Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin faces state probe, nixing McCain VP rumors

Alaska doesn't get much news coverage, stuck way up in the northwest there on the shortest route to Asia. Not unless there's some crime (see the federal indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens this week) or the eternal congressional fight over drilling for oil in an unprotected corner of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Recently, there have also been some murmurs about its telegenic, reformist Republican governor, Sarah Palin, as a possible long shot for vice presidential running mate with Sen. John McCain.

The 44-year old mother of five earned the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" for her intensity as a high school basketball player, a nickname some political opponents have kept alive in adult times. She doesn't seem to mind.

The well-spoken politician won election in 2006 as a reformer and was quickly seen as a rising star in Republican political circles.

There was even a "Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President" movement or, at the very least, a website, despite her claims that a spot on the national ticket was not in the cards "this time around."

She's doing all right with Alaskan voters too, enjoying envious statewide popularity ratings somewhere above 80%.

But now Palin is also caught in a probe of her official conduct that likely nixes whatever chance she had to be on the McCain ticket. She's only been a governor for two years, but that's about four times as long as someone else mentioned as GOP VP pick, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

However, questions have now arisen over whether Palin used her office to try and fire her ex -brother-in-law from a state trooper's position. Palin asserts the charge is untrue, but the Alaska Senate this week approved the hiring of an independent investigator to look into the allegation.

Our colleague Frank James over at the Swamp has more details on this governor we're likely to hear more about in coming years.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Office of the Governor of Alaska

Comments

[Saundra Santiago]

This is an outrageous blog post. First, it is clearly plagiarism from the site linked at the last sentence on the post. Second, the headline is sensationalist and has no bearing in reality at all. Andrew Malcolm, take down this post, it is embarrassing to the Los Angeles Times.

(Uh, no. How can it be plagiarism if you're reading right here us crediting who wrote the rest of it? Second, we are sister blogs. They do the same with our items sometimes. Third, the headline is true. End of response. Thanks for reading.)

[Ted]

QUESTION: How do you know the Dems and MSM are petrified of Palin?

ANSWER: LA Times promotes story "Palin faces state probe nixing VP rumors" since Palin told police her state trooper ex-brother-in-law threatened to kill her dad.

[pinkheartforever]

Shameless post. It's all sensation and fails to actually discuss the FACTS. This "investigation" is a pure joke that is being done out of political revenge because Palin is upsetting the good-old-boys club in the Alaska legislature.

Apparently, though, you didn't want to actually research this - just smear an outstanding governor.

Hooray for Sarah Palin - you go girl!

[Jaws]

Why did you just report the probe and not the details surrounding it? Monegan was fired because he serves at the pleasure of the governor... end of story. No mention of Palin's approval ratings after the scandal broke or the validity of the claims. The article sets up some short factoids, then exists solely to propagate the idea that Palin is out of the running. Utter nonsense

[Dave H.]

Let's see now..
This ex brother-in-law (Alaska State Trooper) of the governor tasers the11 year old nephew of the governor, drinks alcohol in his police car, another time gets let go by his fellow troopers after a bartender called 911 that this trooper had just left the bar and was driving extremely drunk, he threatens to put a bullet in the head of the governors father ....and SHE is getting investigated for abuse of power for bringing all this to the attention of her Public Safety Commissioner? And the trooper still has his job. He wasn't fired!

WOW. Talk about the world being upside down.

[Saundra Santiago]

Plagiarism: close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.

The line, "Our colleague Frank James over at the Swamp has more details here on this governor we're likely to hear more about in coming years," does not attribute or credit the text that you use in the post.

Also, how do you know it nixes McCain VP rumors? Are you a part of the deliberative process in McCain's campaign?

Perhaps if you, as a "veteran foreign and national correspondent" bothered to actually investigate what you reported, you would find out why this post is so outrageous. Do your job Andrew, don't just cut and paste.

[Tom]

Wow, did you guys get very lazy on this one.

The troopergate investigation is nothing but fishing and everybody in Alaska knows it. It's all coming out and the governor is STILL massively popular because most people know this is nothing.

You obviously don't know how politics in Alaska works these days.

Palin is squeeky clean (at least so far) and gets attacked by the corrupt Republican establishment and the Dems.

LAT is such a MSM leftist rag it seems. Stuff like this just confirms. It's getting as bad as at the NY Times.

Can't we get even a minimal amount of professionalism and objectivity from the MSM today? Hopeless.

Well, continue to watch your circulation dwindle you lazy dimwits.

[Jim]

Typical arrogant, lazy (as Saundra so eloquently establishes), liberal gasbag reporter. Is there any wonder why the LA Times has declining circulation. Somebody should send this pitiful "post" to Sam Zell for review. He may tolerate the liberal pov, but he will not tolerate laziness.

[sptcash]

Back during the primary I respected and sort of liked Obama, but if Palin is chosen as VP -- I'm voting for McCain/Palin!!!

And I have to agree with everyone else: lousy blog post. Seriously, do some research first.

[SC]

I think you'd enjoy this video of Ted Steven's conversation caught on FBI wiretap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nHR-E_tZTE

[Carlos Echevarria]

Gov Sarah Palin is a GOP Wonder Woman...she would energize the base, give voice to true energy security, reform government along with MAC.

That state probe is a joke, her ex brother in law threatened her daughter, tasered his step son, drinks excessively, beats his ex wife....

I guess the MSM which is in the tank with Barry doesn't care about women's rights or sexism anymore...

McCain-Palin 2008

[Username]

I still want her as VP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andrew Malcolm]

Why does this guy resort to plagiarism, its not even a long article.

[Stephen A.]

I agree with many here saying this is an OUTRAGEOUS post. It's clear that the Democrats in the AK legsiature are stirring this "probe" up in order to "nix" her chances. It shows that they are scared of her being on the ticket and that means it MUST happen! Please go to facebook and search her name. Join her cause and make it happen!

[Letitrip]

Get real, get rid of her, she's corrupt. She abused her power. She's a narcissist.

This whole state is corrupt. I don't believe for one minute her rating is this high, only in the northern part, come down to Juneau where she screwed us. She's part of the machine that wants to move the capitol because they're greedy.

Lazy. LAZY. Do something about her. PFF, police will do nothing, they shoot my house and neighbors and fail to come out and investigate for 4 hrs. You go to the police station wait about 1 hour, NO ONE is there. Where are they? Home watching football? She's as bad, a do nothing. Typical republican.

[TheWiseOne]

This type of "journalism" is what all of us in the Midwest expect from the LAT, so no surprise here.

Anyway, Sarah Palin would be a fine VP choice, scaring the heck out of liberals... and Joe Biden. The liberals could not nominate their most qualifier person (HRC), instead choosing someone (BHO) more closely aligned with their "base" who literally has no track record to speak of.

You go, girl.

[randy]

to TheWiseOne,
Your comments demonstrate that your chosen blog name is an oxymoron. In order to overcome this problem may I suggest you first read the facts before you speak. You might even find to your surprise that you've been supporting the wrong side. That is unless you are from the top 1/10 of 1% of the wealthiest.
Randy

[Ocean]

Well Andrew - fast forward to Friday, August 29th, and the McCain Campaign announcement about their VEEP running mate... Can you say RETRACTION ??? At least your headline needs to be retracted... I'm an Obama supporter, but I'm still nonpartisan in the fact that irresponsible journalism is one of my pet peeves !!!!

[Peter J. Kraus]

Totally cool reporting.... and great tp read all the "outraged" comments by "concerned citizens" of the far right. Thanks, John McCain, for handing over the election to the Democrats with your fabulous choice of running mate. I almost peed myself when this incredible rumor turned out to be true this morning. Hallelujah!

[Joel]

Are you kidding me? Palin? The women who is under investigation: Questions have now arisen over whether Palin used her office to try and fire her ex -brother-in-law from a state trooper's position. Palin asserts the charge is untrue, but the Alaska Senate this week approved the hiring of an independent investigator to look into the allegation. Are you kidding me. John McCain states that he wanted to someone who shares his ideals and morals. Yes, Palin fits that profile, A Republican who likes to abuse their power in office...Hmmm..sounds like George Bush doesn't it. Someone who does not have any experience at all... Great choice John.

[Carlos]

Horrible choice! Why would Senator McCain choose someone who is even under investigation? I'm so disappointed.

As a long time republican, I'm lost. I would have thought Hutchinson would have been a better choice and someone who would have made me jump for joy.

Why John Why?

[Mid-American Jim]

"likely nixes whatever chance she had to be on the McCain ticket"

Just another unthinking liberal (to set him apart from thinking liberals, of which I concede there are many) stating wishes as if they were facts.

[steve P]

The girl is under investigation for abuse of power. It doesn't mater what her ex-bro did- If it was illegal, he should have been arrested. Using your office to try to get him fired *is* an abuse of power. With Obama harping on Republican abuse of power, how the heck does this help his ticket?
Fine, she's female. And her husband works for an oil company. She's young and pretty. And she's had a good year of experience as Gov. in a red state with a small population.
Are HRC's supporters worth that much? Is this going to get him many more than he had- especially considering her staunch pro-life stance? How many conservatives will he lose in the process?
I don't know. Can't wait to see the next round of polls.

[Ace]

GUess what, whe just got picked!!!

[ana]

I can't believe that anyone thinks this will 'scare' the Dems. Hilarious. We have the strongest ticket I've seen since Clinton/Gore. And to all the Hillary fans: If you think that just cause it's a girl somehow they're worth voting for, remember that McSame is still on the ticket and this unknown is NO Hillary. I mean, if you like recessions, unjustified wars, unemployment, and a health care crisis, then please give McSame your vote. But if you have a little bit of common sense and hope:
Obama-Biden '08
BTW, all Hillary supporters I know are pro-choice and pro universal health care. Let me know when the repugs hit on those, cause until then they are doomed.