The Voice Speaks – Van Flein Whiffs
The source of all the RUMORS about strange dealings with the Palin family, the Wasilla Sports Complex and the Palin house in Wasilla that was built by Todd Palin and some contractor “buddies” all sourced back to an article last October that appeared in the Village Voice. Well now….the Voice speaks. (I love that) There reflections on the latest Palin flailin’ is an article entitled: Palin’s Team Takes Swing at Voice, Whiffs.
Sarah Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein spent his July 4 in Fairbanks, Alaska, issuing a four-page statement warning news organizations not to investigate allegations printed by the Voice last October.
Talk about waving a red flag in front of a bull.
Van Flein’s famous client had announced her upcoming resignation as Alaska’s governor the day before, and the attorney wanted everyone to know that Palin’s sudden and unexpected withdrawal had nothing to do with our story, ‘The Book of Sarah‘ [October 7] which, of course, made many wonder just the opposite.
It’s the exact same phenomenon that happened the week before when Meg Stapleton issues a press release talking about how mean people were about photoshopping Sarah Palin holding a baby with a head that belonged to something other than her baby. In the first instance, it was the image on a local Alaskan blog that published Palin with a conservative radio talk show host head. But after Stapleton’s ridiculous press release, the internets were ablaze. There were photoshops of Palin with a baby Kim Jong Il, a baby Bat Boy, a baby Meg Stapleton, and my favorite, a baby…herself.
This silliness, and Palin’s incredible overreaction to it was gaining traction and about to blow up all over mainstream media sources, and then…. Michael Jackson took over the news cycle, and the news cycle after that and so on. But did the Palin people realize that they’d dodged a bullet? Did they lay low and thank their lucky stars? Did they see the folly in trying to blow up little ol’ local bloggers and looking like giant crazy hysterical bullies? Oh, no.
The Palin PR death spiral was to be rekindled anew just one short week later. After the bombshell resignation, and the weird 4th of July screed from Palin’s attorney which was directed at The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and yes… another local blogger, the media feeding frenzy has begun again.
Shannyn Moore, the aforementioned blogger has now, courtesy of the Palin numbskullery, appeared on The Thom Hartmann Show, The Ed Schultz Show, The Ron Reagan Show, Alan Colmes, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. She’s also been written up on the Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Crooks and Liars, Brad Blog, Think Progress, Daily Kos, and dozens of others. The Associated Press has picked up the story, and so has KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News. Way to squash that rumor.
Not only this, but now there are Palin “rumors” cropping up all over the blogosphere and progressive radio talk shows. She might be starting a new career as a fashion designer. Her battery pack might be running out. She might have to meet the mother ship and return to Planet Peep-Toe. She might have just played the state for suckers and just wants to collect her book royalties and speaking fees. And it might mean that there’s something to all these connections after all and will make people even more curious. And no, they probably never saw that coming. It’s like pulling out of your driveway and continuing to hit the same mailbox over, and over, and over. Most people either move the mailbox, or learn to pay attention. Not our Sarah.
The Voice article then goes on to discuss the web of connections between suppliers, contractors, a dentist/godfather, a steering committee, architects, building codes, the Palins, Iron Dog Sponsors and more. It’s like a human crochet square.
Van Flein dismisses this web of connections — to say nothing of the donations from contractors that he ignores — by saying that “people in a small town appear to know one another, support one another, and take on big projects together.” He says “apparently that’s uncommon in New York.” Actually, it’s quite common here, and journalists here write about these incestuous networks whenever we discover them, just like Alaskan journalists do. And there’s nothing that lawyers who threaten lawsuits without uncovering any substantive errors can do about it.
As Emerson said, “The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.”
#145, July 6th, 2009 at 10:54 PM, Moose Pucky Says: @Bretta “””… but somehow I don’t really get “disappointment” or “abandoned” in this situation.”””
Probably too late to respond to this now, so I won’t trouble to look up the link – LM’s comment to that effect was recently published in the MSM. Her words, not mine.
Well, I’ll be moosepuckied! That Lanham article is absolutely spot on. Took me a while to figure out that it is satire… good job!
Thanks for the Mudline link. Good stuff.
I do have the original text of Palin’s resignation blather. I can’t remember where the heck I found the link but I did save the whole thing.
Shes a grifter and a quitter, got a fork? stick it in her.
So she says she likes basketball analogies, like the ole pick and roll; she picks pockets and rolls out of town, or the ole give and go; she gives her problems to someone else and goes on her merry way..
Nice moose. Reminds me of how we were almost killed by a runaway trucker in the Kenai when a bunch of tourists in RV’s stopped on the side of the road to watch a moose in the water, blocking both lanes. A huge 18 wheeler full of fish with no brakes was coming down the two lane road and had to veer off to avoid crushing our little rental car. I didn’t know what was happening until I noticed the moose hightailing it out of there followed by the sight of the semi flying through the air and rotating slowly in a clockwise direction. It hit the water with a huge splash and driver popped out unhurt and started swearing at everybody as they scrambled back into their RV’s. When we told him everyone was stopped to see the moose, he said “A moose! There’s moose everywhere in Alaska!”.
KallieinTexas & laurie,
Reality — when have you ever, ever seen that happen. It doesn’t.
It is also you do not lie down to be the doormat because you’ve hurt her feelings. As Shannyn said — she should suck it up! At that point — she should get a backbone. She stepped into it by asking for people’s votes and therefore deserves everything directed at her because of her incompetence. She’s not a cashier at the local grocery store. She is heading a state wherein rules, regulations and laws are being passed which affect the lives of the citizens of the State. Therefore her a$$ needs to be held to the fire.
Bear in mind that just b/c the FBI isn’t investigating Sarah Palin, that doesn’t mean they aren’t investigating her husband or some other relative. Furthermore, it may not be the FBI that’s investigating her – Federal charges can also be investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspector, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, the Securities & Exchange Commission, and/or the IRS, to name a few.
Seems there’s something in those emails that Celtic Diva was able to raise the money to finally get the State to release.
When will we get to see them? Will they lead to a suit which will lead to the release of more emails which will result in the demise of the Palin administration?
Time will tell.
CougInPortland:
Reader comment from HuffPo:
“I feel like McCain took the nation to bed, left us with an STD and didn’t even buy us dinner!”
LOL
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That one is excellent!!!
Apologies for repeats on my previous posts. There have been problems since the Flats server crashed last Friday. Hope to get it cleared up today.
I dont see how she can say ANYTHING about the MSM since they propagate her lies $2,000,0000 costs to the state, Willow at the game, frivilous complaints. She is getting off EASY!!!! Shes never done the Sunday talk shows, never really addressed the wild ride…..She cant complain and have real journalists sit by and NOT ASK THE REALLLY HARD QUESTIONS…..
The Anchorage Daily News ran another of its pointless, insipid “all about Palin” stories today. However, it did contain an interesting reminder that Andree McLeod, named as one of Palin’s chief antagonists, got her start in politics when she couldn’t get a city permit for her falafel cart. So, She Who Would Be President of the most powerful nation on the planet is driven from office by a …..food cart vendor? Maybe we should send McLeod after Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-il.
There’s a story about an old-school politician who told a new intern to leak a story that the politician’s opponent had intimate relations with sheep. The horrified intern replied that he couldn’t do that. There was no evidence. “I know that”, said the old politician, “I just want him to publicly deny it.” Now, I’m not saying that any blogger or complaint filer made a false claim. (Quite the opposite. In many, if not all, of the Palin complaints, the facts alleged were found to be true – the Board then found ways to interpret the behavior as not-sheep-loving.) I am saying that Mr. Van Flein needs to think about this old story. Every time he sends out another blast to the national media blustering on about how builders of sports arenas in small towns always build free houses for the mayor (except in New York, of course), people who never heard of Mudflats, Moore or Celtic Diva and wouldn’t be caught dead reading the Village Voice are suddenly wondering, “What is all this about free windows and snow machines?”
I’m a retired attorney, and I can recall several very uncomfortable sessions having to advise very angry, big-shot clients that maybe the best thing is to just walk away. In my experience, guys like Van Flein are a dime a dozen. They confuse bluster for brains and volume for good legal work. That four page news blast he wrote probably cost Palin another $800 – $1000 in fees to write and however much more to deliver. All it accomplished was cementing in the public mind that yes, a falafel cart vendor and her computer-nerd buddies managed to intimidate a woman who wants us to elect her President of the United States. Nice work, Tom.
I truly don’t anticipate seeing her on any type of a tv or a talk show – not unless they allowed her to bring her children as her pawns to hide behind some more, again, too, also.
What we know about Sarah is that she lies when it’s easier to tell the truth, always. No issue is to trivial or grave for Sarah to spin a fabrication around, she may even believe her fanciful stories after she tells them a few time, but we can leave that to the professionals to decipher.
With that in mind, some things can be learned from her tangled ramblings if one ignores what she says, but focuses on themes and settings. For example, today with Andrea Mitchell, she used Trig, Piper, Todd and other preteens as props, but none of her own kids who are old enough to fight back were anywhere in sight. The older kids didn’t mind the limelight until this week, but now they don’t want to be seen with their mother, huh. About the only take-away message from their absence is that they are embarrassed by whatever is brewing. Teens hate embarrassment.
The physical location is a no brainer, Sarah hopes to portray herself as the Everywoman Fisherlady with an up-do. Remember girls, you don’t have to look bad just because you are gutting fish for fun. Lest the visual message is too subtle, she explains it to the interviewer.
Then there is her verbalization, where it isn’t a dialect spoken elsewhere, it is possible to decode portions. Sarah is worried about another complaint, and her resignation is preemptive. Her attempt at spin is that what’s coming is just like the other 15 that they’ve “won” –but even her kids know that this time is different.
Celia Harrison
Very interesting. Do you think you could hop over to todays open thread and let us know what’s what?
