what is a fiscal conservative?

[Jeff Dreger]

What is it exactly that makes Palin a fiscal conservative?

The fact that she increased spending in her little town by about 33% during her tenure?

The fact that she increased taxes by about 38%?

The fact that when she started as mayor Wasilla had $0 in debt but more than $22 million when she left?

The fact that a big chunk of this spending was not on critical things like a sewage treatment plant that the city lacked but on a multi-use sports complex?

The fact that she used eminent domain to obtain land for said sports complex which resulted in even higher costs due to lawsuits?

The fact that she extensively remodeled city hall and redecorated her office multiple times?

The fact that she hired a lobbyist to lobby for federal earmarks for her little town?

The fact that said lobbyist garnered Wasilla $27 million in pork?

The fact that she supported the “bridge to nowhereâ€

[Stephen Eisel]

[quote="Jeff Dreger"]What is it exactly that makes Palin a fiscal conservative?

The fact that she increased spending in her little town by about 33% during her tenure?

The fact that she increased taxes by about 38%?

The fact that when she started as mayor Wasilla had $0 in debt but more than $22 million when she left?

The fact that a big chunk of this spending was not on critical things like a sewage treatment plant that the city lacked but on a multi-use sports complex?

The fact that she used eminent domain to obtain land for said sports complex which resulted in even higher costs due to lawsuits?

The fact that she extensively remodeled city hall and redecorated her office multiple times?

The fact that she hired a lobbyist to lobby for federal earmarks for her little town?

The fact that said lobbyist garnered Wasilla $27 million in pork?

The fact that she supported the “bridge to nowhereâ€

[Jeff Dreger]

She sounnds like a Democrat. So what is the problem?

no problem... just curious

Obama isn't calling himself a fiscal conservative... the McCain campaign is labeling Palin as just that so I'm just wondering how she earned that title?

[Stephen Eisel]

http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm


On Tax Reform
Raising taxes hurts small business and hurts jobs. (Sep 2008)
Elected mayor based on tax cut promise. (Aug 2008)
As mayor, cut property taxes & increased sales tax. (Aug 2008)
$60M annually for municipal revenue sharing. (Mar 2008)
Eliminate taxes that inhibit business. (Jan 2008)
Repeal "nuisance taxes" including the tire tax. (Jan 2007)
Mitigate impact of new $50M annual cruise ship tourism tax. (Oct 2006)
No income tax; no taking the people's dividends. (Oct 2006)
Would support a seasonal sales tax, but no income tax. (Oct 2006)



Budget and Economy
Control spending by request if possible; by veto if needed. (Sep 2008)
Reduced general fund spending by $124 million. (Mar 2007)
Aim to reduce general fund spending by $150 million. (Jan 2007)
Firm believer in free market capitalism. (Nov 2006)
Coordinate state tourism marketing but no additional funding. (Oct 2006)

[Stephen Eisel]

http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=136

[ryan costa]

Ike Eisenhower. Harry Truman. Teddy Roosevelt.

[Jeff Dreger]

not sure what the document center page from the city of wasilla website link is for?

I appreciate you finding what she has said (I've heard these same things over and over lately), but my question was not about her claims (her talk) it was about her actions (her walk)

do her actions listed above make her the fiscal conservative the GOP is trying to portray her as?

[Stephen Eisel]

not sure what the document center page from the city of wasilla website link is for?

I appreciate you finding what she has said (I've heard these same things over and over lately), but my question was not about her claims (her talk) it was about her actions (her walk)

do her actions listed above make her the fiscal conservative the GOP is trying to portray her as?

I posted the Wasilla link so people could do their own research. On fewer earmarks and entitlement programs (fiscal conservatism), she does not get an A. On spending practices, lowering debt and shrinking government, she would get a B- in my book.

[Jeff Dreger]

On fewer earmarks and entitlement programs (fiscal conservatism), she does not get an A. On spending practices, lowering debt and shrinking government, she would get a B- in my book.

wow... there are plenty of democrats that would get a solid 3.0 at your school!

sorry, but at least from what I hear on talk radio and fox news and such, there's no way those actions would normally get anyone an above average grade... but that's not really my concern since I will most likely not be voting for her claims/promises (unfortunately, there will be a lot of folks on the fence that will just nod their heads to whatever is said and not check it out)

[ryan costa]

the primary qualification seems to be calling yourself a fiscal conservative more frequently than your opponent does, calling them the opposite of a fiscal conservative, and having talk radio and cable news pundits do the same.