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Though many of us suffer from Palin Factor Fatigue, it is irrefutable that there is a nagging curiosity to have the question answered, ?How in the world did Sarah Palin become so popular and why do we still need to hear about her?? My book answers these questions in detail and urges us all to be vigilant. She is one of a small pool of ?rising stars in the republican party? as John McCain stated as recently as January 25, 2009 on Fox News Sunday.
As unbelievable as her meteoric rise was we cannot delude ourselves, turning our backs once again, into thinking that she and those like her are going away. This woman is joined by millions of loyalists whose perception is that she was persecuted in the media, stifled by McCain, and mocked by liberals - and now the theocratic conservatives are regrouping with a vengeance!
"Blue Oasis" began in 2005 in its Blogger format (now an archive) and became possibly the first Alaska Blog on Progressive Politics. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis was honored to represent Alaska as the state blog.
Transition--Community Blog
In September 2008, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis moved to a Soapblox Community Blog format. Readers can become full participants by registering on the blog to comment and write "diaries." Diary titles appear on the right sidebar for folks to read and provide comments. Blog editors may choose to move some of these diaries to the front page.
While this Community was formed specifically with Alaska in mind, all "friends of Alaska" are welcome as members!
**Note about registering** Scroll down the right side until you find the link to register. Then, just follow the instructions!
**Note about comments** To comment on a story, click on the heading and then look for the "comment bar" at the bottom (it's light grey, I can't seem to change it). I believe the font color NOW permits you to see the "post comment" text.
YOUR BLOGMISTRESS
My name is Linda Kellen Biegel and I am a former 15-year Federal employee. Thirteen of those years were spent working for the US Army Corps of Engineers. I am also semi-retired from the Alaska music scene (singer, sound tech, stage manager, logistics).
When the blog was chosen to represent Alaska in the DNCC State Blogger Pool at the Denver Convention, I attended with the help of Alaska Real blogmistress, Writing Raven and my daughter Morrigan. On August 29th, one day after Barack Obama's inspiring speech at Invesco Field , my life took another turn as it did for all Alaska bloggers when Gov. Sarah Palin was chosen to be John McCain's VP running mate. Since then, I've either assisted or have been interviewed by media from the UK, Italy, Australia and Germany as well as national media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, NY Times, ABC Good Morning America's Kate Snow, National Journal, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, and NPR.
Presently, I work as a freelance writer, PR, event coordinator, community organizer, wife to computer programmer Josh and mother to 11-year-old Morrigan. Our family especially enjoys our summers in Alaska where we get to subsistence set-net fish Sockeye salmon as well as halibut fish/whalewatch in the family's homemade aluminum boat, "The Neverdone" (when it's working). We reside in Anchorage, Alaska.
Origin of "Celtic Diva"
I've used "Celtic Diva" as a screen name since the early 1990's on Web TV.
"Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name. What they don't realize is that I'm adopted. I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew. I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music. That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16."
"Linda is well-known in Alaska & beyond as the prominent progressive political blogger Celtic Diva of Celtic Diva?s Blue Oasis. But back in the day, the early 1990s, I knew her as Linda Kellen, a member of the local folk/rock band Sky is Blu, which amongst other things performed in at least a couple or so of the annual women?s show Celebration of Change, in which I also performed. And if you don?t already know, let me tell you: Linda is one fine damn singer."
I went on after the break-up of "Sky is Blu" to perform with various Alaska musicians and work with national folks like Bo Diddly, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater, Carny Wilson, etc...
USA Women's Olympic Hockey Team Star Kerry Weiland with our friend Isabella and my daughter Morrigan at St. Baldrick's Day
(Scroll down to find posts.)
(Please register to participate in diaries and comments! We'd love for you to join our Community!)
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About two or three weeks ago, I first started hearing from this 16-year-old kid, Christopher Jenkins, about his idea to start a Facebook page to "Hold Mayor Dan Sullivan Accountable" it was using a different name and I didn't connect with him to talk about it. However, when he changed the name to its present form and launched it a week or so later I was impressed with his tenacity and joined immediately. He was using everything at his disposal to promote it...leaving comments on blogs, sending Instant Messages in Facebook at all hours (I'd see them the next day), he sent emails and got others to send emails on their lists...including the Democratic Party.
He even did a great job of getting the information out to the media:
This 16-year-old high school student, not old enough to vote, was making some impressive political inroads!
So of course, along comes the full force of the Alaskan Republican Party to try and intimidate him into submission--from the press release:
Anchorage, AK - Jason Cline filed a complaint to the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) regarding the Alaska Democratic Party's attempts to covertly create web pages designed to attack elected Republican officials.
The complaint clearly shows that on December 1, 2009 the Alaska Democratic Party created a facebook page titled "Hold Dan Sullivan Accountable." The page states that it is "Not affiliated with any political party." Immediately after creating the site a message was sent out on an official party communication platform, by a self identified party intern, announcing the page and asking party members to join the website. Party leadership was aware of the activities and clearly supported them as demonstrated by Party Chairwoman Patti Higgin's post on the site, just hours after the site was created, attacking Mayor Sullivan.
These activities clearly violate APOC regulations requiring political parties to openly identify themselves as being behind such sites with a "Paid for by" disclosure box.
What? I can't begin to name the number of people who Chris Jenkins contacted in the lead-up to starting this Facebook page. I heard about it first BEFORE THANKSGIVING. In other words, Chris Jenkins was completely prepared and had all of his ducks in a row BEFORE announcing to the media.
Jealous, Republicans?
Plus, what money does it take to start a Facebook page and send an email on a list? Are these guys so out of touch they don't understand that it's free?
Of course not...as a matter of fact, Jason Cline has his own Facebook page because HE'S A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE running against Sharon Cissna in District 22. Beating up a 16-year-old is his desperate attempt to get noticed because, against Cissna, we all know he doesn't have a hope in hell.
It's no wonder some Alaska Republicans are known as "Rethuglicans." They pick bully-fights instead of fair ones. Another failure of Mayor Sullivan to lead by example in saying "NO" to Bullies".
By the way, Jason Cline is also a complete right-wing whack-job who used to write for loon Thomas Lamb's blog "It's a Kwazy Life." (H/T Mudflats) Those of us Progressive Alaskan bloggers know all about that website and the lies they've told about us...and Lamb's cozy relationship with Eddie Burke because of their mutual drool-fest over Palin. (All evidence of Jason's writing was removed, of course, when he announced as a candidate. Gee...I wonder why?)
I've given you some of the reasons why the "complaint" they filed with APOC is completely...well...bogus. However, here's the biggest one:
DAN SULLIVAN IS NOT A CANDIDATE.
APOC deals with issues of disclosure regarding 1) public officials currently in office (public officers file financial disclosure forms at the end of the year) and 2) campaign finance.
This complaint is alleging violations of campaign finance law. As Dan Sullivan JUST became mayor in July, there is NO CAMPAIGN and he couldn't file as a candidate for the next election even if he wanted to.
Therefore, not only is there no money involved in any of this anyway, there's no violation of campaign finance law. You would think, as a candidate, Jason would know this.
Seems to me he just filed a REAL "frivolous complaint!"
However, we know why this happened...to intimidate a 16-year-old and to dampen his enthusiasm in keeping his elected officials honest. But methinks it's going to backfire.
You see, I hadn't put up any links and hadn't advertised the Facebook site. I hadn't even had time to write a post on it. However, this made me put aside other things to write about Chris's success AND I'll be putting an ad for the Facebook Page up on the blog.
From Jason Cline himself (via my friend on Facebook):
HAHAHAH, from the very mouth of Jason Cline (on his website):
"I went to APOC and talked with their people, and the complaint will most likely be rejected on the fact that because it doesn't influence a particular election, they are allowed to do this. This will ultimately serve as a reminder for the democrats that party communications should be labeled as such."
Here's your new headline:
"APOC rejects frivolous attack against 16 year old in record time"
Talk about wasting state resources and taxpayer's money...
Note: I called APOC and asked general question (they wouldn't be able to answer direct questions) before I wrote this post. They verified my understanding of the laws as well.
But the real story here: JASON CLINE KNEW HIS COMPLAINT WAS GOING TO BE REJECTED BEFORE HE WAS EVER ON EDDIE BURKE!!!
