Another ethics complaint dismissed, board is getting frustrated

We received more great news yesterday that another frivolous ethics complaint filed by angry people who want to take Palin down at any cost was dismissed. It's the 13th ethics complaint wherein Palin has been found not guilty of any ethics violations.

Alaska board dismisses Palin ethics complaint
By MARY PEMBERTON – 12 hours ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Another ethics complaint filed against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been dismissed.

The State Personnel Board on Wednesday dismissed the argument that Palin violated the Executive Branch Ethics Act in furthering her national political aspirations.

The complaint alleged that the governor used state staff to publish a press release announcing Palin as John McCain's running mate and that state resources were used for partisan political purposes.

The board, following the recommendation of an independent counsel, threw out the complaint for lack of merit.

On the heels of this dismissal, the Alaska Personnel Board vented their frustration over what appears to be blatant abuse of the system.

The personnel board members decided at a Wednesday meeting to work with the attorney general's office on how to make public the cost of addressing each ethics complaint, without violating the board's confidentiality rules.

"We've spent pretty close to about a third of a million dollars, and it's getting to be really expensive," said Al Tamagni, a member of the board.

The board is saying that the people filing these complaints are costing the state precious time and money. They are abusing a system that was put in place to ensure people holding public office would act ethically. They're wasting the taxpayers money in their quest to take Palin down, and they have no apologies and no regrets.

Andree McLeod, an Anchorage activist who has filed multiple ethics complaints against Palin and her staff, said after the meeting that the board is trying to squash accountability by saying it costs too much.

"The whole way to mitigate all this is for Palin to behave ethically," said McLeod, who filed the complaint that was dismissed by the board on Wednesday.

Palin HAS acted ethically. The complaints have been dismissed, and keep on getting dismissed. That's the point of what the board said - you're wasting the state's resources because none of these complaints are coming to fruition.

For activists like Andree McLeod, this is just a platform he's using to repeat the line given to him by whoever is leading this crusade: "Palin needs to act ethically and we'll stop filing complaints." To hell with the outcome, they're going to keep filing complaints no matter how much of a drain it is on the state. I wonder how much he's getting paid, and how far up this goes. Who is really behind this. They act like the Borg collective with how they repeat the same lines over and over. Creepy. I'm just happy these keep getting dismissed and the board is saying something about it.

Palin seeks federal aid for flood-stricken communities

From KTUU.com

Palin seeks federal aid for flood-stricken communities
by Jason Moore
Monday, May 25, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin asked for federal disaster aid on Monday to help villages recover from this spring's flooding.

The governor's office says Palin sent a letter to the federal government requesting a disaster declaration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent preliminary teams into Yukon and Kuskokwim river villages last week.

The worst of the flooding is now hitting Emmonak near the mouth of the Yukon River where roads are underwater and some homes have water in them.

"It probably dropped two foot already, but it was so high that everything is still -- the houses are still surrounded by water, the roads are still covered by water," Jack Schultheis with Kwikpak Fisheries said via phone. "It's still from the air it's basically everything's just surrounded by water."

The runway in the village is still above water, but the road to the airport is completely flooded so the airport has now been closed.

Palin's Memorial Day activities

From the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer:

Palin in Fairbanks for Memorial Day ceremonies, bill signings
By Rena Delbridge
Published Monday, May 25, 2009

FAIRBANKS -- Gov. Sarah Palin marked Memorial Day with a trio of bill signing events in Interior Alaska, issuing a call to Alaskans to remember those who’ve died in combat as well as those still serving in the U.S. military.

Among them is her son Track, who is halfway through a deployment in Irag with the Stryker Brigade’s 1-25th, based at Fort Wainwright.

She heard from Track about a week ago, a brief call to check in as he headed off on a mission where the soldier would be out of touch.

“It really hits me when I’m up here in Fairbanks,” Palin said, noting she met a few of her son’s “bosses” at a Memorial Day event in downtown Fairbanks. They gave her a good report on Track, she said.

“Nothing could make me prouder to hear my son is a good soldier,” Palin said.

Track signed on with the Army on Sept. 11, 2007, at age 18. He deployed to Iraq in September 2008.

At a morning event commemorating Memorial Day in Fairbanks, Palin signed legislation dedicating state funds to development of a veterans' cemetery in the Interior. Scores of veterans attended, hearing remarks from the governor, representatives of Alaska's congressional delegation and veteran spokesmen.

At noon in nearby North Pole, she received a U.S. and an Alaskan flag that flew above forts in Iraq, sent by soldier Adam Schumaker. The governor signed off on six more bills at city hall, including Sen. Joe Paskvan's measure to create an electronic medical health records database. The endeavor is funded in part by the federal stimulus package.

Back in Fairbanks, Palin appeared at Compeau's, a business that sells all-terrain vehicles, boats and snowmachines, to sign off on a bill creating a lemon law for ATV and marine craft purchases. She and husband Todd Palin hopped in a red river boat for a quick blast up the Chena River, with Craig Compeau turning over the wheel to the governor as a flotilla of primary-colored kayaks glided past.

Memorial Day

Unlearned Lesson

Memorial Day

Of every year

The little valiant

Flags appear

On every fallen

Soldier's grave--

Symbol of what

Each died to save.

And we who see

And still have breath--

Are we no wiser

For their death?

-Dorothy Brown Thompson

Let us never forget

Palin cuts state budget

Palin cut about $28 million of the federal stimulus money yesterday, stating that the strings attached would force too much federal government dependence and continued oversight. The legislature is screaming about it, including our favorite "Republican" Rep. Mike Hawker:

"If anything, it probably gives her a chance to save some face with her national constituency," Hawker said. "And that's probably good for her. Maybe not good for the state, but it certainly aids her."

I don't know what planet Mike Hawker is on, but someone needs to tell him that Republicans generally are for less government intrusion and lower taxes. For Hawker, this was just another opportunity to trot out his tired line that Palin is only focused on her national image. Let's try to walk through his logic - Obama won the presidential election running on a platform of more government spending and more taxation, among other things. The MSM has supported his ultra-left view. Palin has a history of being fiscally conservative. So it seems to me that if Palin wanted to "aid" her public image, then she would shed some of her fiscally conservative views and shift more center-right. But she's not. She still making the same types of decisions she did before the election - so how exactly is she "saving face with her national constituency?" Based on her (long) record, it is not out of character at all for her to decline federal money.

I wonder if Hawker ever thinks of the voters who elected a fiscally conservative Governor. I wonder if he wonders how they would feel if their Governor accepted ALL the money despite all the warnings and proven burden it would take on the citizens. I bet not at all. For some reason he takes every opportunity to trash Palin. I really don't understand his angst.

Palin signs budget, cuts $28M in federal stimulus
by Rhonda McBride
KTUU.com
Thursday, May 21, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin made big cuts to the state budget Thursday, including more than $28 million in federal stimulus money.

The money would have been used for projects to help the state become more energy efficient.

Many lawmakers, city governments and other groups were hoping the governor would have a change of heart on the energy stimulus money, which could have been used for alternative energy projects such as weatherization and other energy saving upgrades like LED lights.

But the governor has long said that the funding would force other changes on Alaska that could have some unintended consequences.

"I will not request federal stimulus funds that subject Alaskans to more federal control and ever increasing federal mandates," Palin said at a March 19 press conference in Juneau.

Palin has said all along that she would oppose stimulus funds that take away local control.

Her administration believes the energy stimulus money would do that because it would require the adoption of a statewide energy code.

"The governor believes these decisions are on developing local energy codes are best left to local governments," said Karen Rehfeld, the governor's budget director, at a press conference Thursday.

continued...

Sarah's statement on SarahPAC, Steele endorsement

Sarah tells it like it is with a statement posted on SarahPAC. There is no post date, but it was published in MSM yesterday, so I presume it was posted yesterday or Monday.

She endorses Michael Steele in the post, which I don't know if I agree with. I have several issues with Steele and how he's leading or not leading the party.

Here is the full post:

Statement from Governor Sarah Palin

The transition from Candidate Obama to President Obama has been as predictable as Alaska's winter snow.

We are now witnessing actions that will lead to a monumental shift away from free market capitalism and the strong work ethic that built this great country. 'Change' in this administration has meant rapid movement toward massive government growth, huge tax burdens on future generations, and an unprecedented reliance upon foreign countries.

Today, we learned that Obama’s decisions continue to impact Alaskans; while we as taxpayers now own General Motors, Obama closes another dealership – this time in Soldotna as more of Alaskans’ hard-earned money and jobs are lost to big government. Government should not be in the auto industry business. In Alaska, we have also seen a shift in federal priorities that threaten the loss of subsidized village health care services under the same candidate who led you to believe he'd insure all Americans. The inconsistent messages and actions are unsettling.

But we have another voice in Washington, DC – a man who understands what Alaskans believe: less centralized government control, restrained budgets, more opportunity for development, and fewer taxes. Today, we have a friend in RNC Chairman Michael Steele and his bold and courageous speech defines his leadership goals that will guide us all through this most difficult time for our nation.”

Governor Sarah Palin

FEC dismissed frivolous complaint RE: Palin's clothes

More news from the story that Will. Not. Die.

Hopefully this puts the nail in the coffin. The FEC dismissed the frivolous complaint that accused Palin of using RNC donations for personal use.

FEC dismisses complaint over Palin clothing
By SHARON THEIMER – 1 day ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint over the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the good-government group that filed the complaint, argued that candidates aren't supposed to use donor money for personal expenses such as clothes. The FEC ruled Tuesday that the ban doesn't apply to party money, however.

That AP story goes on to list exactly what she bought, where she bought it and how much it cost. They even quoted "experts" saying the FEC's ruling was incorrect. That's the AP showing its true colors trying to paint Palin as a disconnected bimbo on a shopping spree. Unfortunately, that's the only halfway decent article from MSM I could find on the matter.

MSM hypocrisy

I saw this little gem in the Kansas City Star letters to the editor:

"Sarah Palin is writing her memoirs, which one online dictionary defines as an autobiographical account of one’s personal life and experiences. Since there has been no reference to this being Volume 1 of Ms. Palin’s memoirs or the opening book of a trilogy, one can only hope that this means she will soon be retiring from public life."

Hypocrisy and stupidity abound. I wonder if this person is aware that Obama has already written two, count 'em. TWO! memoirs. There's controversy over whether or not he actually wrote them, but he certainly claimed to. Then there's the fact that Obama signed on with a publisher for a Presidential memoir, prior to even being sworn into office! He wrote his previous memoirs before he even held public office, and while he was there a very short time, as well. Palin is the first female and youngest Governor of Alaska. I think she has more than enough source material for a political memoir.

Secondly, memoirs are practically de rigueur for politicians these days. Everyone writes one. Hillary wrote hers years ago for probably the same reason Palin is doing hers now, to get her opinions and ideas out there in her own words before running for President, and to quash any possible backlash before the campaign.

Most of the public comments in that piece are anti-Palin, but this one really cracked me up:

These needless attacks on Palin is why no one buys this newspaper anymore. Try printing the news instead of your personal agenda.

Pure gold right there.

President Palin’s First 100 Days

I found this on Ace's sidebar. Victor Davis Hanson wrote a hilarious piece about how the MSM would have reacted if Palin were in office making the same gaffes as Obama. It's really funny; read the whole thing for a good laugh. I especially love the part about Todd's biceps as a slam to the MSM swooning over Michelle's toned arms.

President Palin’s First 100 Days
A near disaster.

By Victor Davis Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first 100 days of the Palin presidency, according to a consensus of media commentators, have proven a near disaster. Perhaps it was Palin’s scant two years’ experience in a major government position that has eroded her gravitas, or maybe it was her flirty reliance on looks and informal chit-chat. In any case, the press has had a field day, and it is hard to see how President Palin can ever recover from the Quayle/potatoe syndrome. Here is a roundup of this week’s pundit mockery.

LET THEM EAT MOOSE
“Ted Stevens may have gotten off,” wrote Bob Herbert in the New York Times, “but he taught our Sarah something first — like using $100-a-pound beef for her state dinners. And what’s this $50 mil for her inauguration gala? Since when do you fly in your favorite pizza-maker from across the country on our dime? Or send the presidential 747 for a spin over the Big Apple for a third-of-a-million-dollar joyride? Does Palin think she’s still in Alaska and has to have everything flown in from the South 48 by jumbo jet?”

WASILLA CHIC
Also in the Times, Gail Collins weighed in on the already-tired yokelism of the new commander in chief. “What we’re getting is Wasilla chic. That’s what we’re getting. She arrives in the Oval Office, and first thing sends back Blair’s gift of the Churchill bust as if it’s a once-worn Penney’s outfit. Then she gives the Brits some unwatchable DVDs as a booby prize — as if she idled the old Yukon and ran into Target’s sale aisle. Did Sarah send Bristol into Wal-Mart back in Anchorage for that ‘engraved’ iPod for the queen? And what’s this don’t-bow-to-the-queen stuff, but curtsy for a Saudi sheik? Maybe that explains why she brags to Stephanopoulos about her ‘Muslim faith.’ So far, the best things going for her are Todd’s biceps.”

IT'S THE MATH, STUPID!
“Well,” lectured Paul Krugman, again in the Times, “we were worried that they didn’t teach math at Idaho U., and now we know for sure they don’t. Is it $1.6 trillion, $1.7 trillion, or $2 trillion in red ink this year? Are we supposed to be impressed that she offers ‘fiscal sobriety’ by cutting 0.003 percent of the budget? She gives out money to those who don’t pay taxes and calls it a tax cut. And now Queen Sarah tells us that in four years she’ll ‘halve’ the deficit, as if she hasn’t borrowed another $5 trillion in the meantime. Does she think we’re morons? How many ‘Drill, baby, drill!’ oil wells can she tap into up there in Alaska to pay for the extra $11 trillion in debt she’s saddling us with?”

WORSE THAN 'NUCULAR'
ABC’s Katie Couric summed up the general disappointment with the president’s communication skills. “I tried to warn the American people in that interview a few years back what they would get if they voted for her. Let’s face it: She’s a walking embarrassment. I mean just count ’em up: The mayor of Wasilla thinks Austrians speak some lingo called ‘Austrian.’ Then she tries her hand at Spanish and comes up with some concoction, ‘Cinco de Cuatro.’ Next thing she’ll walk into the window of the Oval Office and expect it to open — oops, she’s already done that. No wonder that when her Teleprompter stalls, she shuts her mouth until it catches up. I’m surprised she managed to get sworn in. And did she think that tasteless ‘Special Olympics’ slur was funny? Or making fun of octogenarian Nancy Reagan’s séances? No wonder Wanda Sykes feels at home.”

ANCHORAGE STYLE
A “dragon lady in heels” is what President Palin is, according to the NYT’s Frank Rich. “Don’t fall for this pageant nice-girl stuff. Our former beauty queen is a ward hack. Look at her nominations. Can’t Palin find anyone who has paid his taxes — or do they simply ignore that stuff in no-tax Alaska? Does ‘No more lobbyists’ mean ‘More lobbyists than ever’? Her chief performance overseer doesn’t perform too well herself — and, like Daschle, Geithner, and the rest, skips out on her taxes. When Palin brags about fiscal sobriety, it really means record deficits. In Sarahland, not wanting to take over banks and car companies translates into, ‘She already has.’ Highest ethical standards equates to ‘There are none.’ Calling herself the VA president means she’s just told vets to use their own health insurance.”

GUTTER TRASH
“Pretty crude, pretty petty,” Sally Quinn sighed in the Washington Post. “No manners at all. Does our new mom in chief think it’s neat to laugh when her court jester at the correspondents’ dinner calls Michael Moore a traitor and a terrorist — and hopes he dies of kidney failure? Is that funny? Ask those on dialysis. Is that what Alaskan hockey moms do — scream out at every talk-show host who hurts their itty-bitty feelings? Limbaugh, Hannity — who will it will be next? Poor old Jim Cramer?”

continued...

So what?

Republican strategist John Weaver:

"If it's 2012 and our party is defined by Palin and Limbaugh and Cheney, then we're headed for a blowout. That's just the truth."

My response: if that's really going to happen, then so be it and 'so what.' I would rather lose running on principles that I believe in and those that I believe will strengthen the party, then to win by compromising my beliefs. For the millionth time, what's the point of winning an election if you had to compromise who you are to get there?

I know things are bad for Republicans right now and I'm not delusional as to how hard it will be to win in 2012 against Obama. That's why we fight, organize and prepare for it. We don't change who we are to get votes. We strengthen who we are.

Weaver is the strategist who was preparing former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman for a Presidential run in 2012. Huntsman just accepted an appointment in the Obama administration as U.S. Ambassador to China and is one of the most "moderate" Republicans out there. McCain name-dropped him several times over the past year and he's become the poster boy for party reform.

The Huntsman appointment has the MSM painting Obama as a post-partisan President reaching across the aisle, and Huntsman as a beaming example for Republicans everywhere. Kind of like how they painted McCain, before he won the nomination last year. We can't let the MSM decide who our leaders are.

"I firmly believe that Huntsman and people like him are the prescription for what ails us," says Weaver. "But I have the feeling that our party maybe won't order that prescription in 2012."

Okay, just to nitpick, no one "orders a prescription;" a doctor prescribes it. But whatever. The point is, we had a moderate run for President last year and look where it got us. Do the "moderates" not learn? It seems so obvious to me. Palin was the one who got the base energized, not McCain. So logically it seems that our party is ready for someone who shares the same ideas as her.

Palin saying all the right things on national issues for GOP

I read an interesting article in the Boston Herald yesterday. Holly Robichaud, the author, seems to be one of the few in MSM criticizing Notre Dame's decision to invite Obama to give the Commencement Address and bestow upon him an honorary degree.

In a similar vein, Palin seems to be one of the few "leaders" in the GOP who criticized Notre Dame's decision. This is why I support her. While we're waiting for the GOP to do something, say something, find direction, etc. - Palin is out there pretty much all alone, voicing her opinions and moving the party forward in a direction that is agreeable to me. I want my GOP leaders to do this. I want Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell to point out the hypocrisy and hold Democrats accountable. I want them to speak out when things like happen, and be a voice of reason.

The GOP is trying to steer this ship but they won't go anywhere without a rudder. I'm happy Palin is still speaking out. She gets attacked every time but at least she still speaks out. She takes heat from everyone, including the Right, while speaking an opinion that most of us want to hear.

University wrong to place prestige above principle
Boston Herald.com
By Holly Robichaud
Sunday, May 17, 2009

. . . .

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, a strong pro-life advocate, weighed in on the issue with me by e-mail:

“My favorite grandpa, Clem James Sheeran, was Catholic. Irish to the core, his favorite place (other than church) was Notre Dame. I can’t imagine what he would think as the university recognizes someone who contradicts the core values of the Catholic faith by promoting an anti-life agenda. As we learned today, our nation is more pro-life than ever before; it is a very important time to strengthen the message that every baby is created for good purpose and has the potential to make this world a better place.”

While Palin understands this battle is about a fundamental value, Obama supporters trivialize it by suggesting it is about opening a dialogue with people of opposing views. Despite their belittling, this outrage is well deserved. By bestowing the degree on President Pro-Choice, a message is conveyed that he is a role model, someone deserving of recognition in the eyes of the university. Jenkins even said he is an inspiring leader.

You have to question what the president would be inspiring when his record includes overturning the prohibition of funding abortion overseas, supporting legislation that denies medical care to babies who survive abortions, and naming pro-abortion cabinet members.

He’ll soon nominate a pro-choice advocate for the Supreme Court. Obama’s actions are in direct opposition to the Vatican and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. There is no hope for change with Obama on abortion. Why wouldn’t Catholics be outraged?

continued...

Palin weighs in on Miss California debate

I haven't mentioned anything about what happened with Miss California, Carrie Prejean. I was disgusted but not surprised that the Left attacked her because of her beliefs - which by the way, the majority of the country agrees with, especially in her home state, California.

Last night Palin made a statement through SarahPAC regarding this issue, and basically slam-dunked it.

The Fix
By Chris Cillizza
Palin On Prejean

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin re-appeared on the national stage tonight, jumping to the defense of a beauty pageant contestant who has been at the center of a media feeding frenzy in recent days.

"The liberal onslaught of malicious attacks against [Miss California] Carrie Prejean for expressing her opinion is despicable," said Palin in a statement. Palin added that she spoke to Prejean soon after the beauty queen said publicly that she believed she had lost the Miss USA competition due to her answer to blogger -- and contest judge -- Perez Hilton that marriage is between a man and a woman.

"What I find so remarkable is that these politically-motivated attacks fail to show that what Carrie and I believe is also what President Obama and Secretary Clinton believe --- marriage is between a man and a woman," Palin added. "Our Constitution protects us all -- not just those who agree with the far left."

Palin signs book deal

More great news. We got official word that Palin signed a book deal to release her memoirs. There have been numerous reports since the election that she signed book deals but they were all false until today.

I hoped she would write a book soon and early. Put her ideas out there in her words, and it will give MSM and voters a chance to let it all sink in for a few years. Of course I'm expecting MSM to rip it to shreds but that'll be done now, instead of in 2011 during the campaign. I'm very happy about this.

h/t from vigilant Northern Exposer at Conservative Jedi: Palin to Release Memoirs

Great news! AK State Personnel Board dismissed ethics complaints

From the Campaign Spot I read that the AK State Personnel Board cleared Palin of some of the frivolous ethics complaints filed against her. Great! Hopefully now the smearers will learn that abusing the system in order to attack Palin won't get them anywhere.

SARAH PALIN
Jim Geraghty - Campaign Spot

Nine Down, Five to Go, Many More Wastes of Time to Come

With Alaska’s State Personnel Board dismissing another ethics complaint against Gov. Sarah Palin — concluding that, to the surprise of no one, she violated no laws or ethics rules by giving a speech at a pro-life dinner in Indiana — Palin’s office notes that out of 14 ethics complaints filed against the governor or her staff, nine have now been resolved without any finding that the law was broken. Another five complaints are still pending.

05/11 01:21 PM

Palin visits Eagle Village to see flood damage

The village of Eagle in Alaska has had massive flood damage, and most of the flood water has frozen to huge slabs of ice. Many residents have lost their homes and businesses in this horrible natural disaster. Palin visited the village to assess the damage and see how bad it really is. I pray for these poor people to have the strength to get through this.

This video and story from KTUU.com




Eagle resident: ‘None of us have any tears left'
KTUU.com
Posted: May 11, 2009 04:16 PM CDT
Updated: May 12, 2009 01:42 AM CDT
by Jill Burke

EAGLE, Alaska -- The communities of Eagle have shifted out of response mode and into relief. The critical danger, flood waters and moving ice are over.

But as the ice and the adrenaline of the initial shock start to recede, the overwhelming immensity of what has happened -- and what's ahead -- is trickling in.

Front Street follows the Yukon River's edge and is the economic lifeblood of the community.

A store, restaurant, hotels, gift shops, historic properties, homes -- all ruined in one big release of a winter river pushing into spring.

Warm days help rot the ice that pounded through and still sits here, but it's going to be a long time before it all clears out.

The National Park Service's Pat Sanders knows the area well, having lived here for 29 years.

"None of us have any tears left," Sanders said. "The magnitude of what has happened and the feelings that all of us ... the one remarkable thing about Eagle Village and Eagle Proper is the resiliency of the people. That is certainly coming into focus. Everyone is pulling together, it's just remarkable."

On the other side of a road now blocked by ice sits the Old Village of Eagle, which the ice completely washed over and wiped out.

Homes, fish huts, a church, health clinic, the graveyard -- all are beneath massive slabs of ice.

And those that can be found and seen are in shambles. The destruction awed Gov. Sarah Palin, who visited here Monday afternoon and listened to residents tell of what they've lost.

"I've been watching the news and seeing the pictures and getting the updates, but unless you're here and you're seeing this ice and touching this ice and you're seeing the power of the ice and the water and what it can do to structures -- it doesn't do it justice when we're watching it on TV," Palin said. "To be here and to see and hear how it has impacted lives is very significant."

continued...

Twilight Zone: prominent Republican disses Palin, MSM praises her

The planets must have aligned backwards or something yesterday when Bill Bennett fell for a CNN trap and dissed Palin, while the executive producer of Saturday Night Live was effusing with praise for Palin. What a weird day.

Bennett was on CNN yesterday for a discussion about the media's treatment of Republicans. Bennett rightly said that it was silly that they keep smearing Palin like a tabloid (paraphrasing) while not doing their journalistic duty and discussing the real issues, and the other possible candidates for 2012. CNN correspondent John King totally twisted his words (and proved Bennett's point) by saying that Bennett doesn't support Palin herself as a candidate. Unfortunately, Bennett fell for it.

“One of the things the media could do – some of the media – is to move the debate off Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh,” Bennett, a CNN Contributor, said on State of the Union. “This is probably not the future of the Republican Party,” added Bennett.

“You don’t think Gov. Palin’s the future of the Republican Party?” queried CNN Chief National Correspondent John King.

“I do not,” said Bennett. “It could talk about a Paul Ryan or a Mike Pence. It could talk about a Bobby Jindal. It could talk even about a John Kyl or a David Petraeus. You know, there’s a lot of talent in this party.”

Bennett's answer is full of nuance. He was talking about the media. He wasn't saying he doesn't support her. I'm sure Bennett supports all the people he listed. I'm sure he even supports Limbaugh, although I haven't researched that yet. But unfortunately his answer will go over most people's heads and the MSM will bring it up if Palin runs in 2012, mark my words. They're gathering a list of Republicans who don't like her so they can say she splits the party.

Meanwhile, SNL executive producer Marci Klein was straightforward with her praise of Palin when she appeared on her show last year.

JULIE MENIN, "Give and Take": Let's talk about Sarah Palin, because she was really the gift that kept on giving. So, what was she like when you first met her on the show?

MARCIE KLEIN, SENIOR PRODUCER "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Well, the first, I actually was the first person to meet her. She, one of the NBC pages, or someone in my office brought her up to the eighth floor, and I was standing there, and I, I, I thought, "Oh my God, she looks just like Tina." I mean, I couldn't believe how much she looked liked Tina. And, Tina was happened to be in my office, and I ran into my office, I shook her hand, and she had incredibly strong, you know, handshake, but I was overwhelmed by how much she physically looked like Tina, and how -- Tina Fey -- and how a lot of people come to our show, actors, musicians, and they're nervous. I mean, you know, "Saturday Night Live, I watched this my whole life." She was not nervous. I thought, "This is the most confident person I've ever met."

MENIN: Do you think that maybe she wasn't nervous because she hadn't watched the show before? Did she say if she'd watched the show before?

KLEIN: I'm sure she watched the show before, I don't know, but I think she's just a person with a lot of confidence. And I think when you see people with confidence, you like that. You know, you trust, you know, you, there's something, there's something to confidence that, that people respond to.

MENIN: So she was very likable?

KLEIN: Well, she was certainly lovely to deal with on our show.

When will I learn...

...not to be surprised at NRO's dislike of Palin? I swear this is like the 3rd or 4th time I've read and posted about a severely negative unwarranted ambush on Palin at NRO - the alleged bastion of conservative Republican thought.

This time it's from Steve Hayward, saying her speeches are too long. He even goes a step further saying they're "Castroesque." Great.

You could fit five of Reagan's state of the union speeches inside one of Bill Clinton's or George W. Bush's. (This means you, Governor Palin, whom I heard in Anchorage in March making a rambling hour-long speech that someone at my table rightly described as "Castroesque.") So try this out, GOP leaders: Shorter speeches. People will remember more of what you say, and want to hear you say more later. This really isn't rocket science. Heck, it isn't even political science.

Ironically, this was in a long piece regarding how the Right needs to defend and honor Ronald Reagan better against attacks like Jeb Bush made last week. Ironic considering Reagan is who Palin reminds most people of.

By the way, I would gladly take Hayward's place the next time he's been invited to one of Palin's speeches in Alaska. You know, since he hates them so much. I think it would be thrilling to attend her speech in person but that's me.

Limbaugh warns Palin about GOP leaders

As Republicans launch their re-branding effort, "National Council for a New America" (could they get a more boring name?) leaders of the party are falling to one side or the other. On one side are the people who believe in strong conservative principles, Reagan-style politics, very limited government and individual freedom. The other side are the people who more or less say they believe in the same ideals; however, they believe running on that platform will never win elections. They believe the "old way" is dead and we need to change the party and adapt it in order to win elections.

I thought Jeb Bush would have been a good VP pick for Palin if she ever decided to run for President. His remarks at the National Council for a New America (NCNA) kickoff event made me re-think that idea.

"Bush, in particular, expressed admiration for President Obama's political skill, and told the crowd not to get mired in "nostalgia" for past GOP dominance."

That's fine if those are Bush's personal views. But that is not the right message to send to Republicans in a concerned effort to rebuild the party. Color me unimpressed with NCNA so far. For Bush to make such a pro-Obama and anti-GOP comment at this point after everything we've seen Obama do in his first 100 days in office - makes think Bush has lost his mind.

Republicans need to be fired up and ready to return to our roots in order to stave off this encroaching socialism. If a Republican is not just a little upset about what's going on in our government, something's wrong. If a Republican is praising Obama and doesn't recognize the threat to freedom he presents and the soaring taxes we'll have to endure, something's wrong.

Earlier this year Bush stated that he would not run for Florida's Senate seat in 2010, a seat that will be vacated by Mel Martinez (R) who is retiring. Bush's decision prompted many to speculate that he wasn't going to run for President in the short term, either. Him being a member of NCNA's panel and expressing those views makes me think he does have ambitions to run in the short term, but he wants to shape the party first and hone his platform. He's distancing himself from his father and brother's political views with those statements. I'm reading a lot into it but I believe that has to be one of the reasons he's part of NCNA at this point in his career.

Palin accepted an invitation to be on NCNA's panel of experts along with Bush, Eric Cantor, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.

Rush Limbaugh didn't like Bush's statements either, and warned Palin that these are people in the GOP who could dislike her and her political views.

"Something else you have to understand is these people hate Palin too," the conservative radio host said Monday. "They despise Sarah Palin, they fear Sarah Palin, they don't like her either. She's, according to them she's embarrassing. McCain said, 'I was there with Ronald Reagan'…. No Reagan voter ever believed McCain was a Reaganite.

"And I think… a lot of this is aimed at Sarah Palin. When you strip all the talk — It's 'the Reagan era is over, stop all this nostalgia and stuff.' Clearly, in last year's campaign, the most prominent, articulate voice for standard, run-of-the-mill, good old-fashioned American conservatism was Sarah Palin. Now, everybody on this [NCNA] Speak to America tour has presidential aspirations. Mitt Romney there, he wants to be president again. Jeb may someday.

I think it's not only a warning to Palin, but also to any Republican who agrees with her - that is, the hardline conservative Reaganite Republican.

Update on federal stimulus: Palin accepts most and is bound by Legislators

When the Legislature voted unanimously to accept all of the federal stimulus money allocated for Alaska, it really backed Palin into a corner. She received no support from fellow Republicans. The elected officials for their constituency voted to accept and it wouldn't be good if Palin vetoed against their wishes, which are, in effect, the wishes of their constituency.

It was a lose-lose situation for Palin. The dangerous strings attached to the money and increased federal oversight on state projects will be bad for Alaskan growth, and when it does reveal itself to be a problem, they'll blame Palin for accepting the money. However, if she had vetoed it they would accuse her of being a power-mongering dictator who vetoes against the public will. It's just a lose-lose.

It's just like how the Alaska Legislators can take a week-long break from the legislative session without hesitation but point fingers at Palin when she took one day off to speak at a dinner. They have no problem throwing Palin under the bus time and again whenever they need a scapegoat.

But the bright spot is that Palin did try her best to do what was good for the state in her opinion. She warned of all the issues related to accepting the money. Hopefully the Legislature can "own" this and not blame Palin when things go South.

Governor accepts
Fairbanks Daily Newsminer
Federal stimulus dollars will add to state spending
Published Thursday, April 30, 2009

The plan to spend almost $1 billion federal stimulus funding in Alaska appears well set now, following Gov. Sarah Palin’s announcement Tuesday that she would not oppose the major elements of legislative action on the money.

This newspaper on Sunday suggested the governor veto a substantial portion of state funding and let the holes be backfilled with federal money. That seems a prudent course, given the need to conserve state savings for the day when those savings will be needed to avoid driving Alaska’s government off a fiscal cliff.

The Legislature and governor have agreed to some backfilling. About $128 million in federal money will replace, dollar-for-dollar, part of the state’s spending on Medicaid. Another few million will replace some state spending on child support enforcement.

More could have been done. For example, the governor proposed during the session that the Legislature use about $120 million, mostly in federal education funds, to replace some of money the state sends to Alaska’s school districts. The Legislature instead tacked the federal money on top of regular school expenditures — a choice that has some merit and obviously has pleased school officials. Those officials promise not to use the money to create an unsustainable increase in staffing.

The governor still could issue vetoes and then ask that the Legislature rearrange the federal money to backfill some of the cuts, but that appears unlikely now.

The governor has accepted most of the Legislature’s actions, according to her statement and news release Tuesday. The lead paragraph of the news release announced that she “acknowledged” the legislative decisions, but the details that followed indicate she has accepted them. If that’s the case, it should be stated more clearly in the future.

The governor would face a major procedural hurdle to any vetoes designed to force a reallocation of federal funds. Additional backfilling with federal money would not occur automatically if she vetoed the state money. To make the backfilling happen, the Legislature would need to reconvene and amend the spending bills to redirect the federal funds into any holes left by the vetoes.

That outcome seems unlikely. Given our legislators’ demonstrated enthusiasm for laying federal dollar on top of state dollar, they likely would override the vetoes and go home. The governor, in that case, would have accomplished nothing and suffered a second public defeat to boot.

No, the die has been set. The federal dollars will fall as the Legislature has decreed, mostly on top of the state’s own.

Sarah, one of Time's Most Influential 100

RICHARD FLEISCHMAN FOR TIME

The TIME 100: Sarah Palin by Ann Coulter
Friday, May. 01, 2009

Sarah Palin was arguably the most influential person in 2008, but no one notices because she wasn't influential enough to overcome the deficits of her running mate and win the election.

Until Palin, 45, burst onto the scene, Obama was headed for a Nixon/McGovern landslide. Palin may not have changed the election result, but she killed what otherwise would have been a rout.

John McCain was so preposterous a candidate (at least on a Republican ticket) that Palin was responsible for far more votes than the usual vice-presidential candidate. The biggest red flag proving her popularity with normal Americans is that liberals won't shut up about her.

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