Doug Brady on Alaska Judge's Smackdown of Andree McLeod

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Doug Brady at C4P comments on Monday's decision by an Alaska District Court judge to deny Cloward-Piven practitioner Andree McLeod's appeal of a ruling denying yet another of her numerous records requests:

The Court's verdict has fully vindicated Todd Palin's role as a close advisor and First Gentleman or, as we've come to know him, First Dude of Alaska. None other than serial ankle-biter Andree McLeod and her left-wing attorney Donald Mitchell (whom the court chastised in subsequent footnotes for multiple rule violations), claimed that by copying Todd Palin in any government related email, the Office of the Governor "waived" the deliberative process privilege and that therefore all the emails should be publicly released.

Not surprisingly, The Court didn't buy this absurd argument and, in meticulously reviewing Alaska law, federal law, and the common law, resoundingly rejected Mitchell and McLeod's meritless arguments. They even went so far as to say that McLeod's team "ignored reality and common sense."

[...]

The Court concluded that "common sense and Federal law require finding that Todd Palin could properly have acted as an advisor to the Governor."

Doug observes that while it is common knowledge among Sarah Palin's supporters that ignorance of reality and common sense is a classic symptom of leftism in general and Palin Derangement Syndrome in particular, it is now duly recorded in the annals of the Alaska state judicial system. Read his full commentary at Conservatives for Palin.

- JP

Judge rules against McLeod, won't reconsider decision

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A Superior court judge has denied a motion by plaintiff Andree McLeod to reconsider his ruling that Alaska law doesn't forbid the use of private e-mail accounts to conduct state business:

The decision stems from a 2008 public records request that showed then-Gov. Sarah Palin and members of her staff had been using private e-mail accounts.

Activist Andree McLeod sued, arguing that Palin and the governor's office had a duty to save as public records e-mails related to state business, regardless of the accounts that messages were sent through.

But Superior Court Judge Patrick McKay said McLeod, in seeking to have McKay reconsider his finding, "rehashes" arguments she'd previously raised.

If McLeod remains true to form, she will likely appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

- JP

Call to Action: Serial Bogus Ethics Filers Give Testimony on Ethics?

- by Special Guest Contributor Adrienne Ross
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During the tenure of Governor Palin, a whirlwind of ethics complaints blew into the state of Alaska. Both Andree McLeod and Zane Henning were responsible for filing bogus complaints against her. These were an affront to tax paying Alaskans and illustrated a complete disregard for the ethics system.

It would only stand to reason now that the state Legislature would take a good look at the system, hear from those who can give insight into how it can be improved, and follow through. Obviously, it would make sense to talk to the administration that has been so adversely affected by those seeking to abuse the ethic rules. Instead, in their hearings, they actually chose to receive testimony from Andree McLeod and Zane Henning, chief abusers of the system.

Lisa Demer of the ADN reports:

A legislative committee on Monday took up ethics issues that erupted during the Palin administration, but it's not clear whether the panel intends to take any action.

Attorney General Dan Sullivan has proposed state rules establishing when it's appropriate for the state to pay for the travel of family members of the governor or lieutenant governor. Another proposal sets out when the state should pay legal bills for state officials defending against ethics complaints.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin was hit with numerous ethics complaints during her 2 1/2 years in office. She said she quit in part because of what she called frivolous ethics complaints and personal legal bills amounting to an estimated $600,000.

Most of the ethics complaints against Palin were dismissed. But she settled one by reimbursing the state more than $8,000 for her children's air travel.

[...]

Oversight comes from the joint House-Senate Administrative Regulation Review Committee, which examines regulations to make sure they are allowed under state law.

The panel agreed to hold a public hearing on the ethics measures after being pushed by Palin critic Andree McLeod. House leaders also requested it, said state Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, who is the committee chairman.

Under the proposed rules, the state could cover the costs of defending a public official against ethics complaints if the official were exonerated, Assistant Attorney General Judy Bockmon told the committee.

[...]

McLeod, who filed a number of ethics complaints against Palin and her staff, urged the committee to reject the changes.

[...]

The Executive Branch Ethics Act is important, and the attorney general shouldn't be trying to change the law, another Palin critic, Zane Henning, told the committee. The Legislature should make any needed changes, he said.

[...]

The Department of Law has solicited public comment and held a hearing on the ethics changes, Bockmon said. The period for comment has ended and the department must now decide what to do. It could adopt the provisions as is or with minor changes, or let the matter drop with no action.

The committee hasn't yet decided how to proceed, Keller said.

Read the full article here.

So Andree McLeod and Zane Henning, serial complainants who cost the state thousands of tax payer dollars while they played out their hellish vendetta against Governor Palin, somehow are credible sources of information? These two Palin anklebiters, whose complaints were thrown out one after another, are taken seriously, but the legislature doesn't want to hear from the administration itself regarding how these ethics abuses can be solved? What sense does that make?

Clearly, these two can't spot a real ethics violation if it smacked them in the face, so how does their one-sided testimony equate to anything remotely helpful in bringing about true ethics reform? And why can't the legislators see what is so apparent? Allowing these two characters to have a say in ethics rules is like allowing children to decide their own punishment. Don't tell me the legislators don't recognize this. They make it hard to take them or these hearings seriously. It seems, instead, to be more of the same Juneau dog and pony show.

Perhaps legislators' approach has something to do with the fact that their own ethics laws protect them from frivolous complaints. Perhaps it's due to the fact that if a complaint is leaked to the public in the legislative branch it is automatically dismissed. No wonder Jay Ramras, chair of House Judiciary, could so flippantly scold Governor Palin for wearing an Arctic Cat coat on a cold Alaska day though he ran multiple ads for his Pike's Lodge while serving in the legislature and running for lieutenant governor. Could it not be argued that this was a political use of airtime? Could these ads not be deemed an improper in-kind contribution? Yet when the absurd Arctic Cat ethics complaint was filed, he chastised the governor for wearing a winter coat on a winter day! The hypocrisy is glaring.

We can look the other way, or we can implore legislators to do the right thing. They need to take up this issue, and we need to let them know how we feel about it. Governor Palin made the selfless decision to resign because she could no longer allow the politics of personal destruction being waged against her to continually cost the state thousands of dollars. And will legislators do nothing? Indeed, something needs to be done, and by "something" I don't mean simply hearing one-sided testimony from the anklebiters themselves.

Governor Palin fought against business as usual in the state of Alaska. Failure to act in the best interests of the state she served is unacceptable. The boneheaded decision to hear testimony on ethics from unethical boneheads makes no sense at all.

I urge you all to call and/or email these legislators and respectfully insist that they take action. Your voice does matter. I've included the contact information for you. (All phone numbers: 907 area code)

* Chair: Rep. Wes Keller - Representative_Wes_Keller@legis.state.ak.us, 465-2186
* Vice-Chair: Sen. Donald Olson - Senator_Donald_Olson@legis.state.ak.us, 465-3707
* Rep. Carl Gatto - Representative_Carl_Gatto@legis.state.ak.us, 465-3743
* Rep David Guttenberg - Representative_David_Guttenberg@legis.state.ak.us, 465-4457
* Sen. Albert Kookeesh - Senator_Albert_Kookesh@legis.state.ak.us, 465-3473
* Sen. Kevin Meyer - Senator_Kevin_Meyer@legis.state.ak.us, 465-4945
* Senate Pres.: Sen. Gary Stevens - Senator_Gary_Stevens@legis.state.ak.us, 465-4925
* Speaker of the House: Rep. Mike Chenault Representative_Mike_Chenault@legis.state.ak.us, 465-3779

- Adrienne

Adrienne Ross blogs at Motivation Truth and is a regular contributor to several other websites. Adrienne is also the Media Director, NY State Organizer and an Executive Board Member of the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee.

Andree Anklebiter Loses Another One

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An Alaska judge has ruled in favor of former Governor Sarah Palin and against serial lawsuit and complaint filer Andree McLeod in a lawsuit over communications Gov. Palin sent using not the state computer system, but rather her private e-mail account:

Superior Court Judge Patrick McKay ruled Friday that current state law does not forbid use of private e-mail accounts to conduct state business.

The case stems from a records request made by Palin critic Andree McLeod for e-mails related to state business that Palin sent from state and personal accounts. McLeod also requested e-mails of Palin's husband, Todd.

Poor Andree Anklebiter lost another one. Oh, well. Live by Cloward-Piven, die by Cloward Piven... 

- JP

Nutty as a pecan grove

Edisto Joe wonders:

"Did Andree Mcleod apply for a government position with the Palin Administration in Alaska and receive a rejection notice?"

Well... yes, actually.

"Somebody needs to hold an intervention with her and break this addiction of ethics violations she keeps conjuring up in her mind."

Don't bother. She's well past the point of no return.

"What's Mcleod gaining from this? Nothing, except a reputation for being 'nuts'. At least the little grease-ball Levi, (The Alaskan Teenage Love Muscle), is pimping himself out to any media outlet that wants to pay for 'trash' news. Andree is doing this ethics thing for free. (That proves she's crazy)."

Joe heard the news that Alaska Personnel Board member Al Tamagni called Andree McLeod a chronic complainer at Wednesday's meeting and said she appears to have a personal vendetta against the former GOP vice presidential candidate:

It started after McLeod, who has had her ethics complaints against Sarah Palin dismissed by the personnel board, tore into the board during the time set aside for the public to speak.

"For anyone to even criticize a person like myself who wants to file complaints and does so and then call me a serial complainer and then complain about the cost? What is the cost of corruption? What is the cost of the culture of corruption that you are now complicit in, of the Palin/Parnell administration. Can you answer that Al?" McLeod told the board.

McLeod went on, declaring that the board is a joke and is dedicated to defending public officials rather than serving the public. Tamagni broke in at one point, saying "just keep bitching, Andree."

Angst-ridden Andree was having such a major meltdown that she freaked out Board chair Debra English, who was ready to call security to restrain the deranged woman.

"How offensive, Debra, this is offensive, how offensive you are,” McLeod said at the threat to call security.

Well, duh, Andree. How offensive is it that a crackpot is allowed to keep filing these bogus complaints?

Joe wonders if Andree and San Fran Nan might have been separated at birth:

"The more I hear about Andree Mcleod and her antics, the more I'm reminded of Nancy Pelosi."

Not us. When we think of Andree, we're reminded of Roman Polanski's film "Repulsion" -- your mileage may vary.

You Betcha: The Pink Flamingo:

"McLeod and her cronies should be forced to pay the costs of the investigations..."

That would be close to a million dollars. So far.

- JP

Oh, by the way...

Politico's Andy Barr reports that another bogus "ethics" complaint filed by disgruntled job applicant Andree McLeod has been dismissed. The professional complainer had charged that Sarah Palin's former communications director Bill McAllister had used Alaska state resources for Palin's political benefit "before, during and after" she was chosen as Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential running mate.

According to an Associated Press wire story, McLeod's frivolous legal action, after investigation and consideration, was dismissed as "lacking merit":

"A report from the state Department of Law recommending dismissal of the complaint concluded that no evidence was found that state ethics law was violated."

Undeterred, McLeod branded the dismissal as "more whitewash":

"The evidence and common sense tells you that McAllister and others used state time and resources to work on Sarah Palin's personal political interests and not the state’s interests," she said.

Unfortunately for McLeod, she wouldn't recognize common sense if she tripped over it,  which she has done on at least five occasions:

The grievance was among six filed against Palin or her staff by Anchorage resident Andree McLeod. Five have been dismissed, and one is pending.

We can't imagine who angst-ridden Andree thinks she's fooling. Other than a small circle of drooling, Palin-hating Alaskan bloggers who take their orders from the Obamunist regime, most everyone can see right through her faux outrage.

At least 20 complaints were filed against the governor and/or her aides. At least 20 have been dismissed. Can you say "political harrassment" on the taxpayers' dime? We knew you could! It's the Wyle E. Coyote Effect.

- JP

Judge rules for Palin; Andree McLeod loses again

Superior Court Judge Jack W. Smith ruled today in Anchorage that when former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin sometimes used private e-mail to conduct state business, she was not in violation of state law.

The case resulted from a lawsuit filed by Andree McLeod, who had contended that Palin's use of private e-mails prevented citizens from being able to inspect public records. Attorneys for the state had argued that McLeod didn't understand state law and the only way to prevent the practice was for Alaska's legislators to rewrite the state code.

McLeod, who was turned down for a job by Palin,  has also filed six bogus ethics complaints against the former governor or her staff, five of which have been dismissed. One complaint she filed against two former Palin aides is still under investigation.

Update: More from Verum Serum

- JP

Latest complaint filed by Andree McLeod dismissed

The Anchorage Daily News reports that the latest phony ethics complaint lodged against Gov. Sarah Palin by serial complaint-filer Andree McLeod has been dismissed by the Alaska Personnel Board.

McLeod, the world's most disgruntled non-hire, had contended that that Palin should not have been allowed to retain her office as governor and collect her salary during the three months she was campaigning for vice president in 2008.

The bogus complaint was dismissed as flawed and without of merit.

Gov. Palin responded to news of the dismissal by posting a message on her Twitter page:

"Another victory for my family/my admin/the people of AK; but the wins come @ great cost."

Palin chief of staff Mike Nizich commented:

"Andree McLeod has failed to prevail on any of the ethics complaints she has filed against the governor. It appears her agenda is clear – she’s abusing the ethics laws to harass public officials."

To date, five of the six ethics complaints filed against Gov. Palin or her staff by McLeod have been dismissed. One she filed against two of the governor's aides is still under investigation.

- JP

Andree McLeod filed her sixth ethics complaint today

Andree McLeod, who claims to be a Republican, filed her second ethics complaint against Sarah Palin since the governor's July 3rd announcement that she intends to resign her office. It is the sixth such action filed by the prolific complainer overall. McLeod's filings account for over one-third of all the ethics complaints filed against Gov. Palin. It alleges the governor violated Alaska's ethics law by failing to submit complete gift disclosure forms in a timely manner.

The complaint is the 19th in a series of filings against Palin, most of them filed after the governor was named by John McCain to be his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. Most of the complaints have been dismissed, including three of the six filed by McLeod. She filed another complaint just last week claiming that Palin abused her office by accepting a salary and using state staff while campaigning outside of Alaska for the vice presidency last year.

In addition to McLeod's two most recent complaints, two others have been filed by the governor's political opponents since Palin announced that she would resign, adding to the substantial collection of evidence these complaints politically motivated and have more to do with smearing Sarah Palin than with achieving a more ethical state government in Alaska.

Update: Gov. Palin responds by way of multiple tweets. No need to post them here. We would rather send the traffic to the governor's Twitter page. Before McLeod filed her latest complaint, but after she filed the one before it, Johnny Alamo posted this profile of the serial complainer. HotAirPundit has more here. The statement of Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein is here.

- JP

Quote of the Day (July 14, 2009)

Alaska Pride blog on Anklebiter Andree filing her fifth "ethics" complaint against Sarah Palin today:

"This clearly goes far beyond any legitimate concern for ethics. Andree McLeod has become pathologically obsessed with Governor Palin to the point of using the ethics complaint system to stalk her politically. It is actually time to question McLeod's mental stability..."

- JP

Somebody cue Queen: Another One Bites The Dust

Via The Anchorage Daily News' ubiquitous Sean Cockerham:

"The state has dismissed an ethics complaint filed by Andree McLeod against Kris Perry, a close adviser to Gov. Sarah Palin and the director of the governor's Anchorage office."

"McLeod charged that Perry did political work on the state's time. Her complaint focused on Perry's travels with the governor on the vice-presidential campaign trail and afterwards."

"The complaint was dismissed by the attorney general's office. (McLeod said it went to the AG's office rather than the personnel board because it was a complaint against a state employee rather than the governor or lieutenant governor.)"

"The dismissal said there was no evidence 'suggesting that Perry misused her state time in any substantial way or did not intend to benefit the public interest when accompanying the governor on her trips.'"

According to the dismissal, Perry was included on the trips to liaison with the governor's office in Alaska, thus keeping Palin in contact with state business:

The record clearly shows that Ms. Perry gave far more of her personal time to the state of Alaska than she may have used state time, if any, for non-state related or unavoidable personal activities," said the dismissal.

A full PDF copy of the letter of dismissal is here.

In the reaction from the governor's office, Palin aides emphasize the fact that the complaint was filed even after Perry obtained an opinion from her ethics supervisor, Linda Perez:

"It is outrageous to file an ethics complaint against a state employee who sought and obtained ethics guidance in advance," Mike Nizich, the governor’s chief of staff, said. "This is not about ethics. This is not about holding the governor or state employees accountable. This is pure harassment."

Such harassment is costing Alaska's taxpayers large sums of money. Gov. Palin's office says that over the past two years, the state has spent millions of dollars processing ethics complaints, public records requests, and related lawsuits

The governor's full news release is here.

- JP

Anklebiters 0 for 20: Eight Complaints Dismissed

Good news today via SarahPAC:

Governor Sarah Palin today welcomed the news that yet another ethics complaint against her has been officially found to lack merit and has been dismissed.

Michael Geraghty, investigator for the State Personnel Board, concluded that there is no need for a hearing on the complaint filed in March by Andree McLeod, who has been a vocal critic of the governor since being denied employment with the state last year.

This is the 13th ethics complaint against the governor or her staff that has been resolved with no finding of a violation of the executive ethics act. A few more are pending.

"While the complaint process under the ethics act can be a useful tool for holding state officials accountable, it's obvious that political opponents of the governor have been abusing the system, attempting to turn their resentments into legal issues," said Bill McAllister, the governor's communications director. "We're grateful that the personnel board and its investigators have taken a rational approach to these matters, finding that the vast majority of the complaints did not even warrant the collection of evidence because they failed to assert any violation of the law."

McLeod's complaint, amended several times since it was first filed, made eight separate allegations against the governor. McLeod said that there were two matters showing an improper connection between the governor's office and her political action committee; that two comments made by McAllister about the governor's travel plans were political in nature; that the governor's trip to Evansville, Indiana, for a right to life event used state resources, and that she improperly accepted gifts there, including chocolate, baked goods and a hockey stick from a youth hockey group; that the governor's daughter, Bristol, used state resources in her efforts on behalf of the Candies Foundation; and that the governor's press release concerning her selection as a vice presidential candidate was improper. Geraghty found all of the allegations to be baseless and not worthy of an investigation.

How "ethical" is it to tie up government resources and cost the taxpayers money by filing frivolous complaints against the governor for political purposes? The rabid Palin-hatin' anklebiters won't answer that one. They would have to admit what hypocrites they are.

Related: Another McLeod Ethics Complaint Fails

- JP

Alaska Pride: "Andree McLeod is the real villain"

A must-read.

- JP