Palin Claims Right to See All State Files

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Consortium News

Palin’s new position was summed up in a Sept. 9 letter from Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg to the state legislature, which has authorized an independent counsel probe into whether Palin and her staff illegally accessed confidential personnel records of her ex-brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten.

The probe also focuses on Palin’s firing of state Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan in July after he refused to fire Wooten.

Colberg’s argument is that Palin can access confidential files of any state employee she chooses and thus the allegation that she got unauthorized access to Wooten’s personnel records – by whatever means – is moot.

“It does not violate the State Personnel Act for Department of Administration Staff to provide confidential personnel information to the governor or her staff — or for the governor or her staff to receive that information — in the course and scope of their official duties,” the attorney general wrote.

“The governor or her staff may, in the course and scope of their official duties, review a confidential personnel file to ensure, for example, that an employee is adequately supervised, appropriately evaluated, and appropriately disciplined. In appropriate cases, the governor may also direct the termination of a state employee.”

This legal analysis appears to be an attempt to provide Palin and her staffers with legal cover for allegedly disseminating confidential information about Wooten in a campaign to get him fired.

Read more: http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/091308c.html

[dkf]

1. Is that normally legal?

[Hestia]

3. I wouldn't think so, especially if the person snooping has a personal

vendetta against the very person who's files she is seeking. Man...

[habitual]

2. well, obviously this part is the big deal:

"in the course and scope of their official duties,"

which this clearly was not.

[EFerrari]

8. Right. She has no right to misuse their information to further

a personal vendetta so this excuse just begs the question.

[aquart]

4. Finally, she understands the Bush doctrine.

[lonestarnot]

6. lol preemptive strike against those political foes works well for them

even when they're exposed.

[merh]

22. Be sure to see this in the NYT

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7058207

check out my post 38 for a tidbit or two

[Tigress DEM]

13. When I'm the Governor that makes it legal. lol nt

[kristopher]

5. Unless the media stresses it, all this story need do is provide a rationale

Unless the media stresses it, all this story need do is provide a rationale from which the Bushbots may suspend their disbelief.

They hear criticism of illegal access and it connects automatically to the furnished cover story. No thought ever enters the process.

[kestrel91316]

7. "I am the Queen of Everything," sayeth the good Sarah.

"Obey me, or I shall order your head lopped off!"

[Greyskye]

9. Executive Privilege.

Sounds familiar. You can put lipstick on a... oops.

[Gman]

10. We cannot second guess Israel...

We cannot second guess Israel...

We cannot second guess Israel...

[davidinalameda]

19. what the hell does Israel have to do with this?

[Gman]

21. My strange obscure way of pointing out how shallow she is

During Palin's interview with Charlie what's-his-face on ABC he questioned her about Israel and Iran. She responded 3 different times with the identically worded answer that "We cannot question Israel...etc." My point is the woman is so shallow she cannot think beyond what she has been programmed to say. There is no depth to any response on anything you ask her because she hasn't a clue about much at all besides shooting moose.

SInce she was programmed by neocons to replay neocon philosophical talking points I think the quote could should be used to show the how shallow she is and also to demonstrate the irrational world view of neocons.

[unblock]

11. it's the state-level version of the urinary excretive theory!

that's the theory that she can piss on anyone and you can't do sh*t about it!

[Tigress DEM]

14. tee hee. It's my party and I'll piss on whoever I want to...

LOOKOUT Witchipoo - the fan is facing your direction.


Who is going to clean her up after this?

[Tigress DEM]

12. Here's the rub. CONFLICT OF INTEREST and INTENT.

So how many other state troopers did the Gov personally review and what was the purpose of this review and why did it get up to her level?

What kind of discipline other than ordering his termination had proceeded her attempt to remove her brother in law?

Were there verbal warnings of any kind about any specific behavior? Were there written warnings?

Did he make any effort to comply with requests to alter the behavior or what was so egregious that he needed to be removed without this standard process of evaluation and discipline?

[PSPS]

16. You're sure sight about that

Back in the day, when I was employed by what was then the largest private employer in the country, there were very specific guidelines regarding personnel matters including explicit documentation of "problems" and the necessary repeated steps, including thorough documentation, that one must take related to any personnel matter. And these rules applied to everyone including (maybe especially) those in the board room. Any deviation would bring the hammer down regardless of your position.

As someone earlier pointed out, this is the Nixon/Bush "doctrine." "If I'm the (president/governor), it's not illegal," and "I have the right to do it if it encompasses (national security/my official duties.)"

What a load. Another bushbot.

[Steelworker In OH]

15. Hmmmm

Sounds like abuse of power for personal reasons to me....

[DebbieCDC]

17. Did Fredo Gonzalez and John Yoo train this guy?

Haven't we heard this song before -- "lawyers" providing "governing officials" with "legal" justification for wrongdoing? It's the fuckin Twilight Zone.

[Imagevision]

18. geeez! sounds like Sarah is taking the investigation seriously?

[tanyev]

20. Kind of like stating that Plame's identity had actually been declassified

by Bush/Cheney/Easter Bunny, so it wasn't really a crime to leak it.

[angstlessk]

23. she is applying 'unitary executive' already ...she THINKS she is already

the president!!!!