Free Republic

Just a few months after returning from the presidential campaign trail, a weary Sarah Palin shot off a 1 a.m. email to top colleagues in her office. Buried in ethics complaints that she deemed frivolous, the Alaska governor was feeling increasingly detached from her family. She faced mounting legal bills that only exacerbated the financial turmoil related to her family's travel. "I'm just beat down on this one. I am tired. The opponents have succeeded on the drive towards our personal bankruptcy, and have divided my family," she wrote. She finished the overnight email with a sobering conclusion: "One has...

The Alaska Attorney General’s office has dismissed yet another frivolous ethics complaint filed against Governor Palin by a leftwing political blogger. This particular blogger is from Texas (where she volunteered as a precinct captain for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign), and yet her dismissed complaint against Governor Palin has cost the State of Alaska time and resources because no matter how absurd the complaint is, the state must respond to it. These complaints also cost Governor Palin personally to defend herself. This small band of leftwing bloggers have dedicated their lives to spreading lies, half-truths, and failed legal analysis about allegations...

Former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, who this week referred to Tea Party lawmakers as "hobbits," publicly criticized Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey Sunday during an unusual unscripted debate on the Senate floor. McCain, who appeared to be having a great 'ol time during a back and forth with Democrat Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, referred to Toomey and those who share his views as "terrible." (snip) "...the terrible obstructionists on this side of the aisle, the terrible people, their flawed philosophical views about the future of America..."

PHOENIX — Bristol Palin, the 20-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin, has bought a five-bedroom house in Maricopa, a modest community south of Phoenix, setting off a flurry of speculation as to exactly what her plans — and those of her famous mother — are for the desert dwelling.

Outside of Republicans, she’s not popular at all. According to our NBC/WSJ poll, just 29% view her favorably, compared with 43% who view her unfavorably (not far from George W. Bush’s 29%-50% score). In addition, the poll shows that 52% have problems with a candidate who has been endorsed by Palin, versus only 25% who are comfortable with that attribute. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Palin is more of a political celebrity than a political figure. ~First Read This is true, but there is nothing here about Palin that we know now that we didn’t already...

One of the most flogged excuses by both Palin and her supporters for her resignation as Governor of Alaska was that ethics complaints were "bankrupting" her. But the Independent Council Report issued in conjunction with the decision on her Legal Defense Fund says otherwise. Not only does it show the State of Alaska offered to make payments for her legal costs it shows that even bfore the election the Palin campaign was making alternate plans to not only get the McCain campaign to pay for them but to hit up the Rnc AND set up a legal defense fund. When...

Information in this post is gleened from two sources; http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/the-cost-of-legal-warfare-a-few-words-about-todays-defense-fund-agreement/401885808434 http://www.adn.com/2010/06/24/1339431/settlement-of-ethics-complaint.html Yesterday, Sarah Palin's legal defense fund was judged to be in violation of State ethics laws. I have followed this controversy and to be fair, I found the objections to it to be a little thin, but most of us don't live in Alaska and are not famliar with the subtle tones of their ethics laws and issues. I will say this, IMO most if not al of the problems with it could have been avoided early on but Palin in concert with her advisors made several bad decisions...

Governor Palin, Please revoke your support for John McCain and back J.D. in Arizona. I say this as perhaps one of your biggest supporters in the world. Your support of senator McCain is making any Palin supporters' life just flat out miserable on the web. It is giving some sick, twisted and misguided people a tool to divide conservatives. In this case, give in just this one time. It will really put your "conservative enemies" into a corner. Please stop supporting John McCain. And a message to the anti Palin crowd on FR.. Give her credit for conservatives that she...

Sarah Palin started off her keynote speech at at this morning's Susan B. Anthony List "Celebration of Life" breakfast in downtown Washington D.C. with a defense of her endorsement of Republican California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina. Palin justified picking Fiorina over the other Republicans in the primary race by remarking that "anyone bold enough to proclaim their pro-life stance -- or pro-NRA stance in a deep blue state" like California is "the real deal" when it comes to pro-life credentials.

A co-founder of the anti-immigration Minutemen on Monday dismissed Sen. John McCain’s new, tougher immigration stance as “shameful election-year politics.” The Arizona Republican, who’s seeking a fifth term this fall, is now supporting an Arizona bill that allows law enforcement officers to demand proof of citizenship – even if they just suspect illegal status – and detain suspects until the federal authorities can determine their citizenship. McCain’s move, announced Monday, is a dramatic shift right from his more moderate, comprehensive approach to most immigration issues. Chris Simcox – co-founder of the Minutemen and a supporter of McCain’s Republican challenger, J.D....

SACRAMENTO, California -- A document fished out of a California state university trash bin last week has prompted a state investigation into the university's foundation arm and its refusal to disclose details related to Sarah Palin's upcoming speech at the school. On Tuesday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said his office would look into the finances of the California State University, Stanislaus Foundation, as well as allegations that the nonprofit organization violated public disclosure laws by keeping details of Palin's contract secret.

(snip) The Tucson paper's editorial board noted that he represents a border state affected by Washington's inaction. "Yes. Yes. I do. But so does the senator from New Mexico and the senators from California and all the border states all along. But it seems to me that the proposal should come, it's the obligation of the president of the United States to come forward with what he thinks is a proposal and then maybe we can all work together and get it resolved," he said. "So what have I done?" he added. "Not enough."Still, McCain said he expects to hold...

As the former running mates prepare to campaign together for the first time since 2008, sources familiar with them say they have chatty, personal phone calls and remain friendly even though Palin attacked many of McCain’s loyal staffers. Shushannah Walshe takes us inside their relationship and what it means for McCain’s campaign. This weekend John McCain and Sarah Palin are bringing the band back together and hitting the road in support of the Arizona senator’s reelection battle. On Friday, there will be a rally and picnic in Tucson followed by a private fundraiser. The next day, the former presidential ticket...

Link only, per FR posting rules

We'll update when more information becomes available: A superior court judge has ruled in favor of former Gov. Sarah Palin regarding preservation of personal e-mails.

File this one under "Quit Making Stuff Up." It took us all day, but we assembled the definitive debunking of the 11 Associated Press "fact-checkers." Might we suggest a new profession for these folks? As the always brilliant Mark Steyn pointed out: That's 11 writers for a 695-word report. What on? Obamacare? The Iranian nuke program? The upcoming trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? No, the Associated Press assigned 11 writers to "fact-check" Sarah Palin's new book... Hey, don't be too hard on the AP. CNN is also into fact-checking... SNL skits that are "mean" to Obama. Here's some real fact-checking....

Alaska Public Offices Commission staff says it’s now satisfied with Sarah Palin’s disclosures of her 2008 gifts and her husband’s Arctic Cat sponsorship. APOC and Palin went back and forth this summer over just what had to be disclosed. Palin didn't want to reveal details of the Arctic Cat sponsorship, saying it was proprietary information, and also argued that gifts were not “received” until they were opened.

Alaskans For Truth, an anti-Palin blog full of "anklebiters", has a gentleman named Jesse Griffin (believed to be one who started the rumor of the "Palin Divorce"). Seems he's a $500 donar to that pac. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306839/posts ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Some info on Alaskans For Truck PAC: http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_29030031944+0 http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00457655 http://query.nictusa.com/pdf/017/29030035017/29030035017.pdf#navpanes=0 They seem to be in a little trouble for not filing on time (see last weblink).

I would like you to know that Gryphen of Immoral Minority (Palin divorce smear) is actually one Jesse Griffin. He must value his identity because he had his fellow Palin Hater, Dennis Zaki, black out his name in this document: (Click the link above to read more...)

It’s a sad day over at the Huffington Post and left wing blogs like Mudflats and Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis. You see, despite their best efforts to smear Alaska Governor Sarah Palin with more than a baker’s dozen of phony ethics complaints since the start of the year, all of their efforts have completely failed. The latest complaint to be dismissed was incredibly ridiculous. It revolved around the fact that Governor Palin, in sub zero weather, had the temerity to wear a jacket when she attended the final day of the Tesoro Iron Dog Race! The Iron Dog is the...

Another Ethics Complaint Rejected July 15, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska - The Alaska Personnel Board has rejected another ethics complaint lodged against Governor Sarah Palin. The complaint alleged that the governor misused state time by accepting media interviews. The complaint also alleged that Governor Palin was paid for television and radio interviews. Governor Palin has not been paid for media interviews. This complaint was filed by Raymond Alvin Ward on July 9. It was rejected in part because it was not properly notarized. In addition, Personnel Board Chairman Debra English said the board had already determined media interviews did not violate...

When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced her resignation two weeks ago it was after a series of strange, petty bouts with her detractors. Many "frivolous ethics violations" had been alleged against her, she noted. David Letterman had told an ugly joke about her daughter. A blogger had posted something that was probably not true. Someone had photoshopped a radio talker's face onto a picture of her baby -- a "malicious desecration" of the image, in the words of Ms. Palin's spokeswoman. Team Palin got duly indignant at each of these. They took special, detailed offense. They issued statements magnifying their...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Another ethics complaint has been filed against Gov. Sarah Palin, alleging she abused her office by accepting a salary and used state staff while campaigning as the Republican vice presidential candidate last year. It's the 18th ethics complaint filed against Palin, and the third since Palin announced her resignation July 3. In her resignation speech, Palin cited the complaints as taking a personal toll and crippling her ability to govern effectively. She officially steps down July 26. The latest complaint was filed Monday and is the fifth by outspoken Palin critic Andree McLeod of Anchorage. Three of...

Poll: Majority of Republicans don't think Palin's qualified for prez Posted: 11:53 AM ET (CNN) — A majority of Americans think Sarah Palin is stepping down as Alaska's governor for political reasons, according to a new national poll, with a majority of Republicans now saying that they do not believe that Palin would be an effective president. Only 33 percent of Republicans questioned in a CBS News survey released Monday night say that Palin would have the ability to serve effectively as president. Last fall, 71 percent of registered Republicans felt that way. "It's unclear whether the change in Republicans'...

Do you hear it? Maybe it isn't loud enough yet -- just a small noise tickling at your subconscious, like a kitchen faucet dripping into the sink when you're trying to sleep in an upstairs bedroom. Go to the window, or better yet, step outside and put a hand up to your ear. Got it now? A faint clicking noise, starting slowly over the past week, and building to a crescendo as we approach the swearing-in of Sean Parnell as Alaska Governor.

We all loved Sarah. She rescued the sinking McCain campaign, said all the right things and holds pretty much the same positions of most FReepers. They all love Obama. He rescued the sinking DNC, said all the right things and holds pretty much the same positions of most liberals. Dems, liberals and the MSM are condemned for their all consuming adoration, virtual blindness to any mistakes or faults and slobbering worship of the man. Yet when the same thing happens to Palin it turns into a virtue. Sarah was a real coup for conservatives. But when she announced her resignation...

From KTVA: Longtime political activist Ray Ward has filed the 18th ethics complaint against Governor Palin. Ward claims Palin has been paid for radio and television interviews dating back to just after she lost her vice-presidential bid. Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, tells CBS 11 News the allegations are "categorically false," and says it fits a pattern of harassing and false ethics complaints.

You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same stupid thing over and over, and expecting different results. With that in mind, some Alaska democrats have earned a lifetime stay in a padded cell. Folks even remotely knowledgeable about Governor Sarah Palin know all about the epic failures Alaskan democrat bloggers and their operatives have experienced in their attempts to smear the Governor. Currently they are batting 16-0 with their ridiculous “ethics complaints.” 17-0 if you count the failed “troopergate” attempt. Details are here, here, and here. So what does Alaska’s official DNC blogger, Linda Kellen Biegel, have up...

Gov. Sarah Palin reportedly now has more than $600,000 in legal bills as a result of ethics complaints, and a national campaign fueled by a conservative Web site reports bringing in more than $100,000 in the past week to her defense fund. The accusations are described by Palin supporters as frivolous attacks, and the governor's office says 14 complaints have been dismissed... ..... Other complaints have not been settled, and Kristan Cole, the trustee for the legal defense fund, said the bills continue to climb and "my sense is they are over $600,000." ..... "Our trust is one of the...

The Mudflats, one of those goofy anti-Palin ankle biter blogs, just couldn't stand it. Sarah Palin was getting way too much love in Auburn, NY for the Palin-haters' comfort, so the blarney blog had to throw something up in a lame attempt to rain on the governor's parade. In so doing, Mudflatulence beclowned itself. The wacky website had a "Mudflatter" on the ground in Auburn who posted: "I have come to the conclusion that my sign was way to erudite for the likes of a Palin supporter."Dude, you're not "erudite" if you don't know the difference between "to" and "too"...

The ethics complaints against Gov. Sarah Palin are dropping left and right — as in dropping dead. That’s an appropriate fate for most of them. The Alaska Personnel Board has dismissed 11 complaints against the governor as of Tuesday’s count. Many of these were based on creative interpretations of the state’s new Executive Branch Ethics Act. A few of the complaints to the board have highlighted circumstances that deserved a thorough review. Those circumstances — involving the governor’s removal of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan and the hiring of a transportation department employee in Fairbanks — received the proper...

A Juneau reader, and fan of Governor Palin (a rare breed in Juneau, I'm sure), tells me that the man behind the movement to close down Piper Palin's lemonade stand is one Chip Thoma. Mr. Thoma leads a group of Juneau residents who are just "sick and tired" of the Palins and the tours that are conducted to the governor's mansion (something that has been occurring in Juneau since the first governor took office). It seems that Governor Palin is so popular with tourists that thousands of people are walking from the docks to the governor's mansion in an attempt...

Thompson might still be hanging in there in national polls , but those trading money on the probability of Thompson becoming the nominee are increasingly bearish on his chances. At one point, the probability of Thompson winning the GOP nomination was trading at 35% at Intrade . Over the last month his position has deteriorated, and in the last several days crumbled. At Intrade Thompson is trading at 8.4%. At Iowa Electronic Markets 7.1%, The validity of future’s markets is sometimes questioned. No one was questioning them, however, when Fred was trading at 35% .

U. S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, said that Sen. Fred Thompson was excellent in his debut debate Tuesday night in Dearborn, Mich. An early supporter of Thompson, the latest entry into the race for the Republican nomination for president, Putnam said the former U.S. senator scored major points. "I thought his responses were substantive, candid and optimistic. He showed himself more than capable for the road ahead," Putnam said. "He demonstrated a command of the issues, domestic and international. He was unafraid of speaking plainly of the generational challenges we face, and discussing his approach to solving our most difficult...

The Politico has one of the most interesting articles up about Fred Thompson published in quite a while. Most political observers focus on the polls, who raises what (plead guilty); in short, the details, but the Politico’s Roger Simon takes a closer look at how Fred Thompson handles himself and what kind of person he is and what kind of campaign he has. When Roger asked Thompson whether the considers himself to be an “11th Commandment man” (never speak ill of a fellow Republican), the former senator answered that he’s more of a “12 Commandment man.” The 12th Commandment, according...

All the candidates from both political parties have emphasized the need for better education. It is plainly obvious that many, if not most, public schools across America are sub-par. Sub-par not only relative to schools abroad, but when judged against the rigors of American schools of yesteryear. The Democrats and Republicans, in theory, differ greatly when it comes to federal funding of education. Ronald Reagan, as well as the conservative wing of the party, wanted to get rid of the Department of Education altogether, while the donkeys have long howled about the supposed lack of spending on schools. The so-called...

Last week the Republicans had another debate, this one on FOX News. Not much has changed in the last few months; Rudy Giuliani is still in the lead in the polls and Fred Thompson is still in second despite the fact he didn't announce his intentions to run until a few days ago. What has changed, and changed for the worse, is the surging popularity of a Texas Congressman by the name of Ron Paul. I've been running into normal, intelligent people who support Paul, and it really scares me. The reason Paul is as popular as he is has...

Yesterday I reported that Fred Thompson’s campaign rejected Mike Huckabee’s one on one debate proposal. I then went on to say the following: “To be fair to Thompson, when he said on The Tonight Show that he backed Newt Gingrich’s debate plan, that plan was for the General Election, not the primaries.” Well, A few Brody File readers have pointed out to me that during an interview with Sean Hannity, Fred Thompson DID call for one on one debates in the context of the GOP primary. Here’s the transcription of that: Sean Hannity: When you look at the other current...

Progressive blogger Lane Hudson filed a complaint against former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) on Monday, accusing the likely presidential candidate of breaking the law by violating the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) “testing the waters” clause. Hudson, known for posting e-mails from former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) in last year’s page scandal, said Thompson “has been presenting himself as a candidate, he has been raising large sums of money beyond what would be required to explore a possible candidacy and he has signed a long term lease on a headquarters for his campaign.” In his complaint, Hudson lays out a number...

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush pulled the plug on the nomination of Clayton businessman Sam Fox to be ambassador to Belgium after learning just minutes before Wednesday's confirmation hearing that Democrats had the votes to defeat him. A solid wall of Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee planned to oppose Fox because of his donations to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which denigrated the Vietnam War service of 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a panel member. On Tuesday, veterans who served with Kerry wrote panel members urging them to oppose the nomination. "My understanding is the...

The FairTax was on the primary ballots in three Georgia counties yesterday. I have the results of the voting! Here you go. Gwinnett County: Total Votes: 35,755 Yes - 31,068. 86.9% No - 4,687 13.1% Cobb County: Total votes: 39,458 Yes - 33,598. 85.15% No - 5,860. 14.85% Fayette County: Total votes: 11,517 Yes - 9,828. 85.33% No - 1,689. 14.67% According to Boortz the results of this vote will be personally handed to President Bush today via a Washington insider. The purpose of which is to convey the FACT that there is great support for this solution to current...

FairTax Strikes Back - Introduction On April 8, 2003 I wrote my first article on the FairTax proposal. The article FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes detailed the costs and benefits of moving from a system of income taxes to a system of sales taxes. In the article I concluded that "[the]FairTax is an interesting proposal which is unlikely to ever be implemented." The response I received to this article was overwhelming. I've gotten hundreds and hundreds of e-mails on the article, every last one of them from a FairTax supporter. While many of the supporters had something negative...

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. has had their home page defaced. Nothing fancy just own3d.

According to a new poll, only 15 per cent of us would vote for the President February 9, 2004-Maybe it's that smug little smile. His penchant for fantastically expensive military photo-ops. Or the swaggering, belt-hitching walk that cries out for

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats say President Bush's appointment of a bipartisan commission to examine intelligence on Iraq's weapons falls short of their demands for an independent probe of why prewar claims about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs now appear to have been wrong. Although a former Democratic senator and governor, Charles Robb of Virginia, will serve as the panel's co-chairman, Democrats say the panel cannot be truly independent if all nine members were selected by Republican Bush. "We had an opportunity to have a truly independent commission that could have brought fresh eyes to the subject. Instead, we have a commission...

A British teenager has narrowly escaped jail after sparking a nuclear panic by hacking into a top secret United States weapons laboratory. Joseph McElroy, 18, who on Monday was ordered to serve a 200-hour community punishment order, bypassed the facility's electronic security systems with sophisticated software he had developed and nicknamed Deathserv. McElroy wanted to use the advanced network's power to download and store films and music from the internet. London's Southwark Crown Court heard that in June 2002, he used a special password to protect his collection and cover up his "parasitic" invasion. But so many of his fellow...

The Democratic presidential contenders attacked President Bush on Thursday for his handling of Iraq and terrorism and for his stance on trade and the economy and insisted that their party would be able to compete against him in the South. Their exchanges, at a debate in one of the seven states with nominating contests Tuesday, reflected the changed dynamics of the presidential race since Senator John Kerry won the first two contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire. Howard Dean, shifting easily to dart thrower from the target he played in earlier debates, questioned Senator Kerry's record and effectiveness. Dr. Dean's...

The Election of 1864 Advantage: Commander-in-chief. The standing ovation for the chairman of the interim Iraqi Governing Council, the systematic refutation of all the tired canards — "unilateralism," "preemption," and "hubris" — praise and admiration for Afghans, the peroration about the historic times we are in and the promise to press on, all this was Trumanesque, delivered in Tuesday night's State of the Union Address with spirit and without apology. Even Mr. Bush's sterner maxims — "They declared war on the United States — and war is what they got" — were more majestic than haughty. No apologies, no going...