Sarah Palin Unlawfully Abused Her Power
Bipartisan vote to release this, 12-0.
Report is here.
The findings:
1. For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violated Alaska Statue 39/52/110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides
The legislature reaffirms that every 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.
2. I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooter 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.
3. Harbor Adjustment Service of Anchorage, and its owner Ms. Murleen Wilkes, handled Trooper Michael Wooten’s workers’ compensation claim properly and in the normal course of business like any other claim process by Harbor Adjustment Service and Ms. Wilkes. Further, Trooper Wooten received all the workers’ compensation benefits to which he was entitled.
4. The Attorney General’s office has failed to substantially comply with my August 6, 2008 written request to Governor Sarah Palin for information about the case in the form of emails.
JimWhite gets to the guts of the abuse of power argument.
The meat of the abuse charge, from page 66:
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. She had the authority and power to require Mr. Palin to case contacting subordinates, but she failed to act.
Such impermissible and repeated contacts create conflicts of interests for subordinate employees who must choose to either please a superior or run the risk of facing that superior’s displeasure and the possible consequences of such displeasure. This was one of the very reasons the Ethics Act was promulgated by the Legislature.
I downloaded it – 2.0 mb. The four findings are on page 8:
1. She abused her executive power
2. She could fire Monegan
3. Harbor Adjustment handled Wooten’s workman’s comp claim legally
4. AK AG Colberg has not yet complied with the requirements of the Branchflower Commission’s needs.
A quick scan and I think the big news is that she abused power. There doesn’t seem to be any punishment in there. I only saw a few things about amending laws. Also, the AG of Alaska appears to have withheld her emails, a la Gonzo.
The legislature can’t prosecute.
No, it’d be a violation of the Alaska Ethics Act. See p. 65.
Abused her power, broke no law? That’s the CNN headline.
It is awful that she abused her power. Just because the trooper was married to her sister and tasered her 10 year old son and threatened to kill the Gov’s father is no reason Gov. Palin or her husband Todd should get so worked up. I don’t understand why this fact is NEVER mentioned. Seems such a minor infraction for a State Trooper to TASER a small boy!!!! Have I missed something?????
From what I heard the 10 year old begged and begged to be tasered and it was a tester taser not the police taser.
Yes, it was freakin’ terrible:
Got anything else you need cleared up?
Yes, you missed that those issues were litigated an addressed to finality, including punishment, within the framework of Alaskan law by the appropriate State police review board. But then you know that, you just want to rant a bunch of BS it would appear.
Yes.
You’ve missed the report finding that the Palin’s never feared Wooten.
yeah, you’re missing a BIG something
maybe your mother never taught you this (and shame on her for failing as a mother)
TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT
jebus
I can’t believe I have to explain that one to adults …
me ???
if someone like me has gotta splain that to you, you probably got some deeper problems too
You weren’t; you were explaining it to a dolt.
um, yeah, quite a bit, actually.
this was a divorce, and those issues were generally being addressed within that context.
still, monegan had acted on the original complaints against wooten, found a couple valid, the rest not, and suspended him without pay for 10 days.
that was it. case closed. then when palin took office, with the renewed position of power, she took up the issue again, even though the case was over.
take note; if wooten is such a dreadful guy, the judge in the matter is not so convinced, as she allows him open visitation rights without supervision. that judge also forbade the palin family from harassing wooten, which this report now exposes they violated. this may lead to wooten gaining full custody of the kids.
if wooten is really that bad, it’s hard to believe this judge would allow him to have custody.
and oh yeah, much of what you have listed as accusations wooten has denied.
not that i am enamored of the guy, mind you. but one must consider the facts.
Thanks ew.
digg
Looks like Malibu Ken and Barbie got just a little too mavericky!
Caribou Ken and Barbie
Cariboubie?
Cariboobie?
Yeh, better. Thx!
wow.. banner orange headline atop Faux News website:
“Alaska Legislative Panel Finds Sarah Palin Abused Her Power in Trooper Case”
What? They all of a sudden woke up and discovered that they’re supposed to be a news organization? Come on.. where’s the “Panel Finds Sarah Palin Broke No Law” that we all expected to see?
That’s the importance of the 12-0 vote to release the report, I think.
CNN is saying that she didn’t break any laws. Guess they aren’t aware of the ethics statutes in Alaska or the ethics of journalism.
yeah.. I kind of expected Faux just to say that’.. I’m just shocked that they decided to go with an honest headline, that’s all. Anyway, hopefully Faux deciding to report the story will cause one or more wingnuts to stay home on the 4th.
The meat of the abuse charge, from page 66:
I think this is why McCain flip-flopped today and decided Obama’s a decent person. The bulldog in lipstick just got fixed.
That would explain that, wouldn’t it? Exit stage right, Cariboubie!
Now all she can do is run to the end of her chain and bark.
is it clear yet what Branchflower’s concerns were wrt to Wilkes honesty ?
love, love, love, that McCrazies commandeering the State gave us the 12-0 decision
That is a particularly tasty element of this schadenfreude pie.
Sounds like she is roadkill now.
sorry guys
princess pandora ain’t goin anywhere
why don’t you believe me ???
goddess chose princess palin as the vessel to destroy the hate mongering repuglitard party. sarah palin wouldn’t admit defeat even when she ends up fighting dobson for the last bone in the repuglitard pot
And I was hoping it was my open letter to Sen McCain last night.
Look at the fourth finding in the original PDF: the indent and kerning are different than the other three findings on the same page. I bet that last finding got changed in the legislative council meeting and was retyped to read as it does now. Did Branchflower agree to these changes, I wonder?
Don’t know–I wonder if there was something classified in there they had to type over?
There’s stink already about Todd cooperating, so that may have changed in the last day, since Todd released his affy.
Anything in there about Todd Palin having access to personnel files?
page 97
Lawrence O’Donnell says this completely knocks her off her role as hatchet man. She can’t go on questioning whether or not Obama can be trusted.
Aw. Darn. And I’d been so enjoying that.
Can’t wait to see VP candidate Lieberman start whipping the crowds into a red-meat fury.
I used to think they would take Palin off the ticket but what would that do to the women that are the backbone of the agressive conservative followers?
Lawrence O’Donnell says this completely knocks her off her role as hatchet man. She can’t go on questioning whether or not Obama can be trusted.
In that case, she should just pack it up and head back to Wasilla.
What else is she good for?
Inciting mob violence and political assassinations?
Inciting mob violence and political assassinations?
I think she could do that much more comfortably from home.
And get paid a per diem while doing it. *g*
Kinda like a phone sex job. Hey, I think we’ve found her calling for her!
With that voice? And with that doggone you betcha? Guys must be weirder than I thought.
Say it ain’t so beeeeeeetch!
She will, her capacity for lying is up to rethug standards.
Sarah Palin Press Conference scheduled for exactly when now?
The one where she steps down and Kaybee Hutchison takes over?
Oh, what I would give for that to come true. We’d get a special election that the Dems would have a chance at winning.
teehee.
Two weeks from never.
Sarah, no time is a good time for goodbyes. But for you, we can make an exception. Crazy John and Killer Joe Scarborough are singing the blues for their lost love. “The dream won’t come true.”
this may explain some of their recent campaign freak-out/meltdown, trying anything that will distract from this.
I actually think this might be why McCain decided Obama was a decent person.
The legislators got this yesterday. So one of them could have called Palin to tell her. It changes the way McCain can run–if he can.
Ooooooh! I do believe I’m having a schadenfreude right this very minute!
Man, I could use a cigarette.
And I don’t even smoke.
I like how Branchflower spelled out very early in the report the limitations under Alaska Statutes 39.25.080 and 39.25.900 he faced with handling confidential personnel files.
Because if the stories are correct that Caribou Barbie gave Sloper Ken access to personnel files, she’s violated those statutes.
