In the US courts determine guilt or innocence. Ethics investigations come up with findings and offer opinions. Where was the editor??

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

So according to Palin and McCain, we should all take court judgements with a grain of salt and say "So what if the judge/court found me guilty. What I did was legal."

This coming from potential leaders is very worrysome

Steve, Mac, Australia

Greg from Leatherhead:

Murder is a sentence based on whether the defendant intended to kill the victim.

Surely you agree that intent is an important factor in this case?

Yet how can we mind read? Clearly nobody should be convicted of murder unless they say they did it! (And they might be lying)

George, Sittingbourne, UK

Greg Lorriman: The woman is a vicious ambitious dictator. This was instigated by the Rep party in Alaska BEFORE SP was chosen to run as VP.

Ethic rules clearly state: 'personal OR financial gain'. The 'chief' did not obey her families wishes. She got her revenge. You are clearly partisan!

katherine, cork,

Why has a soap opera taken over US politics? Surely the real issues (healthcare, foreign policy) should be taking centre stage.

Howard, Manchester,

Now that the Republican campaign is all but buried, expect a neocon inspired terror attack on US soil or a military strike against Iran by the US and or Israel. Desperate times require desperate measures.

Phil Ishmael, Liverpool, England

Palin found guilty of failing to control her husband, but perfectly OK to fire the police commissioner? This is like saying Hillary Clinton was guilty of failing to control the errant sexual libido of her husband, Bill. Do those Palin detractors in the Alaskan Legislature know how ludicrous their finding sounds? It’s too farcical, even for a Kangaroo court

George Snyder, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

a panel of 10 republicans and 4 democrats decided UNANIMOUSLY that Palin violated the ethics required of the gov's office! so for anyone to try to say this was 'democratic inspired' is ludicrous, tho of course to be expected . Lets see how the McCain campaign tries to blame Obama for this one.

david, new York, United States

The Liberals that want Obama in at any price have found something, anything. What was clear to us the other night during the debate was that Obama eith copies McCain or talked generalities so as not to be nailed on anything. Fiove of us agreed that he was like a very poor student next to McCaine

Jas, Alders, UK

Dr Andris, check the facts before you go blaming the Democrats! This investigation was lead by a bipartisan panel, the majority of which were Republicans. AND, the Republicans on the panel were the ones who initiated the probe into Gov Palin's actions!

Leah, Tucson, Arizona

She's actually on the right track to maintain Republican support.
After the last eight years, abuse of electoral power and gnawing away at what was believed to be guaranteed freedoms have become the signature and prerequisite for any Republican candidate.
This is clearly confirmed by Palin.

Bertram Mosely, Chamlett Village, U.K.

Guilty of ethical violations and abusing her position? Sounds like a typical politician - she should fit in perfectly in Washington.

Chris L, Cheltenham, UK

Well, if all this doesn't help her qualify for VPOTUS one wonders what will...

RONNIE, PARIS, FRANCE

I think as Governor she has some powers....but all I have to say if anyone hasn't taken the 5 seconds of being "tased" as I have you'd think twice about even suggesting it to a 10 year old. Bad move trooper
Imagine this brought up just before elections like the movie "W" . Politics at its best

Jim V., Abington,Pa., USA

Over 50% of Americans are not stupid enough to vote for McCain/Palin and the rest have been brainwashed by the GOP once again using bigotry and fear as motivators- not unlike Hitler did in Germany. Bush reminded me of Hitler and now we have the McCain / Palin campaign repeating those tactics.SCARY

Nancy, Pittsburgh, USA

So obviously partisan led, partisan investigated and partisan reported. Why is there nothing made of Obama's association with a known terrorist??? Hope we don't realize the consequences after it's too late.

Becky, Leesburg, USA

Can we finally end this farce?

Mike, Pittsburgh,

Roger, Chester, UK
There is something in law called "mens rea", which means the person is guilty if the mind is guilty, i.e they look at the intentions of a person in performing the action. There is therefore a legal basis for what they have done.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

yup, and you won't get it, ginger, unless you all do the msart thing and stay well away from Pailin when it comes time to vote. How she is still able to stand i don't know. She's no ordinary mum, she is a villainous politician with possibly the most annoying voice in history. She's a joke.

mike, leeds,

I've been following the US election very clsoely and I really hope Obama wins. The McCain/Palin campaign is a disgrace they playing a very dangerous inuendo race game. Their campaign would be at home with a BNP or Le Penn campaign. Palin is a joke the VP debate was dumbed down for
her benefit.

Andy, Preston, England

It is amazing how everybody that comes into orbit with Obama ends up being smeared.
Considering the fact that Sarah Palin became Governor of Alaska and did so well in a short period of time, it only beggars sense that she would have enemies in her own Party and the opposition.
What a vicious world

Prudence Eely Bond McGuire BA, LONDON, ENGLAND- UK

I noticed with interest that the article does not mentioin the fact that the person launching the investigation is a Democrat and the investigator chosen is married to an emplyee of Wooten, the guy who was fired...Can you say conflict of interest?

Pat Dickerson, Aiken, USA

How can she be guilty of what they deem a thought crime? They cannot read her mind that she wanted her former Brother in law fired because of her personal reasons! Unless she says or has said so this board is corrupt or just plain stupid.Are we loosing reason and justice to other folks thoughts now?

Roger, Chester, UK

I'm happy... I really can't stand the woman. She's even more dangerous than his boss. America vote Obama plz.

Horace, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Republicans have rapidly become the laughing stock of the entire world. Consider the woman who said of Obama: " I read about him. He's an Arab". Classic! What was she reading/smoking? Republicans!-God bless their simple souls.

Andrew, Godalming, UK

Bit rich for her to talk about 'abuses of power in Washington' in her speech immediately after this!!!

David, St Albans, UK

Obama's fault. The Obama campaign, prescient that Sarah Palin would become McCain's running mate, initiated this inquiry back in July. They then took 12 Democrats and convinced 8 of them to pretend to be Republicans and then produce a damning report. The state trooper is Obama in disguise.

J Curayat, London, UK

For seven years, Palin's husband belonged to the Alaskans For Independence Party, and Sarah supported his goal of Alaskan secession.They wanted to secede from America,
it's time for American voters to secede from Palin.
If the USA wasn't good enough for her then,she's not good enough for US now.

Cynthia Gee, Shippensburg, PA, USA

They both have to go. They are differnet sides of the same coin.
VOTE RON PAUL - he is our only hope.

chas, sepa, usa

She's more like a bulldog chewing a wasp!

Barry, Shevington, UK

Well it looks like she is just a chip off GB's old block. Americans can't tell the difference between advertising and truth, flag waving from sense or distinguish fact and education from fairy story God and the worse hokum. The stupider she becomes the more they'll love her.

jonners, weybridge,

she is less than a heart beat from the presidency.>>>
wow that is scary.

SAUD, riyadh, saudi arabia

As Governor, Palin has the power& the right to fire Monegan for not tying his shoe laces properly.
This Democrat inspired inquiry, by 2 Obama acolytes, found Palin guilty of not inhibiting her husband from pursuing her ex brother in law policeman who still has his job despite tazering his nephew.

Dr Andris lielmanis, Brampton, Canada

Keith - not from BBC radio, which convened a panel in Chicago yesterday just to tell us how great is the Obi-won. To balance things they allowed criticism via e-mail and text but still gave the last word to the panel of worshippers. No barracking Obama then. Here's to Affirmative Action.

Jack, Stamford, England

Well The Times can't even get it straight as to what the report says so why bother. On the lighter side, Obama did deals with someone who is right now a federal witness in the biggest corruption case in recent Chicago history, involving the state governor and city mayor and no one says anything.

Eric, Chicago, USA

Get ready for the retaliatory strike to blame Obama for something personal over the next few weeks.

Keith Price, Luton, UK

I love the way Republicans, having held power for 8 years and - at party level at least - being made up of many wealthy individuals, still scream liberal bias/small town innocence whenever they're caught short. Like Palin's Mayella Ewell performance in the VP debate. Genius.

Mike, Leeds,

It sounds like this pitbull really needs to be put on a leash !!

Jim, London, England

Don't blame Gov. Palin. The witches got to her.

DAVID, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Unless she actually said "..it was part of my motive.." the panel have indulged in mind-reading, or somehow have divine powers.

They cannot recommend a criminal case as there is no evidence: the panel have presumed her motivations on subjective criteria.

This is unjust.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Palin is not a "hockey mom", she is a seriously ambitious politician who will use any means to promote herself. Alaska is welcome to her, but I think they now know exactly what they have as a governor.

Chris D, Edinburgh, Scotland

A vile piece of work this Palin is, I hope Alaska takes her back and keeps us safe from her rhetoric, her mob rousing, her religious based intolerance, her hate and fear mongering...
I can not tolerate the woman any longer.

Leila, Orlando, USA

I'm really happy the investigation remained objective. Ten members of her own party versus four democrats were unanimous in adopting the findings (as they were in initiating the investigation).

Let's hope America wakes up and gets Obama in. We need the respect and cooperation of the world again.

Ginger, Seattle, USA