Real Politics

Sarah Palin may be in trouble with tax release made public

rlayson1986 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:56:00 +0000

Sarah Plain released her taxes today to the public and it has revealed a few minor issues. I know that when I wrote on thsi several weeks ago that she was going to delay the release of her taxes that it must be due tot he fact something is not right. Well that is the case.

Sarah Palin makes $125,000 a year as Alaska governor. Plus, since she took the job in December 2006, she hasn’t paid taxes on the more than $17,000 she received in controversial per diem payments for working out of the family’s lakeside home in Wasilla – some 575 miles from the capital of Juneau.

Her husband on the other had being self-employed has brought in 65,000 dollars. Here is the funny part. Her husband claimed so many deductions that he only made something like 9,000 dollars from fishing business and 6,000 from snowmobiling.

An Associated Press analysis of the returns released by the McCain campaign also reveals that the Palins underpaid their estimated taxes with an April extension and likely owe interest.

Todd Palin offset his $17,000 gross receipts for snowmachine racing by claiming $10,858 in depreciation, $2,425 for car and truck expenses and $1,559 for supplies. An additional $11,405 was claimed for “other,” which included fuel, entry fees, equipment parts, repairs and maintenance, cell phone, memberships, “sponsorship apprec” and “gear.”

The governor’s husband claimed $34,380 in deductions for his fishing business – more than two-thirds of the gross receipts. He claimed $12,245 in crew share payments, another $2,953 for car and truck expenses, $5,866 for depreciation, $4,181 for supplies.

When he was on snowmachine duty, he claimed $192 for travel and no deductions for meals and entertainment. While fishing, he claimed $2,194 for travel and another $680 for meals and entertainment, which is deductible at 50 percent of cost.

“This is a lady who screams about everyone in federal government taking advantage, and she’s taking every advantage she can,” said Sheldon Cohen, IRS commissioner in the Johnson administration. “They are milking every possible deduction. They have a right to, if it’s legitimate. The question is, is he in the racing business or is it a hobby?”

When asked if the Palins had paid any interest or penalties, and if so, how much, Maria Comella, a McCain-Palin spokeswoman, said the couple had paid “at least $2,017,” and that the campaign was researching if an additional payment had been made.

“In April, they made a reasonable estimate of what they would owe, and they underpaid,” she acknowledged.

“They’re going to be billed the interest,” said Cohen, who has contributed to the Obama-Biden campaign. He said the Palins would likely avoid penalties because their tax payments as of April for last year were higher than all payments made the prior year.

Hillary Hits on Hate Crimes Law and McCain Non-maverick Status

rlayson1986 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Clinton while at a Human Rights dinner party for Obama and Biden said that McCain was in no way a maverick.

“He’s not a maverick. He’s a mimic,” she said.

During her speech she sought to connect McCain’s politics tot he past eight years of George Bush. She noted that McCain doesn’t support extending job discrimination and hate-crimes laws to cover sexual orientation and supports the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

I for one am extremely happy that McCain does not agree with the hate crimes on sodomites. The minute that Obama gets into office he will pass that law and many a church and person will be put into prison.

She then continued to say that Americans in November can choose a person who will ”securing equality and dignity for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

“Or we can choose four more years of the same failed policies, four more years of the same small-minded governance, four more years that look just like the last eight,” she added.

We as Americans will be in a heep of trouble if Obama does win this election. I myself am not a proponent of same-sex marriages but it is wrong and it should not ever be allowed that people cannot say what they want in America. By passing this bill of supposed hate crimes we are doing nothing but telling people what they can and cannot say.

Palin’s Harsh Words for Obama

rlayson1986 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:12:00 +0000

Palin in a speech today said Senator Obama was “palling around with terrorists”.In her character attack, Palin questions Obama’s association with William Ayers, a member of the Vietnam-era Weather Underground.

“Our opponent … is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country,” Palin says.

“This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America,” she said. “We see America as a force of good in this world. We see an America of exceptionalism.”

This comment comes at a time when the McCain campaign is trailing by 8 points in the polls.”The four weeks that are left are an eternity. There’s plenty of time in the campaign,” said Republican strategist Joe Gaylord. “I think it is a legitimate strategy to talk about Obama and to talk about his background and who he pals around with.”

So the question is with this comment made on Monday how is the Obama campaign going to retaliate.

Obama is beating McCain with Young Person Vote

rlayson1986 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:06:00 +0000

In a new Poll done by the newspaper USA Today Obama has a clear lead with the young vote. Over 61% of 903 people that were polled under the age of 30 said that they would be voting for Obama.

Now I honestly did not think that this would be something that McCain has to worry about but apparently it is. With margins like that his campaign better be doing something to get that young person vote.

Vice-Presidental Debate Recap

rlayson1986 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:50:00 +0000

Okay so here is the recap on tonight’s debate.

Palin came right out and said that Obama did not vote for the surge in the war. And because he did not vote for it he was not supporting Joe Biden’s son who Palin acknowledged.

“John McCain voted against funding for the troops,” as well, Biden countered, adding that the Republican presidential candidate had been “dead wrong on the fundamental issues relating to the conduct of the war.”

Biden also did not even mention his son with the comment that Palin made which was a little weird. You would think that a candidate mentioning your son in Iraq you would thank them.

Biden also called McCain out in not voting for the money needed in the war because of the timeline that was put in as an amendment.

But Palin countered that a timetable was tantamount to “a white flag of surrender in Iraq,” and at a moment when victory was “within sight.”

She also said Biden had once supported McCain’s view of the war, and noted that he had once said of Obama that he wasn’t ready to be commander in chief … “and I know again that you opposed the move that he made to try to cut off funding for the troops and I respect you for that.”

I loved the comment that Plain made, “I don’t know how you can defend that position now but — I know that you know, especially with your son in the National Guard.” How you got right to the heart of the matter.

As for Obama, she said, “Another story there. Anyone I think who can cut off funding for the troops after promising not to — that’s another story.”

Biden’s reply, “John McCain voted to cut off funding for the troops. Let me say that again. John McCain voted against an amendment containing $1 billion, 600 million dollars” for protective equipment that is “protecting the governor’s son and, pray God, my son and a lot of other sons and daughters. He voted against it.”

They both also clashed on the issue of Global warming with Palin stating that it was not all man and Biden saying that mankind is totally to blame.

I also think that Palin connected with the common American person with her language. She spoke in familiar terms, saying “betcha” rather than “bet you” and “gonna” rather than “going to.”

I think the best part of the debate is when she gave a shout out to the third graders at Gladys Wood Elementary School in Alaska. She said they would all receive extra credit for watching the debate.

One of Plain big stumbles though was the messing up of the General name in Iraq. She twice referred to the top U.S. general in Afghanistan as “Gen. McClellan.” In fact, his name is David McKiernan.

That was pretty much it. Biden did an excellent job of staying cool and really portraying his and Obama’s thoughts tot he nation.

Palin struggled a little but really pulled thru and the people of America will continue to relate to her. I look forward to the coming days as we look at what the polls due for the McCain campaign and how this speech will impact them. Also I want to know what the viewership numbers were. Guaranteed that they were the highest of any vice-presidential debate.

Please leave me your comments on the debate by click the comment bar right below this blog.

Sarah Palin Needs to be Sarah Palin

rlayson1986 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:59:00 +0000

This photo provided by the Palin Campaign shows Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, right, preparing for her first and only debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden at the Sedona, Ariz., ranch of her running-mate, Sen. John McCain, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. On the left is McCain-Palin campaign senior policy advisor Randall Scheunemann. The debate will take place Thursday in St. Louis, Mo.

Plain has to set the stage tonight. She is facing a current poll that 1 in 3 people think that she is capable of being the vice-president of the United States. Now I do not to be one to put the pressure on her but she better do a real good job tonight.

I believe thought that she will. I do hope also that they let Sarah Plain b Sarah Palin. We do not want some coached answers full of fluff. The reason that we fell into such a infatuation with her was because of her honesty and realism that she has.

“We let Sarah be Sarah. She’s smart, she’s tough, she’s been in debates before,” McCain told “Fox & Friends” on Fox News Channel.

Most politicians do not have the look upon life that Sarah Plain has. That is the reason that the media hates her so much. It is because of her realism.

Tonight with the debate taking place a poor performance by Biden could cement a negative image for the Delaware senator.

The 90-minute televised debate was to take place at Washington University in St. Louis, with PBS anchor Gwen Ifill serving as moderator.

McCain Pulls out of Michigian

rlayson1986 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:44:00 +0000

McCain has officially pulled out of Michigan losing possibly 17 electoral votes. Now John Kerry in 2004 won the state but McCain thought that with Obama’s weakness with the while middle class worker that he might have a chance. Guess not.

Polls have shown for two weeks a clear win for Obama in the state so McCain and has begun to pull out staff, end commercials, and canceled several of his planned visits there.

I believe that this makes McCain look weak being the first one to pull out of a state. Polls show that Obama has a seven point lead over him nation wide but hope is that with tonight’s debate that that will lesson. I don’t think that by McCain pulling out of Michigan it is going to help him any. While he plans to use the resources in other key states the appearance of a defeat so early on I do not remember in any other election.

Time will only tell but I can sense the feeling of defeat on the McCain campaign. I just feel it in my gut. I certainly hope and pray that with tonight’s debate that it will give the boost that Palin has given before to this much needed moral boost campaign.

My Web Site

rlayson1986 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:32:00 +0000

I told all of you that I was working on a new place for Real Politics and I have found it. I have purchased the domain name Realpoliticalnews.com. This site in a few months will become the new location of Real Politics.

I want something that you can easily see several of the Top Political Stories all in one visit to one site. I hate that I have to visit 10 sites to find out what happened in the day. Of course though I will have my commentary on some of the stories and will look forward to the comments of my readers.

If you some of you would be interested in becoming one of the authors/journalist to write stories for the site from a democratic, republican, or independent view e-mail me at realpoliticalnews@gmail.com.

FDIC Insurance

rlayson1986 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:09:00 +0000

Should we raise the FDIC amount of money. Well there are several things to consider. Will this cause banks to be less careful with their money. Also will this affect the amount of money that the treasury department spends. I do not think that this is the solution that we need right now. We should be looking at how to fix the current situation not the FDIC.

What is your opinion?

Video: Early Voting and My reaction

rlayson1986 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:06:00 +0000

I am all for the early voting. I do not think in anyway it is unconstitutional and it gets as many people as we can to vote. What do you think? Let me know by comment or e-mail.