As Branchflower helpfully pointed out,
Now back to reading the report, wonder if the Panel recognized this at all…
Thank you Rayne…I was waiting for some comment about those curiously accessible personnel files.
ooh ooh. automatically?
this needs to be highlighted. big time.
Page 61
(My Bold)
I think Colberg is gone, definitely (thus the last finding here). Sarah, probably. But Colberg, definitely.
Who knew Palin’s career would crash and burn before Unkle Toobz?
Aren’t Friday Night Dumps amazing?
Hehehehehehe!!
Page 58:
Event 8
Monegan testified that a few days later, on February 13, 2007, he was in Juneau during the first legislative session greeting various legislators because he was up for confirmation as Commissioner of Public Safety. He stopped at Govenor Palin’s office to suggest she accompany him to wish Senator Lyman Hoffman birthday greetings. He explained what happend on the way to Senator Hoffman’s office:
Mr. Monegan: …So as we were walking down the stairs, the govenor mentioned to me, she says, I’d like to talk to you about Wooten.
And I said, ma’am, I need you to keep an arm’s length at this — on this issue. And if you have further complaints on him, I can deal with Todd on it.
And she goes, that’s a better idea.
(My Bold)
actually, upon further reflection this is just what the base wants: confirmation that she plays be their “rules”.
Bah hahahahahahaha! It’s so obvious to me that the first female republic VP would be found to have abused her power as Governor and is now possibly facing impeachment less than 2 year of being Governor!
Sometimes these right wing scripts just write themselves.
For some thing she started doing 1 month after becoming a Gov and if I have it right 2 years after the divorce of her sister. This lady holds grudges a long time. Talking on Larry King is it possible she will be impeached?
I know. Can you imagine her as the VP of the United States? She’d be Dick Cheney in drag! Gawd.
The Bushes & Cheney’s hold grudges against reporters and politicians a long time too.
Yes they do! Both McCain and Palin would be the Bush 3rd term. Scary to even think about what these assholes would project upon us after 8 years of obvious disdain for the American people by Bush & Cheney.
IMO, John would be ten times worse than bushco. McPalin is nuts. Bush might have picked evil as his VP but at least that evil is in possession of half a brain. With McPalin we’d be getting an old, sickly, diluded, cancer riddled old man and and bag of hammers who is capable of inciting violence against those she disagrees with.
and Poppy was always there to keep jr ,from pressing the big button
Exactly. She is the proverbial ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’. She has the ability to spread evil just by smiling and winking. Scary stuff.
OT but equally important for those who want Obama to be elected:
“As my CQ colleague Josh Rogin reports today, Pentagon officials have prepared a secret budget estimate that they plan to spring on the next president right before they leave town.”
They can take their secret budget estimate, put it where the sun doesn’t shine and then leave town.
That is a standard Pentagon technique where they throw in everything they ever wanted plus the kitchen sink. The Pentagon tries to make the argument that we need it all or we will all die. The problem is that once anyone starts looking at the specific programs and questioning their usefulness and price, it all falls apart. And it can actually make it easier to cut defense spending using the argument that clearly the Pentagon either has no priorities or no credibility in making them.
I get it, bush wants to make us all socialists.
Hit the road hack
and dontcha come back
no more no more no more
Think her negatives are going up (down)?
I guess its time for the Libby…I mean Palin defense fund.
Guess they want to get it all cleaned up with a pardon at Christmas…its a festivus miracle.
CNN headline, still:
Wonder who force-fed them that interpretation, huh? And how long they can make it last?
prolly the same person/s who prodded CNN to scream ACORN voter fraud all day long….
Mitt stage right
Short Ride
Which is perfect timing, with Milliken un-endorsing McCain today. As I pointed out, Milliken is more popular in MI than George Romney.
Did he? Do tell?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..011/626472
Ah, my bad, I thought it was Romney.
Here.
thx
That reminds me:
There was a woman on my train this evening, complaining that ‘both candidates are stupid’ and that she wanted someone who was good at economics, like Romney (!!). I think, from her subsequent remarks – she was talking on her cellphone, just a bit louder than necessary – that she’s probably LDS; she was saying that she was glad they had a year’s food supply.
(Not the brightest person around: she thinks that she’s lost money, even though she hasn’t sold out of her 401K, and was regretting not turning it into cash. Also sounded like she expects us to be into a barter economy before the month is out.
As my mother said, one time when people were panicking over the market, you haven’t lost any money until you sell the stuff for less than you paid.)
Alaska electorate to perform Palinectomy?
Just a footnote, Corporate lobbyist Tom Brokaw, said Troopergate was unimportant. Tom, you should return to The Home for Senile Fools.
“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.”
Expect the McCain campaign to hammer on that one sentence as exonerating Palin of all charges. And to repeat “partisan witch hunt” more often than “domestic terrorist”.
This is what the NYT is saying
She broke a law, clear and simple.
What is larry king going to look at…voter fraud (is it going to impact democrats chances).
Wow, suprise the media is out in front of a voter fraud story…thanks for 2000 and 2004.
Who wants to bet Sarah Palin will shift gears from Bill Ayers to the Alaskan Legislative Council now?
Nah, she’ll ignore it and keep throwing red meat (moose) at the base.
De Nile ain”t just a river in Egypt.
Ain’t up to her, it’s up to the RNC. See what they think.
IMO, they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
I’d call that “fucked,” then.
That works!
Xin Loi motherfuckers
Heh. They’ll get Colon Powell to do a character witness for Sarah.
Powell for VP??
Ha. He’s got a big enough a-hole to let them do it to him. But no, his uptight wife would veto it.
if powell becomes vp mccain gets an INCREDIBLE bump
he starts to win the swing voters
the progressives think powell abandoned his country but the swing voters do not know or understand this
they will think he is a great vp and they definately consider him presidential
I am hoping powell does not take the job if asked, I fear however he might think it will be his salvation, that he might correct the damage he’s caused
he might take the job
His wife vetoed running for prez. Veep has just as much exposure and no reward. Think there might be a skeleton in the closet, or worried about assassination.
I hope that remains the case ecahn, times have changed and powell has much to rue…he might see the light of vindication in a vice presidency
let’s hope he would not take it
powell would NEVER accept. period.
and as it happens, palin will not bow out. i don’t think she’d bow out even if mccain asked her to.
and mccain can’t ask her to because she’s all he’s got, she’s the only reason he has a base, and the base bosses would never allow.
yet another case of mccain painting himself in a corner with a risky crapshoot decision.
again, he would never take the job.
really. think about it.
powell would never do that.
never.
i do believe the man is done being stupid.
he’s expressed admiration for obama, and as close to disdain for this administration as he possibly can.
after the way mccain has mishandled his campaign, including the palin pick, and now that he’s losing, why would he say yes?
nope. powell is just not that stupid.
The republican party is fractured. Maybe he’d do it to bring the GOP back to the old party values before the right wing took over.
And to get back at bush/cheney…
‘How can you say that when just today he testified as a character witness at the corruption trial of Senator Toobz?
I wasn’t saying I wanted Powell to do that just that he may want to do a pay back to bush/cheney and he might think he could do it from the position of vp.
Also I am not defending Powell. I will never forget watching him hold that vial of real/fake anthrax at the Un and the guys behind him with their heads down, they knew he was lieing. I felt it when I first saw it and every time they replayed it. I have no respect foro him what so ever.
I can’t think of any repub I respect. I can’t even say Hagel who is the real maverick of the repub party.
I can’t think of any repub I respect.
sunshine, perhaps not you, but I’m respecting 8 Republican Alaskans in this moment. … just saying…
And let’s not forget that it was her own party that insisted on this investigation! They did the right thing from start to finish! And if they’ve done it this far, and now that eyes of the Nation continue upon them, I trust they will do the right thing all the way to the end.
Yes, we are on the same page. They did right. These eight of ten stood fast to those principles. There is something to be tapped here about being Americans and believing in the truth… be it justice or scientific method… I don’t think it is McCain’s “Country First”… it is truth first… that commitment to truth as the highest ideal and our best approximation of it in the moment.
