October 15, 2008
Palin’s Plain Prevarications (A.B. Stoddard)
Another debate, another chance for John McCain to a) turn things around to win the presidential election or b) turn things around so, should he lose, people don't view him forever as the conflicted and grouchy person the 2008 race turned him into.
As for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the new conservative hero who is headed to the vice presidency or a future in national politics, she could learn a few lessons from the race. For starters, she might try a bit harder to at least appear to be telling the truth. The Troopergate report found she abused power by placing impermissible pressure on subordinates, though in her defense it also found that firing Walt Monegan was legally within her rights and authority as governor.
Why did she have to then come out to say she had been cleared of any "unlawful or unethical activity," when the opposite is true? Yes, she violated Alaska's ethics code and abused power. No, she shouldn't make it worse by smiling her way through these "Thanks but no thanks" descriptions of her past, making statements about how the report "vindicates" her. The Anchorage Daily News described the reaction yesterday as "an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation … Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian."
The Troopergate story was drowned out by the comments made by Rep. John Lewis (D) of Georgia, about his concern that the McCain-Palin rallies were sowing seeds of division and hatred that reminded him of George Wallace.
I gather, however, that that wasn't the focus in Alaska this weekend. The Anchorage Daily News also reported that "The state Personnel Board investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of Walt Monegan has broadened to include other ethics complaints against the governor and examination of actions by other state employees, according to the independent counsel handling the case." (Read it here.)
If Palin doesn't make it to the White House, she may have some work to do when she settles back into the governor's mansion.
IS IT TOO LATE FOR MCCAIN TO TURN THINGS AROUND? Ask A.B. returns Monday, Oct. 20. Please join my weekly video Q & A by sending your questions and comments to askab@thehill.com. Thank you.
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The legislative report which accused her of ethical violations contained no factual basis to support that allegation. You can portray anything as an ethical violation. Sarah Palin is simply following through on her belief that she committed no ethical violations. If the firing of the Public Safety Director was legal, then it's questionable if there could be any ethical violations. As far as the anger issue, it's the Obamunists who are clearly reacting in anger now. The truth about Ayers is coming out and I'm surprised you haven't mentioned some of the blatant lies Obama has told. The Obama web site, FightTheSmears.com, recently took down information concerning Obama's claim that he was never an instructor at ACORN after a document surfaced proving that he had been an instructor. It's fascinating how the liberal media continues to ignore the truth about Barack Obama while pursuing minor issues about McCain/Palin.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — October 15, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
VP Palin was an unvetted 'knock 'em out' pick for McCain, and so the soap opera began. She's out of her league and John McCain put her there, and the fringe fanatics on the right just love her.
Comment by Joyce — October 15, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
"The Anchorage Daily News described the reaction yesterday as "an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation…" Yes, and if you believe every liberal rag, Obama isn't a socialist in favor of the largest redistribution of wealth in US history. The editor for the ADN has a history working for causes on the extreme left and permits venom to flow freely in its pages against Republicans. The majority of Alaskans (such as myself) have little or no heartburn over the chief executive pressuring her subordinates for an explanation why a drunken child abuser remains on the police force when any other citizen would have been in jail.
Comment by Robert Gustafson — October 15, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
I think the lesson to learn from this election is this: if you're a race-obsessed radical who has admitted using cocaine and who wouldn't be a able to get an FBI clearance, learn to look respectable, speak confidently, and make you lies REALLY big. No matter what they say about you, whether is truthful, hard to tell, or indeed a lie, always call it a lie, and always sound indignant. Call anyone who continues to tell the truth about you "a racist", or even better have a surrogate call them a racist and deny strong connections to the surrogate. Say that your opponent is responsible for things he or she has nothing to do with, but say it with confidence and repeat it a million times. Don't be bashful about your lies, be proud, especially when you know you're doing it "for the people".
Comment by Igor R. — October 15, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
McCain has turned into a stumbling, grouchy old man who appears to have completly lost his mind. His running mate…, well she's just a running joke. (I can't believe they actually found someone dumber than Bush).
They’re going to lose.
Comment by Jeff — October 15, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
From Kansas City Star:
McCain, Palin causing "anxiety, grave fear": Kansas City attorney's federal lawuist to stop negative campaigning against Obama
A Kansas City lawyer and supporter of Barack Obama for president has filed suit in federal court, alleging that the Republican ticket has incited violence against the Democratic nominee.
In her suit against Sen. John McCain, Gov. Sarah Palin and campaign manager Rick Davis, Mary Kay Green said she has been injured by their campaign tactics and suffers “terror of the heart, anxiety and grave fear” for Obama’s life.
Green, an occasional contributor of letters to the editor for The Kansas City Star on legal and political issues, said the GOP campaign has used false hate speech to work their supporters into a frenzy, leading to death threats against Obama.
In an interview, Green said she worked as a young woman in the presidential campaigns of both John and Robert Kennedy in Nebraska. Though she has asked for $6 million in damages, Green said the money is not important. The suit is a moral plea to the Republicans to temper their language, she said.
“I will not tolerate another assassination,” Green said. “I have an obligation as an attorney to speak out and use my voice to say to John McCain and Sarah Palin that you must stop this behavior. You are participating in these death threats and have lost all protection from the First Amendment.”
The suit, Green filed Tuesday, has been assigned to a federal court mediation program for resolution.
– Mark Morris
Comment by Igor R. — October 15, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
I cry for the disenfranchised:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/10/jennifer_brunner_says_courts_d.html
Comment by Igor R. — October 15, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
Clearly, the investigation, contrary to poster #1, had factual proof against Palin that she acted inappropriately and allowed, nay encouraged others, to act inappropriately to use the public trust to handle personal and family problems. There were conversations, memos and at least 16 forceful phone calls to fire Wooten backed up by the testimony of staff workers under oath and by phone records and e-mails. Then when chastised by the unanimous vote of the investigation committee, she falsely claimed that she had been cleared.
Comment by Dale Anger — October 15, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
Looks like Grandpa Simpson was going to break down crying because Obama was able to run more ads than him.
Comment by Dale Anger — October 15, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
Palin was a disasterous pick for McCain. When asked tonight about Palin's capabilities as president, should something provoke that possibility in a McCain presidency, Obama was gracious as always; but the audience knew there was no way. Obama was 10 times better than McCain tonight. He won all three debates. The economy is the biggest issue by far. He's very 'presidential' and McCain hates him for it, but such is life. Oh, and Biden has it 10 times over Palin, but I think everyone knows that by now.
Comment by Joyce — October 16, 2008 @ 1:18 am
Palin did not state her "opinion" that she had been cleared - although if she had any brains, she could easily have phrased it that way. She stated unambiguously that the report 1 "cleared" her of 2 "unlawful" and 3 "unethical" behavior, when in fact the report stated 1 "she abused her power" by 2 "violating the state 3 Ethics act". It was one of the plainest, baldest and stupidest lies ever told in front of a camera.
A good liar anticipates how a lie will "sell", and modulates accordingly. Palin's narcissism seems to be so complete that she feels she will be worshipped no matter what she says or does. She also displays a peculiar lack of feeling for the hateful remarks at her rallies. Sociopathic personality?
Comment by SarahImpalin — October 16, 2008 @ 3:56 am
Seriously, I don't see how Rosencrans will say this is a little issue. Palin betted her governorship on reform and fighting corruption and now she's smack dab in the middle of it. Very reminiscent of Eliot Spitzer, the NY governor who went after the mob and others with gusto, and guess what, he was also caught with questionable ethics. Palin got caught with her hand in the cookie jar; and didn't she call for the ethics investigation? If she could be so blatant in this regard, what other nonsense will she do if voted into the White House and becomes president?
Comment by Jessara — October 16, 2008 @ 9:28 am