The AIP - Alaskan Independence Party... wow, what a fun bunch of guys and gals. They want to secede from the union and take their natural resources with them (as this Salon article points out). They put states rights first and foremost, before country or any national affiliation - "Alaska First -- Alaska Always." They sorta make 1861 South Carolinians look reasonable (as a former citizen of South Carolina for 16 years, I've met lots of secessionists - 'it's just a cease fire, the War of Northern Aggression ain't over!' I actually heard one day at Michelin Tire, back in the maintenance shop, from a citizen of Cowpens SC).
They're pretty irrelevant, as far as a domestic terrorist group with extreme ideology is concerned. Except, Sara Palin's husband was a card carrying member of the AIP, and she spoke at their 2008 convention via video recording (countin' on yer votes, you betcha)... and Palin's husband has been functioning as her Chief of Staff (approvin' travel vouchers for members of the state executive branch, plannin' meetins, helpin to block media access to his wife, handlin' all sortsa stuff, ya know, dat a Chief of Staff would normally do).
AIP was founded on very moderate principles. Don't get carried away now. Their founder, Joe
Vogler, started the movement in the early 1970s. Among the colorful Vogler quotes now famous are "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." Then there's "The fires of hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American government." And "The problem with you John Birchers is that you are too damn liberal!"
Ohhhh, you betcha!
9 years ago
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