Boz
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Post by Boz on Jul 8, 2009 18:09:06 GMT -5
In all seriousness, I think Jack Ryan would have made a fine Senator.
But when your divorce papers -- and Jeri Ryan didn't want them released either -- read like the script to "Eyes Wide Shut," you're going to have a hard time getting elected, at least as a Republican.
Ah well. What could have been.....
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Jul 8, 2009 18:55:07 GMT -5
Tables, that's the "whatever" I expected. The reason does not matter as much as the fact they both "quit" their positions of governor of their states, just like Sarah Palin. The were elected by the citizens of their states for four-year terms but they chose to bail out halfway through their second terms. Both states are now being led by persons the citizens did not elect as governors because the elected ones "quit". But Ed, I don't think it is "bailing out" when the President asks you to serve. You're still in public service, and it's not like they tried to cash out or took a high-paying job when they left. For the same reason, I don't think it is fair to penalize Palin for the time that she devoted to campaigning when she was running for VP. McCain asked her to serve, and she expected. When the leader of your party asks you to serve, you say yes. That said, I don't have an issue with Palin's decision to resign, even if it is not for the same reasons. I think that she has at least 2 or 3 good reasons for doing so, though I also thought her press conference did an absolutely horrible job of explaining those reasons. I will also note, however, that both Sebelius and Napolitano had already served a full term as governor and were part-way through their second term when they resigned. I just don't get your point, Ed -- I really don't. I I actually think you got my point and said so in your post. My point was that Sarah Palin "quit" her governor's post and she gave some reasons why, including spending an inordinate amount of time and money on frivolous lawsuits and a desire to move on to other ways to advance things dear to her. Governors Sebelius and Napolitano "quit" their governors' posts and they gave the reasons why, including to take cabinet post in the Obama administration (i.e. they got a better offer). Even though they all "quit" midstream, I don't begrudge any of them for what they did but many have stomped all over Sarah Palin while saying nothing about the other two. As for Ambassador's post, it must be nice to suggest you can just go ahead and sell your properties so you can continue to protect yourself from frivolous lawsuits. Or to say why don't you get some cheapo lawyer to defend yourself. She has a book deal. So what? So she hired someone to help her steer the way to that deal. So what? Didn't Barach Obama do the same? Twice? And everyone else who has considered running for President? And, why didn't she use the same lawyer who helped her fight the lawsuits to do the book deal? I'm sure some of the lawyers on this board can describe the specialties of law practice. |
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Jul 8, 2009 21:47:46 GMT -5
As for Ambassador's post, it must be nice to suggest you can just go ahead and sell your properties so you can continue to protect yourself from frivolous lawsuits. Or to say why don't you get some cheapo lawyer to defend yourself. She has a book deal. So what? So she hired someone to help her steer the way to that deal. So what? Didn't Barach Obama do the same? Twice? And everyone else who has considered running for President? And, why didn't she use the same lawyer who helped her fight the lawsuits to do the book deal? I'm sure some of the lawyers on this board can describe the specialties of law practice. I don't think you can have it both ways. As far as we know, the legal fees that Palin complains about have as much to do with her own choices - intense media campaign, book deal, and threats of frivolous lawsuits - as they do her ethics complaints, remembering that hiring an attorney for the latter caught Alaskan legislators by surprise. In any event, her arrangement is to pay for the fees that she agreed to incur, rather than to agree to incur them, complain about them, and then blame the adverse parties when her scorched earth approach is too expensive for her liking. As to the property sale issue, some companies, for example, float bonds or sell assets to cover legal costs. Again, these are choices that they make based on discipline and planning. As to the "cheapo" lawyer point, perhaps you can find the part of the Constitution that gives Sarah Palin the right to the most experienced counsel that she can find for the particular issues at hand. In practical terms, consider other situations of living beyond one's means based purportedly on legal expenses. Assuming arguendo that Sarah Palin's fees have caused her financial hardship, I am not sure how exactly we get to the point where this makes Sarah Palin a tragic heroine. Think of Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson. In the eyes of the law, at least some of the more expensive battles were dismissed or juries found in their favor - OJ Simpson murder trial and Jackson behavioral issues.