Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home

[katandmoon]

Source: Washington Post

ANCHORAGE, Sept. 8 -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife.

Palin, who earns $125,000 a year, claimed and received $16,951 as her allowance, which officials say was permitted because her official "duty station" is Juneau, according to an analysis of her travel documents by The Washington Post.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090803088_pf.html

---

She's such a fiscal conservative!

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Her and her family sound like they are milking the moose for all they are worth.

[Cha]

3. Wonder if charlie gibson will ask

palin about that in his "exclusive interview"? Or anything that pertains to the real sarah palin or will he allow her to just sit there and lie like she did in her hateful acceptance speech?

[Bette Noir]

27. I doubt

that would be considered sufficiently deferential.

[99th_Monkey]

47. LOL - You pretty much nailed it there, I Doubt.

Maybe if Charlie genuflects to suck her toes .... then can he ask about an actual issue of real
concern to voters??

... like how this elected official will want to spend their hard-earned tax money?

[AlbertCat]

133. Rachel Maddow said the same thing

on her MSNBC show...but about asking questions about her religion.

Boy, the press should run with that word. Deference indeed.

BTW, did anyone see Rachel's show and what did they think (perhaps that should be another post altogether)

[bunkerbuster1]

157. I saw the show...

thread on first reactions is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3952338

might want to start a new one though.

[DeeDeeNY]

60. Has anyone in the media described that speech yet for what it was?

It was a lie-filled, hateful, meanspirited, trash talking speech that the media has mostly described as "brilliant".
Charlie will probably compliment her on it.

[BridgeTheGap]

103. Yeah, really. It was a cheer leading session for the hard right, touching all the

hot button issues that right wing talking heads have hammered on over the years. That's why the RNC goers responded so well to her - it's what they've been taught to think. It's also why she & McSame shouldn't bet anywhere near the White House.

[DWilliamsamh]

130. I hate to say this because I hate McCain and Palin as much as the next guy

But you ARE aware that that speech was given at the national convention of the REPUBLICAN Party, not a meeting of the league of Women Voters right? I mean would you expect Obama of Biden to have gone all soft and mushy about McCain/Palin's credentials at the DNC?

To complain that the speech was inaccurate or unfair on THAT stage, is to betray dangerous naivete about how our political system in the THIS country works.

[me b zola]

145. You do realize that there was no substance in that speech, right?

The only statements that even came close to substance have been proven to be bald-faced lies. I think that people conflate the difference between a great performance, as in what an actor does, to a great speech, which is supposed to inform and motivate. Well, the gop got the motivation thing out of that little performance, but there have been other notorious tyrants who gave motivating speech w/o substance.

[DWilliamsamh]

174. Yeah I do.... Like I said they are scum, but it doesn't surprise me AT all.

Isn't dishonesty par for the course in today's politics and doesn't that dishonesty find its most virulent form in Republican politicians? It would seem perfectly logical, not surprising at all, that a speech given at the REPUBLICAN national convention would be exponentially MORE dishonest and substance free. No one who has observed the growth of the GOP Slime Machine* should eb the least bit surprised. That's the only point I was making.








Copyright Karl Rove, all rights reserved, 1974-2008

[BridgeTheGap]

153. I didn't expect anything different and that's why I usually don't watch the RNC - but McCain

veered from the rest of the speeches considerably. I think that was the intention. Let everyone else do the bashing and then get McCain to come across as somewhat reasonable.

[wandathewitch]

129. Brilliant speech ?

Because the corporations say so ? It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Nice people eat up that trash too. It breaks my heart to hear people that I love, listening to such and going along with the crowd. It is so hard to live in a world that has some that will prey on good people and milk them dry. Good people that don't believe that they can think for themselves. I have learned in all my years that you can't expect anyone to do for you, what you can do for yourself. If I am wrong, teach me, but I rather be wrong, over and over, than let someone else make my choices. Not religion, not the governing powers, not my family, not my doctors. They can help me, but they don't own my mind. Mrs. Moose

[bulloney]

66. Charlie will probably ask Palin if she thinks Rev. Jeremiah Wright hates America.

I never had much respect for Gibson, but two things galvanized that attitude: That debacle of a 'debate' that he and Snuffalopogus conducted with Obama and Clinton last spring, and his refusal to acknowledge that the media failed to ask the real tough questions regarding the buildup of war against Iraq following the release of Scott McClellan's book.

You just know Gibson will patronize Palin by asking her about the 'abuse' the 'liberal media' has given her since being named Crash's VP running mate, not acknowledging that Hillary Clinton put up with shit that makes Palin's treatment look like a picnic during her run for President and while she was First Lady.

[kmdemqueen]

82. I don't know

But it will probably scripted.

[L. Coyote]

110. "Didn't Ted Stevens get indicted for accepting gifts? How is this different?"

Stevens got "gifts" from oil companies.
Palin just "took" money from the People.

[Gorobei]

71. Doesn't this make her the moral equiv of the "welfare queen"?

Exploiting a benefit extended in good faith for undeserved financial gain? We've finally found the real welfare queen! The mythological creature that Regan used to talk about!

She's a liar and a cheat! What a beaut!

[Don Davis]

141. Palin 'Milks' Alaska: Charges State for Breastfeeding Baby

http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3055

[K8-EEE]

2. "billed the state" = 'BILLED THE TAXPAYERS n/t

[bean fidhleir]

68. A distinction we much too seldom recognize. (nt)

[kurth_]

4. Hypocrite TRASH

is what she is.

