Palin and “Tasergate”

Given the prevailing tenor of this blog’s previous Sarah Palin posts (see “Previously,” below), I suppose I should say something about the Branchflower report (released yesterday) on Palin’s actions in re: the firing/reassignment of Alaska’s Commissioner of Public Safety.  Fortunately, better minds than mine have already examined its 263 pages, and found it wanting:

Gov. Palin’s so-called “firing” of Monegan (it wasn’t a firing, it was a re-assignment to other government duties that he resigned rather than accept) can’t simultaneously be a violation of the Ethics Act [the Report’s “Finding 1” - o.g.] and “a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority.” [the Report’s “Finding 2”]

Unsurprisingly, lapses in logic are simply too nuanced for our in-the-tank press to notice (especially when drawing attention to them might get in the way of the Official Narrative):

The New York Times and other media outlets, like CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, etc., all claim the same basic headline - that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power in the allegations that she fired a state trooper...

My own reaction:  If the investigation had uncovered something substaitial, this could have been big.  But it turns out there’s no “there” there.  People who have been paying attention (rather than using the controversy as a “gotcha”) already suspected this, and will be unsurprised.  Others– including most of the mainstream press– will take advantage of the report’s internal inconsistencies to spin it to match their agenda.  Also unsurprising.

Beyond that, it’s not worth wasting a lot of time over.  But, if you insist, start with Bill Dyer’s post, then skim the report itself.


Elsewhere:

Previously:

Posted by: Old Grouch in In Passing at 20:00:27 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 376 words, total size 7 kb.