I agree with laurie, I think the press should take a cue from Letterman and not give her a prime spot on the news. Just ignore all this wacky palin bs until there is something of substance and sensible information. She’s jerking everyone around with her delusions of grandeur. The less I hear or see of her is best.
It is 7:48 AM. I am at Kaladi Brothers downtown. There is going to be a press conference about the Gov soon right outside.
Jhop…I have been reading your posts for days now. I am so excited to have you here. All mudpups are great, and we have many heros here…but you have become a hero too. Your info is invaluable, and I just wish you lived in Alaska.
Reader comment from HuffPo:
“I feel like McCain took the nation to bed, left us with an STD and didn’t even buy us dinner!”
LOL
Mr. Parnell needs to have the same blogging criticisim as Palin did. Just because she will be gone…the head of state still needs to be held to account. That means you Sean…fasten your seatbelt. Oh…and please…someone teach him how to talk as well. I watched him on a couple of news shows and it was a very sad stammering performance.
Perhaps the personnel board is getting a tad nervous. Maybe they know that they have done wrong by protecting their queen for all this time. I truly hope those 3 members are very nervous and very ashamed. I feel no pity for them. No matter how much they earned…is is worth their credibility and their sense of who they are? I trust not.
I wish that the press would just give her space and not comment about her until she gives a serious prime time interview.
“Personnel board members spoke Wednesday about possibly pursuing changes in the law regarding their ethics complaint procedures — such as changing the “thresholds for investigations….”
“Apparently the board would support a lawsuit that we brought to court, challenging the constitutionality of the complaint procedure…”
Funny–my first thought on reading that was that the board wanted to RAISE the threshold.
I can’t find anything in the Ethics Act that gives a claimant the right to appeal the Board’s decision that a claim was not stated. It’s as if the whole state is under binding arbitration without the state’s residents ever agreeing to that.
FBI denial = red herrring. SOMETHING happened or is going to. Iceberg? dunno, but 4 yeahs and 1 hell yes later shes done. (How can Trig vote at 15 months?”)
Vicious. Please sir, may I have some more?
Largo Says:
July 7th, 2009 at 5:25 AM
Why does all this BS remind me of Tonya Harding?
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Because they are two peas from the same pod! Buttercup just uses executive privilege instead of a crowbar. Same type of syncopantic “friends” though. Chins up, Mudpups. Look what eventually happened to Harding. Can you see Buttercup in the “Rassling” game?
Mornin’ Mudpups,
Look at the situation going forward. Having read the great in-depth conversations going on here for the past number of days, look at it as learning tools — honing your skills!!
Now that Parnell has spoken a few times and reading the articles of his discussions about GINO, he’s definitely Gov Lite. Not knowing about him, I was hoping to hear better, but his appearance seem like business as usual.
Those tools, may be valuable and useful for the duration of the term! Ya know what I mean Jelly Beans!!
Bob Poe yesterday spoke on KUDO and made a comment that I choked when he first said it, the ordinance assembly meetings racing to the forefront of my mind — those dark corners of the assembly washrooms!! Eeek!! Upon further consideration, his comment now makes more sense to me. They were discussing damage control with the media. He said if Parnell wraps himself up in the same way as Palin with the media, it means it’s the same brush, same color, same dress. In other words, business as usual.
Should this be the case, that’s where these new tools and honed skills become useful.
Why does all this BS remind me of Tonya Harding?
Go back to her state of the state speech, once again with Piper standing up at the podium with her, what in the world is that all about? Then jibe that with her quitting. The whole mother grizzly bear and circle the wagons. And now we hear she has a higher calling. Who called? I am sure she can’t wait to tell us when the news cycle is right. Who is it that needs Sarah Palin for anything?
lovemydogs Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 11:38 PM
As to building codes in Alaska (or lack thereof). That is her excuse for not accepting stimulus funds for weatherization. She doesn’t want them. Won’t have those pesky building codes. Too many strings…
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The state of Alaska has a Building Energy Efficiency Standard program. Any project using Alaskan state financing must adhere to the ASHRE building codes. It seems Alaska’s got its own strings to the same industry standards group as the federal program.
The big kicker is that since Alaska is ( seems to be) a home rule state, and the state can’t enforce state wide building codes, it must use a ‘best effort’ / “do what you can” approach. Not very ‘stringy’ at all.
It is annoying that all the media is calling the ethics complaints frivolous. I bet the people that brought these complaints don’t think they are frivolous.
Rumors…Remember this post anyone?
https://themudflats.net/2009/06/24/breaking-news-three-more-ethics-complaints-against-palin-and-then-some/
I do not live in Alaska, so I am worried that with her quitting, she will head to the lower 48 and dive us all nuts, not looking forward to that.
What also concerns me is how little she really knows, i.e. when I was in high school and saw some running for student counsel, they would state what their platforms were, but then asked to explain them or how they would get them done, they fumbled over words and go off on statements like “it will get done.”
So, it seems she is like those who knew something about what they wanted, but had no clue as to the workings of laws to get it done. They just thought you asked for it and everyone did as they were told.
Palin flashes a smile a wink and hopes that it will get her through because as far as the brains to work a system, she fails miserably.
So if you can not dazzle them with brains, baffle them with bulls*** and that is what I think she has done all along, as Moore said, it is a speech of salad…and as I see it, once you peel away all the lettuce you get to the core and nothing is there.
So, she will collect her $11 million book deal, hit the talk show circuit and hopefully never runs for any other public office…if she can not finish what she starts because bloggers drive her insane and pick on her, then being president will surely send her over the edge.
She will always be held accountable, just like we do with any public figure, it’s a high standard and I know she is just not ready for prime time.
I would sooner vote for Hillary then her at least class outranks bumpkin any day.
Oh, dear. Need to nap a bit – then get back to work on things. If anyone is left out there, I’ll see you in the morning.
No, lovemydogs, you’re not. At least not more than I have been. I honestly thought a couple of the complaints were pretty thin, however, several that have been dismissed were clearly unethical in my book. I know unethical is often a higher standard of conduct than illegal, and we only get to prosecute what’s illegal, but that doesn’t mean we should only expect our politicians to meet the lowest standard required by law. And our politicians should expect to hold themselves to a higher standard.
SP is joining a long line of unethical politicians in Alaska who treated this state the same way as the big companies do. Come in and rape the state for all it is worth and then walk away. Someone said somewhere that we are so proud of letting outsiders come in and take all of our resources that we put it on our license plates (e.g. the gold rush).
What really started to burn me up about her was the way she “took her governor’s hat off” and made a statement for big mining the night before a clean-water initiative was voted on. Too bad that complaint didn’t stick. It was so totally WRONG of her. It may not have been illegal but I have no doubt in my mind that it swayed the vote.
Now we get to put up with outside mining interests coming in and tearing up the land, dumping their industrial, poisonous “fill” in our lakes and further endangering the wildlife (esp the fish).
Every time I even think I have a little pity for her being bats*&t crazy and over the edge, and want to equalize my karma by having a tiny bit of compassion, all I have to do is think of the planet. And then I wish the mother ship would come and take her back to Planet Peep-Toe (good one AKM).
It’s going to take a long time to undo the damage she has done to this state.
And that doesn’t even start to get into how badly she has divided us…or how badly she has treated the citizens (Shannyn being the first to come to mind. The rural areas are right up there too)
Oh-I am ranting now-must stop.
There are only three members. One for sure participated telephonically. Ms. English is the chair.
What’s funny about that meeting is this:
In the middle of one citizen’s testimony, Ms. English wandered out of the room to get a drink of water, without pausing the speaker. The speaker also did not receive additional time after Ms. English returned. I think it’s fair to say English was disrespectful, and that she didn’t give a rip about what the speaker had to say.
Secondly, since when are members of the press supposed to participate in the process on which they are reporting? My thought is that it would add the perception of biased reporting, even if the reporter managed to avoid actual bias.
That’s what we’re working with, folks.
i enjoy this and you all a lot. more than i ever thought i would. i hope i dont ever come off like an obnoxious attorney. please tell me if i do. okay bed. i am going to delve into the board members tomorrow…
G”Night JHop have very much enjoyed your posts, and even learned a thing or two.
okay guys, im going to sleep. i will talk to everyone tomorrow! email me if you want
Sarah started the race she gave interviews and a speech it was all over the news and pictures in the papers ect. I still have it recorded on my DVR because my godson was standing near her and is in the news coverage 2/08/09 KTUU. My godsons father also ran the race.
We live blog the race from our various villages along the trail because once the teams leave Big Lake (near Wasilla) there is little coverage until the racers get to Nome and then a few days later when they get to Fairbanks.
She also was at the official race end and banquet.
Now I am not saying in anyway that she should not support her husband, but she started the rave in her official capacity as GOV. And it was rather unfair for the other teams and sponsers for one sponser to get so much free press.
Along with Sarah being a big star out there so it Toad and I am telling you people will buy something because he rides one.
“Personnel board members spoke Wednesday about possibly pursuing changes in the law regarding their ethics complaint procedures — such as changing the “thresholds for investigations.” Ethics complainants in the audience asked board chair Debra English for detail after the meeting, but she curtly brushed them off, saying the meeting was over and she wasn’t going to say more. English also refused to answer when a Daily News reporter asked what the board had in mind. She said the reporter should have come before the board and given public testimony in order to get any questions answered from its members.”
Apparently the board would support a lawsuit that we brought to court, challenging the constitutionality of the complaint procedure…
Excellent post by political economist, David Epstein, whose essential theme is “We did the right thing on Nov. 4, 2008….and Palin’s resignation further proves it.” Read the whole post at the link provided below.
