Let's Help Celtic Diva Get To the Truth. UPDATED: UPDATED

A few months back, Linda Kellen Biegel, known to many as Celtic Diva, sent an Open Records request to the state, asking for copies of some emails.

Specifically, emails between officials of the Palin administration and (Sarah Palin devotee and right-wing wack job radio personality) Eddie Burke , and (the ADN's Alaska Ear) Sheila Toomey .

Also specifically, any emails in which Andrée McLeod, independent government watchdog, was the subject.

It was not an unreasonable request, in light of the official press release on the state website in which Palin's Chief of Staff Mike Nizich calls for "a backlash from Alaskans" against those who dare file an ethics complaint against Caribou Barbie.

The Governor's Office response?

"You want some emails? Sure thing," said the Palindrones on Barbie's staff. That'll be $65,706 up front, please. What? No, it's not a joke! Cough up the money, and we'll see what we can do."

Yikes.

Since that initial "estimate," Ms. Kellen Biegel has modified her request. She has asked for and received an official accounting of what will be required, and the costs incurred, in getting the modified request fulfilled.

The new price tag? $5,552.

This is still exorbitant.

In my opinion, it's simply a handy way for the Palinators™ to discourage anyone from actually demanding the "governmental transparency" that Governor Sarahcakes promised Alaskans.

However, it's doable, if we all help.

Go to Celtic Diva's site, hit the "PayPal" button, and chip in whatever you can afford to give.

When I checked this afternoon, she was about 1/4th of the way there.

Trust me. It will make you feel good to strike a blow for more open and honest government.

UPDATE:

As of last night, Celtic Diva was at $ 2,478 and counting! Keep up the good work!
As of today, Diva is less than $1000 away from paying the Palin's email ransom!

Go throw a few bucks her way if you can!

Governator™ Schwarzenegger Sends Gag "Bull Testicle" Gift to the Wrong Democrats

Last week, California Governator™ Ahnold sent California State Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) a package containing a miniature sculpture of bull testicles, with the message that the California Senate leader might need them to "make some tough budget choices."

Yeah, it was in over-the-top machismo poor taste. The senator returned them with a mild reproach.

But it wasn't really that big a deal. Apparently, these two send gag gifts back and forth all the time.

When Ahnold referred to the CA Senate's budget proposals as "hallucinatory," Steinberg sent Der Governator™ a basket of mushrooms (just the garden-variety kind, but the joke was made).

Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature have a helluva big problem facing them, and I don't envy them a bit.

My complaint isn't the fact that Schwarzenegger sent the bull balls. Arnold decided a bit of levity was in order, and he's never been known for displaying much reserve.

My complaint is he sent them to the wrong lawmakers.

Every United States Senate Democrat who's waffling on Obama's health care plan should receive a silver-plated set as a reminder that they need to grow a pair.

Except for Harry Reid.

Since he hasn't any testicles of his own, he should receive two sets.

Gold plated.

The US Dept. Of Justice Won't Cooperate On Dick Cheney's Valarie Plame Investigation Records Because of The Daily Show? WTF?

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan is presiding in watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's (CREW) lawsuit to get the DOJ to comply with the Freedom of Information Act for records relating to former Vice President Dick Cheney's interview with the FBI in the Valerie Plame investigation.

Logically enough, the judge wants a look at the notes in question.

The DOJ doesn't want the notes released, and doesn't even want to let Judge Sullivan see them.

Why?

The biting political sarcasm of Jon Stewart.

Really.

I'm NOT making this up.

From the AP article:

Justice Department lawyers told the judge that future presidents and vice presidents may not cooperate with criminal investigations if they know what they say could become available to their political opponents and late-night comics who would ridicule them.

"If we become a fact-finder for political enemies, they aren't going to cooperate," Justice Department attorney Jeffrey Smith said during a 90-minute hearing. "I don't want a future vice president to say, `I'm not going to cooperate with you because I don't want to be fodder for 'The Daily Show.'" (emphasis mine)

Wow.

Damn you Jon Stewart!
Damn you for lampooning Those Who Deserve Ridicule™!

h/t to Jason Linkins at Huffington Post.

David Letterman's Top Ten Things Overheard At The BIG "Fire Letterman" Rally

Yesterday, after much media hype, there was a "Fire David Letterman" rally held across the street from the Ed Sullivan Studio, home of the Late Show.

New York is a city with about 8.3 million residents.

According to CNN, about 15 people showed up to protest.
Not too impressive.
Looks like there's no real groundswell of support for terminating Dave.

To their credit, the few protesters there did manage to say some pretty stupid things (some way off-topic), and some pretty vile things about Letterman:



However, Letterman's response proves Dave's saying that "There is no off position on the genius switch."



Never a shortage of Teh Stupid™ to play off, is there?

I'm Still In A State of Disbelief: Palin Appoints an A.G. Who Actually Appears To Be Qualified!

At a joint Kenai - Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Luncheon today, Governor Sarah Palin signed a bill by Rep Mike Chenault (R-Kenai) into law that will "outlaw unwanted telephone solicitations to cellular phones." Yawn.

Teh Big News™ was that she appointed a new Attorney General for Alaska.

The even bigger news is that he actually appears to be qualified!

Daniel S. Sullivan's (no, not that Dan Sullivan) bio is sort of impressive, especially compared to that of Wayne Anthony Ross (W.A.R.).

The guy graduated cum laude from Georgetown, and has actually clerked for real judges on the US Court of Appeals and on the Alaska Supreme Court.

We'll learn more about him in the months to come. I have no knowledge of his political or social views, but it may be that Sarah actually connected with the ball this time, instead of the usual swing and miss.

Wonders never cease.

Asshat Of The Week: South Carolina GOP Activist Rusty DePass

Yeah, it's still early in the week, but I'm not sure anyone will top this racist SOB before Saturday.

After Trey Walker (an adviser to S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster) posted a harmless Facebook update Friday morning about the escape of a Western Lowlands Gorilla from the Columbia SC Riverbanks Zoo, Rusty DePass, a big-shot SC GOP Activist, and former chairman of the state elections commission, posted a comment on Walker's post:

"I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."

He was referring to First Lady Michelle Obama. He later admitted so.

This asshat DePass was a County Co-Chair for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 campaign.

He wrote an Op-Ed piece in The State calling for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. It was entitled:

"Do Republicans have higher moral standards than Democrats?"

Obviously, he's answered that question.

To unequivocally clinch the Asshat Award, DePass then issued the standard "non-apology apology" that has gained so much popularity in recent years:

"I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest." (emphasis mine)

Translation: "Too bad if you were offended by my insensitive racist remark. Hey, it was a joke."

Indeed.

h/t to GottaLaff

Memo to Kim Gandy, President of NOW: Stop And Think Before Legitimizing Sarah Palin's Over-The-Top Ranting. Please.

Yesterday, the National Organization for Women (NOW) placed David Letterman in its "media hall of shame" for his poor-taste jokes about Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter.

Ms. Gandy, I grant that Letterman's jokes regarding Palin's daughter were completely in bad taste, not funny, and, as you said, he "owes an apology to young women across the country."

Hammer him for it, he richly deserves it.

But - keep in mind that Sarah Palin's rant the other day to Matt Lauer about "sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl," in which she unabashedly accused Letterman of paedophilia, has nothing to do with battling sexism, sexual exploitation, or violence against women, as your organization is trying to do.

It only has to do with one thing:

More media coverage for Sarah Palin.

If Sarah Palin cared a whit about protecting her daughters from the media, she'd never have used them as props in the first place when running for Vice President, and would have long since stopped using them to get face time on any network she can.

She'd say "no comment" when asked about the personal lives of her family.

But, being a narcissist, Palin is psychologically incapable of doing so. She must be the center of attention at all times.

From your own website, regarding reproductive rights:

"NOW fully supports access to safe and legal abortion, to effective birth control and emergency contraception, to reproductive health services and education for all women. We oppose attempts to restrict these rights through legislation, regulation or Constitutional amendment."

You know where Sarah Palin stands on those issues, I am sure. Diametrically opposed.

So please, Ms. Gandy, be careful.

Sarah Palin will use your condemnation of Letterman's crappy, tasteless jokes as an endorsement of her and her upcoming Presidential candidacy... when she is in fact pretty much opposed to everything you stand for.

Just sayin'.