Palin's "eBay" Plane Sale Actually a Deal to Help Ally in Alaska State Legislature

[ddeclue]

Source: Primary source research on the internet.

After doing a little investigation I've come up with the following info on the jet and its buyer and the connection to Alaska Republicans:

The jet, tail number: N328SA was bought by a Larry Reynolds..

Reynolds didn't give to Palin's campaign but it looks like his wife (occupation listed as "housewife") in turn gave $1000.00 to John L. Harris in the 2006 General election.

It turns out for those of us in the lower 48 who don't know who HE is, that Harris is the Republican Alaska State Legislature Speaker of the House and he in turn hooked up Reynolds with Governor Palin to do the sweetheart jet deal (apparently at a loss to the State of Alaska.

No link yet.

---

EDIT: FIXED LINKS!

Google Phonebook results for "Larry Reynolds" Alaska

Larry Reynolds [phone] Anchorage, AK 99501 Map
Larry Reynolds [phone] 6160 Deep Lk, Valdez, AK 99686 Map
Larry Reynolds [phone] N Harbor Dr, Valdez, AK 99686 Map

http://community.adn.com/node/109650 (News story on how Reynolds used Harris to get the jet)

The campaign contribution:
https://webapp.state.ak.us/apoc/contributions.jsp?name=JANCE+REYNOLDS&pagesize=20

In a common trick used to throw people off in campaign contribution research, the report included a "harmless typo" and it should actually be JANICE REYNOLDS as his BOAT registration shows the name of his boat is the JANICE RUTH II.

http://www.boatinfoworld.com/registration.asp?vn=319176

The FAA aircraft registration:
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=328SA&cmndfind.x=12&cmndfind.y=13

http://aprn.org/2007/08/24/larry-reynolds-valdezs-great-white-hunter-and-economic-entrepreneur/

FAA Registry
N-Number Inquiry Results
N328SA is Assigned

Aircraft Description

Serial Number 425 Type Registration Individual
Manufacturer Name ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES Certificate Issue Date 09/13/2007
Model 1124A Status Valid
Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Multi-Engine Type Engine Turbo-Fan
Pending Number Change None Dealer No
Date Change Authorized None Mode S Code 50706631
MFR Year 1984 Fractional Owner NO



Registered Owner

Name REYNOLDS LARRY
Street PO BOX 750
City VALDEZ State ALASKA Zip Code 99686-0750
County VALDEZ-CORDOVA
Country UNITED STATES



Airworthiness

Engine Manufacturer GARRETT Classification Standard
Engine Model TFE 731 SER Category Transport

A/W Date 06/19/1985

[lonestarnot]

1. Nice work!

[L. Coyote]

30. Quite a stretch actually, making great leaps without evidence.

There are useful tidbits in this, but the conclusions lack anything other than a circumstantial basis.

The person who may have gotten a huge favor is the buyer.

[endthewar]

34. The point is that the buyer wasn't some random internet buyer

Like Palin tried to make the American people believe when she read her speech about selling the jet on eBay.

[L. Coyote]

55. That point was made earlier today on DU and on dKos. This screws up the story!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3472351&mesg_id=3472625

[ddeclue]

73. How?? It DOESN'T "screw up" anything..

It actually brings an important point to light that was missed earlier!

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

40. OF COURSE the Buyer got a huge favor!

That's the point!

He gave $1,000 to the Alaska Speaker of the House's campaign who then arranged the access to the Governor to sell the plane at at least a $300,000 discount over the brokerage price.

Doug D.

[L. Coyote]

61. WRONG. Palin placed the plane at auction on eBay.

You need to consider the timeline.

[ddeclue]

62. You ARE NOT READING ANYTHING I WROTE.

Did you GO to any of the links?

Apparently not or you would have read that she removed it from eBay when it didn't sell.

Speaker Harris hooked up one of his campaign contributors (Reynolds) with the governor during a dinner conversation to make the sale at a 300,000 discount!

That's special deals for special friends or what we here in Florida call the "good ol' boy network".

What about this story don't you get?

Doug D.

[kansasblue]

2. wonder why they didn't try Ebay without a minimum bid.

