Palin abused power in firing, Alaska panel finds

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by flopstock

Couple of questions from the back row....

Trooper Wooten

Was he fired? By anyone? Or did this investigation spring up immediately after Monegan's dismissal and so nothing has been done on that item? Or was he fired by the next folks in?

Wasn't this investigation started before she joined the ticket? That would mean that this can not be set aside as simply a dastardly obama camp strategic campaign move. Alaska was interested when she was simply a gov, correct?

And doesn't every politician being investigated claim it is politically motivated?

I'm more interested in the financial issues and issues of war and peace. But, knock off the politics of reform already... there just is no such political animal - except paul..

From my flawed memory:
No, he wasn't fired & still works, to my knowledge.
Yes. Yes.
Yes
Yes, I agree.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by along-for-the-ride

Your post deserves a re-read, Accountable. It is a true observation.

Thanks!

[QUINNSCOMMENTARY]

Originally Posted by yaaarrrgg

Well, unsurprisingly, the final report has come through, and shows what most everyone with two working eyeballs could see. Palin abused her power trying to carry out a personal vendetta against her sister's ex husband. Big surprise there.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/palin_troopergate

My thought is first ... so what? Why did she lie about this all? She would have been smarter to have just admitted to it early on and chalk it up to ignorance. She's obviously ignorant about laws, so most people would probably understand.

But never worry... Palin released her own report that clears herself of any wrong doing. I didn't know you could do that, due to, well, an obvious conflict of interest. But nevertheless, the make-your-own-reality anti-intellectual conspiracy theorists can choose to read something more pleasant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/...troopergate_24

Interesting though the overlap with the Bush doctrine ... the original one before 9/11. They believed they could "create their own reality" by saying something long enough. Feeding something to the media, then repeating it as fact. I think that only works with about 30% of the population though.

With so much to worry about these days, who really cares, every politician uses their power and influence that's why they keep running for re-election so they have the power to use (or abuse depending on your point of view). I use my power and influence every day at work, who doesn't when they can?

The real issue is that it is getting harder to differentiate between the real Palin and the one on SNL.

PS Has anyone visited my Blog on FG?

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by QUINNSCOMMENTARY

With so much to worry about these days, who really cares, every politician uses their power and influence that's why they keep running for re-election so they have the power to use (or abuse depending on your point of view). I use my power and influence every day at work, [...]

Do you use it for personal unethical gain? That's what she's accused of.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Accountable

Yes it is. Watch and learn, Skittles. You'll see it over and over again at work and in politics, but especially in politics. People who have made up their minds one way or the other go about finding any shred of evidence to prove they are right, ignoring or discounting any evidence to the contrary. They put their blinders on and away they go in opposite directions:

• See? She abused her power as governor. That PROVES that she's just like bush and will nuke Iran without provocation so her oil cronies can make billions!
• See? The firing was lawful. All this talk about pressure is total lies made up because she's pretty. She should be sainted for doing the right thing.

The real ugliness is when people start letting their emotions further fog their vision, such as when people who used to list valid disagreements with her policy and opinions start calling her names like winky, cheerleader, annoying b*tch.

Remember this when you see it again, and don't let yourself get sucked into the hype - of either side.

Wait a second acc....why is breaking public trust a pointless subject ?
Im not suggesting shes the boogy man for doing a human thing but its certainly worth the mention.
Was the inquiry itself pointless ?
Where do you draw the line ?
Id be asking the same questions no matter who it was because it speaks to character.

[qsducks]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Wait a second acc....why is breaking public trust a pointless subject ?
Im not suggesting shes the boogy man for doing a human thing but its certainly worth the mention.
Was the inquiry itself pointless ?
Where do you draw the line ?
Id be asking the same questions no matter who it was because it speaks to character.

And she has the gall to run around this country calling Obama not an honest man. Jeeze

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Wait a second acc....why is breaking public trust a pointless subject ?
Im not suggesting shes the boogy man for doing a human thing but its certainly worth the mention.
Was the inquiry itself pointless ?
Where do you draw the line ?
Id be asking the same questions no matter who it was because it speaks to character.

Ya'll make it sound like "Gee, I'd really like to vote for McCain, but for that VP pick."

My bro Nomad, you're the only one I know of who gave positive reasons why we should vote for Obama. Virtually all the rest from everyone else has been reasons to vote against Palin. Not McCain; Palin.

[Nomad]

[quote=Accountable;1016906]Ya'll make it sound like "Gee, I'd really like to vote for McCain, but for that VP pick."

Its not that. We have a right to know what were getting. I could see past the incident, its not a deal breaker but after hopping on board the McCain train the way they tucked her away was nothing short of hiding in order to protect McCain.
Id have admired her if shed been forth right.
Sneaking around reeks of Bush tactics and it lacks character.
She can call herself a maverick but only when it suits her.
No malice here but the whole thing has a stink on it.

[yaaarrrgg]

The bad thing about Palin, is this report shows a stitch in bad pattern.

She systematically gets rid of people that raise ethical or legal objections to her ideas. For example in the book banning case, she fired the librarian (before public outcry forced her to rehire her... eventually she resigned). After the Librarian raised the objection that Palin's suggested action was unconstitutional.

In Monegan's case, she offered him another job, because he was supposedly doing such a bad job. That makes sense. Note the person that replaced Monegan was also under investigation for abuse of power.

The person at the top sets the tone for the administration.

My understanding is that executive and police agencies operate separately (or are supposed to) to distribute powers. When someone has the power to ruin your life, just because you break up with their relative, it's too much power and corrupting. When people say ... "so what .. she used the police as a political arm" ... it's a lot like when people said "so what ... politicians need to spy on us to keep us safe." Or "so what if judges are hired based on their political affiliations." The conflict of interest and centralization of power is of course corrupting.

If she just acknowledged the mistake, apologized, and moved on, I really wouldn't hold it against her. After all she is a political amateur, and has lots to learn. When McCain was at the same point in his career he made even worse mistakes. But she is defiant, and creating an alternate reality of events. I'm seriously concerned she's a nutter with a persecution complex. If she is not lying ... and seriously believes her own story.

I think Lincoln summed it up best when he said if you want to see a person's character, give them power.

[Accountable]

Point taken, but you've mischaracterized the cop situation (and the librarian one as well, but I'd have to read more on it & don't have time). It wasn't a case of a simple breakup. The cop was abusive and made threats.

It doesn't alter your point, but you shouldn't make light of it.