One can clearly recognize the apparent abuse of power and interference by Governor Palin with a review process designed to keep Alaska State Troopers accountable. One that when invoked, found substance to several of the complaints, and was adjudicated with a later adjusted suspension. A clearly defined, structured process involving interested parties, the result of which clearly did not please Governor Palin's aggrieved sister and others in her family.

Trooper Wooten was held accountable for his actions following an investigation into the complaints lodged against him. It's time for the Governor to face the complaint lodged against her, cooperate with the inquiry, and deal with the consequences of her actions.

How could any 'rule of law' Republican see this situation from any other perspective?

Oh, that's right: the 'rule of law' applies only to others. I get it now. What a perfectly fit prospective running mate for Senator ' 'we do no torture' McCain. Ah, but we do…

This could turn out to be a delay of the game like Peter Paul's suit/depo of the clintons was put off till after the election by a clinton appointed judge...

Keep tuned in the best is yet to come!!

From what we've seen of Palin — bullying, abuse of power, disdain for the Constitution — her joke at the convention was just a few words off. 'What's the difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney? Lipstick."

Trooper Wooten sounds like a bad cop. (Tasering a child? What could the boy have possibly done to warrant it?) Wooten got a slap on the wrist, when he should have been booted off the force.

That said, Governor Palin did NOT have the right nor the authority to have Wooten fired. Firing Monegan when she didn't get her way only proves how dangerous it would be to put this vindictive woman anywhere near the power of the Presidency.

What would happen if she became POTUS and some country pissed her off?

Trooper Wooten sounds like a bad cop. (Tasering a child? What could the boy have possibly done to warrant it?) Wooten got a slap on the wrist, when he should have been booted off the force.

That said, Governor Palin did NOT have the right nor the authority to have Wooten fired. Firing Monegan when she didn't get her way only proves how dangerous it would be to put this vindictive woman anywhere near the power of the Presidency.

What would happen if she became POTUS and some country pissed her off?

Be careful how fast and high you rise... pride comes before he fall. Palin has pride and ego so she when in with this full gear. I think she didn't stop to think. If the bottom falls out she is through forever. Expect a serious battle.

And of course, no word from the Palin camp. She refuses to make statements or give interviews, but of course, she is pro-abortion, pro NRA, and a good church going woman. We should lay off, right? Wrong!

Make her speak! That is questionable business if she doesnt!

FWIW, as someone who grew up in Michigan, in a household with an avid hunter, you don't want to go down this road. Hunting season is a distinctly and legally defined period of time. As an officer of the law, a State Trooper would know the parameters of that period and would be tasked with enforcing it, particularly in a State like Alaska. It only makes one seem like "an out of touch coastal elite" to make light of how serious hunting regulations and infractions are taken. That kind of attitude is offensive to hunters and conservationists alike.

That's not to say that this doesn't seem to pale in* comparison to the Governor's actions; on the contrary, all of this hinges on State officials acting improperly, but her alleged illegal acts do not excuse his alleged illegal acts and vice versa. As someone else noted here, the spotlight should be on Palin's treatment of Monegan. That conduct is inexcusable regardless of whether or not Wooten ends up being a dirtbag.

*(pale in... did you see how I did that?)

And of course, no word from the Palin camp. She refuses to make statements or give interviews, but of course, she is pro-abortion, pro NRA, and a good church going woman. We should lay off, right? Wrong!

Make her speak! That is questionable business if she doesnt!

There is more to this story, then what is reaching the surface.
Palin's lawyers are trying to stall this investigation-
what does that tell us?

Barleymash:

Didn't any of the 5 colleges she attended teach the Constitution? Or did the Alaskan Independence Party abolish that class?

Joe

Tase me, Dad!

McCain has cancer,....and Palin is next in line.
What real trust can be formed with the american public if she does not give full disclosure of her career and viewpoints in extensive interviews.

Wake up big media!
Wake up big media!
Wake up big media!
Wake up big media!

What do we really know about her judgement in foreign policy. She should be vetted in all aspects,....we want her opinions on the middle east, palestine, israel, russia, nato, afghanistan, al quaeda, nato,UN, europe, who she considers america's greatest allies, what does she know about history....what does she think about green energy relative to carbon energy,....everything.

