Palin is Guilty

Flynn · 10-11-2008, 01:11 AM

Should Palin resign as the Republican Vice presidential candidate ?

AFP

October 11, 2008 01:10pm
REPUBLICAN vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin used her job as Alaska Governor to get a state trooper sacked, a report said today.

In a 263-page report released by Alaska's Legislative Council following a six-hour closed doors hearing, investigator Steve Branchflower said Governor Palin was guilty of violating state ethics rules for public officials.

"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," Branchflower wrote in the report.

The report comes as another blow to John McCain's struggling White House bid.

As McCain sought to restore control over unruly rallies which have seen a stream of invective, including a death threat, aimed at Democratic rival Barack Obama, the "troopergate" scandal threatened to torpedo his campaign.

In the long awaited report Mr Branchflower said she had allowed her husband Todd Palin to use the Alaska governor's office and its resources to pressure officials to fire her former brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten.

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," the report said.

"She had the authority and power to require Mr Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act," the report added.

Palin, the first woman to be selected on a Republican ticket, was plucked from political obscurity in Alaska by the Arizona senator in late August to be his running mate in the November 4 elections.

A devout Christian mother-of-five who is pro-life and a committed hunter, she fired up the party's conservative base, which had not fully embraced McCain.

But her lack of national and foreign experience raised doubts among observers about McCain's hasty judgment in assigning such a high office to a young unknown.

indianajoe · 10-11-2008, 01:18 AM

MSNBC.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethics report: Palin abused authority
Legislative committee releases investigation into firing of public official
BREAKING NEWS
msnbc.com news services
updated 9:26 p.m. ET, Fri., Oct. 10, 2008
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.
The panel found that Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed. "I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."

Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.

Palin and McCain's supporters had hoped the inquiry's finding would be delayed until after the presidential election to spare her any embarrassment and to put aside an enduring distraction as she campaigns as McCain's running mate in an uphill contest against Democrat Barack Obama.

But the panel of lawmakers voted to release the report, although not without dissension.

"I think there are some problems in this report," said Republican state Sen. Gary Stevens, a member of the panel. "I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye."

The nearly 300-page report does not recommend sanctions or a criminal investigation.

Palin's critics have said Palin used her office to settle family affairs.

"When you're the governor, you leave your household hat at home and you become governor," said state Senate President Lyda Green, a Republican who has frequently clashed with Palin.

Campaign's version of events
In an effort to head off the report, McCain campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin released the campaign's own version of events. That report, which Griffin said was written by campaign staffers, says the Legislature has taken a legitimate policy dispute between a governor and one of her commissioners, and portrayed it as something inappropriate.

Campaign blames former opponent
The campaign's report blames former campaign opponent Andrew Halcro, who has a blog, of conspiring with Wooten to pin Monegan's dismissal on the family's dispute with Wooten. Three days after Monegan was fired, they say, Wooten told his ex-wife, Palin's sister, that: "You guys are going down. Get ready for the show."

Two days after that confrontation, they say, Halcro and Wooten met at a hotel bar in Anchorage for more than three hours — and that evening, Halcro posted the first accusations on his blog that Monegan had been fired because of a vendetta against Wooten by the Palin family.

"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger after drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically driven investigation," the 21-page report concludes.

Although the campaign report describes Wooten as a separate issue, the McCain campaign goes into great detail about the "rogue" trooper and his "long history of unstable and erratic behavior." The campaign describes allegations of violence, including threatening Palin's family and shooting his stepson with a stun gun.

The campaign's report also includes allegations that Wooten cheated the workers' compensation system. Todd Palin has said he had numerous conversations with government officials about why Wooten was allowed to stay on the job.

"The Palins make no apologies for wanting to protect their family and wanting to bring attention to the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge and abusing the workers' compensation system."

But Todd Palin said he never pressured anyone, including his wife.

