Doesn't a subpoena mean you have to show up?

I don't understand how the GOP can do it. At the federal level the Bush administration has already ignored subpoenas without consequence. Now it's happening at the state level. Palin, who previously said she would comply with the Alaskan legislature's investigation, is now refusing to do so. What a shocker. To wit: "Aides to Gov. Sarah Palin won't comply with subpoenas issued by state lawmakers "

How the hell does that work? Is the conversation pretty much this?
Legislature: We've subpoenaed some of your people. We'll be taking their testimony.
Executive: No.
Legislature: Oh, ok.

Today Mudflats makes the case that accusations of the investigation being a Democratic hit job on Palin are completely ridiculous and unfounded.

Among other things, the investigation started this past summer when "the Legislature’s Legislative Council voted 12-0 (8 Republicans and 4 Democrats) to hire an investigator, and appointed Democratic Senator Hollis French, a well-respected former prosecutor, to find an investigator. "

Last friday: "on Friday the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 (2 Democrats and 1 Republican in favor); and the House Judiciary Committee issued a 7 - 0 (5 Republicans, 2 Democrats) advisory vote, to issue subpoenas to witnesses the McCain camp had previously stopped from testifying."

In deeply Republican Alaska, Democrat Hollis French is so popular and well respected that the GOP didn't even run someone against him this year. This is the guy they now claim is out to get poor Mrs. Palin.

Then it gets weird... Palin filed an ethics complaint against herself in an effort to get the whole case moved to a state personnel board made up entirely of Republican appointees. Now her lawyers are withdrawing their own ethics complaint saying she doesn't appear to have done anything wrong, so it should all just go away. Seriously.

Mudflats article here.