Holding Mayor Dan Sullivan Accountable – Chapter Two, The Epic FAIL.
9 12 2009I’ve had the privilege of knowing Chris Jenkins for a long time. He was one of those kids that you talked to and thought to yourself, “That kid has a busy busy brain. I’ll be interested to see where he ends up…” Now he’s in high school, and his busy brain seems to be turned toward politics, much to our good fortune. And his latest project has been quite interesting and effective.
Sometimes, what it takes to know that you’re being effective is a bit of push back from the opposition. Just ask any Alaska blogger. We’ve all been there at one time or another. It isn’t often, though, that the opposition who is giving you the push back manages to embarrass themselves and display alarming ignorance at the same time. It’s like seeing a rainbow. We need to stop whatever we’re doing and enjoy them when they happen. More on that in a moment.
Chris is an intern for the Democratic Party and he decided to start a new Facebook page, “Hold Mayor Dan Sullivan Accountable.” It was mentioned on Mudflats the other night, and many of you went and checked it out, and signed up. I know I did. It was a great idea, and it was done very well. Obviously others thought so too, because lots of people signed up, and KTVA even did a story on Chris that aired on the news.
The project got noticed not only by people opposed to Dan Sullivan, but also those who support him. As a matter of fact Jason Cline, a Republican house candidate for district 22 (Sharon Cissna territory) decided that he’d file a complaint with the Alaska Public Offices Commission against Chris and the Democratic Party. “An APOC complaint,” you ask? “Why, Dan Sullivan isn’t even a candidate. How can this guy even file a complaint with APOC?” Good question.
It took all of about 24 hours for Mr. Cline to receive a response. We can’t actually hear APOC giggling because the response is in writing. Here is the actual letter to Mr. Cline rejecting his complaint. —> 091208 Cline letter[1] I guess you could say he was “De-Clined.” (I apologize)
The whole thing made me laugh myself silly, but my favorite part is where it says
“Dan Sullivan is not a candidate at this time. A candidate is an individual who has filed for election to a particular office and not the holder of a particular office.”
(dabbing my eyes with a hanky) Way to go Republican Party. Nice to have candidates who don’t actually understand the definition of the word “candidate.” Sharon Cissna may wonder to herself what that little “thunk” noise was as she rolls down the highway to another term.
It looks like Cline sprang to the aide of the mayor by filing… dare I say it… a “frivolous ethics complaint!”
And The Alaska Standard, eager to join the un-researched pile-on has posted an article titled “Alaska Democrats Violate APOC Laws,” when in fact, they did absolutely no such thing according to APOC itslef. I guess waiting to find out if the laws had actually been broken before writing the story just never occurred to the author. There has yet to be a retraction to the article which claims, “Last Tuesday, Anchorage Democrats decided to bring in the month of December by violating Alaska election law.” Now that we know what a “candidate” is, perhaps it’s time to look up “fact checking.”
Cline sheepishly noted on his website blog before he got the rejection letter:
I went to APOC and talked with their people, and the complaint will most likely be rejected on the fact that because it doesn’t influence a particular election, they are allowed to do this. This will ultimately serve as a reminder for the democrats that party communications should be labeled as such.
Perhaps the rejection should instead “ultimately serve as a reminder” to the Republicans that it would behoove them to … I dunno … read the law beFORE they file a complaint. Or perhaps it will “ultimately serve as a reminder” to conservative media to find out if someone has broken a law before they write an article stating that someone has broken a law. These are only humbly offered suggestions, of course.
While our Republican friends are deciding whether, (after filing a frivolous complaint because a high school kid created a Facebook page to demand a better city government), they’d like their crow broiled or Kentucky fried, let’s focus on the positive.
Kudos to Chris Jenkins and all the other young people who are using their tech skills, their energy and their busy brains to work toward a better future for Anchorage. Look at moments like this and use them like rocket fuel. You are making a difference. My father-in-law used to say that if you stand on the dock and push on a boat, no matter how big that boat is, and no matter how much it feels like it’s not moving, at some point it will. Constant pressure moves boats, makes diamonds and creates a better world. Keep it up!
