Police Chief: Palin Fired Me For Campaign Contributors

The Washington Independent reported on Monday that another Sarah Palin firing scandal had been overlooked:

Early in her tenure as mayor, the city council threatened to recall her over accusations that she fired the city's police chief, Irl Stambaugh, and the library director, Mary Ellen Emmons, without warning. She accused them in a letter saying: "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment ..." (The Anchorage Daily News, via nexis)

Ultimately, Palin let the library director have her job back; though Stambaugh's position was not returned. The police chief took the matter to court, where a judge sided with Palin, saying city law allows the mayor to fire the police chief without cause.

ABC News today gives more information on this scandal. The police chief says he was fired because her campaign contributors, including bars and the NRA, didn't like his work:

After taking over as Mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Palin fired the longtime local police chief. The former police chief, Irl Stambaugh says he was fired because he stepped on the toes of Palin's campaign contributors, including bar owners and the National Rifle Association.

Stambaugh's lawyer, William Jermain, says the chief tried to move up the closing hours of local bars from 5 a.m. to two a.m. after a spurt of drunk driving accidents and arrests.

"His crackdown on that practice by the bars was not appreciated by her and that was one reason she terminated Irl," said Jermain.

Comments

[ChristiB]

Does she know the difference between Shiite and Sunni? Can she broker a Peace Deal between Isreal and the Palestinians. Does she know anything about world history and international affairs? This is all I care about. You can't "cram" for this stuff. You have to have it in your blood.

[Kwaayesnama]

The question should be do you want intelligence or four more years of the same intellect running this nation.

Lets see my choice is John McCain or that smart black man Barack Obama?

McCain does not know how to use a computer but is willing to learn if we elect him – I'll just vote for that smart black man.

My Choices are: John McCain who says the economic downturn is psychological? - I'll vote for the smart black man.

McCain says you are better off under George Bush? - Nope I'll vote for the smart black man.

Mc Cain wants to continue killing more people looking for weapons of mass destruction that do not exist? - I'll vote for the smart black man.

McCain believes that we should stay the course but is not willing to support the people he puts in harms way. - I'll take a chance on the smart black man.

Vote for a man that does not know that 9-11 was caused by Osama Bin Laden not Sedam Hussein? - I'll vote for the smart black man.

Vote for the man who does not know if the Sunnis or Sheits are our enemies? - I'll vote for the smart black man.

Vote for the man who helped put our government on the China, Saudi Arabia credit card? - I'll vote for the smart black man.

Vote for the man with the worst temper in the Senate to have his finger on the nuclear button? -

[TJC]

Abuse of power.....she's looking more like Cheney every day and in such a brief preiod of time. I agree with Jamie Lee Curtis, mothers relating to her does not qualify her to be on the ticket. In an attempt to select a non-Bush/change VP candidate, they threw the baby out with the bath water on this one.

[SkelDaddy]

She should aspire to such heights of depraved despotism. Strictly speaking, she is a small time wannabee

[rich3324]

She's the gift that keeps on giving.

[sunzen]

A gift from god...along with the hurricanes

[Grunty1]

No wonder the GOP higher ups picked Palin. She looks more and more like an excellent fascist in training.

[Sloane7]

The real Sarah Palin is coming out.

If the GOP wanted a woman VP nominee, they should have chosen one who doesn't need gigantic closets to store all the skeletons.

The dozen lawyers McCain sent to Alaska are going to need reinforcements. The National Enquirer just sent the Edwards team to Alaska.

[sunzen]

McCain wanted lieberman and when everyone told him no...he picked Palin out of spite. If i dont get what i want screw you all.

[maribelle1963]

Keeping bars open until 5 am instead of closing at 2 am? THIS is the issue on which she threw someone under the bus?

This is "family values"--keeping the bars open all night?

This candidate is more of a train wreck as the days pass. Bring on Tim Pawlenty!

[dRwOOD]

they party like rock stars in Alaska!!! LMAO

[Diogenis]

I remember a "librarian" recently who was..hauled away by the Republican Gestapo!

[SFkid]

Palin is fine for a small town that likes drinking and driving at 5am and shooting their guns, but this isn't the kind of leadership we need in the Whitehouse. Obama should make it a point that she can handle a small state but not the country, NO WAY!

Can you imagine her letting the NRA run things and selling automatic machine guns to inner city gangs and then have bars open to 5am in our major metropolitans? Family values?

[jacqmac]

Ummm-Alaska ,and I HATE to be the one to point out the obvious because I live in Texas, IS BIGGER THAN THE STATE OF TEXAS. This USED to be a sore point back in the day-however, Alaska is BIGGER in LAND AREA only and not by human population.

[crablover]

Wow! A Texan who actually admits that there's something bigger than Texas! Bless your heart!

If global warming continues, Alaska may wind up being the size of Rhode Island. Talk about "shrinkage!"

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Political firings?
And she's not already in Bush's DOJ?

[mstoot]

Good one!!!

[Ohg]

The Republicans have not shame - They talk about reform and lack of experience and then they select Governor Palin. The entire Republican party has flip-flopped on major issues...........
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/09/03/republicans-have-no-shame/

[lbrillante]

There is nothing about this woman that makes me think she should be the governor of Alaska and definitely not the president of the United States.

[notbitterjustpissed]

As a woman and a mother, this woman offends me on every level. Her total disregard for her daughter is sickening. If this is such a private family matter, then shouldn't someone else's choice to end an unwanted pregnancy also be a "private family matter" instead of a legislative issue? By her own admission she did not pay much attention to the Iraq War....wow....way to support the troops. Now that she has skin in the game she wants to say its a mission from God?????? Her husband being a member of a group that endorses the succession of Alaska from the Union, wow. She governs a state that has less people in it than single cities in the lower 48!!!! Our future depends on this election. McCain said he did not disagree that the draft would have to be re-enacted in order to chase Bin Laden to the gates of hell....he stated is intends to overturn Roe v Wade. If you want your sons drafted for a war with Iran, N. Korea or whoever else the right wing nut jobs tell him to fight, if you want your daughters, sisters, mothers to have to carry unwanted pregnancies (even in rape/incest) or risk death in back alley procedures, then by all means vote for McCain. If you want progressive thought, equal treatment and a fair playing field for you and your children then vote Obama/Biden.....God Speed!!!!!

[maribelle1963]

"If this is such a private family matter, then shouldn't someone else's choice to end an unwanted pregnancy also be a "private family matter" instead of a legislative issue? "

EXACTLY. That's it in a nutshell. See also McCain's quotes about how Bristol made the decision on her own, and how his family would handle a mythical teenage pregnancy in their home: they would discuss their options and decide as a family.

That's what choice means. We only ask that every American woman can make this choice, just as your families did/would.

See also the hypocrisy of: "Please allow our daughter her privacy in this matter as we parade her and her fiance around the stage at the convention tonight."

[dbm1966]

Right on! It's just a choice, and it's a private matter. Not everyone is going to make that choice, but for many reasons (including avoiding back alley abortions, setting up yet another bureacracy to monitor doctors who continue to perform abortions, etc.), it needs to remain a PRIVATE choice. The minute these two extremists start legislating morality, this country will become similar to those where we are fighing in the Middle East.

[edwarvir]

Sarah you are a BAD GIRL

[LAB10]

"Just who I need" presidential decision made after seeing the bikini clad gun toting beauty queen.

[SeeDaddy]

It's Photoshopped dude. Pictures lie like Repubs. What you see isn't real.