Alaska ethic probe finds against Palin.

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WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
183
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The vast majority of these ethics complaints were brought by a couple of people.

Kim Chatman, the one bringing what we would hope is this final complaint and a signed party to others, is married to a minority and was pissed off that Palin didn't publicly recognize "Juneteenth" during some prior year when she was Governor. I did not know what Juneteenth was and had to look it up. It is a celebration of the end of slavery. I thought that was Kwaanza, but it appears I was wrong. I hope Kim Chatman does not sue me or file spurious presumption of guilt ethics complaints against me just because I don't care to see yet another holiday on the calendar. It is celebrated for a day, a week or a month! Yay! More vacation days!

How about Andree McLeod - the self-described community activist (where have I heard those words before?) and one-time Palin ally (at least in bringing down another Alaska politician who actually was found to be corrupt) who is responsible for six of the 20 or so ethics complaints filed against Palin? The "falafal lady," generally held to be somewhat of a loony-tune, but oh-so-useful in being encouraged by Democrat lawyers to file away on a wide variety of spurious claims that have all been found without any basis in fact or law, had a personal rift with Palin in 2006, when Palin became Governor and McLeod was denied a job with the administration. Her modus operandi, in violation of Alaska State law, was to file these supposed to be kept confidential ethics complaints and then immediately leak them to the press for her own personal moments in the spotlight. To give you an idea of where this solidly dense citizen's brain tumbles, she was vehement in filing official complaints that female state employees were wearing too tight clothing and were emphasizing the size of their breasts. It was a generic complaint, not naming Palin at all, but could there have been some personal jealousy of Palin there as well? :awe:

Among the expensive nuisance suits that LL believes were indicative of Palin's wide spread malfeasance and abuse of office was that Palin wore a jacket with the logo of her husband's Iron Dog sled race sponsor. That she was bribed with chocolates and a kid's hockey stick at a dinner speech she gave. That she held a fish in a photo of the state fishing competition pamphlet. That she was interviewed by a national press reporter in her state office. That she responded to reporters' questions in the lobby of her office.

All very serious, very damaging accusations if you happen to be a left wing Democrat loon or a political operative. Of course, all were dismissed except by the loons who never could understand how crazy the presented cases were and much preferred to go with the spin. As LL does here.

Of course, defending against even spurious and unfounded claims costs money. Palin may have faced half a million in personal costs, but she was known and loved and many wanted to contribute to her defense. But she was not the only victim. Her staff, too, were named parties and they faced personal bankruptcy at the hands of these loons.

Having ONE WORD, "official," on a web site (the actual name of the legal defense trust did not have that word) is not the attorneys fault unless you believe that every aspect of your life and activities and the activities of your supporters needs to be vetted by the top attorneys in the country. I would blame the web designer that put in an extra word there. Oh yeah, I'm talking to you, you Linux lovin', cascading sheet stylin', Flashy, C+++++++ political hacks, you know who you are! But, oh yeah, it's Sarah, baby, keep paying those attorneys for protection from the loons, hon. 2012 is your year to party like it's 1999!

Ahem!

The use of the word "official" was to distinguish it as Palin's only legally vetted legal defense fund amidst dozens of others that sprung up without her approval or knowledge. The complaint was that it was deliberately meant to imply it was a State fund deriving from her office. Of course, nothing else in the site gave any indication it was a government trust, but, hey, that is why there was no finding of intended fault. Despite LL's insistence that there is a smokin' gun. Or at least maybe, pretty please, just this one time, that there is a fire, for all the smoke, even if it turns out that the smoke itself is nothing but hot air.

I do believe so.

