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A little political post
Saturday, March 28th, 2009 07:39 amIn the past, I've recommended a political blog called The Mudflats (http://www.themudflats.net/)to anyone who really wanted to know the truth about Sarah Palin and the dirt that mires our Alaskan politics. Today, one of a our state legislators, Mike Doogan a Democrat in the State House, who felt threatened by the truth, outed her by publishing her real name in an email to his constituents. Now as you all know, Our Fair Governator is an incredibly vindictive person and apparently, so are other politicians up here. By publishing this person's name (I choose not to do so), he has put her and her family in harm's way. He's a former journalist who should know the value of anonymous sources, yet he didn't like what she had to say about him, so he took our time (the State Legislator is in session) and tracked her down to out her because he feels he has the right to.
He talks about 'transparency and accountability' as an excuse, and yet this was a blog by a private citizen who has the right to say anything they want to, anonymous or not. Mudflats is a blogger who cheerfully admitted her own bias and had no public power other than the weight of words. Apparently the weight of those words were causing Mr. Doogan some discomfort, so in a petty, mean, small and possibly illegal way, he stuck back. He took a job that is public, to make decisions for the public he represents and indeed, for all Alaskans as he votes on important issues that affect every one of us in this state. He's an author and a former columnist for the Anchorage Daily News. He's chosen to be a public figure and as a politician, he is accountable. Yet he violates ethics for his own petty revenge.
Once again, I'm ashamed of Alaska politics. We make the Taliban look good. At least they think God is directing, not that they ARE God.
I sincerely hope at least an ethics complaint is lodged against him if not a full civil suit against him by Mudflats. Think about it...you are anonymous here. Want your private and personal information made public? Want your employer, your family to read what you post here? Want them to look in your journals and diaries? This is a First Amendment Right and he had no right to do what he did. As someone posted at Mudflats, The Federalist Papers were published anonymously and for damn good reason.
I hope you'll at least continue to watch this story as it develops because it has to do with your privacy too. Me..I think I need to write some emails.
He talks about 'transparency and accountability' as an excuse, and yet this was a blog by a private citizen who has the right to say anything they want to, anonymous or not. Mudflats is a blogger who cheerfully admitted her own bias and had no public power other than the weight of words. Apparently the weight of those words were causing Mr. Doogan some discomfort, so in a petty, mean, small and possibly illegal way, he stuck back. He took a job that is public, to make decisions for the public he represents and indeed, for all Alaskans as he votes on important issues that affect every one of us in this state. He's an author and a former columnist for the Anchorage Daily News. He's chosen to be a public figure and as a politician, he is accountable. Yet he violates ethics for his own petty revenge.
Once again, I'm ashamed of Alaska politics. We make the Taliban look good. At least they think God is directing, not that they ARE God.
I sincerely hope at least an ethics complaint is lodged against him if not a full civil suit against him by Mudflats. Think about it...you are anonymous here. Want your private and personal information made public? Want your employer, your family to read what you post here? Want them to look in your journals and diaries? This is a First Amendment Right and he had no right to do what he did. As someone posted at Mudflats, The Federalist Papers were published anonymously and for damn good reason.
I hope you'll at least continue to watch this story as it develops because it has to do with your privacy too. Me..I think I need to write some emails.
