# Sarah turns opaque. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856 "2008-09-16T16:46:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/401 "2008-10-05T18:51:44Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > over which Bible Spice has complete control. I think Bible Spice is my very favorite nickname for Palin. I mean, Mooselini was funny, but Bible Spice is just perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/402 "2008-10-05T20:13:27Z")
Yeah, I wish I could take credit for it. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/403 "2008-10-06T04:15:19Z")
[Employees will testify in Palin probe](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOTk11gvqDAgD0cY3i4WjI_2YOxwD93KKT000) > [@](#): > > 4 hours ago > > ANCHORAGE (AP) — Seven Alaska state employees have reversed course and agreed to testify in an abuse-of-power investigation against Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. > > . . . > > Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. A judge rejected that challenge last week. Because of that ruling, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg says the employees have decide to testify. Looks like the Supreme Court won’t have anything to rule _on_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/404 "2008-10-06T04:18:43Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > [Employees will testify in Palin probe](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOTk11gvqDAgD0cY3i4WjI_2YOxwD93KKT000) Looks like the Supreme Court won’t have anything to rule _on_. 😃 I suspect there was a leak from the Alaska Supreme Court, “What are ya, fuckin’ nuts?” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/405 "2008-10-06T04:21:54Z")
But, y’know, maybe they are hoping that by agreeing to testify, they will get Branchflower to hold up his report which is due on Friday. Then they fuss about _when_ they can testify. “No, sorry, can’t make it till November 5th.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/406 "2008-10-06T15:05:41Z")
Yeah, AG Colberg blinked. He really had no choice. After the superior court decision, it was either direct those people to respond to the subpoenas or face obstruction of justice charges and say bye-bye to his career. The supremes are in no way going to overrule that decision, and will instead kick it right back to the legislature. Branchflower is going to release his report as scheduled, but it may need to be updated later. It remains to be seen, however, whether anything of substance comes from the testimony. I’m particularly interested to see if Diane Kiesel falls on her sword or comes clean about the suspension of Wooten’s comp claim. She’s looking at some serious charges later on, since there is a witness to the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/407 "2008-10-06T15:39:06Z")
[GQ] What is the report coming out on Friday? Can it be completed or otherwise (relatively) finished if there is witness testimony in the next few days? Does anyone know/have a link to the statutory authority for the report/reporting body? I’d be most interested in whether or not there is any direction or guidance with respect to assumptions. That is, if Palin does not rebut a particular charge, do they assume the charge is true? If the prosecutor says X will testify about Y, and X refuses to show up, does the evidence get considered? What happens with the report after it’s issued? Other than influence the election, what happens to its content? If it reads as an indictment, does that automatically trigger other state action? [/GQ] IMHO the report will be inconclusive at best, and both camps will take out of context clippings to say that she was vindicated/vilified, and it’s effect on the election will be minimal other than charging the respective bases. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/408 "2008-10-06T22:30:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > She and her husband are worth well over a million $$, by the way. **Chefguy** , I’m going to ask a naive question: Isn’t the cost of living in AK pretty high? Wouldn’t that result in an inflation in the price of assets as compared to the lower 48? See, I live in NC, but work outside DC. My house in NC is worth about $150k. But here in the Dulles area, the same kind of property would rank at about $750k (even after the decline in home prices). Or are there other factors at work here? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/409 "2008-10-06T22:53:15Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [GQ] > What is the report coming out on Friday? Can it be completed or otherwise (relatively) finished if there is witness testimony in the next few days? > > Does anyone know/have a link to the statutory authority for the report/reporting body? I’d be most interested in whether or not there is any direction or guidance with respect to assumptions. **That is, if Palin does not rebut a particular charge, do they assume the charge is true? If the prosecutor says X will testify about Y, and X refuses to show up, does the evidence get considered?** > > What happens with the report after it’s issued? Other than influence the election, what happens to its content? If it reads as an indictment, does that automatically trigger other state action? > [/GQ] > > IMHO the report will be inconclusive at best, and both camps will take out of context clippings to say that she was vindicated/vilified, and it’s effect on the election will be minimal other than charging the respective bases. > > **bolding** mine - **kd99** As to the first question I bolded, I’d say that’s unlikely; presumption of innocence, fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and all that. The second bolded question suggests that the first one was merely inelegantly phrased. It’s my understanding that if if the defense fails to challenge the admissability of an article of evidence, the evidence will be accepted into the record of the proceeding. Not a lawyer, here. If I’m mistaken, I’ll welcome correction and instruction from one who knows better. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/410 "2008-10-06T23:45:29Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > **Chefguy** , I’m going to ask a naive question: Isn’t the cost of living in AK pretty high? Wouldn’t that result in an inflation in the price of assets as compared to the lower 48? See, I live in NC, but work outside DC. My house in NC is worth about $150k. But here in the Dulles area, the same kind of property would rank at about $750k (even after the decline in home prices). Or are there other factors at work here? The cost of living in Alaska is a bit higher than in the lower 48, but it isn’t that high. A millionaire in Alaska is still a millionaire. One thing, almost all land in Alaska is public land, so you can’t buy millions of acres of tundra cheaply. But the main difference in price between the North Carolina house and the Washington DC house is the location. There just aren’t as many people to bid up house prices into the stratosphere in Alaska even though housing prices are going to be higher than most rural areas in other states. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/411 "2008-10-07T01:23:55Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > **Chefguy** , I’m going to ask a naive question: Isn’t the cost of living in AK pretty high? Wouldn’t that result in an inflation in the price of assets as compared to the lower 48? See, I live in NC, but work outside DC. My house in NC is worth about $150k. But here in the Dulles area, the same kind of property would rank at about $750k (even after the decline in home prices). Or are there other factors at work here? As **Lemur866** said, the cost of living in Anchorage is not that high, and it’s actually less in Wasilla because of property values being lower there. Her $500K house in Wasilla would be worth somewhat more in Anchorage, given the same sort of location on a lake. The median annual income in 2006 for Anchorage was just over $72K. There is a big Wal-Mart in Wasilla, and a Safeway. Because of shipping, our food and goods prices are somewhat higher than some urban areas Outside, but someplace like Washington, DC is much more expensive in my experience. I live in a 2100 s.f. townhouse condo with a two-car garage, and it’s valued at about $250K, which is cheap by many standards. The cost of living in rural Alaska is very high, particularly for food, fuel and other goods. And unemployment is very high out there. But Bible Spice doesn’t live in those areas. She’s doin’ jus’ fine, you betcha. Like I said before, I don’t begrudge them what they have, as they’ve worked hard for it. I just wish she’d shut up about being like “Joe Sixtooth”. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/412 "2008-10-07T01:59:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > As **Lemur866** said, the cost of living in Anchorage is not that high, and it’s actually less in Wasilla because of property values being lower there. Her $500K house in Wasilla would be worth somewhat more in Anchorage, given the same sort of location on a lake. The median annual income in 2006 for Anchorage was just over $72K. There is a big Wal-Mart in Wasilla, and a Safeway. Because of shipping, our food and goods prices are somewhat higher than some urban areas Outside, but someplace like Washington, DC is much more expensive in my experience. I live in a 2100 s.f. townhouse condo with a two-car garage, and it’s valued at about $250K, which is cheap by many standards. > > The cost of living in rural Alaska is very high, particularly for food, fuel and other goods. And unemployment is very high out there. But Bible Spice doesn’t live in those areas. She’s doin’ jus’ fine, you betcha. Like I said before, I don’t begrudge them what they have, as they’ve worked hard for it. I just wish she’d shut up about being like “Joe Sixtooth”. Also figure in that there is no income tax and, in fact, a royalties rebate that will pay for some of the inflated prices due to products not being produced locally. Anecdotaly, I’ve been surprised at the number of people I’ve run into from Alaska while traveling who cite their rebate check as what they use to fund their travels. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/413 "2008-10-07T02:20:05Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > As to the first question I bolded, I’d say that’s unlikely; presumption of innocence, fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and all that. The second bolded question suggests that the first one was merely inelegantly phrased. It’s my understanding that if if the defense fails to challenge the admissability of an article of evidence, the evidence will be accepted into the record of the proceeding. > > Not a lawyer, here. If I’m mistaken, I’ll welcome correction and instruction from one who knows better. Right, but this isn’t a court of law, so it’s possible (I don’t know, which is why I was asking) that inferences can fall the other way. Even in certain court situations, things can similarly work against you. If Party A says that documents in Party B’s possession prove X, an element of a case, and it’s shown to a judge’s satisfaction that Party B intentionally destroyed the documents prior to their submission in evidence, then the judge can take the truth of Party A’s assertion as a given. Of course there are a thousand and one nuances and variations between jurisdictions. Which is why I led off with the question, “what _is_ the report coming out on Friday?” What happens with its contents? Say it says Sarah Palin _did_ or \*did not[/] abuse her authority. Then what? Is it just a fact-finding mission with no binding or any other authority to compel another governmental body to act, or is there more? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/414 "2008-10-07T02:38:16Z")
There’s a price to be paid for those rebates, and that’s having Pig Oil being your legislator’s best friend forever. It leads to a political history very much like Texas. If that’s to your taste, well, OK. Didn’t much care for it, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/415 "2008-10-07T13:53:55Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There’s a price to be paid for those rebates, and that’s having Pig Oil being your legislator’s best friend forever. It leads to a political history very much like Texas. If that’s to your taste, well, OK. Didn’t much care for it, myself. Yeah, we were treated to the sight of oil people passing notes over the railing to legislators in session, telling them how to vote. When a Democrat raised an angry objection, he was shouted down by one of the Republican legislators, who is now in prison for corruption along with four other legislators. Oh yeah, and then there’s that little trial of Sen. Ted Stevens going on right now in WDC for more of the same. Back to the income question. As **Spartydog** mentioned, there is no state income tax. Property taxes are more than offset by the annual rebate. In Palin’s case, since she handed out a $1200 energy assistance to everyone this year in addition to the $2,000 oil rebate, her family of six (Trig wasn’t born in time to count) would have netted $19,200 just for being able to fog a mirror. That buys a lot of cheetos. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/416 "2008-10-07T13:59:01Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Which is why I led off with the question, “what _is_ the report coming out on Friday?” What happens with its contents? Say it says Sarah Palin _did_ or \*did not[/] abuse her authority. Then what? Is it just a fact-finding mission with no binding or any other authority to compel another governmental body to act, or is there more? The report is the committee’s findings on the abuse of power by Palin and other administration officials. In an extreme case, I suppose it could lead to impeachment. If they find that others were complicit, they could face charges before the personnel board for ethics violations and could lose their jobs. If HR screwed with Wooten’s workmans’ comp claim, I suppose the DOL would get involved. These are guesses, but I suspect it will become clearer after Friday. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/417 "2008-10-07T23:14:34Z")
**Chefguy** and **Lemur866** , thanks for the answer. My sole experience with Alaskan prices was attending my brother’s wedding in Kodiak in '86. I noted that the jug of milk that had just arrived off of the container ship was 2 1/2 times as expensive as the central coast of California, and the expiration date was already past due. But then one does not go to Kodiak for cheap milk. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/418 "2008-10-07T23:30:46Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > **Chefguy** and **Lemur866** , thanks for the answer. My sole experience with Alaskan prices was attending my brother’s wedding in Kodiak in '86. I noted that the jug of milk that had just arrived off of the container ship was 2 1/2 times as expensive as the central coast of California, and the expiration date was already past due. > > But then one does not go to Kodiak for cheap milk. Anywhere off the road system means prices escalate at a staggering pace. It’s flying it out by bush plane or barging it in that makes things so expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/419 "2008-10-07T23:35:37Z")
Exactly. Kodiak is “the bush”. That’s any place that isn’t accessable by road. Fairbanks and Anchorarage and their surrounding communities (like Wasilla) are only a bit more expensive than the lower 48. But once you get off the transportation system where everything is brought in by barge or bush plane then everything goes expensive. And houses in the Bush aren’t cheap either, because all the building materials have to be brought in by barge, all the fuel oil has to be brought in by barge, and so on. But Wasilla isn’t the bush, it’s a suburb of Anchorage. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856/420 "2008-10-07T23:37:38Z")
Related topic: if any of you are interested in reading up on Big (Pig) Oil, Terry Gross interviewed Antonia Juhasz today and she has written a book all about it. I stopped doing anything else and just listened. Astounding (and dismaying). Here’s a link to an excerpt and the interview: [thetyrannyofoil](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95465269) I don’t have “the other side of the story” but there is definitely food for thought there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-turns-opaque/463856.md?page=22)