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GOP Legislators Enlist Right-Wing Lawyers to Stymie Trooper-Gate Probe
The GOP campaign to thwart the Trooper-Gate investigation cranked into even higher gear early this morning, with an emailed announcement by Anchorage attorney Kevin Clarkson that, on behalf of five Republican members, he is suing to halt the investigation. Clarkson argued in the email that Democratic senators Hollis French and Kim Elton, and independent investigator Steve Branchflower have inappropriately politicized the probe "in an attempt to unlawfully smear Gov. Palin." The Republican legislators behind the move are Representatives Wes Keller, Mike Kelly, and Bob Lynn, and Senators Fred Dyson and Sen. Tom Wagoner.
In addition, the GOP Speaker of the House, Rep. John Harris, released a letter today in which he asserted that what "started as a bipartisan and impartial effort is becoming overshadowed by public comments from individuals at both ends of the political spectrum."
And McCain staffers were all over the airwaves making a similar claim, and arguing that, as a result, the matter should be turned over to the state personnel board -- a request made originally by Palin's lawyer.
There's evidence of additional involvement by national Republicans in the effort to stymie the probe. Clarkson told the Associated Press he's working with the Liberty Legal Institute (LLI) a Texas nonprofit legal firm that's donating its time. The LLI is the legal arm of the Free Market Foundation, a conservative activist group that describes itself on its website as "the statewide public policy council associated with Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family." Dobson, of course, is a key religious right leader and GOP power-broker.
As for Clarkson himself, one veteran Anchorage attorney described him, in an email to TPMmuckraker, as "a religious conservative who is known for taking on politically charged cases that get his name in the paper," but added that he "is not a heavy hitter".
By all accounts, this particular effort to get the courts to stop the probe is unlikely to succeed, as few courts would be likely to want to intervene in the management of an internal legislative matter. But the move may be designed as much to create political pressure on French and his allies to back down or soft pedal the investigation.
Josh
Zachary
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/second-time-as-farce-how-palin-is.html
Friday, September 12, 2008
Second Time As Farce: How Palin is Exactly Like Bush, Part 2
From Palin's interview with Charlie Gibson:
Palin: "Our national leaders are sending them on a task that is from God"
Gibson: Are we fighting a holy war?
Palin: (looking strained, desperate, trapped): The reference there is from Abraham Lincoln who said "Never presume to know God's will..."
Robert Zimmerman: She failed to describe how a McCain/Palin foreign policy would differ from a Bush foreign policy...
Gibson: Have you ever met a foreign head of state?
Palin: I have not, and I think that if you go back in history, and ask that question of many Vice Presidents they have the same answer that I just gave you.
Anderson Cooper: Bay, ABC News just did a fact check. They looked back the last 30 years, all Vice Presidents have met a foreign leader. Does that matter?
Bay Buchanan: No, it doesn't at all. Her answer was excellent. It will make Americans feel that much closer to her. She's very real. Sure, she hasn't traveled overseas to meet these foreign leaders. But that's not what American's are looking for. She's absolutely correct. They want somebody that they can relate to. Who's hearing them. They're sick and tired of those people in Washington who may know lots of facts and figures and meet lots of people...
Zimmerman: It's always a danger when we have leaders who know facts and figures, Bay. That really does get in the way of setting up sound policies...My concern, Bay, is that when Sarah Palin says that she's not met foreign leaders like that's a good thing--We made that mistake eight years ago when George W. Bush was that likable guy that you wanted to invite over for a barbeque.
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/second-time-as-farce-how-palin-is.html
September 16, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do you spell asshole?
R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N
September 16, 2008 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Repugnican Dick-Heads at it once again!
September 16, 2008 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering if Alaskans are happy with the way people from the lower 48 are railroading their state?
September 16, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
One can only hope Alaskans won't back down on this issue because this could be their only chance to get rid of her as a Governor, should McCain/Palin lose the GE. Given how vindictive and power-hungry she is, Alaskans who have come out against her now would have two more years of her as Governor otherwise.
September 16, 2008 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Changing stories, lawyering up. Sounds like Palin has a lot to hide. Rick Davis ought to be worrying about the developing composite image of Sarah Palin, since the election isn't about issues.
Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant.
September 16, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin is blocking, stymieing and obstructing like a two-term president and she's not even elected yet. Usually we get a couple of years before the scandals hit. Imagine what we'll be dealing with if she gets elected.
That's Just What I Said
September 16, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
From an AP story on Troopergate, a quote re: conservative Texas legal group:
"Making clear the dispute has ramifications beyond Alaska, Liberty Legal Institute, a Texas-based legal advocacy group, was working on the lawsuit. The institute has taken on a variety of cases in defense of conservative Christian positions."
