swamped

I'm sorry for the lack of posts last week and this week. I'm swamped both at work and at home, and I'm trying to catch up. It should be improving now. Thanks for your patience!

Moment of truth for Alaska federal stimulus money

The Legislature unanimously approved a bill to accept the federal stimulus money. Palin originally stated that she would reject 45% of it due to the strings attached and heavy burden it would be on future state funding and programs. Now we'll see if she vetoes any of it.

Lawmakers await possible Palin vetoes on bills from session
20 DAYS: Stimulus funds among 29 resolutions, 61 bills sent to the governor.
The Associated Press
Published: April 26th, 2009 09:41 PM
Last Modified: April 26th, 2009 10:22 PM

FAIRBANKS -- A week after the Alaska Legislature adjourned, lawmakers are waiting to find out if Gov. Sarah Palin will break out her veto pen.

Palin will have 20 days, not counting Sundays and holidays, to decide whether to use her veto power on spending and policy measures. As of Saturday, only 10 of the 61 bills and 29 resolutions approved by the Legislature had been sent to the governor.

Bills commonly wait a week or two before landing on the governor's desk, giving lawyers and accountants a chance to review the legislation.

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Palin establishes official Legal Defense Fund

Great news! I know this is a couple days old but I wanted to publish it anyway. Palin finally set up an official legal defense fund to fight the frivolous ethics complaints filed against her by left wing trolls.

Here is the website for the Alaska Fund Trust.
http://www.thealaskafundtrust.com/

There really is no basis to these complaints. Everyone knows it, including the people filing them. The ONLY reason they're filing them is so they can say "Palin has more ethics complaints filed against her than any other Governor" when she runs for re-election. They're playing very dirty politics right now. Hopefully her defense fund can put a stop to them.

Palin seeks defense donations
By: USA TODAY's Congress Team
April 24, 2009

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has established a legal defense fund to help pay off more than $500,000 of debt caused by legal fees, the fund's trustee said today.

The Alaska Fund Trust will take donations to pay legal expenses incurred by the former Republican vice presidential candidate, her family and staff members. Ethics complaints against Palin have cost Alaska more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars, as well as $500,000 of Palin's personal money, according to the fund's Internet site.

"Over the past months it became increasingly clear that supporters of Governor Palin needed to help defend against the onslaught of frivolous attacks against her," the fund's trustee, Kristan Cole, said in a statement. "These baseless accusations are designed to inhibit her ability to focus on the issues Alaskans truly care about and force massive personal debt on her and her family."

The fund calls itself "one of the most restrictive and transparent" in history. It caps contributions at $150, allows only individuals to donate and bars money from federal and state lobbyists, as well as non-citizens.

Politico reports that the latest complaint against Palin came Wednesday, when an Anchorage woman accused Palin of using money from her political action committee, SarahPAC, to attend a right-to-life banquet in Indiana.

Palin victim of another frivolous ethics complaint

The left is continuing its vicious attack on Palin by filing more stupid ethics complaints against her. The latest one, filed Wednesday, claims that because she has a PAC she's violating ethics rules because they consider it to be "employment" outside the state. That is absolutely ridiculous. How many people in public office have PACs? Pretty much all the high-profile ones that's for sure. Hillary Clinton has a notoriously successful PAC and I don't think anyone has filed a claim like this against her.

You can tell the people in charge of these attacks just pulled this one out of thin air when the thought popped into their tiny pea brains. Palin has had her PAC for months and they're just now filing this complaint? If there were any hint of ethics violations involved, someone local in the Alaska political process would have filed one. The fact that these complaints can be filed so easily is a big problem. These people are abusing the system just to slander a Governor they don't agree with.

The response from Palin's office to this latest attack is below.

Latest Complaint Deemed Outrageous
Alarming New Development in Alaska Politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-95

Latest Ethics Complaint Deemed Outrageous April 22, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – The Office of the Governor today expressed outrage that yet another baseless ethics complaint has been filed as part of an alarming new development in Alaska politics.

“In the past several months, we have seen an orchestrated effort by the governor’s opponents to make differences of opinion and ideology almost criminal,” said Mike Nizich, the governor’s chief of staff. “Governor Palin has spent a considerable amount of time and money fighting ethics complaints – and no charge has been substantiated. I hope that the publicity-seekers will face a backlash from Alaskans who have a sense of fair play and proportion. I served six previous governors, and I’ve never seen anything like the attacks against Governor Palin.”

The latest ethics complaint against the governor alleges that she entered into a “contract” outside of her official duties in regard to a political action committee and that her recent trip to Indiana also conflicted with those duties.

“These allegations are categorically false and ridiculous, and are an abuse of the Executive Ethics Act,” Nizich said.

“We are blessed to live in a democracy in which everyone has the right to free speech, to petition their lawmakers, to vote, to run for office and, yes, to allege misconduct by public officials,” said Bill McAllister, the governor’s communications director. “But obviously the purpose of this complaint and the previous ones is to distract the administration and the public, and to paralyze the Department of Law and the executive branch.

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When Liberal Women Attack

Interesting post from Greg Gutfeld regarding liberal women who attack Republican women.

When Liberal Women Attack
Greg-alogue
Thursday, April 23, 2009
By Greg Gutfeld

In the past year we've learned a lot from our liberal femmes.

From Janeane Garofalo, we learned that if you're a female Republican, you're mentally ill.

We've learned from Sandra Bernhard that if you're Sarah Palin, you'd be raped in New York.

And about Miss California, the pointless E News anchor Giuliana Rancic tweets, "I know I'm a journalist... but she is an ignorant disgrace and she makes me sick to my stomach."

I got news for you Rancic: You may be the only one who knows you're a journalist.

What do all these targets of derision have in common? Well, they aren't liberal and they're women — that's obvious. But more important: The people attacking them are women.

So why are female libs often the most spiteful when it comes to female non-libs? I'm no shrink, but I think it has something to do with regret. The fact is, women buying into the hard leftist, feminist ideal can't stand it when they see women who haven't.

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Palin was high risk, high reward VP pick

One of McCain's VP pick advisors, A.B. Culvahouse, described the vetting process behind choosing Palin:

For McCain, R-Ariz., selecting a vice president came down to these questions, Politico reported Saturday. Why do you want to be vice president? Are you prepared to use nuclear weapons? And the CIA has pinpointed Osama bin Laden, but if you fire you will kill multiple civilians. Do you take the shot?

Palin knocked those questions "out of the park," Culvahouse Friday told a group of Republican lawyers in Washington.

When McCain asked him for the "bottom line" on Palin, Culvahouse said he replied, "High risk, high reward."

To which McCain replied, "You shouldn't have told me that. I've been a risk-taker all my life," Culvahouse said.

Senate vacancy finally filled ending standoff

From the AP:

Palin's state Senate pick ends standoff with Dems
By ANNE SUTTON – 10 hours ago

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A weekslong standoff between Gov. Sarah Palin and Alaska Democrats over a vacant Senate seat has ended with her appointment of former Juneau Mayor Dennis Egan to the job.

The governor's office announced Egan's appointment Sunday afternoon about six hours before the deadline for adjournment of the 2009 legislative session. The 62-year-old Egan was sworn in by Senate President Gary Stevens shortly before the Senate adjourned.

AK Legislature needs a nap

My favorite photo of the AK Legislators:
The Anchorage Daily News and "Republican" Rep. Mike Hawker got together over the weekend to push their "Palin is never home" message again. ADN journalist Sean Cockerham calls Palin's relationship between herself and the legislature "antagonistic."

Mike Hawker spewed his trademark sentence, which is that Palin is concerned about her national ambitions more than Alaska.

“I’ve had a lot of friction with the governor this year on her lack of connection, frankly the appearance that she’s more concerned about her national ambitions than what’s going on in the state.”

He really does need to trademark that sentence; he's used it about 40 times recently when talking to journalists.

Meanwhile, another "Republican" complains that Governor Palin has never been to his office. Cue the violins.

“Nobody from the (Palin) administration has been to my office at all…I see a number of different legislators all shaking their heads, same thing, nobody’s been in their office,” said Kodiak Republican Rep. Alan Austerman.

This is the biggest bunch of do-nothings and whiners I've ever seen. They can't do anything unless Palin is holding their hand. What a bunch of crybabies and attention freaks.

From CNN: She came, she spoke and she rocked the house

Palin set Indiana on fire with her speech last night at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life banquet, and added more energy to conservative movement after Wednesday's tea parties.

Palin applauded at anti-abortion event in Indiana
From Candy Crowley
CNN
(CNN) -- She came, she spoke and she rocked the house.

Officials at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life banquet in Indiana didn't think there was much chance Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would accept their invitation to the group's biggest fundraiser, but she did.

Tickets to the Evansville, Indiana, event sold out immediately -- even before it was open to the public.

It was little more than a cameo appearance, but the anti-abortion movement is a core constituency in the Republican Party, and the speech was Palin's first this year in the lower 48.

The appearance did have people talking about her 2012 intentions, although there were no hints Thursday night.

The former Republican vice presidential nominee instead praised her state, criticized President Obama's economic recovery plan and talked at length about her anti-abortion views.

Drawing a crowd of 3,000 -- plus nationwide media -- organizers were forced to open up an overflow area for attendees.

"It's great to be here in Indiana, the crossroads of America," she said to thunderous applause.

Palin dedicated most of her speech to the anti-abortion cause and her support of adoption. She became emotional when discussing her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, and the fear and concern she felt during her pregnancy.

"I had to call upon my faith and ask that my heart be filled up, and I will tell you, the moment he was born, I knew for sure that my prayer was answered and my heart overflowed with joy," she said, choking back tears.

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Palin re-starts her engine!

As she said in her speech, she left with renewed energy and re-started her engine. Go Sarah! I have to say I've missed her speeches. I see a lot of things going on in our country that scare me but when she speaks it gives me inspiration and hope that everything will work out when we fight for what we believe in.

I "grabbed" this video of her speech at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life dinner from one of my favorite Alaska news sources, KTUU. It was on the front page.

This is only part 1. I can't find the others at the moment but I'll try to track them down. Since it happened tonight resources are limited.

Latest action in Senate seat

From ADN - Palin submitted three more names to the Democrats - two of which are Grussendorf and Nelson, whom she already appointed and the nine Democrats rejected. We'll watch what happens next. Either way, Juneau missed out on being represented in their State Legislature this year. Thanks, Kim Elton.

Palin's latest approach to Senate seat -- take up appointees in order

Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: April 15, 2009 - 4:54 pm

From Sean Cockerham in Juneau ---
Gov. Sarah Palin just sent the state Senate a letter saying she wants to "eliminate confusion" about what she's trying to do with the open Juneau state Senate seat. The governor said she is forwarding the names of the three candidates in order of her preference -- not as a single batch.

Palin said in her new letter that she is first appointing Tim Grussendorf to the Senate seat and, if the Senate Democrats reject him, she's then appointing Joe Nelson. And if Nelson isn't confirmed, she said she is appointing Alan Wilson.

Palin/Perry 2012!

I'm serious.... :)

Rick Perry is my Governor, the Governor of Texas. He's had some squishy tendencies in the past, but recently he's been sounding great.

His anti-Washington remarks have become more strident the past few weeks as that 2010 race gets going and since Perry rejected $550 million in federal economic stimulus money.

I absolutely love, love, love what he said yesterday during the tea parties!

An animated Perry told the crowd at Austin City Hall — one of three tea parties he was attending across the state — that officials in Washington have abandoned the country's founding principles of limited government. He said the federal government is strangling Americans with taxation, spending and debt.

Perry called his supporters patriots. Later, answering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, though he said he sees no reason why Texas should do that.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."

After praising veterans in the cheering crowd Wednesday, he said: "I'm just not real sure you're a bunch of right-wing extremists. But if you are, we're with you."

Hell yes! :)

There was also this tidbit I read on Ace the other day. Perry believes in exercising the 10th amendment:

"I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union."

If this is political posturing, so be it. I love the message. We need more messages like this from our Republican leaders. If he's angling for POTUS or VPOTUS bring it on. I would love to see him in that role. I would love to see him as Palin's VP pick.

You know, I think Perry like many of us has been affected by Obama's election. It affected people on such a deep level that it drove us to re-evaluate our elected officials, strengthened our Republican/conservative ideals, organize tea parties, start blogs, seek out other news outlets, start communicating with other Republicans about the situation we're all in. It affected all of us. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can recover and I think that's where we're at as a party right now.

I think he was also inspired by Sarah Palin. She has that effect. :) When she was selected as McCain's VP, Perry said some wonderful things about her and continues to do so. She's the first person in a long time Republicans can get excited about. She said things that most were thinking but were too afraid to say. Now previously squishy types like Perry are taking a more hardline approach. I love it.

Tax Day Tea Parties tomorrow

I think it's really important to attend one just to show that there's some spark in conservatism, that we can organize to win an election and that we truly value our freedom. We're not on the fringe simply because we value individual freedoms and smaller government. It was what our country was founded on and we want to uphold that. Find one near you.

AK Legislature approves federal stimulus money unanimously

Now we wait to see if Palin will veto any of it. I hope she will. This vote actually gives us a better view of the "Republicans" in the legislature.

This is from "Republican" Rep. Mike Hawker:

"The federal economic stimulus package can do a lot of good for Alaskans without growing government," said House Finance Co-Chair Mike Hawker of Anchorage. "If we fail to accept these funds, they will largely be re-allocated to other states.

"After an extensive review and hours of public hearings, the House could not find any significant strings attached to the money -- other than that we carefully account for how we spend it and what we accomplish with it," Hawker said. "The strict accounting and reporting requirements of the federal aid are good things, not reasons to walk away from putting this money into Alaska's economy."

Mike Hawker needs to examine himself if he thinks those are Republican ideals. If my representative were saying those things I would definitely not vote for him next election. He needs to remember that his constituency voted for a Republican. MSM loves to quote him. He's quoted in almost every anti-Palin piece I read. He must think he's getting his name out there but he just looks like he's a jealous anti-Palin power freak.

Palin compromises on abortion bill

In order to get the bill passed, Palin made a compromise. She originally wanted girls under 17 to have parental permission before getting an abortion. Please note that they would still be legal to get an abortion, just with parental consent.

However, the AK Democrats still didn't think that was enough. They want those girls to get abortions no matter what and make it as easy as possible. No matter that they're not old enough to drink or smoke cigarettes. No matter if they're still living with their parents and subject to parental rules in all other matters. No matter that at that young age, it would be beneficial to have parents' advice on big decisions. No matter at all.

Palin compromised and said that she's willing to drop the parental permission as long as parents are at least notified.

Governor softens her stand on abortion permission bill

Gov. Sarah Palin told reporters on Friday she's willing to compromise on a bill that would require parents to give their permission before girls under age 17 could get an abortion.

In a wide-ranging news conference in her Juneau office, Palin said she's willing to drop the requirement for consent and accept a bill that would just require parents to be notified about their teenager's plan to have an abortion.

Palin said late last month she was not interested in the compromise.

But she said Friday it's clear to her now that's the only way to possibly get the bill passed, with just nine days left in the 2009 session of the Legislature.

AK Democrats will not allow anyone to fill vacant seat except Kerttula

They're a tight bunch. A handful of Democrats are still fighting to get their favorite crony, Beth Kerttula, to fill Kim Elton's vacated Senate seat. Last Friday they rejected Palin's second pick to fill the seat. This is getting absolutely ridiculous. One good thing about this is that Palin is exposing them as the corrupt, power hungry group they are.

Palin urged the nine Democrats to not drag their feet on her second appointee in an official statement prior to the Democrats' vote:

April 9, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – On the 80th day of the 90-day legislative session, Governor Sarah Palin today called on Senate Democrats to make haste in voting on her second designee to fill the vacant seat in District B, representing the City and Borough of Juneau.

“Juneau residents are lacking representation in the Senate as final decisions are made on the budget and other important matters,” Governor Palin said. “Democratic senators rejected my first pick for Senate District B. I urge them not to drag their feet on approving the new designee. Filling this seat is important to the residents of Southeast and all Alaskans.”

But the Dems ignored her and decided to block the appointment anyway, not caring that the citizens of Juneau aren't being represented this legislative session.

Senate Democrats reject another Palin pick
JUNEAU SEAT: They say Nelson's a neophyte when it comes to political service.
By SEAN COCKERHAM
Published: April 10th, 2009 09:33 PM
Last Modified: April 11th, 2009 10:48 PM

JUNEAU -- For the second time, Alaska Senate Democrats have rejected Gov. Sarah Palin's choice to fill the empty seat in the state Senate. And it's causing tension within the Democratic ranks, with senators Lyman Hoffman and Donny Olson saying their colleagues are playing politics instead of voting on appointees based on their qualifications.

The nine Senate Democrats, after a closed-door meeting Thursday night, announced Friday they were rejecting Palin's pick of Joe Nelson for the Senate seat. The Democrats did the same thing last week in rejecting Tim Grussendorf, who was Palin's first pick to fill the seat that came open when Kim Elton of Juneau resigned to take a job in the Obama administration.

The Obama Support Website

I went to MSNBC, also known as the Obama Support Website, and read their piece called "GOP Watch." It's laughable the extreme lengths they go to tear down Palin. They're still talking about her clothes; they also manage to add in that Levi said Palin lied about he and Bristol living together. Okay...so this is what passes for journalism these days? They want to quote an 18 year old boy who is the ex boyfriend of Palin's daughter? They also go through line-by-line what Palin spent at the Philadelphia Flyers gift shop during the campaign - something so trivial, yet they ignore the vast real corruption on their own side. Shouldn't they feel a modicum of embarrassment for sinking to this kind of low?

Also, in the last paragraph they lampoon Mark Sanford for not accepting federal stimulus funds. They lamely attempt to spin him as the evil Governor keeping teachers out of public schools. They don't even try to see things from his side or that there are a lot of good reasons for not accepting that money.

How is this a legitimate "GOP Watch?" This is even below National Enquirer-type tabloids.

GOP WATCH: MORE ON THOSE PALIN CLOTHES
Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2009 9:13 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

An "amended [RNC FEC] report shows that the committee paid about $23,000 for clothing in the three weeks before and after Election Day -- which is actually $7,000 less than previously reported. That new report brings the total Palin clothing costs paid by the RNC down to about $173,000 and also makes it easier to spot clothing purchases that had previously gone undetected," Politico's Vogel reports. A couple of details: $192 to the Philadelphia Flyers pro shop "previously described as 'campaign accessories' was recategorized as 'candidate clothing,' possibly for either the Flyers hockey jersey Palin reportedly received with her name and the No. 1 on the back before dropping a ceremonial puck or the one that her younger daughter, Piper, wore at the game. And "a $289 payment to high-end shoemaker Stuart Weitzman, which had been described as 'retail' and 'accessories,' became 'candidate clothing.'"

Also, "The conservative group Free American Citizens has created a questionable legal defense fund for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, apparently to raise money off her popularity," Politico writes. "The home page of 'Sarah Palin’s Defense Fund' proclaims that 'SARAH PALIN NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!!!' But a click on 'donate now' directs the user to the website of Free American Citizens… Palin’s staff said the group did not contact either her political action committee or her governor’s office before announcing its formation Wednesday" and cannot accept money from it.

Levi Johnston said in another interview that Sarah Palin had been lying about him living at the Palins' house before the baby was born. “I was like, 'OK, well, whatever you want to call it. I had my stuff there.'” Asked if the Palin was lying about him, Johnston simply said: “Yes.” "Johnston said the biggest misconception about him is 'that my family’s white trash.'"

Sanford stumping against the stimulus… "Fort Mill School district leaders and town elders quizzed S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford Wednesday about his stance on federal stimulus funds, pressing him to explain why he opposes federal aid that could keep teachers in the classroom," the Charlotte Observer reports. "But Sanford told a room packed with 200 Fort Mill Rotary Club members that piling up more debt isn't the answer to South Carolina's economic woes. Sanford held up charts and graphs during his talk. Afterward, he fielded questions from people who said they understand Sanford's point, but are worried about what it will mean for cash-starved schools suffering through the recession."

"Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) penned an op-ed today that cites an influential MIT study on cap-and-trade legislation, despite the author of the study complaining that Republicans have misrepresented the findings."

Palin will back Murkowski for Senate in 2010

Palin confirmed that she will not attempt to run for US Senator in 2010.

ADN:
"The governor has no intention of running for the senator's seat in 2010," Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said Tuesday. "(Palin) thinks the senator is doing a great job and that's why she's looking forward to hosting a fundraiser for her."

She still hasn't confirmed it, but it's looking like she'll run for Governor re-election in 2010. The ADN story speculated that she could challenge US Senator Mark Begich for his seat when his term is up in 2014, but I'm hoping she'll be President by then (of course).

Defense fund update

A private citizen launched a fundraising effort for Palin's legal defense fund. Meg Stapleton reported that Palin cannot accept any of that money because it is not an "official" legal defense fund. The statement, though, gave us confirmation that the official fund will be established soon.

From Fox Dallas Ft. Worth:

Meghan Stapleton is the spokeswoman for Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC. Stapleton says in an e-mail to The Associated Press that this Web site is not an official legal defense fund.

Because of that, neither Palin nor her attorney can accept money from it. Instead, a proper legal defense fund will soon be set up which adheres to state and federal laws.

Clayton Paslay of Burleson, Texas, says his Web site had collected more than $1,300 in its first day of operation. He says he's working with Palin's lawyer to make sure the donations can be given legally.

Sarah's legal defense fund

Word on the blogs is that Palin's legal defense fund should be official tomorrow. I'll be on the lookout. This hasn't been confirmed but there's a strong possibility that she'll unveil it soon.

This is a great time to start an official fund because she's already been flogged with numerous, frivolous ethics complaints, which have no factual basis and are only filed with the intention to debase and bankrupt her.

Palin Stresses Need for Missile Defense

From the Governor's website

Palin Stresses Need for Missile Defense
Importance of Fort Greely

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-75

Governor Palin Stresses Need for Strong Missile Defense Capability

April 6, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Responding to the missile test by North Korea, Governor Sarah Palin today reaffirmed Alaska’s commitment to protecting America from rogue nation missile attacks.

“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” Governor Palin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect the global missile defense network. Alaska’s strategic location and the system in place here have proven invaluable in defending the nation.”

Governor Palin stressed the importance of Fort Greely and the need for continued funding for the Missile Defense Agency. The governor is firmly against U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency. Greely’s isolated location in Alaska as well as its strategic location in the Pacific allows for maximum security and development of the country’s only ground-based missile defense complex.

“Our early opposition to reduced funding for the Missile Defense Agency is proving to be well-founded during this turbulent time,” Governor Palin said. “I continue to support the development and implementation of a defensive missile shield based in Alaska. We are strategically placed to defend the critical assets of the United States and our allies in the Pacific Theater.”

Governor Palin also requested stimulus funding for the Kodiak Launch Complex. The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehicles owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska.

Palin's travel this month

On April 16, Palin will attend Vanderburgh County Right to Life's annual Spring Banquet in Evansville, IN. Palin is a special guest speaker at the event, and RNC Chairman Michael Steele will give the keynote address.

The next morning, Palin will attend a breakfast hosted by S.M.I.L.E., a nonprofit group for people with family members who have Down syndrome.

The Evansville Courier Press reported this:

"The stakes for the banquet, which organizers call the nation's largest Right to Life dinner, were ratcheted up even higher last month when Palin, the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee and prospective presidential candidate, accepted an invitation to speak.

The banquet in The Centre's Bill Brooks Exhibition Hall has sold out of about 2,180 dinner tickets, but arrangements have been made for a satellite feed for an additional 2,500 people in the building's auditorium."

Palin's spokeswoman, Meg Stapleton, said that Palin is taking a 36-hour vacation to attend these events. She had previously declined any invitations to travel outside Alaska until the legistlative session ends on April 20, but these two events were too important and too close to her heart to miss. Stapleton also said we could possibly look forward to Palin traveling a lot more after the session ends.

"It's possible there could be a huge increase in political travel by Palin after the legislative session in Alaska ends. "There are thousands of requests" for appearances across the country, Stapleton said."

Senate vacancy drama continues

It looks like the Democrats are still going to fight Palin on this one, but she's not backing down yet.

Palin makes her second pick to fill Senate vacancy
NELSON: He wasn't among the candidates Democrats submitted.
By SEAN COCKERHAM
Published: April 6th, 2009 09:05 PM
Last Modified: April 6th, 2009 10:49 PM

JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin on Monday appointed University of Alaska Southeast admissions director Joe Nelson to the state Senate, dropping nominee Tim Grussendorf after the Senate Democrats refused to budge on their rejection of him.

But that doesn't mean the fight is over for who gets the seat that came open when Juneau Democratic Sen. Kim Elton resigned for an Obama administration job. Senate Democrats wanted Palin to work with Juneau Democratic Party officials on the selection, and Nelson's was not one of the four names that the Juneau Democrats forwarded to the governor as suggestions.

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AK Senators sign letter opposing cuts in missle defense

from The Corner:

Some Leadership in the Senate [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
Monday, April 06, 2009

Bipartisan Group of Senators Oppose Cuts in Missile Defense:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), along with Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Mark Begich (D-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today sent the following letter to President Obama calling for full funding of U.S. missile defense programs:

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

We write to urge you not to allow deep cuts in U.S. missile defense programs that are critically important to protecting our homeland and our allies against the growing threat of ballistic missiles.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates today announced plans to cancel or reduce such major programs as the Airborne Laser, Multiple Kill Vehicle, and the installation of additional Ground-Based Interceptor missiles in Alaska, and cut the MDA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2010 by $1.4 billion. Although we applaud Secretary Gates’ commitment to such capabilities THAAD and SM-3, these proposals would amount to almost a fifteen percent cut in the MDA budget and a major reduction in our missile defense portfolio—actions that we fear could undermine our emerging missile defense capabilities to protect the United States against a growing threat.

As you know, the threat from ballistic missiles is significant and on the rise. Lieutenant General Daniel Maples, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, recently testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that “the threat posed by ballistic missile delivery systems is likely to increase while growing more complex over the next decade.” General Maples further warned that “adversary nations are increasingly adopting technical and operational countermeasures to defeat missile defenses.” Ballistic missile technology has already proliferated worldwide and is a direct threat to both our allies and our homeland.

The threat posed by rogue states with ballistic missiles has been underscored by Iran and North Korea’s recent missile tests. In early February, Iran launched a satellite atop a rocket that could be used as an intercontinental ballistic missile. Last weekend, North Korea tested the Taepo Dong-2, a long range missile that if successful, could have the range to strike Hawaii, Alaska, and possibly the West Coast of the United States.

Although these developments highlight the danger we face, they have also revealed the progress our national missile defense system has made. When recently asked before the Senate Armed Services Committee whether the United States could intercept a Taepo Dong-2 missile that targeted the American homeland, Admiral Timothy Keating, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, and General Patrick Chilton, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, assured that we can do so with high probability. This would not have been the case just a few years ago, and is only the case today because we have invested in a diverse set of missile defense capabilities.

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Palin receives pushback on Senate appointment

There has been political back-and-forth regarding Kim Elton's vacated Senate seat, the likes of which I've never seen. First, Elton and his crew viciously attacked Palin during her VP run last year. Elton was rewarded with a seat in the Obama administration. Elton's cronies submitted only 1 name to fill his seat in a deliberation that went on behind closed doors. Palin rejected their nomination and asked for open applications to her office. She appointed Tim Grussendorf to the seat. The Senate Democrats then rejected her appointment.

Is there anyone who loves to waste the state's time and money more than the AK democrats? They really don't care that they're pissing away funds and valuable time just so they can spar with Gov. Palin. What a joke they are.

This is the latest in the saga of of the drama that is: "filling Elton's vacated Senate seat."

Palin wants open vote on Senate seat
Governor questions constitutionality of state's appointment law, says her pick stands

By Pat Forgey JUNEAU EMPIRE

Gov. Sarah Palin is backing away from her demand that Republican senators have a say in who represents Juneau in the Alaska Senate, but is still demanding a public vote on her appointment to replace former Democratic Sen. Kim Elton.

"The Senate can decide for itself who participates in the vote, I am simply requesting that the vote be done in public," she said late Friday.

That could give Palin another chance at appointing legislative aide Tim Grussendorf to the Juneau Senate seat. Despite the support of powerful Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, most other Democratic senators did not support Grussendorf's appointment.

Palin got little support from Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, for the idea of a Republican role in the confirmation of Grussendorf.

Stevens said he would instead follow state law, which leaves confirmation of the appointment up to Senate Democrats.

"I don't have anything to do with that, I'm a Republican and that's a Democratic decision," he said.

Palin said there are doubts of the constitutionality of the appointment law, which has been used for most of the state's history. It was most recently used last year when Palin accepted the confirmation of her appointment of Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, to the Legislature without objection.

Democratic Sens. Hollis French and Bill Wielechowski, both of Anchorage, denounced that action on the Senate floor Friday, saying it was only fair for the same party to appoint a replacement senator.

"It's about protecting the will of the community as it was expressed in the last election," French said.

Also Friday, Palin met with Juneau Democratic leaders who had the same message.

"I told her that it was pretty clear in the law that it was the Senate Democrats," said Kim Metcalfe, Juneau Democratic chair, after her meeting with Palin.

Palin sent a letter to Stevens Thursday evening saying her appointment of Grussendorf still stood, calling Wednesday's rejection by Democratic senators invalid.

Palin's letter came just hours after telling the Empire that she was considering other applicants, including the Democrats' top choice, Rep. Beth Kerttula.

By Friday evening, Palin had reversed course again, agreeing to a confirmation decision by Democrats only. She is continuing a public vote, however.

The Senate Democrats' decision Wednesday was made behind closed doors, in apparent violation of the state's Open Meetings Law which requires most decisions of governmental bodies to be made in public.

Senior Democrat Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, organized the meeting and defended its closed-door status.

He likened it to a city assembly holding an executive session to decide whether to hire or fire a manager.

"It's like a personnel issue for our group, the discussion goes to the reputation of an individual," he said.

In the case of a municipal decision, a final vote would be taken in public. That didn't happen in this case, and Ellis declined to say whether a vote was taken at all.

continued...

Why They Hate Sarah Palin So Much

h/t from Northern Exposer at Conservative Jedi


Why They Hate Sarah Palin So Much
—Ace

Ace of Spades

I think this is overdetermined, personally. A smart friend of mine -- a Democrat who supports Palin -- boils it down to "Professional women hate her because, as a group, they hate themselves and hate their lives and hate their husbands, and resent this working-class upstart for having the life (and husband) they wish they did." Clarification: He was speaking of liberal-ish, feminist ball-buster type women, of course. Not all professional women. I really should have made that clear, but I didn't, so now professional women are defending themselves in the comments. I apologize -- I screwed up. I knew what I meant in my own mind but didn't write it properly. Obviously, professional women who like Palin are not so gripped with envy.

A bit reductivist, but I think that does play into it too.

...

Palin's beauty comes with other baggage, too: Because she's such an attractive figure, she's a natural target for tabloid coverage, which is only exacerbated by the fact that the media is determined to tabloidize her in order to make her unacceptable as a leader. That link notes that Levi Johnson, who turns out to be exactly the sort of trailer trash the left claimed he was, is going on Tyra Banks to dish on Palin and to talk about what he and Bristol knew about birth control.

Is that fair? Well, I can't help but think that Levi Johnson has been courted particularly ferociously not just because Palin is an interesting, ratings-generating figure, but because the media wants to make her into a Jerry Springer buffoon.

Where is their interest in, say, allegations that Joe Biden's daughter was a cokehead? Surely we can learn all sorts of cautionary tales about drug use from that story, just the same as we can learn about birth control and youthful sex from Levi Johnson.

But the media doesn't pursue it. Partly because Joe Biden is a goofy old bastard, and his daughter, most likey, is no head-turner (I confess I don't know; I'm going by the averages), but largely because the media wishes to protect Joe Biden (and therefore Obama) from any hint of scandal or "messy family lives" (as Sarah Palin's just-less-than-picture-perfect family life was often referred to).

They don't want to tabloidize him, and so they are not knocking on doors and burning up the phone lines to get Joe Biden's daughter's boyfriends on TV.

The media has their narrative. Sarah Palin, low-class frost-neck chillbilly, and Joe Biden, serious, accomplished man deserving of respect and privacy. The fact that Slow Joe claims a lower-class upbringing himself, and has been caught lying multiple times about his woeful academic record, doesn't change that.

He's a Democrat, and therefore deserving of praise. Palin's a Republican and deserving of nothing but contempt and hatred.

continue reading...

Shaking my head over Levi Johnston

I just read that Levi Johnston did an interview for the Tyra show that will air on Monday. Words escape me. I'm so stunned that he would do this to the Palin family - I have no idea why you'd want to promote that you abandoned your 17-year old-girlfriend and the mother of your child. It doesn't exactly make you look good, Levi, or sympathetic.

Even though this isn't an extraordinary thing to happy to any family, especially families with successful parents, MSM will spin this as "white trash," "Jerry Springer family," "full of scandal." MSM eats this up. They'll do anything to deflect attention away from Palin's good deeds in Alaska. They want the general public to immediately think of the supposed "scandals" before they think of her as a good politician who does a great job as Governor.

But this decision was all Levi's. One day he'll regret it I'm sure. He'll regret how he hurt the Palin family, hurt Bristol personally, hurt his son, hurt his character and hurt the Republican party. But now he's just an 18-year-old guy who thinks he's done no wrong. Thank God Bristol and little Tripp have other strong family to lean on for support.

Palin's remarks on the issue:

"Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show. We're disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship," says the statement from the Palin family rep, Meghan Stapleton.

"Bristol's focus will remain on raising Tripp, completing her education, and advocating abstinence," the statement continues. "It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child."

The statement ends, saying, "Bristol realizes now that she made a mistake in her relationship and is the one taking responsibility for their actions."

Palin calls for Begich's resignation/special election

Palin calls for Begich's resignation
Politico.com
By ANDY BARR 4/2/09 7:10 PM EDT

Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) called on Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska ) Thursday to step down from his seat and run in a special election in the wake of the Justice Department’s decision to drop corruption charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Begich narrowly defeated Stevens in 2008, a contest overshadowed by Stevens’ October conviction.

Palin’s call came after a reporter at the Fairbanks News Miner emailed her a copy of a statement by Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich calling for Begich to step down.

Asked for her response, Palin simply wrote back: “I absolutely agree.”

When the reporter wrote back to confirm that Palin meant she’d like to see Begich resign in order to hold a special election, the governor responded: “Yes.”

In an email to POLITICO, Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton confirmed the governor’s position. “She absolutely agrees that there should be a special election,” Stapleton wrote. “Stepping down to hold the special election would be the right thing to do.”

In the statement Palin was provided, Ruedrich said that “the only reason Mark Begich won the election in November is because a few thousand Alaskans thought that Sen. Ted Stevens was guilty of seven felonies.”

“A special election will allow Alaskans to have a real, non-biased, credible process where the most qualified person could win, without the manipulation of the Department of Justice,” he added.

Begich issued a statement Thursday insisting that he will remain in his seat, despite Republican calls for his resignation.

“Today, with our country in a severe recession, it’s more important than ever that we have a senator focused on fixing our economy so Alaskans have the jobs they need to support their families,” he said. “That is my job in the Senate, and I’m honored to serve Alaskans for the next six years.”

Begich spokeswoman Julie Hasquat did not directly respond to Palin’s call for the senator’s resignation, instead pointing to Begich’s statement as a clear enough indication of his reaction.

“We’re not going to respond to her,” Hasquat said.

Palin makes board appointments

Time is limited for me this week. I apologize but I'm just going to post some Palin news in the next few days as I don't know what my schedule will be like.

Palin makes board appointments
Source: Office of the Governor
Updated: 04/02/2009 08:59:51 AM AKDT

Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today announced appointments to the Board of Fisheries and the University of Alaska's Board of Regents.

University of Alaska Board of Regents

Governor Palin appointed Ashton Compton to the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

The 11-member Board of Regents governs the statewide University of Alaska system; formulates university policy, and appoints the University's president. By law, one member is a full-time student of the University, appointed by the governor from a slate of candidates selected by student election at each of the university's campuses. Student regents serve a two-year term, compared to the eight-year term of other regents.

Compton, of Fairbanks, is a junior political science major at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She has worked as a program assistant for UAF Student Organizations since 2008. Compton has also worked as a page and assistant sergeant-at-arms for the Alaska State Legislature from 2005-07.

Compton is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Two Rivers and North Star Grange organizations. She is co-founder and president of the Red Cross Club of UAF, and performs volunteer service with the Fairbanks Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Alternative Spring Break and Youth Service Opportunity programs. She was born in Fairbanks, and attended schools in Alaska and Idaho. Her appointment represents the first time the Board of Regents has included a student from the UAF campus since 2002.

"It is a pleasure to appoint to the Board of Regents an outstanding young woman who was not only born in Fairbanks, but who has returned home to pursue her education at the leading campus of the University of Alaska system," said Governor Palin. "Ashton Compton's dedication to service is manifested by her involvement in university organizations, her service in the state Legislature, and her volunteer work in her home town. I have every confidence she will represent her campus and community well as a University regent."

Board of Fisheries

Governor Palin appointed Brent G. Johnson, and reappointed Karl S. Johnstone, to the Board of Fisheries.

The seven-member Board of Fisheries is responsible for conservation and development of the state's fishery resources by setting seasons, bag limits, methods and means for the state's subsistence, commercial, sport, guided sport, and personal use fisheries. The board sets fishery management policy, and makes the allocation decisions which the Department of Fish and Game must carry out through its management of fishery resources.

Johnson, of Clam Gulch, is a lifelong commercial fisherman who has been a salmon setnetter for most of his life. He has worked as a salmon and herring seiner and halibut longliner in Cook Inlet, and as a salmon seiner in Prince William Sound. Johnson has been active in fisheries management issues, having served more than a decade on the Kenai-Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee from the early 1990s to 2002, the last two years as chairman. He was a member of the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association board of directors from 1988-2001, and rejoined the board as president in 2005. Johnson is a past president and board member of the Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association. His appointment represents the first appointment of a Cook Inlet commercial fisherman to the board since 1975.

Johnson has served on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission since 1997. He has also been president of Kasilof Regional Historical Association since 2005, and president of the Kenai Peninsula Historical Association since 2008. Born in Seldovia, he graduated from Ninilchik High School in 1973. He was appointed to a public seat.

Johnstone, of Anchorage, is a retired Superior Court judge who has been an active sport fisherman in Alaska since 1967. He fished commercially for salmon in Bristol Bay and herring in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska in the 1980s. Johnstone earned a bachelor's degree in business and a law degree from the University of Arizona. He practiced law until 1979 when he was appointed Superior Court judge. Johnstone was appointed presiding judge of the Third Judicial District in 1990 and served in that position until his retirement in 1996. He has since had a limited practice as a lawyer, mediator and arbitrator. Johnstone was reappointed to a public seat.

OT - Jerry Taylor is annoying

Jerry Taylor has been an antagonistic pesky little troll on The Corner. Today's post really put me over the edge. He told readers not to look at the web ads featured on The Corner's own site - specifically the web ads for Pickens Plan. In his usual condescending, holier-than-thou, better-than-you tone, he said anyone who supports Pickens Plan is drinking kool-aid and needs to seek help.

Wow - way to cut down readers and not foster a discourse on energy policy. Good for you, Jerry Taylor. His post completely undermines the purpose of The Corner, which is to highlight and debate policy issues.

Ignore Those Pickens Ads [Jerry Taylor]

I notice that T. Boone Pickens has sprung for a bunch of ads today at NRO which inveigh upon you all to "Tell Congress You Support the Pickens Plan."

Please don't.

For the short version of the case against Pickens's particular brand of corporate welfare, go here and here. For longer discussions of the issues in play, go here regarding oil imports and national security), here (regarding renewable energy and wind power), and here (regarding what both theory and practice has to say about the alleged problems identified by Pickens and the solutions he proposes for the same).

I know that some conservatives have dipped their cup in Pickens's punch-bowl of policy Kool-Aid. To those of you who have, I have a suggestion — seek analytical help.
04/01 11:25 AM Share

If you remember, he used the same tactic on his hit piece on Sarah Palin, and he's done it numerous times since then on other subjects. On the off chance that his collegues question him - he turns up the aggression even more. He's not a good debator at all.

He has issues with Pickens Plan. I would love to hear them without finger pointing. My guess from reading his bio at CATO is that he's been paid lots of money from Big Oil to write case studies saying "Big Oil is great!" If you look at his bio you'll see the gems he's written. It's probably why he hates Palin so much, because she's doesn't bow down to Big Oil and does what's best for the consumer.

From his tone, he comes off as kind of an extreme Libertarian who doesn't like government involvement in anything - or he's some sort of anarchist who loves chaos and no structure. That would explain telling people not to look at ads for his own site that Pickens Plan paid lots of money for - ads that allow him to use The Corner as a platform. I can't really tell what Jerry Taylor stands for because he just cuts people down all the time without any substantial argument on his part. All I know is I'm sick of him and he's no friend to Republicans or anybody. How he got a gig at CATO is beyond me.

Palin will not headline GOP dinner

There was some confusion over whether or not Palin would be speaking at a Republican fundraiser, the Senate-House Dinner on June 8. Numerous reports said she was, but SarahPAC said she wasn't. MSM took the opportunity to say that there were communication issues between her and her PAC. I personally think she told them no from the beginning and the GOP kept saying she would speak to drum up interest and turnout. It's not the first time someone has tried to piggyback off her success.

I think she did the right thing by staying in Alaska until the end of the legislative session.

Palin out as headliner for GOP dinner
15 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is out, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in as keynote speaker at a Republican dinner this spring.

The party's 2008 nominee for vice president, Palin had been slated to address the annual Senate-House Dinner on June 8, which is sponsored by the House and Senate Republican campaign committees. Instead, she will be replaced by Gingrich.

A spokesman for the Senate GOP committee, Brian Walsh, says Palin's team informed the committees that her responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing until the end of the legislative session.