Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process (AIP) - NYTimes

[rndmprsn]

oh boy...now the NYTimes is on the AIP, Troopergate and the other skeletons in Palins past...seems this was as we all know here a panicked decision and most likely was commanded by the RW bible thumpers...Mcsame you really FUCKED up this one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?ref=politics

ST. PAUL — A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain’s choice as running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket...

...Among other less attention-grabbing news of the day: it was learned that Ms. Palin now has a private lawyer in a legislative ethics investigation in Alaska into whether she abused her power in dismissing the state’s public safety commissioner; that she was a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede; and that Mr. Palin was arrested 22 years ago on a drunken-driving charge....

...At the least, Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCain’s running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described...

...“They didn’t seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before,” said a Republican close to the campaign. “This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn’t get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge.”

Mr. McCain’s advisers said repeatedly on Monday that Ms. Palin was “thoroughly vetted,” a process that would have included a review of all financial and legal records as well as a criminal background check. A McCain aide said that the campaign was well aware of the ethics investigation and that it had looked into it.

“They didn’t speak to anyone in the Legislature, they didn’t speak to anyone in the business community,” said Lyda Green, the State Senate president, who lives in Wasilla, where Ms. Palin served as mayor.

“I started calling around and asking, and I have not been able to find one person that was called,” Ms. Phillips said. “I called 30 to 40 people, political leaders, business leaders, community leaders. Not one of them had heard. Alaska is a very small community, we know people all over, but I haven’t found anybody who was asked anything.”

[skooooo]

1. " a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party"

Well there it is. I got my wish - which was to see this story hit MSM before I went to sleep.

:-)

[democrat2thecore]

8. That's the one that will knock her out - probably before end of day tomorrow -nt

[GoesTo11]

14. Would she even be able to get a security clearance?

I know they ask about past party affiliations, and what AIP advocates might be enough to prevent it.
Also the ongoing investigations would be a problem.
Also the friends saying "she's very reckless" etc.

[NotThisTime]

25. It's too bad she won't last longer, it's been a fun 2 days :)

Keeps the pressure off of us....

[Olney Blue]

2. Her membership in the AIP should disqualify her immediately.

[liberal N proud]

3. Will McCain have known about this last week also?

[Cha]

23. Yes, mccain likes to flaunt his

stupidity.

[SharonRB]

4. I wonder...

I'm just throwing this out there, so bear with me.

What if McLame knew she'd never pass muster and that he'd have to dump her once the shit hit the fan. Then he can come out with a new pick who, by comparison, would seem like a great pick. Crazy strategy and probably too complicated for him, but could this be possible? It would explain the apparent stupidity of this pick.

[beac]

6. It would "explain" it in one sense, but I think in the broader

picture he ends up looking like an idiot--- which he is, so YAY reality! and I hope this finally causes the scales to fall from America's eyes.

[mucifer]

7. But won't that make him look like an idiot who can't make a good decision?

[SharonRB]

39. Bingo!

[DFLforever]

18. No. I don't think so. Because dropping Palin could be worse

for McCain than picking her in the first place, if the Eagleton choice in 1972 is any precedent.

[dorktv]

24. Like Bush did with Roberts and Alito?

[mucifer]

5. They sure didn't make much of a big deal about AIP I'm dissapointed

I guess we gotta wait til tomorrow to see if this blows up.

So far I'm not impressed.

[beac]

10. It's the lead story on abcnews.com right now!

:)

Apparently, she sent a video message to the AIP meeting earlier this year basically saying she joined the GOP in a "get along to go along" move.


She is just the gift that keeps on giving! :)



edited to add direct link to story, but do yourself a favor and enjoy seeing it on the front page too: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/members-of-frin.html

[skooooo]

13. Thank you for posting that!

My cup runneth over!

[beac]

26. My pleasure! TRULY my PLEASURE!!! :) n/t

[rndmprsn]

15. OMG...it is the front page news on ABC now...wow

THIS will SINK her.

[omen]

31. Washington Post bullet -- DONE

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/09/01/ST2008090103340.html

another big MSM hit. sorry can't make new threads :(

it is over

[beac]

33. Thanks for the link and WELCOME to DU!!

The article is GOLD!



Palin's Small Alaska Town Secured Big Federal Funds

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog.

There was $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, $900,000 for sewer repairs, and $15 million for a rail project -- all intended to benefit Palin's town, Wasilla, located about 45 miles north of Anchorage.

In introducing Palin as his running mate on Friday, Sen. John McCain cast her as a compatriot in his battle against wasteful federal spending.

-snip-

In her years as mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska's most senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July for allegedly accepting illegal gifts. The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm.

----- MORE AT LINK ABOVE -----

:rofl:

She's not Miss Mooseburger, she's Mrs Pork Pie!

[democrat2thecore]

11. Probably inserted at the last minute =- it will blow and BIG -nt

[AnnieBW]

9. A spouse having a drunk driving incident is de rigeur for Repubs

At least he didn't kill anyone, right, Mrs. Bush? :D

[BlueIdaho]

12. Its about gramps judgement. nt.

[justiceischeap]

16. Best quote about McShame "He wanted to do Joe or Ridge" (eom)

[LisaL]

22. I am not sure as to why he wouldn't insist on getting who he wanted.

He is running for president after all.

[Doremus]

17. And this adviser is paid HOW much?

"But Howard Opinsky, another McCain veteran, said calling attention to Ms. Palin’s possible candidacy during the search process would have undermined the impact of her eventual selection.

“Had her name been played out in the press for months and months, she wouldn’t have been seen as so bold,” Mr. Opinsky said. “You either get freshness and you have to live with what you get in your vetting or you lose the freshness.”

Some, uh, terrific advice there buddy. Hope you still have a job cause you're JUST the guy we need handling McCain.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ShadowLiberal]

ROFL, seriously!!! Man is that guy dumb.

Seriously, if you worry about over exposing her too soon by announcing her as a potential VP pick then just look at her in secret and don't announce her to the public.

[democrat2thecore]

19. I just added "dupe" to my thread - this one's better anyway! -nt

[fishwax]

20. This is the reckless decision-making process we can expect from a McCain administration

[tblue37]

35. Yes--and the attitude that PR impact is what matters, not

national security, ethics, or competence.

[Cha]

21. Good ol Lydia Green is

having a Field Day:)

[akangel2008]

27. My God do they hate each other too! nt

[Aqaba]

28. YAY!

[IndianaGreen]

29. McCain made a risky choice, and he crapped out

We don't want this man in the White House!

“Had the story been written about the state trooper three months ago, nobody would care about it anymore,” said Dan Schnur, a former McCain aide who now directs the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California. “It’s a risk. No matter how great the candidate, it’s a significant risk to put someone on the ticket” who hasn’t been publicly scrutinized.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=politics

[Douglas Carpenter]

30. YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!! THIS IS A THE POINT!!! MCCAIN HAS NO JUDGMENT!!!RECOMMENDED!!! RECOMMEND!!

RECOMMENDED!!! RECOMMENDED!!!

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. kik!! THIS NEEDS LOTS AND LOTS OF RECOMMENDS!!!

[tblue37]

34. This says it all:

". . . I haven’t found anybody who was asked anything.”

Epic fail.

[Douglas Carpenter]

36. Kick and recommended -- very important !!!!! lots and lots of recommends needed!!

[Marnieworld]

37. The link to The Independence Party does not go to anything connected to AIP

When you click it, it links to Local NY stuff. I realize that this is often automated linking but if only it went to the actual Alaska Independence Party then perhaps more would know what this is truly about.

[grantcart]

38. this article reads like GDP amazing