Panel Finds Palin Abused Authority in Firing »
Posted By TechnologyExpert 8 months, 3 weeks ago in Political NewsA legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner.
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TechnologyExpert
I am Editor-in-Chief at Alice Hill's RealTechNews (http://www.realtechnews.com). I also have my own blog (Tech-Ex) at http://TechnologyExpert.Blogspot.com. Finally ...
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retiringdela8 months, 3 weeks ago
I totally disagree with the Alaska Legislative investigation into "Troopergate" and their decision. This man, who was married to Sarah Palin's sister, violated several laws/rules concerning the correct and professional use of weapons. He tazered his son!!! He has no business holding any position in law enforcement! The person who was fired for not firing this trooper also does not belong in law enforcement for overlooking this abuse of power. Governor Sarah Palin would, I am sure, have called for the firing of any law enforcement who was involved in a similar incident. The trooper's former relationship to the Governor by marriage to her sister has absolutely no bearing on this issue. Why is everyone so blind to this fact??? Alaska is that much safer with both of these men removed from their positions. Congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin for her wise judgement in this matter.
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smithichie8 months, 3 weeks ago
Wise judgement would have been leaving such a decision to an impartial person or parties. You are kidding yourself if think Palin's relationship as the ex-sister-in-law has no bearing. The Palin's obviously had personal scores to settle and Sarah abused her position.
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Beau78908 months, 3 weeks ago
retiringdela, she didn't argue that he violated those laws and rules in this case.
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According to the article, "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."
In other words, by her own admission, it wasn't about his behavior. She abused her authority.
Would you call it "wise judgement" for anyone in power to circumvent the law to crush their opponents? -
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quackpot8 months, 3 weeks ago
If you really believe that absurd statement, retiringdela, then it can only lead to the conclusion that Palin is a TOTAL failure as an executive.
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For the governor to micro-manage to the extent of knowing the details of every case involving a state trooper would mean that she is not doing her real job of administering the state properly. -
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CRYMTYPHON8 months, 3 weeks ago
Nonsense.
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She used her position to achieve revenge in a family fight
; when another official bravely refused to cooperate, she fired him .
Even if her stories about her brother in law were true, there were standard ways of investigating and deciding on the fitness of the man for his job,
- not that it would be the governors job to do it;
doubly so if she had a personal fight with the man.
Your plain, flat, acceptance of her bullying misuse of power, -
is an insult to anyone who takes elected government seriously; and to the state of Alaska, which has the right to expect their elected officials to keep their personal vendetas out of the way of state business. -
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cowboygrandpa8 months, 3 weeks ago
retiringdela:
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Thankfully, you didn't have a say in the outcome.
For you are obviously a Sarah Palin fan. It is people like you who scare the hell out of me.
For it is people like you who blindly follow and would have vindicated what Hitler did as alright, because you liked his ways.
Your opinion while strangely naive, suggests you are an extreme supporter of Palin.
Yes we have a person like her in the office of the Presidency now. Look how well that is going for us.
You see the fact that you seem to think Sarah used wise judgement here. Separates you from those who can discern the truth.
Stop drinking the kool aid and you will start to see things more clearly. LMAO hahahahahahaha -
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mark-stevens8 months, 3 weeks ago
I'm sure that the Alaskian wolves would agree on that abuse of power!!
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Beau78908 months, 3 weeks ago
Interesting that the report was released after the news cycle on Friday night. That'll give Palin's handlers time to plan their spin.
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On the other hand, it'll be in all the Sunday editorials. -
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Aidenag8 months, 3 weeks ago
Not too surprising really that this was the panels conclusion. The level of details that had already been disclosed about her/her husbands abuse of power gave a pretty concrete view of the situation.
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Sadly this won't do anything to sway the minds of "Joe Six Pack" and the GOP. I mean heck, she referred to beer, and winked at them. She has them in her pocket for life now.-
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miklkit8 months, 3 weeks ago
Since I used the term "Joe Sixpack" before Palin came out with it, I feel obligated to say that most of us aren't bad people. I like beer! But I also like honesty in my government. And that asinine wink is stoopid. I like full grown women with minds, not that bimbette.
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Will this Joe Sixpack be voting for Obama / Biden? You betcha!
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JohnGault8 months, 3 weeks ago
This is what drive me crazy. How you can support this cop and the union standing to protect him. Palin has a lot of flaws but in this case it was her obligation, know the type of person this cop was to have him removed. If anyone of us had a cop in our neighborhood with this type of record we would all demand his dismissal. Shame on the police force for standing behind this officer. This is the type of blue wall that we the people find frustrating.
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If Obama had done this you would be singing his praises (AS WOULD I)-
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chuck-the-canuck8 months, 3 weeks ago
Perhaps the trooper did deserve to be fired. That isn’t really the question though. We are a society of rules, she should have followed the correct protocol. She showed bad judgement in becoming personally involved.
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I’m not saying that I don’t understand and even appreciate her motives. I don’t necessarily view revenge as a sin. Sometimes, it is the only way that true justice can be meted out. But, even if only for your own self-preservation, it should be dealt out with discretion. -
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cowboygrandpa8 months, 3 weeks ago
JohnGault:
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Are we forgetting the wiretaps that Bush wanted illegally ??? Are we forgetting the detaining of prisoners without due process ?????
I'm not, and I'm not forgetting that absolute power corrupts absolutely. If she is that whacked out as a Governor. Just think what she and her crew would be like as a Vice President or GULP !!!!!!!! President !!!!!!
But hey I know you have to spin this in anyway you can for damage control.
But here is a serious and terrifying thought. She could end up as the Commander in Chief and have the whole of the United States military under her command.
With her vindictive type of power abuse already shown, what might we expect if some nation had the stones to tell her no !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are so far off on this it is completely scary !!!!! -
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wtagg8 months, 3 weeks ago
This falls into the world of the fired attorneys. Did the admin have the power to fire them? Sure. Did they have to fire them with the reason being they were performing poorly when they were getting rave reviews from their peers and managers prior to the firings? No. The admin should have just thanked them for their service and said goodbye. Unfortunately, they decided to make up an untruthful story as a reason. That is where they crossed the line.
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chuck-the-canuck8 months, 3 weeks ago
Just another skid mark, in the knickers of the McCain/Palin campaign. But, it wont make any difference to the republican base, considering their extreme tolerance for fecal matter.
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chuck-the-canuck8 months, 3 weeks ago
"stirred up the right wing lynch mob"
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I hope that both parties involved, have accepted the ramifications, of the actions required, to deal with a rabid dog. -
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cowboygrandpa8 months, 3 weeks ago
AntiNeoCon:
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McCain had to say Obama is a good man, how would it look if he were to lose to a guy he called a bad man. LOL
That would make him less than a bad man. This way when he loses he can say that he lost to a good man.
But I do agree with you, I give him credit for saying so. It almost was a sign of acknowledging defeat.
McCain steps in so much poo poo he wears peel away plastic liners on the bottoms of his shoes. LOL
Good one Anti NeoCon.
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not2needy8 months, 3 weeks ago
Happy Day! Put some Tide in the wash and everything comes out!
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She shouldn't have used her position to get revenge. God don't like ugly! -
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david_nwpa8 months, 3 weeks ago
Her reasons for firing the commissioner do not gel with the "real reason" the man was dismissed. She claimed he was let go over a budget dispute. Seems to me like it must have been a pretty important dispute to fire the commissioner over the budget. As she has a record of firing people whom she does not like, this scandal certainly does not add to her credibility. In terms of the election it definitely does not boost her claim that she has positive governing experience.
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fsev418 months, 3 weeks ago
Primary reason given for the budget excuse was that the commissioner took two trips to Washington that she didn't authorize. There are however travel vouchers signed by her chief of staff authorizing the trips. More lies from Sarah. And using Todd to push for the firing of Wooten makes her look like Karl Rove. Get someone else to do the dirty work and claim you knew nothing.
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Spadecaller8 months, 3 weeks ago
She's a wolf killing control freak lacking in morality and family values; a perfect GOP running mate for McLame. The investigation was initiated and directed by Alaskan Republicans; but that won't matter to the spinners and propagandists who will blame the Democrats for revealing the truth about their inappropriate candidate.
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hefaa18 months, 3 weeks ago
ABUSE OF POWER!
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Further proof Palin is just George W. Bush in Drag. Stop McCain/Palin NOW before they occupy the White House -
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cowboygrandpa8 months, 3 weeks ago
Wow and people thought Hillary was bad ???? Palin is an example of power corrupting. The more power the more corruption.
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Lets see she calls her self a Christian has an affair, lies about things to profit and gain, abuses her political office for personal gain, and if you don't call revenge personal gain you don't know revenge.
She hasn't a clue about what being a V.P. is all about. Would be the weakest link ever in the chain of command and yet is put on the ticket.
Hmmmmm ??? Do you think McCain knows that if he wins the presidency no one would dare try to remove him from office because of who would succeed him ????? Kind of like GW Bush picking Cheney. Bush is the as* but Cheney is the complete colon and as* hole. Full of crap and ready to spew it everywhere. LOL-
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spkguy8 months, 3 weeks ago
Cowboy good points! BUT......
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"Actuarial tables inform us that a man aged 72 has about a 15 percent chance of not surviving four years and about a 32 percent chance (about 1 in 3) of not surviving eight years (Social Security Administration 2004 actuarial tables). These statistics do not take into account the fact that John McCain has battled melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, since 1993, when he had a melanoma removed from his arm. In 2000, two more melanomas were removed plus a lymph node. In 2002, a lesion removed from his nose was identified as a non-malignant form of melanoma.
A recent study concluded that "those with skin cancer ran twice the risk of developing other forms of cancer" (Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston). This should give us pause when we note that, if John McCain is elected president, just a heart-beat away from the presidency is Sarah Palin.
ONE HEART BEAT AWAY!
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Grrr8 months, 3 weeks ago
While McCain finally showed some much-lacking signs of real class yesterday, Palin continues to be so freaking ignorant and self-absorbed as to be the concrete boots on this ticket that is hopefully going down for the last time.
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I'm glad the panel was bipartisan and unanimous. That should put at least a modicum of brakes on the shills.-
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wtagg8 months, 3 weeks ago
I think that was a glimpse of the real McCain. His handlers probably read him the riot act when he got off stage because he had a crowd leaning and he put the kibosh on it.
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It points to what our political system has become. All about advisers and handlers pulling the strings of the puppet.
And yes, it goes for both parties.
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cloud158 months, 3 weeks ago
I really think that Palin has been a disaster for McCain. When I first heard of it I thought, oh that seems like a good choice. Appeals to women, the base and even some independents. But it seems that none of that has happened, besides the base. The base didn't need to be re-energized IMO. They in no way were going to vote for Obama regardless of the VP pick. McCain should have picked someone who really appealed to the independents, maybe even a democrat to show he was willing to reach across the party lines.
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mntnman4448 months, 3 weeks ago
Well,that's what happens when you put party before country.
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wtagg8 months, 3 weeks ago
Actually, it has been very good for the media and that is what really is driving the political system right now. The media was probably very disappointed with Biden. He has done interviews that are probably 20 to 1 in number compared to Palin, but you never see any word on those. He is uninteresting. Palin is interesting. Maybe not necessarily good for VP, but as a candidate, she is the best thing going as far as the media goes.
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McCain should have done whatever it took to completely distance him from the admin. That is a boat anchor that he cannot now remove. -
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reallypsst8 months, 3 weeks ago
He was looking to gain the support of white women that voted for hillary but it back fired when he got that woman that called Obama a arab the red neck vote lol!!!
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pc258 months, 3 weeks ago
The PDF report
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http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/10/16/Branchfl...
For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides
The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.
I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.
AGAIN
Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.-
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Beau78908 months, 3 weeks ago
AGAIN
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It's not about the fact she fired Monegan, or wanted to fire Wooten.
It's about HOW and WHY she pressured Monegan to fire Wooten. It's about abuse of her elected power for personal gain.
Do you really want yet another elected government official who does that?
Before you start, if you have EVIDENCE that Barack Obama abused his power as an elected official for his own personal gain, please let me know. Chances are, they're allegations that have never been backed up by facts or confirmed by an official investigation.
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pc258 months, 3 weeks ago
THE Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan. The report also illustrates what we’ve known all along: this was a partisan led inquiry run by Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern regarding Trooper Wooten given his violent and rogue behavior. Lacking evidence to support the original Monegan allegation, the Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact. The Governor is looking forward to cooperating with the Personnel Board and continuing her conversation with the American people regarding the important issues facing the country.
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fsev418 months, 3 weeks ago
When you quote an article quotation marks or a cite of the article are appropriate. Your post is part of a statement released by the McCain campaign. There was never any question that Palin had the right to reassign or fire Monegan. The question was did she try to have Trooper Wooten fired by exercising her authority over Monegon as a "hammer" to force him to fire Wooten in violation of state personnel policies and ethical regulations.
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The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the legislative investigation was appropriate (not an "overreach" as the article claims). Perhaps the McCain campaign should allow the Alaskans to interpret their own laws.
The Personnel Board that Sarah has agreed to cooperate with is a three member board that she appointed. That they will try to frame as a bi-partisan investigation I'm sure. Hogwash!!!
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jeffieny8 months, 3 weeks ago
Can't imagine what this Commissioner and Trooper had to go through (Just to see his children.)
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Such attack could have happened to any one of us for any possible reason!
They may want something belong to you or deny your rights in their favor.
Very frightening to have such abusive people in power.
Do Something People, it is serious. Look at the mass we are in.
They ate up the country to the bones. -
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Harbeas8 months, 3 weeks ago
As I have stated earlier, don't waste my time with this bs. There isn't but a handful of politicians who do not have some dirty laundry somewhere. I want a problem solver and decision maker in the white house. As long as they are solving the problems that face this nation, I could care less whether they had a friend who was of questionable character or belonged to a independant party.
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Searchbeam8 months, 3 weeks ago
Palin just lost whatever little credibility she had before this report came out.
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I wonder how the McPain campaign is going to cover her bu** now!
It will be a monumental task, no doubt about it!
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