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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2008 / The Only Thing Missing Is a Degree From Regents University

The Only Thing Missing Is a Degree From Regents University

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Sarah Palin, maverick reformer and McCain’s soulmate:

It didn’t take long. We’ve already brought you news of the official investigation into Gov. Palin’s firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Steve Branchflower, the lead investigator, began trying to arrange a deposition of the governor days before her veep selection. And despite claiming executive privilege to shield requested emails, up until that point Palin had promised full cooperation with the probe.

Now, however, she is refusing to submit to questioning by Branchflower unless he and the legislative committee that appointed him agree to relinquish control of the investigation and turn it over to a state review board made up of three Palin appointees.

A far right Christian ideologue who lies, abuses her authority, stonewalls investigators, and then refuses to testify. Why does this sound so familiar?

Putting aside the absurdity of the McCain campaign, in which we need to elect Republicans to reform the government after eight years of Republican rule, I can not believe that after eight years of Bush, this is the “reform” the Republicans think the country is craving. As Chris Orr notes:

I’m skeptical that this new, aggressive posture will serve Palin well: It ramps up the heat on the story and makes Palin look more like a typical pol under investigation and less like someone with minor issues to resolve back home. But evidently those around Palin–perhaps on the McCain campaign staff?–have now concluded that there is enough there there to make stonewalling preferable to downplaying. Either that or Palin felt that resisting legislative inquiries is an area where she needed to bone up if she was going to serve in a GOP administration.

Pretty much.

*** Update ***

Reader Interactions

60Comments

  1. 1.

    HumboldtBlue

    Well, you can always go over to TBogg’s place and play the “Let’s Name The Baby” game. It’s fun, really, it’s fun.

  2. 2.

    SGEW

    But but but . . . Robert “Speed Bump” Novak says that the Palin pick proves that John McCain is a “Political Genius”!

    (no link: I refuse)

  3. 3.

    SamFromUtah

    And despite claiming executive privilege to shield requested emails…

    Wait – do governors have executive privilege, or is that a right of Republican presidential / VP candidates?

  4. 4.

    handy

    Shorter rightwing response:

    “This just proves even more what a Maverick™ McCain was for this VP pick!! Oh by the way, did you know he was a POW?”

  6. 6.

    SGEW

    Thinking further:

    I would actually be more impressed by Gov. Palin if she did have a degree from Regents “Forth Tier*” University. A law degree is a law degree, after all.

    No wait. I retract that. A communications degree from a local community college is, in fact, a much greater qualification.

    *Seriously. Regents is one of two “4th tier” law schools. The other one has no accreditation and can be attended online. [signed, uppity elite university attendee]

  7. 7.

    Zifnab

    A far right Christian ideologue who lies, abuses her authority, stonewalls investigators, and then refuses to testify. Why does this sound so familiar?

    Did you say the magic words? Congratulations! You’re now the evangelical movement’s most favorite person! And once you get Dobson and company’s blessing, that’s it. You’re golden. No one can tell you that you are wrong, because you answer to a higher power.

    I mean, I know you like to joke about comparing Palin to Bush/Cheney ‘0-fuck, but let’s ditch the tunnel vision for a bit. Recognize that this is the MO of the modern evangelical movement.

    Take people’s money in exchange for verbal benedictions, build a vast empire, bully anyone you don’t like, break a few laws which you may or may not have been instrumental in getting passed in the first place, and flip the whole world the bird when you get caught because you can’t judge meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

    Bush / Cheney is just one more iteration of a scam that’s been getting middle American suckers for the last 250 years.

  8. 8.

    charles

    Here’s hoping that reporters are taking notes for whenever they get a chance to ask some questions.

  10. 10.

    w vincentz

    The Sarah list is indeed getting long for such a short time.
    We’ve only been vetting her for less than a week.
    Add two more to the list.
    1) As Gov, she cut funding for pregnant teenagers (Covenant House). Lucky mommy can support her own, but a whole lot of pregger AK girls could have used some help.
    2) As Gov, Sarah slashed funding for Special Educational Services. My guess is that this was done before Trig came along.

    I certainly hope someone is writing all these down, form troopergate, to wanting polar bears off the endangered species list, to lieing about the return of funds for the bridge to nowhere (it was unfunded 13 months before she became Gov), beluga whales, pipeline to Canada, arial wolf hunting, police chief gate, book burning gate, etc.
    Add your own….

  11. 11.

    chopper

    Now, however, she is refusing to submit to questioning by Branchflower unless he and the legislative committee that appointed him agree to relinquish control of the investigation and turn it over to a state review board made up of three Palin appointees.

    of course, she only appoints people loyal to her.

    this is hilarious. every day a little present. it’s like chanukah.

  12. 12.

    Jorge

    Dr. Laura on the Palin pick…
    http://www.drlaurablog.com/2008/09/02/sarah-palin-and-motherhood/

    I’m stunned – couldn’t the Republican Party find one competent female with adult children to run for Vice President with McCain? I realize his advisors probably didn’t want a “mature” woman, as the Democrats keep harping on his age. But really, what kind of role model is a woman whose fifth child was recently born with a serious issue, Down Syndrome, and then goes back to the job of Governor within days of the birth?

    This was my evangelical, pro-life wife’s reaction as well. My guess is that outside of orange-county sytle evangelicals (picture the Real Housewives), the choice of Palin isn’t all that inspiring.

  13. 13.

    jake

    Careful John or you might have to face the POWer of McHissyFit!

    McCain’s campaign declared “this nonsense is over” and announced a new ad to tout Palin’s credentials.

    [Two snaps]

  14. 14.

    cleek

    McCain’s campaign declared “this nonsense is over” and announced a new ad to tout Palin’s credentials.

    [Two snaps]

    Talk to the hand!

  17. 17.

    Xenos

    Maybe this is what it takes to make the media turn on McBarbecue. At some point the press has got to get a little of its self-respect back. I doubt there are many journalists who do not consider themselves smarter and better educated than McCain and especially Palin.

    Stonewalling Congress is one thing, but stonewalling all the media?

  19. 19.

    Cain

    But Rudy Giuliani says Sarah is ready for 9/11!

    Is she ready to be a POW? That’s the real question!

    cain

  23. 23.

    Mylegacy

    Palin is a non-issue to everyone except the far-right-wing of the evangelical-wing of the Republican Party. Even Dr. Laura has panned her selection.

    There is ONLY one issue, and that is McCain had MONTHS to vet EVERY Republican that could even have possibly been considered. They vetted her (such as it was) the day before she was selected. This woman has more baggage than Santa does on Christmas Eve!

    America CANNOT AFFORD to take a risk on a PRESIDENT that is that compulsive. McCain has PROVED he is intellectually and emotionally unfit for the office of President. Beyond that, his actions are an insult to America.

  24. 24.

    JGabriel

    And despite claiming executive privilege to shield requested emails…

    I’m kind of curious about something here.

    You see, when the Bush administration claims “Executive Privilege”, they have the weak (if spurious) claim that national secrets or security is at stake.

    What national secrets are at stake in the Alaska state government? Or state security?

    What possible reason could there be for a governor to claim executive privilege with respect to providing information or documentation?

    .

  26. 26.

    Stuck in the Fun House (nj)

    The depth of MCcain’s epic screw-up in choosing this woman is almost beyond belief. Among others things, it highlights his impulsive nature and blind ambition to be president. The wingnut spirit chasers pinned his ass to the wall and said pick this woman or else. Now the pickle he’s in. A VP candidate running a half step ahead of Johnnie Law and a vital voting block with an electoral gun to his head if he dumps her. It must be hell being John Mccain right now, but because of what we’re just learning — That he was a POW. –which might have been easier to take than the American Mullahs who now have him by the short hairs.

    Popcorn for all!!

  27. 27.

    Punchy

    My guess is that this was done before Trig came along.

    Not to go off on a tangent, but isn’t a sine of something that he’s born with Down’s? I’ll bet her hubby has to cosine a secant mortgage just to afford the intensive care. Wait a sec…did I just commit a sin by not diarying all this at DailyCos?

  28. 28.

    Tsulagi

    Sarah Palin, maverick reformer and McCain’s soulmate

    He really struck gold in Alaska with this pick didn’t he? I was ready for this election to be over two months ago, just call for a vote and be done with it, but now it’s getting fun.

    Erick is really leading the charge up comedy hill over at RedState. He’s in full citizen journo battle dress. Apparently Obama has put out a pro-choice campaign ad (gutsy, btw) that has some narration by a nurse, and here is the burning issue for Erick…

    And who is the nurse? We should know. Who put the nurse up to do the ad. She does not give out her name.

    Also Erick and the other Malkin wannabes are going batshit stupid over the CNN reporter, Campbell Brown, who dared ask a McCain spokesperson to name just one command decision by AKNG Commander Gal. No worries, Officer Erick sporting Citizen Journo bandaids from previous operations rises again to battle the evildoer, Campbell Brown…

    But since you seem to enjoy going into all the family details of the Palin family, etc., etc., etc., I’m wondering if you’d mind if I point out that your dad is a felon, having ripped off Louisiana citizens, committed insurance and mail fraud, and been found guilty of conspiracy.

    Nothing but class there. Of course, if you follow dipshit’s link he provides to back up his statement, you find this…

    Acquitted in 2000 on 43 charges of mail, insurance and wire fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering, Brown was convicted of lying to the federal agent during an interview

    First, you have to go on a gigantic leap of faith Erick even got the right Brown. Odds? Then according to Erick’s source, that Brown wasn’t guilty of what Erick claimed he was. That Brown was found guilty solely of lying to a federal agent during an investigation. Of course, something like that would be unpossible for a Republican.

    Let the comedy continue.

  30. 30.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    When will they learn? In a scandal 90% of the damage comes from the covderup.

    OT, I just saw “House Bunny”. Very funny.

  31. 31.

    Richard Bottoms

    Ohhh snap!!!

    Noonan and Murphy on an open mike (courtsey Kos):

    Noonan: [Can’t hear since Todd (who is still on air) is talking over her]

    Murphy: Um, you know, because, I come out of the blue swing state governor world. Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, I mean, and these guys, this is all how you win a Texas race, just run it up, and it’s not gonna work.

    Noonan: It’s Over.

    Murphy: Still, McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech and do himself some good.

    Todd: [can’t really tell what he says, but he mentions something about “insulting to Kay Baily Hutchinson]

    Noonan: I saw Kay this morning…

    Todd: She’s never looked comfortable up there..

    Murphy: They’re all bummed out.

    Todd: I mean, is she really the most qualified woman they can obtain?

    Noonan: The most qualified? No. I think they went for this, excuse me, political bullshit about narratives…[couldn’t hear the end of it]

    Todd: Yeah, but what’s a narrative?

    Murphy: I totally agree.

    Noonan: Every time Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.

    Murphy: You know what’s the worst thing about it, the greatest of McCain is no cynicism, and..

    Murphy and Todd together: This is cynical.

    Todd: And as you called it, gimmicky.

  33. 33.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    Seriously. Regents is one of two “4th tier” law schools.

    Do they choose to be unaccredited, like Bob Jones U?

  34. 34.

    JGabriel

    Stuck in the Fun House (nj):

    The depth of MCcain’s epic screw-up in choosing this woman is almost beyond belief. […] It must be hell being John Mccain right now, but because of what we’re just learning…

    In some way, it really must be humiliating for McCain to have to put his integrity – such as it is – on the line for a candidate with this many skeletons in her closet, and who, up until last week, he had only met once.

    If it weren’t for his enormous wealth, I might even feel a little sorry for the guy.

    .

  36. 36.

    Mary

    Here’s my transcript of Noonan and Murphy, if you can’t play the video:

    Murphy: … but you know, I come out of a blue state governor world, right? Engler, Whitman, Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. And these guys this all — this is all like how you win a Texas race, just run it up. It’s not gonna work.
    Noonan: It’s over.
    Murphy: But still, McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech and do themselves some good?
    Todd: Don’t you think it’s kind of insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson?
    Noonan: I saw Kay this morning
    Todd: She’s NEVER going to be comfortable about this
    Murphy: She’s all bummed out
    Todd: I mean, is she really the most qualified woman?
    Noonan: The most qualified? No. I think they went for this — excuse me — political bullshit about narratives, the big picture. Every time Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.
    Murphy: You know what’s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism —
    Todd: — and this is cynical. And as you called it, gimmicky.
    Murphy: Yep.
    Todd: Thanks, guys.

  39. 39.

    Mary

    Aw. Beat to it. Here, from someone at the GOS, Noonan playing a different tune about Palin in the WSJ.

    Because she jumbles up so many cultural categories, because she is a feminist not in the Yale Gender Studies sense but the How Do I Reload This Thang way, because she is a woman who in style, history, moxie and femininity is exactly like a normal American feminist and not an Abstract Theory feminist; because she wears makeup and heels and eats mooseburgers and is Alaska Tough, as Time magazine put it; because she is conservative, and pro-2nd Amendment and pro-life; and because conservatives can smell this sort of thing — who is really one of them and who is not — and will fight to the death for one of their beleaguered own; because of all of this she is a real and present danger to the American left, and to the Obama candidacy.

    Come on, Peggy. Let down your hair, swear a little more, and tell the fucking truth for a change, OK?

  40. 40.

    Alex

    I figured this one was in the bag when Kristol predicted that Palin would lead to the discovery of Saddam’s WMDs in Iraq a harmonious secular union between Iraqi sunnis and shiites a McCain victory in November.

  42. 42.

    SGEW

    Do they choose to be unaccredited . . . ?

    No, alas. They are, in fact, accredited.

    Somehow. I don’t really get it, to tell the truth.

  44. 44.

    Punchy

    Punchy, if ever a post was worth doubling, that was it.

    If Cole’s communist server quit trying to both run this site and count to 4, it might actually get the posts correct.

    Who the fuck is Peggy Noonan, and why should I care what she says?

  48. 48.

    JGabriel

    Punchy:

    Who the fuck is Peggy Noonan, and why should I care what she says?

    That’s two questions, so here’s the answer in two parts:

    A) Wall Street Journal columnist, GOP strategist and speechwriter for Reagan and Bush I. Responsible for Bush I’s famous line about “a thousand points of light”.

    B) You shouldn’t.

    .

  49. 49.

    SGEW

    On Ben Smith’s blog, I found this comment:

    It’s all political ******** !! Are you kidding ??? Its all about winning !!! And Palin on the ticket is a winner !!

    And, of course, my reaction was to chuckle a bit, then move on. Then I realized: wait, could this person be actually serious? No – impossible!

    This sort of comment (superfluous exclamation points and all) used to be the bread and butter of online support. Now? I just automatically assume it’s spoof.

    It’s a dark day for your campaign when it is literally impossible tell the difference between honest support and satire.

    And again, for those who missed it in a previous thread, here is today’s Pollster.com poll of polls.

    [w00t!]

  50. 50.

    w vincentz

    @ Punchy,
    The Special Education Service is part of the Alaska Dept of Education. She cut their funding.

    On a side note, I’ve been listening to all the RNCers whining about how the big bad “media” is being too harsh on Caribou Barbi. Yuppers…it’s the evil MEDIA (again).
    Last time I heard all this media bashing by the Refuck VP, it was a jerk that resigned in disgrace after he said the words “nolo contendre”.
    Yuppers…this is an Agnew moment deja vu.

  51. 51.

    dbrown

    McInsane just told a national news anchor on ABC a few minutes ago that he was an experienced commander because he commanded the largest squadron in the Pacific – WTF? He was a pilot who commanded nothing – this is the biggest outright lie I have heard. I have tried to pull up ABC and get the interview but I can’t find it. Someone needs to check this out and see if I heard right.

  52. 52.

    Jay in Oregon

    What possible reason could there be for a governor to claim executive privilege with respect to providing information or documentation?

    Because SHUT UP, that’s why!

  53. 53.

    rachel

    As Mayor, she threatened to fire the town librarian

    Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. “She asked the library how she could go about banning books,” he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. “The librarian was aghast.” That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving “full support” to the mayor.

    The list of books begins:.

    A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
    A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
    Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
    As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
    Blubber by Judy Blume
    Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
    Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
    Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
    Carrie by Stephen King
    Catch-22 by Joseph Heller…

  54. 54.

    Walker

    A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

    This book has Narnia-level religious overtones. What the hell is her problem?

  56. 56.

    Calliope

    I don’t believe this list. There are books on there, like the Harry Potter titles, that were published when she was Governor, long after the firing the librarian incident.

  58. 58.

    Calliope

    More about the list. “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” was published in 2000, and she left office (term limits) in 2002.

    The quote from The Frontiersman newspaper, when she said her questioning the librarian about banning books was “rhetorical” is usually dated as from 1996.

  59. 59.

    Calliope

    Arrggh. Is there some way to edit comments after you’ve posted them?

    I meant to start my last comment with:

    “I was wrong. The books seem all to have been published while she was still mayor. For example, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire…etc. etc.

    And I meant to put a “However,” at the head of the bit about the Frontiersman quote.

    Dagnabbit. Must stop rewriting in my head, and actually type it out.

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