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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Dos Equis on June 08, 2009, 12:30:23 PM
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Gov. Sarah Palin Quietly Cleared of All Ethics Charges
Monday, June 8, 2009 9:22 AM
By: Amanda Carpenter, The Washington Times
The accusations made news, but with another dismissal of an ethics charge last week against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential nominee has quietly been cleared of every ethics complaint filed since the torrent of allegations began in 2008.
Mrs. Palin, who became a target of such complaints after being named Sen. John McCain's running mate, is 14-for-14 in fighting off the complaints. She's been cleared of 13 charges by the independent State Personnel Board and of another complaint by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
After the latest complaint in Alaska was dismissed last week, Mrs. Palin's team said that having to fend off the pile of accusations was wasting state money.
"This complaint cost the governor personally, and the state of Alaska, thousands of dollars to address," said Thomas Van Flein, the governor's attorney. "It is regrettable that the ethics process has been diverted for partisan purposes by some, but it is also commendable that the board remains focused on the law."
The floodgates opened after Mrs. Palin was tapped by Mr. McCain of Arizona and she was accused of abusing power by firing state Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Four complaints related to this matter were filed to the personnel board. One of them was filed by the governor as a means of self-disclosure. In the end, no violation was found.
Even after the election was over, the stream of complaints continued.
Alaska residents challenged Mrs. Palin's trips out of state to attend a campaign event for Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Republican, and to speak at a pro-life breakfast in Indiana, as well as for conducting television interviews in her state office.
The latest complaint to be decided was filed by Anchorage resident Linda Kellen Biegel, who took issue with Mrs. Palin for wearing to a public function a jacket made by a company that sponsored the governor's husband, Todd, a snow machine racer. Ms. Biegel asked the personnel board to determine whether Mrs. Palin was abusing her position to serve her personal and financial interests.
Mrs. Palin called the complaint "asinine political grandstanding," and the board's independent investigator said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.
"My investigation has uncovered no evidence that the governor or her husband received anything of value in exchange for the governor wearing the Team Arctic jacket when she acted as the official starter of the 2009 Iron Dog," said Thomas Daniel, the investigator. "I also note that most jackets worn by Alaskans have a company name or logo on them."
(Corrected paragraph:) The personnel board is a three-member panel of non-state workers who are appointed by the governor. Mrs. Palin's predecessor appointed each of the three current members, Chairwoman Debra English, Laura Plenert and Alfred Tamagni Sr., although Mrs. Palin reappointed Ms. English for another term in January 2008.
Rules dictate that no more than two of the members can belong to the same political party. Ms. English is a registered Republican; Ms. Plenert and Mr. Tamagni have no declared party affiliation.
The personnel board normally would be expected to meet only two or three times a year, but their workload has increased because of the number of complaints filed.
Mrs. Palin said defending herself against the complaints has cost more than $500,000, and she set up a legal defense fund to cover the costs.
Eagle River resident Kim Chatman challenged that move. "Governor Palin is perched to improperly receive an enormous amount of money for herself and her family and position a pool of pre-paid defense lawyers organized to deflect consequences of wrongdoings," Ms. Chatman said in the filing.
That complaint is still pending, though it's unclear whether other complaints are. The personnel board isn't supposed to talk about complaints until the matter has been resolved.
In the wake of the complaints, the personnel board sought to make the public aware of the cost of investigating the complaints. Mr. Tamagni estimated that the board has spent "close to a third of a million dollars."
One complaint did have some effect.
Like previous Alaska governors, Mrs. Palin took her children on plane trips to events to which her children were not specifically invited. Though the personnel board did not find any violation of ethics rules, the governor volunteered to reimburse those expenses to the state. The bill totaled $20,012.
Ms. Biegel, who blogs about politics from a Democratic perspective under the name Celtic Diva and was selected by the Democratic National Committee to represent Alaska bloggers at the 2008 convention, said the state offers no other options to challenge the actions of elected officials.
"It's the only way we can ask the question basically," Ms. Biegel said.
Ms. Biegel publicized her complaint on her blog with a press release, although parties involved in the filings are not supposed to discuss them with the public.
"I wanted to have a record so people would know there was one out there and it couldn't just disappear," she said.
Kay Brown, communications director for the Alaska Democratic Party, said Ms. Biegel had no formal connection to the party and Alaska Democrats did not have a role in any of the complaints filed against the governor.
She did, however, think there was reason for the complaints and raised the issue of the governor's forthcoming autobiography and travel to out-of-state political events.
"How is this benefiting the people of Alaska in her duties as governor? It seems like there is a disconnect there," Ms. Brown said. "Since Palin has put herself in the national spotlight more questions have been raised about her use of office for personal advancement that weren't there before."
In the federal complaint, the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington asked the FEC to rule on whether Mrs. Palin violated campaign spending laws after the Republican Party bought clothes for her during the presidential campaign.
The FEC ruled in May that a prohibition on candidates using campaign money for personal expenses doesn't apply to parties.
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/palin_charges_dismissed/2009/06/08/222621.html
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My girl was at Yankee Stadium yesterday.
The RATS are grasping at anything to take her down.
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I thought I heard someone on CNN say that 20,000 people showed up to hear her speak. Did I hear that right?
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I thought I heard someone on CNN say that 20,000 people showed up to hear her speak. Did I hear that right?
Yup, upstate New york. She gave a speech honoring the guy who helped with the purchase of Alaska. 20,000 showed up.
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Gee,how can that be?I thought she was a liar and an idiot.According to bright boys like 240 she is on her way to jail.As usual,the lying left is proven to be a bunch of cocksuker scumbags,attempting to ruin people when THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY!!!WRONG DOING!!!!
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Gee,how can that be?I thought she was a liar and an idiot.According to bright boys like 240 she is on her way to jail.As usual,the lying left is proven to be a bunch of cocksuker scumbags,attempting to ruin people when THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY!!!WRONG DOING!!!!
The pics from the NY Daily news are great.
The RATS fear her.
They know ZERO's spending and taxing is going to make him weaker in 2012.
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The pics from the NY Daily news are great.
The RATS fear her.
They know ZERO's spending and taxing is going to make him weaker in 2012.
They obviously do fear her,thats why they cant stop talking about her.I though that spitting little idiot Chris Mathews really made an ass of himself last week.Palin said that Obama wants states to take the money so they can then controll the states.Mathews called this "black helocopter stuff".
Hmmm,lets see,Obama took over the banks,now he decides what the execs can make,where they can fly to ,their compendsation packages,who to loan to.He took over the auto industry ,fired the CEO and will now tell them what they can make,what kind of cars to make,which dealerships will close.So,Palin is right.He will bail out states,then appoint a state czar,who will usurp the authority away from the governor and legislature.Only an ass like spittles Mathews could deny Palin is 100% correct!!!!However,his hatred is so intense he cant think straight anymore.
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They obviously do fear her,thats why they cant stop talking about her.I though that spitting little idiot Chris Mathews really made an ass of himself last week.Palin said that Obama wants states to take the money so they can then controll the states.Mathews called this "black helocopter stuff".
Hmmm,lets see,Obama took over the banks,now he decides what the execs can make,where they can fly to ,their compendsation packages,who to loan to.He took over the auto industry ,fired the CEO and will now tell them what they can make,what kind of cars to make,which dealerships will close.So,Palin is right.He will bail out states,then appoint a state czar,who will usurp the authority away from the governor and legislature.Only an ass like spittles Mathews could deny Palin is 100% correct!!!!However,his hatred is so intense he cant think straight anymore.
A fairy like Matthews fears Palin because he knows Palin will steamroll him in ever of life, including a hunt, a fight, a basketball game, a boxing match, a shootout at a range, or literally anything for that matter.
Look, she is not perfect, but next to the typical liberal white "male", she's got my vote any day of the week.
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Funny,240 has NO comment on this.This little puke gets on here and bashes her EVERYDAY and EVERY single attack has been destroyed.In typical 240 character,he never ever discusses how wrong he was[ AS USUAL,]instead he will just go on to another attack and that will be proven a lie as well.People like 240 are scared of her because they know that they cant compete with her in ANY way.They also are pissed off that the democrats have nothing but empty headed dogs and Palin is smarter then them,looks better then them and giggles at them.
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So what is the excuse for the GOP practically disowning her?
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So what is the excuse for the GOP practically disowning her?
Most of the "men" in the GOP fear her because she has more balls, guts, gile, and charisma than all of those phonies combined.
Most of the fairies in the GOP are an embarassment to men in general.
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So what is the excuse for the GOP practically disowning her?
Who?little jerkoffs like Powell and McCain?The conservatives love her.Its the neo-cons who dont like her.However,I think even that is exagerated by left wing,limp wristed sissies like Olberman and Mathews who cant go ONE SHOW without talking about her.
Its amazing that a women who Olberman and Mathews says is stupid,a non player,a fool,a hillbilly,no future,of no consequence talk about her everyday.I dont ever talk about people that I think nothing of.Id normally say they secretly are attracted to her,but since both guys are queer,I doubt it.In fact,Mathews is just waiting for his chance to go down on Obama.
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Funny,240 has NO comment on this.This little puke gets on here and bashes her EVERYDAY and EVERY single attack has been destroyed.In typical 240 character,he never ever discusses how wrong he was[ AS USUAL,]instead he will just go on to another attack and that will be proven a lie as well.People like 240 are scared of her because they know that they cant compete with her in ANY way.They also are pissed off that the democrats have nothing but empty headed dogs and Palin is smarter then them,looks better then them and giggles at them.
you need to drop the halotestin dose, man.
Palin is irelevant. The repubs held their big party fundraiser yesterday and they didn't even let Palin speak, despite repeated requests from her camp.
Yeah, I think it's the repub party who is more scared she'll cost them TWO elections.
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you need to drop the halotestin dose, man.
Palin is irelevant. The repubs held their big party fundraiser yesterday and they didn't even let Palin speak, despite repeated requests from her camp.
Yeah, I think it's the repub party who is more scared she'll cost them TWO elections.
Then why do those idiots on MSNBC talk about her everyday?Once I leave this site I never talk about you,because YOU are irrelevant.Obviously they shit in their pants over her.
By the way,you should up your doesage as its obvious your test levels rival that of a 13 year old school girl....Oh ,wait a second,YOUR BOY Joe Biden made sure to put steroids in the controlled substance catagory,so your shit out of luck.Oh well,having a bald pubic area must not be so bad at least you dont have to shave.
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awesome. now go away bitch.
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Who?
Oh you know... say the majority of the party, moderates, independents, Nov 08 election voters, etc..
Hey, let the conservatives love her. They are in the minority anyway and won't be winning anything with or without her so it won't matter.
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Then why do those idiots on MSNBC talk about her everyday?
she did a primetime interview on hannity last night after being snubbed by her own party's fundraiser of the year.
yeah, it's news.
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Oh you know... say the majority of the party, moderates, independents, Nov 08 election voters, etc..
Hey, let the conservatives love her. They are in the minority anyway and won't be winning anything with or without her so it won't matter.
WANT TO BET ON THAT?
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she did a primetime interview on hannity last night after being snubbed by her own party's fundraiser of the year.
yeah, it's news.
Snubbed?I thought she backed out of it.They asked her to speak.More MSNBC lies.Hannity comes on at 9:00pm,Mathews comes on at 7:00pm and Olberman 8:00pm.So,WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?They don't go ONE DAY without talking about her or Rush.I PROMISE this,FOX NEVER mentions dumb ass Mathews or Olberman by name EVER.You know why?They are insignificant morons with no ratings,no following and no talent.
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By the way,according to CNN she stole the show last night and was THE STAR of the show.Thats according to that bastion of conservative talk CNN.By the way,Rush just said it right.Her future is FAR brighter then the failure Katie Couric who just came away with the all time lowest ratings IN THE HISTORY of CBS news.
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By the way,according to CNN she stole the show last night and was THE STAR of the show.Thats according to that bastion of conservative talk CNN.By the way,Rush just said it right.Her future is FAR brighter then the failure Katie Couric who just came away with the all time lowest ratings IN THE HISTORY of CBS news.
if Palin hires a speech coach for some brushing up and gets a little better with certain issues, she is unstoppable.
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WANT TO BET ON THAT?
Without independent and moderate appeal, GOP is doomed. That is fact.
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Without independent and moderate appeal, GOP is doomed. That is fact.
The GOP sucks right now because they are dem-lite.
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Without independent and moderate appeal, GOP is doomed. That is fact.
No,with a dictator in the white house and a little anti-white racist at that,ANYONE will defeat him in three years.He will wreck EVERYTHING he touches.When the VAT tax passes and cap and trade passes and tax rates go up and unemployment hasnt changed,the people will vote that little racist and his tranny wife right back to his community so he can continue to destroy that as well.
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No,with a dictator in the white house and a little anti-white racist at that,ANYONE will defeat him in three years.He will wreck EVERYTHING he touches.When the VAT tax passes and cap and trade passes and tax rates go up and unemployment hasnt changed,the people will vote that little racist and his tranny wife right back to his community so he can continue to destroy that as well.
:)
:D :D :D :D :D :D
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No,with a dictator in the white house and a little anti-white racist at that,ANYONE will defeat him in three years.
Approval ratings still in the 60s despite all his silly money printing.
If he's going to lose in 3 years, the repubs need a better candidate than "ANYONE".
Remember, they ran a senile war vet and lipstick hillbilly pitbull in 2008 and got beaten badly in the election.
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Approval ratings still in the 60s despite all his silly money printing.
If he's going to lose in 3 years, the repubs need a better candidate than "ANYONE".
Remember, they ran a senile war vet and lipstick hillbilly pitbull in 2008 and got beaten badly in the election.
your problem will be 240 all the broken promises that obama will have its been what a few months and there are already a number of campaign promises he has flip flopped on and others that just arent feasible bro...I know I konw "its politics everyone does it" will be your response but not everyone runs a campaign with the slogan change you can believe in, not the regular politician etc...he is turning out to be nothing more then a everyday politician in a better wrapper...and while you may say youve known this all the time do you really think those starey eyed ppl who were crying at his speechs and chanting the change slogan did? face it he is nothing more then i say one thing do another politician and has promised more then he can deliver.
I just heard him speak about paying as you go...LOL this is just months after passing a budget that will put us what in trillions of dollars of debt...
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your problem will be 240 all the broken promises that obama will have its been what a few months and there are already a number of campaign promises he has flip flopped on and others that just arent feasible bro...I know I konw "its politics everyone does it" will be your response but not everyone runs a campaign with the slogan change you can believe in, not the regular politician etc...he is turning out to be nothing more then a everyday politician in a better wrapper...and while you may say youve known this all the time do you really think those starey eyed ppl who were crying at his speechs and chanting the change slogan did? face it he is nothing more then i say one thing do another politician and has promised more then he can deliver.
I just heard him speak about paying as you go...LOL this is just months after passing a budget that will put us what in trillions of dollars of debt...
Palin 2012 - Change 240 will be begging for!
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No,with a dictator in the white house and a little anti-white racist at that,ANYONE will defeat him in three years.He will wreck EVERYTHING he touches.When the VAT tax passes and cap and trade passes and tax rates go up and unemployment hasnt changed,the people will vote that little racist and his tranny wife right back to his community so he can continue to destroy that as well.
MELTDOWN.
Still need a candidate for your party. Because your little 20% minority one isn't going to succeed.
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MELTDOWN.
Still need a candidate for your party. Because your little 20% minority one isn't going to succeed.
Like I said,we could run ANYONE and beat that blue lipped idiot in there.Just think,VAT tax,cap and trade,you will be looking at about 5,000 more a year out of your pay check.That wont be change ANYONE will believe in.Obama is a fool and a racist and people are starting to wake up to it now.Take a look at the governor race in Virginia.
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Like I said,we could run ANYONE and beat that blue lipped idiot in there.
And yet those pesky little polls of main stream America say otherwise.
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And yet those pesky little polls of main stream America say otherwise.
[tinfoil]
the polls are all run by liberal left-win drive by media groups.
In reality, 99% of americans want palin to be president.
They were disenfranchised by ACORN in 2008, which is the only reason obama won
[/tinfoil]
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Gov. Sarah Palin Quietly Cleared of All Ethics Charges
Monday, June 8, 2009 9:22 AM
By: Amanda Carpenter, The Washington Times
The accusations made news, but with another dismissal of an ethics charge last week against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential nominee has quietly been cleared of every ethics complaint filed since the torrent of allegations began in 2008.
Mrs. Palin, who became a target of such complaints after being named Sen. John McCain's running mate, is 14-for-14 in fighting off the complaints. She's been cleared of 13 charges by the independent State Personnel Board and of another complaint by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
After the latest complaint in Alaska was dismissed last week, Mrs. Palin's team said that having to fend off the pile of accusations was wasting state money.
"This complaint cost the governor personally, and the state of Alaska, thousands of dollars to address," said Thomas Van Flein, the governor's attorney. "It is regrettable that the ethics process has been diverted for partisan purposes by some, but it is also commendable that the board remains focused on the law."
The floodgates opened after Mrs. Palin was tapped by Mr. McCain of Arizona and she was accused of abusing power by firing state Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Four complaints related to this matter were filed to the personnel board. One of them was filed by the governor as a means of self-disclosure. In the end, no violation was found.
Even after the election was over, the stream of complaints continued.
Alaska residents challenged Mrs. Palin's trips out of state to attend a campaign event for Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Republican, and to speak at a pro-life breakfast in Indiana, as well as for conducting television interviews in her state office.
The latest complaint to be decided was filed by Anchorage resident Linda Kellen Biegel, who took issue with Mrs. Palin for wearing to a public function a jacket made by a company that sponsored the governor's husband, Todd, a snow machine racer. Ms. Biegel asked the personnel board to determine whether Mrs. Palin was abusing her position to serve her personal and financial interests.
Mrs. Palin called the complaint "asinine political grandstanding," and the board's independent investigator said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.
"My investigation has uncovered no evidence that the governor or her husband received anything of value in exchange for the governor wearing the Team Arctic jacket when she acted as the official starter of the 2009 Iron Dog," said Thomas Daniel, the investigator. "I also note that most jackets worn by Alaskans have a company name or logo on them."
(Corrected paragraph:) The personnel board is a three-member panel of non-state workers who are appointed by the governor. Mrs. Palin's predecessor appointed each of the three current members, Chairwoman Debra English, Laura Plenert and Alfred Tamagni Sr., although Mrs. Palin reappointed Ms. English for another term in January 2008.
Rules dictate that no more than two of the members can belong to the same political party. Ms. English is a registered Republican; Ms. Plenert and Mr. Tamagni have no declared party affiliation.
The personnel board normally would be expected to meet only two or three times a year, but their workload has increased because of the number of complaints filed.
Mrs. Palin said defending herself against the complaints has cost more than $500,000, and she set up a legal defense fund to cover the costs.
Eagle River resident Kim Chatman challenged that move. "Governor Palin is perched to improperly receive an enormous amount of money for herself and her family and position a pool of pre-paid defense lawyers organized to deflect consequences of wrongdoings," Ms. Chatman said in the filing.
That complaint is still pending, though it's unclear whether other complaints are. The personnel board isn't supposed to talk about complaints until the matter has been resolved.
In the wake of the complaints, the personnel board sought to make the public aware of the cost of investigating the complaints. Mr. Tamagni estimated that the board has spent "close to a third of a million dollars."
One complaint did have some effect.
Like previous Alaska governors, Mrs. Palin took her children on plane trips to events to which her children were not specifically invited. Though the personnel board did not find any violation of ethics rules, the governor volunteered to reimburse those expenses to the state. The bill totaled $20,012.
Ms. Biegel, who blogs about politics from a Democratic perspective under the name Celtic Diva and was selected by the Democratic National Committee to represent Alaska bloggers at the 2008 convention, said the state offers no other options to challenge the actions of elected officials.
"It's the only way we can ask the question basically," Ms. Biegel said.
Ms. Biegel publicized her complaint on her blog with a press release, although parties involved in the filings are not supposed to discuss them with the public.
"I wanted to have a record so people would know there was one out there and it couldn't just disappear," she said.
Kay Brown, communications director for the Alaska Democratic Party, said Ms. Biegel had no formal connection to the party and Alaska Democrats did not have a role in any of the complaints filed against the governor.
She did, however, think there was reason for the complaints and raised the issue of the governor's forthcoming autobiography and travel to out-of-state political events.
"How is this benefiting the people of Alaska in her duties as governor? It seems like there is a disconnect there," Ms. Brown said. "Since Palin has put herself in the national spotlight more questions have been raised about her use of office for personal advancement that weren't there before."
In the federal complaint, the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington asked the FEC to rule on whether Mrs. Palin violated campaign spending laws after the Republican Party bought clothes for her during the presidential campaign.
The FEC ruled in May that a prohibition on candidates using campaign money for personal expenses doesn't apply to parties.
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/palin_charges_dismissed/2009/06/08/222621.html
"You need to have ethics to be cleared of them"....I have no problem with her running for any office, but she belongs where she lives.... I know she won't get the Carabou vote, nor will she get the Moose vote, but the Grizzly Bears are in her corner...The Beavers are undecided, they tend to dam things up anyway!
Seeing the genetic pool she came from, with clorox in the mix, and factor in that she was made from spare parts of George W. Bush, and Dan Quayle....She is an ideal candidate for any Spelling Bee!