Barack Obama’s Gun Control Question Answered, in Part

            Revising the Assault Weapons Ban of the Clinton administration, or proposing anything similar, is foolish. The ban did nothing to curb violent crime committed with firearms, whether with assault weapons or more conventional firearms. Further, “assault” weapons are used in such a minority of firearms crimes as to be statistically insignificant. Then, too, the banning of “assault” weapons does not ban “weapons that belong on a foreign battlefield”; it bans their semi-automatic, less robust and capable civilianized clones. This is why the Clinton ban was allowed to die, with even John Kerry refusing to back renewal, when it came up for renewal in 2004.

 

            Most of the uproar regarding the use of “assault” weapons comes from a very few incidents in which weapons of this type were used, but the uproar misses the point. The weapons used in these incidents were most typically not the banned assault weapons, but illegally acquired fully automatic military arms or illegally modified and/or obtained “assault” weapons. Issues of definition aside, the “assault” weapons ban was a failure. Such a ban is a visible way to indicate being tough on crime and violence without actually doing anything about crime and violence. The ban was and would be pointless and did and would have about as much effect on crime as limiting the ownership of straight-razors to licensed barbers.

 

            I, having lived in the Chicago area myself, understand and appreciate the concerns of those worried over this year’s apparent free-fire attitude on the parts of criminals and gangbangers. But, remember, most of those shootings were not committed with “assault” weapons; in fact, few of them were committed with even semi-automatic handguns. Also, the rash this year seems to be more likely gang-related than gun-related, although the police officials want both to carry equal portions of the blame, as this helps absolve their culpability and put it on the legislature. As you may recall, in the 1970’s gang related violence did not necessarily rely upon firearms, but would occur regardless of the weapons available. This truth continues today; those prone to violent behavior are going to use whatever means are at their disposal and only sufficiently forceful opposition will stop them.

 

            This brings me to my next point. Concealed carry laws have been demonstrably proven to reduce crime in those areas where they have been enacted. No gunfights in the street, no disputes blowing out of proportion due to the presence of a firearm, and many lives saved, crimes prevented, and criminals apprehended by the law-abiding armed citizen. Of the fear of criminal acts perpetrated by the now hundreds and thousands of licensed carriers, there have been less than 10 in several years, nationwide, and those mostly misdemeanors.

 

            Part of the support that Barack Obama has received comes from the lack of connection to Rebecca Peters and her mentor/benefactor George Soros, both of whom were behind the Clinton era ban, and whose known relationship with her was a factor in Hillary Clinton’s loss in the primaries. George Soros, acting in concealment through Rebecca Peters and other activists and the UN, seeks to eventually relieve all citizens throughout the world of their firearms. Without firearms in the hands of private citizens, the US would not exist. Our governmental model of self-determination for the world would never have come into being. This fact is so fundamental, that the Founding Fathers made it the second member of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was formed in order of importance, and that the people’s right to keep and bear arms was placed in front of property rights and rights to fair trial and due process indicates its importance to the men who started this country. What did the fascists, Nazi’s, and communists do as a first act to ensure their control and consolidation of power? They restricted the rights of private gun ownership to a privileged, known to be loyal, few. Mr. Soros, being an industrial and shipping magnate, knows that under his proposals, his right to keep arms would remain intact. Mr. Soros and his allies have a strange view on what it means to be a citizen. Per Ancient Greece and modern America, a citizen must possess two rights: a voice in government and the right to arms, the lack of either makes one a subject. Those who would disarm citizens remove the second qualification outright, and thereby greatly impede the first.

 

            Most of the problems gun control seeks to prevent can be better addressed through other means. Crime, and violent crime in particular, goes up as the economy goes down bringing desperation and despair out of those worst hit. Many of your other plans to improve our US economy and standing in the world are workable, and these plans will have the side effect of reducing the tension among those likely to commit crime as a result of lack of other resources. The Clinton ban has expired, and yet violent, gun-related crime has continued to decrease nationwide, excepting the areas always troubled with the problems of poverty and unemployment. Doing something about the poverty and unemployment levels in these continually repressed areas will see far more progress towards civil peace than another restriction on American citizens. 

Democratic Campaign Signs Stolen by Highway Department in Georgetown

Scott County democrats have heard several complaints of campaign signs stolen from or vandalized on private property. Republican campaign signs under similar conditions were left in place.

