The selection of Sarah Palin, the relatively unknown Governor of Alaska, so quickly after Obama's rousing success at the end of the Democratic Convention, was possibly the greatest strategic maneuver ever perpetrated by any party on the route to the white house. That nomination did exactly what was intended. It snatched Obama's and the democratic thunder. Obama and his words were placed on second rung, while every media outlet in the nation rushed headlong into an abyss of the unknown to find out just who and what this interloper was. The vetting was hurried, if ever considered. Serious doubt lingers if Sarah was ever vetted at all. None of the Alaska powers that be admit to being consulted. Sarah Palin is an extremely personable, adept, and charming speaker. She has shown her ability to connect with the mood of her audience, both in Alaska and nation wide. When running for Governor of our state she had the same message she sustains in her bid as vice presidential candidate, with only a slight variation
Alaskan were then, as Americans are today, devitalized and somewhat disgusted with politician's political agendas, and politics as ususal at the cost of citizens rights to the rusted American dream. Alaskan Citizen felt then, as citizens of our nation feel today, disenfranchised from the powers that be. In Alaska it was the Murkowski administration, Today it is the Bush legacy. Her message was and is clear in both races. Change!
In her run for Governor Sarah focused on the highly unpopular gas line proposal launched and advocated by her predecessor the Governor Frank Murkowski. Governor Murkowski had made several serious tactical error during his term in office, on top of the list was the appointment of his daughter Lisa to the US Senate seat that he vacated upon being elected Governor of our state. Alaskans called it the ‘Murkowski dynasty'. He then seemed to crawl in bed with the three major oil producers in the state. His bid for a second term was a lost cause before it began. In 2006 he was rated the most unpopular Governor in the nation.
MS. MAIN STREET USA
Sarah lives on a lakefront
home in Wasilla valued by the Mat-Su Borough at $525,000, but may
actually be Valued at near one million dollars. Assets are
reported in broad ranges. Financial disclosure statement
reported Todd and Sarah assets are between $960 thousand to
$2.3 million to include a Commercial fishing leasehold
with value of $100,000 to $250,000, mutual funds, and
401ks valued between $50,000 to $250,000. The list goes on.
Tax return for 2007 listed gross receipts at $166,000 and paid tax at 15%
or $24,738.
The return does not include $17,000 for 133 days
of tax free per diem when she and her family lived in her own
home in Wasilla because her family does not like Juneau.
Todd and Sarah's
combined adjusted gross income in 2006 was listed as $127,869,
and paying taxes of $11,944, less than ten percent. Numerous
deductions were taken. Associated Press, Octoiber 5 2008
As a teen Sarah entered beauty pagents, and while campaigning
in Texas she stated that when a
teen she traveled to Texas to attend basketball camps.
According to IRS 50% of Americans (main streeters?) Earn less than $32,000 annually.
QUESTION: Sarah has accused Obama of endangering her son who is now deployed to Iraq by voting against funds for our troops, if people underpay tax obligations where is the money to come from and who is endangering her son?
THE MAVERICK
After her unsuccessful bid for
Lieutenant Governor in 2002, Governor Murkowski appointed Sarah
to a $119,000 job as the the Ethics Commissioner for the Oil
and Gas Commission.
She served in that position beginning in 2003, but resigned
in 2004,
concluding there was a lack of ethics originating in her own
party's leadership. She turned to the media, rather than report her misgivings
to the governor, filing formal
complaints against fellow Republicans charging lack of ethics.
Sarah outed Republican party chief Randy Ruedrich for leaking
a confidential document to a lobbyist, and performing political
work from his state job on the same Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission on which she served. She also brought ethics
complaint against Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes.
Thus began her journey as a maverick. Later most of the charges
against Renkes were discarded, and the Pesonnel Board dropped
their inquiry.
Ruedrich still chairs
the Alaska Republican party.
