'When It's the Governor, You Just Make It Happen'

It's really getting silly at the Associated Press. You'd think they've broken open Watergate with this breathless report that Sarah Palin brought her girls along for a few functions. Just imagine if they spent such resources investigating Barack Obama's mysterious past and radical associations.

Why, we'd be about to elect President Rodham.

Gov. Sarah Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.

The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

Not just any hotel, a luxury hotel.

What an elitist snob.

But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend.

Several other organizers said the children merely accompanied their mother and did not participate. The trips enabled Palin, whose main state office is in the capital of Juneau, to spend more time with her children.

Worst of all, one day someone had to scramble to rearrange some seats. This is more than I can bear from this dangerous woman.

The three Palin daughters shared a room separate from their mother at the Princess Lodge in Fairbanks for two nights, at a cost to the state of $129 per night.

The luncheon took place before Palin's husband, Todd, finished fourth in the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race, also in Fairbanks. The family greeted him at the finish line.

When Palin showed up at the luncheon with not just Piper but also Willow and Bristol, organizers had to scramble to make room at the main table, said Janet Bartels, who set up the event.

"When it's the governor, you just make it happen," she said.

Next thing you know, we'll find out one of the kids didn't like the food.

Seriously, doesn't AP have anything better to do with their time?

Naturally, a political enemy of Palin just happens to be available for comment.

Tony Knowles, a Democratic former governor of Alaska who lost to Palin in a 2006 bid to reclaim the job, said he never charged the state for his three children's commercial flights or claimed their travel as official state business.

This isn't even close to the worst hatchet job pulled on Palin today. For that, go here. But its curious why these investigative sleuths haven't lifted a finger to uncover anything from Obama's past, yet mercilessly scrutinize a working mother who's looking to afford more time with her children.