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Palin Contradicts Palin on Troopergate Explanation
As part of an effort to beat back the investigation into whether Governor Sarah Palin fired Alaska's public safety directory Walt Monegan because he refused to dismiss a state trooper involved in an ugly divorce with her sister, Palin's attorney filed papers on Monday claiming that Palin fired Monegan because of his "outright insubordination" regarding policy and budgetary matters. The problem with this explanation: it directly contradicts Palin's own story.
In mid-August, Palin spoke with New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch, who was in Alaska--prior to Palin being named John McCain's running-mate--to do a piece on "the peculiar political landscape" of the state. During his time there, the controversy regarding Monegan's dismissal was in the news in Alaska. And Gourevitch asked Palin about it:
[Palin] said that one of her goals had been to combat alcohol abuse in rural Alaska, and she blamed Commissioner Monegan for failing to address the problem. That, she said, was a big reason that she'd let him go--only, by her account, she didn't fire him, exactly. Rather, she asked him to drop everything else and single-mindedly take on the state's drinking problem, as the director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. "It was a job that was open, commensurate in salary pretty much--ten thousand dollars less"--but, she added, Monegan hadn't wanted the job, so he left state service; he quit.
In Palin's telling--before any of this was of national interest--Monegan's departure from the post had nothing to do with Troopergate and, in fact, he hadn't even been fired. She had asked him to switch jobs; he had left state employment on his own accord.
Yet on Monday, the Palin side offered a much different tale. In a 19-page brief, Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, contended that Monegan, while public safety commissioner, engaged in "an escalating pattern of insubordination on budget and other key policy issues." Van Flein claimed Monegan had gone behind Palin's back to work with state Senator Hollis French, a Democrat who is now leading the Troopergate investigation, on the budget for his department. And Van Flein maintained that Monegan's "firing"--note the use of that word--came after Monegan planned a trip to Washington, DC, to seek funds for a project to combat sexual assault, an initiative that had not yet been approved by Palin.
Responding to Van Flein's brief, Monegan said he has provided records to the Troopergate investigator, Steve Branchflower, about his tenure as commissioner, and he has continued to claim he was ousted by Palin because he refused to fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law.
It is hard to square Palin's mid-August explanation with the recent brief. Talking to Gourevitch, she suggested Monegan had not really been fired; the brief says he had. She said she wanted Monegan to take on a top-priority in another job; the brief says he was an insubordinate employee who could not be trusted. Would you give such a fellow another important job?
This is not the first Palin contradiction in this episode. She initially vowed to cooperate with the investigation. But after state legislators last week voted to issue 13 subpoenas in the case--including one for Palin's husband, Todd--the McCain-Palin campaign on Monday said the investigation was "tainted" and Palin was "unlikely to cooperate with it." (The subpoenas covered many top Palin aides, as well as the head of a company that handles worker's compensation claims for the state. Branchflower told the legislators he had preliminary evidence that a Palin aide had pushed to cut off benefits to Palin's ex-brother-in-law, Mike Wooten.)
Palin supporters are now dismissing the inquiry as a politicized probe. (Her lawyer has asked that the inquiry be conducted by a personnel board that is controlled by the governor.) And a family matter that became a state matter is now a national matter, with spinners and lawyers trying to influence the outcome, and the McCain-Palin campaign looking to kill the legislative investigation. In the days after Palin became the Republican Party's nominee for vice president, it was unclear how Troopergate might affect the GOP ticket. Did the McCain-Palin campaign really have much to worry about? Given Palin's conflicting explanations of Monegan's dismissal, there's now more reason to believe she does have cause for concern.
Photo from flickr user Ligadier Truffaut used under a Creative Commons license.
...and of course she said she'd cooperate with the enquiry - set up by a bi-partisan committee - and now says she won't (because two Democratic members are Obama supporters - does she think they should be voting for her????)
Let's face it - if this woman ever came across the truth she simply wouldn't recognise it.
Pity - because McCain himself is showing himself to be turning into a bit of a stranger to truth and honor - and could have done with that element of his ticket being strengthened by someone who understands what ethics are.
Palin is demonstrably untrustworthy - wake up America before it's too late
*
Oh, what a terrible web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.
Lying is hard work and should only be undertaken by a person with an extremely good memory, low stress lifestyle, very good organizational skills and highly intelligent.
If I met Palin today, I would advise her not to lie, simply because she does not have the attributes it takes to be an effective liar--she simply doesn't have the necessary skills to tell lies and make them work for her.
Someone should point out to Palin that in her case, honesty is the best policy.
Is this constant fabrication of the truth what is taught in Palin's church?? In my book she flat out lies at every opportunity if she believes it will make her look good. MarthaA had it bang on when she wrote - Oh, what a terrible web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. When Sir Walter Scott penned OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN FORST WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE he knew it would be an endless truism
People with nothing to hide, hide nothing!
I was going to vote for John McCain. Sorry John but your judgement is seriously lacking
While it speaks to character, this is not nearly as important as Palin's far right fringe issue stances.
Learn the difference, vote smart.
www.SarahPalinISNTHillaryClinton.com
I'm sure McCain and crime family promised her that they would make it all disappear. But she probably forgot to mention the interview she did with the New Yorker writer where she contradicted her entire testimony. I am tired of liars and somebody who runs the government with an eff you attitude. This is the feeling I get from Palin. If the woman would peddle her own kids for a vote, what might she do to you.
If the woman would peddle her own kids for a vote, what might she do to you.
Yeah, that Hillary is one scary b!tch alright!
Fortunately, as SPiHC points out, Sarah is no Hillary Clinton, which is why America is taking to her to the point of pushing McCain/Palin ahead of Obama and that other Senator who's been in Congress 10 years longer than McCain, in most recent polls.
No Sarach ISN'T Hillary- She is George Bush and Dick Cheney rolled into one. An Alaskan woman pointed out 'she scares the bejeebers out of me'. Me too!
That's a good idea jeni. Keep running against George Bush & Dick Cheney instead of John McCain & Sarah Palin.
It worked so well for the Democrats the first two times, when Bush & Cheney Were the candidates, who could doubt that it'll work even better this election, when Bush & Cheney Aren't the candidates!
My old Dad always told me: "If it's working OK, don't mess with it."
And obviously campaigning against Bush & Cheney has worked to perfection the last two elections, so just stick with it.
Brilliant and intellegent response SIH...not. Sarah Palin still 'scares the bejeebers out of me'. If you get her elected then YOU will have the government YOU deserve (very 'old dad' saying). Your 'old dad' would say it is more than not working - it's almost beyond repair - state of the nation that is! Don't you realize it is 9 TRILLION in debt - how many zeros is that exactly? (If I were McCain I would be looking for a very knowledgeable food taster.)
Truth is, I have no intention of voting for either the two DC insiders the Dems are running or the Senator/Governor the Repubs put up against them.
I wouldn't expect anything substantial to change in Washington regardless of which pair got elected.
That's why we call them DemoPublicans & RepubliCrats. There ain't 2 cents worth of difference when it comes down to what they actually do in office.
I'm going third party, because I'm interested in Real change in government.
I'm going Libertarian, because I've watched both The Bigs run up deficits year after year after year; increase the size and burden of government year after year after year; fail at what they tell us are their most important priorities, year after year, and this year I've watched both campaigns talk about:
A - New Spending
and
B - Tax Cuts
So which one really gives a sh!t about the deficit or the nearly non-existant value of our dollar?
Not the Repubs and not your precious Dems either!
You really have yourself convinced the Repubs ran up the debt this nation "enjoys" without Dem participation and encouragement?
You believe in the Easter Bunny?
Who's said "impeachment is off the table"?
Who's voted for every war spending measure that's come out of the Democratically controlled congress?(..Besides Obama..?)
Who's left the Patriot ACT unchallenged? (Obama voted for it's extension)
I just thought you might be interested in an outsider's observation about how well the Dems have done by campaigning against Bush/Cheney and why it might be a foolish tactic to try yet a third time when they aren't even the candidates.
Apparently you'd rather stick with failed tactics.
No skin of my nose.
Palin's RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVE James Dobson type religious cult has no fear of disobedience to the 10 Commandments, therefore they lie with impunity; but lying with impunity is not the way of real Christian followers of Jesus. The CONSERVATIVE FAR RIGHT WING EXTREME Dobson type religious cults like Palin belong to are doing their best politically to pull Christianity to the far right extreme, and in doing so are doing exactly the same thing Judas did when he betrayed Jesus. After Jesus was crucified, Judas killed himself. Jesus said Peace I Leave With You -- Christians need to work for PEACE, NOT WAR and KILLING OF PEOPLE FOR WHOM JESUS SUFFERED AND DIED.
Wow... you're really deranged aren't you? Hillary "used" Chelsea??? Her daughter is of legal age... and of her own will, she chose to work for her mother's campaign. I saw Failin's kids, and that poor slob of a future son-in-law, being paraded like chimps.
