Shannyn Moore in Palin’s Crosshairs.
5 07 2009[A similar piece is up on The Huffington Post. This one is just for Mudflatters]
Just when you thought you’d seen the back end of him, he returns; one of our favorite characters here at the Mudflats. I refer, of course, to Sarah Palin’s personal attorney, and the man in Alaska with the most dastardly sounding bad guy name ever: Thomas Van Flein. I put his last name in bold italics to remind you to pronounce it with a dastardly accent. I still don’t actually know what he looks like, but for our purposes in the past, we have imagined him in our mind’s eye as having a long, thin moustache which he twirls when hatching fiendish plots, or reflecting on the mischief he has caused. He’s also got a black cape, and a really sharp pair of knee-high boots.
As a matter of fact, after the third or fourth time we enjoyed a story starring Mister Van Flein, it occurred to me that I already posessed an archetypal image of his character in my head from childhood. He is Snidely Whiplash. Now, in all fairness to our villain, he’s really not the one calling the shots. His client, soon to be ex-governor Palin shows him the hoop, and pays him to jump. And as we know, she’s not really known for her wise and thoughtful handling of bad situations.
There is an old expression which says, “In a crisis, do nothing.” Wise words indeed, which means that the soon-to-be-ex-governor won’t likely heed them. She’s sort of adopted another philosophy. It’s more like, “In a crisis, be reactionary and threaten to sue someone for defamation in the hopes of intimidating the entire blogosphere and all national print and televised media into not talking about something.” I’m not an oddsmaker, but this strategy seems likely to become a crumpled up tin can on the refuse pile of epic failure.
There’s no doubt that the week has been a bad one for the governor. It started with an unflattering Vanity Fair article. This was followed by a CBS piece about some leaked emails in which she asked the McCain campaign to lie about Todd Palin’s 7-year membership in a secessionist party. McCain strategist Steve Schmidt said that Todd was a member, and it was a secessionist party and he wasn’t going to create an issue in the media if it didn’t exist already, nor would he lie for her. Remember that part, because it comes back later.
Her week culminated, of course, in a strange, twitchy, impulsive announcement that she would be stepping down from office. The last time Alaskans were this gobsmacked by the governor, it was when she said ‘yes’ to John McCain when he popped the question back in August.
Her reason for resigning? The media was unfair. People were filing ethics complaints against her. Bloggers were making silly photoshops. The state would be better off. We kept waiting to hear the big reason, the real reason, the reason that would explain it all. We waited for the reason that would come at the end, after all the silly stuff. But it never came. That was it.
We were left scratching our heads. A woman who was the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican Party, and has been discussed as a plausible contender for her party’s nomination for president of the United States in 2012, is quitting her job as governor, 17 months before the end of her first term, because people are picking on her? This just didn’t compute. Even in the wildest contortionist spin of her most ardent supporters, this was not going to improve her chances in 2012. Leadership through quitting… Believable?
What this means is that now, the line on her resume right underneath “Almost-one-term Governor, before I quit” reads “Mayor of a small Alaskan town with a population of 7000 people.” This is not the way to be taken seriously as a presidential contender. Yes, she draws crowds, but so does Brittany Spears, and I sure wouldn’t vote for her to take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Naturally, with the overwhelming doubt in the minds of the public that this could possibly be the real reason she was stepping down, questions were asked. Phones started ringing in Alaska from friends and relatives who wanted the “real story.” Alaskans were even asking each other what they thought was really going on. There seem to be dozens of rumors circulating about the governor at any point in time, and this week was no different. People were muttering about personal family problems, about new ethics complaints, about legal cases involving her use of personal off-the-radar Yahoo email accounts to conduct state business. Then there was talk about the legality of her legal defense fund which is currently being questioned, or maybe personal illness. But the ones that seems to have gotten under the governor’s skin were reports involving rumors floating about town about shenanigans going on with the simultaneous building of the governor’s house, and the Wasilla Sports Complex, and a supposed IRS investigation. Are any of these rumors true? Who knows. Are they being talked about in open conversation at holiday barbeques all over the state today? Oh, yes.
And all this brings us back to the governor, Thomas Van Flein, and a certain Shannyn Moore. Moore is a radio host, blogger, and frequent guest on MSNBC’’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. There were scads of blogs, both local and national that reported on the rumors above, but Moore really got under the soon-to-be-ex governor’s skin. Why? Apparently it’s because she watches TV more than she reads.
Saturday, July 4th, Van Flein issued a four page letter regarding reports of these rumors, and it was sent by SarahPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton to media outlets across the state.
Van Flein’s letter threatening legal action specifically pointed the finger at Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore as “most notably” claiming as “fact” that Palin resigned under federal investigation.
Van Flein, asked why he singled out Moore, said it’s because she went on national television and talked about it. Moore was on with MSNBC’s David Shuster on Friday, the day Palin said she will resign.
“There is a scandal rumor here that there is a criminal investigation into some activities and that’s been rumored for about, I don’t know, probably six weeks or two months,” Moore told him.
You can go back and read that quote again that Van Flein says claims a fact. The only fact is that there are rumors. I know because I’ve been hearing them since last October. They even have a name – “Housegate.” If you Google “Sarah Palin Housegate,” you get 8,600 references, beginning with an article that appeared in the Village Voice. Googling “Palin sports complex scandal” gets you 230,000 results. Kinda looks like a rumor to me. I’m not exactly sure how the legal dynamic duo of Palin-Van Flein is planning to un-rumorize almost a quarter of a million online references to a rumor, and then prove its non-existence, but it will be interesting to watch.
“I’ll sue you for defamation!” is the toothless wonder of the legal world. It’s meant to scare people, intimidate them, and get them to be quiet. In this particular case, it’s not going to work. Moore has already discussed the issue on her own radio show, where she said emphatically, “Bring it on.” She said she already had a long list of attorneys who had emailed her, champing at the bit to depose Sarah Palin in such a case. Now that would make for some damn good blogging material.
So why would this bizarre comical scenario be taking place at all? Remember when I mentioned how Steve Schmidt had to intervene and explain to Palin that it just wasn’t a good idea to over-react and start making grand statements to the media about negative things being said about her? He firmly told her no. And he had to do it twice. Her personal attorney, on the other hand, is being paid to do what she wants. After a recent fund drive, Palin’s legal defense fund may be well stocked, so no skin off the nose of her legal team. And there’s nobody in her inner sanctum who feels like telling her it’s a really bad idea. So she marches on.
Using the substantial might of the Executive branch of government to bring down unenforceable legal threats on a local blogger, and attempting to curtail free speech on the Fourth of July? Not a brilliant PR move. By specifically naming Moore, Palin has done two things; she has shown herself to be a reactionary immature politician, and she has given a Shannyn Moore the spotlight. And she is not the only one in Sarah Palin’s crosshairs. You stand warned Huffington Post, New York Times, MSNBC and The Washington Post. You just better knock it off.
The New York Times and Washington Post haven’t written anything about this, but Van Flein said he believed they were asking questions. “What I’ve been informed is that they’ve been interviewing people in Wasilla about this, and have tried to interview the governor’s parents about it,” Van Flein said.
Well then…in the case of The New York Times and the Washington Post, you’d better stop even thinking about asking questions about it., or writing about it maybe. At some future date.
In solidarity with my friend and fellow blogger Shannyn Moore, may I be the next to report the news to the legal eagles Whiplash & Palin, and to the entire blogosphere at large:
THERE ARE RUMORS.
There. I said it.
Sue me.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:38 PM
DAMN YOU LIBERAL MEDIA & PAJAMA CLAD BLOGGERS!!!
Seriously, Sarah needs to turn the other cheek and shut up. She reminds me of a dog chasing its tail…thinking the tail is out to get her and running round in circles trying to bite it. So essentially you end up biting yourself in the @ss. Love it!
July 5th, 2009 at 3:40 PM
UK Lady,
If you had the chance to get rid of a boss like SP, would you stand in the way by voting down her replacement?
