Statements by Sarah Palin, her successor, Sean Parnell, Michael Steele

Statement and News Release by Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, Wasilla, July 3, 2009


NO SECOND TERM;  NO LAME DUCK SESSION EITHER

July 3, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin announced today that she will not seek a second term as Governor of the State of Alaska and will relegate the power of governor to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell in order to serve Alaska’s best interests.  Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will move into Parnell’s current role.

“People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing's more important to me than our beloved Alaska,” said Governor Palin.  “Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.”

Standing outside her home in Wasilla, Alaska, Governor Palin reflected upon some of the administration’s accomplishments for Alaska as she approaches her final year in office.

I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path,” said Governor Palin after the announcement. 

Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional ‘Lame Duck’ status in this particular climate would just be another dose of ‘politics as usual,’ something I campaigned against and will always oppose. 

It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is....

Read more Statements by Sarah Palin, her successor, Sean Parnell, Michael Steele »

In death, Michael Jackson gets politicians' (cautious) admiration

Michael Jackson Ronald and Nancy Reagan at a White House ceremony in the 1980s

The sudden, so far unexplained death of pop singer Michael Jackson at age 50 this week prompted an immense outpouring of grief and curiosity and, among politicians at least, caution.

While expressing admiration for his musical and dancing skills, these elected officials were careful to distance themselves from the pop icon's troubled personal life. President Obama did it only secondhand through a spokesman.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, while praising Jackson as "one of the most influential and iconic figures in the music industry," was also careful to mention "serious questions about his personal life."

Obama, a noted music fan who's had entertainers such as Stevie Wonder perform at the White House, was noticeably absent from any public statement. Knowing questions would come up at the daily news  briefing, it was left to spokesman Robert Gibbs to provide a low-key, arms-distance description of the president's feelings.

We'll publish the entire White House exchange concerning Jackson below. What Gibbs basically said was the president saw Jackson as "a spectacular performer" but there were aspects of his life that were "sad and tragic."

Friday the House of Representatives paused briefly for a tribute moment of silence.

There also reemerged, thanks to the Associated Press, a 1980s memo written during the presidency of Ronald Reagan by a then-young White House attorney named John G. Roberts Jr., now chief justice of the Supreme Court. The issue was . . .

Read more In death, Michael Jackson gets politicians' (cautious) admiration »

John Edwards emerges to not talk about you-know-what and who

Democrat ex-Senator John and Elizabeth Edwards campaigning in happier times

Speaking of Republican Sen. John Ensign's just-admitted extramarital affair, another John is back.

Democrat John Edwards of the my-wife's-cancer-was-in-remission-when-I-did-it televised confession has ended his public silence. He says he's not interested in the kind of reputation rehab that other philandering pols try over time. (Think Democrats ex-Pres. Bill Who's-Its and ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.)

Which no doubt is why Edwards suddenly granted an interview to the Washington Post's Alec MacGillis. With, however, just a couple of caveats:

Ex Senator John Edwards on the campaign trail with his mistress Rielle Hunter in the background

No questions about his mistress Rielle Hunter (background on right).

No questions about her baby and whether he is the father.

No questions about terminally ill wife Elizabeth Edwards' recent memoir that prompted so much public attention and sent the ex-senator off to Central America to do good things out of sight.

And no questions about the federal investigation into whether the Edwards presidential campaign illegally spent political funds on Hunter.

Other than that, fire away.

Edwards claims there are only two reasons for him to be on the planet now: to take care of "the people I love" and to "take care of people who cannot take care of themselves." Edwards says he spends time in their mansion with his wife and two younger children and will return to El Salvador next month to volunteer.

He says he takes pride in pushing both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to talk more about poverty issues and declined to call his presidential race a mistake despite its high-wire counting on the volatile sexual affair not coming out. Unlike many observers, Edwards does not rule out a return to politics, if only as a policy advocate a la Al Gore without the melting glacier slides.

And he dismisses cynicism about his failed campaign. "It was real, 100 percent real," Edwards says. "I want them to be proud of what I stood for, and of what the campaign stood for. The stands were honest and sincere and idealistic. They were what America needed then and needs now." 

MacGillis also talks to others for their views of Edwards and his anti-poverty follow-throughs or lack thereof.

-- Andrew Malcolm

The Ticket goes inside politics, its strategies and human foibles several times a day. Click here for Twitter alerts on each new item. Or follow us    @latimestot

Photo credits: Associated Press (John and Elizabeth Edwards campaigning) (top).

Obama starts rewarding Hollywood with ambassadorships

 As President Obama lines up his foreign ambassadors, he's tapped two of his strongest Hollywood supporters -- music industry scion Nicole Avant and Wild Brain CEO Charles Rivkin -- as United States ambassadors to the Bahamas and France, respectively. 

Tough duty. But not everyone can drive the 405 every day. It just seems that way.

Avant, of course, is the daughter of music-industry legend and longtime Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton friend Clarence Avant and the sister of Democratic activist Alex.

She was the first in her still-so-tight-with-the-Clinton's-family to break away and declare for Obama.

Rivkin, who once headed Jim Henson productions, will be his family's second-generation citizen diplomat. His father was John F. Kennedy's ambassador to Luxembourg and Lyndon B. Johnson's representative to Senegal and Gambia.

Back when Obama and Hillary both were candidates vying for Hollywood's support, ex-DNC chief and current Virginia governor candidate Terry McAuliffe attended a dinner at Haim Saban's Beverly Hills compound and ribbed Nicole Avant by saying that she'd "never get to Paris" as ambassador if she didn't sign on with Clinton.

Turns out he was doubly wrong; seems you can get to both Rue St. Honore and Nassau.

-- Tina Daunt

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As world watches Cairo, Michelle Obama shakes up White House staff

One other thing that President Obama left out of his global speech to Muslims today was word of the top-level shakeup in First Lady Michelle Obama's White House staff.

While the nation was watching the world watch Obama speak and tour in Egypt, news of the East Wing staff changes came out. Out as the old chief of staff after less than five months is Jackie Norris, who started working with Mrs. Obama during the Iowa caucus campaign.

In as the new chief of staff is Susan Sher, who's been a friend of her boss since even before they started working together years ago at the University of Chicago.

Norris was sent over to become a "senior advisor" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

To make things look all smooth and friendly-like in a city that thrives on gossip about invisible internal conflicts, all three women issued boiler-plate statements of their longtime friendship, deep commitments and excitement about pursuing the administration's agenda.

Norris, for instance, was quoted as saying: "I am grateful to President and Mrs. Obama for the opportunities and friendship they have given me over the last few years and I am looking forward to becoming an integral part of this Administration’s efforts to advance the cause of national and community service."

The only cliche left out of the White House statement was anyone's avowed goal of spending more time with their family.

-- Andrew Malcolm

The Ticket goes inside politics several times a day. Get Twitter alerts of each new item by clicking here. Or follow us @latimestot

Obama plans Las Vegas getaway to help Harry Reid get big money

Las Vegas Showgirls

Harry Reid's no slouch in the fundraising department, with $3.3 million already on hand for next year's reelection campaign, which has thus far drawn lots of press too.

And no viable opponent from the state's battered Republican Party.

Still, in politics these days you can never have too much money, as someone showed last fall by raising $750 million, which is even more than those outrageous AIG bonuses. Now Happy Harry's bringing in Bette. And Sheryl. And some guy named Barack.

Democrats Barack Obama and Harry Reid

All in the name of Money.

And what better way for a new Democratic administration to symbolize cutting out excess in a time of hardship for millions of Americans than to hold a mega-fundraiser in Las Vegas, that urban personification of understatement, for a guy with millions in hand already and no one to spend it against?

Though the Democratic Senate majority leader's May 26 fundraiser at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace will feature Strip headliner Midler and songstress Crow, the biggest draw will be the commander in chief himself.

Nevada's glitterati have been clamoring for a visit since Obama turned the swing state blue, though we suspect the president might want to steer clear of some parts of town.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is still huffing and puffing over an offhand remark in which Obama appeared to link Sin City to corporate excess. Imagine that.

Remember back in February, The Ticket had a photo of the mayor meeting with nearly naked aides and reported the even newer president was all agitated over luxury bank excursions and he said: "You can't get corporate jets, you can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime."

Well, now that they have finished the $357,012 taxpayer-funded photo op over the Statue of Liberty, Air Force One is coming to the capital of neon with the somewhat-less-new president, who'll become the fundraiser in chief at least for a night.

Goodman recently said that, during Obama's trip, he's hoping "somebody places me close to him so I can get him to do the right thing and tell people that he recognizes Las Vegas as a great spot for serious meetings."

And last month, Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons requested a meeting with the president to talk about the state's ailing economy. Kind of. 

A separate press release indicated the beleaguered governor isn't exactly angling for a spot on the VIP list.

-- Ashley Powers

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Photos, from top: Bally's Hotel; Associated Press

UCLA student's clandestine videos take antiabortion fight to new level

Our colleague Robin Abcarian, one of the most compelling storytellers in American journalism, has another one of her masterpieces on this site right now.

It's the story of a 20-year-old UCLA student, Lila Rose, who's taking the antiabortion struggle to a new level. She has secretly taped sting operations against Planned Parenthood abortion clinics across Lila Rose anti-abortion activist and UCLA studentthe country (see below). The tapes are displayed online on a website and YouTube as part of the ongoing struggle against legal abortions.

In these videos, Rose pretends to be a pregnant 14-year-old and "admits" that her male partner is 31. Her alleged age legally requires reporting the pregnancy to authorities as a rape. But, according to the  dramatically cut clandestine videos, the aides tell her just to say that her boyfriend is 17 "or whatever" so that she can get the procedure to simply end the pregnancy.

Rose's strategy, as Robin explains, is to undermine legal abortion by disseminating compelling videos showing Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, appearing to abet sexual abuse by circumventing age-reporting laws.

The videos of an attractive, reasonable young woman also play against the anti-abortion stereotypes of angry, older men imposing their moral will on females, and Rose's latest video (see below) on a Memphis Planned Parenthood clinic already has had political repercussions in the state legislature.

Other videos are available at Rose's website, LiveAction.org. Robin's full story is available here.

-- Andrew Malcolm 

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Photo: LiveAction.org

Barney Bush's duty, God and global warming, Wolverine's wrath

Former president George W Bush and his dog Barney

While you were sleeping, we were reading and writing:

Suppose B.O. picks up after Bo?

Sounds like Barney, the dog of George W. Bush's, has got the former president trained on the most important duty of a dog-walker in an urban neighborhood.

Hint: It involves a little plastic bag.

Bush was in China this weekend, making another of his paid appearances that started a few weeks ago in Calgary. The retired Republican continues his refusal to criticize his successor, a courtesy that his Democratic successor has not felt obliged to reciprocate.

Bush will only say Barack Obama "was not my first choice."

The 43rd president said that soon after after settling into his newly-acquired north Dallas home, anticipating the new baseball season, he plopped down on the couch and said, "Free at last."

Laura Bush
, he said, then added, "Free to do the dishes."

More importantly, Bush talked about his simple pleasure of casually walking Barney around the Preston Hollow neighborhood, and noted that he dutifully carries the urban dog owner's required plastic bag for removing the dog's duty. Bush then added, "It occurred to me I was picking up what I had been dodging for eight years."

-0-

A Reagan opposes California's governor

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of the late president and California governor Ronald Reagan, has joined the anti-big government Tea Party movement. Another Republican splitting with GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over his spending and taxing policies.

In an op-ed, Reagan writes:

Americans are tired of being overtaxed and under-represented.  Well, it looks like....

Read more Barney Bush's duty, God and global warming, Wolverine's wrath »

Two ex-agents collect the secret stories of the Secret Service

Some of them are obvious at every presidential event -- the little curly wires running from their ear down inside the shirt and coat where the weapons are. There are, however, always more of them around than anyone sees.

The Secret Service guys and gals, who don't respond to anyone's comments but always have their eyes epoxyed on the hands of everyone in the excited crowd shoving to get near the commander-in-chief.
Barack Obamaand others have at times poked public fun at the stony faces of these government agents.

They're extra busy these days as Obama makes his first foreign foray overseas this week.

But you really don't hear much about these agents; hence, the name "secret." Few of them have revealed the fascinating private things they see and hear in the vehicles,the corridors or the freight elevators from the underground garages.

Presidents have taken that grungy route to their ballroom speeches ever since that September day in 1975 when the now-paroled Sara Jane Moore took a wild .38 pistol shot at President Gerald Ford as....

Read more Two ex-agents collect the secret stories of the Secret Service »

New Obama tax outrage: Nominee leaves IRS refunds unclaimed!

There's word this morning that a major, unexpected appointee to the unfolding administration of President Barack Obama has quietly withdrawn his name from White House consideration.

A White House source declined to identify the nominee to save him from bipartisan mortification. But apparently as part of the crack Obama transition team's vetting process, they discovered that the nominee had paid all of his federal taxes through 2008.

Not only that, but the would-be nominee had, in fact, overpaid his federal income taxes since 2005.

Worse, he has yet to claim any refunds from the Internal Revenue Service, even when his oversights were repeatedly pointed out to him by a team of administration lawyers. This has left the federal government holding several thousand dollars that belong instead to the taxpayer.

Given the lengthening record of back-tax problems with numerous other administration appointments this year -- Tom Daschle, Timothy F. Geithner, Nancy Kelleher, Hilda Solis' husband, and, just yesterday, Kathleen Sebelius -- the nominee was said to feel that proceeding with his appointment and the predictable array of awkward questions surrounding such inexplicable behavior would be a major distraction to a governmental administration facing such serious challenges as how to live up to five-year automotive warranties during a four-year presidential term.

The nominee, a Washington veteran who wants to spend more time with his family, knew that his inadvertent oversights totaling some $8,800 were insignificant in a city where sums of money with 10 zeroes are routinely described as "a small percentage of total spending" without laughter. And he knew full well he'd be appearing before an open Senate committee dominated by fellow party members totally in the tank for him before they flossed that day.

But he felt that given the state of the nation's economy on April 1, just 15 days before the income tax deadline for regular people, and the rowdy tenor of politics on Capitol Hill right now, it would be politically untenable to explain in public hearings how any normal American, let alone an appointed federal official in Washington, could conceivably leave such a sum of his own money unpocketed in this day and age.

More details if they emerge on this April Fool's Day.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Andrew MalcolmAndrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.

Johanna NeumanJohanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the Countdown to Crawford blog here at The Times.
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