Sen. Ted Stevens Imbroglio

Gov. Palin has joined the ranks of others calling for Sen. Stevens to resign his position.  Stevens was convicted of seven felony counts and still insists on continuing his bid for re-election.  Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voiced his opinion about Sen. Stevens' bid for Senate. 

"'If he is re-elected and the felony charge stands through the appeals process, there is zero chance that a senator with a felony conviction would not be expelled from the Senate,' McConnell said while campaigning in Kentucky."

Alaska Daily News endorses Barack Obama!

Alaska Daily News has published an endorsement of Barack Obama for President.  Despite having their governor, Sarah Palin, in as the vice presidential nominee running with McCain, ADN has decided to endorse their adversary, Obama, because of his "eratic" behavior concerning the economy.  The paper makes the argument that McCain is equivocal to Bush, an argument Obama has been making for quite a while.

Sen. McCain describes himself as a maverick, by which he seems to mean that he spent 25 years trying unsuccessfully to persuade his own party to follow his bipartisan, centrist lead. Sadly, maverick John McCain didn't show up for the campaign. Instead we have candidate McCain, who embraces the extreme Republican orthodoxy he once resisted and cynically asks Americans to buy for another four years.

When talking about their governor Sarah Palin, the newspaper had this to say.

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.

ADN has gone out on a limb in this clearly red state and the implications of its endorsement may not be so dramatic.  Voter turnout and the appeal of the Republican Party still strongly favors Sen. McCain.

Ten Days until election day!

McCain enjoys a favorable lead over Obama and the Palin red state will not change its colors to match Palin's new wardrobe, no matter what!  Despite the negativity that has been prevalent in the lower 48 about McCain, Alaska is immune to it all.

The Senate race in Alaska is notably close with embattled Senator Stevens, (who is on trial for abuses of his office by accepting gifts he's termed as loans), trailing by 1% to his Democratic rival Begich.

Palin abused her power.

Gov. Sarah Palin has been implicated by the Alaska state legislature for an "abuse of power" wherein her office was used "in a crusade against the officer".

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," concluded investigator Steve Branchflower in his report made public Friday.

The committee voted 12-0 for release of the report on Friday.  Since then, slings and arrows have been flying from Palin's attorneys and from Branchflower.  Palin's attorneys have accused Branchflower of "using the probe in a partisan attempt to 'smear the governor by innuendo.'"

But the report also stated that Gov. Palin did not unlawfully fire her public safety commissioner, Wall Monegan.  Other factors were involved, such as Palin's bias towards Whooten.  

The implication of Gov. Palin does not punish her for the deeds she is accused of.  Instead, the attorney general or legislative branch of Alaska will impose sentencing upon her that could include a monetary fine.  However, all of this will not come to fruition until long after the general elections are held.  This would be in January when the Alaska legislature reconvenes.

Gov. Palin's spokesman did issue a statement saying the investigation "vindicated the governor by finding that she acted within her constitutional authority to remove 'at-will' employees," and that findings of the ethics-law violations "required speculation and assumptions" that "could not be supported solely on the basis of the evidence."

The backlash of this negative spotlight could further hinder Sen. McCain's bid for the White House.  In the next week it will be interesting to see how, and if, the Obama camp uses this to a strategic advantage.  The message that Republicans have been running about Obama's unethical involvement in the "Chicago machine" of corrupt politicians and donors could be called into question with this accusation of ethical violations by Gov. Palin.

Troopergate creeps in...

Pictured above: Sarah Palin, Walt Monegan, and state trooper Mike Wooten

The news about the Alaskan legislative investigation into Sarah Palin's alleged involvement with the firing of an Alaskan State Trooper is starting to make its way to headlines.  A 25 page letter written by Todd Palin describes in detail the reasons why he was attempting to get then State Trooper Whooten fired from his position.  Todd Palin denies that his efforts are what caused the trooper to be fired.  There were two key issues that Palin brought up; a time when the governor was accused of having her son Trig in a car without an appropriate car seat, and a time when the governor was denied access to an airplane.  These incidents prompted the ongoing investigation.  

Since she has been chosen as McCain's Vice Presidential candidate, Gov. Palin has switched tactics from transparency to confidentiality regarding the incident.  

A great deal has been said about Mr. Whooten's personal behavior.  There are reports that he shot a deer, or a female moose, and used a Taser on his stepson.  This affront to the Palin family did not go unnoticed.  A light 10 day suspension is reported to have irked Mr. Palin who told public safety commissioner, Mr. Monegan, that he  and Sarah "were not happy with the punishment" and that Todd was "clearly frustrated."

Apparently not everyone has been frustrated with Mr. Whooten's service to Alaska as he remains on duty as a patrol trooper.  He has, so far, declined to be interviewed.

If the decision handed down by the courts is not favorable to Governor Palin, the implications for John McCain could be equivalent to an October surprise, an event unanticipated that shows faults in character.

The investigation into Palin continues

Seven people have agreed to give statements to the Alaskan legislature regarding the Troopergate scandal involving Gov. Sarah Palin.  Palin's chief of staff is among the seven who will give a statement.  The investigation is to be completed by October 10th.  There are signs that McCain's campaign is running interference and have attempted to delay the outcome.