Numbers Shmumbers…
“In the past two years, the state of Alaska has spent millions of dollars processing ethics complaints, public records requests, and related lawsuits.” That was the claim coming from the office of Governor Sarah Palin, who likes to use the phrase “frivolous ethics complaints.” That was nine days ago. Today, we learn that “millions of dollars” is in fact, actually $296,000, as far as ethics complaints go. Numbers shmumbers. The complete breakdown is not yet available, but we do know this about the three spendiest ones: $187,797 stemmed from the Troopergate investigation, a good chunk of which Palin initiated herself….
Rubber-Necking the Republican Smack Down.
I am not a rubber-necker. Let me start off by saying that. When there’s a bad accident on the side of the road, and the thing holding up traffic turns out to be the fact that everyone is slowing down to stare at the wreckage…I am not one of those people. That said, there are times when it’s just unavoidable because….blam….there it is. Right in front of your car. Such is the case with the strange and captivating multi-car pile-up involving various conservative Republican factions in the past few days. My attention has been tugged, now and then, in the direction of this slow and seemingly…
The Great Band-Aid Cover-Up…
We all know someone who gets so into telling stories about themselves that they tend to adopt a facts-optional attitude about it. I mean if it’s not hurting anyone, and it makes for a good story, then what’s the problem, right? When I read the Runner’s World interview with Sarah Palin, I noticed her story about going on a run with the Secret Service during the campaign. She slipped while running, fell, and hurt her hand. Yup, I remembered that. But then there came a part about her swearing the Secret Service to silence so the story would never get…
What’s Brown and Sounds Like a Bell?
DUNNNNGGGG…. Yes, I know. I’m being juvenile. But that joke always pops in my mind when I think of Congressman Don Young, and his delightful spooneristic nickname. Yon Dung. Now you know. What makes me think of such an unpleasant person on this beautiful summer evening, while I sip fresh lemonade and contemplate how good life is? He’s thrown his hat back in the ring, that’s what. Yup, he’s going for #20….his 20th term in office. Looming indictments, $1 million plus in legal fees, having to step down from all his plum committee chairs? Nope, doesn’t phase him a bit. And why,…
The Fish Story Gets Fishier… (UPDATED)
For those of you keeping up with the ‘fish story’ coming out of Emmonak, check out Kyle Hopkins’ Village blog. Here is my ‘reduced’ version of how I imagine the scene in the governor’s spokeswoman’s office. But do read the whole thing HERE. Read as a monologue, with Kyle Hopkins providing the voice on the phone. ******************************************** (Sitting alone in office, the spokeswoman claps her hands together, rubbing them vigorously) The news is good! It’s so good they won’t dare report it! Haha! That CNN reporter will have egg on his face now. : ) (spins around on swiveling office…
Vanity Fair on Palin. Let the Skewering Begin.
I have been besieged with emails, Facebook messages, and blog comments asking for my impressions of the Vanity Fair piece that appeared today entitled “It Came from Wasilla.” Basically, the article was a whole lot of what we already knew, skillfully brought together, and topped off with some more interesting McCain staffer revelations from the campaign trail. I would have loved to hear more about Palin’s religious intrigue, a topic that has been discussed, but has never gotten the traction in the national media as some of her other dimensions. We may be hearing more of this, now that we…
“The Hell With Sarah Palin” – An Update from Emmonak
Last week Governor Sarah Palin sent a series of messages from her Twitter account regarding the subsistence fishing situation in Western Alaska. “Good news!” we were told. AKGovSarahPalinGood update re Rural Advisor John Moller’s recnt Emmonak trip, great news he reports; we’ll twitter assuming press won’t pick up good news.about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry John Moller was in the Western Alaskan village of Emmonak to discuss the topic on everyone’s mind – salmon. Salmon are the primary subsistence food, and primary income source for residents of the Lower Yukon River. Big problems, starting with the mismanagement of fisheries have caused…
What We Have Here…is a Failure to Communicate.
And a new communications director shall be made manifest, and it shall be a bold decision, and his name shall be David Murrow…presumably no relation to Edward R. Back on June 6, “The Ear,” column of the Anchorage Daily News reported the rumor that Murrow was on deck. Sources say he was offered the job on May 26, and his first day was June 10. His first action as Palin’s Communications Director was, ironically, NOT announcing his own hire for 19 days and counting. The Juneau Empire finally has something up. Murrow said he was too busy to talk to…