You’re right, they will have to okay it – but again, see the first sentence lol
Nan
July 5th, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Shannyn Moore’s response to Sarah’s attorney:
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10646276
July 5th, 2009 at 3:41 PM
The TwitterQuitter (can’t take creds for that one) is still-a-tweetin’….
http://twitter.com/akgovsarahpalin
What a tangled web….
http://twitter.com/EXGovSarahPalin
July 5th, 2009 at 3:42 PM
new thread, come on in, the water is nice.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:43 PM
new blogfrom AKM
July 5th, 2009 at 3:43 PM
There’s some info here, JHOP:
http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/ethics/ethics_regs.pdf
APOC is an a little different
http://www.state.ak.us/apoc/
July 5th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
JHop,
Before Palin was tapped for VP, the AK legislature had started an investigation into ethics violation re the firing of Monegan (who refused to fire Palin’s ex-bro-in-law). They felt there was a possibility that she’d exceeded her – abused her power as gov.
They found (4 or 6 Repubs and 2 Dems) that she had not broken any laws, but had violated ethics rules.
SP got in a snit and filed her own “Ethics complaint” with the “Personnal Board” – at least 2 of the 3 appointed by a previous Gov (aha… who’s their boss? – well, signs their checks anyway), and the Personnel Board said Gee, you’re spiffy fine and no prob (exact opposite of the Legis investigation)
that was actually the short version!
Nan
July 5th, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Considering Shannyn Moore’s press conference today and the statement that she put on her blog today, it seems that — for the sake of accuracy — AKM should change the title of this post from “Shannyn Moore in Palin’s Crosshairs” to “Palin in Shannyn Moore’s Crosshairs.”
July 5th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
People chiming in with funny monikers for the Van Flein law firm made me think of the funny bit at the end of “Car Talk” on NPR. Click and Clack are represented by the law firm of Dewey, Cheatum and Howe.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Phil went to a funeral for a special friend this afternoon. He has a nice post on her up today. He also posted another memorial post for a friend. Touching story about how one man (Alaskans would know him, I think) made Phil’s friend become politically active. I was reminded, once again, how important it is for us to reach out and inspire younger people to carry on the torch.
On that same note, Andrew Halcro reposted on the death of a young man near his property. The responders and family stayed on his lawn. I don’t cry easily, but that story was powerful. There is a message about water safety, but also the preciousness of life. Two thumbs way up on that post.
Both men’s posts today reminded me that while I have been loving the drama that is SP, there are more important things at the end of the day. If you are getting antsy, you may want to pop over to Phil’s site and send him some love. Take the time to listen to the absolutely amazing song he wrote for another friend who had died. Strings. He is a very talented man.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Eric–can I call you Eric? This video has to be one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. The copy was so clever and hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
Eric-the-Bun Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 2:47 PM
“Screw Political Correctness”
Hitler Finds Out Sarah Palin Resigns
‘The GOP has lost its balls and now has lost its ovaries as well’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IzNPEGWNos&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Falaskacommons.wordpress.com%2F&feature=player_embedded
July 5th, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Ok, a little too brief – Monegan was Police Chief, wouldn’t fire SP’s ex-bro-in-law (a trooper), got fired himself, and the legislature set up an investigative panel, found Monegan’s beef had merit.
Ever since SP’s own ethics violation complaint ( which cost more than any other to investigate supposedly) was dismissed, she has ignored any and all reference to the original investigation (”Branchflower” I think they call it)
July 5th, 2009 at 3:56 PM
JHop Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 3:33 PM
SAY NO – what do you mean, is this where they drain the fund?
—
I think what Say No meant is prior to her leaving office, that Palin will withdraw the funds from the trust in payment of VanFleas legal bills.
If in fact his bills are $600,000 as they quote, I don’t believe they have anywhere near that as what was called a beg-a-thon just over a week ago showed approximately $100,000. This amount was made up of active donations but also people were to email them with amounts they had previously donated. So there is no actually telling at the moment how much there is.
The other issue is there is to be a filing as of July 1st disclosing the amounts and who donated I believe. Sarahpac was to file some months back what donations it had raised but never did. It instead began deflecting the donations towards the Trust and at one point it was said the Pac was closed down — never happened. It’s all a papertrail game they have been playing. Whether there will be a disclosure of the Trust now — who knows…..
