Folks, we can't let the Troopergate get buried. We need to start asking "what is Palin hiding" and not let this story die amidst the economic turmoil. Truly, what is she hiding that the McCain camp felt they had to bring in the heavyweights?
From TPM http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmem... today:
The no-holds-barred effort by the McCain campaign and its Alaska Republican allies to bury the Trooper-Gate investigation at all costs may be bearing fruit.
Republicans have in recent days been calling on Democratic senator Kim Elton to reconvene the bipartisan legislative council with ultimate responsibility for the probe. And yesterday Elton told the Associated Press that he may do so, allowing for a vote on whether to delay the investigation or replace Democratic senator Hollis French as its manager.
The council, which contains 10 Republicans and four Democrats, had voted unanimously in July to launch the investigation. But many observers believe that, now that the probe could play a role in the presidential race, the committee's GOP members will vote to shut it down if given a chance.
Other recent developments:
* Talis Colberg -- the Palin-appointed Attorney General who was directly involved in efforts to pressure the former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan over Trooper Mike Wooten -- said Tuesday that ten state employees would not honor subpoenas to testify in the case. Palin, of course, had originally pledged her office's full cooperation in the probe.
* A group of five GOP legislators filed suit -- with the help of a right-wing Texas-based legal foundation -- to stop the investigation in its tracks.
* The McCain campaign officially took charge of the effort, trotting out a hard-charging former federal prosecutor, Ed O'Callaghan, as its point-man on the issue.
* And the ADN reported today that Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, is no longer being paid for by the state of Alaska, but could not say whether the McCain camp was helping to pay his bills.
I think signs need to be brought to every Palin speech: Palin = Troopergate or "What are you hiding Sarah?"
The McCain camp seems to be treating this issue like it was Watergate so we should too.
If the council votes and overturns its unanimous and bi-partisan decision to proceed with the investigation, we should launch an uproar.