Politicians are good at spin. The McCain camp has brought a whole new level of it to our small state -- in what looks like an effort to show they can play the same Karl Rove-like political games that have haunted this country for the last 8 years. I like Governor Palin on a personal level. But I don't like what the McCain campaign is doing to our state. I don't like deception. And I don't like politics as usual.
Alaskans are starting to see evidence of a Karl Rove-like effort to stonewall what started as a non-controversial, bi-partisan "Troopergate" investigation. A little deception here, a few personal attacks there. And the kind of spin you see at an amusement park tilt-a-whirl station.
This investigation was started by a Republican-dominated Alaska Legislature to look into Governor Palin's conduct in seeking the termination of a State Trooper, once married to the Governor's sister, Trooper Michael Wooten. The McCain camp wants to stop it by saying it's a "democratic" investigation. Apart from facts, and the reputations the McCain folks don't mind destroying, there's not a lot standing in the way of this strategy.
Until August 29 "Troopergate" was a small state investigation Governor Palin, and every Republican and Democrat in a Republican-led Legislature, had agreed was appropriate. But things changed the day Governor Palin joined the McCain ticket. His handlers went ballistic that the Governor agreed to an investigation they now needed to stop.
I know Senator McCain is now running on a political platform of "change." Leave aside how he'll fight to change what he's voted to do to this country for the last 8 years. If you ask me, the only thing he's changed so far is Governor Palin's position -- her decision to cooperate with this once-small investigation.
This is one of those cases where there's a clear truth. It's a clear truth -- about a bi-partisan investigation -- that I hope McCain's operatives will ultimately fail at spinning into a "partisan" plot against his running mate.
To get their way, and prevent sworn testimony from leaking out on what I suspect was probably a minor breach by Governor Palin, McCain's operatives have come to Alaska to add invective in a state where people generally get along. They've chosen to vilify: 1) one of the state's most respected public officials, Senator Hollis French; 2) the state's most respected law enforcement official, Walt Monegan; and 3) a highly respected former DA and Victims Rights advocate a legislative committee voted 12 - 0 to hire to conduct the investigation, Steve Branchflower.
It's the ghost of Karl Rove. Say something untrue enough times -- like that al-Qaeda is training with Saddam Hussein's help -- and people will believe it. Not this time. I'm not sure if I mentioned a few important facts.
Did I mention that no one ever attacked the Troopergate investigation by Alaska's Legislature -- started long before Governor Palin was placed on McCain's ticket -- until August 29? That was the day Governor Palin joined the McCain bid for the White House.
Did I mention that before the McCain camp got involved, the Governor stated of the Legislative investigation: "That being the route they choose, so be it. I'm happy to comply, to cooperate." (KTUU.com, July 24, 2008). She repeatedly stated she'd comply, and that it was the right thing to do. But
The investigator, Steve Branchflower, is a former DA and Office of Victims Rights head (a job he was appointed to by a Republican Legislature). He's actually conducting the investigation. Attacking Senator French doesn't really work if he's not investigating the case, or making any findings. So the McCain folks have attacked Mr. Branchflower. And they've tried to stop him from issuing subpoenas to the witnesses now directed not to talk. Today the McCain folks suffered a setback. A bi-partisan committee of Republicans and Democrats authorized Mr. Branchflower to move ahead to subpoena those witnesses.
And for good measure -- the McCain folks are attacking Walt Monegan -- the Public Safety Commissioner Governor Palin fired. The Troopergate investigation involves claims that Monegan was fired for not agreeing to fire Trooper Wooten, the Governor's brother in law involved in a very ugly custody dispute with the Governor's sister.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/les-gara/karl-rove-in-alaska-mccai_b_126649.html
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MSNBC=state run media...did you ever think it would happen in USA?
jadendw1234 9 months ago
What is Rachel Maddow's problem? She's a freak
jadendw1234 9 months ago
Stop your lies. Michelle Obama was not dibarred, that has been proven false, she did however allow her liscence to be inactive.
FURepublicans 1 year ago
LMAO!!! OH MY GOD!! Alright wotmot, you're right, I'm wrong!! I'll take that deal just to shut you the FUCK UP!! You're so fucking thick skulled its AMAZING!!
You win OKAY! Now STFU & GO AWAY! LOL!
fuklibs 1 year ago
yea, "sigh". look, fukbrain. You said he was convicted of perjury. He wasn't (public record). You said he wasn't cleared in the senate of the charges brought by impeachment. He was. yes, "sigh" is about the only response to someone who is both this ignorant, and this stupid. Easy to check, your wrong on all counts. Yea, he lied on t.v. I never daid he didn't. But bringing THAT up when you talked of conviction just means you know you were wrong on the facts. dumbass. : )
wotmot223 1 year ago
You sure do "sigh" a lot dumbass!
No I'm talking about Clinton lying to a Federal Grand jury about having "sexual relations" with Monica! He told them "I DID NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH MONICA LEWINSKI". Then after his DNA was found to be on the blue dress, he got on TV & ADMITTED he had sexual relations with her. Get it retard? Things comming back to memory?
He committed the crime & WAS impeached my our House of Reps. The Senate refused to convict him b/c they're CORRUPT!!!!
DUMBFUCK!
fuklibs 1 year ago
sigh, you call me a moron? Look, just to help your tiny, teeny weeny brain out.. 1. Clinton was impeached (that is the same as indited for... 1. Obstruction of justice. 2. Perjury as related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The senate cleared him of both charges. NIETHER of those charges even got a majority vote on guilty. YOU are refering to the Paula Jones case, where Clinton was convicted of civil contempt and had his law liscence suspended. If you don't know what your talking about. stfu.
wotmot223 1 year ago
@wotmot223
LOL! Wotmot, you're a true blue MORON! He wasn't exhonorated of ANYTHING! The Democratic Senate criminals simple didn't vote to impeach him. He WAS guilty of committing perjury to a Federal Grand Jury. He ADMITTED to it you retard! The Democrats just showed the world once again what corrupt, poltical hacks they are & thats why the Republicans took control soon thereafter.
I guess you think O.J. Simpson was innocent because he was "cleared" by racist jury too huh? LOL!
fuklibs 1 year ago
sigh, my God, how can anyone be this stupid? impeachment is the same as being indicted, brought to trail, he was exhonorated by the senate, That is what "cleared" means.
wotmot223 1 year ago
@wotmot223
Look it up moron. TAX FRAUD!!!!!!!
Bill Clinton was IMPEACHED by the U.S. Congress you dimwit!!!!!!!
fuklibs 1 year ago