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Palin Refuses to Meet with TrooperGate Investigators

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:09:18 PM EST
Tags: Sarah Palin (all tags)
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Sen. John McCain's campaign today announced Gov. Sarah Palin will not meet with the investigators in TrooperGate. Previously she said she welcomed the investigation and would cooperate.

The fired public safety official, Walter Monegan, is speaking out.

"She's not telling the truth when she told ABC neither she nor her husband pressured me to fire Trooper Wooten," said Walt Monegan, the Alaskan official whose dismissal by Sarah Palin is the focus of a state investigation known as "Troopergate". "And she's not telling the truth to the media about her reasons for firing me."

He'll be on Rachel Maddow's show tonight. (Update below the fold)

CNN's Randi Kaye had a great taped segment on Campabell Brown's show tonight with FactCheck.Org on Palin's distortion of her record and accomplishments. I'm going to try and find a video of it, it was one of the most comprehensive exposing of the untruths I've seen yet. Hopefully they may replay it.

Walter Monegan on Rachel Maddow (my live notes):

Palin didn't say he should fire trooper Mike Wooten in those words. But she repeatedly told Monegan he wasn't fit to be a trooper and clearly inferred it.

In Jan. 2007 her husband came to him and said he wanted to tell him what kind of character he had working for him, and that he had documents, pictures, etc. He continued this until Feb. 2008.

The Palins also got other commissioners to call him as well as other members of his staff.

He says the only reason for her to do it that way -- inferring it rather than directing him outright -- was because she and her husband knew what they were doing was wrong.

What about her claim he was fired for job performance? He's disappointed to hear that,because he did not know why he was fired. The night it happened, he was left scratching his head. He's now come to conclusion from listening to her increasingly expanding list of reasons that she's not telling the real reason.

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    Palin Refuses to Meet with TrooperGate Investigators | 85 comments (85 topical)

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    Sorry... (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by IzikLA on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:21:53 PM EST
    But I still think we are not doing ourselves any favors here by continuing to bring up the latest in a series of Sarah Palin controversies.  I get it, we should take about it, these are valid.  But I fear that every time we do we detract from the real election and we detract from Obama and his ability to go out there and get the votes he will need in November.

    I feel we are in an endless loop of Sarah Palin related stories and we are unable to extract ourselves from it.

    I strongly disagree (4.33 / 3) (#7)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:37:56 PM EST
    and will keep writing about it. She's unfit and dangerous for high national office. And the media has made her the story. No point ignoring the elephant in the room.

    BTD has plenty of posts on the issues you'd rather discuss.

    Parent

    unfit and dangerous... (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by kredwyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:04:25 PM EST
    because of this? or her positions on the actual issues?

    Cause I hate to say it, this looks like standard stuff re: lawyers, documents, and an investigation that has taken on a really weird tone in the past couple weeks.

    Parent

    Reply (none / 0) (#107)
    by STLDeb on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 11:17:24 AM EST
    Jeralyn,

    I respectfully but strongly disagree with you on this issue.  This trooper should have been fired.  He tazered his own 10 year old son, threatened to kill his father-in-law! (Palin's father).  I'm sorry, but that is abuse of power by a police officer.  

    My personal feelings as to why she is refusing to cooperate is this has turned into a partian "witch hunt" issue, when earlier this was going to be looked at with a bi-partisan lens,

    This just happens to be democrats investigating republican misdeeds who probably has intentions of using this for their Oct. surprise (just a gut feeling).  Now, If this was the other way around, I would be just as outraged.  I don't like these "gotcha" type moments from either party. (going way back -- I did not like how the republicans kept going after after the Clintons either, & the impeachment hearings -- what a joke)

    Now, I profess to being conservative, however, I don't care which party is behaving badly, I will & do call them on it.  Sorry this was so long.  I hope I kept this respectful.  Politically though we may disagree, I do respect & honor opinions on all sides of the debate.

    Parent

    Let's See If I've Got This Right (5.00 / 3) (#80)
    by Strick on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:19:58 PM EST
    The investigation has been going on for 6 months but  they're just now getting around to talking to people.  It only became important when Palin was nominated for VP?

    Senator French said that Palin was cooperating with the investigation until she lawyered up.  Jeralyn tells us that lawyering us is everyone's right, it's not a sign of guilt.  Though to read the main post you have to wonder since it certainly sound like someone thinks she's guilty.

    We're also Palin is dangerous and unfit for high national office.  That's why there are so many posts, not because this is a real issue?  

    How many people really believe that it would be wrong to fire a state trooper who tases a 10 year old and comes home drunk threatening to shoot his father-in-law?  

    In the end, folks are going to keep pounding this, not because it's really important, but it's about making Palin look bad.  Ugly.

    Parent

    6 Months? (none / 0) (#108)
    by daring grace on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:56:58 PM EST
    Which investigation has been going on for 6 months?

    The Alaska State Legislative Council approved hiring a special investigator to examine Governor Palin's firing of Commissioner Monegan on July 28--about 7 weeks ago.

    Of course it's her right to lawyer up and to be presumed innocent until it's proven she is otherwise. If she were a private citizen it would end there.

    But she's a public servant running for VP as a reformer and so her opposition to transparency in this proceeding is noteworthy and newsworthy.

    Parent

    I hear you (none / 0) (#14)
    by IzikLA on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:06:20 PM EST
    And I agree, she's unfit and dangerous for the job.  And you're right, the media has made her the story and we are unlikely to get around that.  I am absolutely on board with hammering her on the issues.  My point was that I'm not sure Troopergate is an issue we should be pursuing, but I get that this points to the larger issue of truthfulness.  I did not mean to offend you in the slightest as TalkLeft is literally the Only place I come to read about these topics now and I have the utmost respect for both you and BTD.

    Parent
    I'm not offended (3.50 / 2) (#33)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:59:21 PM EST
    We do have 25 posts today and just a few are about Palin's candidacy. We covered the economy, Obama and McCain, a death penalty case, the new FBI crime reports with respect to both marijuana and violent crime, and I'm sure some other topics.

    I think and hope the cumulative effect of Palin's record will derail McCain's candidacy. I suspect she's about to peak and be written off as a huge mistake. But if that happens, it will be because the media and blogs highlighted it day after day.

    If we're wrong, I think it will be because we didn't say enough.

    Both the issues and Palin are important topics.

    Parent

    It is all over the net and on very legitimate (3.00 / 1) (#12)
    by befuddledvoter on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:04:34 PM EST
    sites.  Do you think it is just here on Talkleft?  

    Parent
    Correct (none / 0) (#16)
    by IzikLA on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:08:10 PM EST
    I was simply pointing out a worry that we are too focused on Palin and all of her controversies.  However, point taken.

    Parent
    You know (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Steve M on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:04:25 PM EST
    If I were repeatedly pressured by both the Governor and her husband to fire someone, and I didn't fire them, I'm not sure I'd be scratching my head as to why I got fired.

    More detail on emails (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Pianobuff on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:23:42 PM EST
    I found this, which among other things, says "To that end, the campaign released a series of e-mails detailing the frustration several Palin administration officials experienced in dealing with Monegan. The "last straw," the campaign said, was a trip Monegan planned to Washington in July to seek federal money for investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases.

    In a July 7 e-mail, John Katz, the governor's special counsel, noted two problems with the trip: the governor hadn't agreed the money should be sought, and the request "is out of sequence with our other appropriations requests and could put a strain on the evolving relationship between the Governor and Sen. Stevens."

    Monegan was fired four days later."

    Interesting comment in the email (none / 0) (#26)
    by JWeidner on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:48:09 PM EST
    from John Katz:

    In a July 7 e-mail, John Katz, the governor's special counsel, noted two problems with the trip: the governor hadn't agreed the money should be sought, and the request "is out of sequence with our other appropriations requests and could put a strain on the evolving relationship between the Governor and Sen. Stevens."

    Why on earth would the governor, who is now staking her reputation as an earmark slasher while she was in office, have been worried about appropriations requests being made at the federal level?  That would suggest that she was making appropriations requests...for what?  I hope not the bridge...

    Anyway, it's my first post - I come and read almost daily but this just caught my eye and I thought it kind of funny.

    Parent

    welcome (none / 0) (#34)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:01:42 PM EST
    thanks for your comment. It is a good insight.

    Parent
    From the AP (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by lansing quaker on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:46:37 PM EST
    Palin: E-mails explain 'Troopergate' firing.

    In a papers filed Monday, the lawyers wrote that Monegan was fired for opposing Palin's budget priorities. They cited e-mails in which top Palin staffers expressed concern with his approach.

    They also cited an e-mail Monegan sent his colleagues encouraging them to communicate better with Palin.

    I keep saying it.  Over and over.  The trooper thing will go nowhere.

    It was a rumor started by Andrew Halcro (the "personal vendetta" angle), who had already been kicked out of the Republican Party and lost to Palin as an (I) in the Gubernatorial election.

    Palin enemies such as Lyda Green (R-Wasilla, AK-State Senate Majority Leader) tacked onto it and pushed it.  Lyda Green was upset that Palin didn't follow through and give Green's relatives Government positions-via-nepotism.

    Nothing will come of this.  At all.  Oy, Jeralyn.  Please attack Palin on economic policy.  On Energy.  She said herself (Palin) that she would be spearheading Energy under McCain.  Talk CAFE standards or something.  

    The Trooper thing reeks of rumor-mongering that she carries a personal vendetta.  This won't break Palin, and certainly will not break McCain.

    at some point, (5.00 / 4) (#31)
    by ccpup on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:52:00 PM EST
    I expect the sickening downward trend of the Democratic Party to finally land full circle with a thud as they reveal their own version of Kenneth Starr to use TrooperGate as a fishing expedition to finally "get" Palin once and for all.

    It's no longer the Party I once thought it was.

    Parent

    response to ccpup (3.50 / 2) (#58)
    by justus on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:54:15 PM EST
    It's ironic you see nothing but what the democratic party is doing, which is nothing more than any other party does during elections. You don't see the out-right lies that the Republicans are using in their adds and continuing to use them even after its been proven they are lies. If we change the way things are done to appease a woman, are women really ready to become presidents and vice-president....I say no.

    Parent
    not ironic at all (none / 0) (#103)
    by ccpup on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 07:45:41 AM EST
    I would prefer the Democratic Party focus on the issues, not in trying to make their own version of Whitewater out of Troopergate.  If there is no there there, I personally don't want the Democratic Party digging and digging and digging until they can create the illusion of a there being there solely for political gain and at the expense of real issues affecting real people.

    And, despite your insistence otherwise, I never mentioned anything about changing strategies based on gender.  That was entirely your creation.  Nice try, though.

    I just wondered aloud why can't we hit McCain-Palin on the economy, health care, energy policy, immigration, freedom of speech, upholding the Constitution?  Instead, we have Democrats -- Democrats, for goodness' sake! -- foaming at the mouth to make Troopergate, as I said above, their own version of Whitewater.  Foaming at the mouth, chomping at the bit and offering Post after blog-o-sphere Post desperately trying to make this stick when, in truth, most Americans just don't care.

    Much like during the 1990s, many voters get the distinction between what helps them and what doesn't and, with the Country teetering ever closer to financial meltdown, Gov Palin firing someone in Alaska doesn't mean a hill of beans to that family in Ohio who's praying week after week that they keep their jobs.

    But, still, the Democrats desperately flail away.

    You can applaud it all you want, but I tend to stick to my principles and standards.  And what's good for Republicans is, in my mind, at least, decidedly NOT good for Democrats.

    I always thought we were better than that.  

    Parent

    It's a rumor that spawned an investigation. (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by lansing quaker on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:25:24 PM EST
    Andrew Halcro basically linked Monegan's firing to Palin's ex-brother-in-law.

    "Governor Sarah Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan."
    "As Public Safety Commissioner, Walter Monegan had authority over Alaskan State Troopers."
    "One State Trooper, Michael Wooten, was Sarah Palin's abusive ex-brother-in-law!"

    ERGO:

    "Sarah Palin dismissed Walter Monegan for refusing to dismiss Michael Wooten because she was angry!"

    Halcro started this rumor.  Halcro was a Republican who was basically forced out of his own Party.  Halcro ran against Palin and Democrat Terry Knowles for Governor as an (I) as a result because he knew he couldn't run as an (R).

    So he started this.  Some sympathetic Republicans in the General Assembly picked up on it.  Investigation.  Palin said "Investigate me -- I did nothing wrong!"  And the "investigation" basically just spun without traction until August 29th.

    Now that she's a national ticket candidate, Palin's lawyers are stonewalling carte blanche access to her private e-mails, citing executive privilege.

    Of course Palin isn't going to give carte blanche to her e-mails when everyone is looking for "Troopergate" dirt, because they can find and "leak" anything in her e-mails about McCain, VP vetting, Clinton (long shot), Obama (better shot), Republican electoral strategy, Bristol Palin's pregnancy -- the milieu.

    I think that is far the more likely scenario.  Palin will not give carte blanche to her e-mails.  I doubt it's to hide anything salacious about Wooten/Monegan.  It's to hide anything else about the national election.

    That's just my opinion.  She was all "investigate me!" and there was no big rush, because it was started by Andrew Halcro connecting the dots of how to frame the Monegan dismissal.

    IMO, she's just stonewalling to keep campaign comments private.  Which I think is more than fair.

    Parent

    Nonsense (none / 0) (#105)
    by MTSINAIMAMA on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:58:25 AM EST
    Why on earth did the McCain camp release Palin administration e-mails--and selected e-mails at that--and adminisration e-mails that the public and legislature have requested but have been rebuffed?

    And if Monegan was such a bad, "rogue" cop, then why in God's name did she OFFER him another job in her admin. And then went on to give the job to a guy who had to quit after two weeks with a $10K payoff.

    Did you not hear Monegan on Rachel Maddow? He said it plain as day--Todd Palin and other Palin aides pressured him to get rid of Wooten.

    These trolls, say what you will about Andrew Halcro, but everything he says, he backs it up, which it more than I can say for some of these posters. Has their common sense taken flight along with Palinpalooza?

    Parent

    And on Lyda Green. (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by lansing quaker on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:33:10 PM EST
    Here.

    And this year, Palin largely shut out Tuckerman Babcock, an influential local Republican strategist who has advised her in each campaign since 1996, and who the Frontiersman said was up for -- but never received -- a top city job when Palin became mayor.

    Babock's mother-in-law is state Senate president and fellow Wasilla Republican Lyda Green, who fought many of Gov. Palin's legislative initiatives and recently told the Daily News that Palin is "not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?"



    Parent
    Hah! (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by lansing quaker on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:01:01 PM EST
    You're defending Lyda Green in an effort to say she's righteous in calling out Sarah Palin?  I guess any Palin criticism will do!  Even from a demonstratably theocratic Republican.

    Please.  And who co-sponsored an unnecessary State Bill to advocate the passage of the "Federal Marriage Amendment"?  Oh.  Lyda Green.  And you're giving someone like her the benefit of the doubt?  As opposed to Sarah Palin, who has never advocated legislation like this be sent to her desk?

    And more to the point, isn't the same "vendetta against Palin to the point of openly trashing her as a VP candidate because she wouldn't do something for her in-law" eerily similar to "vendetta against Michael Wooten to the point of openly firing his superior because he wouldn't do something against her in-law"?

    So which argument has more traction within the realm of "possibility"?

    Try again.

    Parent

    This is getting funny (none / 0) (#74)
    by Steve M on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:11:59 PM EST
    Apparently we cannot trust criticism of Palin from Republicans.  And we certainly can't trust it coming from those darn partisan Democrats!  The only statements we can trust about Palin are those issued by the McCain campaign, which are routinely cited here as a "conclusive debunking" of anti-Palin allegations.

    Parent
    No. (none / 0) (#111)
    by lansing quaker on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 06:58:24 PM EST
    I am saying using Green and Halcro as sources is absolutely silly.  They have axes to grind.  And the criticism is personal rather than on policy.

    But if you want to defend Lyda Green, go ahead.  Because issues matter.  And I am sure you have much in common with Lyda Green.

    Parent

    Palin on Energy (none / 0) (#85)
    by Amiss on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:42:40 PM EST
    She said herself (Palin) that she would be spearheading Energy under McCain.

    She has lied or either she doesn't know how much oil Alaska actually provides the lower 48.

    From factcheck.org

    Palin claims Alaska "produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy." That's not true.

    Alaska did produce 14 percent of all the oil from U.S. wells last year, but that's a far cry from all the "energy" produced in the U.S.

    Alaska's share of domestic energy production was 3.5 percent, according to the official figures kept by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

    And if by "supply" Palin meant all the energy consumed in the U.S., and not just produced here, then Alaska's production accounted for only 2.4 percent.




    Parent
    Good Start. (none / 0) (#87)
    by lansing quaker on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 12:33:04 AM EST
    But I don't think "GOTCHA!" is quite the angle.

    Talk Nuclear energy.

    And, especially, put her in a "gotcha!" over CAFE standards.  If she were a real maverick reformer, she would kick the private sector in the pants to deliver what the electorate wants -- cars that consume less energy but at an affordable cost.

    Kick her on energy.  Not just on her statements about Alaska's role in it.

    Parent

    Given the tenor shift (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by kredwyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:59:18 PM EST
    in the investigation, I can't say I am surprised  the McCain camp is trying to point out that the investigation seems to have gone from what it was to the promise of an "October Surprise" what with the decision to shift the date on the report publication.

    Governor Palin's reading list (4.50 / 4) (#37)
    by usposter on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:10:54 PM EST
    From today's Huffington Post:

    by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
    Posted September 15, 2008 | 11:27 AM (EST)

    Fascist writer Westbrook Pegler, an avowed racist who Sarah Palin approvingly quoted in her acceptance speech for the moral superiority of small town values, expressed his fervent hope about my father, Robert F. Kennedy, as he contemplated his own run for the presidency in 1965, that "some white patriot of the Southern tier will spatter his spoonful of brains in public premises before the snow flies."

    It might be worth asking Governor Palin for a tally of the other favorites from her reading list.

    ###

    GAWD!!! (4.00 / 2) (#39)
    by befuddledvoter on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:20:46 PM EST
    I am speechless.  Plain is really scary!!!

    Parent
    Thanks. Another (4.00 / 2) (#50)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:46:25 PM EST
    reason to vote for Obama -- he has excellent taste in speechwriters.  

    Parent
    Um... it was a joke about (none / 0) (#59)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:54:33 PM EST
    your ridiculous and off-topic comment.  Do you think Sarah Palin's speech is her own words?

    Parent
    Wow. (2.00 / 1) (#41)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:29:21 PM EST
    Words fail me.  

    Parent
    Pegler was also in favor of (none / 0) (#51)
    by Alien Abductee on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:48:45 PM EST
    doing away with FDR.

    Quite the bloodlust from these right-wing populists.

    Parent

    Not that the truth matters any more....... (none / 0) (#96)
    by NYShooter on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:44:59 AM EST
    so pardon my interjecting a little.

    Sarah Palin, we all agree, doesn't write her own speeches, and I'm sure she doesn't have a clue as to who this obscure fascist character, Pegler, who left the scene more than a half century was.

    In her speech, Sarah Palin said, (regarding small town Americans, that they) "....run our factories"......"fight our wars"..... (and are) always proud."

    Really gross, eh?

    Didn't know unbridled hatred could be so much fun.

    What's become of us?

    Parent

    what's become of us? (none / 0) (#104)
    by ccpup on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 07:54:15 AM EST
    so many blithely assumed the Dems had this "in the bag" and, suddenly, find themselves in a real fight with a real opponent who has a history of winning elections.

    An opponent who's taken all the media attention (which was assumed would be ours), has made inroads into groups that are historically our Base (we assumed they'd follow along once they "got over it"), has hijacked the Change Theme (which we assumed, again, would be ours) and has successfully branded themselves as Mavericks (which is a lot easier to remember and believe in than the branding of our guys as, well, "not the other guys").

    So, we're angry and lashing out and desperate to find something -- ANYTHING!!!! -- that will stick and give us back what we believe is rightfully ours.  Some scandal, some misstatement, some ... some ... SOMETHING!

    And we're still searching while the clock ticks away.

    That, in my view, is what's become of "us".

    Parent

    Thank you (none / 0) (#114)
    by NYShooter on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 10:06:44 PM EST
    Thank you very much.

    Parent
    "She's not telling the truth..." (4.00 / 3) (#2)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:15:01 PM EST
    Seems to be a reoccuring theme with Palin.  The perception that she is less than forthcoming certainly seems to be gaining steam.  

    It isn't about her (3.50 / 2) (#52)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:49:14 PM EST
    qualifications, it's about her character, or lack thereof.

    Parent
    Obama's father died (none / 0) (#54)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:50:17 PM EST
    in a car accident.  How would that have anything to do with Obama's life expectancy.  

    Parent
    You're making me laugh, (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:04:26 PM EST
    but maybe not the way you intended.

    Parent
    Palin's net favorablities (3.50 / 2) (#32)
    by TruthMatters on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:54:04 PM EST
    have been dropping little by little each day. The more people are learning the less they like her.

    and you saw SNL that is quickly becoming the public perception of her.

    as she has said often, BTD is still doing other political posts, and there are plenty of other blogs, Jeralyn is doing her part by focusing on Palin.  

    Time for one of those "clock" websites! (3.50 / 2) (#35)
    by s5 on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:08:50 PM EST
    If this had been a Democratic scandal, you know the RNC would have dashed up a clock on their front page with "Number of days [X] has refused to meet with investigators". They love clocks.

    Wow (3.00 / 1) (#1)
    by G Davis on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:14:28 PM EST
    No matter how this turns out, refusing to cooperate just hangs a shadow of guilt over you.

    What are they thinking?  This could have gone away so quickly so long ago if she'd just bellied up and admitted she screwed up...even reinstate the guy.  Then it all fades.

    Now it's a sore thumb where there may not even be one.  Yeesh.

    I'm confused. I read reports over and over (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by hairspray on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:18:32 PM EST
    again theat Monegan said that she never asked him to fire Wooten. He did say that he felt the reason he was offered another job was because of Wooten, but denied any pressure. Wasn't there a year between the time he was let go and the last contact with the Palins?  Now it is a different story?

    Parent
    he said they inferred it (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:34:42 PM EST
    repeatedly, see my update -- and they knew it was wrong.

    Parent
    Ahhhhhh!!!!!! (none / 0) (#9)
    by LarryInNYC on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:42:47 PM EST
    Implied.

    Parent
    Perhaps. (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by lansing quaker on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:50:36 PM EST
    Perhaps because there are other things in Palin's personal correspondence that would be picked up by investigators (and the MSM) that is unrelated to the Trooper firing?

    Perhaps about, oh, say, John McCain, electoral strategy, VP vetting, or other related discussions?

    I think that is probably more likely.  Carte Blanche into Palin's e-mails (either Sarah or Todd) could be about the campaign, the VP selection process, and be sold.

    I think that's far more likely than anything about Monegan.  

    Parent

    Errr... correction. (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by lansing quaker on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:51:19 PM EST
    Not to the Trooper firing, but rather Monegan's firing.  I'm being wrapped up in all the "Trooper" talk when it's really about Monegan.  My bad.

    Parent
    Palingate (2.00 / 1) (#18)
    by MTSINAIMAMA on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:14:36 PM EST
    This is what I've been saying all along. Before nomination, she was for full co-operation. After nomination, she lawyers up, stonewalls.

    She had the power to fire Monegan. We know this. But be transparent about it.

    And how in the heck do you explain the $10K payoff to the guy who took Monegan's place, who only worked two weeks and had to go because of those sexual harrassment charges?

    Parent

    Palin's Refusal to meet with investigators (3.00 / 1) (#48)
    by justus on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:45:49 PM EST
    Why should she be treated any different than anyone else in this campaign. Obama is running for president and he has been under put through every test there is and has passed with flying colors. Palin was put in there by the Republicans as a diversion, something to keep the focus off of McCain and what the party has not done in 8 years. She is more than a diversion, she is not ready! Too much baggage! If women are indeed ready to run for these offices, they can't go screaming their opponents name everytime something happens in their life as an excuse not to do it. We went through 8 years of this same bull-crap with Bush. We don't want anymore of these behaviors. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!  

    Is it a real refusal? (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by kredwyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:00:46 PM EST
    Or is it a "I'd like to have my lawyer go over the documents and such before I meet with the investigator"?

    Parent
    OK davia55, now you're chattering (3.00 / 1) (#82)
    by rdandrea on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:21:06 PM EST
    n/t

    Palin's Hype (2.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Media Stress on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:36:47 PM EST

    It is a sad day when the United Stated becomes the laughing stock of the world.

    The GOP has so much to be blame for, not with standing the gross negligence in selecting someone who seems not to have an ounce of integrity. Some who has allowed herself to be used in this manner.

    Military personnel traveling abroad now must deal with the scorns of other countries because of the U.S media hype.

    Mothers who seemed to relate to Palin before are now finding ourselves questioning her real intent, because she does not represent the hard working and what so many have gone  through in order to achieve a respectful place in society..

    This is just another waste of media time in our living space, when there is so much at stake.  So much hype with no substance or meaning to what the issues are.

    I Blame it on McCain (4.33 / 3) (#8)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:39:51 PM EST
    for choosing her and putting his desire to be President above the good of the nation.

    We're stuck with her as a candidate. We're not yet stuck with her as Vice President.

    Parent

    Guess she does know about (2.00 / 1) (#13)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:05:05 PM EST
    a certain kind of "Bush Doctrine," at least with regards to dealing with oversight.  She's following the Bush playbook exactly.   Should we expect her to claim executive privilege next?

    She already (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Alien Abductee on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:51:39 PM EST
    has.

    Parent
    Why am I not suprised. (none / 0) (#60)
    by IndiDemGirl on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:56:23 PM EST


    Parent
    Why is she stonewalling its way worse (none / 0) (#10)
    by Socraticsilence on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 08:53:16 PM EST
    I was with BTD on this and still am to a certain degree, but stonewalling like this actually makes this way way worse for her (unless she's actaully guilty of something and thought initially that cooperation would mean lenience and a survivable hit in Alaska but now that she's national that strategy is no longer viable).

    If she complies with the sub poena (none / 0) (#17)
    by befuddledvoter on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:10:24 PM EST
    she may be put under oath at some point.  She may be afraid that there is a paper/internet trail of her statements.  Hence, perjury possibility.  Seems they were all playing pretty fast and loose in Alaska with statements, emails, phone calls and personal contact.  

    Parent
    Oh, I thought she was under sub poena (none / 0) (#25)
    by befuddledvoter on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:46:49 PM EST
    Husband is a strange actor in all this. I have read that he was at her side at the state capital assisting her in budget slashing.  Does anyone also find it odd that her husband seems to have been so intimately involved with her work as governor.  Now, what are his credentials??  

    Parent
    OMG! (3.50 / 2) (#75)
    by Strick on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:12:11 PM EST
    You mean just like Hillary was in the 90s?

    Parent
    Not exactly (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by befuddledvoter on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 10:26:32 AM EST
    Todd Palin has a high school diploma.  He is an expert snowmobiler and fisherman.  Todd Palin is no Hillary Clinton.

