Cooperation

Once upon a time,

Sharon Leighow, the governor's spokeswoman, said Palin "doesn't see a need for a formal investigation," but is willing to answer questions.

"The governor has said all along that she will fully cooperate with an investigation and her staff will cooperate as well," Leighow said.

So, of course, today we get word from the Straight Talk Express that

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will not cooperate with a legislative inquiry into her firing of an Alaska official, her campaign said, labeling the probe "partisan."

Spokesman Ed O'Callaghan said Monday the investigation had become "tainted" by Democratic state lawmakers targeting Palin, the governor of Alaska who Republican White House hopeful John McCain chose as his running mate late last month.

"I think it's fair to say that the governor is not going to cooperate with that investigation so long as it remains tainted and run by partisan individuals that have a predetermined conclusion," O'Callaghan said.

The bipartisan panel that voted 12-0 to investigate this case has 14 members, four of whom are Democrats. Given that the panel’s vote to investigate was unanimous (although two members apparently did not vote), I fail to see how the “partisan” charge could contain much truth.

Maybe when Palin’s spokesperson said “partisan,” he meant “sexist.” But four members of the panel are women (only one of whom is a Democrat). But if Tina Fey can be sexist, I suppose any woman who is inconvenient to the GOP ticket can be sexist.

Last week Alaska lawmakers voted 5-3 to subpoena Palin's husband Todd Palin in the legislative investigation into whether his wife improperly attempted to fire a state trooper who was her former brother-in-law.

The committee also subpoenaed Palin's chief of staff and deputy chief of staff.

The panel had agreed beforehand however that a subpoena of Sarah Palin herself would not be considered, with the understanding she would agree to an interview by the investigator, retired prosecutor Stephen Branchflower.

I guess it’s time to start considering that subpoena, huh?