The Fine Art of Navel Gazing. A Blogger Blogs About Journalists Reporting on Other Journalists Who Write About Bloggers Reported on by Other Journalists Who Refer to Bloggers.
Now you’re going to have to follow this carefully. So shake out your arms, rub your palms together briskly, and focus carefully. OK…
The Anchorage Daily Newsreader has linked to the Alaska Dispatch, which has written a news article based on an anonymous blog comment in response to an article in the Anchorage Press about the anonymous nature of Mudflats!
And the topic of the article based on the anonymous commenter? The fact that I, me, Mudflats happen to be married to someone who is an officer of Alaskans for Truth. (Gasp!) The allegations are that Mudflats is a sleazy propaganda tool, designed and created to funnel gobs of questionable cash to this Political Action Committee to use for God knows what nefarious purpose. Could be a big news story. Sounds positively….scandalous! If there was only some way of knowing…some way to tell if this is true or not.
Well, actually, there is. It’s called public records. Of course all the donations for Alaskans for Truth are public information. They’re kind of sticklers about that. And anybody at any time can check, without much investigation, whether this is true or not. It’s not. But of course, you can check it out any time you like at the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
Journalists across the board are all a-flutter and discussing the anonymity of bloggers, and whether people should be anonymous, or have the right to be anonymous, and what that all means and on and on. And bloggers are all a-flutter too. I can understand in these times of change and upheaval for journalists that there are feelings of fear or anger or uncertainty. Newspapers are shrinking, or going out of business, and suffering mightily these days. That’s scary for everybody, even bloggers who are, after all, ordinary citizens who decide to put diaries online, and often cite news sources, linking back so readers can follow up there. What does it mean? We don’t know. And therein lies the big uncertainty, and the reason that journalists and bloggers are wrangling around trying to find out where they fit in this brave new world.
I wrote a piece a while ago entitled I’m Not Going to Be a Journalist and You Can’t Make Me. Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That. And it pretty much sums up how I feel. There are some problems these days with journalists. And there are some problems with bloggers. As we are launched into this new era of “what the heck is going on” news/commentary/opinion/entertainment, the intelligence of the reader will have to come into play. We are going to have to rely on people to check links and sources, to use their common sense, to decide for themselves whether they think a certain blogger, or a certain journalist or a certain blogger-journalist hybrid has credibility.
I know what you’re thinking, and yes…that’s a lot to expect of people, and relying on the insight, wisdom, and discriminatory powers of the individual citizen to ensure that our press is free, open and full of journalistic integrity may mean that we’re in deep trouble. I don’t dispute that.
And it may be that newspapers, those comforting things we snuggle up with over morning coffee, that we can actually hold in our hands, are about to evolve into something else, and we have no idea what it’s going to be. I’m reminded of that old saying that when the caterpillar thought it was the end of the world, it became a butterfly. Maybe that’s just my optimistic nature.
People hunger for news. And they hunger for opinion. And they like to laugh, and argue, and debate. And it’s all part of the information deluge that has happened thanks to the internet. We’ve been hit with a new medium that has and will continue to mean huge changes for us as a society, and a species. Instant communication, and online materials ranging from pornography to philosophy are at our fingertips, and anyone anywhere (even you!) can tap into that great seething mass of communication and create your own blog in about 5 minutes.
Blogging won’t be stopped. The marketplace of ideas has been part of human longing since the beginning of intelligent discussion. We just can’t get enough of it, and now we are at the helm with the power of words as our tiller.
No longer confined to coffee shops, town squares, living rooms, dormitories, and other places where thinking people gather, the meeting place for discussion can now be anywhere, any time, instantly. In my ideal world, this place is big enough for all of us. People with no credibility will be marginalized. People who have it will survive. It’s the free market at work.
How will this all pan out? We have no idea. But I offer this suggestion….an old Zen saying, which has a perfect double meaning:
Leap, and the ‘net’ will appear.
So, I’m taking this all in stride. Trust me when I tell you there are things I’d much rather be talking about than the navel gazing about blogging. So, I’m going to try to get back to doing what I usually do, and hope that as all of us – writers, readers, journalists, bloggers, and hybrids alike, squirm around each other and try to find a comfortable spot, that we remember that we all share many things. We love words, we love ideas, we love the first amendment, and we’re all on the same ride into the unknown.