I think someone much smarter than I am could put a bow on this and show how these twelve just did their job and didn’t pander… and it is symbolically twelve as in a jury… and they didn’t bow to delaying their job… they just spoke the truth. That truth doesn’t come from your party registration, or some such.
Hats off to Alaska. Other states would have been brought to their knees and released a report after the election.
Beautifully said. I have felt for a while that Alaska had the opportunity to lead the way in restoring the Rule of Law. Let is be so.
Yes, thank you, Alaska!
That’s nice–because they’re not sleeping tonight.
bmaz, You are right. I don’t even know their names but yes, I do respect those 8 Alaskan republicans. I think I will go learn their names, that’s the least I can do.
point to eCAHNomics
15-love
all he did was describe his experience of stevens. under subpoena. he did not volunteer for that role. and i daresay he was not interested in presenting anything questionable or inflammatory. and he may have had nothing but an honorable experience of the man.
does not corrupt him. not flattering, but does not corrupt him.
(gosh, i’m sounding like a huge powell fan, but …not! just don’t see this in his personality at all.)
Well, in a word, I think that is completely wrong. Powell was a defense witness and appeared voluntarily without subpoena as far as I can tell from the docket record, and has long been good friends with Stevens. Heh, as a rule, you just don’t see character witnesses, like Powell, subpoenaed. If they are there against their will, they simply will not be favorable character witnesses. You are going to need a new defense of Powell, that one is not going to fly.
ah. good point; mine was illogical.
the stevens appearance notwithstanding, my main point is i cannot see powell accepting a veep nomination, especially as a second string to fill in for palin, and especially for a losing ticket.
wasn’t really trying to defend the man. have some respect for the impossible position he was in with bush, but he could have shown more courage then.
Now that I agree with; no way Powell would sign on to McCain’s exploding freak show. I still think there is a chance Powell might even formally endorse Obama, although if Obama has a big lead he may see no necessity.
totally agree with that, too. he’s already spoken favorably about obama, and may not need to say any more. there are so many conservatives chiming in (chafee today, and he claims he knows tons who’ll remain quiet and vote obama) that he needn’t muddy any future waters for himself.
by signing up with a losing ticket??
talk about shooting himself in the foot!
honestly cannot see that.
now, lieberman on the other hand….
or foot, as the case may be, in mouth….
I don’t know; on the evidence, he’s pretty much Charlie Brown faced with Lucy and her football. I understand he testified today as a character witness for Ted Stevens.
And show some of the highlights of his UN presentation on Iraqi WMD to seal the deal credibility-wise.
Didn’t stop him at the Senator Toobz trial.
There’s enough in this finding that the Republiclans can spin this to the media that she has been exonerated. The crackerjack corporate media will nod their heads in agreement and walk away looking for another lead on the Ayers story.
Yep.
You knwo what else this means? The Palins probably just got her sister’s kids taken away–this is all an attempt to win a child custody battle.
I’d’ve thought it’d at most go to a joint custody scenario. The divorce judge already sounded pretty sympathetic about the Palins’ interference.
wow, you’re right. the judge gave express orders that the palin family could NOT interfere with wooten or his efforts to see his kids.
this will definitely have implications for that probate case.
Repercussions:
The union suit against the state and Palins: Won.
The child custody suit: decided in favor of Wooten.
Todd Palin: In some deep legal shit–he clearly clearly perjured himself on his affidavit.
AG: Probably has to step down or be impaeched.
And while Republicans might wnat to keep their Caribou Barbie, the other factors may force her off the ticket.
is there a possible contempt citation from the Alaska family-law court who told the Palins to keep their noses out of the case, and equated it to child-abuse?
Not sure of the timetables here.
Toddd! Cleanup in aisle 317.
oh man would i love that last one to be true.
she seems to be taking a very hard line at this point. but that comes as no surprise.
when these folks repeatedly get away with their abuses, their self-delusions are enabled, and their reality is enforced. if i repeat my lies to myself often enough, i will believe them.
given mccain’s turn of tone today, who knows the factors contributing to it; should will be interesting to watch this unfold.
Sarah and Todd, Guys and Gals, this one is for you. Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye!
this is a mixed bag however and the republicans definately have something to hang their hat;
there is no doubt that is the part of this report that foux and most of the news networks will publish
for instance, today on cbs radio news, they told every single person about mccain’s $5000 dollar endorsement of health care, they did NOT say that it would cost most middle class americans more to get that very same coverage
true, but the value of this report is to show the internal workings of the governor’s office and her relationship with friends and family and it is not a pretty picture. With all of the report’s testimony and the narrative, it is like the Starr report, less important for its conclusions than for the narrative.
Seems to me after this past week the “media” is a bit less manipulable.
Who is our Shakespeare to write up the dramatic end to McCaimpaign?
Can’t you picture this on the stage?
There’s a stage leaving in an hour, be on it!
very funny, Mister.
Don’t think it’s Shakespeare. More like a Moliere farce.
MISANTHROPE?
Could be. I’m not familiar enough with Moliere to pick the right play, but the Palins’ style is definitely farcial.
the person whom hates EVERYBODY,…cept themselves…perfect
well, tina fey makes it funny, but reality makes it tragedy.
or worse, a horror story.
here’s what’s brutal about Tina Fey’s portrayal;
it is hilarious and mostly all she does is repeat what palin actually said
there isn’t too much writing in her text, it’s just historical recreation
i hear ya; hence the tragedy.
put that in DC, and ya got a horror story.
So Tina should get her wish, that she will not be required to play Palin beyond 4 November.
fey may not be required to play her beyond tomorrow.
so much for booking palin on snl the 25th.
all this demonstrates as far as I can read is unethical use of power, it does not comment that there is a crime here, nor suggest charges are preferred
I am sorry, I see this so far as a victory for palin, they will spin this just the way they want, they will do a victory dance
I don’t see this heling us too much
P. 66: “Her conduct violated AS 39.52.110(a) of the Ethics Act.”
RIght there in black and white. Unambiguous.
P. 66: “Her conduct violated AS 39.52.110(a) of the Ethics Act.”
Lawrence O’Donnell obviously missed that, and pointed only to language evidently at the beginning of the report which says – the opposite?
Lawrence O’Donnell was probably writing under a furious deadline and missed it, is all.
Her unfavorables were rising before this, and this is not going to stop that. This will go along way towards stoping Palin 2012.
Yip Yip Yippee!!
Page 63
(My Bold)
that’s pretty damning stuff but it is testimony, palin and her husband will call him a liar
aha, but is this act a crime?
ianal, can there be an ethics act that does not carry the weight of law?
do not forget, this “abuse of power” the wingnutz WILL applaud, who IS a state trooper to defy HER, SHE is the governor after all.
so long as she is a repukkklican they will consider this charge a badge of honor
mccain has far too much invested in palin, I cannot see him giving her up, I think he sinks or swims with palin
UNLESS
he throws her under the bus, reclaims his “straight talk” by saying;
“my party said it was too late to remove palin from consideration but I said we are not going to run with someone that has this apparent blemish, I think she will be vindicated in the end but right now americans want candidates who have no blemish
I will call palin to step down and I will nominate the florida vote getter, joe floridaman
This is now the third instance that you’ve provided that Monegan was doing a good job of protecting the govenor from her own mendacity. But in spite of this he was fired. It seems to this eye that something else was burning in the stove beside the Wooten business. Maybe the Palins can’t stand a cool, detached management style, but it smells like more to me.
For some people, no matter how much you try, you just can’t tell them not to stick their hand on the stove.
I can see it as simple MsBull…winkle vindictiveness for not “going along to get along”, but like you say, there very possibly could be more behind MsBull…winkle’s firing of Monegan.
If so, it was probably more of the same “help me violate some laws here Monegan”, and he again, declined.
