Nixon: "Recruit attractive women to the GOP"

[DroppinScience]

More Nixon tapes have been released.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/23/nixon-to-bush-41-find-attractive-women/

In a conversation with Bush Sr., Nixon had the idea of recruiting attractive women to the party.

"I noticed a couple of very attractive women, both of them Republicans, in the legislature," Nixon told Bush. "I want you to be sure to emphasize to our people, God, let's look for some… Understand, I don't do it because I'm for women, but I'm doing it because I think maybe a woman might win someplace where a man might not… So have you got that in mind?"

Bush replies, "I'll certainly keep it in mind."

In light of people like Sarah Palin, this Nixon quote is quite telling.

[Bob]

nixon also said "There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding, “Or a rape.”

[RobMoney$]

You had a perfectly acceptable thread started, but you had to throw in the obligatory lefty "Palin" dig and completely rune it.

[Schmeltz]

There was a headline on a news website here in Oz yesterday that read "Nixon ready to cut off aid to South Vietnam" and for a minute I thought I'd somehow been transported to 1972 or something.

[yeahwho]

You had a perfectly acceptable thread started, but you had to throw in the obligatory lefty "Palin" dig and completely rune it.
Yeah you wouldn't want to dig on Palin, she's such a saintly human.

[jennyb]

I often times seem to notice these creepy blonde haired lip glossed right wingers spouting off nothing but GOP talking points like robots... like I've been looking for some blonde haired lip glossed pundit to share views of the left to no avail. Just a personal observation. But yeah, when I try to stomach some Fox News I see them. I think Rachel Maddow should recruit a hot blonde.(lb)(y)

[b i o n i c]

the 'left' has porn(y)

[Documad]

Nixon is one of my favorite presidents.

[Bob]

edit: sounds meaner after edit nevermind

[Documad]

Should I put it back? I was trying to be pithy.

I said Nixon was a smart guy. He's one of my favorite presidents.

[Burnout18]

does this explain the hot blondes on fox news?

[DroppinScience]

does this explain the hot blondes on fox news?

I think it does. I guess you could say the conservative women you see on TV (e.g. Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Michelle Malkin, etc.) are the modern-day equivalent of the Stepford Wives... only a lot more bitchy and ill-informed.

[DroppinScience]

Nixon is one of my favorite presidents.

This is a serious question and I'm trying not to be a jackass here. You have long been an admirer of Nixon in some form and in light of today's neo-cons, Nixon does start to look a lot better (since he did indeed put into law aggressive environmental protection laws among other things), but what exactly do you admire about Nixon here? When he entered politics running for Congress, the first thing he did was accuse his popular Democratic opponent of being a Communist in a most shameful manner. He did so relentlessly that people began to see the lies as the truth. Of course Watergate (and the revelations that continue to surface decades after the fact as more and more Nixon tapes get released) showed the full depths of his corruption (his underlings talked seriously of whether or not to beat up Daniel Ellsberg) and outright anti-Semitism and sexism.

Yes, he was a smart, smart man, but he was also deeply resentful, paranoid, and the more power he attained the more of a complex he acquired that the world was after him. Let's face it, he bombed Cambodia because he wasn't hugged enough as a child.

[Bob]

Should I put it back? I was trying to be pithy.

I said Nixon was a smart guy. He's one of my favorite presidents.

and i said "who thought interracial babies should be aborted"

it sounded much more personal after you called him one of your favorite presidents so i took it back, i was just trying to be clever, not mean

[Documad]

and i said "who thought interracial babies should be aborted"

it sounded much more personal after you called him one of your favorite presidents so i took it back, i was just trying to be clever, not mean

I'm not saying he was perfect!

[checkyourprez]

nixon also said "There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding, “Or a rape.”

whoa whoa whoa...did he really say that?

pretty fucking funny if he did.

[RobMoney$]

Seriously,

Is there really anything sinister about wanting to have attractive people in your circle?
Seems like a no brainer if you're trying to lobby a majority of the population to vote for you.



What a ridiculous, desperate, and utterly transparent attempt to demonize the Republican Party.
This is a non-story.

Talk about "OMG, the sky is falling!" type shit...

[saz]

i think this thread has more to do with goofy things richard nixon said on tape, as opposed to the sanctity of the republican party or sarah palin. interesting though that a lifelong democrat would get so defensive about the gop.

[Bob]

i think this thread has more to do with goofy things richard nixon said on tape, as opposed to the sanctity of the republican party or sarah palin.

i agree. and goddamn nixon said some goofy shit

[RobMoney$]

You consider my last post, me getting defensive?
To sum up my post, I basically said:

"I don't see what the big deal is about him wanting attractive people in his circle"....Is that defensive?


What is funny to me though is how much Sarah Palin scares the hell out of liberal America. I have never seen a politician personally attacked by people who are supposed to be the open-minded and more evolved of the two parties the way she has.

She obviously concerns the Dems greatly.

[saz]

no, i think people are concerned and turned off by her because of crazy shit like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIOD5X68lIs), that she's eager for armageddon and believes she'll see jesus return to earth in her lifetime, and believed that africa was a country.

[RobMoney$]

You left out the part where she came into a state that was rife with corruption and a "good ol' boys' network" and she took them on and threw them the hell out and actually is doing a pretty good job of governing a state.

Don't worry though, it appears the haters have finally gotten to her.

Gov. Sarah Palin to resign office July 26 (http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10641495)

[saz]

You consider my last post, me getting defensive?
To sum up my post, I basically said:

"I don't see what the big deal is about him wanting attractive people in his circle"....Is that defensive?

you also stated this:


What a ridiculous, desperate, and utterly transparent attempt to demonize the Republican Party.




and she's doing a pretty good job of running the state when she's racking up many ethics complaints?

Ethics complaints filed against Palin

By The Associated Press

Published: June 21st, 2009 11:44 PM
Last Modified: June 22nd, 2009 07:35 AM


A listing of known ethics complaints filed against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:

1. July 28, 2008: Alaska lawmakers launched an investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan over his refusal to let go a state trooper involved in a contentious divorce with Palin's sister. Stephen Branchflower, a special counsel leading the investigation, concluded Oct. 10 that Palin violated a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. The firing itself was deemed lawful since Monegan was an at-will employee.

2. Aug. 6, 2008: Complaint filed by outspoken Palin critic Andree McLeod of Anchorage contended Palin and some staff members used their influence to get a Palin supporter a job in state government. Complaint alleged Palin staffers helped Tom Lamal, who once co-hosted a Palin fundraiser, to get a job as a surveyor. Dismissed by state personnel board, although the board's investigator recommended ethics training for one staffer who made questionable comments in e-mails.

3. Aug. 20, 2008: Complaint accused Palin of breaking election law by taking a public position on a mining ballot initiative days before the vote. Filed by Brian Kraft, founder of the Bristol Bay Alliance, a group that opposed the Pebble Mine prospect. Rejected May 8 by the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

4. Sept. 2, 2008: Palin filed a "self disclosure" with the state personnel board over the Troopergate affair, saying a state legislative probe had become too political. On Nov. 3 -- the day before the election -- Timothy Petumenos, a lawyer hired by the board, said that Palin violated no ethics laws when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

5. Sept. 3, 2008: Complaint by the Public Safety Employees Association alleged Palin or her staff had unauthorized access to and improperly disclosed information from personnel records of Trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's ex-brother-in-law. Complaint was later amended to include an allegation of harassment. The PSEA's allegations were investigated alongside Palin's filing and also dismissed.

6. Oct. 13, 2008: Monegan asked the board for a hearing to clear his name. Petumenos, in his Nov. 3 Troopergate report to the panel, said there was no legal basis or jurisdiction for such a hearing.

7. Oct. 23, 2008: Complaint with the Federal Election Commission by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleged the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her vice presidential quest violated Federal Election Campaign Act. The Washington watchdog group argued that candidates aren't supposed to use donor money for personal expenses. The FEC ruled May 19 that party money is not covered by the ban.

8. Oct. 24, 2008: Complaint contended Palin abused her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her. The personnel board found no wrongdoing, but in a Feb. 23 settlement Palin agreed to reimburse the state about $10,000 for costs associated with 10 trips found to be of questionable state interest among 72 travel authorizations studied. The money is due to the state on Tuesday.

9. Nov. 14, 2008: Accused Palin of partisan "post-election damage control" for talking to reporters about the campaign in her state office. Filed by Zane Henning, a North Slope worker from Wasilla, Palin's hometown. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.

10. Dec. 2, 2008: Alleged Palin violated ethics law by campaigning for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Filed by Anthony Martin of Talkeetna. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.

11. Dec. 18, 2008: Complaint contended Palin misused funds of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, a quasi-government entity, to promote her political ambitions with advertisements featuring her, violating ethics law. The ads promoting Alaska seafood ran in the National Fisherman last year through November. Dismissed Jan. 12 after a personnel board investigation determined Palin's only involvement was to give permission to use her image long before she was named McCain's running mate.

