Trooper Union files a complaint against Palin Wednesday

Union Director John Cyr

Per NBC (hat tip to Daily Kos diaries):

The GOP candidate for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, may be facing yet another ethics investigation back in her home state of Alaska. An ethics complaint obtained by NBC News was filed Wednesday by the police officers union in Alaska, requesting a probe into possible wrongdoing by the governor or her office. It was brought on behalf of state trooper Mike Wooten, an ex-brother-in-law of Palin who is at the center of the "Troopergate" scandal.

The complaint alleges that the governor or her staff may have have improperly disclosed information from Wooten's personnel records. The complaint alleges "criminal penalties may apply."

John Cyr, director of the union that filed the complaint, told NBC News, "It seems obvious to us somebody has improperly accessed [Wooten's] personnel file."

HERE is the complaint.

Now let's watch the McCain/Palin tapdance:

The McCain/Palin campaign Thursday launched a spirited defense when contacted by NBC News. They say the personnel files were not protected; a campaign source says Wooten himself had previously signed a waiver allowing a divorce lawyer to obtain his personnel records. The campaign then sent a copy of that waiver to NBC News, which reads "I hereby waive any privilege I may have to said information to said attorneys."

Because of my health issues, I've filled out a ton of freakin' "waivers" in Alaska for personnel (and personal) records. Any legal waiver specifically lists the person or persons they apply to and NO ONE ELSE can use such a waiver to access or use private information if they are not listed.

Sooooo...the divorce attorney cannot allow someone else not listed to access the information on his/her waiver. If they do, they can also be prosecuted.

Oooops...

The issue concerns disclosures about Wooten's records made by a Palin aide - Frank Bailey - in a February 2008 phone conversation. The police officers' union complaint claims the transcript of that conversation clearly indicates there was improper access to Wooten's records.

The McCain/Palin campaign, in a response to NBC News, provided a family twist to the story, saying the governor's husband - Todd Palin - was the source of that information to Bailey. They say the information came from divorce proceedings, and that Gov. Palin never improperly accessed any records.

As is typical of "pageant pit bull" Palin, she just threw a) the divorce attorney and b) her husband under the bus.

Ooops...

Taylor Griffiths, a spokesman for McCain, said "When you're a real reformer like Sarah Palin, who isn't afraid to take on entrenched political interests, scurrilous attacks and empty allegations come with the territory."

What's scary is she's got to be loving how much easier it is to lie and strike-out at your "enemies" when you have an entire presidential campaign to do it for you.

Hope she doesn't get used to it.

Sarah's address to and Todd's membership in Alaska Independence Party--a party that has an interesting history

This is Sarah addressing the Alaska Independence Party convention this past year.

Also, Todd was a member of AIP most of the time from 1995 to 2002 when he then registered as "undeclared.":

...the director of Division of Elections in Alaska, Gail Fenumiai, told TPMmuckraker that Todd Palin registered in October 1995 to the Alaska Independence Party, a radical group that advocates for Alaskan secession from the United States.

Besides a short period of a few months in 2000 when he changed his registration to undeclared, Todd Palin remained a registered member of AIP until July 2002 when he registered again as an undeclared voter.

The AIP has an interesting history. Back in 1990, Alaska State Senator Arliss Sturgelewski won the Republican candidacy for Governor when the Republicans still had an open primary. Mayor of Anchorage at the time, Tony Knowles, won the Democratic Primary. Both of them were similarly aligned on social issues. (Arliss was one of the last openly Pro-Choice Republicans in Alaska)

Joe Vogler, founder and chairman of the Alaska Independence Party, saw an opportunity. He offered former Governor Wally Hickel and the Republican Lt. Governor choice Jack Coghill the chance to run on the AIP ticket against Knowles and Sturgelewski. Coghill jumped ship from the Repubs, he and Hickel jumped on board where they sailed to victory in the election. Hickel never endorsed secession and he rejoined the Republican Party in 1994 as soon as his term in office was over.

In other words, AIP was a means to an end. They have a very conservative, influential membership which cannot be ignored.

Speaking of a means-to-an-end, Healing a Nation has a very interesting video and post of current AIP Vice Chairman, Dexter Clark:

Clark’s following statement is found at 8:26.

Clark talks about *masquerading inside political parties in order to win elections: “I think Ron Paul has kind of proven that …and he’s a dyed in the wool Libertarian. I mean he came to Alaska and spoke as a Libertarian and he put the Republican label on to get elected. That’s all there is to it. And anyone in your organization should be using that same practice….you should infiltrate, I know that the Christian Exodus is in favor of it, The Free State Movement is in favor of it. I don’t know if they even care which party it is. Whichever party you seem in that area you can get something done…get into that poilitical party even though, it does have its problems right now… that is one of the only avenues and when you get a few people on a city council or county board you can have some effect………………… I kind of digressed there a little bit….”

Imagine Republican/media response if Barack Obama was a former member of a group inciting Party infiltration by way of *masquerade, in addition to state secession. Just imagine the frenzy.

While I don't believe AIP affiliation alone will determine her success as a candidate, I do believe that combined with other affiliations, such as a wingnut right-wing church and their subsequent activities, her attempts to ban books in Wasilla and the firing of the librarian who would not comply, and other disturbing events now surfacing in the media may cause people to wonder about her real agenda.

It seems that she's aligned closer with George W. Bush's ideology than McCain.

Alaska Blogs dispelling Sarah Palin myths part 2--Bristol Palin

There is quite the way-beyond-a-buzz happening on the internet over allegations that Trig Palin is not Todd and Sarah's child, but belongs to Bristol Palin and an unknown father.

That's not how I've been hearing it for the last few months at all. As a matter-of-fact, I've been hearing that Trig is very much Todd and Sarah's child while Bristol Palin is actually pregnant now.

More than one Alaska blogger has received tips, emails, comments, etc...alleging that Bristol Palin has been pregnant since last spring, when she was moved out of the Valley to Anchorage to continue high school (allegedly away from the father of her unborn child). A commenter at Alaska Mudflats called Sue Williams who claims to be a neighbor of the Palins gives this story:

During this period is when Bristol, Sarah’s sixteen year old daughter, turns up pregnant. So, it’s kind of interesting to note that the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee and her sixteen year old junior in high school unwed daughter were carrying babies at the same time. Once Bristol’s condition became more obvious this summer, she was whisked out of sight and hasn’t been seen in public until yesterday in Ohio. This is why Trig’s blanket was strung across her entire abdomen and torso, but, when she walked down the stairs from the stage, in a profile shot, it was very clear to see she is well into her third trimester of her pregnancy.

It has come out in the past couple of days that she and her high school boyfriend had a quickie wedding and that she is home schooling her senior year.

The Anchorage Daily News has known about this for months - and haven’t touched the story. But I can’t imagine the national press or the Democratic Party will be as willing to turn a blind eye.

I can attest that versious of this story have been around for months, at least in the Alaska blog world, and no one has been willing to come forward with it due to lack of folks "in the know" willing to discuss it on the record one way or the other.

However, John McCain's daughter Meghan may have inadvertantly "kicked it up a notch."

In a post on her blog "McCain Blogette.com", Meghan posts a gazillion photos of all of them at the introduction of Sarah Palin as the VP choice in Dayton, Ohio. These two pictures were part of the bunch:





In both pictures Bristol looks like she may be quite pregnant. On the picture below, I noticed how extremely conspicuous the blanket looked covering practically down to her thighs when the baby was on her shoulder.



While I commend bloggers and other media who are doggedly pursuing an issue, I believe they are currently working on the wrong issue. Considering how many ethics and legal questions are swirling around the Palin's, questions about a pregnant daughter seem a little silly.

***UPDATE***

a) I'm posting this because I've received many emails on the topic. This is my answer.

b) Other than the "hypocrite" value, I really don't think that Bristol Palin being pregnant at the moment is a primary issue with Sarah Palin's VP candidate selection...there is too much that is potentially illegal and unethical going on to focus on this.

c) I don't believe that the "Trig is her grandson" story is true and I think it could end up decimating the credibility of those folks who continue to push it.

d) This will be the one and only post on this subject.

Alaska Blogs are dispelling the Sarah Palin "myths" running rampant across the MSM and the blogosphere

I've seen an amazing amount of misinformation making it's way across both the MSM and the blogosphere since Friday's announcement of the Palin pick for McCain's VP running mate. Luckily, Alaska blogs are on the case.

1) When I heard Rachel Maddow, after an excellent analysis of the VP pick, display some confusion on the facts regarding the Mike Wooten issue I posted an open letter in an attempt at providing clarity.

2) There have been conflicting "rumors" of Sarah's "gay-friendliness" all over the web. Bent Alaska is on the case:

The national LGBT media recognizes her opposition to equality and civil rights - except the Log Cabin Republicans (gay republicans, believe it or not) who think she is a wonderful choice.

And the fringe elements are joining the fray.

In these reports, I found only two LGBT Alaskans quoted (both in the same article by Gay City News):

Some press reports following the McCain campaign announcement have repeated the right-wing rhetorical flourish that has Palin declaring that she has gay friends. That softer image is not what some Alaskans saw.

"That's just completely wrong," said Allison E. Mendel, the attorney who brought the 1999 [partner benefits] case. "She spoke on radio programs all throughout the campaign saying, 'I want a constitutional amendment, I think these things are only for a man and a woman.' ... I don't think she's ever said a friendly word about gay people, that they ought to have health benefits like other people do or anything along those lines."

On AIDS issues, Palin simply has no record at all.

"There is not a lot to speak of for AIDS policy because she hasn't done much," said Trevor Storrs, executive director of the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association. "She's never been given the opportunity to address our situation here because it has never been put before her."

"She has done very little to address the major epidemics," he said.

I want to add that one of the issues folks point to as her "gay-friendly" stance was her decision to veto the bill which would have blocked gays from recieving equal health benefits from several agencies. However, the explanation doesn't match up,per the ADN in 2006:

In the first veto of an administration that isn't yet a month old, Palin said she rejected the bill despite her disagreement with a state Supreme Court order earlier this month that directed the state to offer benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.

Advice from her new attorney general said the bill passed by the Legislature was unconstitutional, she said.

"Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office," Palin said in a prepared statement released by her administration Thursday night.

That doesn't sound "gay friendly" to me.

3) Much is being made of Todd Palin's "Eskimo-ness" and it has actually been stated outright that his percentage of Inupiat blood makes the Palin family "Alaska Native" friendly. Per Alaska Real's Writing Raven:

But this is the kind of stuff that concerns me about the Todd Palin mentions (from the Baltimore Chronicle):

Married to a native Eskimo, and with four mixed-race children, she can expect to appeal to many non-white American voters, on whose support the Obama campaign is counting.

I cannot stress enough - Sarah Palin has done nothing for the Alaska Native community - a community that includes her own children.

Any venture into the Alaska Native community has been superficial at best. I can't even take issue with her Alaska Native policies, because she has NOTHING of substance. She has ignored Alaska Native people from before she took office as governor - an act all the more harmful because it is her own children's heritage she is not acknowledging.

The only thing I know she's "done" for Alaska Native people - fire them. Or not hire them in the first place. The more recent one is Walt Monegan. I absolutely don't believe she fired him because he was Native - I believe she fired him because he wouldn't fire her ex-brother in law- despite the investigation that had already been done on him, with findings and reprimand.

So far, from the phone calls and hits on my blog, it seems that media across the country are at least curious enough to research some of these facts. I only hope that these and other "myths" can be nipped in the bud before the McCain Campaign can imprint them as "fact" on an Alaska-ignorant public.

Let's be accurate, this is REALLY about a woman (and family) scorned!

Photo courtesy of KTUU Channel 2

Per the Law Encyclopedia: Motive--An idea, belief, or emotion that impels a person to act in accordance with that state of mind.

Here is a comment (and my response) that I received in regards to Chuck Kopp's firing:

Polarbear said...:

In the Palin family, as for many of us, children come first. I think the Palin family felt, with some justification, that the children were in danger. The Commissioner was caught up in representing the trooper and the labor contract rather than the public. The issue is about who speaks for and protects the children. When the State Troopers did not rise to that task, the Palins formed rank around the children, wholly predictable given their family values. It was at that point when Commissioner Monegan should have had a tool to bring in an external investigator, but he did not have that tool. The problem ought to be de-politicized a bit, and approached with a little more understanding. The causes of this problem can be fixed, so that it does not happen again. I recommend dropping the perception of political advantage on this problem. I am hoping that 'Progressive' means fixing problems, and not falling into the same old pattern of partisan politics accompanied by polarization.

7/26/2008 10:24 AM

CelticDiva said...

Polar:

I know all about "trancending partisan politics" as during this entire issue, folks who generally hate me on the ADN site were actually giving me compliments in their comments.

I felt the need to take a shower.

While I believe that maybe the Palins have talked themselves into thinking this was about the children, Sarah's email to former Col. Julia Grimes betrays otherwise.

NONE OF THIS STARTED...MIKE WOOTEN WASN'T DEEMED "DANGEROUS" BY THE PALIN FAMILY...UNTIL MIKE WOOTEN WAS SEEN IN PUBLIC WITH HIS "MISTRESS."

Sarah is reacting as the sister of a "woman scorned" and while I agree that cheating parents do not provide the best role models, cheating in and of itself does not necessarily put the child in "danger."

The "righteous" Palins were perfectly OK with Wooten shooting a moose on his wife's tag...up to that point. Nothing was said about any tasering issue...up to that point. The more-than-36 charges didn't start flying...until that point.

What's more accurate here (and every piece of newly-discovered behavior is backing this up) is that the Heath/Palins act like the traditional Norwegian or Celtic clans of old--if you insult any member of the "clan" you will "suffer" until the last member's dying breath.

7/26/2008 11:43 AM

I later corrected "Norwegian" to "Norse"--Viking.

Today's Anchorage Daily News confirms the timeline:

The troopers' investigation into Wooten began after Chuck Heath -- Wooten's father-in-law and Palin and McCann's dad -- alerted troopers about a domestic violence protective order McCann had obtained against Wooten on April 11, 2005. McCann filed for divorce the same day, according to the court docket.

The trooper had not physically assaulted his wife but intimidated her and threatened to shoot him, Heath told troopers, according to a memo about the complaint.

And we know when and why that alleged threat, argument and ensuing accusations occurred thanks to Sarah Palin's email to Col. Julia Grimes...right after his affair was discovered:

"When confronted with this affair that others in the community were talking about, Wooten threatened to kill his wife's father, Chuck Heath, if Mr. Heath followed through with his offer to help Molly get an attorney to help her if they were to divorce."

Notice that I highlighted the text "When confronted with this affair that others in the community were talking about." I did so because that phrase shows great insight into what was REALLY bothering the Heath/Palins. Not only did he cheat on his wife, he flaunted it and shamed the entire "clan."

The Daily News article today shows the timeline of every charge that was found to be "sustained." That timeline provides the evidence that the safety of the children was NOT the primary motive behind all of this. Everything started right after the discovery of his affair, LONG AFTER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED! (other than the "threat")

Why this is significant is that it helps to explain both the known and "alleged" behaviors of Governor Palin and "the First Dude" in this matter. They do not reflect a family filled with concern but they smack of a family ("clan") obsessed with revenge. Walt Monegan, who is learned in the subtleties of human behavior, must have identified this.

Regarding Wooten: Yes, it looks to me like Mike Wooten is a real bastard. However, having known a number of police officers, his story is not that unusual when it comes to the ability of officers to have interpersonal relationships and a decent family life. Officers are well-documented has having a high divorce rate.

As far as the other issues go, the investigation is over and he's already served his punishment. I think the "one more incident and you'll be fired" understanding is enough of a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

***UPDATE***

Lisa Demer is normally an excellent reporter for the ADN. However, I'm not so sure about today's story on Wooten. Several commenters on this story have questioned Lisa Demer's motives for writing it.

I'm kind of wondering the same thing.

If it's for the sensational value, I can understand that. This story is at 130 comments and climbing.

However, it does make Trooper Michael Wooten the target of even more speculation, possibly seriously compromising his on-the-job effectiveness and his credibility. Couldn't that hurt him in a custody case? Also, it takes the focus off of the real story, whether or not Sarah and Todd are abusing power and giving illegal access.

Isn't that what the Heath/Palins want?

I wonder how hard it is to remain neutral after covering a story like THIS?

An evening with the Mat Su Democrats

While the Palin Administration was digging itself into a hole down the road (Thanks, Todd Palin!) I was invited to speak about being a credentialed blogger at the Democratic National Convention to the July Mat Su Democrats meeting. I was impressed; there were over 50 friendly, enthusiastic folks there who gave all of us a warm reception. They didn't even let the influx of a bunch of loud bus tourists stop their meeting. We even stopped clapping because it was "annoying the customers." I would have liked to have asked the management to make the tourists stop their incredibly rude stares.

This is a really bad (but the only one I took) picture of my friend and fellow "blogger-in-arms" Phil Munger, whose excellent idea to have a poetry contest about Ted Stevens on national blog Firedoglake called "Ted-fest" also netted him a contributor slot...congratulations!!!! Phil spread his contageous energy addressing the Dems about letters to the editor and then (of course) veering off to his favorite subject, using the Intertoobz wisely and effectively for Progressive issues and campaigning. He also explained the true significance of the poetry contest (millions of non-Alaskans learning about Ted's "issues") and read several of the poems. Here's one by commenter darkblack in the tradition of Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee":

There are odd things done in the midnight sun
By the men whom Oil has sold
Their fishy tales meet with hearty gales
from wise heads when they are told
The FBI’s knights have recited some rights
but the queerest they ever had read
was that night by the mouse of a Girdwood house
that belonged to Senator Ted.

Phil has also posted about this over at Progressive Alaska

Native Veteran and State Delegate Jay Cross with Erick Cordero, candidate for Lyda Green's seat--discussing the race while an audience watches from the wall. Erick spoke very eloquently about why he was running and impressed the crowd with his enthusiasm--especially since he just became a citizen in January.

Dennis Zaki and Shannyn Moore (pictured with Shannyn's boyfriend Kelly) along with me spoke about the Democratic Convention and Progressive media in general. Dennis's website, Alaska Report, is easily the most-read Progressive site in Alaska and possibly the most-read Alaska news site period


The irrepressible Katie Hurley, Chief Clerk to Alaska's Constitutional Convention, chats with her table. When she addressed the group, she reminded us that "Republicans don't know how to party." Woo Hoo!

My, my, my...who SAYS the Repubs don't know how to party!!! Todd Palin sinks his wife's ship.

The explosive revalations as a result of the Wasilla Governor's Picnic.

The video can be found at KTUU Channel 2. (It was playing continuously so I had to remove it from the site.)

The video via KTVA Channel 11 (can't embed it).

Also from their website:

Former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan is speaking out about the Public Safety Employees Association's executive director's insinuations that Governor Sarah Palin fired Monegan because he refused to fire her former brother-in-law, who is a current state trooper. PSEA represents state troopers, including the Palins' former brother-in-law, Officer Michael Wooten.

While Monegan is not saying he was let go for not firing Wooten, he now says members of Governor Palin's administration, and her husband, first gentleman, Todd Palin, pressured him to fire Wooten.

Outright, the first family unequivocally says there was never any pressure by them, or the governor's staff, for Monegan to fire their former brother-in-law. Governor Palin says, "All I know what the facts are and what the truth is. And the truth is never was there any pressure put on Commissioner Monegan to hire or fire anybody."...

...However, Monegan says aside from an initial face-to-face meeting with first gentleman Palin about Wooten, Monegan says on numerous occasions Palin and powerful administration officials, Administration Department Commissioner Annette Kreitzer, and Boards and Commissions Director Frank Bailey pressured him on the phone to fire Wooten.

Monegan said, "They were persistent. Todd (Palin) talked to me a couple of times. Got calls from Annette Kreitzer as well as Frank Bailey."

An investigation may ensue in the Legislature:

State legislators are talking about hiring a special investigator to dig into the circumstances surrounding Gov. Sarah Palin’s firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

“That’s the only thing I can think of, if you want to get to the truth and be unbiased,” said Senate President Lyda Green, a Wasilla Republican. “Otherwise, speculation just continues.”

Hmmmm...wonder if Lyda's coming back?

***UPDATE***

via ADN Blog:

But Monegan says pressure came from those around Palin, including former Palin chief-of-staff Mike Tibbles, Department of Administration Commissioner Annette Kreitzer, and director of boards and commissions Frank Bailey.

Tibbles, who is now the campaign manager for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, said Friday he couldn’t comment on whether he spoke to Monegan about Wooten.

Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said Bailey never had such a conversation with Monegan.

Kreitzer could not recall, Leighow said.

Tibbles is Steven's campaign manager. Is Frank Bailey a campaign manager for Sean Parnell? Wonder if they're talking about THAT at TODAY'S picnic?

(hat tip to Phil Munger)

From the Gov's Picnic in Wasilla...

...actually, I'm at the Mat Su Dems Meeting in Wasilla right now but I got a phone call about the Guv's Picnic here.

Channel 11 reporter Matt Simon went up to Todd Palin and asked him if he ever spoke to anyone in the Administration about Mike Wooten, his former brother-in-law.

He said, "Yes, Walt Monegan."

Guess what story led the KTVA 6:00 News?

So much for "no interference" while Sarah was Governor! Even Sarah admitted telling Walt about him when she first hired him!

Also, KTUU Channel 2 reported that Officer Wooten attended the picnic. Dang, I missed it!

More when I get home!