This is NOT a game.

My aunt recently posted this article on Facebook. She has been an advocate against autoerotic asphixiation since her son, my cousin, died several years ago because he was purposefully choking himself to the point of passing out, for no better reason than to reach an emotional and physical "high". This game must be stopped and discouraged wherever it can be.

Olean officials: Choking no game

By Adam Vosler
Olean Times Herald







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A dangerous, new trend is apparently developing in Olean schools - a choking “game” that can be deadly under some circumstances.

At Tuesday night’s Olean Common Council meeting, Mayor Linda Witte had Olean City Police Chief Terry Schnell talk to the council and the audience about what he called the “cloud nine” game, among other nicknames. He also spoke to the Times Herald on Wednesday about what some students are doing inside school walls.

“What happens is one individual will hyperventilate, and then they place themselves against the wall and another individual will choke them until they pass out,” Chief Schnell said.

The “assistant” applies force on the individual’s throat or chest to cause them to pass out. School officials say that as oxygen returns to the brain, a 5- to 10-second high is experienced; followed by a rush as pressure is removed from the body, causing dammed-up blood to surge through the carotid artery.

Gerald Trietley, principal of Olean Middle School; and Assistant Principal Larry Welty said the issue came to their attention around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, when Mr. Welty overheard a group of students talking about a “pass-out game.”

“I had a student come to me (and say) that there were students in the bathroom doing it,” Mr. Welty added.



“They admitted it to me. They didn’t realize the implications of what they were doing,” he said.

When school officials questioned them about the incident, students said someone told them how to do it last weekend at the Salamanca Ice Rink. Some children were also reportedly playing the game at the local YMCA.

“Through the investigation, we started to find out there are probably 20 students from the middle school who either witnessed it or took part in it,” Mr. Trietley said. “We then heard ... that a couple of our kids did it in the bathroom here.”

Chief Schnell had reported at that least five cases had occurred Tuesday at the middle school.

Hoping the public grasps the dangers of this activity, Chief Schnell cited a recent “60 Minutes” episode that told the story of father who found his daughter’s lifeless body in her bedroom. She had used a strap to choke herself and didn’t wake up.

Those who survive sometimes suffer convulsions or seizures, according to the police chief.

“Kids are using cell phones to (videotape) it, and it’s quite disturbing,” he said.

The practice seems to be most prevalent in middle-school-age children, Chief Schnell explained. Officials believe this may be because choking is a way to get a “high” without actually using drugs or alcohol.

“What we found out is that this has been going on for generations and generations,” Mr. Trietley said. “I think the kids feel it’s safe.”

To hear Olean officials talk, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Even if the “player” in this game survives, the actual asphyxiation is also dangerous because it could cause children doing it in the bathroom to lose consciousness and hit the floor or sinks.

“We want the parents and kids to know that this is not a game,” Chief Schnell said. “It can seriously go wrong and go wrong very quickly, and we don’t want to find someone that’s comatose or who has passed away.”

Any sort of tragedy involving this game could have far-reaching repercussions.

“If something were to happen to a child from another child, I think, yes, you could be facing charges,” Chief Schnell said. He would not confirm whether the offender could face charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Schools officials hope this can be avoided by letting students know that they’re watching for suspicious activity. Those who witness it are being urged to make a stand personally or tell an adult who can take action.

“We’re not looking at punishment; we’re looking at education,” said Dr. Colleen Taggerty, superintendent of Olean City School District.

Mr. Trietley added, “We spoke to every child that was involved in this or was a witness to it. We contacted their parents as well.”

Officials are looking at contacting a physician or another expert on the subject to host an assembly in the next week. Mr. Trietley has already written a letter to be sent to parents in the district, along with warning other local school districts about “cloud nining.”

In the meantime, Chief Schnell has a clear idea of what parents should to do protect their children.

“Talk to their kids,” he said. “The best thing, I feel, is information. If they have a cell phone, I would be checking their cell phone for video or pictures of it.”

Those with teenage children may also want to take note of the activity’s many nicknames on the Internet, which include choking game; pass-out game; space cowboy; good kids’ game, derived from its absence of drug or alcohol use; suffocation roulette; and many more.

“We need our children to be safe,” Dr. Taggerty said. “Parents need their children to be safe.”

(Contact reporter Adam Vosler at avosler@oleantimesherald.com)

Campaign Speech Rehash Proves one Thing: Nothing has Changed in an Entire Year of the Obamanation

So, I submitted myself to the torture that was the first State of the Union address by our Commissar-in-Chief, Barack Insane Obama. In it I heard several familiar things:

1. We're in a recession.

2. Bush caused the recession

3. Government is the only thing that can save us from ourselves

4. Change we can believe in.

5. Healthcare "Reform"

6. Cap and Trade

None of this sounds even remotely different from what things were like when The One came into office. He doubled down on healthcare and cap and trade, promising to push even harder to get those two jokes passed, despite overwhelming public opposition to them. Oh, and he also took the blame for not yacking ENOUGH about his policies, thus rendering us incapable of understanding them. Yeesh. Can he really be so blind as to not notice that he's heading off a cliff, both politically and economically, and he's taking us with him? Or does he simply not care? I think it's a little of both.

I know we're in a recession, Mr. President. My fiancee has been unemployed since it began. I'm well aware of the lack of money. Thanks for NOT delivering me any news in that regard, jackass!

The president went on and on and on and on about healthcare, giving us a whole slew of sob stories that he probably made up on the spot and then had copied to TOTUS for the speech. Does he really think he can GUILT us into passing that horrendous abomination of a bill? If so he's more blind than Ray Charles was.

Cap and Trade: The fool-in-chief went on and on about how proud he was of the House of Representatives for passing what he laughingly called a "jobs bill" that focused on environmental protection and a "green" economy. I wonder if he realizes at all that he's signing a dead bill, or to use the older phrase, beating a dead horse?

Blaming Bush must be this guy's own personal hobby or something. He didn't name the previous administration specifically, but he did use such telling phrases as "when I first came into office" and such like that. I don't know why I keep hoping that he will some day take responsibility for his own actions and act like a man, and then act like a PRESIDENT!

Of course, even as he continued touting his failed policies and blaming Bush for his problems, he continued to spout that nonsense that only he knew best and would be too glad to help the too-stupid American people out with their problems. Yeah, we don't NEED your help, Commissar! Just get the hell out of the way and CUT THE FREAKING TAXES SO WE CAN HIRE MORE WORKERS!!!

Cap and Trade: This horrendous monster needs to be slain right off the bat. It's taken a back burner to healthcare, but the beast is still sleeping waiting for its turn on the senate floor. Scott Brown, if you're listening, BE THE 41st VOTE ON THIS TOO!

So all in all, nothing new from the Commissar and his lackeys. More campaign trail crap, more Hope and Change, more bullshit. November better wake his ass up, because if it doesn't, he'll be out on his ass in 2012, and then I'll be singing "DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!"

Yeah, I said it. Call me a racist. I dare you!

And so the Attacks Have Begun

Well, guess what, boys and girls? Liberals have once again proven that I and others who think like me just "don't get it." I apparently am too stupid to understand that a woman's right to annihilate her young is more important than the sanctity of life itself. Gosh, I'm such a dumb hick, I should be out strummin' a banjo and eatin' dirt like all them other con-ser-va-tive folks. A-hyuck. Not 24 hours after having posted the previous about unborn life, I was treated to this:

1. For the reasons stated above.

2. If the aborted fetus was meant to be the person who cures AIDS, cancer, or any other host of ailments, then Fate (I honestly believe this) would see to it that the fetus is not aborted.

3. Of course it's not the fault of the fetus! But let's face it, pregnancy is traumatic enough on a woman's body without it being a constant reminder that she was violated.

4. I have known people who say they would abort a fetus if they found out it had Downs because they are not emotionally and/or financially equipped to deal with a baby who has Downs. Would it be fair to bring a Downs baby into a family in which the parents would resent it? (The "give it up for adoption" argument won't fly with me--no woman should have to carry a pregnancy to term if she feels its best to abort it.)

6. I must be a very tragic figure. I have denied MANY potential human beings the right to exist by ovulating every month since I was 12. Bad me!

7. "Better," if you read Britni's blog post, means NOT QUESTIONING WOMEN WHEN THEY MAKE THE CHOICE TO ABORT A PREGNANCY. No one makes the decision lightly. It's NEVER "on a whim." You can't get that...but please don't try to dictate your beliefs to those of us who do get it.

Those are the answers this "enlightened" person gave me earlier today while I was enjoying a movie with the future mother of my NOT ABORTED children.

Here, fellow tin-foil-hat wearing drones, is MY response to HER response:

1. I just ripped to shreds EVERY SINGLE REASON that an abortion could be laughingly called a blessing.

2. This "enlightened individual" appears to have forgotten that we as human beings possess FREE WILL!!! Fate will not step in in EVERY INSTANCE to stop us from being human. What the hell do we look like? Calvinists?

3. A baby is a constant reminder that someone was violated? Who knew? Maybe every infant should be sent to the crematoriums for daring to traumatize mothers the world over. I don't think Bristol Palin believes Tripp is a reminder of the fact that she was violated (though he IS a constant reminder that she dated a jackass for however long they were together.)

4. So in other words, every child with Downs is an inconvenience to the parents and does not have the right to live. Horrors. To the gas chambers with them!

5. Notice how she didn't include this one in her answer. Not to confident, are we?

6. So let's do the math here. Every woman who ovulates ovulates on an average of 1 egg per month. The average sentance for first degree murder is 10-12 years. This means that every single woman on the planet (such as my fiance) must serve 1846 years and counting on average in prison, assuming they started menstruating at 12. Let's not even BEGIN to think that human life has not yet begun until sperm meets egg and forms zygote. Someone needs a little more sex education.

7. I "don't get it." I'm a moron. I should just shut up and go away. Tyipcal liberal, femi-nazi bullshit. I'm a man who can't understand what it's like to consider ending a human life and so should just shut up and do what I'm told. Yes, Mistress. Free will detected, severe malfunction determined. Returning to reeducation camp for repairs.

I think I've made my point, and fired the first shots in a whole new battle in the same old war.

Continuing to fight the good fight!

Abortion a Blessing? Not for the Unborn, it's Not!

Here are some interesting words from someone who, it would seem, should have a more respecful view of unborn children than she appears to. The blog is called "Oh My God, That Britney's Shameless:

In honor of the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I want to share a few things that I think are important. I want to repost the words of Rev. Katherine Ragsdale, which I've posted before, because I think they're amazing.

"Let’s be very clear about this: when a woman finds herself pregnant due to violence and chooses an abortion, it is the violence that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing.

When a woman finds that the fetus she is carrying has anomalies incompatible with life, that it will not live and that she requires an abortion — often a late-term abortion — to protect her life, her health, or her fertility, it is the shattering of her hopes and dreams for that pregnancy that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing.

When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.

And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion — there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.

These are the two things I want you, please, to remember — abortion is a blessing and our work is not done."


I have a few questions to ask about this, first regarding the words of the so-called "reverend".

1. Why is the ending of an innocent life a blessing?

2. Why is it not a tragedy to think about the potential life that was lost? That child could have cured cancer, or AIDS, or any number of other social diseases that plague today.

3. Is it the baby's fault that it was conceived as a result of a violent act? If not, why is the baby the one to pay the price?

4. What do you mean exactly by "anomolies incompatible with life?" And let's call late-term abortion what it is: Partial birth. Would you deny your own child the right to live if it had such "anomolies" as Down Syndrome or Cerebral Paulsy? I have CP in my left leg, rendering it shorter than my right. Should I have been aborted as a child? And if so,who has the right to decide whether I should have been?

5. Why is government and "social programs" the only solution to women who live in poverty? Why are we not focusing more on the two parent family? Why is the idea of a mother/father household frowned upon?

6. As to the final paragraph, isn't it a tragedy that that potential human being was denied his right to live as a part of that loving and respectful relationship?

7. On a final note, I do agree that women deserve better (in regards to the poetry) however, what does "better" mean? Does it mean they deserve to be treated as equals in society in terms of potential and capability? Or does it mean that a woman should be allowed to end the life of a potential human being on a whim, simply as a matter of her own convenience?

No, don't Profile. It's Offensive! :P

A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality.Absolutely No Profiling! Pause a moment, reflect back, and take thefollowing multiple choice test.

These events are actual events from history.. They really happened!
Do you remember?

HERE'S THE TEST
1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by:
a.. Superman
b. Jay Leno
c. Harry Potter
d. A Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40

2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by :
a. Olga Corbett
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d . Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c.. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year oldAmerican passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davey Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens , and a US Navy divertrying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

8. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by thepassengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr Bean d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
No, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you? So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intenton killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people.

They must conduct random searches of 80-year-oldwomen, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmenwith metal hips, and Medal of Honor winner and former Governor Joe Foss, but leave Muslim Males between the ages 17 and 40 alone lest they be guilty of profiling.

Let's send this to as many people as we can

Foot note: Fort Hood Texas ......another Muslim 39 years old killed 13people and wounded 30 some odd others...

Does this fit the profile!

NOW OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IS TELLING EVERYONE THAT THE YOUNG MUSLIM THAT ATTEMPTED TO BLOWUP A NORTHWEST/DELTA JET AS IT APPROACHED DETROIT ON CHRISTMAS DAY WAS (QUOTE) "AN ISOLATED INCIDENT".

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SHITTING ME OR WHAT!!!

MY FATHER USE TO SAY: "PLEASE DON'T PISS ON MY LEG AND TELLME IT'S RAINING."

McCain-Feingold Struck Down. Free Speech Win?

We've all heard no doubt about the recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. For those that haven't, long story short, the bill was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, thus allowing big corporate entities to buy time on the airwaves and support or criticize candidates.

Some don't like the idea of corporate entities having that kind of power over elections because of unfair amounts of money potentially being used to buy elections. Honestly, though, why should we restrict others' free speech rights just to make sure they can't do something or say something we don't like? That's against the very essence of the Constitution, and violates it to its core. Corporations are not inherently evil, despite what the Progressives, and liberals would have you believe. We've been crying out from the mountaintops of the fruited plain for months about constitutional violations, and now when one is struck down, some are complaining.

Maybe they just don't understand fully what McCain-Feingold was. I'm not even sure I do. I am sure, however, that it gave an unfair monopoly to the network media in terms of campaign commercials, and I'm glad to finally see that monopoly broken up.

Continuing to fight the good fight.

Is Red the new Blue? Scott Brown and Massachussetts seems to think so

I can never tell if I'm spelling the name of that state correctly. I don't have to write about it very often, so I've never really thought about it. But anyway, that's not what this post is about.

As we all know from hours of election coverage, the People's Republic of Massachussetts has seen the light, or so it appears, and has elected someone who could very well finally put the zombie that is healthcare reform back into the grave for good and all. I personally was energized by this campaign, and I don't even live on that COAST much less the state. Still, I as many before me, realized that this election would speak volumes about what the people were feeling. If the Smurf States that make up New England are starting to turn red, it could be because they're all blushing with shame, or it could be because they're seeing red and are sorely pissed.

Either outcome is fine with me. A little shame would do them good, I think, since they helped put the Commissar-in-Chief into office in the first place.

Scott Brown talks a good game, we all must admit. But now the real test begins. even as I write this I am shaking with anticipation, but also trepidation. Will Brown keep his word and be the 41st vote, as he promised? Or will the machine crush his spirit like it has so many others? I personally hope for the former.

For the first time since the election, though, I can honestly say that victory is in sight for the people of this nation, because quite simply, we were too loud for them to ignore. Oh, they'll pretend they didn't hear us, of course, but then we'll jut get louder. If this seismic event that happened in the Bay State didn't wake them up, November will. And if November by some chance does not, 2012 will.

We WILL take this country back, and we'll pry it from the Progressive's cold dead hands if need be!

To Protect and Serve, not Punish and Enslave.

The story I bring to your attention today comes from a blog I recently read called "Big Girl Pants". Apparently her local police department doesn't think much about our supreme law of the land, that little inconvenient truth known to all free thinking Americans as the Constitution.

Long story short, the woman had her 4th Ammendment rights violated by a bunch of gung-ho morons with badges. Details can be found at: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BigGirlPants/~3/uuo4NOE48gw/im-looking-for-my-invite-to-the-whitehouse-now.html

Needless to say, this is horrific. The idea that the cops have that we only enjoy the rights that they choose to give us is ludicrous and insane. All who read this, please repost this link and pass it along to your own readers. Born Again Americans, I know you both will despise what you read once you see it, as I do.

Continuing to fight the good fight,

the Constitutional Crusader

Back From a Much Needed Sabbatical.

Yes, that's right. After a few days of decompressing and completely avoiding network and cable news, the Constitutional Crusader is back in the game. It felt good to step back from the fighting for a while and recharge, and what a situation I come back to. Apparently, while I was away Massachussets remembered that there are Republicans that run as well as Democrats in that state. So many people have remembered this, in fact, that the arrogant d-bag running on the Dem ticket is behind in the polls. Ted Kennedy must be crying, wherever he is.

Martha Coakley is also showing all the signs that her campaign is dying a horrible death. Someone put her out of her misery, please. Come to think of it, how did she even become the nominee? I'm not sure how special elections work, exactly, but if the all libs can offer up as their best candidate is someone who thinks that we're "allowed" to be Christian in this country, and refuses to campaign and do the dirty work that's required of a potential public servant, then the conservatives have this one in the bag.

Here's hoping the Repubs get their 41st vote. Feeling the squeeze yet, Majority Leader Reid?

A new Title, a New Purpose

You can all no doubt see that things have changed here at one of the last bastions of freedom on the net. The new layout is experimental, of course, but the title of the blog and my new handle will be sticking. The Constitution is under attack and needs defenders. I choose to be one of those defenders, and so, the Constitutional Crusader was born.

Continuing to fight the good fight.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

As the title suggests, things have changed regarding this blog. The more obvious changes are of course the background and the adsense gadget, as well as the layout in general of where things are. Please bear with me as I'm trying to find an optimal layout that looks organized and professional in order to shamelessly attract more readers the way honey attracts flies.

Continuing to fight the good fight,

The Culture Warrior.

The Rats are Abandoning the Ship

So, some interesting news out of Washington yesterday. Chris "Dickhead" Dodd, one of the most powerful and influential senators on Capitol Hill, has announced that he will not seek reelection in November. Much speculation has been thrown about concerning why Dodd has given up his seat, yet I think Glenn Beck had the best conclusion of all.

Simply put, Dodd knew he couldn't win. Yet instead of switching parties, a la "Benedict Arlen" Specter, he has completely abandoned any hope of retaining his Connecticut seat. Dodd's retirement is nothing more than a chance to abandon the sinking ship that are his poll numbers.

This alone means big trouble for the Democrats, as even though Connecticut is bluer than a Smurf, there is still a chance that a Republican conservative can win and take the total number of votes for the dems down from 60 to 59. Not likely, to be fair, but still possible.

Dodd was not the only one to jump ship. Several other Dems, including Senator Byron Dorgon of North Dakota, Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado, and John Cherry, the Lt. Governor of Michigan, all decided to throw in the towel. What does this mean for the Repubs, exactly?

In my opinion it means the dems see the writing on the wall. If Dodd had run again in CT, a republican very likely would have taken his seat. Now that he's gone, it'll be easier for the libs to hold on to it. Don't believe that nonsense he spouted about him having enough. These guys fight tooth and nail for power, and none since George Washington has EVER legitimately given the excuse that they've "had enough".

As for the others, they're probably quitting while they're ahead. All I can say is good riddance. Liberal dem super majorities are what caused all this nonsense in the first place. A balance needs to be restored, however, as we can't allow the Republicans a super majority either, because as Machiavelli said so succinctly, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Anyone who doesn't believe me probably doesn't read conservative blogs.

All in all, it's a sign that things are more hopeful than I was beginning to believe. We the people WILL take the country back, and retirement won't save ALL the congress, and it certainly won't allow them to keep the White House in 2012. But we must remember all of this. We cannot allow the confusion of midterm campaign mudslinging to cloud our judgment when the voting starts. We can't forget that the spending, the entitlements, and the government overreaching is why we took to the streets and the web in the first place.

We must remain steadfast, we must remain determined, but most of all we must remain UNITED.

I've Gone Rogue, How About You?

Yes, as the title to this post suggests, I have gone rogue. I have read that evil evil book by that evil evil woman, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. As such I have been brainwashed into believing that this great nation can stand on its own without government intervention, and have been convinced of her lies that she was unfairly treated by the McCain staffers and the media at large, who did us the courtesy of propagandizing for the Chosen One, Barack Obama.

For all of you who think that I meant one word of that, go seek help, please.

I loved the book, plain and simple. The candid tone used to describe her life in Alaska, her five pregnancies, and her relationship with her husband Todd was very refreshing. I say that because after an entire year of anti-Palin bias from the media, and conflicting accounts from the blogosphere, I finally was able to get the story straight from the horses mouth, as it were.

Much of the book, of course, merely confirmed what I'd already believed. that a series of misunderstandings had resulted in confusion during the campaign. Also, the Campaign staffer's insistence that Palin was "going rogue" simply meant that she didn't fit into the GOP's little box that they'd tried to wedge her into.

Also, that same sense of realism that Governor Palin exuded during the campaign was in each and every page. The book didn't appear ghostwritten to me, as it simply didn't SOUND as though a professional writer had done the writing. There were too many "regular folks" sayings. Not to mention that if it WAS ghostwritten, that ghostwriter seemed to have had some kind of infatuation with Todd Palin.

I especially loved the end chapter, where she laid out clearly that "common sense" conservatism that so many of us have now begun to rediscover. Simply put, she stated that more debt is not the solution to a debt-ridden country such as ours. A freeze on government spending is the answer, not more spending. Cutting taxes and letting people keep what they earn will create jobs. Not some overblown government-expanding stimulus bill, or a small business-killing bill like Cap and Trade.

I also have a healthy new respect for the people of Alaska. I never knew the hardships they faced up north at the Last Frontier. Being born in that kind of environment, it's no wonder she has that independent, "I did it my way" style of governing.

Needless to say, everything that was supposedly "damning" to the former Governor is really nothing more than trumped up bull. All of her ethics "violations" were dismissed, and now she is free to defend herself from those bogus allegations without using state funds to do so. Those who call Sarah Palin a quitter clearly do not know the real Sarah Palin. As I have not met her personally, nor do I, but her book illuminated several aspects about her that I was unable to draw conclusions on on my own. It doesn't help that the only reason politicians in the lower 48 resign is in the face of disgrace or scandal, either.

But there is no disgrace or scandal where governor Palin is concerned, only a healthy love of country and respect for the people of her state. If you ask me, we need more Sarah Palins in Washington and less Harry Reids.