Can You Say SLAPP?

One of the responses to rampant speculation yesterday (Friday) that one of the possibilities that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin so abruptly announced her imminent resignation from the job she swore to uphold for four years, is the possibility of an ongoing criminal investigation, more than one ongoing criminal investigation, either by the Federal Government, or by some other law enforcement entity, has been the wrath of the Anchorage attorney Palin hired to complicate her life and ours, back in September 2008, Thomas van Flein.

He has issued a statement that begins:

On July 3rd, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced her intent to resign her gubernatorial duties and transfer the powers of Governor to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. Almost immediately afterwards, several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory allegations that the “real” reasons for Governor Palin’s resignation stem from an alleged criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex.

Actually, Mr. Van Flein, what people did was combine information publicly available now more than nine months, with newer information, and, as we've tried to make clear, "rumors." Since our country was founded, when people post rumors about public figures, and call them "rumors," they are no more unscrupulous than - for instance - when a political candidate calls a highly respected educator a "terrorist."

At least the furor, so far directed entirely at Alaska's most meteoric and charismatic progressive media commentator, Shannyn Moore, has resulted in the following:

Despite rumors of a looming controversy after the Republican governor's surprise announcement Friday that she would leave office this month, some of them published in the blogosphere, the FBI's Alaska spokesman said the bureau had no investigation into Palin for her activities as governor, as mayor or in any other capacity.

"There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we're investigating her or getting ready to indict her," Special Agent Eric Gonzalez said in a phone interview Saturday. "It's just not true." He added that there was "no wiggle room" in his comments for any kind of inquiry.

OK. I'll accept that. Actually, I am relieved.

So, Mr. van Flein, just as Palin openly alleged in front of hundreds of thousands, broadcast to billions, that our now sitting president was "Palling around with terrorists," we openly alleged that we had read and heard Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was under investigation. Apparently, she is not, at least by the "Feds," as she so eloquently wrote in one of her - thankfully! - last missives on state policy.

I wrote, back on June 18th, when van Flein's last expensive action on Palin's behalf came to light, regarding his motion to exempt Palin from public disclosure of her true business relationship with a recreational equipment manufacturer, that one possible outcome of the legal fund fundraiser for Palin in late June, was to finance a SLAPP lawsuit against citizens who merely want open and transparent government:

...one of the possibilities .... could be to announce a hefty SLAPP lawsuit against Andree McLeod, Linda Kellen, both, or against them and other Alaskans who merely want to know what our laws actually mean, when it comes to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's burgeoning extra-curricular life, and that life's relationship to the stewardship she accepted when she took her oath of office.

How much did you charge Palin for this preliminary move on a possible SLAPP, Mr. Van Flein? I know. You won't tell me. I already tried to get an honest answer out of you on her legal expenses.

Look Mr. van Flein, as much as we comment about how strange, funny, vindictive, unprepared, ignorant, selfish and foolish Gov. Palin often appears, when it comes to reporting what we hear or read about her, what we write is in the hope of ultimately arriving at truth, not fiction. We sure are not out to hurt her or be malicious. We have quashed many untrue rumors, some of them quite rapidly.

We all have mixed feelings about Ms. Palin. But to characterize Shannyn Moore or the other Alaska bloggers as unscrupulous will not hold water.

Thanks for bringing all this to our attention, and helping to get a comment from Mr. Gonzalez.

Also, Mr. van Fein, you might sit down with now-Gov. Palin, and watch this video, followed by a down-to-earth discussion session. If Palin can't afford your bill for the discussion session, I'm sure Shannyn and the rest of our pesky Alaskan bloggers could quickly raise the money, perhaps within an hour, to pay your fee.