Alaska Fund BUST. The Governor’s (Il)Legal Defense Fund.
[Read this story at The Huffington Post and Buzz it Up!]
The Alaska Fund Trust, the most hubristically-named piece of legal defense fundraising in the state of Alaska, has felt the sunshine of scrutiny, and it isn’t holding up too well. It seems as though the Associated Press got its mits on some interesting information involving an ethics complaint against the governor’s office that was dismissed as frivolous by the administration.
After the investigation into the legality of the fund itself was completed, appearances seem to indicate that it was, indeed, a valid complaint that uncovered some unsavory legal fund raising tactics.
The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.
An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the “official” legal defense fund.
The fund is managed by long time friend Kristan Cole who states on the site:
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. In doing so, we have created one of the most restrictive and transparent legal funds in history.
Restrictive? Maybe. Transparent? Apparently. Legal? Not according to the investigation.
As recently as last month, a conservative website was conducting a “webathon” to raise money for the fund, in an attempt to retire Palin’s legal debt. As of this writing, the Alaska Fund Trust website is still up and running, and still soliciting donations.
The release of this information raises some interesting questions. First of all, how did the Associated Press get this information? Normally the findings of an investigation by the Personnel Board would not be available to the public. Ironically, in 2004 when Palin herself was told that the findings of a complaint that she filed would not be made public, she stated that she wanted to find a “hero” in the legislature who could change that law.
Will the governor have to pay back those who donated to the legal defense fund? The fund has actively been raising funds for months, and reporting tremendous success in their goal of paying off the governor’s sizable legal debt, which has been reported as high as $600,000.
The report, dated July 14, means that the governor has known about the finding for a full week. Why is the Alaska Fund Trust still continuing to solicit donations?
The governor delivered a rambling “I’m not a quitter, I’m just leading in another direction” speech on the third of July, leaving the media and Alaskans wondering about the “real” reason she resigned the governorship. What, if anything did this finding have to do with it?
Suddenly the meme of “frivolous ethics complaints” has lost its sting.
Damn you are good, AKM!!
oh could it be
sorry to be obtuse here. But do I understand that the complaint was dismissed as having no basis and after that it was discovered that the investigator found probable cause? If so, that’s huge–not only in refuting Palin’s constant refrain that none of the complaints had merit but in establishing that the board that dismissed them is (hello?) biased in her favor rather than committed to doing what it is appointed to do.
This complaint was not dismissed as having no basis. This was one of the pending complaints of which we knew nothing until today. The governor, however, knew about this last week. AKM
I just got wind of this story on a breaking news thread from Arizona Republic. Could this possibly be the long awaited iceberg?? Nice going away giftie for Sarah!
Ha! Read her latest twit.
Yes indeed. There are so many questions I would like to see answered.
This is terrific and there are now 3 stories getting lots of comments on HuffPo, so by all means, buzz them up and then come back here pronto
Tx– what is latest twit?
Re inaccurate story floating re:ethics violation/Legal Defense Fund;matter is still pending;new info was just requested even;no final report
Lies, damned lies and bullchit!!
LMAO, but shocked? Can’t say I am. Looks like the hammer is ready to fall…
This ethics complaint was one of now FIVE that are still pending.
In the past, if investigated, the complaints were dismissed based on the investigator’s report. Somehow AP got hold of this report (which is supposed to be confidential) which makes me think Sarah doesn’t have as many friends in her administration as she thought.
So, who is this Daniels fellow who did the investigation? Hasn’t Tim Petumenos done most of the prior ones that got dismissed?
Stoopid question. How do you buzz it up?
Oh REALLY ExGINO??? Inaccurate? From God’s lips to your ears… heh heh heh. I am feeling kinda guilty about how much I am enjoying this, but I’ll get over it pretty quickly. Carry on Puppies!
Iceberg or bergy bit?
Here’s the link from the ADN: http://www.adn.com/palin/story/871750.html
Looks like she’s known about this result since 14 July… Hm, curious lack of tweets from her on this one…
Okay, just what is going on with all these back door, ”…without a formal hearing before the alaska personnel board.”, finding non-findings. This just stinks.
(From the ADN article):
” The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else. The report recommends that Palin refuse to accept payment from the defense fund, and that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the Alaska Personnel Board.
In his report, attorney Thomas Daniel said his interpretation of the ethics act is consistent with common sense.
[snipped by AKM. Just a few sentences and a link back to ADN, otherwise they get crabby. Thanks!]
So Palin received a copy a week ago…yeah, right, i’ll be she got it in June sometime.
Karma is a beotch… still LMAO
Irish… there’s an icon by the story– you have to register and then you can “buzz it up” Gramiam.. thanks for the quitter’s latest twitter
OK… over the guilt.
If this is not THE iceberg, it could well be the start of the unravelling of SP.
This complaint could uncover more dirty laundry underneath. Feds, are you taking notes?
It would be practical to pay the money back, and I suspect she will, but she’s just not wired that way. =)
I am betting her next twit on tweet will be about what a bunch of twits these unethical filers are and how the bloggers twitted Ms. Twatter herself out -unfairly, of course, and with malice.
ICEBERGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
@Irishgirl, visit the HuffPo story… you’ll see a BUZZ UP button right under the title on the left. Just click it!
Who but $$arah Palin would have a real estate agent handle something called the Alaska Trust Fund?
There has been suggestion on ADN comments that she repay the donors. Like that’s gonna happen. Silly supportive Palinistas.
DRINKS ARE ON ME TONIGHT!!! Can you make it to Asheville?
Lovin this news…….
Hot time on the old blog tonight… read, refresh, read, refresh
Love it!
So, what’s next… does the Personnel Board get together and sit around a Ouija board or what?
DING DONG!
Can I say Ding Dong?
DING DONG!
Palin Tweets:
Re inaccurate story floating re:ethics violation/Legal Defense Fund;matter is still pending;new info was just requested even;no final report
And this was just posted on Gov. Palin’s Facebook page:
I cannot verify the validity of this claim. There is no final report. The Investigator is still confidentially reviewing this matter. It appears suspect that in the final days of the Governor’s term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached.
Meghan Stapleton
Palin Spokesperson
“I feel tweets in my legs”….chris mattthews says! He always has had the hots for her.
Found this posted over at the other site. Was posted on face book by Megamouth.
I cannot verify the validity of this claim. There is no final report. The Investigator is still confidentially reviewing this matter. It appears suspect that in the final days of the Governor’s term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached.
Meghan Stapleton
Palin Spokesperson
Thanks all for the info on buzz…scuttling off to do my thing.
Here’s the link to the report: http://media.adn.com/smedia/2009/07/21/14/Legal%20Defense.22542.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
This must have hit a nerve, as well it should!
I posted at the two sites at Huffpo I could find. One already has almost 500 posts. Can we all say VIRAL???
My comment at Shannyn’s blog on Huffpo. A suggestion for a song parody on the theme song from Titanic. “My Tweets Will Go On!” Where is Lynnrockets??
Imagine the swear words flying from her mouth as she makes call after call trying to do damage control with this one -while answer-er-s giggle under their breath thinking “Ya shouldn’t have quit you twit.” Pay back time…
“Confidentially reviewing” what does that mean?
HuffPo has the VF article, AKM’s post and Shannyn’s post… buzz ‘em up!
Sorry Paula your post beat me.
The PDF report from Thomas M. Daniel is fantastic reading.
At the end it notes that the State of AK could pay the Gov.’s legal fees (within certain parameters) – but that in regards to Troopergate, the private atty has not submitted the bill.
The big Troopergate Grift.
Reaching back to the olden days “The whole world is watching!” And it is. It’s all good.
I was FIRST!! YAY!!
Full speed astern. Hard a’starboard! Boink.
AP – “The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else. The report recommends that Palin refuse to accept payment from the defense fund, and that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the Alaska Personnel Board.”
They’re going to negotiate it, just like the repayment of children’s travel.
They’re going to LET IT GO.
I don’t see how the personnel board can roll this under the rug. As for the state; the Branchflower report found her in violation. And it certainly lessens the finding of Petemenos, which was trumped up anyways.
Skip from Asheville – I’m only an hour and a half away. Are you really buying?
Isn’t Thomas Daniel the atty for Arctic Cat-gate?
Yes. AKM
Seagull Junker Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 2:35 PM
The PDF report from Thomas M. Daniel is fantastic reading.
At the end it notes that the State of AK could pay the Gov.’s legal fees (within certain parameters) – but that in regards to Troopergate, the private atty has not submitted the bill.
The big Troopergate Grift.
****************************************************************************************
Where is the link to the pdf, please?
I guess the ethics board did not have the courage to make the call themselves, yet did not want their reputations sullied even further as they knew this violation was so clear.
CG… not necessarily… there’s lots of attention now, and it’s going viral and that may not be so easily dismissed, especially if Sarah has a twitter fit again.
Wonder if this quake has caused a tsunami in the sea of pee?
Gram – it’s in AKM’s post above – @ the bottom.
39 Nebraska Native Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 2:33 PM
“Confidentially reviewing” what does that mean?
Yeah and why is it so secretive if $P has done nothing wrong. She is such a dork.
booboodog @#20…Yup , I believe this witll begin the unraveling of our Queen. Hopefully the IRS and the FBI are digging into a lot of her financial dealings. Her real Estate friend/best friend/chairwoman of the Board of Agriculture (tip to FBI) Kristan Cole should be shaking in her boots about what will be uncovered. It ain’t pretty , folks.
————————————————————
from “Madheart” on Huffpost comments:
this is what happens when you have your bff, Kristan Cole, the real estate agent, as your closest adviser and handler of your defense fund. You betcha.
————————————————————
Madheart has it 100% correct.
The latest bitterquittertwitter:
Re inaccurate story floating re:ethics violation/Legal Defense Fund;matter is still pending;new info was just requested even;no final report
Poor legal advice, huh?!
OK, I think I have managed to buzz.
Over @ HuffPost, in reply to someone defendin Palin
“That hit of acid is finally kicking in.”
Just wondering, but given the caveat that this is confidential information unless released by permission of the Governor, will the publication of this document & the investigation findings now make this all null & void as far as charges being filed?
Question – is this the same Atty who investigated Arctic Cat-gate? If not that one, he investigated one of the others.
If I recall, the public received his investigation letter on that one too. The public does not receive the Personnel Board’s report.
Not that there is necessarily a correlation, but July 3rd I went to the Veterans Museum. Very moving. When I got back to the car, I heard on the radio that she had quit and had several phone messages wanting me to know. I was so thrilled I went to Eddie Bauer and bought a new outfit I didn’t need. Life was good.
