Palin cleared of all ethics charges

[WashingtonBoy]

Palin cleared by Alaska panel in ethics probe
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSTRE4A307T20081104 (http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSTRE4A307T20081104ANCHORAGE)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska Gov. and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was cleared on Monday of wrongdoing in an abuse-of-power investigation into the firing of the state's public safety commissioner.

The Alaska Personnel Board report, issued on the eve of the U.S. presidential election, ran contrary to findings from a legislative inquiry that concluded in October that Palin had abused the power of her office by pressuring subordinates to fire a state trooper involved in a feud with her family.

Palin, who is Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, brought the issue to the personnel board herself after complaining the legislative probe was a partisan effort led by Democrats.

The board, a three-member panel under Palin's authority, was responsible for determining if she had broken any laws.

The investigation concluded there was no "probable cause" that Palin violated the state's executive ethics act in dismissing Walt Monegan as public safety commissioner.

It also cleared her of ethics violations in respect to her dealings regarding Michael Wooten, the trooper involved in a contentious divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister.

Timothy Petumenos, independent counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board who wrote the report, said the legislative probe did a good job of assembling facts but did not interpret the ethics law properly.

"The Ethics Act is primarily directed at personal financial benefit," Petumenos told a news conference presenting the report. "People have a lot of misconceptions about the scope of the Alaska Ethics Act."

Petumenos also said the governor and several other administration officials categorically denied some of the conversations and contacts about which Monegan testified. That testimony became much of the basis for the legislative report's conclusion that she pressured subordinates to fire Wooten.

Palin also testified, according to Petumenos, that she had no knowledge of many of the contacts that formed the basis of the legislative probe, and that administrative officials made those contracts without her permission or direction.

[WashingtonBay]

http://www.anotherthink.com/my_graphics/Emily_Litella.jpg

So nevermind, eh?

Those who wanted to stir up trouble stirred it just long enough.

[Tatesgram]

Yes they did and I'm not surprised at the findings.

[Arrow]

Sure, by one group and condemned by another who wrote a different report, and so it will continue as they investigate this and that, same with Bush--that's the way it goes. Everyone looks at the evidence and interprets things a little differently. I've never said she couldn't fire the friend--that wasn't the violation the first report cited--it was other things she did, other pressure, and as for letting the First Dude do as much as he did with this and that official...(shrug)...

I wouldn't vote for her to be dogcatcher, as the saying goes, others disagree. That's a democracy for you. One person, one vote.:)

Well, you know...except for the electoral college...

What do you say, let's all go for a ride!

[WashingtonBay]

The trouble is the media has no ability to tell real scandal and corruption from personal opinions and gossip. The volume is just as loud on both, while every journalist not-so-secretly hopes they will uncover the next __________gate. Reaching down and throwing every crap they find up on the wall just to see what sticks is not responsible journalism, it's scandal mongering. It was with Bush also.

Every single one of us has decisions we've made that someone else could second-guess after the fact. Particularly people who have been elected to office and had to MAKE decisions that have sometimes ticked people off.

Real wrong doing isn't argued about and just left up to differing interpretations. It's clear.

THIS is what's wrong with modern politics.

[Arrow]

The trouble is the media has no ability to tell real scandal and corruption from personal opinions and gossip. The volume is just as loud on both, while every journalist not-so-secretly hopes they will uncover the next __________gate. Reaching down and throwing every crap they find up on the wall just to see what sticks is not responsible journalism, it's scandal mongering. It was with Bush also.

Every single one of us has decisions we've made that someone else could second-guess after the fact. Particularly people who have been elected to office and had to MAKE decisions that have sometimes ticked people off.

Real wrong doing isn't argued about and just left up to differing interpretations. It's clear.

THIS is what's wrong with modern politics.


Perfected by Republicans going after Clinton, by the way. If it got used against Bush, well, you know what they say--ye shall reap what you sow.

[rums_mom]

"The Ethics Act is primarily directed at personal financial benefit," Petumenos told a news conference presenting the report. "People have a lot of misconceptions about the scope of the Alaska Ethics Act."

"The board, a three-member panel under Palin's authority, was responsible for determining if she had broken any laws."

So she was cleared...............good for her. I'm sure the voters of Alaska will feel a whole lot better when she is back in the governor's mansion being a maverick. Any other news about getting her house built for free? Wonder why that was buried........must of been just heresay.

[Arrow]

Yeah, and flying around with the kiddies and taking money for staying at home and...oh well, here's hoping her political career is coming to and end anyway.

[WashingtonBay]

I don't think her career is coming to an end. At all :)


So we all agree most of the muckraking is just personal vendetta?

And that makes it OK.

We'll see.

It's human nature I guess, the highest form of life we're evolving to appears to be.... The National Enquirer. :)

[Arrow]

I just deleted one of my posts--it was an unfair call-out. WB, you always try to bring political discussions back to actual issues when they stray. My apologies.

[Arrow]

I don't think her career is coming to an end. At all :)


So we all agree most of the muckraking is just personal vendetta?

And that makes it OK.

We'll see.

It's human nature I guess, the highest form of life we're evolving to appears to be.... The National Enquirer. :)

Again, my only response is, ye shall reap what you sow. I think that Obama rises above it more than most, we'll see how it goes in the future. As that editorial I posted yesterday argues, the politics of personal destruction may be in abeyance soon anyway as the current financial crisis grows.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, I appreciate that you think I've tried to be fair.

I'd like to think there is a high road somewhere we will eventually end up on, but this "reap what you sow" cycle is unfortunately not appearing to take us there.

[Arrow]

Well, I appreciate that you think I've tried to be fair.

I'd like to think there is a high road somewhere we will eventually end up on, but this "reap what you sow" cycle is unfortunately not appearing to take us there.

O.K. then--back to what I deleted--will you admit that most of the anti-Obama stuff floating around is complete and utter crap, and the real case to be made is that he isn't experienced enough and you disagree with his politics? McCain and Palin and campaign officials are flinging as much crap as they can at the walls and seeing what sticks. They're doing it--they do it every day. Are you going to deny that? Are you being fair?

[WashingtonBay]

Have I posted all the rumors here?

Have I argued fairly about it where I can? Tried to stick to issues, not unsubstantiated rumors and conspiracy theories?

Yes, I do think I have been fair.

[Arrow]

Just say it, WB, just say it--the rumors are crap. Come on, you can do it. I don't care if you haven't posted them, I don't care if you've obliquely steered folks away from them--can you just say that flinging that crap at Obama is wrong? Can you?

[JackieB]

...and the real case to be made is that he isn't experienced enough and you disagree with his politics?

I do have to say that it appears to me that WB has consistently voiced these as her concerns and has not criticized Obama for any of those other things that we have complained are unfair to say about Obama. At least that's been my perspective reading her comments.

[Arrow]

Yes she has, JackieB, I agree. But she also applies accusing politicians of using gossip and rumor only to the anti-Bush and anti-Palin camp. For them, she comes right and says it's being done. She never says that about Obama.

[Arrow]

Let's just forget it--no need to get heated on election day. My apologies for stirring the pot. I'm off to get some work done, vote, do some shopping, and ride my horse.

Cheers, all. See you on the forums tonight.

[WashingtonBay]

I will say flinging crap at Obama is wrong and fortunately, I can do so from a fairly clean record.

I've forwarded no emails, posted no rumors, tried to discourage them, commented as fairly as I can when they have come up, and let you argue against them unfettered when it's against your guy.

I've argued against them even against my own side on political forums, as recently as yesterday, accusing some of being no better than what they've laughed at and mocked on DU.

I'm not struggling with my conscience on this. Really. I'm not. I don't think you'll find a 'gotcha moment' of me, with or without video, on this.

[Arrow]

I will say flinging crap at Obama is wrong and fortunately, I can do so from a fairly clean record.



Thanks, that's all I wanted. And I agree that you have a fairly clean record.

[SuperSTB]

Palin related entertainment
http://www.palinaspresident.us/never/index.html

[luvs2ride1979]

<<The board, a three-member panel under Palin's authority, was responsible for determining if she had broken any laws.>>

So, three people who Palin chose cleared her? Yeah, you betcha! :rolleyes:

[rocknK]

If I were her I'd appoint myself Senator & head for DC & stir up some serious stuff!:whack: