The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Posted on September 10th, 2008 by ecthompson md

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been a vice presidential candidate for about 10 days. In 10 days we’ve learned that Palin likes more than just moose burgers. She is a right-wing ideologue who believes that the purpose of government is to support big business. She was swept into office under the guise of a reformer. Yet in recent days, we have learned that she’s been milking the Alaskan government. Yesterday, we learned that she charged the citizens of Alaska for meals while she wasn’t traveling. Today, we learned that she has charged the citizens of Alaska so that her family can be with her as she travels. Republicans always like to talk about running the government as if it was a business, what business do you know can travel with your spouse and kids and charge that as a business expense?

Tags: Election 2008 // 11 Comments »

  • http://n/a Bill

    The same article you linked also points out that she cut her traveling expenses by 78% relative to her predecessor.

  • margaret

    So it is okay to take money from the people who elect you as long as it is less than the previous corrupt person? She has lots of new roads and a ramp for the bridge to nowhere being built with the money she lobbied for while her predessor was in office. But from her ads she turned back.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Bill –

    The point of the post was that she was charging the government for her kids and husband to tag along. Is this right or wrong?

    Thanks for your comment and I’m looking forward to your answer.

  • http://n/a Bill

    I guess my point is that any discussion on expenses should at least include the bottom line.

    @ ec, I honestly do not know the answer to your question. I have never been in public office. The article indicates that family is covered because family is sometimes expected at the events. I can see how that would be important for a public figure.

    @ margaret, The predecessor’s numbers are the only one’s available for comparison.

    The Alaskans interviewed in the article seem to indicate everything was above board.

  • TCB

    Sorry for the typos.

    What a none story,

    ET: The point of the post was that she was charging the government for her kids and husband to tag along. Is this right or wrong?

    I guess that you missed the small points. The other Governors also charged had the government pay for family expenses when they were on business. Last I checked, we do pay for the family expenses of the President. Part of the cost of the chief executive.

    Yes, I do think cutting traveling expenses is a good thing although it’s funny that the person who cuts cost is accused of “ripping people off” while the others get a free pass.

    That’s politics.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    TCB –

    Welcome back.

    I deleted typo fulled post.

    If you are going to do the same thing as been done before then you are no a reformer. IF you are a reformer, you pay for your family.

    I have no idea what laws govern when and if Bush can take Laura to Russia or Kansas City, Mo. but I know that there are some laws or regulations. I don’t think it is a free ride. Is it? Then again, the First Lady is an official position. Great! Now, I have to look that up. :-)

    Thanks for your comments.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Bill –

    Thanks for you comments. I do appreciate them.

    I guess that my problem is that we have someone who has put on the reformer jacket. Governor Palin has rolled out a series of things that she has done to save the Alaskan taxpayers money. She has touted that she has saved a bunch of money. She has sold the plane, fired the cook and killed the bridge to nowhere. Cool, I’m all for anyone R or D who will make government more efficient. Then we find out story is much more complex. The governor may have cost the state money by selling the plane. The state now needs to contract out a plane to fly state prisoners. Is she reforming or is she just doing things to make it look like she is a reformer? (I don’t know. I don’t have enough information to say.)

    Back to this post, charging the taxpayers for travel while you are at home is wrong. Correct?

    I will grant you 1/2 credit for the traveling with family. I get 1/2 a demerit. You are not a reformer if you doing the same thing that everyone else is doing. On the other hand, if you are a working mother, and you are trying to keep your kids in your life and under your control, they should travel with you. Although, I don’t think that we (or Alaskans) should pay for them to tag along.

    Thanks again for your comments.

  • Joel_

    78% cut = REFORMER. PERIOD. I don’t CARE what piddly little things escaped the cut for whatever political reason… It’s called politics, you end up compromising at SOME point.

    this all you got?

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Joel –

    You seem to be a broken record.

    Reformer? If you say so.

  • http://n/a Bill

    EC – Again, I don’t know. To me the crux is how much did she save by choosing to not live in the governor’s mansion vs how much she expensed to Alaska because she was at home and on per diem. (Hope that made sense.)

    I am not motivated enough to find out the answer. In terms of attacking her history as a reformer, I think she is probably more vulnerable in other areas (earmarks?). I don’t think there is anything to this expense stuff.

    Thanks for the credit. How many demerits did I get for the “gutless” comment?

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    :-)

    I try to only hand out demerits to myself!

    Thanks for you comments. I truly appreciate them.

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