Alaskan Independence Party

[Kefka]

The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its best-known policy is its call for a United Nations vote, which they claim should have been offered as an option in the plebiscite on statehood under international law. Ideologically a constitutional foundation, the party also calls for increased Alaskan control of Alaskan land, gun rights, privatization, home schooling, and reduction of governmental intrusion in the private lives of its citizens with adherence to the founding documents of the United States. The party has appeared on the ballot in Alaska in all state elections since 1970.

At other times, party members have also proposed that the state explore the possibility of joining Canada. Other members have expressed opposition to joining Canada in its present form but are open to the possibility of joining an independent Western Canadian state in the event one should be established. Neither of these scenarios form part of the party's current platform.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Independence_Party

The Alaskan Independence Party can be summed up in just two words:
ALASKA FIRST!

Until we as Alaskans receive our Ultimate Goal, the AIP will continue to strive to make Alaska a better place to live with less government interference in our everyday lives.

The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:

1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.

The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences.

http://www.akip.org/index.html

http://www.akip.org/conv08.html

Is Patriotism off the table, too?

[Tisket]

Not sure what your point is. This is old news. This faction has been around for years and years pushing the same agenda.

And, as you can see, they are hardly a voting majority:

http://www.akip.org/membership.html



Is Patriotism off the table, too?

They are EXTREMELY patriotic...to Alaska.

[Kembal]

Sarah Palin's a former member of the AIP and is still associated with them. (spoke via video at their last convention, I think) Hence the issue coming up.

[Tisket]

Did you watch the linked video?

[Tisket]

She calls them "competition". This is a huge non-issue.

[Kembal]

I haven't watched the video (there's a link in this thread?).

[Kefka]

Not sure what your point is. This is old news. This faction has been around for years and years pushing the same agenda.

And, as you can see, they are hardly a voting majority:

http://www.akip.org/membership.html



They are EXTREMELY patriotic...to Alaska.

The point is you can't question someone's patriotism when you've been part of a political party who's main focus is to secede from the U.S. It's been a major point in McCain's campaign that Obama isn't patriotic enough. It's not old news to everyone.

[Kefka]

She calls them "competition". This is a huge non-issue.

She was referring to all political parties. She was a member of AIP until she shifted her focus towards the national stage.

[Tisket]

Excuse me but she left the AIP before she became Mayor of Wasilla...in 1996.

[Tisket]

I haven't watched the video (there's a link in this thread?).

http://www.akip.org/conv08.html

[Parkbandit]

:rofl:

Look at the liberals scrambling for ANYTHING to try and pin on the MILF.

[Tisket]

The thing about the AIP membership is that their votes have been wooed by every political figure of both the Republican and Democratic parties in Alaska since their inception. They seldom have candidates of their own on a ballot. And they have many members who do NOT want to secede regardless of the stated AIP goals.

[Kefka]

:rofl:

Look at the liberals scrambling for ANYTHING to try and pin on the MILF.

:rofl:

Look at the parkbandit repeating the same post on every thread about the GILF.

[Parkbandit]

:rofl:

Look at the parkbandit repeating the same post on every thread about the GILF.


It's rather on topic in most of the bullshit threads that have popped up though.. especially this one you initiated.

Keep digging though Kefka.. a broken watch is right twice a day. Your time will come.

[ClydeR]

Is there a link saying that Palin was a member of the Alaska Independence Party? If there is such a link in this thread, I seem to have overlooked it. I understand that she spoke to their convention, but I have not read anything saying that she supported their goal of independence.

We bought Alaska fair and square for $0.019 per acre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seward%27s_folly), and we're not going to let it go.

[Tisket]

Apparently the Vice Chairman of the AIP claimed she was a member before she became mayor but I can't find the link where I read that. Whatever, this is bound to bring them national attention which I'm sure they won't consider a bad thing.

[Kefka]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

Political party
Alaskan Independence Party (until 1996)
Republican (1996 - Present)

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/members-of-frin.html

[Back]

Alaska, Hawaî, Puerto Rico, Panama, Belize...

Still, great judgment.

[Gan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

Political party
Alaskan Independence Party (until 1996)
Republican (1996 - Present)

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/members-of-frin.html

Why not finish the rest of the story:

Wasailla City Council - 1992 to 1996
Mayor of Wasailla - 1996 to 2002
Chair of Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission - 2003 to 2004
Govenor of Alaska - 2006 to present.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

Which contradicts the below statement.

She was referring to all political parties. She was a member of AIP until she shifted her focus towards the national stage.

[Daniel]

This is about as relevant as Rev. Wright.

[Kefka]

Why not finish the rest of the story:

Because I wasn't asked to? Did you read the question?


Which contradicts the below statement.

Which happens when you read conflicting articles. Notice I didn't argue the correction.

[Khariz]

This is about as relevant as Rev. Wright.

Would be a better comparison to Wright if she was still a member of this political party up until earlier this year.

12 years ago makes it a bit of a stretch to make it a valid comparison.

[Kembal]

Hmm. The vice chair of the AIP says that Palin was a good member of the AIP and that AIP members need to infilitrate the major parties in order to push for Alaskan independence, and it's all caught on video.

Palin's not having a good day, that's for sure.

Link to Marc Ambinder's post, which has the videos: http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_alaska_independence_party.php

[Tisket]

Palin hasn't been a member for over 12 years. I don't know why that is difficult for you to grasp. How is she responsible for Grizzly Adam's views in that video? It really is scraping the bottom of the barrel if this is all people have to condemn her.

[Sean]

Would be a better comparison to Wright if she was still a member of this political party up until earlier this year.

12 years ago makes it a bit of a stretch to make it a valid comparison.

I guess we wont have to hear about Bill Ayers anymore then.

[Daniel]

I guess we wont have to hear about Bill Ayers anymore then.

I see what you did there

[Kembal]

Palin hasn't been a member for over 12 years. I don't know why that is difficult for you to grasp. How is she responsible for Grizzly Adam's views in that video? It really is scraping the bottom of the barrel if this is all people have to condemn her.

Actually, people have a lot more to condemn her on, her lie about the Bridge to Nowhere being the biggest one so far. At this point, I'm not sure that her former association with the AIP amounts to much, but what's for certain is that she's going to get asked about it by reporters. Hence, she did not have a good day yesterday with the amount of things that came out.

[Tisket]

Actually, people have a lot more to condemn her on, her lie about the Bridge to Nowhere being the biggest one so far. At this point, I'm not sure that her former association with the AIP amounts to much

Are you referring to the Gravina Island Bridge in your post? The same bridge that Palin supported but then responsibly canceled when federal funding levels more than doubled Alaska's portion of the bridge's cost? That sounds like fiscally responsible leadership to me.

[Parkbandit]

Are you referring to the Gravina Island Bridge in your post? The same bridge that Palin supported but then responsibly canceled when federal funding levels more than doubled Alaska's portion of the bridge's cost? That sounds like fiscally responsible leadership to me.

SO, you admit she is a FLIP-FLOPPER!!!

[ClydeR]

http://www.akip.org/conv08.html

I suggest that those of you interested in this subject figure out what Palin is referring to when she says that she supports the AIP's vision of upholding the constitution of Alaska. I think that is code for something more than an "outsider" might think it means.

[Khariz]

I suggest that those of you interested in this subject figure out what Palin is referring to when she says that she supports the AIP's vision of upholding the constitution of Alaska. I think that is code for something more than an "outsider" might think it means.

Erm...why don't you just tell us what it means. I'll gladly research it, but if you already know, spill it.

[ClydeR]

Erm...why don't you just tell us what it means. I'll gladly research it, but if you already know, spill it.

I don't know. I just have a feeling.

[Tisket]

Innuendo annoys the shit out of me. MY feeling is you should spit it out or shut the fuck up.

[ClydeR]

Innuendo annoys the shit out of me. MY feeling is you should spit it out or shut the fuck up.

I was hoping there is somebody here from Alaska who already knows.

[Tisket]

I lived there for a large chunk of my life and although that doesn't make me an expert by any means, I can't tell what the hell you are even asking in order to attempt an answer. Vague shit is annoying.

[Khariz]

I enjoyed this thing in the AIP FAQ:

Q: Didn't we vote for statehood already?

A: The vote for statehood was invalid because the people were not presented with the range of options available to them. Further, the federal government has since breached the contract for statehood on numerous occasions in over a dozen serious and substantial instances.


Jeez.

EDIT:

Q: Would I lose my U.S. citizenship?

A: Depending on the form of independence, several forms of citizenship would be possible, including the retention of U.S. citizenship or dual citizenship. However, considering the moral, educational, and economic decay of the U.S., Alaskans' who hold themselves to a higher standard might very well decide to at least maintain an arm's length distance from a country in decline.


3.02 Goal

The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is to let the people vote on the question they were entitled to but were denied in 1958.


5.14 Preeminence of Alaska's Flag

The Flag of Alaska shall not be relegated to any secondary position or status at a State Convention or other official gathering of the Alaskan Independence Party. The opening of a State Convention shall include the playing of the Alaska Anthem as adopted by the Alaskan Independence Party.

[Tisket]

Well, I can't access the AIP website for some reason. Can you check what the section under "Platform" cites as their first platform?

[Tisket]

Oh here we go:

Platform
We pledge to exert our best efforts to accomplish the following:

To effect full compliance with the constitutions of the United States of America and the State of Alaska.

Dire indeed.

[Khariz]

I like some of the other items in the platform:

To support the right of the individual to keep and bear arms.

To support the complete abolition of the concept of sovereign or governmental immunity, so as to restore accountability for public servants.

To support the rights of parents to privately or home school their children.

To support the privatization of government services.

To oppose the borrowing of money by government for any purposes other than for capital improvements.

To strengthen the traditional family and support individual accountability without government interference or regulation.

Those all are awesome to me, but this one is rediculous:

To support the right of jurors to judge the law as well as the facts, according to their conscience.

[Khariz]

Although it is widely thought to be a secessionist movement, the Party makes great effort to emphasize that its primary goal is merely a vote on secession, something that Party advocates say Alaskans were denied during the founding of the state. A plebiscite was, in fact, held in Alaska at the state's inception in 1958, but AIP members argue that voting was corrupt and that residents were not given the proper choice between statehood, commonwealth status, or complete separation -- something they say has been granted to other U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico.

Individual Rights, everybody has the right to be "stupid" and it is not the governments responsibility to protect us from ourselves.


Equal Footing means that all states are equal. Unfortunately Alaska is treated as a colony and not an equal state in the union. Alaska is the only state where subsurface rights are owned by the government. The only state where the federal government controls hunting and fishing.

[Khariz]

Until we as Alaskans receive our Ultimate Goal, the AIP will continue to strive to make Alaska a better place to live with less government interference in our everyday lives.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:
1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.
The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences.

[Kembal]

You know, Sarah Palin is still not having a good day.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/todd_palin_was_registered_memb.php


Todd Palin Was Registered Member of Alaska Independence Party Until 2002
By Kate Klonick - September 2, 2008, 3:25PM

The McCain camp today disputed rumors that presumptive vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was ever registered with the secessionist Alaska Independence Party by releasing years of voter registration history . . . but it looks like that doesn't apply to her husband.

This afternoon, the director of Division of Elections in Alaska, Gail Fenumiai, told TPMmuckraker that Todd Palin registered in October 1995 to the Alaska Independence Party, a radical group that advocates for Alaskan secession from the United States.

Besides a short period of a few months in 2000 when he changed his registration to undeclared, Todd Palin remained a registered member of AIP until July 2002 when he registered again as an undeclared voter.

2002 was the year Sarah Palin first ran for statewide office.

I'm not sure whether it means anything or not substantively, but optically, it's terrible.

[Khariz]

Why? I'm honestly not understanding what's so bad about the AIP. I pasted the worst of what they stand for in this thread, and it's really not all that bad.

All they are saying is that Alaska didn't get a proper vote when they became a state, and that they would like to give the citizens that opportunity. Is that a little nutty? Sure. Is it OMFG OH NOES crazy? Not remotely.

The rest of the stances they hold on various issues aren't much different than the republican party platform.

[crb]

Did you guys hear that Obama is secretly a muslim?

[Kembal]

Why? I'm honestly not understanding what's so bad about the AIP. I pasted the worst of what they stand for in this thread, and it's really not all that bad.

All they are saying is that Alaska didn't get a proper vote when they became a state, and that they would like to give the citizens that opportunity. Is that a little nutty? Sure. Is it OMFG OH NOES crazy? Not remotely.

The rest of the stances they hold on various issues aren't much different than the republican party platform.

Like I said, I don't think it substantively matters. Optically, having your husband be a prior member of the party that to some degree advocates secession from the U.S. kind of undermines your campaign's America First message.

[Khariz]

Like I said, I don't think it substantively matters. Optically, having your husband be a prior member of the party that to some degree advocates secession from the U.S. kind of undermines your campaign's America First message.

I guess. As long as they stay committed to upholding the U.S. constitution though, and stay committed to obtaining this vote through only lawful means, I don't think they are doing anything wrong. Their stance is a bit silly, but at least they are trying to be heard through the proper channels.