« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Trooper-Gate Session Begins: GOP Legislator Sounds Reluctant To Release Report
The Alaska Legislative Council has been begun its meeting. It will soon go into a private executive session to hear a briefing from Steve Branchflower on his findings in the Trooper-Gate investigation, and to vote on whether to release his full report to the public.
At TPMmuckraker, we've been listening on streaming audio to the public portion of the session. And already it looks like it could be a struggle to get a yes vote on releasing the report.
A Republican member of the council, Rep. Peggy Wilson, said that the report -- which runs to 1000 pages, including evidence -- was so long that she hadn't yet had time to read it, and therefore didn't feel comfortable moving forward.
So it doesn't sound like Rep. Wilson will vote for releasing the report today. Whether her GOP colleagues feel similarly will determine what we find out today.
We'll keep you posted...
Josh
Zachary
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR IDIOTIC!!!!
October 10, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe this cover-up and stonewalling hasn't got more play in the MSM. If they refuse to release the report I think it should be assumed that it is critical of Palin. What I think they will do however is defer the decision for a while. Does the Alaska house have a convenient vacation for the next 4 weeks that might prohibit them from coming back to this issue before the election? Can they hand it over to a sub-committe for consideration. There are alot of ways to bury a report. The calculus is whether it would be better to release the report today on a busy news day than have it hang over the campaign for several weeks.
October 10, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
if the media isnt talking about it, how is it hanging over the campaign??
it aint.
October 10, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they stonewall,details will leak. In a state that small, they won't be able to keep the whole thing secret.
October 10, 2008 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hasn't any intrepid out-of-state reporter got access to about $10,000 in tax-free cash, to spread around this dumb-ass trailer park of a state, in exchange for putting a copy of the complete report in his or her hands?
C'mon, people... let's cut the shit... bring this HOME..!!!
October 10, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Careful with placing too much hope on this one. If they drag this one on for days and increase expectations about the results it could turn out to be a major disappoinment and a change of wind favoring Mccain. It is not looking that way though but im always skeptical when it comes to these repugs.
October 10, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lemme 'splain something to you:
You don't "stonewall"; you don't refuse subpoenas, run out the clock, bottle it up in the legislature... because you know there's no "there" there!. You do it because you're trying to save your ass.
Whatever state laws (of Alaska? Hoo boy, I'm fuckin' scared now!) would be violated by a reporter's spiriting away a copy and publishing it in, say, Newsweek, would depend for retribution on that reporter's remaining behind in AK. Boy, there's a seduction, if there ever was one.
Let 'em squeal like stuck moose. GET THE REPORT IN YOUR HANDS, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY... while the iron is hot... i.e., NOW!
October 10, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
At the very least, reporters should try to interview Branchflower. He may not be able to provide specific information, but his body language and tone may be helpful to get an insight into the content of his report.
October 10, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they vote not to release the report, and all the nays are Republicans, it won't be too hard for people to figure out what's in it.
October 10, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yo Goofy: NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
See also: "Pentagon Papers". And check Merriam-Webster for "smoking gun"!
October 10, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
And it was always the cover-up that was worse than the thing that was covered up. There's nothing the media likes better than a good cover-up. The surest way for the committee to ensure this makes front page news is to vote not to release the report.
October 10, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, but trust me, there's a marked difference between "bad publicity" and "expose of criminal wrongdoing".
You don't get your beauty queen ass thrown out of public office, for "bad publicity"! :-)
October 10, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will be a hell of a lot more than bad PR. An obvious cover-up will bring an avalanche of reporters prying for leaks - and there are ALWAYS leaks. If they vote not to release it, I can all but guarantee that the salient points of the report will be out by the end of the weekend, and will get a lot more attention than if they just released it on a Friday afternoon.
Actually, the smartest thing they can do is release the report the end of the day today.
October 10, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the MSM is unwilling to do its job on this one, why doesn't Howard Dean get on the phone with Rep. Peggy Wilson and tell her that if she plans to stonewall the findings of a legitimate investigation in this way, then she can expect her seat will become a target in the next election, and some real money will be directed to whoever her opponent is. It's time to ratchet up the pressure.
I know little about Alaska politics, but I can imagine that Republicans there, like Republicans everywhere, just need a little incentive to get off this sinking ship.
October 10, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now, see, there's another pretty good idea!
Listen... they're all hicks and whores up there. Bunch of amateurs, even at the highest levels of "government". They can be dealt with. So BFD, you bribe a gomer, or you break their kneecaps; pick one.
But for shit's sake, do something NOW.
October 10, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you one of those outside agitator types? Seriously.
October 10, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
**They're not ALL hicks and whores. There's a few tweakers too, bowing down to their baton-twirler-in-Chief. I'm with you, Barry! Get this news out now!
October 10, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope really that they don't stonewall this report. If they do, I hope it's political suicide. We have a right to know. This people MUST be tried of Bush and his abuse of power and stonewalling. Enough is enough.
Gov.Palin was praised for going against her own party. Maybe it's time for the Republicans on this council do the same. It is the only way to take back our country from partisan, "me" first politicians.
For country first, release the report!!!!
October 10, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Before we go breaking anyone's kneecaps, take a deep breath.
Sarah Palin is already a national joke, and it's hard to see what could make her look much worse. I think the Alaska State legislature could censure her for abuse of power -- heck they could censure her for child abuse -- and it wouldn't really dent her already miserable fav/unfav ratings. Those ratings are pretty beat up already, and a lot of people have their eyes glued to the Dow.
I'm not suggesting that we relax -- but I am suggesting that there's a logic of diminishing returns on this particular vein of muck. Anyway, I'm confident it will all come out in the NYT.
October 10, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear you, but I'm not sure why this approach needs to be thought of as "muck." Here you have legislators blocking the release of the results of an official investigation to keep information away from the public before an election. These are exactly the kinds of people who need to be held accountable.
It seems to me that if the Republicans there would not want to call foul on this tactic, since it would only invite additional scrutiny on an issue they are obviously trying to sweep under the carpet.
And, you know, she may be a national joke, but somehow this is still a competitive race.
October 10, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Between you and me . . . it's not *actually* a competitive race anymore. Even the rats (like David Brooks) are leaving their sinking ship.
But anyway, I totally agree with you that the report should be released, and we should scream bloody murder if it isn't, and that if I were a Democratic lawmaker in Alaska, I'd find a way of getting a .pdf to someone at the NYT. Abso-frickin-lutely.
October 10, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I say let them wait a couple days.
Why?
Wait till after the last debate that way there's no other "distractions" in the news.
October 10, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whoa! 1000 pages?! Sounds like summer reading to me.
October 10, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone has said that the website the results are supposedly going to be posted to will be "down" until Nov. 5. Can the media get at it via FOIA?
October 10, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait til after the debate. McCain has ratcheted up the expectations that he has an Obama-discrediting story to tell about Ayers. Obama has come out and said "Say it to my face"
And the next debate is McCain's last chance to do it. If he doesn't, cowardice, plain and simple, or the Ayers attack was just so much bunk.
After that, get back to (figuratively) impaling Palin.
But did I hear that portions of the report have been leaked?
October 10, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect regardless if it is a slam-dunk confirmation that she is guilty or innocent, the McCain political machine has got all the repugs in that meeting on the take for some lucrative appointments if they keep it underwraps until after the election.
October 10, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I am an outside agitator, he or she is a crank.
October 10, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothin' to see here, folks. Move right along.
October 10, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good one, gettex.
I'm sort of interested in how the first dude is calling the shots from the guv's office. I thought it was hilarious that Palin and dude were very concerned about Wooten at the State Fair. Wooten was supposed to be Mr. Safety Bear in costume. But that was a big problem for them.
Plus, attacks on Wooten for disability claims where the first dude took it upon himself to investigate Wooten. Talk about vindictive.
October 10, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will be leaked within 24 hours...
October 10, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink