The obligatory “Palin’s legal defense fund may violate ethics laws” post; Update: Report added; Update: Palin issues statement
posted at 6:15 pm on July 21, 2009 by Allahpundit
This one seems to be distinct from the umpteen frivolous ethics complaints filed against her given that there’s actually been a finding by a Personnel Board investigator of “probable cause” to believe she did something wrong. Even so, I’ve been informed on Twitter that it constitutes “Palin Derangement Syndrome” to so much as post on this, so apologies for not ignoring/suppressing the story and sparing you the “derangement.”
An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the “official” legal defense fund.
The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else. The report recommends that Palin refuse to accept payment from the defense fund, and that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the Alaska Personnel Board…
In his report, attorney Thomas Daniel said his interpretation of the ethics act is consistent with common sense.
An ordinary citizen facing legal charges is not likely to be able to generate donations to a legal defense fund, he wrote. “In contrast, Governor Palin is able to generate donations because of the fact that she is a public official and a public figure. Were it not for the fact that she is governor and a national political figure, it is unlikely that many citizens would donate money to her legal defense fund.”
I’m not sure I have this straight, but are they actually claiming that the use of the word “official” on the fund website is designed to make people think it’s state-supported? See, e.g., Sections 39.52.120 and 39.52.130 of the state’s Executive Branch Ethics Act for details. If so, that’s moronic for two reasons. One, no one’s donating to Palin because she’s the governor; they’re donating to her because she’s Sarah Palin. Two, “official” obviously isn’t a reference to her position but to the fact that there have been other defense funds organized for her by well-meaning grassroots Palin fans — funds from which Palin’s legally prohibited from accepting money. Calling her site “official” is just her way of letting supporters know that this is the real, honest-to-goodness, Palin-endorsed defense fund.
As for the argument that she wouldn’t be getting donations if not for the fact that she’s governor, that’s true — but of course she wouldn’t be getting complaints filed against her, either. Her fund website goes out of its way, in fact, to list defense funds organized by other politicians to demonstrate that she’s not doing anything out of the ordinary. If she had set up the site to raise money to build a new wing of her house or something, I’d see the objection; I might even see it if she’d been found guilty of a bunch of ethics violations and was now looking to Palinistas to pick up the tab. As it is, all she’s doing is looking for help in defending herself against frivolous harassment by political opponents. I honestly don’t get what the issue is here.
Update: Don’t believe the hype, tweets Palin:
Re inaccurate story floating re:ethics violation/Legal Defense Fund;matter is still pending;new info was just requested even;no final report
Update: Here’s the PDF of the report. It’s only nine pages long and worth reading in full because the gist of it is that legal defense funds simply aren’t permissible under the Alaska ethics act. It’s not that she’s doing anything underhanded or differently from the Clintons or John Kerry or any federal official; it’s just that Alaska doesn’t allow the governor to accept money that’s in any way connected with the performance of her duties as governor. In fact, on page 7, the investigator goes out of his way to say that Alaska’s system is FUBAR, especially with respect to not reimbursing the governor for defending herself against frivolous complaints, but since he can only apply the law as written, that’s what he has to do. His recommendation for “corrective action”: Having Palin seek reimbursement from Alaska.
Exit question: Who leaked this, ahem, “confidential” report?
Update: Palin fires back on Facebook:
“I find the notion that I have taken any action pertaining to the legal defense trust fund misguided and factually in error. I am informed that this fund was created by experienced attorneys in DC and was modeled after other similar funds established for senators and others. The fund itself was not created by me nor is it controlled by me. Neither I nor my lawyer has received a penny from this fund, and I am informed the Trustee was withholding any action or payment pending final resolution with the Personnel Board. This is the hallmark of legal compliance and prudent conduct.
In short, I have not ‘acted’ relative to the defense fund and it is misleading to say I have. I have no doubt that the Trust will welcome guidance by the Board, as do we all, but it is my understanding that this matter was not resolved and the complainant’s violation of law has served to mislead the public and prejudice a fair review of this matter.”
Blowback
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OOOOOOOH! Good night!
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Maybe we could get Blake to watch his Twitter comments. I am shooting for Thursday night or anytime Friday.
Cindy Munford on July 22, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Doing your John McGlaughlin imitation?
Lanceman on July 22, 2009 at 12:32 AM
shhhhh
man its so tempting to stay up late!
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:33 AM
Hey atheling, if experience doesn’t mean anything, how come it meant everything 10 months ago?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:33 AM
We don’t have 8 years.
I don’t know how America’s going to make it until the end of Ogabe’s first term as it is…2010 & 2012 can’t come soon enough for me!
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:33 AM
bad boy!
you stop that now!
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Well that’s the rub, isn’t it? Executive ability is executive ability, whether it’s a mayor or governor or military officer or POTUS. It’s the principle and the results that matter.
Heck, some of our previous presidents weren’t governors. John Adams was a farmer (and lawyer, but he preferred to be Farmer John than Lawyer John). Didn’t Buckley say he would prefer to be governed by the first 500 names in the telephone book than by ivy league grads?
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 12:35 AM
I posted this on another HA thread. When it comes to the viability of Sarah Palin there are only 3 favorability figures that matter in a GOP primary:
F UF
ALL REPUB (PPP POLL 7/20) 76 19
CONSERV REPUB (PEW RES6/24) 80
MODER REPUB (PPP7/20) 64
Sarah Palin is #1 in all categories.
technopeasant on July 22, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Yes it is. The MSM have been belittling and mocking conservative Republicans, while excusing and enhancing liberal Democrats for decades. They did it with Reagan and Carter. And it’s only gotten nastier. They demand from Palin what they don’t even bother requesting from Obama. They mock Palin’s mistakes and areas of weakness, while burying, spiking, rationalizing or outright lying about Barry’s.
So?
Don’t get mad. Get even. Not by shooting the same filth back. But by winning. Like Reagan did. This is what the next Republican President will have to do.
Loxodonta on July 22, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Stupid question and you should know it.
10 months ago, Sarah Palin was the only one of the 4 major candidates that had any experience.
Now that Biden and Maobama have had some time in office, it will be down to who has the only successful executive experience and that will be Palin.,
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:36 AM
I frankly don’t care about “experience” anymore
I’ve realized it to be a fruitless standard.
You could be around for a long time, such as atheling, and still be silly
or you could be around for a much shorter amount of time, like myself, and not
you know?
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:37 AM
I think, again, that the media and the liberals are the problem. Bush had about 6 years as governor of Texas and they still questioned his experience and his need for advisors. That’s the whole problem when you think about it. With governors, if they have never held any federal job before, they’re not going to know a lot about the minute details of what is going on at the national level. In my opinion, that’s what happened with Palin in the Katie Couric interviews. She isn’t stupid, that’s obvious. It’s just that governors really have better things to do than think about what Supreme Court case might affect another state. Maybe we need somebody from the House or Senate to run for president. Picking a governor might be good for VP like in 2008.
NathanG on July 22, 2009 at 12:38 AM
I’m throwing the bait out there and it isn’t biting
That’s when you pack up the rod and head home!
Maybe another time!
MadCon, Lox, CMun
bye bye for real
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Okay! Oundssay eatgray!
Loxodonta on July 22, 2009 at 12:39 AM
I know. Not supposed to question the Real One.
Oh. So it doesn’t matter now. Executive experience was important then, but now we see that executive experience actually doesn’t mean jack.
…so then wouldn’t it have meant jack 10 months ago?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Later gator.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Quite right!
And don’t look now, atheling, but George Washington didn’t have much “experience” besides military service, before he became President.
Ditto Dwight Eisenhower.
Folks like b.b.and NathanG have been well-trained by the MSM to “expect” certain things in their presidential candidates.
Lucky for America that Sarah Palin ignores silly dictates like that!
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Yes, and don’t forget a lazy, apathetic electorate.
Clinton, being the governor from Arkansas, didn’t know squat about foreign policy. I never heard a peep about that.
I don’t think that holding a federal job qualifies one as knowing a lot of minute details of what’s going on at the national level.
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Wrong, cretin.
You didn’t read what I wrote and so carefully emphasized: Palin, Biden and Ogabe will be judged on how successful and productive their executive experience has been.
This is a fight that Palin will win and Ogabe and Plugs will certainly lose!
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Friday night. Hopefully we can get a lot of folks involved. I am calling it a day. Talk to everyone tomorrow.
Cindy Munford on July 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Have any of you thought the reason atheling seems so tough is that you guys are so weak. Toughen up buttercups, we got a tough fight ahead. Buck up as Obama says.
chief on July 22, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Um, for the record, the latter’s presidency was considered weak and ineffectual, but forget that.
So, let me get this straight – experience matters when the candidate you favor has it and the one you oppose doesn’t, but it doesn’t matter if your candidate doesn’t have an edge in experience?
Huh. I’m pretty sure that’s what Obama’s supporters were thinking 10 months ago.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Somebody might have already said this.. but did anybody take a look at the Alaska Ethics law?
http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/ethics/Statutes-AlaskaExecutiveBranchEthicsAct_AS39.52_.pdf
A public officr may not (accept a gift) under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.
(it’s actually mentioned in the ‘report’)
Did I miss it, or did the ‘report’ not talk about the circumstances at all? Does anybody really think that the fund was set up in order to influence Palin’s performace of official duties, actions or judgment?
Phoenician on July 22, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Yes. I have grown suspicious of federal job holders’ abilities to know how to do anything, actually. Why should we have a cursus honorum when we are a republic without an aristocracy? It’s anti American.
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Uh-oh. When backed into a corner, start with name-calling. It always wins.
So we went from “executive experience matters” to “only successful executive experience matters”.
Again, it depends on which will make your candidate look good. I got that.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:47 AM
Jenfidel:
Ignore the troll. :)
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Experience doesn’t matter a damn if isn’t backed by sound (Conservative) thinking, value and principles as is Sarah’s.
NObama will have to run on his record and judging from the last 6 months, it won’t be pretty.
NObama’s supporters clearly weren’t thinking at all on any given you could name.
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM
I notice you haven’t had the guts to answer the question.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:49 AM
ROFL!
Bless you, atheling!
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Jenfidel:
As another commenter here noted in another thread, a particular troll likes to move the goal post and contributes nothing to the discussion.
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Then why did the McCain campaign make a point of Obama’s lack of experience, given that he’s a liberal?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Sorry, you were saying?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Is that the one where I said I’d never heard of her?
CCRWM on July 22, 2009 at 12:53 AM
“Executive experience matters” wasn’t my standard–it was others’.
In fact, I personally have several that I look for in a candidate, but the primary factor for me is how grounded that person is in Conservative ideals, principles and values.
Re: “successful executive experience”–Are you honestly saying that you’d vote for someone with lots of time in office, but who had clearly been ineffectual, wrong, unproductive or even criminal while there?
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Good work and good night, dear lady.
Loxodonta on July 22, 2009 at 12:55 AM
Given that who’s a Liberal? (What does this mean?)
The problem with Ogabe is that he had no record, not even as a Senator or a state senator.
Even his school and medical records are sealed (and I daren’t mention his birth certificate…)
The point of stressing that Maobama had no executive experience is that as an executive, you have to make decisions ALONE and then take responsibility for them and be put on the record as having made them.
NObama never did this until he got to the White House and as we can see, he’s making all the wrong calls.
As President, you can’t vote “Present” and then hide your vote in a legislative body as he did in the IL senate and the US Senate.
*That* is why Zero-bama’s lack of executive experience is important.
Also, it’s telling that no-one had found him trustworthy enough or enough of a leader to put in an executive position before the WH.
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 12:59 AM
…yeah, the standard played up by the party that chose her as VP candidate.
Same here. However, last October, that wasn’t mentioned. McCain and his party chose what you claim doesn’t matter now.
No, but it was what many Palin worshipers(as opposed to those who simply support her as a politician) like you claimed was the golden key to lead her to victory. Didn’t happen. Now you want to dust off the same message that didn’t work before, give it a new coat of paint, and try selling it again?
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. What do they call that?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:00 AM
I don’t understand why I and other Palin supporters, get criticized for coming to a Palin thread and defending her etc? I think the one’s who are nuts are the ones who don’t like Palin but spend all night on a thread about her. If you don’t like her don’t come… we are entitled to like who we like…
CCRWM on July 22, 2009 at 1:00 AM
…who is the glaring liberal in the sentence you quoted? Good grief. Reading is fundamental.
So you’re saying it did matter then, but it doesn’t matter now. That’s what I’ve been saying. It’s horribly inconsistent, but whatever.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:02 AM
I don’t understand why I and other Palin supporters get crucified and excommunicated from the conservative movement for pointing out her faults and remind people that she doesn’t walk on water.
Oh wait, I do understand. It’s that same attitude that Obama supporters had last year. Dissent shall not be allowed. Do not criticize Obama. He is The One.
So I guess Sarah Palin is the Real One. If you dare link to negative stories about her, you are a traitorous RINO. If you dare think her political decisions are anything other than blinding brilliance, you are a backstabbing elitist.
If you truly believe Sarah Palin is fit for the presidency, why do you see the need to tell anyone who criticizes her to shut up?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:07 AM
No, I don’t think so.
It was one of the standards, but not THE standard.
There’s a lot to like about Palin, but her successful governorship of AK is only part of it.
Well, I’m no McCain lover and he’s certainly no real Conservative.
In fact, I have no idea where the man stands on all kinds of issues.
I think he’s crazy and has been crazy since he was a POW, but I wasn’t going to vote for Ogabe so I voted for Palin.
2012 is not going to be a thing like 2008.
Palin’s experience–which is her extremely successful partial term as AK Governor with a high popularity rating and a budget surplus–is only one of the things she brings to the table.
It shows what she is capable of in office and that she practices what she preaches in her Conservative philosophy.
When you contrast this with the outright Leftist of Obama and what he’s tried to do as President, the contrast couldn’t be more clear!
You don’t have to put more paint or lipstick on Palin to sell her message because Americans will be buying and are already following her and giving to SarahPAC by the thousands because she’s the real deal and Ogabe is really and truly scary.
(Just because she doesn’t move, inspire or win you over personally doesn’t mean it isn’t true.)
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 1:09 AM
You seem to be equating experience with tenure in office. They are not the same thing.
promachus on July 22, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Guess that’s only bad when somebody else is doing it.
Jim Treacher on July 22, 2009 at 1:12 AM
Yeah, the same people who had no trouble in calling Palin a whiner and a complainer when she pointed out the incredible assaults on family can’t take a little heat from atheling. Pathetic.
promachus on July 22, 2009 at 1:13 AM
No, that’s not what I’m saying! (And I don’t think the clarity of my expressed thoughts is to blame…could it be you have a head made of concrete?)
It mattered then and it matters now.
It’s not inconsistent.
2012 will be decided by Ogabe and his record and the GOP candidate (Lord willing, Palin) and her record and her stated goals, ideals and ideas for where she’d like this country to go.
Obama’s goals, ideals, ideas and LIES we now know.
At least from Palin’s record, we know she means what she says and she says what she means.
Obama? Not so much…
Get it, now?
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 1:14 AM
I really don’t think that Palin will be the 2012 Repub nominee. No disrespect to her, but I just don’t think it will happen. I think it will be somebody who didn’t run in the 2008 primaries. I just don’t know who yet.
NathanG on July 22, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Because Hot Air commentary is about the high school clique, and they don’t care about politics or conservatism, as you’ll note that they are incapable of producing any thoughts on the subject, and exist only to snarl and snap at anyone who invades their territory.
What do you think the median age is here? I bet it’s under 30.
atheling on July 22, 2009 at 1:18 AM
I don’t care what you think. They did.
If you’re simply going to deny things even when I provide proof of them, I’m not going to waste any more time on you.
She inspired me greatly in early September of last year. They kept her muzzled throughout October, and naturally lost in November. Since then, she’s given an occasional treat in the form of criticism of Obama. However, she has been almost silent compared to Labor Day weekend.
Plus, you have a big problem. You’re talking about a successful governorship. That’s wonderful. Let’s make that an ad campaign. Then they can respond with a campaign about how she quit that successful governorship. Well, there’s millions of campaign dollars down the drain. Unfortunately, she’s put a giant damned dent in your strategy.
I’d love to think that Sarah Palin will come out in 2010, preaching the tenets of conservatism, and rescue us from Pacifica. However, I’m still waiting to hear that, and Palin worshipers are, meanwhile, focusing themselves on David Letterman. It doesn’t look good. In fact, it looks awful.
Then what is executive experience if not tenure in an executive position? If someone took a three-month stint as a CEO, and made great decisions, what would they be boasting about? Their experience, or their decisions?
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:20 AM
That’s what I thought initially. There was a woman called terryonline who keeps caviling and caviling in Palin threads like Madison today and I thought hey’ its just youth. A mitt Romney thread comes along and she’s all gooey about their Dear One with the Beautiful Hair. See, all these people they are being reasonable when they secretly back some candidate and Palin is an obstruction to them. I’d respect them if they touted Mittens openly and not trying to undermine somebody else. But noooooooooo.
promachus on July 22, 2009 at 1:23 AM
So now it’s the whole site versus you. Poor you.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Seriously, what is it with the idiotic presumption of Palin worshipers to assume that anyone who criticizes Palin not only dislikes her, but is somehow a Mitt Romney fan?
I made my dislike of Romney clear earlier. Keep up.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:26 AM
I thought you were going to bed “Blue in the face”?
Problems, with your thesis are that oftimes in battle Politicians and Generals need to have support elements that do follow blindly – or at least the piss & moaners should STFU if they don’t have something constructive to add to the campaign. Case in point:
“We should reject sensationalism and celebrity in a politician” -BBlue
Yeah BB! Try to sell that load of anti-”sensationalism and celebrity” malarkey to Ronald Reagan’s diehards! Or paint Gen. Patton, who was a premier ARMY politician, with that limp-wristed brush. “Of course, if only the Obamanites had listened to your wise council, the “ONE” would just be a moderate McCanian memory!
Don’t get me wrong you fair weather faux conservatives can and should flit all over mittens, huk and boobies political endowments – just quit the whining when you inadvertantly get swatted (blue on blue)by Palin’s provincials.
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on July 22, 2009 at 1:27 AM
Glad to hear it!
She will again.
I don’t know if she was muzzled…Did you hear and/or see her at all those rallies?
And she was in the Number #2 slot–she outshone McCain as it was (McCain was a horrible candidate…)
Which is why she resigned as Governor, so she can be free to come down to the lower 48 and lead the charge against Ogabe and the Democrats.
She knows someone’s gotta lead Conservatives to save and protect our nation.
I don’t think this means sh*t.
The Left and the MSM have thrown everything they have at her already and she still appeals to millions of Americans because she’s Ronald Reagan with lipstick & a skirt.
No, we’re not.
We moved on from the Letterman boycott weeks ago.
Where have you been?
Are you on Twitter yet?
Palin promises “un-PC” Tweets and more after she leaves office on July 29.
And she’s scheduled to speak at the Reagan Library on August 9.
Hold on.
The cavalry’s coming!
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 1:28 AM
The military metaphors about political campaigns are always amusing coming from people under anonymous monikers on the internet.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Better approach: Download and install greenshot and take several steps out of the process. No need to open Microsoft Paint. Just hit the PrtScrn key, and you can select the entire screen or any rectangular part of it you want. Or Alt and PrtScrn together, then click just the window you want a screenshot of. Either way, it will automatically open a window with your screenshot and a few drawing tools, so you can draw arrows, lines, ovals, or boxes right on the picture. Then you can save the final picture as a file, or copy the final picture to your clipboard.
It’s the best way to save a screenshot, short of installing Linux.
I feel like I’m writing a commercial, but it’s free. Even Alaskan bloggers couldn’t find an ethical violation…
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on July 22, 2009 at 1:31 AM
Yeah, because the crap they slung at her was about wolf shootings, Alaska accents, and what newspapers and magazines she read.
This, on the other hand, will be about her quitting her position as leader of an American state.
I think this will mean a ton of s**t. For us.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:33 AM
No, it won’t.
That sh*t already hit the fan and it didn’t make much of a mess.
The MSM got their meme out about Palin being a “quitter,” which, if it is all they have (and it is) is pretty lame.
And still people support her, like (or love her) and the MSM continues to talk about her.
A lot can happen between now and 2012, but personally, I think you could put a plain old Barbie (and not even Caribou Barbie) up against Ogabe and she’d win because Comrade Urkel is Just. That. Bad.
Here are a couple of great sites for you to go for Sarah Palin news, Mad:
Team Sarah
Conservatives4Palin
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 1:40 AM
Breaking: Failed vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was once photographed in her office, with a computer running Microsoft Windows in the background. Authorities are asserting that this was an indirect endorsement of Greenshot, a piece of software that runs on Microsoft Windows. Investigations are now underway to determine if this incident constitutes an ethics violation on the part of failed vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Additionally, authorities are also consulting legal counsel on whether said photograph constitutes an anti-trust violation on the part of Sarah Palin for being seen in the same room with a computer running Microsoft Windows. Vice President Joe Biden was quoted as saying “Heh, broads don’t know how to use Linux.”
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Keep the faith. I hope it’s true.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:45 AM
Ha! Obama supporters attacked Palin for her inexperience, while somehow completely missing that she had more than Obama did. Logical consistency did not exist in the Obama mindset.
Palin has experience as small business owner, city council member, mayor, director of Alaska’s Oil and Gas Commission, and governor. All of it gained without powerful political backing, and more in the way of solid accomplishments and reforms than 90% of other politicians. I’d love to see her run with two terms experience as governor behind her, but she was smart enough to realize that staying in the governor’s office was a sucker’s game. The one thing she really had going for her, her reputation as a reformer, would be smeared constantly over the remainder of her term, with her not even allowed to fight back or even campaign because of Alaska’s pedantically strict ethics laws.
Just keep an open mind.
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on July 22, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Well gNat, your odds for anyone but Palin winning the Rep. Nomination in 2012 is a pretty safe bet, considering the voluminous enemies on the left and right. But, what the hell does a hick from the sticks kid like you know about anything? Hell I didn’t even hear you in all your Alaska political prognostications up-board, mention what the “Stevens” redemption card may have meant for Gov. Palin’s gubenatorial future! That’s the problem with kids with no time real time aboard – all they know they learned at school. I do like ya kid, but you’re a lil too green to take too seriously – keep at it though, by 2012 you may begin to relize how wrong you were in 2009.
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on July 22, 2009 at 1:47 AM
I hope it’s true, too, and I will keep the faith along with many others.
Sorry about the “cretin” thing, M.C.!
You’re obviously not a bad guy who’s struggling to make some good sense out of a very crazy world.
Hang in there, yourself, and try to have some real (non-Obama-ish) hope and optimism that right and the Right will prevail!
Jenfidel on July 22, 2009 at 1:58 AM
The military metaphors about political campaigns are always amusing coming from people under anonymous monikers on the internet.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Tickled to make you tickled but — Not near as “amusing” as watching you have your straw-ass chewed off by the anon BigOlddog! Still chuckling…
MadConjob, as usual you misrepresent and avoid contructive discussion via your lame ad hominems, often followed up by repetitive off topic baloney. Now, pay attention, as I wrote in reaction to the overreaction by one of you jealous crybabies in residence here:
Problems, with your thesis are that oftimes in battle Politicians and Generals need to have support elements that do follow blindly – or at least the piss & moaners should STFU if they don’t have something constructive to add to the campaign. Case in point:
“We should reject sensationalism and celebrity in a politician” -BBlue
Yeah BB! Try to sell that load of anti-”sensationalism and celebrity” malarkey to Ronald Reagan’s diehards! Or paint Gen. Patton, who was a premier ARMY politician, with that limp-wristed brush. “Of course, if only the Obamanites had listened to your wise council, the “ONE” would just be a moderate McCanian memory!
Don’t get me wrong you fair weather faux conservatives can and should flit all over mittens, huk and boobies political endowments – just quit the whining when you inadvertantly get swatted (blue on blue)by Palin’s provincials.
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on July 22, 2009 at 1:27 AM
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on July 22, 2009 at 2:19 AM
I’ll just leave this here.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 2:25 AM
Palin responds to the crap dumped on her earlier today:
Statement from Sarah Palin on Legal Fund News Report
Today at 1:46am
“I find the notion that I have taken any action pertaining to the legal defense trust fund misguided and factually in error. I am informed that this fund was created by experienced attorneys in DC and was modeled after other similar funds established for senators and others. The fund itself was not created by me nor is it controlled by me. Neither I nor my lawyer has received a penny from this fund, and I am informed the Trustee was withholding any action or payment pending final resolution with the Personnel Board. This is the hallmark of legal compliance and prudent conduct.
In short, I have not ‘acted’ relative to the defense fund and it is misleading to say I have. I have no doubt that the Trust will welcome guidance by the Board, as do we all, but it is my understanding that this matter was not resolved and the complainant’s violation of law has served to mislead the public and prejudice a fair review of this matter.”
Sarah Palin
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=106338608434&ref=nf
powerpro on July 22, 2009 at 2:26 AM
I’ll just leave this here.
MadisonConservative on July 22, 2009 at 2:25 AM
Good call Conjob! I certainly wouldn’t want to have to chew on your straw-ass anymore than I have to.
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on July 22, 2009 at 2:34 AM
Heh. How’d you know? :P
NathanG on July 22, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Nice riposte Natty!
And, I note respectfully that your skin is thick enough to deflect small harpoons…
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on July 22, 2009 at 2:45 AM
okay, bfd… give the cash back then get it back after she steps down.
problem solved, next liberal meltdown
Metro on July 22, 2009 at 3:18 AM
Shara Palin may have Conservative credentials, but she needs to improve her speaking ability. The message is okay, it’s the delivery. Reagan was able to speak and not sound like a politician. Palin sounds like a politician, scripted. Obama even thought every word is a lie, his mastery of TOTUS, makes his speech sound natural. People are suckers for a good speaker, regardless of message.
She needed to resign, because for the good of Alaska. If she wants to go National, then the Democratic brown shirts will try and overwhelm Alaska with law suits. They need to change the law about law suits. In UK, I believe, the looser has to pay the bills of both parties. In the mean time, we need a group of conservatives to target these brown shirts, who are suing, and give them their own medicine. We should go after Acorn, also.
