Read about the ridiculous fees the State of Alaska (under former half-Gov. Sarah Palin and now) requires citizens to pay for public information!
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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...
A bee on Dragon Tongue Stonecrop in my rock garden
August 2010
(Scroll down to find posts.)
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This one should be even more interesting for several reasons:
1) There are a couple of newer, open ethics complaints out there with serious teeth. One (Zane Henning) is in regards to the per diem Sarah Palin charged the State of Alaska to live in her own home. Another (Andree McLeod) is in regards to the gifts Palin has received that have gone unreported.
2) (The main subject of this post) We have heard NOTHING regarding Kim Chatman's complaint over the Alaska Fund Trust since a report unfavorable to Palin from Investigator Tom Daniel was revealed. (Of course, it barely covered an iota of the violations revealed by other lawyers in the Fund Trust). While a number of Palinbots claim that there was no violation here, the report very clearly stated that Palin would be in violation of the Ethics Act if she did not accept his remedy.
3) I was notified through certified letter that the Personnel Board would be dealing with my comments in reponse to the Arctic Cat dismissal and I would have a chance to speak in Executive session. (To be covered in Part II)
An article by AP this weekend made it obvious that there is still much interest in the results of unresolved ethics complaints against Sarah Palin:
Palin resigned as Alaska's governor abruptly in July, and an independent investigator said he found probable cause she had violated ethics laws by trading on her position as she sought money for legal fees.
We are waiting to find out exactly what is going on with Palin and her AK Fund Trust since Investigator Tom Daniel's report was revealed offering a "remedy" to keep Governor Palin from facing a hearing. The report was revealed by an unknown source and reported by Alaska AP apparantly a week after Palin and her legal team received it as well as the attached request from the Investigator. The request was for Palin or her representative to either accept or reject the remedy...a response that Alaska Executive Branch Ethics law requires.
The remedy required that Palin:
...the governor should refuse to accept payment of her legal fees and costs from the Alaska Fund Trust and withdraw her authorization for the trust to be recognized as her "official" legal defense fund...
According to the Executive Branch Ethics Act, their ONLY response to rejecting a remedy should have been to:
"...initiate formal proceedings by serving a copy of an accusation upon the subject of the accusation. The accusation shall specifically set out the alleged violation."
We haven't heard when this document was sent out--it should have been sent weeks ago and the twenty-day allowance for Palin's response to the "formal accusation" should be over by now. However, as soon as that formal document is served to Palin, long before her response is due, according to the EBEA: "...the accusation is a public document open to inspection."
(In other words, we should have heard by now that the document was sent. Today, I am sending off an email to the State asking for a copy.)
Giving Daniel and the Personnel Board the benefit of the doubt that they obeyed the law, we'll assume the formal accusation was sent and we have passed the 20-day response period. That means one of three things:
1) They admitted the violation, which would mean that we are now heading into the penalty phase;
2) They denied the charges, which means we should soon see preparations for a hearing;
3) They refused to respond, which is treated as if they admitted fault and the Personnel Board must then assign a penalty.
I have a call into Nicki Neal, Director for State of Alaska Personnel, asking for more information on a future hearing for former-Gov. Palin.
According to Ms. Neal, she cannot speak about the AK Fund Trust ethics case because CONFIDENTIALITY STILL APPLIES.
That can mean one of two things
1) They have served Palin with the formal accusation but are refusing to talk about the complaint case even though the Executive Branch Ethics Act (EBEA) states that it should now be public information, or...
2) NO ONE is following the Ethics Act in ANY way and Palin has NOT been served her formal accusation document.
I bring you back to July 3rd, when this fantasy story was told about a Governor who was driven out by us evil filers of "frivolous" ethics complaints...of how she was so abused and was drowning under this huge debt (in spite of the reportedly millions she's getting for her book deal).
Back then, I "puzzled until my puzzler was sore" over what possibly could have motivated Palin to do this. However, it was my husband that came up with the most logical reason as to why Palin would resign with so much time left in her term:
Hypothetically, what if all of the ethics complaints really ARE over...and several days ago, PALIN WAS TOLD THAT AS GOVERNOR, RECEIVING MONEY FROM THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WAS DECLARED UNETHICAL? One of the options to resolve a potential violation in the Executive Branch Ethics Act is to achieve resolution between the investigator and the complainee. What if, the only way to a) keep the money or NOT HAVE TO PAY IT BACK and b) to keep her "perfect record" of "no wrongdoing" was to leave the Governor's office?
An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the "official" legal defense fund.
The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else. The report recommends that Palin refuse to accept payment from the defense fund, and that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the Alaska Personnel Board.
Palin's response...on Twitter (of course)...was unethical (she lied), as covered by AP:
Palin posted an entry on Twitter in which she said the "matter is still pending."
"There is no final report. The Investigator is still confidentially reviewing this matter. It appears suspect that in the final days of the Governor's term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached," her spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
So, Governor Palin knew AT LEAST by July 14th that this final decision had been reached by the Personnel Board. (Knowing the process, I strongly suspect that someone tipped her off early...like maybe July 1st or 2nd?) Palin CONTINUED to collect donations through the site, Palin's supporters have continued to promote the site and amazingly enough, THE SITE IS STILL UP AND STILL TAKING DONATIONS!
She is absolutely disgusting. If this doesn't wake a few people up, I don't know WHAT will!
In response to rampant speculation (brought on by Palin lies/spin):
1) Once a report is sent out to the complainant, the findings have already been approved by the Personnel Board.
2) In this case, it looks like they were just waiting for Palin to agree to the remedy so they could close the case and move on, as well as for her to determine whether or not to waive confidentiality.
3) For Palin to let it to sit there for a week like that is unheard of. It makes one think that perhaps they had no intention of paying the money back nor of informing the folks who gave them the money. Of course, that's speculation...
Monday, April 27, 2009 - Eagle river resident Kim Chatman has filed an ethics complaint against Governor Palin for creating a legal defense fund for the Palins and state officials. Chatman charges that this fund violates the sections of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act which address conflicts of interests that are substantial and material:
Sec. 39.52.120. Misuse of official position
(a) A public officer may not use, or attempt to use, an official position for personal gain, and may not intentionally secure or grant unwarranted benefits or treatment for any person.
Sec. 39.52.130. Improper gifts
A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, ...that is a benefit to the officer's personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.
"First off, I find it offensive that they're calling it the Alaska Fund Trust," Kim Chatman said. "It is deceptive, misleading and has absolutely nothing to do with either trust or Alaska ."
Chatman believes that Gov. Palin's legal bills are the direct result of Gov. Palin's actions. "It's time for her to accept responsibility for the manner in which she decided to handle the legislative council investigation." Chatman says. "She could have cooperated like she promised. Instead, Governor Palin chose to fight it and incur legal bills."
Chatman has further concerns. "With 20 months remaining in the governor's term, this contrived money scheme leaves a lot of room for people to buy favors from Palin and her cronies," Chatman says. "And what about all these other state officials involved in this plot. Aren't they in violation of the Ethics Act too?"
I have literally not had an opportunity to read the whole thing yet. I'll have more comment later...probably in a new post.
