Rachel Maddow films her show in Alaska and I get to sit in the audience. Please do not pinch me, because if this is a dream, I don't want to wake up!

Here is the show's opening.  The bar is called the "Taproot" on Spenard road.



Directly behind Rachel on the left you can see Jeanne Devon (Mudflats), Linda Kellen Biegel is also there (Celtic Diva). I am directly behind Rachel's head and you will see me intermittently.  Shannyn Moore of course was interviewed by Maddow, and that video is embedded below.

Much of the show focuses on Rachel's difficulty getting an interview with Joe Miller, and of course how awkwardly it went when she finally did get it, but she also interviewed both Lisa Murkowski and Scott McAdams. Here is the segment that contains those interviews, and here is an additional piece where Rachel visits McAdams campaign headquarters.

In this segment Rachel interviews one of the great Alaskans who crafted our constitution, Vic Fisher, and Shannyn Moore.



I love that Vic Fisher reminds the viewers that the constitution is a "framework for the future" and was never meant, either the Alaskan or American version, to be "static and forgotten forever."  Quick somebody show this to Joe Miller, THEN he might know what in the hell he is talking about! Or better yet make him talk to Vic, like Rachel pointed out, he is still right here to explain to people if they don't get it!

Here Rachel arrives in Alaska and meets Tank Jones. (Yes I talked to Tank last night, but he asked me not to blog about it, so I won't.)  In this segment Maddow has a very informative conversation with Miller supporters, and learns how uneducated they are about the issues that they claim to be so upset about.

And finally here is the "interview on the run" that Rachel was finally able to get with Miller.  Go ahead and try to make sense of his answers to Rachel's questions about gay rights, I double dog dare you.



What a rude vaguely bearded prick! Personally I am embarrassed that Rachel had to see that side of Alaska.  Miller and his followers represent the very worst of us, and it is with great shame that I watch how he treated somebody who I respect a great deal on national television.

As I mentioned in the comments section earlier, I DID get a chance to meet and talk to Rachel briefly at the Dena'ina Center right before she interviewed Miller.

I believe this picture was taken right at the moment that she told me that she has been reading my blog. Yeah, I was pretty stunned as well!

I don't believe I have the words to describe how cool yesterday was for me.  Essentially it rocked!

I thought the highlight of my week, hell my month, would be attending the "Rally to Restore Sanity" in Washington, now I am not so sure.  Jon and Stephen are going to really have to pull out teh stops in order to beat my amazing day watching the filming of the "Rachel Maddow Show" and meeting her face to face.

Sarah Palin defends Franklin Graham and his right to call Islam "a very evil and wicked religion".

In case you have not heard Franklin Graham, Reverend Billy's less oratorically gifted son, was disinvited to the Pentagon's National Day of Prayer service.  The reason why is that after 9-11 Graham, like a lot of evangelical bible thumpers, attacked Islam calling it "a very evil and wicked religion".

"It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings, and it wasn't Lutherans. It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith."

Now keeping a man who attacked an entire religion away from a multi-denominational, religiously tolerant  prayer service might seem like a no-brainer. 

So cue the no-brainer defender of Franklin Graham, Sarah Palin. (From her Facebook account, of course.)

My, have things changed. I was honored to have Rev. Franklin Graham speak at my Governor’s Prayer Breakfasts. His good work in Alaska’s Native villages and his charitable efforts all over the world stem from his servant’s heart. In my years of knowing him, I’ve never found his tempered and biblically-based comments to be offensive – in fact his words have been encouraging and full of real hope.

It’s truly a sad day when such a fine patriotic man, whose son is serving on his fourth deployment in Afghanistan to protect our freedom of speech and religion, is dis-invited from speaking at the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer service. His comments in 2001 were aimed at those who are so radical that they would kill innocent people and subjugate women in the name of religion.

Are we really so hyper-politically correct that we can’t abide a Christian minister who expresses his views on matters of faith? What a shame. Yes, things have changed.

- Sarah Palin

My how unusual it is too see one crazed dominionist defending the hateful speech of another crazed dominionist.  But hey, maybe Sarah is right this time, maybe Franklin Graham should NOT be judged by words that he spoke during those very emotional times back in 2001.

Perhaps he has changed his tune and become much less judgemental and much more gracious toward religions that do not share his particular belief system.

From Fox News April 22, 2010.



See?  If the Islamic people will simply accept that Jesus Christ is the son of God and embrace him as their own personal savior Franklin Graham will have no problem with them whatsoever.

The ball is in your court Muslims!

What an idiot.

P.S. Here is Celtic Diva's take on this from over at the Mudfalts.

Celtic Diva is taking the trash out.

Just click the title to read how Linda is standing up for decency and exposing the pathology behind those who would attack Senator Reid as he deals with the horrible accident that injured members of his family.

Before you visit I suggest you think a happy thought, because is a disgusting trip into a truly damaged psyche and I don't want you to emerge with your mental health damaged by the visit.

For those of you who have been asking about Celtic Diva's progress on Palin's e-mails just click here.

Here is a taste.

Sarah supporters decide to harrass the judges in the Johnston/Palin custody case.

Someone in a Facebook group made an insane decision: because they disagreed with the ruling that keeps the Palin v. Johnston custody hearing proceedings "open," they thought it would be a "good idea" to harass the judges who made that decision.

Twitter's @JessicaBeehive (Jessica Steele) and @Talkradiohost (KBYR's Eddie Burke) decided to pick up the banner and run with it.

Here is waht was posted on Facebook:

"Tripp is not a Political Football"

We want to thank everyone for their time and attention to this matter. Over the Holidays; Superior Court Judge Kari C. Kristiansen issued a ruling under the authority of Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason. The ruling was a denial to keep the Custody dispute Between Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston over 1 year old Tripp closed.

Judge Kristiansen sited there was no reason to keep this matter private. The Palin's trying to keep the proceedings focused on Tripp, fought for the closing of the proceedings. Levi Johnston argued for an open proceeding. The Decision raises many concerns of Political Hanky Panky; but even more, cannot be justified to be in the best interest of a 1 year old child.
Both of the Judges are appointees of Former Governor Tony Knowles--(Democrat). Both of the Judges are up for retention. Fancy for Re-Appointment in 2010. Both have been accused of activist liberal rulings prior.

The Law in Alaska without doubt provides for the closing of a proceeding. The best interest of the child, or other mitigating circumstances is the guide. There is no question both elements are in play here.

We here believe this decision is either one of the worst in Alaskan History; or is in fact: a Politically motivated attempt to harm or perhaps payback Sarah Palin. Perhaps elements of both could also be correct. Barracuda Brigade for Our American Girl! 2012 has decided, since the Judges want a public proceeding; to give them one.

This the address for both Judges. ***************************-2004--Attn: Judge Sharon Gleason/Attn: Judge Kari C. Kristiansen
Judge Gleason's phone: 907-***-**** Judge Kristiansen's phone: 907-***-****

The Judicial Review Commission of Alaska is set-up in a way, that any protest to them would be handled in this situation by: Judge Sharon Gleason---yep--that is why she had Judge Kristiansen hand down the decision.

The next level up is the Governor, Sean Parnell. His phone is--907-465-3500, fax--907-465-3532. See link below; under contact: will take you to his e-mail.

The "Tripp is not a Political Football" protest will formally begin on Thursday Jan. 7th at 12pm. cst. We ask all concerned to call, fax and e-mail Governor Parnell: also to call and write both Judges and let them know: Patriots across America find your actions a disgrace to the Judicial system. That our concerns are being directed to the Governor's Office.

The actual Court record will be available shortly, along with the list of retention. We thank you for your time and concern----Dave & Alicia

Wow this is unbelievably insane! But as anybody who has followed Palin, and her batshit followers know, this is just the beginning of the circus to come.

Like I said I cannot imagine that Sarah Palin wants this custody case to continue.

To read more about the harassment just click the title and visit my friend Celtic Diva.

Top Ten Things From 2009 For Which I Am Grateful

10) Alaska! I love this state, and cannot tell you how often I look out at the sky, and the mountains, and simply have my breath taken away. I have worked very hard this last year to fix the politics in Alaska, support the original inhabitants of Alaska, and to protect the beautiful wilderness of Alaska. How could I not, when this place has given me so very much?

9) The "so close we can almost taste it" passing of the Health Care reform bill. Yeah I know it is not passed yet but who could have imagined, even two years ago, that we would be this close to passing a bill that will help 36 million previously uninsured Americans get healthcare? Sure it is not perfect, not by a longshot, but it is SO much better than what we had before.

8) The faithful visitors to this blog! If it were not for you all keeping me honest there is just no telling what kind of unscrupulous things I might get up to. Seriously, I appreciate all of your support and all of your informative and fascinating comments.

7) Being placed on Sarah Palin’s “banned list”. That absolutely MADE my Christmas this year! My only regret is that if I had known Sarah was going to be so generous I would have made sure to get her something. Oh I guess if I keep digging around I may come up with something to pay her back. LOL!

6) The resurgence of 3D at the movies! Wow how did I ever watch movies without things flying off of the screen and bouncing off of my forehead? Do you remember back when you cared more about the acting and the story line than you did about super hi-definition images coming right at you at an alarming rate? Ah we were so young and naïve back then.

5) Pizza! Nothing more needs to be said. Simply the most perfect food on earth.

4) My fellow Alaskan bloggers! AKMuckraker, Dennis Zaki, Shannyn Moore, Celtic Diva, and Phil Munger, I love you guys! How could I have ever made it through this last year without your support, your informative e-mails, and your playful teasing? No way would this have been as much fun without so many brilliant, talented people standing by my side.

3) My daughter. She is the center of my world, the owner of my heart, and the reason that I will never stop fighting the bad guys (and gals) and searching for the truth. I love you angel.

2) President Barack Obama. To finally have a man in that office with the intelligence, the morality, and the honestly of this man absolutely makes my heart sing. I worked my ass off for him and I will do it again in 2012. Our country deserves a leader who REALLY takes his job seriously and who is working everyday to make this a better country. And, yes, that man is Barack Hussein Obama.

And the number one thing that I am grateful for from 2009 is....

1) That John McCain and Caribou Barbie did not win the election! Nothing gives me more pleasure this year than knowing that the American people finally woke up, and rejected the policies of the Republican party and that we do not have Uncle Fester and Queen Ester running my country.

I guess on a side note I should probably thank Sarah Palin and the idiots who forced McCain to select her as well. If Sarah had not come along and scared the holy crap out of the independent voters we may now be facing this financial crisis with a man in charge who suspended his campaign so that he could study the problem and then essentially shrug his shoulders. A man who believes that all you need to win a war is more bullets. And a man who has had cancer numerous times, and whose running mate would have been anxiously standing beside him while he slept and watching his chest rise just waiting for the moment when it would suddenly stop and give her the break that Pastor Muthee had promised her was coming her way.

Wednesday's lunch with Sarah Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein.

The life of an Alaska blogger is never dull.

Okay well sometimes it is dull, but when it is not dull, it is REALLY not dull!

About two months ago, I received a call from a friend asking me if I wanted to bid on a lunch with Sarah Palin's attorney which was being offered at a silent auction to raise money for a Japanese immersion program at a local elementary school.

Me? Bid on a lunch with the lawyer who threatened to sue me and who may have been instrumental in outing my true identity? Well of course I would!

When I arrived at the school I found that only one person had made a bid on this lunch, and that was a member of the family who had put the packet together. I made my bid and waited to see if anybody else was going to outbid me.

Nope, my bid, the only real bid, was the winner and I picked up my packet and went home.

I had previously contacted my friend Linda, Celtic Diva, to ask if she wanted to go "halfsies" with me on the lunch. No hesitation whatsoever...yes she did.

A day or two later Linda contacted the person setting up the lunch and gave a nom de plume (We assumed that if we had identified ourselves as Alaskan bloggers Gryphen and Celtic Diva we would have received a refund and a "thanks, but no thanks"). After a number of false starts I finally received a phone call from Linda saying that we had a date for 11:45 yesterday, at a restaurant downtown.

I arrived early, which is my habit, and waited for Linda and Van Flein to arrive. Van Flein arrived first and sat down at a nearby table. I had hoped that Linda would have been there by then, but when I called her she was still several minutes away. Throwing caution to the wind I went up to Van Flein's table and introduced myself, by my real name, and said that I was his lunch date.

It took a second or two for him to understand just who was sitting across the table from him, but then I could see the realization slowly dawn over his face. For a moment he looked a little constipated, but I assured him that I was not going to make a scene or become aggressive.

"So you are Gryphen." He said.

"Yep, I am Gryphen." I replied. I did my best to smile and be as non-threatening as possible and he seemed to relax relatively quickly.

We talked about a few innocuous things for a minute or two until Linda arrived and then ordered our food. As we waited for our food to arrive the discussion turned to weightier topics.

We discussed blogging and the difference between that and journalism. Both Linda and I dismissed the notion that we were journalists, however I did add that we HAD done investigative journalism in the past though it was not strictly my comfort zone. I could not help but notice Van Flein kind of giving me a sideways glance with that statement, no doubt remembering when my "so-called journalism" brought us into direct conflict.

We covered a number of topics. Linda asked some questions pertaining to her specific e-mail request, which I will let her cover more fully in HER post about this lunch date. I will volunteer that he asked her if she had received her documents, at which time Linda was able to smile and say "Why yes I did."

Both Linda and I offered some advice for Van Flein to take back to his client. We talked about the perception that people had of her as a mother based on the photographs of her constantly carrying little Trig off of planes and buses in her high heel shoes and with his little legs exposed. I also suggested that she develop a thicker skin concerning news reports. I made the case that if they had ignored my story about their marital trouble it would have blown over in a day or so, but since Meg Stapleton issued a statement, and he sent me a letter threatening to sue me, it had validated my post and made national news.

