Althouse: Troopergate...

September 16, 2008

Troopergate...

Utterly squelched?

94 comments:

bleeper said...: It can never be squelched in the minds of those on the left. It's Bush's fault.; 9/16/08, 4:56 PM
former law student said...: Troopergate is about Palin's moving Heaven and Earth to get Wooten fired. Monegan is just one facet.; 9/16/08, 5:00 PM
vbspurs said...: Utterly squelched?

Don't be ridiculous. Evidence is mere pie in the sky for the sheeple of America. We need Lucille the waitress to confirm this.; 9/16/08, 5:02 PM
Harwood said...: Ah, well ... BO and his dirt-diggers can always go back to beating up on Bristol Palin.; 9/16/08, 5:06 PM
TMink said...: Utterly squelched? Is this a serious question? Of course it is not squelched.

People who think and reason and were concerned about this in the first place will be satisfied, but this is not a large portion of the electorate.

Besides, it is Bush's fault.

Trey; 9/16/08, 5:08 PM
vbspurs said...: Quoting from article:

On another occasion, Monegan held a press conference with Hollis French to dissent from Palin’s budget priorities — the same Hollis French pushing the ethics complaint against Palin:

You'll never guess who I saw being interviewed by MSNBC last night, on the Rachel Maddow show?

Walt Monegan.

I'm really surprised it took MSNBC 3 weeks to find him, or that Rudy Ruedrich, and Frank Murkowski haven't been interviewed yet.

Palin made TONNES of enemies in her own administrations.

That's what happens when you're a reformer whistleblower type politician.

Of course, that also happens when you're not. But the difference is that when you are a reformer whistleblower, it's that YOUR Party members, not the opposing one's, are the ones who are angry with you.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/16/08, 5:13 PM
Synova said...: No, no, no.

You people!

This just proves she demands loyalty! Any non control-freak governor wouldn't have fired someone just for ignoring her budget vetoes or directions. Who does she think she is anyway? The boss? You better believe this is all just an excuse.

OH MY DOG.

And you people just eat it right up.; 9/16/08, 5:16 PM
Unknown said...: And FLS's response is a perfect example of TMink's thesis. The only reason Troopergate exists was Monaghan's firing. There is no Troopergate but for that. The issue is not that she tried to get Wooten fired, but that she allegedly did something improper in the process. And that something was firing Monaghan.; 9/16/08, 5:16 PM
Asante Samuel said...: My paternal Grandfather used to tell us kids - "Never underestimate what a man will do to keep a good paying job".

Those who serve in patronage jobs frequently demonstrate this observational truth.; 9/16/08, 5:17 PM
Synova said...: Ha!

I posted without reading the comments. Now I find that FLS beat me to it.; 9/16/08, 5:17 PM
Revenant said...: Utterly squelched?

Some of the less-than-bright lefties will try to shift this from "Palin fired someone for not firing her brother-in-law" to "Palin wanted her brother-in-law fired". See FSL's comment above, for example. But since nobody with common sense would have wanted Wooten on the force, that'll backfire on the Obama camp.; 9/16/08, 5:17 PM
goesh said...: the trooper sired one by the name of Dalton with her in the backseat of a you-know-what kind of state owned vehcile and later eaten by orcas at a tender age he was but mum's the F'n word on this I tell you! You want squelched?; 9/16/08, 5:21 PM
Fen said...: True, FLS. Your game is usually better than this.; 9/16/08, 5:21 PM
vbspurs said...: But since nobody with common sense would have wanted Wooten on the force, that'll backfire on the Obama camp.

The matter was dead in the water the moment the public heard Wooten publicly admit he tazered his step-son.

The other stuff, well, it could be spun.

He was issuing death threats against the Governor's family? He said/she said.

Was seen constantly drunk in his trooper car? They might've been pro-Palinite witnesses.

But the tazering? Only Liberals wouldn't see that's indefensible. Especially since Wooten said "the kid wanted to be tazered"...; 9/16/08, 5:24 PM
Revenant said...: True, FLS. Your game is usually better than this.

I especially like the bit about this being "just one facet" of "Troopergate". I wonder what the others are supposed to be. The official inquiry that substantiated Palin's complaints? :); 9/16/08, 5:25 PM
Kevin said...: I have been a manager and have let people go for less than what Monegan did.

For that matter, I see nothing wrong with firing the trooper Wooten either - the man is a loose cannon who should not be carrying a badge and a gun. He is still on the force, and can they guarantee that he will not screw up any more? And that innocent citizens will not get hurt? I would not permit a man like that to be a retail sales clerk in contact with the public. The real story there is how difficult it is to fire government employees.

But to answer your question directly, I don't think that this will ever be squelched in the minds of the left. They are in full fledged PDS. I had hope that GWB's retirement would end the never-ending BDS.

Unfortunately, they have found their new God. If Bush didn't exist, it would be necessary for the left to invent him.; 9/16/08, 5:26 PM
Donn said...: Rev,

Another "facet" of troopergate is that Monegan has his own history of violence against women.; 9/16/08, 5:28 PM
former law student said...: People, I don't just make stuff up:

http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=13870

[Workers Compensation] probe called for in Alaska’s ‘Troopergate’
Posted On: Sept. 09, 2008 1:47 PM CST
ROBERTO CENICEROS

JUNEAU, Alaska—A union representing state troopers in Alaska has called for a probe into alleged workers compensation-related ethics violations by Gov. Sarah Palin’s office and the state’s director of risk management.

According to a letter of complaint by the union, Brad Thompson, director of Alaska’s Department of Administration Division of Risk Management, may have improperly shared information with an official in the governor’s office about a workers comp claim filed by a trooper who is Gov. Palin’s former brother-in-law.

Allegations that the governor abused her public office by attempting to have trooper Mike Wooten fired have been dubbed “Troopergate”...

Alaska’s Legislature is conducting a separate probe [re: Monegan]

In a Sept. 3 letter to Assistant Attorney General Julie B. Bockmon requesting the ethics violation probe, the Public Safety Employees Assn. Inc. provides what it says is a transcript of a telephone conversation between Frank Bailey, director of boards and commissions in the governor’s office, and Rodney Dial, a lieutenant in the Alaska Division of State Troopers.

According to the transcript of the Feb. 29 telephone conversation, there had been contact between the governor’s office and Mr. Thompson concerning a workers comp claim by Mr. Wooten...

...

The union claims the telephone conversation occurred after the governor’s office requested a copy of Mr. Wooten’s workers comp files. The union also states that such activities violate state statutes prohibiting disclosure of employee personnel and medical records.
...; 9/16/08, 5:32 PM
EnigmatiCore said...: "True, FLS. Your game is usually better than this."

No, it isn't.; 9/16/08, 5:32 PM
former law student said...: The issue is not that she tried to get Wooten fired, but that she allegedly did something improper in the process. And that something was firing Monaghan

It's never just "one" something improper.; 9/16/08, 5:39 PM
Simon said...: I thought there was nothing to it in the first place, but yes, this extinguishes the fire under the boiler.; 9/16/08, 5:40 PM
vbspurs said...: Did you guys read the ADN link via Hot Air?

The filing includes a July 17, 2007, e-mail Palin sent to Monegan in which she complains that a proposal to ban gun sales to people who make death threats wouldn't stop her former brother-in-law, Wooten, from carrying a gun.

"Amazing," the e-mail says. "And he's still a trooper, and he still carries a gun, and he still tells anyone who will listen that he will 'never work for that b----' (me) because he has such anger and distain (sic) towards my family."

Did she, or the proofreader, write the (sic)s?

I think she did, given the "me" parenthesis, which is awesome.; 9/16/08, 5:42 PM
former law student said...: I thought there was nothing to it in the first place, but yes, this extinguishes the fire under the boiler.

I thought Watergate was just a third-rate burglary, myself.; 9/16/08, 5:43 PM
Fen said...: There's that "harvard-trained mind" again...; 9/16/08, 5:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Simon, fire doesn't boil water! Google it!; 9/16/08, 5:45 PM
Simon said...: former law student said...
"I thought Watergate was just a third-rate burglary, myself."

That would only begin to be an adequate response if you linked to a post explaining your position, as I did. Watergate is readily-distinguishable from troopergate, because the former involved behavior that was both illegal and unethical, and the latter involves (so far as I can tell) neither.; 9/16/08, 5:46 PM
Revenant said...: It's never just "one" something improper.

When you're pushing the story, its usually "nothing" improper. :); 9/16/08, 6:01 PM
Eric said...: This whole "scandal" is pretty weak tea. Any idiot can see Wooten should have been off the force post-haste, and Monegan *should* lose his job for not recognizing that.

The fact that the governor "move[d] Heaven and Earth to get Wooten fired" is no scandal for Palin. It does reflect very badly on a system that forces her to do it.

Personally I don't mind it when the lefties push this. If that's all they've got, Palin will make a great VP and later president.

