An independent agency investigator has exonerated Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the “Troopergate” business. Like an earlier legislative probe, this one said she was within her rights to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. But the new report, which benefited from three hours of Palin’s sworn testimony, went further in saying she did not violate state ethics law or abuse her power. Meanwhile, Palin wouldn’t say today whether she voted for Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, despite his conviction last week on seven felonies. Interesting scenario: If Stevens wins re-election today but gets expelled from the Senate by his colleagues, Palin would appoint his temporary successor. If the vice presidency proves elusive today, might she appoint herself?
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- writerdog on Minority status in Senate; majority approval at home
- Politico on Health care reform would save state money
- Phantom on Open thread 11/22
- Phantom on Health care reform would save state money
- Phantom on Health care reform would save state money
- Phantom on Health care reform would save state money
- writerdog on Health care reform would save state money
- Phantom on Health care reform would save state money
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/22
- Phantom on Minority status in Senate; majority approval at home
53 Comments
“Meanwhile, Palin wouldn’t say today whether she voted for Sen. Ted Stevens,…”
Meanwhile, the Eagle wouldn’t say who they endorsed for prez.
Alaska law changed and the governor doesn’t appoint!
If Stevens does get re-elected and then expelled, Alaska law states that there must be a special election held to fill the seat. Sarah Palin, as Governor, cannot appoint herself to fill the seat. She cannot appoint anyone to fill the seat, either permanently or temporarily.
The Alaska Replacement of U.S. Senators Act, also known as Alaska Ballot Measure 4 was on the November election ballot in Alaska. It passed, with 55.6% of voters in favor.
The ballot initiative related to how the state fills its U.S. Senate vacancies.
The language that appeared on the ballot:
This measure would repeal state law that allows the Governor to appoint a person to temporarily fill a vacant seat in the United States Senate until an election can be held and certified. Under this measure a vacated seat would remain vacant for three to five months, leaving Alaska without full representation in the Senate. Other provisions are identical to existing law and those parts of the law remain unchanged. Current law requires that a senate vacancy be filled by special election, or regular election if the vacancy occurs less than 60 days before the primary election for that seat.
Amazing the charges against Ms. Palin came along just in time to poison Palin in the minds of some potential American voters at the critical period BEFORE the election. Now that the election is rapidly drawing to a conclusion, the finding is announced that she was well within her rights.
You would think the people of Alaska would have supported her to help their state get powerful representation of a Vice President.
So I have to ask, “What’s wrong with Alaska?”
“Alaska law changed and the governor doesn’t appoint!”
Should we call this the moot thread?
I suppose we could handle it like most others and discuss whatever we choose. ;-)
If all those ifs happen Governor Palin may run for the Senate seat and may be elected in the special election. That will result in a Senator Palin.
“I suppose we could handle it like most others and discuss whatever we choose. ;-)”
Ain’t that the truth!
I predict the Mark Begich will win, making any self-appointment impossible, the law notwithstanding.
However (you heard it here first!), I don’t think Palin is going to run for re-election as governor. At this point, that’s a uphill climb, and her Fey-doppleganger got it right–she’s nothing if not ambitious.
What I see is a Senatorial challenge to Lisa Murkowski in 2010–you know, the daughter of the guy she defeated for governor, who was appointed under the law that was changed? She will run on a reform platform, mightily invokin memories of her 2006 governor’s race. And, since, I suspect, there will be multiple GOP contenders out to boot Murkowski, she might just win a plurality.
And get destroyed in the general election.
You betcha! She no doubt voted for Stevens as she knows her governorship days are marked.
Expulsion from the Senate requires a two-thirds vote.
If Stevens were to resign or be expelled by his colleagues, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has a potential – and complicated – role in choosing a replacement. No one in Alaska can say for sure how it would work because the state’s law on senatorial succession was changed twice in 2004, once by the Legislature and once by a ballot initiative pushed through by Alaska voters who were upset with how a 2002 vacancy had been handled.
The laws were changed after then-Gov. Frank Murkowski’s 2002 appointment of his daughter, Republican Lisa Murkowski, to his vacated U.S. Senate seat.
Both the 2004 laws call for a special election within 60 to 90 days of the vacancy. However, they disagree on whether the governor appoints an interim senator in the meantime. The Alaska Supreme Court ultimately would have to decide which law the state follows.
Yes, it is perfectly O.K. for the press to cover this today since it’s probably too late to affect the election. It obviously mattered because the press, lib blogs, and posters here have been fixated on her and the investigation for months.
All those long hours posters toiled away, posting nasty things about Palin being guilty.
Olly olly oxen free
Why would she want to take a step down to a Senator’s position?
I truly hope (from whatever position!) she is THE future of the Republican Party! Her and “Joe.”
I still think she will host a talk show on FAUX.
“Both the 2004 laws call for a special election within 60 to 90 days of the vacancy. However, they disagree on whether the governor appoints an interim senator in the meantime. The Alaska Supreme Court ultimately would have to decide which law the state follows.”
—
Which way does the law passed by he voters state this “interim” period would be handled? After the unwanted attention the state has had do you suppose the voters would appreciate anything other than the law the voters passed? I would think it would be difficult for any politicians to claim reform and go against the will of the people.
Why would she want to take a step down to a Senator’s position?
“Foreign policy experience.” And then Palin in 2012.
Of course, if she bcomes VP (and, maybe, accidently president), that would be a horse of a different color.
lindainks55
Posted November 4, 2008 at 2:12 pm | Permalink
I truly hope (from whatever position!) she is THE future of the Republican Party! Her and “Joe.”
________________________________________________
Ron Paul and his ideas of liberty and freedom are the future of the party.
Don’t shoot the messenger though. The Neo-Cons did this to themselves. Now they will cling to the Democrats and ruin their party.
Austrian – good luck with that. I don’t see the Libertarian wing ascending within the GOP.
bth
Posted November 4, 2008 at 3:03 pm | Permalink
Austrian – good luck with that. I don’t see the Libertarian wing ascending within the GOP.
__________________________________________________
No where else to turn to except truth bth.
Unless we want the full blown fascist state that the current GOP hold in high regards.
I do think that it is sad that Liberty is thrown aside in this country.
Heck, we all know that Liberty is what made this country the power that it is today. Too bad we take it for granted and will lose our power.
Liberty is the mainspring of human progress.
Not a government.
AE – just note that my comment is prediction – not what I want. I think the Republican Party will remain under the control of the neo-cons for at least a while longer.
The odds regarding Ted Stevens being reelected are long and hard.
(Kinda like 3rd grade math for KomradeKapn)
With the socialism that Obama preaches, if he is able to accomplish half his goals in 4 years, the GOP will have to take a stance opposite the socialist party.
Obama’s plan will drive down employment and encourage business to move over seas. The government will grow by leaps and bounds.
The only alternative (and hope for the GOP in 2012) is a platform of limited government and lower taxes. Sounds Libertarian to me.
I can guarantee the neo-cons are NOT welcome in the Democratic Party! The Republicans are stuck with them, so maybe a strong third party will arise and the Republican Party can go its way into history.
lindainks55
Posted November 4, 2008 at 3:44 pm | Permalink
I can guarantee the neo-cons are NOT welcome in the Democratic Party!
========
Damit! We don’t want them either!!
lindainks55
Posted November 4, 2008 at 3:44 pm | Permalink
I can guarantee the neo-cons are NOT welcome in the Democratic Party! The Republicans are stuck with them, so maybe a strong third party will arise and the Republican Party can go its way into history.
_________________________________________________
Elections are rigged by Democrats and Republicans against Third Parties. They even get to make all the rules.
The only way is to transform one of the major parties.
The GOP is in shambles after they left their free-market, limited government philosophy. They traded it in for bigger government and centrally planned economies, oh yeah, and pre-emptive war.
We really would just bringing the party back to its roots in a sense.
“Obama’s plan will drive down employment and encourage business to move over seas”
Yea – just like during the Clinton depression.
Well good luck, AE.
Too bad about those elections being rigged and rules being made and all those obstacles. An “I can’t” attitude isn’t helpful either. It would seem to be if your goal is, “to transform one of the major parties,” it would be easier to attempt transforming one which is, “in shambles.” Since you state that is the Republican Party — go for it! I think they’re going to have enough problems rooting out the neo-cons and fundies, but they may as well have all the factions represented when they begin the process.
You keep us advised on your progress, OK?
I would like to take the time to make a reflective post to all of my friends in here today. We may not agree (quite often if you know my views), but I think that one thing we can all agree on is just how great the idea of this country really is.
There are other countries that will have military come to your house and shoot you in the head if you disagree with a certain philosophy. You, of course, will be unarmed and will suffer a terrible fate.
I think it is important to reflect upon what the founders of this country gave us. They gave us freedom. Freedom of choice and risk. Freedom to protect what we earned. Freedom to work hard and keep the fruits of your labor.
The fact that they planted the seed of freedom into every citizen of this country is why it is so hard for those who respect tyranny to come to true power. Americans know their rights and are not afraid to defend them.
This would not be possible without the ideas the fore fathers engrained so heavily into our mind. The fact that the idea of freedom is out there will always prevent total tyranny from being realized.
Unless they use force, in which case, we have been given the right to bear arms and at least have a fair chance at keeping what God rightfully bestowed upon us.
Whenever things are bad, just remember the idea of freedom. Liberty is not free. It must be defended.
lindainks55
Posted November 4, 2008 at 4:21 pm | Permalink
Well good luck, AE.
Too bad about those elections being rigged and rules being made and all those obstacles. An “I can’t” attitude isn’t helpful either. It would seem to be if your goal is, “to transform one of the major parties,” it would be easier to attempt transforming one which is, “in shambles.” Since you state that is the Republican Party — go for it! I think they’re going to have enough problems rooting out the neo-cons and fundies, but they may as well have all the factions represented when they begin the process.
You keep us advised on your progress, OK?
________________________________________________
Ron Paul proved that it can be done. He got the message of Liberty out in a big way by running as a Republican this time around.
His Libertarian presidential run is proof of this fact.
An election idea that would dramatically help third parties – preferential voting:
Mark you ballot in rank of choices – first, second, third, etc. This will set the stage for an instant runoff if nobody gets 50%+.
Count the votes and list the candidates by how many #1 votes they received.
Take the guy who came in last and re-distribute his votes based on the voters’ #2 choices.
Repeat the process until someone has 50%+.
I have seen this method used in technical society officer elections. Why not use it here?
In 2012 I fully expect to hear, Barak benefited from the foundation that 43 set up!
Like they loved to say Clinton benefited from Reagan.
“Austrian_Economist” –
The problem with the Republic Party “returning to its roots” is that it’s basically rootless.
The closest thing they’ve got is Ronald Reagan’s rhetoric. But for all his talk about smaller government and promoting “family” values and restoring America’s reputation overseas, Reagan hightailed it out of Lebanon after the first suicide truck bombing, he never attended an Anti-Abortion rally (he literally phoned it in), and tripled the national debt with unfunded expansion of government.
Not a lot of roots there except for rhetoric.
The legitimate “roots” for the Republic Party might go back to Eisenhower’s Big Tent approach which welcomed people such as Rockefeller and Everett Dirksen, Ed Brooke, and George Romney — liberals all, by today’s Republic Party litmus tests — and replaced them with crooks and liars such as Gingrich, DeLay, Cheney, and Shrub.
In 1996, Bob Dole was a candidate who might have lead the Republic Party back to its roots, but the CONs and twice-born considered him “too liberal.” Bob Dole.
The Republic Party has abandoned its roots. As we see frequently in this forum when CONs drag out their “party of Jim Crow” canard, there’s nothing and no one in “God’s Own Party” that has any ear for a multicultural gender-equal population. They’re the party of greedy old white men and their women who’d force everyone to choose their personal barefoot and pregnant, speakin’-in-tongues lifestyle.
Kind of like how they find a Heisman Trophy winner bth?
Sounds like a good idea.
Those who are in power like the system just the way it is though.
Allowing anyone, knowledgeable or not, only benefits those in power.
True MonkeyHawk,
The Republican Roots are non-existent.
How about a transformation of the party? The Democrats have transformed since the days of Andrew Jackson.
Until the third party bias ceases to exist, this is the only viable way.
“Austrian_Economist” –
“The Republican Roots are non-existent.
How about a transformation of the party? The Democrats have transformed since the days of Andrew Jackson.”
Well, that’s going back quite while. The Democratic Party has transformed itself in many ways since Old Hickory. (the president, not the bourbon)
“Until the third party bias ceases to exist, this is the only viable way.”
Nice words but not likely.
Part of the unintended results of the Constitution (which ended up in the 12th Amendment in 1804) was a two-sided approach to governing in America; and pretty much winner-take-all.
I’ve gotta laugh at Libertarians who think Ron Paul made some kind of difference by entering the Republic Party primaries this year.
It’s like claiming Dennis Kucinich revived Henry Wallace’s old Progressive Party this year.
The Paul-bearers are certifiably delusional if they think a Libertarian agenda can ge tany traction in 21st Century America. Or the 21st Century world.
AE – care to speculate on Paul’s vote totals today? My bet is he does NOT reach the level Nader had in 2000.
I doubt that even his home state of GA gives him as much as 5%
Shrub-onomics strikes Wichita and Kansas again.
Cessna is cutting jobs due to the credit crunch.
And they announced it late on election day, so as to not scare away the twice-born who will now be free to picket and target George Tiller since they won’t have a job to go to.
I’m filling up with $1.969 gasoline before the polls close, ’cause I’ll bet all the coins and chalk in my pocket the price will go back up tomorrow.
But Patsy Roberts will be re-elected. Tankerless Todd will be re-elected. And the world will be safe for another couple of years from “ksfarmgrrl” marrying the one she loves.
Priorities, people.
bth,
Ron Paul is only on the ballot in two states. I agree with you on his numbers this election cycle.
Ron Paul is from Texas by the way.
As for MonkeyHawk,
You do live in reality, and you are correct.
The 21st Century World is not viable and goes completely against the principles this country was founded on though.
Liberty is not an agenda. I will have to respectfully disagree with you on this point. Free-will to do what you want without encroaching upon another is all I’m after.
Does that really sound delusional?
I stand corrected about Paul/TX. Was thinking Barr.
So – to update – total Libertarian far below Nader’s 2000 number.
“Austrian_Economist” asks –
“Liberty is not an agenda. I will have to respectfully disagree with you on this point. Free-will to do what you want without encroaching upon another is all I’m after.
Does that really sound delusional?”
In a word, yes.
But in a good way.
There’s just about no way a person in the 21st Century doesn’t somehow “encroach” upon another.
We no longer live in Daniel Boone’s reality who packed up his family and moved westward the minute he could see the smoke from a neighbor’s chimney.
“Encroaching” on another is the reality of civilization. As soon as Org the Cave Man told Blerg the Cave Woman, “I’ll do the hunting and you do the gathering,” people encroached on others.
Every time the traffic laws make me stop at an intersection so cross-traffic can pass, that sombitch is “encroaching” on my right to drive to the post office unencumbered by another.
I’m sorry, but most Libertarians I come across seem to be people who want to pay no taxes, smoke their pot, drive their beer, and drink their pick-up truck. (Something like that.)
Yeah, that’s at least border-line delusional in my opinion.
Let’s wait until the election is over before you start making predictions.
george – the whole idea of a prediction is that it is about the future.
“Daniel Boone’s reality who packed up his family and moved westward”
And encroached upon my ancesters and stole their land.
I suggested in a post yesterday that Palin does in fact have some considerable experiences in foreign affairs. She is a member of the Board of Govenors of the Northern Form, a group of 24 sub-national or regional governments from 10 arctic countries (Russia, China, Canada, Norway, America etc. etc) who met regularly to discuss making life better for Northern Peoples worldwide. She didn’t do the job by mail, and must have had considerable negotiating skills and exposure to very different thought processes. This, for some reason never made it to the media which I feel was a failure of the McCain handlers. Kept from scrums and then plonked down with CBS without prior sharpening of her interviewing skills (which were truncated by GOP control freaks) in mass media encounters, she was hung out to dry. I think she is much, much better than the sum and total of her press clippings. No, I’m not a Republican!
sursum,
Have you shortened the name of this group? A cursory google search didn’t find anything. If they conducted meetings were they all held in America or Chanda? Palin’s foreign travel is very limited. How long has she been on this board?
Sursum, why is it, in the general election, at the gubernatorial debates, when challenged, she was unable to name a single piece of legislation she supported or opposed?
No, I don’t question her participation in the negotiations you’ve mentioned. In fact, I think I’ve alluded to them on this forum.
Ever seen the movie “Being there”?
P.S. On second thought, Linda is right. What you’re talking about, the NCAA stuff, is not amenable to Google.
“bth” contributes –
““Daniel Boone’s reality who packed up his family and moved westward”
And encroached upon my ancesters and stole their land.”
I know the point, but I think it goes back to the general Native American philosophy they couldn’t figure out the concept of people “owning” land.
For most nations, the land was just there. “Owning” some of it, fencing off some of it was like owning a cloud.
You savage redskins.
Talk on the tube is Palin pretty much to blame for mccain goin down in flame.
Lindainks: Ooops, my typo, it’s the Northern ForUm. I don’t know how long she has been on the Board but when I googled the site she was listed as a board member as were Governors from Alaska before her. Where’s Chanda?
“Liberty is the mainspring of human progress.
“Not a government.”
And this platitude, which is not really true, is the core of the major flaw in libertarian thinking.
Without a strong federal government operating under constitutional restrictions and represented by a large diversity of citizens who all keep one another in check, liberty falls apart. Our history is proof of this, without a strong federal government backing up the federal courts, state enforced segregation would still be the norm in some areas. The greatest sources of tyranny come from the smaller units of government, particularly city, county, and state. And the strongest assaults on liberty come from private associations like HOA’s.