How Negative is the Climate Fostered by Palin Getting in the Mat-Su Valley? - Updated with a Powerful Answer from This Morning!

I. During last week's wind storm, a couple of Anchorage friends asked me to go over to the Palins and see if their anti-Joe McGinnis fence had blown down yet. I was pretty sure that it wouldn't last the blow, as it was hastily and thoughtlessly built. but I didn't want to go there. I felt weird enough helping Joe McGinnis put up his own security measures when he first moved next door.

The Palins creep me out, and being next-door not only creeped me out, but just didn't seem right on some levels. I don't like it when people come checking out my place with cameras, either. Nor would I like one pushed into my face by somebody who just stares, takes video and has nothing to ask me.So I didn't go over there to be the first person to take pictures of their fence, which did blow down. The Palins are my neighbors. They've been terrible neighbors for a lot of us, especially since august 29th, 2008.

How bad they've been, one can get an inkling of, in an editorial in last Thursday's Frontiersman:

On Tuesday morning, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman received a tip that two local women filed for and were granted 20-day protective orders against a Pennsylvania man they said had been threatening them for a year.

One of those women was Sarah Palin. The other was her friend, Kristan Cole. Palin testified the 18-year-old man, Shawn Christy, threatened to track her down at her book signings in the Lower 48, told Palin “that she better watch her back,” said he was buying a one-way ticket to Alaska and sent a gun-purchase receipt.

The story went up on the newspaper’s website. Minutes later, dozens of Sarah Palin-related sites had linked to the story. On Monday, our website had about 4,300 hits. After the story broke Tuesday, that number climbed to 8,700. Wednesday hits spiked to 75,000 and by Thursday afternoon we’d had more than 200,000 hits, mostly from new visitors.

Even after we broke the story that Christy is not in Alaska and has never been to Alaska, threats against him continued on our website and Facebook page. Many comments were not approved because they suggested hunting Christy and killing him.

Folks asked us to post a picture of the young man so “decent” people could hunt him down and kill him. And that is exactly why we won’t publish a photo that could identify him.

We were shocked at the number of people from across the U.S. calling for his death and offering to pull the trigger on a .45 loaded with “liberal lead.”

The editorial has elicited comments at other blogs. Alaska progressive blogger, Jesse Griffen, at The Immoral Minority notes:

Now are Alaskans finally starting to see just how dangerous the people who support Sarah Palin are? Good, because there are people in this state who can actually do something about it! And you know who you are.

And for all of you who want to know why I spend so much time calling Sarah Palin out on her lies and revealing the unflattering truth about her, hopefully this story will give you some idea of how important it is to put a stop to her influence in politics and her ability to foment this kind of violence and hatred.

Jesse has been as solid as anyone on doing exactly that - warning people about how dangerous the mindsets of many Palinbots and Palinistas are. One anonymous commenter at his post wrote:

The Frontiersman's learning curve must be pretty flat since it was their paper who offered the threat of "deadly force" as an option against Joe McGinnis when he moved in next door to the Palins. McGinnis received over 4,000 threatening emails by Sarah Palin's "Christian" fans.

Now we're supposed to believe that the Frontiersman has finally bought a clue about Sarah Palin's nasty fan base?

Joe McGinnis said it best MONTHS ago: "Sarah Palin pushes a button, and hate comes out."

Hate and encouraging hate/violence starts at the top with their leader, Mrs. Sarah Palin.

The editorial was one of the first assertive products of the new editor, who has been hired to redeem The Frontiersman after the lapse noted by the above commenter (along with many other lapses).

Jesse also notes, "Please click the link to read the entire article over at the Frontiersman, especially the comments as they are very interesting."

They certainly are, and reflect a lot more local knowledge than those coming (largely from outside Alaska) at his blog. They're not only interesting, they go a way in explaining how the climate here has changed since Palin embarked on the most divisive, hate engendering crusade in Alaska history:

You are kidding, right? The Palin's have been threatening and intimidating people in your own back yard for how many years? And you are shocked, shocked I say at the rhetoric of their fans!

and:

Sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind." Sarah Palin has been whipping crowds into angry mobs since she was campaigning for V.P. I'm saddened, but not at all surprised that this was the response you recieved. I'm grateful that you have addressed the issue.

and:

I had several death threats for a photoshop purposely misconstrued by the Palin Camp...I can't even imagine the threats on this kid.

Buckle up, folks, it's only going to get worse heading into 2012.

and:

What is always so sad about these threats from Palin supporters is this . . . . They don't seem to acknowledge protections in place for Sarah Palin and all other celebrity figures. They become deranged. The truly interesting part is Ms. Palin NEVER tells any of them to calm down. Now that--I find more frightening than a stalker. Mr. McGuinness was threatened, his movers windows shot out. Nothing from Sarah. about lessening up on the threats of violence. Sad.

and:

Locally, it has been just crazy. The wrath of Palin supporters is rude, crude and highly accusatory of just about everything, if they think you don't support her.

My husband, born and raised in Palmer, believes this wrath of Palin supporters, over the past few years, has ruined the valley.

Thank you for this write up.

II. If you're reading this and live in the Valley or Anchorage, come out and support our Mat-Su Democrats on Monday and Tuesday, waving signs and cheering for our great crop of progressives:

Corner of Trunk Road and Palmer-Wasilla Highway - 6:00 am to 9:00 am & 3:30 to 6:00 pm

and in our fight against Proposition 1. Here's more information:

Vote "No" on Proposition One:

We can not afford a "Strong Mayor". We simply do not elect politicians because we think they will be great managers! No one can tell a Strong Mayor how to do the job. No one can fire a Strong Mayor until the next election. A Strong Mayor's poor decisions or failures to act are hard to fix. Even the Frontiersman got this one right. Check out their 9/25 editorial urging a "no" vote.

Is it any wonder the Conservative Patriots Group had this measure placed on our ballot? The former Mayors of Houston and Wasilla, as well as the current Mayor of Anchorage are classic examples of how too much power can seduce, corrupt or overwhelm politicians.

This year the Kenai Borough Assembly is asking Kenai Borough voters to repeal Kenai's Strong Mayor form of government because they've decided it is too big a job for an elected politician.

Government is more accountable when the Borough Assembly sets performance benchmarks for its Manager and then makes sure the Manager performs to expectations. If the Manager does not perform, the Assembly replaces the Manager. We need the checks and balances provided by our Borough Manager form of government. Please vote "No" and ask your friends to vote "No" too.

Yes on the two School Bonds:

Help keep our next generation of citizens in school. Safe and sound school buildings and athletic facilities are important tools in our campaign to raise well informed, healthy citizens.

No on Proposition 5:

While the State's rules for conflict of interest and financial disclosure need to be streamlined, we should not exempt our Borough officials from those State rules until we have had an opportunity to review what the Borough will substitute in place of the State rules.

Update - 6:00 p.m: From the comments:

Yes you can even lose your job in the Valley if you openly support the democrats or comment on Sarah Palin.

I was "laid off" this morning by phone from a local restaurant/hotel.

I have worked there for a year sense I moved to the valley.

I was given no reason and 2 new staff members were hired in the last month.

Sarah Palin fans own and operate the establishment and about a week ago I slipped with statement about a comment I had overheard.

I am a sometimes poster but will post this anonymously, as it seems I have to find work here in the Valley.

Can we help this person, folks?