Update: Palin lies repeatedly about the plain words of this report. She claims that "no crimes were committed", but the report states quite clearly that the state ethics law was broken. Palin is correct in that no crimes will be prosecuted.
While desperate Republicans attempt to manufacture an election-eve scandal about Obama, the actual record of McCain and Palin is revealed to be dirty and dishonest.
The Palin storm troopers have tried to keep a lid on this story, going so far as to have legislators sign affidavits regarding the Legislative Panel's investigation.
Neverthless, the truth about this petty and vindictive "pit-bull" cannot be contained by threats and insults.
The Associated Press story was noted on Yahoo less than an hour ago.
Alaska panel finds Palin abused power in firing
Using the term "troopergate" in the address, the article begins with these damning words:
"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."
Palin was widely-known to have agitated and campaigned mightily to punish her former brother-in-law.
The bipartisan panel that investigated her action found that she had violated state laws on ethics (which are not very strong in Alaska, look at Republican Senator Ted "it's the prevailing practice" Stephens).
In using her power as Governor to punish and threaten individuls who thwarted her personally, Palin used her office for personal advantage or gain.
To the christo-fascists who support Palin because she is "someone like us", this will not make a bit of difference.
Petty politicians who use their office to pursue private feuds are not a concern if these small-minded zealots also oppose abortion and ban books.
When George Bush was given office by the Supreme Court in 2000, it was widely-noted that the press had largely ignored the less-savory aspects of his record as Governor of Texas.
Bush was quite willing to sacrifice any principle or position in order to prove a point or "score" against his opponents.
That pettiness has been disastrous for the nation.
We cannot afford to have another ill-educated small-minded twit like Palin as vice-President.
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Comments: 82
The self proclaimed Mavericks are anything but.
Well said, Lori.
I am glad that the report was not postponed, as Palin tried to do.
Sometimes it's great to have the national news all over a single-state story.
I think the nation has had enough with "cowboys" and "mavericks", Carla.
Alaskan Republicans are less likely to be concerned with ethics than the national Republican party has been -if such a thing is possible.
If she apologizes and expresses remorse, I will take down this article and admit that she might have learned something from the Gospels.
So far, the Republicans have been very good at covering teir dirty tricks. That's one reason they are so agitated abouot the growing Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress.
We can kick the idiot liebberman out his committee Chair and have real investigatons of military and security procurement fraud.
The new Congress will have the teeth to ban Blackwater from government contracts.
Speaking of Lieberman - I heard today that he is McCain's choice for Secretary of Defense. That, and the E-bay woman should scare anyone.
Why did McCain wait so long that now people in his rallies are yelling out things like, "Bomb Obama" or "Obama's a terrorist"? Of course, he got booed by his base as even they know he has incited this hate-making. It is easy to incite hate, fear, jealousy, etc. It is also a pathetic campaign strategy.
How would I go about getting paid for living in MY house? I've been here 38 years and feel that would amount to quite a sum of money which I could use right now.
Joe and John have a lot in common - advancing age and declining mental skills have robbed them of coherence.
They can share the same assisted living health care services.
Unprincipled, ruthless, petty, short-sighted, lawless,..hmmmmm.
Contrast this with the right wingnuts on Gather who used to tsk tsk abut crowds shouting Obama's name.
Angry hateful mobs are okay to Republican fascists, hopeful adoring mobs are scary.
Frankly, I can understand how it could happen - there you are, the Governor of a state where you have unparralled popularity (damn, those oil surplus checks can buy you some popualrity, can't they?) and you have some sway over someone else who is hurting someone you love. (Wait, can reptiles feel love? Alright, that was uncalled for. I apologize). It would be tough not to want to do something to protect someone you love if you were in a position to do so even if it meant moving into shady and unethcial behavior. But still, you're a Governor, a professional poltician. You have to know that this sort of thing doesn't just go away. You need to watch each and every step you make because you willl leave tracks all over your record.
I don't think that this will affect her standing with her solid supporters but for those of us on the left it's another one of those 'Oh man' moments. I am curious to see what impact this will have on the undecided voters (are there really any uundecided voters still out there at this point in the game?)
Wilma and Kate: Yes, the Governor gets a per diem for the time she is staying away from home at the State Capitol. She opted to spend more time at home (not a problem considering she has 5 kids and all) but she collected this per diem even though she was not entitled to it.
Look at it this way; you company sends you on a business trip and offers you money to stay at a hotel. You opt to stay with your friends but still take the money for the hotel room. Your company would fire you for that. I guess things are a little different in politics.
I'm sure that it is not a mistake, Sandy.
Rensselaer County is home to Joseph Bruno, who ran the Republican Party in New York State until he was investigated for his ties to investment frms in which state funds were deposited.
He has now retired as Senate Majority leader (and all decent new Yorkers hope that the Democrats win the two seats they need to control the New York State).
Bruno s full of dirty tricks; his office has long been surrounded by quasi-criminal political operatives.
And, she is really good at playing the flute.
So did my ex-wife and I wouldn't want her to be anywhere near the White House.
So did my ex-wife and I wouldn't want her to be anywhere near the White House.
Laughing at this, N.K.
Hey, at least she has one good thing going for her, right? Wait. A nice ass too, so that's 2. At least McCain thinks so.
McCain can't admire too often; he depends on his heiress sugar momma for support of the seven houses.
The report does not recommend censure or prosecution, Beaker, so it will likely die.
The national Republican Party has been rabidly hostile to Ethics since 2000 (refusing to convene the House Etics Committee as long as Tom Delay was in a leadership position), and Alaska Republicans have never had high ethical standards to enforce.
The next time Caribou Barbie forgets her lines in a debate, perhaps there will be a distracting "wardrobe malfunction".
Peter Wimsey , Oct 11, 2008, 11:56am EDT
Pop Goes The Nerple...
All the evidence points that way, Kate.
You are too honest and too decent to qualify, Wilma.
One cannot imagine you looking as ditzy as Sarah Palin.
Regardless, I've never based my vote on a candidate's ass.
OTOH, I love Tina Fey. When she opens her mouth interesting stuff comes out.
When Hell freezes over perhaps?
I've heard the pre-nup leaves the money with her. Do you think there's something in there that makes her have to stay with him? Why else would any woman who could well afford to live on her own stay with an abusive man like him?
Really, Nippy, what criteria do you use?
(I agree that Sarah's folksy blather is anti-erotic.)
I hear you, N.K.
Smart and funny is sexy.
Speculation about the McCain marriage leads to horrifyig mental images.
Housing allowances are not uncommon legislative perks.
I feel outrage when those who abuse them lie about their pork-hating habits and their zeal for "reform".
The results lead to horrifying actual images. That woman looks like she has been run over.
Point well-taken, Sandy!
:-)
When Hell freezes over perhaps?"
Is Hell going to freeze on November 4?
The McCain campaign recognizes that the Sarah Palin "balloon" was punctured by a second-rate TV interviewer.
I'm not a big fan of Obama. I like him though. I haven't said that too often.
I am not an amphibian, Nippy, but I adopt the same criterion.
Also like you, I have not proclaimed very loudly my lack of commitment to any candidate in this election cycle.
Like every sane American, I will vote Democratic.
( I wanted Hillary to stay in the Senate, but I preferred her health care ideas. I liked John Edwards economic message, but never warmed to him personally, etc. )
I have given some money and support to senatorial races. I think it is vital that the Democrats achieve a real working majority in the Senate.
That will protect the high court, too.
I want Obama to win, Carla. I think he is a far better candidate than McCain.
The ignorance and superstition of Republican apologists would convince anyone that we need change.
But, I do not believe that there are any easy political solutions to the grave problems in this country, and I expect that Obama will have mixed success in navigating the mine fields in front of him and us.
Perfect analogy.
Refreshing and candid, and smart. I like the guy some more, Nippy.
Perfect analogy. "
I'm sure Kate will appreciate your embrace of her comment, Shannon.
New blood, new ideas, new procedures, new laws ...
We have barely survived having a Gang of Thieves in the White House during the past eight years, and there is repair work and new construction to be done simultaneously.
He does present a humble aspect, Sandy.
It may be so, Dame Ruth.
Even though the report was released on Friday night, the story (which is the contradiction of Palin's "reformer" title) is getting a lot of play this week-end.
All the polls are showing a bad outcome for the McCain/Palin "sidekicks".
If tragic elements and a narcissistic protagonist are all we need, Nippy, it is sure to be a hit.
"Don't Cry For Me, Oil Pipeline"
Very true, Robin.
There is no risk that I will have to take this article down; Paulin is belligerant and combative about her ethical lapses.
She is quite unconcerned about confirming people's impression that she is a small-minded and mean-spirited person of low intelligence.
But you're right, Peter. For those voters who like Palin because they think she's just like them, it won't make a bit of difference. No doubt many of them wish they had some power they could abuse so they could be just like her.
That has been her style, Martin. I hoped that she might be sincere about her Christian convictions.
It was wrong, and stupidly done.
An excellent summary of the TIMES story, Wil.
Opposition to the Bankruptcy "Reform" was dismissed by all the Republican punditry as the whining of left-leaning, socialist, enablers.
If they are going to get serious about unvestigating entrenched corruption in the Alaskan Republican establishment, they will be investigating for a very long time.
Palin continues to lie about the plain words of the report.
She says that the report confirms that no laws were broken, while the report states clearly that the State laws on ethics were violated.
Another fundamentalist who "creates her own reality".