[tblue]

15. That's an insult to trash.

But, actually, I agree. She is trash.

[bjobotts]

43. She gives residents oil refund payments while the rest of us pay taxes supporting their earmarks.

[Sherman A1]

51. Nothing like gaming the system

for every nickel you can get out of it.

More fiscal conservatism and family values.

[Bluenorthwest]

107. The citizens of Alaska have always gotten those payments

She did not give them to the people, they already had them coming. This year they got extra, note the price of oil. The payments were not her idea, not new policy, but rather an ongoing permanant process.

[smb]

114. Experience

That's why "executive experience" as governor of Alaska is irrelevant. It's a state on training wheels -- it runs on oil/gas extraction royalties and federal subsidies, and can therefore forego having an individual income or sales tax while handing out walking-around money to everybody -- isolated from any sort of tough priority-setting decisions.

Claiming that you are qualified to be President of the US because you did OK (even stipulating that to be the case) as Governor of Alaska is like claiming that you are qualified to lead an assault on an al-Qaeda base because you made it all the way through a god-mode-patched copy of Doom 3.

[mitchum]

172. Yours is a GREAT POST

I hope you don't mind, but I will be using it in my arguments that her "executive experience" in Alaska is irrelevant due precisely to the "uniqueness" of the state.

thanks,
mitchum

[NJCher]

177. bravo, smb

You key right in on the best argument of all--not that the people who like Palin could understand such a point. They're more concerned with their concept of her as a model for an eyeglass manufacturer.

But this is exactly why Palin will be a spectacular failure if she ever has to "do bidness" in a place other than Alaska.



Cher

[Arctic Dave]

121. Actually the extra money was her idea as a

way to keep people happy without having to do any investigation as to why gas prices are so high. You can say that it is a type of hush money to the public for her not having to do anything that would make her not liked by the oil and refining companies. I say this because after the public spends their "energy bonus" the problems that created the outrageous cost of energy will still be there.

[AlbertCat]

135. Trash

Now now...I'm SURE she thinks God himself has given her this opportunity, and the Almighty wants her to be rich. It' not opportunism. It's the Lord's plan. (It's just what my rich aunt thinks too.)

[lenegal]

168. Actually, Alaskan low life trailer dwelling trash

This bitch gives white trash a bad name.

[texasleo]

5. thief

[hay rick]

6. Bush work ethic

19 months equals approximately 578 days. 312 days at home leaves 266 at work. Does she have to answer the phone?

Only way I respect her is if she says it was a perk and she took advantage.

[justaregularperson]

57. Does she get paid 7 days a week?

19 months = 412 working days at 5 days a week. So she was actually only at work 100 days in 18 months.

Nice life the Elite Caste has.... Hardly have to work and get paid extra to "work from home". Our system is so screwed up.

[hay rick]

77. Good point

My math was a little more CHARITABLE. Does she have to answer the phone on weekends or does she have caller ID?

[AlbertCat]

139. She pays a lobbyist to answer the phone on the week end

[central scrutinizer]

144. but this just shows how much she values her family

questioning this is just sexist so stop it! :sarcasm:

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

7. K&R

[LisaL]

8. And for her children traveling with her?

She is being reimbursed for that? I should try that at my job and see what they would say. Jeez.

[kurth_]

11. Don't forget she tried to move the Capital of Alaska to Anchorage to shorten her commute!

Crazy as shit.

[Spiffarino]

18. Not crazy, really

Juneau is a terrible place for the capital. There's no access. Anchorage makes much more sense.

This may be the only sensible thing she's said or done.

[ronnykmarshall]

147. She didn't try to do that ..

It's actually been proposed several times.

[kirby]

150. No, she wanted to move it to Wasilla actually...

In 1994 a statewide ballot initiative to move the capital of Alaska to Wasilla was defeated by a vote of about 116,000 to 96,000. I believe she was up and coming on the city council at the time.

[AlbertCat]

165. What with the commute...

...and her water breaking at political functions, not to mention having to hire someone to do her work as Mayor or be recalled.... well she obviously has too much on her plate to deal with a state that has a population less than some cities in America. How's she gonna run the whole country? (She's got a wedding coming up soon too!)

Oh wait.... someone else has to "go" before she's in that position. What's his name again? Mc-something?

[mchill]

12. Ok, I've been doing this all wrong for years

My duty station is 60 miles away from my home, but I telecommute from my local office most of the time. Does this mean I could have been collecting per diem every day I was telecommuting in my home town?? Wow - that concept never occurred to me.

[kirby]

159. That is why you are not qualified...

with the mind to be a Republican Vice-President!

[oldtime dfl_er]

9. Just charge it to the taxpayers!

This is ridiculous.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Crook.

Hello Nixon.

[Bette Noir]

29. That's an insult to Nixon.

[Straight Shooter]

42. I know.

:cry:

[Tesla]

89. These guys make Nixon look like a novice

But... didn't alot of them get their start with him?

[gauguin57]

13. "Business as Usual" in a "Reformer's" COSTUME.

What a freaking fraud this woman is.

And holier-than-thou, to boot!

Ick.

[yardwork]

14. Oopsie. Fiscal conservative much? More like a thief and a liar.

[rucognizant]

80. Is that.......

fecal conservative?

[Nailzberg]

16. Now, I have no problem with her telecommuting all those days.

Many governors do that. But billing per diem when she's at her home, that's robbing the taxpayers.

Hell, per diem is non-taxable income, so not only is she ripping off the taxpayers footing the bill, but she's ripping off the Alaska Dept. of Revenue and the IRS by billing per diem while living at home.

[mcg]

34. I was lucky to telecommute at all, it didn't even occur to me ...

to bring up the subject of billing per diem to the companies I worked for. They would have thought I was kidding or crazy. I've never heard of such a thing.

[justaregularperson]

56. These kinds of bennies are only available to the Elite Caste. Try it, you or I would just get fired.

[smb]

138. Fired?

I'd be lucky if I merely got fired, and avoided criminal charges for fraud, if I pulled a stunt like that.

[debunkthelies]

17. What do you get?

When you remove the L from Palin?:evilgrin:

[MetaTrope]

19. Sarah Palin: The electoral gift that keeps on getting

[Tutonic]

20. She sounds like white trash.

[mitchum]

173. That's because she is white trash

[Mimosa]

21. Call me a pessimist...

but I'm seeing that the rightwingers are flocking around her no matter what. ~cry~

[WorseBeforeBetter]

37. They've accepted her as their patron saint... no questions asked.

But perhaps this will turn off those so-called independents I keep hearing about.

[Doremus]

22. Isn't this fraud, i.e. a criminal act with an actual penalty?

Sure sounds like it!

[rpannier]

24. Actually it's not

According to several articles I've read and quotes from Alaskan officials, it is legal under Alaskan law.

[JimDandy]

35. Her predecessor's plane was legal, also.

The publics perception, though, was that it was wasteful spending. Palin latched onto that under the banner of "REFORM".

Sarah Palin's use of the per diem, while legal, is wasteful spending. Top that off with the perception that she took 316 days out of 19 months off from work and got paid for it...well, Alaskans might start demanding a genuine reform candidate. Maybe the librarian from Wasilla?

[cmd]

74. BINGO - Perception is what matters

The public will not like it, even if it is legal. Start the tapes for a commercial about looting the government from her own home.

[rocktivity]

158. DING DING DING! JimDandy, you're our grand prize winner!

"The public's perception, though, was that it was wasteful spending."

Edward's $400 worth of haircuts weren't illegal either. And THAT'S what going to do her in--it may have been legal, but it wasn't ethical because it wasn't necessary. Any expenses she incurred working at home she should deduct from her taxes like everybody else.

:headbang:
rocknation

[rpannier]

182. While what you say is true

I was responding to the previous posters comment about it being a crime.
It wasn't a crime.

It may undercut her reformist image, but never-the-less, what she did wasn't criminal

[JimDandy]

186. Totally understand. It was just a perfect post to use to segue into my point.

Thanks. :hi:

[rpannier]

193. NP

Glad I could be of help

[justaregularperson]

54. It seems to be a legal loophole for the elite "caste". Try to do this as a "normal" govt worker.

But the elite caste gets to make the interpretation calls.

[minnesota_liberal]

76. Alaska would never admit it

They'd have to acknowledge that they didn't catch it themselves. And they might mess up their chance to get rid of her (if she's elected as VP).

[berni_mccoy]

23. That is Called GRAND LARCENY!

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

25. isn't this against the law?

I mean if i turned in faked expense accounts in those amounts, I am sure the law would become involved at some point.

[JeanGrey]

117. No. Please read the post it isn't illegal it is permitted

under Alaskan law.

[truthisfreedom]

26. This is simple... she set herself up with her own personal welfare checks.

Gaming the system. Just what we need... another Cheney.

[Douglas Carpenter]

28. RECOMMENDED!!

[masonfl]

30. Read the whole story before ranting

This practice may undermine her BS about saving money from firing the chef (didn't) or selling the airplane on eBay (didn't) but if you read the whole story you'll see that it's not super aggregious...especially compared to the former Governor Murkowski. We need to avoid being like the dumb-ass freepers.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

36. another Palin supporter?

[JimDandy]

40. It will be gone soon enough, if it keeps this up.

[JeanGrey]

118. I doubt they are a Palin supporter. Even though this won't

go anywhere at least we're doing better than "Sarah wore a pregnancy belly that was fake".

[JimDandy]

38. The Wash. Post thought the info was worthy enough for their paper.

This speaks to her policies. What she did contradicts her message of reform and, therefore, the opposing camps claims that this is a team of mavericks. The totality of her actions, policies, personal gaffes, character flaws and moral lapses ARE very egregious and reflect on MCCain's judgment in picking her as VP. We need to avoid being like you, and the place from which you came.

[smb]

119. Headline News

"Palin Billed State For Nights Spent At Home" is on the front page above the fold (not the main banner headline, but still not bad) in the print edition of the Post.

[Ghost Dog]

44. Yes, WaPo does point to all the excuses that will be made...

This will have to be 'spun' by dems carefully.

[Roy]

49. Yeah, don't be like the freepers.....

So long as she is less of liar and less of a money wasting hypocrite than Murkowski (who could out corrupt that bastard anyway) then everything is OK.

Now that this is settled, anybody up for a game of Pinochle?

[justaregularperson]

53. Yes, it was not illegal, but it does show how the American "Caste" system gives elites special

benefits that we would never get as a "normal" government worker.

[fed_up_mother]

98. You're right. Not illegal. Her other home was like her vacation home

while governor.

It's just another way to squeeze every nickel out of taxpayers.

I know, because at one time we lived on a per diem when my husband worked for another company. Ahhhh......the good ol' days! LOL

I particularly like your term "caste." Definitely what's happening in this country.

[redqueen]

124. Although you don't find it "super" *egregious*, it's unethical and shows her to be a LIAR.

Enjoy your stay.

[Retrograde]

181. lack of opportunity?

"not super aggregious "? More due to lack of opportunity than lack of desire, I suspect. If there were a bigger candy jar to raid it sounds like she'd have her hands in that.

[TaffyMoon]

31. Just another greedy run of the mill republican...

[chupacabranation]

32. Put this in a ObamaComm.

It's not grand-scale but then, we're not getting at the act, we're getting at the principle.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the most simple, soundbyte-worthy encapsulation of her corruption yet.

CUT

PRINT

DISTRIBUTE

AND GET IT ROLLING ON TV

[windoe]

33. The criminals are on the wrong side of the cage

while innocents are inside.

Upside down justice.

I am so tired of this crap, it is endless.

[amborin]

39. reapportionment helped her get elected mayor?

Anchorage Daily News (Alaska)

January 10, 1998, Saturday, FINAL EDITION

POLITICS PLAYS IN MAT-SU PICK

BYLINE: S.J. Komarnitsky; Mat-Su Daily News Bureau

SECTION: METRO, Pg. 1B

LENGTH: 713 words

DATELINE: Palmer

The position of Matanuska-Susitna Borough manager is technically nonpartisan. But the wrangling over who will take over the borough's top paid position is decidedly political.
Four men want to replace outgoing manager Don Moore, who is leaving at the end of the month. The Borough Assembly, which is interviewing candidates, could make a decision as early as today.



The list includes a former Permanent Fund division director, a Harvard graduate and longtime borough planning director John Duffy. Republican Party activist Tuckerman Babcock is also on the list. Hisname more than any other has raised the specter of party politics.
Babcock, who lives in the Mat-Su, has spent his life working in government positions, mostly for Republicans. He has helped run the campaigns of Republican legislators. As director of the reapportionment board under former Gov. Walter Hickel, he was the architect of a reapportionment plan that many credit for a Republican sweep of the area legislative races in 1994.

He is considered a key part of a Republican bloc that not only powered the '94 legislative sweep but also helped elect Wasilla city mayor Sarah Palin and Mat-Su Borough Mayor Darcie Salmon, who both beat more moderate candidates.

Opponents note Babcock was the only one of the four finalists whose name was not on an initial top-11 list and the only one with no municipal government experience.

Even supporters such as assembly member Larry DeVilbiss admit Babcock is viewed as a political pick -- even if it's not the case.

''We would be criticized for making it political, but I don't buy that,'' he said.

DeVilbiss said he wanted Babcock on the list of finalists because he's a conservative, not because he belongs to the Republican Party.

''I'm telling you right now if I saw a conservative Democrat lined up that could give us what we wanted, I'd vote for him,'' he said.

While Babcock is the most obviously partisan, the other candidates have their own political ties.

Tom Williams, a former Permanent Fund division director under former Gov. Hickel, works in Juneau as a legislative assistant to the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee.

Michael Scott, a Harvard graduate and current city manager of Kotzebue, worked as an aide for Sen. Frank Ferguson, D-Kotzebue, from 1979 to 1986. Before that, he was an administrative assistant to former Gov. Jay Hammond.

Mat-Su Borough Planning Director John Duffy is the only finalist without any legislative experience. But he's no stranger to controversy.

Both DeVilbiss and Jim Turner, two of the more conservative members of the assembly, said residents have called them asking that Duffy not be appointed manager. DeVilbiss said some of the callers were longtime residents upset about plans for zoning in the borough. As planning department director, Duffy has been working on a proposal that would institute zoning in the borough's most populated area around Palmer and Wasilla.

<snip>

Though the manager serves at the direction of the assembly, the position is powerful.

The manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the borough, oversees the borough's 160 employees and deals with residents' complaints. The manager also lobbies on behalf of the borough and often advises the assembly on issues.

''In a very large way, the manager steers the assembly,'' DeVilbiss said.

Several assembly members said today's interviews will be the key in making their decisions. The assembly is meeting at the borough assembly chambers in Palmer and expects to quiz each candidate for up to an hour.

The new manager could take over as early as the end of the month, although the exact date would have to be negotiated. Borough manager Don Moore has told the assembly he will stay on until the end of the month. The position pays $ 70,000 to $ 80,000 a year.

Borough officials were still trying to determine Friday if Mayor Darcie Salmon could have any say on the assembly decision. Typically, the mayor can veto any assembly action, but borough clerk Sandy Dillon said it's not clear whether the mayor can act on a personnel decision.

Salmon could not be reached Friday for comment, but in the past has said he would not take an active role in choosing a new manager.



SARAH PALIN (55%);

BOROUGH ASSEMBLY (65%); REPUBLICAN PARTY (62%);

UNITED STATES (92%);

ALASKA, USA (92%);

JUNEAU, AK, USA (79%);

COMPANY: BOROUGH ASSEMBLY (65%); REPUBLICAN PARTY (62%);

[stark6935]

41. Change you can put in your pocket.

[JCMach1]

45. This is a BIG deal- Misuse of office

damning stuff

[iconicgnom]

46. This is just misc wrongdoings compared to what's formost on the table.

[burrowowl]

48. Fiscal conservative

means conserve it in my bank account.
Does she have any off-shore or Swiss accounts?

[LynnTheDem]

50. Wow...a corrupt cheating republican!

That only happens often.

[justaregularperson]

52. Another example of privileges of the "Elite". You and I could never get per deim for a job away from

our home.

I have worked positions like this, where I had to work away from home, and no company, nor I doubt would normal government workers, get these kinds of benefits or breaks. I would have to suck up the cost of travel and two rents.

We really need to remove these kinds of "perks" for the upper caste.

[ksimons]

55. Could be something that'll be an IRS tax return issue, no? Regardless of the state's position on it

The federal tax system spells out such things very specifically, and hopefully the press will be asking to see her tax returns if she hasn't spilled them already or if they aren't already 'transparent' because she's so interested in being a reformer.

Uh, yup yup

[Arm Chair Politician]

58. k/r

[Arm Chair Politician]

59. No wonder she fired the cook - she was never in the governor's mansion to eat - she was at home! n/t

[Arctic Dave]

122. That was one of the early criticism about her

She thought she was too good to live in Juneau.

[JTFrog]

61. All part of the AIP infiltrate a major party plan.... n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

62. She's the first "special needs" VP candidate that I ever ...

helt felt or smelt...needs to hide EVERYTHING in her past, can't talk to the media without going to George Bush scool of bullshit.

Can we afford a "special needs" candidate, a heartbeat away from the nuclear football?

[Princess Turandot]

63. The issue here is her being a hypocrite..

not that she committed larceny/fraud, since it sounds like her 'claims' were within what the state allows. She elected to live at home for long periods of time and travel to a satellite office in Anchorage, rather than relocate to the state's capitol. Did she do so to boost her salary by more than 10%??

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fluffdaddy]

83. WTF?

[mitchum]

65. Spiro Caribou

[NeoConsSuck]

67. Where is CNN.COM, USATODAY.COM, and MSNBC.COM ?

If this were Biden, they would have their headlines in 72pt fonts.

[Alexander]

69. K&R

[Voltaire99]

70. Sleazebags know a good thing when they see it.

Hee-yaw! That's snow machine money right there, darlin'!

[Douglas Carpenter]

72. Kick and recommended -- very important !!!!!

[fjc]

73. Could someone kindly point out the problem here?

I'm all for finding something on her, but where's the beef here?

[MindMatter]

87. Per Diem is for TRAVEL. She claimed it while at HOME.

Her argument is that because she is the Governor, her "home station" is the Governor's mansion, where everything is provided free to her. So when she goes to her own house, she is actually on travel status. That is some truly twisted logic.

[Gman]

96. IF YOU WORK OUT OF TOWN AND YOU CHOOSE TO GO HOME

YOUR WORKPLACE DOES NOT PAY FOR YOU GOING HOME!!!!! THAT'S YOUR CHOICE!!

Anyone would be fired for this.

...sorry for yelling! It pisses me off.

[fed_up_mother]

99. Loophole. The governor's "mansion" was her home.

The other house amounted to her vacation home.

It's a loophole, but it's a legal loophole.

[JeanGrey]

120. Er, yeah it does. My technicians when in the field for work were

ALWAYS paid for going home.

[MindMatter]

160. Nobody would object for a transportation expense

If she simply claimed the mileage to drive to her house, that would be fair, and that is what any ethical person would do. This woman is a schemer. She is always thinking about how she can get away with things. If she were otherwise qualified for the job, maybe I would say, "You know, politicians have this in their DNA. You just have to live with some of that." But considering how utterly unprepared she is for this job, that game-playing propensity is really just not acceptable.

[fjc]

100. Oh. Thanks. I'd get fired on the spot for that little trick.

[ramapo]

75. Oh my....

Now she really won't be allowed out...

[ExPatLeftist]

78. I think that this has no legs.

It says right there that it was permitted. Yeah, it is lame, but legal and permitted and by the book. This will not help our cause. IMO the AIP is the Holy Grail, if we can get something concrete tying her to them - and I mean undeniably concrete. I think the Bridge to Nowhere will help as it shows her - and McCain's - lies. But I see nothing in this, and IMO it just adds to the static, allowing the GOP shills to just claim that we are trying to throw everything at her to see what sticks.

[valerief]

84. Well, you don't have a vested interest in this being from Iceland and all.

That is, if you're an Icelander.

[ExPatLeftist]

92. Seriously, WTF.

Do you think it is possible to MOVE to another country? People do it all the time, as did I. EVEN if I were a native Icelander, and not an EXPAT, as my nick clearly states, then, YES, I would have an interest - like it or not, US elections affect the world - and the world is watching.

But honestly, attitudes and assumptions like this one do not help the US in joining the world. So many times I have heard people tell me or others to STFU because they are "not even Americans"... Yet people from the US easily and comfortably and CONSTANTLY make comments about issues all over the world - where is the disconnect?

What exactly is your point??

[ExPatLeftist]

95. I just noticed...

That now you have gone on multiple threads to point out that I am an Icelander. What is your issue? Or are you one of those people that thinks that only Americans that live in the US "matter"???

[Yes We Did]

134. I would suggest alerting the mods on that behavior.

You are not allowed to do such things; keep attacking people in multiple threads over the same thing... Especially something that stupid.

I would say something to the mods. They'll probably just make the person stop.

[ExPatLeftist]

136. Good idea.

I'll do that if it doesn't stop - but I had hoped to reason with this person first.

Thanks for taking the time to post. :)

What I find really funny about this is that this poster seemed to be playing gotcha with me - posting "IN ICELAND" in the topic of the replies to me, as if this is some big sccop that they just discovered through research and discovered that I am *eeek* living in a foreign nation. Yet it says right in my profile where I live... So much for that scoop... :D Then the poster assumed that I am an indigenous Icelander, because I live in Iceland, despite the fact that my nick begins with "ExPat".... :D

Silly shit, and I still do not get the point.

