links for 2008-10-10

Barack Obama's statement that he "assumed [William Ayers] had been rehabilitated" raises an interesting issue. In some press coverage of this matter, "unrepentant" has virtually become Ayers' middle name. And while Ayers indeed appears unrepentant, it is important to note that he has never specified just what it is that he is unrepentant about. In other words, he's never owned up to any of the crimes he committed. It would be one thing for him to say, "I did this, and I'd do it again." But Ayers doesn't do that.

Ayers opens his memoir, Fugitive Days, with the statement, "Memory is a motherf—ker. I myself remember almost nothing." Well, there's a reason Ayers says he remembers almost nothing, and that is because he committed serious crimes and people quite likely died as a result of his actions. Andy could speak to this more authoritatively, but there are still statute of limitations issues involved.
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Why remember and send yourself to prison for the rest of your life?

Sarah Palin's husband campaigned for years to help get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force, newly released affidavits show.

The documents were released as part of the so-called Troopergate Scandal, in which it is alleged the Republican vice presidential nominee abused her position as Governor of Alaska to settle a long-standing family feud

Walter Monegan, Alaska's public safety commissioner, says he was dismissed by Mrs Palin, after refusing to fire Mike Wooten, a trooper involved in a bitter divorce and child custody battle with her sister.

The 52-page document reveals the extraordinary level of access Todd Palin, nicknamed the 'First Dude of Alaska ' , had to top state officials, more than a dozen of whom he contacted directly to complain about the trooper.
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The troopergate report is due out tomorrow.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin remained in the dark while her husband repeatedly asked top state officials to help get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force, Palin's husband and top aides said in affidavits provided to The Associated Press.

Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, is the focus of a legislative investigation into whether she abused her authority by firing the state's public safety commissioner to settle a long-standing family dispute. The commissioner says he was fired after resisting pressure to fire Mike Wooten, a trooper involved in a bitter divorce with Palin's sister.

The investigation has been a distraction for John McCain's presidential campaign. Lawmakers were scheduled to meet Friday and release a report on the case, which could shed light on how Palin governs and what role her husband played in her administration.

Three weeks of historic economic upheaval has done more than just tilt a handful of once-reliably Republican states in Barack Obama’s direction. Democratic strategists are now optimistic that the ongoing crisis could lead to a landslide Obama victory.

Four large states McCain once seemed well-positioned to win—Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Florida—have in recent weeks shifted toward Obama. If Obama were to win those four states—a scenario that would represent a remarkable turn of events—he would likely surpass 350 electoral votes.