'Troopergate' Heats Up

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014766.php

Steve Benen
September 17, 2008

'TROOPERGATE' HEATS UP.... I'm not sure why Sarah Palin's "Troopergate" scandal isn't getting more play right now. The still largely unknown Republican VP nominee is in the midst of a fairly serious ethics controversy, and after giving her word to cooperate as part of a transparent process, Palin and her team are acting like they have a lot to hide. Usually, for the national media, this would be like waving red meat in front of a hungry dog.

Newsweek reports that Ed O'Callaghan, a former U.S. Attorney dispatched to Alaska by the McCain campaign, is actively trying to shut the investigation down.

The AP reports that Alaska's Republican state attorney general is blocking state employees from honoring legislative subpoenas, and explained yesterday that the officials are refusing to testify as part of the investigation.

TPM's Zachary Roth reports that Alaskan Republicans have enlisted out-of-state, right-wing lawyers to file suit, hoping to halt the investigation.

As we talked about yesterday, Palin is now refusing to cooperate with the investigation she'd vowed to cooperate with, and is claiming executive privilege to shield her gubernatorial emails from scrutiny from investigators.

And even conservative Alaskans are surprised by the new-found, McCain-driven efforts to destroy Walt Monegan's reputation.

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.

In a reasonable political environment, these circumstances would create a genuine feeding frenzy. We have an ethics scandal, involving a candidate for national office who appears to have lied, and who keeps changing her story. We have promises of cooperation, followed by complete and total obstinacy. We have powerful Republicans converging to shut down a legitimate investigation.

We have, in other words, a serious political scandal, which a presidential campaign is doing its best to obstruct. Where's the outrage?

[Peacetrain]

1. Honestly Babylonsister, there is so much to be outraged at.. I think the MSM does not know where to

start...so it is up to us to keep them apprised . Will push it myself, locally

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Thanks, Babylon.

I've been trying to get this out. It's insane what's going on here in Alaska this past week. We've been overrun by McCain goons trying to take over our state government. I'm feeling extremely
anxious and almost sick.

The writer here is correct that Meg Stapleton's press conference has to be heard to be believed. She used to be one of my favorite reporters on our local NBC affiliate. I hardly recognized her now that she's become a spokesperson for the "McCain Campaign."

[babylonsister]

4. I've read that Ms. Sarah can do it all. She's supposedly

running for VP while running Alaska. She's super-woman! Not. I'm not dropping this either, Blue. She definitely doesn't deserve a free pass.

[Imagevision]

3. Palin like Harriet Miers refuses to cooperate in Investigations!

[Cha]

5. Maybe the corporatemedia over at msnbc could be outraged

about palin's troopergate coverup instead of asking if it's appropriate for Obama to go to a Hollywood fundraiser last night?

When mccain went 3 weeks ago and brought out these misguided souls..

McCain did a fundraiser in Hollywood about 3 weeks ago
Posted by Beaverhausen
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/08/25/mccain-meets... /

granted the stars are less than A-list

Stephen Baldwin
Pat Boone
Wilford Brimley
Dean Cain
Jon Cryer
Robert Duvall
Angie Harmon
Patricia Heaton
Lorenzo Lamas
Craig T. Nelson
Gail O’Grady
Jason Sehorn
Gary Sinise
Jon Voight

**********
Gary Sinese? WTF???

[babylonsister]

6. Their priorities are so convoluted. They get their talking points

and go, though some do push back, thankfully.

[intheflow]

7. Jon Cryer?

I went to acting school with him as a teen, it breaks my heart to hear he's a repuke! :cry:

And I'll never lust after Sinese again. :grr:

[Cha]

8. I know..it's mind boggling but I

think it's good to know who the suckers are.

I won't support any of those enablers with my money. I'd be watching them in a show and keep thinking how they're part of the problem..too distracting. I don't need it..there's plenty of good people who are only helping.

Still an actor?

[intheflow]

9. No.

I became a teen welfare parent shortly after I went to this school (actually a two-month residential acting camp). Going through the drama of the welfare system made fictional drama seem incredibly one-dimensional. The one good thing being on welfare did for me, though, was spark my interest in politics and social justice, and I've been a progressive community organizer going on 10 years now. :D

[Cha]

10. Good for you, intheflow!

I was born and raised in Denver way back when it might be considered a small city:)

[chat_noir]

11. No one is above the truth, even Palin

Alaskans speak out: http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/528420.html