Palin Spent $50,000 In City Funds To Redecorate Mayor's Office, Ex-Colleague Says

Salon:

Sarah Palin has been touting herself as fiscal watchdog throughout her political career. But Palin's tenure as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, was characterized by waste, cronyism and incompetence, according to government officials in the Matanuska Valley, where she began her fairy-tale political rise.

"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.

Four years later, the ambitious Palin won the Wasilla mayor's office -- after scorching the "tax and spend mentality" of her incumbent opponent. But Carney, Palin's estranged former mentor, and others in city hall were astounded when they found out about a lavish expenditure of Palin's own after her 1996 election. According to Carney, the newly elected mayor spent more than $50,000 in city funds to redecorate her office, without the council's authorization.

Read the whole story: Salon

Comments

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Ever notice how Republicans always scream fiscal responsibility while fleecing the taxpayers?

[vinny]

it's all part of their "starve the beast" agenda...

[MadeinAmericaProud]

This time I have to stand on the fence.

yes the republicans since Nixon and his side kick Kissinger opened that famous back-door deal with china, the American people have self destruct through their limited knowledge of the truth of what is valuable to humans on this planet. Safe producing products jobs that are passed on to the next generation here in America.

The republicans say less government let the market run free. I have noticed for many years as a democrat the republicans take my taxes without my vote to bailout these private companies that only their shareholders get the benefits.

I say let the shareholders only in these private business bail each other out. I truly hate the idea, I don't have a vote to agree I am paying for the greed of private companies. the republicans have been taking thes bailout for many many years. They don't have to use new words, The same boiler plate lines are enough, these companies are too big to fail. I am willing to take my changes on these failing. I am a 30years vet. I am all for the draft for Military services. The flag pin is pure 100% BS now with moose poop added.

[cbates]

Palin seems to be a very mean spirited person.

[gigi09]

Remember she called herself a PIT BULL w/Lipstick and she is a female aka: b*t*h!...h­a ha ha!

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Her spirit is not the only part of her that is mean. The human side of her is pure republican greed. The winner take all. these losers pay the bill for it.

Everybody that loves her say that tanning machine purchase with her own money. I want to know living in the governor's house, who pays for the electricity bill that is used for this cooked look of palins family tan.

I bet it is the tax payers.

[rocky786]

What do you guys think of the new "I View myself as Alaska's CEO" ?!?!

[rocky786]

Desperate for attention.­..Maybe the $hit just hit the fan once and for all..and her 15 minutes of fame is up....

[oldfart1]

Great. When she's President, she can fill the Cabinet with friends from high school, redecorate the White House, and throw a grand ball for Jerry Falwell. Roll over, Evita!

[rocky786]

Pink House? Putin must be laughing his a$$ off watching all this from his window to Alaska...

[LastLiberalRepublican]

Some impropriety in your comment, given that Jerry Falwell passed away in May 2007.

[NeverRepublican]

According to g-od...he says Jerry can take some leave from heaven to work in her cabinet.

[vinny]

absurdity plus hint of truth equals good satire...

[obamasOHangel]

Don't forget the tanning booth, sauna and jacuzzi for ten!

[1forthetruth]

wonder how much he got paid for the interview.
From the salon article:

"Although Carney says he no longer has documentation of the expenditures, in his recollection ....




From Alaska Daily newspapers

Foes back off their push to recall mayor (2/11/1997)

"Among the organizers was Wasilla City Council member Nick Carney, a longstanding critic of Palin."

He's had over ten years at least to grind that axe

[soithoni]

alaska barbie's story just keeps getting better ... and better... and better... and better... and better.

[kingofscotts]

Is it an attractive female Republican candidate that you feel threatened by.

I mean after watching Hillary for so long I can see how jealous the dems would be.

I think it's all the anger and desperation that causes the attractiveness gap between the GOP and DNC.

[OrbitOfOurOwn]

Hey, there is something new from a Repub...av­oiding answering the charge but instead attacking the one leveling the charges. LoL. Get a new play book. Now that it is on the radar it will get visibility.

Doesn't all of this P a l i n stuff bother you? I mean there are now dozens of stories about her. The shear magnitude and number of people bringing this stuff up would have to make you at least question her. Or do you have those "she's one of us" goggles on?

[1forthetruth]

I don't mind substantiated facts. I think a LOT of times the media is grasping at straws.

"She bought a tanning bed! (with her own money)

I can't recall reading ANY articles interviewing past associates (they are out there with THEIR axes to grind) of O. Link me articles with this type of investigative reporting. Specifically his time at Columbia, his community organizing days etc etc

[alguien]

she was definitely a mean girl in high school. no doubt about it.

[kingofscotts]

I want to respond but it's so hard to type when laughing so hard.

"she was mean in high school"

That's a winning strategy.

WOW I knew things were desperate for the huffstars but this brings it to a whole knew level.

[alguien]

i wasn't aware of my remark being a strategy but if that's what republicans consider strategy (or "strategery" in bush-lingo) then i'd have to say you're in a world of trouble.

[wizardofoz]

HOW about that DELEGATE that got robbed by that hooker at your convention,guess he was looking for family values huh

[rocky786]

Like we need another reason NOT to vote for Palin!