McSame and Failin' aren't ahead in ANY of the polls I've looked at today... they are falling fast, just like their rhetoric. They have NOTHING to stand on, so it's just the sand giving way.
Enjoy your pipedreams... sleep tight.
Sarah Isn't Hillary:
You are correct, the DLC, of which Hillary Clinton is a leader and Bill Clinton was a leader, is actually a part of the Republican Party infiltrated into the Democratic Party, but Obama isn't a part of that. Obama is trying to unify the Democratic Party not split it like with the DLC Republican Plan. A vote for Obama/Biden is a vote for unity in the Democratic Party so that all members of the party are represented. You will see a difference is how legislation is carried out, if you will vote Obama in, but if you vote in the REPUBLICANS again just because they are finally parroting change with their lies. And a vote for someone else is a vote for Bush. When everything else is a lie, believe me REPUBLICAN change is a lie from the pit of Hell, there will be no change if a REPUBLICAN gets in. CHANGE WILL ONLY COME WITH OBAMA. Obama is NOT DLC.
Bush and the DLC have been so FAR RIGHT EXTREME that I am of the opinion that when Obama wins, just before he has to give over the presidency, Bush will attack Iran and declare Marshall Law so that Bush can keep the presidency. I hope not, but I would not be surprised.
I swear it feels like I'm watching bad political theatre... Yet I actually know some real live people who refuse to look beyond their nose & say they support McCain/Palin. Unreal...
McSame and Failin' aren't ahead in ANY of the polls I've looked at today...
Try this one:
www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_pre...
Updated daily.
And this site:
www.usaelectionpolls.com/
McCain has built a 6% national lead according to the Tarrance Group's latest poll. The weighted national average derived from the state polls has McCain up by just 1%.
Updated daily.
This one has McCain leading in 6 out of 8 polls, with one rated a tie:
www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/
Hey, personally I think it's 6 of one turd, half a dozen of the other piece of sh!t, but I wouldn't go to a Democratic party site to find accurate polling data.
Wouldn't it be a good idea to have Palin and Cheney go out hunting together?
You are correct, the DLC, of which Hillary Clinton is a leader and Bill Clinton was a leader, is actually a part of the Republican Party infiltrated into the Democratic Party, but Obama isn't a part of that.
Not part of the DNC powerful's annointed ones?
Don't you find it the least bit curious that 4 years before Bill's candidacy, they had him give the keynote address at their convention? Made a big splash with the party faithful, and then they ran him for prez 4 years later.
Then 4 years ago, the party power brokers had Barack Obama give the keynote address and make a big splash with the faithful, and who's their candidate this year?
Yeah, Martha, he IS a tool of the party's power brokers, but you just see him as what you want him to be, as so many dyed-in-the-wool partisans from both parties are prone to do with the candidate.
You just never end up with what you thought you were electing. So I'm done with 'em.
I don't understand why some other commenters have made sarcastic statements about the brilliant Palin.
She is smart, and only took 6 years and 5 colleges to gain a 4 year degree in broadcast journalism that qualified her for the demanding position of sports announcer.
She could be president easily -- just like Bush has been -- by letting those who were behind her selection pull her strings -- like they have been doing his, with McCain's 95% approval.
Isn't 95% an A still?
Being In Texas When her water starts leaking 8 mo. along, she decides to say her speech, call
her doctor in Alaska unwilling
to to have her Baby in the Great
State of Texas. Without seeing a doctor in person. Decides to fly all the way to Alaska to have her baby in Alaska. Thats in the NEW YORKER...
What a good little lair she is,a true Republican.GULITY
Not all Alaskans love Sarah! Alaskan Women Reject Sarah rally happened over the weekend and had amazing turnout! Pics at http://laurainak,blogspot.com
Great idea! Maybe they could give a pig a makeover. Teach it how to throw the lipliner in the trash correctly!
Seriously, Walt Monegan's an honorable cop. Mayberry with a brain, you know? And he's savvy to the concerns of Native Alaskans, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, etc.. This is like watching the high school bitch cheerleader smear the one honorable gentleman in the senior class.
You can put lipstick on a serial liar, but they're still a serial liar.
-Wexler
Ah, so apt.
But, it goes like this:
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive."
No big deal. I just think this way it sounds more elegant. ;-)
This is just the most unethical thing I have heard of. I mean clearly this shows that she is dishonest and will lie and do and say whatever she needs to to get ahead. I mean is this the kind of person that we want in the whitehouse? How can anyone want this woman in there. I mean all that they are asking her to do is to come in and tell her side, if you are telling the truth then it should no matter if there are 2 dems or what. Infact there are 3 republicans and 2 dems what is her problem. I think she is a lying theiving individule that will not and can't be trustes.
