Democrats versus Republicans

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Meanwhile on the global warming front, we still have had no warming in the last 10 years, the Arctic has 27% more ice today than last year and Alaskan Glaciers have ADDED mass this year for the first time in many decades. The polar bears seem quite happy about this turn of events and have agreed to dine on an environmentalist to celebrate. (Probably the guy trying to kayak to the north pole.)
Sarah got it right on warming, bears and the need for community libraries to have some standards about what they include on their shelves and accessible by kids. (note the key words...accessible by kids).
She did make a number of gaffes in the Couric interview that left me shaking my head...but she has the right instincts. She needs to study hard when this is all over and start prepping for 2012 with Bobby Jindal. We're gonna need 'em by then!

Maybe not and this time I do not quote CNN: 'Dramatic evidence' of Arctic warming - Climate Change - MSNBC.com

[PBzeer]

I'd say a mom that knows what is real, and what is fantasy is JUST what we need. I'd love nothing better than someone who will stand up and say, "I'm not promising to give you anything, if it means taking it from someone else to give to you. You can earn it, just like they did, if you want it."

[knothead]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

Maybe not and this time I do not quote CNN: 'Dramatic evidence' of Arctic warming - Climate Change - MSNBC.com

Oh Yeah!!! I bet Cam's statistics can beat up your statistics!!!

[TropicCat]

Originally Posted by Sailormon6

Not so. Much of what is published in the newspapers and on television is not true,

I think you misunderstood me. For starters, folllow the link I posted, take a minute and read the article. This alone will set you apart from John. You'll discover that this isn't a typical character assasignation. It isn't an unnamed sources peice. It isn't a 'general piece'. It's very specific. People are mentioned, first and last name and quotes taken from witnesses.

You see, it's not just the publisher who can can be sued if the article is fabricated..

I stand by my remarks

[knothead]

Originally Posted by TropicCat

It isn't a 'general piece'. It's very specific. People are mentioned, first and last name and quotes taken from witnesses.

Specific or not. Witnesses and news papers are historically unreliable.

[PBzeer]

Originally Posted by FactCheck.org

Not a Book Burner

One accusation claims then-Mayor Palin threatened to fire Wasilla’s librarian for refusing to ban books from the town library. Some versions of the rumor come complete with a list of the books that Palin allegedly attempted to ban. Actually, Palin never asked that books be banned; no books were actually banned; and many of the books on the list that Palin supposedly wanted to censor weren't even in print at the time, proving that the list is a fabrication. The librarian was fired, but was told only that Palin felt she didn’t support her. She was re-hired the next day. The librarian never claimed that Palin threatened outright to fire her for refusing to ban books.

It’s true that Palin did raise the issue with Mary Ellen Emmons, Wasilla’s librarian, on at least two occasions, three in some versions. Emmons flatly stated her opposition each time. But, as the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman (Wasilla’s local paper) reported at the time, Palin asked general questions about what Emmons would say if Palin requested that a book be banned. According to Emmons, Palin "was asking me how I would deal with her saying a book can't be in the library." Emmons reported that Palin pressed the issue, asking whether Emmons' position would change if residents were picketing the library. Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny, who was at the meeting, corroborates Emmons' story, telling the Chicago Tribune that "Sarah said to Mary Ellen, 'What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?' "

Palin characterized the exchange differently, initially volunteering the episode as an example of discussions with city employees about following her administration's agenda. Palin described her questions to Emmons as “rhetorical,” noting that her questions "were asked in the context of professionalism regarding the library policy that is in place in our city." Actually, true rhetorical questions have implied answers (e.g., “Who do you think you are?”), so Palin probably meant to describe her questions as hypothetical or theoretical. We can't read minds, so it is impossible for us to know whether or not Palin may actually have wanted to ban books from the library or whether she simply wanted to know how her new employees would respond to an instruction from their boss. It is worth noting that, in an update, the Frontiersman points out that no book was ever banned from the library’s shelves.

Palin initially requested Emmons’ resignation, along with those of Wasilla’s other department heads, in October 1996. Palin described the requests as a loyalty test and allowed all of them (except one, whose department she was eliminating) to retain their positions. But in January 1997, Palin fired Emmons, along with the police chief. According to the Chicago Tribune, Palin did not list censorship as a reason for Emmons’ firing, but said she didn’t feel she had Emmons’ support. The decision caused “a stir” in the small town, according to a newspaper account at the time. According to a widely circulated e-mail from Kilkenny, “city residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter.”

As we’ve noted, Palin did not attempt to ban any library books. We don’t know if Emmons’ resistance to Palin’s questions about possible censorship had anything to do with Emmons’ firing. And we have no idea if the protests had any impact on Palin at all. There simply isn’t any evidence that we can find either way. Palin did re-hire Emmons the following day, saying that she now felt she had the librarian’s backing. Emmons continued to serve as librarian until August 1999, when the Chicago Tribune reports that she resigned.

So what about that list of books targeted for banning, which according to one widely e-mailed version was taken “from the official minutes of the Wasilla Library Board”? If it was, the library board should take up fortune telling. The list includes the first four Harry Potter books, none of which had been published at the time of the Palin-Emmons conversations. The first wasn't published until 1998. In fact, the list is a simple cut-and-paste job, snatched (complete with typos and the occasional incorrect title) from the Florida Institute of Technology library Web page, which presents the list as “Books banned at one time or another in the United States.”

Maybe we should just call you King Canute, eh Rick?

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

Maybe not and this time I do not quote CNN: 'Dramatic evidence' of Arctic warming - Climate Change - MSNBC.com

Jody...thanks for that. I view it as entirely alarmist and overstated and will address it further in the GW thread. There IS sea water warming due to current shifts but we are talking about GLOBAL warming due to CO2 releases by man. I won't get to this till next week but promise a more complete response. I will just leave you with the actual sea ice measurements. This year is the red line...last year was the yellow line and we are presently 27% higher we have also just passed the 2005 line. More later...

[chucklesR]

Guys,

Seriously, do you expect him to be 'sway'ed by facts?

Just insult him and give him what he wants, someone to spout hyperbole at.

[sailaway21]

It's nice how that ignore button works on multiple threads. (g)

It's also nice how I don't have to worry about running into Rick within the confines of a sailing thread. I'm avoiding the Waffle House as well, just to be on the safe side. That one hurts.

[PBzeer]

It's interesting to see just how divorced from reality he can go though Chuck