12. Jan. 12: Complaint alleging interference in a job hiring was filed under the name of Edna Birch, a busybody character on the British soap opera Emmerdale. Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said no one by that name could be found living in Alaska and the filer refused to use a real name, so the complaint was dismissed Feb. 20.

13. and 14. Jan. 26: Two complaints filed by McLeod alleged two of Palin's top aides misused their official positions for Palin's personal and political gain. The complaints said then-press secretary Bill McAllister and Kris Perry -- director of the governor's Anchorage office -- worked on state time to benefit Palin's interests during and after her vice presidential quest. Pending.

15. March 18: Contended Palin improperly used state staff, property, time and equipment for partisan political purposes. One of the grievances cited was Palin's posting of her veep candidacy on the official state governor's Web site -- http://gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1439&type=1 Complaint filed by McLeod. Dismissed May 27 as lacking merit by personnel board May 27.

16. March 24: Contended conflict of interest by Palin because she wore Arctic Cat logo gear during the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race. Palin's husband, Todd, is sponsored by Arctic Cat in the race. Filed by Linda Kellen Biegel, a Democratic blogger. Dismissed June 2.

17. April 22: Alleged that work with Palin's political action committee violated two provisions of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by misusing her official position and accepting outside employment. Filed by Anchorage resident Sondra Tompkins. Dismissed as lacking merit by state personnel board May 8.

18. April 27: Contends Palin is misusing the governor's office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust. The fund was recently established by supporters to help Palin pay off more than $500,000 in legal debts stemming from other ethics complaints, including troopergate. Complaint filed by Eagle River resident, Kim Chatman. Pending.


link (http://www.adn.com/palin/story/838912.html)


she's probably resigned so she can prepare her run for the republican nomination in 2012.

[RobMoney$]

Half of those complaints were from "troopergate", which we all know was nothing more than desperation from her sisters testosterone-addicted, drunken, Protection from Domestic Abuse ordered, State Trooper ex-husband scorned.
In fact, perhaps you could show just one of those complaints that were proven true?

But thank you for showing them all, it only helps to illustrate how the local Dems were being directed to attack her from the national stage.

These ridiculous complaints, and the pointless investigations that followed were the "wasting state resources on politics" she was talking about in here speech.

[saz]

perhaps you could show that they are false or ridiculous? no, half of those ethics complaints weren't involving troopergate, but in fact it shows just how ethically challenged and inept she has been on the job, just like her bizarre, rambling resignation speech, which giving credence to is quite laughable.

[RobMoney$]

perhaps you could show that they are false or ridiculous?


OK



12. Jan. 12: Complaint alleging interference in a job hiring was filed under the name of Edna Birch, a busybody character on the British soap opera Emmerdale. Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said no one by that name could be found living in Alaska and the filer refused to use a real name, so the complaint was dismissed Feb. 20.

I think this would absolutely qualify as "ridiculous", wouldn't you?

[RobMoney$]

1. July 28, 2008: Alaska lawmakers launched an investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan over his refusal to let go a state trooper involved in a contentious divorce with Palin's sister. Stephen Branchflower, a special counsel leading the investigation, concluded Oct. 10 that Palin violated a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. The firing itself was deemed lawful since Monegan was an at-will employee. (troopergate)

2. Aug. 6, 2008: Complaint filed by outspoken Palin critic Andree McLeod of Anchorage contended Palin and some staff members used their influence to get a Palin supporter a job in state government. Complaint alleged Palin staffers helped Tom Lamal, who once co-hosted a Palin fundraiser, to get a job as a surveyor. Dismissed by state personnel board, although the board's investigator recommended ethics training for one staffer who made questionable comments in e-mails.

3. Aug. 20, 2008: Complaint accused Palin of breaking election law by taking a public position on a mining ballot initiative days before the vote. Filed by Brian Kraft, founder of the Bristol Bay Alliance, a group that opposed the Pebble Mine prospect. Rejected May 8 by the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

4. Sept. 2, 2008: Palin filed a "self disclosure" with the state personnel board over the Troopergate affair, saying a state legislative probe had become too political. On Nov. 3 -- the day before the election -- Timothy Petumenos, a lawyer hired by the board, said that Palin violated no ethics laws when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

5. Sept. 3, 2008: Complaint by the Public Safety Employees Association alleged Palin or her staff had unauthorized access to and improperly disclosed information from personnel records of Trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's ex-brother-in-law. Complaint was later amended to include an allegation of harassment. The PSEA's allegations were investigated alongside Palin's filing and also dismissed.

