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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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For the Alaska Community and beyond...
My daughter touched a Silver Medal!
USA Women's Olympic Hockey Team Star Kerry Weiland with our friend Isabella and my daughter Morrigan at St. Baldrick's Day
(Scroll down to find posts.)
(Please register to participate in diaries and comments! We'd love for you to join our Community!)
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Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 08:29:45 AM AKDT
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Andree McLeod sent out this press release:
Monday, July, 13, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska: Anchorage resident and registered Republican Andrée McLeod has filed an ethics complaint today with the Attorney General's Office charging that Governor Palin violated the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act and knowingly, intentionally and willfully abused her official position and state resources for partisan political purposes and withheld official action for personal and political interests.
"We've been had," says Andrée McLeod. "Sarah Palin failed to preserve, protect and safeguard the office of the governor for selfish reasons and the State of Alaska and Alaskans were left vulnerable and exposed."
Signed and completed official travel documents show that upon being summoned by the McCain campaign on August 27th Sarah Palin wrote "Conclusion of state business" for that day and flew off to places unknown. After her failed bid, similar documents state "Return to duty status". However, payroll documents show Palin continued to receive her $125,000 governor's salary and benefited by using state funded staff on the campaign for 'state business' while knowing she was off duty.
"By signing these documents Sarah Palin knew she temporarily quit as governor to campaign for VP full-time; but by pocketing her salary Palin deceivingly used her official position and state staff for partisan political purposes to garner votes."
The complaint also touches on the Alaska Constitution's Article 3, Section 9: Acting Governor ~ In case of the temporary absence of the governor from office, the lieutenant governor shall serve as acting governor.
McLeod asks, "What was Sarah Palin thinking when she went off to the Lower 48 for God knows how long without transferring duties to the lieutenant governor? Alaskans were left fending for themselves while Outside political campaign operatives hijacked our system of governance and rendered it paralyzed. Who was looking out for Alaskans and where was the lieutenant governor? How could Sarah Palin be so thoughtless?"
Upon reading the complaint, (which you can do here), a few things stand out:
--All documents were signed by Sarah Palin and approved by the appropriate officials (Chief of Staff, Director of Department of Administration, etc...)
--Palin DID NOT, officially or unofficially, turn the duties of the Governor over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.
--It is VERY clear that the documents tell one story (Palin did NOT consider herself to be on state duty while she was campaigning. The perdiem and travel charges to the State of Alaska stopped and were picked up by the McCain Campaign for that period.) Yet she collected her paycheck throughout, claimed she was on-the-job 24/7 and BROUGHT STATE EMPLOYEES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH HER (Kris Perry, Bill McAllister) claiming they were doing the state business.
--The Ethics Act is clear...if Palin would turned over her duties to the Lt. Governor while campaigning (Like GW Bush and Bill Clinton before her), she would have been free-and-clear to campaign. However, because she did not, she blatantly violated the statute:
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
(b) A public officer may not
(4) take or withhold official action in order to affect a matter in which the public officer has a personal or financial interest;
(6) use or authorize the use of state funds, facilities, equipment, services, or another government asset or resource for partisan political purposes;
Yet, in a press release by Palin's attorney, Van Flein (Yes, you heard me correctly, HER ATTORNEY DID A PRESS RELEASE...there's that Legal Defense Fund at work!) the spin is absolutely desperate and makes no sense.
1) It's not the same theme. He's referring to the complaint against Kris Perry, not the Governor which was dismissed for lack-of-information....the information she FINALLY received from the State and is contained in this complaint.
2) If it is "meritless," it won't even make it through the Department of Law over to the Personnel Board for investigation. I suspect that will not be the case.
Then there's this amazing claim:
In order to avoid the overlap? You mean, in order to get away with campaigning while still acting as a state employee?...in order to received her $50,000 $5,000 every two weeks while still jetting all over the country and collecting boxes and boxes of gifts from the public?...in order to have everything her way, the LAWS SHE CAMPAIGNED ON BE DAMNED??????
OK, THAT I can see.
And once again, the Board has NOT ruled as such.
Are they scared of this complaint...yup...they have no defense because, well, everything has her signature on it.
Bon Voyage, Governor Grifter! |
| Celtic Diva :: Newest Ethics Complaint: Van Flein claims documents Palin signed don't really mean what they say |
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