Mike Doogan’s Response to Alaskans’ “Requests or Demands or Whatever They Are.”
23 12 2008
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.)
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:57 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 PM
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…
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:30 PM
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
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 PM
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…
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 PM
There’s a yappaing voice…
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 PM
@ 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!
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 PM
I am getting the same emails from some who emailed Doogan…guess I will have to start blocking….crap!!!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 PM
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!
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:34 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:56 PM
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!
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 PM
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.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 PM
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!
December 24th, 2008 at 4:26 AM
Maybe this so called “legislator” had some free work done on his house, too!
Housegate IMHO is still her biggest potential problem. you betcha!
December 24th, 2008 at 5:21 AM
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.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:26 AM
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!
December 24th, 2008 at 7:40 AM
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.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:48 AM
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
December 24th, 2008 at 8:17 AM
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.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:04 AM
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.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:05 AM
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.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:18 AM
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???
December 24th, 2008 at 9:29 AM
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!)
December 24th, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Jeez. That letter is something that obviously came from the exit orifice of a chicken, and it’s not an egg.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:38 AM
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”
December 24th, 2008 at 9:47 AM
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)…
December 24th, 2008 at 10:10 AM
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?
December 24th, 2008 at 12:37 PM
all democrat senators and congressmen/women in the house and senate, no need to email mark.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Oh, try PETA game it was fun!
December 24th, 2008 at 12:39 PM
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.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:55 PM
@crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (09:38:46) :
BTW, Senator Kim Elton is a HE, not a SHE…
December 24th, 2008 at 3:08 PM
He
December 24th, 2008 at 4:05 PM
OT. But a very happy Xmas to you all.
December 24th, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Hmmm. The voice and AK voice……not a voice we want to hear.
December 24th, 2008 at 4:47 PM
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!
December 24th, 2008 at 5:31 PM
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!
December 26th, 2008 at 3:31 PM
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.