Palin already "above the law"

[quade 4]

Doesn't she know that she's supposed to wait until she's elected first?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/palin.investigation/index.html

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[popsjumper 2]

Whoa! Hold on here!

A trooper threatens someone and shouldn't be fired for it? WHO'S above the law?
(The article doesn't mention the nature of the "threat".)

Wooten's superiors refuse to fire him? Monegan refuses to follow up after being told by HIS superiors to do so?
Where does Monegan think he fits in the chain of command here? Must think he's autonomous.

That the "threat" was directed at a Palin relative is of no consequence here except that it reeks of political stink.

Monegan was fired for reason...and in my mind it should be strictly for the insubordnation. The other listed valid reasons simply add to his screw-ups. That he was offered another position is what stinks here.

Spin doctors are great fun!

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[TankBuster 0]

Yeah this one IS great fun. The spin doctors want you to think Wooten's just a normal guy that Palin wanted to fire for revenge. He threatened to kill her father. The investigation by his superiors confirmed that and that he drank beer on duty in a patrol car. He illegally shot a moose, and he tasered the step-son. (not maliciously, but against policy) This guy is scum.

I see reason for DEMANDING he be fired for a threat against the first family. Why all the hoopla?

The forecast is mostly sunny with occasional beer.

[Rookie120 0]

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I see reason for DEMANDING he be fired for a threat against the first family. Why all the hoopla?

Because there is an R in front of her name. Thats enough of a reason for the left.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Doesn't she know that she's supposed to wait until she's elected first?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/palin.investigation/index.html

desperation is a sad sad thing

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[idrankwhat 0]

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I see reason for DEMANDING he be fired for a threat against the first family. Why all the hoopla?

Because there is an R in front of her name. Thats enough of a reason for the left.

If I'm not mistaken, this investigation was already under way before she was nominated. The original date by which they were supposed to wrap up the investigation was some time around the last week of October. Not a good time to be dropping a verdict so they moved the date forward. If this is politically motivated with regard to the Presidential election then I'd have to say that I'm impressed that the Obama campaign new months ago that she needed to be targeted.
But more to the point, on what grounds is she saying that she doesn't have to cooperate with an investigation that was already in progress? That's got Rove written all over it.

[airdvr 210]

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I see reason for DEMANDING he be fired for a threat against the first family. Why all the hoopla?

Because there is an R in front of her name. Thats enough of a reason for the left.

If I'm not mistaken, this investigation was already under way before she was nominated. The original date by which they were supposed to wrap up the investigation was some time around the last week of October. Not a good time to be dropping a verdict so they moved the date forward. If this is politically motivated with regard to the Presidential election then I'd have to say that I'm impressed that the Obama campaign new months ago that she needed to be targeted.
But more to the point, on what grounds is she saying that she doesn't have to cooperate with an investigation that was already in progress? That's got Rove written all over it.

I love how French had already made up his mind on September 2nd.

French said Sept. 2 that the results of the investigation could constitute an "October surprise" for the McCain campaign.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[rushmc 23]

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I see reason for DEMANDING he be fired for a threat against the first family. Why all the hoopla?

Because there is an R in front of her name. Thats enough of a reason for the left.

If I'm not mistaken, this investigation was already under way before she was nominated. The original date by which they were supposed to wrap up the investigation was some time around the last week of October. Not a good time to be dropping a verdict so they moved the date forward. If this is politically motivated with regard to the Presidential election then I'd have to say that I'm impressed that the Obama campaign new months ago that she needed to be targeted.
But more to the point, on what grounds is she saying that she doesn't have to cooperate with an investigation that was already in progress? That's got Rove written all over it.

An Alsaka newspaper did an investigation into this. The paper reported that the issue is not the firing or any pressure to fire. The orginal investigation you post of is about release of some confidential documents.

Wootens boss has stated publicly and often that there was no pressure from Palin. The "pressure" is coming from the officers union for an investigation. More so about document release than process.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[livendive 8]

Quote

An Alsaka newspaper did an investigation into this. The paper reported that the issue is not the firing or any pressure to fire. The orginal investigation you post of is about release of some confidential documents.

Wootens boss has stated publicly and often that there was no pressure from Palin. The "pressure" is coming from the officers union for an investigation. More so about document release than process.

There are two things being investigated, an improper termination and a release of confidential information. The latter is the one being pressed by the police union. As for the claim that Wooten never felt improper pressure, it appears he would beg to differ with you.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

An Alsaka newspaper did an investigation into this. The paper reported that the issue is not the firing or any pressure to fire. The orginal investigation you post of is about release of some confidential documents.

