# Panel Finds Palin Abused Power (Troopergate) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 11, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397 "2008-10-11T00:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/1 "2008-10-11T00:31:18Z")
Sorry for yet another Palin thread, but this is a long time coming, and serious potatoes. The McCain campaign already released a report exonerating her – are they going to acknowledge this or just sling more mud at the panel? Could this be the One True Fork that does them in? I don’t suppose it will make a difference to Fox news watchers, but what about the crucial independent/swing vote? Has it been in the air long enough for Outrage Fatigue to have kicked in? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/2 "2008-10-11T00:34:20Z")
For those who want - [linkee.](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/10/palin-abused-power-but-didnt-break-law-in-trooper-case/) Will be called a Democratic kangaroo verdict. Won’t change any minds. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/3 "2008-10-11T00:38:26Z")
A longer article [here.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27105917/) ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/4 "2008-10-11T00:39:19Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Sorry for yet another Palin thread, but this is a long time coming, and serious potatoes. > > The McCain campaign already released a report exonerating her – are they going to acknowledge this or just sling more mud at the panel? > > Could this be the One True Fork that does them in? > > I don’t suppose it will make a difference to Fox news watchers, but what about the crucial independent/swing vote? Has it been in the air long enough for Outrage Fatigue to have kicked in? If she abused her power as Governor of Alaska, why then are they saying that she broke no laws? Is abuse of official power, acceptable for elected officials in Alaska? ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/5 "2008-10-11T00:39:48Z")
I don’t understand how it can be dismissed as a partisan investigation when it was started well before she became the Veep nominee. Well, let’s hope she handles it as badly as she handles everything else. I wouldn’t have minded McCain too much, but I don’t want her anywhere near the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/6 "2008-10-11T00:41:48Z")
> [@Atomicflea](#): > > I don’t understand how it can be dismissed as a partisan investigation when it was started well before she became the Veep nominee. > > Well, let’s hope she handles it as badly as she handles everything else. **I wouldn’t have minded McCain too much, but I don’t want her anywhere near the White House.** Ditto. (bolding mine) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/7 "2008-10-11T00:42:26Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > For those who want - [linkee.](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/10/palin-abused-power-but-didnt-break-law-in-trooper-case/) > > Will be called a Democratic kangaroo verdict. Won’t change any minds. Except that most of that panel was composed of Republicans ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/8 "2008-10-11T00:45:03Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Except that most of that panel was composed of Republicans But . . . but . . . but she’s a MAVERICK! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/9 "2008-10-11T00:45:43Z")
I don’t know. It may have an impact on the Noonans out there. Which in turn may have an impact on right-leaning undecided voters. And of course there’s the right/left/center undecideds as well. It does say it was a “contributing factor,” which may be sufficient wiggle room to concvince a lot of people to keep supporting her. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/10 "2008-10-11T00:46:56Z")
I doubt it’ll change the minds of many of the converted but it might convince others not to convert. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/11 "2008-10-11T00:47:11Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] But . . . but . . . but she’s a MAVERICK! [/QUOTE] You betcha! ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/12 "2008-10-11T00:49:25Z")
Interesting. I thought at one point she made a big deal about how she had cooperated. [QUOTE=The Report, page 5] Out of deference to her position, no subpoena was issued for Governor Sarah Palin. However, she was requested to cooperate with the investigation by providing a sworn statement. She has not done so. Governor Palin’s sister Molly McCann was requested by me to give a depostion; she declined through her attorney. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/13 "2008-10-11T00:50:04Z")
Never let the facts get in the way of a good spin. Someone can be unethical and not break any laws I guess. Really though, most of the middle is already turned off on her and many are turned off on McCain as well. Those who see her as the new core of Conservatism in the GOP won’t let this stand in their way. Those who dislike Obama won’t like him any the more because of this. And the few who really want to vote _for_ McCain will still want to vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/14 "2008-10-11T00:53:36Z")
It is going to be interesting to see how Republicans can justify voting for a new Spiro Agnew! ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/15 "2008-10-11T00:55:15Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > A longer article [here.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27105917/) From the article:" A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state’s public safety commissioner. " From the other article: “Palin abused power but didn’t break law in trooper case” If she “unlawfully abused her authority” , doesn’t that, by definition, mean that she broke the law? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/16 "2008-10-11T00:55:19Z")
good grief that is one honking big report. the ones on the legis. table, look like 4" d ring binders. (from pic. in the moment by moment link in the pit thread.) can’t say this is a surprise. i wonder if this will do something to the custody agreement, as the judge warned them about going after the exbrother in law. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/17 "2008-10-11T00:56:01Z")
[Alaska Statutes. Title 39. Public Officers and Employees Chapter 52. Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act](http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title39/Chapter52.htm) > [@](#): > > AS 39.52.410. Violations; Penalties For Misconduct. > > (d) If the personnel board finds a violation of this chapter by a public officer removable from office only by impeachment, it shall file a report with the president of the Senate, with its finding. The report must contain a statement of the facts alleged to constitute the violation. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/18 "2008-10-11T00:56:14Z")
> [@Atomicflea](#): > > Interesting. I thought at one point she made a big deal about how she had cooperated. She was going to (or at least said she was) until she was tapped for VP, then everything changed when McCain’s people took over. There was an attempted bit of spin I saw yesterday evening, something about how “they didn’t even talk to her.” I think the spinmeister must have realized that that was just too seriously weak. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/19 "2008-10-11T00:57:23Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > From the article:" A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state’s public safety commissioner. " > > From the other article: “Palin abused power but didn’t break law in trooper case” > > If she “unlawfully abused her authority” , doesn’t that, by definition, mean that she broke the law? I got to consider that sloppy writing, and I’d expect to see it edited more clearly in later versions. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/20 "2008-10-11T01:02:39Z")
Prediction: Here’s the quote most likely to show up in Fox news reports and McCain campaign responses: > [@](#): > > Finding Number Two: > Sarahr 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. Of course, it does leave out “In spite of that” and the preceding sentence, but it does affirm that she did have the authority to hire/fire Monegan. [Link to the PDF](http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/10/DOWNLOAD.pdf) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397.md?page=2)