REGISTERING ON THIS BLOG WILL ALWAYS BE FREE. Soapblox charges Blue Oasis a monthly fee for the blog platform as well as the yearly charge for the website domain. There are also occasional fees for records gathering activities (CDs of meeting minutes and copying fees for letters and other documents from APOC). If you can support the blog and all of our work towards justice for ALL Alaskans and to hold ex-Governor Palin accountable, please visit the drop- down list above. Any contribution is much-appreciated!
Thank you!
ADVERTISING ON BLUE OASIS
(Click picture to go to Facebook page)
CLICK IMAGE TO PURCHASE
Though many of us suffer from Palin Factor Fatigue, it is irrefutable that there is a nagging curiosity to have the question answered, ?How in the world did Sarah Palin become so popular and why do we still need to hear about her?? My book answers these questions in detail and urges us all to be vigilant. She is one of a small pool of ?rising stars in the republican party? as John McCain stated as recently as January 25, 2009 on Fox News Sunday.
As unbelievable as her meteoric rise was we cannot delude ourselves, turning our backs once again, into thinking that she and those like her are going away. This woman is joined by millions of loyalists whose perception is that she was persecuted in the media, stifled by McCain, and mocked by liberals - and now the theocratic conservatives are regrouping with a vengeance!
"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.
"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."
"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...
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!)
******************************************************************************************
Mr. Monegan spoke on what he's learned over the years about the relationship between the people and their government. "Basically, what I want to talk about, and what I've been invited to speak on, is the importance of the integrity of our government and its leaders."
He discussed his appreciation of our Founding Fathers and how "the law of the land" includes an understandting that "If the government starts to become more oppressive, the citizens not only have a right but an obligation to alter or abolish the government."
Trust was his recurring theme, as he recounted his understanding of its importance through his career in public safety:
"Trust is both powerful and yet so fragile. It empowers the police to do the things they are required and requested to do and yet they have to walk a very fine line that safeguards both the citizens and their constitutional rights."
"We in the police are better schooled on being accountable and being watched than any other part of the government."
He also wanted us to understand more about him and his decisions:
"I know many of you perhaps wanted to hear about what was so well reported by the media last fall and summer. I'm telling you what I believe and I hope would provide some insight to who and what I am. I would hope there was also an understanding to the adherence of values coupled with the appreciation of that powerful yet fragile trust would give you some insight why I took the path that I chose."
Monegan is a captivating speaker, exuding a quiet strength that draws you to him. He also clearly has a depth of concern about public safety...he has so much knowledge and he wants to share it. During the questions and answers about the proposals he put forward as Commissioner regarding multi-pronged solutions to the horrendous domestic violence and sexual assault problems in Rural Alaska, he became quite animated. It was obvious to everyone that he still feels quite passionate about the issue. Not surprisingly, it turns out he's currently working with social services groups.
Do I hope that Walt's re-emergence in the public forum causes the Palin Administration concern? Yes...yes I do. Happily, there may be good reason for them to be concerned.
Monegan's first question from the audience was that the student had heard a "rumor" that Walt Monegan may be running for Mayor.
He said, "I heard that rumor too. Next question?"
The next time politics was mentioned someone wanted to know if he was running for Governor. The answer there was more interesting as he discussed how he's seen a number of political positions function and how some of them posed unique challenges. He then discussed how much he loved to dig into a challenge and then his discussion moved away from the topic.
The third question on the subject was from APRN, who first asked if Walt was going to take any action against the State on being called a "rogue" and he said "I love the State of Alaska so the answer is no." Then she asked for a firmer answer to the question about running for governor and he said he didn't want to violate the non-political requirement of speaking at UAA.
I took that as my cue and I asked the last question of the day:
There are a lot of people who support you that I'm sure have let you know and there are a number who have not let you know and they would like to see you take some prominent leadership position in the State. Is there anything you can tell them without getting specific about that happening in any form?
Walt's reply:
As long as it's not violating any rules I could honestly say that my wife and I are talking about it.
I told my husband that he couldn't stop me from signing up for THAT campaign! :D
I strongly recommend that you listen to the entire recording. At one point he spoke to the audience like they were new recruits in the Police Academy. He also shared a beautiful speech he made at last year's graduation. It's just under and hour and well worth the listen.
Alaska is becoming more unhappy with Governor Palin.
Finding a "favorable" rating involves adding the "very favorable" and "somewhat favorable" ratings together so it's at 62.4% -- down a little from the Ivan Moore poll which has her favorables at 65%.
Hays last poll tracking Sarah's favorables was in July:
While this shows Palin's "Very favorable" rating is up 2.5%. However, her "Somewhat favorable" rating is down by 20%. Her "Very unfavorable" rating is up by about 19% and her "Somewhat unfavorable rating is up by about 2%...so we know where that missing 20% went.
We also have to realize -- this occurred just before the revelations of Palin's "travelgate" information -- where her kids flew and stayed in fancy hotels on the state dime -- and several days before the RNC "wardrobe malfunction."
This is Sarah Palin's first policy speech and (big surprise) she blows it. During the speech, she discusses how the McCain "budget freeze" shouldn't be a concern for kids with disabilities or their families...the McCain-Palin ticket will redirect money for "special needs issues" from "special projects" that "don't do the public any good." Her example is "fruit fly research in Paris, France" and she mentions it while looking at the crowd as if she's aghast that such a thing could exist.
The research is being done at the University of North Carolina, which is nowhere near France. They've discovered through this research that "a certain protein is required for nerve cells to form and function properly." This could provide significant advances in the understanding of autism.
Oops...
Keith Olbermann: "How could they let Governor Palin go out and mock research that has identified a genetic indicator for autism? Who is stupid or insensitive enough to let that happen?
Richard Wolf (Newsweek): "Keith, I'm going to be as restrained and measured as I possibly can about this. But, this is the most mindless, ignorant, uninformed comment that we have seen from Governor Palin so far and there's been a lot of competition for that prize."
So, the McCain-Palin ticket (if they can keep their feet out of their mouths long enough) will be the "champions" of the disabled. That's a title Sarah Palin should first try earning in Alaska.
State Senator Bill Wielechowski: "I can tell you she wasn't a champion for disabled children as governor. I was surprised to hear her say that in her speech."
When an individual needs services, it is often years before he or she begins to receive them. Because there are more individuals than can be served with available funds, the state maintains a list of those who wish to receive services. An added complication is the need for an integrated data management system that can better track the status of individuals on the waitlist, and maintain up-to-date information about their needs. An Ad Hoc Committee on the Waitlist developed a series of recommendations for managing the list. Monitoring the progress toward achieving the recommendations, and participating actively as the system is redesigned will be an important focus of the Council.
Number of individuals on the list as of 11/15/2007: 943
Number of individuals 22 years old or younger as of 11/15/2007: 719
Number of individuals on the list for 90 days or more: 836
Average length of time for individuals on the Registry: 43 months
The latest estimates say that the Alaska Budget Surplus now equals between $5 and $8 billion. The estimate for what it would cost to deliver services to those 943 people on the waiting list is $45 million.
So, Governor Palin, if you REALLY want to prove you are ALL ABOUT special needs, come home and write a friggin' check. Until then, please spare us at least this one huge, steaming pile. There's a group of 943 mostly-kids (as well as their families) who know you are full of it.
I wrote a post back on September 9th and then again on September 12th highlighting that on Sarah Palin's Mayoral watch, Wasilla women had to pay for their own rape kits.
"required that state, local, and Indian governments provide the rape exams to victims free of charge as a condition of receiving federal funds under the Violence Against Women Act."
It pointed out that Knowles needed that law in order to once again qualify for Federal funding.
And of course, in the ultimate irony (according to Jed Report):
McCain not only opposed Biden's legislation, but also has voted against funding it as recently as October 2007.
It looks like the New York Times caught on to the story and though it's a bit later, I'm glad the mainstream print media finally ran with it.
If this doesn't change women's opinions about Sarah Palin, nothing will.
>Note. My Fellow Alaskans, now we know why the McCain Campaign keeps Sarah Palin in a bubble!
Seriously, While I have been critical of Palin since she fell through the Looking Glass into the mushroom forest of the McCain campaign, I have tried to remain on the rational side of outrage. I always try remember what I heard the Vietnamese Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hahn say about violent or irrational people. "It is not personal. They are temporarily insane. Don't get angry at madness. When people are violent or irrational, they cease being human and become an elemental force, like a storm. When you walk through a storm, you do not scream and wave your fists at the wind, you bundle up and protect yourself and endure..."
And (Sarah Palin might observe) by gosh, those Vietnamese know somethin' about endurance...
For many years, my personal goal has been to contain my own "storms" and endure the storms of others.
But in the face of the stubborn, relentless irrationality, indeed, madness of the Right-Wing that has hijacked John McCain and now Sarah Palin, and in the face of the fact that both candidates have become such willing toadys to their Right-Wing handlers, I want to scream and wave my fists at them.
What has pushed me over the screaming edge,however, are Sarah Palin's semi-literate, imprecise, club-tongued, tortuous, neverending, run-on sentences that substitute bumper-sticker slogans for policy.
My friends,Sarah Palin is officially an "Idiot". She joins the small collection of "World-Class Idiots" that have wasted our collective wealth and culture in modern times. As designated, she joins WCIs like George Bush, Dan Quayle and Douglas J. Feith (architect of the Iraq War). But unlike her better-educated colleagues, Sarah Palin simply cannot acquit herself before the press. Look, even George Bush has his good moments. Dan Quayle even had a decent debate or two.
But Sarah Palin?
As of this day, Sarah Palin is officially inducted into the Hall of World-Class Idiots, by virtue of my authority as Curatis Idiotii of the Museum of Political Morons. My authority, like Sarah Palin's, exists because I say it does.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, in a rare exchange with reporters, declined Thursday to endorse the candidacy of indicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.
Opening arguments began Thursday in Stevens' corruption trial. The longest-serving Republican in the Senate faces seven counts of making false statements stemming from allegations that he concealed gifts on Senate financial documents. In spite of the charges, he is running for re-election to retain the seat he has held since 1968.
When a reporter asked Palin, Alaska 's governor, if she supports the re-election of Stevens, she replied: "Ted Stevens' trial started a couple of days ago. We'll see where that goes."
I was talking to a Republican politician when I heard about this. Their response: "It's awfully crowded under that bus."
