Troopergate probe: Palin abused power but had the right to fire Monegan
posted at 9:55 pm on October 10, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Look at it this way: If the race was close right now, this would be a killer. As it is, it’s just one more shovel blow to the back of the skull.
Feel better?
Finding Number One
For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides
The legislature reaffirms 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.
Finding Number Two
I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.
Team Maverick’s statement:
Today’s report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan. The report also illustrates what we’ve known all along: this was a partisan led inquiry run by Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern regarding Trooper Wooten given his violent and rogue behavior. 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 Governor is looking forward to cooperating with the Personnel Board and continuing her conversation with the American people regarding the important issues facing the country.
Here’s the PDF of the report. Don’t be daunted by the size; the crux of it’s only six pages long, spanning pp. 65-71. In a nutshell, she had legitimate and illegitimate reasons to fire him. The former means the termination itself was lawful, the latter means her compliance with the ethics statute wasn’t.
Political fallout? The base won’t care and left hates her already, so we’ll probably see a few more independents peel away and that’s it. This does give The One a handy reply, though, the next time she questions his character on the stump, and needless to say McCain’s rhetoric about cleaning up government will be highly nuanced indeed from now on. Should make for an entertaining topic during the next GOP primaries, too. For once, Hewitt’s immortal, much-mocked line from last winter is right on target. You know who really benefits from this? Mitt Romney.
Exit quotation: “Legislators, journalists and others were greeted at the elevator outside the meeting room by a group of McCain-Palin campaign volunteers who were dressed as clowns and who said, ‘Welcome to the kangaroo court.’”
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An Obama spokesman on Gretta this evening said that O’s campaign won’t make an issue out of this because it takes away from more important topics. By Monday this story will be off the radar screen.
CH on October 10, 2008 at 10:32 PM
If it hasn’t been posted already: http://www.johnmccain.com/Images/Truth/Analysis100908.pdf
Tommygun on October 10, 2008 at 10:32 PM
And to address some of the Republicans in on this; not all Republicans in Alaska favor Governor Palin. Many are still angry with her over her cleaning house and stamping out corruption and the good ol boys network.
Yes, I have read postings from some whom look like Obama supporters implying that they want her impeached. In fact the first 7 posting on the news release were all about impeachment. Is that all you Marxists live for? Just wondering. Funny how you were so against that when Clinton LIED UNDER OATH!
freeus on October 10, 2008 at 10:33 PM
ChenZhen
I read in the Fox news report on this that
So I cant see an impeachment happening unless she specifically ask for one to try and clear her name.
Dreadnought223 on October 10, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Yeah, but what if the economic meltdown was the Dems’ october surprise? Can’t believe they’d be so partisan? Where’s George B’stard Soros been hiding out lately?
Fortunata on October 10, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Just read the NY Slimes article. Of course it starts out with and spends eight paragraphs talking about how Palin “violated the law.”
In the ninth graf, the writer is forced to admit they found no wrongdoing.
If this had been Osama Obama or Biden, that would have been the lead. Even if it wasn’t true.
MrScribbler on October 10, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Bingo.
And not only released on late evening Friday, but the Friday before a Holiday.
Enoxo on October 10, 2008 at 10:34 PM
An Obama spokesman on Gretta this evening said that O’s campaign won’t make an issue out of this because it takes away from more important topics. By Monday this story will be off the radar screen.
CH on October 10, 2008 at 10:34 PM
In related news, Obama likes domestic terrorists and cop killers.
VolMagic on October 10, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Sarah Palin: What a woman!! Acted within her authority as Governor. Todd Palin: What a man!! Acted out as husband and protector!!
Take off all your clothes on stage next time, Sarah and run into Todd’s arms and say “Thank you and take me, I’m yours!!”
This is great…land of the free, the brave and the way too sexy!!
gracie on October 10, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Oh, please. This is ridiculous. Yes, the Left will run with it, but it’s going to be amusing to see the same people who were in high moral dudgeon over 3 of the world’s most dangerous terrorists being water-boarded, while implicitly siding with a State Trooper who tasered his stepson.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Wooton did not just tazer his stepson. He also was busted for drinking in his patrol car and shooting a deer (or was it a moose) from his patrol car out of season. There was at least one more charge but I can not remember what it was.
