By RACHEL D'ORO, The Associated Press, Feb. 4, 2010 05:30 PM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — 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.
I am really beginning to wonder about Palin. I was way behind her for a long time but have to say I am seriously beginning to doubt the "not your regular politician" she tries to portray. Lots of little things add up.
I personally think her political career is over - quitting her stint as Governor of Alaska was not a good move if she wanted to pursue a path beyond Governor. And she is carrying around alot of baggage.
Don't get me wrong, I think she did alot of good for Alaska and I admire her for many reasons but as future POTUS....I'm pretty uncomfortable with that concept now.
I am really beginning to wonder about Palin. I was way behind her for a long time but have to say I am seriously beginning to doubt the "not your regular politician" she tries to portray. Lots of little things add up.
I personally think her political career is over - quitting her stint as Governor of Alaska was not a good move if she wanted to pursue a path beyond Governor. And she is carrying around alot of baggage.
Don't get me wrong, I think she did alot of good for Alaska and I admire her for many reasons but as future POTUS....I'm pretty uncomfortable with that concept now.
My doubts started when she left her governorship so abruptly. Something right then and there said to me...."something is just not right here."
I wish her well, but she has done nothing since campaign 2008 to convince me she is serious about being a politician at this point. I think she is more interested in cashing in her celebrity to speak her ideas as a commentator. But giving her the benefit of the doubt, she may have realized this is her only route to give her ideas a voice.
I am really beginning to wonder about Palin. I was way behind her for a long time but have to say I am seriously beginning to doubt the "not your regular politician" she tries to portray. Lots of little things add up.
I personally think her political career is over - quitting her stint as Governor of Alaska was not a good move if she wanted to pursue a path beyond Governor. And she is carrying around alot of baggage.
Don't get me wrong, I think she did alot of good for Alaska and I admire her for many reasons but as future POTUS....I'm pretty uncomfortable with that concept now.
My doubts started when she left her governorship so abruptly. Something right then and there said to me...."something is just not right here."
I wish her well, but she has done nothing since campaign 2008 to convince me she is serious about being a politician at this point. I think she is more interested in cashing in her celebrity to speak her ideas as a commentator. But giving her the benefit of the doubt, she may have realized this is her only route to give her ideas a voice.
Likewise.
It is not that she left the Governor job - well, that too.. - but in that speech, she was definitely off-center. She was rattled and in a hurry to get off being a Governor. Something was majorly off and I could sense it.
My biggest disappointment is in her lack of growth in handling media. She has still not learned to project confidence to the camera in the face of marginally tough questions, and that too with the friendly FOX News.
With the Statue of Liberty as the backdrop to Glenn Beck interview, she did not use that as an inspiration right off the get go and had to be prodded with specific reference to it - and even then, she failed to inspire. Who cares how many windows the statue has? And, there is no need to tell people that you asked your son to look it up the day before the interview (even if you did)! The moment to inspire was lost in minutia. She had a real chance to impress but she failed in that given the opportunity; even her posture was not projecting confidence.
In her interview with Oreilly, Oreilly actually split the interview to questions that are politics and questions that are personal and aired the latter set much later. There is a noticeable difference in the ease with which she answers the latter.. There is far less tripping on her words. That tripping - choppiness - is very annoying and does not help her effectiveness. When asked whether she is ready, she does not say yes; instead, comforts her one hand with the other as she gives a lengthy answer that ends with 'common sense' and I have forgotten the rest of her argument i.e., it was not effective.
Now, this is someone who was SERIOUSLY LOOKING FOR THE POSITIVES and rooting for her as she was being interviewed! I was quite disappointed with her.
We all know that if we do significant improvement to our house or erect a building in our farm, and we get a property tax report, we have to correct it - definitely so if you plan on running for any government office!
-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 5th of February 2010 11:00:23 AM
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Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010
Dunivan, however, said owners are required by state law to report any omissions or errors in their tax assessments. Often, the borough learns of new structures in remote areas when neighbors report them. Dunivan said no one has called the borough on the Palin lots, among many in the region to add structures, the flyover survey found.
"Typically, if there are errors, we hear from owners," he said. "If there are omissions, we don't. Every once in a while we do have someone call us about omissions, but not often."
The properties are located along Safari Lake - an undeveloped area located near Denali State Park - and owned by Palin, her husband Todd and a family friend, Scott Richter. According to borough records, the tax assessments are sent to Richter's post office box in Big Lake.
There is no phone listing in Alaska for Richter and he could not be reached Thursday.
The matter first appeared Wednesday on an Alaska political blog site, Mudflats, which has been critical of Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate. [snip]
The structure is 4 walls, no running water or heat, ect. They use it when hunting. Don't know what the laws are in Alaska, and the definition of what they consider "a structure".
Now, she and her husband should know better than to try and get out of paying taxes... so, I guess I'll wait to hear more.