Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Top Story: Palin Rakes In $12M

Pundits can debate the political costs and benefits of Sarah Palin's decision to step down as Alaska governor, but the monetary advantages of leaving her $125,000-a-year public service post are beyond dispute. Since leaving office at the end of July 2009, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee has brought in at least 100 times her old salary (a haul now estimated at more than $12 million) through television and book deals and a heavy schedule of speaking appearances worth five and six figures. That conservative estimate is based on publicly available records and news accounts. The actual number is probably much higher, but is hard to quantify because Palin does not publicize her earnings/ABC News, The Blotter. More here.

Question: Do you think Sarah Palin stepped down as governor Alaska merely for the money? Or did she do so, as she has said, to shake off the political assault that was hamstringing her administration?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

Follow Dave online: