NEW palin corruption scandal

**raycarey** · 09-09-2008, 05:45 PM

ANCHORAGE - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife.

The governor's daughters and husband charged the state $43,490 to travel and many of the trips were to and from their house in Wasilla and Juneau, the capital city 600 miles away, the documents show.

She wrote some form of "Lodging -- own residence" or "Lodging -- Wasilla residence" more than 30 times at the same time she took a per diem, according to the reports. In two dozen undated amendments to the reports, the governor deleted the reference to staying in her home but still charged the per diem.

Palin charged the state a per diem for working on Nov. 22, 2007 -- Thanksgiving Day. The reason given, according to the expense report, was the Great Alaska Shootout, an annual NCAA college basketball tournament held in Anchorage.

not only does this woman fire the guy who wouldn't fire her ex-brother in law, but it seems she's also dipping into public funds.

christ almighty, she took a per diem for dinner (IN HER OWN HOME) on 312 out ~570 days in office.....and she calls herself some sort of reformer?

and then the citizens of alaska are paying to fly her kids all over the country? i wonder if that 17 year old got knocked up while joining the mile high club on the taxpayer's dime?

too bad for mccain that he didn't take the time to vet her.

Palin's expense reports under scrutiny - Washington Post - MSNBC.com

**Norton** · 09-09-2008, 06:04 PM

Don't think this will have much impact. Seems the case is made she has done nothing illegal under Alaska law. Looks a bit like an Obama's preacher thing to me.

It does show the liberals are not holding back on personal attacks as they have in past elections. Expect to see more of this in the future.

**raycarey** · 09-09-2008, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

Seems the case is made she has done nothing illegal under Alaska law

perhaps.

that's what grand jury investigations and subpoenas are for.
it will also be interesting to see how the 'hockey moms' who are struggling to meet their mortgage payments feel about it.

Originally Posted by Norton

It does show the liberals are not holding back on personal attacks as they have in past elections.

not sure how this is a 'personal attack'.

calling her daughter a slut would be a personal attack.

Originally Posted by Norton

Expect to see more of this in the future.

amen.

**nidhogg** · 09-09-2008, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

It does show the liberals are not holding back on personal attacks as they have in past elections. Expect to see more of this in the future.

Why is that a "personal" attack? Surely at the minimum its a question of ethics, and at worst its theft?

**Norton** · 09-09-2008, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by raycarey

not sure how this is a 'personal attack'.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Why is that a "personal" attack? Surely at the minimum its a question of ethics, and at worst its theft?

Bad choice of words. Would "character" investigation be a better term. Correct, theft if she is found to have broken the law as with the trooper gate investigation.

My use of personal attack was related to similarity to Obama's preacher stories. It too could be correctly called a character investigation.

As I've mentioned before, Palin's background and general lack of previous national exposure will give the Democrats plenty of ammo.

**MisterStretch** · 09-09-2008, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

Bad choice of words. Would "character" investigation be a better term. Correct, theft if she is found to have broken the law. My use of personal attack was related to similarity to Obama's preacher stories. It too would be correctly a character investigation.

But even so I think they are completely different issues. This new investigation is about something she actually did, not like the Obama issue which was about something someone else did.

I don't see that they are equal in any category that can be described as 'character' attacks. Obama's seems to be a character attack, but I don't see how this new Palin thing can be considered a character attack. It's something she alledgely did herself.

**Bugs** · 09-09-2008, 06:35 PM

Most of this seems to be on par with the rules in Alaska. Does not sit well with some of how she has been attempting to portray herself.

Palin billed state of Alaska for nights spent at home

Gubernatorial spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said Monday that Palin's expenses are not unusual and that, under state policy, the first family could have claimed per diem expenses for each child taken on official business but has not done so.

And she seems to have rung up a smaller bill than the last governor (not that this will justify any charges that were not legal):

Gov. Palin has spent far less on her personal travel than her predecessor: $93,000 on airfare in 2007, compared with $463,000 spent the year before by her predecessor, Frank Murkowski. He traveled often in an executive jet that Palin called an extravagance during her campaign. She sold it after she was sworn into office.

And it does not seem as though she was attempting to hide anything - on some of the expense reports it was clearly noted that she was staying at her home in Wasilla - while on others the reference had been deleted:

She wrote some form of "Lodging - own residence" or "Lodging - Wasilla residence" more than 30 times at the same time she took a per diem, according to the reports.

