If Christopher Hitchens, a man I admire, thinks he knows "all" the "facts" about Sarah Palin's alleged abuse of power, then he obviously has not read the entirety of Mr. Branchflower's report to the Alaska legislative council. It is not nearly as dogmatically "black and white" in its conclusions as Hitchens would like to believe.

At any rate, the conclusions of that report, the methodology of its investigation process, and the veracity and unanimity of the testimonials on which it was based, are certainly open to legitimate question.

The council did NOT vote to ENDORSE Mr. Branchflower's conclusions. They only voted to RELEASE the report. AND, even THAT vote was "NOT without dissension" . . . . according to MSNBC. The final decision rests with the Alaska Personnel Board, not with Mr. Hitchens.

Ms. Palin certainly does lack foreign policy experience. But, Obama also lacks the executive COMMAND experience that Palin DOES have. You may not like her conservatism or her religion, but she did not become a very popular Governor of Alaska by being stupid or "illiterate" . . . . or, a puppet of the oil industry that she often FOUGHT.

Hitchens knows full well that a lack of verbal erudition is NOT proof of a lack of intelligence, and an abundance of erudition is NOT proof of good character. Take the time to actually check the SPECIFICS of Obama's legislative voting record.

Of course there will be partisan hacks who dispute the report, but not one of them has challenged the key finding.

Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.

Palin has executive COMMAND experience beyond he demonstrated willingness to abuse her power. She even lied about being able to see Russia from Alaska.

No one said that Palin lacked intelligence, but intelligence does not compensate for ignorance, willful and otherwise. She demonstrated that she cannot even answer questions that Obama, Biden and McCain answer with ease on a day to say basis.

Obama's legislative voting record has been vetted and has his character. If there was anything of substance to reveal, it could have been revealed by now, and dead enders like you wouldn't have to resort to vague conspiracy theories and innuendo.

Sonofeire, well said. Christopher Hitchens is as we know a committed Athiest and Liberal to the extreme, beyond those factors his deep affection for Scotch in copious amounts in my opinion makes anything he says highly suspect.

Sarah Palin publically stood against entrenched elected and appointed Republican politicians who played Good Ole Boy politics with the Oil Interests in a place where kick-backs, payoff-s and under the table gifts have been common place for years. She knocked Republican heads together, held those taking payoff's up for the public to see and she defeated democrats who ran against her. You betcha she has enemies on both sides, as well as allies.

Palin has executive COMMAND experience beyond he demonstrated willingness to abuse her power. She even lied about being able to see Russia from Alaska.>>>>>>>>>­

No, wrong, go look at what she actually said, she said you can see Russia from one of the (Alaskan) islands and that is true. Big Diomede island is Russian, Little Diomede is American, they are 2.4 miles apart. The people on the two islands regularly visit each other. In the winter when that part of the Bering Strait freezes the people on the two islands walk over to visit relatives on the other island.

that she cannot even answer questions that Obama, Biden and McCain answer with ease on a day to say basis. >>>>>>>>>>>>­

You mean like Biden's claim that American and France KICKED Hezbollah out of Lebanon? Hezbollah hasn't been kicked out of anywhere much less Lebanon, they are the dominent political force in Lebanon.

Perhaps you mean how well Biden described President FDR coming on TV to speak to the American people when the stock market crashed in Oct 1929. Other than the facts that FDR didn't become President for another 3-1/2 years (Jan 1933) after the market crashed and that TV wasn't available to consumers for another 14 years Joe's discussion was brilliant.

What else I find so fascinating about Joe is how he voted AGAINST Operation Desert Shield/Storm to free Kuwait from Iraq in 1990, but on the other hand voted FOR the invasion of Iraq in 2003 without hesitation yet, when the chips were down in Iraq he proposed separating the country into three independent states, an idea we see now as absolutely assinine.

She knocked Republican heads together And then accepted the Bridge to Nowhere, before changing her tune when her feet were held to the fire. she said you can see Russia from one of the (Alaskan) islands and that is true She said SHE could see Russia from Alaska, and she has never even been to those Islands herself. You mean like Biden's claim that American and France KICKED Hezbollah out of Lebanon? Or like what news papers she reads or what the Bush doctrine is, or whether Iraq had anything to do with 911, or what supreme court decisions she disagrees with. Shall we get started with McCain's imaginary border with Iraq and Afghanistan, when the surge started, Al Qaeda in Iran or the delusion that in 2006, Patreaus was walking down streets in Baghdad without an armored Humvee?
What else I find so fascinating about Joe is how he voted AGAINST Operation Desert Shield/Storm to free Kuwait from Iraq in 1990, but on the other hand voted FOR the invasion of Iraq in 2003 without hesitation yet, when the chips were down in Iraq he proposed separating the country into three independent states, an idea we see now as absolutely assinine. What is assinine was McCain insisting Iraq had WMD, that the ar woudl be easy and over in weeks and that we would be greeted as liberators

Speaking of Wrong, Impulsive and Naive, McCain said in his book that he makes decisions without thinking about them and that these decisions often turn out to be mistakes, but that he doesn't mind.

"Sarah Palin publically stood against entrenched elected and appointed Republican politicians who played Good Ole Boy politics with the Oil Interests in a place where kick-backs, payoff-s and under the table gifts have been common place for years. She knocked Republican heads together, held those taking payoff's up for the public to see and she defeated democrats who ran against her. You betcha she has enemies on both sides, as well as allies."

I guess in three weeks she can go back to Alaska to continue her maverick ways, no? Is this not a victory for both sides then?

she said you can see Russia from one of the (Alaskan) islands and that is true She said SHE could see Russia from Alaska, and she has never even been to those Islands herself.

Wrong, the exact quote is ""They're our next-door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska -- from an island in Alaska." -- Sarah Palin
And, historical fact is no Governor has ever been to Little Diomede Island so if you criticize Sarah for not visitng Little Diomede then your criticism extends to all Askan Governors.

____________________

You mean like Biden's claim that American and France KICKED Hezbollah out of Lebanon? Or like what news papers she reads or what the Bush doctrine is, or whether Iraq had anything to do with 911, or what supreme court decisions she disagrees with. Shall we get started with McCain's imaginary border with Iraq and Afghanistan, when the surge started, Al Qaeda in Iran or the delusion that in 2006, Patreaus was walking down streets in Baghdad without an armored Humvee?

Here is a great tip for you, I learned this about ten years or so ago; DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME READING NEWSPAPERS, THERE IS NOTHING IN THEM THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM. Yes, read journals such as financial (Barrons, WSJ) and technical journals on all subjects in which you have interest, but not newspapers. All you accomplish is destroying trees and wasting your time. Anytime I hear someone say "I don't read newspapers my respect for them multiples. Use your head other than sales at the stores, funny papers, horoscope and Advice to the Lovelorn what good are they? Haven't you noticed how the bottom has fallen out of newspaper sales? People have been figuring it out and you are behind the power curve.

What else I find so fascinating about Joe is how he voted AGAINST Operation Desert Shield/Storm to free Kuwait from Iraq in 1990, but on the other hand voted FOR the invasion of Iraq in 2003 without hesitation yet, when the chips were down in Iraq he proposed separating the country into three independent states, an idea we see now as absolutely assinine. What is assinine was McCain insisting Iraq had WMD, that the ar woudl be easy and over in weeks and that we would be greeted as liberators

I was one of the Officers that inspected Iraqi WMD and Munitions dumps at the end of Op Desert Storm. I believed they were there, and so did every other European and Arab governments Intel agency and so by the way does Christopher HItchens. Where Bush screwed the pooch in Iraq was in not maintaining an overwhelming force to suppress the resistance groups before they formed. However, in his defense I will tell you that every Arab Govt including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan said to go light on the occupation force so as to not look like an overwhelming occupation of an Arab-Muslim land. If I had been asked I would have said the same thing, go in with overwhelming force then draw down fast. Its Monday morning quarterbacking that is always right.

Speaking of Wrong, Impulsive and Naive, McCain said in his book that he makes decisions without thinking about them and that these decisions often turn out to be mistakes, but that he doesn't mind.>>>>>>>>>>>>­

No he doesn't say that, you are picking out a little piece from Faith of My Fathers and adding to it.

It is the nature of Tactical Pilots to make quick reflexive decisions, their lives depend on it, it becomes second nature but only in an aircraft, an automobile or in a meeting with a limited level of importance. Its OK to take a decision based on the knowledge you have at the time and later change or modify it as more info becomes available.

Byt the way, to keep the record straight, I see often in postings and news articles where John is referred to as a Fighter Pilot and once referred to as a Fighter-Attack pilot. John was an Attack Pilot, he flew in A4's, the little Scooter, that was accompanied by Fighters to protect them from enemy aircraft. I flew high on flak/missile and radar suppression, John flew the little scooters that came in low and fast, with one 20mm in each wing root for ground attack but they weren't worth a hoot in air to air combat.

John often flew Iron Hand missions, the Fighter escort would fly low and slow to draw enemy SAM and AAA fire so John could spot them, then swoop in firing his guns and launching Zunni rockets to destroy the enemy radar vans, guns and missile launchers. Sometimes he would find himself dueling with multiple gun positions that were covering each other. So yeh, he learned to make quick decisions, his life depended on it. Hell of a way to make a living huh?

And, historical fact is no Governor has ever been to Little Diomede Island so if you criticize Sarah for not visitng Little Diomede then your criticism extends to all Askan Governors.

I not criticizing her for not having been there, but her alluded to the notion that she herself, having seen Russia, was a defacto expert on foreign policy.

In either case, the statement remains one of the most absurd in political history. She never played any role in security matters. Her only claim to relevance was that were Russia to attack or invade, they would likely enter Alaska first.

Here is a great tip for you, I learned this about ten years or so ago; DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME READING NEWSPAPERS, THERE IS NOTHING IN THEM THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM.

Way ahead of you. Who reads news papers anymore?

I was one of the Officers that inspected Iraqi WMD and Munitions dumps at the end of Op Desert Storm. I believed they were there, and so did every other European and Arab governments Intel agency and so by the way does Christopher HItchens.

Here's a tip Sandy6. When you cut and paste from a source, it's advisable to provide a hyper link.

Chief Weapons inspector Scott Ritter, who was there long after Desert Storm, testified that there were no WMD there. In fact, the day after Colin Powell gave his speech to the UN, he refuted every one of Powell's points.

In 2001, Both Condoleeza Rice and Powell were on the record as saying that Saddam had NOT reconstituted his WMD or his military forces.

No he doesn't say that, you are picking out a little piece from Faith of My Fathers and adding to it.

Not at all. The quote comes from his reference to decisions he has taken as a Senator, and his penchant for not deliberating his decision.

Its OK to take a decision based on the knowledge you have at the time and later change or modify it as more info becomes available.

That is a stretch when we are talking about someone who has a reputation for being a dilettante and reveling in his own ignorance.