More reactions to the appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross**UPDATE** WAR goes national

by: Celtic Diva

Sun Apr 12, 2009 at 22:33:22 PM AKDT

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-- Max Blumenthal on "The Daily Beast":

If Palin withdraws Ross's nomination, she could end another embarrassing political spectacle before it registers on the national press corps' radar. Alternatively, if she manages to ram his appointment through, Palin can begin implementing a hard-right legal agenda that will appeal to the elements she is cultivating as the base of her likely 2012 presidential campaign. However Palin decides to proceed with W.A.R., by nominating him, she has staked out the culture war as the fuel for her national ambitions.

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-- Part of an email from a member of new local group Alaska Citizens Concerned about Wildlife (ACCAW):

An Alaskan Native group had their meeting today and they are going to introduce 2 resolutions on Monday to the legislators and senators in Juneau. One is to reject Wayne Anthony Ross...

...There is a huge sign across from Bean's Cafe that says IMPEACH PALIN. There will be a protest in Juneau Wednesday organized by Alaskan Natives.  It's about rejecting Ross.

-- Email of testimony sent to the legislators from CC of KUDO 1080 "The Cutting Edge":

To My Legislative Body,

It is a Saturday night and I have just come across this exchange. I am stunned. Outraged. Deeply offended and speechless.

Here is what Rep. Ramras asked of Mr. Ross on Friday: Representative Ramras: "We have a Governor who is provocative in a lot of her actions. Recently it comes to mind when she was in Fairbanks for the finish line for the Iron Dog she was wearing Arctic Cat gear...Arctic Cat letters..."

And here is what Mr. Ross said in response:

Wayne Anthony Ross: "It was provocative, she looked very good in them, didn't she?"

If this statement alone does not give you complete justification for turning down this appointment, then each of you are not only condoning a blatant attitude of sexism and objectification but you're encouraging it as an acceptable languauge, dialogue and treatment of women. Where was the outrage at this comment? Do you not have wives, daughters, sisters? I can't even find the words to espress myself right now. The wires in my mind are frying! How dare this man have the priviledge of serving in thetop law enforcement position in this state! You think this is a casual comment:? Look at the PATTERN of testimony coming from those who oppose him! These people don't know each other and yet their stories have a common thread. Here's one: sexist. I tell you this, say yes to this man and you have just said so much more to the women, to the YOUNG WOMEN of this state. What a sad, sad day this is.

-- An excellent comment left on my blog from Wolfe Tone, blogmeister at A Bodenstown Perspective:

Lies, obfuscation and his racism, misogyny and arrogance aside, the man is simply NOT qualified:

In 2007, Ross threw his hat into the ring for an appointment to the Alaska Supreme Court.  In a poll conducted by the Alaska Bar Association in 2007 (out of 13 candidates) for that appointment, Ross's overall score was 2.8 (1 = poor; 5 = excellent). Not surprisingly, the Alaska Judicial Council did not nominate him.

Not deterred, Ross tried again in 2008, this time for a Court of Appeal appointment.  In that survey (with 14 candidates vying), Ross scored 2.9. Once again, the Alaska Judicial Council failed to recommend him for the appointment.

There are a fair number of great legal minds in Alaska, and a great number of fair ones.

W.A.R. doesn't fit either category. Truthfully, his legal acumen and overall suitability is mediocre at best.

Rumors are flying that WAR doesn't have the votes to win, but there are still 3 days to go before the vote will happen.

Also remember, Governor Palin will be gone the majority of those days at lower-48 speaking engagements, so she won't be here to support him.

-- Just A Girl from Homer -- Leah Burton's testimony rocked both the House and the Senate, not to mention women all over the State.  W.A.R. wrote a very condemning letter in response.  Leah's father replied to him.  

By the way, her father served over 30 years in law enforcement in Alaska, as a police advisor for the U.S State Dept and the Dept of Justice.  He then served as the Commissioner of Public Safety under two Governors.  This is an exerpt:

...In light of the strong reaction from the native and rural communities of the state and your obvious position and bias relative to domestic and children's issues I find it hard to believe that you could be in charge of the department that is charged with enforcing laws in an impartial or effective manner.   I think you should do the state a favor and withdraw your name from confirmation.

Richard L Burton
Commissioner of Public Safety (retired)

RESPONSE BY WAYNE ANTHONY ROSS:

Dick:  Thanks for writing.  I'll pray for you and for your daughter.  Sounds like both of you have problems.  

