"Stop Criticizing Palin!"

[Uncle Remus]

Interestin' article 'n nice to know:

You really can't experience the full effect of Monday's news conference featuring Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton unless you hear it for yourself. Stapleton passionately attacked former Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan. Her rhetoric was plain, desperate, and obvious. Her tone, pure shrill.

With intensity, urgency, and alarm in her voice, Stapleton described Monegan's behavior as commissioner as egregious insubordination, full of obstructionist conduct and a brazen refusal to follow instructions.

Did Walt Monegan, former Marine, and lifetime crime fighter deserve this? Of course not.

But history has proven, get in the way of Sarah Barracuda's political ambition, and you won't know what hit you.

If anyone should be on the hot seat, it's not Monegan, but Palin for her inconsistencies.

The governor has given so many different reasons for firing Monegan I've lost count. From the "we need new direction" and "new energy" to "he wasn't hiring enough cops," to "he wasn't doing enough about alcohol in the bush" to "he lobbied for budget increases" to the latest version, which is a doozy; Monegan displayed "egregious rogue behavior."

The governor also originally said that neither she, Todd nor anyone from her administration pressured Monegan regarding Trooper Wooten. Palin then was forced to admit there was serial contact once the Frank Bailey tape surfaced. But she insisted she was just learning of it. But e-mails have surfaced detailing Palin complaining to Monegan about Wooten.

The governor also originally said an investigation was needed and promised to cooperate. Then she instructed her employees not to talk to the investigator and has herself refused to be interviewed.

Palin can't constantly change her story and expect us to believe her each time she does.

Meanwhile, this Palin VP thing has Alaskans all stirred up? Much like Palin divided the Republican party, she has managed to divide the state over her national candidacy.

Clearly most Alaskans choose to ignore the facts of the Troopergate scandal. They want Palin to make it to the national stage.

Republicans scold me all the time, "You don't want Obama to win do you? Stop criticizing Palin!"
My question to my conservative friends is simple. Does the truth still matter?

Truth is at the very heart of the conservative movement. Isn't it true that smaller government, self empowerment, and personal responsibility are worth fighting for? Isn't it true that promoting a culture of life and defending marriage will keep us strong as a nation?

But some Republican leaders are abandoning truth and closing ranks to help Palin cover up her scandal by attacking the investigation.

Representative John Coghill has been especially disappointing on this.

And so has Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. He called the investigation a "complete farce."? Parnell said, "I'm disappointed by the complete hijacking of what should be a fair and objective process,"

Parnell knows eight Republicans along with four Democrats voted to launch this independent investigation.

Contrast Sean "Captain Zero" Parnell with Republican Senator Charlie Huggins. Palin would have gotten away with shutting down the investigation if it were not for Huggins.

His swing vote allowed for subpoenas. Huggins put the quest for truth above his party. He said, "Let's just get the facts on the table, the sooner the better,"

But too many in my party are not interested in the facts. They want Palin to win -- at all cost.

I want McCain and Palin to win too. But with Palin's refusal to cooperate with the independent investigator and her transparent delay tactics, Americans deserve to know what Palin is trying to hide before we vote her a heartbeat away from the leader of the free world.

My fellow conservatives, remember how frustrating it was when Bill Clinton committed perjury and liberals looked the other way.

As conservatives, we are no better unless we demand full disclosure from our governor when it comes to Troopergate.

No politician is so popular and charismatic that they should be above accountability and telling the truth. Not even Sarah Palin.
Anchorage Daily News

 

[mickey2000]

 

[Alaska Catdog]

This article has me scratching my head, I like it. But the author is a right wing am radio talk show host (local Limbaugh) and I never ever agree with him. I hadn't seen this yet, thanks for posting it.

 

[Uncle Remus]

This article has me scratching my head, I like it. But the author is a right wing am radio talk show host (local Limbaugh) and I never ever agree with him. I hadn't seen this yet, thanks for posting it.

Heck, if that had ya scratchin ya head, look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZKQDyL5gzc

A Palin/McCain administration?

 

[CowboyCO]

I'm trying to understand the outrage here. Wooten was a bad guy. He threatened to kill someone. He tasered his own child.

Even if she did pressure Moneghan to fire him, she had every right to fire him if he didn't follow her orders. He was a member of the cabinet. If the governor tells you to do something and you don't, you get canned. She had every right to gas him.

 

[moon]

I'm trying to understand the outrage here. Wooten was a bad guy. He threatened to kill someone. He tasered his own child.

Even if she did pressure Moneghan to fire him, she had every right to fire him if he didn't follow her orders. He was a member of the cabinet. If the governor tells you to do something and you don't, you get canned. She had every right to gas him.

If this is the case, why doesn't she just say that's the reason she fired him? Why all the lies?

 

[Uncle Remus]

I'm trying to understand the outrage here. Wooten was a bad guy. He threatened to kill someone. He tasered his own child.

Even if she did pressure Moneghan to fire him, she had every right to fire him if he didn't follow her orders. He was a member of the cabinet. If the governor tells you to do something and you don't, you get canned. She had every right to gas him.

Okay, how come she 'n First Dude won't testify in that costly investigation?

She said she would coz she didn't have anythin' to hide 'n now they refuse the subpeonas, sounds like she really is experienced to be in the WH.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

Here's my perspective as an Alaskan.
It was shocking when Palin fired Monegone because he was well respected and liked across the board. My first impression was why fix something that wasn't broke? Her administration said they wanted to go in a new direction. Fair enough.
Her administration offered Monegan another job (Executive Director of the State Alcoholic Control Board) which indicated that he was still a valued member of her team (valued but marginalized) he declined.
Her "new direction" was the appointment of Kenai Police Chief Chuck Kopp (a made up last name by the way ) who was tainted by sexual harassment scandals (which Palin's administration did not seem to know about) and his tenure lasted all of 10 days but cost Alaska a $10,000 severance package. Again I wondered why get rid of Monegan to replace him with such an unsuitable choice. I was not alone in my wonderment. Eventually the republican controlled Alaskan State legislature decided that an investigation of ethics was necessary to determine if there was an abuse of power. This happened before SP was named VP. At that time she agreed to the investigation and said she would cooperate with it.
It's not about Wooten and if he is a bad cop. The issue is whether or not Governor Sarah Palin abused her political power for personal reasons. Before she refused to cooperate I was willing to consider that she didn't, now I'm left wondering what changed that she was willing to cooperate a few weeks ago and now is not. In my perspective that doesn't bode well for her.

 

[CowboyCO]

If this is the case, why doesn't she just say that's the reason she fired him? Why all the lies?

I didn't say it was the case. She says she fired him for insubordination and budget disagreements. I'm saying who gives a hoot why she fired Moneghan. He served at the pleasure of the governor. She could fire him because she didn't like his shirt. Or if he didn't like hers.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I didn't say it was the case. She says she fired him for insubordination and budget disagreements. I'm saying who gives a hoot why she fired Moneghan. He served at the pleasure of the governor. She could fire him because she didn't like his shirt. Or if he didn't like hers.

Well, you have a very simplistic view of public service, responsible government officials don't fire other public officials because they don't like their shirts.

Again, if Palin feels she was right in her actions, let her answer to the investigatory board 'n state her case.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

She says she fired him for insubordination and budget disagreements.

She originally said she fired him because her administration wanted to go in a different direction. She changed her tune and that's the problem. As her national celebrity soared her reasons for firing Monegan have gotten more and more acerbic and less and less believable to actual Alaskans who know Walt Monegan and his past history, he's a good Joe, not deserving of Palin's smears.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Here's my perspective as an Alaskan.
It was shocking when Palin fired Monegone because he was well respected and liked across the board. My first impression was why fix something that wasn't broke? Her administration said they wanted to go in a new direction. Fair enough.
Her administration offered Monegan another job (Executive Director of the State Alcoholic Control Board) which indicated that he was still a valued member of her team (valued but marginalized) he declined.
Her "new direction" was the appointment of Kenai Police Chief Chuck Kopp (a made up last name by the way ) who was tainted by sexual harassment scandals (which Palin's administration did not seem to know about) and his tenure lasted all of 10 days but cost Alaska a $10,000 severance package. Again I wondered why get rid of Monegan to replace him with such an unsuitable choice. I was not alone in my wonderment. Eventually the republican controlled Alaskan State legislature decided that an investigation of ethics was necessary to determine if there was an abuse of power. This happened before SP was named VP. At that time she agreed to the investigation and said she would cooperate with it.
It's not about Wooten and if he is a bad cop. The issue is whether or not Governor Sarah Palin abused her political power for personal reasons. Before she refused to cooperate I was willing to consider that she didn't, now I'm left wondering what changed that she was willing to cooperate a few weeks ago and now is not. In my perspective that doesn't bode well for her.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Uh oh:

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is the nation's most prominent Republican officeholder to publicly question whether Sarah Palin has the experience to serve as president.


"She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials," Hagel said Wednesday in an interview. "You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don't know what you can say. You can't say anything."

Palin was elected governor of Alaska in 2006 and before that was the mayor of a small town.

Democrats have raised questions about Palin since Sen. John McCain picked her as his vice presidential running mate. Most national Republican officeholders have rallied to Palin's candidacy.

The McCain campaign has cited the proximity of Alaska to Russia as evidence of her international experience.

Hagel scoffed at that notion.

"I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, 'I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,'" he said. "That kind of thing is insulting to the American people."
Link

 

[debbieandroo]

Uh oh:

Uh oh is right, Uncle Remus -- 'cause it appears to me that Senator Hagel might have an ulterior motive with his comments:

Hagel took issue with that argument. “I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, ‘I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,”‘ he said. “That kind of thing is insulting to the American people.”

Hagel, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a vocal critic of the Bush administration since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In July, Hagel traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Though he didn’t expect to be asked, Hagel had said he would have considered serving as Obama’s running mate.

Exactly who is he rootin' for?

 

[debbieandroo]

Here is the unedited version of her interview with Mr Gibson:

GIBSON: Let me ask you about some specific national security situations.

PALIN: Sure.

GIBSON: Let’s start, because we are near Russia, let’s start with Russia and Georgia.

The administration has said we’ve got to maintain the territorial integrity of Georgia. Do you believe the United States should try to restore Georgian sovereignty over South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

PALIN: First off, we’re going to continue good relations with Saakashvili there. I was able to speak with him the other day and giving him my commitment, as John McCain’s running mate, that we will be committed to Georgia. And we’ve got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable and we have to keep…

GIBSON: You believe unprovoked.

PALIN: I do believe unprovoked and we have got to keep our eyes on Russia, under the leadership there. I think it was unfortunate. That manifestation that we saw with that invasion of Georgia shows us some steps backwards that Russia has recently taken away from the race toward a more democratic nation with democratic ideals. That’s why we have to keep an eye on Russia.

And, Charlie, you’re in Alaska. We have that very narrow maritime border between the United States, and the 49th state, Alaska, and Russia. They are our next door neighbors.We need to have a good relationship with them. They’re very, very important to us and they are our next door neighbor.

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing in Georgia?

PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.

Sarah Palin on Russia:

We cannot repeat the Cold War. We are thankful that, under Reagan, we won the Cold War, without a shot fired, also. We’ve learned lessons from that in our relationship with Russia, previously the Soviet Union.

We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.

The bold parts are what were not included in the televised interview.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Here is the unedited version of her interview with Mr Gibson:



The bold parts are what were not included in the televised interview.

Now see, this is one of those instances when you realize how much things get taken out of context on a televised interview. It happens with both sides by the way.

Thanks for posting that link.

 

[DisFlan]

From what I've gathered so far: Alaska is a REALLY different place. They can see Russia from their porches (do they wave back?), and their words sound like ours, but they must not mean the same things. I'm pretty sure that "We'd build it ourselves" means "We'll keep your money."

Give me time, I'll figure out Alaskeeze. Right now, I'm working on "I'll cooperate".


DisFlan (I can see Arkansas from my house and I can field dress a crickett)

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Hopefully she won't lie under oath.


Oh wait......she won't even take the oath.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Hopefully she won't lie under oath.


Oh wait......she won't even take the oath.

At the rate she's goin', she ain't gonna take that other oath either, neither will McCain.

 

[TCPluto]

If this is the case, why doesn't she just say that's the reason she fired him? Why all the lies?

Why is it too much to consider that she might be telling the truth? You seem to have made the decision on this already.