The McCain campaign says the investigation has become "muddied with innuendo, rumor and partisan politics."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: Ethics report: Palin abused authority - Decision '08 - MSNBC.com

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Itsnotgonnaspankitself... · 10-11-2008, 01:35 AM

"Should Palin resign as the Republican Vice presidential candidate ?"

Hells, no.

I'd say old man McCain should be stuck with her, since he went ahead and picked her in the first place.

I think she should be publicly humiliated and disgraced, and then he should have to keep her as a reminder of what the current majority of Republicans seem to stand for...

And it would serve them both right.

AutumnRain · 10-11-2008, 04:53 AM

I fully agree.. he made the poor choice, he should be made to stick with it.

I dislike anyone who abuses their little bit of power, but someone who claims to have the publics best interests at heart?

sunburstlespaulhero1989 · 10-11-2008, 10:36 AM

I wonder..... did McCain chose her to get attention........ or did he have no clue any of this was going on..........

sexysadie · 10-11-2008, 10:42 AM

I'm not an American citizen so I don't get an official vote, but unofficially, you know where I stand.
I don't know why it is that I feel compelled to do this but in Palin's defense I'd just like to say that it's really too bad that a candidate has to agree to donate his or her privacy as well as their time when running for public office. I sometimes wonder how any of us would fair out in that department if the tables were reversed, but then again, it does come with the territory and should be expected.
My opinion as to whether or not Palin is qualified to become Vice President of The United States of America has nothing to do with her personal life whatsoever, it has nothing to do with her marriage, her children or how many chocolate bars she buys when she's pms'ing. It has nothing to do with the whirlpool of gossip that's been spinning out of control during this election anymore than it has to do with her sexuality or how low cut she chooses to wear her blouses etc...As a woman I can't help but respect her and admit that I graciously tip my hat to her for being able to get this far in what is sometimes so obviously a man's world, especially when it comes to politics. My opinion as to why I believe Palin is NOT qualified to become the Vice President of The United States of America is based strictly on her political views and her qualifications or lack there of..
I must confess that as a woman I wish that I did see her as Vice Presidential material, and that she was THE woman who would change the way the world viewed women in the white house once and for all. I'd love nothing more than to see a woman in the boardroom of the whitehouse instead of in the bedroom or under somebody's desk in some lame attempt to pleasure her way to the top, NO...one day THE woman will come along and she'll overcome the gossip and her strength and wisdom will be all the American people will see when they make that decision at the polls.
So, in answer to your question I have to say 'no' she shouldn't be made to resign because of this matter. It is my opinion and correct me if I'm wrong, that tactics such as these are used all the time during an election of this caliber.
I for one am not worried about the competition and I doubt that Biden is losing any sleep over it either, so why not just let the voters do their job and may the best 'candidate' win.

AutumnRain · 10-11-2008, 12:23 PM

If you're going to slander someone then you really have to make sure your own track record is perfect otherwise you will have the same returned to you...

btw THE women etc? can anyone say Maggie Thatcher? You may not have liked her attitude, nor her manner, nor infact very much about her but she had balls.. they do not call her the Iron lady for nothing

sexysadie · 10-11-2008, 02:58 PM

Slanders are like flies that pass all over a persons body, only to focus on the sores.

You need not remind me about Margaret Thatcher and what she's done for women in politics, I know all about the 'Iron Lady'. There are many women out there who've made a difference, it's just too bad that none of them have made it to the White House as President. Like I said....one day THE woman will come along and make the ultimate difference. Just my opinion.

kipper · 10-11-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutumnRain

If you're going to slander someone then you really have to make sure your own track record is perfect otherwise you will have the same returned to you...

btw THE women etc? can anyone say Maggie Thatcher? You may not have liked her attitude, nor her manner, nor infact very much about her but she had balls.. they do not call her the Iron lady for nothing

Barring Churchill,she was the best PM this country ever had

Flynn · 10-11-2008, 07:34 PM

SS

I have no respect for Palin at all, she used her position as Govenor to deal with a personal matter and I have no doubt that she would do the same if she was voted in as VP.

I must say I agree with Spanky and AR...............McCain made the choice he should be stuck with Palin until they are defeated at the polls.

10-11-2008, 01:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
Flynn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,270	Palin is Guilty Should Palin resign as the Republican Vice presidential candidate ? AFP October 11, 2008 01:10pm REPUBLICAN vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin used her job as Alaska Governor to get a state trooper sacked, a report said today. In a 263-page report released by Alaska's Legislative Council following a six-hour closed doors hearing, investigator Steve Branchflower said Governor Palin was guilty of violating state ethics rules for public officials. "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," Branchflower wrote in the report. The report comes as another blow to John McCain's struggling White House bid. As McCain sought to restore control over unruly rallies which have seen a stream of invective, including a death threat, aimed at Democratic rival Barack Obama, the "troopergate" scandal threatened to torpedo his campaign. In the long awaited report Mr Branchflower said she had allowed her husband Todd Palin to use the Alaska governor's office and its resources to pressure officials to fire her former brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten. "Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," the report said. "She had the authority and power to require Mr Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act," the report added. Palin, the first woman to be selected on a Republican ticket, was plucked from political obscurity in Alaska by the Arizona senator in late August to be his running mate in the November 4 elections. A devout Christian mother-of-five who is pro-life and a committed hunter, she fired up the party's conservative base, which had not fully embraced McCain. But her lack of national and foreign experience raised doubts among observers about McCain's hasty judgment in assigning such a high office to a young unknown. __________________ It's always easier to get forgiveness than permission.

10-11-2008, 01:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Itsnotgonnaspankitself... Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 10,514	"Should Palin resign as the Republican Vice presidential candidate ?" Hells, no. I'd say old man McCain should be stuck with her, since he went ahead and picked her in the first place. I think she should be publicly humiliated and disgraced, and then he should have to keep her as a reminder of what the current majority of Republicans seem to stand for... And it would serve them both right. __________________

10-11-2008, 04:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
AutumnRain Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ma hoose Posts: 3,071	I fully agree.. he made the poor choice, he should be made to stick with it. I dislike anyone who abuses their little bit of power, but someone who claims to have the publics best interests at heart? __________________ Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

10-11-2008, 12:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
AutumnRain Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ma hoose Posts: 3,071	If you're going to slander someone then you really have to make sure your own track record is perfect otherwise you will have the same returned to you... btw THE women etc? can anyone say Maggie Thatcher? You may not have liked her attitude, nor her manner, nor infact very much about her but she had balls.. they do not call her the Iron lady for nothing __________________ Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

10-11-2008, 07:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
Flynn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,270	SS I have no respect for Palin at all, she used her position as Govenor to deal with a personal matter and I have no doubt that she would do the same if she was voted in as VP. I must say I agree with Spanky and AR...............McCain made the choice he should be stuck with Palin until they are defeated at the polls. __________________ It's always easier to get forgiveness than permission.

