NY Times: Palin has secretive, loyalty based governing style

[Wetzelbill]

Gee, whose governing style does that sound like? -WB

In office, Palin hired friends and hit critics

Interviews indicate a governing style that uses loyalty and secrecy
By JO BECKER, PETER S. GOODMAN AND MICHAEL POWELL

updated 4:17 p.m. MT, Sat., Sept. 13, 2008
WASILLA, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin lives by the maxim that all politics is local, not to mention personal.

So when there was a vacancy at the top of the State Division of Agriculture, she appointed a high school classmate, Franci Havemeister, to the $95,000-a-year directorship. A former real estate agent, Ms. Havemeister cited her childhood love of cows as one of her qualifications for running the roughly $2 million agency.

Ms. Havemeister was one of at least five schoolmates Ms. Palin hired, often at salaries far exceeding their private sector wages.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26691018

[BlooInBloo]

1. It's how anti-American people operate.

[Kool Kitty]

8. Yes, and it is also how small, spiteful,

paranoid people operate. Looks like just the change we need. :sarcasm:

[DemFromMem]

2. OMG - Send to everyone you know

The Times interviewed 60 people for this long expose of Palin. Tons of new revelations. A thorough report showing cronyism, hypocrisy, corruption and more.

[beac]

3. Alaka = Sarah Plain's private fiefdom n/t

[Overseas]

4. She's a true Modern Republican -- hires unqualified friends to do a heck of a job !

She's also very vindictive, I hear. Harassing the state trooper even after he'd served his time.

Asking the librarian TWO MORE TIMES, when she said she really didn't believe in censorship and would not remove a book from the library's collection.

I'm sure there was other stuff in the story too.

But yeah, the crony privatization is disgusting. And she's into it deeply.

[DebbieCDC]

5. I just read the story in the Time online edition

Jeebus, Bushco with a dress.

[kansasblue]

6. 'You're doing a heck of a job Franci '

[merh]

7. Check this out

Check out this link http://www.andrewhalcro.com/nov_19_no_spilling_the_milk_a_gag_order_on_the_matanuska_maid_fiasco

Second, Havemeister has violated her own prohibition against using information to benefit "the staff or his or her family."

In fact, Havemeister even after being told not to, has reportedly had repeated meetings in her office with local farmers hoping to lease Mat Maid's equipment at a sweetheart price. Her father in law is one of the main players in the newly formed SouthCentral Dairy Co-Op.

At the last Creamery Board meeting on November 11, the board voted to lease the equipment to the newly formed co-op.

She keeps her cronies connected and they all profit. :cool:

Franci was fascinated with farms and particularly milk cows as a young person. After moving to the valley with her folks, she was immersed in a community filled with many farm families. Not surprisingly her fascination with cows and farms eventually introduced her to her future husband, the son of dairy farmers. Franci has seen, first hand, the challenges that Alaska dairy farmers experienced and wanted a change - a good and positive change. One where farmers not only made a descent living, but were respected for their hard work, knowledge and contribution to the social and economic fabric of Alaska.

You may remember the rally in June, a few days after Global Food Alaska, staged at the Havemeister Dairy Farm in Palmer where community came together to show their support for the farms after Matanuska Maid announced its closure. Franci was fully mobilized and was appointed to the new Agricultural Board. One of their new functions would be to identify a new Director and she was encouraged to apply for the position.

http://www.imakenews.com/networkdirect/e_article000876279.cfm?x=b11,0,w

:smoke:

[Wetzelbill]

9. Good stuff!

Thanks for the link.

[merh]

10. so the high school chum keeps the secrets

and father-n-law enjoys the profits since the state owned and operated dairy went under and he gets a sweetheart deal to get the dairy's equipment.

[CakeGrrl]

11. The Obama campaign needs to connect the dots for the LIVs

They need to remind people why cronyism and incompetence at a national level affects their lives directly - why they need to care about what kind of people run FEMA and the USDA and the like.

How many people were lost or left without assistance in Katrina's aftermath due to federal incompetence?

How many people and pets have been sickened or killed by contaminated food? Why do we have so many food recalls?

How many people have been put at risk due to unsafe or faulty products?

[PBS Poll-435]

12. Wow. I am so freaking shocked.

:eyes:

[Wetzelbill]

14. I know, it's hard to believe

[Skwmom]

13. They forgot incompetent, heck of a job Brownie style.

[Wetzelbill]

15. oh yeah

[Wetzelbill]

16. kick

[Wetzelbill]

17. Kick

This is an important story.

[grantcart]

18. kick

[Wetzelbill]

19. always doing what you can to promote my candidacy I see

:rofl:

I saw your appreciation thready, very well deserved.

[grantcart]

20. yeah but it cost me a small fortune

this is a great article by the NYT which everyone should read

[central scrutinizer]

21. Bubble girl in the echo chamber

Where have I seen this movie before?

[Wetzelbill]

22. It's been playing at the WH for 8 straight years now

[shadowknows69]

23. I used to own one of those toys that made sounds from the whole fucking barnyard

Why didn't I get that job???