Soon after her assuming the top chair of Alaska, the federal
government instituted several high profile investigations,
none of which had their beginnings due to any action of
Governor Palin. The first was investigation of
Jim Hayes, past Mayor of Fairbanks. He had received
earmark funds for a charity that he and his spouse had organized
and directed. They were later charged and found guilty of
personal use of funds that were directed to their private non
profit.
Then came the federal investigation into VECO, and Bill Allen
that brought down and imprisoned a few Republican state
legislators. US Senator Ted Stevens now sits on trial due to
that same investigation. Before charges were filed, Sarah was
vocal in her chastisement of each and every individual.
Palin declared that Stevens should be forthright with Alaskans
"Alaskans deserve to know".
Congressman Young had also been under inquiry of wrongdoing
but charges
have not been filed. Sarah questioned his need to spend
thousands of dollars for attorney consultation.
Sarah's advice to Stevens and Young has not been followed in her
own abuse of Power investigation.
TROOPERGATE
This investigation was commenced many weeks prior to her pick as
VP choice of the Republican party. Prior to that time she stated
"I have nothing to Hide" "I will cooperate fully". Unlike
Senator Stevens who demanded his trial be held prior to November
election so that his constituents would learn the truth, Sarah
and the McCain campaign have done everything within their power
to delay or fully dispose of the ethics charges against Sarah
without full disclosure to the citizens of Alaska.
Whether she
did or did not abuse her power, Senator French was way out of line talking about
an October Surprise. His remark has caused extreme
speculation as to the reasoning behind the probe. Sarah however,
should be
forthright with her Alaskan constituents. We do have a right
to know.
Today she, her husband, and members of her staff refuse to testify
in troopergate, while Thomas Van Flein The Anchorage attorney
hired by Sarah in September, gets to carry the briefcase for
McCain's appointed High priced and high profile New York
attorney Ed Callagahn, former US terrorist prosecutor,
who along with other McCain operatives
is effectively running interference, stifling any questioning of
Sarah's actions in this matter. All questions directed to the
Governor's office are funneled to the MCCain machine
for response
Palin now accueses Monegan with
insubordiantion, and McCain operatives declare him a
rogue for working outside normal channesls to seek
funds
to operate and maintain an effective law enforcement presence
within the State of Alaska. It appears a bit curious that
Sarah the
Maverick takes pride in her accomplishments for
operating in much the same manner.
This investigation has become so
politicalized, reasoning has been lost. It is not about
whether the Trooper in question was a bad trooper. It is not
about a rogue Commissioner. It is about whether Sarah Palin
abused her power either directly or indirectly through her
husband and/or employees to pressure the firing of her trooper
ex brother in law,and then fired her Commissioner because he would not go along.
End of story.
UPDATE: Sarah Palin Troopergate report
BRIDGES TO NOWHERE
Two Alaskan bridges to Nowhere were panned in nation-wide press.
the Ketchikan bridge and the Knik Bridge . The Ketchikan
bridge was to Connect citizens of Ketchikan to their airport
and expansion possibilities on Gravina Island. The Knik
bridge was to bring quicker access from Anchorage to Sarah's
home town of Wasilla. The Ketchikan bridge was doomed and
dropped. The Knik bride is in process of construction full
speed ahead.
When campaigning for Governor Sarah advocated for
both bridges. "Thanks, but no thanks" was not a part of her
vocabulary until her nomination for VP.
Sarah did advocate
for the both bridges when runnng for Governor and until they
became nationwide symbols of pork barrel earmarks. Nonetheless
money for Ketchikan bridge was retained and spent on other
projects.
FOLKSY SPEECH--ALASKAN BLIZZARD?
Sarah's disingenuous interspersing of doggones, bless their hearts, darn rights, durn, hecks, and you betchas, cannot be connoted as Alaskan figures of speech, and especially not within a 90 minute professional conversation,. For many Alaskans these expressions appeared awkward and counterfeit coming from the lips of our Governor.
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