After a late night laughing at the Twitter Tantrum, I was sombered a bit by Canadian John’s touching veteran story. I decided to take two friends back to the museum today and listen to the stories of the men who gather in the USO room every day. Sure enough, get back to the car and my phone is a buzin’ away with tweets letting me know today’s great news.
So, I’d like to think that honoring veterans brought good luck, though I don’t think that was the vet reference she was alluding to in her tweet last night.
GA peach…I wouldn’t like to be on the receiving end of that!!!
Go Irish!
AND if it was released unlawfully, don’t you think that $arah would have twitted “illegally releasing to the public”? Also, too, the AP person was the last reporter with her? Broken by the AP…..
I love finding the story….!!!!
Nothing is final until the Personnel Board makes its own decision. But Tom Daniel is a very highly respected, competent attorney. He will be listened to. So now in addition to this not so frivolous complaint, she also had to pay taxes on her per diem and pay back her family’s travel expenses. And one complaint found that staff needed training in ethics. So the complaints have been helpful in routing out improper behavior and ensuring the highest ethical behavior by our government officials.
(secretly waiting for the twitter tantrum, round 2)
“A call to her lawyer was not immediately returned”…that’s unusual, right?
Van Flit is probably tearing his hair out…
Thomas Daniel = Arctic Cat investigator.
Her continuing to solicit donations to the Fund for a week after having the report speaks volumes about Ex-Governor Grifter.
I got this link from the Daily Beast:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PALIN_ETHICS_COMPLAINT?SITE=NCJAC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
It states the report *is* final. Pants on fire Megamouth?
DD
Maybe we should call Eddie Burke for the official legal response?
I like the part of the statement by the AP that said that she used her office as governor to raise money for her legal expenses, something that a private citizen would not be able to do (to the same extent).
If you had any doubt about the intention of the Alaska Fund, the wording is very clear from Sea of Pee: “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…”
$o, it really i$ all about $how me the Money $arah!
Palin’s known about it for a week.
And there have been NO tweets!
And Van Flein has been silent!
OMG
From DuckDriver’s link above:
“Palin posted an entry on Twitter in which she said the “matter is still pending.”
“There is no final report. The Investigator is still confidentially reviewing this matter. It appears suspect that in the final days of the Governor’s term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached,” her spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
But Daniel said his report was final.”
I think she wants to buy herself just 3 more days by saying it’s not final…
Nice kink DuckDriver! Oopsie Meg.
kink=link *sigh*
My understanding is there are still options for Sarah out there. This was the investigator’s report which evidently was still confidential, maybe until the Board takes action on it. Maybe it was leaked since someone was afraid the Board would try and sweep it under the rug or have it changed. But it does seem it is the final report of the investigator.
The Board must have some options about how they handle the report and they may have asked Sarah about some information, such as has she used any of the money and that is why Sarah is able to say more information is being requested. I don’t think anyone has reported that this is the final report of the Board. I don’t know if they have the ability to accept or reject the report but that is a little harder to do now that it is public.
I am sure the lawyers will be going over the the trust documents with a fine tooth comb to see what happens to the money if Sarah is not able to use it as governor. Can it be used to her benefit if she is no longer governor. I think that is the key question as to whether this issue was the determining one in her resignation.
And isn’t Sarah Pac also one of the outstanding ethics complaints still out there? If so, wouldn’t the same principles apply?
I don’t understand. Sorry, but if someone could clear all this up for me… much appreciation to you!
1) who is this independent investigator? is this the same group of ethics investigators who threw out most of the other complaints?
2) this news is a week old… ?? why is this just coming out today?
3) this blog post says the original complaint was thrown out. T or F? if True then how was it picked up again and by whom?
I’m happy one of these complaints has been officially deemed valid (though IMO they were all valid) and I’m curious what the consequences are.
Just got done buzzing up! Man! I haven’t been this ‘buzzed’ since college! lol
So, Buttercup got word of this last week? Guess her farewell tour was more like a hit and run…she got hit then had to run!
I’ve posted The Daniel Report at Progressive Alaska as a series of nine jpegs:
http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/07/saradise-lost-book-3-chapter-26-pending.html
Sarah Palin has announced that another ‘legal fund’ is being set up to cover the expenses incurred from defending the legalities of the first fund. All donations are to be sent in used bills directly to Sarah – please use unmarked envelopes. NB : We regret that receipts cannot be issued at this time.
You forgot the address:
behind the third toilet Community Center Wassila
Tap toe 3 times before entering.
(HuffPOST is funny, 2-all sew)
ez.pz Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Thanks! MadHeart is my nom de guerre over at HuffPo. : )
PROBABLE CAUSE??!!?? From a PB investigator?
Lord have mercy. She’s toast.
@Tealwomin: Stay away from that toilet unless you’re cross-dressing.
PB? Personnel Board?
Snos will kill me, but I did visit the other side and found this comment.
*They cannot make her give the money back. They can fine her and maybe she is unethical. Well, let them say it, we know the truth*.
Huh!!
Oh yeah–this was going to be swept under a big puffy red shoe wearing rug.
Who squealed? But I have to say I still think the board is going to poo poo it in the end, make her pay back the money and Scarah will skate into national twithood disheveled but standing. I do like the disheveled part.
although other politicians might have trust funds for frivolous complaints, and other stuff like law suits, it’s the laws of Alaska that I feel will bring her down. Other state laws I don’t think are as hard a$$ed as the law in Alaska is, and it’s probably due to your former governor’s antics.
Oh my Irish… ignorance and blind faith can do amazing things to otherwise decent people can’t it?
MY TAKE:
Independent Investigator’s report is NOT confidential.
EB’s final conclusion IS confidential.
Am I missing something?
OH! Everyone tune in to CM on MSNBC… they’re STILL going on about the Birth Certificate thing!
OY!
Do we have to follow THIS and The Red Shirt Hate Fest tonite? There isn’t enough rum in the house!
THERE ISN’T ENOUGH RUM!!!!! DO YOU ALL HEAR ME??????? THERE ISN’T ENOUGH TO DO BOTH!!!!!!
Maybe $P thought that if she kept asking more questions to the investigator that would keep it pending, rather than final?
I’m really confused.
I bet she can convert the money to a charitable cause (as specified already in the trust documents). But I bet she cannot use it herself or for her legal funds in any way.
All the people that donated can contribute a second time to the new fund she will probably set the day after she officially quits. At that time, she doesn’t have to comply with the Ethics Act anymore, right?
By the way, I know why the report is not final in Sarah’s eyes…..she didn’t open the mail yet!
Another writer at Politics Daily has written about this latest ethics lapse:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/21/sarah-palins-legal-fund-faces-ethics-complaint/
DD
@Irish: Oh, yeah, they CAN make her give the money back. Don’t know if they will. but they certainly can. Ain’t no state where you’re allowed to make money from a crime.
The CNN Wire Latest updates on top stories
July 21st, 2009
Palin defense fund may violate ethics laws, investigator says
Posted: 07:09 PM ET
@samper: Spike the rum with everclear.
Sarah say it ain’t final because all her appeals have not been ruled upon.
Why in Massachusetts are ethics violations subject to a $3,000 fine and 3 years in the slammer???
Seems reasonable to me!
If she goes to jail tonight, she’ll miss the picnic. ::snicker::
Would AP be reporting on this if they weren’t sure it is confirmed and newsworthy? And is there a comment from her lawyer yet?
Blinking Heck Irish, we’ll never get a decent nights kip at this rate.
samper:
She is the reason the rum is always gone. ( a la Capt. Jack Sparrow)
Can someone just say if this is the iceberg or not? I love the idea that there’s still something ELSE, but it would also be nice to know when the Titanic is finally gonna sink.
@lilyf: Well, it is AP, not the most trustworthy news source.
Palin brought a family feud into the Governor’s Office. That was her fault and things mushroomed from there. Why should citizens pay a legal fee for violations Palin caused while being paid by the citizens for her service ? Sorta like paying a lawyer to fight against you. She mentions vets quite often; her service was different, but not less than a service. But Palin was lining her pockets along the way.
@UKLady: “Blinking Heck”?
live chat??? I feel inappropriate behavior coming on…
GLUG, GLUG!!!
This story has National legs! From Channel 2 in Orlando:
http://www.wesh.com/politics/20122808/detail.html
“Iceberg! Dead ahead!”
DD
Some have asked why Sarah did not respond to this last week?
Simple…she hasn’t opened her mail yet!
On the last page of the Daniel’s report he recommends that the SOA pay the legal fees that she incurred in defending against ethics complaints that were dismissed. Does he mean the legal fees from her private attorney? If so, I strongly disagree with this recommendation.
Oh, and by the by, the report looks pretty final to me!
strangelet: that’s what worries me. That and I am trying to diet and avoid adult beverages because they apparently have tons of calories. But if I knew it was really a reason to celebrate, perhaps I could make an exception
This may be an iceberg, but like all icebergs, 90% is below the water line, and not visible (yet). Mr. Van Suckup is going ballistic- see ADN article update.
strangelet
It’s a sort of English polite way of saying ‘Bloody Hell’
UK Lady Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Blinking Heck Irish, we’ll never get a decent nights kip at this rate.
***************************************************************************************
Look at it this way, UKLady. You are a witness to history….and one heck of a good ride!
Maybe the entire Legislature will crash Sunday’s party and just before the mustard hits the hot dog, sample the (im)-Peach Cobbler!
Would make a #1 movie!
Hey Sarah Palin…can you see a Pasture from your house?
Cause your about to be put out there!!!
Sunday’s picnic is going to be fun fun fun. She will not be in a good mood.
ADN?
Is this what is called a Palin-os-copy?
aka: The sh*t has hit the beehive!
122 Fern Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Sunday’s picnic is going to be fun fun fun. She will not be in a good mood.
*************************************************************
I say “NO SHOW”…………same for Reagan Library.
Fern: Anchorage Daily News. John Coale hasn’t been this upset since he and Greta got suspended from the practice of law for a year for sneaking into hospitals to solicit personal injury clients (even the “ambulance chasers” had the ethics and integrity to stop at the Emergency Room doors.).
Ah the joy to occasionally see the scumbags squirm!
#
119
Gramiam AKA Smoke Strapon Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:10 PM
UK Lady Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Blinking Heck Irish, we’ll never get a decent nights kip at this rate.
***************************************************************************************
Look at it this way, UKLady. You are a witness to history….and one heck of a good ride!
___________________________________________________________________________
That could be interpreted very differently on this side of the Atlantic!
I agree–no show for the picnic, but the library deal is not open–no press, nothing except her base.
@ granny68
London Bridges
NO please, not a movie!! She will make even more $ and I will never get anything done again, ever.
