Palin abused power

[Tucker]

Alaska panel finds Palin abused power


BREAKING NEWS
msnbc.com news services
updated less than 1 minute ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner.

The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor.

The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27105917/

[Therese]

Originally Posted by Tucker

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27105917/

this is the most rediculous thing I have ever read:



"a family grudge wasn't the sole reason"

"it likely was a contributing factor." ??




And somehow this "wasn't the sole reason" and "likely" translates into a affirmative, unquestionable "she's guilty" ???

Something ie really wrong with this picture!

[Vog46_1999]

If an illegal immigrant obtained a house and credit cards by breaking the LAW and providing false documents to bankers...then:

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.

What should happen to a Governor that breaks the LAW in her own state?

Of course - this is all BS mind you but judges are now saying she's got to keep her emails. The courts ruled that the investigation was legal in releasing the results today......

I say shoot the immigrants...


Best Regards
Vog

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by Vog46_1999

What should happen to a Governor that breaks the LAW in her own state?
Best Regards
Vog

Here is the 263 page report:
http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf
Page 8, Finding number 2

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.

It is much ado about nothing; if there was something actually there the report would call for either sanctions or a criminal investigation. There is no “there” there to prosecute or sanction.

Meanwhile if you leftest are bored, you can sign up your kids to be in the Kids For Obama parade!

[Fartacus]

Troopergate report: Palin abused power

By DON HUNTER, SEAN COCKERHAM and WESLEY LOY
Anchorage Daily News

Published: October 10th, 2008 05:59 PM
Last Modified: October 10th, 2008 06:09 PM

A legislative investigation has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in pushing for the firing of an Alaska state trooper who was once married to her sister, or by failing to prevent her husband Todd from doing so.


The report by investigator Steve Branchflower was made public late this afternoon by a bipartisan 12-0 vote of the Legislative Council, which authorized the investigation.

Branchflower's report contains four findings. The first concludes that Palin violated the state's executive branch ethics act, which says 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."

Branchflower was investigating Palin's involvement in an effort to get state trooper Mike Wooten fired. Wooten was involved in a nasty divorce from Palin's sister. Palin and her husband, Todd, have accused Wooten of threatening Palin's father.

The investigation also looked into whether Palin dismissed public safety commissioner Walt Monegan because he resisted pressure to fire Wooten.

The report says Palin failed to reign in her husband's inappropriate efforts to use the governor's office to contact trooper employees in his attempts to have Wooten fired.

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda ... to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," Branchflower's report says.

"Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional. It is an individual responsibility imposed by law, and any effort to benefit a personal interest through official action is a violation of that trust. ... The term 'benefit' is very broadly defined, and includes anything that is to the person's advantage or personal self-interest."

In the second finding, Branchflower says Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten was not the sole reason for his dismissal but that it was a "contributing factor." Still, he said, Palin's firing of Monegan was "a proper and lawful exercise" of the governor's authority.

The third finding says a workers compensation claim filed by Wooten was handled appropriately. Number four concludes that the attorney general's office failed to comply with Branchflower's Aug. 6 request for information about the case in the form of e-mails.

The chairman of the Legislative Council, Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, said he agreed with Branchflower's findings but wasn't ready to suggest there should be any consequences for the governor.


"We don't charge people, we don't try people as legislators," Elton said. Any further action or disciplinary measures, he said, would be up to Palin's executive branch, the attorney general or the state Personnel Board.

Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, said the report is flawed because Branchflower didn't take into account statements and other materials submitted earlier this week by Todd Palin and administration employees who earlier had resisted subpoenas.

Therriault said Todd Palin's written response indicates that Gov. Palin, at some point, urged her husband to drop his efforts against Wooten. That information goes to the heart of Branchflower's conclusion that the governor violated the ethics law, Therriault said.

Therriault said Branchflower was unable to consider those late-arriving materials "because we had this artificial deadline today."

"Why?" he continued. "Because we're in a political season."

Senate President Lyda Green said the report doesn't speak well for the governor.