[MadeinAmericaProud]

The republican party lost their way years ago with Nixon. Nixon stated whatever, a president do is not illegal. He was impeached, now the republicans closed rank , closed doors, no transparency and they continue to lie, steal ,and cheat the public through deception.

In the last 2 years of the Bush term, I feel these days have been my biggest rip off with these numerous bailouts with a republican run federal reserve(which is a private bank) bailing out private companies without a total lost to the CEO of the failed company, without a total lost to that stockholder that received a stock portfolio and prospective on each of all the rick and no guarantees of the principal being safe. The bottom line when buying stock from a legal gambling house. All the money you put up is in a 100% risk mold.

[jimgilliamv2]

None of this surprises me about Palin. This is what being a Republican is all about. You talk the religious thing but live like the devil.

[rocky786]

Straight to HELLFIRE!!~

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Dorian Gray the movie of a man who's portrait in the closet is not something anyone can hang on the wall for all to see. Currently the McCain campaign is the 21st century Dorian Gray.

[Palmz]

"hot" Mayor.

Bordello

Tanning bed

Promiscuous?

[lohy]

Re carpet???Red flocked wall paper??

[MadeinAmericaProud]

When American focus on subjects like these, I think it limits the advancement of younger voters taking their future as stakeholder serious.

[jgf654]

Dems,
Reading and posting on blogs is great, but please get out and help - volunteer. I'm currently in the battleground state of PA and have contributed a couple of hours a day.
Three eye openers for me: 1) there's much more racism out there than I expected, 2) there are lots of angry and rude republicans out there and 3) people who are on the fence just need a reason or two to move to the Obama camp. And there are plenty of reasons to share.
Please volunteer. It's worthwhile.

[Palmz]

"there's much more racism out there than I expected"

Not sure of the world you live in but Welcome to America!

[jgf654]

Ya, thanks. It's gross. Ignorance.

[Gericault]

As a Californian there's not much I can do for you. I have been blogging on battleground states local newspapers like the Reno gazette and one in Grand rapids Michigan. I'll search for some in PA. Keep the faith. God Bless you.

[jgf654]

Thanks for your help.
Pittsburgh Gazette I hear is the right-wing paper.
Pittsburgh Tribune is another local paper.
I'm recruiting my sisters who live in NY to help out in this area.
The Bushies have to go.

[gladys46]

I'm volunteering in PA as well, what you say is true! Most of the bigotry & racism is found upState, Erie, Pittsburg ... KKK areas! Those are the areas when polled during the primaries answered that race mattered to them!! However, Philly and surrounding suburbs & Delaware Valley districts will bring PA in for Obama ... bank on it !!!

[jgf654]

I share your enthusiasm, but I'm not banking on anything when it comes to PA. Central PA is mostly McCain territory. And with the Republican media and attack machine out there I will continue to work hard in support of Obama/Biden. I trust the Republicans to play dirty right up to the end. It's obviously their strategy. They don't have a plan.

[kc1963]

Some good news about a supposedly "red leaning" state: verified my voter registration this morning in NC. According to their numbers, of the 5,960,782 registered voters there are:

2,701,963 democrats
1,946,638 republicans
1,119 libertarians
1,311,062 unaffiliated

We're looking bluer and bluer every day!

[MNmommy]

Now this is the kind of change we need.

NOT!!

[gladys46]

Today, reports are that Alaskan State workers subpoenaed to testify in "troopergate" are refusing to testify .... they have most probably been tampered with by reThugs for Palin!

ReThugs do very well with other people's money ... always have! The worst hypocriters ever!

[WFV]

$50K could have bought a few years of rape kits for citizens who need them.

All sass, no class. Kids, we are trading the cowboy hat for the beehive, but nothing else is different.

[SurferKit]

Exactly what I thought when I read this.

How many rape kits would that $50 grand have bought for the citizens of Wasilla.

Shame on you Palin!

[kingofscotts]

So a former enemy of Palin claims she spent this money but oh so conveniently has "lost" the paperwork to prove it.

And the huffstars buy it hook line and sinker.

We have the paperwork to prove Obama bought his house with the help of a convicted felon.

So keep it coming.

[FogBelter]

She left Wasilla, a town of 7000 people over 22 million dollars in debt. Wasilla had ZERO debt when she took office.

The question to be asked is "Where did that money go?"

City of 7000 people with a 22 million dollars after the term of Palin? Come on, where are the auditors?

[oldfart1]

Actually most of the money went to build a hockey rink, where her daughter met her boyfriend and got pregnant, and her son started a career that led him to drop out of high school and enlist for Iraq.

[FogBelter]

"Actually most of the money went to build a hockey rink."

Just for fun, let's see the books.

[lbsaltzman]

Next to the financial crisis, she ain't worth putting pen to paper about. Pallin is yesterday's news as we return to the real crisis facing this country.

[KareninWA]

Don't forget the $24,000 Suburban that she had the city buy. Foregoing the rape kits to pay for it.

[kingofscotts]

WOW

An Alaskan Mayor thought it best to use a suburban to travel in ALASKA

And she managed to get one for only $24,000

Damn she looks better and better every day.

The libs are just in all out freak mode over her. It's great. Seriously I love to watch the huffstars scrammble to figure out how to save Barry.

Not going to happen.