Can We Beat the Reagan Odds?

By Adrienne Ross - www.motivationtruth.com

Ronald Reagan was born 99 years ago today--and boy, is he missed! Americans are crying out for the common sense conservatism he embodied. We're gravitating toward those leaders who share those priciples while voting out those who do not.

Burt Folson wrote an article for Big Government called "Why Was Ronald Reagan the Greatest President of the 20th Century?" He stated:

Reagan had three parts to his genius. First, he was a visionary; he believed that people wanted freedom and would do well when more of it was given to them.

[...]

Second, Reagan had character, and in the eyes of America’s Founders, character was a necessary ingredient for greatness. Reagan stood for a set of ideas, and when trouble came he looked not to polls, but instead he applied courage, kindness, and persistence to achieve his ends.

[...]

Third, Reagan was teachable. That trait was essential. If one has vision and character, he must also be teachable to make his life flow in a constructive direction.

Publius, also of Big Government, chimed in with this:

Today, in 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in rural Illinois. He’s the kind of leader who ordinarily comes along only once in a life-time. We’re hoping we can beat those odds.

Now, we have all heard the President Reagan-Governor Palin comparisons. I've heard such things as "If Ronald Reagan is the mind of conservatism, Sarah Palin is the heart" and "Sarah Palin is Ronald Reagan in a skirt."

The governor surely exemplifies the characteristics Folson presents. It is her vision for the nation's purpose and potential that Americans have embraced. Her character rained down upon her the ire of the good old boys in the state of Alaska, while granting her the respect of those on the right side of ethics and reform. Her willingness and ability to continue learning and evolving have awarded her the reputation of being the quick study that she is. The similarities are obvious.

I'm currently reading Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America by Craig Shirley. Nothing has illustrated the Reaganesque Palin to me more than this book. I plan to provide an essay on this when I've completed it.

It may be too early to say for sure how it will all unfold, but I'm leaning toward telling Publius we've beaten the odds.

MSNBC’s Hit Piece On Sarah Palin Wins "Coveted" Captain Louis Renault Award

So I wake up Friday morning to read multiple silly hit pieces on Sarah Palin. I’m wondering why this is coming on a Friday before the Super Bowl. A day normally held with almost religious reverence by those that follow the sport, and most certainly a day that news outlets run a nauseating level of stories about the game and everything surrounding it.

For the record, I’m OK with that, because it’s also Speed Weeks in Daytona and I fully expect to be bombarded by that near religious experience for the entire next week, leading up to the Daytona 500. And of course, the boys and girls will be going over 320 MPH in Pomona next weekend, as well, at the 50th Annual NHRA Winternationals.

We’re dealing with a lot of stuff here! Serious stuff!!.

So I’m wondering just why in the world the lamestream media is set at DefCon 2. Why are they throwing every silly non-story they can about Sarah Palin hoping something will stick?

Then I remembered, Sarah is giving the keynote address at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville on Saturday night. You remember the Tea Party Convention, the one operatives on both the left and the right tried to scuttle? The one"they" said would never work, or "was in trouble" ?

Yeah, that one, the one that is completely sold out and filled with happy, excited patriots!!

The media, progressives (yeah, I know, one in the same) and the old guard Republicans are losing their ever loving minds because Sarah Palin will be speaking live to the nation tonight from the Tea Party Convention. Millions upon millions will tune in to see America’s real leader give her version of the State of the Union.

So....the media is going all out! Nothing is too dumb, too petty, or too just downright silly to try to smear America’s Governor with.

This one wins the prize hands down though!

You see, the media is shocked, shocked to find that Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd, actually gave her some advice! Actually offered his opinion on a thing or two. MSNBC, and others seem genuinely bewildered that someone would give their spouse advice! That a married couple would actually talk!







So what is the catalyst for this smear? Well it seems some 3000 personal e-mails from Sarah’s time as Governor have been released to the media. As expected, most of it is rather boring stuff. Of course, sprinkled in the mix is the "First Dude’s" opinion on things.

Of course, this is where MSNBC thinks they got ‘em. It’s the strawberries, the strawberries, I tell you, they got ‘em with the strawberries!

Let me also proudly bestow the Captain Phillip Francis Queeg Award on these idiots while we are at it!





The idea that leaders in business and government don’t talk to their spouses about important, and even minor things at work is ludicrous. Of course they talk! Ever heard the saying "behind ever great man there is a great woman" ? Well it also seems that behind this great woman is a great man!






It seems to me that not that long ago we were celebrating a certain President and his wife as a "buy one, get one free" sort of deal. You know: "Elect me, and get Hillary for free!"




At least Todd never led an effort to "reform health care." Never botched one either!

Oh, and I don’t think Alaska has a "travel office."

Of course, Barack Obama was going to send Michelle out to help shill for his health care "reform" but was afraid too many people would find out about the patient dumping scheme Michelle, Valerie Jarrett, and David Axelrod cooked up for the Chicago hospital she worked at.

Ooops!

Read more here.

We could go down the list of First Ladies, from Laura Bush to Martha Washington, and you’ll find every one had some sort of input on things, and every President, at least in modern times, openly acknowledged their participation and support. In fact, the President’s praise is almost expected.

You think this sort of thing doesn’t also go on with the Chief Executives of every state as well?

What really, really, really makes this story a double award winner though is the fact that MSNBC quotes noted "cleavage inspector" Andree McLeod, the "falafel lady."

Anyone who even has a passing knowledge of Alaskan politics and Sarah Palin knows who Andree is. She was filing crazy ethics complaints against Governor Palin before Obama’s Alaska Mafia made it cool!

Much of Andree’s lunacy comes from the fact that she has been repeatedly denied a job working for the state. Nothing say "hire me" like being a serial stalker, ya know!

As you can read here, the woman is a couple of bubbles off plumb!

It sort of figures MSNBC would use such an impeachable source, doesn’t it.

Really sad.

The hate bloggers over at the Huffington Post chimed in on this deal as well, but they are just so boorish, they don’t deserve an award.

For his part. Sarah’s attorney, Thomas Van Flein, who had to be fighting the urge to just burst out laughing at the mass stupidity exhibited by the media, released a statement:

A recent article discusses what purports to be a new "revelation" that Todd Palin was a "powerful first dude." To most Alaskans, and to the millions of people who read "Going Rogue" this is neither new nor a revelation. Like many married couples, including political 'power couples,' it is common for a spouse to play the role of key advisor to the other spouse. The Palins were no different. Todd Palin had official and unofficial duties, but one thing was clear: he was a key advisor to Governor Palin and involved in her efforts to improve the State of Alaska. Officially, in addition to the duties traditionally expected of the spouse of the Governor, Todd Palin was put in charge of a Workforce Development commission with the goal of increasing vocational education opportunities and awareness. But unlike some spouses of elected officials, Todd Palin did not travel with an entourage, had no designated office, had no title other than "First Dude", received no pay, and had no staff. He donated his time to the people of Alaska by assisting the Governor. Each spouse of the chief executive is free to define his or her own role. From the policy oriented Hillary Clinton, to the more traditional and charitable work of Laura Bush, to the combined policy/traditionalist role of Michelle Obama, the first spouse takes on the duties within their interests and within the context of their marriage to the chief executive. Todd was no different.

