Jay Bookman

By Bud Wiser

October 5, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this

Just watched the skit.

Hilarious!

Now, if they can just do a skit about Obama mixing it up with Jeremiah Wright , Tony Resko, Bill Ayers, Franklin Raines, Louis Farrakhan, Tim Howard, and/or Jim Johnson, NBC could indeed compare itself (vaguely) to FOX News and be fair and balanced.

Of course, they’d have to clear it with Obama headquarters, but having a branch located in the NBC news department, that shouldn’t take too long.

Obama/Biden ‘08 - making it easy to be stupid

By Peter

October 5, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this

Sarah had an opportunity Thursday night to show great confidence. If she had thrown a Tina Fey parody our way, in her folksy manner (kind’a making fun of herself), I would have appreciated that attempt to connect with us.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this

This post has been pulled because the blog master woke up angry and took his rage out on the Conservatives while leaving the lib off topic comments in place.

By Bud Wiser

October 5, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this

By Jen

October 4, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this

This is hilarious!

Obama is a dangerous radical goon with criminal friends, socialist written all over him.

Biden is a poor mouth idiot.

Palin makes the two of them look as stupid as they are, being so smart and attractive to boot.

All you pig faced leftist women, suck on eggs, because your jealousy has warped your dentures. McCain and Palin take office in January!

Obama/Biden ‘08 - making it easy to be stupid

Go blow yourself….it’s about the only spot of happiness I think you’ll find!

I think a stalker has the hots for me! But Jen, why don’t you just comfort yourself by plopping your size 52 rear end on the couch, pop another cold one, and try to figure out how you’re going to make your next payment on the used double-wide you just bought.

This is exactly what I was referring to - - - pig faced morons like this psycho that worship The Token One, and they don’t know why. It is troubling though knowing there is some warped pig like Jen out there trying in her own feeble way to project her own wishes on how she wants to have her way with me….

I did see Fatal Attraction, and the look on Glen Close’s face when she said “*I will not be ignored Dan…” was scary. Cool down Jen, COOL DOWN.

Obama/Biden ‘08 - making it easy to be stupid, and dangerously psychotic

By BS Aplenty

October 5, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

Top Ten Things to Expect during an Obama Administration

10.Cynthia Tucker discovers there’s life after racism but can’t find much to write about

9.The National Anthem is changed to “Can’t Touch This (Country)” by M.C. Hammer

8.The Rev. Jeremiah Wright finally converts to Christianity

7.The Irish government mistakenly claims “President O’bama” as a native son and commends him for weight gain since his ‘Potato Famine’ emigration

6.William Ayers is appointed Secretary of Defense and hailed by media as an “experienced hand dealing with terrorist groups”

5.Oprah Winfrey moves to Washington, D.C. but claims she’s only there to redevelop the city

4.Excessive faculty celebration leaves Tuscaloosa with a newly named “University of AlO’bama”

3.Chris Matthews “outs” himself and confesses to “leg tingling” for most of adult life

2.Jay Bookman finally gets an invite to an Inaugural Ball but must clear tables afterward

And the number one thing you can expect during an Obama presidency

1.Alaska is put up for sale

McCain/Palin ’08 – The Right Kind of Change

By Renny J. Caulder

October 5, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

Does Tina Fey look like a cross-dressing Ichabod Crane?

By Mr Snarky

October 5, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

Jay, I think you have the wrong video. Please show us the parody. We all saw the real debate on Thursday and we don’t need to see it again.

By Eric1

October 5, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

Bud, you referring to anyone as dumb or stupid is the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black. For the record, liberal and socialist are not dirty words. Liberals are our best hope for a prosperous and peaceful future. Some levels of socialism are good for everyone. Have you ever heard of the “fire department” or the “police department” or the “DOT” or the “CDC”. Do you have any notion what socialism is or what that word means? There’ll be a world wide celebration the day Dubya disappears from the public consciousness and President Obama is sworn into office. I can’t wait!

By Felix

October 5, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

I don’t think they would be offended by the skit, I’m sure they thought it was as funny as most of us did. I don’t think it would influence the way anyone would vote.

After the last 7 years, 8 months and 15 days you’d think the GOP would be embracing Obama.

By Taxpayer

October 5, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

As expected. Tina Fey once again nails Sarah-six-pack’s “performance”. Is Sarah one of Cindy McCain’s best customers or does she brew her own stuff. She could increase her appeal with the Republican base even more if she handed out autographed six-packs or maybe she has a little-known sister busy brewing up a new “tin can concoction” called Maverick Beer. Now wouldn’t that just take the [yeast] cake.

