The Hockey Mom Is Home or Away?
I was preparing a lengthy analysis on tax policy and how it affects the average Ed and Kathy America, until I picked up the morning paper and learned that Gov. Sarah "I'm-a-fiscal-watchdog" Palin has been charging the taxpayers $60 for nights she sleeps in her own bed.
As this story in the Washington Post explains, Palin chooses to live in Wasilla and work out of a state office in nearby Anchorage, and she visits the state capital of Juneau only when absolutely necessary. By declaring her nights at home as "travel," she collects a per diem payment.
As John McCain might say, "That's not change ..."
No, it's not. It's the kind of same ol' politics that got us in the mess we're in.
Okay, the good-government types will tell you that the Alaska governor's salary is woefully inadequate. Granted, it is a small state (670,000) populationwise and has a nice taxpayer-funded governor's mansion (now we know why Palin fired the chef—she was never there for meals), but when you pay only $125,000 a year for your chief executive, and you are sitting on the nation's precious energy reserves, you're asking for trouble.
Nor is it a question of affordability. Alaskans have been scamming the rest of us for years, and if they want to declare that "staying home" is "travel," they can afford to do so. We're not talking about some backward province.
As Michael Kinsley notes, the inhabitants of Alaska are as rapacious as the Saudis, Iraqis, and Iranians when it comes to oil; they have no qualms, and show no embarrassment, at soaking dumb Americans. The Alaskans put huge state taxes on their oil, driving up gasoline prices and the cost of home heating oil for us down here in the lower 48, and divvy up the proceeds like Fagin and his boys. Each of them took a $3,200 cut last year, in the form of an oil rebate check.
If Palin wants to call her house a Red Roof Inn, they've got the bucks to let her.
And how is this for chutzpah? Awash with oil, Alaska still leads the nation in collecting federal subsidies. Including that infamous bridge that Palin liked, before she didn't.
Yes, even the Wall Street Journal, the voice of American capitalism, the ink-on-paper sister to Fox News, admits that McCain and Palin are...well...lying about that one.
No, I guess what irks me is how stupid Karl Rove (and the others advising McCain) think I am.
They've taken this appealing freshman governor, a typically ambitious young pol with a nice-enough life story, and are telling us she's Joan of Arc.
It's a fraud.
She's not like us; she's just like them.
Tags: Alaska | Sarah Palin
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Reader Comments
Palin has more experience???
Gov. Palin has been the governor of the fourth least populated state in the nation for less than 2 years. Alaska gets more kick-backs and tax breaks from big oil than any other state. She has acquired millions of tax dollars for a town of 6,700 people; proposed a multi-million dollar bridge to nowhere; stood up to big oil? only after the concessions were granted. She has supported the aerial slaughter of a previously endangered species; proposes to take the polar bear off the endangered list; why, because it is much harder to open up areas for oil exploration if endangered species are present.
She is forcefull, articulate, charismatic, and charming, does that qualify her to lead my country, not if the votes of my family make the difference.
Governor's Mansion
I have been unhappy with the Governor moving back to Wasilla while Alaskans have been paying to provide her a home in Juneau. Alaskan's have voted twice against moving the capitol out of Juneau. I am an Alaska Native I have been living in Anchorage for the past 13 years. Like many Alaskans that grew up in rural alaska, my husband and I live in Anchorage where the jobs are. As for whether she qualifies for the per diem or not isn't what counts, it's the fact that she is claiming to be a reformer. Making us pay for the Governor's Mansion and pay her per diem too is really annoying (as well as unethical). There may be soon be some other rural people moving because of the high cost of heat and electricity, as I have heard Adak may be blacked out starting today because the City can't afford to pay for fuel for there generators. Our Governor's off campaigning in a private jet (much bigger than the 1 she got rid of). Rural Alaska needs help as they go through a energy crisis. Giving a check out to all Alaskan's for the same amount isn't going to solve rural Alaska's energy problems. The $1200.00 energy rebate givin by the Governor will only pay for utilities in some of our villages for a few months. We need a Governor that will help solve our problems. I believe there will be a lot of villages going through blackouts throughout this coming winter. Most Alaskan towns are only accessible by water or air. The permanent fund is used by many rural alaskans for all of there needs, as the unemployment is high. Many rural Alaskan's made there living by commercial fishing. The Commercial Fish Industry has been struggling for years due to low prices and high fuel costs. Governor Palin is not helping to come up with viable solutions to these problems. She like many Alaska Politicians have little concern for rural alaska. More than half of the state resides in Anchorage and the Valley, along with the majority of voters. We aren't seeing any relief for our problems in Alaska and I doubt she'll be to concerned with some rural town in Missippi(provided she knows where that is). And to the fact that you can see Russia from Alaska, you can only see Big Diomede Island(Russia) from Little Diomede Island(Alaska) on a clear day. But not many people would actually travel to Little Diomede as it is one of the most remote areas of Alaska. We aren't really getting much help in Anchorage either. It was recently announced, that our natural gas bills(in Anchorage) will be increasing by 22% in January. The rebate the Governor gave out on Friday will help those of us who actually use it for our bills, but I avoided grocery shopping at Costco this weekend, knowing people will be going crazy with there checks. The thing is were supposed to be getting the most money per capita but we are still not meeting the basic needs of many Alaska residents. That's Not Change That's more of the SAME! Many Alaskan's believed when the Governor said things would be different, I voted for Knowles
Hey! Not all Alaskans are the same!
I was born and raised in Alaska, and I love my home state, but I don't stand behind Palin in any way. I was offended by the comment that Alaskans have been scamming the lower 48. I haven't done anything scam worthy.... I make less then $2000.00 a month and live in a waterless cabin. (A common practice for money straped Alaskans.) Do I take the dividend every fall? You bet your booty I do.. then I turn around and buy heating fuel with it. The cost of staying warm up here in the winters is very high, and so yes a percent of the INTREST earned by the states oil bassed savings is divided up and given to the residents... it helps offset the higher cost of living.
I don't mind if you have things to say about Palin, I don't like her actions or politics at all, but please don't lump all the people who live here in with her.
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