"A Stroke of Brilliance"

by: Brian McGinnis

Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:10:10 PM EDT

DENVER - Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz) selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin roused the fighting mood of state Sen. Kevin O'Toole, one of a handful of elected officials who has stood with McCain from the beginning of his presidential run.

"It's a curve ball, which Democrats were not expecting, and it opens up a whole new constituency,"said O'Toole. "It is a stroke of brilliance."

Today, 10/10/08, New York Times reports on the just-released Troopergate report:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

The panel found that Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed. ''I feel vindicated,'' Monegan said. ''It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field.''

Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.

Brilliant! I'm guessing Kevin O'Toole wishes he could have this one back.