What is interesting is that the same media outlet that today breathlessly reports how close the Palins were while Sarah Palin was Governor--too close for at least one reporter--earlier reported that the Palins were not close enough and headed for divorce. Consistency is not necessarily a hallmark for investigative journalists, but certainly truth should be. Let's look at the most serious accusation made. The article posits that Todd Palin "passed financial information marked 'confidential' from his oil company employer to a state attorney." The author clearly implies that Todd Palin, who was not a member of the British Petroleum management team, obtained secret "financial" information and surreptitiously gave it to a State assistant attorney general. The true facts are as follows: Todd Palin received an email from a third party (an email that was apparently making the rounds in Alaska) and he forwarded that to a state attorney on August 29, 2007. But the information in the email itself was dated February 19, 2004--three and half years earlier--and the information addressed safety performance for 2003 and overall productivity. Of course, as a highly regulated producer in Alaska, this is largely the same information provided to state regulatory agencies, taxing authorities, and even publicly disclosed to its shareholders. See BP Annual Report and Accounts 2003. The latter part of the email referred to performance data for 2005 again analyzing production, costs and safety. So there are two distinct errors in the article: (1) the email itself was circulating in Alaska and was simply forwarded to Todd by a third party, it was not an email that was sent by BP to Todd Palin wherein he was told it was "confidential" and (2) the type of information within the email was years old and all, if not most, was a matter of public record under the tight regulatory strictures BP operates under and its release of data to shareholders, securities regulators, the department of Revenue, and the state oil and gas commission, among others.

The bottom line is that this story reveals nothing new. Todd Palin was, and remains, a close advisor to the Governor. Those in the administration knew this, and the public knew this. There is nothing unusual, untoward or inappropriate for a spouse of a chief executive to provide guidance, input and hands on assistance.

- Thomas Van Flein, Personal Attorney for Sarah Palin

Tommy Report over at Conservatives For Palin has more on this, here.

In closing, congratulations to MSNBC, you have once again proved how irrelevant you, and the rest of the corrupt, Obamacentric have become. While you and yours are in full panic mode, we are getting ready to kick back and enjoy Sarah Palin’s State Of The Union speech tonight that will be carried live on Fox News, CNN, and many other outlets.

I’m sure your viewers will be enthralled by Lockup: Pendleton and Lockup: Raw, which you have scheduled to run during that time period.

Is there a gender issue regarding political spouses?

The traditional role of first spouse has evolved from the days of Eleanor Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton to Michelle Obama. Long gone are the days of carrying out some ceremonial duties and hosting tea parties.

The American public shouldn't be surprised to learn a politician has sought consultation and advisement and bounced ideas off his spouse. So why do some seem surprised that Todd Palin was "doing more than racing snowmachines" while wife Sarah Palin served as Alaska governor?

MSNBC.com and NBC news has obtained more than 3,000 pages of e-mails that show Todd Palin had a frequent presence in the governor's office, from monitoring union contract negotiations, being involved in a judicial appointment and having a say in state board appointments.The communications were released by the state of Alaska under its public records law. Officials offered 1,200 separate e-mails and withheld 243, claiming Todd Palin is protected as an unpaid government advisor.

I’m pretty sure that all husbands or wives exert at least some influence on the administration of their elected spouse and we’ve seen evidence of that in the past...

Read more of this article at Examiner.com

Sarah Palin to Keynote Orange County GOP Fundraiser in Orlando March 12

Sarah Palin will be the keynote speaker at the Orange County Lincoln dinner, a GOP fundraiser, on March 12 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando Florida. Tickets may be purchased online here. Ticket details can be found here.

Palin fans may recall that Governor Palin was the keynote speaker at the Lincoln Day dinner in Fairbanks and in Anchorage last year and introduced Michael Medved as the keynote speaker at the Lincoln day dinner in Juneau.

Zack Stein at WDBO Local News reported:

A major announcement for the Orange County Republican Party today: They're
going rogue at their Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser.

Orange County Republican Party Chair Lew Oliver could barely contain
his enthusiasm."We are thrilled to have what we really think is the number one
Republican speaker in the nation, Sarah Palin."

Palin will be speaking at the March 12th fundraising event, and Oliver says
they're expecting a record crowd, which should help out the GOP war
chest.

"We think this will generate resources for the local party that will enable
us to have a really significant impact on large number of races in the
fall."

The Orlando Sentinel also reported:

‘We’re just incredibly lucky,” said party Chairman Lew Oliver. “She’s a real rock star for Republicans.”

The March 12 event, which typically carries a $150 ticket price, will be kicked up to $250, thanks to Palin’s star power....

Oliver said the party’s local fundraising is still lagging, and this should certainly give it a jolt. He’s planning for as many as 1,500 at the Rosen Shingle Creek site, but it can hold as many as 3,000, he said.

Oliver said that a party committeeman — he would not say who — had a serendipitous personal connection” with the former Alaska governor and her schedule allowed her to make the date.

Super Bowl Weekend is Time to Thank Those who Chose Life: A Post by Eddie Burke

Eddie Burke was nice enough to write an Op-Ed for Rachelle Friberg's blog Conservative Girl with a Voice.

Sarah Palin, Pam Tebow, Linda Burke and Many More...

I was interviewed last week on Pro-Sarah Radio with Host, April-Liesel Binapri. During the interview, April and I discussed why the liberals dislike Sarah Palin so much.

One of the issues that came up was abortion. As we all know, Sarah Palin chose life when confronted with all of the negative possibilities of giving birth to her Down Syndrome child, Trig.

The pro-abortion crowd is so evil, and they have continuously ridiculed Sarah for choosing life. You should see the things they do and say up here in the Last Frontier.

In a photograph of Sarah holding little Trig in her arms, a liberal blogger had the nerve to distort this image by photoshopping my face onto Trig's face. It was disgusting. Because of my support and friendship with Sarah Palin, that’s the way they chose to make fun of her and me.

As we conservatives know, if you’re not liberal, then you’re dumb… and if you’re not dumb, then you’re racist or homophobic or a "Tea-Bagger" or whatever Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals would have them call us. The photoshopped image was just what Saul Alinsky ordered when he said, “make it personal” in his infamous book Rules for Radicals.

My Wife, Linda, and I were confronted with a similar situation 25 years ago. Linda went in for her regularly scheduled sonogram and was subsequently told our daughter, Terrin, might be born Developed-Mentally Disabled or with many serious health issues. Our doctor suggested abortion. We chose life!

Because we chose Life, our Daughter, Terrin, is now 25 years old and is a wife and a stay-at-home mother of two healthy children; she’s not The Heisman Trophy Winning Quarterback, but she holds a Black Belt in Karate and lives a very successful life. Here is the part that drives the liberal feminazis crazy: Terrin loves her husband, and her husband loves her.

We should ask ourselves why the pro-abortion crowd attacks women who choose life, but celebrate the choice of death? For it is not their battle to keep abortion legal that concerns me most; instead, it is their assault on women who choose life that should cause us greater concern.

A more recent example in terms of the debate over abortion is the Tim Tebow story. The following is a clip from a Politico article:

--A Super Bowl ad from the socially conservative Focus on the Family featuring former Florida Gators football star Tim Tebow has created a scuffle between abortion rights groups.

The Heisman Trophy winning quarterback — one of the most celebrated college football players of all time — has cut an ad with his mother Pam, who tells of her decision not to end her 1987 pregnancy in spite of advice from doctors to do so. Pam Tebow and her husband were working as missionaries in the Philippines at the time when doctors there advised her to have an abortion due to health concerns. She did not, and Tim Tebow was born.

As I have watched this debate unfold, I hear the pro-abortion side argue the point that “The ad will restrict a woman's access to reproductive freedom.” How does the advertisement stated above do that? It simply doesn’t!

The ad only informs viewers that Pam Tebow chose life and her decision has been a rewarding one. The ad does not advocate either way; it only tells a story about a personal decision Pam Tebow made.

The reason these pro-abortion groups are throwing such a fit is because the advertisement is true, and they CAN'T combat it. Why is a group that embraces “choice” so afraid of free speech and a choice that Ms. Tebow made?

I write today to thank Sarah Palin, Pam Tebow and a special thank you to my wife, Linda, for having the wisdom and courage to choose life. I was the typical 23-year-old guy in the mid-80s who thought abortion was a reasonable solution to an unreasonable situation, but Linda knew differently…. she was a mother, and she instinctively chose life.

Sarah Palin knew better…. Pam Tebow knew better, and most of America’s women today know better too. Just within the last few years, polling shows that a majority of women define themselves as “pro-life.”

To all the women who chose life, your living children thank you! Some have said Sarah Palin is a “quitter,” but the only quitters I know are those who abort their children.


Eddie Burke is the Host of “The Eddie Burke Show” on Smart Radio 700 KBYR. Follow him on Twitter here. Eddie has been married to his Wife, Linda, for 27 years and has lived in Alaska for 38 years. Eddie and Linda have four Children and three grandchildren, all currently residing in Anchorage, Alaska. Eddie was also mentioned in Sarah Palin's book, "Going Rogue" as “A great radio host.” Eddie is a former Chief of Staff in the Alaska State Legislature, a small business owner and loves Classic Cars.

Sarah Palin Electrifies Salina Kansas Friday Night

On the night before her big keynote address to the nation via the National Tea Party Convention that will be carried live on Fox News, CNN, Pajama TV, and many others, Sarah Palin was in Salina, Kansas addressing a huge enthusiastic crowd.

From Barbara Hollingsworth at the Topeka Capitol-Journal:

SALINA — Before a crowd of 6,000 cheering fans, Sarah Palin received rock star treatment Friday night.

The former vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor drew a sell-out crowd to the Bicentennial Center for the Salina Area
Chamber of Commerce annual meeting — an event that routinely draws big names to the central Kansas community. Past speakers have included Colin Powell, George H.W. Bush, Bob Costas, Margaret Thatcher and Cal Ripken Jr.

"We've had great speakers in the past," said Todd Davidson, of the chamber. "No one has generated this amount of interest — even
President George H.W. Bush, who came here when he was a sitting president, did not drive this kind of a response."

Since her role in John McCain's ill-fated presidential run, Palin has attracted plenty of attention from people who both love and loathe her. Palin recently joined Fox News as a pundit, released her best-selling book "Going Rogue" in November and is on her way to speak at the first national Tea Party Convention this weekend in Nashville, Tenn.

On Friday, the crowd treated Palin as a conservative darling while she served up her mix of tough talk and folksy mannerisms.

"Everyday folks love you because you are one of us, and you tell it straight," said Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

Even Palin couldn't ignore the excitement her appearance
generated. Back stage, she said, a chamber member told her, " 'Man, this is like a Van Halen concert.' I said, 'Man, I wish.' "

In her speech, Palin sounded off on national security, government bailouts and limited government ideals. And she offered lots of praise for the hometown crowd.

"In a time when folks so fear that much is going wrong, your town is an example of how to get it right and how to soar," said Palin, who was joined in Salina by her daughter, Piper. "Shoot, your state's motto even has it right: to the stars through difficulties."

Palin began by relating her experiences as a city councilwoman and mayor in Wasilla, Alaska. What worked there, she said, was cutting taxes, focusing on a few core services and spending responsibly. As governor, she said she learned to take tough stances.

"I'd have to butt heads with my own party officials and the other party, of course, too, and the media," said Palin, who didn't meet with reporters on her trip to Salina. "Some things never change. It wasn't always the easy path, but it was the right path."

Telling the crowd she was going to "call it like I see it," she said
Washington, D.C., politicians need to "back off." While Americans have lost jobs and learned to live with less, she charged that government has become more bloated.

"Over the past year, Washington has replaced private irresponsibility with public irresponsibility," she said.

The country, she said, needs health reform "not backroom deals." She suggested measures like allowing insurance purchases across state lines and tort reform.

Also, she said the country needs to go after an "all-of-the-above-approach to energy." She said increased drilling for oil must be pursued.

"Drill here and drill now, and tap our own plentiful energy supplies," she said.

The Obama
administration, she said, has lost its way on foreign policy. She said people wonder if the United States is still a "beacon of hope" for freedom.

"We need a foreign policy that distinguishes America's friends from her enemies and recognizes the true nature of these threats that we are facing," Palin said.

In the end, her speech brought the crowd to its feet.

Earlier in the night, Verlene and Joyce Jackson, of Chapman, said they
hope to see Palin as president someday and like the fact that she hasn't "always been in that ivory tower."

"She has a fresh outlook," Verlene Jackson said. "She speaks for us. She's a down-home girl. I feel like personally, I think she would do a good job representing us."

DeVee Smalley drove in from Superior, Neb., to join her two daughters for Palin's speech.

"I think she is somebody who is trying to reach out to the heartland of America," Smalley said.

Palin will be back in Kansas on May 2 to speak in Wichita at a fundraiser for a Christian school.

We were following Barbara live on Twitter tonight, and at one point she mentioned that this may have been the largest ever Chamber of Commerce gathering in the United States. You can check Barbara out on Twitter here.

This is a very big weekend for Sarah. Kansas Friday night, then she is doing an interview with Chris Wallace that will air on Fox News Sunday on Saturday morning, followed by her historic speech Saturday night,

It must be said, Sarah is giving her keynote speech to the nation on what would have been Ronald Reagan’s 99th birthday. I imagine Ronnie is looking down and smiling at this too.

Sunday Sarah will be in the Great State of Texas, Houston, to be exact, headlining a campaign rally for Governor Rick Perry. Then on Monday morning she will be one of the stars of the Get Motivated! motivational conference, also in Houston, before hopping a plane for Reading , California where she has two sold out speeches booked.

Then of course, next week she will be in Daytona, speaking to their Chamber of Commerce. From what we understand, the venue for the speech there has changed to a larger facility to handle the huge sellout crowd!

You know, if one didn’t know better, one would think Sarah was running for President or something! One thing is for sure, Sarah is tirelessly spreading her message of commonsense conservatism nationwide.



*Photo courtesy Thad Allton C-J Online

MSNBC’s Sarah Palin Investigation Reveals: Nothing

Today's flavor of leftist manufactured "Sarah Palin scandal" pertains to emails, staff, and Todd Palin's role as an adviser. None other than MSNBC -- renowned for its hatred of all things Palin -- did an "investigative piece," Palin e-mails reveal a powerful ‘first dude’ in an attempt to paint a picture of Governor Palin as a "Nixon-esque" conniver bent on securing personal and political gain at any cost, and using her husband as a "shadow governor." To build their case, MSNBC secured an archive of state and private emails -- some 3,000 pages (Dedman, 2010, ¶2).

Of course, Dedman took issue with Governor Palin's use of private email accounts, despite the fact that Alaska's Superior Court on January 22, 2010 ruled that Governor Palin's use of these accounts was perfectly legal.

Much Ado about Nothing

So, what is the major scandal that lurks here? Hint: It does not involve: black bag burglaries, "plumbers," wiretapping, embezzling, kickbacks, tax evasion, threats, harassment, intimidation, murder, arson, mayhem, buried bodies, drunk driving, sexual indiscretion, or other act of moral turpitude. All of the foregoing -- items that are real scandals -- have felled politicians of both parties over the past 30 years, but none of that is operative here.

So, what is the big scandal revealed in 3,000 pages of emails? Ladies and gentlemen, there were two major scandals uncovered. Let's start that drum roll......

• Governor Palin wanted Todd to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables for the family and avoid processed foods (Dedman, 2010, ¶19).
• Governor Palin, for the first time in four years wanted to carve out two hours to see Juno with Todd and without the children (Dedman, 2010, ¶21).

Tada! Alaska's chief executive wanted her husband of 20 years and her children to eat healthy foods, and she wanted to spend some time with her husband to watch a movie. This is a scandal?

Spousal Advice

Dedman tried to make a scandal out of routine items like electrical circuits in the Governor's Mansion, and travel to bill signings throughout the article.

"Most horrifically," Todd Palin was an adviser to Governor Palin. Let's see....like Hillary Clinton was to her husband? Like politicians' spouses have been since time immemorial? Yes indeed, Todd was an adviser to his wife Gov. Sarah Palin, who was at the time Alaska's CEO. Every request that MSNBC tried to scandalize was routine, appropriate, or it was private emails from private accounts about private family matters.

Dedman tried to implicate Ivy Frye, who was Governor Palin's head of boards and commissions at the time in wrongdoing. Ms. Frye occasionally communicated with Todd about, well -- as her job title implied -- board appointments. Ms. Frye is one of Governor Palin's longest serving staffers since the early days of her gubernatorial campaign. She was referenced twice and acknowledged in Going Rogue, and now works for SarahPAC.

Thomas Van Flein, Governor Palin's lawyer said the following about this "exposé":

Like many married couples, including political 'power couples,' it is common for a spouse to play the role of key adviser to the other spouse. The Palins were no different. Todd Palin had official and unofficial duties, but one thing was clear: he was a key adviser to Governor Palin and involved in her efforts to improve the State of Alaska...(Van Flein, 2010, ¶1)

...But unlike some spouses of elected officials, Todd Palin did not travel with an entourage, had no designated office, had no title other than "First Dude", received no pay, and had no staff. He donated his time to the people of Alaska by assisting the Governor. Each spouse of the chief executive is free to define his or her own role. From the policy oriented Hillary Clinton, to the more traditional and charitable work of Laura Bush, to the combined policy/traditionalist role of Michelle Obama, the first spouse takes on the duties within their interests and within the context of their marriage to the chief executive (Van Flein, 2010, ¶1).

What about that "confidential email" Todd Palin forwarded about his employer, BP (Dedman, 2010, ¶45-46)?

"[T]here are two distinct errors in the article: (1) the email itself was circulating in Alaska and was simply forwarded to Todd by a third party, it was not an email that was sent by BP to Todd Palin wherein he was told it was "confidential" and (2) the type of information within the email was years old and all, if not most, was a matter of public record under the tight regulatory strictures BP operates under and its release of data to shareholders, securities regulators, the Department of Revenue, and the state oil and gas commission, among others."

MSNBC's Source a Stalker and Filer of Frivolous Ethics Complaints

Dedman cites Andree McLeod as his subject matter expert on Gov. Palin's emails throughout this article. McLeod had filed numerous frivolous ethics charges against Governor Palin, all of which were dismissed. Some of the charges filed were duplicates of charges filed by others that had also been dismissed. McLeod had a personal vendetta against Governor Palin, because she was denied a state job. She would routinely stalk Governor Palin, loitering in the lobby of the Anchorage state building and following her to events for the purpose of inquiring about working for the state. On one occasion, she approached Gov. Palin -- who was pregnant with Trig at the time -- in a hotel lobby. Following Governor Palin's resignation, McLeod kept the frivolous complaints coming. A member of the State Personnel Board finally had enough of it and told her to "quit your bitching!"

McLeod's frivolous ethics complaints cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars to adjudicate. She wanted a state job at any cost. In 2002 and 2004, prior to seeking the job, McLeod spoke in glowing terms about Governor Palin in letters to the editor of the Anchorage Daily News. "Leadership is about communicating values, and Ms. Palin does that remarkably well. Her prowess is in her uniquely nurturing and inoffensive demeanor as she sensibly articulates issues for the average citizen to understand. Her approachability builds confidence and signals a new era in Alaska politics. This will serve not only us but the rest of the nation," McLeod said in a her December 6, 2002 letter encouraging then Gov. Murkowski to appoint Sarah Palin as one of Alaska's Senators.

In her April 18, 2004 letter, McLeod wrote, "What is known is that Sarah Palin clearly demonstrated the intelligence, courage, integrity and resolve to bring to light what was going on, which reflects well on the AOGCC under her watch."

McLeod turned from a supporter to an arch-enemy, when she did not get the job she wanted.

Perhaps MSNBC is trying to do what Jerry Seinfeld could not do for his pilot -- a show about nothing. Because if MSNBC was intent on doing a show about something, they would not have neglected to mention that a George Soros-funded group, CREW had backed many of the ethics fishing expeditions against Governor Palin.

References:

Dedman, B. (2010, February 5). "Palin e-mails reveal a powerful ‘first dude’" MSNBC. Retreived February 5, 2010 from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35238034/ns/politics/

Van Flein, T. (2010, February 5). Email about Todd Palin Advising Gov. Palin. Clapp, Peterson, Van Flein, Tiemessen, Thorsness, LLC

.