Sarah turns opaque.

[elucidator]

Well, I’m glad to hear that Governor Palin has thoroughly investigated Sarah Palin, and we can put this sorry episode behind us and concentrate on her pastor, the witchdoctor.

[Equipoise]

@elucidator

Well, I’m glad to hear that Governor Palin has thoroughly investigated Sarah Palin,

I’m beginning to doubt who was actually Governor, Sarah or Todd.

I guess it’s ok when a husband inserts himself into the governing process. As long as they’re Republicans.

[TVeblen]

@Rhythmdvl

Furthermore (and perhaps most telling), it sounds to me like Palin et al are throwing as much filth as possible on Wooten at this time in order to justify/ obfuscate their actions. That is, there are a lot of people out there that agree with them that Wooten shouldn’t be a cop, so are inclined to exonerate without considering the abuse of power. However, if they had independent corroboration (which they may but I’m not aware of), such as other citizen’s complaints, other independent witness testimony against his policing, pre-divorce personnel write-ups, etc., they’d be trumpeting it as loudly as possible. The cacophonous silence is very telling — especially as they are not hesitant to smear him with their own, personally witnessed allegations.

Excellent point, Rhythmdvl. Everything I’ve read has been filtered through the Palins’ camp. It’s just as reasonable to think the guy has been the target of a concerted slander campaign. Those outside review processes didn’t find cause to fire him so that casts at least a significant degree of doubt on the most glaring accusations.

Guin’s point is useful too, IMO. In an admittedly very cursory search, I didn’t find that the Palins filed a restraining order against him. It would have been the logical first step, I’d think.

[Chefguy]

@Squink

Alaska Supreme Court Rejects GOP Lawsuit to Block ‘Troopergate’ Report

I just sent a letter to the paper that insinuates that these five assholes were probably promised favors in return for their lawsuit. It’s interesting that they engaged a Texas law firmwith some high-sounding morality name (Liberty Legal Institute) to file the suit.

Clarkson is working on the case pro bono, with assistance from cocounsel Kelly Shackleford and Hiram Sasser, of Liberty Legal Institute, a Texas nonprofit that focuses on first amendment religious issues.

Bolding mine. What a surprise. A religious nutjob defended by other religious nutjobs.

[Steve_MB]

@Rhythmdvl

I have absolutely nothing other than a general presumption of innocence/benefit of the doubt, of course, so I cannot and should not assert that Wooten is Mr. Innocent in all of this. However, given an apparent pattern of viciousness on Palin’s part, the smear-mongering of the campaign in general and especially in the campaign’s “report”, and familiarity (though fortunately never personal) with the hyperbole that surrounds many divorce cases, I’m not inclined to give credence to the allegations nor consider Wooten a nasty piece of work.

Furthermore (and perhaps most telling), it sounds to me like Palin et al are throwing as much filth as possible on Wooten at this time in order to justify/ obfuscate their actions.

If so, she’s at least treading the borderline of contempt of court:

@Newsweek

Warned by the Court
A judge repeatedly told Palin and family not to badmouth her sister’s ex

An Anchorage judge three years ago warned Sarah Palin and members of her family to stop “disparaging” the reputation of Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten, who at the time was undergoing a bitter separation and divorce from Palin’s sister Molly…

Court records obtained by Newsweek show that during the course of divorce hearings three years ago, Judge John Suddock heard testimony from an official of the Alaska State Troopers’ union about how Sarah Palin – then a private citizen – and members of her family, including her father and daughter, lodged up to a dozen complaints against Wooten with the state police. The union official told the judge that he had never before been asked to appear as a divorce-case witness, that the union believed family complaints against Wooten were “not job-related,” and that Wooten was being “harassed” by Palin and other family members.

Court documents show that Judge Suddock was disturbed by the alleged attacks by Palin and her family members on Wooten’s behavior and character. “Disparaging will not be tolerated – it is a form of child abuse,” the judge told a settlement hearing in October 2005, according to typed notes of the proceedings. The judge added: “Relatives cannot disparage either. If occurs [sic] the parent needs to set boundaries for their relatives.”…

Reading between the lines, it’s clear that the various charges against Wooten are the sort of crap that tends to get thrown around in bitter divorce cases, and that the judge who looked into them was not at all impressed.

[Slacker]

Anyone know when the Troopergate report is supposed to turn up?

[user_hostile]

@Chefguy

I just sent a letter to the paper that insinuates that these five assholes were probably promised favors in return for their lawsuit. It’s interesting that they engaged a Texas law firmwith some high-sounding morality name (Liberty Legal Institute) to file the suit.
Bolding mine. What a surprise. A religious nutjob defended by other religious nutjobs.

Hire a Texas firm to deal with the SCOAK? Can someone explain this? Do they have an office in Alaska and can they practice before the court? Or do they contract this out?

[Chefguy]

@Slacker

Anyone know when the Troopergate report is supposed to turn up?

The latest story. They’re meeting in secret for now. No news on when it will be released. Some local jackasses showed up:

Legislators, journalists and others were greeted at the elevator outside the meeting room by a group of McCain-Palin campaign volunteers who were dressed as clowns and who said, “Welcome to the kangaroo court.”

One of them tried to give state Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, a balloon twisted in the shape of a kangaroo. He declined it. Wielechowski is a member of the Judiciary Committee that subpoenaed some state officials, but he’s not a member of the Legislative Council.

During the closed legislative hearing, a group of about 50 supporters of Gov. Sarah Palin stood on the sidewalk outside the legislative building. They waved signs that said “Palin Power,” “Sarah’s Right” and “Not Guilty,” and they chanted “Go, Sarah, Go” and “Who’s the best mom in the world - Sarah.”

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

@Slacker

Anyone know when the Troopergate report is supposed to turn up?

According to MSNBC (Fox has studiously ignored saying anything ever about Troopergate, as far as I can tell), the Alaska State Legislature is supposed to have a vote sometime today on whether or not to make the report public. The Republicans are trying to seal it.

[E-Sabbath]

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132527

Liveblog of hearing coverage.

[Equipoise]

Clowns 4 Palin!!!

doubled over laughing

[Cervaise]

You can’t make this shit up.

[Rhythmdvl]

It’s on its way:

4:11 p.m.The Legislative Council just voted 12-0 to release the report, except for certain parts they consider confidential.

[tnetennba]

“certain parts” that actually have any content, I reckon.

[Frodo]

Abuse of power

Link to the report

Page 8

[treis]

This guy is a crack investigator. Nothing gets passed him:

@Branchflower

Now, if I’m not mistake, November 8th is the day immediately following November 7th

[Squink]

A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state’s public safety commissioner.

[Chefguy]

Fuckin’ librul media. Unfortunately, they’re not recommending any legal action.

[Slacker]

Please welcome the best known hockey mom in the United States, Sarah Palin!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

- YouTube

[Guinastasia]

@Slacker

Please welcome the best known hockey mom in the United States, Sarah Palin!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7TgDanmWkg

Whoa, that was at the Phillies game? Ha ha! (I’m a Pens gal myself, but considering that we’d probably do the same thing-especially since our beloved Steelers owner, Dan Rooney, is going for Obama…)