[madrchsod]

104. i think everyone in the world has a "vested interest" in this election

you should know by now we do have members from overseas...

[valerief]

155. Yes, I do know. That's why I immediately added the "if you're an Icelander"

comment in the text after I had submitted the email. It's not clear by the poster's name whether s/he relinquished U.S. citizenship or not. I also asked in one other email later if there was a Billo in Iceland. I'm sorry the angry poster interpreted this as an attack. I, of course, put that poster on ignore.

I was also puzzled by the poster's comment about not appearing on Fox. Why shouldn't Barack reach as many voters as possible? Well, McCain supporters wouldn't want him to reach as many people as possible, of course.

[ExPatLeftist]

163. Since you apparently put me on ignore, you will not see this

But I want to address your post anyway. I did not see asking me if there was a Billo in Iceland as offensive, as you claim here, that was in another thread and I simply replied to it, taking no offense whatsoever - and that was before I saw this.

What offended me was in this thread, where valerief stated that I "don't have a vested interest in this , being from Iceland and all." First, that assumes that I am from Iceland, which is a faulty assumption and was based on nothing. I am from the US and have lived in Iceland for about the last 12 years. I have dual US and Icelandic citizenship. Any of this information could be obtained by asking, but I guess some prefer to make assumptions. Additionally, as pointed out by another poster, the US election does effect the entire world, therefore even non-US citizens do have a vested interest in this election, so the question of my citizenship becomes moot. NOW you say you know that everyone has a vested interest in this election, but just a few posts up you were telling me that I did not have a vested interest in this election because of your faulty assumption that I am from Iceland. Which is it?

I was commenting on a political issue. The nation of my residence does not seem to me to be an issue in that, but that is the first thing you jumped on in 2 threads today - though I did not mention it, you went into my profile and chose to address that rather than the issue at hand. Not sure why you think that is relevant, but I would be glad to discuss it with you.

- ExPatLeftist


PS Regarding the comment about Fox, again - from another thread. But what I said is that ALL Democrats should stop going on Fox News as it legitimizes it as a "news" source when it is in fact nothing other than party propaganda. I said that I thought that when Democrats no longer appeared on Fox, it would reveal it as the BS spin that it is. That's my opinion, and I really do not care if you disagree, but you seemed here to imply that it referred to Obama only, which it did not.

PPS How could Iceland have a "Billo"? How could you even translate that guy to another political system, culture and language close enough to call his counterpart simply "a Billo". I have no idea who you may be referring to...

[DeeDeeNY]

91. It could be technically legal but still not right, and everyone knows it

This is someone who boasted she got rid of the governor's cook and put the plane on ebay. Her party is boasting of what a reformer and maverick she is. This points up the hypocrisy.

[ExPatLeftist]

94. Yes, but I really don't think it will change a single vote.

And I can see the likes of O'Reilly and his ilk tearing the "Liberals" apart for making noise about a governor doing what was in her right to do. I see it going nowhere, but then we will each choose our own fights - may we fight them well. :)

[redqueen]

126. It's in her right to say one thing and do another?

I think you're missing the point.

[ExPatLeftist]

131. I am not missing the point at all, and I agree with it.

I am concerned with how any attack will be spun by the MSM. The RW shills will simply say, "Some liberals are whining that the governor did what was in her right to do" and the issue will then die, potentially a net loss for the Dems. They are not looking for reason or morality or to stave off hypocrisy. They are looking for loopholes to make an issue die on impact - and this one has a huge loophole.

My argument was not that this is not a moral issue, and I see it as hypocrisy, it was that it will not serve the campaign of Barack Obama as well as some other issues, and that if we attack on everything that comes up, it will just sound like static. We need to pick a very few issues about Palin and hammer then relentlessly - and I do not see that this is one of the ones with the most traction or political impact.

That's my opinion, but I sincerely hope that those that disagree with me will take this matter and run with it, if that is their belief of what is best. That difference of opinion does not, however, mean that I am "missing the point".

[redqueen]

132. It's called attacking your opponent's strength, and I agree with the tactic.

Glad you do see the point.

[redqueen]

125. No, not "lame"... *unethical*. And it shows her to be a LIAR. (nt)

[wilt the stilt]

79. this should be fodder for commercials and the networks

She charged $707 for a room in NY. I travel to NY and that is extravagant even for NY. A very nice room in NY is $350 per night at the Hilton in midtown. I think if we can paint her as a person who abuses the taxpayer's trust in commercials that is valuable. We won't win by sermonizing but pointing out her hypocrisy.

[MindMatter]

88. Absolutely. Doesn't matter whether it was "legal" or not

The average person can see this just isn't right. Claiming "travel expenses" when you are in your own home is unethical if not illegal, and shows really low integrity.

She is a good one for making false statements, but being careful to word them so they are technically correct, like "I put that jet on eBay, and sold it."

It is fair game to say run an ad with an ominous voiceover saying "... and now investigators have found evidence that Governor Palin billed the State of Alaska $16,000 for "travel expenses" for nights she spent in her own home. We don't need THAT kind of change in Washington. We need leaders with more integrity than that."

[moose65]

105. I agree

As others have said, perception is everything. Your average Joe can relate to this. Even if it was technically "legal" it still sounds fishy. And what about the state paying for her kids?? There's no way that her kids were doing the state's business. I think that the $700 hotel room should be emphasized. Most people have NO concept of spending that much for a hotel room, even in midtown Manhattan.

[kmdemqueen]

81. you know

you know i begining to hate this women more and more.mmmm I wonder why!!!:sarcasm:

[valerief]

85. K&R

:kick:

[MindMatter]

86. Soon we will see her come out against these fradulent bills

I predict her stump speech will soon include a line about how "The Governor skimmed $16,000 in fraudulent 'travel expenses'. But I put a stop to that. I said, 'Thanks but no thanks' to these illegal claims. and I saved Alaska lots of money in the process. This is the kind of change we are going to bring to Washington."

[renie408]

90. We need to keep beating THIS drum. This might have legs with 'regular folks'. n/t

[sellitman]

93. But she is a Repiggy

This is common practice for them.

Didn't you get the memo?

[NOLALady]

97. Welfare Queen!

[JPZenger]

101. I love this graphic

The following graphic was posted by a guy named Googlebomb:

[yellowcanine]

102. It does take some of the "sheen" off the glittery "reformer" picture the pubs have been painting.

Whether or not it is technically legal by Alaska law, working people know there is something wrong with being paid to stay in your own house. It is the smell test that is going to fail here and this, along with the false claim about being against the "bridge to nowhere", are going to feed a general sense that there is nothing particularly new about Sarah Palin - she is just another politician with her beak in the public trough as much as possible.

[LiberalFighter]

106. The other media networks should grade Gibson on his performance.

Did he ask her the right questions?
Did he continue on the same line of questioning when there was an opening?
Did he ask her questions that were related to her character?
Did he ask her questions that were related to her experience?
Did he ask her fluff questions?

When the other media report on the interview they should also report on whether Gibson did his job.

[L. Coyote]

108. "The Queen of Pork" is cooked.

[elehhhhna]

109. SO she doesn't go to work where theJOB is AND charges a per diem

to STAY HOME?!!!

Any employee of ANY company who pulled that wouldl be Soooo fired!

[L. Coyote]

113. YES, getting paid for NOT going to work. Where do we sign up?

Go home for the weekend, get paid. Sounds like something
a politician could sell to ordinary workers,
if it didn't apply just to the politician. :rofl:

[scarface2004]

111. now this is a deal breaker!

even right wing wackos don t vote for chiselers (not)

[Zambero]

112. Reformer my ass!

This is out-and-out corruption on a huge scale. A run-of-the-mill gov't employee would be summarily terminated for collecting per diem while living or working from home. And who authorizes her husband to work for the state of Alaska in an official capacity, justifying a reimbursement allowance?

[high density]

115. We're supposed to believe that Palin has "executive experience" but makes 'only' $125k a year?

Not impressed.

[JeanGrey]

116. Was this illegal or otherwise not permitted?

Because it reminds me of when I worked for a large defense company and we would send our technicians on field trips. Often if the trip was within driving distance, they would drive and take the money for the round trip airline ticket, thereby making money.

We have to find something that she is doing that is illegal.

[redqueen]

127. Did your coworkers campaign as "reformers" who were serious about not wasting taxpayers' money? (nt)

[JeanGrey]

179. I don't see the connection. Legal and allowable is legal

and allowable. We need to find something ILLEGAL.

[redqueen]

183. Disagree. Voters are turned off by lots of things that are unethical but not illegal. (nt)

[JeanGrey]

184. It won't go anywhere.

[redqueen]

187. You're demonstratably wrong.

One guy stopped by my desk just today ... he's a new voter and this is the first time he's really paid attention. He told me he's decided there's no way he can support McCain, due to Palin.

One of the reasons he listed? THIS!

:rofl:

[missingthebigdog]

185. It seems that even she knows it looks bad, tried to cover it up-

From the article:
"Palin rarely sought reimbursement for meals while staying in Anchorage or Wasilla, the reports show.

She wrote some form of "Lodging -- own residence" or "Lodging -- Wasilla residence" more than 30 times at the same time she took a per diem, according to the reports. In two dozen undated amendments to the reports, the governor deleted the reference to staying in her home but still charged the per diem."

If she "amended" the reports to delete the reference to home, it really looks like she knew how this would be perceived. So much for avoiding even the appearance of inpropriety. . . .

[AlbertCat]

148. We have to find something that she is doing that is illegal.

You mean like consensual sex with another adult?

No we don't! Just because it's legal doesn't make it ethical and right. (And just because it's illegal doesn't make it wrong)

[rocktivity]

162. It wasn't the right thing to do, and that's enough.

That's what tax deductions are for.

:headbang:
rocknation

[downindixie]

123. It looks like the people were paying Palin

to stay home and away from her job!

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

128. She's a reformer all right

[Barrymores Ghost]

137. I'd say this constitutes fraud and misappropriation of funds.

In my state, state employees get fired for much, much less. In my state, you live where you choose to live -- and just because you have to commute to your worksite, that doesn't mean you get mileage or per diem to compensate for the inconvenience of your choice.

This is some seriously fucked-up bullshit.

[Butch350]

140. This trivia crap doesn't matter...

Your average voter does not care about these trivial attacks against SP! Sorry!

Do you actually think that a voter who has no job OR can't afford to provide his
family with affordable health insurance will give a rats ass about this article? Really?

You Might get a CPA's vote.

This is sooooo high school. If this is all you've got to hit Palin with then bye bye GE!

[DemsUnited]

142. the other question is, did she declare this money as income on her taxes?

See dailykos diary raises this very interesting question.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/9/83535/11177/958/591971

[Crabby Appleton]

151. No one pays taxes on per diem payments

it's not income.

[chelsea0011]

143. Welcome to the Hotel Palin

[JonLP24]

146. People who vote republican don't pay attention to what is actually going on

Or, they hate america(a bold statement but I'm willing to stand by it for those who are aware of the issues and vote republican anyways - it doesn't apply to those who vote for the most likable guy). It's a little off topic but I get literally sick reading these articles about Palin that is OBVIOUSLY bad for America, but yet they actually have a shot of winning this election. :sick:

[slypknot]

149. I've been quiet long enough

This is my first post, but I wanted to make sure I did my part to wipe that Beadie-eyed smug grin off of her face.

[LuckyLib]

154. Welcome to DU. This is the place that keeps us all sane!

:hi:

[rocktivity]

161. WELCOME TO DU!!!

Sounds like you're ready to kick some McInsane ass!

:hi:
rocknation

[codjh9]

152. Typical hypocritical two-faced Republican asshole - I bet she yells about

'government spending' being too high, too!

[HEyHEY]

156. These needs to change

"As a matter of protocol, the governor and the first family are expected to attend community events across the state," she said. "It's absolutely reasonable that the first family participates in community events."

- As I've said before, you're electing the person not their fucking family.

[beac]

164. It makes me SICK that the lame excuse of 'the previous governor billed more'

is included as a way to exonerate her.

Sarah Palin basically pulled her mug up to the all-you-can-eat buffet and chowed down, insisting that she could 'legally' stay all night and into the next day because the sign said "ALL" she could eat and she wasn't full yet.

The fact that Murkowski was an even bigger glutton just proves what a cesspool Alaska politics is and is ultimately irrelevant, as he is not running for office.

[Tarc]

166. Made the front page of yahoo now

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080909/ap_on_el_pr/palin_travel_expenses

[whistle]

167. Sarah Palin reminds me a lot of Spiro T Agnew VP of Richard Nixon

....has all of the same sleaziness and corruption which forced Agnew to leave office in disgrace.

Agnew Quotes:
I apologize for lying to you. I promise I won't deceive you except in matters of this sort.
Spiro T. Agnew

I didn't say I wouldn't go into ghetto areas. I've been in many of them and to some extent I would say this; if you've seen one city slum, you've seen them all.
Spiro T. Agnew

In the United States today, we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism.
Spiro T. Agnew

[katty]

171. palin reminds me of george bush-especially his 2000 campaign

[katty]

169. well, let's hope the facts stick-McCain/palin are running a

personality 'contest' and Dem tix is running on the record, the experience, etal....
they are each running 2 different campaigns and palin is a 'crowd pleaser'--luvs the spotlight and like the usual sheeple audiences they gather-now almost after a week of this bile they want to go out and hangout with sarah, just like bush "want to have a beer with him" so I will vote for him.

mccain/palin perfect manchurian candidates for the ReThugs and the idiot crowds they continue to swindle 24/7.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

170. Look at Wasilla City Hall,,,But hey! She's got EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE!!!!

it looks like a convenience store

[jgraz]

175. Typical Repug: Rules are for peasant.

Is it too soon to start truly hating this woman?

[superconnected]

192. No, she deserves the hate. Did you see the letter written about her from the

supporter of the librarian who nearly lost her job for refusing to ban books.

That was enough to really show who palin is and hate her soul.



http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/sarahpalin.asp

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

ABOUT SARAH PALIN

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.

She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

She's smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative." During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later — to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal — loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects — which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance — but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork."

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.

However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.

CLAIM VS FACT

o "Hockey mom": true for a few years
o "PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
p "NRA supporter": absolutely true
o social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
o pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
o "Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation.
o "Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
o political maverick: not at all
o gutsy: absolutely!
o open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
o has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
o "a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
o fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
o pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
o pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents.
o pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.
o pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

CAVEATS

I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall — they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.

Anne Kilkenny
August 31, 2008

[yurbud]

176. she was doing research for ethics reform...

[merci_me]

178. WOW! Wonder how much Biden is owed

for sleeping in his own bed for 35 years?

[Jade Fox]

180. She may be in trouble with the IRS......

Per diem is not taxed, I believe. So if Palin got that $17,000 illegally and didn't pay taxes on it...... :evilgrin:

[ObamanationYes1]

188. Per Diem is not considered income (for IRS) purposes

[Jade Fox]

189. My point was if she got the per diem inappropriately....

then the money might be considered income by the IRS. More likely she would just have to give it back (will have to give it back, I hope).

Welcome to Du!

[superconnected]

190. The article gets soo much better...

"The governor's daughters and husband charged the state $43,490 to travel, and many of the trips were between their house in Wasilla and Juneau, the capital city 600 miles away, the documents show."

Palin charged the state a per diem for working on Nov. 22, 2007 -- Thanksgiving Day. The reason given, according to the expense report, was the Great Alaska Shootout, an annual NCAA college basketball tournament held in Anchorage.

Flights topped the list for the most expensive items, and the daughter whose bill was the highest was Piper, 7, whose flights cost nearly $11,000, while Willow, 14, claimed about $6,000 and Bristol, 17, accounted for about $3,400.

One such invitation came in October 2007, when Willow flew to Juneau to join the Palin family on a tour of the Hub Juneau Christian Teen Center, where Palin and her family worship when they are in Juneau. The state gave the center $25,000, according to a May 2008 memo.

[superconnected]

191. So basically she's a welfare mom.

Nothing against real welfare moms btw, and yeah I know Palin is actually a crook.