DISQUS

hrh · 5 months ago

I still say she resigned because she and Mark Sanford will soon be revealed as Blanket's biological parents.

JunkJunk · 5 months ago

LOLZ!

houstonray · 5 months ago

That exchange with Anderson and the Palin spokeswoman was hilarious. I loved the look on his face as she rambled on and on without answering his questions.

Funny thing too, after that interview, they had their usual team of pundits on and the Republican guy, can't remember his name at the moment (he worked on Huckabee's campaign) flat out called Sarah a KOOK (his exact words!). It was great.

There has to be some major stuff coming down...

I said it yesterday, I'll say it again today,

I can see the end of her political career from my house!!

Happy 4th of July, America!

PattyP · 5 months ago

The best was when he looked off camera for a second and scratched the back of his head.

FatRat · 5 months ago

Seems like she did the smart thing!!!
-----Embezzlement charges would be great fodder for the Daily Show and Colbert. They are currently on vacation, Michael Jackon is dominating the news, celebrities are dropping like flies, North Korea is launching rockets and Mark Sanford is the runaway governor. All she need now is another Tunguska blast to completely put her resignation on the backburner, of the news cycles.
-----The timing is fantastic. If there ever was week to resign, it would be that one. I doubt it will be enough smoke to hide in, but a great week to resign. She couldn't of planned it better, if she tried lol

ekwhite · 5 months ago

The correct analogy is not a point guard passing a ball - it is the point guard inexplicably going to the sideline and sitting down in the middle of a game.

Indigo · 5 months ago

Anderson makes a much better leader of the gay community than most of the self-identified leaders of the gay community.

Jersey · 5 months ago

When have you ever heard him admit he's gay? He does not make any kind of a gay leader whatsoever. He's a chickenshit coward.

fredndallas · 5 months ago

gee Jersey,

that seems a little harsh. Do you have some evidence that he has worked against GLBT equality?

Jersey · 5 months ago

I said he was a chickenshit coward not an evil dickwad (which he'd be if he was anti-gay) I suppose you could say he's a great gay leader if you prefer your gays to be closeted self-censoring types who continually evade questions about thier sexuality.

fredndallas · 5 months ago

And I didn't say he was a great gay
leader at all.  (I think the original post was saying that he had far
more leadership qualities than we see in most of our so called "gay
leaders".)

My point to your comment was that being so harsh to any person simply
because they have not publicly revealed their sexuality is pretty
severe UNLESS that person is working against GLBT equality.

I realize there are different opinions on this point, but I do not feel
that any progress is served by us turning on fellow gay brothers or
sisters who are not representing themselves as community leaders.
Coming out is a very personal process in my opinion.

Indigo · 5 months ago

I wish I didn't have to agree with you because it sounds so rash but . . . you're right.

ricardotornto · 5 months ago

her spokesperson sounds just like her. is human cloning possible after all?

Rick Anderson · 5 months ago

"And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make." -from Palin's remarks this weekend.

Off the top of my head, the only national figures I can think of who resigned midterm are Nixon and Foley. Not exactly honorable in my opinion. A quick check of Google shows Rove, Gonzalez and DeLay. Doesn't seem ''countless'' and of course I (and Google) are slanted to the left. The only one who's postresignation gig I can think of is Rove, who, along with Gingrich, is a regular on Fox News. Are there Dems or Repubes that anyone can think of who ''resigned honorably midterm''?

boiboi · 5 months ago

Joe Scarbough quit after one year of a two year term as a congressman. 'No Show Joe' is what the locals call him.

nicho · 5 months ago

Palin/Prejean 2012

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

Regarding the Bush DOJ "screwing up" of Stevens case on a technicality -- isn't there a remote possibility that they did that deliberately. That way they could look like they "tried" to do something about him, but deliberately screw it up so he could get out? Perhaps I'm being overly cynical, but knowing the Bushies, it just wouldn't surprise me.

jacks60611 · 5 months ago

She can't effectively make the changes she wants because of the political climate?...as if the political climate in this country has changed since she threw her hat into the ring...her resignation proves to me that she doesn't have what it takes...I was hoping she would run in 2012 to expose all the hypocrites that supported her during the 2008 race...those that proclaimed her the darling of the Republican party will hang her out to dry in 2012 if she does run.

