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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

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An Alaskan VP?

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: May 13, 2008 - 7:48 am

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

So far, Gov. Sarah Palin has been the only Alaskan to generate serious vice presidential buzz.

But how about Alaska's two Republican U.S. senators? A reporter for The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, asked all 97 senators not running for president whether they would consider a VP bid, if asked. Here's how Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Ted Stevens responded:

Stevens: “No. I’ve got too many things that I still want to do as a senator. And I don’t like the idea of a job where you sit around and wait for someone to die.”

Murkowski: “My name has been discussed partly because I’m a female and it’s always nice to balance things in gender … I’ve discussed it with my kids. My 16-year-old thinks it’s a fabulous idea because he thinks we probably couldn’t find any better residence in Washington, D.C., than the Naval Observatory. That’s the fun part of the question, but I think anybody, if you were seriously asked, I think you have to give it very real and genuine consideration. I don’t expect to be asked, but if I were I would give it real and genuine consideration.”

(Meanwhile, Palin has advanced to the final eight in CQ Politics' VP Madness, an NCAA-bracket-style reader survey. She's made it past Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, and next faces Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.)

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9 May 17, 2008 - 11:23am | juno

Standards for VP

Can you spell potato and shoot straight?

8 May 14, 2008 - 11:41pm | heseesall

I think that poll must be dummied up......

I am a professional in Anchorage and seriously I have not spoken to ONE person in 6 months who approves of how Sarah Palin is running this state! NOT ONE! People who truly understand business and economics see this as one huge train wreck about to happen. I agree....possibly 86% in Wasilla, but not the rest of the state. And the other poll with Bobby Jindal, please, the princess probably has all her appointed Wasilla commissioners and her staff stuffing that ballot box all day just to keep the percentage up. she cannot be seriously considered with her lack of experience . She is all fluff folks. The uneducated see all her "cute" photo ops and get that "warm and fuzzy". It is growing old....very old.... I feel embarrassed that this state has come to this daily smoke and mirrors.

May 15, 2008 - 10:59pm | haut_monde_ak

This poll is completely unscientific...

it was intended more for fun than anything else.

It wouldn't be difficult for the CQ folks to track who is polling, via IP addresses. You can only vote once per computer, but nothing stops one from voting from multiple computers. How many are in the Governor's office, plus Blackberry's, iPhones, etc?

I sincerely doubt anyone from outside is voting for Palin, unless they are voting on looks alone or as a joke. When you vote it gives you percentages but not actual vote tallies (could be 55% of 100 votes). Of course no mention of margin of error also.

I'm sure McCain is smart enough to realize Palin would not add to his ticket. Once people get past her looks and examine her resume, they'll be thinking "what the hell?"

3 electoral votes people!

May 15, 2008 - 8:01pm | _Syrin

daily smoke and mirrors?

daily mismanagement and incompetence that will last for decades...I've been sick of it for awhile.

May 15, 2008 - 11:44am | TheSdog

An interesting post

The business people and professionals I speak with in Anchorage do not seem to like Palin anecdotedly.

May 15, 2008 - 12:07pm | rfn

Just for grins and giggles....

Next time you're chatting them up ask the follow-on question:

If the election were run over today with the same candidates, and knowing what you know today, would you vote for Knowles or Halcro instead?

May 15, 2008 - 10:52pm | haut_monde_ak

Most I have spoken with...

state they would take anyone over Palin. Doesn't say much for her. Thankfully she has her Valley folk.

May 16, 2008 - 9:51am | rfn

Are they unable

to be more specific?

Do they want Frank Back?

Would they rather have Tony?

Maybe Binkley?

Or are they simply vague?

Of course Liberals speak mostly with Liberals and Conservatives only with Conservatives. But some greenies do talk with the animals! Or think they do.

Word of mouth, as opposed to a properly conducted poll (the kind that show that 86% approval rating) or election (the kind that showed that wannabe that 9% was as good as it gets), is not a reliable measure except of what one's friends think you want to hear.

May 15, 2008 - 10:52pm | haut_monde_ak

Most I have spoken with...

state they would take anyone over Palin. Doesn't say much for her. Thankfully she has her Valley folk.

May 15, 2008 - 12:50pm | TheSdog

Hard to predict

what their response may be.

Many of them have confessed to voting for her and being disappointed.

May 15, 2008 - 1:28pm | rfn

Still

would be interesting to hear their answers.

So long as they weren't allowed to propose other names that were not in the running.

Well...maybe OK if they were allowed to project backwards to the primaries. Maybe there would be some closet Murkowski supporters willing to "out" themselves!

May 17, 2008 - 8:41am | haut_monde_ak

Most people I know don't live in hindsight....

If they did many people I have spoken with would not have voted for "conservative" Palin. I haven't met ONE person who hasn't regretted voting for her.

But again, they are smart enough to know you can't go backwards in time. You, however, demonstrate this obsession with knowing who others voted for.

Don't you have some paint to sell? Not exactly curing cancer is it. And, oh by the way, you weren't smart enough to get that comment from before so I'll say it again, slowly....you sell paint for a living, not exactly curing cancer is it? You, not Palin. We know she's not smart enough to cure cancer.

Also, when you mention there are others who use the same "rfn" sign-in, does that mean you have multiple personalities? Should I ask "Who am I speaking to today?"

May 17, 2008 - 11:21am | rfn

A little techy today?

No, I don't regularly sell paint. I did offer to sell some red paint to a rather communistic individual so she might repaint the star on her flag. If you'd like some for yours, I'll be happy to go get some and give it you for free.

Multiple personalities? No, that's what's going on with a political wannabe who has three feminine schizoid personalities sheltered within. Each of them gets "out" from time to time and is mostly unaware of the others. They do spout the same line, however. This suggests a reptilian sort of awareness. Come to think of it, I do detect a certain similarity so perhaps there are four "splits" involved!

As to "rfn" are three distinct people, each with their own personaliity, who labor in the same place on different shifts, sharing computers. For amusement between tasks we created a style sheet and share a username/login. You may have noticed some confusion as to whether "rfn" is male or female. That's because there is at least one of each. An astute observer would notice a few subtle differences in choice and spelling of words. We try hard to prevent that but are not always successful. Only one of the three people bothered to acquire a "paper" Doctor of Divinity degree (Internet based church) and occasionally signs "rfn, DD". The others find that quaint but cheesy.

One more clue; the letters represent the first initial of each of the original three participants. They no longer do.

Today you are not speaking with rfn, DD. That person will be here tomorrow. That's also the one who might take up politics in the next election. Beware a candidate whose first name begins with either an "r", an "f" or an "n"!

May 16, 2008 - 10:48pm | akmooster

maybe it is just...

an indication of the type of people haut hangs with.

May 17, 2008 - 8:32am | haut_monde_ak

That's right...

Well-educated, hard working people of this state with clean records. In short, upstanding contributing citizens.

You?

7 May 13, 2008 - 6:00pm | dab

American's seem to like Honesty

The rest of America seems to think that our Governor brings a lot of good things to the VP race. I believe America knows whats best for themselves and I hope a Governor with an 86% rating would very much consider being VP. It would be great for America and Alaska.

May 14, 2008 - 10:30pm | happycamper

Palin to the Final Four!!

Gov Palin is clobbering Jindal 55% to 44%. Vote here to send her to the Final Four: http://innovation.cq.com/vpmadness

May 15, 2008 - 9:25am | AK_Lady

Vote?

Don't you mean "click"?

May 13, 2008 - 7:21pm | haut_monde_ak

It'll be a long, hard fall...

she's managed those approval ratings by not having to make any tough decisions and by blaming others for her failures.

86% perhaps of Valley folks like her. Haven't met anyone here in Anchorage that does, not 86% worth at least.

Just wait until she's forced to make some unpopular decisions and then we'll see what the polls do.

May 13, 2008 - 8:14pm | chasm

Hard decisions?

What makes you think she will make any hard decisions? If she had any sense at all, she would dump AGIA and Irwin along with it.

May 13, 2008 - 7:06pm | Zamboni

Right On

You hit the nail on the head, dab. KTUU had a great story tonight. Not only is she the most popular governor in the country with an 86% approval rating, what's more impressive is she has maintained it for nearly two years!!

May 13, 2008 - 6:13pm | haut_monde_ak

We all crave honesty in politics...

whether an R or a D. Unfortunately power has a way of affecting people. Even Palin is not without controversy considering her preference for issues in the Valley. Politicians need money to get the media recognition they need to get elected. How do they get money? By making promises to anyone and everyone.

A governor with a local high approval rating won't hold up on a national level, since this state has so few electorates to offer and has voted Republican consistently with presidential elections.

It's certainly your right to dream big. Great for Alaska? Sure. Great for America? How? There are plenty of capable people with more experience than Palin has. You need to be realistic. She has her hands full here, and in her own home since her new son will require INTENSIVE therapy. It comes down to one's priorities- I sincerely question hers.

May 16, 2008 - 10:49pm | akmooster

so if we are to believe...

both d's and r's want honesty.... you are against begich and stevens?

6 May 13, 2008 - 2:53pm | sgitrak

McCain would pick....

Huckabee, Ridge, Romney or about 100 others before he picked Palin.

She brings absolutely nothing to the ticket and she comes from a small state that McCain is already is counting in his corner.

The idea that she has ever been on any short list is absolutely ridiculous.

May 13, 2008 - 2:58pm | rfn

Small in the sense

that Alaska definitely does not offer many electoral votes and, as stated, they can pretty well be counted upon.

Ridiculous as the idea is, it still serves to raise the blood pressure of Governor Palin's detractors and that has a certain value.....

May 13, 2008 - 6:06pm | haut_monde_ak

My blood pressure is just fine...92/60 one week ago...

and I don't care for Palin's inexperience and ineptness.

Fortunately my counterparts in the lower 48 can see beyond the looks and realize that there's not a whole lot there. She will be slaughtered by the news media for her lack of experience and obvious lack of knowledge of national level politics (and if she claims to have the time to study up then we should all be worried- we have issues here at home that need attention). Let's face it, we all only have 24 hours in a day and I'm sure her children take up a big part of that, or so they should.

It's a nice dream for those who have waited for so long for someone to give a damn about Alaska.

May 13, 2008 - 6:15pm | rfn

Besides,

Alaska can't afford to lose the first governor we've had in decades who has the starch to stand up to the oil giants.

I'm sure Chelsea suffered horribly with both her parents taking turns playing President but she seems to have made her way through it.

May 13, 2008 - 6:30pm | haut_monde_ak

Chelsea...

is an only child. Palin, at last count, has 5. Big difference.

May 13, 2008 - 6:34pm | rfn

Not my fault

that Bill had other fish to fry.

Who knows, maybe there are five. Or more.

May 13, 2008 - 6:43pm | haut_monde_ak

Ha!

for the very first time I actually laughed at your post because I thought it was truly funny. Could very well be true.

Please remember though his infidelities were his private business people insisted to know about them because they were an obvious character flaw on his part.

Same holds true for Palin's travels at the end of her pregnancy. Her business, sure, but the entire situation reflects poorly on her judgment. I can't trust a politician who blatantly risks the life of her child as well as her own for the sake of giving a speech for political gain. Priorities.

Of course I don't condone adultery either.

May 16, 2008 - 10:54pm | akmooster

it wasn't his infidelities...

it was his lying under oath and perjury that got him impeached.
the fact he committed adultery and got to continue on as commander and chief seems to only bother veterans.

May 13, 2008 - 6:51pm | rfn

Far better

to trust one who tried to give away Alaska's natural resources.

Or one who refused to step up the plate to even try to block consolidation of giant oil companies so they could abuse the state.

Or one who refused to defend Alaska's state constitution in court.

Who can one trust?

After all those were the choices...well, except for one faint wannabe who still can't get over not so much the loss as the margin of loss.

Priorities, indeed!

May 13, 2008 - 9:08pm | Cartman3_15

rfn ...

... you rock! I often think it. It's high time I said it.

Thanks for elevating the discussion in here.

May 13, 2008 - 7:18pm | haut_monde_ak

I'm not comparing Palin to anyone...

not to Frank or to Andrew Halcro.

We're talking life here, and making the best decision during THE most critical time in one's life. Palin chose to give a speech (for political recognition) rather than to go to a hospital to ensure the well-being of her child.

All the money in the world, all the crooked deals don't matter when it comes to the health and safety of our children.

Nice attempt to distract- didn't work. Don't you have some paint to sell? Not exactly curing cancer, is it?

May 13, 2008 - 8:38pm | rfn

I rather doubt Governor Palin might

be likely to find a cure for cancer. Still, she's the best bet Alaska has right now to prevent the giveaway of our resources. Seems there wasn't a male up to the task so maybe this is yet another powerful argument for Hillary as President. In which case, the whole VP question simply goes away.

May 13, 2008 - 3:10pm | sgitrak

Agreed....

but this is and always has been a discussion to nowhere.

Btw, can we even use that phrase anymore?

I heard it was copyrighted after the bridges to nowhere.

5 May 13, 2008 - 11:55am | akhalfwit

Ted's and Lisa's response are soooo funny.

Lisa would do it because she heard she could get some sweet real estate deals as VP and Ted still has a lil term in the slammer to serve out where he can provide entertainment to the cons. Maybe a nightly puppet show of his strings being jerked for decades by the oil producers. I can't wait. Oooooo it sounds dleightful.

4 May 13, 2008 - 11:37am | idiocracy

Mccain hates Alaska

There is no way anybody from Alaska will be a Vice Presidential candidate. According to the so called "straight talk express," Alaska is the epitome of big government spending. Every campaign stop this political season will feature a bridges to nowhere bent.

May 14, 2008 - 3:06pm | darkdakota

What Better A Choice?

Then the gov who said she could do without earmarks from the state who has gobbled them up?

3 May 13, 2008 - 11:31am | idiocracy

Palin a Cinderella in VP madness

Palin beats Brownback in CQ's VP madness. Looks like she's leading Jindal early too. If Crist and Huck get beat she could take it all.

May 13, 2008 - 11:39am | rfn

Worrisome on a couple of counts....

Were Governor Palin to become Vice President Palin we'd lose her at a time when her willingness to stand up to Big Oil is critical to Alaska's future.

Also, a couple of the blindly irrational haters would have to move to Washington to continue their sport. Of course if they left their PFD eligibility behind that might be a good thing for real Alaskans!

May 13, 2008 - 8:25pm | chasm

Standing up to big oil

is a joke. Is it irrational to work with people and orginazations that are vital to our economy? It is pure stupidity not to. Hopefully, she will be selected to run as VP and we can be rid of her inane, childish, and unprofessional behavior.

2 May 13, 2008 - 11:15am | BunkerBuster

Good luck scammer

Lisa Murkowski Exposed In Kenai River Land Scam Until this investigation catches up to you Lisa! Lisa is as dirty as her loser father.

1 May 13, 2008 - 8:05am | I_am_Spartacus

Ted Says No

I love that Ted Stevens says he would turn down any VP offer because he still has too much to do as a Senator. That grand jury investigation, of course, has nothing to do with it.

He might not be a bad choice though. He might be the only guy out there who could make John McCaine look young.

May 13, 2008 - 12:41pm | celtic_diva_ak

Ya got that right...

He might be the only guy out there who could make John McCaine look young.
Yup...also makes him look like a great speaker...

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