[ddeclue]

3. Because the headline would be: Alaska Sells 2.5 Million Dollar Jet for $122,344.25

:rofl:

[LiberalFighter]

4. I hope you send this info to appropriate people.

[ddeclue]

7. I'm trying...

I sent a copy to a friend of mine here locally who used to be with the Washington Press Corps and also to the KO show (but through publicly available email addresses). I'm hoping my friend can bring it to the attention of some DC reporters. I'm also using my political contacts to try and get the story up the media food chain.

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

14. Sent it to some of my linkedin.com contacts in politics too!

Just now... Some of them are pretty well connected so hopefully this bubbles up to the surface in the next couple of days!

Doug D.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Do you know who the state bought it from?

[ddeclue]

8. I could look into it but I'm not sure how that is relevant to Palin.

She wasn't governor in 2005 when they bought the plane.

[John Q. Citizen]

11. No, but she was Gov about a year later when it was sold. She used to support

(what's the name?) the former Gov, until she ran against him and tried to make the plane into some kind of an issue.


I read that the former gov used the plane 23% of the time, they state used it to transport prisoners 58% of the time, but what was it used for the other 19% of the time?

I figure the more we know, the better.

What if the person who sold it to the state is somehow tied to Palin? It seems their style to attempt to win coming and going if you know what I mean.

[Ken Burch]

12. It was her predecessor, Frank Murkowski, who bought the plane for his official use.

He got a line of credit from a bank(I think it was the bank he used to own)so he wouldn't have to get approval for the purchase from the Legislature(which, even though it was controlled by his party, would've had trouble stomaching the deal).

Stuff like that was one of the reasons "Frank The Bank" only got 18% in his own primary when he ran for reelection.

[Bennyboy]

6. Nice sleuthing.....

thanks.

[williesgirl]

9. Hardball had a Post reporter on tonight with this. They first showed McSame saying she sold it on

EBay and made a profit. Fucking liars, both of them. Glad the MSM is going to get yet one more flaw in their hero Sarah out quickly. rec'd

[ddeclue]

16. Which Post reporter?

I want to email my research to him or call him tonight!

Thanks,

Doug D.

[Blue State Bandit]

10. Wow! That's going to hurt!

From what I've read, this jet was in use more by the Alaska prison system than by the Governor. So they sold the plane at a loss for a political favor, and costing the tax payers more money to ship their prisoners to the lower 48.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=182791&mesg_id=182814

You should cross post this around the intertubes! DKos maybe?

McCain-Palin

[ddeclue]

17. I haven't been to the DKos all that much but I'll try...

I sent it to some of my other blogger friends though at brainshrub.com and clgnews

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

21. Now x-posted at dailykos!

http://www.dailykos.com/user/ddeclue2

Help me get this to the front of DailyKos!

I don't know how...

:(

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[Blue State Bandit]

81. WOW! DKos just ran with your ball!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/7/4855/57570/84/588761
">sponson and http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/6/13842/71239/755/589099">RobertoW posted ever refind versions of your research.

I especialy like Rob's title:
"da Plane - Much, Much More on the eBay Jet sale (and buyer Larry Reynolds)"

Great job!

You get a thousand "Obama Miles To-Go"! :toast:

[JDPriestly]

13. Reynolds paid about a half a million less than Alaska did

The state paid about $2.6 million for the jet — about half a million more than Reynolds would pay.
“For the age and model of the aircraft, this is the best price we think we can get,” said Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow. She said the state makes quarterly payments on the jet of about $62,500, with much of that money going toward interest.
Reynolds moved to Valdez about four years ago from Texas after spending summers in Alaska since 1988, he said.
Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez, said he met the businessman a couple of years ago and the two recently attended a military appreciation dinner together. There, Reynolds mentioned he was interested in getting a jet, said Harris, who is speaker of the state House.

http://community.adn.com/node/109650

[ddeclue]

15. Well 499,000 less anyways!

When you account for the $1,000.00 donation Mrs. Reynolds made to Mr. Harris' political campaign.

:rofl:

[dysfunctional press]

24. well- it was used...and i believe that she had promised to get rid of it if elected.

i don't see what the big deal is. :shrug:

[ddeclue]

25. It was USED when the state bought it too...

I'm pilot and be assured that airplanes do not depreciate like cars when they get to be 20 years old.

Doug D.

[dysfunctional press]

27. they weren't having any luck selling it-

if something isn't moving, you drop the price...

econ 101.