10-11-2008, 01:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
indianajoe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,213	MSNBC.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethics report: Palin abused authority Legislative committee releases investigation into firing of public official BREAKING NEWS msnbc.com news services updated 9:26 p.m. ET, Fri., Oct. 10, 2008 ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket. Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute. The panel found that Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed. "I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field." Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Palin and McCain's supporters had hoped the inquiry's finding would be delayed until after the presidential election to spare her any embarrassment and to put aside an enduring distraction as she campaigns as McCain's running mate in an uphill contest against Democrat Barack Obama. But the panel of lawmakers voted to release the report, although not without dissension. "I think there are some problems in this report," said Republican state Sen. Gary Stevens, a member of the panel. "I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye." The nearly 300-page report does not recommend sanctions or a criminal investigation. Palin's critics have said Palin used her office to settle family affairs. "When you're the governor, you leave your household hat at home and you become governor," said state Senate President Lyda Green, a Republican who has frequently clashed with Palin. Campaign's version of events In an effort to head off the report, McCain campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin released the campaign's own version of events. That report, which Griffin said was written by campaign staffers, says the Legislature has taken a legitimate policy dispute between a governor and one of her commissioners, and portrayed it as something inappropriate. Campaign blames former opponent The campaign's report blames former campaign opponent Andrew Halcro, who has a blog, of conspiring with Wooten to pin Monegan's dismissal on the family's dispute with Wooten. Three days after Monegan was fired, they say, Wooten told his ex-wife, Palin's sister, that: "You guys are going down. Get ready for the show." Two days after that confrontation, they say, Halcro and Wooten met at a hotel bar in Anchorage for more than three hours — and that evening, Halcro posted the first accusations on his blog that Monegan had been fired because of a vendetta against Wooten by the Palin family. "It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger after drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically driven investigation," the 21-page report concludes. Although the campaign report describes Wooten as a separate issue, the McCain campaign goes into great detail about the "rogue" trooper and his "long history of unstable and erratic behavior." The campaign describes allegations of violence, including threatening Palin's family and shooting his stepson with a stun gun. The campaign's report also includes allegations that Wooten cheated the workers' compensation system. Todd Palin has said he had numerous conversations with government officials about why Wooten was allowed to stay on the job. "The Palins make no apologies for wanting to protect their family and wanting to bring attention to the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge and abusing the workers' compensation system." But Todd Palin said he never pressured anyone, including his wife. The McCain campaign says the investigation has become "muddied with innuendo, rumor and partisan politics." Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. URL: Ethics report: Palin abused authority - Decision '08 - MSNBC.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MSN Privacy . Legal © 2008 MSNBC.com

10-11-2008, 10:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
sunburstlespaulhero1989 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Western Saline, Michigan Posts: 4,457 Blog Entries: 1	I wonder..... did McCain chose her to get attention........ or did he have no clue any of this was going on..........

10-11-2008, 10:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
sexysadie Jokaroo Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my little corner of the world! Posts: 35,163	I'm not an American citizen so I don't get an official vote, but unofficially, you know where I stand. I don't know why it is that I feel compelled to do this but in Palin's defense I'd just like to say that it's really too bad that a candidate has to agree to donate his or her privacy as well as their time when running for public office. I sometimes wonder how any of us would fair out in that department if the tables were reversed, but then again, it does come with the territory and should be expected. My opinion as to whether or not Palin is qualified to become Vice President of The United States of America has nothing to do with her personal life whatsoever, it has nothing to do with her marriage, her children or how many chocolate bars she buys when she's pms'ing. It has nothing to do with the whirlpool of gossip that's been spinning out of control during this election anymore than it has to do with her sexuality or how low cut she chooses to wear her blouses etc...As a woman I can't help but respect her and admit that I graciously tip my hat to her for being able to get this far in what is sometimes so obviously a man's world, especially when it comes to politics. My opinion as to why I believe Palin is NOT qualified to become the Vice President of The United States of America is based strictly on her political views and her qualifications or lack there of.. I must confess that as a woman I wish that I did see her as Vice Presidential material, and that she was THE woman who would change the way the world viewed women in the white house once and for all. I'd love nothing more than to see a woman in the boardroom of the whitehouse instead of in the bedroom or under somebody's desk in some lame attempt to pleasure her way to the top, NO...one day THE woman will come along and she'll overcome the gossip and her strength and wisdom will be all the American people will see when they make that decision at the polls. So, in answer to your question I have to say 'no' she shouldn't be made to resign because of this matter. It is my opinion and correct me if I'm wrong, that tactics such as these are used all the time during an election of this caliber. I for one am not worried about the competition and I doubt that Biden is losing any sleep over it either, so why not just let the voters do their job and may the best 'candidate' win.

10-11-2008, 02:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
sexysadie Jokaroo Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my little corner of the world! Posts: 35,163	Slanders are like flies that pass all over a persons body, only to focus on the sores. You need not remind me about Margaret Thatcher and what she's done for women in politics, I know all about the 'Iron Lady'. There are many women out there who've made a difference, it's just too bad that none of them have made it to the White House as President. Like I said....one day THE woman will come along and make the ultimate difference. Just my opinion.

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