Van Flein did not verbally respond but it did appear that he was listening.

Probably the most interesting exchange came when suddenly Van Flein leaned toward me and asked point blank: " Do you sincerely, honestly believe that Trig is not her baby?"

To which I replied: "Yes, I sincerely, honestly believe that Trig is not her baby. Do you sincerely honestly believe it is her baby?"

VF: "I have no doubt."

G: "No doubt because you were there and watched it pop out?"

VF: "Have you been in a hospital room for the birth of a child? There are usually three nurses, the anesthesiologist, pediatrician, maybe three MDs. Somebody is obligated under the laws of the State of Alaska to fill out an accurate report for Vital Statistics..."

G: "...right...the birth certificate...where is that?"

VF:" ...and they could lose their medical license if they falsify that. They'd need to have a whole bunch of people lying about something and willing to put their careers on the line."

G: "During the pregnancy, how often did you see her?"

VF: "I did not see her during the pregnancy at all. Whose baby do you think it is? What woman would give up her baby?"

G: "I do not know. That's one thing I actually cannot put together. I've said that point blank...I have no freakin' clue."

VF: "Just so you know, if you have convinced yourself this is the case and are trying to find proof of it, it undercuts everything else that you do. It's kinda like saying "9/11 is an inside job" or that OBAMA IS NOT A US CITIZEN. There's just some instances where rational people take a step back. This is fun to think of maybe but it's crazy."

VF: "You're asking for something short of a DNA test..."

G: "...birth certificate..."

VF:" ...that's a matter of public record...Isn't it recorded in the Mat-Su records with the other births recorded that day?"

G: "We're not talking about birth announcements but there never was a birth announcement and there was never a birth certificate provided by Sarah. Though she was asked by the McCain Campaign it was never provided." (To be honest this is a rumor that I heard, and not a verified fact. However does it not seem reasonable that the McCain campaign would have asked her for a document that would have put the whole baby story to rest? Instead she offered up her daughter's "pregnancy" as proof that she must Trig's mother. Now of course we realize that there were more than just two options.)

I have to say that Thomas Van Flein seemed genuinely to be under the impression that those records were readily available by request. And when I explained that we had tried and been unable to get ANY documentation he seemed mystified by that information, which I found sort of puzzling. He may have been lying, but my initial impression is that he was not.

Of course those of us who have been following the "babygate" story know there is much more to it then simply missing a certificate of live birth, or witnesses to the delivery. There are also pictures of a woman not visibly pregnant less than a few days shy of giving birth, the bizarre wild ride story, the disappearance of Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, not to mention the fact that Sarah's story keeps changing, (for example telling the ADN on April 21st, 2008 that there were no visible signs of Down's syndrome, and then telling People magazine that thirteen year old Willow had identified him as a Down's baby by simply looking at his little newborn face). I did not have time to bring up ALL of the inconsistencies in Sarah's stories, as we had finished eating and everybody had places to go.

We left the restaurant and said our good-bye's on the frigid Alaskan street. Van Flein seemed in no hurry to make his escape and even engaged in a little small talk before walking off toward his office.

My impression overall was that he was not a necessarily villain, though he had clearly played the part for Sarah Palin more than a few times. His threats against Shannyn Moore and myself being just two examples. Ultimately, in my opinion, he is like a Mafia hitman in that is it is not personal, it is just business.

And Thomas Van Flein is just another person caught up in the bizarre, not quite reality based, world of Sarah Palin. Unfortunately, for him, he has the unenviable job of trying to insulating her against the people who are going to recognize her lies and half-truths, and wish to confront her on them.

Perhaps it helps Thomas Van Flein not to know too much about the truth that Sarah Palin is trying so desperately to keep secret, for he seems to have little understanding of how many layers of obfuscation that Palin has applied to separate herself from the reality that threatens her personal mythology.

It must be nice to be so lacking in curiosity that you can ignore the logical inconsistencies in Sarah Palin's life story. Perhaps sadly for me I have an overabundance of curiosity an it will simply not be satiated until, I and everyone, else know the truth behind one the biggest lies ever foisted upon the American people.

Update: Here is Celtic Diva's post on our now famous lunch date.

Celtic Diva got her e-mails! (Well sorta.)

FINALLY, after many, many months and many, many dollars (thanks internet donors!), the Diva has received several thousand e-mails to sift through for the holidays.

Since this is the Palin administration of course they are incomplete, but still she received quite a lot of information.

I know many of you have been very interested in when this request would be met, so just click the title and take a look at Linda's update, and perhaps give her a little cyber pat on the back for a job well done.

Our first Sarah Palin lie revelation of the day comes from my friend Celtic Diva. It concerns a certain photoshopped picture you may all remember.

This is an excerpt from the book "Going Rogue":

"Also, unbelievably, hurtful attacks were directed at Trig. On the Internet, a fake Planned Parenthood ad showed a photo of me holding Trig. In one corner there was a coat hanger and in the other a slogan, "Better luck next time." What kind of person creates something like that? Maybe the same kind who would photoshop distorted images over Trig's pretty face in order to make him look monstrous. The person who did this proudly displayed it on her website; she was also the official Alaskan..."

What Palin's ghostwriter did here was damn Celtic Diva by association. Now is that nice?

The Planned Parenthood ad was photoshopped, and the picture on Blue Oasis was phtotshopped, therefore......well you would get it if you were part of Palin's target audience.

To learn the facts behind this purposefully overblown kerfuffle just click the title and let Linda herself explain it to you.

In other news today is the long anticipated Oprah show.

I will be watching this with a gaggle of my fellow bloggers at 4:00 Alaska time, well after many of you have already started trying desperately to get the sound of Sarah's voice out of your heads. But if you are interested in our take I do believe that Mudflats will be liveblogging it and you will have the opportunity to read our comments as we "enjoy" this delightful televised event.

(A "gaggle" of bloggers? Maybe "flock" of bloggers? Or perhaps "herd" of bloggers? A "troop" of bloggers? Oooh a "pride" of bloggers! I like that one! What do you think?)

Celtic Diva has the goods on Sarah's less than truthful Financial Disclosure form.

First we have Part One.

Sarah Palin filed her final POFD (Public Officer Financial Disclosure) on time according to APOC (Alaska Public Offices Commission) rules.

However, Palin has proven herself to be selective as to which rules she chooses to follow and how completely she follows them.

For example, we've seen nothing "disclosed" nor have we heard anything about Palin's AK Fund Trust (for which her website is still collecting money) since the summer revelation that Investigator Daniel found Palin cannot spend the Fund Trust without probably violating a pesky Statute or two. While the Personnel Board is a separate issue from APOC, it is still important to note that the Board IS NOT following the Executive Branch Ethics Act. How do we know?

Part Two is right here.

One of the questions that I keep getting asked is "How come the other Alaska bloggers are not pursuing babygate?" Or "Why don't YOU talk more about the still pending ethics charges against Palin?"

My answer is that each of the Alaska bloggers have their own speciality. Each of us have strengths and weaknesses, when it comes to addressing certain issues. I may be covering one aspect of Sarah's lies or Alaska issues, while Phil Munger, or AKM, or Shannyn Moore are covering others. That is why the blogrolls are so important.

Linda (Celtic Diva) is amazing when it comes to sorting through complex legal forms. She has worked for the federal government and knows how to see through the legal gobbledygook to find the important information contained within. And she has done an amazing job in these two posts.
If you are fascinated with the sheer depth of Palin's obfuscation then you definitely need to head on over to the Blue Oasis and see what Linda has uncovered. It is jaw dropping.

AKMuckraker has brought this to the attention of the Huffington Post readers.

Celtic Diva has an important update concerning her records request.

You wonderful folks whose money paid for our yet undelivered record's request have been incredibly patient, especially considering the conflicting issues between advocacy and reporting/blogging: I can't always write about "behind the scenes" activities. I have had conversations and email traffic with advisors over the months regarding this and I'm unable as yet to talk about things still in the works. However, there is some news.

To view all of Linda Kellen Biegel's post please click the title at the top.

Celtic Diva finds a lawyer willing to wade through the Alaska Fund Trust horse-pucky. Warning! Bring your boots.

Just click the title to visit Linda's wonderful blog.

Here is just a sample of what this lawyer discovered.

I think the AFT's (Alaska Fund Trust's) purpose is unethical on its face.

Pretty much says it all doesn't it?

Palin camp desperately lashes out at progressive Alaskan blogger.

This is what issued forth from the vile depths of Megan Stapletongue's facial orifice:

Recently we learned of a malicious desecration of a photo of the Governor and baby Trig that has become an iconic representation of a mother's love for a special needs child.

The mere idea of someone doctoring the photo of a special needs baby is appalling. To learn that two Alaskans did it is absolutely sickening. Linda Kellen Biegel, the official Democrat Party blogger for Alaska, should be ashamed of herself and the Democratic National Committee should be ashamed for promoting this website and encouraging this atrocious behavior.

Babies and children are off limits. It is past time to restore decency in politics and real tolerance for all Americans. The Obama Administration sets the moral compass for its party. We ask that special needs children be loved, respected and accepted and that this type of degeneracy be condemned.

This of course is in response to Linda's Kellen Biegel's use of a photoshopped picture of Sarah Palin holding a baby with Eddie Burke's face superimposed over the babies face. (Sorry baby)

This was clearly done to parody Eddie Burke's mommy complex concerning our Governor, and it wasn't even the first time that this picture was altered for humorous effect.

However the Cee4Pee'ers went out of their collective pea sized minds and started to send Linda a bunch of crazy venom soaked e-mails (Look I don't know how you soak e-mails in venom either. They just did!). And now we see that somebody has yanked the chain on the Governor's spokes-pitbull and reminded her that she works for the mentally deranged fringe that simply must attack ANYONE who dares challenge the ethics of "Ester queen of the frozen north".

So thank you Meg for proving that the hard work done by Celtic Diva, and the other Alaskan bloggers, is having such a profound effect on the Governor and her supporters. If not for your constant reinforcement we would not be sure we were having any impact at all.

Oh and thanks for helping Linda's fundraising efforts. Because as soon as she was attacked by Eddie Burke, C4P, TeamSarah, and now Megan, Linda started raising MUCH more money than she was raising before all of the attention.

Perhaps we owe you dinner Meg. What time do they usually throw raw meat into your cage?

Update: CNN has picked up this story now as well.

Update 2: I just got off the phone with Linda and she is only about $700 away from her goal. If you CAN give then please DO give, it would amazing if she were to reach her goal today and that it could be the direct result of the Palin supporters so called "outrage". Poetic justice, no?

Click here to visit Linda's site.

AP writer gets most of the facts right about the ethics complaints against Palin, but leaves some important facts out. Here allow me to help.

This article was written by AP reporter Rachel D'oro, who did a fair job. My additions are in bold and filled with snark. You can't miss'em!

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says her political enemies are abusing state law with a flurry of frivolous ethics complaints against her, putting her more than $500,000 in legal debt.

Those filing the grievances — there have been at least 18 cases so far — say it's their legal right to hold the Republican governor accountable for what they see as abuses of power.

The truth is probably somewhere in between. (If by "in between" you mean definitely slanted toward those filing the complaints then we agree.)

"Are Alaskans outraged, or at least tired of this yet — another frivolous ethics charge by a political blogger?" Palin asked in one statement. (Uh nope. So long as you keep behaving unethically then this is one Alaskan who is all for ethics charges being filed against you. And I know numerous Alaskans who feel the exact same way.)

Most of the complaints have been filed since last August, when GOP presidential candidate John McCain picked Palin as his running mate. And most have been denied.

Palin's office has called the multiple dismissals "mounting evidence that accusations of wrongdoing by the governor lack merit and have been politically or personally motivated."

Even some of Palin's critics question the validity of some of the complaints, and her supporters have waged a weeklong Webathon to raise money for a legal defense fund set up for the governor, ringing up more than $109,000 by day seven, Sunday. ("Sorry kids no vacation for you this year, your mom has sent all of our savings to help that Palin woman again!")

But the number of filings may also reflect a broader awareness of ethics law in Alaska, where any citizen can send in any number of complaints. Some say they're taking Palin up on her own challenge to Alaska voters. (Yep! Just being good citizens.)

"She said she was going to be open, transparent and wanted people to hold her accountable," said Kim Chatman, an Eagle River resident whose complaint against Palin is among the few still pending. "I took her for her word."

All the complaints have been brought by Alaskans, except for one filed by Washington-based Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleging the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her national quest violated the Federal Election Campaign Act. That complaint was dismissed.

One complaint, in which the Alaska Personnel Board found no wrongdoing, concluded with the governor agreeing to pay the state $10,000 for trips taken by her children — money that is due Tuesday. (Of course this is after they dismissed 31 of the trips with no explanation as to why those trips were inappropriate and the remaining 9 were not.)

Another complaint, filed by Democratic blogger Linda Kellen Biegel, said Palin wore a jacket that promoted the sponsor of her husband's snowmobile racing team. That complaint, dismissed June 2, prompted Palin's statement about "frivolous" ethics charges. (Of course now we learn that our Governor is desperately trying to keep from having to disclose how much of a "discount" she and her husband received for that gear which sounds suspiciously like somebody who has something to hide. Oui?)

Elected in 2006, Palin enjoyed an unprecedented 18-month honeymoon with Alaska residents and lawmakers alike until last July, when she fired Walt Monegan, the state's popular public safety commissioner.

Monegan believed he was terminated over his refusal to let go a state trooper who was involved in a contentious divorce with Palin's sister. Palin cited budgetary disagreements.

State lawmakers investigated, ultimately concluding the governor broke an ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain, although the firing itself was considered lawful since Monegan was an at-will employee.

Days after being named McCain's running mate, Palin said the legislative probe had become too political (Translation: They were going to find her guilty.) and filed a "self disclosure" with the Alaska Personnel Board, whose three members are appointed by the governor. The day before the presidential election, that investigation concluded that Palin violated no ethics laws. (You all remember that don't you? She was guilty, and then "POOF" she wasn't guilty. Who needs a genie in a lamp when you have your very own Personnel Board to make the bad things go a way?)

Palin was wrong to publicly criticize the complaints before the appropriate government body — the personnel board in most cases — had a chance to analyze them, said Gregg Erickson, a Juneau economist and longtime watcher of Alaska politics. That's simply bad politics, he said.
"She rises to the bait fairly quickly when they troll these things by her," he said. "I think it's a weakness." (Gee ya think?)

Chatman said she voted for Palin to be governor, but now sees her as unethical, sacrificing the state's interest to advance her national ambitions. Palin is widely believed to be considering a 2012 presidential run. (Proving that some people simply cannot learn.)

Chatman's complaint alleges Palin is misusing the governor's office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, which was established by supporters in April to help Palin pay her legal bills.

Alaska law mandates that ethics grievances remain confidential unless a public accusation is filed or the accused person agrees in writing to make it public. However, most complainants have ignored this requirement and have publicly discussed their grievances without any legal consequences. (This is false and was explained away quite effectively by Linda Kellen Biegel on her blog Celtic Oasis. "The confidentiality piece in the Ethics Act does not apply against private citizens who file ethics complaints--The spirit of the confidentiality portion of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act (while the verbiage is rather nebulous) seems to be geared towards the Department of Law, employees of the State and the Personnel Board in its normal role with personnel issues.")

"Why is confidentiality so important? So the process does not become a forum for partisan attacks, headline seekers and disgruntled wing-nuts," Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein said in an e-mail. "This is exactly the type of political gamesmanship the confidentiality clause was intended to prevent." (And so that the voters don't learn how unethical their Governor is behaving while supposedly representing them.)

Chatman said she spoke with an attorney and learned she wouldn't breach confidentiality if she talked about her grievance before filing it in late April. She said she did just that, based on a lack of trust in the Palin administration.

"I thought it would be swept under the carpet if the public didn't know about it," she said. (BINGO! And that is exactly why the Governor keeps bringing this up, in the hopes that they will be thrown out or that the next ones will not be publicized.)

(Thanks ProChoiceGrandma for bringing this article to my attention.)

This is my clarion call for all seekers of truth and justice to help support the effort to gain access to Sarah Palin's mystery e-mails.

Sarah Palin's minions are doing everything they can to keep us from revealing the truth about the Governor and her shady dealings with some of her supporters and media types. Including charging exorbitant prices for a simply e-mail search.

Linda Kellen Biegel (Celtic Diva) needs approximately $5552.64 to pay for "administrative costs" to search for these e-mails. (Apparently the effort to help keep the public informed is very taxing for these state employees, and they must be compensated adequately for the mental exhaustion they may suffer and the carpal tunnel they may be afflicted with. Poor babies!)

Here is what Linda is requesting:

1) any and all email contact to/from Governor Palin, Office of the Governor employees Linda Perez, Mike Nizich, Bill McAllister, Kris Perry, Sharon Leighow that are to/from Alaska residents Eddie Burke and/or Sheila Toomey,
2) any and all emails to/from the Governor and those same Office of the Governor employees that discuss Eddie Burke or Sheila Toomey,
3) all records requests submitted which target emails to or from Alaska resident Andree McLeod, and
4) all fee breakdowns, invoices or any other documents which assesses the cost of retrieving the McLeod emails and whether or not those fees have been/will be charged to the requester.
The date range for the request is July 1, 2008 to May 11, 2009.

To donate simply click the title which will take you to her site and find the donate button is on the top left corner.

I thank you ahead of time for whatever you are able to spare to assist Sarah Palin in keeping her promise of transparency. Remember we are not attacking her, we are simply helping her to keep her campaign promises.

Celtic Diva addresses new information that Sarah Palin does not want to disclose the cost of Arctic Cat gear.

Linda took a lot of flak over this ethics complaint.

She was harassed, pilloried by the Right, and dismissed by many as a crackpot "Palin-hater".

However with these new revelations it seems obvious to me that her complaint not only had merit, but that it scared the Governor much more than she wanted to admit to the media.

Clearly there is something being hidden here, and as citizens of this state we deserve to have the truth revealed.

Sarah Palin tries to hide cost of Arctic Cat gear from public.

Gov. Sarah Palin is telling the Alaska Public Offices Commission she doesn’t want to disclose the discount her husband, Todd, receives on purchases of Arctic Cat snowmachines.

“Todd Palin is entitled to discounts on purchases (as he has received the last 16 years as an Iron Dog racer.) However, according to the terms of his sponsorship agreement, the exact amount of the discount is confidential as a proprietary trade secret,” the governor wrote to APOC officials on Monday.

Palin’s letter said her husband is allowed to buy a snowmachine at manufacturer cost, without retail markup, and “the manufacturer cost is proprietary information.”
“Public disclosure of this information is expressly prohibited by the sponsorship agreement. This would also apply to any discounts offered on wear.”

Palin is requesting APOC allow an exemption from the disclosure, arguing state law allows it. (UPDATE -- The APOC commissioners just directed agency staff to research Palin's response and report back to them so they can decide what to do.)

Gee I wonder WHY Governor Palin is so concerned with divulging how much (if anything) she and Todd had to pay for those spiffy Arctic Cat clothes? (Trust me this has NOTHING to do with the snowmachines.)

Could it perhaps have something to do with a certain ethics complaint filed by a certain progressive blogger? Well duh!

Now the question is will APOC do the right thing, and make her divulge this information? Or are they in Palin's pocket just like the Alaska Personnel Board.

Doesn't ANYBODY in this state have any goddamn balls?

The price tag for transparency from the Palin administration is $5552.64!

Linda Kellen Biegel has received her final asking price from the Palin administration to provide the e-mails she has requested from them under the Freedom of Information Act.

However Sarah Palin and her cronies do not seem to understand the term "free"-dom. For the Palin administration you have to pay through the nose to get something that every other American can get from their government officials for free.

Apparently in Alaska it takes 16 hours totalling $924.66 PER E-MAIL!

The only thing "transparent" about this administration is how afraid it is that the citizens of Alaska will learn the truth about Sarah Palin.

Please click the title to visit Celtic's Blue Oasis and read the rest of this troubling story.

Celtic Diva's ethics complaint gets dismissed.

An ethics complaint alleging Gov. Sarah Palin promoted her husband's sponsor at a snowmobile race has been dismissed.

The complaint had been filed by Linda Kellen Biegel, who claimed Palin had a conflict of interest because the clothing she wore to the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race this year had an Arctic Cat logo.

Palin's husband, Todd, is sponsored by Arctic Cat in the Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmobile race.

The Alaska Personnel Board's independent investigator, Thomas Daniel, said there was no evidence Palin used her position for personal gain by wearing the jacket at the start and finish of the race.

How did she and her family not "personally gain" from wearing Arctic Cat gear?

If her husband is sponsored by Arctic Cat, and then she wears clothes with their insignia on them, is that not considered tit for tat? And who would even notice her, or film her if she were not the Governor? So did she not use her position as Governor of Alaska to payback Arctic Cat for sponsoring her husband's little hobby? And did she not ensure that they will do the same next year? I beelive the answer to these questions is "yes".

I think that these ethics complaints are simply being dismissed out of hand with out being given the legal attention they deserve, and that it is time to start confronting the members of the Personnel Board on whether or not they are seeking justice or seeking Sarah Palin's eternal gratitude.

And according to her Twitter account she certainly seems pleased with the result:

We'll attach press release re: win against Democrat blogger's ethics charge that I shouldn't wear my warm snowmachine coat to cold Iron Dog.

Alaska bloggers to be featured in chapter of book "Bloggers on the Bus: How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press".

My friend Phil Munger posted this on his website Progressive Alaska yesterday.

Eric Boehlert, one of the founders ofMedia Matters for America, recently finished a book about important aspects of the rapidly changing American political scene. The book, titled Bloggers on the Bus - How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press, will be released May 19th. Chapter Thirteen, about how Alaska's bloggers played a role in getting detailed information about Sarah Palin, and our kinky, sometimes difficult political customs out to an eager Outside press in late summer and early autumn of 2008, is called Saradise Lost. I spoke with publisher Simon & Schuster's publicist for the book, Christine Donnelly, this morning. She told me that the chapter on Alaska bloggers will bring up the role local blogs like Alaska Real, Andrew Halcro, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis, Just a Girl from Homer, Kodiak Konfidential, The Mudflats, Own the Sidewalk, Progressive Alaska, The Immoral Minority and What Do I Know? played in both the McCain/Palin and Begich-Stevens campaigns.

When I started this humble blog back in November of 2004, I certainly never felt I would have such an impact on both local and national political history. And I never, ever imagined that I would have the opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing intellects as I have these last nine months.

The Alaska bloggers are a wonderful, magnanimous group of individuals, and I am honored to be counted among them.

You can bet I am going to be purchasing this book when it comes out, and I would undoubtedly do so even if I did not have a small mention within its pages.

(To read Phil's entire post just click the title.)