When I got an email a couple weeks ago from the organizer of the Obama rally in Juneau that happened this past Saturday, I thought to myself, “Why are they calling it a Rain Gear Rally?” It’s two weeks from now…how do they know? Then I remembered. It’s Juneau.
And sure enough, those intrepid waterproof souls we know as Juneau Democrats, braved the freezing rain and wind, and were out there for the cause. A big wave from your compatriots in the north, Juneau! Keep up the good work!
The Republican “base” has been wolfing down helping after super-sized helping of hate speech. This weeks menu has featured “Socialist Surprise”, “Tax Misinformation Tartare” and “Flaming Terrorist Sympathizer” with a side of fear-mongering. After second and third helpings of this frenzied repast, and after loosening their belts, and pushing themselves back from the table, they’re somehow still not satisfied. Man, these guys can EAT! A little dessert to top it all off perhaps? How about a little cookie or something? And leave it to Super Sarah….she makes one heck of a cookie. A snickerdoodle perhaps? No….even better. Today’s flavor is Gay marriage and a brand new Constitutional Amendment all rolled into one! Nothing follows intolerance better than….more intolerance, especially if you’re rewriting the constitution at the same time! Yummy! It’s been a rough week for Republicans in the polls, and they need some good old-fashioned comfort food. So here it is, still warm from the Christian Broadcasting Network.
I am, in my own, state, I have voted along with the vast majority of Alaskans who had the opportunity to vote to amend our Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I wish on a federal level that that’s where we would go because I don’t support gay marriage. I’m not going to be out there judging individuals, sitting in a seat of judgment telling what they can and can’t do, should and should not do, but I certainly can express my own opinion here and take actions that I believe would be best for traditional marriage and that’s casting my votes and speaking up for traditional marriage that, that instrument that it’s the foundation of our society is that strong family and that’s based on that traditional definition of marriage, so I do support that.
The rest of us might prefer a saltine and some flat ginger ale.
Well, well, well. Here’s yet another subplot in the saga that is Troopergate. Remember how witnesses, including state employees, Todd Palin and Sarah Palin herself agreed to cooperate fully with the Legislative investigation of Troopergate? If you don’t remember, it’s because that was beFORE August 29th, when Palin was selected to be John McCain’s running mate. It was a whole different world back then. That’s when this investigation made sense to Alaskans, and when we believed the word of our Governor. Now? Not so much.
Ten witnesses, including the Governor’s husband Todd, defied subpoenas to testify before the Legislative Council. When did this mysterious change of heart occur?
Once again, we need to rely on the courage and conviction of the bipartisan Legislative Council, and the likes of Representatives Les Gara to keep the Governor and her administration (including Attorney General Talis Colberg) honest. After the flock of McCain lawyers descended on our sleepy little hamlet, all the rules changed. Now, Les Gara and Audie Holloway want to know WHY. Good question.
ANCHORAGE — Today an Alaska legislator called on the State’s Attorney General to appoint an independent investigator to look into possible criminal witness tampering by McCain-Palin campaign staff in Alaska. Rep. Gara’s call came at the suggestion of the Director of the Alaska State Troopers, [Col. Audie Holloway], who called the potential of witness tampering matter “serious.”
But, as we know, these witnesses did eventually testify in writing, just days before the Legislative Council released the findings of Independent Investigator Stephen Branchflower. Does this make it all better? No.
Their later decision to submit to written questions, after failing to show up for their subpoenas, doesn’t cure this violation, or any criminal conduct by any person who attempted to induce those witnesses from showing for their subpoenas. Complying with the law after breaking it doesn’t excuse a criminal violation. If any person attempted to induce a witness to fail to show for a subpoena, that witness’ later cooperation, after failing to show for the subpoena, doesn’t cure the criminal conduct. (from attached letter to AG Talis Colberg from Rep. Les Gara)
Talis Colberg, who is under considerable public pressure to resign as Attorney General for how he handled these subpoenas, has something new on his list of things that won’t go away. Namely:
Alaska Statute 11.56.545 –
“(a)Tampering with a witness in the second degree: A person commits the crime of tampering with a witness in the second degree if the person knowingly induces or attempts to induce a witness to be absent from an official proceeding, other than a judicial proceeding, to which the witness has been summoned. (b) Tampering with a witness in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.
AS 11.56.540 has similar elements, and is a felony.
Letter from Les Gara to Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg: 10202008-witness-tampering-independent-investigator
On Friday, a group of devoted Mudflatters in the Pittsburgh area decided that they’d like to meet up, speak to each other in real audible words, enjoy each others physical company, and put a face, instead of a snowflake avatar, with the name. HamletsMill was the organizational brain behind this event and sent photos and a great story (see below).
So, let’s hear from HamletsMill about Mudstock Pittsburgh!
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Pittsburgh Mudflatters Unite! First Row Sitting: Mudfriend (guest), Futurexpat? aka Andy aka Plop Hero Palin, Obama Campaign Mudfriend, West Virginian aka Halter Grasshopper Palin. Second Row: Prisonernumbersix aka Vise Peeper Palin, Marksmyword aka Barrel McRaven Palin. Third Row: Lila aka Bang Walmart Hussein Palin, Obama Campaign Mudfriend #2, HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline Palin, LJP aka Revolver Trooper Palin, Eyes Wide Open in Pgh, PA aka Wasilla Resistant Palin
Friday night’s Mini-Mudstock three hour event held at Rolands in the famous Strip District of Pittsburgh was a wonderful celebration of the amazing worldwide Mudflats phenomenon! We are sure many of you were there in spirit worldwide!
Eleven Mudpuppies and their MudGuests came to commiserate in person!
By professions identified, we had three lawyers, two university professors, a medical doctor, a nurse, a software engineer, an automotive structural engineer, and an architectural construction planner!
The dinner conversation was lively and the food was first rate!
We originally had thirteen signed up, but two had to cancel due to catching colds during the toxic spill evacuation in a town 40 miles north of Pittsburgh which made the national news earlier this week. (Hmmm. Was this a direct Rovian National Security conspiracy to affect our MudStock turnout?)
Our two very special guests from the local Obama Campaign asked that in this write-up we stress to everyone out there across the nation to try to help with the GOTV (Get Out the Vote) efforts in your area if you can. Over 400 people have shown up in Pittsburgh to help with this where they have set up individual three hour slots to knock on doors to encourage identified voters to vote. A volunteer can take one three hour slot. Each identified voter will be visited four times by different volunteers. People are also needed to drive people in their local area to the polls on November 4th. Otherwise, just keep doing what you’re doing, with as much juice as you can summon! Anything helps!
We all agreed in passionate discussion that with the dire problems we are facing, this is the most important election since 1932.
We all had such a good time that we have agreed to meet again a week to ten days after the election to re-orient and re-adjust our energies, based upon the outcome. Hopefully it will be health food and back rubs for all, rather than a fifth of Jack Daniels! But none of us can let up for an instant now. Everyone just do what you can!
At the end of the night, four of us were talking with our coats on, when our undecided Libertarian waiter came over smiling to tell us that he found us so interesting and compelling a group, and just loved waiting on us so much that he said he is now going to vote for Barack Obama! Wow! It was a very loving moment! (He also loved our very nice tip because we enjoyed him so much too! Hey…and such a nice tip from us after the ongoing Wall Street meltdown hell!)
We don’t know if we were the first place to hold a Mini-MudStock in celebration of AKM’s amazing Mudflats Blog phenomenon, but we hope we will be the first of many local get-togethers WORLDWIDE as we all go forward after the election.
And, finally, in our report we must bring up the Washington Redskins Election Predictor Legend from 1936 onward since the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football on Election Eve November 3rd, 2008.
Check out the analysis on Snopes.
The Washington Redskins Election Predictor Legend was true for 68 straight years, but did NOT hold in 2004. So it appears the Steelers are off the hook!
However, we are thinking a NEW PREDICTOR TRADITION may emerge! This is that if the Washington Redskins lose in the re-establishment of the accuracy count it will be a CRUSHING LANDSLIDE NATIONAL MANDATE VICTORY by the Party coming back into power!
Since Mr. Dan Rooney, General Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers, gave Barack and Michelle Obama a Terrible Towel when they visited Pittsburgh during the Pennsylvania Primary, we MudBurghers have decided to take it upon ourselves to offer a special dispensation by the Steeler Nation that anyone here who TWIRLS ANY CLOTH MATERIAL OF ANY KIND on Election Eve during that game, it will count as a Terrible Towel! We are asking that even you Dallas, Boston, Indianapolis, and (we know it is tough) Cleveland fans put past differences aside and all be terrible towel-waving FANATIC STEELER FANS for this one night of your life! We must pull together on every Cosmic level. Even this! Just sayin’!
We send loving greeting to all Mudpuppies worldwide!
HamletsMill aka Rot Pipeline Palin – Reporting
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