Palin's resignation represents a victory, of sorts. During the campaign she engaged in the lowest form of politics of personal destruction against Obama. She then went on to agitate for Republicans and raise money for them around the country. A year later, she is half a million in debt, her children are an object of public ridicule and still needs to defend herself in court. Hopefully, she will serve as an example to other Republicans who are thinking about playing "hardball."
Out of curiosity, I also found a comprehensive list of the exact charges filed against Palin. Some of them were determined to have no merit, but you never know what's going to stick so they were all worth a try.
If you would like to read the full text of the charges, follow this link.
- - July 28, 2008 - Alaska lawmakers launched an investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan...
- - Aug. 6, 2008 - Complaint filed by outspoken Palin critic Andree McLeod of Anchorage contended Palin and some staff members used their influence to get a Palin supporter a job...
- - Aug. 20, 2008 - Complaint accused Palin of breaking election law by taking a public position on a mining ballot initiative days before the vote...
Aug. 29, Palin was named as John McCain's running mate.
- - Sept. 2, 2008 - Palin filed a "self disclosure" with the state personnel board over the Troopergate affair, saying a state legislative probe had become too political...
- - Sept. 3, 2008 - Complaint by the Public Safety Employees Association alleged Palin or her staff had unauthorized access to and improperly disclosed information from personnel records of Trooper Mike Wooten...
- - Oct. 13, 2008 - Monegan asked the board for a hearing to clear his name...
- - Oct. 23, 2008 - Complaint with the Federal Election Commission by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleged the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her vice presidential quest violated Federal Election Campaign Act...
- - Oct. 24, 2008 - Complaint contended Palin abused her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her. The personnel board found no wrongdoing...
An aside on #8, governors, senators and congressmen of both parties regularly take their families along using taxpayer money. They can do so legally because they take charter jets, and the family members cost nothing since the jet is going anyway. Of course, this ends up being much more expensive. Read more here.
Palin mistake was flying commercial, requiring extra tickets for her children. She should have kept Steven's private jet!
- - Nov. 14, 2008 - Accused Palin of partisan "post-election damage control" for talking to reporters about the campaign in her state office...
- - Dec. 2, 2008 - Alleged Palin violated ethics law by campaigning for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia...
- - Dec. 18, 2008 - Complaint contended Palin misused funds of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, a quasi-government entity, to promote her political ambitions with advertisements featuring her, violating ethics law. The ads promoting Alaska seafood ran in the National Fisherman last year through November. Dismissed Jan. 12 after a personnel board investigation determined Palin's only involvement was to give permission to use her image long before she was named McCain's running mate.
- - Jan. 12 - Complaint alleging interference in a job hiring was filed under the name of Edna Birch, a busybody character on the British soap opera Emmerdale...
- and 14. - Jan. 26 - ... The complaints said then-press secretary Bill McAllister and Kris Perry - director of the governor's Anchorage office - worked on state time to benefit Palin's interests during and after her vice presidential quest.
- - March 18 - Contended Palin improperly used state staff, property, time and equipment for partisan political purposes. One of the grievances cited was Palin's posting of her veep candidacy on the official state governor's Web site...
- - March 24 - Contended conflict of interest by Palin because she wore Arctic Cat logo gear during the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race. Palin's husband, Todd, is sponsored by Arctic Cat in the race...
- - April 22 - Alleged that work with Palin's political action committee violated two provisions of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by misusing her official position and accepting outside employment..
And last but not least, the best one of all.
- - April 27 - Contends Palin is misusing the governor's office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust. The fund was recently established by supporters to help Palin pay off more than $500,000 in legal debts stemming from other ethics complaints...
So forget being bailed out by rich Republican special interests. You'd better be indepedently wealthy!