Alaska legislators frustrated with Palin over Federal stimulus money and her desire to flee the scene of her crimes before the session is over.

With just one week left before the Alaska Legislature adjourns for the year, the conflict between Gov. Sarah Palin and lawmakers over taking federal economic stimulus money is the dominant issue left.

Palin herself will be leaving Alaska this week to attend the Vanderburgh County Right to Life dinner in Evansville, Ind. on Thursday, as well as an event for special-needs children. Fairbanks Republican Rep. Jay Ramras questioned her leaving town right at the end of the session, when critical decisions are being made.

"There are some concerns (in the Capitol) about the focus of our chief executive because she's taken a speaking engagement in Indiana for a 36-hour period with only 72 hours left in the legislative session," Ramras said.

Palin, who has barely left Alaska during the legislative session, is clearly irritated.

"I'll be gone for one day. I already have been on record with lawmakers on this. I told lawmakers, you know what, 'Please, don't make me feel that I have to ask you permission, lawmakers, to leave the capital city,' " Palin said.

So let me get this straight. Palin did not want to commit to speaking at the GOP fundraiser in July because "her responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing to the speech until the end of the legislative session", even though the session is over this week, but she sees no problem with attending a "right to life" dinner at what is the most crucial time of the legislative session?

Does that make ANY sense to anybody?

Palin now says she'll accept the federal money if the Legislature agrees to use some of it to replace state spending. For example, she wants to cut 93 million state dollars that would go to schools -- and then award the schools that same amount in federal stimulus money to make up the difference.

That could be a tough sell with legislators. School districts are pushing hard to get the stimulus money on top of what they'd otherwise get from the state -- not instead of.

There are questions about whether Palin's plan is legal under the federal stimulus law as well. Anchorage Democratic Rep. Mike Doogan said using the dollars just to replace state spending goes against the purpose of Congress.

"The idea is putting more money into the economy," Doogan said.

I hate to agree with Doogan on anything since he is still on my shit list, but he is absolutely correct about this.

The money from the Federal government is supposed to STIMULATE the economy, not replace state expenditures while we squirrel away the difference for future pet projects of the Governor.

And playing hard and fast with money for the school district is a particularly disgusting political tactic. The last election voted down over 97 million dollars in much needed bonds for improvements to our children's schools. To take away the state money for schools and simply replace it with with these new federal dollars is to short change our children's future.

How can a decision like this come from a woman who has four children of her own?

Regardless of the picture our governor tries to paint of herself, THIS is the real face of the Sarah Palin.