The same thing was happening to me right before Andrew Halcro talked to Mike Wooten for four hours. Folks were telling me everything that proved to be true, but they gave me no proof so I couldn't print it.
This time, this information is all about Chuck Kopp and claims that there is much more to the story...and more folks involved. One person even named a name (I deleted it from the comments).
I'm following up on what I can, including looking into submitting a FOIA request. I really am not invested in "breaking stories" but I will if folks will give me the information with that intent. However, I'm also making a request. If there is someone who REALLY knows something out there with proof, break the story to SOMEONE...ANYONE you feel comfortable with. If half of this stuff is actually true, folks REALLY need to know and I don't care who breaks it.
Here is a LINK that EVERYONE should see regarding TransCanada's timeline. According to Hal Kvisle, Alaska will be the LAST PIPELINE COMPLETED--"THE LATER PART OF THE NEXT DECADE!"
Watch the interview...and send a link to your Senator.
Candidate Erick Cordero (pictured below on the right) who is running for Lyda Green's seat, has been talking about this all week:
Through email on Sunday, Cordero asked all members of the legislature to give full consideration to an All Alaskan Natural Gas Pipeline. Cordero mentioned some concerns regarding the TransCanada proposal, specifically related to a development timeline. TransCanada has stated that construction of the Mackenzie line project would take priority over the Alaskan gas pipeline.
In his letter to Alaskan legislators, Cordero stated: “…There are elements in the TransCanada proposal that cause real concern. First of all, TransCanada has stated that construction of the Mackenzie Line in Canada would be their first priority.”
During a recent interview by the Canadian Business News Network on July 16, President/CEO of TransCanada, Hal Kvisle, said that two other projects, the Keystone Pipeline and the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, would be built before any work can start with the Alaskan project. “The Alaska Project is a long way off,” Kvisle said, “We would expect to build the $5 billion dollar phase 1 of Keystone over the next couple of years, then move into this Keystone expansion that we announced today, then our plan would see us constructing the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline and only in the later part of the next decade would the Alaska pipeline be constructed” he added.
Erick Cordero, Senate candidate for District G in Mat Su, has joined with Governor Walter Hickel and the Backbone III project because his first priority is bringing Alaskan gas to market in the next ten years.
Eric has an office opening today as highlighted on Progressive Alaska. I'm heading out there this evening and I hope that folks from Anchorage AND the Valley do the same.
Caught Tuesday on a bad cell phone camera...one of Don Young's primary challengers who didn't show up at the Alaska Women's Caucus Couch Debate on Sunday so he could dish food at the Governor's side in Fairbanks. (And perhaps dodge uncomfortable questions about Parnell campaign leader, Frank Bailey, who Walt Monegan identified as one of the Palin Administration folks who pressured him about Mike Wooten.) (Sorry, I got that information from a normally accurate source. Hat tip for correction to Dennis Zaki.)
Note to the women of the Caucus: next time, book a certain "Wild" chocolate shop for your debate if you want Sean to show up--especially if daughter Grace is still working there!
Come listen to a story 'bout a man named Kopp" A young police chief who didn't get the word 'stop' The woman he kept huggin' wanted him to go So he came face-to-face with Alaska EEO Complaint, that is...investigation...letter of reprimand
So a few years later the Guvner called him forth She said, "Hey Chuck, we need you up North" "I know you've had problems but I'm sure you'll fit the bill" "Since I'm really in need of another "yes man" shill" Commissioner..."Top Kopp"...over-his-head
News of his new job shocked the woman, don't you see Because no one else would know due to Title 23 So she told her story to a couple in the press And it turned his first conference into something of a mess Evasive buffoon...obvious liar...couldn't say he "didn't do it."
Drew swears that he's not a "sex harasser" either!
I'm working on some extensive posts on Diane Benson and all of the candidate's responses to my "six questions." However, we're TRYING to show Drew a good time the same week that my daughter is in her first major role in a play--in Alaska Theater of Youth's Summer Conservatory.
Naw...we're not busy! The posts will come a bit slower.
If anyone has suggestions for fun Alaskan stuff for Drew that we may not have thought of, feel free to post!
This coming up shortly: "Department of Public Safety Commissioner Charles Kopp will have a press availability for news media at 3 p.m. today to make a statement concerning the claims levied against him while he was with the Kenai Police Department. Kenai Mayor Pat Porter will attend in support of her former police chief."
Alaska Politics posted it at 2:53...I'm guessing they heard about it late as well.
Here's KTUU's story on the women who is accusing him.
I can tell you from my own EEO experience, if there is good evidence that it truly happened and the victim is willing, they'll move the victim as part of a off-the-record settlement. If there's damning evidence and they don't want the victim to take it any farther, they'll move the perpetrator. They won't move anyone if there's no proof.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Kopp disclosed he was reprimanded, with a letter, by the Kenai city council after an investigation found to have improperly hugged the employee multiple times. He said the hugs were non-sexual, in a "friend-to-friend capacity," and he has no idea why the woman eventually filed a sexual harassment complaint with the city.
He disputes that he ever kissed her, as the woman claims. He also disputed that there was a witness to a kiss, as she contended in an interview with KTUU-Channel 2 yesterday.
K...the letter said they did an investigation...don't you think that they talked to the people involved during an investigation?
KOPP...THEY MOVED YOU OUT OF YOUR SUPERVISORY POSITION, YOU THROWBACK! DON'T YOU THINK THAT BOLSTERS HER CLAIMS?
He said the city took the complaint seriously and he realized that the workplace hugs were inappropriate. He said he received a letter of reprimand after the investigation. He said he appealed the finding, and reached an agreement with the city that the letter would be removed after two years if there were no further incidents. He said there were none and the letter was removed.
The only reason we know that Kopp lied the first time is because the victim produced this above-linked letter:
"You may want to know what action has been taken against Chief Kopp as a result of this investigation. That is certainly understandable; but Title 23 of the Kenai Municipal Code requires personnel matters, regardless of their nature, to be kept confidential."
Basically, he can claim whatever he wants about the aftermath and any other potential problems and we'll never know...the Kenai Municipal Code prevents anyone but the victim from speaking out.
Chuck "I am not a sex harasser" Kopp, as Commissioner of Public Safety, is responsible for all aspects of Alaska law enforcement. Kopp is responsible for the difficult and sensitive task of finding solutions to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, which exist in Alaska in crisis proportions. Kopp's past renders him ineffective in this most-important task.
A very special thanks to my friends Rishi and Tesva for being there when we needed them most and my sisterfriend Rebecca for working so hard and sharing her decorative talents, and Steve (What Do I Know) for jumping in to help...thanks for putting up with the Diva and Divo!!! (not to mention the little Diva-in-training!!!)...
...to the wonderful Mat Su Democrats including candidate Erick Cordero for showing up (most of) the Anchorage-ites by coming out in the rain...
...a "we are not worthy" **bow** for all the hard work by the incredibly warm and generous Mungers and the use of their beautiful home...
...to Donovan for committing to come before he realized it was in Wasilla, then coming anyway...
...for Diane and Tony for booking out of Anchorage right after the debate and for Diane and Raven who gave us the rare and beautiful gift of spontaneously sharing their Tlingit culture with us through song.
Thank you to everyone for your help as we continue to work towards our goal!
CC will be interviewing Walt Monegan on her show today. It starts at 3:00 PM but I don't know what hour he'll be on. You can go to www.kudo1080.com and stream it online.
***UPDATE***
On the air with Walt now.
***UPDATE***
On Alaska Politics, they have a recording of the entire show.
We have some beautiful desserts and a gorgeous button blanket still up for auction after the fundraiser!
The desserts will be up for bid until 5:00 PM Tuesday and the Button Blanket bidding will close at 5:00 PM Wednesday. We can deliver desserts in Anchorage to the winners and if the bid is high enough, we'll even deliver to the Valley! Winning the blanket guarantees delivery within 60 miles of Anchorage.
Please name the item and place your bids in the comments! Any questions, email me at celticdivaak@yahoo.com
Josh is having some trouble getting those plates for auction full! My cousin and her brood came over on their way back to Iowa and ripped through a batch...they are so good!
Well the chicken is marinating in teriyaki sauce, the beans are waiting to be baked in the morning, the fixins are fixed and Raven's whole family is in town just pumping out yummy desserts and putting the finishing touches on the button blanket.
Now all we need is YOU!
Plates of homemade chocolate chip cookies for auction and some melon for consumption!
Hope to see everyone tomorrow. We're starting at four but, due to the debate, the wonderful Mungers have said they plan to go late. Soooo...c'mon down ya'll! Just click on the flyer above for the directions. Or, for a more portable page, the Democratic Party website has it up!
While the Palin Administration was digging itself into a hole down the road (Thanks, Todd Palin!) I was invited to speak about being a credentialed blogger at the Democratic National Convention to the July Mat Su Democrats meeting. I was impressed; there were over 50 friendly, enthusiastic folks there who gave all of us a warm reception. They didn't even let the influx of a bunch of loud bus tourists stop their meeting. We even stopped clapping because it was "annoying the customers." I would have liked to have asked the management to make the tourists stop their incredibly rude stares.
This is a really bad (but the only one I took) picture of my friend and fellow "blogger-in-arms" Phil Munger, whose excellent idea to have a poetry contest about Ted Stevens on national blog Firedoglake called "Ted-fest" also netted him a contributor slot...congratulations!!!! Phil spread his contageous energy addressing the Dems about letters to the editor and then (of course) veering off to his favorite subject, using the Intertoobz wisely and effectively for Progressive issues and campaigning. He also explained the true significance of the poetry contest (millions of non-Alaskans learning about Ted's "issues") and read several of the poems. Here's one by commenter darkblack in the tradition of Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee":
There are odd things done in the midnight sun By the men whom Oil has sold Their fishy tales meet with hearty gales from wise heads when they are told The FBI’s knights have recited some rights but the queerest they ever had read was that night by the mouse of a Girdwood house that belonged to Senator Ted.
Native Veteran and State Delegate Jay Cross with Erick Cordero, candidate for Lyda Green's seat--discussing the race while an audience watches from the wall. Erick spoke very eloquently about why he was running and impressed the crowd with his enthusiasm--especially since he just became a citizen in January.
Dennis Zaki and Shannyn Moore (pictured with Shannyn's boyfriend Kelly) along with me spoke about the Democratic Convention and Progressive media in general. Dennis's website, Alaska Report, is easily the most-read Progressive site in Alaska and possibly the most-read Alaska news site period
The irrepressible Katie Hurley, Chief Clerk to Alaska's Constitutional Convention, chats with her table. When she addressed the group, she reminded us that "Republicans don't know how to party." Woo Hoo!
Former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan is speaking out about the Public Safety Employees Association's executive director's insinuations that Governor Sarah Palin fired Monegan because he refused to fire her former brother-in-law, who is a current state trooper. PSEA represents state troopers, including the Palins' former brother-in-law, Officer Michael Wooten.
While Monegan is not saying he was let go for not firing Wooten, he now says members of Governor Palin's administration, and her husband, first gentleman, Todd Palin, pressured him to fire Wooten.
Outright, the first family unequivocally says there was never any pressure by them, or the governor's staff, for Monegan to fire their former brother-in-law. Governor Palin says, "All I know what the facts are and what the truth is. And the truth is never was there any pressure put on Commissioner Monegan to hire or fire anybody."...
...However, Monegan says aside from an initial face-to-face meeting with first gentleman Palin about Wooten, Monegan says on numerous occasions Palin and powerful administration officials, Administration Department Commissioner Annette Kreitzer, and Boards and Commissions Director Frank Bailey pressured him on the phone to fire Wooten.
Monegan said, "They were persistent. Todd (Palin) talked to me a couple of times. Got calls from Annette Kreitzer as well as Frank Bailey."