By Ray

October 5, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Wonder how funny the Annointed One’s entitlement voter base and Bookman would have found a parody of Obama performed by JC Watts or by Thomas Sowell on Fox News. How about showing Mr. Wonderful with a character representing that paragon of patriotism, Wright, jumping up and down and clapping their hands while Wright extolled the virtues of Black Liberation Theology and his love for America? Oh, but we can’t have that, can we? We have to avoid things that would make the Annointed One look bad, don’t we? The media has to bow, and spread themselves out prone before His Annointed persona. And why? It ought to be pretty obvious even to a troll like Bookman who would howl the loudest about something he felt was so blatantly racist and inappropriate. Why doesn’t SNL hire a crew next time and go to what is now Israel and find a hill. They could then have Palin, Cheney and Bush drag three crosses up that hill and after having themselves firmly attached to those crosses, dig three holes and erect those three upright for all to see. The crowd could then jump up and down and howl all they wanted. They could all say that Palin’s Bible thumping and faith in something more than herself had put her in this position and, well, she deserves it. We’ll buy you a first class ticket for the proceedings, Bookman, but only one way.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Well, now I can say I watched Saturday Night Live for the first time in twenty some years.

Man, I miss Belushi.

You know, the Gwen Ifill sideways glance was alright the first time.

And if you libs are going to parody hot Sarah, perhaps you should locate someone without floppy Oblahma ears and someone who doesn’t have to stuff a pillow in the back of their skirt to duplicate that premium American Sarah tush, dude.

Oh I forgot, you angry libs don’t have anybody that looks that good.

RW: The below the belt shot on marriage being the “sanctity of two unwilling teenagers” nullified any idea that this was “skewering equally.”

After all, Biden is already a long running joke.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Felix: You know, every once in a great while I see a light shining from within your dead star but then you go and say things like this:

By Felix October 5, 2008 8:16 AM After the last 7 years, 8 months and 15 days you’d think the GOP would be embracing Obama.

There is no doubt that Bush has not governed they way that a Conservative would want him to, hence his low approval numbers, but if you think that would make us want to “embrace” a baby killing, “community organizing,” tax raising, America hating, terrorist loving, teleprompter reading radical with no experience you should guess again.

Why do you think the woman scares the liberals into the hysterical state of panic that they are in?

She is the absolute anti Oblahma and they know it.

By Taxpayer

October 5, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

Aww, read what the widdle radical right wing joe six pack nut cases have to spew — a mouthful of warm brew. No, not warm brew. They’re just getting another taste of their trickle down economics.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

Let’s see how much better the real deal is:

Palin Criticizes Obama’s ‘Terrorist’ Connection

Parody that.

By TW

October 5, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Does Palin lack credibilty because she’s Bush in drag or because she’s typical white trash? I mean, even if she wasn’t Bush in drag, she’d still be a wonderful candidate for the Springer Show.

Just look at her ‘terrist’ baiting comments - just like some skank, six-pack chick that pops up out of Springer’s chair when her tiny brain overloads.

Sad.

God I miss the real Republicans.

By POSER ALERT

October 5, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Analchord stop stealing other’s posts. Lipstick Lesbo said the exact same thing the other day. Think up your own drivel.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

It’s pretty simple to understand.

The inside the belt way “elite” ruling class in Washington and their propaganda wing, the mainstream media, do not like Palin because she is a common everyday American who is an outsider to their world.

Now, if you were going to place fault for the country’s problems on someone’s shoulders, would it be with the rulers in Washington or common everyday We The People?

I already know the answer, it lies at the heart of the 700 billion dollar bailout, the rulers in Washington are only interested in themselves.

I say we give the government back to Americans.

By Ray

October 5, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

TW,

Those joe six pack people you describe as “white trash” are all over Iraq so you wouldn’t have to go. They are your neighbors, populate the heartland of America and love their country more than you ever will. You remind me of some elitist pric* who doesn’t have a clue. And you can vote. Miss Republicans all you want, we don’t want you.

By TW

October 5, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Correction - people do not like Republican Washington.

It’s pretty simple to understand. The Republicans have more disdain than the Taliban for the American government. The Republicans got elected and have since destroyed the American government from the inside.

You’re fired.

By GOPs got to go

October 5, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Joe Biden is CLEARLY better than THAT gosh darn idiot, he really gave her what for there.

That gosh darn liberal media spectin my answers to make sense, well I just keep on bein “Marvericky” for all those beer sloshin no-nothins that want to know me in the biblical sense there.

By AmVet

October 5, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

Shouldn’t you hate-filled nut jobs and religifrauds all be in your fraud churches, praying to you fraud gaud for some redemption on this Sunday morn? (and coughing up some non-fraud green for the collection plate?)

Given this morning’s enormous enmity by these so-called christians, it would appear some of the bigots here have a helluva hangover that even their Rush Limbaugh prescription pain meds aren’t touching…

Christofascists…

I predict this toxic bile will be on display non-stop now, as the inevitable neo-con a*******whipping awaits these Talibaptists in a scant four weeks.

This is going to be as fun to watch.

Man, I love this liberal and secular country!

By Ray

October 5, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

GOPs got to go,

Did you learn all of those profound words in Chicago? Really expected more than that from you. SNL, you and all of the flaming libs on this blog just can’t help yourselves, can you? Just like Carville said about Paula Jones…..”. must have trolled a $50 bill through a trailer park to catch that one.” When she gets down and dirty, she is some kind of Springer idiot with a speech impediment but the Annointed One can do no wrong…. has no vices, is our perfect choice and has an impeccable history that no one can deny. Wow, do you have a lot to learn about American politics! And what’s wrong with admiring someone’s good looks. You didn’t tone up that derriere just to look at it in the mirror.

By Jen

October 5, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Bud can you explain how you can deduce someone’s appearance and especially attractiveness from a blog?

I’d love to know the reasoning and logic behind your claim that you can not only accurately descibe my size by also something as subjective as ATTRACTIVENESS.

Here is a fact: I am a size 4. In fact, just yesterday I bought a new pair of size 4 jeans. I also wear a 36D bra. I also run 4 miles every other day and bike to work (7 miles each way) every day. I have very muscular legs. And I have long red hair.

Now, I know that makes me sound attractive but attractiveness is a matter of taste. At 33 years old I am certainly not as pretty as I was at 23 but my husband seems to like me a whole lot.

But, alas, you won’t believe what I say anyway…because you’re the type of person who deduces someone’s appearance and attractiveness from a blog.

Again, go blow yourself. You might have fun and stop sounding like a broken record. A broken douchebag 80s rock ballad on acid record….

Best of luck! I’m going for a run.

Tina Fey was awesome!

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Republicans do not control Washington, stooge.

If you had even the most fundamental understanding of how government works, instead of your simpleton pinko media comfort food knowledge, the majorities in the house and senate would be getting their rightful blame.

Since they took control, energy prices have doubled, the financial markets have collapsed but hey, our government is now an opposition party investigative arm with two years of no results whatsoever, this is what you are in favor of.

Their lone accomplishment in all this time has been to socialize the housing market, good for us, eh?

And as for the questions ignorantly tossed out by your fellow dimwit, some church services do start at 11:00, moron.

By Ray

October 5, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Jen,

With just a little encouragement, I could give up GOPs Got to Go for you. Just show’s you how fickle those beer sloshin’ conservatives can be. You had me at 36D.

By Just_Me

October 5, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

AmVet?

If i weren’t already happily married, and was still able to bear children, I’d offer to have your love child!

Enjoy your secular, liberal Sunday!

;-)

By AmVet

October 5, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Now, if you were going to place fault for the country’s problems on someone’s shoulders, would it be with the rulers in Washington or common everyday We The People?

I would say the problem definitely lies with We The People.

But then I have been into this personal accountability thing for a long time, unlike the “conservative” sloganeers who cannot quite get a handle on it.

We are the ones who put these clowns in a position to screw things up so badly.

I first realized this shortly after Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. Yes he crafted many of the terrible policies that ultimately got us to where we are now, but he was reflecting the will of the people who elected him. (Not many others, but at least those). And just like what is on modern TV, he accurately represented what the tards wanted.

Also, that scintillating analysis by the biggest christofraud here fails to take into account the most obvious blunder with his call for someone other than a Washington “insider”.

George W. Bush ran on that VERY platform.

And look what eight years by that “outsider” got us.

An unending sh!tstorm of deceit, deadly incompetence, revenge tactics and corrupt thuggery.

It really doesn’t matter to me WHERE these candidates have demonstrated great intellect, enormous integrity and excellent leadership.

Just that, unlike the incredibly unqualified George W. Bush (and now the lovely Ms. Palin and the charming Mr. Obama) that they have it.

As for the irrational buffoons who got George selected, er elected, and still apologize for him, I fear there is a snowball’s chance in their imaginary hell…

By getalife

October 5, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Classic.

The Fall of America, Inc.

A neocon wrote that.

By Peter

October 5, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

I found Sarah’s performance more beauty pageant caliber (particularly the shout out to third graders … apparently her target audience).

