Why does everyone here seem to be ignoring the point of the report?

It is simply this: It is an abuse of power to use Governmental powers to try to punish enemies of your family. No matter how bad the State Trooper was, the fact is, as a former brother-in-law, it is a conflict of interest to try and get an ex-relative fired (or hired).

There were TWO questions, not one. First, did Palin have the authority to fire the Commissioner. Answer: Yes.

Second – which everyone keeps ignoring here – did Palin abuse her authority in trying to pressure the state troopers to fire a trooper that was a personal enemy of her family.

Answer: YES. The questions are completely separate.

If Palin had used her power to HIRE a brother-in-law it would be just as bad. That’s the point, yet the postings here are full of willful blindness.