Sarah Palin, as required by Alaska state ethics laws, had to report all gifts that she received in 2008 with a value exceeding $250.
Sarah Palin
The list of gifts she received is quite interesting, to say the least. During her vice presidential run, she received gifts from all over the country. Many of the gifts were just plain bizarre, including:
- a Bible hand-bound in goatskin leather;
- a gun case with “Sarah” embroidered on it;
- a glass elephant;
- a cross-stitched blanket with “The Special Child” embroidered.
Gifts like the above do not have a real monetary value. They were reported by Palin to the state ethics board in an effort to show an abundance of caution, as she has been accused of ethics violations in the past.
Sarah Palin, despite resigning her Governorship, has remained in the national spotlight over the last few months. She no longer holds a public office, and she is not running for anything yet, but her every move seems to be the subject of much discussion and fascination.
Why?
Despite blistering ridicule from the press, most polls show she is still a front-runner for the Republican nomination for President in 2012. She is still a beloved figure in many conservative circles, even though liberals mock her as a lightweight who lacks the intellect to be president.
Some of her supporters, however, clearly have some questionable taste when it comes to gifts. Well, I guess it’s the thought that counts.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:42 am
“Some of her supporters, however, clearly have some questionable taste when it comes to gifts.”
That’s being diplomatic to say the least. No matter how much I support a candidate I’ve never felt the desire to send gifts. Wow.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Ryan, you act like you’ve never sent a hand-bound goatskin leather bible to anybody before. Come off it…
August 20th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Ryan???
Naa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa
August 20th, 2009 at 11:19 am
She also received 10 copies of the book, The Audacity of Deceit.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:21 am
“The Special Child” seems especially appropriate. Her entire political life has been defined by immature populism, ethically vague maneuvering, and a basic lack of knowledge.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Not to mention common sense, honesty, bipartisanship, and a dislike for the corruption that permeated Alaskan politics on both sides of the aisle.
Note: She has been cleared of each and every frivolous ethics charge filed against her by the O-stapo.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
The more the libs trash her, the more popular she gets. I guess they’re too dumb to figure that out…Rhayader, as for the special child, do not forget she has a special needs child.The gift was a reference to that.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Well, I just got one point to make that was left out, She’s HOT!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
The Runner’s World gallery of her was great. I did object to the American flag being used as a prop in one that was more or less a cheesecake picture.
She is the real deal, but might be damaged goods due to the mishandling of her introduction and the media and left’s obsession with her. Of course in 1962 we didn’t have Nixon to kick around anymore, so stranger things have happened.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
He knew that JoAnne.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Rhayader, as for the special child, do not forget she has a special needs child.The gift was a reference to that.
Uhhh, yeah, no kidding. Otherwise pretending it applied to Palin wouldn’t be a joke.
The more the libs trash her, the more popular she gets.
First of all, is that even true? More importantly, isn’t it critical to consider with whom she remains popular? Rush gets huge numbers but could never run for legitimate office. I see her heading in that direction — toward the dedicated NeoCon camp — and away from mainstream viability. That’s what it looks like from my non-GOP, non-Dem perspective anyway.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Hah, thanks flyingmonkey!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
You know I actually would of voted for her if she never got the nomination for VP to begin with.
Rhayader:
I really think you are being to hard on Palin, because the media was so hooked on the obama that they were going to destroy her with anything they could. Now the media are always going against the young republican VPs just like the did with Nixon and our good buddy Danny from the Bush 41 years.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Rhayader: I figured you knew that…I just thought it was tacky comment for you to make. I don’t much care what adults say to/about each other, but take offense at special needs children mockery. Perhaps I misinterpreted,but honestly, the way liberals always seem to throw that in whenever Palin is discussed is sickening.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
but take offense at special needs children mockery.
I was mocking the parent, not the child. And please, for the love of Bob, you people need to stop throwing me in with this nebulous group you call “liberals”.
I really think you are being to hard on Palin, because the media was so hooked on the obama that they were going to destroy her with anything they could.
And what exactly do my personal feelings about Palin have to do with the media “destroying” her? Whether the media mistreated her or not — it does virtually every subject to some degree — there are plenty of legitimate reasons to dislike her. She is a religious right populist, which to me is enough right there. All style and no substance.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Rhayader, you may not like her, but the more unpopular Obama gets, the more she gains.
I think you’re right that she only represents the religious right. However, just remember that Palin is at or near the top of the GOP candidates right now, despite constant ridicule. In 3 years, it’s very easy to see her squeaking through the GOP nomination.
Then, imagine her running against an Obama with Bush-like approval ratings.
It’s very possible that she’s our next president.
It’s more believable than a one-term black Senator with a strange name was 2 years ago.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
“I guess they’re too dumb to figure that ”
JoAnne,
Rhayader is a druggie so you can’t expect him to figure out much.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Rhayader, you may not like her, but the more unpopular Obama gets, the more she gains.
Yeah I’m not even necessarily contending that this isn’t true; I’m not personally aware of the numbers one way or the other. But like I said above, I think she’s become more entrenched in her own camp and less mainstream. That’s great for a talk radio host, not so great for a presidential candidate. You’re right though, stranger things have happened.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
The numbers right now have a statistical tie among Romney, Huckabee and Palin.
The scary part is, if Huckabee drops out, I’m guessing the vast majority of his support will go to Palin, not Romney.
Again, I’m not a Palin fan, but just curious, can you all support get in line behind Palin if Romney loses? Frankly, I’m not sure.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Ig, 2012 is a long way away. Right now, Palin’s negative ratings are too high to have any chance in the general, but that might change. CPAC is behind Romney, so fair to say he is the conservatives’ choice at this point.
August 20th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I’d agree with McCain that as is Palin is too polarizing to be considered a viable candidate in the general election as President. It will be interesting to see what the next few weeks bring and how the mid-terms play out.
August 20th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Hah, I think you know my answer to that. I’d like to get someone who doesn’t blatantly deny truth and knowledge just once, but I think it’s hopeless.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Personally, speaking as someone who was a big Sarah fan, or at least as a father of 3 daughters who would love to see a conservative woman be president, I don’t think Sarah has a chance. Things would have to drastically change, she’s just too polarizing now. It would be like Newt running for president, Newt is great but too polarizing. Romney is just meh to enough people that he’s palpable, if you can get past the Mormon thing. Huck has problems too, namely that he used to be a pastor and I don’t think America is going to elect an ordained minister as President. So, who does that leave us with? Maybe Romney, but I think most people are luke warm on him at best. After that . . .??? Yeah, there’s a big void out there in the GOP. The Democrats may have their problem and it may be that anyone could beat Obama in 2012, but right now, I don’t know who.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Maybe a governor will come out of the woodwork, like what usually happens. There is always Pawlenty.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Agree that 2012 is too far away to speculate much. For all we know, Obama may not even run.
But, so far, it looks like Palin is polarizing AND itching for a fight. Ever since Reagan, we’ve had candidates that were conservative enough for the religious right, but mainstream enough to satisfy moderates. The Republicans rallied around compromise candidates. This time around, Palin will make that really hard.