In my perfect world, we’re all one big mass media family. Newspapers link to blogs, blogs link to traditional media sources, we share ideas and information, our kids play soccer together, and we hold hands as we leap into the ‘net’. But, then again, I’ve been accused of being a Pollyanna. But I can hope, right?
Now, you can ruminate about all that over time, because the crazy ride we’re on never really ends. It just evolves.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.
*******************
News just in that the tanks at Chevron’s Drift River facility will be drained starting on Saturday! Now that’s something to write about.
Gets kind of confusing. What are we to do/
We’ll just have to go along for the ride and see where it takes us.
They have a severe case of the “D’s”……..denial , deflection , distraction , dumb-ass…………..
Well, draining the tanks–why do it now when you could wait a little longer? Not like I’m being sarcastic or anything
!
Horay!! The tanks are being drained!! That is great news and I am sure many will breath a sigh of relief.
Keep on keepin on AKM
Hey austintx, I think I read you weren’t female–is it OK if you’re on the blog? I think Mr.-Drink-and-reply-to-emails said we readers of this blog were female out-of-AK’ers. (Jes kiddin’ of course, austintx!)
AKM,
I have been reading your blog more than daily, for news, and humor, and wisdom, all of which extend well beyond the Alaska view to Russia, since the day Sarah Palin achieved international attention.
I am so glad you have found the courage to continue your exceedingly civilized discourse on line, even after having been stripped of anonymity.
Can I ask you to do one thing? Can you please check out climateprogress.org and think a little bit about the issues there. This is my other daily read because it, too, is a source of critically important insight.
I truly believe that those of us who care about GLOBAL survival must link to each other.
Best regards,
Gail in NJ
What a great article. And this is a wonderful sparkling gem – just the structure and imagery alone is beautiful. . .but I love this phrase: “now we are at the helm with the power of words as our tiller.”
WOW.
I love Mudflats & your writing & the wide variety of comments here.
Some comments I question with eyebrow up thinking “what did they have for breakfast this morning?”, some respond with quick wit & sharp tongue, other posts are full of insight.
But it IS up to each of us to choose our own “truths” To NOT question, analyze, research (even just a tad), would just make us ” differnt bots ” from Palinites, or FAUX reciting the White House “talking points” of the day.
On another note — EVERY state should have a “Citizens for Truth” organization to watch what is going on at state & local level.
I think it is great that your spouse is an Alaskan for truth, it’s a pity there aren’t more of them.
accusing you of “funneling money” when they could have just checked the public records of donations? humph. Sounds like slander or libel. Good on your spouse for leading Alaskans For Truth – good on YOU for reporting the truth. Bad on those speculators for reporting LIES.
BIG thanks to ya AKM..Glad your going to stick around..Doing my happy dance here…I am sooo happy that Michelle has shown the US what a great 1st ady she will become..God Bless the Queen fr her graciousness to Michelle and Obama…AKM…Thx again for a wonderful blog..:))
ooops me bad..sorry about the typos;(
O T
There are two new stories on Huffpo… one about GINO’s religious affiliations… and how many there are. So Many threads all woven together, Pacs, Witch Dr.s.. etc.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/media-gives-palins-strang_b_182295.html
The other one has Shannyn Moore commenting on your Uncle Ted.
I try to avoid reading the Alaska Dispatch since they were such doogan-suck-ups in their reporting of this issue, but couldn’t resist the title, clicked on it, then clicked over to the Press article.
Give me an effing break. The Press used to be an “alternative” paper here in Anchorage. I guess now that the ADN is going down the tubes they are trying to give themselves some sort of credibility with mainstream readers? They are not what they used to be, and since someone commented here that Brendan Kelley is there and he seems to have some doo stink on him I will have to pass on reading the Press in the future, as the stench is wafting over to their other writers now. FYI Press – credibility is hard to come by when you write editorials/opinion pieces that are heavy on innuendo and short of easily-verified facts. A search of this site (easily done) would have dug up very little AFT-stumping. What a bunch of wankers at the “news”papers here in Anchorage.
Bloggers have not changed things the way we think.
At first glance there is this belief that we used to get ‘hard’ news. It was factual and fair. Think Walter Cronkite, or Huntley and Brinkley..
Then things changed, and we added entertaining news – like the Today Show – and people decried the loss of objectivity. But we got used to it and we thought we understood how everything worked.
Then came cable news, and we started to get confused. I might think CNN was the factual one, and my neighbor might think it was FOX. (Not really, I would have to move to a different neighborhood if that were the case). Even on those networks, we had some sense of factual vs opinion but we knew we were starting to lose our ability to judge it.
Finally, the bloggers came and changed everything again. And I think there are many many people who have a hierarchy of trust in their mind, based on the type of news source. For example, I might think traditional newsmagazines are most trustworthy, then the wire services, then papers, then network news, then cable news, then cable opinion/screaming, then bloggers..
Well, if I think that, I’m wrong! Go back to square one..because we never ever were really getting ‘just the facts, maam’. There is a fundamental bias in all news- even if it is only in the choice of what story to cover. And we need to be savvy consumers if we are to be savvy citizens. We need to verify by checking multiple sources, by not just going where everyone agrees with us. We also need to vote with our mouse clicks on the sites that are pushing hatred and lies…by not going there!
When AKM posts something, I have 7 months of daily evaluation to help me judge what I read. In my opinion…well it’s been pretty darn good! When I listen to Olbermann, my little skeptic is always on my shoulder whispering, because he overstates his case for effect, I think. When I listen to Hannity…well actually I don’t know what I would do, as I long ago voted with my remote control on that entire network.
Open discussion and sharing of ideas is how we get better at stuff, as a community or a state or a country. I thank AKM more than anything for the openness of discussion and the civility at this site. We have all learned from each other and that is the very best way.
I can’t believe this … if your husband is a member of Alaskans for Truth, the other bumper sticker that I ordered the same day as my “I PLAY IN MUD” sticker, was an Alaskan for Truth sticker. And I ordered both of them the day BEFORE Doogan did his thing!
P.S. they both look good now on the bumper of my little blue Bug!
Yikes.
Just the title makes my head hurt.
Slightly OT (not totally, since it’s something bloggers should be paying attention to), but in view of today’s ADN story:
Pebble Fund announces $1 million in grants
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/140038
…. can anyone shed light on the purpose of the Pebble Fund and the source of that money? I understand that this endowment fund is administered by the Alaska Community Foundation. But how did the fund originate? Does the money come from the Pebble Mine owners/proponents?
I see that the new grants are going toward some excellent projects! Many will benefit the causes that have been taken up by Anonymous Bloggers — my fave is the greenhouse for Ugashik! But I’d just like to understand the background …… if anyone can shed light, thanks!
Hope is a good thing–sometimes it’s the only thing.
AKM, no worries…we’re with you.
Oh man, my head is just spinning in circles and it’s giving me a headache. I’ll have to take a break to watch Rachel and Keith before the end of ER. Then I’ll be back eventually to swirl back around with the bloggers and the journalists and the bloggers and the…
YIKES, getting off the merry-go-round now.
And, SMR, I agree!
Oh, I hear it’s not RM tonight; maybe I’ll go watch anyway.
I do not care what your “real” name is, AKM, nor do I care who your husband is or how he is involved in the Alaskan community (although it’s nice to know he is). I can focus on your words, your ideas, your humor- and then digest/learn/think/respond (thanks, Rob in CA).
I read the article in the Alaska Press, and I’m not real impressed with the argument. I think the “journalist” missed the point: to me, the serious problem is the misuse of a political/government-related web site by a government official to “punish” someone who said something he didn’t like.
And I guess the writer is not a student of American history or literature, or he (?) would have understood those were references to the tradition, not comparisons.
And I, unlike some critics, used my real name and email address to comment- they were anonymous. AND I lived in Denver when radio host Alan Berg was murdered by neoNazis for speaking out against their hate; good thing someone else mentioned that, or I would have. I guess the writer couldn’t find that kind of example through his research (hmmph).
Keep on writing, AKM-
AKM, I admire your grace and humor and wit and aplomb. I can tell you’ve been mucking around the mudflats long enough to know how not to let your purty yaller boots get sucked down to the level of those who want you to be silenced. Awesome. You give proof to the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword with every post you blog. And I salute your courage and determination to speak as you and I and every one of us across cyberspace has the right to do so in any guise we choose. I love to come here each day to participate in discourse and a very real sense of community and for that I thank you and all Mudpuppies around the world. Wow.
On another note, it looks like the Pebble Fund endowments are bribery. I expect it would be very hard to say Thanks but No Thanks, but I hope the people receiving them recognize what “strings” are truly attached.
CO almost native wrote: “I think the “journalist” missed the point: to me, the serious problem is the misuse of a political/government-related web site by a government official to “punish” someone who said something he didn’t like.”
SNAP! You nailed it. It’s the MISUSE of power, the breaking of the social contract between an elected official and his/her constituency. . . it’s the ABUSE of power. . .Doogan would do well to understand that what he has done is against the US Constitution. And any journalist who doesn’t get that point is not doing their job and needs to find other employment. No wonder the 4th estate is on the chopping block.
Oops. I hit send before I was finished.
Maybe someone should show the communities pictures of Pebble’s mines in other places and how the people in those areas had their homes razed right before their eyes and the devastation to the environment their mines have created. . . just so they’d have some perspective with regard to the true motives of Pebble.
All I know is that I go to, ” The Mudflats for Truth”.
Yeah, that AssHat on anews “bloggerbob” probably doo-doo himself, so happy to crow that AKM DH is AFT! I AM SO EFFING GLAD! THANK YOU AKM AND SPOUSE for holding GINO and hopefully doo-doo accountable for their despicable behavior!
AKM if you could get someone to make a transcript of the Lincoln dinner speech GINO made…I don’t think do-do acted alone and I think GINO Knew you were there that night!
I’ve tried to translate the palinese and came up with this:
She starts talking at one point about “mocking” “continue to take shots” “loyalty”
Then “Bizarre criticisms, some of you…I don’t know if any of you in here…(looks around room) (inaudible)
then
“file the lawsuits, so MANY frivolous, bogus, complaints against me and my staff & Family…there have been over 150 FIOA filed”
“We had officers & researchers from Obama administration up here” (A BIG FAT LIE!)
#11 “tasergate or troopergate-defending the frivolous, false complaints by those I mentioned and SO MANY MORE”
#10 4:47 “other people don’t know about this yet…your going to be reading about it…”
It would be really good if someone knows how to make a transcript, I believe she knew AKM was there, and do-do wasn’t acting alone.
I think there is evidence in her Rant that she knew about this.
Newspapers have always been an important part of my life. My farmer father read our local paper page by page every night after he came in from doing chores and set an excellent example for me. My favorite part of the paper has always been the editorial page. I eagerly read the likes of Russell Baker, Jack Anderson, Sandy Grady, William F. Buckley (sorry, I liked the big words—they made me think), and, my personal favorite, Molly Ivins. These were the people who helped form my earliest adventures into thinking for myself. After the editorial page, my next read was always the “letters to the editor.” To this day, I love reading what other people think about the issues of the day.
To me, your blog and the few others I read are an expansion of the “letters to the editor” pages of newspapers. There are so many good ideas out there in the common citizenry and blogs provide a public forum for people to express them. During the height of the Y-K Delta crisis, I read several good ideas from your faithful following. Without you, AKM, and Mudflats, these folks would not have had an avenue to voice their thoughts, hopes, and prayers for the well-being of those in need.
Again, thank you for providing all of us with the opportunity to lend our voices to the public discourse. You’re the best!
nswfm CA Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Hey austintx, I think I read you weren’t female–is it OK if you’re on the blog? I think Mr.-Drink-and-reply-to-emails said we readers of this blog were female out-of-AK’ers. (Jes kiddin’ of course, austintx!)
——————————————————-
Yup , I’m a male mudpuppie. I’ve been told by a few women that I am in touch with my feminine side. Whatever that means.Get along with both my exes just fine. Doogan is a mysoginist punk.
After reading, I had my thoughts of how I felt. Then I read #16 Rob in Ca’s comment and it says mostly what I feel.
Newspapers and News TV were where you obtained the facts of stories, without the intrusion of their personal opinions, which is the flavour of the day now. The stories weren’t spun over and over to fit the writer or the anchor. Rob mentioned Brinkley, Cronkite and even more recently Peter Jennings. On CNN you had Bernard Shaw. Now it’s more difficult to tell the difference between the news, shows and Entertainent Tonight. I also find that as a Canadian watching U.S. TV like CNN that the news is more what I have referred to as being self-absorbed. It only reports what happens within your borders or possibly stories outside the borders but contains U.S. involvement. Not much reporting on things that would educate people as to what is happeneing outside the U.S. Some people may not like that statement but that’s been my thought for quite some time. It’s why I search out places like Mudflats and others. I learn. A Canadian who I think knows a substantial amount about U.S. Politics.
Therefore I see the papers disappearing without much fight by readers as they aren’t doing what they once did.The only people I feel sorry for about papers disappearing are seniors as many are not computer savvy. It’s also the generational change of people providing and reading the news. I don’t care what their opinion or bias is. It’s not what I read the paper for or watched the show for. It’s also now the ‘instant’ notification and gratification age of anything that happens.
Blogs allow for people like me and the others to have a platform to voice our thoughts or views. To engage in a discussion with people from around the world. AKM’s stories and writing keeps me coming back. Some blogs I’ve visited a few times, I’ve never returned. It too is a choice. The newest is Twitter which I think Rick Sanchez was the one to break ground on that. It allows the viewers to be interactive with the show instead of sitting like a lump watching. I sent the link of AKM’s story on the oil not being drained. He acknowledged it and spoke of it on his show the next day.
So as to an Alaska Legislator, and now journalists thinking they want to change the climate about anonymity of bloggers — good luck. It’s like forcing Bob Woodward to reveal his sources. That and teaching old dogs new tricks. Change happens quickly with all the technology now.
So onward AKM & Mudflats goes!!!
I just brought to the attention of the author of “Persecuted?” (the article in the Anchorage Press) the name of Kathleen Parker. Ms. Parker, a Repub., wrote an article critical of Sarah Palin (“The Palin Problem”) and the next week, wrote an article about the hate mail and death threats she received (“Speak correctly, or build a bunker”). It’s worth a read…
http://townhall.com/columnists/KathleenParker/2008/10/01/speak_correctly_-_or_build_a_big_bunker
Beautifully stated … Bravo!
You continue to be my hero of words.
As a journalist I am scratching my head over the reaction of my colleagues to all of this. How can people who love words and ideas be so wildly uptight about the anonymity of a talented blogger? Apparently they don’t like the way the rules are being rewritten by new media. And they’re getting awfully catty.
AKM–striding out of the doo-doo and leaping (splat) back into the muck!
Way cool.
I like this part: “…People hunger for news. And they hunger for opinion. And they like to laugh, and argue, and debate…”
Mud fight also.
teri Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:16 PM
………… the hate mail and death threats she received (”Speak correctly, or build a bunker”). It’s worth a read…
——————————————————-
Todd’s creepy little AIP buddies no doubt.
missle blunt palinNo Gravatar Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 PM
As a journalist I am scratching my head over the reaction of my colleagues to all of this. How can people who love words and ideas be so wildly uptight about the anonymity of a talented blogger? Apparently they don’t like the way the rules are being rewritten by new media. And they’re getting awfully catty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would say its “professional jealousy”! AKM beats the pants off them and they can get more hits by writing stuff about AKM!
Theoretically, there could be dozens of attorneys representing the defendants but the Federal judge will have to sort it all out. The judge assigned is out of Alaska and is named Russel Holland. He is best known for being the judge in the case on the Exxon Valdez oil spill and was appointed by Ronald Reagan.
That statement is in this article about a blogger in Phoenix.
http://carlosmiller.com/2009/04/02/phoenix-police-raid-home-of-blogger-whose-writing-is-highly-critical-of-them/#comment-7018
scroll to top.
I love coming here for the truth also. Since I’ve found this place, I don’t go to the ADN as I often did. The comments sections there are soooo polluted with maeT araS. They are so dillusional you can’t even have a decent converation or hear of anyones true opinions. Thanks AKM for this place, it is full of respect for others, no snarkiness here. I believe that is what everyone loves about this place. Your the best, and we all know that the others are jealous and will say and do anything to oust you cause they don’t have the following that you do. Keep on keepin’ on!!! You rock!!! And so does every member of this site!!!
Good job AKM: I wondered how long it would be until you wrote about this. I saw that insinuateing article, today.
They are pretty hard up when they insinuate but can not prove, and try to make something black that is not. They could be doing some good, but do not have the skill to figure it out.
They end up throwing stones. My advice. Look under all the stones.
SMR Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:50 PM
I try to avoid reading the Alaska Dispatch since they were such doogan-suck-ups in their reporting of this issue, but couldn’t resist the title, clicked on it, then clicked over to the Press article.
Give me an effing break. The Press used to be an “alternative” paper here in Anchorage. I guess now that the ADN is going down the tubes they are trying to give themselves some sort of credibility with mainstream readers? They are not what they used to be, and since someone commented here that Brendan Kelley is there and he seems to have some doo stink on him I will have to pass on reading the Press in the future, as the stench is wafting over to their other writers now. FYI Press – credibility is hard to come by when you write editorials/opinion pieces that are heavy on innuendo and short of easily-verified facts. A search of this site (easily done) would have dug up very little AFT-stumping. What a bunch of wankers at the “news”papers here in Anchorage
————————————————-
You said a mouthfull, SMR. The Press is obviously trying to compete online. And it’s no secret I stopped reading the Dispatch long ago.
Pretty soon I will can the ADN too also. I can find rubbish in my trash can.
I can find the news here.
i’m glad to see someone else posted a link to the blogger business in arizona.
what happened to the guy in phoenix is only a more extreme form of what doogan did to AKM.
this is wrong.
Bad government hates information in the daylight.
Good government (Obama) thrives on it.
Pucky is grateful for the information-age guy in the White House.
And grateful to AKM for flushing the muck out of the pipeline in Alaska.
Nice little editorial, AKM. Isn’t it nice to be able to say what you want to in an intelligent manner without some corporate-run newspaper editing out your words! Blogs are great. They get people involved. It is no different than traditional meeting areas of the past. Just a different medium. They SHOULD affect public policy, otherwise what would they be good for. People are political creatures who need to share their ideas and opinions with each other, and blogging is the new way to do it. Journalism is another thing — it is not and should not be common twitter. Unfortunately journalism has lost its credibility — and is it their own fault. Perhaps a new wave of ethics will help all of us, journalists, bloggers, and politicans EVOLVE.
Excellent post, as always. You’re so right about the fact that this is a blog and that you’re not a journalist … and that the world really hasn’t caught up to this blogging thing as just being people putting their ideas out there. The fact is you do it so well that lots of people are now dropping by – which is great, but obviously has some drawbacks.
Canadian Neighbor – So true – Americans are so narcissistic (I’m an American) – I remember driving the motorhome from AK to the lower 49 (hello Hawaii) and stopping each night driving through Canada, listening to the news and gettin more information than I could have gotten in AK. I like watching BBC and CBC – they think about the world. What is it about the US – we think everything revolves around us?
I log into Mudflats several times per day just to get the next bizarro installment of “As the Stomach Turns: Politics in Alaska”
I take a pause……..Another pause………have I been taken for a ride?
What is Alaskan for truth?……What is Anonymous Bloggers? Well, those are people taking action to decisively better their communities….. and they can be linked to the mudflats………(sigh in relief!).
No, I have not been taken for a ride, I have been stirring my net search in the right direction! (smile).
Blog on sister! (my wish for a T-shirt).
My suggestion for the T-shirt caption is from Andrew Halcro’s take on AKM’ right to privacy. IMHO is the best post about bloggers and their readers. A good show of solidarity, also, too!
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/outing_mudflats_the_dirty_martini_philosophy
Bravo AKM from a lurker in Australia – I must admit I came here as SP’s attempt to be VP hit the world headlines. I’ve called in again regularly to see what’s happening in a very interesting part of the world which I guess I won’t ever visit (more’s the pity). The writing is good, the accounts of politics Alaska style sometimes baffling but it reminds me of a particular era some decades ago in Australian politics. If only we’d had intelligent and courageous blogs then……… I will keep returning to see how various issues progress and to witness a fascinating evolving community which has overall a good and healthy tone to it.
#30 – @crystalwolf aka caligrl:
“I think there is evidence in her Rant that she knew about this.”
=========
Yes, absolutely, I’ve thought that from the first I heard it. She KNEW.
GREAT! So let us get back to work (although I will indulge in navel gazing in my blog – for once – from a german vantage point tomorrow, but then back to the actual job).
#40 austintx Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:41 PM
“The judge assigned is out of Alaska and is named Russel Holland. He is best known for being the judge in the case on the Exxon Valdez oil spill and was appointed by Ronald Reagan.”
———–
I’ve met Holland. Don’t know him, but certainly wouldn’t make any assumptions. This could work out better than anyone expects.
Well. I guess I’m a bit naive and a bit thick because I can’t see why it’s such a big deal that AKM’s spouse is a member of Alaskans for Truth. You mean, AKM is married to someone who holds similar political beliefs as does she? You don’t say. That would be like being aghast that Michele Bachmann is married to a wingnut ultra-Christian clinical therapist who works for an ultra-conservative college (no dancing) and who is virulently anti-gay.
liberalinthelandofconservative.blogspot.com/2007/11/marcus-bachmann-seeks-qualified-servant.html
Yes, I am picking on my very own wingnut because I am pushed past the point of reason on her. She is vile.
Anyway, I thought my local paper had fallen into decline (StarTrib) and so had the local “alternative paper” (City Pages). They can’t hold a candle to the chicanery perpetrated by the Alaskan papers.
AKM- I read this earlier…first at mudflats…cuz a poster expressed surprise that there was some connection to “ALASKANS FOR TRUTH”. Hell, I wasn’t surprised…maybe cuz during the campaign I was like a sponge looking for ANY info about this new-found “STAR” of the GOP (i.e. yes, ms sarah, herself)), I read anything and everything coming out of Alaska at the time. So, during that time I did read some on Alaskans for Truth….maybe even linked to by someone here, I dunno. Makes no difference to me. And ,now, I read suddenly this is news that there MAY be a connection and some people are concerned about this? My reaction is….where have you been and what is wrong with this picture??? I continue to read mudflats for info (and entertainment) and will continue to do so. Suddenly because mr doodoo head chose to out AKM, you are a different person? I think not…I think AKM has and will always be a voice in the wilderness of alaska politics, no matter what “associations” she/he/it may have.
Again, thank you, AKM…for your bravery, your honesty, and your integrity.
AKM: “…and relying on the insight, wisdom, and discriminatory powers of the individual citizen to ensure that our press is free, open and full of journalistic integrity may mean that we’re in deep trouble. I don’t dispute that.”
Actually, I think that it’s exactly the powers of the individual citizen multiplied by millions of citizens in this country and globally that ensure that our press is free, open, and full of journalistic integrity. The problems come when the decisions and format of news gathering and presentation are left exclusively to small groups of people in news rooms or government offices with specific agendas and biases.
This is best seen in countries without a free press. It’s the “plebeian” citizens who sometimes risk their lives and livelihoods by having their satellite dishes on their roofs for internet and foreign broadcasts or their radios tuned to the outside world. In Iran, for example, the police routinely sweep neighborhoods and remove satellite dishes and, by night fall, the dishes are back up.
I will not dispute that a certain percentage of the population will seek out news sources, blogs, etc. which support their world-view, even if that view is distorted by myths, inaccuracies, “-isms” (racism, ethnocentrism, elitism), religious dogma, conservative dogma, liberal dogma etc. This “tribalism” behavior goes way back into the anthropological history of humans and will not disappear any time soon.
However, there are also people who have curious, open, flexible minds who surf out of their tribal areas and sample the offerings of other viewpoints without feeling threatened. This curiosity and cross-over behavior allows for testing and re-testing their interpretation of the facts and their own world view. Whether they retain or discard part or all of the new viewpoints is not as important as just being exposed to other views. Lest you think I’m just talking in vague generalities, consider the example of the increasing Westernization of even very remote places. I’m not saying this is “good” or any other particular judgment but rather that it’s an empiric phenomenon that occurs when people step out of their tribes.
The more individual citizens who surf out of their tribal comfort zones, the less constrained “the news” is by small controlling groups with specific agendas, biases, (and propaganda)…..freer, more open….The world has never seen such an exchange of ideas, facts, and feelings on this scale before.
asiangrrlMNNo Gravatar Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Well. I guess I’m a bit naive and a bit thick because I can’t see why it’s such a big deal that AKM’s spouse is a member of Alaskans for Truth. You mean, AKM is married to someone who holds similar political beliefs as does she?
—————————————————–
Exactly. As far as I am concerned, it is a question of putting words into action or your money where your mouth is. My respect and admiration for AKM and spouse only increased at this news.
” We hold these truths to be self-evident. . .”
Would you really choose a relationship with someone whose value system was at odds with yours? And it is our value system that dictate the ethics we cherish, the ideal outcomes we strive to reach. . .why would anyone want to share their life with someone at odds with the core of who they are? So it makes sense (and none of my business actually) that AKM and spouse share a value system. Enough disclosure. Enough. JUst know that this community is here because we share similar values and outlooks.
56yukonbushgrma Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 PM
#40 austintx Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:41 PM
“The judge assigned is out of Alaska and is named Russel Holland. He is best known for being the judge in the case on the Exxon Valdez oil spill and was appointed by Ronald Reagan.”