 

The signs pictured above were all reported to us as having been stolen; they turned up, not reported to us, at the dumpsters at the highway Department’s salt storage facility off Main Street extension in Georgetown. As these signs were not originally posted in any way violating laws regarding distance from roadway, etc., and as they were on private property and found dumped for disposal at the Highway Department, it must be assumed that at least one Highway Department employee is guilty of trespass and theft. However, given the number of complaints we have received, as well as the number of signs not all coming from the same location, it is entirely conceivable that this represents an organized effort by government employees on government time.

Robert Powell for Kentucky Senate 17th District:

Because There is Something Wrong With Thayer's Traditional Values

Robert Powell, a Democrat, of Georgetown, is running against incumbent Republican State Senator Damon Thayer, also of Georgetown, for the 17th District. The difference between the candidates is stark and compelling. Even upon first introductions, these two stand apart. Having met each under circumstances where they had no idea as to my leanings or positions on various issues, I had the opportunity to see them as they should have been presenting themselves to an undecided voter. I found Robert Powell to be warm, genuine, and interested, perhaps even a little insecure, while Damon Thayer presented himself as condescending, dismissive, and simply glad-handing. My first impression was that Mr. Thayer doesn’t seem to believe that he needs the “common” people to get elected. Then I started looking into their backgrounds.
While Damon Thayer has spent his entire adult life lobbying for the Kentucky horse industry, Robert Powell has spent his in public service, working as a director for the Kentucky Department of Corrections (i.e. directly to keeping our communities and citizens safe) and as a small business owner, running a criminal justice consulting firm and family-owned lawn care business. Mr. Thayer, in his associations with the wealthy of the horse industry has distanced himself from the realities of everyday life and its problems, while Mr. Powell has been deeply involved with the worst and best that everyday life can bring a community and its people.

Damon Thayer talks a lot about serving the interests of the people of Kentucky, but all that this writer has been able to discern is his service to the interests of the wealthy in the horse industry and big business in general of Kentucky. While Mr. Thayer has been lauded for his efforts towards state campaign finance reform, it can be equally argued that these efforts are designed to prevent the unseating of incumbent office holders like himself. He sponsors a bill that mandates electronic reporting to the campaign finance authorities at the benchmark of collecting $25,000; this serves as an early warning mechanism for those already holding office in Frankfort. This early warning would allow the incumbent, Mr. Thayer, to marshal in-place mechanisms and supporters to effectively drown out the newly arisen challenge. His other efforts, including the elimination of Kentucky taxpayer support, while freeing taxpayer money from the election cycle, reflects only a very modest savings for taxpayers, and it effectively reduces the chances of a grassroots startup campaign being able to effectively assault a seated politician; again, legislation favoring, not Kentucky, but Mr. Thayer and his ability to continue to legislate for the wealthy in the horse racing industry.

Mr. Thayer claims to serve the interest of the people of Kentucky, but the majority of the people of Kentucky have little or no connection to the horse racing industry, not to the large businesses he actively supports at the cost of social programs that are in the interest of the people of Kentucky. Damon Thayer’s voting record reflects the sort of pro-business/anti-worker recklessness in Washington that has engulfed our country in the current financial crisis. Mr. Thayer believes in the failed economic philosophy of his Republican Big Brothers in Washington. Damon Thayer claims to have held the tax rate down; but he has paid for that by leading the call, though he’ll deny it and lie to your face about it, as he did during the NKY debate, for increases in State fees. These are the fees that you pay when you go to the DMV or call 911. These fees increases are small for the wealthy, but just as gas price increases showed over the summer, they hurt mostly the middle class. He claims that he helped reduce the education cuts of the last administration; but he says reduced, not stopped. For a state in the top ten spenders on education of the 50 we have in the U.S. to cut lightly is permissible, perhaps. For Kentucky, it should have sparked a public outrage. Especially is this made true by the fact that Mr. Thayer then went around and, with his buddies in the Senate, re-distributed that money amongst, whom else, the horse industry! Cutting education funding to better support an entertainment industry that practices cruelty to animals is irresponsible and immoral.

