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About

THE BLOG--HISTORY

"Blue Oasis" began in 2005 in its Blogger format (now an archive) and became possibly the first Alaska Blog on Progressive Politics. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis was honored to represent Alaska as the state blog.

Transition--Community Blog

In September 2008, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis moved to a Soapblox Community Blog format. Readers can become full participants by registering on the blog to comment and write "diaries." Diary titles appear on the right sidebar for folks to read and provide comments. Blog editors may choose to move some of these diaries to the front page.

While this Community was formed specifically with Alaska in mind, all "friends of Alaska" are welcome as members!

**Note about registering** Scroll down the right side until you find the link to register. Then, just follow the instructions!

**Note about comments** To comment on a story, click on the heading and then look for the "comment bar" at the bottom (it's light grey, I can't seem to change it). I believe the font color NOW permits you to see the "post comment" text.

YOUR BLOGMISTRESS

My name is Linda Kellen Biegel and I am a former 15-year Federal employee. Thirteen of those years were spent working for the US Army Corps of Engineers. I am also semi-retired from the Alaska music scene (singer, sound tech, stage manager, logistics).

When the blog was chosen to represent Alaska in the DNCC State Blogger Pool at the Denver Convention, I attended with the help of Alaska Real blogmistress, Writing Raven and my daughter Morrigan. On August 29th, one day after Barack Obama's inspiring speech at Invesco Field , my life took another turn as it did for all Alaska bloggers when Gov. Sarah Palin was chosen to be John McCain's VP running mate. Since then, I've either assisted or have been interviewed by media from the UK, Italy, Australia and Germany as well as national media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, NY Times, ABC Good Morning America's Kate Snow, National Journal, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, and NPR.

Presently, I work as a freelance writer, PR, event coordinator, community organizer, wife to computer programmer Josh and mother to 11-year-old Morrigan. Our family especially enjoys our summers in Alaska where we get to subsistence set-net fish Sockeye salmon as well as halibut fish/whalewatch in the family's homemade aluminum boat, "The Neverdone" (when it's working). We reside in Anchorage, Alaska.

Origin of "Celtic Diva"

I've used "Celtic Diva" as a screen name since the early 1990's on Web TV.

"Celtic"

"Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name. What they don't realize is that I'm adopted. I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew. I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music. That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16."

"Diva"

"Linda is well-known in Alaska & beyond as the prominent progressive political blogger Celtic Diva of Celtic Diva?s Blue Oasis. But back in the day, the early 1990s, I knew her as Linda Kellen, a member of the local folk/rock band Sky is Blu, which amongst other things performed in at least a couple or so of the annual women?s show Celebration of Change, in which I also performed. And if you don?t already know, let me tell you: Linda is one fine damn singer."

I went on after the break-up of "Sky is Blu" to perform with various Alaska musicians and work with national folks like Bo Diddly, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater, Carny Wilson, etc...

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NEW ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED--Against the Governor's Legal Fund Trust

by: Celtic Diva

Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 18:24:37 PM AKDT


The complaint itself can be found on the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer site.

Integrity of Governor Palin's Office Up for Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 27, 2009 - Eagle river resident Kim Chatman has filed an ethics complaint against Governor Palin for creating a legal defense fund for the Palins and state officials.  Chatman charges that this fund violates the sections of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act which address conflicts of interests that are substantial and material:

Sec. 39.52.120. Misuse of official position

(a) A public officer may not use, or attempt to use, an official position for personal gain, and may not intentionally secure or grant unwarranted benefits or treatment for any person.

Sec. 39.52.130.  Improper gifts

A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, ...that is a benefit to the officer's personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.

"First off, I find it offensive that they're calling it the Alaska Fund Trust," Kim Chatman said.  "It is deceptive, misleading and has absolutely nothing to do with either trust or Alaska ."

Chatman believes that Gov. Palin's legal bills are the direct result of Gov. Palin's actions.  "It's time for her to accept responsibility for the manner in which she decided to handle the legislative council investigation." Chatman says. "She could have cooperated like she promised.  Instead, Governor Palin chose to fight it and incur legal bills."

Chatman has further concerns.  "With 20 months remaining in the governor's term, this contrived money scheme leaves a lot of room for people to buy favors from Palin and her cronies," Chatman says. "And what about all these other state officials involved in this plot. Aren't they in violation of the Ethics Act too?"

I have literally not had an opportunity to read the whole thing yet.  I'll have more comment later...probably in a new post.

Celtic Diva :: NEW ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED--Against the Governor's Legal Fund Trust
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Not surprising (3.00 / 1)
I rather expected this.

I know that many will complain that contributing to the fund does not constitute demanding influence, but when the Governor by way of staff states that this was set up to ward off further ethics complaints then it is in effect all about influence.

I would also wonder if it is legal for her to add family and friends as beneficiaries with a claim to this fund as well.

Then I also ask if it is legal or ethical for her to be using the PAC to solicit donations to a personal legal defense fund.

In my opinion, none of it is any way ethical even if it ends up being legal.  


One of the Palinistas is complaining.... (3.00 / 1)
Oh, hey, it's our old "friend" Videmus Omnia!

He/she said, "First, let me remind everyone that Chatman is breaking the law by going public with the complaint. Alaska law explicitly states these complaints are confidential."

Um, not according to the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, in their story on the Sondra Tompkins ethics complaint, filed with the Alaska attorney general's office only 5 days ago.

"At least 11 other ethics complaints have been filed against Palin. State ethics complaints are confidential unless a public accusation is filed or the accused person agrees in writing to make it public."

Also, there is this from the Alaska State Legislature web page:

"CONFIDENTIALITY

Meetings of the ethics committee to consider a complaint are confidential. The complaint and committee documents are confidential. Decisions released by the committee on complaints, which the committee investigated, are public.

If the complaint advances to a public hearing, documents issued by the committee or documents presented at the formal hearing are open to public inspection. All committee deliberations, however, are confidential."

--------------------

I take that second bolded sentence above -- "The complaint and committee documents are confidential" -- to mean that ONCE the complaint gets to the committee and it's discussed, all records pertaining to that complaint are confidential.

I take it to NOT mean that the complaint itself is confidential -- otherwise how can there be "clear and transparent" leadership, which is what Palin promised?

It's natural, I suppose, for C4Pers to want everything regarding Sarah Palin to be behind closed doors, but for Palin and her ilk to want the Juneau Democrats to hold an open vote...




Here's what Sarah said in an interview (0.00 / 0)
With Alaska Business Monthly on March 1, 2007 in answering the question "Do you support and ethics bill"

Palin: I certainly support an ethics bill, and I look forward to working on one with the Legislature, on both sides of the aisle. Some legislators are quite passionate about the ethics bill, so I expect to see a good product by the end of the legislative session. We need to tighten loopholes, and prove to the public that government on our watch will be open and honest, and that we will be transparent in the manner in which we conduct the state's business. As for enforcing ethics violations, there are already agencies in place to do this like the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) and various ethics committees, and I'd like to see us begin policing ourselves, as well. What we have to do is set the bar high, and give agencies like APOC the tools they need to do the job. We've put an investigator position for APOC in this budget, for example--for years, that agency hasn't had an investigator to look into complaints.  


I just have THIS to say: (0.00 / 0)
Damn you David Axelrod, and your vast left-wing conspiracy!
Damn you to Hell!

PS - Dave, I'm still wondering where my check is.  You sure you have my address spelled right?

Kim Chatman Juneteenth Lawsuit (0.00 / 0)
Kim Chatman is also part of another lawsuit against Sarah Palin.

http://issueswire.com/releases...






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