Sarah Palin's book ban list and Chris Hedges on 'American Fascists'

When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.
Sinclair Lewis, 1935

Below is a list of the books Sarah Palin tried to have banned from the Wasilla, Alaska Library.  When I was in Anchorage two years ago, residents of Wasilla I met described the place as a growing, more-and-more suburban community north of Anchorage.  In her speech, Palin called the area 'the valley.'  Mayor Palin would seem to be a strong force in the suburbanization of the village of Wasilla.  When the Wasilla librarian refused to trash these books, Mayor Palin tried to have her fired.  This caused a stir in Wasilla which then turned into a drive to protect the librarian.  Some of my favorite examples of American literature are on this list.  This is the act of a patriotic American?  No, this is the act of a religious fundamentalist trying to squeeze herself into the role of a mythic frontier American.  The attempt to ban American literary masterpieces like Catcher In The Rye, Grapes Of Wrath, To Kill A Mockingbird, Death Of A Salesman, Leaves Of Grass, As I Lay Dying, Huckleberry Finn, Catch 22 and Tarzan indicates, flags and Bible citations aside, her ascendance to national power would be downright un-American.  In the realm of Rovian political marketing and the unfolding effort to win the Presidency not with ideas but with a cult of personality, McCain is the humiliated warrior ready to 'go to the gates of hell' to preserve American exceptionalism and Sarah Palin is his fascist 'bride,' a mythic frontier mom able to shoot, gut and cook a moose while  nurturing her family who has said publicly our war in Iraq is supported by God and people should pray to God to get the Alaska gas pipeline approved.     

This is a pivotal moment in American history, and we all need to expose this cult of personality for what it is, a cynical sham.  Please pass this on far and wide.

John Grant

This list is taken from the official minutes of the Wasilla Library Board.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Blubber by Judy Blume
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Carrie by Stephen King
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Christine by Stephen King
Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Cujo by Stephen King
Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Decameron by Boccaccio
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Fallen Angels by Walter Myers
Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure) by John Cleland
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Forever by Judy Blume
Grendel by John Champlin Gardner
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Have to Go by Robert Munsch
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Impressions edited by Jack Booth
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
It's Okay if You Don't Love Me by Norma Klein
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Love is One of the Choices by Norma Klein
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
More Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
My House by Nikki Giovanni
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
Night Chills by Dean Koontz
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Collective
Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz
Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Separate Peace by John Knowles
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Bastard by John Jakes
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
The Figure in the Shadows by John Bellairs
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Snyder
The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks
The Living Bible by William C. Bower
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The New Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
The Seduction of Peter S. by Lawrence Sanders
The Shining by Stephen King
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Snyder
Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff
Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween
Symbols by Edna Barth

VFP31 Annual Banquet Speaker Chris Hedges wrote the book on people like Sarah Palin. 
It's called American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America

I think I can sort of understand most of these, but "Little Red Riding Hood"?!  :o

I think I've seen this list before on another board, and if so it's a list of most of the books that have been banned in America.  There's enough legit issues to criticize Palin for without having to make stuff up.

Working off memory...just curious to see what her issue might be with some of these. . . I'm deleting the titles I have read or heard of...


This list is taken from the official minutes of the Wasilla Library Board.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess- if the movie is true to the book then lawlessness abounds here and I believe the governments  attempts at mind control fail

Blubber by Judy Blume I read this but don't remember it that well...what could her issue be. Its a book about intolerance right? Sounds like its right up her alley...some one refresh my memory pls.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson My God this was my FAVORITE book growing up. It was the book that made me want to read other books...so a kid dies....that's life....

Carrie by Stephen King Ha Ha. a psycho mom teaches her daughter that her womanliness is a bad & evil thing...what's the problem Sarah???  Oh right telekinesis is an occult thing...  ::) Whatev.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller its on my list as one of those I books I have to read but still haven't done it.

Christine by Stephen King demonic car...who cares. I always thought fantasy and imagination were good for adolescent development....even still this is a book for adults! We should be allowed to make our own choices in reading too.

Cujo by Stephen King hmmm rabid dog traps mom and asthmatic son in car...still not seeing the offensive angle.

Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck I know I still have a copy of this but I don't know if I ever got around to reading it.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller I don't even see a connection...anyone???

East of Eden by John Steinbeck but it was on Oprah's book club a couple years ago....oh she just lost Oprah's vote...oh wait she never had it to begin with  ;D  she just banned this out of spite because she's a witch with psychic powers and she's afraid if her constituents read any of the magic themed works here she will be outed  ;D

Fallen Angels by Walter Myers I know its about soldiers in Viet Nam...anything else "offensive" in it?


Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes another one I have on my shelf but haven't read...this women is gonna motivate me to do some more reading...

Forever by Judy Blume well it does have sex in it.

Harry Potter and the  totally expected this  ::)
Sorcerer's Stone
Chamber of Secrets
Prizoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire
Order of the Phoenix
Half-Blood Prince
Deathly Hallows There I updated her list for her  ;D

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman But Billy Has Two Daddies is okay???  Just kidding I made that title up. This book is hilarious.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell fun book apparently the stupid kids in Alaska might run around trying to recreate the dare huh?

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain I tried to read it but found it offensive...only in the context that it bored me...

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou This actually offends me! Its an autobiography. Yes a little is raped in the book and that little girl is Maya...instead of banning a book that recounts kiddie rape why not just work to get stricter laws for kiddie rapists!  >:(

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak Huh?  I thinks there is a reference to Judaism and Chicken Soup here but HUH?!?! Some one clue me in here.

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence more sex  ::)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding You know that Alaska wilderness can be a lot like a deserted island...those kids could kill all the adults and try to run the land themselves... they might do a better job too...yep good choice SP...Ban this Book.  :D

Scary Stories in the Dark  (et al)  by Alvin Schwartz um okay...its a collection of scary stories  Oooohhhh! BFD!!!!

My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara I only saw the movie...did the kid get too friendly with the horse or something?

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey Guess we're not supposed to know what happens once we lock our crazy people away.

Ordinary People by Judith Guest  She's got a thing about books where kids die huh?

Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Collective Because if you don't know what it is then you'll never need to know how to use it properly  ::)

Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy more kiddie rape...again I say focus on the real world issues not their appearances in literature!

Separate Peace by John Knowles sort of read this in high school feel the need to give it a real try now

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. see my comment on Catch 22

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs Hey it's not tarzan's fault his parents died (or lost him or whatever) and he was forced to be raised by apes...I mean at least the book wasn't titled Tarzan has two ape mommies (or daddies)  ;D

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain That Injun Jim in the Jonny Whitaker film scared the bejeezes out of me

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger see catch 22 and slaughterhouse five

Hey greenjello, did the library people actually let this list go out with the book alphabetized by the word The?  They have more issues than racy books in Alaska!

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier hmmm book kinda sucked. it was boring. ban it for that not because one kid decided to stand up to some arbitrary rule and refused to sell chocolates for his school as a matter of pride and principle.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker hmmm Celie's raped by her father and has two children...of course this is on her list.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Yes, yes....because the Great the Depression was neither great nor depressing enough.

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson I was planning on commenting that this wasn't on the list but of course it is listed under The instead Great because that's how the alphabetizing of books works in Alaska... if these people read more they would know the rule.....by these people I don't mean Alaskans in general I mean the book banning folks... *dodging bullets is fun*

The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks that movie was just on....it has something to do with racism but not sure what.

The Pigman by Paul Zindel another one of my favorites... I would actually welcome a chance to sit with her and discuss this list.

The Shining by Stephen King eh I didn't like it as a book or a movie so I don't care.

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume Judy blume again...Okay I gots to hit the library and revisit the fifth grade

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Oh COME ON! ITS A CLASSIC... A GREAT BOOK....yes Sarah racism is bad but that's kind of the message of the book.....or are you banning it because you don't want the message that racism is bad to get out?  Methinks I am on to something here....

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare yeah Shakesphere has been around for about 400 years by all means ban him now.

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff  You have got to be effing kidding me....ban the dictionary? what word didt hey add that year? Abortion?


Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween un-huh cuz it's about halloween right?





I know this is long but hope some of you have as much reading it as I did responding to it.

I think I can sort of understand most of these, but "Little Red Riding Hood"?!  :o


If she hadn't disobeyed her mom and strayed off the path then the wolf would never had eaten poor old grandma.  ;D

So I extracted one book from the list because it just so happens to be a book I just finished reading in my comp lit class.



Decameron by Boccaccio  It was written in Italy circa 1349-1351.

The book is about 10 people who flee the plague infested city and head for the country.

The trip takes 10 days.
Each one of the people gets to be Queen or King for the day.
They set a theme and then all ten of them have to tell one story regarding that theme. The book is the compilation of the 100 stories.

The introduction is a little dense but the stories, most of them are really funny and surprisingly raunchy considering they were written in the 14th century.

One of my favorites (and I will clean it up for you) is about a girl who is not very religious but she wants to learn how to be. She is beautiful and after being turned away by wise men who don't want to be tempted she meets a man who promises to show her the way.

The man cannot thwart off fate for long tho and he is overcome with desire. He tells her the best way to serve her faith is to put the devil back into hell.  I think if you think hard enough you can determine what part of him might be the devil and since it has to be put into hell I gather you can figure out that she possesses hell somewhere on her person. Anyway she learns she quite enjoys putting the devil to hell and gets angry that the devil doesn't show up as often as he did when she first arrived...  ;D 

not all the stories are that racy but most are...there are alot of stories about the church and corruption of the church and alot of stories about kings and queens and feudal societies because it was 14th century Italy....

I think I've seen this list before on another board, and if so it's a list of most of the books that have been banned in America.  There's enough legit issues to criticize Palin for without having to make stuff up.


It surely is enough to criticize her for, more than enough in fact.  Trying to get the librarian fired is more fuel to the fire.  We must add to the facts about the content of these books that we have a couple of American Nobel Laureates on that list.  Who is she to decide that the American public isn't allowed for whatever reason to read the works of anyone, let alone Nobel Laureates.  If I was wary of her before, well now I am flat out against her. 

Fortunately, "Porn King" did not make the ban list.  :P

Working off memory...just curious to see what her issue might be with some of these. . . I'm deleting the titles I have read or heard of...


This list is taken from the official minutes of the Wasilla Library Board.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess- if the movie is true to the book then lawlessness abounds here and I believe the governments  attempts at mind control fail

Blubber by Judy Blume I read this but don't remember it that well...what could her issue be. Its a book about intolerance right? Sounds like its right up her alley...some one refresh my memory pls.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson My God this was my FAVORITE book growing up. It was the book that made me want to read other books...so a kid dies....that's life....

Carrie by Stephen King Ha Ha. a psycho mom teaches her daughter that her womanliness is a bad & evil thing...what's the problem Sarah???  Oh right telekinesis is an occult thing...  ::) Whatev.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller its on my list as one of those I books I have to read but still haven't done it.

Christine by Stephen King demonic car...who cares. I always thought fantasy and imagination were good for adolescent development....even still this is a book for adults! We should be allowed to make our own choices in reading too.

Cujo by Stephen King hmmm rabid dog traps mom and asthmatic son in car...still not seeing the offensive angle.

Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck I know I still have a copy of this but I don't know if I ever got around to reading it.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller I don't even see a connection...anyone???

East of Eden by John Steinbeck but it was on Oprah's book club a couple years ago....oh she just lost Oprah's vote...oh wait she never had it to begin with  ;D  she just banned this out of spite because she's a witch with psychic powers and she's afraid if her constituents read any of the magic themed works here she will be outed  ;D

Fallen Angels by Walter Myers I know its about soldiers in Viet Nam...anything else "offensive" in it?


Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes another one I have on my shelf but haven't read...this women is gonna motivate me to do some more reading...

Forever by Judy Blume well it does have sex in it.

Harry Potter and the  totally expected this  ::)
Sorcerer's Stone
Chamber of Secrets
Prizoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire
Order of the Phoenix
Half-Blood Prince
Deathly Hallows There I updated her list for her  ;D

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman But Billy Has Two Daddies is okay???  Just kidding I made that title up. This book is hilarious.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell fun book apparently the stupid kids in Alaska might run around trying to recreate the dare huh?

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain I tried to read it but found it offensive...only in the context that it bored me...

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou This actually offends me! Its an autobiography. Yes a little is raped in the book and that little girl is Maya...instead of banning a book that recounts kiddie rape why not just work to get stricter laws for kiddie rapists!  >:(

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak Huh?  I thinks there is a reference to Judaism and Chicken Soup here but HUH?!?! Some one clue me in here.

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence more sex  ::)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding You know that Alaska wilderness can be a lot like a deserted island...those kids could kill all the adults and try to run the land themselves... they might do a better job too...yep good choice SP...Ban this Book.  :D

Scary Stories in the Dark  (et al)  by Alvin Schwartz um okay...its a collection of scary stories  Oooohhhh! BFD!!!!

My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara I only saw the movie...did the kid get too friendly with the horse or something?

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey Guess we're not supposed to know what happens once we lock our crazy people away.

Ordinary People by Judith Guest  She's got a thing about books where kids die huh?

Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Collective Because if you don't know what it is then you'll never need to know how to use it properly  ::)

Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy more kiddie rape...again I say focus on the real world issues not their appearances in literature!

Separate Peace by John Knowles sort of read this in high school feel the need to give it a real try now

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. see my comment on Catch 22

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs Hey it's not tarzan's fault his parents died (or lost him or whatever) and he was forced to be raised by apes...I mean at least the book wasn't titled Tarzan has two ape mommies (or daddies)  ;D

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain That Injun Jim in the Jonny Whitaker film scared the bejeezes out of me

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger see catch 22 and slaughterhouse five

Hey greenjello, did the library people actually let this list go out with the book alphabetized by the word The?  They have more issues than racy books in Alaska!

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier hmmm book kinda sucked. it was boring. ban it for that not because one kid decided to stand up to some arbitrary rule and refused to sell chocolates for his school as a matter of pride and principle.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker hmmm Celie's raped by her father and has two children...of course this is on her list.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Yes, yes....because the Great the Depression was neither great nor depressing enough.

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson I was planning on commenting that this wasn't on the list but of course it is listed under The instead Great because that's how the alphabetizing of books works in Alaska... if these people read more they would know the rule.....by these people I don't mean Alaskans in general I mean the book banning folks... *dodging bullets is fun*

The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks that movie was just on....it has something to do with racism but not sure what.

The Pigman by Paul Zindel another one of my favorites... I would actually welcome a chance to sit with her and discuss this list.

The Shining by Stephen King eh I didn't like it as a book or a movie so I don't care.

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume Judy blume again...Okay I gots to hit the library and revisit the fifth grade

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Oh COME ON! ITS A CLASSIC... A GREAT BOOK....yes Sarah racism is bad but that's kind of the message of the book.....or are you banning it because you don't want the message that racism is bad to get out?  Methinks I am on to something here....

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare yeah Shakesphere has been around for about 400 years by all means ban him now.

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff  You have got to be effing kidding me....ban the dictionary? what word didt hey add that year? Abortion?


Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween un-huh cuz it's about halloween right?





