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.

Abused her power, broke no law? That’s the CNN headline.

Thanks ew.

digg

The legislature can’t prosecute.

Looks like Malibu Ken and Barbie got just a little too mavericky!

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?

Caribou Ken and Barbie

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 think this is why McCain flip-flopped today and decided Obama’s a decent person. The bulldog in lipstick just got fixed.

No, it’d be a violation of the Alaska Ethics Act. See p. 65.

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?

That’s the importance of the 12-0 vote to release the report, I think.

Cariboubie?

Anything in there about Todd Palin having access to personnel files?

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.

Say it ain’t so beeeeeeetch!

That would explain that, wouldn’t it? Exit stage right, Cariboubie!

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.

Sarah Palin Press Conference scheduled for exactly when now?

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.

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.

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.”

Go now don’t look back we’ve drawn the line
move on it’s no good to go back in time

I’ll never find another girl like you, for happy endings it takes two
we’re fire and ice, the dream won’t come true

Sara, Sara, storms are brewin’ in your eyes
Sara, Sara, no time is a good time for goodbyes

danger, in the game when the stakes are high
branded, my heart was branded while my senses stood by

I’ll never find another girl like you, for happy endings it takes two
we’re fire and ice, the dream won’t come true

this may explain some of their recent campaign freak-out/meltdown, trying anything that will distract from this.

Ooooooh! I do believe I’m having a schadenfreude right this very minute!

The one where she steps down and Kaybee Hutchison takes over?

Now all she can do is run to the end of her chain and bark.

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,

Alaska Statute 39.25.900. Penalties.

(a) a person who wilfully (sic) violates a provision of this chapter or the personnel rules adopted under this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) A state employee who is convicted of a misdemeanor under this chapter or the personnel rules adopted under this chapter immediately forfeits the employee’s office or position.

Now back to reading the report, wonder if the Panel recognized this at all…

teehee.

Page 61

Event 13

In the fall of 2007, Mr. Monegan received a telephone call from Attorney General Talis Colberg about Mr. Wooten. Walt Monegan testified:

Mr. Monegan: I did. It began pretty much like the contracts that I had with Mike Tibbles, as well as Annette Kreitzer.

He started the conversation, hi, Walt. Tell me about this Mike Wooten.

And so what I did is I addressed the issue like I had with Annette, like I had with Mike, basically saying this was an issue, that there was a complaint, it was investigated, it was — it’s done, it’s complete. There is other complaints that come in, but you know, we address them as they come in. But more importantly, the conversations — and I said, you’re the civil attorney. You understand all this, and you can correct me if I’m wrong. But this conversation that’s taking place at this moment is discoverable should he ever litigate against the state. Beccause it seems like you’re asking about him.

And in that case, if he does bring a lawsuit against the State, not only does he affect our — us as employees, but us as individuals, as well. So we’re all on the hook for it. He goes, that’s correct.

Well, then would you tell the boss — it’s only going to spill out. The more people get involved in this, the more people are going to — the more the chance this is going to come on out in public.

And he said, okay, I’ll talk to them.

Mr. Branchflower: I’ll talk to ”them,” plural?

Mr. Monegan: Yeah.

(My Bold)

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.

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.

She will, her capacity for lying is up to rethug standards.

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.

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.”

Man, I could use a cigarette.

And I don’t even smoke.

Two weeks from never.

Hit the road hack
and dontcha come back
no more no more no more

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?

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.

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

page 97

CNN headline, still:

Panel: Palin abused power, violated no laws

Wonder who force-fed them that interpretation, huh? And how long they can make it last?

Mitt stage right

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.

Aren’t Friday Night Dumps amazing?

“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

A committee investigating Gov. Sarah Palin found that she unlawfully abused her authority in firing Walter Monegan, Alaska’s public safety commissioner.

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.

They can take their secret budget estimate, put it where the sun doesn’t shine and then leave town.

Who wants to bet Sarah Palin will shift gears from Bill Ayers to the Alaskan Legislative Council now?

Cariboobie?

Short Ride

That is a particularly tasty element of this schadenfreude pie.

Xin Loi motherfuckers

Heh. They’ll get Colon Powell to do a character witness for Sarah.

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.

Sounds like she is roadkill now.

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.

Sarah and Todd, Guys and Gals, this one is for you. Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye!

Nah, she’ll ignore it and keep throwing red meat (moose) at the base.

De Nile ain”t just a river in Egypt.

Yep.

this is a mixed bag however and the republicans definately have something to hang their hat;

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.

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

Yeh, better. Thx!

Which is perfect timing, with Milliken un-endorsing McCain today. As I pointed out, Milliken is more popular in MI than George Romney.

Hehehehehehe!!

Ain’t up to her, it’s up to the RNC. See what they think.

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?

Did he? Do tell?

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.

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

There’s a stage leaving in an hour, be on it!

Thank you Rayne…I was waiting for some comment about those curiously accessible personnel files.

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.

Page 63

Event 16

While in Juneau working and talking to legislators about the state’s proposed new crime lab, Deputy Chief Glass ran into Todd Palin at the top of the stairs on the third floor of the state capitol building near the Govenor’s office. This time it was Glass who raised the Wooten issue with Mr. Palin:

Glass testified:

We started talking about Michael Wooten and that Todd was adamant that Wooten was a very poor example for a trooper and needed to be fired, that he shouldn’t be a trooper, and I went through the same exact conversation basically that I had had with Mr. Bailer, in that Wooten had already been penalized for his actions that he had taken. It was two and a half/three years ago, we could not fire him. I had wrongful discharge. I had binding arbitration discussion with him, and I also warned him that it was going to cause some extreme amount of discomfort and embarrassment for the Govenor if they continued to pursue this and it should never become public. That it would just be not good for the Govenor if it continued, and that they needed to cease and desist. He persisted in telling me that Wooten needed to be fired, he should not be a trooper.

(My Bold)

Don’t think it’s Shakespeare. More like a Moliere farce.

IMO, they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo.....011/626472

P. 66: “Her conduct violated AS 39.52.110(a) of the Ethics Act.”

RIght there in black and white. Unambiguous.

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.

I like good news on a Friday evening!

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?

I’d call that “fucked,” then.

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?

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/

That works!

Inciting mob violence and political assassinations?

Ah, my bad, I thought it was Romney.

Here.

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?

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?

thx

Wonkette say the old McCain popped back up.

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*

And I was hoping it was my open letter to Sen McCain last night.

very funny, Mister.

Hey McCain! V-E-T-T-I-N-G! Try it you will like it!

Is First Dood on the line for a possible perjury rap?

How do you abuse power but not break the law?

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?

That sounds salacious. I’m surprised Mc didn’t do it.

He crashed one of those too didn’t he?

Kinda like a phone sex job. Hey, I think we’ve found her calling for her!

then allow Alaska to secede

can’t do that - it would increase our dependence on foreign oil!

Happens every day.

I also warned him that it was going to cause some extreme amount of discomfort and embarrassment for the Govenor if they continued to pursue this and it should never become public. That it would just be not good for the Govenor if it continued, and that they needed to cease and desist. He persisted in telling me that Wooten needed to be fired, he should not be a trooper.

that’s pretty damning stuff but it is testimony, palin and her husband will call him a liar

P. 66: “Her conduct violated AS 39.52.110(a) of the Ethics Act.”

RIght there in black and white. Unambiguous.

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

Can’t she be impeached for abusing her power? I think she can. *uncorking the champagne*

bom dia pups

strange, bt I take no joy in the fact that yet another politician has acted unethically

prolly the same person/s who prodded CNN to scream ACORN voter fraud all day long….

I know. Can you imagine her as the VP of the United States? She’d be Dick Cheney in drag! Gawd.

Palin = L(oser) + pain

Lawrence O’Donnell was probably writing under a furious deadline and missed it, is all.