"Taint" Misbehavin'
Alaska's governor and America's sweetheart has said, up to now, that she'd comply with an investigation into her firing of a state employee who divorced her sister. Things change.
Mrs Palin was "unlikely to co-operate" with the inquiry "so long as it remains tainted and run by partisan individuals that have a pre-determined conclusion", the AFP news agency quotes him as saying.
Tainted? Who are these partisans, anyway?
In July, the four Democrats and eight Republicans on Alaska's Legislative Council voted unanimously to investigate the circumstances of Monegan's dismissal.
So, 12 people from both parties agreed to start the investigation, and they are "partisan individuals." That makes sense if Alaska is divided into a Palin Party and an Anti-Palin Party, but that's the only way in which it makes sense. We'll probably be told that everyone opposed to Palin's governorship is a hidebound party hack who opposes her reforms. But we were told Palin "said thanks but no thanks to that Bridge for Nowhere," and that had all the veracity of a Baron Munchausen story, too.
Meanwhile, the McCain campaign responds to Tina "bitch is the new black" Fey's skit about Palin by calling Fey a sexist.
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
She could have just fired him for being so damn frightening to look at. He has skin that would make Edward James Olmos cringe.
There are more republicans on that council than democrats? 8 to 4? and all 12 voted unanimously?
You know what this means don't you?
Numbers are sexist!
I await the coming of the URKOBOLD with anticipation.
I await the coming of the URKOBOLD with anticipation.
Yes, YES, YES!!
URKOBOLD PH'TANG!
In running the sleaziest campaign since South Carolina in 2000 and standing by completely debunked lies on national television, it's clear that John McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election.
She is small and thin, but Tiny?
Republican VP candidate lies and refuses to comply with ethics investigation during major run . . . cue fourth estate outrage in 3, 2,. . .oh wait a minute, Maverick. Never mind.
Tiny "bitch is the new black" Fey
Weigel was clearly thinking "Tiny Bitch" when he wrote that. I guess his hobbit girlfriend finally left him.
SCA is not a place to pick-up women of any size, David.
SugarFree - You didn't see this?
Numbers are sexist!
Numbers have a liberal bias.
Tbone wins.
He was pointing out your typo.
"McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election."
The sad (and under-noticed) notion is that losing integrity is an election winner.
Lincoln was right...Americans get the government they deserve.
David Weigel,
Of course I did. It's just that the "Tina->Tiny" typo finally revealed your sick dwarf fetish. I'm not shocked; I'm a good cosmotarian and all.
You need help, David. We'll give you the love and support you need. This is a safe place to discuss your feelings in a judgment-free environment.
Yeah, BOMB freak, spill it. We won't judge your sicko desires.
Why would anyone want to investigate Palin? She drives her kids to hockey practice, and that's good enough for me.
Wow, Dave is a kinkier dude than I thought.
What do you guys think about getting a nice cold-cut platter for David's intervention? Sometimes those thing run a little long and some of us have low blood sugar issues.
Well, if you just say "partisan" and "liberal" often enough, the base will lap it up, and the Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly-types will proclaim it to be true.
By the way, I'm missing the part where the same 12 people who called for the investigation are the ones conducting it. Am I misreading?
"Taint Your Wagon"
As for the actual sub-topic of the post...
Fey did a very good Palin, maybe Fargoing up the accent a little too much at first. But I don't see why all the chortling from the anti-Palinite Hillary fans. Palin comes off as superficial and little dumb. Poehler's Hillary is a terrifyingly self-obsessed egomaniac. Her psychopathology-tinged giggle and massive entitlement is supposed to be a favorable contrast to Palin's inexperience?
I think it was mostly a wash for the notion of women-in-politics.
"Waggin Your Taint?"
Never mind, apparently the are not the same people. It's the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee. The same committee where the Democratic chairman claimed the results of the investigation could lead to an "October surprise". No partisanship there, for sure.
PALIN SPEAKS WITH SUCH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE SHE HAS RETAINED THE URKOBOLD FOR HIS LEGENDARY TAINT-REMOVAL SERVICES.
Yet another hit piece from Reason. If you want to actually base your opinion on facts instead of rumors and smears try this well researched article at Flopping Aces. They've done other pieces on Troopergate as well.
http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/09/15/latest-in-troopergate-psea-complaint-specifics-special-asst-ag-may-block-legislative-subpoenas/#more-8564
You know, I used to respect Reason but not so much anymore.
FAIL
In running the sleaziest campaign since South Carolina in 2000 and standing by completely debunked lies on national television, it's clear that John McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election.
The following is a comprensive list of politicians who would prefer to lose an election rather than compromise their integrity.
I may have left one or two out, but I doubt it.
Saying that Hillary is substantive and Palin is superficial is sexist because they have different view? B'wah? Sure it's simplistic, but sexist? Maybe it was because Poehler's Clinton said she had balls. But this seems like Fiorina is using the old "criticizing a woman candidate is sexist" defense. Which, ironically enough, is sexist.
I await for Fiorina's CNBC interview titled, "Mark Hurd is sexist because he's a better CEO than I am."
J sub FTW!
Fey did a very good Palin
Whoah, NutraSweet--hold on. You watched SNL? Are you some kind of masochist?
I too am disappointed in the deceptive presentation here of this issue. Whatever qualms people may reasonably have about her qualifications, when the chairman of the opposing political party preemptively declares the "investigation" a coming "October surprise," that calls its integrity into serious question.
You know I'm married, so I obviously have a high tolerance for pain.
I obviously have a high tolerance for pain.
Yeah, but SNL is torture. They use it at Guantanamo Bay.
The SNL skit was hilarious. It had some satirical hyperbole, but it wasn't over the top and it was very funny. If you missed it, check it out at:
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/
Ah, gotta love Flopping Aces. Here's Curt's take on that criminal mastermind, Kathryn Johnston.
I first saw the sketch on crummy internet video, and Fey was so spot-on I couldn't tell if it was actually Palin. I thought, "Wow, Palin is a really good sport."
Ah, so the Chairman of the committee with twice as many Republican members as Democrats, which voted unanimously, is a Democrat, and thinks the October release date for their report may influence the election.
Personally, I think he sounds sexist. And panicked. Also, flat-footed. Am I missing any?
You know, John McCain couldn't responde to any subpoenas for five and a half years.
I await for Fiorina's CNBC interview titled, "Mark Hurd is sexist because he's a better CEO than I am."
Huh. When I heard about the latest acquisition and layoffs, I thought HP might have her back.
The intro was the only good part of SNL. The rest was absolute rubbish--more so than usual.
joe,
Wrong committee.
I may have left one or two out, but I doubt it.
J sub D,
you forgot:
and
That should complete the list.
You know, John McCain couldn't responde to any subpoenas for five and a half years.
They don't allow service at the Hanoi Hilton do they?
The intro was the only good part of SNL. The rest was absolute rubbish--more so than usual.
I dunno... I thought (damning with faint praise) that this one was funnier than most of last season.
That the creepy kids sketch with Phelps having rather large braces was pretty funny.
Epi, don't you watch Mad TV? That show was at least as punishing as SNL. I was over a friends house a couple years ago, switching back and forth between a football game and a Mad TV rerun. After about the fifth completely lame sketch, he turned to me and said "it's like a line of comedy soldiers, marching to their deaths". Which was the funniest line I'd heard all day.
That the creepy kids sketch with Phelps having rather large braces was pretty funny.
I liked that too, but it suffered from the failing of 90% of SNL. It went on way too long.
The digital short was a bit longer as well, but deliciously bizarre.
BP, MAD TV was hilarious around 1998-2001. They still have moments (I admit I don't really watch any more). Watch the older ones on Comedy Central with Will Sasso, Frank Caliendo, Ares Spears, etc. from that time period. Or go on youtube and search "MADTV Kenny Rogers" (watch the Jackass ones first).
MAD TV has gotten pretty bad but they at don't commit SNL's ultimate sin of beating every skit into the ground so hard it leaves a dent.
Awesometown
In case you haven't seen it, the Andy Sandberg sketch comedy pilot that Fox turned down. Keep an ear out for 2 Live Crew on the non-Fox cut.
My fiance showed me the sketch. Wow, was Fey's Palin great. She overdid the accent a bit (especially right in the beginning), but I couldn't have told them apart.
Awesometown
It may be yet another generational failing, but Andy Sandberg is freaking hilarious (and only a little obnoxious in his certain knowledge of that fact).
Isn't SNL on for an hour and a half? They've never been good enough to deserve that.
Fox turned down a comedy show with potential? What a shock. Guess they needed the airtime for such brilliant live-action comedy as 'til Death and that new suckfest with the Sliders guy. I don't know what the hell Niece(sp?) Nash was thinking leaving Reno 911! for that.
Isn't SNL on for an hour and a half? They've never been good enough to deserve that.
One of the great mysteries. But live takes without editing also hurts. They've almost completely denied themselves the use of editing and camera movement as comic assists.
Isn't SNL on for an hour and a half?
All hail the blessed TiVo and the most holy product of its womb, the fast-forward button. Amen.
Yeah, I recall liking that, even though I've since forgotten what it was.
But the sketches. Ugh. Not one of them was funny. And it didn't help that a sports-figure guest always means a few unfunny suck-up sketches. (He swims fast! He eats a lot!)
Even the commercial was lame. The news was pretty good, though.
Bags, that Flopping Aces link is awesome. He truly believes that cops have the right to murder citizens in their homes. I'd never heard that position articulated so, um, boldly before.
He eats a lot!
I liked that part. "And you've still got two whole gooses!"
All hail the blessed TiVo and the most holy product of its womb, the fast-forward button
When do you stop pressing fast-forward? I'm am amazed at your tolerance for terrible comedy.
Episiarch,
The trick is to only watch every fifth minute. When those minutes are strung together, SNL is a brilliant comedy experience. Try it--you'll see.
I know it's not up to your manatee-written standards...
It's unseemly, but kinda funny, to see the Republicans nominate a woman and immediately start acting like a bunch of Womyn's Studies majors.
Daze,
Just wait until McCain starts wearing red to celebrate his period.
No, no! You cant do it, my friend!
Fey a sexist
If by "sexist" they mean unfunny lefty writer-actress, then yes.
"...that criminal mastermind, Kathryn Johnston."
Drugwar Uber Alles!!
Never mind, apparently the are not the same people. It's the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee. The same committee where the Democratic chairman claimed the results of the investigation could lead to an "October surprise". No partisanship there, for sure.
Linky?
Just remember folks, it could have been worse. It could have been Carly Fiorina on the ticket.
...must now go bleach my brain to get that thought out...
As usual, Weigel has no idea what he's taking about.
http://www.fox59.com/pages/landing_politics/?Palins-attorney-tries-again-to-derail-in=1&blockID=50418&feedID=26
Sen. Hollis French, who is overseeing the investigation
Palin also released the emails the firing were based on.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/16/palin-fires-back-in-troopergate-releases-memos-showing-insubordination/
Sarah Palin issued a response to the Troopergate investigation yesterday by releasing internal memoranda that show Walt Monegan got fired for insubordination on budget matters and not because of his refusal to fire Palin's former brother-in-law. Monegan went behind Palin's back to attempt to revive a project Palin had vetoed, which "stunned" the Office of Management and Budget Director. On another occasion, Monegan held a press conference with Hollis French to dissent from Palin's budget priorities - the same Hollis French pushing the ethics complaint against Palin:
Sorry, another empty hole.
Maybe now we can finally ask Obama about his "consultant" job?
RC Dean:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/palin.investigation/
Which just happens to be exactly what the first quote Mr. Weigel posted was referring to, but he twisted it all around.
If Barry loses, Dave'll be cryin' himself ta sleep on his huge pilla.