Obama, Palin and Ethics

The left has had a field day labeling Sarah Palin a "quitter" and other choice words in the midst of her recent press conference saying she would step down from office. It was the icing on top of a seven=tier cake filled with unceasing attacks or her and her children. Attacks that, has they been aimed at a Democrat woman, would be discredited in every op-ed page in the nation.

Anyone who watched and more importantly, listenened would have seen that she had other reasons and they weren't purely political. How could anyone stand the withering garbage sent her way daily by a legion of scumbag bloggers who threw everything out and didn't care if it had one iota of credence. This raging horde was led by a once-respectable writer--Andrew Sullivan--who has obsessed over the birth of one of Palin's children to the point of insanity.

The WSJ breaks down the real reason for Palin's leaving:

Contrary to most reports, her decision had been in the works for months, accelerating recently as it became clear that controversies and endless ethics investigations were threatening to overshadow her legislative agenda. "Attacks inside Alaska and largely invisible to the national media had paralyzed her administration," someone close to the governor told me. "She was fully aware she would be branded a 'quitter.' She did not want to disappoint her constituents, but she was no longer able to do the job she had been elected to do. Essentially, the taxpayers were paying for Sarah to go to work every day and defend herself."

This situation developed because Alaska's transparency laws allow anyone to file Freedom of Information Act requests. While normally useful, in the hands of political opponents FOIA requests can become a means to bog down a target in a bureaucratic quagmire, thanks to the need to comb through records and respond by a strict timetable. Similarly, ethics investigations are easily triggered and can drag on for months even if the initial complaint is flimsy. Since Ms. Palin returned to Alaska after the 2008 campaign, some 150 FOIA requests have been filed and her office has been targeted for investigation by everyone from the FBI to the Alaska legislature. Most have centered on Ms. Palin's use of government resources, and to date have turned up little save for a few state trips that she agreed to reimburse the state for because her children had accompanied her. In the process, though, she accumulated $500,000 in legal fees in just the last nine months, and knew the bill would grow ever larger in the future.

"The Alaska ethics elves had painted such a target on Sarah's forehead that she had begun turning down pretty much every invitation she got -- even though they were pouring in every day by the dozens," a confidant of the governor's told me. "It is not throwing in the towel. It is deciding that she was ineffective in fighting for her principles and could do more in another role."

About what I thought when I first heard the news--she stepped down to ensure her legislative agenda would move forward and her Lt. Gov. would be in a position to win and push for the changes that she now cannot.

Her political adversaries used the laws of the state in ways that weren't imagined previously and were backed by the heft of the Democratic party. They set out not to weaken her but to destroy her and piss on the corpse.

On another note, the part above I emphasised is amusing when juxtaposed with this:

Both Obama daughters are along for the ride this time around because school is out of session back in the Washington, D.C., area, allowing them to travel overseas on weekdays without missing classes. On an earlier presidential visit to France, Sasha and Malia showed up in Paris on a weekend after school was done for the week.

Asked if having his daughters joining his wife on a high-profile trip helps take the edge off the tough diplomatic negotiations, Obama told CNN it's fantastic to have his girls "being able to see the world and then report back to us on what they are seeing" on the trip, which included the daughters getting to check out the Kremlin.

"You know it makes a huge difference," said the president. "The girls are just a joy. And then Michelle just, she's always — she's a star at home and abroad."

This is a business trip paid for by the American people and the man has taken his family again. What about reimbursement for them?

This is the fifth foreign trip. He's been in office a little over 5 months. Not even mentioning the overnights to NYC to see a play or the frequent trips around the nation, the guy is spending huge amounts of money to prance around a stage. I'm guessing his teleprompter alone has enough frequent flier miles to go to the moon and back. The media just eat it up led by the once-great CNN.

Anyway, Palin is not gone but has shifted to a position where she can do more for the party. She left Alaska better than she got it and will be a strategic part of the GOP for the foreseeable future.

Let's finish with this incredibly idiotic letter from a typical Dem:

Gov. Sarah Palin gave Alaskans the best present possible this July Fourth weekend by proclaiming her intention to resign later this month. It's obvious Palin should never have been governor in the first place.

One hopes that some of the ground lost by our nation's largest state can now be regained; that Palin can have plenty of time to devote to her family; and that all of those who shivered when Sen. John McCain tapped her to be his vice presidential running mate can continue marveling at how history has played out.

Good riddance.

Susan Kross

Ellenville, N.Y.

sbkross@hotmail.com

Should never have been governor in the first place? She was elected by a decent margin and forced out machine politicians. She pushed through a pipeline that had been stagnant for years and cut taxes leaving the state financially ready to deal with the Obama recession. Look at the other states--including New York Ms. Kross--and tell me that the liberal stronghold on that state has been a boon or that Paterson or Spitzer had one-third the impact that Palin has in making their state better.

You, Ms. Kross, are a typical liberal. Misogyny and sexism are abhorrent when aimed at a liberal woman but the barrage aimed at Palin is okay because it's for the greater socialist good. You are a hypocrite and incredibly wrong and should ridiculed for such an inane and infantile stance.

One day history will take a clearer view on Palin and what was done to her through the concerted efforts of the Democrats and media. One suspects that Palin will be revealed as an even bigger victim than we know now. I would hope that those who are perpetrating these acts against her and her family would feel some shame but I further suspect that people like you, Ms. Kross, have none.

Sarah Palin to Resign Governorship July 26

A stunner in some respects. She's banking on a national run and will need to revamp her image and start raising money to even think of competing:

WASILLA, Alaska -- In a stunning announcement, Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday morning she will resign her office in a few weeks.

Speculation has swirled for weeks, perhaps months that Palin would not seek re-election in 2010 as she pursues a political career on the national stage. The former vice presidential candidate has long been rumored to be considering a run at the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Palin did not address those rumors at the press conference at her Wasilla home, during which she did not take questions from reporters.

She implied that her real decision was not to seek re-election, and that the resignation was a natural step after that in order to avoid a lame-duck final 18 months of her term.

"With this announcement that I'm not seeking re-election, I've determined it's best to transfer the authority of governor to Lieutenant Governor (Sean) Parnell," Palin said. "I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional and is not so comfortable.

"And I am willing to do this so this administration, with its positive agenda and its accomplishments and its successful road to an incredible future for Alaska, so that it can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success."

It does make her seem that she cares for the state first and her aspirations second. Plus it will give the Lt. Gov. a leg up and some critical executive time in office.

I don't know about her chances but it should be fun watching her batle the Dems and her GOP enemies on a daily basis for a while.

Where Your "Stimulus" Tax Dollars Are Going

Oh, the Dems are fat dumb and happy with the money they are looking to spend. Stimulus Watch is tracking some of the projects and it ain't pretty.

How about $450-million for a new police admin building. I'm in the construction business and there's no way in hell any building could cost that much. I recently was working on a project that involved building two inner city schools. Total cost is about $40-million.

What about dog parks? Three of them to be precise. One in Chula Vista, CA, a town I lived in for four years and two more in Lewiston, ME. Combined cost for both: $550,000. Jobs created: 9. That's $61,000 per job. I could do all three parks with union labor for $50K.

How about a cool $500-million for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Authority. I go to Sac regularly, they could rebuild the entire city for that price and even include Eldorado Hills and Rio Lindo. They expect to create 100 jobs at $5-million a piece.

I agree with some of the selections including a Port of Anchorage, AK expansion that is reportedly going to cost $75-million and create between 1000-1500 jobs. That's a project that will keep on supplying decent jobs and help recovery. I guarantee you Gov. Palin will keep that in check.

I also think this is a good project and is what was in the original aim of the stimulus: A Hartford, CT infrastructure project.

I also like the light rail project slated for Newark as NJ needs some construction but anyone who reads of the scumbag politicians in North Jersey as a whole and Newark in particular knows that nearly $700-million thrown around will lead to enormous corruption. Still, 20,000 jobs would be a boon to the region.

There's an awful lot of pork in this bill and hopefully the GOP continues to play hardball and weeds it out.

Friday Afternoon News and Notes

Happy Friday.

Here's what's going on in this great big world:

Kathleen Parker almost sounds like a Republican again. I guess that whole infatuation with Obama wore off or something.

The non-stimulus bill just holds all kinds of ugly surprises, doen't it? We may be in for a tough four years but after Obama's gone, I would imagine the Republicans will be welcomed back with open arms.

Another frivolous suit gets thrown out.

Another case of Obama saying "do as I say, not as I do".

I will bet that Governor Palin has the state ready for an imminent volcano eruption. Alaskans seem to take it in stride.

More hope and change--North Korea tosses away non-aggression pact.

Update: Another game of Name That Party!

Arson Attack at Palin Church Very Suspicious

The church Gov. Sarah Palin attends was attacked last week. The perpetrators used some type of accelerant and set fires at the exits while people--including children--were inside.

The media has barely even covered the story but it's clearly looking like whomever was responsible meant to harm or kill those inside. As one of AP's commenters notes: if it had been Rev. Wright's church, it would be a nationwide story for weeks. Instead, it's a conservative church in little Wasilla attended by the moose stew-eating, elk shooting, hillbilly governor. Note the point Palin makes about the insert in the churches handout about a gay groups meeting in Anchorage.



Update: Speaking of Palin, Joe Scarborough eviscerates the media on the double standard displayed vis a vis Obama and Palin. Video below, Ace has the pertinent narrative.

The Sarah Palin Phenomenon Continues

Sarah Palin remains a superstar:

Three weeks after the Republican ticket suffered a sweeping defeat at the polls, Sarah Palin continues to dominate search engine queries, cable news and online video sites.

The only American politician who generates comparable interest is President-elect Barack Obama. No one else is close.

Palin was the most popular Lycos search from the week she joined the ticket continuously through last Sunday, some two weeks after the election, when she was dethroned by Paris Hilton, the celebutante whom John McCain famously compared to Barack Obama.

Palin is ambitious but doesn't come off as overly so like Hillary, she's photogenic, she's intriguing with her outdoorsy personna and let's face it, she's hot. The woman has five kids and looks smoking whenever she's in the media glare (note pic of her touring Kuwait at right). This isn't just Republicans who are looking her up, it's Democrats as well.

More:

“People are projecting their values onto Sarah Palin, and in some sense, she reflects them back,” said Mark Corallo, a Republican media strategist. “She’s a conservative, she’s young, and she’s attractive. She speaks to something that’s been missing from the Republican Party.”

What, Rove, Gingrich, Lott, Huckabee, Thompson and McCain don't fit into that "young, attractive" category?

Note the comments, liberals really fear her as is shown by the stupid references and other smears. She's got them flummoxed.

Update: I meant to another part of what makes her different. She's not a hypocrite, her son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome in utero and she opted to have the baby rather than abort him (probably the number one thing that liberals hate about her). Her eldest child is fighting in Iraq as we speak and when she was forced by the vultures in the media to reveal that her daughter was pregnant, she handled it with class and dignity. Americans identify with her because she is one of us, one with family issues and day-to-day problems that every one of us face and struggle through.

Sen. Ted Stevens To Do the Perp Walk

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is guilty on seven counts:

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was convicted today on seven counts of failing to report more than $250,000 in improper gifts he received from 1999 to 2006, a stunning blow to a political career that has lasted more than 40 years and marked Alaska’s entire history as a part of the United States. Stevens, 84, now faces a question over whether he will resign, and if he does not, whether he can win reelection Nov. 4 in an already tough race.

At first, Stevens showed no emotion, holding his stomach as verdict was read. But a few minutes later, it seemed to sink in as Stevens sat quietly, hunched over with his hands covering his face. Stevens, visibly shaken, did not take any questions as he quickly slipped out a side door of the federal courthouse and left in a white van.

My guess is he hangs in there, wins, then resigns and Palin appoints a true conservative to take his place who isn't a friggin' felon and thief like Stevens.

Adios, Senator, I hope enjoy your time as a guest of the taxpayers as much as you enjoyed the dirty money and damage you did to your party.