Posted on 06/25/2010 10:03:27 AM PDT by Bob J
Information in this post is gleened from two sources;
http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/the-cost-of-legal-warfare-a-few-words-about-todays-defense-fund-agreement/401885808434
http://www.adn.com/2010/06/24/1339431/settlement-of-ethics-complaint.html
Yesterday, Sarah Palin's legal defense fund was judged to be in violation of State ethics laws. I have followed this controversy and to be fair, I found the objections to it to be a little thin, but most of us don't live in Alaska and are not famliar with the subtle tones of their ethics laws and issues.
I will say this, IMO most if not al of the problems with it could have been avoided early on but Palin in concert with her advisors made several bad decisions and missteps that brought it to this point.
1. Alaska State Ethics Laws
Much is made of the back bencher dems in Alaska who filed ethics complaint after ethics complaint which "hounded" Palin out of office. But we have to remember this severely flawed ethics law was one that was championed by Palin and which she signed into law.
Now it happens that sometimes flawed laws get passed and signed but when they are discovered it is possible to go back and fix it. From the beginning of these ethics charges right up until now I've never understood why a Republican Governor with a 2/3rds majority in the State Congress couldn't just go back and amend the law allow the State Attorney General the ability to handle and defend these issues (like most states) and also if the charges are thrown out or deemed without merit allow the politician in question to recover any legal costs incurred.
Seems reasonable to me, why was this never done, maybe never contemplated by Palin or the pubs in Alaska? Palin supporters make much hay about how the law is flawed, how it was used to harass and bankrupt her, just fix it, dammit!
2. Rejecting sound legal advice
Supporters repeat over and over how Palin was only following the advice of her attornesy, fair enough, that's what most do. But this isn't entirely true. Yes Palin accepted what ammounted to the final product of her advisors but early on it was "strongly advised" by her personal attorney to have the fund vetted by the Alaska Department of Law to make sure it was legal under Alaska ethics law.
"But Palin instead chose to follow the advice of another attorney who recommended against seeking input from the attorney general, and instead to simply contest the "inevitable" ethics complaint when it came, Petumenos wrote in his report."
Huh? Why?
3. The "Alaskan" Connection
Next, Palin asked that "we keep it Alaskan".
Now I'm not exactly sure what this means but I guess it means that it be controlled and staffed by Alaskans. It seems to me a competent chief executive would want to get the best possible people to handle affairs no matter where they come from. But this led to her team turning down an offer from a former White House Special Counsel to serve as trustee. Instead she chose a personal friend and community volunteer, Kristan Cole.
Huh? Why? The stated reason was that Cole was someone Alaskans would know, but what difference would that make? Probably 95% of donations would be coming from outside the state, it seems those donors would recognize and a former White House Councel over some soccer mom friend of Sarah's. The only reason I can think of is because it has been the case (although who knows in this one) that trustees of these kinds of fun receive a considerable salary to market, manage and disburse the fund. Maybe Palin wanted to "keep it in the family" like Hillary did when she made the famous White House Travel Office scandal comment "We have to get OUR people in these spots".
Whatever, that decision was involved in her losing this ethics complaint because Palin had appointed Cole to several volunteer boards and therefore "worked" for Palin and the relationship could engender a political payback down line.
Thin, I agree, but could have been avoided if she hadn't rejected good sound advice and offers.
4. The Name and Website.
This one I just don't understand. They decided to call this the "Alaska Fund Trust".
Huh? Why not call it the "Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund" so no one would be confused as to it's purpose? Second, on the website created for the fund they described it as "Official". Well the word "official" has legal connotations. By slapping that lable on it they gave the impression it was sanctioned not only by the Governor but by the State of Alaska.
Just a dumb move. But that's what happens when you have your volunteer personal friends handling things and making decisions instead of experienced, competent professionals. And if it wasn't her frinds making those decisions then it means Palin was, which is even more disturbing.
Palin supporters want us to believe she is ready for the oval office. I've researched her history and find these kind of missteps and bad decisions throughout her career. In this case it wasn't five or ten years ago, these things happened in the last year or so.
If Palin can't handle and make good decisions in something as simple as a legal defense fund, how can we trust her to make the right decisions sittig in the oval office with her finger on the button?
I’m not sure you said what I think you said but if you did say it then there is nothing else to be said.
If you say you did not say what you said, that’s OK too.
;-)
Yes. Series, too!
Is this a joke?
No.
Aren't you aware that the search functions here on FR make it possible to not have to read entire threads, but only the comments made by specific posters?
Shucks! Really???? All these years at FR and it took a newbie sheepherder to point it out to me. Wow!
I'm sure that the Palins wouldn't waste their time with most of the threads; however, BobJ and mkjessup posts --- that's a different matter, entirely.
ROFL. So you believe that the Palins regularly come to FR and review the posts by these two freepers -- but never read the full thread? Yep -- those are some pretty powerful and dangerous freepers! MUST keep an eye on those two! Too funny.
Carry on. May the campaign find better help before election season.
You know perfectly well what I said I didn’t say...
But if you say you don’t know perfectly well, then all I can say is that I never said you did.
In fact, I’ve never even spoken to you on this subject, ever!
And who are you anyway? Do I know you?
This is the first time I’ve been to this forum.
And why are there funny looking shorts on my head?
The thought, “no sharp instruments” keeps coming to mind...
What can I say, the a**hole is the natural enemy of the douchebag. I would much rather use my a**hole powers to work on the side of those who, while they may be a little overly enthusiastic in supporting their candidate, at least are supporting someone who’s on the same side versus those whose obsession with enthusiastic supporters places him opposing Conservative values.
Now... a**hole away! Off to fight more douchebags.
It’s reasoned. Nice post Bob.
There are legitimate issues with Palin. That’s why I hope someone else will become our standard bearer in 2012. IMO, this woman is a cruise missile getting ready to blow up in our faces in late 2011/2012, just like MeCain did in 2007/2008.
Yes she has some things right. She is still not ready for prime time. I won’t be supporting her.
How LAME can a response be, they all were twittering with giggles that I insisted that I never stated that the Palins read all the Palin threads. Just LAME.
Dear Ms. Pennie,
Are you calling me “Lame”? If not, to whom are you referring?
FYI, I rarely twitter and am not a giggler. Good hearty laughs? Absolutely.
Keep up the name calling and personal attacks. It makes it easier for casual readers to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Carry on!
LOL. Head spinning.
Time for me to go out and enjoy some sunshine.
See ya later.
It is good to criticize fanaticism, esp. BLIND fanaticism--but be equally weary of fanatical Palin haters such as Bob J, regardless of how they mask their true wishes for Palin in "constructive critic" guise...There are plenty of writers and thinkers out there who offer honest critique of Palin WHILE HAVING HER BEST INTERESTS IN MIND and WHO WANT HER TO come out WINNING.
BOB J is obviously NOT one of those people. He could care less for Palin and is one of those people who takes "joy" everytime she supposedly "falls." To him, Palin is an enemy that must be destroyed for good, not a good leader with clear weaknesses.
There is something viscerally powerful about Palin that goes beyond her gender (even Michele Bachmann doesn't attract the kind of hate Palin does) and beyond her nonconformist style of operating...it's really quite fascinating to ponder how and why God is using her and her family to invoke such captivating responses from people across the world. The hate, envy, and ultimately FEAR she is met with by some corners of society is truly remarkable...and some of those people from those corners surf this site.
I hope you have a great day CalCowGirl. Oh wait, did I say that...
Y.A.W.N.
lol!!!
Youse Absolutely Writin Now !!
;-)
Save this ;-)
“There is something viscerally powerful about Palin that goes beyond her gender (even Michele Bachmann doesn’t attract the kind of hate Palin does) and beyond her nonconformist style of operating...it’s really quite fascinating to ponder how and why God is using her and her family to invoke such captivating responses from people across the world. “
After Sarah’s relentless TV & radio campaigning for the evil John McCain, I can assure you that God had nothing to do with this ;-)
Oh pleeeeZ.... don’t be bashful, tell us how you reaaaaally think!!
Well, Bob, don’t look now but you ARE a nut with PDS. Seriously, you need a rest.
YOU Betcha!
In response to question #2.... errrr... could you repeat the question?
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