By getalife

October 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Rove Gives Map To Obama Criticizes McCain Strategy.

Todd said he is one State away from clinching.

But McCain will go negative and the race will tighten. obl will make a tape to help McCain so he can stay free. They are famous for attacking after an election.

One more month of insanity while our country collapses.

By Bud Wiser

October 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Wow.

Am I supposed to believe Jen’s description of herself? For all I know she was gagging on a Twinkie while looking through some edition of Playboy she pulled from the neighbor’s trash can. Ah, the safety of anonymous internet blogging……

One thing for sure though is that she’s going for a run….. probably a run down to the Pit Stop for some fuel for her Ford Pinto, and another bag of Twinkies.

Obama/Biden ‘08 - making it easy to be stupid, and a liar

By Billy

October 5, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

AJC/DNC, you always struck me as a fairly smart guy. Conservative, but fairly intelligent. Now it seems like your intelligence is inversely proportional to the time remaining in the election cycle.

To quote Graham Chapman: You make me sad.

By Southern ATL

October 5, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

The ROLLING STONE magazine has written an article about the Make-Believe Maverick. The article is extremely long so I did not post it. For those who do not know the REAL JOHN MCCAIN check it out:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Billy: If you had only gotten to see the posts of mine that kookman censored you’d still be a big fan of mine.

It just goes to show the effect that liberal manipulation from the drive by media can have on you.

If you are enough of a moron to believe them, that is.

By Bud Wiser

October 5, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

By Jen

October 5, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Bud can you explain how you can deduce someone’s appearance and especially attractiveness from a blog?

Yes Jen, yes I can.

I am a genius.

Obama/Biden ‘08 - making it easy to be stupid

By G

October 5, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Tina Fey rocks!

The line about marriage being a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers….classic.

And then the one about not pandering to Florida voters but that she’s loved two things since childhood….Jews and Cuban food.

Priceless!

Obama/Biden ‘08

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

By Southern ATL October 5, 2008 12:14 PM The ROLLING STONE magazine has written an article about the Make-Believe Maverick.

Uh-huh:

One of the presidential nominating season’s most unusual ideas was proposed again Tuesday, this time by one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, when Sen. Joseph Biden advocated a “unity” ticket of Democratic Sen. John Kerry and Republican Sen. John McCain.

You libs are always good for laugh.

By AmVet

October 5, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Just_Me, thanks!

Nobody can really dispute that most of the cool chicks in this country are non-Republicans!

Like you.

The neoliths can keep their hung-up, bible -thumping prudes.

The difference between the proud liars and reality-challenged neo-cons and decent Americans is that we can, and do, laugh at ourselves.

These mean little pr!cks and Cheney clones alone in the rabid right, who take themselves and their 1950’s McCarthyesque worldview WAY too seriously, see it as a sign of weakness.

Yet in spite of these imbeciles and their daft LDS (NO, that is NOT a slam against the Mormonists!), Liberal Derangement Syndrome, there is one tiny, little light in their self-imposed darkness and self-loathing.

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — It’s a movie genre you don’t hear much about in Hollywood: the right-wing comedy. For that matter, it’s not much of a genre at all.

But it’s exactly what conservative producer-director-screenwriter David Zucker created with “An American Carol.” The gag-filled liberal lampoon stars Kevin Farley, brother of the late Chris Farley, as a scruffy Michael Moore clone named Michael Malone, an infamous documentary filmmaker leading a slapstick campaign to abolish the Fourth of July.

I’d watch it and laugh my arse off, I’m sure.

And again this huge difference, is why the neo-cons are so reviled and mistrusted by mainstream America.

By Ray

October 5, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Southern ATL,

Sources for all of this trash about Palin should tune you into their slant and what they want their readers to believe. Rolling Stone….. Not necessarily the Wall Street Journal of the music scene. My grandmother was a pretty judge of character and often said that saying something harsh and unfair about someone just to make them look bad was a bad sign of credibility and a definite sign of stupidity. If you don’t like the lady, don’t vote for her, plain and simple but lay off. It might make you look like some kind of journalistic Einstein to all of your liberal bloggers but to a really sincere person, like my grandmother said, it just makes you look stupid. One parody of Palin by SNL was pretty funny but two more just go to prove that someone is anxious to cash in on their 15 min of fame and it’s getting pretty old. BTW, the one who really looks stupid is Bookman for fanning the fires yet once again. He sort of reminds me of Je$$ie, fanning the fires of you stupid liberals to create as much controversy as possible to give him a place in life and what poses for a job. Worked with the entitlement crowd and it’s obviously working with you.

By G

October 5, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Evidently Palin is trying to put comedy writers out of work along with everyone who isn’t a midwife or drilling for oil…who needs to write anything when you’ve got Palin to quote verbatim?

Obama/Biden ‘08

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

Just tell everybody what a POS your whole campaign is:

And though she may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret.-AP

The first serious attack on Oblahma’s record and the weak, sissy liberals cry racism.

How brave, how strong, what you gonna do get your bullhorns out and whine in them?

By Ray

October 5, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

“A racially tinged subtext”, my aching a**. Can’t say ANYTHING about this empty suit without being called a racist. Do you have any idea how p** off that mainstream America is, Demo/Repub/Indep , about this perception. Some liberal female talking head on Fox today said that she “was tired of seeing Palin dragging around that handicapped child everywhere she went”. Verbatim, wrote it down. Do you know what a firestorm it would have caused if the Annointed One had a handicapped child and he was told by Bill O’Reilly to quit dragging that child around? O’Reilly would lose his job just like Imus and the victims would say, “See there, nothing but a bunch of racists”. It will show up in the voting booth, believe me. Hope to hell it does. We’re sick of this!!!!!

By Southern ATL

October 5, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

TO Ray October 5, 2008 12:47 PM

GUESS WHAT??? The article was not about PALIN!!!! Maybe you have been on this blog too long and have lost your mind…The article had nothing to do with Palin. Take a break…get you a cup of coffee…walk the dog…and then talk to me when you have gotten some rest!!

PEACE

By getalife

October 5, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

“British commander says war in Afghanistan cannot be won

Britain’s commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban cannot be won, the Sunday Times reported. “We’re not going to win this war,” says Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith”

Freaking Taliban are undefeated like our lobbyists.

Damn.

By Ken Kimsey

October 5, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

How does Gov. Palin get by with the claim that she is an expert on “energy”? A petroleum afficionado, maybe, but energy? Come on!

Even her claims about the “energy” output of her own state were contradicted dramatically by Federal statistics. The closest I’ve ever heard her come to alternative energy is in her throw-away line about the maverick ticket supporting “all of the above” which, upon closer examination, seems to mean oil drilling in ANWAR and offshore, nuke-you-lar energy and coal.

Wait, I forgot, there’s also wind, or is that just the hot air that powers the Palin-McCain ticket?

By Midori

October 5, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

what are all the wingnuts so testy about?

did they all take a truth serum last night, and woke up to just how nasty and ignorant they are?

By Ray

October 5, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

Southern ATL.

Yeah, you are probably right….. too long on this blog. It all comes together however, McCain/Palin seem to blend into the same person after awhile by all of the rhetoric that is produced by all of those of different persuasions. Maybe for SNL’s next skit, they can find a Downs child with eyes a little too far apart and a flattened nasal bridge, who stares a little too intently into space. They could have Tina Fey parade the baby on stage followed by some teenager with a pillow stuffed down the front of her dress walking pigeon toed on to the stage sucking on a lolly pop. Do you get the point. Enough already, Bookman. It isn’t funny anymore.

By Abomi Nation

October 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Wow! I didn’t see this coming!!!! Just when Jay was crowing about the growing Obama tidal wave, we now see that McCain is surging in the polls!!

McCain gained a full point overnight and now only trails by 7. Thats right, we’re hanging on everything we can reach right now.

Lets all meet at The Sausage House for a celebration!

Not to cry in our beer about the liberal media stealing the election again. No, this will be a true moment to savor our recent gain.

McCain/Quaylin- ‘08

By Felix

October 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Ray

October 5, 2008 12:47 PM

She keeps giving them new material. It’s sad tht McCain put her in the crosshairs. Bill and Hillary have been featured many times, and Obama a time or two. It’s just good comedy. Laugh it off and move on. It’s not going to affect the election.

By G

October 5, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

Palin misquoted Madeleine Albright yesterday at a rally in California in such a way as to imply women who don’t vote for her will go to hell…again, another of the many, many things done by the McCain campaign that, if done by someone in the Obama campaign, would result in an uprising and someone being dragged into the streets Milosevic-style.

Palin’s place in hell is gonna be special.

You betcha!

Obama/Biden ‘08

By Abomi Nation

October 5, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Senator Larry Craig (Republican) just released his own pole that showed McCain going down!

By Southern ATL

October 5, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

TO Ray October 5, 2008 1:56 PM

I have never been concerned about the VP canidates. My only concern is who will be the next President..PALIN has brought a lot of attention to herself because of all of the negativty that she constantly spits out! She is always elaborating on how much of a reformer she is but she is battling all sorts of legal issues at this time.

CHECK IT OUT

Friday, October 03, 2008 Palin failed to pay taxes on her per diem payments In an overview of Sarah Palin’s tax returns for 2006 and 2007, which she has finally released, the Associated Press reports that Palin neglected to pay the taxes due on $17,000 she received in per diem payments as Governor of Alaska. A McCain campaign official claims, falsely, that Palin owed no taxes on those payments.

Sarah Palin makes $125,000 a year as Alaska governor. Plus, since she took the job in December 2006, she hasn’t paid taxes on the more than $17,000 she received in controversial per diem payments for working out of the family’s lakeside home in Wasilla…

Regarding the per diem dispute, [McCain-Palin spokeswoman Maria] Comella said Juneau is the governor’s home base and therefore whenever she works elsewhere, she is entitled to charge the state. Comella contended the per diem payments are not taxable.

[Former IRS commissioner Sheldon] Cohen said it was fine for the state of Alaska to determine it was okay to reimburse Palin to work out of her home, but the state’s decision didn’t mean those benefits were not taxable by the federal government. “One has nothing to do with the other,” said Cohen.

It’s very clear that taxes were due on these per diems. This is tax evasion by Sarah Palin, pure and simple. It doesn’t quite rise to the level of Richard Nixon’s utter failure to pay any taxes for a few years while he was president. But what a standard to be flirting with.

Palin’s per diems are themselves controversial. She billed the state of Alaska nearly $17,000 for 312 nights she spent at her house in Wasilla. Because the governor has a mansion in Juneau and is supposed to reside and work there (though she is in fact absent far more than she’s present in the capital), she may be permitted technically under state regulations to claim a per diem for lodging while she’s staying at her own home. But it looks pretty cynical to claim to be a reformer while seeking payments for living at home. That’s particularly true since Palin also billed the state to fly her husband and children around the state, to the tune of more than $43,000. Once Palin brought one of her daughters with her at great expense to a Women and Leadership conference in New York City, where they stayed in an extremely luxurious hotel.

Asked Monday about the official policy on charging for children’s travel expenses, [Alaska state finance director Kim] Garnero said: “We cover the expenses of anyone who’s conducting state business. I can’t imagine kids could be doing that.”

But [Palin’s spokeswoman Sharon] Leighow said many of the hundreds of invitations Palin receives include requests for her to bring her family, placing the definition of “state business” with the party extending the invitation.

The revelations about her per diems suggest that Palin plays fast and loose with rules in order to enrich herself. The same impression is given by the AP’s analysis of Palin’s tax returns. She and her husband have managed to take so many deductions, some seemingly dubious, that they’ve avoided paying taxes on much of their income.

For the 2007 tax year, Todd Palin’s self-employment brought him $66,893 in gross receipts — $49,893 from fishing and $17,000 from snowmachine racing. But, the returns show, he claimed so many deductions that he reported only $15,513 net profit from the fishing operation and claimed a $9,639 loss from his racing, leaving him with an overall net income of only $5,874.

Those deductions enabled the Palins, who have four dependent children, to enjoy a 15 percent tax rate for 2007 and a rate of less than 10 percent for 2006.

This family, with assets worth between about 1 and 2 million dollars, is not struggling just to get by. Instead, it’s working to figure out every angle it can exploit.

I have to say I’ve been awaiting the day when Palin’s tax returns were released, expecting that it would turn out that she’d neglected to pay taxes on her controversial per diems. She did not fail to disappoint.

Sarah-Palin tax-evasion Richard-Nixon

By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr

October 5, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Meanwhile, now that time has passed, serious analysis indicates that BIDEN WAS MORE OFFBASE THAN PALIN - as excepted from NYP - shows Sloe Joe ain’t ready to be president

Some, of course, were just Biden being Biden. He smeared Dick Cheney as “the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history.”

To which we must take specific offense: After all, the founder of this newspaper, Alexander Hamilton, was killed in a duel by then-Vice President Aaron Burr. (Certainly Burr was a better shot than Cheney.)

But that’s a matter of opinion.

Not so, some other Biden gems:

• It’s “simply not true” that Barack Obama said he’d meet Iran’s president without preconditions, Biden insisted.

Yet when Obama was asked if he would in a debate during the primaries, he said yes - a position Biden back then termed “naive.”

• Biden said he’s “always supported” clean-coal technology - after stating emphatically only last month, “We’re not supporting clean coal.”

• Biden asserted - repeatedly - that the US spends more money on three weeks’ combat in Iraq than it’s spent in Afghanistan since the war began.

