Mike Doogan’s Response to Alaskans’ “Requests or Demands or Whatever They Are.”
You all may remember the horrendously self-righteous, condescending response of Senator Fred Dyson to letters asking him to hold the current administration accountable for violating ethics and the law.
Here’s the latest member of the Legislature to weigh in and tell the citizens what he thinks. This response comes from Mike Doogan. Mike Doogan is a Democrat, although at least one outspoken progressive I know refers to him as “Republican Lite”. Doogan wrote a column in the Anchorage Daily News for a long time before becoming a member of the Legislature, and developed a big fan base, and a whole lot of name recognition. People generally want to like him.
Here is Doogan’s form letter response to anyone emailing him asking that the Legislature hold the governor and her administration accountable for their bad behavior. Frankly, this response doesn’t do much to ingratiate him to Democrats, or Republicans who feel that even members of their own party should be accountable to ethics and the law.
And this letter teaches us something about Doogan. Apparently he has learned to enjoy peeing in the soup at his own dinner party.
(Snark is highlighted for your convenience)
Sorry this response took so long, but I wanted to make sure that all of your often-identical emails had reached me, and to do a little research on a couple of points you made.
First, let me thank you for writing. Citizen participation is important to this process, and I’m glad you took the time to make your views known.
Second, there is not much that can be done to satisfy your requests or demands or whatever they are. More on that in a moment.
Third, I intend to move forward with legislation to prevent a re-occurrence of some of the problematic behavior that has arisen from the mess commonly called Troopergate. That legislation will define more closely what is a public document and seek to prevent public officials from shielding their communications by using private email accounts, and the state from stifling public access by charging an arm and a leg.
Now, back to point 2. To review your demands:
- Censure the governor. There is, in fact, no formal censure motion available to the legislature. In our dealings with the executive branch, we have two tools: the budget and impeachment. We could, I suppose, pass a resolution telling the governor she done bad, which would be worth about as much as the paper it is written on. And I have to tell you that such a resolution would be unlikely to pass. Legislators would be reluctant to make the governor mad for a gesture.
- Seek contempt charges against the governor’s husband and state officials who ignored subpoenas. Again, we have no contempt-of-the-Legislature powers. We’d have to go to court. Since the Senate Judiciary Committee did not go to court to enforce the subpoenas, I doubt the courts could find those who ignored the subpoenas in contempt. Again, I suppose we could pass a resolution, but I don’t think there’s much more we could do.
- Hold hearings to see if the governor committed perjury in the statements to the Personnel Board’s lawyer. The legislature is not an arm of either the executive or the judiciary. I doubt we could get the appropriate parties – the Personnel Board and Mr. Petumenos – to act on a perjury claim, or that we have standing to ask the court system to do so.
- Call for an independent investigation of the attorney general in re: witness tampering. I believe it is Rep. Les Gara who raised the witness tampering issue, so you should be in touch with him to see what, if anything, is happening on that front.
Something more may happen on any and all of these fronts once the legislature convenes. But I believe the new Senate President, Gary Stevens, has said the Senate is prepared to do nothing more on these issues. The House could act alone on resolutions, but I doubt the Republican majority is willing to act against a woman who could be their party’s presidential nominee in four years.
That’s where it stands at the moment. Again, thanks for writing.
Mike Doogan
So, other than the obvious message which was to, in effect, give a fake toothy smile, and say, “Thanks for writing me, even though you’re an idiot,” while patting us on the head, what did he say? His third point, as defined above, is excellent. Preventing a re-occurence of the Troopergate debacle is a good thing. A big thank you to all those who will be involved in that process.
Now for the rest of it.
As you’ll recall, Sarah Palin and Walt Monegan gave contradictory testimony under oath. Either our Governor, or our ex-Commissioner of Public Safety and new Anchorage mayoral candidate committed perjury. There’s no disputing that. Which one was it? (shrug)…The body of lawmakers just can’t do anything about it. And they might not be able to ask anybody to do anything. Not sure. Not going to find out.
And the ethics investigation? Well, yeah…the Legislature voted to spend $100,000 of the state’s money to find out if she abused her power, and found out she did, but they are powerless to respond to the finding. And this, of course, begs the question, “Why did you spend the money if you can’t act on the findings and are unwilling to condemn abuse of power?” Pointless and expensive is not a good combination.
And the one that really kills me: Rep. Doogan says “We could, I suppose, pass a resolution telling the governor she done bad, which would be worth about as much as the paper it is written on.…” I would like to refer Rep. Doogan to a certain congressman from Ohio named Dennis Kucinich, who stood in front of the United States House of Representatives and read aloud for five hours a list of impeachable offenses committed by President George W. Bush. Did it work? No. Did he expect it to work? No. Then why? To put it in the record. To show history that someone stood up. To make a (insert air quotes with fingers) “gesture,” that says, ” THIS IS WRONG, AND WE KNOW IT.” Kucinich may not have expected that impeachment hearings would occur, but he did stick his flag in the sand, and he did force everyone to show their cards, and he did have integrity.
And when asked about state employees ignoring legislative subpoenas, “Go ask Les,” seems to be a standard response from several members of the Legislature that I’ve heard lately. Les Gara, to his credit, has been the only one pushing this issue, and says he will continue to do so. I heard Mike Doogan interviewed by CC on KUDO a couple months ago on this topic, and his reaction at the time could best be described as livid. Really. I thought the man was going to blow a gasket. And I cheered him on. So, I was really taken aback by Rep. Doogan’s sudden and stunning display of disinterest, and cavalier snarkiness. Why the change?
