Alaska inquiry finds Palin abused power
Originally published Friday, October 10, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
Updated Friday, October 10, 2008 at 7:08 p.m.
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.
Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.
The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.
Monegan's firing was lawful, the report found, but Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making - even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.
"I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."
Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Lawmakers don't have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her.
Under Alaska law, it is up to the state's Personnel Board - which is conducting its own investigation into the matter - to decide whether Palin violated state law and, if so, must refer it to the Senate president for disciplinary action. Violations also carry a possible fine of up to $5,000.
Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein disagreed with Branchflower's conclusions. "In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain, usually financial. Mr. Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain," he said.
Palin and McCain's supporters had hoped the inquiry's finding would be delayed until after the presidential election to spare her any embarrassment and to put aside an enduring distraction as she campaigns as McCain's running mate in an uphill contest against Democrat Barack Obama.
After a court fight to block the report failed, the panel of lawmakers voted to release it - though not without dissension. The panel did not vote on whether to endorse its findings.
"I think there are some problems in this report," said Republican state Sen. Gary Stevens, a member of the panel. "I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye."
The report was made public the same day an Anchorage judge issued a temporary restraining order forcing the state of Alaska to preserve any government-related e-mails that Palin and top aides sent from private accounts in what critics contend was an effort to conceal that they were doing political business while working at state government jobs.
The state paid Branchflower, a retired state prosecutor, $100,000 to prepare the nearly 300-page report. He interviewed or accepted affidavits from about two dozen people in the eight-week investigation.
"Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact," McCain campaign spokesman Meg Stapleton said.
The Legislature could vote next year to censure Palin, but committee members appeared divided over the report and Democratic state Sen. Kim Elton, the committee's chairman, gave no indication that would happen.
Stapleton also dismissed the report as "a partisan-led inquiry run by Obama supporters." The inquiry has been dogged by such criticism since Democrat Hollis French, who oversaw the investigation, predicted an "October surprise" for the McCain campaign.
Elton rejected the accusation of partisanship.
"When we began investigating this, we had no idea that Sarah Palin would be a part of the national ticket," said Elton, an Obama supporter.
The report notes a few instances in which Palin pressed the case against trooper Mike Wooten, but it was her husband, Todd, who led the charge. Todd Palin had extraordinary access to the governor's office and her closest advisers and he used that access to try to get Wooten fired.
Gov. Palin knowingly "permitted Todd to use the governor's office and the resources of the governor's office, including access to state employees, to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired," Branchflower's report reads.
Wooten had been in hot water before Palin became governor over allegations that he illegally shot a moose, drank beer in a patrol car and used a Taser on his stepson. The Palins said they feared for their family's safety after Wooten made threats against them.
In proceedings revealed by the report, former Alaska State Trooper Col. Julia Grimes told investigators that Sarah Palin called her in late 2005 to discuss why Wooten hadn't been fired, and Grimes told her the inquiry was confidential by law.
"Her questions were how can a trooper who behaves this way still be working," Grimes said. "I asked her to please trust me, that because I can't tell her details I would ask her to please trust me that I would take the appropriate action if and when I knew what the findings were. ... I couldn't have another conversation with her about it because, again, it's protected by law."
Grimes said Todd Palin also contacted her by telephone in late 2005 to discuss the confidential investigation of Wooten.
Wooten's disciplinary case was settled in September 2006 - months before Palin was elected governor - and he was allowed to continue working as a trooper.
After Palin's election, her new public safety commissioner, Monegan, said he was summoned to the governor's office to meet Todd Palin, who said Wooten's punishment had been merely a "slap on the wrist." Monegan said he understood the Palins wanted Wooten fired. "I had this kind of ominous feeling that I may not be long for this job if I didn't somehow respond accordingly," Monegan told the investigator.
For months afterward, Todd Palin filed complaints about Wooten, saying he was seen riding a snowmobile after he had filed a worker's compensation claim and was seen dropping off his children at school in his patrol car.
Monegan said Wooten's doctor had authorized the snowmobile trip and his supervisor had approved his use of the patrol car. Monegan said Alaska's attorney general later called him to inquire about Wooten, and Monegan told him they shouldn't be discussing the subject.
"This was an issue that apparently wasn't going to go away, that there were certainly frustrations," Monegan said. "To say that (Sarah Palin) was focused on this I think would be accurate."
Community Discussion
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LEAVE SARAH ALONE! It is quite evident that is must be bad. Otherwise, the democrats would not be in such a rush to release their "findings." Everyone agrees that she was a great governor. I am not saying she is perfect. That she made no mistakes. But tell me, if she did do something wrong, but it better served the state, whats the harm. Look at wall street. They are getting off free for cheating the system. Yet they are worried if Palin fired someone over a family dispute? That goes to show where out priorities are! They are not where they should be.
One more thing. This report is 300 pages long. Plus 1,000's of supporting pages. How can you say someone is guilty or not guilty without reading the whole report? Thats anther thing that goes to show that people in the Alaska Government is working hard to make her look as bad as you can. Just put yourself in her position. Lets say your running to be the vice president of the united states and you "did something wrong." People who you have not always seen eye to eye with puts out a report and expects a vote on it without everyone getting the opportunity to read the whole findings. Is that fair? I hope our courts don't go down the same path. Otherwise, innocent people will be heading to jail and the criminals will be walking the street. GO SARAH!
Not everyone agrees she "is" a great Governor. Since you use the past tense, are you agreeing that she has abdicated her authority to the Republican campaign workers of GrandPa McCain?
NO ONE should be able to use a public office to "enforce" private problems. Is her sister to much of a baby to do her own divorce? If Sara does this down at the governor level, how scarry will she be in a higher office? Food for thought.
"Look at wall street. They are getting off free for cheating the system."
the fruits of deregulation, repulicans gift to america.
jmailman1999, if I planted drugs on a person I knew was guilty, would it be OK? I mean if it "better served the state" what's the harm, right? Of course it's not OK! The end does not justify the means. Wrong is wrong.
Then you go on to say that one cannot decide if she is guilty or not guilty without reading the whole report, yet you say if she did something wrong that better served the state, what's the harm? In other words, you have found her not guilty without reading the whole report. You can't have it both ways.
Justatrooper--after reading all the stories on the "troopergate" what do you think? Based on the reports from the media--do you think this trooper should still have job?
justatrooper: Look at the facts. The facts both the officer and the man over him should lose their jobs. She just may have done it the wrong way. I am sure the democrats could have handled it better LOL. What a joke that party is. But so are the republicans. GO INDEPENDENTS!
I will answer both lagirl and jmailman1999 at once. What many, many people fail to understand is that Wooten's actions were done, investigated, and punished before Monegan ever entered the picture. It would have been unlawful for Monegan to come in, and re-punish Wooten for something he had already been punished for. Imagine you get a new boss, and the first thing they do is go through everyone's personnel file to see if all employees were adequately punished for any passed misdeeds. When they find a person that they didn't think was punished enough (say it was you for example), they hand down a new, additional punishment. That is unlawful and unethical, but that is what Palin allegedly asked Monegan to do. So in that light, no, I do not believe that Wooten should be currently fired. Whether anyone agrees his punishment was appropriate or not (I do not), he has already received his punishment; there is no do over. If he was going to be fired, it had to be by the last colonel/commissioner, who have long since retired.
jmailman:
" But tell me, if she did do something wrong, but it better served the state, whats the harm"
I also have a problem with this statement. This is what gets politicians and lawmakers in trouble -- many hold this attitude. They also also hold the attitude that if something wrong serves THEM, what's the harm. Hello, Ted Stevens?
NOT everyone agrees that Palin is a good Governor. All you have to do it look at all the video where Palin claims one thing but what she does betrays what she says or proof surfaces which makes her come up with a new story. There is no truth and transparency. She is a disappointment and an embarrassment. It's not just troopergate, it's her involvement in the Mat Maid scandal, her poor judgement in replacing Monegan with Kopp and her constant lies (all on video). It's her mouthpieces who always give excuses why Palin should not be held responsible and accountable. It's Palins' own actions or lack of them why some people will not support her or condone her lies and actions. Palin has proven she is only about what is good for Palin and hers.
And what happened to Sarah Palin's "hold me accountable"... that she said when this began? When, if ever, will we learn about the activities?
Send our pet Pitbull with Lipstick over to Iraq.. She'll settle the pesky mid easterners down... Or send the Barracuda... No it'll just get a hook stuck in those lips of steel..
Thank you, justatrooper, finally a post of reason.
Heres the link to the report:
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/10/1...
Alright. Problem served. Lets get Obama into office and turn our democracy into a socialist nation. No more freedom. Americans can handle it, so why have it? I am just alittle tired of everyone attacking her. Before she was running to be vice president, everyone seemed to love her (or so they say) then after her nomination, its almost like everyone hates her.
"Everyone" loved her because the media that we have in this state is garbage. They did no investigating to bring her abuses to light. Even when the "Troopergate" investigation started, I heard more about from the national media then from any of the Alaskan media.
Seems to be the concept it was a "contributing factor" not the sole reason is a rather personal judgemental statement in reason 2 and the report. Look at the report, talk about a $100,000 political point of view. By the way what is the final cost of this. I have a real problem with the person who wrote the report, appears more opinion than fact.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner.
The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor.
What is wrong with the above? I will tell you all. They say that the family grudge was not the sole reason for firing the public safety commissioner then continue that its likely a contributing factor. Sounds like an opinion to me and not facts. I think there are no facts to back their opinion and in my opinion, she is innocent unless further proof can be bought to my attention. But with this artical, I see no proof.
America is a socialist country.
Get your head out of the sand and deal
with it.
Thank you Freedarfur! Finally someone with common sense!
Once she returns to Alaska, after Nov 4, I expect he new nickname will be Sarah "One Term" Palin.
Ouch. ABUSED. HER. POWER.
Read 'em and weep, all you supporters!
No surprises here - she's shown herself to be an incredibly self serving small minded brutal barracuda of a person.
[Maybe people should have expected this based upon the circumstances surrounding the bestowal of "baracuda" as her nickname in High School?]
What? Sarah Palin did something wrong? Sarah "I can see Russia from my porch" committed a crime? Sarah "Men and dinosaurs lived together 6000 years ago" abused her power? "Sarah "honest administration, open administration" Palin used her gubernatorial powers in a personal vendetta?
All one has to do is listen to her when she doesn't have a carefully-prepared speech or hasn't spent 3 weeks with her professional McCain handlers to clearly comprehend she is in way over her head. As she has said herself she doesn't know what the v.p. does. However, despite her fine "Christian" upbringing and morals she has no qualms, it would seem, against going after someone in an illegal way. I guess one could expect this from someone who would shove their unwed, pregnant daughter into the public scrutiny to save her own political image.
I've said it before and, I'm glad to note, it has now been confirmed....she's a hypocritical fraud.
She has two years left in her term, now that she has ruined McCain's chances at the presidency. I wonder what other crimes she is going to be found guilty of as more and more her actions and record receive the scrutiny they deserve. This isn't small-town politics as she practiced in Wasilla where she and her congregation of AIP'ers could get away with sleazy behavior. This is the bigtime and she is getting just what she deserves.
After the election when she comes slithering back to Wasilla on her belly like a whipped mutt; what are the steps necessary to get a recall petition initiated and then voted on?
dog
Unbridled Capitalism consumes itself sooner or later. There has to be some sort of regulation, or it turns into chaos, sort of like what the commercial fishing industry would be like with zero regulation.. They would fish and fish till there were no more fish. Capitalism needs a dose of socialism in order to flourish and bring a measure of stability to everyone. This country is so freaking terrified of communism that we risk moving to the opposite extreme of fascism. You can see the starts of it going on in this presidential campaign with Sarah stirring up hate and fear at every rally. She may look good to some, but to me it is all skin deep. She has showed a bad side of her since McCain picked her and I am not sure how much of that is inherently her personality and how much of it is being shoved down her throat from McCain. I suppose if the desire to become VP of the USA is great enough and the only way to do that is to do what you are told then you will sell out everything for your free ride to the top. In my opinion, she should back out of this VP run and save what is left of her reputation for the principals of transparent government that she ran as Governor on. She won't do that though, so the pit bull is going to be getting even meaner as the weeks go by.
GO MCCAIN AND SARAH! That report was based on opinions. Anyone who reads it and disagrees have hate built up for her. Read the artical for what it is. It is not factual. It is based on opinions of democrats (and even some republicans.)
As soon as the Obama/Biden landslide victory on Nov 4th is over, we need to impeach Palin and send her back to Wasilla...oh wait, the prison is in Seward and she can have a room with a view!
Did you listen to John McCain having to DEFEND the character of Barack Obama today. He told his supporters to "not fear a President Obama", and that Barack Obama is a good man, an American. Listen to John McCain for yourself!
McCain/Palin has used racist remarks to inflame the red necks of this country to the point that McCain has to take the microphone away from his supporters and say "NO, Barack Obama is not an ARAB" and defend his character to his own supporters.
McCain/Palin is finished! They lost. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are OUR best answer to the problems this country has at home and abroad. You'll see it, and guess what, you'll keep your constitutional rights and guns.
Obama/Biden 2008!
I scanned through the report and looked at the recommendations.
Ludicrous is what Ludicrous does.
This investigation seems a bit lacking in professionalism. So much of the transcribed testimony is pure 'here say'. There is no legal validity to any of it.
Maybe the Aurora Borealis affects you folk, but I don't know how anyone can determine a "mental state", "how she felt", etc. based on a telephone call.
In the ABC Charlie Gibson interview with Sarah Palin in Wasilla, Alaska she said "...he threatened to kill her father". You can figure out now who said what...
Sarah's primary concern was obvious: a Death Threat. I can understand the concerns of no feedback on the Investigation was given to the Victims and/or person reporting (her father) the events involving the trooper (her former brother in-law).
Naturally this Alaskan investigator had no transcript of this ABC TV broadcast in his report. I can guess her state of mind from watching and listening, not a telephone call. But that was actually a very brief moment when she said it to Charlie Gibson in the high school gym within a much lengthier TV interview*.
I guess 911 operators sense something, but how many children have called them and they thought it was a hoax as their mother or father was lying on the floor suffering a heart attack or not breathing.
To Sum it up: Rubbish.
The October surprise wasn't there except to say Alaska writes sloppy legislation.
John McCain - Sarah Palin
VOTE McCain November 4th
Sarah, Todd and most of the kids start packing.
__________
* P.S.
Only some reporters and authors of magazine articles know what a Bush Doctrine is. I doubt President George W. Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney know what it is.
Bush Doctrine is a term coined (so they think) by a Conservative Writer describing the Bush Foreign Policy regarding Terrorism...
This foreign policy on terrorism changes fluidly depending on the terrorists.
Peace Be With You In Alaska!!
Everyone get the Winter woolies out.
A legislative investigation has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in pushing for the firing of an Alaska state trooper who was once married to her sister.
Branchflower also recommends the Legislature change the way complaints against peace officers such as troopers are handled. He says lawmakers should consider making it possible for people who file such complaints to get feedback about the status of their complaint and whatever action was taken about it.
Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan's refusal to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten from the state police force was "likely a contributing factor" to Monegan's July dismissal, but Palin had the authority as governor to fire him, the report by former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower states.
Still, he said, Palin's firing of Monegan was "a proper and lawful exercise" of the governor's authority.
Looks like the $100K could have been spent on other state business. Wonder how many legislators who live in Anchorage were drawing Per Diem while they were working on this masterpiece of garbage?
Eh, oops. "Here Say" meant "Hear Say"
But actually "Here Say" fits for interviews to gain fame in trying for an October Surprise and Gotcha' from the North Pole region.
Better luck next time....funny Alaska didn't investigate the previous Democrat Governor.
jmailman1999 = Clear example of Kool-Aid poisoning. Grownup's, don't let this happen to you or your's.
Permit me a moment of schadenfreude.....what do you expect from a person who lacks a decent education, doesn't read, isn't interested in ideas, lacks knowledge of the world, and currently is promoting a fascist agenda in the campaign for the (vice)presidency? What can you expect?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
I best stop. Let's just hope she is done on the state level, not to mention the national level. God please, have her be done on the national level. She would rival W in damage to the country. Just think of it.
chief,
Caution or you'll be monitored.
Alaska is nervous now over "per diem". They want to investigate to see if Gov. Palin's per diem reimbursements are Federally Taxable. If so they would have to file IRS forms and should have made withholdings.
However in all my 40 years when travelling on business and receiving per diem, even when as a group we changed the maximum knowing those McDonnell Burgers were a lot cheaper, they never add that to your income statements. Never.
But if Gov. Palin's per diems are Federally Taxable, what about the entire Alaskan State Government present and past. At least back how many years for the IRS? The former Democrat Governor is probably looking into it more than Gov. Palin is right now.
chief,
"A legislative investigation has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in pushing for the firing of an Alaska state trooper who was once married to her sister."
True, but they didn't make any specific recommendation on action against Gov. Palin. In fact the recommendations appeared to bring out the weakness of the Alaska legislation he used in the investigation.
Clearly none of this would have happened if the Investigators reported back to the person or persons involved in the Complaint in the first place. It's called Victim's Rights.
Look when they know their Father's life was threatened, what does anyone think would happen?
Patcaribou, I think you need to go back a little further than the deregulation. It was not deregulation but Bill Clinton, a democratic President, following up on Carter that put pressure on banks to loan money to people to buy houses that they couldn't afford. The democrats started this housing crisis years before the Bush administration. Banks required 20% down and payment of on 25% to 30% of your income. Only when Clinton started the pressure on banks to give loans so even those on welfare could own a home and those backed by Fannie and Freddie with Fed. money did the problem start. Banks know how to make money and Clinton and the democrats should have stayed out of it. So put the blame where it belongs. But then again Democrats are mostly liberals with blinders on and can't really see the truth behind anything. They ignore Obama's $800,000 campaign money to ACORN to violate voter registration laws and liberals ignore it. They ignore his association with Ayers, Wright, etc. If McCain had those relationship he would be getting crucified by the libs. And if McCain/Palin have any sense at all they will crucify Obama with his socialistic, terrorists connections. Obama couldn't even get to level one FBI,CIA security, let alone Top Level security. What does that say about the guy. Do you really want him for President? Yep, blinders on again.
Now for Palin. What did you expect? She took on her own Republican party to become Governor. She took on the power brokers of the corrupt politicians in Alaska. She took on big oil. Of course they think she abused her power and released the report just before the national election. What else do you think they would do? She didn't abuse her power at all but the report said she allowed her husband to use the Governor's office and didn't stop him. She had every right to git rid of any Commissioner and an Alaskan cop using a taser on a child should be in jail for child abuse and his boss should be fired. The ONLY reason this whole issue has come up is because Palin stepped on some powerful toes to become Governor of Alaska. If the Republican party would have totally stood behind her bid for Governor there would never have been an investigation at all.
CPW
... "Still, he said, Palin's firing of Monegan was 'a proper and lawful exercise' of the governor's authority." ...
Wow, what a non-partisan report!
Will we vote any of these out next go-around?
Geez, all the 'imports' from the states, LATE registrations, Obama-ites POSING as Alaskans, are still around... Haven't yet done enough damage I guess. Doubt if we'll see much of y'all around here after the election. Really sorry to know that you'll be crawling back under your rocks.
dobieman,
Find the ABC TV archive on the Charlie Gibson interview in Wasilla, Alaska with Sarah Palin.
As for seeing Russia from her porch. That was SNL Tina Fey. The Palin home in Wasilla has a porch looking the wrong direction, and trees and mountains would block seeing Canada.
As for proximity of Russia to Alaska, Sarah's father was in a TV interview and he showed a picture hanging on his wall in Wasilla where he goes fishing. From that point, he says Russia is only 2 miles away. So I'm assuming on a clear day, one could see Russia.
Congratulations, Alaska, for standing your ground against the D.C. goon squads that have been trying to suppress Ms.Palin's past and circumvent legal parameters and the fundamentals of ethical behavior. She was foisted upon us a complete unknown by a reckless and irresponsible mob of neo-rednecks that call themselves the Republican Party and we concerned voters have a right to know what lies behind all the lipstick and cutesy folksy schtick.
McCain's decision was a poor one from the start, we had a feeling, but over the course of the last few weeks, it has become increasingly clear that Ms.Palin is not the vice presidential representative that this country needs at this time in our global evolution.
I support our governor for standing up against a corrupt system that would rather protect a criminal in uniform than go against the public employees union. I think that most of us would have acted the same way if we had been in her position. The good news in all the recent events is that Sarah will most likely be returning as our governor next month. I know that I will still support her 110% when she returns to Alaska.
How many Alaskans are writing comments? Seems the politics in this great state have become the same as those in the lower48. There is plenty of blame to go around on both sides of the aisle.
Sounds like pooten should have gotten fired before Monegan came in the picture. I think someone didn't do there job right by not firing it. Maybe it was a democrat, lol
It appears most on here are a bunch of liberal democrats wanting a social government that will take care of you. If you want that, move out of our great nation. Better yet, move to russia or china and that away the government will take complete care of you. I am a hard working american who likes to do my own stuff. Leave our nation for hard working americans such as myself please! We don't need lazy people in our nation!
RUSSIA.... and the BRIDGE...
Don't ever let the FACTS get in the way of your diatribe...
The Russia reference was in reference to HOW CLOSE we are...
"The Diomede Islands (Russian: острова Диомида, ostrová Diomída), which in Russia is also known as Gvozdev Islands (Russian: острова Гвоздёва, ostrová Gvozdjova), consists of two rocky, tuya-type islands. The American island of Little Diomede, which is also known as Krusenstern Island and Russian island of Big Diomede (part of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug), which is also known as Imaqliq, Nunarbuk or Ratmanov Island or Inaliq are located in the middle of the Bering Strait between the mainland of Alaska and Siberia."
As in... sometimes you can see either island, FROM the other.
THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE... is... a bridge TO THE AIRPORT... In Ketchikan. Heaven forbid we would be able to DRIVE (yes, we can take the Island-hopper ferry acrss the strait) to the airport to catch a flight. Not many live there because DOWNTOWN Ketchikan is across the narrow strip of sea.
I'll bet no one in the lower 48 EVER cruises over a bridge to catch any of their flights... Never... NOWHERE!
I know you'd enjoy the inconvenience of short ferry rides on YOUR way to YOUR airport, especially as you're never in a rush, having all this extra time to stick your nose in "the Yuke's" business.
THE BRIDGE wouldn't have been as expensive as ONE freeway interchange in Pelosi-land, or in downtown Seattle, for that matter.
Remember to FORGET these FACTS upon reading them...
Come on Alaska, is this what we've turned into. This is a witch hunt plain and simple pushed by the old guard who think either she "doesn't deserve" her leadership spot and national attention, or who are trying to protect the last vestiges of a lost era of waste and excess. People who cause mischief will earn their's, but Alaska must resist the Californication and do what is right, or we'll never get anything done.
jmailman1999 sez: "It appears most on here are a bunch of liberal democrats wanting a social government that will take care of you. If you want that, move out of our great nation. Better yet, move to russia or china and that away the government will take complete care of you. I am a hard working american who likes to do my own stuff. Leave our nation for hard working americans such as myself please! We don't need lazy people in our nation!"
The seeds of fascism started in financial turmoil in Germany and their citizens embraced Hitler's ideals in a way that is similar to jmailman1999 zeal to cleanse America of people who don't share his values.
Dangerous times indeed.
One thing that I would like to point out with respect to JAT's comments regarding the previous investigation of Wooten. Lt. Ronald Wall was the "investigating" officer who determined that the complaints were unsubstantiated, yet after his "thorough" investigation there was a second investigation conducted which determined that the complaints against Wooten were valid. Seems to me this is another case of troopers protecting their own.
As for the punishment handed down to Wooten, it amounted to nothing more than a means of appeasing those onlookers while doing nothing to address payment for the crimes he perpetrated.
AK_CPA whines: "Come on Alaska, is this what we've turned into. This is a witch hunt plain and simple pushed by the old guard who think either she "doesn't deserve" her leadership spot and national attention, or who are trying to protect the last vestiges of a lost era of waste and excess."
So interesting that the "Council" is made up of 8 Republicans and only 4 Democrats and yet it is some sort of "witch hunt". If this were a Dem Governor you would be cheering them on! The fact is that she saw which way the wind was blowing when she decided to run for governor as the FBI was already going after corruption and it was easy for her to turn on her fellow GOP to win the election. What has she done since then to fight corruption? Seems to me the Feds already cleaned house (and Senate) quite well without any help from her.
akbearable: my values are the true american values. the values which built our great nation. what obama is promising is he will take care of you. that socialist. not to far from dictatorship. i like having my freedoms and don't want to lose them. please don't compare me to hitler because there is alot of difference between us. she we can have different opinions and live with it because we are americans. these are the values we will lose with obama, which is why i wish his supporters would just move away. because once again, i love our great nation (even in the turmoil its in now) and i know there are millions of people that do as well. but for the rest, i don't want them taking my rights away because they wanted to make history by electing the first african american president. i think it would be great if an african american would become president however just not this socialist one!
4 of the 8 Republicans are RINO - "in name only" . Lyda Green had no love lost for Ms Sarah as Ms Green's huband was also affiliated in some way with VECO. She would rather see Sarah jump from the highest tree than vote for her for VP. At the end of the day the October suprise was that their was.. "NO Supprise" !!
DenaliDog says... "THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE... is... a bridge TO THE AIRPORT... In Ketchikan. Heaven forbid we would be able to DRIVE (yes, we can take the Island-hopper ferry acrss the strait) to the airport to catch a flight. Not many live there because DOWNTOWN Ketchikan is across the narrow strip of sea.
I'll bet no one in the lower 48 EVER cruises over a bridge to catch any of their flights... Never... NOWHERE!"
What is your point? On some of your posts you are hammering the Democrats and others like this one you seem to side with them. Have you forgotten that Sarah and her running mate have come out and made a huge deal how they were against that bridge to nowhere?
Opinions are like arsewholes, everyone's got em. This all boils down to one thing: She violated ethics! It wasn't "criminal" except in that it violated Alaska Stats. Her chosen methods were wrong. It could have been handled in a way that would never become public, let alone Troopergate but she has her own way or nothing. Damn the torpedos, full steam ahead!!!!!
So let's do a quick tally....
Kohring...guilty.
Cowdery...under investigation.
Stevens....indicted.
Young....under investigation.
Murkowski...just plain stupid and venal.
Palin....guilty of abuse of power; also see: Murkowski.
And what does this Gang of Six have in common? Why...they're all Republicans, the party of traditional American values, honesty, and integrity.
I'll be gentle and not even bring up George Bush, easily the most incompetent president ever foisted on this nation....and a Republican.
This must be a painful time to be a Republican trying to remember whose side they are on on which issue. For instance, I would bet that 80% of them will vote for Stevens even though their idol Sarah has not shown the spine to come out and publicly support him. Then they have to try to remember that they are against the bridges to nowhere and earmarks in general when they are cheering for Sarah and for them when they are voting for Young/Stevens. Then they must be against socialism unless it is for the government bailouts. Then they must be against regulation except for when they are supporting McCain/Sarah where they must be FOR more regulation. They must be for opening ANWR unless they are at a McCain rally where he has always been in opposition to opening ANWR.
It is all too much for me, I don't see how you can keep all the hypocrisy straight!
BTW, not only is Alaska's embarrassment and humiliation due to Palin a national item of news but it was the opening story on the BBC Evening News tonight. So, thank you, Sarah...you've just made Alaskans look like buffoons and backwoods rednecks on an international scale.
"So, thank you, Sarah...you've just made Alaskans look like buffoons and backwoods rednecks on an international scale."
Yeah, first Papa Pilgrim and now Sarah Palin! I can hear the world laughing at us clear from my little corner of AK.. A sad day.
For evil to succeed, good people will do nothing. A bad cop makes all cops bad, fire Wooten and prosecute the scumbag.
akbear...
The 'deal' was dead, so she switched gears... ok to change your mind as long as you admit it. Usually better to be right when you switch. Looks like she went with the flow on this one because of the way it played out in the 48 great. It was right the first time, from my eyes, as I am in and out of KTN a couple X/year.
The POINT is the 'play' put on by media outlets... using takes on Russia/The Bridge, etc... the press, nightly news, SNL, Leno, Letterman, et al, to blast her and Ak. Real tired of the lousy portrayal of her and Alaskans. Much of it... NOT FUNNY... mostly low blows, really... to get WHAT? People will vote for who they want to. Maybe 'undecideds' can still be influenced by the slams and slants, can't say, but I doubt it. Many are one-issue voters... mine is Ak. I have a stake in Ak, a couple of them, and it is the best time to pay attention to Harris, Ramras, Lydah, Whitaker, Kelley.. geesh Don Young... and most all the democrats and that agenda. I'm not so sure we cleaned anything out... maybe reloaded, didn't rebuild.
I am not affiliated.
GDI.. 'gosh darn' independent and not of the Ak Indy party variety.
Just ALASKAN!
This one is likely over unless SOMETHING happens/occurs/debuts in the next few weeks. Lots at stake and it does not look good to me, either way. 'Lesser of two evils', once again, and the demo-smear makes it impossible to lean in that direction. Out weighs the lapses on the right side. Anyway, the GOP will take our 3 electoral votes no matter what I say or do. I can live with that. Seems to me having an Ak VP would benefit us more than any other scheme... us.... ALASKA!
I think the investigation by Judiciary Chairman Branchflower (D) shows the partisan politics of this election blended with the politicians that Palin dragged kicking into the light for corruption. The fallout from that clean up is still coming down. As per the Alaska Constitution, the Judiciary committee does not have the authority to conduct ethics investigations. Branchflower has overstepped his authority in favor of partisan politics over the truth. It is the Ethics committee that has the responsibility of investigation in this instance and Governor Palin did the correct thing in initating an investigation against herself with the constitutionally correct portion of our government. The abundant inuendo and hear-say evidence in Mr. Branchflower's report serve only to illuminate reasons he should not be re-elected next term.
It looks like all of you Obama worshippers get your wish. Also looks like Obama better get some actual plan behind his "changes". If the Republicans put in a candidate worth his salt as a public speaker, then the American public would have sniffed out Obama for what he really is; a naive freshman politician with some really vague ideas. For that matter, if the Reps would have had Guliani, Huckabee, or someone with some no-kidding away-from-party ideas as a conservative, or at least independant, the country would be in better shape, if nothing more than to provide a real option other than the ridiculous choices right now.
Sarah, if see abused her power as the links claim, needs to be bounced out, not only of her VP candidate slot, but also her Gov job. It's a shame too because I liked her all right. Maybe the girls will like her in prison too...
As for the country, well...
Once Obama comes into office, I wish him luck and hope he uses the knowledge and judgement of those around him to benefit the country.
I don't think he will, but since the country will probably choose hope as a plan and change as a strategy...one can always hope.
I love listening to you democrats call for justice, recounts, and impeachment over troopergate, but you bury your head in the sand when your own presdential candidate has had his hand in the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac crash, his own minister is a racist, one of his biggest contributors and one charity he gives to has been active in the illegal registration of voters, he conspires with a known domestic terrorist, and to top it all off supports the killings of newborns that were the result of unsucessful abortions.
IF MCCAIN WINS AND HAS A HEARTATTACK SARAH WILL BE A FEMALE RICHARD NIXON WITH A ENEMIES LIST.
I imagine that Obama could commit murder on national TV and still get elected at this point. The shameful part is there were so many better qualified, more level headed Democrats and Republicans that could have made this election worth while. I feel like watching the debates is like watching B rated late night movies on the Sci Fi channel.
What happened to Biden as the P? Pelosi? Guliani? Huckabee? Howard Dean? Al Gore? Bozo the Clown? SOMEONE?
Bueller?
Wow, so much hateful right wing white trash here in Alaska.I am surprised we dont have a KKK chapter here. Oh wait I forgot, we do have the AIP. Vogler said it well, when he stated that "What Is wrong with the John Birchers, is that they are so goddamn LIBERAL!" When Alaska started a bounty program for loosers of all walks of life to move here, there were a lot of Mobile Homes going up for sale in the lower 48. Now, I spewed my own right wing trash! And to the Idiot that was commenting on my spelling, unlike you, I do not sit at my keyboard 16 hours a day. I type with 3-4 sausage fingers, and dont give a hoot about punctuation or capitalization.Its the message that counts, and judging by the responses, people can read it.
Hey, I have a novel idea. Let's eliminate the parties, overage election spending( gee whiz, Obama rails on spending this and spending that, except he is spending tens of millions a month while his voters lose houses, jobs, file bankruptcy, etc. because of the crooks that donated the money to him in the first place)
Maybe we should vote on a person not based on party. Maybe, just maybe we could not have a lawyer, big oil beneficiacry, adulterer, prescription medication addict, thief, or professional liar.
With Ted Stevens currently on trial, Sarah Palin apparently guilty of illegal behavior, where does that leave us?
As Alaskans, we certainly look foolish in the nation's eyes right now.
B...b...b...BUT BILL CLINTON!!!
Wait... what? I'm too late with that? Oh... sorry...
Bill did....
What?
Have a ciger, Bill. Have a cigar.
THE ALASKA STATE TROOPERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUTABLE,WHY HAS THIS ROGUE BADGE HOLDER NOT BEEN CHARGED ?????? COPS & TROOPERS COVER FOR THEIR BUDDIES!!! ALASKA HAS GANG MEMBERS & ALASKA STATE TROOPERS ARE ON TOP !!!!!
WE don't have to leave sarah alone na na na na....school children SARAH PALIN IS A >>>>>> mmmmmmm LOUSY PERSON >>> NO IF ANDS OR BUTTS
Tompat. Are you in the AST? Do you know something that could shed some light on the reasoning?
Just curious. I don't have a great deal of info as to why the Governor would be involved in an AST's firing or what this has to do with Palin's sisters divorce.
"Maybe we should vote on a person not based on party. Maybe, just maybe we could not have a lawyer, big oil beneficiacry, adulterer, prescription medication addict, thief, or professional liar."
Well this statement must somehow prove that universal law that scum rises to the top. I am not at all sure that Obama can do any good as president. This country is so divided and every republican will be working hard to make him fail. But I know McCain/Sarah would be the final nail in the coffin of this once great land. We simply cannot have 4 more years of republican domination and still have anything left of our dignity, let alone our economy. It makes me sick what Bush did to squander our reputation of America, land of the free. We are seen all over the planet as land of the preemptive strike, land of the torturer, the occupier of any nation we don't agree with. We try to bully other nations and say they can't have nukes and yet we have more then all the countries on earth. Hypocrisy is now our legacy thanks to Bush. Where is it written that only right wingers can love this country and everybody else is unamerican.
Don't forget that Sarah is not guilty of any crime, only abusing her power. Who hasn't enjoyed the perks of their job? Sarah was only protecting her family as anyone would have done from a trooper that has no place on our roads with a gun. Our real frustration should be why this guy hasn't been fired already? I have had my family threatened before and it is a horribly feeling. Monegan was appointed to his postion by Sarah at her leisure. Anyone in those type of postions know that they can be fired at anytime for any reason. And isn't it convenient that this is coming out just before the election?
I must say that I have been disappointed in the side of Sarah that this campaign has brought out. No even thinking about this particular incident.