I would think the Attorney General's clients would be the people of Alaska and NOT the Governor and her cabinet. Maybe someone should explain that to Mr. Colberg

Taking a page from the book written by Alberto Gonzales, Alaska's AG ...

I had been thinking for awhile that Palin was Bush Lite, but I now appreciate that she's the real deal.

From Anchorage Daily News today...

I am an American, a veteran of the 82nd Division, 505th Airborne Infantry, a member of the Republican Party and I am outraged at the irresponsibility of my Party's reprehensible and shameful use of misinformation to divide our country and pit American against American. I am not part of the "angry left"; I am part of the growing "angry right" who are becoming more and more disenfranchised with our own Party. We are rapidly growing tired of our Party wrapping themselves in the flag for the purpose of engaging the public in a disingenuous oratory about uniting the country, while at the same time vilifying other Americans with cruel, divisive and childish taunts that have no basis in fact.

You see: my party could not field a Presidential candidate that has the substance, integrity and leadership to match that of Senator Obama. Our candidate is a compromise from a field of pathetic choices that half of us don't believe in, a candidate that can't match wits with his opponent or inspire and uplift the people as Senator Obama can. So, when faced with the prospects of running with a candidate that is outclassed and overwhelmed, our party resorts to that old maxim attributed to P.T. Barnum: a sucker is born every minute. And you, America, are that sucker!

Rather than inspire the people, my party berates and belittles our opponents to the point that the American people are completely bamboozled into thinking the opposing candidate is somehow less of an American. Although I know the staunchest of my fellow Republicans will dismiss my outrage as traitorous rhetoric or simply the ranting of a misguided soul, I say to my fellow Republicans: it is we that are causing the deep divides in this country. It is we who are polarizing America in our attempt to vilify and turn public opinion against other good Americans who are just as patriotic, just as religious, just as family-oriented and just as concerned for their country as ourselves.

However, the blame for the sad state of American politics cannot be placed entirely on the Republican Party. Most of the blame for the negative campaign ads and dirty politics falls squarely on the shoulders of a clueless voting public that does not demand fact, issues or well-reasoned argument. It is we the people that perpetuate the very style of nasty political rhetoric that all of us revile and despise. Because of a fatal flaw in the human psyche, the average American is highly skeptical of the plain truth, instead embracing lies, fabrications and twisted logic with a relish that is utterly disquieting.

Rather than research issues from independent sources and make intelligent decisions on our own, we absorb the self-serving language of such people as that lying, adulterous former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, or the twisted foul words of sleazy political hacks like Rudy Giuliani and Rush Limbaugh whose only shared talent is repackaging schoolyard taunts into a political argument. So, I am not sure if supporters of Senator Obama understand this point yet, but my party is about to run over your candidate with a large bus full of flag waving, misinformed American idiots armed with a significant amount of propaganda gleamed from obviously biased news stories, emails and clueless television entertainment disguised as news.

This is unfortunate because Senator Obama is a dynamic leader, with the people and vision to achieve real fiscal responsibility, develop intelligent foreign policy, re-build our military and restore an executive branch that supports and defends our badly battered Constitution of the United States. Unfortunately, the "Campaign for Change" is about to be steamrolled by my party's skillful use of emotional misinformation honed to a level unmatched since the Nazi propaganda machine of 1930's. So, if you want your candidate to win, quit sitting on the sidelines, stop talking about issues amongst yourselves and stand up and fight for what you know is right!

Our country cannot take another four minutes, let alone another four years of the same old failed model of leadership and fiscal irresponsibility. Take America back! Contact your local Campaign for Change office and get involved now!

Greg King
A Morrison Republican

I thought that an AG's responsibility, above all others, is to see that a state's laws are obeyed and not to encourage stonewalling and avoidance of obeying laws. Is AG an appointed position in AK, beholden to its governor, or a constitutional office with its own inherent powers?

What? So are we talking about a crime family, or a legal system? "Loyalties" to a figure being investigated means that you refuse subpoenas?

And the Attorney General acts as what, consigliari, in this scenario, and delivers the message?

Good god. I knew this was Cheney-like already, but I think they've taken it one step further.

According to the Wiki entry, should Palin get VP and the current Lt. Gov. is elected to the House, this lapdog gets to be the next Gov. of Alaska.

Smell any rotten fish yet?

I couldn't find the letter in the Anchorage Daily News. Can you please provide a link?

I couldn't find the letter in the Anchorage Daily News. Can you please provide a link?

If this isn't an indication of four more years of the same I don't know what is. Unfortunately Mr. King's letter is dead nuts on and this will get swept under the rug by the MSM.

It is in the comments section of an excellent editorial today. Spread the link!

http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/528420.html

The frontier folks of Alaska are getting a taste of smash mouth politics and i have to winder how sits with the majority of them. Palin has taken the road of unethical conduct and I guess this is what she is all about!

Latin phrase sub poena meaning "under penalty" has now been replaced by the English (American) version meaning simply "witness summons", with no threat of penalty at all. America which once prided itself on being a nation of laws now isn't.

Wow, and to think Bill Clinton could have used this technique during the Kenneth Starr investigations-- simply ignore the subpoenas, the GOP has shown me the light: the law isn't important, loyalty is.

I wonder if the Alaska legislature has a sergeant at arms. It should be perfectly reasonable to start issuing warrants at this point.

Hmm this sounds very familiar. Some one needs to get out there and say something like:

"When you and I are called to court, we have to make that appointment or risk arrest. Different rules apply for former Bush employees under Congressional investigation who are protected by a compromised, corrupt Department of Justice. So now, Sarah Palin and her cronies are above being brought to testify."

AG AG and AK AG, coming soon to a comedy theater near you. See them hilariously wipe their ass with the constitution then light it on fire!

Smell the local, home-cooked bacon!!

From today's Anchorage Daily News
Mat-Su trail, snowmachine groups get nearly $34,000

Published: September 16th, 2008 10:18 PM
Last Modified: September 16th, 2008 10:53 PM

WASILLA -- Matanuska-Susitna area trails and snowmachine groups will receive nearly $34,000 in state grants this year to educate people about snowmachine safety and do trail maintenance in the Willow and the Montana Creek areas, according to a written release from state parks officials.

In addition, Mat-Su parks officials are scheduled to get an estimated $105,000 to use in grooming area snowmachine trails.

The grants were made through the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation's Snowmobile Trail Program and Snowmobile Trail Program's Grooming Pool.

The programs provide funding for safety and educational projects as well as trail grooming marking and signage.

The funding for the grants comes from snowmobile registration fees paid to the state by snowmobile owners.

The three grants specifically targeted toward Mat-Su are:

• $14,350 to the Willow Trails Committee to groom, sign and maintain approximately 100 miles of winter trails and trail heads within the West Gateway Trail System.

The money will fund the purchase of a four-stroke snowmobile and grooming equipment, the grooming of winter trails, the posting of directional and safety signs, and implementation of safety and educational materials at kiosks.

• $11,250 to the Montana Creek Motor Mushers to purchase a "wide-track" snowmobile to tow a groomer on the Southfork Montana Creek trail system. The Southfork Montana Creek trail system provides access to a vast area of alpine riding between Montana Creek and Sheep Creek.

• $8,306 to Iron Dog Inc. to host a snowmobile safety and educational exposition scheduled for this January at the Wasilla Multi-use Sports Complex in Wasilla.
Q: Isn't this the First Dude's favorite event? That's an awful lot of moolah for a few Kinko's brochures and talks by a few locals at the pork-belly sports compex!

Why won't Palin give a press conference? Why won't she release her tax returns?

What is she hiding?

Here's a thought...if McCain/Palin lose the election in November, what will happen to those who defy the subpoenas? Can't they get arrested for not honoring the subpoenas? When that day comes McCain won't be there to help them anymore. They will be left high and dry. It seems like McCain's campaign and lawyers are forcing the situation. For all we know, every one of those employees want to testify but forced not to. In the end, they are the ones who will feel the backlash. So much for having "friends" in high places.

McCain = Bush
Palin = Cheney
Talis Colberg = Alberto Gonzales

That's not change we can believe in.

Palin will reform Washington and fight corruption by repeating the criminal acts of Bush and Cheney. Nice work Sarah you give the words corruption and reformer a whole new meaning.

If you think the GOP LYING SCUM AT ALASKA ATTY GENERALS are corrupt scum....wait until you hear about the SOUTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE where LARRY "butt nut" LONG...MARK "internet stalker" BARNETT, and little tough guy invertebrate DON "suckerfish of hope" SRSTKA...all colluded to:

----OBSTRUCT JUSTICE when AN INNOCENT DEMOCRATIC MEDICAL DOCTOR NAMED MARK GORDON was illegally stalked, harassed, threatened, framed, and monitored with pin hole spy cameras in his home;

----OBSTRUCTED THE DOD CIFA UNIT--NSA 902ND COUNTERINTELIGENCE GROUPS' political murders of RICH GORDON (Dr Gordon's brother...a guy I called on the phone after the FBI HARASSED MARK INTO SUFFERING FROM STRESS PROXIMATELY CAUSED BY AN FBI SNITCH WHO EXTORTED 500$ from Dr. Gordon...and SIOUX FALLS FBI AGENT DAN REYNALDS, AND DAVE HELLER...remain in society with no state or fed charges???????????????????

A WHOLE LOT MORE ON SD AG.

NOBODY seems interested in what cowardly butt licking pussies (LONG, BARNETT, SRSTKA) did...and did not do.

I always wanted Srstka all alone in the country gun to gun....with no kangaroo South Dakota courtsystem to obstruct....but...alas...the badge boy pussies in SOUTH DAKOTA would not and do not afford a guy a chance to settle the score on a fair playing field.

DON SRSTKA FAGGOT...was such a tough guy hotdog...the pussy invited me to his office to get into a shoving match.

I wanted to put a bullet in the pig's fat head...after giving tough guy Don a chance to arm himself.

I though that was...more professional...but little punk Don...still hides behind his punk flag and punk little corrupt badge.

That's how the pussies in SOUTH DAKOTA LAW ENFORCEMENT PLAY THEIR GAME....while also ignoring JEFF TALBOT'S TESTIMONY...and 3 murdered known associates of mine.

It will all come out....in four monthes.

Then I'll testify and let Don Srstka hear me say under oath..."...anyday, anytime, anywhere...gun to gun Don...just you and me...winner take all asshole".

I know everybody says that Obama shouldn't bother with Palin and give extra attention etc., but this is low hanging fruit. A crafty hardhitting ad will for the Morning Joes and Anderson Coopers of the world to actually discuss what is actually going on in Alaska, which is nothing short of obstruction of justice.

Next thing you know she'll shoot her husband in face while strafing wolves.

Grab it here or at Thom Hartmann's site. The Anchorage newspaper only offers two pages for comments and Mr. King's is currently rolled off that list. All that remains are comments praising it. I was able to pull it up, but had to insert the page number myself into the internet address line: "pageNum=3"

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

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
--Thomas Jefferson

"This is an untenable position for our clients because the governor has so strongly stated that the subpoenas issued by your committee are of questionable validity," Colberg wrote.

WHO GIVES A FUCK WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS STATED ???

since when does a FUCKING GOVERNOR who DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A FUCKING LAW DEGREE get to decide that subpoenas issued by the legislature have "questionable validity"

where did this asshat get his fucking law degree, from a box of crackerjacks ???

has he ever read the fucking constitution ???

does he understand that this kind of stuff is written down, and printed in books and shit ???

If that's his interpretation of the constitutional seperation of powers, he shouldn't be allowed in publi without a fucking helmet.

he's CLEARLY unfit to hold any office of trust in any state of the Union