Obama started taking money from Fannie Mae as soon as he got to the Senate. There's nothing like that in Palin's record.; 9/16/08, 6:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Troopergate utterly squelched? Palin supporters are trying...

A group of Alaska Republican lawmakers, with the support of a Texas-based conservative legal group, has filed suit to stop the Alaska Legislature's "Troopergate" probe into Gov. Sarah Palin.

The suit alleges the legislature overstepped its authority by probing the Republican's vice presidential pick, "conducting a 'McCarthyistic' investigation in an unlawful, biased, partial and partisan political manner" to sway the upcoming state and national elections.

The suit, filed in Alaska Superior Court, takes aim at Stephen Branchflower, the former prosecutor leading the probe; Sen. Hollis French, the Democratic state lawmaker chosen to manage the investigation; and Sen. Kim Elston, the Democratic chair of the Republican-dominated Legislative Council, which voted unanimously to conduct the probe.

More here.; 9/16/08, 6:05 PM
Simon said...: krylovite - what's your point? You think that because there was no underlying wrongdoing, an investigation can't quickly turn into a tool for partisans to attack? Tell it to Bill Clinton!; 9/16/08, 6:10 PM
vbspurs said...: Personally I don't mind it when the lefties push this. If that's all they've got, Palin will make a great VP and later president.

Exactly. I was thinking during her RNC speech, that if all the Dems got is Troopergate, that this woman is as squeaky clean a politician as we have out there.

Everything they've dredged up, is such small potatoes.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/16/08, 6:15 PM
garage mahal said...: Nice analysis Ann. Palin's lawyers filed some papers of her version of events means this is so over with.; 9/16/08, 6:20 PM
Anonymous said...: what's your point?

The point is obvious - Republicans are hoping to play out the clock on the investigation.

You think that because there was no underlying wrongdoing

Without an investigation, the plaintiffs don't know if there was any wrongdoing. That's the reason for the investigation, right? Your premise doesn't make a bit of sense.

Remember, Palin promised full cooperation with the investigation by the legislature. Also remember that the Troopergate investigation began with a unanimous vote in the Republican-controlled legislature. It doesn't sound particularly partisan to me.; 9/16/08, 6:32 PM
Roger J. said...: My take is that this is a non issue except for the true believers on either side. Gallup has white women up 12 in favor of McCain (read Palin). That a key demographic that Obama is losing badly.

I think we as bloggers tend to project our views on the people who dont blog. I think this issue is not one that is playing very significantly in anything but the blogosphere. If there is some evidence to the contrary, please let me know.

We overestimate our impact on these things at our peril.; 9/16/08, 6:37 PM
Bob said...: If only we could get the MSM to go to this level of navel lint inspection on some of Obama's "gates". BTW, why hasn't Obama or Joe gotten a "gate" yet? Feels somehow exclusionary; 9/16/08, 6:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Nice analysis Ann. Palin's lawyers filed some papers of her version of events means this is so over with.

Why does a blogger who has sworn a "vow of cruel neutrality" link to a "news" story on the "Hot Air" website founded by Michelle Malkin? Malkin represents a particularly foul brand of rightwing lunacy. Why would any serious-minded person read Malkin-sponsored excrement? Is that really where you get your "news" Althouse?; 9/16/08, 6:41 PM
Fen said...: Malkin balances out the Ann's use of the NYTs.; 9/16/08, 6:49 PM
Fen said...: garage mahal: Nice analysis Ann. Palin's lawyers filed some papers of her version of events means this is so over with.

Shorter garage: "Wahh! Now I have to go back to Axelrod and get new talking points"; 9/16/08, 6:51 PM
Synova said...: Better watch out, Krylovite. You'll get cooties.; 9/16/08, 6:55 PM
Anonymous said...: Malkin balances out the Ann's use of the NYTs.

Hey Althouse, where are your clever commenters that you bragged about on bloggingheads? No sign of them yet....; 9/16/08, 6:59 PM
bleeper said...: Joe "Thy Name is Vanity" Biden has "Hairplug gate". Just where did he get all that hair? Who paid for it. Is there Hell toupee?; 9/16/08, 7:02 PM
TMink said...: some k person wrote: "Hey Althouse, where are your clever commenters that you bragged about on bloggingheads? No sign of them yet...."

Got mirror?

