SubscribeEven The British Press Is Lying About Palin
If you want to see a blatant lie, check out this headline from the UK’s (laughably named) Independent:
Sale of Alaska’s state jet on eBay revealed as a lie
By Stephen Foley
Monday, 8 September 2008Sarah Palin bolstered her reputation as a reformer – and got one of her biggest cheers in her Republican convention speech last week – when she said she had sold the governor’s official jet on eBay as her first act on taking office in Alaska.
What she didn’t say was that the aircraft had failed to sell over the internet and was eventually sold off at a loss.
Governor Palin won her spot as the Republican vice-presidential nominee in part because John McCain saw in her a little of his own campaign theme of cutting government waste and his reputation as a maverick.
And he has since claimed on the stump that his running mate sold the jet for a profit on the internet auction site. The spin, though, has been over-spun. Inquiries by the journalists and Democratic party operatives who have descended on Alaska have turned up quite different facts: namely, that the jet was hauled off eBay after failing to attract decent bids.
The Westwind II jet had been bought for $2.7m in 2005 by Mrs Palin’s predecessor as governor, Frank Murkowski. It had become one of the symbols of excess in the governor’s mansion which would help the young, right-wing Mrs Palin sweep to power the following year.
“That luxury jet was over the top,” she told the convention last week, in a feisty speech that was watched by 37 million on TV and established the self-described “hockey mom” as a scrappy new force in national politics. Grinning, she said: “I put it on eBay.”
In fact when it was listed on eBay it attracted only one serious bid, and that fell through. Dan Spencer, director of administrative services at Alaska’s Public Safety Department, told reporters that John Harris, the speaker of the Alaska House, then brokered a sale to Larry Reynolds, a businessman who made campaign contributions to both Mrs Palin and Mr Harris.
Mr Reynolds paid only $2.1m for the aircraft, and now wants $50,000 from the Alaskan taxpayer to cover maintenance costs. The discrepancies in the tale have given additional material to Democrats trying to counter Mrs Palin’s popular appeal.
Er, Mrs. Palin did put the jet on eBay — exactly like she said in her RNC speech:
While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor’s office that I didn’t believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay. I also drive myself to work.
She didn’t claim that she sold it on eBay.
So where is the lie, Mr. Foley?
Of course there is no lie, nor any “discrepancies,” except for this boldfaced lie from our watchdog media.
But it sure made for a sensational headline, didn’t it?
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23 Responses to “Even The British Press Is Lying About Palin”
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September 7th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
They are scraping the bottom of the barrel.
The always honest NYT says they have another rumor to print tomorrow.
What?? She once stiffed the waitress on the tip??? Put her in jail.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
“What she didn’t say was that the aircraft had failed to sell over the internet and was eventually sold off at a loss. ”
Ya that’s a bummer–that ebay is not at all like that guy who sells the “how to sell on ebay” dvds.
I tried to sell my car over ebay, but received 0 offers and had to sell it to my neighbor at a loss.
Just another amazing story: I am Sarah Palin.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Was it not the NYT’s that stated that Robbert F. Goddard was completely ignorant of physics if he thought a rocket would work in space.
Liberals sheer stupidity in hiring half witted journalists is at least a constant on every continent!
September 7th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
It would only be an issue if she hadn’t put it on Ebay at all and it was still sitting in a hangar. And since Ebay has had everything from aircraft carriers (no motors, tow-it-home) to a Mirage III jet fighter (no guns but Oh Mama!) that’s not all that surprising. And the plane *was* sold to someone, just after the auction ran. So I dunno….more to grouse about. Heck, I was on Ebay this evening buying weird Russian camera lenses, but then I like pain…….
But this worries me a bit: “Inquiries by the journalists and Democratic party operatives who have descended on Alaska.” Operatives? I just picture some husky voice character in a trench coat smoking cigarettes and giving orders from a telephone booth. Imagine the scene if Obambi was facing the same mud digging campaign.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
For some Redneck reason, I got a feeling those operatives are going to be running with their tails between their legs in a couple of days.
Alaska is a BIG place, people disappear there all the time never to be seen again.
But that is just me and my kind talking….
September 8th, 2008 at 12:13 am
eBay seller fees woulda been murder on that jet! Besides, what’s the market on a jet like that?
So, does the lefty media have some secret organization of world-wide biased journalists that send operatives to report for the Demmies?
September 8th, 2008 at 12:18 am
yeah its called the “associated press”
September 8th, 2008 at 1:39 am
The company I do work for bought the same jet as this, a Westwind 2. I did a bit of research on it, the going price for one is anywhere from $1.2 mil upwards to $1.8 mil. USD. The state of Alaska paid about $1.0 mil too much for it in the first place, and governor Palin then got a good price for it when it finally sold. Does any of this come up in the MSM attacks? Noooo!
September 8th, 2008 at 1:42 am
The MSM don’t do math.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:45 am
“The company I do work for bought the same jet as this, a Westwind 2. I did a bit of research on it, the going price for one is anywhere from $1.2 mil upwards to $1.8 mil. USD. The state of Alaska paid about $1.0 mil too much for it in the first place, and governor Palin then got a good price for it when it finally sold. Does any of this come up in the MSM attacks? Noooo!”
Good digging, DGA.
Also, as one of the articles linked noted, the former governor also bought the jet even after the legislature refused to fund it. He just used money from another pocket.
Another minor detail that our media will never bother to tell us about.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:12 am
Perhaps it’s just me, but I’ve never known used aircraft to bring an increase in purchase price compared to the same aircraft new.
Further, this is yet another example of journalists (and perhaps public citizens) who fail to grasp even the barest of economic concepts.
For those who need remedial math:
Alaska paid $2,700,000 for the aircraft under a former governor.
Alaska got paid $2,100,000 for the aircraft under Governor Palin.
That’s $2,100,000 more than Alaska had in the Treasury when she took office.
Somehow that’s a bad thing?
Among the left, it is, because it shows fiscal responsibility.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:09 am
OBAMA’08 HEADQUARTERS - CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDAM
FROM: Kevin Shitt, Campaign Operative
TO: Brad Lyer, Campaign Operative
DATE: Sept 8, 2008
SUBJECT: Still panicking
MEMO STATUS: Super Duper Highly Confidential. EYES ONLY!
Read, Memorize, Eat, Digest, Excrete and Eat Again
1. Brad, this just isn’t working! What’s the matter with the bitter,ordinary people? After “Bastardgate”, Retardgate”, “Troopergate” and “Affairgate “they should be hating Palin’s guts but our polling says that they think WE’RE the ones who are being mean!
2. I know it’s unbelievable that we, the party of fairness and decency, can’t get traction with our positive message, even with our media stooges pulling out all the stops, but I guess sometimes bad things happen to good people.
3. Personally, I’m fuming. Here’s the Palin so-called “family”; with the son about to go to the jungles of Iraq to kill babies, the unmarried daughter knocked up and getting married, instead of either having the brat and going on welfare or better yet, aborting the little potential Republican, like a normal person would, and the mother, lugging her retarded baby around the stage at the Convention like she loved it or something! Gross.
4. BTW, can we get our mouthpieces to put out the point that if SP wouldn’t do the decent thing and abort the little Mongoloid its not too late for her to get it lobotomized and then locked up for life in some nunnery or whatever. Now THAT would be a Kennedyesque thing to do!
5. Our last hope is that our new “A Woman’s Place is in the Home” message takes hold. I’ve got a coven of top feminists lined up to talk about their “concerns” over how a woman can’t balance career and family and is a bad person if she tries. I spoke to Gloria S and she’s totally on board with this. So is Sally Quinn “Medicine Woman” at the Wapo. Let’s just hope no one asks who’s bringing up the Obama girls!
6. And if this doesn’t work I see no choice but to hand the contract over to Hillary and her Waste Disposal team – wink wink, nudge nudge -but that’s something we’ll talk about in private.
7. See you at the Man Hole tonight as usual. 730ish?
Kevin
September 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Governor Palin was right to get rid of the plane.
I might add there are monthly hangar charges, preventative maintenance and many other charges including fuel, made to the State of Alaska.
A very wise move by the Governor.
She is GREAT!!!!
It’s no wonder, she has more than 80% support of the Alaskan taxpayers!
I would like to see her President of the United States!!!
BILLK has it right!
September 8th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
“I PUT it on EBay.” was the quote. Stephen Foley (no relation I’m sure) - changed the PUT to SOLD.
I wish we’d bring back stocks and public dunking.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
“And he has since claimed on the stump that his running mate sold the jet for a profit on the internet auction site. The spin, though, has been over-spun. Inquiries by the journalists and Democratic party operatives who have descended on Alaska have turned up quite different facts: namely, that the jet was hauled off eBay after failing to attract decent bids.”
Can somebody please show me: when did Senator McCain do this? Or is this more fabrication?
September 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
On top of the purchase price, the Westwind 2 costs close to $2000 per hour to operate. Compare that to a few commercial airline seats and it’s a long way off being economical in any sense.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I answered my own question. McBrain screwed up in what he is quoted as saying: “You know what I enjoyed the most? She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay — and made a profit!” McCain declared in Wisconsin at a campaign stop on Friday.
http://voices.washingtonpost.c....._ebay.html
The only thing I can think of as profit would be that as DGA said above, the craft is expensive to run. It was already bought and paid for by a former Governor, and Gov Palin caused the craft to be sold which added money (to the Alaskan treasury) which wasn’t there when she took over as Governor. Hence she caused a profit by selling an un-needed luxury assett for capital.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
When the Independent first came out it was Independent … but then it sold its soul to liberalism. I haven’t read a copy for years.
Incidentally, the reason why I read the Torygraph is not just because I like reading a right-wing rag.
It’s because bombarded every day by BBC/Guardian/Work colleague liberalism and need a break from the standard template. Even then, the Torygraph fits a few libs in the comments pages for “balance”. Utterly pointless, because if you live in the UK, you cannot get through a single day without hearing the lib viewpoint shouted from the rooftops …
PS: Go Sarah Palin!
PPS: Don’t worry about Russell Brand … we don’t get him either!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t.....710449.ece
September 8th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Can you smell the fear?!? LMAO Can you smell the panic? Has any noticed lately Barak Hussein Obama looks like he has actually figured out he could LOSE this elections? He sure doesn’t have that same tone and skip in his step! I can’t wait until election night to see the stupid looks on all of these faces! ROFLMAO
September 8th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Sarah P. said, “I put it on e-bay.” It was John McCain who said, “She sold it on e-bay! And made a profit!”
What language manipulation!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Here’s a link to the full text of the speech:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics.....amp;page=1
September 9th, 2008 at 2:26 am
artboy,
You need to start considering a “Collected Works of artboyusa”. Let us know when you’ll be on Oprah promoting it so we can tune in.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
If any ”high flying ‘ legislators actually need to get from point A to point B in luxury without the accompanying sweatty, working class ‘low life’ close by, there are now several options like ‘Netjet’, without paying for the 24-7 overhead of private jet ownership. Anyone know what the term ‘Hanger Queen’ means? Also they have the option of the same way most prospective travelers do it, If that isn’t too far below the status of a beaurocrat. shudder …’commercial aviation’ ..Shudder… Oh did I mention that Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, that has spent his past years running and campaigning for the 2008 presidency, or at the least vice presidency, bought a new one like it, as soon as he became elected. Oh I meant that ‘The NM highway Dept’ bought it. Do all top level Democrats like to fly only in a private Jet?