    Parent
    Todd Palin (none / 0) (#113)
    by alaskagirl on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:22:35 PM EST
    He is nothing more than a redneck.Has a high school degree and a union job with BP.
    That aside- had he been a Rhodes Scholar, he has NO business co-governing the state of Alaska.He is basically to Miss Sarah as Goering was to Hitler--a sleazy henchman.
    And I dont recall seeing his name on the ballot when we voted for a governor.
    What a joke.

    Parent
    I saw another explanation from McCain (none / 0) (#15)
    by befuddledvoter on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:07:19 PM EST
    camp that he was fired because he would not comply with budget constraints.  That is another new one I just read today.  

    Palin's Excuses (none / 0) (#95)
    by TomStewart on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:35:15 AM EST
    change with the day and the hour. Pathetic.

    Parent
    Another Explanation I Heard (none / 0) (#19)
    by MTSINAIMAMA on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:18:38 PM EST
    Was that Monegan didn't meet "department goals"...but he was never told what those goals were.

    And don't forget, an ethics advisor to Palin told her back in August (before nomination) that she should admit what she had done was wrong and apologize for it.

    Emails Released (none / 0) (#20)
    by Pianobuff on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:19:04 PM EST
    According to this, she has released emails that shed light on the firing.  I'll be interested to see what these say as Palin's campaign is saying that the issue was differences over budget.  

    These are all trivia. We should be (none / 0) (#22)
    by WillBFair on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 09:36:36 PM EST
    hammering on the differences in policy.
    Democrat policies: healthcare, fiscal restraint, strategic investment, middle class tax cuts, green energy (thank you Al), bipartisanship, and far reaching diplomacy.
    Republican policies: tax cuts for corporations and the rich, out of control deficit spending, nonstop lying, and needless wars to dump cash on the oil and war intustries.
    And do we really want to reward the republicans for their corruption and incompetence?
    Palin (none / 0) (#78)
    by baldman on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:14:24 PM EST
    Ugh.  I am truly disappointed by the choices given to us this election.  That goes for both sides.  Let's reinstitute the Whig party, lol.  I long for the Democratic party as it stood when Jack Kennedy was president.  Sigh.
    Ask not what your country... (none / 0) (#90)
    by Dadler on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:35:30 AM EST
    ...can do for you Kennedy?  Or Bay of Pigs Kennedy?

    Parent
    do you know what? (none / 0) (#84)
    by rhiles2760 on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:31:21 PM EST
    Going back to an earlier statement, I do believe that Nancy Pelosi is more qualified than either McCain or Palin.  

    Nobody is above the law. (none / 0) (#86)
    by Cannot Sleep on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 12:03:54 AM EST
    Palin is the most disgusting, vile, atrocious, lying, cheating, scuzzy, slimy, dishonorable, manipulative, rancid, idiotic, disrespectful, backwards, backwoods, uneducated, inept, indecent, pathetic, cold, cold-blooded, vengeful... and sorriest excuse for a Presidential - yes, Presidential - candidate in the history of this once great nation.

    Rome is falling.  

    Strick (none / 0) (#88)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 12:35:22 AM EST
    You have ignored my warnings about posting more than 4 attacks on Obama a day. you are done.

    our protectors (none / 0) (#89)
    by thekid on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:33:09 AM EST
    I would fire a police officer who tasered his 11 year old step kid and has been caught drinking beer in his patrol car too. I don't understand why this is even an issue

    Why and issue? Why and issue?!!! (none / 0) (#91)
    by Cannot Sleep on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:53:37 AM EST
    Because she did not have the authority to fire this cop.  And I'll tell you I was angry to read this guy did this to the kid, but then I heard his side of it.  He wasn't doing it as a punishment.  The boy wanted to know what it felt like.  This cop - don't remember his name - had the kid lie on the ground and then zapped him with very, very low voltage.  THAT'S THE STORY EVERYBODY AGREES WITH.  It was absolutely wrong, but it's not like it's being portrayed in the media.    

    Even if this guy did taser the kid with full force, as a punishment, Palin had ZERO right to try to influence anybody in the situation.  ZERO. And the fact that she did is abuse of power.  I find the letter from her ethics adviser telling her to - apologize to protect her bright future with Alaska - to be a red hot smoking gun.  What Sarah Palin did was against the law.  Illegal.  Corrupt.  Inexcusable.  There is no bending of the law.  There is only breaking it.  

    Parent

    Palin refuses to meet with investigators (none / 0) (#92)
    by Reba on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:11:40 AM EST
    Well here we go again she thinks she is above the law. We in government call this type of person of unethical conduct. She would of been let go if she abused her power like she did by charging per diem for "staying at home" for her own personal gain and then we find out about the "bridge to now where" then the retrival of personnel files and firings along her way up. McCain must of been really desperate. The right thing she should of done long ago was to step down from her candidacy and governorship. What a gem now she says she is suing and also is blamming the Obamacampaign boyisn't she a gem she m ust think she is. She just can't tell the truth can she.I also e-mailed the people who are trying to get to the truth and asked them to do the "right thing"to so what they are suppose to do regardless of who she is. What is this country coming to after 8 long years of our country now in a mess they want us to vote for McCain and Palin. I think not this gun totting, cry baby, beat the system candidate, needs to be removed she is not electable and SENT HOME.Al;aska you can have her!!

    Palin's attack dogs and lies...... (none / 0) (#94)
    by bobalaska on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:31:15 AM EST
    If you are not from Alaska a great summary of Palin's latest "lie to nowhere" can be found at Andrew Halcro's website

    http://www.andrewhalcro.com/test_0 for the above story

    It starts with:  "Like the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, Governor Sarah Palin has finally come up with yet another excuse for why she fired her former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan that she's hoping is just right.

    After offering the public a handful of excuses over the last sixty days about why she suddenly fired Monegan, on Monday her attorney and McCain campaign attack dogs settled on claiming that Palin's reason was "Monegan's "rogue mentality."

        Oh really, it took Palin sixty days and the help of John McCains campaign to come up with this bizarre explanation?.........

    Right. Palin also told her No to resubmitting (none / 0) (#98)
    by andrys on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 05:07:08 AM EST
    a couple of anti-abortion bills in another session unless she could show a 'path to success first' (suggesting indication of public approval comes first).

      Lyda Green is extremely aggressive about these things, and it's no wonder she finds Palin unsuitable for the governership in Alaska since she's been an obstacle where they have a similar outlook.

    Palin Is A Quick Study (none / 0) (#99)
    by john horse on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 06:13:46 AM EST
    Lets see.  Bush officials refused to cooperate with congressional investigations.  Palin refuses to cooperate after she initially said she would.

    In his convention speech McCain said "We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us."  Seems to me that Palin has already been changed by Washington and she hasn't even been there yet.

    well of course, (none / 0) (#100)
    by cpinva on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 06:34:23 AM EST
    all small towns are morally superior to large towns and cities, that's a given. don't look behind that curtain, nothing to see there.

    here's the deal boys & girls, as simply as i can make it for you:

    1. the republicans, and their right-wing evangelical hordes, have made the issue of candidate "character" a central part of politics, since ronald reagan.

    2. "troopergate" is, by definition, about gov. palin's character. her ethics and morals are on trial.

    anyone who fails to see why this is an important issue (and should have been resolved before gov. palin's nomination), is either not very bright, or is being intentionally obtuse. you make the call.

    Politically (none / 0) (#101)
    by votermom on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 07:00:29 AM EST
    of course it makes sense for Palin to try to delay the investigation so that it drags out until after the election. I think regardless of any guilt or innocence.

    (And how different 2004 would have been if Patrick Fitzgerald worked on the Dems timetable, I guess).

    Bush and Cheney will be gone in 3-1/2 months (none / 0) (#102)
    by rdandrea on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 07:28:12 AM EST
    The trick is to not replace them with people just like them.

    I Have No Idea How Sarah Palin Will Compare (none / 0) (#109)
    by daring grace on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:11:35 PM EST
    with Bush and Cheney. They've had so much more of a chance to mess things up.

    But there have been enough troubling hints coming out of Alaska about her management style, her approach to opponents etc. that I'd like to make sure she doesn't get her chance to surpass their worst.

    Besides, even if it weren't for her approach to governing there's her wrongheaded policy positions.

    Palin Sue? (none / 0) (#110)
    by LBwisher on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 06:18:16 PM EST
    Right . . . stall until after the election so you can claim "excutive privilege"! Just put her jail now.

    palin and troopergate (none / 0) (#112)
    by alaskagirl on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:12:25 PM EST
    Here in Alaska we could see this coming.Palin  danced around this for 2 months.As usual, like every other time she messes up- someone else is accountable.Its obvious she didnt come up with this latest one herself.Way too clever and most likely a product of the McCain Mafia desperately attempting to keep her afloat.
    She is a paragon of deceit and hypocrisy .The only consolation in her getting into the White House will be that she becomes EVERYONE'S problem , not just Alaska's.
    What a disgrace!!!Kudos to Hollis French- honestly he really ought to be concerned about retribution.This "woman" plays dirty.

    Palin Refuses to Meet with TrooperGate Investigators | 85 comments (85 topical)

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