I like the idea of a Woman President, but we need to be careful that its not the only reason, maybe all things equal, okay. Obama has 95% support of Black support, why? It is because he is Black. Are 95% Blacks pro-choice, or Communist? I don’t think so. Having a Black for President was the greatest moment in US racial history, being it was Obama, makes it the worst. The real problem is Stereotype Threats, and Obama reinforces those stereotypes, that are so damaging to the Black community, Criminal, and Socialist. We have even a longer way to go now before we have a colorblind society. In 2012 expect riots one way or other. God Help US!!!
Ed Laskie on July 22, 2009 at 4:08 AM
There is a difference between criticism of the Governor from all but a few at HA, and the abuse she has received from liberals and zealous supporters of other Republican candidates.
Who wants to belong to a political party that is intolerant of any disagreement, criticism, or doubt and incapable of debate, but instead condones the abuse of dissenters into silence. Lots of liberals and a few conservatives, some of whom support Governor Palin. So when they call Ed Morrissey a “traitor” and bully anyone who expresses any doubt about the Governor, they are pushed back. And when they continue being intolerant, they are pushed back again.
Which side do you think the Governor would chose? Open discussion, disagreement and debate? Or, silencing all disagreements through bullying? Frankly, I think Governor Palin’s vision of America supports freedom of speech, including the right to civilly question, doubt or disagree with her.
Loxodonta on July 22, 2009 at 4:09 AM
During 2008, the premise was that Obama didn’t have any executive experience while Palin had it.
During 2012, the premise will be that while Obama will have executive experience as President, Palin will still have her experience as a governor. So, the lack of experience argument peters out and the quality of experience becomes more salient.
As for using different standards, let’s look at it this way. There are many goalposts to meet and in 2008 Obama didn’t meet any of them. He didn’t have the right values, he didn’t have ANY experience, his record was a blank. In 2012, he will have met one of those goalposts(so will Palin), so the discussion moves to other goalposts.
promachus on July 22, 2009 at 4:13 AM
I don’t understand why she’s going on the defensive on this one. The Alaska Ethics law says you can’t get financial aid IF IT’S GIVEN IN ORDER TO AFFECT AN OFFICIAL’S JUDGMENT!
This preliminary report doesn’t even address that small issue.
Phoenician on July 22, 2009 at 4:19 AM
In 2012 the premise would be what Obama did, not that he has ‘experience’. And then you’ll have to compare it to what Palin did/claims she would do.
Phoenician on July 22, 2009 at 4:20 AM
Phoenician on July 22, 2009 at 4:19 AM
She was unfairly attacked (again) and was setting the record straight with the information she has right now.
Given what her lawyer said and what she said, I see them as going on the offensive here. They’re not going to sit back and be targets for this nonsense any longer.
powerpro on July 22, 2009 at 5:26 AM
So, because she didn’t allow the frivolous lawsuits to bankrupt her family, she violated Alaska’s ethics laws? The same laws that allow people to attempt to bankrupt a politician with frivolous ethics complaints? Yeah .. that’s not completely ridiculous and insane. I’m sure the media will cover this objectively and not take it as a chance to bash someone they cannot stand.
Stickeehands on July 22, 2009 at 5:48 AM
As a taxpayer, if a sitting governor said to me, look i don’t want to take your tax dollars to defend myself against these liberal nutjobs and their ethics law abuse anklebiting, instead i am going to let private citizens contribute to a voluntary fund to help me with a max cap of 150.00…i would be like HELLYEAH! Thats what i call Fiscal Conservation.
Ofcourse if i were liberal still, i would say never mind that Obama turned off credit card checks on his campaign website and took in millions upon millions of ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS from overseas and non us citizen to fund the great snake oil and bamboozle tour that got him elected…pay no attention to doodad…Sarah Palin is going to violate ethics laws if she accepts money from the legal defense fund because unless she goes bankrupt she is a bad person…on the other hand, a 2 million dollar mansion for every inexperienced marxists fake with a minority trait they can exploit to get affirmative actioned into office.
BillaryMcBush on July 22, 2009 at 6:07 AM
…is called being ethical.
BillaryMcBush on July 22, 2009 at 6:07 AM
The Main Stream Media – “its hard to be objective when you spend all day Bush deep with the Obama family jewels slappin yer chin”
BillaryMcBush on July 22, 2009 at 6:11 AM
Yes, but the defense should be: this is not breaking the law. Not, having a fund is breaking the law, but it’s not mine.
