Democratic state senator and staunch Barack Obama supporter Hollis French of Alaska boasted in early September that he would provide an “October Surprise” which would upset the McCain-Palin campaign. The investigator he hired, Steve Branchflower, has given birth to a bloated and redundant 263-page report which boils down to two paragraphs that completely contradict one another. The Branchflower report is a series of guesses and insupportable conclusions drawn by exactly one guy. It contains no new bombshells in terms of factual revelations. It’s just Steve Branchflower’s opinion that he thinks Gov. Palin had, at worst, mixed motives for an action that even Branchflower admits she unquestionably had both the complete right to perform and other very good reasons to perform. – Hugh Hewitt, Townhall.com
Sarah Palin’s reaction to the Legislature’s Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation. She claims the report “vindicates” her and the investigation found “no unlawful or unethical activity on my part.” In plain English: She did something “unlawful.” She broke the state ethics law. Palin trumpeted the report’s second finding: that she was within her legal authority to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. But the report also said one of the likely reasons she fired him was his failure to get rid of her ex-brother-in-law, Trooper Mike Wooten. Palin and her husband felt passionately about Wooten because the case was personal to them. They had no sense that the power of the governor’s office carries a special responsibility not to use it to settle family scores. – Anchorage Daily News editorial
105 Comments
I believe a newly elected office holder has a natural right to discharge holdover members of the former administration who do not support the new administration. If not, the wishes of the voters will be subverted by the inability to govern.
Oh boy, we get to listen to the cons here whine about another Bible Spice thread. Then max will want a tiahrt thread.
Waaaaaa Waaaaaa Waaaaaa
Beat ya to it
Personally, I don’t care about anything she’s done wrong..the fact is that she doesn’t have the qualifications to be vice president.
The whole Troopergate kerfuffle simply indicates how trailer trash the Palins are.
I was called to report for jury duty this week. Never made it even to voir dir, but while sitting in the courtroom got a gist of the case at hand.
A fairly prominent blue collar family (the car business) was taking a repo case to civil court. The incident at hand took place in 2006, so you know there were some testy Thanksgivings and/or family reunions in the interim.
From what little I’ve bothered with the specifics of Troopergate, it sounds like ginned up accusations against an ex-brother-in-law who most likely is a dick. And when the Snow Machine Racer and Moose-Dresser fell into political power they had no compunctions about abusing it.
A petty little family spat suddenly became a national issue because John S (for Senile) McCain the Third (for Shrub’s 3rd term) determined Bible Spice was the second-best qualified person on the planet to lead the free world.
The main shift I would love to see in this country is for Americans to focus on the issues rather than the negativity and accusations. Vote with your head people, not your heart.
Truth is it takes more effort to really understand the problems facing this country than it does the tit for tat between the candidates.
What is wrong with getting rid of a laser shooting bully?
george
Posted October 17, 2008 at 6:56 am | Permalink
What is wrong with getting rid of a laser shooting bully?
Gawd are cons stupid or what? Laser?
It’s easy for the editorial writer to say “She did something ‘unlawful.’ She broke the state ethics law.” But I don’t see where she had a trial before an impartial judge or jury, so all this statement becomes is an allegation that she did. It would be interesting to see what would happen if the the witnesses were actually put on the stand and forced to answer questions from a competent defense attorney.
LOL…I got an extra “the” in there.
Just like right now, the news is concentrating on “Joe the plumber”…Let’s see, he doesn’t have a plumbing license, he owes back taxes, but he IS registered to vote (previously it was said he wasn’t)…and why should I give a rat’s ass?
I’m more concerned about what the candidates plan to do about the healthcare crisis.
swallow_my_nickel Posted
“LOL…I got an extra “the” in there.”
I do that all the time in my haste posting between calls and other activities.
Only the mental midgets around here would make anything of that.
Besides, I never even noticed, and read right over it. Those with an agenda opposed, and nothing better to use, use small mistakes to belittle another.
Thanks for your post!
Palin’s whole political history is littered with the bodies (metaphorically speaking) of those who she perceived (rightly or wrongly) getting in her way.
In Alaska, the freedom to do so apparently includes not only political appointees but small-town police chiefs, city attorneys, and museum directors. When the former police chief in Wasilla sued for wrongful termination, the court never considered the merits of his complaint, as they concluded that he could be fired for any reason at all.
In the same instance, Walt Monegan could have been fired, legally, for failing to violate personnel rules in service of a personal vendetta.
It’s true that the Branchflower Report, of course, does not constitute a criminal verdict of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt (BTW, those of you who cluelessly rant about “activist” judges need to remember that distinction when the ass of someone who doesn’t matter to you is on the line).
It is, however, a disturbing indictment, which relies to a large extent on testimony from those who were present, including Todd Palin. It deserves a more thoughtful response than Hewitt’s silly mispresentations, or Palin’s bizarre public statement that up=down.
That latter alone demonstrates that Palin not only shouldn’t be vice-president, but should not trusted with any position of power. The fact that she has shown a 12-year pattern of firing people for vague reasons and replacing them with cronies would tend to buttress that view.
“Only the mental midgets around here would make anything of that.”
Boxlock,
Thank you for taking time out of your busy republican day [ no doubt losing vast sums of money in the process ] to tell us how ignorant we all are.
I also would like to thank you for the financial meltdown.
The clusterf@ck in Iraq. The Debt. The clusterf#ck in Afghanistan and Pakistan.The recession. Big government gone wild. Privatizing big chunks of the military. Socialism gone wild in the financial sector.
Thanks Guys, in a hundred years we might be able to fix this.
Vindication of Sarah Palin is in the eye of the beholder. Republicans will see her as being vindicated, even though she was found to have abused her power, because there was no recommendation for any sanctions or criminal investigation.
What I found more interesting was the fact that we learned more about Todd Palin’s actions and character than we learned about Sarah herself.
Any spouse that sits in on official government business, sets up his own office within the governor’s office to carry out his personal vendetta to get someone fired needs to be told that he was not elected to any offical capacity and needs to get out!
From this troopergate investigation, I only see that Sarah Palin replaced those nasty good old boys with her own set of good old boys – led by her own personal good old boy Todd.
If Sarah Palin gets in as VP and with her belief that the VP has broad powers in the Congress (even though the Constitution only gives the VP the power for the tie breaker vote) – does this mean Todd Palin will be setting his own personal office in the VP’s office to pusue personal vendettas against anyone and everyone who crosses Sarah or himself?
In the mafia world – that is called a goon.
Oh, the tidbits of information that can be found in local newspapers!
Long before he was “Joe the plumber,” Joe Wurzelbacher lived in North Pole and Eielson Air Force Base, according to Alaska public records. A family member says Wurzelbacher came to the state in the mid-1990s and stayed about four years — long enough to have the son who can be seen standing next to him in the now famous YouTube clip of Wurzelbacher grilling Sen. Barack Obama about taxes.
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132881
george
Posted October 17, 2008 at 6:56 am | Permalink
What is wrong with getting rid of a laser shooting bully?
___
First of all, where was the ex-wife in all this? Did she file a complaint with the local police? Why did Sarah the governor have to intervene in this situation?
That is why we have laws. There are ways to deal with bad behavior and the way we don’t deal with it is using our sister the governor as a personal vendetta to get him fired.
That is where Sarah and Todd Palin went wrong – they used Sarah’s position to push their own version of justice!
What I am still wondering about is Sarah Palin’s choice for Monegan’s replacement – this was the guy that was in office for 10 days and had to step down due to some previous sexual harrassment charges that were being questioned. Sarah Palin said she knew about the charges and simply believed they were taken care of when she appointed this guy.
This replacement was paid $10,000 for 10 days of work but yet Monegan was given no severance package after years of service.
Palin proudly says she threw out the good old boys in Alaska – but it sounds like she just replaced the good old boys with her own set of good old boys.
She just needs to go back to Alaska and torment them there. Who cares about her loser ex-brother in law? She can get all mavericky on him. Youbetcha. Doggonit, and all that BS she spouts.
The trooper in question tasered a 10 yr old.
The trooper also drank beer in his patrol car.
The trooper also told others his father-in-law would “eat a f’ing lead bullet” if he helped his daughter get an attorney for the divorce.
’nuff said.
“… replacement was paid $10,000 for 10 days of work.
That’s cheap.
she was within her legal authority to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Done. Nothing else matters. WHY she did it is irrelevent. Did she abuse her legal authority?
No.
Next . . . . . . .
The abuse of power was in HOW she did it.
Any spouse that sits in on official government business, sets up his own office within the governor’s office to carry out his personal vendetta to get someone fired needs to be told that he was not elected to any offical capacity and needs to get out!
Careful there, Mom. Substitute “president” for “governor” and you have Hillary Clinton, during her husband’s administration.
And you all lauded her as a “hero.” But IOKIYAD.
The abuse of power was in HOW she did it.
What? Did she shoot him? Stab him? Put him on the rack?
McCain’s first presidential decision was choosing Palin as his running mate.
Palin’s first vice-presidential decision was that she is prepared and qualified through experience, temperament, and education to fill the office of vice president which includes being prepared to be president.
Both McCain and Palin showed Americans they have poor judgment and high ambitions. America isn’t as important to either of them as their ambitions.
“Careful there, Mom. Substitute “president” for “governor” and you have Hillary Clinton, during her husband’s administration.
And you all lauded her as a “hero.” But IOKIYAD.” — GMC
——–
That is true. What did Republicans say about this situation?
Is the shoe on the other foot and perceptions are different depending on whether there is an “R” or “D” after the name?
“McCain’s first presidential decision was choosing Palin as his running mate.”
And Obama first political decision was to set down with a bomber. Does this show anything about his judgment and ambitions.
Done. Nothing else matters. WHY she did it is irrelevent. Did she abuse her legal authority?
No.
Next . . . .
Counselor, by that silly reasoning, being cleared of murder would be full vindication of wrongdoing, even if you were also found guilty of harrassment.
Or do you consider an ethics statute more of a suggestion than a genuine law? That would be an interesting position for a government employee.
Please keep in mind that the new democratic motto is: “not what you can do for your country – but what your country can do for you”
And Obama first political decision was to set down with a bomber.
Really? Who would that be?
KSGolfnut
Posted October 17, 2008 at 9:00 am | Permalink
The abuse of power was in HOW she did it.
What? Did she shoot him? Stab him? Put him on the rack?
Read the report.
That is true.
Actually, it’s not. Hillary Clinton was formally named to head the Healthcare Commission. She may have lobbied for some of Bill’s campaign positions, but I guarantee she was not receiving cc:’s of Bill’s official emails, like Todd Palin was.
But then Governor Yahoo didn’t see any problem with mixing the public and personal.
“but I guarantee she was not receiving cc:’s of Bill’s official emails, like Todd Palin was.”
Really? How would you do that? Didn;t Bill himself say we were getting a “twofer”
Palin is not Presidential, or even Vice Presidential material.
And she will never get the chance to be either one. SHe is not the top of the ticket, remember?
And if you don;t think politicians use their office to settle personal scores, I have a bridge for sale.
Really? How would you do that? Didn;t Bill himself say we were getting a “twofer”
Okay, I’ll put it this way: since it was be an obvious violation of federal law, is there any evidence that it took place?
Right now, I can virtually guarantee that Bill Clinton is not raping a goat, but I could be wrong.
Maybe you might want to offer some proof of that…. or is it just more smoke and mirrors, L J???
Rage — Fear and desperation often presents with a lack of logical thought processes
Palin is not Presidential, or even Vice Presidential material.
Wrong.
She is more “Presidential material” than Obama. The main difference: he speaks like a slick lawyer. She, like an everyday American.
As I was saying, Rage ……… LOL
Rage, I understand her appointment on health care issues. I didn’t say what I meant very well. The part I was referring to as being “true” was how many members of the Democratic Party saw Mrs. Clinton’s involvement in President Clinton’s administration as a good thing. I, as one of many, appreciated it! Many of us thought highly of her intelligence and leadership. That was contrasted with what members of the Republican Party thought about the same subject.
Now, hearing that Todd Palin set up an office in his wife’s gubernatorial office is defended by some Republicans, and some have no problem with that. Are they now defending what they once criticized? OK because of the “R” or “D” after the name? Shouldn’t we adults be better than that, able to think critically about the situation?
I would like not to have everything boil down to “sides,” but we are very divided. In my opinion, there are important issues we need to find a point of agreement, a starting off point at least, or our country’s challenges won’t be addressed as well and efficiently as they need to be. I think our divisiveness is dangerous. They say the place to begin is to recognize the problem.
Can anybody be 100% CERTAIN that John McCain is not still connected in some way, to his former captors in VietNam???
Sometimes, when he gets frustrated in atempting to answer a question, he gets a strange look on his face, and then stumbles through a bunch of talking points, but never gets around to answering the question…
Just wondering, y’know…. :eye roll:
Chas
Posted October 17, 2008 at 9:38 am | Permalink
Maybe you might want to offer some proof of that…. or is it just more smoke and mirrors, L J???
Offer proof of what? That Bill said we were getting a “twofer”
appointment on health care issues. I didn’t say what I meant very well. The part I was referring to as being “true” was how many members of the Democratic Party saw Mrs. Clinton’s involvement in President Clinton’s administration as a good thing. I, as one of many, appreciated it!
Gotcha.
I would like not to have everything boil down to “sides,” but we are very divided.
I’ve agreed with that, for a long time. That’s why I always appreciate your posts. And also why I occasionally come out of left field. I consider truth more important than politics.
Chas
Posted October 17, 2008 at 9:40 am | Permalink
Rage — Fear and desperation often presents with a lack of logical thought processes
Chas
Posted October 17, 2008 at 9:50 am | Permalink
Can anybody be 100% CERTAIN that John McCain is not still connected in some way, to his former captors in VietNam???
Things that make you say hmmmmmm.
Chas. Chas… Are you still out there?
Proof of what?
I consider truth more important than politics.
Yup. But truth is an elusive thing. Often, there is no objective “truth;” it’s in the eye of the beholder.
As here. Do politicians use their offices to “settle” personal scores? Of course (teh Clintons are particularly aggregious at it). However, if their legal authority permits it, there is nothing particularly wrong with it, at least legally. The long and the short of it is the governor had the legal authority to take the action she did. Whether she did so because he refused to fire a trooper that appeared to need firing (and yes, she also had a personal connection), or did so because he did’t share her political philosophy, or did so because she didn’t like his choice of shirt color or hair style makes very little legal difference. She had the legal authority to fire. His was apparantly a position serving at the pleasure of the executive.
You may disagree with her decision. You may believe it was a poor decision. You may believe it was a decision made for the wrong motives; fine, if that’s the case, vote her out at the next election.
But it was a decision within her legal authority.
Case closed.
The fact that she has shown a 12-year pattern of firing people for vague reasons and replacing them with cronies would tend to buttress that view.
Many politicians choose cronies for positions. I don’t think that, in and of itself, is the problem. The problem lies in appointing cronies who don’t have the credentials, experience, or the knowledge to even begin to do the job. Example: Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown
Is it still true the smartest, most effective people surround themselves with even smarter and even more effective people?
Is the inverse also still true?
mom asked some interesting questions:
First of all, where was the ex-wife in all this?
According to accounts on the incident, Molly was upstairs bathing the baby. The son who had asked and received the taser jolt, ran upstairs to announce it to her. She said and did nothing for more than a year. This, along with several other things were brought up long after the divorce hearings.
Did she file a complaint with the local police?
Uh, no. And unless a report of abuse has been filed, it doesn’t count in a divorce hearing. At least in this county.
Chas–
was that really you, or was it just a product of “smoke and mirrors” ?
BTW – firing your predecessor’s appointees, and appointing your “cronies,” i.e., people who share your view of governance and are loyal to you and your administration, is a NORMAL and NECESSARY part of and result of elections and governance.
Get use to it. Obama will do EXACTLY the same thing. Let’s just hope his “cronies” don’t include the Bill Ayers’ of the world.
Of course, if Obama gets elected President and starts firing people that serve at the pleasure of the President, the Democraps will shrug it off.
As Sun tzu stated:
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer
Palin knew who wasn’t going to be a team player and offered the head of the police agency another job which he refused to take.
So quit your whining Crats, there is no ‘there’ there.
Come on GMC70-
Bill Ayers is a much respected and liked English Professor. He has renounced his violent …. oh sorry.
Regular posted October 17, 2008 at 10:22 am
Palin knew who wasn’t going to be a team player and offered the head of the police agency another job which he refused to take.
So quit your whining Crats, there is no ‘there’ there.
—————-
Sarah Palin’s violation of Alaskan ethics laws was re trooper Wooten, not DPS Commissioner Monegan.
#
cosmos_originally
Posted October 17, 2008 at 10:30 am | Permalink
Regular posted October 17, 2008 at 10:22 am
Palin knew who wasn’t going to be a team player and offered the head of the police agency another job which he refused to take.
So quit your whining Crats, there is no ‘there’ there.
—————-
Sarah Palin’s violation of Alaskan ethics laws was re trooper Wooten, not DPS Commissioner Monegan.
—————————-
Actually no, they were trying to get some trumped up charge because what her husband, a private citizen had the right to do, that is seek a remedy for the problems his family (in-laws) were having.
They found that Governor Palin violated no laws and made a finding that Palin “may” have violated an ethics statute.
It’s a toothless hound and has no bite.
Both KKKarl Rove and Todd Palin have refused to answer subpeonas.
One either believes in the law or one doesn’t.
They don’t.
Being Republican means making other people obey your laws.
Let’s get some things straight, instead of citing only partial information.
The trooper in question tasered a 10 yr old.
Wooten was (also) found to have violated department policy in using a Taser on his then 11-year old stepson in 2003. He told investigators that he did so “in a training capacity” after the child had asked to be tased. In a September 2008 newspaper interview, Wooten said that he set the Taser to “test” mode, meaning that it was on low power.[34][35] In a statement to police, the boy said “he wanted to be tased to show that he’s not a mommy’s boy in front of Bristol [his cousin, Palin's daughter]. Following being tased he went upstairs to tell his mother that he was fine.”[21] In a statement to police, Molly McCann said “she was up stairs giving a bath to the kids … Mike was going to show Payton what it feels like and she told Mike that he better not.”[21] According to Molly’s account, she remained upstairs during the incident.
Although the Taser incident happened in 2003, it was not reported to police until on or after April 11, 2005, the day McCann filed for divorce. On June 6, 2005, a police investigator asked Bristol why they “waited so long and brought the incident up after two years.” Bristol said “because of the divorce.”[21]
From the references: Wooten added that he attached clips to the child’s shirt rather than firing darts from a gun, that he turned on the power for less than one second, and that afterwards his stepson “thought it was great and wanted to do it all over again.” He stated that “everyone laughed about” the incident at the time. Grimaldi, James W. (2008-09-06). “Palin’s Ex-Brother-in-Law Says He Regrets Bad Blood”, Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
^ According to a spokesman for Taser International, “if the Taser is fired for just a second, it would feel like your funny bone was hit.” Demer, Lisa (2008-07-27). “Is Wooten a good trooper?”, Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
Good? No, it was a dumb thing to do.
The trooper also drank beer in his patrol car.
One beer, while he was off duty.
The investigation initially cleared Wooten on all of the alcohol-related charges,[26] but Grimes overturned that result and found that Wooten did “take [an] open beer with him when he drove away in his trooper vehicle” on one occasion in the summer of 2004, violating both the law and internal trooper policy.[36] Wooten was not on duty; he was wearing “civilian attire.” And he “drove approximately one mile to his residence.”[21] Because Wooten “was a member of the SERT [SWAT] team … he [was allowed to] use his State vehicle for personal use.”[37] The only witnesses to this event were close friends of Sarah Palin’s father: “Adrian Lane was a student of Chuck Heath’s in Idaho when he was a child and they have been close friends ever since.”[26] This is apparently why the original Memorandum of Findings[26] treated this allegation as “Not Sustained.” Wooten denied this allegation.[21]
The trooper also told others his father-in-law would “eat a f’ing lead bullet” if he helped his daughter get an attorney for the divorce.
Heresay. Even if it wasn’t, our own Regular and a couple of others could be held accountable for much the same.
Wall’s investigation found that Wooten violated internal policy, but not the law, in making a death threat against Heath. Wooten denied having made the threat, but Wall decided that he had in fact done so. Wall concluded that the death threat was not a crime because Wooten did not threaten the father directly; therefore, Wall deemed the threat to be a violation of trooper policy rather than a violation of criminal law. Although the death threat was listed as a violation of trooper policy in the Memorandum of Findings, it was not mentioned at all in the suspension letter[32] sent to Wooten by Col. Grimes on March 1, 2006.
—-
Other charges
Wooten was cleared of numerous other allegations made by McCann and her family, including that he had taken illegal steroid and testosterone supplements, that he had physically assaulted McCann, and that he had illegally shot a wolf.[26]
Aside from the alleged death threat against Heath, Sarah and Molly had also accused Wooten of making threats that he would “bring down” Sarah and her family. Sarah Palin had no first-hand knowledge of these threats; she had heard about them via Molly. Molly told police she understood Wooten to mean that he could use his position as a trooper to make life difficult for Sarah. Wooten denied making this threat. The police investigation treated this allegation as “Not Sustained.”[26]
[edit] Suspension of Wooten
Based on the internal investigation findings, Grimes announced on March 1, 2006 that she would suspend Wooten for ten days. In announcing the suspension, Grimes referred to the Taser, moose and beer incidents, and also to seven other negative actions in Wooten’s personnel file, such as failing to use turn signals. She did not mention the alleged death threat or any other allegations regarding threats. She concluded that “[t]he record clearly indicates a serious and concentrated pattern of unacceptable and at times, illegal activity occurring over a lengthy period, which establishes a course of conduct totally at odds with the ethics of our profession”.[27][23][32] After a union protest, the suspension was reduced to five days, and Wooten was warned by Grimes that he would be fired if he committed any further misconduct.[23]
As far as the American people go, Sarah Palin’s approval numbers are in the toilet ready to be flushed with McCain’s.
Nobody’s buying what their selling this time around . . . except for the chronically stupid who still are shilling for Bush.
And Obama first political decision was to set down with a bomber.
What did he set down?
Oh! You mean SIT down!
