Inside Opinion

If you have questions about how the Daily News makes editorial decisions, this blog has the answers. Editorial page editor Matt Zencey and writers Frank Gerjevic and Rosemary Shinohara will discuss what they're working on, answer questions and ask your perspective on issues facing Alaska.


Contributors

Matt Zencey

Matt Zencey joined the Daily News as an editorial writer in 1985 and was named editorial page editor in May 2007. He has won several. "Best editorial writing" awards from the Alaska Press Club and was a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University. He lives on the west side of Anchorage, where he enjoys the best weather in town and easy access to the Coastal Trail. E-mail Matt at mzencey@adn.com

Frank Gerjevic

Frank Gerjevic has worked at the Daily News since 1978, where he's been sports editor, copy editor, reporter and columnist. He's been an editorial writer since 1998. He began his newspaper career with the Anchorage Times in 1975. E-mail Frank at fgerjevic@adn.com

Rosemary Shinohara

Rosemary Shinohara is an editorial writer who has lived most of her life in Alaska. She has spent most of her career as a reporter or editor at the Daily News. She covered construction of the Alaska oil pipeline, the Legislature, schools and urban affairs. She has also been an editor for NPR's All Things Considered, and has written for the Associated Press. E-mail Rosemary at rshinohara.com

Archive

Does Palin have a tax problem? - 10/7/2008 5:59 pm

Lighted signs for the PAC - 10/6/2008 5:41 pm

Alaska Native corp in middle of FDA scandal - 10/6/2008 3:04 pm

Readers write about the debate Thursday night - 10/3/2008 1:41 pm

Sample unpublished pro-Palin comment to ADN - 9/26/2008 6:36 pm

Now Wasilla's really on the map - 9/26/2008 12:02 pm

Joe Biden unleashed - 9/25/2008 9:03 am

How did Palin get info on Wooten? - 9/24/2008 10:44 am

ADN letters about Palin . . . - 9/5/2008 7:47 am

About Palin's speech . . . - 9/4/2008 12:06 am

From the Palin for Governor archives.... - 9/3/2008 4:33 pm

Palin's responses to Eagle Forum questionnaire - 9/2/2008 4:07 pm

Palin's record: What ADN has said - 9/2/2008 2:19 pm

More commentaries on Sarah Palin - 8/29/2008 4:10 pm

A before-the-fact endorsement of Palin as VP choice - 8/29/2008 3:38 pm

More commentaries on Sarah Palin - 8/29/2008 3:28 pm

A great day for Alaska, but for the country...? - 8/29/2008 12:32 pm

Commentaries on Sarah Palin - 8/29/2008 11:53 am

Send us letters on Sarah as veep - 8/29/2008 10:30 am

Why are state energy conservation rebates so hard to get? - 8/28/2008 2:48 pm

An investigation of gas prices - 8/12/2008 2:33 pm

anti-AGIA stall continues - 7/31/2008 11:32 am

full archive »

Candidate Begich re: Iraq

Posted by Matt Zencey, editorial page editor

Posted: June 13, 2008 - 5:00 pm

Mark Begich recently visited the Daily News editorial board, wearing his hat as a U.S. Senate candidate. Here’s what he had to say about the war in Iraq:

“We need to get out. ..The country (Iraq) needs to step up. The other countries in the region need to step up. …. We need to put our resources into Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Al Qaeda is …. And we need to focus on care of our veterans.”

Begich said his views are “very similar” to remarks made in the same editorial board meeting by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a fellow red-state Democrat from Montana.

Sen. Tester said “we’re not going to get out tomorrow…but we need to get out as soon as possible….We went in under false pretenses….We’ve had successes. Saddam is gone. They’ve had elections… (But) we’ve lost face in this world….(Ending our involvement in Iraq) is not surrender at all. It’s time to let them have their country back…. The truth is, we’re there for oil. We’ve been there for oil from the beginning…I’ve always voted for funding even though I’m concerned about the war….The real problem is the war on terror; that’s the real war we need to focus on.”


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  3     June 22, 2008 - 5:22pm | granlund

We're there for oil

Respectfully to Sen Testor and Mark.

Nice to know that you will soon be traveling to Walter Reed to enlighten the troops that we really appreciate their sacrifice so that we could enjoy $4.50/gal gas. It was even more heartwarming to see your presence at Arlington and Ft Rich on Memorial Day. I had no idea that Mr. Begich had been studying history and world political geography in his spare time and had become an expert in middle east government. Also noted that Mr. Begich supports improvements in the GI Bill for those soldiers who elect to fight for the country instead of going right into politics and trying for the Senate. Way to go Mark - I'll be thinking of you come November.

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  2     June 16, 2008 - 12:30pm | wodat

If we're

there for oil, how come I'm pay 4.26/gallon for gas and 5.00/gal for heating oil??? Where's the oil going??

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  1     June 14, 2008 - 10:49am | TheSdog

And Pravda ate

all this bravo sierra up...

The Dems who are who Begich will give more power have again and again said they would pull out on a time table. They have no interest at all in coming out of Iraq in a responsible way.

There is an attempt here to recognize the successes in Iraq and attract some conservative voters. Those voters should not be fooled.

Having been in the military for 9 years with most of them under Bill Clinton it is comical to hear a Dem talk about Veteran's issues. Bill Clinton gave the military the smallest raises in the modern era except for his last year in office. That directly affects the retirement benefits of all veterans who were in 20 years.

Clinton was also in office when TRICARE was implemented. (You know that program you ran an article on recently) I am not sure when it passed but Clinton had been in office a while when it started in mid 1990s. TRICARE has been a disaster for the health care of military families including veterans.

It should be noted the VA has gotten much of its act together over the past 8 years. They have kicked their MDs in the butt and the system is vastly improved over where it was 10-15 years ago. It is not perfect but it has moved in the right direction under Bush. Any system will be put under pressure during a war and the Ds arguments are pandering and irresponsible not to mention ignorant of history.

This is typical of Pravda though. You refuse to print conservative positions unless you know the facts and spew out whatever the COB party line is without any fact checking at all.

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