Valentinefrey · 5 months ago

The ik factor is really high with these people isn't it? Listening to this was worse than watching Jacko look into the camera and say that those were his kids. Bleech.

cole3244 · 5 months ago

boy, that was enlightening, her spokesperson is as full of shit as she is, as usual when their inane agenda of attacking an opponents character or ancestry doesn't work they panic and jump ship at the first opportunity, but don't worry sarah we believe you, you betcha.

An_American_Karol · 5 months ago

The Palins are half a million in debt from lawsuits since her announcement for VP. Todd boy doesn't work. Her salary was increased from 125,000 to 150,000 in 2008, but she is sole support for a family of eight.
I don't know if her PAC is pulling in money for her debts, but it seems obvious to me, the family is broke.
Maybe it's as simple as "stay governor and file for bankruptcy" or quit and make money on the touring and lecture circuit.
Unlike a basketball player, Palin can break her contract with Alaska without recourse and play for a higher salary on another team.

dula · 5 months ago

That sounds like the most plausible explanation I've heard yet.
Well said, Karol.

bob915 · 5 months ago

Yep dula, see my above post. I just got back from the hay field and you coulda knocked me over with a straw. It is either that explanation or she is facing some VERY bad news here in the next few days and there was no way to survive in office. I'd love to hear what kind of a prospect John McCain regards her as now. I lay all this sh*t at his doorstep.

okojo · 5 months ago

Actually Todd works. He is suppose to be at Bristol Bay for the very short period that Bristol Bay is open for salmon fishing. It is very odd he would be in Wasilla for this resignation speech. The resignation could had waited, the permit was only for a couple days. He has been doing this for years.

I do believe that the Palins did this for purely financial reasons. If there were criminal indictments pending, resigning the governorship makes it easier to fight the charges.

1970cs · 5 months ago

This is interesting:
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/848230.html

However, the logistics of raising money might have become more difficult in April, when Palin's political action committee had a falling-out with Campaign Solutions, a Virginia company headed by one of the pioneers in online campaign contributions, Rebecca Donatelli.

Donatelli severed the relationship with SarahPAC after Palin's legal-expense fund chose to use an Alaska firm to host its Web site and process donations. Campaign Solutions handled online fundraising for the McCain-Palin campaign and also had set up the online fundraising mechanism for SarahPAC. Palin's political action committee allows people to donate directly online, but the legal-expense fund requires that people send checks or go through PayPal.

The main page of Palin's political action committee continues to direct people to her legal-expense fund, the Alaska Fund Trust.

Wesinoregon · 5 months ago

This is interesting...

http://a11news.com/2125/sarah-palin-embezzlemen...

woodroad34 · 5 months ago

Very good. So then it's not all about Todd and Sarah IS implicated. That's going to make it difficult for her to "progress her ideas". Also, wasn't that infamous sports arena the project that bankrupted Wasilla? Lipstick on a pig, indeed. BTW, those pictures are wonderful -- the first makes her look like she's a medicated kook in a padded cell and the second is just wildly manic lunatic Sarah.

Slim Cognito · 5 months ago

An indictment certainly wouldn't surprise me but I think she's money hungry. There was a problem with her book as Alaska doesn't allow their governor to have any other jobs or income other than the governorship. I think she's got $$ in her eyes for all the speaking engagements she'll get.

DCinDC · 5 months ago

Corruption!

JohnnieWalker · 5 months ago

This is absolutely ridiculous, the spokeswoman is definitely talking in riddles and sports analogies as Palin did.

Definitely a cover for what is going on as none of her speech made sense at all.

If they were going to take her down and Toddie boy too, a resignation would make sense.

Redvines · 5 months ago

Sarah is like a point guard.

Breaking news:

"In game seven of the NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant, at halftime with his team trailing by two, announces that he is retiring from basketball."

Yup, Sarah is just like a point...loser!

woodroad34 · 5 months ago

Hah! 'Point' taken.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 5 months ago

Max Blumenthal is doing sterling work on this at The Daily Beast.

okojo · 5 months ago

Not really, he just repeated much that the Village Voice found out last fall. However, I still don't see any criminal indictments in the future for either Palin.

jeffg166 · 5 months ago

Something smells in Alaska.

markf217 · 5 months ago

yeah, fish

Butch1 · 5 months ago

. . . and it isn't Baked Alaska . . .

Aaron · 5 months ago

I find the idea that a DOJ lawyer would threaten Palin with prosecution if she didnt resign to be highly unethical.

Rufus · 5 months ago

Ethics and DOJ lawyer do not go together like ham and eggs.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Oh, Megs! Meg is smart but she should have left while the gettin' was good. Huh, Megs?

Wesinoregon · 5 months ago

And to think she campaigned against the "Good ol' Boys" tactics. And bragged about how she cleaned it all up. She's a mental case for sure. And yet, brainwashed GOP people still stick up for her in other blogs on CNN and Fox still saying she will be the President in 2012. Some of them actually were so stupid to say 2010 in their blogs.

woodroad34 · 5 months ago

She padded her resume like a beauty queen pads her bra--and in this case it ain't tissue paper.

woodka · 5 months ago

That was my first thought, too. Or else Fox or radio offered her a job.

Name · 5 months ago

It could a combination of a possible inditement and the lure of money that drove her to make this announcement.

She might get the Republican nomination for President, but this will hurt her in the general election.

stldem · 5 months ago

Question asked and NOT answered:
Is Palin going to keep raising money for her PAC?

tduffy2 · 5 months ago

And the Support SarahPAC begathon continues... I'm looking at the ad here on AmericaBlog as I type this.

stldem · 5 months ago

Just saw the ad! I guess that answers my question.

devlzadvocate · 5 months ago

My husband is out shopping for a BBQ this PM. He just called to tell me that, not far from our house, at a main intersection, several people are gathered in protest, to "Stop Washington", "Stop Obama" and "Support Sarah".
Here in a highly Dem area.

They are suicidal. Yet, I heard several horns honking in the background.

nicho · 5 months ago

Those would be the teabaggers. It's a big day for them.

devlzadvocate · 5 months ago

Are they still doing that in public? I prefer the privacy of my home.

Dave of the Jungle · 5 months ago

Sarah can wink her way out of anything.

woodroad34 · 5 months ago

Apparently, including the governorship. *wink* ooops there she goes!

RickInSF · 5 months ago

Here's the real reason for Palin's announcement: She got tired of stories about Michael Jackson dominating the news and she wanted to kick him off the front page!

Beauty queens can be sooooo competitive!

markf217 · 5 months ago

I thought she was jealous of the attention Karl Malden was getting.

Butch1 · 5 months ago

Prejean should be rearing her empty head any moment.

therepguy · 5 months ago

Wonder if Palin's been to Argentina lately?

Believe me when I say that THE MEN DOWN THERE WOULD PUT TODD TO SHAME IN BOTH LOOKS AND ACTIONS <GRIN>!

markf217 · 5 months ago

So, um, Sarah Palin could end up being someone's bitch in federal prison? This whole white trash saga would make a wonderful movie script for the Lifetime television network. The GOP is tough on crime. If convicted, I hope she gets the maximum sentence.

Dave of the Jungle · 5 months ago

Hoops! It's all about hoops. See?

woodroad34 · 5 months ago

No hoops make her look like a hooker. I say go for the diamond studs.

Karen · 5 months ago

John, I'm confused. Would the deal be that she resigns in exchange for the Feds not indicting Todd, while she is still on the hook for any of her own alleged wrongdoing? Or do you think they will both be allowed off?

devlzadvocate · 5 months ago

I know you didn't ask me, but there is more to it that involves her. She blocked public filing of building permits during the buildling of the arena and their home. That contributes to the embezzlement scheme, I think.

I don't think she made a deal. She could be resigning in anticipation of charges.

goneover · 5 months ago

I believe Glen Frey said it:

The lure of easy money has a very strong appeal.

katiec · 5 months ago

Alaska and the people have been put on back burner since Palin ran for VP as she had bigger stars in her eyes.
Have said all along the woman will self destruct as someone with her ego, ambitions, phoniness and lack of intelligence
could not do otherwise.
Rumors on Alaska's webs are flying. Donot know if any are true, will have to wait and see, but politically she has shot herself in the foot.

dula · 5 months ago

OK maybe I'm too old but what in the fuck is the purpose of Twitter when all the effing tweets merely repeat the title of the effing thread!

stevetalbert · 5 months ago

As gov, she is prevented from making any outside money or jobs,,, including book deals and speaking fees. She will make more in the next year while she is still hot than continuing in the $150 K gov job for 2 years,, and then what? a library job in wasilla???

It is all about the money. SHe has to make it sound like she is for the better good and not her own. otherwise, the speaking fees will fall.

Fluffy · 5 months ago

stevetalbert, you are absolutely correct.

Her biography is due out soon, along with a hefty (estimated $2+ million) advance for Palin. As governor of Alaska she could not (legally) make any money from the book.

And she is still extremely popular with the wingnut right and can make millions of dollars in speaking fees. In 2 or 3 years her star will fade and the money will dry up. She has to get it now while she can.

nicho · 5 months ago

Too bad none of her supporters can read above a third-grade level.

okojo · 5 months ago

That is insulting to third graders to be compared to Sarah Palin supporters...

Her resignation speech sort or reminds me of kindergardeners trying to explain something..

I think Sarah Palin should had let Tina Fey do her resignation speech, at least she could be lucid, and do a better impersonation of Sarah Palin than Sarah Palin does.

houstonray · 5 months ago

Oh GOD how I wish SNL was on with new episodes and Tina Fey could make an appearance!

artguerrilla · 5 months ago

knowing nothing of the actual factuals, isn't it possible bush klavern lawyers accidently-on-purpose tainted, 'botched', or otherwise sabotaged the case against stevens ? ? ?
hee hee hee
i'm certain that has never happened before, and would never happen, but i sometimes wonder if it is a possibility something like that could possibly maybe happen once a millennium... maybe...
ho ho ho
but i'm sure The Watchers (tm) are doing an absolutely splendid job watching themselves...
ha ha ha
(p.s. the heroic fitzpatrick is a fixer, the dem'rat's version of baker, et altera...)
ak ak ak

art guerrilla
aka ann archy
art guerrilla@ windstream.net
eof

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

Geez, I just posted the same thing!

Scott Stadum · 5 months ago

Her spokesperson has the same manner of speaking. Weird.

And again.

Also.

devlzadvocate · 5 months ago

If it all does pan out as rumored, really "it still is a pig".

bob915 · 5 months ago

OMG people.....you go out into the country without a signal to put up hay and whadaya find when you return???WTF? She's quitting her leadership to lead.....wha?? WHatever. As Gomer Pyle used to say: Luck to you and yours.

Jersey · 5 months ago

That takes me back to the general campaign days, such a huge load of shit I need to break out the backhoe.

moongr · 5 months ago

I don't know who the hoop is, I don't know who the ball is.
I don't understand basketball!
Very funny AC!!

RitornaVincitor · 5 months ago

This is SO delicious! Watching the continued breakdown of the GOP is such a joy after living with the catastrophes they created for so many years. I look forward to watching Sarah Palin and the GOP being dragged through more mud. The Republicans have made me a great friend of Doctor Freude. Not Sigmund. Schaden.

I find the basketball analogy a bit insulting to the American public. I know a certain percentage of the population responds to pitches that are made toward those with the lowest IQ's, but typically such pitches are made with enough finesse to avoid insulting the intelligence of the majority. I guess this tells us who Sarah's base is. To me it also tells us what Sarah would do as President if she felt she could effect more good elsewhere. She would pass the ball to someone else, and resign.

And like Anderson Cooper, I'll freely admit that I know nothing about sports. But when you're out there dribbling, or whatever it is people do on a basketball court, and you decide to pass the ball to someone else, does that mean you then leave the court and quit the game? Because that's what Palin just did.

Valentinefrey · 5 months ago

Palin/Sanford '12!

okojo · 5 months ago

I don't think any criminal indictments are pending. How the Feds operate in this arena. They go after lower underlings first, along with some massive raids and a blizzard of very specific subpoena records. (Like a huge raid at SBS, the company who helped build Palin's house, and sponsor Todd Palin's snowmachine team) They try to flip underlings or those who are at the peripheral, and get a plea deal with no sentence in exchange for testifying.

For Governors, it is much easier to cling on to office until the verdict or plea deal is in place. Especially if the crimes took place while in the role of Governor. Most of the time, Governors resign as part of a plea deal is finalized.

It would much easier for Palin to fight these charges using her Governor's pulpit than face them as a ordinary citizen, whether she has earned money or not.

I think she resign solely to cash in on a big payday. She has a book coming out, she can make lots of money speaking to the true believers.

I am not denying that Shannyn Moore may have a big scoop on this, but there should be some very clear actions by the Feds that are clearly aimed at the Palins.

The Roadmap that I am using is how the Feds approach the corruption around Governor Rowland of Connecticut. They focused on his control of state contracts, flipped or nail his staff with overwhelming evidence, and sent Rowland a target letter. For governors, the Feds double check each process, so the Governor can't scream partisan witch hunt.

1970cs · 5 months ago

They may have found things about Palin(Sarah or Todd)at SBS while they were investigating Stevens and decided to sit on them.

What the Feds convicted Roland for I'm convinced was the tip of the iceberg, and if Rell didn't know it proves her incompetence.

okojo · 5 months ago

I don't think so. A search warrant isn't drift net fishing. They have to apply for warrant with the very specific things they are aiming at. They would also do some big raids on SBS and the Palins, going after specific records.. The Feds may have found stuff during the VECO investigation, but they have to re-apply again for the warrant, or the material can be thrown out in court by a judge.

When the Feds zero their sights on corrupt politicians, they are not sly about it, They are basically showing the politicians that the Feds have the goods on them. The first people they target and target hard or those in the politician's circle, friends, donors and staff. I haven't seen that yet for Palin.

Look on how Rowlands was squeeze, ditto for Edwin Edwards. For governors, the Feds come in full force, and try to flip those in governor's circle first.

Governors under criminal investigation pretty much resigned when they reached a plea deal. They don't resigned before the indictments.

Palin's speech was so incoherent, of course it will raise suspicion, but it is well known she has a book contract, and can make much money on the speech circuit.

What will come out in the next couple days is the real reason why she resigned, whether criminal indictments or for the money. I am betting right now, it was for the money.. Even though she resigned under extremely bizarre circumstances..

JohnNation · 5 months ago

In light of the mud slinging at her and back at prominent Repubs this past week, is it possible somebody simply had enough of the Wasilla Hillbillies and decided to expose some dirt on her for the "good" of the Republican party?

Torpedo their own rogue battleship as it were in order to save their own future from a half witted political hack that would surely sink it for good?

leliorisen · 5 months ago

OK...this is parody, right?

Underneath the story is an Internet ad for SarahPAC.com.

I am speechless.

threadmonitor · 5 months ago

leliorisen,

Ads are auto-generated by words in the posts. We find it amusing to see their ad $ wasted here.

leliorisen · 5 months ago

I had a feeling that is what it was, it was a google ad, after all. But, still.....I guess 'amusing' is a good word.

Happy 4th.

TimH · 5 months ago

I don't think federal prosecutors would or could (an illegal bribe, or extortion!) go to Palin and say resign, or we are taking down Todd/et al. But, what MAY have happened, is the opposite, i.e. Sarah went to prosecutors and said she was resigning to avoid more damage, and possibly to offer a plea bargain.

On another site (?) there was suspicion that perhaps the statutes of limitations were at play here as well, since a lot of this stuff started in the nineties, but went on to question whether or not there might be (unreported) TAX issues. There is no statute of limitations on criminal income tax evasion!

emjayay · 5 months ago

Did anyone notice that while speaking in a seemingly confident, forthright, and happy sounding way, the spokesperson did not in any way come anywhere near answering a single one of AC's questions? Kind of like "Exactly what publications do you read Sarah?" "All of them."

And once again, like another commenter below wrote, whatever is the point of all the repetitive tweet crap that is now appearing at the end of every comment list? Moderator???

emjayay · 5 months ago

Reply to self: OK, I found earlier comments saying more or less the same thing. Still, we all know PR is PR, but this level of confidently contentless stuff is really in a class all by itself.
And about the twitter dittos stuff....??!!??

therepguy · 5 months ago

The fact that Sarah Palin is walting till the end of the month have anything to do with quailifing for benifits after the fact such as a pension?

Just a through or two...

Jim · 5 months ago

As both a liberal and a criminal defense lawyer, I take issue with describing the Stevens prosecutors' misconduct as a "technicality." The Steven team failed to turn over exculpatory evidence. This is a basic protection for all criminal accused, rooted in the Constitution, and recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court for over half a century. I doubt you would be calling it a technicality (and I wouldn't either) if instead of being a rich and powerful Republican senator, the accused was an indigent accused.

Bobby · 5 months ago

An ad for Sarah Palin? LOL.