Robert Powell, on the other hand, wants to pass legislation that holds public officials, appointed, hired, and elected, accountable for their misdeeds. Robert Powell wants to see the Commonwealth of Kentucky better enable opportunities for the small business owner. Mr. Powell is also a staunch advocate of better funding for education; he wants to see the state budget for education increase, and he wants to find new streams of revenue specifically targeting the enhancement of education. These are issues which will prove a positive representation of the interests of the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Thayer claims to be an ardent supporter of “traditional” Kentucky values. Recently, there was a news release by Mr. Thayer’s opponent, Robert Powell. It was discovered, upon investigation of Damon Thayer’s financial disclosure, that Mr. Thayer had received a maximum individual campaign contribution from an individual in South Carolina. This individual was listed as a partner in VCG Holdings, which, it turned out, is the parent company for a series of strip clubs spanning across the U.S. from the East Coast to Colorado. Among other venues owned, VCG is proud owner of PT’s in Louisville, where many horse industry executives are known to hang out. Mr. Thayer’s response was to vehemently deny any knowledge of or connection with the contributor. Damon then gave the money to a women’s shelter and proclaimed his moral superiority. Problem is, Mr. Thayer’s declamation rings false. The contributor, Mr. Gregory K. Gaines, of South Carolina, is involved in a number of business enterprises, most of them are legitimate and socially acceptable, being focused on technology. If Mr. Thayer had wanted to mount a credible defense, then one might expect that he would have referred to one of Mr. Gaines’s other business endeavors and claimed no knowledge of the strip club connection; but, instead, Damon went for the wholesale denial, leaving his claim highly suspect. It seems more plausible that Mr. Thayer is a regular at PT’s or some other VCG strip club, and that his frequenting of said establishment is the reason behind the relationship and the contribution. There are other indications of the weight of the more plausible explanation, but I will leave those for another posting.

Robert Powell also received a donation from a former strip club owner; but Mr. Powell, a devoted monogamous family man of many years with his wife Barbara, is not running on a “traditional values” plank. He readily admitted to the donation and let the matter stand.

Damon Thayer, running on a claimed plank of “traditional values”, has well demonstrated his concept of “traditional values”. Mr. Thayer believes in taking public money from the public, stripping social programs and education, in order to support those who have plenty of money. Damon believes that treating animals cruelly through doping, over-breeding, beating, sorrelling, and other practices for the sake of entertainment is a positive thing and that Federal regulation should be avoided, because the industry committing these horrendous acts polices itself. He also believes in robbing the poor through fees to feed the rich through no “tax increase”. He also apparently believes in “strategic” church attendance, being in regular attendance only during the four months immediately preceding an election. Damon Thayer believes that big money and donors, not his interaction with and representation of the people, will get him re-elected. Mr. Thayer also believes that he can tell just about any lie necessary and that the people of northern Kentucky are ignorant enough to believe him. And, it seems, from thorough and ongoing analysis that he believes in the exploitation of young women and the promotion of lust through the adult entertainment industry. These are simply this writer’s opinions on the matter; opinions derived from looking at the voting record, contribution record, employment record, history, and statements of the candidates, as well as personal contact with them. In assessing which candidate to support, the choice for me is clear: Robert Powell should, even as an unknown in the political arena, replace the defective values, philosophy, and ideology of Damon Thayer.

Still, I am left with a nagging question: what other “traditional values” does Damon Thayer Support? Slavery? Lynching? Wife beating? Prostitution? Child labor? Incest? Child molesting? Just curious.

Mitch McConnell Smears Bruce Lunsford

                Mitch McConnell has, in his too many years representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky in Washington, oops, allow me to correct: representing the big money interests of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, consistently voted against anyone in need of public programs. He has consistently voted to take money from the people of the US in the form of taxes and distribute it, as much as possible, among those in business with whom he shares a profitable relationship.

 

On a gas tax increase, the pressure to lower prices would have ultimately fallen, and fallen much faster, on the oil companies as Americans and Kentuckians sought to control their fuel consumption beyond the measures already seen. This has already happened and would have been accelerated by a windfall profit tax on the oil companies. Mitch McConnell obviously has no concept of economics; and his opposition originates in his typical Republican support for big business at the expense of the individual, as his claim doesn’t pan out when faced with the anti-gouging measures enacted, under Republican protest, including Kentucky and including him, by many states over the past summer.

 

Mitch McConnell, in campaign advertising, continues to reference the findings of inadequate care and fraudulent claims at a few facilities operated by Lunsford’s company Vencor, as well as the well publicized findings company-wide that Medicare fraud had been the typical practice while Vencor also sought to evict Medicare and Medicaid patients in order to make room for more lucrative private paying patients. Because of fines, business loss, and restructuring costs, Vencor eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and emerged again as a profitable company. What Mitch McConnell conveniently omits is that his own wife sat on the board, which actually made policy decisions, leaving it to Chairman Lunsford to implement them, of Vencor, as Bruce Lunsford has pointed out. McConnell himself lobbied, in the U.S. Senate, for protection of Vencor. Mitch McConnell has also had numerous complaints of false statements leveled by those used in his advertising regarding the Lunsford-Vencor connection. So, in the end, if Vencor is any derogatory indication of Lunsford’s honesty or business sense, then it reflects equally hard upon McConnell.

 

Mitch has voted almost straight party line on most issues before the Senate. He has voted to expand the illegal warrantless wiretapping of Americans, undermining the very foundation of constitutional protections, not just for terrorists, but for everyone. He has voted against minorities, women and homosexuals. Mitch McConnell’s voting record seems to reflect a preference for wealthy white Christian heterosexual male domination of all spheres, public and private. Mitch McConnell seems to be an enemy of transparency, inclusion, education, the rule of law, and the Constitution of the U.S.

 

Let us also remember that Mitch McConnell is a supporter of the Kentucky horse industry. While in itself not a bad thing, the stance taken by Mitch has been one not of business expansion and propriety but of retaining the status quo, especially where it requires repair. Mitch McConnell believes that, despite all of the evidence otherwise, the horse industry is fully capable of properly regulating itself. The Eight Belles incident is demonstrative of the need for regulation. Ordinarily, an animal crippled as a consequence of a race would be put down in secret; fortunately Eight Belles was not, and proved to the nation that the horse race industry has done nothing to regulate itself, and will not without federal intervention. Why else would participants in racing and stepping competitions leave when unannounced USDA inspectors show up? The industry is corrupt, and it is cruel. Mitch McConnell stands, along with Damon Thayer and others, for the continued traditional value of practicing cruelty to animals for the benefit of an entertainment industry. These two have also shown support for the traditional value of cutting public education funding because they and their wealthy industry supporters don’t send their children to public schools.

Georgetown Plans to Cope with Budget Deficit

Recently, here in Georgetown, KY, it was revealed that the city is facing a 4 million dollar deficit. I wonder, what happened; two years ago, the deficit was only 1.5 million. It has been circulated and otherwise alleged that previous Georgetown  Mayor Everett Varney may have had something to do with the original start point, as the initial deficit occurred under mysterious, “Where’d the money go?” circumstances. But that deficit, while probably criminal in its occurrence, was only two years ago; the City of Georgetown has managed to more than double it in such a short period. This bears investigation, as revenue decrease due to recession cannot tell the whole story. Mismanagement, at the least, must play a factor.

Mismanagement brings me to another related topic, that being the under, make that non-, utilization of the city park at Cardome. The original gifting plan from Toyota was for the city of Georgetown to develop the park on the grounds at Cardome in order to increase city revenues. However, virtually nothing of the sort has been done. Proposed projects included a water park and a skate park and other facilities to bring the city residents closer to one another and closer to the city’s Historic District downtown. At the same time, leases and tax revenues would have been centered on city property, thus realizing greater revenues for the city than would be seen from separate facilities on private property, and helping to offset the maintenance costs associated with Cardome. None of this happened. The parks and other recreational facilities were constructed, usually on private property, with tax incentives for the developers. End result; Cardome drags upon the city budget and city revenues were increased only marginally. This is mismanagement. What should have been a financial boon to the city remains a financial drag.

The enormous budget deficit of the city of Georgetown and the squandering of a potential asset form a bellwether for city management. This bellwether calls into question the leadership and judgment of those making decisions for the city. It also calls into question the ethics of those involved. How does a plan to enrich the city and its residents fall into the hands of private investors with taxpayer funding?

I have not recently been able to closely monitor the activities of city government, and exploring culpability in the city of Georgetown has always been an arduous, time consuming effort at best. Finding out who supported what is only the first step- the why is nearly always every bit as important while much more difficult to determine. But there is a simple answer.

There are plenty of candidates on the ballot for City Council this year; enough, in fact, to entirely replace those currently sitting with new faces. While there may be those who have aligned themselves truly with the interests of Georgetown who would be deposed, it seems that they have failed to make themselves known for opposition to the pillaging of the city budget. Therefore, going on just the surface information as to how the current situation stands, which is about all that most residents will be able to learn, it seems reasonable to replace the Georgetown City Council in its entirety.

In 2007, I thought McCain would be a good President

Republicans gave us the first Great Depression:

Want Another?

 

 

Republican re-distribution of wealth has been the norm for ninety plus years;

Isn’t it time for something new?

 

 

Nationalism and Fascism, current Republican platform, are not Patriotism

 

 

Whatever happened to Land of the Free?

The Republican Party

 

 

Do we really want to give Halliburton a third term?

 

Robbing the poor to feed the rich:

Wealth-redistribution philosophy behind

Wilsonian, supply-side, trickle-down,

Republican economics

 

 

Stop the fear! No more years!

 

 

When the War on Terror became the War on Freedom

John McCain supported 90% of it

 

 

Voting religion in politics is like playing baseball with a football

 

 

If you are going to inject Christian belief into politics, you should at least know your scripture

Obama’s Pakistani Roommates and Money Explained

I was recently asked about Barack Obama’s Pakistani former roommates, with whom he has retained ties and allegations regarding illicit money ties for Obama and his campaign. My first reaction was that I hadn’t heard anything of it, and, if it was worth mentioning, then Hillary or McCain, or Fox News, being the diligent, conscientious news organization they are, would have brought it up by now. It turns out that I was entirely correct. This is another fear-mongering non-story dreamed up by an immoral Obama detractor to scare the witless out of their wits. It took five minutes to debunk this preposterous and unfounded claim.

You had asked me questions about where Obama’s money came from; I found a piece that seems to sum up your questions at:  http://www.nowpublic.com/world/who-real-barack-obama

This now has an embedded link to Snopes, which has a response to 90% of it here:  http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/money.asp

Both Chandoo and Hamid, the Pakistani friends to whom you referred, are incredibly wealthy; Chandoo is now an investment guy, financial consultant, in New York, while Hamid apparently cleaned up his alien status and is now a vice president for Pepsi in New York. They have raised donations for Obama as “bundlers”, but all of that money is tracked and accounted for, none of it has proven illicit or questionable- otherwise, as I said before, the McCain campaign would have jumped all over it.

As for Obama’s travels during college and how they were paid for, the explanation is rather generic. Although his family did use food stamps and other forms of aid during his youth, by the time he was in college, Obama’s mother was working for an international aid agency in Indonesia, I believe, and made frequent trips, related to her work, to Pakistan. Christian missionaries do stuff like this all the time, as do Red Cross international aides. So, he was probably able to get initial travel arrangements through his mother’s agency. Once in Asia, travelling around would have been relatively cheap, especially given that his prior friendships, along with his mother’s local contacts, would have been able to assist with paperwork and money.  He also traveled to India and visited with a Hindu family. Also, this was all in the early ‘80’s, when Asia was incredibly cheap by US standards. None of this checks out to any kind of nefarious subplot, but it does give testament to Obama’s experience in dealing with different cultures in areas that are currently incredibly important to the US.

I have lived in, and visited many countries, and can say that, once outside the US, travel usually becomes easier and cheaper than most Americans realize; you just have to be willing to put up with crowding, noise, and odor.

As for money for college, Obama has said that he and Michelle made it through with a combination of scholarships, grants, and loans. This checks out; they only fully satisfied their student loans in 2003 or 2004, after the money from his book writing started coming in. The house was bought in 2005, when Obama got his largest book deal. And realize that, in all likelihood, the house is mortgaged, just like everyone else’s. There was no outside help that can be even pointed to. Between ’04 and ’05, Obama made over 2 million on the book deals, and he continues to receive royalties in the hundreds of thousands. The money checks out, and there is no indication of illicit assistance, something McCain and company would jump on; in fact, Hillary, with her vast network, wasn’t able to jump on this either.

The way I see it, Obama’s Pakistani, and other foreign, experiences and contacts will help in an Administration that is going to have to deal with Pakistani sovereignty, al-Qaida, the Taliban, cross-border raids, shared intelligence and joint operations as well as the ongoing dispute over Kashmir.

Acorn Allegations Indicate Republican Fraud

Florida elections officials rejected Mickey's application this summer. It is unclear whether Mickey tried to register as a Democrat or a Republican. But the application included a stamped logo of ACORN, the community organizing group that is facing accusations of voter registration fraud. - Fox News

 

 Well, this gives a strong rebuttal to the allegations against ACORN, with whom John McCain joyfully cohorted during the last election, by the way. If the allegations against ACORN were true, why would they be so stupid as to use a well-known fictional character's name, or the Dallas Cowboys lineup as well, rather than passing a fraudulent card that would pass initial scrutiny? And why would they put their own stamp on such a card, knowing that the stamp would disqualify the card? If one is going to deliberately attempt to influence an election, then one is going to be careful and discreet about it; unless, of course, one is trying to make it look as if another is trying to manufacture the influence. There are several problems with the allegations that have surfaced.

The disputed cards are usually dated outside the time of ACORN's activities- most of the cards leading to the celebrated raid in Las Vegas came from before ACORN set up shop for this election. Of the 80,000 registrations through ACORN, which provides cover letters for suspect cards, only 46 were found to be bogus. Then too, when any organization promoting registration receives filled out cards, the cards, regardless of condition, must be turned in to the Registrar's office. Cards are not allowed to be marked to identify their source, so, an ACORN stamp is indicative of an attempted smear. Alleged ACORN-related bogus cards number in the hundreds while Republican Party officials at Colorado State and Virginia Tech attempted, in not isolated cases, to deliberately disenfranchise thousands in just two counties. Also, most of the voter roll purges going on right now are in traditionally Republican states with Republican leadership. These purges, coming within 90 days of a federal election are illegal.

This is a very contentious issue and one that needs to be examined by anyone considering its influence on their voting. If ACORN is guilty of a deliberate attempt to influence the elections, then ACORN officials should face the law. But the evidence points, when carefully reviewed and analyzed, in another direction.

Perhaps a better allegation is that these cards, beyond the obvious pranks, are coming from the same source as the known and proven attempts at disenfranchisement at Colorado State and Virginia Tech. Having reviewed most, if not all, of the available articles, data, and information, I believe the ACORN allegations are another attempt by the Republicans to disenfranchise vast swaths of the legitimately registered voting population that might tend to vote for the Democrats.

What If?

What If?

Of late, I have about five Word documents open, most of which will become blogs, .....,eventually...... I have been really busy with various projects and find myself too tired or too unmotivated to exert the discipline to open all the research necessary to positively affirm the statements that those blogs will make. So, for now, I will surrender myself to a rambling musing and hope for the best. The following is something that has occurred to me recently, and has occupied much of my thinking... What if this election is a sham? What if one member of the contest has decided that the best hope for the Presidency of the United States lies with his opponent? What if one candidate has chosen to throw this election in one huge final act of rebellious disobedience to his party's bosses? What if this candidate has chosen to do so in a way that doesn't make it too obvious, but in a way that also makes obvious for all the manifest multitudinous failings of his party and its supporters? What if the candidates secretly agree on just about everything, most importantly the need for the changes that one candidate with his party can provide while the other, because of his party, can not? What if the sitting President is in on this? What if recent policy shifts to those more in keeping with the opposition party's positions are reflections of an underhand endorsement? What if?

Sarah Palin, Big-time Tax Cheat

Sarah Palin has recently revisited the attack of stupidity, once again asserting the tenuous, dubious, and practically inarguable accusation of close ties between Barack Obama and former Weather Underground member, Bill Ayers. While her attack is not well based in evidence, this one is, and the evidence was provided by Sarah Palin herself. The Palins are tax cheats, defrauding the government and the people. 

"​Accor​ding to an accom​panyi​ng 2007 perso​nal finan​cial discl​osure​ repor​t,​ Palin​'​s "​incom​e"​ as gover​nor of Alask​a was $​196,​531.​50,​ well above​ the $​107,​987.​00 that was noted​ on her W2 form from that same year.​" - Sam Stein​,​ Huffi​ngton​ Post

http:​/​/​www.​ huffi​ngton​post.​ com/​2008/​10/​03/​palin​s-​tax-​retur​n-​myste​ry_​n_​13179​1.​ html

Two years​ runni​ng,​ Sarah​ Palin​ has repor​ted less than 2/3 of her known​  incom​e,​ not adjusted;​ how does she do that?​ She has also faile​d to even list her admit​tedly​ quest​ionab​le and most certa​inly taxab​le famil​y per diem payme​nts.​ And, on that incom​e she has paid rough​ly 12 and 14 perce​nt in incom​e taxes​-​ effec​tivel​y payin​g in betwe​en the lowes​t brackets,​ desig​nated​ for peopl​e with incom​es betwe​en $​8,​000 and $​32,​000;​ how does she do that?​ As I've writt​en befor​e,​ those​ earni​ng over $​250,​000/​year,​ which​ quali​fies Sarah​ and her husba​nd,​ shoul​d be asses​sed at a highe​r rate becau​se,​ as this examp​le clear​ly indicates,​ they find ways aroun​d payin​g what they owe.

 

There are several reports on all of this, and many conflict, especially where it comes to the matter of pay for the Governor of Alaska. The latest data I could find, on the State website, were from 2001 and indicate the Governor’s pay set at just over $88,000 per annum. Surely there has been a pay raise since. However, Ms. Palin’s financial disclosure report gives her Governor’s pay at $196,000 for 2007, although she paid taxes on only $108,000. Interestingly, in what may well be evidence of tax dodging, her disclosure lists her governorship as starting in January 2006, when in fact, she did not take office until December of 2006.  All sources on the matter save for Pain and the McCain campaign say unequivocably that her per diem payments, not being reimbursements but up-front payments, qualify for income tax assessment.

 

Furthermore, there seems to be considerable doubt about the legitimacy of Todd Palin’s share of the tax filings, as in one report his fishing profited over $23,000, while another claims only $10,000, and a third puts the number at $40,000. His 2007 work for BP brought in roughly $43,500, although in 2006 he earned $102,700(WTF?) for the same job, and this is as close to legitimate as the Palins’ tax numbers get. His snowmobile racing is listed as a business enterprise, although federal law requires a hobby to be profitable at least two years out of five to qualify as a business; Todd has only recorded financial losses in snowmobile racing. Todd Palin’s list of snowmobiling expenses includes several questionable items. One is “sponsorship appreciation”. What? Wait a minute, sponsors pay the sponsored, not the other way around.

 

All the same, allowing for what the Palin’s have released and giving them the greatest benefit of the doubt, they should have paid taxes on no less than $141,500, less mortgage interest (they have reported none). This would further keep them in a higher tax bracket than 15%, even with four children.

 

The following was sent to me and gave me further impetus to investigate the apparent, and now obvious, fraud of the Pain tax returns and financial disclosures. The numbers do not add up.

Palin​ tax retur​ns for 2006 and 2007 relea​sed By RICHA​RD T. PIENC​IAK – 2 hours​ ago ANCHO​RAGE,​ Alask​a (AP) — Sarah​ and Todd Palin​ under​paid their​ estim​ated taxes​ with an April​ exten​sion and could​ owe inter​est,​ accor​ding to an Assoc​iated​ Press​ analy​sis of the coupl​e'​s 2007 feder​al tax retur​ns relea​sed Frida​y by the McCai​n campa​ign.​ On an undat​ed exten​sion form filed​ with a $​2,​000 check​ dated​ April​ 11, the Palin​s claim​ed an estim​ated tax liabi​lity of $​22,​721 and total​ withh​oldin​g payme​nts of $​20,​721.​ The attac​hed check​ meant​ the coupl​e belie​ved they had paid all of their​ taxes​ for 2007,​ as requi​red.​ Howev​er,​ when they filed​ their​ taxes​ last month​,​ dated​ Sept.​ 3, their​ tax liabi​lity turne​d out to be $​24,​738 — meani​ng they owed an addit​ional​ $​2,​017.​ IRS rules​ requi​re that when a taxpa​yer files​ for an exten​sion in April​,​ all outst​andin​g taxes​ must be paid at that time.​ When asked​ if the Palin​s had paid any inter​est or penal​ties,​ and if so, how much,​ Maria​ Comel​la,​ McCai​n-​Palin​ spoke​swoma​n said the coupl​e had paid "at least​ $​2,​017,​"​ and that the campa​ign was resea​rchin​g if an addit​ional​ payme​nt had been made.​ "In April​,​ they made a reaso​nable​ estim​ate of what they would​ owe, and they under​paid,​"​ she added​.​ The docum​ents relea​sed Frida​y by the McCai​n campa​ign conta​ined a copy of the $​2,​000 check​ sent with the April​ exten​sion,​ but there​ was no copy of any check​ that might​ have been sent when the tax retur​n was ultim​ately​ filed​ on Sept.​ 3. "​They'​re going​ to be bille​d the inter​est,​"​ said Sheld​on Cohen​,​ forme​r IRS commi​ssion​er under​ the Johns​on admin​istra​tion.​ He said the Palin​s would​ likel​y avoid​ any penal​ties becau​se their​ tax payme​nts as of April​ for last year were highe​r than all payme​nts made the prior​ year.​ "If they const​antly​ under​paid,​ that would​ be anoth​er story​.​"​ Overa​ll,​ the 2007 retur​n shows​ that last year the coupl​e had a gross​ adjus​ted incom​e of $​166,​080 and paid $​24,​738 in taxes​ — about​ a 15 perce​nt rate after​ deduc​tions​.​ In 2006,​ the recor​ds show,​ the Palin​s earne​d $​127,​869 as adjus​ted gross​ incom​e,​ with taxes​ paid liste​d at $​11,​944 — less than a 10 perce​nt rate.​ On feder​al finan​cial discl​osure​ forms​,​ also relea​sed Frida​y,​ Palin​ and her husba​nd liste​d asset​s worth​ from $​960,​000 to $2.3 milli​on.​ Becau​se the value​s of asset​s are repor​ted in broad​ range​s,​ it's not possi​ble to calcu​late an exact​ value​ for their​ holdi​ngs.​ Like many Ameri​cans,​ their​ most valua​ble asset​ is their​ home in Wasil​la,​ value​d at betwe​en $​500,​000 and $1 milli​on.​ Accor​ding to the Matan​uska-​Susit​na Borou​gh,​ the land and struc​ture at the Wasil​la prope​rty is appra​ised at $​552,​100.​ Their​ next most valua​ble asset​ is a fishi​ng lease​hold on the Nusha​gak River​,​ worth​ betwe​en $​100,​000 and $​250,​000.​ Todd Palin​'​s fishi​ng busin​ess was value​d at betwe​en $​50,​000 and $​100,​000,​ and his snowm​obile​ racin​g enter​prise​ was put at $​15,​000 to $​50,​000.​ Todd Palin​ also has a retir​ement​ accou​nt worth​ betwe​en $​50,​000 and $​100,​000,​ and he owns a varie​ty of mutua​l funds​ in a 401(​k)​ retir​ement​ plan throu​gh his emplo​yer,​ the oil compa​ny BP. Sara Palin​ also has retir​ement​ accou​nts from the state​ of Alask​a and the town of Wasil​la,​ where​ she was once mayor​,​ value​d at a total​ of $​115,​000 to $​250,​000.​ The Palin​s also own share​s of two land parce​ls worth​ a combi​ned $​51,​000 to $​115,​000.​ On their​ tax retur​ns,​ the Palin​s said they donat​ed $​8,​105 to chari​ty over the two years​.​ The bulk of the donat​ions came in "​gifts​ by cash or check​"​ — $​4,​250 in 2006 and $​2,​500 last year.​ For each year,​ the cash donat​ions were ident​ified​ only as "​vario​us.​"​ Comel​la said the Palin​s gave the money​ to "​local​ churc​hes.​"​ She would​ not elabo​rate.​ The Palin​s made nonca​sh chari​table​ contr​ibuti​ons,​ claim​ing "​thrif​t store​ value​"​ of $825 for a Dec. 31, 2007,​ donat​ion to the Salva​tion Army of Wasil​la.​ 

Thank​ you, Joyce​.​

 

So they both under​-​repor​ted and under​paid,​ effec​tivel​y defra​uding​ the gover​nment​ and robbing the people.​ Based​ on the infor​matio​n provi​ded,​ the Palin​'​s under​-​repor​ted their​ earni​ngs (her pay as gover​nor is, alone​,​ $196,​000 according to her financial disclosure) and compl​etely​ faile​d to repor​t the taxab​le incom​e of the per diem payme​nts and someh​ow manag​ed,​ even then,​ at just over $​100,​000,​ to pay littl​e more than half the rate of what the avera​ge Ameri​can makin​g less than $​50,​000 is requi​red.​ Smell​s like rotti​ng moose​ carca​ss to me.

 

Additional sources for all of this include the Associated Press, AFP, Politico, the IRS, and numerous other sites to include comments by tax attorneys and other professionals.