I. It was a tough week for Alaska progressive blogger Gryph. He endured what was perhaps the slimiest assault yet by the attack machine associated with the crazy woman referenced in the immediately preceding post at PA. While this crazy woman feels free to accuse our President of setting up "death panels," all Gryph did was to report material that I've heard myself. I didn't not print it because I don't think it is true. Rather I didn't print it because I could care less. But I must say that what Gryph was told by Mat-Su Valley contacts is no different than some of the stuff I've been told.I do care, though, when the crazy woman falsely accuses my President, who I'm not entirely fond of myself, of beginning to prepare the machinery for mass murder. That is exactly what the nutty girl did yesterday, in a bizarre return to her wacky internet persona.
II. AK Muckraker and Shannyn Moore are getting ready to be Alaska's first full-fledged representatives to the progressive internet-savvy conference, Netroots Nation, to be held in Pittsburgh from August 13th to 17th. You can donate to help pay their expenses at The Mudflats or at Just a Girl from Homer. They will be discussing what they hope to accomplish today, on The Shannyn Moore Program, on KBYR radio, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Alaska time.
III. At the time of this post's writing, no Alaska mainstream media yet appears to have covered Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell's Friday request to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, to declare a fisheries disaster on the Yukon River. Coveage by Alaska progressive blogs so far has been as follows:
Anonymous Bloggers: Breaking News: Alaska's Gov. Parnell Urges Disaster Relief for Yukon Fishery!
The Immoral Minority: Is it possible that Sean Parnell will be a much more effective Governor than Sarah Palin? Yes I realize that she set the bar pretty low
Progressive Alaska: Parnell's Yukon Fishery Disaster Petition - What Happens Next?
While Wesley Loy's blog, Deckboss, also covered this yesterday evening, his commentary is limited to a few important points about permit holders on the river, and makes no reference to the obvious implications in this request for the Bering Sea trawler fleet.
Early this morning I suggested to one of Sen. Begich's senior staff that Mark issue a statement of full support to Parnell's request "ASAP."
IV. Alaska community activist and visual artist, Jim Behlke wrote an article yesterday for the Alaska Dispatch, that poses questions along the same line as those I have been looking for answers on, since April, on aspects of the functions and scope of the Rural Alaska Action Subcommittee. Jim, who has been commenting at blog articles about the rural subcabinet, or about Rural Advisor John Moeller, does an outstanding job in his Dispatch piece.
V. Steve Aufrecht at What Do I Know? posted an appreciation of the growing evidence that rightwing commentator Dan Fagan may actually be growing up. Others, including Shannyn Moore, have made similar observations to me. I'm more skeptical, but Steve's piece is convincing on many levels.
VI. Both Henkimaa and Bent Alaska posted authoritative articles on the Dan Coffey proposal to
image - Mt. Rainier overlooking the White River valley, from Cayuse Pass - yesterday afternoon