That claim’s only remotely intelligible if he limits Afghan expenditures merely to US rebuilding efforts - and even then, he’s off by a factor of three, according to State Department numbers.

• Also on Afghanistan, Biden insisted - repeatedly - that “our commanding general in Afghanistan said the surge principle in Iraq will not work” there.

That may not be an out-and-out lie, but it took supposed foreign-policy neophyte Sarah Palin to bring any context or nuance to the statement.

What Gen. David McKiernan had said was that tribal realities in Afghanistan are very different than in Iraq - requiring a different form of cooperation.

But he flatly said more troops, and more local engagement, are needed.

Sounds like a surge to us.

• Then there was what might have been the biggest head-scratcher of the night. Said Biden of the Bush administration’s supposed Middle East follies:

“When … along with France, we kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon, I said and Barack said, ‘Move NATO forces in there. Fill the vacuum, because if you don’t, Hezbollah will control it.”

Huh?

Assuming that Biden was referring to when, in 2005, American and French pressure helped the Lebanese people kick Syrian troops out of Lebanon, who ever thought NATO occupation of that deeply divided country was a good idea?

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

al-Gitmo: Heck, that should make you libs happy, was that a knee jerk whine?:

“If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that’s precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this. That shouldn’t make people uncomfortable.”

The coward British and the coward French have been listening to the coward Oblahma, but never fret, Patreous is no……coward.

He’ll take care of the terrorists.

By getalife

October 5, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

“After the Senate approved the $700 billion bank bailout, the majority leader, Harry Reid, tried to persuade his colleagues to address another economic calamity before they left town for the long election recess. He urged them to extend unemployment benefits for 800,000 jobless Americans. In the face of Republican opposition, the measure failed. Benefits start expiring this week. So much for Main Street.” NY Times editorial.

Countries will fall but the rich got paid.

By Ray

October 5, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Southern ATL,

Looked at a farmer’s tax return lately? Or one of a commercial fisherman? At least he paid taxes, based on present tax law, drawn up by our Congress as it applied to him and his business. Wonder how much Franklin Raines is going to declare on his 190M+ bonus from Fannie Mae? Ever thought of those 40+M people who pay no taxes at all? Seems to make $17,000 look like pocket change, wouldn’t you think?

By Felix

October 5, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 2:13 PM

Some day, somewhere, someone will sit down and talk. It might as well be now. The general might not be a coward, but he’s paying Sunni tribesmen responsible for the deaths of some of our most precious resources.

I’ll respond to the morning posting later.

By Southern ATL

October 5, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

TO Ray October 5, 2008 2:18 PM

I don’t believe that I have. They are not running for a political office based on reform but she is! If she is going to talk about being a WASHINGTON OUTSIDER then WHY ARE SO MANY LEGAL ISSUES PLAGUING HER?

PEACE

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Negotiating with terrorists, eh?

We’re paying the Sunnis for killing terrorists, ever heard of the awakening?

By getalife

October 5, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Ah yes, the surge to Afghanistan. Are they going to bribe the Taliban and segregate them like Iraq Andy?

I think he is saying that will not work there because they get paid by the poppy. trade.

So, Obama has shown his change is bipartisan voting with the gop on FISA, Globalization and bailout for his corporate friends.

That is not change folks, that is business as usual.

By Ragmop Duty

October 5, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

RedState Voters are not Americans. They are Cheney Chanters, (flip flop, drill,baby,drill).

I dont believe in Americans anymore. They R2 easily duped by untalented grifters. God, Gays, and Guns? That’s what spins most American’s heads? It’s not a country worth defending anymore at all. It’s merely an infected appendix, a footnote, an obsolete appendage of what was once my country: the country my dad fought in three wars to defend. The country Grant saved by being smarter than the average red stater. The country George Washington midwived by being smarter than the average Redcoat. (boil some water, Benedict)

You horrid turncoats, you easily fooled nincompoops, you unworthy villains and accomplices. You all belong behind the RED CURTAIN and the commie oligarchy you’ve turned this country into.

Poo on you and your offspring!

The bailout was for foreign banks you fools.

ISAIDFOOLS!!!

By getalife

October 5, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Andy,

You need to read more on the Sunni awakening. It has changed.

By GOPs got to go

October 5, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Gosh darn it Ray, just spoofin a spoof there. You should really try to lighten up there, dont cha know. Havin one of those there Minnesota accents in my background makes me just so gosh darn homesick for the old place there. And gosh darn it, come to find out the Cub’s game trumps politics in the Windy city there.

And I sure dont mind any gal keeping up her looks there. I sure like turnin a head or two still.

