The Alaska Independence Party (AIP) is a fringe political organization which advocates dissolving the United States of America under various scenarios, such as "if any federal order attempts to make it unlawful for individual Americans to own firearms or to confiscate firearms."

Now, here's the AIP Vice Chairman on Sarah Palin:

Our current governor who I mentioned at the last conference, the one we were hoping would get elected, Sarah Palin, did get elected . . . .and there was a lot of talk about her moving up. She was an AIP member before she got the job as mayor...

Craaaazy.  Of course, Palin also was a Pat "his speech sounded better in the original German" Buchanan* supporter as well, so what do you expect?

*h/t to Molly Ivins for the quote, referring to Buchanan's 1992 Republican convention "culture war" speech.

It's too bad she didn't live to see the Bush dynasty unravel.

This is too good, should be a cable movie.  Who was the co-chair of Palin's bid for governor in 2006?  Walter Hickel.  He was a Republican who changed to the Alaskan Independence Party in 1990 to run as governor and won. He then rejoined the Republican Party in 1994 when his term ended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W...

This just gets crazier and crazier.  When is McCain going to dump his current "soul mate" Sarah Palin and pick up his other "soul mate," Holy Joe Lieberman?

maybe as soon as Barack Obama dunps Biden and goes with Bill Richardson; someone who actually has real Executive experience.(ha ha) Palin appears poised to have the Biden pick seem very boring and rather unexciting don't ya think. We are being groomed to have very low expectations now of Palin and thats dangerous. I would hate to given McCains camp too much credit but if this whole thing as been about getting Obama's folks off message---its working. The same thing happened against Clinton Lowell and he went on a losing streak in the Primary against Clinton remember?

Again, it makes for great political theatre as long as Mccain/Palin actually lose. If they do happen to pull off the hail mary; then thats a different story I guess.

Independence Party story:

The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., likes to herald the independence of its new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Officials of the Alaskan Independence Party say that Palin was once so independent, she was once a member of their party, which, since the 1970s, has been pushing for a legal vote for Alaskans to decide whether or not residents of the 49th state can secede from the United States.

And while McCain's motto -- as seen in a new TV ad -- is "Country First," the AIP's motto is the exact opposite -- "Alaska First -- Alaska Always."

Whoops!!!

McCain.  Country First.  Right behind ambition.  And, judgment.  

All these stories about Palin remind me of my years on the pipeline in Alaska. Alaskans are very independent, hyper-individualist, and strongly anti-government, but combined with their lack of knowledge (facts!) and understanding of the real world they often get carried away. This secessionist garbage is a good example. Alaska desperately needed statehood for the federal funds and access that it provided. Without Federal funding Alaska would be kaput! But they think that with oil (which incidentally will run out in the next generation) they can go it alone. They just don't get it, and groups like AIP flourish in the ignorant and narrow-minded heads of many Alaskans. Maybe they should consider what would happen if Russia invades and they aren't part of the U.S.?? Are a bunch of moose hunters going to take on the Russian Army? It's so funny maybe somebody should make a movie about it! Like "The Mouse That Roared" (hehe) Palin's nomination is good for America because many of us will see how totally backward, contradictory and FUBAR Alaskan politics really are! I doubt you can find a politician with as weird and crazy a record as Sarah Palin in the lower 48, but that's what Alaskans love about her!

NOT!

McCain making a hasty decision?  Say it aint so!

we could expect if McCain becomes president.  So who is ultimately right about McCain's demeanor: Lieberman (who says he is very controlled) or Thad Cochran (who says he is erratic)?  The Palin choice seems to suggest the latter.

Hmmmm...

My prediction: after McCain is forced to drop Palin, McCain will simply not choose anyone and promise to pick someone between Nov4 and Jan 20 should he be elected.  That really simplifies all these VP selection problems.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08
The Safe Choice

Some people would argue that he only had one year of experience [sic], but he validated himself by getting 18,000,000 votes.

Even Buchanan had to agree with that one.

But it then should be put in the proper context by those who believe that running a campaign with 250 staffers and 50 million dollar a month budget for over a year or so qualifies and they should put that into focus instead of trying to defend the legislative record which is fairly thin when compared to many others in Congress and even those that ran in the Democrat Primary.

Again, the most qualified on "paper" is Gov. Bill Richardson but you have to admire those that make the arguement that Obama is.

It certainly goes a long way AZNEW but alot of these folks are the same ones that discounted Mitt Romney in the GOP Primary for his Olympic experience as not credible. So I wonder how far the campaign running will really get in the mainstream.

Look its never been about Obama's resume. Thats not what gets 200K people (okay the free beer helped) in Germany or 85k in Denver to come out. I think we all can relate to some really successful business folks with big time resumes; how about Jobs,Buffet,Gates and the like but they do not exactly "inspire" us much but they are very intelligent and successful at managing different paradigms.

Obama transcends these typical normal political parameters.

I am getting concerned by this meme that Biden will destroy her in a debate.

The problem is that she can perform well at the debate without knowing a lot of substance, and create the illusion that she is capable for many voters. The debate will not get into the depth of knowledge that is so critical for a CIC to be able to evaluate the advice they hear and reach good decisions.

Perhaps a few encounters with the press, if they ask her tough, specific questions, will demonstrate whether she knows what is going on. I doubt she does. Apparently, the McCain campaign will not let any reporters interview her.

Also, I saw CampbellBrown on CNN destroy McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds an hour or so ago on CNN over the issue of Palin's experience. I mean, Campbell Brown? She is about as non-confrontational as it gets. Her job, in fact, is just to ask inane questions and them let politicians and surrogates spin for 30 seconds.

Apparently, she needed to question Bounds a little tougher to keep some of her dignity.

to memorize Republican bumper sticker answers to complex problems. She'll have a month to do it. She will be prepped by the McCain Team trainers.

That is, if her candidacy survives this week. It has been a very, very bad day for Sarah Palin and family, and for the McCain campaign.

Are we yet in McGovern/Eagleton territory?

I'm pretty sure I'm more qualified than this Tucker fellow to be a presidential campaign spokesperson, having watched Richard Schiff and Allison Janney on the West Wing.