Palin aides peeked into trooper's files, union says

[helderheid]

Source: CNN

From Matt Smith and Scott Bronstein
CNN

(CNN) -- Aides to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin improperly obtained her former brother-in-law's state police personnel files and cited information from those records to raise complaints about the officer, the head of Alaska's state police union said Thursday.


Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has put an aide on leave during a probe into the firing of the public safety commissioner.

"It's apparent to us that the governor or someone on her staff had direct access to his personnel file, as well as his workers' comp file, and those are protected," said John Cyr, executive director of the Alaska Public Safety Employees Association.

Palin, now the Republican candidate for vice president, is battling allegations that she sacked her public safety commissioner in July because he refused to fire Trooper Mike Wooten, her sister's ex-husband.

The governor has denied any wrongdoing.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/04/palin.investigat...

[Epiphany4z]

1. more of the same

abuse of power, spying, she will fit right in.

[helderheid]

2. It's not wrong if the Governor does it.

[KaryninMiami]

3. Then there are those emails that were in the Washington post today-

if the mainstream media doesn't grab on to this in a huge way- it will be still another example of them continuing to protect McShame. Hopefully at least Keith will cover this.

[helderheid]

4. I hope Keith will report this.

[KaryninMiami]

5. But we need more then Keith for this to get wings now.

And, aside from the National Enquirer and an occasional venture into attemptive questioning (like Campbell brown the other day on CNN) about her history, the media blaming is really starting to have an effect on them. It's easy to see how they can win this - just by how they spin the media. Can you imagine if the situations were reversed? I just hope the American public has gotten a little wiser- but it's hard to know.

[helderheid]

8. You're right - and fortunately CNN is reliable "source" for the masses - time to forward this on the

internets.

[ShortnFiery]

14. IMNSHO, "The Corporate Media" = all of the MSM are "partners in crime" with the GOP

Don't be fooled by the M$M pleas of innocence.

We have NO fourth estate as the Power Elite of Corporate America rule our Nation through our sycophantic M$M.

I don't believe ANY polls published nor do I trust the M$M to *ever* give us the straight scoop ... not even KO has that much courage.

[blossomstar]

6. This woman is dangerous to us all.

It is just unbelievable. But then, I thought no one would take chimpy seriously. Go tell.

[crickets]

7. Direct access to his personnel file is bad enough.

Direct access to his his workers' comp file is, "Oh, HELL no." She didn't just want to get him fired, a huge red flag, she wanted to mess with his life and his finances way beyond that. Sarah Palin, thy name is vindictive.

When she turned over the recording to the Legislature, Palin said she was "truly disappointed and disturbed to learn that a member of this administration contacted the Department of Public Safety regarding Trooper Wooten. At no time did I authorize any member of my staff to do so."

Whether you 'authorized' them or not, did you 'ask' them?

Just wondering.

The governor has denied any wrongdoing.

Of course. So, governor, let's go to court or have hearings or whatever, and we can air out the whole darned thing.

Yeah, right. That approach doesn't seem to be going over so well when it comes to the firing of Walt Monegan.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Now, however, she is refusing to submit to questioning by Branchflower unless he and the legislative committee that appointed him agree to relinquish control of the investigation and turn it over to a state review board made up of three Palin appointees.

Wait, there's more than one investigation regarding Palin and alleged improper firings? Hmm. Pressure for the firing of people you don't like and if things turn sour, suddenly there's a crop of your hand-picked appointees to cover your rear end.

Gee, why does this sound so familiar?

[dkf]

9. How long do fingerprints last?

[FrenchieCat]

10. Distraction....again.

They want us to focus in on this family/abuse of power shit. That's why everyone from ABC and his mother are writing about it.

They'd rather be able to accuse Liberal Bloggers aka Obama supporters of Sexism by way of these scandals. Best we keep our noses clean.

[Frank Cannon]

15. Distraction? Hardly. Abuse of power is a perfectly relevant example...

of why this woman must absolutely be kept away from the Vice Presidency of the United States.

[AlbertCat]

26. Best we keep our noses clean.

Baloney. WE have nothing to fear from sexist rants by the GOP.

This has nothing to do with sexism, and many pundits are saying just that.

Obviously Palin thinks up there in her unpopulated, far away state, she's in charge and can do anything she wants. She filed ethic complaints AGAINST HERSELF so that her little committee would look into the matter rather than an independent probe.

This is abuse of power and MEN and WOMEN do it.

[Bluenorthwest]

27. One does not keep one's nose clean...

by turning a blind eye to crime and injustice. In fact, doing that make one party to the crime and injustice.

[knixphan]

11. K&R - keep getting it out

[FreakinDJ]

12. CNN carried the story - (links)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/04/palin.investigat...

[David Zephyr]

13. The union is doing its job in protecting its workers from this classic form of employee abuse.

It is abuse of power. And it is illegal.

[trthnd4jstc]

16. The Republican Hiring Checklist:

The Republican Hiring Checklist:

1. Hates Liberals. _________
2. Lies with a smile. ________
3. Motivates the citizenry viscerally. ________
4. Has extreme Xtian views. ________
5. Blames Poverty on the poor. ________
6. Is against Choice for women. ________
7. Is against birth control. ________
8. Blames Democrats for faults. ________
9. Breaks the law and sees nothing wrong with that. _______
10. Abuses power willfully. ________

10 out of 10 checks makes a perfect Republican Candidate.

[Jackpine Radical]

22. ...and who says she wasn't vetted?

[superconnected]

29. haahhahahahahahhahah

Now that was funny.

[neomonkey]

17. Ah, the Republican way!

Have your minions do the work, never ask them directly in writing or by word of mouth, and above all maintain a healthy level of plausible deniability. Next thing, you're in and Vice President. God love America.

[EnviroBat]

18. She'll probably claim "Executive priveledge".

Fuck that lying bitch.

[msanthrope]

19. So now we have Filegate, too? n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

20. Republicans think they can spy on anybody anywhere anytime.

It's the example George Bush set for them. And she will get away with it just like Bush has.

[L. Coyote]

21. Under these circumstances, I would not want to be that scapegoat.

No way will she cop the plea now!!

[beac]

23. Scandal-an-Hour Sarah keeps the hits comin' !!

I can't wait until they finally have to put her in front of a press gaggle. I smell blood!

[Mark E. Smith]

24. It was God's orders that those files be looked at

The law means nothing when God gets involved.

[Enthusiast]

25. Palin is of the W school of behavior,

obviously. Laws only apply to someone else. Well, they don't apply to Republicans at all.

[helderheid]

28. exactly. My thoughts exactly.

[avaistheone1]

30. Now I realize how the republicans thought she was qualified to be vp