Gov. Palin the "reformer" is actually an earmark champion!!

reply to post by bknapple32

Originally posted by bknapple32
Can you please answer the main argument??? The clear statement here is as follows...

Palin, has had a big history of earmarks. (like many politicians including Obama)

McCain has had a clear history of little to no earmarks (good for him)

McCain says he will veto the first bill that comes his way with an earmark.

The argument here is not whether these earmarks are bad... Its the hypocrisy of the straight talk express.

Sarah Palin did not invent earmarks.

Sarah Palin was not running for VP when she went after the earmarks. Now, she and McCain will have to reconcile their positions, the same way that Obama and Biden will need to reconcile their opposing positions on other issues. No news here.

There is no hypocrisy here.

Earmarks are an indictment of Washington. Senators hand out earmarks. States are forced to hire lobbyists to secure earmarks; else the other states will gladly take them. States have contributed the money that makes earmarks possible. It is akin to hiring a tax lawyer to get the biggest possible tax refund for them.

reply to post by jsobecky


Ok I give you the point that is not at the expense of all 49 states, just those that don't receive earmarks, good enough? Now is unquestionable that those earmarks that Gov. Palin requested through the senators add to our national debt because our federal government is operating from a deficit brought to you by this republican administration.

In regards to the stimulus payment, of course they are entitled to it, I was just trying to make a point about the need that Gov. Paline requesting earmark money while her state has record surplus.

This all comes down to Gov.Palin lying to the country in the biggest stage, in her first chance to speak to us, instead of speaking truth she lied on this issue. Why she won't confront reporters that are dying to ask her about this issue? Why hide?

Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by Bunch

 

Originally posted by Bunch
Receiving $197 million dollars of "pork" THIS YEAR!!! Just to satisfy her constituency but contributing to the FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT, so meaning we all are paying for Gov.Palin Alaka pet projects like:

-$499,900 to assess halibut harvesting

- Lighting village airports in the Alaskan bush, where small planes and gravel runways may be the primary link to the outside world.

......
Also, keeping it in context, let's look at Obama's earmarks:

The GOP ticket spent another day on the trail together and Sarah Palin again attacked Barack Obama on earmark requests. This time her hit was harder and she compared it to what she was doing to fight pork barrel spending in Alaska:

“In just three years our opponent has requested nearly one billion dollars in earmarks. That’s nearly a million dollars for every working day,” Palin told the cheering crowd, “So as we reform the abusive earmarks in our state our opponent was requesting nearly a billion dollars in earmarks as a senatorial privilege as I was vetoing half a billion as an executive responsibility.”

embeds.blogs.foxnews.com...

Nearly a million dollars a day!!

Originally posted by Bunch
What's the result of Gov. Palin love for earmarks?

As a result, Alaska this year was in such a money-flushed condition — with no state income tax or sales tax and total state revenues of $10 billion, double the previous year's — that Palin gained legislative approval for $1,200 cash payments to every Alaskan.

Wow! Returning the surplus to the people!

Imagine when she is VP!

Lets be accurate.....

Obama hasn't asked for any earmarks this year. Last year, he asked for $311 million worth, about $25 for every Illinois resident. Alaska asked this year for earmarks totaling $198 million, about $295 for every Alaska citizen.
news.yahoo.com...

THAT IS TWELVE TIMES PER CAPITA the amount of earmarks than Obama requested last year and 100%/198 Million more than Obama THIS YEAR. FROM A WOMAN NOW CRITICIZING EARMARKS.

Alaska has recieved more earmarks per capita than any other state.

AGAIN...McCain has MADE EARMARKS HIS NUMBER ONE ISSUE for years even publishing PORK LISTS on which Palin was listed 3 TIMES!

This is HYPOCRACY at it's utmost and what's more frightening is that it demonstrates what values McCain will gladly sacrifice on the altar of AMBITION!

[edit on 10-9-2008 by maybereal11]

[edit on 10-9-2008 by maybereal11]

Originally posted by jamie83

Originally posted by Bunch


Alaskans lover her, while she raids the FEDERAL GOVERNENT coffins, increase our deficit and make ALL OF US pay for approval rating.

I think it works like this.

States can request whatever they want. I believe it was Obama and Biden who had to make the final decision on how to spend government money. I'm pretty sure governors don't get to raid the Federal Government "coffins."

By the way, did Obama and Biden vote to approve the earmarks Palin requested. Just curious.

Jamie...It works like this.
A govenor get's a Senator, or in this case Palin hired the Lobbyist used by now indicted Senator Stephens, to get "earmarks" attached to important bills. Often the "earmarks" have nothing to do with the bill that they are attached to. The idea is that if you can attach it to a bill that Congress and the Senate need to pass, like a budget, you can force the money through and most senators etc. will hold their nose and sign it for the sake of passing the actual bill despite the unrelated earmarks attached.

reply to post by Bunch

Originally posted by Bunch
reply to post by jsobecky

 

Ok I give you the point that is not at the expense of all 49 states, just those that don't receive earmarks, good enough?

Name a state that does not receive earmarks.

Originally posted by Bunch
In regards to the stimulus payment, of course they are entitled to it, I was just trying to make a point about the need that Gov. Paline requesting earmark money while her state has record surplus.

Stimulus payments are totally unrelated to earmarks. Why would you try to confuse the two issues? That is an attempt to paint Alaskans as greedy, imo.

Originally posted by Bunch
This all comes down to Gov.Palin lying to the country in the biggest stage, in her first chance to speak to us, instead of speaking truth she lied on this issue.

Where did she lie?

reply to post by maybereal11

Originally posted by maybereal11
Lets be accurate.....

Obama hasn't asked for any earmarks this year.

He hasn't done much of anything this year, other than campaigning.

Sen. Barack Obama has missed the most votes of any Democratic presidential hopeful in the Senate over the last two months, including a vote on an Iran resolution he has blasted Sen. Hillary Clinton for supporting.
:
Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware has missed 68 percent of the votes during the same period, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut 65 percent and Clinton of New York 63 percent.

Obama's campaign points out that Biden missed the most votes if the whole year is considered, followed by Dodd, then Obama.

edition.cnn.com...

Originally posted by maybereal11
Last year, he asked for $311 million worth, about $25 for every Illinois resident. Alaska asked this year for earmarks totaling $198 million, about $295 for every Alaska citizen.
news.yahoo.com...

THAT IS TWELVE TIMES PER CAPITA the amount of earmarks than Obama requested last year and 100%/198 Million more than Obama THIS YEAR. FROM A WOMAN NOW CRITICIZING EARMARKS.

Illinois population: 12831970 (2006)
Alaska population: 670053 (2006)

That's why your numbers are skewed. It's the total amount that is key, not the per capita.

And that is why the obscene amount of nearly a million dollars a day for Obama is so troubling.

reply to post by maybereal11

Originally posted by maybereal11
Jamie...It works like this.
A govenor get's a Senator, or in this case Palin hired the Lobbyist used by now indicted Senator Stephens, to get "earmarks" attached to important bills. Often the "earmarks" have nothing to do with the bill that they are attached to. The idea is that if you can attach it to a bill that Congress and the Senate need to pass, like a budget, you can force the money through and most senators etc. will hold their nose and sign it for the sake of passing the actual bill despite the unrelated earmarks attached.

Thank you for making my point. Earmarks are an indictment of Washington, and not of the states that are forced to play their games.

Originally posted by jsobecky

Where did she lie?

From Gov. Palin RNC speech

I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States. This was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau ... when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good-ol' boys network.

Here is Rick Davis trying to defend the undefendable in Fox News Sunday, ON FOX NEWS OF ALL PLACES!!!



Nice try Rick, "TRUE REFORMER" he calls Gov. Palin, the truth?


Palin @ :38 sec: "Alaskans... we are not looked favorable light in Congress"

Really? I wonder if all those earmarks request and all those lobbyst she has under contract to knock on Congressional members doors.

Palin: @1:02 :"We should make our wish list, our target list"

Yeah! Thats a "TRUE REFORMER", because everyone knows that giving contracts to lobbyist and requesting all those earmarks is a really good way to show how she stand against special interest and politics as usual as she said in her RNC speech.

By the way, what in the world she means @ :30 with: "minimizing the conventional earmark process? Think about that, what does she means by it? That she was going to hire lobbyist to pressure member of Congress to vote for her projects? That they had to go through loopholes in laws the acquire the funding? That they were going to bribe Congress members to vote their way?

Thats in 2006 so corrupt Sen. Ted Stevens was is that group of federal delegates she so dearly praises.

She has more than praises for Don Young so lets check this guy background:

The Wall Street Journal reports that 18-term Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is under criminal investigation for his dealings with Alaska oil services company Veco Corp.

tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com...

In addition Don Young has been tied to disgrace lobbyist Jack Abramoff. And thats her go to guy in Washington?

Ending politics as usual? Ending special interest? Taking on the lobbyist? Gov.Palin's record and words speak for themselves. She lied to the country, and now is in hiding because she knows and the McCain campaign knows there is no way to refute this lie.

By the way, that interview with McCain campaign manager, why is he there explaining the action of Gov. Palin? It should be her on that seat explaining her record.











[edit on 10-9-2008 by Bunch]

reply to post by jsobecky

Name a state that does not receive earmarks.

um, one would assume Arizona. thats where the straight talk express left the station from right?

reply to post by bknapple32


One would assume incorrectly. McCain is but one legislator in that state. The others are under no obligation to follow his lead, and in fact, haven't.

Let me first state that this is for once a thread finally discussing actual issues. It is a breath of fresh air to finally be able to discuss true politics, and government related topics.

I would however like to define what an "Earmark" actually is:

"Earmarks" are NOT Bills.

"Earmarks" are NOT items placed upon related Bills.

"Earmarks" can ONLY be created and passed by LEGISLATIVE members.


So for all intents and purposes, Sarah Palin is not guilty of "Earmarking". As a Mayor or Governor, she may request funding for projects from her State Legislator, and/or U.S. State Representatives. However, it is left up to the Legislators as to how they desire to secure such funding.


Also, I find it odd that no one mentions the largest "Earmarkers" in History, the Current United States House of Representatives (110th Congress). They have placed such ludicrous "Earmarks" on Defense Spending Bills such as:

Banning Incandescent Lightbulbs.
Banning of Albuterol Inhalers (for Asthmatics and Upper Respiratory-Illness Sufferers).
Banning of Plastic Bags (Pelosi).


Then you have Joe Biden, who in the Defense Appropriations Bill felt it necessary to "Earmark" Studying Blue Crabs in Delaware.

So, to boil it down....'Earmarks'? Bad!

Senators who cynically attach 'Earmarks', based on efforts of the evil Lobbyists....Bad!

Governors who accept this 'free' money, while looking the other way....Good?

So, if one were to point out, for instance, that Sen Ted Stevens (R-AK) pushed hard, hard for that infamous bridge....and candidate for Governor of AK (Palin-R) supported it, based on (paraphrasing) 'the need to improve the infrastructure in Alaska' but, then flip-flopped after being elected when she saw how the tide was turning against the bridge. (Including, by the way, noting McCain's opposition to the bridge all along).

BTW, CNN is doing a story right now, Gov Palin asked for $256 million in her first term in office. The other $197 million was in her SECOND term.

Here's another fun fact --- even though, as Gov, Mrs. Palin killed the bridge project, the State gets to keep the money already alloted....about $220 million, going into the 'General Budget'. This, from FY 2008 and FY 2009, since it's already 'approved'.

She requested $7.7 million for 'a remote airport handed over by the Navy' that handles only EIGHT scheduled passenger flights a MONTH!

AND, $4 million dollars to research sea crab stocks (Take that, Joe Biden!!)

But, the McCain campaign response? 'She has routinely used her veto pen to root out wasteful spending'.

Here's the thing about the infamous bridge....it was for an island of about 150 inhabitants. Hmmm....guess spending a little less to enhance the ferry-boat system just wouldn't have been good enough?

The fact of the matter is that Palin has cut the amount of money that Alaska receives in earmarks almost in half, which gives here very solid credentials as someone against earmarks. For a governor of a state to reduce the amount of money that state is receiving from the federal government is an amazing accomplishment.

You people need to learn you facts before you go shooting from the hip.

community.adn.com...

For the 2007 federal budget year, the administration of former Gov. Frank Murkowski submitted 63 earmark requests totaling $350 million, Palin’s staff said. That slid to 52 earmarks valued at $256 million in Palin’s first year. This year, the governor’s office asked the delegation to help them land 31 earmarks valued at $197 million.

Why the gradual move away from earmarks? Palin recognized that Alaska’s coffers were overflowing with revenue from oil profits and it was almost unseemly for the state to press so aggressively for federal money, said John Katz, who heads Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s Washington, D.C., office. In December of 2007, Palin’s budget director put out a memo urging state officials who were assembling their department spending plans to reserve earmarks for compelling needs only, in an effort to “enhance the state’s credibility.”

“When she took office, we talked about the state’s reliance on federal earmarks and she made it clear for several reasons she wanted to significantly cut back on that reliance,” Katz said.

By the way, both Obama and Biden voted for the bridge to nowhere, TWICE, even after it had been pointed out to be such an unrealistic expenditure.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Looks like Palin's critcism of Obama is right on the money.

reply to post by poet1b


poet, please review my post, above, based on CNN reports.

Gov Palin (R) has been in office for (almost) two years.

Yes, sometimes there is a time lag between congressional appropriations, and a change of office in a State Governorship. So, I fail to see your point.

Also, per her famous (infamous?) speech about the 'Governor's jet' being sold on E-Bay....did she lie? Se said she 'auctioned it' on E-Bay. It didn't sell there, it eventually was sold through a traditional aircraft broker.

It was McCain, ever so clever, who lied....or just misspoke, whatever....

And the smears continue. No mention of anything positive that Gov Palin has done in Alaska. No mention of her experience which greatly exceeds Mr. Obama's. Just plain smear after smear like every network cable station on TV. These guys are so scared right now that its obvious. I'd love for the MSM to sit Mr Obama down and give him half the treatment that Palin is being given in the talking heads on Network TV right now. He'd be crying. You don't see her doing that do you? She won't because she's strong and can take everything they dish out and then some.

The OP didn't quote the news source that they used for their first quote. But then again 197 million doesn't sound like much money does it? Did they look at the other 49 states while targeting Alaska? She tossed out people from government in Alaska that were corrupt. Is that what scares the #### out of the people in DC?

Grasping for straws and spreading misinformation, packing blogs, and comment sections in groups to sway the misinformed voter with their propaganda. It's quite sad. And when I look here later today, they'll be 9 more threads smearing her. It's ok, October 2nd she'll show America that she has the goods when she makes Biden look silly. (if he hasn't dropped out to get Clinton on the ticket by then) Then people like you will come out in mass to try and smear her again.

Guess what? It isn't going to work. Get used to the idea of VP Palin. She is one of the regular people that will fight for regular people. Give it up already with the scare tactics.

And while you're at it. Look at how the Indie voters are flocking to her right now? How about a comment to that OP?

reply to post by weedwhacker

She cut earmarks by 50%. Imagine if washington would do that. There would be an immediate surplus and we wouldnt have to raise taxes on anyone. What do you expect her to do? Come into office and completely cut earmarks from 400+ million to 0. That would be disasterous. She trimmed the fat. Got rid of the unnecesarry earmarks. The wasteful spending. That is why she is a reformer. All earmarks aren't bad. Some are needed. As for the ebay and jet debacle. She never claimed she sold the jet on ebay. She just said she listed it there. The fact that she sold the jet and why she did it is what we should be focusing on. Not how she sold it.

Originally posted by jsobecky

Poor examples, if your intent is to smear her.

The fishing industry is huge in Alaska.

Well, then it appears that the huge fishing industry should finance how to best harvest halibut, themselves?

When I read how she spent givt. money to move her family, then was getting per diem to stay behind, I just cringed. Wow.

They just reported snowballs in hell and that I'm voting Palin.

I don't think threads like this should exist based on the new "rules." I think we have some real leftist moderators shutting down Obama threads while leaving silly threads like this open.

reply to post by northof8


I agree, this thread is just a dirty smear campaign, and even when you point out the facts they insist on distorting them once again. This stuff has been thoroughly debunked.

She listed the jet on Ebay, and sold the jet, whether or not through ebay doesn't matter.

She has cut earmarks for her state by almost 50%, that is an INCREDIBLE accomplishment. A far greater accomplishment than anything Obama has succeeded in doing.

Sarah is just the pol we need.

reply to post by Bunch


Coffins???