[riderinthestorm]

35. I am NOT an expert, but is ebay the best way to sell a used jet?

I sell horses and my market is weird. Ebay is a terrible place to sell a horse. It's not for everything. Even Craigslist won't work in the horse tradin' business.....

[ddeclue]

41. Trade-A-Plane, online specialty websites and brokers are best.

I'm a licensed pilot and looked at buying a plane back in 2001 (before the economy took the Bush down turn and my salary got cut.)

Of course I was looking at a Cessna 172 at $20,000... not a $2.1-2.6 million dollar corp-jet...

:)

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[riderinthestorm]

45. That's what I thought! It's a specialty item

There are brokers for that kind of thing, and people who want that kind of item are looking for it through (non-Ebay) channels that handle that sort of item.

High end, big ticket, specialty items (like a plane or horse for example) require knowledgeable facilitators to ensure an equitable sale. If I were to sell a horse on Ebay, I'd be gambling that the average buyer didn't know squat about buying a horse or it was some kind of scam. Same with a plane that requires an expert to ascertain that the item is genuine, saleable, serviceable, etc.

Sarah Palin could easily say that she "tried" to get $2.5 mil (or name your price) on Ebay - which is a completely inappropriate place to "get" your price for something like a plane - and when she couldn't (because the audience on Ebay isn't that kind of buyer), she was then free to make a private sale to her pal at a reduced rate.

Major scam.

[dysfunctional press]

64. and "surprise" they used a broker to sell it.

sheesh...:eyes:

[mcg]

80. The "broker" was Rep. John L. Harris (R-Valdez). nt

[John Q. Citizen]

49. She is the one who made a big deal about it. She apparently saved the state of AK from a plane.

[lonestarnot]

51. She's an ass confirmed.

[mcg]

74. So why was the eBay minimum reserve price 2.5 million?

First they put the plane on eBay with a reserve price of 2.5 million,
then they sell it to a GOP contributor for 2.1 million.

From
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/05/plane_not_sold_on_ebay.html
"She put the plane on eBay," said Tucker Bounds, a spokesman for McCain's campaign. "It didn't meet the minimum threshold the state desired so they used a broker. The plane was purchased by the former gov against the wishes of the legislature and voters -- was a symbol of corruption."

Saying that they used a broker is deceitful, as it implies they used the services of a professional aircraft broker and that it was an arms length transaction. That's what trusting people are going to assume.

"best price we think we can get": weasel words

If they thought that 2.1 million was the best price they could have gotten,
they would not have asked 2.5 million on eBay, unless they didn't want it
to sell on eBay. They posted it, what, 3 times? on eBay and did not lower
the reserve price, which is rather suspicious.

[backscatter712]

18. Nice work!

Every few hours, I see some new scandal about Palin.

Broadcast this! I'd love to see her line about selling the plane on eBay boomerang in her face!

[ddeclue]

23. Help me spread the word! n/t

[Name removed]

54. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BREMPRO]

19. must have been self Alaskan cocktail conversation for Palin, but her story

won't hold scrutiny in the national spotlight. She's turning out to be more fiction that substance- AND McCain fell for it.

[femmocrat]

20. K & R

and :applause: for your investigative skills!

:yourock:

[L. Coyote]

22. Sold to Larry Reynolds of Arlington, Texas?? Safari Club Contributor?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3472351&mesg_id=3472625

Who is Larry Reynolds?

A Larry Reynolds of Arlington Texas has worked for the Reynolds trust.
REYNOLDS, LARRY ARLINGTON, TX 76015 of the THE REYNOLDS TRUST occupation CONSULTANT
gave $300 on 12/11/2001 to the SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL PAC

This 527 PAC funneling money to Don Young, George Bush, Conrad Burns, Tom Delay, Randy Cunningham, Doolittle, Feeney, Bilbray, Pombo, Renzi, Hayworth, Lott, Issa, Talent ($41,206 in '06), Craig ....

==================
August 25, 2007 - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/25/us/25jet.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1220666576-hvXnW7qiCIV3K+nZkbZLcw

.... the jet that came to symbolize the troubles of the former Alaska governor Frank H. Murkowski has landed with a new owner.

A businessman from Valdez, Alaska, Larry Reynolds, paid $2.1 million this week for the state-owned Westwind II ....

