US News
Palin guilty of abusing powers, investigation concludes
Oct 11, 2008, 1:50 GMT
Picture dated 02 October 2008 shows US Vice Presidential candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin listening to a question, during the Vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is guilty of abuse of power, according to a probe by the state legislature on 10 October 2008. EPA/TANNEN MAURY
Washington - Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin abused her powers as governor of Alaska, a state investigator's report released Friday said.
The report concludes an investigation into whether Palin fired the chief of Alaska's police force after he refused to get embroiled in a family feud.
The probe started before Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked Palin as his running mate in August. Dubbed 'Troopergate' in the US media, the report surfaces uncomfortably a few weeks before the November 4 presidential elections.
Palin is alleged to have fired Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to sack state trooper Mike Wooten, her former brother-in-law who was in an acrimonious custody battle with her sister.
'Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda,' read a statement from the 263-page report by Stephen Branchflower, a former Alaska prosecutor who conducted the investigation on behalf of the state legislature.
Branchflower concluded that Palin violated Alaska's Executive Branch Ethics Act, which states that 'each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.'
However, the politically-sensitive report also determined that while the family feud was a 'contributing factor' in the dismissal, it was not the only reason.
Many Republicans have dismissed the investigation as 'politically motivated.' Palin supporters gathered outside the meeting venue in Anchorage, dressed up as clowns and carrying balloons and banners as they criticised the hearing as a 'kangaroo court' and 'three-ring circus.'
On Thursday, Palin told reporters that she had 'absolutely nothing to hide' in the investigation. She has said earlier that Wooten threatened her family.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Sarah Six-pack picked up her assault rifle and went hunting. She did a Cheney and shot MCain's election hopes all to hell.
Sleazy Sarah, the one-shot wonder.
Many Republicans have dismissed the investigation as 'politically motivated.'
No republican has ever done anything wrong, Right? nudg-nudge, wink-wink, toe tap, toe tap. It is always someone else' fault. Well, the panel that looked into this was staffed by a majority of REPUBLICANS. They outnumbered the Democrats 2 to 1.
Politically motivated? lolololol
And that is some chin. I've seen Moose with weaker jaw lines.
Gotta love the Republicans that are dismissing the Alaska legislative committees' findings as nothing more than a partisan witch hunt. The committee is actually made up of 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats. The committee voted unanimously (prior to Sarah Palin being chosen by John McCain as his Vice Presidential running-mate) to start the investigation and voted unanimously again, today, to release the findings of the investigation - even though the McCain campaign went to the Alaska Supreme Court to try to stop its release.
Sarah, the two-bit tundra tart got caught. I wonder what John is going to say about his association with another shady, sleazy crimunal.
'The McCain-Palin statement said, 'Today's report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority. This was a partisan led inquiry run by (Barack) Obama supporters.'
Uh huh. Yup. Sure. An investigation started by the Republian Alaskans, conducted by Republian Alaskans, and concluded by Republican Alaskans.
Slimeball Sarah is soooo done. Stick a fork in her beause she's done, like dinner. All we need now is Nancy Sinatra singing 'These boots are made for walkin'.' Or how about Cher singing 'bang, bang, my baby shot me down.' 'Bye, Bye, John. Hello loneliness, I think you're gonna cry.'
Yup, the song is over.
Oh, say it ain't so, Joe! Sarah did something wrong? You mean, after she's been slingin' all that mudd at Obama, bless her heart. God love her, you know where her 'reward' is gonna be in the end, now don't ya'. Golly gee.
PS: Ms. Palin, you're not like one of OUR family! Thank God.
brat not a terrorist. I like her; wish she could fire Obama and McCain.
She's a tart. And she did fire MCain. She shot herself in the political foot. She shot his presidential hopes all to hell.
Do a Search on YouTube for this video:
Sarah Palin Caught Wearing Phone Earpiece?
Watch the video. Read the more info, and be shocked.
You're an idiot. That puts me one step up from you.
So the guy tasered a boy and threatened her family and it's abusing power because she fired the guy who should have reprimanded him?
Read the first paragraph, GOP stooge. 'Palin abused her powers as governor of Alaska, a state investigator's report released Friday said.'
Could anyone have been surprised that this piece of filth of a person would abuse her powers? The MP campaign paints her as an 'attack dog', which I'm sure she is? Unethical? - Look who's with her for god's sake!
Another reason to not vote D or R ! Vote independent ONLY, for all offices from dog catcher to president. Enough!
This bombshell has been here for what, 6 or 7 hours and not one peep from the resident GOP Disinformation Squad. While this interlude is pleasurable, I do wonder where they are, over at SP4's place commiserating and passing the Bong, to kill their personal pain? Palin personally put paid to pals' political posturing. McCain has no ejection seat to bail out of this one. He's going down in flames. Oh I'm sure we will hear a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth and shucking and jiving and all sorts of whining and finger pointing, but the show's over, folks. Drop the curtain, dim the lights and lock the doors.
Gotta love the media. Google news search (4:12AM ET)shows:
'Sarah Palin power abuse' - 3866 related articles in First Group, 5341 in Second
'Barney Frank Financial' - 122 related articles
'Barney Frank Fannie Mae' - First Group is 1021 related articles
'Barney Frank Fannie Mae' - Second Group is 122 related articles
'Fannie Mae' or 'Freddie Mac' - 1021 related articles
'Franklin Raines' - 3 related articles in First Group, 1021 in Second, 63 in Third, 10 in Fourth, 1 in Fifth (doesn't count it's Limbaugh), 567 in Sixth Group
'Chis Dodd' - 4 related articles in First Group, 1 in Second, 3 in Third, 1 in Fourth, 64 in Fifth, 44 in Sixth Group
'William Ayers' - 258 related articles in First Group, 1314 in Second, 82 in Third
Heavy reports on Palin, while the real nasty people are barely touched
Oops I forgot something that might be a problem to the Obama Lover's out there.
Walt Monegan and Stephen E. Branchflower worked together from 1974-1998. Monegan worked for the Anchorage PD and Branchflower worked for the Anchorage District Attorney.
Darn those stupid 'Public Records' :
Look away, nothing but facts to see here. I don't want to you feel bad about finding out the report was biased.
Try to dispute the FACT that a jury of 14 of her peers, 10 Republians and 4 Democrats, found her guilty. There is absolutely nothing bi-assed about that. Pretty poor attempt at the shuck and jive and obfuscation trip, there pal.
Ah Ha - the resident GOP Disinformation Squad has finally woken up.
While you're at it, can you explain why Bush looks so scared, like a rabbit in a truck's headlights, when trying to talk about the financial meltdown ? He obviously hasn't a clue and is completely powerless. Who is running the country ?
But at least someone has now got around to part-nationalising the banks
My comment was, of course, directed to Ken in Oregon, not the poster above.
While Ken is busy searching on Google, perhaps he would like to investigate the parlous state of Ford and General Motors. After the banks' demise, the next to go will be the car makers. Already getting $25billion in aid - how much more propping up of the failing American economy is needed before something is done to curb the billions of dollars flowing overseas and the increasing proportion of US assets held by other countries ?
The media has been very quiet about the neeed to add extra digits to the Debt Clock in New York after it ran out of space to display the 10 Trillion dollars now owed
I think, after a celebrated career as 'head attack dog' (albeit Chihuahua), Mrs. Palin is about to become intimately familiar with why they say 'PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES'.
At least now, we don't have to look daily at where this election is going – I believe this was the last straw for any undecided voters who may have still been considering McCain-Palin.
Picking Palin was the one 'shoot from the hip' maneuver that even ‘THE MAVERICK’ will never be able to stare down (or spin).
The only question is whether we, as a nation, will embrace the promise of the true change that IS coming - or will we just hold on harder to the demonizing, mind-numbing, lock-step politics that have paralyzed our nation for far too long.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I don't think God (he/she or whatever other delusion you use) is very interested in blessing anyone, particularly America
Interesting, what Ken from Oregon posted, was nearly IDENTICAL to a post on another website, I just read a few minutes ago.
Also in that group of responses, was an IDENTICAL posting of a response that someone had left on the Baltimore Sun's website.
(I'm sorry, I can't recall which website it was, as I really wasn't paying that much attention, it wasn't until I saw 'Ken's' posting here that it jumped out at me.)
It's quite obvious that there are a number of paid 'shills' out there posting around the internet acting as if they are just joe shmoes (can I call you Joe?) when they are likely on the payroll of the McCain campaign or the Republican party.
