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Palin Won’t Release Amount of Gifts Because It’s a Secret! Shhhhh…..

It an amazing display of a different kind of “don’t ask, don’t tell,”  the Palins when asked to disclose how much the gifts Todd Palin receives from Arctic Cat (his sponsor for the Iron Dog snowmachine race) are worth, and they replied with silence.  They “can’t” tell us.  (looking around furtively and whispering in your ear)  It’s a secret.

That’s right, gifts which could, according to sources, be worth in excess of $20,000 for the year 2008 alone are a “trade secret” according to the governor’s personal attorney, Thomas Van Flein.  These gifts include snowmachine(s) and “any discounts offered on wear.”   What is this secret discount on equipment and clothing?  10% off?  40% off?  75% off?  They can’t tell.  Sorry.

Let’s play a little imagination game.  Ready?

Let’s say I come up with a brilliant little gizmo called the MudMachine.  It’s pretty spiffy, and it goes really fast.  Everyone in Alaska thinks it totally cool and really wants one.  But, alas, the MudMachine costs about $10,000.  That’s a fat chunk of change for your average Joe.  And let’s say that it’s a couple years from now, and our current governor is a sportscaster for Fox News, and we have a brand new governor.  Let’s call him…. Governor Pohalcrowitz.    Now, I, as the creator of the MudMachine happen to know that Mrs. Pohalcrowitz has her eye on one.  You see, she enters the prestigious MudDog race every year, and she even won last time which is pretty darned impressive.  All eyes will be upon her this time.

Suddenly I am struck with a brilliant idea.

I pick up the phone and give her a call.  “Let’s do coffee,” I say.  Over an espresso, I explain to our first lady, that I can get her a pretty good deal on a MudMachine.  As a matter of fact, when I tell her that she gets a 99.9% discount on two machines and all the leather MudWear she can handle, she actually spits her coffee.   She is incredulous. 

“Well,” I say.  It depends on how many of your children want the MudWear, but the whole thing should come to ….about $200.  And I assume the governor is going to be there at the start of the race?”  She nods energetically and assures me that he will.  “And he’s going to be on TV, right?  And doing a big article for Sports Illustrated?  And he’s going to be at all sorts of Alaskan outdoor events, correct?” 

“Absolutely!” Mrs. Pohalcrowitz tells me.  I can see in her eyes that she’s already imagining what her friends are going to say when she pulls up in her custom outfit on a brand new hot pink MudMachine, with her kids by her side, and her husband the Governor in his matching outfit.

“And you don’t even have to give them back,” I try to clarify the deal.  “If you wanted to just pass them on to the governor when you’re done with them, we can give you new ones next year.”

Her eyes light up.  “He’d really like that.”

“I just happen to have the paperwork right here,” say I, as I pull the contract out of my bag.  I click the pen and hand it over.  She scrawls her name on the dotted line.   Now, I’m the one with the far away look…  This is going to be awesome for blog traffic, I think to myself.  And I can put a picture of the Pohalcrowitz family in the gallery.  Heck, I can even put it in the sidebar right at the top.  And when everyone sees those outfits with WWW.THEMUDFLATS.NETon the back, and the Brian logo on the pocket, they’re going to come check it out.  And they’re going to want lots of stuff from the shop too… and of course, when they decide to get a MudMachine, they’re going to want one of mine… Yup, this is going to be awesome.

“Now, wait a minute though….” she says.  The look on her face has quickly shifted and it almost seems like a mild panic has set in.  I snap out of my reverie as she asks,  “Is this legal?  Somehow it doesn’t seem right.  Won’t people see through this?”

“Not a chance.  You know what we’re going to do?  We’re going to say that we can’t tell them how much it’s worth because….”  I can’t help chuckling… ‘It’s a secret‘”

“Are you serious?  Can we do that?” she says in disbelief.

“Absolutely.  It’s been done before.  Remember ol’….what’s her name?  Sarah Palin?”

“Oh, yeah…. I’ve tried to forget about her.”

“I know.  Haven’t we all?” I sympathize.  “But they got away with it in that whole Arctic Cat debacle, remember?”  She nods.  “Now what size are you, and how many jackets will you be needing?  Do you want the logo to be the same color as the one on the MudMachine?  That would be so hot.”

And we all live happily ever after.

So, if Todd Palin is riding around on a $10,000 snowmachine in the Iron Dog Race, and he’s been training on another $10,000 snowmachine, and his entire family is decked out in Arctic Cat “wear” with their names on it, and he gets a 99% discount, that’s perfectly fine, according to the governor.  We don’t need to know.  We CAN’T know.  Top secret stuff, that is.

And to continue the legal squirmings about why the public doesn’t have the right to know this, the Alaska statues that they say support this claim are part of the statutes written to support the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA). 

Mr. Van Flein gets points for creativity, but will they get away with it?  Stay tuned for another episode of “You Can’t Make This Up Theatre.”

Comments

comments

Comments
218 Responses to “Palin Won’t Release Amount of Gifts Because It’s a Secret! Shhhhh…..”
  1. Alaska says:

    When you review some of the Arctic Cat material out there, it starts to look like more than just a lack of sophistication and misunderstanding on the Palins’ part.

    First, some background. This was Scott Davis’ 25th year of running the Iron Dog. His record speaks for itself. In 17 of those years, he placed top three. Seven (7) 1st-place finishes puts him in a tie for the most wins. Scott’s reputation is clearly responsible for the lucrative Arctic Cat contract.
    Scott’s kids, Cory and Carly, are distinguishing themselves racing on the professional circuit in the Lower 48, not to mention the X Games, and bringing home the gold. And the sponsors. The Davis family is Arctic Cat-sponsored. Todd ran Polaris and then Yamaha.
    You’d think that Scott would generate a bit of media attention, but not so much.

    Using “Google”, this is what you get:
    “Arctic Cat Scott Davis” – 842 hits
    “Arctic Cat Todd Palin – 3,320 hits
    “Arctic Cat Sarah Palin” – 10,300 hits

    Looking through web advertising, you see a common thread – Governor Sarah Palin. It’s in every bit of press, particularly Arctic Cat company PR. It’s clearly apparent that Arctic Cat used the Governor of Alaska in its marketing and promotions.
    It had to have been with full knowledge and approval of McCain handlers, Alaska state staff, and Sarah’s personal press staff. If Arctic Cat was acting independently, the Governor’s staff would have been obliged to put a stop to it.

    http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1871591/
    Todd Palin Appears at Arctic Cat Booth at Hay Days Grass Drags Snowmobile Event
    “Todd Palin, champion Arctic Cat snowmobile racer and husband of Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, signed autographs with other Arctic Cat team members at the company’s booth at Hay Days Grass Drags on Saturday, Sept. 6, in Forest Lake, Minn.”
    “Todd has wanted to come to Hay Days for 15 years, and we were proud to have him at our booth,” said Christopher Twomey, Arctic Cat’s chairman and chief executive officer. ” {Really? Todd’s been intrigued by ‘Hay Days’ in Minnesota for 15 years? Wow. I would have thought that he was out moose hunting.}
    “Palin was one of 12 Arctic Cat-sponsored riders who participated in the event, including Davis.”
    A brief mention of Scott as an after-thought. But here’s another interesting thought. Iditarod Champ Martin Buser was reportedly also along on this tour. No mention anywhere of appearances, autographs, nothing. Definitely not in formal press releases.

    http://www.atvriders.com/atvnews/arcticcat2008-todd-sarah-palin-snowmobile-skit.html
    Saturday Night Live to do Arctic Cat / Todd Palin Skit
    Saturday – October 18th
    “Despite your political beliefs, you’ve probably seen that Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd, is a 4-time champion of the worlds toughest 2,000 mile snowmobile race in Alaska called the Iron Dog. Todd is one of our Team Arctic snowmobile racers. This may be a point of interest for your websites or magazine blurbs, but Todd and his Team Arctic race partner, Scott Davis, will be touring northern Minnesota this week.
    {Note – the press release leads with Sarah Palin’s name. No mention of Scott until the end of the paragrah.}
    With that, there will be some exciting, alternative National media coverage; Entertainment Tonight will be filming at the Factory which is tentatively scheduled to air on Friday evening, October 17th. (Please check your local listings for times and channel) As well, Saturday Night Live is tentatively scheduled to do a Todd Palin/Arctic Cat skit that will broadcast Saturday, October 18th. The skit will feature full Team Arctic race gear, helmet and boots.
    This may or may not be shortlived, but its cool to see some light being cast on Arctic Cat, the snowmobile industry and powersports in general.
    For more information on Todd Palin and the Iron Dog race, please visit http://www.irondog.org as well as http://www.arcticcat.com...”

    “For more information on Todd Palin…” – notice that it’s not “Scott and Todd”.
    The caption to the accompanying photo of Todd and Scott’s Iron Dog start says: “Todd & Sarah Palin on Arctic Cat Snowmobiles at Alaska Iron Dog Race”

    http://www.atvscene.com/fyi08/arcticcat_1029.html
    Palin and Arctic Cat Share the Passion
    October 29, 2008
    “…the recent media attention Arctic Cat has received after vice presidential candidate, Todd Palin, made a special stop in Thief River Falls to visit his friends at Arctic Cat.
    {Note to AC – Todd was not, in fact, the “vice presidential candidate”.}
    What a week for Arctic Cat. In case you missed it, we have had unprecedented opportunities in recent days to Share Our Passion on
    television and in print, in the news media and in entertainment circles.”

    “Sure, it was meant to be a politically-motivated photo op, but Palin spent way more time praising our snowmobile brand than the Republican ticket. We�re proud to have provided the perfect backdrop where Palin could advocate for the outdoors and more importantly, Arctic Cat.”

    “Press coverage from Palin�s visit was seen all over, including a special segment on �Entertainment Tonight� and broadcast coverage in 30 states. Print coverage reached more than 700,000 people…”

    “The spotlight on Arctic Cat didn�t end there. During its highest rated episode in 14 years, Saturday Night Live featured Team Arctic Racewear on a widely praised �Weekend Update� segment. If you didn�t get a chance to see SNL, be sure to check out the great National coverage we received here. You�ll find this clip alone has been seen by more than 2.3 million people! We hope that you share in our excitement over the publicity we�ve received in the last week. We�re proud of our brand and even more proud of you, and your commitment to sharing the Arctic Cat passion.”

    It appears that the gear for the SNL episode was actually provided by Arctic Cat. They link SNL to the Arctic Cat website. And that would be a logical explanation that there were no public complaints about SNL the way there was with Letterman.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/sports/othersports/13snowmobile.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1
    “With the 2009 Iron Dog scheduled to begin Feb. 8, organizers have embraced the publicity visited by presidential politics, as Governor Palin remains a figure of national interest.
    �It was pretty exciting to get that kind of notoriety,� said Bedard, the race director. �It hasn�t ended there.�
    In a conference call with stock market analysts in October, executives from Arctic Cat, the snowmobile manufacturer that sponsors Davis and Palin, said the attention could boost revenue.
    �We are expecting sales of snowmobiling garments to be strong this year, not only because of our strong product line and lower dealer inventories, but also because of the appearance of a stand-in look-alike for Alaska�s first dude, Todd Palin, last week during the Weekend Update segment on �Saturday Night Live,� � said Christopher A. Twomey, chairman of the company, according to a transcript.”

    http://thearcticspeedway.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/team-arctic-on-pace-to-conquer-alaska%E2%80%99s-iron-dog-cross-country/
    Team Arctic on Pace to Conquer Alaska�s Iron Dog Cross-Country
    The 3rd paragraph of 7, before the race description and information:
    “Palin, the husband of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has won the Iron Dog on four previous occasions, most recently in 2007 with current partner Scott Davis. Davis is a legend of the Iron Dog, having conquered the event seven times, beginning with his first win in 1985. The two experienced a media whirlwind surrounding the race following the Governor�s nomination as Vice President in John McCain�s 2008 Presidential campaign.”

    Once again, an official Arctic Cat press release.

  2. Bretta says:

    #216 – CG, good post.

    I would submit that we, the people, have been too lenient regarding Gov Palin’s ethical behavior.

    A vetting report was published in 2006 that documented many of the Palin issues we are questioning now, which demonstrates at least 12 years of these activities.

    If we demand compliance, we the people must have the political will to enforce and follow through – but we have not demanded compliance. We accept excuses and pretzel logic explanations and all manner of erratica.

    BTW, the $10 per day fine can only be removed by the Attorney General.
    The same AG who is her ethical supervisor.
    The same AG who is appointed by her, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

  3. CG says:

    Interesting stuff and precedence being set all over the place. I wonder if the Governor has given any thought to how ALL of this impacts other political ethics cases in Alaska, like Kohring and Kott in their ongoing legal issues, being released from jail, mistrials, etc.
    Despite the Governor’s casual dismissive attitude, it’s a very short distance from an ethics violation to a criminal sanction.
    So, summarizing everything – there are two different official authorities involved: the Personnel Board (ethics complaints) and the APOC (routine mandatory public office disclosure reporting).
    The Personnel Board is three appointees by the governor, unpaid. These guys forwarded the complaints to a lawyer paid by the state (Daniel), who read through stuff and decided that there was nothing there to investigate.
    Alaska Statute says this – AS 39.52.190. Aiding a Violation Prohibited.
    “It is a violation of this chapter for a public officer to knowingly aid another public officer in a violation of this chapter.”

    The APOC manages all the public disclosure for all state employees. From its mission statement: “The APOC is a quasi-judicial regulatory agency which administers four laws upholding the public’s right to know the financial affairs of lobbyists and their employers, public officials and candidates for state and local offices.”
    To whom does APOC report ? What is the name of its boss?
    “APOC exists within the Department of Administration for administrative purposes. The people of Alaska are its boss (under Article I, Section 2 of the State Constitution) as all political power is inherent in the people. Most staff decisions are subject to the commission’s review, and all APOC decisions may be appealed to Superior Court.”
    Yep, that’s right, that’s what it says. _The people of Alaska are its boss._
    Why File?
    “The people of the State of Alaska have declared that a public office is a public trust which should be free from the danger of conflict of interest and that the public has a right to know of the financial and business interests of persons who seek or hold public office. The purpose of the Law, by requiring financial disclosure, is:
    to discourage public officials from acting upon a private or business interest in the performance of a public duty;
    to assure that public officials in their official acts are free of the influence of undisclosed private or business interests;
    to develop public confidence in persons seeking or holding public office; and
    to develop accountability in government by permitting public access to information necessary to judge the credentials and performance of those who seek and hold public office.”

    I had a cruise through records to see what exactly IS publicly accessible. Interestingly, the Personnel Board appears to be out of compliance with mandatory financial disclosure. The most recent filing listed for any of them (Tamagni, English, Plenert) is 2007. That’s a little awkward, isn’t it?
    “A Public Official Financial Disclosure Statement filed after the due date is subject to a civil penalty that accrues daily until the Statement is filed.” Maybe the database just hasn’t been updated yet, eh? It must just be an oversight or mistake…

    Palin’s 2008 disclosure (due March 15, covering the 2007 tax year) is listed in the state database, but not 2009 (would’ve been due March 15, 2009, for the 2008 tax year.
    The form was awkwardly done. Neither Todd’s racing business (as in IRS filing) nor Arctic Cat is listed as income or business interest. The total of a list of gifts attached is $11,752. This amount was not claimed on taxes, nor is the $9,500 listed as Todd’s sponsors, totaling $21,250 of income. She notes $5,000 as partner Scott Davis’s sponsors, but no explanation of why she’s revealing that for us. The tax return doesn’t show any compensation of per diem, use of state vehicle, childrens’ travel expenses.
    The governor is required to report gifts worth more than $150 within 30 days to his/her ethics supervisor, the Attorney General.

    “A person required to file who refuses or knowingly fails to disclose required information within the time required, or who provides false or misleading information, knowing it to be false or misleading, may be subject to penalties of up to $10 per day and may be guilty of a misdemeanor. AS 39.50.060.”

    So, why is any of this of concern and how is it any of our business? Why do we care?

    AS 39.52.010. Declaration of Policy.
    (a) It is declared that
    (1) high moral and ethical standards among public officers in the executive branch are essential to assure the trust, respect, and confidence of the people of this state;
    (2) a code of ethics for the guidance of public officers will
    (A) discourage those officers from acting upon personal or financial interests in the performance of their public responsibilities;
    (B) improve standards of public service; and
    (C) promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the people of this state in their public officers;
    (3) holding public office or employment is a public trust and that as one safeguard of that trust, the people require public officers to adhere to a code of ethics;
    (4) a fair and open government requires that executive branch public officers conduct the public’s business in a manner that preserves the integrity of the governmental process and avoids conflicts of interest;
    (5) in order for the rules governing conduct to be respected both during and after leaving public service, the code of ethics must be administered fairly without bias or favoritism;
    (6) no code of conduct, however comprehensive, can anticipate all situations in which violations may occur nor can it prescribe behaviors that are appropriate to every situation; in addition, laws and regulations regarding ethical responsibilities cannot legislate morality, eradicate corruption, or eliminate bad judgment; and
    (7) compliance with a code of ethics is an individual responsibility; thus all who serve the state have a solemn responsibility to avoid improper conduct and prevent improper behavior by colleagues and subordinates.

    So there you go. Read that again: “compliance with a code of ethics is an individual responsibility; thus all who serve the state have a solemn responsibility to avoid improper conduct and prevent improper behavior by colleagues and subordinates.”

    Individuals know this before they run for office, accept political appointments, or even apply for government employment. It’s not hard to comply; there’s nothing more to it than willingness.
    If there are no sanctions and consequences for withholding, then why was Senator Stevens convicted? Why have Alaska legislators been in prison?

  4. mlaiuppa says:

    Typo still there.

    First word: “In” not “It”.

  5. Bretta says:

    Definition of Gifts and Reporting Requirements from the State of Alaska Department of Administration > APOC > Public Official Financial Disclosure

    2 AAC 50.075. REPORTING SOURCES OF INCOME FROM GIFTS. For the purposes of reporting a source of income under AS 39.50.030 (b), a filer shall report the name of the donor of a gift or a series of gifts if the

    (1) value of the gift or the cumulative value of the series of gifts from the donor is over $250;

    (2) gift or series of gifts is received by the filer or the filer’s family member; and

    (3) donor is not related to the recipient as a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew. (Eff. 7/20/95, Register 135; am 1/1/01, Register 156; am 2/20/2005, Register 173)

    Authority: AS 15.13.030, AS 39.50.030, AS 39.50.050

  6. Mudbug says:

    Kris
    Be happy to disclose! We make jointly 175 per year. We own a small business, and expect that business to double in the next year. We don’t accept gifts. We have a home, which we build and paid for ourselves. (wish my city had a sports complex, through!) some business RE (office and warehouse), 23 full time employees, 12 seasonal employee and 20 part time employees. we have 7 children at home, 4 out of the home. (do themath on that one!) 3 in college, 1 in private pre school. My life is an open book. Infact, the IRS has peeked at us on more than one occassion! To quote Jessica Rabbit: “Were not bad. Were just drawn that way”.

  7. texdude says:

    ds55 Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 11:53 AM

    Technically, this is why Hillary is not our Vice-President now. The Clintons refused to open up Bill’s tax records, so they couldn’t properly vet Hillary.
    ===============================================

    Technically, your assertion is completely false.

  8. Doggonit says:

    When is Palin resigning? The State statutes are clear, that she has to disclose income and gifts received by her and her family. That is part of her duty as Gov.

  9. NY Dem says:

    Al Capone got away with murder until the IRS got involved –

    Bye-Bye, Sarah and Todd !

    Hope you have ALL your receipts in order !

    IMO, THIS is the iceberg !

  10. Pursang says:

    Comedians across the country should beware. With this new evidence coming to light it should be clear that Palin will be looking for something to take the heat off her. So I’m sure she’ll be offended very soon and her minions will rush to make America (read Palin) safe from the hurtful comments that scar millions of Americans (or at least one specific American) each year.

  11. oregonbird says:

    @ 207 Aussie Blue Sky Says:
    June 19th, 2009 at 12:11 AM

    President Obama hasn’t yet had sufficient time to impose himself down the chain of command. But it’s my very strong belief that the President is just *itching* to clean up the backyard.
    —————————
    Yes, that was my opinion as well. Six months isn’t enough time to get the house in order — but it is enough time to notice the trend of the administration. I still have hope. But I cannot close my eyes to the reality of life in the US.

    Hundreds of illegally deported immigrants have appealed directly to Eric Holder for a review of their cases — he has released politicians convicted of federal crimes. No re-trials have been announced. There have been no open trials of Gitmo detainees. Those who have been declared innocent (with no more transparent proof than has been offered for those still being held under “enemy combatant” status) are being released. Those men have been given no legal recourse for their illegal captivity, and no choice in their destinations. The American war criminals who travel the country and explain on camera their complicity in treason and torture — remain untouchable. No enforceable restrictions on CEO/managerial salaries or bonuses have been passed — every ballyhoo’d limit was superceded or undermined by subsequent amendments. While gays continue to be dismissed from the armed forces and, via DOMA, the legal contract of marriage excluded from Constitutional protection if the signators are homosexual, the partners of gay federal employees have been extended benefits worth potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our vets continue to suffer under the unchanging mismanagement of the VA. Forced to serve consecutive tours of duty, they are sent back into combat unhealed and both mentally and emotionally unstable. They are still being hooked on drugs by their doctors, who are nothing more than direct links to the pharm companies. Those who come home capable of picking up their lives find there is no employment to be had. The bailed-out banks are stonewalling mortgage holders, despite their agreement with the government to provide re-financing. There is no readily-accessable, consistant information on the process for consumers. Several billions of bail-out funds have already gone into advertising. There is no presence in the colleges or in state or federal offices which can direct gradutes or the unemployed to government-funded work. There is no listing of firms which are being awarded government funding for public works. No system of transparent oversight has been put in place — not so much as a check-the-box form-in-triplicate. There are no plans to underwrite housing/living costs for volunteers to restore the many massive disaster areas that have been allowed to remain devastated for years. Education, public health and social programs have been openly cut in every state, despite the massive infusion promised by the federal government.

    Yes, good things have happened. President Obama has proven to be canny in foreign policy. He is personable, photogenic, and very possibly well-meaning. He’s going grey very quickly.

    During the last six months, the privileges of our ruling class have never been so public and all-encompassing. Politicians and government employees are literally getting away with physical mayhem and federal crime, while piling up perks and financial privileges no ordinary citizen dare dream of. The massive surge in working poor and the educated unemployed has destroyed the political and social power of both workers and unions — the threat of dismissal is enough to make most employees accept sexual harrassment, unpaid overtime and the dismissal of safety regulations. We are now monetary units, replaceable objects to be used and discarded.

    I know a family living in a storage pod on the street. A friend in Seattle asked me to visit her before the holidays, as she intended to kill herself immediately after — she couldn’t find a job, her unemployment was about to run out, the insurance she’d paid thousands for, every month for years, had cancelled her, she was about to lose her apartment, and she refused to be a burden on the church at which she volunteered, feeding the homeless and watching their children as the parents looked for work. My father lost half his retirement to the Keating Five, and had to work an extra four years. Now he’s lost everything but his social security. He jokes that it’s a good thing my mother is gone, since he’d have to rob a bank to get her cigarettes. I’m a few months from the street myself — ain’t it great to be a writer, when everyone owns a keyboard and an opinion?

    Aussie, I *like* President Obama. I like Michelle, the kids, I’ve got a crush on Rahn, and really hope Biden doesn’t need to take over, ever. I knew there would be compromise, that Congress would be as useless as ever, and that no president is an island. That there would be prioritizing.

    But it’s the stuff that’s coming across the desk that’s talking to me. It’s the “us, or them” decisions that Obama is making. Because it’s rarely us — and when it’s them, it’s more money, power, privilege and exemptions flowing up-hill, and when, on occasion it is us — it’s a shell game. The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away. The Friday news dump is all about us, baby.

    So… there ya go. I’ve got reasons to be pessamistic — it’s the Irish in me. Or maybe, it’s just paying attention when some bit of blonde fluff says, “In other news today…”

  12. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    oregonbird Says:
    I’m on the country & western station now — the music of pain. “Who’s sorry now?” Sing to me, Connie.
    ———————————–
    I like Connie so much that I considered buying an old tour jacket just so I could have a souvenir for when she dies. But Connie is an Italian Jersey girl – definitely not C&W.

    I’m sorry that you believed that when we had a President with a sense of decency that everything else would fall in line overnight. President Obama has been in office – how many weeks? – and given everything else, he hasn’t yet had sufficient time to impose himself down the chain of command. But it’s my very strong belief that the President is just *itching* to clean up the backyard.

    My vote is for him to continue what he’s doing. If he does something that doesn’t necessarily make me feel good – and he has – then I have the safe knowledge that he knows what’s important much better than I do.

    If you have serious issues whose proof you want to bring to bear – you haven’t had a better arena this century.

  13. honestyinGov says:

    This might be O T…. for this thread,but not really because it is still about a ” Palin Secret”. I was checking the ADN comments and checking some of the links people had pasted. Here is one from Oct 2nd 2008 that talks about the Palins net-worth.
    http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/543404.html

    I wonder if Man Sour has shared this little tidbit of info with all the Palin Fans they are begging money from…? Do they know…about Sweet Sarah..?

    While they are doing this web-a-thon maybe some one should post on their seapeer site that Palin is worth about 1.2 MILLION !! Repeat… 1.2 MILLION!!

    OK… who wants to break the ” NEWS “….. and deflate their Balloon…?

  14. Bretta says:

    #48
    crystalwolf aka caligrl @ June 18th, 2009 at 12:03 PM
    Nan at 11:57 AM:
    So far as I know, there is no proof. Only rumor etc. Probably “strong” rumor, but that isn’t Proof-with-a-capital-P
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-77788
    *******************************************
    I see Willow! I think Brad is her father!!
    Look at his face – what do you think?

  15. SlappyOC says:

    This sounds like buying a dress, leaving the tag on, wearing it out and then returning it the next day with deodorant stains and all.

  16. InJuneau says:

    honestyinGov–nice enough guy, in general, though I don’t think there’s a single issue on which I agree with him politically.

  17. oregonbird says:

    I’ll take vibrating chair for $3,000, Larry. Moe. Whatever.

    It doesn’t matter, really. Holder is on the job, and his job is making sure our public servants are not disturbed by rules, laws, court decisions, what-have-you. If you work for the government — you have a get-out-of-jail and/or prosecution card. Ask the Rep who carved up his girlfriend’s face with a broken glass.

    Who was that guy in DC, his hummer hit a lady in a crosswalk? He rolled down the window, saw she was shaken & upset, then headed on home. Didn’t catch her name. Now, he told the press this amusing, regular-guy story, complete with an ain’t-I-grand admission that he called in and reported the incident to the cops. You know, that he left the scene of a accident. Hit & Run, some people might call it. Me and you, we’d be opening the door to the local police an hour later.

    But you see, he’s a government employee. And I’d wager he’s a white, Xian, married, male government employee. Which entitles him to a denial by the DC police department that there is any report of the matter whatsoever (oops) and the statement that no investigation is in progress, and no complaint has been made.

    Of course, being a government official also entitles his partner (if he is gay) to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of benefits that NO OTHER GAY PERSON can access. Unless they are a member of the ruling class. Let’s capitalize that. The Ruling Class.

    I voted for Obama with a song in my heart. Okay, I was humming. In the last month, the song has changed. I’m on the country & western station now — the music of pain. “Who’s sorry now?” Sing to me, Connie.

  18. justafarmer says:

    sorry, I should have typed NON-tax deductible (for the donors)…
    time for bedtime for me…

  19. justafarmer says:

    EyeOnYou said:
    “Of course if there is a gift she received and didn’t report, and the person who gave it didn’t report it we may never know what she got.”

    too, too true. And that probably accounts for all the unopened pressies. Mostly because most, if not all, of the pressies are tax-deductible.

    The AC stuff, OTOH, I can’t fathom ANY way AC would give all that away without deducting it itself. And I say that as a business owner…no way I’m paying taxes on money if I can deduct it as a business expense. And if Todd is depreciating/expensing equipment he gets from AC, that’s a real red flag.

  20. EyeOnYou says:

    deist Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 9:11 PM
    EyeOnYou; I’m sorry; we’re talking about different things. I’m wondering about gifts she may have received before SarahPac and if she may have not declared gifts in excess of the limit especially during the Fall of 2008.

    _________

    There was lots of discussion about this on various news sites.

    Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has made a crackdown on gift-giving to state officials a centerpiece of her ethics reform agenda, has accepted gifts valued at $25,367 from industry executives, municipalities and a cultural center whose board includes officials from some of the largest mining interests in the state, a review of state records shows.
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092503988.html

    Of course if there is a gift she received and didn’t report, and the person who gave it didn’t report it we may never know what she got.

  21. EyeOnYou says:

    justafarmer Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 9:06 PM
    _____________________

    Kristin Cole, longtime Palin friend and real estate agent is the “trustee” of the AK Fund Trust. If you are talking about the Webathon, that is Rebecca Mansour

  22. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    justafarmer Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    @EyeOnYou…
    it’s gonna take them a VERY long time to reach their goal using that plan.
    Just curious, who’s the “designated supervisor” in all of this?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    ManSour…puppet of GINO and megamouth, groveling will doing anything for a pat on the head from the GINO. 😈

  23. deist says:

    EyeOnYou; I’m sorry; we’re talking about different things. I’m wondering about gifts she may have received before SarahPac and if she may have not declared gifts in excess of the limit especially during the Fall of 2008.

  24. AlaskaDisasta says:

    you can take the girl out of the trash, but………………………………

  25. justafarmer says:

    @EyeOnYou…
    it’s gonna take them a VERY long time to reach their goal using that plan.
    Just curious, who’s the “designated supervisor” in all of this?

  26. deist says:

    EyeOnYou:

    By the way, was the Attorney General the designated supervisor? Would that have been Talis Colberg? If not, who was the supervisor? Was she her own?

  27. EyeOnYou says:

    deist Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 9:00 PM
    EyeOnYou:

    I also pasted those sections in the comments above. If they didn’t report in 30 days, perhaps they broke the law.
    ______________

    They don’t have to report them because of the $150.00 limit. They have to if it is excess of that amount, which is why they picked that amount as the cap for individual donations.

    Now Palin fans are getting around that by asking people to give money to someone else and have that person donate it, or do it in someone else’s name, like spouse, child, family member..etc…so there are ways around it if people want to give more.

  28. nswfm CA says:

    I say Guantanamo for the grifter. NY wouldn’t have her–she’d be like that woman who had all the plastic surgery to look like a lion. A freaky side show. And then she would get hit by a cab or a bus, crossing the street.

  29. deist says:

    EyeOnYou:

    I also pasted those sections in the comments above. If they didn’t report in 30 days, perhaps they broke the law.

    I wouldn’t file a complaint– I’m concerned the personnel board may be biased.

  30. justafarmer says:

    Ahhh, thank you EyeOnYou!
    I suspected it had something to do with something Alaska-specific.
    And that wording is soooo deja vu with the AFT wording.
    Guess they know how to copy and paste, at least.

  31. justafarmer says:

    nswfm CA, I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think the AFT is remotely related to charitable trusts and estate planning. Her lawyers can throw around the word “LEGAL” all they want, that don’t make it so.

  32. EyeOnYou says:

    justafarmer Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 8:45 PM
    hmm…having just typed that comment, I’m wondering what the significance is for the $150 donor limit. That just seems too odd.

    __________

    It has to do with the disclosure of gifts.

    Sec. 39.52.130. Improper gifts.
    (a) A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift,
    whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, employment,
    promise, or in any other form, that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests,
    under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence
    the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment. A gift from a person required to register as a lobbyist under AS 24.45.041 to a public officer or a public officer’s immediate family member is presumed to be intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment unless the giver is an immediate family member of the person receiving the gift.

    (b) Notice of the receipt by a public officer of a gift with a value in excess of $150, including the name of the giver and a description of the gift and its approximate value, must be provided to the designated supervisor within 30 days after the date of its receipt

  33. deist says:

    austintx:

    I should be more gracious about Texas.

    Good people like you live there. I hear Austin is really nice. I have friends who floated the Rio Grande at Big Bend. That park is one of their favorite places. I’d love to visit Texas but it is a long commute from here.

  34. nswfm CA says:

    I do because of the lawyers involved. Jonathan Blattmacher is a very well known guy in trust circles and with the interlinking plus the “donate to the LEGAL” fund not to the guy in TX who wanted to “help”. Plus, Artic Cat is publicly traded, maybe Todd’s been given stock, they own property to be made more valuable because the first Dan Sullivan supports a bridge, her buddy that is the trustee was the real estate agent, etc.

  35. mlaiuppa says:

    Bob Lynn is going to make discussing Sarah Palin’s ethics complaints illegal?

    Is Bob Lynn familiar with the U.S. constitution? Sorta part of the job, wouldn’t you say? I think he took an oath or something.

  36. justafarmer says:

    hmm…having just typed that comment, I’m wondering what the significance is for the $150 donor limit. That just seems too odd.

  37. justafarmer says:

    nswfm CA, the ATF is yet another completely different animal and I suspect it hasn’t got a thing in common with estate planning or charitable trusts.

  38. nswfm CA says:

    Justafarmer, I haven’t read the AK Fund Trust docs but I’m guessing there are Charitable Remainder Trusts and all other kinds of estate planning documents associated with hiding all the grifting. Just a gut feeling from the Blattmacher connection. Very aggressive trust guy.

  39. justafarmer says:

    oh, and Todd’s AC deal is different from the boxes and bags of mail because his racing is apparently a business. Business gifts are an entirely different animal than personal/family gifts. And I don’t think there is any such thing as a legal political “gift”, financially speaking.

  40. justafarmer says:

    As someone who was an IRS tax auditor during the Reagan years, the gift tax thing is complicated.
    Realizing that the tax code keeps evolving, the gist is that gifts (currently in excess of $13,000 annually) are taxable to the donor, not the recipient. There *is* a tax consequence to the recipient should the recipient sell the gift (most commonly real estate, stocks/bond, or high dollar assets).
    So I would think that would exclude any IRS tax consequence for all the unopened bags and boxes of baby gifts. Envelopes with checks is another can of worms, but I suspect if those particular checks haven’t been cashed, that’s a question for the state and federal election finance folks.
    Now, Todd’s AC deal is an entirely different matter. He’s getting deep discounts on his equipment every year, which I believe the IRS would construe as income to him, mostly because he apparently keeps everything, as opposed the motorcycle racer who posted earlier who noted that his motorcycles are returned to the manufacturer at the end of the season.
    As I said, complicated all around, but those are he basics. Pertinent gift tax info can be found at:
    http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108139,00.html

  41. mlaiuppa says:

    Not only does Michelle Obama NOT accept gifts or discounts from designers, but she has a surrogate do her purchases for her so there is no impropriety as far as the cost of an item. No one knows it’s Michelle Obama buying whatever so there is no danger of getting an illegal gift or discount.

    It’s all that intent/perception thing.

    You know. David Letterman apologized not because of his intention, but because of everyone’s perception.

    Seems with Sarah it’s the other way around. It’s not the perception but her intention. She’s saying it doesn’t matter that the perception is that she’s unethical because it wasn’t her intention to be unethical.

    Does that make sense, too, also?

  42. sally says:

    Sarah Palin is a WEASEL. If she didn’t do anything wrong why is she acting like she did something wrong?

    Just disclose everything like you are supposed to when you become an elected official. What’s the problem with that?

    Nothing, if you are NOT GUILTY.

  43. nswfm CA says:

    Then they can check on the BS about building that hockey rink house. I’ll bring the death by chocolate dessert to THAT party.

  44. pearl89 says:

    As troubling as the Arctic Cat (think I’ll just wait and see what happens) mess is, I’m more troubled by the gifts not received until opened. Does this mean if she doesn’t open them until her term as governor is up, she doesn’t have to report them? And who is determining the value of these gifts, her? That doesn’t pass any kind of smell test. School’s out, give Piper and Willow a part-time jobs opening the mail.

    I bet the post office would be amazed to find out that their mail does not count as being received until it is opened. I know my creditors would be.

    I received my Purple Passion stuff earlier this week, I haven’t open it yet (waiting until the 30th)…so by Palin illogic I haven’t received it yet. Duh! Talk about convoluted reasoning. If this is the way her mind works, no wonder her speech is so incoherent.

  45. mlaiuppa says:

    How about “Generally Inhospitable”?

    BTW it’s not just the value of the merchandise. If they’re getting it at a discount, than the difference between the discount and retail would also have to be declared as “income”. In other words, it doesn’t matter what they pay, its the full price the public would pay that counts. Because Sarah is the Governor. Sarah gets the one year old handmedowns. They still have value. And….they eventually get rid of the older “extras”. I’m guessing they sell them. That’s more income.

    If she’s been doing this for 16 years…it’s going to be extremely entertaining.

    I don’t think popcorn is going to be enough. I think I’ll have to make brownies too. Maybe even bake some Brian cookies.

  46. seattlefan says:

    @EyeOnYou #167

    Very interesting. Great digging and a good find. You are probably right. The “bots” will find some way to make an excuse , BUT the lawyers, the “vetters” (sp?), and the national voting public will not! She is already a joke to most and things like this just keep making her more irrelevant.

    Good thing! 🙂

  47. austintx says:

    Thanks cali.

  48. mlaiuppa says:

    Oh, and TYPO!

    The first word should be “In” not “It”.

  49. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    OK! Get Adult bev in hand, take quite a few sips and go on over to Phils site ASAP!
    http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/06/saradise-lost-book-2-chapter-63-some.html

  50. sally says:

    If a Democratic Governor was trying to pull the crap Palin is doing they would be CRUCIFIED.

  51. mlaiuppa says:

    Those are interesting numbers.

    So the “secret amount” is more than $20,000? That is also more than the $12,000 gift limit the IRS sets, right?

    I smell an audit. A 16 year audit.

    And I think I heard a shoe drop.

  52. EyeOnYou says:

    Andree McLoed has posted this on the ADN in regards to the story about Rep Bob Lynn wanting ethics complaints to be kept secret…….

    Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Chairwoman Sarah Palin said Friday she is resigning amid frustration that she is being forced to keep silent about ethics allegations against Republican Party of Alaska chairman Randy Ruedrich.

    “I’m forced to withhold information from Alaskans, and that goes against what I believe in as a public servant,” Palin said in a Friday interview.

    http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/513761.html

    The story was originally published in 2004. So I wonder what the Palin supporters say about this? Oh don’t bother, we already know that they will find one excuse after another to explain this away.

    On another note, Phil of Progressive Alaska has a note in his latest post that there is some talk from within the “Palin machine” of filing a “Hefty SLAPP lawsuit against Andree, and/or Celtic Diva , and possibly other Alaskans.

    What is a SLAPP lawsuit you might ask?

    A Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (“SLAPP”) is a lawsuit that is intended to intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition. Winning the lawsuit is not necessarily the intent of the person filing the SLAPP. The plaintiff’s goals are accomplished if the defendant succumbs to fear, intimidation, mounting legal costs or simple exhaustion and abandons the criticism. A SLAPP may also intimidate others from participating in the debate.

    This is a definition from Wikipedia

  53. austintx says:

    deist…..sorry.

  54. austintx says:

    Ripley – Now , you and I get along pretty good. We see eye to eye on dang near everything. But , there is a line , and you are bumpin’ right up against it. diest is right , she needs to go home to Idaho.

  55. seattlefan says:

    @ WakeUpAmerican (#1)…I like your idea! My vote is “Palin Place”. I’m definitely showing my age here, but who can’t forget Peyton Place. LOL! I also liked the Days of our Lies submission. 🙂

  56. deist says:

    Idaho?

  57. Kallie says:

    Stay outta Texas, Palin…we don’t want or need you here!

  58. AlaskaDisasta says:

    I think the Grifters, Failin’ Palin and her First Dud, are flipping the bird to Alaskans.

  59. Ripley in CT says:

    she can go to Texas. She cannot come anywhere near the East Coast to stay. I’m sure you’d be reading about me in the news!

    Sorry Texans, as if you needed another dunderhead.

  60. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Philip Munger Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    “Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, a supporter of Gov. Sarah Palin’s, said he’s going to introduce a bill to stop ethics complaints against the governor or members of her staff from being publicly discussed unless the state finds they have merit.”

    Comment…?”

    Bob Lynn is a helluva a good bari sax player. I used to play with him in After Six and in Young at Heart – two Anchorage Big Band-style jazz bands. But he now despises me. In 2004, he denounced me before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature:

    http://xferstoothers.blogspot.com/2007/12/bob-lynns-april-27-2004-denunciation-on.html

    Since then, he’s responded to my query about getting returning AKNG members, from tours in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq tested for exposure to DU, but once he remembered who I am, he stopped corresponding.

    He’s Sarah Palin’s most staunch advocate in the AK House right now.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    Well, I think you are being too nice about him Phil! I love how these REPs doNOT represent the people! (with the except of a few, Les and a couple of others) It is SHAMEFUL how partisan and basically “suck up” towards the queen. I hope when she FALLs all her “STANCH advocates” will fall with her!
    The whole damn state is corrupt! (with the exception of a few, and they know who they are and thank god for them!)
    I am so sorry for the people of Alaska to be NOT represented here! ONLY ONE person’s opinion is heard, LIKE a Dictatorship! A christian Dictatorship.

  61. Doggonit says:

    The ethically challenged Gov wants a waiver on State disclosure statutes required to protect the public trust. Shocking!

  62. deist says:

    Phil:

    I don’t have an opinion on Bob Lynn.

    I asked democratic legislators to improve EBEA last session and they declined.

  63. John says:

    “He’s Sarah Palin’s most staunch advocate in the AK House right now.”

    He is just about the only one left, far as I can tell.

  64. deist says:

    New Yorkers:

    Sorry for suggesting Palin should move there. She just seems to like your state a lot more than hers. She’s such a recluse here especially from we Alaskans who may disagree with her. For Alaskans, getting access to Palin would be like getting invited to Howard Hughes’s 70th birthday party.

    If Palin moved to the Lower 48, it would less likely North Korea would miss (Wasilla) and hit Anchorage.

    If New York doesn’t want her, how about Texas? Seems like she’d fit in well with that aggressive-warfare crowd. She could be one of Bush’s neighbors. Wouldn’t that be a fun neighborhood? They’d deserve each other.

  65. aha says:

    ust ask people in the same business selling snowmachines what their wholesale cost is or what they think the manufacturers cost is…shouldn’t be difficult.

    Second, ask other people who are sponsored, they will tell you standard details. Todd shouldn’t be getting any ‘unique’ deals unless it is directly because of his wife the Governor…it’s not like he’s Tiger Woods.

    Third, now Van Flein is claiming Palins’ sponorship agreement is only that Todd gets to buy a snowmachine at manufacturer’s ‘secret’ cost? That’s laughable. What about ‘incidentals’ : transportation, parts, the fact that Todd does trade shows on behalf of Arctic Cat (for free?) and tons of other things I can’t even think of I’m sure.

    Third, if John McCain went around the Senate, campain, or generally, while on the job wearing Annheisbusch jackets, would he be subject to smilar complaints? I think probably so, since his wife has a near billion dollar stake in that company.

    Fouth, let’s say manufacturing cost is $10k and retail price is 30k and wholesale cost to retailer is 25k. Palin is receiving a Substantial discount. The IRS will consider the gap as income.

    Fifth, it’s a lie to say proprietary information. All the other manufacturers of similar equipment already know all the costs involved.

    Sixth, where is the disclosure on those hundreds of boxes of unopened gifts? Maybe IRS can just guess what the value of those is $1 million dollars and tax Palin on that amount. I’ll bet she would open those boxes tomorrow. 😉
    Sixth, this wouldn’t pass the smell test in court…

    I guess the real question is how to deal with the fake personnel board…they should be censured for their contempt of Alaskan law and statutes.

  66. “Anybody there is AK have an opinion on Bob Lynn..?
    Looks like her press statement about not divulging ‘ secrets ‘ has not gone over well and the next day has called in for more reinforcements. (from the ADN )

    “Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, a supporter of Gov. Sarah Palin’s, said he’s going to introduce a bill to stop ethics complaints against the governor or members of her staff from being publicly discussed unless the state finds they have merit.”

    Comment…?”

    Bob Lynn is a helluva a good bari sax player. I used to play with him in After Six and in Young at Heart – two Anchorage Big Band-style jazz bands. But he now despises me. In 2004, he denounced me before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature:

    http://xferstoothers.blogspot.com/2007/12/bob-lynns-april-27-2004-denunciation-on.html

    Since then, he’s responded to my query about getting returning AKNG members, from tours in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq tested for exposure to DU, but once he remembered who I am, he stopped corresponding.

    He’s Sarah Palin’s most staunch advocate in the AK House right now.

  67. Demetria Nelson-McNaulty says:

    I hope this is making the news in Anchorage and Fairbanks News and smaller papers in the state, let the citizens outrage roar! I for one do not understand how the people of AK can let this Govenor take over boards and get defense funds started and it is all unethical. Get rid of her ethics chosen board and get a liason company.
    Start a petition and get the government to change how they are letting her get away with stealing, This slutty flight attendant is the best gifter I have ever heard of and she’s getting away with it.

  68. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    gov. Billboard just made a big slip. Her word salad will not work here. No dresssing can cover any brown edges on that lettuce. If its rotten she is done on a national, local and maybe even on a family level as her poison spreads thru them. Nice job sarah! Now GO JUST FADE AWAY so we can get on with progressin’ the country without your incessant desire to be in every freaking news cycle..

  69. MO Inkslinger says:

    Where are the honesty, integrity, transparency and ethical behavior promised during the election? This is just another broken campaign promise by an unethical politician.

  70. austintx says:

    Arctic Cat , a publicly traded company , could clear this up real quick………

  71. anadventurer says:

    John, right. I meant what’s the big D to “them” (unless they have something to HIDE)

  72. John says:

    anadventurer: It’s not a big deal except for the tiny fact that Alaska law says she is required to report those freebies. Laws that apply to all elected officials and many appointed ones.

  73. anadventurer says:

    I get “pro-deals” from a few different companies and it’s 20%-60% off wholesale. Other companies just send me gear for free. I’ll get a box with stuff in it. No note, no nothing. Just $550 worth of boots or whatever. I just don’t know or get what the big deal is.

  74. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    honestyinGov Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    “Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, a supporter of Gov. Sarah Palin’s, said he’s going to introduce a bill to stop ethics complaints against the governor or members of her staff from being publicly discussed unless the state finds they have merit.”
    ——————————————
    Why bother? It’s no secret that any complaint against the govervor is without merit – regardless of how many thousands of fraudulently-claimed public dollars she pays back.

  75. honestyinGov says:

    Anybody there is AK have an opinion on Bob Lynn..?
    Looks like her press statement about not divulging ‘ secrets ‘ has not gone over well and the next day has called in for more reinforcements. (from the ADN )

    “Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, a supporter of Gov. Sarah Palin’s, said he’s going to introduce a bill to stop ethics complaints against the governor or members of her staff from being publicly discussed unless the state finds they have merit.”

    Comment…?

  76. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    austin, Pleadin’ the 5th! And ewwwwww.

  77. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    On the campaign trail last year, the Washington Independent reported:

    “Todd Palin, husband of Sarah, is embarking a tour of northern and western Minnesota, sponsored by the Artic Cat, the snowmobile company. Our colleage Paul Demko of Minnesota Independent is following the First Dude on his daunting intinerary: “five towns, 750 miles, three sporting goods stores, one snowmobile factory and one hotel.”

    A report from the tour:

    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1015170/todd_palins_snowmobiling_raises_interest.html?cat=19

  78. SameOld says:

    Sponsorships are advertisement on the part of Artic Cat. That is how the company is taxed for them. They would never do an open contract for parts and pieces. Todd probably gets a flat number like 20K that includes the latest model and whatever expenses he incurs for the race. It is not a gift. It is income to cover the costs of competing. Todd then can deduct the costs associated with the sport, not to exceed any income paid.

    The rest of this is crap, I would guess there is some serious fiddling of taxes for years.

  79. austintx says:

    133 sjk from the belly of the plane Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
    Maybe those Arctic Cat tatoos were not such a good idea? Just sayin’…
    ************************************************
    Are you sayin’ you saw the sex tape ??

  80. the problem child says:

    UK Lady: I double-dog dare you to name one position upon which she has been consistent (other than, “I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I cant”.

    @Kris, Sorry you got a bit of a bumpy ride. Us Canadian/ US mudpups are often amazed at what goes on in each other’s backyards. All part of gettin’ to know ya and progressin’ international goodwill also, too.

  81. John says:

    There are two issues. Reporting to the IRS is one; filing the Public Official Disclosure Form is another. I don’t know much about taxes, but in Alaska, public officials have very strict reporting forms. They have to report all sources of income over $1000 for themselves as well as for spouses and children living in their homes. Lawyer and doctors who are also politicians have to report the names of their clients. If you receive a discount from a business that is not available to all members of the public, you have to report that as well. The handbook that APOC (Alaska Public Offices Commission) hands out says it very bluntly: Just consider disclosure part of the job description and don’t whine when you see that the requirements are strict.
    http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/apoc/filer.html

  82. duct idaho palin says:

    Injuneau– I know it’s her business, financially. What I meant was that their spheres of influence, if you will, converge much more than the usual couple in which one person is a sports “celebrity” and the other is not. Todd undoubtedly gets more benefits from Arctic Cat because they know that Sarah Palin will show up, wearing their gear, at his events. And Sarah uses the Iron Dog appearances to push her own political agenda without having to call it a political appearance.

  83. InJuneau says:

    UK Lady–ooo, interesting point…

  84. UK Lady says:

    Just a thought, if The 1st Dude is entitled to keep his discount secret because he is an ordinary citizen and it has nothing to do with being the guv’s husband, doesn’t that rather detract fom Palin’s argument about the emails, you know, the argument that he had special privilege being her husband?

  85. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    Maybe those Arctic Cat tatoos were not such a good idea? Just sayin’…

  86. InJuneau says:

    duct idaho palin–regardless of her “involvement” with his business, they file as a married couple filing jointly. That makes ALL of it her business too. She’s getting a benefit to the family’s bottom line from his business interests (and they (AC) likely are too…)

    I take a tax hit or gain a tax benefit from the business expenses/losses/profits from my spouse’s business too. But, then again, I’m not in any prominent position to get any good press for any of his preferred brands, esp. since he certainly isn’t sponsored!

  87. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    AKM, you left out Mudtoys for the kiddies – these are from Greta van Susteren’s special report for Fox.

    http://s278.photobucket(dotcom)/albums/kk92/sparkleferrari/?action=view&current=truck.jpg

    http://s278.photobucket(dotcom)/albums/kk92/sparkleferrari/?action=view&current=pip.jpg

  88. leu2500 says:

    Another thought. Any tax accountants out here? Wouldn’t Arctic Cat give Todd a 1099 each year?

  89. duct idaho palin says:

    And the fact that Sarah Palin has involved herself so heavily in Todd’s business, showing up at events and doing Sports Illustrated stories, just makes her and Todd’s finances even more intertwined.

  90. leu2500 says:

    Several people have wondered why it is anyone’s business what Todd makes. Well, we’ve had too many instances of companies etc giving gifts, jobs, etc to spouses to get around restrictions on giving to politicians. For example, in the old days ACME Wiget would try to get around the rule that they can only give a Mr. Congresscritter a $50 gift (say, they take them to a ball game where they tell such and such legislation is needed.) Well, $50 doesn’t buy you much influence. However, if you hire Mrs. Congresscritter at $50K per year, well, now Mr. Congresscritter is probably going to find that legislation to be really important. A recent real-life example is Mrs. Daschle. She is a lobbyist for the airline industry. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, she limited her lobbying to the House since her husband was head of the Senate.

    Now, if I were Ski Doo or Polaris, I’d like to know what Todd gets from Arctic Cat so I know how much to offer him to switch sponsors so I can use Gov Palin as a billboard.

  91. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    And I STILL think the link to the Tesoro FeDawg from the duds oficial web page is a HUGE violation….and Willow wasnt at the game….and who built her house, and where are the e-mails requested months ago, and the Dairy fiasco, and the wild ride, and on and on and on….

  92. duct idaho palin says:

    I forgot to say… I’d pay anything to see Dave Letterman do his monologue one night in an Arctic Cat jacket and not say one word about it.

  93. duct idaho palin says:

    “She’s supposed to disclose the discount, not what he paid, not the manufacturer’s cost, not the secret recipe for green paint. Just the value of the discount.”

    It’s true that the “gift” part that we’re talking about right now is the value of the discount, but “what he paid” is part of their income taxes (I’m sure he deducts what he paid as a cost of doing business.”

    Kris, what it has to do with anyone other than the IRS is that the situation right now is the obligation that Sarah Palin, as a government official, has to the state of Alaska to comply with its gift reporting laws and its ethics laws– actually a separate issue from the IRS at the moment.

  94. InJuneau says:

    oops, to “move” there…

  95. Tewise says:

    Hell see if Putin will take her, she admits she has been peeking at him from her house.

  96. InJuneau says:

    Irishgirl–yeah, you’re prob. safe, as she’d have to learn a new language to more there–actual (Irish) English!! 😉

  97. Irishgirl says:

    LiladyNY Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 3:02 PM

    deist Says:

    Judging by where she’s been re fundraisers, their people. Perhaps she should move there.
    cently, she seems to especially like New York. She loves their sports, their parades, their
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
    OOOOOOO

    ———————————-
    LOL….at least I am relatively safe here.

  98. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    This has to be the lamest of the lame excuses she has ever pulled. The IRS is gonna isnt gonna give a rats ass about any secret contract.

    IRS AGENT: “How much did you get from Arctic Cat, and how much did you report?: Palins” We’ll get a note from our lawyer being paid from the AK FAke trust to explain”…IRS AGENT: “A note from Van Flea wont be much help here, ma’am. Just need to see the contract and the tax returns ma’am. Just the contact and returns ma’am.”

  99. Isabella says:

    pvazwindy “Wonder how Scott Davis handled his depreciation of two Artic Cat F6 600 and apparel? Would it be different than Todd’s?”

    In that Sports illustrated article the writer made sure to impress Scott, is the recipient of many VERY LUCRATIVE state contracts.

  100. honestyinGov says:

    Being that there is such a total lack of transparency here and an obvious effort to disclose ‘ nothing ‘…. wouldn’t now be an opportunity for one of the Guys running for Governor to put forth a statement.

    Not as blatant as when GINO said Begich should step down when Stevens was exonerated because of misconduct by the DA. They wouldn’t have to take sides or state an opinion of guilt.
    Just say something PC like “all the the facts should be looked at”. It would give the case some credibility (and know people are looking at it ) and make it easier for them to run next year. The weaker GINO is… the less credibility she has.

    Of course, They wouldn’t be making some asinine statement like Meg would put out there that would come back to haunt them. Just showing a leadership position.

  101. GlobalVillage says:

    Thank you AKM for your post. If her legal fund account is looking a bit skimpy then maybe this is the time some cashed up scientology devotees might step in to pay serious legal fees.

  102. Nan says:

    thanks sauerkraut
    the things you can learn at the ‘flats!

  103. pvazwindy says:

    Wonder how Scott Davis handled his depreciation of two Artic Cat F6 600 and apparel? Would it be different than Todd’s?

  104. LiladyNY says:

    deist Says:

    Judging by where she’s been recently, she seems to especially like New York. She loves their sports, their parades, their fundraisers, their people. Perhaps she should move there.

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

  105. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    And its been that way on all the ethics complaint’s, the lawyer hired for his professional opinion….deems the violation…not a violation and the ethics board doesn’t even question or investigate!

  106. Ennealogic says:

    Another absolutely brilliant post, AKM. I wish I had half the imagination… the stories you create to lay bare the lies and hypocrisies and utter ridiculousness of the governor’s antics always work. Kudos!

  107. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Tewise Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 2:43 PM

    My question is how did they personnel board do a thorough investigation into Celtic Diva’s complaint if they did not get all the information needed. Now if he/she was privy to that information wouldn’t that make him/her a liar about no ethics violation? The wheels on the bus, go round and round, round and round……….
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    They didn’t!!! That’s what with the LIES from the echo chamber about taxpayer money! The personnel board did nothing! The lawyer “in his opinion” deemed it not (for lack of better wording) unethical, so the personnel board didn’t do a damn thing but drop it like a hot potato!!!!They didn’t investigate SQUAT!!!! {insert scream here}

  108. Tewise says:

    My question is how did they personnel board do a thorough investigation into Celtic Diva’s complaint if they did not get all the information needed. Now if he/she was privy to that information wouldn’t that make him/her a liar about no ethics violation? The wheels on the bus, go round and round, round and round……….

  109. Tewise says:

    105
    Kris ……Good thing about the IRS they don’t care who you are, they are very equal opportunity. There are several race car drivers and Owners (Haas) they can tell you first hand….

  110. leenie17 says:

    deist Says:

    Judging by where she’s been recently, she seems to especially like New York. She loves their sports, their parades, their fundraisers, their people. Perhaps she should move there.

    ——————————
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  111. Canadian Neighbour says:

    76 honestyinGov

    I would hesitate to start writing to Arctic Cat. Celtic Diva is still in meetings with APOC with regarding the issue.

    I would suggest you leave a message for Celtic Diva or AKM.

    When you write these kinds of things, it’s not something you do on the spur
    of the moment.

    I agree. This is still an ongoing issue. Let’s wait and see how things resolve themselves. Appreciate the passion, but better that there’s no doubt it’s well-placed. Thanks! AKM

  112. Kris says:

    Ahhhh…you see, as a newbie to the US, a 1 income family, and a Canadian by birth I see why Todd Palin would be relvant to Sarah Palin’s taxes now thank you for clearing that up. In Canada we file separate tax returns as spouses (which I find perfectly wonderful) so I agree…they should disclose to the IRS…why is it anyone else’s business again? Oh you bet the IRS will get them if they don’t. And I am certian it will be leaked to the media when they do. Oh wait, does the IRS only treat everyday people like scum or is that priviledge extended to members of politics? Back in Canada the Canadian Revenue Agency treats every eqally like scum. I will keep my eyes open for updates.

    K.

  113. sauerkraut says:

    48 Nan Says: June 18th, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    This bit about the wholesale cost is just hooey. Now waitaminnit. Are they talking wholesale COST (cost of manufacturing) or wholesale PRICE (to dealers)?

    I don’t think ANY company sells any product to anyone at their cost of putting the product together.
    __________

    No, that’s not true.

    Sports equipment manufacturers often provide gear at cost plus a dollar. Shoes for runners are one example. In some instances, the runners get the shoes for free. At other times, the shoes come at no price but require a write-up as to performance and requirement to return once used for a certain amount of miles so that the tech people at the company can evaluate the product for wear, etc.

    But snomobiles are not $60 running shoes. $10k+ is a significant number which should trigger reporting as an income vehicle. Especially when done over a period of years.

  114. sauerkraut says:

    If the IRS were to investigate Palin on this situation, they could easily get around the “it’s a secret” crap by sending an audit letter to Arctic Cat.

    But she’s not smart enough to know that.

  115. sauerkraut says:

    Palin does not want to disclose because she knows the IRS not only never forgets but it also doesn’t give a crap about stupid politics.

  116. Isabella says:

    honestyinGov “They may regret ever working with Todd now. BAD publicity.”

    Would bet the farm Arctic Cat has their ducks in a row. The fraud is on Palin’s end. Publicity is publicity and as long as there is not concern about their products in the headlines, all is good to them.

  117. InJuneau says:

    lovemydogs–well, that’s good to know. It should the favorite color of all the non-bigots in the place…

  118. cp says:

    As a former sponsored motorcycle rider I have a couple of questions; Why is his sponsorship considered a “gift”? He is providing a service for Arctic Cat by riding their machines in the race. Why does that have to be disclosed? BUT lets say he got 10-15 machines and gear at cost for his buddies. Then I think you’re in the gift area. There’s something more than his Iron Dog sponsorship involved here. They had no problem filing last year.

  119. honestyinGov says:

    Here is a link to Artic Cat Corporate. The phone number is there and a link to contact them as well.
    http://www.arctic-cat.com/corporate/
    (somebody from Minnesota maybe )
    Might be interesting to see what there ‘verbal response ‘ would be if you were to call them up on the phone.
    IE : Will you comply or answer questions asked by the IRS posed to your company…?
    Do you have a secret deal with The Governor of Alaska..?

    Embassy Suites gave a response last week about Dave. What would Artic Cats response be. Sarah may have given them a PR nightmare. They may regret ever working with Todd now. BAD publicity.

  120. deist says:

    ds 55:

    So true.

    And wouldn’t it be a shame, after finally getting around to opening her mail, if she discovered front row tickets– to a game in September 2008!

    Judging by where she’s been recently, she seems to especially like New York. She loves their sports, their parades, their fundraisers, their people. Perhaps she should move there.

  121. austintx says:

    Whoa !! Went looking for the contact for Arctic Cat and stumbled on this. It seems they have had several product recalls. Now – if Alaska can just recall sarah………
    http://www.productdefectnewsandadviceblog.com/2009/04/san-diego-arctic-cat-snowmobile-accident-102834756.html

  122. Dr. Patois says:

    Price of luxury seats for Yankee game…
    http://tinyurl.com/m5wlag

  123. Marnie says:

    They probably will get away with it.
    But it is more muck to bring up when she runs for anything.

    Has she just about filled the cargo hold of an Exxon tanker with ethics challanged behaviour, yet?

  124. Doggonit says:

    John Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:59 PM

    “Of course, GINO is only “required” to make a good faith effort to get the info from Todd. If he refuses to tell her how much Arctic Cat gave him, she doesn’t have to disclose that.”

    —–

    Trying using that excuse with the IRS and see how fast they freeze your assets.

  125. mmboucher Florida says:

    87 John Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 1:03 PM

    Don’t you know, the other 8% was given by the state of Alaska when she gave th $25,000 to her church.

  126. Isabella says:

    John “Looking at their tax return, why do the Palins only give 2% of their income to charity? What happened to tithing 10%?”

    SCREWING political correctness and her church…bad mojo.

  127. DrChill says:

    not that sarah Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
    @Kris,

    The governor and her family can not profit in any way other than the pay for her position, or they violate the ethics laws. Wearing free clothes and driving free snowmobiles (sorry, I’m from MIchigan and that’s what we call them) is a form of profit, directly related to their position as First Family.

    He may have had a deal in place before she was governor, but even if the deal hasn’t changed (and I doubt that), after she was elected, they had a duty to cease and desist all profits, bonuses, gifts, etc. It’s just part of the deal. Most normal people understand that.
    ========
    The executive branch ethics act does not prohibit family from being in business.
    The issue is whether Sarah Palin used her position as governor to promote her husbands business.

    I surmise that some scoff at this because they don’t see any official governmental duty being influenced by the financial relationship.
    Others see a governor with a – this space for rent – sign on her jacket.

  128. mmboucher Florida says:

    81 mommom Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    We have been out of business for 31/2 years now, you can now depriciate large amounts “new rules” even new dozer can be written off in one year.

  129. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Nan, I’m sorry too, I’ve just OD’d on her BS and just refused to believe any of her BS.
    It must be all that RED she wears! Like a matador waving a red flag 🙂
    Just enrages us!

  130. honestyinGov says:

    What would be ‘fun’ is if David Letterman and his writers knew this story and did some ‘Artic Cat Jokes’…. just saying….

  131. John says:

    Looking at their tax return, why do the Palins only give 2% of their income to charity? What happened to tithing 10%?

  132. ds55 says:

    @deist #63: New York Yankees ballgame tickets cost way more than $150 each, times three.

  133. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Nan Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:48 PM

    Dr Patois
    I didn’t know a business could “depreciate”

    Crystalwolf aka caligrl
    I didn’t mean to be a sn*t, I’m sorry. I’ve only been going by what I’ve read, myself. So far, anything I’ve read has had those “sources say” or “open secret” – stuff like that.
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    The point of even mentioning it (la affair) is that they had a snowmachine biz so she would well know about, wholesale costs, and advertising(cat gate) etc.
    Her acting stupid, is her trying to “snow” us. And Frankly we are not that stupid and we are sick of it!
    And if she thinks the IRS gonna be fooled, she can fart rainbows until the rapture! It ain’t gonna happen!

  134. John says:

    The statutes and regulations for Public Officers Financial Disclosure statements are clear. http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/apoc/filer.html I can’t find any exemption for proprietary information. Of course, GINO is only “required” to make a good faith effort to get the info from Todd. If he refuses to tell her how much Arctic Cat gave him, she doesn’t have to disclose that. But it’s kind of too late for that excuse because she already gave a different reason. Good lawyer advice on that one.

  135. Doggonit says:

    What? So let’s say Pebble Mine gives the Todd $ 1 million and they agree to a confidentiality agreement, then Sarah says she can’t the amount he was given for political favors.

    Yeah, sure, that sound real legit.

    And we don’t know what is in that book deal. Perhaps it requires the Gov to travel and do book promotions, to be absent during much of next year’s legislative session.

    What lawyer advised Palins to sign a confidentiality agreement, when they knew full well, it would violate Alaska statue of disclosure requirements?

  136. Dr. Patois says:

    Nan, yes, a business can depreciate cost of equipment but I would imagine that is quite a trick when you never fully paid for it to begin with.

  137. mommom says:

    Looking at Todds tax return under the section for his “snow machine racing” income,their is an entry for depreciation of over $10,000 .It has been a long time since I dealt with that when my DH was in business 20 years ago,but a $10,000 depreciation would require a hefty outlay for the items being depreciated to begin with. Is there some hanky panky there ,too? Has Todd depreciated the full value of the “snow machines” instead of the actual cash value he paid ?

  138. Nan says:

    Dr Patois
    I didn’t know a business could “depreciate”

    Crystalwolf aka caligrl
    I didn’t mean to be a sn*t, I’m sorry. I’ve only been going by what I’ve read, myself. So far, anything I’ve read has had those “sources say” or “open secret” – stuff like that.

    I have read *some* of Gryphen’s blog, but not all of it, by any means (there’s a LOT there!). Guess I’ve got some “homework” to do, eh?

    Nan

  139. deist says:

    I just realized– I wonder which garbage bins are nearest Palins’ place– There might be a lot of really good, unused stuff getting thrown away this weekend.

  140. skip from Asheville, NC says:

    Palin may think that she is getting over everyone but she will trip up and do something or say something stupid that she will get burned on. This latest little trick covers two screw ups: 1) benefiting from a contract that violates her duty as governor and 2) telling a huge whopper of not opening up gifts or mail that are in stacks of bags and boxes at home. When she goes down, it will be a good day for the good guys!

  141. mae lewis says:

    I would like to follow Sarah’s logic about “If I don’t open it right now, I don’t have to declare it.” All kinds of bills will be arriving around the end of the month at my house, but if I don’t open them…….I will get my electricity, phone, gas cut off and credit card rates will sky rocket. When she was a kid, I bet she put in fingers in her ears, babbled “LaLaLaLaLa” and didn’t hear whatever was being said, it didn’t happen. Oh yeah, she still does that.

  142. honestyinGov says:

    # 35
    austintx Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
    Any comment from Arctic Cat ?? Stockholders might want some answers………
    _____________________________________
    Hey austintx….
    How about you find and post the email link that goes directly to Artic Cat….?

    We can all send them some ‘ questions ‘ in the next hour.
    Palin-bots were going after Dave’s sponsors last week and when word leaked out that Embassy Suites pulled ads (which seems to have been rebutted now ) most of the Huffpo comments said they would never give Embassy Suites their business anymore.
    How many Voters in Michigan and Minnesota ( or NY ) are buying Artic Cat gear and don’t approve of Palin…?

    Remember that this is still an ongoing issue. Let’s make sure not to do anything to muddy the waters until it is resolved. Thanks! AKM

  143. Dr. Patois says:

    I have a question. If Arctic Cat gave Todd his snowmobiling equipment at cost, why in the Palin’s 2006 return did he declare $3,277.00 in depreciation for his snowmachine “business” and declare in 2007, $10,858.00 in depreciation costs?
    Uh,oh.

  144. the problem child says:

    Todd’s 2007 tax return. I’d highly recommend saving the PDF, before it is evaporated as the other links re: Palin tax returns seem to have been.

    http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/03/13/2007TaxForms_Palin.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf

  145. PepperzMom (GA) says:

    http://www.pawnation.com/2009/06/17/shoe-stealing-fox-is-busted-over-100-shoes-discovered-in-den/

    Shoe-Stealing Fox is Busted! Over 100 Shoes Discovered in Den

    “She’s a vixen with a shoe fetish.

    A female fox has been identified as the perpetrator of a year-long shoe-stealing scheme in the idyllic town of Föhren in the hills of western Germany. For months, residents had been noticing that their slippers, boots, and sneakers were mysteriously disappearing from their doorsteps and back porches.”

    Well, maybe SP should look into this fox for help…

  146. DrChill says:

    Candy Knight Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:22 PM
    So, isn’t it, like, illegal, or at least unethical to sign a contract that you know will require you to break the disclosure law? If she can’t disclose the gift, she pays it back. Simple. Except, why wasn’t it all disclosed already for the previous year? Why is this coming up now?
    =======
    She’s supposed to disclose the discount, not what he paid, not the manufacturer’s cost, not the secret recipe for green paint. Just the value of the discount.

    Because the letter is tying it to the proprietary cost of manufacture, they’re trying to confuse the issue of discount, with the secret cost of manufacture, and claiming the discount is a trade secret.

    Its coming up now because they may be trying to cover up evidence of a quid pro quo / deal in which they are getting paid/discounted more than before.

    They don’t want celtic diva getting her hands on damaging info.

  147. nswfm CA says:

    http://ozmud.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/sarah-palin-t-shirts-rejected-campaign-slogans/

    My T-shirt on Oz Mudflats on 6/6 was:
    FU Alaska,
    it’s all about me.
    Miss Congeniality

    I hope she, the RICO laws and the IRS all have a good time.

    AK, you should have impeached/recalled her.

  148. bubbles says:

    hey mudpeeps, i was just thinking about the i.r.s. and it’s wheels of justice grinding exceedingly slow. they don’t grind slowly for you and me. they speed right over our crushed and broken selves. but certain people get the slow roll. i have no doubt that i.r.s: justice and few other agencies are taking a nice hard look at la palin and friends[all of them]. the president will take them down at his discretion. we may never know all and who and how. but it will done.

  149. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Isabella Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:32 PM

    CO almost “Even if Palin has not opened them, they are still gifts and need to be declared. The IRS goes by the date they were received”

    No one believes she did not rip them open looking for cash the minute they landed in her mail box.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    LOL! Got that right, ever the grifter!

  150. Maria says:

    This is a job for the IRS! (cue heroic music)

  151. Isabella says:

    CO almost “Even if Palin has not opened them, they are still gifts and need to be declared. The IRS goes by the date they were received”

    No one believes she did not rip them open looking for cash the minute they landed in her mail box.

  152. deist says:

    the problem child:

    That is interesting that APOC is investigating this and not the Department of Law. I thought the Department of Law and the personnel board would have oversight of this, especially after reading the EBEA sections above.

    Thanks!

  153. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Nan Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:13 PM

    AKraven
    CrystalWolf aka caligrl

    Understood. But still, reporting is not the same as proof.

    It’s like saying “alleged” for a suspect. Until the guy is convicted, he is the “alleged” robber-arsonist-bad guy (whatever).

    That article even starts out with “Sources say…” That, and the word “reportedly” which is used twice are all in the first of the 3 paragraph article. The word “reported” shows up in the last paragraph also (too).

    In all fairness (darnit), the article also says “never consummated.” Kinda makes me wonder why they call it an “affair.”

    Oh. The Enquirer *did* run the story – with all the “reportedly’s” and “sources say.” No photos.
    ~~~~~~~~~
    Nan you should read Gryphen’s blog sometime. He knows people. Who know about the affair and that is WAS consummated if you must know. Most people can recognize where there’s smoke there’s fire. And the Biz broke up over this relationship.

  154. CO almost native says:

    Even if Palin has not opened them, they are still gifts and need to be declared. The IRS goes by the date they were received, not the date Palin finally decides to slit open the envelopes. And she can put the money anywhere she wants- she still has to declare the amounts as received gifts, both for the state and the IRS. La la la, I don’t see the pile of presents in the corner, is not an excuse accepted by the tax guys…

    Todd is in trouble if he doesn’t declare annual receipt of Arctic Cat gear on their tax form- and the IRS does not accept shh, I can’t tell you what it’s worth, as an excuse either- unless he has an employment contract with Arctic Cat for a set amount, and they pay him in goods, but the goods still have to have a total value. And those kinds of deals the IRS loves to audit.

  155. deist says:

    Executive Branch Ethics Act– it is all interesting, but especially note (b) below:

    ———————–

    Sec. 39.52.130. Improper gifts.
    (a) A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift,
    whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, employment,
    promise, or in any other form, that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests,
    under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence
    the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment. A gift from a person required to register
    as a lobbyist under AS 24.45.041 to a public officer or a public officer’s immediate family
    member is presumed to be intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or
    judgment unless the giver is an immediate family member of the person receiving the gift.
    (b) Notice of the receipt by a public officer of a gift with a value in excess of $150,
    including the name of the giver and a description of the gift and its approximate value, must be
    provided to the designated supervisor within 30 days after the date of its receipt
    (1) if the public officer may take or withhold official action that affects the giver; or
    (2) if the gift is connected to the public officer’s governmental status.
    (c) In accordance with AS 39.52.240, a designated supervisor may request guidance from
    the attorney general concerning whether acceptance of a particular gift is prohibited.
    (d) The restrictions relating to gifts imposed by this section do not apply to a campaign
    contribution to a candidate for elective office if the contribution complies with laws and
    regulations governing elections and campaign disclosure.
    (e) A public officer who, on behalf of the state, accepts a gift from another government or
    from an official of another government shall, within 60 days after its receipt, notify the Office of
    the Governor in writing. The Office of the Governor shall determine the appropriate disposition
    of the gift. In this subsection, “another government” means a foreign government or the
    government of the United States, another state, a municipality, or another jurisdiction.
    (f) A public officer who knows or reasonably ought to know that a family member has
    received a gift because of the family member’s connection with the public office held by the
    public officer shall report the receipt of the gift by the family member to the public officer’s
    7/10/07
    designated supervisor if the gift would have to be reported under this section if it had been
    received by the public officer or if receipt of the gift by a public officer would be prohibited
    under this section.

  156. the problem child says:

    @ diest,
    It is APOC, not the Personnel Board that is investigating this.

  157. not that sarah says:

    @Kris,

    The governor and her family can not profit in any way other than the pay for her position, or they violate the ethics laws. Wearing free clothes and driving free snowmobiles (sorry, I’m from MIchigan and that’s what we call them) is a form of profit, directly related to their position as First Family.

    He may have had a deal in place before she was governor, but even if the deal hasn’t changed (and I doubt that), after she was elected, they had a duty to cease and desist all profits, bonuses, gifts, etc. It’s just part of the deal. Most normal people understand that.

    You don’t see Michelle Obama getting free cars and clothes, do you? It’s not because they weren’t offered. Designers love to have her wear their clothes. She pays for them because it is the right thing to do to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

    That’s the way it works for ALL family members of elected officials.

    Why should Todd be any different?

    I sign off with my new signature line,

    “Screw political correctness”, Sarah Palin, one day before bringing censorship back to America and using her power to bicker with a private citizen and attempt to get his source of income taken away from him because she didn’t like what he said. And of course, Sarah urged him to be politically correct in the future. PC is just for the little people! Let them eat cake!

  158. Candy Knight says:

    So, isn’t it, like, illegal, or at least unethical to sign a contract that you know will require you to break the disclosure law? If she can’t disclose the gift, she pays it back. Simple. Except, why wasn’t it all disclosed already for the previous year? Why is this coming up now?

    And what’s this about counting the gifts in the year she opens them rather than when they’re received? Does this mean, by Sarah’s logic, if I get a royalty check in, say, December of 2008, I can just tell the IRS, “Sorry, boys, but I didn’t open it until January of 09, so you can’t tax it yet”? Hmmm.

  159. honestyinGov says:

    Can everyone at least mail in a ‘ Story Tip ‘ to the Huffpo over the next hour. I sent mine. Just mention “Palin and IRS ” to make sure they know the stories are all connected. Lets start a Buzz out there.

    And what is wrong with Huffpo posting AKM’s story right here on the Front Page.
    The Letterman stories last week gave them huge numbers and comments.
    Huffpo wants the $$$$$ as well.

  160. C. Rock says:

    No offence Alaskans, Gino may get away with this BS as Gov, She will not be able to as a candidate running for President Of The United States OF America. Bring it on Sarah. Whats up with That Ice Berg ? ? ?

  161. deist says:

    By the way, if Arctic Cat wants to provide financial support to Todd Palin in ways that may result in disclosure of trade secrets, that’s their tough luck– they could have supported him in ways that didn’t do that.

    I could care less about Arctic Cat. Alaskans are entitled to disclosure. We, not Arctic Cat, come first.

  162. Nana of the Chesapeake says:

    Her next excuse for not disclosing her Arctic Cat discounts and gifts from her ardent fans, Cons4Palin, will be a National Security issue…or Homeland Security risk. If she discloses, the U.S will topple and there would be Anarchy!

  163. Nan says:

    Thanks, Dr Chill.

    So it looks like they (he) paid less than wholesale?

    I love that line: “a discount is just a discount – unless you reveal…”

    Just nuts.

  164. Nan says:

    AKraven
    CrystalWolf aka caligrl

    Understood. But still, reporting is not the same as proof.

    It’s like saying “alleged” for a suspect. Until the guy is convicted, he is the “alleged” robber-arsonist-bad guy (whatever).

    That article even starts out with “Sources say…” That, and the word “reportedly” which is used twice are all in the first of the 3 paragraph article. The word “reported” shows up in the last paragraph also (too).

    In all fairness (darnit), the article also says “never consummated.” Kinda makes me wonder why they call it an “affair.”

    Oh. The Enquirer *did* run the story – with all the “reportedly’s” and “sources say.” No photos.

  165. DrChill says:

    #51 was a reply to # 48 (nan)

  166. deist says:

    Of course the personnel board is her firewall– they can throw out any complaint they choose to and even try to come up with ways to charge people for “frivolous” complaints, and they also have hinted they may even try to influence legislators to further dilute the already inadequate Executive Branch Ethics Act.

    Speaking of gifts, are there still unopened mailed gifts? How long should all those unopened mailed boxes remain unopened and undeclared? Are they stalling? Are they not complying with gift declaration deadlines? Can they just leave that stuff sitting around for years?

  167. DrChill says:

    follow the link to the exemption request letter:
    Its vague, says the discount is proprietary, (?) then says Todd PAYS Manufacturer’s cost.
    Retail-discount=secret manufacturer’s cost, according to the letter.

    But why reveal that relationship ?

    A discount is just a discount, unless you reveal, like you JUST DID, that it relates to the “trade secret, the manufacturer’s cost.”

    eessch

  168. Nice little story, AKM. As usual, you’ve put things in their proper perspective.

    I keep wondering when, not if (I’m optimistic), SP’s house of cards will start to fall. Once she gets nailed on one of her financial misconduct goofs, I think the rest will fall right in line and she’ll finally be done.

    We can only hope it’s sooner rather than later.

  169. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    Palin uses the “KFC 11 Herbs and Spices Secret Recipe” defense to deflect new allegations of imporper gifts……details to follow…

  170. Nan says:

    This bit about the wholesale cost is just hooey. Now waitaminnit. Are they talking wholesale COST (cost of manufacturing) or wholesale PRICE (to dealers)?

    I don’t think ANY company sells any product to anyone at their cost of putting the product together. Wholesale is the price that a dealer or supplier pays, and that gives a profit to the mfgr. Retail is – well, we know what that is.

    And “Proprietary” does not relate to price, in any case. It relates to a method, a formula, or something that ONLY that company DOES.

    Smoke and mirrors. Heavy on the smoke.

  171. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Nan Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 11:57 AM

    AKraven
    So far as I know, there is no proof. Only rumor etc. Probably “strong” rumor, but that isn’t Proof-with-a-capital-P
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-77788

  172. lovemydogs says:

    In Juneau: Oh goody, BLUE IS my favorite color.

  173. Poietes says:

    Personally, I like “Withering Slights” the best.

    Ah Sarah, the gift that just keeps on giving and giving and giving.

    Oops, meant taking and taking and taking.

  174. Isabella says:

    Lori, are you going on the cruise?

  175. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Isabella Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 11:57 AM

    austintx “Any comment from Arctic Cat ?? Stockholders might want some answers”

    There is a link on Google Finance to ADN on this drama.

    How come you cannot post Google links?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    That has happened to me too? I don’t know?

  176. Ratfish says:

    Palin reformed ethics alright.

    Her next disclosure report will take this one step further. She will announce that all of her gifts were made from individuals and companies with whom she and/or Todd signed confidential agreements, and that any disclosure would reveal proprietary information. She will also announce that she no longer even has to identify the company or person.

    I mean, hell, it worked for Troopergate when she denied that the many emails and calls (and Todd meetings with the commissioner) about Wooten did not amount to “pressure.” They were just always wondering why the guy was still employed.

    So why wouldn’t it work for her to be able to gets lots of gifts and evade disclosing it?

    The Golden Rule according to S. Palin: I get the gold- the rules are made for everyone else.

