I've had a weird feeling for about a month that Palin may have to bow out before election day and Mitt might be in.

There may yet be some other skeletons that emerge...

It's interesting how McCain is getting less-competitive in states where Romney could have helped him aka. Colorado, Michigan etc.

Apparently McCain's advisors failed to notice the states where Romney was highly competitive over their man.

Moreover the economy is (rightfully so) at the forefront of all current discussion and Palin and McCain add no credibility in this area as compared to Romney in respect to financial aptitude.

IME McCain will win Utah but not by GW Bush type of numbers. Maverik you got it wrong in respect to your VP choice!

McCain going out on a limb with this political ploy has not worked. Palin is now a liability and not an asset. She should do the right thing and step aside if McCain is going to have any chance to win on election day.

I thought the left was in favor of getting creepy people out of the police force.

I can't wait when Obama is sworn in come Jan.

Abuse of power by a conservative. Wow- didn't see that one comming :)

The Real Story is Ayers, Rezko and Obama's high crimes and misdemeanors. It is time to stand up against wickedness in high places. Palin's brother in law deserved to be fired! Wow one person does the right thing and gets crucified while a typical politcal machine turning out illegal contributions and what will be an ACORN rigged election gets rewarded.

Finally! It's great that this news got out before the election. Great for both parties, since it would look very shady if they had held it until after the election.

But, Mitt Romney? Do we really want a venture capitalist-hostile takeover-leveraged buyout guy in charge right now? Isn't this the kind of thing that's put us where we are! We don't need ANY advice from the likes of him.

I agree but hard headed people would rather lose than be wrong. I thought his selection was wrong to begin with.

Palin is a true republican icon!

Can anybody say Tom Eagleton? I think you can. This story sounds like 1972 all over again.

Note, the vote to release the report was 12-0 by the legislative committee with 7 Republicans and 5 Democrats approving it. It was supported by all the Republicans on the committee!!!

For the last two weeks, Gov Palin has smeared Barak Obama with a serious charge of "pal-ing around with terrorists ..." ending with "do we really know Barak Obama...?"

Well, now we have a weak report from a possibly biased legislature saying she is not guilty of a crime, but her approach was unethical. So we can legitimately ask: "...do we really know Sara...?"

I guess one weak, unsubstantiated charge (Barak is a terrorist) deserved a comeback (Sara is a bully).

Now that we have thrown mud pies at each other, can we go back and discuss the issues? America is falling into a financial morass, and we "main street" citizens are awake at night worried about paying the bills and college for our children. We are not worried that Barack is a terrorist (he's not), or that Sara is a bully (she's not).

Please .... move on and act like grown-ups ... both of you !!!!

And this small incident apparently is more egregious to the media than Obama's radical Illinois connections? Am I the only individual in this country paranoid enough to think that Obama may be an al Quaida subversive? Let's all jump on the bandwagon with these Gadianton robbers!

The findings and the timing of the report are not surprising at all given the people behind the investigation.

The only sad thing is how gullible the majority of Americans are. I just can't understand why people are fooled by the Obama Campaign. He promises: 1) to fix our broken economy 2) to have us energy independent in 10 years 3) to have us out of the war in 16 months 4) to lower 95% of American's taxes...pretty impressive promises coming from someone who has never done anything significant in his career except run a presidential campaign!

There is no way that he will fulfill the four promises above and I'm not concerned about the long term implications of Obama's policies. However, I am very nervous about the impact Obama will have on our judicial system given the liberal federal and supreme court judges he will appoint. That impact will be long term and could have drastic consequences for the morals of our country! For Mitt fans or conservatives leaning Obama, PLEASE think through what a vote for Obama actually means. It's not just about these next 4 or 8 years!

The report, if you read it, says she violated ethics,
Then said she was within her power and based
other employee conduct to dismiss the trooper?
The committee did not even vote to endorse
there findings?

PARTISAN HOGWASH!

What the story fails to include is that the "investigation" was done by a single person, at the behest of an admittedly rabid anti-Palin/pro-Obama Dmeocrat legislator. Its conclusions were not reviewed or adopted by anyone but that single partisan legislator.

Further, the "report's" inescapable conclusion that (a) the Governor had the authority to do what she did; cannot be torpedoed by (b) its opinion that somehow it was unethical for her to do so.

Meanwhile, when will the Deseret News bother reporting on the numerous well documented connections between Obama and his felon financier pal Tony Rezko; his unrepentant terrorist associates Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dorn; his hate-spewing preacher Jeremiah Wright; his neck deep ties to vote fraud giant ACORN; or his illegal overseas campaign fund raising?

Neither of the choices this election are inspiring, and admittedly Romney may have been the better Republican candidate for Prez of VP, but our election process does not give us that choice.

The sad thing is that the "trooper" who was fired not only tasered his own little boy (I believe he was nine at the time), but he also threatened Governor Palin's father in the presence of witnesses. The "trooper" was an absolute scumbag that anyone with a brain would have fired.

Based upon the ridiculous findings, it is crystal clear that the "inquiry" is nothing more than yet another "October Surprise" attempt by the Democrats; perhaps this, when combined with Obama's old group ACORN's illegal fraudulent voter registrations, the Dems will succeed in getting "revenge" for the perceived loss in 2000 (when even the extreme leftist New York Times admitted that Bush won, no matter how many times the votes were counted) by stealing the election in 2008.

"So this is how freedom dies, to thunderous applause..." Unfortunately for America, this isn't just from a pathetic attempt to inject politics into a poorly-made Star Wars movie.

First came the dirty Chicago Machine Politics and the anti-American decades spent drinking in Reverend Wright anti-American hatred and Black Liberation Theology, and now there are fainting girlies, Obama Girl, the condemnation of the Surge, and Acorn stealing elections...Obama is a disgrace!

It's time for Palin to do the honorable thing and step aside. She has become a huge liability to McCain.

Sarah should exit this election process after her party is defeated, and hide in the alaskan darkness for the next 6 months. Then when there is almost 21 hours of daylight emerge with some humbleness, and try to be more of a elected represenative for her people, leaving the talent, beauty queen, and the desire for power in the darkness she has just exited. I have seen many elections being a retiree, and without any doubt this was the most unqualified candidate I have ever seen run for one of our top offices. Mayor of a town with 6 or 7 thousand, then elected govenor of a state with just 25% of the poulation of Utah, and been there less than 2 years. A degree from the University of Idaho in journalism? Give us a break Republicans, you can do better than THAT.

Choosing Palin may go down as one as the Mother of all Political Blunders and will be studied for years to come in poli sci classes. Despite their claims, she wasn't properly vetted and her accomplishments haven been grossly exaggerated. However, I don't see how her stepping aside could ever happen. I don't think McCain can admit he made a mistake (privately or publically).

A maverick is someone who doesn't care about the rules and does things her way, right or wrong. It is fun in a Dirty Harry movie but is not who you want leading your country.

Let's be honest, Sarah Palin is to wacky to have gotten out of a Republican primary for statewide office in Utah. The only reason she is a Governor is because there is so little political talent in Alaska. Greg Hughes should maybe move out there. They can use him.

I find the report unconvincing. But, more importantly, the report acknowledges that she could dismiss the Public Safety Comissioner at will. Reporting on the issue sould easily have been of this sort "Investigator concludes Palin acted within her lawful powers to fire Monegan, put notes minor ethics violation." That's is, it could have been reported that way if it was about Obama. One blatant aspect of misreporting that I've noted is that CNN is claiming that a "bipartisan" or even "Republican dominated" legislative panel unanimously voted to "accept" or "endorse" the investigators report. This implies that they have approved its conclusions as being correct. Not true. They voted only to publicly release the report. So, why would CNN choose to misreport it in this way? You know the obvious answer. Also note that this was merely an investigators report -- not a jury conviction.

Big deal. It was a democratically-controlled panel anyway. Piffle.

mcvain does not have the personality to admit he made a very very poor choice, and even if he did he will not change, and even if he did it would not matter. even his own party finds him a joke, sorta the george mcgovern of the modern era, except mcgoven was a more decent man, and would never have engaged in the kind of character smears that are the final straw to "the straight talk express....to hell"

Hopefully even the liberals won't think this 'investigation" was any more than what it was...a witch hunt and rammed thru by Dems. But I doubt it.

McCain had met Palin (briefly) only once before inviting her to join him on the GOP ticket. Once.

Later, on the subject of his decision-making process, this last-in-his-class guy said, "I know I make snap decisions, it sometimes gets me into trouble, but I don't second guess myself."

Palin, asked if she gave much thought to accepting McCain's invitation, said, "No, you can't blink, not for a moment."

There's the GOP ticket for you in a nutshell. Two people with meager intellectual capacity who are actually _proud_ of the fact that they don't think about the decisions they are making.

So now we find that McCain's snap judgement about Palin includes not making enquiries of her about the ethics charges against her. A bipartisan panel voted unanimously on their findings: She used her public office to settle a personal score. Worse, she lied about it to try to protect herself when she got caught.

And what will McCain do now that Palin is, again, proving to be a liability rather than an asset? Nothing, of course. He doesn't second guess himself.

Say hello to President Obama.

How could Palin "unlawfully abuse power" and break no laws?
Sounds to me that this is much about nothing. The brother in law needed more than just fireing, he got off easy.
But, lets just stick with the petty things about Palin and look the other way with Obama and his associations with known terrorists and radicals.
This is going to be an exciting time to be an American, mabey one of the last exciting times to be an American, since the meaning of the term will change, if you know what I mean, Comrad.

The GOv could abuse power while she de regulates. However, could she find the new world bank Bush is setting up this weekend? It will not be in Wasila.

Unethical! Or is that media bias? Nope, she's just unethical. :)

I am extremely disappointment at the direction the Repubilican Party campaign is heading. The negative comments in Wisconsin and Minnesota have fueled dangerous comments against Obama. These dangerous and threatening outcries are just a step away from actions noone wants to see. The Republican Pary - McCain and Palin - must stop the negative attacks and stop enciting riotous comments from their supporters.

Hotel genius Conrad Hilton used to say "location, location, location," were the 3 most important aspects of value.

Let the record note that the Deseret News places a story about malfeasance by the Republican candidate at the very bottom of its site. A similar story about a Democrat would have at the very top.

The outcome of this "investigation" was predictable when one considers that the chief investigators were B.O. supporters. Something is rotten in Denmark and stinks to high heaven--the investigators should be investigated.

People who have HIGH standards and morals are, in this country now, almost prevented from serving in any office! Gov Palin had every right to fire the gentleman she fired.. for any reason OR for no reason at all. that`s the law! Gov Palin (and her equally "moral" husband) had a 10-yr-old NEPHEW TASERED by this trooper! Do you have any idea how PAINFUL it is to be TASERED? A TROOPER tasered a 10-yr old and you, as governor are responsible for having this "man" on your state`s PAYROLL? He drinks & drives, ignores state law for shooting wildlife, threatrens citizens with harm verbally? Any ONE of these things is reason to NOT want to be responsible for knowingly keeping this person in a position of responsibility and potential harm to others!! WHAT is WRONG with people who have any doubt that this "man" in question should NOT retain his position of armed "protector" of citizens? This situation just shows how MUDDLED and IDIOTIC our thinking has become!

this article is number one on google. Hardly made front page here. What is the agenda?

McCain picked Palin because he thought he could push her around. Plain and simple, McCain is a control freak, and that is why he never had ANY intention of bringing Mitt or anyone else strong-minded on as the VP candidate. That decision has now come back to bite him, but McCain is also stubborn and I doubt will admit his fault. A stubborn control freak - that is a scary combination for the leader of the most powerful nation in the world...

The story failed to report that the trooper "taised" a 9 or 10 year old boy. I would have done the same thing. And this is mild compared to Obama (who os running for President)' s association with Acorn, Bill Ayers, etc. She and her husband acted like any parent would, and if you can find a governor including Huntsman with his sweetheart "Real" deal that hasn't done anything wrong, go for it.

If Romney would have been chosen they would have found far more including his "layoffs" of companies he acquired which would have really gone over well with people in this economy.

:ets see if I get this right? Democratic party supporters descend like locusts into Alaska looking for any dirt they can find on Sarah Palin. Finding nothing the Democratic led politcally motivated investigation finds an
"abuse" of power. Nothing criminal, just an accusation. All of sudden, this governor, whose approval rating is over 80% is suddenly baggage for the GOP. Democrats can never win on the issues they are always looking for a media created scandal, to win. THey ignore the real scandals in the Clinton administration and yes a real abuse of power by Hillary Clinton (see travelgate, Rose Law firm etc)Our country is on verge of an economic meltdown brought about by Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines, Jim Johnson, Chuckie Shumer and of yes Obama and the obvious criminal activity at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Enron was a drop in the bucket compared to this debacle. An "empty suit" is scripted to the American public as an agent of change turns out to be the same old politician. No wonder Hollywood supports him. Obama is a "make believe" president. Sarah Palin went after the "good old boy" establishment in Alaska, and they are still after her.

The headline and text are blatant lies, courtesy of the AP.
If you read the actual report, which I have, it states that there was NO UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY on the part of the governor.
Get a grip, Deseret News, before you go swallowing the MSM party line.

You really need to get over it. McCain views Romney as a liability, not an asset. If he wanted Romney, he would have picked him to begin with. He doesn't want him!

Let's see: unwed, pregnant teenage daughter, state trooper scandal, special needs child being neglected. Why don't the Republicans just hand over the election to the Democrats now?

The McCain/Palin ticket is turning into a train wreck in slow motion. I'm glad that I have already decide to vote for Obama.

Come on....I agree she was a bad pick, but if she resigned now, it would be a firestorm and the end of McCain. In all of this the story is NOT Pallin, but McCain's "judgement" in picking her. Add to this his erratic behaviour on the economy...in March he thought "nothing should be done to help homeowners" (I agree..), on Monday a few weeks back at the beginning of the melt down (the day Lehman went out), the "fundamentals are strong in the economy", two days before the first debate he wants "to suspend his campaign" and go back to Washington to "solve this problem". In the last debate he had a hair brained idea to buy bad mortgages at FULL value (not a good idea for the taxpayers...). Honestly he is NOT presidential. Pallin is not qualified. The facts are the facts.

I hope she does bow out. It will only cement the impression in people's minds of how erratic and unwise McCain's decisions can be.

The country is seeing that Palin is simply George W Bush with different plumbing. Watch her interviews, listen to (and attempt to comprehend) what she says. It's scary. When Saturday Night Live spoofs her using her own words, line by line, there's clearly something amiss.

No thanks.

This isn't going to go over very well with independent and undecided voters. This is the same kind of thing that Bush and Cheney have been doing over the last 8 years with the firing of federal prosecutors, the outing of Valerie Plame, cooking the intelligence about Iraq having wmds. It looks and smells like more of the same and the majority of Americans are sick and tired of it. It also adds credibility to what was being said when Palin was selected by McCain. That she wasn't vetted properly, that he used bad judgment in selecting her, that it was a political ploy to energize the religious right of the Republican party placing his ambition over the good of the country. The kind of small town politics that Palin has been using in Alaska is not what we need right now, and proves that she is not qualified to be vp.

Though I have no respect for Palin, she isn't the main problem. McCain is the problem and has dug too deep a hole for himself and the party for Romney to come riding in. No way Romney would risk sacrificing his career for McCain. He'll regroup and start preparing for 2012.

Come on Deseret News! Let's get it right. There was nothing illegal in what Sarah Palin did. Your article is wrong.

Why is this the last article on the page here at the Deseret News, but appears as a leading article in all other national newspapers? Even articles on football are listed here above this article, when this abuse of power by Palin should be a very critical piece of information for the upcoming election; so much for our democracy, or what is now left of it. No wonder the public is generally so ill-informed.

Governor Palin has moved into a glass house.

I dont care. Im a still votin fur McCane cause just like all us here in utard ---Im a redneck hillbilly. Cant understand why anyone would vote fur a black. After all white supremecy rules in the land of utards

Is Sarah Palin really just Dick Cheney incognito?

This ridiculous purely partisan report did not include ten testimonies, The authors of this piece of sophistry promises to issue a follow up report including the missing witnesses no doubt after the election exonerating her. Mean while Obama consorts with murders, terrorists, racists and assorted felons but hey no problem there.

a great year to cast a vote for Bob Barr.