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itkocak
Member since 7/07 7639 total posts
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Message edited 11/21/2011 8:56:08 PM.
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Posted 9/18/08 9:14 PM  |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by imthekevinofcindyandkevin
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by imthekevinofcindyandkevin
The investigation is not about her former BIL is it?
It's about her firing the Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan in July of 08.
Allegedly he resisted pressure from the Governor to fire Palin’s ex-brother-in-law, Trooper Mike Wooten, who was involved in a bitter child custody battle with Palin’s sister.
ETA sorry about the republican comment
the way I see it, this cop is a criminal. and if the Commissioner didn't feel it necessary to fire a criminal, who is supposed to be protecting citizens from people like himself, then maybe he has something to hide, maybe he was the corrupt one who the cop has some "dirt" on. who wouldn't fire a POS like Wooten?
I've spent way too much of my time arguing my opinion on this.. 
ITA but we must be clear on what this investigation is about, she never fired her ex bil he's still a trooper it's about what her motives were in the firing of Monegan that are at issue.
and I'm done with this too.
was the Commissioner the only one who was let go in these alleged budget cuts?
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| Posted 9/18/08 9:16 PM |
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itkocak
Member since 7/07 7639 total posts
Name:
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Message edited 11/21/2011 8:56:24 PM.
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| Posted 9/18/08 9:19 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
I just did some digging and found this. now I am officially done! 
very interesting stuff - from the Anchorage daily news
this Wooten guy was a real gem - he even made a threat to kill Palin's father if he hired her sister a lawyer.
"Wooten denied saying anything like that. But a trooper investigation concluded he did, although it wasn't a crime because he didn't threaten the father directly. Wooten's actions did violate trooper policy, the investigator found."
WHY PALIN FIRED MONEGAN
Monegan was a Palin appointee, and she had a right to fire him for any reason. She's previously refused to say exactly why she got rid of him, but laid out several reasons Wednesday, saying she's decided to talk about it because Monegan is.
Palin said he wasn't doing enough to fill state trooper vacancies and battle alcohol abuse issues. She said he "did not turn out to be a team player on budgeting issues."
Palin said it's fine to have debates during cabinet meetings over the budget but Monegan went further and indicated to legislators she wasn't proposing enough spending. Palin's acting chief of staff, Mike Nizich, said Monegan asked legislators for spending that hadn't been authorized by the governor.
"The response he got was don't come to us and ask for more money when you cannot fill the 56 or 58 trooper positions that were vacant," Nizich said. "So he was making a pitch for additional funding when he couldn't even fill what he currently had available to him."
Monegan questioned that but declined to comment further, saying he's already started talking to the special investigator hired by the Legislature to look into his firing.
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| Posted 9/18/08 9:34 PM |
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sirk1020
*************
Member since 9/06 3046 total posts
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
No...I don't believe the investigation should be delayed until after the election
most are unclear on the specifics of troopergate incl myself and it should be brought to light before the election
I understood that Monegan was not fired...he was removed from his original position and offered a different one and rather than take it...he resigned
Wooten is still a state trooper
either way....not the biggest issue for me, but one that should most certainly be addressed before the election
Message edited 9/18/2008 10:12:50 PM.
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| Posted 9/18/08 10:12 PM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
I just did some digging and found this. now I am officially done!
very interesting stuff - from the Anchorage daily news
this Wooten guy was a real gem - he even made a threat to kill Palin's father if he hired her sister a lawyer.
"Wooten denied saying anything like that. But a trooper investigation concluded he did, although it wasn't a crime because he didn't threaten the father directly. Wooten's actions did violate trooper policy, the investigator found."
WHY PALIN FIRED MONEGAN
Monegan was a Palin appointee, and she had a right to fire him for any reason. She's previously refused to say exactly why she got rid of him, but laid out several reasons Wednesday, saying she's decided to talk about it because Monegan is.
Palin said he wasn't doing enough to fill state trooper vacancies and battle alcohol abuse issues. She said he "did not turn out to be a team player on budgeting issues."