And the irony of both Fred Dyson and Mike Doogan going out of their way to discount the emails they are receiving because they are “almost identical” and then responding to each person with an exactly identical email ridiculing them for being virtually the same is almost funny. I believe that all the people that voted for Rep. Doogan did so in the identical way…imagine that! They must not have really meant it.
And the cherry on the top of this big jellyfish sundae – “I doubt the Republican majority is willing to act against a woman who could be their party’s presidential nominee in four years.”
Mike Doogan needs to pop that bubble he’s in. The powers that be in the national Republican party aren’t that stupid. We may be stuck with her in state politics, and the rest of the country may be stuck with her in one of the two houses of congress, but what is Doogan saying here? That because she may be elected to higher office some day, her own party will kow-tow indefinitely, no matter what she does or says? There is no love lost between many Republican members of the state legislature and Sarah Palin. Try talking to them instead of lying on the fainting sofa, with the back of your hand on your forehead, wailing that there’s nothing anyone can do.
Just sayin.
(Thanks to all Mudflatters who forward me emails from legislators. Please continue to do so, whether it be for these particular ethics issues, or others.)
Just saying wow for the moment. Am going to reread your post again. There is a lot to take in.
I just saw on Daily Kos that Gov. Palin was planning to sue PETA over a video game where people throw snowballs at her. This is in response to her shooting wolves and moose.
Is this true?
I am amazed at the tone of these responses. Does he think he is still writing a column for the paper? And if the emails he receives are similar, does that perhaps indicate that lots of people have the same concern? This is ridiculous and insulting. Alaska lawmakers are playing in the sandbox instead of taking their responsibilities seriously if this is any indication.
I agree with Irish Rosebud, WOW!! It seems to amuse me more and more that the party that continually hawks the meme about “personal responsibility” never takes it upon itself to be responsible for ANYTHING!!
why isn’t anyone willing to do anything-is it because they all have done so much wrong that they do not want their own dirty laundry looked at to closely.
they should be the Fisrt one to stand up and say some thing is going on that is not right
That is the same exact email I got yesterday from Doogan…even though I did ask a few other things and got no response from those.
What a jerk!!!!
Clap, Clap, Clap!! Bravo! Great job AKM!
You really sifted through that truckload BS and smacked Doogan on his pointy little head.
Your points are ALL very valid and I hope that somebody sends Mike Doogan a copy of this post (consider it done) so he can see that his e-mails will not shut us up or make us feel as if we are tilting at windmills.
Having said that I am a little disturbed that I have not received MY response from Doogan. I also sent an almost identical e-mail, asking the legislature to do something foolish like act on the Branchflower findings, and yet I get bupkiss.
Oh well maybe there is a clog in one of the “tubes” and mine will arrive later.
Anyhow I have to go now and send ANOTHER e-mail to Mike Doogan. This time with a link!
Keep up the good work!
this is like not impeaching bush when we all know that he has done so many terrible things-what does people like bush and sister palin have on other people in the government that lets them get away with their lies. it is just not right
This is from another thread I entered this morning. It should soidify the need to expose Palin for the criminal nut job she is…
Palin has once again out done herself. She has connected the dots like never before. Palin accused Barack Obama of “Palin’ around with terrorists” by accusing President-Elect Barack Obama of his ever so slim connection with Bill Ayers. By the way, Ayers was never convicted of anything. Mr. Ayers is an outstanding citizen today and no more a terrorist then Thomas Jefferson was.
Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston will have their child perhaps today or this weekend as I understand. Bristol’s future mother in law is Sherry Johnston who has been arrested and most likely will be convicted of making meth and selling the drug to the fine citizens of Wasilla and surrounding communities.
Since Palin has set her own standard, she is guilty of drug dealing by association. She cannot lie her way out of this one. She has repeatedly said she will accuse Barack of “Pallin’ around with terrorists” again in the future (2012). I guess Palin, it’s all right if you ‘Pall around with drug dealers”. Palin, are you completely mad? What I hate worse then a liar is a hypocrite and a liar like you.
The right wing nut jobs have already equated the so-called “War on Terror” with the so-called “War on Drugs”. So by their own admission, the two are intertwined.
Palin, you have out done yourself this time. Yes, you have motivated us like never before in the history of this great nation. We are ready for your unabridged complete stupidity once again.
The last dot to be connected is Palin’s connection to the fires at her church. I have a question for you Palin. Who are the crank heads you hired to start fires in your church? It wasn’t more than two seconds after the fires that you went on Fixed News to blame liberals and gays for the fires set. Are you completely out of your mind?
Please don’t name the baby Crystal or “Meth”ew.
“We could, I suppose, pass a resolution telling the governor she done bad, which would be worth about as much as the paper it is written on. And I have to tell you that such a resolution would be unlikely to pass. Legislators would be reluctant to make the governor mad for a gesture.”
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Reluctant to make the governor mad?
What the hell are they afraid of? These are grown men and women in the legislature – presumably elected by their constituents. What power does SP have that would make them so reluctant to act upon their constituent’s wishes?
That is point one. May be back later.
Funny, “Wow”, was the first word that came to my mind, and after reading the comments, I see a lot of other people thought the samething. (I guess the response doesn’t count though, since they’re all identical.) You would think this guy would be embarressed to put this kind of snark in letters to people whose votes he depends on to stay in office.
Mudflatters,
Here is some comic relief I posted earlier about the PETA game; and here is the connection. I played the game, and it was fun. Gov. Palin shows up at the highest level and it is too cute. Here is the connection to the PETA site…
http://blog.peta.org
The text, from the same blog, is:
Palin to PETA: Drop the Snowball or We’ll Sue!
Posted at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
This morning, PETA’s Policy Department received a Scrooge-like phone call from someone purporting to be from Gov. Sarah Palin’s office threatening legal action against us if we don’t play ball—or, actually, stop playing ball. Why are Ms. Palin’s peeps so mad at PETA? Well, if you’ve played our Holiday Snowball Fight game recently, you may know. The game asks players to pick up a virtual snowball and take aim at 2008′s biggest animal foes, from Colonel Sanders to the Trollsen twins to Alaska’s own Sarah Palin. But guess what, Sarah? We’ve checked with our legal team, and they say that it’s “protected parody,” or “fair game”—so the game stays! After all, we’re throwing snowballs, not shoes.
In real life, the moose and other animals Ms. Palin blows to smithereens don’t stand a chance. But, hey, our game is virtual and nonviolent. To be honest, I’m not quite sure why Sarah is so mad about the game anyways. Wielding a gun and decked out in a sexy bikini and pageant ribbon, I’d think she’d be quite proud of how PETA’s portrayed her.
Though this game is just a bit of harmless payback, Palin’s real-life hunting habit is no joke. Palin not only guns down big moose but also supports aerial hunting of wolves—she even proposed putting a bounty of $150 on their heads. Wolves aren’t even overpopulated in Alaska. The sole reason for the bounty would be to boost the numbers of moose and elk so that hunters will have more living targets for their blood sport. Pathetic.
My co-workers and I are having a ball playing!
(*…sigh….*)
“And the cherry on the top of this big jellyfish sundae – “I doubt the Republican majority is willing to act against a woman who could be their party’s presidential nominee in four years.” ”
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I’m sorry, this one just made me laugh. What planet is he on?
It’s just makin’ me madder and madder. I hadn’t realized that the state had turned into a dictatorship until I started reading the responses of Legislators to our questions. They’re afraid of Palin?!!!! Don’t want to make her mad????!!! What, precisely, do they think she’s going to do?
We all understand that any action taken against the Governor will be largely symbolic. But just as AKM so eloquently pointed out, that’s the whole friggin” point. We ARE watching and she CAN’T just get away with whatever she want because it’s expdient or serves her personal agenda.
Even a symbolic reprimand will severely curtail whatever remote chance that Palin has to be elected to higher office. So what was Doogan’s point again?
Doogan……..what a peckerhead !!! As far as Sarah suing anybody……she best be savin’ her $$ for real problems…..any one of the -gates will drain her bank account……raise included !!!
I have posted all my responses, including the identical one from Doogan, in the forum.
I was just dumbfounded when I read his reply. But then some of the others were even worse. lol
Even had one or two that denied ever getting anything from me.
Also again…..it’s not a different planet…..Doogan is a crew member on the ” S.S. Delusion “………captained by Sarah…onward thru the fog !!!
Hmmmm who was promised what to look the other way????
Do all of these people have a crystal ball and know for sure SP will be the nominee? So It is ok to overlook it so that her incompetence will be rewarded by being promoted out of your domain? We know she is crooked so lets make her the President.
I am so sick and tired of this from our elected officials. Ethics mean nothing anymore period. This is beyond jellyfish it also tells you what this person is really like behind that big toothy grin.
I’m very disappointed in Mike Doogan. Snark is okay in a newspaper column, but snarky responses to constituents — not so nice. What power is it that Sarah holds over these people?
“And this letter teaches us something about Doogan. Apparently he has learned to enjoy peeing in the soup at his own dinner party.”
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AKM, You do have a way with words! Have you tried blogging?
You have to read this:
John O’Sullivan: Conservative Snobs Are Wrong About Palin
I, for one, as an “outsider” would like to know how to contact Mr. Doogan, just to give him my two cents worth. What is in the water up there in Alaska these days? I lived there for five + years back in the late 70s early 80s, but this goes BEYOND anything I encountered while living there.
(by the way…hi to all my old mudpuppy friends…I still “lurk” now and then to stay caught up)
Reading Doogan’s letter just reinforces the impression I’ve been getting from him over the last year or two. He’s just getting old – not in chronological terms, but in his capacity to take his role as a state legislator seriously. He’s really not interested in standing up for a principle. Maybe his office is now just something to keep him occupied when he isn’t tapping away on his next mystery book. Or maybe he’s just not interested in the office at all. Sending rude letters to constituents is a pretty good way to find yourself retired.
Ah, Michael – we hardly knew ye.
I left Alaska two years ago, and am glad I no longer have to labor under the delusion that my (Democrat) elected representatives were receptive and responsive to their electorate. Also glad I don’t have to witness Doogan’s slide from being a cool guy to being a jerk.
I am appalled at the response by your legislator.
I’ll tell you that would not be acceptable to me.
I would suggest that this letter be published in your largest newspaper and ask questions
why is this letter so poorly written?
Why is this letter so hostile in response?
Ask why the state spent so much money for an investigation if there was no action to take against un ethical behavior.