I know this is long but hope some of you have as much reading it as I did responding to it.


I got this as an email, the one book that really "got my goat" was Our Bodies, Our Selves. Empower young women, oh Gods forbid...
Pssst... Sarah got news for ya honey if this book and others  like it had been banned you might be sitting around baking cookies and waiting for hubby to come home, instead of running the State of Alaska.!
If this was a school library, I maybe could understand banning some of these books, but this was the public library, where they usually (at least in my experience have a separate children's section).

Another example of the Government trying to control how we think, what next the Dream Police?"

I think I've seen this list before on another board, and if so it's a list of most of the books that have been banned in America.  There's enough legit issues to criticize Palin for without having to make stuff up.


I wouldn't consider this "made up." It needs to be brought to everyones attention how narrow minded this person really is. It's just one more example.

Snopes.com has an article about this. She did want to get books banned, but not all these books. The attempted book banning happened in 1996, when some of these books hadn't been published yet.

Why the hell did she want James and the Giant Peach ban?  That's a great book!!!  The Pigman I had to read for a college English course, great book.

I'm surprised she didn't try and ban "Where The Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak.  Kids making friends with big scary monster. ;D

The Bastard by John Jakes, I have the whole Kent Family Chronicles.  Full of good old fashion sex and violence!!!!

Wonder why she didn't ban any of Peter Singer's stuff?  Or better yet Dante's Inferno.

I love a good banned book, don't you guys? :)

I'm not one to usually defend Palin, but snopes debunked this.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp

Edit: Ethan called it before me...

It surely is enough to criticize her for, more than enough in fact.  Trying to get the librarian fired is more fuel to the fire.  We must add to the facts about the content of these books that we have a couple of American Nobel Laureates on that list.  Who is she to decide that the American public isn't allowed for whatever reason to read the works of anyone, let alone Nobel Laureates.  If I was wary of her before, well now I am flat out against her. 


I couldn't agree more http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/10/vogel.gif

I am flat out against her, but this is an exaggerated list and there should be no need to resort to exaggeration when there is so much undisputed fact that should keep her far from the white house.

Why the hell did she want James and the Giant Peach ban?  That's a great book!!!  The Pigman I had to read for a college English course, great book.

I'm surprised she didn't try and ban "Where The Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak.  Kids making friends with big scary monster. ;D

The Bastard by John Jakes, I have the whole Kent Family Chronicles.  Full of good old fashion sex and violence!!!!

Wonder why she didn't ban any of Peter Singer's stuff?  Or better yet Dante's Inferno.

I love a good banned book, don't you guys? :)


A Sendak book DID get banned and it was "In the Night Kitchen" because the boy named Mickey was seen naked.

Dante's Inferno was banned by many popes in the 1500's. Also, "Gone With the Wind" was a banned book too.

We checked this out in several sources, and the list is fake.  The Harry Potter books had not been published when she had the conversation with the librarian, and apparently she did not name any specific books.  But the conversation itself is damning enough.

We checked this out in several sources, and the list is fake.  The Harry Potter books had not been published when she had the conversation with the librarian, and apparently she did not name any specific books.  But the conversation itself is damning enough.


My bad I shoukd have checked this out before I posted it, but I saw REDwhen I read this, and reading the snopes thing just added fuel to the fire.

My bad I shoukd have checked this out before I posted it, but I saw REDwhen I read this, and reading the snopes thing just added fuel to the fire.


Very reasonable.  No harm no foul

If she hadn't disobeyed her mom and strayed off the path then the wolf would never had eaten poor old grandma.  ;D

And, um, the hood is not really a bonnet.  It's an anatomical metaphor.
:)

I was immediately suspicious of that list.  Indeed, all of those books/stories have been banned by puritan bluenoses at one time or another.  The list seemed like a compilation of titles culled from other banned books lists. 

Palin is scary enough.  No need to make sh*t up. 

Besides, I doubt the Wasilla public library has that many books to start with!
:P

p. 

Besides, I doubt the Wasilla public library has that many books to start with!
:P




Looks like they won't be getting any new ones anytime soon

www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/01/11/local_news/doc478718ecc9362541886523.txt

No new books for Wasilla library

By Chris Gillow
Frontiersman
Published on Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:33 PM AKST
WASILLA — Bookworms will have to shelve hopes of checking out the latest releases at the Wasilla Public Library.

The library has temporarily suspended the purchase of new material due to an approximate $72,000 budget shortfall, said Bruce Urban, recreation and cultural services manager for the city. The decision came down the chain of command from Mayor Dianne M. Keller and the hold will remain in place until the Wasilla City Council can devise a funding plan, he said.

“We have to make up that $72,000 shortfall somewhere,” Urban said.

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Palmer resident Kirsten Nelson looks for a book at the Wasilla Public Library Thursday morning. The library has temporarily suspended the purchase of new material due to a budget shortfall of about $72,000.

*
The shortfall is a result of a 20 -percent reduction of a Matanuska-Susitna Borough block grant that provided part of the library’s funding, Urban said. Originally, the city anticipated a Borough contribution of about $365,000 and worked that amount into its 2008 budget. The city budgets on a two-year cycle with fiscal years 2007 and 2008 being budgeted prior to 2007.

“It really goes back to the Borough,” he said. “We expected to get ‘X’ amount of dollars and we didn’t.”

Overall, the library’s 2008 fiscal year operating budget amounts to $769,000, he said. The city is responsible for covering about $476,000 of the library budget.

Urban said cutting any part of a budget, whether personal or professional, isn’t a preferred option, but the shortfall needs to be made up somehow. The buying freeze is a necessary step that will ensure money is available to cover regular operating costs such as utility bills and employee wages.

“The last thing we want to do is lay off employees,” Urban said. “Our employees are very valuable and we don’t want to layoff anybody.”

KJ Martin-Albright, library director for the Wasilla Public Library, said she received notice of the buying hold on Dec. 20. The news was disappointing to hear, but she’s glad to know jobs aren’t in jeopardy. Problem is, Valley readers and users of the library will ultimately be the ones who will suffer.

The overall impact of the freeze will depend on how long the hold will last, Martin-Albright said. But she does know its going to have a negative effect.

“It’s hard to meet the information needs of patrons and meet our mission without being able to purchase new material,” she said.

The library usually orders books on a weekly basis to keep current with new publications, she said. Last year, the library added about 3,800 new items to its 55,000-volume collection, which includes books, periodicals and DVDs. Based on last year’s purchases, rough calculations show the freeze could create a reduction of about 317 new books per month.

Jeanne Troshynski, president of Friends of Wasilla Public Library, said she will attend the next city council meeting to voice her concerns about the situation.

“The new books are an important part of the library,” Troshynski said. “A lot of the patrons of the library really count on those new books.”

Not only will the hold impact patrons living in or around Wasilla, it will also affect readers across the Valley, Troshynski said. “It impacts everybody on the library network.”

As one of the Valley’s largest libraries, readers in smaller communities like Trapper Creek or Talkeetna rely on the Wasilla Public Library for its larger variety and new selections, Troshynski said.

Overall, Troshynski, Martin-Albright and Urban all agree a funding solution is needed to solve the library’s shortfall. Troshynski has a couple of ideas.

Wasilla only charges a one-time business license fee, she said. If the city began charging businesses to renew their licenses on a yearly basis, it could use that additional revenue to help cover library funding.

While the license fees might serve as a long-term solution, for now, the city has a few unfilled positions. Money that would have been reserved for salaries could be used on a temporary basis by freezing the hiring of those positions for a time. Although it may not generate $72,000, it could help keep some new books coming in, Troshynski suggested.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.

My bad I shoukd have checked this out before I posted it, but I saw REDwhen I read this, and reading the snopes thing just added fuel to the fire.



We checked this out in several sources, and the list is fake.  The Harry Potter books had not been published when she had the conversation with the librarian, and apparently she did not name any specific books.  But the conversation itself is damning enough.


What is next, "Mrs. Palin, why do you beat your husband"? 

Whether or not the list was specifically Palin's list or not is irrelevant.  Most, if not all, of these books have been on banned lists across the country- the subject of book banning stands as a good topic on its own...even if we take Palin out of the mix.

Whether or not the list was specifically Palin's list or not is irrelevant.  Most, if not all, of these books have been on banned lists across the country- the subject of book banning stands as a good topic on its own...even if we take Palin out of the mix.


Absolutely, no book should be banned.

Remember, one of the first things Hitler did was burn the books!

Absolutely, no book should be banned.


Exactly.  If you don't like a book don't read it.  Simple as that.

Remember, one of the first things Hitler did was burn the books!

Goethe said prophetically, "Societies that burn books will eventually burn people."

Banning books is not the Republican way.  No money for schools and libraries is. 

If you don't teach 'em to read in the first place, you don't have to worry about what they're rading!
::)

Goethe said prophetically, "Societies that burn books will eventually burn people."

Banning books is not the Republican way.  No money for schools and libraries is. 

If you don't teach 'em to read in the first place, you don't have to worry about what they're rading!
::)


So true.  There is a very strong correlation between literacy rates and repressive gov'ts.  The lower the rate, the more likely you get repressive gov'ts.  Stands to reason. 

So true.  There is a very strong correlation between literacy rates and repressive gov'ts.  The lower the rate, the more likely you get repressive gov'ts.  Stands to reason. 


Its up to the people that can read to teach those that can"t if we can't rely on our schools. Hence literacy Volunteers, I love it.It gives me something to do, and give back. Education is the most powerful weapon, against tyranny.

Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't 
                                                                                                  Mark Twain

Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't 
                                                                                                  Mark Twain




Well the first is ignorance by choice and the one isn't.  I guess with the later there can be a sort of progress. :-\\

So, didn't they PROVE she didn't ban books now?

Right.  She didn't, but she did question whether or not the library would be open to it, then tried to have the librarians job when she didn't get the answer she wanted.  The library has since had its funding reduced.

I'll bet the school gym got all the funding it needed!

I'll bet the school gym got all the funding it needed!


And Hockey pucks!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

And Hockey pucks!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

You'll have to ask Don Rickles about that one.
;)

Absolutely, no book should be banned.


I agree.  I have been trying to get the local grade school library to accept my complimentary copy of "Hit Man: A Technical Guide for Independent Contractors" , but they refuse.

I agree.  I have been trying to get the local grade school library to accept my complimentary copy of "Hit Man: A Technical Guide for Independent Contractors" , but they refuse.

That's more like James Bond kinda stuff, right?
:P

^I thought it was the game guide for the Hitman video games...or maybe a companion book for the feature film they made based on the game.

;D

That's more like James Bond kinda stuff, right?
:P


Nah.  It is sort of a "Committing Murder for Dummies" kind of book.  Some guy used it to commit a triple murder and go undetected.  He now sits on death row.

Like I said, for dummies...  ;D ;D

Nah.  It is sort of a "Committing Murder for Dummies" kind of book.  Some guy used it to commit a triple murder and go undetected.  He now sits on death row.

Like I said, for dummies...   ;D ;D



Your wife gets two in the hat and then the cops notice you ordered "Hit Man: A Technical Guide for Independent Contractors" off the 'net with your Visa three weeks earlier.  Sounds pretty dummm to me!

I've seen a few MSNBC shows in which some jackweed thinks he's hiring a "hit man" to off the old lady for a cool five grand, but he's been talking to the cops the whole time.  When they set up a john sting, sometimes I feel sorry for the horny old slob, but not when these guys get duped on murder-for-hire!
::)