Quittin’ Time!
24 07 2009
Hey, everyone!
Not sure where you are, gentle reader, in this big wide world, but on the Last Frontier, it’s…. “Quittin’ Time!”
Not “quittin time” like when you’re the governor and you say you can’t deal with people picking on you, and you really don’t want to give back gobs of ill-gotten money…the other kind!
It is 5:00 on Friday. Last day of the work week, and time for Governor Palin to take that metaphorical punch card, stick it in the slot, slam her fist on that big honkin’ button, and get the heck out of Dodge. Or wherever she is. OK, we know where she is. She’s at the Governor’s picnic in Wasilla, presumably. But I’m imagining her walking out of her Anchorage office with some sort of cardboard box with that laminated king crab table topper and a bunch of other stuff in it, and that bear skin rug slung over her shoulder, and the whole Atwood building in some sort of psychic cleansing, heaving a gentle sigh of relief.
And tomorrow is the big picnic in Anchorage, and Sunday is the final picnic in Fairbanks. Rumors are that there’s lots of national media winging their way to the picnic to nowhere…
And as a nice send off, behold the article in the Washington Post:
Last year’s Republican vice presidential nominee remains a deeply polarizing figure, and there are warning signs for her as she emerges as a possible contender for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. While she is still widely popular among those in her party, she has lost ground among Republicans generally and among the white evangelicals who are so critical in the early presidential primaries.
Overall, the new poll found that 53 percent of Americans view Palin negatively and 40 percent see her in positive terms, her lowest level in Post-ABC polling since she first appeared on the national stage last summer as Sen. John McCain’s running mate. [snip]
57 percent of Americans say she does not understand complex issues, while 37 percent think she does, a nine-percentage-point drop from a poll conducted in September just before her debate with now-Vice President Biden. The biggest decline on the question came among Republicans, nearly four in 10 of whom now say she does not understand complex issues. That figure is 70 percent among Democrats and 58 percent among independents.
Let the weekend begin.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Sally he was good to Palin, he was being very lenient to her. But not that is in the past, she is not longer the governor.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Lynnrockets, oops. I think I have my answer.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Bodie P @165
Liked the Hoffenstein verse with the stiletto last line, but there’s no denying that there was a large mouth attached to that small mind.
AKPetMom — thanks for the photos, take care of yourself. Wonder what life is going to be like for the Palin children. That Jon Stewart spoof in which Palin resigned her office as mother for the good of the family had a bit of painful truth in it.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:21 PM
It is really sad that good people keep getting stepped on around this UNETHICAL GOVERNOR. I’m so saddened to see people being used and thrown out. She’s just an awful human being: Shameful and definitely not a Christian like person.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:30 PM
EyeOnYou Says:
July 24th, 2009 at 9:01 PM Isn’t it obvious? They are beating him up because he did not once again find in Palin’s favor 100%!
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Really, is this it? Oh, I just wish we could have representation from our perspective…She has been such a disgrace. How will we ever regain our place in the USA? They think we are nuts! Oh gad, maybe we are? After all, we put her into office.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:42 PM
On the open thread, I posted a couple of other examples of proof that Sarah was involved in setting up the defense fund, if anyone is interested. One is from a WSJ article in April and one from the ADN in March.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Sally, Palin has fooled a lot of people. She is a con artist and that is what they do. She fooled the people of Alaska into believing she was something different than the status quo, and she was, but not in the manner she led people to believe.
She was all about power and money. She takes no interest in the day to day work that a job like Governor needs, or like any political office needs. She wants the glory of saying she did things, without the work that is involved in actually accomplishing it.
Her taking per diem to live in her own home, her charging the state to pay for her children to not only travel with her, but to attend events they weren’t invited to, her turning in the state SUV (by the way didn’t she purchase that?) because she was going to have to pay taxes on her personal use of the vehicle, all indicate she was about getting as much as she could from as many area’s as she could.
Yes, she fooled a lot of Alaskans into believing in her. Thankfully some of the are waking up from the stupor and seeing her for what she truly is.
Now the rest of us must be vigilant and ensure that she isn’t given a high status in the lower 48 so she might gain political capitol and push herself into higher office. That would be deadly for our country. She is the epitome of all that is wrong with our country. I for one will do everything in my power to ensure that people know the truth about her, and will happily work the rest of my life to ensure that she NEVER makes it into any political office again!
July 24th, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Trailsweeping Part III
Gibson Dunn Worked Pro Bono Seeking to Block Troopergate Probe
Feb 11, 2009
By Debra Cassens Weiss
“Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher was among the law firms donating pro bono assistance to six Alaska legislators seeking to block the Troopergate investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin.
