The program she cut was the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy Program. Here’s the description from your source:

This instructional program is operated in Anchorage with student
enrollees from across the state. Students work on challenging academic programs in a “boot camp” environment.
Completing high school and building career goals and skills are the goals.

That sure doesn’t sound like “special needs” to me.

I taught special ed for nearly twelve years and you’re right, that program is/was NOT special ed!

In fact, it sounds like one of those “feel good” programs liberal universities push on public schools to give the appearance of being pro-active in public education, when all they’re really doing is lessening actual learning with mindless drivel while, at the same time, decreasing the amounts of funding available to worthwhile academic programs that really teach, like those focus on compensatory reading and mathematics skills for special needs students.

Besides, as a large part of special ed is funded through Social Security reimbursements to state-/local school systems, the last thing any state’s governor would or could cut is special ed.

On September 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, Rusty said:

And, you’re right, the Republicans I know aren’t social conservatives. They are very much not on the Palin train are disappointed in McCain’s pick. They are, however, pragmatic. And they see the writing on the wall.

Young Rusty, the writing is graffiti, the wall is a restroom partition and you’re tapping like Savion Glover.

Go take a walk in the park. Clear your head, but keep your trousers up.

What does Kos do – email this crap to you morons every morning?

Oh well…if they were happy about Palin, then we should be worried. The fact that they have to dog so deep and still come up with less than what is in BOTH their candidate’s closets is mind numbing at best.

Even the MSM still doesn’t get it. They and the trolls think that we are upset about them asking legitimate questions concerning her political past. They completely obscure and ignore what they have done concerning her children, her family, and her personally.

Oh well…they still think we were upset at Clinton because of sex.

Liberals…they just don’t get it.

On September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm, Rusty said:
Also, just so you don’t think every criticism against Palin is about her daughter getting knocked up or some phantom criticism about her not writing her own speeches…

Palin said yesterday that families with special needs children could have a friend in the White House. Yet she slashed special ed funding in Alaska by 62%. Some friend.

The program she cut was the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy Program. Here’s the description from your source:

This instructional program is operated in Anchorage with student
enrollees from across the state. Students work on challenging academic programs in a “boot camp” environment.
Completing high school and building career goals and skills are the goals.

That sure doesn’t sound like “special needs” to me.

Her repeated lie that she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere is especially galling since she is on the record supporting it before it became politically unpopular in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

That article is 100% opinion and conjecture with no supporting documentation. If you’re going to make a definitive statement, please back it up with facts.

Then there’s the corruption snafus

If this is about the trooper, this is ridiculous and has been proven so. It’s just a smear attempt, not an actual scandal.

the terror of having a president who wants to ban books from public libraries

Do you really think all books are appropriate in a public library?

and her involvement with the AIP secessionist movement.

Nobody has actaully stated what her involvement is, just that she’s “involved”. Let me guess, she was also a blatant thespian in high school.

Oh, and her lack of qualifications.

Again, what lack of qualifications? Mayoral and gubernatorial experience is actual executive experience. What exactly does a “community organizer” do that qualifies him?

So pretending that there aren’t real criticisms of this candidate is obtuse.

When you show me a real criticism, I’ll consider it. Meanwhile, these made up non-issues aren’t going to fool anyone, despite the media’s hopes that they will.

You really are starting to stink now.

Palin said yesterday that families with special needs children could have a friend in the White House. Yet she slashed special ed funding in Alaska by 62%. Some friend.

Her repeated lie that she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere is especially galling since she is on the record supporting it before it became politically unpopular in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Then there’s the corruption snafus, the terror of having a president who wants to ban books from public libraries, and her involvement with the AIP secessionist movement. Oh, and her lack of qualifications.

So pretending that there aren’t real criticisms of this candidate is obtuse.

On September 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, Rusty said:
I don’t know who John Ansell is….

He’s the commenter around here who will never vote for McAmnesty even if it means an Obama presidency.

And, you’re right, the Republicans I know aren’t social conservatives. They are very much not on the Palin train are disappointed in McCain’s pick. They are, however, pragmatic. And they see the writing on the wall.

I said before Palin was on the ticket that every macro indicator points to a Democratic victory. With the economy tanking and people sick of war, there was no way the GOP could pull it out unless the Dems did something very stupid like nominate Edwards.