Phoenician on July 22, 2009 at 6:24 AM
I think Alaska has some strange laws. It seems that in an effort to keep people honest, they have created this ethics violation system that is just impossible to comply with.
Terrye on July 22, 2009 at 7:06 AM
Statement from Sarah Palin on Legal Fund News Report
Yesterday at 10:46pm
“I find the notion that I have taken any action pertaining to the legal defense trust fund misguided and factually in error. I am informed that this fund was created by experienced attorneys in DC and was modeled after other similar funds established for senators and others. The fund itself was not created by me nor is it controlled by me. Neither I nor my lawyer has received a penny from this fund, and I am informed the Trustee was withholding any action or payment pending final resolution with the Personnel Board. This is the hallmark of legal compliance and prudent conduct.
In short, I have not ‘acted’ relative to the defense fund and it is misleading to say I have. I have no doubt that the Trust will welcome guidance by the Board, as do we all, but it is my understanding that this matter was not resolved and the complainant’s violation of law has served to mislead the public and prejudice a fair review of this matter.”
Sarah Palin
unwashed minion on July 22, 2009 at 7:12 AM
I’ve read her statement a few times now and at no point do I see her stipulating that the findings of the investigator are accurate. Where does she say “having a fund is breaking the law”?
powerpro on July 22, 2009 at 7:25 AM
Palin does have experience as an executive, what am I missing?
jimmy2shoes on July 22, 2009 at 7:27 AM
I think it’s less of “toughness,” and more of the fact she’s a Palin Drone.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Fair weather “faux conservatives.”
Hey — putz, why don’t you take a minute and click on my name. Spend a few minutes browsing around. You proved my point.
Stray from the orthodoxy, and you’re a “faux conservative.”
My, the stupidity knows NO bounds.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 7:49 AM
More and more I’m dumbfounded at the lines of “thought” I see around Palin supporters. I support her but I am ashamed to be associated with other Palin supporters, simply because they are so dense.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Eh
I guess John Ziegler is a “faux conservative” too because he thinks Palin’s move severely hindered any chance for 2012.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 7:52 AM
Reagan: California Governor 1967 – 1975; ran for President in 1968, 1976 and 1980.
GHW Bush: US Rep (TX-3) 1967 – 1971; Ambassador (in all but name) to Red China; CIA Dirctor; Vice President 1981 – 1989.
GW Bush: Governor of Texas 1995 – 2000.
Compared to past Republican Presidents, the current field of potential candidates is not as deep in experience as I would like. None of them.
Just because Obama was all shine and no car, does that mean I don’t have the right to look under the hood, kick the tires, do a test drive, get the opinion of an independent mechanic, and see all the paperwork of every potential Republican candidate? Or, should we use the same approach the Democrats, MSM and a majority of US voters took with Barry? That has worked out well hasn’t it?
Clunker-in-Chief.
Loxodonta on July 22, 2009 at 8:08 AM
You want us all to be tough like this?
Calling the people that blog Hot Air for us “traitors,” and quoting lines from sadistic fictional killers? That kind of tough? You think Governor Palin would ever do anything like that? I don’t think so.
Loxodonta on July 22, 2009 at 8:13 AM
WUUUUU-AAAAT is THIS?!
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 8:24 AM
He saved the economy and jobs as well as made the world love us again. Soon he will make not only us but the earth more healthy.
So all in all yeah it worked out pretty well.
jmarcure on July 22, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Every little girl has a pony now and the oceans have been healed
The world loves America now because Baracky O is Chancellor in Chief
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 8:29 AM
To be fair, Palin is gaining experience every day in how to deal with a hostile media and opposition party. If there’s one thing to say about what she’s going through … she will have seen it all if and when she ever wins the White House.
darwin on July 22, 2009 at 8:29 AM
She says that she’s not connected to the Fund. And if she is? The fund does not break the Alaska Ethics law, the report only looked at the first part of the entire paragraph and ignored the second part – thereby turning EVERY money given to a politician into a crime.
I’m just saying that she should (also) stress that the ethics law says that money can’t be given under certain circumstances, and the fund does not break the law, whether she manages it or not.
Phoenician on July 22, 2009 at 8:35 AM
I’m sure she will once the full report comes to light officially but right now there’s no real determination yet only the conclusion drawn by a supposed independent investigator.
powerpro on July 22, 2009 at 8:40 AM
All roads lead to Obama.
bluelightbrigade on July 22, 2009 at 8:40 AM
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