The law firm donated about $185,000 in billable time, the Am Law Daily reports. The firm also represented GOP presidential candidate John McCain in lawsuits challenging his citizenship and is known for its support of Republican causes, the story says.
Brena, Bell & Clarkson did about $40,000 in work for the legislators, and the Liberty Institute contributed about $40,000 in time. The firms had hoped to collect fees if they were successful, the story says.”
http://www.abajournal.com/index.php?/news/gibson_dunn_worked_pro_bono_seeking_to_block_troopergate_probe/
“Peter Maassen, a name partner at Anchorage’s Ingaldson, Maassen & Fitzgerald who represented the legislative council in the unsuccessful attempt by six of its members to halt the ‘Troopergate’ inquiry, told The ADN that the legislature paid him $29,845 for his services.”
A total of $295,500 worth of legal fees. Fred Dyson, Tom Wagoner, Bob Lynn, Mike Kelly, Wes Keller and Carl Gatto tried to stop Branchflower’s inquiry before the election, and State of Alaska money paid for $30,000 of it.
How do they know this?
First, because they did their homework and bothered to look into it.
Second, the information was there. Because Alaska’s public officials are required to disclose ALL gifts, benefits, relationships and financial interests. So our legislature does. Only Sarah has gotten away with failing to disclose.
Here’s what real disclosure looks like. Notice the detail. Right down to shared ping-pong tables, driving someone’s car, and parents who work for senators. Certainly, the expectation was that Sarah would disclose Todd’s Iron Dog sponsors. It shouldn’t have even been an issue.
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/files/2008-disclosures.pdf
ABA Journal
July 24th, 2009 at 10:04 PM
hi team mudpups, trying to catch up with all the comments…
July 24th, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Comment on HuffPo: The closest she’s been to understanding anything complex is an apartment building.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Trailsweeping Part IV
[yeah, I know...but it just ain't over...]
But hang on. Because the Alaska Bar Association has a few rules and expectations in the Alaska Rules of Professional Conduct.
Rule 8.4. Misconduct.
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:
(a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct…;
(c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation;
Not only has Van Flein been publicly dishonest in his statements on Sarah’s behalf, which is obviously bad juju; but he appears to have a significant conflict of interest, by violating Bar Association rules about financing clients.
The rule of conduct is there to specifically avoid just such a situation as Van Flein has put himself in.
Van Flein has acquired a proprietary interest in the Alaska Fund Trust matter, because he has provided financial assistance to Sarah and Todd by subsidizing their legal fees. He now stands to significantly gain from the Alaska Fund Trust, and in fact, he depends upon it for payment of services rendered to Sarah.
Also, it was inappropriate for him to take Sarah as a private client after serving as state’s attorney.
Personal Interest Conflicts
[10] The lawyer’s own interests should not be permitted to have an adverse effect on representation of a client. For example, if the probity of a lawyer’s own conduct in a transaction is in serious question, it may be difficult or impossible for the lawyer to give a client detached advice.
Rule 1.8. Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules.
(e) A lawyer shall not provide financial assistance to a client in connection with pending or contemplated litigation…
(i) A lawyer shall not acquire a proprietary interest in the cause of action or subject matter of litigation…
Financial Assistance
[10] Lawyers may not subsidize lawsuits or administrative proceedings brought on behalf of their clients, …because such assistance gives lawyers too great a financial stake in the litigation.
Rule 1.11. Special Conflicts of Interest for Former and Current Government Officers and Employees.
(a) …a lawyer who has formerly served as a public officer or employee of the government:
(2) shall not otherwise represent a client in connection with a matter in which the lawyer participated personally and substantially as a public officer or employee, unless the appropriate government agency gives its informed consent…
Here’s what it says about honesty:
TRANSACTIONS WITH PERSONS OTHER THAN CLIENTS
Rule 4.1. Truthfulness in Statements to Others.
In the course of representing a client a lawyer shall not knowingly:
(a) make a false statement of material fact or law to a third person; or
(b) fail to disclose a material fact when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a criminal or fraudulent act by a client.
COMMENT
Misrepresentation
[1] A lawyer is required to be truthful when dealing with others on a client’s behalf…A misrepresentation can occur if the lawyer incorporates or affirms a statement of another person that the lawyer knows is false. Misrepresentations can also occur by partially true but misleading statements or omissions that are the equivalent of affirmative false statements.
Statements of Fact Versus Statements of Opinion
Lawyers should be mindful of their obligations under applicable law to avoid criminal and tortious misrepresentation.
Crime or Fraud by Client
[3] Under Rule 1.2(d), a lawyer is prohibited from counseling or assisting a client in conduct that the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent. Paragraph (b) states a specific application of the principle set forth in Rule 1.2(d) and addresses the situation where a client’s crime or fraud takes the form of a lie or misrepresentation.
Thomas Daniel is not Sarah’s attorney, but this applies to what he did in suggesting a way out for her:
Criminal, Fraudulent and Prohibited Transactions
[9] A lawyer is required to give an honest opinion about the actual consequences that appear likely to result from a client’s conduct… However, a lawyer may not knowingly assist a client in criminal or fraudulent conduct. There is a critical distinction between presenting an analysis of legal aspects of questionable conduct and recommending the means by which a crime or fraud might be committed with impunity.
[10] When the client’s course of action has already begun and is continuing, the lawyer’s responsibility is especially delicate. The lawyer is not permitted to reveal the client’s wrongdoing… However, the lawyer is required to avoid furthering the purpose, for example, by suggesting how it might be concealed. A lawyer may not continue assisting a client in conduct that the lawyer originally supposes is legally proper but then discovers is criminal or fraudulent.
Van Flein has made negative and prejudicial statements about people filing ethics complaints. Here’s what Professional Conduct rules say about that:
Rule 4.4. Respect for Rights of Third Persons.
(a) In representing a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third person…
COMMENT
[1] Responsibility to a client requires a lawyer to subordinate the interests of others to those of the client, but that responsibility does not imply that a lawyer may disregard the rights of third persons.
Rule 3.4. Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel.
(a) A lawyer shall not unlawfully obstruct another party’s access to evidence or unlawfully alter, destroy, or conceal a document or other material having potential evidentiary value, nor shall a lawyer counsel or assist another person to do any of these acts.
(e) …A lawyer shall not assert personal knowledge of facts in issue except when testifying as a witness, nor state a personal opinion as to the justness of a cause, the credibility of a witness, the culpability of a civil litigant,…
(f) A lawyer shall not request that a person other than a client refrain from voluntarily giving relevant information to another party…
Obviously, there’s no trial involved here, but this section still applies. This is a public matter, with publicity.
Rule 3.6. Trial Publicity.
(a) A lawyer …shall not make an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a lawyer may make a statement that a reasonable lawyer would believe is required to protect a client from the substantial undue prejudicial effect of recent publicity not initiated by the lawyer or the lawyer’s client. A statement made pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to such information as is necessary to mitigate the recent adverse publicity.
Rule 3.9. Advocate in Nonadjudicative Proceedings.
A lawyer representing a client before a legislative body or committee or administrative agency in a nonadjudicative proceeding shall disclose that the appearance is in a representative capacity and shall conform to the provisions of Rules 3.3(a) through (c), 3.4(a) through (c), and 3.5.
COMMENT
[1] In representation before bodies such as legislatures, municipal councils, and executive and administrative agencies acting in a rule-making or policy-making capacity, lawyers present facts, formulate issues and advance argument in the matters under consideration. The decision-making body, like a court, should be able to rely on the integrity of the submissions made to it. A lawyer appearing before such a body must deal with it honestly and in conformity with applicable rules of procedure.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Here’s today’s speech; I haven’t seen it. Unfortunately we have no drinking game as yet, so I’m pouring a glass of red at the first mention of “brave/fighting soldiers/warriors/men and women ……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlnTLiWoAfE
July 24th, 2009 at 10:27 PM
OMG, the whole day has been dedicated to the military! I wish she would just get off their backs!
July 24th, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Hey JHop !! Congrats on your own first personal post on an Alaskan blog over at C. Diva. You did good !!
As Phil Munger posted on his blog… too bad the AK MSM media like the ADN or other outlets don’t have some insight to look into the ATF like you did.
But then again… they are ONLY Alaska’s major newspaper. Can’t expect too much I guess
H/T to you.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I just watched a video of Hall & Oates, “She’s Gone” performed in 1976. Very boring. Both song and video. ZZZZZZ. I watched it thinking of how lynnrockets might adapt the song re: GINO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnVXIUyshng
July 24th, 2009 at 10:47 PM
As one of the worker bees in the Atwood Blg., I would greatly appreciate a sage burning/exorcism/ritual cleansing done by anyone remotely qualified or just plain sympathetic. For a start, I’m taking a very long, hot shower on Sunday.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Latest tweet from the Governor:
“Tomrrw host Anch Gov’s Picnic; LtGov Parnell/I love these events- literally getting to serve you!Then Sunday Frbnks Picnic/Transition speech
about 1 hour ago from TwitterBerry”
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I believe that Palin’s serving hot dogs at the Wasilla Picnic today is the first time she’s served Alaska since taking office.
About her quitting: I keep thinking about these lines (apologies to T S Eliot):
This is the way her term ends.
This is the way her term ends.
This is the way her term ends.
Not with a bang but a Twitter.
