# Podiumgate (Arkansas) - how big a deal is this?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [October 7, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245 "2023-10-07T14:41:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/61 "2024-04-16T03:34:50Z")
We can, but, hope.
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### Author:  [@Allecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allecher)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/62 "2024-04-16T17:28:02Z")
Remember that Sanders learned from Trump, so it may be years until she is brought down. It is just as likely that she’ll try to leverage this to be his VP.
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### Author:  [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/63 "2024-04-16T23:24:43Z")
It was $20k? As a maker, I could probably do that for 6/7. The steel/aluminum work is pretty impressive, plus some curved woodwork, pretty nice laminate on the bendy ply. Probably some mic and lighting feeds going through it. They’re not paying for just materials, but also experience and skills. But if I’m charging the state for it, the price goes up.
I’m not defending her, I think she’s a POS, and $20k in politics is diddly squat, but I can see how a lectern could get to that price.
No way it should be buried in a trip to Paris.
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/64 "2024-04-16T23:32:17Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#):
>
> I’m not defending her, I think she’s a POS, and $20k in politics is diddly squat, but I can see how a lectern could get to that price.
>
> No way it should be buried in a trip to Paris.
This does sound like one of those “it’s not the crime, it’s the coverup” situations. If it had just been a open claim in an expense report, it’d probably be shrugged off as, “Politicians don’t care what shit costs when its not their money being spent.” But hiding the expense in a business trip, and fucking around with FOIA laws to try stop people from looking in to it?
She’s hiding more than an over-priced lectern.
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### Author:  [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/65 "2024-04-16T23:35:06Z")
I just hope she actually paid the dude who built the thing. Though I doubt it.
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/66 "2024-04-16T23:46:18Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> She’s hiding more than an over-priced lectern.
Hey, European vacations for yourself and your girlfriends don’t pay for themselves!
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/67 "2024-04-16T23:47:32Z")
She’s a nasty piece of work.
Supposedly she needed it because her elbows couldn’t rest properly. She’s a tall lady. Still, I say “bend over bitch”!
You can screw some Arkansans some of the time…
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/68 "2024-04-17T00:21:47Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> She’s hiding more than an over-priced lectern.
I suspect she’s hiding the fact that she spent state funds showing her friends a good time overseas. This would be small potatoes were it not for the fact that she broke so many laws covering it up. And what gets me as an Arkansas resident is if she’s willing to lie and cheat for something so minor to what lengths will she go to for more serious crimes?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/69 "2024-04-17T00:29:48Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Supposedly she needed it because her elbows couldn’t rest properly. She’s a tall lady. Still, I say “bend over bitch”!
Even if that was the issue, for a thousand or two, you can buy adjustable-height lecterns, though I’d expect the state government might already own one or two.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/70 "2024-04-17T00:32:43Z")
I know the issue.
‘Supposedly’ means she knew the issue as well.
I had to mention the elbows, so I could say “bend over bitch”
I may not get another chance.
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### Author:  [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/71 "2024-04-17T01:41:31Z")
Moderating:
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Supposedly she needed it because her elbows couldn’t rest properly. She’s a tall lady. Still, I say “bend over bitch”!
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> I had to mention the elbows, so I could say “bend over bitch”
>
> I may not get another chance.
No, you won’t get another chance. ‘Bitch’ is a misogynistic term describing women that we’re trying to avoid using on the Board. Please don’t do it again.
I say this as someone who loathes Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her horrid father, too. Personally, I would instead call her a waste of human skin with the ethics of a Russian oligarch and the personality of an empty toilet paper roll. Then I’d apologize to the empty toilet paper roll.
Let’s avoid using the misogynistic terms. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/72 "2024-04-17T02:02:41Z")
Oh crap. Really did not expect that.
I’d swear it was ok to talk ugly about politicians, in P.&E.
I clearly don’t understand how to talk in curse words.
My apologies.
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### Author:  [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/73 "2024-04-17T02:09:46Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> I’d swear it was ok to talk ugly about politicians, in P.&E.
Oh, it is! It’s just not permitted to speak about them in misogynistic terms.
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### Author:  [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/74 "2024-04-17T02:10:37Z")
She’s in league with all of those who clutch their pearls over student loan forgiveness. It’s no big deal to Huckabee and company. However, for people drowning in debt, and being told they are deadbeats or irresponsible 'cause they tried and perhaps failed to better their lives, that’s a lot of money.
That’s what bugs me about these people. They get power, lecture others about, “responsibility.” Then they rob the very people they shake their fingers at, and still ride off on their high horse. They are smugly pleased with their, “social darwinist,” approach to, “governing.” Hypocrites.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/75 "2024-04-17T02:40:12Z")
Lecture at their podiums.
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### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/76 "2024-04-17T04:14:49Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#):
>
> It was $20k? As a maker, I could probably do that for 6/7.
Wait, was there an actual podium? I thought the entire meat of the scandal was that no podium was actually made and they passed off an existing podium as the supposed new one and the receipt was purely a cash transfer to a friend as a thanks for coming on the Paris trip.
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/77 "2024-04-17T04:37:09Z")
There is an actual podium _now_. Whether a new one or a made up one, I can’t say. But they’ve refused media requests to directly see it until now and only provided photos. So, more than a little suspicious.
The breakdown of the charges is also interesting. It’s just under $12k for the unit itself and then a lot of fees. Delivery charges sort of make sense but there’s also a couple grand for a “road case” and $2500 for “consulting fees”. Why or how you need $2500 of consultation for such a purchase smacks of grift.
The audit pretty much makes clear that even if this was a legitimate attempt to purchase a lectern, it was still all sorts of inept and/or corrupt. The fact it was fully paid for before even the purported delivery date is also totally ridiculous.
And there’s plenty of reason to suspect it was intended to cover a cash transfer for the trip, since the invoice was about a week before the trip.
Even under the best possible interpretation, it looks like this was intended to be a legitimate purchase but handled so badly that it likely violates several laws.
At worst, it’s outright corruption of the worst sort.
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### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/78 "2024-04-17T13:01:00Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> I say this as someone who loathes Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her horrid father, too. Personally, I would instead call her a waste of human skin with the ethics of a Russian oligarch and the personality of an empty toilet paper roll. Then I’d apologize to the empty toilet paper roll.
Nominee for best mod note ever?
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/79 "2024-04-17T15:12:51Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#):
>
> There is an actual podium _now_. Whether a new one or a made up one, I can’t say. But they’ve refused media requests to directly see it until now and only provided photos. So, more than a little suspicious.
I hear that in Utica, they call it a Steamed Podium, despite the fact it’s clearly a lectern.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podiumgate-arkansas-how-big-a-deal-is-this/991245/80 "2024-04-17T15:16:04Z")
I, too, thought that was quite a beautiful thing to read.
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