ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Sept. 1, 2008
Palin Hires Attorney For Trooper Inquiry
GOP VP Candidate Is Being Investigated Over Firing Of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner
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Photo
Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, listens to questions during an interview in her office in this Dec. 13, 2007, file photo, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Chris Miller)
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Photo Essay
Sarah Palin
Alaska's youngest and first female governor tabbed to be McCain's running mate.
The Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state law enforcement official who had divorced Palin's sister.
The governor's decision to hire the attorney was disclosed by the Legislature's investigating committee on Monday, not by Gov. Palin's office. The committee released an e-mailed letter it had received from Palin's new lawyer on Friday, the day McCain announced she would be his running mate.
"We have been hired to represent the Governor and the Governor's Office" in the investigation, Anchorage attorney Thomas V. Van Flein wrote. "We fully welcome a fair inquiry into these allegations. ... Please know that we intend to cooperate with this investigation."
In July, a legislative oversight committee approved $100,000 to investigate whether Palin abused her power in firing Monegan.
This political he-said, she-said has dogged Palin for nearly two months and is likely to do so for another two months leading to the Nov. 4 presidential election.
The little-known vice presidential candidate faces accusations of firing public safety commissioner Walt Monegan in what amounts to a messy Palin family drama dating to her pre-gubernatorial days.
The accuser is blogger and rental car executive Andrew Halcro, a Republican-turned-Independent who lost to Palin in the 2006 governor's race.
The accused is Palin, the rising Republican star with a clean-hands reputation who has the most to lose.
The man in the middle is former commissioner, Monegan, who says Palin never told him to fire Mike Wooten, but he felt pressure to do so from members of her administration.
Then there's Wooten, who used a Taser on his stepson, Palin's nephew Payton. Wooten has been reprimanded for violating nearly a dozen laws and departmental policies since December 2001.
The matter is now in the hands of a state-hired investigator working for a Republican-dominated legislative committee that hopes to sort out the mess.
Palin steadfastly denies the allegations, and with her signature resolve, said she welcomes the investigation. "Hold me accountable," she challenge her critics.
With Palin now in the national spotlight as McCain's choice as running mate, the investigation could get more attention than the federal corruption probes involving Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and others that are already besetting this state.
"With this appointment, you've given an obscure investigation more national limelight than any grand jury," said Democratic consultant Dane Strother. "Think about it, if they come down on her, what is McCain going to do?"
McCain's campaign says it's not worried about the investigation. "The bottom line is Governor Palin has a proven record championing transparency in government and we are confident in that record," said McCain spokeswoman Maria Comella.
Monegan was fired in July, after he declined a transfer to become the director to the state's alcohol control board.
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See all 60 CommentsCurious as to the ID of the father (if he isn''t already at the bottom of the Bering Sea) -
The age of consent is defined as 16 years old, according to Alaska statutory rape laws. If a person who is at least 18 years old engages in saxual activity with a person who is 16 years old or younger, he or she will be charged with saxual abuse of a minor in the first degree. This charge is a felony in Alaska.
Any person who is 16 years old or older who has saxual intercorse with a minor who is 13-, 14-, or 15-years-old will be charged with saxual abuse of a minor in the second degree. Again, this charge is also a felony.
You can also be charged with a felony, saxual abuse in the third degree, if you are at least 16 years old and you have sax with anyone who is age 13-15, or if the person is a minor at least three years younger than you. In addition, Alaska statutory rape laws declare that anyone who is 18 years old or older who has sax with a person who is 16 or 17, or who is at least three years younger than the offender, can be charged with saxual abuse in the third degree. This is also a felony.
IF Bristol Palin was 16 at conception, her saxual partner better have been 16 or 17 years old ONLY ......otherwise a felony has been committed under Alaska law.
Ya, that''s a qaulity you want in a VP. Sure. I like how she was tied to a group who wanted Alaska to secede the U.S.
Good choice mcsame.
What do the scriptures say about un-wed fornication?
How about adultery that mcsame did to his first? wife?
And what do the scriptures say about drug abuse by mcsames newest flame Cindy?
What a laugh that people think Obama will bring CHANGE!
OBAMA IS THE PROBLEM IN WASHINGTON?
Just sitting in the chair letting the other guy fight for right why he just licks up the money he is givin to be a senator.
We need the winds of CHANGE! Just for a few good examples we had Katrina. It left the people in New Orleans happy and loved? The winds of CHANGE left them homeless and distraught, a good thing right? The winds of CHANGE brought economic disaster, where the people suffered hardships unimaginable to the average person! The winds of CHANGE WAS STRONG IN ITS INFLUENCE in the lives of these individuals! The winds of CHANGE stood tall when it hit! The winds of CHANGE WERE STRONG IN ITS APPROACH! The winds of CHANGE could not be reversed once it struck! The winds of CHANGE have left devastation for years to come! Yes I can see why we need a CHANGE for a wind that we know does not know where it will hit! Or what it will do! Or where it will go! All we know is the winds of CHANGE IS ALWAYS PRESENT BUT NOT MOVING UNTIL IT HITS without warning! Oh if we could only stop it!
Should we allow Barack Hussein Obama to CHANGE us with his wind?
NO and NO again!
WHY? Because there is nothing in his wind? He never voted to uphold good CHANGE to make a difference he was only present when voting. Why would anyone in their right mind would elect a man with no substance to fight for a cause when he had a chance to make a change in the first place?
Hold you accountable? Don''t worry, we will.
Not this year. Enough.
Yeah. Good choice McCain. PGHFAWWWW!!!
Tell us another joke.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/09/01/the-sad-state-of-the-democratic-partys-presidential-ticket/
Doon''t lets it gett outt ook?
I needs a DrinK!!
I neeeds a DrinkS!!
http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-vs-barack-obama/
I NeedD a DrInk!!
i NEEEDS A DRINK!!
DOn''t vieww these videooos!!
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/does-biden-have-a-drinking-problem-pt-2/#comment-10030
I gather McBush only met with her ONCE before selecting her for the VP candidate role. But, jeez.
This is the best the Reps. could do????
Redneck central.
not even in the White House yet and it''s already "BABY-GATE".
This is ridiculous, Come on McCain, you should''ve known better but then again, you''ve always shown poor judgement in your career.
PALIN LIED ABOUT "BRIDGE TO NOWHERE" IN HER V.P INTRODUCTORY SPEECH
Sarah Palin FLAT OUT LIED about her supposed "opposition" to the famous "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska.
In her V.P. introductory speech she claimed she said, "thanks but no thanks" to the pork barrel project. IT WAS A LIE.
LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO, the Anchorage Daily News quoted her on Oct. 22, 2006, as saying yes, she would continue state funding for the bridge because she could get projects through with help from Alaska Sen. Steven''s PORK BARREL federal money. "The window is now while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist," she said.
In a Sept. 20, 2006 appearance of the gubernatorial candidates in Ketchikan, she said, "The money that''s been appropriated for the project, it should remain available for a link, an access process as we continue to evaluate the scope and just how best to just get this done," the Ketchikan Daily News quoted Palin as saying. "This link is a commitment to help Ketchikan expand its access, to help this community prosper. I think we''re going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project."
Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein said he was there at the candidate forum when "she was asked about the bridge and she supported it."
SO PALIN LIES. She''s a weak token candidate- an insult to the much more qualified Republican women McCain could have selected. Oh, and SHE LIES.
I gather McBush only met with her ONCE before selecting her for the VP candidate role. But, jeez.
This is the best the Reps. could do????
Redneck central.
i NEEEDS A DRINK!!
DOn''''t vieww these videooos!!
http://texasdarlin.wordpre
ss.com/2008/09/01/does-biden-have-a-drin
king-problem-pt-2/#comment-10030
i NEEEDS A DRINK!!
DOn''''t vieww these videooos!!
http://texasdarlin.wordpre
ss.com/2008/09/01/does-biden-have-a-drin
king-problem-pt-2/#comment-10030
Posted by cdfoxtrot2
EARMARK GATE
A governor that encourages use of an opportune political environment to push an earmark, spends the money on other projects, claims to be a reformer for canceling the project(but used the money), and builds a road that ends at an empty beach.
From Anchorage Daily News on October 22, 2006
5. %u201CWould you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?%u201D
%u201CYes. I would like to see Alaska''''s infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.%u201D
From Anchorage Daily News on August 31, 2008
The Alaska governor campaigned in 2006 on a build-the-bridge platform, telling Ketchikan residents she felt their pain when politicians called them "nowhere." They''''re still feeling pain today in Ketchikan, over Palin''''s subsequent decision to use the bridge funds for other projects -- and over the timing of her announcement, which they say came in a pre-dawn press release that seemed aimed at national news deadlines.
"I think that''''s when the campaign for national office began," said Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Weinstein noted, the state is continuing to build a road on Gravina Island to an empty beach where the bridge would have gone -- because federal money for the access road, unlike the bridge money, would have otherwise been returned to the federal government.
Palin did not hire an attorney. Alaska''''s Attorney General, in his official capacity as an officer of the state, hired a lawyer to represent the Governor and the Governor''''s office. That''''s a far cry from Palin''''s hiring an attorney to represent herself personally.
Get the facts straight and report the truth!
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Posted by cbsblogger10 at 11:29 PM : Sep 01, 2008
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Waaay to teell the truth!! Uh-OH!! I ddi it agaaain!!
I neeed a drink!!
Doon''t look at thiis:
http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-vs-barack-obama/
Palin did not hire an attorney. Alaska''''s Attorney General, in his official capacity as an officer of the state, hired a lawyer to represent the Governor and the Governor''''s office. That''''s a far cry from Palin''''s hiring an attorney to represent herself personally.
Get the facts straight and report the truth!"
Posted by cbsblogger10
cbsblogger,
You may as well demand the sun not rise tomorrow.
You''ll get the same result.
But with Obama picking Biden, we get Change We Can Believe In, don''t we!!!
HAHAHA
After resigning, Palin filed formal complaints against the state Republican Party''s chairman, Randy Ruedrich,[31] and former Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes.[32] She accused Ruedrich, one of her fellow commissioners, of doing work for the party on public time and working closely with a company he was supposed to be regulating. Ruedrich and Renkes both resigned and Ruedrich paid a record US$12,000 fine
Imm gonnna neeed a DrInK beefor the DeBatE!! Thiss lady haz Chararcter!! Not LIike Obabamaba Amerikas!!
Uh_Oh!! I didd it againss!!
I needs A dRinK!!
PALIN and "ALASKA INDEPENDENCE PARTY"
The Alaskan Independence Party (AIP) believes:
-- Alaskans must vote for secession from the United States (can you say "49 states"?)
-- That "the vote for Alaskan statehood was invalid"
-- ALL environmental regulation should be eliminated
-- All government lands should be turned over to private parties
-- THE MAJOR PARTIES MUST BE "INFILTRATED" TO OBTAIN ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF PALIN''S RELATIONSHIP TO THE AIP?
Palin belonged to the AIP before she decided to seek higher office.
The AIP supported Palin for Governor.
AIP Vice Chairman of the AIP, Dexter Clark revealed this year:
"the one we were hoping would get elected, Sarah Palin, did get elected. ... And there was a lot of talk about her moving up. She was an AIP member before she got the job as a mayor of a small town, that was a non-partisan job. But you get along to go along, she eventually joined the Republican Party
Sarah Palin recorded a nice message to the AIP Convention this year, saying that the party "plays an important role in our state''s politics" and that "we have a great promise to be a self-sufficient state."
Is Sarah Palin a radical Alaskan secessionist? She certainly believes in them, and she belonged to their party before it became politically expedient for her to join the Republicans...
She''s already passed that key GOP requirement - corruption!
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So TAXPAYER MONEY is being used to defend Palin against malfeasance in office and BEFORE SHE WAS IN OFFICE?
Can you say, "Criminal misuse of public funds."
McCain needs to rithink this one...seriously....
She attends a radical succession movement "Free Alaska"
She has kids running the streets getting knocked-up and one kid away from the "public dole".
She has no experience except how to put on a bathing suit and make-up for a beauty contest.
She knows nothing about foreign policy except that her state of less then 700,000 people is the closest one to Russia.
Give me a break!
This woman is overwhelmingly unqualified to be Vice President!
ALso all thses bloggers and the drive media talking about her daughter is going to backfire in their face.
Great pick McCain, I was for Obama Bin Biden ticket but now Im more McCain Palin
She has no experience except how to put on a bathing suit and make-up for a beauty contest.
She knows nothing about foreign policy except that her state of less then 700,000 people is the closest one to Russia.
Give me a break!
This woman is overwhelmingly unqualified to be Vice President!
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Posted by whitemale08
You would have a good arguement if she didn''t have way more experience then the Dems Presidental canidate.
I
She''''s already passed that key GOP requirement - corruption!
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Posted by jerr11 at 11:57 PM : Sep 01, 2008
Too bad she is know for fighting corruption and has a 80 percent approval ratting. This wont even be a story by wed and Obama Bin Biden will be behind McCain Palin by this weekend in the polls!
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Posted by jedi080808 at 12:16 AM : Sep 02, 2008--
that so-called 80% approval rating out of 700 thousand people is equivalent to the number of people in Rhode Island that Obama got during the primaries.
Come on, you can do better then that.
And her fight against corruption was actually her misuse of power in "BABY=GATE".
McSame smear machine claims she has 80% approval rating in Alaska--
Wonder what the approval rating will be after this disaster- I can''t she why she needs the Government to pay for her attorney- and the pregnancy--
Reality check to McCain: Boy you messed up this one!
The whole world is laughing....
PALIN REPEATEDLY LAUGHS AS CANCER SURVIVOR OPPONENT CALLED NASTY NAMES
LISTEN TO HER LAUGH on YouTube Audio HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9AIDRGzUAw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKkydrUnBZE
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Early THIS year, an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News ripped into Gov. Sarah Palin''s appearance (1/15/08) on a morning "shock jock" radio show ("The Bob and Mark Show") as "plain and simple one of the most unprofessional, childish and inexcusable performances I''ve ever seen from a politician."
Palin has feuded with State Senate president, Lyda Green, over a wide range of legislation.
Lester referred to Sen. Green as a jealous woman and a cancer.
PALIN knows full well Lyda Green is a CANCER SURVIVOR, but didn''t do what any decent person would do, say, "Bob, that''s going too far."
Lester questioned Green''s motherhood, asking Palin if Green cares about her own kids.
PALIN LAUGHS.
Then Lester says, "Lyda Green is a cancer and a b*tch."
PALIN LAUGHS for the second time.
What were teenage boys and girls thinking when they heard the governor laugh at someone being called a b*tch? How about the teenage girls who look up to Palin? What did they think as she laughed?
But there is more. Lester then describes Green''s chair as big and cushy. A clear reference to the senator''s weight.
PALIN LAUGHS a third time.
Palin clearly enjoyed Lester''s vicious attack on Lyda Green. Then she says she''s "honored" by Lester and invites him to her official State of Alaska speech.
I
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Posted by jedi080808 at 12:14 AM : Sep 02, 2008--
...and what "legislative experience" does this woman have both at the state level and the federal level? huh?
And don''t embarrass yourself with some stupid talking point about "executive experience" for 18 months as governor who has less population then most cities.
And reforming the PTA is not presidential qualifications either. Sorry to bust your bubble.
Posted by jedi080808
You sound kinda wishy washy.
PALIN and "ALASKA INDEPENDENCE PARTY"
The Alaskan Independence Party (AIP) believes:
-- Alaskans must vote for secession from the United States (can you say "49 states"?)
-- That "the vote for Alaskan statehood was invalid"
-- ALL environmental regulation should be eliminated
-- All government lands should be turned over to private parties
-- THE MAJOR PARTIES MUST BE "INFILTRATED" TO OBTAIN ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF PALIN''S RELATIONSHIP TO THE AIP?
Palin belonged to the AIP before she decided to seek higher office.
The AIP supported Palin for Governor.
AIP Vice Chairman of the AIP, Dexter Clark revealed this year:
"the one we were hoping would get elected, Sarah Palin, did get elected. ... And there was a lot of talk about her moving up. She was an AIP member before she got the job as a mayor of a small town, that was a non-partisan job. But you get along to go along, she eventually joined the Republican Party
Sarah Palin recorded a nice message to the AIP Convention this year, saying that the party "plays an important role in our state''s politics" and that "we have a great promise to be a self-sufficient state."
Is Sarah Palin a radical Alaskan secessionist? She certainly believes in them, and she belonged to their party before it became politically expedient for her to join the Republicans...
NOW there are reports that McCAIN HAS SENT a team of ADDITIONAL "VETTERS" to Alaska TODAY. They will be investigating to find out what they should have discovered about Palin BEFORE McCain decided to make her his V.P. candidate.
A LITTLE LATE, ISN''T IT McCAIN?
This proves McCain is no where near ready to make critical decisions for this country. He failed to properly do the HOMEWORK before making his most CRITICAL decision to date. We do not need him deciding which war to start next.
Wasilla, Alaska, City Council - 1992-1996 (4 years)
Wasilla, Alaska, Mayor - 1996-2002
Ran for Lt. Gov. 2002 - lost
Gov of Alaska - 2006-current, 20 months (state pop: 1/5 that of Chicago)
****************************
****************************
OBAMA: Occidental College - 2 years
Columbia U - BA degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations
Worked at Business International Corporation
Chicago Community Organizer - 3 years
Harvard Law School - Juris Doctor, President of Harvard Law Review (first year), Graduated Magna _Cum Laude
Lawyer - Sidley & Austin Law Firm, Chicago
U of Chicago Law School - Constitutional law teacher 12 years: Lecturer for four years (1992-1996), Senior Lecturer for eight years (1996-2004).
Wrote 2 best-selling books
Civil Rights Attorney - 1993-1996- Associate, of counsel- 1996-2004
Illinois State Senate: 1998-2004 - 3 terms
US Senate - 2004-Current; Committees: Foreign Relations, Vet Affairs, Envir and Public Works, European Affairs
Presidential Campaign - 19 months
and over 800 pieces of legislation that he''s written, sponsored, co-sponsored and voted on.
NOW there are reports that McCAIN HAS SENT a team of ADDITIONAL "VETTERS" to Alaska TODAY. They will be investigating to find out what they should have discovered about Palin BEFORE McCain decided to make her his V.P. candidate.
A LITTLE LATE, ISN''''T IT McCAIN?
This proves McCain is no where near ready to make critical decisions for this country. He failed to properly do the HOMEWORK before making his most CRITICAL decision to date. We do not need him deciding which war to start next.
Posted by allurfears at 12:45 AM : Sep 02, 2008,,,
Gov. Palin has also admitted to smoking marijuana and while many dismiss this as harmless I would still be interested in Gov. Palin clearing the air and putting her drug use to rest. Was Gov. Palin a heavy drug abuser when she smoked marijuana, a Pot head? Or was Gov. Palin a casual recreation drug user? I read somewhere on the web there may be embarrassing photos of her, maybe the person with the embarrassing pictures is waiting until Gov. Palin gains more popularity so the embarrassing pictures will be worth more money! hmmm.
PALIN GETTING NEW McCAIN CAMPAIGN VETTING- AFTER THE FACT
NOW there are reports that McCAIN HAS SENT a team of "VETTERS" to Alaska TODAY. They will be investigating Palin to find out what they should have discovered about Palin BEFORE McCain decided to make her his V.P. candidate.
Now it is coming out that McCain made a last minute "seat of the pants" decision to pick Palin. This came after Karl Rove vetoed Joe Lieberman, and the Evangelicals vetoed Tom Ridge. McCain "liked" Paliin, so he picked her without doing the background work.
Reports indicate that McCain campaign vetters arrived in Alaska ONLY ONE DAY before the decision to pick Palin was announced Friday. McCain met with her the FIRST TIME on Thursday, and OFFERED HER THE JOB ON-THE-SPOT.
McCain''s decision on Palin was driven by IMPULSE and WITHOUT CARE for the details or issues.
This proves McCain is no where near ready to make critical decisions for this country. He failed to properly do the HOMEWORK before making his most CRITICAL decision to date. We do not need him deciding which war to start next.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html
Under Alaska statutory rape laws, if Bristol baby was conceived while she was 16 then the father has to be either 16 or 17. If not then a felony has been committed. If the father was 15 or younger Bristol is the guilty party REGARDLESS of consent. If the father is 18 or older then HE is guilty of felony statutory rape REGARDLESS of consent.
When was Bristol born EXACTLY?
When was the father born EXACTLY?
Of course, the Governor could issue a pardon to either one.
If he cannot do a good job of this selection, his most critical decision so far, then how can we trust McCain will not "fire from the hip" on - oh let''s say- war with Russia?????
Not WRIGHT for America (www.notwrightforamerica.com) does a good job destroying this alleged "ethics investigation" and demonstrating what it really is--a partisan witch hunt.
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