Mel Green writes the definitive rebuttal of Palin's "$2 million meme"

by: Celtic Diva

Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 11:46:19 AM AKDT

Mel Green and I have known each other for close to 20 years...with about a 15 year gap.  It's been absolutely wonderful to reconnect with her and to see how someone who was such a good writer back then has become a great writer now.

Palin has been spewing the claim that the ethics complaints have cost the state $2 million, but has been unable or unwilling to show definitive proof as to how she came up with those numbers.  Mel has done some tireless research and wrote an excellent piece on her blog, Henkimaa:

The 2 million dollar meme--by Mel Green (excerpt)

meme. n.  A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. [Ref #1]

That's the definition given in the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th edition.  The topmost collection of definitions, posted at the Urban Dictionary in 2003 by a user called Emme, provide some additional help in understanding the term, which was coined by the biologist Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene:

1 :  an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by peers, information media, and entertainment media)
2 :  a pervasive thought or thought pattern that replicates itself via cultural means; a parasitic code, a virus of the mind especially contagious to children and the impressionable
3 :  the fundamental unit of information, analogous to the gene in emerging evolutionary theory of culture....
4 :  in blogspeak, an idea that is spread from blog to blog
5 :  an internet information generator, especially of random or contentless information [Ref #2]

One might add this definition: an idea that is fed by a less than truthful politician to a lazy mainstream media, which is uncritically transmitted to the public when the true facts are readily available & have even been reported on already - sometimes even by the same media source as the one now  passing on the prevaricating politician's false information.

Case in point: from Sarah Palin's July 3 resignation speech:

Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I've been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations - such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters' questions.

Every one - all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We've won! But it hasn't been cheap - the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to "opposition research" - that's money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers - or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the "politics of personal destruction" ... Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn't cost them a dime so they're not going to stop draining public resources - spending other peoples' money in their game. [Ref #3]

There's actually a number of errors of fact in this brief passage of Palin's speech, but this post will be long enough if I focus  on the one I've emphasized: Palin's claim that $2,000,000 taxpayer (or rather, oil revenue dollars - this is Alaska, after all) have been spent on responding to ethical complaints against Palin.

Problem?  Just two days before, on July 1, the Anchorage Daily News, the Juneau Empire, and the Associated Press all reported on figures released by the Alaska Personnel Board about the actual costs of its investigations into ethical complaints against Palin & members of her administration. The costs were considerably less than what Palin claims: $296,042.58...

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Mel has included links, charts, graphs and thorough research into the entire issue...I applaud her and encourage you all to read the rest of the article!

If we look at the record, Palin's resignation should come as no surprise

by: Celtic Diva

Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 04:28:18 AM AKDT

Among those Wonkette posts was a little gem under the title "win of the afternoon"...they highlighted a comment from Alaska Girl:

She didn't finish her term as mayor, stepping down to run for Lt. Governor. She didn't finish her term on the petroleum board ethics panel, she resigned in protest and then ran for Governor. She doesn't want the office, she just likes running for office. She doesn't want (can't actually) accomplish anything, she just wants to talk about it.

That was absolutely correct.

However, before that, Sarah Palin left the Wasilla City Council only one year into her second three-year term in order to take the Mayor's job.

And, if you go all the way back, it took her five years and five colleges to get a Journalism degree.

Quitting before the job is done is her modus operendi.

Of course, this last year has also highlighted other patterns that Sarah Palin can't seem to break. Her biggest, most glaring pattern is hypocrisy mixed with secrecy.

--Palin did leave the office of Mayor of Wasilla a few months early, but not before she campaigned for Lt. Governor from the Mayor's Office...the same thing for which she filed an ethics complaint against Randy Reudrich.

In the middle of the primary, a conservative columnist in the state, Paul Jenkins, unearthed e-mail messages showing that Ms. Palin had conducted campaign business from the mayor's office. Ms. Palin handled the crisis with a street fighter's guile.

