by Frank James
Sarah Palin has claimed that she was essentially cleared of the wrongdoing by the Troopergate report released last Friday.
Here's an excerpt from Agence France Presse reporting on an exchange she had with a reporter on Saturday:
Asked by a reporter in Pennsylvania if the charges were true, Palin replied: "No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it. You have to read the report."
But the Anchorage Daily News, one of the papers that knows her best, not only begs to differ with the Republican vice presidential nominee, it emphatically opens up a can of whup you-know-what on her:
Sarah Palin's reaction to the Legislature's Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation.
She claims the report "vindicates" her. She said that the investigation found "no unlawful or unethical activity on my part."
Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.
Page 8, Finding Number One of the report says: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."
In plain English, she did something "unlawful." She broke the state ethics law.
Perhaps Gov. Palin has been too busy to actually read the Troopergate report. Perhaps she is relying on briefings from McCain campaign spinmeisters.
That's the charitable interpretation.
Because if she had actually read it, she couldn't claim "vindication" with a straight face...
Gov. Palin and her husband were obsessed with Wooten the way Capt. Ahab was obsessed with the Great White Whale. No Wooten, no peace.
Has Gov. Palin committed an impeachable offense? Hardly.
Is what she did indictable? No.
But it wasn't appropriate, especially for someone elected as an ethical reformer. And her Orwellian claims of "vindication" make this blemish on her record look even worse.
You asked us to hold you accountable, Gov. Palin. Did you mean it?
Bottom line: Gov. Palin, read the report. It says you violated the ethics law.
Good thing Alaska law doesn't allow the governor to fire newspaper editors.








Comments
In the new republican era...it has become quite easy to blame the "liberal media" than own up to ones mistakes and shortcomings. Palin is just one of many mistakes made by McBush. Besides caving in to the religious thumpers, he picked a candidate not worthy of the VP. I don't care what you think about my opinion..but it is also the independents belief.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 14, 2008 1:36 PM
"PALIN SPEAKS"
I'M OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD, THE WIZARD OZ OF SPIN!
I'M OFF TO THE SEE THE WIZARD, THE WIZARD OF OZ OF SPIN!
I'M VINDICATED!
I'M INNOCENT!
I'M "ACCOUNTABLE"
SO WHAT IF I "EAVESDROPPED" ON A OFFICER OF THE COURT!
SO WHAT IF I "DATAMINED" MY BROTHER-IN-LAW!
I'M INNOCENT!
I[M "VINDICATED"
KARL ROVE SAID WE LIVE IN THE "AGE OF THE VISUAL"
KARL ROVE SAID THIS ELECTION WAS ABOUT "PERSONALATIES"
JUST NOT MINE!
JUST NOT JOHNS!
I'M INNOCENT!
I'VE BEEN "VINDICATED"
YOU DIDN'T READ!
SO WHAT IF IT SAID I CROSSED "ETHICS" LINES
SO WHAT IF IT SAID MY "FAMILY" HARRASSED AN OFFICER OF THE COURT!
I HEAR THE VOICES!
I HEARD THE VOICES!
I'VE BEEN "VINDICATED"
I'M INNOCENT!
SO WHAT IF I ABUSED MY "POWER" OF THE OFFICE!
I'M NOT "MARTHA"
I'M SARAH AND HE'S THE "FIRST DUDE!"
"GOD WANTS WORLD CUP NOT FALSE PROPHETS"
Posted by: Roger Morris | October 14, 2008 1:44 PM
Gov. Palin was within her legal rights is what the report said. If you want to talk violation of ethics - I strongly suggest you talk about Obama - He has lied over and over again about his role with the Rev. Wright organization, about his role in the Acorn organization. But you, like the mainstream media have seen fit to attack a "Vice-Presidential" candidate instead of a "Presidential" candidate, whose ethics at best are questionable and whose experience is non-existent, Mr. Obama is unfit to serve this nation as President.
Posted by: Judy Spencer | October 14, 2008 2:10 PM
JudyS follows similar tactics as Palin; avoid what the Alaska report specifically said (state ethics law violated) and change the subject by making up charges against Obama.
Posted by: mort | October 14, 2008 2:43 PM
Gov. Palin was within her legal rights is what the report said.
Posted by: Judy Spencer | October 14, 2008 2:10 PM
Dear Judy blind sight: What part of this statement do you not understand?
Page 8, Finding Number One of the report says: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."
If this woman feels its ok to break State Ethics laws, whats to stop her from breaking Federal Ethics laws?
