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Palin Under Fire At Home For Trooper-Gate Stonewalling
Over the last eight years, the Bush administration's approach to governing has been characterized by a reflexive penchant for secrecy, a willingness to stonewall legitimate investigations, and an aggressive media relations strategy, which sees the press as just another interest group, rather than as playing an important public function.
In recent days, the McCain-Palin campaign has doubled down on that same governing style in shutting down the Trooper-Gate investigation.
When Trooper-Gate first broke, Palin pledged full cooperation. But in the last week, the McCain-Palin campaign has brought in a high-powered ex-federal prosecutor and a team of communications experts to all but shut down the probe.
Essentially co-opting the office of state Attorney General, and working closely with Palin's own lawyer, the GOP operatives -- led by Ed O'Callaghan, a former terrorism prosecutor with the US Attorney's office in New York, and Megan Stapleton, a GOP operative who had worked on Palin's 2006 campaign for governor -- have ensured that many of the key witnesses subpoened in the case, including the Palins themselves, have refused to testify. (No witnesses showed up to a committee hearing today.) At daily press conferences, they've disparaged a respected former public employee, Walt Monegan, offering an entirely new line on why Palin fired him. They've made flatly false statements designed to paint the Democratic legislator overseeing the probe, Hollis French, as having overstepped his authority and as running a partisan witch-hunt. And they've aggressively challenged reporting that they've perceived as unfavorable -- in one case, as we reported yesterday, by phoning a reporter at home to complain about an accurate story.
There's little question that despite -- or perhaps because of -- these efforts, the tone of the Trooper-Gate coverage has grown noticeably more negative in the last few days. And Alaska-based commentators and bloggers have reacted with fury in recent days to the McCain-Palin camp's tactics.
In an unusually pointed editorial published yesterday, the state's most prominent newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News concluded: "Palin and McCain are trying to ignite a partisan firestorm that wipes out the Troopergate investigation until after the election."
And in an opinion piece published Tuesday in the same paper, conservative radio host Dan Fagan -- a frequent Palin critic -- referred to Palin's "transparent delay tactics," and argued that "Americans deserve to know what Palin is trying to hide before we vote her a heartbeat away from the leader of the free world."
Bloggers have been even more critical. One at Alaska Report, a liberal site that has tracked corruption in Alaska state government, wrote yesterday: "National political assassins have invaded Alaska. They were visible and in full force at the McCain-Palin press conference yesterday. Alaskans don't roll that way."
And another at Mudflats -- tagline: "Tiptoeing through the muck of Alaskan politics" -- added: "The damage that this stonewalling has had on Sarah Palin's 'image,' that the out-of-state lawyers and the McCain campaign were trying so fervently to craft, has yet to be measured."
There may be signs that the angry reaction to the GOP tactics has spread beyond opinion writers. Matt Zensey, the ADN's editorial page editor, told TPMmuckraker that letters to the editor had been running at somewhere between 60 and 66 percent anti-Palin in recent days.
"We are not alone among those who are taken aback" by Palin's abrupt transformation from a being an advocate of openness and accountability to stone-walling the investigation at every turn, said Zensey. "People are noticing the disconnect."
Zensey said that the take-no-prisoners tactics of the McCain-Palin PR team are not in keeping with Alaska's tradition of civil political discourse. "The 11-minute tirade that Megan Stapleton launched against Walt Monegan is something that was unfamiliar to a lot of Alaskans."
Zensey added: "The politics of personal destruction have come to Alaska."
Still, what ultimately matters is whether the dissatisfaction with Palin's about-face on Trooper-Gate filters into the broader narrative of the presidential campaign. Already, though, Democrats may being taking comfort in the fact that, in recent days, her national approval ratings appear to have slipped noticeably.
Josh
Zachary
Smash Mouth GOP politics like what Palin and Mccain are pulling off in Alaska won't fly. Alaska people are only used to their politicians pulling this shit...aka Young and Stevens...
September 19, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for your opinion.
BUT you are incorrect.
The FBI has been helping us clean the houses, so to speak, of slime paid off by oil company brass.
Sarah has been the one FIGHTING them. Hence this smear campaign.
The biggest problem with our politicians is that 'not only are they cheap, but they're easy'. LOL
And no, I don't consider Sarah 'one of them'. That is why I like her, and why the intrenched good ole boys don't.
September 21, 2008 1:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
What smear campaign was that? She and even (for no even faintly legitimate reason) her husband are refusing to honor lawfully issued subpoenas. This troubles a lot of people, though obviously not you. What smear campaign are you talking about?
September 21, 2008 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
If she is right on firing the guy, why not come out and make her case? Instead she stands back while a gang of political thugs move in to stop the investigation with which she had previously promised to cooperate.
What is she so desperate to hide?
September 22, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since this investigation is into misuse of power and character assassination, taken from the Cheney/Bush/Rove play book, it goes to the heart of McBush and how his presidency would respond to criticism and law breaking. It boggles the mind that Obamas campaign haven't used such a negative in their ads. Four more years!!!!!!!!!
September 19, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone done a fav/unfav poll of Palin in Alaska in the past week?
We keep hearing the "80% popularity" figure but I understand that is from long ago.
Locals in Juneau have said that if the poll were taken among those who have worked with her in the state government she probably wouldn't crack 20% popularity.
September 19, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Anchorage Press is the local alternative newspaper. It published a poll by a local pollster named Ivan Moore in the September 4-10 issue. It showed Palin's numbers at 81.6% Positive, 13.1% Negative and 5.4% Neutral.
Alaska is all about the military, church, oil, guns, hunting and fishing. I can not remember the last time the state voted a democrat for president, and I do not think it has ever voted a democrat for president.
I have heard people say they will stop being friends with someone who does not support Palin. It's kind of like not supporting the troops in Iraq is "unAmerican". Not supporting Palin is "unAlaskan". Not supporting Palin means you hate Christ, the military and are a whiny, liberal weakling. My favorite is from a local radio host, Eddie Burke. There was an "anti-Palin" rally in Anchorage and Burke called the participants "socialist, baby killing maggots". Burke got a week off from work for giving out the organizers phone numbers and encouraging his listeners to call them and tell them what they thought. The organizers recieved all kinds of threats. I think some of them might even have been death threats.
So, go against Palin in Alaska - Receive death threats. Nice huh???
September 20, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just realized I typed "not supporting the troops in Iraq" My bad. The idea I was trying to get across was that being against the Iraq war is equal to being against the troops in Iraq. While I might question the wisdom of the war, I will always support someone that fights for our country.
Sorry about taking up blog space with my disclaimer.
September 20, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lilysdaddy:
You forgot the 'rest of the story' on Eddie's suspension.
The numbers he gave out were POSTED ALL AROUND TOWN.
In other words, they were available to anyone who wanted them.
WRONG for anyone to call and threaten, but they didn't necessarily get the numbers from Eddie. He took the fall for it though. He should have used better sense.
September 21, 2008 1:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
We got the point the first time. Creepy stuff. Not surprising that a politician who flourishes in that anachronistic environment is having trouble in the lower 48, even if she *can* see Russia from her house.
September 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds a whole lot like the Bush/Cheney administration. When questioned about anything, or asked to give testimony, well, they just tell everybody to f*%k off!
With McCain/Palin, they just scream sexist from the highest building!
September 21, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is frustrating -- given its nature Trooper-Gate AND the McCain campaign's concerted effort to bury it both should get much more attention from the MSM. It's probably because of the MSM business as usual and perhaps also because it is ongoing in the far-northern exotic Alaska. Rendell was right -- if this had happened to any part of the mainland (and if this involved Dems for that matter), they would have chanted "Impeach!"
September 19, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/watching-palin.html
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Watching Palin
I'm watching Palin speak right now in Vienna, Ohio.
She looks as if she is about to burst into tears.
The outcome of this election will be frightening if she and McCain are victorious.
She was placed in a position where she was unready for the tasks she was to engage in. This would be true regardless of gender.
Now, she is being buffeted by questions that she is unable to respond to, and she is wholly unready for this and cannot deal with the outcome or ramifications.
She is like a hurt young girl rather than a Vice Presidential candidate.
She looks as if her head will burst with anger and hate and hurt.
This is closer to the Palin we have heard of in Wasilla and as Governor.
Hutchinson and other candidates would not have responded in this way.
She is clearly not ready for the Presidential status she aspires to and cannot be let to have this position for the sake of the nation. This is not only valid and obviously true, but must be understood by anyone who cares about the future of this nation.
McCain is 72 and has had 4 treatments for cancer. Palin is not only unprepared, but likely to be overwhelmed by the provocations that regularly come to the President and cannot plausibly respond to issues in economic or any other area of substantive policy.
If we blindly stagger into this through the usual gathering at the trough of excitement, we will not only have a potential tragedy in the making, but a final aspect of America consuming itself through its fascination with novelty and short-term thinking in the face of an utterly unprepared holder of the nation's highest office.
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/watching-palin.html
September 19, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure some statistics and poli sci profs up there in Alaska can do a very nice poll. Maybe the psychologists can chip in with framing the question. It would make a nice academic study. And should be very easy to do.
My only concern: Are people so afraid of this lady that they would fear to say their real view of her?
Therefore, I would recommend that whoever does the polling should also poll for whether they think people in Alaska are afraid to speak their mind for fear of retaliation by Palin (Palin-taliation!).
September 19, 2008 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dan Fagan coined a phrase for it.
It is the "Palinista" regime.
Fagan is a sworn conservative and local radio host. He is getting a lot of heat for being an "Obama Lover" for calling out Palin. Fagan has never supported her policies either, so at least he is consistent.
September 20, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fagan is a jerk. He will support or be against anything that gets him listeners. He reminds me of Andy Halcro -- both cut off any dissent in their column or show. Fagan hangs up on dissenters. Halcro just doesn't let their post appear on the blog.
FAGAN is a shill of the oil companies. They don't like Sarah because she made them pay their fair share of taxes instead of rolling over and playing dead like Murkowski did.
She cut off the 'special deals' of the oil companies and the legislators -- some of whom are now spending time in a Federal prison courtesy of the FBI. THANKS FBI!!
I don't agree with everything she says / does, but Fagan?
September 21, 2008 1:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
The GOP is attempting to slap a set of moose antlers on the head of any critic...Is that a chopper I hear hovering overhead?
September 19, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
new abc info:
"The document, a state travel authorization form, shows that Palin's chief of staff, Mike Nizich, approved Monegan's trip to Washington D.C. "to attend meeting with Senator Murkowski." The date next to Nizich's signature reads June 18."
define "not approved," governor.
September 19, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The newest official line is that they approved his trip to Washington, but did not approve his intention to lobby (which apparently they were unaware of when they approved the trip).
This leads to several questions.
1) Why did they approve a trip to Washington DC without knowing the purpose?
2) How many reasons can you come up with for the Public Safety Commissioner to go to Washington DC, that the state should pay for, that don't involve talking to people about the problems in Alaska?
3) Is this really the best spin they can come up with?
September 20, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
palmerbuyer can come up with some lalapaloosas to add. He keeps defending "Sarah" based on what he wishes she'd said publicly, i.e. "I fired Monegan because I have that arbitrary right." or "I didn't back off of the Bridge to Nowhere until the deal wasn't as sweet as I'd hoped and kept the millions already sent anyway".
September 22, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whoa! Do you have a link for that?
September 19, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can she refuse to testify?? Palin is hiding something, and we need to know what it is. Please check this out ... the most comprehensive page of information on Sarah Palin on the Internet ... including videos of her saying her proposed $30 billion pipeline is the “will of God,” her saying a month ago she doesn’t know what the vice-president does, and her complaining four months ago that Hillary Clinton was whining about “sexist media” coverage -
http://dailysource.org/palin
It has in-depth research, audio clips, videos, and links to hundreds of articles, including many from newspapers and TV stations in Alaska. It has rare footage, including her telling the ‘08 convention of the Alaska Independence Party, whose aim is to give Alaska a vote on seceding from the U.S., to “keep up the good work.”
The level of research is unparalled. The site’s editors and volunteers include an Emmy-award winning CNN reporter, the former operating editor of the Monitor’s web site, the former head of NPRs News Blog and the Executive Director of the Online News Association -
http://dailysource.org/about/team
Please tell anyone about this who might want to know more. People deserve to know information about who they are voting for.
September 19, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
or against.
September 19, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is Tony Knowles ready to take another shot?
I wouldn't put her down as automatic second term winner up there
September 19, 2008 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here it is.
September 19, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm beginning to think this lady was indeed vetted, but vetted for her level of venality, hypocrisy, mendacity, vindictiveness, need for total control.
And from that perspective the "cover-up" makes a lot of sense. Because they want to sell her as this squeaky clean saintly mother and "administrator." But scratch the surface and you find a stinking pile of refuse.
The Dame of Shame.
September 19, 2008 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a scary part of the Palin-McCain ticket. Palin fired the Commissioner of Public Safety because he was seeking funds to deal with the rape and child sexual abuse problems of there in Alaska. That's the reason the McCain campaign gave. The Associated Press picked up on it. Frankly, if the Democrats are in Alaska helping to push the testimony of Palin and the shadow governor, they should walk away and announce that given that they are Republicans...they can understand...But what happens in Alaska needs to stay in Alaska.
Link to the Associated Press article: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOTk11gvqDAgD0cY3i4WjI_2YOxwD937N8L80
A PDF file copy of the article is attached.
September 21, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you, TheraP. I've been getting the feeling for some time now that *some* of the people in power in the Rep. party knew precisely who they were getting and wanted just this person. That group would not, however, include McCain (unless he just doesn't care anymore). It seems more and more apparent that she is a 'worthy' successor to the Bush/Cheney way of doing things. --- Not doubting that she took on the entrenched Rep. players up there, just as the neocons took on (or over from) the entrenched Rep. players on national level. But that doesn't mean that her purpose was necessarily 'reform' as we tend to think of it.
September 22, 2008 7:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you, TheraP. I've been getting the feeling for some time now that *some* of the people in power in the Rep. party knew precisely who they were getting and wanted just this person. That group would not, however, include McCain (unless he just doesn't care anymore). It seems more and more apparent that she is a 'worthy' successor to the Bush/Cheney way of doing things. --- Not doubting that she took on the entrenched Rep. players up there, just as the neocons took on (or over from) the entrenched Rep. players on national level. But that doesn't mean that her purpose was necessarily 'reform' as we tend to think of it.
September 22, 2008 7:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you, TheraP. I've been getting the feeling for some time now that *some* of the people in power in the Rep. party knew precisely who they were getting and wanted just this person. That group would not, however, include McCain (unless he just doesn't care anymore). It seems more and more apparent that she is a 'worthy' successor to the Bush/Cheney way of doing things. --- Not doubting that she took on the entrenched Rep. players up there, just as the neocons took on (or over from) the entrenched Rep. players on national level. But that doesn't mean that her purpose was necessarily 'reform' as we tend to think of it.
September 22, 2008 7:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
How can she refuse to testify?? Palin is hiding something, and we need to know what it is. Please check this out ... the most comprehensive page of information on Sarah Palin on the Internet ... including videos of her saying her proposed $30 billion pipeline is the “will of God,” her saying a month ago she doesn’t know what the vice-president does, and her complaining four months ago that Hillary Clinton was whining about “sexist media” coverage -
http://dailysource.org/palin
It has in-depth research, audio clips, videos, and links to hundreds of articles, including many from newspapers and TV stations in Alaska. It has rare footage, including her telling the ‘08 convention of the Alaska Independence Party, whose aim is to give Alaska a vote on seceding from the U.S., to “keep up the good work.”
The level of research is unparalled. The site’s editors and volunteers include an Emmy-award winning CNN reporter, the former operating editor of the Monitor’s web site, the former head of NPRs News Blog and the Executive Director of the Online News Association -
http://dailysource.org/about/team
Please tell anyone about this who might want to know more. People deserve to know information about who they are voting for.
September 20, 2008 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is time for Alaskans to start a recall effort against Palin.
September 20, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain Says One Thing and Votes The Opposite! When you hear McCain talk, think Wizard of Oz.
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2008/09/20/john_mccain_environment/?source=newsletter
September 20, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
If, as you suggest, McCain/Palin sees the press as "just another interest group, rather than as playing an important public function", I am wondering how they would react if the press were to stop covering their pep rallies. Why should they receive free air and ink to spread their propaganda with no opportunity for those providing media coverage to ask questions and probe a little?
September 20, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is one important question we should all be asking ourselves: WHO SELECTED SARAH PALIN TO BE JOHN McCAIN'S VP???? He had met her only once, clearly he could not have had sufficient knowledge of her to make the decision. In voting for McCain/Palin, who is the puppet master we will really be voting for to replace Dick Cheney????
September 20, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Info regarding the real reason Monegan was fired. Just some info I found while cyber-snooping today.
September 20, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-meets-with-afghani.html
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sarah Palin Meets with Afghan President Karzai (Transcript)
TRANSCRIPT:
Palin: Oh, Mr. President, it is such a pleasure to meet you, you're the first head of state that I have had the opportunity to meet--which is more than many Vice Presidents--and I'm so glad that my first one is an Afghani.
You know, in Trig's class there was a little Afghani? He was the child of one of the oil executives, and he was so cute, with his little turban runnin' around, everyone just loved him, and felt for him...
Karzai: Yes.
Palin: And everyone knew that we just had to defend him and keep him free and that's why I think that with a Palin/McCain...
Palin Aide: (looking up from clipboard) McCain/Palin.
Palin: ...McCain/Palin ticket, we can make sure of that, if we have to attack Russia, even, I mean, to keep people free at home, just like we want to keep our people free. We have so much in common! I know you have the problem with the poppies, and I understand so well, Mr. Karzai, because we have the same problem with the crystal meth in Wasilla? And I said "Look, we've got to shake this up!" and then that's just what I said, I said 'Look, let's just see what we have in common with these guys!" And that's just what you could do with the Taliban, Mr. Karzai. They've already so moral, and they want people to live by the straight and narrow, and they've got the newspapers sayin' and the schools doin' lots of the right things. They just need to get some of the right ideas, and pray to the right Lord. And, if they don't understand, we still have the weapons left over from Iraq, and then we can't blink, we can't blink, can we, Mr. Karzai?
Karzai: (Looks at Palin silently without moving his head. Pauses.). Blink?
Palin: Right. The thing is, we just have to hit the ground runnin', Mr. Karzai. That's what I do. A few weeks ago I didn't even know what a Vice President doesclock so you know just how much time you have left until you finish it. I tell you, Mr. Karzai, it's such a motivating influence on my staff, the good ones, anyway, they know what they're supposed to finish and when, they hear me sayin "Look at the clock, people, look at the clock, and know what you have left to finish..."
Karzai: Yes.
Palin: And so I said to my husband, Todd--I call him the "First Dude"--Do you have that word 'Dude' here in Afghanistan?--maybe it's like "Khan" or "Emir" or somethin'?--I said to him, 'Todd, we have to take a look at what's happenin' in Afghanistan--before McCain called or any other thing happened--' cause I saw that Russia was right across from us, and then right next to that you have all the 'Stans--(counts cross fingers) Kyrgyzstan, oh, what's the others?--well, you are aware of them, of course, Mr. Karzai (laughs)...
Karzai: (Nods)
Palin: And if we don't let other people know of what I'm aware of then the world won't change, Mr. Karzai. I know we have the same goals even if we don't have the same God yet...(aide touches Palin on shoulder, whispers). 'Even', not 'yet', I meant 'same God even, Mr. Karzai, and my point is, we can't let others stop our choice, which is freedom for those who deserve it, and that's why I know a Palin/McCain...
Palin Aide: (reaching over to touch shoulder)
Palin: Stop! (brushing aide's hand off)...McCain/Palin ticket will do just what you want, Mr. Karzai...
Second Palin Aide Approaches: It's time for your next appointment, Gov. Palin.
Palin: It was so good meeting you, President Karzai, and all of your other people, it was so good meeting you too! Shalom! (waves, exits).
Karzai: (to his aide, in Pashto): She makes the last one look like the Grand Mufti.
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-meets-with-afghani.html
September 21, 2008 6:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is Sarah Palin ready for First String? You decide.
Think like a Pro Coach might:
Despite chest beating and powerful statements of "Readiness" - Team McCain contends their "pit bull" needs special rules and special protection in a debate with Joe Biden?
Hmmmm.... Not ready for a "free-wheeling debate." She needs special protection. Special Rules. She's practically in a witness protection program right now - where no one has access to her. No press conferences. No free-wheeling events where she has to think on her feet and give the voters a chance to evaluate her thinking. No video of how she can actually get out there and show us her stuff!
Gotta protect the little lady, they do.
Now that's strange. Is it true that... She hunts. She shoots. She can field-dress a moose. She pursues vendettas. Chases down bad books. Fires people right and left. Makes sure the raped must pay for any rape evidence. She's one tough cookie!
But she's gotta be protected from a debate. Hmmmmm.....
For the highest office in the land, the second in command isn't even "ready" for the heat of a debate.
That, right there, should be a powerful sign. That lack of readiness to debate is the disqualifier!
The lady is ready to be benched. She's not first string material.
Maybe not even ready for a first string bench!
September 21, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone polled the Alaskan citizens of late? I am very curious to know how they feel about their Gov. now.
It would be a great insight on how Alaskans think, contrary to Palins own statement that they think differently than the rest of the country.
September 21, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink