Colberg's subpoena side step

TROOPERGATE CONSPIRACY COUP MOST SERIOUS LEGISLATURE ABUSE SINCE VECO This legislature conspiracy coup called Troopergate, is the most serious abuse of the elected legislature since VECO scandals. Only this is worse, where they have formed a committee coup to attack the executive office and Gov. Palin. They all should have know better, they cannot give away the people’s constitutional powers via legislative committee to a private hired gun Branchflower just to complete his $100,000 report to the same committee organizing the conspiracy coup. Branchflower’s unlawful subpoenas and extreme conflict of interest make his report worthless. Some heads will roll when this is all over, or there will no longer be due process in the Alaska legislature. If they get away with the unconstitutional coup against the executive office, then the average citizen doesn’t have a chance for justice and due process. The Courts will no doubt find the subpoenas illegal and a violation of legislature authority. This unlawful Troopergate investigation is an absolute disgrace to the constitutional binding legislators and all the People of the State of Alaska.

Yes....yes...yes....that's why the governor said she'd participate up until the time she got appointed. And that phone call by Frank Bailey... a total conspiracy.

What about Van Flein? Other commenters have indicated Colberg's actions warrant an official grievance complaint, that the result could be disbarment. Why no grievance complaint for Van Flein? TP didn't bother to appear, either. Van Flein provided a statement or a letter or whatever saying TP wouldn't appear - but Colberg provided a letter informing the State employees would not appear, too. Is it because Van Flein's notification (hey, I'm not a lawyer, if I'm using the wrong terms throughout this comment, please forgive me) included a legal excuse (shaky as it may be)? Is it because Colberg is the AG and Van Flein is in private practice? Please enlighten me... Thanks

I think it was intentional he left for Kansas to delay this troopergate investigation. By slipping out of town, he avoids face to face controversy and its one more delay--stonewall of this investigation. It might be he was planning on leaving for some time now, and perhaps he waited till before his departure to slide his latest stonewall of requiring a full vote of the senate or both legislative bodies. He needs a leave slip signed (by Nizich?) and when that was signed would give us some indication of his plans. I am still trying to figure out why Bailey is on the payroll. If he's not working why is he getting paid. That's disturbing.

Between Palin and Palmer are the rest of us down here in the "lower 48" to assume that Alaska is truly the last frontier? By frontier I mean that they seem to think that they're so far removed that they can act independently and make up their own system of right and wrong and justice. I'm glad that McCain chose Palin as a running mate. This shoves her, her twisted nepotism and her lying cronies out into the light where they can be seen for what they are. If there's truly any justice in the world she'll not only not be VP, but she'll be bounced as Governor of Alaska.

QUIT BEING A PUSSY AND DO YOUR JOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's pretty clear that this ain't working. Both sides have dug in deep and lawyered up and what should have been a minor case has taken on a life of its own. So, here's where it needs to go: 1. French and Branchflower terminate their investigation now. They turn over all their materials to the personnel board as requested by Palin. Probably won't accomplish much but it can't hurt and helps French regain his claimed impartiality. 2. They release a preliminary report to the public based on their limited findings. 3. They also take what they have back to the Legislature. The matter is either handled by a special session or waits for the next regular session. 4. Once the Legislature takes up the matter, a true, hands-off independent prosecutor with wind ranging powers needs to be hired. Someone from out of state with no personal or political ties to either side. 5. The ethics board needs to reach their conclusion - for what it's worth - in 14 days. French and Branchflower have little choice. They apparently don't have the power to make Palin and her associates comply with their subpoenas so they cannot move forward. French has overplayed his hand, banking on public pressure to force Palin to cooperate. It ain't there as the vast majority of folks, people who don't post on internet fora, the bulk of Alaskans and Americans feel that Palin was justified in getting rid of Monegan. Yeah, maybe something a little unclean went down but it ain't enough to bring down a dogcatcher, let alone a governor or VP. It ain't gonna be enough to vault French into the Mansion, he's going to have to earn it the hard way. Screaming about coverups and stalling isn't going to accomplish a thing. The public and the media are tired of the story and don't care. The last line of one of my favorite movies sees an LA cop leading a private detective away from a crime scene. He knows something happened there, something illegal but he also knows there ain't no way he's going to be able to prove it: "Forget it, Jake.....it's Chinatown."

As someone who voted for Sara Palin I am in shock at the arrogance of both Todd and Sara Palin but especially Todd. He is a private citizen who has been issued a subpoena and his reaction is to use New York lawyers to stonewall. He doesn't even demonstrate the respect to be in our State when he is scheduled to appear. The arrogant, elitist and dishonest behavior of both Todd and Sara Palin is wearing thin with this long time Alaskan, Republican and former supporter. Their lies, constantly changing stories and phony playing to whatever crowd or camera is around is just sad. Let Todd and Sara just keep right on going as long as it is away from Alaska where we still expect honesty from our elected officials and respect for the rule law from everyone.

How can a person refuse a subpoena? The AG tells the state employee's to break the law? A normal everyday American citizen would be thrown in jail for refusal to answer the summons, I know many who have. This is what we want for the highest office in our land? No accountability for misuse of power. This gets stranger and stranger every day.

Did you forget to take your meds again?

Response to Jim AK: 1."*** eliminating or restricting the "at-will" service of commissioners *** Can't/won't work." Jim, I really think you should have paid attention in civics class (if you ever took one). Absolute power, without oversight, in the hands of one person and/or entity is a dictorship, whereas the cornerstone of our democracy is built through oversight by maintaining three seperate branches of government overseeing one another on both the state and federal levels. 2. As for Gov. Palin "lying", you should realize that presenting "half truths" as the whole truth is the most effective form of lying. As long as there is a thread of truth woven into the the larger fabric of a lie, it lends a misbegotten sense of credibility and believability to the lie. It is much easier for the average person to accept a lie with a fabric of truth inserted in it, than it is for that person to search for the truth, because the searching process would take time and effort, which the average person does not want to exert.

*** eliminating or restricting the "at-will" service of commissioners *** Can't/won't work. The governor has to be able to set policy and goals and has to be able to change dept. heads if things are not operating correctly. Usually, dept. heads can see the writing on the wall but occasionally they feel they are immune. That's what happened to Monegan and, 40 years ago, that's what happened to Wally Hickel as Sec Interior.

How convenient that he left on vacation. There are times inlife for most people that work demands require cancelling or at least postponing vacations. No one knew until late today that Sean Parnell was not going to be campaigning and Sarah is long gone. Does this seem like a good time for the Attorney Generaln to disappear. I suppose if McCain's dudes are telling you what to do and how to do it there may be no need for anyone to do anything at this level of state government. Isn't there anything that can be done legally about any of this?

I realize much of what I'd love to see accomplished in the next regular session is impossible, since it would involve amending the state constitution: things like eliminating or restricting the "at-will" service of commissioners, strengthening the investigative powers of the legislature, etc. Other things, though, I think can be accomplished: Making it impossible to gain access to confidential employee files without an absolute "need to know"; automatic termination for any employee conducting state business through private e-mail, text messaging, etc.; requiring that per diem only be paid to a state official when in actual travel status; requiring the governor to give written reasons for rejecting any nominee for a judgeship that has been approved by the judicial council. We need an overhaul of the state's ethical standards...once again. The Branchflower investigation's frustrated purpose has revealed the ambiguities inherent in the authority of the legislature to challenge the abuses of the governor. I wonder which legislators would have the strength of will to demand that the process of cleaning house begin in January? I wonder also if it's not time to review the state's constitution and tune up the parts that unequally allow a "strong" governor to manipulate the system to advantage.

How did Sara Palin get to be such a skilled liar ??? This may seem like rhetorical question but it truly is not. I voted for Sara and even had a sign in my yard and I am now really shaken as I watch her lie on a national stage every day, day in and day out. She lies loudly and with emotion looking straight into the camera or an interviewers eyes. She lied so effectively at the Republican Convention she has become a media star for all the wrong reasons. I feel like I'm in good company as most prominent national Conservative spokesman have also been duped. Many have compared her lieing skills to Bill Clinton. I remember reading that Clinton's skill at lieing spawned from his completely disfunctional childhood and that it is not unusual for children growing up in unstable circumstances to develop manipulative skills as a protective mechanism. From all I have seen Sara Palin is supposed to have grown up in a stable home. Can anyone explain why, how and when in her life she developed and exhibited this ability to make a total fabrication believable ?? I have teenagers and they certainly push the limits and once in a while wonder over the line but they are terrible liars. They have none of Palin's ability at least at this age. My kids entire manerisms change, they blush and they speak in a whisper when they are not telling the whole truth. The contrast to Sara Palin's obvious comfort and vigor for lieing is really creepy.