—-
And, to EyeOnYou and all of you:
I will be vigilant with you to make sure that this deluded, malevolent fraud never gets near elected office again.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:06 PM
David Letterman’s Top Ten Things heard at Sarah Palin’s Farewell Party is up.
http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/index/php/20090724.phtml
July 24th, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Puttin’ “Quittin’ Time” in historical perspective: Saturday’s editorial in the New York Times by William L. Iggiagruk Hensley. Qvitter is the appropriate Inuit term! Doubtful that Mr. Hensley is invited to the picnic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/opinion/25hensley.html?ref=opinion
July 24th, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Post # 211- CG…about what you have posted
It’ too bad some of those writers at the ADN don’t just stop by Mudflats daily to get background and sources before they write their stories.
Before they post one of van Fleins statements as the truth they could use the info you just posted and maybe ask him some questions or at least question the validity of what he is saying. They print what he says as the ‘ honest truth ‘ and question NOTHING.
The info alone you provided means they wouldn’t even have to do any research. You have done it for them. They do no investigation or research of their own. They print any statements given to them as the truth without question. It is pretty sad.
Like Phil Munger’s comments earlier this week on one of his posts, the Progressive blogs have the facts and information out there 2 days before the ADN even starts to do a story or investigate.
July 25th, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Is that Ivy Frye lovin’ the camera to death today?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouSgfogb-vI
July 25th, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Liz I. ~
This is the way her term ends.
This is the way her term ends.
This is the way her term ends.
Not with a bang but a Twitter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lovely!
July 25th, 2009 at 2:09 AM
I think that the ABC/WaPo poll, while gratifying needs to be viewed with a pinch of salt. Among other things, it is a survey of random adults. It is also directly contradicted by recent polls by Rasmussan, Gallup, Pew and Public Policy Polling, all of which Sarah Palin positive and/or improving favourability ratings. PPP, which is a Democratic leaning pollster shows her improving stronly among women, youth and Hispanics. for July, in a hypotethical match up with Obama, she scores 43% to his 51%, a gap of 8 points. In their March poll, the gap was 20 points (55%/35%).
July 25th, 2009 at 2:28 AM
This must have already been posted, but it’s worth repeating. ADN is running a story tonight, “Who’s Tom Daniel?”
The world seems to have gone crazy this week. Republicans are upset that Tom Daniel, a Democrat, found probable cause of ethics violation.
This is not the story pasted here, but a combination of quotes from ADN and FOX.
John Coale is quoted, from emails he sent to ADN.
Coale accused the personnel board of being “either vicious or idiotic” to hire Daniel.
“Having him do it was outrageous and meant to make sure Palin was hurt. Your state has to redo the laws on this,” Coale said in an e-mail to the ADN.
“This is the only one of the six that I found probable cause,” Daniel said. “If you look at the whole record, it shows that I have not exhibited any bias.”
“They are trying to make the argument that because I’m a registered Democratic and have given money to Democratic candidates that I’m biased. But in fact, you know I’ve dismissed five complaints out of six,” Daniel said. “If I were out to get the governor because of politics, I doubt that would have occurred.”
Coale maintains that Daniel should never have been hired. The dismissed complaints “were on their face ridiculous,” he wrote to the ADN.
“With his firm’s history, knowing how controversial Sarah had become he shouldn’t have gotten within 1,000 miles of this,” Coale said.
“I don’t know if the guy is straight or not,” Coale said. “They should have disclosed this before. It doesn’t mean you can’t be objective. But in this situation, you don’t want the appearance of bias.”
“I find it a little distressing that the board is being picked on for hiring competent counsel,” (Deb) English said. Whether the lawyer was Republican, Democrat or some other party never factored in, she said.
The board considered a long list of lawyers for the work then narrowed it down to four with experience in labor law and public employment. One was too busy, so the complaints are being distributed to the remaining three. Daniel said besides himself, Tim Petumenos and Michael Geraghty are in the rotation.
July 25th, 2009 at 2:30 AM
John Coale’s a little desperate to get that ethics complaint dismissed, isn’t he?
Was it Coale that leaked the report?
July 25th, 2009 at 4:44 AM
Nice sleuthing, CG.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:44 AM
Hoping to hear the end of her. If she had an ugly face would the media stick around?
But no she will be campaigning for Gov. Rick Perry so now we will be left with her face and voice.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:48 AM
Oh shoot forgot to say I love Duchess of Dork’s ditty. “not with a bang but a twiiter” rotflmbo!
July 25th, 2009 at 9:50 AM
I wish this was quitting day for GOOD. But alas, no. She’s the gift / bad penny / bad smell that keeps hanging around…..=(
Whoop it up Alaskans! Wish I was there!