Posted on 04/15/2010 10:36:02 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Remember when Sarah Palin told us she was quitting as governor of Alaska because she's not a quitter, and she explained what her mission would be in the weeks and months to come?
"I'm gonna do some huntin' and some fishin' for sure, but I'm also gonna make me a boatload of dough," Palin said.
"What with the book sellin' and the public speakin' and whatnot, I'll be making way more money than any of your losers in the lamestream media!"
Oh wait. She didn't say that. What Palin said in part was:
"I choose, for my state and my family, more freedom to progress, all the way around . . . I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks . . . travel around the state, to the Lower 48 . . . and then I thought, that's what's wrong. Many accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck and 'milk it.' . . . That's not how I am wired."
Damn straight. The last thing Palin would ever do is hit the road and draw the paycheck.
Ahem.
Ladies and gentlemen, Sarah Pay-lin Sarah Palin was earning $125,000 a year as the governor of Alaska. Had John McCain not tabbed her to be his running mate, one imagines Palin would still be governor and would be gearing up for a re-election bid in November.
Heck, if McCain had won the presidential election, Vice President Palin wouldn't be as high-profile as Rogue Superstar Palin -- and she certainly wouldn't be making anywhere near the dough she's raking in as an author, public speaker and television personality. (It's funny how Palin delights in ripping the mainstream media, even as she cashes big paychecks from . . . the mainstream media.)
Since resigning from office last summer, Palin has made more than $12 million "through television and book deals and a heavy schedule of speaking appearances worth five and six figures," according to a "conservative" estimate from ABC News.
The ABC estimate comes from publicly available records and news accounts. Based on my own analysis of those records and news accounts, conversations with TV insiders and my knowledge of the going speaking rates for a number of high-profile figures, I'd agree that the $12 million estimate is on the low side. I'd put the figure at $15 million.
A Palin aide told ABC News that Palin "is now a private citizen. As a result, her fees and earnings are private."
True enough. And you know what? This is America, land of opportunity, and if Sarah Palin can pick up $75,000 or $100,000 or more for trotting out her folksy conservative shtick to the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America and various tea parties, God bless.
It's not like Democrat politicians haven't cashed in big-time after leaving office. By some estimate, Bill Clinton has made more than $40 million in speaking fees since leaving office. In 2007, the Smoking Gun obtained the standard speaking contract for Al Gore's "Environmental Multimedia Lecture," which stipulated a $100,000 fee, plus expenses for travel, accommodations, security and per diem.
Six pages of Palin's standard contract have been made public after students at Cal State Stanislaus found the documents in a Dumpster. Much fun is being made of Palin's requirement that two unopened bottles of water and "bendable straws" must be waiting on the podium, but why not? Those un-bendy straws can be tricky. With the bendable models, you're much less prone to gettin' a poke in the eye.
The jet set Palin also requires a private aircraft that "MUST BE a Lear 60 or larger . . . for West Coast events," according to the contract. This kind of thing comes as a shock only to those who truly believe Palin was ridin' around in that big bus on the book tour and lovin' every minute of doin' the regular gal thing. (It was reported that Palin's Going Rogue bus at times was nothing more than a big shiny prop, as Palin was actually going from stop to stop on a Gulfstream 2 private jet at the cost of $4,000 an hour.)
Again: Palin is hardly the first politician to fly to a locale, get on a bus or a train, and act as is they've been riding all night just to get there. As long as she's upfront about her newfound wealth, as long as she doesn't play the "I'm gettin' my clothes at the same consignment shop in Anchorage" card too much, earn away ma'am.
Sarah Palin is a multimedia superstar. Millions of Americans want to read her book and see her speak in public and watch her on TV. Good for her.
But I wonder: Will Palin ever want to run for any office again, knowing that she'll be looking at such a drastic pay cut?
mailto:rroeper@suntimes.com
I get the distinct impression that Roeper is missing his Y-chromosome when he squeals like this. But it is good to see that Sarah did ultimately make the right move.
Outstanding financial pay-off for Obama since he began running for the WH. Books he wrote, in addition to the salary paid to him by the people, brought he and his wife over 5 million dollars during his first full year in office. Payoff for the people who pay him not so good. Increased taxes, inferior health care, discouragement for the future, change of the American system to what it was never meant to be.
BHO made 5.5 million last year.
Where is the MSM outrage!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been listening to him as Roe Conn’s new “partner”. He’s got a great sense of humor. And, like Roe, an acute awareness of the culture.
Ultimately, he’s a lib hack and will be gone soon. I think Roe’s ego will push him out.
Heck, Obama earned over $5 million and didn’t even write the books the union thugs and Democrat fat cats are buying!
Where’s the outrage over that?
Didn’t Bammy make $5 million in 2009?
Yes.
Meanwhile.................Obama made 5 and a half million last year.
To win the good opinion of failed pundits like Roeper, Sarah would have to convert to liberalism and funnel all her income through a “Clinton Global Peace Initiative” or something like the “Jimmy Carter Center for World Peace”. These are three-fers. You get to travel around the world on private jets and stay in five star resorts for free, all while being hailed as the greatest humanitarian since Jesus, and not pay a dime in income tax because you’re working for a “charity”.
That’s really how the racket is worked. The Democrats invented it.
“He’s got a great sense of humor.”
No, he doesn’t. Humor must contain an element of truth; he knows nothing that is true.
“And, like Roe, an acute awareness of the culture.”
Everything he’s “aware of” is wrong.
So, you an agent provocateur, or what?
That's about the one thing I'd agree with this guy on.
“But I wonder: Will Palin ever want to run for any office again, knowing that she'll be looking at such a drastic pay cut?
Why not?
Dick Cheney did it. Rumsfeld did it. Literally hundreds of politicians have taken huge pay cuts when they took public office. It's about making a greater difference to this country, stupid!
Isn’t Albert Gore Junior worth over $100,000,000 now with a trillion dollar Marxist redisribution of wealth scheme in the works?
To borrow one from Homer Simpson, Roeper is Conn’s “new kiss-ass partner.”
Ummm..Fox is not the mainstream media. Fox is the ANTI-mainstream media.
BHO tithed less than 0.65% (less than ONE percent) of his 2009 income to charities. Where is the MSM outrage?
He needs to SHARE his own wealth more. Especially with his poor half brothers.
The bendy straws are probably for her kids...
I guess I'm the "what". I listen for the entertainment value, not the political ideology.
Roe Conn is a free market liberterian and a social liberal. That doesn't mean he isn't entertaining.
I'm waiting for Roeper to say something that will show his colors (and he will). He'll get run out of there quick-like
I think you moved a decimal. He made $5.5 million and had charitable contributions of $329,000 which is 5.98%.
Biden on the other hand made $330,000 and donated $4,800 to charity or 1.45%
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