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.

SECTION

Palin coverage

The nation was captivated by Sarah Palin's run to the White House, and now Alaska awaits the return of their governor.

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.

Governor's office: Troopergate is over and Palin testimony won't be released to public - 12/4/2008 7:43 pm

Begich on jail time for Stevens: 'I’m not sure that’s the best use of space and time' - 12/4/2008 1:45 pm

Is Monegan planning a run? - 12/4/2008 8:50 am

Brief, and not-so-brief, objections in Stevens case - 12/3/2008 4:29 pm

Begich wants money - 12/3/2008 11:38 am

Republican Chambliss wins decisively in Georgia U.S. Senate runoff - 12/2/2008 5:25 pm

Rumor patrol: Bailey & Frye - 12/2/2008 4:28 pm

'Partners in progress' - 12/2/2008 7:08 am

Obama and the governors - 12/1/2008 7:50 pm

Palin mania in Georgia - 12/1/2008 4:07 pm

Palin on the trail (UPDATED: Video) - 12/1/2008 2:20 pm

Judge nixes Monday hearing in Stevens case - 11/28/2008 3:03 pm

Palin's gifts - 11/26/2008 4:32 pm

Stevens defense wants to see secret document filed by prosecutors - 11/26/2008 3:39 pm

The interview that won't die - 11/25/2008 2:21 pm

Hearing Monday on Stevens witness issue - 11/25/2008 2:07 pm

Palin back on the stump - 11/25/2008 12:28 pm

'Don't blame me! Blame Joe the Turkey Slaughterer' - 11/25/2008 12:18 pm

Senator for life - 11/25/2008 7:16 am

So what happened with DOJ and the Anderson letter? - 11/24/2008 7:33 pm

A Palin Thanksgiving: Thank-you notes or contempt charges? - 11/24/2008 11:15 am

Mayoral maneuvering - 11/21/2008 11:35 am

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.