The one attribute conservatives loved about George W. Bush was his resoluteness. Once, by god, W. made up his mind about something….he never backed down. He stuck to his guns. He grabbed his crotch and held on tight….whatever. Even if W. was wrong, conservatives said repeatedly, at least you knew where he stood, Georgie didn't back down or alter his viewpoint in any way. He wasn't in any way like those waffling, un-resolute Democrats who only saw nuance where he saw certainty.
Conservatives were proud of that specific quality in The Decider.
Now that the Alaska legislative investigation into Sarah Palin's efforts to have trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's ex-brother-in-law, fired is finished with the report released late last night……it is clear that the same quality conservatives love about W. is found in spades in Governor Sarah Palin.
The report found that, while Sarah Palin had the authority to fire Walt Monegan (the man who wouldn't fire Trooper Wooten), she had, indeed, violated the public trust by the repetitive pressure placed on Monegan by the Palin's and the Governor's office to fire Trooper Wooten.
A clear-cut abuse of power situation.
In Alaska's Ethics Act, in the "declaration of policy" segment it states….
1) high moral and ethical standards among public officers in the executive branch are essential to assure trust, respect, and confidence of the people of this state;
2) a code of ethics for the guidance of public officers will…
(A) discourage those officers from acting upon personal or financial interests in the performance of their public responsibilities;
Sarah Palin's "personal interests" for her sister, Molly, got in the way of her duty as a public officer and led her, Todd, and employees of the Governor, to repeatedly push for Trooper Wooten's firing.
The investigation concluded in Finding Number One…..
….I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive branch Ethics Act. The Statute provides….
"The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust."
Here's the rub of the story which places Sarah Palin in George W. Bush-style resolute clothing….
The final straw for the Palin's that led Sarah to finally fire Walt Monegan (the guy who refused to fire Trooper Wooten) was a PHOTO. From page 38 of the investigator's findings…..
"Shortly before the annual celebration of Police Memeorial Day on May 15, 2008, Commissioner Monegan had dropped off a color photograph at Palin's office with a request that she sign and present it at the ceremony. The photograph was of an Alaska State Trooper who was dressed in a formal uniform, saluting. He was standing in front of the police memorial located in front of the crime lab at AST headquarters in Anchorage, partially obscured by a flagpole. The picture to be signed by the Governor was to be used as a poster to be displayed in various Trooper Detachments around the state."
Upon returning to his office, Monegan got a phone call from Governor Palin's Director,
"Why did you send a poster over here that has a picture of Mike Wooten on it?" Until that moment, Monegan never realized it was indeed a photograph of Wooten. Governor Palin cancelled her appearance and sent Lt. Governor Parnell in her place."
By mid-June Monegan's replacement was being chosen, and by July, Monegan was gone.
Governor Sarah Palin had made up her mind about Wooten, and then, susequently, Monegan (who refused to fire Wooten). Her thin-skin and pettiness over a PHOTO led her to cancel a public appearance and soon after, to fire Monegan. But Palin's resoluteness is seen in the fact that she never adjusted her opinion or actions, no matter what the facts were, about firing Wooten. Her and Todd stuck to their "fire Wooten" guns and never backed down. Even Monegan's replacement was briefed by the Palin's on their reason for firing Monegan…..and it included Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten.
This specific characteristic of Sarah Palin, resoluteness of purpose even in the face of violation of the public trust, is the same characteristic we've all witnessed for 8 years in the presidency of George W. Bush. Bush was wrong to take America into Iraq. He was resolute about it…..never wavering….but he was terribly wrong. Bush violated the public trust by using his office to propagandize Americans about some imminent threat from Iraq that never existed. He and his administration's yes-men, just like Sarah and her administration's yes-men, put continual pressure on those who hesitated to go along.
Both violated the public trust.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
1) Wooten SHOULD have been fired. Drinking on the job, threatening to kill Palin's father, harassing the first family, among other things. The guy was out of control.
2) Palin broke no law and acted within her powers to reassign Moneghan.
3) Even the lead investigator, acting on behalf of partisan Democrats, who promised an "october surprise" for Palin a long time ago, before they had even interviewed any witnesses in the Troopergate investigation, were forced to admit that Palin had other reasons than Wooten to reassign Moneghan.
A mountain out of a molehill. Always enjoy your cartoonish exaggerations though, Rev.
When does the investigation of Barney Frank start ? Now, there's something really worth investigating.
Perhaps there should be an investigation of Biden, his son and their relationship with MBNA???
I thought Obama was going to roll on Biden when he mentioned the credit criminal safe haven during the debate. Maybe Wednesday.
Wingnuts are called wingnuts for a reason.
When confronted with clear and unequivocal evidence, wingnuts can always find a way to reject it.
An investigation started before Palin was chosen as VP….in a 14-0 vote consisting of 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats in Alaska……decided there was enough doubt about Palin's office vis-a-vis Monegan's firing to start an investigation. They allocated $100K for the job.
The findings state that Palin had the authority to fire her subordinates but that she violated ethics rules in allowing her office staff and her husband to interfere by repeatedly insisting that Monegan should fire Wooten.
It's all very clear….and I would say understandable….but wingnuts cannot and will not accept any reality that makes their team members look bad.
As far as Biden goes….I didn't like the bankruptcy bill, he voted for it. He was wrong in doing so. The one problem I have with Biden, which led me to be uninspired by the VP thing, is his weakness in corporate matters.
And King: "Wooten SHOULD have been fired"
Why? Because you have already determined his guilt? Who died and made you God? This is an example of conservatives' disdain for law and order. Law and order has a process attached to it….Alaska followed that process…..which is up to Alaska, not you or I,…..and they made conclusions as part of that process. You don't like the conclusions…so you simply make new ones up.
She's a very pretty 44 year old woman. That's about all she has going for her. In our 19-54, white male marketing society pretty women play a central role…look at all the attractive women on "news" shows…..but the VP, heartbeat away, slot? Pretty is not enough.
Rev says, "And King: "Wooten SHOULD have been fired" Why? Because you have already determined his guilt? Who died and made you God?"
Nope. I didn't determine Wooten's guilt about anything. The Alaskan government did that. He wasn't suspended for nothing, you know. But I guess, to you, a trooper drinking on the job and threatening to kill people is just fine and dandy, so long as it aids your narrative. There's integrity for you.
Interesting that you should talk about law and order too, seeing as how you are condemning Palin, WHO DIDN'T BREAK ANY LAWS AND ACTED WITHIN HER AUTHORITY AS GOVERNOR to reassign Moneghan.
A mountain out of a molehill.
Ethics violation. Abused her office.
Wooten was disciplined, you admit it…..but you say he should still be fired.
Wouldn't that be cruel and unusual punishment….or is that double jeopardy?
You're messin' with my head, King.