Those small town values can add up. After quitting her job as Alaska Governor before the end of her term, Sarah Palin has raked in an estimated $12 million since July. Between speaking fees and her new reality show, Palin is becoming one of the wealthiest political figures in the country. In the meantime, questions are being raised about one organization that paid a speaking fee for Palin in California.
Pundits can debate the political costs and benefits of Sarah Palin’s decision to step down as Alaska governor, but the monetary advantages of leaving her $125,000-a-year public service post are beyond dispute.
This amounted includes $7 million deal for her first book and will earn $250,000 per episode for her new reality show.
For that story, click here.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has ordered an investigation into the shredding of documents related to a Palin speech by the Cal State Stanislaus foundation, here. A state legislator had demanded documents on the speech, which may have come with a hefty $100,000 speaking fee.
Byron,
So a PETA activist isn’t being hypocritical because he only beats one of his dogs?
I have finally figured out the system:
the government is screwing the rich, the rich are screwing the poor and all 3 are screwing the middle class.
They see each of their children as a blessing–that they believe the government should help to support.
By taking advantage of one of the many many things the government offers in free assistance. I think it would be different if they were taking Wic, food stamps, school vouchers, school free lunches free after care for the children while the parents work and so on and so on. If Byrons numbers are correct the numbers probably balance as he has pointed out. Isn’t that what the Tea Partiers really want? Is for the government to just balance the books.
Byron–
My thought on Bdaman’s point? I fail to see the logic. The Shirks are producing more children than they can afford to provide for–at least in regard to heatlhcare coverage. Isn’t that the core of the problem? They see each of their children as a blessing–that they believe the government should help to support. Maybe if the Shirks didn’t have ten children, they might have more money to help pay for their own health insurance.
I wonder if the Shirks are getting money from the government via other programs.
I support many of our government’s social programs–but I have no use for folks like the Shirks who are such hypocrites about things like government-sponsored healthcare programs.
Wootsy
“Inflammatory Palinitis?”
Just one of the painful conditions brought on by listening to the Bobblehead of Blather. Palin certainly is one who does her best to “inflame” her listeners with her “incendiary” rhetoric.
I think I may suffer from Palinitis. I’ve also been diagnosed with Intermittent Palinoma. Fortunately, it’s a condition that comes and goes and isn’t life threatening–just sporadically painful. Cause of onset: Listening to Palin’s high decibel inane spoutings.
Bdaman:
very good point on the home schooling. With the amount of children they have they are actually saving the system money. I have heard that the cost of a public school education ranges from $5,000 to $8,000 per year per student.
So that savings probably offsets the cost of government health care unless of course they are sick all the time. But it is still not a good reason to do what they are doing.
Elaine/Buddha:
Your thoughts on Bdaman’s point?
“The couple, who rely on Medicaid for their health care, were also upset about the nation’s new health reforms.
When asked why her family used state-subsidized health care when she criticized people who take handouts, Valerie Shirk said she did not want to stop having children, and that her husband’s income was not enough to cover the family with private insurance.
“I know there’s a dichotomy because of what we get from the state,’’ she said. “But I just look at each of my children as a blessing.’’”
See, I don’t think dichotomy is the correct explanation…
Hypocrisy – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one’s actions. …
Wootsy,
I like it but you’ll need to be careful using the initials. If you tell someone you have IP they may think you have intellectual property. Coincidentally enough, analgesics are the first course of treatment for both.
““I always get a searing pain in my frontal lobe when I listen to this snarky, effervescent, full-of-herself, not-too-bright bobblehead speaks–as if she has a clue.”
Oh thank goodness, I thought it was just me. We should think of a name for that.”
Inflammatory Palinitis? 😉
I guess a Tea Party Sign and Scream could be.
Where in the Constitution does it say I’ve got to provide for your booze.
It’s really not paying taxes if the government gives you credits and a refund. It’s an allusion. One pays taxes through your employment, throughout the year, only for the government to give it back at the end. It’s more like the government is borrowing your money to spend. That’s where it’s messed up and thats why they say that 47% or what ever it is of people don’t pay taxes.
Then to make matters worse the people that are borrowing it, are boo-zen it up. Which really is Loo-zen for all of us.
Taxpayers foot State Department’s stiff liquor bill…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/15/taxpayers-foot-state-departments-stiff-liquor-bill/
Byron,
Just so you know, I dislike those who game the system from any end let alone the bottom. Social safety nets (with exception of health care which is directly related to national security interests) are not designed to be supplemental income for perpetually under or unemployed baby factories. If you can’t afford a big family, don’t have one. That’s simply responsible. And the irony of their name is just too sweet. I wonder if they are related to the Avarice’s so recently of K St. fame?
FF LEO–
I’m wary of folks like Palin who wear their religion and their patriotism on their sleeves. I think those who are truly devout about their faith usually practice it quietly.
I have a hard time reconciling the fact that intelligent people admire Palin. To me, she’s a caricature of a political public figure. She’s an uninformed, self-promoting, narcissistic, self-absorbed opportunist. She only cares about what she can get for Sarah. She resigned as governor because she knew she’d make BIG BUCKS outside of government. She didn’t do it to benefit anyone but herself.
My concerns are the children and what they are being taught at home. Are they advancing in educational standards as compared to their peers in the local community? If they are on par or above, then the medicaid is a non issue because chances are if the kids attended public schools more than likely they wood receive a free lunch and take up chairs that could otherwise feed another hungry child and provide them with an education. Something no one could ever take away from them, not even the government.
If not, it’s get in line and back to school they go.
Byron–
“Do as I say–don’t do as I do.”
I think it’s good to have government programs that act as a safety net to support hardworking people–who’ve paid taxes all their lives–and to help them through difficult times. I also support programs like Medicare and Social Security. Unfortunately, there are people like the Shirks who abuse the system–while complaining about it. Nothing like talking out of both sides of your mouth!
Shirk(ers) is right!!!
Elaine:
I totally disagree with the Shirk(er)s. Their children are not my responsibility and I am appalled. If that is a typical view, that government needs to provide something to everyone, then the Tea Party movement is stillborn.
From my standpoint I am quite disheartened by that article but it doesn’t surprise me because Palin’s philosophical outlook is similar and why I am against her candidacy or any position of leadership to which she might aspire.
I suppose the only bright spot is that they know the “dichotomy”, actually not. They know better and still do it, reprehensible may be a better word.
The Boston Globe (4/15/2010)
“Tea party rally generates plenty of criticism, opposing views”
by David Abel
Here are two excerpts from the article in this morning’s Boston Globe to provide you with an example of some typical tea party logic:
**********
Early yesterday morning, Valerie and Rob Shirk corralled their 10 home-schooled children into their van for the 2 1/2-hour drive from their home in Connecticut to Boston, arriving just in time to hear Sarah Palin denounce government-run health care at the tea party movement rally on Boston Common.
They thought it would be a learning opportunity for their children, who range in age from 9 months to 15 years old and who held up signs criticizing the government for defying the “will of the people.’’
“The problem in this country is that too many people are looking for handouts,’’ said Valerie Shirk, 43, of Prospect, Conn. “I agree with the signs that say, ‘Share my father’s work ethic — not his paycheck.’ We have to do something about the whole welfare mentality in this country.’’
The Shirks were among the thousands of people who attended the rally from around the region, many of them carrying signs with slogans such as, “What Part of Live Free or Die Don’t You Understand?,’’ “Don’t Tread on Me,’’ and “Starve the Beast by Tax Cuts.’’
**********
For the Shirks, it was a day for their children to seek inspiration from Palin and the other speakers, who questioned Obama’s patriotism and at least one of whom referred to him repeatedly as Barack Hussein.
The couple, who rely on Medicaid for their health care, were also upset about the nation’s new health reforms.
When asked why her family used state-subsidized health care when she criticized people who take handouts, Valerie Shirk said she did not want to stop having children, and that her husband’s income was not enough to cover the family with private insurance.
“I know there’s a dichotomy because of what we get from the state,’’ she said. “But I just look at each of my children as a blessing.’’
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/15/tea_party_rally_generates_plenty_of_criticism_opposing_views/
To John Puma
I don’t know where you live but how warm were you this winter.
Just an average hockey-mom doing her best to use any trick in the book to make money off her real American sympathizers and shift as much as possible means from the poor to the rich…
She embodies Bush-politics more than Dubya did, but she lacks the decency to admit the elite is really her base.
To Bdaman:
As to your momentous post “Bdaman 1, April 14, 2010 at 6:42 pm”
I quote from the article you cited:
“Prof Hand said his criticisms should not be seen as invalidating climate science. He pointed out that although the hockey stick graph – which dates from a study led by US climate scientist Michael Mann in 1998 – exaggerates some effects, the underlying data show a clear warming signal.”
I suggest you impose upon yourself a policy of reading the entire text of any article you offer in support to your claims.