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Monday Morning Cleavage!

Here’s an interesting little story.  There is cleavage in the story, but the point of the story isn’t really about cleavage. I figured I’d just get that out of the way right off the bat and come back to it later to illustrate a point.

The players in this little story are Mike Nizich, Governor Palin’s Chief of Staff; Annette Kreitzer, Commissioner of the Department of Administration, and citizen watchdog Andree MacLeod.

Andree McLeod has filed several ethics complaints against the Governor in the past few months.  She’s also filed a public records request that asks the state to turn over a bunch of emails that call into question the blurring of the lines between partisan political activity and state business and the Palin administration turned all of them over….except for 1100.   And now, there’s a little matter of  an inquiry from APOC (the Alaska Public Offices Commission) sent to the governor after hearing some public testimony from McLeod.  The administration is not fond of Andree McLeod because she’s knowledgeable, tenacious, and an unabashed Republican.  A deadly combination.

Mike Nizich has generally been fairly quiet until recently.  But not long ago, he popped his head in from the back room and deposited a shocking bit of “HUH?” into a press release that is now on the State of Alaska website.  In reference to recent ethics complaints filed against the governor, he said:

I hope that the publicity-seekers will face a backlash from Alaskans who have a sense of fair play and proportion.”

You read that right.  The chief of staff for the governor hopes that private citizens filing complaints, who have every legal right to do so, will face a “backlash.”  Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy and like your government is out to protect your rights?  Oh, and he’s one of those state employees that didn’t show up to testify after receiving a legislative subpoena in the Troopergate investigation.  And so is Annette Kreitzer,  but I digress.

I noted with some interest that in this week’s Ear column in the Anchorage Daily News, an email exchange between McLeod, Nizich and Kreitzer was leaked.  The exchange, containing the word “cleavage” was an instant attention-getter.  Think what first ran through your mind when you read the title of this post.  Love it, hate it, or have it, the word “cleavage” gets people’s attention.  It’s not quite as….er….titillating if you will,  to call it “proper workplace attire” but try to think of it in that way.

In an e-mailto administration commish Annette Kreitzer, Andree allowed as how she’s “astounded at the amount and magnitude of cleavage being exhibited by female employees in State of Alaska offices these days. Upon entering an office, I’m initially embarrassed when subjected to such low cut tops. …The negative impact this all has on the business I have to conduct is not to my benefit. I leave the office feeling offended.”

And, in a follow-up to Mike Nizich, the governor’s chief of staff, she noted, “That’s a lot of pressure to put on guys, whether they are members of the public or colleagues, to just ignore the fact that these women are wearing tops with breasts popping out. … and not cross the lines.”

It’s actually the first sentence that grabs my attention.  “In an email to”…..  A quick bit of checking with the aforementioned watchdog lets us know that Annette Kreitzer and Mike Nizich were the ONLY people who received the email communication.  Quite revealing, if you’ll pardon the turn of phrase.   I guess if the administration “hopes” for “backlash,” the best way to make those hopes come true is to take matters into their own hands.  You know what they say….If you want something done right, do it yourself.

And the blurb fails to call to attention McLeod’s past service in the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development.  That would be the agency that tries to make people employable by teaching about appropriate behavior in the workplace. Generally, this does not include sporting lots of cleavage if you work in a state office.  As someone who has had to enforce dress codes for longer and more thoroughly than I care to admit, I can vouch for the fact that the concept of “professional dress” is lost on some Alaskans.  I have, in my career, had to explain to people whose job it is to work with the public in a professional context, that it is inappropriate to wear to work:  a feather boa, a silk evening dress with spaghetti straps, jeans with bullet holes in them, hiking boots encrusted with various amounts of trail debris, rubber flip flops, shirts containing dozens of ornamental safety pins.  That is, of course, in addition to short skirts, plunging necklines, shorts and a host of other things.  It’s a problem.

We can add this little “outing” of private communication designed to embarrass McLeod to the growing list of backlashes which now includes Palin’s Golden Boy and right-wing shock jock Eddie Burke threatening to institute a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request to obtain all emails between McLeod and the State of Alaska.  Yes, he actually meant a “Records Request” to the state, and not a federal FOIA, but I’m hoping nobody corrects him.  “The feds” will get a good chuckle if he submits a FOIA request.   His now regular bashing of McLeod has taken on alarming tones, presumably in the hopes of cowing her into backing off.  Good luck.  McLeod is the real pit bull in this state.

I’d also like to bring to your attention a definition I found online.  It’s the definition of “cyber-bullying.”  Now it’s possible that the administration has never heard of such a thing.  After all, a sitting legislator in this state has denied the existence of email etiquette, so all things are possible.  But, here it is.

Cyber bullying is using technology to threaten, insult, or harass. Technologies like cell phones and the Internet allow for aggressive expression toward others that doesn’t rely on physical strength or even physical contact.

Hmmm.  Hope for retaliation, name calling, and revealing personal email communications that many would consider embarrassing , all utilizing the internet.  Yes folks, I think we have a winner.  Cyber-bullying.  It’s not just for Junior High anymore.

And I was going to put a nice shot of cleavage up there at the top, but I thought that it might be distracting while you were trying to think about the post.  Which also goes to prove a point.

Comments

comments

Comments
112 Responses to “Monday Morning Cleavage!”
  1. Bretta says:

    curiouser Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
    #31austintx Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 1:01 PM
    I have a silly question…….Is there a dress code or policy in some sort of Employee Manual ??
    ———–
    I don’t think that’s silly. I was wondering the same thing.
    *********************************************************************
    Apparently it’s not silly – I can’t find it and I’m here.