"I told her it looks like she did the same thing that Randy Ruedrich did," Mr. Jenkins recalled. "And she said, 'Yeah, what I did was wrong.' "

--In Palin's resignation speech, she continued her steady drumbeat of whining about the media, bloggers, the internet...everyone who has criticized her or made her life difficult.  Yet, during the campaign, she reamed Hillary Clinton for her "whining" about the press:

--During her resignation speech, Palin also blamed those who "cost the State money" by filing "all those complaints."

During Palin's inauguration speech, she told us to "hold her accountable":

She said the same thing about the Troopergate investigation (before she changed her mind):

Palin steadfastly denies the allegations, and with her signature resolve, said she welcomes the investigation. "Hold me accountable," she challenge her critics.

And, during Palin's own ethics complaint against Randy Ruedrich, she wanted more transparency, not less:

Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Chairwoman Sarah Palin said Friday she is resigning amid frustration that she is being forced to keep silent about ethics allegations against Republican Party of Alaska chairman Randy Ruedrich.

"I'm forced to withhold information from Alaskans, and that goes against what I believe in as a public servant," Palin said in a Friday interview.

Today, Sarah Palin doesn't seem to have any problem at all witholding information from Alaskans.  It obviously suits her long-term purpose to leave us in the dark.  I have my own theory as to what's going on.  However, no matter what the actual details of "why" she resigned, it's pretty clear that they involve personal or financial gain...much like the basis for every single ethics complaint filed against her.  

If we were paying attention, we should have seen this coming.

"Alaska should be your highest priority"--Press Release from Bob Poe

by: Celtic Diva

Sat May 23, 2009 at 10:57:51 AM AKDT

Anyway, I had to share that I DID NOT STEAL FROM MUDFLATS!)

Anchorage, AK:  Today Bob Poe challenged Governor Palin's recent decision to veto over $28 million in federal stimulus funds for energy efficiencies.

"Once again Governor Palin has demonstrated her narcissistic governance of Alaska by becoming the only Governor in America to reject federal stimulus funds to promote energy efficiency.  These are funds that not only help stimulate a growing base of alternative energy companies in Alaska, but which would pay dividends in additional energy cost savings for many years to come."  

Poe added, "This is just a cynical way for Palin to save a little face nationally in her earlier much touted stand to reject as much as 40% of the federal stimulus funds.  Considering that one third of Alaska's current economy depends on federal spending, it further underlines the Governor's remarkable lack of understanding of the economic underpinnings that have helped our state avoid many of the economic difficulties currently experienced by many others."

"But perhaps the most striking aspect of this veto is to contrast it to $1,200 Palin paid out last year to every man, woman and child in Alaska for energy assistance, boosting everyone's Permanent Fund dividend to $3,200, and raising her popularity to record levels helping secure her as the Vice Presidential running mate pick with Senator John McCain.  Apparently, when it suits the Governor's purpose she will happily spend Alaska's resources, and again when it meets her political needs she will reject very useful federal stimulus funds for Alaskans," Poe added.

Poe concluded, "Governor Palin's choice to veto federal stimulus funds for energy efficiency should leave no doubt in voters' minds that her highest priority is not Alaska, but her run for President in 2012."

Morning summary--stories I'm working on, upcoming events and stories you should read

by: Celtic Diva

Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 08:39:29 AM AKDT

-- The REAL Stimulus story in the works -- Senator Begich is helping Alaska's businesses access those federal dollars for the good of Alaska's economy.

-- IMPORTANT story on Mudflats today -- While the pollock trawlers can merrily toss as much king salmon bycatch over the side as they want this year, the Yukon's rural subsistence fisherfolk now have severe limits as to the number of kings they can keep.  AKM has the story and comments from Yukon residents as to the impact on their already struggling economy.

--  Don't forget, Eric Croft's fundraiser is tonight at the Snow City Cafe.

