No, this is not snark.
In the ongoing Troopergate scandal, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has taken the bull by the horns and filed an ethics complaint against herself with the State Personnel Board -- a board whom she appointed herself.
"It appears that the Governor has filed an ethics complaint against herself. ... This is very unusual because ethics complaints typically are filed against others," Daniel wrote in an e-mail responding to a Daily News query.
Asked whether the personnel board could take the investigation away from the Legislature -- as Palin wants to do -- Daniel answered: "I've never looked at that issue, but I can't see why filing a complaint with the personnel board would deprive the Legislature of the right to conduct its own investigation."
You may recall that Palin just got lawyered-up on this scandal last week, the very same day that John McCaint appointed her as his running mate.
The lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, sent a letter that same day to Alaska State Sen. Hollis French, a Democrat who is leading the legislative investigation. In that letter, Van Flein asserted, incorrectly, that the matter is under the jurisdiction of the state Personnel Board -- a board appointed entirely by Palin herself.
French replied by pointing out, correctly, that the Personnel Board can only act if a complaint has been filed -- which it had not.
So what's the upshot?
Today, Sarah Palin apparently filed an ethics complaint against herself in attempt to put the matter legally into the Personnel Board's bailiwick -- so that she can, in effect, investigate herself. Any guesses about how that might turn out?
In the meantime, Palin has apparently decided that neither she nor husband Todd will be deposed by the legislative investigators. Todd is a prime mover in the Troopergate scandal because it was Todd Palin who was one of those pressuring Director Monegan to fire trooper Wooten.
The Legislature's special counsel Steve Branchflower so far has not been able to depose either Palin or her husband, Todd. Van Flein indicated the governor likely will not agree to a deposition unless lawmakers turn the matter over to the Personnel Board.
In other words, I won't talk to you unless you agree to drop your case first -- in which case, there will be no need to talk to you!
He also warned that all communications need to go through the lawyers. He said he had recently learned that Branchflower tried to call Todd Palin directly "on a secure and confidential line. This represents a serious security breach that we may be obligated to report to the Secret Service."
Has there ever been a more ridiculous excuse? The Secrect Service? Now you can't talk to Todd because talking to him might endanger his safety??
Sarah Palin: the gift that keeps on giving.