What responsible govenor would want this guy in uniform?
Also, as somone already mentioned, Monegan himself stated he was fired for budjet disagreements and was not pressured to fire woodton.
This has always been a nonissue witch hunt the left reserves for themselves.
allrsn on October 10, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Really now people. How does all of this arguing help Michelle Obama’s children?
Sugar Land on October 10, 2008 at 10:38 PM
In other words, Gov. Palin made a difficult Executive decision and Axelrod’s boy bowled a 34.
SouthernGent on October 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Allahpundit, normally I’m prone to defend you for some absurd reason.
In this instance, I kindly request you shut down your computer, take a walk, buy a Norman Rockwell, Puppies, or some other cheery calendar, and look at every page.
Once you’re done seeing that every single bloody thing that happens is not a reason to whine, moan, and spiral yourself and everyone around you into depression and fury, come back on.
Thank you.
BKennedy on October 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
This guy feels strongly both ways.Huh? And he is a mind reader,too? And, not all the people involved were issued a subpoena. This is laughable.
sheriff246 on October 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
You all need to remember: Wooten was not fired. Wooten is STILL a Trooper. He likely will never be fired for all his wrong doings because he is a member of a union–and we know how union thuggery is.
Palin “fired” Monega, the Public Safety Commissioner who serves at the pleasure of the Governor. In fact, she really didn’t fire him until he refused to be reassigned to another position.
Enoxo on October 10, 2008 at 10:41 PM
You all seem to be missing the two key points here, un-related to the dems. 1.)Palin allowed her hubby to use state resources and people to put pressure on Wooten and Monegan. Tell me again, on which planet that kind of government behavior is ok? 2.)Reform maverick? My ass.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Yeah, but the tasering thing is the issue we can nail the left on for abject hypocrisy. Get the kid on the Today Show, and the election is won :)
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
* Monegan, even.
We need an edit button.
Enoxo on October 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
I’d like the list of all the lawyer Omama sent to dig this BS up. . . Thoses are the guys I’d never hire if I needed
counsel.
All that energy and $ to come up with little nothing.
Meanwhile Bill Ayers and Co. see little nothing from the media. . . .
Texyank on October 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Word.
Mac’s statement is right on point. But I like the word ‘tortured’.
Spirit of 1776 on October 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Allah are you really this stupid. this was no split decision. This report shows that GOv Palin acted within her legal authority. then states “they believe some abouse was there” Notice they didn’t say they could prove it.
If this is the best a Obama supporter can come up with there is no there there. But thanks for doing the MSM’s job for them again. Do you have an engraved collar with the intials MSM?
unseen on October 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
No one has mentioned the details of this. Todd Palin was the one who was trying to get Wooten fired. Sarah’s supposed crime was that she allowed this to happen while knowing about it.
carbon_footprint on October 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Twoconservative on October 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
One has to love the stuff at the bottom of page 38, continuing onto page 39. It just illustrates how close to home Alaskan politics hit:
Monegan sends Palin a large picture of Mike Wooten and wants her to sign the picture and present it to the troopers at Police Memorial Day — the picture is to be reproduced and used as a morale poster for the troopers across the state.
It’s almost like Monegan wanted to be fired at this point! The only thing he could have done worse was to put Wooten on her security detail.
unclesmrgol on October 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
You’re missing the main point that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.
Of course I realize this will go right over your head full a mush.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
I assume that the Obama Campaign will announce that for ethical reasons there will ne no announcements of new cabinet positions since the assumption is that all of the incumbents will want to stay on.
lsheldon on October 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
I’m going to get longer than usual on this subject.
1. Commission finds her guilty, but recommends no impeachment or censure procedures. The bill on the investigation was + $100,000 and the end is “yes she did”? Good work commission, I’m a little tired to be impressed, I’ll be impressed later after a nap if that’s OK with you.
2. The whole report is over 1,200 pages long. And according to CNN “about 1,000 pages” will remain classified. A state commissioner is fired, a investigation is done, and about 85% of the report is classified? Was Monegan hiding nuclear weapons in his office? Spying for the Russian’s? Yep, this is beginning to stink.
3. Hollis told us this was going to happen 2 September 08. http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5702697 October suprise indeed. Ardent Obama supporter, contributed at least 2 grand to Obama and hid that fact while being appointed to the commission.
But hey, OK. Palin tried to get a state trooper fired that tasered a 10 year old boy, and was unsuccessful because he’s still a trooper. But watch out if you spank a kid.
It could have been worse (I’m preaching to the chior, I know). Palin could have been employing ACORN, taking money from Freddie and Fannie, working with unrepentent terrorists, and have a campaign bundler that is now a convicted felon singing his butt off to get a lighter sentence.
I still trust Palin more than Obama, Biden, Ried, Pelosi, Dodd, Frank… etc, etc, etc.
Hog Wild on October 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Is Keith Olberdouche devoting his entire show to this news item?
Speedwagon82 on October 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
they could spin it easy.
Of course, Obama is the only one that seems to be able to spin his ass out of everything and anything.
Thune on October 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM
This report was released on a Friday evening of a holiday weekend. That tells me everything I need to know about it.
ejbentz on October 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
The last time I checked Bill and Hillary, Obama and Michelle are dems.
sheriff246 on October 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
And yet in Todd’s deposition, he stated that Sarah told him to not pursue it, so he didn’t.
Further, the security detail of the First Family told Todd to report it to the public safety commissioner due to Wooten’s threats against the family.
Monegan had no ability to fire Wooten. If Palin wanted to get Wooten fired, she would have “pressured”, or even ordered his actualy supervisor to do it.
Enoxo on October 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
No, idiot, you’re missing the point. Todd Palin witnessed legal violations firsthand (e.g. disability fraud). Was he supposed to fail to report that? The way I see it, taking pictures of Wooten riding a snow machine when he claimed disability saved the State money on a PI to investigate the claim.
The people running the probe are abusing power themselves.
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I believe the intials are BHO…
dmann on October 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Anything that clears her in that report is not trumpeted to the four corners of the earth. Only that DISGRACEFUL AP headline!
I hope she does a press conference, or something.
newton on October 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
I’d love to see Barry bring it up at the debate. McCain could turn to face him and calmly say, ‘Senator Obama, if you would like to defend a man who tazed his 10 yr old stepson, drove drunk on duty, threatened to kill Governor Palin’’s dad and verbally abused her daughter, that is your right. I, and the American people, choose otherwise,’ and then sit down quietly and wait for the next question.
hump1201 on October 10, 2008 at 10:50 PM
I haven’t read the PDF, but yesterday there was a post in the headlines which talked about how Wooten volunteered to dress up like a freaking bear at a State Fair (where he must have known Palin was going to be in her role as governor).
He behaves like a stalker, and I have to wonder what the hell Monegan was thinking (or manipulating?) here.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM
The only reason I was ever really concerned about Sarah Palin getting the VP nomination was this report. I was concerned about what would be in it. But apparently McCain thought it was worth the risk.
In truth I find the whole thing kind of mystifying, it was an abuse of power to want the trooper fired, but firing his boss was lawful..I guess I just do not get the logic.
But now, Allah, who never really did like Palin anyway has yet another reason to pine for Romney. Maybe it would have been better if Romney had been chosen, but if he had been, would McCain have ever been ahead in the polls? It seems to me that even with this Sarah Palin has still been a plus in many ways.
Terrye on October 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Oh come on, Eeyore. I’m a pessimist, but didn’t the Democrat running this thing promise an October Surprise?
This ain’t that. This is weak.
You want strong? Check this out:
“Jesus was a community organizer?
Well, to the extent he destroyed the economy of the moneylenders.”
misterpeasea on October 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Monegan colluded with the guy picked to run the investigation to circumvent the Governor’s budget for his agency. They set up a press conference 4 days before her budget announcement, for God’s sake. That’s a firing offense in any sane universe.
She could gut him like a trout on the courthouse steps for all I care.
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM
No idea about Keith, but I flipped to Rachel’s show and she was having an orgasm on the anchor chair.
I threw up a little in my mouth.
Enoxo on October 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Tommygun:
Who produced that report? Is it a McCain campaign document, or something from the Alaska investigation?
irishspy on October 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Now i ask you Sen. McCain these or the kind of people that what to get Obama elected that work for his campain.Do you have respect for them like you do for Obama?
thmcbb on October 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM
The report says that the failure to fire Wooten was “a likely factor” in Monegan’s dismissal. So basically, they don’t have shit! It’s all conjecture.
Beyond that – do you think the media or Obama team really wants to wage into the areas of dirty politics and controversial spouses?
darkegop on October 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Wow Chen Zen. You’re an Obama supporter. Was there ever any doubt that you would say that? Let’s talk about Obama’s friend Rod Blagojevich. He’s under investigation too. Would you like to talk about his OBVIOUS abuses of power? Didn’t think so.
NathanG on October 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I can just see him now… With the Governor and some little kids posing next to him, Safety Bear suddenly sweeps his costume head off and says, conversationally, “Hi, Sarah”…
Thank you, “Buy Danish”, for the final proof that Monegan was really totally clueless about the whole thing.
unclesmrgol on October 10, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Me too. I want pushback.
Spirit of 1776 on October 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
If Obama comes to power, I hope he sends every Republican who rubber stamped this fake outrage to the reeducation camps.
Speedwagon82 on October 10, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Domestic terrorists, cop killers, slum lords, racist bigots, thugs that threaten banks and organizations that participate in voter fraud.
wise_man on October 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
The most ethical presidential ticket EVAH.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Sweet: Monegan is out of a job and Wooten will be too, soon.
Wooten is 34 years old and been married 4 times! In celebration, he’ll be drinking tonite, 6 maybe 7 beers and a couple of chasers…he’ll jump in his squad car…roar off…not seen alive again…hmmm…There’s a special place in heaven for dudes like you…assho..BYE!
I’m telling you all right now…there is a God..that’s how come McCain-Palin are in…
gracie on October 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
No, I am not missing the point, mush for brains. Yes her firing of Monegan was lawful. That is not the point. The point, if you will take the time to actually read the report, as I have, is that Palin was found to have violated the ethics law, and that she allowed her husband to use state resources and state employees to pursue a personal matter. Read Pages 65 and 66 of the Branchflower report.
As for comparing her actions with dems, what the hell does that matter? She either acts ethically and properly, or she does not. Comparative ethics is crap.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Terrye, I cannot tell you how far off base you are with that. If anyone is “pining for Romney”, it’s me. I only wish that Allah had been on board during the primaries instead of falling in line with the idea that if you use figurative speech to say, “I saw my father march with MLK” when he didn’t actually physically march with him, you’re a liar.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM
What the hell’s the matter with you? This group essentially restates an allegation as a conclusion, and that’s proof to you? She’s guilty because we think so?
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM
No, DrIDIOT. You are deceiving yourself. Read the real report. Do it sitting down. Then tell me how Palin’s actions are ethical or proper.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Buy Danish:
I was being sarcastic.
Terrye on October 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM
So Trailboss, did you read all 263 pages?
NathanG on October 10, 2008 at 11:13 PM
That’s absurd. He didn’t have any more access to State employees than anyone else with a phone book might have had.
OK honey, I’m Governor now, you have to hide everything you know about this Wooten moron, even the disability fraud you witnessed firsthand.
If that’s your idea of justice, you’re welcome to Obama.
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Yup.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Wow, that thing is actually a fairly quick read. You really get the feeling from reading the statements, that Branchflower went into these interviews with a foregone conclusion.
The interview with Monegan around page 103, something like that, where he basically says, what was your sixth sense Mr. Monegan? And he says that he felt his job was already in jeopardy.
Here’s the problem. If he felt, less than a month into the role that he was facing firing b/c of Wooten, why didn’t he immediately report the instance to the personnel board?
I like this little nugget:
Reading this you can only conclude that Branchflower made up his mind beforehand, and got the witnesses to say what he wanted to hear.
Of course he couldn’t forget that in the end there was no actual evidence against Palin directly, and there was a lot of evidence that Monegan wasn’t complying with her policy wishes.
No evidence? No problem. Just make $@#! up!
In all seriousness though, this report should be rather concerning for all people in positions of power. Simply having someone make allegations is enough to find you guilty of something you never did.
Right Tracker on October 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Read the report, then call me what you want. You are engaging in some magical self-deception here.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:15 PM
SaintOlaf on October 10, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I didn’t compare her actions to the Dems! I made a point about how they will effectively be defending a slimeball, taser-happy state trooper, yet they howl at the indignities suffered by Islamofascist terrorists who killed thousands of people on 9/11, or at Abu Ghraib prisoners who had paper bags put over their heads.
Oh, and head full a mush is a golden EIB microphone term which describes liberals. Do try to come up with something original that makes sense next time.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 11:16 PM
trailboss:
If I understood it correctly Obama does not want to pursue this. Or so he says. The reason might be that any further discussion of this will bring to light the behavior of the crazy brother-in-law state trooper.
Now if that is personal matter, I think it might get murky. But it would seem to me that if there was a real abuse of power or an ethical problem they would pursue, how do we know this is not political.
Somehow it reminds me of the whole firing of the US Attorneys issue via Bush. Yes, he had the legal authority to do it, but somehow or other that was not enough.
Terrye on October 10, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Sorry, my bad, ‘head so full of wool it’s a cinch to pull it over your eyes.’
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Are you maintaining that Monegan had to retain his job because among other reasons she had a personal reason to fire him?
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Ok I have read both pages of comments yet but something just smacked off of my forehead here:
So basically what you’re saying is because she had motive to act improperly she’s guilty of an ethics violation even though her actions were both proper and lawful?
So what’s a better rifle for the anti-socialist revolution, a .270 or a CAR-15?
Browncoatone on October 10, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Not one news outlet, not one has pointed out that Branchflower have been associates and friends for years.
Not one news outlet, not one has pointed out that Hollis French the chairman is a Democrat who has given to Obama.
If this had been Republicans reporting out a Democrat that would have been all of the headlines. “Republican Panel on party lines voted out a highly disputed opinion.”
Jdripper on October 10, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Sarah’s ex-brother in-law threatened to kill her father.
I’m a Vietnam vet. A mental hospital patient once threatened to kill my daughter, while she was in college. My wife was understandably distraught. I told her not to worry. She kept pressing me why she shouldn’t worry. I finally told her I would buy a 9mm and wait for him to show up where she worked and then I would kill him. She said; You wouldn’t do that!! I calmly replied. “Sure. Whatever.”
I think Sarah and Todd were very reserved.
Star20 on October 10, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Sorry Branchflower and Moneghan have been associates and friends for years.
Jdripper on October 10, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Reading and “comprehending” are two very different things.
SouthernGent on October 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM
If Trooper Michael Wooten is still employed by the state, he’d better be on his best behavior. He steps out of line, some citizen is going to have a very large claim against the state.
What will be the Democratic state legislature’s statement then? “We didn’t know” ain’t gonna fly.
Maybe they’ll be able to hire Barney Frank to make excuses for them.
GarandFan on October 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Hanging out with a guy who killed cops? No problem.
Trying to get rid of a cop who tased a little kid? WATERGATE TIMES A ZILLION.
Jim Treacher on October 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Taken to their next logical steps, the findings leave open the possibility that if anyone you know personally holds a job but sucks at it, you can’t fire them because it’s “personal”.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Maybe he thinks this will take on a life of its own without his help. Maybe he leaves it be to protect his own scurrilous relations. I couldn’t care less what O does or doesn’t do, whether he sinks or swims.
What I do care about is a style of governance where personal matters become state matters. Again, Palin stands or falls on her own. She fell down on this one.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Are you that freak’n dense? Really? The investigation wasn’t about Monegan retaining his job, it never was. I was about Palin using her position to try and get an employee, Wooten, fired. And the investigation plainly shows she did and that’s abuse of power plain and simple.
lowandslow on October 10, 2008 at 11:24 PM
The findings says:
I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin
The McCain statement says:
Today’s report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan.
So which was it? Was he fired or reassigned? There’s a big difference there!
Texas Gal on October 10, 2008 at 11:25 PM
On page 65, the phrase “by her inaction if not her active participation or assistance to her husband in attempting to get Trooper Wooten fired [and there is evidence of her active participation]”
That’s awfully weaselly. Either she did act or she didn’t act in aiding Mr. Palin. If she did act, why the “by her inaction” part of the statement? If she didn’t act to prevent, then there is certainly no crime, since either personal or official inaction is not criminal under this statute:
So the only way she would be guilty is if Branchflower believes the stuff in the square quotes. Yet he says that no crime was committed, which means that he doesn’t believe the evidence he says exists.
This October Surprise stuff can’t really have been written by a lawyer, can it?
unclesmrgol on October 10, 2008 at 11:25 PM
He was fired.
lowandslow on October 10, 2008 at 11:27 PM
No. Monegan served literally at the pleasure of the Gov. She could have fired him because he smelled bad. Or because he had the wrong hair color. Or for absolutely no reason at all. The violation of ethics has nothing to do with Monegan, and everything to do with Sarah and Todd Palin, and what she as gov. allowed to happen in regards to using state resources to address a personal issue.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Yes, indeed they are.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:28 PM
trailboss:
I don’t know about that. I think the supervisor of this cop fell down on this. I am a citizen, I don’t want to have cops who taser kids and threaten to kill old men and beat their wives running around with guns. Someone should have fired the son of a b*itch a long time ago.
Now we have a report, put together by Palin’s political adversaries during a campaign season come out and voila! I am just supposed to think she is the one who did the wrong thing.
What about security for the first family of Alaska? Does that not matter?
The truth is that McCain could have refused to take her on because of this. Maybe he should have. But it really tells us is that if you ruffle feathers, you will pay.
Terrye on October 10, 2008 at 11:29 PM
She tried to reassign him to another job, he refused, she fired him.
Enoxo on October 10, 2008 at 11:29 PM
I love Sarah. She’s the type of person that when she sees a wrong she wants to right it.
I think she’s the best thing since sliced bread. She needs to make a statement and do some interviews and she’ll be fine.
Seems like she did what she had every right to do, just with some extra gusto.
Oink on October 10, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Firing Monegan is what she’s on the hook for here, friend. Take trailboss’ advice and read the report.
And I still don’t have an answer to my question. It would seem the logic of the report is that notwithstanding any other reasons Monegan could have lost his job, a number of which are in the public record, the existence of “personal” reasons invalidates any authority the Governor might actually exercise to remove an at-will Cabinet official. That is simply insane.
As to Todd Palin, he had firsthand knowledge of someone who for a variety of reasons presented a threat to the person of the Governor and a potentially considerable legal liability to the State.
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 11:31 PM
lowandslow:
Actually she tried to transfer him to another a job and he refused the transfer. Hence he was out of a job.
Terrye on October 10, 2008 at 11:34 PM
And our media will follow the Obama lead. They might as well just rename themselves as Pravda.
aikidoka on October 10, 2008 at 11:35 PM
A couple things. If Palin was so concerned about rogue Troopers and inadequate punishment for Troopers why didn’t she use her position to push legislation to address those concerns? Next, when did Branchflower become Palins adversary? And lastly, if she was so concerned about her and her families safety why did she dismiss her security detail?
lowandslow on October 10, 2008 at 11:36 PM
No, she fired him. Even Palin quit trying to deny that weeks ago.
lowandslow on October 10, 2008 at 11:38 PM
I can’t say whether or not the Alaska Legislature is full of her political adversaries, but the report is ‘bi-partisan approved.’ FWIW
The way I read it, she and Todd let this become a personal obsession, and rather than taking care of it through appropriate channels, she allowed the Office of the Governor to be used and abused in order to get at Wooten.
Sarah Palin is no angel, and she has demonstrably used very poor judgment in this case. Buyer beware.
trailboss on October 10, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Good excuse to bow out and allow the unleashing of McCain/Romney.
In these tough times, there is one person in this race who understands this economy…. and it isn’t Fluff (Obama) and Dusty (Biden).
indythinker on October 10, 2008 at 11:39 PM
“And I said ma’am, I need to keep you at arm’s length at this — on this issue. And if you have further complaints on him, I can deal with Todd on it.” [p.28]
Not exactly an expression of dire concern about the propriety of Todd Palin’s use of state resources, is it? Not “you really both need to leave me alone here,” but “I can deal with Todd on it.”
DrSteve on October 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM
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