Writing is hard. I struggle. Being a mom is hard. It's worth the hard work. Being a wife is hard. I wasn't good at it. Being a governor is hard. I've seen few really good at it. Campaigning is hard. As good as you can strategize and frame your message; sometimes you still don't get elected.
Just how competent is Sarah Palin? She hasn't been able to juggle everything to date...and now a new "ball" is up in the air.
Harper Collins just signed the Governor of Alaska to a book deal. In a time tight budgets and economic chaos, they managed to find a great sum to trade for the memoirs of a girl from Wasilla, Alaska. The book is due next spring. It was reported she was getting an $11 million advance. She denied the amount. It flies in the face of having a legal defense fund.
That's fantastic! Great! Get a laptop and a bottle of Adderall...you'll be fine. If you get stuck...well, make it up. It's worked so far.
The governor said about her new book, "There have been so many things written and said through mainstream media that have not been accurate, and it will be nice through an unfiltered forum to get to speak truthfully about who we are and what we stand for and what Alaska is all about." Who is "WE?" How in the ham and cheese can Sarah Palin know what "Alaska is all about?" No one can sum this place up; that's what I love about it. We are too mavericky to have one voice define us.
Palin added, "The idea is to focus on the content of the book and what's coming in terms of me being able to tell my story unrestrained and unfiltered." Well, that's precious! The idea of being governor, traveling around, and making promises for votes, is to FOCUS on the State you were elected to represent.
"It will be nice to put my journalism degree to work on this and get to tell my story, Alaska's story. There have been so many unauthorized books and publications that have spoken to somebody else's opinion of who I am, what my family represents and what Alaska is all about." AGAIN, SARAH, what 41.6% of Alaskans, according to last weeks poll numbers, think Alaska represents, is NOT YOU. Tell your family story, your story, but not ours.
For all the reasons it took her three weeks to sign a bill to support the emergency funding for the Alaska Territorial Guard, Sarah sure found her pen today.
But there is a problem.
Remember all the ethics Palin was touting during her un-holy national tour on the Strait Jacket Express? They include specific statutes:
S 39.52.170. Outside Employment Restricted.
(a) A public employee may not render services to benefit a personal or financial interest or engage in or accept employment outside the agency which the employee serves, if the outside employment or service is incompatible or in conflict with the proper discharge of official duties.
(c) The head of a principal executive department of the state may not accept employment for compensation outside the agency that the executive head serves.
Rest easy, I'm not going to file an ethics complaint over this. The system has been wildly abused, including the one Sarah filed on herself. Ethics are not something you can legislate; either you have them or you don't.
Alaska has a citizen legislature. They are expected to have employment outside of the 90 day session. The governor and her cabinet are considered full time employees. I'm not an attorney, but, after reading the details of the statutes, they seem specific and unambiguous; the governor can't be paid for other employment.
Sarah Palin is living the dream. People want to read about it. Some Alaskans are living a nightmare, and she needs to do her job.
Since the governor's return to Alaska, not much has progressed. Our legislature couldn't even pass the bestiality bill dubbed "Ididadog." Groundhog Day is now Marmot Day. We have a new state dog. Our minimum wage won't be the lowest in the nation. Sarah's pet projects crashed in committee. Her AG and cabinet appointments were rejected by the Republican majority legislature. Some of that I'm good with, I don't want the uterus police in my business or a bigot as Attorney General.
Palin hasn't been able to perform her duties as governor without a book deal. What ever she writes, Rush Limbaugh will consider it a pop-up book. Now that she has a contract, it won't take an ethics board to figure out Alaskans lose again.
Any guesses for a title?
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I will go out on a limb here and say it will be on the NY best seller list, any takers? And to speculate and say she has broken the law is absurd. Where is the facts? I do not want speculation. And it is so funny that liberals call PALIN dumb, but they cannot quit talking about her. You know what they say, if you are not worried about her she would be forgotten. However, Liberals are very concerned as she is a real american with real values and that represents a problem to obama the figure head in 2012. That what the fuss is all about, liberals want to smear her name. And attacking her daughter, keep it up liberals you are the right track.
