Richard Tafoya
Sep 14th, 2008, 01:42 PM
Anchorage Daily News:
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/525510.html
The Saturday protest in front of the Loussac Library appeared bigger than any Anchorage has seen in recent memory. The crowd looked to be in the high hundreds at least, and organizers said they counted 1,500. It included roughly 100 counter protesters supporting Palin.
Planning for the protest began as discussions over coffee by a small group calling itself "Alaska Women Reject Palin." As recently as Friday, the group thought it possible that just 10 people would show up to the event. But it went viral on the Internet, with friends forwarding e-mails to friends, and people saying they saw a chance to vent their frustration over what several called the myth of Palin.
"Sarah Palin frightens the hell out of me. I don't want her anywhere near the White House," said Marybeth Holleman of Anchorage.
Protesters had a wide range of beefs with the governor. They included backers of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, abortion rights proponents, advocates for wolves and polar bears, opponents of the Iraq war, and people who said Palin is not ready to be a heartbeat from the presidency.
Alison Till, a geologist in Anchorage with the U.S. Geological Survey, said issues such as energy and global warming require solid and unbiased science to make good decisions. Palin's opposition to listing the polar bear as threatened under the endangered species act and her support of teaching creationism in public schools are not the hallmarks of someone who relies upon solid science, Till argued.
...
Some of the anti-Palin protesters said she brought nastiness into the presidential campaign with jabs against Obama, including making fun of his past as a community organizer in Chicago. Others pointed to her support for the "Bridge to Nowhere" -- before she diverted the federal money to other projects -- and the federal earmark money that Palin pursued as Wasilla mayor.
"This election is too important be left to the smears, trivial issues and lies McCain and Palin are trying to make it into," said Rob Lipkin. "The myth (that) either McCain or Palin are mavericks, bringing reform and fresh air into Washington, it's nonsense."
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/525510.html
The Saturday protest in front of the Loussac Library appeared bigger than any Anchorage has seen in recent memory. The crowd looked to be in the high hundreds at least, and organizers said they counted 1,500. It included roughly 100 counter protesters supporting Palin.
Planning for the protest began as discussions over coffee by a small group calling itself "Alaska Women Reject Palin." As recently as Friday, the group thought it possible that just 10 people would show up to the event. But it went viral on the Internet, with friends forwarding e-mails to friends, and people saying they saw a chance to vent their frustration over what several called the myth of Palin.
"Sarah Palin frightens the hell out of me. I don't want her anywhere near the White House," said Marybeth Holleman of Anchorage.
Protesters had a wide range of beefs with the governor. They included backers of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, abortion rights proponents, advocates for wolves and polar bears, opponents of the Iraq war, and people who said Palin is not ready to be a heartbeat from the presidency.
Alison Till, a geologist in Anchorage with the U.S. Geological Survey, said issues such as energy and global warming require solid and unbiased science to make good decisions. Palin's opposition to listing the polar bear as threatened under the endangered species act and her support of teaching creationism in public schools are not the hallmarks of someone who relies upon solid science, Till argued.
...
Some of the anti-Palin protesters said she brought nastiness into the presidential campaign with jabs against Obama, including making fun of his past as a community organizer in Chicago. Others pointed to her support for the "Bridge to Nowhere" -- before she diverted the federal money to other projects -- and the federal earmark money that Palin pursued as Wasilla mayor.
"This election is too important be left to the smears, trivial issues and lies McCain and Palin are trying to make it into," said Rob Lipkin. "The myth (that) either McCain or Palin are mavericks, bringing reform and fresh air into Washington, it's nonsense."