The 2009 “Muddies” – Vote Now!
It’s that time again Mudflatters and Mudpups! As 2009 draws to a close, we reflect back on the year that was. We Alaskans expected to slip back into obscurity once our governor and ex-VP candidate decided to come home, learn a little something about politics and international affairs and keep her nose to the grindstone. While the year did not live up to these modest predictions, it did provide a never ending source of amazement and amuseument, and more than a little skullduggery.
The world of Alaska politics may be many things, but it is never boring. And so you are invited one and all, readers foreign and domestic, Outsiders or Alaskans, Cheechakos or Sourdoughs, to vote for those outstanding despicable and notorious characters that made 2009 the year it was.
In 2008, the top spot went to Sarah Palin of course, with a host of dastardly runners-up including:
#2 – Todd Palin
#3 – Meghan Stapleton
#4 – Talis Colberg
#5 – Ted Stevens
How can we top last year? I’ll tell you how. Get ready for this year’s nominees:
Sarah Palin – She’s a rogue, wrapped in a renegade wrapped in a whack job. The ex-almost-one-term governor stood on the shores of Lake Lucille on 4th of July Eve before God, media and waterfowl… and quit. She didn’t quit because she hated her job or because she stood to rake in a fortune from her lucrative book deal, but rather she decided to lead in another direction, because she loved us and the state of Alaska. Her governorship died on the cross, of a thousand ankle bites… and a few million in the bank. Raised on the shoulders of thousands of cheering Teabaggers, she stands poised to go for the golden crown in 2012. The thought of this has half of Democrats cheering in the streets, salivating over a Palin v. Obama showdown. The other half is sitting in the corner clutching their knees and rocking back and forth in a cold sweat.
Todd Palin – The Shadow ex-almost-one-term governor; the Arctic Cat; the banner of bloggers, the keeper of emails. Todd continues to be “the silent Palin” hiding who knows what secrets behind the oft-mentioned “icy blue eyes.” It’s always the quiet ones… In addition to his many accomplishments, including building a house with buddies, and winning the Iron Dog Snow Machine race with undetermined and undisclosed amounts of equipment and paraphernalia from his sponsor, Todd can now add “held in contempt of the Senate” to his list of credentials. Subpoena….pfft.
Meghan Stapleton (aka Magnum Staplegun, Meg the Mouth, and Meg Stapletongue)- This is her second nomination. Former beloved Channel 2 news anchor, Stapleton was mysteriously spirited away in the night, drained of her life essence, and had all of her bodily fluids replaced with a proprietary blend of glacier water, snake venom and the blood of the innocent. OK, well what explanation do YOU have? Spokeswoman for the Palin family, SarahPAC and the Alsaka Fund Trust (the “illegal” defense fund), Stapleton is the official hacker offer of other people’s knees. She’s been seen a lot less lately, fueling speculation that her evil overlords have squeezed all the venom out of her, leaving her used-up withered husk on the pile of other used-up withered husks on the Palin’s political compost pile.
Mike Doogan – Also nominated last year for being a rude pompous blow-hard, he makes the list yet again. After being called out on his bad behavior (calling constituents a “bunch of electrons” and anti-Palin “co-religionists” who sent him “spam”) with a Muddy nomination in 2008, and only coming in 10th (sharing the honor with Fred Dyson), he decided to go for the gusto in 2009. Continuing to use his favorite weapon of choice, the nasty email, Doogan sent a proclamation that he was going to “out” a certain heretofore anonymous blogger (cough cough Mudflats cough cough). After an obsessive five month quest, he announced he’d be posting said blogger’s identity in his legislative newsletter, utilizing state resources, bandwidth and email list. And he did. An immediate firestorm followed, burying him in thousands of emails that put his own to shame and subjecting him to a smack down from his fellow legislators in Juneau. Rumor has it that the ire of another blogger (cough Shannyn Moore cough cough) who happened to be in Juneau at the time resulted in Doogan fleeing down the halls of the capitol building and locking himself in the bathroom to escape the tongue lashing. One of only three known politicos to get his image reproduced on tiny paper flags that appeared in piles of frozen dog poo in the state’s capital (see photo), he now is forever known on both sides of the aisle as “Doo Doo Doogan.”
![WAR[1]](http://www.themudflats.net/wp-content/uploads/WAR1.jpg "WAR[1]")
Wayne Anthony Ross – The attorney who has to be reminded that there are amendments to the constitution that aren’t #2, Wayne Anthony Ross went down in history this year. The only head of a state agency ever to be rejected by the legislature, Wayne Anthony Ross’ dreams of becoming Alaska’s Attorney General went down in flames. Big giant flames. With lots of black smoke. And a big kaboom at the end. Comments like, “If you can’t rape your wife, who can you rape?” left Alaskans slack-jawed. Then there was the famous comparison of gays to lima beans. Just because he thinks they’re “degenerates” doesn’t mean he can’t be fair. After all, no matter how much he hates lima beans, he still must represent The United Vegetable Growers. And who could forget his salacious comments about how “provocative” the governor looked in her Arctic Cat “leathers” during his questioning by the legislature. He alienated Native Alaskans with his anti-subsistance views. And he told the State Senate not to argue about “legal vs. illegal” but just appoint someone to represent the vacant seat in Juneau already. Did I mention there were lots of flames? You may still spot him driving around town in his red Hummer with the license plate WAR. Subtle as a jackhammer.
Mayor Dan "the Hands" Sullivan
Mayor Dan Sullivan – The fiscal conservative who cuts library funds, cops, firefighters, and the arts to the bone, but loves the idea of a gazillion dollar bridge across Cook Inlet has landed himself in the mayor’s chair. An unnatural obsession with Senator Mark Begich, Sullivan prefers the role of “whiner” to that of “leader.” With a dodgy reputation for “likin’ the ladies,” many on the left hope he grows into the nickname “one-term worm.” His crowning achievement in 2009, was to veto the ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly which would have added the words “sexual orientation” to the city’s non-discrimination policy for employment, housing, education and accomodations. After dozens of hours of testimony, and after the Assembly came to a thoughtful and correct conclusion, he smiled and sank it like a stone. He’s just a swell guy all around. Did I mention he’s married?
