This is an article by Celtic Diva, which she posted today and which we repost with her kind permission, partly edited.
Huh? I would agree that she is "clearly" not a "candidate" but considering her interference in NY-23 and Facebook tretises, she is MOST DEFINITELY a political figure.
And by the way, she chose the title "politician" on her Facebook page.
As if to try and "mitigate" the obvious danger of having an out-of-control Palin on record at Ft. Bragg potentially slamming the Commander-In-Chief, the military originally tried to keep the press away so as not to "encourage" anti-President Obama rhetoric. However, they relented when the media strongly objected.
After what we've seen at Ft. Bragg yesterday, it's easy to see why they didn't want the press to document the activities.
AP reported that the bus parked nearby, splashed with her photo, encouraged donations to her political action committee and supporters made clear that she should run for president.
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UPDATE:
Thanks to one of our readers, we found the picture of Sarah's bus, with the SarahPAC logo printed on it (click to enlarge):
Therefore Harper Collins, who have paid for this book tour, directly support SarahPAC with their actions, and in doing so they support an insane woman who desperately wants to come to power (so that she can display her personality disorder in the White House). Well done, Harper Collins!!
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It's illegal for this event on base/post to reflect any partisan politics. It's also putting active military careers in jeopardy if they are seen as participating in these activities.
Sarah Palin had promised to limit herself to signing books at Fort Bragg, no politicizing her visit, amidst general concerns that her signing would violate Federal Law (Titles 10, 2, and 18, United States Code), Department of Defense (DOD) Directives, and specific military regulations strictly limit a military active duty person's participation in partisan political activities.
I don't think it gets more partisan than SarahPAC.
Palin's father, who greeted supporters as his daughter signed copies of the book, said in an interview that Obama's handling of the military was "scary."
"I see a decline in our might," Chuck Heath said. "People used to be afraid of us and respect us, (but) they're not afraid of us and don't respect us anymore."
Errr...did I mention it was illegal for folks to spew partisanship at this event on base/post around active military personnel?
The Department of Defense defines "partisan political activity" as "activity supporting or relating to candidates representing, or issues specifically identified with, national or State political parties and associated or ancillary organizations."
According to AP, G.R. Quinn, 58, a veteran who spent 20 years in the military, wore an "Impeach Obama" shirt at Sarah Palin's book signing at Fort Bragg. He blasted the president for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, for the plan to hold a key Sept. 11 terrorism trial in New York and for Obama's handling of the military overseas.
Should I NOW mention that partisan thing again...and add that a veteran with benefits may not want to break federal law?
I'm going to have nightmares tonight because while she was restricted from speaking at Fort Bragg, she is not yet restricted from speaking at Fort Hood! However, we might be able to change that.
There are new developments on the horizon regarding Sarah Palin's planned visit in Fort Hood on Friday, December 4, 2009.
It seems that outrage across the country over the behavior of Palin and her entourage at Ft. Bragg has shown itself in stories on military-themed websites.
For example, the AP story on Palin's Ft. Bragg visit appears on a website widely-read by our nation's military, Military.com, and they titled the piece "Some Anti-Obama Tones to Palin Bragg Visit." The comments are dominated by folks who are incensed by the behavior at the event.
For example:
"I wonder what would have happened if someone wore an impeach Bush/Cheney shirt when he was our CINC?"
Perhaps an even bigger indicator of the ripple effect after Palin's visit can be seen in a comment on this blog. The story below includes contact numbers to Public Affairs on Fort Hood, including the Col. who is the Public Affairs Officer. I requested that folks contact them and express (respectfully) their feelings.
Reader Pearlygirl took me up on that:
response from Ft Hood
I just called Col. Danner. He was very polite and also expressed that he has received many concerns about this book signing. It was set up before the recent shootings but it is being rethought. It was worth calling.
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by: pearlygirl @ Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 05:04:18 AM AKST
I thank pearlygirl and all who have called. I'm following up with a phone call to Col. Danner to try and get more of an explanation.
My understanding is that blogs across the country have been making similar posts and are encouraging phone calls as well. It looks like it may be working.
+++UPDATE+++
As if we didn't have enough reasons...
Here is the portion of the Greta Van Sustern interview last night where she accused Obama of not acknowledging/not respecting the troops as reported on Politico today:
I was angry when I read about it, but not NEARLY as angry as I was after I watched her attitude while saying the words:
"There's been a lack of acknowledgement by our president in understanding what it is that the American military provides in terms of, obviously, the safety, the security of our country," Palin said during an interview with Fox News's Greta Van Susteren. "I want him to acknowledge the sacrifices that these individual men and women - our sons, our daughters, our moms, our dads, our brothers and sisters - are providing this country to keep us safe."
There's much more.
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Sarah Palin arrived in North Carolina Sunday by way of Asheville. She was slated to have a much-touted dinner with Franklin Graham and his father Billy. While this is a video made by a fan (so pardon the drippiness) it does provide a good view of the plane she arrived on...and the call number. You may also see some "interesting" dynamics at play:
I received this message this morning regarding the plane from a trusted reader:
"Linda, Thought I would let you know. The plane Sarah flew in to Asheville had the N number 262SP. The SP does not stand for Sarah Palin but the plane is owned by Samaritans Purse. I checked it out at the FAA registry. Wonder if that plane is being used at Rochester and other book signing destinations? Samaritan donations being put to good use to haul Palin's carcass around."
As if that was not interesting enough, he wrote back later:
Tried to check the flight activity for this airplane (N262SP) at Flightwise.com. The flight activity for this plane is blocked by the owner. Guess he doesn't want anyone to know where he is flying. This is a good site to track an airplane's activity. Might come in handy for checking the use of AK state airplanes.
Yup, especially those Alaska planes now leased by Samaritan's Purse up here.
It seems that one must apply to have their plane's schedule made "private" and in doing so, a reason must be provided. I'd love to see the reason Franklin Graham gave for blocking access.
Did I mention that my readers are awesome?
EDIT by Palingates:
Franklin Graham is the President of Samaritan Purse, an organization which has caused some controversy in the past. They also seem to spend only a relatively small amount for the projects the donations are designed for - see HERE and HERE (but they seem to have enough money to fly Sarah Palin around!).
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CALL TO ACTION:
Please get in touch with Fort Hood and tell them that Sarah Palin's planned visit does not conform with military regulations.
Col. Stephen Sicinski is the Garrison Commanderof Fort Hood and his number and email are restricted.
However, here are the phone numbers of the PAO (Public Affairs Office) on Fort Hood. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL when you speak to them. Also, please no profanity or insults, no matter how much Palin might irritate you:
PA On Call Representative Phone: 254-291-2591
PAO - Col. Benton Danner
Email: benton.danner@us.army.mil
Phone: 254-287-0103
Deputy PAO (Civilian) - Mr. Bruce Zielsdorf
E-mail: bruce.zielsdorf@us.army.mil
Phone: 254-287-8506
Deputy PAO (Military) Phone: 254-287-6694
Remember...RESPECT...and let me know in the comments if you called and what happened.
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