The fact that Obama was going to a church of an unsavory minister does not break the law! And as for his work with Acorn and such, your suggestion of wrong doing is obsurd! Obama has dedicated his life to helping children in need and you find that unlawful? You and you rkind are so desperate you will drudge up old news over and over again and it only hurts your losing cause of Religious Conservatism in a free society! Guive it a rest already and prepare for the next President to be Barack Obama!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 14, 2008 2:52 PM
I think she's a little daffy. Did you see her scold her own supporters that were giving her a "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah" chant in their admiration? She called them protestors! First Dud had to whisper in her ear to give her a clue. Yeah, I want her finger on the "nucular" button.
Posted by: dt | October 14, 2008 3:05 PM
Getting lost in 6th grade playground arguments (yes she did no she didn't) is drowning out the main point here. What Palin did was put her own personal agenda ahead of the interests of her constituents, her office and ultimately the country she professes to love so much. That's what she's done "wrong". What do you suppose she would do if she ends up VP? I doubt she would decide to forgo her own personal agenda from that day forward, wouldn't you?
Posted by: Irene | October 14, 2008 3:16 PM
Hey Frank,
Why don't you put this much energy and enjoyment into the Tim Mahoney story? Oh, I forgot, he's not a Republican. Silly me.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | October 14, 2008 3:54 PM
Hey Frank,
Why don't you put this much energy and enjoyment into the Tim Mahoney story? Oh, I forgot, he's not a Republican. Silly me.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | October 14, 2008 3:54 PM
For which Party is Tim Mahoney running for Vice-President?
Posted by: Ben | October 14, 2008 4:39 PM
Dear Judy and those that share her opinion, yes she was within the law, but she also violated the public trust and abused her power as governor of the state of Alaska. It amazes me how many people are willing to delude themselves into thinking otherwise. As for the Obama Acorn "scandal", do yourself a favor and go to YouTube and search McCain, Acorn, and watch him give a lovely speech as a keynote speaker for, you guessed it, ACORN. The ignorance and intolerance of some people in this day is astonishing to me.
Posted by: B Joseph | October 14, 2008 5:01 PM
Palin has been a disaster from the day #1...All tht comes out of her mouth are lies, hate,and how great she is..Just what we need for a VP..could be President...Her ego is so huge and overblown she cannot face the fact that the whole world knows she is in fact guilty of what Alaska stated..She needs to go home...{if they will still have her or want her}.
Posted by: Randollph | October 14, 2008 8:17 PM
Senator Obama just took questions from the press, again, about ACORN and Ayers. When is Governor Palin going to take questions from the press about Troopergate and the resultant ethics violation? Real questions, with real follow ups? Why is she being given a pass on speaking to the press?
Posted by: AYC | October 14, 2008 8:31 PM
That's one thing that is so childish about most of the republicans, they think because someone is democrat and does something wrong we are for them, that's not true, but you republican go blind, and crazy when one of yours doesn't something unethical, Sarah Palin is a straight up liar, Bishop Muthee should have casted out that lying demon that has possessed her because she has been lying up a blue streak since she came on the scene. Real Christian believers have credibility they believe in speaking the truth, no matter what the cost.
Posted by: Broderick | October 14, 2008 8:32 PM
Judy you seem to know an awful lot about Obama, can you be specific? How much can you know about Palin in 5 weeks in which not a day goes by that Palin is not lying about something?
Posted by: Linda | October 15, 2008 1:55 AM
Governor Palin was legal in all she did. She fired a Palin partisan Director of Public Safety which any Governor is legally qualified to do.
This troopergate has been maximized in the driveby media because Obama sent some 30 of his rats to Alaska to dig dirt on Palin and then send it down to the drivebys.
The fact is her ex brother-in-law was a drunk law enforcement officer who tasered Governor Palins 10 year old nephew and threatened to kill Palins father. I would say this would make him a genuine Obama supporter.Since Palin beat Frank Murkowski for Governor she had to deal with his friends on this so called ethics panel plus hordes of Obama supportin Dems mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
Take this you Obamacons! Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | October 15, 2008 9:04 AM
Jerry get a hold of yourself. You're starting to sound unsteady just as the republican candidates. Boy, it is so scary how many of you can find fault in Obama's record, but you fail to find that same fault in Gov. Palin or Senator McCain's record. Can you say "delusional?”
Posted by: Sound Minded American Citizen | October 15, 2008 12:22 PM
Sarah: Special Needs Pro
The proof is in the puddin'. When does Sarah spend time with "special needs"? Her words, "I'll be the Special Needs advocate in the White House. I don't see nor hear about any positive actions of Sarah the pro for special needs children, including her own...Joe, The Plumber" was a lie. Sarah Palin is a lie and all the other spontaneous tactics of the Republican Candidate team, at least 95% of them have turned out to be, simply, lies. What oppressors won't do to keep a qualified black man or any other person of color or others who declares themselves as overcomers -- advocate for Obama?
I, parent/teacher of special needs children(40+yrs) am yet waiting for Palin's actions for special needs children in America. Talk is cheep. Action Speaks
Posted by: Gloria Keith | October 21, 2008 12:58 PM