Reader Question #1: Curbing Palin Power Abuse Probe

September 8, 8:22 AMPolitical Issues ExaminerJudah Freed

Previous Next

5 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Political Issues Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 Please reply to today's question.

You've been graciously reading my news and views since this column began about ten days ago, now it's time for me to hear from you. For the next week, in addition to my other postings, I'm going to pick a daily topic based on a news story and ask for your informed opinion on the subject.  If this proves to be as popular as I hope, look for this to become a regular feature here. 

Here is our opening news item and question:

NEWS ITEM: Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball reported on the Newsweek website last Friday, "Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called 'October surprise' that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election." (See link below.)

QUESTION: Do you believe Republican Party leaders are trying to suppress the probe into Palin's alleged abuse of power? Why or why not? If you believe the Newsweek report, do you favor or oppose curbing the investigation, and why?

I look forward to reading your comments below.

Please honor three simple house rules:

1. Keep your posting under 100 words. Short postings will let your fellow readers scan all of the responses quickly. There will be some leeway, of course, but long postings will be deleted after I've asked you to repost your ideas in fewer words.
    
2. Back up your opinions with facts. Opinions are like religious creeds, said Thomas Paine. The assertions prove nothing. Give us some solid information we can check out for ourselves, then show us how your facts support your viewpoint.
    
3. If you disagree, be polite about it. Let's enjoy civil discourse and reasonable debate among thoughtful people. Name calling or abusive language will not be tolerated. I may ask you to repost with kinder words, if appropriate.

The first rule is the most critical one, in my mind. Writing tight will cause you to think through what you want to say before you post it here for the world to see. My favorite college professor once told me that if I could not distil an argument down to a single thesis statement of 40 words or less, I did not yet really understand my own position. More words may be needed to build out an argment, she said, but the main assertion needs to be short and clear.