Palin Investigation Stalled By McCain Campaign, State Legislator Says

ABC News reports:

Is the McCain campaign afraid of an 'October surprise' involving vice-presidential pick Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska?

The Alaska state senator running an investigation of Gov. Palin says the McCain campaign is using stall tactics to prevent him from releasing his final report by Oct. 31, four days before the November election.

"It's likely to be damaging to the Governor," said Senator Hollis French, a Democrat, appointed the project manager for a bi-partisan State Senate Legislative Counsel Committee investigation of claims that Palin abused her office to get the Alaska public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, fired.

An Anchorage Daily News story suggests that Palin's lawyer is helping stall the investigation. He's trying to get the probe into the hands of a governor-appointed board:

The state has hired a private lawyer to represent Gov. Sarah Palin's office in the Legislature's investigation into the firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. The lawyer already has challenged whether lawmakers even have authority to oversee the inquiry.

...

Van Flein said the investigation should be handled by the state Personnel Board, not the Legislature, because it's "statutorily mandated" to handle ethics cases. The three-member Personnel Board is appointed by the governor.

And he's making it difficult for Special Counsel Steve Branchflower to interview Palin:

Branchflower hasn't been able to set up an interview with Palin. French said the state will fly Branchflower to wherever Palin is on the campaign trail if needed.

"Clearly the governor's new political role will make it more challenging for her to make time for this investigation," French wrote. But Palin needs to be interviewed sometime in September, he said.

Van Flein said the investigation is "bad timing" in the middle of a presidential campaign. He said he couldn't guarantee her availability this month.

If witnesses don't become available, French says, he'll ask for subpoenas.

Comments

[Xenopus]

Oh my gosh! If anyone says anything about Sarah Palin, even the truth if it's negative, then Obama did it and there is sexism involved. I don't think I have seen anything so bizarre. They pick a "cutie pie" who is in no way ready to lead and when someone says something about not being ready the McCain camp starts their usual whinning and crying and false accusations. What a pile of losers, really.

[plooger]

You *do* recognize the sexism in referring to Palin as a "cutie pie", right?

Palin's got plenty of warts, so going after the superficial stuff is unnecessary.

[gardengranny]

Notice how Bristol Palin holds "the newborn", as "mother/gr­andmother" Palin refers to Trig.

Bristol cradles him and looks like a new mother would with her baby.

When Sarah Palin holds him, it looks like she's holding a sack of potatoes.

Here's my daughter's take on the events: Bristol Palin got pregnant, wanted to a) keep the baby or b) have an abortion.

Fundie Mom Sarah said no to both options and declared that she would say she was preggers.

Add to this scencario, the fact that Bristol was not seen much in public since last December (bad case of mono).

Bristol proceeds to get pregnant again ("try NOW to stop me from claiming this one!!!". )

I would bet huge $$ that she is nowhere near 5 months along... but we shall see.

[Knarf]

My thoughts exactly! Her second child will not be born until late Jan., or early Feb.

[LemonMeringue]

I would not put it past these creeps to induce her early just to provide political cover.

[LiberalBuzz]

Unfortunately The thugs won't get rid of her because the facade that she is the ultimate conservative' anti abortion, anti science, anti social services, anti sensible gun control, pro death sentence for everything and pro WAR. The fact she is a hypocrite when it comes to what she really believes is of no importance, it's the facade that is all encompassing.

This really should be an easy election for Obama but if he continues to do nothing but take the high road he is going to lose. The conservative base LOVES thuggery,lies and deceit and will vote against their own best interests JUST to support that kind of thing.

They hate democrats more than they love their country and shooting themselves in the foot is a small price to pay for beating democrats.

Obama cannot afford to stay too lofty in his ideals or we will have another 8 years of Bush doctrine which will only drive this country further into debt, destroy the middle class and put us closer and closer to a theocratic society run by Morals Police.

God help this country if McBush wins..

[clearthinker2008]

Their hiding her in the cave with Bridgett.

[ron071]

Even the Republicans have outdone themselves on this fiasco. The Palin choice will doom the McCain/Bush campaign. Count on it.

[SensibleAmerican]

Karl Rove had 9 US Attorneys fired and the Dems could do jack! As usual a lot of fake moral outrage but basically much ado about nothing ...

[breakingnews]

Aren't there puppies that need kicking??? Go away!

[SensibleAmerican]

The Obama campaign changed their stories 5 times on the precise contributions by Rezko to their campaign but I did not hear any outrage then anywhere on this blog?!

[AnotherAndy]

You've read this whole blog? Who's paying you to do that?

[wesinohio]

Please be specific.

[conservativesoncrack]

Rezko aint goin' to the White House, Obama is. Besides, the Rezko focus is made up by you guys. Ms. Palin has all kinds of skeletons in the closet and nobody has to dream up a thing...

[TovSquirrel]

Perhaps the convention in Minneapolis will wise up and throw Senator McCain, along with Governor Palin, under the Straight Talk Bus and find a competitive ticket.

Gee, they could dig up St. Reagan and Spiro Agnew and they would stand a better chance.

[breakingnews]

Why don't they let HER speak. Let her sit down with Tom or Wolf or ANYONE and talk. Explain all this. We need to hear why SHE thinks she is ready. They are keeping her holed up so they can solidfy their talking points.

[DebbieinPhx]

Is it me or is devil incarnate Rove playing Duck-n-cover today??? His little piggy face is super pink today, do ya suppose his chickens are coming home to roost????

[yhgtup]

Sounds like Rethugs at their best. Dems SHOULD NOT let them get away with stalling these actions. They dug up every time Barack sneezed or went to the bathroom, & are STILL on his EVERY move, looking for something. Like schoolyard bullies, Rethugs can dish it out, but they can't take it when it's dished on them.

[lisakaz2]

They want a fix. No wonder why the Rethugs didn't care about the investigations. We'll just whine about it and it'll go away.

[DebbieinPhx]

Let me see, we've got a VP pick that has
1 State of AK investigation for abuse of power
1 City of Wasilla Mayoral Recall (she spent them into a $20 million deficit)
1 Dance with the Illustrious but imprisoned Jack Abramov
1 Dance with soon to be jailed Ted Stevens
1 $27 million in earmarks for Wasilla
1 Membership to AIP, Alaskans for Indenpendence (that would be sedition/treason)
1 Membership in a NeoPenacostal church - which preaches purging the Earth of all
non Christians­..starting with the Jews(that would be religious fanatacism for starters)

All this and it's only Tuesday

[dnels14]

Joe Lieberman) or offend social conservatives (like Mitt Romney) or be seen as inexperienced (like Bobby Jindal) or simply be too boring and generic (like Tim Pawlenty), John McCain finally made his worst choice. mcpalin

[Hillrick]

McCain seems to have the political instincts of an anchor, how he has kept afloat for so long, despite his own best efforts, is a mystery.

[rabprevent]

I CANNOT WAIT FOR PALIN TO BE INDICTED RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, A MAVERICK HE ISNT!!


MCCAIN IS OFF HIS MEDS!!

VOTE NO TO MCCAIN AND ALL HIS CRONIES!!!!!!!!

[tsloan]

More of the same ol crooked politics

[ron071]

Blocking or stalling of the Palin abuse of power investigation by McCain operatives is proof positive of her appearance of guilt. This will have the same effect as would the verdict without the McCain obstruction. A typical Bush/Cheney tactic if there ever was one.

WANT MORE OF THE SAME ???????????VOTE McCAIN/PALIN !!!!!!

[chris2fer]

This woman reeks of bush/cheney

[Geekboy]

I'm not as convinced that Palin herself is such a source of evil. It may be more a case of naivete. However, VP or Pres. material she is not, and McSame's judgment is subject to no man's (or woman's) good sense.