Palin Ethics Complaint #13…a Baker’s Dozen (Updated)
Another ethics complaint was filed today against Governor Sarah Palin. That makes a baker’s dozen! Somewhere there’s got to be a lawyer who will charge for the first twelve and do the 13th one free. You know….like a punch card.
Eagle river resident Kim Chatman charges that Palin’s newly formed “Alaska Fund Trust” violates the sections of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act which address conflicts of interests that are substantial and material:
Sec. 39.52.120. Misuse of official position
(a) A public officer may not use, or attempt to use, an official position for personal gain, and may not intentionally secure or grant unwarranted benefits or treatment for any person.
Sec. 39.52.130. Improper gifts
A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, …that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.
“First off, I find it offensive that they’re calling it the Alaska Fund Trust,” Kim Chatman said. “It is deceptive, misleading and has absolutely nothing to do with either trust or Alaska.”
Chatman believes that Gov. Palin’s legal bills are the direct result of Gov. Palin’s actions. “It’s time for her to accept responsibility for the manner in which she decided to handle the legislative council investigation.” Chatman says. “She could have cooperated like she promised. Instead, Governor Palin chose to fight it and incur legal bills.”
Chatman has further concerns. “With 20 months remaining in the governor’s term, this contrived money scheme leaves a lot of room for people to buy favors from Palin and her cronies,” Chatman says. “And what about all these other state officials involved in this plot. Aren’t they in violation of the Ethics Act too?”
Here’s the full text of the ethics complaint.
April 27, 2009
Acting Attorney General Svobodny 1031 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200 Anchorage, AK 99501-1994Dear acting Attorney General Svobodny,
Please accept this letter as an Ethics Complaint against Governor Sarah Palin under Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act (Alaska Statute, Title 39, Chapter 52) (AEBEA), stating as follows: Sec. 39.52.120. Misuse of official position: (a) A public officer may not use, or attempt to use, an official position for personal gain, and may not intentionally secure or grant unwarranted benefits or treatment for any person. Sec. 39.52.130. Improper gifts: (a) A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, employment, promise, or in any other form, that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.
The AEBEA states that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust. It is declared that high moral and ethical standards among public officers in the executive branch are essential to assure the trust, respect, and confidence of the people of this state; and that a code of ethics for the guidance of public officers will discourage those officers from acting upon personal or financial interests in the performance of their public responsibilities. Governor Palin is using her official position for personal gain and to intentionally secure unwarranted benefits to state workers who are poised to derive benefits from the Alaska Trust Fund; a newly formed group whose primary purpose is to collect huge amounts of money from people in Alaska and the Lower 48 for the Palin’s and selected state officials’ personal use for a time in perpetuity, under Alaska law.
Governor Palin is perched to improperly receive an enormous amount of money for herself and her family and position a pool of pre-paid defense lawyers organized to deflect consequences of wrongdoings, among other things. This fund corrupts the integrity of the Governor’s Office, the governmental and public process. It corrupts the people’s right to hold their governor and administration officials accountable. It increases Palin’s conflicts of interests and erodes the faith and confidence of Alaskans in their public officers. This fund violates the intent, purpose and spirit of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. (The Alaska Fund Trust http://thealaskafundtrust.com/)
Sarah Palin accrued legal bills because of her misconduct, her husband’s misconduct, and the misconduct of some of her staffers. The conclusion of the October 10, 208 Alaska Legislative Council Branchflower Report found that Governor Palin abused her power by violating the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act when she allowed her husband and staffers to pressure Public Safety Commissioner Monegan to fire the trooper Mike Wooten. Prior to August 28, 2008 the governor consistently stated that she would cooperate with the independent investigation. After a recording surfaced that shows Palin aide Frank Bailey acted inappropriately Governor Palin agreed to turn over findings of an inquiry by the Alaska Department of Law regarding the termination of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. But upon being selected as John McCain’s running mate, Governor Palin recanted and refused to cooperate with the independent investigator. On September 3, 2008 Palin made the decision to quite publicly file an ethics complaint against herself with the Alaska Personnel Board, a board embedded within several bureaucratic layers that Governor Palin controls. That report concluded that no violations were found.
This served Palin’s interest to mitigate damage caused by the other legislative investigation and served the McCain campaign interests. Eventually, Todd Palin admitted to lobbying state officials to fire Wooten. Governor Palin came back to Alaska after losing her national bid and finally, the Alaska Senate found Todd Palin and nine aides in contempt for failing to show up when ordered by subpoena to testify in the Legislature’s “Troopergate” investigation of the governor.
July 18, 2008: Lawmakers seek outside inquiry of Monegan firing. http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8701623
July 24, 2008 Lawmakers move to investigate Monegan ouster. http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8733790
July 28, 2008: Hired help will probe Monegan dismissal. http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/478090.html
Aug. 13, 2008: Governor to turn over findings. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1407&type=1Sept. 13, 2008: Governor seeks review of Monegan firing case. http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/514163.html
Oct. 8, 2008: Todd Palin subpoena http://www.mahalo.com/Todd_Palin_Subpoena
Nov. 3, 2008: Troopergate’s newest report clears Palin http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/110408/sta_351867809.shtml
Feb. 2009: Senate finds ten in contempt over Troopergate subpoenas http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/681638.htmlFor Governor Palin, Todd Palin and state aides to now personally benefit for this wrong behavior by collecting money through the Alaska Fund Trust goes against every conceivable notion of right and wrong. Their bad behavior is void of punishment as deterrence. Governor Palin and her family and state aides are financially rewarded for breaking laws. Where are the disincentives so Governor Palin, her family and aides can correct their actions by taking responsibility for their misconduct?
According to the Alaska Fund Trusts website: http://www.thealaskafundtrust.com/ Kristen Cole states, “I joined with fellow Alaskans in forming the Alaska Fund Trust to help alleviate the Governor’s legal debt incurred while performing her job as well as eliminate the incentive for future attacks by her opponents” “The Alaska Fund Trust is the official legal fund created to defend the integrity of the Alaska Governor’s Office from an onslaught of political attacks launched against current Governor Sarah Palin, the First Family, and state-employed colleagues.” “For Alaskans, the time has come to end the siege on our government by political tricksters. Enough is enough. With the help of reform-minded advocates from across our nation, we will stand up for what is right. Your maximum contribution of $150.00. Governor, her family, and her colleagues to retire their legal debt at no cost to Alaskans and reduce the incentive for mischief by her opponent.,” Firstly, this fund interferes with Alaskans’ right to address the wrongdoings of their public officials. Although Alaska laws provide various legal methods to redress Alaska’s public officials, the insertion of this trust and its money corrupts Alaska’s governmental and public processes by creating disparities between public officials and averages citizens concerned about official misconduct.
The way it is set up is also rife with conflicts of interests that go against every tenet of the scope and purpose of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. The governor can secure, and inversely not secure, monetary help to her cronies. Governor Palin has at least 500,000 supporters between her Facebook, TeamSarah, and other groups in support of Sarah Palin. If each of them were to contribute an average of $100 it would equate to $50 million. If they contribute an average of $50 it equates to $25 million. If half of them send $10 it equals $2.5 million. That’s personal wealth created for Governor Palin by putting a for sale sign on our Alaska Governor’s Office. That kind of money injected into the complaint process does not provide the opportunity for Governor Palin, Todd Palin and aides to take responsibility for their misconducts. This sort of large pot of newly found personal money will influence and encourage Governor Palin, Todd Palin and public officials to continue to thwart Alaska’s rules of law and conduct and is based on improper motivation. Ultimately, this Alaska Fund Trust does not provide Alaskans with better government and only corrupts it further.
Standards of ethical conduct for members of the executive branch need to distinguish between those minor and inconsequential conflicts that are unavoidable in a free society, and those conflicts of interests that are substantial and material. Sarah Palin’s conflicts of interests with regards to this fund are significant and material as her interest in the fund is presumed to be more than $5,000. Based on the facts set forth above I’m requesting that the Alaska Personnel Board investigate Gov. Palin’s use of official position for personal gain and the improper solicitation and acceptance of money for the Alaska Trust Fund to give to the Palin’s and selected state officials. This fund does not serve the purposes or interests of Alaska or Alaskans and corrupts public and governmental processes.
The Alaska Fund Trust only serves the purposes and interests of the Palin family and selected state officials, and breaches the scope and spirit of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this.
Sincerely,Kim Chatman Eagle River, AK
And here’s the first response from the Palin administration:
“As we’ve been saying, the number of ethics complaints filed against the governor and her staff — as well as the tortured logic they contain — continue to constitute the most disturbing trend in Alaska politics. It’s obvious the intent with this unprecedented action against the governor is to see her administration paralyzed and for her to declare personal bankruptcy.”
So these ethics complaints are a disturbing trend, eh? Why is it disturbing to do as Sarah Palin herself asked to hold her accountable? The response from the Governor is disgusting. This woman and ethics should not be mentioned in the same sentence unless it’s stating she violated them again. How sad Alaskans have to deal with a Governor and staff that think it’s OK to intimidate the citizens seeking redress. She will never see the light because it has blinded her…she does no wrong. Pffft.
Whoa…
doesn’t sound like tortured logic to me…
sounds about right
Is it me or has Palin aged 10 years this weekend?
http://gov.state.ak.us/photos/militarytributehummer01_apr272009.jpg
You betcha!!
Is it legal for her to add family and friends as beneficiaries with a claim to this fund as well? I am disturbed that Kristan Cole (GINO’s friend of many years) is likely incurring huge legal debt due to her involvement in the Dairygate scandal. Can Ms. Cole pay HERSELF for her legal bills from this fund?
also. too.
Has the AG responded to any of the complaints besides the one Palin submitted herself? That still makes me giggle that she turned herself in. =)
this is just wonderful! now this complaint has got legs.beautiful……b
Heh heh. Heh heh.
I am confused. Is it Palin’s personal debt or Alaska’s? Why does the Fund Trust state, “Governor, her family, and her colleagues to retire their legal debt at no cost to Alaskans”?
Welcome! Welcome! It is now time for another round of …. (insert best game show voice here) Name That Tune! ….no…wait, wrong game. Welcome to another round of NAME THAT GATE!
Yeah…that’s it.
My nominees for the ethics complaint that is the Alaska Fund Trust:
Beggar-Gate
Broken Bootstrap-Gate
(You’ll remember her belief in just pulling yerself up by the bootstraps vs depending on help from others, also, too)
Because I Can, Shill Fund – Gate
I Can See Dollar Signs Coming to My Bank Account – Gate
I Didn’t Read Mudflats, Palingates, Immoral Minority, CD Blue Oasis, Progressive Alaska, Huffpo, Politico, or Cafferty File Comments Before I Launched My Defense Fund – Gate
Carry on Mudpups!
This was taken from her legal fund site. What does it even mean? Is it saying because real estate agent Kristin Cole decides what to do with the money that Palin can accept it? Their answer to this question does answer how it will be that Palin will be able to accept the money! How are they going to twist things so that the Palin’s CAN accept the money? Something smells bad.. as usual.
Does the Trust Agreement comply with Alaska gift law?
Yes. The Trust sets up strict guidelines on who can or cannot contribute to the Trust. For instance, neither Alaska registered nor federally registered lobbyists may make a contribution. Corporations may not contribute. The Trust limits how the money is spent.
Alaska Statute (“AS”) 39.52.130 Improper Gifts provides as follows, “(a) a public official may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, employment, promise, or in any other form, that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions or judgment.”
The Trust has a specific provision to address this law and states: “The Trust shall not accept any donation that is given, offered, or promised in any way or for any purpose that, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Trustee, would be a violation of any federal, state, or local law” and “The Trust shall not accept any donation that is made upon a condition that it be paid or applied other than for the purpose of the Trust.”
Dr. Patois at #8 – That frosts me too. Putting “Alaska” in the name of the fund implies it benefits the State, when it is clearly a “Sarah Palin (+ family and friends) Legal Defense Fund – they could have at least named it for what it is.
And most supporters are already referring to it as the “Alaska Trust Fund,” which I suspect is what Cole et.al. WANTED them to think when they named it “Alaska Fund Trust.” They must think their supporters at c4p and seamtarah are stupid……oh, wait…….
Oh my! How can a sitting governor have this many ethics complaints, personal problems and a grammar disability all at the same time? LOL! I’m laughing at the last part….the first two are pretty sad. Seriously?!!! How is this woman still serious about remaining the governor and running for POTUS in 2012? I am confounded!!
Here’s a statement I bet she wouldn’t like to hear going around” Gee doesn’t she look pregnant again”?
Palin’s news release burns me up!
Next, I expect we’ll see Palin’s ardent supporters rushing to contribute the max to the Sarah Palin Offense Fund.
I have developed a new pet peeve….the media calling the AK Fund Trust a legal defense fund when it seems to be a personal slush fund.
Sister Sarah wants to pass the collection plate. Like in Church. She’s a real operator. No doubt about that. However, I wouldn’t vote for her for dogcatcher.
Palin is the Ad Hominem Queen. Note how she never addresses the substance of the complaints against her; she only personally attacks those who file the complaints.
I believe she has some delusional idea that if she trivializes the complainer it will somehow make the complaint just ‘poof’ – go away or at least become irrelevant.
Here is the important point I think Palin is missing. The complaints will stand until they are investigated. And one would have to be pretty naïve (or imperious) to think they won’t be investigated as to how the pertain the Alaskan law. I doubt they will be investigated based on Palin’s personal opinion of the complainer.
Personally I think it would behoove Palin to realize that there are a lot of smart people in Alaska who don’t like her. Heck it’s probably all the smart people in Alaska who don’t like her, but… the point is, the complaints aren’t going away.
And I think she is missing another point – a very important point, one might say the most important point! The complaints aren’t being filed to ‘paralyze’ her administration – heck she does that fine all by herself. Nor are they being filed to personally bankrupt her. Isn’t that what she has personal legal fund for? (Okay so maybe not so much after this last complaint…)
No here is this thing – and pay attention Sarah Palin – THE COMPLAINTS ARE BEING FILED BECAUSE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS OF YOURS WHO THINK YOU SHOULD BEHAVE ETHICALLY!
But here is tip. And this is probably what a smart person would do. If you aren’t sure what ethical behavior is, it might be make sense to err of the side of playing it safe. For example if you had a ethics complaints filed against you because you were advertising your husband’s paid sponsor – it would be make sense to NOT wear that jacket on official duty – at least until the complaint is investigated and you know for sure that it was indeed an ethics violation.
And I think some smart person in Alaska should file another complaint against her for that.
So, how handy is it that your best friend from grade school is the TRUSTEE of your legal defense fund? How much is Kristan’s Cole’s “cut” in all this?? And how much money did she actually launder to Palin’s 4 dairy farmer friends? Legislative Audit Committee…….how is part three of the investigation coming along in regards to Ms Cole’s one woman show at the Division of Agriculture? It appears corruption has run deep there for nearly two years. Ethics complaint #13……This is just the tip of the Palin Iceberg.
Kim Chapman has made some very valid points in the complaint –
well thought out – well written
but (maybe) she messed up Alaska Trust Fund vs
Alaska Fund Trust a couple times..
….to derive benefits from the Alaska Trust Fund; a newly formed group whose primary purpose is to collect huge amounts of money from people in Alaska and the Lower 48 …..
…..use of official position for personal gain and the improper solicitation and acceptance of money for the Alaska Trust Fund to give to the Palin’s and selected state officials.
@TM68 #10
““The Trust shall not accept any donation that is given, offered, or promised in any way or for any purpose that, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Trustee, would be a violation of any federal, state, or local law”
Can we see Kristan Cole’s Juris Doctorate (and Alaska State Bar admission/license to practice in the interpretation of laws)? That sentence all by itself reeks….so if Kristan says it doesn’t violate law, then it’s ok for Palin to take the money on her say so? Hmmm…I wonder if that would hold up in court with real attorneys, LOL.
Hmmm….The trust provides that, when it is terminated, any remaining assets will be donated to charity. Do you suppose Palin is planning on setting up a 301(c)(3) organization after the governor gig? What a deal?
Wow! It’s amazing the number of corrupt state officials otherwise known as ’school friends’ working for GINO, and how their ‘tortured logic’ can twist the truth to suit their money grubbing agendas. As for me, I like the ‘disturbing trend in Alaska politics’, it says ‘we’re holding you accountable!’
kudos to kim chatman! very well done. anyone who does not understand the significance of these ethics filings is either ignorant or deliberately obtuse.
AKM-do you have any background on this brave soul that you are able to share?
I wonder if they will say Kim Chatman is being paid by the DNC or David Axelrod..?
And does anybody wonder if she made the complaint
‘in her pajamas… in her basement’…. I hope so.
And apparently the Palin-bots are not able to delete all the negative comments on ADN. The comment pages are growing quickly. Everybody want to say something. 5 pages now… check in another hour.
Point of clarification, please. This is from the complaint: “(a) A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, employment, promise, or in any other form, that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.” And this is from the Governor’s response::”It’s obvious the intent with this unprecedented action against the governor is to see her administration paralyzed and for her to declare personal bankruptcy.”Now, forgive me for being dense, but didn’t she just convict herself? She’s said–on the record–that these complaints are potentially damaging to her *personal* financial interests, which leads right back to conduct specifically forbidden by AEBEA. Not a lawyer and don’t play one on TV.
Clearly the number of ethics complaints is due to her 80% popularity rating.
@ PalinSucks Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 7:38 PM
“Is it me or has Palin aged 10 years this weekend?”
Oh crap, looks like she’s preggers again. Ahh, wouldn’t that be the cat’s meow…
I’m shocked shocked!!! NOT!!
Good going Alaska stay on her. Two years and 13 ethics violations!!!
I agree with Kim Chatman’s argument that the fund is creating outside personal wealth for the governor which is supposedly against the state ethic laws. Palin’s legal debts were incurred by her actions. She owns them. If someone else pays them off, she is receiving gifts. If noting else, she should have to pay taxes on that created wealth.
This legal fund scenario sounds little different than Palin creating personal wealth for herself by striking a book deal while governor and then paying off her bills…… And it’s well-defined in the ethics statutes that this method of outside wealth creation is illegal.
The most concerning aspect is the fund endowing this politician the freedom to skirt ethics laws because someone else will be paying the lawyers’ bills to defend her actions.
The only way to make unethical politicians pay attention to ethics laws is if there are personal consequences…..as in paying her legal bills herself.
Good for you, Kim Chatman.
“Here’s a statement I bet she wouldn’t like to hear going around” Gee doesn’t she look pregnant again”?”
Heck, yeah! My thoughts exactly. She lost weight after her defeat in November, but she sure looks like she gain a bunch of weight in that picture and/or is preggers.
(Post 15)curiouser Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Palin’s news release burns me up!
Next, I expect we’ll see Palin’s ardent supporters rushing to contribute the max to the Sarah Palin Offense Fund.
I have developed a new pet peeve….the media calling the AK Fund Trust a legal defense fund when it seems to be a personal slush fund
====================================
That is my thought exactly. Alaskas’ name should not be smeared and dragged thru the Mud. Blackwater was changed to ‘ XE ‘ because the name had become such a negative in peoples minds. AIG tried the same thing.
Why else would they change the PAC that had Sarah in the name.
Are they no longer ‘ proud ‘ of that Image…?
OK, so I’m kinda confused here. Doesn’t Don Young have a legal defense fund for his shinnanigans the people can contribute to? If Palin’s is in violation then how is Young’s not? And didn’t Uncle Ted have one as well? Could a mudpuppy in the know on these things help my feeble noodle to understand the difference.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not defending Palin’s actions. I just wonder what’s the difference between what appear the same type of fund. Thanks.
According to one Alaskan blogger, the paperwork for this fund includes a clause that states outright that no officer or employee needs to discover where a donation originates, and cannot be held responsible for the disposition of funds, or answer questions regarding the origion or disposition of funds. But according to Palin’s mouthpiece — everything will all be very transparent, and the donation list will be published. Pardon me, I must answer the dissonace at the door…
She really really shouldn’t have interfered with her sister’s divorce.
A book deal would be more on the up-and-up than a legal defense fund – after she loses reelection of course.
At least people would have to take delivery of something, (a door stop or pooper scooper perhaps) before exchanging it for graft.
The truly tortured logic is running on cleaning up Alaska’s Republican Party then using the elected office to exact personal revenge.
@3 PalinSucks Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Is it me or has Palin aged 10 years this weekend?
http://gov.state.ak.us/photos/militarytributehummer01_apr272009.jpg
________________________________________________________
Sheesh, she has no fashion sense at all. the vest, clogs, skirt, eeee gads. No wonder why McCain said here’s some money, go buy some clothes.
Also, too, Me thinks that by 2010 that were all going to know the ethic laws in AK like upside down, sideways, bacwards, forwards, you get what I mean.
“Oh crap, looks like she’s preggers again. Ahh, wouldn’t that be the cat’s meow…”
Ya know, with the govs thing going up in smoke and Levi, likely to get at least 50.1% custody of Tripp, she needs to start popping those little PFD’ers quick. Retirement isn’t looking very lucrative for a washed up former mayor of Wasillia.
P.S. I have a personal and professional rule that I do not ever give money to any political cause for any reason – one can never know – really know – what it’s really paying for. My vote (and big mouth) should be enough. We have got to move towards public financing of campaigns – or at least free and equal advertising on local tv.
akdennis – Sarah’s on the state level. Don is federal.
@Professor Geezer
Heh heh. Heh heh.
————-
have to join you on this one! lmao…I mean, what else can you do?
As I said on a thread ago, even my smallest grandchild knows not to touch the stove…again and again and again. I wonder if palin’s IQ is lower than my grandkid?
Palin is the Ad Hominem Queen. Note how she never addresses the substance of the complaints against her; she only personally attacks those who file the complaints.
I believe she has some delusional idea that if she trivializes the complainer it will somehow make the complaint just ‘poof’ – go away or at least become irrelevant.
———-
Actually, that’s pretty typical of abusers and abusive personalities. You discredit those who are trying to hold you responsible, pre-emptively if possible. Hadn’t thought of her in those terms until the subject of ad hominum attacks was brought up, but now that the subject’s out there, it’s a little creepy to see how much energy she devotes to a) promoting other abusive types (her AG pick and her pal in the prison system are prime examples) and b) attacking anyone who doesn’t buy her dog and pony show (bloggers and anyone in the media who isn’t Rush L. or an employee of Fox News, for instance). I have yet to see her offer a real explanation for ANY of her questionable actions–she just belittles those who raise the questions. It is not helpful to have her declare that a complaint is “ridiculous,” without offering any sort of rationale for such an assertion.
“A book deal would be more on the up-and-up than a legal defense fund – after she loses reelection of course. ”
I bet that, Trailblazer, book, was hers.
*imitates the “soup nazi” from that episode of Seinfeld* No legal fund for you!!! ( XD This is great news. Thanks, Kim Chatman!)
Don Young opens a legal defense fund
By Susan Crabtree
Posted: 01/30/08 12:01 AM [ET] From TheHill.com
Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who is under FBI investigation and faces a tough reelection fight, opened a legal defense fund earlier this month, according to House filings.
The House ethics committee approved the defense fund Jan. 9, but it has not reported taking any donations yet, and Young spokesman Mike Anderson would not say if anyone had written checks.
@31 akdennis Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 8:37 PM
OK, so I’m kinda confused here. Doesn’t Don Young have a legal defense fund
______________________________________________________
Interesting question, do their legal defense funds “say” it for the entire family? That they can withdraw for whatever reason they like? Does theirs have the name “Alaska” in it? I think that alot of the money she owes is partly for defending todd. How much of that $500,000 is his and how much is hers. She claims it but where is the evidence? That is why it states “family”. Yeah, just her personal slush fund.
I just did a Google search of Kim Chatman. I wont post the link here because I am not sure they are a ‘friendly site’ . Alaska Pride is commenting and they even posted an AP photo of Kim from last year as well.
The internet is filling up with links already.
I hope Shannyn or AKM have already got the story ready to post on HuffPo as well.
AKM… you get a lot of comments when you post there….hope you post this with that special flair you have.
Lord, she’s like fruitcake (the kind you get on the holidays from the family who truly hate you..)… Stays around forever, never changes, and is as useful as a brick.
Anywhere else politicians would have been recalled/impeached after this amount of evidence. 13 known ethics violations, investigated by a bi-partisan committee and found guilty of violations, breaking state legislative law…
What planet does she live on again?
Kim Chatman was she an election worker or with the Mark Begich campaign?
Wasn’t Jen the Begich campaigner?
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dNWdyygLh4Zw
Saw the Trailblazer Author-lady at the bookstore in Wasilla for a signing last fall during the campaign – lots of customers in the store, absolutely NONE interested in the book, the author or the signing. There is hope for Wasilla.
(I buy all my political/current events books there, mostly the ‘I can’t believe Bush got away with this shit’ series).
Today Jack Cafferty (from CNN) did his daily poll, and the question was “Would you contribute to Sarah Palins Legal Defense Fund?” Everyone may be interested to know the majority of respondents have no intention of donating funds. People in the lower 48 are beginning to follow Palin and her sagas and are not impressed.
I have to agree with other posts here that the responses from her spokes people are becoming more vicious and are attacking the complaintant rather than the issue.
honestyinGov Says “I just did a Google search of Kim Chatman. I wont post the link here because I am not sure they are a ‘friendly site’”
Apologies, I did not see your post before I submitted mine above.
Palin, made her fraud fund so easy to rip apart, anyone, could SHOULD have filed immediately to thwart possible donations. Kim, just got hers in first.
Maybe Sarah should’ve gotten Wayne Anthony Ross to represent her pro bono, at least there would have been some logic to his nomination for AG in it.
Shoulda, coulda, woulda… the story of Sarah’s political life.
(I never wanted her as governor but I would have had SO much more respect for her had she turned down the Republian VP nomination – something to the effect of her first obligation to the State of Alaska – when she messed with my Obama, she messed with me, I almost for a moment thought she was going to pull it off for McCain and clapped for glee when I saw her crying onstage election night =-)
@Schlock and Flaws #24
Great point! -only palin will say this was a ‘gotcha’ question.
To anyone living in Alaska: Is this acting AG going to follow through or is he in palin’s corner too?
And to Kim from Eagle River…well executed letter! I hope this keeps escalating until palin pays for ALL her ‘gates’.
wow… don’t know many ppl as brazen as ‘that one’ (palin).
AlaskaGuy Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Clearly the number of ethics complaints is due to her 80% popularity rating.
——
Riiight I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not.. however. www dot haysresearch dot com/OC032509 dot htm (broke the link) 401 People Polled
34.9% Very positive Rating 140/401
24.9% somewhat positive Rating 100/401
13.7% somewhat negative 55/401
21.2% Very negative rating 85/401
Somehow doesn’t look like 80% approval rating now does it…
41 Cathy from Colorado Says:
Don Young opens a legal defense fund
The House ethics committee approved the defense fund Jan. 9, but it has not reported taking any donations yet, and Young spokesman Mike Anderson would not say if anyone had written checks.
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I wonder if Palin had any appropriate group in Alaska review/approve the trust documents.
@Mike from Everett Wa
What planet does she live on again?
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answer=Planet Alaska & I like your ‘as useful as a brick’ comment.
lol This continuing saga is making me laugh and I know it’s not really funny.
It’s just unbelievably surreal, isn’t it?!?!?!?
# 51curiouser Says:
I wonder if Palin had any appropriate group in Alaska review/approve the trust documents.
Hard to say, but considering the “trustees” history, she should at least be bonded.
The LDF congressional people have are typically for only one person and their legal troubles, not a family and friends plan. (Sounds like a calling plan)
The word that just keeps popping up over and over about Palin and Company is… amatuer.
I knew it! I could see this coming from my terrace in Europe!
Per ADN, “The governor’s office said Monday the new complaint and others filed against Palin or her staff show a disturbing trend in Alaska politics.”
Ya think? Maybe your constituency does not want a douche bag for a gov and want her a** out of there.
Jeesh, blows my mind these people just don’t get it.
I was thinking “pre-pubescent” myself. I thought my high school was catty (Service) but apparently it didn’t have anything on Wasilla High School.
Palin would serve herself much better by speaking for herself (Meg, go home!) and moving to Juneau to actually (ahem) work! until her term is over.
Could this be why the SarahPac people severed ties with her????????
I’ve only lived in Alaska for three years but I’ve never lived in a more politically screwed up place in my life (and I’ve lived everywhere)…gah. It gets real old.
K.
@Mike – Yup, I was being sarcastic. She started this time last year with something like 80% approval rating, and has gone rapidly downhill since the VP pick. I think the numbers should be telling her something, but I doubt she’s listening.
Someone mentioned about 13 ethic complaints in two years in office, but these complaints have all come within less than a year.
Even if they are all frivolous, which they’re not, it has to tell you that you’re doing something wrong.
Does Don Young have ethics complaints against him?
I understand he has some legal trouble and I understand that he is being investigated by the FBI.
I would like to understand the difference in an ethics complaint and a criminal one. As far as a legal defense fund goes?
Anyone have any info on this?
She’s just getting chubby – not preggers. Probably hitting the comfort food hard to cover her growing panic. Sawah can you see the end of days?
Lordy, lordy look at those shoes. LMAO!
As I posted on another thread, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that my prayers for the Baker’s Dozen were answered! Sarah must be over the top with joy that she was the conduit for God answering my prayers!
I idea that she’s like a fruitcake–as useful as a brick–has it’s merits. One of my relatives used a fruitcake as a doorstop. It really worked well.
You have to give her credit. She’s really helping out the economy and without a penny of stimulous $$. The ethics board is employed. The lawyers are employed. Her lawyer is employed, and all the office minions. Quite generous, really.
What I see happening is Sarah going to her lawyer for advise on various subjects like the defense fund and troopergate and catgate. He gives it to her, she follows it to the letter (wears the arctic cat jacket, opens a trust fund, etc.) and pays the lawyer’s bill. An ethics complaint is filed. Lawyer picks up tons of billable hours for his office, which she is now paying. Lawyer laughs all the way to his offshore account and his beach front property in the Bahamas. Sarah can’t figure out how she got into all this trouble, but, hey, her lawyer’s on her side, right? He’ll do right by her and her family. Oh, who cares about the family. As long as he’s doing right by her.
What is the law in AK regarding the confidentiality of these complaints? I keep reading different things. I would just like to know.
According to most of the posters on conservative sites, these complaints as well as these pesky AK liberal blogs are being funded by the DNC, David Axelrod, Soros, Obama…take your pick. These complaints couldn’t be filed by people who simply want to see SP held accountable for her actions. Apparently, they are gearing up to get really nasty toward Ms Chatman.
I started emailing Hays Research about 2 weeks ago… asking when their new poll was coming out. This was about the time that WAR got defeated. They responded with a reply saying the got the message… but that’s all.
Maybe someone else could email them as well..?
They need a new Poll now.
http://www.haysresearch.com/index.htm
………AK Trustgate
Actually those shoes are very expensive handpainted clogs. I’d love a pair but they look best with jeans! Someone posted the link here before. Ifvyou have it, can you please repost,?
The “tortured logic” comment is so melodramatic just like Palin. It’s really to bad shevus SO stibburn that she can’t see the validity of some of these!! This is another NPD trait(inability to accurately self analyze) and is exactly why she is in power.
Another thing someone mentioned that I also don’t understand. Isn’t she personally respponsible for complaints? Sometmes she acts like the state should pay her legal fees!
Please gov palin look in the mirror and stop the denial!
Actually those shoes are very expensive handpainted clogs. I’d love a pair but they look best with jeans! Someone posted the link here before. If you have it, can you please repost,?
The “tortured logic” comment is so melodramatic just like Palin. It’s really too bad she is SO stobburn that she can’t see the validity of some of these!! This is another NPD trait(inability to accurately self analyze) and is exactly why she should not be in power.
Another thing someone mentioned that I also don’t understand. Isn’t she personally respponsible for complaints? Sometmes she acts like the state should pay her legal fees!
Please gov palin look in the mirror and stop the denial!
RE: the get-up in the photo (link from above)–WTH are those shoes????
The first thing I thought when I saw that picture (besides WTH are those shoes????) was, “Hmm. Is Bristol pregnant again?”
Seriously, tho. What is up with her and the skirt/weird windbreaker or weird vest combo outfits? I have to believe that there are copies of Glamour that have “been in front of her all these years.” I guess she hasn’t read all the way to the back to find herself on the “Glamour Don’t” page.
This latest “fund trust” (or “trust fund” for which kid??) is just beyond the pale. I got an idea–why don’t I set up a fund for myself and pay my family members or friends out of it when they are “attacked” by the electric company, or the mean ole registrar’s office at the university when tuition is due, or when everybody’s just a meanie and I need Ben & Jerry’s from the grocery store? Do you think if I just put a link to my paypal account I could start collecting?
Geez O Pete. She’s just completely off her rocker. WHEN is someone (the ghost of Ronald Reagan??) going to inform her that her 15 minutes are over?? She’s like the rotten Easter egg that someone hid & you can’t find it….you just keep catching whiffs of the stench.
The shoes are at http://www.romneydesigns.com
I’d love a pair but they are not in my budget! Sorry for the double post above! I was trying to correct spelling/grammar mistakes!
Oh Lisabeth-Palin will love you…..Romney is her very good friend and she is pimping that information to help her girlfriend out. She probably gets free clogs everytime she mentions who made them. You know how she “takes care” of friends and family……….sigh…….
Woo Hoo. As I said before, I was waiting for that Baker’s Dozen! File it for free, Kim.
Do you remember the Simpsons episode when they’re in Australia and Marge is trying to order coffee and the guy just keeps hearing “beer?”
Well, that’s Palin. Someone says “ethics” and she hears “graft.”
Someone says “trust fund” she hears “slush fund”
Govern=Indiana
Help natives=help Palins
It’s always interesting to read these “responses” to the filed ethics complaints. They never address the issue mentioned in the complaint; they always diss the filer. As for the comment: “…the most disturbing trend in Alaska politics” – I think WE all know what that is!
LOL BooBooBear, I was going to say the same thing. Wowser, $220.00 for a pair of clogs. I was wondering why she had mentioned it in an article a while back, something like, oh, next will be my handpainted clogs. Now I understand why she said it. To have her on her webstore and then the video going along with it saying where they came from and her helping out her friend. Sheesh, she’s just asking for it isn’t she.
Someone above said the leftover money would go to charity. Is that true? Would someone with a legal background be able to see if this is a charitable remainder trust. I think you can put cash into a CRT. This is one of many trusts someone like J Blattmachr would set up for the very wealthy to get even more wealthy and pass on money to kids and grand kids. Including generation skipping transfer trusts etc. Usually, I’ve seen people use CRTs to sell appreciated assets wo paying capital gains taxes, but from what I can remember, you can contribute cash to a CRT. The idea was to create the charitable funding like what you see at the end of a PBS program, but it sounds like the Grifter Gov plans on blowing through that trust corpus well before there could be anything left for charity, unless the WasillaBillies set up a foundation and contribute the trust corpus to it and provide jobs for the Grifter family.
Lisabeth Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 10:34 PM
The shoes are at http://www.romneydesigns.com
and guess whose picture is on the opening page of the clog shoes site?
Here is the link for the painted clogs that Sarah wore. I don’t have any of their clogs but I have a lot of their pottery displayed in my home. They are great artists.
http://www.stephenandromney.com/DanskoClogs.html
OK gang—that is enough free advertising for the Clogs! ;0)
Now we can all ponder on Andrew Halcro’s “Reset” blog……….read the last sentence………what do you think? Is he running for Governor? I think this is his big hint! YES!
In order for ethics complaints to move forward the Attorney General must find that there is sufficient probable cause. Apparently many of the complaints pass the test.
Kim Chatman, you said it well. I sure don’t like the way cash can be passed out to so many from this “trust” fund, and I think the fund name is intentionally misleading and totally inappropriate.
@Lisabeth
The “tortured logic” comment is so melodramatic just like Palin. It’s really too bad she is SO stobburn that she can’t see the validity of some of these!!
—————–
yes and that tortured logic comment proves palin’s camp is an unprofessional gaggle. I wish they wouldn’t leave it up to her! …palin will always believe she’s right and everybody else is wrong…we know the fantasy is in her head. so sick… they just need to nail her in a jail or in a ward!
I’ve been wondering if this fund would come under fire. I mean they are basically advertising it on SarahPac’s website. Doesn’t that mean they are looking for donation from the same people who donate to SarahPac. You have people from all over the state donating to a fund that is suppose to suport an Alaskan state official.
And poor, poor Palin– she complains about how these ethics complaints “paralyze” her administration! What hypocricy!
What’s Team Sarah doing? What are they paralyzing? Well, they’re trying to get the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius– who I wish was Alaska’s governor, not Kansas’s– for Health and Human Services Secretary blocked.
WE’VE GOT A POSSIBLE WORLD FLU PANDEMIC on our hands and we desperately need a HHS Secretary, NOW, and look what Palin’s pals are paralyzing– they’re messing with our nation’s ability to respond to a possible pandemic!
It takes a heck of a lot of nerve for these wimps to whine about ethics complaints.
My favorite part of this complaint is “This fund violates the intent, purpose and spirit of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.” SPOT ON, KIM! Yeah!!! That says it in a nutshell.
Is there any way to know what’s happening with all of the complaints? Isn’t there some kind of time frame during which some kind of action must be taken? These complaints have dragged on and on … and meanwhile SP has more time to consult with her lawyers and get tips on the side from the AG or acting AG on how to wiggle out of them or which documents to shred!
Thank you AKPetMom for the link: This woman has never paid attention to civics, statutes or laws. She just goes around promoting her friend’s products, getting free products, and probably getting cash for the advertisements and having the public look at her, without knowledge that she as governor of Alaska will be called out on these ridiculous actions. Her constituents appear to know more about the statutes than the governor. Too bad, there is no remedial classes for inept governors.
Just read some of the comments at ADN. The minions just can’t understand why those bloggers would want to tear down Alaska government….we’re supposed to stop complaining and let SP do her job. (as if she’d know where to start)
I don’t think it’s humanly possible to communicate with these people.
Kim Chatman, very well said…..Thank you greatly!
Can You imagine if WAR was the AG?
Looks like a spring fervor has started in Alaska. Its about time. I think she will fold before 2010.
I’m not one bit surprised…I always thought that the Trust Fund sounded highly unethical.
Will the fund be frozen until the ethics complaint is decided to be valid or not?
Another thing, a couple of days ago I looked at the official SOA website, and links from the Duds profile led to commercial advertisements, how can that be right.
#13. An unlucky number.
Why is there no action on these complaints? One that has been dealt with is Troopergate and the legislators of Alaska were to cowered to deal out any kind of reprimand.
This is a trend in the republican party since nixon, bush, Stevens, Gonzales,rove and many others.
It makes them arrogant and above the law when WE THE PEOPLE do not hold our elected officials accountable for their own behaviors.
These are not allegations against the Gov. and legislators doing their jobs.
This is a result of the Gov. own actions and reactions. She is not acting responsibly and she ASKED to be held accountable. You should not be surprised when people do what you have asked them to do.
Doesn’t she have to get approval for setting up a trust Fund?
Due to this trust fund, she can continue to do what she wants because now she is covered financially.
She only has 2 more years left. That is not a lot of time to get these complaints resolved. And if they are not resolved, she does not run for office, then what happens to the money left over? Where does that go?
I hope that Alaskans will demand a transparent and open resolution of these complaint and somebody keep a watchful eye on this fund.
I think it is important to point out one plain and simple fact. The Governor’s own “legal fund” states:
**I joined with fellow Alaskans in forming the Alaska Fund Trust to help alleviate the Governor’s legal debt incurred while performing her job as well as eliminate the incentive for future attacks by her opponents.**
So by donating to, and the acceptance of funds both Governor Palin and her supporters are attempting to subvert the rights of people to hold their elected officials accountable for their actions.
Post # 76 – Lori in Los Angeles Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Lisabeth Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 10:34 PM
The shoes are at http://www.romneydesigns.com
and guess whose picture is on the opening page of the clog shoes site?
————————————————————-
Uh oh !! Ethics complaint # 14 coming up ? Was she paid or compensated in any way for allowing the use of her photo in advertising on the clogs site ?
Here we go again…….
Excellent. Bravo. Well written. Cover all bases. This one looks like a big fish officials can’t avoid. If they allow it, what’s to stop every AK Gov and/or official from creating similar funds, so the citizens of Alaska are silenced forever?
From the catalog:
Look who’s wearing Romney Dodd’s hand painted clogs? You got it – The Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, Governor Sarah Palin. The clogs made their way to the Governor’s feet by way of Palin’s sister, Heather Bruce, who is long-time friends of the artist, Romney Dodd.
Surely Palin’s choice to wear the clogs on the campaign trail is testament to their incredible style, comfort and durability.
“I just love my hand-painted clogs by Romney and I knew Sarah would too, says Heather Bruce.” “I thought with as much time as she’s spending on her feet these days, she’d really appreciate the clogs. I was right – she loves them.”
Palin response: “It’s obvious the intent with this unprecedented action against the governor is to see her administration paralyzed and for her to declare personal bankruptcy.”
1. “unprecedented action” – actually there are now 12 precedents which means complaints #5 thru #13 are not unprecedented.
2. “to see her administration paralyzed” – in order for something to be considered paralyzed, a ‘history’ of movement must be noted. Since there seems to be no such history of movement (or progressing Alaska) in the Palin administration, we can therefore suggest that the better descriptor would be “atrophied”. . .as such then, the complaints filed against the Palin administration would have no such intent of paralyzing movement, but perhaps encouraging an atrophied government to actually START moving.
3. ” for her to declare personal bankruptcy.” – since TeamSarah, Sarah PAC, and yet another separate entity called a Legal Defense Fund are footing, through donations, the legal fees and such for Lady La La Sarah, this last sentence of the released PR statement is patently false – and whiney at that.
and in re to the Dansko clogs, handpainted or not – I’ve been wearing Danskos since my tenure as a vet tech in the mid-70s and even though I’m not on my feetsies all day anymore, I faithfully invest in a new pair of Danskos about every three years. . . and though my preference is for the regular plain leather, the handpainted ones are cute too. . .but I think I’ll stick with my serviceable brown and blue clogs. And yes the clogs are pricey but so well made, soooooo long lasting it’s well worth the $$ (end of PSA)
The #13 made the front page of her own personal page at huffpo. Read under her name at top. Too dang funny !!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/sarah-palin
Alaska is an ethics violator itself. From the official Alaska website one can link to private websites. That’s a violation. Alaska is woefully weak on ethics violations because all seem to lack a basic understanding of what a violation is. Palin isn’t accountable because she governs in a weak ethics environment. Alaska home page to the Governor’s page, to the first gentleman’s page, to over 50 private businesses who sponsor and support the Tesoro Iron Dog. Anybody who works in a public office and has attended ethics seminars knows that’s a violation, but Alaska permits it.
96 Greytdog Δ Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 3:02 AM
3. ” for her to declare personal bankruptcy.” – since TeamSarah, Sarah PAC, and yet another separate entity called a Legal Defense Fund are footing, through donations, the legal fees and such for Lady La La Sarah, this last sentence of the released PR statement is patently false – and whiney at that.
******************************************************************
And finally all those shady finances laid bare for the whole world to see……
Kim Chatman did an excellent job of pointing out why this fund would only serve to further allow GINO (and her friends) to disregard the laws. I hope to heaven that members of the Personnel Board summon up a little spine, and set firm boundaries with her, but we all know how pissy and “I’ll just fire you then, you rogue board member” she can get, so they would actually have to be pretty brave to stand up to her. This woman charmed her way into power, and now Alaskans are waking up to the incompetent, petty thief she really is. It is going to take some real grit to get her out of office before her 18 months are finished, though.
If GINO is, indeed, half way through her term as governor then the ethics complaints have been coming at the rate of one every other month. Yikes!! Seems to be a lot of smoke~~has to be a fire somewhere.
Would it be appropriate to file for an interim injunction to prevent the Alaska Fund Trust from collecting or disbursing any further funds pending the outcome of this complaint? You know, to protect her from further harming herself
(hint to Kim Chatman in Eagle River)
Sarah can’t spell the word ethics let alone give the definition.
nothing to do with Alaska…
nothing to do with trust…
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH FUNDS.
the problem child IS MY NAME – I believe the term is “intervention”………..
I was sure that I recognized the name Kim Chatman from recent memory and sure enough here she is. She has joined Lead Plantiff Gregory Charles Royal in the Juneteenth Lawsuit against Sarah Palin.
http://issueswire.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2319464.htm
@austintx, intervention, also, too, but in a legally binding kind of way…
So why was my last comment deleted? It only contained one link to the fact that
Kim Chatman is also part of another lawsuit against Sarah Palin. The Juneteenth Lawsuit.
I’ll try posting it again!
http://issueswire.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2319464.htm
Woo Hoo – I read this first in my local newspaper here in Fredericksburg, VA. The Free Lance Star had this in a NewsBites Column on the front page!
OT – Also too, I got an email from Planned Parenthood last night asking me to write my Senators to vote for Ms. Sebelius today! The Meat Haras are out in full force, and we must meet them on the Battle Field of Emails and phone calls (sorry for the Agincort memories
). My Senators are probably going to vote the other way (the meat haras way) but we few, weary band of brothers must put in our 2 cents in so they know that not all their constituents are close minded…
From last post – loved the Schrodinger’s Cat Analogy. Guess you are a science nerd too – my spouse had to explain the Cat to me early on in our marriage when he made reference to said Cat, and I said, “Hunh?” Never took a physics class, yet, but am learning much from spouse and my science nerd son.
gov fruitloop has some balls!
@DaisyDaisy
That’s a fascinating article! Who knew the gal was a supporter of SP’s?! Apparently the bloom is off that rose, though. Glad you made that second attempt to post the link. Very good article!
OT
Apparently meaTharaS is not as invisible as they think:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/sebelius-nomination-palin_n_192166.html
(I always read “meatharas” as “meat harass” before I can catch myself…silly)
Interesting? Confusing? I just read this a minute ago at
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/
One is that Diana Palin has also now hired the ubiquitous Rex Butler to handle her burglary charges. (Is there a Palin connected case in town that Rex is not handling?)
It is important that people have a place to state their feelings about this Gov without censorship. The ADN has gotten so bad that 3/4 of the posts are deleted. Somehow, this seems wrong. Feels like we’re in a gulag where freedom of speech is being trounced on. I understand that vitriol can be offensive and may need some censoring, but, having said that, the majority of people posting here have something to say…let them say it unless it is especially egregious.
Personally, I wonder why there has been no ethics complaint filed to date on Palin’s malfeasance as governor in directing public money toward religious groups and in directing money from religious groups toward quashing her numerous ethics troubles????? Anyone???? Palingates has a great post on the subject here:
http://palingates.blogspot.com/search/label/religiongate
This one seems to be such an easily provable and clearly improper misuse of her office it’s a no-brainer. Yet no complaint on it has come to be.
Daisy Daisy Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 5:16 AM
So why was my last comment deleted? It only contained one link to the fact that
Kim Chatman is also part of another lawsuit against Sarah Palin. The Juneteenth Lawsuit.
It wasn’t deleted.
It was sitting in pending and I wasn’t online to drag it out right away, AKMuckraker was asleep, and Charcoal Sniper P is getting married this weekend, so she’s quite busy. 
I have dragged it out now, so it appears twice. I am not sure what triggered it going into pending – usually there has to be 2 links but there was only one.
Ah, the joys of Wordpress.. the more I use this most recent version of it, the more I utterly despise it.
Too many bells and whistles, not enough things that actually work. 
When a comment does not appear, have patience. It will appear eventually, more than likely.
The shoes, the jacket, no to Prop 4, someone needs to tell, Sarah “Sally Six-pack” Palin, she’s a governor, not just a girl. See this is the problem when Sally Six Pack holds an office, she doesn’t know what to do and now she’s drunk with power and crying boo-hoo-hoo.
My ex-governor, Blago had to ask a judge to allow him to use campaign funds for his legal defense. The “Alaska Fund” is for all Alaskan leaders, maybe Ted should get a pinch.
She gets crazier by the day. You know there’s an old saying “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission”. I think this is Sally Six-pack’s logic but she’s not asking for forgiveness and she doesn’t seem to know, in her position, it’s gets expensive.
FYI: Rex Butler was selected as 2007 Super Lawyer – criteria:
Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state’s top up-and-coming attorneys.
and I guar-an-damn-tee you that Wayne Anthony Ross is NOT a “Supre Lawyer.” meow.
I read somewhere her worth was about 1.4 mil, Does anyone ever check these things? if she has this kind of worth,she shouldn’t be putting up sites saying otherwise.Let her pay her own bills like we all have to.Of course she’ll get the wingnuts to do it.She uses her popularity with rightwingers to get all her bills payed. How desperate these people are,that they would fund such a farse.
She has absolutely no chance of becoming President!!! What a fake she is.
I think this ethic complaint has a good chance at sticking.
@Polly Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:48 AM
FYI: Rex Butler was selected as 2007 Super Lawyer – criteria:
Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state’s top up-and-coming attorneys.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is it not odd that Rex Butler is representing Levi Johnston and Diana Palin?
I wonder will they pay him from the Trust Fund?
As long GINO continues to be unethical, what else can she expect *shrugs*
my gratitude for the spunk and tenacity of Alaskan citizens, every time they call her out for her unethical behavior I breathe a little easier since it is makes it less likely she will be unleashed down here in the lower 48 in any position of real power
This ethics complaint will not hold any water. It would have been best filed after GINO accessed the funds that are being made available to her and her family. As of now, Gino can deny asking anyone to set up the fund.
From the fund website:
The Alaska Fund Trust was formed by Alaskans and will be funded by Alaskans and their fellow Americans.
Sadly, this complaint will not hold any water.
BPoint I think it sticks, maybe not like glue but more like rubber, it will just keep bouncing back to her.
Found this on “palingate” concerning the fund, it sounds fishy to me.
these passages interesting:
In the event that SARAH PALIN or any Covered Individual is considered to have received taxable income as a result of being a beneficiary of the Trust, the Trustee shall be permitted to reimburse SARAH PALIN or such beneficiary, as the case may be, from the corpus of the Trust for the actual amount of taxes incurred by SARAH PALIN or such beneficiary, as the case may be, as a result of being a beneficiary of the Trust.
Beneficiary. The beneficiaries of this Trust shall be SARAH PALIN. In addition, the class of potential beneficiaries shall include any “Covered Individual.” For purposes hereof, a “Covered Individual” shall be any other person determined by the Trustee, in the Trustee’s sole and absolute discretion, to (i) hold a “covered staff’ position within SARAH PALIN’s administration and/or an employee in the office of the Governor of the State of Alaska; and (ii) hold a covered relationship with SARAH PALIN, including without limitation, a family member, such as a parent, spouse, child, grandchild, sibling and other close family relationship.
Liability of the Trustee and Bond Requirements. Neither the Trustee nor any successor trustees shall be required to give bond for the faithful and proper performance of the Trust duties hereunder. The Trustee or any successor trustee may, however, in his, her or its absolute discretion, purchase a bond in such amount as the Trustee or any successor trustee deems proper and pay the premiums(s) from the Trust funds.
Governing Law, Place of Administration. The validity of the Trust and the construction of its terms are governed by the law of the State of Alaska. The principal place of administration of the Trust is the State of Alaska and its administration is governed by the law of the State of Alaska, but the Trustee, in her sole and absolute discretion may change the principal place of administration from time to time to another jurisdiction and thereafter, if declared in writing by the Trustee, the law of the new jurisdiction shall govern the administration of the Trust. Unless otherwise required by the law, the Trustee need not give notice to the beneficiaries of any transfer of the principal place of administration to another jurisdiction.
It seems the fund needs to be investigated. Dumb Birds stick togethers.
From the article posted by Daisy Daisy:
“Kim Chatman, an Alaskan resident, Air Force veteran and mother of six”
Now this woman isnt’ afraid of a lipstick wearin’ pit bull wannabe!
Boy, she really has all her bases covered, doesn’t she? Money for the kids, no tax, no questions asked – what’s next?
The quote below is from the article on the Juneteenth lawsuit (thanks again DaisyDaisy!) at http://issueswire.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2319464.htm.
and another example of why this woman has no business holding public office. A servant’s heart? She only dreams and wishes. I simply cannot believe the childish way Palin responds – in writing no less – to any complaints. Palin even posts press releases on the official governor’s webpage that are shockingly silly and unprofessional. Do other governors do this?
‘However, Governor Palin’s office has pushed back in an email response to Royal’s original filing stating that though the failure was a clerical oversight, she is “not aware of any “great distress” in the African-American community of Alaska”, and that, “except for those few of you involved in the mudslinging campaign last fall,” she is not aware this matter “was ever commented upon by anybody”.’
@124 WrongTruth Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:04 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may be right, but unless GINO has received any funds at all from the trust, she has not benefited from the trust or done anything unethically regarding this matter. Like I said earlier, she may well deny having anything to do with the trust, and thereby make this ethics complaint moot.
Now wearing that cat coat again, now that is an entirely different matter. That is a stand alone valid ethics complaint.
Her defiance is far from believable. I would think she would err on the side of caution.
hmmm nice clogs…Not in my budget…:))
“as well as eliminate the incentive for future attacks by her opponents” A governor who openly seeks to eliminate attacks by her opponents is known as a dictator.
hmmm,
Very odd how Butler is defending both Levi and Diana Palin. Of course I remember that SP’s mother-in-law is on record as not supporting her run for VP, and also was not for her as mayor. I think the split regarded the abortion issue, but who knows what else.
Curiouser and curiouser. (and apparently Diana Palin is beyond bizarre, at least her burglary charges are!)
“Diana Palin has also now hired the ubiquitous Rex Butler to handle her burglary charges.”
If this is true, maybe he is her, court appointed attorney. Oh the stories she WILL tell on, the Palin, clan. I do not see her sister out law, being very nice to her over the years.
“Her defiance is far from believable. I would think she would err on the side of caution.”
No wonder, Campaign Solutions, dropped her, as soon as they heard about the upstart of the “Fund”. Those people know FRAUD, they deal almost exclusively with dubious canidates…LMAO, the scare, Palin, had to have put them in to publicly, disassociate with her.
Don’t ya think Palin would be waiving confidentiality for the ethics complaint hearings, given how she is all about transparency and how she hires/fires all the government officials who handle the complaints, raising doubts about the fairness of the process? The complaints are all ‘bogus’ anyway, right?
I hope Alaskans will demand that the Palin-related Personnel Board hearing documents will be made public….including Troopergate. It’s what she would do if she were a private citizen. Petition? Protest march? Calls to legislators?
***
“It’s important to get these documents made public so Alaskans can make their own judgments,” Palin said.
Palin said she hopes that the e-mails will surface, and that the release of Renkes’ and Murkowski’s depositions, with the rest of the investigative file, will resolve any lingering questions.
http://dwb.adn.com/news/government/renkes/story/6250951p-6128097c.html
Hi! The link to Religiongate was posted earlier and that’s great. To get a more in-depth view, this link will show all 3 posts on the subject:
http://palingates.blogspot.com/search/label/religiongate
One of the many “gates” will do the trick, eventually…
Of course, since all of these ethics complaints are going to a board in thrall to Palin, nothing will come of them. Has anyone investigated moving some of these issues into a real court of law? A prime candidate would be the travel expenses for her kids, especially the ones she altered and fraudulently claimed they were invited when they were not. That is both fraud and theft (of tax payer money). Surely there are other laws being violated in some of these cases. Where is the IRS when you need them?
The other side truly believes we are getting paid to talk about Palin and that there is some grand organized conspiracy to bring her down. Of course George Soros, Axelrod,Obama and the DNC are behind it!!! HUH???They sound insane when they talk like this. I am sorry but they do!!!!!!! I want my check!!!!
PS I saw some even cuter dansko handpainted clogs online for 139! Just do a google! It’s called swanx or something like that
Is it even legal for the trustor and the trustee to be the same individual?
Also, is it legal to have such a vague definition of who the beneficiaries might be, as well as having the trustor-trustee pay herself a salary out of it?
“(i) SARAH PALIN as a result of the fact that she is Governor of the State of Alaska or as a result of the performance of her duties as Governor of the State of Alaska; and (ii) Covered Individuals, that may be selected or designated by the Trustee as provided herein, as a result of or arising out of their association or relationship with or employment by SARAH PALIN, in her
capacity as Governor of the State of Alaska. In addition, the purpose of the Trust shall be to pay all reasonable, necessary, and appropriate expenses of Trustee’s counsel and such other and usual, customary expenses and services that have been or may be incurred in connection with the above-stated purpose.”
I find this particularly worrisome: “as a result of or arising out of their [...] employment by SARAH PALIN, in her capacity as Governor of the State of Alaska” So good cronies can get a piece of the pie… This has got to be highly unethical, if not illegal.
Enjoyed your previous post, by the way. They have a Polar Bear swim each winter in the Susquehanna River, and a few other locations. No, I don’t dip in ice on purpose! RRRRRRrrrrgggggggggggg! Go Artic Cat! What a bozo! Flipping off the oposition, isn’t she?
@139 IsyFleur Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Is it even legal for the trustor and the trustee to be the same individual?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would bet lunch that W. A. Ross was the lawyer vetting this trust.
Soros can send me $$$ anytime. So far no luck!
Great post AKM!! This complaint is the best one since troopergate!
Can you IMAGINE the corruption, if all politicians in every branch of federal government, state and local authority had a “defense fun” for themselves and their cronies?
Applause, applause, applause!!!!!!
OT………….. meanwhile back at the ranch…….
They are “at it ” again!!!
Sebelius Nomination: Palin Supporters Fighting Despite Health Crisis
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/sebelius-nomination-palin_n_192166.html
Supporters of Sarah Palin are aiming to derail Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius by pressuring Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) to vote against his home state governor. The call to action came from Team Sarah (a social networking group for Palin fans) Tuesday, in spite of a burgeoning swine flu crisis. Last week, Team Sarah called on members to “flood the phone lines of the Senate Finance Committee,” demanding votes against Sebelius. That campaign failed — the committee approved of Sebelius in a 15 to 8 vote.
I’d be interested to know if this “Trust” was done by a real attorney and where it was executed?
RE: the tax issue, a trust can pay an individual’s tax burden on monies received from the trust. Most of the time this would refer to taxes you incur when you inheirit stocks within the trust and they make a gain. The trust can pay that portion of the taxes.
Did the two girlies just sit down and write this up without any legal guidance?
She’s sick people, really truly sick….and Alaska is giving her a free ride.
Celebrate good times, come on!!!!
Arlen Specter Switching Parties
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/arlen-specter-switching-p_n_192298.html
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) is reportedly becoming a Democrat.
“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” said Specter in a statement. “I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.”
“Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.”
Sorry to be ….but she does look like she may be pregnant. Hard to tell with that jacket. I wonder what Bristol looks like. I’m sorry this is really a MEOW reply.
Here in the lower 48, such a “trust fund” would be inconceivable. Most governors tend to be ethical, and to consult with their staff, and the AG on any potential ethical problems BEFORE they get in trouble. If they get sued, they are defended by the AG, so they don’t incur personal legal expenses.
Does Palin have ANYONE on staff who knows ANYTHING about ethics?
(That is a rhetorical question, and an answer is unnecessary).
Just in HUGE NEWS:
Specter To Switch Parties
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.
Specter’s decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next Senator from Minnesota.
A major note regarding the Palins legal debt, Todd most certainly accrued the larger part of any legal expenditures. He was deposed-with his lawyer present-and attended depositons-with his lawyer present-many more times then his wife. I think she was deposed once. One would venture to guess that the majority of the debt was accrued by Todd.
OT – Just received this twitter message from George Stephanopoulos:
GStephanopoulos: Senator Arlen Specter switches to Dems. Saves his seat Senate Dems will hit magic number 60 w Franken. GOP closer to extinct in Northeast
Doing the happy dance here in Pennsylvania!!
Arlen Specter — WooooT!!
Levi doing a GQ spread (Bristol will be spitting feathers, Levi mixing with yummy models)!!
Levi doing booK? Hmmmmmmmmmmm interesting!
BPoint – Good point about SP being able to distance herself from fund, but doesn’t that mean she couldn’t then get to the money? Ha! suits me!!
Sorry…seems the link at #135 doesn’t work.
The report, dated 3.09.05, covers Palin requesting the release of documents from a dismissed ethics complaint. Palin should be held to her own standard.
Here’s the key part of the text:
The state personnel board and Gregg Renkes reached a settlement Tuesday that results in the dismissal of an ethics complaints against the former Alaska attorney general.,,,,,,Last month, Murkowski’s spokeswoman said the state was attempting to recover the e-mails Renkes deleted. Since then, Becky Hultberg has refused to say anything about the lost documents.
“It’s important to get these documents made public so Alaskans can make their own judgments,” Palin said.
Palin said she hopes that the e-mails will surface, and that the release of Renkes’ and Murkowski’s depositions, with the rest of the investigative file, will resolve any lingering questions.
The question was asked here last night, and no one took it on, so I’ll ask it again: How does Young and Steven’s legal defense funds differ than this one for Palin?
My guess is that is has to do with the wording of the fund and the inclusion of other staff and family members. Also, Young and Steven’s funds were set up to defend against criminal activity; while ethics violations are illegal, they are not “criminal” per se. Anyone with a legal background out here in Mudpuppy land that wants to expand on this and let me know if I’m right?
Here is where is all started in 1995 with Clinton, Whitewater, Paula and Monica
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/18/defense.fund/
http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Law/Friends-of-Bill-shell-out-lawyers-contribute-to-Clinton-legal-fund-for-Paula-Jones-Whitewater-probes.html
This Legal Defense Fund stuff started with Clinton in the 90’s to pay for Whitewater, Jennifer, Paula and Monica.
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/18/defense.fund/
Including a do-over Defense Fund
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:13 AM
@124 WrongTruth Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:04 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may be right, but unless GINO has received any funds at all from the trust, she has not benefited from the trust or done anything unethically regarding this matter. Like I said earlier, she may well deny having anything to do with the trust, and thereby make this ethics complaint moot.
————-
In which case, the whole purpose of the trust is moot. She can’t say she didn’t request it and then turn around and take money out of it. So the trust will be stuck with a pot of money and no way to give it to her. Same with friends and family. If the family members take some, it’s still a benefit to her. If the friends take some, it’s a benefit to them. No matter how you look at it, if she takes that particular approach, she is effectively shutting down the fund.
BUT: I bet she has already requested a first payment to her lawyers.
There was also a question, earlier about who set up this fund. I don’t think it was WAR. I think it was the hotshot trusts lawyer (or at least the brother of a hothot trusts lawyer) who runs Alaska Trust Co. and who will actually be getting paid to administer it. Douglas J. Blattmachr
I still think this is the most problematic part of the trust fund document:
“Each of the beneficiaries of this trust, shall, in each calendar year, have an
absolute and unrestricted power to withdraw from this Trust up to the lesser of the total additions made to this Trust during each calendar year or an amount in cash or other property (including the cash value of life insurance policies, if no other cash or property is available) equal the lesser
of the total additions made to this Trust during each calendar year, divided equally among such beneficiaries, or an amount in cash or other property (including the cash value of life insurance policies, if no other cash or property is available) equal to the maximum amount which qualifies
for the Federal Gift Tax exclusion allowed by Section 2503(b) of the Code (currently $13,000 per donor, but such amount shall be adjusted to provide the maximum amount excludable) presuming that a donor’s spouse, if any, has consented to treat any such eligible gifts as being made one-half by such donor and one-half by such donor’s spouse. The holder(s) of such power are hereinafter referred to as “Donee”. Except as otherwise provided herein, said power of withdrawal shall not be cumulative from year to year, must be exercised separately for each calendar year in which any such addition or additions are made, and shall be exercisable only by
written notice to Trustee of the amount Donee wishes to withdraw, but no purpose for said withdrawal need be shown.”
It’s a Palin Family ATM!
How,What,When,Where, and How. Was there any money left at SarahPac when it dissolved? If so, does that money now go to the Alaska Fund Trust (what a misnomer)? If not, where does it go? How much was left? How much will be transferred, if that is what happens? Does SarahPac have to file a financial disclosure statement? If so, when? Thought it was suppose to be the end of July, but not sure. Just curious as to how all this works. Surely, there is more than $150 left at SarahPac, how is this disclosed? Are they going to set up a new pac or is the AFT the sole entity to contribute to now?
Are Alaskan laws laxer than those of VA, regarding pacs,trusts, Palins? Follow the money.
What’s the difference between Rod “the untouchable” Blagojevitch and Sarah “the invincible” Palin?
A federal indictment.
@157 the problem child IS MY NAME Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course GINO can take funds without requesting them!
The Fund can offer the funds without any solicitation from GINO and her clan, and she may accepts the funds-whether it’s ethical or not-or she may reject them. Either way GINO can say they were not solicited.
Has SarahPAC dissolved? Or is the ATF just a smoke screen to hide the real activities going on?
Specter switching to the Dems is the BIG headline at HuffPo. I always liked sorta like Specter. Welcome to the light, Arlen. Wonder what all the conservative mouthpieces will have to say about this…maybe, Beck will cry again or pray for Arlen’s soul.
Slightly off topic…back to the arctic cat jacket
Has anyone noticed that the arctic cat jacket Sarah Palin wore this weekend at the Alyeska slush cup is a DIFFERENT jacket than the one she wore at the Iron Dog (and which generated the ethics complaint). How many of them does she have?
http://www.divasblueoasis.com/diary/566/yes-the-governor-is-still-wearing-the-arctic-cat-jacket
http://divasblueoasis.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=478
Does the fact she was wearing the jacket imply that the earlier ethics complaint was dismissed? Is the resolution of the complaint ever made public?
hedgewytch Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:40 AM
The question was asked here last night, and no one took it on, so I’ll ask it again: How does Young and Steven’s legal defense funds differ than this one for Palin?
———–
I think it differs significantly because Young and Stevens were not subject to that pesky Alaskan Executive Branch Ethics Act.
Congress and the Senate have their own ethics and gift reporting rules, which presumably they did not run afoul of (in this particular case). In fact, I bet they got advice from the federal ethics officers involved about how to do it properly. Their funds also, presumably, were set up to deal with federal charges that may or may not be filed against them.
hedgewytch—another difference between the funds is the ethics laws that apply to the various parties. SP is subject to STATE OF ALASKA ethics laws. Young and Stevens are subject to FEDERAL ethics laws applicable to Congress.
The two different sets of laws are likely slightly different. But that difference could be critical.
Hey AKM I’m upset thst you did not make the posting on Huff.
I’m going to trip on my bottom lip!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/27/palin-legal-fund-challeng_n_192044.html
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An ethics complaint filed Monday against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin claims the legal defense fund formed last week to challenge such claims is an ethics violation itself.
With the Specter news, Reid should seat Franken as it was said with Burris that you don’t need the Certificate signed by the Gov. Franken was declared the winner by the Court. It’s Coleman stalling it by appealing which won’t fly.
Reid should trump Pawlenty and seat Franken Now!! Give the gift of 60 seats to Obama for his 100 Days!!! Enough time for Franken to fly in this afternoon!! He can charter a jet!!
Snarlin’ Arlen – I dunno. He’s saying its the R that have changed by going even further to the right. Just cuz he got left (ha!) off their ship doesn’t mean he is a good addition to the D’s boat. I’ve watched him talk and talk but never walk the talk.
pearl89–I don’t think SarahPAC has dissolved. She just wanted future donations to go to her legal defense fund instead of the PAC. PACs have a different set of laws that apply to them than do trusts. PACs are governed by the Federal Election Commission and the money is to be used by officeholders, candidates or groups relating to political offices or causes. Stringent reporting laws govern PACs. After the reports are filed, they are public and we can all see how much money is in the PAC and who donated it. Anyone can learn more about PACs from the FEC webpage.
Trust funds are totally different from PACs. They can be used for a variety of purposes. This one is set up under the laws of the state of Alaska. The money is NOT interchangeable with PAC funds. Trusts have much more flexibility in how they operate. They are NOT public. They do not have to file public reports.
pearl89 Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:56 AM
How,What,When,Where, and How. Was there any money left at SarahPac when it dissolved?
———–
It has not announced it has dissolved, and the PAC is still accepting donations (even if their page has not been updated).
If so, does that money now go to the Alaska Fund Trust (what a misnomer)?
———–
It can’t, because the AFT is only allowed to accept funds from individuals.
If not, where does it go?
————
Maybe donated to another PAC that “progresses” the values that SP holds dear?
How much was left? How much will be transferred, if that is what happens? Does SarahPac have to file a financial disclosure statement?
If so, when? Thought it was suppose to be the end of July, but not sure. Just curious as to how all this works. Surely, there is more than $150 left at SarahPac, how is this disclosed? Are they going to set up a new pac or is the AFT the sole entity to contribute to now?
————
Nobody knows how much money they have left, because they haven’t filed a financial disclosure yet. Required I think in June.
Again, they are requesting that people hold off on donating the the PAC and wait to donate to AFT, but that request hasn’t been updated since the AFT launched. (I think when they lost Donatelli they lost their web support.)
Are Alaskan laws laxer than those of VA, regarding pacs,trusts, Palins? Follow the money.
———–
The trust company that is running the AFT boasts on its website that Alaska has the “friendliest” trust laws in the country.
PACs, I think, are primarily governed by federal law, and only incidentally by state law.
Palins are governed by… well, apparently no laws.
Bpoint expresses concern that the complaint was filed prior to any unethical action occurring…i.e. before Palin received any benefit from the trust.
Interesting point, but keep in mind the purpose of the complaint is not to score a point against Palin. It’s not about finding her ‘guilty’. It is about stopping (or preventing in this case) unethical action.
Palin can even prevent any legal costs to defend this complaint by simply requesting that the trust be dissolved immediately, and disavowing any participation in it. The complaint would then be dismissed without any legal defense costs to Palin.
Palin’s spokesperson has indicated that Sarah wanted this to be about Alaskans, right? So I don’t think we can argue that Sarah is not behind this trust…
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:53 AM
@Polly Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:48 AM
FYI: Rex Butler was selected as 2007 Super Lawyer – criteria:
Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state’s top up-and-coming attorneys.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is it not odd that Rex Butler is representing Levi Johnston and Diana Palin?
I wonder will they pay him from the Trust Fund?
*****************************************************************
You are watching a multi-tasking master “Super – Lawyer” at work !! Rex has dumptrucks full of dirt and Tank is gathering more as I type this. Go Rex !! sarah was banking on WAR to stop Rex. NOT.
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:53 AM
@Polly Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:48 AM
FYI: Rex Butler was selected as 2007 Super Lawyer – criteria:
Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state’s top up-and-coming attorneys.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is it not odd that Rex Butler is representing Levi Johnston and Diana Palin?
I wonder will they pay him from the Trust Fund?
*****************************************************************
You are watching a multi-tasking master “Super – Lawyer” at work !! Rex has dumptrucks full of dirt and Tank is gathering more as I type this. Go Rex !! sarah was banking on WAR to stop Rex. NOT.
The Ala$ka Fund Trust….Making Alaska safer for only a few bucks per shmuck.
Hey TX Lisa! Thanks for the back up!
sorry on the double post………using my son’s super laptop.
You know, up to this point, dealing with Palin’s Ethics complaints has been like trying to nail Jello to the wall. All I want to see is ONE of them take. That is all it will take, just ONE.
I sort of hope it’s Housegate, when or if that ever gets filed. Though, I’ll take Catgate. The list is long, but I think those are the two that are so clear in violation that they will stick. Housegate could send her or her little Toad to jail. And all those other fools that helped her.
And WOOOOOOT Arlen Specter! Wow, I’m flabbergasted.
I’m posting a copy of the McClatchy article today on the HARRASS MEAT people and Sebellius confirmation. It’s fascinating. Supposedly the MEAT people have 70,000 members. It does identify them as the Susan B. Anthony Society anti-choice people.
It also states that their mobilization resulted in FORTY (count ‘em) calls – even when it appeared in HuffPo, it only DOUBLED the calls (to 80?)
I am totally in awe of the power these individuals have (snark snark) – 40 people figured out how to dial their phone.
Oh by the way – enjoy the posted comments. Seems people “see” these individuals for who and what they are
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/67004.html
SarahPAC belongs to Palin, however the company who was running it severed relations with her. The reason probably was that the company took a percentage of the haul and there was no haul. Palin wasn’t cooperating with any of the normal fund raising measures. She wouldn’t show up. Nothing she did indicated she was a serious candidate. Basically she is toast and so she wanted a fund for grifters to pay her bills. PACs must be reported. Palin is not leaving Wasilla. I suspect there wasn’t that much money in the PAC or she wouldn’t have pulled the flim-flam of pretending to do state business in Chicago when she went to Indiana. I bet she met someone in the VIP lounge of the airport and called it a meeting.
BHT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Slightly off topic…back to the arctic cat jacket
…
Does the fact she was wearing the jacket imply that the earlier ethics complaint was dismissed? Is the resolution of the complaint ever made public?
——————
I think it indicates that she doesn’t give a rat’s a$$ about ethics.
As for the resolution of the complaints, I’m pretty sure that if any of the ethics complaints are resolved in her favour, we’ll be hearing about it. If they are resolved in the public’s favour, I don’t know.
I think one of the terms of the settlement for the kid’s travel gate was that the settlement was made public… anyone remember? (Muttering: So many gates, so many gates…)
Soooo glad to see Arlen Specter sa the light…Wooo Hooo Dems…
NO way she’s pregnant again. It’s the vest! Levi in GQ..now that could be good. He looks like he’d clean up pretty good for that kind of a magazine spread. No doubt Bristol spittign nails that it’s not her in VOUGE.
As for teh Artic Cat, I cut her slack. Isn’t it compartable to beign the family member of a spoinsored athlete? Like Michael Phleps mother/sisters wearing a Speedo jacket or t-shirt. Not gettind paid for it, but certainly not advertising as part of any contractual agreemetn with the corporate sponsor. Just a perk of her husbands sport and business. Plenty of athletes’ families benefit from the coproate sponsorship in the clothing department. I see major loopholes with the Artic Cat ethics complaint.
If she broke the law, why shouldn’t she be responsible for paying her legal bills. What is so hard about that concept. If I have a medical procedure, I have to actually pay for that expertise. If she needed to contract legal expertise, pay the darn bill Sarah! And here’s an idea: stop breaking the law and you won’t have future legal expenses. geez.
Arlen to speak at 2:15 EST. live on Capitol Hill.
let it run, Artic Cat benefits from her POSITION as Gov. when she wears that stuff. It is a conflict of interest and not the same as an athelete.
BHT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Slightly off topic…back to the arctic cat jacket
Palin is just saying” F……….U, see I can do whatever I like!”, because this was an event where everyone wore costumes.
Palin is, as my mother would say “a poop disturber”, she is rubbing everyones face in it, mainly the person who brought the complaint.
She is just HOPING someone brings another ethics complaint about it.
@sauerkraut
What’s the difference between Rod “the untouchable” Blagojevitch and Sarah “the invincible” Palin?
A federal indictment.
………………………….
I like Blago…it’s been said that he “defied” rules to help the people of his state…palin does whatever she does to help herself, her family, but definitely not her state. It’s too bad an indictment hasn’t come down on her…I see her as being and doing so much worse. unethical = criminal , in my opinion when it comes to the palinmeister.
The $150 limit at the ATF is because that is the maximum a state employee can accept in a gift. That implies, to me, the intent by SP to accept the funds to pay her debts.
#95 greydog Δ
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Well put! English doesn’t seem to be the first language for these PR mouthpieces of Palin’s. Is English even taught in schools there? Did everyone get to skip English and go to gym class instead? It’s laughable.
#98 Keith
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Well said, Keith. WTF? Period.
let it run,
I think the distinction is that GINO is there in her official capacity as governor, so ArcticCat knows that there will be far more cameras on her than there would be on any “ordinary” family member. They gift the stuff to her, so she will wear it, benefiting them. Could it be that they also pay more to sponsor the Dud than his partner because they see more value in him because of his relationship to the GINO? So then the family is benefiting from additional $ because she wore the gear.
Basheert Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Supposedly the MEAT people have 70,000 members.
____________________
That number is GREATLY exaggerated. They were basically “infiltrated” for lack of a better word by a particular forum and a vast number of these members made numerous accounts (think along the lines of hundreds each) and so that bulked the numbers up. Then instead of using one of the “banked” accounts after one had been banned, they just made up new accounts as long as they were able (until TS shut down new registrations for quite a while). They have banned huge numbers of people, but still keep those numbers on their “member count” to make it look like they are bigger than they are.
#100 <MissSunshine
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
You bring up an important point, MissSunshine. Sounds like a waste of taxpayers money, having a ‘board’ that rubber stamps everything from their employer, Palin. Just exactly what is their job description, may I ask?
Time to dump that lot, also. They’ve already proven useless with the Troopergate ‘investigation’ they were doing.
Star Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Soooo glad to see Arlen Specter sa the light…Wooo Hooo Dems…
==============================================
I love that song, “I saw the Light”, now I’m humming it..lol Spector brings Dems to the magic #60!!
From Huff Po;
“Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.
Olympia Snowe is close behind! Snow said she would stay with them “for now”, but that “they are unwilling to listen to anyone”.
A moderate Republican, Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence close votes and Senatorial filibusters, making her among the most influential of U.S. Senators. She is considered a centrist Republican in the senate.
If I were republican I would be very worried about Senator Snow
Senator Susan Collins is another worry for republicans as her work regarding education and health care are in lock step with Obamas vision for America.
@Keith
Alaska is an ethics violator itself. From the official Alaska website one can link to private websites. That’s a violation. Alaska is woefully weak on ethics violations because all seem to lack a basic understanding of what a violation is. Palin isn’t accountable because she governs in a weak ethics environment. Alaska home page to the Governor’s page, to the first gentleman’s page, to over 50 private businesses who sponsor and support the Tesoro Iron Dog. Anybody who works in a public office and has attended ethics seminars knows that’s a violation, but Alaska permits it.
………………………..
hmmm, very interesting…I, personally, haven’t heard this said before and I agree, it’s WRONG!
@Let it run.
The Governors job is to promote all of the states businesses and to attract more business to their state.
Artic Cat is a Minnesota based business. The Gov. should be promoting Alaska’s business.
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:02 AM
The Gov. should be promoting Alaska’s business.
_______________________
Well she is promoting the first dude’s business pretty much so I guess in her eyes that is the same thing?
@EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:05 AM
But she is giving her husband an unfair advantage over other Alaska businesses. That is unethical.
Wow, so many creative thinkers here today! I love the discussions, and how they are all staying so civil. That is why it is so much fun to comment here! VIVE le mudflats!
Let it run – The difference here with a family member wearing the gear is that she was wearing it while also performing official duties as a Governor. She was the Official Race Starter at the Iron Dog. And also did more than just attend an event at the Slush Cup.
#98 Keith
Alaska is an ethics violator itself. From the official Alaska website one can link to private websites. That’s a violation. Alaska is woefully weak on ethics violations because all seem to lack a basic understanding of what a violation is. Palin isn’t accountable because she governs in a weak ethics environment. Alaska home page to the Governor’s page, to the first gentleman’s page, to over 50 private businesses who sponsor and support the Tesoro Iron Dog. Anybody who works in a public office and has attended ethics seminars knows that’s a violation, but Alaska permits it.
===========================================
I had no idea!!!!!!!!! Pajama clad bloggers certainly know better!
The Alaskan government is (obviously) WOEFULLY ignorant where it concerns ethics. There is no consequence, as Palins’ “Troppergate” ethics violation proved out.
Why bother finding violations, if there are no consequences? I really do not understand.
Just the fact that Palin is able to HAVE a hand picked “Personnel Board” is outrageous. I would bet every governor would LOVE to have that!
Talk about the fox minding the hen house!
Look at the outcome of “Troopergate”, it was disgusting, really. The state finds Palin guilty, but there are no consequences, then her personnel board finds her innocent.
All that time and money, only to have a little consequence in the court of public opinion.
What can Alaskans do about this? It is frustrating for me, so I can’t imagine how Alaskans must feel.
When will the public know the out come of all these ethics complaints ? Or dose Gino’s Personal board read & trash them.This is just mind boggling. .
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:07 AM
But she is giving her husband an unfair advantage over other Alaska businesses. That is unethical.
_____________________
How can it be unethical she is his wife, she has every right to support her husband.
(I love playing devil’s advocate)
Badfinger Says: April 27th, 2009 at 8:15 PM “Here’s a statement I bet she wouldn’t like to hear going around ‘Gee doesn’t she look pregnant again?’ ”
I didn’t get around to seeing the Hummer pic and your comment above, Badfinger, until this morning, but I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing!
Like, “didn’t she look just like this in that black quilted/hooded jacket March 4, 2008 at some get-together that she dragged Piper to?”
@EyeOnYou:
As a wife and a private citizen she has every right to support her husband, but she is not a private citizen. As governor she is supporting the business. She is not a private citizen, yet.
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:20 AM
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:07 AM
But she is giving her husband an unfair advantage over other Alaska businesses. That is unethical.
_____________________
How can it be unethical she is his wife, she has every right to support her husband.
———-
Not if she is the governor! The governor’s husband is one of those pesky family members who are not to benefit from her position.
laskaGuy Says:
April 27th, 2009 at 9:57 PM
@Mike – Yup, I was being sarcastic. She started this time last year with something like 80% approval rating, and has gone rapidly downhill since the VP pick. I think the numbers should be telling her something, but I doubt she’s listening.
Someone mentioned about 13 ethic complaints in two years in office, but these complaints have all come within less than a year.
Even if they are all frivolous, which they’re not, it has to tell you that you’re doing something wrong.
—-
Good to know, After reading through the SP bots on huffpo… my Sarcasm and BS detectors are broken.. Waaay to many trolls posting. It’s unheard of for a sitting governor to have that many ethics complains in less than a year. An they keep growing, its simply astounding. I really hope you guys finally get an honest person (or at least honest compared to SP) in office that will serve your state well.. I’d really like to feel comfortable to come explore alaska…
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:25 AM
@EyeOnYou:
As a wife and a private citizen she has every right to support her husband, but she is not a private citizen. As governor she is supporting the business. She is not a private citizen, yet.
_________________________________
Has she come out and said anything about supporting this business? No, she is simply being a good wife and supporting her husband. She was just wearing the clothing that was handy on that particular day because it was good cold weather gear and she knew that she might be outside for a while. She hasn’t done ad’s for them, she hasn’t said publicly that she supports this business over another one. Has Arctic Cat come out and said that they got any increase in their business from her wearing those clothes? No they have not.
EyeOnYou Says: Has Arctic Cat come out and said that they got any increase in their business from her wearing those clothes? No they have not.
———-
Actually, I think they said they were pleased with the extra attention. Which is not quite the same thing, but publicity doesn’t have to be good publicity to get people talking about your product. Which we are doing.
Not that I had ever planned to go out and buy an ugly snowsuit or a pollution-generating toy (that’s what they are here, not necessaries of life, as they are in some parts of AK).
I wonder if Team Sarah knows that there is a lot of historical evidence that Susan B Anthony (whom their group is affiliated with) was a lesbian. Just do a google and you will see! A big part of me wants to go register at Team Sarah and other places and make a huge point of this. Just because these are such small minded idiots who most likely do NOT accept gay and lesbian people……
@ EyeOnYou:
Your Q.Has she come out and said anything about supporting this business?
Reply: A billboard doesn’t speak either, but it does say something.
Your comment: No, she is simply being a good wife and supporting her husband.
Reply: Artic Cat supported her husband with sponsorship money, clothing and equipment.
Your comment: She was just wearing the clothing that was handy on that particular day because it was good cold weather gear and she knew that she might be outside for a while.
Reply: She has plenty of coats without logo’s-we have all seen the picture of the furry color coat. Looks real warm and a coat that big can’t be hard to find.
Your comment: She hasn’t done ad’s for them, she hasn’t said publicly that she supports this business over another one.
Reply: She is wearing the darn coat. She is a walking billboard.
Your comment :Has Arctic Cat come out and said that they got any increase in their business from her wearing those clothes? No they have not.
Reply: Why would they!! They probably understand the ethics problem too, but because they are an out of state firm, no harm to them.
the problem child IS MY NAME Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Actually, I think they said they were pleased with the extra attention
_____________________
If you will check you will find that they were saying that Todd being married to the VP nominee was what was giving them a thrill, but it did not give them extra sales, therefore you cannot conclude that they received any additional benefit from this.
(this is kinda fun, although it is getting harder to come up with plausible Palin stuff)
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Your Q.Has she come out and said anything about supporting this business?
Reply: A billboard doesn’t speak either, but it does say something.
** She is not a billboard and you cannot prove that she was doing anything other than staying warm!
Your comment: No, she is simply being a good wife and supporting her husband.
Reply: Artic Cat supported her husband with sponsorship money, clothing and equipment.
**Exactly! Supported her husband NOT her.
Your comment: She was just wearing the clothing that was handy on that particular day because it was good cold weather gear and she knew that she might be outside for a while.
Reply: She has plenty of coats without logo’s-we have all seen the picture of the furry color coat. Looks real warm and a coat that big can’t be hard to find.
**You cannot prove that she did not happen to just grab the stuff that was the warmest for such a cold day.
Your comment: She hasn’t done ad’s for them, she hasn’t said publicly that she supports this business over another one.
Reply: She is wearing the darn coat. She is a walking billboard.
**See above answer
Your comment :Has Arctic Cat come out and said that they got any increase in their business from her wearing those clothes? No they have not.
Reply: Why would they!! They probably understand the ethics problem too, but because they are an out of state firm, no harm to them.
Well unless you can prove that this was a benefit to them you have no case!
“Has Arctic Cat come out and said that they got any increase in their business from her wearing those clothes? No they have not.”
Well, actually, THEY HAVE, commented they are tickled over the EXPOSURE, their brand, has got, due to, Palin’s, POLITICS!!!!
Who here has that Arctic Cat, letter, they sent out to distributors, gloating about the MILLIONS and MILLIONS who have been exposed to their brand through, Palin’s, Political RNC campaign and as governor with Todd, beside her?
Dump the broad – she’s killing your state and wasting everyone’s time. Her 15 minutes were overs months ago.
@EyeOnYou
Well unless you can prove that this was a benefit to them you have no case!
That is a wrong assumption. If GINO promoted the company by wearing the logo, and the results were poor, that doesn’t make GINO’s actions unethical, based on the ethics laws of Alaska.
Are you suggesting that it would only be an unethical, that after having accepted gifts-the jacket et al..-that GINO or the company would have to benefit?
” She was just wearing the clothing that was handy on that particular day because it was good cold weather gear and she knew that she might be outside for a while.”
Lol, the jacket was MONOGRAMMED.
Lookie there, a shot with three Palin,s with their ARCTIC CAT gear in the same pic.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0a4zfQn5LG1rk?q=Sarah+Palin
Oh, lookie at this as well, Todd’,s racing buddy Scott, his wife, she is at the finish line with the EXACT SAME TEAM JACKET as Palin is wearing.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/02O04INfSe4XT
Dang, they have, Piper lit up in that fluorescent green, just like her mother.
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:52 AM
@EyeOnYou
Well unless you can prove that this was a benefit to them you have no case!
That is a wrong assumption. If GINO promoted the company by wearing the logo, and the results were poor, that doesn’t make GINO’s actions unethical, based on the ethics laws of Alaska.
Are you suggesting that it would only be an unethical, that after having accepted gifts-the jacket et al..-that GINO or the company would have to benefit?
_____________________
I am saying that you have to prove a benefit to either Governor Palin or Arctic Cat or you have no case. Since you cannot prove either then you have no case!
Sec. 39.52.110. Scope of code.
(a) The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any
effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.
In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful
discharge of an officer’s public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent an
officer from following other independent pursuits
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Has she come out and said anything about supporting this business? No, she is simply being a good wife and supporting her husband. She was just wearing the clothing that was handy on that particular day because it was good cold weather gear and she knew that she might be outside for a while. She hasn’t done ad’s for them, she hasn’t said publicly that she supports this business over another one. Has Arctic Cat come out and said that they got any increase in their business from her wearing those clothes? No they have not.
=============================================
Good grief, Charlie Brown!! If you bothered to read the complaint, you would realize the worth of the Arctic Cat sponsorship. Two snowmachines all the entrance fees, mechanic, planes to follow in case of break down, fuel etc. That amount to thousands upon thousands of dollars, 2 snowmachines are 60,000 alone!
The Arctic Cat outfits for the Palin family and Todds partners family were custom made. That is because they were expected to wear them at the race, as PART OF THE SPONSORSHIP!!
That arrangement is COMMON IN SPONSORSHIP DEALS!!
There IS no getting away with the FACT that the Palin family were expected to wear their custom made Arctic Cat clothing.
Why do you think it was custom made for them?? To wear it is to advertise.
To say that “She was just wearing the clothing that was handy on that particular day because it was good cold weather gear and she knew that she might be outside for a while. ” is simply asinine.
No one “just happens to wear” CUSTOM MADE CLOTHING!
http://www.atvscene.com/fyi08/arcticcat_1029.html
Palin and Arctic Cat Share the Passion
October 29, 2008
Today we received a follow up letter from our friend at Arctic Cat, Kale Wainer, about the recent media attention Arctic Cat has received after vice presidential candidate, Todd Palin, made a special stop in Thief River Falls to visit his friends at Arctic Cat.
Hello Friends of Arctic Cat,
What a week for Arctic Cat. In case you missed it, we have had unprecedented opportunities in recent days to Share Our Passion on television and in print, in the news media and in entertainment circles.
It began with Team Arctic racer and husband of vice presidential candidate, Todd Palin, making a special stop in Thief River Falls last Friday, October 17 along with racing partner and seven-time Iron Dog winner, Scott Davis. Sure, it was meant to be a politically-motivated photo op, but Palin spent way more time praising our snowmobile brand than the Republican ticket. We’re proud to have provided the perfect backdrop where Palin could advocate for the outdoors and more importantly, Arctic Cat.
Press coverage from Palin’s visit was seen all over, including a special segment on “Entertainment Tonight” and broadcast coverage in 30 states. Print coverage reached more than 700,000 people with highlights in Thief River Falls Times, Grand Forks Herald, St Paul Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, Bemidji Pioneer, Duluth News Tribune and The Leader-Telegram.
The spotlight on Arctic Cat didn’t end there. During its highest rated episode in 14 years, Saturday Night Live featured Team Arctic Racewear on a widely praised “Weekend Update” segment. If you didn’t get a chance to see SNL, be sure to check out the great National coverage we received here. You’ll find this clip alone has been seen by more than 2.3 million people! We hope that you share in our excitement over the publicity we’ve received in the last week. We’re proud of our brand and even more proud of you, and your commitment to sharing the Arctic Cat passion.
=======================================
You will note that SARAHS’ appearance on SNL got Arctic Cat the bulk of the free publicity.
==============================================
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/now-a-word-from-todds-sponsor/
Now a Word from Todd’s Sponsor
By LESLIE WAYNE
Todd Palin signed autographs on behalf of Arctic Cat snowmobiles at the Hay Days Grass Drags in Forest Lake, Minn. (Photo: Arctic Cat)
Fresh from his wife’s rousing acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Todd Palin, the husband of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and the potential “second husband,” did something that few in politics do: He went to the Hay Days Grass Drags in Forest Lake, Minn., where he signed autographs on behalf of Arctic Cat snowmobiles.
Mr. Palin is an Arctic Cat-sponsored snowmobile racer and spent the weekend after the convention at the company’s booth signing autographs and greeting the crowd, while wearing a shirt emblazoned with the company’s logo.
=================================================
http://minnesotaindependent.com/13636/todd-palin-and-me-day-two-on-the-t-pal-caravan
Todd (Palin) and me: Day two on the T-Pal Caravan
By PAUL DEMKO 10/18/08 2:00 PM
I really had just one pressing question to ask the “first dude”: Does he think Alaska should secede from the United States of America? (Well, maybe two:
Where did he intend to ride his snow machine upon taking up residence in Washington, D.C.?) Palin had, after all, been a member of the Alaskan Independence Party — which has at times advocated becoming an autonomous republic — up until 2002. In fact it wasn’t until after his wife was picked as the party’s VP nominee that he actually registered as a Republican.
But actually asking Palin that question — or any question for that matter — looked like a fairly formidable task. Suffice it to say that the highly orchestrated five-stop caravan through Minnesota was not set up to allow him to pontificate on policy matters and potentially become an embarrassing liability for John McCain’s presidential campaign. Rather Palin’s whistlestop tour was designed to fire up a very targeted niche of the GOP base, namely hunters and snowmobilers.
Arriving at the Arctic Cat factory in Thief River Falls shortly before the Iron Dog champ’s scheduled 9:30 appearance, there were a few hundred people lined up waiting for the show. A handful of local reporters were cordoned off at the front of the room so that they could get unobstructed footage of Palin shaking hands and signing autographs for the GOP faithful.
I attempted to enter this exclusive realm, but was rebuffed by a Secret Service agent who explained that it was up to the McCain campaign who was granted access. I soon was joined by the editor of the Warroad Pioneer, who was also seeking entry to the press area. Eventually Tom Steward, director of communications for McCain’s Minnesota campaign, came over to us. The reporter from Warroad was let through. I was not.
“I don’t think you should be up there,” Steward told me. “Why not?” I queried. “I think you know,” he replied. He then said that it was up to Arctic Cat to decide which reporters were permitted into the inner realm (clearly not true) and said he’d check with the company and get back to me.
Basheert
Maet Haras made 40 phone calls against Sebelius, the 80 calls from Huffpo were FOR Sebelius.
If these 40 calls translate into the amount of people willing to actually part with cash for their queen (which I seriously doubt, they are just blowhards), then I don’t think Wasilly Sarah can afford any more ethics complaints
Hmmm.
2004, Neither, Piper nor Palin, wore Arctic Gear.
http://www.adn.com/photos/v-gallery/story/509850.html?/1521/gallery/509852-a509977-t3.html
http://www.adn.com/photos/v-gallery/story/509850.html?/1521/gallery/509852-a510601-t3.html
2007, again no Arctic Cat
http://www.authenticalaskatours.com/images/sarah_palin_iron_dog_i9pk.jpg
2008 No fluorescent Green either
http://www.adn.com/photos/v-gallery/story/509850.html?/1521/gallery/509852-a509980-t3.html
Curious she gets outfitted head to toe, coming and going, in Arctic Cat, team gear, the year, Todd, is internationally RECOGNIZED, as Sarah Palin’s husband and curiouser…he lands a $30,000 contract, with Arctic Cat.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/03/10/palin/index.html
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Sec. 39.52.110. Scope of code.
(a) The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any
effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.
In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful
discharge of an officer’s public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent an officer from following other independent pursuit
==========================================
When Palin is making an appearance anywhere in her role as governor of Alaska, there IS no room in that to include “independent pursuits”.
If Palin were simply a spectator, fine, but in both Arctic Cat clothing instances, she was appearing in her role as governor, representing the state of Alaska.
Her husband Todd AND his partner have HUGE monetary gain from their Arctic Cat sponsorship. 60,000 in snowmachines alone.
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
You are just a poor troll.
EyeOnYou Says:
this is kinda fun, although it is getting harder to come up with plausible Palin stuff)
I bet Celtic Diva would enjoy debating you on this subject.
I see McCain is having almost as good of a time as Palin………LOL
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/limbaugh-to-specter-take_n_192382.html
Limbaugh To Specter: Take McCain And His Daughter With You
“A lot of people said, well Specter, take McCain with you, and his daughter. Take McCain and his daughter with you,” talk show host Rush Limbaugh declared during the early hour of his Tuesday program.
Pointing to a Washington Post poll that showed only 21 percent of voters identify themselves as Republicans, Smerconish concluded: “I think the number is down to 20 percent.”
Meanwhile Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, one of the few remaining moderate Republicans in the Senate, told the Huffington Post Tuesday that Specter’s abandonment of the GOP is “devastating,” both “personally and I think for the party.”
Matha Says:
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
You are just a poor troll.
…………………………………………
No EyeOnYou is NOT a troll.
C. Rock Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:36 AM
EyeOnYou Says:
this is kinda fun, although it is getting harder to come up with plausible Palin stuff)
I bet Celtic Diva would enjoy debating you on this subject.
==========================================
Na, EyeOnYou is a waste of time. Should be called E I E I O. Old Sarah Pliban had a farm…… E Y E on you, and on that farm she had some hicks…..E Y E on you…….. with word salad here and nonsense there
“I am saying that you have to prove a benefit to either Governor Palin or Arctic Cat or you have no case. Since you cannot prove either then you have no case!”
Yes, it has been shown, that Arctic Cat, PAYS, Todd, as an official team member of their organization, to represent them AND it is shown, this year, he was REWARDED more then any year previous for his EXCLUSIVE connection with, Palin’s, international exposure as governor of Alaska.
Palin, never in the past, has been decked out in full body, Arctic Cat, coverage. Let alone MONOGRAMMED.
Easy enough, if Palin, wants to say she, BOUGHT her own Team Jacket and pants, cause they are the comfiest thing around….then let her produce a receipt.
C. Rock Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Matha Says:
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
You are just a poor troll.
…………………………………………
No EyeOnYou is NOT a troll.
=====================================
Really? Anyone that defends Palin with such nonsense must be one.
I’ve read sections of the Ethics Law that have been variously posted and linked, and I’m still wondering: What are the consequences if the Board finds that Palin (or another covered state executive) committed a violation? And who administers those consequences?
EyeOnYou, in your quote of “Sec. 39.52.110. Scope of code”, you’ve outlined the exact two statements that are cause for filing TWO of the ethics complaints that are outstanding against Gov. Palin.
1) the statement under (a) where it says “…any
effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust…” relates to the logo-embellished Arctic Cat suit worn by Gov. Palin while performing “official action” duties at the Iron Dog race.
She and Todd Palin have a financial interest in their race equipment, which has been all but donated free-of-charge by Arctic Cat (remember the statement in Sports Illustrated last month, ” Some Iron Doggers have spent upwards of $30,000 to finance a once-in-a-lifetime run into the wild heart of Alaska. Tapping their credit cards, they’ve shelled out $10,000 each for a 2009 snow machine, $10,000 more for an identical training sled, $2,500 for the race entry fee and a few thousand more for trailing airplane support. Palin and Davis, in contrast, have spent almost nothing. They are prodigiously sponsored, with their names monogrammed in script on their matching Arctic Cat jackets.”
Don’t tell me all that largesse benefits only Todd Palin…. Hah!
I wonder if this is on Palin’s financial statement? (another quote from Sports Illustrated) “Soon a 53-year-old knifemaker, Roger Comar, approaches Palin and Davis reverently. Comar has traveled from his home in Marion, N.C., expressly to give each rider (and Sarah, too) a custom-made jackknife whose blade is crafted from the metal of an Arctic Cat F600 drive chain. Each knife took Comar 20 hours of shop time…”
And 2) the statement under (a) where it says “In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful
discharge of an officer’s public duties and responsibilities…” — that is the basis for the ethics complaint regarding Gov. Palin’s trip to Indiana in the last days of the legislative session.
The excuse that the trip was “business” in that she spent 90 minutes with the TransCanada people a couple of hours away in Chicago is bushwah — she could have conducted that discussion, as she so often does in other matters, by teleconference.
Government officials have long been criticized for “junkets” to gloriously warm, sunny, posh foreign places on the same pretext. Gov. Palin’s trip to Indiana was a “junket” on state time. Yes, it’s the dreadful timing that is the crux of the complaint.
@EyeOnYou
I am saying that you have to prove a benefit to either Governor Palin or Arctic Cat or you have no case. Since you cannot prove either then you have no case!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One doesn’t have to prove the benefit. It is the intent to benefit that is unethical.
Folks, let’s not start accusing one another please. It’s the job of AKM and Snoskred and whoever else moderates to make the ‘troll’ determination.
Now, on topic: Can anyone explain how exactly a “frivolous” ethics complaint would cost SP anything out of pocket? Or even how a non-frivolous ethics complaint would cost her?
There was Troopergate, which she filed the complaint against herself. Then, there was a settlement worked out in Travelgate — did she use her own lawyer to work that out with the state? Did she have to?
sjk from the belly of the plane Says:
let it run, Artic Cat benefits from her POSITION as Gov. when she wears that stuff. It is a conflict of interest and not the same as an athelete.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
I disagree.
If her husband did not have the sponsor and she wore the jacket: what then? One needs to establish that 1) Artic Cat benefitted from her wearing it, because SHE (Sarah Palin) wore it. (I “assume” she has had the gear for some time pre-VP run and that she wore it on previous occasions) AND [big bold letters] that 2) Artic Cat asked or paid her to wear it “as the Governor” in contractual terms Or she demanded to be compensated for wearing it.
While ACat may have benefitted from her wearing the jacket, if there is no binding agreement to wear it from either party, then she is off the hook because she will say, she just threw it on to wear to the event.
I doubt She would be called to task on this issue (jacket) had she not run for VP.
There are bigger Battles to fight and maybe it is not this ACat one.
#225 Matha Says:
C. Rock Says:
…………………………………………
No EyeOnYou is NOT a troll.
=====================================
Really? Anyone that defends Palin with such nonsense must be one.
*********************************
Matha, Maybe you are kidding and I am out of the loop. It doesn’t sound to me Like EyeOnYou is defending Palin. Sounds to me like EOY is expressing a different perspective or playing devil’s advocate about the Arctic Cat complaint. Anyway, we are not like haraS maeT who blindly follow a person without debate on issues.
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:48 AM
One doesn’t have to prove the benefit. It is the intent to benefit that is unethical.
_________________________
Can you prove that she intended to benefit?
_______________________________________
C. Rock Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:36 AM
EyeOnYou Says:
this is kinda fun, although it is getting harder to come up with plausible Palin stuff)
I bet Celtic Diva would enjoy debating you on this subject.
______________________________
She might but I would not stand a chance! It has been hard enough playing devils advocate this far, I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out the way the folks on the other side would respond
“While ACat may have benefitted from her wearing the jacket, if there is no binding agreement to wear it from either party, then she is off the hook because she will say, she just threw it on to wear to the event. ”
“she will say, she just threw it on to wear to the event. ”
She can SAY anything she wants. The truth is well known she was a product placement. The complaint can be tossed but she has been exposed and that was the real intent.
curiouser Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Sounds to me like EOY is expressing a different perspective or playing devil’s advocate about the Arctic Cat complaint.
____________________________
You have hit the nail on the head! It is kind of fun trying to figure out how “the other side” thinks, and try and come up with a different viewpoint.
I personally feel that Gov. Palin is guilty and she knew exactly what she was doing with all of these ethics violations.
Not to mention that my posting history here and on the forum would bear out what I am saying (also check out Celtic Diva’s Blog..I am “JustMe” there)
PalinSucks Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
she will say, she just threw it on to wear to the event. ”
_________________________________
And then you could ask why didn’t she just “throw it on” for the Iditarod?
How about we settle one or two of the ethics complaints, and send SP to the tattoo parlor… All the alaska businesses that support or sponsor Iron Dog get advertising space across her body.. She’s proud enough to wear AC gear, which her hubby is sponsored by.. .Why not step up the Alaskan pride a little more and get some ink done for Alaskan prides sake?
BPOINT Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:48 AM
One doesn’t have to prove the benefit. It is the intent to benefit that is unethical.
_________________________
Can you prove that she intended to benefit?
(posted this ^ but it says “awaiting moderation”, but perhaps because I answered two posts in one response)
No one has issued a complaint about what she wore either at the Iditarod or at this Slush Cup event, BECAUSE Arctic Cat wasn’t the sponsor for either the Slush Cup event or the Iditarod, and there were no Palins racing in nearly-free sponsored Arctic Cat gear at the Iditarod.
Now, if Palin had an official function at the Iditarod and was wearing something that was emblazoned “CABELAS” all over it, that might be cause for complaint #14.
http://www.atvscene.com/fyi08/arcticcat_1029.html
Palin and Arctic Cat Share the Passion
October 29, 2008
Today we received a follow up letter from our friend at Arctic Cat, Kale Wainer, about the recent media attention Arctic Cat has received after vice presidential candidate, Todd Palin, made a special stop in Thief River Falls to visit his friends at Arctic Cat.
Hello Friends of Arctic Cat,
What a week for Arctic Cat. In case you missed it, we have had unprecedented opportunities in recent days to Share Our Passion on television and in print, in the news media and in entertainment circles.
It began with Team Arctic racer and husband of vice presidential candidate, Todd Palin, making a special stop in Thief River Falls last Friday, October 17 along with racing partner and seven-time Iron Dog winner, Scott Davis. Sure, it was meant to be a politically-motivated photo op, but Palin spent way more time praising our snowmobile brand than the Republican ticket. We’re proud to have provided the perfect backdrop where Palin could advocate for the outdoors and more importantly, Arctic Cat.
Press coverage from Palin’s visit was seen all over, including a special segment on “Entertainment Tonight” and broadcast coverage in 30 states. Print coverage reached more than 700,000 people with highlights in Thief River Falls Times, Grand Forks Herald, St Paul Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, Bemidji Pioneer, Duluth News Tribune and The Leader-Telegram.
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Check out this next paragraph to see just how much Arctic Cat knows how they “benefit” from the Palins and the visibility of their clothing line.
It is obvious.
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The spotlight on Arctic Cat didn’t end there. During its highest rated episode in 14 years, Saturday Night Live featured Team Arctic Racewear on a widely praised “Weekend Update” segment. If you didn’t get a chance to see SNL, be sure to check out the great National coverage we received here. You’ll find this clip alone has been seen by more than 2.3 million people! We hope that you share in our excitement over the publicity we’ve received in the last week. We’re proud of our brand and even more proud of you, and your commitment to sharing the Arctic Cat passion.
233 EyeOnYou Says:
It is kind of fun trying to figure out how “the other side” thinks, and try and come up with a different viewpoint.
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Good exercise!
This is OT but something you can do to help get an inside look at Palin: when watching a video of her speaking, mirror/mimic her facial expressions and vocal inflections and see how it makes you feel. I can’t imagine how anyone could still support her after doing this.
lol….eye on you…are stirring the pot? Eye on you is not a troll Matha. He/she has been here a long time….but even if they were a new poster, its ok if they have a differing opinion.
@ EyeOnYou
The benefit Palin bestowed on Arctic Cat was the exposure of their brand on national television. There is no need to prove that Arctic Cat realized sales of x additional units as a result. The exposure itself had value.
As the official starter of the race, Palin knew she would be in the spotlight at the start of the race, and that she would be on the teevee.
Would a reasonable person have known that the racing team jacket she was wearing bore the same A/Cat logo as those the other team members were wearing? I realize we’re talking about SP, but even she couldn’t dodge the Reasonable Person test on that one.
She has no Out that I can see. She bestowed benefit on A/Cat, and did so knowingly.
Matha Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:33 AM
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
You are just a poor troll
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Just having fun, like all us mudpups do. Mental exertion is good and good for you,
Wow…Poor Snoskred(our beloved moderator). How many comments are you receiving from Cee4Pee’rs that are not making it thru moderation? Because they are spitting mad at this last ethics charge and now they are calling GINO “Joan of Arc”!!! Ummm, do they know Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by her own poeple?
Matha quotes in part: “In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of an officer’s public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent an officer from following other independent pursuits”
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Arguably, if SP raced snowmobiles herself (hey, there’s a future career!) would it be deemed an “independent pursuit” that did not interfere with the “full and faithful discharge” of her public duties? Hence, wearing A-Cat gear to race as “Sarah Racer” or “Governor Sarah Racer” independently pursing an athletic endeavor would be OK and not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of her public duties (i.e. signing a law, making a policy decision). A better analogy may be served by using her independent pursuit of running…if she were, as governor to run a 15k and wore Adidas/Nike/Underarmour gear is she committing an ethical violation for wearing logos while on an independently pursuit (racing/running)even though she is Governor Sarah Racer?? No. With the Iron Dog she, at a minimum, can claim she was there in her dual capacity as Governor (starts the race) and as spectator supporting her husband’s team and therefore there was no “effort to benefit financially or otherwise” from this independent pursuit.
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Of course it’s product placement! But same as Obama wearing Armani or J Crew or Air Nike while playing basketball. Companies drooling to get him to wear/use their items.
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As to the fact that some think this is an effort on some of our parts, to name call, bash or stick up for Palin as a whole – It isn’t. It is a discussion btw posters with different perspective on the A-Cat ethics violation. I beleive it, simply put, the ethics vio. as to A-Cat is lightweight. Note: Todd Palin can visit A-cat anywhere anytime he wants and as long as he is sponsored by them he will have a legitimate reason for doing so.
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I’ve posted twice in response to C.Rock, and both times it shows that it is awaiting moderation. Not sure why, but I did respond and hopefully if they are not okay then a mod would explain why.
curiouser : Yes, I do consider it to be a good exercise and it is always helpful if you try to see the other person’s point of view. You may not agree, but it helps if you can at least try to understand where they are coming from. (my biggest problem is that I really don’t have a lot of understanding of where the other side on the Palin issue is coming from)
As for mimicking her facial expressions and vocal inflections…are you NUTS? LMAO, that would require me to watch more videos of her and sorry but there is only so much I can take of THAT!!
Laurie: Not really stirring the pot,
I guess I have always been one to make my own argument stronger by playing devils advocate, even against myself simply to help me express myself clearly as well as make a stronger argument and if it helps me to be more understanding of someone else’s point of view all the better.
Closet Mudpup : I agree with you completely, and I have pretty much run out of arguments.
245 EyeOnYou Says:
(my biggest problem is that I really don’t have a lot of understanding of where the other side on the Palin issue is coming from)
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Cheers to you for trying!
As for mimicking her facial expressions and vocal inflections…are you NUTS?
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LOL! Been accused of that before.
“A big part of me wants to go register at Team Sarah and other places and make a huge point of this. Just because these are such small minded idiots who most likely do NOT accept gay and lesbian people……”
Well, ya know, they follow their, fearless leader, so, probably, yes…small minded and idiotic.
Palin Campaign Manager: Palin ‘Cringed At The Idea’ Of Reading A Gay-Friendly Children’s Book
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/palin-cringed-gay-book/
PalinSucks Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
“While ACat may have benefitted from her wearing the jacket, if there is no binding agreement to wear it from either party, then she is off the hook because she will say, she just threw it on to wear to the event. ”
“she will say, she just threw it on to wear to the event. ”
She can SAY anything she wants. The truth is well known she was a product placement. The complaint can be tossed but she has been exposed and that was the real intent.
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One must not forget Dud and his friend Had a SNOW MACHINE biz so GINO would be well aware of the value of a “Team Arctic” jacket and monogrammed for her…!
The biz was dissolved when dud was mad b/c she was having a affair with his friend/partner.(when she was mayor, I believe)
But yes she WOULD know the “Advertising value” of wearing such a jacket to such a event as gov. just as she puts links to Arctic cat on SOA website! There’s another Ethics violation….any taker’s???
Clearly you all missed this part of EyeOnYou’s post:
(I love playing devil’s advocate)
@let it run–For starters, I’m pretty sure the President buys his own clothes…which is more that I think we can say about GINO’s ownership of personalized Team Arctic Cat gear. Furthermore, it’s not like the First Lady is reaping huge benefits by way of sponsorship of her “business” from Nike or Armani or J.Crew. That’s the core issue of the ethics complaint on that issue.
Ah c’mon – she should just divorce the first Dud and be done w/ the Arctic Cat complaint (and NOT split the business, oh – leave him the kids, too unless she needs to borrow them for parading around, hmmm.. no family pets, Todd keeps the plane because SP is too witless to fly & would crash while trying to apply lipstick, SP keeps the house on the dead lake, they split all the guns).
That’s one down out of 13 – back to a dozen! Whew!
Just got this “update” from SarahPac….
Picking my jaw off the floor here, I’ve never seen anything so unprofessional!
Greetings to our friends and supporters!
As you may know, Governor Palin has been facing continuous frivolous and petty attacks from her opponents. These
baseless attacks have led to more than half million dollars in legal debt for the Governor and her family.
This is the official site for the Governor Sarah Palin legal expense fund: www(dot)thealaskafundtrust(dot)com
Thank you for your continued interest and support.
UNFRICKEN’ REAL!!!! How could someone put THAT on their PAC? Give money to me b/c po-po me, people are picking on me!!
One of the great comments someone posted from HuffPo on the lucky 13 complaint was:
Sarah is a Republican, she can pull herself up by her own d@mn bootstraps!
“Wow…Poor Snoskred(our beloved moderator). How many comments are you receiving that are not making it thru moderation? Because the other side is spitting mad at this last ethics charge and now they are calling GINO “Joan of Arc”!!! Ummm, do they know Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by her own poeple?”
And do they know that Joan of Arc was a good person?
Snoksred, hang in there – HuffPo is getting bombed, too. IMPEACH SARAH PALIN.
let it run Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Matha quotes in part: “In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of an officer’s public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent an officer from following other independent pursuits”
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Talk about out of context!! Nice try! You omitted the first part! You know very well what this means.
Like I said, if she were attending as a “spectator”. It is clear that without neglecting her obligation as governor to star the race, THAT would fall under “independent pursuits”. Give me a break!!
Here is the original post;
EyeOnYou Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Sec. 39.52.110. Scope of code.
(a) The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.
In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of an officer’s public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent an officer from following other independent pursuit
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When Palin is making an appearance anywhere in her role as governor of Alaska, there IS no room in that to include “independent pursuits”.
If Palin were simply a spectator, fine, but in both Arctic Cat clothing instances, she was appearing in her role as governor, representing the state of Alaska.
Her husband Todd AND his partner have HUGE monetary gain from their Arctic Cat sponsorship. 60,000 in snowmachines alone.
“Of course it’s product placement! But same as Obama wearing Armani or J Crew or Air Nike while playing basketball. Companies drooling to get him to wear/use their items.”
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Sorry, but this is completely different from what SP did. First, when O is playing basketball, it is not part of his official responsibilities. SP was at the race in an official capacity as governor. She would be much more in a gray area if she had attended the race wearing those clothes if she also wasn’t the official starter and acting as governor. She has the right to support her husband, but not her husband’s sponsor and certainly not when she is also acting as governor. She should have chosen on that day whether she was going to be governor or wife and private citizen. It’s the mixing of the two that is unethical.
Secondly, as far as I know, O has not received any payment from the companies whose clothes he may wear and didn’t receive the clothes as gifts. SP’s husband is sponsored by AC and if your spouse is being paid for something, according to the law, you are benefitting. It doesn’t matter if it’s you or someone in your immediate family who is actually getting paid or given stuff. So SP was being paid (indirectly) to promote AC and that is what makes her a walking billboard as she was acting as governor and it is clearly unethical.
IMO, wearing the AC outfit again to the Slush Cup was another ethics violation. She was still promoting a company which pays her family to do so while performing official duties as governor. That’s not allowed, end of story.
New state of Alaska employees have to go to a whole day of training on ethics rules. I realize that these laws are complicated and I am not surprised that so many peeps here are a bit confused about them. What I cannot understand though, is why no one has sat down our brilliant airhead guv and _explained_ a few facts to her. Instead, she actually repeats behavior that someone has filed an ethics complaint when she did it the first time. *sigh* She really is a piece of work.
From ADN: (another ethics complaint in the works?)
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/mining/story/772198.html
“State election regulators are investigating whether Gov. Sarah Palin violated state law when she said in front of TV cameras last summer that she would vote no on a controversial ballot measure that sought stricter limits on water pollution discharges from mines…
Six days before the election last August, someone asked Palin during a press conference for her opinion on Measure 4. She responded: “Let me take my governor’s hat off just for a minute here and tell you, personally Prop 4, I vote no on that.”"
mudkitten Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 2:52 PM
I agree wholeheartedly with your post!
As I’ve said before, the second time she wore the custom Arctic Cat gear, was nothing but a big f…………………u to Diva who filed the ethics complaint and an “I dare you” to everyone else.
I’ve never seen the beat of such childishness in my life! It would be the “bloggers pajamas” (instead of cats pajamas, for you youngsters) if this asinine action is what finally brings her down.
I’m obviously not party to all the complaints but this one is absolutely legitimate. How can it be legitimate when our Governor is actively soliciting donations from the public (mostly from outsiders) to pay lawyers to protect her from….the very people she was elected to serve??!!
When’s the recall?
Mudkitten, I think they have…she just does not give a rat’s ass! How much you want to bet Talis Colberg told her to watch it more than once and she screeched, “You work for me – just DO IT!”
Speaking of Tallis Colberg, I hope he is spending his time right now writing his tell-all book, ’cause he was there in the thick of the McCain takeover and has to know a lot of what was really going on. And know that he has resigned, he is free to write that book and make that money, which he would presumeably not have been able to do as AG. I bet he is glad he bailed when he did – imagine him trying to wrangle his way around the formation of the Alaska F’d-up Non-Trust.
Other dreams? Kristan Cole’s legal bills from dairygate make her a “covered individual” under the trust documents (that she signed with herself). One day, SP chesses her off, and she withdraws nearly all the funds (say, $175,000) and moves to Guam.
Leaving SP with diddly AND squat AND no fund trustee. But, would serve her right. She didn’t sign the document, and placed an incredible amount of power in the hands of Kristan Cole. If Kristan decides to wield it, that could be a problem for Our Sarah. I am actually hoping for this, only from the point of veiw of the sheer drama of it all. I would feel sorry for those folks donating who thought their money was going elsewhere, but … donator beware.
#265 Moose Pucky:
Thanks for reminding us:
Six days before the election last August, someone asked Palin during a press conference for her opinion on Measure 4. She responded: “Let me take my governor’s hat off just for a minute here and tell you, personally Prop 4, I vote no on that.””
That makes sense, now that we’ve learned that she looks to profit from what she wears in public. The State of Alaska evidently hadn’t paid her enough to keep her governor’s hat on.
140 – IsyFleur Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Is it even legal for the trustor and the trustee to be the same individual?
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I am the successor trustee to my mother’s revocable trust and assumed the position after her death. Down where my mom lived (FL), you could have the trust set up so that the “trustee” controlled the trust…as the grantor, not trustee. The trustee came into effect only after her death. The grantor has sole control of every thing in the trust unless a specific event required that the successor trustee step in. In my case, it was my mom’s death.
Having said that – - -
As for this “trust”, this is not a trust – I don’t think it would pass muster by the IRS. Trusts are set up after assets have been acquired, with changes in trust holdings occurring when/as needed. I don;t think a legal defense fund could be set up as a trust, at least not under the rules I have been dealing with.
***
Ok – now there is the first big problem in store for Cole: she cannot “reimburse” SP or any recipient for taxes they owe on disbursements, since under federal law, tax is the burden of the trust’s beneficiaries. Each time Cole gives anyone money, assuming the trust stands as is, each time Cole allocates money to a beneficiary, MORE tax is owed.
Add in the second big problem, the fact that the trust’s income (all donations) is subject to tax on IRS form 1041, so there is going to be federal tax on that too. Not to mention – capital gains taxes on any investments…. Anyone wanting to figure out the IRS angle, go to IRS.gov, then search for form 1041, as well as the instructions for filing that return.
I have a @_&$^)# headache now…this is bringing back vivid reminders of the past few months, dealing with the IRS for tax year 2008 returns, and the last 16 months ascertaining what the trust assets are and dealing with the FL Probate Court over one asset that I found that was never retitled under the revocable trust name and was never mentioned in any trust document.
Anyone in AK got any Stoli? I figure – ahem, totally TIC here – surely since you can see Russia from AK that someone has a ready supply available!!!
mudkitten Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Sorry, but this is completely different from what SP did. First, when O is playing basketball, it is not part of his official responsibilities. SP was at the race in an official capacity as governor. She would be much more in a gray area if she had attended the race wearing those clothes if she also wasn’t the official starter and acting as governor. She has the right to support her husband, but not her husband’s sponsor and certainly not when she is also acting as governor. She should have chosen on that day whether she was going to be governor or wife and private citizen. It’s the mixing of the two that is unethical.
Secondly, as far as I know, O has not received any payment from the companies whose clothes he may wear and didn’t receive the clothes as gifts. SP’s husband is sponsored by AC and if your spouse is being paid for something, according to the law, you are benefitting. It doesn’t matter if it’s you or someone in your immediate family who is actually getting paid or given stuff. So SP was being paid (indirectly) to promote AC and that is what makes her a walking billboard as she was acting as governor and it is clearly unethical.
IMO, wearing the AC outfit again to the Slush Cup was another ethics violation. She was still promoting a company which pays her family to do so while performing official duties as governor. That’s not allowed, end of story.
New state of Alaska employees have to go to a whole day of training on ethics rules. I realize that these laws are complicated and I am not surprised that so many peeps here are a bit confused about them. What I cannot understand though, is why no one has sat down our brilliant airhead guv and _explained_ a few facts to her. Instead, she actually repeats behavior that someone has filed an ethics complaint when she did it the first time. *sigh* She really is a piece of work.
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Just to add to mudkitten and chaim—–>according to Bill M-GINO is gov 24/7 soooooooooooo she’s not allowed to “take off her gov’s hat” period!
159 the problem child IS MY NAME Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:55 AM
I still think this is the most problematic part of the trust fund document:
“Each of the beneficiaries of this trust, shall, in each calendar year, have an
absolute and unrestricted power to withdraw from this Trust….”
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Beneficiaries have ZERO control over any trust. Only the grantor or a trustee can allocate assets in a trust. Beneficiaries may request to receive funds, but they have NO control.
If this language is truly representative of the terms of the trust, boy was the attorney drawing up the trust a dunce!
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172 the problem child IS MY NAME Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 9:14 AM
The trust company that is running the AFT boasts on its website that Alaska has the “friendliest” trust laws in the country.
PACs, I think, are primarily governed by federal law, and only incidentally by state law.
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Doesn’t matter – the IRS will be a-knockin’ on this “trust’s” doors I do believe. Taxes are taxes – yes, SP, even GOP’s trusts!
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Ok…I’m now hitting migraine territory…someone PLEASE hand over some hard liquor! I’ll even take some Mexicali tequila – swine flu be danged!
PepperzMom (GA) Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Beneficiaries have ZERO control over any trust. Only the grantor or a trustee can allocate assets in a trust. Beneficiaries may request to receive funds, but they have NO control.
If this language is truly representative of the terms of the trust, boy was the attorney drawing up the trust a dunce!
___________________________________
Here is an exact copy & paste of that wording:
(a) Each of the beneficiaries of this trust, shall, in each calendar year, have an absolute and unrestricted power to withdraw from this Trust up to the lesser of the total additions made to this Trust during each calendar year or an amount in cash or other property (including the cash value of life insurance policies, if no other cash or property is available) equal the lesser
of the total additions made to this Trust during each calendar year, divided equally among such beneficiaries, or an amount in cash or other property (including the cash value of life insurance policies, if no other cash or property is available) equal to the maximum amount which qualifies
for the Federal Gift Tax exclusion allowed by Section 2503(b) of the Code (currently $13,000 per donor, but such amount shall be adjusted to provide the maximum amount excludable) presuming that a donor’s spouse, if any, has consented to treat any such eligible gifts as being made one-half by such donor and one-half by such donor’s spouse. The holder(s) of such power are hereinafter referred to as “Donee”. Except as otherwise provided herein, said power of withdrawal shall not be cumulative from year to year, must be exercised separately for each calendar year in which any such addition or additions are made, and shall be exercisable only bywritten notice to Trustee of the amount Donee wishes to withdraw, but no purpose for said withdrawal need be shown. The exercise or failure to exercise of one Donee hereunder shall not affect the rights of the remaining Donee(s). If any Donee is a minor, such power of withdrawal may be exercised by such minor’s natural guardian. To the extent that a Donee fails to fully
exercise a withdrawal right and the lapsing amount exceeds the greater of $5,000.00 or 5% (or the amounts referred to in Section 2514( e) as amended), of the aggregate market value of all trust estates of all trusts of which the Grantor is the grantor and which contain a power of withdrawal
in favor of such Donee (such amount and percentage increasing or decreasing as the allowable amount or percentage is increased or decreased under Section 2041 without causing the taxable exercise, release or lapse of a power) then the withdrawal right granted in this Section 3.2 shall
not lapse with respect to such excess and such Donee shall (on the terms and conditions, and subject to the limitations, of this Section 3.2, except that such withdrawals shall not be limited to or by gifts made to the trust in succeeding calendar years) have the right to withdraw such excess
in succeeding calendar years.
curiouser Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Cheers to you for trying!
________________
Thanks!
InJuneau Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Clearly you all missed this part of EyeOnYou’s post:
(I love playing devil’s advocate)
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I am guessing the same thing, but it is no big deal. I am not worried because anyone who has seen my postings regularly knows that I am not a troll nor am I am Palin Fan.
It was fun trying to see the other sides point of view, but hard to come up with honest answers that weren’t just personal attacks and BS like most of them post in response to logical discussions of an issue.
PepperzMom (GA)
I agree with you, a PAC is not a trust. This is a trust (perhaps INO). Trust laws vary from state to state. The IRS and PAC laws don’t.
yeah, but IRS laws/regs do cover Trusts! And pecuniary benefits therefrom!