Mr. Murkowski’s office tried to obtain money from the Homeland Security Department to buy the jet, saying it would help “defend, deter or defeat opposition forces.” He was denied. ...

Mr. Reynolds learned of the plane through Speaker John L. Harris, Republican of Valdez, Mr. Spencer said. ..........

=================
Palin claim on eBay plane sale doesn't fly
Jason George and Andrew Zajac | Chicago Tribune correspondents
Sept. 5, 2008 - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-palin_planesep05,0,3470364.story

Palin's statement implied the plane was sold through the online auction site revered for empowering millions of small entrepreneurs, and Palin's spokeswoman insisted Thursday that the transaction occurred. But the plane failed to sell on eBay.

Instead, the 23-year-old 10-seat Westwind II was sold in August 2007 for $2.1 million to a Valdez, Alaska, entrepreneur; that's about $300,000 less than a broker's asking price, according to news accounts......

[L. Coyote]

31. Larry Reynolds: Valdez’s great white hunter is a TEXAN!

Larry Reynolds: Valdez’s great white hunter and economic entrepreneur
Amy Bracken, KCHU - Valdez - August 24, 2007 - Alaska News
http://aprn.org/2007/08/24/larry-reynolds-valdezs-great-white-hunter-and-economic-entrepreneur/

The Palin Administration says it closed the deal ... for $2.1 million. Valdez resident Larry Reynolds is now the proud owner. The Texan moved to Valdez four years ago. ....

================

But, the Larry Reynolds who donates to Safari Club PAC says he lives in Arlington, Texas, home of the Texas Rangers baseball team.

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.php?sort=D&capcode=c6fff&name=reynolds&state=TX&zip=&employ=&cand=safari&all=Y&old=n&Soft=&c2008=n&c2006=n&c2004=n

REYNOLDS, LARRY BUSINESS OWNER 4/26/06 $300 Safari Club International
REYNOLDS, LARRY REYNOLDS TRUST/CONSULTANT 12/11/01 $300 Safari Club International
REYNOLDS, LARRY THE REYNOLDS TRUST 9/13/99 $250 Safari Club International
REYNOLDS, LARRY THE REYNOLDS TRUST 11/23/98 $250 Safari Club International
REYNOLDS, LARRY CEO 9/3/97 $250 Safari Club International

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

58. George Bush was awarded "Governor Of The Year" by the Safari Club International

in 1999 for his strong support of trophy (canned) hunting in the state of Texas. Bush later appointed Safari Club International chief lobbyist Matthew J. Hogan to be acting director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This is the last person on earth who should be protecting wildlife. Back in the 1960s, my uncle was a well-known chef in the Denver region and was hired a few times to cook the annual Safari Club's banquet, which consisted of many exotic animals. He said it was one of the most disgusting things he's ever had to do in his life.

[dysfunctional press]

26. where's the "deal to help an ally"?

the guy bought the jet that they were trying hard to sell- did you honestly expect them to sell it for a profit or something...? :crazy:

she said that they would sell it- they were working through a broker, but then the guy who buys it mentions that he's looking for one to harris, who know's that palin has been trying to sell it, so he tells him about it- where's the nefariousness...:shrug:?

[ddeclue]

28. What are you some kind of Republican Troll?

They sold the plane to a Republican contributor for $300,000 LESS than the broker was asking. The nefariousness comes from the incestuous back scratching good ol' boy (girl) circle where person A gives a campaign contribution to person B who arranges the meeting w/ person C to sell state property for far less than market value.

The governor has a fiduciary duty to not just give stuff away to friends of friends.

Doug D.

[L. Coyote]

32. I'm not, and I agree. Where is the evidence? You have nothing

except a Republican gave $1,000 to the local candidate.

We knew the rest already, and a lot more.
Some of us are working with the reporters on this.

Who got the $300K discount?
Who sold the plane?
That is where this leads.

[ddeclue]

33. READ THE OP! - I can't help it you aren't READING.

EVERY QUESTION YOU ASKED WAS CLEARLY ANSWERED IN MY ORIGINAL POST.

TRY READING IT FIRST:

The HUSBAND of the $1000 donor got the 300000 discount.

She's a housewife, he's a millionaire - Who's $1000 do you think it was?

The Gov sold the plane to the millionaire who donated to the Republican Speaker of the House in Alaska's legislature - it's paying for access to get a sweetheart deal.

