Please look for a new book by Alaska writer Mike Doogan: "Indecent Exposure."

(Hat tip to flyinureye for this great artwork. Thanks!)

As most of you can imagine the conversations have been angry, disappointed, and puzzled. Both online and off.

The main question of course is why? Why did Rep. Doogan feel that it was worth being forever identified as the Democrat who destroyed his career to injure one of his own? Why did a Democrat do Sarah Palin's dirty work for her? Why did a man who had once appreciated, and helped protect, the anonymity of Sheila Toomey as the "Alaska Ear" suddenly decide that being anonymous and popular was unacceptable? Why would he expose himself to the very real possibility of criminal prosecution for violating AKM's civil rights? And why with so many important things happening in Alaska today would Mike Doogan focus so much time and energy on exposing one outspoken citizen?

Personally I think it was mostly jealousy.

Mike Doogan was probably first impressed, then frightened, by the shear volume of e-mails he received from the readers of Mudlfats. Then when it dawned on him that even when he was at the top of his game as a columnist he could never have inspired so many people to take action to correct a wrong, jealousy reared its ugly visage. Even with the support of Anchorage's ONLY newspaper he could not have fired up even one tenth of the people that AKM inspired to write to the Alaskan lawmakers. That must have been a humbling experience indeed.

And it angered him. Essentially it PISSED HIM OFF!

So much so that he has spent all of these months from that time to this desperately trying to determine who among the "little people" dared to wield such power? Because in his mind they were a threat to his ego, to his agenda, and to his belief that mere "bloggers" would never have as much influence as respected columnist.

So on Friday Mike Doogan, ex-Anchorage Daily News columnist and respected member of the House, strapped on his allegorical suicide jacket, stepped over to his computer, and with one push of the send button, detonated himself in the desperate hope that he would take his nemesis, AKMuckraker, with him.

But he missed. He only managed to destroy himself when he pushed that button. He did nothing to AKM except to make her feel betrayed by a member of her own party, and to finally face the fact that she has become an icon to the progressive movement here in Alaska and an inspiration to a large number of people around the world.

(One of the truly humorous moments during this whole experience was when I, and AKM's spouse, were trying to explain to her why she had so much influence, and why she was so important to so many people. I kid you not she did not understand why everybody was making such a fuss.)

Well today we awaken in Alaska to determine the extent of damage caused by two different explosions in the last 48 hours. One of course being the the voluminous, putrid discharge, of a long dormant blowhard, and the other a sprinkling of ash from Mt. Redoubt.

But fortunately it looks like neither one will have much of a long term impact. This will do nothing to stop the progressive movement, nor the outspoken blogging community here in Alaska. We will not only prevail, we will grow much, much stronger.

And how could we not, when we are constantly surrounded by the most awe inspiring landscapes and natural phenomena that this planet has to offer? Remember every day living in Alaska is a gift to mind, body, and spirit.

Namaste.