
According to Carney, the newly elected mayor spent more than $50,000 in city funds to redecorate her office, without the council's authorization.
"I thought it was an outrageous expense, especially for someone who had run as a budget cutter," said Carney. "It was also illegal, because Sarah had not received the council's approval." . . . arney confronted Mayor Palin at a City Council hearing, and was shocked by her response.
"I braced her about it," he said. "I told her it was against the law to make such a large expenditure without the council taking a vote. She said, 'I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'"
"Executive abilities? She doesn't have any," said former Wasilla City Council member Nick Carney, who selected and groomed Palin for her first political race in 1992 and served with her after her election to the City Council.
More inmoral was to refurbished the offices of the Governor Blanco, after Katrina. See below.
Oh dear Lord.
If I read another one of these articles about Palin I may decide to stab myself than run the risk of her getting close to the office.
It's not even about the stupid expenditure, every politician does that, it's about her attitude. It stinks.
Agree!
She said, 'I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'"
How scary this is, I guess if America does not grow a brain before November all we will hear will be
I am the vicepresident, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.
Now thats "Change" isn't it
Sarah Palin and Kwame Kilpatrick have a lot in common both are liars both fought to keep electronic messages secret and away from the public eye and both of their careers will be ended or severely damaged by their inability to tell the truth about a simple matter.
Trex, you should add a picture of the exterior of the building where this mayor's office is located. The building isn't even worth $50,000 and the city council meets in the basement. $50,000 is an outrageous expense for a little podunk town like Wasilla.
But she cut her own pay. Who cares if she wastes more than the $2,000 she cut off her paycheck.
"Sarah was unprepared to be mayor -- it was John Cramer who actually ran the city," said Michelle Church, a member of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, who knows Palin socially. "As vice-president she'll certainly have to rely on faceless advisors with no public accountability. Haven't we had enough of that in the past eight years?"
This is just one of the comments in the article -- there are many more like this. AAAAAAACK. I don't know what's worse -- her attitude that just because she's the "boss" she can do whatever she likes or her overall lack of qualifications to lead.
Wait until you hear who is on her administrative staff - her classmates from her former high school. From what I hear from people up here in Alaska all you need to do is look at her year book and you will know who is on her staff.
Angela,
Thats not unusal, she has the right to put people on her staff who she trusts. Every elected official usually does.
jazzman646,
I understand wanting to surround yourself with people you trust. However, It is one thing to hire people you trust, but another thing to fire people who are competent and hire people who are incompetent. This appears to be Palin's MO as governor and as mayor.
The McCain campaign is demanding that it becomes the de facto source for answers about the operations of Alaska's government during the past 20 months. In addition, McCain's campaign has recently sent at least a dozen researchers and lawyers to Alaska to pore over Palin's background. If she had competent staff, she wouldn't be letting others speak for the state of Alaska.
It is one thing to hire people you trust, but another thing to fire people who are competent and hire people who are incompetent. This appears to be Palin's MO as governor and as mayor.
it doesn't matter. Its he call if the law allows it.
She is not qualified period! She lacks judgement, she is not sophisticated enough to deal with world issues and she is clearly a token female.
Sour grapes.
Why the world issues are more important than here at home right now?
Determined, have you heard of places by the name of Afghanistan, Iraq, Georgia (the one in Europe), South Ossetia, Russia, and a number of other places in the world where American lives are or may soon be on the line?
We, Americans living overseas in the Middle East had been on the line of dangers and our Embassies always are ready to supply the food if any one in jail.
Come on, Tre.
Then why your silly remark that world issues are less important than problems at home? The fact is that the two are inseparably linked. Palin's lack of knowledge of both is scary.
trex--it tickles me to hear how ascared you and jack are of Governor Palin---now you have just a fraction of an idear how I feel about Obama.
true every elected person redecorates....hmmmm wonder how the chinese are going to redo the white house
To hear Bush tell it, the most important decision he ever made was choosing the design for his rug.
Sue,
I know fed govt employees who spend more than $50K on one business trip. Palin got rid of the personal jet she inherited as Gov, which probably saved Alaska
hundreds of thousands of dollars in operating costs, not even counting the $2.1M which was added to the state treasury when the jet was sold. I don't see anything wrong with a $50K decoration expenditure.
This Palin witch-hunt is really pathetic. Next you people will be saying she spends too much taxpayer funded time in the bathroom applying her makeup. Truly pathetic.
so youre saying its okay to outright break the law when youre holding a public office, it doesnt matter WHAT she gave up, when you give something up you dont hold your hand out waiting for payback, She Broke The Law, end of story.
so youre saying its okay to outright break the law when youre holding a public office, it doesnt matter WHAT she gave up, when you give something up you dont hold your hand out waiting for payback, She Broke The Law, end of story.
She broke the law?
Really? Then why wasn't she prosecuted for it at the time?
Read the quote from the article I posted below.
What we have here is some ass hole named Carney, who states he has no documentation of the expenditure, making charges that can't be substantiated.
As in most every case I've seen so far, we have some mutt in Alaska who wants to see his or her name in the news media making anti Palin statements, knowing websites like salon.com won't hesitate to use it. in fact some of them are probably being paid for it.
Although Carney says he no longer has documentation of the expenditures, in his recollection Palin paid for the office face-lift with money from a city highway fund that was used to plow snow, grade roads and fill potholes -- essential municipal services, particularly in weather-battered Alaska.
jazzman,
You don't see anything wrong with a $50k office makeover in that tiny little office? Sure, a makeover is okay, but that seems excessive.
I know fed govt employees who spend more than $50K on one business trip.
So that makes Government waste ok? I see.
Palin got rid of the personal jet she inherited as Gov, which probably saved Alaska
She took a loss on it, paid herself to stay home, and blew $50K on decorations so she could have a "pretty" office. Show me proof that she saved Alaska anything.
She broke the law?
Really? Then why wasn't she prosecuted for it at the time?
She has spent much of her time as Governor under investigation for abuse of power. But that's ok, because she's a pretty Conservative, huh? Maybe it's time the GOP and their supporters start thinking with the right head.
I don't see anything wrong with a $50K decoration expenditure.
That expenditure was when she was Mayor, not Governor. You can't use the "she saved money selling the plane" argument when that had not happened yet. (For the record the state lost money when she sold the plane to a political insider.) The fact remains she broke a city law and then challenged the city council to try and stop her. Maybe you think this is a good trait to have your elected officials think they are above the law. We will have to agree to disagree on that point.
There is nothing in the article, other than allusion to "Victorian wallpaper", that describes the redecoration. I haven't found any inventory of what the redecoration included, and no statement that the redecoration wasn't needed. There is evidence, however, that the complainant and relater in the Salon article, now retired, still had a big axe to grind.
Right away I saw that it was a good old boys' network," she said. "Mayor Stein and Nick Carney told me, 'You'll learn quick, just listen to us'. Well, they didn't know how I was wired."
She voted against a pay raise for the mayor. Then she crossed Carney. He owned the only garbage removal service in town and had proposed an ordinance requiring all Wasilla residents to pay for garbage to be picked up from their homes. "I said no and I voted no," Sarah said. "People should have the choice about whether or not to haul their garbage to the dump."
Seizing her mandate for change, Sarah stormed city hall, not realising how hard it would be to make changes, especially in an administration that had become entrenched. "Nick Carney told Sarah to her face that he'd do anything he could to make things difficult," said Judy Patrick, a friend who had been elected to the Wasilla council. "There were some very cantankerous people on that council."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4690577.ece
iamright-492840,
It seems most of this crap coming out on anti-Republican websites like salon.com , is originating from people who opposed her attempts to reform gov both locally and at the state level when she became governor.
jazzman---you are correct ---it's a witch hunt--and yes as you say--always consider the source. I am so sick of these kinds of nit pick irrelevant anti-palin stories I told my husband (half jokingly) that I'd give Sarah the piddly $16K she took in per diems for nights spent in her home (which she is completely entitled to) just to remove that ridiculous item from the headlines.
Jazzman, what bothers me isn't just the amount of money she spent, although it does suggest a very strange sense of priorities, but the fact that she didn't get the council's approval. It suggests a pretty high-handed way of doing business. We've seen that sort of behavior from Cheney and Bush for 8 years.
#11.3 What bothers me is that no one is asking whether the "redecoration" was frivolous or necessary. Were wires hanging from the ceiling? Was plumbing in desrepair? Were there safety issues involved? And please, try to stay with Governor Palin's issue without alluding to vague and global accusations against the current administration.
iamright: Let's concede that the mayor's office was a mess. And let's also stipulate that the mayor's office should look professional, because you want business leaders etc. to be favorably impressed with Wasilla when they decide whether to do business there. But shouldn't she have cleared the expenses with the council first? BTW, I redid my entire condo for about a third of what she spent on her office. And we're talking structural repairs to a waterlogged underfloor, and new fixtures, as well as just new carpeting and tiles.
"I thought it was an outrageous expense, especially for someone who had run as a budget cutter," said Carney. "It was also illegal, because Sarah had not received the council's approval."
According to Carney, Palin's office makeover included flocked, red wallpaper. "It looked like a bordello."
Nice.
As one of the good ol boys in office in Alaska, Carney probably knows very well what a bordello looks like.
And yet you don't deny it was illegal? She... what's the phrase you just denied... "broke the law"?
Republicans! You're not above the constitution or the law.
Sue,
Its a shame you have decided to now join, the Palin Persecution Army. I'm a little shocked, especially since much of this witch-hunt has an anti-woman aspect to it.
But then again, you ladies, stood tall in protection of rapist and woman abuser Bill Clinton back in the day. So maybe I'm not so surprised.
McCain has voted against equal pay for women.
Sarah Palin is against a woman's right to choose what is best for her body. Even in cases of rape, incest, and great personal harm to the woman.
Just because Sarah Palin has a vagina doesn't mean she's the best choice for women and that women should vote for her. That's as naive and bigoted as saying that all white men should vote for McCain and all black men should vote for Obama.
Just because Sarah Palin has a vagina doesn't mean she's the best choice for women and that women should vote for her. That's as naive and bigoted as saying that all white men should vote for McCain and all black men should vote for Obama.
kingmarty,
I NEVER stated that trex should vote for her.
I stated I was suprised she'd joined in the persecution of her.
There's a difference.
Why shouldn't she question Palin's actions then?
Why shouldn't she question Palin's actions then?
There's a difference between that and persecution also.
I think trex knows which she's conducting.
She seeded an article which clearly shows Palin engaging in activities she claims to be against. How is that persecuting?
I prefer to persecute malevolent, stupid, law-ignoring, gun-toting people who I fundamentally disagree with because I consider them morally debunked on every level. I do not distinguish between race, age, colour, gender, sexuality or creed in this.
jazzman---the hypocrisy of nailing Sarah Palin for redecorating her office (with NO hard evidence to support the assertions made in this salon article) while at the same time having absolutely NO problem with obama's Rezko connection vis a vis the purchase of his family home (favors for favors?) is truly astounding.
Jazzman, I am on record arguing strongly against the irresponsible rumors about the parentage of Palin's daughter, and against any attacks on her kids. When I attack her in a specifically sexist manner, and for something relating to her private life, you can say that I'm "persecuting" her, but I'm talking here about a decision she made in her official capacity that goes to her administrative abilities and her judgment. And I would not think that the expenditure would be more acceptable if a male mayor authorized it, or did so without approval from the town council.
So please don't play the "Sarah is a poor widdle victim and all the mean kids are picking on the weak little girl" card with me. As you know, I can handle a male chauvinist quite effectively, and if you don't shape up I shall have to tie you to the bedpost and spank you for being a naughty, naughty boy.
Lisa, this isn't about guilt-by-6-degrees-of-separation, it's about Palin's own demonstration of her administrative abilities or lack thereof. And by the way, some years ago a former chair of my department spent almost the entire supplies-and-services budget for the department on new furniture for his office. As you may guess, his career as chair did not last very long, and he soon decided wisely that administration was not his forte, and went back to full time teaching and research.
As you know, I can handle a male chauvinist quite effectively, and if you don't shape up I shall have to tie you to the bedpost and spank you for being a naughty, naughty boy.
Sue,
Yeah, that would only be fair since I did you last night.
Is it still sore baby?
Hey woman, don't be trying to distract me with sex.
You know this story you seeded is nonsense.
This guy Carney has a personal vendetta against Palin. He has no evidence other than him saying it happened.
Yeah, that would only be fair since I did you last night.
Is it still sore baby?
This is 100% disrespectful to women. How sick. And you claim to be a man of God??? I feel sorry for the women at your "church" who have to deal with your sleazy stares and comments. No wonder you support Palin.
Hey Mars...
KMBA!!! and get lost stalker...
Why would I stalk you?
KMBA!!!
Did you get that quote from the Bible?
Mars, Jazzy and I have a naughty flirtation going that dates way back to our NY Times days. Don't worry, we both take it as a joke, and it's all quite chaste and cyber. He and I are both happily married and faithful to our spouses. But Jazzman, I think Palin's expenditures on that office should be a matter of record that can be verified pretty easily, as are the minutes of the council that would indicate whether they were consulted. If Salon didn't do their fact checking homework, someone should present the correct information and call them on it. Now, I don't feel like flying to Wasilla to check the documents myself, so why don't you? I've heard that there are lots of lovely lady moose hunters there to admire (chastely from afar of course) while you're there.
trex---if Governor Palin is so bad...why does she enjoy the highest approval rating among all our governors? There's a disconnect there somewhere.....
A lot of Alaskans don't share that opinion, you know.
Trex---well I wouldn't expect any politician to earn a 100% approval rating but over 80% is darned impressive, no?
1000 Alaskan women showed up at a rally to protest Palin's candidacy a week or so ago. The pro-Palin counter demonstration was puny. I don't know whom the pollsters are surveying to get that 80% approval rating, but please bear in mind that the ability to bring home the earmarked bacon for Alaska is a very different skill set than leading the country. And by the way, Alaskans think twice about criticizing a governor who is notorious for killer vendettas.
"killer vendettas" --just what are you accusing Governor Palin of with that?
Lisaed: Not literal homicides, Lisa, I'm not using the kind of smear against her that was used on the Clintons. But she has used the power of her office both as mayor and as Governor to get people fired for personal reasons, and/or to threaten people who opposed her.
But she has used the power of her office both as mayor and as Governor to get people fired for personal reasons, and/or to threaten people who opposed her.
trex--excuse me for not taking your word on that....evidence please.
lisa,
Tre is upset, she sees that McCain/Palin have a chance to win the WH again.
Lisaed, the attempted firing of the Wasilla librarian and the more recent "troopergate" story have been all over the news. If you haven't followed it I will not do your homework for you. Please don't try to claim that well-documented information doesn't exist when everyone knows that it does.
tre
The troopergate is still a trooper and the librarian resigned after two years. What's the deal?
I don't know whether the librarian resigned in protest or not, but I do know that Palin sent her a letter of termination right after asking her whether she'd cooperate in banning books, and that she had to back down when the town put up an outcry. As for "troopergate," it's true she didn't succeed in getting her ex-brother in law off the payroll. The man she fired was the superintendent who wouldn't fire him. That smells a lot like vindictive abuse of her power. And it's the kind of character issue that DOES matter very much in a potential chief executive.
Well, try to watch the interview of Hannity & Sarah Palin, she explained both cases.
Remember that I was in Cuba when the Bay of Pigs and the October crisis that cost lives and we receive an "apology" from Mrs. Kennedy.
Oh yeah, I'm sure the interview with Sean Hannity was real hard-hitting and that he pressed her on the tough issues. (Loud wet snort)
That smells a lot like vindictive abuse of her power.
Trex-13.26--it would do you good to find the facts as they exist outside of salon.com.....Governor Palin never banned a book...not even one. And this comment of yours re: monegan's firing---whatever happened to the assumption of innocence until proven guilty? Your nose alone cannot determine the facts.
No, she didn't ban a single book -- but not for want of trying, or of pressure from her church to do so. And that is well documented, not just in Salon.com.
Trex---if it's so well documented (which it is not) please provide a link. Thank you. She sent the librarian a questionnaire that asked for her position on the subject. That's it. There were no requests to ban any books. Not one. End of story.
Lisa: Sure, here you go.
If you don't feel like clicking my link, just Google "Sarah Palin" and "librarian," and hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button, you'll get this article.
"In December 1996, Emmons told her hometown newspaper, the Frontiersman, that Palin three times asked her -- starting before she was sworn in -- about possibly removing objectionable books from the library if the need arose. . . When the matter came up for the second time in October 1996, during a City Council meeting, Anne Kilkenny, a Wasilla housewife who often attends council meetings, was there. . . .'Sarah said to Mary Ellen, "What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?'" Kilkenny said. 'I was shocked.'"
trex---asking a "possibly" question or a "what would your respoinse be" hypothetical question hardly equates to pushing anyone to ban any books from anywhere. The fact is that did not happen.
It did not happen because Sarah Barracuda realized, after her attempt to fire the librarian provoked an outcry, that she couldn't get away with it. This lady is shrewd, I give her that. She usually kisses up to people until she doesn't need them anymore, and the attacks them.
Wall to wall moose pelt ain't cheap
She shot all the wolves. You'd think the price of moose pelt would come down a little.
KingMarty,
Your comment in 13.1 was so right! I am glad you are back and on top of things (smile).
The Republican Party has never claimed to be representative of women's rights, because it cannot.
Their idea of women's rights is:
"Give them two more links in her chain so that she can get from the kitchen to the bedroom faster".
$50,000 to redecorate? Boy does that smack of entitlement. What a prissy little B...only the first of things to come should she be VP.
NOT because I favor Obama, because I don't. Just an observation.
I agree. I'm not sure I'm going to vote for Obama. I'm just definitely not voting for McCain.
America deserves more choices! KingMarty, why don't you run for office?
I'm not old enough. After I retire from the Army I'll run for Congress.
Bravo KingMarty, you will get my vote. Keep in touch.
I'll offer newsvine exclusive interviews.
Shortly after the two hurricanes, Gov. Kathleen Blanco decided to renovate some of her staff's offices. At the time of her decision, Blanco also was hinting at deep budget cuts to state programs and the possibility of laying off 20 percent of the state workforce.
The project cost $564,838.
The newly refurbished office space on the sixth floor of the State Capitol includes hookups and mounts for two flat screen televisions, Swedish granite countertops, walnut paneling and frosted laminated glass. The floor, which will not be accessible to the public, was redesigned to add three new offices, a conference room and file storage areas.
About 20 members of the governor's staff – who focus on constituent services, children's issues, women's policies and other functions – will work on the newly restored floor.
Determined, Gov. Blanco is not running for Vice President and claiming that she would fight waste and abuse in the federal government.
I am sure that Pelosi and Reid, et al spent more than $50,000.00 a month for all the special services that they get, cafeteria, gym, barber and hairdressing. My foot, they don't work enough for what we have to pay.
Tre, tell me that Gov Palin is not your piece of pie, but I consider you an intelligent woman and if you have a home you should know how much cost material and contractors.
Determined, your "thou too" arguments are falling flatter than a loaf of bread without yeast. Pelosi and Reid are not managing the budgets of small working-class towns in Alaska, and they are not on a Presidential ballot touting their credentials as fiscally conservative reformers. And I repeat for the millionth time: it isn't just the money she spent, but the way she spent it, without getting the council's approval.
Sarah Palin cut her salary.
Tre, I am afraid that Obama is going back to the U.S. Senate.
No, you're not "afraid," you're praying hard for it. But people are starting to see just how doddering and confused McCain is acting, and meanwhile the fresh-new-face angle of the Sarah Palin is getting stale already, as people learn more and more about her that should make them question whether they want her that close to the Presidency. Most polls show Obama pulling ahead again today, BTW.
Most polls show Obama pulling ahead again today, BTW.
Entry or Exit Polls? I don't believe in any. Seems that you forgot 2000 and 2004.
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