Political Punch

Ryan C...LOL concerned now actually cares about reall issues!

For weeks, all concerned wanted to talk about is bs like Ayers or ACORN.

Now that Palin has been nailed by a report about abusing her power and then nailed about lying about said report, concerned wants to talk about a narrow slice of foreign policy.

Could Palin even find Iran on a map?

ROTFLMAO....She'd be lucky to find the state she lives in!! Why do you think they fly her everywhere?

Where did the actual Video go???? It is now somehow removed. It you watched it, you can see she clearly was rattled, rambling & stuttering when saying she is glad she was found innocent. Wouldn't take a body langage expert to see how uncomfortable she was. Clearly it was because she knew she was lying through her teeth. Seeing the Video is believing, Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire. Basically her tactics are tell the people whatever you want, some are bound to believe you!

I can't forget how Sarah Palin kept repeating the stories about her opposition to the "bridge to nowhere"
and selling her private jet plane on EBay
long after these tales were shown to be false.

It was this delusional behavior that convinced me that she is a bald faced liar.

Report: The sky is actually blue, not red.
Palin: Did you read the report, it said the sky was red. You need to read the report (waving and walking away winking and smiling).

This DOES matter greatly when it comes to who should be allowed into a leadership role for our country. Palin is not it. In fact, Palin won't win re-election in her own state now. Her favorability ratings have dropped DRAMATICALLY since people started to pay attention to the abuses and lies she has been routinely doing.
Palin will be the reason the Republican GOP is in shambles for the next decade.

A couple of comments:

1. Why does Obama even come up in this discussion? Why are Americans seemingly unable to keep issues separate? The article (well, editorial) is about Palin, nothing else. I think the posters should restrict themselves to the same issue: Is she lying, or is she not?

2. Why is the reporter so biased? Look at his language. Why is no one calling him on it?

Let's see Palin a person in denial...Damn, Obama has been a person in denial all through his campaign.

Can one still be deemed not telling the truth when they are in a state of denial? :-)

Karolyn, Sarah Palin is neither straight talking (read her interview transcripts) nor honest (she is lying about this very report).

Finding number one in the reports states “…Governor Sarah Palin Abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.”

Palin has not yet been chastised. The legislature has no authority to take action against her. It is the state personnel board that can sanction or impose fines. The personnel board is conducting a separate investigation.

this abuse by Wooten was happening many years ago, why didn't Palin do something about it to protect her nephew and sister then?

and so maybe she did try to get Wooten off the force because he was a "bad cop", we could all probably understand that, but she's not confessing/admitting to that. she did abuse her power and she's playing politics here, we all know that. she's just like any other politician, nothing new or refreshing about her.

I thought you've been saying Obama is secretly a "Muslin" radical bent on the overthrow of the US. Now you're saying Iran is sabotaging his campaign and thus sabotaging their own secret plot?
Those crafty A-rabs are now using double-double reverse inverse psychology?
Here is a simpler concept.
Palin is a liar. Period.
McCain is a poor judge of character. Period.

Governor Palin did nothing wrong. Probably her only mistake was allowing her husband to use her office. She offered Monegan another job and he refused it. She fired him. That is her perogative as the chief executive in charge. She broke no laws - and the investigator said as much. She was chastised so let it go.

McCain-Palin may not win the election - thanks to the media, probably won't. But Governor Palin has a very bright political future. Would we be so fortunate to have more straight talking, honest politicians such as she.

Wow...I wonder how she will spin a sold "thumpin" on Nov. 4

and the reason we need 12 adults to "decide" this is an ethics violation is ....??

If the trooper was guilty of the charges the Palin's allege, why did they not file proper, formal complaints to the police department in the jurisdiction of the alleged actions by him?

And what would Obama do if it were his child who was tazered by a cop? What would any of you do if it were your own child? We teach our children the police force is there to help us, not harm or threaten us. Do you honestly belive that America is a better country when these violent cops (which we see on the news regularly) are allowed to continue to "serve and protect" the public?

Palin isn't just unqualified- she's completely ridiculous. And she's a liar, and not even a good one.

Those of you who implausibly claim, based on nothing, that she is "better than Obama" are probably that same 20% who still think Bush is doing a good job. And you must be as stupid as Palin if you think that she is even remotely qualified to be president.

Barack Obama is, among other things, a very smart man. He was the editor of the Harvard Law Review, a very elite position at one of the two or three best law schools in the country. And this shouldn't need to be said, but THIS IS A GOOD THING. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, can't hardly speak in complete sentences, is afraid to talk to the media and answer OUR questions, and sneers at the majority who disagree with her.

And those of you like "Barry" who still say that she's somehow better than Obama- uh, good luck making that argument.

CharlieS wrote - "Thanks for calling a lie a lie."

But he didn't. He came as lose as any repoerter ever does, and it's clear from the article that Palin is lying, but the media is still shy about actually using the L-word, instead dancing around it for paragraph after paragraph. Why is that? I'm not accusing anyone of anything, I'm really genuinely curious- it's a weird taboo. Palin's lying. Just say it.

...and she is still a better choice than Obama...

I second that. Great post Ruth T.

Palin will get her chance to speak in court. She is being sued for using Yahoo to avoid the Freedom of Information act, for making her employees use Yahoo to avoid the freedom of information act, which is both immoral and illegal, since she is making others break the law or risk her wrath and firing, for using a non-secure system and for using a system with no backup. She is crooked, and mean. "viper" is closer than pit-bull.

The interesting thing no one seems to mention is the only two people who allegedly witness the Troooper threatening their father were his wife and Palin. Palin heard this supposedly violent fight through the window, but instead of calling the cops right then, she left her sister to the supposedly homicidal actions of this man and went home. If I were worried about my sister or my father, I certainly wouldn't have simply witnessed it and walked away. Give me a break.

Monegan had also instructed the Palins to keep the issue at arms length because while he couldn't fire Wooten at the time because he was already disciplined, if Wooten did perform a subsequent firable offense, they wouldn't have to worry about the appearance that a firing would be politically motivated. He actually gave them very solid advice. Personally, I think the fact that they did take punitive action with Monegan was very poor judgment.

Monegan also happened to be a pioneer in dealing with mentally disabled criminals with methods and techniques he honed being used all across the "lower 48".

I bring this up because the argument that she was trying to protect her family just doesn't wash. It wasn't Wooten that was punished, it was someone who was reportedly very well respected and great at his job.

Thanks for calling a lie a lie.

Palin was found to have violated the ethics guidelines and to have abused her power as a governor according to the guidelines.

Palin's statement "...didn't do anything unethical..."

Miss, you were found to have abused your powers and violated ethics guidelines. How dumb are you? Or how dumb do you think people are?

When I read comments from people that imply what Sarah did was justifiable because the guy she wanted fired deserved it is just as insane as Sarah's response -- I'm not guilty. She abused the trust given to her by the people of Alaska. Clearly, she violated the law regardless of the assertian that the investigation was politically motivated. There were appropriate steps she could have taken in regards to her ex-brother-in-law without using her position to manipulate and retaliate. She has proven that she is a dangerous politician, albeit a typical politician but she isn't an adept liar. She ran her office like an immature child, and she continues to lie like a child. We've also heard in the news that it is common for politicians to concur with their spouses, but how many non-elected spouses show up at the office (of their elected spouse)to act in an official capacity? Pillow talk, or over dinner conversation isn't quite the same as having Todd Palin step right inside the office acting like he had an official reason to be there - sounds more like he abused that right for reasons of jealousy - who knows, but in Sarah's melodramatic life, anything is possible. Even before the dust settles, Sarah is an embarrasment to American on every level! But she's also a real test to demonstrate the public's IQ, as well.

Nancy....

I'd have to disagree with you in regards to GWB being compared to a rocket scientist but that is your choice....I myself like to use:

"He's dumber than dirt"
"As smart as a brick"

The list just goes on and on and on....

I thank God that he will soon be out of office!!

Have a great day and keep up the wonderful work with your son :-)))) He is being taught well.

For all the non-lawyers out there, the statues are (unfortunately) often seemingly independent of each other.
Governors have the liberty to hire and fire, but all of this is under the assumption the Governor is acting under the code of ethics, which she was NOT. Its plain and simple. Why some people don't recognize this is the same reason they are dumb enough to vote for someone like PALIN in the first place.

Monaghan could not fire Wooten because he had already been disciplined... so then she cans the Commissioner for not getting her way??

She does not have the integrity for public office..end of story.

I was born in Boston, MA, of an American mother and a Mexican father. My mother’s parents are Italian and Norwegian (off the boat), we all speak at least 2 languages and although we are Catholics we have NEVER pushed our religion on anyone. I am a proud American and Mexican because I do have both passports and both citizenships. This is just the way the world is today, GLOBAL, we cannot help it, the internet and the ease of trade between countries has given us an opportunity to know other people and other cultures and at the end of the day realize we ARE really all the same and most of us want the same thing. We have more things in common than what separate us. I am no less an American than anyone in this wonderful country.

So as an American citizen, I choose not to follow hatred and bigotry, I believe the McCain/Palin ticket has managed to bring out the worst in us. I know we are better Americans than that. Even though it comes from a place of ignorance, my concern is that the campaign continues to ignite these people, and a party that is inclusive to ALL represents my values.
My question to all Christians that follow Gov. Palin, is this what is taught in church? Focus on the issues Gov. Palin, and tell us PLEASE how it is that the McCain/Palin ticket will govern, what is your vision? what is your plan? Inspire me to be the best I can be. My concern is you are leading in the wrong direction.

If the trooper was such a threat, then why didn't the Palin's get a restraining order against him? Why, too, did the Palin's not ask for extra security?

Anyway, if Palin had the power to fire him, why did she abuse her power at all?
Why didn't she just fire him?

Her actions, after we've seen how Cheney, ran the office of Vice President, are alarming. We can't go down this road again. Palin loves her power a bit too much.

Look, she does not even know what daily news papers she reads, so how is she going to understand a 200 something page report, someone needs to explain to Ms. Palin she is guilty of abusing her powers as govoner,plain and simple. So how she can get up on stage at these rallys and say the things she has been saying about Obama makes her look more stupid that she already is, I loved the fact that the Ameican people are finally seeing what a hypocrite she is.

My son asked me, "Is she as dumb as George Bush?" and I answered, "She makes George Bush look like a rocket scientist."

"Look, if the Palins didn't intervene the cop still would have had his job."

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, but the cop still has his job.

I am certainly not a McCain/Palin supporter...thanks to Sarah Palin...but facts are facts. I would want a violent officer stripped of his duties, as well.

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Look, if the Palins didn't intervene the cop still would have had his job. And the Palins intervened, not because of public safety concerns, but because of private safety (his wife and children's concern). Now, it was found by the commission that that was some justification for dismissal. But it was found that Palin overstepped her bounds. Sounds exactly like something Cheney would do to me.

Ava B.....

"Why is it that so many of the staunchest Palin supporters are the ones who can't spell, can't string together a coherent sentence, and can't use reason or logic? Those of lesser intelligence have to stick together, I guess. And Palin is going to lie about this just like she did about the "bridge to nowhere"

I'm so glad that others have noticed that very same thing. Ava, I think that it must be a prerequisite to be a Republican....Look at George W. Bush....I mean W....all those W '04 stickers people had on their vehicles....I guess they done whittled down to W because George and Bush were to difficult to spell. Anyone, even the Republicans should be able to spell W....

I've come across gorillas and monkeys in my practice that are smarter than most Republicans posting here.

I would like to take a moment and apologize to all gorillas and monkeys for demeaning you the way that I just did by using the words gorillas and monkeys in the same sentence with Republicans.

Since your first paragraph contains a lie, why should we believe anything you write subsequently? Sarah Palin did not fire Monegan. He resigned after she reassigned him.

People who live in glass houses.....

She didn't read the report, she just looked at the pictures!

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That made me laugh! Good line!

She didn't read the report, she just looked at the pictures!

========================================

That made me laugh! Good line!

Heh, keep pushing abuse of power, folks. People are afraid of the mysterious Obama abusing power, not Palin. Ordinary folk, who will elect the next President, understand that if this trooper remains on the job, then not enough power was used or abused to get him out of it.

It's kind of ironic that this meme is being pushed. Obama is a lot scarier about power than is Palin. Ask any PUMA.
==============================

Obama missed a great opportunity in the last debate: When asked what he would do to handle a new Russian threat, he should have said "I will by a new telescope and send Palin back up to Alaska to keep an eye on them."

She didn't read the report, she just looked at the pictures!

Mike in PA, I read the update. It sounds like an attempted McCain camp clean-up after another Palin disaster.

The point to remember is that Sarah Palin lied about what the report said. She continues to lie about what the report says. She is not disagreeing with the report, she is saying that it exonerates her of any and all wrongdoing. That is a bald-faced lie.

I am certainly not a McCain/Palin supporter...thanks to Sarah Palin...but facts are facts. I would want a violent officer stripped of his duties, as well. And if I were a parent and my family was being threatened, I would certainly try to do something about it if, and only if, the proper authorities were not.

Wouldn't we all fight for our families?

Coming from a political background, I find it hard to believe the American public truly thinks it will find a completely ethical politician to sit in the president's seat. What we should be focusing on is what's best for America. I sincerely doubt Senator Obama would keep a violent, threatening and abusive officer in his/her position just as Palin made sure not to do, as well.

Let's just stick to the issues instead of dragging people through the mud. If you want to discuss the extremely dangerous lack of ethics Palin and McCain endorsed all last week when their supporters grew verbally violent (I'm assuming in the same vein as the officer Palin replaced) and they failed to do ANYTHING about, then game on. As unethical as they may all be, at least Senator Obama nips that kind of verbal abuse in the butt before mobs cry for heads. There's a reason those comments don't surface at his rallies.

Palin should only be so consistent about her ethics.

good post T. Ruth

I don't think you guys get it. Obama is being forced to demonstrate his patriotism because he is black. Palin, whose links to the Alaskan Independence Party and whose congenital imbecility should have automatically disqualified her from consideration, is assumed to be a good American because she's white. This is why the AIP has and will have absolutely no traction.

Obama had to have the perfect family and flawless educational background to even come close to the position he is currently in, because he is held to a higher standard and any slip-up would have been regarded as evidence of not only his inadequacy, but that of his race as a whole.

All the pent-up hate being released by Republicans under the guise of concern for the country is nothing but fury because this is a black person they can never measure up to and have no reason to pity...and how dare he be superior?

I even feel a little sorry for them.

See this for what it is.

Did anyone read the update? Hmmm, I guess you are going to take what you want to from this.

Awfully one sided, Palin is not a career politician... yet.

What is sad, is that Americans want straight talkers, and people that seem to hold the values we have. Problem is that many have become very one sided and refuse to look past their own agenda and seek the truth, many because the truth doesn't matter to them any more, it's about what they think the truth should be.

• OPTIMISM! Drink it in and let it sink into your brain. Let it roll around and finds its equilibrium. Say it and then say it again. Say it to yourself and say it to someone else. Say it to someone you love and someone you do not love so much. I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTURE! And, I will do MY part to make it so. Right now we need some old fashioned optimism and luckily optimism is justified. We are Americans. Of all the characteristics any people could have this is the very best thing. All the "blame America first" crowd or the intellectual elites who find it too "snarky" to beat their chests and proclaim to the heavens go suck an egg. We are America and we are Americans and no set of numbers can stop us from getting out of this mess. We are the sons and daughters of those who won their freedom at the point of a bloody bayonet (hell, we are not afraid of a fight), we cured polio, we sent a man to the moon, we invented the computer/baseball/football/Hollywood and we invented the hot dog/hamburger/apple pie. We are America and we don't run from a fight and when we fight, we win! Americans are winners! Sure the numbers are big but we are a BIG country. We have been here before. Our 1990 GDP was about $5T and the RTC/S&L mess cost about$200B to solve. Our 2007 GDP was about $14T and this mess is going to cost about $500B (remember we are going to recover some of the $700B from the assets purchased) to solve. Hey, we've been here before. Is electing a tax/spend kind of guy going to be good for the solution? Maybe not so much. But America can even survive an Obama Presidency. I have never seen an epitaph inscribed on a headstone which said: "Joe was a GREAT pressimist!" Lead, follow, get out of the way but be a damn optimist! Optimism is the only thing today which costs nothing to practice. I AM AN AMERICAN! I am afraid of nothing when I am in the company of my fellow Americans. I am an optimist! I am going to bite the ass off a bear on Monday morning and I am going to do my part to solve this problem! I am going to come to work just a bit earlier each morning, stay a bit later every night and skip lunch a couple of times per week. I am going to work like I never have before. The line forms right behind me, America! See you on the high ground. Jeffrey Mich.

"She can't help it, the girl can't help it."

That song is in my head today, because when faced with facts, she can't help but lie. She's lied repeatedly about the "Bridge to Nowhere" and she's lying about Troopergate.

McCain/Palin = the first ticket where BOTH candidates have ethics violations on their records.

Some "mavericks." Some "reformers." So much for not being like an insider, Sarah Palin; you're just as rotten as they come and you can't hide from your shadow.

Sarah Palin is a sociopath, just like Geo. W. Bush. She doesn't care about what's said about her, has no respect for the truth, and has no shame. She just keeps smilin' and dishin' it out.

The amount of ridicule being heaped upon her is not nearly enough punishment. She needs to be thrown in a dark, dank jail cell with Bush and Cheney.

Thanks for noticing and using the words "flat out lying" McCAin/Palin were betting no one in the media would call her on it because the media doesn't usually like to use the word lie for some reason. Here it is apt.
They are also lying about the committee which is predominately Republican. The McCain people up in Alaska never met a lie they didn't like.

Did anyone expect that rocket scientist to say anything other than a lie? She is by far the worst politician I’ve ever seen in my life! If this is the best they have to offer, no longer the republicans are going to lose their shirts next month! Palin is an insult to all those smart and very talented Female Republican Senators and Congresswomen…

Extremists Mark Chryson former chairman of the Alaska Independence Party and Steve Stoll helped launch Palin’s political career in Alaska, and in return had influence over policy.

---

Wow, I just found out about this. Google it. The MSM won't print the story. The question is why? Are journalists being threatened? If so, by whom?

This woman is no friend to these United States of America. She's a bald-faced liar with ulterior motives. No wonder she won't talk to the press.

Real conservatives will be voting for Ron Paul. The rest are too cowardly to act on the principles they claim to have.

The woman just has not yet met a lie she hasn't liked. She will forever set the ceiling higher for women than the godess Iris could ever have with her rainbow. What does the world think of us? Remember Gulliver's response after meeting the Yahoos? Well, it's something like that.

Her English, with finding that making little sense and great appreciation for conjugating irregularities.

Someone is going to get charged for a kit, because she rapes language every time she speaks.

Let ALL of us Americans put this same level of examination for integrity towards our own words and motives, news reporting, and publishing--then we will have a better society.

Just to clarify - who is Charlie Black? He's the guy who plays cards with McCain on the bus - and his a senior advisor to the Campaign - and who just made a mint over the crash.

To Concerned in OH: Just in case you missed it, over $1 trillion has been lost in 401K and IRA account values in the past several weeks, thanks to the deregulatory orgy the Republican Party has been having since taking over Congress and White House. Republicans know and condone Palin's neocon race-baiting behavior (straight from the Bush/Cheney campaign playbook) because this is how they campaign. However they cannot govern, that's why she's their choice as their newest neoncon-darling. Her ethics violation is a clear example of that. Her denials are sincere because she's too stupid and amateurish to realize what she's done. She deserves every screed-laced comment that can be thrown at her, including calling her a liar and a race-baiting fascist. She put herself out there as a viable candidate for the next highest office in US government. Now that she has been revealed for the dangerous idiot that she is, she deserves to be taunted and ridiculed at every possible turn.

As much as I dislike Sarah Palin this is really a two-bit sideshow.

It's still the economy, stupid.

What I want to know is what role Charlie Black - the lobbyist for JP Morgan and Washington Mutual - is playing in the economic crisis. JP Morgan bought WaMu for a song and is being sued for allegedly blocking Lehman Brothers access to its own cash right before it tanked - crashing the world markets.

Was Charlie Black behind McCain's long, strange, trip to Washington last week?

Millions of people will suffer from this crash - and if Charlie Black was fooling around and making things worse, that matters to me quite a lot.

So who is in charge Todd or Sarah? Mccain/ Palin "PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!"

I think there's plenty of lies to be told on both sides. And its human nature to do so and protect our own personal image as best as possible.

The key is, did she really do anything that damages the public trust in a meaningful way? Probably not.

So how about the Obamabots out there take a look at their candidate's lies and lies of omission. Whatever happened to the Rev. Wright connection?

that's my gurl. quite the reformer... I'm so proud of her "maverickyness" to reject the laws of the common man. she as an elected official strives to be above that like her mentor george bush. when she's the Veep- todd is gonna be such an asset behind the scenes w/ those strongarm pressure tactics & all. what a value the american peeple will get. 2 for the price of 1! together they will promote themselves & their agenda w/ the AIG to eliminate govrnment -which just gets in the way -and help me put country 1st by bringing out all those nasty racsists who are gonna elect me. problem w/ U dems is you still just don't understand the kind of reform we can accomplish w/out that pesky constitution in the way. thanx to the president for showing us the way. god bless america & me & sarah/todd too.

Well, she's certainly turning out to be a very accomplished liar and twister of facts. Considering McCain is also very good at it, I'd say she and McCain would probably do almost as good a job as Bush-Cheney have done.

PBS Poll - link provided.

Question is: Is Sarah Palin Qualified to be Vice President of the US.

Current tally is 49%/49%

Sound in!!!!!

uhhhhhh. she read the report, right? or maybe she just had someone read it to her and that person skipped over the parts about the abuse of power. how can she state that she was cleared of any wrongdoing? she will next tell us that grass is orange, and there are people out there that will look down below their feet and nod their heads in agreement.

so what if the investigation was into the firing of monegan? the report found that she broke state law in an unethical effort to have trooper wooten fired. ken starr was looking into whitewater, but clinton was impeached over oral sex.

Incredibly uncredible.
Deny, fudge truth, outright lie.
Palins live in a very limited, small town mentality that becomes more apparent with each passing day.
Sarah Palin is not ready for prime time and should return to attempting to govern her population of less than Memphis TN.

She IS Cheney in lipstick and exactly what the far-right have wanted. McCain sold his soul to go along with her as VP.

Sarah Palin is arrogantly lying!! Investigation decision - Sarah Palin violated Ethic Law and abused her power by pressuring to have her former brother inlaw fired. Sarah Palin entice crowd rage at her rallies with shouts of "kill jim", "off with his head", "treason, "traitor", etc. And she smiled while these statements yelled and did nothing to stop. This approach is dangerous and is encouraging assassination of Barack Obama. No Democrat or Republican should approve of assassination encouragement!! FBI detail has increased. Riots and vandalism across country are already starting. She is despicable!! Sarah Palin is dangerous!!

McCain/Palin Ready to Lie from DAY ONE!

MCCAIN IS DANGEROUS, LOOK AT HIS FLIP FLOPPING, HIS NEGATIVITY, PALIN AND MCCAIN ARE REALLY SICKENING. I AM INDEPENDANT AND NOW FOR OBAMA BECAUSE OF THIS CAMPAIN HAS GONE. IT DOESN'T TAKE A MAVERICK TO RUN THIS COUNTRY!!! IT TAKES A PERSON WITH A HEART AND TRUE
COMPASSION FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. MCCAIN HAS LOST AND PALINE HAS DONE WRONG!!!!!!!! SHE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE ETHICS PART. IS THIS WHAT WE NEED IN AMERICA NO NO NO!!!!
WAKE UP AMERICAN'S MCCAIN IS GOING TO CAUSE US ALOT OF PAIN. WE MUST HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT WE ACTUALLY GO THRU. CINDY MCCAIN AS THE OTHER WOMAN, WITH PAST PROBLEMS NEEDS TO SIT AND BE QUITE. LOOK AT THE TRUE PERSON OR PERSONS!!!!!! WE GOT TO GET IT RIGHT AMERICA----I BELEIVE THAT OBAMA CAN HELP US JUST AS BILL CLINTON DID.

What credibility does this woman still have to talk to us about anything. She should first explain to us why she is still in office or running to be in one of the highest offices in the land after being found to have abused her power in office and after a finding of breach of trust.

abused power = broke the law, period.

I don't care how they spin it, she should be prosecuted.

I haven't seen any unbiased reports on Mike Wooten (Alaska trooper at the heart of Troopergate) so I do not know if and how he threatened Sarah Palin's father. Since I hear a lot from the Palin camp that Wooten DID threaten (to kill?) her father, it would be interesting to hear more about that. If the guy was really a whacko rogue cop and the Commissioner knew it, then her actions leading to Troopergate could be more easily understood.
Everyone seems to have their personal and vindictive motivations. I recently read the Rolling Stone bio of John McCain - yes, quite polarized, or biased - and saw that he was a randy, lustful and petulant spoiled brat who always got his way in the Navy because of his Admiral father and grandfather. I don't know if he is actually misogynistic (fear, distrust, or hatred of women), but he has definitely shown that he treats women as objects to expand his power - sexual, political or social power. If the way Mr. McCain "values" women in his life is any indicator of his "values," I think (actually earnestly hope) such values are NOT the standard in America. I could be wrong.

As a registered independent what bothers me the most about troopergate is the fact that Gov. Palin and her husband still claim they did nothing wrong. If you can't admit your mistakes what reassurance do we have that you won't repeat them? It is NOT okay that Sarah Palin gave confidential employee records to her husband to look through. It is NOT okay that her husband then contacted other government employees to pressure them to fire trooper Wooten. Those records most likely had medical and financial information in them which allowing anyone outside of her office to look and discuss them was against the new privacy laws. I know I worked in a surgeons office for 17 years. We had to take courses and sign privacy agreements about medical and billing records. We were told that not only would we be fired by we could be prosecuted.

I have the authority to own a gun, but if I go out and shoot my neighbors dog, I have abused that authority.