6. Oct. 13, 2008: Monegan asked the board for a hearing to clear his name. Petumenos, in his Nov. 3 Troopergate report to the panel, said there was no legal basis or jurisdiction for such a hearing.

7. Oct. 23, 2008: Complaint with the Federal Election Commission by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleged the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her vice presidential quest violated Federal Election Campaign Act. The Washington watchdog group argued that candidates aren't supposed to use donor money for personal expenses. The FEC ruled May 19 that party money is not covered by the ban.

8. Oct. 24, 2008: Complaint contended Palin abused her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her. The personnel board found no wrongdoing, but in a Feb. 23 settlement Palin agreed to reimburse the state about $10,000 for costs associated with 10 trips found to be of questionable state interest among 72 travel authorizations studied. The money is due to the state on Tuesday. (She repaid this money, and I believe she should be permitted to bring her children with her on business trips for the State. At any rate, to call bringing her children with her on business an ethics violation is really stretching it IMO. It's more unethical to leave them at home.)

9. Nov. 14, 2008: Accused Palin of partisan "post-election damage control" for talking to reporters about the campaign in her state office. Filed by Zane Henning, a North Slope worker from Wasilla, Palin's hometown. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.

10. Dec. 2, 2008: Alleged Palin violated ethics law by campaigning for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Filed by Anthony Martin of Talkeetna. Dismissed by state personnel board March 23.

11. Dec. 18, 2008: Complaint contended Palin misused funds of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, a quasi-government entity, to promote her political ambitions with advertisements featuring her, violating ethics law. The ads promoting Alaska seafood ran in the National Fisherman last year through November. Dismissed Jan. 12 after a personnel board investigation determined Palin's only involvement was to give permission to use her image long before she was named McCain's running mate.

12. Jan. 12: Complaint alleging interference in a job hiring was filed under the name of Edna Birch, a busybody character on the British soap opera Emmerdale. Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said no one by that name could be found living in Alaska and the filer refused to use a real name, so the complaint was dismissed Feb. 20. (This one is my favorite)

13. and 14. Jan. 26: Two complaints filed by McLeod alleged two of Palin's top aides misused their official positions for Palin's personal and political gain. The complaints said then-press secretary Bill McAllister and Kris Perry -- director of the governor's Anchorage office -- worked on state time to benefit Palin's interests during and after her vice presidential quest. Pending.

15. March 18: Contended Palin improperly used state staff, property, time and equipment for partisan political purposes. One of the grievances cited was Palin's posting of her veep candidacy on the official state governor's Web site -- http://gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1439&type=1 Complaint filed by McLeod. Dismissed May 27 as lacking merit by personnel board May 27.

16. March 24: Contended conflict of interest by Palin because she wore Arctic Cat logo gear during the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race. Palin's husband, Todd, is sponsored by Arctic Cat in the race. Filed by Linda Kellen Biegel, a Democratic blogger. Dismissed June 2.

17. April 22: Alleged that work with Palin's political action committee violated two provisions of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by misusing her official position and accepting outside employment. Filed by Anchorage resident Sondra Tompkins. Dismissed as lacking merit by state personnel board May 8.

18. April 27: Contends Palin is misusing the governor's office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust. The fund was recently established by supporters to help Palin pay off more than $500,000 in legal debts stemming from other ethics complaints, including troopergate. Complaint filed by Eagle River resident, Kim Chatman. Pending.


Ok, 3 complaints involving Troopergate, which as I already stated, was nothing more than a crazy ex-husband trying to get at Palin because of his breakup with her sister.
But the one complaint involved the fund started by her supporters to help pay for the legal costs for all of these ridiculous ethics charges, including troopergate. And the one complaint she filed on herself.
Half a million dollars in legal costs to defend herself against these investigations, in which all but 2 have been dismissed.
And even the 2 that are still pending will likely be dismissed.
Seems like a whole lot of bullshit to me.

[b i o n i c]

man, that nixon was a visionary genius. if nancy pelosi and hillary clinton were hot they might actually be somewhere!

fast forward to july 2009.. look at sarah Failin!

[saz]

Ok, 3 complaints involving Troopergate, which as I already stated, was nothing more than a crazy ex-husband trying to get at Palin because of his breakup with her sister.
But the one complaint involved the fund started by her supporters to help pay for the legal costs for all of these ridiculous ethics charges, including troopergate. And the one complaint she filed on herself.
Half a million dollars in legal costs to defend herself against these investigations, in which all but 2 have been dismissed.
And even the 2 that are still pending will likely be dismissed.
Seems like a whole lot of bullshit to me.

i'm not sure this "crazy ex-husband" is really crazy. i wouldn't be surprised if next or compared to palin, he looks completely sane. i'm glad though you took the time out to read the article, as yes some have been dismissed, however she has been forced to pay back thousands in taxes, as well as thousands for family trips which apparently had nothing to do with state business or purposes, as required by law. the continuing ethics dilemma doesn't really look good, as it has become a recurring trend with her, ditto the hundreds of thousands (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/republican-party-spent-150000-on-palins-wardrobe-969785.html) of republican campaign money she spent on her wardrobe. and of course now the resignation. i think mccain really should have considered tom ridge or condoleeza rice as his running mate.



Palin owes tax on per diem, state says
EXPENSES: Governor received meal money while living in Wasilla.

By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Anchorage Daily News

Published: February 17th, 2009 09:53 PM
Last Modified: February 19th, 2009 09:51 AM


Gov. Sarah Palin must pay income taxes on thousands of dollars in expense money she received while living at her Wasilla home, under a new determination by state officials.

The governor's office wouldn't say this week how much she owes in back taxes for meal money, or whether she intends to continue to receive the per diem allowance. As of December, she was still charging the state for meals and incidentals.

"The amount of taxes owed is a private matter," Sharon Leighow, Palin's spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. "If the governor collects future per diem, those documents would be a matter of public record."

The revelation about Palin comes as U.S. senators, including Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, are under scrutiny over back taxes. A survey by the political newspaper and Web site Politico (www.politico.com) found that Begich was one of seven senators who acknowledged having paid back taxes.

Some other state employees also owe back income taxes for travel payments and will be getting revised tax forms, Annette Kreitzer, state administration commissioner, said in an e-mail.

She wouldn't say which, or how many, employees will be receiving the notifications.

The payments became a touchy issue for Palin last fall when she was running for vice president and campaigned as a budget watchdog.

The Washington Post published a story in mid-September that said she had charged the state almost $17,000 for meals and incidentals while staying in her own home.

The state considers Juneau, where she lives in the Governor's Mansion, to be Palin's official duty station.

Palin billed the state for 312 nights spent in her Wasilla home during her first 19 months in office, according to the Washington Post. She received $60 a day tax free, money intended to cover meals and incidentals, while traveling on state business, her travel forms show.

"Last fall we raised questions about longstanding practices within the Department of Administration regarding tax treatment of per diem payments," Kreitzer wrote in an exchange of e-mails over the past few days with the Daily News.

"At the Governor's request, we reviewed the situation to determine whether we were in full compliance with the pertinent Internal Revenue Service regulations," Kreitzer wrote. "As a result of this review, we determined that per diem needs to be treated as income, requiring a revision of W-2 forms for any affected employees."

The new determination by administration officials won't affect state lawmakers, said Pam Varni, director of the Legislative Affairs agency.

Under IRS guidelines, legislators receive tax-free payments to help with living expenses while in Juneau for the legislative session -- if their home is at least 50 miles away, Varni said.

The current rate, set by the U.S. Department of Defense, is $189 a day. That goes to everyone except the three Juneau-based legislators, who get smaller payments that are taxed as compensation.

Legislators can also charge the state $150 a day for time spent on state business when the Legislature is not in session, but those payments are taxed as income, Varni said.

Begich's situation came to light through a political survey released last week by Politico about senators and their taxes.

Fifty-five senators, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, didn't answer the questions, and a few others owed money but didn't consider it "back taxes" for one reason or another.

On his way out of a meeting with veterans on Monday, Begich answered a few questions about the back taxes he paid on a vehicle provided to him by the city when he was mayor.

"I refused the car the first 10 or 12 months," Begich said. "I didn't want the car.

"Then they told me I had to have it because of liability and a need and security and blah, blah, blah. So I ended up getting a used car. The first time a mayor has gotten a used car." It was a former police SUV.

The tax obligation came to his attention in late 2007, as he remembers it, after a regular IRS audit of city issues. The city then sent him revised tax statements.

"They gave me a letter and said you got to pay taxes on it. So they revised my W-2s." He wouldn't say how much he owed. "It's irrelevant," Begich said.

Generally, people are supposed to pay income taxes on the value of an employer-provided vehicle that is for personal use. Police vehicles are among the exceptions -- officers can drive them home and not be taxed on the value of the commute.

There's no specific exception in the law for mayors or governors. Palin has had a state Chevy Suburban.

Begich said a mayor is always on the job. No other Anchorage mayor ever had to pay income taxes on a city vehicle, he said.

"That's the point. I'm always on call. Always. ... And I think that's what the city's view was, for the city manager and me, was that we were always on call," Begich said. "But the IRS viewed it differently."

"After that issue came up, I got rid of the car," Begich said. He was in a downtown parking lot getting into the Toyota Highlander hybrid he bought in late 2007 to replace the city rig.

The Politico story about the survey said his situation echoed that of Tom Daschle, who had to step down as President Barack Obama's pick for health secretary after revelations about back taxes, including taxes owed for a limo and driver.

"For Politico to say it's the same as Daschle -- that's bunk," Begich said.


link (http://www.adn.com/palin/story/693695.html)




Palin reimburses state $8,100 for family trips

By RACHEL D'ORO
The Associated Press

Published: June 23rd, 2009 03:56 PM
Last Modified: June 24th, 2009 12:38 AM

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has reimbursed the state for more than $8,100 in costs associated with trips taken by her children.

Palin paid the state $8,143.62 on Friday for nine trips taken between January 2007 and February of this year, her attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said Tuesday. Van Flein and state administrative director Linda Perez sent The Associated Press copies of the check and other documents of the transaction.

The reimbursement, which was due today, stems from a Feb. 23 agreement filed by an Alaska Personnel Board special investigator that resolved an ethics complaint alleging Palin abused her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her.

The personnel board found no wrongdoing, but Palin agreed to reimburse the state for costs associated with trips found to be of questionable state interest.

The board's investigator, Timothy Petumenos, said in his report there is little guidance under state rules to determine ethical standards for travel by the governor's immediate family. But he interpreted the law to require that the state pay only if the first family serves an important state interest.

Van Flein noted that Palin had followed historical practices on first family travel and that her travel requests were processed by the same administrators who processed requests for predecessors, Frank Murkowski and Tony Knowles.

"No one challenged Gov. Murkowski's or Governor Knowles' travel practices," Van Flein said in an e-mail. "The rules were, and are, being changed in midstream for Governor Palin. However, as noted in the agreement at the time 'the Governor wants to exceed minimum legal standards.'"

Anchorage resident Frank Gwartney, a Democrat, filed the complaint in late October. The filing closely followed a report by the AP that Palin charged the state more than $21,000 for her three daughters' commercial flights, including events where they weren't invited, and later ordered their expense forms amended to specify official state business.

At the time the complaint was filed, Palin was the Republican vice presidential candidate and after the February settlement called the grievance "an obvious political weapon."

As part of the settlement, the Alaska Department of Law was asked to develop specific rules clarifying when the state should pay for a governor's family travel. That effort is under way, with the goal to have a final draft by the end of the year, according to Judy Bockmon, an assistant attorney general.


link (http://www.adn.com/palin/story/841059.html)

[RobMoney$]

You're grossly misrepresenting everything from the money the RNC gave her for the wardrobe during the presidential campaign (no wrongdoing was found by either her or the RNC), the trips on official state business which she took her children that she repaid the travel cost for them (which again no wrongdoing was found)(and I mean really, she took her children with her. Big Crime!), to the recurring ethics complaints all stemming from the same DNC haters that are out to get her.

I could sit here and rebut every single one of the issues you raise, but I just don't have the motivation at this point.
It's so obvious that you believe every word your slanted media outlets feed you like HuffPo, that you've lost the ability to accept reality.
Everything you've linked or pasted in this thread as evidence of Palin's poor ethical behavior has said the charges have been dismissed.
EVERYTHING!
Actually it's only strengthening my contention of her growing tired of the BS from her Democratic critics filing endless baseless complaints against her.

[yeahwho]

You're grossly misrepresenting everything from the money the RNC gave her for the wardrobe during the presidential campaign (no wrongdoing was found by either her or the RNC), the trips on official state business which she took her children that she repaid the travel cost for them (which again no wrongdoing was found)(and I mean really, she took her children with her. Big Crime!), to the recurring ethics complaints all stemming from the same DNC haters that are out to get her.

I could sit here and rebut every single one of the issues you raise, but I just don't have the motivation at this point.
It's so obvious that you believe every word your slanted media outlets feed you like HuffPo, that you've lost the ability to accept reality.
Everything you've linked or pasted in this thread as evidence of Palin's poor ethical behavior has said the charges have been dismissed.
EVERYTHING!
Actually it's only strengthening my contention of her growing tired of the BS from her Democratic critics filing endless baseless complaints against her.

play her off, keyboard cat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne38MGA2mJU)

[saz]

You're grossly misrepresenting everything from the money the RNC gave her for the wardrobe during the presidential campaign (no wrongdoing was found by either her or the RNC), the trips on official state business which she took her children that she repaid the travel cost for them (which again no wrongdoing was found)(and I mean really, she took her children with her. Big Crime!), to the recurring ethics complaints all stemming from the same DNC haters that are out to get her.

I could sit here and rebut every single one of the issues you raise, but I just don't have the motivation at this point.
It's so obvious that you believe every word your slanted media outlets feed you like HuffPo, that you've lost the ability to accept reality.
Everything you've linked or pasted in this thread as evidence of Palin's poor ethical behavior has said the charges have been dismissed.
EVERYTHING!
Actually it's only strengthening my contention of her growing tired of the BS from her Democratic critics filing endless baseless complaints against her.

i'm grossly mispresenting everything? i'm just linking what was reported in the media back during the campaign, that palin came across as a freeloader, and continues to come across as a total freeloader with all of the ethics complaints. again, palin repaid the travel expenses because she had to, she was required to do so under state law, because they took family trips that apparently had nothing to do with state business or purposes. that doesn't look good when you're presenting and selling yourself as some sort of fiscal conservative. and there is yet another (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070702711.html?nav=hcmodule) ethics complaint making the rounds.

so i've failed to accept reality by reading and following the news? reading the associated press, the washington post et al is somehow unbalanced?

[RobMoney$]

i'm grossly mispresenting everything? i'm just linking what was reported in the (liberaly slanted) media back during the campaign, that palin came across as a freeloader (obviously written from an unbiased opinion), and continues to come across as a total freeloader with all of the ethics complaints (all baseless). again, palin repaid the travel expenses because she had to, she was required to do so under state law, because they took family trips that apparently had nothing to do with state business or purposes. that doesn't look good when you're presenting and selling yourself as some sort of fiscal conservative. and there is yet another (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070702711.html?nav=hcmodule) ethics complaint making the rounds.

so i've failed to accept reality by reading and following the news? reading the associated press, the washington post et al is somehow unbalanced?


You obviously form your opinions from reading slanted media.
What else can I say?

[DroppinScience]

Yeah, facts are elitist. And it's well-known that reality has a liberal bias.

Sazi, balance out that fact-based crap with some good ol' FOX News and Rush Limbaugh!

[RobMoney$]

personnel board found no wrongdoing, but Palin agreed to reimburse the state for costs associated with trips found to be of questionable state interest.

The board's investigator, Timothy Petumenos, said in his report there is little guidance under state rules to determine ethical standards for travel by the governor's immediate family. But he interpreted the law to require that the state pay only if the first family serves an important state interest.

Van Flein noted that Palin had followed historical practices on first family travel and that her travel requests were processed by the same administrators who processed requests for predecessors, Frank Murkowski and Tony Knowles.

"No one challenged Gov. Murkowski's or Governor Knowles' travel practices," Van Flein said in an e-mail. "The rules were, and are, being changed in midstream for Governor Palin. However, as noted in the agreement at the time 'the Governor wants to exceed minimum legal standards.'"

This is from the article that Saz himself posted a few posts back about Palin being "forced" to re-imburse the state for her childrens' travel expenses.

Read especially the bolded part.
I wonder why the definition is being challenged under Palin's administration when she followed the same guidelines as her predecessors, yet no one seemed to have a problem when Murkowski(R) and Knowles (D) were in office?

This is what happens when you have overly aggresive campaign to disgrace Palin at all costs.

[RobMoney$]

Yeah, facts are elitist. And it's well-known that reality has a liberal bias.

Sazi, balance out that fact-based crap with some good ol' FOX News and Rush Limbaugh!


"Palin came across as a freeloader" is not a fact.

Also, show me one thing I've ever posted from Limbaugh or Fox News.
I know you'd like to put all of us conservatives into your nice little stereotype, but I've got news for you, I don't subscribe to either one of those media outlets.
You're more guilty of being a sheep of the media than I am Brett. I'm always mocking people for believing what they read in the media.

[Bob]

Also, show me one thing I've ever posted from Limbaugh or Fox News.
I know you'd like to put all of us conservatives into your nice little stereotype, but I've got news for you, I don't subscribe to either one of those media outlets.

you have posted from michelle malkin's blog and the drudge report though

[b i o n i c]

thats like rush limbaugh and fox news concentrate.

[RobMoney$]

you have posted from michelle malkin's blog and the drudge report though


I posted ONE thing from Malkin, and I don't even remember what it was.
Same with Drudge, and you're still using it against me.

Yet stories from lefty media outlets such as Huffington Post, Bill Maher, and Jon Stewart's The Daily Show are posted here almost daily and no one seems to have a problem at all.

[Bob]

I posted ONE thing from Malkin, and I don't even remember what it was.
Same with Drudge, and you're still using it against me.

Yet stories from lefty media outlets such as Huffington Post, Bill Maher, and Jon Stewart's The Daily Show are posted here almost daily and no one seems to have a problem at all.

all i'm saying is that it's mildly hypocritical of you to get on your high horse and say "you cite biased media" when you've demonstrated a willingness to do the same when it supports your position. you don't do it often, sure, but either you do it or you don't.

[RobMoney$]

I just have a problem with people who watch Maher and Stewart and such and cite it as the most relevant news source out there today, (I believe Lambert made a thread stating such when Stewart ripped Jim Cramer and it was echoed by a few others)
Those media outlets will tell you "Palin's a monster, and she's a crooked politician and we should mock her and her young children" and a few of you guys seem to accept it as the truth, yet will call me out for quoting a Malkin story one time like 6mos. ago.


And seriously tho Bob, when sazi's claiming "Palin came across as a freeloader", what else can you possibly call that kind of media?
He IS citing biased media.

[DroppinScience]

Okay, so we supposedly get all our opinions from "lefty" and "biased" sources, yet you'll gleefully quote some far right-wing nutjob crap (even if it's only one link per media source) and say the story is chock full of merit, brilliance, and insight even if the allegations have since been debunked. You even post up anonymous forwarded e-mails whose source and validity cannot even be verified.

Oh and you quoted Malkin's blog about homeless black people in Ohio getting registered to vote for the '08 election. It caused such a rage for you, that you vowed to punch some "campus fuckfaces" in the throat for their high crimes and misdemeanors. Surprising that you forget so quickly.

[RobMoney$]

That must have felt good for you to get all that off your chest, Brett.


I remember now.
I was way off for raisng awareness that ACORN was registering the homeless to vote (some voted multiple times) and rewarding them with cigarettes and rides around town.

...and 6mos. into Obama's administration and you're still holding on to that as evidence of my being biased.

And how many Bill Moyers stories have you posted?
How many Howard Zinn stories?
That's OK tho, right?

[DroppinScience]

That must have felt good for you to get all that off your chest, Brett.


I remember now.
I was way off for raisng awareness that ACORN was registering the homeless to vote (some voted multiple times) and rewarding them with cigarettes and rides around town.

...and 6mos. into Obama's administration and you're still holding on to that as evidence of my being biased.

And how many Bill Moyers stories have you posted?
How many Howard Zinn stories?
That's OK tho, right?

What are you, an idiot? Bill Moyers and Howard Zinn are nothing compared to Michelle Malkin and Matt Drudge. That's not even close to the same thing. For one, Zinn is a historian, not a journalist. Next, they are well-researched and have integrity and do NOT go off spouting speculations, half-truths, and most important of all, they are not racists (Malkin most definitely is). I'm sorry, quoting someone who works for PBS (Moyers) who is held to a standard of utmost integrity is not a valid rebuttal to your tabloid sources. You would be laughed off the stage at a journalism conference.

Oh yes, and show me where Malkin's insane ramblings came true? For one, your memory needs to be placed in check. No, homeless people were not offered booze or cigarettes for votes. That did not surface at all for the 2008 election. You tried to make that claim for the 2000 election, but your source did not bring up anything substantive either.

[Dorothy Wood]

I think Palin's a freeloader because she took a tax-free $60 per diem to live at her own fucking house.


all these investigations started happening because she subjected herself and continues to subject herself to the national spotlight. nobody gave a rat's ass about alaska before, that's why nobody challenged the previous governors' travel practices.

[DroppinScience]

I'm sorry, quoting someone who works for PBS (Moyers) who is held to a standard of utmost integrity is not a valid rebuttal to your tabloid sources. You would be laughed off the stage at a journalism conference.


It was early in the morning when I wrote that. Reverse "tabloid sources" and "PBS" and the sentence makes a lot more sense. Thank you.

[Bob]

And how many Bill Moyers stories have you posted?
How many Howard Zinn stories?
That's OK tho, right?

see this is what i'm talking about. how is it ok when you do it but not ok when everyone else does it? because you only do it occasionally?