Here's the story about Palin's book-banning try as mayor »
Posted By Wil 2 months, 2 weeks ago in NewsBack in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so.
According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason for the firing. The letter just said the new mayor felt Emmons didn't fully support her and had to go.
Emmons had been city librarian for seven years and was well liked. After a wave of public support for her, Palin relented and let Emmons keep her job.
Read Full Story at mcclatchydc.com »
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Wil
I'm a Propeller Scout, and I run the Geek group. I'm a writer and actor who loves technology and science fiction. But I ...
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Comments So Far: 132
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Trey2 months, 2 weeks ago
I can't for the life of me figure out why McCain chose Palin as a running mate.
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Well... I can think of a few but none of them are related to administering the country.-
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UnusualSuspect2 months, 2 weeks ago
Ok...she's conservative. But ban books, books that are OK'd by the Alaskan Library Association? Why do that? What was she afraid of? Her children reading these books? If so, all Palin had to do was restrict what her children read, if that was her concern.
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And then to send out resignation letters as a test of loyalty? This Palin is shaping up to be quite a piece of work.
Hopefully more people will read about this experience, and learn a lot about this governor from Alaska. The more they learn, the less likely she'll end up being a VP...-
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wtagg2 months, 2 weeks ago
Banning or censoring is not conservative or part of the conservative doctrine. It may be part of the republican platform, but then again, republicans are not conservative.
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Palin and family made a choice concerning Bristol. She also has a choice concerning the literature she wants to read or have in her home, just as every American should have that choice.
Choice is conservative. The government making choices for you is not. -
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StillUnashamed2 months, 2 weeks ago
"But ban books, books that are OK'd by the Alaskan Library Association?"
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So it is ok for the Alaskan Library Association to ban books?
This whole issue is just one of many "shots in the dark" taken by the liberal press. I would venture that almost everyone here in propeller belives it is ok to ban certain literature from public libraries. Or are there some in here who believe pornographic literature should be made available to minors?
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aceofspades12 months, 2 weeks ago
inverse - I hope that was sarcasm- or do you really mean that? got a brown shirt in your closet?
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JoanieT2 months, 2 weeks ago
Moral fortitude is hard to develop when:
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1) public schools can't promote it
2) parents don't know how to develop it in their children
3) parents get limited help with this because Judeo-Christian ideals are constantly being attacked!
I'd say Paulin was right to ask about the books.
I'd say Inverse has a right to his/her opinion because between the lines, it is apparent that Inverse has deep concerns about the moral fiber of this country. Remember, it only takes a few generations' lack of morals to erase all of western civilization. Remember the fall of Rome and what came afterwards??? The dark ages!! Yes, you liberals, the dark ages and you are creating it, not the GOP! -
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edzee2 months, 2 weeks ago
inverse, you can protect your child without banning books by simply being a good parent. and how do you protect a country by burning books unless you are hitler and promoting a state-sponsored ideology of hate that doesn't protect anyone, but just gives people in power more power?
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ClockworkorangeComment removed: User banned.2 Replies
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jerry992 months, 2 weeks ago
This article is just more of the same by lovers of the know-nothing, no experience sould brother. Just nonsense.
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MeaJen302 months, 2 weeks ago
Wow...I certainly hope you never get charged with some horrible crime, and get convicted simply because someone who knows you writes about it. We don't know what the writer stood to gain by writing this letter, we don't know the circumstances surrounding it either. But then again, I guess you don't believe in innocent until proven guilty, unless it is for terrorists.
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AnteUp2 months, 2 weeks ago
Hey mntnman444 ~
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Many thanks for the link. I read the whole thing and - well, isn't it great
that a self-described homemaker tried so hard to add a degree of specificity
and source explanation? We rarely - to never - get that from the big cheeses.
Good for her! -
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epiphannyy2 months, 2 weeks ago
mntnman444.....thank you for that link. Everyone should read this, if they haven't already. I will be forwarding it on to those I know.
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Klarissa2 months, 2 weeks ago
Contribution To: Alaska State Democratic Party
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Anne Kilkenny Wasilla, AK $220 5/14/2004 state
Contribution To: KING-TAYLOR, VIRGINIA (Candidate for Senate 2004 - D)
06/14/2004 Monetary 7680 $50.00 $50.00 ANNE KILKENNY Wasilla AK
"Informed voter" or antagonistic party activist? At least as far back as 2004, she donated money to Democrats. No doubt that email is starting to spread and will be considered the Rosetta Stone of Palin as trumpeted from the Democrats. Buyer beware.
http://www.city-data.com/elec2/08/elec-COLUMBUS-OH...
COLUMBUS, OH Political Contributions by Individuals
Anne Kilkenny (Not employed/Homemaker), (Zip code: 43220) $250 to OBAMA FOR AMERICA on 03/19/08
http://www.topix.com/forum/who/barack-obama/T3BS93...
Anne Kilkenny, an Obama supporter, currently running for office.......and it appears Mrs Kilkenny has a personal issue with Governor Palin of course the likes of Daily KOS & Huff are still digging as I guess they do not feel Governor Palin has been properly veted yet but think it just fine their candidate of choice has gotten a free pass on everything but his standard fare " he is not the __________ I used to know"
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Fedquip2 months, 2 weeks ago
fta: Four days before the exchange at the City Council, Emmons got a letter from Palin asking for her resignation. Similar letters went to police chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton and finance director Duane Dvorak. John Cooper, a fifth director, resigned after Palin eliminated his job overseeing the city museum.
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Candida2 months, 2 weeks ago
This is funny. I've copied the same section from the article,but now I don't have to post it. I just want to add one more line:
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"Palin told the Anchorage Daily News then that the letters were just a test of loyalty"
Asking for someone's resignation as a test of loyalty???? Loyal librarians and public works directors? Politicized public servants in a town of 5,000? That town must be on the other side of the looking glass.-
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doggammit2 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah - she stuck in her thumb and the public slapped it out of the pudding. Good thing they did because there would have been a plumb opening in that library if she had succeeded - and probably a new dumbed down plum sitting in librarian's chair today . Kudos to rational thinking Alaskans.
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amazed2 months, 2 weeks ago
I don't know how towns in Alaska work, but here in CT directors of departments -- Public Works, the Public Library, Zoning, etc, are appointed by the mayor (with approval of the board of aldermen). As such, it is more usual than not, for these heads to be replaced with the mayor's choices--in deed, the people accepting these jobs know full well that they are likely to be looking for a new job with a change in mayor -- and extremely unlikely to hang onto their job if the new mayor if the new mayor belongs to a different party.
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That's the price you pay for accepting a political plum of a job.
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AbuAmirah2 months, 2 weeks ago
Hmmm, what to make of this? Well, while working in corporate America, I have seen new bosses come in and within a matter of time, they bring in their own people. Bare in mind that this had nothing to do with censorship. See, this is the slippery slope of electing religious freaks to political office. They eventually try to force upon the rest of us their ideas, ala the Taliban. I mean who is this broad to say what if fit or unfit for me and my family to read or be exposed to? Take a long look America, this chick is going to be the Vice President. If I worked in the White House, I'd install AED's asap, just to keep the Zombie alive for four years
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TimALoftis2 months, 2 weeks ago
This is the kind of thing that the McCain supporters should be very worried about. I still contend that Gov.Palin did not get the kind of vetting from the McCain camp as she should have. Once they saw a possible opportunity to go after the Clinton voters they fell in love with Palin and perhaps a little to quick
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Censoring Books? That is something I have strong views on.-
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chuck-the-canuck2 months, 2 weeks ago
“This is the kind of thing that the McCain supporters should be very worried about.”
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Isn’t it completely obvious to everyone by now, that the republicans are completely delusional? McCain could have selected a blow up sheep to be his running mate and the party faithful would be crowing its praises.
Do you want to know what worries me?
The idea that very large numbers of people are completely delusional.
The idea that a significant number of these delusional people hold the reigns of power.
The idea that a significant number of these delusional people believe that their particular delusion is the correct delusion and they are willing to kill you to make their point. -
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chuck-the-canuck2 months, 2 weeks ago
I thought the citizenry is the government.
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Why are you so afraid to try something different? If the citizenry don't like the results, they can fix things at the next election. The republicans have ruined your country. I know if I was looking for a change and given the choice, I'd pick an well meaning, inexperienced idealist over a worn out, old, political hack any day.
A turd in a suit could do a better job than the republicans have done for the last eight years.
Don't let the racial overtones confuse you. McCain is just another turd in a suit and Obama just may be that knight on the white horse.
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PainGoddess2 months, 2 weeks ago
Nobody has the right to ban books. The citizen has the right to pick or not pick what they read. Freedom of speech covers all forms of print even if it is distasteful or considered "sinful." It is all about the abuse of position and power.
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doggammit2 months, 2 weeks ago
Less so than I have problems with kid's gaining direct and immediate access to mom or dad's handgun.
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If I'm not mistaken all the "ccokbook" stuff has been expunged from the Internet. I assume copies are available though the same sources that funnel kiddie porn through covert online server manipulations. Like illegal handguns - I'm sure if you know who to ask you can find one. But why (not to mention where and how) would any respectable library keep that kind of garbage on hand?
Seems like the problem exists mostly in your mind DaneL Real access involves only a tiny minority of Internet and library users - and they are generally not the type who bother very much with libraries in the first place. -
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miklkit2 months, 2 weeks ago
It's the tail wagging the dog. There are committees that go through all the books out there and decide in a bipartisan way what books are best suited for different situations. The local librarians then use those guidelines in selecting their books. They also put local conditions into the mix. I have gone to the library of a small town of 5,000 and read repair manuals for old trucks.
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Then you have someone with no experience in this field strutting in and basically saying "It's my way or the highway". And this person is a known extremist fundie.
I applaud that librarian and the townspeople who stood with her.
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