125 austintx Says:
I say “NO SHOW”…………same for Reagan Library.
**********************
But… she’s written her speech and everything!
won’t the Reagan library people be delighted to know their speaker is guilty of ethics violation…mmm, great publicity for them.
Ok – a documentary movie, called the fall of saraH paliN!
Trust Fund page still up and running?
AGAIN!
Do we have to follow this twit all night AS WELL AS the Red Shirt Hate Fest?
If so, I’m buying stock in my local liquor store.
There is NOT ENOUGH RUM to do this! NOT NEARLY ENOUGH!
I can see her now… She’s madly dialing up Van Flea to compose some random “It’s not a violation” press”er” (let’s call it what it is…. a PRESS RELEASE) and poor little Piper is trying to calm poor little Trig because Mommy is throwing things about the house.
Willow and Bristol have “left the building” for calmer territory.
Poor little Piper!
Didn’t $$arah Palin start living up to the Peter Principle the day she graduated from high school? And then had the audacity to drag her best buds along with her, aka the Palin Cabal?
I know there are a lot smarter people in AK; some of them even write blogs. : )
In less than an hour there are already 230 comments on the ADN article.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/871750.html
(Attorney recommends resolving without a hearing.)
Bringing good questions over from the other thread:
“of course they will let it go. But she still can’t get her greedy little hands on the money.”
“So who gets the money if Sarah doesn’t?”
I think they’ll negotiate it out, exactly like the children’s travel. Van Flein would be an idiot to counsel her otherwise. She’ll pay a fine, it’ll be “dismissed” with no acknowledgement.
I’m guessing that she’ll get to keep the money. Ironically, that which demonstrates unethical personal benefit, also proves ownership. If it can be proven that it was step up for her and her family, then it proves that it’s hers. In which case, she gets it, but just not while she’s the governor.
And of course, there will need to be IRS filings next. Unless Kristan Cole, John Coale, RA Mansour and a whole host will be paying taxes on that for her.
Thomas Daniel was the Personnel Board “independent” counsel on 6 of the ethics complaints. Anchorage attorney Michael Geraughty reviewed 8 of them. Petumonos was the first 3. The last 2 (#19 and #20) – I don’t know. One was English, which I assume is Deb English, head of the PB.
Betcha Keith does a bit on Countdown tonite. Here’s hoping!!
there were so many quiet ways she could have shut down that fund months ago without drawing attention…especially when she knows the people who donate to her are not the wealthiest ones. It’s just really shameful.
Mr. Thomas recommended the state pay for the complaints that were dismissed. That CAN’T include the one she filed on herself, can it? The one that she had to repay the kids’ travel, was that legally dismissed or resolved?
I am uncomfortable with the last lines of his report that say it is confidential until she releases it. Ivy tweeted that it is a violation of AS 39.52.340
That wouldn’t invalidate anything would it? The leaker could be in trouble, maybe, but nothing is said, I think, about people repeating/copying what they are given. I don’t want her to get “off” on a technicality.
And dang it, how DARE she continue to call complaints frivolous after she already had this report. Witch.
Samper, sometimes you have to pick and choose.
Ummm…
Any AKn’s want to live blog from the scene of the picnic?
I betcha Harper Collins is regretting every single word in that there contract, also, too!
Tom Arnold was on Letterman the other night… he was bragging about how he didn’t fulfill contracts (ie; Jenny Craig – gained weight instead of losing it), but still got to keep the deposit. He was all full of pride that if you get a down payment on a job and don’t fulfill it, that you’re in the clear, made a few million bucks and didn’t have to work for it.
Seems SP has the same situation…
ez.pz Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:19 PM
@ granny68
Yeah, guessed it would be someone from mudflats -the writer was well informed, concise, relevant, accurate, humourous – just didn’t know who
Hey, I studied journalism in the 9th grade, 54 yrs ago. Never forgot who, what, why, when and where. It helps. And, actually, I’m from NC. Hi, y’all!
Remember recently Sarah was word salading about how maybe some of the gifts that people were giving her were “personal” to her (because they liked her!) and had nothing to do with the fact that she was the Alaskan Fuhrer. Maybe this was when she got first wind that she was going down!
Gosh, I think it’s time for an encouraging personal essay from AP journalist/tour press guy Matthew Daly!
$5 bucks says that when there is a newsy bit with Sarah quotes, it’ll come from her Christian war correspondent traveling with her.
…any time now…
Van Flea can’t be reached for comment, as he is busy telling his partners they have to give the money back…..
DuckDriver, the story has legs in orlando because remember, we (& Tampa) were sort of Ground Zero for the Palin Hate Rallies during the campaign. And like it or not, O-town is a happy haven for white supremacists & c-street supporters. But I love the fact this is all over the news, and I do mean all over:
guardian.co.uk “Palin hit with new claims of ethics violations” http://bit.ly/rTXgR
How is it that we haven’t heard a tweet from God yet?
Van Flea squirming puts a smile on my face…but I thought I read that he still hadn’t submitted his bill?
samper: God is too busy closing those doors to tweet.
IMO i think $P or someone she trusted leaked this report in hopes that it would get dismissed. She’s had this for a week and she hasn’t done anything about it. Maybe that was her plan?
Granny68: Shout out to ALL YA’ALL! My family is in Cary!
looks like mama bear will have 2 pratice what she twits about…Something about NOT ASKING FOR HANDOUTS!! BTW, that was 9 very enjoyable pages of readin’ dontchaknow!
GinaM, I had the same thought. Nothing would surprise me at this point.
The msg on DZ’s site has now changed to this:
Sarah Palin on “hurt feelings”
Soon to be former Alaska governor Sarah Palin says politicians need to have thick skin “Just as I’ve got” Which of course is hilarious since she quit as Alaska’s governor complaining about her hurt feelings from Alaska’s bloggers reporting on her numerous ethics violations.
Is this a recent change??
libby: I think I hear a “SLAM” or two. God is VENGEFUL, don’tcha know!
“Gotcha.”
libby: Any Atty I’VE ever known has submitted bills at LEAST monthly. And I worked as a BILLER in a big shot L.A. firm!!!!
Hasn’t submitted a bill yet? PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!
SP has the bills. She is inflating them or he is.
Thomas Daniel’s pdf is fascinating reading. I savored every word.
It’s so interesting that this was out there for a week and not a sniff from GINO et al. Generally, she’s up to the minute gloating on her ethics violations complaints. I wonder why she/they were so mute on this one? Suppose it’s because THIS one is gonna stick?
I wonder if she’s drawn any of the money. I think there are tax liablities too. Oh my my my as my sainted mother would say.
Well, as Bette Davis said (in All About Eve), “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.” (Chortle chortle)
Not. Enough. RUM. Dammit!
if she had established the fund as a personal one, would she be able to keep the money?
Some yahoo on CM right now:
SP has the ability to raise a lot of $$ and “steer” the R’s.
UGH! Blecccchhh! Double, no TRIPLE, Barf!!!
Obviously, this was taped before the “leak”!
Samper, the bill thing bothers me too. Daniel’s wants the State to pay for them, but Van Flea claims that attorney-client confidentiality protects against having to disclose details. So, what, she just comes up with a number (hey, let’s say $600K!) and the State coughs it up to Flea-bag? Hmmmm, sounds like a money-laundering scheme to me!
151 libby Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:35 PM
samper: God is too busy closing those doors to tweet.
I keep saying that Witch Doctor did a reverse exorcism on Sarah. He actually put the whammy on her.
He put George Carlins spirit in her, George’s making jokes about her using her as his straight man.
Course her plumiting approval ratings in Alaska must be just a teeeeny weeeeny bit hard to explain to the Beltway Boys, considering Alaska is a Red state.
lilyf Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:46 PM
if she had established the fund as a personal one, would she be able to keep the money?
———————————————————————-
The trust document says any excess funds will be donated to a charitable organization.
Schuster in for KO tonite!
Birth Certificate story is on, but no mention of SP.
Joe the non-plumber is mentioned, however. Like HE is worthy of listening to!
GinaM@152, I agree, if the leak gets her off on a technicality she is definitely the leaker!
In reading the document it seems this lawyer/investigator would have given her a pass if she had not put her stamp of approval on the fund. Ironic that others, the businessman in California and I think someone in Texas were trying to raise money for her legal costs but were told to cease and desist by Megamouth (I think it was Megamouth) because “they” were setting up the OFFICIAL fund raising site. $arah and Kristen just HAD to have control and now, she will pay for it.
Trini: The state has an AG to work with SP. That she HIRED her OWN atty for the “frivolous” allegations is her OWN DOING.
I hardly think that ANY investigator would recommend the state pays for that kind of idiocy.
But, then again, I’ve been so busy drinking mouthwash (rum is gone, dammit!) that I haven’t read the .pdf report.
Off to do so now…
samper –
sarah threw the bills in the same pile as all the “unopened gifts and letters”
Pf-f-f-f-f-t……….Bwa-a-a-ha-ha-ha-ha !!!!!
If this teaches us anything, it’s that the East Coast Media needs to stay awake and at work longer in the day. No more blowing out of Manhattan early because you don’t think anything interesting happens past the Hudson (like that old New Yorker cover implied in the 1980s).
Olbermann will be doing the Palin story tomorrow.
samper, who are they kidding? As a body, they’ve already proven themselves to be corrupt. That would be like having one drink too many…or one toke over the line (Sweet Jesus).
“Hasn’t submitted a bill yet? PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!
SP has the bills. She is inflating them or he is.” – samper
______________________
Scary, huh? If AK has to pay for the legal bills, then everyone in AK has a right to see ALL of the details. Confidentiality??? Really??? I suppose it would fit right in with that “Clear and Transparent Government” that she’s so proud of?
Marnie, you might have something there.
BTW Georgia Peach @53 your tsunami remark is hilarious!
slowly but surely the ‘berg is coming, IMHO only…Why didnt she stay thru the end of the month? To turn over the keys at the govs PICNIC? Bullshit!
My guess is something BAD is due the week of the 27th that would have forced her to resign. Her last twitspew was from a mountain with a pic of Piper was very cute! Poor kid….
her forehead is always all botoxed and that stuff is soooo expensive. She also has lots of clothes and shoes that she loves to show off. It seems strange because she has so many financial responsibilities and she is always talking about how she is a “fisherman.” Is the implication that she has been using the legal fund for her own personal gain, or is it just that she made it “official”?
Think about this: “boxes” of letters. Likely many with hard cash. What’s chances that that hasn’t been tapped? Who would know? Envelopes now gone; pocket the cash, and keep on going.
No way in hell is she telling the truth.