Hey, if Palin cannot be imprisoned for eating a chocolate covered cherry at a speech, then why should Obama and Blago not get a pass for trying to suborn and corrupt the offices of the Governor of Illinois, the U.S. Senate and the Presidency of the United States? :awe:

Drizzle drivel make dizzy! OW!
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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Your problem Whampon is that by citing trivial ethics complaints against Palin, does nothing to prove some of the more serious ethics complaints are very valid. Thinks like troopergate, padding of per diem charges, billing the State for bring her children with her on political fundraisers, tax evasion for not reporting per diem as income, and many other such more credible ethics filings have shown a pattern of low ethical standards perhaps unmatched by any recent politician.
 

PJABBER

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
4,822
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My Dear Sir, we see things quite differently, it would seem:

That we do. Oh, not so much in how we see the rise of those in power or who would aspire to power, but in our expected outcomes.

Philosophically, I wander along with my bodhisattva nature and my Western compatibilism.

I do believe that while outcome is not very predictable, it should not preclude our having an interest in both goals and the means by which we can achieve them.

For the most part, labels are lies. They are an unfortunate convenience for they provide a common definition while obviating much that would be deemed essential upon consideration.

Labeling is the first step toward idolizing or demonizing and I really do prefer to do neither. Human nature, however, encompasses the extremes as well as the mean so it is never going to be a world without labels.

Though I am far from being a conservative, it must give you comfort to apply that label. Though I fully intend to vote Republican this next election, I am also neither Republican nor Democrat nor have loyalty to any Party. You may claim I am deluding myself as I fail to accept such obvious characterization as springs to your mind, but there it is.

I do rather admire those who rise above the mundane, more so if they do so to achieve something of import and benefit to others.

The reason I so enjoy Sarah Palin is that I am pretty much in accord with what she sees as worthy and I admire her style in pursuing such a clear vision. Collectivists would see her ascendancy as a rejection of their own contrary vision, but they have had their day.

You might claim she is a bottom feeder, but I just don't see it. She is an action figure, she is a song that stirs, she is as common as a mom and as exceptional as a perfect sonnet. It is this dichotomy found in an otherwise ordinary person that lifts her from the muck.

You believe she is an exploiter, a manipulator and an opportunist. I see someone who had no special aspirations for greatness but greatness was thrust upon her. I don't get any sense that she thinks she somehow deserves this, it is just something that has happened and she accepts the path wherever it takes her. And she will do her best as best she can along the way. That is the most we can ask of anyone. All the rest is a gift from randomness or from God.

In the practical world we have to make choices. Choosing those who would govern is a unique privilege and, even if I am not satisfied with those who have arisen from the muck, I choose to make a choice. Perhaps you should, too, lest someone choose for you to your unending dismay.
 
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PJABBER

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
4,822
0
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Your problem Whampon is that by citing trivial ethics complaints against Palin, does nothing to prove some of the more serious ethics complaints are very valid. Thinks like troopergate, padding of per diem charges, billing the State for bring her children with her on political fundraisers, tax evasion for not reporting per diem as income, and many other such more credible ethics filings have shown a pattern of low ethical standards perhaps unmatched by any recent politician.

The moniker is PJABBER, Whamon is the handsome gent searching for a fedora of his own if he only knew where to look.

No matter the charges made against dear Sarah Palin, they were all made for political advantage, something you cannot accept it seems.

In the end, no matter what these spurious charges were, they were all equally rejected and dismissed.

Thus, by definition, she is innocent.

Unlike yourself. You cannot continue to accuse her of crimes she is not and has never been guilty of without yourself being characterized by purely malicious intent.

Only political animosity and personal hatreds drove the attacks that required her response. Now that she has responded successfully and with aplomb, she will be admired more deeply by her supporters. And hated more extremely by her detractors in their unending frustration.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,911
6,790
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PJABBER: That we do. Oh, not so much in how we see the rise of those in power or who would aspire to power, but in our expected outcomes.

M: I know nothing about expected outcomes so I don't know what you are talking about.

PJ: Philosophically, I wander along with my bodhisattva nature and my Western compatibilism.

M I have no idea what this means

PJ: I do believe that while outcome is not very predictable, it should not preclude our having an interest in both goals and the means by which we can achieve them.

M: I have no idea how this applies to what I said or what you mean.

PJ: For the most part, labels are lies. They are an unfortunate convenience for they provide a common definition while obviating much that would be deemed essential upon consideration.

M: I don't consider so I have no idea what you mean. Neither do I know what is essential.

PJ: Labeling is the first step toward idolizing or demonizing and I really do prefer to do neither. Human nature, however, encompasses the extremes as well as the mean so it is never going to be a world without labels.

M: I mentioned, I think, the answers are not in the world.

PJ: Though I am far from being a conservative, it must give you comfort to apply that label.

M: I see you as conservative; how you see you is not relevant to me. I call um as I see um.

PJ: Though I fully intend to vote Republican this next election, I am also neither Republican nor Democrat nor have loyalty to any Party.

M: It's the vote that says everything.

PJ: You may claim I am deluding myself as I fail to accept such obvious characterization as springs to your mind, but there it is.

M: Indeed.

PJ: I do rather admire those who rise above the mundane, more so if they do so to achieve something of import and benefit to others.

M: You use the word rise where I would use mechanical accident. It's quite amusing to me to see that successful people have this habit of attributing their success to themselves when in fact no blood vessel has burst in the brain is all that separates any of us from idiocy

PJ: The reason I so enjoy Sarah Palin is that I am pretty much in accord with what she sees as worthy and I admire her style in pursuing such a clear vision. Collectivists would see her ascendancy as a rejection of their own contrary vision, but they have had their day.

M: The reason I ignore her is because she is empty of vision and lacks any clarity. And she has ascended nowhere, in my opinion.

PJ: You might claim she is a bottom feeder, but I just don't see it. She is an action figure, she is a song that stirs, she is as common as a mom and as exceptional as a perfect sonnet. It is this dichotomy found in an otherwise ordinary person that lifts her from the muck.

M: Her appeal is to idiocy. She does it well.

PJ: You believe she is an exploiter, a manipulator and an opportunist. I see someone who had no special aspirations for greatness but greatness was thrust upon her.

M: Yes, as I said, success is an accident. The right nut case on hand to appeal to the sickness of the self-hating.

PJ: I don't get any sense that she thinks she somehow deserves this, it is just something that has happened and she accepts the path wherever it takes her.

M: Grabbed like a merry go round ring.

PJ: And she will do her best as best she can along the way.

M: And therein is the problem.

PJ: That is the most we can ask of anyone. All the rest is a gift from randomness or from God.

M: Not all I can ask and I don't need a kick in the ass by the devil.

PJ: In the practical world we have to make choices. Choosing those who would govern is a unique privilege and, even if I am not satisfied with those who have arisen from the muck, I choose to make a choice. Perhaps you should, too, lest someone choose for you to your unending dismay.

M: Your programmed choice is already to my unending dismay.
 

mrjminer

Platinum Member
Dec 2, 2005
2,739
16
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CLIFFNOTES:
PJ: I agree with the article, but I choose to support her and excuse her unethical behavior. I believe Palin is superior to the rest of us because she holds a political office.
M: I agree with the article, and I choose not to support her and do not excuse her unethical behavior. I do not believe Palin is superior to the rest of us just because she holds a political office.
 
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PJABBER

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
4,822
0
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CLIFFNOTES:
PJ: I disagree with the article, and I choose to support her particularly as she has NOT been found guilty of unethical behavior. I don't believe Palin is superior to the rest of us because she held a political office.
M: I agree with the article, and I choose not to support her and do not excuse her unethical behavior. I do not believe Palin is superior to the rest of us just because she holds a political office.

LOL! Man, keep your day job! I fixed part of your errors above.

I'll let Moonie defend his own position, but you haven't captured mine in the least!
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,911
6,790
126
LOL! Man, keep your day job! I fixed part of your errors above.

I'll let Moonie defend his own position, but you haven't captured mine in the least!

No need. He wasn't interested in capturing with any accuracy the position of anybody. He was just expressing external pique as a reflexive defense on seeing two people with the wits skill and intention he himself lacks to express and defend their positions the, cliff notes of which are, that feeling inferior himself, he thought he could improve his standing in his own eyes by throwing shit at you and me.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
36,370
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YASPT.

Of particular interest is the delusion of the topic title. It might be worthy suffering Palin as President just to see half of P&N exhibit heart failure.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
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Your problem Whampon is that by citing trivial ethics complaints against Palin, does nothing to prove some of the more serious ethics complaints are very valid. Thinks like troopergate, padding of per diem charges, billing the State for bring her children with her on political fundraisers, tax evasion for not reporting per diem as income, and many other such more credible ethics filings have shown a pattern of low ethical standards perhaps unmatched by any recent politician.

Hi, I live in Illinois where former governor Blagojovich's trial is currently underway.

What is your main complaint against Palin exactly?
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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Hi, I live in Illinois where former governor Blagojovich's trial is currently underway.

What is your main complaint against Palin exactly?
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Maybe cubby1223 asks a good question, which state is more corrupt to the core, Illinois, or Alaska?

That is a damn good question and hard to answer, but when we get down to the average per person level, gotta be Alaska hands down.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
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Maybe cubby1223 asks a good question, which state is more corrupt to the core, Illinois, or Alaska?

That is a damn good question and hard to answer, but when we get down to the average per person level, gotta be Alaska hands down.

My point is I haven't seen a complaint against Palin that even comes *remotely* close to what goes on in Illinois.

Get real.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
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Maybe cubby1223 asks a good question, which state is more corrupt to the core, Illinois, or Alaska?

That is a damn good question and hard to answer, but when we get down to the average per person level, gotta be Alaska hands down.
"average per person level"? :rolleyes:
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
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I agree. I'm a Republican and I wish someone would find something on Palin so she would shut up and go away. All she is is a political hack opportunist who's using her celebrity status for her own gain. What is sad is Governor Good Hair Perry of Texas wants to run on the Republican ticket as Vice President along side Palin (they make a good dumb ass pair). I can't stand him any more than Palin, and I'm actually considering voting for the Democratic candidate Bill White just to get Perry out of office (The Texas Governor has little real power, most of the political power is with the Lieutenant Governor).

Ms Palin has support of quite abit of the GOP base, gun guys, religious right, and the Tea Bag Partiers\small government guys. Can she get the backing of the money guys?
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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"average per person level"? :rolleyes:
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To maybe better explain it to you Loki, Illinois has a large population of non corrupt ordinary people and Alaska has a very small population of ordinary people.

Nor do I limit a States corruption to just one person, Illinois and Alaska have a fine legacy of many many corrupt politicians.

So were it possible to quantify the overall corruption level of both Alaska and Illinois, and then divide that quantified number by the two States respective populations, you would have an average per person political corruption index.

As for the cubby1223 comment of, "My point is I haven't seen a complaint against Palin that even comes *remotely* close to what goes on in Illinois." Makes it somewhat obvious cubby has been asleep somewhere and not watching some of the Alaskan Senators and other public servants on the take from oil companies.
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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Ms Palin has support of quite abit of the GOP base, gun guys, religious right, and the Tea Bag Partiers\small government guys. Can she get the backing of the money guys?
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Nothing wrong with asking that question, but maybe the better question to ask, can Palin get enough votes in GOP primaries to even get nominated for higher office. As we can recall during the 2008 GOP primaries, lots of candidates embraced the radical right of the GOP, and in so doing, they lost the support of the larger more rational GOP electorate.

If nothing else, IMHO, the GOP need candidates who can appeal to both the right wing extremists and the more mainstream GOP electorate, and I seriously doubt Sarah Palin will ever meet that appeal to both test.
 

PeshakJang

Platinum Member
Mar 17, 2010
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To maybe better explain it to you Loki, Illinois has a large population of non corrupt ordinary people and Alaska has a very small population of ordinary people.

Nor do I limit a States corruption to just one person, Illinois and Alaska have a fine legacy of many many corrupt politicians.

So were it possible to quantify the overall corruption level of both Alaska and Illinois, and then divide that quantified number by the two States respective populations, you would have an average per person political corruption index.

Corruption per capita? You are really desperate to make Palin look like a terrible person. You go so far as to invent ridiculous metrics to measure corruption... "Palin has a handful of allegations and not many people live in Alaska... so Alaska is more corrupt than Illinois, home of Chicago, where the concept of corruption became a legitimate political party."

Can you hear how stupid you sound?

As for the cubby1223 comment of, "My point is I haven't seen a complaint against Palin that even comes *remotely* close to what goes on in Illinois." Makes it somewhat obvious cubby has been asleep somewhere and not watching some of the Alaskan Senators and other public servants on the take from oil companies.

You are seriously the one who is asleep. Honestly, I am starting to think you have lost all connection with reality. When did Palin try to SELL A SENATE SEAT? How many ex-Alaskan governors are in prison, right now? If you think Palin is the most corrupt person in America right now, you are truely pathetic, and completely disconnected with what is going on in Illinois, and for that matter, Washington DC. The sheer level of corrupt, deceitful, secretive, double-talking deals that occur there every day makes Alaska look like an Amish settlement.

I don't know why I bother saying any of this though... you've crossed over to a level of partisanship that no man can recover from. The blind, deaf, dumb, obedient, battered wife, democrat. God help your soul.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
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As for the cubby1223 comment of, "My point is I haven't seen a complaint against Palin that even comes *remotely* close to what goes on in Illinois." Makes it somewhat obvious cubby has been asleep somewhere and not watching some of the Alaskan Senators and other public servants on the take from oil companies.

And it is painfully obvious you have a serious reading comprehension problem.

No wonder you love being "progressive", you only look at half of any situation.

I'll take Alaska's leadership over Illinois' leadership any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Oh noes, some politicians help out oil companies, TEH HORROR!!!!
 
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Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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Corruption is corruption, does it really matter who you are corrupt for? Like it or not, Palin is corrupt, so is Blago, and anyone who is for advocating a Sarah Palin sainthood is pissing into the wind. Beware of the blowback as the ethics investigations keep going.

The other thing to point out is that one day, Rush Limbaugh, on loan from God, will be finally recalled by God. To some extent, them, Sarah Palin might be Rush's logical replacement, but at least Rush works VERY HARD to stay abreast and informed about current issues, more than I can say about Palin, and if Palin tried to replace Rush, she would flop flatter than a pancake at near the speed of light.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
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you're moving the goalposts back from your original statement of "a pattern of low ethical standards perhaps unmatched by any recent politician."

and who brought Rush into this? :confused: I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone talk about SP replacing Rush, ever.
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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Cheer up Loki, I am not backing away from my statement of low ethical standards from Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin being a featherweight substitute for a thinking human being is just another issue.
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
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check out this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2085254
Blatant lies! Read the actual linked article!

Petumenos, however, found that Palin — the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee — acted in good faith and relied on a team of attorneys to make sure the fund was lawful.

In announcing her resignation, Palin cited the toll of the ethics probes as one of the reasons she was stepping down. She has said she racked up at least $500,000 in legal fees.

Palin's friends and supporters created the Alaska Fund Trust in April 2009, limiting donations to $150 per person. The ethics complaint was filed soon after by Eagle River resident Kim Chatman, who alleged Palin was misusing her official position and accepting improper gifts.

So, according to this anandtech post by someone who blatantly lies about the content of what he linked (and refuses to edit the post with a correction), linking a blatantly misleadingly titled article, palin was cleared of any wrong doing in something she didn't even do, But had to pay for.