Hah - Gov Ed Rendell Sold PA plane at a big profit and not on EBay

HARRISBURG - Maybe Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin should take a lesson from the Rendell administration on how to sell a state airplane.

Pennsylvania is preparing to turn over the keys to one of its two executive planes to an Illinois company that has agreed to buy it for $1.375 million – above its appraised value and several hundred thousand more than the state paid for it 16 years ago.

Palin, the governor of Alaska, tried to win points as a reformer by declaring at last week's GOP convention that upon taking office, she put her state's jet on eBay. Turns out, she did just that, but in the end, it was sold through a broker for $2.1 million - less than the $2.7 million that Alaskan taxpayers paid for it under a past administration.

"It just goes to prove that a high-flying but inexperienced politician is no match for a down-to-earth professional when it comes to selling state planes," said Chuck Ardo, Gov. Rendell's press secretary.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080909_Rendell__unlike_Palin__shuns_eBay_.html

UPDATE: This email from Danny Diaz at the RNC:

“Ed Rendell needs to get a grip.”

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/how_to_sell_your_gubernatorial.html

......that is a metaphoric way of saying TAKING POSSESSION.......In my years of flying the only aircraft that have keys are smaller multi and single engine.