* Other, less expensive battles were sometimes different in disposition. Jackson and Simpson frequently retained a deep, experienced bench for their various legal battles, and nobody suggested that the related debt should have been forgiven. Indeed, I think the record reflects that both sold all or part of their properties/assets to cover the expenses of trials. As to the allegations of "frivolous lawsuits," Sarah Palin retained Mr. Van Flein on or around September 1, 2008, following her nomination to be Vice President. He was retained in connection with the TrooperGate investigation, which found, in the Branchflower Report, that Sarah Palin had "abused her power" and, thereby, broken Alaskan law. I do not consider abuses of power frivolous to say nothing of breaking state law, but perhaps others do. Alternatively, Sarah Palin could have simply declined Senator McCain's invitation. Judging from the timing of her decision to retain Mr. Van Flein, she well appreciated that it would put some strain on her current system, yet she complains about it all the same. As to the book deal, I do not argue that Sarah Palin is not allowed to pursue a book deal. My problem is that she cut and run to do so and then complained about the fees that she has incurred to pursue the deal when such costs could/should have been known or appreciated well in advance. As to Obama, I think it is a mark of distinction that he did not complain about any fees that he incurred from the same attorney - Bob Barnett (see his bio) - and managed to pay same despite his small salary as a community organizer and state senator (thinking back to Dreams of My Father). At the time, he was also not maintaining five properties. As to the idea of Palin hiring the same person to do her book deal as her ethics complaint defense work, it is not likely the best idea, but it is an option. Most respected attorneys know how to formulate and analyze a contract. She made a reasonable, but expensive, choice and should have known that the associated expenses could add to her burn rate. What Palin has created for herself is a petty game. She will continue to retain outside counsel for these ethics complaints, wage a scorched earth effort (including before the national media), then complain when new controversies are generated and not want to pay for it. Then, she'll complain about the fees, will send out her legal experts, and here we go again. She appears to have well-appreciated the problem about media complaints before the going got tough. *Let's leave the merits debate regarding these outcomes out of this discussion. |
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jul 8, 2009 22:09:57 GMT -5
Has there ever been a more consistent source of Maureen Dowd snarkiness than Sarah Palin? www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/opinion/08dowd.html?ref=opinionwww.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/opinion/08dowd.html?ref=opinion(I should probably say, given the tensions in this thread, that this is totally unfair journalism. But it's funny.) To switch gears and answer ed's question: yes, other governors who have quit are quitters, regardless of current employer. The fuss over Palin, in my opinion, has more to do with her resignation speech than her actual resignation. Oh wait, that's not a lawyer answer. How's this: in criminal trials, generally a prosecutor cannot admit evidence regarding a defendant's character or prior criminal convictions. However, if a defendant takes the stand at his DWI trial and testifies he does not drink or use drugs, the government can rebut that statement by introducing evidence of prior drug/alcohol offenses. Here, Palin said she wasn't a quitter for quitting. The media felt a need to rebut that assertion. |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jul 9, 2009 9:11:38 GMT -5
Here's some return snark for you: www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32635(Sorry, I don't normally post anything by Ann Coulter because, even though I think she is very funny, she doesn't really bring much to the table besides snark. But if we're throwing crazy Maureen Dowd out there -- who might just be the only good looking ginger in America I'm NOT in love with -- I just felt like I had to answer in kind.) ;D Ann Coulter....ruh-roh, I think I may have just added a keg of black powder to the discussion. |
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Buckets
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Post by Buckets on Jul 9, 2009 15:48:00 GMT -5
I'm snagging this from the comments of this story (http://www.adn.com/palin/story/858523.html) which was linked on HuffPo:
"Sarah Palin believes it’s no big deal that she quit in the middle of her first term. Happens all the time, right? As it turns out—no.
"On a hunch, I reviewed online lists of all the men and women who’ve been elected governor of their state since 1900. Pored over them for a few hours. Over 1200 politicians have taken that first-term oath of office. Some soon died in office. Many resigned to accept other positions in government, including Spiro Agnew who was “tapped” by Nixon after being the Governor of Maryland for about five minutes. On a handful of occasions, a first-termer was dragged off to the slammer or impeached. One was incapacitated by a nervous breakdown and one left just as impeachment came knocking on his door. So—how many out of over 1200 just up and quit before the end of their term?
"Three: Jim McGreevy, Eliot Spitzer and Sarah Palin."
And for those of you still contending that accepting a cabinet position and going home and fishing are the same thing and that "quitters are quitters," you can't be serious, right?
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Jul 10, 2009 10:05:27 GMT -5
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jul 10, 2009 10:20:28 GMT -5
Yes, but what does Levi Johnston think about the Michael Jackson media coverage and the situation in Honduras. Isn't this guy's 15 minutes up yet? Even for you Sarah Palin haters, wouldn't you kinda' like to see him dropped off in a wildlife preserve and given a 5-minute head start before she hopped into a helicopter with a rifle? (And before you snark back, yes, I know that the only reason he HAS 15 minutes is because of Sarah Palin and bringing him to the RNC. I get that. Doesn't mean I still can't be tired of him. Splitting with this yutz -- or him splitting with her, however it happened -- I am confident will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Sarah Palin's daughter). |
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Bando
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Post by Bando on Jul 10, 2009 10:23:08 GMT -5
Yes, but what does Levi Johnston think about the Michael Jackson media coverage and the situation in Honduras. Isn't this guy's 15 minutes up yet? Even for you Sarah Palin haters, wouldn't you kinda' like to see him dropped off in a wildlife preserve and given a 5-minute head start before she hopped into a helicopter with a rifle? (And before you snark back, yes, I know that the only reason he HAS 15 minutes is because of Sarah Palin and bringing him to the RNC. I get that. Doesn't mean I still can't be tired of him. Splitting with this yutz -- or him splitting with her, however it happened -- I am confident will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Sarah Palin's daughter). His mom is the meth dealer or something, right? |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jul 10, 2009 10:38:46 GMT -5
I don't think they ever disclosed what the actual charges against his mother were (thank God...do we really have to know everything about everyone?), just that they were felony charges involving a controlled substance.
I think the whole "meth lab" angle was a concoction of the vast schoolyard grapevine that is the Interwebs.
But I have nothing against his mother. At least I don't until she hires an agent to start booking her on Tyra and Montel and the Steve Wilkos show.
(As an aside, the Steve Wilkos show, by the way, is the best thing in the world for insomniacs like me. Successfully carrying on the tradition of his patron, Jerry Springer).
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TC
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Post by TC on Jul 10, 2009 10:39:58 GMT -5
Wow, how controversial, Levi thinks Palin might be eyeing making some money. Hasn't pretty much everyone in the sun put that out there, whether it be Republican or Democrat, Palin supporter or Palin hater, Bill Kristol or Walt Monegan? The guy has said some damaging things, this ain't one of them.
Am I the only one who thinks this Meg Stapleton is total A-ball? Palin seriously needs a new flack. Half the reason why Levi is still in the limelight is because Palin's camp keeps engaging him.
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Jul 10, 2009 12:06:20 GMT -5
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Jul 10, 2009 12:59:25 GMT -5
I don't think they ever disclosed what the actual charges against his mother were (thank God...do we really have to know everything about everyone?), just that they were felony charges involving a controlled substance. Levi's mother told People magazine that the six felony charges related to OxyContin distribution. www.people.com/people/article/0,,20250904,00.html |
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Jul 17, 2009 18:13:15 GMT -5
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Jul 17, 2009 21:35:16 GMT -5
I found the poll surprising more for the limited distance between Huckabee and Palin. Huckabee, in my view, is a strong candidate with well-reasoned positions and good intentions. I certainly do not agree with him on many policy issues, but I trust that he has thought through his positions and does not have any hidden agendas. In my view, Huckabee and Palin will split the social conservative bloc, which seemingly votes more on values than pocket books. This is part of the reason I suspect that Romney is running strong in these early polls - divide and conquer. The other reason is that voters tend to associate Romney, rightly or wrongly, with strong expertise on the economy. With the economy foremost on the Republican consciousness, he'll poll strong. If the economy is less of an issue, more will flock to Huckabee and Palin. A third reason, which is probably less important here, is that Romney has been running an organized campaign for the presidency in 2009. He is out there with statements on policy issues and news events. He has been raising money. He has a staff of operatives. Meanwhile, Huckabee is on Fox News, and Palin is in Alaska reacting strangely to those speech invitations that have been extended to her this year. |
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Sept 23, 2009 9:53:58 GMT -5
tinyurl.com/n7rzwkSome coverage of former Governor Palin's speech in Asia... Hopefully the crowd accepted her apology for our Commander-in-Chief. I thought that kind of speech was what she criticized during the 2008 campaign.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 23, 2009 10:20:33 GMT -5
I agree. I don't think Sarah Palin should be giving a populist polemic about things America is doing wrong on foreign soil.
I felt the same way about Al Gore, and I feel the same way about some of the negative things about America that Obama has been saying in some of his speeches.
I do not make an exception for Sarah Palin. She should have focused this speech on what America can and should do in a positive way. I may agree with her criticisms in principle, but this is not the location to be slamming Obama.
EDIT: And 75 minutes? Crikey! No speech should ever be that long.
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Sept 23, 2009 12:29:55 GMT -5
Palin was way out of line to criticize a sitting President outside our shores/borders. But why is anyone surprised? You have all convinced yourselves she's an idiot, remember?
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Post by strummer8526 on Sept 23, 2009 12:58:00 GMT -5
Who were these sad sacks that had nothing better to do with their time than attend a Sarah Palin event? Today's episode of Maury has more political relevance at this point.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Sept 23, 2009 15:36:18 GMT -5
Palin was way out of line to criticize a sitting President outside our shores/borders. But why is anyone surprised? You have all convinced yourselves she's an idiot, remember? To be a little more precise, Palin is the one who convinced everyone she's an idiot. |
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