Todd Palin. Keep an eye on him. He's up to his neck in this along with the Governor. If things start to get really hot for her, Todd will be stabbed in the back. He'll take all the blame. I hope he's lawyered up because McCain/Palin will cut his throat to protect themselves.
Those of you who have concluded that neither the Democrat or GOP parties are serving the best interests of the country, go to the head of the class.
Vote Nader, Barr, McKinney, and Paul in '08.
Where is the press coverage of these candidates? Nader appears poised to cost Obama the election by pulling 6 to 10 per cent of the vote in key "purple" states. Shouldn't this be a hot topic of conversation? Yet Nader gets no press coverage whatsoever. It's like he never existed, even though he's worked for Americans' safety, rights, and Constitution for 40 years. The only time Bob Barr is mentioned is in a comedic context because his name is similar to Babar (the elephant).
Is the press so derelict and corrupted that they can't even COVER the other candidates? What has happened to political discourse in this country? How is this any different than the ChiComs or Stalinist Russia?
Think about it. Why is the political discourse about pastors, "experience", "change" and other vagaries and platitudes? Why do we allow so few voices to speak? Why do we allow professional spin doctors to frame our national elections into Hollywood productions and sound bites?
-Wexler
Palin says that she dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween. Sarah Palin does not celebrate Halloween. She is a fundamentalist Christian, and fundamentalist Christians do not celebrate witches. The more lies she tells the deeper she gets.
The American Ruse &
when Black Friday comes.
Honesty or lies?
Compassion or greed?
Intelligence or narrow-minded?
Guts - or go along to get along?
Ralph Nader
Cynthia McKinney
Ron Paul
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kucinich
Jesse Ventura
H. Ross Perot
President Carter
JFK RFK MLK Malcolm
Thanks for staying on top of this story, David. It might be good to do a full catalog of the lies she has told on this one story alone: that she would cooperate, that she never contacted Monegan, that no one pressured him to fire Wooten, that Monegan was a problem (I have seen videos of Palin praising Monegan for taking the lead in domestic abuse issues, now she claim he was punished for seeking funding for, you guessed it, domestic violence), the filing a bogus complaint against herself with the State Ethics Commission (memeber appointed by governor) and then asking that it be dismissed. The is just a list I can compile off the top of my head. A good reporter like yourself can pull together a lot more, I suspect.
Bottom line: This is a blatant cover up. As with Watergate and many other government scandals, the coverup is worse than the initial crime. Stay on this story until you shame the MSM into covering the truth: Palin is not a reformer, she is hardball, power abusing, vindictive liar.
Palin and Cheney hunting together - GENIUS! He can shoot her for us and she can kill the moose!
If people were honest they'd admit that bigotry is the only reason Obama hasn't blown the old guy and his cheerleader sidekick out of the race. Taking on this hugh hurdle makes Obama and his family the bravest people I know!
One irony of this is that Mayor Palin fired Wasilla's police chief because he wanted to change closing time for bars from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., to control alcohol-related crime. Palin had financial backing from bar/restaurant owners, so she fired him.
edgy...
I think that there is a racial component.
But you can't deny that Obama has alienated the progressive part of the Democrat party.
After he fails to win this election, don't be too surprised if the Democrat party splits. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened.
We need a liberal party that is reality-based and works for the people instead of the corporations. The Dems are bought and paid for, and THAT'S why Obama can't put it away. You can't tell the difference between the two candidates on so many issues that there's no reason to pick him over McCain.
-Wexler
"You can't tell the difference between the two candidate on so many issues that there's no reason to pick himover McCain." WHAT? Have YOU actually READ McCain's and Obama's websites? Have YOU actually LISTENED to McCain's and Obama's speeches? Have YOU actually WATCHED both candidate's conventions? You're statement is undeniable proof that you haven't actually examined either candidate's stance on any issue and that you are indicative of the apathetic attitude most Americans share when casting their vote. Do the U.S. and a favor, don't exercise you're right to vote - it only harms those that actually wish to do something to protect America. You're ignorance only leaves America vulnerable.
Wexler would have us vote for candidates with no chance of winning.
The Nader "Protest votes" in the 2000 election delivered us Bush/Cheney. This time around they will deliver us McCain/Palin with the same policies and the continued ruination of our country.
Bad idea Wexler.
William, you are just another "concern troll".
The issue of this article is that Sarah Palin keeps changing her story. First, the guy wasn't fired, he quit. Then, he wasn't fired in revenge, he was fired for incompetence.
First, she was going to completely cooperate with a bi-partisan committee that started its investigation before McCain made her a celebrity. Now, it's always been a partisan, highly politicized witch hunt and it's her moral (and probably constitutional) duty to resist.
We need to see a 527 run an ad on this, showing the pattern of flip-flops as well as the parallels between this and the BushCheney strateies. "More of the Same" cubed.
John, you're as much a concern troll as William. You STILL believe that Nader cost Dems the election, despite all the evidence of Republican fraud. You never learn from history. The fact that you're letting William take you off the track of the intended discussion shows that.
Nader will not get 1% of the vote, and he will not cost Obama any states. Let's talk about Palin contradicting Palin, please.
Wexler is obviously a republican troll. He uses the term "democrat party," an epithet devised by the republicans to irritate democrats. If he were a true libertarian, he wouldn't have bought into this obnoxious and insulting behavior.
Eenee meenee minee mo...with which story should we go? Should I tell the truth I fear? Oh! Look! You can see that other country from here.
lawyerfan sez: Wexler is obviously a republican troll. ...If he were a true libertarian...
I don't think Wexler ever claimed to be a Libertarian.
Most Libertarians wouldn't list Nader first in their list of recommended candidates, if they listed him at all.
Unless lawyerfan is himself a Libertarian, he has no business making statements about who is, and who isn't a "true Libertarian". Even then, it would only be one Libertarian's view, but at least it would be a view from inside Libertarianism.
Having a Democrat make statements about what constitutes a True Libertarian is on a par with asking a Baptist to tell you what a True Buddhist believes in.
And upon arriving in Anchorage she did not go to one of the two local hospitals minutes away. She drove to Wasilla more than an hour away. What is that about?
Re nnorman51's comments:
"Lying is hard work and should only be undertaken by a person with an extremely good memory, low stress lifestyle, very good organizational skills and highly intelligent.
If I met Palin today, I would advise her not to lie, simply because she does not have the attributes it takes to be an effective liar--she simply doesn't have the necessary skills to tell lies and make them work for her.
Someone should point out to Palin that in her case, honesty is the best policy."
So, well stated. I'd have better respect for her if she'd just told the truth. Also, while she was running amuck in Alaska, there were people all along the way trying to keep her from doing the wrong thing. You'd think she'd have stopped and taken a good look at her actions. This was WAY out of the range of ethical behavior. Matter of fact, this kind of retaliatory behavior is really quite juvenile. It only enforces my growing suspicion that, as you so aptly opined in your post, this woman is short on intellectual skills.
Hey lawyerfan...
You made me spit milk through my nose.
Obviously you have bought the horse race and paid for it, then you swallowed it hook line, and SINKER.
This is the anti-Bush website that I have owned and run since January 2000.
www.stopdubya.com
"Republican troll". LOL!
Underinformed idiot. As long as we're name-calling.
-Wexler
Nader! Here's a man who was of great service to the people in his younger years and a complete plague on everybody in his later years. Now, he's actually moved into the zone where he's doing way more harm than he ever did good
He's probably even FUNDED by the repugnicans by now (if they know what's good for them) and he doesn't even know it!
Isn't he at the age where he's supposed to ... y'know..?
"WHAT? Have YOU actually READ McCain's and Obama's websites? Have YOU actually LISTENED to McCain's and Obama's speeches? Have YOU actually WATCHED both candidate's conventions? You're statement is undeniable proof that you haven't actually examined either candidate's stance on any issue and that you are indicative of the apathetic attitude most Americans share when casting their vote. Do the U.S. and a favor, don't exercise you're right to vote - it only harms those that actually wish to do something to protect America. You're ignorance only leaves America vulnerable."
Yes, I was a precinct captain for Obama in Iowa.
Your ignorance leaves America on the same course it's been on for the last 50 years.... crash diving to a roadside grave on the path of History alongside all the other wannabe hegemony-seeking fools.
If you want to vote for that, I can't stop you. All I can do is shake my head and feel sorry for someone with such an enormous lack of historical perspective.
-Wexler
The Nader-hater trolls are here in force... with nothing to say except... nothing.
There's nothing you CAN say, because he's right, you're wrong, and it's that simple.
All you can do is hate. One poster called him 'ugly' the other day.
I hope Nader turns all the purple states red right before your eyes... he's going to in my state.
-Wexler