Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis - Front Page

How are the "Palin books" handling the ex-Gov's legal challenges? UPDATE 2 HarperCollins email!

Celtic Diva — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:37:30 GMT

I have been watching the emergence of the various books on Palin...from "journalists" who followed her campaign, to "writers" who don't understand the first thing about non-fiction and research, to Palin's own book. My interest has been purely in determining how each will handle the information about the state Records Requests (FOIAs), the Personnel Board, Ethics Complaints and the APOC investigation. The books I'm looking at are "Sarah from Alaska," released several weeks ago, "The Persecution of Sarah Palin" released this week and, because of a kind gentleman who gifted me with the pages, "Going Rogue," Palins own book not set to be released until Tuesday.

1) APOC Investigation: NOTHING. Not ONE of these books even mentions that Alaska Public Offices Commission is investigating Sarah Palin's lack of sponsorship/Arctic Cat monetary information on Calendar Year 2008's Financial Disclosure form. They also don't mention her non-compliance in revealing that information to them even though they have asked multiple times.

So, one of the most important and damning issues regarding Palin isn't mentioned in any book so far! Hmmmmm...

2) Ethics Complaints: "Sarah from Alaska" covers it in just two pages...basically including Arctic Cat...which is how my name got in the index (page 240!).

Here is PAGE 239 and PAGE 240.

As you can see, it was mostly rehashing Palin's bogus assertion of "frivolousness," and they were critical in their interpretation of their interview with Andree McLeod. However the book did take her to task for her high-schoolish responses to each complaint's dismissal. The authors also chastise Palin for her inappropriate response to me when the Arctic Cat complaint was filed.

Regarding Matthew Continetti's book...

I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday, grabbed his "persecution complex" book and a cup of coffee and sat down to speed read/skim.

That's an hour-and-a-half of my life that I want back.

Continetti occasionally talks about having "lunch" with someone to get inforamtion, like AK Republican Party head Randy Ruedrich. However, overall his book has a) no index b) no footnotes c) no endnotes d) no references and e) frequently uses sources like "a University professor" or "an Alaska insider." (Even his friends on Conservatives4Palin bust him for it.) When he reams Charley James for lousy sourcing last year, I laughed out loud. When he talked about progressive blogs "linking" to James' article anyway, without mentioning those of us that took him to task, I just got angry.

With all of that in mind, I was not surprised that basically one paragraph on one page (211) is dedicated to the entireity of Palin's legal challenges. Continetti's presentation of the ethics complaints can be summed up in this factually challenged "quote" from the book, attributed to Legislator Gene Therriault:

"That was part of the Democratic plan to grind her up; use the ethics law as a blunt instrument to club the administration."

I guess the fact that of the 20+ ethics complaints filed, only 3 (that I know of) were filed by folks who are actual Democrats. As Mr. Therriault knows quite well, Andree McLeod is strongly Republican, and I believe the rest were filed by non-partisan folks.

The thought of trying to get Andree McLeod to join a "Democratic Plan" just makes me laugh.

At least Continetti fixed his mistake regarding what my Artic Cat claim was about. In his original article on the subject (that was riddled with inaccuracies), "Out of Alaska" in The Weekly Standard, he claimed that Palin was wearing an Arctic Cat "t-shirt."

I also found it interesting that he tied this line from Palin in with the Arctic Cat complaint:

"I got to the point where I said, 'May I just plead guilty?'?" she told me.

While Palin also attributes that line to the Arctic Cat complaint, parts of her "ethics" story is somewhat different in her own book, "Going Rogue." The first two pages were posted early this morning which showed the direction her explanation was going...Andree McLeod-bashing. We see much more of that nastiness in the next two pages:

HERE and HERE.

First off, Palin lied...there was never an official "complaint" about the dress code from McLeod and the target of the letter wasn't Palin. Since her previous job with the State of Alaska Department of Labor was helping people prepare for the workforce, Andree McLeod was hyper-aware of what clothing was not appropriate for the government workplace...especially those folks who regularly deal with the public. The letter was intended for Annette Kreitzer who dealt with those issues for the Office of the Governor. When they decided misconstruing this was great way to attack McLeod, they passed this email to Alaska Ear gossipper Sheila Toomey. The rest led to several records requests.

Considering all of the ethics complaints, I found it interesting that she spent the most amount of time lying (and bitching) about Arctic Cat.

--She claimed that she'd been wearing "the logo and team colors for years." Not while she was Governor and starting the Iron Dog race, she wasn't! I went back three years and she never had a sports jacket on during that race.

--She says the jacket "happened to be the team colors"...actually, it wasn't for 2009. Team Davis/Palin's snow machines and outfits were orange and black while hers were yellow and green. It's the big HUGE Arctic Cat logos all over the jacket and pants that made the difference.

A little worried about the eventual outcome of the APOC investigation, are we?

Of course, the other ethics issue she spends a little time on is the Alaska Fund Trust, that she "covers" on PAGE 374.

Wait a sec...did she just insinuate that the ethics complaint against her over the Alaska Fund Trust was the last straw in her decision to quit her job? Where did I read that before?

So far, the authors have not bothered to achieve a working understanding of Palin's legal issues and the problems that still face her. I look forward to the more accurate books coming out from Geoffrey Dunn and Joe McGinness to see what they have to say about her legal troubles.

You can also look forward to future posts on the blog!

*******************************************UPDATE*************************************************

--As "EyeOnYou" pointed out in the comments (and I forgot to emphasize) Sheila Toomey insinuated via email that the way she got the Andree's memo was through a records request. Nice that Palin cleared that up for us.

--Forgot to point out the rehashed lie that the ethics complaints were all dismissed. There are still several complaints out there BESIDES the AK Fund Trust issue that should have dragged her in front of a hearing by now.

--The official Arctic Cat complaint cited her for vioation of AS 39.52.120 Misuse of Official Position. You can read it HERE.

*******************************************UPDATE*************************************************

I found this in my email (and it seems that PALINGATES got one too):

I act as legal counsel to HarperCollins Publishers. I have just learned that you have posted substantial excerpts from our as yet unpublished book, Going Rogue, by Sarah Palin, on your web site. We view your posting of these excerpts as an infringement of our and Governor Palin's exclusive rights under copyright. Accordingly, we demand that you remove them from your web site.
Christopher Goff
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Voice: 212 207 7127
Fax: 212 207 7552
******************************************************
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this communication in error, please do not distribute and delete the original message. Please notify the sender by E-Mail at the address shown. Thank you for your compliance.

As you can see, I took the pages off the site. However, the real story here is this:

--The Senior Vice President of Harper Collins,

--ON A SUNDAY,

--Sent emails to two specific blogs, one little blog based in Alaska, another based overseas,

--ignoring the multiple other outlets (many of which were larger or were "Palin-positive") that have pages or "extensive excerpts" from her book on the site.

They didn't do this on their own. Palin picked the ones she wanted them to email. Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, my posts in question leaned towards fact-checking/lie-refuting than some of the others that were more for entertainment.

In other words, this was Palin-flattery!

I was once asked if, God forbid, Palin ever did become President, what would her first act be? I stated that she would gather up the considerable resources available to a U.S. President and use them...to go after her "enemies" in Alaska and the media.

I rest my case.

And in light of all this, the question I have for Mr. Goss and HarperCollins: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PALIN'S BITCH?

My fairy godfather sent me pages from "Going Rogue"--here are two of them for you!

Celtic Diva — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:58:52 GMT

A wonderful reader and researcher sent me all of the pages on the ethics complaints from Palin's book because he knew it would be of interest to me.

I just got them in the email and I'm working on a post for the later today, but I'll share two of them with you before I go to bed.

PAGE 352 is alluding to our friends, Gryphen and Dennis Zaki, regarding the "divorce" issue but it's also the first page where she starts to delve into the records requests (FOIA) and ethics complaints. PAGE 353 is a continuation of that.

