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A Friend Stopped By | 07/04/2009 7:55 pm

Ann Coulter Explains Palin's Exit

By Ann Coulter
© AP
Editor’s Note: Ann Coulter is a political commentator, syndicated columnist and bestselling author. Her latest book is Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America.

I’m confused by all the confusion among the chattering classes about Palin. I thought her press conference explained it very clearly – though she couldn’t put it precisely this way without sounding vain, but it’s obvious.  

Even though she’s just a state governor, she’s a HUGE national star who is both sought after and attacked as if she is already a president (a Bush, not an Obama). But she basically can’t participate because she’s tethered to the governor’s office up in Alaska. Consequently, she has to fight with one hand tied behind her back and she also can’t go around the country campaigning for candidates and principles she believes in – because she’s governor and would be accused of neglecting the state.  

Meanwhile, the Lt. Gov. is a great guy, so she’s leaving the state in good hands and now she can go on to be an even bigger star. 

It’s a weird Washington insider perspective to be perplexed by what she’s doing. Contrary to Mark Sanford’s e-mails to his mistress, no one was really impressed with him; 99.99999999999999999% of Americans didn’t know who he was.  Who is more influential: Rush Limbaugh, Matt Drudge and Bill O’Reilly, or Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindal and Mark Sanford (before the fall)? As Palin said, God bless people who run for political office, but – and she didn’t say this part – she’s too  big to be a lame-duck governor stuck dealing with fishing licenses in Anchorage right now.

She’ll be much bigger now and can play on the national stage without constantly setting off state ethics investigations by loons, parasites and liberals. None of this applied to McCain or Kerry – both of whom went back to the Senate – because their national campaigns diminished them. Palin’s national campaign made her a major star. As she said, she’s not retreating, she’s advancing in another direction. 

Click here for Margo Howard’s opinion on Palin’s exit.

Read more about: Ann Coulter, News, Politics, Sarah Palin

625 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

nava korn

Didn’t she already deal with this issue? 

 I am amazed that more Alaskans aren’t outraged that these few people keep wasting Alaska’s money to deal with all these ethics investigations as well as wasting personnel time which could be better used toward solving issues important to the state.

By nava korn on 07/07/2009 4:06 pm
Patty E

Apparently not ‘dealt with’ in a way that was good enough to end it:  See the following cut and paste:

Palin hit with yet another ethics complaint. Palin Hit with another ethics complaint Your request is being processed…Your request is being processed
Your request is being processed…Your request is being processed… Palin Hit With Another Ethics Com Your request is being processed…Your request is being processed… Geoffrey Dunn Posted: July 6, 2009 07:44 PM

In the wake of Governor Palin stepping down from her job, new allegations have surfaced today in Alaska charging Palin with additional violations of the Alaska Executive Ethics Act.

Zane Henning — a conservative government watchdog from the governor’s hometown of Wasilla and an oilfield worker on Alaska’s North Slope — asserts in a letter to Alaska Attorney General Daniel S. Sullivan that Palin has "been charging and pocketing per diem to live in her home and has used the process for a personal gain since being elected."

The Washington Post first broke this story last September during the 2008 presidential race, but until now, no formal ethics charges have been brought on the matter in Alaska.

In a detailed press release accompanying his complaint, Henning declared that:

Palin’s use of the per diem is in direct conflict with Section 39.52.120. (a) of the Alaska Executive Ethics Act….More than a thousand state employees commute from the Mat-Su Valley daily and none of them get to pocket free money.

Henning noted that "the State of Alaska provides housing in Juneau for the Governor."

If she chooses not to live there, Alaskans should not have to pay for it. I am requesting that you and the Personnel Board direct Governor Sarah Palin to reimburse the State of Alaska all per diem funds, plus interest, and a fine that are related to charges while staying in her Wasilla residence.

Henning further argued that Alaska Statute 39.20.010 sets an "annual salary for the governor of $125,000."

Sarah Palin has collected more than the amount established by law by cashing in her per diem checks. Alaska Statute 39.20.050 (Exclusive Compensation) states that the compensation fixed by law for the governor and lieutenant governor is in full for all services rendered by each of them in any official capacity or employment whatsoever during their respective terms of office. Per diem is therefore any added expenses incurred while in travel status, not when living in your own home.

According to Henning:

State travel regulations say that per diem can’t be claimed when travel is less than 50 miles from a state employee’s workplace. The IRS and state finance officer have already determined that the per diem is considered income. The governor’s workplace in Anchorage is only a 45-mile commute from her Wasilla home.

In February, Palin was required to pay back income taxes on thousands of dollars in expense money she received while living at her home overlooking Lake Lucille in Wasilla. Little more than two weeks ago she was forced to pay back the State of Alaska more than $8,100.00 for nine trips taken by her children that she had improperly charged as being part of official state business.

Henning contends the per diem is another way for the Alaska governor to line her pockets at the state’s expense:

As a Wasilla resident I know that thousands of valley residents commute into Anchorage for work every day. They don’t receive checks from their employers for sleeping at home. Governor Palin does. And it’s wrong, not to mention unethical, for her to even submit these per diem claims. To me, this is a roundabout way for Palin to give herself a raise.

"The Governor is quitting her job," said Henning, "and now more than ever the State of Alaska, along with its residents, need to be reimbursed for the per diem charges, including interest and a fine…[I]t is up to private citizens, like myself, to hold our Governor accountable."

 



 

By Patty E on 07/07/2009 4:59 pm
Patty E

Annnddddd…apparently, according to Palin…the ‘Department of Law’ likes whoever is the  President of the USA—-but not her….FYI—-there is NOT a Department of Law in our Federal Government structure…..but there IS a Department of Law in the State of Alaska….unfortunately, Palin may not be aware of the US Govt. Judicial Structure?

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/07/palin-department-of-law-p_n_226881.html

 

By Patty E on 07/07/2009 5:11 pm
Dona Howlett

Oh my god……….If I were wanting to advance my career.  Ann Coulter would be the last person on Earth I would want to join my Band Wagon.

What ever the real reasons for Sarah Palin’s withdrawal from her elected duties as the Governor of Alaska, might never be known to any except those members of her own family.

I for one don’t care what she does……….I don’t now, nor have I ever thought she was a qualified person to hold an Office of great responsibility. She is proving my point of view………not keeping ones committed promises to those who helped put her in office just shows how weak she is.

I hope she silently disappears into oblivion.

Takes care of her children and has a happy family life.

I for one, am tired of hearing this woman’s name. 

I hope it doesn’t come up again……..probably will, but it doesn’t hurt to hope!

By Dona Howlett on 07/04/2009 8:18 pm
Lin Cercone
DONA:  I agree completely.  I would find Ann Coulter’s support an embarrassment, she’s pretty lame.  She’s just jumping on the band wagon to see her name in print AGAIN.  Does anyone take her seriously?  RE:  Palin - what a waste of Republican campaign funds.  Do they really think she has a shot in H…ll - I doubt it.  She’s hiding something ???  It’ll come out.
By Lin Cercone on 07/04/2009 9:12 pm
Donna Taylor
Dona-I totally agree with all your points.  I am also tired of hearing about her, and it seems she just wants to keep her name in the media any way she can!!!  I just read a statement from her today about the media abusing her.  Please Sarah, just go away, and maybe Ann Coulter could join her!!!!
By Donna Taylor on 07/04/2009 10:02 pm
Kelly In Texas
Ok Donna…I suppose Palin should have just "twittered" her resignation….good gawd…
By Kelly In Texas on 07/05/2009 2:39 pm
Olive Weir

Donna Palin doesn’t keep her name in the media…The media keeps her name in the media.

Suggest you keep away from Palin blogs if you are tired of hearing about her. That make sense to you?

By Olive Weir on 07/06/2009 6:35 pm
Sandbee (FB) 54
Sarah evidently is so lame that she doesn’t know the definition of a lame duck Governor, she couldn’t become one until they had an election and some had been elected to fill her position.  She can’t even make a speech to resign and do it properly.  She looked and sounded like gibberish, and I watched it so that I could be sure I knew what I was talking about, even if she didn’t.
By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 07/05/2009 9:59 am
Star Lawrence
Well, then, don’t worry about her, Sandbee…Oh, that’s right, she isn’t going anywhere.
By Star Lawrence on 07/05/2009 1:17 pm
rocky rocky

Sandbee, I agree with you. I’d go a little further and say that I don’t think definitions matter to Mrs Palin. Neither of "lame duck" nor of "free press." Her strengths lie in demagoguery, not in rationality. 

By rocky rocky on 07/05/2009 6:26 pm
Olive Weir
Dona you said you don’t care what Sarah Palin does… then you write all this negative stuff about her. Your ‘don’t care’ borders on ‘dislike’ or even ‘hate’? No wonder you are feeling a little upset. Sarah Palin has millions of followers that’s why there are millions of blogs out there about her. Suggest you give them a miss, because the Palin-mania is only just begun. How a ‘weak’ [your word] person can command such a huge following continues to baffle her detractors. But we believe she is chosen.
By Olive Weir on 07/06/2009 6:05 pm
Dona Howlett

Olive,

First of all in response to your post………I did not say I was upset………

I did not say awful things about Sarah.  I said I thought she was weak……that’s not awful, just my opinion.

It’s a perfectly good English word. I also said I didn’t think she was qualified.  That again is not a terrible thing to say about a person that has shown by her actions that she is not qualified for the position she sought as VP.  Now she is telling the World she is not capable of continuing her commitment to serve out her first term as a Governor.

I certainly don’t Hate Sarah Palin………I’ve never hated but one person in my life (that was because this person murdered a member of my family).

Dislike, Yes I guess you could say I dislike her.  Perhaps not really her because I don’t really know her as I’m sure you don’t her either…..I certainly don’t like what she stands for.  I disagree with her Politically.  That’s my right as an American.

I can choose what candidates I want to hold Office, just as you and all of her Millions (as you say) Followers can.

That’s why we have more than one Political Party in this Country.  ‘To Each his Own’

As to Sarah Palin having millions of followers…….that’s no great feat.  What kind of people are all of her followers.

Not the kind of people I want to hold High positions in our Country.  If you feel insulted by that statement that’s on you.  Not me.

Now, when you make a statement "BUT WE BELIEVE SHE IS CHOSEN" first I’m curious who the WE are?

Chosen by Who?………..Chosen for what?

I won’t even make any remarks about a statement like that……….It would get to personal I don’t wish to go there.

By Dona Howlett on 07/07/2009 2:45 am
Victoria J
SarahBarbie and Annie Coulter are fine kept far apart, but with Coulter’s impatience and need for attention which rivals Sarah Palin’s driving effort to be the Republican girl bait, these two will murder each other. Particularly when Annie’s guys start winking at Sarah, who is much much more attractive than the skinny cougar. But then Coulter is sooooo much smarter than Braindead Barbie…. So let them spin this story…just try and get them in the same room for 15 minutes…just try and sell tickets cause I want to see it!
By Victoria J on 07/07/2009 3:51 pm
James the Game

Republican analyst Ed Rollins said Palin seems to be acting "cuckoo". It was a strange news conference, to say the lease. I believe she gave the pundits one more negative mark to use against her, if she does run for president in 2012. They’ll label her a "quitter".

By James the Game on 07/04/2009 8:33 pm