"The problem with power is that people pay attention to it," the Wasilla Republican said. "And it's very easy to get beside yourself and use it in the wrong way.

"And we do have to leave personal business at home," she said.

Two other lawmakers said the governer and her husband's actions were understandable.

"Who is going to blame Todd Palin for protecting his family?" said Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole. " Not me."


Another member of the Legislative Council, Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, said he thinks Branchflower's findings are wrong, and that Palin didn't violate the ethics act. "She and Todd Palin were trying to defend their family," Lynn said. "I think any normal person would do the same."

The release of Branchflower's 263-page report came after a unanimous vote of the 12-member Legislative Council, which authorized the inquiry last summer. The vote followed an all-day, closed-door meeting with Branchflower. Three members participated by telephone.

Branchflower also recommends the Legislature change the way complaints against peace officers such as troopers are handled. He says lawmakers should consider making it possible for people who file such complaints to get feedback about the status of their complaint and whatever action was taken about it.



The initial complaint against Wooten was filed by Gov. Palin's father, Chuck Heath, before she was elected governor in 2006. Branchflower says the inability of the family to get information about what was happening with the complaint was frustrating to them.


"I believe their frustration was real as was their skepticism about whether their complaints were being zealously investigated," Branchflower's report says. "The irony is that the complaints were taken very seriously, and a thorough investigation was underway. However, the law prevented the Troopers from giving them any feedback whatsoever."


The law should try to balance the need for confidentiality with a recognition that feedback to the filer of a complaint is also important, the report says.

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/552393.html?newsflash



Think they'll use this as their excuse to dump her from the ticket? (or have her step down, more likely?)

[Dreamweaver]

How can one abuse power and not violate laws? More Lawyer talk.

[Vog46_1999]

Fart-

Think they'll use this as their excuse to dump her from the ticket? (or have her step down, more likely?)

Possibly. Allow Palin to resign "for the good of the ticket" and have McCain pick
Romney as the "parties" VP pick (not his). Although it would be a bitter pill for McCain to swallow it might give him the White House as Romney's business credentials along with McCains experiences should give them an overwhelming advantage. The economy is the biggest subject in Presidential politics - and more so now with the troubles we've seen.

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 888888888
DW

It is much ado about nothing; if there was something actually there the report would call for either sanctions or a criminal investigation. There is no “there” there to prosecute or sanction.

Meanwhile if you leftest are bored, you can sign up your kids to be in the Kids For Obama parade!

Sorry to disappoint but I'm not a leftist
*************************************

How can one abuse power and not violate laws? More Lawyer talk.

No not lawyer talk - its political ethics talk. Ethics designed and passed by the Alaskan republican dominated state legislature.
There will however be no attempt at prosecuting her for this - and although the bipartisan committee voted to allow the release of the findings they won't vote to proceed with prosecution.
***************************************
Now, all this is political - there's no doubt about that.
How long before we hear:
Palin can't continue with reformer talk cause she's just like the guys she claims she went against in Alaska. (HEll I saw stories in my little east NC podunk newspaper about that today)

or how about:
Illegals can get homes by breaking the law (fraud) should we allow Palin to assume the vice presidency after breaking Alaska law?
*****************************
Or how about?
Obama's associations are fair game(according to Krauthammer today) - so McCain is now associating with a lawbreaker?
***************************************
You & I both know that all this minutae will become big fodder for the newspapers and talking heads, and fortunately, they won't persue prosecution, but what this does is allows for a LOT of 'what if's' stories, and a LOT of 'character' stories - which John is trying desperately to "pin" on obama because of his prior associations.
The RNC should step in to help him out - tell him to drop her and pick Romney in spite of their dislike for each other - otherwise McCain is left twisting in the wind trying to defend her instead of attacking Obama and Dems policies.

Best Regards
Vog

[lilly]

The taxpayers are also picking up the tab on her travel to further her religious beliefs, and her religious growth.

Some is grey, some is not. The woman can't keep this up, and she can't get away with this, now that she is under national scrutiny. It is all going to get scrutinized.

Since she has become governor, the taxpayer has picked up $13,000 in funds for her to attend at least 10 religious events and meetings.

As a mayor she did the same.

[Fiddlerdave]

Originally Posted by Dreamweaver

How can one abuse power and not violate laws? More Lawyer talk.

This has got to be the MOST CLEAR ILLUSTRATION of the ethical, moral, and stand of integrity of the Right view I have ever seen.

"If you don't go to jail, it ain't abuse of power!"

[dyrt]

We don't call the last few weeks of a national election "silly season" for nothing.

I don't remember an election that was so entertaining.

[lilly]

Actually, I think since Sarah Palin was nominated and passed as being the parties nominee, they can't have her removed, unless she agrees to step down.

I believe, she knows this campaign will make or break her future power with the electorate. McCains election chances aren't important as her own political neck. She is turning McCains election into her own. Win or lose she is solidifying what will be her power base for 2012.

Can you see her agree to being removed? Her followers, and they are hers, and not McCains, don't much care about what McCain says now. I don't think she can be reined in now. She says pretty much what she wants to. I don't recall any VP being as out of control as this one is.

[Dutchy]

Abuse of power and plain corruption seems to be normal, so no big deal here.

[BirdGuano]

Hell I just want to be able to put this on a business card

said Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole.

[dyrt]

Originally Posted by Dutchy

Abuse of power and plain corruption seems to be normal, so no big deal here.

I do not see any "abuse of power" or "corruption" in a governor wanting to fire a state employee. No law was broken. The governor was elected as a reformer. The people of Alaska wanted the government cleaned up. She tried to fire one of the good old boys and now they are getting their political revenge.

This whole circus is no different than claiming Obama is a closet muslim. It is just a soap opera for the stupid.

[Vog46_1999]

Originally Posted by lilly

Actually, I think since Sarah Palin was nominated and passed as being the parties nominee, they can't have her removed, unless she agrees to step down.

I believe, she knows this campaign will make or break her future power with the electorate. McCains election chances aren't important as her own political neck. She is turning McCains election into her own. Win or lose she is solidifying what will be her power base for 2012.

Can you see her agree to being removed? Her followers, and they are hers, and not McCains, don't much care about what McCain says now. I don't think she can be reined in now. She says pretty much what she wants to. I don't recall any VP being as out of control as this one is.

Lily-
I believe both parties have codicils within their rules committees that allow for the removal of a VP nominee in the event of medical incapacity and or findings of criminal activity.
I don't believe that the abuse of power story meets that criteria even though she allegedly broke Alaska ethics law. She hasn't been charged nor do I expect that charges will be brought.
What is interesting is the ongoing portion of the investigation which involves the emails both she and her husband used. A Judge has ordered they not be destroyed. I think the story continues.
But at this point a lot of arguments they have used in her favor have evaporated...
Heck I even joked about Hillary being VP for Obama and how Bill would play into the position.
Now we've got the "first Dude" already being admonished for his unfrettered role in Alaska politics.
Just remember this committee voted unamimously to release this report if I read the story right. Thats 8 republicans and 4 democrats on the committee if I remember correctly.
How bad were the violations to make 8 republicans tarnish their own governor and VP pick???? How bad were the charges to make McCain send 30 RNC lawyers to Alaska to delay the probe?
I still think there's more to come, but we shall see

Best Regards
Vog

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by dyrt

I do not see any "abuse of power" or "corruption" in a governor wanting to fire a state employee... It is just a soap opera for the stupid.

So Palin's actions in violating ETHICAL LAWS imposed on the public servants by the state of Alaska is ok by you? Me thinks this is a new low for neo-cons.

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda ... to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," Branchflower's report says.

"Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional. It is an individual responsibility imposed by law, and any effort to benefit a personal interest through official action is a violation of that trust. ... The term 'benefit' is very broadly defined, and includes anything that is to the person's advantage or personal self-interest."

[dyrt]

Originally Posted by Tucker

So Palin's actions in violating ETHICAL LAWS imposed on the public servants by the state of Alaska is ok by you? Me thinks this is a new low for neo-cons.

LOL Want some cotton candy while you watch the circus?

[Vog46_1999]

dyrt/tucker.....

I have been watching and commenting on this election based upon the "tactics" used by each candidate(and their respective parties) - and whether these tactics play out into a good strategy.

So far Obama has been too "coy" and playing it too close to the vest. Its a safe way to campaign but leads to polls being closer than they should be.

McCain on the other hand, has been twisting in the wind almost since he captured the nomination.
First from a financial standpoint the conservative wing of the Republican party has abandoned the very same principles that make conservatism a very good financial "way of life". They inherited surpluses, and spent their way to record deficits.
They believed in small, non-intrusive government - then ballooned the federal payroll in one of the largest hiring binges I've seen and not cut back on any, ANY existing programs - even when they had control of Congress during the first 6 years of Bush II. Then they intruded in all of our lives with the Patriot Act - an act designed to root out terrorists in and outside the U.S. Then we had:
"We don't talk to terrorists" - the Admin sends Condi all over the place to start negotiating
North Korea is part of he axis of terror - today we're thinking of taking them off the terror list.
We're talking with Iran
And Petraeus suggests we should talk with the Taliban.
Obama suggests a 16 month time frame for withdrawal and Malikki says within days that he wants the U.S. out and its found out they're negotiating the end game - with the Admin .
Everyone laughed at Obama's oil windfall profit tax - then McCain picks a governor who did just that and is proud of it - as his VP.

And now with the financial crisis upon us neither one will be able to do anything they've spoke of during the campaign as far as taxes and such are concerned. There's no money left.
McCain can't extent the Bush tax cuts
And Obama can't "re-distribute the wealth"

Neither man will have the stomach to do what this country needs unfortunately.........

But tactically McCain's been given a bad hand by the current Admin - and Obama hasn't seized upon it enough. Given the conditions Obama should be ahead in the polls by at least 10% - 15%.

WHat a bizarre race it's been

Best Regards
Vog

[dyrt]

Originally Posted by Vog

WHat a bizarre race it's been

I prefer to call it mass hysteria.

[Vog46_1999]

Originally Posted by dyrt

I prefer to call it mass hysteria.

I'm trying my darnedest to think the masses aren't that hysterical...and failing miserably at it.....

Best Regards
Vog

[Ought Six]

Ethics probe hits hardest at Todd, not Sarah Palin


By MATT APUZZO
The Associated Press, via Google News
October 11, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A month after she became governor, Sarah Palin's staff ushered Alaska's public safety commissioner into her private office.

But Palin wasn't there. Her husband, Todd, had called the meeting. He was frustrated that his former brother-in-law remained on the job as a state trooper, and he prevailed upon the commissioner to get rid of him.

"I thought that was odd and made me a little uncomfortable," said Walter Monegan, the commissioner, who later was fired by Gov. Palin. "We're having it in the governor's office, and he's not the governor. I think he was trying to use state trappings to handle a personal issue."

The January 2007 meeting was part of a long pattern of pressure that she and her husband applied on state officials to try to get the trooper fired, according to an Alaska legislative report released Friday. The report said those contacts amounted to an abuse of power and a violation of the state's ethics laws, which prohibit using public office for personal benefit.

But while the condemnation of now-vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was the conclusion, the nearly 300-page report by investigator Stephen Branchflower was more about her husband. Todd Palin, the self-described "first dude" of Alaska, had extraordinary access to his wife's office, her staff and her power.

Todd Palin spent about 50 percent of his time in the governor's office, making phone calls, participating in meetings or just hanging out, said Gary Wheeler, a member of Gov. Palin's security detail.

"He had a significant influence, in that he was always interacting with the, the employees there," Wheeler told state investigators. "Any time I needed to get information to the governor, I would always go through Todd."

The governor and her staff kept Todd Palin in the loop on a wide range of issues, copying him on e-mails about union matters, public relations and a bill requiring parental consent for abortions.

His efforts to get Mike Wooten, Sarah Palin's sister's ex-husband, fired were extensive. Todd Palin held dozens of meetings and phone calls with state officials, alleging that Wooten threatened the Palin family, was too unstable to be a trooper, and was cheating the worker's compensation system.

Todd Palin would not answer a question about the report during a campaign stop Saturday. GOP presidential candidate John McCain's spokesman in New Hampshire, Jeff Grappone, said Palin would not take questions from the media during his visit.

But in an affidavit he provided to investigators, he made no apologies.

"I have heard criticism that I am too involved in my wife's administration," he wrote. "My wife and I are very close. We are each other's best friend. I have helped her in her career the best I can, and she has helped me."

Taylor Griffin, a spokesman for John McCain's presidential campaign, compared Todd Palin's role to that of other political spouses.

First lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a vocal player in labor civil rights issues, Hillary Rodham Clinton took on health care while first lady, and Nancy Reagan was a close adviser to her husband.

"The role that Todd has played, I don't think is dissimilar from other spouses, and I think it's an entirely appropriate role," Griffin said. "And Todd will play an appropriate role as the spouse of the vice president."

The legislative probe began as an investigation into whether Palin improperly fired Monegan for resisting efforts to fire Wooten. The report concluded that Monegan's firing was legal, because Palin had the right to choose her top administrators, but that the pressure Palin and her husband exerted to try to get Wooten fired was improper.

Palin originally pledged cooperation with the legislative inquiry, which was approved by a bipartisan vote of a committee on which Republicans are the majority.

After McCain tapped Palin as his running mate, however, accusations of political interference quickly pushed the personnel matter into the national spotlight. Democratic state Sen. Hollis French drew heavy criticism for saying the investigation could provide an "October surprise" for the McCain campaign.

That allowed the McCain-Palin campaign to dismiss Friday's report as a political smear. The McCain campaign even issued its own rival report clearing Palin of all wrongdoing.

"I think it did turn into a partisan circus," Palin said Saturday in a brief conference call with Alaska reporters.

She said she was pleased that the investigation upheld her authority to fire Monegan. She said she disagrees with the report's finding that she abused her power.

Though the committee's report reached some stinging conclusions, it was largely toothless. The Legislature has no authority to sanction Palin for ethical misconduct. That's up to the state Personnel Board, which is running a parallel investigation that Palin is cooperating with.
_____

Associated Press writer Adam Goldman contributed to this report.

[caonacl]

Biden Contrasts Clinton and Palin, Saying Clinton Never “Abused Power”

Posted by Ryan Corsaro

(SCRANTON, PENN.) -- Joe Biden was about as subtle as a sledgehammer when he stood alongside and praised Sen. Hillary Clinton today for her “fight against the abuse of power,” which seemed to be an indirect reference a report that says Gov. Palin “unlawfully abused her power” in firing an official in the so-called “Troopergate” scandal.

“The one thing I find about this city is what we learn about in faith and our family – there’s the one most serious abuse a man or a woman or a government can engage in is to abuse power,” said Biden, as Sen. Clinton watched from the stage before 6,000 Pennsylvanians.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he continued, “the reason I love this woman, if you think about it now, you think about it. Everything – she probably doesn’t even think in these terms – everything she’s devoted her life to has been on the side of people who have been on the other side of power, on the other side of power. Either watching the wealthy or watching a government or watching some mother or father physically abuse, abuse power.”

“And ladies and gentlemen, it is the only reason, the only reason I ever got involved in government without even knowing…it just fit. And the reason why Hillary Clinton, I feel such a kinship with her, is that she’s more than just a fighter. I know fighters who fight for the wrong things. I know fighters who don’t give up but have been consistently wrong. I don’t know many fighters whose fight starts not from their head but from their gut, their just simple sense of balance and fairness. This is a woman who understands what’s right and what’s wrong, what’s fair and what’s unfair, and it’s always fighting against the abuse of power by the powerful.”

Biden is trying to win over voters for his ticket in the northeast part of Pennsylvania, where he was born and lived for a short time, many of which voted overwhelmingly for Clinton over Obama in last April’s primary.


http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10...y4516229.shtml