Palin said it's fine to have debates during cabinet meetings over the budget but Monegan went further and indicated to legislators she wasn't proposing enough spending. Palin's acting chief of staff, Mike Nizich, said Monegan asked legislators for spending that hadn't been authorized by the governor.
"The response he got was don't come to us and ask for more money when you cannot fill the 56 or 58 trooper positions that were vacant," Nizich said. "So he was making a pitch for additional funding when he couldn't even fill what he currently had available to him."
Monegan questioned that but declined to comment further, saying he's already started talking to the special investigator hired by the Legislature to look into his firing.
i am glad you posted this.
everyone has been talking like she fired the BIL, when it was Monegan she fired, who was her appointee.
What if he is just stirring things up bc he is pizzed he lost the job he was appointed to? is that fair? i just don't think people are seeing that there is a real potential that the D's are capitalizing on this as a way to lessen the positive response the R ticket has gotten bc of Palins nomination. IF that is the case, is that okay? Will people be equally as outraged if Obama is elected and it comes out after that she did nothing wrong???
I go back to what I said before -- there needs to be a fair, objective way to investigate this. I don't think that having legislators in that state who are all tied to either her party or the opposing party is the way to make that happen. I don't think it should be delayed, but I don't think EITHER side should be able to exploit this situation for their own gain. I also don't know what the solution is in terms of ensuring an independent investigation, but i wish there was one.
Edited to fix typo
Message edited 9/19/2008 7:06:22 AM.
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| Posted 9/19/08 7:05 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by imthekevinofcindyandkevin
Posted by smdl
The issue is not whether this POS deserved to be fired for X, Y, Z reason.
The issue is that it was done before and investigated and she did not fire him until AFTER there was a nasty divorce with her sister.
Which means she is mixing personal business with a political position and use of power?
That's the issue. Can she use her power as Governor to settle scores? And that's what the investigation is about.
The investigation was started BEFORE her nomination. It was not started after she was nominated. Someone saw something "to be checked" into before she was a nominee so it's not about everybody against Palin.
She cannot be cleaned of an investigation because she is a VP nominee.
Palin never fired her ex BIL. She fired his boss in July siteing fiscal cut backs but the former Public Safety Commissioner Monegan believes he was fired because he did not fire her ex bil hence the investigation.
You are correct! It was her wishful desire.
Yes, she fired the commissioner.
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| Posted 9/19/08 7:31 AM |
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Jessica511
LIF Infant
Member since 4/08 248 total posts
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
While I don't have a problem with the investigation continuing, and I believe any abuse of power should be brought to light....I also don't agree with the media and the dem's who are clearly out to sabotage her reputation, holding this information until DAYS BEFORE the election to release it, very obviously trying to create a scandal right before voters head to the ballots. It's so transparent and as I said earlier, I believe it's an abuse of power in it's own right.
I actually don't even support Palin's views on MOST issues, but the witch-hunt is getting a little old in my opinion and it's turning people off.
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| Posted 9/19/08 7:44 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
You keep saying he tasered his stepson. I think you're missing it. I could completely see a 10 year old asking his state trooper dad if he could try his Taser after hearing him talk about having the troopers test the tasers on themselves.
It doesn't sound like he maliciously went after him & tasered the kid. It sounds like his son was curious & he showed him what it would feel like with no harm intended.
See post:
Posted by nrthshgrl
Wooten said he deeply regretted the Taser incident, offering an extensive explanation. He said the device was set on "test" and contained less power than an electric fence. Wooten said he shocked boy using clips attached to his shirt and not darts fired from the gun.
He said his stepson became curious and wanted to feel the Taser in the same way that troopers tested the device on themselves during training.
"He was inquiring about the Taser and all the ins and outs about it," Wooten said. "I hooked him up to one of the training aides and turned it on for less than a second. I had him on the living room floor with pillows around him and made it as safe as possible. When it was over he thought it was great and wanted to do it all again. He was bragging about it and telling everyone in the family about it."
Jon Marc Peterson, one of Wooten's attorneys, said the Taser incident was a violation of policy because he was using state equipment for personal use. "It was not the actual Tasing of the stepson that was the issue," he said.
Wooten's wife was in the home at the time, investigative reports state. The boy's extended family, including Chuck Heath, the father of Sarah Palin, thought the story was humorous, Wooten said.
"If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't do it," Wooten said. "It's one of those situations that nobody cared about. Everybody laughed about it, until several years later and it was made to be something it wasn't. It wasn't a good idea."
I'm not saying what he did was right in terms of using police equipment for personal use, but it was not child abuse. To me it is akin to my friend's parents forcing her to sit at the kitchen table & smoke an entire pack of cigarettes after she was caught smoking.
It's possible (and perhaps, likely) that Palin fired Wooten over issues that had nothing to do with the BIL. The incident with the taser happened YEARS ago. It only came up because of a custody dispute. However several phone calls from Palin's office to Wooten's regarding the possible termination of the BIL is NOT appropriate. Whether or not Palin was asking people to intervene/get information on her behalf isn't known - - unless they investigate. To halt a ongoing current investigation because she's a VP candidate is ridiculous. Have them investigate & then move on IMO.
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| Posted 9/19/08 8:59 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by nrthshgrl
You keep saying he tasered his stepson. I think you're missing it. I could completely see a 10 year old asking his state trooper dad if he could try his Taser after hearing him talk about having the troopers test the tasers on themselves.
It doesn't sound like he maliciously went after him & tasered the kid. It sounds like his son was curious & he showed him what it would feel like with no harm intended.
I'm not saying what he did was right in terms of using police equipment for personal use, but it was not child abuse. To me it is akin to my friend's parents forcing her to sit at the kitchen table & smoke an entire pack of cigarettes after she was caught smoking.
It's possible (and perhaps, likely) that Palin fired Wooten over issues that had nothing to do with the BIL. The incident with the taser happened YEARS ago. It only came up because of a custody dispute. However several phone calls from Palin's office to Wooten's regarding the possible termination of the BIL is NOT appropriate. Whether or not Palin was asking people to intervene/get information on her behalf isn't known - - unless they investigate. To halt a ongoing current investigation because she's a VP candidate is ridiculous. Have them investigate & then move on IMO.
thank you. this is just ridiculous.
first off, if they really thought it was child abuse, why wait 2 years to report the "incident" why wait 2 years to report about his threats, his drinking...the moose? how coincidental that all of this came out THE DAY SHE FILED FOR DIVORCE. even the judge said he couldn't understand why she'd want him fired when she would essentially be cutting off his means of child support. he also chided them for trying to DISPARAGE Whooten.
we spent how many MILLIONS of dollars trying to impeach a president b/c he lied about an AFFAIR...and we don't think we should continue an investigations PREVIOUSLY STARTED into possible ethics violation and abuses of power of someone that people are saying is ONE HEARTBEAT away from becoming the president?
guess what, if it was Biden, I'd be saying the same thing.
and media media media my asss...there are plenty of ways (like common sense and a little bit of extra calm rational thought) to cut through the media melodrama. THINK PEOPLE. think past your finger tips. 
i
Message edited 9/19/2008 10:46:08 AM.
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| Posted 9/19/08 10:45 AM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by Ophelia
we spent how many MILLIONS of dollars trying to impeach a president b/c he lied about an AFFAIR...and we don't think we should continue an investigations PREVIOUSLY STARTED into possible ethics violation and abuses of power of someone that people are saying is ONE HEARTBEAT away from becoming the president?
You make a great point and I don't understand why they are delaying the investigation. . . it makes the whole thing seem worse than it may ACTUALLY be, who knows but we should be given the facts for ourselves.
and as for the "media drama" that would surround it. there are some people that will get caught up in it and some people that won't as there always is with these types of things. . . its just how the game is played
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| Posted 9/19/08 10:49 AM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by Tilde
Posted by Ophelia
we spent how many MILLIONS of dollars trying to impeach a president b/c he lied about an AFFAIR...and we don't think we should continue an investigations PREVIOUSLY STARTED into possible ethics violation and abuses of power of someone that people are saying is ONE HEARTBEAT away from becoming the president?
You make a great point and I don't understand why they are delaying the investigation. . . it makes the whole thing seem worse than it may ACTUALLY be, who knows but we should be given the facts for ourselves.
and as for the "media drama" that would surround it. there are some people that will get caught up in it and some people that won't as there always is with these types of things. . . its just how the game is played
i don't think impeachment proceedings were brought against clinton bc of an affair. they were brought because he lied about it and commited perjury. big difference IMO
FRT, I don't think this should be delayed. i just think there should be an independent body investigating this to ensure objectivity. i don't think any of us benefit as citizens from an investigation done by politicians who have political motivations one way or the other of their own. I want the facts... and I think it would be naive of me to think they will come out in the context of the current proceedings. Look at all the spin generated to date on this (and I mean from both sides, not just one or the other!) I don't know what the answer is, but there has got to be a better way!!
Message edited 9/19/2008 12:36:23 PM.
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| Posted 9/19/08 12:36 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by mka06
Posted by Tilde
Posted by Ophelia
we spent how many MILLIONS of dollars trying to impeach a president b/c he lied about an AFFAIR...and we don't think we should continue an investigations PREVIOUSLY STARTED into possible ethics violation and abuses of power of someone that people are saying is ONE HEARTBEAT away from becoming the president?
You make a great point and I don't understand why they are delaying the investigation. . . it makes the whole thing seem worse than it may ACTUALLY be, who knows but we should be given the facts for ourselves.
and as for the "media drama" that would surround it. there are some people that will get caught up in it and some people that won't as there always is with these types of things. . . its just how the game is played
i don't think impeachment proceedings were brought against clinton bc of an affair. they were brought because he lied about it and commited perjury. big difference IMO
FRT, I don't think this should be delayed. i just think there should be an independent body investigating this to ensure objectivity. i don't think any of us benefit as citizens from an investigation done by politicians who have political motivations one way or the other of their own. I want the facts... and I think it would be naive of me to think they will come out in the context of the current proceedings. Look at all the spin generated to date on this (and I mean from both sides, not just one or the other!) I don't know what the answer is, but there has got to be a better way!!
I said he lied. 
and I agree with you.
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| Posted 9/19/08 12:47 PM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
i don't think impeachment proceedings were brought against clinton bc of an affair. they were brought because he lied about it and commited perjury. big difference IMO
FRT, I don't think this should be delayed. i just think there should be an independent body investigating this to ensure objectivity. i don't think any of us benefit as citizens from an investigation done by politicians who have political motivations one way or the other of their own. I want the facts... and I think it would be naive of me to think they will come out in the context of the current proceedings. Look at all the spin generated to date on this (and I mean from both sides, not just one or the other!) I don't know what the answer is, but there has got to be a better way!!
I said he lied.
and I agree with you.
you are right. and i am sorry for making that mistake. i guess i skipped past the "lied" part and just honed (sp?) in on the affair part bc it was in caps. sorry again!
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| Posted 9/19/08 1:09 PM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
Name:
MrsERod™®
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by Ophelia
we spent how many MILLIONS of dollars trying to impeach a president b/c he lied about an AFFAIR...and we don't think we should continue an investigations PREVIOUSLY STARTED into possible ethics violation and abuses of power of someone that people are saying is ONE HEARTBEAT away from becoming the president?
i love you!
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| Posted 9/19/08 1:41 PM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
Name:
MrsERod™®
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
looks like it will be wrapped up before the election!
Investigator: Palin probe to end before election By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 28 minutes ago
The Alaska lawmaker directing an abuse-of-power investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin promised Friday the probe will be finished before the election, despite refusals by key witnesses to testify, including the governor's husband.
After waiting 35 minutes for Todd Palin and two state administrative employees to appear under subpoena before the state Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Hollis French condemned their refusal to testify and the attorney general's broken promise that seven other witnesses would testify who were not subpoenaed.
French said the retired prosecutor hired by the Alaska Legislature to investigate Palin, Stephen Branchflower, will conclude his investigation by Oct. 10. Still, that report will not include testimony from the Republican vice presidential nominee, her husband or most of the top aides Branchflower hoped to interview.
Sarah Palin's allies hoped the investigation would be delayed past the election to spare her any troublesome revelations — or at least the distraction — before voters have made their choice. Palin's reputation as clean-government advocate who takes on entrenched interests is central to her appeal as Republican John McCain's running mate, and possibly at risk in the probe.
Palin initially promised to cooperate in the investigation, telling the Legislature to "hold me accountable." Lawmakers were investigating accusations she dismissed the state's public safety commissioner because he refused to fire her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper. She now opposes the investigation.
Palin spokesman Bill McAllister declined to comment Friday. The McCain campaign said there are concerns about the effect of political influence on the Legislature's inquiry and Palin will provide any information needed to a separate investigation by the Alaska State Personnel Board.
The committee subpoenaed six people to appear Friday to testify or meet for private interviews with Branchflower. French said three of those six had complied. Todd Palin, special assistant Ivy Frye and Randy Ruaro, who is the governor's deputy chief of staff, did not.
Todd Palin's attorney sent French a letter Thursday listing Palin's objections to the Legislature's investigation of his wife. Among them, the attorney said, were jurisdiction questions, separation of power issues and an inconvenient travel schedule.
Subpoenas were approved on seven other government employees, but not served because the state attorney general's office had agreed to cooperate, French said. But Attorney General Talis Colberg earlier this week reversed himself, saying the governor declined to participate and that Palin administration employees would not appear.
French said subpoenas will be issued for those seven people, ordering them to testify on Sept. 26.
Witnesses who refuse to testify can be found in contempt under Alaska law. But the full Legislature must be in session, which won't happen until January. That means witnesses can stonewall without penalty beyond the Nov. 4 election, lawmakers said.
One of them, Sen. Gene Therriault, opposed the subpoenas. He said Friday the investigation was intended to uncover whether the governor was justified in firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, and he believes she was.
Palin fired Monegan in July. It later emerged that Palin, her husband and several high-level staffers had contacted Monegan about state trooper Mike Wooten. Palin maintains she fired Monegan over budget disagreements.
Wooten had gone through a nasty divorce from Palin's sister before Palin became governor. Monegan has said no one from the administration ever told him directly to fire Wooten, but he said their repeated contacts made it clear they wanted Wooten gone.
source
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| Posted 9/19/08 9:16 PM |
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Phyl
R.I.P. Sweet Mia ♥
Member since 5/06 28918 total posts
Name:
The Mystical Azzhorse! ™
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
y
Posted by Ophelia
we spent how many MILLIONS of dollars trying to impeach a president b/c he lied about an AFFAIR...and we don't think we should continue an investigations PREVIOUSLY STARTED into possible ethics violation and abuses of power of someone that people are saying is ONE HEARTBEAT away from becoming the president?
The only other President to be impeached was Bill Clinton on December 19 1998 by the House of Representatives on grounds of perjury.
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| Posted 9/19/08 9:27 PM |
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mka06
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1079 total posts
Name:
Melis
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by MrsERod
Investigator: Palin probe to end before election By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 28 minutes ago
Monegan has said no one from the administration ever told him directly to fire Wooten, but he said their repeated contacts made it clear they wanted Wooten gone.
source
Seriously? THe guy is not even claiming that they told him directly to fire him?? WOW. That is not the impression that has been given about this situation at all.
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| Posted 9/20/08 9:37 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Palin's Troopergate Investigation, do you feel it should
Posted by mka06
Posted by MrsERod
Investigator: Palin probe to end before election By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 28 minutes ago
Monegan has said no one from the administration ever told him directly to fire Wooten, but he said their repeated contacts made it clear they wanted Wooten gone.
source
Seriously? THe guy is not even claiming that they told him directly to fire him?? WOW. That is not the impression that has been given about this situation at all.
well you know, the media always reports the truth and never spins anything  
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| Posted 9/20/08 9:41 AM |
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