July 5th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
JHOP- if you go to palingates I think she has info on the trust fund as well as everything else. I was trying to find it, but I know its there. She is in England for a holiday, when she comes back or you can email her and she can lead you directly to it. Her name is Regina.
http://palingates.blogspot.com/search/label/expenses
July 5th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Too weird. Went to Phil’s blog to see if he was back yet. Someone has posted some “outting” info on one of the main ceepees. (According to the poster, the guy had already given his real name.) Weird.
July 5th, 2009 at 4:08 PM
One last thing about the FBI/Gonzalez “statement”:
“There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we’re investigating her or getting ready to indict her,” Special Agent Eric Gonzalez said in a phone interview Saturday. “It’s just not true.” He added that there was “no wiggle room” in his comments for any kind of inquiry.
The FBI does NOT indict anyone; a jury does. The FBI investigates and turns over their findings to the legal folks who do the actual court oriented work…that would be the DOJ.
July 5th, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Liar. Idiot. Bully. Quitter.
Come get me, Van Phlegm.
Maggie McQuaid
July 5th, 2009 at 4:11 PM
HistoryGoddess
What a great reminder, thanks.
Values, my a@s. I don’t believe anything that comes out of her mouth, dead fish notwithstading, as did I Bush, and turned off anything he said. It was much too discouraging, as is she.
July 5th, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Mike In Illinois Says: July 5th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Great post! Let’s face it. The only reason Sarah Palin is being paid attention to by anyone is: wait………for………..it:
FEAR OF DEATH
Funny you should mention that FEAR OF DEATH! I’m watching Moonstruck right now, and just passed the point where Olympia Dukakis’s character was asking Danny Aiello “why do men need more than one woman? And Aiello replied “Because they fear death”!
July 5th, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Just thought of something I overheard at a hair salon around 1996/1997 (elderly neighbor at the time needed a ride, so I hung around a bit) in Georgia (think heavy Southern drawl, ala Dixie Carter in Designing Women):
No matter what color you’re hair is now, sugar, your roots will always show.
I believe we are now truly seeing exactly what “roots” SP has – and they are not healthy or humane…
July 5th, 2009 at 4:57 PM
If every Alaskan who voted for McCain/Palin kicked in $150, what is the max that the fund could have? When I heard they had started to ask people to donate on behalf of their choldren, I wondered if they had exhausted the possible max for this year.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:19 PM
I’m scared to death she won’t go thru with the resignation due to reading all the blogs and newspaper commentators and pundits and especially “Karl Rove said that this political strategy made no sense” so please, somebody, please reassure me that she will actually exit office as promised in a few days…
‘Cuz you know, she always says one thing then reverses.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:29 PM
She got taken down by the media (via her own lack of logic, vision and knowledge of the English language), so she is lashing out. She is making herself even more of a laughing stock to the world, if that’s possible.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:29 PM
384 NYHawk Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Considering Shannyn Moore’s press conference today and the statement that she put on her blog today, it seems that — for the sake of accuracy — AKM should change the title of this post from “Shannyn Moore in Palin’s Crosshairs” to “Palin in Shannyn Moore’s Crosshairs.”
**************
Even better:
“Shannyn Moore has Palin by her Short Hairs.”
July 5th, 2009 at 5:34 PM
This is a test to see if THIS post gets through.
Dang it all, I have been posting here since last August and all of a sudden nothing is going through.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:38 PM
@Martha: Thanks for the John McNamara write up. It was super hilarious and I laughed so hard that hubby insisted I show him why I was laughing and he too, “also” doubled up with laughter. Thanks Martha, we needed that!
Cheney is going up to Alaska to show Buttercup how to do a professional cover-up and to shred, shred,shred. Yeppers
July 5th, 2009 at 6:16 PM
#400
Bretta Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 5:19 PM
I’m scared to death she won’t go thru with the resignation due to reading all the blogs and newspaper commentators and pundits and especially “Karl Rove said that this political strategy made no sense” so please, somebody, please reassure me that she will actually exit office as promised in a few days…
‘Cuz you know, she always says one thing then reverses.
———————————-
Exactly! Also, too.
Considering that Palin mysteriously never used the word “resign” in her “resignation” speech, I’m alarmed by the peculiar cryptic language Van Flein used in the first paragraph of his lame threatening letter to Shannyn: “On July 3rd, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced her intent/ to resign . . . . ”
“Intent to resign”???????? In other words, apparently she didn’t actually resign. She only intends to do so in the future. But that “intent” is not written in stone, or written or formalized anywhere (yet).
Why didn’t he unequivocally state:
On July 3rd, 2009 Palin announced her resignation; or
Palin announced that she resigned effective on July 26, 2009; or
Palin announced that she will resign on July 26, 2009?
I think the equivocating wording of letter was intentional. It leaves Palin with the possible option to “un-resign” and give all sorts of nonsensical reasons to try and justify her decision to say she never really, actually quit, but was really only just still thinking about it — just like when she backpedaled after she first said she was rejecting most of the money from “the feds” but then incoherently claimed that “reject” didn’t actually mean “reject,” but that she was just still thinking about it, or whatever double-speak gibberish she used.
Am I reading too much into the wording of the letter? Remember this is about wack-job “I changed my mind/I never said that” “Buttercup” Palin, or, as someone on HuffPost aptly referred to her as: Sarah Gump.
Sue me!
July 5th, 2009 at 6:20 PM
This must be one the songs Palin listens to when she runs:
I’m Afraid of Americans – David Bowie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wniGFm_jgRI
July 5th, 2009 at 6:36 PM
NYHawk (425)
You just might have something there.
Dammit.
Nan
July 5th, 2009 at 6:49 PM
no where in her speech does she say she is resigning. She says she is transferring authority to Parnell, and it is titled “Palin Announces no second term” What is she trying to pull? http://gov.state.ak.us/
July 5th, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Cynamen Winter “The TwitterQuitter (can’t take creds for that one) is still-a-tweetin’….
http://twitter.com/akgovsarahpalin
What a tangled web….
http://twitter.com/EXGovSarahPalin”
Whoever is doing the EXGOV Twitter is a riot!!! Selling Sparklers for the troops…of course after taking 30% for her own efforts.
July 5th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Who knows? She’s a drama queen, and one that wants to keep all options as open as long as she can.
Someone called in to Shannyn’s show and said something along those lines – “What if she doesn’t resign after all?”
Apparently the blood drained from every face in the room. Would have made a heck of a picture
July 5th, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Nan…Yep, my heart skipped a beat or two. However, you are right, noone knows what this crazy woman is up to….let’s hope she does leave is all I have to say.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:05 PM
She is toast in politics either way. Stay or Go she is all done. If she were to turn around and claim that she has changed her mind and decided to stay it would just be more proof of her being unstable.
She can’t handle the media scrutiny from being Governor, she would have a breakdown if she ever tried to be the top of the ticket on a presidential campaign. If she thought people were tough on her before, that would be absolutely NOTHING compared to what she would be in for. Playing the victim might play well with her base, but it doesn’t work for most people.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:09 PM
EyeOnYou….so true.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:12 PM
LOL>
That Hi1ler youtube video is hilarious. Thanks so much for posting the link. It’s in my favorites now.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:59 AM
I’m a little late on this one, but I want to speak up anyway. I am hardly a fan of Sarah’s, but I think S.Moore did go too far on this one. It is irreponsible to publicize a rumor, whatever you call it, without sufficient reliable information as to the truth of it. I read about this previously, and put it in the same category as rumors about Bristol being the mother of Trig…I agree that Sarah is a drama queen, but on this one, I am with her.
July 6th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Well that letter has apprently shut Shannyn up pretty good….like it or hate it , it doesnt matter, the only Shannyn is syaing now is sue me sue me…versus actually making anymore allegations.
If you will read up on this, you’ll see that she never made allegations. She stated that rumors existed. They did exist. And they exist still. She never stated whether they were true or not. AKM