Palin vs. Monegan Ethics investigation

[audtatious]

So, the media continues to "play up" the Alaska ethics investigation concerning Palin firing the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (Walt Monegan). The insinuation the media is portraying is that the firing of Monegan was due to his failure to fire Palin's X-brother in-law following the divorce to her sister.

The facts as entered into court is that he was offered another position within the administration due to disagreements with Monegan about budget policy which went against Palins stated priorities and goals. Monegan was offered the new position but turned it down and as a result he left the administration.

Furthermore, presented to the court is background on the X-brother in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten:

- during a domestic dispute with Palins sister (feb 17, 2005), while wearing his fire arm, he threatened to kill Palins father by making him "eat a ****ing lead bullet"

- Her sister obtained a Domestic Violence Protective Order against Wooten on April 11,2005

- Since Wooten was a state trooper an internal investigation was started as required by law

- Unhappy with the way the poice investigators were handling the investigation (not recording all statements nor talking with all witnesses), the Palins hired a private investigator to conduct interviews which the police would not

- Regardless of the negligent police investigation, Colonel Julia Grimes still made investigative findings about Wooten that demonstrated his inappropriate behavior and determined that Wooten had exhibited a "serious and concentrated pattern of unacceptable and at times, illegal activity" and while threatening to fire Wooten he gave him a "last warning". Grimes found that Wooten had violated several depatment policies:a) Wooten used a Taser on his ten-year-old stepsonb) Wooten illegally shot a moose, though his job involved enforcing wildlife lawsc) Wooten drank beer in his patrol car and drove under the influence of alcohold) wooten told others his father-in-law would "eat a ****ing lead bullet" if he helped his daughter get an attorney for divorce

- Wooten was suspended for 10 days which was reduced to 5 based upon a union appeal.

- The Palin family did not find out about the above results of the investigation until _after_ Commissioner Monegan had been replaced as the decision had not been released

You can read the whole thing here:http://www.politico.com/static....html

[HashiriyaS14]

I will admit that "Troopergate" is a load of malarky, or at least it appears to be.

The Democrats can't control the media, but at least for their OWN statements, they need to steer clear of this and other sensationalist Palin "issues".

They should also NOT attack her for her lack of experience, as the media will do that for them. Biden can barely talk to her in the debates, the media will do the real damage when they smash her for being unable to go off-message.

The real key to this election, as was made clear last night, is to make the GOP pay for their reliance on social issues. Contrary to how they may think, they are NOT in the majority in this country on their social stances and continued pandering to certain contingents of their base will doom them. The Democrats need to make the public associate McCain/Palin with pro-life, pro-censorship, and an integration of church and state.

The BEST WAY for the Democrats to do this is to adopt centrist positions, which will force the GOP even further to the right in an attempt to differentiate themselves. If Obama claims a sensible, centrist stance on guns, McCain/Palin has no choice but to claim a crazy "all or nothing" stance, which won't win them many votes.

Likewise, if Obama comes across with a Clintonian, relatively moderate stance on abortion, it will highlight just how extreme Palin's stance on that issue is.

Force the GOP to the right and they lose, let them take the center and they win.

[audtatious]

While McCain has made some steps "right" on certain topics I do not see him changing any more positions. If I am correct then Palin placates those who will be pissed at him for following his own path.

[rn79870]

Actually, if you investigate it (there is a you tube video), she LIED to the public when pressed about it. It's that LIE thing again. America rightly hates liars, and apparently, she told a blooper.

[Soravia]

What about Mr. Obama? He went on TV and said two VERY different things about Rev. Wright, someone he was close to for 20 years. Any better?

[audtatious]

That's OK, Obama gets a pass....

Bob, link to her lie? I have not seen it.

[szh]

Actually, if you investigate it (there is a you tube video), she LIED to the public when pressed about it. It's that LIE thing again. America rightly hates liars, and apparently, she told a blooper.

Really? Do you have a link to prove this charge? You are making a pretty serious statement here and you need to be sure of your facts ...

Z

[HashiriyaS14]

While McCain has made some steps "right" on certain topics I do not see him changing any more positions. If I am correct then Palin placates those who will be pissed at him for following his own path.

Yeah, but my point is that the "pissed" people didn't need to be placated, as they were going to vote for McCain anyway. He should have picked a pro-choice VP, and I think he'll realize that roundabout the middle of October, if he hasn't already.

This is NOT a comment regarding Palin's experience or credentials, this comment is purely one regarding political strategy. I think McCain is playing to the wrong people and chasing the wrong votes. I don't think her social stances would be any less divisive if she'd been governor of, say, Colorado, with a dozen years of tenure.

I would have gone with Tom Ridge, personally.

[Soravia]

You know, I have seen A LOT of women protesting in front of an abortion clinic on my weekend drives down University Blvd S.

[szh]

You know, I have seen A LOT of women protesting in front of an abortion clinic on my weekend drives down University Blvd S.

Ummm ... ok, wrong of them (IMHO - others may disagree), but what does this have to do with the original post in this thread?

Z