I used to eat at the same restaurant where a man involved in “mob” activies in Wichita also ate. We were there many times AT THE SAME TIME.
Doh! what they’re selling . . .
Regular posted October 17, 2008 at 10:34 am
Actually no, they were trying to get some trumped up charge because what her husband, a private citizen had the right to do, that is seek a remedy for the problems his family (in-laws) were having.
————-
“Private citizens” do NOT have a “right” to use the Governor’s office to try to fire a DPS trooper that they don’t like.
Palin being on the national stage for a few weeks has allowed her constituents to know more about her. I will be interested to see whether this has any effect (positive or negative) on her political future.
And she will never get the chance to be either one. SHe is not the top of the ticket, remember?
Not necessarily, LJ. Even Dick Cheney took over the office of President for a short time. It happens. So do assasinations or medical deaths. It’s something voters should always keep in the back of their minds.
Not to mention that, if McCain-Palin should lose, Sarah will not return meekly to Alaska and never be heard from again. She’s had a taste of being a celebrity politician, and I’d lay odds that she won’t stop now. There’s already talk of her running for POTUS in 2012. Do you think she’s ignored that?
Many of us thought highly of her intelligence and leadership. That was contrasted with what members of the Republican Party thought about the same subject.
Even in her beloved Alaska, her numbers have dropped.
One wonders, after Palin loses in two weeks, will she forever fade into obscurity after her 15 minutes of fame?
I’m guessing no.
Plan to see her on “Big Brother” and as a paid commentator on Faux.
If all else fails, she can take the route so many washed-up women celebs take–a spread in “Playboy” magazine . . .
Regular posted October 17, 2008 at 10:34 am
They found that Governor Palin violated no laws and made a finding that Palin “may” have violated an ethics statute.
—————-
‘Legal Definition of Statute’
http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/s071.htm
STATUTE – A law established by an act of the legislature.
Under the U.S. and state constitutions, statutes are considered the primary source of law in the U.S. — that is, legislatures make the law (statutes) and courts interpret the law (cases).
I hope Palin is the the future POTUS nominee of the Republican Party. ;-)
They found that Governor Palin violated no laws and made a finding that Palin “may” have violated an ethics statute.
Reg, would you mind posting the official finding? I’m sure you have it handy. I’d like to see where the word “may” comes into it.
Never mind, I’ll do it myself.
“I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act,” investigator Steve Branchflower concluded in the panel’s 263-page report.
“Gov. Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda,” the report states.
It was a 12-0 vote. 8 republicans, 4 democrats.
I used to eat at the same restaurant where a man involved in “mob” activies in Wichita also ate. We were there many times AT THE SAME TIME.
Did you launch your political career in his living room?
Pre-
My point was that McCain/Palin is not going to be moving to Washington DC. Not really anything else.
Me, I think it was a terrible choice. but then, me again, so was McCain.
My vote continues to go to the write in candidate
“none of the above”
Sol-
REmember. Ayers is a great guy. He’s for English and stuff. And rights, and nonviolent forms of …… oh sorry.
Nobody cares about Ayers, nobody cares abot Acorn, nobody cares about Wright, or Rezko, or voting present so many times, or lack of experience, or any other damn thing except “The One” is Democrat, he isn;t Bush, and he;s a fresh face, he is also…….African American. Get over it. You might as well. Obama will be President. We will see
if people enjoy what they asked for.
It’s interesting to compare the innuendo, spin, and lies in the headers Townhall column by
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hewitt
versus the more factual column from ADN.
Mary,
If Palin isn’t qualified to be VP then Obama isn’t qualified to be President.
Sigh. . . . Linda, feel free to keep trying to promote reason in this forum. You too Mary. You both mean well, but read this thread over. It’s not about differences of opinion. It’s about differences in seeing reality.
GMC, for example, continues focusing on Monegan’s firing, which had nothing to do with Branchflower’s findings of abuse of power.
Then we have the breathtakingly stupid McCarthyist crap about Ayers raising its head, again. And no: I’m not humping (sic) the shark–it’s vintage Joe, and beyond ridiculous. Its purpose is not to inform to but to inflame. None of them cares what Obama and Ayers said to each other, or about what, as I’m sure that would get boring (or perhaps interesting for the “wrong” reasons, given their mutual interest juvenile justice and education) pretty damn quick.
Some of it is half-truths and misinformation of course, but the essential truth still stands: as far as anyone has ever known, there is no “there” there. He knew the guy. Big whoop. Since Obama met the guy at Alice Palmer’s fundraiser, should she be put on the terrorist watch list? What about the publisher who dared <gasp!) to print and distribute his well-regarded book on the juvenile justice system?
Step1: Demonize a guy with a radical past. Step2: Trump up his connections with the politician you want to attack. Have you now or ever been a terrorist?. No proof or even hint of impropriety is required. Rinse. Repeat.
And we can count on all that crap, and “Joe the Plumber” unlicensed work and Mc”C*nt” and the rest up until election day. Blah blah blah. Nero had nothin’ on us.
Ya know what folks? How’s this? Sarah Palin is pure as the driven snow. She’s a dynamic leader, a reformer, a maverick, and the most qualified person to be president that’s ever lived.
There.
I don’t believe any of that, of course. But if discussing a potential VP’s legal problems can be taken off the table, just maybe some of this other mindless crap can be too.
One of those lessons I learned early in life is to not get involved in someone else’s divorce. Any semblance of truth goes out the window, fact is invented as needed, doing horrendous damage to each other becomes the obsession and the crossfire is deadly! Apparently Palin seems to have ditched that crucial class in judgement to the extent that she involved the state of Alaska in her sister’s divorce. It may or may not have been criminal, but it sure as hell wasn’t classy!
We’ve all been through eight years of govenment without integrity; McCain promised better and didn’t deliver in his choice of Palin. We certainly don’t need another four!
nobody cares about Wright, or Rezko, or voting present so many times, or lack of experience, or any other damn thing except “The One” is Democrat, he isn;t Bush, and he;s a fresh face, he is also…….African American.
Yup. and Obama has played the race card, very subtly, throughout this campaign. His shills, both here on this blog and in the MSM have played it as well. The message is subtle, but in a nutshell it is: If you don’t vote for Obama, you’re a racist.
That is crap, of course, but it serve a purpose in getting out the “guilt” vote. That it’s fundamentally dishonest doesn’t prevent it from being argued. Look forward to 4-8 years of the same, BTW. If you don’t agree with Pres. Obama’s policies, you’re a racist.
And look for it to be less subtle from the White House. It will be accompanied by a concerted effort to silence voices who criticize the administration, as he has attempted to silence voices who criticize him during the campaign.
It should be an interesting term. Yes, like you, LJ, I’m resigned to an Obama presidency. The hope now is to limit the damage, and come out the other side with a nation we still recognize, with some sort of economic freedom (the only freedom that matters daily to most people) still intact. We’ll see.
“One of those lessons I learned early in life is to not get involved in someone else’s divorce. Any semblance of truth goes out the window, fact is invented as needed, doing horrendous damage to each other becomes the obsession and the crossfire is deadly”
Good advice indeed.
It’s not about differences of opinion. It’s about differences in seeing reality. — Rage
———-
And about levels of intelligence and the ability to think critically. ;-)
Hold your head high, Rage. The contrasts are quite evident!
Remember! NEVER FORGET! Americans elected bush TWICE.
I can’t emphasize this enough. We can’t be complacent, and we must guard against our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Seventeen days.
GMC, for example, continues focusing on Monegan’s firing, which had nothing to do with Branchflower’s findings of abuse of power.
On the contrary – that is the centerpiece of Branchflower’s “findings.” And the crucial fact is still the same: it was within her legal prerogative.
Did you launch your political career in his living room?
A. I don’t have a political career.
B. I wasn’t invited to his living room.
C. I was maybe 8 years old. (OOps! There’s a similarity to something.)
Seriously, I’m not qualified to comment, since I wasn’t there, wasn’t in on the planning of the event, much less did I head it up. What I am doing is pointing out that being in the presence of someone–even listening to or studying someone–does not necessarily mean a person would emulate that someone. If it did, then those statements about McCain and the VietCong would hold as much, if not more weight than the Ayers statements.
S.C ruled against the GOP trying to force the state election office to do more to help them with voter registration information.
Acorn has infiltrated the S.C.!
John Mccain didn’t launch his political career in someone’s living room. For 5.5 yrs. John Mccain didn’t even have a living room, or a couch, or a t.v., or whores (well maybe whores), John mccain launched and based his political career in a tiny cell.
Pre,
Ayers helped Obama’s political career. They worked together on projects. Sounds a little more friendly than eating in the same restaurant.
On the contrary – that is the centerpiece of Branchflower’s “findings.” And the crucial fact is still the same: it was within her legal prerogative.
Sigh. Typical lawyer: point to the facts that help your case, ignore those that do not. In fact, it was the pressure put on Monegan and his staff to mess with Wooten that result in the finding of an ethics violation. Not his firing.
If what GMC was implying was true, there would be no ethics violation (how could there be? Branchflower upheld Palin’s right to fire Monegan!). Looks like GMC’s opting for the Chewbacca defense.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewbakka_defense#Chewbacca_defense
JWink
Posted October 17, 2008 at 6:19 am | Permalink
I believe a newly elected office holder has a natural right to discharge holdover members of the former administration who do not support the new administration. If not, the wishes of the voters will be subverted by the inability to govern.
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Oh really. Then I guess you didn’t have a problem when Phill Kline fired the five prosecutors when he took office as Johnson County DA.
Ayers helped Obama’s political career.
Even if true (and is it?), so what? What’s being implied that can’t be openly said?
“Chrisfrommactown” forgets Phill Kline was not elected Johnson County Attorney.
Palin fired a subordinate who would not fire a trooper who had tasered a child and who threatened people with violence.
Good for her.
Now, can we get back to talking about the Economy and the crashing stock market and the fact that there are people without health insurance, etc, etc…….?
Palin should fit in fine with the rest of the crap in office. More of the McSame….
“Palin should fit in fine with the rest of the crap in office. More of the McSame….”
That’s right. Politicians who have started their career as a PTA member and a mother of 4 from Alaska has certainly overrun Washington DC.
We don’t need any more hockey moms in Washington DC. Vote them all out!
Palin more of the same? NOT
L J — Sorry — I was called away, and just got back… Now, what were you asking?
Be quick, because I am on my way out again…
Chas-
It was something about it I had any proof of something. Or whether it was just more smoke and mirrors. Who cares. Long time ago.
OK have a good weekend!!
yeah, you too. I have several exciting things to do this weekend, none of which have anything to do with work, so I am excited.
Rage:
Sigh indeed. The two are intimately related; one does not exist independently of the other. Putting “pressure” on to fire Wooten, given the reports of Wooten’s behavior, is not particularly surprising. That Wooten had some personal relationship to the Gov’s family only makes the matter more pressing to them, the firing of Wooten appeared to be justified by his behavior. Bottom line: The Governors ACTS; i.e. the firing of Monegan, was within her prerogatives.
You ignore a persistent reality: if you don’t think politicians use their positions to reward their friends and “punish” their enemies, you’re in fantasyland. All politicians. Even, perhaps especially (we’ll see), the sainted Obama. And doing so, as long as the actions you take are within your legal prerogative, is not illegal, nor improper, though it may seem somewhat unseemly. It just the reality of politics. To the victor go the spoils.
Palin also made a point of mentioning that she loved to visit the “pro-America” areas of the country, of which North Carolina is one. No word on which states she views as unpatriotic.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/17/to_avoid_being_depressed_palin.html
Perhaps McCain/Palin would like to tell us what states exactly are not pro-America?
Perhaps McCain/Palin would like to tell us what states exactly are not pro-America?
Alaska perhaps? For some of them there anyway. (Secessionists, anyone?)
I already answered this on another thread, but I was happy to repost here. :)
I doubt Joe’s popularity lasts even as long as that American Idol ‘She Bangs’ singer did!
Wonder if Joe will attempt ‘She Bangs’ when he’s at the Pallin Rally?
This is interesting, wonder what the current 70 dollar decline is going to do to Alaska’s Palin budget?
FAQ 1: What is a $1 increase in oil price worth to the state treasury?
A $1 per barrel increase in the price of oil lasting for an entire year results in an additional $65 million to the state treasury (as of 2002).
Phantom,
Alaska passed a windfall profits tax last year. Lower prices now = even more impact than in 2002?
‘Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil‘
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
“Then last year, Palin introduced a graduated tax pegged to increased oil prices. The state Legislature modified her proposal to increase the state’s take even further.
…
The tax is set at its highest rate in Prudhoe Bay, where the state takes 25 percent of the net profit of a barrel when its price is at or below $52.
The percentage then escalates as oil prices rise over that benchmark. Alaska gets about $49 of a $120 barrel, not counting other fees.”
” Did ‘Troopergate’ investigation vindicate Palin?”
Not to any rational person.
She abused her office to settle a personal score. She should be impeached.
I cannot believe that democrats would spend all day on a thread dealing with the republican candidate VP, instead of doing something active to support our candidate.
This thread is a waste. It is only useful for the owners of the newspaper.
SolDevVB
Posted October 17, 2008 at 12:14 pm | Permalink
Pre,
Ayers helped Obama’s political career. They worked together on projects. Sounds a little more friendly than eating in the same restaurant
===
It’s been reported many times that while Obama and Ayers served on this committee, there were also other people who were prominent Republicans on the same committee. Does that make these
Republicans being pals with terrorists?