Seems the legality of some charges are still pending - such as those related to family travel.

On the other hand seems she has also declined to charge some things that she was allowed to charge:

Leighow noted that under state policy, all of the governor's children are entitled to per diem expenses, even her infant son. "The first family declined the per diem (for) the children," Leighow said. "The amount that they had declined was $4,461, as of August 5."

Even if some of the charges are found to be on the frings of legality I doubt much will come of this one.

**spiff** · 09-09-2008, 06:37 PM

It is minor in the scheme of things, but can be taken to be a character flaw. This sort of thing does not go well with the image of a fundamentalist Christian and righteous follower of god's will.

**raycarey** · 09-09-2008, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by spiff

This sort of thing does not go well with the image of a fundamentalist Christian

and she has held herself up as some sort of anti-corruption crusading hausfrau....but it's becoming increasingly evident that she was just another pol drunk on power and happy to splurge at the taxpayer's expense.

**Norton** · 09-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by raycarey

and she has held herself up as some sort of anti-corruption crusading hausfrau

This is the core. Her stated belief's don't seem to be matching her behavior. This is the character test. People will forgive many things but not walking the talk is a no no. This per diem thing may not amount to much by itself but the accumulation of similar questions of character will have a negative effect.

**raycarey** · 09-09-2008, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

People will forgive many things but not walking the talk is a no no.

exactly.
check out obama's new ad where he shows mccain is hardly a maverick, and palin was an advocate for 'the bridge to nowhere'.

**Accidental Ajarn** · 09-09-2008, 08:12 PM

God, you libs are desperate. Amazing seeing RC shit all over himself time and time again over Sarah.

"It does show the liberals are not holding back on personal attacks"

Just as Karl Rove planned. Obama in his most recent speeches, seemed, well, kind of whiny. He needs to regroup. His message of McCain is running for Bush's third term does not seem to be going down well with the voters. Nor is his message of "Change" working like it did earlier, maybe because of his picking of Biden as VP makes the idea of change a harder sell.

**Texpat** · 09-09-2008, 08:13 PM

Why is it that every time I open these threads I feel like I'm standing on my front porch in front of two Jehovah's Witnesses trying to get me to come to their meeting on Thursday night?

I ain't going.

**raycarey** · 09-09-2008, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Texpat

I ain't going.

you weren't invited.

have another chang and try to forget how miserable you are living in thailand.

**aging one** · 09-09-2008, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Accidental Ajarn

Just as Karl Rove planned.

Fox news at its best.

**raycarey** · 09-09-2008, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by aging one

Isnt he a convicted felon?

not yet.

**britmaveric** · 09-09-2008, 08:33 PM

Well state house is in Juneau, her family lives in Wasilla. So I'd say its reasonable.

**flash** · 09-09-2008, 08:38 PM

maybe if she spent a bit more time with her family in Wasilla her daughter might have kept her legs close

**britmaveric** · 09-09-2008, 08:43 PM

^daughter is hot

**Texpat** · 09-09-2008, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by raycarey

you weren't invited.

That's where you're wrong. And my vote is as important as yours. Doesn't that just kill ya? A well-respected, highly thoughtful and articulate citizen like yourself -- just like Texpat. One vote each.

Assuming you're not in a jail somewhere, or French.

**flash** · 09-09-2008, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by britmaveric

^daughter is hot

why don't you ask her out then?

**britmaveric** · 09-09-2008, 08:48 PM

Ray's just pissed because nothing sticks to Palin. He's going completely nuts, quite funny actually.

**britmaveric** · 09-09-2008, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by flash

Originally Posted by britmaveric

^daughter is hot

why don't you ask her out then?

Well gf might have smth to say about that, and not Thai. (plus being underage is illegal)

**Norton** · 09-09-2008, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by britmaveric

(plus being underage is illegal)

Oh, oh. How old is the father of her unborn baby?

**jim1176** · 09-09-2008, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by raycarey

and then the citizens of alaska are paying to fly her kids all over the country? i wonder if that 17 year old got knocked up while joining the mile high club on the taxpayer's dime?

interesting thought

wonder if the two were sharing a room at the RNC

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