“And now, finally, Palin has done what weak, self-centered people do when the going gets tough — they quit and blame someone else. Maybe there really was a scandal brewing, but more likely she couldn’t stand the heat and was tired of being in the kitchen. Of all her lame-brained excuses, the one I like best may have been when she said that “As I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks…(snip)…. Palin, only 2 ½ years into her job, fears that she would be unable to stop herself from sloughing off, doing a half-ass job and forcing taxpayers to support her habit of flying around the world, so she had no alternative but to quit now and spare everyone more pain. The idea that she could have actually worked hard for another year and a half and done the job she was elected to do seems to be a non-starter.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-epstein/palin-proves-voters-were_b_226258.html
Rubber Room, good point. I’m kind of surprised, also, but their attorneys probably told them they couldn’t prove it, either.
At ethics training, they always tell us that perception matters as much as fact. If there’s even a misguided perception of wrongdoing, trust goes out the window. I’m sure that is well-emphasized at Alaska Municipal League training, too, which Sarah would have attended, likely several times. I get that just because something is unethical, it isn’t necessarily illegal in my head, but it still bugs me.
if there is one common problem that i discern, it is that all of these ethics complaints are lacking supporting evidence (and, if im being picky, case law). it is much more difficult to rebut physical evidence of wrongdoing in comparison to written claims alleging it (and evidence can simply be sworn statements, news articles, photographs, etc. my point is that we dont need a smoking gun).
I want to personally apologize to all New Yorkers for Van Flein’s tasteless comment about people in NY not helping each other.
I have lived in many places (53rd and 3rd in Manhattan was one of them).
Alaska and NYC are probably the two that stand out the most in terms of actually feeling like one belongs to a neighborhood (no offense to other states and towns).
One of the great things about NYC was how you got to know everyone in your own little pieces of it (where you worked and where you slept, shopped, etc).
The people might not help you build your house but they walked me to the subway late at night and we had great block parties on our stoop, etc.
In Alaska, we have fundraisers every other week for people who are sick and without insurance (or underinsured) or people who have had misfortunes (houses burning down, floods in Eagle, people hungry and cold in the West).
Unfortunately, our soon to be ex-gov does not seem to fall into the norm in terms of helping the neighbor part. She just babbles stuff like “it isn’t constitutional” and refuses to help (or shows up later with cookies and prayers). I guess they are still waiting for gravel in Eagle???
Anyway. He might spout that crap but I don’t. And I sincerely hope that Parnell doesn’t see the need to try to “speak for all Alaskans” either with his lips or through his attorney. There are far too many “rugged individuals” up here for anyone to speak for all of us.
So….sorry.
The Rubber Room Hotel: “The one thing I was kind of surprised at was the fact the all the other competing sno-go (snow/machine/mobile) manufactures that sell race sleds (machines/mobiles) weren’t just a little miffed at all the free Arctic Cat advertisement the got from GOV billboard.”
you make an amazing point, one that i am mad at myself for not considering. if we could get affidavits from supporting witnesses (preferably on the sly) – for example, citizens who were at the race, other competitors/companies who are still miffed, anyone at all from arctic cat, any past or present member of palin’s staff, basically anyone at all (the more, the better) – that would be a completely different claim, because our allegations would be supported/corroborated by members of the public. when celtic diva filed, it was her word (and presumption of wrongdoing) vs. palin’s and the attorney her personnel board hired. but if we could get sworn statements basically filling in the blanks (i.e. how they personally benefited and the circumstances surrounding the sponsorship) – there may be a sufficient cause of action.
lovemydogs, you’ll appreciate this, I think. I had to laugh when I saw a conservative grammarian tackle Sarah’s speech. He was giving her a hard time for capitalizing the “O” in Outside until somebody from here explained she actually got that part right. I’ve had to explain “termination dust” to family Outside, also.
Darn those professional ethics, anyway, JHop! * LOL *
I’m glad to see you have them (which I had already figured out). I’ve had to divorce a few clients in my professional career. Never fun, but well worth it.
When is Todd’s sister going to court? And Sherry Johnston? Maybe Sarah is worried about what they’ll say about her or her family.
eyeonyou – without a doubt, the arctic cat incident was corrupt and self-interested, and she clearly abused her power by promoting a commercial entity from which her family receives direct personal gain. i also think that she has been shady about her financial disclosures intentionally; thereby purposefully misleading the public. but, once again, prove it. we would have to evidence that the abuse of office occurred (that she intentionally wore the jacket, as a result of wanting to promote the company on tv as governor), that she purposely misled the public (her state of mind; that she intended to abuse her office), and that the public incurred actual damages (harm in some tangible way). it is nearly impossible to do…
i am trying to find info on the personnel board.
JHop: OMG- I just spit up my coffee. lol
It’s just that this site is so addictive and it keeps many of us from our pillows.
Sorry – neighbor’s dog has been barking for hours while mine have been sleeping. This time I had to get up and go see why they were barking, too. All seems okay.
JHop, I know AFT is where the money is. I can imagine the court would not take kindly to the bilking of little old ladies out of their grocery money.
All the same, with as much due process as the Bush administration seems to have gotten around, I wish they could take a peek and see what’s there. (Scary precedent, I know, but something about her wanting to hide it now after previously disclosing it doesn’t pass the smell test.)
The one thing I was kind of surprised at was the fact the all the other competing sno-go (snow/machine/mobile) manufactures that sell race sleds (machines/mobiles) weren’t just a little miffed at all the free Arctic Cat advertisement the got from GOV billboard.
Whether it was ethical or not it really was crass.
The Iron Dog is a pretty big deal up here and really in the villages that they pass through. Where I live everyone has at least one sno-go it is a very big business up here.
lovemydogs: lol, i havent slept much lately. i am actually working from home this week, other than some court appearances, so that is why i have had a strange schedule. i had to finish and file a brief by 5pm; but i did get to sleep from about 7am-12pm. i have to sleep sometime soon, my internal clock is off. but i also don’t have to be in the office at the crack of dawn, like usual. its partial vacation time and i am doing my boss a favor; i do all of the major “writing” for our firm, which i don’t mind and everyone else hates. so rather than be distracted by the craziness of the office, i am writing from home where i am normally more productive (but thanks to you guys, that has not been the case. and i wouldnt have it any other way.)
why would it be scary if i was her attorney? i would have withdrawn representation, if not kicked her in the face, by this point.
Sue ~ Thank you for that reminder of Gilda. She was my favorite on SNL. I loved her rosanne rosannadanna. 🙂
As to building codes in Alaska (or lack thereof). That is her excuse for not accepting stimulus funds for weatherization. She doesn’t want them. Won’t have those pesky building codes. Too many strings…waaaaaa…too many strings. So some people who might appreciate cooler in summer, warmer in winter homes or places to work (that are more energy efficient) can just go to h@#l.
Maybe those strings might have pulled on her house?
Letterman didn’t tell very many Palin jokes tonight, and he didn’t start out with her. He sort of dumped her in the middle of a lot of other material…rather insulting to her, I thought. Clever man! : ) Lets her know she’s not that important to him.
141 honestyinGov Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Palin Holds Press Conference to Explain Last Press Conference
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-lanham/palin-holds-press-confere_b_226638.html
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I read that story as well… But because AKM or anybody else her was not commenting on it I sort of figured he was doing or writing the story as satire or as a sarcastic made-up story. The way it was written… it was hard to tell. He wrote it as fact.
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It was satire. The reason it was so realistic is that Palin has said similar (read “whacky”) things in the past….like in her recent rantings on July 3. That’s the beauty of satire.
This refers back to a question asked on a previous post: the term “slaying” fish is a colloquialism used by many commercial fishermen/women up here.
And as I mentioned previously Sarah is now fighting to keep the sponsorship details confidential now whereas she never did that before.
JHop: When do you sleep?
I repeat again, it would be darn scarey if you were Buttercup’s attorney.
InJuneau—-(in Gilda voice) “Nevermind.” : )
JHop,
Not to mention that she admitted on television that she gets the snowmachines that Todd has rejected from the previous year.
Here is one picture of Sarah and her husbands partner in the same jackets with Piper Palin decked out if full gear (which is the exact same outfit Palin wore at the start of the race).
http://www.divasblueoasis.com/main/3
INarticulate
Sue–it was a satire piece, just in case you hadn’t pinned that down!
valley: “FBI could pull a sneak peek if they wanted to? Would it really be that hard to get a warrant? I get that she will soon be gone, but I just think it sets a bad example to let politicians get away with wrongdoing,”
to get a warrant for anything, there HAS to be probable cause. and the ethics decision specifically said that there was not probable cause. even though i totally agree with you – it makes me angry to think about how much she has gotten away with already – the court is probably not willing to act, solely to set an example. we would have to show wrongdoing and damages.
but i think you are concentrating on the wrong complaint. what weakens celtic diva’s overall claim is that the wrongdoing is not substantial. i know it was wrong and selfish and greedy and corrupt. but at worst, she supported her husband’s company and yes, they made some money. but the state was not damaged, only its pride/reputation. something like the AFT or the per diem charge complaint would present a much stronger argument, and one that the court would be more likely to entertain. in both of those complaints, the public was harmed – she is using resources solely for personal gain that would otherwise belong to the taxpayers. that is a substantial wrong.
I really think that challenging the ethics complaint procedure is really what is best. The whole process makes little sense.
ok….let me see…..she had a second press conference (today) to explain what she meant at the first one (last Friday), and she has announced a third one (this coming Thurs.) to explain the second one. hmmmmmmmm…..No one this articulate should hold ANY public office. (yeah, yeah—I remember GW)
JHop, I like that a lot. I wonder what it costs to file these days. Time to have Diva take up another collection?
from an old ADN article: “Arctic Cat financially supports Todd Palin’s snowmachining, benefiting the whole family, she said. Palin did not specify in her latest financial disclosure how much Arctic Cat’s sponsorship was worth in 2008. The company provided a “Discount on Snowmachines,” the annual disclosure said. In 2007, the sponsorship was worth $7,500.”
see, now that is interesting. previously, she disclosed the financial amount. that is evidence of a direct personal benefit. but she ambiguously wrote this year that the only benefit received was a ‘discount on snowmachines.” that is a benefit too. but it is much less damning than saying she was given thousands of dollars to support a company. if she had disclosed such a sponsorship in 2008 or 2009, we could argue that, by implied contract of the sponsorship, she was compelled to wear the jacket – since her family was, in fact, sponsored. i dont know the whole facts, but it seems like the whole fam was decked in arctic cat gear.
JHop, I know you are right on the “presumption,” and on the access to the potential proof, as well. I am wondering if the FBI could pull a sneak peek if they wanted to? Would it really be that hard to get a warrant? I get that she will soon be gone, but I just think it sets a bad example to let politicians get away with wrongdoing, particularly politicians that might want to run for higher office. I’m still kind of miffed that her endorsed successor, Keller, was found by an independent investigator to have broken her oath of office as mayor, committed “wrongdoing” and was likely guilty of attempted collusion, and that it was deemed not worth prosecuting. (She was almost done with her second term in office.) She now works for the state in an emergency services job.
you asked about challenging the actual ethics procedure, and the confidentiality clause, this is what i suggested earlier (thoughts?):
I think a better case that any ethics complaint is to file a complaint in court challenging the overall ethics board process as unconstitutional – that it doesn’t offer fair or due process to anyone, including the governor. this cuts both ways, so i don’t think that it would be dismissed on its face. hypothetically (and this is completely off the cuff, without research): we would present both sides:
a) the governor should not be so inundated with complaints that she cannot perform her official duties (unless she is just a bastard and deserves it; but in a lawsuit our personal feelings don’t matter anyway); that there should be clear threshold guidelines to outline what a sufficient complaint must entail before it will be explored by the board. there should be sanctions for clearly frivolous complaints, with the right to appeal to a judge if sanctioned; AND
b) the ethics procedure is so shrouded in secrecy that the public is denied due process in having their legitimate claims investigated and heard by an impartial adjudicating body; it is inherently unlawful if claims are being dismissed out of loyalty to the governor (who appointed them) or state; the governor is afforded automatic confidentiality, and the law does not even give the filer of the complaint an opportunity to learn how a decision was made unless the governor waives that privilege (which is only in the governor’s interests because if she loses, she can just withhold her wrongdoing); the fact that a complaint is normally forwarded to the ethics panel by the AG does not coincide with the fact that a complaint filed specifically against the governor is forwarded to the personnel board, who she appoints; on its face, it offers an unfair and unexplained advantage to the governor.
and we would respectfully request the court to remand this procedure to the legislature in order to clarify the law. thought?
@ honesty in gov Re: Lanham’s post on Palin’s “second press conference.”
———————————
It was satire. The reason it seemed so factual is that Palin has said so many similar (read “whacko”) things in the past. That’s the beauty of satire.
Duct…
this past year was the first year that Arctic Cat had given the entire family (well, Piper and SP – and Todd, natch) a whole outfit each.
One year, SP claimed (on income tax? financial disclosure?) that they’d supplied a whopping $700… the next year, it wasn’t even mentioned. But the article in … People magazine? stated that Todd was lucky enough to have to come up with “nearly nothing” ocmpared to the guys that had to scape up 30K.
3rd time is the charm…
Nan
@ Moose Pucky and Bretta, I’d have to disagree regarding Lisa. While I don’t always agree with her positions on the issues, I respect her. She not only dresses appropriately for her position, she works hard, reads, and is smart, articulate and politically savvy. She has risen far in the political ranks in a fairly short time, and she’s pleasant to be around in person. I can’t say that about Palin.
141 honestyinGov Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Palin Holds Press Conference to Explain Last Press Conference
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-lanham/palin-holds-press-confere_b_226638.html
———————————
I read that story as well… But because AKM or anybody else her was not commenting on it I sort of figured he was doing or writing the story as satire or as a sarcastic made-up story. The way it was written… it was hard to tell. He wrote it as fact.
———————————————-
It was satire. The reason it’s so funny and realistic is that the reader can almost hear Palin saying such whacky things….because she’s said so many whacky things.
Thanks Sourdough Mullet #123 for the Every Breath You Take link. It is hysterically funny and so descriptive of her speech…..nothing but a bunch of hot air!
What a fun way to finish my day of being glued to every thing Palin.
If I had to make a prediction, it would be that the Palins move to Indiana or Iowa in the near future.
oh, dangit.
JHop,
I think the only thing that suggests a benefit was the gloating by Arctic Cat itself. I don’t remember where I saw it, maybe on Mudflats? Dang.
anyway – g’night all (I mean it this time) lol
I thought the jacket was the benefit!
if anyone is curious, the long discussion we had about the legality of the AFT (including a link to the complaint and Ethics Act) is about midway on the “Threatened by Palin, a Blogger Speaks Out. Shannyn Moore, Meet the Press” thread.
Here’s the link to Doonesbury’s Mudline if anyone wants it.
http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/
Goodnight, Nan.
pearl89, it depends.
Palmer has building codes as do some other communities.
Wasilla does not.
Alaska DEC has to approve septic systems and wells. If a bank finances the project, usually they will send an inspector in to see if the work was really done each time the borrower puts in for a draw on the loan. From what I’ve seen, these inspections are relatively cheap ($40-$50) and cursory. If you build it out of pocket, no inspection is required. (However, this can be a problem if you want to sell it later. Most banks won’t finance the buyer if the home doesn’t meet generally accepted standards.)
Hope that helps.
valley – not unless she filed a case in court. and even then, she would have to have a sufficient cause of action (i.e. overcome the result of the ethics board), before she was even heard. you really can’t say, even if you are right, that “i am 99% sure i have a claim, but i just need you to give me this one piece of evidence so I am sure.” They would say the contract was privileged and the burden of proof falls on us to get around that – we have to prove our case, since we brought the action. and to be honest, i know it sucks, but this is not the type of case a judge would be enthusiastic about to hear. there was no damage or harm to the state of alaska or the public. meaning we couldnt prove “damages.” the only bass is that palin abused her office and received benefits she otherwise wouldnt have – which is a moot point now, because she already received these benefits and there is no way to determine exactly how much she received unlawfully.
@Bretta
The only difference between Lisa Murkowski and Sarah Palin is style/lack-of-style.
The politics of both are on the sorry side. Lisa voted against Sebelius for Health and Human Services Director. Lisa doesn’t want “socialized” medicine–except maybe for Congress folk. Lisa appreciates the “drill, baby, drill” mantra. Okay, maybe there are few other differences, but somehow I don’t really get “disappointment” or “abandoned” in this situation. Not after all that’s gone on before now.
JHop, is there any way to compel release of the contract, since it could indicate a benefit which would justify action on Diva’s complaint? That she is fighting so hard to keep it quiet really makes me wonder.
I nearly reposted the same thing just now – I think it’s beddy bye for me.
see y’all later
Nan
oh cripe – I gotta work tomorrow!
valley – that was a really good post. and i agree with you completely. your argument makes perfect sense. but now i ask: prove it. document those arguments, because you are absolutely right. if you can prove that the outfits were given to her purposely because she would be on tv, or even stronger, that todd received a direct financial benefit, the case would not have been dismissed.
the problem here is defined by a phrase you used – “it was reasonable to presume….” for normal people, in the normal world – yes, this is the obvious conclusion of what happened. but in the legal world, where you are ruled by specific statutes and are required to prove every element of the statute, we cannot demonstrate how exactly they benefited. we can only presume.
#124
EyeOnYou Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Palin Holds Press Conference to Explain Last Press Conference
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-lanham/palin-holds-press-confere_b_226638.html
———————————
I read that story as well… But because AKM or anybody else her was not commenting on it I sort of figured he was doing or writing the story as satire or as a sarcastic made-up story. The way it was written… it was hard to tell. He wrote it as fact.
“people in a small town appear to know one another, support one another, and take on big projects together.”
Yep, yep–especially in Alaska, especially those real Amerikans.
Sorry about the last waaaay behind post, everybody. JHop, any suggestions for how we might re-write the confidentiality statutes? It seems to me that it should all be out there. If frivolous, then no harm is done, if not, then the citizens should know what their governor has been up to. Are there scenarios I’m missing?
I think feminists do not hate Sarah, I believe most are terribly disappointed in her, just like Lisa Murkowski said she is.
@JHop: “as a sidenote, i think the trust is going to become a problem for palin as the result of her resignation.”
Trust was lost a long, long time ago–if it ever existed at all.
pearl
In Wasilla, while you-know-who was Mayor, they even did away with the permits. Inspections? I haven’t a clue.
wild, huh?
eyeonyou – you’re right about the definition of benefit; it doesn’t have to be financial. but financial benefits are the easiest thing to prove. how would you document that she benefited, for example, if the benefit received was todd getting some big meeting with an investor? or if, because of her wearing the jacket and supporting irondog/leg/foot/whatever the hell it is, 20 more people signed up for the race the following year? those are just two examples i pulled out of my @ss. my point is, whatever the benefit is, there must be actual evidence. and she did not have it.
JHop – I’m sorry if this is overly repetitive. The Arctic Cat complaint dismissal really frosts me (pun intended). It’s not like Palin walked into Eddie Bauer and paid the same price the rest of us would pay for a coat that had their logo on it, then wore it on national tv. The differences to my mind are 1) The ensemble (not just coat) she was wearing was a gift from the company, passed through her husband’s partner, and likely not long before the race. It was worth several hundred dollars and had her first name embroidered on it (not sure who paid for the embroidery) and matched the outfit Piper was wearing, presumably also a gift. 2) Whether it was stated or not, it was reasonable to presume that it was given with the full knowledge that she would, in her official capacity, be on national tv as the starter for the race, and would wear the outfit. (Palin’s knew Greta from Fox would be there.) The company later crowed about the “free” publicity on their website. 3) The family receives a direct financial benefit from the sponsorship of Todd’s racing team by the company that provided the gift that she wore on tv. The practice and racing machines Todd uses are extremely expensive and the gear, as noted above, isn’t cheap either. At this time, Palin is fighting to keep the terms of the sponsorship contract out of public view (APOC disclosure), so we don’t know just how much the Palin’s received, but it is likely quite substantial. As a side note, Palin twittered a snarky remark about a frivolous complaint for wearing her “warm” Arctic Cat coat, however, she was pictured at the start of the Iditarod a few weeks earlier in other warm attire that appeared sufficient to have met her needs for the Iron Dog as well.
@Nan
I don’t think I can handle a version that is even more odd!
Eye on You–
The Second Press Conference to Clear Up the First Press Conference is way too funny.
The sad part is that I’ve lost my ability to sort out reality from truth–er spoof.
the case would be even stronger if we had hard proof about the exact ways in which palin has benefited – how much has been spent on her legal defense (but this is arguably protected by attorney-client privilege) and how much she has gained though “personal expenses,” which the trust also allows. i dont think independent counsel will require specific evidence (unlike the arctic cat claim), because it doesn’t really matter how she spent the money; the trust itself, just its existence and purpose, seems in violation of the law. if they did require specific documentation of personal gain, we would have to compel them to submit records – which they would fight mercilessly. palin would argue that the purpose of the trust exists solely to rebut bogus ethics claims and help alaska save a lot of money. but at that point, we could demand proof of how “the trust has helped alaska” as well as how the funds are being spent to help the governor.
as a sidenote, i think the trust is going to become a problem for palin as the result of her resignation.
MoosePucky –
that one has been cleaned up a LOT. I mean, it’s almost readable!
If you can find it on ADN, or on the ak state gov site, you’ll get a better idea of just how – odd – it was.
Oh, oh. Letterman on Palin’s resignation.
“Was it something I said?”
He is going to have fun with her all week. He used her resignation speech to create her saying “The world needs more insane governors.” I wonder how she feels about that as compared to photoshopping her pic.
He is going to have such fun with that speech.
JHop, I understand what you are saying but based on my understanding of the ethics law…. “benefit” means:
“benefit” means anything that is to a person’s advantage or self-interest, or from which a person profits, regardless of the financial gain, including any dividend, pension, salary, acquisition, agreement to purchase, transfer of money, deposit, loan or loan guarantee, promise to pay, grant, contract, lease, money, goods, service, privilege, exemption, patronage, advantage, advancement, or anything of value
http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/ethics/Statutes-AlaskaExecutiveBranchEthicsAct_AS39.52_.pdf
Palin is also trying to keep Todd’s contract with Arctic Cat confidential now, so there would be no way to know if he got a better deal this year, but if you read the sports illustrated article they did on him, it states quite clearly that Todd benefits quite a bit from having that sponsor.
“Some Iron Doggers have spent upwards of $30,000 to finance a once-in-a-lifetime run into the wild heart of Alaska. Tapping their credit cards, they’ve shelled out $10,000 each for a 2009 snow machine, $10,000 more for an identical training sled, $2,500 for the race entry fee and a few thousand more for trailing airplane support. Palin and Davis, in contrast, have spent almost nothing. They are prodigiously sponsored, with their names monogrammed in script on their matching Arctic Cat jackets. (Palin even has the names of his five kids and his wife, SARAH, THE GOV, appliquéd on his snow machine hood.)
Not to mention that never before had Governor Palin shown up dressed in full gear from head to toe in arctic cat gear, but so did daughter Piper. And they were dressed the same as the other people who were sponsored by Arctic Cat.
eyeonyou: “I think that McCain really changed her. Not that she wasn’t really that way to begin with, but being picked for the VP slot so early in her career made her head SWELL to huge proportions.”
I absolutely agree. It went right to her head. her sense of importance overshadowed anything and everything else. Can you guys imagine (no, please dont, im so sorry for bringing this up) if she was vice president of the united states? I MEAN REALLY. McCain should apologize publicly for risking our national security and progression as a nation.
Lori – that was a typo, I’m sorry. After reading the AFT complaint, I found the Ex. Branch Ethics Act. I analyzed the trust in detail yesterday afternoon under one of the threads. I think the trust is in clear violation of the law. unlike diva’s complaint, it would be much easier to prove that palin has personally gained as a result of her public office through the trust. in fact, the trust’s explicit purpose (which all trusts must have) is “to benefit Sarah Palin….in defending actions stemming from her role AS GOVERNOR or her actions while being governor.” there is no way to argue that she hasn’t personally benefited as a direct result of her office. the trust explicitly spells it out.
A nonPalin comment first to #40calipat. Don’t let your children move back in, if at all possible. I made that mistake with my oldest son 2 years ago. He was only going to be here for a couple of weeks. I love him, but I hate him being here.
Another McArthur quote: “Americans never quit.”
I have read so much Palin stuff, pro and con, over the last few days my eyeballs (and my head) hurt. Now after all that reading, I’ve think I don’t know why she quit, but if I had to quess I would say the AFT.
Palin, the UberDiva, does scare me or rather her supporters. If Nixon can come back after the Checkers speech, anything is possible. So we must keep our eyes and ears open. When reading the old Village Voice piece, I was also struck by Parnell’s associations. If Sarah is Bush in a dress, then Parnell seems to be Palin in a tie.
I have never heard of anywhere that does not having building codes. Don’t houses in AK have to be inspected for proper construction, wiring, plumbing?
The New York Times has the full text of Palin’s resignation speech.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/us/politics/04ptext.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&ref=global-home
Excerpts don’t do it justice. I didn’t watch or listen to it. A full read is a jaw-dropping experience.
Palin Holds Press Conference to Explain Last Press Conference
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-lanham/palin-holds-press-confere_b_226638.html
Someone over at Shannyn’s blog posted a link to this video: it is HILARIOUS!
http://www.rumproast.com/index.php/site/comments/sarah_palin_every_breath_you_take/
okay, i think the problem with the artic cat complaint is that, in order to prevail, you had to prove that the governor received a personal benefit. independent counsel concedes that she very well may have gained something by wearing the jacket; and the investigator states that palin could have had a selfish motive in wearing the jacket. but at the point when the complaint was filed, there was no way to tell if the governor had ACTUALLY reaped any benefit – financial or otherwise – by wearing the jacket. hypothetically, yes she could have personally benefited by wearing the jacket during her official duty in office. but there is no direct proof to evidence this. that is what is missing. celtic diva needed to demonstrate that palin, as a direct result of promoting her husband’s company, gained [some personal benefit] that she otherwise would not have received if she had not worn the jacket. now, if there was a document that demonstrated that Todd had received, for example, a new sponsor because of the jacket, or a special discount, or a new client, or anything at all really – i think she could have won. if there was an email that said, “sarah, loved seeing you in our gear. enclosed is a political donation for $1000” or a letter to todd that said “it was so nice to see you at the race the other day, it seems like the governor is really supportive. i would like to invest in a company that has such a family friendly environment,” i think that the independent counsel would have sided with celtic diva.
but forget the actual claim for a minute. i have a problem with the fact that the governor is solely in charge of the confidentiality of a citizen’s complaint. after she won, she posted that ridiculous victory press release, blaming a “democratic blogger.” so f-ing partisan and obnoxious. if she would have lost, we still would not know what the hell happened. by law, her actions should be disclosed just like any other state official’s would. why should the governor get a special privilege to bury her wrongdoing, if it is only in her best interests? that, in itself, is using her office for personal gain.
No Problem Nan 🙂
Did anyone know that Palin gave another Press Conference today???
thanks EyeOnYou,
I was trying to figure out a way to get there anyway lol
this make it lots easier
Nan
Einstein: The definition of insanity is to do the same experiment over an over again expecting different results.
JHop – re comment #101 – Palin’s slush fund is “The Alaska Fund Trust,” NOT
“The Alaska Trust Fund.” It has nothing to do with AK, and the name was MEANT to confuse people IMO. It is a common mistake, one that the Palin people seem to LIKE. Name itself implies it is for Alaska somehow.
Thanks for your insights; I really enjoy your analysis and suggestions.
I am guessing you are going to have to copy and paste.
Or better yet….
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/139644
It is linked here ^^ .
Closet Mudpup
There is one way that she could *maybe* salvage the rest of her term, but it will never happen.
She’d have to humble herself – a LOT. And apologize a great deal, too. And *maybe* she could get something done as long as the change of heart “took” and she really honestly worked to get things accomplished.
Well, that was easy, wan’t it?
http://divasblueoasis.com/upload/Documents/Ethics%20Complaint%20Arctic%20Cat%20(blog).doc
Trying a second time.
It was pointed out tonight on KO that people (legislators) have stated that Palin was good for the first 15 minutes of meetings and then would kind of phase out everything after that. She really didn’t want to deal with the day to day dealings, didn’t want to know or learn about policy..that was all the humdrum kind of stuff.
We are getting that same kind of information from the McCain staffers.
She is a DIVA (in her own mind). I think that McCain really changed her. Not that she wasn’t really that way to begin with, but being picked for the VP slot so early in her career made her head SWELL to huge proportions. She really believed she was picked not to get those Hillary voters, not to energise the base, but because she was ready for it. That goes back to her religious beliefs. Like Muthee who prayed away the witches and she got the job as Gov. She believes she is destined for greater things than just being a housewife and mother.
Her claim that she has done more in her 2 years than most Governors do in two terms ( 8 years) plays into that.
Van Flein is another Megomouth. He does the same thing. He repeats the same tired azz talking points and it seems that more credence is given to these talking points because they are endlessly repeated by her supporters.
eyeonyou – that link didn’t come through right… could you repost please?
JHop
Good points – although I still have to read the latest one over again (skimming only gets the gist of things)
Nan
JHop – I’m glad you are an owl, also. It has been a busy day, so it has been hard to keep up and I’ll be reading between the threads for a bit.
reading everything….
Diva’s original complaint:
http://divasblueoasis.com/upload/Documents/Ethics%20Complaint%20Arctic%20Cat%20(blog).doc
JHop
Interesting thing about lame duck governors, especially those seeking reforms – that last year in office when they’re not worried about reelection is often when they are able to affect the most sweeping changes, because they are free to work with whomever will work with them. That wouldn’t be true for Palin – she’s alienated everyone.