In all honesty, this is a sleight of hand trick by the far right conservatives to get their evangelist in the WH under the someone who looks like a "sexy smart librarian",....you know someone who you would want to read a book to you at night to make you feel very safe.

Can the real Democratic surrogates, please stand up, and hammer this one home. We've already made a giant step backwards with Bush because enough people thought he still drank beer, but he doesn't. And Palin won't read us a bedtime story. We want information!

Wake up! This is Karl Rove's fast one on the american public to distract us,....so in the meantime Obama and Biden can continue on the real issues.

Puttin' on her lipstick !

Nicely done!

Although I have to say that comparing Palin to Cheney is like comparing OJ Simpson to Professor Moriarty.

Did any of you actually watch this video? The guy's been married four times, reprimanded several times, and admitted to Tasering his 11-year old kid!

Palin will turn this investigation completely to her advantage by saying she was only trying to protect her family and the public from this guy. Even if she abused her office, in the mind of the public I think it will work. Meanwhile, better for us all to focus on McCain and not obsess on this one.

This guy seems to be an asshole. But when is Palin going to give an interview?

McCain has cancer,....and Palin is next in line.
What real trust can be formed with the american public if she does not give full disclosure of her career and viewpoints in extensive interviews.

Wake up big media!
Wake up big media!
Wake up big media!
Wake up big media!

What do we really know about her judgement in foreign policy. She should be vetted in all aspects,....we want her opinions on the middle east, palestine, israel, russia, nato, afghanistan, al quaeda, nato,UN, europe, who she considers america's greatest allies, what does she know about history....what does she think about green energy relative to carbon energy,....everything.

In all honesty, this is a sleight of hand trick by the far right conservatives to get their evangelist in the WH under the someone who looks like a "sexy smart librarian",....you know someone who you would want to read a book to you at night to make you feel very safe.

Can the real Democratic surrogates, please stand up, and hammer this one home. We've already made a giant step backwards with Bush because enough people thought he still drank beer, but he doesn't. And Palin won't read us a bedtime story. We want information!

Wake up! This is Karl Rove's fast one on the american public to distract us,....so in the meantime Obama and Biden can continue on the real issues.

I am not willing to cut the administrator any breaks yet either, but that would depend on whether it was part of his job to ensure that citizen complaints against troopers are properly and aggressively investigated, and that appropriate penalities are imposed.

This whole thing has a bad look to it in terms of a light investigation, and light penalty -- cops protecting cops. I know the official reasons given for his dismissal are different, but set those aside for a moment -- was it part of his job to ensure that citizen complaints are timely and aggressively investigated, and that appropriate penalities are imposed if the investigation finds improper action? If that is part of his job -- then the next question is did he do his job?

In this case, I have not heard too many arguments that 5 days suspension is an appropriate punishement. The state trooper in my state that I ran it by said anyone caught drinking beer in a patrol care here would be fired -- forget the rest of the stuff. Here's the thing that kind of gets me though -- this is the level of investigation undertaken, and punishment given, when the acts in question are against the governor's sister and family. What the heck investigation would go, and punishment given, if if the acts were against john and jane citizen without any political clout whatsoever?

Hussein: You are correct. It is difficult to fire a bad cop. That is due, in large part, because (a) people are often scared to come forward, and (b) cops cover for other cops in lots of ways. One big one being that they don't investigate claims aggressively -- exhibit a that cop Drew Peterson in Illinois.

The claim, as I understand it, was made that Wooten regularly drank beer while on patrol. Wooten was found, by the internal investigation, to have been drinking in the patrol car at least once, and that was part of findings that ultimately lead to the 5 day suspension penalty. Monegan (who was appointed by Palin) was unwilling to take any more action.

The reason this story is not growing beyond internet message boards like this one is that most people after reading about what Wooten did and said are going to be asking questions about why is he still a cop and why was Monegan unwilling to take action when pretty much all of us would say -- fire him. Good grief, per the Washington Post, the conclusion of the police investigator was; "The record clearly indicates a serious and concentrated pattern of unacceptable and at times, illegal activity occurring over a lengthy period, which establishes a course of conduct totally at odds with the ethics of our profession." (Penalty imposed: 5 days suspension). I am sure the citizens of Alaska are glad to know that investigations of citizen complaints will be taken so very seriously.