Troopergate report: McCain campaign responds

Shorter McCainiacs: "Hey, unless there's a law against sleazy, slimy, unethical douchebaggery, Sarah Palin hasn't done anything wrong... and besides, the whole thing is a vast left-wing conspiracy." :

""Today's report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan," said Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapelton. "The report also illustrates what we've known all along: this was a partisan led inquiry run by Obama supporters.""

Sure. Nothing to see here. That's why the McCain campaign has had lawyers up in Alaska for weeks, working feverishly around the clock to stall the report's publication.

But but but

but yesterday the McCain campaign cleared her!!!:

"Report reveals Palin abused power...

A 263-page report that was released following a six-hour hearing reveals that investigator Steve Branchflower concluded that Mrs Palin was guilty of violating state ethics rules for public officials.

The investigator said Mrs Palin had allowed her husband Todd Palin to use the Alaska Governor's office and its resources to pressure officials to sack trooper Mike Wooten, her former brother-in-law."

Say it ain't so, Sarah, say it ain't so! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

UPDATE: From TPM Muck, all you ever wanted to know about Troopergate. HAHAHAHAHA!

From the "Last-Ditch Effort" Department

Feverish appeals to stall it notwithstanding, the dreaded ethics committee report on "Troopergate" will be released tomorrow. The report, which details the investigation into whether Sarah Palin abused the power of the Governor's office, has had the McCain campaign unloading in its collective pants -- but wait! Palin's been exonerated... by the McCain campaign?:

"Trying to head off a potentially embarrassing state ethics report on GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, campaign officials released their own report Thursday that clears her of any wrongdoing." [...]

"Lawmakers are expected to release their own findings Friday. Campaign officials have yet to see that report — the result of an investigation that began before she was tapped as McCain's running mate — but said the investigation has falsely portrayed a legitimate policy dispute between a governor and her commissioner as something inappropriate."

Bill Clinton must be kicking his own ass around the block for not coming up with this brilliant vindication tactic when he was being investigated. Seriously though, isn't it ironic that this supposed "investigation" by the McCain campaign is something they really should have done, except maybe two or three months ago? As part of the, you know, vetting process?

Tomorrow should be fun.

GOP and Troopergate

Is the GOP worried about Troopergate turning into an October Surprise?:

"The Alaska state senator running an investigation of Gov. Palin says the McCain campaign is using stall tactics to prevent him from releasing his final report by Oct. 31, four days before the November election.

"It's likely to be damaging to the Governor's administration," said Senator Hollis French, a Democrat, appointed the project manager for a bi-partisan State Senate Legislative Counsel Committee investigation of claims that Palin abused her office to get the Alaska public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, fired.

Palin, who has denied any wrongdoing and has said she has nothing to hide, hired private lawyers on Saturday, the day after Sen. McCain announced her as his running mate." (emphasis mine)

Again, why her? Could they not have found someone without so much baggage?

This speaks horrifying volumes about McCain -- not only his judgment, but his malleability and inability to stand up to the religious right. We could be watching an the implosion of a party.