One way America can be done with Palin in politics once and for all is to encourage and then allow Alaska to seccede. All of her new found groupies can follow her north to create their theocratic brand of social darwinism.
then allow Alaska to secede
can’t do that – it would increase our dependence on foreign oil!
I like good news on a Friday evening!
Given that Walt Monegan was a beloved figure in Alaska, and given that the Gov abused her power – even if lawfully she could hire and fire at will – I’m thinking the result for Alaskans will not hinge on the second half of that, but on the first. She abused her power – and a good man took the fall for not rolling over.
I know it’s important to look through the whole report. But it’s also important to consider how this will play in Alaska. I don’t think it’s gonna play well….
At InTrade, Palin “to be withdrawn” as GOP VP nominee before election has gone from about 3.5 earlier today to 10.7 and rising. http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/
Here’s the direct link:
http://www.intrade.com/index.j…..nID=638242
Wonkette say the old McCain popped back up.
too late. shorter America’s Concern Troll and Joe Klein:
‘you don’t get to behave like a shit and then issue a mavericky apology – you own it bitch!’
Ana[l] Marie would very, very much like to be a Villager. Talking about the honorable McCain and his re-emergence tonight goes a long way to punching that ticket.
Hey McCain! V-E-T-T-I-N-G! Try it you will like it!
That sounds salacious. I’m surprised Mc didn’t do it.
He crashed one of those too didn’t he?
his vetting consisted of;
“you pick palin as your running mate or you will get no campaign contributions”
that is more then enough vetting
Is First Dood on the line for a possible perjury rap?
Yeah, I think so, but i’m trying to figure out what Branchflower has to prove it.
How do you abuse power but not break the law?
Happens every day.
She broke statute 39.52.110(a).
Therefore, I believe she broke the law. Not sure if there is a punishment though. I think this is a set-up for her to be impeached, along with the AG.
I think they probably got the testimony of all teh Palin staffers by threatening the AG (that’s what the fourth finding is, and why it was changed, I think–that he got everyone else to testify in the end, but still didn’t turn over the email).
This is not done yet. Not by a long shot.
can someone please quote that law?
is it available?
*goes to google alasaka law 39.52.110(a).
got it
we do not know what weight this violation carries
It’s in the post.
Impeachment would work. Especially when the campaign is over and she goes home to the unemployment line not unlike so many of those little people she keeps saying she is one of.
Well, at least she can go out and kill lunch – kids won’t starve. s/
Snap….
Unless the wolves see this as an opportunity for revenge.
If we can get em flight tested.
Maybe we can get them in the Seawolves?
Alpha male:
Aircraft? We doan need no steenking aircraft.
But a timber wolf on a mini, damn!
That image does have a certain appeal. Huey’d be better. Easier to put a skid…
I was thinkin about these pups
Picture of a minigun being fired from a USAF HH-53. Below: View ofa Huey-mounted minigun, similar to those used by the Navy’s Seawolves during Vietnam.
Didn’t see many Seawolves in the Delta. Had ‘em at Danang and Saigon. Saw Huey’s with every kind of setup sailors could think of. First M-60’s they put on slicks were hung from a bungee cord.
We still use ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ and ‘Snoopy’…!
Spooky.
It sounds kinda like a plea bargain — cop to the ethics violation, Sarah Dear, and we won’t press the personnel records violation. Which would disgrace you for life.
um, don’t think so. she is so not cooperating, and has responded to this by essentially dissing them all.
nope, i don’t believe she’s made any kind of deal whatsoever. if she did, she just crapped on it.
A therapist could misuse power. It would be an ethical violation. But is not illegal. We call it “undue influence.” Using one’s power inappropriately.
Palin does not distinguish between the private and the professional. As such, she blurs boundaries. This leaves her open to continual ethical lapses.
We call it “undue influence.”
a certain Senator from AZ would probably like to hit the “undo” button.
There you are. David Schuster paraphrased some part of the report as Palins not recognizing borders between public & private (and between her job & his, I would add). Could you tell us some of the general problems that arise from this?
Problems arising from failure to draw boundaries between private and personal:
a. Flirtatious behavior is not appropriate in professional situations. You see that in the way she campaigns. May not seem huge…. but look at Rich Lowry now!
b. Her excuse for why her husband was involved in this situation is that she and Todd are “so close.” He’s always “helped her in her political roles.” Thus, he inappropriately had access to these personnel files. Thus, you can have breaches of confidentiality. He often sat in on state meetings. Not appropriate. He’s not sworn in to an office, but “meddling” in govt. Imagine she gets in a federal job with a security clearance and of course…. she’ll violate that security boundary.
c. When you mix the personal and professional roles, you are not looking out for the citizens’ interests so much as for your own. You see that in the per diems. In the charging the state for her children to fly around and so on.
d. Boundaries help a person make ethical decisions. Depending on your role, you have obligations. It seems that Palin is unable to recognize that professional obligations – in her role as governor – supercede family ties. That he obligation to the voters and to the law supercedes her own needs or preferences as a private individual.
e. On the other hand, failure to see the boundaries leads her to “use” her children as political props. She fails to see her responsibilities as a parent supercede her desire to show off a family or get votes due to this or that family member.
f. There is also another ethical/legal issue that she is facing. Because in Alaska a govt official cannot speak publicly for or against a ballot initiative. She did that, by saying something like “well, I’m just going to take off my gov’s hat and talk to you as a private citizen.” And she gave advice about how to vote and that swung the vote. She’s facing that. And its due to her lack of awareness of boundaries and ability to draw them.
g. You could look at the other side of it by noticing how Obama does draw boundaries. And does that very well.
h. Cronyism is a failure to draw boundaries. You see that with mcShame and also with the Dame. She promoted people from high school and her church. People who had very little background for the job. But she liked them and felt comfortable with them. I could imagine Palin fitting very well into the cozy crony-dominated campaign of mcShame. Who also does not distinguish between private and professional.
i. I’d say that people who can draw boundaries have one of the single most important qualities of a good leader or good supervisor, no matter where they might work. People who grade fairly and treat students or employees or children equally. Things like that.
Hope these ideas are helpful.
Most excellent analysis, TheraP.
I am calling this press conference to announce my family needs me so. And in the spirit of Albert Gonzales I am being relieved by Joe Lieberman
…what am I saying they will never let me back my church again.
What a wonderful, thoughtful, thorough repsonse. I’ll read it several times (probably bookmark it) because you picked out so many different applications and explained them so clearly.
Here’s one you mentioned that’s straight out of the W playbook.
I have a friend whose ex could not respect boundaries, which is why I have a nodding acquaintance with the phenomenon. But have never done any reading on it.
I agree and TheraP should turn it into an Oxdown Gazette diary so everybody can benefit!
Definitely! Did you hear that TheraP?
Give me a bit more info on the parameters on that and I’d be pleased to write something up. It’s a topic near and dear to my heart.
At the top of the page, click on the Oxdown button. Once you’re on the Oxdown page, scroll down a wee bit and click on the Write A Diary button.
Then you can just copy and paste your commentary from this page.
Give it a title, a short summary, a tag or too, and you’ve created an Oxdown Gazette Diary.
And we’d be happy to click on Recommend for you!
Thanks for the info on that. (I’ve saved it along with the comments.) I will clean this up a bit and post it. I assume it’s possible to amend a post. Or I could add anything further in a comment section. I’m assuming that’s possible also.
And I’ve already made the correction for the error someone noticed about personal versus professional. I think the word personal is better in this instance than private.
Just working my way down the thread here first.
Honestly I’m not worried about recommends or anything. I am truly just glad to contribute to the group effort – and to the well-being of our society.
Not sure if I’ll get this up tonight or tomorrow morning.
One of the great things about the Oxdown Gazette Diary feature is that you can go back and edit it over and over even after it is posted.
So don’t worry too much about typos in that first pass.
We are always patient for the good stuff!
Perfect! As they say, technology was supposed to save us all time. But instead we waste a huge amount of it revising and revising.
You are so right!
As a techie, one of my favorite sayings is (and of course, invented by yours truly *g*):
I love to use technology, but I refuse to allow technology to use me!
I spent 7 years on our state ethics committee. Psychologists are very, very big on ethics. And you really need to know that to make many, many decisions as a therapist. I doubt politicians get any training in that. And then you’re just left with the person’s own ethical understanding. That, to my mind, is exactly why character and temperament are so important in picking leaders.
A BIG B-I-N-G-O on that truth, TheraP!
You’re batting a thousand, on this thread, the next one will be way outta the park!
therap, i have no doubt you are extremely invested in ethics, and glad that your state benefitted from your sitting on the board.
but i and others have had some utterly bizarre encounters with our state board over recent years, including discussions with the apa trust liaison, and can tell you that, despite your notion that psychologists are educated on ethics, their applications of the guidelines on virtually all ethics boards in the country these days are at best authoritarian and at worst destructive. the liaison himself referred to them as ’star chambers’.
and we have the rigidity of the apa governing board to the idea of taking a stand against torture to underscore the problem, not to mention behnke’s strange defense of their position.
sadly, the profession has taken a dive over the past decade on a number of dimensions, to the extent that it has suffered drastically, forcing good practitioners to compromise their ethics in deference to risk management, or to leave altogether. i’m currently working on a draft of drastic revisions to propose to our state legislature for how boards are selected and how they apply the code. (huge huge problems constitutionally: almost all states lift the code whole cloth and apply as regulation, yet the code is aspirational, and prosecution of such vague regulations is a violation of your rights. also, most state boards decide prosecution is called for, and then they themselves do the prosecuting, yet another violation of rights. you get the picture.)
sorry, this is way off topic for this thread, but couldn’t let that just pass. it’s so important, though; we should talk….
I was never on the Licensing Board. Just our state ethics committee. I agree that there are all too many people who lack proper training in therapy or evaluation, together with a good grounding in ethics. Indeed, when we found people who had ethical lapses, almost invariably it also related to lack of experience in what they had taken on… for example poor understanding of character disorders. I’ve had a lifelong interest in ethics – and have always gravitated to the ethical professionals. It was a joy to serve on that committee, as the other psychologists were excellent. As for State Licensing Boards, they vary by the state. Apparently the worst board you could face is NH. Go figure!
Take a look at my article. See if you think it needs changes.
As for staying ethical and staying in practice, I simply dropped out of all managed care networks. That was about when I turned 60. Of course I didn’t count on the market tanking this much!!!
such a complicated set of issues; like i said, we should talk.
and yes, it is true that NH has the worst rep. my ethics prof from grad school (he studied with hans strupp) lives there, and tried to work with them as soon as he was licensed, but gave up quickly because he was astonished at how stupid and myopic they were.
so you’ll know, the apa formed a task force with the asppb to develop guidelines for board members in their application of the code to codes and discipline. cannot determine what’s happening with it, but i don’t expect much. do you know anything about it?
my observation has been that the lapses come not just with lack of experience, but with lack of natural judgment skills, something that is actually hard to learn (just as therapeutic skills are). a bit like a version of your narcissistic PD as applied to palin’s boundary problems, but at a less florid level of the gradient.
also consistent with the palin profile, i feel that many individuals who volunteer for these boards are ill-equipped for the roles. they take it on because often they can’t fill their CVs any other way, and then proceed to impose all that inept insecurity onto a position of authority and – wham! – abuses of power all over the place.
the biggest problem is that the systems are woefully void of controls for accountability (hence the star chamber assertion), so the problems go unchecked and thus perpetuate themselves. and it remains fairly silent because most folks only discover it by getting a complaint filed against them, and then they don’t want to talk about it for obvious reasons.
it’s a huge mess. seriously, if you’re concerned about ethics, this is a crucial issue for the profession. we should talk. in any case, glad you’re out there.
As far as the licensing board here, yes, it seems to require politics to get on it.
As for the ethics committee itself, no one can volunteer for it. You’re appointed – and you don’t even know your name is being nominated till they tell you. Used to be that happened before committee members voted. Now I don’t think they notify till afterward. There is a veto power over this by the state officers. But pretty much the ethical people nominate other ethical people. That’s how I ended up there.
We’ve had some academics on the committee and there’s actually been an effort to go back and look at how cases were handled, a check on accountability. Also, at each of the quarterly meetings of the whole ethics committee, our Ombudsman for ethics submits his summaries of cases he’s been consulted on. And those are discussed, which provides ongoing ethical thinking, a check on the ombudsman, and a way to keep ourselves all honest I guess.
In our state, WI, nearly all of the psychologists appointed to the board for many years have actually come from our committee. Too often we need to replace someone because the board nabbed them. Our state licensing board does have some laypeople on it. But the psychologists are all highly experienced. There’s really no way for an inexperienced person to do what happens in your state here in WI.
I’d be glad to talk at any point. Not sure how to do that. Where are you? Do I read Illinois in your handle? I’m more interested in personality dynamics and dynamic psychotherapy than trying to fix the APA “system” – at this point in my life. But we could talk about the profession and I have concerns as well. Things expanded too quickly in my view. Training broke down for a number of reasons. I have grave concerns here.
As for the APA, while I’m a member, I’ve never been active in any way. I’m totally opposed to torture. Or any activity related to that by any psychologist.
Off to meeting soon.
therap, that system is certainly intriguing, and i would love to know more. i wonder if there’s a way to coax marcy to give one of us the other email. i’m fine for you to have mine.
that lll is not ‘eye’LL, but LLL; my initials. i’m in MA, believe it or not. you’d think, as central as boston is, especially to my area of psych (neuropsych), there’d be a more sophisticated setup. but no. it’s become so cronyfied, and i can even see the remnants of mitt romney in there still, it’s hard to know what works to snag an appointment. however, i also see that the website is more often than not actually looking for volunteers, so folks aren’t exactly beating the door down. thankless work, to be sure. but somebody’s gotta do it. unfortunately i think it’s often rather new and inexperienced folks trying to pad the vitae.
it’s not the apa system i’m aiming to fix; they’re in the weirdest position here because they essentially write the template for the rules that every state adopts, but then they throw up their hands and don’t want to get involved in the crappy way these things are applied.
i’m also a member, but not at all active, either. though i’m encouraged by this guy steve reisner who worked so hard to get the anti-torture resolution crafted and passed. so…let’s try to connect somehow. thanks for being so responsive, and i hope these messages between us have not bored anyone out there.
Well done -> to Oxdown
correct.
though not clear how that relationship between an ethical violation for an elected official compares to a therapist’s unethical behavior. i mean, surely they are held to a higher standard.
regardless, the abuse of power is definitely impeachable.
So she violated the Ethics Code but did she break the law? Can this guy sue her? And what does this mean for the McC campaign?
Can’t she be impeached for abusing her power? I think she can. *uncorking the champagne*
Kay..this smells very much like the Joe Bruno affair with Elliot Spitzer when he was governor. The legal stuff on that is still winding its way through the courts.
True, but she has a rough road in front of her. Who wants to bet the ‘white, pure, just and good’ Sarah ends up hiring right wing evangelical militiamen she’s associated with in Alaska to off a few state Senators when the impeachment process starts? Wouldn’t surprise me.
I have heard they already plan on impeaching her
whenif they lose the electionWhy wait? Impeach early! Impeach often!
bom dia pups
strange, bt I take no joy in the fact that yet another politician has acted unethically
Hi wobbs
hi Elliott
(bows) Konnichiwa, Wobbs
Find any jars today?
Palin = L(oser) + pain
Kinda like a phone sex job. Hey, I think we’ve found her calling for her!
She could bankrupt Rich Lowry and Pat Buchanan!
Washington Post headline:
Looks like everybody’s going with the “misuse.” And the way this is defined is likely the way it will play.
CNN.com has finally corrected their story and now admits that Palin broke the state ethics law.
