CNN

DO ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY READ THE ARTICLE??

Clearly if he tasered his son in an aggressive punishing manner, the mother would have called police for an arrest, not "complain" in a letter a year later!

He has stated he never drove his vehicle drunk. So, because she is VP candidate, she is to be believed over him? It was one word against another.. and the one with more clout won, but not on all issues.
And in a huge fight who does not make threats? I have gotten so mad when I found out a boyfriend cheated you want to kill them... but its in the moment, not literal planning.
He was investigated and got his punishment for what was deemed punishable. But Palin is STILL trying to get rid of him.

VP for VEN-PALIN-DETTA

Wow, they got to him already. I making him speak and say that it was his fault. Wow I only thought they intimidated people in da hood not to snitch or rat out. But to take the blame?

She also had his boss fired, for not taking action above that which had already been meted out, and she installed a high school buddy – a crony – to take his place. That is some Bush league stuff, for sure.

I worked as a Probation Officer in CA. You are held to a higher standard then the public. Tasers are dangerous and not somethng you should fool with even if it is not fully "loaded". If there is a spec of evidence that he did that (yes he admitted to it) or if a spec of evidence he made any sort of threat to a civilian then he should be fired instantly and perhaps jailed or given probation. Nothing wrong with the GOV wanting him gone and really nothing wrong withthe GOV replacing the boss. If Obama is elected he has the right to replace Condy Rice. Just as Palin had the right to replce Monegan (sp)

Who Cares About HIS Mistakes? What is important is the fact that McCain has terrible judgement picking Sarah Palin without doing a background search on her short political history in Alaska. He never would have picked her if he knew about this investigation, and her many many petty firings of government workers for personal reasons.

Tony @ 3:50 "It would also be great if CNN and others would question NOBAMA and OBIDEN about their troubles with as much conviction as they are Palin."

Tony – Where've you been for the last 19 months? Sens. Biden & Obama have given numerous interviews, have undergone intense scrutiny, and held numerous townhall meetings with the American people. Sen. Obama has been under this microscope for the last 19 months and Sen. Biden for the last 30+ years! Heck, people looking for dirt on Sen. Obama went as far back to his first grade teacher to get information! Moreover, Sen. Obama had more than 18 million people validate him for his position!!!

Sorry, if Palin wants to play in the big leagues, she's going to be questioned, scrutinized, and criticized before she gets anywhere near the WH! And, if she can't handle it, then she should have done the right thing and declined McCain's sexist offer to her.

For all you ex Hillary supporters who say they are now voting for McCain because of Palin it shows your true values, absoutely zero. The only reason you would have voted for Obama is if he had selected Hillary or a woman. I would like to see a woman President or Vice President just like you, they need to earn it the hard way just like the fellas do, I am not going to hand some woman something just because she is a woman. If Palin was a man with no experience you would be crying foul play.

It's hard to judge from just hearsay. Just get all the information out on the table. The American people deserve to know this person who is asking to be the 2nd most powerful person in the land.

How do kind of taser a kid? He is crazy!!! Why would she cover this up? She is scary and she is not for the protection of children.

And the American public cares about this – why? This is a distraction that is 'acceptable' to the McCain camp because nothing will come of it. You want to be worried about something Gov. Palin is doing? Worry about her pro-life (aka pro government regulation of female anatomy) stance – worry about teaching creationism in our public schools as a legitimate, acceptable alternative to evolution (You decide which is real – Science or Religion), worry about banning books that do not meet the ideological beliefs of those in power. Worry about ISSUES people – issues that will affect YOUR life not her 'potential abuse of power' or her 'teenage daughters pregnancy'. Because while we are caught up in this soap opera – our government is destroying the ideals of this country. Vote your self interest & take back this country from the fringe!!!!

Independents for:
Obama/Biden 08'

What a great poster boy for the anti-Palin mudslingers. I just kinda tasered the kid, I did it the safest possible way, there were lots of pillows, and I learned from my mistakes. Great Judgement. Great cop. Great man.

yet another McCain/Bush RNC cover up? NOT THIS TIME...no matter how much money they throw, Palin's dirt just keeps getting deeper and deeper...it is like the hot mics said...she is political bs

Check out the "Voice of the Times", a CONSERVATIVE newsletter from Alaska. Here's an excerpt from 6 WEEKS ago:

The beginning of the divorce proceedings set off a chain of bizarre and chilling events that has continued through today. During that time it has resulted in the governor and her family trying to ruin the career of an eight year Alaska State Trooper that has served his state on the SERT Team, Motor Unit and DUI Team.

Beginning in spring of 2005 and for the next ten months, over 25 formal complaints were filed by Palin and Heath family members against Trooper Mike Wooten. From drinking while driving his patrol car to making threats to shooting a moose without a permit.

According to Trooper records, Sarah Palin said that in January and February of 2005, Wooten was drinking while driving. After investigating the complaint, the investigator found that Palin never actually saw what she reported.

In another complaint, Sarah's father said that Wooten made threatening remarks. Again, the investigator found there was no probable way that it could have happened.

In all cases except one, the charges were ruled unfounded after an internal investigation. And the one charge that was valid, Wooten immediately admitted to.

In 2003, Wooten, his wife and a friend were moose hunting. Upon spotting a moose, Wooten instructed his wife to shoot the moose since she had the permit, she refused so Wooten did.

After carting the moose back to town, Sarah's father actually butchered it in his garage, and Wooten shared the meat with both Sarah and Todd Palin as well as her parents. Two years later, during the divorce battle, the family filed a complaint alleging that Wooten had taken that moose illegally. At least they waited until they finished the meat to file the complaint against Wooten.

But it didn't stop there. Threatening phone calls, private detectives that were hired to follow Wooten, notes left on windshields, Todd Palin taking pictures then submitting them to Wooten's supervisor, all designed to intimidate Wooten into backing off from demanding equal child custody rights.

But every time they filed a spurious complaint, the Troopers would bring in an Administrative Investigator who after seeing more than two dozen of these ridiculous and time consuming complaints stated that in all his years he had never seen such a shotgun pattern against one officer.

Meanwhile in court, Wooten prevailed at every turn as Judge Suddock quickly realized there was a concerted effort to damage Wooten. Finally the judge warned that if any of their actions caused Wooten to lose his job or pay in anyway, Molly and her family would be held liable.

After the divorce was final in late 2005 things settled down, until last fall.

At the request of the court, Wooten and his ex-wife were instructed to return to re-visit the custody schedule. Once the paper work started in April of 2008, the complaints and the intimidation started all over again.

But now Wooten wasn't dealing with just Sarah Palin, he was dealing with Governor Sarah Palin...

That is his choice. It does not change what Palin did. We all know that if the Gov's in our state did what she did, then they would be getting close to losing their job.

We are missing the point here. It is really not important that we hear all of the officer's deeds, good, or bad. What we do need to no is if the governor abused her power by accessing cofidential information and releasing it. Then, using that information to have "enimies" fired.

This is truly a scary woman. Think about it!!

It would also be great if CNN and others would question NOBAMA and OBIDEN about their troubles with as much conviction as they are Palin.

How about it???????????

Just because he "made mistakes" or had a record of any sorts, does not mean that she did not abuse her power in getting him fired.

I am Hillary's supporter and now I am so ,so happy to vote for

McCain/Palin ticket.

Thank you Mr. McCain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Palin is good at covering things up. Thats what Shrill politicians do?

Her "Lipstick pitbull" attack dog roll will eventually sink the holde filled GOP ship. Mccanin can not speak for himself, can barely read a tele prompter.

What a boring speach. No substance.......

BTW $10,000,000 raised for Obama because of her speach filled with hate.

The point that is being missed is that she used her position as Gov. to apply pressure to fire her ex-brother-in-law. Regardless if it was warrented or not, (it appears that it was warrented), the impression is that she used her position improperly. In government, even the impression of impropriety is damaging.

As it is being reported in other stories, Gov. Palin sent e-mails to the indidivudal that she fired, indicating her aggrivation and frustration with the fact that this individual was still on the force. If she had felt that she was acting in the her capacity as Gov. as she claims, why wouldn't she send these e-mails from her government e-mail address instead of a yahoo account?

urrrrrrrrrrrr.... they got to him! that's what it is. the RNC has $125 million dollars to spend. i wonder how much mcmoose paid to make the trooper-gate go away????

Sounds like Wooten supports Palin in a weird ex sister in law sort of way.

Glad I donated to the winning team today! McCain/Palin'08!

It is irrelevant to the issue of Gov. Palin's abuse of power whether this trooper is bad or good. Even if he did the things some claim, it does not condone inappropriate interference by the Gov. or her staff in trying to have him fired. If there was a threat, they should have called the police and had him charged. If he tasered his son, they should have called the police and had him charged. You do not make 20 calls to his boss, open his confidential employment files and suggest that this is not someone you want employed as a trooper. It is on tape that Gov. Palin's aide made at least one of these calls and used confidential information. What possible motive would the aide have for pursuing this so doggedly? The implication is that Gov. Palin, perhaps not directly, but at least indirectly, put the aide into action.

And don't think that it would not be possible to have a trooper arrested because his buddies would protect him. If the govenor called and filed a complaint with ANY basis in fact, you can bet he would have been arrested.

Palin and McCain say "Country First" – but do they walk the talk?

This cop shouldn't be doing what he admits he did. There's a court system and presumably an internal affairs for state police to address those charges. (I'll bet even Alaska has such things...) If the guy is guilty – the police and/or the courts should do their job and hand out the punishment – whatever is appropriate. Maybe he should lose his job – but it should be done legally.

But his wrongs do NOT make it right for Governor Palin or her aides or her family to persecute him through the blatant cronyism.

What will she do if she has the power of VP? Worse yet – President?

Thanks for the article – it's about time we see some of Sarah's skeletons outside of Republican press releases...

Sandy, as GOVERNOR, it's not just her business, it's her responsibility.

Reading just the first couple of comments it is understandable why McCain/Palin use negative attacks against Obama/Biden sadly in many instances people believe everything they hear. What American president has ever run under the platform of more taxes, but the republican have used those lies over and over again to frightened people caught in the grips of an already failing economy. It's amazing how this office is suppose to exemplify the best character traits in a leader but instead shows how evil and maniacal the tactics used to get in office. Sit there and believe everything McCain promises and remember what we as a nation of people have experienced in the last eight years.

What all of you fail to understand about this situation is that Sarah's investigation is NOT about what the trooper did or did not do, it is about her abuse of power.

The commissioner that she tried go get to fire Wooten could not find EVIDENCE to prove the allegations, therefore, Wooten did not lose his job.

Also, keep in mind that when the things that the Palins said he did happened, noone said or did anything about it. It was not until after her sister was divorcing Wooten that they cried foul.

Where is your outrage for their lack of action at the time the offenses were allegedly happening? It is hyporitical to cry foul 10+ years later but not at the time it was going on.

So, Obama followers love to call the non-followers racist, yet they continue to spew hatred and vile remarks about a second successful woman in politics. Interesting.

Why are we inundated with these white trash stories ? Palin and her gang are a distraction. Look at the report about job losses today, that is the important issue ! It's the economy, stupid !

Why do you send an attorney to verify and stand in for you if you didnt do anything. Plus you let people investigate forever check everywhere.Obama never hired attorney on Rezco case because he knws there is nothing there to hide.

Why, cause she won't be governor any longer?? haha Alaska can keep her

Obama is right on this one. Where was the beef on the economy and jobs on the Republican side???? NOTHING !!!! McCain/ Palin have more Hot Air than a hot air ballons !!!

where there is smoke there is always fire

at best sarah should have stayed out of it

if he was a bad dude....he was the sister's bad dude

if he did not do his trooper job right...then it was sarah's business

I think the statement from Palin about "bridge to nowhere" was an insult to the people who live in that area.

sure and if you believe all that, there is a "Bridge to nowhere" that she'll sell you too...

Some people are convinced that they actually "know" more about the private affairs of others than do the individuals themselves.

I would not touch these people with a barge pole.

It is disgusting.

Perhaps you do not want the laws of the country to play out.

Perhaps you would rather have The Obama's People Court be the Judge the Jury and the Executioner.

Pathetic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If that was done to my nephew I would do whatever it took to get the jerk fired. I would go even further and beat the heck out of the loser. I praise Palin for her commitment and protection of her family.

Nice...he admits to drinking on the job, tasering his son (HIS version makes it sound so nice) and you blame Palin???

As Governor, she had the right to remove any Chairman she chose to. They serve at the discretion of the governor. If any of you bothered to check the Anchorage newspaper, the complaints including the PI report was submitted to the Safety Commissioner BEFORE she became Governor.

She became Governor, told the Safety Commissioner she wanted to take the Commission in a different direction, offered him an oversight position on a different Commission and he refused.

Let us NOT forget our dear Trooper is suing the State of Alaska, and said her personally would take down the F###Bi#### Palin.

Yup, sure sounds like a Trooper any state would be proud of...don't cha think?

Tony and John, what would you do with a trooper like this? "Dirt" and "hardness"; sounds like two blue dog dumbicrats crying in their beers.

So that mean ol' Palin tried to get someone fired because he tasered a kid and threatened to kill someone (which would both be criminal acts except the kid he tasered and the person he threatened to kill were related to a Republican, which makes it okay). Yep, abuse of office for sure. Oh yeah, and he drove a cop car drunk and illegally shot a moose. But other than that, he's a great guy.

I know that most of the dough-heads commenting here in his defense are always on the side of the cops, right? Yeah, right.

palin has more dirt to come if she have skeletons in the closet they will be reviled!

Needs to be probed further. If the guy did wrong,and he says he did and has paid the price, so be it. But if Palin did wrong and got away with it, not a good thing. I say get to the root of it all. Underhanded behavior in high places is not a good thing. If he is a bad guy, shame on him. If the gov did wrong-shame on her.

I don't care. I don't care about Sarah, her pregnant teenage daughter or her ex-brother in law. My gas prices are close to $4.00 and I want something done about THAT. Save the Sarah drama for her momma.

Obama/Biden 08

There are other ways of bringing someone to justive other than abusing your position as the head of the state government. I thought Repubs were the law and order party.

Mike seems like a charming Alaskan good ol' boy. Having visited that state way back in '73 and meeting some of the colorful locals, I'd say there hasn't been much cultural progress since those days.

While this guy is, uh, a bit flawed, he still requires due process, so if Palin tried to railroad him, she's just as guilty of malfeasance as he is.

Palin's hardness in her speech gives color to the idea that she really did try to use the state to take revenge on her ex-brother-in-law. It showed her as the kind of person who would not be above using power in that way.

Palin Dirt. More keeps tumbling out..............

If he Tasered that kid, he'd be in Jail. PERIOD.

"Hell has no fury like a women scorned". Sara Palin used her professional power to get revenge for her sister. When she first found out about the taser incident or the drinking incident.....did she do something about it? Or did these things become a problem AFTER her sister and brother-in-law started the divorce.

I am very interested in hearing all sides!

This guy is a JERK! Looks like the trooper's gang needs to be investigated – they all stick together and defend their guys.
Disgrace – he needs to go!
GOV Palin did the right thing – it was HER choice to make – part of her JOB!

CNN I can't believe you are giving the wonderful "trooper" who drove his squad car drunk, TASERED his 11 year old step son, and threatened to KILL Sarah's father (just a few of his lovely traits, some you are NOT covering) ANY airtime. Disgraceful.
Best dad I can be...after my four marriages and tasering my kid.....nice.
Lets all feel sorry for him and make out the GOVERNOR to be a monster. CNN you are so bad.

He added that McCain's choice of Palin as his running mate was "absolutely wonderful for the state of Alaska."

Ah yes but it doesn't look wonderful for the USA.