State Rep. Mike Doogan (D-Idiot) has outed the identity of anonymous blogger "The Mudflats"

[Blue_In_AK]

At the request of XOKCowboy, and because I know many of you are fans of AKMuckraker at The Mudflats, I'm cross-posting this from the Alaska forum. I strongly encourage you to read AKM's entire post as well as the reactions from the other Alaska bloggers, as I think this has national implications for all of us "pathetic anonymous bloggers," as Sarah likes to call us.

This is outrageous. Doogan needs to go next time around.

http://www.themudflats.net/2009/03/27/in-exposing-the-i... /

Anonymity is an interesting thing. Anyone who has read my “About” page knows that Mudflats popped out of my head and on to my keyboard last May. I, like many of you, get frustrated with my government. There isn’t anyone who pays attention, on either side of the political spectrum, who doesn’t at some time feel like they need to get something off their chest.

I wasn’t quite sure what this whole blogging thing was about, but a dear friend of mine who is a brilliant writer was doing some work for the American Cancer Society blog, and urged me to start one of my own. And so, one evening after some crazy shenanigans from Don Young and a glass of shiraz, the first post went up on Mudflats. It was a strange sensation to write, and then click on that blue oval button that said, “Publish”. With that click, I was putting my opinion out to the world. I was giving permission for people to peek into my brain, and read my diary, as it were. I had no particular desire for anyone to know it was coming from me, and why should they care, anyway? I’m just….me. I’m not a politician, nor a writer, nor a journalist, nor a state or federal employee, nor a lobbyist. I was just a citizen who was paying attention, feeling frustrated, and liked getting stuff off my chest.

I checked my blog statistics later in the day, and noticed that two people had clicked on my article. I sat there utterly amazed. I called to my spouse, “Look at this! Two people read it!” Then, the next day, eight people had read it. I was getting about a dozen hits a day the next week. I didn’t know where they were coming from, but I imagined my little group of a dozen people who enjoyed Mudflats enough to come back and read more. Then twenty people. And by the end of the summer, about 250 a day. Maybe they liked feeling like somebody was speaking their particular truth. Maybe they liked it. It was a good feeling.

The day that Sarah Palin got nominated to be John McCain’s Vice President, life changed. My sister called me at some pre-dawn hour and said, “Did you hear?” I, like many Alaskans, was completely stunned. Sarah Palin? Was I still dreaming? Really? I knew I had to take the day off. I made a pot of coffee, and thought to myself, that my 250 people might not be the only ones interested in this VP pick. Now, many people adored Sarah Palin, and maybe some of them had blogs too….I had never checked, but they must be out there somewhere. But I knew some things about her, and her policies and positions that others might not be able to find out so easily. I decided to write my opinion. So I wrote a post, “What Is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan’s Perspective.” And that’s exactly what the piece was - one Alaskans perspective. My perspective. Just in case anyone was interested.

It took me about 45 minutes to crank it out and click Publish. (Yes, I was still in my pajamas at the time) And it turned out that people were interested. Really interested. By the time I’d made myself a couple eggs and toast, and sat back down there were more than 7,000 hits. By the end of the day there were 64,000. The total readership of that post ended up being almost 270,000 with more than 1300 comments. To say I was shocked is putting it mildly. I began to get emails and comments asking me when I was going to post again, asking questions about Palin, and saying that this was the only “real” information they were getting.

<snip>

It turns out, that Rep. Doogan did make good on his threat to expose me in his legislative newsletter. It actually suprised me, because I thought that maybe he realized that blowing up a progressive political blogger wouldn’t earn him many brownie points with other Democrats. But nevertheless, here you go.

Anonymous Blogger Anonymous No More


The identity of the person who writes the liberal Democratic Mudflats blog has been secret since the blog began, protected by the Anchorage Daily News, among others. My own theory about the public process is you can say what you want, as long as you are willing to stand behind it using your real name. So I was interested to learn that the woman who writes the blog is Anchorage resident Jeanne _____.*


Best wishes,
Mike Doogan

So, now, if you look on the About page, you’ll get to see my real name* (which Rep. Doogan almost got right). And you also get to learn that the rules of the game are whatever Rep. Doogan’s “theory of public process” say they should be. How does everyone feel about that? And as a former journalist, why is Rep. Doogan criticizing the Anchorage Daily News for protecting my identity?

And here’s another irony. Rep. Doogan thinks he has exposed me, but in reality he has done nothing but expose himself.

And with that, Mudflatters, I need to take a little time off to assess things, and take stock of how life will be changing for me and my family.

Reactions here:
http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/03/mike-doogan-outs-mudflats.html
http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/my-friend-... /
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2009/03/you-know-difference-between-rep-mike.html
http://divasblueoasis.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=489

all worth reading.

[msongs]

1. mudflats is an online retailer that charges people $$ for products as well as

commentary. do you buy merchandise from an online retailer when you don't know who they are, where they are located, etc?

Msongs

[Blue_In_AK]

2. This has nothing to do with her being an online retailer.

This has to do with her rights to privacy being violated. Whether or not people buy from an online retailer whose identity they don't know is their decision, but would you like someone broadcasting YOUR identity, for instance, for all to see, especially if you lived in a state such as Alaska with a small population and toxic politics?

[uppityperson]

59. Read that poster's profile, is anonymously selling t-shirts online

too funny!

[BrklynLiberal]

71. LOL.

[Blue_In_AK]

75. I saw that, too.

I looked all over that site for a name - I only saw an address.

[Hello_Kitty]

4. She appears to have a Cafe Press account

When you buy something from Cafe Press, you are buying from Cafe Press, with some of the profit going to the person who set up the account. So you do know who the online retailer is.

[Uncle Joe]

6. This is a political attack against Mudflats's Anonymity specifically and the Internet's in general.

"Anonymous Blogger Anonymous No More


The identity of the person who writes the liberal Democratic Mudflats blog has been secret since the blog began, protected by the Anchorage Daily News, among others. My own theory about the public process is you can say what you want, as long as you are willing to stand behind it using your real name. So I was interested to learn that the woman who writes the blog is Anchorage resident Jeanne _____.*


Best wishes,
Mike Doogan"

[katanalori]

7. huh?

She does NOT charge $$$ for her commentary, wherever did you get that idea? And the $ for mugs, tee shirts and the like - well, I cannot even begin to list the # of websites and stores that have names that have NOTHING to do with their identities. Go to the mall, look at store names - are the stores named after the people who own the stores? Geez, I just do not get your post at all.ESPECIALLY the part about AKM charging for her commentary - I am just baffled.

[tammywammy]

8. Do you feel the same about DU?

There's a place here to purchase mugs, tshirts, etc.

And neither at Mudflats nor DU do you have to pay to sign up.

:eyes:

[rainbow4321]

10. "as well as commentary"??

I don't know what site you've been reading, but the rest of us read her wonderful blog for free.

[pacalo]

14. I encourage you to read the Mudflats blog about this issue.

I assume you didn't read it because online retailing has nothing to do with the callousness & pettiness shown by a U.S. representative toward this blogger.

It has to do with privacy rights of an ordinary housewife who chose to post her thoughts online, sort of like a diary, but about politics during an up-is-down political atmosphere.

The rep didn't like her criticizing him & he went above & beyond to find out her identity, going against her wishes, then posting her identity.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. One minor correction -

Mike is a state representative, a former columnist at the Anchorage Daily News, who is probably feeling somewhat jealous that blogs are taking over his old profession. No excuse, though, for this terrible behavior.

[pacalo]

20. I think you nailed it.

And thanks for letting me know. I'm glad he doesn't have a national vote. :)

[ColbertWatcher]

26. UPS doesn't anymore. n/t

[BlueMTexpat]

57. Wow ... a swing

and a miss! I go to Mudflats for the commentary, not the merchandise.

The commentary is free, is generally accurate on the facts (corrections and retractions occur promptly when there are mistakes), is witty, fun to read and represents one blogger's opinion, which most of us are able to deduce for ourselves. We can choose to agree or disagree with that opinion and we don't need to know who that person is to do so. We do that all the time here at DU.

Doo-Doo Doogan should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

[uppityperson]

58. Hysterical laughther here. YOU are selling t-shirts anonymously online!

Of course I do and many people buy from a company name like "mudflats" or, say, msongs.com/political-shirts. Are you saying no one ever buys something from a company without knowing the name and address of the owner? Good grief.

Oh, if I were to want to buy a t-shirt from your website, will you please first tell me your name and where you are located so I can confirm that?

[Hello_Kitty]

3. What a fucking asshole. With Dems like that...

A person's choice to remain anonymous should be respected. It's one thing for him to disagree with it and say "Mudflats should identify herself" but for him to then proceed to identify her without her consent is just vile.

[JDPriestly]

5. Mudflats is in excellent company. Benjamin Franklin used to publish

letters from "readers," to his own newspaper (the newspaper he owned and published) and the newspapers of his employers and friends written by -- Benjamin Franklin under pseudonyms. I quote:

When Franklin used a pseudonym, he often created an entire persona for the "writer." Sometimes he wrote as a woman, other times as a man, but always with a specific point of view. While all of his writings were focused and logical, many were also humorous, filled with wit and irony. Silence Dogood, Harry Meanwell, Alice Addertongue, Richard Saunders, and Timothy Turnstone were a few of the many pseudonyms Franklin used throughout his career.

Silence Dogood — Mrs. Dogood was Franklin's first pseudonym, created when he was sixteen years old and serving as a printer's apprentice to his brother James. Silence Dogood was a middle-aged widow who looked at the world with a humorous and satiric eye. Her letters dealt with a range of topics from love and courtship to the state of education in Massachusetts. In all, fifteen Silence Dogood letters were published in James Franklin's New England Courant.

Caelia Shortface and Martha Careful — Franklin wrote mocking letters from these two "ladies" to get even with his former employer Samuel Keimer for stealing some of Franklin's publishing ideas. The letters were printed in the American Weekly Mercury, a newspaper published by Keimer's competitor Andrew Bradford.

Busy Body — Franklin's Busy Body letters were also published in the American Weekly Mercury. Miss Body's letters were filled with humorous looks at the battle of the sexes and barbs at local businessmen. Gossip was Busy Body's stock in trade.

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_name.html

The list of Franklin's pseudonyms is long, and some of them are quite colorful.

Here is part of one of these anonymous letters:

Benjamin Franklin, Advice to a Young Man on the Choice of a Mistress (1745)

June 25, 1745

My Dear Friend,

I know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural Inclinations you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you. Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of Man, and therefore the State in which you are most likely to find solid Happiness. Your Reasons against entering into it at present, appear to me not well-founded. The circumstantial Advantages you have in View by postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with that of the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that make the compleat human Being. Separate, she wants his Force of Body and Strength of Reason; he, her Softness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are more likely to succeed in the World. A single Man has not nearly the Value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissars. If you get a prudent healthy Wife, your Industry in your Profession, with her good Economy, will be a Fortune sufficient.

But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking a Commerce with the Sex inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice, that in all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones.
. . . .

http://www.wanderings.net/notebook/Main/BenjaminFranklinAdviceOnChoiceOfAMistress

Franklin's grandson is reported to have suppressed that advice. Walter Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin, An American Life, p. 120

And then, there is "The Speech of Polly Baker."

The SPEECH of Miss Polly Baker, before a Court of Judicature, at Connecticut in New England, where she was prosecuted the fifth Time for having a Bastard Child; which influenced the Court to dispense with her Punishment, and induced one of her Judges to marry her the next Day.

May it please the Honourable Bench to indulge me a few Words: I am a poor unhappy Woman; who have no Money to Fee Lawyers to plead for me, being hard put to it to get a tolerable Living. I shall not trouble your Honours with long Speeches; for I have not the presumption to expect, that you may, by any Means, be prevailed on to deviate in your Sentence from the Law, in my Favour. All I humbly hope is, that your Honours would charitably move the Governor�s Goodness on my Behalf, that my Fine may be remitted. This is the Fifth Time, Gentlemen, that I have been dragg�d before your Courts on the same Account; twice I have paid heavy Fines, and twice have been brought to public Punishment, for want of Money to pay those Fines. This may have been agreeable to the Laws; I do not dispute it: But since Laws are sometimes unreasonable in themselves, and therefore repealed; and others bear too hard on the Subject in particular Circumstances; and therefore there is left a Power somewhere to dispense with the Execution of them; I take the Liberty to say, that I think this Law, by which I am punished, is both unreasonable in itself, and particularly severe with regard to me, who have always lived an inoffensive Life in the Neighbourhood where I was born, and defy my Enemies (if I have any) to say I ever wrong�d Man, Woman, or Child. Abstracted from the Law, I cannot conceive (may it please your Honours) what the Nature of my Offence is. I have brought Five fine Children into the World, at the Risque of my Life: I have maintained them well by my own Industry, without burthening the Township, and could have done it better, if it had not been for the heavy Charges and Fines I have paid. Can it be a Crime (in the Nature of Things I mean) to add to the Number of the King�s Subjects, in a new Country that really wants People? I own I should think it rather a Praise worthy, than a Punishable Action. I have debauch�d no other Woman�s Husband, nor inticed any innocent Youth: These Things I never was charged with; nor has any one the least cause of Complaint against me, unless, perhaps the Minister, or the Justice, because I have had Children without being Married, by which they have miss�d a Wedding Fee. But, can even this be a Fault of mine? I appeal to your Honours. You are pleased to allow I don�t want Sense; but I must be stupid to the last Degree, not to prefer the honourable State of Wedlock, to the Condition I have lived in. I always was, and still am, willing to enter into it; I doubt not my Behaving well in it, having all the Industry, Frugality, Fertility, and Skill in Oeconomy, appertaining to a good Wife�s Character. I defy any Person to say I ever Refused an Offer of that Sort: On the contrary, I readily Consented to the only Proposal of Marriage that ever was made me, which was when I was a Virgin; but too easily confiding in the Person�s Sincerity that made it, I unhappily lost my own Honour, by trusting to his; for he got me with Child, and then forsook me: That very Person you all know; he is now become a Magistrate of this County; and I had hopes he would have appeared this Day on the Bench, and have endeavoured to moderate the Court in my Favour; then I should have scorn�d to have mention�d it; but I must Complain of it as unjust and unequal, that my Betrayer and Undoer, the first Cause of all my Faults and Miscarriages (if they must be deemed such) should be advanced to Honour and Power, in the same Government that punishes my Misfortunes with Stripes and Infamy. I shall be told, �tis like, that were there no Act of Assembly in the Case, the Precepts of Religion are violated by my Transgressions. If mine, then, is a religious Offence, leave it, Gentlemen, to religious Punishments. You have already excluded me from all the Comforts of your Church Communion: Is not that sufficient? You believe I have offended Heaven, and must suffer eternal Fire: Will not that be sufficient? What need is there, then, of your additional Fines and Whippings? I own, I do not think as you do; for, if I thought, what you call a Sin, was really such, I would not presumptuously commit it. But how can it be believed, that Heaven is angry at my having Children, when, to the little done by me towards it, God has been pleased to add his divine Skill and admirable Workmanship in the Formation of their Bodies, and crown�d it by furnishing them with rational and immortal Souls? Forgive me Gentlemen, if I talk a little extravagantly on these Matters; I am no Divine: But if you, great Men, (*) must be making Laws, do not turn natural and useful Actions into Crimes, by your Prohibitions. Reflect a little on the horrid Consequences of this Law in particular: What Numbers of procur�d Abortions! and how many distress�d Mothers have been driven, by the Terror of Punishment and public Shame, to imbrue, contrary to Nature, their own trembling Hands in the Blood of their helpless Offspring! Nature would have induc�d them to nurse it up with a Parent�s Fondness. �Tis the Law therefore, �tis the Law itself that is guilty of all these Barbarities and Murders. Repeal it then, Gentlemen; let it be expung�d for ever from your Books: And on the other hand, take into your wise Consideration, the great and growing Number of Batchelors in the Country, many of whom, from the mean Fear of the Expence of a Family, have never sincerely and honourably Courted a Woman in their Lives; and by their Manner of Living, leave unproduced (which I think is little better than Murder) Hundreds of their Posterity to the Thousandth Generation. Is not theirs a greater Offence against the Public Good, than mine? Compel them then, by a Law, either to Marry, or pay double the Fine of Fornication every Year. What must poor young Women do, whom Custom has forbid to sollicit the Men, and who cannot force themselves upon Husbands, when the Laws take no Care to provide them any, and yet severely punish if they do their Duty without them? Yes, Gentlemen, I venture to call it a Duty; �tis the Duty of the first and great Command of Nature, and of Nature�s God, Increase and multiply: A Duty, from the steady Performance of which nothing has ever been able to deter me; but for it�s Sake, I have hazarded the Loss of the public Esteem, and frequently incurr�d public Disgrace and Punishment; and therefore ought, in my humble Opinion, instead of a Whipping, to have a Statue erected to my Memory.

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=469

So, those of us posting on the internet and writing letters to the editor under pseudonyms (I've never written a letter to the editor under a psyeudonym.) are in good company, and the Congressman is just showing his ignorance by outing the anonymous writer. Writing anonymous letters is in the best of traditions -- even if the letters are to be published in the newspaper that employs or is owned by the person writing the letters.

[Cha]

9. Wow..a Dem exposes mudflats..

mike doogan must feel 10 feet high being such a man. I hope he's opened such a hornet's next he wishes he'd just butted the freak out.

[Sebastian Doyle]

11. Let me guess

This tool is part of the Lieberman/Bayh wing of the "Democratic" party?

[BrklynLiberal]

12. To the greatest page. Obviously Doogan is one of those people whose stupidity

makes one's jaw drop in utter amazement.
I sure hope that he will be a long lost memory when the Mudflats Blog is still rolling along
and truth-telling.
I sincerely hope that there are no negative personal ramifications for the author of the blog.

as for Doogan.....F**k'm

[ColbertWatcher]

28. Please add to his Truthiness page ...

... http://www.wikiality.com/Mike_Doogan

Logging in hides your IP address, so please create a free account.

[barbtries]

13. i love that blog

she is too a writer.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. It was, and still is, a reliable source of info about what is going on up in Alaska..and

what the REAL people up there thought.

[barbtries]

37. i've spent the past hour or two

reading mudflats. i generally visit often but not daily...anyhow. people keep referring to "GINO" - i don't know what it stands for. i looked it up on acronymfinder.com, no answer...googled it, no luck. what does it mean? i just can't figure it out. i don't even want to tell you how long it took me to figure out DINO and RINO, but i know what they mean. what's GINO??? thanks

[BrklynLiberal]

42. Not sure. I cannot remember the context.

Can you link to a quote or post one?

[barbtries]

43. i got it!

GOVERNOR in name only. palin. of course.

[ColbertWatcher]

47. GINO-Governor in name only! Excellent! I'm going to have to remember that one.

It's probably true for Jindal too.

I know it is for Schwarzenneger.

[Blue_In_AK]

51. Down in Juneau they wear buttons

that say "Where's Sarah?" because she's never down there, and it pisses the legislators off. She seems to forget the Juneau IS the capitol of Alaska, whether she likes it or not.

[ColbertWatcher]

65. If you can send me some pictures of these buttons ...

... I can post them on Palin's Truthiness page for all to see!

[BrklynLiberal]

72. Thanks. I am surprised it was not more evident in Google.

Guess you have to be from Alaska to really appreciate it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. The most interesting comment I found

was one from a Sarah Palin supporter who said that even though she was on the other side, as it were, she thought this outing was wrong.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Something I find particularly egregious about this,

besides the violation of AKM's privacy, is the fact that Doogan chose to out her by way of a legislative newsletter, which seems worthy of an ethics complaint at the very least. Is it really appropriate to use state resources and official communications with constituents for this sort of thing?

[Uncle Joe]

19. This is pure speculation on my part,

but I wouldn't be surprised, if he were angling for a lawsuit as part of a corporatist backed strategy to eliminate Internet Anonymity.

I imagine the mega-wealthy and powers that be hate the idea of the American People having this much 1st Amendment Power. By outing the people's identities, corporate, political and economic pressure can more easily be brought to bear against the people as an intimidation tactic.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. Maybe Palin offered him something in exchange for a token of his loyalty? n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

25. "legislative newsletter" Interesting.

Doogan sounds like a real tool.

[Blue_In_AK]

27. He used to write a fairly decent, if somewhat snarky, political column

for the Anchorage Daily News before he decided to run for the legislature in 2006. We had high hopes for him, but he's really let us down.

http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/house/doo.php

[ColbertWatcher]

30. So, why didn't he write a column? An article? Is he really as obtuse as he appears to be? n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

32. This is petty spite, I believe.

A few months ago, Mudflats and some of the other progressive bloggers in the state began encouraging their readers to send e-mails to the legislators to urge them to follow up on the Troopergate ethics investigation. Doogan and Fred Dyson, a Republican from Eagle River, particularly were peeved about this and replied (to all) with some really kind of over-the-top smart-ass answers. Mudflats called them out about it, and since then Mike has apparently been on a quest to determine her identity.

I note also that he doesn't think it's "fair" for Sarah to be ripped by anonymous bloggers day after day. Maybe if Sarah would start acting right, we'd shut up.

[ColbertWatcher]

33. He doesn't think it's fair?

Which part does he see as "unfair?"

That the bloggers are "anonymous" or that they're ripping Palin?

I wonder what he's going to get in exchange for this? I wonder what he was promised?

I wonder if he's on VECO's payroll?

[Blue_In_AK]

35. Hard telling...

Mike is post-VECO, so I don't think he has anything to do with that mess. However, you'll remember that Sarah used to be great friends with some of Alaska's Democratic legislators. I think most of them have wised up by now, but maybe Doogan is still under her spell.


I've done some digging back into Mudflats' archives so you can read the posts that, I think, got his knickers in a twist.


http://www.themudflats.net/2008/12/23/mike-doogans-response-to-alaskans-requests-or-demands-or-whatever-they-are/

http://www.themudflats.net/2008/12/26/are-you-people-nuts-lessons-in-email-etiquette/

[yewberry]

21. Holy cow. How dumb is this guy?

He just made himself famous among bloggers. I wonder how much he's going to love opening his email to find hundreds of pissed-off messages?

Petty, malicious, jackass, thy name is Mike Doogan.

[Canuckistanian]

23. Someone should start a "Dump Mike Doogan" blog

Anonymously, of course.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. I started a page for him on the Truthiness Encyclopedia.

http://www.wikiality.com/Mike_Doogan

Everyone is welcome to add whatever the hell they want to it. But, please log in so that no one can see your IP address.

[Canuckistanian]

31. Good!

It's a bit cryptic, though. Tell the reader exactly what he's done.

And THIS link might help, as well:
http://www.themudflats.net/2009/03/27/in-exposing-the-identity-of-mudflats-rep-mike-doogan-exposes-himself/

[ColbertWatcher]

34. It's for everyone to add to.

I started it with some sections and people can add to it as they see fit.

[yewberry]

36. The inevitable facebook page has gone up.

It had to happen.

[ColbertWatcher]

46. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. n/t

[yewberry]

52. Actually, there are two now.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62508578215&ref=mf

and

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82564017994


I think he's reaping the whirlwind now.

[ColbertWatcher]

61. He had to know there would be a backlash.

What did he get in return for this favor slip of the tongue?

[ColbertWatcher]

22. State Rep? Gee, I wonder who has something on him?

Who is he trying to impress with this?

What does he expect to get and who will compensate him?

Doogan sounds like a guy who wants to stay in politics.

I think it's time to dig up some dirt on Doogan.

Oh, btw Doogan, go fuck yourself. How's that for anonymity?

One more thing, here's a little present for everyone. It's a wiki, so everyone can add to it, just log in so your IP address is hidden. We don't want some ambitious journalist-turned-politician with skeletons in his closet (which are sure to come out) to get more attention--much less any reward--by deciding who meets or doesn't meet his standards for citizens.

[barbtries]

38. check out the comment section

on shannyn moore's blog http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/my-friend-mudflats/#comments

there's an email exchange between doogan and one of his constituents. the rep sounds as immature as his actions show him to be.
Rep. Doogan,

My name is David Turnbull, and I am a constituent of yours. I just got your latest email newsletter and have to question your choice of revealing the name of the Mudflats blogger. What was the motivation behind it? Was it the stories she did on your emails a few months ago? Was it some sense of duty? I just don’t get it.

And my future vote does depend on your answer.

Thanks,
David Turnbull
__

On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 1:39 PM, Rep. Mike Doogan wrote:

My motivation is: I think the public should know who its is tearing strips off Sarah Palin every day. Not because I’m a big fan of Sarah Palin, but because I don’t believe in anonymity in the political area. It’s too much like people wearing sheets and hoods for my taste.

more at the link. my guess is by now doogan must be really feeling the heat. it was a fucked up thing to do.

[ColbertWatcher]

48. He did it for Palin's honor? What church does Doogan belong to? n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

50. That whole exchange

between David Turnbull and Mike was bizarre. There is also a very strange e-mail exchange between Mike and Phil Munger (an officer of the state Democratic party) at Progressive Alaska, which you can read here:

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/03/mike-doogan-outs-mudflats.html

[barbtries]

85. thanks for the heads up on this

i went and read it all last night. this doogan dude is a true asshole.

[chrisa]

39. Mike Doogan, Private I.

Seriously, what an idiot.

What does he hope to accomplish?

[yewberry]

40. I asked him that in my email.

I don't think I'm going to get an answer.

Really, though, the question of intent is what's bothering me. Spite? An attempt to scare her? To be not just a jerk, but a famous jerk?

[rainbow4321]

41. I have a question for you, Blue....Doogan's son-in-law's company went before Doogan's committee

Why did Doogan get to vote about a company that involved his son in law when the son in law's company went before Doogan's committee? Doogan did announce that the guy was his s-i-l yet he still went ahead and voted...should he not have said "because of the conflict of interest, I won't be voting on this."??

You can follow the minutes to the meeting here, I listed the end of the minutes below:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_minutes_comm.asp?hse=H&session=25&comm=BUD&date=20081107&time=1307


JOEL GROVES, Project Manager
Fishhook Hydroelectric Project
Fishhook Renewable Energy, LLC
Employee, Polarconsult Alaska Inc
POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing of RPL 08-9-0026, discussed
the Fishhook Hydroelectric Project


REPRESENTATIVE DOOGAN objected, and informed the committee that
Mr. Groves, who presented the Fishhook Hydroelectric Project, is his son-in-law. REPRESENTATIVE DOOGAN then withdrew his objection

A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Doogan, Hawker, Kelly, and Samuels and Senators Ellis, Therriault, and Huggins voted in favor of the approval of the remaining projects
numbers 31 - Manley Hot Springs Geothermal Plant, 34 and 35 - Fishhook Hydroelectric Project, 38 - Delta Area Wind Turbines, 39 - Biomass Plant, and 40 - Reynolds Creek Hydroelectric Project, of RPL 08-9-0026. Therefore, those projects were approved by a vote of 7-0.


on edit: the president of Polarconsult Alaska Inc is a repuke who heavily donates to repuke pols....and also, apparently, to the Swift Boat Vets group.
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=ANCHORAGE+++++++++&st=AK&last=Ausman&first=Earle

[ColbertWatcher]

49. Interesting. I added that to his Truthiness page.

Seems Mike is in the middle of his very own little mystery.

[Blue_In_AK]

53. Dupe - twitchy fingers

[Blue_In_AK]

54. That's interesting.

I wasn't aware of that -- I guess I've been focusing so much on Sarah's shenanigans that I've missed what's going on in the legislature.

The politics up here is insane - always entertaining, but totally crazy.

[rainbow4321]

66. In addition to his son in law working there, Doogan's SON is/was

the company's office manager...so Doogan's immediate and extended family seem to all be in bed with the guy who donated $$ to the Swift Boaters and AK repukes.
Would be interesting to see what kind of state funding and contracts that Doogan or Palin signed off on for that company. We already haveone instance of the company going before Doogan's committee for approval.



On edit:

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/matsu/story/398115.html

Fishhook Renewable has also applied for a loan from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state lending agency, for about $3 million, Hertrich said. The company also applied for about $1 million in grants from the Alaska Energy Authority, another state agency.

[AmyCamus]

44. There is no "Anonymous" on the Internet.

Mudflat, and all "anonymous" posters, spammers, emailers, web site owners, bloggers are kidding themselves if they think they can't be found out.

[Blue_In_AK]

55. Of course, you're correct, BUT

what right does Doogan have to broadcast Mudflats' identity via LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER?

This is a serious breach of ethics. Mudflats' identity has nothing to do with state business.

[AmyCamus]

73. I don't give anonymous bloggers a pass on ethics.

If you like the blogger, or if you hate the blogger, you should hold them to the same ethical standards.
Now, if a Dem we liked outted the rw snakes behind rw anonymous blogs, would we say "our" Dem was guilty of a serious breach of ethics?

[ColbertWatcher]

80. "the same ethical standards" ? As who exactly? A politician who uses his office to ...

... to invade someone's privacy?

And to answer your question,

"... if a Dem we liked outted the rw snakes behind rw anonymous blogs, would we say "our" Dem was guilty of a serious breach of ethics?"

You know we would. In fact I can see a thread being posted on DU where people would discuss how wrong it would be for us to do that because we wouldn't want it occurring to any of us.

You forget liberals don't tolerate double standards; GOPers live for double standards.

[AmyCamus]

86. "As who exactly" < see the post I was responding to.

"You forget liberals don't tolerate double standards; GOPers live for double standards."
Nonsense. Obama is being praised for war policies Bush was vilified for. That's the "liberal" double standard.

[sudopod]

56. Oh yeah!

I'm behind SEVEN PROXIES!

Just wait till this filters into the darker corners of the internet. ;)

[ColbertWatcher]

62. LOL! n/t

[Pastiche423]

45. Rep. doo doo...

[Are_grits_groceries]

67. He better hope that

4chan doesn't take an interest in him.

[juno jones]

77. There have been some similarities between

the current AKM outing and charges levelled against Anonymous scientology protesters (WWP, etc).

The recent comparisons of anonymous protesters and bloggers to the KKK made me sit up a bit. This is happening on a couple of different fronts right now. One of those is scientology's pushback against the anonymous protesters and bloggers that have been keeping a close eye on them ever since the video censorship crap from last year.


From WWP: Scieno Coale on Palin PAC http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-media/scieno-coale-palin-pac-2012-election-41961/
(warning, anons can offend sensibilities, but there are some good info and comments)

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is a front-running candidate, for the 2012 Republican presidential primaries.

Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, has done numerous profiles of Palin.
Greta is a ranking Scientologist, as is her husband (and OT) John P. Coale.

The Washington Post has reported, John Coale is involved with Sarah Palin's 2012 political action committee.

The knowledge that Coale is now running Palin PAC makes me wonder if similar methods are being used:

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/AntiPalin_bloggers_Fox_News_threatening_to_0327.html

Alaskan blogger Linda Kellen Biegel, who blogs as Celtic Diva, charged on Friday that "Faux News is in Alaska and stalking complaint-filers!"...

...According to blogger Andrew Halcro, "Van Susteren landed Palin's first interview after she returned home from her Vice Presidential run in November and this past week Van Susteren landed the first public media appearance by the governor's daughter and grandson. From snowmobiling and cooking moose hot dogs in Wasilla, to greeting racers at the end of the Iron Dog in Fairbanks, Van Susteren has had more one on one face time with Palin than most State commissioners."

In addition, Van Susteren's husband, John Coale -- who was previously a Clinton supporter -- has served as an unpaid adviser to Palin. According to the Washington Post, "Others familiar with Palin's political team insist that Coale has far more power than he is letting on -- essentially helping to run Sarah PAC. Coale demurred on that front, noting only that he talks to Palin regularly."

Interesting that both the namecallers are public officials who likely live in glass houses.

Jeff Stone, a Riverside Ca supervisor has been flogging anti-anonymous materials and accusing anonymous writers, etc. of hate speech... whilst refusing to divulge the source of the booklet upon which he has based his complaints:

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/249-goldbase/exposing-supervisor-stones-douchebaggery-40511/

He is now getting a lot of attention given to his own dirty laundry like paying his 'volunteer' sister over a hundred grand a year:

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/249-goldbase/jeff-stone-riverside-supervisor-pays-volunteer-sister-42241/


I wonder what Doogan's been up to? The stuff coming up about his refusal to recuse himself is quite interesting.
Sounds like defenders of free speech have another target. And one possibly relavant to their interests.

[Political Heretic]

60. Wow what a dumbass. I had to email him and I don't even live there.

[XOKCowboy]

63. Thanks for the props and the post Blue

I was one of those 64000 hits and have been checking in regularly ever since. AKM is how I visualize Alaska and Alaskans through her photos and blog posts. For a sitting Congressman to use his powers to "out" her for simply posting her opinion is an abuse of powers and I hope that Doogan pays for it.

A K&R for AKM.

[ColbertWatcher]

64. Update on Mikey's Truthiness page: there's now a place for you to post names for his "books"

I added a few, but knowing DU, I'm sure there will be more.

Here's the link: http://www.wikiality.com/Mike_Doogan#Writing_Career

Have fun.

As always, please register a free account so no one can see your IP address!

[rainbow4321]

68. From ProgressiveAlaska: Doogan may have broken a FEDERAL law

Wow.. me thinks that he has bit off waaaaayyy more than he can chew:

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-doogan-did-and-what-alaskas.html

2. He may have broken Federal Law:


Anonymous speech over the internet is entitled to First Amendment protection. Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997).

Anonymous internet speech in blogs or chat room in some instances can become the modern equivalent of political pamphleteering. McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm’n, 514 U.S. 334 (1995)

Many participants in cyberspace discussions employ pseudonymous identities. For better or worse, then the audience must evaluate a speaker’s ideas based on her words alone. This unique feature of the internet promises to make public debate in cyberspace less hierarchical and discriminatory than in the real world. Lyrissa Barnett Lidsky, Silencing John Doe: Defamation & Discourse in Cyberspace, 49 Duke L.J. 855, 896 (2000).


(as well as state laws):

3. He may have broken Alaska Law:


A legislator or legislative employee may not use government assets for his/her own, or another person"s, private benefit, for a non-legislative purpose or for partisan political purposes. Government funds, buildings, equipment, and services should not be treated as the personal possessions of legislators or legislative employees.
AS 24.60.030(a)(2)


Sec. 11.56.850. Official misconduct.
(a) A public servant commits the crime of official misconduct if, with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or deprive another person of a benefit, the public servant
(1) performs an act relating to the public servant's office but constituting an unauthorized
exercise of the public servant's official functions, knowing that that act is unauthorized; or
(2) knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed upon the public servant by
law or is clearly inherent in the nature of the public servant's office.

[adamuu]

69. I wonder if this will be in the top10? n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

83. I wonder how long it will be before he joins the GOP? n/t

[XOKCowboy]

70. The story (and outrage) is spreading....

Scout Finch has an Open Letter over on DailyKos.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/3/28/714053/-Open-Letter-to-Alaskan-Rep-Mike-Doogan

It seems Rep. Doogan wasn't always so gung-ho about outing anonymous political writers. Just the female ones who dare to criticize him.

Doogan's going to be VERY busy defending himself tomorrow.

[Blue_In_AK]

74. Yes, I think this is very personal with Mike,

because Mudflats dared to criticize him over his snarky responses to people's e-mails requesting legislative action on the troopergate matter. He seems to be very thin-skinned for a "hardbitten" journalist. Plus, I do think he's trying to curry favor with the guv, for whatever reason.

[Blue_In_AK]

76. Gryphen at The Immoral Minority has a good post up

this morning re Doogan's possible motivation.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2009/03/please-look-for-new-book-by-alaska.html

[juno jones]

78. As one of the posters on that thread wrote:

Like others, I have wondered about the "conspiracy" aspect of the story. Who did Doogan speak with to get the information? He'd been planning it for four months? Sounds like he talked to a lot of people over a long period of time...

Please see my post at #77 above.

Who gave Doogan this information? Will he divulge them or will he plead anomynity for his sources? What's their motivation and what are they recieving for the stifling of anonymous political commentary in AK?

[ColbertWatcher]

81. "will he plead anomynity for his sources?" That's a good question. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

82. Phil Munger at Progressive Alaska has a hunch,

but he's not outing anyone yet. See this:

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-doogan-did-and-what-alaskas.html

My comments, his reply:

Blue_in_AK said...
Ear was wrong not only in her snarky final comment, but in repeating Mudflats' name, when some readers of the ADN may not have even been aware of Doogan's newsletter. If she felt she just HAD to write about it, she could have left out the name. I see her as accessory after (or maybe before) the fact, and just as guilty as Mike.

March 29, 2009 11:12 AM
Philip Munger said...
Blue_in_AK,

I don't think Sheila told Doogan. My sources indicate she was still unsuccessfully trying to find out two weeks ago.

However, one person who knew AKM's identity has been seen drinking with Doogan recently. When I looked that person in the eye at a party on Friday evening, he blanched and turned away.

March 29, 2009 11:19 AM
Blue_in_AK said...
Are you going to out him? It seems only fair.

March 29, 2009 12:28 PM
Philip Munger said...
No, I'm not.

I'm going to ask Doogan to reveal the anonymous source of his information. After all, Doogan seems to feel that anonymity is for the cowardly - unless you're Sheila Toomey. Then you're a muckraking, humorous, snarky heroine.

Doogan may have to reveal his source anyway, in a deposition or in some other form of sworn testimony.

March 29, 2009 12:42 PM

[adamuu]

79. thanks for that. n/t

[XOKCowboy]

84. Kicking for my friends up north

:kick: