Sarah Palin Tax Cheat

[rdowns]

Oh my. Tea Bagging and Tax Cheating.

Link (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PALIN_PROPERTY_TAXES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Records show that Sarah Palin has not paid any property taxes on cabins that have been built on two backcountry plots partially owned by the former Alaska governor.
It's unclear how long ago the structures were built, but records show that there are no tax assessments for the buildings. Property taxes were only paid on the land - and not the structures themselves.
The issue has attracted the attention of local tax officials who conducted a scheduled aerial survey of the property on Thursday.

Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, says it is not the responsibility of property owners to report structures that go up on their land. But local assessor Dave Dunivan says owners are required by state law to report any omissions or errors in their tax assessments.

Developing

[leekohler]

I guess we'll see what happens. I'm sure she was just "too busy" to get around to it. ;)

[NT1440]

What? How is it not the property owner's responsibility to report building? Isn't that why you always have to jump through hoops to even build a ****ing shed?

What kind of lame excuse is that?*


*Of course, things may be a little different in Alaska for zoning and building permits, but you still certainly have to pay taxes on buildings you own!

[kavika411]

Developing

I'm confused. So is it: "Sarah Palin Tax Cheat [period]" or is it "Sarah Palin Tax Cheat [question mark]"? Personally, I don't care, but some of the recent threads have caused great consternation amongst contributors for having alleged inflammatory or misleading thread titles.

[flopticalcube]

But can you see Russia from those buildings?

[obeygiant]

Developing

WOW!

[rdowns]

I'm confused. So is it: "Sarah Palin Tax Cheat [period]" or is it "Sarah Palin Tax Cheat [question mark]"? Personally, I don't care, but some of the recent threads have caused great consternation amongst contributors for having alleged inflammatory or misleading thread titles.


I don't see a question mark there. Do you?

The developing was merely commentary on my part but you know that since it was outside the quotes tags.

[kavika411]

I don't see a question mark there. Do you?

I don't. Oh, wait; you were asking a sarcastic, rhetorical question. My apologies. I guess it is a period indeed. Thanks.

[Rt&Dzine]

Do contributors have more sway than everybody else? Or do you mean the contributors of the thread?

.

[MyDesktopBroke]

Paying taxes is socialism, soooooooo . . .

[Zombie Acorn]

Can't even build a cabin out of your surrounding land without the government taking a piece anymore. its sad. You know, if I bought a piece of land up in CO and wanted to chop my own wood to build a house, the government can go **** themselves.

[NT1440]

Can't even build a cabin out of your surrounding land without the government taking a piece anymore. its sad. You know, if I bought a piece of land up in CO and wanted to chop my own wood to build a house, the government can go **** themselves.

Thats property and a building, you can't cheat out ownership laws "because its just a cabin."

[Zombie Acorn]

Thats property and a building, you can't cheat out ownership laws "because its just a cabin."

Anything I build with my own two hands should be exempt from property tax.

[NT1440]

Anything I build with my own two hands should be exempt from property tax.

Why?

[Zombie Acorn]

Why?

Because I bought the land and anything on it, if I can manufacture something from that same land I shouldn't have to pay extra property taxes.

[NT1440]

Because I bought the land and anything on it, if I can manufacture something from that same land I shouldn't have to pay extra property taxes.

So because you've circumvented a 3rd party building a home, you shouldn't have to pay for owning said home? I don't get how that doesn't make it a home.

[Zombie Acorn]

So because you've circumvented a 3rd party building a home, you shouldn't have to pay for owning said home? I don't get how that doesn't make it a home.

If I dig a hole into the ground and sleep in it do I have to pay property tax? Probably not, same rule applies, if I cut trees down on my own land and manufacture a space then I shouldn't pay extra.

Ive actually thought of this before, I should just buy a plot of land and build an underground bunker.

[Shivetya]

hopefully she just goes away.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Can't even build a cabin out of your surrounding land without the government taking a piece anymore. its sad. You know, if I bought a piece of land up in CO and wanted to chop my own wood to build a house, the government can go **** themselves.Kind of true, allways coming after everyone and then spending 10 times what they get. Say you throw up a shed then they want more? Govt is becoming the problem. Everyones problem. Freedom & Liberty is becoming a lie.

[rdowns]

Can't even build a cabin out of your surrounding land without the government taking a piece anymore. its sad. You know, if I bought a piece of land up in CO and wanted to chop my own wood to build a house, the government can go **** themselves.


Does your cabin look like this?

http://www.themudflats.net/wp-content/uploads/palincabin.jpg

[nbs2]

This sounds like a sort of non-issue. Of course, the article doesn't go into enough detail for me to feel totally comfortable saying that.

In MD, we get assessed every three years. If something is built on the property to increase the value of the home, the taxes won't be affected until the next assessment. IF AK runs the same methodology, it sound like the home wasn't completed in time for the 2007 assessment, and therefore could rightly have been excluded. It sounds like the debate is when the cabins first became habitable.

Of course, I could be wrong. But I might be right.

[IntheNet]

Developing

:rolleyes:

Hard to pay taxes on property for which there is no formal assessment! Nonetheless, property taxes were paid in 2009... From The LA Times =>

Records show that cabins on Sarah Palin's Alaska properties weren't noted in tax assessments
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-palin-property-taxes,0,7699231.story
"There are no tax assessments for the two-story, house-sized cabins, a workshop and a sauna spotted Thursday in an aerial survey. Property taxes totaling $156.13 were paid on the land in 2009 — but that bill did not include anything for the structures because the local assessor didn't know about the new construction nearly 100 miles north of Anchorage...Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said it is not the responsibility of property owners to report structures that go up on their land. "It is the borough's job," he said in an e-mail. "The property taxes on this parcel are fully paid and have never been delinquent."

This sounds like a sort of non-issue.

Exactly and thank you...

[Queso]

I think she needs to produce the documentation individually to anyone who asks for repetitive scrutiny, otherwise she's Kenyan a cheat by default.

[Sdashiki]

So, its ok to make excuses for someone who from their position should've known better?

I dont think so.

Everyone, especially the ex-governor of the freakin' state, should know that building something requires assessment and taxes and permits and all that govt crap people seem hell bent to complain about.

Complain all you want, the law and code is there and just because you dont like it doesnt make you exempt from it. Chop down the trees, build something with it. But when someone notices there's new structures un-assessed and taxed, you will be paying for it.

I think the fact this was spotted from a damn airplane should prove how much the big bag govt knew this kind of stuff goes on in AK and how they go about enforcing it.

Sure, it sucks I have to get a damn $100 permit just to put up a 10x12 shed in my backyard, but its the LAW around here and I follow it because if I dont, the big bad city govt gunna charge me alot more for not telling them I built it.

[rdowns]

:rolleyes:

Hard to pay taxes on property for which there is no formal assessment! Nonetheless, property taxes were paid in 2009... From The LA Times =>

Records show that cabins on Sarah Palin's Alaska properties weren't noted in tax assessments
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-palin-property-taxes,0,7699231.story
"There are no tax assessments for the two-story, house-sized cabins, a workshop and a sauna spotted Thursday in an aerial survey. Property taxes totaling $156.13 were paid on the land in 2009 — but that bill did not include anything for the structures because the local assessor didn't know about the new construction nearly 100 miles north of Anchorage...Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said it is not the responsibility of property owners to report structures that go up on their land. "It is the borough's job," he said in an e-mail. "The property taxes on this parcel are fully paid and have never been delinquent."



Exactly and thank you...

Under the law, she was required to inform them of any errors or omissions on her tax bill. She did not. By her lawyers own admission, construction began in 2006. Sounds like a mavericky move to me.

[nbs2]

Exactly and thank you...

Don't count your chickens there. My review is based off of my understanding of the assessment process as conducted here in MD and based on the information provided in the article.

I'm not going to pass summary judgment in favor of hanging her high, but I'm not going to let her go either. There is still some digging to do.

[IntheNet]

Under the law, she was required to inform them of any errors or omissions on her tax bill. She did not. By her lawyers own admission, construction began in 2006. Sounds like a mavericky move to me.

I typed a brief follow-up response here but noted that Tommy Report at Conservatives4Palin (http://www.conservatives4palin.com/) have done their due homework on this issue and posted a far more comprehensive response that I could, thus here it is below (emphasis mine). As mentioned, this seems like a non-issue that the far left (Huffington Post) is fanning as a smear:

Far-Left Logic: You are a Tax Cheat if the Government Doesn't Tax You Enough
http://www.conservatives4palin.com/
"What Devon fails to tell her readers is that the Matanuska-Sustina Borough is responsible for making property assessments, not Sarah Palin... It seems pretty clear to anyone who is not a far-left hack that it is the government's responsibility to make property assessments for determining the appropriate amount of taxation. Property owners do not voluntarily assess themselves. The Palins have paid what they were told they owe. The attachments that Devon provides to her scurrilous article as "proof" that the Palins have dodged their taxes actually establish that the Palins are current with their property taxes. In other words, there is no there there. If Devon and Moore have an issue with how the Matanuska-Susitna Borough taxed Sarah Palin's property, then their complaint is with the borough and not with Palin. Of course, they can't generate a headline without impugning Palin with the ridiculous accusation that she is a "tax cheat." I guess the new far-left mantra is that anyone who doesn't pay more than what the government tells them they owe is now a tax cheat.

[nbs2]

Under the law, she was required to inform them of any errors or omissions on her tax bill. She did not. By her lawyers own admission, construction began in 2006. Sounds like a mavericky move to me.

The article states that errors and omissions on the assessment have to be reported. If the structure was not completed to an assessable level (however defined by AK), then there would be no obligation to report it for assessment purposes. Now, what isn't clear is if permits were filed.

Once again, to be clear, my view on this is colored by my local dealings with my state and my understanding of the assessment process here. Regardless of this kerfluffle, I hope this ends well for her. The happier she is in Alaska, the less reason she has tom come down to DC.

[CaptMurdock]

^^"Conservatives4Palin" Yeah, that's an unbiased source for facts.

IOKIYAR. Mind you, if this was the Clintons, Netty would be getting his Frankenstein Mob-surplus torch out of his shed.

[Zombie Acorn]

Does your cabin look like this?

http://www.themudflats.net/wp-content/uploads/palincabin.jpg

its fairly obvious Palin couldn't build a dog shed that stood upright. I am talking more in a general sense, this has bugged me for a while.

[mcrain]

Property taxes totaling $156.13 were paid on the land in 2009 — but that bill did not include anything for the structures because the local assessor didn't know about the new construction nearly 100 miles north of Anchorage...Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said it is not the responsibility of property owners to report structures that go up on their land. "It is the borough's job," he said in an e-mail. "The property taxes on this parcel are fully paid and have never been delinquent." [/I]

Did you bold what her attorney said as proof somehow that all taxes that should have been paid were paid, therefore there is no issue? If so, you really don't understand what lawyers do. After you get done with your journalism class, maybe you should audit some law-related classes. ;)

Where's Zombie Acorn on this issue? She lied on her tax returns! She lied on her tax returns! :rolleyes:

Ok, whoever made the Kenyan reference, you actually made me laugh outloud! Too ***** funny!

[Zombie Acorn]

Where's Zombie Acorn on this issue? She lied on her tax returns! She lied on her tax returns! :rolleyes:

Im fine with sending her to jail for 3-5 if she lied purposely on her tax form, I was more preoccupied with my own dream of buying a piece of land and building a cabin out of wood on it without the government being up my ass. Im not talking about the type of cabin shown in the picture. I want a small solar powered one.

[mcrain]

Im fine with sending her to jail for 3-5 if she lied purposely on her tax form, I was more preoccupied with my own dream of buying a piece of land and building a cabin out of wood on it without the government being up my ass. Im not talking about the type of cabin shown in the picture. I want a small solar powered one.

In that case, you're energy savings and tax credits will offset a bunch of your tax obligations, so why not just obey the law and pay your taxes?

[Zombie Acorn]

In that case, you're energy savings and tax credits will offset a bunch of your tax obligations, so why not just obey the law and pay your taxes?

Im not saying that I wouldn't obey the law, I think the law should be changed. If a single person can build something using the pieces from their own land it should be alright, im talking about off the grid completely.

[mcrain]

Im not saying that I wouldn't obey the law, I think the law should be changed. If a single person can build something using the pieces from their own land it should be alright, im talking about off the grid completely.

I don't think I disagree with you, except let me say, as devil's advocate, that property taxes are paid on the value of the real estate, and if you improve the real estate, thus increasing its value, you should owe additional taxes.

Plus, if you really want to avoid real estate taxes, there are states that don't have that form of taxation. (They hit you in other ways).

[Rodimus Prime]

I don't think I disagree with you, except let me say, as devil's advocate, that property taxes are paid on the value of the real estate, and if you improve the real estate, thus increasing its value, you should owe additional taxes.

Plus, if you really want to avoid real estate taxes, there are states that don't have that form of taxation. (They hit you in other ways).

True on that front. The tax move around.

Texas has no income tax but does have higher sales tax and property tax.

Now the real trick is something the military personal like to pull. They will register in the state of Texas because of the lack of a state income tax and property tax is only on land and what is built on the land.

Now they get based all over the country if they are really luck they get in a state with no property tax. Then they get the best of everything. No property tax and no income tax.

[pdham]

Im not saying that I wouldn't obey the law, I think the law should be changed. If a single person can build something using the pieces from their own land it should be alright, im talking about off the grid completely.

I assume then that the you, or the hypothetical owner of the cabin, would be fine with receiving no police protection should someone break into the cabin, no fire protection should the cabin start on fire, etc. etc.

[nbs2]

I assume then that the you, or the hypothetical owner of the cabin, would be fine with receiving no police protection should someone break into the cabin, no fire protection should the cabin start on fire, etc. etc.

That leads to a question of allocation of tax funds. Should all taxes be comingled and used as needed or should specific taxes be used for specific needs?

[pdham]

That leads to a question of allocation of tax funds. Should all taxes be comingled and used as needed or should specific taxes be used for specific needs?

Can you elaborate a little on what you mean?

My initial reaction is to some extent taxes are segmented based on how the expenditures were paid for. For example if a local government has to bond to build a new police station the type of bond issued actually determines the revenue stream dedicated to repaying it, but only in a very general way. Of course day-to-day operations are paid for out of the general obligation fund which is where property taxes go, so I assume you mean some more specific allocation.

Also, if you use specific taxes for specific needs the tax would likely then technically become a user fee. In most states there are different legal ramifications for using user fees instead of tax dollars which would severely limit local governments flexibility in responding to issues.

[nbs2]

Can you elaborate a little on what you mean?

My initial reaction is to some extent taxes are segmented based on how the expenditures were paid for. For example if a local government has to bond to build a new police station the type of bond issued actually determines the revenue stream dedicated to repaying it, but only in a very general way. Of course day-to-day operations are paid for out of the general obligation fund which is where property taxes go, so I assume you mean some more specific allocation.

Clearly this issue will vary from locale to locale, but my thought is based along the lines of how many services are rendered in my area. As an example, property taxes are specifically used by the city and county to pay for fire services. Fire is not rendered out of the general obligation fund. Education is another service tied in heavily to property taxes. There are other services that get pulled out of general obligation, but are tied more directly to income or sales tax when looking at the legislative record.

Based on my jurisdiction, your comment about fire services, for example, would apply very well, as he would be underpaying into the system based on improved vs. unimproved value. However, if fire services were paid out of general obligation (and thus undistinguished between income/sales/property/etc), then the comment would be somewhat off target.

So, I'm wondering if all taxes should be funneled into general obligation and all expenses paid out of it, or should governments be required to filter taxes to specific funds, and pay for particular services out by indicating the source fund? It's kind of off topic, but I just ate lunch and am killing time until I go home to watch the snow fall.

[pdham]

Clearly this issue will vary from locale to locale, but my thought is based along the lines of how many services are rendered in my area. As an example, property taxes are specifically used by the city and county to pay for fire services. Fire is not rendered out of the general obligation fund. Education is another service tied in heavily to property taxes. There are other services that get pulled out of general obligation, but are tied more directly to income or sales tax when looking at the legislative record.

Based on my jurisdiction, your comment about fire services, for example, would apply very well, as he would be underpaying into the system based on improved vs. unimproved value. However, if fire services were paid out of general obligation (and thus undistinguished between income/sales/property/etc), then the comment would be somewhat off target.

So, I'm wondering if all taxes should be funneled into general obligation and all expenses paid out of it, or should governments be required to filter taxes to specific funds, and pay for particular services out by indicating the source fund? It's kind of off topic, but I just ate lunch and am killing time until I go home to watch the snow fall.

All good points. No arguments from me.

My initial comment was mostly intended to point out that issues of taxation and perceived "fairness" are not so black and white. I think your posts illustrate that as well.

[NT1440]

If I dig a hole into the ground and sleep in it do I have to pay property tax? Probably not, same rule applies, if I cut trees down on my own land and manufacture a space then I shouldn't pay extra.

Ive actually thought of this before, I should just buy a plot of land and build an underground bunker.
A hole in the ground is not a building.

[Macky-Mac]

If I dig a hole into the ground and sleep in it do I have to pay property tax? .....

sure....if you own property, you pay proprty taxes on it, doesn't matter whether there's a building or not.

Putting up a building increases the value of the property so not surprisingly you pay more taxes if you have a house. Obviously the further away from civilization you move, the lower your taxes are going to be as you wont be getting as much in the way of fire protection, road maintenance, police, schools, etc

[Zombie Acorn]

Putting up a building increases the value of the property so not surprisingly you pay more taxes if you have a house.

According to who? What if there is no market for a cabin with solar power that has no utilities?

[Macky-Mac]

According to who?

the county tax assessor...anyway, usually you can sell a piece of property with a cabin for more than the same property without one....so it's worth more

What if there is no market for a cabin with solar power that has no utilities?

then your taxes wouldn't be very much more than for the raw land

[nbs2]

the county tax assessor...anyway, usually you can sell a piece of property with a cabin for more than the same property without one....so it's worth more

You mean the folks that told me that my place was worth 16% more than I paid for it just weeks after I bought it? Even at the height of the market, values weren't rising THAT fast.

While I am amenable to the idea of property taxation, I take umbrage at the argument that county assessors have more that half an idea of what they are doing.

Also, I do think that ZA does have a valid point, to an extent. If the solar-powered no-utility shack-cabin-thing is just that, it is likely not what I would define as a dwelling, and thus should incur no additional property tax. Even if one could live there, it would begin to reach too far to suggest such a structure should be classified as such. A person could live in their kid's tree house. Should that raise property taxes?

[Peterkro]

There are tree houses and tree houses:

[NT1440]

You mean the folks that told me that my place was worth 16% more than I paid for it just weeks after I bought it? Even at the height of the market, values weren't rising THAT fast.

While I am amenable to the idea of property taxation, I take umbrage at the argument that county assessors have more that half an idea of what they are doing.

Also, I do think that ZA does have a valid point, to an extent. If the solar-powered no-utility shack-cabin-thing is just that, it is likely not what I would define as a dwelling, and thus should incur no additional property tax. Even if one could live there, it would begin to reach too far to suggest such a structure should be classified as such. A person could live in their kid's tree house. Should that raise property taxes?
Why would it not be a dwelling? :confused:

[Macky-Mac]

.....

Also, I do think that ZA does have a valid point, to an extent. If the solar-powered no-utility shack-cabin-thing is just that, it is likely not what I would define as a dwelling, and thus should incur no additional property tax. Even if one could live there, it would begin to reach too far to suggest such a structure should be classified as such. A person could live in their kid's tree house. Should that raise property taxes?

if ZA builds a shabby hovel, then it's unlikely to do much to his taxes.....I have no idea if he does a good job or not when it comes to building stuff :p

what he's going to get taxed for is the value of his property after he's through building. if that building doesn't improve the value of his property, then he's not apt to be paying more taxes. The building doesn't even have to be a dwelling to raise the value of the property.

[skunk]

There are tree houses and tree houses:Far fscking out. :)

[Peterkro]

Far fscking out. :)

It's a restaurant in Scotland.

[skunk]

It's a restaurant in Scotland.If it's in Alnwick, it's in Northumberland, actually. It's a pity the reviews are almost uniformly scathing.

[Peterkro]

If it's in Alnwick, it's in Northumberland, actually. It's a pity the reviews are almost uniformly scathing.

That be the one, I should have paid more attention to the page I was on which said it was "about 95 miles north south of Edinburgh, Scotland"
:confused: my brain didn't register the south bit.Not very good for a travel website.

[.Andy]

I am in Scotland right now and it is lovely :)

[skunk]

I am in Scotland right now and it is lovely :)It is indeed:


213652

The Queen's View, Loch Tummel

[Peterkro]

I am in Scotland right now and it is lovely :)

Scotland in the non midge season,lovely.

[Schtumple]

I don't know how the thread got from Sarah Palin to Scotland, but I love that it did :)

[.Andy]

It is indeed:


213652
Not only is it picturesque the people are lovely too :).

Wanted to see a midge :(. Will have to come back....

[rdowns]

I don't know how the thread got from Sarah Palin to Scotland, but I love that it did :)


She probably couldn't find Scotland on a map.

[rhsgolfer33]

I don't know how the thread got from Sarah Palin to Scotland, but I love that it did :)

My thought is that Palin is so uniformly revolting to most on this board (myself included) that the only thing that could cleanse us of the dreadful thought of her is the beauty of Scotland.

[racers]

She probably couldn't find Scotland on a map.

Come on, be fair...
she doesn't know that Scotland is part of the UK:p

[Gelfin]

Palin fallback plan: Vacation in Carlisle, claim right of succession based on ability to see Scotland from hotel room.

[IntheNet]

Not only is it picturesque the people are lovely too...

Speaking of lovely... Did you read her USA Today editorial in advance of Convention? It answers some of the questions raised herein about her plans and the soul of America... the part I cited is remicient of early Thomas Jefferson...read the whole letter....

http://i45.tinypic.com/2m7xo45.jpg

Why I'm speaking at Tea Party convention
By Sarah Palin
USA Today
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/02/column-why-im-speaking-at-tea-party-convention-.html
"...The soul of the Tea Party is the people who belong to it — everyday Americans who grow our food, run our small businesses, teach our children how to read, serve the less fortunate and fight our wars. They're folks in small towns and cities across this nation who saw what was happening to our country and decided to get involved. Thank God for them. Many of these good Americans had never been involved in their government before, but now they attend town hall meetings and participate in online forums. They write letters to the editor. They sign up to be precinct leaders and run for local office and support other independent patriots. They have the courage to stand up and speak out. Their vision is what drew me to the Tea Party movement. They believe in the same principles that guided my work in public service — whether I was working on the PTA and city council or serving as a mayor, commissioner or governor. I look forward to meeting some of these great Americans this weekend."

[NT1440]

Lol, I can't believe some people really fall for her like that....

[Rt&Dzine]

Speaking of lovely... Did you read her USA Today editorial in advance of Convention? It answers some of the questions raised herein about her plans and the soul of America... the part I cited is remicient of early Thomas Jefferson...read the whole letter....


Oh, boy. You've fallen for her . . . hook, line, and sinker. She's a wanna-be politician, not a god.

I wonder if you'd feel the same way if she were ugly.

[Sydde]

Palin fallback plan: Vacation in Carlisle, claim right of succession based on ability to see Scotland from hotel room.

Scotland? Michael Palin? Robert Carlysle? I could probably spend a year in the west country looking for Lochdubh (not Plockton lamborghinior Kyle of Lochalsh, but the town that best represents the spirit of Lochdubh).

[macfan881]

Speaking of lovely... Did you read her USA Today editorial in advance of Convention? It answers some of the questions raised herein about her plans and the soul of America... the part I cited is remicient of early Thomas Jefferson...read the whole letter....

http://i45.tinypic.com/2m7xo45.jpg

Why I'm speaking at Tea Party convention
By Sarah Palin
USA Today
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/02/column-why-im-speaking-at-tea-party-convention-.html
"...The soul of the Tea Party is the people who belong to it — everyday Americans who grow our food, run our small businesses, teach our children how to read, serve the less fortunate and fight our wars. They're folks in small towns and cities across this nation who saw what was happening to our country and decided to get involved. Thank God for them. Many of these good Americans had never been involved in their government before, but now they attend town hall meetings and participate in online forums. They write letters to the editor. They sign up to be precinct leaders and run for local office and support other independent patriots. They have the courage to stand up and speak out. Their vision is what drew me to the Tea Party movement. They believe in the same principles that guided my work in public service — whether I was working on the PTA and city council or serving as a mayor, commissioner or governor. I look forward to meeting some of these great Americans this weekend."

My god she is Dumber than a bag of Bricks...

[yojitani]

My god she is Dumber than a bag of Bricks...

Oddly, she is capable of inflicting more damage.

[Badandy]

Speaking of lovely... Did you read her USA Today editorial in advance of Convention? It answers some of the questions raised herein

I'm still curious. Why do you use the word 'herein' so much? You use it in about every other post. It doesn't make your prattling sound any more intelligent.

the part I cited is remicient of early Thomas Jefferson...read the whole letter....

Please read some Thomas Jefferson. Then watch Palin talk.