———–
No assumption here. As I noted , that was a statement from the article. Besides the germane subject matter , the judge caught my eye , and I wanted to share.
GASP! I had NO idea you had any interest in politics at all. Would have never known it from the blog posts… have I been hoodwinked? Is this blog in secret code? And married to someone who cares about politics? Outrage!
As for bloggers commenting on journalists who talk to bloggers for comments on blogs about blogstuff they wrote or read or considered publically or annonomously as bloggers…
I lost my thought
#62 austintx:
Yup, understood. Looks like a pretty interesting case, and I hope I can find out later what happens …
Nice of you to post the info!
I’ll gladly hold your hand AKM and those of all mudpups, lets leap!
what Lee said, lol………let’s explore the world, universe and beyond, together.
AKM!! Wonderfully written – I love your style. Also, you make your point while taking the high road while so many others take the low. Bravo and thanks yet again.
I am beyond shocked that someone who pays enough attention to write about politics might be married to someone else who cares enough to do something about politics. I mean, what are the odds they would find each other in Alaska? It must be some kind of plot.
If have a blog and link to my husband’s favorite cat charity, and encourage donations, that is networking, not “funnelling” money.
AKM, a bit O/T, but: What have you decided to do about doodoo? I hope you will go forward with the lawsuit!
(*IMAGINE* the audacity of AKM being involved with Alaskans for Truth… LOL! Definitely better than being involved with the sedition party, right?!)
AustinTX, I read the AZ article you posted and am disgusted–looks like more abuse of power–kind of like the Ramparts cops in LA. Hope they have a good internal investigation of that AZ dept. (And I figured you were a male well before Mr-Drunk-Email-guy blew his lid.)
You want to find truth on an Alaska blog?
Come to my blog, then. Every statement on it is true, except for those that are blatant mistakes and the ones that I just make up, because it suits me. It’s my blog, and I can do whatever I damn well please with it.
wasillaalaskaby300.squarespace.com
Dear Ms. Mudflats,
I don’t read anonymous blogs. Never have, never will. I am not interested in hearing anything anyone has to say if they are not willing to stand behind what they say. If they are not willing to potentially suffer the consequences of what they write.
But since Doogan “outed” you and revealed your name I started to read your blog. Now that you are on record I’m in. And may I say I have enjoyed it immensely. Your writing is compelling but you already knew that.
I doubt I will agree with much of what you write, but you should take comfort in the fact that you are reaching someone who does not hold your world view but is willing to listen to the other side of the story. I assume preaching to the choir is not why you make the sacrifice you do to put together such a labor intensive, quality web page.
Your newest fan,
Dan Fagan
Comment #66 Say NO to Palin in Politics Says:
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:52 AM
what Lee said, lol………let’s explore the world, universe and beyond, together
—————————————————-
Take a look at commenter #71…..get ready to hold hands, gal.
Why would Sarah Palin’s office contact People magazine with a statement that accuses Levi of lies and exagerations in his Tyra interview when only little snippets have been released.? To accuse someone of lying before you know what they are going to say is a sure sign that Sarah is very afraid of what Levi knows, and what Levi is going to share.
Maryland High Court Joins Growing Consensus Protecting Anonymous Speech Online
FTA: “With this ruling, Maryland joins the growing consensus among federal and state courts in other jurisdictions that would-be plaintiffs must make at least a substantial legal and factual showing that his/her claim has merit before a court will unmask an anonymous or pseudonymous Internet speaker.”
http://www.citmedialaw.org/blog/2009/maryland-high-court-joins-growing-consensus-protecting-anonymous-speech-online
75NYHawk Says:
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:50 PM
———————————
Excellent link.
You should pass it on to ADN, Sheila Toomey, and Doogan. Hopefully, it will send chills down their collective spines…..(or at least down that part of their anatomy where spines are normally located. )
Stevens was friggin convicted. Palin is a shill for oil and wants to continue to be and AKM just does a citizen blog.
Do we want NORMAL people to lose their voices and possibly their jobs for posting their views on the NET? Why would anyone that believes in the Constitution back that view? Jefferson did not and had a nom de plume…ie he had a fake name (actually many) that he PUBLISHED his views with..
Well, it beats actually having to go out and do some real reporting…that’s, to quote our (thankfully) ex-president, “hard work!!”