If you haven’t joined Chirs’ “Hold Mayor Dan Sullivan Accountable” Facebook page, click HERE and help him push the boat! It’s got 311 members at this writing, and it deserves many more.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:40 AM
good for him , at that age i was more worried about cute guys than politics
December 9th, 2009 at 4:15 AM
What about the Alaskan (sub)Standard? Where is the correction and retraction? How can they be held accountable?
December 9th, 2009 at 4:53 AM
i joined his page. it was a guilty pleasure though, as i don’t live in Alaska let alone Anchorage. i have a great niece and a great, great niece who do live in the state however.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:16 AM
Is it LIEbel? Shouldn’t they hurry with their correction? Or is that The AK Standard’s MO?
December 9th, 2009 at 5:29 AM
Ok – showing my ignorance here but what rules could’ve been violated by Chris having a Facebook page or any website that tried to bring issues to light and to ask for accountability ? Is it that he is an intern for the DNC and that during an election cycle this would’ve violated a rule? If he wasn’t affiliated with the DNC would that have been ok?
And hey – You Go Chris!!! Way to not be a dead fish flowin’ in Alaaaaaska!
December 9th, 2009 at 5:59 AM
Also signed on to Chris’ page. These young folks that are involved in politics, and especially their own local government, are to be commended. I sure hope the guy that filed the complaint feels like an absolute A.S.S. now – he should!
December 9th, 2009 at 6:12 AM
Very inspiring! I bet that his parents are very proud.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:29 AM
I ‘like to know are AK’s happy people to be taken advantaged of by republicans. So far everything I read about the republican party in AK is that the republican party is made up of crooks. When are the people finally going to wake up and say no more to the Palin republicans.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:05 AM
If only our politicians could pull together information and splew it out like you and some of the other AK bloggers with the huge amount of humor and common sense. These blogs are so much more informative than the actual news. Can you believe they let SP into WP?
December 9th, 2009 at 7:23 AM
I think we need to start an Anchorage Fund Trust to help pay Chris’ legal fees for defending against frivolous complaints.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:24 AM
Chris Jenkins- You are doing something positive and seeking solutions. I can support that mission! Thank-you.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Hi, AKM. In the thrill of the moment, a couple of typos got through — “It looks like Cline sprang to the aide (aid) of the mayor”; “according to APOC itslef (itself).”
I like the old expression, “Ready! Fire! Aim!”
December 9th, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Does anyone have a priority list of what a progressive blogger with limited time, can do to be most effective? Leave comments on news articles, leave comments on letters to the editor pages, leave comments on Facebook pages, join Facebook pages, leave comments on blogs, send articles via Digg, Buzz, etc., send letters of encouragement to legislators and writers/columnists (ex: Andrew Sullivan), join MoveOn and other political organizations, send emails to Rachel and other television shows. I spend hours doing it all, and it is becoming detrimental to my lifestyle, so I need to focus on just a few. (Maybe AKM has a suggestion from what she learned at Netroots?)
December 9th, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Facebook made certain Repubs dyspeptic
Shock arising to near-anaphylactic
Even the APOC was funnin’:
“A guy’s got to be running”
This “candidate’s” failure was epic
December 9th, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Our future Senator/Governor gets some experience with the opposition.
Supposed adults gettin’ all legal on a teen – craven nincompoops! And then discovering they had no cause – that’s a hilarious FAIL, no doubt about it. Hoot!
December 9th, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Somebody stop me, please……My only defense is that I’m snowed in today…….
With Cline’s keen eye for detection
He surmised a tin foil deception
But candidate compliance
Just ain’t rocket science
For one, it requires an election
December 9th, 2009 at 8:29 AM
Seriously, some one needs to take away my keyboard……
“They’re plotting on intertubes, you see!”
“And behaving nefariously.”
A muckrakin’ scoop?
Nah, just a craven nincompoop
And by the way, Facebook is free
December 9th, 2009 at 8:35 AM
P.S. Thank you, Mo, for the “craven nincompoop.” It’s so apt.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Quince, those were so clever and funny! I never could write poetry, but do enjoy a little poetic satire; thanks for helping to lighten the mood with those.
I know it had to be very stressful for AKM, Shannyn, and Gryphen this past year when they were being attacked by Sarah Palin and others, so imagine how it feels for this 16 year old to be fielding the bombs and shots aimed at him. I signed up on his site, and wrote what I hope to be a supportive message for him there. We need to be supportive of good people who are interested in truth and justice, and not become like the opposition who just resort to name-calling and other nasty personal attacks. One of the reasons that I really care about the Mudflats is that AKM has a great kind and caring approach to meaningful topics, and she fosters the same attitude amongst the people who choose to spend time here on the blog. We are lucky to have such a place to come and find support for good causes and offer our own support back.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:58 AM
I second everything Susie said about our Alaskan heros/heroines! Wonderfully put. I very much admire every young person (and the older ones, also, too) who stands up for his/her well thought-out beliefs.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:04 AM
And, Susie, many thanks for supporting poetic satire on the Flats!
December 9th, 2009 at 9:07 AM
quince keep rhyming, they’re great
December 9th, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Methinks Jason Cline forgot that Sullivan has not announced that he IS a candidate for U.S. Senate – YET.
“Is Dan Sullivan Running For Senate?” By Shannon Moore
“Sully’s aspirations for higher office are obvious. You would think a man with such dreams would be more cautious.”
http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/is-dan-sullivan-running-for-senate/
December 9th, 2009 at 9:14 AM
It would seem like some of the corporate sponsors who have ads on the Alaska Standard web page would be a bit embarrassed by the ignorant, partisan and vitriolic content of some of the articles.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Bravo Chris! AKM, “De-Clined”, good one! and they DEFINED candidate in the rejection letter… bwahahahaha….
December 9th, 2009 at 10:15 AM
@ Quince Squibb Underpinnings
You go Quince! Nothin’ like a little sassy fun to keep it all in perspective. I salute you (while giggling)!
December 9th, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Ooops, forgot….
You go Chris! Nothin’ like a little sassy gotcha to keep a dirty politician checking his back for “Kick Me” post its!
December 9th, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Between taking money before he was on the job, and the budget BS, has Sullivan started any momentum towards a higher office?
December 9th, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Great job, Chris! He does indeed have a sharp mind, which I remember well from RE class at AUUF. Glad to see he’s putting his smarts to such good use.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:23 PM
I am SOOO impressed that a young person would get so engaged in the events of our day….
and particularly when they are for a side that I am for
Chris you are OUtStanding!!!!
I just sent this to my nephew who graduated from high school in Anchorage..now in college…and to my neice who is still in HS in Anchorage. they are both really smart kids…wonder if they know Chris
Thank You Chris for reassuring me that young folks in our country really do CARE
December 9th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Thanks AKM and thanks to Chris too. The Alaska Standard is quite the joke…..
December 10th, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Will the Standard publish a retraction. And if so, will it be in a little “erratum” box on page 6: “We printed a honking big HEADLINE accusing “Democrats” of violating APOC Election law, but we were misinformed. Nevermind.”
December 13th, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Chris is doing nothing more the Ms palin is doing only he isn’t making things up and knows what he is talking about. If Chris reads I have one nephew that stills lives in Anchorage and he has 3 boys I think at this time one is now in his twenties ,the others are maybe in middle school or maybe freshmen now. So yes I joined also. Someone from up there should make sure of a retraction.My 13 year old grandson listens to me but he follows the kids on his bus and most of them are or come from republican families from the things I have heard him bring home from the bus.I keep telling him to think for himself and not just go along to get along.