Update: Now that the transcripts have been published I am providing the link to those (instead of the video). You will also find the transcripts for her responses on international experience. 

Video…

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4476649n

Transcripts…

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/25/eveningnews/main4479062.shtml

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I think I see at last how Sarah Palin fits the mold of a politician. Her carefully crafted image in the foreground (what we are suppose to see) is maintained well in the background (with secrecy and questionable actions).

If you are on her side, good things happen. Her high-school classmate, Franci Havemeister, was appointed to a $95,000-a-year job.

On her bad side, such as Sherry Whitsine (a local blogger who was chronicling inconsistencies in Palin’s activity online) you then receive phone calls from the governors’ office saying to immediately stop.

The New York Times reported that Palin and her staff sometimes used personal e-mail accounts for state business. Why? Well her staff members studied whether that could allow them to circumvent subpoenas seeking public records.

Yea Palin, you will fit right in…

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I think once everyone gets beyond the charming looks and the “hockey mom” persona, they are going to want to know a little about Alaska and Sarah Plain at the helm. 

Not “just like” the lower 48 states… 

• Alaska ranks number 1 in spending per resident. 

• Alaska’s tax burden per resident is more than double the national average. 

• Alaska residents get an annual check for $2,000 from oil revenues PLUS an additional $1,200 (obtained by Palin last year) to take advantage of increasing oil prices (hey, where was the help for the rest of us?!)

The state has four different taxes on oil before it leaves the state. Despite that revenue…

• Alaska ranks number 1 in money obtained from Washington.

• Alaska ranks 18th in federal taxes paid by residents ($5,434).

• Alaska ranks number 1 in federal spending received by residents ($13,950). 

McCain did well choosing someone that is starting to realize “celebrity” status – it may just be what his campaign needed. 

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I have been monitoring emails lately about the campaign and the misinformation that surrounds them. Usually they are “stories” that are made up to support a candidate but in this case Palin is unlucky enough to be a visual target.

The latest is the fake photo show here. 

The body is not hers and the photo (head) was actually taken from this photo…

The second photo making the rounds is Sarah Palin with a Gun in a Bikini. 

Sorry to disappoint, but the one on the left is not real. 

Palin is just an easy mark and it really isn’t fair – but not only are some people falling for it, they are voting for her because of them?! Sexist? Maybe. Fair? No. Sad? Yes! 

I wonder why no one ever makes these photos for McCain? 

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Place Your Bet on Sarah! I don’t usually pass on Newswire info but since we were on the subject anyway…

DUBLIN, September 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Ireland’s largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, have reported a “steady flow” of support for Barack Obama to be the next American President. 

The betting company were forced to slash Obama’s odds yesterday 02/09/08) from 1/2 to 4/9 after punters seemed to react negatively to recent revelations around Republican V.P. Nominee Sarah Palin. One Irish based punter wasted absolutely no time rowing in behind Obama and placed a bet of EUR50,000 to win EUR25,000 on an Obama victory in November. 

Sarah Palin is now a 8/1 shot (from 16/1 yesterday) with Paddy Power to be dropped off the Republican ticket prior to November’s election. Paddy Power are also offering betting on what surprise the Alaskan senator will next spring on the American public. A driving offence is the bookies 5/2 favorite, a moose burger addiction is a less likely 33/1 shot and for the Alaskan Governor to claim a past abduction by aliens seems very unlikely and is available at odds of 500/1. 

Ken Robertson political betting analyst for Paddy Power said, “We’ve had numerous requests from punters across the globe looking for odds on different stories to emerge regarding the Sarah Palin, breaking and entering an igloo at 250/1 is my personal favourite but I would consider it extremely unlikely!” 

    Sarah’s Next Surprise 

    5/4    Driving Offence

    7/4    Cheated in school or college exams

    10/1   Arrested for flashing

    25/1   Is a member of Church of Scientology

    33/1   Moose burger addiction

    40/1   Donated money to the Obama campaign

    50/1   Wears Bill Clinton pyjamas to bed

    250/1  Breaking and entering an Igloo

    500/1  Abducted by aliens

    US Election Betting Update 

    Will McCain drop Sarah? 

    8/1 Sarah Palin is dropped as the Republican VP candidate

    20/1 Sarah Palin is dropped as the Republican VP Candidate by Sunday 7th September

    Next US President? 

    4/9 Barack Obama

    13/8 John McCain

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