Originally Posted by SimpleMan

I'll never understand why people jump to believe bullcrap like this. I hate politics and consider myself an Independent voter. I vote on the person, after learning the truths and researching and listening to both sides. I watch FoxNews, CNN, and MSNBC and a couple programs on other channels so that I am informed. Way too many people watch just CNN or some other totally biased program like Oprah or The View and take it for fact.

The fact is, as an independent, I see how blatantly biased towards democrats the huge majority of the media is and way too many people actually believe the lies. This is just another perfect example. The original poster posts some lies and half of you followup posters are believing it and thinking Palin is bad as a result. At least Foxrac tried doing the absolute minimum research by going to a blatantly liberal website and posting a link above. However, Foxrac and everyone else didn't even scroll to the bottom of the article to read the comments and check one or two of the links from posters in the comments section. The Huffington Post article is (as usual) blatant misinformation. Below are a couple links from the comments section of that article to a few much more reliable sources that confirm each other that Palin did in fact increase spending for special needs schooling dramatically (to triple the amount over the next 3 years). Of course I'll still rather see the actual budget documents but I'm really tired and it's way past my bedtime, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

That huffingtom post link again (scroll to bottom to read the comments and head closer to the truth):
Adrienne Williams: Palin Slashed "Special Schools" Funding In Alaska

Factcheck.org - Newsweek article:
Factcheck.org: Sliming Palin | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com

Education Week article:
Education Week: Alaska Legislators Overhaul Funding

A snippet from the comments and more reliable articles:
A second part of the measure raises spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

Unlike many other states, Alaska has relatively flush budget coffers, thanks to a rise in oil and gas revenues. Funding for schools will remain fairly level next year, however. Overall per-pupil funding across the state will rise by $100, to $5,480, in fiscal 2009. Total K-12 funding will rise to $1.2 billion from $1.1 billion, when transportation, energy, and other state funds are included, according to estimates from the governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

The state also agreed to add another $216 million to fill in shortfalls in its teacher-retirement system, the budget office said.


The moral of this is don't believe the bullcrap. In this case, at least read the whole article, and the followups/comments to it, and check other articles. Be an educated voter!