Sarah Palin the 'Earmark Queen' of AK Left Wasilla $20 Million in Debt
By Bill W. Thursday Sep 04, 2008 8:00pm
After finishing as a runner up for Miss Alaska 1984, Sarah Palin went on to be crowned the state's Queen of Earmarks and its Empress of Fiscal Irresponsibility.
Wonk Room: Sarah Palin: Earmark Queen Of The Earmark State
In 2000, Sarah Palin, as mayor of the Alaskan town of Wasilla, hired a Washington lobbyist to secure federal earmarks for her community.
This is not totally atypical in her state. Alaska’s government receives more money per capita in federal earmark money than any other state, despite being the only state in the union with no income tax and no sales tax. They fund their government primarily with petroleum money, and recently distributed oil profits to its citizens in the form of rebate checks.
But even in her heavily earmarked state, Sarah Palin was the earmark queen.
From 2000 to 2003, she secured over $27 million in earmarks, averaging $6.7 million in federal money every year for her town of about 6,700 people. ...(read on)
As mayor, Sarah Palin managed to secure a thousand dollars a year per person in her city in earmarks, yet...
When Palin left office in 2002, Wasilla had “racked up nearly $20 million in long-term debt,” or roughly $3,000 of debt per resident. ...(more)
Asked in 1996, her first year in office, about her ability to "effectively run" the city, Palin claimed:
"It's not rocket science," Palin said, "It's $6 million and 53 employees."
Only "$6 million and 53 employees" and yet she managed to bury it $20 mil. in the red in just two-terms. How very Bush-like. And she wants us to trust her to be a heartbeat away from the national budget?
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I'm from New Hampshire and unless things have changed in the last couple years, NH also has no sales tax or income tax.
God I love you guys!
Wow. She certainly has a nose for the trough.
joe biden should start mouthing this facts to fight back. palin is swiftboating from the podium. there has to be harder pushback.
there are only 4-letter words for this 5-letter b*tch.
It was easy to forget the head-spinning level of hypocrisy the GOP will employ in order to bait and switch their way to an election. This is just another example, as was the drumbeating about the "elitist" Obama, the media....as if the republican party wasn't filled with millionaires who support policies that dump all over "working people". It kinda makes you go "arghhhh!!!!!!"
It also ought to rile up the (progressive) masses who seem to have fallen complacent about this election. More and more McCain is showing himself to be very much out of the GWB mold. Be afraid...
Eric
www.changeany1thing.com
Great reporting. Why the hell can't the MSM handle this type of stuff. Why can't we see real investigative journalism like this on the TV. Thanks Bill. 'Appreciate it.
If I lived in that small town I would be mad as hell if she left $20,000,000 debt.
Dang, either that's a lousy picture or she was less than a "stunning" pageant winner. How shall I say this politely? Less than impressive then and certainly far less than impressive today. What a gift the progressive movement has received from the great state of AK this election cycle. Thanks AK, we needed one last nail to pound the repuke coffin shut. Palin makes a most impressive coffin nail.
While driving home from work tonight, I caught an interesting interview on NPR with Ann Kilkenny from Sarah Palin's home town. Google (Ann Kilkenny AND Palin) and read Ann's email. The similarities how she runs government and Bush/Cheney are worth noting. Yikes!!!
Meadows @ 1:
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: None. There is an 8% tax on lodging and restaurant meals and a 7% tax on two-way communications.
Gasoline Tax: 19.6 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 19.6 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: $1.08 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
New Hampshire depends more upon real property taxes for revenue than most states since there are no general income, sales or use taxes. The state also receives substantial revenue from taxes on motor fuels, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages sold through the state liquor stores, and pari-mutuel betting. The state income tax is limited to a 5% tax on dividends and interest income of more than $2,400 ($4,800 for joint filers). A $1,200 exemption is available for residents who are 65 years of age or older.
ALASKA
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: The state currently does not have a sales and use tax. However, some jurisdictions impose local sales taxes that range up to 7%. Anchorage does not have a sales tax.
Gasoline Tax: 8 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 8 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: $2.00/pack of 20 (Anchorage - add $1.32)
Personal Income Taxes
No state income tax
Retirement Income: Not taxed.
http://www.retirementliving.com/RLstate1.html
Meadows @ 1:
A Bush in everything but name.
right now huckabee is talking nonsense to hannity - someone please expose his crap
classic republican: take what you want, screw the little guys, and never, ever clean up your own mess
Northwest Washington @ 9:
this is making the rounds....keep it going.....
http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html
Don't tax but spend? How does that work?
Pandering.
Be The Media: http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/6zxt2/sarah_palin_the_earmark_...
Deficits are the magic bullet of GOP fiscal policy.
RUTH @ 16:
I wish we could contact Ms. Kilkenny and ask her if she knows the books Ms. Cuda wanted to ban from the library.
She is a distraction. Keep your attacks and your focus on McCain/Bush.
Northwest Washington @ 9:
Here's an article that covers some of Palin's political life and includes comments from Anne Kilkenny. The first paragraphs cite a comment she allegedly made on hearing of Obama's win over Clinton. Not pretty.
Alaskans Speak in a Frightened Whisper
Welcome to the new era of King John, Queen Cindy and Princess Sarah.
foolme1ns @ 21:
she's more than a distraction, she's a demonstration of mccain's profoundly dangerous lack of judgment and presidential temperment . . . palin is clearly unqualified to run this country, and he wants to put her a heart beat (or melanoma growth) away from the oval office
"Bush-like"
EXACTLY.
I've been saying this for a few days now. Her record as mayor/governer is remarkably Bush-like.
Cut taxes, increase borrowing, increase spending. Power-abusing. Places loyalty over competency. Incredibly wasteful. Nepotism and corruption rampant. Piss-poor administrator of governmental duties.
She is VERY much like George W. Bush. Comparing her "leadership" style to Bush's is remarkable in their similarities.
And incredibly damaging to her and McCain.
Push this hard. If McCain is more of the same. Palin IS the same. McCain is only Bush 90% of the time? Palin is Bush 100% of the time.
It's been bothering me for days now, What is it about Palin that seems so familiar?
Then it dawned on me.
Green Acres is the place for me, FAaaaarmmm livin is the life for me. Land stretchin out for far and wide,
Keep Manhattan just give me that countryside.
Ok who would she be? Mr Ziffle?
{ FIFY.SM}
Oh Billy @ 17:
That's what America has been doing for the last eight years.
The next 4 to 5 year will be a problem for many people .
Fasten you seat belt.
Hopefully you are not up to your ears in debt.
You believe what this guy posts? [Edited. Why would we believe you? You have less than no cred here-you have name calling attack dog troll cred here-Sitemonitor]
JimboSlice @ 10:
Holy crap! $3.32 a pack tax on smokes? That's more than I pay per pack here in Florida!
Andrew Sullivan at the Atlantic "Daily Dish" carried a report that Gov. Palin's husband's old business partner filed a motion to have his divorce papers sealed by the courts. Interesting. Has anyone figured out a way to seal an ex-wife's mouth?
We shall see what we shall see.
This woman`s soul is black as sin:
See her record of protecting wildlife:
http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=ku5ZEBQFEYO1f_upJZM-Nw..
George @ 28:
yeah, because bill w. never told us that iraq had wmd's and saddam hussian was responsible for 9/11, that global warming isn't real, and that the constitution is just a "quaint" piece of paper
Vanity Fair timeline outlining the inconsistencies in Palin's "pregnancy" story
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2008/09/the-authoritative-trig-palin-conspiracy-time-line.html#entry-more
Please keep her in Alaska and out of the national treasury! BushCo and the Repukes have done enough damage and this individual is the last person we need to govern our country. Besides she and Stevens may both be tied up in legal charges before its all over.
How can anybody want a small time narrow minded incapable mayor/governor of Alaska and corrupt Repuke to govern America for another term? If she did not have oil money and corrupt cronyism feeding tax dollars to her state Alaska would go broke!
This year $3200 per person from oil while the rest of America struggles to make ends meet. Where's the equality in that? Oh I forgot she's a Repuke it's okay. . . ;-) my ass!
right??
oooohhh, get this. John McCain? well, between 1997 and 2003-ish... he would release a shit list of reckless spenders. see. he was against reckless spending. and he's always been both a tattletale (read 'bastion of straight talkin truth') and a nit-picker. so. he found reckless political spenders. and he'd release a shit list of bad reckless political spenders.
he released Sarah Palin's name 3 times. I mean.. her plus a lot of other people. and it was a lot of people, and a long time ago. but... ya. Sarah Palin's name was listed as "bad public money political money spenders. 3 times. haha..
Y'know, there was a time, not so long ago, when I sincerely believed it wasn't possible for a black man or a woman of any colour to have had any serious shot at the White House. Not in my lifetime. Never gonna happen.
That both did, and one still does, has been a surreal feeling...
...but not quite as surreal as the idea that it is possible for a runner-up beauty pageant queen - a woman from the backend of nowhere it makes Men In Trees look like a crowded metropolis, with so little meat to put on a CV other than massive failure and rabid views (and dozens of skeletons in the closet rattling so hard I only wish they could wake the braindead) - could have any serious shot at the White House... fingers crossed, of course, that the warmongering doddering old fool of a running mate doesn't drop dead of any number of ailments before his first term ran out.
Surreal.
This has got to be the most surreal moment in history. Hollywood couldn't have written this better as a dark comedy. Shame we're having to all be extras in it, though...
Just what America needs, another smarmy, born again Christian Governor from a big oil state.
-GSD
this pic says it all
http://media.tumblr.com/rsHTTK2U5di0bp3lUdLNjUNv_400.jpg
Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 38:
HMMMMMmmmmmmmm. yes it does.
LOL, thats hilarious.
Hey is "Colored people" still a racist slur?
I just heard Hannity use that phrase at least two times in a minute.
Is that OK now?
Is the National Enquirer story about Palin's affair with her husbands business partner growing legs?
Scott Richter, Todd Palin's former business partner, has just filed an emergency motion to seal his divorce papers.
Now why would he feel the need to do that?
chopper @ 25:
Does this sound familiar?:
Never before had a municipal authority in Texas been given license to seize the property of a private citizen for the benefit of other private citizens. That is exactly what happened to a recalcitrant Arlington family that refused to sell a 13-acre parcel near the stadium site for half its appraised value. Their land was condemned and handed over to the Rangers.
The ensuing lawsuit revealed that well before any of the enabling legislation had passed, the Rangers management had planned to wield condemnation as a weapon to drive down the price, and an outraged jury awarded more than $4 million to the Arlington family whose land had been expropriated. Long before that verdict came down, however, the shiny new structure George W. had christened The Ballpark in Arlington was finished. It may have been no accident that the arena's outer walls were clad in reddish brick and pink granite that subtly echoed the appearance of the beautiful old state capitol in Austin.
On November 8, 1993, with the stadium being readied to open the following spring, Bush announced that he would be running for governor. He didn't blush when he proclaimed that his campaign theme would demand self-reliance and personal responsibility rather than depend on government.
http://www.newsmakingnews.com/cathavardharpers2,00.htm
Palin did something very similar as mayor. She botched the land acquisition then built a sports complex on bonds that was supposed to somehow be a revenue source rather than the money pit it predictably became.
oops should read before posting. #30 beat me to it.
Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 38:
LOL
Janet @ 41:
Motion DENIED!
You left out the part where she was forced to hire a City Administrator to run the day-to-day operations of the town since she wasn't up to it herself. (Something previous mayors didn't have to do.)
Sambo beat the bitch? Breathtaking.
Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 38:
I'm thinking that wasn't Photoshoped. Some photographer hit the jackpot; perfect timing positioning. What fun!!
Orangutan. @ 33:
Running 68% Bristol as the mother.
From the top on down this is how the Republicans operate and Palin is no different. They have no real ideas on how to generate more revenue themselves so they simply barrow the money and leave the community with that debt after they leave office.
I think Palin would be a great spokesperson for a credit card company like American Express. The slogan could be something like "American Express. Never enter public office without it."
sixhundredsixtysix @ 40:
You can sit through sixty seconds of Clannity and live? I did not know this could be done.
As a white-colored person, I am offended, but then again, I'm offended by anything on Faux ( except The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad).
Jo @ 48:
I think it's the picture of Gov. Hockey Mom at seven months that seals the deal. She does not look pregnant.
(note: it was a picture posted by one of the persons in the comments section from his blog. Make of the picture as you will.)
What would Zeus do? @ 47:
Yes, I saw that in the LA Progressive, can't find any other source. If it is true, it will be as fatal to the ticket as the Trent Lott thing. Hope it pans out. I do just love the name Lucille, think someone should write a song about her.
Janet @ 41:
seems like it doesnt
i believe that the affair was the biz partners wife with one of palin's staffers when she was mayor
how many fucking buisinesses has todd been involved with?
theres the failed car wash...the failed snow mobile dealership....fishing...oil field worker....and yet, this fucker has 3 homes.....someone needs to follow the money
how did palin get hooked up with ted stevens?
how does a small town afford high priced lobbyests?
how does a small town afford to pay a part time mayor 64k per year?
come on...this could be even sexier than bristols huge rack
sixhundredsixtysix @ 40:
Why does that not surprise me. Unreal.
Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 38:
That is HYSTERICAL!!!!!
fastfeat @ 52:
Speaking of Family Guy...did you see this? FUNNIEST. VIDEO. EVER!!!
Palin makes me puke, too!
sixhundredsixtysix @ 40:
That proves the Fox demographic is 100% confederate flag waving asshole-as I've suspected all along. 'Coloured People' sure it's fine today, if you think it's 1960.
MSM you there? Oh too busy promoting a pretty face? I'll call back later, the future of the country's not important or anything.
sixhundredsixtysix @ 40:
No it isn't. But Hannity, that scumbag, will make it seem like it is. Couple with Gov. Hockey Mom's racist and sexist slurs against Obama and HRC, it seems that the Repubican party is living up to its name as the circus of bigots who jump through hoops.
Isn't she "wonderful"? No, she is a very pretty Nazi. That is my opinion. That is the truth. These people don't know history, they think she is wonderful because she can string two sentences together. She is an extremist. I am very frightened. They went from school boards to libraries to vice president in one generation. Wake up America.
Scott @ 46:
forced?
uh, how about patronage
how about for a local yokel, this bitch is as corrupt as any louisiana pol
christ....how the fuck are people buying into this woman?
oh look, she had an all american upbringing
shes a regular gal
shes the perfect wife, you can fuck her than take her out hunting and fishing...dont need no time with the boys...she is the boys
well fuck, i dont want that shit for vp
i just cant believe that now im regretting obama not picking hillary
hillary on the ticket, this bs never happens, and our political system doesnt become a fucking world wide joke
saddest thing...repugs dont care
if obama had chosen someone like this....not only would the repugs been all over him, but most of his supporters would already be heading for the hills
the thing is...i dont think there is anyone like this on the dem side
i mean, we have sebillious....but she aint no redneck
please rachel maddow...pull a loofa boy...stalk the bitch...get an interview...rip her to shreds for the good of the nation
The Very Bitter Ceci Hussein @ 60:
Note: The "No it Isn't" part of the my last posts refers to SHSS asking if it is okay.
Colored people is an antiquated and rather derogatory metaphor in my book.
I think I need to move to Wasilla and get me a slice of that earmark pie.
.
Ahhhh...
A true fical conservative... YES?
[/snark]
.
Any American can believe anything they want to, but when that American runs for office, she leaves her religious beliefs at the doorstep of the US Constitution. I doubt Ms. Palin knows what that is. Please, Gwen Ifill, ask a constitutional question. Or a foreign policy question. Or a religious question. Or a congressional question. Or a judicial question.
Perhaps somebody in the MSM needs to ask her about the US constitution. If she is allowed to answer questions. Like her views on privacy or free speech. She loves the Second Amendment, but does she know what the First means? Senator Barbara Boxer called her an extremist today. As usual, perfect.
McCain is not the same, he is worse. He believes in the Delay, Reed, Norquist, Friedman, Sachs, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Feith, Abrams, Jeb Bush, Libby, Podhoretz, Rumsfeld, and others who signed on to the Project for the New American Century starting in 1997. A plan to Control the World. If you don't know who these people are, do a search for them. They are not your friends. Neither is Halliburton or KBR or any of the following:
Lockheed Martin Corp. $17.0 billion
Boeing Co. $16.6 billion
Northrop Grumman Corp. $8.7 billion
Raytheon Co. $7.0 billion
General Dynamics Corp. $7.0 billion
United Technologies Corp. $3.6 billion
Science Applications International Corp. $2.1 billion
TRW Inc. $2.0 billion
Health Net, Inc. $1.7 billion
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. $1.7 billion
All of these corporations are stealing from you. Could we have a complete accounting now?
If any of the above names are not familiar to you, please do some research. They are not your friends. Neither is John McCain.
fastfeat @ 52:
I usually last less then 5 minutes tops.
The stench just becomes too overwhelming ... I change the channel when my gag reflex becomes involuntary.
It was an interview he was having with Al Sharpton no less ...
Has anyone seen a picture of her Wasilla home? Or homes? Just asking!
Isn't this sociailism? Alaskans share in the profits of the oil companies and receives taxpayer money from the lower 48 to subsidize their government when the citizens pay no taxes and get paid by the state. Alaska is the ultimate "welfare state."
MsJoanne @ 57:
F*cking hilarious! Thanks.
sixhundredsixtysix @ 67:
Never been a Sharpton fan either, but I'd think he'd object to Clannity using the term. Not sure I want to lose my dinner watching it though. I'll take you at your word.
heydudes @ 59:
The MSM is holding our hand and guiding us to the Bush third term. John Bush and Cheney in heels , here we go again.
JOURNALISM IS DEAD
mudshark @ 39:
yes! priceless!!
fastfeat @ 71:
people who act on behalf of others always seem to be hated these days. did Al Sharpton block your street or something?
Sarah "Tax and Spend/Borrow/Spend/Borrow/Spend" Palin.
Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 38:
I couldn't resist. I put up a Caption Contest with that pic. My inner adolescent took over.
Whoever did that...GOOD ON YOU!!!
WOW Some of these people have lost their prospective when it comes to polotics.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
brenda @ 77:
Isn't Larry Sinclair the name of one of the original swiftboaters?
Anyone talking about the FACT that she has moved up the annual "Oil checks" for all Alaskans from mid-November to mid-October, and doubled the amount. These will be landing in the accounts of Alaskans RIGHT BEFORE they VOTE.
Can anyone say VOTE BUYING!!
This Palin chick is nothing but an EMPTY SKIRT.
She's EXACTLY like Chavez in Venezuela - buying people's love by sending them a check.
WAKE UP AMERICA!
Palin is the biggest scam ever foisted on an ignorant American public.
Runaway from her as if your life depended on it - because it does.
This guy thinks so too:
http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/letter-by-alaskan-man-who-h...
Man, it's only been a week and I am so FUCKING TIRED of this lame, ignorant, stupid, lying sack-of-shit named Sarah Palin.
Hey Palin, if you're so great why don't you talk to the press? Are you afraid of something?
How are you going to talk to a world leader if you won't talk to some gal with a pen and a notebook?
No Way. No How. No McCain/Palin!
To say that Palin is ready to serve as the Vice President or President of the United States is an insult to every American who has ever lived.
bitch bitch bitch blah blah mayor like me had real responsibility and screwed it up back time. 0 debt -> $20+ million debt.
Palin = lying bitch
Swift Boating Returns!!! Just keep repeating lies over and over and over.