[Rodimus Prime]

You mean the folks that told me that my place was worth 16% more than I paid for it just weeks after I bought it? Even at the height of the market, values weren't rising THAT fast.

While I am amenable to the idea of property taxation, I take umbrage at the argument that county assessors have more that half an idea of what they are doing.

Also, I do think that ZA does have a valid point, to an extent. If the solar-powered no-utility shack-cabin-thing is just that, it is likely not what I would define as a dwelling, and thus should incur no additional property tax. Even if one could live there, it would begin to reach too far to suggest such a structure should be classified as such. A person could live in their kid's tree house. Should that raise property taxes?

Oh it is worse than just that. City will screw you by raising your property values for taxes but if they ever have to use eminent domain they will screw you by lowering your property value and then claim it is legal because everyone else is selling there property (by force) so it forces your value down.

In the past few years their have been record numbers of people fighting the city claimed appraised value and winning. City will raise property value by legal limit even if property values fall by 10-20%

[IntheNet]

I'm still curious. Why do you use the word 'herein' so much? You use it in about every other post. It doesn't make your prattling sound any more intelligent.

It's an adverb; herein referencing in or into this place, thing, document, etc., in in the case used, directly referencing PRSI.

Please read some Thomas Jefferson. Then watch Palin talk.

I have heard the lady speak, in person, and she reminds me of Jeffersonian ideals; her book even more so. Future generations will document this. Reference Mark Leibovich's "Palin, Visible and Vocal, Is Positioned for Variety of Roles (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/us/politics/06palin.html?hp)" in The New York Times; and NewBusters summary, "NYT Shocker: Sarah Palin 'As Big a Celebrity as Princess Di' (http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/06/nyt-shocker-sarah-palin-big-celebrity-princess-di).

[yg17]

It's an adverb; herein referencing in or into this place, thing, document, etc., in in the case used, directly referencing PRSI.



I have heard the lady speak, in person, and she reminds me of Jeffersonian ideals; her book even more so. Future generations will document this. Reference Mark Leibovich's "Palin, Visible and Vocal, Is Positioned for Variety of Roles (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/us/politics/06palin.html?hp)" in The New York Times; and NewBusters summary, "NYT Shocker: Sarah Palin 'As Big a Celebrity as Princess Di' (http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/06/nyt-shocker-sarah-palin-big-celebrity-princess-di).

It is nothing more than an insult to Thomas Jefferson to compare that woman to him.

Hell, you can't even call her as dumb as a bag of rocks without insulting the bag of rocks.

[skunk]

I have heard the lady speak, in person, and she reminds me of Jeffersonian ideals.I hadn't realised that Jefferson was such a vacuous twat.

[Thomas Veil]

I don't know how the thread got from Sarah Palin to Scotland...Because whenever I hear that woman I always need a double Scotch.

[yg17]

I don't know how the thread got from Sarah Palin to Scotland, but I love that it did :)

Because Sarah Palin's brain is like the Loch Ness monster. A few nutjobs claim it exists but no one has actually confirmed it.

[Gelfin]

Because Sarah Palin's brain is like the Loch Ness monster. A few nutjobs claim it exists but no one has actually confirmed it.

And it's actually a piece of wood with a rubber dinosaur head pulled over it?

[mcrain]

Back to the original topic of this thread...

Apparently, Ms. Palin decided to give an interview BEFORE her paid appearance at the tea party convention, the same convention the elected officials bowed out of because of ethics concerns. In that interview, Ms. Palin indicated that she may run for president. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/07/palin.presidential.run.tea.party/index.html

So, she's funneling money from her PAC to her personal bank account. She's accepting paid speaking engagements from a potential third political party. She has paid her personal attorney a bunch of money from her PAC... but not for defending her against "frivolous" suits, but for his work for the PAC. Wink, wink. She's a commentator on FoxNews. As governor, she was at a minimum playing a little loose with her property taxes. (You'd think the governor would want to set a good example).

She may not be a tax cheat, but was she cheating on her speech? http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/02/08/lemon.palin.cheat.sheet.cnn

[nbs2]

Back to the original topic of this thread...

Nice summation, counselor.

I hope to see how her defenders will counter this.

[hulugu]

And it's actually a piece of wood with a rubber dinosaur head pulled over it?

Dude, LOLZ.