| Sep 23 @ 2:20 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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legacy1
Posts: 516
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LINK:http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=8B29D484-18FE-70B2-A80F62BBC3426831
It seems someone else was ducking out the side door other than Obama...hmm interesting? 
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
By: Scott Lilly
September 22, 2008 07:10 PM EST
Despite all of the discussion of Sarah Palin’s performance as governor of Alaska, there has been little analysis of the simplest measure of performance: attendance. As Woody Allen said many years ago, “80 percent of success is just showing up.”
The Washington Post recently reported that, in her first 19 months as governor, Palin billed the state of Alaska per diem charges for 312 days she spent at her home in Wasilla. Palin’s staff has explained that it was appropriate to bill the state for expenses related to Palin staying in her own house because her “official duty station” was at the state capital of Juneau, where the governor’s official office and mansion are located. But that argument raises a different question: How much time did that leave for her to spend at her “official duty station”?
Nineteen months totals 578 days, but after subtracting weekends and holidays, it is only about 397 workdays. Assuming Palin did not routinely bill the state for staying in her own home on weekends and holidays, she would have spent no more than 85 workdays in the state capital over the course of her 19 months in office, even if she traveled nowhere else in Alaska or outside of the state. That compares with 168 days that the Alaska Legislature was in session during the same period.
One of the state’s leading papers, the Juneau Empire, described her attendance like this:
“Palin has spent little time in Juneau, rarely coming to the state capital except when the Legislature was in session, and sometimes not even then. During a recent special session called by Palin herself, she faced criticism from several legislators for not showing up personally to push for her agenda. Someone at the Capitol even printed up buttons asking, ‘Where’s Sarah?’”
Why does the governor of Alaska need to be in the state capital? There are two big reasons — and probably many smaller ones. The first big reason is that she appoints most of the people who manage the 15 departments of Alaska’s state government, containing more than 100 divisions and employing more than 50,000 people. Nearly all the department heads and division directors are headquartered in Juneau. E-mails and telephone calls alone are not effective for the governor to get advice, give directions and follow up to ensure that appropriate policy is being implemented. It is obvious that the ability to fully monitor the performance of the bureaucracies any governor has chosen to lead is greatly restricted if the governor does not spend significant time on the ground where the operations of government are housed.
But also of great importance is the governor’s ability to work with the legislature to update state policies and offer new programs for improving governance. Any effective governor must work on an ongoing basis with not only the leadership of both houses in the state legislature to build consensus and draft the governor’s proposals into language that both houses can accept, but also committee chairmen and recalcitrant members whose votes are needed to support key portions of the governor agenda.
It appears that in the upside-down situation that has occurred in Juneau over the past year and a half, almost all of the members of the Alaska Legislature were in the state capital far more often than the governor.
One member told the Juneau Empire, “At a time when [Palin’s] leadership was truly needed, we didn’t know where she was.”
One has to wonder whether the chef at the governor’s mansion that Palin takes credit for firing may not have simply left the job out of sheer boredom.
When I was first out of college, I worked for a period as a bill drafter for the Missouri Legislature. At that time, it was the practice for the governor to apportion thousands of state patronage jobs to members of the Legislature to pass on to their political supporters. Although some of these jobs paid little more than minimum wage, they were very much in demand because they were so-called no-show jobs: You could collect your paycheck without regularly reporting for work. Some individuals were able to obtain two or three such jobs and still work outside of state government as a real estate broker, bank employee or in some other private sector job.
Hopefully, Missouri’s and all state governments have fully abandoned such corrupt and wasteful practices. But every governor faces an ongoing challenge to ensure that each employee provides a full day of work for a full day of pay. That challenge is certainly greater if the governor is found infrequently at the “official duty station.” It is still greater if state employees realize the governor is being rewarded with state revenue for staying at home.
Scott Lilly is a senior fellow for the Center for American Progress Action Fund and former clerk and staff director of the House Appropriations Committee.
© 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC
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| Sep 23 @ 3:12 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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eastham
Posts: 6,335
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I knew Scott Lilly, the author of this piece, from my days as an associate staffer on the House Appropriations Committee. He was an extremely hard-working person as most were -- Democrat or Republican.
He raises some extremely important points...whether you are in business or government, it is important to put in the necessary hours to ensure that the work is getting done, it is getting done to an adequate and appropriate level, etc.
Consider what Sarah Palin inherited -- a governor's office that had been tainted by scandal. Her predecessor, Frank Murkowski, left under a cloud and continues to be under investigation. Those honest souls, who were holdovers from the previous administration, had to have been the walking wounded for enduring broad albeit justified criticism of state government. Many of her new appointments, including the replacement for Walt Monegan the state police chief as well as Franci Havemeister, were highly criticized. Monegan's replacement, Charles Kopp, left the job after only two weeks after it was learned he had been officially reprimanded for sexual harrassment. Havemeister's great love of cows and participation in 4-H as an adolescent were the highlights of her thin resume. One would then assume that with all of these challenges, Mrs. Palin would have spent more not less time in Juneau, if for nothing else than to improve morale.
Palin likes to tout her vetoes, but what she fails to mention is that she provided little guidance to legislators, even those in her own party, as to her priorities and those items that could be compromised. Many of her vetoes blind-sided legislative leaders, because neither she nor her staff conveyed problems with the legislation. Usually, a president or a governor lets her/his helpmates in the legislature know when she/he plans to veto a bill so that a leader does not expend too much political capital getting a bill from committee to passage. This would explain the underwhelming support for Governor Palin by some in the legislator. When asked if she were qualified to be vice president, Alaskan Republican John Harris stated, "Well she's old enough...she's a citizen." Now there's a ringing endorsement!
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| Sep 23 @ 4:02 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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capobeachguy
Posts: 3,658
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And what you two fail to observe: the overwhelming and unprecedented approval of her constituency.
East, did you know Lilly when he was a lackey for McGovern?
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| Sep 23 @ 4:23 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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eastham
Posts: 6,335
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I knew Scott Lilly when he worked for David Obey.
I attribute Palin's approval rating (and she hasn't been in long) to the fact she wasn't Frank Murkowski. The Murkowski and Stevens families, because there is more to the problem than simply Frank and Ted, have been a plague on the Alaskan people. People have grown weary of the corruption, so any fresh face would have been a tonic to the people.
That said, Palin's tenure as mayor was anything but sunny and one wonders if left to her own devices if things wouldn't have soured for her in Juneau. As mayor, she faced a recall effort from a group of citizens in Wasilla, who objected to her treatment of the city's library and museum, and tried to pack the city council, by filling vacancies, which the law did not allow her to do.
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| Sep 23 @ 5:07 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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Loreli
Posts: 20,291
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We use to have elected people take a day of business leave on say, a Fri or Mon, but to go fishing-because they knew Sunday they would be working.
That was cut to the quick a few years ago....your leave is for what you say.
There is always somebody happy to turn people in nowdays, even if it's a bathroom break during paid classes. 
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| Sep 23 @ 6:23 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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More liberal drivel - the insanity will not end.
How long is the Alaska State Legislature in session?
DUHHHHHH
Session Schedules
2008 Session: January 15, 2008 to April 13, 2008
2009 Session: January 20, 2009 to April 19, 2009
Alaska population density is 1 person per 1.2 miles - 50th in the USA
New York State has 408 per sq mile.
Gov Peterson does not stay in Albany full time.
Neither does Palin.
What benefit is there to stay in Juneau? After all this is 2008 - the age of the info superhighway!
LIBERALS GONE WILD - once again! 
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| Sep 23 @ 6:32 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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eastham
Posts: 6,335
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His name is Paterson, not Peterson.
The governor is the state's executive. He or she should be in Juneau or Hartford or Albany far more than the legislature. That said, Sarah Palin billed the state for 312 days of per diems on days she stayed at home. Furthermore, vinny, adding up the days you provided, Palin did not even work in Juneau for all the days the legislature was in session. She's about 40 days short.
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| Sep 23 @ 6:37 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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Eastman - Your Gov spends just as much time away from Albany.
I just checked - Stuttering Barry worked fewer days in the Senate. Palin works from home and travels around the big vast state. Your ignorant slobbering is proof of the fear the whack jobs have of losing the White House.
BTW - Barry never goes to his Senate job. He is running for President.
Did you forget about the Messiah already?
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| Sep 23 @ 6:40 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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Angel54214
Posts: 14,054
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The Washington Post recently reported that, in her first 19 months as governor, Palin billed the state of Alaska per diem charges for 312 days she spent at her home in Wasilla. Palin’s staff has explained that it was appropriate to bill the state for expenses related to Palin staying in her own house because her “official duty station” was at the state capital of Juneau, where the governor’s official office and mansion are located. But that argument raises a different question: How much time did that leave for her to spend at her “official duty station”?
First of all Palin commutes to a state office in Anchorage from Juneau where she lives now since she moved last year from Wasilla. Her traveling to and from Anchorage is only 45 miles from her home. When she lived in Wasilla, Juneau the state capitol was 600 miles from her home. You do the math!
When Frank Murkowski was governor he used a jet. When Palin became governor, she sold the vet (not on ebay) and cut spendatures from $463,000 in 2006 to $93,000 in her first year of office.
Palin is classified as being a stay at home governor by traveling to Anchorage, and is entitled to a per diem and claims it as she should; ($16,951 for 312 nights)
Alos a total of $43,490 travel expenses in her first year were travel expenses used for her family, which the people of the state of Alaska had by hundreds of requests to Palin visits and in those request they invited her family as well. Palin adheared to the people of Alaska's requests in full. Possibly Alaska owes her reinbursement travel funds?
One member told the Juneau Empire, “At a time when [Palin’s] leadership was truly needed, we didn’t know where she was.”
Did this (one) member ever THINK to read the local papers or watch the local news channel or even check the governor's online monthly calendar? I wonder how many local town council meetings this (one) member missed during Palin's timeframe noted. 
[Edited on 9/23/2008 6:55 PM]
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| Sep 23 @ 6:43 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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angel - they won't look at facts. The Liberals have lost what is left of their mind. Lies, lies and more lies.
And eatman knows the political hack that wrote this BS article.
No fookin kidding! 
I am still waiting for the anal sex thread. Where is dllluckie when you need him?
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| Sep 23 @ 6:53 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 9,605
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Why do you want anal sex from lefthand?
You and g-man, Im starting to wonder about you two...
(backing away, slowly)
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| Sep 23 @ 6:53 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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eastham
Posts: 6,335
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You really don't realize that you made my point. Given how short a legislative session is in Alaska, she should be there. She has the other 9 months of the year to visit the far flung corners of her state.
And if you try to compare apples to apples rather than oranges...compare Obama's and McCain's attendence records. Palin has only been in the running since the end of August. By the end of August, McCain had 63.8% of roll call votes for this Congress, while Obama had missed 45.5%.
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| Sep 23 @ 6:56 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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Angel54214
Posts: 14,054
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I had to update my post above...I made errors in case anyone caught them before I had time to correct. 
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| Sep 23 @ 6:57 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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burns - the Daily Koz website that our resident liberals get their smut from has been passing rumors that Palin and her Hubbie love anal sex and do it without protection.
This is just after they accused Todd Palin of incest, having impregnated his daughter.
The threads here on MD reflect this level of intelligent thought so I was wondering when dllluckie will post the Anal Sex Thread. If you look at the other threads he has posted you may get it.
Of course there is a great liklihood that you too believe this crap and that YOU may post the next slime Paliun thread!
We are taking bets!
[Edited on 9/23/2008 6:59 PM]
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| Sep 23 @ 6:58 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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You really don't realize that you made my point. Given how short a legislative session is in Alaska, she should be there. She has the other 9 months of the year to visit the far flung corners of her state.
And if you try to compare apples to apples rather than oranges...compare Obama's and McCain's attendence records. Palin has only been in the running since the end of August. By the end of August, McCain had 63.8% of roll call votes for this Congress, while Obama had missed 45.5%.
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| Sep 23 @ 6:58 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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Angel54214
Posts: 14,054
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east...now your changing the topic...It's about Palin's time and money spent, not McCain or Obama's. Stick to juggling one fruit!
*
Murkowski Airfare 2006:
$463,000
Palin Airfare 2007:
$93,000
Seems Palin did what she promised to her people of Alaska...she cut government spending for the taxpayers. 
east...and your point is??
[Edited on 9/23/2008 7:15 PM]
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| Sep 23 @ 7:12 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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Angel54214
Posts: 14,054
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I also suppose that Palin being pregnant with a child during office should not have allowance for sick time even though she returned to work at her Anchorage state office the third day after she gave birth. Reminding that she was in Texas on business when she went into labor. No, no tha't not allowed in the government office chair(s).
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| Sep 23 @ 7:16 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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Dang - just when I thought the liberals were in favor of the Family Leave Act. The crazed liberal feminists are freakin hypocrites!
This is funnier than listening to Stuttering Barry say uhhh 50 times a minute!
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| Sep 23 @ 7:17 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 9,605
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burns - the Daily Koz website that our resident liberals get their smut from has been passing rumors that Palin and her Hubbie love anal sex and do it without protection. See proof she aint a tight ass. 
Who cares, I say. They are married. As long as the gerbils are safe I dont give it they like to take turns shrimping.
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| Sep 23 @ 7:21 PM |
Playing hooky pays off for Palin |
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eastham
Posts: 6,335
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Actually, she should have taken time off, just as the former Republican lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, Jane Swift, did following the birth of her twins.
Indeed, given that Trig has Down's Syndrome and many of those babies are also born with heart issues, perhaps she should have taken off extra time.
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