Guilty! not according to her though.

It always amazes me when children do this, I mean they pick one word out of the sentence to claim righteousness, well I think that's what Palin is doing here.

SARAH Palin has denied wrongdoing after a probe found she had abused voters' trust as Alaska governor, in a new blow to John McCain's White House campaign.

Republican Mr McCain was also embroiled in turmoil of his own, after he was booed late yesterday by supporters and appeared to undercut his own campaign strategy by calling time on personal attacks on Barack Obama.

Alaska Governor Palin rejected the findings of a bipartisan legislative probe which found she violated ethics rules by letting husband Todd pressure top officials for the firing of her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper.

Asked by a reporter in Pennsylvania if the charges were true, Mrs Palin replied: "No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it. You have to read the report."

The report said Mrs Palin had "the authority and power to require Mr Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act."

But in a phrase seized upon by the McCain camp, the report also said she acted within her "constitutional and statutory authority" in the case.

The probe was the latest blow to Mrs Palin, who electrified the Republican Party when she was first picked, but has seen her impact, especially among undecided voters and women diminish amid questions about her qualifications.

The damaging report could make it tougher for the McCain camp to portray Mrs Palin as a crusading reformer set to flush out corruption in Washington.

You can make up your own mind, but i would say she not only knew about this and didn't stop it, but she was involved right from the start to take retribution on her ex brother in law.

Be Afraid, . . . . It's hunting season !

I've been keeping an eye on the US election debates and listening with amazement at the media's assessment of the outcomes of the Presidential and vice presidential debates and even interviews, on early morning TV and SBS and there are several things that astound me.

1) There never seems to be a clear winner, the media always has a way to credit both protagonists with points and usually declares a close contest, which in my opinion hasn't been the case.

2) George Bush JR. hasn't come out in support of McCain and in Fact McCain is saying, even though he voted with Bush Policy throughout his terms (over 90% of the time) that he disagrees with a lot of policy and will change it, his running mate also says she wants to change a lot of things, shake things up, take it to the goo old boys, do some moving and shaking, initiate change, make a new start and yet neither of the two of them have said (up till now) exactly what they will change.

3) Both McCain and Obama have vowed to KILL Osama BinLadin, Not capture and bring to trial, not try to corner and make pay for crimes if they can be proven to be attributed to him, not get irrefutable proof that BinLadin is responsible for the tragic events of 9/11, but KILL him.

Today I am scared, I have been hearing that Palin has bullied her way through politics, pushing people around, and dealing harshly with detractors, and those rumours have been persistent but expected after all it is a presidential campaign, and it didn't surprise me that she was the one to come out and exploit the obvious similarity with Osama and Obama by making claims that Barack Obama Palled (was very friendly) with Terrorists, but this article (below) is making me wonder, because we in our area are used to seeing the Glamorous politician who is not used to hearing the word NO from her supporters and doesn't take kindly to hearing it from anyone else and has been reputed to seek vengeance when her will is not complied with.

JUNEAU, Alaska - Todd Palin sought the dismissal of a Alaska state trooper at the centre of a probe into his wife's conduct as governor but denied attempting to influence her directly, court documents showed today.

In a 25-page sworn affidavit to an investigator examining abuse of power allegations against his wife and Republican vice-presidential nominee, Palin said he had repeatedly contacted senior Alaska officials to raise concerns over the conduct of his ex-brother-in-law Mike Wooten.

However, he denied that the dismissal of Alaska's public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, was connected to his grievances with Wooten, who had been involved in an acrimonious divorce with Sarah Palin's sister.

Sarah Palin is the subject of an official investigation in Alaska which began before she was unveiled as John McCain's presidential running mate.

The inquiry was launched to probe allegations that Palin abused her position by replacing Monegan because he refused to dismiss Wooten. Monegan has said he was forced out after coming under pressure over the trooper.

In his affidavit, Todd Palin, nicknamed the First Dude by Alaskan media, revealed he had contacted several senior figures in his wife's administration over Wooten, but said his wife had later told him to "drop" the matter.

"Anyone who knows Sarah knows she is the governor and she calls the shots," Palin said in his affidavit.

"I make no apologies for wanting to protect my family and wanting to publicise the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge."

Palin also defended his role in his wife's career as Alaska governor.

"I have heard criticism that I am too involved in my wife's administration," he wrote.

"My wife and I are very close. We are each other's best friend. I have helped her in her career the best I can, and she has helped me."

The first results of the "Troopergate" probe could be released in Alaska on Friday when the committee that initiated the investigation convenes to receive the investigator's report.

However the investigation could be stopped in its tracks if Alaska's Supreme Court rules in favour of five Republican lawmakers who have launched a legal bid to have the inquiry halted, arguing the probe is politically motivated. The court is expected to issue a ruling later today.

If the results of the investigation stand, the report is likely to be made public on Friday, Alaska's legislative council has said.

The inquiry was launched following a unanimous bipartisan vote on July 28, and Palin had initially said she and all state employees would co-operate.

However, since her unveiling as McCain's running mate, Palin and several members of her staff have refused to co-operate, with her campaign branding the probe as "partisan and tainted."

So is this the equivalent of the John Howard "children Overboard" scandal? and Is Palin behind the persecution of her sister's ex-husband, by her own words she doesn't miss a trick so you'd have to say it is, wouldn't you?

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BIG BROTHER ; alive and well in Logan.

A bit of power can corrupt absolutely, true.

Logan Council has aquired some areas without the agreement of the majority of the residents there and it occurred by force from a convolution of changes to the local government act which effectively took the requirement of going to the people on the issue away.

Nevertheless, the new Mayor and councillors have told people several things to try and placate their animosity to the takeover and new local government authority, firstly the Mayor said they won't be forgotton, what ever that means, and secondly the council said in words of kind, that those areas would be far better off.

Today brings a new chapter, where the most un-Australian thing I've ever heard of is occurring, and guess where, right here in Logan.

A COUNCIL has ordered an ex-soldier to take down the Australian flag which flies outside his house because it has been deemed "offensive" by a neighbour.

Aaron Wilson erected the 5m high flagpole eight weeks ago, in honour of his friends who served in Iraq.

But on Tuesday, Logan City Council called to tell him a neighbour had made a complaint, labelling it "offensive".

He was told to remove the pole or risk legal action. Mr Wilson, whose father fought in Vietnam, said he was disgusted.

"I find it astonishing that anyone could find the Australian flag offensive," he said.

"My family and friends have served for the country and the very least I can do is have a flag to show my appreciation for Australia.

"I thought the council had better things to do with their time than persecute people for putting a flag up."

A council spokeswoman said there was a concern the flagpole could fall down in high winds. She said Mr Wilson needed a building permit, because the pole was only 4.5m from the kerb and, under the Queensland Development Code, it should be at least 6m from the front.

But Mr Wilson, 30, a salesman from Eagleby, near Beenleigh, said other residents in the area had similar flagpoles that were closer to the boundary than his.

He said he would not be moving the flag. "You can't have rules for some people and not for others," he said. "I can't see how moving the flag back a bit is going to stop it being offensive."

Ex-serviceman Cr Ray Hackwood, who represents Mr Wilson's ward, said he would be monitoring the situation.

"As area councillor, I certainly won't allow anyone to pull down an Australian flag," he said.

Mr Wilson's neighbours last night were baffled as to who had complained.

So it seems those who would use the power, for the power's sake in Logan are as usual using it against the community not for it, I mean what kind of imbeciel would deny an Australian citizen the right to erect and display proudly, An Australian Flag.




Well it seems that all the commotion and adverse NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE has had an effect , with Logan doing a backflip by way of intervention by the Mayor , the end result, the flag can stay.

Better late than never I suppose



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Barack Obama, - - - bewawre !!!

I have yet to see the value of Councillors , I mean the people representing residents on issues such as roads, rates and rubbish, right, making overseas trips at the expense of the ratepayers for various purposes including the sister city program.

Recently there has been a stouch in the local papers which looks to me to have been instigated by Cr Black against Cr Pidgeon making all kinds of allegations, but it seems in reality to cover the fact that Cr Ban has also partaken of an OS excursion at the rate payers expense with an extended holiday tacked on.

Cr Black goes to on about how the costs are too high and levels accusations in the media that Cr Pidgeon didn't get his air fares reduced (even though he did).

What most residents must be wondering is what Cr.Black sees that makes it ok for Cr.Ban to do it but not ok for for Cr.Pidgeon, because they both are going on Council and Mayor sanctioned trips.

Speaking of Cr. Black he's also off overseas, and in the press makes claims he is going to help Obama win the presidential election in the USA.

Poor Barack Obama, I guess Cr. Black can use his experience to show him how to get just over 20% of the vote, somehow though I don't think that will be enough.