Trey; 9/16/08, 7:11 PM
dick said...: krylovite,

The reason for that is that The dem senator French was releasing items about the independent investigation by the man they hired even when the questions were posed to the independent investigator. The senator was supposed to stay out of it until the investigator submitted his report. Instead the senator was overriding the investigator and channeling the investigation himself. That is a clear violation of ethics and should be reason to cancel the investigation right there.; 9/16/08, 7:34 PM
Der Hahn said...: krylovite said...
The point is obvious - Republicans are hoping to play out the clock on the investigation.

Com'on, k, can't you guys think up some original memes?; 9/16/08, 7:37 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Let me see if I understand the argument that troopergate is still viable.

Walt Monegan was servicing in an appointed position at the whim of Gov. Palin. He was fired from his appointed post because he actively tried to sabotage his boss's priorities including flying to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Congressional delegation behind her back, and ignored her orders. But she shouldn't have fired him because she had also asked him why her former brother in law was still working for Monegan, despite repeatedly breaking the law and abusing his post.

Is this the argument?; 9/16/08, 7:48 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Sorry, typo in my previous post: Walt Monegan was serving in an appointed position at the whim of Gov. Palin.; 9/16/08, 7:51 PM
Bissage said...: I could be wrong but I think I might have had anal intercourse with Walt Monegan.

I’m not really sure because my suntan was fading and I was pretty drunk on Moose Juice.

Anyway, all I remember is I was in Alaska and this pretty good looking chick with glasses and her hair in a bun grabbed my dong by the base of the shaft and forced it into this guy’s butt-hole as he yelled, “Don’t Tase me, Bro!!!”

After I finished he got all teary-eyed and he apologized about his dribbling prostate or something or other.

I am not gay.; 9/16/08, 7:52 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Bruce Hayden said...
Is this the argument?

Yep. Now they are trying say that she or her office wanted personnel and medical files on the State Trooper. Evidently, the governor has no right to look at files of State Troopers who work for the state. Makes no sense, but then again, nothing about this makes any sense.; 9/16/08, 7:56 PM
Trooper York said...: "Bissage said:

I am not gay."

Dude, you keep saying that. Nobody cares. Enjoy. Put on the tight fitting space suit and cruise till your hot's content. Just tell them you have a rocket in your pocket and you are ready to blast off.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.; 9/16/08, 8:21 PM
Bissage said...: Hey Trooper, you should care because it’s an essential part of the joke.

Try reading it “in character.”

Bob’s your uncle!

Ha!; 9/16/08, 8:40 PM
Joe said...: How anyone can defend Monegan or Wooten is beyond me. It illustrates a complete lack of moral judgment.; 9/16/08, 8:44 PM
Trooper York said...: My uncle's name is Vito.

Hah.; 9/16/08, 8:46 PM
Jim Howard said...: Former Senator Gravel (D-AK) provides valuable insight into Troopergate in this Pacifica Radio interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpBXYcgXV8M

or

http://preview.tinyurl.com/5osrnm; 9/16/08, 8:48 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Krylovite= Axelrod Astroturf

How anyone can defend Monegan or Wooten is beyond me. It illustrates a complete lack of moral judgment.

Welcome to the new Progressive Democrat Party; 9/16/08, 8:59 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Hey Trooper,
Can you finally shed some light on this Troopergate scandal?

Are they slandering and defaming you?

Have you hired a lawyer yet to sue these libturds?

What did you do with that moose anyway?

Did you really Tase those women at the store?

Were you really drinking while on duty at the store?

Did you really conceive a child in the back seat of a police car?

Did you threaten to kill the governors parents?

C'mon Troop, we want to know. America wants to know.

The whole world wants to know.

This middle class guy wants to know.; 9/16/08, 9:04 PM
Trooper York said...: I deny it all.

I did not have sex with that woman. Not one time.

Of course it does depend on what the meaning of is is.

I did not taze you bro.Or step-bro.

I deny it all.; 9/16/08, 9:19 PM
KCFleming said...: Trooper's non-denial denial is sad. Sad!

It's all true, because I was there. Well, not there at the same time exactly, but there. About a week later, sure. But there.

And I could tell.
Right on that spot, Trooper tazed Andrew Sullivan. Because Sully was dressed up as Sarah Palin and, well, he needed tazing. That man does not look good in a bun.; 9/16/08, 9:27 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Pogo,
But, but, what about the moose? What did he do with the moose?; 9/16/08, 9:45 PM
Roberto said...: if she has nothing to hide why block the investigation?

oh, right, sorry...it's a republican.

sorry, my bad.

ha.; 9/16/08, 9:58 PM
Joe said...: A Møøse once bit my sister...

No realli! She was Karving her initials øn the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law -an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: "The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink"...

Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretty nasti...; 9/16/08, 9:59 PM
1775OGG said...: What they said! And, good night all, pleasant dreams!; 9/16/08, 10:01 PM
former law student said...: How anyone can defend Monegan or Wooten is beyond me. It illustrates a complete lack of moral judgment.

No one is defending Monegan or Wooten. You forget we have "A government of laws, not of men." You conservatives surely have heard of John Adams.

The fact that the governor "move[d] Heaven and Earth to get Wooten fired" is no scandal for Palin. It does reflect very badly on a system that forces her to do it.

Anarchy in the AA! Misuse of confidential records reflects very badly on Ms. Palin. Her alleged offense carries a jail term of up to a year, and a fine of $10,000. If I remember right, that was the possible punishment for Sen. Craig's toetapping.

2007 Alaska Statutes:
Sec. 11.56.860. Misuse of confidential information.

(a) A person who is or has been a public servant commits the crime of misuse of confidential information if the person

(1) learns confidential information through employment as a public servant; and

(2) while in office or after leaving office, uses the confidential information for personal gain or in a manner not connected with the performance of official duties other than by giving sworn testimony or evidence in a legal proceeding in conformity with a court order.

(b) As used in this section, "confidential information" means information which has been classified confidential by law.

(c) Misuse of confidential information is a class A misdemeanor.; 9/16/08, 11:16 PM
Eric said...: So... where is the misuse? When someone works for you and you have an employment decision to make, you look at their records, right?; 9/16/08, 11:24 PM
Synova said...: I really wish someone would look at *any* one elses administrative dealings so closely.

Granted... Obama has never employed anyone who wasn't on his personal staff, so I suppose that's a non-starter.

And FLS... it doesn't matter. Enough people actually do have employees and have had to fire them over one thing or another to realize that a whole lot of the time the employees come up with some reason they shouldn't have been fired.

You say it doesn't matter if he did something actually wrong that warranted getting fired... it was the way she did it. It was technicalities.

We all know people who operate on outrage over the technicalities. We all hate them.

Guy my husband worked with even planned to sue... until he found out there wasn't a single one of his former co-workers that would testify on his behalf.

This is no-win for those trying to show Palin in a bad light.; 9/16/08, 11:40 PM
Revenant said...: So... where is the misuse?

Just ignore him, Eric. There are only two ways this can end: either you prove him wrong, in which case he slinks away without conceding the point, or you can't prove him wrong, in which case he keeps repeating the talking point ad nauseum until a newer one comes along.

Either way, there's no point in trying to engage him in an honest discussion, because you'll be the only honest guy in it. :); 9/16/08, 11:41 PM
former law student said...: a manner not connected with the performance of official duties

When someone works for you and you have an employment decision to make, you look at their records, right?

I'm fairly certain the hiring and firing of State Troopers is not part of the governor's official duties. Her action here is to gratify her up-to-now frustrated desire to punish her sister's ex-husband. This is in fact a prohibited personal gain, because it achieves her family's goal.

I really wish someone would look at *any* one elses administrative dealings so closely.

Another wrong doesn't cancel out this one.; 9/17/08, 12:03 AM
Eric said...: I'm fairly certain the hiring and firing of State Troopers is not part of the governor's official duties.

This is wrong. When you're the chief executive you can, and sometimes must, reach far down into the hierarchy.

FLS, you've utterly failed to make a case she did anything untoward.; 9/17/08, 12:16 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: So now Ann is linking to Malkin? Yeesh.

Hey, this is about the third or fourth reason they've given as to why she fired Monegan. Other reasons:
- vacant trooper positions
- bootlegging, alcohol abuse
- she just wanted to reassign him and he wasn't fired

THIS after she said no one in her office had pressured Monegan to fire Mike Wooten. Oops. The tape showed that to be a lie!

And the "insubordination" had to do with Monegon trying to get funding for fighting sexual assault crimes.

Palin fired a guy for seeking funding for reducing sexual assault crimes in the state with one of the worst problems.

Some feminist you've got there, Annie!; 9/17/08, 12:50 AM
Beth said...: From Hot Air: "Monegan went behind Palin’s back to attempt to revive a project Palin had vetoed, which “stunned” the Office of Management and Budget Director."

What project was that? The one to beef up investigations of sexual assaults?; 9/17/08, 1:03 AM
Methadras said...: former law student said...

Troopergate is about Palin's moving Heaven and Earth to get Wooten fired. Monegan is just one facet.