NICE
that’s what I wanted to hear, thank you, thank you, thank you
looks up to the sky, waves to mom
*hi mom*
hooweee.
could it possibly be my phone call?
snicker
Here it is with a graph
http://www.intrade.com/jsp/int…..lID=638242
Perhaps the Governor of Alaska could have weathered this mess and kept her office, prevented her family from becoming a ‘Clampett-like’ spectacle, and avoided this now national humiliation.
Here’s how easy it would have been :
“Senator, I am of course flattered, but no thank you.”
Nobody ever taught her she could say “no.”
The value of sex education: “You can say no.”
That’s what I was referring to. Did you read my query at 140?
you are so right, her eyes were bigger than her stomach — so to speak.
Of course, the way the Goopers recycle their disgraces, I could be wrong…
Palin ‘12!
Oh yeah. First Dude is in some deep shit.
The Monegan testimony totally rips apart his claim not to know the result of the investigation.
first dude WAS the governor, just as bush sr WAS the president to reagan during the second term
palin is his puppet, he was COUNTING on being vice president and therefore president to the inept feeble minded mccain
Grant on my blog is saying Bristol will end up “miscarrying”. LOL Hey, don’t need that 2nd baby in the family, when really, Bristol is Trig’s Mommy and Sarah is Trig’s grammy! Phew. I’m glad we got that out of the way.
man, I guess someone here linked to the page on my tabs but I don’t know who, kudos to the link, here is a wonderfull snippet;
Who is John McCain? Well, he’s no John Galt, I’ll tell ya that for sure.
“Who is John Galt?” How Randian of you.
I have a business associate who is an Objectivist. Despite being an adult. I find it helps to be aware of their tenets. Which, yes, are odious.
Oh, I was just amazed that someone would remember John Galt. Great book, but…
John Galt is Chairman Greenspan’s hero. What’s not to remember?
heroine?Ayn
Rand is Greenspan’s heroine; her character John Galt is his hero.
Besides in this day & age, I thought we’d dropped the femine form in favor of gender equality, e.g., actresses now call themselves actors.
Yes, you are so right. That wonderful little clique in New York. What a selfish bunch.
I don’t think they can legally use the ballots with BO’s name misspelled.
John Galt is nothing more nor less than an irritable selfish well-off person’s fantasy-fulfillment figure. An attitude is a poor substitute for a philosophy, especially that attitude.
Not my hero! Greenspan’s. Sounds about right.
I luved me some Ayn Rand at some point in my teens. About 5 years ago, after I’d learned about the Greenspan worship, I tried to reread one of her books. Couldn’t get past page 5.
Hardly anyone can.
But Book-TV did a whole afternoon program on Rand several years ago. I watched it to see if I could resurrect the attraction. Nope.
Ah eCAHNomics, of course I did not think you were a fan of Rand/Galt/Rourke etc. and I’m sorry if I made it seem like I thought you were. I know your are much, much better than that!
My ex turned me on to Rand after I got back. Loved the novels. Like you I tried to re-read one a year or so ago. Couldn’t get through it. Ex wanted very much to be Dagne Taggart (sp).
I remember him – think he was taller than McC “g”
more from teh link;
la
d
da
what. no press release out on the subject from the Palin-McCain campaign? come on.. where’s the spin control. Shouldn’t they be calling the entire Alaska State Legislature a Weatherman conspiracy about now?
They’re probably all still yelling at each other.
just say no to thugs.
Obama now has a snazzy new come-back line if McGramps has the stones to call Obama out on his Ayres connection at the next debate.
And Page 97 of the report IS ABOUT HOW TODD PALIN WAS IN ON MEETINGS AND WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE GOVERNOR’S PAPERS.
He is NOT supposed to even get a confidential email or even know what the Governor is doing in her day to day business, but yet, he put on a business suit and showed up as if he was the Governor. What the hell! Just because he’s the husband of the Governor, does not mean he has the right to have access to this stuff.
George Bush paved the way in the last 8 years. He has allowed an “anything goes!” mentality when it comes to following proper procedures. Nothing has run right in the last 8 years and now we know this attitude spread to Alaska.
Who built the highway
to Baton Rouge
Todd? LOL
Who is Governor Palin?
Well, I heard recently that she’s a woman in Alaska who runs around the state with a baseball bat chasing everyone she’s held a grudge against. She sounds like a miserable woman.
I was thinking more along the lines of Todd vs. Sarah, but yours will do, too.
his first name is todd, sarah has never been the governor, she was just the person elected
ay-yup
And Page 97 of the report IS ABOUT HOW TODD PALIN WAS IN ON MEETINGS AND WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE GOVERNOR’S PAPERS.
oops – that’s gonna leave
a markan indictment.So.
What is going to ‘change’?
Palin is not diminished in the eyes of her ‘base’, and it is far more HER base than Mc$ame’s, in fact, this will endear her further to those whom she has ‘touched’.
The media will what?
Do ’something’ rash like take Palin to task?
Yawn?
And Mc$ame will do what?
Dump Palin?
Not dump Palin?
‘Moderate’ his campaign?
And the state of Alaska will do what?
‘Recall’ Palin?
Figure they’ve done their duty?
Even though the report says that Palin behaved ‘unlawfully’, why should anyone imagine that there will be ‘consequence’ for Palin or the Fisrt Dude?
This whole, ‘unfortunate’ affair, will simply be chaulked up to an overzealous lapse, not worthy of more than has already occurred. As poor Sarah Palin will be chagrined quite enough.
What will the voters do?
Angrily denounce Palin?
Or suck it up, perceiving that the Political Class are held accountable to nothing much at all …
Clearly, this report should make a difference, sober some thoughtful observers in the media, knock loudly upon Mc$ame’s door and matter considerably to the voting public.
But, as you may have noticed, things are rather amiss in our nation; Bu$h still does as he pleases, the DOJ ‘outsources’ its Voting Rights Section to Lockeed Martin, the Chinese citizens remain the guests of Bu$h Co in Cuba, and if you haven’t done so, please take a good, long look at how astutely the economic ’situation’ is being dealt with.
Hopefully, however audacious this may seem, my concerns will be proved groundless and silly; and tomorrow, or even later tonight, the world will turn … and everything else will turn out to be all ‘right’.
What’s left anyway?
Before you accuse me of excessive pessimism, let me assure you, that, overall, I am quite optimistic that recent events have had a salutory effect upon many voters, in terms of ‘education’, but for substantive ‘improvement, I suspect we shall have a while yet to wait.
;~D
If she keeps this up she’ll be on the fast track for one of GWB’s Medal of Freedom.
Heckuva job Sarah.
Heckuva job Sarah.
well her future son-in-law is named Levee
Sounds like he might be the most useful member of the whole sorry bunch.
“the fecund-a-mentals of the family are strong!”
ooo, anyone want to take bets on the survival rate on Bristol and Levi’s ‘engagement’? Hmm?
ooo, anyone want to take bets on the survival rate on Bristol and Levi’s ‘engagement’? Hmm?
I dunno: what’s the ovary/underoo in Vegas?
Ah, what an awful, cynical spectacle.
Levi will demand whatever payment was previously arranged. Only afterward would the divorce come. If no kid, then this time no custody battle and no vendetta against Levi.
given the fact that he has her name tattooed on his body, not long.
Heard a SF talk show host say yesterday that he couldn’t figure out why everyone was at the airport to greet him and kiss his butt when he had knocked up the 17 year old daughter of the governor. I almost drove off the road.
Even so.
Is there room on that bench you’re sitting on? If so, please move over.
Sure, its pretty long and not too uncomfortable, besides, at the moment, ‘waiting is …’. Besides I’d appreciate your company, Waccamaw, lots of things to talk about, and quite a bit of it is funny, even ‘ha, ha’, but mostly its funny ‘weird’ and will look a good deal better in ‘hindsight’ (kinda like, “Whew! We squeaked through that pile of —- … let’s just make certain we don’t have to go through THAT —- again”).
You know, sir (or ma’am, the case may be), based on your comments at the Lake, I can’t think of anyone with whom I’d rather share that bench. Can’t hold up my end intelligence wise but sure would be beneficial to expanding my knowledge base.
If I could have only one wish in the whole world, it just might be that it would be possible to meet all the wonderful people who flow thru’ this place face to face before heading off to whatever comes after.
I totally agree, Waccamaw!
David
;~D
We’re rednecks, rednecks
And we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground
We’re rednecks, we’re rednecks
And we’re keeping the ******* down
If I’m not mistaken….those are the words sung by Bristol’s boyfriend on his MySpace page. LOL Just kidding. Kidding!
I don’t think you are kidding at all.
I really never am, Raven. I’m just a walking sarcastic pole 24/7.
I wouldn’t touch that with a. . .
Just in time! Fixed News is talking about same-sex marriage on their news break! LOL Huh. Why aren’t they talking about Sarah Palin and her abuse of power? Stunning.
yeah.. but their website is. Headline right above an Acorn/Weathermen = Obama headline. Its kinda funny actually.
Excellent!
Todd Palin. I want to know what he was doing using the governor’s office for a meeting with Monegan and what in hell his role is in her governing. He is not an elected official and as the report points out, he is not an employee of the executive department in Alaska. He is an underreported part of the Palin story. After this report, I don’t think we dare underestimate this Alaska Separtist’s opinions when it comes to the Vice.
Has this been around before?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm…..igion.jews
Thank you Marcy. More than you can imagine.
You are our lifeline. Somehow a simple thank you isn’t sufficient.
Just wanted you to know you are treasured, way beyond the Lake, for your incredible skills, honesty, courage, and dedication.
Hint hint: I’d buy your book(s). ;->
P. E. A. C. E.
Well, we definitely know Froomkin at WaPo is a huge fan of Marcy’s.;)
hmm.. CNN’s dropped their attempt at a neutral headline.. Now it reads: “Palin abused power in firing, Alaska panel finds “
Interesting, isn’t it, watching the denial slowly peeling away?
about an hour ago, Jonathan Alter declared “the Party and Politics of Ronald Reagan are dead”
Cue fireworks!!
I’m so glad to hear that. (I’m not being sarcastic this time. I’m dead serious)
OT WTF.. upstate NY county prints “Barack Osama” ballots
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27122742/
Who wants to bet Sarah is in Alaska tonight shooting squirrels at the Governor’s mansion because she’s so angry? LOL! Someone get their camera!
It’s illegal to shine varmits!
Oh yeah, as if Sarah ever followed the laws of her state, let alone, the rest of America! LOL She’s shooting squirrels. Guaranteeeeeeeeeeeeeed.
SULLY
http://andrewsullivan.theatlan…..ah-pa.html
must go home for bed, I suspect a very sound sleep tonight
I can’t wait to see the repukkklican spin on this
A conversation heard on a bus:
“Sarah my friend, just got a call from Dick and he invited us hunting.”
“Can I bring Todd?”
Alaska, Alaska please take her back!
Please, please take her back!
We don’t want her down here anymore,so please,take her back!!
Wonder if McCain is prepared to stand by his claim that she was thoroughly vetted?
From one end to the other. By the whole male vetting team.
Wonder if McCain is prepared to stand by his claim that she was thoroughly vetted?
“Whaddya expect from me? I asked her – she said there was nothing to it. Hell yeah, I vetted her.”
It’s amazing how this woman has self-destructed. It reminds me of what I’ve read about sociopaths. They can’t hold it together.
It’s all the evil media’s fault.
I think you’ve just added a dimension to what I wrote above about boundaries. Sociopaths lack empathy. Thus don’t put themselves in the shoes of others. Thus don’t see boundaries because everything becomes part of their own “need structure.” There was a great article in The Guardian on Palin. And many people, including her own campaign manager, described her as incredibly needy. Needing the accolades of voters and so on. So she seems driven by internal needs rather than by a sense of values and ethics. You can’t draw boundaries if you are an amorphous amoeba-like character that flows into people around you are draws them into you – ala Rich Lowry. (poor devil!)
I’ve never thought very much about ethics and personality structure, though it’s very easy to think this through on the fly right now.
Please follow on with your nascent theory, you are, most-definitely on to something critically important to those who would live in a democracy.
Oxdown awaits, TheraP.
As, frankly, do I.
“MALIGNANT NARCISSISM”
Malignant cancerous growth that is the republic party.
a cancer on the body politik
Malignant narcissism. Exactly. Narcissism is the basic personality structure of sociopathy. Sociopathy is narcissism to the max.
TheraP- go for it!
But, I’m not sure about the neediness in sociopaths- based on my limited experience. I’ve had to deal with a few, and it’s a personality type that is hard to understand w/o direct experience. I concluded that the ones I had to deal with were indeed sociopaths, bec. they fit the “model”. But, I didn’t see them as being particularly “needy”. I don’t think this was even part of their awareness. But, “narcissistic personality disorder” yeah, that fits Palin imho. Had to deal with one of those too.
Disclaimer: fwiw, imho
You make a good point about narcissists. I’ll amend that and say they are less “needy” than “greedy.” The “use” people.
I’m not going to worry about diagnosing Palin. Narcissism, definitely. Maybe a little histrionic too. (all the sexiness, the flirting, the love of the crowd)… we’re focused on boundaries and ethics, at least I am.
Thank you, EW! I’ve been checking in and out here tonight for the results.
Even beyond Winky-Heather’s abusing her power and violating ethics law, it really bothers me how much Todd was involved in the governership…we say no to shadow government. I really hope the American people hold her responsible for her abuses. But in no way will I ever underestimate Caribou Barbie…she will be back another day to fight for high office.
In case anyone wonders about the second finding that the firing itself did not violate state law, I am perfectly willing to concede that Sarah Palin has not violated hundreds of other Alaska state laws as well.
It’s the one state law which the first finding accuses her of violating with her abuse of power that inexorably classifies Palin as a lawbreaker unfit for national office at this time.
damn straight.
what you said, inexorably disqualifies her for high office!
…
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/n…..backs.html
McCain campaign just issued a statement–they’re calling it a partisan investigation, bidding for the Personnel Board to clear palin.
umm, wasn’t the group which voted to release the investigation 10-4 Repub to Dem?
wtf am I talking about? Facts have a well-known partisan, anti-hockey mom bias.
Yes. Three guys were absent – one called in his vote.
Yes. Two weren’t there.
For the record, all the news websites are using the term ‘abused’ not ‘misused’. I don’t know what they said earler but they’re all saying ‘abused power’ now.
As they all should be. Fixed News tomorrow will probably use ‘misused’ which doesn’t have the same tone as ‘abused’.
That’s the language used in the report. Probably got it there.
It seems apparent that Alaskans have had a two-fer as Governor. A lot of Sarah’s inability to discuss or even display a grasp of policy matters as VP nominee might be due to Todd having made all the decisions pertinent to her job as governor. Sarah was simply the public face.
sorry, i have to laugh. on the surface, your point makes sense. but i honestly cannot fathom that todd has any more knowledge base or sense than sarah does.
i mean, he was a member of aip, and all that goes along with that.
he strikes me as little more than a thug mentality. he was likely her hatchet man.
soda speak.
oh and btw, the hell with Shakespeare or Moliere (that sounds french anyway:D) bet by Sunday morning, Broder will have jimmied up some Saroyanesque whopper ’bout the poor tragic hero Maverick tripped up by ambition
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/n…..backs.html
talk about terrorism and treason?
for the daily dish link posted above;
this is incredible stuff, I would like to research his documentation
Who is Sarah Palin? The link below is one of the best articles I have read. It certainly clinched her dynamics for me:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..arahpalin1
Title: The chameleon: who is the real Sarah Palin?
