to write something up . . . 
You may distribute it to your friends/Email list with my name and Email address 
ttached, but please do not post it on any websites.

nne

BOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here 
nows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our 
hildren have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite 
ubstitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and 
other-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration 
han about 99% of the residents of the city. 
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular girl in 
iddle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her 
an't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe". 
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her 
ost recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a baby with Down syndrome . There 
s no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby. 
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and 
f they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion 
nowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the 
chedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon 
n Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination 
s fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been 
nything like that of Native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the 
ime), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 
esidents. 
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small 
ity was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this 
dministrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some 
rouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.  
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6 years as 
ayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those 
ame 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This 
as during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive 
roperty taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The 
ax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more 
han they benefited residents. 
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren’t 
nough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, 
oo. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over 
22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was 
t the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant 
hat the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for 
onstruction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on 
 piece of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was 
till in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The 
ports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, 
ot the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for 
5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any 
orrowing. 
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more 
han once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city. 
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in 
laska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy 
ndependent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of 
his surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that 
he state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of 
urplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or 
ompromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by her or her 
taff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed 
hem.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City 
ibrarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library 
ome books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of 
he City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so 
alin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her 
ttempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for Mayor, so 
hat did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the 
xperienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or 
levated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent 
n her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the 
oint of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has 
cknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below). 

s Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated” her, she 
old the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring 
f familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right 
o fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to 
ire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. 
nder investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 
ozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she 
ater fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace 
he man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual 
arassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The 
ity Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to 
oters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first 
argets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City 
dministrator; even people who didn’t like the guy were stunned by this 
uthlessness. 
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly 
bout her. 
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the 
est, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few 
obs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas 
ssues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was 
riticizing her pay as too high in the press . I was told that she hated that 
ob: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a 
ember of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) 
ngaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly 
autioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one 
ell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as 
he patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” 
hen she dramatically quit, exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he 
as fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted 
tevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly 
umiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to nowhere” after it became clear 
hat it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then 
ade a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. 
ublic outcry and further legislative action restored most of these 
rojects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their 
mportance--but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate 
er because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of 
he party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call 
er “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and predatory 
uthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around 
own about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school 
asketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the 
ommunity and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of 
egislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march to the beat 
f her drum. 
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 
he has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She 
ampaigned “as a private citizen” against a state initiative that would have 
ither a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in 
he courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has 
ushed the State’s lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list 
olar bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat 
way from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and 
xperienced than she.
However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting 
t.

LAIM VS FACT
“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not 
ince
“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would 
ave denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this 
ecause it was unconstitutional).
pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby BUT declined 
o call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. 
any cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative 
xperience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial 
xperience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
political maverick: not at all 
gutsy: absolutely! 
open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining 
ctions.
has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and 
isconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR. 
fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a 
ewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th 
entury standards.
pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in 
asilla’s history.
pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn’t make her 
ro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is 
ro-labor/pro-union. 
WHY AM I WRITING THIS? 
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a 
oter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. 
f you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my 
articipation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good 
eople stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as 
any City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't 
elong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is 
mmensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the 
uture: that’s life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so 
eople who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at 
ensorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say 
nything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
 am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & 
axation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information 
upplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't 
ecall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population 
ncreases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out 
f City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers. 
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the 
opulation of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day 
alin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the current 
opulation is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used 
bout 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing 
apidly in the mid-90’s. 
Anne Kilkenny
nnekilkenny at hotmail.com
ugust 31, 2008
pening remarks edited 9/4/08
ADDENDUM OF 9/9/08
Dear Readers,
As I write, it has been more than a week since the email I wrote to friends and 
amily about Sarah Palin began to ping-pong around the country.  In that time 
’ve received over 9,600 emails.  I’ve lost track of the number of 
ournalists--maybe 3 dozen?-- who have challenged me to provide sources to 
ubstantiate all that I mentioned in it.   I have cooperated fully with 
veryone, providing all the information anyone has requested, and offering all 
he help I could.
It is a strange thing to have your words echo back to you from around the world.  
f I were to write my email today, I would make the following changes.
1)  If I could change one word, it would be the word “hate”.  I said Sarah Palin 
ated me.  That was inappropriate.  I should have said that Sarah knows that she 
ost my support when she sought to remove books that she didn’t like from the 
ibrary.  
One of the great things that America has given the world is the tradition of 
renic debate:  the understanding that we can agree to disagree, that there is a 
ifference between disagreeing and disliking.  I failed to demonstrate that 
mportant concept when I used the word “hate”.  Sarah has always been polite and 
racious to me in public.  I don’t know how she feels about me, and it was 
nappropriate for me to use that ugly word to describe her feelings.

)  I wrote:  “While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly 
espected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from 
he library some books that Sarah wanted removed.” 
I should NOT have written “. . . because the Librarian refused . . . “ .  I 
hould have written “ . . . .after the Librarian refused.  . . . “ 
3)  If I were to write my email today I would add that I have no recollection of  
hat specific book titles Mayor Palin wanted removed from the library, or if she 
ven named any.  There is a list of books out there; I know nothing about that 
ist!   It looks bogus to me.
4)  I wrote:  ““PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary 
chool, not since”. 
This appears to have been a somewhat inaccurate statement.  Sarah Palin has 
eferred to herself as a “PTA mom” for so long that I just assumed it was true.  
aving been active in PTA since 1996, I assumed that she was an officer before 
hat.  Even McCain, when announcing her as his running mate, referred to her 
xecutive experience in PTA.  But the Alaska State PTA office says it has no 
ecord of Sarah Palin ever having been a PTA board member; they do record that 
he paid dues.
5)  I wrote:  “Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native 
laskans.”
I should have capitalized “native”, as in: Eskimo, Inupiat, Athabascan, etc.
For your information, I do not have a website, and I don’t blog.  So if you see 
y name out there attached to anything besides my original email and this, it’s 
omebody else trying to smear me.
The response to my email has been totally unexpected and amazing.  I am SO 
mpressed and heartened!   My inbox is full of  story after story of generous, 
ourageous, everyday people who have made personal sacrifices for the common 
ood:  stories of quiet courage.  We are a nation of unsung heroes!
And ours is truly a Christian country.  It is obvious to me that people are 
eally trying hard to practice the Christian faith that they profess.  I am so 
leased by the thoughtful, respectful arguments that people have put forward for 
hy they have chosen one ticket or the other.  The vast majority of the people 
ut there reject the Karl Rovian politics of personal destruction and wish that 
ampaigns could be free of “spin” and “image”. 
I am pleased to know that the overwhelming majority of the readers of my email 
ound the information helpful.
Dozens of journalists have researched what I have said.  They have found nothing 
lse to be inaccurate.
Anne Kilkenny
eptember 9, 2008






_________________________________________________________________
tore, manage and share up to 5GB with Windows Live SkyDrive.
ttp://skydrive.live.com/welcome.aspx?provision=1?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_102008=

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://wedgeblade.net/pipermail/dialogue_wedgeblade.net/attachments/20081024/bdf81981/attachment-0001.html>