OT (sorry)
JHop,
you might start here – and check the links, too
https://themudflats.net/2009/06/03/cat-gate-and-the-twitter-chronicles/
The Dismissal of the Arctic Cat Complaint:
https://themudflats.net/wp-content/uploads/ethicscomplaint.pdf
er, fellow Ah-las-kins
I don’t know about the rest of you, especially my fell Ah-las-kins, but we need to send thank you cards to Bill Kristol and anyone else who convinced McCain to pick her as his running mate. Think about it. If McCain hadn’t asked her, and her ego hadn’t overrode her common sense (cmon, she has to have some), she would still be governor of the state with a toothless local media bowing to her every wish. And if McCain hadn’t picked her, the rest of the country wouldn’t know the treasures that we have in our local bloggers. So thank you John McCain. You will never know how much you have done for our state.
I think Shannyn had the best question when she asked what’s wrong wtih Sarah Palin? We may never know. Personally, I suspect it might have to do with that thing that happens to many women who are in their mid-40s. I’m now turning 60 in September, so I speak from personal experience and the observance of my daughters and their boyfriends (when I was in my late 40s. Some women go a bit nuts – that hormonal thing can do wacky things to one’s mind and judgment.
In Sarah’s case, it might just be that she’s wacky all the time anyway. But it’s clear that something is wrong with her thinking. None of it makes any sense. There’s no reasonable logic going on in that brain. After listening to her on Friday, it seems clear to me that she did the right thing by resigning. Alaska certainly should have a governor who will at least attempt to do the job, and it’s obvious that Sarah Palin was not even going to try.
The weird thing is that I think she believes that she gave reasons for her decisions, but none of it made sense to anyone but her. And did someone forget to tell her when she ran for public office that it’s sometimes not a very friendly atmosphere and the person in office has to be able to roll with the punches?
If that’s the best her lawyer can come up with to shut people up, she should hire someone else. And if he had any sense, he’d give her back the big retainer before he completely loses his credibility and damages his career.
Here is the Personnel Board List:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/boards/rosters/board077.html
The complaint on the Arctic Cat Issue is the one made by Celtic Diva
you know, with the amount of complaints that have been submitted, it almost hurts the chances of any one succeeding. in order for a complaint to be successful at this point, i think that there must be a real question of abuse, supported by a firm legal foundation. i think the Alaskan Trust Fund complaint is excellent. I would have added case law, to further evidence Palin’s wrongdoing by comparing her actions to others who have been found liable. But the complaint itself – clear, concise, void of personal animus – presents a compelling issue that deserves to be heard. and in my humble legal opinion, i cannot think of an argument (for the personnel board) that would allow that complaint to be dismissed outright without an investigation. i think that today’s complaint also presents a real question of abuse that deserves an explanation. essentially, the governor is collecting her usual paycheck and fraudulently charging her employers (i.e. the public) for overtime, when she hasn’t even been working during regular business hours. but if i was a board member, i would have a problem with taking the complaint as seriously as it merits, due to the closing. you never want a legal document to leave the reader with a bad taste in their mouth or to make them question your motives (if you have to concede a negative point, bury it in the beginning somewhere). his anger was palpable and i think it weakened the overall effectiveness of his argument. at this stage in the game, if we want to hold palin responsible for her immature actions (as she damn well deserves), we are going to have to exhibit restraint and rise above our own emotions.
EyeonYou – what is that complaint? i dont know anything about it. i will look now. but i did find a copy of andree mcleod’s – which was well written and well supported by the law. but the premise itself seemed….nitpicky. i wouldn’t say frivolous, because she was “right.” but if i was a member of the ethics board i would not have said it was a major violation of any sort. and no, unfortunately i am still looking for information on the personnel board. i have looked up some of the independent counsels that have investigated the complaints. i was mainly looking for any political connection to palin and company. but from the ones i have found, they seem to check out.
If a psychic checked in with Palin, would they just find a test pattern?
Craig Ferguson, the late night comedian who follows David Letterman talked about his USO appearance in Kosovo last week. Yes, the same place that Sarah Palin was in, just a day after she was there. Craig described how the comedian traveling with him got the dressing room that Sarah Palin had used. In fact, Sarah left behind a thank you note in the dressing room, and the comedian is proud to say to he has her note now.
A couple of points: It’s a joke told by a late night comedian, but Craig really was traveling with a USO tour in Kosovo and Germany last week. And the important question is: If you are the visiting dignitary, do you leave the thank you note in your dressing room?? Would you have someone on your staff hand it to the ranking officer on the base? Would it be good manners to hand your note to the officer yourself as you leave and say, “Thank You?” What was her thank you note doing in the dressing room. (Please don’t tell me that they had already framed it and hung it there!)
Mudbug – I think it’s time! Even if it’s just camping (that was our honeymoon – fun, too)
We’ve been married 10 years, and still have NOT gone on a honeymoon! I have not had a vacation since 1997. Waaaaaaaaa.
I am also disgusted that everyone seems intent on repeating the lie that all the ethics complaints have been dismissed against Palin. It is frustrating that it is not being cleared up and the truth being given.
JHop, thanks for your answer on the other thread about the ethics complaints. My specific concern was the Arctic Cat Outfit complaint. I feel that it was completely and deliberately blown off. Celtic Diva also got confirmation from an ethicist who agreed with her viewpoint and based his opinion on the statutes as well. I believe she had a very good case, but it was just dismissed out of hand.
I also was wondering if you ever got the info on the personnel board (who they are).
big slick – lol, i just like how the question is asked. it should definitely be the title of a documentary or book. Sarah Palin: Burning Her Bridge to Nowhere
I liked this article = link posted by KateinCanada #75.
As Palin contemplates her future, if she is to find her way through the political forest, she’s going to have to stop bleating about the meanness of public life and liberal media bias. She happens to be right on both accounts, but she should never say it. This chestnut came to me more than two decades ago courtesy of Ronald Reagan’s legendary “image maker” Michael Deaver, who admonished a few of his very young aides on the White House tennis court that “you don’t whine your way into the Oval Office.”
What Americans respect more than anything is seeing how well our leaders can take the beatings we give them. While surgical concessions to attacks have been known to make sense, the Besieged would be well-served to consider just saying, “Fine. Sorry. Next.”
Team Alaska, speaking of the dollars getting her out of breath: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcUxlGJwjG0
hilarious!!
@Team Alaska
Got her far…with some.
Paula’s comment awhile back still makes me laugh.
Something about the family agreeing that Sarah was about to get a new wardrobe..
but unsure whether it was going to be a straight jacket or orange jumpsuit.
I think that the big dollars that are headed her way has got her out of breath. This is better that winning MISS Alaska. She is not one to be still with so much easy money at stake.
If GINO can push DC war toys for home land security, and keep the military machine in big business, she will be a very valuable tool for the old school re-pugs. She is good at instilling fear, and present danger from with in the country and abroad. She likes the stage and will gladly sell a message of war or cooperate control/smaller government.
She gets off on being the hottest politician in the old boys club. She has gone far with her looks and wants to ride the wave to 2012 and a big pay check. She is pretty slippery, her charm has got her far.
@pvaswindy
Never a dull moment here. One pearl after another in the great oysterfield.
AKM,
We should do a simple poll on the following question:
Do you think Sarah Palin has completely burned her bridges to nowhere behind her yet?
Yes –
No –
I wonder how much more that AK Fund Trust has to raise to pay for that letter on a holiday weekend? Triple billing hours?
couple funny comments from “other places” on the net
*I can’t decide whether she’s the new Miss South Carolina or just Bush with boobs.*
*Sarah, Sarah, Sarah – you NEVER go FULL RETARD*
*Could have been worse, she could have had a Mission Accomplish sign behind her*
Alaska is interesting, isn’t it.
womanwithsardinecan: “I’m channeling my inner martha.” (Giggle)
Maybe she looked into her past, present, and future as Governor of Alaska and saw…
A Black Hole.
Feminist Hatred of Palin: PoliGazette: “Instead, feminists’ hatred of Palin spurred them to intentionally make up lies about the ”second woman in U.S. history to run on a major party’s ticket” and parrot the misinformation being disseminated by political hacks.”
The article isnt even worth posting. It is such an overgeneralization that I find it insulting. I consider myself a feminist, and I do not hate Sarah Palin at all. In fact, I would do anything to have been elected to office like her, with a big adoring family, living in a huge house overlooking a lake. I admire her ability to do both – be a mom and governor at once.
That is completely separate from the fact that I detest her as a political leader; I think she is hypocritical, greedy, corrupt, unintelligent, crazy conservative, and classless – just like I would feel about any man who acted in the same manner that she does. She complains about how everyone is unfairly mean and spreads lies…yet she cheered on and participated in rallies that painted obama as a radical muslim terrorist. He very well may pal around with terrorists for all I know….but she pals around with convicted felon and sits on their fund-raising boards. She hates wasting money on ethics complaints and investigations….yet she has had to reimburse the state for her family’s travel and expenses, redesigned her office, and contracted the most expensive project in wasilla history. She rails on lame duck governors who give up on doing real work for their states….and then quits her job. NO ONE, feminist or not, has intentionally made up lies about Sarah Palin – she has brought all of these rumors upon herself.
leenie17 Says: I agree. There was a definite volcanic feeling about her during her speech, as if she was barely holding it together and about to blow. It was hard to tell if she was po’d or scared spitless (or both), but she certainly wasn’t her usual self (notice I didn’t say ‘normal’ self!).
———-
Geoffrey Dunn, author of Vanity Fair article was asked by KO on Countdown what he thought of the hyperventilated resignation speech. Dunn thought that Palin made the decision to resign, and had to be “on” to give it= she didn’t want to change her mind, or have someone else talk her out of it. He equated her speech pattern to a child when they get excited about something.
