Reed,
Check the NYT, AP, WP. The NYT says the legislature is scheduling a vote on subpoenas. It may be a close call since McCain has reached out to AK pols to quash the investigation. AK Representative Coghill wants the head of man in charge of the investigation. This story has legs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=955Y3NJTRIE

It may be a close call since McCain has reached out to AK pols to quash the investigation.

It's obvious what's happening. The GOP will "manage" this scandal until at least after the election. There aren't enough real investigative reports to keep up with GOP scandals, and Republicans are very good at covering their tracks.

It's obvious what's happening. The GOP will "manage" this scandal until at least after the election. There aren't enough real investigative reports to keep up with GOP scandals, and Republicans are very good at covering their tracks.

I respond to courtesy with courtesy -- usually. I spend as much time on replies as was spent on requests for replies. I've dealt with second-rate trolls too often -- or haven't you noticed?

I've dealt with enough third rate hacks to vet sources offered up as proof. You're on notice that throwing out things you wish were true isn't going to fly anymore.

Would someone please feed the hamsters in Australia to get the comment section back up and running?

"This will be interpreted as a politically motivated witch-hunt by the liberals. And it will cost Obama."

i might buy that if the investigation had started in the last week. this investigation, and the conduct precipitating it, started and occurred LOOOOONG before she was named the VP.

Not replying to subpoenas and refusing to testify
is a staple of the Bush gang, Palin will fit right in with that type of Government.

I thought McCain was the candidate of "Change"

*That should be "weed out the shills, hacks and trolls."

While I'm compiling a wish list, how about a "Preview" function, too?

So isn't there anyone with investigatory power, or even just lawyerly or reportorial skills, who could inquire into exactly how all these witnesses to "troopergate" happened to obtain lawyers and then all follow the exact same tactic in the same 72 hours? Who are their lawyers; who is paying their lawyers? And many other questions that follow.

This is OUTRAGEOUS SEXISM!!!!ONE!11!!ONE1111!!!!

Shooter242,

Why don't you use Westlaw® or LexisNexis® yourself? Do your own damn research.

shooter 242 is a very low quality troll who's main skill is throwing up chaff, as he's spent the last couple of years doing at Greenwald's.

You can't convince him with facts, and he brings no facts of his own to the table. But he's very condescending, so at least he's got his pride.

Note that in the Newsweek story,
(1) the Republican legislator who spoke of plans to have the investigation stopped _claimed_ to have the support of the speaker [?] of the legislature; and

(2)the 12-person committee that plans to vote on Subpoenas consists of 8 republicans and 4 Dems.

It would seem plausible that some imaginative arm-twisting might work altho this Commissioner is apparently viewed as a straight arrow and highly regarded. [My other readings in the Alaska Daily News - and for trolls, please feel free to use the google.]

From reading the Newsweek article, however, one does get the sense that at least some republican legislators feel betrayed at having agreed to drop a Subpoena vote in mid-August based on a pledge of cooperation, and being met now with wholesale refusals...

TO clarify
My comment [above] was intended as a reply to Heretic at 2:31 pm- [on there being only one Republican voice]

TPM does seem to be giving problems in posting comments.

TO clarify
My comment [above] was intended as a reply to Heretic at 2:31 pm- [on there being only one Republican voice]

TPM does seem to be giving problems in posting comments.

Shooter242, a well known troll over at Glenn Greenwald's cite, is taking issue with the assertion that the McCain campaign is trying to quash Palin's Troopergate scandal. Here's your supporting cite, Shooter242: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157439. Here are firs two paragraphs from the Newsweek story:

Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called "October surprise" that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska's bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called "troopergate" investigation.

Shooter242 has been laughed out of Greenwald's site, although her periodically resurfaces to display his ignorance of current events. His apparent ignorance of this Newsweek story is typical of his head-in-the-sand approach.

Shooter242, a well known troll over at Glenn Greenwald's cite, is taking issue with the assertion that the McCain campaign is trying to quash Palin's Troopergate scandal. Here's your supporting cite, Shooter242: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157439. Here are firs two paragraphs from the Newsweek story:

Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called "October surprise" that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska's bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called "troopergate" investigation.

Shooter242 has been laughed out of Greenwald's site, although her periodically resurfaces to display his ignorance of current events. His apparent ignorance of this Newsweek story is typical of his head-in-the-sand approach.

Let me get this straight:

Palin gets caught abusing power to avenge her sister.

Palin lies about her and her office's involvement.

Palin has to retract the lie because a taped phone call surfaces.

Palin now in full-blown investigation.

Palin attempt to assert executive priviledge to keep any other incriminating information out of the hands of investigators.

Palin, on advice from McCain et al, circles the dog sleds, hires lawyer to obstruct justice.

Palin, McCain, et al widens the dog sled circle to include all staff.

So, we have abuse of power, obstruction of justice and the claim of executive priviledge. Weren't they supposed to wait until they took office for all this?

BTW, for anyone who has not yet read Palin's "Sambo beat the Bitch" article, here's the link:

http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/#more-954

PEACE

Maverick McSame should not have used exclusively eHarmony to vet his running mate, although they do seem to match at the deepest level. CrunchBase.com says that eHarmony’s profiling process determines the compatibility of two individuals based on their “values, character, intellect, humor, religious / spiritual beliefs and many other dimensions”. It also says that eHarmony “supports only heterosexual matches and has taken serious criticism for this from the left.” This explains why McSame ended up with Pale-in. A spokesperson for the McSame team has told reporters that the vetting of Pale-in was such an extensive, grueling process, that they had to send a team of lawyers to Alaska to protect the running mate so that she can get the needed rest to recover.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

If you're interested in following all things Palin, I highly recommend the great Alaska blog 'Mudflats' (link above.)

A few days ago it was noted that McCain sent a good-sized team to Alaska for the purpose of "vetting" Palin AFTER she had been announced as the VP pick. Even after taking GOP mega-incompentence into consideration, I thought this was very odd. But now I'm wondering if the real mission for that team of lawyers and Rove proteges is to "fix" things so that further embarrassing information about Palin doesn't come to light.

McCain sure did "shake up" the campaign with his Palin selection. The world has been turned upside down. Just think about the fact that BEFORE the election we already have both the crime and the cover-up for all to see.

I find it hard to believe all the arguing going on here. What's to argue. We can all see what has gone on here. It is very apparent that the investigation that was going to proceed in a normal course has been derailed. That isn't just a coincidental occurrence. For those of you who are acting if as nothing has happened you better pull your heads out of your asses.

Oh, Christ, we've got a shooter242 infection over here at TPM. We shoulda sprayed better over at Salon.

Reed, the kinds of questions you ask are within the realm of professionally run campaigns. They are specific, reasonable, lead to an inquiry of fact-finding on the merits and that means it will serve the public.

Your post recognizes that an investigation has to be done first. Many of your commentators do not share that premise, assuming that the refusal of people to enter into voluntary depositions without counsel present MUST mean foul play.

No, it merely means that there are new, supercharged implications, players and influences with Palin's VP nominee status. Who wouldn't, after finding out all about that, want counsel to help them stay abreast of all of the agendas swirling around them as they answer the questions. The most basic question any individual might have of their lawyer: what if person X or Y changes tune and leaves me alone? (either way)

A full investigation into the content and context of the crisis needs to be had and published. Let the truth be known and the chips fall where they may.

Reviewing the State of Alaska website, I see that "Governor Palin has directed
all of her staff to cooperate fully with Branchflower."

It seems that Sarah Palin does not exercise any real authority as Governor; or she is a liar.

Welcome to the Republican, McBush campaign.

Mike7Woodson,

I can meet you half way. Those 7 key witnesses were willing to enter into voluntary depositions without counsel in the beginning. With all the brouhaha of Palin being the republican VP nominee, I concede a lawyer may be necessary to define what their client will depose. However, defining the limitations of a deposition is not rocket science. There really is no reason to refuse once a reasonable domain of questioning is defined. And that is something that should only take a few hours to discuss, negotiate and write. Anything else is stalling to the point of hampering the investigation.