Wootens boss has stated publicly and often that there was no pressure from Palin. The "pressure" is coming from the officers union for an investigation. More so about document release than process.

There are two things being investigated, an improper termination and a release of confidential information. The latter is the one being pressed by the police union. As for the claim that Wooten never felt improper pressure, it appears he would beg to differ with you.

Blues,
Dave

Then Wotten has now changed his story after 2 previous statements he has given before but, I do not know what is correct .... time will tell I guess.

By the way, ABC has not been unbiased in the reporting of this story since the begining so I give dam little credit to anything they "report"

And for the "improper" termination? WTF, his drinking in the car, tasering his step son and the treat to kill his x's dad are not in dispute. This union, and with any union, have an obligation to greeve any termination

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[livendive 8]

Quote

I love how French had already made up his mind on September 2nd.

French said Sept. 2 that the results of the investigation could constitute an "October surprise" for the McCain campaign.

You understand the meaning of the word, "could", right?

She first issued a blanket denial and agreed to cooperate with the Senate investigation. She then modified her denial and said there were contacts, and she could see how the serial nature of those contacts could be misconstrued, but she insisted they were innocent. She was then tapped as the VP candidate, and the investigators said that development would not change their schedule, which was on track to conclude prior to the Presidential election. Predictably, she then threw a private attorney into the mess, started claiming there was a jurisdictional problem with the investigators she'd already agreed to cooperate with, and she stopped cooperating with them.

Something stinks, and it seems to be coming from her general area.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[funjumper101 15]

Does anyone have a link to any information that supports Caribou Barbie's claim that her former brother in law threatened her father. The sentence in the CNN story reads>>>

The e-mails, which were released to reporters, show that Palin reported to Monegan that Wooten threatened her father.

<<<

She says he did. He (FBIL)says he didn't. Just because she says something doesn't make it true.

Funny how Rs refuse to cooperate with investigations.
To use the same line of reasoning righties use regarding warrantless wiretapping, etc, etc, if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. If she has nothing to hide, and really believes in transparent government, why doesn't she cut loose all of the email and cooperate with the investigation?

Rs certainly expect that kind of cooperation from Ds when they are doing the investigating...

[rushmc 23]

I read to this "Caribou Barbie's and stopped.

Your disrespect for those with whom you do not agree with is obvious and disgusting

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[livendive 8]

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Quote

Quote

An Alsaka newspaper did an investigation into this. The paper reported that the issue is not the firing or any pressure to fire. The orginal investigation you post of is about release of some confidential documents.

Wootens boss has stated publicly and often that there was no pressure from Palin. The "pressure" is coming from the officers union for an investigation. More so about document release than process.

There are two things being investigated, an improper termination and a release of confidential information. The latter is the one being pressed by the police union. As for the claim that Wooten never felt improper pressure, it appears he would beg to differ with you.

Blues,
Dave

Then Wotten has now changed his story after 2 previous statements he has given before but, I do not know what is correct .... time will tell I guess.

By the way, ABC has not been unbiased in the reporting of this story since the begining so I give dam little credit to anything they "report"

And for the "improper" termination? WTF, his drinking in the car, tasering his step son and the treat to kill his x's dad are not in dispute. This union, and with any union, have an obligation to greeve any termination

I screwed up the name...Monegan was the Public Safety Commissioner, Wooten is the cop. As far as I know, Monegan has maintained all along that he felt pressured by the Governor's office to re-open a closed investigation and fire Wooten. The improper termination wasn't Wooten, as far as I know he's still a cop. The improper termination charge refers to Monegan.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Quote

An Alsaka newspaper did an investigation into this. The paper reported that the issue is not the firing or any pressure to fire. The orginal investigation you post of is about release of some confidential documents.

Wootens boss has stated publicly and often that there was no pressure from Palin. The "pressure" is coming from the officers union for an investigation. More so about document release than process.

There are two things being investigated, an improper termination and a release of confidential information. The latter is the one being pressed by the police union. As for the claim that Wooten never felt improper pressure, it appears he would beg to differ with you.

Blues,
Dave

Then Wotten has now changed his story after 2 previous statements he has given before but, I do not know what is correct .... time will tell I guess.

By the way, ABC has not been unbiased in the reporting of this story since the begining so I give dam little credit to anything they "report"

And for the "improper" termination? WTF, his drinking in the car, tasering his step son and the treat to kill his x's dad are not in dispute. This union, and with any union, have an obligation to greeve any termination

I screwed up the name...Monegan was the Public Safety Commissioner, Wooten is the cop. As far as I know, Monegan has maintained all along that he felt pressured by the Governor's office to re-open a closed investigation and fire Woorten. The improper termination wasn't Wooten, as far as I know he's still a cop. The improper termination charge refers to Monegan.

Blues,
Dave

Ya, I was messing it up as well but, I think we are on the same page. But I think Wooten has been fired, but now I am not sure anymore.

This story has taken on a life of its own

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[airdvr 210]

Quote

Quote

I love how French had already made up his mind on September 2nd.

French said Sept. 2 that the results of the investigation could constitute an "October surprise" for the McCain campaign.

You understand the meaning of the word, "could", right?

She first issued a blanket denial and agreed to cooperate with the Senate investigation. She then modified her denial and said there were contacts, and she could see how the serial nature of those contacts could be misconstrued, but she insisted they were innocent. She was then tapped as the VP candidate, and the investigators said that development would not change their schedule, which was on track to conclude prior to the Presidential election. Predictably, she then threw a private attorney into the mess, started claiming there was a jurisdictional problem with the investigators she'd already agreed to cooperate with, and she stopped cooperating with them.

Something stinks, and it seems to be coming from her general area.

Blues,
Dave

Sure. It was a hramless statement...for which he later apologized.

There might be something there, maybe not. I think the timing of the report (Oct 31) is a little stinky too.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[livendive 8]

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But I think Wooten has been fired, but now I am not sure anymore.

This story has taken on a life of its own

According to this article in the Anchorage Daily News back in July, Wooten is/was still a cop. It also quotes Palin's spokeswoman as saying Frank Bailey never had a conversation with Monegan pressuring him to fire Wooten. We now know that was false.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[rushmc 23]

If Monegan is a cabnet member regardless of the issue would he not serve at the govs choice?

anyway, a recent article



Monegan accused of insubordination
TROOPERGATE: Governor's lawyer attempts to clear her of misconduct in the firing.

By WESLEY LOY
wloy@adn.com

Published: September 16th, 2008 12:36 AM
Last Modified: September 16th, 2008 01:47 AM

Walt Monegan lost his job as public safety director because he resisted Gov. Sarah Palin's budget policies and showed "outright insubordination," say papers the governor's lawyer filed Monday with the state Personnel Board.

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It was Palin's strongest effort yet to snuff allegations she sacked Monegan because he refused to fire a state trooper involved in an ugly divorce with the governor's sister.

Along with the papers filed Monday were a slew of e-mails from the governor's office purporting to show Monegan's "rogue mentality" as a member of Palin's Cabinet.

In one message, the governor's budget director, Karen Rehfeld, wrote that she was "stunned and amazed" that Monegan appeared to be working with a powerful state legislator, Anchorage Republican Rep. Kevin Meyer, to seek funding for a project Palin previously had vetoed.

To coincide with Monday's filing, spokesmen for the Republican national ticket of John McCain and Palin, his vice presidential running mate, held an Anchorage press conference touting the "important new information" they said cleared Palin of misconduct in what has come to be known as Troopergate.

Monegan, reached Monday at his Chugiak home, said he was dismayed at the attack on his record as Palin's public safety commissioner.

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"In my mind, I've always been a team player," he said.

He chalked up Palin's filing to an old adage: "The best defense is a good offense."

State legislators have hired a former state prosecutor to investigate whether Palin or her aides abused their powers in the Troopergate affair, which has attracted national media attention because of the governor's fast political rise.

Last week, a legislative committee voted to issue more than a dozen subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify. Palin won't get one, but her husband, Todd, will.

Ed O'Callaghan, a spokesman for the McCain-Palin campaign, said Monday the governor is "unlikely to cooperate" with the investigation.

The Palins have complained for years that state trooper Mike Wooten is still on the force, and the papers filed Monday again pound on the trooper's "documented acts of violence and other improper conduct," including what Palin contends was a threat to kill her father.

'PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY'

The governor's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, argues in a 19-page brief that even if the governor had asked Monegan flatly to fire Wooten -- which she denies doing -- that wouldn't constitute a violation of the state Ethics Act "because the public generally shares a common interest in public order and safety."

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."

Van Flein filed the papers in support of the governor's request that the Personnel Board drop an ethics complaint that Palin lodged against herself on Sept. 2.

Wooten's union also has filed an ethics complaint against Palin.

The papers filed Monday accuse Monegan, during his time as public safety commissioner, of "an escalating pattern of insubordination on budget and other key policy issues."

THE LAST STRAW

In pursuing his own goals for the Department of Public Safety, Monegan "sought out the governor's political opponents behind her back," Van Flein wrote, and in December 2007 he "unilaterally orchestrated a press conference" on his budget with state Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat who is leading the Troopergate investigation.

On May 7 of this year, Randy Ruaro, the governor's deputy chief of staff, complained in an e-mail to Rehfeld, the budget director, that Monegan's department "is constantly going off the reservation."

"The last straw" leading up to Monegan's firing, Van Flein wrote, was Monegan's planned trip to Washington, D.C., to seek funding for a new, multimillion-dollar sexual assault initiative the governor hadn't yet approved.

Monegan, in an interview Monday, said that the papers the governor's lawyer filed are selective and he's provided other documentation to the legislative investigator, Steve Branchflower, that will provide a more balanced portrayal of his time as commissioner.

As for why he was fired, Monegan said he believes it was his failure to fire trooper Wooten.

"Sadly, yes, I do," he said, citing the July 17, 2007, e-mail as the sort of tacit pressure he said he received repeatedly from Palin and her husband

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[livendive 8]

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Quote

Quote

I love how French had already made up his mind on September 2nd.

French said Sept. 2 that the results of the investigation could constitute an "October surprise" for the McCain campaign.

You understand the meaning of the word, "could", right?

She first issued a blanket denial and agreed to cooperate with the Senate investigation. She then modified her denial and said there were contacts, and she could see how the serial nature of those contacts could be misconstrued, but she insisted they were innocent. She was then tapped as the VP candidate, and the investigators said that development would not change their schedule, which was on track to conclude prior to the Presidential election. Predictably, she then threw a private attorney into the mess, started claiming there was a jurisdictional problem with the investigators she'd already agreed to cooperate with, and she stopped cooperating with them.

Something stinks, and it seems to be coming from her general area.

Blues,
Dave

Sure. It was a hramless statement...for which he later apologized.

There might be something there, maybe not. I think the timing of the report (Oct 31) is a little stinky too.

His Republican counterpart, Jay Ramras, also used the phrase "October surprise" . . . in saying why they moved the completion date UP from Oct 31 to Oct 10 to AVOID the appearance of a last minute 'October Surprise'.

Source

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

I read to this "Caribou Barbie's and stopped.

Your disrespect for those with whom you do not agree with is obvious and disgusting

Its not just with those whom he does not agree. These sorts of comments go deeper and into the heart of the problem, which would be a disrespect for women.

Its on the same level as using racial slurs in regards to Obama.

Either way, its disgusting from both sides of the political isle in regards to both persons.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

I read to this "Caribou Barbie's and stopped.

Your disrespect for those with whom you do not agree with is obvious and disgusting

Its not just with those whom he does not agree. These sorts of comments go deeper and into the heart of the problem, which would be a disrespect for women.

Its on the same level as using racial slurs in regards to Obama.

Either way, its disgusting from both sides of the political isle in regards to both persons.

Agreed

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[idrankwhat 0]

Quote

Either way, its disgusting from both sides of the political isle in regards to both persons.

I agree but I do think it's odd that few were upset about sexism when the bombs being dropped by the press were about someone with "cankles" being called "witchy" and a "stereotypical bitch" and "emasculating" while taking over 700 words to discuss her cleavage.
Beware of weeping reptiles.

[livendive 8]

Quote

Quote

I read to this "Caribou Barbie's and stopped.

Your disrespect for those with whom you do not agree with is obvious and disgusting

Its not just with those whom he does not agree. These sorts of comments go deeper and into the heart of the problem, which would be a disrespect for women.

Its on the same level as using racial slurs in regards to Obama.

Either way, its disgusting from both sides of the political isle in regards to both persons.

Why is "Caribou Barbie" offensive? She's a beauty pageant queen with a degree in journalism who worked as a television sports reporter before becoming mayor of a small Alaskan town. It seems to me perfectly reasonable to comment on her appearance, given that it's been a significant factor in her success.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[AggieDave 6]

It implies a lack of intelligence...ok, wait, do you seriously not get it? Whens the last time you took a sexual harassment class?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

Quote

I read to this "Caribou Barbie's and stopped.

Your disrespect for those with whom you do not agree with is obvious and disgusting

Its not just with those whom he does not agree. These sorts of comments go deeper and into the heart of the problem, which would be a disrespect for women.

Its on the same level as using racial slurs in regards to Obama.

Either way, its disgusting from both sides of the political isle in regards to both persons.

Why is "Caribou Barbie" offensive? She's a beauty pageant queen with a degree in journalism who worked as a television sports reporter before becoming mayor of a small Alaskan town. It seems to me perfectly reasonable to comment on her appearance, given that it's been a significant factor in her success.

Blues,
Dave

Do you think it was meant with respect?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln