Palin's secession flirtation (Rosa Brooks / LAT)

[struggle4progress]

For years she has courted the Alaska Independence Party, which wants to split the state from the U.S.
Rosa Brooks
September 4, 2008

... Over the years, Palin has actively courted the Alaska Independence Party, or AIP, an organization that supports Alaskan secession from the U.S. To be clear, we're not necessarily talking about friendly secession either: As the AIP's founder, Joe Vogler, told an interviewer in 1991: "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government. ... And I won't be buried under their damn flag" ...

The McCain campaign denies that Palin ever joined the AIP. But while it is in dispute whether she attended its 1994 convention, she did visit the 2000 one and addressed AIP conventions in 2006 and 2008. Her husband, Todd, was a registered AIP member from 1995 to 2002, and the AIP leadership certainly considers her one of their own.

Video footage shows AIP Vice Chairman Dexter Clark describing Palin at the 2007 North American Secessionist Convention as an "AIP member before she got the job as a mayor of a small town -- that was a nonpartisan job. But you get along to go along. She eventually joined the Republican Party, where she had all kinds of problems with their ethics, and well, I won't go into that." (No need to. The Alaska Legislature's ethics investigators are on the case.) Apparently with Palin in mind, Clark then went on to urge AIP members to "infiltrate" the major parties.

So what does Palin currently think of the AIP? Hard to know -- she's been keeping mum -- but this year she told AIP members: "I'm delighted to welcome you to the 2008 Alaska Independence Party Convention. ... Keep up the good work!" ...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks4-2008sep04,0,5675222.column

[muntrv]

1. Hammer this one home, Obama/Biden!!

[Mme. Defarge]

2. A GREAT BIG, FAT K&R!!!

An absolute "must read".

[chicagoexpat]

3. This blog seems to post 5 things a day about Palin

if you're interested.

http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/

I think "Palin in a catsuit" is the big draw

[struggle4progress]

5. thanx! that's worth a look!

[rox63]

4. Hmm, I wonder why there's no mention of this on the teevee nooz?

:sarcasm:

[jcla]

6. Brought to you by the people who questioned

Barack and Michelle's patriotism. What ****ing Jerks! We got Gov. "Jefferson Davis" Palin one heartbeat away if these two "Republicans" get elected.

[Mark E. Smith]

7. Yes! Kick & R.

This has to be hammered home.

[Connonym]

8. Palin is gross but I have to admit to secession fantasies

and if McPalin gets elected I'm going to be having that fantasy 24/7.

[gordianot]

9. The AIP questions the McCain campaign fears the most!

Denial will create enemies on the fringe.

Admission will end her run as Vice President.