This one didn’t surprise me. The Associated Press is now reporting that Sarah Palin will no longer be cooperating with the Troopergate investigation. Actually, I’m not sure if she ever was cooperating with the Troopergate investigation. So far her cooperation has involved:

Saying she was going to cooperate. Reiterating that she was going to cooperate.

and….that’s about it.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A campaign spokesman says Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won’t speak with an investigator hired by lawmakers to look into the firing of her public safety commissioner. McCain campaign spokesman Ed O’Callaghan told a news conference Monday that the governor, the Republican nominee for vice president, will not cooperate as long as the investigation “remains tainted.” He said he doesn’t know whether Palin’s husband would challenge a subpoena issued to compel his cooperation. The campaign insists the investigation has been hijacked by Democrats.

And I have yet to have anyone explain to me how a Republican dominated Legislature could have voted unanimouslyto proceed with the investigation by special investigator Stephen Branchflower, and have been “hijacked by Democrats.” That story may cut it with her new-found friends in the Lower 48, but it’s not cutting it here in Alaska. I think that this move lost her a lot of respect with Alaska lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and with a lot of Alaskan voters. There are plenty in Alaska who are caught up in Sarah-mania, and will defend her no matter what she does, but not everyone.

The only reason Palin was not issued a subpoena, is because the Legislature actually believed her when she said she would cooperate. They actually took her at her word. (Patting Legislature on head) Oh, you trusting souls.

Alaskans know corruption. They know what it feels like to be kicked in the teeth by their elected representatives. They recognize the signs of guilt, and the twisting and squirming, like a bug on a pin, that our corrupt politicians display when the heat gets turned up. This is not new. We’ve danced this dance more times than we care to admit in the last two years. But this one was supposed to be different. THIS one was supposed to be “clear and transparent.” THIS one stood up there in her lipstick and her red blazer, and her mantle of change and said, “Hold me accountable.”

We know what’s tainted this investigation, and ‘taint the Democrats.

OK, Legislature. The ball is in your court. Dust yourselves off, because it’s your play.