Eric Croft and Jane Angvik

What's ahead for our friend Andrew Halcro?

by: Celtic Diva

Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 02:11:42 AM AKDT

Andrew Halcro -- Alaskan businessman, former candidate for Governor, blogmeister of one of the most informative blogs in the State (with some of the best sources), breaker of the news about Troopergate and radio guy on KENI has indicated in his latest post that he'll be quitting blogging "for awhile."

In a post titled "The End is Near," Halcro indicates that he'll be making some announcements about his future.

Looking ahead, next Monday and Tuesday will be my last original blogs for awhile.  

Don't miss them.

In the comments, friends and admirers speculate on what that future may be...on whether there is, well, a little Gubernatorial tinge to things?

If that's true, it could only be good for the State of Alaska!!!!  I'm not sure how he would do it, though...if he would run in the primary as a Republican or if he would run again as a third-party candidate.  Either way, it would make one heck-of-a race!

What is YOUR speculation?

(P.S. Andrew would make an excellent candidate!  However, on a more personal note, it would be SOOOOOOO worth it just to watch the Palinbots heads explode!!!!!)

News out of Juneau: Alaska Representative Mike Kelley calls Rural Alaskans "layabouts."

by: Celtic Diva

Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 00:16:34 AM AKDT

For a little background relating to this post, let's go back a few days:

During the Gavel-to-Gavel coverage of the House Judiciary Committee's public testimony regarding Wayne Anthony Ross's Attorney General appointment, I heard testimony in support of WAR from former AIP Senate Candidate Bob Bird (25-year-friend of WAR):

"At a time when our nation and state are being subjected to the most divisive and controversial policies, many of which are not enacted by the Legislative Branch but are coming at us straight between the eyes by the Federal Government we need to start finding someone who will dig in for Alaska.

This one Native leader said that Mr. Ross should be an Attorney General for all Alaskans.  But I would suggest that we need to also include the fact that the Native representatives also represent whites.  Natives and non-Natives, rural or urban, it's the time to start thinking of ourselves as Alaskans.  That's where the real devisiveness comes from.  We're supposed to think of ourselves as Alaskans and forget the things that divide us."

This is a common theme among extreme right-wing conservative organizations and (dare I say it?) "white power" organizations as well.  It was also a common theme at last week's "tea parties."

They completely ignore the fact that the treatment of Rural Alaska, especially regarding monies for rural infrastructure, support and just about all services, has been far from "fair and equitable" in comparison to the huge quantity of funds allocated to Alaska's urban areas.  It was not a surprise that "white" rural leaders, like Bob Heron of Bethel who is a member of the Republican majority caucus, also joined in the "no" vote against Ross.  He was representing his constituency.

Bird continued:

He has been a strong advocate for the right to keep and bear arms, a right that is under threat even as we speak from the so-called "protector," the Federal Government.  When animal rights activists come to threaten the Native subsistence lifestyle by imposing regulations on our land and seas, it will be Mr. Ross and not the Justice Department of Barack Obama that will fly to their defense.

That's some very interesting revisionist history.  It was the Conservative Alaska Legislature back in 1980s who refused to conform to Title 8 of ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act) in providing for Rural Alaska subsistence preference regarding fish and wildlife within Alaska State law.  As a result of their inability to comply and the result of an ensuing Supreme Court decision:  

"the State of Alaska lost its authority to manage subsistence harvest of fish and wildlife on Federal lands. Consequently, the five Federal agencies with land management responsibilities assumed responsibility for subsistence management on 380,900 square miles of land under Federal jurisdiction."

So, it seems, the Feds really ARE the protectors of Rural/Native subsistence rights as opposed to the State of Alaska.  

Fast forward to Thursday, April 16th...

The Gavel-to-Gavel coverage of the Joint Legislative session while I was liveblogging the hearing gave me insight into many of the legislators with whom I had not previously been acquainted.  

Representative Mike Kelly (R) of Fairbanks was one I knew a little about.  However, his testimony gave me more insight on his views, some of which seemed to echo those of Bob Bird:

I don't personally know Wayne Anthony Ross -- just by reputation.  But, thousands of pounds of tea is going into the waterways of our nation.  Why is that?  It hasn't happened for quite a long period of time but we're seeing it on the T.V. every night.  

That's because the Federal government is overstepping its bounds and stepping on the 9th and 10th and 2nd Amendment rights and some attempts of our nation.  Alaska contracted with the Federal Government when we became a state in certain areas such as access to our lands and the right to manage our navigable waters and use them without "mother may I" to the Fed--managing our Fish and Game or the fact that they promised us our right to our natural resources and then locked up 250 million acres of Alaska--the fact that we only have 2% of our land in private ownership.

The Governor has selected this man, again I do not know him personally.  But WAR may be exactly the right person to have at the helm of our judicial system in "tea party times" Mr. President.

Rep. Kelly publicly espouses anti-Federal Government views.  This is not particularly bright for a legislator when a good relationship between Alaska and the Feds is vital to both of our interests.  Also, the Federal influence he seems to reference was the DIRECT RESULT of past legislators short-sightedness regarding the subsistence issue.  

So now, we come to this weekend's end-of-session activity in the Legislature.  It seems that long days and stress cause people's true beliefs to rise to the surface.  Per the ADN:

Saturday began with a confrontation in the House Finance Committee about what to do in regard to high energy costs in rural Alaska. The Legislature is poised to appropriate $9 million statewide for low-income heating assistance programs to assist. But Fairbanks Rep. Kelly said he thought it was supposed to be a one-time appropriation last year, and state revenues have dropped.

He said there are other programs for people who are needy and "not for any layabouts."

"I'd rather tell the guy, go out there and cut your own wood or do something for yourself. ... I don't know how many of the 200-plus villages have a wood supply within a rock toss, but there's a lot of them because I've been to a lot of them," he said.

Rep. Woodie Salmon, a Democrat from the village of Chalkyitsik, angrily responded that there have been millions of dollars in state subsidies for urban energy needs.

"They spent millions and millions of dollars on a coal plant, transmission lines, then they retire off the system, and then they don't help the rural areas," he said.

Kelly is the retired president of Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks.

Rural Alaskans along the Yukon were making a living off of the King Salmon runs in the Yukon, until the Pacific pollock trawlers were taking them away as "bycatch."  Fisheries experts agree this has most likely been a large contributor to the crash of the King Salmon fisheries along the Yukon, which has then thrown the villages along the river into dire poverty.  The most recent vote by the pro-industry North Pacific Fisheries Council to allow the present levels of bycatch to continue sentences the villages along the Yukon to more financial instability and uncertainty.  Without the necessary infrastructure denied to them by the State over many years, alternatives are few.

Perhaps Representative Kelly's words and actions show a desire for that status quo to continue?  After all, if the Alaska Natives leave the rural areas to find jobs in the urban areas, the incorporated Native villages would dissolve.  All of the land and resource rights held by those villages would most likely revert back to the State.

I can only hope that Kelly's outrageous accusations towards Rural Alaskans will encourage everyone, especially his Fairbanks constituents, to express their outrage at his behavior.

Candidate for Governor Bob Poe on the Department of Interior's 5-Year Plan

by: Celtic Diva

Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 17:43:13 PM AKDT

Dept. of Interior Secretary Salazaar was at the Dena'ina Convention Center today taking public testimony on the Obama administration's five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan.

Here are Gubernatorial Candidate Bob Poe's comments:

"First thank you Secretary Salazar, for coming to Alaska to understand, first hand, how important resource development, including off shore oil and gas production, is to our economic future.

As a long time Alaskan, I have served four Alaska Governors, three of them Democrats, in a variety of cabinet and sub-cabinet roles including Administration, including the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, deputy commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and I ran half of the Alaska Department of Conservation. I am currently a Democratic candidate for Governor of Alaska in 2010.

Alaska is approaching an economic cliff.  Our oil pipeline is just half full and draining quickly.  If we started gas pipeline construction today, gas production from the North Slope is at least a decade away, and the uncertainty of off-shore oil and gas is not helping. Bristol Bay's economy has risen and fallen on the price of a red salmon with no diversification to help smooth these impacts, and North Slope villages are dependent on the revenues provided by a waning on-shore oil industry.

Alaska's economy sits on a 3-legged stool; one third is oil and gas, one third is federal spending, and one third is everything else including fishing, tourism, air cargo, mining, you name it.  Ninety per cent of state revenues depend on oil and gas.

From the beginning resource development was envisioned as our state's economic future - Alaskans are generally pro development - our constitution is pro development.

Alaska is also pro conservation.  One third of all US state park land is in Alaska

More than 60 per cent of federal lands in AK, over 140 million acres, are set aside for conservation.  Alaskans live here because this is such a wondrous place, we've made our contribution to conservation, we also need responsible development.

Resource development, including off-shore oil and gas, is not simply a ...

Native vs. Non - Native issue, you will find Alaska Native people on both sides; Rural vs. Urban issue, both stand to benefit; nor a Republican vs. Democratic issue, at least in Alaska, we're both generally in favor of responsible resource development

Alaska just celebrated its 50th birthday - we have come a long way - but our future still depends on resource development.  Off shore oil and gas should play a key role, it has in the Cook Inlet since our start.  A gas pipeline to carry North Slope gas will also be important.  Both projects should be key factors, along with expanded development of renewable energy, in America's energy equation.

We deserve the opportunity to develop Alaska's resources in a responsible way to ensure both our own bright future, and the energy future of America.   I ask you and President Obama's administration to support that opportunity, failure to do so will imperil Alaska's economic future for decades to come."

Are we talking about 2010 already? Research 2000 poll...and the results are scary

by: Celtic Diva

Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 18:15:52 PM AKST

REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES:

Senate

Murkowski 31
Palin 55

I've had a number of Progressive folks tell me they believe that Gov. Palin wouldn't have a chance against Murkowski.  The results for the Senate primary reaffirm what I have feared.

Markos states what he believes to be the reasons:

Palin would crush Daddy's Little Girl in a primary. Remember, Lisa Murkowski was appointed to the seat by her father when he was elected to his ill-fated term as governor. Palin's successful primary challenge to father Murkowski was aided in great part by the backlash to that nepotism. The voters passed a ballot initiative stripping the governor of the power to make such appointments in the future. So given a credible Republican challenger, Murkowski melts.

He's got it half-right.

I've paid attention to the noises from the Republican side about this issue for years.  I remember that Lisa was a pro-choice centrist (in my opinion, many viewed her as Liberal) when she was on the Anchorage Assembly Alaska Legislature.  That was a HUGE part of the anger at Murkowski from Republicans when he appointed her to the position.  They felt betrayed that Lisa was thrust upon them and many have never looked upon her as "one of them."  While the nepotism issue resonated with Dems and Non-partisan folks, that just added fuel to the fire with the Republicans.

In the battle between these two candidates, Sarah Palin OWNS the Republican "base" in Alaska.

GENERAL ELECTION:

Governor

Palin (R) 55
Knowles (D) 38

They used Knowles as a "stand-in" for a "strong Democrat" but I don't think using someone who lost to her once already is a good indicator.  I would love to see a poll with Walt Monegan's name in there to see what would happen.  Whoever runs against Palin will need to be able to pull Rural Alaska and I think he's got a good chance.  I would also throw another name in here as one of the few folks I think has a good shot against her...Diane Benson.

Re-elect Palin?
Reelect 51
Consider someone else 33
Replace 16

I look at these numbers and have some hope, since 49% would either consider someone else or replace her.  However, I don't believe for a minute that Palin is going to run for Governor again.  The only way she can pull off taking all of the trips required to run for President in 2012 will be to get out of the state.  I strongly believe she's going to try for the Senate.

For the rest of the poll on the Senate and House races, click on the above link and check out the diary.  Let me know YOUR opinions on the poll!

They talk about the wardrobe, but it's the National Guard story that REALLY annoyed me

by: Celtic Diva

Mon Dec 08, 2008 at 01:30:20 AM AKST

Washington Post uncovers $25,000 in gifts to Palin in only 20 months as Governor

by: Celtic Diva

Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 23:24:24 PM AKDT

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has made a crackdown on gift-giving to state officials a centerpiece of her ethics reform agenda, has accepted gifts valued at $25,367 from industry executives, municipalities and a cultural center whose board includes officials from some of the largest mining interests in the state, a review of state records shows.

The 41 gifts Palin accepted during her 20 months as governor include honorific tributes, expensive artwork and free travel for a family member. They also include more than $2,500 in personal items from Calista, a large Alaska native corporation with a variety of pending state regulatory and budgetary issues, and a gold-nugget pin valued at $1,200 from the city of Nome, which lobbies on municipal, local and capital budget matters, documents show.

About a quarter of the entities bestowing gifts on the governor are represented by one of Alaska's most influential mining lobbyists, who said in an interview that she was not involved in the tributes. The lobbyist, Wendy Chamberlain, has a relationship with the governor's family through the friendship of their teenage daughters.

Hmmmm...could this be why she postponed her financial records release until a day after her debate with Joe Biden, who released 10 years worth?

(more below the fold)

Revealed: Video Of Witchhunter Praying for Palin's Election

by: RandySF

Wed Sep 24, 2008 at 00:33:38 AM AKDT

Oh, and welcome Randy!!!!! - promoted by Celtic Diva)



This is my first diary here at Celtic Diva. Even before Sarah Palin's appointment to the presidential ticket, I have been interested in Alaska politics and even attended fundraisers for Mark Begich and Ethan Berkowitz. But alas, the focus of my inaugural diary is indeed about governor Palin and a possible reason why she and so many others think she was appointed by God to serve in office.

You might recall that, last week, it was revealed that an African minister/witchhunter by the name of Thomas Muthee spoke at Palin's church in Wasilla in 2006 and prayed for her election. Well, the video that had gone missing has been found.

It is clear as day that he and others in the church sought the Almighty's intervention in the 2006 election. I am not sure what is more frightening, a witchhunter praying over a candidate, or te firm belief that you are God's chosen to lead in political office. I am thinking the latter.

New approval rating numbers for Sarah Palin--still not asking the right question

by: Celtic Diva

Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 21:53:56 PM AKDT

In a new survey conducted September 20-22, Ivan Moore Research finds Sarah Palin's positive-negative rating in Alaska taking a real hit, for the first time since Palin was elected in November 2006.  The survey was conducted with 500 likely voters in the State of Alaska, for a margin of error of 4.4%.  The track of the last five Palin ratings is as follows, along with a comparison point from January 2008:

SURVEY...................................Rating

January 2008.............................82-11
July 18-22, 2008........................76-18
July 30-31, 2008........................78-15
August 9-12, 2008.....................80-13
August 30-September 2, 2008....82-13
September 20-22, 2008..............68-27

According to Moore, the mid-July poll was taken just after the Trooper Wooten story hit the news and even though there was negative press, the following three polls up until this one had Palin's positive rating on the upswing.

However, in the last three weeks, the news reports have definitely left their mark considering the swing of 14 points from her positive to her negative.

However, the RIGHT question STILL HAS NOT BEEN ASKED!

Why hasn't a pollster asked Alaskans what they think of her as a Vice Presidential Candidate????  That's the question that really matters, yet no one is asking it!!!

Ivan?