Abandon ship!!! The SS Palin is sinking!

[Future Proof]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/10/palin.investigation/index.html

Even though it's noted that Palin broke no laws, it seems highly likely that the backlash from this will be crippling to McSame's presidential campaign, if not the final straw that pushes McCain out of contention entirely.

I'm voting for Obama, but I have to say that if Palin was Obama's running mate that this would probably make me change my vote. There are severe ethical ramifications to what Palin did, and someone as vindictive as Palin shouldn't be anywhere near the presidential seat, in my humble opinion.

Thoughts?

[cacophony]

i seriously don't think this will affect palin supporters at all.

[Future Proof]

i seriously don't think this will affect palin supporters at all.

Is this because of their intelligence, or is there another reason?

[Sean]

i seriously don't think this will affect palin supporters at all.I agree - not Palin supporters, but anyone who's a Palin supporter would never be considering voting for Obama anyway. It could make a big difference with independents and moderate Republicans though - the people who will probably be deciding this election.

[kagenaki koe]

you can download the public report here
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/10/16/Branchflowerreport.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf

i'm only up to page 40 something-ish, right about the turning point of Palin immediately wanting to get rid of Monegan for (in a kind of funny kind of way):

apparently there was a trooper event that Palin was to be at, and Monegan dropped off a photo/poster for the event for Palin to sign off on. little did Monegan know that the poster boy was Wooten!!!

[cured]

Palin = maverick. "To hell with your rules, I'll make my own."

She probably was cleared of violating laws because the ethics laws in Alaska don't include that kind of behavior in an actual law.

[BeautifulBurnout]

I am fascinated by the spin the Repub Machine is trying to put on this already. From the CNN link:

The lawyers representing both Sarah and Todd Palin issued a three-page attack on the investigative report, including the contention that Ethics Act violations can only involve financial motives and financial "potential gain, or the avoidance of a potential loss."
"Here, there is no accusation, no finding and no facts that money or financial gain to the Governor was involved in the decision to replace Monegan," the lawyers said.Being a lawyuh and all, this is a red rag to a bull, so I dug a little further and found Ethics Statute to which they are referring here. (http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title39/Chapter52/Section110.htm)

AS 39.52.110. Scope of Code.

(a) The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal (my emphasis) or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust. In addition, the legislature finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of an officer's public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent an officer from following other independent pursuits. The legislature further recognizes that (1) in a representative democracy, the representatives are drawn from society and, therefore, cannot and should not be without personal and financial interests in the decisions and policies of government; (2) people who serve as public officers retain their rights to interests of a personal or financial nature; and (3) standards of ethical conduct for members of the executive branch need to distinguish between those minor and inconsequential conflicts that are unavoidable in a free society, and those conflicts of interests that are substantial and material. (b) Unethical conduct is prohibited, but there is no substantial impropriety if, as to a specific matter, a public officer's (1) personal or financial interest in the matter is insignificant, or of a type that is possessed generally by the public or a large class of persons to which the public officer belongs; or (2) action or influence would have insignificant or conjectural effect on the matter. (c) The attorney general, designated supervisors, hearing officers, and the personnel board must be guided by this section when issuing opinions and reaching decisions.This report is strong evidence for the Personnel Board that she has gained personal benefit from her role as Governor. Of course, under subsections (b)(2), they may well find that the action or influence would have insignificant or conjectural effect. But I doubt it.

Edit: I wonder how long it will be before we hear that the action with the Personnel Board - the enquiry she was really waiting for (http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/535188.html) because this one had no standing - is a Democrat smear too? ;)

[Deckard]

Palin abused power?

"Y'knaw, Kadie, I'm a MAVERICK - n' MAVERICK's don't need rules, Kadie, because, y'knaw.... this great country needs MAVERICKS.... to defend against those nu-cu-lrr eye-Ranians, n Poooootn, n' all. Ronald Reagan...... "

http://i37.tinypic.com/2rz9xzc.jpg

Sheesh. Sorry, this isn't PC, but never underestimate the amount of http://i34.tinypic.com/dlrwa8.gif out there. This won't affect Palin supporters one bit. As others have said, it will hopefully bring a few more independents in from the Dark Side.

[cacophony]

Is this because of their intelligence, or is there another reason?

of all qualities i would ascribe to palin supporters, intelligence isn't one of them.

[BeautifulBurnout]

w00t!

As the East Coast is reading the news over breakfast, Obama's rating just jumped to a 7.1% lead in the Real Clear Politics polls.

Excellent.

Will be interesting to see how this develops as the shit continues to hit the fans on its way west :D

[Sean]

Janie, maybe you can explain something I haven't been able to understand yet in the reports I've seen. How can the report find that Palin has "violated state ethics laws", but also apparently find that she's "broken no laws"?

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

Janie, maybe you can explain something I haven't been able to understand yet in the reports I've seen. How can the report find that Palin has "violated state ethics laws", but also apparently find that she's "broken no laws"?


I think I can, and I've said this many time before during the past 8 years.

Why does a dog lick...?

[BeautifulBurnout]

Janie, maybe you can explain something I haven't been able to understand yet in the reports I've seen. How can the report find that Palin has "violated state ethics laws", but also apparently find that she's "broken no laws"?

From what I can gather, the state ethics laws are, rather, codes of practice for state employees rather than "law" as such - and when you think about it, in many respects this is what they have to be, because you could feasibly be violating an ethics law by being the boss of a company who also does business with the state, yet you couldn't be cited or arrested for something like that.

I liken it to the Bar Code of Conduct - there are things I can do which would result in me being fined, suspended or even disbarred, but for which I would not committing a criminal act or tort of any kind. I think it calling it a "law" (and the sections of it "statutes") is a bit of a misnomer really.

[Sean]

From what I can gather, the state ethics laws are, rather, codes of practice for state employees rather than "law" as such - and when you think about it, in many respects this is what they have to be, because you could feasibly be violating an ethics law by being the boss of a company who also does business with the state, yet you couldn't be cited or arrested for something like that.

I liken it to the Bar Code of Conduct - there are things I can do which would result in me being fined, suspended or even disbarred, but for which I would not committing a criminal act or tort of any kind. I think it calling it a "law" (and the sections of it "statutes") is a bit of a misnomer really.That makes much more sense than what I was hearing on the news, which was just plain old contradiction.

Thanks Janie!

[Sean]

Double post. Sorry, but this deserved it's very own reply.

Sarah Palin getting booed for a full 90 seconds at a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7TgDanmWkg). You can see most people giving her thumbs down gestures in the background, too. Pretty funny that it's all set to ridiculously triumphant music. Looks like an instant classic to me.

[Troy McClure]

Compared to other Philly fan reactions, that one was mild. They've booed Santa Claus, thrown batteries at opposing players, and cheered when Dallas Cowboys' Michael Irvin nearly broke his neck. When she kissed the NY Rangers player on the cheek (he's from Alaska) I'm surprised nothing worse happened. Philly fans are maniacally faithful for their teams.

Also, check out Fox News video account of the reaction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB7BODBIAVo&eurl=http://www.jedreport.com/

Jason

For what it's worth Sen. McCain goes to Phoenix Suns games occasionally and sits courtside. The last time he was there in April, when he was introduced during a timeout, the crowd was about 60% for 40% against. So don't give up on Arizona just yet.

[IsiliRunite]

We all know liberals are inherently smarter than conservatives amirite?!

[froopy seal]

From what I can gather, the state ethics laws are, rather, codes of practice for state employees rather than "law" as such - and when you think about it, in many respects this is what they have to be, because you could feasibly be violating an ethics law by being the boss of a company who also does business with the state, yet you couldn't be cited or arrested for something like that.

I liken it to the Bar Code of Conduct - there are things I can do which would result in me being fined, suspended or even disbarred, but for which I would not committing a criminal act or tort of any kind. I think it calling it a "law" (and the sections of it "statutes") is a bit of a misnomer really.Don't mean to be smartassing, just a question of understanding:

Are those Alaskan "state ethics laws" laws in the "material" sense of this notion (i. e., any abstract and general provision, such as decrees, directives, ordinances etc.), as opposed to the "formal" notion (i. e., provisions adopted by a parliament, such as criminal laws, data protection acts etc.)? Is there any such differentiation between "formal" and "material" law in the case law system?

[froopy seal]

We all know liberals are inherently smarter than conservatives amirite?!Yeah, that's a no-brainer.
SCNR

[BeautifulBurnout]

Don't mean to be smartassing, just a question of understanding:

Are those Alaskan "state ethics laws" laws in the "material" sense of this notion (i. e., any abstract and general provision, such as decrees, directives, ordinances etc.), as opposed to the "formal" notion (i. e., provisions adopted by a parliament, such as criminal laws, data protection acts etc.)? Is there any such differentiation between "formal" and "material" law in the case law system?

I have no idea, frankly, because in the UK we don't have ethics "laws", just codes of conduct. We need an American lawyer on this one, I think ;)

[froopy seal]

I have no idea, frankly, because in the UK we don't have ethics "laws", just codes of conduct. We need an American lawyer on this one, I think ;)Uh-oh, they have a weird ( = profitable) way of making out invoices, I hear...

[froopy seal]

Aside: I just discovered this List of United States federal legislation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_legislation) on Wikipedia. Losers (quantity-wise (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aktuell.html))! :p

[stimpee]

Palin will be getting my vote!

...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61H8Q0VD1FL._SS500_.jpg

[rayray]

Palin was booed off the ice as she dropped the puck at the philadelphia flyers game last night - a local paper described the sound as an "avalanche". I'll do everything that I can, tastefully (take note mccain) to make sure that she and her running mate lose pennsylvania this november by getting the vote out and persuading anyone that will listen.

it may seem scary to all of you - but when there is a real possibility that people/politicians this stupid and evil could be your president, it's downright terrifying.

I invite you all to vote ! :D

[BeautifulBurnout]

Lovely link here to the Mudflats blog which reports, as does other sites including the Alaskan Daily News, the transcript of a bizarre radio interview Mrs P gave re what she is now calling Tasergate (http://mudflats.wordpress.com/).
Palin: Hey, thank you so, Meg. Thank you so much. Thank you also to our local reporters up there in Alaska. Even hearing your names make me feel like I’m right there with you at home. It’s good to get to speak with you. Let me talk a little bit about theTasergate issue if you guys would let me and, Meg, you want me to just jump right on in there?
Stapleton: Sure governor, go ahead.
Palin: OK cool.
Well, I’m very very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing … any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be cleared of any of that. Todd did what anyone would have done given this state trooper’s very, very troubling behavior and his dangerous threats against our family. Todd did what I think any Alaskan would do.
And he, Todd did what the state’s Department of Law Web site tells anyone to do if they have a concern about a state trooper. And that’s you go to the commissioner and you express your concern. And Todd did what our personal detail asked him to do. Bob Cockrell early on as I was elected and was asked are there any threats against ya, and Todd brought the concern as I did to Commissioner Monegan about the state trooper’s threats. He did what any – I think — any rational person would do so again,nothing to apologize there with Todd’s actions and again very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing
(Stapleton invites the first question).
ADN: Governor, finding No.1 on the report was that you abused your power by violating state law. Do you think you did anything wrong at all in this Troopergate case?
Palin: Not at all and I’ll tell you, it, I think that you’re always going to ruffle feathers as you do what you believe is in the best interest of the people whom you are serving. In this case I knew that I had to have the right people in the right position at the right time in this cabinet to best serve Alaskans, and Walt Monegan was not the right person at the right time to meet the goals that we had set out in our administration. So no, not having done anything wrong, and again very much appreciating being cleared of any legal wrongdoing or unethical activity at all.
ADN: Have you read the whole report? (No response; Stapleton invites question from KTVA reporter).
KTVA-Channel 11: … The report that came out yesterday, do you think that the end result is partisan?
Palin: Yeah, I did think it did turn into a partisan circus to tell you the truth. Yes I did. You know from Day One it’s been the Personnel Board that clearly laid out in state statute there — Personnel Board deals with any issue of question regarding a governor, a lieutenant governor or an attorney general in the state of Alaska.What this legislative investigation — quote unquote — turned into was a political circus.
KTUU-Channel 2: Governor, so good to hear from you. Do you approve of the way that your campaign has handled themselves here in Alaska? We’ve had a lot of people voice concerns about what they call attacks of good people in our state while you are away.
Palin: Well I haven’t heard of any attacks on good people in Alaska from our campaign. If you have specifics there, maybe I could answer specifically. But no, in John McCain’s mission here, in taking the high road, as you’re going to see too with a lot of unfair shots he has taken in this campaign with some of his opponents’ supporters, McCain and I taking the high road, being positive. I wouldn’t support nor would I condone taking shots at any good Alaskans.
KTUU-Channel 2: Let me answer your question since you asked for specifics.
Palin: Sure.
KTUU-Channel 2: Walt Monegan was called “rogue.” How do you feel about that?
Palin: Rogue isn’t a negative term when you consider that in a cabinet you need a team effort going forward with a governor’s agenda. And our agenda has been to find efficiencies in every department and make sure that we are serving the people of Alaska to the best of our ability given the resources that we have. And remember I fought very hard to increase funding for state troopers so that we could fill positions there and goals not being met that included not being able to recruit and retain all the state troopers that I wanted to best serve Alaska. That could be characterized I think as a cabinet member who – it’s not a negative term I think — being rogue in terms of not meeting those goals.
She really is out there where the buses don't run, isn't she? How can anyone at all in their right mind translate "violation of state ethics law" into "very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing.... any hint of any kind of unethical activity there..." It's the Bridge to Nowhere all over again.


Although she makes sure and blames Todd, but he was only doing what any citizen would do. Yeah. Hmm.

And John McCain's mission - she keeps going on about this, and all I can think of is The Blues Brothers and "I'm on a mission from God".



Nuts. She is completely and utterly nuts. :eek:

[kagenaki koe]

this image sums it up:
http://alaundre.com/iraqmoi.jpg

might as well:
http://alaundre.com/iraqmoi2.jpg

[BeautifulBurnout]

Really funny home-made vid here (http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2008/10/03/hey-sarah-palin/) :D

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

Man, that girl's a cutie.

[Future Proof]

Really funny home-made vid here (http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2008/10/03/hey-sarah-palin/) :D

Nice! I also love the Matt Damon video, way too funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk In case you haven't seen it...