“Bushels of corn” – ???
Wow, last year my husband and I took our first vacation since about 1993 – yes, that’s when we went to Basic Training graduation for our son.
I’m sorry, I just can’t dredge up a whole lot of sympathy for 2 years… just can’t do it. And if I ever *EVER* took off when the main event at my work was going on (think end-of-session), I’d lose my job before the night was over. And I wouldn’t dare ask for references!
jhop: I agree she should not be so egotistical and immature. Unfortunately, I have come to believe she is. She did do the right thing for the people of Alaska when she quit. Did it for the wrong reasons, but we will be better off without her.
Great Grey:
I just blew water out my nose.
Thanks for the laugh.
JHop:
Thanks for all the great comments, explainations & reasoning.
Too bad Van Flyby didn’t learn as much as some in law school.
However, my K prof said we should treat people like bushels of corn, so who knows.
Ditto on the student loans, but I couldn’t have done it without them.
More snark on Huff Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-dezenhall/palin-sanford-and-the-art_b_225727.html
“Most scandal figures have perfectly good advisors, but pistol-whipping clients into submission isn’t part of the damage control service. Moreover, when dealing with grandiose personalities (and organizations), the advisors that tend to stay around to bill another day are often those who learn to subtly pimp for the crisis-besieged, not throw cold water on them.”
Palin is modeling how to quite your job and run with the money — for all of those working class people she “represents”. Except in this recession, I’d guess not many of her cult can afford to quit because they need a rest.
sigh.
she has a nanny, cook, and who knows what else — and she apparently never goes “in” to work anyway (given the per diems she collects), so I’m not sure what made her so tired. Maybe it was all that pageant walkin’?
John: “I do not believe she resigned because of any pending legal action. She resigned because people keep saying mean things about her. They keep saying those things even after she has told them to stop. And they keep pushing their silly facts even when Sarah says something that is not true.”
With all due respect, anyone who is elected the chief executive of a state should not be so ridiculously egotistical and immature. If life or governing were premised on the social hierarchy that existed in middle school, we would all be in serious, serious trouble. That being said, we keep “saying these things” because she does not listen, nor care, about the public that elected her. I didn’t realize that when a public official constantly whines about those meanies who point out her corruption and greed, we were supposed to silence ourselves because “she has told [us] to stop.” I don’t know if you were being facetious or not, and I apologize if you were, but “silly facts” is like an oxymoron. Facts are facts. She had complete control over public opinion and the respect that her office would receive – and she selfishly blew it. If she really resigned because people said “mean things,” she has no business holding office, or for that matter, any position in the spotlight.
sandipants – i thought the same thing about the “two and a half” FULL years line. are they f-ing kidding me? is that supposed to garner our sympathy? like most of you, i have worked non-stop since high school and somehow picked up 6 figures in student loans along the way. she can suck it. hard.
I think Shannyn is prettier than Palin by a long shot and I do not think Bristol is pretty at all Levi of Shannon on the show.Levi’s sister beats her out by a mile as does the girl posing in the picture with her.
Bakersdozen click on Phillips name and it will bring up the video
Shannayn did a great job
Actually I like Arnold also I think he did his best.You can only do what you can do.I think I read somewhere that he does not accept a salary
Sarah has the ability to make stupid statements all on her very own. But what I really love is that she actually PAYS people (Van Flea, Staplemouth) and they make her look stupid too.
Wow, did her attorney just say that she needs a break after working 2 and half years solid? Really? I commend him for getting paid AND making her looking even more foolish all at the same time. She and all her minions are her own worst enemy.
PepperzMom (GA) Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 8:15 PM
61 GreatGrey
Except for “Sarahpalinium” & other SP specific items and the date, that’s a virtual word for word reworking of Governmentium that I’ve had for 5 years. Got it from a co-worker re: constant changes in gov’t agency I worked for that didn’t make sense.
Yea, these kind of articles do have a strange way of evolving and lasting. 🙂
John, I think you have a point. The trouble is, it isn’t Middle School anymore, and most of us have figured that out. It’s a real shame she hasn’t. And it’s a really hard lesson to have to learn once you are an adult (kind of like … repeating some of high school while your friends have moved on).
Nan
I’m glad Sarah quit. I want to thank John McCain for the laughs.
Grandma68 Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Jhop, perhaps tomorrow she will be picking out her cross? I’m sure Kristan Cole will have enough nails.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Has anyone offered Kristan Cole thirty pieces of silver for her testimony yet?
I do not believe she resigned because of any pending legal action. She resigned because people keep saying mean things about her. They keep saying those things even after she has told them to stop. And they keep pushing their silly facts even when Sarah says something that is not true. In Middle School, she was able to boss everyone around. She thought she could do the same as Governor. She is tired of having her faced rubbed in reality and so she is taking her ball and going home.
61 GreatGrey
Except for “Sarahpalinium” & other SP specific items and the date, that’s a virtual word for word reworking of Governmentium that I’ve had for 5 years. Got it from a co-worker re: constant changes in gov’t agency I worked for that didn’t make sense.
Totally appropriate reworking and IMO, remarkable to note how easily you can substitute other words, like GOP-ium, and still have it work!
JHop Says:
i do not buy that she “just” resigned.
——————
I agree. There was a definite volcanic feeling about her during her speech, as if she was barely holding it together and about to blow. It was hard to tell if she was po’d or scared spitless (or both), but she certainly wasn’t her usual self (notice I didn’t say ‘normal’ self!). That was clearly NOT the resignation speech of someone who was looking forward to making gobs of money on a lecture circuit or even someone who was feeling the relief of giving up a great burden as she claims. It looked more like a person who’s afraid to peek through the curtains because she knows there’s something realllly scary outside.
Derby378 is playing with the very secrets of the Universe!
And I just blew wine out my nose!
GreatGrey
I’m so glad I’d already put down the soda…
That just rocks!
Where is my court physicist and how did he miss this?
GOP physicists discover new element
Posted by derby378 in General Discussion
Sun Jul 05th 2009, 05:33 PM
Physicists at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, operating on a grant from the Republican National Committee, have discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.
The new element, dubbed sarahpalinium (Sp), exhibits a nucleus with properties that have yet to be discovered in any other atomic nucleus, including the presence of two new hadrons: youbetchatrons, which are made up primarily of charm quarks; and nordstrons, which appear to be made up of strange quarks which constantly interact with campaign funds. These hadrons, which have not yet been counted, are buffered in the nucleus by one neutron, one lieutenant neutron, 20 deputy lieutenant neutrons, 40 assistant deputy lieutenant neutrons, and 15,000 employee neutrons, giving sarahpalinium an atomic mass of no less than 15,062. These hadrons are held together by elementary forces called morons which occasionally emit radiation in the form of alpha, beta, and inwhatrespectcharlie particles.
Sarahpalinium is orbited by an indeterminate number of lepton-like particles called peons, with only one peon occupying the innermost shell (the “Todd shell”) and exercising an unusual influence over the sarahpalinuium nucleus. Beyond the Todd shell is a shell with five peons (the “Track/Bristol/Willow/Piper/Trig shell”), and a third shell with 9,780 peons (the “Wasilla shell”).
Sarahpalinium impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of sarahpalinium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take as long as four years to complete.
Sarahpalinium is inherently unstable, possessing a half-life that will expire on July 26, 2009. At this point, sarahpalinium will either wink out of existence or develop a controversial fourth peon shell that some physicists claim may contain all remaining matter in four-dimensional spacetime, which means that the very universe may indeed revolve around sarahpalinium.
She’s gonna sue Dave, you betchya!
Jhop, perhaps tomorrow she will be picking out her cross? I’m sure Kristan Cole will have enough nails.
Did I read this correct?
Thomas Van Flein spent his July 4 in Fairbanks, Alaska, issuing a four-page statement warning news organizations not to investigate allegations printed by the Voice last October.
Since when can an attorney issue a statement NOT to investigate? Has this turned from threats of slander to dictating that is cant even be investigated? WOW, go Alaska, nail this venomous woman to the cross!
I’d like to know who’s paying the Whiffer to run into that mailbox.
Jhop: It’s the duty of a lawyer to obfuscate–and he didn’t do a very good job of it. : )
but i still think that if it isn’t about housegate, then it is about the pending ethic complaints. i do not buy that she “just” resigned. not during a press conference on the friday before independence day with hardly any notice, after saying it had been planned for weeks, and making up an angry speech about point guards and dead fish and ducks, while simultaneously declaring that she is the greatest human being since jesus and the people of alaska should really just give her a hug and say thanks.
OT, but if you are a golfer or a golf fan, bad news again for Phil Mickelson:
Mickelson’s mother diagnosed with breast cancer
Six weeks after Phil Mickelson announced his wife had breast cancer, his mother was diagnosed with the disease and is to have surgery later this week.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on its Web site that Mary Mickelson discovered she had breast cancer last week. She is to have surgery Friday at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the same hospital where Mickelson’s wife, Amy, had surgery last Wednesday.
*snip*
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/06/palin.resignation/
CNN: “But Thomas Van Flein, Palin’s personal lawyer, said no surprises await. The governor needed a break after being “on duty now for two and a half years solid,” he said. “There is no bombshell. There is no shoe to drop. There are no investigations of any type that I’m aware of– no IRS audit, no federal investigation, no state investigation,” Van Flein told CNN.
“There is no legal reason in terms of a legal problem that compelled the governor to resign”…. Van Flein said Palin believed she would stop being a “lightning rod” once she returned to Alaska, but “it never really did simmer down.” Ethics complaints from critics led to her paying back taxes on state per diem funds she received while living at her home in Wasilla, outside Anchorage; another investigation led to her paying about $8,100 in travel expenses for her children. Van Flein said the state’s ethics process, which Palin signed into law, has been “abused” to harass her and may lead Alaskans to ignore more serious allegations.”