Oh come on ! YOU know it is just human nature for people to talk about the village i.d.i.o.t.
Time to adjust your tin foil hat. I think your reception is getting a little garbled.
It is hard to forget the gift that keeps on giving. And if conservatives want her forgotten you might tell her to not keep trying to keep herself in the spotlight. As for her being any challenge to anyone who would run, that is so ludricrus it is almost funny. You cannot be a challenge when you do not have basic intellectual curiosity or knowledge of the constitution or the bill of rights
And the sentence should read: Where are the facts, not where is the facts
When someone is DUMB it is even easier to talk about them they give you so much material
Dumb people are dangerous--that is why it is important to pay attention to what Palin is doing. She doesn't even have the self-awareness to know how out of her depth she is. And there are plenty of undereducated southerners down here who said in the fall, "I just LIKE her!" "she's just like ME! A mom with KIDS!" "She's so PRETTY!" If you combined all of their brainpower there wouldn't be enough wattage to light my laundry room.
And poor Bristol is a piece of work following right along in mom's footsteps. I say "thanks, but no thanks" to the flexible Christian family values Sarah thinks we all should emulate: three generations of unwed parents; a teenager's f-'in redneck boyfriend allowed to sleep over in their daughter's bedroom; and an after-the-baby abstinence campaign combined with hooker-style fashion from Candies. Now THAT'S funny.
Check out bloggerint errupted's videos on Youtube. He hit the campaign trail last fall and interviewed Palin supporters, asked them why they liked her. All they could say was, "She's a mom. She's a regular person, just like me." When asked what qualifications they thought she had to be VP, they couldn't answer.
Layman's (i.e., non-laywer's) opinion: writing a book (or cooperating with a ghost writer) is not "employment" in the sense probably meant in the law. She would not be on a payroll (advance against royalties being a different animal, and for that matter, royalties themselves being a different animal from wages).
Whether it is a good idea is another matter, of course.
a lawyer would read the statute and any opinions interpreting it. it does not seem to require a payroll or regular pay. it does not even require monetary compensation, it says if the activity would conflict with her duties. as we know she is not a community organizer and we must assume she has some real duties. she said so about being mayor and governors should have even more duties than mayors of small towns.
Can't wait to get my copy of this epic tome....
Yet the state can sue into 100's of thousands of trumped up lawsuits. Here's what needs to be advocated, you loose your lawsuit complaint you pay the penalty in dollars including the governors debts.
Bravo slowtono, bravo
Another brilliant mind?
These were ethics complaints- they had nothing to do with civil or criminal law- or a court room.
The only reason she required an attorney, was so she could avoid answering questions, and letting Alaskans see what she up to.
The maximum fine for an ethics violation is $5,000- if she had admitted her errors and paid those fines, it would have been cheaper than spending $500,000 for representation.
Further, if she were so innocent, she wouldn't have been afraid to be placed under oath when she gave her testimony regarding the Troopergate matter. That's what spending the legal fees accomplished- she avoided being placed under oath while questioned.
From Newsweek Magazine
..... from Newsweek Magazine May 13, 2009
Palin, who will work with an as yet unnamed writer, has agreed to talk about the Katie Couric interviews, Bristol's pregnancy, family, religion and politics. "There's been so much written about and spoken about in the mainstream media and in the anonymous blogosphere world, that this will be a wonderful, refreshing chance for me to get to tell my story, that a lot of people have asked about, unfiltered," Palin told the Associated Press. "Being a voracious reader, I read a lot today and have read a lot growing up. And having that journalism degree, all of that, will be a great assistance for me in writing this book, talking about the challenges and the joys, balancing the work and parenting, and, in my case, work means running the state." Barnett says the book will be explore the melding of her roles as soccer mom and political operative.
Thank God for ghost writers otherwise this is what the book would look like
She should get Bill Ayers to ghostwrite for her, he did such a fine job for Obama.
Uh huh, I think she will do just fine with Rupert Murdochs guidance. Facts please not just wild accusation s......... .oh that is right cons don't know what facts are
Just what we need another picture pop up book to go next to GW's book!
What are you talking about? It will probably be prominently displayed in the bush library and you know it will be a part of every evangelicals closing sermon, "You can pick up your book on the back table after the service" And if you think we are not watching, you better think again
Shannan, why don't you write a book about Palin? Now that's a book I would buy.
Self employment isn't the same as getting an outside job. The election's over, your guy won. Exactly what is it you gain by beating a dead horse? Are you so afraid that she'll run for office that you need to destroy her in advance? Pointless drivel.
Geez, we only hope she runs again, but I think your party has other ideas
"Self employment isn't the same as getting an outside job."
Yes it is because both take away valuable time and focus from the governor's job and her duties to the state.
"The election's over, your guy won. Exactly what is it you gain by beating a dead horse?"
This isn't about who won or lost last year. It's about saving our nation from a twirpy brained train wreck who isn't qualified to run a town, state or a country.
"Are you so afraid that she'll run for office that you need to destroy her in advance? Pointless drivel."
I am not afraid in fact I hope so despite the embarrassment she brings to our nation. Palin and her ilk are dismantling the GOP. Only good can come from that. Palin is destroying herself. She is hubris on steroids. Keep those Tina Fey moments coming.
The people of Alaska might have a different opinion. They elected someone to run the state, but Palin is only looking out for her interests and growing her family fortune.
I'm afraid she'll embarrass our country to death--even worse than George W. Bush did.
Hard to believe that would be possible, but I think Sarah could do it.
There is something I'm confused about...wh y would we not WANT this lady to be the Republican nominee? As Carville said lately, she will be by far the easiest to beat of any of their front runners. Shouldn't we take it easy on her and help her get the nomination? She is so very, very weak!!!
I absolutely want her to be a Republican candidate, because the rest of the GOP field will make very short work of her. What does the have to debate them with--"Pro-America" psychobabble?? You can only say "I have been a REGULATOR of OIL and GAS!" and talk about your husband's oh-so-astounding "SNOWmachine!!!" racing a couple of times.
And, after a couple of months of that, people catch on to the fact that there really isn't much else there.
Will Sarah read her own book?
The question is: Can she read her own book?
Oh yes, she reads any and all of them, whatever is put in front of her, over they years also too
The book will be available on a special Kindle: the Etch-A-Sketch model.
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An ethics violation will be filed over this book deal and this one just might stick. The problem with the system that processes such charges is the absence of checks and balances. Most of the committee deciders are Palin appointees. Lawyers employed by the state or hired by the committees have a conflict of interest because they are paid by the state or Palin herself (as in Troopergate). No one represents the person filing the ethics charge. It's like asking Cheney's daughter to investigate her father's torture policy.
Despite the ensuing controversy with the book deal, this pales to the potential firestorm if Palin will win the 2010 gubernatorial election then run for the White House. After two years of Palin's lackluster governance, Alaska must contend with the likely possibility that Palin will be in the Lower 48 for at least a year, maybe 18 months if the primary winner picks her as his VP running mate. Yes, history repeats itself. Who will pay her salary for 12 or 18 months? The state. What expenses and per diem will she claim? Her past filings indicate she will claim more than legally entitled to. Her mind won't be on next year's legislative session. Will she place the Lieutenant Governor in charge during her absence or will she be mavericky and govern by Blackberry?
The best way for Alaska to avoid that firestorm is by saying thanks but no thanks to a Sarah Palin second term.
Wrong. "most of the committee deciders were not appointed by Governor Palin. All but one were appointed by her predecessor Governor Frank Murkowski, and in any case, all appointments to the Personnel Board are judicially reviewed.
Two committees recently decided on two ethics charges. One committee has 4 out of 4 Palin supporters. The other has 1 out of 3 Palin supporters. She owns most committee members and got off.
Who paid Obama's salary during the 2 years he pimped his books and ran for President?
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The public won't be fooled. How can someone handle a PAC, attend speaking engagements in the Lower 48, and write a book (said with tongue in cheek) without interfering with her gubernatorial duties? She claims she will work on the book after hours. What are the governor's hours? Does she punch the clock? No. Does she fill out time sheets? No. Governing isn't a 9-5 5 days a week job, it's 24/7. Sleep, rest, family time and recreation are allowed of course but it's a demanding job.
Aside from writing a book even with the benevolent assistance of a ghost writer, she will have to take calls from her publisher, editors, lawyers, agents, publicists, and others. Letters and emails must be read. Then come the promotion and book signing tours. All not related to her governor's job. Can she avoid such communication from state property while attending to her gubernatorial duties? No. She was already caught doing that in one ethics violation charge.
There are people with intelligence, intellect, maturity and discipline who can write (or co-author) a book while working in a profession but Palin isn't one of them. Professors, reporters, columnists, historians, scientists, etc. manage but even they have to take time off for writing. Joe the Plumber doesn't count and his publisher lost money on Joe.
Her small legion of blogging fanatics, zealots, whackos, and spiritual warriors can't save her when she plays hooky from the state duties.
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Shannyn scripted a relevant article with interesting questions and insight.
Sarah Palin's detachment from the state started before last summer when Bill Kristol and others quietly suggested she should run for national office. The detachment was noticeable during the campaign and audible during her rally speeches of shrilling offensive divisive words of bigotry and racism. When Palin returned to the state after November 4, it was as if she filed for legal separation from state duties. During the legislative session she behaved like a jilted scorned lover.
Scoring no achievements in the last 4 months, her role in the recent legislative session was an utter failure. Natives along the Yukon River have been flooded, some lost their homes. Not till the eleventh hour before a speaking engagement at an Alaska seafood promotion and the White House Correspondents Dinner, did Palin back out to survey flooded villages. That must have been a hard decision for Palin who governs in the spirit of Marie Antoinette and vocalized her disdain for other cultures in Alaska and the rest of the country.
Now comes a book deal that involves a high number of manhours at any waking hour. Authoring is a full time occupation. So is governing a state. There aren't enough hours in a day to do both well. The framers of the state's constitution were wise to restrict outside income. They foresaw not only potential corruption but distractions from official duties.
Lies, lies and more lies! Ms. Moore's article is not true. Sarah Palin has every right to write her book and she has received the approval of the State of Alaska's Dept. of Law to do so. Palin has the right to receive whatever compensation the publishers feel her memoirs are worth. It is a multi-million dollar deal which proves that the MSM has been lying to you folks about Palin. Harper-Collins would not sign Palin up unless they knew she could deliver (Her book agent is also Obama's and Hillary's book agent).
.gov.state .ak.us. You can also check out Conservati ves4Palin. com which has all the latest news on Palin and her accomplishments.
Ms. Moore has personal animus against Sarah and is not telling the truth about Sarah's record. Sarah has accomplished a great many things in Alaska recently especially on energy policy. You can see for yourself at the State of Alaska's Governor's website: http://www
Sarah's book will be a best seller worldwide. Then the truth about Sarah will come out instead of Ms. Moore's and the MSM's lies. Knowledge is power.
I wouldn't trust anything a "conservative' says. Is that a Joke? Yes, her book title, which came from another person online, thanks, and the best one I have seen:
Audacity of D o p e.
Is that the name of obama's book SUESEA? Sounds like it, just curious cause I was trying to find some good fire starter material for my campout this weekend.
If only you had not recommended "conservat ive4palin" , you lost credibility there.
You mean liberals do not want to know the facts? My lord that is a shocker. News flash obama is president why are liberals have so much hatred. I guess it takes hatred to spread falsehoods about great americans though, oh well keep up the noble work liberals it is working out beautiful as you will see in 2010.
Try reading the Alaska statute - it is clear
because her appointed crony says it is OK does not make it so
Reference torture and the the W administration
...and I have every right NOT to buy it!
Worldwide best seller? OMG...what planet are you from? The "world" thinks she is just a big joke, and they are right.
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