Alaska State Supreme Court: Troopergate

I guess I just don't understand what's going on in our country. Look at the justice system for example. Today in the news you see a 20 year old college student who managed to "hack" into SP's email account even though she gave away one of the answers at the RNC and the rest were public knowledge (perhaps she should have thought of more 'secure' security questions?). He's being led into court in handcuffs and shackles. Meanwhile, SP, the person who really belongs in jail is out campaigning for Vice President of the US! Not only has she abused her power but she tries to force Monegan to abuse his. Meanwhile lawyers are working hard to keep her from even facing a preliminary investigation. I am so saddened that at a time when this country needs a great leader, these options are the best the parties could put in front of us.

Sounds to me like the Alaska republicans are hedging their bets. As long as things are delayed McCain & Palin don't have to worry about an October surprise. If they win in November any revelations from Alaska are mooted by the election and even if a crime were committed the U.S. Constitution would bar her prosecution during her tenure as vice president. If they lose the election,this issue and Sarah Palin will be relegated to the dust bin of history.

By virtue of the fact that many Republicans, including the national ones, want the Palin inquiry quashed, it begs the question that there must be something hidden that they know about and don't want us to find out. It is reminiscent of us as kids who, when told not to do something, would do it just because we'd been told not to. The more they complain, the more folks want to look into it. It's sort of like touching the park bench after it's been painted and there's a sign saying, "Do Not Touch - Wet Paint." It's irresistible.

Lying it OK in Sarah Palin's Religion, as long as it is a means to gain power. She is a member of a Pentecostal religon called Joel's Army which believes in Dominion theology. Dominion theology is the belief that Christians have a divine right to fill, and if necessary seize positions of power in the society and government. For most of them, in the end of times (which, they believe, we are in or on the brink of), God will create special leaders who will overcome the world, destroy the enemies of Christ and attain ruling power ('dominion') throughout the world, ushering in the Kingdom of God. Some of the leading Pentecostal preachers use elements of dominionist ideas when preaching, and use terms inferring that such leaders will come from their own ranks. If you were not scared before by Sarah Palin possibly being our next VP - now you should be!

So now some will honor the orders to appear and be deposed per the ADN this morning. "Now what?" is the question: 1) Is the appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court being withdrawn? Likely not. Todd Palin and the Republica 5 are still in the mix 2) Will this delay the release of the report? Probably. This keeps an unfavorable report out of the lime-light a little longer. I am believing the report to be unfavorable from the news-coverage and "leaks" as posted on the web. Todd Palin will not be deposed by Branchflower and cross-examined with evidence. 3) End criminal contempt prosecution: This will likely "moot" any criminal prosecution for contempt, they can rely on the "bad advice", this is new and novel, and "I complied anyway" defenses. Will the State of Alaska really (after initial non-compliance) want to appoint a special prosecutor to deal with the contempt issues? Not likely. Final assessment: brilliant ploy by the Palin administration to delay the release of the report, still sheild Todd Palin, limit the criminal exposure of loyal Palin employees. If the Republican five still pursue the appeal, they win, by still claiming the investigation was tainted by French et al.

Again - Palin has brought this on herself by refusing to grow up and face the music and make it right. Many times in our own lives we have been wrong. What most grown ups do is admit it - do what they can to make it right - move on and learn from it. If McCain does not win she will fly back in maybe on her broom rather than his campaign jet but then what. How do we deal with her. She will no doubt be worse as she will think she is smarter and better than all of us. You know when his report comes out - it could show that they committed crimes - then what? PS - Hey JimAK I like reading your posts. It think you are Todd.

You folks are unbelievable. What do you think Todd Palin is going to do? Testify that his wife, the Governor, asked him to get Wooten fired? "Look, Walt, you gotta get rid of Wooten. If you don't, she's going to fire you and kick me out and take the kids, the house and the Super Cub. Here's a letter that describes everything in detail." Do you think any of those subpoenaed are going to admit to any wrongdoing by the Governor? And what if they did, is there any physical evidence to back this up? If there were, Frenchflower wouldn't need anybody to testify. And speaking of subpoenas, anybody want to take a bet that even if the 12 showed up, French would then take that testimony to widen the investigation? 'After talking to the 12 witnesses, we have determined that the level of involvement goes far deeper than we have been led to believe. We will be carefully going over all the witness statements we've received so far and we will be issuing many more subpoenas in the weeks to come.' This whole deal has been a witch hunt from the jump. There is no evidence here other than hearsay and rumor. She said, she said. French wants to keep this issue in front of the press as long as he can so he raises his own public profile for his '10 Governor's race and so he can tap the Democrat party coffers for his run. Monegan served at the pleasure of the Governor. She didn't need a reason to fire him. Todd Palin is a private citizen. He can say or do what he want without any offical connection back to the Governor. Murleen Wilkes has apparently changed her testimony which would make her a liar and an unreliable witness. French or Branchflower leaked her secret testimony to the press which might shed some light on their motives and sense of ethics. And a number of other secret details have ended up on blogs like this one which, again, speaks to French's integrity. Yes, Hollis French, the man who talked of an "October Surprise" and a report that would "likely be damaging to the Governor." The only people who care about 'Troopergate' are those who want to use it to embarrass the Governor. None of them care about the so-called truth, none of them are worried about 'an abuse of power.' This is all political opportunism at its worst. If Sarah hadn't been nominated, the Democrats would have gotten bored and gone home but the stakes are much higher now so the DNC is pouring gas on the flames at every possible chance, counting on some 'concerned citizens' to keep the issue alive. Concerned citizens? All they are looking for is a chance to smear some mud on Sarah. These folks are divided into 3 categories: Sore losers, Obama Democrats and pro-abortion women. Which description fits you? Or is it all three?

Don't these people know McCain doesn't like judges legislating from the bench? Perhaps there are convenient exceptions.

I hope and pray you are right. In addition to what the Palin Goon Squad has done to Walt Monegan I am very disturbed at the McCain people for trying to take over and disrupt the system in this State. This shows me Palin cares nothing about the State - just herself and furthering her career. If she had any character whatsoever she would have put and end to this by simply telling the truth - making amends and moved on. We would have been ok with that. But no - she tries to tear the legislature apart. That speaks volumes to her character and integrity.

IOKIYAR Legislating from the bench is the term that is applied to rulings that they don't like. What they are doing is causing Branchflower's report to come out close to the election which was what the legislature was trying to avoid. But the worst thing about this whole story is that she could have emerged from this by just admitting her bad judgement early on but instead, now she has smeared Moneghan, exposed Colberg as inept/unqualified, put the state through a stupid constitutional challenge and basically pissed off a lot of people. It's funny how this whole episode makes it clear how eminently unqualified for being vice-president and I suspect it will ruin her political career in Alaska too.

It is ridiculous that public money was spent for the Attorney General's Office to join a Texas Attorney to fight this in the Superior Court. Who is paying for all the time spent and Attorney Fees to now have this go to the State Supreme Court?

Was the Alaska State Supreme Court bound to hear the appeal just because it was filed? Or because of the way it was filed? Or did they feel the appeal merits review? I assume that they could have refused to hear the appeal so why did they agree to?

Assuming all happens as expected: SC throws out legislators' suit. Report is delivered on Friday. Will the subpoenas be enforced? Will they ever have to testify under oath?

I hope you're right. So far you've got a great track record. I look forward to reading Branchflower's report next week.