State legislators are talking about hiring a special investigator to dig into the circumstances surrounding Gov. Sarah Palin’s firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
“That’s the only thing I can think of, if you want to get to the truth and be unbiased,” said Senate President Lyda Green, a Wasilla Republican. “Otherwise, speculation just continues.”
But Monegan says pressure came from those around Palin, including former Palin chief-of-staff Mike Tibbles, Department of Administration Commissioner Annette Kreitzer, and director of boards and commissions Frank Bailey.
Tibbles, who is now the campaign manager for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, said Friday he couldn’t comment on whether he spoke to Monegan about Wooten.
Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said Bailey never had such a conversation with Monegan.
Kreitzer could not recall, Leighow said.
Tibbles is Steven's campaign manager. Is Frank Bailey a campaign manager for Sean Parnell? Wonder if they're talking about THAT at TODAY'S picnic?
"Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog" will be streamed, LIVE (that part’s not true), FREE (sadly, that part is) right on Drhorrible.com, in mid-July. Specifically:
ACT ONE (Wheee!) will go up Tuesday July 15th.
ACT TWO (OMG!) will go up Thursday July 17th.
ACT THREE (Denouement!) will go up Saturday July 19th.
All acts will stay up until midnight Sunday July 20th. Then they will vanish into the night, like a phantom (but not THE Phantom – that’s still playing. Like, everywhere.)
In the Frequently (soon-to-be) Asked Questions:
1) Why, Joss? Why? Why now, why free, why us?
Once upon a time, all the writers in the forest got very mad with the Forest Kings and declared a work-stoppage. The forest creatures were all sad; the mushrooms did not dance, the elderberries gave no juice for the festival wines, and the Teamsters were kinda pissed. (They were very polite about it, though.) During this work-stoppage, many writers tried to form partnerships for outside funding to create new work that circumvented the Forest King system.
Frustrated with the lack of movement on that front, I finally decided to do something very ambitious, very exciting, very mid-life-crisisy. Aided only by everyone I had worked with, was related to or had ever met, I single-handedly created this unique little epic. A supervillain musical, of which, as we all know, there are far too few.
The idea was to make it on the fly, on the cheap – but to make it. To turn out a really thrilling, professionalish piece of entertainment specifically for the internet. To show how much could be done with very little. To show the world there is another way. To give the public (and in particular you guys) something for all your support and patience. And to make a lot of silly jokes. Actually, that sentence probably should have come first.
After tomorrow, this will be available for download on ITunes and then, eventually, purchase on DVD. However, see it while it's free...the quality is better than any online series in the past (think of a high-quality movie trailer). I can fill my 22 inch wide-screen monitor and the picture is still great!
And as far as the storyline goes, it's vintage Joss...something we've all missed. The "evil" Dr. Horrible is played incredibly well by Neil Patrick Harris (who has a gorgeous singing voice) and **swoon** Nathan Fillion (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Serenity) plays the roll of his "good" nemesis, The Hammer. Of course, good and evil are never black and white in Joss productions and the same is true here.
Also, as you can imagine, there's a girl they both want! (Felicia Day)
I would highly recommend watching this now...you'll be hooked. I'm looking forward to downloading on my video IPod...finally there's something with a quality picture worth watching, besides music videos and movie trailers.
...actually, I'm at the Mat Su Dems Meeting in Wasilla right now but I got a phone call about the Guv's Picnic here.
Channel 11 reporter Matt Simon went up to Todd Palin and asked him if he ever spoke to anyone in the Administration about Mike Wooten, his former brother-in-law.
He said, "Yes, Walt Monegan."
Guess what story led the KTVA 6:00 News?
So much for "no interference" while Sarah was Governor! Even Sarah admitted telling Walt about him when she first hired him!
Also, KTUU Channel 2 reported that Officer Wooten attended the picnic. Dang, I missed it!
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Chuck Kopp said today he will release his personnel file from the Kenai Police Department.
Kopp, who has been at the center of a political firestorm, said he will release the file to dispel rumors of a history of sexual harassment.
"I am not ashamed of my past," he said.
Kopp became the center of attention after Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly fired Walt Monegan last Friday from the commissioner's job and then appointed him. The governor has said she wants change in the leadership of the department and wants to take it in a new direction, but hasn't said why the department needed fixing.
That's been my issue all along with the press conference and every statement out of the Governor's office. No one has shown us what "new direction" they are talking about...which causes people to question if that's truly the reason.
Kopp has been accused by a former employee of sexually harassing her with unwanted hugs and a kiss on the cheek in 2005. That employee says a Kenai city investigation confirmed her version of events.
Her lawyer, Chuck Robinson, today said he also believed the city investigation substantiated the harassment.
The Palin administration looked into the 2005 charge and said it learned that it was unsubstantiated, according to governor spokeswoman Sharon Leighow.
Hmmm...I've now learned the lingo and it's "unfounded" (proven false), "not sustained" (can't be verified or proven) or "sustained" (proven). I'm curious to know which it is.
Kopp wanted to dispel another rumor also: He said he was never friends with Palin or any of her family. He first met Palin when she was campaigning for governor in July 2006 in Kenai. Later, Palin made him the head of her Department of Public Safety transition team. Kopp said he also served on former Gov. Frank Murkowski's transition team.
I really don't care when Kopp met Palin. I just want to know if he's going to be a "yes man" to the detriment of the Department and Alaska.
I can't wait to see this report, now that I understand better what I'm looking at (after 270+ pages).
I have been asked to leave my post as the Legislative Liaison for DPS and I will do so sadly. I thoroughly enjoyed my time both with DPS and Commission Walt Monegan who exemplifies everything DPS represents.
Working with you has been an adventure and I have enjoyed it. I will miss it.
Next in her email comes a section that I have been afraid of since I first heard Walt Monegan was fired:
As you know, Alaska has long held the distinction of being number one in the nation for sexual violence (both sexual assault and sexual abuse of minors) and domestic violence. Many of you have been advocates for victims with both your voices and your actions. I have been inspired many times by that advocacy. The prevalence of this violence is seen in our communities, emergency shelters, hospitals, schools and streets. We see it in our neighbors’ eyes and in the lines for substance abuse treatment. It is a scar on our state.
The State of Alaska, and more specifically DPS, needs tools to fight this epidemic. They have proposals and ideas on how to better protect Alaska’s residents, but DPS will need your support in order to carry out any of those plans. I have attached a brief report from the University of Alaska on the correlation between violence and substance abuse among victims. I also encourage you to review the study below titled “Descriptive Analysis of Sexual Assault Incidents Reported to Alaska State Troopers: 2003-2004”.
I spoke to Walt Monegan the day after he was fired. When I say "I spoke to Walt Monegan" I mean that I did most of the speaking. He wouldn't go on the record with much at that point and I admit, I know almost nothing about being a good interviewer.
However, the way I got him to call me was through my email to him, which talked about how I was afraid of what may happen to the focus on alleviating DV and sexual assault in Rural Alaska. I mentioned the Governor's emphasis on her "new direction" and focus on substance abuse. I also mentioned that concerned me because of the above-mentioned report, which shows a lack of correlation between being under-the-influence and acts of DV/sexual assault in Rural Alaska...on the part of the victim or the perpetrator. One of the few things he said was a strong acknowledgement of the findings in that report. At the time, I had wondered if that was "code."
I think this is starting to go beyond "code."
It seems to me that there are a bunch of folks who thought that DPS was finally on the right track. Now, they are not so sure...they are afraid that the gains they were making will be lost.
I'm wondering how far this puzzling DPS "housecleaning" is going to go?
"Flashlight got an email from [Stevens'] office saying that the liberal bloggers’ bitching about Stevens referencing the book didn’t warrant a response; “consider the source,” it said."
View blog reactions
Begich for Senate
Lulu and the Aqua Nets: A whole lotta serious damn beauty!