Anchorage attorney Kevin G. Clarkson said he and the Texas group were donating their work on the lawsuit. "We just want to take the politics out of it and bring fairness back into it."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080916/ap_on_el_pr/palin_troopergate
Can somebody tell me how the Troopergate probe has anything to do with "christian positions"?
Once again proof that the right-wing doesn't do irony...
September 16, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
You would think that these people would have learned from Nixon and Bush. No matter what she did it isn't going to be as bad as the cover-up. Next we will hear that Scooter and Karl have set up a warroom in AK to call the shots. Maybe they can take a telescope and spy on Russia too.
September 16, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's a story out that Palin's appointed Attorney General has told state employees to ignore their subpoenas. Unbelievable, since a group with a republican majority issued these same subpoenas last week.
http://palincounter.blogspot.com/
September 16, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is another reason to reject the McCain-Palin ticket, and it is revealed in the series of articles in the Washington Post entitled "Angler" http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/ about Dick Cheney's machinations as VP. I heard an extended interview with Barton Gellman, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the series. The people around McCain are the people who were Cheney's proteges. How perfect to have a weak president and a weak VP for them to continue to work their power plays at the seat of government. That is exactly what seems to be afoot.
September 17, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have a very BIG Question, What Church and GOD does PALIN believe in, go to. The one I believe in and some times go to believes that LYING is Quickes way to the FIREY Never, Never land. Would some one please ask Palin and McCain this Question. What God do the believe in that lying is OK?
September 17, 2008 3:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Giving false testimony." is a sin, lying is not.
"Enacting an unjust kiling (murder)." is a sin, killing is not.
'Placing ones finger on the scale' is a sin. The 'Bible' enjoins the folk it was written for to seek justice. tipping scales for ones own favor in the marketplace and/or in court is unjust before the one god.
'Carrying god's name before you into vain pursuits' is a sin. Cursing is bad form. The sin is saying it is god's purpose while doing matters that are earthly (personal and human) and that matter to ones self and ones own. Bringing Mr. Shower-with-your-boy-childern and Focus on Pornography in this is actually a sin.
The first of the Decalogue . . . The first of the Ten Statements . . . The first of what Christians and the Rapturist Right call the Ten Commandments (while 603 others . . . 602 if we count the bastardization of the laying with men thingy) is:
"I am Adonai, your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. Before me you shall hold no other."
Pointing out hypocrisy of those who call themselves 'The Right' requires percission in languaging and an understanding what wrongs they are committing.
This is about subverting justice . . . and THAT is profane before Adonai (and using god's name in doing so is bonus profanity).
Additionally, this whole thing is about man's contract with government and therefore laws of man between men . . . Dragging god into this bad form and, as noted above, falls into the between man and god thing.
Doing mental gymnastics to subvert intent is a Republican (Big R) pursuit. I would prefer that We, the People, truly put country, law, and its Citizenry first.
September 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
From the desk of Rep. Les Gara, Anchorage, Alaska...
Since Monday the McCain camp has stepped up its personal attacks against Alaskans. They've continued their D.C.-style tactics against neighbors in this small state. The game plan is to find an excuse to stop our Legislature's Troopergate investigation, and hide evidence McCain's folks really don't want to surface before November's election. It's been a little Karl Rove, and parts Laurel and Hardy. How else can you explain the following?
Friday the Attorney General's office promised state witnesses would comply with subpoenas the Legislature issued last week. Tuesday the Governor's Attorney General flip flopped, and announced that state witnesses wouldn't comply because, well, and I'm paraphrasing here - - he's changed his mind. And in what has to be an idea hatched after a 4th Martini at Chilkoot Charlies, Governor Palin's attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the ethics claim she filed against herself two weeks ago. Yup. She really filed a complaint against herself. Tuesday she said she's discovered, after a thorough investigation of herself, that she's done nothing wrong. Does anyone know how to get a hold of Jon Stewart and Tina Fey?
It's silly season up here in the far north, but this week's moves are aimed at one thing: John McCain's effort to find cover for being disingenuous. See, before Governor Palin's nomination for the Republican VP spot, she did the honest thing. She admitted the evidence -- of roughly 20 contacts between her staff and husband with Public Safety officials, seeking the firing of Governor Palin's former brother-in-law -- might lead a reasonable person to the conclusion that the she misused her office to fire a state employee. So when Alaska's Republican-led Legislature called for an investigation, she did the honorable thing and said she and her staff would comply. She denies any wrongdoing.
Things changed on August 29 when Governor Palin was added to the McCain ticket. Since then his handlers have told her she can't testify. They don't want the evidence in this case to come out. They don't want her to testify under oath. They don't want other witnesses to testify under oath. So they have engaged in daily maneuvers to attack, as disloyal to the McCain campaign, anyone who wants the investigation to move forward. They've now attacked two well respected prosecutors, and perhaps the state's most highly regarded law enforcement official -- the Public Safety Commissioner she hired, and then fired, Walt Monegan.