Then ask your legislature to do the jobs THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO. They are suppose to keep the people of Alaska safe, pass laws. Why are they unwilling to do the basics?
Read your constitution and become very very familiar with it. Bookmark it.
I have the US constitution bookmarked.
Good Luck!
Does this add up?????
I received the on topic Rep. Mike Doogan’s email reply (dated 12/22/2008 at 3:38PM EST?) and there were only (31) email addresses listed in his reply.
Could there have only been 31 folks who actually sent emails to him? I was hoping there would be at least 3,100 folks writing.
Can anyone help me with the “math” of potential responders?
I guarantee he got more responses than that. It may be that he is sending smaller batches. Some emails won’t allow you to send more than a certain amount at a time. Also, did he actually include all the emails and recipients so you could see who the people were??? He didn’t bcc, or send to individuals?? Could you clarify this for me? Thanks! AKM
**************************************************
Update: I just got a forwarded email that confirms….yes, Mike Doogan sent his response and left everyone’s name and email address visible. Looks like somebody needs an Emailing Etiquette 101 course! I hope everyone who got an email from him hits “reply all” and lets him have it. Unbelievable.
Thanks AKM!
I am so disappointed in Doogan over this. I received this piece of shite email from Doogan with the title “Your Sarah Palin email” and I was immediately INCENSED!!!! Excuse me, but I wrote a very long email that talked about the questionable actions of SEVERAL people, and SP was/is just one of the many mentioned in my email that need to be held accountable.
Then there was that shite about the 2012 candidate. Well, excuse me, but that was ANOTHER thing that I talked about in my email, namely that if there is an environment within the legislature that results in our ELECTED legislators being afraid to follow up on this due to fear of repercussion from SP, then we have yet ANOTHER huge problem that needs to be addressed.
If our ELECTED representatives cannot do their jobs for fear of reprisal from SP then they need to step aside, do a mass walk-out. Holding state politicians and appointed officials accountable is part of their job, no less than establishing budgets, so they need to JUST DO IT.
Much as I would like to like &/or admire Doogan, he proved, with this snide email, that he is as pathetic as my dear local senator Dyson.
I just don’t get it. He really didn’t give any good reasons for doing nothing. My favorite excuse is that they don’t want to make the governor mad. What are they, still in junior high? And if they make her mad, what does he think will happen to all of them? Does SP have some hidden powers that we don’t know about?
He talks about the likelyhood of SP running for something on the national level, but has Doogan or the rest of the nitwits sitting on their thumbs considered what will happen if THEY ever want to run for something on the national level? Once Sarah made the national scene, she drug all the rest of them onto the stage with her and anonymity isn’t something they can hide behind. Thanks to everyone here, the rest of the country is getting quite an education on the sorry state of Alaskan politics and their politicians.
I have always thought it important that people respond to emails, letters, phone calls – but in Doogan’s case, he would have been ahead if he had just kept his goofiness to himself. Silence wouldn’t have angered people nearly as much.
You guys have some real serious problems up there. I thought that NYC politics were corrupt. You make us look like small fish.
AKM, I think it is up to you and other Alaskans to take back your government and start screaming louder and louder that you are not going to take it anymore. Wild West politics was good back in the day but we are now in the 21st century, and not the 19th century.
PVWINDY (19:09:12) :
OT, but that response from Doogan leaves you kind of speechless, kind of messes with the thought process. Gee, we don’t want to push to hard against SP, because, because, golly, gee, she might be the presidential nominee for 2012. What the hell has that got to do with anything. She’s finished, hooked, and she pals around with the wrong crowd. Damn where’s Walt when you need him.
*******************************This is from my post last night on Doogan. Doogan is a wus! I’m getting tired of emailing this legislature, I think my next step is to go up there with a whip. 64 legislators, 30 Dems & 34 Repugs, and for the most part they sure leave a lot to be desired.
@SMR,
I fully agree with you. I couldn’t have said it better.
Oh, Mike Doogan. Lucky guy. You got your very own post on Mudflats.
I’m sure some of my state’s legislators are equally dumb, but the spotlight of the intertubes is not on them. AK legislators need to get a clue that their bidness and their insulting responses to legitimate constituent concerns are being broadcast around the world, and that the scrutiny is not going to go away. Mike seems to be lacking that, what is it? yeah, Servant’s Heart…
It is actually Christmas Eve in Ireland. No snow I’m afraid.
Merrry Christmas to all Mudpuppies all over the world.
i believe doogan ran unopposed two or three times, and when he had an opponent he still got over 80 percent. better make sure he gets some primary competition next time.
His Republican opponent in this past election was weak, to say the least. It would have been less than 80 had the candidate been remotely qualified, or coherent. AKM
let me try again….this article is nauseating!
John O’Sullivan: Conservative Snobs Are Wrong About Palin
So, am I to understand perjury doesn’t exist any longer? I mean if I get caught perjuring myself, can’t I just site the Troopergate case and walk too?
Unfluffingbelievable.
Merry Christmas Rosebud!
I guess Doogan must be angling for a cabinet seat in the alternative universe where the United States of White Amerika elect Sarah Palin as the POTUSWA and crown her Queen of Queens, Handmaiden of the Lord Most High, and overall Poobah?
First, I hope everyone realizes that copying an email and sending it to your legislator is not really very effective. It greatly reduces the impact of your voice. And it encourages the kind of ‘snarky’ response you see above. It allows the recipient to brand you as another teenager in the basement in pajamas…
I would encourage everyone to pick one or two points to focus on, and write your own email. Then Doogan will start to wonder if there aren’t an awful lot of people who are concerned about whether the Legislature is going to fulfill it’s legal and ethical responsibilities and pursue the obvious corruption by the Governor and the Attorney General.
Second…vote Doogan out as fast as you can. He is a coward, plain and simple. He comes right out to admit he does not have the spine to go toe to toe with someone he thinks might be the Republican candidate for President. (Note, Doogan has incredibly poor political judgement, to go along with his cowardice, if he thinks Sarah has any chance of being the 2012 candidate. There are so many Republican knives aimed at her back, that she doesn’t stand a chance….)
We need legislators who do what is right. It’s fine to have some political finesse….but it’s not all fine to be a coward.
I think Mike Doogan is a good and smart legislator. But sometimes he seems abraded or harassed by public feedback. During the numerous AGIA hearings he got tired of repetitive public comments and expressed his frustration. I talked with Mike once and he referred to citizens as “they.” If we are “they,” who would “we” be?
I was speechless and agree with AKM And this letter teaches us something about Doogan. Apparently he has learned to enjoy peeing in the soup at his own dinner party.
That aside, I think allot of blame needs to be put on John McCain b/c he came up there with his high powered lawyers and shut everyone up! And the Branchflower report barely came out. This is a national outrage b/c John McCain foisted Barbie on us as a VP candidate so its just not a “Alaska (air quotes here)issue”. If the House and Leg. and Senate won’t do anything, like one mudpuppy says there needs to be a mass walkout or mass investigation involving Federal authorities that aren’t afraid of Barbie, PERIOD! Now how do we get that ball rolling? This Asshats are ignoring the will of the people here!!! She could of been our fricken president!!!! Talk me down!!! We need to get this on RM or KO someone needs to know how Alaska will pull down a “snowman” but not a corrupt governor or House of Rep. or legislature!!!!!
the tubes are eating my comment!
avahome (17:34:45) :
let me try again….this article is nauseating!
John O’Sullivan: Conservative Snobs Are Wrong About Palin
*********************************************************************I think when O’Sullivan penned this article he was enjoying a tingle in his pants and had a vision of starbursts. This article is so full of holes. But, the one that jumped out at me was where he said she was such a visionary to have successfully negotiated with Canada, States, and Provinces. We’ve all read and heard about the battle at “Little Big Horn”, from our history classes. Where General Custer and his troopers are massacred. Well I can just hear Palin in the weeks and months ahead. I’ve been ambushed, Where in the hell did those “injuns” come from. Yes SP, The First Nation will have your scalp.
Tubes are not letting me post my comment: Posted at forum
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,4588.new.html#new
It seems like what he’s most upset about is that the emails are nearly identical… which makes him think the sentiments are less the will of the people and more the will of one person or group who can get people to cut and paste.
OT-Glad to hear all state employees get this Friday off, thanks to the benevolent SP. But she’s the only state employee to collect a per diem, for cooking breakfast. What a deal.
Rob in CaNo Gravatar (18:00:03) :
First, I hope everyone realizes that copying an email and sending it to your legislator is not really very effective. It greatly reduces the impact of your voice. And it encourages the kind of ’snarky’ response you see above. It allows the recipient to brand you as another teenager in the basement in pajamas…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First off, I have sent numerous petition type emails to elected officials in Cali.
about all different types of things….Sen. Diane Feinstein has always answered either with a email or snail mail, always well written, concerned, never snarky or unprofessional, and another Rep here, who I personally don’t care for, but who is nevertheless popular wrote me a 3 page letter about why she voted for the bailout. I have never received comments of the caliber of these “lawmakers” “Senator’s” “Reps” of Alaska! NEVER! These people are totally unprofessional dolts! There only interest is to serve themselves as is evidenced by Barbie herself. The whole state of Alaska should be turned over to Federal authorities to sort out what the hell is going on up there!
And to think Alaska’s highest official the governor COULD off been our most highest elected official….JUST MAKES MY STOMACH TURN, because she is just the tip of the iceburg about what’s going on up there!!!
I emailed Fred Dyson, but alas, got no reply. I should say that I wrote him in such a way that his canned response would have been wildly inappropriate.
No reply at all.
AKM – I really like the ‘Identical Vote’ zinger. It is so on point, as is the point that the email replies themselves were all identical… Oh the irony.
And the fainting couch !
I suggest Alaskans write them back reminding them that you vote, and they can earn it or lose it.
And by the way New Yorkers often give the one finger salute, just to get ‘em mad. Yeah, So? You got a problem with that?
heh…
the only elected official that ever responded to me was Tony Knowles when he was Governor. I guess SP is above the law and can do what ever she want’s (no different than Frank) Only the voters can bring change… But they wont either..expect to be run over with Abuse Of Power again folks, it’s a free for All now… Lobby against the 350 billion in federal dollars for the gas line or SP will take all the credit for all of AMERICAN’S dollars (another bridge to no where)!!
Crystalwolf….I couldn’t agree with you more! If the legislators in Alaska were the caliber of Dianne Feinstein, we wouldn’t probably even need this blog, much less the topic!
I am not defending Doogan, only looking for the most practical way to move forward. We need our opinions to be heard, and need to discuss the most effective ways to do that.
PVWindy…….I am afraid Ms. Palin will let this article go to her head. And I don’t think that does her or her family any justice. Too may people believe the hipe….very sad.
I’ve been on vacation and just received this disrespectful reply from Mr. Doogan. I responded and FLAMED him – I hope you all do the same! He won’t like my reply any better than I liked his. In fact probably a lot less! We have a lot of cleaning up to do in this state, and this is just the beginning.
My name was also on the list of folks who Doogan sent the condescending e-mail response to.
I’m tempted to write him back and say simply,
“So, Sarah Palin got to you, eh?”
I’d like to refer to 30 pieces of silver, but I doubt any money changed hands. More likely some form of political barter…
I am sure it is Les the little Nazi, Socialist Democrat who accuses Doogan of being Republican Lite. It is because the little yappaing attack poodle we all know and love, Mr. Gara, isn’t happy with anyone who doesn’t agree with him.
If charges are pushed against the Governor, it will be a sad pushback that good members of our Legislature who got caught up in the blood lust of the campaign will face equal and opposite charges and will be found equally as guilty. You guys need to add justice and fairness to your dogged calls, because you only want to hit your enemies, but they will hit your friends too.
Hmmm. First, just so you know, the moment you type “Nazi, Socialist Democrat”, nobody listens anymore. Second, Nazis were fascists, not socialists, and not Democrats. Third, those of us whose relatives fought the ACTUAL Nazis probably find the comment offensive on that point alone.
Fourth, no, it was not Representative Les Gara who said that. And by the sound of your response, you suffer from the affliction for which you accuse Rep. Gara – namely that you are not happy with anyone who doesn’t agree with you.
I am quite concerned with justice and fairness, and recognize that there is always a chance it may in fact “hit my friends too”. Elected officials are there to do a job. They may have differing opinions, but they must stand on ethics or they will lose my support, whatever party they are in. Unethical politicians are not my “friends”.
If you choose to post here in the future, please refrain from the insulting language. Differing opinions are welcome. Rudeness is not.
AKM
KaJo (19:20:02) :
My name was also on the list of folks who Doogan sent the condescending e-mail response to.
I’m tempted to write him back and say simply,
“So, Sarah Palin got to you, eh?” …
=============================
Write! Say SOMETHING !
BTW – I replied to the WSJ. There is an article comparing Palin to Thatcher !
I wrote back. It felt good.
As I was closing it occurred to me- Palin spent more on her wardrobe than her college education!
Sometimes the muse visits me…
There’s a yappaing voice…
SP has the power, charm, and quick wit to spine the media, flash the lights, and rase the curtains. We like to sit and watch the show……..
Alaska is very spoiled mind you. Are teachers get there way, because they play ball with legislators, who play ball with the leading political powers. In this case SP and her wealthy state piggy bank. No one wants to rock the boat. Remember the 6-7 billion dollars of ” pers and ters”, that slipped under the bus with all the state oil money….
Normal blue collar folks up here don’t have health care, or state pensions, or condos in mexico, Hawaii, or other tropical locations. Are bodies have been through the pride of hard labor, with little rewards. Weather we crewed on the deck of a halibut longliner for 20 years, getting no IFQ’S, no health care, or what the hell is a “per” or a “ter” anyway? Or if we are a divorced single parent struggling to survive and raise are kids is this unforgiving environment. The people with the power make the rules and don’t rock the boat.
I would like to think that if we had a Governor that had any morals at all. That they would help lead the nation with some kind of heath care for all Alaskans. Even it is just a emergency Dental program. I’m sick of dead beat politicians that look after them selfs and forget about the real people that bled to make Alaska. Every year we get to here teachers talk about how tuff it is……..how they need more and more and more. The problem is they get more and more and more, and it seem like more and more and more kids are dropping out of school. I think its like 40% of high school age kids don’t get a diploma in many small towns in Alaska. Are system gets a D in my book. But the administrators all give it A’s. Remember not to rock the boat and blame it on the kids.
Anyone in the system of state or local government, has the sweet ride into retirement. No one wants to rock the boat. Sure its tuff getting through to are kids, are system is a mess. When we have disfunction in the home, we have problems at school. Just look at SP family. She is a good example of what is normal in Alaska and thats why she is so popular.
We still build inefficient over priced new schools that use way to much energy because its what we do, and how the system works. We get are flat roofed schools to be re-roofed, we get are administration saying are schools are good enough, because we expel or medicate kids that don’t comply to the system.
The system is so big it supports itself being dysfunctional. Take are fine High School Football program, we support violence and dysfunctional behavior in the sake of school spirit. WE have coaches yelling at players to “take someone out of the game”, get out there and “hit some one”.
We have the school band playing, we have the cheerleaders yelling, “KILL THEM, HURT THEM, BEAT THEM” WIN WIN WIN!!, RA RA RA!! Be have the bullies of the school getting totally validated for hitting some one so hard that they had to leave the field injured, often times seriously. But hey, we like to teach denial anyway, ” just get out on the field and hit some one back!”
So after the game, its time to congratulate are boys on a victory, or a defeat. Everyone wants to be on the winning team. Sarah is are state coach so to speak, and the money is still flowing, that means game is still being won. No team player wants to stop the cash cow. After all, the price of oil will go up again. We will still get are bennies in time.
The problem is we don’t really change for the better. We like to keep a steady state of sucking oil money and why not? Change is scary after all. We have the oil and gas anyway, so why should the state of Alaska take steps to the future with the renewable energy sources now. The system still works after all. We have SP guiding the ship with all hands on deck asleep at the wheel.
Better wake your crew up SP. The weather is getting ruff, the surf is breaking on the lee shore, the fuel is running low, the engine is smoking badly, and you lost your sails years ago.
RE: cut and paste e-mails.
The only cut and paste in my e-mails was the requests/ demands from the AFT website.
RE: John O’Sullivan’s article.
My response was one word and it referred to the output of male bovines.
Successfully negotiated with states, Canada and the provinces? What output of male bovines… she hired TransCanada to do that for her. And they will likely fail, even if they try really hard.
@ SP is Candy Giver
Thank you for posting and sharing that viewpoint. That’s one I hadn’t heard before and it helps educate all of us to know what is going wrong in Alaska. I generally support teachers and their unions, but I know that the system they have to work within is often seriously flawed
If you are interested in sharing more of your thoughts (or anyone else is), the mudflats forum is very welcoming. Just click on the “Join the Conversation” link close to the top of the page and sign up to start posting your perspective. Just be sure to read the guidelines on posting!
I am getting the same emails from some who emailed Doogan…guess I will have to start blocking….crap!!!!
I did reply to one mass mailing, no need to block me, harmless and will not trouble you with further contact. And if you are the one that wrote that lovely blistering letter, TYVM again!
Good write up on this, AKM. Talk about a GOOD ‘OL BOY network up there in Alaska! But, then I think this is just an example of these people in power and public trust thinking they are all above the law and screwing the hell out of all of us for basically a couple of things — money and power. If indeed it is true that once someone is one of our public officials, this means that they can do whatever the hell they want to do and no one can do anything about it, I guess the citizens better wake up and start getting more involved. For one, Doogan needs to be held accountable for this pathetic rant. There should be tons of letters to the editor and tons of letters to all the legislators in Alaska asking for ethics reform as a top priority. If the ethics do not change, then we are all doomed.
As one of the potential guilty “REPLY ALL” email responders to Mike Doogan’s 12/22/08 email, I am sorry to have infringed and included your personal email address that initially was shared by the representative…in not using BCC. I too will not trouble anyone with further contacts. However, I am glad AKM suggested doing such in her post to my question at…16:58 above.
One more thing that 99.9% of us are certain of…. Sarah is NOT going to be the nominee in 2012. Not going to happen.
SP is candy giver…….welcome! and thank you for your inside REAL Alaska speaking voice! Please, do keep it coming, talk to us. Glad you found us and we’ve found you.
The Grand Old Party will take her down long before she can be on the ticket. She never got vetted for the VP slot, and has wayyyyyyyyy too much baggage to be taken seriously. Wake up and smell the garbage Doogan!
Wow. Stupendous. Dumbfounded. WTF is going on? I certainly got into the wrong business. I should have been a politician.
The people should move to remove these people spineless complacent obvious time, energy, resource wasting, cowardly bastards from their withering heights.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you…for this story.
After reading Doogan’s column all these years, I thought I had a pretty good idea where his head was at…wrong!
Maybe this so called “legislator” had some free work done on his house, too!
Housegate IMHO is still her biggest potential problem. you betcha!
So….Mike Doogan thinks we are nuts!!! Here is the reponse he sent to the email chain…if you did not get your own version.
*************
dateWed, Dec 24, 2008 at 1:17 AM
subjectRE: your Sarah Palin email….RESPONSE?
mailed-bylegis.state.ak.us
Kenneth:
Are you people nuts? You send me — and everybody else in the legislature, from the looks of things — Spam and then lecture me on email etiquette — as if there were such a thing? Here’s an etiquette suggestion: Abandon your phony names, do your own thinking and don’t expect everybody to share you obsessions.
Happy holidays.
Mike
************
PS – I guess Rep Dugan Doogan did not like that I gave him my full name, street address, and state. Maybe he cannot see Ohio from his front porch, but we are still here watching the State of Alaska (in disbelief) from the Buckeye State.
Martha,
just got your 2 response to doogan…Great!!! I don’t care if you guys hit reply, You guys are writing some kick A$$ responses…go for it, let him have it!
Ok, I got the letter where he says people are crazy and make up names! Ugh!
No, one here to talk me down so….
Mike Doogan,
I live in California, thank god where we have REAL REPRESENTATIVES, REAL SENATOR’s & a Not Corrupt GOVERNOR, who uphold the laws against perjury and corrupt government. Why you think people would write you with “phony names” is beyond me, except for your state of denial, and that goes right along with your whole STATE of Alaska’s Denial about your crappy Governor who almost was our VP thanks to John McCain.
I have written to many of my Senators here and Reps and never ever received unprofessional, ridiculous, condescending emails as from you and Dyson. You are a disgrace to Alaska and the United States of America. You have you own little agenda, and that doesn’t include serving your constituents.
You are afraid to make Sarah Palin mad….Grow a set will ya? I didn’t know perjury and lying and ethics abuse are allowed now in this country. Or perhaps you are a AIP er too, like Sarah.
You are disgusting, I hope the Federal Authorities come up there and investigate all of you up there, your all a bunch of corrupt idiots like Ted Steven’s, Sarah Palin.
The tubes are not letting me respond. Just blew a gasket at Doogan, re: his letter to a muddpuppy calling us “nuts” and using false names….
Posted at forum:
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,4588.new.html#new
I repeat all you folks need to help to block any Federal dollars being appropriate to the Trans Canada Alaska gasline ( I have and will continue to). these are federal dollars they belong to the American people(us). remind the Obama administration of the Abuse Of Power and the high level of corruption (10convictions) in the State.. it would be to much to risk 350 billion to unethical politicians (that would be crazy)..
remind them of the personal attacks against PE Obama’s character and the racist e-mail’s on official state computers.. What Alaska insults people and then say oh gee were a bunch of jerks.. but can we have 350 billion of those folk’s from Anti/America’s big city’s tax dollars??? (trust us really). ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!
SP is so stupid she quickly for got JOE 6 PACK RAN EXXON VALDEZ AGROUND RESULTING IN EXXON V BAKER! WHAT A COMPLETE DUMP ASS!!! IT’S NOT ABOUT ALASKA ANYMORE.
Blue Moose,
Just wrote chang.gov.org….told them not to give any monies and send Federal investigations up to Alaska ASAP all the current Administration is corrupt. I am pissed, this A$$hats up there don’t even listen to their constituents, and are worried that Barbie “will get mad at them” WTF????
They all need to go. Liars and corrupt bastards, all of them with barbies leading the pack.
For better or worse Palin still has a 60% approval in this very red state and that is what the bottom line is for politicians like Doogan. His job with the leg pays better than that of a part time writer for a dying newspaper. Compromise is the way it has to be done in the leg and the Dems are still the minority so sadly people go in with good intentions but are quickly reduced to going along to get along and getting reelected.
Well now that oil has dropped and is the Permanent fund still permanent? Will people still be getting their ‘energy rebates” next year? Her popularity might wane…How long are people going to put up with substandard politician’s like Doogan, Dyson, Palin et al? The mudpuppies here know more about politics than these elected A$$Hats know!!! How can the people of Alaska stand this? And now she is trying for the pipeline to no-where? She has made Alaska the laughingstock of the WORLD! And is getting away with perjury, abuse of ethics, Housegate etc???
good going caligrl, thanks! It’s the right thing to do! I figure I’ll write once a week myself.. I’ve received more letters from Obama than any Elected official ever! Go Obama (YEA!)
Jeez. That letter is something that obviously came from the exit orifice of a chicken, and it’s not an egg.
So far from AFT page all I can see is Senator Kim Elton, is the only one with a “Brain”.
We should be writing her encouraging emails. I told Doogan to “grow a set”
Alaska elected official are a joke,, It is a waste of my time.. I lobby the out of state officials (odds of being heard are better)…
Well I just wrote Kim/Les Gara a email, and mentioned, that I had mentioned my concerns to PE Obama….about the pipeline and mass political corruption in Alaska…who else can we write to, Blue moose?
all democrat senators and congressmen/women in the house and senate, no need to email mark.
Oh, try PETA game it was fun!
I have a suggestion for “SP is candy giver” re: his/her post above at 19:59:01, if he/she is still around — go to the Anchorage Daily News website at http://www.adn.com/ and register — then go to the “Opinions” button at the top right and open “Letters: Unfiltered” when the menu under Opinions drops down.
———————–
SP is candy giver, you can post a “new forum topic” by clicking on the link at those words at the top of the page right under the “Letters to the Editor: Unfiltered” title.
I’m recommending that you re-post your comments as above in their entirety at the ADN. Your thoughts are appreciated here at Mudflats, but spread the word via that online newspaper, too.
If you wish not to register at the ADN, but think this is a good idea, you could give someone who IS registered there permission to re-print your posted comments.
@crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (09:38:46) :
BTW, Senator Kim Elton is a HE, not a SHE…
He
OT. But a very happy Xmas to you all.
Hmmm. The voice and AK voice……not a voice we want to hear.
Irishgirl Rosebud.No Gravatar (16:26:41) :
Hmmm. The voice and AK voice……not a voice we want to hear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Its” always on ADN…..(puts fingers in ears) lalalalala!
One thing all of the elected officials in Alaska should see is how the treatment of Palin echoes that of Bush. Look the other way while Rome burns until it’s too late.
Next up when Alaska totally goes into the tank they will all say they saw it coming and were trying to do something about it. All in an effort to cover their own butts and avoid any of the stink her administration may get on them.
If there is one thing we have learned from this wretched 8 years of Bush is that the people are waking up. They’re actually beginning to pay attention and if there is one thing politicians hate is people that pay attention.
People that pay attention vote, they write letters, they speak to friends and coworkers, they get involved in the process. Most of all if they don’t like what you have to say or do they will work to insure you have to go out and find another job.
So to all of the Alaskan Representatives who feel the best way to do their job is to kiss up to the Governor, do so at your own peril. When the corrupt go down they don’t go alone, they take a lot of people with them.
Good luck to all of you in Alaska and Happy Holidays!
I wrote an original email to the legislators signing my full name and Anchorage address, and got 3 very personal and thought-out responses. The 4th was Doogan. I wrote Doogan to let him know I had received his responses and that my letter was original and that I was part of no group. His mass, insulting response was shameful for a state legislator. OK, so Doogan doesn’t want to ruffle Sarah’s turkey feathers–now we know, and I hope his individual constituents in his district learn of his cowardice, his rudeness and his feelings that the opinions of the people of the State of Alaska are a waste of his time. Disgusting.