By getalife

October 5, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

BTW Andy,

Karzai has the Saudis working a peace deal too with the Taliban.

You poor pro life warmonger.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

al-Gitmo: They helped us kill off al Qaeda and then they applied for unemployment insurance.

You’re against government handouts now?

They did more to earn them than most Oblahma voters have.

By getalife

October 5, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

You’re against government handouts now?

For corporate, hell yes.

Aren’t you?

By Ragmop Duty

October 5, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

Getalife. Shut TF UP! Whatever data your mining about the ethno-sectarian mess in Iraq is probably incorrect. Nobody really knows what tribes will do for sovereignity, except maybe blow up the universe. Dont forget the Kurd Wildcard.

Iraq’s unchartered territory, like the US economy. Trying to predict anything over there is like trying to predict how long OJ will get sentenced to prison. Whatever happened to Judge Ito?

Falcons had the game won. They can still win, but they have to run. Dont panic, falcons. Stick to the game plan.

jklol

Obama 08: He’s right for what’s left of America.

Paladin 08: Have bun (in oven) will blame Clinton.

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

al-Gitmo: Pakistan is rolling the Taliban up.

The Saudis are trying to keep the scumbags out of their country.

It’s too late.

By Ray

October 5, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

GOPs Got to Go,

Too much blogging. Time for a beer. The Windy City brings back lots of memories. Took my surgery boards at the Ambassador West and used to run along the lake from the Hyatt to the Shedd Aquarium and back after day meetings. Blues festival in Lincoln Park. Only visit in the summer or fall, never winter. Nice city.

By Ragmop Duty

October 5, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

I’m so sick of Osama Bin Laden being at large, thanx in large part to American fools like duhng and his easily duped, third grade sophistication about geo-politics.

I could take a handful of cubscouts armed with sling shots and go into Pakistan and capture that SOB and bring him out alive in 3 days.

Then, I’d use my smartphone and video an interrogation, Analchord Style, in which this wuss would cough up the locations of all the sleeper cells in the usa.

Vote for me.

Analchord 08: I’ll capture the SOB.

Getalife 08: I read more than anyone.

Duhng 08: I dont like the way the news gets reported.

Glenn 08: I didn’t mean nuthin.

@@ 08: I’m Pennybelle. Want a snickerdoodle.

Dusty 08: I’m granny. I talk to cows. Moo means Kiss my Behind, no really, it does. I proved it.

jklol

By Mrs.Godzilla

October 5, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Fey is terrific doing Palin.

I’d like to have seen them in a different setting. Like Gwen and Sarah in the ladies room minutes before the debate. Talking lipstick, shoes, thermonuclear global war and kids.

Just girl talk don’t cha know!

DUH - I miss Belushi too. He’d a done a hysterical Samurai Scalia.

OH! I hear McCain is going to go after Obama and anybody who he ever listened to “The Age of Aquarius” with.

Mavericky? Erratic?

By getalife

October 5, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

PF 08: Still not the last comic standing.

STFU GFY LOL ROTFL U Suk.

By getalife

October 5, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

“The economy has gotten so bad, Cheney
is having his stock broker water-boarded.” — Letterman

By AJC/DNC Management

October 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

My goodness, they finally got some stones:

The Republican National Committee plans to file a fundraising complaint against Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign Monday, alleging it has accepted donations that exceed federal limits as well as illegal contributions from foreigners.

The complaint asks the Federal Elections Commission to audit Obama’s campaign fund, RNC chief counsel Sean Cairncross said in a conference call with reporters.-Breitbart

Now watch the whines of racism begin.

By Abomi Nation

October 5, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Wow. The liberal media sure helped out the Falcons today.

By @@

October 5, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Again with SNL jay?

While you were watching Tina Fey, I was watching The History Channel. Little did I know that not only was there a bloody WWII battle fought on the island of Attu in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, but there was an earthquake that flattened Anchorage in 1964? 9.???? on the richter scale? A 235 ft. wave destroyed a freighter at Valdez?

Not comedy genius mind you, but something worth watching.

By GOPs got to go

October 5, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this

well Ray,

Northwestern is a fine facility. That was only my second visit to the Windy City. I was totally bummed that I did not get to a good Blues bar. Damn those Cubs, they almost closed down the city. My brother trained at Evanston. The last time I was in Chicago I had little kids and did all the kiddie stuff and was really looking forward to some great blues(being a huge blues fan. Between the debate and the Cubs I just did not fit it in. Had a little party of my own in the hotel room with the help of Trader Joes.

Try not to take things so seriously, you’ll live longer dont cha know.