Granny: I need WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than “one drink too many” or “one toke over the line (Sweet Jesus)” to get through what I anticipate tonite!
I’m pretty sure we have to blog through the Red Shirt Hate Fest as well as await the next LYING tweet from the twit.
Too MUCH!
No way out… MUST run to liquor store. There is no way in the world my head won’t explode without MORE RUM (dammit!).
Samper, at least your breath smells sweet. But seriously, get yourself some Rum or Scotch. Medic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the info Phil.
Oh, wait!
I was saving it for “Happy Time” on the plane to Greece, but I DO have ONE Valium left from a recent surgery!
No… I’d rather have “HAPPY TIME” on the way to Greece!
SP isn’t worth my last Class A Narcotic!
Hmm… after reading that report again, I noticed that her attorney Van Flea hasn’t requested that his fees get paid. Isn’t that strange that a lawyer wouldn’t submit his bill for payment? Something stinks here. Look on page 8 of the report at the bottom. It says that Van Flea: terminated the contract because his efforts relating to claims against the governor in her official capacity could not be separated from those alleging personal misconduct. What does that mean??
Maybe $P and her attorney came up with this legal defense fund as a scam. She is a grifter. And don’t forget she said she was looking to quit a long time ago. Remember back in the spring when some other guy from Texas was starting up a Legal defense fund for $P and Van Flea first said it was legal then all of a sudden he said it wasn’t cause it wasn’t the OFFICIAL GINO defense fund. Again IMO ole GINO and her attorney got caught with there pants down on this one.
Perkins Coie, the Daniel’s report law firm, isn’t like the local Wasilla AG guy who said “ignore the subpoenas”–they have a little more credibility, also, too.
Trini: LOL! MEDIC!!
IV 1/5 of RUM!
STAT!!!
Seriously, is the Red Shirt Hate Fest “on” tonite? If so, heed my words:
STAY OUT OF PUBLIC BATHROOMS!!!!!
I can’t help but remember SNL’s parody of the Couric interview:
POEHLER AS COURIC: “Forgive me, Mrs. Palin, but it seems to me that when cornered, you become increasingly adorable. Is that fair to say?”
FEY AS PALIN: “I don’t know is it? (high pitched gun sounds)”
Hey Dr. Patois we’re on the same wavelength. Oh yeah they are going bananas on that other site. I think it’s starting to sink in for them that their Queen might smell a little bit.
Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:48 PM :
“The trust document says any excess funds will be donated to a charitable organization.”
I believe it says excess funds will be donated to a 501(c)(3) of the trustee’s choosing. Which, in my way of thinking, means SP can set up her own non profit and then Cole tranfers the funds to that. In fact, I’ve been wondering if Palin was planning to use those funds as the “seed” money for her national campaign to “progress forward” the Real America, with herself at the helm
Again, if idiots, er, SUPPORTERS, wanted to pay her fees, why not just send the checks to Van Flea with a note attached as to where to apply the funds?
All this AFT, TX Fund, etc. crap seemed shady from the get go.
GinaM–
or Van Fluff has done a LOT of work regarding XGINO’s other activities…perhaps ones we don’t even know about yet and that’s why he couldn’t separate the official from the personal.
Palin says, not to worry. Fund story inaccurate. Boy, I’m glad she cleared that up.
AKM:
I think that this Palin woman is working you ragged!! Will it ever stop??
#106 UK Lady
Funny!!!! Still laughing at long tail cats in a room full of rocking chairs!!
Well, since you’re up celebrate!!
OK, then. Imagine–All you need is love. Ta ta. : )
187 Greytdog Δ Says:
————————————————————————
No PAC or any legal defense fund will qualify for 501 (c) (3)…they have other 501 sections, but they are not charitable. This trust for example is NOT a 501 (c) (3) as far as I can tell…contributions to it are NOT tax deductible as far as the webpage shows.
maybe shes gonna QUIT twitter 2-all-sew?
Can anyone remember a news story or a press release where Palin said the Trust had been checked by the AG and was ok. I feel like I saw that once but can’t recall where. Also if it was ok’d who was the AG at the time? WAR?
I think someone leaked the report because SP said she intended to ignore the recommendations. That is her style and she thought she could get away with it (like all the other illegal and unethical things).
At minimum she is going to be paying taxes on this money.
The state is NOT going to pay her bills at this point.
Found this statement from Van Flea from the “other” cite:
said…
New facebook statement from the Gov’s lawyer:
“All options are open in terms of legal remedies. It is a clear violation of Alaska law that Mr. Daniel explicitly reviewed with Ms. Chatman prior to her illegal actions. We will be contacting the appropriate authorities for review and action.” Thomas Van Flein Private Attorney for Sarah Palin
Dr. Patois Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:55 PM
BTW Georgia Peach @53 your tsunami remark is hilarious!
———
Thank you, Dr. I never go there. Can’t stand all the rage.
the latest from cnn: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/21/sarah.palin/index.html
oops
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/21/sarah.palin/index.html
Note the loss of “Governor” in front of Sarah Palin?
@UKLady: I knew that. I was just teasing.
London Bridges 145: Yes, some of the letters might be personal, and other would represent cashing in on her celebrity. How can we tell the difference? Well, if the letter is addressed to Governor Sarah Palin, then she’s cashing in. Any letter directed to State Capitol, Governor’s mansion, Sarah’s office are official. I’m going to guess that alot of the envelopes don’t actually have her street address, just sort of: To Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska. That’s not personal; they depend on her fame to have the post office deliver the mail. This sounds like the Santa Claus trial in “Miracle on 34th Street.”
A few things come to mind reading Daniel’s report.
The reference to the State paying her legal costs for dismissed complaints:
There shouldn’t be any legal costs in that the complaint would firstly be reviewed by an independent lawyer like Thomas Daniel has done so on other complaints i.e. Arctic Cat, and the findings that there was no violation of ethics, the complaint was dismissed. Therefore they didn’t pass the smell test to make it where she had to incur costs. Should Van Fleas have charged for his press releases of the compalints and for his media appearances on radio — these are no legal fees for which the state should be responsible.
As to this reference of the $500,000 representing fees for her representation against the ethics complaints, an article which was linked the other day by someone here, set out that these costs were incurred while on the campaign trail. The article was referenced the McCain campaign wouldn’t pay her fees. At that time, the only active ethics complaint was her own — Troopergate. The others if I recall didn’t start flowing until after the campaign. Therefore — $500,000 referred to for Troopergate along. That’s questionable.
A section I actually found funny when I read it as I recall having visions of Van Fleas jumping up and down at one point at the time the Legal Fund was being set up.
Initially I it was implied that Van Fleas had declared it legal, but then Van Fleas did a 180 declaring it wasn’t and that they were setting up the Legal Fund themselves with Cole being Trustee. Remember when there was a private person who no one had heard of had started a fund for her?? It came about I think because O’Reilly had mentioned about a fund or something. Not getting Faux station, I’m going by what I seem to remember reading. But then he abruptly got shut down.
From Daniels’ Report – pg 3:
“There remains the question, however, of whether the governor’s supporters created the Alaska Fund Trust completely independent of any actions on the part of the governor. In that event, it would be difficult to conclude that the governor used her position to solicit the donations, as contrasted with supporters using her position to solicit the donations. If third parties created the legal defense fund completely on their own, free from any direction, influence, or guidance from the governor, it would not seem that the governor “used her position” in violation of the statute.”
The fact that Cole created it with Palin and the beg-a-thon was set up in co-ordination with Cole and both have used pictures of Palin supplied by either the Fund or Governor’s office on their site — therefore the beg-a-thon cannot be recognized as a third party.
In other words, sounds like they should have left the first one alone. With Coale’s help, they seem to have out-smarted themselves!!!! Love it.
The Personnel Board will have the Legislature breathing down their necks dealing with this one as this will leave a sour taste if it is not dealt with. This will be remembered when it comes to their ‘Elections”. Are they willing to kiss their butts good-bye to save her this time — I don’t think so. They blew it on Troopergate — you don’t get a second chance.
In case anybody missed AKM’s little note at the beginning of the story… it is posted on the Huffpo and doesn’t have nearly the number of comments as it does here. Post a comment there as well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/alaska-fund-bust-sarah-pa_b_242369.html
Boy, I bet the See4Pee’ers heads are exploding like popcorn right around now! Hehehe.
@UKLady: A tiny OT. I’m a USer, but once apon a time I was touring the Tower of London. As we approached one of the archways, the mom in front of us read the sign: “The Bloody Tower”. At which, one of her children (perhaps five or six) said “Oh, don’t swear, Mommy”.
I had to pause briefly so that my choked laughter wouldn’t be embarassing.
Wow, just caught this head scratcher in the adn comment board. Way to predict the future!
“graykeeper wrote: “That poor unnamed ethics investigator just blew off a cushy appointment to the Palin Whitehouse however.”
Who leaked this? If it was Kim the whole mess could get tossed out. Confidential was stamped on the front page.
I don’t understand how this Mr. Daniel’s letter (e-mail) to Debra English (personnel board) found it’s way to the media. Who would leak a confidential document like this? Will this nullify this complaint? So many questions about this latest news. These late nights are getting to me.
Who knows, maybe Gov. Palin will be forced to resign now that this report is out there.
GinaM Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Found this statement from Van Flea from the “other” cite:
said…
New facebook statement from the Gov’s lawyer:
“All options are open in terms of legal remedies. It is a clear violation of Alaska law that Mr. Daniel explicitly reviewed with Ms. Chatman prior to her illegal actions. We will be contacting the appropriate authorities for review and action.” Thomas Van Flein Private Attorney for Sarah Palin
+++++++++++
GOOD GRIEF!
Does this guy EVER do ANYTHING but threaten “ACTION” against people who find a “PROBLEM” with SP?
Sick to DEATH of this amateur!
MORE RUM, please!
Wow, Empish, we were on the same wave length. Same questions, same time. LOL
@Blooper: It’s the many-worlds hypothesis of quantum mechanics. Everything that possibly could happen does happen in some subset of the infinity of possible worldlines.
In some parallel universe, there may be a “Palin White House”.
On second thought, Nahh. This may actually serve to disprove the many-worlds hypothesis.
GinaM posted re the face book page statement:
Latest Statement from Palin Attorney Thomas Van Flein
Today at 4:52pm
“All options are open in terms of legal remedies. It is a clear violation of Alaska law that Mr. Daniel explicitly reviewed with Ms. Chatman prior to her illegal actions. We will be contacting the appropriate authorities for review and action.”
Thomas Van Flein
Private Attorney for Sarah Palin
So what are they saying? That Chatman is the one who gave up the information and are now going to go after her?
It is wrong that only the Governor can waive confidentiality in this case, since she will obviously never allow anyone to claim she has violated an ethics law. How is this being open and transparent? It isn’t. She wants it hidden so that she can claim she did nothing wrong, like always, even if it isn’t the truth!
she stepped in some poo and it wont go away. BTW, the AK FAKE trust will even pay her, friends family, and cronies taxes if the services/funds used are found to be taxable….how dat work?
I just got done doing one of my daily google news searches using the keyword “Palin’ and hit “Last Hour’ and nothing showed up. Then I did a ‘Last Hour’ news search using ‘Sarah Palin’ and then ‘Alaska’ and nothing again for both keywords.
Whats up with that???? I have never had one of my ‘Last Hour’ news searches do that. Would Palin have enough power to put a stop on last hour news searches??? Has anybody else had this happen within the last hour or so? I find this very strange!
Rachel’s got the story—coming on soon.
2am here…See you all for the screen door party!
On Rachel tonight.
yes. Maddow is having a live report.
C4Pers claiming Chatman and Daniel conspired to leak it – or Daniel is a Dem – or send the Troopers after the REAL lawbreakers, Chatman and Daniel.
RACHEL IS HAVING A “LIVE REPORT FROM AK” ON THE AK ETHICS DEAL!!!
TUNE IN AND TIVO, ALL YA’ALL!
post a link!
Stranglet: LOL, interesting hypothesis! If that’s the case, let’s hope the alternate ‘Palin Whitehouse’ universe collides with the ‘Michelle Batshit Bachman’ Whitehouse universe so we can breath easy again.
Irishgirl: WAKE UP! Get some coffee… oh, wait… do you guys get MSNBC out there?
sjk: Maybe all Palin needs is some vapoorize to solve her problems?
So… no Hate Fest tonite?
Thank GOD for Closing that Door!
Liquor store doesn’t have enough rum for both!
I checked.
And also too begged.
Rachael Maddow already has the story and will be reporting about it soon.
Poor JINO. Snif, snif !!!! all because of the mean media and bloggers. Snif snif!!!! No more honey moon. Pants are on fire. Phew!!!Huh
I wonder if “LIVE” means Shannyn?
If so, SHOUT OUT, Shanny! Go get ‘em!
Irishgirl—don’t know if there is a link for Rachel—it’s live on MSNBC right now. Palin story not up yet.
Here it comes…
OK…
Couching it for a while.
Want to watch Rachel, who is ALWAYS spot on with FACT.
She’ll clear up our questions, I’m sure!
Maybe I don’t need as much rum as I thought… Rachel is very Zen for me!
Samper: sarah calls for gin! with a glimpse at the vermouth…………try it you’ll like it (and it is medicinal)
and rachel said it really really really is over for sarah
I hope it’s Shannyn who goes LIVE with Rachel!!!!
Shanny ROCKS!
Maybe LINDA??????
Linda ROCKS, too!
Here we go!!!!!
This is just the typical LIE & DEFLECT show.
The document is out – hey, the AP got a SCOOP!!!! Who’s to say WHERE it came from? Certainly not Sarah Palin or her atty. or her lackeys. Again they go for the constituent. SHAMEFUL.
Don’t matter what they say, the document is out, Sarah can no longer claim that none of the ethics complaints were valid. Her whole reason for resigning is gone.
Now, will someone start mentioning in the press that it was her own ethics violation, filed against herself that caused any and all private atty fees. And like Canadian N. said before – didn’t Coale just say THEY WERE PAID ALREADY!!!
You can’t make this stuff up!
IrishGirl -
Here is the link to her show. What you see is last nites. It takes about an hour after tonites show , then they will load it. Sorry ’bout that.
oops……
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/
I want to know along with a few others is who or whom shared this info with the press? I don’t have a clue.
Scarah and crew including Daniels is making a big deal about the ‘confidentiality’ issue. This is going to be their loophole for weaseling their way out of these latest complaints. These hicks are so predictable.
yes, Rachael says “SHE IS DONE” re Palin. KTTU reporter is on Rachael’s show now. The worst damage that will come from this is that it is now NATIONAL
news, woooo hoooooo! finally. Jill Burke of KTTU talks about the fact that complaint is stamped “confidential.” I say it may even get thrown out because it “leaked.” But, damage is done.
if she hasn’t used the money, how can Coale claim it has paid her legal bills
Yep the ‘ole deflect attempt.
Get the AP to reveal it’s source!!
SuperBee—
I don’t think so. The fact that the information got leaked doesn’t change the finding.
The finding was clear: refuse the money or face the music. I think that’s why it got leaked. SOMEONE figured SP would take the money and be damned–after she left office.
Not so easy, now.
I’m joking about getting the AP to reveal it’s source. It’s just ironic that this is where $arah ends up – fighting the press about sources.
Who’s would benefit from the leaking of this to the press? Sarah or Chatman? Why would Chatman go thru all of this and then leak it and take a chance of it being thrown out? Time for a lie detector test????
It would not surprise me if Sarah Palin’s own subjects released this confidential report to have it waived on a technicality. They are desperate and didn’t have any other way for it to be swept under the rug.
Palins bills are paid. She just want to play the helpless and homeless victim. Financially, I don’t believe she is suffering.
For everyone who missed last night’s KTUU “Palin’s Wild Ride Pt.1: From ‘open and transparent’ to something less”, here’s the link.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10759239
Second installment should air in about an hour.
I left a comment a bit back about google news searches. I tried a ‘Last Hour’ news search again and now things are showng up. Sorry if I sound like a total ditz, I just found it very strange that there wasn’t any search results for either ‘Palin’, ‘Sarah Palin’ or ‘Alaska”.
Wish I had cable, I would love to watch Rachel now! I’ll just keep refreshing and catch up on it here. Thanks for the live updates!!!
Many of the ethics complaints have been dismissed on technicalities. If constituants had used lawyers and filed wording it correctly her lawyer would not have been able to swirm Sarah’s way out. He has put in a lot of hours on getting technicallities to be shown to the investigating attorneys.
Is there a link to the Daniels report?
How can they LET THIS GO?? The AFT has already paid out monies, hasn’t it?
Someone better file a lawsuit against the personnel board or the State if they try this…
So, Palin isn’t tweeting about this being frivolous, anymore, eh? Figures.
Link to Daniel’s report:
http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/07/saradise-lost-book-3-chapter-26-pending.html
Blooper, I believe she vaporized enuff to have killed the connection between her 2 brain cells!
Chances are from my experience is that it leaked via Gov or her Atty’s office. Wouldn’t be the first time and won’t be the last leak — then deflect blame elsewhere. Problem is — the Teflon’s gone and it’s sticking like burned food!! What’s she gonna do — fire the Personnel now. Makes it difficult in your last few days in office.
Oh wow, I thought it was locked in my desk!! Oh dear. It must have been the office cleaner.
This just makes it more difficult for Van Fleas to negotiate his settlement he wants.
Zaki says iceburg hits Palin right between the eyes. Guess this was it.
I think it likely that Palin quite because of the need to legally raise lots of cash in a short amount of time. I bet between the IRS breathing down her throat over unreported gifts including the construction of her house and the supposedly unopened boxes of gifts she may be looking at a tax pay many times her current income. She may also have been recently told that she is not going to be able to use the Alaskan Trust fund to pay of her huge legal bills. I think Sara owes mega bucks to lawyers and the IRS and is leaving her position to order to make as much money as possible while the getting is good. I think she seems so crazed lately because she can’t quite believe how deep in debt she is.
As Rachel says , “Talk me down” , but who gives a s^*t if it’s marked “Confidential” ?? The truth is the truth. Someone hates sarah’s guts. They are legion up there , but her and Toad have been able to intimidate people into silence. I’m sure more “leaks” are a comin’. Just because the truth gets leaked , it negates it ??
I’m hoping that Keith Olbermann would set things straight. He just seems to have the verbiage to set Palin, straight. He probably will have the Investigator on his show. Hopefully, he will also invite, Shannyn.
I feel no further ahead than I did a few minutes ago.
We don’t know if the “leak” will render it “waived”.
We don’t know WHO “leaked” it.
I agree, though… whether “leaked” or not… it does NOT change the FINDING.
If SP had one SHRED of “ethic” in her, she would pay the price and allow it to go through without the veil over “leaked” technicalities.
If she DOESN’T? EVERYONE in her party will STILL use it against her and in a more inflammatory way!
But I swear to all that is holy that if she spouts off about it being “DISMISSED” as “FRIVOLOUS” or “DISMISSED” for ANY OTHER REASON than that it was “leaked”, my head will explode.
Even Rum can’t clean up THAT mess.
Palin leaked the preliminary findings for two reasons; first it says that she is the only one that can authorize disclosure, therefore it can be thrown out. Second, Walter Conkrite’s death was stealing the HEADLINES therefore she had to get herself back into the spotlight. Remember she is a media @hore. She is so transparent, it”s a shame she didn’t govern that way.
G R I F T E R
Rachel’s show has not been uploaded yet but should be pretty soon as they’ve uploaded Keith’s. Here’s the link to Rachel’s so you can check
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/
Look, I’m not a conspiracy nut (hold on a second, my tin foil hat fell over my eyes), but I wouldn’t put in past our soon to be ex-governor to be involved in leaking this report that is detrimental to her. Why? Because, now she can once again play the victim and try to point the focus away from her guilt and her actions, and towards whomever leaked the confidential report. (Cue LInda Rondstadt on “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me”.) I would like to think that it was leaked by someone who didn’t want it to get buried until well after she was out of office, but felt that she should have to defend it while still in office. I also find it ironic that we there has been an AP reporter following her around on her farewell tour, writing very positive things about her, and it is the AP who has put forth this report.
Why would an investigator find against her but recommend no formal hearing? Take the matter into a formal hearing for crying out loud!
If you build an igloo with yellow snow, sooner or later you’ll get a sea of pee on your head…
Fran, I agree. Does anyone know how she happened to mention about all the “unopened boxes” in the first place? It’s bugging me
Canadian Neighbor, I would say great minds think alike but I wouldn’t want to insult anyone by comparing their mind to what it floating around in my noggin. This almost sounds Rovian in a way, like when he bugged his own office while running a campaign in Texas. Or many other examples. “Don’t look over here, look at the shiny thing, look, look” “Pay no attention to the woman in the bib waders and Naughty Monkey pumps”
sauerkraut Says:
Why would an investigator find against her but recommend no formal hearing? Take the matter into a formal hearing for crying out loud!
_________________
Why? Look at the wording…he is sympathetic to her and doesn’t want to do her more damage.
Heck..labeling one sections as asking if it is unfair to make palin pay for bills involving “meritless” ethics complaints….that says it all.
He puts his own personal feelings into this by stating he sympathizes with her, and he has dismissed all other complaints he’s been handed to investigate, so my guess is that he had no choice but to make this ruling, and did so with as much effort to mitigate damage to the Governor.
I am very pleased to read Mr. Daniels’ report. Whoever leaked it, the AP will guard their source.
And congratulations, Kim Chatman, on a job well done.
I don’t think Kim leaked this. I think it was an “inside” job. Whether it was with the expectation that somehow it would result in the Personnel Board dismissing the complaint or for some other purpose, the damage is done. Everyone will remember that that the Legal Fund Trust was BUSTED!
If $P does anything other than what the independent investigator suggests, it will come back to bite her. Van Flein is full of it. There is no basis for a successful appeal.
Going to check chat
“It appears suspect that in the final days of the Governor’s term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached.
Meghan Stapleton
Palin Spokesperson”
Does this Stapleton woman possess no social graces? Why does she believe that her verbal diarrhea is socially acceptable.
Lilyf, somebody linked to a story about Sarah’s dad yesterday where he talked about all the unopened packages that came in.
sauerkraut Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Why would an investigator find against her but recommend no formal hearing? Take the matter into a formal hearing for crying out loud!
==========
Perhaps he expects that the PB will simply adopt his findings as they have done in the past. Hoping to save the state money?
——————–
lilyf Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Fran, I agree. Does anyone know how she happened to mention about all the “unopened boxes” in the first place? It’s bugging me
============
I think it was daddy Chuck who let that cat out of the bag.
—————————
& lol sjk @ yellow snow!!!
As to the sympathetic wording in the finding, I’d say that the independent investigator is almost in the position of an arbitrator. He tried to propose a solution to a clearly black and white violation of ethics.
@ bucfan 266
“I also find it ironic that we there has been an AP reporter following her around on her farewell tour, writing very positive things about her, and it is the AP who has put forth this report.”
So right you are!
On the other hand, if Kim Chatman DID leak this, there is no penalty for doing so.
Zaki is calling this the iceberg. see Alaska Report.
Funny how Van Flein, Sarah’s attorney who racked up $600,000 in legal fees didn’t advise her that the Fund he is to get paid from is unethical. Perhaps she will sue him for malpractice.
Many have said the lady doth protest too much if reference to Van Flein’s attack on Shannyn Moore and the press. Now he and Sarah get caught will both their hands in the unethical cookie jar.
How come Sarah has not said this is ‘frivolous’??
That is PROOF POSITIVE that this scares her. She really takes this seriously. She hasnt’ had her attorney slam it yet. She hasn’t launched a personal attack on Kim Chatman…hasn’t even suggested that Kim leaked this as far as I know.
She is paralyzed.
thanks for the info…wasn’t it her Dad who also talked about how she had to go through all the RNC clothes while she said there were already returned heehee
I thought the iceberg would be bigger than this. Maybe this is bigger than I realize.
If the report is concluded then whomever released it did not violate confidentiality to an on going investigation. It looks like it was over a week ago.
This was the iceberg?
How disappointing… not much bigger than the ice cube in my iced mocha latte.
Rob in Ca Says
She is paralyzed.
————————————————————————
I really think she is cornered…and that’s the LAST place we need to see her. Cornered animals generally behave badly.
We’ll hear soon, I fear. It’s not over until she throws in the towel–not only on the governorship, but on all her aspirations.
she hasn’t tweeted for hours!
Discusses gifts on page 5… what’s Andree’s take on it? Has she seen it yet? There was a little quake here awhile ago… thought maybe that was her dancing for joy. Seems this report greatly substantiates her recently filed ethics complaint on unreported gifts.
287 lilyf Says: July 21st, 2009 at 5:44 PM
she hasn’t tweeted for hours!
_______
Perhaps she is busy crying into her cheap beer? The blush sure has come off that rose… in front of everyone, too. Also.
This report is a red herring. In a nutshell, all the attorney is saying is that the Trust can’t fit within the parameters of the Ethics Act. Otherwise, he’s ever so sympathetic with poor $arah’s plight that he thinks the state should pony up for her legal bills.
More of the same. I didn’t expect much from a Personnel Board that’s shut their eyes to ALL complaints against Palin, so I guess I’m not too disappointed.
How would Van Flein defend this? He has a conflict on interest in that this is a fund structured to pay him. The joker is probably wondering when he will lose his license to practice law.
She should take this, seriously, because it is. She have to remember what happened to Stevens. Someone wanted this information to come out. You do have to claim your gifts.
Sauerkraut, haha! or maybe she’s online buying more stuff…they don’t call her “little SHOP of horrors” for nothing
and I agree with you…seems like an ice cube to me, also too
Somewhere, we should be seeing an accurate accounting of the money coming in and out of Alaska Fund Trust. My opinion is that she already dipped in to pay some long over due bills. The investigation discovered this, and friends quietly advised her that she would have to pay the money back to avoid the violation. Having spent it (or not wanting to return the money) she was given the option to leave and there would be no problem. After the big picnic, some one should grab hold of $arah’s ankles, hold her upside down to shake loose change out of her pockets and the dollar bills stuffed in her bra. You might also want to check her back yard for any signs of recent digging, to bury a safe-load of Fund Trust.
lilyf- yep, papa Health has opened his mouth several times – and this has caused mucho trouble for $arah. He yapped about her “leaking fluid” in Texas, then flying umpteen hours to deli ver Trig (this is what started babygate rumors). He yapped about the children’s underwear (WTF?) and got the questions going about the RNC clothes. Daddy yapped about Levi being a deadbeat dad (and had to retract that). Daddy yapped about the “thousands of unopened gifts” to the press, possibly causing Kim Chapman’s antenna to go up. Wouldn’t it be amusing if papa Heath whined to someone about his little girl not being able to access the AK Fund Trust money? No wonder he was hanging his head at her resignation “speech.” He causes as much or more damage than her detractors!
I think Andree is busy preparing another ethics complaint. I believe she said she wasn’t finished, if I read her correctly.
mae lewis Says:
some one should grab hold of $arah’s ankles, hold her upside down to shake loose change out of her pockets and the dollar bills stuffed in her bra.
—————————————————————————
What a great image—Dr. Chill? Are you there?
Maybe she was supposed to have gotten some money from the fund before her Thank You Alaska tour but it wasn’t able to be released.
This has implications beyond the PB or she wouldnt have resigned. IMHO.
Lets see…Mail fraud perhaps in relation to the fund? Just a guess..
On a personal note, I once got a knock at the door 15+ years ago looking for my GF. It was a postal Inspector who looked like the father on Happy Days, very benign looking guy in his 50’s. He was looking for someone she knew, and was gone in 15 minutes.
He had a Federal badge and a gun and lots and lots of time.
Didn’t Dennis mention on his site that the investigation he was talking about involved the IRS and Phil said that his source (via email) was that an Alaskan Law Enforcement person mentioned pending indictment?
Now Dennis is saying that this is the iceberg, which if you put it together with other things he has said, might mean the IRS has already started an independent investigation. I don’t know that, I’m just trying to put 2 + 2 together and figure out how to get 4 and not 3 or 5.
If this is as it stands, then it might be that she can use the money once she is no longer Governor.
And her lawyer is talking about Daniel (the investigator) consulting with the filing person prior and then being the one to conduct the investigation?
That might be construed to be unethical behavior by the investigator. Of course this could be spin and a bit of disaster management going on from the Palin team too.
I think it will be another slap on the hand for Palin so long as she hasn’t spent any money yet. At least that was my take on what Rachel and Burke from KTUU said. Impeach, I doubt because it would go to the Leg and the Alaska law is unusual. They will probably go and fix the law that allows that defense fund for the next politician. See, that’s how it’s done. Citizens lose. Well, anyway, I don’t think it would have caused her to resign prematurely, unless she can take the money freely after leaving office.
sjk–
Yes, federal agencies have armed investigators when they think they need them…same with the IRS.
Didn’t Kim Chatman file this complaint some time ago? I think $carah has known that there would be trouble over it, but only found out how much around the 1st of the month.
I think she was asked to resign.
Anchorage Assembly just honoured The Late Mr. Allen Tesche for his service. Mary Tesche, his daughter was there to accept a certificate or something that was handed to her.
Little Tommy Daniel says the State should pay for the cost of “dimissed” complaints. Does this mean – or does this not mean – that lawyering fees for negotiating Travelgate and perdiemgate are payable by Alaska as relating to “dismissed” complaints?
Lori in L.A.: that’s right, I had forgotten so much of that! Well, crazy women were made that way by their daddies, so I bet he is even more insane than she is. He sure has no discretion whatsoever, and apparently screwed with her boundaries enough so that she would greet men at the door in a towel (acc. to RNC staffers) But back to the matter at hand, there are six very prominent politicians (both Clintons included) used as examples on the fund trust site as having similar legal funds. When you see their names, you think oh, well it’s the same thing they have, then it must be okay. When you click on their names, you get their legal documentation. I bet they didn’t like being used as an example for SP’s money groveling.
The Grifter has known about the findings for a week, but kept accepting money from the Trust? OMG, she’s a greedy little b*tch. Guess she wasn’t willing to fess up to all this after she quit, otherwise the grifter’s beg-a-thon site would have come down. And it’s still up.
@ Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
“mae lewis Says:
some one should grab hold of $arah’s ankles, hold her upside down to shake loose change out of her pockets and the dollar bills stuffed in her bra.
—————————————————————————
What a great image—Dr. Chill? Are you there?”
This is hysterical! If you are a member of the forum, you can send a personal message to Dr. Chill just to make sure this idea isn’t missed. I LOVE it.
Since the legal fund was set up in 2008, we won’t know about any receipts or disbursements until they are required to file the information return….April 15, 2010 (for a calendar year) or the 15th day of the fourth month after dissolution.
I would expect dissolution soon, actually. Not sure of any AK filings required since there is no state taxing agency, but they will be required to make an IRS filing for information purposes.
We’ll let you know then! We’ll still be watching. I’m sure.
lyn Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Didn’t Kim Chatman file this complaint some time ago?
—————————————————————–
April 27th, I think–right after it was set up. (2009)
If this is the “iceberg,there must be more or something we don’t know yet. Wouldn’t you think?
I sure hope so!!
I don’t think this is the door sarah’s been anxious to bust through. Looks like there could be some ‘feds’ on the other side of it.
AKM gave us one key to the confidentiality issue in this blog:
“Ironically, in 2004 when Palin herself was told that the findings of a complaint that she filed would not be made public, she stated that she wanted to find a “hero” in the legislature who could change that law.”
