Alaska Politics Blog : Palin won't be suboenaed but seven others will, say committee members

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Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

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Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

Palin won't be suboenaed but seven others will, say committee members

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: September 5, 2008 - 11:34 am

From Wesley Loy in Anchorage --

The state House and Senate judiciary committees will meet next Friday in Anchorage to issue subpoenas to key witnesses in the "troopergate" investigation, but Gov. Sarah Palin will not be among those getting a subpoena, committee members just announced.

Committee members also said the Legislature's independent investigator, Steve Branchflower, will finish his report on Palin's firing of her former public safety commissioner by Oct. 10 rather than the end of October, which would be right on top of the Nov. 4 election.

Palin is running for vice president on the Republican ticket of John McCain.

The idea of the earlier completion date for Branchflower's report is to avoid the appearance of a last-minute "October surprise," said Rep. Jay Ramras, a Fairbanks Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The Palin administration in recent days has shown resistance to the legitimacy of the legislative investigation.

A press release today from Ramras and Sen. Hollis French, the Anchorage Democrat who is managing the Branchflower investigation, says subpoenas are necessary to compel cooperation with Branchflower.

Says the press release:

"This week, seven key witnesses informed Mr. Branchflower through their attorneys that they would not provide depositions. Their depositions, which had been agreed to and scheduled earlier with Mr. Branchflower, were cancelled within the last 72 hours.

"Additionally, the Governor's lawyer has stated that he represents the Governor and the Governor's office, and has forbidden any contact by Mr. Branchflower with any member of that office.

"Mr. Branchflower wishes to depose some of those employees. The issuance of the subpoenas is intended to get at the truth and to expedite the completion of his report to the public."

Another member of the House Judiciary Committee, Eagle River Republican Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom, said lawmakers talked and agreed not to issue a subpoena to Palin.

"She has told the public that she intends to cooperate with the investigation, indeed, she has told the public that she welcomes the investigation and I have every faith that she means it," Dahlstrom said. "If necessary we can send Mr. Branchflower to wherever the Governor is, or she can give her statement to him over the telephone, whatever is most convenient for her. We recognize that her schedule is extremely busy, and we want to accommodate that."

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21 September 8, 2008 - 8:04am | akmooster

this is all political BS and should stop.

Palin fired monegan, her right.

Was it over him not firing wooten? Both say no.
Did she or her staff pressure monegan to get rid of this terrible cop? It appears so.
Is trying to get rid of a bad cop a bad thing? No.

The only illegal act that could have taken place was if monegan had fired wooten. Didn't happen.

And the only reason it didn't is because the union doesn't care if cops are good or bad as long as they pay their dues. A true disservice to the good cops whose reputation's get sullied because we now know how low they can go and still be okay to serve.

Hollis is wasting 100+k on this for purely political reasons. And hires the husband of a woman who is a friend of monegan, and thinks he rocks, to do the show.

Now palin is wasting Xk on both her own investigation to counter anything branchflower will say, and xK on her state paid lawyer to debunk whatever the tainted blanchflower investigation produces.

Then this despicable union files ethics charges, for purely political reasons and because it is free and the state gets to pay for that too.

Good thing big oil is paying for it all, or people would be rightfully pissed off.

20 September 7, 2008 - 1:51pm | Lindamae

Before all of this moaning

Before all of this moaning continues, stop and read the interview and the transcripts from the Palin's first reports to the authorities. Then read the email Palin sent in 2005. Pay attention to the responses of the trooper who took the interview. We have a law in CT called the Tracy Thurman law - named for a woman who complained to the police that her husband had threatened her life. She was given a pat on the head by the police and then a bullet in the head by her husband while she was attending a town summer concert. Anyone who threatens the life of another - especially a cop who has taken the oath to protect and serve - and has guns - and a state issued taser which he used on his 11 year old step son, - should have been immediately removed from his job and not allowed to return until serious psychological tests and much investigation took place. Any logical adult - or child - should agree to this. It did not happen. I believe Moneghan when he states that Palin never asked him to remove the brother-in-law. I cannot believe that such a man is still "serving and protecting" the citizens of Alaska. I don't blame Palin for being afraid for her dad's life or her own. I can't believe you immediately blame her for wrongdoing. Would you have been happier if her dad had been shot dead? Or her sister? Or your mom - who might have just gotten in the way of the enraged ex? Who can read the mind of another. We can only judge what is in the mind by the actions taken. Please justify his? I really want to hear your excuse. Tracy Thurman died because the cops gave her complaint a "wink wink." I hope you are never under such a dangerous situation.

September 7, 2008 - 4:06pm | akallegro

You dont understand

We dont give a damn how they do it outside.

The Troopers are in a union and unions elect the half of our legislators that aren't elected by Bill Allen.

Legislators approve the contracts that troopers, guards etc write.

A few renegade wife beatin, drunk drivin, kid zappin, losers is all part of what you have to accept in the police forces up here to get elected.

Geeze the next thing you'll be asking for is an investigation into the Administrative Investigations that have taken place over the last 10 years.

How crazy is that?

September 7, 2008 - 4:59pm | happydays

Let's not get too carried away

Your comments make it seem like Wooten abused Molly. If you are reading all the information, it was Molly who, when in court, admitted Wooten never abused her and that she was pushed into making that accusation by 'family members' aka Sarah. The case was dismissed.

Your broad brush comments are tainting people that do not deserve to be tainted. The Alaska State Troopers are a professional group of folks that put their lives on the line everyday. How quickly you muddy each and everyone of their's reputation.

Additionally, the elected officials you refer to are also people who have a servant's heart. Whether you agree with them or not, you don't have the right to disgrace them like you are trying to do. Makes all of your posts without merit.

September 7, 2008 - 7:29pm | akallegro

and your lack of ability to read

makes your posts a waste of time.

Show me the list of candidates pre-allengate that didnt take cash from oil or unions and vote accordingly.

There are very few.

You also make the mistake of focusing on Wooten. His case is the only one on public display hence the point of reviewing AI's.

It is a fact that these great folks you talk of that serve so well are not all guilty of every crime listed but they are all willing to ignore all of those crimes when its one of their own from the top to the bottom.

That is the problem we have, the cops are keeping track of the cops.

Pull your head out of the sand, there are serious problems at DPS and Corrections.

September 7, 2008 - 7:51pm | happydays

Whew, did I hit a hot button?

Your response makes it sound like we are discussing something very personal instead of what I thought we were discussing -- the issues that have been in the press.

If I have trodded on an open wound or nerve ending, please accept my apologies. My posts are not meant to be personal or mean spirited.

September 7, 2008 - 8:23pm | akallegro

Passive Aggressive eh?

as to whats in the press, perhaps only one source fits in that hole in the sand.

19 September 7, 2008 - 12:29pm | hickandrat

Those democrats, and others

your hatred, party first, lacks intellect and shows how self centered you really are. To be invloved in the purpose of undermining the success of our govenor in this NATIONAL race for the most powerful position in America, leaves Alaskans at risk. Sara will make Alaska far more than what it is now as Vice President... President in the future. This puts your party first, Alaskans last, and you will be in the BEGGING position.

18 September 7, 2008 - 10:56am | elauesen

GOP Circle The Wagons Around Palin Probe

Nominee's ally moves to curb probe of Palin
Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Sep 5, 2008
Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called "October surprise" that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.
In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska's bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called "troopergate" investigation.
Coghill charged that the senator, Hollis French, had "politicized" the probe by making a number of public comments in recent days, including telling ABC News that Palin had a "credibility problem" and that the investigation into the firing of public safety commissioner Walter Monegan was "likely to be damaging to the administration" and could be an "October surprise." Wrote Coghill: "The investigation appears to be lacking in fairness, neutrality and due process."
The investigation, authorized by the Legislative Council last July, revolves around charges that Palin abused her power by embroiling the governor's office in a bitter family feud involving her ex-brother in law, a state trooper named Mike Wooten.
Specifically, the council is investigating whether Palin fired Monegan when he refused to dismiss Wooten (who at the time was involved in an ugly custody battle with Palin's sister) after getting repeated complaints about him from the governor and her husband, Todd Palin. (Among the allegations that were raised against Wooten by Palin's sister: he had Tasered his ten-year-old stepson and shot a moose without a permit.)
Palin has denied wrongdoing; Monegan has said he believes his firing was connected to his refusal to fire Wooten.
French, the Democrat overseeing the probe, has hired a special counsel to determine, in effect, whether Palin "used her public office to settle a private score," he recently said. He has also suggested that the probe may turn up evidence that state laws were violated by Palin's aides because they pulled confidential personnel files on the trooper.
But Coghill, who told NEWSWEEK that he has the backing of Republican Speaker of the House John Harris in his effort to remove French, suggested Friday that the investigation into Palin's firing of Monegan should be shut down entirely.
"If this has been botched up the way it has, there's a question as to whether it should continue," Coghill told NEWSWEEK.
The move underscored the huge political stakes in the outcome of a legislative investigation that is being closely monitored by both the McCain and Obama campaigns because of its potential impact on the fall election.
"How can this possibly be read as anything but a partisan attempt to shut down a legitimate investigation that was approved and funded with bipartisan support?" said one state Democratic legislative aide, who asked not to be identified because of the political sensitivities.
Coghill told NEWSWEEK that he decided to write his letter to strip French of his position on his own-without any coaxing by McCain campaign officials.
But a top McCain campaign official acknowledged that the GOP lawyer had given the campaign a "heads up" about his letter and that the McCain campaign approved of the effort to remove French.
"An investigation that was supposed to be non-partisan has become a political circus and has gotten out of control," said Taylor Griffin, a top communications aide dispatched from McCain campaign headquarters to Alaska this week to monitor the investigation and related matters. (Griffin also said that Palin has "nothing to hide" about the Wooten matter.)
As a further sign of the sensitivity of the probe, a lawyer for Palin told NEWSWEEK Friday that Todd Palin, the governor's husband, was in the process of hiring his own separate counsel to represent him in the legislature's probe.
Thomas Van Flein, Governor Palin's lawyer, would not identify who is now representing the governor's husband. But he sought to deflect charges that Todd Palin, a commercial fisherman and oil company worker, had improperly intervened in state business by inviting Monegan to the governor's office and asking him to look into Wooten's status on the state police force.
(For his part, Wooten has acknowledged that he "made mistakes," but that he was "punished appropriately" when he was suspended from the police force for five days in 2006.)
In an interview on Friday, Van Flein sought to deflect charges that Todd Palin may have acted improperly by talking to the state public safety commissioner about Wooten. Todd was "the governor's husband and a citizen of the state and he has every right to an opinion as [does] everyone else," Van Flein said.
One major reason the probe is so sensitive is that it raises the prospect that Governor Palin's credibility could be called into a question in a major state probe on the eve of the election.
When the "troopergate" story broke over the summer, Palin adamantly denied that anybody in her administration exerted any pressure on Monegan to fire Wooten.
But only weeks later, a tape recording surfaced in which another one of her top aides, Frank Bailey, was heard telling a police lieutenant, "Todd and Sarah are scratching their heads, 'Why on earth hasn't this, why is this guy [Wooten] still representing the department?'"
French today acknowledged that some of his public comments about the ongoing probe may have been out of bounds. "I said some things I shouldn't have said," he told NEWSWEEK. But he insisted he had no intention of stepping down because the investigation was really being conducted by Steve Branchflower, a retired state prosecutor who was hired as the special counsel in the probe.
French also said today he had moved up the deadline for Branchflower to produce his report. Although it was originally due Oct. 31, the Friday before the election, it will now be completed Oct. 10-in order to be "as far away from the election" as possible.
In the interview with NEWSWEEK, Van Flein, Governor Palin's lawyer, raised other objections to the troopergate probe. He said the legislative investigation ran counter to the Alaska Constitution because it was being conducted in secret and without strict procedural rules. He said that in the "post-McCarthy era", he would have expected more due process guarantees.
Van Flein also told NEWSWEEK that as part of defense preparations for the investigation, he had taken his own depositions from potential witnesses—including one this week who refused to give testimony to the Legislature's special counsel.
That was Frank Bailey, the former senior Palin aide who was recorded mentioning the concerns of Palin and her husband that Wooten was still on the police force.
In the deposition taken by Van Flein, which Palin's lawyer made available to NEWSWEEK, Bailey acknowledged he had "overstepped my boundaries... I should not have spoken for the governor, or Todd, for that matter. I went out on my own on this discussion."
But Bailey also confirmed in the deposition that Palin had herself raised Wooten's name with the state police during her first security briefing after she won election as governor in November 2006.
Bailey said he sat in on the briefing with Gary Wheeler, then head of the governor's security detail. Wheeler asked Palin and her husband whether they were aware of any threats against her that the new bodyguards should be concerned about.
"They specifically brought up only one person, and that was Mike Wooten," Bailey testified. "There was a serious genuine concern about not only their safety but the safety of their family, their kids, their nieces, nephews, her father, regarding Trooper Wooten."
Bailey testified that Sarah Palin never asked him to do anything about Trooper Wooten, but that Todd Palin did talk to him about "issues about Trooper Wooten," and expressed "frustration" that the state police were doing nothing to respond to the Palins' concerns.
URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157439

17 September 7, 2008 - 9:08am | Rubytuesday

Corruption in Alaska

Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch

Can anybody in the State of Alaska, or in the entire country please let me know what one should do when the three above branches of government intently sweep under the rug a very serious case which involves a state legislature, and a Judge?
I really have no clue where to turn at this point, and what happened to us does not sit well with me at all. For several years we have tried to have this wrong, which was done in our court system up here in Alaska, corrected so that nobody else ever has to endure the abuses of a system whos checks and balances are obviously tainted with indifference. We actually had Politicians in DC tell us to the follow the money. Which basicly says to me that if we had the money it takes to retain a Lawyer, that what happened to us in the Court system up here more than likely would not have happened. We've gone out of our way to seek help from from all agencies in our State who are supposed to hold those who abuse their positions accountable for that abuse.. Not one agency here has done that. This includes Sarah Palin as our Gov. We have all the information needed to warrant an investigation. This involves former speaker of the house Pete Kott, and a standing state Judge.

Thank you for reading my post.

16 September 6, 2008 - 5:21pm | tlamb775

Note to DOJ:

Had a nice talk with a woman who worked for the Job Corp in the valley.

Looks like there are witnesses on Trooper Wooten.

Andrew Halcro pay real close attention.......

September 6, 2008 - 9:10pm | katie_doe

tlamb775

This investigation is about the firing of Commissioner Monegan.

September 6, 2008 - 11:32pm | tlamb775

Yes it is

and that includes examining internal investigations of the Troopers, how they do business and if there was probable cause to fire Monegan.

Indeed this is about the firing of Monegan.

September 7, 2008 - 6:53pm | rfn

I believe some may be confusing

the current "investigation" with one that might be fair, honest and thorough.

September 7, 2008 - 9:07pm | tlamb775

Halcro

might want to find out how many times Trooper Wooten made a visit under the "color of law" to the mat valley Job Corp.

When a trooper goes and flashes his badge in a bar, what will he do other times?

Witnesses..........

15 September 6, 2008 - 1:43pm | indimom

COMMITTEE: STOP TALKING!!!

Look, I've been following this thing from the beginning and although I've tried to bite my tongue and just get a mild smile out of the naivete and what I suppose is an Alaskan honesty - I Gotta say - IF YOU ARE ANY WAY CONNECTED TO THE COMMITTEE RUNNING THE INVESTIGATION ON PALIN ETC. - STOP TALKING TO THE PRESS IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED LEGITIMATE!! I'm from New York and Washington DC and believe me, I've dealt with these lawyers, and spin, and motions, and court cases for over 10 years. They are baiting you...trying to get you to say anything so that they can build a case...a case showing that their client/clients can't get a fair shake and they should have the whole thing dropped. What's wrong with you??!!! Listen, 15 minutes of fame and all put aside - do you really want to have this investigation dropped and you looking like laughable but sweet hicks to the rest of the nation? I don't mean to be harsh, but that's what the lower 48 is seeing when French gives the outcome before the investigation (you have to get rid of him NOW or the whole thing will be dismissed or tied up in court til after, well after, the election)...which is the case they are building. I suggest...if anybody is listening...just my opinion from dealing with this for several years...is that 1) That a gag order be put in place to keep everyone from talking to the press. Place an emergency motion before a judge. Include as broad a range of people connected in anyway as possible. And I mean quick. and 2) Put your noses to the grindstone and don't stop until you have finished. Don't let anything interrupt or invade you or anyone - McCain will be threatening everyone and their job unless he gets what he wants. YOU MUST IGNORE THEM and do your work. Noone knows the outcome until the work is finished and that's the way it should be conducted.

September 6, 2008 - 2:51pm | rfn

Excellent advice!

Only exception I can take is that it comes far, far too late to do any good.

14 September 6, 2008 - 10:46am | Mom_of_3

On 7/29, Sarah said that she was “ready to be interviewed today"

about the Monegan investigation. She also said that she 'doubted that there would be a need for subpoena' for her executive staff.

Listen to this recording of Sarah at a Governor's Press Availability.

13 September 6, 2008 - 10:38am | TheSdog

For all the blog tourists

Go here and listen to to the Bailey phone call.

It speaks for itself.

September 6, 2008 - 10:53am | Stags_Leap

how about a link for the audio clip

where Palin giggled profusely when Lyda Green was called fat, a cancer, and a b*tch? And Palin knew full well that Green is a breast cancer survivor. Can someone post a link to the audio clip -from the Bob & Mark Show where the incident took place?

The only witch hunt is Sarah Palin trying to avoid honesty and transparency. She and her Fab Seven should willingly give sworn testimony. Anything less -we must assume that something illegal and/or unethical occured. McCain's campaign is trying to avoid the truth.

September 6, 2008 - 11:00am | TheSdog

Interestingly enough

the audio has been pulled from all the sites that were reporting on it due to copyright claims.

Hitman, if you are out there this stinks to high heaven.

It would appear Bob Lester continues to be nothing more than a loyal Palin Posse partisan hack.

September 6, 2008 - 12:14pm | Mom_of_3

---

Sarah Palin Laughs At Rival Being Called A "Cancer," "Bitch"

September 6, 2008 - 11:18am | rfn

It truly is amazing how little respect

is afforded intellectual property rights these days.

And yet Americans get all in a lather when China declines to press the matter when U.S. copyrights are ignored. Why, when that's standard practice here at home.

Congratulations to those who those few who have decided to buck the trend and defend their property!

September 6, 2008 - 11:33am | TheSdog

As if this

was really about intellectual property rights.

Keep spinning rfn.

September 7, 2008 - 5:02pm | happydays

Addition

Of course, it also depends on the definition of "intellectual".

12 September 6, 2008 - 8:44am | Stags__Leap

Troopergate headed for proper forum

Thanks Gov. Palin for doing the right thing -- again -- and taking this witch hunt out of the hands of partisan people and into a legitimate forum. It belongs with the Personnel Board.

The people of Alaska are behind you. Stand tall.

September 7, 2008 - 5:06pm | happydays

Fake Stags

The Personnel Board (who also work at the pleasure of the Governor) investigating the Governor's abuse of power allegation is like the old Ag board being fired by the Governor and the new Ag board naming themselves the Creamery Board to prolong the Mat-Maid Dairy fiasco.

You say Palin is doing the right thing --again when in fact the only truthful thing to say is she is doing the same thing -- again.

September 7, 2008 - 12:09pm | j_edgar_hoover

BULLSHIT

It belongs right where it is. NOT in the hands of three cronies of the Governor. His judgment day cometh, and that right soon.

11 September 6, 2008 - 8:42am | akallegro

Wooten the fool

He could have answered the call from the Obama campaign and let them spin the story.

He could have written statements leaving out the parts that didnt suit him well.

Instead this is what he did.

CNN interviews Wooten

This is what America will see, even through the veil of CNN.

Trooper gate is over.

Next hurdle please.

September 6, 2008 - 9:23am | TheSdog

Allegro

You do not have an objective bone in your body.

No one disputes Wooten is a fool.

The quote from Monegan at the end of that piece is damning as is the interview he gave to CNBC.

The issue is did your hero abuse power not whether Wooten is a bad guy.

The ends do not justify the means no matter how much your Posse blinders want to try and make it.

September 6, 2008 - 9:35am | Cartman3_15

And where are your

"objective" bones?

Please do not pretend to have an ounce of objectivity when it comes to Palin.

10 September 6, 2008 - 7:31am | Stags_Leap

Troopergate LOOMS LARGE

all the major media outlets are reporting on the lack of cooperation on the special investigation:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/politics/06trooper.html?em

9 September 5, 2008 - 8:15pm | TheSdog

There was a myth

on here being perpetuated that the teleprompter was not working during Palin's speech. Posse members rfn and akallegro were perpetuating this fabrication.

You can find many things on the internet like this which are all from people in the press section that had a view of the teleprompter.

The Posse much like their leader just refuses to tell the truth.

It is unfortunate that we will not get her to testify. There would definitely be an "is" moment. We already know she can wag her finger like Bill and much like Bill it is usually when she is lying.

September 6, 2008 - 9:51am | akallegro

Facts is facts

You step up to the microphone to address 40,000,000 people, the teleprompter starts malfunctioning almost immediately. How would any of those 40,000,000 people handle the situation?

We will never know, but thank god we have Sdog who, apparently, is now an expert on giving speeches to one of the largest audiences in the world.

His keen insight on this reveals that its no big deal and nothing that anyone couldn't overcome.

Lets not forget how well Obama has handled minor little problems with a crowd maybe just a little smaller.

Of course we are talking about speeches not extemporaneous speaking that time and time again Obama has set the bar so high.

Thanks pup, once again your posts illuminate your acumen in a spectacular fashion.

Don't ever change.

September 6, 2008 - 9:56am | TheSdog

Fact: The telprompter worked

Now you try and spinb away and talk about the speech and general and Obama.

This is about a myth put out there to try and make it seem like your hero has special abilities.

So, now you have to resort to fabrications not only about what she has done but what she has not as well.

By the way blog tourists from around the country, allegro works for The Palin.

September 6, 2008 - 10:08am | Cartman3_15

Please provide proof

of this ridiculous allegation.

If you can.

September 6, 2008 - 10:31am | TheSdog

You mean

other than the fact allegro admitted it on this blog.

Links have already been provided to show the teleprompter worked. And if you read through them you will find out even the convention staff say it worked without a hitch.

I know you hate facts but I am not going to provide links multiple times to answer your fabrications.

September 6, 2008 - 10:45am | Cartman3_15

Nice smokescreen

I'll take your inability to provide a link to allegro's status as a Palin staffer as proof you made this up, too.

I believe your irrationally low opinion of Palin makes it easy for you to believe that allegro could be a staffer. But I also believe that any reasonable person who reads allegro's posts knows better.

September 6, 2008 - 11:11am | TheSdog

cartman

Even when you are drowning in links you still keep putting forth the same nonsense.

Did not say "staffer" because he was careful to not say "staffer." He did admit to working for her after b33 pointed it out and you know it.

September 6, 2008 - 11:28am | Cartman3_15

Thanks for clearing that up.

He works for her, but he's not a staffer. Got it.

September 6, 2008 - 1:49pm | TheSdog

Perhaps he can tell us again

exactly what it was again if he chooses to be honest... fat chance.

September 6, 2008 - 2:02pm | Cartman3_15

For someone who thinks he is

so much smarter than everyone else, you sure are gullible.

September 6, 2008 - 10:52am | Emperor

Cartman...

...slow down man, you're not tracking well.

Here is the link from US News and World Report debunking the "broken teleprompter myth".

September 6, 2008 - 11:02am | Cartman3_15

Pay attention

This is not what I'm disputing.

September 6, 2008 - 11:21am | Emperor

Oops...

...you're right. My bad.

September 5, 2008 - 8:20pm | rfn

I will dispute that.

Basing that dispute on having watched the entire speech and observed at least three instances where a TelePrompTer screen was clearly visible over Ms. Palin's shoulder (as see from the camera angle looking from the back). The issue was not notable in the first shot; in the second a loss of synchronization was apparent but not severe. By the third it was running on through the applause.

Generally there is but a single TelePrompTer feeding multiple monitors but this is not necessarily the case. I will allow the possibility, though extremely remote, that different observers looking at different screens, saw different things.

I'm sorry you didn't have the opportunity to watch; it was an outstanding performance.

September 5, 2008 - 8:37pm |

Removed

This post was deleted for being off topic or violating the ADN user agreement. We encourage readers to "flag" offensive or off-topic comments for review by ADN staff.

September 5, 2008 - 8:41pm | rfn

Edit?

Not!

September 6, 2008 - 10:29am | TheSdog

rfn

For you to flag anything when all you do is throw around insults just shows how small a person you truly are.

Go ahead Pravda and play his game and get rid of this one as well.

Your policy and selective enforcement continues to show that integrity is a word the ADN can never use.

September 6, 2008 - 10:42am | Cartman3_15

Hilarious

coming from you, the king of insults and personal attacks.

Damn, dog, you're so thin-skinned you think mere disagreement is a personal attack.