Sarah Palin, Embezzler?

[Brainster]

What other interpretation could the anti-Palin forces come up with for this news?

Republicans are voting with their wallets for Sarah Palin. Figures just released show that John McCain has raked in $10million in the two and a bit days since he unveiled his gun toting female running mate. That should bring McCain's total for the month to around $47m--easily a record for the Arizona Senator.

Obviously Sarah used her mad computer skillz to bilk people out of their life savings by emailing people and telling them that their rich uncle must have died in Alaska and could they please donate some processing fees to the McCain campaign and their $18.4 million would soon be on the way.



This thread does have a serious purpose however. There seems to be a growing idea around here that somehow Palin's nomination is in jeopardy. There is zero sign of that at InTrade, which still shows Palin's contract at about 98 cents to earn a buck (less commissions). There has been no sign of a big rebound in Pawlenty Preferred or Romney Class B shares. I have my finger on the pulse of the conservative blogosphere, and there is no sense that Palin's in trouble. In fact, the liberal attacks have largely solidified her support. The big story over the weekend, the Trig Truth, has been revealed to be a big nothing. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, and the anti-Palin forces made a terrible first impression.

My concerns about Palin are the same as at the beginning of the weekend; that she blunts one of McCain's best argument against Obama (lack of experience on the national scene) and the Troopergate issue which is still hanging out there and which everybody knew was out there. Nothing of the new stuff concerns me, which says the vetting process was pretty good.

 

[MattusMaximus]

My concerns about Palin are the same as at the beginning of the weekend; that she blunts one of McCain's best argument against Obama (lack of experience on the national scene) and the Troopergate issue which is still hanging out there and which everybody knew was out there. Nothing of the new stuff concerns me, which says the vetting process was pretty good.

Seriously though, I do agree that Palin will likely be around for the November elections. I disagree that McCain's people vetted her well though, but that's just my opinion.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Btw, how much more time does McCain have before he can no longer raise money and must accept public funds?

 

[Brainster]

Btw, how much more time does McCain have before he can no longer raise money and must accept public funds?

When he officially accepts the nomination, sometime Thursday. This became a big issue in 2004 because Kerry was being nominated about a month before Bush and the Democrats suddenly realized that they'd have to make their federal funds last for three months while Bush's would only be needed for two months. There was a big flap about whether Kerry might officially defer accepting the nomination so he could avert that, but nothing ever came of it.

 

[chipmunk stew]

When he officially accepts the nomination, sometime Thursday.

Ah! So he picked Palin purely for the last-minute soaking of the stupid fundraising!

 

[Sefarst]

Ah! So he picked Palin purely for the last-minute soaking of the stupid fundraising!

Nah, Huckabee would have been the better choice for that.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Ah! So he picked Palin purely for the last-minute soaking of the stupid fundraising!

Well, that thought had occurred to me. What with how McCain's campaign is raking in the cash now, it does seem to be part of a politically calculated move.

However, it won't last. And Obama will outraise/outspend the hell out of McCain in the next couple of months. I think this will be especially obvious in the ground game and GOTV efforts in the days leading up to the election. I think Obama will destroy McCain on this particular point, but that's just me.

 

[Freddy]

What other interpretation could the anti-Palin forces come up with for this news?



Obviously Sarah used her mad computer skillz to bilk people out of their life savings by emailing people and telling them that their rich uncle must have died in Alaska and could they please donate some processing fees to the McCain campaign and their $18.4 million would soon be on the way.



This thread does have a serious purpose however. There seems to be a growing idea around here that somehow Palin's nomination is in jeopardy. There is zero sign of that at InTrade, which still shows Palin's contract at about 98 cents to earn a buck (less commissions). There has been no sign of a big rebound in Pawlenty Preferred or Romney Class B shares. I have my finger on the pulse of the conservative blogosphere, and there is no sense that Palin's in trouble. In fact, the liberal attacks have largely solidified her support. The big story over the weekend, the Trig Truth, has been revealed to be a big nothing. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, and the anti-Palin forces made a terrible first impression.

My concerns about Palin are the same as at the beginning of the weekend; that she blunts one of McCain's best argument against Obama (lack of experience on the national scene) and the Troopergate issue which is still hanging out there and which everybody knew was out there. Nothing of the new stuff concerns me, which says the vetting process was pretty good.

About the trooper:

This is guy who was investigated by his department and was found to have done all of the following:

1) Tased his 10 year old stepson (Don't tase me, bro - sorry, couldn't resist)

2) Threatened to kill his father in law (Palin's father) if he helped her get a divorce lawyer

3) Illegally shot and killed a moose

And

4) Drank in his patrol car.

For some reason, no one is mentioning that. If I were governor, I'd be pushing for that guy to be fired immediately even if I had no personal connection to him. There's no way that guy should have a gun and a badge. This is such a non-story it's laughable. Once these facts about the trooper get reported on, the "scandal" will be dead.

 

[MattusMaximus]

When he officially accepts the nomination, sometime Thursday. This became a big issue in 2004 because Kerry was being nominated about a month before Bush and the Democrats suddenly realized that they'd have to make their federal funds last for three months while Bush's would only be needed for two months. There was a big flap about whether Kerry might officially defer accepting the nomination so he could avert that, but nothing ever came of it.

Yet another screwup on the part of the Kerry campaign. If Kerry had half the appeal or balls that Obama has, he'd have won in 2004.

Okay, I'm done living in the past...

 

[geni]

This thread does have a serious purpose however. There seems to be a growing idea around here that somehow Palin's nomination is in jeopardy.

Not yet folding would be very damageing so the alturnative would have to be very bad indeed. The problem arrises if a trend develops.

There is zero sign of that at InTrade

Yeah the value of the prediction markets has probably been oversold a bit.

 

[BenBurch]

Thank you for reminding me to go donate to Obama! So I went to do so and found that he was asking people instead to donate to hurricane relief... So I gave to that what I would have given to him.

I'll send HIM money next week.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Thank you for reminding me to go donate to Obama! So I went to do so and found that he was asking people instead to donate to hurricane relief... So I gave to that what I would have given to him.

I'll send HIM money next week.

Ditto.

 

[chipmunk stew]

For some reason, no one is mentioning that.

Except all the people who are.

Other than that, I agree with you. (Assuming these facts about the trooper pan out, of course.)

 

[Freddy]

Fair enough. Some people are talking about it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have read about it. But I'm watching CNN right now and no one on Larry King seems to think it's relevant. I just can't believe that the fact that the trooper so richly deserved to be fired (you could argue it's a matter of public safety that he be fired) wouldn't be one of the first things mentioned when this story is brought up. It's really the fault of the people who are supposed to be on there defending her. They're dropping the ball, big time.

 

[BenBurch]

Freddy, its not the firing of the trooper that is controversial. It is the firing of the state officer who disagreed with the firing.

 

[Freddy]

Freddy, its not the firing of the trooper that is controversial. It is the firing of the state officer who disagreed with the firing.

I'm aware of that, but I'd also fire anyone who refused to fire that jerk trooper, especially since Palin was within her power to fire this guy for almost any reason. It certainly doesn't seem as if she fired him merely because this trooper was in a custody battle with her sister. That would be abuse of power. It's also why the trooper's documented misconduct is not only relevant but central to this story. The trooper was a public nuisance, not just a personal enemy of Sarah Palin. What kind of person refuses to dismiss an law enforcement officer who is found, after investigation, to have done all of the things mentioned above? And I think most casual observers have the same reaction I did when I learned a bit about him.

And apparently there were other deficiencies in this state officer's performance. And Palin offered the guy a different job she thought he'd be more suited for.

This just doesn't have the ring of abuse of power. It sounds more like cleaning house of a corrupt power abusing law enforcement officer. The personal connection gives it the appearance of a possible scandal, but I'll be very shocked if this harms Palin. Even a novice PR guy would easily be able to make Palin look like the good guy here, because it really looks like she is.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Freddy, its not the firing of the trooper that is controversial. It is the firing of the state officer who disagreed with the firing.

Precisely. If even half the things about that state trooper are true, then you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't want to take him out behind the woodshed.

But that is beside the point. The issue at hand is whether or not Palin abused her position as governor for personal reasons.

It is a legitimate question. Ever seen "Clear and Present Danger"?

 

[chipmunk stew]

I'm aware of that, but I'd also fire anyone who refused to fire that jerk trooper. The trooper was a public nuisance. What kind of person refuses to dismiss an law enforcement officer who is found, after investigation, to have done all of the things mentioned above? And I think most casual observers have the same reaction I did when I learned a bit about him.

And apparently there were other deficiencies in this state officer's performance. And Palin offered the guy a different job she thought he'd be more suited for.

This just doesn't have the ring of abuse of power. It sounds more like cleaning house of a corrupt power abusing law enforcement officer. The personal connection gives it the appearance of a possible scandal, but I'll be very shocked if this harms Palin. Even a novice PR guy would easily be able to make Palin look like the good guy here, because it really looks like she is.

Yup. That's how it will play, no matter what the facts end up being.

There are more questionable firings, though, that will be harder for her to 'splain.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Yup. That's how it will play, no matter what the facts end up being.

There are more questionable firings, though, that will be harder for her to 'splain.

There are more firings? I hadn't heard about this... please provide references.

 

[Freddy]

There are more firings? I hadn't heard about this... please provide references.

Yeah, I'd like to know about that too.