It’s time for the legislature, citizens and MSM to hold Palin to the transparent and accountability standards she’s applied to others and asked for herself.
I think it’s also ironic that Palin boasts that the new ethics law is her baby yet she’s whining about it a lot lately. Why didn’t she stay on and fix it?
zyggy Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 6:01 PM
The Grifter has known about the findings for a week, but kept accepting money from the Trust? OMG, she’s a greedy little b*tch. Guess she wasn’t willing to fess up to all this after she quit, otherwise the grifter’s beg-a-thon site would have come down. And it’s still up.
—————————————————–
I’m betting we now know exactly when and why she commenced a-promisin’ b**chy tweets . . . .
@ Ennealogic
Daniel also did the PAC complaint filed by Sondra Tompkins.
304 pacos_gal Says: July 21st, 2009 at 5:57 PM
And her lawyer is talking about Daniel (the investigator) consulting with the filing person prior and then being the one to conduct the investigation?
That might be construed to be unethical behavior by the investigator.
___________
Yanno… I’ve said it time and time again. You need to be careful about making these types of statements. Especially if your basis is something mouthed by her attorney!! He can say all he wants about Daniel, but that does not in any shape, manner or form make anything Daniel has done to be “construed to be unethical behavior.” I mean… comeon! Her attorney is her attorney and he’s going to kick up all kinds of amish road apples that he can to make her look less like a jack*ss! Him flapping his lips does not mean his words have any substance or that Daniels acted unethically!!
Since his recommendation is for her not to accept payment and John Coale has helpfully let everyone know in his Newsweek interview that the AFT is “well on it’s way” to paying off the legal bills, doesn’t that mean the investigator’s solution is already moot?
Also, he clearly states that the amount paid must be declared as a gift and wouldn’t a gift worth $600,000 be taxable by the IRS?
Lisabeth,
Maybe not, it seem enough trouble to make her quit. She realized she couldn’t use that money and she couldn’t get the advance money from the book deal, maybe?
I just don’t get it, if jail wasn’t calling, what made her quit?
If she already used the fund to pay bills the violation can’t be undone. Reimbursement is an acknowledgement. Surely, ”administration costs have been paid”.
Even if she hasn’t, yet, used funds (highly unlikely) she is still in violation for setting up the fund and solicitation.
I don’t believe the date at the top of the report, anyway. Knowing how this administration works, I’ll bet this report was completed long ago and this is the longest they could withhold it from the public for some reason. Maybe, a discovery of emails would show that.
It would be interesting to see the list of ‘’serial” gifters, wouldn’t it?
I hope I can interrupt the flow for a moment to ask a question that’s been knocking around in my head ever since this fund issue first came up. These have all been ethics complaints filed against GINO Palin – which means (in my little bitty world) that they are related directly to how she has conducted herself as Governor of the State of Alaska – would that be a fair statement? If so, why has she incurred personal legal expenses in the defense of those complaints? Wouldn’t the Department of Law (or whatever its called in Alaska) be responsible for responding to legal questions/complaints filed against any state official in connection with their activities in the course of their employment?
I haven’t posted here before, but I’m a fan of this blog and Shannyn’s as well as Celtic Diva’s. Even though I don’t live in Alaska, like a lot of folks, I’ve gotten addicted to the silliness and the drama that surround Palin and her circus.
aha Says:
I don’t believe the date at the top of the report, anyway. Knowing how this administration works, I’ll bet this report was completed long ago and this is the longest they could withhold it from the public for some reason. Maybe, a discovery of emails would show that.
—————
Ditto!
Oh, and I can’t wait to see the fight that will ensue if she seeks reimbursement from the State!!
Since she will be out of office there’s no way they’ll give her money…just watch and see all the ”heros’ coming out of the woodwork to spill their beans…lol
Were any of the other ethics complaints dismissed around the 14th? Maybe the personel board presented her with an option of clearing this and they have heard nothing to date. They couldn’t keep it quiet any longer.
sauerkraut:
I was putting that out as part of my questions. I’m not saying he did or he didn’t and that it is or isn’t unethical, just that if he had prior to her filing the claim it could be a problem, but I think he would have excused himself it that had been the case, if it is after the fact, then it doesn’t matter.
Of course her attorney is going to spin it. I just Hope that this is being looked at by more than the PB, otherwise, you just Know those folks are going to do nada.
Palin is saying this isn’t complete because the board hasn’t ruled, but Daniels recommended that it not go to the board. Of course since Coale has reported that money has been used (wouldn’t the fund have been frozen pending review from the time this complaint was filed?) so perhaps if money has been used, then it’s problematic for Palin.
I would hope the IRS is looking at this.
Still too many questions.
There is also the issue of the money (160K, I seem to remember) that came from the Texas Dobson/ Focus folks. Did it go to the legal fund…or directly the the lawyer, AG (Talis Colberg)or Her Highness?
I’ve gone back and looked at the stuff from a month ago about a pending indictment and how this finding is the iceberg… gotta say, this finding is not even close to being an indictment.
So… did DZ have a bad piece of info (about an indictment all but done except for the sign-offs) or was someone blowing smoke?
OOPS! is the SS $arah sinking?
the flea cant negotiate with the IRS. maybe she owes some $$$ with penalties and fines. Mayebe its an IRS thingy, and that will be c y’all later. At the very least this will tarnish her image. persona non grata with a side of moose poop.
There was a ruling that the fund not be used until resolution of this complaint. She might not have listened to the ruling, being all mavericky and and all.
I tried to post this on Huffington Post over an hour ago, still not approved. From comments I have tried to post in the past, I strongly suspect Sp has minions working as moderators there! I have seen some nasty comments there, and can’t imagine why those are approved and mine are not. Anyway, here is what I wanted to say:
Thank you AKM, and all the other terrific bloggers in AK! Your writing and research skills are magnificent! And I always appreciate the links so I can see the facts for myself. You, Shannyn Moore, Gryphen from Immoral Minority, Celtic Diva, Palingates and Palin�s Deceptions have become a daily routine for me. Until I began reading these blogs this year, I never realized how much the MSM skewed or completely failed to report all the facts.
AKM, I once tried to transcribe one of Palin�s word salad speeches myself, oh my, it was too painful! Thanks for the many times when you have made the supreme sacrifice for the rest of us and provided the written transcripts for our amusement!
On that note, everyone should see how VANITY FAIR’s editors made colorful edits to Palinâ��s resignation speech. This is funny! http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/07/palin-speech-edit-200907
Was that a homeschooled Journalism degree, Sarah??
SS–but they may have had administrative expenses, right?
When Coale talks about money being spent, I believe it’s the SarahPAC fund he is referring to ???
So once she is not governor, what is to stop her from using the money – nothing I would think. Her supporters are already calling this nonsense.
Well, whatever it is, is serious enough that she hasn’t tweeted for 5 hours.
LIsabeth
Then it’s taxable income to her! LOL!
Cassie…the lawyers from the Dobson group were not for Sarah..only for the legislators that were trying to throw out Troopergate (or fight the subpoenas maybe?) if I recall. They definitely were not representing Sarah though.
So Sarah’s mug had something to do with all of this….
“the investigator finds that Governor Palin — through authorizing the use of her photograph on the website to solicit donations — attracted funds that would not be available to “an ordinary citizen.” The investigator recommended she not accept the donations from the website and she withdraw her authorization of the Alaska Fund Trust as her “official” legal defense fund.”
http://www.ktva.com/ci_12883446?source=most_viewed
…can’t wait to learn more!
I know that on the “other” site they were raving about how little she had spent out of her fund compared with others for administration costs. The final sum after all the expenses to date was in the $420,000 range. ( I don’t remember exactly I’ll try to go over and find it again) I have to line my stomache first!
Rob–but I believe there was also a rather large cash contribution as well, I thought.
…5 hrs since her last Twit….guess it’s hard to write when you’re screaming in frustration……..
I thought that after leaving office, she was not to benefit from her short-lived stint as gov. This was for the ensuing two years.
Cassie….there was $187,000 in legal aid supplied gratis, give or take a thousand…but again it had not relation to Sarah.
Thanks, Rob. I was under the impression that it went to pay for her legal expenses.
Lisabeth I think she is absolutely prevented from using this money. That is the whole point. That is why she got mad and quit. So she could dip into the pot of gold of her book and speaking fees. Because she will not be able to touch this money, other than to donate it to a good cause like…well, whatever she views as a good cause? Printing abstinence pamphlets?
hahahahaaa, Rob.
Maybe she can donate it to the M. Sanford Marriage Fund.
Latest Twit:
Sign
2 minutes ago from TwitterBerry
Polly, Coale specifically said that the defense fund had paid ‘most’ of the legal bills.. I verified personally with Coale’s interviewer – Margaret Carlson – that SarahPac was not mentioned even once in the interview.
Whose decision is it whether or not the State reimburses Mrs Palin for her private legal fees?
345 Rob in Ca Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Rob wasn’t this set up for the Governors office? Maybe the next Governor will get it. I think the personel board has to be very careful now that the people in Ak. know what is in this report.
Rob, so that would have been after the ethic’s complaint was made and the fund supposedly frozen?
So did she quit because she could use the money if she was no longer governor?
For those of you who are getting frustrated, I suggest a little hop over to Celtic Diva’s page. She is very familiar with how these complaints work from beginning to end. She has a short write up and opinion on this as well as someinteresting info on how the last twitter was BS as the investigator’s report was apparently final. Check it out. It might help to keep the indigestion down.
I think we should have a contest on what Sarah should donate the money to, since the trust documents do specify that she can setup a charitable fund after the legal bills are paid
I am thinking she could fund a helicopter wolf-hunting tour for urban kids who have never had that hunting experience.
Perhaps some portable air-conditioners to solve that pesky problem of melting glaciers?
A contest prize for the Alaska National Anthem…(Alaska will need one after they secede)
Special travel awards for Alaskan Progressive Bloggers (one way tickets to somewhere in Texas).
WTF – “SIGN” – what kind of tweet is that
I was without internet for the afternoon – and now I am so confused
Honestly, if the PB throws this one out too, after the report has been published and everyone knows about it, then someone should be filing a complaint/court action against the PB. JHop said last night that it could be done. I think there would be a case if they dismiss the complaint as “frivolous” at this point.
Pacos_Gal….
I really don’t think she can touch that money. But I am going to flip over to Celtic Diva to see what insights she has. And then I am going to hope that JHop shows up soon, so we can get some answers that are better than mine!
So here’s another glitch
The pre Trust Fund organization….
http://sarahpalinsdefensefund.com/
I think it was briefly operational before the real one was set up….how much did Van Phlem get from it? Should SP be taxed on it?