THAT HE IS “AWARE OF.” interesting word choice by an attorney who could have provided a much more supportive and conclusive statement on behalf of his client. “that i’m aware of” was unnecessary….unless your intent was to cover your own ass.
Edit to #46. 2nd sentence should read …the statement…not your. Yikes! Can we get an edit option before posting? 🙂
Dave on Palin:
Obama in Russia, confirmed by Palin who can see him from her house.
She stepped down.
“Was it something I said?”
next in secession for the job, Miss Congeniality
But she blamed the media, was seen shooting Wolf Blitzer from a helicopter.
Edited her concession speech ” The world needs..more..insane..governors”
well, Van Flein might whiff, but he really reeks of more than a mere whiff…if you get might drift…
Letterman talking up Palin now. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!
Letterman: a sly grin, then “something I said????”
Yet another great post! I think your statement sums it all up:
“Talk about waving a red flag in front of a bull.”
Instead of just letting things go and ignoring all the crap like Obama and his camp does, (and for that matter as do all politicians in high places) she and her rookie wanna-be nouveax politicos screamed foul and brought the spotlight shining more radiantly than ever on all of her ineptness. LOL! The bull LOVES the red flag. The bull never walks away from that red flag but charges on.
AKM, you have been cranking out some wonderful writing the last few days under fast breaking circumstances! Congratulations and a question…How do you do it? You must be exhausted.
Great job. Keep it up.
Holy wow! The Village Voice sounds a bit feisty over this … I likie! (Like you’ve said so many times, AKM, “you can’t make this stuff up”!)
AKM – thank you for the great post.
Per Van Flein: “people in a small town appear to know one another, support one another, and take on big projects together.” He says “apparently that’s uncommon in New York.”
LilLadyNY – I so agree – what an ignorant statement. He completely brain-farted 9-11 for griefs sake.
The Village Voice: ” And there’s nothing that lawyers who threaten lawsuits without uncovering any substantive errors can do about it.”
—————————————
Van Flein whiffs.
I still believe the press release is a diversion from what’s really going on behind the scenes.
Excellent blog just before bed. thanks
and tip of the hat to Phil Munger… been waiting for that! thanks
@Baker’sDozen: I think my problem with our Gov and the legs is that most of my children either work for the state, city or a county and their jobs have been affected by cuts. They have not lost their jobs but their hours have been cut and the threat of job lost looms. And as much as I adore and love my children, I hope they dont lose their jobs due to budget cuts because that would mean that they might have to come back home with husbands and spouse and children. I am in a comfort zone here. I love them to visit but they always go home. LOL!
Payson real estate agent wanted for fraud
By Michael Maresh
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2006/aug/24/payson_real_estate/
Clear Lake woman faces charges in Canada
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City
http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=E8347272-FC3B-C758-5213FCFCC91621DD
Realtor to serve sentence in U.S.
by Robert Koopmans
http://surerealestate.blogspot.com/2007/06/kamloops-real-estate-agent-receives.html
John McCain Launches ‘Palin Truth Squad’ To Dispose of the Truth About Sarah Palin
National Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:
Meg Stapleton, Former Aide To Governor Palin
Kristan Cole, Lifelong Friend Of Governor Palin
http://thepalintruthsquad.com/
Track Palin bus vandalism
Results 1 – 10 of about 73,900 for track palin bus vandalism. (0.26 seconds)
The spokesperson said they weren’t looking into, not that they won’t soon be looking into it.
16 minutes to Letterman. Hope it’s not a repeat!
ds55:
Letterman may be a repeat…think he might be off for a long holiday. Guess we’ll have to stay up on the east coast for another 22 mintues (11:12 ET right now)….
One of Letterman’s guests tonite is Hayden Panettiere. She is on the Candies Foundation Abstinence thingee with Bristol.
http://backseatcuddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/panettiere-palin-b.jpg
My husband has been a contractor for 25 years and yes we have done favors for friends and family. We also have always lived in small towns. Would we ever help a friend build an entire $500,000 house for FREE, I don’t think so. I couldn’t afford it. It would take our crew at least 6 months to build that house. It would cost $150,000 in labor to build that house. Now If somebody gave me a huge contract mabie I could afford it.
I would like to know If the Palins would have to claim labor gifts to the IRS if the ammount was over $22,000 from one individual.
Small town are full of corrupt back scratching and I for one would like to know why the FBI is NOT investigating this. Looks like they have dropped the ball again.
Up yours Van Fleabag! You arrogant SOB! Maybe in your little corner of the universe everybody is in everybody’s business 24/7, but I have a newsflash for you. New Yorkers may seem excessively focused to some in the provincial hinterlands, but when the chips are down can you say 9/11 you ignorant ambulance chaser! If that didn’t speak to how much we are there for each other, I don’t know what would.
I hope my dear Mudpuppy buddies do not take any offense from this, but that statement just burned my britches. I could really slap him up-side his stupid face.
(I truly am a nice person.)
aeroentropy Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Oh, and can I tell you how disappointed I am that Jon Stewart is on vacation this week????!
_____
Me too. And Colbert as well, darn the luck!
I think the Governator has really tried. Not that I’ve always agreed with him, but I think he’s worked hard and for the most part for what he sees as the good of the state. He’s run into a cadre of Palinesque legislators, though, that just have to have everything their own way, no matter what happens to the state or anyone else. I can’t imagine how frustrated the majority of the legislature is, or Arnold.
I can hardly wait for Letterman tonight.
that’s will.
“Their” reflections 🙂
@womanwithsardinecan: You are right! Our state is sinking fast. Maybe Gov Schartzie qill follow Buttercup’s lead and resign. I can dream, can’t I? Sheesh!!!
I hope your cereal tastes good tonight, AKM! I can barely keep up. Imagine all AK bloggers are going 90. Toasting a nice red to all!
Van Flea is a knucklehead, why didn’t he read up on all this before sending out anything? Oh, (hand raised high in the air) I know I know, buttercup had a hissy fit and told him he better go after Shannyn or else.
Van Flea by Night needs to drop his hot potato client like soon, or be dragged down like she’s doing to herself.
We already know several lawyers have offered their service free to Shannyn, and a few donations to her if a law suit was filed would cover her for everything.
Bring it on Buttercup, we want to build you down.
Bwa ha ha…wiping tears off face from laughing so hard…good thing I didn’t have liquid in my mouth- I’d be wiping off the screen for the upteenth time.
I raise my Fat Tire to you, AKM- I can’t decide what’s my favorite: Planet Pee-Toe or the mailbox analogy (heh heh). New favorite word: numbskullery 😉
but go to her fb page and read all the comments of those who love her – that’s some scary folks. they drank way too much kool-aide.
————————————————
Wow I was just doing that! What’s even funnier is the occasional person saying she sucks! But I really was reading her FB page thinking to myself – are these people living in an alternate reality? Then I glanced at her friends and noticed a guy I used to work with!!! Now I gotta un friend him!
It seems they are not amart enough to let well enough alone. They keep fanning the flames of dying embers of rumors until someone pays attention and actually does a thorough investigation into some of these rumors and find some validity. I see them just self destructing right on the national stage for all to witness in horror. JMO
Philip Munger Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 6:26 PM
I’ve got the Youtube of Shannyn on Countdown up at PA. click on my name.
___________
What’s PA? Where do I find it?
I’m channeling my inner martha.
Perhaps an updated version of the poop flags. Little straws in the poop with attached flag saying suck it up buttercup.
And I think all Letterman has to do is walk out and stare and shrug his shoulders……….
Rian Fike Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 6:23 PM
She always fights fire with gasoline.
******
LOL
*waves from the late great state of California, sinking slowing into the sea of debt and poor legislative choices*
womanwithsardinecan –
Ok….I found you.
Thanks again AKM for wrapping it up tidy and slapping a bow on the gift that keeps giving. For someone that hates bloggers , dips^*t sure keeps us busy. Can barely keep up with the “moose on rollerskates”.
“The Palin PR death spiral was to be rekindled anew just one short week later”
Oh, how you make me laugh!
http://girldujour.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-sheer-weirdness/
I’ve got the Youtube of Shannyn on Countdown up at PA. click on my name.
Hi, everyone! Can’t wait until Shannyn’s on KO. I’ll have to watch later on the ‘net, though.
Are “Suck it up, Buttercup” signs sprouting around Alaska?
“you are not alone.” Hee hee. I think we are all just having trouble keeping up with all things scarah. I am still trying to catch up – this is incredible. like last august when she got picked. and what amazes me is that she drops resignation/bombshell like a heaping pile on our doorstep and then runs away. no twittering tweets, nothing. but go to her fb page and read all the comments of those who love her – that’s some scary folks. they drank way too much kool-aide.
Posting to make sure everyone sees. A few were saying when they go to certain sites their computers were slowing down concerned someone was logging your location.
Here is what I just learned.
Clicking on a site, a picture, answering an Email ANYWHERE you go on the net a link/clink can log your IP address. Any moderator, administrator they can see your IP address. Posting on a blog, ANYTHING.
They can see what you will see below when you go to What’s My IP Address?
Freakin SCARY how they can ID you right to your front door.
Be careful some of these Palin FREAKS are that whack to track you.
http://whatismyipaddress.com/
Oh, and can I tell you how disappointed I am that Jon Stewart is on vacation this week????!
And The Christian Science Monitor political cartoon, featuring GIRO (governor in retrospect only)
http://www.csmonitor.com/commentary/
*waving* to womanwithsardinecan- hi from Colorado!
Silly boy.
Here’s a link to The Christian Science Monitor Editorial. An editorial written by, heh, a CHRISTIAN newspaper known for its even tone.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0706/p08s01-comv.html
OK, can I please stop giggling long enough to refresh my popcorn??
*waves from the new thread*
Hey, I’m talking to myself here.
Maybe if somebody told Sarah and Megmouth that the hoop is really the manhole into the “tubes.”
For somebody with two blackberries and a twitter account, the twit sure is stupid about the internet.