My best to you old friend, WAR

-- Reaction from another out-of-state Palinbot at Team Sarah:

Permalink Reply by R2D2 1 hour ago

I was reading over at Celtic Diva's website the other day. She is hinting at filing an ethics complaint if Sarah creates a defense fund. Something to do with the fact that Sarah is using her position as Governor to generate outside cash.

It's a joke, but it might make sense for Sarah to launch a pre-emptive strike. She may be waiting for her new AG Mr. WAR to be confirmed and then have him write an official letter stating that the defense fund is o.k. with the state. This would at least keep Ms. Beigel from filing the ethics complaint in the first place.

It seems clear to me from Mr. WAR's responses to his hearing last week that he thinks these ethics complaints are a total waste of time and I get the feeling Sarah won't be bothered with them any more if he is confirmed this week.

Do you think they have a clue what they are saying?  If the above is true, her whole pupose behind this appointment is to have a free pass to BREAK ALASKA ETHICS LAWS!!!!

Sadly, I think they hit the nail on the head.

Ross seemingly unaware of the AG duties or AK's Executive Ethics Law--my testimony

by: Celtic Diva

Sun Apr 12, 2009 at 10:21:35 AM AKDT

(I wrote my testimony against Governor Palin's choice of Wayne Anthony Ross on the issues specific to ethics. However there are any number of major concerns with this man becoming AG.  

Refer to the online archive for Gavel to Gavel.  There is a calendar on the left where you can choose the date.  Then find the April 8th Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and public testimony.  After that, listen to the April 10th House Judiciary Committee hearing and testimony.  If all of that doesn't alarm you, I don't know what will.

It's important for Alaskans to email their legislators and make sure they know you are an Alaskan early in the email!!! I included my House and Senate Districts in the letter.

Part of the problem is that the Palin-blogs (all of whom are outside) are encouraging their people to email, which is annoying the Legislature no end.  We want legislators to be annoyed at those folks, not at ours.)

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April 12, 2009

Dear Legislators:

Friday, April 10, 2009, I watched the House Judiciary Committee's interview with Wayne Anthony Ross, Governor Palin's appointee for the Alaska Attorney General position.  I was surprised when, towards the end, Representative Ramras referenced the ethics complaint I submitted in March.  I was then disgusted by Mr. Ross's response:

Representative Ramras:  "We have a Governor who is provocative in a lot of her actions.  Recently it comes to mind when she was in Fairbanks for the finish line for the Iron Dog she was wearing Arctic Cat gear...Arctic Cat letters..."  

Wayne Anthony Ross:  "It was provocative; she looked very good in them, didn't she?"

The fact that Mr. Ross thought it appropriate to sexualize the issue on the floor of the House during his confirmation hearing is probably alarming enough by itself.  It seemed to add credibility to the Senate and House public testimony from multiple individuals alleging disturbing past negative comments and attitudes from Mr. Ross towards women.

However, the focus of this letter is the cavalier way in which Mr. Ross seems to view charges that the Governor of Alaska has behaved unethically.

While this attitude is clearly obvious in the previous comment, it is also reflected farther into the exchange between Rep. Ramras and Mr. Ross:

Representative Ramras:  Presently, General, there are some concerns in this building about the focus of our chief executive because she's taken a speaking engagement in Indiana for a 36 hour period with only 72 hours to go in the Legislative Session.  Although she's available by phone, there's a reason we have you here in front of us because we're not interested in doing the confirmation hearing telephonically.  Nor are we interested in having a Governor available telephonically with only three days to go in the session.

So my question for you...as the Governor's attorney as well as the chief attorney for the State of Alaska...how are you going to advise the Governor, with these lucrative offers she has on the table to write a biography and the requirement for anyone who writes a book to take a book tour across the country?  Are you going to advise the Governor that this is something that is within her rights and purview or is that something that infringes upon the rights of all Alaskans?

W.A. Ross:  I don't know how I'm going to advise her because the question hasn't been made and I don't know all the facts.

Later on, Mr. Ross gives this response:

W.A. Ross:...Whether that's part of her job or not, I'm not making any decisions on that.  Whether she should wear Arctic Cat or I should get in trouble for wearing a Steton, I'm not making any decisions on that.  If the questions come to us maybe we'll have to make a decision at that time.  I'm sure she feels appreciative that you guys are going to miss her for two days while she's outside giving a speech.  She's never talked to me about it and I'm sure you'll be in her heart and mind the whole time.

Again, he is clearly not taking any of this seriously.  He also states that he is not making any decisions on advising the Governor whether or not the above behavior is ethical.

Here is the rest of the exchange:

Ramras:   I would look forward to an opinion from the Department of Law on that point...whether the Dept. of Law will endorse a chief executive writing a book and making a multi-city book tour while she's serving in the capacity of the chief executive.  On that point we would like to get an opinion from the Department of Law going forward as we have a new Attorney General.

Ross:  I think I have a lot more important issues as Attorney General then deciding whether or not the Governor should write a book.

Ramras:  I didn't ask you if she should write a book.  I asked you if she may take prolonged absences from the State of Alaska on a book tour.

Ross:   I don't have all of the knowledge of the issues facing the Department of Law, but when it comes time that I have plenty of extra time for such things I will certainly devote the time appropriate to such an issue

I believe that Mr. Ross needs to read the job description for the State Attorney General a little closer.  In a 2007 letter and attachments (starting at page 6) from the former Attorney General, Talis Colberg explains his role as AG to Governor Sarah Palin as the person who is supposed to assist her in understanding her responsibilities regarding her own ethical behavior:

Since I serve as your designated ethics supervisor, I want to remind you that the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act requires that all state employees report to their designated ethics supervisors any outside employment or services benefiting their personal or financial interests by July 1 of each year.

(Much more below the fold)

Palin's AG Pick Calls Gays "Degenerates"--guest post from Bent Alaska

by: Celtic Diva

Mon Mar 30, 2009 at 06:43:18 AM AKDT

(While I've been reading condemnation of the Governor's AG pick, Bent Alaska gives some very pointed examples of issues that could specifically effect his performance as AG, not to mention comments by fellow lawyers--ex:  while his gun politics probably scares the hell out of lower-48ers, there's not much damage he could do up here.  I'm not sure our gun laws could be much more lax.  Also, I don't hold clients against defense attorneys.  I know a number of wonderful folks who have defended some of the most reprehensible characters.  Guess what?  It's their job!

E. Ross points out at the bottom something I've thought from the beginning, that the reason W.A.R. was really appointed is to give him an advantage in the upcoming Gubernatorial race.  I believe, like Dan Fagan at Alaska Standard, that Sarah has made the decision not to run again and that Ross's appointment is an indicator of that.

I've bolded some of the points of the article that I don't feel have been emphasized enough.)

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Gov. Sarah Palin named Anchorage lawyer Wayne Anthony Ross as her new attorney general on Thursday. While we did not expect her to pick a gay-friendly AG, the blatant prejudice expressed in this letter to the state Bar shows that he is a poor choice for our top attorney:

"During a fight several years ago over gay rights, [Allison] Mendel helped organize Anchorage lawyers in support of an anti-discrimination ordinance. Ross wrote a nasty letter to the Bar Association newsletter, using words like "immoral", "perversion" and "degenerates." The language went way beyond reasonable disagreement, Mendel and others said."  (Wayne Anthony Ross never a quiet force, ADN)

Other interesting facts about Wayne Anthony Ross:

--He was a founder of Alaska Right to Life and represented, without fee, anti-abortion protesters charged with trespassing. "I feel I have a good relationship with the good Lord (but) if I could overturn Roe vs. Wade, I figure I got my ticket," he told a reporter.

--He was the defense lawyer for former Rep. Vic Kohring, who is now serving time in prison.

--He opposes Native subsistence rights and was the lead lawyer in the case that got Alaska's subsistence law declared unconstitutional. When running for governor in 2002, he said he would hire a band of "junkyard dog" assistant AG's to challenge the federal law that requires a subsistence preference, or seek changes through Congress.

--He wrote for the old Anchorage Times, then for the Voice of the Times in the ADN, with titles like "KKK ' Art' Project Gets' A' For Courage" listed on the publications page of the Ross & Miner law offices.

--He represented Palin in her ethics case against state GOP chair Randy Ruedrich when both were on the Oil and Gas Commission, and became the co-chair of Palin's 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

--He was hoping for an appointment to the Department of Health and Social Services so he could "stop the department from interfering with families when they should not be interfering and get them interfering with families when they should be interfering" but he was passed over.

--He defended a Soldotna man who twice poured buckets of water from a passing pickup onto peaceful demonstrators in the rain and snow. His client was convicted of harassment and violating constitutional rights.

--He was the co-chair of Alaskans for Phil Gramm. (Gramm is one of the people responsible for the current economic crisis, and as co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign he called us "a nation of whiners.")

--He is a former vice president of the National Rifle Association and was in line to become president, but was voted out of office.
He ran for governor in 1998 and 2002.  (Think he'll use the AG position as a stepping stone to the governor's mansion?)

The state House and Senate Judiciary committees will hold confirmation hearings on his appointment.