Palin's Abramoff Connection

[Waiting For Everyman]

Palin's Lobbyist Has Abramoff Ties
By Kate Klonick and Zachary Roth - September 2, 2008

It looks like Sarah Palin's claim to represent a cleaner brand of politics could be about to take a bruising.

The Washington Post reports today that, while Mayor of Wasilla, Palin oversaw the hiring of a lobbyist, Steven Silver -- a former chief of staff to now-indicted GOP senator Ted Stevens -- to help win federal earmarks for the city.

But Silver appears to have additional ties that could further undercut Palin's image as a squeaky-clean reformer. According to Senate lobbying disclosure reports examined by TPMmuckraker, from 2002 to 2004 Silver listed as a client Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig. On Greenberg's behalf, Silver lobbied the federal government on "issues relating to Indian/Native American policy," "exploration for oil and gas" and "legislation relating to gaming issues" -- the very issues that Abramoff headed up for Greenberg at the time. In other words, Silver appears to have been a part of "Team Abramoff."

(more)

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/palins_lobbyist_has_abramoff_t.php
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Any time now, it's gong to be realizeded that Ted Stevens' Federal Money Pipeline in Alaska is a mirror-image of DeLay's. Hmm... I wonder if they could be connected? Wonder where Little Miss Muffet Palin fits into it? No kidding... Halliburton and the military-industrial complex pals up with Native American loopholes in Alaska, just like in the lower-48. Quite a scam. A privatization-welfare-state. No bid contracts. Small (large) business breaks. Lots of government "bidniz". Not to mention oil money. But don't worry, Sarah's got it all sqeaky cleaned up. Sure she does. She's it's special creation. Prepackaged to look good, like she's not on their side. This opposition to corruption is all a little kabuki theater.

Some background on what the money-thing in Alaska is all about, and it has everything to do with our economy overall being in big trouble. It takes a while to read, but well worth it. A picture of the money-landscape emerges, eventually:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/08/13/alaska/index.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0507.wallace-wells1.html

Now if she'd really like to be a maverick, she could propose eliminating the native corporation setup entirely. McCain too. Native Americans would be much better off without the middle-men.

[tavalon]

1. Why do we still play six degrees of Kevin Bacon?

I think Abramoff would be a better choice.