Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.


Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

2008 Election

At one point the races with Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young promised to be the highest-profile campaigns in Alaska history.

E-MAIL

Palin newsletter

Sign up to receive daily photo postcards of Gov. Sarah Palin on the campaign trail.

SECTION

Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

PHOTOS

The Photo Blog: From the RNC

Photographer Marc Lester is blogging on Sarah Palin and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis this week.

The third debate - 10/15/2008 7:03 pm

Palin in New Hampshire: 'We all love good moose hunting.' - 10/15/2008 3:11 pm

Colberg disputes Branchflower finding - 10/15/2008 12:58 pm

Update: The Wasilla Library and "Heather Has Two Mommies" - 10/15/2008 12:38 pm

Judge says Palin and staff don't have to stop using private e-mail - 10/15/2008 12:28 pm

Testing, one-two-three - 10/15/2008 10:13 am

Increase in Alaska voter registration - 10/14/2008 8:01 pm

Stevens & Begich battle on the airwaves (UPDATED) - 10/14/2008 5:57 pm

McBride resigns as Palin's advisor on rural affairs (Updated) - 10/13/2008 7:13 pm

No more Voice of the Times? - 10/13/2008 12:40 pm

Monegan on 'Today' - 10/13/2008 7:23 am

Government wants Stevens wife's e-mails; defense calls it "fishing expedition." - 10/12/2008 12:24 pm

Sunday reading (Updated) - 10/12/2008 11:12 am

Palin on Obama and abortion - 'It is not negative and it's not mean-spirited to talk about his record' - 10/12/2008 10:58 am

Palin drops puck - 10/11/2008 6:02 pm

Palin: 'Very much appreciating being cleared of any legal wrongdoing or unethical activity at all' (Updated with audio) - 10/11/2008 4:28 pm

Palin denies she abused power (Updated with Todd no-comment in N.H.) - 10/11/2008 8:28 am

State lawmakers talk Troopergate - 10/10/2008 9:57 pm

Lyda Green talks about the report - 10/10/2008 7:54 pm

Palins' lawyer responds - 10/10/2008 7:35 pm

Governor's office / McCain-Palin campaign responds (UPDATED with video) - 10/10/2008 5:59 pm

The Branchflower report - 10/10/2008 4:20 pm

Browne withdraws

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

Seattle defense attorney John Henry Browne has withdrawn as Vic Kohring's lawyer.

"Vic's broke...I think the appeal is going to be very interesting and I actually wish I could be a part of it, but I can't afford to do it for free," Browne told me today.

Kohring, of course, was sentenced to 3 ½ years in federal prison last week on corruption charges. The former Wasilla legislator maintains his innocence and vows to fight from his prison cell. He'll do so with the help of a public defender or court appointed attorney.

Kohring's borrowed truck broke down on his way to sentencing and he had to hitchike to court. He said in recent divorce filings that he's been getting food from the food bank.

Kohring has to report to prison in Oregon by June 30.


  6     May 16, 2008 - 10:33pm | akmooster

thanks for all your money vic...

sorry about the verdict and all, but I just can't be expected to fix my screw up for free. I am practically living caviar to mouth now. Look at the good in it, you'll have food. jhb
(and then they both slithered away)

  5     May 15, 2008 - 9:37am | xango_xango

JHB - Vic Conned you too

Just betcha!

  4     May 14, 2008 - 6:22pm | seewhy

considerate of the judge

to imprison him in his home state.

  May 16, 2008 - 10:47am | staufen

ironic

the one guy whose wife lived/lives in Oregon... but she won't be visiting him...

  3     May 14, 2008 - 4:08pm | disenchanted01

Goes to show..

That even lawmakers (past or present) don't understand the full weight of the bad law they create until it hits them between the eyes. Fresh meat is back on the menu at the crowbar hotel in Oregon. Nobody rides for free.

  May 17, 2008 - 1:07am | Sheridan_Sheraton

Oh those bad laws..

And speaking of 'Fresh Meat,'
I wonder what use the DOJ has for Jim Clark?

What a bunch of Crap Frank forced through the channels of the idealogue legislature. Surely the funnel theory was working for all the would be cronys who thought they would get a notch further up the Republican tower by doing as the Frank dictator said.

As the story goes, Clark is denying Murkowski's involvement in anything. I wonder which relative peons they are going to use Clark's testimony for when they start up the next bust. Obviously they must have a use for him, and lord knows there are several Departments he must has known of their violators of numerous and various Federal law.

Jim may be the key witness to three dozen arrests in the former administration. Or some of the current SOA employees stilll of course.

  2     May 13, 2008 - 3:19pm | yours_truly

Didn't Kohring push to cut hand outs?

Now he is in line begging for food.

  May 13, 2008 - 4:02pm | rfn

Actually

He's in a better position to feel assured of good meals than many Alaskans who are deciding between warmth, fuel to get to work, and food.

If things continue he may have to be released early to make room for a lot of folks who'll be stealing or flipping off cops just to get locked up and regally provided for!

  1     May 13, 2008 - 2:04pm | Black3

"Innocent until proven broke!"

nt

  May 15, 2008 - 10:06am | Sheridan_Sheraton

Poetic Justice for all the

Poetic Justice for all the greedy corrupt bastards. Prison and then to the Poor House with no post-PPT revision PFD checks.

Maybe Vic can get an insurance settlement from that wreck in JHB's vehicle to pay his attorney.

  May 13, 2008 - 2:16pm | truthseeker

wasn't Vic the guy...................

who always pushed to cut the public defenders budget?

hmmmmmmmm.

  May 13, 2008 - 8:35pm | akgambit

just proves -

that there is such a thing as karma.
Gambit

  May 13, 2008 - 2:36pm | I_am_Spartacus

Perfect

You know, I had forgotten about that. That's just perfect.