I highly recommend it. They got info from Alaska and Wasilla that I have read nowhere else. (date on the article is today)
Here’s what they’re saying at The Guardian right now:
PRICELESS
http://andrewsullivan.theatlan…..mat-s.html
Yep. I’ve not faltered from thinking it was Bristol who gave birth to Trig and Sarah is actually Trig’s Grammy. The photos of a ‘hugely pregnant Sarah’ are photoshopped and were produced after Dailykos broke the story.
Okay, going to bed with a big huge Grinch smile on my face tonight! LOL Nite nite.
oh man…..
If yer this narcissistic, why would you not want yer baby’s birth info listed in the hospital registry?
The family that lays together, stays together.
Ahh, no listing of TRig’s birth at the Mat- Su Medical center, doesn’t surprise me.
these people are INCREDIBLY BIZZARE
ho boy. palin’s spokesperson just announced that the legislative council seriously overreached its authority and that she will continue to cooperate with the personnel board.
the mccain campaign is still in control. and she appears quite happy for that to be the case.
still, don’t see this doing anything but hurting the ticket with those swing voters.
Um, have they not yet read the opinion of the Alaska Supreme Court? That argument ain’t gonna fly.
That’s another perfect example of the blurring of boundaries.
Instead of the governor dealing with her own state, she’s letting mcShame’s campaign run that. That is a no-no!!!
We have two “partners and soul mates” in boundary-crossing!
posted in the comments section of the article on Milliken backing away from McCain. I think many more people feel this way.
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/n…..backs.html
Someone tell me that rewarding this kind of bad behavior by McPalin, by making her VP of these United States (well, minus Alaska, which her followers want to leave the Union), is going to rein in her desire to seek out and to punish those who personally offend her fringe views of religion and politics, or to punish those who have the unmitigated gall take her place in the school pick-up line or her parking spot at the Moose Lodge or the grocery store.
Tell me that rewarding her by sending her to the seat of gubmint is going to make her pause and think, yes, blink, before reaching out and using the considerably extended levers of power that she will find there. Tell me that it is not going to expose her as an illiterate, unrepentant Lady Macbeth, willing to go to any lengths to grasp to her bosom the levers of power.
This is a woman who believes that Armageddon will happen in her lifetime, that its divine purpose is to spirit the Saved into the heavenly kingdom and to condemn the many to an eternity with the Dark One, whom she presumably thinks hails from Illinois. A woman who would be a pacemaker modulated heartbeat, or one too many little blue pills, one too many pulse pounding, artery occluding, stroke inducing tantrums away from the nuclear, the financial, the social, the judicial, the legislative buttons of America. I can smell the brimstone and feel the flames already. You betcha.
A bet my neighbors dinner that Lieberman would be McCain’s VP Choice. While he may have been John’s choice, Palin was chosen instead (by others). I has planned to settle up next week, but maybe I should wait until after the election (assuming that there will be one at all), eh?
Give it a week, at least.
ooops… I bet my neighbors…
TheraP:
Correct error in first point: between private & professional, not between private & personal.
Corrected. Though I’m thinking personal versus professional is best.
I’m spreading your comment around. Sent it to my friend with the ex with border problems. & sent link to TPM. I also read the Guardian article you linked. You drew out observations that I never could have done. Professional skills, aptly applied, are a wonderful thing.
((((TheraP))))
Great! Always feel free to spread or adapt anything of mine. I write with an “open source” perspective.
And may I say again that this “work group” which EW has established or gathered here is one of the best functioning research communities I have seen. Not only does EW promote a wonderful sense of community, but it’s an “open system” (if anyone knows anything about system’s theory) and that is very healthy. You welcome people and ideas. You’re able to field a lot of information and work together. I am professionally and personally awed!
Earthlink newswire headline:
They pull mostly from AP, some from Reuters.
I’d say she’s toast, but I’ve heard it’s too late to take her name off the ballot in most states. They’re in between a very large rock and a really hard place. And I’m going to enjoy watching it.
This would have been a totally different campaign if McCain was allowed to choose his own VP, a friend he believed. But he sold out to the far right. We American’s have a short attention span some times and hopefully we’ll finally get religion out of our politics.
Hats off to Alaska. They lived up to their independent image. I’m impressed.
One question, apologies as I’m sure it has been stated many times, but with a 12-0 vote, what was the party breakdown of these twelve?
Thanks.
Wasn’t it 8 republicans and 4 dems?
Think it was 10 & 4.
eCAHN, but the vote was 12 – 0. Did two abstain?
TheraP, I think you are right. I thought I remembered “four” and well, 12-4 is eight. … I appreciate their going forward with their business.
There are 10 and 4 on the committee. Two Republicans
were cowering under their beddidn’t show up.ew, I hear that there is an outbreak of yellow fever, and that even Alaskans are not immune.
speaking of MALIGNANT self love or hate
http://www.thedailybeast.com/b…..issed-off/
Unlawfully abusing power: Sure sounds like criminal and civil problems to me. Anyone else?
What about the confidentiality of those personnel records in addition? That does not sound to me like it would be only unethical.
Wooten to First Dood:
We are own all your snow machines.
Yep
And I’m betting Wooten will end up getting full custody of the kids in the near future.
Are we having fun yet? Just opened a bottle of red wine. Hold out your glasses.
Wonderful
I was wondering whetehr I’d have to go back to the kitchen to fill my glass.
Thank you kindly!
Whoa…never seen one of emptywheel’s threads fill up this fast.
Labdancer’s Money Shot
Re: The Great Safety Bear Hunt
at p. 126 Walt Monegan [who if he were a tad older, or the actor a bit younger, would HAVE to be played by Wilfred Brumley], is asked by the intrepid and ever-alert [though low output multitasker] Blancheflower what he knows on how Governor Palin or her office was able to determine that Trooper Wooten would be working the Fair in a Safety Bear costume, to which Monegan replies:
“I figured they had spies, honestly.”
Bottom line: It appears to be the considered opinion of the chief law enforcement officer of the State of Alaska that the State’s governor and her husband has, or at least had in place a SPY NETWORK, on the lookout for, among other things, suspect bears.
I imagine there are a lot of places in America where such a concern would hold merit – the N.F.L. for example, at least in a year where Chicago has a team good enough to constitute a serious threat to win the Super Bowl – but other than Montana, and maybe Washington state, I cannot think of a more unlikely state in which to find a serious outbreak of gubernatorial ursine paranoia than Alaska.
Also – I imagine that when [perhaps that’s if] Governor Palin does her next sitdown with an MSM lightweight, whether it be Ted Baxter, Kent Brockman, or whichever member of the FauxSnooze big-hair blond Hitler Youth distaff corps, she’s gonna have to be ready to field the Safety Bear question.
I blame bmaz
I heard he was passing out memberships in the flaggstaff greyhound depot …
Sorry, I see jayt’s and ew’s comments… Thanks all. And thanks for your patience, I don’t have time right now to read all the comments. So it was 10 – 4 with two not there.
Job well done Alaskans.
I believe your word “case” should be “cease”
Wish I had time for a more considered post… but I think that there is something here about Republicans (Alaskan) that put their country first… above politics, political party… and above political career.
Well this really puts the lie to their attempt to have the issue dealt with by the Personnel Board. What Branchflower found was that Gov. Palin was within her rights to dismiss Monegan, even without cause. It follows that the Personnel Board would likely find nothing improper about the dismissal.
What were improper, however, were the Governor’s incessant efforts to put pressure or allow others to put pressure on Monegan to benefit a personal reason of her own.
This was a violation of the Executive Branch Ethics Act, not something the Personnel Board would have jurisdiction to deal with.
Clever move trying to shift the subject to one of unlawful dismissal.
Just a bit too clever.
Post on Ethics and Boundaries is up now at Oxdown. I’ll be able to sleep better knowing that is done. And given the crying national need at the moment, this is a topic of vital importance.
Enjoy: http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/636
(one link is missing, but I’ll add that later. I’m pretty sure the info is at mudflats, though, if someone wants to read about it – that missing link is clearly noted)
Let’s make that a nice even 400 for EW