Bill Allen – Former CEO of Veco Corp., briber extraordinaire, and snitcher extra-extraordinaire, 2009 saw, finally, the conviction of the king of the “Corrupt Bastards Club.” Allen got immunity for members of his family, in exchange for a guilty plea, and for dishing the dirt. One of those who snaked out of an indictment was his dislikable, surly offspring Mark Allen, part owner of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. In addition to his other charming qualities, Mr. Allen also has a penchant for substance abusing under aged girls. Once the best bud of former SenatorTed Stevens, he sat in the courtroom while his lawyer explained to the judge how poor Bill was just a sitting duck for those awful legislators who were laying in wait ready to take advantage of his natural generosity and bigness of heart. Just like those under-aged drug addicted girls. Poor Bill. You almost had to feel sorry for the guy. Not. The judge wasn’t buying it and Allen was sentenced to 36 months in the Grey Bar Hotel.
Don Young – We wait, and we wait, and we wait. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride… The scandals hang on Alaska’s one and only congressman Don Young like a swarm of flies on one of those African water buffalos, but none of them have landed yet. Spending almost $2 million in legal fees, for what he will not say, Yon Dung has thrown his hat in the ring for a 20th term in congress. Stripped of his committee chairs, and with the corruption sword of Damocles hanging over his head, he is undeterred. He lives on to fight his political adversaries, and a few endangered species just for laughs. Challenged by fellow Republican Andrew Halcro, and Democratic House Representative Harry Crawford, 2010 may be the year when this old goat takes a tumble. Maybe Bill Allen needs a cellmate.
Levi Johnston – Divisive, controversial and always entertaining, the baby Daddy of Sarah Palin’s grandchild has never strayed far from the limelight. In several interviews and frequent appearances on TV, Levi tells his story about how Sarah Palin is not who she claims to be. He has introduced us to the wedding show watchin’, Crunch Wrap Supreme eatin’, shirker of motherly duties. The Emperor has no clothes. And neither does Levi. His photo shoot for Playgirl Magazine made everyone say, “Playgirl is still a magazine?” Corroborating the rumors of a rocky marriage, a dysfunctional household, and a woman bent on crushing her enemies, it seems like people can’t get enough of Levi. He and his sidekick Tank Jones have become the unlikely dynamic duo of Hollywood, and the pistachio nut. Media whore capitalizing on a lack of “protection” and deserving of a Muddy? Or a simple young truth-teller who is earning money to support his infant son while saving the world from the “real Palin?” You decide.
Harper Collins Publishers – There’s no doubt that Rupert Murdoch’s Harper Collins had a good year. Publishers of Palin’s epic work of Fiction “Going Rogue,” they have made a pretty penny. But have they rued the day? Caught up in the drama of Palin’s “bus tour,” they tried to do damage control when it was revealed that the tour was really more of a “luxury private jet” tour in which “girl pops out of bus” at the right moment. Palin’s scheduled appearances on military bases hocking the book, accompanied by inappropriate outbursts about the commander in chief by her dad raised eyebrowns and ire, and created a firestorm of controversy. And then there was that part about editing and publishing a book full of easily fact-checked lies. I mean, if you’re concerned about that sort of thing.
Chevron – The first corporate Muddy nominee. Chevron whistled past the volcano while Mt. Redoubt decided to blow its stack for the first time in 20 years, sending tons of hot debris plummeting down its flanks and putting at risk a tank farm holding almost 2 million gallons of oil, and threatening to deposit it in the waters of Cook Inlet. Yes, they got their employees out, but played an agonizing waiting game before they would do the unthinkable… remove the oil. Much better to risk the lucrative fisheries, the coastal ecosystem and the 300 remaining endangered beluga whales in the inlet than to (gasp) slow down the flow of money. With no seeming concern for anything but the almighty dollar, the Drift River debacle spotlighted the fact that we are just as unprepared for an oil spill in Cook Inlet as we were for one in Prince William Sound before the Exxon Valdez. We escaped a disaster only by the skin of our teeth, the luck of the draw, the whim of mother nature, and a flimsy little retaining wall.
Sean Parnell – And rounding out this dirty dozen is our new governor - “SP 2.0″ as he is known. Caribou Ken. And while we all concede that NObody could be as bad as “SP 1.0″ the new version still leaves a lot to be desired. We waited and we watched, hoping for the best, but reality struck last month when the President of the United States made his first ever visit to the State of Alaska, and Sean Parnell was not there to greet him. It was just impossible…. after all he was two whole miles away! And that luncheon address to a group of general contractors had been scheduled for weeks. Former Conoco-Phillips man, and oil lobbyist, Parnell has enlisted to fight the war on whales, endorsing a whole bunch of further study with the intent to prove that just because there are hardly any Cook Inlet belugas left, that doesn’t mean they’re endangered. His administration’s fight to keep thousands Sarah Palin’s “off the grid” Yahoo emails out of reach of public records requests makes us wonder how different this new governor really is.
Thomas Van Flein – OK, let’s make it a dirty baker’s dozen. While it could be argued that the Palins’ attorney is simply an extension of the Palins themselves, he chooses to remain. Allowing himself to play the strong arm thug of the Palin family, he has threatened not one, but TWO count ‘em TWO bloggers with legal action, whereupon everyone thought, “Yes! Please do it! We’d love to see someone depose Sarah Palin!” It’s what they call in poker, a really lame bluff. Mr. Van Flein was also the unknowing guest at a blogger luncheon, proving the point that if you are going to auction off lunch with yourself as a prize, and your only claim to fame is being Sarah Palin’s attorney, it might behoove you to check who you’re having lunch with. But that’s OK. The lunch was not for naught. We learn that he thinks women who marry younger men are “cougars.” Now, not only has he written up bills for more than a half million dollars in legal expenses to save the Palins from themselves, he is now representing Bristol Palin in her custody fight. It’s a sweet life.
