"Gen. David McGinnis, the former Chief of Staff of the U.S. National Guard Association, lays the blame with Gov. Palin":

The limited accessibility to mental health care and services as well as the conditions observed and those presented to study investigators by elements of the Alaska National Guard family are equally fitting for the Governor's personal attention. In addition the lack of sensitivity to the specific needs and assignment limitations of the most rural Alaskan Guard members would also be worthy of a Governor's direct intervention. We can find no evidence that Governor Palin intervened on behalf of members of the Alaska National Guard before or after their recent deployments. Where has the Governor been?

Here's the link to the PDF of the enitire 8-page report:

http://www.veteransforamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/vfa-alaska-preliminary-findings-final.pdf

Two thoughts jump out at me. Lack of Empathy. Vendetta. Lack of empathy is a hallmark of sociopathy. This woman seems to enjoy vendettas. She didn't blink when Joe Biden teared up. And she doesn't blink to leave people without mental health care. She's apparently satisfied to wreck lives and leave people to pick up the pieces on their own.

I know we will likely win the election. But the bitterness being sown by the likely losers will make it a sad victory for me and many others who do have empathy and humility and therefore blink.

Thanks for the rec's people. I've learned that putting "Bejesus" in the title works every time!

I was hoping to cut-and-paste some of the key statements from the PDF in my posting, but for some reason it all comes up squares and commas when I try. So here's a transcript of a few key statements:

"The post-deployment challenges facing the Alaska National Guard are more daunting and widespread than any seen by Veteran's for America's National Gurad Program."

"VFA's findings indicate that the post-deployment needs of Alaska National Guard members and their families remain largely unmet.

In addition, as a resulty of inadequate leadership from the Governor of Alaska, among others, the Alaska National Guard has an inadequate understanding of the full range of post-comabt issues facing those who have served abroad from the Alaska National Guard in recent years..."

"The United States should not continue to deploy the Alaska National Guard until this situation is remedied."

And from the last line of the report:

"The State of Alaska's own readiness ratings demonstrate that the Alaska National Guard is poorly prepared to respond to major domestic emergency."

Silly me-- they'll send Sarah out in the helicopter with her wolf gun to take care of the "fucking Ruskies!"