AP NewsBreak: Palin implicated in ethics probe - Yahoo! News »
Posted By not2needy 4 months ago in Political News
An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated ethics laws by trading on her position in seeking money for legal fees, in the latest legal distraction for the former vice presidential candidate as she prepares to leave office this week.
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not2needy
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I am a Christian, Wife, Mother of one son, Liberal, and retired social worker. I enjoy my computer, gardening, reading, cooking and ...
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not2needy4 months ago
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Per the article, she said one of the reasons she's leaving office is because of all the ethic probes that have been done regarding her actions since becoming governor! Did she think that she would be above reproach as governor, no one watching her and she was going to have carte blanche to every dime in Alaska without question?
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It speaks volumes that there's people who say they would vote for her.. From the looks of things, she's done nothing within the law since she was elected mayor of Wasilla!-
Al_FrankenberryComment removed: Hard Banned3 Replies
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ameliog4 months ago
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well, knock me over with a feather! Who could have possibly imagined that her sudden resignation from elected office to pursue political interests was not as innocent as it seemed?
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Oh, I saw this bumber sticker in front of me about an hour ago: "I'm voting for Sarah and the person running with her". Yup. Advanced citizenship in my red state. ;) -
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GehlLady4 months ago
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"no one watching her and she was going to have carte blanche to every dime in Alaska without question? "
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Per the article:
"Palin's friends and supporters created the Alaska Fund Trust in April, limiting donations to $150 per person. "
"Coale said he recommended creation of the legal defense fund, a common practice in Washington. The Web site for the Palin fund cites similar accounts created for Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and other prominent politicians. "
"The investigator, Thomas Daniel, sided with Palin in her frustration with having to defend herself against a barrage of ethics complaints. He suggested that Alaska lawmakers may need to create a law that reimburses public officials for legal expenses to defend complaints that end up being unfounded."
I'd say she's welcome to what her friends and supporters want to donate since Alaska...:
"Coale said that unlike other states, Alaska's governor has no legal counsel's office to defend the governor from allegations brought against the governor in her official capacity."
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned7 Replies
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Al_FrankenberryComment removed: Hard Banned3 Replies
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fsev414 months ago
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What I'm not too sure of in the the Alaskan procedure is whether this report now goes to the three person ethics board for final disposition or if the investigators report is considered the final word? Sarah is already saying that the report isn't final although the investigator says his report is final. The drama never ends.
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not2needy4 months ago
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Wasn't she the reason her husband and his best friend liquidated their business together, and wasn't her name mentioned on said man's divorce decree, that was locked down when she became McCain's running mate? YEAH! I think there's a good chance that she did have an affair!
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DuckBiscuitComment removed: Hard Banned8 Replies
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ChefEOD4 months ago
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What is apparent is that you guys have not bothered to read the entire article. Rather it looks like you only read the headline and that was enough for you. If you even bothered to look into this, it doesn't matter who "filed" this complaint any more than the others, it is still a sham and will amount to nothing. If this same complaint had been made on a Democrate (and I am sure many have) it wouldn't even make the news.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30360326/ns/us_news-ms...
"The fund aims to help Palin pay off debts stemming from multiple ethics complaints against her, most of which have been dismissed. Palin says she owes more than $500,000 in legal fees, and she cited the toll of the ethics probes as one of the reasons she is leaving office on Sunday.
Kristan Cole, the fund's trustee, said organizers have frozen the fund pending the personnel board's review. Many federal politicians, including Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens and others are routinely allowed to have such funds to pay off legal bills, but quirks in Alaska law can present ethics issues.
He said Palin received the report 11 days after her July 3 announcement that she was leaving office. He also noted that the investigator recommended the governor seek reimbursement from the state for the cost of fighting ethics complaints that have been dismissed.
"It's cheaper for the people of the state of Alaska to have the bills paid for through the trust fund," Van Flein said. "But if that can't be done, then it looks like the state of Alaska could pay."
The investigator, Thomas Daniel, suggested that Alaska lawmakers may need to create a law that reimburses public officials for legal expenses to defend complaints that end up being unfounded.
John Coale, a Washington lawyer who helped set up the fund, called the probable cause finding "crazy," adding that if upheld, it would mean that no governor could ever defend themselves against frivolous ethics complaints.
"Anybody can keep filing ethics complaints and drive someone out of office, even if you're a nut," Coale said.
Unlike other states, he said, Alaska has no legal counsel's office devoted to defending the governor from allegations brought against her in her official capacity.
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kfolive4 months ago
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cheif4 months ago
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What is questionable is the person who is submitting all these frivilous lawsuits against her - it's coming from the Liberal left and is a time-dishonored way of taking a person down. Keep them in court with frivilous garbage suits and break them financially, that way, the 'annointed one' is safe from a woman...remember Joe the Plumber and how they attacked him after getting into his personal business (which they were correctly fired for)? It's the same groups trying to destroy her. I believe she was aquitted on ALL the lawsuits so far, but the cost of a lawyer to clear her name is breaking her financially, which is the intent.
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We have to remember, this door swings both ways.... -
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orndorffter4 months ago
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Nothing that women Palin does surprises me, all shes out for is to fill her pockets and make sure her face is seen on T.V. what a crack pot she is, what she was really doing is stealing money and got caught, thought she better get while the gettings good, now shes going to try- I said try to run for president OUCH just the thought of it.The one I feel sorry for is her husband knowing that hes being looked at and talked about because of her. She must be a wacko.
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tanglang4 months ago
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Are yall really this scared of her? That even after she announced she is stepping down to save the state and her family from all these bullcrap allegations and frivilous lawsuits you continue to go after her?
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Hows about one of these groups look into the fact that Obamas wife got a 200% raise the month after he earmarked 1 million dollars to the hospital she worked for? -
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DarkWizard4 months ago
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FTA - "The investigator, Thomas Daniel, sided with Palin in her frustration with having to defend herself against a barrage of ethics complaints. He suggested that Alaska lawmakers may need to create a law that reimburses public officials for legal expenses to defend complaints that end up being unfounded."
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While I don't agree with Palin's politics, political style (or lack thereof), and cannot envision her as VP or President, I do agree that she shouldn't be attacked just for the sake of attacking. I believe this goes for any public figure. Just as I believe that they are fair game for media and public scrutiny.
The allegations brought against politicians should have to stand up to the same scrutiny as the politicians themselves. In other words, allegations should be exposed for any political agenda and misdeeds in the name of political assassination and should have legal consequences.
Do I believe Palin to be unethical? Yes. Does she deserve the same rights and due process as anyone else? Yes!-
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mivan44 months ago
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I think she is ETHICAL and that IS why she is getting attacked with everything they can throw at her. The charge was she was profiting off of her political name by raising funds to defend allegations THAT were caused by her political name. SEEMS like a circle to me If she didn't have the political name false allegations would not be filed against her. Besides Senators, congressmen and the president are given legal defense funds Why not Governors seems like the same issue to me. If the allegations stick then maybe she should have to pay her own way but so FAR ALL HAVE BEEN PROVEN FALSE! I ask why she should have to endure this? YES read the article and learn how to COMPREHEND if! I wonder if the ones bringing the allegations would do so if they knew if they couldn't PROVE them they had to pay her legal FEES. Every time she wins (which has been every time so far) she still looses financially and the opposition says a donor supported legal defense fund isn't ethical? I think badgering someone with FALSE charges is UNETHICAL!
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rng01304 months ago
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Who really cares? ALL politicians have been touched by ethics violations. Republicans love to say Dems are immoral and Dems love to say Repubs are corrupt. Newflash folks, they didn't get to the level of politics they're at by holding charity dinners at the old folks home. Besides, Palin couldn't be more irrelevent if she was Tom DeLay.
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royturpin64 months ago
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If the country had voted for McCain and Palin we all would be better off now and the country would still have money in the bank.. Sara Palin is a wonderful person and mother. She is not a crook as is most of the politicians in office. She is smart and dont deserve all the bad mouthing she is getting. The state of Alaska should stand behind her and pay her legal fees
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