...in [part?] because he refused to fire the governor's ex-brother-in-law.

Missing word.

About time, Steve. Was beginning to wonder if this story caught you in the forty-five minutes during the week when you aren't blogging!

I suppose McCain and Palin will somehow blame all this on a conspiracy hatched by Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, William Ayres, and Barney Frank in Rev. Wright's church.

I suppose McCain and Palin will somehow blame all this on a conspiracy hatched by Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, William Ayres, and Barney Frank in Rev. Wright's church.

When the story broke, CNN gave it short shrift, emphasizing that no laws were broken.

They were busy talking about how race effects the campaign... (sigh).

Notice that they didn't find that she "associated with" or "knew of" or "palled around with" an abuse of power - they said that she "abused her power." This is not guilt by association - this is just plain vanilla guilt. Wonder if it will give JM a chance to pick another running mate - just something the maverick might consider given all the negativity surrounding her and his potential loss of his base after being forced today to defend Obama from attacks by the base at his campaign rally today. Time to energize that bunny again.

Also check out the comments at the Alaska Daily News:

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132565?pageNum=5&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container

Sounds like their response is going to be that it was a partisan witch hunt.

I guess, since there were 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats on the panel. It was a Republican led witch hunt.

Meanwhile, McCain is having trouble convincing his supporters Obama is a citizen and a decent person.

I imagine he feels a bit like Dr. Frankenstein now.

Somewhere, Mitt Romney is chuckling.

According to Alex Koppelman at Salon, the report finds that she abused her power, yet firing Monegan was within her authority. Spin it any way you like, I guess.

My favorite part is that the McCain campaign is trying to spin this as (1) vindication of Palin's actions and (2) proof of the partisian witch hunt orchestrated by Obama supporters. I don't know what they are smoking inside the bubble, but it must be some good shit.

Hopefully this will end the hateful reign of the Wicked Witch of Wasilla. She's melting, m-e-l-t-i-n-g!

I'm with bob5540

I'd seriously like to know what other [legitimate] reasons she had for firing him. I'm doubtful that Monegan's budget and disputes over the state plane were in anyway Palin's "concern" with him. Just like her firing the Wasilla librarian didn't have anything to do what so ever with her rebuffing the book banning question. Riiiighhtt.

The report will do little to affect the result's of the current election, but the good news for Democrats (and America) is that it does serious damage to Palin's reputation in a way that will make it difficult for her to ever run again for national office.

The knives will be out for her back in Alaska as well.

So Palin abused her powers as governor, and the Palins may owe a bunch of taxes... on top of all of the other stuff, well, are we surprised?

Meanwhile, Betty White has apparently figured out why the McCain camp is having difficulties with their communications:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxL7MKsGoPo
Make sure you aren't eating or drinking while you watch.

When the story broke, CNN gave it short shrift, emphasizing that no laws were broken.

The report also states that she was allowed to fire the guy, and that she did not break any law by firing the guy. That does not mean that she did not break any law.

And again: The report explicitly states that she broke the law.

Let's be on the lookout for these false claims that the report says she didn't break the law. It's already the spin coming out of the McCain camp, and more than one major media outlet has already bought it.

She broke the law.

The report directly states that she broke the law.

If anyone - McCain included - says that no laws were broken, they are directly contradicting what the report itself says.

Which, one more time, is that she broke the law.

I wonder if McCain uses this as an excuse to go with VP 2.0?

I would imagine that dumping your VP candidate would be seen as a desperate move, but really, what else has he got- more Weatherman connections?

This is the kind of American that you and I are.

She didn't have a signing statement to cover it? Oh, right. That only works when a Republican ascends to the white house.

" When the story broke, CNN gave it short shrift, emphasizing that no laws were broken.

That directly contradicts the report, which explicitly states that she broke the law. "

I hear CNN has issued a correction... but most likely damage done.

What will be the repercussions of this, that's what I am curious about.

"What will be the repercussions of this, that's what I am curious about."

McCalin and co. will continue business as usual. That is to say that reality does not apply to them.

When they lose, the Palinator will limp back to the north pole where she'll be slapped on the wrist. Then, hopefully, Alaskans will wake up and vote her out next term...... then again, they are partial to their corrupt politicians.

just a maverick, taking shots from both sides trying to put country first and stand up for the american people.

Jim: "I'd seriously like to know what other [legitimate] reasons she had for firing him."

So far we've heard that:
-Monegan wasn't doing enough to fight bootlegging into alcohol-free villages -- which is why he was offered a demotion to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
-Monegan went over Palin's head trying to get federal funding to combat sexual assault.
-Monegan limited the governor's access to the DPS airplane in retaliation for her sale of the DPS jet (even though Monegan wasn't with DPS during the jet era).
-And unspecified non-team player or differing budget priorities.

Funny how Palin ran in 2006 on an anti-corruption platform, all the while plotting to use her office to get back at her ex-brother-in-law once and for all. Kinda like George Bush campaigning on a "humble" foreign policy in 2000 even as he plotted to invade Iraq. For once, I'd appreciate a politician who announced their crazy agenda before the election. Maybe voters would approve.

I liked Palin's attorney's reaction to Investigator Stephen Branchflower's claim that Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act:

"I disagree," said Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein. "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."

In other words: If A, then B or C; Not-C; therefore not-A.

They don't even a name for that fallacy.

From Reuters:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin acted "within proper and lawful authority" in removing the state's public safety commissioner, the McCain-Palin Republican presidential ticket said on Friday in response to a state report....

The McCain-Palin statement said, "Today's report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan."

This was a partisan led inquiry run by (Barack) Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern regarding Trooper (Michael) Wooten given his violent and rogue behavior," the campaign's statement said. Obama is the Democratic presidential candidate.

Lacking evidence to support the original Monegan allegation, the Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact," the McCain-Palin statement said.

Just wondering what the punishment is in Alaska for abuse of power? Banishment to an igloo?

Just wondering what the punishment is in Alaska for abuse of power? Banishment to an igloo?

You get a 60 second head start on the wolf pack.

I bet boring old Tim Pawlenty is looking really good in McCain's eyes right around now....

Too bad the angry mob would start denouncing him as a terrorist if he so much as hinted at dropping their precious Sarahcuda from the ticket.

What's really important here isn't the fact that Palin has been called out for abusing her power; the really important point is that McCain chose this inexperienced, incurious crackpot as his running mate after meeting her only once. His judgment was on the line when he made this decision, and nothing since then has been as revealing of his character (and lack thereof).

The Alaska legislature has revealed Palin for what she is, a rotten governor who took advantage of her position to get even with an enemy. There never was any "there" there. But we already knew that.

This is the end of the McCain campaign. He lost it when he chose her.

A little off topic...after all the mostly impotent fury I've felt over the past 8 years as Bush/Cheney took us to war, screwed up the economy, and violated the constitution--and the majority of my friends and family refused to see what was happening--it's damned strange to see the GOP's sins catching up to them, finally.

Ain't karma a bitch?

I'm with you, Michael Drake. We could call it "The Palin fallacy," but there are probably better ways to use that phrase, and better ways to name this fallacy.

"Just wondering what the punishment is in Alaska for abuse of power?"

Banishment to Staten Island.

I demand that McCain give us an expalination!

This isn't going anywhere. The American people don't give a damn that she tried to get rid of somebody she didn't like. They understand human nature, and they have real problems to be worried about. Think about the seniors, losing so much value in their 401(k)s and home equity values - and remember, seniors have a helluva a lot of equity in their homes as opposed to the subprime mortgagees who have zero equity and haven't really lost anything.

Who the hell cares about this?

It won't resonate, won't influence anyone, and is a diversion from real issues.

We're lucky it wasn't a deal buster, because they would have dumped her and put somebody else in who could have changed the dynamics at the last minute.

The last thing you want to do is bring Palin down and have somebody who is actually qualified, like Romney or Lieberman, replace her. Just a little damage is perfect, keeping Obama's momentum going.

But...what? Only this morning there was the report that she was exonerated. Gasp!

It must be noted that these legislators are the biggest scariest people of the street in the AK legislature. And they are secret Muslims. They are simply bullying the brave patriot Republicans to go along.

Merry Christmas one and all!

My hope now is that the legislature begins impeachment against her or that a citizens' recall effort begins. She needs to be out of American politics after November 4.

This will pretty much sinks the McCain candidacy.

I would imagine that dumping your VP candidate would be seen as a desperate move, . . . Posted by: spiny

Too late. The deadline to prevent her from being on the ballot in most states passed this week.

She did not break the law in firing Monegan. She had every right to fire him for any reason, or none.

She did break the law by pressuring him to fire Wooten. She is, probably, not subject to criminal charges for it, but could be censured, or even -- though it is unlikely -- impeached by the Legislature.

No determination was made that she broke the law in the Workman's Comp situation, but Branchflower had no authorization to pursure various parts of this, such as her rifling through the files on him.

I have seen no mention as to whether she, or her home-town Attorney General obstructed justice by ordering subordinates to refuse to answer subpoenas, but since they, eventually, did, this is unlikely to be pressed.

She did not break the law in lying to the people of Alaska and the American people about her rotating 'explanations' as to why she fired him, but as an RBC contributor put it "illegal is a subset of wrong."

Her claims of being afraid of this supposedly violent man are belied by the fact that, on taking office, she immediately reduced her security detail.

There may be grounds for Monegan to sue her for her comments, I'm not sure about this. I am also curious if Wooten would also sue her for what she has said about him.

One point that is interesting. She fired Monegan with no severance pay whatsoever. His successor proved to have a history of sexual harrassment and had to be let go after two weeks. He received $10,000 severance pay.

And finally, the committee that instigated the investigation unanimously was composed of 8 Republicans and 4 Democrats. The group that voted for the release had the same partisan composition. (There were two people who did noit attend the meeting, and I am unsure if they voted for the original investigation. One of them is known for replying to out-of-state e-mails with, in effect, "Move to Alaska if you want a reply from me.)

Sarah Palin has a bright and lucrative future ahead of her as the host of talk shows on talk radio or Fox News.

In her new career she can join other law-breaking conservative icons such as Oliver North and Gordon Liddy.

But her future in politics? Toast.

Greatest snark ever:

http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/2008/10/time-has-come-to-ask-what-might-happen.html

Spiro Agnew in heels.

Lost in all this is Sarah Palin's crimes against mustaches. Walter Monegan's cookie-duster shall be avenged.

Sarah Palin is a lying sack of shit.

Someone had to say it.

Sarah Palin has a bright and lucrative future ahead of her as the host of talk shows on talk radio or Fox News.

This is the truth right here, she'd draw good ratings and her personality is more tailored for this kind of gig.

But her future in politics? Toast.

Hannity just re-signed with Fox for the next 4 years, at $20 mil a year. What's politics?

Now, as I'm seeing this, the report acknowledges her right, as Governor, to dismiss the guy---but the law-breaking part involves her actionable violations regarding HOW she went about the whole matter of trying to dump her ex brother-in-law.

I'd really like to be the guy who sneaks up behind McCain right about now, whispering the magic word: AGNEW. Watching the vicious little PoS croak from a stroke as the contents of his skull literally explode would be worth just about anything right now.

Some people might think me a terrorist for that. Ask me if I care....

HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE

Gee, why does this entire Sarah and Todd Palin/Troopergate scandal sound so much like Dick Cheney and George W. Bush using their elected offices to launch a vendetta against former U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson, a vendetta that led to the outing of Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, as a ultra-top secret non-official-cover(NOC) CIA agent, who was a CIA officer tasked with protecting our nation from rogue countries wanting or already possessing WMD or nuclear weapons, a vendetta launched from the White House that ended up her twenty-year career?

I know, I know, Sarah Palin's feud with, and attempt to punish, her sister's ex-husband pales in comparison to the harm done to our country's national security by Bush and Cheney ordering the outing of a covert NOC CIA officer, but the vindictive meanness on display in both instances is the same.

And Sarah Palin will no more be impeached for her abuse of her public office and the public trust than Bush and Cheney have been or will be impeached for their massive and obscene abuse of their public offices and their utter trashing of the public trust.

Justice for Repubicans is Just-Us, screw the rest of us, in which certain Republicans (the Palins, Bush and Cheney, Addington, Gonzales, Bolten, Miers, Rove, etal.) view our nation's laws as only applying to all of us lesser humans, but since they are superior, then they are above the law, including the U.S. Constitution.

No wonder our nation is in so much worse shape today than eight years ago, especially with all these Just-Us Republicans running amok throughout our society and in the White House.

Just-Us Republicans never place our "country first." The Republican Party...first. Money and profit...first. Religion...first. Race...first. But never our "country first," no matter how often they falsely claim that they place our "country first." Ultra-selfish Just-Us people never do.

Hannity just re-signed with Fox for the next 4 years, at $20 mil a year. What's politics?

Rupert Murdoch is 77 years old. Wonder what will happen to Fix News when to old man man finally coughs blood and the infighting starts. I have a fantasy of the shop bought up and converted into a Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece. Ol' Sean would fit right in -- they could run his gig alongside the newscaster from North Korea.

In other news, the lender that stepped on a rattlesnake in Illinois has withdrawn its suit against the Cook County sheriff,

"But her future in politics? Toast."

I don't agree. This isn't nearly damaging enough to get the Republican base to stop loving her. They'll chalk it up to their usual conspiracy theories and her profile will just end up being raised among them. Now whether she can turn that into electoral success in 2012 is an open question, but don't count her out just yet.

"But her future in politics? Toast."

I don't agree. This isn't nearly damaging enough to get the Republican base to stop loving her. They'll chalk it up to their usual conspiracy theories and her profile will just end up being raised among them. Now whether she can turn that into electoral success in 2012 is an open question, but don't count her out just yet.
Posted by: PaulB on October 11, 2008 at 4:56 AM | PERMALINK
************************

Agreed. She is far from toast, remember she is not a Democrat, who would be toast, burnt toast at that. But she will be portrayed as a victim of a witchhunt, far fetched conspiracy theories will be sold to the repig masses as absolute fact, and she will be praised for standing up to and defeating the menacing libruls. Facts, such as the overwhelming percentage of Republicans on the Legislative Council, the UNANIMOUS decisions to investigate, release the report, etc will be ignored, (as reality typically is for the repig leadership and base). She is perfect for them, and they will not let her go. Look, she can lie through her teeth with a smile and wink, she's a GILF (to many), and she is simple-minded enough to be manipulated by the Party elite. Perfect. She is not going anywhere. If we think she is, we have learned very little from history.

People who abuse power when they have a small amount of power will abuse power when they have a lot of power. Sarah Palin abused her power as a Mayor of a small town and as the Governor of a sparsely populated state.

This is just more "gotcha" journalism and the heels are off and the gloves on! Reform! Hockeymom! Bridge to Nowhere!

What kind of America has come from the failure of America to elect officials to represent them who will remove a president from office who wiretaps its own citizens (4th amendment)? Funds religious organizations with tax money (1st)?

And imprisons people without charging them with a crime (5th)? Holding them that way for years (6th)? And in shamefully frequent cases.... torturing them (8th)?

Okay, the last three applied to non-citizens. But does anyone claim that this government is beyond such means of protecting us from the turr'ists?

No wonder Sarah Palin tries to incite crowds. Not only does it fit her MO (authoritarian, power abuser, ethics violator, personally vindictive) but it distracts the media and voters from her obvious lack of qualifications for high national office.

It's almost as of the GOP has been treating crowd incitement as a qualification for office.

...in [part?] because he refused to fire the governor's ex-brother-in-law.

Missing word.
Posted by: bob5540 on October 10, 2008 at 10:07 PM | PERMALINK

Actually, Bob, I think it may be teh opposite.

He meant to remove the qword "in" also.

He probably started out with the charitable "in part" phrase because he likes to be less shrill than most other liberal blogs, but he couldn't think of any way that it was part anything else.

Then he missed the "in" word when he was forced by facts to un-qualify his charge.

After all she's innocent until proven gui... oops. She WAS proven guilty.

Is America REALLY willing to put a proven criminal in the 2nd highest office in the land behind a 72 year old? Does John have food tasters lined up?

Maybe I'm too much of an optimist, but with all of the news today, the report from Alaska, and McCain having to back down on the podium from his "evil scary Obama" tactic, I feel like we're watching the McCain/Palin campaign implode.

I have to wonder what the next act is. I have to wonder what sort of spectacle the next debate will be. John has to have pretty much lost his spirit by now. If not, I want some of what he is smoking. He's got to be learning more about PTSD now than he did from his 5 years as a POW.

How do you keep your spirits up for the remaining 25 days of campaigning in the face of the whole thing collapsing around you? It's going to be ugly and sad.

Yeah, I can't believe it either. I'm starting to feel sorry for John McCain. I'm just not the sort that enjoys somebody being destroyed in front of America this way. It's just too sad.

Whatever has happened to John McCain he brought it entirely upon himself.

He's looking more and more like a shell of a man. He started going downhill the minute he shook hands with Jerry Falwell and began pandering to the right wing Christian Republican base. That's what caused him to ascribe to ideas he used to oppose, that's what caused him to surround himself with such terrible advisers, that's what led him to Sarah Palin.

And that's what will cause his defeat in 24 days. He's the wrong person for the times. Furthermore, the right wing has run out of workable ideas. The Reagan Revolution is dead.
RIP.

Okay, the last three applied to non-citizens.

You sure about that weary?

Furthermore, the right wing has run out of workable ideas.

I have to disagree with that part of your post, pj. The right wing never had any workable ideas, as we've been seeing for the past several weeks as the economy collapses around us, and as we've been seeing for the past 7 years as the constitution has been steadily and methodically shredded.

Meanwhile, McCain is having trouble convincing his supporters Obama is a citizen and a decent person.

I imagine he feels a bit like Dr. Frankenstein now.

When he took the mic away from the Arab-fearing Phyllis Diller, I got the distinct impression that he was upset not only at having to walk back the Obama Loves Terrorists rhetoric, but also at having such a bunch of dumbshits as his supporters. One more thing for John McCain to be angryangryangry about: only the least intellectually equipped and nuttiest come to his rallies now.

Now whether she can turn that into electoral success in 2012 is an open question, but don't count her out just yet.

I'm thinking that'll look a lot like Quayle's 1996 bid for the presidency.

I'm waiting for the rally in which John McCain says "Now folks, Barack Obama is a decent Christian family man and we must respect him" and the booing, screaming, enraged mob rushes the stage, piling on top of him and beating him senseless while chanting "SARAH! SARAH! U-S-A!"