Maddow and French were discussing the so-called Troopergate scandal and Gov. Sarah Palin's alleged grudge in firing former Alaska public safety commissioner Walt Monegan for not reopening an investigation of a state trooper who went through a nasty divorce with Palin's sister.
Hollis, a Democrat who led the state legislature's investigation into Palin's actions in firing Monegan last July, cited "severe logical fallacies" in claims made by Palin and her husband Todd, including the Palins' request for reduced security despite their assertions that Wooten was a rogue cop.
Then came the coup de grace from French:
Stop and think about, what good does it do to fire a trooper if you really think he's dangerous?
The well-intentioned Alaskan legislator elaborated on his odd, troubling assertion, asking of anyone taking such a supposedly outlandish action as terminating the employment of a "dangerous" police officer:
Do you think he's going to leave his job and suddenly be docile and happy about life because he's just been fired? It's likely to make him more dangerous.
Heaven forbid that a dangerous state trooper is ever fired. This sort of thing might convey to those employed on the public dime that they are accountable for their actions.
In fairness to French, he did suggest what he thought Palin should have done when it came to dealing with Wooten.
Why didn't the governor do something about the policy she objected to, which is the trooper disciplinary policy? Why not come to the legislature and say, hey, I've got an idea to make the state of Alaska a better place and to do trooper disciplinary procedures in a better way? Let's change the law, let's make a policy change that protects everyone.
O-kay, say that Palin or another Alaskan politician did exactly what French is suggesting. Many moons and legislative sessions later, a shiny new "trooper disciplinary procedure" is unveiled, one that leads to ... firing of dangerous state troopers. Uh, wouldn't this just make them more dangerous?
Such are the joys of watching Maddow that she provided her own gem of an assertion almost as priceless as those from French.
Impressive, indeed. Aside from Democratic legislators leading allegedly non-partisan investigations of political opponents.
Click here for mp3 audio.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
It was only MSNBC
October 27, 2008 - 15:17 ET by KC MulvilleI'll bet this guy was so proud of himself. After all, a national talk show was going to call him up to get his opinion. This could be his ticket to the big time. He was going to give them passionate analysis! Surely, replacing Andy Rooney was next.
Don't worry. It's MSNBC. Nobody saw it. And if you videotaped it, you can always erase it. No harm, no foul.
Serpico? Hello, calling Frank Serpico?
October 27, 2008 - 15:22 ET by SickofLibsI had to read that 3 times just to make sure.
Sure, it makes much more sense to leave dangerous cops armed and acting with impunity rather than firing them. Then they at least can potentially commit crimes with state-issued firearms, which we all know is much safer.
And Maddow sits there with his mouth shut and doesn't challenge the preposterous assertion.
He's really just fitting in perfectly at MSNBC, huh?
Maddow: like, you know, articulate
October 27, 2008 - 15:23 ET by mom_roxI know, picky, picky.
--probably meant to say: Pretty impressive group except for those illiterate and inarticulate 80% of Alaskans who approved of Gov. Palin's performance.--
Does anyone have the approval numbers of former 2-term Gov. Tony Knowles (D)? I left Alaska during that time, but I'm guessing that they were fairly good numbers.
The Axis of Taxes: Obama, Pelosi and Reid (source unknown)
No, Maddow's correct. The
October 27, 2008 - 19:39 ET by HockeyKidNo, Maddow's correct. The libs they have on are like the most articulate, clear thinking, and clear speaking person: they have two arms, two legs, a head, etc. They are not, however, articulate, clear thinking, and clear speaking themselves.
Or, her grammar sucks and she just gave Governor Palin a huge compliment. The rest of the libs seem perturbed by the droppin' of gerund-endin' Gs (unless of course, it's 0bama sayin' somethin' like "keepin' it real".
Hollis French Democrat State Senator of Alaska
October 27, 2008 - 15:53 ET by AvitarMSNBC should clarify, is State Troopers tasering ten year olds DNC party policy nationally or just for Alaska?
It is fairly clear that the public safety commissioner gave Gov. Palin many reasons to fire him. That this investigation was even conducted makes clear that somebody in the Democratic Party authorized the time and money for the investigatiion in a belief that ten-year-old boys are fair game.
Whoever it was should be removed from any public office.
Woops
October 27, 2008 - 16:41 ET by NorthCoasterI guess we'll just keep the bad cops on the payroll so we can keep an eye on them. DUH!
Sounds like the
October 27, 2008 - 17:03 ET by Chris NormanSounds like the Democrat/government workers union guidelines to me. Plus, it will probably be the new federal sentencing guidelines under Obama: "don't imprison violent criminals - it'll just tick them off..."
McNotObama '08
Very informative there Hollis,
October 27, 2008 - 19:02 ET by JPR1...anyone having a hard time understanding just what a "severe illogical fallacy" is doesn't have far to look.
You're doing a fine job serving the people of Alaska; use this in your re-election campaign.
Wouldn't it be nice to find
October 27, 2008 - 19:14 ET by cocodrieWouldn't it be nice to find out what good it does to fire dangerous legislators. We could clean house.
Im sure Rachel might have
October 27, 2008 - 21:54 ET by dark_dsIm sure Rachel might have something to say regarding a rogue cop tasering a lesbian ... that would be a hate crime .. would she sit in silence regarding that rogue cop then .. I hope not ..... I seriously think I bumped my head and am imagining this crap .. or perhaps I am having a flashback .. cuz the stuff I am seeing just cannot be real .. it just cant be ... oooooh pretty lights