  177. Nan says:

    AKraven
    So far as I know, there is no proof. Only rumor etc. Probably “strong” rumor, but that isn’t Proof-with-a-capital-P

  178. Isabella says:

    austintx “Any comment from Arctic Cat ?? Stockholders might want some answers”

    There is a link on Google Finance to ADN on this drama.

    How come you cannot post Google links?

  179. DrChill says:

    The Palins are required to disclose the amount of the discount/gift.

    The fact that they revealed that it had anything to do with the wholesale cost, is just bizarre.

    As I explained in #22. The Palins have publicly revealed the relationship between the discount and the secret cost of manufacture.

    If they had not revealed that, they could have declared the discount, and people would still have to guess about the secret manufacturer’s cost.

    This is a dilemma of their own making.

    Palin gets free clothes, used snow machines, and all she has to do is use her celebrity and position as governor to promote the gift giver.

    Todd never has to win another race. The Palins will continue to get gifts as long as Governor Palin is out there Promoting Arctic Cat.

  180. mae lewis says:

    The other half of the story must be Artic Cat’s returns. How do they claim the stuff that they give Todd each year?
    Gift (very expensive)
    Advertising and Promotion (he & she are walking bill boards)
    Charitable Contribution (you know, sometimes he doesn’t win)
    Research and Development (he does test drive them for us)
    Travel Expenses (Man, do you know how far away Alaska is?)
    Meals and Entertainment (ever since they did away with the 3 martini
    lunch, we’ve been trying to work it in somehow)
    Salary (Todd would have had to declare it as income)
    Oh, and by the way, doesn’t he also have to declare prize money as income?
    Where can I get one of those cool mud machines? When is the next race?

  181. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    AKraven Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Wow, GINO had an affair? An extramarital affair? Why have we not heard of this before?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Dud also, too. The woman got her tires slashed for that 🙁 Its not nice to fool Mother….nature! Tires slashed…Now where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

  182. ds55 says:

    Technically, this is why Hillary is not our Vice-President now. The Clintons refused to open up Bill’s tax records, so they couldn’t properly vet Hillary.

  183. austintx says:

    Any comment from Arctic Cat ?? Stockholders might want some answers………

  184. InJuneau says:

    lovemydogs–well now, I do believe I’ve seen Naughty Monkeys in other colors, including blue, so you shall just have to buy a new pair to match your mudwear leathers!

  185. FW says:

    Jeez…corrupt much up there in Alaska? Sarah puts Blago to shame. They got rid of him in Illinois on alot less than than Sarah’s racked up already…

    Get motivated Alaskans and recall this fraud already

  186. mmboucher Florida says:

    And what about ALL THE SPARE PARTS everyone that has owned a snowmobile knows they break down!!! Did artic cat supply all the spare parts? After all this is a difficult race and they had repairs.

  187. WakeUpAmerica says:

    “Withering Slights”?

  188. AKraven says:

    Wow, GINO had an affair? An extramarital affair? Why have we not heard of this before?

    This whole arctic cat thing reminds me about the medical records thing. She also would not release her medical records when she also ran… A letter from her trusted personal physician was supposed to be enough for us nosey voters. Maybe she will have her lawyer write us a letter (and the IRS) to put our nosey concerns to rest about the Arctic Cat thing.
    Is it required for her to release her tax returns to run for national office- or will we receive a letter from someone telling us that all is in order there too also?
    What is she hiding?

  189. Martha says:

    Alaskans need to go Iranian…………….

  190. rebekkah says:

    Pohalcrowitz – funny!

    Looks like SP IS truly between a rock and a hard place. She can’t disclose the amount of wholesale price because they are under a contract, and the contractor (Arctic Cat) wouldn’t want the exact price of their machine made public. Yet, if SP refuses to disclose the amount, (if APOC insists) then the can of worms will open. However, the commission would have to insist. Will they? Get out the popcorn!

  191. WakeUpAmerica says:

    “Days of Our Lies”

  192. ds55 says:

    Caught between a rock (the IRS) and a hard place (Arctic Cat promise), Sarah WILL obey the IRS whether she likes it or not. She can duke it out with Arctic Cat later in a lawsuit, but it’s her personal problem since she created the tax conflict with them in the first place.

  193. lovemydogs says:

    In Juneau: darn, I so wanted to match my naughty monkeys. After all, accessorizing is another way to heaven don’tcha know.

  194. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    lovemydogs Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    It seems that it would be fairly easy to find out wholesale cost. Just ask a dealer.
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    Ummmm, GINO & Dud used to be dealers before GINO destroyed the biz by having a affair with Dud’s friend. She would know full well the value of any and all arctic cat snowmachines & clothing, which is why her story such BS!

  195. ILTBF says:

    In North Carolina, the Feds are investigated the wheeling and dealing of former Governor Easley for shady dealings while he was in office including free plane trips by business friends, a $188,000 job at North Carolina State University for his wife and discounted land deals on the coast. Thus far, the Chancellor and the Provost have resigned in protest and his wife has been fired. Federal grand Jury investigations are underway. Alaskans need to hope for the same for your Word Salad Queen!
    http://www.newsobserver.com/2972/story/1573684.html
    http://www.newsobserver.com/2972/story/1573606.html

  196. InJuneau says:

    lovemydogs–no, silly, mudwear only comes in blue (and brown, to match Brian, Brenda, and the kids).

  197. DrChill says:

    I read the Exemption Letter.

    Palin explains that if you take the retail price, then subtract the discount, then you get the manufacturer’s cost, and we promised not to reveal that.

    So, if she reveals the discount, then applies the formula she just told everybody about– , then anyone can figure out the secret they promised not to reveal.

    So I’ve decided to write a “Palin Exemption Letter ” to the IRS.

    Dear IRS

    I request not to reveal my income this year because as I’ve posted on my blog, my Income minus 37263 is an amount of money I paid to Rod Blagojevich, and I promised him I would not reveal that.

    I value my promise to Rod Blagojevich more than I want to reveal my income to you.

    So, I’d appreciate it if we could just skip it this year.

    Thanks,
    DrChill

  198. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Here’s Mud in yer eye! That was too good NOT to send to crew 😉 and CREW works with IRS, also, too!

  199. lovemydogs says:

    It seems that it would be fairly easy to find out wholesale cost. Just ask a dealer. They have to keep records of what they spend. When I worked on the ski patrol for a living we used to get “pro deals” on skis. We could buy them at cost (or lower if they had been used as demos). The guys at the top probably got them for free because they had deals where they would market them. Professional racers, etc got them for free because they were marketing them by holding them up so everyone could see the brand name at every finish line. Same reason race car drivers, golfers, etc have brand names on their clothing. The deal is, you are famous, you are in the news, you are seen by a lot of people, you are good at what you do, other people are going to think that your equipment is the best. It is an easy way for companies to market their brand. I never knew of anyone having to keep what they paid a secret. Retailers generally have a fairly standard mark-up. I always thought of trade secrets being the materials and the design that the product is made from. Perhaps I am wrong. Sounds fishy though.
    By the way- does the MudWear come in red? I’ve gotta match my shoes also too.

  200. Isabella says:

    Has Huffington picked this up yet?

  201. Isabella says:

    sjk from the belly of the plane “In a few days she has to cough up for the kiddies travels”

    She probably expects a parade when she does. Another example of Palin’s, greed and grandstanding.

  202. InJuneau says:

    Amanda in Virginia–comedic tragedy?

  203. Terpsichore says:

    Y’know, it might be fine to not disclose the actual amount received to the State of Alaska, but I cannot for the life of me imagine this scene with an IRS auditor (since we’re on a drama kick this week, which is cool ’cause me and Mr. Terps work in theatre!)

    AUDITOR: So Mr. and Mrs. Palin, you have this number here as expenses for the snowmachine racing business.

    TODD: Yeah, that’s our expenses.

    AUDITOR: Do you have receipts for all these expense?

    TODD: Well, I gave them to H & R Block when they did our taxes, but yeah, I got the receipts.

    SARAH: Why? Did they do something wrong?

    AUDITOR: Not necessarily, Mrs. …. I mean Gov. Palin. But we do need to see the itemization of what you paid for what, to determine if in fact the amounts are correct and if the expenses are in fact legitimate business expenses.

    SARAH: I’m sorry, we can’t do that.

    (AUDITOR makes big double-take with head)

    AUDTITOR: Huh??

    SARAH: You see, my “First Dude” has an agreement with Arctic Cat. We can’t actually disclose what we paid for the snowmachines. Proprietary information and all. We’d be in breech of contract if we did.

    AUDITOR: Oh! Well, that’s alright then. I’ll just take this lump, unitemized sum from you as the truth, and go on my way.

    * ** * ** * ** *

    (Next up – a more realistic version of the Palin Family Audit)

  204. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Great post AKM 😀 !!!!
    Hey my mudware has a Brian picture on it, but no http://www.mudflats.net? What gives?

  205. You really really couldn’t make this up.

    Do you think the movie that’s made after her career is in the toilet will be a drama or a comedy?

  206. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    Kris Kris Kris….gov grifter files taxes with the toad and gets free leathers, apparently. If they under report they owe back taxes, interest and penalties.
    DO YOU SEE A PATTERN OF ABUSE HERE.

    In a few days she has to cough up for the kiddies travels…

  207. Ashkee Colorado says:

    Don’t worry, the “SLDF”, Sarah “Legal” Defense Fund will cover that and all of her other shenanigans. Oh wait!, is that fund itself even legal? Considering all her antics, there may not be enough money in fund?

    You’d think those Pesky “Feds” would be looking at this.

  208. ds55 says:

    @ Kris: Todd and Sarah file joint tax returns as a married couple. Todd’s taxes are Sarah’s taxes also, too.

  209. Kris says:

    Not too concerned with Tood Palin myself. Explain again WHY he has to announce that? How about everyone here tell us how much they make per year to make it even. Relevance to Sarah Palin? As much as I don’t like her I really could care less about her husband’s endorsements.

    K.

  210. Forty Watt says:

    I wonder if the Van Fleins or the Palins know how to squirm. I think it’s because they are chronically squirm-challenged that they can do stuff like this.

    btw, AKM you made me lol once more.

  211. mwThatOne.. says:

    ha! Pohalcrowitz !! Best of all worlds.
    Great story, once again!! Sad, but true…….

  212. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    Into each life a little yellow snow must fall. The Cat will bite her in the ass.

  213. Lori in Los Angeles says:

    If Van Flein reads Mudflats, he must be squirming. He very well may have to switch gears, creating another huge bill for the AK Fund Trust. Actually, he may be doing this on purpose – the more “creative work” he has to do, the higher his income. sea of pee may be buying a new home, new vechicles and a hefty savings account for Mr. Van Flein. tee hee.

  214. LiladyNY says:

    And to continue the legal squirmings about why the public doesn’t have the right to know this, the Alaska statues that they say support this claim are part of the statutes written to support the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA).

    Bwwaaaahhahahahahaha! What sort of contortions did her attorney go through to make the AGIA statutes relevant to the Iron Dog race??? Oh, I say, this is very thin indeed.

    And I wonder if there’s a possibility of under-reporting that goes back for possibly 16 years??

    As The Stomach Turns you betcha. Also, too, there.

  215. ds55 says:

    The IRS pays informants to squeal on tax cheats.

    http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/Avoidanaudit/P42263.asp

    I’m just sayin’….

  216. mudkitten says:

    Isn’t the obvious solution that she then has to pay for these gifts?

  217. dowl says:

    Very well said, AKM.

    But will this finally (tax evasion) shut the governess up and sit her silliness down so that we never have to be entertained by criminal behavior?

  218. WakeUpAmerica says:

    Another episode of, “As the Stomach Turns.” AKM, perhaps you should have a contest to name the Sarah Pain soap opera. Ooops! Did I accidently leave the “L” out of her last name? My bad.