What part of that don't you understand?

Doug D.

[L. Coyote]

39. "What part of that don't you understand?"

The part that is missing. Where is your evidence of the quid pro quo?

HELLO!! A connected Republican millionaire from Arlington, Texas, does not need a local Senator in Alaska for access!

On edit. In fact, that sentence in the NY Times piece was suspicious.
Why would they want to establish how Reynolds got connected to the plane?
To cover up something, like his real access? That is what you are doing too.

[ddeclue]

42. You are NOT reading..

1) He's NOT a local Senator...he's a REPRESENTATIVE and in fact the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE of the Alaska State House. That's a far cry from being just any Senator or Rep. I know because I've helped elect 3 State Reps here in Florida and know them personally.

2) The SPEAKER arranged the meeting with the Governor and the SPEAKER took the 1000 dollar donation. What's so HARD to understand? The Speaker benefitted, the millionaire buyer benefitted. Palin gave a favor to the Speaker which may or may not have yet been redeemed in terms of helping her fundraise or helping her get a bill passed. It's corrupt and incestuous.

Doug D.

[L. Coyote]

65. FALSE: "SPEAKER arranged the meeting with the Governor"

You are just making this up, after reading the press reports.

FACT: ACCORDING TO the NY Times, one guy in Valdez tells another guy in Valdez about a jet for sale.

We are investigating this because we think someone is making THAT story up!

[ddeclue]

68. Well excuse the hell out of me for believing a reputable newspaper

Other than your assertion, what do you have to based your claim on. I am citing a newspaper article from a local paper that says the two (Speaker Harris and Mr. Reynolds) discussed the matter over dinner.

What EXACTLY do you have that says otherwise?

Doug D.

[dysfunctional press]

67. are used $2million jets flying(no pun intended) off the shelves...?

as far as the deal for the plane is/was concerned- the guy who bought it is happy, the broker is happy, the alaska state government is happy, the alaskan taxpayers are happy(i.e. all the people actually involved)...why aren't you? :shrug:

[ddeclue]

70. The plane was NOT sold for market value was it?

The broker had it listed for $300,000 more and it appears that it was sold in a sweetheart deal to a member of the good ol' boy club in Alaskan Republican politics.

Yes the guy who bought it is happy.

I don't know if the broker is happy considering he gets paid on commission and a cut price means a cut commission.

The "Alaska State Government" CAN'T be happy because you are antrhopomorphizing an non-sentient entity. People are happy. Governments are abstract concepts not people.

I doubt the Alaskan taxypayers even realize the truth and would NOT be happy if they knew it.

Why are you shilling for Republicans on DU?

Doug D.

[dysfunctional press]

75. yes, it was..."market value" is what someone's willing to pay- it wasn't selling at the higher price

so the lower offer was accepted.

that's how it's done...sheesh :eyes:

[lonestarnot]

29. Maybe to richies 300k doesn't mean much.

:shrug:

[L. Coyote]

36. OP is WRONG: "Deal to Help Ally in Alaska State Legislature"

That is the criticism here. The deal benefits the buyer and broker, if anyone.

It is counter-productive to bomb the hard work we are doing today on this research with a giant LIE for an OP lead.
Maybe that is the intent (but I doubt it here), and is certainly would fit the profile of a troll.

ddeclue has added some info, a 'Jance Reynolds' gave $1000.00 to John L. Harris.
ddeclue has added some disinformation too. Fact is Harris told Reynolds about the aircraft/broker per the NY Times.

If there is evidence Reynolds dealt with Palin, let's see more than over-excited innuendo.

[lonestarnot]

46. Thanks L Coyote.

Sucked me in I must admit.

[ddeclue]

50. WHAT IS HIS POINT????

I really don't see his point.

The sale helped Harris (Speaker of Alaska State House) because he got a campaign contribution.

The sale helped Reynolds who got a great break on a plane (300,000 to 500,000 depending on how you look at it.)

The sale helped Palin with Harris by granting him a favor in exchange for something to be named later.

If Palin DIDN'T do this then she is a dupe and got used by Harris - either way it doesn't look good for Palin.

Doug D.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

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

[ddeclue]

56. OH NONSENSE....THERE'S NO LIE HERE.

Who do you think you are anyways?

I don't see any special credentials you have that I don't.

The millionaire gave money, got special access and got a special break. It's pretty straight forward and you really have offered nothing but unbacked assertions while I have offered detailed facts.

Doug D.

[L. Coyote]

59. "Who do you think you are anyways?"

The guy sending FACTS to the reporters who broke the story!

[ddeclue]

60. I really haven't seen ANY story saying what I've discovered...

that the plane buyer donated money to the campaign of the guy who hooked him up with the Governor...

so what "facts" do you think you're talking about anyways?

I haven't seen you post any "facts" here yet...

and the rest of the story that I posted came from public sources a year old so what exactly NEW did you add to the story that made it a "breaking" story - that it wasn't sold on eBay? OK - so what? That's not nearly as big a deal as selling the plane in a sweetheart deal to a Republican political contributor.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[L. Coyote]

63. Sep-05-08 09:42 AM PST = Larry Reynolds of Arlington, Texas

The questions were raised this morning, and we've worked on the research all day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3472351&mesg_id=3472625
Sold to Larry Reynolds of Arlington, Texas?? Safari Club Contributor?

But, I'm not going off the deep end without thinking about simple aspects like the chronology.

[ddeclue]

66. OK but the Alaska papers published that much over a year ago.

My own links in the OP demonstrate that this isn't breaking news unless you are going to argue that it just wasn't widely known.

On the other hand, I don't see ANY news story yet about Mr. Reynolds donating to the Speaker who hooked him up with the Governor who sold him a cheap airplane yet. Perhaps you could pass THAT along to your journalist friends? I've passed it along to some of my journalist friends and political connections...

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

57. Oh and P.S. the plane was an issue during the elections

so so much for your post hoc ergo prompter hoc argument...

in fact Palin MADE the plane an issue..

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

47. AND IT BENEFITS SPEAKER HARRIS...

AND INDIRECTLY BENEFITTED PALIN who got to trade favors with Harris...

and who cares about the NYT?

That wasn't my source.

Doug D.

[lonestarnot]

48. Oh stop yelling, you're giving me a headache.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

37. And that's supposed to be the big BIG reform - the one Limbaugh calls "fabulous"

and the one that defines her as a reformer.

[Eric J in MN]

38. It's not unusual for someone to donate $1,000 or less.

That doesn't prove a deep connection between a donor and a politician.

I donated $2,000 to John Kerry's campaign in 2004, and I've never met John Kerry.

[ddeclue]

43. No actually it's pretty rare.

I have maxxed out in 3 races here in Florida for two state reps and one gubernatorial candidate. It's pretty rare though - considerably less than 1 in 1000 voters give at this level in state races. I know because I have worked (as a volunteer) on quite a number of campaigns and do a lot of opposition research on donors to campaigns.

As for Presidential campaigns very few people give at the $1000 level or higher either. I did it for John Kerry but not in one big fat check. It took me the better part of a year. I only gave $800 to John Edwards this cycle but then he dropped out.

As for the "deep connection" the ADJ article I provided says clearly that Haris and Reynolds discussed the matter OVER DINNER.

Doesn't that sound like they have a personal relationship (deep connection) to you?

It didn't happen over the internet, it didn't even happen in the office. They discussed it over dinner and Harris then served as the intermediary to connect Reynolds to Palin to make the sale happen.

Q.E.D.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[L. Coyote]

44. Donation was in 2006, well before Palin was elected! Planning ahead??

Good of you to cough up big for Kerry.

[ddeclue]

52. Plane was an issue DURING the election...

And one reason Murkowsky (sp) was in trouble and Palin made it an issue of her campaign.

I don't claim that they planned ahead but Reynolds definitely bought access with Harris and cashed it in on a big discount on his new airplane with the new Governor, Sarah Palin. If she didn't know what was going on then she was duped and not very competent. If she did, then she is expecting something from Harris in return.

Doug D.

[dysfunctional press]

69. you really need some sleep, or something...

you're seeing things that aren't there.

there are plenty of other things about her that actually ARE issues worthy of attention.

[ddeclue]

71. You need to join the Republican Party or something.

You are denying things that ARE there and trying to pretend like nothing is wrong...

Doug D.

[dysfunctional press]

76. ...

:eyes:

we'll see...

[Lakerstan]

72. Plane now being used to go hunting in Russia

http://www.huntingreport.com/worldupdate.cfm?articleid=349

[adamuu]

77. Development of the Ebay-Plane Story As Seen on DU (Relates to:)

Gosh I sure wish Palin would make herself available to answer questions about this. Oh well, we just have to rely on what we can find out, ourselves. She refused to talk about it; we can only assume the worst. It's not a personal issue, so she really has no excuse to let this go unanswered.

Fri Sep-05-08
Palin claim on eBay plane sale doesn't fly
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3472351
McCain claims Palin sold that plane on Ebay for a profit.. but it was $600 K loss
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6956656
Palin plane isn't sold yet?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6955969
The Plane Ebay and Palin: oh yes she did lie.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6955052
Palin's plane sold to a DONOR? At a LOSS??
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6954815
The Plane was not just a lie it was undersold to a GOP supporter
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6954227
Even the plane story seems to be falling apart
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6953878
McCain: She sold the plane on EBay! ...for a PROFIT!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6948805 (this one is an outright lie, not just a stretch of the truth)
McCain-Palin Caught Lying About Selling the Plane on eBay By Washington Post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=182743
Palin - plane not sold on E-bay
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3932621
Even Selling the Plane on EBAY was a lie.....!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3932192
Palin LIED about selling jet on eBay (actually lost $ for the state)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6947154
Palin is an outright liar
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6954529
McCain perpetuates the jet sold on ebay lie (claims Palin made a profit)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6952395
Liar McCain: Just said Palin "sold" the jet on eBay and "made a profit"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6948775
Palin Mentioned Briefly Wednesday an Anecdote About an Aircraft
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6944989
Palin Lying About Selling SOA Jet on eBay!!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3932212
'EBay jet lie' just repeated by McInsane in live rally for him....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3930144
John McCain, "She sold it on Ebay" "and made a profit"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3930131
Jet Palin sold didn't sell on EBay - Was used for transporting prisoners majority of time
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3927778

Thu Sep-04-08
Palin's Jet Plane - NEVER Sold At eBay
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6927066

Tue Sep-02-08
The Ebay-Jet story is a LIE also
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/whrab/22
Larry King last night - said Palin was strong; she sold a plane on EBay
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6878000

Mon Sep-01-08
"Palin Sold a Plane on eBay, that qualifies her to be a VP"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6871477

[underpants]

78. KICK-I was just about to post this

THIS isn't true either? Wow

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-palin_planesep05,0,3470364.story

Palin's statement implied the plane was sold through the online auction site revered for empowering millions of small entrepreneurs, and Palin's spokeswoman insisted Thursday that the transaction occurred. But the plane failed to sell on eBay.

Instead, the 23-year-old 10-seat Westwind II was sold in August 2007 for $2.1 million to a Valdez, Alaska, entrepreneur; that's about $300,000 less than a broker's asking price, according to news accounts.

Also, while Palin characterized the plane as an extravagance of former Gov. Frank Murkowski, who arranged for its purchase in November 2005, the plane saw heavy use transporting Alaskan convicts.

Alaska does not have adequate prison capacity and contracts for space with a private facility near Phoenix. On Thursday, 24 percent of the 4,546 Alaskans in jail or in prison were serving their time at Arizona's Red Rock Correctional Center, said a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Corrections.

When the state first began using the plane in November 2005, prisoner transport accounted for 58 percent of the jet's use, and Murkowski's office used it 23 percent of the time. Over time, Murkowski's usage increased.

Today, the U.S. Marshals Service transports 90 percent of Alaska prisoners to Arizona. that is Fed. Govt. expense, no?

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/27938324.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
PALIN'S PLANE? IT WASN'T SOLD ON EBAY

One of the most compelling anecdotes in Sarah Palin's repertoire is that she auctioned off the Alaska governor's jet on eBay after taking office -- a swift move aimed at cleaning up the excesses of her predecessor. But in fact, the jet did not sell on eBay. It was sold to an Alaska businessman named Larry Reynolds, who paid $2.1 million for the plane, shy of the original $2.7 million purchase price, according to news reports at the time. Reynolds contributed to Palin's campaign in 2006. Palin did try to sell the plane on eBay, but there was only one serious bid, in December 2006, and it fell through.


CBS
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/06/politics/animal/main4422397.shtml

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/douglasdeclue/CCFx

[Johnbluedude]

79. She thinks she's slick

She isn't.