# 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:** 3
**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, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/41 "2008-10-11T02:36:32Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Here’s how I’ve seen the spin so far: > > First, it appears that some are parsing the hell out of the decision which, as tomndebb rightly points out, is in murky waters as it is. > > Second, there is the suggestion that the only thing she actually did wrong was not reigning in her husband. I guess this makes him the scapegoat. > > Finally, the sympathy angle – what she did may have been wrong, but she was just protecting her family from an angry, crazy man. > > The unfortunate news for the spinmeisters is the unavoidable headline, “Palin abused power.” They can spin it anyway they like, the bottom-line is that an elected official who just happens to be Governor of a state in the USA, and the #1 law enforcement official in her state, has been found to have abused the power of her office. That is an impeachable offense. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/42 "2008-10-11T02:37:54Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > In all seriousness, and without spin. By all accounts this guy is a crazy mofo and a bad cop, and was actually threatening her family. It’s not like she got a blowjob from an intern or something. If he was “actually threatening her family,” there are _legal_ avenues she could pursue to address the situation. She could have chosen a totally legal response. Instead, she chose poorly. ---
**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, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/43 "2008-10-11T02:39:05Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > In all seriousness, and without spin. By all accounts this guy is a crazy mofo and a bad cop, and was actually threatening her family. It’s not like she got a blowjob from an intern or something. To this point, the only proof of that is that he was suspended for five days. Unless, of course, you believe every word that comes from one side of a heated divorce. The judge didn’t seem to. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/44 "2008-10-11T02:40:15Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > By all accounts this guy is a crazy mofo and a bad cop, and was actually threatening her family. Then why didn’t she avail herself of the legal remedies the rest of us are limited to when we are faced with the same threats? ---
**Author:** ![kdeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@kdeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kdeus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/45 "2008-10-11T02:42:58Z")
Originally Posted by **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. So the report interviewed everyone except (1) the person who is under investigation, and (2) the sister & ex-spouse who was presumably the target of the threatening behavior and the beneficiary of the firing. The investigator’s zeal is underwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/46 "2008-10-11T02:49:12Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > In all seriousness, and without spin. By all accounts this guy is a crazy mofo and a bad cop, and was actually threatening her family. It’s not like she got a blowjob from an intern or something. Thanks for providing this without any spin! I wouldn’t say “all accounts” but perhaps by Palin’s spin, er, account. Whatever he may or may not have done, the Palin family was admonished for making the kind of charges you are leveling here: > [@](#): > > As the divorce case dragged on, the judge’s concern about family “disparagement” appeared to deepen. In an order signed Jan. 31, 2006, which granted Palin’s sister and Wooten a final divorce decree, Judge Suddock continued to express concern about attacks by Palin’s family on Wooten. The judge even threatened to curb Palin’s sister’s child custody rights if family criticism of Wooten continued. I’m sure that you never heard that before, given your interest in presenting the straight, serious info without any spin. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/47 "2008-10-11T02:52:06Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > If he was “actually threatening her family,” there are _legal_ avenues she could pursue to address the situation. She could have chosen a totally legal response. > > Instead, she chose poorly. Didn’t she also _reduce_ the size her security detail after taking office? That doesn’t sound like the actions of someone who think’s her familiy is in danger.:dubious: And then there’s the matter off allowing her husband to interfere in state business. ---
**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, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/48 "2008-10-11T02:59:16Z")
> [@kdeus](#): > > The investigator’s zeal is underwhelming. What do you think “was requested” and “has not done so” and “was requested” and “declined” mean? Seriously, what do you intend that quote to show? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/49 "2008-10-11T03:03:04Z")
> [@Atomicflea](#): > > Interesting. I thought at one point she made a big deal about how she had cooperated. I think she did cooperate witha separate investigation that was done by a panel she chose herself. But I may be wrong on that. The odds of Palin quitting or being asked to quit are less than zero. This board always underestimates the amount of pride politicians have. ---
**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, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/50 "2008-10-11T03:05:17Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > 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) Where’s my cookie? This has got to be worth at least a cookie (and don’t try and promise me cake). From the [Fox News home page](http://www.foxnews.com/): > [@](#): > > Panel: Palin ‘Abused Her Power’ in Trooper Case > **Ethics inquiry concludes Palin was ‘proper and lawful’ in firing a state commissioner** but failed to keep her husband from meddling in trooper’s discipline (bolding mine) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/51 "2008-10-11T03:07:48Z")
Anyone who was paying attention knew that she fired the guy who wouldn’t fire her BIL. So everyone who was going to change their vote has probably already done so. If the facts are true, and she did not testify before the committee to disprove them, it looks venal, but not illegal. What is interesting is all the Republicans who are deserting the party nominees. They are distancing themselves for McPalin faster than political rats abandoning a ship of state. McPalin is going down hard in November. Oh, and Minnesota is going to prove that a Democratic clown can be a better Senator than a Republican. ---
**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, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/52 "2008-10-11T03:22:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think she did cooperate with a separate investigation that was done by a panel she chose herself. But I may be wrong on that. No she did not. BTW, does the law permit elected officials to appoint special prosecutors to investigate them when they are accused of violating the law? **[Palin Refuses to Cooperate with Ethics Probe. What a Surprise.](http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/palin-refuses-to-cooperate-with-ethics-probe-what-a-surprise/)** **[Palin will reportedly assist the ‘Troopergate’ probe she requested.](http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/22/palin-will-reportedly-assist-the-%E2%80%98troopergate%E2%80%99-probe-she-requested/)** ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/53 "2008-10-11T03:23:31Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Where’s my cookie? This has got to be worth at least a cookie (and don’t try and promise me cake). > > From the [Fox News home page](http://www.foxnews.com/): Sorry, by for the most prominent quoted text is in “Abused Her Power” in the headline. No cookie for you. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/54 "2008-10-11T04:07:38Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > In all seriousness, and without spin. By all accounts this guy is a crazy mofo and a bad cop, and was actually threatening her family. It’s not like she got a blowjob from an intern or something. Michael Wooten may be all that, but the investigation is into Gov. Palin’s firing of Walt Monegan. Saying “this guy” is bad tends to obscure the issue. From the New York Times account, I get that the Alaska legislature concluded: 1. Sarah Palin fired Monegan because he wouldn’t fire Wooten 2. There may have been other reasons for firing him as well 3. Alaska law allows the governor to fire the public safety commissioner for any reason or for no reason at all. So, Palin abused power, but the abuse was not illegal. I expect the legislature to now move to clarify what the governor can and can’t do legally, so that incidents like these don’t recur in the future. ---
**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, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/55 "2008-10-11T04:30:02Z")
As i understand it, she did something illegal, pressuring for the firing of Wooten for personal reasons (biolating alaskan law), firing Monegan was not illegal since the Alaskan governor can fire “at will” employees for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/56 "2008-10-11T05:33:22Z")
Wait. It seems that that they’re saying that she “abused her power” by NOT stopping her husband from getting involved. And that the actions she did take were, in fact, legal. Can someone abuse their power by NOT exercising their power? Seems like that if there were wrongdoing in this regard, it would be something like dereliction of duty, not abuse of power. Isn’t that right? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/57 "2008-10-11T05:55:44Z")
The version I read said > [@](#): > > The Branchflower report states Todd Palin used his wife’s office and its resources to press for Wooten’s removal, and the governor “failed to act” to stop it. But because Todd Palin is not a state employee, the report makes no finding regarding his conduct. What resources of the governor’s office do you think it’s _perfectly acceptable_ for a non-official to use? I haven’t seen exactly what resources he did use — did he use her phone, did he get access to employee records and home phone numbers of officers, did he simply use her computer to send out emails, did he send letters using the official letterhead? — but imagine, if you will, that President Clinton had allowed somebody access to the resources of the White House for personal gain. Would that be hunky-dory? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/58 "2008-10-11T06:08:44Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > The version I read said > What resources of the governor’s office do you think it’s _perfectly acceptable_ for a non-official to use? > > I haven’t seen exactly what resources he did use — did he use her phone, did he get access to employee records and home phone numbers of officers, did he simply use her computer to send out emails, did he send letters using the official letterhead? — but imagine, if you will, that President Clinton had allowed somebody access to the resources of the White House for personal gain. Would that be hunky-dory? To me, the question is did the person just NOT act when someone else was doing something wrong, or did he instruct the person to do the illegal act? If it’s the latter, then it seems to be a clear abuse of power. But if it’s the former, it can’t be abuse of power because there was no “act” to be judged as abusive. As I said, a dereliction of duty type charge possibly, but not an abuse of power, as it does not apply. In this case, I don’t see what act she committed that could be judged to be abusive. Evidently she wasn’t pro-active enough in stopping the act of another, her husband. I get the idea that that they found she did not do anything wrong, but didn’t want to give her a complete bill of health. So they resorted to painfully tortured reasoning to link her and the charge of abuse of power through her husband. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/59 "2008-10-11T06:18:24Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > It won’t make one whit of difference to her devoted base but this finding does clash rather with her “Hold me accountable” sound byte. I agree – the hope, I suppose, is that the “undecideds” who are starting to shift towards Obama will see this as further good reason to vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397/60 "2008-10-11T06:19:07Z")
I would have to see exactly **how** he used the resources of the office to be the judge of that. If their report — remember, this was voted 12-0 on a bipartisan board, so this isn’t a Democrat’s hack job — says there was abuse of power, then I can live with that. Given that it’s 300 pages long I expect we’ll get more specific details trickling out over the weekend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panel-finds-palin-abused-power-troopergate/467397.md?page=4)