Rep Mike Doogan thought it was a good idea to use his e-mail newsletter to constituents to "out" fellow blogger AKM Mudflats, sending her full name to all and sundry.
What he did was wrong on so many levels, I won't try to list them, but in the present political climate in Alaska, his actions can be described as criminal.
Sarah Palin has declared open-season on progressive bloggers in her press release about Celtic Diva's ethics complaint. It resulted in a barrage of intimidating hate e-mails being sent to Linda because she chose to exercise her rights as a citizen.
AKM had her reasons to remain anonymous and what Mike Doogan did placed her in a precarious position. I cannot imagine how he or anybody else will benefit from his actions in a legitimate way.
Bloggers have every right to their opinions, whether their identities are known or not. The internet is a very democratic medium. There are many people from the left and the right who use screen names to write about the politicians they like and the ones they dislike.
Their real names are not important and the freedom to make their opinions known should not hinge on publishing their real identities.
Mike Doogan's stupid move will not change AKM's opinions, but it may affect her ability to express them.
It is a shame that some politicians in Alaska have no regard for people's civil liberties.
AKM Mudflats
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21 comments:
Well, I hope she covers her behind and makes sure she ALWAYS has someone with her for the near future. When I read AKMs post earlier, it simply floored me. {{{AKM}}}.
I hope that Dogone (sic) gets what he deserves for this, because this can be seen as attempt at personal intimidation and attempt to silence a citizen.
If he did it on government-issued computers and during his work time, he could 'hang' (figuratively of course!) for this.
Alaska sounds more and more like Nazi Germany in the early 1930s... :(
FWIW: Mudflats seems to be totally inundated by people trying to 'go there'! I can't get the site to load anymore!
(Good for you, AKM! I hope this will be shouted out into the whole wide world - that freedom of speech is not allowed anymore in Alaska...)
fedup...i hope that's the case (that I can't bring up the site because of too many users). my fear is the site has gone down, like for good.
Somebody who had never commented before wrote something really supportive, saying that the story had been sent to HuffPo, K.O and Rachel Maddow. I pressed publish but it disappeared!
I don't know what happened there, but I didn't reject the comment.
Please post it again, supportive person...
Reg
I'm floored. I'm totally disabused of any notion that this AK representative deserves his seat.
What gives him the right to invade the privacy of an individual? Was AKM elected to an office? Was AKM publishing falsehoods? Was AKM doing anything but a terrific service for residents not only of Alaska but of the rest of the nation?
Come out me, Doogan, I have a blog, and you can bet your sweet bippy I will not have admirable things to say about you from now on.
I hope she files a restraining order against doogan and palin. Contacting Walt might be a very good idea too.
yep, the site keeps crashing which just shows ya how big a deal this is. I read about 2 troll posts, creeps.
let's all hold AKM (she'll always be that to me) and her family up in protective thoughts and expect a whole lotta good to come from this.
It's just a bit of a shock for poor AKM, eh?
We all know AKM is a really REALLY talented writer and communicator and I believe in good things happening from everything. It's all how ya look at it.
I posted this on mudflats, but can you imagine the media that is going to cover this? I also posted a suspicion about Foax Crap news just happening to be up there when this happens, yeah how convenient for repub news channel to have this first. Something stinks about this.
Hi .. think that was me.
I sent to Rachel Maddow, and Huffingtonpost got it as well. Shannyn Moore is on KeithO tonite (gotta go watch it!)
I cross posted this from another blog:
the man Doogan, was acting on behalf of the state. He made a determination that someone should exercise her constitutional rights only in the manner he deemed appropriate, not in the manner in which she had the First Amendment right to comment. He also made someone who had taken pains to keep her identity private a public figure.
This is a violation of federal law and of the state common law right to privacy. The fact that he did it on state time and in his capacity is what is called “state action” for a section 1983 civil rights claim. The Mudflats blogger, who was absolutely entitled to comment on matters of public interest and equally entitled to do so anonymously, has a significant lawsuit against this clown. Were I admitted to the Alaska bar, I’d love to handle it. Since I am not, I very much hope that she finds a lawyer with experience in civil rights claims. In addition to awarding damages, they also award attorneys’ fees. That is the only way to stop this sort of abuse of public position.
RE: MUDFLATS BLOG
It's still up ... it's going up and down, probably due to heavy traffic. I got on by clicking on the Shannyn Moore post and once I got there, it was slow but it does load.
AKM needs everyone's support. Every day I am so glad I don't live in Alaska (although unfortunately I have McCain and Kyl - ugh).
But at least our Rabid Repigs don't go off and attack individuals because their panties are in a wad!
Love this blog too.
Is it bad timing or are too many Alaska blogs getting strong armed right now? Celtic Blue Dive writes about Fox News & Slime, Gryphen is tightening up his moderation, and now Mudflats. Reminds me of Todd Palin sitting in Sarah's office, threatening people to fire an ex-brother-in-law. This is some coincidence. Good thing you're some serious distance away, Regina.
FEDUP, wes_ben,
The site is still there, it's taking absolutely ages to load because of the intense traffic, I guess.
basheert,
Thanks for coming back and the extra info! I hope AKM will sue the living daylights out of this guy.
Reg
My heart goes out to AKM. They deserve support and need protection. It's not exactly the same situation but I'm reminded of Todd Palin stalking Trooper Wooten. There are some crazy nuts out there. If something happened as a result of a Doogan outing someone, are there laws to hold the Doogan types accountable?
Doogan wants this to go viral? People don't have the time to read all about the Palin ethic lapses. No one likes a snitch, that will be easy to get and it will bring more attention to the struggle in Alaska.
Setting someone up for harrassment and ambush is despicible. Not to mention threats to family. Recently a blog, that was investigating Palin's photographs, was taken out due to fear from threats. There may have been a stalker involved. The answer is not to give into extortion. Report and document everything.
"This is good. Stalking women is something that most advertisers would probably draw the line at."
www.americablog.com
BREAKING: UPS stops advertising on O'Reilly after he had ThinkProgress blogger stalked, and talked about assassinating MSNBC employees
Reg
I do too - the fact that it appears he is fighting with constituents via email using State time and facilities should really show Alaskans just what type of individual he is. On Shannyn's blog, posters are posting his nasty, snarky responses to their emails. And yes it does appear he is using his worktime to do this.
There is also a lawyer there making awesome comments.
Am watching KeithO and nothing yet. Although he did mention Alaska as a promo. Will keep you updated.
I love your blog as well as Mudflats and Shannyn's. I always felt that Mudflats had so much humor and always sourced so well, I enjoyed her blog daily. It seems there are so many people there now, from literally all over the world who are totally outraged at this misuse of office.
Now comes the question: will the Alaskan voters let this slide?
Yes, I understand that her site is being 'attacked' (in a good way) by people wanting to express their outrage! It is not down, just very, very slow...
Maybe that Rex something-or-other - the lawyer that SJ has obtained - could help AKM? Just wondering out loud...
I too was appalled by Doogan
s actions. His outing of AKM
was a form of intimidation. I think that an ethics complaint should be
filed against him. I am sure that someone will do that.
OK folks - here goes the Alaska Statues on 2nd Degree Stalking...taken from Mudflats - enjoy! And if you live in AK, send them to DooDooDoogan:
AS 11.41.270. Stalking in the Second Degree.
(a) A person commits the crime of stalking in the second degree if the person knowingly engages in a course of conduct that recklessly places another person in fear of death or physical injury, or in fear of the death or physical injury of a family member.
(1) “course of conduct” means repeated acts of nonconsensual contact involving the victim or a family member.
Regina...you have email.
...so the AK Mafia is alive & well...& holding public office...WOW
Still trying to post over at MFs, not a bad thing that I can't, so happy the ppl are loggin on, supporting AKM.
Just know Regina, from CA, I'm so thankful for all you guys covering Alaska!
This is beyond belief! "too much holiday cheer" drunk Doogan, stalking AKM, vile and disgusting. I hope she sues the shit out of him,I hope his political career is OVER.
Everyone contact CREW about this:
http://citizensforethics.org/about/tipline
Also RM
Rachel@msnbc.com
Out Doogan, out GINO!
Anonymous blogger go!!!!
Doogan needs to be outed---as in ...thrown OUT of public office!
And Palin with him!
OK folks - here you all go - The story is now a lead on Daily Kos.
And just for more ammo, here is the eff from the Supreme Court Ruling on anonymity in cyberspace (go get the piece of human DooDoo):
There is an interesting page on the EFF web site that discusses the right to anonymous communication. I think it is high time that someone somewhere stands up and challenges Sarah Palin, Mike Doogan and all others who whine and carry on about anonymous bloggers. The right to anonymity is VITAL to our political system. Check out the following quote from a US Supreme Court case upholding the right to such communications. This is taken from the EFF web page http://www.eff.org/issues/anonymity
” Anonymous communications have an important place in our political and social discourse. The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the right to anonymous free speech is protected by the First Amendment. A much-cited 1995 Supreme Court ruling in McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission reads:
” Protections for anonymous speech are vital to democratic discourse. Allowing dissenters to shield their identities frees them to express critical, minority views . . . Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. . . . It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation . . . at the hand of an intolerant society. ”
I found out about this yesterday, was absolutely fuming and still am. What this man has done is criminal, as has been said before. I really hope he is held seriously accountable for this. If he is not, if opens a lot of very dangerous doors for anyone choosing to voice their opinion. This cannot be allowed to happen.
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