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

[Kris]

What a blatant abuse of power by the NYT bloggers. If you're going to attempt to inform the public-at-large about Sarah Palin's many great qualifications, at least get it right.

AMERICA - YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

McCain and Palin '08!!!

COUNTRY FIRST! COUNTRY FIRST!!!

[Bill Whitaker]

The (former) keys to GOOD journalism were to REPORT Who, What, When, Where, WHY.
Today being a REPORTER seems to give one a right to present extremely biased OPINIONS about anyone the writer/announcer is not in favor of.
Little, if any, research is attempted. When and if any research is performed, the results are slanted to the writer/announcers point of view.
Often, as in the case of this posting, a vituperative quote (or headline) is offered with no justification other than to support the writers own biased point of view.
I have quit subscribing to ALL newspapers and find myself having to watch two TV news programs (Fox News and CNN) in order to filter the opinions of both sides of an issue, to gather a semblance of an idea about what REALLY happened. Not YOUR opinion of what should have happened.
BillW
NC Coast

[ED]

Palin ran on ethics reform and now many of her people were recorded trying to get this trooper fired. How un eithical is that? She should be in jail for using her position in such an un eithical way.

[MrUniteUs]

Palin praised Obama's energy plan

“I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.”

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1384

[Chris]

Mrs. McCain should be careful now and keep a close eye on her husband!

[Cindy Vye Koden]

Be on the lookout for the topless pics of Palin that are coming out soon! What a great rep for America! McCain has one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave, can you see Palin handling Iran. Russia and other powers in the world? What is she going to do - bake them cookies from her PTA recipes? Obama's speech last night clinched the nomincation, but its great to see McCain going down in FLAMES! buh-bye

[Fran]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED that the LAT would do a hatchet job on Palin!

[El Mugroso]

A circus of hypocrisy of McCain: "Obama is not fit to be Coomander in Chief, but Sarah is!"

That's McCain's new claim in search of fools to lead.

[GGwize]

Well now the Republicans have their very own Geraldine Ferraro. Now we can watch this McCain run end like Mondale. He just wanted someone shorter than he is.

The HOBBIT ticket is on the loose.

[The Daily McCain]

It really could not have been worst than this. Of course, watch this video on the brilliant John McCain daily video blog parody for some VP short list humor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAURlu3y7M

[RoFo71]

Wonderful!
A right wing nutjob, with mayoral experience over 9,000 people, she's only in the middle of her first term as governor which she barely won, a right-to-lifer who has used her womb a lot, this is what qualifies to be a literal heartbeat away from the presidency?
You could tell that this was the first time McCain had even heard her speak.
Biden will mop the floor with this nobody, and he'll do it nicely with a smile on his face.
This woman is no Hillary Clinton, and Clinton's supporters know it, and they're insulted by this pick.

[paul anthony]

I am loving the left wingers trying to come up with something to bash the moment. Actually all they are doing is trying to lick their wounds. They now see what a REAL leader that happens to be a woman looks like. Hill is just a fabricated persona propped up because her husband happened to be president in the past. If it weren't for Bill, we would say "Hillery who?" The mantle has been passed to a more deserving person.

[Gina]

Well now, if we can get 90% of American women to vote for McCain/Palin, because Palin is a woman ... just like 90% of blacks voted for Obama because he is black ... this country would be in good shape.

[Jim Cass]

Congrats! It's so exciting to have a McCain and Palin ticket in 2008! Good Luck!

http://www.johnmccainsarahpalin.us

[amused]

Alaska is the location of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere: Now the republicans have a "ticket to nowhere"

[James Klich]

I get a good vibe from her and she looks like a good person.

[Michael]

Well, I love the liberals once again deciding that Sarah Palin is guilty without any facts or even a trial. I thought liberals were for the people...oh wait as long as you are not republican or conservative..republicans and conservatives are always guilty of any accusation even with no proof. (remember there is NO evidence yet as to Palin doing anything illegal).

Being investigated does NOT mean you are guilty.

And remember many of those senators had earmarks vetoed by Palin...does the word revenge come to mind?

[Michael]

Remember amused. Sarah Palin VETOED the "Bridge to No Where". So maybe this IS a "Ticket to Somewhere"

[anne k]

When are you republicans gonna wake up? Unless you are a rich business person you would have no reason to vote republican. The republican party at this time is for big business.
Re: Obama's non-experience. I'll take my chances. Those in the white house with all the experience are really screwing the middle class.

[Kim-Michigan]

Glad someone brought up that she canceled the 'bridge to nowhere". 2) She has an obligation to report her brother-in-law's unETHICal police behavior - she did not say fire him she gave the safety commissioner the information she had. based on that-he should be fired. you can't enforce the law when you are not following it yourself. 3) She has just as much international experiance as Obama, if not more. Alaska deals with its neighbors, which are not other states like us continental states. I was not a Hillary Clinton fan even though I am a women. Sarah Palin has change my vote from Barr to McCain. Even if all she does is hunt down the unethical people in Congress that would be great. We NEED someone like that.

[Jonny M]

As a liberal Democrat...nice choice, Mr. McCain! Totally destroyed your "experience matters" message, as if that were true, then you'd pick someone *with* experience. She has zero foreign policy experience, doesn't know what she'll be doing if she gets the job, wants religion taught in public schools, supports killing polar bears, denies the clear evidence of global warming, and wishes to remove rights from women. She is just the freaking perfect choice for VP...if the aim is to lose by a landslide, which clearly it is.

If I didn't know better, I'd think McCain was actually a secret Democrat. Clearly, McCain has a major lack of good judgment. Seriously, Republicans, McCain and Palin are the best leaders your party has? Really? Wow. Just...wow.

[Michael]

Ummmmmmm Jonny M, where do you get your "facts". I have yet to read or hear in any liberal or conservative news, anything about her advocating killing polar bears, or taking away womens rights (unless you consider abortion, but isn't abortion taking away the baby's rights???), and I have yet to see any "clear" evidence of global warming. Most real scientist state there is no global warming in the sense that the fake scientist (ie environmentalist) are claiming.

Oh well liberals/democrats do not like facts cause it just gets in their way of want they want to push down the American's throats. Talk facts to a democrat and they suddenly want to change the subject.

[Joe]

Well, it seems that this "investigation" had absolutely no impact on "nixing" Governor Palin from the VP slot after all. This story has so many holes in it that this investigation will simply crash and burn. McCain/Palin '08.

[Jim Krieger]

It is great to see so many so called people with brains not able to use them and think for themselfs. Only party lines will they say, if they (DEM) took the time to look in to a person including Obama, you just, maybe just may learn to think for your self. Nobody had told me one thing Obama has done. Let I have read all kinds of thing Sara has done. If Obama did not have 504's behind him he would not be where he is. Wake up and learn to think for yourself.

[Joseph Wallace]

I, for one, am not one of those "scared libs"; I don not see how this is a good choice, despite some of you folks on the other side that are struggling, mightily, to remain partisan. Just some points: 1) McCain (and most of you bloggers) have spent the last month talking about how Obama doesn't have experience, and then Palin is picked, and she has even less! (And please, don't give us crap about the fact that she has more foreign policy experience because she is close to Russia! That is so stupid, it can barely be answered, and besides, then, we should say she has no domestic experience, because she lives 2,000 miles from the next state!) My point is, MCCain told America that experience mattered, then changed his mind! So, was he LYING to get votes, or just incompetent? How can we trust anything from him after he makes such a major, public flip-flop?
2) Did they think that women are so stupid, they will vote for anyone with ovaries? 3) McCain met her all of TWICE. THIS is how he makes major decisions? 4) Folks, let's all get off our partisan horses, and realize that she would be a heartbeat away from being President! She seems like a genuine lady, but if you REALLY think she is qulaified, but a week ago said we would be in trouble if Obama got in becasue he is not enough, then you really are a stooge for the talking points, just admit it. 5) I think McCain did this because the "experience" thing was not working, and Obama had hijacked the "maverick" label, and painted John "same old." This bold move makes him look like the "maverick" again. It sure does, but there is a difference between making bold, but prudent decisions, and reckless, cynical ones. This is like hiring a babysitter you have never met to watch your kids for a week. Think of it that way, folks.