Sarah Palin Switched Colleges 6 Times in 6 Years

According to the Associated Press, Sarah Palin swithced colleges 6 times in 6 years before getting her degree in journalism with a concentration in sports broadcasting.

Federal privacy laws prohibit the schools from disclosing her grades, and none of the schools contacted by The Associated Press could say why she transferred. There was no indication any were contacted as part of the background investigation of Palin by presidential candidate John McCain's campaign.

"Our office was not contacted by anyone," said Tania Thompson, spokeswoman for the University of Idaho in Moscow.

So apparently "vetting" Ms. Palin didn't include looking up her academic record? Remind me not to hire McCain's vetters for my HR department.

Also, maybe Ms. Palin is counting Moscow, Idaho as foreign policy experience? (Just kidding.)

Here is the rough chronology:

Fall 1982 - University of Hawaii at Hilo, left after a few weeks because of the weather

Fall 1982 - Hawaii Pacific University, majoring in Business Administration

Spring and Fall 1983 - North Idaho College, two year college, majored in "general studies".

Fall 1984 and Spring 1985 - University of Idaho

Fall 1985 - Matanuska-Susitna College in Alaska

Spring 1986, Fall 1986, and Spring 1987 - Back to the University of Idaho to finish her degree.

No transcripts of any of her grades have been released to the public from any of these colleges. Although a journalism major with a focus in broadcasting, there is no record of Palin ever having worked on any college newspaper or radio station.

So, since we're interviewing Ms. Palin for potential leader of the free world, I have this question. Ms. Palin, what were your grades? Let's see those transcripts. Obviously, we'd expect no less if you were interviewing to be manager of Denny's, so please provide those transcripts as soon as possible. It's nothing personal. It's just that after 8 years of George W. Bush, we're not quite sure we want another C student in the White House.

The Real Truth About Barack Obama!

The following is from an email that is circulating on the Internet. I found it to be a great counterpoint to the many lies that are being spread about Senator Obama. Please feel free to spread this information far and wide. -- Travis

Subject: The Real Truth About Barack Obama!

As enthusiastic volunteers in the Barack Obama campaign for the Presidency, we have put together a list of facts about Barack so that you will know the truth about him. Please follow the links we have included for documentation of these facts. If you value the truth as we do, please spread this information via email, blog, or any other means, to everyone you know.

1. Did you know that Barack Obama is a devout Christian? He has been a member of the same United Church of Christ congregation for 20 years, and was married there to his wife Michelle in 1992.


2. Did you know that Barack Obama often leads the US Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance?
3. Did you know that Barack Obama is a strong friend of Israel and has spoken out strongly against anti-Semitism?


4. Did you know his grandparents from Kansas were part of the "Greatest Generation?. His grandfather served with Patton's Army during World War II, and his grandmother, a real "Rosy the Riveter", worked in a bomber assembly plant back home.


5. Did you know that Barack Obama was opposed to the war in Iraq from day one, before we invaded, even while he was running for the Senate, and knowing his opposition might be politically unpopular?
   

   "I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world and strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars." --Barack Obama, 2002



6. Did you know Obama favors transparency over secrecy in our government? Did you know that Obama worked with Republican Senator Tom Coburn to pass one of the strongest government transparency bills since the freedom of information act? He's calling it Google for Government and you can see the results at www.usaspending.gov. Sen. Obama has also released his own tax returns for public review.


7. Did you know that after graduating with honors from Harvard Law School, Barack practiced civil rights law and also taught Constitutional Law for 10 years at the University of Chicago, one of the nation's best law schools, where he was consistently rated by his students as one of their best instructors? Did you also know that he was the first African-American elected president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review?


8. Did you know that Barack Obama is an outspoken advocate for women's rights and has been a principled defender of the civil rights of women?


9. Did you know that despite the grueling schedule of running for President, Senator Obama remains a devoted family man, making time to do things like pick out a Christmas tree with his wife and two young daughters, or hurrying home to spend Valentine's Day with them? Did you know he hasn't missed a single parent-teacher conference while running for President?


10. Did you know that Barack Obama has a stellar environmental record, including having the highest rating from the League of Conservation Voters (96%) of any Presidential candidate, Democrat or Republican?


11. Did you know that Barack Obama has been an elected legislator longer than Senator Clinton?


12. Did you know that Barack is a member of all of these Senate Committees: Foreign Relations; Veteran's Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Homeland Security and Government Affairs?


13. Did you know that Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become law, and has introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted since he joined the Senate in 2005?


14. Did you know that Senator Obama sponsored legislation working together with Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar, to keep Americans safe by keeping dangerous weapons out of terrorist hands? The two senators also visited the former Soviet Union to inspect the decommissioning of nuclear weapons. Sen. Lugar said of Sen. Obama, "He does have a sense of idealism and principled leadership, a vision of the future."


15. Did you know that Barack Obama is the only candidate running for president who voted against using cluster bombs in Iraq and the only candidate who supports banning the use of landmines?


16. Did you know that, as an Illinois state senator, Barack Obama succeeded in passing legislation requiring the videotaping of police interrogations, gaining the respect and support not only of fellow legislators but that of the police, who had initially opposed the legislation?


17. Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton were all younger when they took office than Barack Obama will be?

During election season many emails are circulated about the candidates. Some are true, some aren't. It's often difficult to determine the truth. We encourage you to visit the following non-partisan sites that do a good job of fact checking the candidates.

http://www.snopes.com/
http://www.factcheck.org/

Goodbye Huckabee. Hello Huckary! Why she lost.

It is easy for an Obama supporter to be down this morning. After all, didn't Obama lose Texas and Ohio yesterday? The real answer is no, he did not. Sure he lost the popular vote in those states, and if the primaries were decided on popular vote that would matter, but they're not. Hillary lost big yesterday, and gained a new nickname in the process.

The Clintons will bask this morning in the headlines that they won Ohio and Texas. Meanwhile in the back room they'll be lamenting that they cannot possibly win the nomination on this track. For while they won yesterday, they needed to do so by at least 20% in each state to make any real progress, and they didn't come close. In fact, when the math is all settled and the caucus numbers are in from Texas this weekend, it is highly likely that the Clintons will have accomplished a net loss of delegates yesterday, and there are now a whole lot less delegates left to pick up.

So although we lost Mike Huckabee yesterday (Sniff. Sniff. Wasn't he fun?), we gained his equivalent within the Democratic party, Huckary Clinton, if you will. Her continuation in the race now, though it it mathematically almost impossible for her to win the nomination, serves only to lessen the chances of a Democrat winning in November, as she waits for, and actively encourages, some slip-up by Obama that will throw things her way.

The difference, of course, is that Huckabee had more class. He knew that covering McCain in mud was no good for his party, and so he ran his campaign with dignity, running on his own merits, and not tearing down Republican chances in November for the sake of his own vanity. No such luck with Huckary.

It is tempting to say that Obama, moving forward, should go really negative on Huckary, but after listening to his victory speech last night I've concluded that that is both unnecessary (after all he's winning), and inconsistent with his message. I do believe he has to put some thought and effort into a few key areas.

He has to counter this email mumbling campaign of lies about his background, patriotism, and accomplishments. I think you saw a move to the more overtly patriotic Obama last night. Another email campaign needs to be started that counters the lies, and he needs to speak out forcefully on these issues. In addition, he needs to be even more ready (though his response time has been miraculous) to counter Huckary slime when it occurs.

Finally, I think he needs to strategically put Huckary on the defensive during the critical time 2-5 days before a vote, when we know she's going to throw the kitchen sink at him. If this takes a slightly more negative approach at those times so be it. That kitchen sink needs to meet another kitchen sink in mid-air. Personally, I think she is vulnerable on electability, and that people need to be reminded what a Republican campaign against the Clintons will look like.

So, Obama supporters. I don't want to hear any of this, "The sky is falling. It's the end of the world!" stuff today. Barack Obama is winning. Huckary Clinton is unfortunately decreasing the chances of a Democrat in the White House next year with every day she stays in the race. She is forcing the expenditure of what will amount to another $100 million by each candidate in the next 3 months. (Get out your check books... again, and again.)

Today will be tough to take I suspect. As Huckary and the main stream media play to the ignorant among us, but by the weekend the momentum will be back to Obama, and he'll still be on his way to the nomination.

Mr. Gore. It's time.

An Open Letter to Former Vice President Al Gore

Dear Mr. Gore:

A year ago, the political horizon looked much different. You were my candidate. My sincere hope was that you would enter the United States Presidential race as a candidate. I wrote to you, joined all the "Draft Gore" organizations, wrote about the topic. Had you entered the race, I would have worked, donated, and done everything within my power to see that you were the next President of the United States. When you finally indicated that you would not run, I was very disappointed, but that opened up a space in which I needed to look for another candidate.

Into that space stepped the tall, lean, Lincolnesque senator from Illinois, Barrack Obama. In Barrack Obama I found a candidate who not only shares many of the values that I believe we share, but who has the courage to speak out against that which is wrong, even when it may not be politically expedient to do so. In Senator Obama I have found a candidate with an uncanny ability to inspire Americans of all ages and backgrounds to work together for purposes bigger than ourselves. All of the energy which, had you been a candidate, would have gone to you, I have transferred to working for the election of Senator Obama.

I think I understand, in part, why you did not run. You have done so much good outside of the Presidency, educating us all about climate change, speaking out so vehemently against the war, and after what you went through in the last campaign, how can anyone blame you for not wanting to put yourself and your family through that again. However, Mr. Vice President, your nation needs you again. We need you to step up to the fore once again. We need you to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President.

We all know that the position of President of the United States is the one position in the world with the most potential to make a difference in addressing climate change issues. While both Democratic Party candidates for President talk the talk when it comes to the environment, it will take much more than that to make a difference. It will take the ability to convince this country, and the world, not only that climate change is a serious issue, but that we must band together with a common sense of purpose and a willingness to sacrifice. We are blessed that onto the stage has stepped a candidate like Barack Obama, the likes of which probably only comes around once in a generation, with an innate ability to communicate and inspire.

Some say that you will not endorse anyone in the Democratic primary; that endorsing at this point would be a risk; that should you choose the wrong candidate you would risk alienating the winner and decrease your chances of working with the eventual President. When I hear that I laugh. That caricature is not the Al Gore I know. It is not the Al Gore who, while some were triangulating political positions, spoke more forcefully than any other in opposing the Iraq war. It is not the Al Gore who has so eloquently championed the cause of combating climate change. No, this is not the Al Gore I know.

We are at a critical point in this Presidential campaign. The reality is that after next Tuesday, if we haven't chosen a nominee, we at least will have placed one candidate at a significant advantage over the other going forward. So Mr. Gore, the time is now. Please step up and step forward at this time, and endorse Senator Barack Obama for President.

Sincerely,

Travis Stark

When Gender Tops Sense

The boys ganged up on her at the debate and she played the gender card. Then there were lies, and more lies. Then of course there were the well-timed tears, and Bill complaining about how his wife was being treated unfairly. Then the Clinton machine descended as I stood alone with Obama signs in hand at the polls among the horde of New Yorkers for Hillary.

And in the end, it was all about gender, as thousands of older woman voted for Mrs. Clinton because she was female. It's enough to make one cynical. So this morning New Hampshire lies gratefully abandoned by the political tsunami that arrives every four years. A few tattered campaign signs litter the roads until they can be thrown away. The candidates leave New Hampshire behind as they head for new territory. New Hampshire did its duty, and failed, perhaps demonstrating our collective intelligence. Soon the electoral tide will come to your neighborhood. May you do better.

Late Note: When Maureen Dowd agrees with me, I know I'm probably on track.

A Once in a Lifetime Candidate

Well, since I'm quite sure that not everyone watches Iowa election results as if it was the SuperBowl, in case you haven't heard, Barack Obama won the Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucuses last night. If you haven't heard his victory speech, you owe it to yourself to listen to it, if only to make you feel just a little good about life. Here's a link:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cNZaq-YKCnE

It was amazing to watch Chris Matthews and his MSNBC panel last night gushing over Obama's speech, literally in some cases with tears in their eyes. It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be any video out there today of Chris saying that anyone who was in the Peace Corps in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, up though today would vote for this guy. There is video of the comments of Howard Fineman and Eugene Robinson, who were on Chris' panel.

I've been sure Obama was my candidate for about a week. (Not bad since I have to vote in 4 days.) My wife was waiting for a sign to choose between Obama and Edwards. Apparently the sign I put on our front lawn yesterday wasn't enough! ;-) She called me a few minutes ago to say she got her sign. Seems a friend at work has a friend who was talking to an Obama supporter and asked some questions about the FAA. The Obama worker didn't know the answers to the FAA questions, but he talked to Obama about it. Obama did his research and the questioner got a phone call that went something like, "Hi. This is Barack Obama. I hear you had a question about the FAA." The questioner laughed as I would have and said, "Ya. Sure.", to which the caller responded, "No. Really! I'm Barack Obama. Let's talk a minute." My wife took the fact that she heard of this incident first thing this morning as a sign. Tomorrow we're off to an Obama rally. We're not a sit-at-home-and-wait family when it comes to politics. :-)

You really do owe it to yourself to give Obama a look. Perhaps once in a generation a candidate comes along that has the ability to transcend politics as usual; who can unite the country around something bigger than ourselves. I think we may be seeing that candidate.

Have a great day!

THE BIG ENDORSEMENT!

I almost forgot! Forget about the Des Moines Register. Don't pay any attention to the New York Times! Use the Manchester Union Leader to house train your puppy (always a good idea for that paper)! Today, the day of the Iowa caucuses, a scant few days before the New Hampshire primary, today Accidental Wisdom announces our endorsement for President of the United States of America! Listen up Iowans! Hark my fellow New Hampshirites!

Our choice for the our next President is...

Barack Obama

Sure I get frequent mail from the Write-in Gore in New Hampshire folks, but really, the guy has made it quite clear he doesn't want to run, and who am I to waste my one vote on him.

No, since I have to cast my primary ballot next Tuesday I have spent considerable mental cycles on considering the options. Of course I can rule out all the Republicans off the bat. Who would have thought that they'd all decide to run to the right of George W. Ya, like I'm voting for that!

Then there's Hillary Clinton, and I've already explained in this space how Hillary is the Republican candidate in the Democratic primary. So, after looking at all the candidates and evaluating electability, that pretty much left me with Obama and Edwards. Of the two, either of which I think would be a fine President by the way, I liked Obama, but like many I had questions about his electability and whether or not he was what he seemed, or just another politician.

Well I went to see Mr. Obama a couple of weeks ago, and I can tell you that I believe him to be the real deal, exactly what he seems, a statesman the likes of which we have probably not seen in four decades. Not a cookie cutter Democrat or Republican but someone who can appeal to the good in people. A President of the United States, and not of the special interests.

What struck me first about him was his intelligence. How refreshing to listen to someone of exceptional intelligence after four years of being embarrassed every time the leader of our nation speaks. After a while you start to get the secret, that this guy is running for President based upon the principals most of us believe in, based upon true patriotism, and not phony lapel-pin-wearing pandering. He's not standing, finger in the wind, ready to change his views based upon what it will take to get your vote. Here is someone who not only talks about the Constitution, but is a scholar of it, knows it, loves it, and would protect it. Here is a guy who just might be able to restore America to the nation we all yearn to be proud of. Here is a candidate we can vote for because of who he is, and not because he's the lesser of multiple evils.

Next Tuesday I will cast my vote for Barack Obama. I don't ask you dear reader to do the same. What I ask is that before it gets to be your turn to vote, that you open your mind, and listen to what he has to say.