I know it’s going to be a tough call. But you’ve got THREE choices, and all the time you need… until the end of the day on January 1. The Muddies will be announced after that.
Best of luck to all our nominees. Remember, even if you don’t win, just being nominated is a disgrace.
[THE PREVIOUS POLL WAS ONLY ALLOWING ONE VOTE....WHICH MAKES VOTING ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE, SO I HAVE HAD TO WIPE THE FIRST 103 VOTERS. PLEASE VOTE AGAIN, AND ENJOY THE TWO ADDED VOTES!]
Loading ...*Please note there are many “Honorable Mentions” that are not mentioned here. Frankly, if I got everyone in Alaska who deserved one of these it would be a veeeery long list! So feel free to add your honorable mentions below. A few that come to mind are Eddie Burke, The Alaska Standard, Jason Cline, Debbie Ossiander, the AK Tea Bag Party-ers, Jerry Prevo, The “Red Shirt Brigade,” the Alaska Personnel Board, Debbie Ossiander, and oh so many more…
Thanks AKM and Happy New Year to you and your fam! I’ve been counted, YAY!
Well, good grief! This whole post has “gone rogue” about four times. I give myself an honorary Muddy for technical incompetence! I believe we are now fully corrected, and with an addition by popular demand.
Happy voting my friends. Now that I have won my epic battle with this post, I’m off for a refreshment!
goodie – Van Flea gets one of my votes. Thanks, AKM.
Realizing that Harper-Collins is a h/t to Rupert….still think his name should have been on the list. He is soooooo “mavricky” too…
yea, me, i’m three for three
yea, me, i’m three for three
Well awrighty then………got the votes in for the second time. First round went
!poof! Thanks AKM.
ahem. sorry about that
AKM – You deserve LOTS of refreshment for dealing with a finicky program. It must be balking at so many awful people listed in one post.
Very entertaining post, AKM! ROFL!
S’error and Van Fleece ‘em…..in that order.
The rest of the rogues can duke it out for third place and beyond. Haha.
I would like to make some honorable mentions: ADN for not reporting on SP and her lies the way any major,serious newspaper would, Ivy Fry, Kristine Cole, the Personnel Board, SarahPac, and the AFT.
Voted AKM..3 for 3 here.. bwa- ha ha ha ha…
Honorable mentions:
1) All of the members of the Senate Investigation of “Troopergate”……for not doing a damn thing after they found the guv Guilty of abuse of power and ethics violations.
2) The Personnel Board…..for covering SP’s arse so many times.
Grrrrrrrrr….
Today is the last day of 2009.
So happy new year first!
$P was such a gimme….
Maybe SP should just get a lifetime Muddy, to make room for up-and-comers.
This year I voted for tawdry, corrupted, and broken – Sullivan, Parnell, and Chevron.
Honorable mention: The captain and mate of the tug Pathfinder. No names yet, but here is a nice picture of the tug:
http://www.bridgedeck.org/galleries_hi/Crowley/Pathfinder6.jpg
# 14 justa
$$$$P is apparently not a gimme with at least 18 voters. Hmmmm…..
Lee…lol!
Actually ALL of the others on the list except Levi SHOULD be on the list. The others mentioned in the comments, all deserve mention…Damn we have a bunch of slimy folks up here!
Jerry Prevo.
# 21 stef g
AMEN!
Honorable Mention to the horrible “Red Shirts” who’s homophobia is encyclopedia-ready.
I posted this earlier on the custody/circus thread. Now that VF has been added, I’m reposting it here, since it fits!
Gotta say it about VF:
He’s the consigliore of the Palin mafia….he’s stuck, and won’t get out in one piece.
Having said that, he’s not anywhere near the caliber of the Corleones’ consigliore.
I’d like to herbey submit a write-in vote for Debbie Ossiander, for allowing the bussed-in redshirt circus. But mostly still Chevron; one vote for those irresponsible bastards was not enough, for recklessly endangering the Inlet.
AKM….. maybe you should’t try to tweek the poll for a 5th time.. BUT…
In your Honorable Mentions section… Debbie Ossiander is mentioned TWICE!
WHAT are you trying to say…;-)
Seagull -
Good one. Dang , had almost forgotten those long Tuesday nites of live blogging and drinking and justafarmer and farts………
Ir Levi doesn’t make good on those tidbits of innuendo he’s throwing around, then he’s just a tease. No Muddy this year. But if he doesn’t cough up some facts that can be corroborated, or at least publish his own book, then he should get a Muddy next year.
For me this was a heartburn contest: who made my stomach churn the hardest, most consistently.
Thus Sullivan (tho it should really be Ossiander/ Prevo) over WAR, Doogan over VanFlein, and Palin over Todd (but MY GAWD, you’ve got some seriously sh”tty lawyers in AK!).
Yeah, Jerry Prevo should have been on the list.
That said, I did not vote for Dan Sullivan. It wasn’t any secret that he’s a schmuck and everything he’s done has been predictable. It was obvious what kind of mayor he would be and nothing was done about it. Instead of organizing a united front behind one candidate, the Democratic Party pretty much ensured that Dan would get elected. A vote for Dan is a vote for the dysfunction of the Democrats. Let us hope they can learn something and get their act together before the next Governor’s race.
I voted for Mike Doogan for the same reason I voted for Todd Palin. Outing an anonymous blogger is the same as banning them. Both smack of censorship and fascism.
I don’t think I have to explain my vote for Sarah. Do any of us?
14 justafarmer Says:
December 30th, 2009 at 6:01 PM
$P was such a gimme….
We could elect her by acclamation and still have three votes to cast for the also rans!
I didn’t vote for Van Flea because what else would you expect from an atty standing up for That Family? As the snake told the woman, “You knew what I was when you took me in..”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNC4pm5cnaQ
However, if I’d remembered in time that Murdock was behind Harper Collins, I’d have figured the same thing, and gone for someone else instead.
Terrific list, AKM!
Be careful of your are driving tomorrow night and Friday! Too many people drink too much on New Years eve and then start again New Years morning and all day during the games, by the time they hit the road they are unconscious.
25 mollusca-
I’m with you on Chevron.
This year it’s all corporate… dadgum corps wanna be viewed as citizens under the law , they can be pied, pilloried, and pushed into the mud they make- just like flesh and bone people.
Chevron
Harper Collins
and corporate suck-up, Don Young… we didn’t have a shot at giving him this “honor’ in 06- when he rammed through changes to the Mag Stev Act which allowed CDQs to act more and more like corporate creeps and less and less in touch with their stakeholders…
I wish Debbie Ossiander and Jerry Prevo were on the list because they definitely would have received my votes for the hate and bigotry they demonstrated this past summer. There were so many “worthy” people and corporations vying for spots on the ballot, so I can see why the list had to be stopped somewhere. Oh well, a bit of fun with this is a nice way to ease out 2009.
Sorry Susie… I thought about that and decided that ol’ Mayor Dan Sullivan is the one really responsible for the ordinance going down in flames. Despite the best efforts of intolerant churches, their leaders and some members of the Assembly, they ultimately did the right thing. Sullivan’s veto was the killer. So he got the nomination. AKM
I voted for Chevron too, also, since they were willing to allow the ‘flats get all covered in oil – along with the fishes, the belugas, the shrimps, etc. Totally bad attitude! And with Mt. (Mr.?) Redoubt talking again, I hope the oil is all gone and not a threat this time around.
I agree – maybe SP and possibly TP should be honorary annual Muddies, freeing us up to vote on other dasterdly felons!
Thanks for the fun AKM.
How I wish this poll was opened up to include a select few non-AKer’s, such as the entire Tea Bagger movement, all GOP’s blocking “progressing” of the USA (thru health care reform, upholding of ethics and prosecution of violators, etc), Beck & Limbaugh.
Speaking of Limpy…. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/30/rush-limbaugh-hospital-ta_n_407869.html
UPDATE: Local TV station KHON2 is now also reporting on the incident:
KHON2 has learned that conservative radio host, Rush Limbaugh was taken from the Kahala Hotel in an ambulance just after 2:40 p.m. Wednesday.
Sources say the 58 year old was suffering chest pains before the ambulance arrived.
EMS confirms a male was taken from the hotel in serious condition.
Happy New Year to AKM and all Mudpups! It was a treat to meet AKM and Shannyn in P-burgh this summer. I check in to the Mudflats every day for my “Reality Check.” Brian and Brenda will be traveling to Paris in January for a winter holiday. Stay tuned…
Thanks, AKM! I voted for Mr. and Mrs. because they are co-conspirators of deception and Mr. DooDoo because his intent was with malice.
And I second #13 Lee323′s honorable mentions!!
Happy New Year!
Very classy looking bunch. Akm, you do realise I will never forgive you.
Todd’s right in there at the top! Yay, he’s just as bad as Sarah is, but at least she gives him “roofies” and doesn’t complain
You make me stay up way to late.
Eddie Burke and Sarah’s dad, Chuck Palin , are my dishonorable mentions. Both old goats have probably contributed to robbing young people of their ability to discern that ‘others’ are entitled to respect and dignity that should be accorded to other human beings. From listening to Chuck and the youngest girl Palin (on radio) both men appear to be quite slimy and IMO neither should never be left alone with young children.
Poor Levi. I do feel sorry for him. Just a teen who liked…. well, what teens like. And winds up having to deal with the family from h*ll for life. I think he’s done an amazing job of staying afloat and surviving. Being in the public eye is probably the only thing protecting him, and despite all his early discomfort in front of cameras, he is now developing some stage presence. I wish him good luck.
Doogan a contender for a “Muddie”? He barely qualifies for the “Also-rans”!
(Wasn’t Stapletongue forced into early retirement?)
As an Alaskan outsider I did vote but would have loved to see Eddie Burke and the RedShirts as an option!!! (a nod to your local issues which are HUGE!).
Lol! My votes were pretty close to the top three. My number one is winning!
Happy New Year! Just returned from Holiday travels and am trying to catch up.
I would like to take a moment to explain my vote. Since I do not live in Alaska, I decided to vote for those who had serious impact on the United States on a whole. That left out the Alaska politicians and company. They all deserve recognition and honorable mention in their local categories.
I did not vote for paid employees. Van Flein and Meg do what Sarah tells them in return for money. Other people do almost the same thing, for even more money. We know what they’re called, but I don’t want to be thrown into moderation. (I take it personally). It’s their career choice. Many others do the same thing: lobbyists, politicians, and you-know-who’s. It’s a living. If they didn’t do it, there would be another lawyer and spokesperson, doing and saying the same thing.
I feel sorry for Levi. He was thrust on a national stage to cover for Sarah’s daughter’s situation. When Sarah told us that they were getting married, she painted the picture of a happy family-to-be for the Republican base. It turned out to a lie, like many other lies that politicians tell.
Sarah and Todd are responsible for their own actions. Todd is the enforcer. We saw him as the shadow governor working to get his former brother-in-law fired. He is supposed to be responsible for the list of banned bloggers. (Gryphen wasn’t on the list).
Harper Collins is the enabler. They paid Sarah to publish a pack of lies. They helped organize and pay for a political campaign dressed up as a book signing event. Rupert Murdoch is capable of putting Sarah on the public stage, whether it is in print or on one of his radio or TV stations. His motive may also be political, amassing power. That man is dangerous.
Sarah is the most dangerous of the lot. Hiding behind ghost written face book posts and tweets, she has a political forum that goes unquestioned. It is quoted in the MSM as if everything that is written under her name is fact. Her use of the phrase “death panels” sent Health Care Reform into a tail spin. Judging from the book signings, Sarah still has a crowd of devoted fans, willing to contribute money to her. I don’t know what they stand for, but they seem to be clearly against our current administration. And, they have proven themselves to be capable of hate and violence. Sarah brings out the worst in them.
Oh yes, and a Very Happy New Year to AKM and Everyone!
19 Lee323 Says:
December 30th, 2009 at 6:11 PM
# 14 justa
$$$$P is apparently not a gimme with at least 18 voters. Hmmmm…..
**********************
Lee323 ~ SP didn’t get a ‘gimme’ from me, either… Reason being: casting one of my votes for her as an “outstanding despicable and notorious character that made 2009 the year it was,” would be like my voting that water was wet. To me, she’s the Forever Winner of the category.
(That said, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that SP will garner more than enough votes to keep her atop the heap of dungsters from whence she can continue her reign as Queen of the Steaming Pile. It’s her rightful place.)
Great list, AKM – so glad you included Harper Collins! They got one of my votes. They’re all neck-deep complicit in aiding and abetting SP as she spread utter bull cr*p, incredibly bogus ‘facts’, and that ‘truth’ of hers that’s rooted in a mean-girl alternate reality and still has the sane amongst wondering what the heck she smokes that allows her ‘world’ to be so out of whack with what actually exists. Sadly, I’ve come to accept that her book may very well be the only book many of her adoring public will read this year. Or next. Or the year after. Harper Collins should be ashamed of themselves for willfully unleashing -and promoting- such ignorance throughout our nation. Ptui, on them! beth.
I can’t believe you included Levi. Anyone willing give Sarah the moon is okay with me.
Does Mayor Sullivan have his hand on that blonde girls butt or am I seein things? I voted too, also, it would be naive not to, and I voted icognito as well, I did it for all of you, I did it for the better of the people, so Alaska can progress….etc etc etc. I, like most Americans feel it was the right thing to do.
[[OT, but in the realm of national sleeze-buckets, my heart of hearts tells me Evangelical pastor Rick Warren qualifies...he's apparently now begging for money ($900,000) immediately, to keep Saddleback afloat: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091231/ap_on_re/us_rel_rick_warren_donations He gives me the creeps. beth.]]
Meg-aphone Speak-in-tongues got one of my votes. I was thinking she’d finally come to her senses about Sarah, but maybe she was just being re-indoctrinated as she’s hit the road running her mouth off again for Sarah. Maybe she was getting a face lift too and couldn’t appear in public for a while just like her mentor.
Use your brains for something besides keeping your skull from imploding Meg.
Yikes…Prevo. He should have been on the Dirty Dozen List, not just a mention. Choices, choices–
I’m going against the flow by voting for Chevron because while s’error palin can be problematic when she opens her mouth, she’s not a problem when she’s asleep. Same with the rest of the people.
Chevron, however, is a real and present danger 24/7 and nearly became a disaster the last time the cranky dude under the mountain nearly blew his lid.
I agree with Lee @ 13. Give the legislators and the PB an honorable for failing to carry out and follow thru on their statutory duties.
The Dud, btw, is too much of a chump to deserve anyone’s vote.
Prevo IS worse than Doogan. Period.
The Heaths should definitely be on the honorable mention list for raising such a hateful and divisive daughter and be proud of of it! Sheesh!
Former half-term Gov Palin has a big fan in central Oregon. Wrote a letter to our paper stating: “I just finished reading Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” and I gotta tell you I’m so angry I could spit nails.” (Yes, she really used “gotta” and “spit nails” and I thought at this point she was angry about all of Palin’s lies. Ahem, she continues:) “I am digusted that my fellow Americans could pick the yahoo we have in Washington instead of a common sense conservative like Sarah.”
I really did need a good laugh and this prompted one. Guess the letter writer doesn’t read the excellent mudflats blog. Besides, I thought the “yahoo”s were Sarah and her running mate, both of whom have gone from “mavericks” to partisan, lying hacks. Which makes me wonder if they ever were mavericky and all or just really bad pretenders. I’m guessing the latter.
Sullivan got my vote for his ongoing war on science and veto of equal rights for all Anchorage citizens.
Homesteader:
Are you saying you’re opposed to science and equal rights?
Apparently you may support anti-science and discrimination– if I’m incorrect I apologize.
Just the opposite, I believe. One gets the Muddy for bad stuff! :0) AKM
I don’t think Levi should be on the list – he’s a victim. Much better candidates were Jerry Prevo, Eddie Burke, Chuckie (prevert) Heath, etc. So many worthy candidates – so few votes allowed.
Wow, it was SO darn difficult to choose only three! For personal reasons, I have to give my #1 vote to Doogan. Although perhaps a more appropriate award for him might be a special Mudflats Douchebag of the Year Award. SP got my second votes for two words: Death Panels. And I had to give a vote to Parnell for his shameful choice to blow off the POTUS. I was mortified that he would be so disrespectul and inhospitable to the President.
It was so hard not to cast a vote for Harper Collins, for Yon Dung, and for SP’s flying monkeys Van Flein and Stapletongue (O E O, EO O!). And had hate-mongerer Prevo been an option, he would definitely have gotten one of my votes.
Speaking of votes, thanks so much to evryone who cast a vote/signed the petition to tell SP and her Tea Baggers to stop lying. They surpassed their goal of 5,000 signatures. Yay! This country desparately needs to start holding liars and political whores responsible for the garbage they spew, rather than rewarding them with more or continued media attention. In no other arena that I can think of would a proven repeat-liar (and ignoramous) continue to have any creedence with the public. It’s just amazing to me. Tiger Woods, for instance, is exposed for cheating on his wife, and although it has absolutely no bearing on his talent or ability to do his job as a golfer or advertising spokesperson, it will most certainly have a negative impact on him professionally. Yes, his choices reflect very poorly on his moral character, but they certainly don’t tangibly harm the American people as a whole. When an elected official lies about something as crucial as Health Care Reform, it has the potential to harm ALL OF US! Of course we are all entitled to our own opinions about Health Care Reform, but LYING IS NOT AN OPINION! Palin’s “Death Panels” lie was an horrendous and malicious lie designed to villify her political foes and dupe the American public into believing that she is some sort of political watchdog and a bastion of ethical responsibility. Americans are dying every day due to the state of our country’s health care system. I cannot even imagine how twisted and morally bankrupt Sarah Palin must be to want to perpetuate that…all while touting herself as a patriot!
AKM: Sorry, I should get the Muddy for misreading comments or reading comments literally. Silly as it sounds–I thought Homesteader was voting FOR Sullivan in a SUPPORTING way! I have to laugh because I honestly thought Homesteader was a fan of Sullivan who would have voted for him in the election! I temporarily forgot the context here.
As I earlier said, if I’m incorrect I apologize.
I was incorrect!. I apologize. I apologize. I apologize.
sarah, sullivan and doogan.
that book is literally unbelievable. i’ll be interested in seeing the follow-up to PA’s look into the matter of palin’s account of threats to willow and bristol palin from unidentified juneau classmates. another story we won’t read about in the MSM.
i’ll forever remember anchorage’s 2009 ‘summer of hate’ thanks to sullivan and ossiander. probably angrier at her than him, since his veto was predictable, and her rationalization for not voting with the majority to override it was absolutely pathetic.
doogan: as y’all say, he is not as bad as prevo or most of the others on this list, but i included him anyhow, since i used to hold him to a very high standard, and his action in outing mudflats just seemed completely sleazy — as if he temporarily tossed any sense of decorum, restraint and judgment out the window.
AKM:
As a liberal and a card-carrying democrat, I have become concerned about liberal bloggers– I don’t always agree with them and I don’t think liberal bloggers always represent mainstream liberals or democrats. There are various liberal blogs which often don’t (it seems to me) represent mainstream liberal sentiments.
Since you criticized me, I think it is only fair for me to reply that I doubt you actually speak for all liberals, especially myself.
I think Palin could ruin the United States of America if she were elected President. But I think the best way to fight her is rationally, and I haven’t seen enough of that in Alaska’s blogs, including yours.
sometimes ‘mainstream’ liberals or democrats are worse obstructionists than repubs. consider HCR. it was not kneecapped by Rs [who clearly were never going to be on board in any way, shape or form], but by lieberman, nelson, baucus, landrieu, et al. if progressives sometimes seem a little shrill, uncooperative, more willing to go out on a limb — there’s good reasons for that. life’s too short to compromise so much.
the thing about blogging that a lot of people don’t get is that it’s personal opinions. AKM [and markos, atrios, jane hamsher and other proprietors of high traffic sites] do not claim to represent the interests of others. that’s why you can write on your own blog.
I respect the individuality. However Alaska is a small place.
well, sure, but this is a brave new world we’re living in, and so much the stronger, imho if we don’t mince words. why not just say what you are really thinking? i’m grateful to people who aren’t so accepting of the status quo, who are willing to explore and intervene and engage, even at some perceived risk.
i think if you’re going to convince me, you’ll need to explain at some length, what you mean by ‘fighting rationally’ and how it is different than what AK progressive bloggers have been doing.
let me know when you get that first post up on your newly minted blog, and i’ll leave a comment. ;
Deist-
No apology necessary. Voting for someone with whom you disagree is admittedly a double-negative, pretzel-logic type deal. For the record, I support sound science, equal rights for all regardless of sexual orientation, and I voted for Croft. Thanks Deist-I always enjoy reading your posts.
Sarah, Chevron, Doo Doo Doogan
Was voting for which could/would deliberately inflict as much damage as possible, without so much of a twinge in conscience.
Sarah & Chevron, for obvious reasons.
Doo Doo Doogan, for using State resources – “legislative newsletter, utilizing state resources, bandwidth and email list” – to ‘out’ someone, because of his little hissy-fit man rage. His actions were simply unmanly and despicable. Why did that happen? Because Doo Doo Doogan was previously called out for sending nasty, poorly spelled emails to his constituents (perhaps after imbibing too much of the ‘spirits’ it appeared to me at the time, therefore he got his panties in a knot).
Clark:
I’m an artist. I’m sick of politics. If I set up a blog, it wouldn’t have anything to do with politics. But this political crap inundates, dictates, and rules our lives. Palin is the eye of the storm. I guess that is why we read Mudflats.
1. SP — who else?
2. TP — whom I suspect will be making news of his own next year.
3. Chevron — whose negligence taught me a new word: “lahar.”
PS: AKM, under HarperCollins, you refer to SP “hocking” her book. I think you mean “hawking.” I can’t imagine a pawnshop would loan anyone more than maybe $1.25 on it.
Come on, y’all! Chevron’s (in)action regarding the Drift River Oil Storage Facility has more potential for catastrophic damage than Meg Stapleton and a few others!
Let’s bring Chevron up into the Top Five! PLEASE! Let all see that we care about the big picture, not merely drama queens and corrupt bastards.
Let me add to my entry #73:
When I called them drama queens and corrupt bastards, I was referring to
(a) both sexes, and (b) not merely those who are financially corrupt, but those, like Burke, Perry, Sullivan and others who are spiritually corrupt as well.
I voted for Palin, Todd and Parnell. Palin, for obvious reasons. Parnell, because he is Palin-reloaded. Todd…..
I used to think that Todd was a patsy who kept his mouth shut and did what he was told. The more I learn about him, the more he creeps me out.
I have a feeling there is something much more sinister lurking behind those blue eyes.
His associations with the AIP, the harrassment of Trooper Whooten, Levi’s need for a body guard and claim that Todd threatened him with a gun, being copied on state business, sitting in on meetings, etc. I think Sarah is the front person for Todd to get what HE wants.
I’m starting to think he is a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants…..a rich and famous wife….and power (maybe for AIP leaders).
Like I said, I used to think he was a dud & harmless. Now, I’m thinking he is evil and power hungry.
Boy, this was tough. So many worthy candidates, so few votes…
deist Says:
I think Palin could ruin the United States of America if she were elected President. But I think the best way to fight her is rationally, and I haven’t seen enough of that in Alaska’s blogs, including yours.
______________________________________________________________________
The hateful and divisive ignorance that Sarah Palin spews should be fought by exposing her lies and promoting the truth. That to me is being rational and the people who criticize her on this blog are doing just that, from what I can tell.
Re #33 Nan (akaroswellborn)
How appropriate!
Thanks for the clip from Northern Exposure, my favorite faux Alaska sitcom based in Roslyn (sp), Washington.
I haven’t heard that “OBJ” song for years! Oscar Brown Jr. is one of my favorite jazz vocalists. He has many other great and witty songs.
OK, Harper Collins got one of my votes because not only do they enable & cover for $P, but because once upon a time, they were a respectable publisher. They are proof that everything Murdoch touches (like the Wall St. Journal, the New York Post) turns to slime. Chevron got a vote because I — an Outsider on the other side of the continent — care more about Alaska’s wildlife than they (and the zillions of petitions I’ve signed & circulated during 2009 are proof). Finally, WAR got my third vote, for being such a little pr*ck. However, my dishonorable mention is John McCain, for unleashing this terrorist on a gullible public in the first place. OTOH, it has shone a light on AK nationally, which may turn out ultimately to be a *good* thing. And if he had made a rational choice, instead of the hail-mary-pass that failed, I might never have found my way to the Mudflats, where I’ve made lifelong friends, and in whose chatroom I’ve spent more pleasant hours than I care to admit 8). Blessings to AKM, and a safe, happy, healthy, joyous, prosperous, peaceful, sexy New Year to all. Peace be with you.
I voted for Doogan, Parnell, and WAR. What separated them from the other candidates were that they acted out of pure malice or spite.
I know many of the other candidates exhibited more outrageous or despicable behavior (Mike Allen!) or posed a greater real threat (e.g. Chevron), but they for the most part were getting something out of it for themselves: money, sex, power…
Those I picked could just as easily exhibited a modicum of decency and civility with their words and actions, but chose not to.
C’mon, leave Levi alone. He is going to need all the stength and support he can get for the upcoming custody battle!
#50 ginger… thanks for pointing out the hand on butt… I missed that part of picture entirely…I think you are correct.
Harper-Collins was one of my votes, too. Rupert Murdoch is dangerous and he is behind the SP express. I’ve read a few things about his impact in Australia and beyond. USA needs to be alert and aware. I feel like I should walk around in NEON pink/orange with a sign SP / slash through it…like a no smoking sign… I wish I knew how to make statements that the teabaggers would believe.. instead of the crap SP puts forth. Sorry, the New Year and 2010 is just riling me to no end. Cheers all…and Happy New Year.
I’m sorry that Deist is apparently unhappy with the content of this blog. I have read all the comments (I thought) and am baffled by his/her reference to criticism of him/her by AKM. I am even more baffled by his/her assertion that this blog lacks rationality.
Do you disapprove of awarding an honor to the dishonorable, Deist? Are peeps having too much fun while discussing politics?
But on to the topic at hand:
I voted for the Talibunny, SP 2.0 and (I think — LOL) Sullivan. I agree with others who suggest that Caribou Barbie should get a lifetime achievement award and leave the top place to someone who has perhaps not yet had opportunities as wide-ranging as hers.
I’m puzzled why Levi is on the list at all. He has certainly taken advantage of opportunities that arose as a result of being thrust into the public eye but, as far as I have seen, he has done harm to no one other than provide Bible Spice opportunity to look a little more ridiculous than she does on her own. Eddie Burke is far more deserving of a shot at this award.
A very happy new year to all of you. Thanks, AKM and all those who work behind the scenes, for all the hard work you put into this gem of a blog.
Haven’t read through the comments yet, but noticed that you listed Debbie Ossiander twice in your Dishonorable mention list! LOL
I’m shocked that ANYONE would criticize this blog, which is the best one I have found. Palin really gets her just desserts here and there couldn’t be a more deserving person.
I don’t think Levi deserves to be on this list. He’s a victim of Sarah, just like all of us.
Yes, i agree that SP should have a lifetime achievement award because she will always be the top vote-getter. Lumping Toddy and BTQ$ together (unless Toddy writes and publishes a book entitled “I Married An Ethics Murderer”) would free up another slot.
Then, i would vote for Sullivan, Harper Collins, and Chevron ~ for all the reasons so eloquently previously stated by some of the Mudpups.
66 deist Says: December 31st, 2009 at 1:52 AM
AKM:
As a liberal and a card-carrying democrat, I have become concerned about liberal bloggers– I don’t always agree with them and I don’t think liberal bloggers always represent mainstream liberals or democrats. There are various liberal blogs which often don’t (it seems to me) represent mainstream liberal sentiments.
———
The beauty of being a democrat is that there is no litmus test to being a member. As we’ve seen from the continuing implosion of the Grumpy Old Poops party, this is very unlike the democrats.
It is impossible to have the same views as everyone all of the time. It’s impossible to have the same views 50% of the time. There are times when I’ve posted comments here that run contrary to what is contained in whatever article AKM has posted that day, fully expecting to get flamed.
But I really haven’t. (I’ll skip acknowledging some of the comments directed at me by the departed board grifter as I do not consider those comments or person to be rational.)
One thing I really like about this blog is that rationally formed opposing opinions are allowed. AKM could have tossed me into the mudflats months and months ago. But she has not.
Your posts have been polite and rational, deist. Stay that way. Keep making good points.
btw – for those who believe Levi does not belong with the other dolts on the list… he belongs, imho, strictly for not filing for joint custody months ago and for settling personal scores in the same fashion as his almost mother-in-law does. And posing for playgirl (a magazine with a reputation for having more male readers than female) and doing the talk show circuit instead of putting those efforts towards getting access to his kid does not make him a hero in my eyes.
Agree with Sauerkraut about Levi belonging on the list. In all the interviews given by Levi that I have seen or read, I have yet to hear him refer to his son by his name or even “my kid” or “my son;” he always refers to him as “the kid.” Just strikes me as odd and makes me wonder about Levi and his motives.
Note of thanks to Nan (aka roswellborn) #33 and prisonernumbersix #78:
You two just made my day! I was introduced to Oscar Brown, Jr.’s genius almost half a century ago in Germany, and he has been a guiding light to me ever since. What can I say! A wonderful reminder of someone who lived his convictions all his life! He could have gone mainstream and made a lot of money, but he was a man who refused to compromise.
My New Turn around the Sun began after the Winter Solstice, but if you follow the popular calendar, I wish you a “Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr”, ( a good slide into the New Year) and a healthy, content and successful future! Ing
Well, if I had waited until today I might have changed my vote given what Gryphen has posted about Dan “grab a$$” Sullivan and the beluga whales of Cook’s Inlet.
But it’s not like this couldn’t have been predicted. It’s totally consistent with his (lack of) character. Tallis Colberg too.
You can’t hope to change these people once they’re in office. You have to prevent them from getting into office in the first place.
austintx I thought you were going to have Santa deliver “certain photos” of Sarah in our stockings for Xmas.
I must have been bad….no photos in my stocking.
I went for Palin–Sullivan–Ross. But given the opportunity I would vote Prevo #3.
@ deist and sauer: I don’t think we need to worry about a lack of diversity of opinion as long as you two stick around.
And I agree that pups blowing off steam can be a bit irrational, but has this really been a rational year (decade)?
sauerkraut @ #87:
I think deist just has his/her unders in a twist, because he/she got caught in a mistake in interpretation of the “awards” and is covering up…
The rest is… history??? “Guten Rutsch” to all…
Zyxomma @ #79:
Could not agree with you more! Murdoch is an international scroundrel. Somehow he always reminds me of the villains in the James Bond movies…
karen marie @ #83:
I am with you, obviously…
May all of you have an “easy slide” (see above) into the new Turn of the Sun. Ing
Choices Choices Choices -
Of Course, Former 1/2 Term Gov. of AK got one of my picks
- mainly because she believes herself to be a Titled Queen –
life revolves around her – and her way is THE
only way (denying women the choice she
herself had to the opportunity to make)
- dictating tweets from the top of the tower
then lock herself behind closed doors
without debate / discussion and becomes n
angry when we lowly peons question & analyize
“her policy position”
- entitled – believes herself to be “the chosen” one
because an old man wanted to win the white house
He sold his soul to the conservatives by appointing
an idiot “arm candy” as a running mate.
Country First – You Betcha!
Chevron & Harper Collins are right up there with my other votes
Harper Collins
- for substantially lowering the non-fiction
publishing integrity bar to a lower than low
- no fact checking – printing refutable lies
Chevron
- for proving once again that Corporations need
regulations and restrictions
- endangering our home (planet) once again for profit
sauerkraut at 88: “btw – for those who believe Levi does not belong with the other dolts on the list… he belongs, imho, strictly for not filing for joint custody months ago and for settling personal scores in the same fashion as his almost mother-in-law does. And posing for playgirl…”
OK, well no props to him for playgirl, for certain. but custody details, maybe he was trying to work it out with bristol outside of the legal process, and had reason to believe he could be successful? i don’t think i would have handled any of it very well, at less than 20 yrs. old.
Deist is unnecessarily insulting to the Mudflats…looks like a CYA over own small failings.
Levi really didn’t have to be on the list. In fact, if it weren’t for Levi, we wouldn’t know that Scarah doesn’t even know how to shoot, let alone care for her own children.
In fact, Levi out in the public is instrumental in an oddly prophylactic way that keeps Scarah from spouting more lies – as she knows he can counter them readily.
Her attempts to have him silenced through the Sarah managed-child custody case, even have him jailed speaks volumes about his effectiveness as our ally. Give that man a hand!
Everything she accuses him of in his public life is the very thing she is doing. While her “kids” are off limits, it is open game on Mrs. Johnston’s “kid”? How disgraceful, Scarah!
MO Inkslinger –
Are you on forum ??
I’m intrigued by the point made about fighting back against Palin rationally. How exactly would you suggest that liberals fight the irrational. Aren’t they already using facts and reason to point out her hypocrisy and lies? The truth is apparent to anyone paying attention. Few in the mainstream media will call her out for her crazy because the truth is less sensational. She is so far out in left field the plain facts just don’t get the same attention as the absurd comments she (ghost writter) tweets.
This is not to say that this blog is irrational. In my opinion, the only thing you can do with this kind of crazy is to poke a bit of fun occasionally and get a good laugh out of it.
I’m happy to be part of the rag-tag group of liberals. We may not agree on everything, but we do not hate each others differences.
E.Burke is a runner up. His shirt says it all.
Hey , I’m a semi-redneck librul. I loves me some ‘flats. Been here since the very beginning and we’ve been through a lot together here. AKM has provided a meeting place for people from all over planet earth to laugh , exchange info and ideas , converse , and yes , piss and moan. Wow……that kinda sounds like…..well……family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHlopjHepEw
Can we do it again and vote 11 times? And add some “others”?
Lisa Murkowski for putting partisan politics ahead of Alaskans who need health care.
BP for yet another crude oil spill on the tundra.
Exxon and the Supreme Court justices who gave Exxon a pass on making proper restitution.
Sarah Palin, the governor who brought us W.A.R. and wolf-shooting.
Sarah Palin, the ex-governor who brought us “death panels”.
Yeah, Eddie Burke!
Excellent mug shots, AKM.
My New Year 2010 wish:
That Sarah Palin is at 14:59….and counting.
TRUTH IN 2010!!!!!