  2. Bretta says:

    # austintx Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 5:56 PM
    Is this skirt ok ???
    http://onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/sarah-palin-hottie.jpg
    *************************************
    It’s for breastfeeding!! 😯

  3. MO Inkslinger says:

    Shucks! Maybe Sarah should have saved all those RNC clothes and handed them out to the state employees to cover up all the cleavage.

  4. AlaskaDad says:

    This story has been Dugg @ Digg
    (/) no cyber bully’s

  5. Me says:

    Aussie Blue Sky,
    You prove my point. That one issue would have not cost the complainant.

  6. PalinSucks says:

    The Whole World is Annoyed by Sarah Palin

    Raed Jarrar just toured Americaland, where he stopped off in Alaska to visit with Sarah Palin. His impressions? He said that her voice was very “annoying in person”. Yep, that sounds about right!
    http://ow.ly/6n0R

  7. Lee323 says:

    105 clark Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 8:29 PM …….”they’ve never been run by women or ethnic minorities, either. add that to traditions for which i have no respect.”
    —————————————–

    I agree with you 100% on this (except for the word “never” :>) )

    Things are slowly changing but it takes a continued willingness to fight for change, eh? I think that’s why some of the women on this post have expressed dismay that younger women are so willing to sexualize themselves in the workplace nowdays. Older women have fought in the trenches since the 1960’s for women’s equality in the workplace….which included, in no small part, the fight to be viewed as more than a sexual distraction for the male workers, especially in more male-dominated professions.

  8. Alaska Pi says:

    @112 SMR –
    No, you didn’t miss anything here.
    And you are correct about the overall picture.
    And it’s important .

    It is important that behavior towards Ms McLeod by this administration be watched carefully and mustn’t be lost in talk or strategy about getting rid of the ghastly gov .
    Outing private communication with Ms McLeod when it serves the Adminstration’s purpose is worthy of the same contempt I feel about the Administration refusing to pony up their own professional email for … how long now?

  9. SMR says:

    Did I miss something here? I was under the impression that this was NOT a formal complaint filed by Ms. McLeod, but rather emails sent when/as a state employee. If that is the case then her emails addressing dress-code violations are very very reasonable, and the Nizich/Toomey behaviour is spitty to the 10th power.

    If that is not the case, and this is an ethics complaint (which I never got the impression that it was/is), and somehow alleges that the gov is directly or indirectly responsible for the poor wardrobe choices of State gov employees, well, then I’m going to have to say that it’s eye-roll worthy.

    But that still does not negate the Toomey/Nizich dastardly behaviour, behaviour that seems worthy of an ethics complaint itself. To really get steamed about that aspect check out Celtic Diva’s post on this.

    If one is an employee and wants to complain about having to sit around in meetings (or next to someone) with their stuff hanging out (cleavage/chest/etc), you meet with a supervisor in person or, if you’ve determined that they are less than credible in relation to taking action on issues, you send an email so that your concerns are voiced and there is a paper trail. This case seems to me to fall under that umbrella, with the spitefulness of Nizich/TOomey exploiting the situation to the gov’s advantage (or at least making the attempt to spin it to the gov’s advantage).

  10. honestyinGov says:

    This is a little O T… but everybody has left the open thread some time ago.

    I just got this ADN News Break.
    Coast Guard commander relieved
    The commander of the Coast Guard’s sector in Anchorage has been relieved from duty, the Coast Guard said Monday evening.
    ——————————
    I have no idea if there is some ‘ story’ behind this or what the angle is.

    The first question is… why was he relieved..? Did something happen?

  11. Blooper says:

    clark: You’ve got that right, Fagan is definitely not on our side. He’s against the gov, but for reasons entirely his own. I’ll say this much, he likes our side about as much as he likes the guv, which isn’t much.

    What’s that saying again, the enemy of my enemy is my friend? Well, sometimes. 🙂

    And yeah, I also agree that too many complaints, no matter how valid they are, will begin to hurt our cause at some point. It’s the law of diminishing returns. Either way, she’s got some courage, that McCleod!

  12. Alaska Pi says:

    @107 clark
    ” once she’s gone we can get on to more important business, i hope.
    and we can stop pretending to like people like mc leod, fagan and monegan — who are not really on our side.”
    ——————–
    Oh dear. Love to see the ghastly gov gone but we shall have to live with ALL ourselves then too.
    Whether I agree on all things with Ms McLeod or not, I admire her strength and courage in stepping up to the plate when we need it. That will stay after the gov has gone.
    It will temper how I see what comes after as well.

    So, no pretending here.
    No splitting off into we and them either.
    All that important stuff we are waiting to get to work on includes ALL Alaskans.
    Right now, I’d like to see Ms McLeod have the moral support she deserves, No pretending here.
    Ms Mc Leod- We’ve got your back.
    No pretending here…
    Go for it!

  13. clark says:

    we need to choose our battles more carefully, i believe.
    i wish palin was out of office by now. she has been running on her rims forever. why continue with this charade?
    once she’s gone we can get on to more important business, i hope.
    and we can stop pretending to like people like mc leod, fagan and monegan — who are not really on our side.

  14. honestyinGov says:

    How is this for an idea…..

    If some of the people/workers is these State Offices want to ‘let it all hang out’ (remember THAT song… maybe not… YOU may be too young)
    and you are doing business there you MIGHT …” accidently ” snap a picture with your cell phone of them. They want to display themselves…. and they let everybody else see them. They should have no objection to just a few more people taking a peek at them….. posted to YouTube maybe..? (or a blog)

    Can you say ” Alaska Employees Gone Wild”
    If they knew someone might take their picture… it could act as a deterrent as well. (somebody could ‘ leak ‘… that picture takers may be out there)
    Good evidence to pass onto Andree Mcleods case…..for those non-believers/detractors.

    Who wants to be made famous…. for Bad behavior..?

  15. clark says:

    lee at 86 said: “Finally…As to allowing folks under 30 years old to be the final arbiters of professional style and dress….my only comment would be that the vast majority of successful companies (large or small, private or public) in the country (and world) are not run by people under the age of 30….and never will be.”

    they’ve never been run by women or ethnic minorities, either. add that to traditions for which i have no respect.

  16. PalinSucks says:

    (You see, my wonderful readers, records requests can work both ways.)

    No wonder, Palin, is out at 8 P.M. trying her damnest to get good press.

    AKGovSarahPalinCurrently meeting w/leaders in Eagle to discuss flood damage & the way forward for this good AKn community.
    15 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

  17. OK, AKM: I know who wore the pink feather boa. The hiking boots would have been me (sorry!). I can’t quite remember the girl that wore the evening dress, but I remember the girl with the cleavage who would come over to me while I was on the ladder and ask if I needed anything (bat bat bat…..).

  18. austintx says:

    99 the problem child – Thanks for the link. Nizich looks like he’s playing pocket pool while he is with sarah. just sayin’…

  19. wired differently says:

    @64 womanwsc: maybe you’re not a grown up, but you are definitely funny.
    @85 austintx: you are incorrigible, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.

    My 2 cents on this issue: Andree is, as always, occupying the high ground. I like boobs, in fact I own two of them, but I keep them under wraps at work, along with my midriff and thighs.

  20. aha says:

    I’d think this email leak is a cause for complaint:

    Palin’s administration can find some emails to give out to the public, just not the one’s so court ordered.

    Remember a comment Palin made about hoping some documents would make their way to the light of day (even though she knew it was unethical or illegal) after she filed a complaint before becoming governor…Well, I wish those emails Andree is supposed to get and that the Governor’s office is trying to charge money for would ”make their way, somehow, into the light of day…anonymously.”

  21. PalinSucks says:

    Piper, selling, lemonade and banana bread for mommy’s legal fund?

    http://ow.ly/6ixB
    Juneau Empire
    From right, Piper Palin, 8, the daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, and Natalie Cosgrove, 8, sell lemonade to Andrea Watts and her mother, Pam, in front of the Governor’s Mansion on Sunday. Other items for sale included diet ice tea and banana bread. Small boxes of raisins were free.

  22. Chaim says:

    I’m with almost everyone here that Ms. McLeod has nothing to be embarrassed about. If Nizitch and Kreitzer think that releasing her communication smears her as a fuddy-duddy or whatever, they have said at least as much about their values as about hers.

    A mature person accepts that humans are sexual beings. A mature person also accepts that increasing the portion of employee time and attention devoted to sexual thoughts during the workday does not benefit the employer, apart from the increased risk of inappropriate conduct and sexual-harassment suits.

    This is apart from anyone’s moral judgment concerning proper attire and behavior off-the-clock. On the job, an employee is not there to flirt, or be flirted with, but to work. More work gets done when employees present a pleasant, non-distracting appearance, and interaction with customers or the public is facilitated when employees do not present themselves as putting their personal self-expression above doing their jobs . When the employer is the state, a citizen/taxpayer has the right to point out bad management practices, and she did so appropriately.

  23. SMR says:

    There are men in the workplace who like to see women’s cleavage in the office, makes life more interesting/fun/stimulating for them. They are scumbags. There are other men in the workplace who find it off-putting and pretty much immediately lump those women under “bimbo” “not to be taken seriously” etc. I say that as a woman who worked many many years in the oil industry (mainly male co-workers), and never felt the need to flaunt my generous cleavage (and for all you trolls out there, no, I was not generously endowed in any other areas, just up top). And I would say that A) the women who were interested in being taken seriously for our intellect/abilities/professionalism had a pretty conservative dress code, B) the women who dressed slutty were talked about by the women AND men, most men having poor opinions of them in all areas, and C) I do not know a single woman executive or even supervisor who shows cleavage, at least not in the big oil companies, and I am so thankful for that. Sorry, but showing cleavage sets women back.

    Let’s turn the tables, if you will: Some guy regularly shows up with his shirt unbuttoned half-way down his chest. Maybe it’s a smooth chest, maybe it’s hairy, maybe he wears a medallion, maybe not. Sorry, but I am just SO NOT INTERESTED in seeing his chest at work. Doesn’t matter if the chest is spectacular. And I would think that there is about a 99% chance that the other guys in the office will be making fun of him behind his back. And the only girls who will find it appealing are the ones with their shirts cut down to there. Distracting, absolutely. I don’t want to think about someone’s chest, male OR female. Don’t want to see it. That’s a no-brainer.

    This is a really simple issue, and dress codes abound in the real working world, and certainly at the State offices.

    So, that really only leaves the fact that Nizich & his evil minion, with some collusion on the part of the EVER WORTHLESS TRASH THAT IS SHEILA TOOMEY THE HYPOCRITE FROM HADES, are being hateful and unethical in this instance.

    Do some googling of Lynne Curry, business advice columnist at ADN, and you will find this issue discussed by her, and not disparagingly.

  24. Nan says:

    Canadian Neighbour (I remembered the “u”!)

    Actually, I think you’re right. I imagine it should be the writer of said email who files the complaint. I also imagine she’s already thought of this one – ha!

    Honestly, I had to read the post twice to try and figure out just what was being done to who(m), because the 1st email wasn’t worth all the finger pointing; it sure seems to have a legitimate point.

    Wild & crazy.

  25. Star says:

    Check out fix noise nd see all the short skirts and cleavage…Yikessss Me thinks Scarah would fit right in….LMAO

  26. austintx says:

    88 Canadian Neighbour Says: Ethics violation.

    Is that also breaking the law ??

    Does any body have a copy of a Policy/Rules Manual for state employees ??

  27. austintx says:

    bubbles – nite , and glad I could send you to bed smilin’ !!

  28. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Put your ear up to the monitor — Real close — Now listen closely — What’s that sound???

    AAwwww!! Did ya hear!!

    IMO That’s the sound of grounds for an Ethics Violation!! As against the two individuals, Mike Nizich and Annette Kreitzer, to whom Andree exchanged the ‘private emails of a Citizen of the State of Alaska’ with ‘Public Servants of the State of Alaska’ who are bound by the rules and regulations of not disclosing information whatsoever of a private citizen.

    Get that Alaska Legal Fund ready Palin — Got the first two users and abusers!!

    Nizich wants backlash — Well baby, if I was Andree you’d be gettin’ it. You’d be watchin’ over your shoulder at every turn.

  29. bubbles says:

    austintx—re;palin hottie….good grief!!!!!!………..nite all…love b

  30. Lee323 says:

    74 clark Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 4:46 PM

    “they used to say the same things about skirts cut above the knee, and skimpy bathing suits.
    if no one under 30 is worried about it, i’m not going to be either.”
    —————————————————

    You certainly have a point that society has changed in general over time. Clothing styles do change and are generally driven by the teenagers and twenty-somes….but professionalism in business attire rarely changes and for good reason.

    “Uniform” is an interesting word both concretely (attire like a police officer’s uniform) and more abstractly (as in “all the same”).

    Why are “uniforms” important to business and professionalism??… Because uniforms not only identify a person as being a legitimate entity of an organization but also confer on that individual the power and any other definable qualities which that organization holds and desires that its representatives project. An example: a man dressed in old jeans and a T-shirt with a hard rock band motif shows up at your house in an unmarked truck…says he’s with the telephone company and wants inside your house…Are you going to let him in? I’m not…

    “Dress codes” are just another form of a “uniform.” If an entity (business, government, school, etc) has a dress code, it desires to project a certain image to its customers and maintain a certain standard among its ranks. The outliers or violators of the dress code do indeed disrupt the smooth functioning and primary mission of that entity.

    Finally…As to allowing folks under 30 years old to be the final arbiters of professional style and dress….my only comment would be that the vast majority of successful companies (large or small. private or public) in the country ( and world) are not run by people under the age of 30….and never will be.

    Uniform professionalism is necessary and it works….especially in health care, government, police/law, the military, and a myriad of other entities, private or public.

  31. Alaska Pi says:

    Really sorry to see State officials engaging in such foolishness-
    Is there some REAL notion here that Ms McLeod’s concern about folks dressing professionally is frivolous?
    Or that being concerned about it is publicity-hounding… given that these were private emails? Phhht.
    And that EB creature… double phhhhttt.

    I am one of the old broads now , who are wondering what the gals today are thinking.
    Thirty -five years ago I walked into the building trades world as the first woman most of the guys had ever worked with. Along with so many professional white and blue collar working women , I worked as hard at changing cultural expectations of what women could do in the work world as I did at my job.
    Just breaks my heart to see these young gals coming to work dressed up for hootin it up at a bar dance – for more reasons than they will ever know.

    I do expect public (and private) employees to dress sensibly and appropriately for work.
    The State of Alaska would be better served by the DOA chief looking to increase professionality in those who serve the public than engaging in personal public cyber-bulling/anti-whistleblower behavior.
    This is really starting to get on my nerves- this casting the concerns of citizens as negative , frivolous, blah,blah, blah…

    There are always folks who don’t agree with an administration- these so-called top state professionals know that. The broad ranging complaints about this gov and administration from an increasing base should serve as a wake-up call to them that all is not well in Citizenland.

    Instead , they choose the time-dishonored method of trying to shoot the messenger …PHHHHTTT.

  32. Blooper says:

    the problem child IS MY NAME said: “Okay, I think above the knee skirts are okay. But I draw the line at mid-thigh. Even if you’ve got really great thighs. It’s just too hard to cross your legs without flashing.”

    ROFL, I totally agree! 🙂

  33. Karin in CT says:

    Has ANYONE even remotely associated with the Palin administration EVER admitted they were wrong about something? Maybe it’s too much to ask, but how about just once in a blue moon one of them can say, “Gee I see your point there. We will look into that.” Instead, they are always on guard, always on the defensive.

    I don’t imagine that cushy state jobs are plentiful these days, but unless I was a fellow Wasilla High grad I would rather be on welfare and homeless than work in GINO’s administration. The stress level must be unreal, nevermind the headaches from constantly bonking one’s head on a desk.

  34. Carol says:

    What really bugs me about Nizich’s response, it that Ms. McLeod’s complaint about cleavage is spot on. A former supervisor with the court system regularly wears very revealing tops–I can describe the mole between her boobs- it was that bad. There is a dress code, but it is generally ignored and I too was offended. Mr.Nizich’s response was inappropriate and again it appears that he is attempting to humiliate and trivialize Ms. McLeod’s very valid concern.

  35. KateinCanada says:

    Dr Patois 58
    “a mere breast”- mere? Perhaps you’ve never endured a mamogram?

  36. austintx says:

    76 Irishgirl Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 4:49 PM
    Nite all
    ***************************
    See ya in the morning.

  37. Irishgirl says:

    Nite all

  38. Lainey says:

    @austintx
    As long as they wear Candies “abstinence” pumps , it’s ok !!
    ————
    lol … bristol’s favorite shoe!

  39. clark says:

    at asian, 45:
    they used to say the same things about skirts cut above the knee, and skimpy bathing suits.
    if no one under 30 is worried about it, i’m not going to be either.

  40. jojobo1 says:

    If the e-mails Andrea wants are on yahoo can’t she get them from yahoo.they keep them at least for some tie as far as I know. Also if there was nothing wrong said in the e-mails why aren’t they being given.It’s not like they would be leaking confidential material like the feds would.

  41. Irishgirl says:

    Just a mad thought!!

  42. tigerwine says:

    Ya know, it’s not just the Gov’s office. Have you noticed how much cleavage is shown in the work place on TV? On supposedly very professional women? I’m embarrassed sitting home watching sometimes. Not that I condone sexual harrassment in the workplace, but, honestly, with all that stuff hanging out, how can a man (or woman, for that matter) keep their attention focused on their job?

    Ohhhhh, now I get it – that’s why the Palin administration acts like it does – it simply can’t focus!

  43. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    Me Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 2:55 PM
    I support adding a bonded fee that is not collected unless the complaint is dismissed. I would make it payable after, not before, and I would make it levyably from a permanent fund dividend.

    I think between $250 and $500 would be fair.
    —————————————————–
    May I remind you that regardless of the fact that Palin defrauded the State of Alaska and had to pay back thousands of dollars she stole, the Travelgate complaint is officially not upheld?

    You think that’s fair, do you?

  44. Irishgirl says:

    I am trying my best to titillate (sp) the conversation. 🙂

  45. austintx says:

    67 Philip Munger Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 4:05 PM
    I asked if Judy thought we are getting prudish in our advancing age. She said, emphatically, “No – that’s not it. Some young women seem to feel under pressure to dress like hookers.”
    ************************************************
    As long as they wear Candies “abstinence” pumps , it’s ok !!

  46. Last week, when Andree told me that Sheila had just called here, and then explained the situation, my first thought was along the lines of, “why’s Andree so upset about this dress code thing?”

    Over dinner, though, I discussed it with my wife. She came down 100% on Andree’s side. AMy wife is just starting a new job with the state, but has been working with student teachers for the past three years, through UAA. Judy (my wife) says she sees a lot of examples of just what Andree is disturbed by, almost on a daily basis. According to her, people, even in their 30s, don’t have a clue as to what is appropriate.

    I asked if Judy thought we are getting prudish in our advancing age. She said, emphatically, “No – that’s not it. Some young women seem to feel under pressure to dress like hookers.”

  47. austintx says:

    Lee323 – Eloquently put. …………..the fox guarding the henhouse.

  48. Lee323 says:

    52 Me Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 2:55 PM
    “I support adding a bonded fee that is not collected unless the complaint is dismissed.”
    ————————————————————–
    An interesting thought….. but unfortunately it assumes that the only problem with the ethics complaint system resides with the complaint filers (the citizens).

    Before any reforms are piled on the citizens’ side of the complaint system, perhaps there should be reform of the entity that reviews the complaints, eh? Many people see a huge conflict of interest in the fact that the governor-appointed Personnel Board is the entity that reviews the complaints against the governor.

    A good example of this is the Troopergate investigation: An independent bipartisan legislative investigation found Palin guilty of abuse of power and ethics violations…. but her Personnel Board found the opposite. No wonder the public is cynical about their complaints being fairly judged….or whether they have any true power or voice.

    As power is generally on the side of the government, it’s critical to protect the public’s rights to monitor and complain about their government without the fear of reprisals from that government (or the harassment that Ms. McLeod is currently experiencing). Does this mean that a system cannot be abused by the public? Of course not…but reform in this case really needs to START with the review side of the system, not the filing side of the system.

  49. womanwithsardinecan says:

    Stand abreast AND abutt. Let’s see em’ comin’ and goin’.
    Okay, I’m not a grownup.

  50. sandra in oregon says:

    We are seeing a reason why complaints should be kept confidential. If McLeod were an employee of the state, her position at work would be compromised.
    Can you imagine having all these fellow workers being angry at someone who complained?

    This reminds of the the movie, “Nine to Five.” At the time I had little compassion for the Dolly Parton character. Now it seems clearer that there are many sides in office politics.

  51. Actually, I don’t see how the released email is an embarassment to Andree McLeod, as some others have said. She comes out on the side of conducting oneself professionally in the work place. The response should have been that those who could do something about it, would.

    I used to have to give that proper dress speech when I worked with kids and adults who were counselors and junior staff at day camp. You wouldn’t think that would be a problem, but some people just don’t get it, and I found it really annoying that staff would show up to be in charge of kids dressed like they were going out for the evening or ready to go to work on Pacific Hwy (south of Seattle, that’s where the hookers used to hang out, a lot).

    As for the cyber-bullying, I have some friends who were victimized in that way, though not on political sites. It can be very nasty and feel even more threatening than a face-to-face conflict. I’m glad there is now a definition available – maybe it will make some think twice before they engage in it.

  52. Dr. Patois says:

    Perhaps more succinctly put, to expect Nizich and Kreitzer to enforce a dress code would require of them a level of professionalism that they sadly do not possess.

  53. Blooper says:

    austintx: Yeah, I think in Sarah’s mind Alaska is an autocracy – and she’s on top. (Or maybe a fledgling theocracy what with her recent attempts at proseletysing those in need.)

    I find GINO to be somewhat of a paradox herself. She of course loves being the one in charge, yet she constantly promotes policies that (IMO) end up setting her own sex back. With the exception of herself, I think she believes women should play a more subservient, biblical role in everyday life.

  54. Physicsmom says:

    I agree with Lee323. This does not reflect well on the Palin administration. Not only are they trying to retaliate against a constituent, but it appears that they endorse cleavage in the workplace. They are trying to make Andree look petty, but they look stupid and juvenile instead. Everyone’s stuck in Jr. High in this administration. Are these two clowns Wasilla buddies of GINO’s also too?

  55. Dr. Patois says:

    I get that leaking these e-mails, no matter the content, is unprofessional and unethical. I don’t understand why they think these would be an embarrassment to Ms. McLeod. They should be an embarrassment to the recipients. We are very aware they do not enforce the Ethics Act so it should come as no surprise they do not bother themselves to enforce a dress code. We appreciate them letting us know this fact. The “theme” of this administration appears to be ‘try to change rules and laws to suit your needs’. Really, why trouble yourself over a mere breast when you have things like pesky subpoenas to deal with?

  56. sauerkraut says:

    53 Lee323 Says: May 11th, 2009 at 2:57 PM

    Palin’s base is comprised largely of religious fundamentalists who wouldn’t have a problem with more modest attire anywhere…..much less in government offices.

    _____________

    Ain’t that the truth.

    Don’t see many church ladies or Amish walking around with their collarbones exposed let alone further down.

  57. Krubozumo Nyankoye says:

    Here’s an example of perfect cleavage for you, and it’s public domain for non-commercial use.

    http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/mineral/calcite/calcite6.htm

  58. ziggybutterfly says:

    Well. C’mon now. They were asked to release emails, and they did. We all know who we’re dealing with here. This should come as no surprise. The concern isn’t if Andree McLeod is personally embarrassed, it’s if the frivilous emails to Palin’s staff re: cleavage undermine other, more legitimate, ethics complaints.

  59. austintx says:

    50 Blooper Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
    Nice expose on the topic of whistle-blower retaliation. It’s nice that some State of Alaska elected officials & employees are hard at work trying to find ways to retaliate against citizens with valid complaints. This is far better than if they were to actually spend time attending to legitimate state business.
    *************************************************
    Yup – Minions and punk-asses doing sarah’s bidding. Sorry ass state of affairs.

  60. Lee323 says:

    Hmmmm….I would say that this attempt at embarrassing Andree might not have the intended consequences for the Palin administration. In fact, it could easily backfire on them:

    First…….. defending certain standards of professionalism in state offices puts Andree on the high road in many constituents’ minds. The much weaker position would be to try to defend cleavage or any other non-professional attire in the government work place.

    Second…..Palin’s base is comprised largely of religious fundamentalists who wouldn’t have a problem with more modest attire anywhere…..much less in government offices.

    Once again……Palin and her minions come out looking like they just can’t figure out how to run a mature, sophisticated government……or like they can’t figure out how to stop shooting themselves in the foot.

  61. Me says:

    I support adding a bonded fee that is not collected unless the complaint is dismissed. I would make it payable after, not before, and I would make it levyably from a permanent fund dividend.

    I think between $250 and $500 would be fair.

  62. Ripley in CT says:

    Uhhhhh… did you say something?

    *trying hard to take eyes off cleavage……* 😛

  63. Blooper says:

    Nice expose on the topic of whistle-blower retaliation. It’s nice that some State of Alaska elected officials & employees are hard at work trying to find ways to retaliate against citizens with valid complaints. This is far better than if they were to actually spend time attending to legitimate state business.

  64. austintx says:

    42 Martha Says:
    Ak needs a cyber hacker to go out on the tubes and track this stuff down!
    *********************************************
    Dang right !!

  65. Lighthouse says:

    “Sigh. In the second to last paragraph, I meant to say that butt cheeks are arguably less sexy than breasts. Sorry!” asiangrrlMN

    Arguably less sexy…okay, that’s probably true. But I really think I’d have to consider those on a case-by-case basis. (Probably the same thing for the breasts too, though)

  66. Lighthouse says:

    “Well, if we all stand abreast…maybe we can get those e-mails.”

    Cute, Irishgirl!

  67. asiangrrlMN says:

    Sigh. In the second to last paragraph, I meant to say that butt cheeks are arguably less sexy than breasts. Sorry!

  68. asiangrrlMN says:

    First of all, I am disappointed that there is no picture.

    clark, it’s not about being a prude or not being a prude. It’s about professionalism. I am not a prude by any means, but I would never have my boobs hanging out at the work place, just as I would not say, “F-you, you mf’er” to my boss, though I might say it to a friend in jest. I go to Balloon Juice when I want to be rude in my comments, and I keep them fairly clean when I am here.

    In addition, I second SMR. Acting like a hooker at work gives working women a bad name. One of the things that offended me so much about Palin is that she tried to use sex to replace experience. She just personifies the stereotype of a woman who slept her way to the top, which makes it easier to dismiss professional women in general.

    If we truly don’t care about breasts hanging out, then I say men should be able to wear assless pants to work as well. I mean, the butt cheeks aren’t arguably less sexy than the breasts.

    On to the topic of cyber-bullying: It seems to be the way of the Palin administration. Browbeat the opposition until they back down. Here’s hoping that Andee McLeod and others don’t back down.

  69. Outsidelookingin says:

    I never post here, I just enjoy reading the commentary. Alaska is one of my favorite places, and not just because my family lives there. However, Alaska politics are just getting too depressing. As many have said before, it’s like middle schoolers are in charge. I am fortunate to live in a state that has actual grown-ups in the statehouse. None of them are perfect but they conduct themselves in a mature manner and seem to actually remember that they are serving the interests of the people of the state and not their own. Although I do have to give some credit to the Alaska legislature which showed some hint of a backbone this year. To AKM and other bloggers, keep up the good work!

  70. BHT says:

    According to the ADN, in response to Andree’s complaint about clothing…
    “A restrained Kreitzer sent Andree the state dress code, which includes: “Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, chest, upper thighs, stomach, or underwear is not appropriate.””

    It sounds like there is a dress code, the only question is whether it is being followed.

  71. Martha says:

    curiouser Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
    #31austintx Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 1:01 PM

    I have a silly question…….Is there a dress code or policy in some sort of Employee Manual ??
    ———–

    I don’t think that’s silly. I was wondering the same thing.

    I’m also wondering if there are more than 1100 missing emails. How would anyone know if there are hundreds or thousands more being withheld or made to vanish?
    ============================================

    Most government have dress codes don’t they? In CA they sure do. My sister was clerking in our provincial hospital system and they were assessed monthly, including the manner in which they “dressed”.

    Those missing e-mails…..WTH? Nixon would be jealous. Ak needs a cyber hacker to go out on the tubes and track this stuff down!

  72. puzzled says:

    Many of those missing emails had “Matanuska Maid” in the subject line……..the untold story. Google “Dairygate” to see the tip of the iceberg. So much still buried under water. This administration does NOT want that to leak.

  73. GA Peach a/k/a Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble says:

    I’m glad I had the birthday thread with my coffee (and cupcake) and not the breast thread.

    As for dress codes, silly me thought all government offices had them.

    And cyberbullying – that’s for twits who have nothing substantive to tweet (or broadcast). Of course, I guess the good news is that there’s something (a lot) to Andree McLeod’s charges.

  74. aussiegal77 says:

    I have a colleague at work who doesn’t understand the concept of appropriate work attire.

    I’ve often wanted to say the following to her:

    “Congratulations on your boobs, honey. But please – put them away, we don’t need to share that much during the work day.”

  75. curiouser says:

    #31austintx Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 1:01 PM

    I have a silly question…….Is there a dress code or policy in some sort of Employee Manual ??
    ———–

    I don’t think that’s silly. I was wondering the same thing.

    I’m also wondering if there are more than 1100 missing emails. How would anyone know if there are hundreds or thousands more being withheld or made to vanish?

  76. curiouser says:

    With this cyber-bullying attempt to embarrass Andree, this administration continues its unprofessional, childish and unethical behavior. Everyone seems to date the change in SP’s behavior to losing the VP campaign. I’m beginning to suspect the change started with the personnel board’s dismissal of the Troopergate complaint and the legislature’s failure to hold the personnel board and SP accountable.

  77. downeastah says:

    “and the Palin administration turned all of them over….except for 1100. ”

    Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Where are the emails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  78. aha says:

    Can someone tell me when the emails are due? I know they keep stalling, but it’s an obvious ploy.

    Do they courts have any say in this?

  79. Paula says:

    I must admit, while reading, I did look down my own top several times. Yes, very distracting.

  80. clark says:

    only in america, do we take such pride in our prudery.
    someday we will drop this ridiculous facade.
    a strap, or part of a breast… you’d think the world had ended.

  81. austintx says:

    30 Lainey Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 1:01 PM
    when will they release the ‘important’ emails??? did they wipe out the 1100 that were not turned over? if you add them up, would they total 18-1/2 minutes?
    *********************************************
    HA-ha-ha……..funny one !!

  82. austintx says:

    25 The Rubber Room Hotel Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 12:53 PM
    I have very strong feelings about appropriate dress in the work place.
    State offices are not HOOTERS.
    *******************************************
    I have a silly question…….Is there a dress code or policy in some sort of Employee Manual ??

  83. Lainey says:

    when will they release the ‘important’ emails??? did they wipe out the 1100 that were not turned over? if you add them up, would they total 18-1/2 minutes?

  84. mwThatOne.. says:

    oops, I did it too….mea culpa. Fie on cleavage in the workplace!

  85. mwThatOne.. says:

    PalinSucks: I have heard that maybe Croft would, but that’s just a rumor…

  86. Professor Geezer says:

    Oops, sorry if my last comment was off-topic. AKM, I TOTALLY agree about the cyber-bullying and I hope that someone in the Palin administration is charged.

  87. Professor Geezer says:

    Poe and Halcro in the next AK gov. campaign would both make Sarah Palin look like she just stepped out of MEAN GIRLS.

  88. The Rubber Room Hotel says:

    I have very strong feelings about appropriate dress in the work place.
    State offices are not HOOTERS.

  89. PalinSucks says:

    Who is a viable candidate for the governors seat? Appears, Halcro, is staging himself. You think, Knowles, will go after another election? There needs to be someone without baggage or splitting the votes. Knowles would have had the last election if, Halcro, wasn’t as popular. His 9% of the ballots tipped the win to, PALIN.

  90. penny says:

    A widdle off subject
    But i think S. P’s relationship with the good lord is genuine (warped.. but still)
    Something tells me she “thinks” God told her .. “i gave you decent looks.. use them to spread my deeds” .. I really think she thinks that
    What is happening, though, all her sexiness stuff (in her mind if I have the heart of God I am not like the heathen) are coming back to bite her
    90% of her admirers only talk about her looks
    The men only focus on her legs (hence the heels she chose to wore)
    Her newly adult daughter in a campaign for a good cause with a very pedophile-ly overtone..
    I am all for lookin’ good.. but she just went over the top

    I remember the Vanity Fair article where she was asked if her “beauty” detracted her and her response was that she “tones it down” by using the school marm hairdoo and glasses
    Well.. she also spent alot of time caking on the Tammy Fayle makeup

    She is cute.. I will hand that to her but not hot. But she was entering an arena (politics) where nooone was at all sexy.. she took her nitch (cause I think she thinks.. God told her(

    Well God is a big God.. and it don’t work honey.. coming back to bite ya

  91. SMR says:

    Sheila Toomey, The Ear, and ADN all suck. Nizich sucks. The SP administration sucks. And I am having a hard time keeping myself from generalizing and saying that anyone who supports SP, her administration, the collusion between ADN and said administration also suck…

    How does a state slide so quickly into the abyss? WHy does it seem that SP has been gov for about a million years when in fact it’s been less than 3? Why do I feel so incredibly discouraged about Alaska and the fact that it will take years & years to recover from this gov, her antics, her minions’ antics, the disastrous policies?

    More directly on topic: cleavage does not belong in the office. Simple as that. As a professional woman I find it offensive on so many levels — the primary one being that it undermines women. How in the world can anyone take a woman seriously who shows off cleavage? Is there any difference between breast cleavage and butt cleavage? Not really. Would anyone question the lack of credibility or professionalism given to or shown by someone wearing jeans that are cut so low that they show off butt cleavage or thong panties? I don’t think so.

    Eddie Burke is a caramel mochaciatto-sipper. Maybe I should start an internet rumor… But first have to get the guys here to check in, make sure that THEY sip manlier drinks…

  92. sauerkraut says:

    4 Irishgirl Says: May 11th, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Well, if we all stand abreast…maybe we can get those e-mails.
    _______________

    hahahahaha, you silly girl.

    you first! 😎

  93. sauerkraut says:

    btw – in all fairness, when the boss lady dresses racily, the minions can hardly be expected to dress any differently. Yet another example of poor leadership at the top. Palin is a terrible role model.

  94. austintx says:

    13 womanwithsardinecan Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 12:16 PM
    I’m betting the Palin admin didn’t charge adn for those emails they leaked from a private citizen. And they got them out promptly too. Funny, that. also. too.
    *******************************************
    Yup – NO S^*T !!

  95. penny says:

    This is in Palin’s office? .. see she just streams Christian morals every where she goes..
    No wonder Todd spends alotta time there

  96. sauerkraut says:

    When I saw the word “cleavage,” my expectation was a post about Mt. Redoubt and geology (cleavage refers to how minerals split along unseen seams) but nooooo… it’s more boob talk.

    Now I’ve gotta go find those racy Rihanna pix again… 😉

  97. austintx says:

    12 UK Lady Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 12:16 PM
    It’s very telling that these twerps are fallig over themselves to leak Andree’s emails but are clinging on to the GINO’s as if their very existence depended on them.
    *********************************************
    Their jobs certainly depend on them not getting out………

  98. Ennealogic says:

    Looks like unethical behavior is catching. Shame on Nizich and/or Kreitzer for leaking official private government correspondence. Not that I’m surprised. Ms. F***-Me Boots Lady has set the example, and her high school buddies with whom she surrounds herself are probably guaranteed not to be chided. In fact, she’ll probably make them a special mooseburger in thanks.

    Good grief. Just when you think the Office of the Administration of the State of Alaska could get no more surly, childish, vindictive, hopeless… there they go again.

  99. womanwithsardinecan says:

    I’m betting the Palin admin didn’t charge adn for those emails they leaked from a private citizen. And they got them out promptly too. Funny, that. also. too.

  100. UK Lady says:

    It’s very telling that these twerps are fallig over themselves to leak Andree’s emails but are clinging on to the GINO’s as if their very existence depended on them.

  101. Blue Idaho says:

    Why are naughty monkey shoes O.K. but cleavage not?

  102. karen marie says:

    when is the palin administration going to realize that only their base is impressed with stuff like this and the rest of the public sees them as incompetent hacks?

  103. austintx says:

    An introduction to cleavage……….
    http://worms.zoology.wisc.edu/urchins/SUcleavage_intro.html

  104. womanwithsardinecan says:

    As I mentioned over at Diva’s place, this newest stunt by the thugs in the Palin administration is classless and ethically challenged. I’m hoping for a backlash, starting with you and Diva reporting this latest childish and extremely unprofessional behavior.

  105. Blue Idaho says:

    You would think they would have more important things to discuss. I find it a bit disturbing that Annette is concerned about the poor men in the office that may be ‘ pressured’ into stepping over the line. It kind of goes along with the argument rapiest use. ” She was asking for it.”

  106. ayerishgrl says:

    ahhh, the highschool theatrics this woman and her administration persist in creating. Is there anyone in that office over the mental age of 15?

  107. MissSunshine says:

    True story: My supervisor once told a new female employee that it was inappropriate to have her bra visible in the workplace (due to an extremely low cut blouse), and her solution was to go to the ladies room and remove her bra. When she emerged, now braless (NOT an improvement) he sent her home. The next day her boyfriend showed up at work, as Miss No-Bra told him she was told to remove her bra, (not true) and he was angry about it. I was not sorry to see this Class-A drama queen fired within the week.

  108. Irishgirl says:

    Well, if we all stand abreast…maybe we can get those e-mails.

  109. 56degreesN says:

    Thanks for catching this. Once ADN and Sheila Toomey engaged in a little “outing”, I chose to no longer bother with their drivel du jour, so missed it entirely.

  110. austintx says:

    Oh – and if we EVER see the e-mails , I can only imagine the “cyber-bullying” we would see there too.also.

  111. austintx says:

    Another attention getting title to a wonderful post !!