Just go around the net and take a look at the various reader comments sections on the net and I guarantee that you will find numerous comments on this topic that are nearly word-for-word. That is certainly no accident.
Too bad for them, that some of us recognize something eminating from the propoganda mill. It's become so common that some in the web community are starting to sniff them out and expose them. I read fark.com routinely and many posters there have been outed over the last couple of years. The problem for them is that there are many people who are more technically sophisticated than them and can sniff these shills out and expose them.
McCain chose the wrong bedfellow in a major election campaign , shot himself in the foot and can kiss his chances of becoming a US President Goodbye! Think of all that wasted money.His judgement was very suspect.
Pity!.
bugs bunny for v.p.
The organised McCain blogging detected by Lawboy (above) is not too surprising, it is an obvious way of getting a misleading message across to many people who are probably rather challenged in the mental department and believe everything they read on the Web is true - just as anything seen on TV is deemed to be absolutely valid and correct.
What is more to the point is that the McCain fanatics have been so hamfisted in their attempts at leaving these messages. The most likely effect is that the language and attitudes shown would rapidly persuade any intelligent reader to vote for another party, and as for the bloggers themselves, if they can't manage something simple like this, would you really trust them to be a competent government ?
Faux News and the McCain camp...(is there really any distinction?) are dissing this report by saying that 'she acted properly within her rights' etc. That is basically their ONLY defense..... and while 'technically' correct, just because she has a right to fire anyone does not mean she did not abuse her power in a typically sleazy and ignorant manner.
JUST SOOOOO NEOCON .....
McCain has definitely shot himself in the foot...........................
OUCH!...Hop, hop , hop.......
'This was a partisan-led inquiry run by [Democratic candidate Barack] Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern,' a McCain campaign spokesperson said.
Since the inquiry started BEFORE Palin was selected as McCain's running mate, it now appears that McCain supporters believe Obama has the ability to foretell the future ? I suppose that does at least counter their pushing of McCain's past as an attribute.
So which is best - a candidate able to look forward or one who spends all his time buried in the past ?
of a day in the life of a politician. That goes for both Reps and Dems. Kick all them self-serving 'public servants' (cough cough) from office.
BJ's in office, molesting interns, gay toe tapping in public restrooms, smoking crack, drowning women while drunk driving, and stuffing bribe money in the freezer. The list goes on and on.
Kick them all out. Beltway experience matters not. The American voters are duped. The rich get richer and you fools think you're doing well.
Sharp & Astute comment. It's a great pity that there is not many of your calibre here on M&C.
I highly doubt there is a woman out there who, if she had the power, wouldn't fire a man who abused her sister. This finding is a double edged sword for the Obama campaign. One the one side, the revelations about Palin would draw some people away from the McCain campaign. On the other side, the ethical paradox involved in Palin's decision would draw a lot more women to support her. For an election, where women will represent the majority of voters, Obama may well have lost the advantage gained due to the economic crisis. Not to mention that it smacks discriminatory for the only woman to be under such an investigation, while her male predecessors could actually violate the law without repercussions.
too many unanswered questions by Obama to even consider having him as president. He has danced around even the most direct questions and nobody is willing to hold him to the task of giving a direct answer. I would be willing to press him on this.
Likewise Palin - but in her case, not only does she avoid answering questions, she doesn't even understand the questions
PALIN '...if you read the report you’ll see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member. You got to read the report, Sir…”
Nothing Unlawful.... correct
Nothing Unethical.... Rubbish
You’ve got to READ the report ,lady
You say: 'I highly doubt there is a woman out there who, if she had the power, wouldn't fire a man who abused her sister.'
Firstly, it is none of anyone's business what goes on between two people. It is between them and their divore lawyers and of course, the courts. Any one else is a meddling busy body who deserves to get whatever omes their way. Secondly, for Palin to stick her nose in something that is NONE of her business shows a complete lack of brains, exept she took it one step further and used her public office in a personal vendetta. That shows that she is not mature enough to hold the second highest offie in the land. She is definitely not the type of person to be waiting first in line for the Presidency.
The letter 'C' is malfuntioning on my keyboard.
...what a surprise...
is that most posters, an any blog, are comparatively kind to Ms. Big Hair, No Brains. Can you imagine the shrill screaming emanating from the GOP and the Barking-Mad Attack Dog Squads, if this were a Democratic cock-up? That is too hideous to contemplate.
Prime real estate. Fantastic view(you an see Russia from here). Immediate possession. Pristine Alaska wilderness. Great hunting and fishing. Build your dream here(or we an build it for you). Location, loation, location. Conveniently located between Palin's ears. Sub-Prime mortgages available at a discount.(Federal funding available). See your Real Estate broker, NOW, before he goes more broker.
Where did you pull that logic from, out of your ass?? What a nit-wit!
For those of you that want safety above all- want to work like a worker bee-by all means vote Obama. For those of you that want more,including freedom to fail, vote McCain.
G W Bush was recently described as 'a high-functioning moron.' This apt description was made on a talk-show with both Democrat and Republican speakers, yet no one even batted an eye at the remark.
Palin could then well be classified as 'a low-functioning moron' or maybe even 'un-functioning.'
Clearly in a class by herself.
scared little rabbits-the lot of you. Shame
Nice words, a-hole. It is you who speaks logic with split arse. In simple words that even a neocon idiot like yourself: SHE did it. She's GUILTY of abusing the powers of her orifice. No shucking and jiving is ever going to change that. GOP=Graft, Obfusation, Perfidy.
yup, the repubs are running like h*ll. If they could, they'd be running away faster.
except for the crying.
This is really a sad day for all Americans. There are literally millions of posts around the world about Troopergate, about Palin's guilty verdict for abusing her powers and the whole world not just America now is shuddering at the prospects that God forbid something happened to McCain, she would be the president of the United States representing the free World. All you have to do is google Palin-Guilty and you will see over 4 million hits, how embarrasiing!! And this is in just a 24 hour period. Then you have the McCain people trying to lay the blame on Obama when this was clearly already an issue way before McCain picked her as his running mate and this is on Record and can be verified. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat, just an American citizen who is simply stunned at what is going on. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure I am witnessing all of this in real time. My hard earned 401K is shrinking daily and then to have to put up with all of this is just amazing. I am sure I speak for many, specifically all Americans, wether you are a Democrat or a Republican, independant or none of the above.
What goes around, comes around! Palin isn't being actually charged with anything right now, and isn't in hot water because of her maybe firing the commissioner, but rather that she let her First Dude conduct business from her Governor's office in making calls regarding the commissioner, etc. I wouldn't think he should have any business in the office and one wonders if they were actually dual governors. She has her hands full with this, and it probably isn't over as the commissioner can take this farther. She has other things on her mind such as inciting hate with her speeches.
With Palin and McCain rallying their supporters with hate and anger to a frenzy, McCain was getting a little worried, so now he's sticking up for Obama and backing down. A lot of the people who attend those rallies, are misfits and ready to take someone down, and Palin especially is inciting them. Listen to the lowlifes screaming and spouting off in Minnesota and Wisconsin the last couple of days, and it's obvious what Palin has done. She is disgraceful.
All Aboard........All AboardThe Straight Sleaze Express is coming to your Trailer Park soon !
Should pose nude for Playboy!
Should do another brilliant interview with mean old Katie Couric.
is fast earning her name - spewing hate and inciting hate. She needs to take her kids, guns, first dude and hightail it back to the frozen north.
It won't be long and Palin can get back to the business at hand in Alaska trying to sort through the problems with her co-governor. Alaska didn't realize they were getting 2 for 1 when they elected SP. First Dude can just use her office for his business and not have to have his own - maybe that's a plus! Poor John, imagine secretly he is cussing the day he had to appoint Palin over Lieberman - now, more than ever with this ruling, and the fact that he has had to try to calm people down after being riled up with the hate tactics she is using. You almost have to feel sorry for him.
I agree. I ALMOST feel sorry for McCain the man. McCain the politician, however, can rot in h*ll.
hey sp4 wanna have sex?
Regarding SP4. Is that Sarah Palin, 4th edition? The repubs are doing a make-over right now, trying to improve her image(a paper bag would cover a lot of sins. so would a hole, a pile of dirt and a shovel). Or are you referring to one of the local neocon toe-tapping pests? He's already had sex. He f*cked himself in the head with his drug abuse.
i just wish she was the president.she has the savvy political naturallness that mcain doesnt.
she will be president after mcain but spend billions on the people nothing changes for the rich they get richer and richer,weve heard there story for decades we want the billions the people we want schemes liuke the 1200 alaskan windfall in alaska go sarah go
What the F...! What a bunch of homos you two stupid F...are.
is guilty of abusing powers in Alaska and is guilty of being a hate monger in the lower 48!
During a recent news interview, someone pointed out that Palin was the future of the Republican Party. Did he mean it was going to disintegrate?LOL
I`M A YESTERDAY MAN - DE - DUM - DE - DUM.
A happy last week to all you punters. Why bother reading today`s papers or looking at all that up-to-date crap on TV, when you can gloat over last weeks news with good old dusty M&C ? 'I`M WALKING BACKWARD TO CHRISTMAS'
This article about that stinking, lying, conceited, self-opinionated, male molly-coddled, ugly cow from Alaska is dated the 11th Oct. !
Gee, that was LAST Saturday, we are now on the 13th and it is Monday. With so many beers since that distant day, I cannot even remember IF there WAS a last Saturday - BUT GOOD OLD M&C CAN. Yep, they love the past and expect all you lot to enjoy it as well. Nothing like history to pacify the brain - it`s FACT.
THEY will have all the election build-up news packed into these pages in November for YOU to tear to ribbons and do you know ? The new President
( God help us all ) will have been sworn in DAYS ago. But M&C don`t care, they`ll catch up with it all in the new year.
BIG YAWN - Trouble with todays news is that you have to get up off your fat arse to capture it.
...that he personally threatened her family....
about Rizko and Obama's ties to corrupt developers and to Fannie and Freddie and to Acorn?
Wake up voters, please. The developers own our politicians and will force more high density housing on us even though it catalyzes explosive global warming.
Obama will give them the green light and eventually we will pay for it one way or the other.
Why do you think the media is so pro obama and anti mccain/palin?
because Obama will do the dirty deed - he is the new patsy of the corporate run world government
do not vote for him please
how can intelligent people believe all the junk being thrown out about the politicians?
this story is about Palin and her lying neocon scumbag way of governance. The crap you want is on some rightwingnut blog somewhere down in redneck land. The stuff you wanr to read and reread and reread is politcal posturing, propaganda,not news. This is a news site.
..I'd a done the same thing. Saving a person from harm, by removing a harmful person from power is not really personally benefitting.
The reason Palin was being investigated is that she used abused her powers as Governor, and it sounds like First Dude did his share of governoring - like 2 for 1 !
The barracuda will soon be back in the woods killing and gutting animals to put up for the long Alaskan winter. Or maybe they won't want her back!
He did not threaten her family, dickhead. Even that lie was found to be NOT CREDIBLE by the investigator. One MORE lie by Pollyanna Palin. Take your lies, SP, stick them in your bong and smoke them, drug addict. You might get a better buzz that from that Paraquat soaked Mexican brickweed you've been huffing on.
Heard the latest bit on the Palin Family Show?
Her son-in-law to be won't be voting for her, the high school
drop-out forgot to register in time.
What wonderful teen age role-models these two make. Almost as trashy as the 'veep role-model' given by ding-a-ling.
Did anyone hear the latest? Palin thought people were yelling out at her at a campaign today, and she proceeded to tell them that they were lucky they had the freedom to do this, when her First Dude explained that it was just people yelling out that they couldn't hear from the back. This whole McCain campaign is a major debacle - it's unraveling at a fast pace.
I think there can be no excuse for the way Palin abused her powers.Governor or not there is a democratic way to treat ANY conflict that involves a public servant that wants to take action against somebody for personal reasons and and that is court ..Any other method than that implies that either you distrust justice to solve this conflict or believe that your own personal agenda is more important than this principle .One of the two.If there is a third possible explanation that would give Paling the right to act outside of the democratic system I'd like to hear of it .The way these acts are now justified are only opening the door to more corruption and personal profit from jobs that are installed to implement the basic rights of every citizen.And I suspect that if a democratic governor would have abused of his power in a similar why the republican choir would stigmatize that person.Why is it different when a republican is involved ?Are there two ways to hand out justice ?Justice for all should never be an empty slogan.
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Sleazy Sixpack SarahOct 11th, 2008 - 02:02:18
continues the tradition of the Republican Party: Graft, Obfusccation, Perfidy. Did I just see Hanoi John's dreams of a socialist America disappear in a cloud of SP4's drug smoke? Sleazy Sixpack Sarah Sank Socialist John's ambitions. How fitting.
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