@lovemydogs ooops – thanks – will check diva
she just twit the word “sign”?
oh I meant tweeted
antiAnti: Maybe it’s like PEACE or COOL.
@lilyf – that’s right. a one word tweet. “Sign”
for some reason a single word utterance from Palin is unnerving
Her tweet ‘Sign’ appears to be about a bill she just signed….a later tweet goes into detail.
ahh – must have been a mis-type
new tweet about signing a bill
Diva didn’t clear it up for me. She almost seems to suggest that Sarah quit to get her hands on the money…which I really doubt can be done.
From Celtic Diva’s site:
“In response to rampant speculation (brought on by Palin lies/spin):
1) Once a report is sent out to the complainant, the findings have already been approved by the Personnel Board.
2) In this case, it looks like they were just waiting for Palin to agree to the remedy so they could close the case and move on, as well as for her to determine whether or not to waive confidentiality.
3) For Palin to let it to sit there for a week like that is unheard of. It makes one think that perhaps they had no intention of paying the money back nor of informing the folks who gave them the money. Of course, that’s speculation… ”
What I gather from this is: If the complaintant knows the findings it would appear that it is final.
It remains to be seen what actions SP will take.
Now that people know the results, we just have to wait and see what happens. I, personally, would be hoppin’ mad if I had given money to them.
The next day or so should be very interesting. I am sure that Van Flea is ripping what is left of his hair out trying to figure a way to spin this to her advantage.
However, it doesn’t look like she will be going to jail over it.
Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 7:01 PM
So here’s another glitch
The pre Trust Fund organization….
http://sarahpalinsdefensefund.com/
I think it was briefly operational before the real one was set up….how much did Van Phlem get from it? Should SP be taxed on it?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think you have another Ethics Violation right here, Cassie. The GINO has her name, image, and whatnot on that site, and then a blatant re-direct to a campaign contribution.
In corporate advertising this is called a “bait-and switch”.
Is she seeking a campaign contribution or a donation to the legal fund? The original — internet searchable — appeal is made to seek donations to the defense fund.
Draw straws to see who files?
Why should tax payers pay for investigating ethics complaints against a p-poor politician? Make Palin pay for those!
And Ms. Burke from KTUU is wrong to continually couple the phrases “frivolous” with “dismissed ethics complaints.” Just because the complaints are dismissed does not automatically make them frivolous. None of us really know why any of those complaints were dismissed, but we can be certain that not all of them were frivolous.
Sign? Sign from God–get out SP while you can!!!!
LOL
Here is good read and good perspective – I highly recommend it.
Nate Silver has interesting take on this latest Palin mini-scandal’.
“Not the Other Shoe’
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/07/palin-mini-scandal-not-other-shoe.html
“A while ago [Nate] came up with a test called the EMPSCAT to evaluate the impact of minor political scandals based on a five-question battery. The more of these questions are answered in the affirmative, the more likely that a minor political scandal will blow up into a major political scandal. ”
He only gives this latest Palin outrage two out of five affirmative answers. But he asks some very interesting questions.
One of my favorite:
2. Does the scandal cut against a core element of the candidate’s brand?
No. Although the McCain campaign briefly tried to position her this way, nobody ever took Sarah Palin seriously as some kind of clean-as-a-whistle ethics champion. The strengths of her brand (which are considerable — Palin the brand is much more powerful than Palin the candidate) lie elsewhere.
———
I just have to say if no one ever expected Palin to be a “clean-as-a-whistle ethics champion” she has disappointed no one!
—-
BigSlick–let’s get it going!
SOMEONE in AK puleeze file it! An ethics complaint per day until screendoor day!
JHop did say that as soon as SP is no longer gov, the fund would have to be dissolved and then could be re-instated with a different purpose, name, etc. I think that she was waiting and hoping no one would find out about this so they could just roll it over into a different Trust. Looks like that won’t be happening now.
It really IS about following the money.
I do wish JHop were here to help us out though. I sent her a PM earlier but she’s probably in bed by now.
369 Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 7:15 PM
If you check out that other pac, properties state created July 21,2009
BigSlick–
…and here’s another one!
Wahoo…we’re to Thursday if we can get an AK to file!
https://www.freeamericancitizens.org/index.php?q=civicrm/contribute/transact&reset=1&id=2
sauerkraut – Diva posted this week about the different steps/reviews an ethics charge goes through to debunk the frivolous charge.
If ethics complaints have been dismissed over technical filing issues or complaints written by laypeople (vs an attorney) so they are not as technically correct as they might be, what stops the filer or another citizen from refiling the same complaint in the proper (or more well defined) way?
I haven’t seen anything about a “double jeopardy” type clause in the Ethics Act that wouldn’t allow for complaints to be refiled in the proper manner.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
hi team – i am trying to get caught up.
what are the major questions that perhaps i can help decipher?
i am as curious about all of this as you are….
I don’t think Palin quit to get her hands on this money. I think money has already been spent illegally.
I have always believed her quitting was a deal she cut somewhere with someone to avoid something much worse. She quit too quickly and too crazily and too angrily for it to have been something she really wanted to do. Something made her do it.
This ‘leak’ may indeed be a red herring and there may indeed be something else buried somewhere else that is much more problematic for Palin.
Yeah, maybe that door she said she’d go through has bars on it.
AKMFan – you can refile, exactly like you said. there is no double jeopardy. and DJ doesn’t exist in civil proceedings anyway.
@jhop – can Palin get the money from the trust when she quits?
mmboucher Florida Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 7:19 PM
369 Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 7:15 PM
If you check out that other pac, properties state created July 21,2009
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Not clear. Not created today—old PAC, April8, 2009 or so…before the current PAC.
JHOP–follow the link at the end of the blog to link to the 9 page JPEG.
Then we all need comments….
JHop: Thank god you are here. Everyone is trying to figure out a lot of things.
If you haven’t read the report, the fastest way to get it is off Progressive Alaska. It is something like 9 pages long but reads fairly easily (even for a non-attorney).
1) If this was leaked and it was supposed to be confidential, does that make any rulings null and void.
I’m sure others have questions. I’ll let you read it first.
@jhop – btw, this is the “iceberg” per alaskareport
well, at first i thought “yes she can get the money.” and i thought it was a good reason to quit. to take her money and run. i thought it would be an eventual problem because the fund is set up for her, “as Governor.” the main purpose of the trust. keep in mind, the trust wasnt set up as a legal defense fund. they may have said that. but the trust document with the purpose says nothing about legal proceedings. it simply says to assist palin as governor or in her actions from being governor. something lame and ambiguous. so there is no real “problem” with that other than being totally shady. but she did not break the law, unless she was accepting gifts and not reporting them, etc.
nevertheless, i thought she could get her money before this stuff came to light. if her money isn’t frozen (and i doubt it is), she can still use it. but it will be under much tighter scrutiny now. and i think this is all a huge mess. after i got over my personal feelings of wanting a housegate, i thought the trust was the most likely problem to cause her resignation. but i just thought she made some backroom deal to keep the complaint under wraps and dismissed if she just left quietly…
382 Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 7:29 PM
I couldn’t find that date, on the second pac you posted I found June 1,2009 total raised $1900+
ocliberal,
I have the same feeling of a red herring here. She seems always to be diverting the attention somewhere else while she works behind the scenes at covering something else up. I wonder if this is a diversion to get her through her last week in office.
i am reading the report now. do we know how this was leaked? i am curious…
have we gotten any 7 part tweets of rage tonight?
Not as OT as you might think-
I was listening this morning to one of my favorite songs, “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked. Based on last night’s meltdown, I heard it in a new way. I found the clip from the Tony Awards.
Wicked Witch- Sarah (image her with glasses)
llsebeth (?)- Kristen Cole, with a tinge of Meg
authorities- “feds”
townspeople at the end- bloggers/mudpuppies
The scene opens with the accusation that WW is responsible for the death of the monkeys. She needs to escape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRUeEJQSKbs
For those of you that know the story, pretend you don’t know that she is actually good. We know that wouldn’t be our Sarah.
Green for good,
#
374
Cassie Jeep Pike Palin Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 7:23 PM
BigSlick–
…and here’s another one!
Wahoo…we’re to Thursday if we can get an AK to file!
https://www.freeamericancitizens.org/index.php?q=civicrm/contribute/transact&reset=1&id=2
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is funny, Cassie, but no ethics violation here. This is a group collecting money using GINO as bait and then they use it however their “Political Action Committee” pleases. GINO probably gets nothing from them…..and it takes money she might otherwise collect on her own.
From their legal disclaimer:
Free American Citizens operates under the Federal Elections Commission as a Nonconnected committee, Non-Party, Non-Qualified. FEC#: C00457994
ROFLMAO!!!!
I thought that Dairygate was going to be what brought her down, because they used federal funds.
i am pretty sure this attorney is the same one who got her out of all the other complaints. i have not read this report yet, i am doing it now, but it is interesting to think that he couldn’t finagle his way around the law this time to give palin a way out. there must be damning stuff.
HEEEEYYYYY… this link was supposed to be really old, but they have comments about today’s revelations….
What’s up?
https://www.freeamericancitizens.org/index.php?q=civicrm/contribute/transact&reset=1&id=2
Is this where the funds will be transferred to?
121 DonnaInMichigan Says: July 21st, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Hey Sarah Palin…can you see a Pasture from your house?
Cause your about to be put out there!!!
_________
Quick! Someone warn the horses!
Jhop: What happens if she doesn’t go by his recommendation and takes the money anyway? Rules-shmules you know.
oops.. try this
http://www.thesarahpalinblog.com/
JHop, as Rachel said on her show tonight…it was “mysteriously leaked”. My guess is someone in her camp did it in hopes of having it thrown out due to the confidentiality breach. I don’t pretend to know anything about law, but as I understand it these things are supposed to be confidential. If it is leaked there is a chance it could be tossed on a technicality. Hope that doesn’t happen.
We should have a contest to guess who leaked it. Hehe…my guess is Sarah Palin.
The iceberg was supposed to involve a pending indictment… I see nothing about an indictment in this ethics report. Wake me up when something larger than an ice cube comes down the inlet.
JHop I read somewhere that the fund was indeed frozen. In fact, I suspect that is why she quit…..wish I could remember where though.
sauerkraut I think this is more than an ice cube. I also think some people may have exaggerated this into an indictment, though
oops, Glinda (not Ilsibeth) – Cole/Meg (Correction for any Wicked fans)
JHop: No twitters of rage. Just one about how this isn’t final. And then there was something threatening from Van Flea. I’ll go back and see if I can find it.
The investigating attorney dealt with a couple of the other complaints but not all of them.