Every day this week McCain operatives have sung the same tune. Today a guy with an East Coast accent, who knows nothing about Alaska, stood in front of a McCain-Palin banner to lead the attacks against people he doesn't know. At press conferences on Monday and Tuesday campaign staffer Megan Stapleton spit vitriol to repeat her argument that this investigation is really a "Democratic" attack on Governor Palin. See, that's easier than just saying their VP has reneged on her promise to testify. It's easier than just saying they don't want anyone testifying before the November election. It's easier than admitting they are stonewalling a legislative investigation. Oh -- and I know they hate partisan stuff. Yesterday 5 Republican legislators -- all allies of Governor Palin, all supporters of the McCain campaign, filed a lawsuit against the Legislature to stop the investigation.
Here are a few things MCCain's operatives failed to say. There are a few small facts that make it hard to style this as a Democratic investigation. One is that Alaska is a Republican State. We have a Republican Governor and a Legislature of 34 Republicans and 26 Democrats. This summer the Legislature's Legislative Council voted 12-0 (8 Republicans and 4 Democrats) to hire an investigator, and appointed Democratic Senator Hollis French, a well-respected former prosecutor, to find an investigator.
Governor Palin stated she and her employees would comply with the investigation. French then hired Steve Branchflower, a former DA who most recently was hired by legislative Republicans to run the state's Office of Victims rights. And on Friday the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 (2 Democrats and 1 Republican in favor); and the House Judiciary Committee issued a 7 - 0 (5 Republicans, 2 Democrats) advisory vote, to issue subpoenas to witnesses the McCain camp had previously stopped from testifying.
Over the last two days McCain's outside operatives have vilified former prosecutor Hollis French -- as an Obama supporter who must have called this investigation to hurt the McCain ticket. But French was appointed to oversee the investigation by a 12 - 0 Legislative Council vote, and is probably the state's most respected legislator -- by Republicans and Democrats alike. He's so popular the Republican Party couldn't find anyone to run against him this year. They've called former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan -- a Native Alaskan who has served Republican and Democratic Administrations with honor, and put his life on the line in uniform- - "insubordinate." Odd, given that when Governor Palin fired him she offered him a different job. I guess being "insubordinate" was a job requirement for the new position. And they've challenged the independence of an investigator and former DA, who has no animus anyone can find.
Those Swift boat ads taught the McCain folks that if you say something untrue enough times, it can stick. My favorite moment of the week came when Governor Palin's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss Palin's ethics complaint against herself. Stay with me. Her attorneys have been buying the peyote, not me. See, on August 29 they needed to find a way to stop the Legislature's investigation. They tried asking the Republican leaders to call it off, and take one for the team. But the Senate President and others honorably said no. So they came up with an argument that the State Personnel Board -- 3 people appointed by Governor Palin and her Republican predecessor Frank Murkowski - had "exclusive jurisdiction" to investigate wrongdoing by the Governor.
The Legislature wasn't amused. So Governor Palin then filed a complaint against herself. That, they said, put "jurisdiction" in the hands of their friends at the Personnel Board. They argued that since the Personnel Board was now proceeding with an "investigation," the Legislature couldn't. To put icing on the cake, on Monday the Governor's attorneys moved to dismiss the Governor's case against herself. They said, and I loosely paraphrase again -- that they tried really hard and just couldn't find any evidence that the Governor did anything wrong. OK. I can't believe I just wrote that. And I wish it weren't true.
These are the things you have to do when your presidential candidate doesn't want his VP to honor a promise, and doesn't want evidence to come out before an election. These are the things you have to do if your folks aren't going to comply with a subpoena. That's because without spin the headline might read: "McCain Interferes With Investigation Palin Agreed To." How easy it is to re-write a headline. They learned that during the Swift boat campaign too.
All we can hope for is that members of the press will abide by what's taught in journalism school. Not to repeat the spin of political operatives without reporting the truth. Not to write "he said she said" stories, and pretend the truth is somewhere in the middle. But to report the facts. No matter how you spin it, Governor Palin promised to comply with this Legislative Investigation. McCain's folks got her to change her position. And the Legislature that voted for the investigation did so on a bi-partisan basis. End of story. End of headline.
Over the next few days McCain's folks will try to get local legislators to step in line, out of party loyalty, and reverse their vote to investigate Troopergate. But many local Republicans, like Senate President Lyda Green, have so far refused to play those politics. Stay for more from McCain's Campaign for "Change." They've tried to change the truth. They've succeeded at changing Governor Palin's promise to comply with this investigation. Let's see what they'll change next.
Rep. Les Gara, Anchorage, Alaska
September 17, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink