Monday May 28, 2012

Probe into Palin's firing of official unraveling

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  • 0

    CavemanLawyer

    Palin initially welcomed the investigation, saying “hold me accountable,” but she has increasingly opposed it since Republican presidential candidate John McCain tapped her as his vice presidential running mate.

    What? A Republican flip-flopping? Maybe they should be more careful when they declare "Bring it on!".

    But this investigation should die. She had every legal right to do what she did. The trouble is the morality, something this extremist Republican just does not seem to understand, despite being an extremist Republican.

    Well, I think the Republicans are going to play deaf. Better to focus on McCain. Palin gets a free pass for some reason.

    --Cirroc

  • 0

    Alinsky4prez

    Brave progressives hackers at the site Gawker hacked into Plain's personal emails. Of course I am opposed to any invasion of privacy but she is a repub after all. Strangely, there was no real dirt to be found. Maybe Troopergate is another teapot tempest. But our side won - many of the tel numbers of palin's relatives and friends were published online. Hahahahahahaha. tooo funny!

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    "Palin initially welcomed the investigation, saying “hold me accountable,” but she has increasingly opposed it since Republican presidential candidate John McCain tapped her as his vice presidential running mate."

    In other words, she is now against being accountable... what a great person to be VP!

  • 0

    thepro

    Wouldn't you love this woman running your country?

  • 0

    Helter_Skelter

    Why isn't this state trooper being charged with child abuse for tasering his 10 year old child?

  • 0

    skipthesong

    wow, this reminds me of the Clinton impeachment case or the more recent Jefferson case.

    Why did everyone wait so long to look into her? Is it because Alaska shouldn't be considered a part of the US?

    After this, I don't think we should ever really consider another person from that state.

  • 0

    CavemanLawyer

    Why isn't this state trooper being charged with child abuse for tasering his 10 year old child?

    Did you see him do it? I don't think Palin did either. But that stops neither of you from wanting to be judge and jury. Scary people you lot who "just know". Do you hear voices when no one is around?

    I suggest you leave it to the courts. That goes double for Palin.

    --Cirroc

  • 0

    SezWho2

    CavemanLawyer,

    I thought the point of the investigation was to determine whether or not Palin did have every legal right to do what she did. I think that the truth of the matter may be that she had every legal right to do what she did unless she used her office to pursue a personal agenda--similar to the Executive having every legal right to dismiss federal prosecutors unless it is pursuing a partisan agenda.

    In any event, this seems to me that this is an investigation that was agreed to by all parties prior to Palin's nomination. The investigation itself doesn't seem to be driven by the nomination. Palin's nomination need not be a factor in whether the investigation should proceed.

  • 0

    skipthesong

    Yo, she discussed this with Charlie the other day and honestly, whether or not she was lying, it made sense. I recommand all of us check it out one more time.

    But that stops neither of you from wanting to be judge and jury. Scary people you lot who "just know". Do you hear voices when no one is around?" Yeah, but isn't that working both ways?

    To tell you the truth, I don't like the idea of one party ganging up on another.. What do these people do once they are elected and living in D.C? you know damn well they are all frequenting the same whore houses, snorting coke from the same dealer, and they all making sure their bill passes so they can get paid!

    It has been said that McCain and Biden go back a long way.. how?

  • 0

    skipthesong

    Let's go back to the old days and all politicians who have issues with the next one challenge each other to a dual

  • 0

    Madverts

    Skip,

    Handbags at dawn?

    Hadly fair, as that is one time Obama would take a whuppin' from the Hockey-lipstick mom .

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    skip: "But that stops neither of you from wanting to be judge and jury. Scary people you lot who "just know". Do you hear voices when no one is around?" Yeah, but isn't that working both ways?"

    That was part of Caveman's point, and hence the 'double for Palin' comment at the end. I caught more than a note of sarcasm in the post... same as with Sez's... ahem... subtle dig at some current unsavoury characters and their skirting the law to avoid prosecution, etc.

    Anyway, I don't know if I'd go so far as to banning everyone from Alaska from participating in politics simply due to origin, but in this woman's case she should most certainly be banished from the scene.

    As to a dual, don't forget the dual would be Obama and McCain, and old man McCain can't 'use his fingers because of war wounds', and as such, can't even bother to learn how to email (or so he bilks the public for in his defense). So, if he's being honest he'd lose the dual in a flash.... hell... even if his fingers ARE good enough to work a computer -- errr... a dualing pistol, his old age would have him done in just as fast.

  • 0

    SuperLib

    Sounds like she welcomed the investigation until it actually happened. Then she unwelcomed it.

  • 0

    Madverts

    "Sounds like she welcomed the investigation until it actually happened. Then she unwelcomed it."

    Sounds like a typical politician, though to get the awad fo the most amusing Republican quote from a scandal, she's a mere bairn next to Larry Craig...

  • 0

    Taka313

    We've come a long way (in a surprisingly short time) from Gov. Palin's "they love me; they really really love me" moment in Minneapolis.

    Welcome to the bigs Gov.

    11

    Taka

  • 0

    Alinsky4prez

    We've come a long way (in a surprisingly short time) from Gov. Palin's "they love me; they really really love me" moment in Minneapolis.

    have we ever! Seen drudge today? We hacked her email account. Funny, aint it? We've been projecting that kind of stuff on bush co for almost 8 years. But we struck first.Hahahahahaa. Too funny!

  • 0

    Sarge

    I'll bet this headline has really irked smith, thepro, skip, Cirroc, Madverts, SuperLib and Taka313.

    Nothing to see here, folks, move along.

  • 0

    Taka313

    "Seen drudge today?"

    That explains a lot!

    And who is this "we" you are referring to that hacked her email account? Do you have information that the CIA and FBI don't regarding who hacked the governor's email account or are you just baselessly assuming that they are "liberals?" Also, are you under the impression that slapping down the victim card is somehow clever?

    1-800-wahmbulance. Lest, of course, you have them on speed dial.

    Moving on...what does Gov. Palin's email getting hacked have to do with her staff ignoring a subpoena, after the Gov. publically stated that she desired to be held accountable.

    You wouldn't be trying to change the subject, now would you?

    12

    Taka

  • 0

    Taka313

    How wrong you are, sarge.

    I'm not irked at all. According to RCP, Since Sep. 8th, when candidate mccain's numbers peaked, he's lost 3 points and Sen. Obama has gained one, giving Obama the lead once again.

    Seeing Gov. Palin refuse to cooperate in an investigation after stating, "hold me accountable" is like finding a $20 in an old coat. It makes my day.

    Taka

  • 0

    Alinsky4prez

    And who is this "we" you are referring to that hacked her email account? Do you have information that the CIA and FBI don't regarding who hacked the governor's email account or are you just baselessly assuming that they are "liberals?"

    The AP chronicled the whole thing. They really upped their cred with progressives like me - they REFUSED to comply with the Secret Service when asked to give the source of the palin mails they got.

    http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iem-vu_mlRjRYfqkscEkw2ciRm7wD938PL2G0

    Pics of her family! Arent we progressives clever?!!!!

    http://gawker.com/5051193/sarah-palins-personal-emails

  • 0

    Sarge

    Taka313 - I knew you'd deny being irked at the probe into Palin's firing of Monegan unraveling.

    Troopergate, schmookergate! All this is, is the good ol' boys in Alaska being irked at Palin not puttin' up with them.

  • 0

    Taka313

    How sad.

    Reduced to baseless accusations with zero evidence to back them up. You mean rush, billo and hannity haven't uncovered this hacker menace yet?

    It's a true and honest tragedy when the world won't allow you to make something true, just because you want it to be. Perhaps it's a conspiracy.

    Heck, for all any of us know at this point, the hacker could have been from one of the telecomms, just trying to protect all of us from terrorists.

    And again, what does Gov. Palin's email getting hacked have to do with her staff ignoring a subpoena, after the Gov. publically stated that she desired to be held accountable?

    Focus camper. Focus.

    13

    Taka

  • 0

    Alinsky4prez

    Heck, for all any of us know at this point, the hacker could have been from one of the telecomms, just trying to protect all of us from terrorists.

    Careful. you're making it personal now. Barack also supports immunity for the telecoms.

  • 0

    Madverts

    "Irked" sarge?

    Not at all young man - it's pretty amusing to see the enivatable downward side of, heh, your "Sarah". She reminds me of the Delorean....so much hype, and fairly good-looking - a shame it was pig with extra added lipstick.

    The facts:

    One minute she "welcomes" the investigation. Now it's starting to be an embarassment...well, let's just admire the flip-flop.

    In fact, sarge, I would wager a guess that the fact the Palin surprise nomination and it's brief cause of poll fluctuation despite Senator Obama now leading the polls is the real point of irk.

    Heh, your irk, sarge.

  • 0

    Taka313

    She said the attempt to block the investigation will lead to closer scrutiny of how Palin and her administration’s stories have changed.

    Not to worry, she's got two feet. She's only shot herself once now.

    Taka

  • 0

    sailwind

    It seems as if there was a case here to begin with the Trooper, who still has his job he should have been fired long time ago.

    Pretty crappy use of power by Governor Palin....this guy should be toast instead of still working for the State.

    I'm a little slow but abuse of power usually means the target that you want fired actually means the guy loses his job.

  • 0

    Betzee

    Ah, "the irony, the irony" as Glenn Greenwald observes in his column today:

    Shouldn't these same people be standing up today and insisting that if Sarah Palin has done nothing wrong, then she should have nothing to hide? If Sarah Palin isn't committing crimes or consorting with The Terrorists, then why would she care if we can monitor her emails? And if private companies such as Yahoo can access her emails -- as they can -- then she doesn't really have any "privacy" anyway, so what's the big deal if others read through her communications, too? Isn't that the authoritarian idiocy that has been spewed since The Day That 9/11 Changed Everything -- beginning with the Constitution -- to justify vesting secret and unchecked surveillance powers in our Great and Good Leaders?

    The other question is why she is conducting state business on a yahoo account? I think I know the answer after receiving a terrible tongue lashing when I sent someone a mildly off-color joke to a state government email account. I didn't realize the citizens of the state have the right to view any email upon demand. It's the same thing is you work for Uncle Sam, your superiors can read your official email at any time (no subpoena necessary).

    For those eager to grasp "the victim card," Governor Palin's righteous response to justify non-compliance with the law will be lauded. But not by anybody else.

  • 0

    Betzee

    I'm a little slow but abuse of power usually means the target that you want fired actually means the guy loses his job.

    You're fuzzy on the details. She fired the public safety commissioner who refused to fire her estranged brother-in-law, the trooper. She claims it was for institutional reasons while the guy who got the axe says it was because he didn't carry out a personal vendetta. And why did she want the trooper fired? Well he was in a bitter custody battle with her sister. If he lost his job it would undercut his custody bid since he had no income. This is not my opinion but that of the judge who oversaw the case.

  • 0

    Taka313

    Sail,

    The guy she fired was the guy who refused to re-open an investigation against the bad cop who had already been punished (but not to the appropriate degree imo).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlaskaPublicSafetyCommissionerdismissal#Taser_incident

  • 0

    sailwind

    Ummm......

    She fired the public safety commissioner who refused to fire her estranged brother-in-law, the trooper. She claims it was for institutional reasons while the guy who got the axe says it was because he didn't carry out a personal vendetta.

    Then why did the next public safety commissioner she hired to fire the guy DIDN'T????

  • 0

    Betzee

    Then why did the next public safety commissioner she hired to fire the guy DIDN'T????

    There's no evidence she asked him to do so. Since the judge was on to it, now what would be the point?

    "It appears for the world that Ms. McCann and her family have decided to take off for the guy's livelihood -- that the bitterness of whatever who did what to whom has overridden good judgment," [Judge] Suddock said in an audio recording from the trial on TV station KTUU's Web site. "Aesop told us not to slay the goose who lays the golden egg. For whatever reason, people are trying to slay the goose here and it tends to diminish his earning capacity."

    Bitterness, however detrimental to the minors involved, is not a criminal offense. Misuse of authority, by contrast, is and that's what needs to be established.

  • 0

    Taka313

    Then why did the next public safety commissioner she hired to fire the guy DIDN'T????

    I'm spit-balling here as I honestly do not know but, double-jeopardy?

    Taka

  • 0

    Betzee

    Intent is what matters, not outcome. Simply because the guy still has his job does not mean there was no effort to have him removed through an abuse of power.

  • 0

    sailwind

    Abuse of power means the guy would be out of a job.

    He's still working after tasering her sisters son.

    You both really want to carry on with this?

  • 0

    SezWho2

    sailwind,

    Could it be that this would have made it too obvious?

    I certainly don't know what to make of this case. It seems to me to be a gross want of judgment to taser a 10-year-old, or whatever age the child was. And I believe that the trooper in question has been married 4 times or something which, while definitely not illegal, would seem to call into question his judgment as well as that of his wives.

    Nonetheless, divorce is stressful and no doubt judgment-impairing. I have no idea whether that was a factor in the 2006 investigation into his judgment lapses. However, he was investigated and allowed to stay.

    I wonder why a state governor would even get involved in a matter like this. Take away the family connection and isn't this just a little too hands-on? Don't the Alaska State Troopers have an internal affairs arm and, if they do, is there some reason why this could not have been handled by internal affairs?

  • 0

    Betzee

    You both really want to carry on with this?

    That's for the state of Alaska to decide, not Governor Palin (who is taking the law into her own hands by refusing to comply with subpoena). The injured party, the fired public safety commissioner who found himself in the midst of an ugly family battle, no doubt wants it to proceed as well. I would presume he stands to be reinstated.

  • 0

    SezWho2

    sailwind,

    I don't think that it's true that abuse of power means that the trooper would be out of a job. It could mean, for example, that the public safety commissioner is out of one.

    In other words, it certainly could be the case that this was a spiteful firing after he refused to do something she did not have the authority to do. Of course, she says that her reason for firing him were different.

    To use Ronald Reagan, "Well, she would say that, wouldn't she." I think a lot of people are fired every day for reasons other than the one typed on the termination form in the file.

  • 0

    Taka313

    Sail,

    I don't think anyone is arguing that mike wooten didn't deserve to be fired. However, he wasn't, after being defended by his union and was given a suspension.

    Later that year, Monegan was appointed by Palin. How would it look, for a guy to walk into a job, and re-open a case against a trooper who had already been punished by his predecessor?

    From Wiki:

    In January 2007, the Governor's husband, Todd Palin, invited Monegan into the Governor's office and asked him to look into the Wooten affair. Monegan did so and told Todd Palin that there was nothing he could do as the case was closed. The troopers operate under a union contract that restricts the circumstances under which a trooper can be fired.

    The investigation is to see if Monegan was fired for not doing something he couldn't do, namely, fire Wooten.

    Taka

  • 0

    adaydream

    Palin is dick cheney and george bush in a bra. Looking for ways to hide facts and stop investigations.

    I thought she was going to allow the investigation to go on, now she is hiding behind ways to extend ot stop the investigation.

    Can you imagine if this is going on now, how secretive and corrupt the McCain/Palin administration would be. < :-)

  • 0

    sailwind

    Monegan wasn't fired he was offered another job by Palin and he refused the re-assignment. Then he was let go after he refused.

    Facts folks.

    Palin offered Monegan a different job, as executive director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. He turned it down.

    http://www.adn.com/politics/story/463340.html

  • 0

    LFRAgain

    sailwind,

    The abuse of power being alleged has to do with her firing the state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan for allegedly not firing the ex-husband of her sister. It isn't about the trooper losing his job. Monegan claims his firing may have been a result of his refusal to fire Trooper Wooten in clear violation of Police Union rules, but claims to have been first due to budget considerations, then due to performance-related issues, and finally because Palin allegedly had a new vision and direction in mind for the Department of Public Safety.

    Then why did the next public safety commissioner she hired to fire the guy DIDN'T????

    Because the next commissioner, Chuck Kopp, only served for two months before having to step down because of a past history of sexual harassment in the workplace, a fact of which Palin claims to have been unaware, despite having received an e-mail from Kopp’s victim informing her as such on the morning before her announcement to appoint Kopp.

    The third commissioner to be appointed after Kopp’s resignation was Joseph Masters, who, when asked if Palin had ever discussed her visions for the DPS with him, stated, “'Gov. Palin didn't give me any guidance or direction or mandates for the department.”

  • 0

    goodDonkey

    When I heard they hacked into Palin's Yahoo account I was just amazed. Oh I hear about the feats of hackers all the time; I am just amazed they have computers in Alaska.

  • 0

    Taka313

    Sail,

    O.K. If those are "the facts," and you believe them to be true, then, it's settled. Gov. Palin, having nothing to hide, has no reason, whatsoever, to NOT keep her word to be held accountable. She should not only cooperate, but encourage her staff (the ones ignoring a subpoena) to work WITH the independent investigator and not against, to clear up this little mess that a bipartisan group of legislators voted unanimously to investigate.

    I'm glad we could put this one to bed.

    Taka

  • 0

    LFRAgain

    More facts...

    If Palin’s complaints about Monegan’s poor job performance are to be believed, he was fired not only for not doing enough to recruit new troopers (despite the Alaska police academy having just graduated two of the largest successive classes of recruits in recent years) and not following appropriate channels with regard to using the DPS budget, but also for not doing enough to combat alcoholism in rural areas.

    The new position offered to him at a $10,000-a-year pay cut? Leader of the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

    Mind you, this is a public official the McCain/Palin campaign accuses of “eregious insubordination," "obstructionist conduct" and a "brazen refusal" to follow proper channels for requesting money.

    Not a bad offer for being such a loose cannon.

  • 0

    adaydream

    There is a difference between accusations and facts.

    Monegan get's annual performance evualtions every 6 months. It's part of government performance evaluations of it's own.

    Has anybody seen where he was getting poor performance ratings. Not these last minute acuations that he refused to do this or that. Is there anything that has been reported that he was getting poor reviews? < :-)

  • 0

    goodDonkey

    McCain/Palin talk about change you can believe in. Talk is cheap. The Bush administration has had a long record of stalling investigations with refusing to let witnesses testify and withholding documents and other information. Just how is the way Palin is handling this investigation "change we can believe in." Looks like More of the Same to me.

  • 0

    Sarge

    goodDonkey: "I am just amazed they have computers in Alaska"

    No doubt.

    Troopergate, schmookergate! Get ready for Vice President Palin!

  • 0

    USAFdude

    Get ready for Vice President Palin!

    Sure, Sarge! Which non-American country is she going to be VP of? xD

  • 0

    goodDonkey

    Here is another vote of confidence for Sarah.

    Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was to star at two major California fundraisers and an Orange County rally for 15,000 next week, has canceled her two-day swing through the Golden State, campaign sources said.The change comes in the same week a new Field Poll showed that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama still leads Republican presidential candidate John McCain in California by a whopping 16-point margin.

  • 0

    Sarge

    goodDonkey - Why isn't Obama at least 20 points ahead of the old man in California?

  • 0

    goodDonkey

    sarge

    I think a better question is what is the real reason S. Palin is canceling her campaign visits. I don't know about you but I am enjoying this (at least) point a day gain for Obama.

  • 0

    Taka313

    On a light-hearted note, if the investigation does move forward and Palin is called to testify, perhaps the GOP can bring in an expert to teach her how to testify, much like they brought joe lieberman in to teach her about foreign policy for her Charlie Gibson interview (and I hope for her sake that she can get her money back on that one).

    I hear alberto gonzales is available to teach her how to say, "I don't recall." ;-)

    Taka

  • 0

    Nessie

    Palin initially welcomed the investigation, saying “hold me accountable...”

    ...hold me in contempt...just...hold me!

  • 0

    Taka313

    USAF Dude,

    Which non-American country is she going to be VP of? xD

    Why Russia, of course. She can see from the coast and EVERYTHING!!!

    Taka

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