Lawmakers to issue subpoenas in Troopergate

This could easily be solved if Queen Sarah would just stop and tell the truth and then agree to lay off the Troopers and lay off Wooten. She is the bigger problem here. I won't be shocked if all her staff lies for her in exchange for a possible job in Washington. Then someone else needs to sit down and evaluate all the things she has done to the Troopers and Monegan and set the straight and move on. The more she lies the less likely I am to Vote Republican this time. I am a lifelong Republican the the sight of such a liar saying she sold the plane on Ebay - when she did not and in fact it lost 600K on the deal makes me sick.

I read this on the Associated Press website: STAT OF THE DAY: A private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin against accusations of abuse of power. First of all, is this true? Governor Palin doesn't have to pay for her own attorney? Is this SOP? If it is, what happens if she is found culpable in this matter? Does she have to pay it back? We don't have to pay for Todd Palin's attorney, too, do we?

Being an outsider, I'm wondering who really runs Alaska? Do the people of Alaska or does McCain political operatives? From what I've been reading, I first thought the Alaska Legislature was serving the people of Alaska. But since Palin was nominated for McCain's VP slot, it seems the lower 48 political operatives have swarmed in and may be influencing the decision process of what I thought was an independent, bipartisan investigation into "possible" misconduct by Palin, her staff and husband. I have yet to read any direct accusation of misconduct, just the possibility and the investigation was begun to explore if in fact people did step over the line. As a concern voter in the lower 48, I have a stake in what is going on in Alaska because Palin may eventually become VP and she will represent all voters, not just Alaskans.

Can they get away with this?

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157439/page/1

I am watching closely to see the outcome of this investigation. I would also like to ask about a couple things as well if you dont mind. I'm not from Alaska so I would like to try and understand why so many Alaskan's feel as though Mrs. Palin is honest in her statements and actions while the others are out to get her? I have read so much that this Wooten is a bad guy and he did this and that but most of the accusations come directly from the Palin family ( I wonder if that serves the family at all to show Wooten as a realy bad guy?) during a contested divorce when it is fact that the Judge in his divorce case sided with him on most of the accusations and gave this man joint custody of his kids(I guess he has seen enough cases to know that during a divorce and custody battle some-things can be made up to make 1 party look a little worse than they may acutally be). I wonder if somehow some of the claims were of the vendictive nature to say the least. Yes I have been through a messy divorce my ex-brother in law was her attoney and the Judge saw right through the lies...LOL. Yet any accusation made against Mrs. Palin are viewed as an all out ploy to destroy her, and therefore must be lies. Is anyone on earth that clean...if she is please forget McCain I want her for President not just for the next 4 years but for my life-time. Here is my question before I cast my vote for President Palin. Why not, if she wanted to weed out "bad cops", have internal affairs look into all the law enforcement departments of her state and not just single out the one person with whom she has a personal relationship, her ex-brother in law? From what I have read on the ADN blogs there are lots of cops that you guys have issues with being on the force up there, whether its true or not who knows, but this guy can't be the sole mal-content on the force, yet several people directly tied to Ms. Palin called to find out about him in some form or another? WHY? No matter if this Wooten guy was an Ax muderer, why would the Governor of a State be so involved with him being fired and him alone? Well maybe an Ax murderer needs to go even if the Governors staff alone saw fit to protect the good people of Alaska from him. Hey he is a bad guy, she is a good Governor I still have good reason to vote for her for President of the rest of my life. But a few more things baffel me, along with the Wooten fiasco she attempted the firing of a librarian until the people stood up and said no way, the actual firing of Walter Monegan under what he calls pressure (maybe he's lying), and Irl Stambaugh town of Wasilla police chief who says he was fired because he stepped on the toes of Palin's campaign contributors (again maybe he is lying too). But now it makes me at least wonder...is there anything wrong with this picture? Now I have to ask myself, when a person is gaining power and influence do people get jealous and try to bring down the person who told them "No" not on my watch. Mrs. Palin is said to be that type of Governor. I could easily come to that conclusion based on the "reform" tag that the press has given to the Governor. But, I like to look at human behavior, to me it seems like it is alot more clear indication of what is real here than anything else. So let's forget what the press says pro or con for a bit and use our own God given common sense. What do I mean? I am stating a simple fact of our human condition...we are creatures of habit. And if I look at how this person has handeled similar situations It can lead me too understand how she will handelthis one. Common sense leads us too the truth in most cases no matter what our personal views about a person or people maybe. Case in point, take kids who sneak out or in after curfew. Until they get caught they will act is if there is nothing wrong while they are doing it, but once they get caught they seem to be unable to admit to it until some evdience is presented (deny, deny, deny) so you confront them with the fact that the kids parents from down the street saw them leaving a party early in the morning, then the kid has a perfectly logical excuse as to the reason they were out "yeah but because a friend was stuck and I had to give them a jump and then I came right home and I didn't want to wake you" and you say in whose car?...and the more you question the more bases they try to cover, so it goes on and on until either they try to take control of you the parent and they yell something like "I wish you guys would leave me alone you never ever trust me at all on anything" and runs off to their room and slams the door (the kid(s) will run your house soon), or you as a parent say ok don't do it again (I'm sure that works...until the next time they decide to go out) or fnally you as a parent put your foot down NO not on my watch, you are grounded and no company until you fess- up and ask for forgivness. Now lets look at Mrs. Palin's action's and more importantly re-actions. And which of the above senerios fits. Mrs. Palin was asked if she had anything to do with putting pressure on Mr. Monegan to fire Mr. Wooten, at first she denied it. Saying to the public trust that "there is nothing going on here", then later when staff correspondence showed that something was going on with Wooten via phone calls and e-mails, she says ok people called to check up on him but "I had nothing to do with it and did not know anything about it", which puts her in even more or a tight spot because if she didn't and it was her husband how does an un-elected official have enough power to request inquiries into a member of the State Police? I mean how is a Government Dept. any of his business, can you go to your spoueses job and ask for time-sheets for the people that work under her... hell no. So maybe its not him, right, but agian major issues, if it's not her husband, what member of her staff did she tell about her personal life to the point where they felt the need to go and save her from this "bad cop" beyond any security request that could have been made on her behalf, I mean if this guy was that much of a threat, please someone place a trooper at the Governors residence and have a couple follow as she goes to and from work. Instead of doing what someone who would be afraid does she does the opposite, drives herself pregnant to and from where ever her hearts desired. And no and instead of fessing-up she yells at her accuser's as disgrunteled ex employee's with an ax (no pun intended) to grind and claims that they shouldn't be trusted. This is just common sense thinking, but the first time you fire or try to fire someone because of their personal views are not lining up with yours, it can be over looked in your home town I'm sure, my gosh everyone knows you and like you, but on the state level most folks know when they are being deceived, again we are creatures of habit, she did what she had done in the past, so when she felt someone would go against her personal agenda she said hey I'll find someone who will and now she has been caught. Like the child who gets away with breaking curfew, she was able to cover up the cover up with allies who are and were loyal, without any reprecusion, so it had became ok to do what ever she wanted...and even now lying to cover it up is... ok. For some reason a few people in Alaska remind me of the guy who knows his wife is cheating but loves her anyway. And thats ok for him...meanwhile everyone else is saying the guy deserves better, but he will die defending her and its no one else's business anyway. Unfortunatly, its now the business of us all, and those of us in the lower 48 and a lot in Alaska are now asking you too defend Mrs. Palin...and to be honest so far so good. But the funny thing about the truth is...it is always looking to come out no matter how hard we push it to the back of the bend. In close, Either way I'm sure that(we never get the whole truth unless we are a part of the situation) the truth will come out that we will all see who Mrs. Palin is. I just pray that it is fair and a few people are not blinded by their own-self intrest in the State of Alaska at the cost of the entire United States of America. God Bless The world is watching... ps I know a $1200 rebate check buys alot of support, but it won't buy the truth. pps Since the windfall you guys have gotten is from the entire country's natural resources shouldn't everyone in the country deserve a portion of the surplus? I look forward you response...

Newsweek has an article up on Trooper-gate and the Republican/McCain push back to get the case dropped. http://www.newsweek.com/id/157439/page/1

Do the legislators honestly believe that Sarah will cooperate? She has gone from transparent to opaque in a heartbeat, getting a lawyer AND having her administrators to do the same thing. No, this was done to stall a decision until after the election. If she were truly innocent, this would be over by now and she would be free to campaign without this hanging over her head.

Nice try. But this is nothing more than a set up to complain to the press in the future about Baily and Palin "uncooperation". The ethics complaints should be run thru the Personnel Board, and since two complaints have already been lodged, that priority jurisdiction is in play. Never would have happened if French hadn't run around with a pre'determined "guilty" and "impeach" result in the media since the inception of his witch hunt. Had he not played his hand he was running a biased, secretative "investigation", cooperation would have been readily at hand. Instead, Palin did what anyone would do. Look for the neutral venue. By Alaskan law, it lies in the Personnel Board, manned by Murkowski appointees (save English, who was re'appointed). This is a media game. French refuses to acquiesce to the higher legal authority of the Board. Bailey and Palin will refuse to play his game and cooperate with the Board. French will cry foul. He only needs to muddy the waters until November. But the game is obvious. And I say "foul". And if you're in doubt, check your handbook to the Alaskan Constitution, and the delegates' expressed concern about "legislative investigations" when laying out Constitutional rules about "due process". Hint... Article I, Section 7, and pg 33 of the PDF.

Most interesting. The strong and confident "I have nothing to hide, bring it on" invitation from Governor Palin has suddenly become a tactic of delay, delay, delay.......... Unfortunately, the reason for such behavior is glaringly transparent. When it was Ted, Don and other former legislators who were called under suspicion, the Governor repeatedly declared they had a duty to be cooperative and forthcoming to the citizens of Alaska. So then, why does that same standard not apply to her and the subordinates she leads? The duck is quacking. Sad and gravely disappointing.

Well, Hallelujah Jesus! It's about time.

The bill of rights is there for your protection. Never, ever admit anything. If I was a witness I would assert my 5th amendment rights unless they gave my attorney, in writing complete immunity. I don't care if you inocent or guilty. Men better than all of us died so we can have those rights. I'd show up so I wouldn't be violating the subpoena and take the 5th. I'd make Branchflower work for his pay. This is coming from someone who thinks Palin is lying but my libertarian side comes out on these issues.

Because "She" abused her power in Dairygate (firing the Creamery Board) and Mayorgate (firing Police Chief and Head Librarian of Wasilla), I feel that there is a legitimate case here with Troopergate. I respect the people who serve us in the legislature and public safety. They wouldn't be bringing any of this up if there wasn't any truth to it. That is common sense!!! Unfortunately, I don't think justice will be served because of the political corruptness of the GOP, who DON'T put "country first" - only their selfish agenda. I am neither Democrat or Republican. I use to be proud to be an Alaskan, but "She" has spoiled it for me, even more so than Governor Frank Murkowski. He may have been somewhat "out of touch" - but "She" knows what she is doing.

All the Palinistas are calling in and shifting blame to Mr. Wooten. The salient issue is usage of political power to harm an individual involved in family issues. This is a very similar stunt that Mr. Macain pulled in the Keating scandal. He tried to use his senatorial position to stop the investigation of Keating who swindled the public out of 3 billion dollars. When investigations of abuse of power are minimized, the public loses because it simply encourages further abuse. True reformers should not interfere with the process ...no man ( or woman ) is above the law in a democracy.

"Open and Transparent" is long gone; promises to cooperate are broken; daughter's privacy is shredded; record of accomplishments is distorted beyond recognition: Is there nothing Gov. Palin won't sacrifice to her ambition?

If there are no fish to be caught, why does the administration refuse to give depositions? Maybe it depends on what the meaning of "open and transparent" is.

I was wondering when they were going to get serious about this investigation. Thank you, legislative leaders. I'm relieved to know that our lawmakers aren't easily intimidated by the national spotlight and McCain's powers that be.

Palin isn't going to cooperate... The first mistake made was not issuing subpoena's from the get go... Stonewall Sarah (thanks Bill) will continue to lawyer up until after the Election... There is no way Branchflower is going to be able to issue a COMPLETE report under the time restraints given...

But then what would be the point? She doesn't seem to know much until confronted with irrefutable evidence anyhow.

You should have just released the information when you had it. ADN and the radio stations had it by the time you posted it. You really need to work on your timing.

And I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what Sarah has done that constituted an abuse of power. She made some recommendations to an employee, he ignored them and she fired him which she had every legal right to do. Sarah could have fired Monegan because she didn't like his moustache or his after shave. She doesn't need any reason at all. Period.