Update on Troopergate - 10:45

[Blue_In_AK]

From the Anchorage Daily News blog...

Update: 10:45 a.m. (half an hour ago): Sen. Lyda Green just stepped outside and asked the reporters if they realized the closed proceedings could take hours. She indicated they were just a little bit into the report.

-----

It sounds like it's going to be a long day.

[BklynChick]

1. isn't it almost 300 pages?

[GrizzlyMan]

2. It's going to be a whitewash

Repuke gov. + a state controlled by Repukes + rich history of corruption in the state = whitewash.

[speedoo]

5. Wrong.

You need to understand the dynamics. Do some reading.

[GrizzlyMan]

12. I understand the dynamics just fine, thank you

I've seen this movie before.

[speedoo]

14. Okey Dokey.

We'll revisit your understanding after the report is issued.

[GrizzlyMan]

18. Yep....we sure will.

I think we'll probably find out, oh, about 7-8 p.m. tonight in the lower 48.

Classic news dump in the making.

I hope it's damning for her. But I also know that the Repuke controlled legislature isn't made up of Dudley Do-Rights. These Repukes know McCain is going to lose. They know Palin will be coming back to Alaska real soon. And they know she will be looking for political payback for those that cross her.

Lest we forget this is the state where a criminal like Ted Stephens is running neck and neck with his opponent after trailing him for 2 months. Stephens is actually RE-GAINING support. They love Pork Barrel Ted.

[H2O Man]

16. While you have very good

reason to believe the outcome will be a whitewash, there is a possibility that it won't.

In the usual context, a crooked republican politician has republican friends at home and in DC. In this case, she has some friends in DC, but she also has made a lot of enemies at home. Her future may take the Cheney path, without her being held responsible for her abuses of power. Or she may be headed down a shorter version of the Agnew avenue.

[ReadTomPaine]

34. "Agnew Avenue"

No doubt right next to Park Place! :)

:thumbsup:

[biglefthander]

76. Actually, Agnew Avenue

...Is the left turn right before 1600 Pennsylvania, it is a one-way that descends immediately into a tunnel that emerges on the other side of the Potomac.

See ya Sarah! :hi:

[Lucky 13]

6. Don't bet on it

Alaskans don't hate Republicans or Democrats. What they do hate is "outsiders" from the lower 48 coming up and fucking with their business. From what I hear, even the Republican legislators are PISSED at the McCain campaign's interference on this.

[yardwork]

7. Yes, the day Palin accepted the VP nomination was the nail in the coffin on this.

[Lucky 13]

51. Actually I think initially they were really happy Palin was picked.

Then as more and more McCain people came up to bully the legislators and witnesses into silence, the majority of the state seems to have turned on her. Alaskans won't tolerate that shit. If there's a reason why her popularity in Alaska has plummeted, THAT is it.

[KingFlorez]

10. That's not the case

This is largely a bipartisan effort, had some Republicans not supported this, there wouldn't have been a report at all.

[Blue_In_AK]

23. I don't think so.

If there were going to be a whitewash, we NEVER would have gotten this far. I have a lot of respect for the legislators and for our court system, and especially for Steve Branchflower, who was a very formidable assistant district attorney here for many years -- I know from having worked with defense lawyers who went up against him. I believe this investigation will be as fair and impartial as could conceivably be.

[FVZA_Colonel]

37. Todd was already throwing himself on the sword last night.

There have to be some bad things in there, even if it doesn't quite live up to the expectations of some.

[speedoo]

3. Thanks. Report is 263 pages, plus 1,000 pages of exhibits.

Branchflower is obviously a very thorough investigator and I'm betting he is taking the legislators through it methodically.

But this has to be bad news for Palin.

[Essene]

11. sounds about right, and it sounds like they ALL want to take their time

[JBear]

39. With circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one...

:popcorn:

[gateley]

4. I received an e-mail from Senator Green stating she will vote to make the

report public.

We can wait, folks. Don't even think of putting it off until Monday.

[jillmt]

15. Rep. David Guttenberg as well

from his email:

"I will vote to accept it and make it public to the extent rules regarding personnel records allow."

[ladywnch]

19. but if they do hold off till Monday that means it won't get buried

in the Friday news dump. It will have a full week news cycle. wouldn't be the worst outcome.

[Bigleaf]

38. I want a Monday am release. It will take a week off the clock as per the cycle. You are correct.

[quantass]

8. Woohoo...and Sen Lyda Green has confirmed she is voting: YES

And just got a reply from Rep. David Guttenberg who also confirmed he is voting YES for releasing to public

[jberryhill]

9. And I'll bet the reporters said....

S'okay, we'll wait here just fine, thank you.

[FLyellowdog]

13. Slap on the wrist...

they'll say she just used "bad judgment"...It's a good ole boy system up there with their eyes on their dream girl. She can do no wrong, by golly, 'cause she's just such a sweet hockey mom.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. Not with 1000 pages of exhibits.

[ladywnch]

21. you ever lived in AK?

they really don't appreciate having the lower 48 flat-landers all up in their business and lower 48 politics shoved down their throats...and in case you haven't noticed, she ain't a 'good ol' boy'. She has pissed off the 'good ol' boys'. They would love to be able to put her in her place a little. Her popularity has been dropping since she got named to the ticket and she's made quite a few enemies....paybacks can be as much of a bitch as she is.

[FLyellowdog]

24. Could be ...

It'll be interesting (for about a minute) to see how she's treated when she has to return to AK as the loser.

[Blue_In_AK]

45. Oh, I'll be letting people know, don't worry.

:evilgrin:

[FloridaGrl]

22. I hope not

[Blue_In_AK]

26. No, I think you're wrong.

And she CAN do wrong. The stonewalling on this BIPARTISAN investigation that Sarah AGREED TO before she was picked as McCain's VP has not gone over well here at all, especially with the interference from outside lawyers, most especially James Dobson's Liberty Legal Institute. If there's anything Alaskans hate it's Outside interference in their internal affairs.

[ladywnch]

55. that was always my take when I lived there......

lower 48, keep your shit to yourselves and leave us alone!

[Blue_In_AK]

56. "We don't care HOW they do it Outside"

[ladywnch]

78. Yep. n/t

[whoneedstickets]

20. Reason for the delay...

The decision to review the document behind closed doors may very well be an earnest attempt by the committee to do its job, but one alternative reason they may want to delay is to avoid airing the report's conclusions until after the news cycle on Friday. If it comes out after the national news broadcasts and cable shows record their programs it could die over the weekend.

[Bob D]

25. Do they have to publish it at all?

Does anyone know? Can Palin's allies block the report totally? Or at least until after the election?

[Blue_In_AK]

27. If the legislators vote to make it public

it will be made public. The Supreme Court has ruled.

[Essene]

28. Naw, there are too many Dems and too many GOPrs who hate Palin

I think it's real clear that several key Republicans there HATE her and want her nailed.

I dont sense that Alaska's republicans have some strong sense of loyalty to the national party, either. These people are very independent and while they likely play politics with the rest... Palin's obnoxious and i suspect she's pissed off a lot of them.

She's been there for 1.5 damn years, out there lying about stuff in alaska and making them look like fools.

I bet some of these GOPrs would love to shame her. Plus, she's a woman...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. I've been anticipating since I woke up this morning and I'm on the east coast!

I keep updating Yahoo News.

[Bob D]

31. but to clarify....

But, just to be clear, they can vote to not publish it at all, ever, right?

[Essene]

33. They theoretically could deem the case close and not publish it. Not viable, tho...

There's no way this guy put together a 1000 page report + documentation, with them spending all this time... and they'll just say "ok, case closed" and move on.

Don't think so.

[Blue_In_AK]

41. Besides, I think there would be a riot here

since $100,000 of the state's money was allocated to Steve Branchflower to conduct this investigation. I can't imagine that it would go over too well with the citizens if we don't get to hear what's in his report.

[janx]

61. I like that guy's name. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

66. Shannyn Moore

was calling herself a "Branchflower Davidian" this morning in her blog. :rofl:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

54. Yes.

[DCBob]

30. The fact they are taking their time and not having made a quick decision suggests...

to me they are likely to release it.

[Essene]

32. And... that it is some serious stuff... not a mild slap onTodd's wrist.

If this were a whitewash report, they'd push this faster... and it wouldnt be 1000 pages (lol)

[DCBob]

36. Totally agree. This is major thorough investigation and report.

It has to be released, at least part of it.

[firedupdem]

35. Thanks Blue_In_AK....keep us posted! n/t

[janx]

40. Thanks for the update!

:hi:

I'm watching DU closely today.

By the way, Lance was on Conan O'Brien last night! :rofl: He's involved in the I'rod special that starts airing Tuesday on the Discovery Channel! He was his usual, exuberant self, especially when discussing what it was like to hallucinate on the sled runners during the I'rod. Cracked me up!

[Blue_In_AK]

42. Oh, you know, I meant to watch that

and I missed it. He's such a cool guy, and it's exciting that he's going to get a little more national exposure.

[janx]

49. O'Brien asked him about Palin!

He said he knew her--Wasilla, etc.--but what he didn't say was that when she called to congratulate him on his great season last year, he didn't even know she was governor! :rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

50. I know, I remember that.

He called her "sir." And then he said, "Murkowski, right?" :rofl: :rofl: You gotta love those mushers.

[Blue_In_AK]

43. Further update

Update 11:50 p.m.: It may be a while. Green just stepped outside again and reports they're now on page 20 of the 200-plus page document. "Go home," she advised.

Update 12 noon Kyle reports the Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau and the Legislative Council chairman, stepped outside for a bathroom break and was asked how it was going inside. "I'm not going to characterize it," he said. "I'm tempted to, but I won't." None of the others coming and going from the room have had anything to say.

Then Jeff Turner, an aide to the Senate majority, came out and said it would be at least another hour until any official word emerges from within.

[firedupdem]

44. We can wait....no bathroom breaks..keep working!!! n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

47. I'm having a hard time working, myself.

Thank God I work at home, but I've got this very dense transcript I've been trying to finish for a couple of weeks, and it's impossible to stay with it for more than half an hour at a time. Then I stop and spend about an hour perusing all my favorite websites for the latest. I've seriously got to get to work -- I'll check back in an hour or so to see if anything is new.

[DCBob]

46. "I'm not going to characterize it," he said. "I'm tempted to, but I won't."

Sounds like a "thumbs up" to me.

[Blue_In_AK]

48. Kim Elton and Hollis French

have to be real careful what they say as they have been the targets of most of the "partisan" attacks and accusations by the Palin Truth Squad.

[Essene]

52. exactly. was just going to post that lol

[janx]

53. He was tempted to?

Something's up!

[renate]

57. "I'm tempted to (characterize it)..."

That sounds promising!

[Blue_In_AK]

58. New update

From Kyle Hopkins at the Anchorage Daily News. :rofl:

1:35 p.m. Still nothing ... We haven't even seen the legislators pop out for another bathroom break.

Reporters are sitting along the hallway and filling a nearby conference room, eating sandwiches and staring at laptops. Palin spokesman Bill McAllister is talking to a BBC reporter, while local bloggers have returned expecting the closed-door meeting would have ended by now.

A guy in a chair across from me, with a wireless microphone sitting on his chest, has fallen asleep.

[Blue_In_AK]

59. Update - ADN

2:15 p.m.: Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom just told us to expect to wait another hour before we hear anything.

[janx]

60. This is killing me.

:rofl:

I wish I were there right now.

[goclark]

62. Please please please let the truth come out of that room

[janx]

68. That is possible!

It's Alaska. ;-)

[firedupdem]

63. Thanks Blue!! You are soo good! I don't even want to go to my

son's football game! I want to stay here!

[City Lights]

65. Thanks for keeping us updated, Blue_In_AK!

It's greatly appreciated! :hi:

[livedemocarticordie]

64. the fact

that they are waiting this long signals to me that the report will be far from all sweetness and light. The hope is the MSM will be done with the newshour. It's Friday before a long holiday weekend, it's a classic dump and bury move...

[Blue_In_AK]

67. We won't let it get buried, I guarantee.

It was a long report, 263 pages, and a thousand pages of exhibits. I'm sure, with all the publicity, they're trying to be as fair and impartial as possible so that no one can complain about partisanship.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

69. A new Update, and this is a bit disturbing

Troopergate hearing (Updated: 3:05 p.m.)

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: October 10, 2008 - 9:15 am

Comments (125) | Recommend (118)

Kyle Hopkins is at the Legislative Council meeting with his iPhone. Come back for updates. We're posting updated stories on the homepage.

3 p.m.: So here's something to consider while we wait for the Legislative Council to vote -- and yes, we're still waiting:

The council needs eight votes to release the investigator's report. Three members of the 14-member council aren't here -- Rep. Ralph Samuels, Rep. John Harris and Rep. John Coghill.

Unless they called in after the meeting started, that means they're automatic "no votes."

So what's going on behind those doors? Do they have enough votes to make the report public?

Sen. John Cowdery isn't here, but phoned in.

Also: Someone is handing out granola bars to reporters. Everyone had a caffiene crash about an hour ago, but they opened a door to a soda machine and we all bought Diet Dr. Peppers.

[DCBob]

70. Rep. Ralph Samuels, Rep. John Harris and Rep. John Coghill are all Repubs.

Probably intended on voting no anyway so it did not matter if they were there or not.

[FVZA_Colonel]

71. I didn't see this thread (must need new glasses), and posted about this.

Even if the guys are Republicans, and might vote against this, what kind of jack-ass do you have to be to miss a vote like this?

[Blue_In_AK]

72. All of those would have been no votes anyway.

I'm not too concerned.

[Bubbha Jo]

73. New update: 3:45 The leg council just opened it's doors. We're expecting a vote ... n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

74. Dupe

[Blue_In_AK]

75. Come on, Kyle, you're killing me.

I keep hitting refresh.

[Blue_In_AK]

77. You can stream audio

3:55 p.m.: You can stream audio of the meeting here.
http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/audio.cfm