Alaska struggles to recognize returning
guv, and vice versa
Los Angeles Times Nov 7, 08 9:50 AM CST
(Newser)
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The Alaska Sarah Palin comes home to isn’t the same as the one she left, reports the LA Times . The governor's approval ratings have plunged—from 80% to a “mere mortal 65%”—but not as steeply as the price of oil, which makes up most of the state's revenues. Palin, now seen as a strident partisan rather than a pragmatist, may also have a harder time striking the necessary compromises, with opponents emboldened by the GOP collapse.
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Report slams 1st probe for using wrong law
Anchorage Daily News Nov 3, 08 7:06 PM CST
(Newser)
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An Election Day eve report by an independent counsel found Sarah Palin innocent of charges in the so-called "Troopergate" scandal, the Anchorage Daily News reports. Anchorage attorney Timothy Petumenos, hired by Alaska's Personnel Board, said Palin did not violate a state ethics law in firing her public safety commissioner and pressuring officials to can her brother-in-law, a state trooper.
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She waves but ducks reporters, testifies
in Mo. hotel
Associated Press Oct 24, 08 6:42 PM CDT
(AP)
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Sarah Palin testified before an independent investigator today about allegations that she used personnel decisions as Alaska's governor to pursue a personal vendetta against her former brother-in-law, the AP reports. Palin waved but did not speak to reporters when she arrived at a Missouri hotel for her deposition, scheduled to last 2 hours before a lawyer from the Alaska Personnel Board.
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Governor's appointees include loyalists
with iffy qualifications
Los Angeles Times Oct 24, 08 1:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Sarah Palin has touted herself as a reformer, telling voters she "took on the old politics as usual in Juneau." But an LA Times investigation shows the Alaska governor gave more than 100 state jobs to campaign contributors and their relatives, many of whom lacked qualifications for the positions. One controversial appointee received a note from a Palin aide that read, "Well now your foot's back in the door."
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Official said efforts to fire trooper could embarrass governor
CNN Oct 14, 08 5:19 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Todd Palin and other aides were warned by state police officials that their push to have a state trooper fired could come back to haunt them, CNN reports. Deputy commissioner of public safety John Glass told a persistent Palin that the trooper had already been disciplined and "discomfort and embarrassment for the governor" could ensue if he refused to cease and desist.
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First Dude had 'significant influence' over state politics
Associated Press Oct 12, 08 5:45 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Sarah Palin is back in the headlines with official findings that she abused her power as governor of Alaska—but her husband is the main character in the 300-page tome issued by the state legislature last week, reports AP. Alaska's “First Dude” spent half his time in Palin’s office and had “significant influence” over state affairs, including the firing of a public official that led to the ethics investigation.
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She says she didn't abuse her power as Alaska governor
CNN Oct 11, 08 12:16 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Sarah Palin says she did not abuse her power as governor, despite the findings of an ethics investigation, CNN reports. “If you read the report, you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member,” she said. The report, however, did not fault Palin for firing her public safety commissioner; it criticized her for using her office to try to get her ex-brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. She did not address that issue in brief remarks to reporters.
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But firing of comish
is called 'proper'
Anchorage Daily News Oct 10, 08 7:57 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Sarah Palin violated an Alaska ethics law as governor by trying to fire a state trooper divorced from her sister, state lawmakers ruled today. Palin also fired a state commissioner partly because he refused to can the trooper, but the legislative panel called that firing "a proper and lawful exercise" of her power, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The attorney general's office also failed to supply emails on the case, the legislators said.
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'Obsessed' pair repeatedly contacted commissioner to slam trooper
New York Times Oct 10, 08 3:09 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Sarah Palin, her husband and officials from the governor's office made dozens of phone calls to Palin's public safety commissioner and his aides denouncing state trooper Mike Wooten, the New York Times reports. Walt Monegan, whose firing Palin claims was unrelated to the matter, says the governor and her husband appeared obsessed with bouncing Palin's former brother-in-law off the force.
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Ruling means Troopergate report will be released tomorrow
Associated Press Oct 9, 08 5:44 PM CDT
(AP)
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The Alaska State Supreme Court refused today to halt an ethics investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin. The ruling clears the way for lawmakers to release a report tomorrow on their investigation into whether Palin abused her power by firing her public safety commissioner to settle a family dispute. Republican lawmakers had sued to block the report, saying it had become politicized.
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Todd's Troopergate statement hints at bad blood with axed commissioner
Anchorage Daily News Oct 9, 08 11:46 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Deep in the statement Todd Palin wrote to Troopergate investigators is a surprise history of his wife's long-standing feud with a fired Alaska safety commissioner—including clashing over her apparent failure to use a car safety seat for her baby son, Trig. The commissioner was not axed because he refused to fire the state trooper who was divorcing his sister-in-law, Todd Palin contends.
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Anchorage Daily News Oct 9, 08 3:28 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Todd Palin tried to convince several Alaska officials to support firing a trooper who was divorcing his sister-in-law, reports the Anchorage Daily News . But in a sworn statement, he denies interfering with his wife's job as governor and says he played no role in the firing of a safety commissioner who refused to ax the trooper. The governor and commissioner had a history of bad blood, including an erroneous complaint from the official that his wife failed to place their infant in a safety seat, said Palin.
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Sarah rips Obama's 'forthrightedness' on 'No-Talk Express'
Fox News Oct 8, 08 5:15 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Sarah Palin surprised reporters yesterday by coming to the back of her campaign plane to take questions from the press corps for the first time ever, Fox News reports. The candidate spoke in her trademark rambling style for nearly 15 minutes aboard what reporters had dubbed the "No-Talk Express." Palin addressed the Troopergate scandal and defended linking Barack Obama to political radical Bill Ayers.
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Judge denied attempt by staffers to void lawmakers' subpoenas
Anchorage Daily News Oct 6, 08 10:26 AM CDT
(Newser)
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State employees who had argued that Alaska’s legislature lacked the power to call on them have agreed to testify in the so-called Troopergate probe investigating Sarah Palin’s motives in firing the state’s public-safety commissioner, the Anchorage Daily News reports. A state judge ruled last week against the seven, including Palin’s chief of staff, saying the legislature’s actions were within its power.
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