The Palins - American entrepreneurs or opportunistic grifters ?

[kentuck]

How well-off were they before Sarah was chosen by McCain to be the VP? As I recall, she was being investigated in the several ways she was spending the people's money while she was Governor of Alaska. It was reported that she would fly her kids to the state Capitol at taxpayers expense and, at times, she would stay home and do her business in Wasilla and charge the state for travel expenses? Of course, they did have a little fishing business, which got prime fishing areas because Todd was part "native American" and got some type of affirmative action reward. Also, he worked with the oil companies in some capacity as a union worker.

But they were not wealthy. They have more money now than they have had in their lives. Sarah quit her job as Governor because the opportunity was there to make money. She admitted that was a reason for quitting half-way thru her term.

But now, she comes out and acts like she made all her money by being an American entrepreneur and working hard. Every American could be like her and her family if they believed in the American dream and worked as hard as the Palins. That is the impression she wants to give the American people. But, are they?

In my opinion, they are opportunists. Sarah saw an opportunity to make money and she took advantage. But it was more about the luck of being chosen by John McCain to be his VP than anything else. It was like hitting the lottery. She should stop preaching the virtues of the American dream unless she believes hitting the lottery is living the American dream.

[YoungDemCA]

1. Shameless oppurtunists...

...who like to promote themselves as "self-made" entrepreneurs.

Yeah, if you think George W Bush or Donald Trump were "self-made" men.

[SharonAnn]

22. Grifters. No queation about it.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. Sarah Palin has credited her witchdoctor for making her Governor

Thomas Muthee, her witchdoctor from Africa came to her church several times and made incantations to get her elected. Palin says that's why she got elected and that started it all. The Palins are a real-life American Addams Family who owe their success (in their own opinion at least) not to hard work or good fortune but to the supernatural.

[silvershadow]

3. My only questions revolve around "Why did the investigations ever stop?"

Truth be told, they probably should be in cells next to Delay, et al Bravo on a perfect post...Wish I could share this verbatim (with credit of course) to every corner of the earth! Your post is spot on.

[PatSeg]

4. I think to republicans,

an opportunistic grifter is by definition an "American entrepreneur". I don't think they believe there is anything wrong with it. Success by any means necessary - legal or illegal, moral or immoral, no difference.

[BootinUp]

5. Of course it is the latter.

and it explains so many things she has done/said if you put it in that context.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Yes.

All too often, those two realities are one and the same.

It certainly is in their case IMHO. She went from beauty pageant contestant to VP candidate. I suppose there are those who would consider that an accomplishment. Given the GOPs penchant for promoting attractive puppets, it's not surprising, though. If not her/them, it would have been someone similar.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Yes.

[Tom Ripley]

8. There's a difference?

[TomClash]

9. Grifter thief Huckster fraud

In October 2008 her net worth was just over $1m.

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/NEWS03/810020315

By 2011? $14m

http://exploredia.com/sarah-palin-net-worth-2011/

Being a right wing nutcase has been extremely profitable - at a time when most Americans were hurting.

[spanone]

10. flim-flamily

[graywarrior]

11. Drooling attention junkies

[dionysus]

12. the sad thing is she's become a millionaire... because she's famous for being an utter imbecile.

[Initech]

13. In Republican code - "hard working millionaire" = "grifter extraordinaire

[Autumn]

14. American idiots.

And making a living off the public dole.

[SoutherDem]

15. Behind every rich person there seem to be a history of accepting government money.

In one way or the other.

For her to claim she did anything great is crazy.

[DiverDave]

16. Grifters

and jeez, people just THROW money at them...

[BOG PERSON]

17. six of one, half a dozen of the other

[obamanut2012]

18. Bristol is definitely a grifter

[PufPuf23]

19. Opportunistic grifters in the right place at the right time

for the right wing agenda.

The Palins hit the lottery and ran with it and then were corralled into a useful caricature.

[malaise]

20. The most vulgar of

Grifters

[MrSlayer]

21. One doesn't necessarily preclude the other.

You can be both.

[GeorgeGist]

23. I'd be embarrassed ...

to pose the question. Seriously.

[99Forever]

24. Calling those scum grifters...

.. is a compliment. There isn't a shred of decency in that entire sideshow.

[bigwillq]

25. Attention hores (nt)

[KharmaTrain]

26. Those Who Make It...Those Who Spend It...

The Palins saw the lights of the big city and went for all the gold they could. Even if they were "well off" in Alaska, that was nothing compared to strolling Fifth Avenue with an RNC charge card or all the nice paychecks from Uncle Rupert for being on his teevee station. Her ESPN fantasies went into hyperdrive. She'd made it...the major leagues.

In some ways she was like a college athlete who ends up a top draft pick and all of a sudden is flooded with millions. That gets to be heady territory as our society merits one's accomplishments in dollar figures more than anything else. That said...it's one thing about making money, it's another keeping it coming in and saving it. Mooselini was the belle of the political and corporate media ball for the better part of three years (from '08 until she became too much of a gadfly for all but faux) and made a lot of money. Now the clock on her wall is at 14:58...her 15 minutes are all but up. Maybe she's got another stunt up her sleeve that may make her political relevent, but that seems remote. The silence of her name in "mainstream" circles throughout this year is a story unto itself and surely not good for the Palin bank account.

I suspect Grifterella can still do the chicken dinner circuit...speak at fundraisers and GOTB events and make a nice haul, but I don't see her kids and husband being able to golddig much longer. In another 4 years I suspect Sarah Barracuda will be a "where are they now" subject...

[JHB]

27. To modern Republicans, there is no difference

They've been been hiding "swindler" under the skirts of "entrepreneur" for decades now. One of them is running for president.

[avebury]

28. Grifters. nt

[asjr]

29. I've wondered if she gets paid by the word or

by the media close-up. When she needs money does she automatically spout off some crap and FOX send her a check?