Palin Charged State for Children’s Travel

You call that reform?…I call it Business as usual!!

You have got to be kidding me…..you have stooped to a new low. Attacking the children traveling with their parents without having any knowlefge of the situation as to if it was warranted. This is Air America in print I guess. So much for objectivity.

It is NOT THE TAX LAW that you disclose Per Diem or travel expenses on your tax return you nit. Have you ever traveled for work before? Your getting reinbursed for EXPENSES your have incurred.

Laura, your straight up a D^&* a$#. Get a new line of work.

Get a new line of work.

re: Independent Mind

Laura is simply reporting a story that was written by the AP. She made no claims about it, just reported the facts as they were presented to her. It's not fair to criticize her for that. In fact her reporting was about as objective as you can get.

Man! It just does not seem to end. What other baggage is this Gov carrying? And could it later be impeachable? No, it has never been wrong to have kids with you, never, but cooking/misleading declarations & recitals. That was always a No, No. I was teetering in the middle… no more, It's Obama for my vote!

This woman should not have accepted the vp slot she already has too much baggage and drags her kids every where she goes.when do they ever go to school?america we r better than this

WOW! a whole $21K in the two years from 2006 thru 2008 for family travel?!? Snap!! The AP is really blowing the story w-i-d-e o-p-e-n on this con.

Give me a break, it's about as clear as the nose on most peoples' faces. The media has an axe to grind against this newcomer to the political stage. She doesn't fit their model, and she's running on a ticket that challenges their annointed One.

The travel expenses for this Governor's family were not even billed to the state until she earned and SAVED THE STATE MILLIONS by selling the governor's jet. What sounds better to you taxpayers? Hundreds of thousands of dollars to use and maintain a jet reserved specifically for the governor's use at their pleasure, OR $21K spent on family travel by commercial airlines.

Even “you Obama people” should be able to get this…
LOL

McCain has my vote, as THE MEDIA HAS TRIED TOO HARD TO SWAY MY VOTE to their annointed one. As long as there is a majority of voters capable of researching and understanding fact and substance, the media will fail to run the outcome of this election.

The wisdom and qualifications of the two presidential candidates is clear as night and day, and Obama is unfit to serve… PERIOD.

I prefer to research and compare facts not listen to propaganda.

Do your research. She LOST money on the plane. I was sold for less than the state paid for it and it was NOT sold on EBay.

Were you really sold for less than the state paid for it?!?!

She didn't save us Alaskan's diddly-squat. She sold the jet at a loss, all-the-while trying to look like she was doing us this huge favor. I dont' want to pay for her children's travel expenses. Sorry. When she was elected as governor, we (not me) elected one woman, not her entire household. The rest of us have to pay for daycare for our kids, and she can certainly afford it on her salary. So she soaked the State of Alaska for almost $40,000 to pay for high end trips and hotels that we didn't bargain for and then claims to be such a fiscal conservative. Queen Sarah has lived her life feeling she is entitled to take advantage of every opportunity and walk on every person she encounters to get ahead. You are getting a front row seat of a show engineered by a classic narcissist. This woman shipped her teen daugher off to her sister Heather in Anchrage, because Bristol was too embarrassing to have hanging around Juneau of Wasilla. Spending more time with the kids? That's a laugh. Palin is a pitiful and absent excuse for a mother, and is even worse as a public servant.

Let's not miss the biggest point. If she wasn't doing anything wrong, why did she feel the need to amend the travel forms? I work for the government, and I can assure you that this type of falsification of records would result in termination and criminal charges in my agency.

She's fiscally conservative except when it comes to her own expenses…. LOL That woman is a damned fraud if I ever saw one.

And it should result in termination in this case as well. I'm sure there are a lot more abuses of power where that came from.

Well stated. Once she loses this election, you Alaskans need to send her packing back to Wasilla. Maybe they'll give her her old job back.

This woman clearly does not need to be in power.

You are correct on all accounts. It seems like yesterday that the press was pushing for John McCain … what happened? Their flip-flop stinks more that that of any politician of whom we expect policy driven by the currents of the shifting political wind. But the press is supposed to report the facts, not manufacture them. We need a new Congress … a real outsider from the business world as President … a Justice Department that prosecutes the true rapists of the country … and a press that cannot mnufature and distort the news. Now where is that planet located?

At least John McCain is a proven reformer … and Sarah Palin is the closest thing to a real American we have seen in decades … so … let's go … elect the best available and look forward to a better day.

Renee, Cheri, and LJNY -

Nice exchange but I'm going to address each of you separately, with facts and common sense.

RENEE,
I'd like to suppose you're not even from Alaska as you implied in your message. But, since I have no proof otherwise I'll accept your claim as truth. Your claim that she soaked Alaska for $40,000 is now nearly doubled the actual expense totals of $21,000. I'm guessing tomorrow others may claim she has cost the state $200,000 for her family's travel. For some reason, liberals have trouble with math and numbers. I'm guessing it may because they're mostly art-minded (which I admit is a strength of theirs).

It's not uncommon for Governors and other executives to include their families when they travel. Don't be sorry you “don't want to pay for her entire household”, just accept it as this is the way most executives do it – and there is little you can do to change that from your home in Alaska. Family travel never has been an issue, and the reason the AP is raising this issue now is clear.

Bristol to her Aunt Heather's? It seems common sense that any mom would see need to shelter their daughter. If Sarah was embarrassed over the matter in Juneau, why would she ever ascend the public stage where all eyes of the world would learn her daughter was pregnant? Go fishing some more. Are you really from Alaska, as you say? I'm having a more difficult time believing that now.

You're leveling yourself with the lowest liberal when you make a general claim that this lady is a “pitiful and absent excuse for a mother”. Are you an extended member of the Palin family? Do you move in their same circles, or take notice her behavior with them at WalMart during her diaper runs?

As a public servant for Alaska, she has SAVED TAX PAYERS MILLIONS without sacrificing services they need from their Government.

CHERI,
“Fiscally conservative except with her own expenses?” You can't be serious, when this woman has expensed only $21K for her family's travel over two years following the $2.1MIL sale of a state-owned jet which consumes that much in fuel for only a half dozen trips to the lower 48.

LOL… and you claim SHE is the “damned fraud”? Apparently, if you ever claim to understand finance that could make YOU a FRAUD.

Nice picture, btw, is that really you?

LJNY,
Clarification of purpose is prudent, not criminal.

Don't even get me started on the pass the Clinton administration was handed while refiling and losing documents during it's eight years in the highest office. They and their staffers covered more rewrites in 8 years than Hollywood in 8 decades.

Again, nice try but not nice enough.

YOU ALL HAVE NOTHING

Clarification of purpose is prudent, not criminal.

Don't even get me started on the pass the Clinton administration was handed while refiling and losing documents during it's eight years in the highest office. They LOST more documents than Palin has submitted. They and their staffers covered more rewrites in 8 years than Hollywood in 8 decades. God knows the country would have been better off if their tampering with documents had resulted in termination.

I find it interesting that you have resorted to personal attacks. Why does the fact that others have different opinions from you bother you so much?

I get it, you're angry that I called Palin a fraud, and you were eager to turn the quip back on me. However, it may surprise you that as someone WHO DOES have a background in finance, I happen to agree with the selling of the plane at what some have termed as “a loss.” It was necessary ASAP to cut the losses caused by the jackass who bought it in the first place. Deduction for depreciation is a reasonable expectation.

Nothing wrong with being passionate about your views, but being disrespectful is uncalled for. For the record, I actually agree with a lot of the so-called conservative values. However, I will never be a member of the GOP because (as you have so perfectly shown by your condescending and disrespectful tone) there is a cancer of wrongheaded approaches that festers within your ranks. This approach is contrary to all that is reasonable, and only appeals to others who are just like you. That is what makes the base of your group so dangerous.

As you have illustrated with your remarks here on this forum, the GOP is not a place where a culture of inclusion can flourish. Period.

And for the record, that is me in the photo, although it has little to do with this conversation… Usual GOP tactics–attempt to distract from the main issue at hand.

Everyone is entitled to their personal views and opinions. I do, however, appreciate comments that are backed up with fact.

At the heart of my remarks is my love for this country, and the duty I feel to do my part to make sure it remains free as the founding fathers intended, warts and all.

If I've become personal in my remarks, I apologize. To personally malign someone completely counters my hope and intent. If you feel I was personal, please pardon me and accept my apology. Some of my remarks are intentionally comedic (perhaps weakly) so that this discussion can remain light.

Yours is the only comment that includes a picture. I think it's nice!
;- )

Roger,

Thanks for the response. Your apology is accepted, and I offer my own since it appears that I have mischaracterised your position/intent.

I respect that you are passionate about your beliefs, I really do. And you should also know that I love my country just as much as you do. I think the reason we're all so passionate is because we do love our country.

In the end, I think that we have to keep in mind that we will have to share the country when this is all over. I'm really concerned about the negativity and fear-based politics in this election.

Regarding the photo, I think it's cool to know who I'm talking to. Depending on the site you're commenting on

Now that we've gotten all mushy I,do have to ask what you think about the 150K that is alleged to have been spent on Palin's wardrobe… I mean, c'mon…

P.S. I would invite you over to my blog (accessible from my profile), but I'm afraid your eyes might burn out due to my scathing commentaries and the Obama slideshow that I just put up today! LOL

This is the level of discussion of that exceeds goals.

I haven't looked into the $150K wardrobe matter, but I'm horrible to ask about such things because I think $5K is over the top. Not to point fingers, but Obama's mini-replica Oval office in that Denver stadium was fairly pricey, too.

I feel that's all money that could have been put to better use around the country. I suppose as a capitalist-minded individual, I would argue that money was put back into our economy by both parties.

I'm just not big on image. I really do try to look thru the image, the glamour, and the eloquence to see what lies underneath.

It's back to work for me now, but I'll look into adding a photo, too. And, I'll take a look at your blog once I have time to get my shields up.

Now, enough with the mushy stuff. I feel like I need to go shoot a moose.

She's fiscally conservative except when it comes to her own expenses…. LOL That woman is a damned fraud if I ever saw one.

And it should result in termination in this case as well. I'm sure there are a lot more abuses of power where that came from.

Well stated. Once she loses this election, you Alaskans need to send her packing back to Wasilla. Maybe they'll give her her old job back.

This woman clearly does not need to be in power.

You are correct on all accounts. It seems like yesterday that the press was pushing for John McCain … what happened? Their flip-flop stinks more that that of any politician of whom we expect policy driven by the currents of the shifting political wind. But the press is supposed to report the facts, not manufacture them. We need a new Congress … a real outsider from the business world as President … a Justice Department that prosecutes the true rapists of the country … and a press that cannot mnufature and distort the news. Now where is that planet located?

At least John McCain is a proven reformer … and Sarah Palin is the closest thing to a real American we have seen in decades … so … let's go … elect the best available and look forward to a better day.

Renee, Cheri, and LJNY -

Nice exchange but I'm going to address each of you separately, with facts and common sense.

RENEE,
I'd like to suppose you're not even from Alaska as you implied in your message. But, since I have no proof otherwise I'll accept your claim as truth. Your claim that she soaked Alaska for $40,000 is now nearly doubled the actual expense totals of $21,000. I'm guessing tomorrow others may claim she has cost the state $200,000 for her family's travel. For some reason, liberals have trouble with math and numbers. I'm guessing it may be because they're mostly art-minded (which I admit is a strength of theirs).

It's not uncommon for Governors and other executives to include their families when they travel. Don't be sorry you “don't want to pay for her entire household”, just accept it as this is the way most executives do it – and there is little you can do to change that from your home in Alaska. Family travel never has been an issue, and the reason the AP is raising this issue now is clear.

Bristol to her Aunt Heather's? It seems common sense that any mom would see need to shelter their daughter. If Sarah was embarrassed over the pregnancy matter in Juneau, why would she ever ascend the public stage where all eyes of the world would learn her daughter was pregnant? Go fishing some more. Are you really from Alaska, as you say? I'm having a more difficult time believing that now.

You're really at rock bottom when you make quick, general remarks such as this lady is a “pitiful and absent excuse for a mother”. Are you an extended member of the Palin family? Do you move in their same circles, or notice her interaction with them at WalMart during her diaper runs?

As a public servant for Alaska, she has SAVED TAX PAYERS MILLIONS without sacrificing services important from government.

CHERI,
“Fiscally conservative except with her own expenses?” You can't be serious, when this woman has expensed only $21K for her family's travel over two years following the $2.1MIL sale of a state-owned jet which consumes that much in fuel during only a half dozen trips to the lower 48.

LOL… and you claim SHE is the “damned fraud”? Apparently, if you ever claim to understand finance that could make YOU a FRAUD.

LJNY,
Clarification of purpose is prudent, not criminal.

Don't even get me started on the pass the Clinton administration was handed while refiling and losing documents during it's eight years in the highest office. They LOST more documents than Palin has submitted. They and their staffers covered more rewrites in 8 years than Hollywood in 8 decades. God knows the country would have been better off if their tampering with documents had resulted in termination.

Nice try but not nice enough.

AGAIN – YOU ALL HAVE NOTHING

Clarification of purpose is prudent, not criminal.

Don't even get me started on the pass the Clinton administration was handed while refiling and losing documents during it's eight years in the highest office. They LOST more documents than Palin has submitted. They and their staffers covered more rewrites in 8 years than Hollywood in 8 decades. God knows the country would have been better off if their tampering with documents had resulted in termination.

I find it interesting that you have resorted to personal attacks. Why does the fact that others have different opinions from you bother you so much?

I get it, you're angry that I called Palin a fraud, and you were eager to turn the quip back on me. However, it may surprise you that as someone WHO DOES have a background in finance, I happen to agree with the selling of the plane at what some have termed as “a loss.” It was necessary ASAP to cut the losses caused by the jackass who bought it in the first place. Deduction for depreciation is a reasonable expectation.

Nothing wrong with being passionate about your views, but being disrespectful is uncalled for. For the record, I actually agree with a lot of the so-called conservative values. However, I will never be a member of the GOP because (as you have so perfectly shown by your condescending and disrespectful tone) there is a cancer of wrongheaded approaches that festers within your ranks. This approach is contrary to all that is reasonable, and only appeals to others who are just like you. That is what makes the base of your group so dangerous.

As you have illustrated with your remarks here on this forum, the GOP is not a place where a culture of inclusion can flourish. Period.

And for the record, that is me in the photo, although it has little to do with this conversation… Usual GOP tactics–attempt to distract from the main issue at hand.

Everyone is entitled to their personal views and opinions. I do, however, appreciate comments that are backed up with fact.

At the heart of my remarks is my love for this country, and the duty I feel to do my part to make sure it remains free as the founding fathers intended, warts and all.

If I've become personal in my remarks, I apologize. To personally malign someone completely counters my hope and intent. If you feel I was personal, please pardon me and accept my apology. Some of my remarks are intentionally comedic (perhaps weakly) so that this discussion can remain light.

Yours is the only comment that includes a picture. I think it's nice!
;- )

Roger,

Thanks for the response. Your apology is accepted, and I offer my own since it appears that I have mischaracterised your position/intent.

I respect that you are passionate about your beliefs, I really do. And you should also know that I love my country just as much as you do. I think the reason we're all so passionate is because we do love our country.

In the end, I think that we have to keep in mind that we will have to share the country when this is all over. I'm really concerned about the negativity and fear-based politics in this election.

Regarding the photo, I think it's cool to know who I'm talking to. Depending on the site you're commenting on people show more/less photos in their profiles.

Now that we've gotten all mushy I,do have to ask what you think about the 150K that is alleged to have been spent on Palin's wardrobe… I mean, c'mon…

P.S. I would invite you over to my blog (accessible from my profile), but I'm afraid your eyes might burn out due to my scathing commentaries and the Obama slideshow that I just put up today! LOL

This is the level of discussion that exceeds goals.

I haven't looked into the $150K wardrobe matter, but I'm horrible to ask about such things because I think $5K is over the top. Not to point fingers, but Obama's mini-replica Oval office in that Denver stadium was fairly pricey, too.

I feel that's all money that could have been put to better use around the country. I suppose as a capitalist-minded individual, I would argue that money was put back into our economy by both parties.

I'm just not big on image. I really do try to look thru the image, the glamour, and the eloquence to see what lies underneath.

It's back to work for me now, but I'll look into adding a photo, too. And, I'll take a look at your blog once I have time to get my shields up.

Now, enough with the mushy stuff. I feel like I need to go shoot a moose.

[...] She is an opportunist in every fashion, whether taking things that don’t belong to her, charging taxpayers to fly her kids all over, not paying taxes on property she never reported, using other people’s hard earned money to [...]