You can see the beginning of the attacks on Andree McLeod. There is more of that in the next several pages as well as dealing with Arctic Cat. I'll share those as well as my thoughts on it all with you later today.

President Obama visits Alaska and gives our troops a shot in the arm

Celtic Diva — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:32:40 GMT

The day finally came when Alaska was going to host our President Obama. It was going to be a short visit as, once again, we have earned our title as a beautiful "refueling stop." However, all of us, especially the troops who waited for hours to see him, were not disappointed.

First, and the most important news as far as I'm concerned, I wrote on Veteran's Day that Mo Bailey received tickets from Senator Lisa Murkowski so that he and Ann could attend the event. Sure enough, there he was in the DV section (in military terms, that means Distinguished Visitor)! It seems that he received a call from another member of Obama's communications team who told him where he should be sitting to be on "the rope line"...where the President would come out to shake hands. My understanding after the fact is that many of the DVs were slated to meet with Obama as well. However, our President decided to cancel those meetings because he spent extra time with people who needed him more...the troops who had just returned from combat and the families of those soldiers who didn't make it back.

So, Mo got to shake the hand of the President and he was glowing afterwards!

Regarding the venue itself, Hanger One, I'd never seen it looking so good for a Presidential visit. I was part of the entertainment for George HW Bush when he came to visit (I was in the Martin Luther King Citywide Choir...and I sang a solo after he arrived. Yes, you sense a little pride as I write about that!) and I attended as a Federal grunt when the Clintons came, which is when I got to shake our future Secretary of State's hand. For President Obama's visit, it looked like they'd put in some serious extra effort to make the place look 'presidential' and less like a huge tin can.

Our local media and the soldier techies

The traveling White House Press Corps

AKM (also known as "Jeanne") and Rishi, Asst. Program Mgr for KBYR

Kyle Hopkins of the Anchorage Daily News interviews Mayor Begich and Julie Hasquet

Brad from popular music station KFAT

Use the media rush to try to find the top of the President's head as he shakes hands.

Of course, there was media...everywhere. It was especially cool to see all of my media friends and the excitement many of them had at their first time seeing President Obama in person! Of course, one of the really fun parts was that AKM, Shannyn and I all rode together to the event...the three witches in the same car! (No, we didn't ride brooms.) I guess it was kind of off-putting for some people to see the three of us together. (I didn't get a good picture of Shannyn...she was running around with her camera guys and should have some excellent footage for her next show! If you look in the first picture of the media on the riser, you can see her in the back.)

An awesome singer from the Air Force Band leading the Star Spangled Banner before President Obama's entrance

President Obama is flanked by Major General William Troy, Commander, U.S. Army Alaska
and Colonel Mark Camerer, Vice Commander of the 3rd Wing, Elmendorf AFB

During the President's speech, there were two profound moments for me:

1) When a service member from the audience said "Love you" and the President said, "I love you back." I'm fairly certain that call-and-response has NEVER happened with any other president when speaking to the troops in Alaska. It also got a special mention on Elmendorf's website, which seems particularly enthusiastic about his visit.

2) One of the biggest cheers the President received was after his comment: "I will never hesitate to use force to protect America, but I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary." President Obama had to pause for cheers after the first part of the comment...using force to protect America. However, by far the biggest cheer came after the second part, telling them he wouldn't send them unless it was absolutely necessary.

I believe there are some right-wing chicken-hawks who need to take note of that. Combat troops and their families who have made those sacrifices understand the difference.

I found this interesting take on his comments in an AP article on the President's pending decision regarding troop levels in Afghanistan:

Obama himself injected another variable on his way to Asia on Thursday. He told troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska that he won't send troops into harm's way without the support they need to succeed - including "public support back home." Polling shows most Americans oppose a troop increase.

I think it's important to know, for anyone who was not at Elmendorf, that I saw in many of those soldiers yesterday true passion and emotion for our President...not something that happens frequently or is given lightly. I overheard conversations between service members, family, etc...about how thrilled they were to be there. After a number of the newly-returned-from-combat soldiers got to meet and spend time with President Obama, they came out into the audience just prior to his speech. Several of them were clearly overwhelmed when the President came out, restraining themselves in front of their peers.

Applause generated by President Obama for Senator Begich (standing in the audience,
bottom right) for all of his hard work to benefit the active duty soldiers and veterans

Vince Beltrami (Pres. of Alaska AFL-CIO) and AKM

The Berkowitzes

I made Julie Hasquet (Sen Begich's Communications Director) smile

While there were a number of VIPs attending, the vast majority were from the Democratic side. However, I was surprised to see very few of our Legislators from either side of the aisle there at all, though I have no idea about the ticket situation or availability. You can see a number of the VIPs above, but one I couldn't seem to get a good picture of was Republican Nancy Dahlstrom, always a class-act, with children in tow.

Mayor Sullivan, who originally rejected the passes he was offered then, after
much pressure, decided to show up after all.

Reverend Alonzo Patterson, Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church...the head of the
Martin Luther King Committee in Alaska. He also testified in 1993 AGAINST LGBT equality
in housing and employment. His son, Rev. Jr., carried-on that sad tradition
in front of the Assembly in 2009. Not very MLK-ish...

However, what was more obvious were the people who were not there.

--Senator Lisa Murkowski, who at least sent a "welcome":

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On his first visit to Alaska, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sends her warm welcome to President Barack Obama:
"I am pleased to see that our Commander in Chief, President Obama, is visiting Alaska today and spending time with the brave men and women of Alaska's military. I send my warm welcome to him as he visits our state for the first time and experiences Alaska's beauty and people. Due to a previous commitment, I will be unable to welcome the President in person, but I know Alaska's military families are honored that our Commander in Chief will acknowledge their service in person. President Obama has promised us that this refueling stop and visit will not 'count' as a full visit to Alaska and we look forward to welcoming the entire first family to Alaska in the future. "

--Rep. Don Young, who gave his tickets to Ethan Berkowitz.

--Governor Parnell, was DOWN THE STREET AT THE CAPTAIN COOK for a speech that only lasted one hour at a conference that was going on for 3 or 4 days. For all of those folks who seem to think that Parnell might be an OK Governor because "at least he's better than Palin," this blow-off of President Obama is a good indication of his true colors.

--Lt. Governor Campbell was in Sitka.

Of everyone, Governor Parnell's absence while a few blocks away smacked the most of a blatantly arrogant snub. The Governor needs to understand that it was noticed, noted and he can expect to hear about it again in the future from his Alaskan constituents.

I'll venture a guess the same can be said of the White House.

An eventful end to an eventful day...the birth of Glenna Strongheart!

Celtic Diva — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:08:59 GMT

Today was amazing!

President Obama's visit couldn't have gone better (other than the Governor meandering a few blocks over to show up). Mo did get to shake the President's hand!

And I have tons of pictures to process and post.

But amazingly, right in the middle of everything...Ann Strongheart went into serious labor...surprise!

Tonight came the good news! Mudflats reported this earlier:

It is a girl
Glenna Gabriella Kegginacengaq Strongheart
8 pounds 11 ounces
21 1/4"
at 10:08 PM on
THURSDAY, Nov 12, 2009

If your heart wasn't warmed enough by the news, try to stifle the "Awwwww" when you see this picture!!

Congratulations, Strongheart family and friends!

A Veterans Day salute to my friends and to all those who served!

Celtic Diva — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:30:34 GMT

Vietnam Veterans of America, Wasilla Chapter--picture by Ann Bailey

I had planned to go to the Veterans Day event organized by Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans Aviation Outreach at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Wasilla today. I was very much looking forward to seeing the organizer, my friend Maurice "Mo" Bailey and getting pictures of the very beautiful monument with the proud men and women in uniform standing all around.

Unfortunately, the flashing "CHECK ENGINE" light when I took my daughter to pre-Algebra at 7:00 am this morning completely altered my plans for the day. We finally had it fixed by noon, but it was too late to go.

I especially wanted to get to see them both because I am so excited for Mo! As a result of many phone calls and the great deal of respect Senator Lisa Murkowski has for him, Mo and Ann have tickets to see President Obama tomorrow!

Mo and Senator Lisa Murkowski

For those of you who don't know who Mo is, here's a little bio I wrote on him:

Maurice "Mo" Bailey was in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division Aviation Company, Flight Engineer Crew Chief during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, he went to flight school in Alaska in 1968 thanks to the GI Bill where he earned his commercial pilot's license...to his knowledge, the first African American in the State of Alaska to have done so. In the last 41 years, Mo has become one of the most respected members of both the veterans' and aviation communities.
In 2003, Mo started up Veterans Aviation Outreach (VAO), a non profit organization made up of committed pilots who are also combat Veterans. Their goal, according to their website:
"Our express purpose is to locate, inform and assist veterans residing in rural and remote Alaska and to help them in obtaining health care and other earned benefits to which they are entitled. Many of these veterans have no knowledge of these different programs, or how to go about applying for them.
Maurice (Mo) Bailey is a certified Chapter Service Officer, along with being one of the pilots and the President of VAO, Inc. He has successfully assisted some of these veterans in filing claims for compensation for disabilities and or service connected injuries. Some of these Veterans are now receiving a monthly compensation as a direct result of our efforts. We do this, because it is the right thing to do."
Mo is now in another battle--with Leukemia--and yet he can't seem to stop helping other veterans and their families. Even yesterday, he was helping the wife of a disabled vet with improvements to her house. Many times, this assistance comes directly out of Mo's pocket.

The latest today is that there is a possibility Mo and Ann may get on the "rope line" and may get the chance to shake President Obama's hand! Since I will be in "the pit" with the other sweaty press I hope I can get a picture of the moment! No one deserves it more.

I talk about Mo on Veterans Day because he's a good friend and a veteran of a war that shaped my childhood and my life...Vietnam. I also talk about Mo because his illness makes his sacrifice even more real...many cancers, especially Leukemia, can be traced back to the exposure to "Agent Orange." The connection is so strong with some cancers, the VA assumes that's what caused it when it comes to coverage.

Veterans continue to give their lives for their country many years after their wars are over.

I have other friends I am extremely proud of:

My daughter's godmother, Paula, is a veteran and one of the toughest women I know. She is a part of history...one of the last members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The Women's Army Corps Veterans embrace all women soldiers and their credo puts a lump in my throat:

I am an American soldier. Since the earliest years of our Nation, I have taken part in its defense.
I marched with General Washington and the Continental Army, suffering with them the cold, harsh conditions of war. Sometimes, disguised as a man, I shouldered a rifle and fought the enemy.
During the War of 1812 and in the War with Mexico, I cared for the wounded. I was on the battlefields of the Civil War, serving the North or the South. Whatever my task - soldier, spy, courier nurse or doctor, I performed my duties with courage and devotion.
Early in the Twentieth Century, our Nation recognized the caliber of my service by founding the Army Nurse Corps.
When the First World War came, I was one of the women who manned switchboards, drove ambulances and performed many essential tasks on the home front or with General Pershing's forces in France.
I gained the status of soldier in May 1942, when the Army formed the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. That summer I stood tall with the other volunteers on the parade ground at Fort Des Moines as we acknowledged our Date with Destiny and Debt to Democracy.
Within a year I was no longer an Auxiliary. I was now a member of the Women's Army Corps, joining women known for their strong sense of duty and their esprit. We served the Army with pride, whenever our skills were needed - at home and abroad, in peace and in war, from Europe to Japan, Korea to South Vietnam.
In 1978, the Women's Army Corps passed into history. We became a truly integral part of the Army. Today, I honor all the women who came before us, who gave us our heritage and who made possible the opportunities we now have. The spirit of these women and the spirit of the Women's Army Corps will always live in our hearts.
Now I am one with the women who served in countless peacekeeping missions around the world, from Grenada to Panama, Desert Storm to Somalia and Bosnia. I am one with the long line of women who suffered wounds and died on the battlefield, endured separation and uncertainty, were prisoners of war and survived to return to serve again.
I am, indeed, an American Soldier: Proud of my profession, ready to perform any duty assigned to me and to answer the call when my country needs me.

This has been a very strange week. I've been involved in multiple issues that have interfered with blog posting and have been preparing for the arrival of President Obama tomorrow...and of course, tomorrow is going to be a crazy day. I want to honor the sacrifices of my friends...of their friends...of every veteran up to those soldiers just back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thank you...all of you.

Wife of billionaire needs up to $875,000 from State of Alaska for pet project in New York

Celtic Diva — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:16:01 GMT

(L-R) Ray Riutta, Executive Director of Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Alice Rogoff Rubernstein, Founder of Alaska House, Todd Palin, and Bruce Schlacter attend the Global Seafood Event by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute at Alaska House on May 8, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Alaska House)

No...it's not a joke. It's just another story from the "you just can't make this stuff up" department.

Per the ADN:

State legislators are considering spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in public money to support an arts and cultural center in New York City that its founder describes as an embassy devoted to increasing awareness of Alaska.
The nonprofit, Alaska House New York, opened in September 2008, in a 3,000-square-foot space in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan. Until now, it has been privately financed by founder Alice Rogoff, a wealthy advocate of Alaska Native art. She describes it as an effort to promote the state's business and culture as well as sell art.
"I did this because I thought it was really important, not just for the state in the big picture but for the sake of village life and subsistence and Native people whose livelihoods are dependent on so much of this state's economy continuing to flourish," Rogoff said in an interview. "Well, I can't afford to keep New York open anymore so we're either going to close it or we're going to find funding for it.

"For the sake of village life and subsistence and Native people whose livelihoods are dependent on so much of this state's economy continuing to flourish..."

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for giving Native Alaskan artists the opportunity to sell their works as well as other Alaska products. However, I have a few questions:

--Does Ms. Rogoff have financial records and forecasts to show what kind of return Alaskans can expect on their investment?

--Has there been a study done to compare which would be most profitable--spending $600,000.00 yearly on a house in New York, or instead spend the same on national seafood and/or tourism marketing campaigns?

--Who actually owns the artwork once it makes its way to the New York Alaska House? If Ms. Rogoff pays the artists here in Alaska and then sells the art herself in New York, as it's normally done, why should Alaska provide six-figures to upgrade and maintain what is basically Ms. Rogoff's retail business?

Ms. Rogoff has done some investing in Alaska and that is always appreciated and encouraged. What Rural Alaska needs is jobs, a restored salmon fishery, transportation, infrastructure, solutions to their out-of-control Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault problem, etc...Ms. Rogoff's husband is the 123rd richest man in the world and let's face it, The Alaska House in Soho New York is a pet project. It is a distraction not worthy of Alaska's dwindling resources.

Dominionist "DINOs" get Stupak-Pitts amendment attached, vote against HCR anyway!

Celtic Diva — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:10:28 GMT

Rachel Maddow did an excellent piece tonight on the "DINOs" (Democrats In Name Only) in Congress who are also members of "The Family" religious cult. Some actually live at their famous HQ townhouse on C-Street in DC. At least eight of these "Dems" were in the group of 26 who voted AGAINST HCR in the House even after they said they would vote for it if the Stupak-Pitts amendment were attached:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Jeff Sharlet (author of a book on "The Family") reported that Congressman Pitts rather than Rep. Stupak was most likely the driving force behind this amendment as he is one of the founders of the C-Street branch of "The Family."

In this interview with Congressman Walter Jones, ReBiblican from NC, Rep. Pitts seems to support Sharlet's assertion:

Pitts gives the impression that he is truly the driving force behind this amendment from his description of it on this show. Pitts also discusses the "Value Action Team" he chairs which pushes "Traditional Family Values" in Congress...something strongly promoted by "The Family."

For those who may need a better understanding of the "C-Street" group, here is Jeff Sharlet in a July 2009 3-part interview on NPR's "Fresh Air" explaining the beliefs of "The Family" (also known as "The Fellowship") and their attempts since the 1930's to try and make the U.S. a "Jesus-led" government:

Another expert on the ReBiblicans or "Dominionists" is author Leah Burton on the anticipatory website of her forthcoming book "God's Own Party." On her blog, she provides a ton of her own research as well as other excellent sources revealing the stealth attempts at a Dominionist takeover of Congress and the U.S. Government. I highly recommend that you make Leah's blog a regular read.

Just for fun...my guilty pleasure...the Graham Norton Show!

Celtic Diva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:31:21 GMT

Graham Norton is one of those English talk-show hosts that you have to watch after the kids go to bed...and he's damn funny! I find myself slapping my hands over my mouth all of the time so that I don't wake Morrigan up! (Here is the link to the full episode online. You have to fill out a questionaire first but you can also find season 6 episode 5 in sections on YouTube)

Tonight I was introduced to a wonderful opera mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. (Mezzos and Baritone's are my favorite female and male ranges.) This is from her new album--her version of "Bring me to life" originally by Evanescence.

One of my favorites, Harry Connick Jr. was also on and sang "All the Way." (Watch the end of the episode and you'll see it.) Also, Welsh actor/comedian Rob Bryson was on and was great.

Make sure you check out the opera singing dogs.

For those of you who don't know about Graham, many of us were introduced to his show last year...when he had actors Thandie Newton ("The Chronicles of Riddick," "The Pursuit of Happyness," "W") and Ricky Gervais (UK version of "The Office," "The Invention of Lying") do a reading of a Sarah Palin porn script.

(Warning...put down all liquids and drink nothing until it's over!)

They play a lot of reruns of past seasons during the week on BBC...they are definitely worth watching.

By the way, one of the first jokes Graham did on last night's show got a very interesting reaction from the crowd...because it alluded to the "true nature" of many of President Obama's detractors. It's nice to see the Brits say things that US comedians won't.

President Obama will be here next week! Update Postponed one day

Celtic Diva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:14:37 GMT

After the horrible events of today at Fort Hood, it's nice to get some good news:

WASHINGTON - President Obama will make his first-ever visit to Alaska next week, on Veterans Day, as part of a multi-day journey to Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore.
The president will stop Wednesday at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage to refuel Air Force One. While in Alaska, he'll mark the Veterans Day holiday with the military personnel at the base, the White House said.

As soon as I hear anything pertinent (like how to get tickets, if it's even possible) I'll post it.
*******************************************UPDATE*************************************************

It seems that they had to postpone until the day AFTER Veteran's Day...per the ADN:

The stop in Alaska was postponed a day so the president could visit Fort Hood, Texas, the scene on Thursday of a mass shooting that killed 13 at a U.S. Army base.
The White House described the Elmendorf stop as "an event with the men and women of our Armed Forces," and said that more details would be released in the coming days. It remains unclear whether the event will be open to the public.

I spoke with members of the Democratic Party. As of now, they are in discussion with the White House and at the moment it seems to be Armed Forces only. I have a veteran friend checking to see if that extends to retirees with base/post access. I'll know more on Monday.

By the way, I'm having a quiet weekend with the "fam" but I will be posting tomorrow...possibly with an "emails" update.

The book quotes just keep on comin'...this time it's "Sarah from Alaska"...

Celtic Diva — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:18:53 GMT

The Wall Street Journal (yes, the rag owned by "evil one" Rupert Murdoch) actually did a book report on "Sarah from Alaska", the newly released book by reporters Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe.

There were some REALLY tasty morsels...especially for Alaskans!

The first one: remember during the VP campaign when the story kept changing on how she accepted the candidacy? The first story...when McCain asked her to join the campaign she "Didn't blink" and said yes. However, people started to question "Didn't you ask your kids?" "Didn't you check with your husband?" That's when the story changed.

from Sean Hannity:

On her family's reaction to McCain tapping her for his running mate: "It was a time of asking the girls to vote on it, anyway. And they voted unanimously, yes. Didn't bother asking my son because, you know, he's going to be off doing his thing anyway, so he wouldn't be so impacted by, at least, the campaign period here. So ask the girls what they thought and they're like, absolutely. Let's do this, mom."

Guess what? THAT was a lie as well!

-Telling the kids: Palin couldn't bring herself to tell her children she had accepted McCain's offer to be his running mate. "The governor decided not to deliver the life-changing news herself. Instead, she asked Steve Schmidt to tell her children that their worlds were about to be turned upside down." There's no explanation for why this happened - but Conroy and Walshe do point out that the timeline means the children weren't asked for their permission, as Palin suggested during the campaign.

But wait...there's more...and this is my FAVORITE STORY!

It seems that when Sarah Palin kept accusing us Alaska blogger types of being obsessed with her, the lady perhaps was protesting too much...:

- A growing preoccupation with bloggers: There's not a lot about why Palin resigned this past summer as Alaska governor after less than a full term, except that it had something to do with "the extent to which she had allowed her critics in Alaska to get to her. The woman who had steadfastly faced down powerful oil companies two years earlier had now become preoccupied with bloggers."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That just warms my little heart!

There's more in the article--I just picked my favorite things for you before I go to bed!

And THIS isn't even the tell-all book from her former aide, Frank Bailey!

The Conflict Between Starr an Selkregg is the Rally Cry for the Next Elections

Jeanette — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:06:11 GMT

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/sto...

This article was posted today on the KTUU Channel News Website.

Last night the Anchorage Assembly met to discuss and adopt Mayor Sullivan's six year budget plan, a fifteen page plan drafted by the Mayor and his office outlining Anchorage's financial future.

The usage of the word socialism has frankly been worn out. Those who use it seem not to truly grasp its meaning. I had to comment on the article, and to reply to others who made comment.

Somebody please, in plain English, outline for me how our society has adopted socialism? As I understand the current usage of the term our churches engage in socialism. Churches regularly collect money from the members of their congregation, and redistribute the money to those it determines to be most in need. This is a basic principle of Christian faith and practice. Those of us who have been blessed with more give to those who have less or none. I have no problem extending this tenant of my faith in God to my state and nation. I render to Caesar what is Caesars as Jesus requested I do. I do so because it betters my society, and goes beyond what I or my congregation could do locally. Most of what I contribute goes to the upkeep of the infrastructure of my state and nation, and I am proud of that fact. If a portion is misused, well then that is but a portion, and those responsible can be brought to bare for their crimes. My faith tells me that their misdeeds will come around to trip them up eventually. I look around and see all that comprises my city, my district, my world, and I am grateful for it, and proud to have paid taxes to nurture it. I am blessed, and I can afford to pay a little extra to see to it that someone less fortunate than I has a better chance at life. My government isn't bad. It is run by humans, and there but for the grace of God go I.

Assemblyman Starr is a businessman. He was elected to help run our city, to watch over its fiscal health and the physical well being of its occupants. We pay his salary. If we want a portion of our taxes to be redistributed to the poorest of our citizens, or to improve the commons (public places of commerce, government or recreation), then so be it. If not to benefit our small portion of society, its commerce, trade, recreation, public health, etc., then for what do we pay taxes?

I have no doubt that Sheila Selkregg was acting on behalf of her constituency in District 19 of which I am a member. She has done so consistently even when it has put her in direct conflict with other Assembly members and Mayor Sullivan.

District 19 has been extremely blessed to have elected three competent and able individuals to watch over our public welfare. At the city level, we have Sheila Selkregg, who has an amazing head for business, and pragmatic approach to problem solving, yet consistently manages to apply both traits to the humanity of the people she was elected to serve. Her steadfast defense of human rights during the long months of hearings on AO 64 (the sexual orientation ordinance) showed great character and fortitude.

To represent the needs of Muldoon in the state House, we have Pete Petersen. http://www.petepetersen.net/. Anyone who has taken the time to get on Representative Petersen's email list, will attest to the fact that information floweth freely from his office. I will attest to the fact that its content is as accurate as I can validate through normal means of fact finding available to the citizen. Representative Petersen has been involved in and effective at researching and addressing such issues as Enstar's rate hikes, and the suspiciously high cost of fuel in Alaska. By involved I mean he has been out gathering information, helping to draft legislation, and finally, to get the information gathered back out to his constituency.

Finally, serving ably in the Senate is Bill Wielechowski. http://senate.legis.state.ak.u... Senator Wielechowski has done a tremendous job for District J. His feedback to his constituency during the AGIA process was much appreciated. So little was known about the process, and on several occasions, he or his immediate staff responded directly to my doubts and concerns. Like Representative Petersen emails, the Senator's newsletters go beyond mere campaign bulletins, and the facts they provide have been invaluable to me in my personal attempt to keep up to date on public issues. The young Senator has either drafted or help to draft key legislation to combat unfair prices hikes by utility companies, and high fuel price.

All of these individuals will have my vote next election so long as they continue to uphold their oaths of office. Those votes do not come easily, and they cannot be bought. They have earned them by meeting all of my criteria for what makes a solid servant of the public. They have first done no harm, and secondly helped to safeguard against wrongdoing in both commerce and the public. They have attended to the fiscal concerns of our district and of the state. But above that they have been accessible to their constituency, to those who extended to them the privilege of serving in office. They live in their district, and interact with those they serve. I have seen no evidence of self seeking, and I have been vigilant. Those who have read my blogs know that I love research. They have demonstrated more than adequately, and in many instances outstandingly that they have the experience to do their jobs, and the fortitude to persevere when standing up for the public. They have done even when it has placed them in opposition to the wishes of the business or the religious community. They have shown no disdain for these institutions. To the contrary, I believe their actions will ultimately protect them (though some may not think so). Finally, I observe in them the humility to recognize that, should they swerve from the path of duty and service to the citizens of their state and the Constitution we all uphold, they will be replaced.

My purpose for this lengthy atta boy/girl for the public servants of Muldoon is a simple one. Representative Petersen, and Senator Wielechowski are progressives, and Democrats. The conservative Republicans have gathered candidates to run for those offices held by Representative Petersen and Senator Wielechowski. They have this right. I cherish their right to do so, but I worry that their reasons for seeking election may not be in the best tradition of public service. By this I mean, I suspect they wish to run for reasons other than to better the health, welfare and economy of the public who may elect them to office. If this is not the case, then they have only to prove themselves more worthy than the incumbent candidates. Fair enough, but a warning to them: our district has had enough of moral piety and empty campaign promises. We have at our disposal two able bodied gentlemen who have proved their mettle in office. What ever the opposition offers it had best meet the highest standards of office for they will be scrutinized, and their past actions carefully weighed for sincerity of merit. Muldoon has just begun to see a spark of resurrection amidst economic disaster. We have much to lose should we chose unwisely. Our progression towards better neighborhoods, less crime, safer roads and better schools has been slow but it has been steady and meaningful.

The gathering of forces of the opposition to our incumbents in Muldoon will undoubtedly occur in other districts throughout the state. As the next election draws near, we, the progressive citizens of all districts in Alaska must replay in our hearts and heads the words of our newly elected President one year ago. We must remember that we the people must do our part to ensure that progress remains vital and alive. Not simply the progress of commerce and trade of a nation (the big boys and girls will slug it out and eventually the tide will turn), but the progress of our small communities and the people who live and work in and for them. We must take great pains and make necessary sacrifices of time, money and talent to ensure that those who have faithfully served us as they promised to serve us will be reelected. We must give support to new faces who demonstrate to us a sincere desire and posses credible skills to serve their communities on behalf of the electorate who place them in office. We must get out and vote. We must help our neighbors get out and vote. We must be willing to discuss the politics of our neighborhoods, and confront those would run for office with our concerns and questions. If volunteers for the candidates we support call us for assistance, we must be willing to dig as deeply as we are able to answer that call. If we lack money, we must contribute time. If we lack time, we must contribute money when possible. If we lack both resources, then we must lend to them the strength and the power of our voices. We must explore the six degrees of space that separate us one from another. If we respect our fellow man, we can find a way to discuss a subject that is important to our mutual welfare. Yes, we will sometimes face hostility, but what is an instant of inconvenience compared to possibly years of it should someone unqualified to serve be elected? To what lengths are we willing to go to see our children be welled schooled, our infrastructure in good service and repair, and our elders adequately cared for should they have no resources other than the public good will? These will be the questions to ask ourselves in the next several months, as we recall the thrill of the last Presidential election, and as we listen attentively to the arguments on the Hill of our Capital as they decide the future of health care reform. Democracy lives, breaths and we have the privilege of participating in it Day to Day.

Rules Schmools..."Sarah's Values" as they apply to the legal system

Celtic Diva — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:43:13 GMT

Back in April, I did THIS POST when a then-unknown Kim Chatman joined the Juneteenth lawsuit, legitimizing it with an Alaskan resident so it could move forward in the courts. The basis of the lawsuit: Sarah Palin did not issue a proclamation celebrating Juneteenth in 2007, even after numerous reminders from Alaska residents.

Making this proclamation is part of Alaska law:

Juneteenth, a holiday observance which celebrates the freeing of the last remaining slaves in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, has been adopted in 29 states and was signed into law in Alaska in 2001. The bill known as HB 100 specifies that the "governor shall issue a proclamation observing the day."

Officials were also concerned that this was just part of a pattern of behavior:

In a related development, National Juneteenth Chairman Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D has requested a meeting with Governor Palin to allow her an opportunity to reconcile the conflict surrounding Juneteenth, stating that in addition to the 2007 failure, Palin "not responding to invitations to participate in the annual Alaska Juneteenth Celebration has created doubts in the minds of Alaska Juneteenth leaders about ever receiving any support for Juneteenth from the governor".

Early this morning, I received a link to this press release in my email:

Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 4, 2009 -- Former Governor Sarah Palin, in the wake of her much publicized book and upcoming interview on Oprah, has rejected a settlement offer in the 2009 Juneteenth lawsuit (Case no. 3:09-cv-00091 United States District Court of Alaska). The plaintiffs' settlement offer, made by jazz musician Gregory Charles Royal and former Palin supporter Kim Chatman, was for Palin to merely follow through on what Alaska Assistant Attorney General Margaret Paton-Walsh said Palin would do: issue the 2007 proclamation.
Palin has been accused by the plaintifffs and has publicly admitted that she failed to issue the 2007 Juneteenth Day Proclamation which was required under Alaska statute. Palin has also been accused by African American leaders in Alaska as being the first governor in the state not to support the holiday observance.

The Alaska Attorney General's office said that former-Governor Palin would honor the settlement. There is no way the Asst. AG said that without corroboration with the Palin camp.

Commenting on Walsh's statement made in a July 2009 Associated Press article "that the governor is going to issue the 2007 proclamation" and that "a very big deal is being made out of a very small clerical error", Royal said: "Palin's choice, which should be clear to everybody at this point, to defy the African-American observance demonstrates exactly why we pushed in a lawsuit, what some called a trivial issue. We knew what she would do and just sat back to watch it play out. Her motivations, which as far as their racial component, we will let the public debate. Her claims that public resources have been wasted fighting ethics complaint is, well need I say more? The cost of our settlement for her to comply with the law, zero. The continuing cost to the state for her to evade issuing the proclamation, I'm sure she knows the math."

Palin's refusal to comply proves that this was no "small clerical error." So Palin lied...again.

This doesn't surprise any of us who truly know the nature of Sarah Palin. However, I am always flabbergasted that Palin refuses to make the logical, adult decision and instead chooses the spoiled high school cheerleader solution...blatant defiance no matter what the consequence.

But it doesn't end there.

The most interesting part of this case is the extremes Palin seems willing to go to in order to get her way...extremes that are clearly pushing the patience of the judge:

In a October 26th order, Alaska District Court judge Timothy Burgess has also ordered Palin to explain by November 4th, her claims that she has not been served the lawsuit which sparked a flurry of motions in August:
"It is unclear to the Court whether the defendant continues to contest that she was served"...."If service is still contested, the defendant must explain what steps she believes the plaintiffs must now take in order to properly serve her, and how she suggests this be accomplished." " The defendant is cautioned that so long as a party receives sufficient notice of the complaint, Rule 4 is to be liberally construed to uphold service'"......"Among other attempts at service, the plaintiffs filed an unexecuted service of summons stating that when their process server attempted to serve the defendant at the Governor's Office, her executive secretary refused to accept service."...."Sufficient service may be found where there is a good faith effort to comply with the requirements (for service) and further compliance ... is only prevented by the defendant's knowing and intentional actions to evade service."

Sarah Palin has a pattern of not only defying due process but putting her own family, friends and employees in legal jeapardy by having them do the same.

If you think for a minute that secretary's refusal to accept the documents from the process server was NOT at the behest of the former Governor, read Andrew Halcro's tantalizing post. He shares some newly-gleaned information from one of the co-authors of former Palin aide Frank Bailey's upcoming book, "...the book that will contain the REAL Sarah Palin story, "Renegade: Sarah Palin's Hatchet Man." The new information surrounds Frank Bailey's infamous call to State Trooper Rodney Dial, requesting his help to get Palin's former bro-in-law Mike Wooten fired:

Todd Palin refuted that they ever pressured Bailey into calling Dial, however this is a great example of the plausible deniability that they've become so adept at.
Minutes after Bailey's phone call to Dial in February 2008, he sent an email via his Blackberry to Ivy Frye, another one of the three close insiders to the Palin family that were hired in her administration. Just got off the phone with Rodney, Bailey wrote to Frye, I don't think he gets it.
Phone records also show that the night before Bailey's call to Dial, Todd Palin placed several phone calls to Frye leading up to Bailey's call to Dial.
So who pressured Bailey into calling Dial? It seems that Todd Palin pressured Frye into pressuring Bailey into making the call, thus Bailey's revalation to Dial that he was calling on behalf of Sarah and Todd and in doing so Todd could deny culpability.

I'm practically giddy in anticipation of THAT book!

But back to the Juneteenth case: it seems that Palin is supposed to provide information by the end of today to explain herself. Based on my experience with her legal manuevers, if she bothers to provide the paperwork, I don't believe it will be particularly explanatory.

This is just one more legal issue to put on the list of "cases to watch."

Sarah Palin tries to take credit she doesn't deserve and avoid blame that she does...again...

Celtic Diva — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:47:30 GMT

So, Sarah Palin decided to throw the power of her wingnut Facebook fans behind the "Conservative Party" candidate in NY-23, Doug Hoffman. He was running against moderate Republican, Dede Scozzfava, who had a comfortable 10-point-lead in the polls before Hoffman entered the race and the right-wing-extremists weighed in.

As a result, Scozzafava's support dwindled down to 20% or so and the formerly-losing-in-the-polls Owens was now in a dead-heat with Hoffman.

So Scozzafava did the only thing she could...bail out of the race. Then, in an unprecedented twist, she endorsed the Democrat Owen.

The result after the Tuesday election?

This morning Hoffman conceded the race to Democrat Bill Owens, his remaining challenger.
The seat had been held by moderate Republicans since 1993, and Scozzafava held a 10-point lead on Owens a month ago. But, instigated by bloggers who called for her head on grounds of ideological impurity, national conservative Republicans, including Sarah Palin, rushed to endorse Hoffman.

Now contrast that with the Virginia Governor's race back on October 28th, when the Conservative Republican was already leading:

The Polling: McDonnell leads by 10.9 points in the Pollster.com average and by margins ranging from 8 to 17 points in individual polls. The magnitude of his advantage has generally been expanding over the course of the past six weeks.

In early October, Palin even complained that McDonnell now spurned her offer of campaign help when he supposedly previously welcomed it.

Of course, that doesn't stop Sarah when an opportunity to claim unearned glory comes along. Palin instigated last-minute robocalls in Virginia that didn't name the candidate but encouraged folks to vote "Sarah's values." There were many posts on the subject that expressed confusion about all of this, especially since McDonnell continued to distance himself from Palin. (We won't get into the weirdness of Palin talking about herself in the third-person in this post.) According to Public Policy Analyst and AK blog reader ExBg, these calls may not even be legal, partially as a result of not naming a candidate.

Sarah, do something illegal or unethical for personal gain? I'm shocked!

So was Palin hedging her bets with those robocalls in case her NY-23 interference backfired? Read Palin's latest Facebook and you tell me:

Congratulations to the new Governors-Elect of Virginia and New Jersey! I'd also like to offer a special word of support to the new Lieutenant Governor-Elect of New Jersey, Kim Guadagno, the first woman to hold that office.
Of course, the real victors in this election are the ordinary men and women who voted for positive change and a return to fiscal sanity. Your voices have been heard.

And what does she say about the failed NY-23?

The race for New York's 23rd District is not over, just postponed until 2010.

And then Sarah climbed on her unicorn and flew home.

I can only hope that all of Palin's "successes" turn out as well for Democrats as NY-23 did for Mr. Owens.

Some Halloween pictures for you...thank you all for your generosity!

Celtic Diva — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:55:54 GMT

As you can see, I enjoyed playing my witch role to the hilt last night. And could it get any better than a gorgeous full moon?

In our decorating, we used limited lighting and most of it was candles, both real and fake. My husband and I had a great time sitting around the fire. (He took all the photos.)

He even did the traditional bonfire ritual with me of tossing what you want to get rid of into the "old" fire and the burning a paper with your desires for the coming year in the "new" fire (started from the ashes of the old at midnight).

Our daughter was snapped up last night by some adorable trick-or-treaters and taken away for the night, so staying out in the cold so many hours caught up to us. We ended up sleeping in REALLY late. When I finally got up and eventually got to the computer, I was flabbergasted by all of your support. Thank you so much!

Your generosity will pay off for others as well. While the cauldron was "filled" last night with canned food, it all came from just a couple of neighbors. We're going to go shopping and buy items on their most-needed list before we go to the Food Bank this week...thanks to you!

I can't emphasize it enough...I really wouldn't be able to do this without all of you. The times I've wanted to quit it's been readers through comments and emails and all kinds of supporet that have reminded me why I started this in the first place. Thank you for everything!

HR 3200, Section 209 - 242: The House Version of When, Who and How to Deliver a Public Option

Jeanette — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:58:14 GMT

The following excerpt was taken from the current version of HR 3200: Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, reported to the Committee on Education and Labor, 10/14/2009. This is very long read, but well worth it if you want to gain a better understanding how a health insurance bill might organize, implement and fund a Public Health Insurance Option.

H.R.3200
America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (Reported in House)
SEC. 209. LIMITATION ON PREMIUM INCREASES UNDER EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS.
(a) In General- The annual increase in the premiums charged under any Exchange-participating health benefits plan may not exceed 150 percent of the annual percentage increase in medical inflation for the 12-month period ending in June of the prior year, unless the plan receives approval for a higher rate increase in accordance with subsection (b) or (c).
(b) Exception for Additional Required Benefits- If the Health Choices Commissioner requires Exchange-participating health benefits plans to provide additional benefits, the annual increase permitted under subsection (a) with respect to the first year to which such benefits are required shall be increased to take into account the costs of such additional benefits.
(c) Exception to Where Financial Viability Threatened- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any Exchange-participating health benefits plan for any year if such plan demonstrates to the Commissioner (or, if determined appropriate by the Commissioner, the insurance commissioner for the State in which the plan is offered) that complying with subsection (a) for such year would threaten its financial viability or its ability to provide timely benefits to plan participants.
(d) Non-preemption- Nothing in this section shall be construed as preempting existing State prior approval laws.
Subtitle B--Public Health Insurance Option
SEC. 221. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION AS AN EXCHANGE-QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN.
(a) Establishment- For years beginning with Y1, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subtitle referred to as the `Secretary') shall provide for the offering of an Exchange-participating health benefits plan (in this division referred to as the `public health insurance option') that ensures choice, competition, and stability of affordable, high quality coverage throughout the United States in accordance with this subtitle. In designing the option, the Secretary's primary responsibility is to create a low-cost plan without compromising quality or access to care.
(b) Offering as an Exchange-participating Health Benefits Plan-
(1) EXCLUSIVE TO THE EXCHANGE- The public health insurance option shall only be made available through the Health Insurance Exchange.
(2) ENSURING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD- Consistent with this subtitle, the public health insurance option shall comply with requirements that are applicable under this title to an Exchange-participating health benefits plan, including requirements related to benefits, benefit levels, provider networks, notices, consumer protections, and cost sharing.
(3) PROVISION OF BENEFIT LEVELS- The public health insurance option--
(A) shall offer basic, enhanced, and premium plans; and
(B) may offer premium-plus plans.
(c) Administrative Contracting- The Secretary may enter into contracts for the purpose of performing administrative functions (including functions described in subsection (a)(4) of section 1874A of the Social Security Act) with respect to the public health insurance option in the same manner as the Secretary may enter into contracts under subsection (a)(1) of such section. The Secretary has the same authority with respect to the public health insurance option as the Secretary has under subsections (a)(1) and (b) of section 1874A of the Social Security Act with respect to title XVIII of such Act. Contracts under this subsection shall not involve the transfer of insurance risk to such entity.
(d) Ombudsman- The Secretary shall establish an office of the ombudsman for the public health insurance option which shall have duties with respect to the public health insurance option similar to the duties of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman under section 1808(c)(2) of the Social Security Act.
(e) Data Collection- The Secretary shall collect such data as may be required to establish premiums and payment rates for the public health insurance option and for other purposes under this subtitle, including to improve quality and to reduce racial, ethnic, and other disparities in health and health care.
(f) Treatment of Public Health Insurance Option- With respect to the public health insurance option, the Secretary shall be treated as a QHBP offering entity offering an Exchange-participating health benefits plan.
(g) Access to Federal Courts- The provisions of Medicare (and related provisions of title II of the Social Security Act) relating to access of Medicare beneficiaries to Federal courts for the enforcement of rights under Medicare, including with respect to amounts in controversy, shall apply to the public health insurance option and individuals enrolled under such option under this title in the same manner as such provisions apply to Medicare and Medicare beneficiaries.
SEC. 222. PREMIUMS AND FINANCING.
(a) Establishment of Premiums-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall establish geographically-adjusted premium rates for the public health insurance option in a manner--
(A) that complies with the premium rules established by the Commissioner under section 113 for Exchange-participating health benefit plans; and
(B) at a level sufficient to fully finance the costs of--
(i) health benefits provided by the public health insurance option; and
(ii) administrative costs related to operating the public health insurance option.
(2) CONTINGENCY MARGIN- In establishing premium rates under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include an appropriate amount for a contingency margin (which shall be not less than 90 days of estimated claims). Before setting such appropriate amount for years starting with Y3, the Secretary shall solicit a recommendation on such amount from the American Academy of Actuaries.
(b) Account-
(1) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established in the Treasury of the United States an Account for the receipts and disbursements attributable to the operation of the public health insurance option, including the start-up funding under paragraph (2). Section 1854(g) of the Social Security Act shall apply to receipts described in the previous sentence in the same manner as such section applies to payments or premiums described in such section.
(2) START-UP FUNDING-
(A) IN GENERAL- In order to provide for the establishment of the public health insurance option there is hereby appropriated to the Secretary, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000,000. In order to provide for initial claims reserves before the collection of premiums, there is hereby appropriated to the Secretary, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as necessary to cover 90 days worth of claims reserves based on projected enrollment.
(B) AMORTIZATION OF START-UP FUNDING- The Secretary shall provide for the repayment of the startup funding provided under subparagraph (A) to the Treasury in an amortized manner over the 10-year period beginning with Y1.
(C) LIMITATION ON FUNDING- Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing any additional appropriations to the Account, other than such amounts as are otherwise provided with respect to other Exchange-participating health benefits plans.
(3) NO BAILOUTS- In no case shall the public health insurance option receive any Federal funds for purposes of insolvency in any manner similar to the manner in which entities receive Federal funding under the Troubled Assets Relief Program of the Secretary of the Treasury.
SEC. 223. NEGOTIATED PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES.
(a) Negotiation of Payment Rates-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall negotiate payment rates for the public health insurance option for services and health care providers consistent with this section and section 224.
(2) MANNER OF NEGOTIATION- The Secretary shall negotiate such rates in a manner that results in payment rates that are not lower, in the aggregate, than rates under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and not higher, in the aggregate, than the average rates paid by other QHBP offering entities for services and health care providers.
(3) INNOVATIVE PAYMENT METHODS- Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preventing the use of innovative payment methods such as those described in section 224 in connection with the negotiation of payment rates under this subsection.
(4) PRESCRIPTION DRUGS- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall establish a particular formulary for prescription drugs under the public health insurance option.
(b) Establishment of a Provider Network-
(1) IN GENERAL- Health care providers (including physicians and hospitals) participating in Medicare are participating providers in the public health insurance option unless they opt out in a process established by the Secretary consistent with this subsection.
(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR OPT-OUT PROCESS- Under the process established under paragraph (1)--
(A) providers described in such subparagraph shall be provided at least a 1-year period prior to the first day of Y1 to opt out of participating in the public health insurance option;
(B) no provider shall be subject to a penalty for not participating in the public health insurance option;
(C) the Secretary shall include information on how providers participating in Medicare who chose to opt out of participating in the public health insurance option may opt back in; and
(D) there shall be an annual enrollment period in which providers may decide whether to participate in the public health insurance option.
(3) RULEMAKING- Not later than 18 months before the first day of Y1, the Secretary shall promulgate rules (pursuant to notice and comment) for the process described in paragraph (1).
(c) Limitations on Review- There shall be no administrative or judicial review of a payment rate or methodology established under this section or under section 224.
SEC. 224. MODERNIZED PAYMENT INITIATIVES AND DELIVERY SYSTEM REFORM.
(a) In General- For plan years beginning with Y1, the Secretary may utilize innovative payment mechanisms and policies to determine payments for items and services under the public health insurance option. The payment mechanisms and policies under this section may include patient-centered medical home and other care management payments, accountable care organizations, value-based purchasing, bundling of services, differential payment rates, performance or utilization based payments, partial capitation, and direct contracting with providers.
(b) Requirements for Innovative Payments- The Secretary shall design and implement the payment mechanisms and policies under this section in a manner that--
(1) seeks to--
(A) improve health outcomes;
(B) reduce health disparities (including racial, ethnic, and other disparities);
(C) provide efficient and affordable care;
(D) address geographic variation in the provision of health services; or
(E) prevent or manage chronic illness; and
(2) promotes care that is integrated, patient-centered, quality, and efficient.
(c) Encouraging the Use of High Value Services- To the extent allowed by the benefit standards applied to all Exchange-participating health benefits plans, the public health insurance option may modify cost sharing and payment rates to encourage the use of services that promote health and value.
(d) Promotion of Delivery System Reform- The Secretary shall monitor and evaluate the progress of payment and delivery system reforms under this section and shall seek to implement such reforms subject to the following:
(1) To the extent that the Secretary finds a payment and delivery system reform successful in improving quality and reducing costs, the Secretary shall implement such reform on as large a geographic scale as practical and economical.
(2) The Secretary may delay the implementation of such a reform in geographic areas in which such implementation would place the public health insurance option at a competitive disadvantage.
(3) The Secretary may prioritize implementation of such a reform in high cost geographic areas or otherwise in order to reduce total program costs or to promote high value care.
(e) Non-uniformity Permitted- Nothing in this subtitle shall prevent the Secretary from varying payments based on different payment structure models (such as accountable care organizations and medical homes) under the public health insurance option for different geographic areas.
SEC. 225. PROVIDER PARTICIPATION.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall establish conditions of participation for health care providers under the public health insurance option.
(b) Licensure or Certification- The Secretary shall not allow a health care provider to participate in the public health insurance option unless such provider is appropriately licensed or certified under State law.
(c) Payment Terms for Providers- The Secretary shall establish terms and conditions for the participation (on an annual or other basis specified by the Secretary) of physicians and other health care providers under the public health insurance option, for which payment may be made for services furnished during the year.
(d) Exclusion of Certain Providers- The Secretary shall exclude from participation under the public health insurance option a health care provider that is excluded from participation in a Federal health care program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of the Social Security Act).
SEC. 226. APPLICATION OF FRAUD AND ABUSE PROVISIONS.
Provisions of law (other than criminal law provisions) identified by the Secretary by regulation, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, that impose sanctions with respect to waste, fraud, and abuse under Medicare, such as the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729 et seq.), shall also apply to the public health insurance option.
SEC. 227. APPLICATION OF HIPAA INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
The requirements of sections 2701 through 2792 of the Public Health Service Act shall apply to the public health insurance option in the same manner as they apply to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the individual market.
SEC. 228. APPLICATION OF HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY, SECURITY, AND ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION REQUIREMENTS.
Part C of title XI of the Social Security Act, relating to standards for protections against the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information, health information security, and the electronic exchange of health care information, shall apply to the public health insurance option in the same manner as such part applies to other health plans (as defined in section 1171(5) of such Act).
SEC. 229. ENROLLMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION IS VOLUNTARY.
Nothing in this division shall be construed as requiring anyone to enroll in the public health insurance option. Enrollment in such option is voluntary.
Subtitle C--Individual Affordability Credits
SEC. 241. AVAILABILITY THROUGH HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE.
(a) In General- Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subtitle, in the case of an affordable credit eligible individual enrolled in an Exchange-participating health benefits plan--
(1) the individual shall be eligible for, in accordance with this subtitle, affordability credits consisting of--
(A) an affordability premium credit under section 243 to be applied against the premium for the Exchange-participating health benefits plan in which the individual is enrolled; and
(B) an affordability cost-sharing credit under section 244 to be applied as a reduction of the cost-sharing otherwise applicable to such plan; and
(2) the Commissioner shall pay the QHBP offering entity that offers such plan from the Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund the aggregate amount of affordability credits for all affordable credit eligible individuals enrolled in such plan.
(b) Application-
(1) IN GENERAL- An Exchange eligible individual may apply to the Commissioner through the Health Insurance Exchange or through another entity under an arrangement made with the Commissioner, in a form and manner specified by the Commissioner. The Commissioner through the Health Insurance Exchange or through another public entity under an arrangement made with the Commissioner shall make a determination as to eligibility of an individual for affordability credits under this subtitle. The Commissioner shall establish a process whereby, on the basis of information otherwise available, individuals may be deemed to be affordable credit eligible individuals. In carrying this subtitle, the Commissioner shall establish effective methods that ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency are able to apply for affordability credits.
(2) USE OF STATE MEDICAID AGENCIES- If the Commissioner determines that a State Medicaid agency has the capacity to make a determination of eligibility for affordability credits under this subtitle and under the same standards as used by the Commissioner, under the Medicaid memorandum of understanding (as defined in section 205(c)(4))--
(A) the State Medicaid agency is authorized to conduct such determinations for any Exchange-eligible individual who requests such a determination; and
(B) the Commissioner shall reimburse the State Medicaid agency for the costs of conducting such determinations.
(3) MEDICAID SCREEN AND ENROLL OBLIGATION- In the case of an application made under paragraph (1), there shall be a determination of whether the individual is a Medicaid-eligible individual. If the individual is determined to be so eligible, the Commissioner, through the Medicaid memorandum of understanding, shall provide for the enrollment of the individual under the State Medicaid plan in accordance with the Medicaid memorandum of understanding. In the case of such an enrollment, the State shall provide for the same periodic redetermination of eligibility under Medicaid as would otherwise apply if the individual had directly applied for medical assistance to the State Medicaid agency.
(c) Use of Affordability Credits-
(1) IN GENERAL- In Y1 and Y2 an affordable credit eligible individual may use an affordability credit only with respect to a basic plan.
(2) FLEXIBILITY IN PLAN ENROLLMENT AUTHORIZED- Beginning with Y3, the Commissioner shall establish a process to allow an affordability credit to be used for enrollees in enhanced or premium plans. In the case of an affordable credit eligible individual who enrolls in an enhanced or premium plan, the individual shall be responsible for any difference between the premium for such plan and the affordable credit amount otherwise applicable if the individual had enrolled in a basic plan.
(3) PROHIBITION OF USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR ABORTION COVERAGE- An affordability credit may not be used for payment for services described in section 122(d)(4)(A).
(d) Access to Data- In carrying out this subtitle, the Commissioner shall request from the Secretary of the Treasury consistent with section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 such information as may be required to carry out this subtitle.
(e) No Cash Rebates- In no case shall an affordable credit eligible individual receive any cash payment as a result of the application of this subtitle.
SEC. 242. AFFORDABLE CREDIT ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.
(a) Definition-
(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this division, the term `affordable credit eligible individual' means, subject to subsection (b), an individual who is lawfully present in a State in the United States (other than as a nonimmigrant described in a subparagraph (excluding subparagraphs (K), (T), (U), and (V)) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act)--
(A) who is enrolled under an Exchange-participating health benefits plan and is not enrolled under such plan as an employee (or dependent of an employee) through an employer qualified health benefits plan that meets the requirements of section 312;
(B) with family income below 400 percent of the Federal poverty level for a family of the size involved; and
(C) who is not a Medicaid eligible individual, other than an individual described in section 202(d)(3) or an individual during a transition period under section 202(d)(4)(B)(ii).
(2) TREATMENT OF FAMILY- Except as the Commissioner may otherwise provide, members of the same family who are affordable credit eligible individuals shall be treated as a single affordable credit individual eligible for the applicable credit for such a family under this subtitle.
(3) EQUAL TREATMENT OF CERTAIN EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS-
(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of applying this section with respect to an individual who is an employee of an employer that has an annual payroll (for the preceding calendar year) which does not exceed $750,000 and that makes the contribution which would be required under section 313(a) if the table specified in subparagraph (B) were substituted for the table specified in section 313(b)(1) (and if, in applying section 313(b)(2), $750,000 were substituted for $400,000), such individual shall be treated in the same manner as an employee of an employer that makes the contribution described in section 313(a) (without regard to this paragraph).

Senate bills, S1679 (Senator Tom Harkin) and S1796 (Senator Max Baucus) also include provisions for a Public Option. I have provided the following links.

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongr...

S1679, Section 141 through Section 185 outlines provisions and language that authorize and regulate how states will implement a public option, who and how much will be paid by individuals and employers, and provision for expanding public health facilities.

S1796, Section 1101 provides for the ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN EXCHANGES. Another important read for this bill is SECTION 2226. WAIVER OF HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM REQUIREMENTS.

These are the three top bills highlighted on www.thomas.gov at this time, and the bills receiving the most scrutiny in Congress. Of the three bills, HR 3200 is both the longest and the most straight forward. Its content is well organized, and the sections easily cross referenced against the current laws it seeks to amend. S1679 comes in second for these reasons. S 1796, the Baucus bill, seems the least well organized and the most confusing of the three, and appears to provide the most wiggle room for states, insurance brokers and insurance companies. In addition, S1796, like the house bill (discussed in an earlier blog) supported and cosponsored by Rep. Don Young, also seems to support the creation of independent "state brokers" responsible for the selection and distribution of the proposed public insurance exchanges.

It will be very interesting to see how the House responds to and adapts the bills submitted by the Senate. As many might remember, the Senate dealt heavy handedly with the House in September 2008 with the TARP bill. The House has had ample time to formulate a strategy to handle the Senate and I for one am eagerly awaiting the outcome.