What's the secondary and tertiary facets? Since it is my understanding that Wooten is still a state trooper what is the issue? Also, you haven't seen the internal memo's that Palin's office has released showing Monegan to be essentially insubordinate to the governer have you?

Are you seriously going to stand on the merits that your complaint to this is essentially your objection to basically what amounts to an HR issue? I'm sure you gave the same lip service to Hillary firing the travel staff at the white house under even less dubious circumstance or criteria? If you did, I'd like to read it. Oh look, the thin ice your standing on just cracked. Bye.; 9/17/08, 1:08 AM
Methadras said...: AlphaLiberal said...

And the "insubordination" had to do with Monegon trying to get funding for fighting sexual assault crimes.

If you were my lower ranking employee and you asked me if I could spend company money to buy ice cream for all of the other employees and I told you no and you went and did it anyway, then what do you think will happen? I'd fire you for insubordination. And this is why you will never amount to anything beyond a two-bit street sweeper. You have zero concept of leadership and authoritative hierarchy.

Amazing you would show yourself after being discredited daily on this site. Stupid putz.; 9/17/08, 1:14 AM
Methadras said...: former law student said...
I really wish someone would look at *any* one elses administrative dealings so closely.

Another wrong doesn't cancel out this one.

Idiot. You still haven't determined if there was ever a wrong committed. Your feeble fishing excursion has failed.; 9/17/08, 1:16 AM
former law student said...: Since it is my understanding that Wooten is still a state trooper what is the issue?

Same with the bookbanning. As long as all the books stayed in the library, Palin didn't try to ban any books, right?

And as long as the Minneapolis airport cop hadn't whipped his wienie into Senator Craig's hand, Senator Craig hadn't tried to do anything.

By using Wooten's confidential personnel records to try to get him fired, Palin misused confidential records in a manner outside her official duties, because getting revenge on ex-brothers-in-law is not part of her official duties.; 9/17/08, 1:31 AM
former law student said...: If you were my lower ranking employee and you asked me if I could spend company money

Except Monegan was trying to get his department MORE money, not spend money. It's called taking initiative. Being a Maverick. Maverick credo: It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.; 9/17/08, 1:37 AM
Beth said...: Wooten's an abusive jerk, from all accounts. It's easy to be sympathetic to the family for wanting the guy to get hammered. But it's true, this is not the first explanation Palin's offered for firing Monagan -- first he quit, didn't he? It's spinning on the McCain campaign's part, clearly. And if Monegan was trying to improve a program to fight sexual assault in Alaska, which apparently has a terrible rate of rape and assaults, I don't see this as a "squelching" for Palin.; 9/17/08, 1:42 AM
former law student said...: This is wrong. When you're the chief executive you can, and sometimes must, reach far down into the hierarchy.

Sshh. Methadras would say you have zero concept of leadership and authoritative hierarchy. It's the state troopers' responsibility to police themselves. If they're not doing this job, it's time to clean house. The possibility that the Governor's ex-brother-in-law was the only substandard cop on the force is impossible to believe, so why would the governor be focused on him?

Anyhow, this part of Troopergate is in the hands of the Public Safety Employees Association of Alaska.

Personally I doubt the Governor is looking at any jail time. But to me, pursuing this vendetta against Wooten shows bad judgment.

Another possible facet of Troopergate: Did she or even just a family member, perjure themselves on the original compalint against Wooten? They seemed quite careful but you never know. And I'm too tired to look up the complaint form they signed, to see if it was under penalty of perjury.; 9/17/08, 1:47 AM
Methadras said...: former law student said...

Except Monegan was trying to get his department MORE money, not spend money.

Irrelevant. The nobility of the circumstance isn't an excuse to go around the governor to acquire more money so it could be spent. What was he going to do with the money, sit on it like an egg? Your own sentence is an enigma, trying to get more money, but not spend it?

It's called taking initiative. Being a Maverick. Maverick credo: It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.

So being a maverick means you don't abide by the rules? Being a maverick means you institute change outside the system by using it to your advantage, but the clincher is, is that it's normally done within your peer group or peer set. Not from subordinate to superior. That is called being stupid with the result that it gets you fired, just like Walt Monegan.

I'm not going to defend Palin's decision to fire him since that was within her discretion not to. However to not have done it would have invited anyone else using Monegan's example to undermine and erode the Governor's authority if they wanted to "right" the "injustices" within the state. Now I'm going to wait for you to write UNION on a piece of cardboard and stand up on a table and show it to everyone as a display of what a maverick badass you really are. [rolleyes]; 9/17/08, 2:30 AM
Revenant said...: But it's true, this is not the first explanation Palin's offered for firing Monagan -- first he quit, didn't he? It's spinning on the McCain campaign's part, clearly.

Palin stated that she dismissed Monegan but offered him the directorship of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and that he declined this. That's the "he quit" bit -- that he could have stayed on in government but opted not to. She has not previously offered an explanation for why Monegan was dismissed, other than the standard boilerplate of "wanting to take things in a different direction".

It seems pretty simple. Monegan has powerful friends, e.g. the folks running the "investigation" into his firing. Palin wanted to get rid of him without making enemies of his friends, so she tried to shuffle him off into an unimportant job where he couldn't screw things up. He refused, so she canned him. Standard stuff for problem employees in politically sensitive jobs.; 9/17/08, 2:31 AM
Methadras said...: former law student said...

Anyhow, this part of Troopergate is in the hands of the Public Safety Employees Association of Alaska.

Speculate, conjecture, smear, and then disclaim. My my. Folks I think we actually found an Olympic level back-peddler. There is a gold medal in your future.; 9/17/08, 2:33 AM
Revenant said...: What project was that? The one to beef up investigations of sexual assaults?

Who cares?

If Monegan wants to push for money for sexual assault investigations, he can:

(a) Run for governor
(b) Run for the legislature
(c) Become a lobbyist
(d) Go to work for a governor, legislator, or lobbyist who favors increased funding for sexual assault investigations.

He doesn't get to appoint himself governor and start setting budget priorities without any accountability to either the electorate or his boss. Fuck that.; 9/17/08, 2:37 AM
Methadras said...: former law student said...

Same with the bookbanning. As long as all the books stayed in the library, Palin didn't try to ban any books, right?

Can you not do the most basic of fact checking? Palin didn't ban any books, nor suggested it. Some of the books that are claimed to have been banned or censored by her weren't even in print. Please provide proof of which books are on the list to be burned, banned, or censored or apologize for spreading this rampant lie.

Your emotional rhetoric is just symptomatic of the aberrant lies you are willing to believe as a means to prop up your belief that these things are true so you can appear to be one of the cool lefty kids. You are sadly ill-informed and just another useless dull tool in a drawer full of them.

And as long as the Minneapolis airport cop hadn't whipped his wienie into Senator Craig's hand, Senator Craig hadn't tried to do anything.

So are you now claiming the cop who busted Senator Craig actually brandished his penis and put it into the Senators Hand? or are you just resorting to you usual outlandish picturesque descriptions of the type of inconsequential moral equivalence you and your sub-intellectual ilk resort too? Have you been getting lessons from AlphaLiberal again? He's doing you a disservice and probably owes you a refund.

By using Wooten's confidential personnel records to try to get him fired,

Proof is required of this claim. Put up or shut up.

Palin misused confidential records in a manner outside her official duties, because getting revenge on ex-brothers-in-law is not part of her official duties.

Of course it isn't because it didn't happen. You've already been taken to the woodshed on this. I suggest you stop before you actually break through the ice at this point.; 9/17/08, 3:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Got mirror?

Oh goody, Trey wants to be my monkey!

Monkey, henceforth you shall be known as Air Ball. .

Dance, Air Ball, dance!; 9/17/08, 3:20 AM
Bissage said...: THIS sounds like a job for
Nonsense Rhyme Cheerleader Man!!!
(a copyrighted feature of this broadcast):

Porch swing, pinky ring, hair clog in the drain,
Cedar shingle, intermingle, singing in the rain.

Gooooooooooooo TEAM!!!; 9/17/08, 8:01 AM
former law student said...: Palin didn't ban any books, nor suggested it.

The list of books to be banned is a fraud. No one's talking about the alleged list but Republicans, so I presume it's a Republican disinformation campaign to cloud the issue. Palin asked the librarian THREE times after taking office if she would be willing to take books out of the collection at Palin's request. When your boss asks you if you would be willing to do something, you either say Sir! Yessir! or your ass might be gone the next day. The alternative explanation, that this was merely a hypothetical question Palin asked -- THREE times, with the librarian's undated resignation in her possession -- cannot be said aloud without provoking a fit of the giggles.

By using Wooten's confidential personnel records to try to get him fired,

Proof is required of this claim. Put up or shut up.

Inference, dude. Palin pulled the personnel records for the ONE state trooper who she'd tried to get fired since Wasilla. You remember, the one she sent the emails to Monegan about, asking, "When are you gonna fire this guy?"

If you can look at the facts and draw a different inference, go right ahead.

Which reminds me of another facet of Troopergate: Even if Palin didn't fire Monegan in retaliation for not shitcanning Wooten, she surely pressured Monegan to fire him, as evidenced by the emails, conversations with Todd Palin, etc.

So are you now claiming the cop who busted Senator Craig actually brandished his penis and put it into the Senators Hand?

Hell no. I don't usually pull the reading comprehension card but I do wonder what you scored on the ACT.

Speculate, conjecture, smear, and then disclaim.

Huh? I already posted excerpts from an article describing the PSEA's legal action against Governor Palin. Did you read them? It's my post at 5:32:
The union also states that such activities violate state statutes prohibiting disclosure of employee personnel and medical records.

And on Friday evening, the Public Safety Employees Association filed a complaint about the misuse of confidential information on Wooten's record by Palin's senior aides. The union claims that an aide to Palin – in a phone call seeking Wooten's firing – cited information that could only have been gleaned from a confidential work file.

http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/sep/07/she-can-cut-kill-dig-and-drill/.; 9/17/08, 9:35 AM
Sloanasaurus said...: Only liberals believe that cops who threaten death to public officials and their families should be allowed to keep their jobs. But if the cop tries to defend themselves against a violent criminal who is trying to kill them... well that's different.; 9/17/08, 9:46 AM
Sloanasaurus said...: Even if Palin didn't fire Monegan in retaliation for not shitcanning Wooten, she surely pressured Monegan to fire him, as evidenced by the emails, conversations with Todd Palin, etc.

If only Palin had gotten Wooten on camera threating to defend himself against violent criminals, then maybe Former Law Student would be supporting Palin's decision.

But, hey, you get a union cop threatening to murder the governor's family, well... that is perfectly understandable since Palin is the devil anyway.; 9/17/08, 9:49 AM
Beth said...: she dismissed Monegan but offered him the directorship of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and that he declined this.

Okay, I get it now. He was so incompetent, so unacceptable, that she offered him another powerful position.; 9/17/08, 11:38 AM
Beth said...: What project was that? The one to beef up investigations of sexual assaults?

Who cares?

According to Ann, I'm supposed to be all feministly fired up about Palin. Not so much. I keep running into the problematic facts. She doesn't give a hot steaming moose patty about women.; 9/17/08, 11:40 AM
Revenant said...: Okay, I get it now. He was so incompetent, so unacceptable, that she offered him another powerful position.

Palin's people are accusing him of insubordination, not of incompetence. Take your spin somewhere else. The problem was that he kept opposing Palin's goals and undermining her authority. A single-issue regulatory agency like the ABCB doesn't offer opportunities for those kinds of shenanigans.

According to Ann, I'm supposed to be all feministly fired up about Palin. Not so much.

I don't think anyone expected you to be fired up about anyone who wasn't a leftist, feminist or no.

She doesn't give a hot steaming moose patty about women.

Just human beings of any gender. :); 9/17/08, 1:55 PM
Beth said...: Just human beings of any gender. :)

If only that were true. But no.

And your response would be a lot more meaningful if people weren't trying so hard to sell her as a feminist icon. Y'all can't have it both ways!; 9/17/08, 2:05 PM
1775OGG said...: Well now, ALS and B are certainly joined at the hip, emotionally speaking! Their mutual arguments are well laced with their view of life, liberty, and their pursuit of ever so strong feelings; their very own fact free environmental haven.

OBTW, it's now the next day so wakey wakey good little Socialists and drink your daily dose of Obamatea!; 9/17/08, 3:03 PM
Revenant said...: If only that were true. But no.

Evidence, please?

And your response would be a lot more meaningful if people weren't trying so hard to sell her as a feminist icon. Y'all can't have it both ways!

That depends on whether you take "feminist" to mean "female supremacist" or "advocate of equal rights and treatment for women". Palin and Ann -- and me, for that matter -- are feminists of the second variety.; 9/17/08, 4:24 PM
Beth said...: So far I have no reason to believe Palin is an advocate of the second, Revenant. You're making an assumption, but on what grounds?; 9/17/08, 5:57 PM
Revenant said...: So far I have no reason to believe Palin is an advocate of the second, Revenant.

It is an objective fact that she's an advocate of the second. You may doubt her sincerity, but then it falls to you to provide evidence that she's insincere. You can't, and therefore haven't.

You're making an assumption, but on what grounds?

On the grounds that her political policies support equality among the sexes.; 9/17/08, 6:42 PM