"Speaking before an audience that knew little about her or her state, Palin used the opportunity to spin some Alaska issues in ways that would likely be well received by Republicans elsewhere.

"I protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending," she said, claiming credit for nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes.
The audience loved it, but in reality Alaska has essentially no taxes to protect the people from. And in Palin's time as governor, spending and the budget shot up dramatically as oil money came gushing in.

"Republicans who love cutting government jobs cheered when Palin said she drove herself to work and laid off the Governor's Mansion chef.

"I thought I could muddle through without the governor's personal chef," she said, though her children didn't always like the idea.
Those in Juneau know another reason for the dismissal: Palin mostly lives in Wasilla, not the capital, and there's little for the chef to do.

Ebbie: The governor's "mansion" (Not. It is only a large, nice house) is less than four (4) blocks from where she works. She drives? Previous governors did not.   

"Palin also bragged about putting the state's jet - the controversial acquisition of former Gov. Frank Murkowski that likely played a large role in Palin's becoming governor - up for sale on eBay. She didn't mention that when it failed to sell, she sold it the way most such aircraft are sold - through a commissioned broker.

"Palin joins McCain in running as a Washington, D.C., outsider and reformer, based in party on her challenging a culture of corruption within her own party in Alaska. "We put the government of our state back on the side of the people," she said.

"While even Palin's ideological opponents in Alaska acknowledge Palin's strong ethical stands, Palin failed to mention that her ethics reforms were successful only after the revelation of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that has sent numerous legislators, lobbyists and oil executives on their way to prison.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/090408/sta_328511816.shtml

Incidentally, the governor's laying off of household staff (not just the chef) has consequences. These are all state workers who work under procedural rules regarding hiring, firing and layoffs.

Traditionally the govenor holds an Open House during the Christmas season. Long lines snake down the sidewalk for several blocks and Governor's staff parade up and down the line delivering coffee and hot chocolate in the bitter cold.

Staff, traditionally, start baking cookies two months before the day making and freezing 24,000 cookies for the event.

Last year Governor Palin hired a private contractor, Larraine Derr, to make the cookies. It cost thousands. (Still cheaper than keeping people on staff, I grant you, but the ambiance is gone.)